Smashbomb

"I’d have to say number one is the Russian War and Peace, which is eight hours long [laughs] and is, I think, the greatest film ever made. Just in scope, and size, and the genius of Sergei Bondarchuk, and the majesty of it. It took 10 years to make, and everyone in it ages the 10 years [they do] in the book. So there are no other actors playing the other people; the children all grow 10 years and so do the older people. That’s pretty amazing in itself. And there was no CGI, so when you see the Battle of 1812 of Borodino it seems like there are just 50,000 soldiers on horseback. It was made by the Russian government, which is why they had access to everything and so much money. I would have to say that was my number one."

Source

Kudos

The Shape of Darkness

Laura Purcell

10.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

As the age of the photograph dawns in Victorian Bath, silhouette artist Agnes is struggling to keep...

Historical Fiction Gothic Victorian Bath

Man Gone Down

Michael Thomas

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

On the eve of this thirty-fifth birthday, the unnamed black narrator of Man Gone Down finds himself...

With the Fire on High

Elizabeth Acevedo

5.5 (2 Ratings) Rate It

Book

With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has...

David McK (3791 KP) rated King of the North (Fire Born #4) in Books

Oct 22, 2023

I'm never really sure what to make of Angus Donald's 'Fire born' series.

Of which this is the fourth.

Personally, I think I've always preferred his Outlaw Chronicles, followed by the Holcroft Blood trilogy, with these Viking-era bringing up the rear.

Having said that, it is what it is.

In this particular entry, Bjarki and his sister Tor end up involved in the little-known (and semi-legendary) Battle of Bravellir, initially on opposite sides of the Shield Wall.

I have to say, it's a battle that I have never heard of before ...

Anyway, the result is an OK read, but (as previously stated, and for my money) the characters and history are just not as interesting as those in the Outlaw Chronicles or in the Holcroft Blood series.

I'll still probably read any future entries, though.