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Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Assassin's Creed: Revelations in Books
May 15, 2017
No Den Defence to play (2 more)
A brilliant send off to Ezio
Combining Revelations with the Embers short film
The final journey of Ezio Auditore
Ezio Auditore is now old and frail in this final chapter of his life. Though he can still move and fight like an assassin, better than any civilized man, he is old and growing frail with each passing day.
Following the story of the third and final game in the Ezio story line, as seen in the Ezio Collection video game, and combining it with his final moments told in the 'Assassin's Creed: Embers' short film with more detail, as books do best.
The Revelations Novels offers us insight into the mind of an aging Ezio, as he journeys to Constantinople where the Templar Order are threatening to destabilize the Ottoman Empire. Ezio meets new friends even after all these years, such as Yusuf. Ezio also discovers more about his ancestor Altaïr and the mystery behind what lies in Altaïr's tomb beneath Masyaf.
His journey began as a pilgrimage, but quickly turns into a battle with the Templar's once more. With help from his new friends, and allies, Ezio must help stop the rising Templar army in order to find the missing keys to the Masyaf tomb. Through letters to his sister Claudia, and through the same format as the previous two Ezio novels, we read about Ezio as though we were watching him in the animus, but unable to control what happens, unlike the video game.
As mentioned in my previous review, I'm not sure how many times I can praise Bowden for his work on this series. All I can say is that he does not fail to entertain and reveal a new experience to the world of Assassin's Creed. If you have read my previous reviews then you know how much I praise this man for his work on the series of Novels he has written for the fans. Each one delivers a new thrilling experience and each one stays true to the events of the video game as much as possible. Of course each person who plays the video game plays differently. These novels give more of a sense of what the Assassin's themselves would have truly done in the events that unfold.
Following the story of the third and final game in the Ezio story line, as seen in the Ezio Collection video game, and combining it with his final moments told in the 'Assassin's Creed: Embers' short film with more detail, as books do best.
The Revelations Novels offers us insight into the mind of an aging Ezio, as he journeys to Constantinople where the Templar Order are threatening to destabilize the Ottoman Empire. Ezio meets new friends even after all these years, such as Yusuf. Ezio also discovers more about his ancestor Altaïr and the mystery behind what lies in Altaïr's tomb beneath Masyaf.
His journey began as a pilgrimage, but quickly turns into a battle with the Templar's once more. With help from his new friends, and allies, Ezio must help stop the rising Templar army in order to find the missing keys to the Masyaf tomb. Through letters to his sister Claudia, and through the same format as the previous two Ezio novels, we read about Ezio as though we were watching him in the animus, but unable to control what happens, unlike the video game.
As mentioned in my previous review, I'm not sure how many times I can praise Bowden for his work on this series. All I can say is that he does not fail to entertain and reveal a new experience to the world of Assassin's Creed. If you have read my previous reviews then you know how much I praise this man for his work on the series of Novels he has written for the fans. Each one delivers a new thrilling experience and each one stays true to the events of the video game as much as possible. Of course each person who plays the video game plays differently. These novels give more of a sense of what the Assassin's themselves would have truly done in the events that unfold.
Rachel (48 KP) rated The Devil's Prayer in Books
May 27, 2017
Thrilling Read
When I first read the blurb of this book I was desperate to read it - Why would a nun commit suicide? Why had a mother abandoned her children? What exactly is The Devil's Prayer?
To be honest I was expecting a mystery thriller with supernatural undertones. I could not have been more wrong.
This book is entirely unexpected. In a very good way though, it far surpassed my expectations. It does start off slowly but wow - you soon find yourself in an incredibly fast paced tale that twists and shocks constantly.
I enjoyed it immensely. The shifting of the voice telling the story is natural, the differences between them enough to make it obvious who was narrating. The two main female protagonists become incredibly sympathetic as the story moves along and the descriptions of various locations were detailed enough that you could easily 'see' them without the minute that bogs down some novels. Some of the scenes are brutal and deal with subject's that are very delicate. I felt that the author dealt with these incredibly well and, as someone who could be labelled 'sensitive' to some, it never felt gratuitous.
So why only nine stars? Well, there are a few nagging issues that grew rather tiresome.
The main issue has nothing to do with the story itself - rather it is a huge formatting flaw. Every word that is written in italics, usually the foreign names of things or places, is tiny. About half of the size of the normal font. I do not need glasses but squinting constantly left me with a slight headache and a huge amount of frustration. It's always nice to know the real name of things so I nearly always took the time to look. Unfortunately that meant that the flow of the story was somewhat spoilt.
One other minor niggle was that I felt that some characters deserved much more of a back story than they got. At one point the motivation for one of the later characters is being explained then it suddenly turns into a detailed historical description and then back to one of the main protagonist's again. That was a shame because it would have been very satisfying to have learnt more about the actual character.
Overall I would definitely recommend this novel - I just hope that the migraine inducing formatting is sorted out!
To be honest I was expecting a mystery thriller with supernatural undertones. I could not have been more wrong.
This book is entirely unexpected. In a very good way though, it far surpassed my expectations. It does start off slowly but wow - you soon find yourself in an incredibly fast paced tale that twists and shocks constantly.
I enjoyed it immensely. The shifting of the voice telling the story is natural, the differences between them enough to make it obvious who was narrating. The two main female protagonists become incredibly sympathetic as the story moves along and the descriptions of various locations were detailed enough that you could easily 'see' them without the minute that bogs down some novels. Some of the scenes are brutal and deal with subject's that are very delicate. I felt that the author dealt with these incredibly well and, as someone who could be labelled 'sensitive' to some, it never felt gratuitous.
So why only nine stars? Well, there are a few nagging issues that grew rather tiresome.
The main issue has nothing to do with the story itself - rather it is a huge formatting flaw. Every word that is written in italics, usually the foreign names of things or places, is tiny. About half of the size of the normal font. I do not need glasses but squinting constantly left me with a slight headache and a huge amount of frustration. It's always nice to know the real name of things so I nearly always took the time to look. Unfortunately that meant that the flow of the story was somewhat spoilt.
One other minor niggle was that I felt that some characters deserved much more of a back story than they got. At one point the motivation for one of the later characters is being explained then it suddenly turns into a detailed historical description and then back to one of the main protagonist's again. That was a shame because it would have been very satisfying to have learnt more about the actual character.
Overall I would definitely recommend this novel - I just hope that the migraine inducing formatting is sorted out!
Gloria (27 KP) rated Prison Break - Season 3 in TV
Jul 18, 2017
Still Good, But Lacking
Contains spoilers, click to show
As surprising and exciting as ever. The characters grew into something more than themselves. The story continues to amaze. Nothing feels forced even if it was a bit unrealistic for them to end up where they did.
Season 3 of Prison Break takes us back to a familiar scenario. Michael Scofield is trying once again to break out of prison. Only this time the setting is different. The previous season's finale ended on a tense note. It gave us a glimpse at what looked like a more brutal and darker place to be locked up when compared to the Fox River Penitentiary of the show's first season. It showed a lot of promise.
Unfortunately, it doesn't quite live up to that potential. "Sona" comes off as quite tame compared to Fox River. Shocking considering the lack of guards. The sense of anarchy that could have been in place is sadly lacking. That's not to say there isn't a sense of urgency. The lives of these characters are still in danger, and it's still a joy to watch them try and survive. Even if the story isn't up to par with the excellent first two seasons.
The mystery grows larger. Unfortunately, this season is lacking in big reveals. It leads for the season to feel more like a side-story rather than the next big chapter in the story of Michael and crew. A few shocking developments take place and some new players are introduced while older ones are killed off, but it's lacking in all of these categories when compared to previous seasons.
That's not to say the show isn't still enjoyable. It's just lost some steam. I was still on the edge of my seat in every scenario. Even when it was completely obvious that the writers were just teasing us with some tension that we know the characters would wiggle their way out of consequence free. The show is still at its best when it's using its brain. Watching the heroes and villains constantly play a game of chess in order to stay ahead is as thrilling as ever. Prison Break still provides plenty of satisfying moments where a plan comes together and our crew makes a narrow escape. It might not live up to what came before, but there are still plenty of reasons to follow this story.
Season 3 of Prison Break takes us back to a familiar scenario. Michael Scofield is trying once again to break out of prison. Only this time the setting is different. The previous season's finale ended on a tense note. It gave us a glimpse at what looked like a more brutal and darker place to be locked up when compared to the Fox River Penitentiary of the show's first season. It showed a lot of promise.
Unfortunately, it doesn't quite live up to that potential. "Sona" comes off as quite tame compared to Fox River. Shocking considering the lack of guards. The sense of anarchy that could have been in place is sadly lacking. That's not to say there isn't a sense of urgency. The lives of these characters are still in danger, and it's still a joy to watch them try and survive. Even if the story isn't up to par with the excellent first two seasons.
The mystery grows larger. Unfortunately, this season is lacking in big reveals. It leads for the season to feel more like a side-story rather than the next big chapter in the story of Michael and crew. A few shocking developments take place and some new players are introduced while older ones are killed off, but it's lacking in all of these categories when compared to previous seasons.
That's not to say the show isn't still enjoyable. It's just lost some steam. I was still on the edge of my seat in every scenario. Even when it was completely obvious that the writers were just teasing us with some tension that we know the characters would wiggle their way out of consequence free. The show is still at its best when it's using its brain. Watching the heroes and villains constantly play a game of chess in order to stay ahead is as thrilling as ever. Prison Break still provides plenty of satisfying moments where a plan comes together and our crew makes a narrow escape. It might not live up to what came before, but there are still plenty of reasons to follow this story.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Eternal Hourglass (Magickeepers, #1) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
Series Review:
I really enjoyed the Magickeeper series! It's written for ages 8-14, but even I got really into it and enjoyed it a lot.
The stories were both woven well, with plenty of mystery and suspense to keep you reading. Once I started to read, it was hard to put it down. I never knew what to expect and was always surprised. It was like walking through a fun-house: you never knew what was going to be around the corner.
My favorite characters had to be Nick and Isabella, followed closely by Isabella's pet tiger, Sascha. Sascha was just a really cool tiger. Vladimir, the hedgehog, was pretty cool, too. It was fun to watch Nick and Isabella together: they balanced each other well and would be fun people to be around. I wish they were real so we could hang out. Haley why would you want to hang out with thirteen-year-olds? Because they're magician thirteen-year-olds who can disappear and fly and look into crystal balls, and have more adventure in a day that I have in a month.
The writing was good and easy to read and easy to follow, but some of the structure was a little confusing at times. It didn't take away form the action and adventure, though.
I really liked the Russian culture incorporated into the stories. It wasn't overdone, but it was really fun to read the descriptions of the foods and the clothes and the decorations, and learn about some of the traditions. In the second book, The Pyramid of Souls, there was a lot of other cultures incorporated into it as well, because there were Magickeepers from Egypt and Nigeria and a Parisian clan, and Australians… so there were a lot of cool things that went on that we wouldn't normally think about—even in the world of magic.
I look forward to the next book in the Magickeeper series! The Eternal Hourglass came out in paperback on March 31, 2010 and The Pyramid of Souls was just published in hardback on May 1st, 2010.
Content/Recommendation: clean, and suitable for ages 8-16(-ish). I'm 18 and I enjoyed it, and parents would enjoy reading the books out loud to their kids as well!
I really enjoyed the Magickeeper series! It's written for ages 8-14, but even I got really into it and enjoyed it a lot.
The stories were both woven well, with plenty of mystery and suspense to keep you reading. Once I started to read, it was hard to put it down. I never knew what to expect and was always surprised. It was like walking through a fun-house: you never knew what was going to be around the corner.
My favorite characters had to be Nick and Isabella, followed closely by Isabella's pet tiger, Sascha. Sascha was just a really cool tiger. Vladimir, the hedgehog, was pretty cool, too. It was fun to watch Nick and Isabella together: they balanced each other well and would be fun people to be around. I wish they were real so we could hang out. Haley why would you want to hang out with thirteen-year-olds? Because they're magician thirteen-year-olds who can disappear and fly and look into crystal balls, and have more adventure in a day that I have in a month.
The writing was good and easy to read and easy to follow, but some of the structure was a little confusing at times. It didn't take away form the action and adventure, though.
I really liked the Russian culture incorporated into the stories. It wasn't overdone, but it was really fun to read the descriptions of the foods and the clothes and the decorations, and learn about some of the traditions. In the second book, The Pyramid of Souls, there was a lot of other cultures incorporated into it as well, because there were Magickeepers from Egypt and Nigeria and a Parisian clan, and Australians… so there were a lot of cool things that went on that we wouldn't normally think about—even in the world of magic.
I look forward to the next book in the Magickeeper series! The Eternal Hourglass came out in paperback on March 31, 2010 and The Pyramid of Souls was just published in hardback on May 1st, 2010.
Content/Recommendation: clean, and suitable for ages 8-16(-ish). I'm 18 and I enjoyed it, and parents would enjoy reading the books out loud to their kids as well!
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Pyramid of Souls (Magickeepers, #2) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
Series Review:
I really enjoyed the Magickeeper series! It's written for ages 8-14, but even I got really into it and enjoyed it a lot.
The stories were both woven well, with plenty of mystery and suspense to keep you reading. Once I started to read, it was hard to put it down. I never knew what to expect and was always surprised. It was like walking through a fun-house: you never knew what was going to be around the corner.
My favorite characters had to be Nick and Isabella, followed closely by Isabella's pet tiger, Sascha. Sascha was just a really cool tiger. Vladimir, the hedgehog, was pretty cool, too. It was fun to watch Nick and Isabella together: they balanced each other well and would be fun people to be around. I wish they were real so we could hang out. Haley why would you want to hang out with thirteen-year-olds? Because they're magician thirteen-year-olds who can disappear and fly and look into crystal balls, and have more adventure in a day that I have in a month.
The writing was good and easy to read and easy to follow, but some of the structure was a little confusing at times. It didn't take away form the action and adventure, though.
I really liked the Russian culture incorporated into the stories. It wasn't overdone, but it was really fun to read the descriptions of the foods and the clothes and the decorations, and learn about some of the traditions. In the second book, The Pyramid of Souls, there was a lot of other cultures incorporated into it as well, because there were Magickeepers from Egypt and Nigeria and a Parisian clan, and Australians… so there were a lot of cool things that went on that we wouldn't normally think about—even in the world of magic.
I look forward to the next book in the Magickeeper series! The Eternal Hourglass came out in paperback on March 31, 2010 and The Pyramid of Souls was just published in hardback on May 1st, 2010.
Content/Recommendation: clean, and suitable for ages 8-16(-ish). I'm 18 and I enjoyed it, and parents would enjoy reading the books out loud to their kids as well!
I really enjoyed the Magickeeper series! It's written for ages 8-14, but even I got really into it and enjoyed it a lot.
The stories were both woven well, with plenty of mystery and suspense to keep you reading. Once I started to read, it was hard to put it down. I never knew what to expect and was always surprised. It was like walking through a fun-house: you never knew what was going to be around the corner.
My favorite characters had to be Nick and Isabella, followed closely by Isabella's pet tiger, Sascha. Sascha was just a really cool tiger. Vladimir, the hedgehog, was pretty cool, too. It was fun to watch Nick and Isabella together: they balanced each other well and would be fun people to be around. I wish they were real so we could hang out. Haley why would you want to hang out with thirteen-year-olds? Because they're magician thirteen-year-olds who can disappear and fly and look into crystal balls, and have more adventure in a day that I have in a month.
The writing was good and easy to read and easy to follow, but some of the structure was a little confusing at times. It didn't take away form the action and adventure, though.
I really liked the Russian culture incorporated into the stories. It wasn't overdone, but it was really fun to read the descriptions of the foods and the clothes and the decorations, and learn about some of the traditions. In the second book, The Pyramid of Souls, there was a lot of other cultures incorporated into it as well, because there were Magickeepers from Egypt and Nigeria and a Parisian clan, and Australians… so there were a lot of cool things that went on that we wouldn't normally think about—even in the world of magic.
I look forward to the next book in the Magickeeper series! The Eternal Hourglass came out in paperback on March 31, 2010 and The Pyramid of Souls was just published in hardback on May 1st, 2010.
Content/Recommendation: clean, and suitable for ages 8-16(-ish). I'm 18 and I enjoyed it, and parents would enjoy reading the books out loud to their kids as well!
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated The Cutaway in Books
May 16, 2018
I seem to be of a minority when it comes to those that have read Christina Kovac's debut novel The Cutaway. Tagged as a mystery, suspense, and thriller novel, it really doesn't feel like one to me. While there are elements of a typical thriller, the crime at hand and the persons of interest take a back seat to the main character's love life for nearly three-fourths of the novel. In fact, the missing woman is practically non-existent for much of the story. To me, that's a pretty big turn off. I nearly dropped it, actually.
The Cutaway is supposed to focus on Virginia Knightly's efforts of getting the scoop on a missing person. En route to tracking down the perpetrator, readers encounter the typical sort of motives: affairs, money, political intrigue. It's a pretty standard plot when it comes to suspense novels. The twists are predictable and the story remains dreadfully slow until the final twenty to thirty percent.
For the most part, the characters of The Cutaway are painfully flat. Most of the male characters, with the exception of the News Director, are handsome with exceptionally whiny personalities. The News Director, Mellay, is a stereotypical angry boss sort who only cares about his own pockets. Even worse, the female characters are all Mary Sues. Sure, they have their own troubling pasts, but for as much suffering as they went through in their childhoods, the effect it has had on their adulthood is fairly minor. All of the women are drop dead gorgeous, not counting one of the witnesses. Ugh - that's all I can really say about that.
It's also clear from reading the novel that Kovac's most familiar with the reporting side of an investigation, which is to be expected from someone who has spent much of their time in the same career as the main character. Unfortunately, it also lends a bit of blandness to the story telling.
Overall, The Cutaway was an extremely painful read. Many times I considered dropping it: I could not get into the characters and I feel that the novel is more suited to the romance genre. There are several questions left unanswered and parts of it feel either rushed or as if Kovac is simply grasping at straws.
I would like to thank Atria Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review.
The Cutaway is supposed to focus on Virginia Knightly's efforts of getting the scoop on a missing person. En route to tracking down the perpetrator, readers encounter the typical sort of motives: affairs, money, political intrigue. It's a pretty standard plot when it comes to suspense novels. The twists are predictable and the story remains dreadfully slow until the final twenty to thirty percent.
For the most part, the characters of The Cutaway are painfully flat. Most of the male characters, with the exception of the News Director, are handsome with exceptionally whiny personalities. The News Director, Mellay, is a stereotypical angry boss sort who only cares about his own pockets. Even worse, the female characters are all Mary Sues. Sure, they have their own troubling pasts, but for as much suffering as they went through in their childhoods, the effect it has had on their adulthood is fairly minor. All of the women are drop dead gorgeous, not counting one of the witnesses. Ugh - that's all I can really say about that.
It's also clear from reading the novel that Kovac's most familiar with the reporting side of an investigation, which is to be expected from someone who has spent much of their time in the same career as the main character. Unfortunately, it also lends a bit of blandness to the story telling.
Overall, The Cutaway was an extremely painful read. Many times I considered dropping it: I could not get into the characters and I feel that the novel is more suited to the romance genre. There are several questions left unanswered and parts of it feel either rushed or as if Kovac is simply grasping at straws.
I would like to thank Atria Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Broken Promise in Books
May 10, 2018
Promise Falls is a small town that is slowly losing itself. The amusement park has shut down along with the newspaper. Because of this latest incident, David Harwood is forced to move back in with his parents along with his son, Ethan. Eager to find a job he helps his parents with whatever they need around the house. As he takes some food to his cousin, Marla, he makes a startling discovery. She has a baby that she insists an angel has brought to her house. When the mother of that baby is found murdered, David does all he can to protect Marla despite her sorted past.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this title. <u>Broken Promise</u> is the first in a new trilogy by Linwood Barclay. This book wasn't necessarily action packed, but it held my attention completely. By the end of the book there were 23 dead squirrels, 5 dead people, 2 unsolved murders and one strange adoption case. There is a cliffhanger at the end of the book that made me immediately go out and get the second book in the trilogy <u>Far From True</u>. Linwood Barclay is a great storyteller who keeps the reader wanting more.
This book had me asking many questions at the end and wanting to know what is going to happen next. Marla, who is David Harwood's cousin lives alone and posts reviews online for various companies. Less than a year earlier, she had lost her child and her life will never be the same. David was working for the Boston Globe, when he became a single parent, and decided to move back to Promise Falls so that his parents can help him with his son, Ethan. Detective Duckworth is celebrating his 20th year on the force, when these incidents take place. These characters along with the other residents of Promise Fall will spend the three days trying to solve the mysteries that are taking place in their small town. Will Marla be charged with murder? How did this baby really come to be in her possession? Will David be able to get to the bottom of the mystery before he becomes a part of it?
Look out for the rest of the books in the trilogy.
[bookcover:Far From True|25810392]
[bookcover:The Twenty-Three|29429982]
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this title. <u>Broken Promise</u> is the first in a new trilogy by Linwood Barclay. This book wasn't necessarily action packed, but it held my attention completely. By the end of the book there were 23 dead squirrels, 5 dead people, 2 unsolved murders and one strange adoption case. There is a cliffhanger at the end of the book that made me immediately go out and get the second book in the trilogy <u>Far From True</u>. Linwood Barclay is a great storyteller who keeps the reader wanting more.
This book had me asking many questions at the end and wanting to know what is going to happen next. Marla, who is David Harwood's cousin lives alone and posts reviews online for various companies. Less than a year earlier, she had lost her child and her life will never be the same. David was working for the Boston Globe, when he became a single parent, and decided to move back to Promise Falls so that his parents can help him with his son, Ethan. Detective Duckworth is celebrating his 20th year on the force, when these incidents take place. These characters along with the other residents of Promise Fall will spend the three days trying to solve the mysteries that are taking place in their small town. Will Marla be charged with murder? How did this baby really come to be in her possession? Will David be able to get to the bottom of the mystery before he becomes a part of it?
Look out for the rest of the books in the trilogy.
[bookcover:Far From True|25810392]
[bookcover:The Twenty-Three|29429982]
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) in Movies
Feb 6, 2019
Check Into the El Royale, You'll Be Glad You Did
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE is a bloody movie about bloody people doing bloody things at a bloody hotel.
It's also bloody good.
Showing the same original style and panache that I have come to expect from Director/Writer Drew Goddard (THE CABIN IN THE WOODS), BAD TIMES...follows the storytelling device of a Quentin Tarantino flick like PULP FICTION or THE HATEFUL EIGHT in that it follows a seemingly disparate group of people - each with their own story - who's lives intersect.
Goddard's reputation has, obviously, preceded him as on the surface this film looks like a "B" flick filled with gore and violence, but in Goddard's hands - and with some strong acting talent and VERY strong production qualities (the sets, costumes and music help tell the story), this film is elevated to something much more than a "B" flick.
Jeff Bridges (HELL AND HIGH WATER) stars (at least in one storyline) as a mysterious Priest who shows up at the El Royale for some reason - and it's not to change the Bibles in the rooms. He is joined in the lobby at check-in by a lounge singer played by Cynthia Ervino (WIDOWS), vacuum cleaner salesman portrayed by John Hamm (BABY DRIVER) and by a mystery women played by Dakota Johnson (50 SHADES...) - all have secrets to hide and through flashbacks and chance encounters, their stories erupt on each other. And erupt they do when into the mix comes charismatic, mostly shirtless Cult Leader Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth) and his cult followers.
Goddard orchestrates this group of strong actors well, giving each character/actor moments to shine and play off each other. The dialogue, while not at a Tarantino level, was interesting and intriguing as much as what was NOT said then what WAS said.
But, make no mistake about it, this is an action movie - and action there is. Bodies, bullets and blood start flying as soon as these characters collide at the El Royale and bad times happen, for sure.
But, for me, this was a GOOD TIME AT THE EL ROYALE. If you like Pulp Fiction, Baby Driver, Hell and High Water or John Wick, then you'll like this flick. Check in to the El Royale, you'll be glad you did.
Letter Grade: A-
8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)
It's also bloody good.
Showing the same original style and panache that I have come to expect from Director/Writer Drew Goddard (THE CABIN IN THE WOODS), BAD TIMES...follows the storytelling device of a Quentin Tarantino flick like PULP FICTION or THE HATEFUL EIGHT in that it follows a seemingly disparate group of people - each with their own story - who's lives intersect.
Goddard's reputation has, obviously, preceded him as on the surface this film looks like a "B" flick filled with gore and violence, but in Goddard's hands - and with some strong acting talent and VERY strong production qualities (the sets, costumes and music help tell the story), this film is elevated to something much more than a "B" flick.
Jeff Bridges (HELL AND HIGH WATER) stars (at least in one storyline) as a mysterious Priest who shows up at the El Royale for some reason - and it's not to change the Bibles in the rooms. He is joined in the lobby at check-in by a lounge singer played by Cynthia Ervino (WIDOWS), vacuum cleaner salesman portrayed by John Hamm (BABY DRIVER) and by a mystery women played by Dakota Johnson (50 SHADES...) - all have secrets to hide and through flashbacks and chance encounters, their stories erupt on each other. And erupt they do when into the mix comes charismatic, mostly shirtless Cult Leader Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth) and his cult followers.
Goddard orchestrates this group of strong actors well, giving each character/actor moments to shine and play off each other. The dialogue, while not at a Tarantino level, was interesting and intriguing as much as what was NOT said then what WAS said.
But, make no mistake about it, this is an action movie - and action there is. Bodies, bullets and blood start flying as soon as these characters collide at the El Royale and bad times happen, for sure.
But, for me, this was a GOOD TIME AT THE EL ROYALE. If you like Pulp Fiction, Baby Driver, Hell and High Water or John Wick, then you'll like this flick. Check in to the El Royale, you'll be glad you did.
Letter Grade: A-
8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Fade Out (Morganville Vampires #7) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
Yet another good addition to the Morganville Vampires series, Fade Out is all about entertainment, but with a sinister twist. Eve wins a major part in the town's production of Tennessee Williams' A Street Car Named Desire and Claire's quirky boss, Myrnin, seems to have gained his sanity. But underneath this calm surface, rebellion is simmering while Amelie grieves, Ada-the-computer has it in for Claire, and the other goth chick in town, Kim, has less-than-honest designs for Morganville with a suspicious film project in the works.
Claire seems to have worked out a truce with her parents, which I liked since they just seem to get in the way. Her relationship with Shane is adorable and sweet, and I love their loyalty to each other even as they navigate the familiar territory of new romance. In contrast, Eve and Michael have hit a major bump in the road that I saw coming several books back - and I'm still a little annoyed that we don't get more details from Eve's perspective.
Myrnin has to be my favorite character in the series. Even as a sane individual, he is still incredibly unique - from his fashion sense, to the unexpected things he randomly spouts, to his mercurial behavior and unpredictable loyalties among the town's inhabitants. What develops with Ada's subplot in the book shows that beneath the vampire still lurks some humanity, and he obviously has many more secrets that have yet to be revealed.
Amelie grieves for the loss of Sam, and the way she randomly appears in Claire's day-to-day life during this period of stark vulnerability is equal parts mystifying and encouraging. While the downside of this is that the rebellious factions feel stronger, the upside is that the readers gets to see some of the characteristics typical only to humans show themselves in Amelie.
As for Claire herself, Shane makes an observation about her that I think sums her up quite nicely. Some people come to Morganville and disappear, but when Claire came to Morganville, she began to thrive.
Every time I pick up one of the books in this series, I simply can not stop reading until I've finished it - always the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, and supernatural elements to keep me hooked.
Claire seems to have worked out a truce with her parents, which I liked since they just seem to get in the way. Her relationship with Shane is adorable and sweet, and I love their loyalty to each other even as they navigate the familiar territory of new romance. In contrast, Eve and Michael have hit a major bump in the road that I saw coming several books back - and I'm still a little annoyed that we don't get more details from Eve's perspective.
Myrnin has to be my favorite character in the series. Even as a sane individual, he is still incredibly unique - from his fashion sense, to the unexpected things he randomly spouts, to his mercurial behavior and unpredictable loyalties among the town's inhabitants. What develops with Ada's subplot in the book shows that beneath the vampire still lurks some humanity, and he obviously has many more secrets that have yet to be revealed.
Amelie grieves for the loss of Sam, and the way she randomly appears in Claire's day-to-day life during this period of stark vulnerability is equal parts mystifying and encouraging. While the downside of this is that the rebellious factions feel stronger, the upside is that the readers gets to see some of the characteristics typical only to humans show themselves in Amelie.
As for Claire herself, Shane makes an observation about her that I think sums her up quite nicely. Some people come to Morganville and disappear, but when Claire came to Morganville, she began to thrive.
Every time I pick up one of the books in this series, I simply can not stop reading until I've finished it - always the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, and supernatural elements to keep me hooked.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Team Human in Books
Feb 15, 2019
As I started reading Team Human, I couldn't help but feel this was written as a good-natured poke at Twilight and all the vampire ridiculata left in its wake. However, the story leaves its parodying fairly early on and becomes a book in its own right, with characters who have flaws and an interesting world with its own set of rules. All the while written with wit, feeling, and reality.
Mel Duan is the protagonist of the book, who is full of character flaws. She is prejudiced against vampires, rude, thinks she always knows the right thing to do, and is a big buttinsky (I call her Meddling Mel). She's also caring, loyal, helpful, well-meaning, funny, and charming in her own way. Basically, Mel is a real human being. There are two main storylines in the book, the first one about her BFF, Cathy, and her relationship with an uptight vampire. The other dealing with a mystery involving another close friend and her parents. Both are incorporated into the story well, as are the smaller B-plots. Mel doesn't always come across in a very good light, which helps me fall into the world and believe it could be true. Nothing takes me out of a story more than an unrealistically perfect character. Not one of the characters in this book is like that, even Cathy, who does come close. I also love the fact that Mel would typically be the sidekick in any other story and Cathy the main character who falls in love with a vampire. Instead it's the other way around, so we see the over-the-top relationship from the outside, and also from Mel's rather small-minded point-of-view. It's a great idea that luckily works thanks to the talented authors.
The book moves along nicely without seeming hasty, it has lessons that aren't heavy-handed, it features love aspects but it isn't a love story, and most importantly, it has character evolution and believable characters, mainly Mel herself. In the end I was surprised that I had gotten so caught up in outcome of the story and actually cared what happened to these people. Kudos, I'll definitely be reading more from both Sarah Rees Brennan and Justine Larbalestier, and can only hope they conspire to write another book in the future.
Originally Reviewed: February 20, 2013
Received: Amazon Vine
Mel Duan is the protagonist of the book, who is full of character flaws. She is prejudiced against vampires, rude, thinks she always knows the right thing to do, and is a big buttinsky (I call her Meddling Mel). She's also caring, loyal, helpful, well-meaning, funny, and charming in her own way. Basically, Mel is a real human being. There are two main storylines in the book, the first one about her BFF, Cathy, and her relationship with an uptight vampire. The other dealing with a mystery involving another close friend and her parents. Both are incorporated into the story well, as are the smaller B-plots. Mel doesn't always come across in a very good light, which helps me fall into the world and believe it could be true. Nothing takes me out of a story more than an unrealistically perfect character. Not one of the characters in this book is like that, even Cathy, who does come close. I also love the fact that Mel would typically be the sidekick in any other story and Cathy the main character who falls in love with a vampire. Instead it's the other way around, so we see the over-the-top relationship from the outside, and also from Mel's rather small-minded point-of-view. It's a great idea that luckily works thanks to the talented authors.
The book moves along nicely without seeming hasty, it has lessons that aren't heavy-handed, it features love aspects but it isn't a love story, and most importantly, it has character evolution and believable characters, mainly Mel herself. In the end I was surprised that I had gotten so caught up in outcome of the story and actually cared what happened to these people. Kudos, I'll definitely be reading more from both Sarah Rees Brennan and Justine Larbalestier, and can only hope they conspire to write another book in the future.
Originally Reviewed: February 20, 2013
Received: Amazon Vine