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ClareR (5577 KP) rated Ravensong in Books

Jan 26, 2024  
Ravensong
Ravensong
TJ Klune | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I’m developing a serious TJ Klune addiction, and I’m ok with that.

This Bennett pack, though! They’re not just putting themselves through the emotional wringer - what about me?!

I loved reading Gordo’s story - his trauma, sadness, abandonment issues - and how he’s found again.

All of these books have been a joy so far (and I’ve already read the next in the series). What I particularly like, is how I’m drawn in to this book, and how I become so invested in their lives. Look, I know it’s a story about a werewolf pack, but at no point does it seem to be “just” a werewolf book. There are so many parallels that can be drawn to real people’s lives (especially that of found family). And that’s why I love them.

And werewolves. Of course.
  
Bored Gay Werewolf
Bored Gay Werewolf
Tony Santorella | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Humor & Comedy, LGBTQ+
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
There’s not a huge amount left to the imagination in this book. It does exactly what the title says: Brian is bored, he’s gay and he’s a werewolf. However, he is a werewolf who is out of control during the full moon - as the dead joggers will attest to - and out of control as a man the rest of the time (too much alcohol, a lot of casual sex, not taking care of himself).

Enter Tyler. He’s also a werewolf, and he wants to create a pack for the 21st century, along with a website and an app. He’s not the nicest of characters, unlike Brian’s work colleagues who are both lovely!

It’s a great cast of characters, and a rather amusing tale on modern life, with toxic masculinity, capitalism and the culture of Wellness - along with some of the most disgusting sounding smoothies and fitness regimes - front and centre.

If there’s another book coming up in a series, I’d love to know if Brian is still in his dead end job, drinking too much, or whether he has decided to take up the job offer at the end of the book.

This book made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion - and this is surely as good a reason as any to want more!!
  
The Wolf Man (1941)
The Wolf Man (1941)
1941 | Horror
7
8.1 (9 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The first Universal werewolf film to really make an impression doesn't have the same iconic status as either Frankenstein or Dracula, but is still a much more proficient movie in purely technical terms. Larry Talbot is plunged into a world of misery and horror when he returns to his family home in Wales; many visitors to the principality will probably empathise, but his experience is particularly bad when he is bitten by a gypsy and becomes a werewolf.

Solid story, decently structured; the wolf man make-up is honestly not that great, and neither is Chaney's performance, but the rest of the cast is decent and the plot rattles along. Notable as the film which established the 'rules' of lycanthropy as far as mainstream cinema is concerned. As ever, probably more interesting from a historical point of view than as a genuine piece of entertainment, but still a film which has deservedly resonated in the culture.
  
The Wolf Man (1941)
The Wolf Man (1941)
1941 | Horror
10
8.1 (9 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A classic Universal Monster Movie (2 more)
Lon Chaney Jr
Claude Rains
Even a Man who is pure of heart....
Even a man who is pure of heart, and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms, and the Autumn moon is bright.

Heard that before in other werewolf movies, well this was it's origin. Created purely for the film, this poem even had some people believing it was an original folklore saying. If you have watched a handful of werewolf movies, then you will have noticed a lot of similarities;

- Silver bullets
- Wolfsbane
- Full Moon
- Not being able to retreat their acts from their loved ones
- Pentagrams
- Gypsies
- Gypsy Curses
- A Bite or scratch from the werewolf turns you

Some of these were originally created by the writers working on this film, and have become stereotypes that inspire many other werewolf films, TV Shows, Books, and Games etc.

The portrayal of Lawrence Talbot, by Lon Chaney Jr. is one that makes the classic Universal Monsters so special. Just like Frankenstein's Monster, the audiences of the 40's would have been frightened and horrified by these creatures, enough so that they wouldn't realise that they are in actual fact, suppose to sympathize with them, because when you watch the creatures being chased and hunted,the angry mobs fail to understand that these creatures never wanted this. Frankenstein's Monster never asked to be created, or to have the brain of a criminal mistakenly placed into his head instead of that of a civilized man. Larry Talbot never asked for the Wolf Man's curse, which he encountered whilst trying to save the life of a young female friend of his love interest.

With a great story and, at the time, revolutionary stop motion effects for the wolf man transformation, but of course the most important aspect, the beautifully crafted practical effects, the makeup that brings the creature to life, is incredible. My favourite of the classic Universal Monster Movies and one of my favourite movies of all time.
  
3.5 stars.

I liked this, mainly the sizzling attraction between Jolie and Rand. And don't forget Jolie and the werewolf who's name I've forgotten. Or Jolie and Sinjin, the vampire. Everybody wants her.

But I was all for Rand, though his reluctance to sleep with her annoyed me throughout the book. Though after his description of the joining of them, I'm not too surprised that he's resisted so far.

I'm a little disappointed with the ending, I guess I was expecting for the war with Belle to actually end ready for another story in the second but I can see it's likely to stretch across all the books in the series.

I will certainly be reading more of the series I just don't know when.
  
The Return of the Vampire (1944)
The Return of the Vampire (1944)
1944 | Classics, Horror
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Bela Lugosi (0 more)
Vampire Telsa
The Return of the Vampire- at first I thought it was a sequel to "Mark of the Vampire", but it was not. Second i thought it might be a sequel to "Dracula", than i was like it couldnt be cause ths film was made by Columbia not Univerisal. So what is it than. Its a stand-alone. Its Bela Lugosi playing as a vampire, sound like anethor film? Anyways..

The Plot: In 1918 London, Hungarian vampire Armand Tesla (Bela Lugosi) uses his servant, werewolf Andreas Obry (Matt Willis), to assist in procuring victims. When a friend of Lady Jane Ainsley (Frieda Inescort) becomes Tesla's next victim, Jane and an acquaintance stalk the vampire and kill him by driving a stake through his heart. But 23 years later, a German bomb disturbs Tesla's grave, and cemetery workers restoring the site pull the stake from his corpse, bringing him back to life to seek revenge.

The Return of the Vampire is not an official sequel to Lugosi's 1931 Universal Studios film Dracula, but the film has been interpreted by David J. Skal as an unofficial follow-up with Lugosi's character renamed only because the film was not made by Universal.

Bela Lugosi's scenes were filmed in August and September 1943, prior to his final two Monogram films. This was also the last time he would receive top billing by a major Hollywood studio.

Its a really good film.
  
AF
Awaiting Fate (Fated Immortals, #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved this so much. I read this one not realizing it was a spin off from another series, but it wasn't necessary to read the other series first even though I do have a feeling I would understand some of the characters more if I had. However, it is NOT needed at all. Cain is so hott. He is a demon, he is sexy, and when he turns demon so much yummy. He has insecurities and jealousy. He loves his mate so much but is worried she won't want or need him so he takes his time. Olivia is amazing. She is so strong but thinks she isn't. She was sheltered because of her fear and needing her brother so much. She falls for Cain who is a demon and she is a werewolf so she isn't supposed to love a demon. They both have to work through so much just to be together including his issues and her brother. This is an amazing start to this series and thanks to reading this one I now need to read the other series before this one. I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal romance.
  
TW
The Wolf Next Door (Westfield Wolves, #3)
Lydia Dare | 2010
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Wolf Next Door by Lydia Dare
Genre: Paranormal werewolf romance, historical fiction
ISBN:9781402236969
Published: June 1st 2010 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Rating:

Years ago, William Westfield and Pricia Hawthorne were in love—but Pricia's heart was broken and she refuses to let the scoundrel forget it. She knows now that he never committed the accused crime… but she can't bare to give her heart to him again. Even though she wants to.

Will has established his reputation as the best lover in six centuries. And he knows he did it to get Pricia out of his head. He still loves and adores her, snotty remarks and spirited personality and rule-breaking attitude and all. But when he is forced to visit the Hawthorne house to escort his sisters-in-law, he discovers that another man—another Lycan man—is pursuing her hand in marriage. Will doesn't think: The games are over. He decides that he will do anything and everything to keep the other werewolf away, and claim her forever.

This was, out of the three Westfield stories, my favorite. From the time I started reading, I couldn't put it down. It was fast-paced, exciting, and romantic. Although can I say that the covers—for this one and the others—could have been better? Still, I loved the story.

Will has always been my favorite Westfield, because of his happy, funny, warm, laid-back personality… and I loved seeing him desperately in love, trying his hardest to charm Pricia's socks off. Pricia is my favorite kind of heroine: the kind that can hold her own, especially with five brothers. Put Will and Pricia together, and you have an epic couple: They love each other, they hate each other. But they only hate each other because they love each other… a never-ending circle, a never-ending conversation, and a never-ending story… but a very satisfying ending to the book.

The plot was a lot more exciting than Dare's other werewolf stories—not to say the others aren't exciting. But this one surpassed the others. The other Lycan threatening Will's happiness added a good conflict to the story. Pricia's execution of torture on poor Will was both pitiful and hilarious. There was a war going on between the two wolves, and a war going on between the lovers, and it made for a stay-up-until-3-AM kind of book.

One of the reasons this one was probably my favorite, was because it wasn't sappy. I'm not saying the others are: but there was this running theme of the woman telling the man she was in love with him, and the man not admitting it until way too late, and causing problems because of it. There was none of that in The Wolf Next Door. Will straight up told Pricia that he loved her. He told her father he loved her. He told his brothers, and her brothers, that he loved her. And it made their romance much better and much more believable.

Magic, romance, heart-break, rivals, witches, and true love…all tied together with a sweet, naive, innocent little devil, and a very handsome werewolf. This one is begging to be re-read.

Content/recommendation: Little language, some sex. Ages 18+
  
Midnight In Berlin
Midnight In Berlin
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not really one for me :-(
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Covered in feathers, Leon hitchhikes back to his hostel. But Christoph mistakes Leon for a rogue werewolf, and bites him, making Leon like Christoph. Waking up in a house full of others, Leon is more worried about Christoph than his own fate. After Leon frees Christoph, and the truth about their history becomes clear, Leon and Christoph want to leave the pack. But not everyone will let them.

I'm rally not sure how I feel about this book! I did not love it, at all but I didn't hate it either. This is going to be one of those short reviews, and I apologise for that!

It's almost clean, which surprised me, don't know WHY it surprised me, but it did. Also surprised by the fact that I rather liked that it was!

It is, however, quite violent in places. Graphically so, and I did find it a bit too much for me. Someone else might not find it as bad, but me? I didn't like that.

It's told entirely from Leon's point of view and of course I wanted to hear from Christoph. He makes some spur of the moment, life changing decisions here and I needed to know what was going through his mind at those key points in the story.

What Leon does say, is in the first person, past tense, His voice is well written, and well delivered and he gets all the important emotions across in all the right places. I saw no spelling or editing errors to spoil my reading.

I jst don't know if this book was for me, that's all! And Lord knows, I say it often enough, but it pains me when I can't word why I do or do not love a book.

So I'll leave it at that.

3 solid stars.

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
I have enjoyed every book in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series by Mercedes Lackey, and I eagerly waited for her to cover my favorite fairy tale, that of Beauty and the Beast. This book combines my favorite fairy tale with Little Red Riding Hood and a dash of Cinderella, all with its own unique twist characteristic of the series. While I had the ending predicted quite early in my reading, I still enjoyed following the character development and watching it all play out.
Bella is very much the modernized damsel in distress, as she finds a way to do her own saving, and chooses who she would rather fall in love with, rather than let the Tradition dictate her actions. As she learns about the manipulations of the Tradition, she also realizes her own way of unconsciously dealing with it and the power she has over it. I loved her intelligence and creativity in solving the daily problems that riddled her life, especially with the invisible servants at the Duke's residence.
Duke Sebastian is an interesting character -- a wizard werewolf with hermit-like habits -- he is the direct opposite of the type of character I expected to play the role of "Beast" in this fairy tale, but I like him all the same. His devotion to his craft makes him absentminded about everything else in his life, and except for when he is a werewolf, he likely would not hurt a fly. Bella's interactions with him draw him out and show him that he can have so much more in his life.
I also enjoyed Godmother Elena's part in the book, along with her mirror servant, as they cemented this book into the series and reminded me of some of the details that I had forgotten from previous books.