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Bysa (2 KP) rated The Hunger Games in Books

Sep 19, 2018  
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins | 2014 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.5 (277 Ratings)
Book Rating
**This read was hard to put down. I initially held-out on getting the book because I heard I should get all three books of the series before hand because I will want to keep reading. That person was so right! I am angry with myself for waiting to read this book! I planned on going to the movie opening later this month but I wanted to finish this book before-hand. So glad I did.**

I think the author did an incredible job demonstrating each characters motivations. The characters are very memorable. I did not find any time where I wanted to stop reading or where the story slowed to a point where I couldn't go on. Many books have done that for me, not this one. I would definitely re-read this book and would go as far as to buy all my tweenies and/or youngin's in the family a copy!
  
DM
Death's Mistress (Dorina Basarab, #2)
Karen Chance | 2010 | Romance
10
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dorina Basarab is my favourite series by my favourite author. In the second installment we get to have more exciting adventures with and against vampires and fey. Dory is strong but is not invincible (especially now she is up against some formiddable opponents). This is so refreshing to read. Not a sucky chosen one who flicks het magic wand and all is ok. It's edge of your seat, sassy never give up attitude will pull you in again. Can't wait to get my fangs into the next book.
  
The Timeless One
The Timeless One
James Riley | 2020 | Children, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sets the Stage Well for a Climactic Battle
Fort Fitzgerald is home for the first time in months, separated from all the new friends he’s made. He, Rachel, and Jia have one year to re-find Excalibur and train to fight the Timeless One. Meanwhile, Fort also has a baby dragon he not only has to try to hide from his guardians but also from someone who has been sent to find it.

That’s all I am going to tease for fear of spoiling something from this book or previous books. Don’t start here if you are new to the series since there will be spoilers for some of the twists from earlier books in this one. But fans of the series will enjoy it. I found the post-apocalyptic feeling I had reading the previous book wasn’t as strong in this one. The story is engaging with twists and turns, but there was more humor, with I enjoyed. The characters are as sharp as ever, although Fort spends a bit more time here away from the other series regulars. This book walks the fine line between setting up the next (and final in the series) without leaving us disappointed in this part of the saga, and it does it perfectly. There is definitely a climax to this book, but the cliffhangers will leave other fans as anxious as I am to find out what happens to Fort next.
  
CO
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Elizabeth Miles makes her living as a con woman, an unusual profession for a woman in 1917. However, when her latest con goes south, she finds herself on the run from the mark’s goons. In her attempts to escape, she joins a group of suffragists outside the White House and is delighted when they are arrested. But has she truly escaped the men searching for her?

If you pick up this book expecting a murder and five suspects, you’ll be disappointed. However, with those adjusted expectations pick up this book because it is wonderful. The story is captivating and moves quickly; I always had a hard time putting the book down. This may be the first in a series, but the characters are already strong. I’m not normally one to root for a criminal, but I couldn’t help but root for Elizabeth in this book. Real history is woven in without slowing down the fictional story at all. I’m not sure where the series will go from this wonderful beginning, but I can’t wait to find out.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-city-of-lies-by-victoria.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Stanley&#039;s Christmas Redemption (Mission City #2)
Stanley's Christmas Redemption (Mission City #2)
Gabbi Grey | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Stanley does redeem himself!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Mission City series, but I am reading it after I've already book 3. It only means I know that there is a happy ever after for Stanley and Justin. They can be read as stand alone books though.

I wasn't sure I'd like Stanley, after what he did to Maddox from book 1, but the man does redeem himself beautifully here, eventually!

It's a very instalove book, much in keeping with book 1. Mid level smexy times, not explicit but thats really not what this book is about.

This book is about looking at your previous life choices, recognising that maybe they weren't the best choice, and trying to make good on them. Stanley does a complete 180 turn at the beginning of this book and it was a bit whiplash-y but it all comes good! I really did like that Maddox became friends with Stanley, in the end.

The ansgt level is mid range, but very much inkeeping with the other two books.

I'm really enjoying this series, I want to visit Mission City again real soon!

4 solid stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Mortal Instruments 1: City of Bones
The Mortal Instruments 1: City of Bones
Cassandra Clare | 2007 | Children
4
8.2 (111 Ratings)
Book Rating
Characters (2 more)
Diversity
Plot Twists
Some of those Plot Twists (1 more)
Overdone & Prolonged
Another I Wanted to Like
Contains spoilers, click to show
This is more of a overall review for the series, well, up to book 4 as I gave up on trying to get through it all at that point because by then I was tired of the senseless drama.

I wanted to like this series because my friend at the time liked it on top of it sounded interesting. By then the movie was out for it and rumors of the TV show was circling around in the Tumblr community. So, between her and the rest of Booklr I thought why not give it a shot? It couldn't be that bad. Oh how I was wrong.

I shocked a series like this has gained such popularity when really it's good at most. It's not amazing. It's not stunning. It's not special. It's an okay book, with an okay plot, and your basic set of characters.


A girl is average at best, her best friend loves her, and she's being thrown into a world where she's "the one". Oh, did I mention there is a perfect, hot guy with his pals who appear to both be jealous of her? AND THERE'S MORE! The totally hot guy is falling for her...... but they're brother and sister. Oh and they are okay with hooking up despite that. Sort of. It's major conflict. Until you learn they are related and her father was simply messing with them to cause problems in the hopes it would help him have both of them on his side.


As much as Clare offers different types of paranormal things it's all overdone and overplayed. Many times the moments that are suppose to change the whole game in the series are dragged out to the point you're bored to death. Sure, there are gay characters, but they feel more like a "come look at me I'm for your rights even though I'm using your suffering as a way to promote my books as me accepting you" rather than the characters written as simply real. Most of the time that's how secondary characters feel in the series as they are there to be there but not actually meant to be there. Yes, let that idea settle for a second.


I felt like many if Clare had a better team of people proof reading her drafts, pointed out some of these things were not okay (Incest for one), and had people guide her to make the characters more real this could have been a better set of books to me. Maybe it is me still wanting to like it. I'm not sure honestly. I just wish for such a popular series it was worthy of it for everyone.
  
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Lewis John Hatchett (23 KP) rated Tolkien (2019) in Movies

May 16, 2019 (Updated May 16, 2019)  
Tolkien (2019)
Tolkien (2019)
2019 | Biography, Drama
Story, cast, visuals, music. (0 more)
Slow to start but great throughout. (0 more)
Unexpectedly Amazing
Went into the film only hearing mildly good things about the film but otherwise not much anticipation, came out feeling blown away. From a not so terrific idea for a story comes a film that explains the inspirations behind what some may consider the best literary series of all time.


Visually stunning for a film set in the late 1800s through WW1 and a soundtrack fitting for the film. Cast was chosen well and stand out performance from Nicholas Hoult in the titular role.


For a film that looked to be just about Tolkienand how he wrote The Lord of The Rings & The Hobbit series, it's so much more. If this doesn't at least receive some nominations for awards I would be shocked. If you have not seen it go see it before it's too late.
  
Rendezvous with Rama - Rama Book 1
Rendezvous with Rama - Rama Book 1
Arthur C. Clarke | 1973 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
4
7.0 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
A little bland and clinical, more for hardcore sci-fi fans
I struggled with this book, mainly for its mechanical nature and rather bland storyline. For hard-core fans of 2001: Space Odyssey, this may be more of an interest given it's the same writer, but for a sci-fi rookie, it was like reading an engineering manual as they clinically detail the climate and condition of this astral being named Rama. And not much else happens apart from them walking across this horizon. It may require reading the entire series of books to see the full picture, but as a stand-alone book, it doesn't seem to work.
  
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
2019 | Sci-Fi, Thriller
Amazing Finish
This is a an amazing movie and worth the three hour time frame. It is the epic ending that the infinity series deserved. The storytelling was absolutely breath taking, just watching it brought back memories from watching all of these characters grow and develop over this past decade. I highly recommend seeing it and to watch all 21 marvel movies if you already haven't seen them. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will experience many emotions before the end of this movie. I feel you all will not regret going to see this movie. As Stan Lee always used to say, Excelsior my fellow fans.