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Dean (6927 KP) rated Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) in Movies
May 9, 2022 (Updated May 23, 2022)
Horror elements (2 more)
Some unexpected cameos
Great action scenes
Probably need to see Wanda Vision series to understand it more (1 more)
Main plot line isn't that great
Something a little different
Well after Spider-Man No way home I had very high hopes for this and really enjoyed the first Dr Strange film.
Following closely on from No way home as more about the multi verse is discovered. With Sam Raimi directing there are some nice Horror theme touches throughout the film. So making this a bit different to the normal Marvel fare. I was a bit surprised at the plot direction of the main story, having not seen Wanda Vision series. I imagine that would fill in a lot of gaps before seeing this. There are plenty of nice surprises through the various Multiverses.
Still it has amazing visuals and action scenes as you expect from Marvel filling out the blockbuster standard you expect. Definitely one to see on the big screen.
Following closely on from No way home as more about the multi verse is discovered. With Sam Raimi directing there are some nice Horror theme touches throughout the film. So making this a bit different to the normal Marvel fare. I was a bit surprised at the plot direction of the main story, having not seen Wanda Vision series. I imagine that would fill in a lot of gaps before seeing this. There are plenty of nice surprises through the various Multiverses.
Still it has amazing visuals and action scenes as you expect from Marvel filling out the blockbuster standard you expect. Definitely one to see on the big screen.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2528 KP) rated Kilned at the Ceramic Shop in Books
Feb 18, 2025
Broken Debut
Tammy Wright is taking time this summer to help her Aunt Clara run her ceramics shop. But she’s only been in town a few hours before she learns about a real estate agent who is pressuring Clara to sell. A murder and a disappearance only up the stakes. Can Tammy figure out what is going on?
Yes, the ceramics is what caught my eye here, although that’s not the official hook for the series. It reminded me of the few months I did some with my grandma and how much she enjoyed that hobby for decades. But that was where the good ended for me. The writing was poor throughout the book. The pacing was off with events substituting for investigation. And the characters were weak, although I did like them. There was definitely promise here, but the book needed a good edit. Others seemed to enjoy this book more than I did, but I won’t be moving forward with this series.
Yes, the ceramics is what caught my eye here, although that’s not the official hook for the series. It reminded me of the few months I did some with my grandma and how much she enjoyed that hobby for decades. But that was where the good ended for me. The writing was poor throughout the book. The pacing was off with events substituting for investigation. And the characters were weak, although I did like them. There was definitely promise here, but the book needed a good edit. Others seemed to enjoy this book more than I did, but I won’t be moving forward with this series.
Merissa (13931 KP) rated Curious Cameron (Secret Lives of Hot Twinks #1) in Books
Mar 18, 2025
CURIOUS CAMERON is the first novella in the Secret Lives of Hot Twinks series.
The titular character, Cam, has been diagnosed with ADHD and dropped out of art school. His gay best friend, Trevor, is in the military and they married to help each other out. Now, you know it's not going to stay that way!
This is a novella so it moves very fast, especially once Cameron's curiosity kicks into gear. Trevor is happy to help, although I did like the scene where he had second thoughts.
A quick, fun, lighthearted read that is full of spice. A great introduction to the series and I hope to read more. Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 18, 2025
The titular character, Cam, has been diagnosed with ADHD and dropped out of art school. His gay best friend, Trevor, is in the military and they married to help each other out. Now, you know it's not going to stay that way!
This is a novella so it moves very fast, especially once Cameron's curiosity kicks into gear. Trevor is happy to help, although I did like the scene where he had second thoughts.
A quick, fun, lighthearted read that is full of spice. A great introduction to the series and I hope to read more. Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 18, 2025
Rachel King (13 KP) rated At Grave's End (Night Huntress, #3) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
I find it funny that with all of the vampire books I have read over the years, I still have not tired of the theme. In this third book in the Night Huntress series, Jeaniene Frost continues to make life interesting for Cat and Bones and friends by adding a little magic to the mix, specifically from the legendary Cleopatra's daughter-turned-vampire, Patra, who also happens to be Bones's grandsire-turned-partner, Mancheres's wife. Life as a vampire only becomes more convoluted for Cat as Bones gains a few new abilities, and Cat learns why vamps are not allowed to practice magic. When they learn that Patra has sent "the grave" after Bones, I had visions of horror movies dancing in my head - and I was not that far off in my guesses. Since I am not a fan of this particular fad in fantasy fiction, I was glad that Frost depicted these paranormal creatures so horrifically.
One of the elements that I also like about this series is the humor - which Frost delivers in the form of Cat's mother, who embraces the circumstances of Cat and friends' protection with surprising relish. Without spoiling this juicy tidbit, I will say I laughed out loud when I read about the change in Cat's mother.
On the flip side, when anguish hits Cat hard, I felt her pain more than I expected to, even though I harbored doubts about what had really occurred. The emotion that Frost conveys in this section of the plot feels as real as if I felt the same loss as Cat.
There are many other interesting tidbits in the book, such as what almost occurs with Tate - and the result, Juan's decision, as well as the truce that develops between Annette and Cat. This is why I love series - side characters get more plot time, subplots can continue to mature, and I don't have to leave the imagined world behind just because I closed the book! I can't wait for the next book, Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress, Book 4).
One of the elements that I also like about this series is the humor - which Frost delivers in the form of Cat's mother, who embraces the circumstances of Cat and friends' protection with surprising relish. Without spoiling this juicy tidbit, I will say I laughed out loud when I read about the change in Cat's mother.
On the flip side, when anguish hits Cat hard, I felt her pain more than I expected to, even though I harbored doubts about what had really occurred. The emotion that Frost conveys in this section of the plot feels as real as if I felt the same loss as Cat.
There are many other interesting tidbits in the book, such as what almost occurs with Tate - and the result, Juan's decision, as well as the truce that develops between Annette and Cat. This is why I love series - side characters get more plot time, subplots can continue to mature, and I don't have to leave the imagined world behind just because I closed the book! I can't wait for the next book, Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress, Book 4).
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Before The Storm (DCI Lorimer #18) in Books
Mar 28, 2021
Where have I been living and why have I never read anything by Alex Gray before? This is book 18 for heaven's sake!!! I must have been living under a rock and walking around with my eyes closed to have missed this series because if the previous 17 are anything close to being as good as this, I really have been missing out on a treat. I was a little concerned that coming into an already well established series wasn't a good idea but I needn't have worried as this worked really well as a standalone.
This is an excellent police procedural with a very up-to-date and relevant story line. It is not a white-knuckle, action packed story and it's not full of swearing, violence or gory details but it is written at a steady pace with a growing sense of tension and urgency which makes it a compulsive and riveting read.
The characters are so good and so well developed that I really felt I knew them. I read a lot of crime fiction and police procedurals and I have to say that it is refreshing for the main character not to be full of his own troubles or issues or who is in conflict with either his colleagues or his bosses. Daniel was an excellent addition and his relationship with his neighbour, Netta, was a joy to read ... I do hope that these 2 make an appearance in subsequent books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would very much recommend this to everyone and I must thank The Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased and unedited review.
Alex Gray is definitely on my watchlist now!
This is an excellent police procedural with a very up-to-date and relevant story line. It is not a white-knuckle, action packed story and it's not full of swearing, violence or gory details but it is written at a steady pace with a growing sense of tension and urgency which makes it a compulsive and riveting read.
The characters are so good and so well developed that I really felt I knew them. I read a lot of crime fiction and police procedurals and I have to say that it is refreshing for the main character not to be full of his own troubles or issues or who is in conflict with either his colleagues or his bosses. Daniel was an excellent addition and his relationship with his neighbour, Netta, was a joy to read ... I do hope that these 2 make an appearance in subsequent books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would very much recommend this to everyone and I must thank The Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased and unedited review.
Alex Gray is definitely on my watchlist now!
ClareR (6129 KP) rated The Fool’s Folly in Books
Jun 9, 2020
The Fool’s Folly is set in 1485 in Yorkshire, England, when King Richard III has been on the throne for two years. It must have been a very unsettling time to live in: not knowing whether your King has murdered his nephews, not knowing how much longer the King will actually keep the throne (Henry Tudor was a very real threat at this time), and not knowing what your fate will be if you chose the wrong side!
This story is set at Sandal Castle, the seat of John de la Pole, King Richard’s heir (and now it becomes clear why Henry VIII wanted to get rid of the de la Pole family!). De la Pole’s jester is murdered, and the newly appointed judge, Sir Giles Beaton, is asked to get to the bottom of the mystery. What starts out as a seemingly open and shut case, ends up being the start of a killing spree. Giles has to wonder if the deaths are connected, and whether this has something to do with a plot against the King and his heir.
It’s a bit gruesome at points - I liked this, I will admit. Medieval postmortems wouldn’t have been for the more sensitive observer (or reader!), I’m sure. I do have a bit of a thing for historical fiction, and a newly developed respect for crime and mysteries. I appreciate the attention to detail, and the research that must have occurred in writing this book, it feels very authentic.
I haven’t read the first book in this series, but it didn’t affect my reading enjoyment at all. In fact it has made me want to read the first in the series as well!
Many thanks to Sapere Books for sending me a copy of this book to read and review!
This story is set at Sandal Castle, the seat of John de la Pole, King Richard’s heir (and now it becomes clear why Henry VIII wanted to get rid of the de la Pole family!). De la Pole’s jester is murdered, and the newly appointed judge, Sir Giles Beaton, is asked to get to the bottom of the mystery. What starts out as a seemingly open and shut case, ends up being the start of a killing spree. Giles has to wonder if the deaths are connected, and whether this has something to do with a plot against the King and his heir.
It’s a bit gruesome at points - I liked this, I will admit. Medieval postmortems wouldn’t have been for the more sensitive observer (or reader!), I’m sure. I do have a bit of a thing for historical fiction, and a newly developed respect for crime and mysteries. I appreciate the attention to detail, and the research that must have occurred in writing this book, it feels very authentic.
I haven’t read the first book in this series, but it didn’t affect my reading enjoyment at all. In fact it has made me want to read the first in the series as well!
Many thanks to Sapere Books for sending me a copy of this book to read and review!
SummerLGrant (185 KP) rated Sense8 - Season 2 in TV
Aug 11, 2017
A deeper exploration of the world (2 more)
Character development for those neglected in the first series
Hugely addictive
A decent follow up but doesn't match the first series
This is a decent follow up to the first season but it just doesn't quite match up. The story is still great and so are the characters but there was something missing from this season. It's great to get resolution to some stories carried over from season 1 and there's more questions thrown up by the introduction of other Sense8s, which creates a much deeper world that's begging to be explored.
While it might not be up to the standards of the first season there was no reason for Netflix not to renew the contract, I'm pretty sure a third season would've been able to wrap up everything nicely and satisfyingly. Thankfully, the fans came out in force and Netflix and the Wachowski's have managed to negotiate a feature length episode to finish the story. Hopefully it'll be the story Sense8 deserves
While it might not be up to the standards of the first season there was no reason for Netflix not to renew the contract, I'm pretty sure a third season would've been able to wrap up everything nicely and satisfyingly. Thankfully, the fans came out in force and Netflix and the Wachowski's have managed to negotiate a feature length episode to finish the story. Hopefully it'll be the story Sense8 deserves
David McK (3764 KP) rated Lord of War (Warrior #5) in Books
Jun 3, 2023
The final part of Simon Scarrow and Tj Andrews's 'Warrior' series of novellas, and I now have a confession to make: whilst I have been reviewing each part individually, I actually read them all as one when they were published as a collected work (which may have made the 'intro' and 'outro' of each individual component more obvious).
Anyway, this actually breaks with the previous entries in that it did *not* start in Rome with the sub-plot of Caratacus recounting his experiences to a historian and hence possible bringing that historian some unwelcome attention, but instead picks up from where the last entry left off.
The main thrust of this particular story is also about a battle between the two main tribes of the Atrabates and the Catuvellaunians for control of the settlement of Lhandain, with Caratacus discovering there is a traitor in their midst but with that traitor - as the story ends - not yet unmasked.
Possibly for another series before/alongside the Roman invasion depicted in the Cato and Macro novels?
Anyway, this actually breaks with the previous entries in that it did *not* start in Rome with the sub-plot of Caratacus recounting his experiences to a historian and hence possible bringing that historian some unwelcome attention, but instead picks up from where the last entry left off.
The main thrust of this particular story is also about a battle between the two main tribes of the Atrabates and the Catuvellaunians for control of the settlement of Lhandain, with Caratacus discovering there is a traitor in their midst but with that traitor - as the story ends - not yet unmasked.
Possibly for another series before/alongside the Roman invasion depicted in the Cato and Macro novels?
Awix (3310 KP) rated The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) in Movies
Mar 2, 2018 (Updated Mar 2, 2018)
A career that spanned over forty-five years, included nearly seventy movies, and featured the same accent every single time came to an end with this, Sean Connery's final on-screen appearance, in a would-be blockbuster based on Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's idiosyncratic comic series. The original heroes of pulp fiction are assembled to battle a mysterious villain with plans for world domination.
Connery had one of his massive spats with the director and virtually disowned the movie, but it's not really as bad as all that. It's not nearly as subtle, dark or clever as the comic book, obviously, and there's a horrendous moment in the second act where the whole thing grinds to a halt, but the effects are never less than competent, and the art direction is good. In the Marvel age of movies this is not without interest, making clear as it does the debt comic book heroes owe to the characters of an earlier age. Inevitably a bit of a disappointment, but not even the worst superhero movie of 2003.
Connery had one of his massive spats with the director and virtually disowned the movie, but it's not really as bad as all that. It's not nearly as subtle, dark or clever as the comic book, obviously, and there's a horrendous moment in the second act where the whole thing grinds to a halt, but the effects are never less than competent, and the art direction is good. In the Marvel age of movies this is not without interest, making clear as it does the debt comic book heroes owe to the characters of an earlier age. Inevitably a bit of a disappointment, but not even the worst superhero movie of 2003.
Grumpy Goblin (123 KP) rated The Boys Volume 2: Get Some in Books
Jul 23, 2019 (Updated Jul 23, 2019)
Great artwork (2 more)
Dark yet comical storylines
Another great twist on your avarage superhero GN
It didn't carry on directly with main the storyline (2 more)
It may be somewhat insulting to a more delicate reader
Not as strong a storyline as the previous volume
Brilliantly Controversial
I did enjoy this volume, but felt the first part of the storyline wasn't as strong as Volume 1 of the boys and may have been aimed at getting more of a shock value from the controversial content than actually carrying on with the main story objective.
The second part however certainly left me wanting to carry on with the series and excited to read the next installment of the series.
The second part however certainly left me wanting to carry on with the series and excited to read the next installment of the series.