Search
Search results
Merissa (13443 KP) rated Uprising (The Outliers #2) in Books
May 31, 2018
Uprising (The Outliers #2) by Kate L. Mary
Uprising is the second book in The Outliers series. I thought the first book was amazing, but this one is even better! We reunite with Indra as she starts back at work in the Sovereign city. She feels different now, with the strength that Bodhi encouraged. She is not prepared to go back to being meek and mild, as she was before. Asa is still working for the Sovereign.
This book has so much packed into it, it's quite unbelievable. With action, hope, and heartbreak, there is plenty to keep you turning the pages. There are plenty of twists and turns as Indra works to bring the Outlier tribes together, to beat the Fortis and Sovereign. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how the women of the Winta tribe worked together, although you can see the cracks in the seams. I can't wait to see where this goes next.
It does end on one helluva cliffhanger, so fair warning! This is a book where I knew the ending was coming, and it couldn't come quick enough, but I also wanted it to never stop!
This is an excellent addition to the series, and is still rich in detail, with wonderful characters, and an intriguing and gripping storyline. Absolutely recommended by me. Bring on the next!!!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This book has so much packed into it, it's quite unbelievable. With action, hope, and heartbreak, there is plenty to keep you turning the pages. There are plenty of twists and turns as Indra works to bring the Outlier tribes together, to beat the Fortis and Sovereign. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how the women of the Winta tribe worked together, although you can see the cracks in the seams. I can't wait to see where this goes next.
It does end on one helluva cliffhanger, so fair warning! This is a book where I knew the ending was coming, and it couldn't come quick enough, but I also wanted it to never stop!
This is an excellent addition to the series, and is still rich in detail, with wonderful characters, and an intriguing and gripping storyline. Absolutely recommended by me. Bring on the next!!!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13443 KP) rated Burned (Dark Reflections #5) in Books
Apr 12, 2023
So, this is the fifth book in the series so I'm not going to rehash the synopsis and the previous four books for you. Instead, I will just launch straight into this one, although, be warned! It may contain mild spoilers from the first four books, but I'll try to keep it as generic as possible.
Adri is still grieving and reeling from what happened in Minnesota and as such, can't bring herself to be civil to Alec. He is trying to make things easier for her as he does understand but he is also dealing with a lot of pressure from every which way.
The story that is told inside this book is speeding up and gaining momentum. It is an action-packed book but there is still a thin trickle of romance for the die-hard romantics like me. Things are never straightforward for Adri and Alec, although I sometimes wish they could catch a break, and never more so than here. Instead of a love triangle, Dean has gone one further and made it a love quadrangle! I am really hoping that Alec and Adri get their HEA even though this is an alternate universe.
We have new threats, old threats, conspiracies, betrayal, and love - it's all here. This is a series that is getting better with each book. Highly recommended by me.
* 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!
July 19, 2016
Adri is still grieving and reeling from what happened in Minnesota and as such, can't bring herself to be civil to Alec. He is trying to make things easier for her as he does understand but he is also dealing with a lot of pressure from every which way.
The story that is told inside this book is speeding up and gaining momentum. It is an action-packed book but there is still a thin trickle of romance for the die-hard romantics like me. Things are never straightforward for Adri and Alec, although I sometimes wish they could catch a break, and never more so than here. Instead of a love triangle, Dean has gone one further and made it a love quadrangle! I am really hoping that Alec and Adri get their HEA even though this is an alternate universe.
We have new threats, old threats, conspiracies, betrayal, and love - it's all here. This is a series that is getting better with each book. Highly recommended by me.
* 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!
July 19, 2016
Merissa (13443 KP) rated Reap This Too (Oh So Happy Holidays #2) in Books
Nov 11, 2020 (Updated Aug 14, 2023)
Reap This Too is the second book in the Oh So Happy Holidays series and this time we meet up with Ian, Seamus' brother. He has been more interested in travelling than learning which colour candle means what but some of the things have stayed with him.
This is a fast-paced novella that takes you from the pyramids in Giza to Boston, just in time for Samhain. Seamus is there, of course, and we even get a cameo from Mine - but not in the way I hoped!!!
I think it would help if you have read book one because previous circumstances are mentioned in that book and it would give you a better idea of their family too. However, you COULD read this as a standalone if you really had to.
The connection between Khnurn and Ian is instantaneous but there is a depth to it that comes from their previous associations. I loved how sneaky Khnurn was toward the end and I'm sure these two have more adventures to tell us.
All in all, this was a great seasonal read with characters I either know and love or have loved getting to know. A great addition to the series and one I highly recommend. I just hope Mr Jadison has another story planned for Seamus and Mine!!!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 11, 2020
This is a fast-paced novella that takes you from the pyramids in Giza to Boston, just in time for Samhain. Seamus is there, of course, and we even get a cameo from Mine - but not in the way I hoped!!!
I think it would help if you have read book one because previous circumstances are mentioned in that book and it would give you a better idea of their family too. However, you COULD read this as a standalone if you really had to.
The connection between Khnurn and Ian is instantaneous but there is a depth to it that comes from their previous associations. I loved how sneaky Khnurn was toward the end and I'm sure these two have more adventures to tell us.
All in all, this was a great seasonal read with characters I either know and love or have loved getting to know. A great addition to the series and one I highly recommend. I just hope Mr Jadison has another story planned for Seamus and Mine!!!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 11, 2020
Merissa (13443 KP) rated Comforting the Grump (Forestville Silver Foxes #5) in Books
Jan 17, 2025
COMFORTING THE GRUMP is the fifth book in the Forestville Silver Foxes and this time, it's Marnin's turn - the self-proclaimed bachelor forever.
He has a high sex drive and makes no apologies for that. He does not want a relationship in any way, shape, or form unless it's friendship with his guys, but even there, he keeps them at arm's length some of the time. Ennio is Auden's younger brother in his thirties who seems a lot younger. Now, he is supposed to be bubbly and flamboyant, but he also came across as incredibly naive and I have no idea how he managed to reach that age without having some financial acumen, even if it's just keeping an eye on his accounts!
I did enjoy this story but it didn't grip me as some of the other books in this series have. I did like how Ennio was there for Marnin during his scare and could completely understand Marnin's anger that came out later towards another character.
This was a good read and addition to the series. For me, it just didn't connect in the way I wanted it to and felt a little rushed. If you enjoy Ms. Phoenix's books, then I'm sure you will enjoy this one too.
** 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!
Jan 10, 2025
He has a high sex drive and makes no apologies for that. He does not want a relationship in any way, shape, or form unless it's friendship with his guys, but even there, he keeps them at arm's length some of the time. Ennio is Auden's younger brother in his thirties who seems a lot younger. Now, he is supposed to be bubbly and flamboyant, but he also came across as incredibly naive and I have no idea how he managed to reach that age without having some financial acumen, even if it's just keeping an eye on his accounts!
I did enjoy this story but it didn't grip me as some of the other books in this series have. I did like how Ennio was there for Marnin during his scare and could completely understand Marnin's anger that came out later towards another character.
This was a good read and addition to the series. For me, it just didn't connect in the way I wanted it to and felt a little rushed. If you enjoy Ms. Phoenix's books, then I'm sure you will enjoy this one too.
** 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!
Jan 10, 2025
Ross (3284 KP) rated American Gods - Season 1 in TV
Nov 27, 2017
I read the book quite some time ago, so knew the concept of the series but needed a little gentle reminder of the world we are exploring.
The series is very stylish with excellent dream sequences and imagery throughout, a la Hannibal, however at times I felt this dominated the actual storytelling somewhat.
With something like Hannibal, you don't need to worry about the story too much, people get killed, someone is doing it, twists and turns and suspect caught. So it was right for the focus of that series to be on the imagery rather than the telling.
However, here I think the story and concept are quite hard to get used to initially (and I don't think it really gets nailed at all during the series) and more should have been done to explain it. I'm not saying everything needs laid out neatly with a little bow on, but I think the style needed toned down a little and more effort invested in explaining the world. It felt a little bit like a TV show made for people who have just read the book.
The cast is excellent and it is an enjoyable watch, but a lot of people will struggle to get the hang of it (and may only stick with it in order to say they did rather than because they enjoyed it!).
With such a cult classic book as the source material, I think there were high expectations for it, which may not have been met (mine weren't, sadly).
The series is very stylish with excellent dream sequences and imagery throughout, a la Hannibal, however at times I felt this dominated the actual storytelling somewhat.
With something like Hannibal, you don't need to worry about the story too much, people get killed, someone is doing it, twists and turns and suspect caught. So it was right for the focus of that series to be on the imagery rather than the telling.
However, here I think the story and concept are quite hard to get used to initially (and I don't think it really gets nailed at all during the series) and more should have been done to explain it. I'm not saying everything needs laid out neatly with a little bow on, but I think the style needed toned down a little and more effort invested in explaining the world. It felt a little bit like a TV show made for people who have just read the book.
The cast is excellent and it is an enjoyable watch, but a lot of people will struggle to get the hang of it (and may only stick with it in order to say they did rather than because they enjoyed it!).
With such a cult classic book as the source material, I think there were high expectations for it, which may not have been met (mine weren't, sadly).
Charlie Cobra Reviews (1840 KP) rated That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime in TV
Jul 7, 2020
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime is a 2018 anime series animated by 8-Bit with the light novel written by Fuse. It was directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi, with Atsushi Nakayama as assistant director. Kazuyuki Fudeyasu handled music composition with Ryouma Ebata designing the characters and Takahiro Kishida providing monster designs. The series was Simulcast by both Crunchyroll and Funimation.
Minami Satoru was a 37-year old manga loving, corporate worker until one day his life ended in tragedy. While meeting up with a friend for dinner, he sees a man with a knife run up and shoves his friend out of the way, but is fatally injured and dies. When Satoru regains consciousness, he discovers he has been reborn as a "slime", a famously weak character from video games and now in a different world. Blind, deaf, and weak, things are pretty grim initially but he finds he has some new abilities which he uses to gain both friends and enemies in a whole new world.
This anime is pretty cool. It's an "isekai" anime which means it's set in a different world; and is also a genre of anime that I enjoy. It has a fantasy element too and a variety of different races of characters. This series has quite a bit of "fan service" so it might not be for everyone. Also the main character is pretty "op" (over-powered), so you might not find it as compelling as other anime. I felt that they were able to make the conflict that arises work very well with the storyline and with the introduction of new characters. One thing that I didn't think I was going to like, was how he has abilities similar to a character in a video game and learns more over the series. This wound up being really cool in the way they show him use it and develop his abilities as he uses them against enemies. I really liked the animation and designs of the characters and monsters too.
Minami Satoru was a 37-year old manga loving, corporate worker until one day his life ended in tragedy. While meeting up with a friend for dinner, he sees a man with a knife run up and shoves his friend out of the way, but is fatally injured and dies. When Satoru regains consciousness, he discovers he has been reborn as a "slime", a famously weak character from video games and now in a different world. Blind, deaf, and weak, things are pretty grim initially but he finds he has some new abilities which he uses to gain both friends and enemies in a whole new world.
This anime is pretty cool. It's an "isekai" anime which means it's set in a different world; and is also a genre of anime that I enjoy. It has a fantasy element too and a variety of different races of characters. This series has quite a bit of "fan service" so it might not be for everyone. Also the main character is pretty "op" (over-powered), so you might not find it as compelling as other anime. I felt that they were able to make the conflict that arises work very well with the storyline and with the introduction of new characters. One thing that I didn't think I was going to like, was how he has abilities similar to a character in a video game and learns more over the series. This wound up being really cool in the way they show him use it and develop his abilities as he uses them against enemies. I really liked the animation and designs of the characters and monsters too.
Fred (860 KP) rated Tomb Raider (2018) in Movies
Jul 10, 2018
The acting is top notch (2 more)
Lots of action
Very loyal to the game series
The Story of Lara Croft is an interesting one
Watched this last night. As usual, I try not to see any reviews until I see it, so I'm not swayed by other's opinions. And so, not knowing if the movie was liked or disliked, I was able to watch it & make my own opinion.
I am a fan of the game series & love the new entries. I'm very glad they decided to follow the new games for this film & I found Lara's "origin" to be real interesting. I was not a fan of the Angelina Jolie movies. I found her too snooty & arrogant to like the character. But Alicia Vikander plays the characters perfectly. She plays a young Lara, who's tough, but has some vulnerability to her. She's an underdog we can root for, but she can hold her own too. A perfect balance.
Daniel Wu & Dominic West play their parts well. Although I would have liked to have seen Wu pull off some martial arts moves, like his character on "Into the Badlands", but I'm also glad they didn't fall for the stereotypical Asian.
But. a movie is only as good as it's main villain. And this movie has a great one. Played by Walton Goggins, who doesn't get the credit he deserves. This guy is great. He can make you love him & he can make you hate him too. I've never seen him in a bad role.
There's really not much to say about the story, as it's practically a live-action remake of the last 2 video games stories mashed together. You know what to expect, lots of action, lots of raiding of tombs. I kind of wish there would have been more puzzle solving in it. Some of the puzzles were solved without even showing them. Lara just solves them. I kind of wish I could have figured them out. But I guess I'm just used to playing the game & doing everything myself.
Anyway, the bottom line, it's a fun film, well worth watching.
I am a fan of the game series & love the new entries. I'm very glad they decided to follow the new games for this film & I found Lara's "origin" to be real interesting. I was not a fan of the Angelina Jolie movies. I found her too snooty & arrogant to like the character. But Alicia Vikander plays the characters perfectly. She plays a young Lara, who's tough, but has some vulnerability to her. She's an underdog we can root for, but she can hold her own too. A perfect balance.
Daniel Wu & Dominic West play their parts well. Although I would have liked to have seen Wu pull off some martial arts moves, like his character on "Into the Badlands", but I'm also glad they didn't fall for the stereotypical Asian.
But. a movie is only as good as it's main villain. And this movie has a great one. Played by Walton Goggins, who doesn't get the credit he deserves. This guy is great. He can make you love him & he can make you hate him too. I've never seen him in a bad role.
There's really not much to say about the story, as it's practically a live-action remake of the last 2 video games stories mashed together. You know what to expect, lots of action, lots of raiding of tombs. I kind of wish there would have been more puzzle solving in it. Some of the puzzles were solved without even showing them. Lara just solves them. I kind of wish I could have figured them out. But I guess I'm just used to playing the game & doing everything myself.
Anyway, the bottom line, it's a fun film, well worth watching.
Debbiereadsbook (1570 KP) rated Surrendering for Two (Soul Match #4) in Books
Jun 30, 2018
best one of the bunch!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 4 in the Soul Match series, and you really MUST read the other books in the series to know what has driven these people to this point.
Graham has suffered the fate that Chris and Morgan were expecting. He was abused by the Nall, to such an extent, he is permanently scarred. Graham, his brother and his father were due to hang, at the Nall's gathering, for punishment for the attack at the Nall's party. And Alasharian saves him, and Graham's opinion on the race changes. Balor is a guard to the Nall, but also part of the rebellion. Oman is advisor to the Nall, but has been watching Balor for some time. He knows Balor is his Soul Match and when Balor mentions the human he helped save, Oman knows they will be a three. But time is of the essence, and humans and Alasharians must band together to any of them are to survive.
What I particularly liked about this one, was the CARE that Oman , and indeed Balor, took with Graham. They both knew he had suffered, badly. They can see his scars, and are enraged by the treatment of Graham by the Nall but they know Graham needs time. They may NEVER fully Soul Match, but Oman and Balor will take whatever Graham can give them.
Graham, while reluctant, knows that he can give as little, or as much, as he is able to, to Oman and Balor. I liked that he was in total control of the speed that things moved. LOVED that he was not the submissive in this match. Liked that he spoke to Morgan about the Soul Match, since Morgan was equally, if not more so, against the idea.
While Chris, Lasar and Nary take no part here, the rebellion is gaining ground as more and more humans and Alasharians arrive at the old air base they are camped out at. Problem is, no one knows where Chris, Lasar and Nary are, or even if Chris is a real person!
Book 5 is next, and it is the conclusion of this series. I'm not sure I really want to read it! Thoroughly enjoying these!
5 stars
This is book 4 in the Soul Match series, and you really MUST read the other books in the series to know what has driven these people to this point.
Graham has suffered the fate that Chris and Morgan were expecting. He was abused by the Nall, to such an extent, he is permanently scarred. Graham, his brother and his father were due to hang, at the Nall's gathering, for punishment for the attack at the Nall's party. And Alasharian saves him, and Graham's opinion on the race changes. Balor is a guard to the Nall, but also part of the rebellion. Oman is advisor to the Nall, but has been watching Balor for some time. He knows Balor is his Soul Match and when Balor mentions the human he helped save, Oman knows they will be a three. But time is of the essence, and humans and Alasharians must band together to any of them are to survive.
What I particularly liked about this one, was the CARE that Oman , and indeed Balor, took with Graham. They both knew he had suffered, badly. They can see his scars, and are enraged by the treatment of Graham by the Nall but they know Graham needs time. They may NEVER fully Soul Match, but Oman and Balor will take whatever Graham can give them.
Graham, while reluctant, knows that he can give as little, or as much, as he is able to, to Oman and Balor. I liked that he was in total control of the speed that things moved. LOVED that he was not the submissive in this match. Liked that he spoke to Morgan about the Soul Match, since Morgan was equally, if not more so, against the idea.
While Chris, Lasar and Nary take no part here, the rebellion is gaining ground as more and more humans and Alasharians arrive at the old air base they are camped out at. Problem is, no one knows where Chris, Lasar and Nary are, or even if Chris is a real person!
Book 5 is next, and it is the conclusion of this series. I'm not sure I really want to read it! Thoroughly enjoying these!
5 stars
Merissa (13443 KP) rated Imminence (Connected #2) in Books
Nov 9, 2017
Imminence (Connected #2) by Kat Stiles
Imminence is the second book in the Connected series, and being as I loved book one, I couldn't wait to read this one. As it had been a while since I read book one, I took the opportunity to re-read that one, and can I just say that even knowing how it ended this time, I still fell in love with the characters and situations just as much! HOWEVER, this review is about the second book, not the first.
Imminence starts where Connected finished. Basically, Em puts the phone down on her dad - the one she had thought was dead for years - and tries to understand just what is going on. Also, whilst dealing with the adrenaline drop from the attack. Not easy for anyone, let alone a sixteen-year-old! The gorgeous Tommy is on hand though, to help her cope. And yes, this is one of those times that I felt like a complete cougar, lusting after a (much) younger man!! I blame Kat Stiles though - if she hadn't made him so scrummy, I wouldn't be needing counselling right now! ;)
Suffice it to say, this story is packed full of action and melting moments, plus you get to see Em's dad and why he did what he did. I loved that part, when it all became clear. If an author can make you relate to the 'big bad' then she is definitely doing it right. Lauren was a star in this book, and the repartee she has going on with Demetri had me laughing out loud.
Excellently written, with a fantastic storyline, and amazing characters, Imminence is a wonderful addition to the Connected series. Fair warning though, it does end on a cliffhanger that had me shouting out! Absolutely loved it, and definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Imminence starts where Connected finished. Basically, Em puts the phone down on her dad - the one she had thought was dead for years - and tries to understand just what is going on. Also, whilst dealing with the adrenaline drop from the attack. Not easy for anyone, let alone a sixteen-year-old! The gorgeous Tommy is on hand though, to help her cope. And yes, this is one of those times that I felt like a complete cougar, lusting after a (much) younger man!! I blame Kat Stiles though - if she hadn't made him so scrummy, I wouldn't be needing counselling right now! ;)
Suffice it to say, this story is packed full of action and melting moments, plus you get to see Em's dad and why he did what he did. I loved that part, when it all became clear. If an author can make you relate to the 'big bad' then she is definitely doing it right. Lauren was a star in this book, and the repartee she has going on with Demetri had me laughing out loud.
Excellently written, with a fantastic storyline, and amazing characters, Imminence is a wonderful addition to the Connected series. Fair warning though, it does end on a cliffhanger that had me shouting out! Absolutely loved it, and definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2440 KP) rated Ripe for Vengeance in Books
Jul 21, 2019
Corporate Volunteer Event Leads to Murder
Some of Denver Finn’s friends are coming to town, and Megan Sawyer is excited to see a different side of her boyfriend. They don’t make a good first impression, however, when their dinner together is filled with not so hidden tension. These friends are in town as part of a corporate charity weekend to mentor kids at a nearby school for troubled teens, but that event goes wrong when one of the adults is murdered. The police are looking at a teen as the likely killer, but Megan doesn’t think the teen did it. Can she find the real killer?
This series always has strong characters, and this book is no different. We get to know everyone involved in this case well, and as events unfold, their reactions and the impact on their live help pull us into the story. Those looking for a twist a minute might find the pace a little slow, but I found the book compelling since I was so drawn to the characters. Not to say that this book doesn’t have some good twists and an ending that surprised me. We do get to see the series regulars and those introduced in previous books, but they are in supporting roles, so they don’t take over from the characters important to this case. There is a little foul language, and the more serious tone helps put this on the traditional side of the spectrum for me. Just make sure that your mood matches the book, and you’ll be fine. This isn’t to say that it is all serious; we get a fun sub-plot involving a pig and plenty of cuteness from the animals on Megan’s farm to help lighten things. Plan to set aside quite a bit of time when you open this book because you won’t want to stop reading.
This series always has strong characters, and this book is no different. We get to know everyone involved in this case well, and as events unfold, their reactions and the impact on their live help pull us into the story. Those looking for a twist a minute might find the pace a little slow, but I found the book compelling since I was so drawn to the characters. Not to say that this book doesn’t have some good twists and an ending that surprised me. We do get to see the series regulars and those introduced in previous books, but they are in supporting roles, so they don’t take over from the characters important to this case. There is a little foul language, and the more serious tone helps put this on the traditional side of the spectrum for me. Just make sure that your mood matches the book, and you’ll be fine. This isn’t to say that it is all serious; we get a fun sub-plot involving a pig and plenty of cuteness from the animals on Megan’s farm to help lighten things. Plan to set aside quite a bit of time when you open this book because you won’t want to stop reading.