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Grumpy Goblin (123 KP) rated Monstress, Volume 1: Awakening in Books
Jul 25, 2019
The artwork is just breathtaking (3 more)
A complex, yet enjoyable storyline
Brilliant layout
Great quality paper and printing
I could not get enough of this.. Absolutely amazing.
Contains spoilers, click to show
I enjoy reading GNs that aren't necessarily classed as mainstream and this kept popping up on adverts. I found a copy for £4.99 on world books and figured why not give it a try.
To say I'm happy I did Woupd be an understatement... On receiving it the beauty of the artwork on the front cover just grabbed me and the pictures online really don't do it justice.
Id like to say also, it's not one I'd those GNs that has full concept pieces on the front and back covers and maybe a few inside and then the main layouts are less detailed.. Each drawing is as beautiful as the last with a mix of steampunk and art deco merged into a dark styled piece of art.
The story complimented the art perfectly and I read it from front to back in one sitting.
The story is complex seeing conflict between humans and Arcanics and you can tell there is so much backstory just waiting to be added to further volumes. The single page introductions to certain parts of the Lore within the world was extremely well done and not too overwhelming.
The story is certainly not without shock factor, seeing what is portraid as young Arcanic children tortured, eaten and with missing limbs scattered through the pages as well as a fair amount of blood and gore.
Overall the whole experience into this new dark fantasy of war, magic and monsters has been amazing and I cannot wait to carry on with this series.
To say I'm happy I did Woupd be an understatement... On receiving it the beauty of the artwork on the front cover just grabbed me and the pictures online really don't do it justice.
Id like to say also, it's not one I'd those GNs that has full concept pieces on the front and back covers and maybe a few inside and then the main layouts are less detailed.. Each drawing is as beautiful as the last with a mix of steampunk and art deco merged into a dark styled piece of art.
The story complimented the art perfectly and I read it from front to back in one sitting.
The story is complex seeing conflict between humans and Arcanics and you can tell there is so much backstory just waiting to be added to further volumes. The single page introductions to certain parts of the Lore within the world was extremely well done and not too overwhelming.
The story is certainly not without shock factor, seeing what is portraid as young Arcanic children tortured, eaten and with missing limbs scattered through the pages as well as a fair amount of blood and gore.
Overall the whole experience into this new dark fantasy of war, magic and monsters has been amazing and I cannot wait to carry on with this series.
Merissa (13123 KP) rated Holding Out for a Hero (Jelvia: Not Human #1) in Books
Apr 8, 2019
Holding Out for a Hero (Jelvia: Not Human #1) by L. Wise, T.E. Kessler
Holding Out For A Hero is the first book in the Jelvia: Not Human series, and this book balances a line between a romance story, and an erotica filled with sex.
The birth rate of humans is down, and the birth rate of Jelvia's is up. Not only that, but the Jelvia's are faster and stronger than 'normal' humans, and also have super-pellets of venom that can kill humans within mere seconds. They have a bad reputation, mostly deserved, but Macy is convinced they are not as bad as the media portrays them. When her roommate is attacked, Macy sees first-hand that you can't tar a whole race with the same brush.
This is a book of intrigue, with twists and turns aplenty, and also of opposites. Macy wants to find out more about the Jelvia, and thinks they are getting a bad press. Courtney is Macy's long-term friend, and wants absolutely nothing to do with them. In fact, her sympathies lie more with a criminal who attacked her and nearly raped her, than with the Jelvia who's appearance saved her.
Macy and Narcifer go full throttle very early on (it is for over 18's after all!), and quickly spout off their 'I love you's'. It was good to see that connection, although Narcifer slid in my estimation when he explained a phone call as being 'boy talk'. Macy holds great store in knowing if she can trust someone, but it appeared to me that she trusts very easily, and then it bites her in the ass.
There is a slight hint of BDSM in this book (spankings), but it seems like book two will delve deeper into this world. I just hope it doesn't become the same thing in every book. The next book also stars Courtney, so we will be able to see if her opinions have changed much.
A great read, with no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed. There is enough world-building for the Jelvia's to fit in. I thoroughly enjoyed book one in this series, and look forward to reading more.
* 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!
The birth rate of humans is down, and the birth rate of Jelvia's is up. Not only that, but the Jelvia's are faster and stronger than 'normal' humans, and also have super-pellets of venom that can kill humans within mere seconds. They have a bad reputation, mostly deserved, but Macy is convinced they are not as bad as the media portrays them. When her roommate is attacked, Macy sees first-hand that you can't tar a whole race with the same brush.
This is a book of intrigue, with twists and turns aplenty, and also of opposites. Macy wants to find out more about the Jelvia, and thinks they are getting a bad press. Courtney is Macy's long-term friend, and wants absolutely nothing to do with them. In fact, her sympathies lie more with a criminal who attacked her and nearly raped her, than with the Jelvia who's appearance saved her.
Macy and Narcifer go full throttle very early on (it is for over 18's after all!), and quickly spout off their 'I love you's'. It was good to see that connection, although Narcifer slid in my estimation when he explained a phone call as being 'boy talk'. Macy holds great store in knowing if she can trust someone, but it appeared to me that she trusts very easily, and then it bites her in the ass.
There is a slight hint of BDSM in this book (spankings), but it seems like book two will delve deeper into this world. I just hope it doesn't become the same thing in every book. The next book also stars Courtney, so we will be able to see if her opinions have changed much.
A great read, with no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed. There is enough world-building for the Jelvia's to fit in. I thoroughly enjoyed book one in this series, and look forward to reading more.
* 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!
Carol (3 KP) rated Christmas Bliss in Books
Jan 10, 2018
Christmas Bliss was the last of my Christmas reads for the year. I have read two others in the series and really like Weezie and BeBe. This time around, Weezie’s getting ready to marry her chef boyfriend, Daniel, but he’s off in New York on a temporary gig at a very swanky restaurant. BeBe’s pregnant and refuses to marry her live-in boyfriend Harry, but she also might still be married to one of her exes. It’s complicated.
It’s a sweet story. There’s not much conflict and the couple of “issues” that crop up are quickly resolved. Weezie and BeBe are great characters, fun, quirky, but I don’t know that this would work as well as a stand-alone. It was nice to already know them and appreciate that they were getting their “happily ever afters.”
It’s a sweet story. There’s not much conflict and the couple of “issues” that crop up are quickly resolved. Weezie and BeBe are great characters, fun, quirky, but I don’t know that this would work as well as a stand-alone. It was nice to already know them and appreciate that they were getting their “happily ever afters.”
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Death of a Ghost (Hamish Macbeth, #32) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
This is good classic Hamish Macbeth. If you are a fan of the series already, then you won't be disappointed. If not, I think you could easily pick this one up and enjoy it as a stand-alone mystery without having read the previous books.
Called to the village of Drim to investigate claims of a "haunted" castle, Hamish and Charlie discover no ghosts, but they do find a dead body. Unfortunately it disappears before CDI Blair arrives on the scene. When the investigation points to local smugglers, the department is quick to wrap up the case. Hamish is not convinced, however, and puts his own life on the line to find the real killer.
Read more on <a href="https://booksthething.com/2017/02/03/review-death-of-a-ghost-by-m-c-beaton/">The Book's the Thing</a>.
<i>Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.</i>
Called to the village of Drim to investigate claims of a "haunted" castle, Hamish and Charlie discover no ghosts, but they do find a dead body. Unfortunately it disappears before CDI Blair arrives on the scene. When the investigation points to local smugglers, the department is quick to wrap up the case. Hamish is not convinced, however, and puts his own life on the line to find the real killer.
Read more on <a href="https://booksthething.com/2017/02/03/review-death-of-a-ghost-by-m-c-beaton/">The Book's the Thing</a>.
<i>Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.</i>
David McK (3587 KP) rated The Maharajah's General (Jack Lark, #2) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Following [a: Paul Fraser Collard|7024929|Paul Fraser Collard|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1368086413p2/7024929.jpg]'s [b: The Scarlet Thief|18752323|The Scarlet Thief|Paul Fraser Collard|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383577532s/18752323.jpg|24752025] (which dealt primarily with the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War), you would be forgiven for thinking that the Jack Lark series as a whole would be set during such war.
That's not the case.
Instead, in this, we move to an even further outpost of the British Imperial Empire: to India, to be precise, with Jack Lark impersonating a different officer than before.
I don't want to give too much away - suffice it to say that things do not always go to plan and that Jack finds himself caught up in the beginnings of the Indian Mutiny: a mutiny which, in retrospect, was no surprise given the way they were treated!
I have to say, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable 'Boys Own' style of read!
That's not the case.
Instead, in this, we move to an even further outpost of the British Imperial Empire: to India, to be precise, with Jack Lark impersonating a different officer than before.
I don't want to give too much away - suffice it to say that things do not always go to plan and that Jack finds himself caught up in the beginnings of the Indian Mutiny: a mutiny which, in retrospect, was no surprise given the way they were treated!
I have to say, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable 'Boys Own' style of read!
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) in Movies
Jan 28, 2020
I've only ever seen the first F&F movie , not being particularly interested in cars and put off by the prospect of 8 movies so its fair to say I went into this with fairly low expectations. Considering I am not really up on the characters back stories (I gather there has been some beef of some sort) I actually thought this was quite good fun. Its got nothing to do with the street racing origins of the series and is now more of a poor mans Mission Impossible. Some cobblers about a virus wiping out the planet and a surgically enhanced Idris Elba shouting allot is about the gist of it. All you need to know there is some quite entertaining switch your brain off action scenes and plenty of wisecracks and banter from Statham and Johnson to keep you entertained. You know its all bollocks but you just can't help but enjoy it.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Star Trek: Picard in TV
Apr 27, 2020
The latest big-budget generic sci-fi series to have the Star Trek brand on it in an attempt to secure an audience. Ex-Admiral Picard meets the hot young daughter of his dead android mate and goes off to help save her twin sister with a bunch of young actors who are cheaper to employ than the ones playing his actual friends.
Not quite as mad as Discovery, and seeing the old characters again (mostly in cameos) is undeniably affecting for those of us who were there thirty years ago. But the plotting is laborious and lazy, and we seem to have lost the idea that the whole point of Star Trek is that things will improve and be different in the future: regardless of the odd ways in which this setting doesn't really match canon, this lot just act like 21st century folks in fancy dress. I'm not even going to get started on the F-bombing Starfleet Admiral or the Irish and Australian Romulans.
Not quite as mad as Discovery, and seeing the old characters again (mostly in cameos) is undeniably affecting for those of us who were there thirty years ago. But the plotting is laborious and lazy, and we seem to have lost the idea that the whole point of Star Trek is that things will improve and be different in the future: regardless of the odd ways in which this setting doesn't really match canon, this lot just act like 21st century folks in fancy dress. I'm not even going to get started on the F-bombing Starfleet Admiral or the Irish and Australian Romulans.
CT
Chance: The Science and Secrets of Luck, Randomness and Probability
Book
For you to be here today reading this requires a mind-boggling series of lucky breaks, starting with...
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Avengers - Season 1 in TV
May 20, 2021
Only three episodes of this first season are believed to exist, so it's hard to speak with great authority as to its quality - but the ones we have are brisk, efficient thrillers, as good as the videotaped Honor Blackman episodes (and possibly more coherent). This is 60-year-old TV so the production can be primitive in places, but much of the acting holds up.
Again, judging solely from the three surviving episodes, the arc of the season seems to go from fairly 'straight' stories (Girl on a Trapeze doesn't feature Steed at all) towards the kind of tongue-in-cheek, off-beat material the series is best remembered for (Tunnel of Fear is rather more extravagant, with more of a focus on Steed as an entertaining eccentric). You can almost see the producers figuring out the potential of Patrick Macnee, not that Hendry isn't completely reliable. Not the show in its iconic form, but you can see how it started heading that way very early.
Again, judging solely from the three surviving episodes, the arc of the season seems to go from fairly 'straight' stories (Girl on a Trapeze doesn't feature Steed at all) towards the kind of tongue-in-cheek, off-beat material the series is best remembered for (Tunnel of Fear is rather more extravagant, with more of a focus on Steed as an entertaining eccentric). You can almost see the producers figuring out the potential of Patrick Macnee, not that Hendry isn't completely reliable. Not the show in its iconic form, but you can see how it started heading that way very early.
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Scrumptious Independence (Merriweather Island #2) in Books
Feb 23, 2021
Next in the independence Island series…Scrumptious Independence by Melissa Wardwell! I have been looking forward to this book for months. and boy was it worth the wait. I loved her balance of character interaction with the emotions and memories she invoked in me through her characters. It truly was a fun book to read that I had a hard time putting down.
I thought Melissa Wardwell did a great job engaging not just your eyes but your memories too! From her yummy sounding recipes (that may or may not have set off a cooking spree, much to my husband’s delight), to the hints of a mystery within, added with a dash of super sweet romance between Beth and Scott… I mean what more can I say? This book is a recipe for a good clean engaging read. Well done Melissa Wardwell, now I can’t wait to see what will happen on the Merriweather Islands next
I thought Melissa Wardwell did a great job engaging not just your eyes but your memories too! From her yummy sounding recipes (that may or may not have set off a cooking spree, much to my husband’s delight), to the hints of a mystery within, added with a dash of super sweet romance between Beth and Scott… I mean what more can I say? This book is a recipe for a good clean engaging read. Well done Melissa Wardwell, now I can’t wait to see what will happen on the Merriweather Islands next