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Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Hungry Hungry Hippos in Tabletop Games
Jul 1, 2020
I’m reviewing Hungy Hungry Hippos? Really? Who hasn’t played Hungy Hungry Hippos?! Well, my 3-year-old son, for one. And my 8-month-old daughter for two. So this one goes out to all the young’ns and those who have never had the chance to actually play this game.
Ok so let me explain this game in great detail so that anyone may grab this and get playing. Setup the hippos around the board/disc/pool area. Fill up the marble wells with marbles (food for the hangry hippos). Choose a hippo to jockey. You are now setup.
So there aren’t really turns as everyone is playing simultaneously and marbles are going to be bouncing all over the board once launched into play. Your goal: eat as many marbles as you can until the marbles are all gone. Then count up your haul to determine the winner. Like, that’s it.
Components. Actually, the components in this one are really really good. I mean, you press a lever on the hippo’s butt (the tail maybe?) and it extends the head piece, comically, toward the center of the arena to gobble up delicious marble chow. The version we have all stores neatly together and fits in the box (YAY!) very well. I have zero complaints about the components. Well, okay, one complaint – but it’s NOT the game’s fault… is it? The marbles are wee and are definitely a choking hazard. So please please please be careful around children or dumb pets who may want to chomp them.
Though I have written this review in jest thus far as a game reviewer, the real reason I am putting this out there is because my son, age 3, absolutely loves this game. So much that I oftentimes am not allowed to actually press my hippo-butt-lever so that he may get all the marbles for himself. But, he’s having fun with board games and with his family. If that’s not the point of why people play games – to have fun and bond with people – then I do not know why people play games. This is a silly one, yes, but you have to have a few of these in your collection to just be crazy with the kids. So if you see it on the shelf, looking lonely, please pick up a copy. Your young ones will love it. I promise.
Ok so let me explain this game in great detail so that anyone may grab this and get playing. Setup the hippos around the board/disc/pool area. Fill up the marble wells with marbles (food for the hangry hippos). Choose a hippo to jockey. You are now setup.
So there aren’t really turns as everyone is playing simultaneously and marbles are going to be bouncing all over the board once launched into play. Your goal: eat as many marbles as you can until the marbles are all gone. Then count up your haul to determine the winner. Like, that’s it.
Components. Actually, the components in this one are really really good. I mean, you press a lever on the hippo’s butt (the tail maybe?) and it extends the head piece, comically, toward the center of the arena to gobble up delicious marble chow. The version we have all stores neatly together and fits in the box (YAY!) very well. I have zero complaints about the components. Well, okay, one complaint – but it’s NOT the game’s fault… is it? The marbles are wee and are definitely a choking hazard. So please please please be careful around children or dumb pets who may want to chomp them.
Though I have written this review in jest thus far as a game reviewer, the real reason I am putting this out there is because my son, age 3, absolutely loves this game. So much that I oftentimes am not allowed to actually press my hippo-butt-lever so that he may get all the marbles for himself. But, he’s having fun with board games and with his family. If that’s not the point of why people play games – to have fun and bond with people – then I do not know why people play games. This is a silly one, yes, but you have to have a few of these in your collection to just be crazy with the kids. So if you see it on the shelf, looking lonely, please pick up a copy. Your young ones will love it. I promise.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Night Swim (2024) in Movies
Jan 5, 2024
The first major release of 2024 has arrived in the form of “Night Swim” and the Blumhouse production looks to follow on the success of “M3gan” and
their other recent hit “Five Nights at Freddy’s”.
The movie stars Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon as Ray and Eve Walter; a married couple trying to raise their two children and deal with Ray’s M.S.
diagnosis. Ray is a former Major League Baseball player and holds out hope that he can overcome his situation and make a return to his profession even if those around him do not.
A life on the road has caused Ray to miss many events such as the birth of their daughter as well as be distant from their son. A new job at a prestigious school offers Eve a chance to have the needed insurance for Ray and work to do while she completes her degree.
The family opt to purchase a home with a pool versus renting as the ability to finally have some stability and use the pool for therapy is a welcome combination. This is enhanced by the discovery that the pool is
actually filled by a natural water source which Ray believes is healing him and rapidly putting him on the road to recovery.
Things are not as they seem as the pool holds some dark and deadly secrets that go back for decades and the family soon finds themselves dealing
with forces beyond their control as they desperately try to survive.
The film has an interesting premise though at times I did think about various other films and some of the shock moments failed to get me as they did others in the audience but I am not one who startles easily.
The cast was strong but at times I found myself not caring as much for the outcomes of certain characters as I was more concerned with the overall
explanation behind the supernatural elements of the film.
Despite this, it was an enjoyable watch that provided something a bit different than the usual monster or psycho on the loose horror film and Co-Writer/ Director Bryce McGuire has adapted his short film well into a
film which provides just enough of what the core audience wants to make it an effective horror entry.
3 stars out of 5
their other recent hit “Five Nights at Freddy’s”.
The movie stars Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon as Ray and Eve Walter; a married couple trying to raise their two children and deal with Ray’s M.S.
diagnosis. Ray is a former Major League Baseball player and holds out hope that he can overcome his situation and make a return to his profession even if those around him do not.
A life on the road has caused Ray to miss many events such as the birth of their daughter as well as be distant from their son. A new job at a prestigious school offers Eve a chance to have the needed insurance for Ray and work to do while she completes her degree.
The family opt to purchase a home with a pool versus renting as the ability to finally have some stability and use the pool for therapy is a welcome combination. This is enhanced by the discovery that the pool is
actually filled by a natural water source which Ray believes is healing him and rapidly putting him on the road to recovery.
Things are not as they seem as the pool holds some dark and deadly secrets that go back for decades and the family soon finds themselves dealing
with forces beyond their control as they desperately try to survive.
The film has an interesting premise though at times I did think about various other films and some of the shock moments failed to get me as they did others in the audience but I am not one who startles easily.
The cast was strong but at times I found myself not caring as much for the outcomes of certain characters as I was more concerned with the overall
explanation behind the supernatural elements of the film.
Despite this, it was an enjoyable watch that provided something a bit different than the usual monster or psycho on the loose horror film and Co-Writer/ Director Bryce McGuire has adapted his short film well into a
film which provides just enough of what the core audience wants to make it an effective horror entry.
3 stars out of 5
Hazel (1853 KP) rated Second Twin (Legend of Rhyme, #4) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
<i>This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review </i>
With the twins, Ariana and Asher, lost in the past, and Teagan suddenly thrust into the magical realm of Coraira, the <i>Legend of Rhyme</i> series becomes even more dangerous and exciting. <i>Second Twin</i> is the fourth book of Jaime Lee Mann’s fantasy series for middle grade children (i.e. 8-13 year olds). Containing most of the key characters that readers are already familiar with, a new, sinister individual is introduced to shake the story up even more.
<i>Second Twin</i> is made up of two or three storylines that twist around each other to result in one explosive conclusion. Teagan discovers immediately that she is destined to become a mermaid and an apprentice to Starla, the ruler of the sea. Without giving Teagan a chance to get used to her new tail, Starla involves her in trying to help locate and return the twins to their correct timeline. The twins, however, are in even more peril than being in the wrong time zone. Tricked by the new, malicious character, something evil happens to Asher, leaving him once again separated from his sister Ariana. Whilst all this is going on, the reader is given insight to Elora’s – a previous antagonist – past, learning how she came to be so evil; in contrast Teagan is also learning something new; the truth about her parentage.
There is not as much detail about Teagan as some readers may be hoping for. She was the title character of the previous novel, however in this book she becomes more of a secondary character. Teagan’s transition from young girl to mermaid happens far to quickly to be appreciated. An entire book could have been devoted to this event, instead it happens in a handful of paragraphs. Nevertheless, Second Twin is filled with so many exhilarating twists and turns that it hardly matters when some aspects are not described at length.
Throughout this book the theme of twins crops up again and again. The unique relationship between twins is emphasized as a special bond, but also as a way to wield evil power. Readers will not be able to trust their preconceived judgments about the good and wickedness of key characters, causing all to question everything they believe.
<i>Second Twin</i> is the most action packed book of the series so far. With no need for introductions to characters and settings, there is more opportunity to develop the plot and fill in gaps in the history of the story, until concluding on yet another cliffhanger. Fans of the series will not be disappointed with the latest developments, although you may not be pleased to know you are in for a wait for the fifth book, Blood and Stars, to find out what happens next.
With the twins, Ariana and Asher, lost in the past, and Teagan suddenly thrust into the magical realm of Coraira, the <i>Legend of Rhyme</i> series becomes even more dangerous and exciting. <i>Second Twin</i> is the fourth book of Jaime Lee Mann’s fantasy series for middle grade children (i.e. 8-13 year olds). Containing most of the key characters that readers are already familiar with, a new, sinister individual is introduced to shake the story up even more.
<i>Second Twin</i> is made up of two or three storylines that twist around each other to result in one explosive conclusion. Teagan discovers immediately that she is destined to become a mermaid and an apprentice to Starla, the ruler of the sea. Without giving Teagan a chance to get used to her new tail, Starla involves her in trying to help locate and return the twins to their correct timeline. The twins, however, are in even more peril than being in the wrong time zone. Tricked by the new, malicious character, something evil happens to Asher, leaving him once again separated from his sister Ariana. Whilst all this is going on, the reader is given insight to Elora’s – a previous antagonist – past, learning how she came to be so evil; in contrast Teagan is also learning something new; the truth about her parentage.
There is not as much detail about Teagan as some readers may be hoping for. She was the title character of the previous novel, however in this book she becomes more of a secondary character. Teagan’s transition from young girl to mermaid happens far to quickly to be appreciated. An entire book could have been devoted to this event, instead it happens in a handful of paragraphs. Nevertheless, Second Twin is filled with so many exhilarating twists and turns that it hardly matters when some aspects are not described at length.
Throughout this book the theme of twins crops up again and again. The unique relationship between twins is emphasized as a special bond, but also as a way to wield evil power. Readers will not be able to trust their preconceived judgments about the good and wickedness of key characters, causing all to question everything they believe.
<i>Second Twin</i> is the most action packed book of the series so far. With no need for introductions to characters and settings, there is more opportunity to develop the plot and fill in gaps in the history of the story, until concluding on yet another cliffhanger. Fans of the series will not be disappointed with the latest developments, although you may not be pleased to know you are in for a wait for the fifth book, Blood and Stars, to find out what happens next.
Vegetarian Living
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Vegetarian Living is a magazine for people who want to be inspired by vegetarian cooking – whether...
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Advocate for Music!: A Guide to User-Friendly Strategies
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Across the US, school budgets are tightening and music programs, often the first asked to compromise...
RəX Regent (349 KP) rated Godzilla (1954) in Movies
Feb 25, 2019
The beginning was inspired...
Contains spoilers, click to show
I was first introduced to Godzilla in cartoon form in the 1980′s as a child, but it wasn't until 1998, with Roland Emmerich's blockbuster reboot that I had seen the infamous beast on the pearl screen. I had also seem bits and bobs of the many original sequels as a child and they had made absolutely no impact on me what so ever! But I became aware of the significance of this, the original, only recently and it was due to this discovery that I hunted down the best copy available.
I ended up with the 2005 Region 1 release, which also includes the U.S. reworking from 1956, Godzilla: King Of The Monsters!. I could not have imagined that a the 1954 version of Godzilla, or more literally, Gojira, could have been so mature, so sombre, or so tempered with its sledgehammer philosophising. Produced just nine years after the devastating nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which effectively ended the Second World War, Gojira takes up the mantle on doing what Science Fiction does best, and created the cypher in the form of Godzilla, to represent the devastation left over from the nuking of these cities.
Godzilla is a nuclear beast, affected by U.S. nuclear tests and is now toxically radioactive and upon landfall on Tokyo, rains down, literally, nuclear destruction up on the city, in a manner not dissimilar too that levied upon either of the cities, Hiroshima or Nagasaki. But its not just about that. It about the creation of the next WMD which would ultimately be used against Godzilla but poses and moral dilemma that Robert Oppenheimer himself would appreciate, as to whether such a creation should be allowed to be developed. It also looks quite seriously into establishing the potential evolution of a creature such as Godzilla and uses plausible palaeontological arguments to justify his existence.
The pacing was good and though Godzilla strikes from almost the opening frame, there is a sense of an ongoing crisis rather than an impending apocalypse, with news outlets reporting throughout as plans, both military and civilian are sited.
All in all, this is not just the birth of the massive and largely corny and cheap Godzilla series, it is a striking, intelligent, moving and incredibly well judged masterpiece of 50′s cinema. But I should have known. Most rubbish franchises began with an inspired first movie, something to break the mould and this does the job perfectly.
But it isn't without its flaws. The special effects, though not all bad, are below par even for the time, but effective as for telling the story, some were very good with ALL being well conceived and ambitious. Some were very poor though, such as the model ships, which were unnecessarily below the standards and look like bath toys. But the cinematography was wonderful, with Honda shooting this in a classically manner. Tension was built brilliantly and the action rose to several crescendos and the excellent score by Akira Ifukube was not overused but brought to perfect effect when needed.
The acting was first-rate as well, proving Japanese cinemas reputation. But this was my first real foray into Japanese cinema, and what a treat it was. Many would look at this and see a cheap old film and others will see a film that whist let down by some less that brilliant visual effects and the fact that a lot of people, certainly in the U.K. find subtitles difficult, as a masterpiece not only of Eastern cinema but of cinema full stop. Truly realising its narrative and spirit, its cause and message. This was about a county in mourning not only for the hundreds of thousands lost by Fat Man and Little Boy, but for the war full stop. The 1950′s were a time of great political fear and reconstruction after WW2, and this is a film which taps into the brewing Cold War and fear of annihilation from human behemoths which once released can never be returned.
HIGHLY recommended but not for children as they will bore, miss the point, get put off by the subtitles, black and white and quite frankly its a mature and bleak film and not the 1998 remake. And thank God or Godzilla for that!
I ended up with the 2005 Region 1 release, which also includes the U.S. reworking from 1956, Godzilla: King Of The Monsters!. I could not have imagined that a the 1954 version of Godzilla, or more literally, Gojira, could have been so mature, so sombre, or so tempered with its sledgehammer philosophising. Produced just nine years after the devastating nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which effectively ended the Second World War, Gojira takes up the mantle on doing what Science Fiction does best, and created the cypher in the form of Godzilla, to represent the devastation left over from the nuking of these cities.
Godzilla is a nuclear beast, affected by U.S. nuclear tests and is now toxically radioactive and upon landfall on Tokyo, rains down, literally, nuclear destruction up on the city, in a manner not dissimilar too that levied upon either of the cities, Hiroshima or Nagasaki. But its not just about that. It about the creation of the next WMD which would ultimately be used against Godzilla but poses and moral dilemma that Robert Oppenheimer himself would appreciate, as to whether such a creation should be allowed to be developed. It also looks quite seriously into establishing the potential evolution of a creature such as Godzilla and uses plausible palaeontological arguments to justify his existence.
The pacing was good and though Godzilla strikes from almost the opening frame, there is a sense of an ongoing crisis rather than an impending apocalypse, with news outlets reporting throughout as plans, both military and civilian are sited.
All in all, this is not just the birth of the massive and largely corny and cheap Godzilla series, it is a striking, intelligent, moving and incredibly well judged masterpiece of 50′s cinema. But I should have known. Most rubbish franchises began with an inspired first movie, something to break the mould and this does the job perfectly.
But it isn't without its flaws. The special effects, though not all bad, are below par even for the time, but effective as for telling the story, some were very good with ALL being well conceived and ambitious. Some were very poor though, such as the model ships, which were unnecessarily below the standards and look like bath toys. But the cinematography was wonderful, with Honda shooting this in a classically manner. Tension was built brilliantly and the action rose to several crescendos and the excellent score by Akira Ifukube was not overused but brought to perfect effect when needed.
The acting was first-rate as well, proving Japanese cinemas reputation. But this was my first real foray into Japanese cinema, and what a treat it was. Many would look at this and see a cheap old film and others will see a film that whist let down by some less that brilliant visual effects and the fact that a lot of people, certainly in the U.K. find subtitles difficult, as a masterpiece not only of Eastern cinema but of cinema full stop. Truly realising its narrative and spirit, its cause and message. This was about a county in mourning not only for the hundreds of thousands lost by Fat Man and Little Boy, but for the war full stop. The 1950′s were a time of great political fear and reconstruction after WW2, and this is a film which taps into the brewing Cold War and fear of annihilation from human behemoths which once released can never be returned.
HIGHLY recommended but not for children as they will bore, miss the point, get put off by the subtitles, black and white and quite frankly its a mature and bleak film and not the 1998 remake. And thank God or Godzilla for that!
Honest Review for Free Copy of Book
Readers should not be fooled by the title The Geek Who Came From The Cold: Surviving The Post-USSR Era On A Hollywood Diet by Leon Kaminsky has nothing to do with food or dieting at all. The “Hollywood Diet” mentioned in the title is movies, mainly those from the US. A little bit of knowledge about Russia and their policies would be helpful when reading this book but is not required.
Leon is a young boy growing up in Russia at the end of the 1900s. He has a nervous problem (possibly anxiety) and has a hard time at school and with other people in general. Leon quickly falls in love with movies, specifically those from Hollywood after seeing them for the first time. Like so many other people who are not exactly social for one reason or another, he trades social interaction for watching films. His love for movies over the years borders on the edge of obsession as he knows not only actors and directors but also the Russian’s who voice over the tapes to translate them. His daily and weekly schedule revolves around what movies are being played on TV or at the theaters.
He takes readers through the difficulty of obtaining some of the popular movies that can be found just about anywhere here in the United States. This difficulty is not only because of how much Russia censored movies from just about anywhere but because the titles are often changed as well. Leon shares his excitement and the challenges he faced to get his first VCR play and to transport his VHS collection when his family moved. He even talks about when owning a VCR was illegal in Russia and when people would give anything to have one, including offering to trade a boat for a VCR.
What I liked best was that the informative quality of the book was wonderful and the author clearly did his research (I even wondered at times if the book was based on the author’s own childhood). I appreciated the human qualities of the book, such as the struggles Leon faces at school. New facts about Russia was presented to the readers in a way that prevented anything from feeling too overly informative. What I did not like was the fact that the book ends fairly abruptly. I would have liked to see at least one chapter about after the family’s move to Germany. There were also multiple sections where it would begin on one topic and end on another, seemingly unrelated topic.
Movie fans will enjoy this book but it is recommended that they be somewhat familiar with movies from the 1980s (I think was the time period of most movies mentioned in the book, I myself am far from a movie buff at all) and newer. High school students may not be able to fully appreciate the cinematic history in this book and may feel more like a history book to them. It should also be noted as VHS tapes are already a thing of the past (I am holding on to a few to show my children in the future) upcoming generations may not know what the book is talking about without asking their parents or google. Finally, I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4. This book is very informative about a topic not many people are probably aware of. Sadly this gives it a very narrow target audience. The way the book is written makes it feel like it is an autobiography about a movie lover growing up where movies are largely controlled. The plot of the book is frequently lost through during all the movie talk.
https://www.facebook.com/nightreaderreviews
Leon is a young boy growing up in Russia at the end of the 1900s. He has a nervous problem (possibly anxiety) and has a hard time at school and with other people in general. Leon quickly falls in love with movies, specifically those from Hollywood after seeing them for the first time. Like so many other people who are not exactly social for one reason or another, he trades social interaction for watching films. His love for movies over the years borders on the edge of obsession as he knows not only actors and directors but also the Russian’s who voice over the tapes to translate them. His daily and weekly schedule revolves around what movies are being played on TV or at the theaters.
He takes readers through the difficulty of obtaining some of the popular movies that can be found just about anywhere here in the United States. This difficulty is not only because of how much Russia censored movies from just about anywhere but because the titles are often changed as well. Leon shares his excitement and the challenges he faced to get his first VCR play and to transport his VHS collection when his family moved. He even talks about when owning a VCR was illegal in Russia and when people would give anything to have one, including offering to trade a boat for a VCR.
What I liked best was that the informative quality of the book was wonderful and the author clearly did his research (I even wondered at times if the book was based on the author’s own childhood). I appreciated the human qualities of the book, such as the struggles Leon faces at school. New facts about Russia was presented to the readers in a way that prevented anything from feeling too overly informative. What I did not like was the fact that the book ends fairly abruptly. I would have liked to see at least one chapter about after the family’s move to Germany. There were also multiple sections where it would begin on one topic and end on another, seemingly unrelated topic.
Movie fans will enjoy this book but it is recommended that they be somewhat familiar with movies from the 1980s (I think was the time period of most movies mentioned in the book, I myself am far from a movie buff at all) and newer. High school students may not be able to fully appreciate the cinematic history in this book and may feel more like a history book to them. It should also be noted as VHS tapes are already a thing of the past (I am holding on to a few to show my children in the future) upcoming generations may not know what the book is talking about without asking their parents or google. Finally, I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4. This book is very informative about a topic not many people are probably aware of. Sadly this gives it a very narrow target audience. The way the book is written makes it feel like it is an autobiography about a movie lover growing up where movies are largely controlled. The plot of the book is frequently lost through during all the movie talk.
https://www.facebook.com/nightreaderreviews
b.Young (97 KP) rated Win (The Atlantis Grail Book 3) in Books
May 21, 2018
Romance (3 more)
Action
The Atlantis Grail Games
Awesome storyline
My favorite in the series so far
Contains spoilers, click to show
I originally downloaded Book 1, Qualify, on my Kindle because it was offered for free. I immediately purchased Book 2 (Compete) and Book 3 (Win) after getting through the third chapter! I knew this was going to be a series to follow because Vera Nazarian's writing has an amazing way of drawing you into the story.
After Qualify, I was completely invested in the fate of Gwen Lark and needed to know what happened, so I continued with Compete. While Compete did not have the same action and urgency as Qualify, it was still an outstanding sequel and made me want to continue the The Atlantis Grail Series.
To be honest, Compete left me right where I wanted to be! Everything I had hoped for Gwen was happening and I had no choice but to continue the story (yes, I am a person who gets emotionally attached to certain fictional characters and therefore live my fantasy life vicariously through them).
Now, on to Win. Oh. My. Lord! Be still my heart, because Aeson has admitted his feelings for Gwen and they are going to get married!!! Yes, regular Earth-girl and winner of an all expense paid trip to Atlantis gets to marry the friggen Crown Prince of Atlantida!!!
Nevermind that Aeson's dad, the Imperator of Atlantida, does not like this one little bit, because what Gwen and Aeson have is real true love and it is so sweet and tender and... I must stop here before I gush all over this review since shit is about to get very real for them (at the hands of the Imperator, of course).
Flashback to that mindnumbing and heartbreaking decision Gwen made in Book 2 to niether become a Civilian or Cadet and instead enter the Atlantis Grail to become a Citizen so she could save her parents and her brother George from the impeding doom of the Asteriod hurtling through space with the purpose of destroying Earth. Well, it just so happens that because she is now the Imperial Bride-to-be, she will be awarded Citizenship when she marries Aeson and thusly inherit the ability to save the rest of her family without having to compete in the horrible and terrifying Atlantis Grail Games. I was literally jumping in my seat and squealing when I learned this!
All that worry and training for the entire year travelling in space to Atlantis was put to a rest and all seemed just hunky-dory. Until....
The Imperial Court Assembly that is held to recognize Gwen as Aeson's choice of Imperial Consort and Bride. Everything goes as planned until the Imperator decides to bestow an unrefusable gift unto Gwen: the "opportunity" to compete in the Atlantis Grail Games. This was such a blow to my heart and I wanted to hold Gwen and tell her it was never going to happen and she could just marry her Prince and have many children and live happily ever after. Alas, that would not have made for a very interesting story, so we must concede to the Imperator's whim and suffer with Aeson as Gwen competes in the stupid Atlantis Grail for her life all because the Imperator is not happy Aeson did not choose Lady Tiri, a proper Atlantean Royal.
Things get intense from this point on as Gwen only has 28 days to train and become a warrior capable of NOT dying in the Games. Thankfully, she has the support of her Bridegroom and the crew of the Astra Diamon to help her with this nearly impossible challenge.
After the 28 days of intense training, it is finally time for Gwen to say her goodbyes and focus on staying alive through all 4 stages of the deadly Grail Games.
During the Games, she is met with unique challenges and ordeals that left me reading into the wee hours of the night to make sure Gwen survived. I seriously could not put this book down I was so worried for Gwen and Aeson.
The Grail Games were more intense and horrible than Katniss Everdeen ever had to endure and although I was confident Gwen would make it through alive, I was unsure just how much of her would make it out at the end.
I cannot wait for Book 4, Survive! I saw an update yesterday from the author mentioning that over 26,000 words had been completed for the book! It cannot come soon enough!
After Qualify, I was completely invested in the fate of Gwen Lark and needed to know what happened, so I continued with Compete. While Compete did not have the same action and urgency as Qualify, it was still an outstanding sequel and made me want to continue the The Atlantis Grail Series.
To be honest, Compete left me right where I wanted to be! Everything I had hoped for Gwen was happening and I had no choice but to continue the story (yes, I am a person who gets emotionally attached to certain fictional characters and therefore live my fantasy life vicariously through them).
Now, on to Win. Oh. My. Lord! Be still my heart, because Aeson has admitted his feelings for Gwen and they are going to get married!!! Yes, regular Earth-girl and winner of an all expense paid trip to Atlantis gets to marry the friggen Crown Prince of Atlantida!!!
Nevermind that Aeson's dad, the Imperator of Atlantida, does not like this one little bit, because what Gwen and Aeson have is real true love and it is so sweet and tender and... I must stop here before I gush all over this review since shit is about to get very real for them (at the hands of the Imperator, of course).
Flashback to that mindnumbing and heartbreaking decision Gwen made in Book 2 to niether become a Civilian or Cadet and instead enter the Atlantis Grail to become a Citizen so she could save her parents and her brother George from the impeding doom of the Asteriod hurtling through space with the purpose of destroying Earth. Well, it just so happens that because she is now the Imperial Bride-to-be, she will be awarded Citizenship when she marries Aeson and thusly inherit the ability to save the rest of her family without having to compete in the horrible and terrifying Atlantis Grail Games. I was literally jumping in my seat and squealing when I learned this!
All that worry and training for the entire year travelling in space to Atlantis was put to a rest and all seemed just hunky-dory. Until....
The Imperial Court Assembly that is held to recognize Gwen as Aeson's choice of Imperial Consort and Bride. Everything goes as planned until the Imperator decides to bestow an unrefusable gift unto Gwen: the "opportunity" to compete in the Atlantis Grail Games. This was such a blow to my heart and I wanted to hold Gwen and tell her it was never going to happen and she could just marry her Prince and have many children and live happily ever after. Alas, that would not have made for a very interesting story, so we must concede to the Imperator's whim and suffer with Aeson as Gwen competes in the stupid Atlantis Grail for her life all because the Imperator is not happy Aeson did not choose Lady Tiri, a proper Atlantean Royal.
Things get intense from this point on as Gwen only has 28 days to train and become a warrior capable of NOT dying in the Games. Thankfully, she has the support of her Bridegroom and the crew of the Astra Diamon to help her with this nearly impossible challenge.
After the 28 days of intense training, it is finally time for Gwen to say her goodbyes and focus on staying alive through all 4 stages of the deadly Grail Games.
During the Games, she is met with unique challenges and ordeals that left me reading into the wee hours of the night to make sure Gwen survived. I seriously could not put this book down I was so worried for Gwen and Aeson.
The Grail Games were more intense and horrible than Katniss Everdeen ever had to endure and although I was confident Gwen would make it through alive, I was unsure just how much of her would make it out at the end.
I cannot wait for Book 4, Survive! I saw an update yesterday from the author mentioning that over 26,000 words had been completed for the book! It cannot come soon enough!
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Twisted Fairy Tales: Little Rude Riding Hood in Books
Mar 26, 2020
Telling of Little Red Riding Hood to help children learn the importance of manners
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
I am sure you realize from the title, Twisted Fairy Tales: Little Rude Riding Hood, is a twist on Little Red Riding Hood. Author Jo Franklin and illustrator Chris Jevons are able to produce a children's book that teaches the necessity of good manners.
It is not a long book. Several reviewers noted the book felt rushed. It did feel the main character, Little Rude Riding Hood, learned her lesson quickly. It is this brevity that allows it to be perfect for storytime in schools.
Little Rude Riding Hood heads to her grandmother's house and is rude to everyone she meets along the way. It is no surprise when she learns her lesson in the end and earns the name Little Red Riding Hood. She learns to say please and thank you and stops being rude. Children will enjoy the illustrations and, hopefully, learn their manners from this story.
Twisted Fairy Tales is a series of children's books published by Arcturus Publishing. Others in the series illustrated by Chris Jevons include Twisted Fairy Tales: Snow White and the Seven Robots and Twisted Fairy Tales: The Three Little Narwhals. This is the only book in the series written by Jo Franklin.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/25/20.
I am sure you realize from the title, Twisted Fairy Tales: Little Rude Riding Hood, is a twist on Little Red Riding Hood. Author Jo Franklin and illustrator Chris Jevons are able to produce a children's book that teaches the necessity of good manners.
It is not a long book. Several reviewers noted the book felt rushed. It did feel the main character, Little Rude Riding Hood, learned her lesson quickly. It is this brevity that allows it to be perfect for storytime in schools.
Little Rude Riding Hood heads to her grandmother's house and is rude to everyone she meets along the way. It is no surprise when she learns her lesson in the end and earns the name Little Red Riding Hood. She learns to say please and thank you and stops being rude. Children will enjoy the illustrations and, hopefully, learn their manners from this story.
Twisted Fairy Tales is a series of children's books published by Arcturus Publishing. Others in the series illustrated by Chris Jevons include Twisted Fairy Tales: Snow White and the Seven Robots and Twisted Fairy Tales: The Three Little Narwhals. This is the only book in the series written by Jo Franklin.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/25/20.
