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David McK (3425 KP) rated The Royalist (William Falkland #1) in Books
Apr 18, 2022
Set during the period of the English Civil Wars, I have to say that I found this to be rather unusual in that it is not about (per se) the wars themselves: rather, it is set in the New Model Army camp over a winter period, between hostilities, with William Falkland (the Royalist of the title) plucked from his prison cell by none other than Oliver Cromwell himself and sent to investigate reports of suicides/disturbances in the camp.
Reading very much like a ECW version of a whodunnit, with the author - in the afterword - not at all shy to point out the influences of the hard-boiled detective hero/film noir of the 40s (think Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler) on this work.
Reading very much like a ECW version of a whodunnit, with the author - in the afterword - not at all shy to point out the influences of the hard-boiled detective hero/film noir of the 40s (think Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler) on this work.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Court of the Air (Jackelian, #1) in Books
Nov 11, 2019
The land of Jackals is under threat. Ancient foes are threatening its people and its borders. Who can save the land?
Molly Templar is an orphan scratching a living in a poor house. But someone wants her very badly - badly enough to kill anyone who gets in the way. But who would want a poor orphan girl and why?
Oliver Brooks is an outcast. He was lost for two years in the feymist when he was younger. He must have been changed but shows no signs, he appears to be completely normal. But he still needs to report to the authorities regularly and lives in virtual house arrest with his uncle. Until his uncle is killed and Oliver barely escapes.
So begins The Court Of The Air, a stupendous rolling epic set in the strange land of Jackals, a place which is sort of like Victorian England but is also completely different. There are guns and airships, bombs and politicians aplenty. There is also magic and gods stalk the shadows of the world. Sentient steam driven robots have their own country and their own religion.
This is one of those immersive novels. Nothing is explained as it is seen from the viewpoint of the main characters, and they don't need to explain their own world to themselves. This might deter some readers because although there are some familiar concepts many are new or reworked in subtly different ways so that assumptions are dangerous. Personally I enjoy being thrown into the deep end and having to work at understanding the world of the author. I was definitely in my element.
Hunt has an amazing imagination. He is like the curator of a museum of wonders, allowing quick glimpses at the shiny trinkets before twitching aside the curtain to the rather more sinister exhibits he keeps in the basement. He also has a prose style that is frequently poetic and full of brilliant metaphor and simile. One of my favourites was describing a camera as having its nose pointing sadly downwards. And the writing is dense, very dense. I took my time over this book because it was worth it to extract every nuance and vibe conveyed by the words on the page.
The plot is sprawling and convoluted. Oliver and Molly are the main characters but there are others on all sides of the conflict and very little is as it seems or black and white. The first half of the book concerns Molly and Oliver being separately pursued as various aspects of Jackals' geography and politics are revealed (and the political systems are a hoot). Once we find out what is going on the pursued then must try to confront and thwart the danger, not only to them but to their country and the world.
The threads finally come together in a cataclysmic ending. The plot does unravel a little as everything happens at once and there are plenty of clever twists. There is a certain about of deus ex machina in the ending but I would rather that than a tedious few pages of exposition. The good guys win. The bad guys are vanquished. And it's all very entertaining.
Now I do accept that it is a challenging read and some people will not take to it so I can't recommend it without saying, read an excerpt first. If you like reading it (even if you don't as yet understand what half of it means) then read all of it. You will not be disappointed.
Rated: Some violence
Molly Templar is an orphan scratching a living in a poor house. But someone wants her very badly - badly enough to kill anyone who gets in the way. But who would want a poor orphan girl and why?
Oliver Brooks is an outcast. He was lost for two years in the feymist when he was younger. He must have been changed but shows no signs, he appears to be completely normal. But he still needs to report to the authorities regularly and lives in virtual house arrest with his uncle. Until his uncle is killed and Oliver barely escapes.
So begins The Court Of The Air, a stupendous rolling epic set in the strange land of Jackals, a place which is sort of like Victorian England but is also completely different. There are guns and airships, bombs and politicians aplenty. There is also magic and gods stalk the shadows of the world. Sentient steam driven robots have their own country and their own religion.
This is one of those immersive novels. Nothing is explained as it is seen from the viewpoint of the main characters, and they don't need to explain their own world to themselves. This might deter some readers because although there are some familiar concepts many are new or reworked in subtly different ways so that assumptions are dangerous. Personally I enjoy being thrown into the deep end and having to work at understanding the world of the author. I was definitely in my element.
Hunt has an amazing imagination. He is like the curator of a museum of wonders, allowing quick glimpses at the shiny trinkets before twitching aside the curtain to the rather more sinister exhibits he keeps in the basement. He also has a prose style that is frequently poetic and full of brilliant metaphor and simile. One of my favourites was describing a camera as having its nose pointing sadly downwards. And the writing is dense, very dense. I took my time over this book because it was worth it to extract every nuance and vibe conveyed by the words on the page.
The plot is sprawling and convoluted. Oliver and Molly are the main characters but there are others on all sides of the conflict and very little is as it seems or black and white. The first half of the book concerns Molly and Oliver being separately pursued as various aspects of Jackals' geography and politics are revealed (and the political systems are a hoot). Once we find out what is going on the pursued then must try to confront and thwart the danger, not only to them but to their country and the world.
The threads finally come together in a cataclysmic ending. The plot does unravel a little as everything happens at once and there are plenty of clever twists. There is a certain about of deus ex machina in the ending but I would rather that than a tedious few pages of exposition. The good guys win. The bad guys are vanquished. And it's all very entertaining.
Now I do accept that it is a challenging read and some people will not take to it so I can't recommend it without saying, read an excerpt first. If you like reading it (even if you don't as yet understand what half of it means) then read all of it. You will not be disappointed.
Rated: Some violence
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Divine Justice (Camel Club, #4) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I am a huge Baldacci fan thanks to a great friend's introduction to his work! I have found myself particularly sucked in to the Camel Club series and #4 did not disappoint. In fact, I think this has been my favorite of the series thus far...of course I feel like I say that every time I read one of his books.
This installment of the series picks up right where the 3rd book ended. Oliver Stone finds himself breaking the water's surface after having tossed his scoped sniper rifle & then himself off of a rocky cliff after killing one of America's higher ups. He bails on the Camel Club & splits out of D.C. with no clues as to where he is heading. He eventually finds himself in a small, coal mining, mountain town called Divine, Virginia.
From there, & as usual, Stone finds himself mixed up in a corrupt supermax prison scandel & surrounded by a lethal drug ring, with most of the small town's residents blissfully unaware. You would think he was in over his head, but when one of your best friends is a Secret Service agent & you yourself are a former government assasin, I don't think you could ever be in over your head. I do have to admit that there were points in the story that I was convinced that Stone was finished. He was in some very precarious situations, unlike ones he'd been put into before. Of coure I did also know that there were more books in the series, which did ruin a little bit of the suspense. I mean, what would the Camel Club be without Oliver Stone?
This installment of the series picks up right where the 3rd book ended. Oliver Stone finds himself breaking the water's surface after having tossed his scoped sniper rifle & then himself off of a rocky cliff after killing one of America's higher ups. He bails on the Camel Club & splits out of D.C. with no clues as to where he is heading. He eventually finds himself in a small, coal mining, mountain town called Divine, Virginia.
From there, & as usual, Stone finds himself mixed up in a corrupt supermax prison scandel & surrounded by a lethal drug ring, with most of the small town's residents blissfully unaware. You would think he was in over his head, but when one of your best friends is a Secret Service agent & you yourself are a former government assasin, I don't think you could ever be in over your head. I do have to admit that there were points in the story that I was convinced that Stone was finished. He was in some very precarious situations, unlike ones he'd been put into before. Of coure I did also know that there were more books in the series, which did ruin a little bit of the suspense. I mean, what would the Camel Club be without Oliver Stone?
Everyday Super Food
10.0
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Book
Jamie's Everyday Super Food makes eating well delicious, easy and fun No matter how busy you are,...
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Escape the Choice (The Choice Series #1) in Books
Apr 24, 2022
Ali is at university and has 2 boys that she is friendly with one of them wants it to be more than friends with Ali whilst she wants to be more than Friends with the other she just doesn't know how to make the choice.
This is the first short story of the choices series by Ellie Yarde. I found it really well written, However I was not happy with the ending, not because its bad I just wasn't ready for it to end I wanted more from the story!
I'm glad that Ali was able to wake up and see the situation she was being manipulated into and made the right choice in my opinion, nobody should be made to feel the way that Oliver has made her feel.
Having been in similar situations myself I could feel my gut churning when she was being almost scolded by Oliver for not spending time with him, doing things she wanted to do, I wanted to almost climb into the book and shake her to make her realise that any relationship shouldn't be that hard to have, I do understand sometimes its not that easy to see when your the one in the middle of the situation and you like to see the best in everybody.
I really hope Ellie continues to write these stories as they are really enjoyable, maybe have a go at making them a little longer perhaps if at all possible. they are very easy going stories with some drama but a nice easy read.
I give 4/5 stars and recommend you read it.
This is the first short story of the choices series by Ellie Yarde. I found it really well written, However I was not happy with the ending, not because its bad I just wasn't ready for it to end I wanted more from the story!
I'm glad that Ali was able to wake up and see the situation she was being manipulated into and made the right choice in my opinion, nobody should be made to feel the way that Oliver has made her feel.
Having been in similar situations myself I could feel my gut churning when she was being almost scolded by Oliver for not spending time with him, doing things she wanted to do, I wanted to almost climb into the book and shake her to make her realise that any relationship shouldn't be that hard to have, I do understand sometimes its not that easy to see when your the one in the middle of the situation and you like to see the best in everybody.
I really hope Ellie continues to write these stories as they are really enjoyable, maybe have a go at making them a little longer perhaps if at all possible. they are very easy going stories with some drama but a nice easy read.
I give 4/5 stars and recommend you read it.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Winterwood in Books
Apr 4, 2024
63 of 220
Book
Winterwood
By Shea Ernshaw
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Be careful of the dark, dark wood…
Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even.
Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he���d been missing.
But Nora can feel an uneasy shift in the woods at Oliver’s presence. And it’s not too long after that Nora realizes she has no choice but to unearth the truth behind how the boy she has come to care so deeply about survived his time in the forest, and what led him there in the first place. What Nora doesn’t know, though, is that Oliver has secrets of his own—secrets he’ll do anything to keep buried, because as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one to have gone missing on that fateful night all those weeks ago.
This was an interesting little YA read and an easy one to get along with. A young Walker(witch) finds a book in the almost enchanted forest that is her home. She’s waiting to find her power and hoping she does actually have one. It’s a little predictable if honest but still a good little read.
Book
Winterwood
By Shea Ernshaw
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Be careful of the dark, dark wood…
Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even.
Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he���d been missing.
But Nora can feel an uneasy shift in the woods at Oliver’s presence. And it’s not too long after that Nora realizes she has no choice but to unearth the truth behind how the boy she has come to care so deeply about survived his time in the forest, and what led him there in the first place. What Nora doesn’t know, though, is that Oliver has secrets of his own—secrets he’ll do anything to keep buried, because as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one to have gone missing on that fateful night all those weeks ago.
This was an interesting little YA read and an easy one to get along with. A young Walker(witch) finds a book in the almost enchanted forest that is her home. She’s waiting to find her power and hoping she does actually have one. It’s a little predictable if honest but still a good little read.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Executive Decision (1996) in Movies
Jan 14, 2018 (Updated Jan 15, 2018)
Navy Seals sneak on board
A Jet Liner bound for Washington D.C is taken hostage. A crack team of Navy Seals led by Cl Travis (segal) along with C.I.A analyst Grant (Russell) devise a plan to sneak on board mid flight using a Steal Fighter (cool idea). Belief is that a Deadly nerve toxin is on board the plane and they need to save the passengers and find out if the nerve gas is on board. One way or another they have to stop both with only hours until the U.S coast line. Thus is a suspensful movie with a few good action scenes. The addition of Oliver Platt as the technical analyst and Halle Berry as the stewardess who has to help the seals were good choices.
Milleen (47 KP) rated If We Were Villains in Books
Nov 14, 2018
Everyone has compared this book to Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History’ with its tight knit cast of students taking their academic pursuits to dark places. However, M.L. Rio has succeeded in delivering something a little sharper, more believable but just as debauched. This may be because the students outlined in this story are actors, Shakespearean actors no less. We begin with Oliver Marks release from a ten-year jail sentence, as he reveals all to the detective that put him behind bars. Thrust into the world of the Baird, we all know the far reaches that actors will go to for a part, how their egos are as big as oceans and their morals contained in a drop. Day takes the reader back to the night in question and “the truth will out”.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Four Musketeers (1974) in Movies
Nov 29, 2019
Fairly lavish historical romp from the Salkinds and Richard Lester; the kind of film that lets you feel cultured for no very good reason. The (somewhat thin) plot concerns the machinations of the evil Milady against musketeer d'Artagnan and his nearest and dearest, but what you stick around for are the incidental jokes, big turns from a star cast, and peerless fight choreography from William Hobbs, doyen of sword masters.
The humour is broader than in the first film, but the overall tone is somewhat darker, with an unexpectedly downbeat ending: this is reflected in a striking performance by Oliver Reed, the kind of thing which really makes one wish he had had a more consistent career. Rather classier than it probably deserved to be, and good fun.
The humour is broader than in the first film, but the overall tone is somewhat darker, with an unexpectedly downbeat ending: this is reflected in a striking performance by Oliver Reed, the kind of thing which really makes one wish he had had a more consistent career. Rather classier than it probably deserved to be, and good fun.
Flatliners (1990)
7.2
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Movie Watch
Are you afraid to die? Kiefer Sutherland isn't. He's an ambitious, charismatic medical student who...