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Merissa (13792 KP) rated The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior (The Lost Arts #1) in Books
May 9, 2025
THE LOST ART OF SEDUCING A MAGE WARRIOR is the first book in The Lost Arts series and does NOT give you everything all at once, which I loved!
Perian is a charismatic character, effortlessly drawing others to him. He is aware of this but doesn't weaponise it. When he is attacked by three men who don't understand that "No" is a complete sentence, he thinks his time is up. Instead, he is rescued by Brannal, a Mage Warrior, who takes him back to the Queen's castle to recover. If Perian is the sunshine one, then Brannal is the grumpy one, although this description doesn't fit either of them perfectly.
There are plenty of misunderstandings between Perian and Brannal, which I actually loved to read. They are at the beginning of a new relationship, with lots of things going on and different characters in the mix, so, surprisingly, they're not that good at communicating. When they do speak to each other, they both admit it is something they need to work on, and that neither of them will get it right all the time. It made a refreshing change to read that, rather than unnecessary angst.
The ending was satisfying for now, but I oh-so-desperately want more! Lots of loose threads that I want tying up! A great story and a brilliant beginning to the series. Definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 9, 2025
Perian is a charismatic character, effortlessly drawing others to him. He is aware of this but doesn't weaponise it. When he is attacked by three men who don't understand that "No" is a complete sentence, he thinks his time is up. Instead, he is rescued by Brannal, a Mage Warrior, who takes him back to the Queen's castle to recover. If Perian is the sunshine one, then Brannal is the grumpy one, although this description doesn't fit either of them perfectly.
There are plenty of misunderstandings between Perian and Brannal, which I actually loved to read. They are at the beginning of a new relationship, with lots of things going on and different characters in the mix, so, surprisingly, they're not that good at communicating. When they do speak to each other, they both admit it is something they need to work on, and that neither of them will get it right all the time. It made a refreshing change to read that, rather than unnecessary angst.
The ending was satisfying for now, but I oh-so-desperately want more! Lots of loose threads that I want tying up! A great story and a brilliant beginning to the series. Definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 9, 2025
Micah Ulibarri (79 KP) rated Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) in Movies
Mar 17, 2018
A very different movie from the Marvel universe, Spiderman: Home coming, made perhaps the most overdone movie superhero fresh and exciting again. And how did they do that? Going back to the basics of who and what the character is: A high school kid, who looks like, acts like, and think like a high school kid.
Well acted on both sides of the good and evil, Tom Holland gives us an endearing Spiderman and follows up on his introduction in Captain America: Civil War. The Vulture, Spiderman's villain this go around, played by Micheal Keaton, has the one thing most superhero villains lack: a believable motive.
That's the one place where I think there was a little room to grow in this movie. There are hints of trying to make a social commentary on the military industrial complex and it's effect on the average citizen, but a lot of that gets lost in a visual action story. A small gripe, but, I think, a fair critique.
All in all, one of the stronger and more fun and enjoyable Marvel films to date.
Well acted on both sides of the good and evil, Tom Holland gives us an endearing Spiderman and follows up on his introduction in Captain America: Civil War. The Vulture, Spiderman's villain this go around, played by Micheal Keaton, has the one thing most superhero villains lack: a believable motive.
That's the one place where I think there was a little room to grow in this movie. There are hints of trying to make a social commentary on the military industrial complex and it's effect on the average citizen, but a lot of that gets lost in a visual action story. A small gripe, but, I think, a fair critique.
All in all, one of the stronger and more fun and enjoyable Marvel films to date.
Cutty Sark: A Souvenir Guide to the Story of the Last of the Tea Clippers
10.0
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Book
It is amazing that Cutty Sark has survived. Many of the clipper ships that sailed the China Seas...
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Between The Lies in Books
Apr 10, 2019
Chloe Daniels was in a terrible car accident, but when she wakes up, she has no idea who she is or who the people around her are. Not only has Chloe lost her memory, but she has also lost her son in this terrible accident. With flashes of what could have happened that night, Chloe is determined to find out the truth. But her family keeps filling her head with falsehoods that are hindering her from finding out what is really going on. Still weak from her accident and still unsure which memories are real and which have been implanted, Chloe set out to find out what happened that night and who she was then and who she is today.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the opportunity to read and review this book.
First of all, I don't know what I would do, if I woke up one day and had no idea who I was or who the people around me were. Then to find out that my family had been keeping secrets from me and trying to rewrite my history, that would make me go berserk. But Chloe is able to keep her composure long enough to discover what is really going on.
The book started off a little slow for me, but about half way through the story picked up and I couldn't put it down after that. Lots of ups and downs and twists and turns. When you find out the truth, it's really hard to believe. At first I was sure I knew what was going on, but towards the end, I found out I was very wrong. Chloe remembers nothing, but in her dreams she sees flashes of what could have happened. Are these dreams real, or are the manifestations? From what her family and the police tell her, they can't be real, but it feels true to her core. Chloe will go against everyone that is trying to "protect" her in order to protect herself.
This is the first book I have read by Michelle Adams, but it will not be my last. Her other book is If You Knew My Sister.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the opportunity to read and review this book.
First of all, I don't know what I would do, if I woke up one day and had no idea who I was or who the people around me were. Then to find out that my family had been keeping secrets from me and trying to rewrite my history, that would make me go berserk. But Chloe is able to keep her composure long enough to discover what is really going on.
The book started off a little slow for me, but about half way through the story picked up and I couldn't put it down after that. Lots of ups and downs and twists and turns. When you find out the truth, it's really hard to believe. At first I was sure I knew what was going on, but towards the end, I found out I was very wrong. Chloe remembers nothing, but in her dreams she sees flashes of what could have happened. Are these dreams real, or are the manifestations? From what her family and the police tell her, they can't be real, but it feels true to her core. Chloe will go against everyone that is trying to "protect" her in order to protect herself.
This is the first book I have read by Michelle Adams, but it will not be my last. Her other book is If You Knew My Sister.
Marvin (Assassin's To Order #1)
JP Sayle and Lisa Oliver
9.0
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Ajani is a shifter without a conscience. Stolen as a child, hidden from the world, trained to kill...
MM Paranormal Romance Spin-Off Series
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
Part three in The Maze Runner series, our young hero Thomas embarks on a mission to find a cure for a deadly disease known as the "Flare".
Because I'd never read the books I never saw the first two in this series... but I was getting desperate for things to watch, I was physically twitchy because the end of the month was coming and I was perilously low on films, so I binged watched the first two in the nights running up to this one and booked myself a ticket.
I enjoyed them as a whole, and I'm glad I watched them back to back because I don't feel like they were as strong individually. There were some feelings of Lost ending issues... but I suppose I'm going to have to let that go.
Unless I missed something, I feel like there were too many questions left unanswered, and in this film in particular, several moments that made me a little annoyed. Like seriously... half of those things didn't need to happen the way they did!
Since seeing them I've ordered myself the five books to read (or not read, as my TBR gets perilously tall), there's something sitting in the back of my mind telling me that the books will be better, I may be back to change my rating.
Because I'd never read the books I never saw the first two in this series... but I was getting desperate for things to watch, I was physically twitchy because the end of the month was coming and I was perilously low on films, so I binged watched the first two in the nights running up to this one and booked myself a ticket.
I enjoyed them as a whole, and I'm glad I watched them back to back because I don't feel like they were as strong individually. There were some feelings of Lost ending issues... but I suppose I'm going to have to let that go.
Unless I missed something, I feel like there were too many questions left unanswered, and in this film in particular, several moments that made me a little annoyed. Like seriously... half of those things didn't need to happen the way they did!
Since seeing them I've ordered myself the five books to read (or not read, as my TBR gets perilously tall), there's something sitting in the back of my mind telling me that the books will be better, I may be back to change my rating.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Taking in Books
Apr 7, 2024
67 of 220
Book
The Taking
By Dean Koontz
⭐️⭐️
On the morning that will mark the end of the world they have known, Molly and Niel Sloan awaken to the drumbeat of rain. It has haunted their dreams through the night, and now they find an eerily luminous and golden downpour that drenches their small Californian mountain town. As hours pass they hear news of extreme weather phenomena across the globe. An obscuring fog turns once familiar streets into a ghostly labyrinth. By evening, the town has lost all communication with the outside world. First TV and radio go dead, then the Internet and phone lines. The young couple gathers together with some neighbours, sensing a threat they cannot identify or even imagine. The night brings strange noises, and mysterious lights drift among the trees. The rain diminishes with the dawn but a moody grey-purple twilight prevails. Within the misty gloom the small band will encounter something that reveals in a terrifying instant what is happening to the world -- something that is hunting them with ruthless efficiency.
I really liked how this started and it was doing ok then I got bored by the end I was glad it was ending. Someone told me this was one of his best books it kinda puts me off reading anymore if that’s the case.
Book
The Taking
By Dean Koontz
⭐️⭐️
On the morning that will mark the end of the world they have known, Molly and Niel Sloan awaken to the drumbeat of rain. It has haunted their dreams through the night, and now they find an eerily luminous and golden downpour that drenches their small Californian mountain town. As hours pass they hear news of extreme weather phenomena across the globe. An obscuring fog turns once familiar streets into a ghostly labyrinth. By evening, the town has lost all communication with the outside world. First TV and radio go dead, then the Internet and phone lines. The young couple gathers together with some neighbours, sensing a threat they cannot identify or even imagine. The night brings strange noises, and mysterious lights drift among the trees. The rain diminishes with the dawn but a moody grey-purple twilight prevails. Within the misty gloom the small band will encounter something that reveals in a terrifying instant what is happening to the world -- something that is hunting them with ruthless efficiency.
I really liked how this started and it was doing ok then I got bored by the end I was glad it was ending. Someone told me this was one of his best books it kinda puts me off reading anymore if that’s the case.
BookInspector (124 KP) rated The Rules in Books
Sep 24, 2020
The protagonist of this book is Amber, a sarcastic teenager, who lost her mother and had to travel from one foster house to another. When her father contacts her, she knows she has to run… I really liked Amber, she is an absolute kickass, but she explained how much she had to go through to become one… I really admire her resilience and intelligence, she is a true fighter, even though very emotionally traumatised one. I really liked the variety of characters chosen for this book. Amber is raised by a control freak, so control and order is her safety blanket. Her travel companion Josh, on the other hand, is a free spirit, not very worried about life in general. I think he was a true ray of sunshine in this novel.
I really enjoyed the narrative of this book. The story has a single perspective but dual timeline, the events from the past portray Amber’s life when she was trained for survival, and her present journey, while she is trying to run away from her obsessive and controlling father. I really liked this combo, and I was able to learn so much from Amber and her survival skills. There are a lot of sensitive topics discussed in this novel, such as emotional and physical violence, homelessness, prepper and survivalist communities and their work, many mental health issues, psychological trauma, and many more. I really enjoyed the way this story was told, it was like a runaway story, but it was an adventure nevertheless.
I really liked the writing style, it is visible that the author has done a great job with the research for this novel, it offers such a wide variety of lessons for survival in general, that our screen-addicted youth could learn from. I enjoyed the constantly changing set of this novel, I found it pretty entertaining. The chapters are pretty short, and the pages just flew by to me. Even though this book left some unanswered questions for me, I really liked the ending of this book, I think it rounded up this story well.
So, to conclude, this is a very thought-provoking novel, filled with rules, discipline and really interesting and complex characters, that are different. I really liked the narrative and it was a true page-turner for me. If you are looking for an adventurous YA psychological thriller, I think this book is for you.
I really enjoyed the narrative of this book. The story has a single perspective but dual timeline, the events from the past portray Amber’s life when she was trained for survival, and her present journey, while she is trying to run away from her obsessive and controlling father. I really liked this combo, and I was able to learn so much from Amber and her survival skills. There are a lot of sensitive topics discussed in this novel, such as emotional and physical violence, homelessness, prepper and survivalist communities and their work, many mental health issues, psychological trauma, and many more. I really enjoyed the way this story was told, it was like a runaway story, but it was an adventure nevertheless.
I really liked the writing style, it is visible that the author has done a great job with the research for this novel, it offers such a wide variety of lessons for survival in general, that our screen-addicted youth could learn from. I enjoyed the constantly changing set of this novel, I found it pretty entertaining. The chapters are pretty short, and the pages just flew by to me. Even though this book left some unanswered questions for me, I really liked the ending of this book, I think it rounded up this story well.
So, to conclude, this is a very thought-provoking novel, filled with rules, discipline and really interesting and complex characters, that are different. I really liked the narrative and it was a true page-turner for me. If you are looking for an adventurous YA psychological thriller, I think this book is for you.
Debbiereadsbook (1669 KP) rated Little & Lethal (Little Paws Haven #2) in Books
Aug 4, 2024
Loved that Cosmo pushed, just to get punished.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Little Paws Haven series. I don't think it totally necessary to have read book one, Little Treasure He Hides, before this one. I loved that book.
And while I really enjoyed this one, I found this one a bit...disconnected.
Oh don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, I just found some bits went off and I lost my concentration.
Nomad and Harley have been mated for 20 years. Harley, though, is certain they should have a third. Meeting Cosmo, and all three of them knew they were mates but Cosmo was not letting them have it easy. Getting up close and personal with another Dom in the club, just to rile Nomad and Harley up. But Cosmo is more than a Little. He is deadly. And not incapable of looking after himself. Nomad and Harley need to get with the programme. Cosmo also needs to get with it, but he struggles. Having only himself to rely on for so long, it takes him time to let Nomad and Harley in.
I liked that all three men have a say. I loved that Cosmo gave the other two a run for their money. I loved that Cosmo, once settled into the relationship, pushed all the boundaries and then some, JUST so he could take the punishment.
I found the issue with The Council a bit confusing as to what was really going on, so reading about those bits, I kinda switched off. It all comes clear, I just took twice as long to get it!
Gabai and Asher from book one take part, but you don't need to have read their book to follow this one. The next book is laid here, well, I mean I hope it is! Looking forward to reading about hippos!
I liked this well enough, but something didn't quite click for me.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Little Paws Haven series. I don't think it totally necessary to have read book one, Little Treasure He Hides, before this one. I loved that book.
And while I really enjoyed this one, I found this one a bit...disconnected.
Oh don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, I just found some bits went off and I lost my concentration.
Nomad and Harley have been mated for 20 years. Harley, though, is certain they should have a third. Meeting Cosmo, and all three of them knew they were mates but Cosmo was not letting them have it easy. Getting up close and personal with another Dom in the club, just to rile Nomad and Harley up. But Cosmo is more than a Little. He is deadly. And not incapable of looking after himself. Nomad and Harley need to get with the programme. Cosmo also needs to get with it, but he struggles. Having only himself to rely on for so long, it takes him time to let Nomad and Harley in.
I liked that all three men have a say. I loved that Cosmo gave the other two a run for their money. I loved that Cosmo, once settled into the relationship, pushed all the boundaries and then some, JUST so he could take the punishment.
I found the issue with The Council a bit confusing as to what was really going on, so reading about those bits, I kinda switched off. It all comes clear, I just took twice as long to get it!
Gabai and Asher from book one take part, but you don't need to have read their book to follow this one. The next book is laid here, well, I mean I hope it is! Looking forward to reading about hippos!
I liked this well enough, but something didn't quite click for me.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2492 KP) rated Lost and Fondue (A Cheese Shop Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Charlotte is catering a fundraiser at the old winery on the outskirts of town. During the scavenger hunt, she finds the body of one of the guests in the basement. With the police looking at someone Charlotte cares about, she must spring into detective mode to find the real killer.
I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this second book in the series. The characters were a tad overwhelming at first by their number, but I quickly had them all figured out. The plot slow down a tad in the middle, but the end result was great. I'll definitely be back for the next slice.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-lost-and-fondue-by-avery.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this second book in the series. The characters were a tad overwhelming at first by their number, but I quickly had them all figured out. The plot slow down a tad in the middle, but the end result was great. I'll definitely be back for the next slice.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-lost-and-fondue-by-avery.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.