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ALilLacey (2 KP) rated Princess Ben in Books
Mar 4, 2019
Princess Ben is not your average Princess. She isn't interested in learning how to behave like a queen and her less than skinny figure isn't putting her their either much to her Aunt's dismay. What do you do when your mother has been killed, your father is missing and you've become next in line for the throne. Misbehave of course. It's because of this attitude that she discovers a whole other side to the castle and to what she's capable of!
I really enjoyed the characters and the plot. This is actually the first princess book I've read. I only wish there had been more of the magical side of things in the story but I still loved it.
I really enjoyed the characters and the plot. This is actually the first princess book I've read. I only wish there had been more of the magical side of things in the story but I still loved it.

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Once Upon the End (Half Upon a Time, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The trilogy comes to an end as Jack completes his training for his new master and sets out on a mysterious quest of his own. Meanwhile, May is living with her wicked step-mother and Phillip is wishing for more adventures. Will these three reunite to overthrow the Evil Queen? If you've enjoyed the first two, you'll love how the series ends. There's more humor and more twists and suspense. I always had a hard time putting it down. And if you haven't read the series? Don't start here, but read all three of them.
My full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-once-upon-end-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
My full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-once-upon-end-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Lottery and Other Stories in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Jackson is the queen of turning normal people's lives into a horror show. This short story is dark, disturbing and chilling.
Written and published just after WWII, this clearly sends out as message to all those involved in the Holocaust. Just because something is being done by the masses, and has become a sort of tradition, doesn't mean its moral and right. This message translates to today's times too. As another reviewer perfectly put it, "there is value in tradition but beware blind faith".
This in no way surprised me, it's not that I've seen spoilers for it, I just happened to get it very early on, but that doesn't take away the effect of the horrific ending.
Written and published just after WWII, this clearly sends out as message to all those involved in the Holocaust. Just because something is being done by the masses, and has become a sort of tradition, doesn't mean its moral and right. This message translates to today's times too. As another reviewer perfectly put it, "there is value in tradition but beware blind faith".
This in no way surprised me, it's not that I've seen spoilers for it, I just happened to get it very early on, but that doesn't take away the effect of the horrific ending.
This series is a decent attempt at chronicling the background, and current activities of one of the DC Universe's lesser known/adapted for the screen heroes - the Green Arrow. While it starts as quite a dark, Batman-esque vigilante, it soon develops into a more team-based, lighter-hearted series. I think part of this is to fit more naturally with the cheesy spandex of The Flash. Despite this, the character of Oliver Queen retains a dark streak and his actions are much more morally dubious, giving it an edge. The story flips between present day and the island Oliver was marooned on, where he learned the skills needed to become the Green Arrow.

BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Happily Ever After (The Selection, #0.4, 0.5, 2.5, 2.6) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
I read all of the novellas for The Selection Series in this book. There are some excellent illustrations and extras in this book. If you are as obsessed as I am about this series, I recommend this edition.
I recommend reading The Queen and The Prince BEFORE The Selection. The Guard AFTER The Elite. And the rest AFTER The One. There is also an excellent map of Illéa
I feel like all of these extra stories added to the depth of the series. They give us a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the other characters. This helped me appreciate those characters more as I look back and think of the story as a whole.
I recommend reading The Queen and The Prince BEFORE The Selection. The Guard AFTER The Elite. And the rest AFTER The One. There is also an excellent map of Illéa
I feel like all of these extra stories added to the depth of the series. They give us a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the other characters. This helped me appreciate those characters more as I look back and think of the story as a whole.

Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated The Evil Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil, #1) in Books
Dec 31, 2019
I received a copy of The Evil Queen from Harlequin TEEN (US Canada) through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like this one more than I actually did.
The righting is great and a lot of it is really evocative but the character of Every came off as about 12 or so. Her reactions didn't strike me as realistic for a high schooler at all.
The dialogue is a bit cheesy at points but I'm not gonna complain to much because what's a fairy tale without some cheese?
I did enjoy the story but the sensual parts did come off a bit awkward to me on account of the MC seeming so young.
I wanted to like this one more than I actually did.
The righting is great and a lot of it is really evocative but the character of Every came off as about 12 or so. Her reactions didn't strike me as realistic for a high schooler at all.
The dialogue is a bit cheesy at points but I'm not gonna complain to much because what's a fairy tale without some cheese?
I did enjoy the story but the sensual parts did come off a bit awkward to me on account of the MC seeming so young.

Deborah (162 KP) rated The Last Queen in Books
Dec 21, 2018
The start was a bit shaky - a few Americanisms thrown in there (Why 'visit with'??! It's a daft, redundant sort of expression!) but when I got in to it I found it to be a really rather compelling novel! This is the story of Juana 'The Mad', Quuen of Castile, daughter of Ferdinand & Isabella, the catholic kings. Gortner has an interesting take on Juana's 'madness' which he develops in the novel.
It's not altogether a comfortable read though! so many times I felt myself to be frustrated for Juana and the situation she found herself in - manipulated by others.
An interesting and thought-provoking read about a queen perhaps not much known outside of Spain.
It's not altogether a comfortable read though! so many times I felt myself to be frustrated for Juana and the situation she found herself in - manipulated by others.
An interesting and thought-provoking read about a queen perhaps not much known outside of Spain.

Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) in Movies
Feb 29, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
I like some of their music but I’m certainly not the biggest Queen fan even so I still found plenty to enjoy here. It doesn’t do anything particularly new with the music biopic movie formula and it does shy away from some of the darker elements of Freddy Mercury’s personality. Where it succeeds though is in its leading man, Rami Malek is outstanding as Mercury. Charismatic , flamboyant and dominating every scene that Oscar was certainly well deserved. Ending the movie with an exact reproduction of Queen’s iconic Live Aid performance was also a smart move showing the band and Freddy at their best and sending me away to add Radio Gaga to my Spotify playlist.

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