Sanctioning Modernism: Architecture and the Making of Postwar Identities
Vladimir Kuli, Timothy Parker, Monica Penick and Frederick Steiner
Book
In the decades following World War II, modern architecture spread around the globe alongside...
Soul Breathing: Spiritual Light and the Art of Self-Mastery
Book
Civilization has reached a critical threshold in time unlike any other. Whether life continues to...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Rise (Spelldrift: Coven of Fire #1) in Books
Jul 31, 2020
Kindle
Rise ( Spellsrift coven of fire book 1)
By Sierra Cross
I closed the door on magic long ago...the day it made me an orphan.
Ten years ago, the Coven of Fire sacrificed their lives--my mother among them--to hold off an overwhelming demonic force. Now it's back.
As a poorly-paid bartender, how can any of this be my problem? But Callie, another orphan of that battle, swears I'm the key to reviving the coven. And there's an incredibly sexy guardian stranded on my couch who's promising to help me stop the demons and keep the veil between the realms standing.
One problem: I've never been able to use magic. Our local bad boy warlock assures me I have the talent, but even if I did, we don't have enough witches to complete a coven. The only way to survive is to pull together this pack of magicborn misfits, who have more secrets than spells, into a makeshift coven.
Can we--three untrained witches, a sarcastic warlock, and an overly intense guardian--take back the city...before the Demongate falls and the forces that killed my mother destroy us too?
I found it ok! There were a few little annoyances like her constantly reminding you that Eric was the bad guy but overall it was ok. It had an interesting concept but not one that gripped you.
A little weak in places and a few times I got a little bored of reading the same kind of scene.
Ari Augustine (10 KP) rated Realm of Knights (Knights of the Realm, #1) in Books
May 4, 2020
But when the beans are spilled and by a prince with a taste for blackmail shes forced to accept his offer of silence in exchange for an act of treason. Shes sucked into a whole world of secrets, far more dangerous and deadly than the one shes fighting to keep. And it may cost her more than she realizes.
To be honest, Realm of the Knights isnt my usual cuppa. The last time I read anything close to a high or epic fantasy was during my Forgotten Realms phase, especially ones with courts or royal families.
But Realm of the Knights caught my eye first (admittedly) by its bold, beautiful cover and second, the major Arthurian-Mulan vibes I was getting. This was all I needed to abandon my High-Fantasy famine and dive right in.
And I dont regret it one bit.
You can hear more about my reflections at <a href="https://www.bookishvalhalla.com">Bookish Valhalla</a>
Tik-Tok of Oz
8.0
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Book
Join Tik-Tok, the Shaggy Man, and a host of other friends--both old and new--on an exciting,...
Volo's Guide to Monsters (Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition)
7.9
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Tabletop Game
Immerse yourself in monster lore in this supplement for the world’s greatest roleplaying game ...
Beauty is a Blade (A Thousand Scars for You)
Book
There is no force more compelling on Earth or in the parallel realms than forbidden love. It...
Dark Fantasy Romance
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Thor (2011) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
Instead of his planned coronation, Thor finds himself cast out of Asgard and forced to live as a mortal on Earth. Truly a fish out of water, the brash and arrogant Thor is befriended by scientist Jane Watson (Natalie Portman), the first person Thor encounters upon his arrival. Unsure of his true identity, Jane and her colleagues are drawn to the mysterious stranger despite his tales which, to the humans, are the stuff of ancient Norse legends.
While initially dismissed as a drifter, Thor soon gains the respect of Jane and her colleagues when he stands up to a mysterious government organization that has seized her work. Thor soon finds himself battling enemies on multiple fronts on both his present and former home where he must battle to regain his lost honor and status and prove himself the rightful leader of his people. What follows is a highly entertaining mix of action, comedy, and a touch of romance that sets the film apart from many of its peers.
Director Kenneth Branagh fleshes out the characters from their two-dimensional origins and paces the film well never allowing the elaborate effects or action sequences of the film to overshadow the characters or the story. J. Michael Straczynski used many of the lessons he learned as the creator of the Babylon 5 and in his recent work with Marvel comics to provide a character-driven story that is true to the source material while providing interweaving storylines and ever-changing characters.
The supporting cast was strong, especially Tom Hiddleston as Thor’s younger sibling Loki. The visuals of the film match the action perfectly as Asgard and some of the other realms are truly breathtaking. The only issue I had with the film was that, sadly, Paramount felt the need to use a post filming 3-D conversion on the film which in my opinion offered very little to the finished product. Had the film been shot with 3-D cameras it truly would’ve taken it to the next level but as it was actually done, the 3D conversion offers little to the visual experience.
Hemsworth commands the screen in every scene in which he appears. He is a charismatic presence that deftly walks the line between brash warrior and leader seeking redemption, who never lets his performance become cartoony or forced. I absolutely loved every part the film from beginning to end and in my opinion Thor has set the bar very high for the next series of comic book themed movies to aspire to and is not to be missed.
DRAGON QUEST VI
Games
App
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation , the final instalment in the Zenithian trilogy, is now...
Atlas of Improbable Places: A Journey to the World's Most Unusual Corners
Travis Elborough and Alan Horsfield
Book
It is perhaps the eighth wonder of our world that despite modern mapping and satellite photography...