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Ali A (82 KP) rated How to heal a gryphon in Books

Oct 3, 2022  
How to heal a gryphon
How to heal a gryphon
Meg cannistra | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Usually, when one turns thirteen, you take an oath to be a guaritrice and use your powers to heal humans. But Giada doesn’t feel drawn to that path, instead, she knows her calling is to heal vulnerable animals, even if that goes against the hundred years of her family’s tradition.

When a group of witches takes her brother, Rocco, down into the magical underground city of Malavita in an attempt to get something they want, Giada is the only one who can rescue him. With the help of her best friend, Alessia and her new familiar, Sinistro, Giada must do everything she can to save her brother, or risk losing him forever.

This book was a quick and engaging read for me - I didn’t want to put it down. I loved Giada and her spunk and love for animals. Giada was who she was and she wasn’t going to change for anybody. I especially enjoyed her love for herself and her body. She would talk about her chubby tummy and how much she loved having it.

I feel like this book is perfect for middle grade readers as Meg Cannistra creates this magical world set in Italy, but it’s not overly complicated. There are all kinds of magical animals and beasts mixed with potions and practices. Not everything is laid out right in front of you, and Giada lets you know stuff as it goes along, which I feel like works well for this story.

I could easily see this becoming a series as we follow Giada in her studies and beyond. Plus, I would be interested in seeing this magical world outside of Italy too.

Overall, this is a cute and wonderful middle grade fantasy novel that I can see readers of all ages enjoying.

*Thank you Inkyard Press and BookishFirst for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
  
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BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated 65 (2023) in Movies

May 8, 2023  
65 (2023)
65 (2023)
2023 | Sci-Fi
6
6.0 (6 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Driver is Heads and Shoulders above this material
Whoever decided to cast Adam Driver as an alien spaceperson (who looks and acts suspiciously like a 21st Century American) who crash-lands on prehistoric Earth and has to battle Dinosaurs equipped with only his alien technology (including his laser-blaster) is a GENIUS for Driver is EXTREMELY watchable in this film - the best thing (by far) in this so-so sci-fi/dinosaur mash-up.

The rest of the movie? Not so much.

Basically Jurassic Park with a spaceman twist, 65 (so named for the spaceman that crash lands on Earth at around 65 million years B.C. - just before the “dinosaur killing” asteroid hits the Earth) tells the tale of said Spaceman, MIlls (Driver) who crashes on Earth and (along with another survivor, Koa played by Ariana Greenblatt) must make their way across unfriendly, hungry Dinosaur territory to their escape ship and get off the planet before the asteroid hits.

You’ve seen the humans vs. dinosaur action before in all of the Jurassic Park films - so there’s nothing new here. Writer/Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods put together a fairly standard “man vs. beast” action flick. It felt like that these two were playing with their Jurassic Park and Astronaut toys in their bedroom and this was the adventure they came up with.

The differentiator in this film is the performance of Driver who puts his all into his portrayal of Mills as he (mostly) silently, but professionally, makes his way across hostile territory to gain access to rescue. Driver (who I don’t think has ever given a bad performance) is head and shoulders above the material here and he, alone, is worth spending an hour and a 1/2 of your time on this film.

Roll your eyes at the Dinosaur action, marvel at the Adam Driver performance.

Letter Grade: C+ (Driver “A”, the rest of the film “D”)

6 stars (out of 10) - and that’s being generous - and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)