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Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf, #1)
9.3
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Her story begins on a train. The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and...
From Twinkle, with Love
6.8
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An aspiring teen filmmaker finds her voice and falls in love in this delightful romantic comedy from...
The Disappeared
9.0
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Winner of a Northern Writers’ Award Longlisted in The Bath Novel Award * What if reading...
RavenclawPrincess913 (253 KP) rated The Silent Unseen in Books
Jun 8, 2022
Title: The Silent Unseen: A Novel of World War Two
Author: Amanda McCrina
320 Pages
Published on April 5th 2022
Genre: Historical fiction
This book takes place in Poland in July of 1944 during World War Two. The main character Maria is on her way home after labor she was forced into in Nazi Germany only to find her parents deceased and village gone from the war. When her brother Tomek commander of the local Resistance unit disappears Maria is determined to find him.
This book had a slow start but I love Historical fiction especially World War Two novels so I decided to continue. I loved the plot of the story it's very interesting and felt so real. I love what you can learn from historical fiction novels too. It shows us how emotional and hard it was for the people living during this time. I will be honest that some parts were hard to follow listening to the audiobook though so if you plan to read this book I reccomend getting the physical copy. It didn't take away from the storyline though I still loved it. Finally, I would definitely reccomend reading this emotional book if you love Historical fiction and love novels about World War Two.
Author: Amanda McCrina
320 Pages
Published on April 5th 2022
Genre: Historical fiction
This book takes place in Poland in July of 1944 during World War Two. The main character Maria is on her way home after labor she was forced into in Nazi Germany only to find her parents deceased and village gone from the war. When her brother Tomek commander of the local Resistance unit disappears Maria is determined to find him.
This book had a slow start but I love Historical fiction especially World War Two novels so I decided to continue. I loved the plot of the story it's very interesting and felt so real. I love what you can learn from historical fiction novels too. It shows us how emotional and hard it was for the people living during this time. I will be honest that some parts were hard to follow listening to the audiobook though so if you plan to read this book I reccomend getting the physical copy. It didn't take away from the storyline though I still loved it. Finally, I would definitely reccomend reading this emotional book if you love Historical fiction and love novels about World War Two.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Road to Winter (Fae’s Captive #2) in Books
Oct 29, 2021
180 of 250
Kindle
Road to Winter ( Fae’s Captive book 2)
By Lily Archer
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
The fae king is growing on me. Every touch, look, and night spent in his arms is slowly melting my resistance. When his feral side takes over, something inside me wants to let go and give him everything. With each passing day, the pull is getting harder to deny. But the road to the winter realm is full of danger, and I need to concentrate on finding my way home, not on the promises of pleasure Leander whispers in my ear at night. Even so, how long can I resist the intoxicating kiss of winter?
These books are so bloody frustrating! I’d love to give it 4 or even 5 stars but as soon as you get into the story the book ends! Also ends on a little cliffhanger and yes I could go straight to the next book but I have a huge tbr pile to get through and have ocd about reading in a certain order. I’ll say what I said in the book 1 review it shows so much promise! They also read as novellas rather than a full book.
Kindle
Road to Winter ( Fae’s Captive book 2)
By Lily Archer
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
The fae king is growing on me. Every touch, look, and night spent in his arms is slowly melting my resistance. When his feral side takes over, something inside me wants to let go and give him everything. With each passing day, the pull is getting harder to deny. But the road to the winter realm is full of danger, and I need to concentrate on finding my way home, not on the promises of pleasure Leander whispers in my ear at night. Even so, how long can I resist the intoxicating kiss of winter?
These books are so bloody frustrating! I’d love to give it 4 or even 5 stars but as soon as you get into the story the book ends! Also ends on a little cliffhanger and yes I could go straight to the next book but I have a huge tbr pile to get through and have ocd about reading in a certain order. I’ll say what I said in the book 1 review it shows so much promise! They also read as novellas rather than a full book.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Resistance Girl in Books
Mar 27, 2022
The first book I have read or listened to by this author and if her others are anything like this one, it won't be the last.
Following the lives of a small group of people in Norway during WWII, this is a compelling story of their bravery as part of the resistance movement.
With exceptionally strong characters and a powerful story, this is an important part of history that I was not familiar with and although this is historical fiction, it does weave actual events into the story which gives it a sense of realism and shows you what lengths 'normal' people will go to to protect freedom and whilst they have a strong regard for the danger they are putting themselves and, potentially, others in, the bigger picture is far more important. A poignant read given the current events in Ukraine.
The narrator told the story with ease and kept me engaged and enthralled from beginning to end; her voice was perfect.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys a great story of bravery, love and the importance of family, friends and freedom.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Following the lives of a small group of people in Norway during WWII, this is a compelling story of their bravery as part of the resistance movement.
With exceptionally strong characters and a powerful story, this is an important part of history that I was not familiar with and although this is historical fiction, it does weave actual events into the story which gives it a sense of realism and shows you what lengths 'normal' people will go to to protect freedom and whilst they have a strong regard for the danger they are putting themselves and, potentially, others in, the bigger picture is far more important. A poignant read given the current events in Ukraine.
The narrator told the story with ease and kept me engaged and enthralled from beginning to end; her voice was perfect.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys a great story of bravery, love and the importance of family, friends and freedom.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Akira (1988) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Story: In the aftermath of World War III in 1988 Tokyo has had to build again and 31 years later in the 2019 New-Tokyo is on the edge of the next war. We follow Kaneda and school student the leader of a biker gang including Tetsuo and Kei. When Tetsuo ends up involved in an accident after getting distracted by Takashi a young boy with certain abilities he gets taken by the government.
When Colonel Shikishima is running an operation to find Akira the cause of the previous World War the three children Takashi, Kiyoko and Masaru must prevent this happening while Tetsuo ends up becoming power and a threat to the whole city. Kaneda teams up with the resistance against the government through Kei and we follow as every side comes to a battle that will need to stop a future war.
Akira reaches levels most action films could never imagine with the number of character in the overall battle each having their own motives behind being involved. The look at what a future could have been all looks great and coming from a graphic novel everything works for what the film is trying to achieve. The violence is unlike anything you would have seen in an animated film which helps shows the world we will be entering.
Character Review
Kaneda: Kaneda is the leader of the school aged biker gang who drives the iconic red bike, when one of his gang is kidnapped by the government he joins the resistance against the government movement. Once we see what happens with his friend Tetsuo he must fight his old friend to stop the next World War happen. Kaneda is a great leading character that even after nearly 30 years is still one of the most iconic in all of animated film history.kaneda
Tetsuo: Tetsuo is a member of Kaneda’s biker gang but after he has an accident the government takes his away to use in their latest experiments. What happens to Tetsuo leads him to become a threat to the city as he searches for Akira a threat not just to Neo-Tokyo but the world. Tetsuo starts of as just a member of the gang wanting to become more and once he has the powers he learns he isn’t ready to have the leadership when he ends up turning on the people he once considered friends, a great villainous character without being a true villain.tetsuo
Kei: Kei is a member of the resistance that Kaneda rescues from the police before joining forces Kaneda to stop the government and rescue Tetsuo from bring Akira back from the dead. Kei is the potential romantic angle for Kaneda who is also as tough as they come, she also has a connection to the children with the abilities.kei
Support Characters: Akira has a large amount of supporting characters which include Kaneda’s gang who all stick with him when he needs to fight. We also have the resistance who help Kei and Kaneda achieve the battle. We have the three kids who have to abilities in their own right that together making the deadly but also fighting for the right thing. We also have one last group and that is the government who want to bring the Akira power back as a weapon.
Director Review: Katsuhiro Otomo – Katsuhiro brings us his own graphic novel to the bring screen which offers one of the most entertain and well developed characters in recent film.
Action: Akira has action from start to finish, we have a motorbike chase to open the film, constant chases to either reach someone or escape from them and the final fight oh my god what a brilliant conclusion.
Animation: Akira has simply brilliant looking animation that help bring the action to life and once more I refer to the final scene which is just breathtaking visual moment.
Sci-Fi: Akira brings us into a future world where the world has been through another World War and had to rebuild in a new future with the Neo-Tokyo.
Settings: Akira creates a futuristic looking world that helps us identify just how far into the future we have gone with the story.
Suggestion: Akira is one for all the animated fans to see because it really is a visual treat with a stunning story that will stick with you. (Animated Fans Watch)
Best Part: The final battle which will leave your jaw dropped with how amazing it looks.
Worst Part: I would say this is going to be too violent for certain animated fans.
Action Scene Of The Film: The final battle is easily the best scene in the whole film and could easily be the best one in action animated films.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 2 Hours 4 Minutes
Tagline: Signal Traced to Tokyo!
Trivia: The movie takes place in 2019 and depicts Neo-Tokyo creating a new Olympic stadium. Coincidentally, Tokyo is scheduled to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Overall: Akira really is one of the best animated film that ever got made that will still be talked about for years to come.
https://moviesreview101.com/2015/09/30/akira-1988/
When Colonel Shikishima is running an operation to find Akira the cause of the previous World War the three children Takashi, Kiyoko and Masaru must prevent this happening while Tetsuo ends up becoming power and a threat to the whole city. Kaneda teams up with the resistance against the government through Kei and we follow as every side comes to a battle that will need to stop a future war.
Akira reaches levels most action films could never imagine with the number of character in the overall battle each having their own motives behind being involved. The look at what a future could have been all looks great and coming from a graphic novel everything works for what the film is trying to achieve. The violence is unlike anything you would have seen in an animated film which helps shows the world we will be entering.
Character Review
Kaneda: Kaneda is the leader of the school aged biker gang who drives the iconic red bike, when one of his gang is kidnapped by the government he joins the resistance against the government movement. Once we see what happens with his friend Tetsuo he must fight his old friend to stop the next World War happen. Kaneda is a great leading character that even after nearly 30 years is still one of the most iconic in all of animated film history.kaneda
Tetsuo: Tetsuo is a member of Kaneda’s biker gang but after he has an accident the government takes his away to use in their latest experiments. What happens to Tetsuo leads him to become a threat to the city as he searches for Akira a threat not just to Neo-Tokyo but the world. Tetsuo starts of as just a member of the gang wanting to become more and once he has the powers he learns he isn’t ready to have the leadership when he ends up turning on the people he once considered friends, a great villainous character without being a true villain.tetsuo
Kei: Kei is a member of the resistance that Kaneda rescues from the police before joining forces Kaneda to stop the government and rescue Tetsuo from bring Akira back from the dead. Kei is the potential romantic angle for Kaneda who is also as tough as they come, she also has a connection to the children with the abilities.kei
Support Characters: Akira has a large amount of supporting characters which include Kaneda’s gang who all stick with him when he needs to fight. We also have the resistance who help Kei and Kaneda achieve the battle. We have the three kids who have to abilities in their own right that together making the deadly but also fighting for the right thing. We also have one last group and that is the government who want to bring the Akira power back as a weapon.
Director Review: Katsuhiro Otomo – Katsuhiro brings us his own graphic novel to the bring screen which offers one of the most entertain and well developed characters in recent film.
Action: Akira has action from start to finish, we have a motorbike chase to open the film, constant chases to either reach someone or escape from them and the final fight oh my god what a brilliant conclusion.
Animation: Akira has simply brilliant looking animation that help bring the action to life and once more I refer to the final scene which is just breathtaking visual moment.
Sci-Fi: Akira brings us into a future world where the world has been through another World War and had to rebuild in a new future with the Neo-Tokyo.
Settings: Akira creates a futuristic looking world that helps us identify just how far into the future we have gone with the story.
Suggestion: Akira is one for all the animated fans to see because it really is a visual treat with a stunning story that will stick with you. (Animated Fans Watch)
Best Part: The final battle which will leave your jaw dropped with how amazing it looks.
Worst Part: I would say this is going to be too violent for certain animated fans.
Action Scene Of The Film: The final battle is easily the best scene in the whole film and could easily be the best one in action animated films.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 2 Hours 4 Minutes
Tagline: Signal Traced to Tokyo!
Trivia: The movie takes place in 2019 and depicts Neo-Tokyo creating a new Olympic stadium. Coincidentally, Tokyo is scheduled to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Overall: Akira really is one of the best animated film that ever got made that will still be talked about for years to come.
https://moviesreview101.com/2015/09/30/akira-1988/
Darren (1599 KP) rated Allied (2016) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Story: Allied starts as Canadian Intelligence Officer Max Vatan (Pitt) lands in Morocco to work with French Resistance Fighter Marianna Beausejour (Cotillard) as they pretend to be married as they complete their mission. The two fall in love for real and return to London to get married against the his superior Frank Heslop (Harris) opinion.
After a year of marriage Heslop comes to Max believing Marianna is indeed a spy, this leaves Max questioning, which side of the story to believe and what is the truth.
Thoughts on Allied
Characters – Max Vatan is Canadian intelligence working in Africa, highly skilled he can blend into his environment, but he does fall in love with his undercover wife. When he gets informed she could well be a spy, his life is turned upside down with doubts about what is the truth. Marianna is the French resistance fighter working with the Canadian Max as his fake wife, but she also falls in love with Max and returns to start a family with him. We don’t learn too much apart from that she is a loving wife and mother though.
Performances – Brad Pitt is good for the opening mission, you believe his every decision, but when he becomes the family man, he just doesn’t reach the levels you know he can. Marion Cotillard is good without being her breath-taking best in this role.
Story – The story here follows love and spies during World War II, we see how two people from different sides of the war fall in love and they must decide which side of the war they are supporting. This film doesn’t become as intense as it could be because seeing it from both sides could have heighted the experience and by the end it just doesn’t feel like it reaches the levels it should.
Action/Romance/War – The action during the film is tame with very little being used or looking overly real. The romance doesn’t feel whirlwind like you think it should be either, but the war side comes off strong as we see how the tension between the sides cause most of the issues in the lives.
Settings – The settings look authentic for the time, which does work well for the film.
Scene of the Movie – The truth.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Just fizzles out in the second half of the film.
Final Thoughts – This is a war romance film that just never reaches the levels it should do, it just seems to go on and becomes one of the average films that you forget by the end.
Overall: Average and disappointing.
https://moviesreview101.com/2019/02/01/abc-film-challenge-oscar-nomination-a-allied-2016/
After a year of marriage Heslop comes to Max believing Marianna is indeed a spy, this leaves Max questioning, which side of the story to believe and what is the truth.
Thoughts on Allied
Characters – Max Vatan is Canadian intelligence working in Africa, highly skilled he can blend into his environment, but he does fall in love with his undercover wife. When he gets informed she could well be a spy, his life is turned upside down with doubts about what is the truth. Marianna is the French resistance fighter working with the Canadian Max as his fake wife, but she also falls in love with Max and returns to start a family with him. We don’t learn too much apart from that she is a loving wife and mother though.
Performances – Brad Pitt is good for the opening mission, you believe his every decision, but when he becomes the family man, he just doesn’t reach the levels you know he can. Marion Cotillard is good without being her breath-taking best in this role.
Story – The story here follows love and spies during World War II, we see how two people from different sides of the war fall in love and they must decide which side of the war they are supporting. This film doesn’t become as intense as it could be because seeing it from both sides could have heighted the experience and by the end it just doesn’t feel like it reaches the levels it should.
Action/Romance/War – The action during the film is tame with very little being used or looking overly real. The romance doesn’t feel whirlwind like you think it should be either, but the war side comes off strong as we see how the tension between the sides cause most of the issues in the lives.
Settings – The settings look authentic for the time, which does work well for the film.
Scene of the Movie – The truth.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Just fizzles out in the second half of the film.
Final Thoughts – This is a war romance film that just never reaches the levels it should do, it just seems to go on and becomes one of the average films that you forget by the end.
Overall: Average and disappointing.
https://moviesreview101.com/2019/02/01/abc-film-challenge-oscar-nomination-a-allied-2016/
Debbiereadsbook (1202 KP) rated The Krinar's Informant (A Krinar World Novel) in Books
Oct 18, 2018
love love LOVED this one!
I was gifted my copy of this book, direct from the author, that I write a review was my choice.
This is Ms Pauls second step into the Krinar world and I loved it!
Liv wants to make sure her brothers survive, makes a deal with Zavir to ensure they will not be harmed when he smashes the resistance ring they are part of. But little Liv makes Zavir want to keep her, and the only way to do that, is to betray her trust.
OoOOOEEEEE!!! I loved these two!!
Powerful, instant attraction. Powerful hatred of the other. enemies to lovers. Betrayal from some many around them. So much right up my street, I read the whole book in one sitting, and did not move til I finished!
It's sexy, it's dark, it's full of hope, and despair, the whole bloody gamut of human, and indeed, Krinar emotions all wrapped up in some 200 pages that is just bloody brilliant!!
Because it's a world written by different authors, you don't need to read them all in any order of order, I don't think. But what I'm left with now, is the overwhelming NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED for every single book in this world, and there are a fair few!!
I loved this book, did I say that yet??
so, it can only get...
5 stars
This is Ms Pauls second step into the Krinar world and I loved it!
Liv wants to make sure her brothers survive, makes a deal with Zavir to ensure they will not be harmed when he smashes the resistance ring they are part of. But little Liv makes Zavir want to keep her, and the only way to do that, is to betray her trust.
OoOOOEEEEE!!! I loved these two!!
Powerful, instant attraction. Powerful hatred of the other. enemies to lovers. Betrayal from some many around them. So much right up my street, I read the whole book in one sitting, and did not move til I finished!
It's sexy, it's dark, it's full of hope, and despair, the whole bloody gamut of human, and indeed, Krinar emotions all wrapped up in some 200 pages that is just bloody brilliant!!
Because it's a world written by different authors, you don't need to read them all in any order of order, I don't think. But what I'm left with now, is the overwhelming NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED for every single book in this world, and there are a fair few!!
I loved this book, did I say that yet??
so, it can only get...
5 stars
David McK (3425 KP) rated Knights of the Hawk (The Bloody Aftermath of 1066, #3) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I remember a few years back I read a book, before I read the first in this 'Conquest' series [b:Sworn Sword|20684800|Sworn Sword A Novel|James Aitcheson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-6121bf4c1f669098041843ec9650ca19.png|39982373], which told of (some of) the events of 1066 from the English rather than Norman perspective.
Why do I bring that up? Because the main character of that book - Hereward, known today with the sobriquet 'The Wake' - also appears in this, and is indeed a central character in roughly the first half or so.
That part of the book deals with King Guillaime (William, aka (today) 'The Conqueror') campaign to crush the last(?) of the English resistance to his conquest in the fen country, with Tancred (as always) playing a central role in doing so. Following their eventual success, however, and for plot reasons I am not going to go into here, Tancred finds himself on the run from his former Lord, traveling to Dyfflin (Dublin) in pursuit of his lost love, leading to him allying himself with the most unlikely of allies and launching an assault upon a Dane who has holed up in the Northern Isles.
This, I felt, is another great read in the series: I will be picking up the next when it comes out!
Why do I bring that up? Because the main character of that book - Hereward, known today with the sobriquet 'The Wake' - also appears in this, and is indeed a central character in roughly the first half or so.
That part of the book deals with King Guillaime (William, aka (today) 'The Conqueror') campaign to crush the last(?) of the English resistance to his conquest in the fen country, with Tancred (as always) playing a central role in doing so. Following their eventual success, however, and for plot reasons I am not going to go into here, Tancred finds himself on the run from his former Lord, traveling to Dyfflin (Dublin) in pursuit of his lost love, leading to him allying himself with the most unlikely of allies and launching an assault upon a Dane who has holed up in the Northern Isles.
This, I felt, is another great read in the series: I will be picking up the next when it comes out!