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Dune 2 (2024)
Dune 2 (2024)
2024 | Sci-Fi
8
8.4 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Dennis Villeneuve averred Part 2 of a single book, part 1 viewed as a risk released in the middle of a COVID pandemic and with no guarantee there would ever be a part 2 (which was then further delayed by an actors strike), this very much benefits from having all the world (galaxy) building done in the previous installment.

This picks up almost exactly from the end of Part 1, with Paul Atreides and his mother Jessica having survived the Harkonnen attack on his family and now in the company of the Fremen of Arrakis.

So there's more time for intergalactic politicking and action sequences this time round - some of which are very impressive - as Paul and Jessica seek to assimilate into the Fremen culture and with Paul initially fighting against their belief he could be their Messiah (I kept thinking "he's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy") but also still seeking revenge in the Harkonnens and on the Emperor who precipitated/allowed the attack in the first place.

I also kept seeing where that *other* space opera got their inspiration for the Empire and the Rebellion from.
  
Murder in the Graveyard
Murder in the Graveyard
Various Authors | 2025 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Watch Out for the Extra Body
Just in time for Halloween, we get this fun collection of murders set in and around graveyards. In addition to the unexpected dead body or two, we also get involved in revenge, teenage parties, amnesia, family feuds, and an escaped convict. Many of these stories are set around Halloween, although a few take place at other times of the year. And yes, a couple lean into the spooky, but it always fits the story, so I didn’t mind.

Many of these authors featured their series stars. I’ve read many of those novels, so it was fun to spend time with them. For those who I haven’t met outside of these short story collections, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything with the stories we got here. Each story was fun, taking me about half an hour to read. With nine stories, we get plenty of content. I was smiling through most of them, even laughing some. And the stories kept me engaged from start to finish.

Whether you read this book now or open it in a different season of the year, you’ll enjoy these stories.
  
45 of 235
Kindle
Arnold Ethon and the Lions of Tsavo ( Spirit Beasts 1)
By A.P. Beswick
⭐⭐⭐⭐


With Arnold approaching his 15th birthday, he is becoming increasingly worried that he is not going to have a spirit beast of his own. After a chance encounter gives Arnold and his best friend Otto a chance to join the illustrious Chichen, they jump at the opportunity given to them. The two of them have to learn to hone their connection to the spirit world and they begin intense training to unlock their potential.


When a terrifying attacker appears, distinguishable only by the horrific scars on his face and bent on revenge against the Chichen. Arnold finds not only his life is on the line but those he holds dearest.


The question is, how far will Arnold go to release the beast.


I don’t know what I expected when I started it but by the end I was totally enthralled and really enjoyed it. I love the idea of spirit animals and it being set in England so unique. A nice break from the full adult reads I’ve had lately.
  
The Fires of Vengeance
The Fires of Vengeance
Evan Winter | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Second entry in Evan Winter's 'The Burning' series, and - like the previous (The Rage of Dragons) - this definitely falls into the umbrella term of (here, African inspired) fantasy.

And I don't mean that pejoratively - I like me a bit of fantasy every now and then!

Anyway, this follows on almost directly from the ending of the previous novel, with Tau Solarin now having risen to the rank of Queen's Campion, still out for revenge against the Royal noble who killed his father, and now wit the added, umm ... shall we say complications? ... that arise from his feelings towards the Omehian Queen Tsiora who is facing a civil war over her actions (including elevating a Common like Tau to be her champion).

For some reason, however, I didn't connect with this one so much as with the previous - I'm not sure whether that was because this seemingly focused more on the grand sweep of the ongoing war than on the personal stakes involved?

Anyway, it also ends with a definite cliff-hanger setup for book #3 - I'll probably continue reading the series when that comes out.