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fakegps_location (0 KP) created a post
Nov 2, 2023
Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood in Books
May 15, 2017
Continuation of the story (2 more)
Remaining true to the video games
Remaining true to the franchise
The Story Continues
The second novel to be released in the series continues the story of Ezio Auditore, just as the game of the same title did. Ezio has concentrated his efforts to bring down the Borgia family and the Templar Order, and traveled to Rome in order to complete his work that he started some years ago. Now a Master Assassin, Ezio must recruit his own brotherhood of Assassin's if he is to defeat the Templar Order.
The story of Ezio, allows us an insight as to his character development, as he grows from a young man seeking revenge, to a Master Assassin, seeking to bring down the Templar Order for the fate of the world depends upon the succession of the Assassin's. Rome is yet another brilliant setting for the Assassin's Creed franchise to take place and Ezio is certainly one of the most interesting Assassin's to follow throughout the franchise.
With help yet again from his previous allies, including Leonardo Da Vinci, the story told here is one of mystery and excitement.
I'm not sure how many times I can praise Bowden for his work on this series. All I can say is that he does not fail to entertain and reveal a new experience to the world of Assassin's Creed. If you have read my previous reviews then you know how much I praise this man for his work on the series of Novels he has written for the fans. Each one delivers a new thrilling experience and each one stays true to the events of the video game as much as possible. Of course each person who plays the video game plays differently. These novels give more of a sense of what the Assassin's themselves would have truly done in the events that unfold.
The story of Ezio, allows us an insight as to his character development, as he grows from a young man seeking revenge, to a Master Assassin, seeking to bring down the Templar Order for the fate of the world depends upon the succession of the Assassin's. Rome is yet another brilliant setting for the Assassin's Creed franchise to take place and Ezio is certainly one of the most interesting Assassin's to follow throughout the franchise.
With help yet again from his previous allies, including Leonardo Da Vinci, the story told here is one of mystery and excitement.
I'm not sure how many times I can praise Bowden for his work on this series. All I can say is that he does not fail to entertain and reveal a new experience to the world of Assassin's Creed. If you have read my previous reviews then you know how much I praise this man for his work on the series of Novels he has written for the fans. Each one delivers a new thrilling experience and each one stays true to the events of the video game as much as possible. Of course each person who plays the video game plays differently. These novels give more of a sense of what the Assassin's themselves would have truly done in the events that unfold.
David McK (3562 KP) rated The Blood of Rome in Books
Apr 11, 2019
Hmmm ... I'm not sure what to make of this one, if I'm honest.
Book #17 (yikes!) in the Cato and Macro series (initially all with the name 'Eagle' somewhere in the title) this, if anything, is probably best described as a 'bridging' novel: there's a new Emperor on the Imperial Throne (see the previous instalment, Day of the Caesars), and war is brewing between Rome and Parthia.
Cato and Macro are tasked with restoring the ousted King Rhadamistus to his Armenian throne, but the King proves to be ruthless, ambitious, untrustworthy and (to the Armenians especially) unpopular.
Alongside those professional concerns (i.e. a dangerous mission into unmapped and unfriendly territory), Cato also still struggles with private concerns: was his now-deceased wife unfaithful to him, or not, that leads him to - at times - act completely out of character. Because of those concerns, I would not recommend this as a good 'jumping-on' point in the series: a little background knowledge in this, at least, would be useful.
Book #17 (yikes!) in the Cato and Macro series (initially all with the name 'Eagle' somewhere in the title) this, if anything, is probably best described as a 'bridging' novel: there's a new Emperor on the Imperial Throne (see the previous instalment, Day of the Caesars), and war is brewing between Rome and Parthia.
Cato and Macro are tasked with restoring the ousted King Rhadamistus to his Armenian throne, but the King proves to be ruthless, ambitious, untrustworthy and (to the Armenians especially) unpopular.
Alongside those professional concerns (i.e. a dangerous mission into unmapped and unfriendly territory), Cato also still struggles with private concerns: was his now-deceased wife unfaithful to him, or not, that leads him to - at times - act completely out of character. Because of those concerns, I would not recommend this as a good 'jumping-on' point in the series: a little background knowledge in this, at least, would be useful.
Access to any translation you desire (2 more)
Opportunity to leave notes
Share passages with friends
A truly pocket sized Bible
This app is a marvel. Allows you to always have access to a bible, I try to carry my Bible always but I can’t read my small one well and the one I can read is HUGE and therefore heavy.
This app allows me to read passages in several different translations with great ease.
I am currently doing a bible study with this app with friends in Australia and Rome and yet this app makes it possible for us to read together and connect and share our thoughts as though we were all together.
The app offers a verse of the day and really does encourage people to interact with it.
My only concern is that with this app being so good will people stop picking up their actual Bibles because electronic is no match for actual pages.
This app allows me to read passages in several different translations with great ease.
I am currently doing a bible study with this app with friends in Australia and Rome and yet this app makes it possible for us to read together and connect and share our thoughts as though we were all together.
The app offers a verse of the day and really does encourage people to interact with it.
My only concern is that with this app being so good will people stop picking up their actual Bibles because electronic is no match for actual pages.
David McK (3562 KP) rated Hunting the Eagles: 2: Eagles of Rome in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I actually read this in a busy period, as a sort of on-again-off-again kind of deal amongst a couple of other (shorter, less involved) novels.
This is the second in Ben Kane's 'Eagles of Rome' series, that deals with - in the first novel (Eagles at War) perhaps Rome's most famous defeat of all: that which led (according to legend) the Emperor Augustus Caesar to cry 'Varus, give me back my legions' after that general lost three legions and - horror of horrors! - their eagles in the battle (ambush) of Teutoberg Forest.
This novel follows some key characters from that novel (and survivors of the ambush), from a revolt by the Legionaries through to another battle in a forest/bog land and is told from both the point of view of the Romans and from the German war leader Arminius (who successfully carried out that ambush).
Like the previous entry in the series, Ben Kane's knowledge of the period definitely shines through in this!
This is the second in Ben Kane's 'Eagles of Rome' series, that deals with - in the first novel (Eagles at War) perhaps Rome's most famous defeat of all: that which led (according to legend) the Emperor Augustus Caesar to cry 'Varus, give me back my legions' after that general lost three legions and - horror of horrors! - their eagles in the battle (ambush) of Teutoberg Forest.
This novel follows some key characters from that novel (and survivors of the ambush), from a revolt by the Legionaries through to another battle in a forest/bog land and is told from both the point of view of the Romans and from the German war leader Arminius (who successfully carried out that ambush).
Like the previous entry in the series, Ben Kane's knowledge of the period definitely shines through in this!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Love Wedding Repeat (2020) in Movies
Jul 10, 2020
Disappointing
Whilst the trailer for this didn't wow me, it made me think this film had enough promise to warrant watching. However the end result was rather disappointing.
Cast wise this wasn't bad. Sam Claflin, Eleanor Tomlinson and Olivia Munn are always watchable, although i really can't stand Aisling Bea. The setting and scenery in this are absolutely beautiful, but then you can't really go wrong with Rome. The main problem with this film is the premise of the concept doesn't meet expectations, and the whole thing just isn't particularly funny. It sounds like it should be something similar to Groundhog Day or Edge of Tomorrow, but without spoiling it, it's a bit of letdown. And the laughs are sadly lacking. There are few smart witty quips that raised a smile, but not the full on romcom the trailer promised. Even the romance was rather dull and predictable.
Not one I'd bother to watch again and almost instantly forgettable. There are much better romcoms out there.
Cast wise this wasn't bad. Sam Claflin, Eleanor Tomlinson and Olivia Munn are always watchable, although i really can't stand Aisling Bea. The setting and scenery in this are absolutely beautiful, but then you can't really go wrong with Rome. The main problem with this film is the premise of the concept doesn't meet expectations, and the whole thing just isn't particularly funny. It sounds like it should be something similar to Groundhog Day or Edge of Tomorrow, but without spoiling it, it's a bit of letdown. And the laughs are sadly lacking. There are few smart witty quips that raised a smile, but not the full on romcom the trailer promised. Even the romance was rather dull and predictable.
Not one I'd bother to watch again and almost instantly forgettable. There are much better romcoms out there.
Jane Campion recommended The Road (La Strada) (1954) in Movies (curated)
Susan (45 KP) rated Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything in Books
Jul 4, 2017
A book that inspires you to live while you're alive and to find yourself (2 more)
Easy to get lost in this book, you'll find yourself wandering thru Rome, India and Bali, personally experiencing Elizabeth's journey
Loss, humor, insight and drama and romance, this book has it all
"I used to have this appetite for my life. And now it’s just gone. I want to go someplace where I can MARVEL at something." Elizabeth Gilbert
Contains spoilers, click to show
Elizabeth Gilbert is one of my favorite authors so I knew this would be an amazing book and I was not disappointed! She has this amazing ability to make you forget you're reading a book...suddenly you're in the book, experiencing everything due to the beautiful detail and honesty with which she writes. An inspiration to everyone who has ever felt lost, stuck, hopeless or lost their zest for life. While we can't all take off and travel the world to find ourselves like Elizabeth, we can live vicariously through her writing and gain hope, insight and in the end happiness.
David McK (3562 KP) rated Lord of War (Warrior #5) in Books
Jun 3, 2023
The final part of Simon Scarrow and Tj Andrews's 'Warrior' series of novellas, and I now have a confession to make: whilst I have been reviewing each part individually, I actually read them all as one when they were published as a collected work (which may have made the 'intro' and 'outro' of each individual component more obvious).
Anyway, this actually breaks with the previous entries in that it did *not* start in Rome with the sub-plot of Caratacus recounting his experiences to a historian and hence possible bringing that historian some unwelcome attention, but instead picks up from where the last entry left off.
The main thrust of this particular story is also about a battle between the two main tribes of the Atrabates and the Catuvellaunians for control of the settlement of Lhandain, with Caratacus discovering there is a traitor in their midst but with that traitor - as the story ends - not yet unmasked.
Possibly for another series before/alongside the Roman invasion depicted in the Cato and Macro novels?
Anyway, this actually breaks with the previous entries in that it did *not* start in Rome with the sub-plot of Caratacus recounting his experiences to a historian and hence possible bringing that historian some unwelcome attention, but instead picks up from where the last entry left off.
The main thrust of this particular story is also about a battle between the two main tribes of the Atrabates and the Catuvellaunians for control of the settlement of Lhandain, with Caratacus discovering there is a traitor in their midst but with that traitor - as the story ends - not yet unmasked.
Possibly for another series before/alongside the Roman invasion depicted in the Cato and Macro novels?
Awix (3310 KP) rated Spartacus (1960) in Movies
May 19, 2019 (Updated May 19, 2019)
Kubrick famously disowned the historical epic he took on as work-for-hire, but almost any other director would and should have been proud of the result. Based on a true story (albeit very loosely), Spartacus the slave (Douglas) is sold to a gladiator trainer, leads his fellow inmates in a revolt, and resolves to free every slave in Italy; ruthless autocrat Crassus (Olivier) scents the chance to exploit the crisis for his own political ends.
Slightly disjointed in its structure: the opening act in the gladiator school barely puts a foot wrong (the fight between Douglas and Woody Strode is exceptional), but then the story splits between the story of the growing slave army, which is hokey and sentimental, and that of the political games in Rome, which features a bunch of great actors giving terrific performances. Usual epic spectacle, but a very atypical downbeat ending: the film works very hard to give Spartacus a moral victory, but it's hard not to see this as a conclusion as bleak as that of any of the films that Kubrick actually admitted to. Stirring entertainment anyway; they don't make 'em like this any more.
Slightly disjointed in its structure: the opening act in the gladiator school barely puts a foot wrong (the fight between Douglas and Woody Strode is exceptional), but then the story splits between the story of the growing slave army, which is hokey and sentimental, and that of the political games in Rome, which features a bunch of great actors giving terrific performances. Usual epic spectacle, but a very atypical downbeat ending: the film works very hard to give Spartacus a moral victory, but it's hard not to see this as a conclusion as bleak as that of any of the films that Kubrick actually admitted to. Stirring entertainment anyway; they don't make 'em like this any more.