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Caitlin Ann Cherniak (85 KP) rated Like Vanessa in Books
Nov 28, 2018
From Goodreads: 13-year-old girl from the '80s sees the first black woman win Miss America, which inspires her middle school to throw a pageant to boost moral. What could possibly go wrong?
Normally, I would say everything.
This book, nothing went wrong. In fact, Tami Charles did everything right.
You get an interesting main character. You have her going through real problems. You have this story take a look at a real problem with young black girls when it comes to what level of black skin is beautiful. You have major plot twists at every turn (And I don't take that sentence lightly.) And I actually don't hate the parental character this time (Because seriously, a lot of them try to make these characters awful for no reason at all). And you have the main character drop their walls to tell their vulnerable story to the audience.
In short, I love this book. One of the best middle grade and young adult novels I have ever read.
Normally, I would say everything.
This book, nothing went wrong. In fact, Tami Charles did everything right.
You get an interesting main character. You have her going through real problems. You have this story take a look at a real problem with young black girls when it comes to what level of black skin is beautiful. You have major plot twists at every turn (And I don't take that sentence lightly.) And I actually don't hate the parental character this time (Because seriously, a lot of them try to make these characters awful for no reason at all). And you have the main character drop their walls to tell their vulnerable story to the audience.
In short, I love this book. One of the best middle grade and young adult novels I have ever read.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Wonderland: A Coloring Book Inspired by Alice's Adventures in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Alice in Wonderland has always held a certain appeal for me. The wild colors and names. Abstract ideas. I even played the role of the Cheshire Cat in our high school production. How thrilled I was when I opened Wonderland and found myself absorbed in the world of White Rabbits with pocket watches, Dodo birds, Mad Hatters and THE Queen of Hearts. There are nine "chapters" and at the beginning of each one is a short summary of the story as I venture through Wonderland. The illustrations are beautiful and they allow my imagination to soar. There are puzzles along the way as well. (And the answers are in the back of the book.) Thick pages with printing on both sides. Easy to draw on with colored pencils. Let your creativity run free in this marvelous story and express your own personality in Wonderland!
I received a free copy of Wonderland from the publisher through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
I received a free copy of Wonderland from the publisher through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated For Love and Honor (An Uncertain Choice, #3) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Daring swordfights, a hidden secret, bandits, treasure, true love...Oh yes, Jody Hedlund has delivered another winner of a medieval young adult story.
Lady Sabine has a harrowing journey of self-acceptance ahead of her. Sir Bennet has always strived to remain honorable...Will he be able to follow his heart and love?
I adore that one of my favorite authors has branched out and started a Young Adult series! My only complaint is that the story was too short. I would have loved to have a little more time with Sabine and Bennet...I love the world that Jody has created and the heroes, the knights, are so very swoony! I am excited to read the next book in the series, A Loyal Heart.
I received a complimentary copy of For Love and Honor from the publisher. I also borrowed the audio version from my library and purchased my own print copy. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Lady Sabine has a harrowing journey of self-acceptance ahead of her. Sir Bennet has always strived to remain honorable...Will he be able to follow his heart and love?
I adore that one of my favorite authors has branched out and started a Young Adult series! My only complaint is that the story was too short. I would have loved to have a little more time with Sabine and Bennet...I love the world that Jody has created and the heroes, the knights, are so very swoony! I am excited to read the next book in the series, A Loyal Heart.
I received a complimentary copy of For Love and Honor from the publisher. I also borrowed the audio version from my library and purchased my own print copy. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
David McK (3369 KP) rated The Shu-Torun War (Star Wars: Darth Vader #3) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Third solo entry/story arc in Marvel's new Daert Vader line of stories, which see's Vader returning to the planet of Shu-torun, where he had previously installed a puppet ruler, to deal with a rebellion (small r) on that planet - a rebellion that has nothing at all to do with the Rebellion (capital R).
Having read this, it almost seems like the planet itself is more-or-less a stand in for Mustafar, complete with boiling lakes of lava and a character falling into such (sound familar at all?). Vader also seemingly has completely forgotten about the news Boba Fett brought him previously re. Luke Skywalker, as there's not a single mention of him at all in these pages. There's also nothing like the panels in Vader down, where he single-handedly takes on an entire platoon (and wins).
In short, the story-arc itself is a little forgettable, with no real connection to the films, and with no panels showing just why Vader is so feared.
Having read this, it almost seems like the planet itself is more-or-less a stand in for Mustafar, complete with boiling lakes of lava and a character falling into such (sound familar at all?). Vader also seemingly has completely forgotten about the news Boba Fett brought him previously re. Luke Skywalker, as there's not a single mention of him at all in these pages. There's also nothing like the panels in Vader down, where he single-handedly takes on an entire platoon (and wins).
In short, the story-arc itself is a little forgettable, with no real connection to the films, and with no panels showing just why Vader is so feared.
Charley (64 KP) rated The Mermaid in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Unusual and left you wanting more
This author is truly amazing. She is able to take well know tales/ folk lores and turn them into gripping novels. This book is no different. I found this enchanting tale after reading her Chronicles of Alice series of books.
She has taken the story of Bo Burnham and the little mermaid and amalgamated them into what is an amazing read.
In short the story is about a mermaid who wants to see the world. She is taken in by Burnham with a promise of money to show the world her mermaid tricks. Safe to say that like all of Christina Henry's other books it takes a dark and twisted turn however seems to work out well in the end.
There are definitely some moments in the book where i was worried to read on as i thought something really bad was going to happen.
It kept me on the edge of my seat through out and was a wonderful tale of the darkness of men and magic.
She has taken the story of Bo Burnham and the little mermaid and amalgamated them into what is an amazing read.
In short the story is about a mermaid who wants to see the world. She is taken in by Burnham with a promise of money to show the world her mermaid tricks. Safe to say that like all of Christina Henry's other books it takes a dark and twisted turn however seems to work out well in the end.
There are definitely some moments in the book where i was worried to read on as i thought something really bad was going to happen.
It kept me on the edge of my seat through out and was a wonderful tale of the darkness of men and magic.
David McK (3369 KP) rated Infinity: Volume 1 in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Spring 2018.
Perhaps the best Marvel movie to date was released, a culmination of circa a decade of Marvel movies consisiting of numerous single-character led films and even a couple of previous 'team-ups'. That movie was, of course, 'Infinity War, part 1'.
At around the same time, Comixology ran one of their frequent sales. With a picture of Thanos on the cover, a title called 'Infinity' and being on sale at around the saem time as the movie, I made the mistake of thinking this would share similarities with the plot of the movie.
(No) spoilers: it doesn't.
As others on this site have mentioned, however, it is perhaps well named in that the story seems to go on ... and on ... and on ...
Honestly? I struggled to get through this, finding it hard to 'tie together' the various disparate story-lines; to even really care about all that much about what was happening or who it was happening to.
In short, and for me, this was a massive disappointment.
Perhaps the best Marvel movie to date was released, a culmination of circa a decade of Marvel movies consisiting of numerous single-character led films and even a couple of previous 'team-ups'. That movie was, of course, 'Infinity War, part 1'.
At around the same time, Comixology ran one of their frequent sales. With a picture of Thanos on the cover, a title called 'Infinity' and being on sale at around the saem time as the movie, I made the mistake of thinking this would share similarities with the plot of the movie.
(No) spoilers: it doesn't.
As others on this site have mentioned, however, it is perhaps well named in that the story seems to go on ... and on ... and on ...
Honestly? I struggled to get through this, finding it hard to 'tie together' the various disparate story-lines; to even really care about all that much about what was happening or who it was happening to.
In short, and for me, this was a massive disappointment.
Cumberland (1142 KP) rated Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, #1) in Books
Dec 29, 2018
Not my cup of tea
I got this book through a Smashbomb Christmas, and it's a lot different from what I would normally read. The story follows caption John Geary as he attempts to get his fleet of space ships back home.
I did enjoy most of the characters in the book, and Geary was a great MC. He spends the majority of the story just trying to make the most out of a situation he was thrown into.
My least favorite part of this book was the extremely long chapters. I prefer short chapters and segments so I have plenty of opportunities to stop while reading. This book has 293 pages, but only 11 chapters. At times I had to stop reading mid chapter, and for me personally that really takes away from the experience.
I enjoyed having the opportunity to read something a little out of my comfort zone, but I will not be picking up the rest of the series. I would however suggest this to anyone who is interested in space adventures.
I did enjoy most of the characters in the book, and Geary was a great MC. He spends the majority of the story just trying to make the most out of a situation he was thrown into.
My least favorite part of this book was the extremely long chapters. I prefer short chapters and segments so I have plenty of opportunities to stop while reading. This book has 293 pages, but only 11 chapters. At times I had to stop reading mid chapter, and for me personally that really takes away from the experience.
I enjoyed having the opportunity to read something a little out of my comfort zone, but I will not be picking up the rest of the series. I would however suggest this to anyone who is interested in space adventures.
David McK (3369 KP) rated Star Wars: Screaming Citadel in Books
Jun 30, 2019
This is a essentially a cross-over graphic novel, collecting issues 7-8 of Doctor Aphra, issues 31-32 of the 'main' Star Wars stories, and issue #1 (of 1) of The Screaming Citadel.
As such, the artwork doesn't always mesh, with the story feeling (to me) rather disjointed: here we have Luke teaming up with Dr Aphra (first introduced in the earlier run of these comics) to investigate the Screaming Citadel, where the queen of said Citadel only opens up her doors once a year to receive supplicants from all over the galaxy.
Why the team up? Because Dr Aphra has a Jedi Holocron, and Luke - at this point (pre Empire Strikes Back, remember!) is in lack of a teacher. And what does Dr Aphra get out of it? Knowledge.
What this then devolves into - for my money - is a pretty standard double and triple-cross tale, with Luke eventually learning that there are no short cuts to learning the ways of the Force, and with a set-up for a yet-to-be-followed-up-on sequel to the story.
As such, the artwork doesn't always mesh, with the story feeling (to me) rather disjointed: here we have Luke teaming up with Dr Aphra (first introduced in the earlier run of these comics) to investigate the Screaming Citadel, where the queen of said Citadel only opens up her doors once a year to receive supplicants from all over the galaxy.
Why the team up? Because Dr Aphra has a Jedi Holocron, and Luke - at this point (pre Empire Strikes Back, remember!) is in lack of a teacher. And what does Dr Aphra get out of it? Knowledge.
What this then devolves into - for my money - is a pretty standard double and triple-cross tale, with Luke eventually learning that there are no short cuts to learning the ways of the Force, and with a set-up for a yet-to-be-followed-up-on sequel to the story.
David Betteridge (327 KP) rated The Stranger in TV
Feb 28, 2020 (Updated Feb 29, 2020)
Acting (3 more)
Interwoven story
Mystery
Giles!
Ending (2 more)
Slightly unbelievable actions
Under use of some great actors
Good short season, with a slight dip at the end
I started to watch this because people at work were talking about it, I'd never read the book so had no concept of the story or characters. Once I started watching episode 1 I was hooked and would find myself just letting another episode start even though it was way passed midnight!
I think The Stranger does keep you genuinely guessing with all the mysteries and secrets, and only let's you in, when it wants to, the acting was great and they do keep you intrigued until the final episode. However the final episode is where I have my issue, so much happens here that it could have done with splitting out into a couple more episodes, this would have fleshed out characters that could have had a bigger emotional impact and wouldn't have felt so rushed.
I think it would be nice if they have left things set up for another season.
I think The Stranger does keep you genuinely guessing with all the mysteries and secrets, and only let's you in, when it wants to, the acting was great and they do keep you intrigued until the final episode. However the final episode is where I have my issue, so much happens here that it could have done with splitting out into a couple more episodes, this would have fleshed out characters that could have had a bigger emotional impact and wouldn't have felt so rushed.
I think it would be nice if they have left things set up for another season.
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Crawl (2019) in Movies
Jul 30, 2019
Crawl is the tale of a father and Daughter who find themselves trapped in a rapidly flooding cellar/crawl space during a hurricane in Florida, their escape is hindered by an increasing number of man eating alligators. There’s not much else to add, plot wise. Crawl is mainly a two and a half cast driven film (two humans and one yappy dog) as Haley and Dave attempt to escape the cellar and get to safety. We do see other characters but usually from a distance and only for short periods of time.
Crawl is a classic creature feature and really works, the small cast helps portray the looming danger and the combination of the alligators and rising flood waters make the threat very believable and the yappy dog is used to enhance the tension as you find yourself waiting for it to be eaten.
And that’s it, Crawl has a simple premise, a simple story and is an hour and half of tension, jump scares, people being eaten and, oh yes one yappy dog.
Crawl is a classic creature feature and really works, the small cast helps portray the looming danger and the combination of the alligators and rising flood waters make the threat very believable and the yappy dog is used to enhance the tension as you find yourself waiting for it to be eaten.
And that’s it, Crawl has a simple premise, a simple story and is an hour and half of tension, jump scares, people being eaten and, oh yes one yappy dog.