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ClareR (5836 KP) rated Reign Of The Wolf in Books
Apr 22, 2018
An outstanding end to the series.
I believe that if it’s a good book, I’ll read it. I don’t care what genre it falls in to. There’s good literature in every genre, and if you stick to just one type, you’re missing out (potentially, but hey! Read what makes you happy, thats the most important thing!).
I can’t believe this is the final book!! I admit, I’ve left off reading this for as long as possible, because I knew it was the last one. This was action packed! The final battle between the Wolves and the Trident couldn’t have been more exciting. Secrets of Lawrence’s family come out, we find out more about the Trident, and there’s the Egyptian connection too (which I love, by the way). It’s an end of an era! The story is left in such a way as there is the possibility of spin-offs, though. I know the author has written one and is writing another. I can see at least one more avenue that I’d like to see explored!
Just a warning to those of a sensitive nature: there’s a fair bit of sex in this novel, sex in all it’s many varied forms. Don’t read it if you don’t like smoking hot books ?
And yes, I really did just say that.
I can’t believe this is the final book!! I admit, I’ve left off reading this for as long as possible, because I knew it was the last one. This was action packed! The final battle between the Wolves and the Trident couldn’t have been more exciting. Secrets of Lawrence’s family come out, we find out more about the Trident, and there’s the Egyptian connection too (which I love, by the way). It’s an end of an era! The story is left in such a way as there is the possibility of spin-offs, though. I know the author has written one and is writing another. I can see at least one more avenue that I’d like to see explored!
Just a warning to those of a sensitive nature: there’s a fair bit of sex in this novel, sex in all it’s many varied forms. Don’t read it if you don’t like smoking hot books ?
And yes, I really did just say that.
David McK (3533 KP) rated Wraith Squadron (Star Wars: X-Wing, #5) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
How best to describe 'X-Wing: Wraith Squadron', the fifth book in the Star Wars series of books (loosely) based on the old video-games? I think the following exchange from the early part of the novel sums it up best (with Wedge speaking):
' " .. I'd originally thought that Rogue Squadron would be used opportunistically: a strike mission would reveal a ground-based weakness, and we'd have the training and supplies ot go down and perform the necessary ground mission. The way it turned out, we keep landing full-fledged commando missions. So I think we need another Commando X-Wing squadron, one where we choose pilots so as to have a full range of intrusion and subversion skills. Rogue Sqaudron was designed as a fighter unit first, commando unit second; this time, I want to go the other way around."
...
"I want pilots no one else want. Washouts. Pilots staring court-martials in the face. Trouble-makers and screw-ups." '
The rest of the novel deals, primarily, with the formation of that unit and their first mission, concentrating in particular on two members of that unit and their own internal battle against themselves.
While not the strongest of spin-off novels (and, maybe, slightly longer than it needs to be), this is still an enjoyable enough diversion for a couple of days light reading.
' " .. I'd originally thought that Rogue Squadron would be used opportunistically: a strike mission would reveal a ground-based weakness, and we'd have the training and supplies ot go down and perform the necessary ground mission. The way it turned out, we keep landing full-fledged commando missions. So I think we need another Commando X-Wing squadron, one where we choose pilots so as to have a full range of intrusion and subversion skills. Rogue Sqaudron was designed as a fighter unit first, commando unit second; this time, I want to go the other way around."
...
"I want pilots no one else want. Washouts. Pilots staring court-martials in the face. Trouble-makers and screw-ups." '
The rest of the novel deals, primarily, with the formation of that unit and their first mission, concentrating in particular on two members of that unit and their own internal battle against themselves.
While not the strongest of spin-off novels (and, maybe, slightly longer than it needs to be), this is still an enjoyable enough diversion for a couple of days light reading.
The Impossible Has Happened: The Life and Work of Gene Roddenberry, Creator of Star Trek
Book
8 September 2016 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the debut of the world's most successful...
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia: The Ultimate Guide to the Buffyverse
8.0
Rate It
Book
A comprehensive, authorized compendium of all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer, published in...
Podcast – Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula
Podcast
Mark Dawson is a best selling self-published author on multiple platforms including Amazon and Kobo....
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The Other Rights Revolution: Conservative Lawyers and the Remaking of American Government
Book
In 1973, a group of California lawyers formed a non-profit, public-interest legal foundation...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2304 KP) rated Vinyl Resting Place in Books
Mar 16, 2023 (Updated Mar 16, 2023)
Vinyl May Not be Dead, but Somebody Is
Juni Jessup and her sisters have opened Sip and Spin Records, a combined record store and coffee shop, on the site of the one that their family used to own before records stopped selling. The night before their official opening, they are throwing a party, but things turn tragic afterward when Juni finds a dead body in their storage closet. When their uncle is arrested for the crime, Juni and her sisters don’t hesitate to put their shop up to get him released on bail. But then he vanishes. Can the three of them figure out what is really going on in time to save their shop?
I really enjoyed this debut. The plot takes off in a couple of different directions, and I enjoyed that creativity. I did feel it slowed down a little in the middle, but it picked up again for a fantastic climax. You can feel the history between Juni and her sisters, and I loved their relationships. There are other fun series regulars, and the suspects fit into the book perfectly. I also enjoyed the humor running through the book. The setting, a small town just outside of Austin, Texas, was charming as well. I can’t wait to revisit Juni and the rest of the characters again soon.
I really enjoyed this debut. The plot takes off in a couple of different directions, and I enjoyed that creativity. I did feel it slowed down a little in the middle, but it picked up again for a fantastic climax. You can feel the history between Juni and her sisters, and I loved their relationships. There are other fun series regulars, and the suspects fit into the book perfectly. I also enjoyed the humor running through the book. The setting, a small town just outside of Austin, Texas, was charming as well. I can’t wait to revisit Juni and the rest of the characters again soon.
The Star Trek Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to the Future
Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda
Book
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the classic show, a fully authorized revision of the...
Merissa (12552 KP) rated Pass (Shattered Pawns #1) in Books
May 21, 2021 (Updated Jul 26, 2023)
PASS is the first book in the spin-off series Shattered Pawns that follows on from The Diviner's Game. Although this is the start of a brand new story, it does follow characters and situations from the previous trilogy, so I would absolutely recommend you read that one first!
Right then, onto Pass. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I adored seeing old favourites and learning how they are getting on. And meeting new ones for the first time - I looking at you, Anni! The story is compelling and moves along at a fair pace, keeping the reader's attention from the first word to the very last. So why only 4-stars, I hear you ask. Let me tell you.
Tio - Auggie - Luca
Although the scenes with them were incredibly well written, I just didn't connect with them. Auggie was probably the closest I got. Tio drove me insane 99.9% of the time, and Luca just accepted EVERYTHING! I mean, really? I know I'm going to be in the minority with this, but it is my opinion.
On the whole, though, this was a brilliant story. I want more from Qis and Monet, plus Anni and Charon. I honestly can't wait to see where Ms Cody will take me next. Just because I didn't connect with these characters doesn't mean I don't want more - from either the series or the author!
4-stars is still a 'very good' rating so I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book but, once again, I would recommend you read the previous trilogy first.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 21, 2021
Right then, onto Pass. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I adored seeing old favourites and learning how they are getting on. And meeting new ones for the first time - I looking at you, Anni! The story is compelling and moves along at a fair pace, keeping the reader's attention from the first word to the very last. So why only 4-stars, I hear you ask. Let me tell you.
Tio - Auggie - Luca
Although the scenes with them were incredibly well written, I just didn't connect with them. Auggie was probably the closest I got. Tio drove me insane 99.9% of the time, and Luca just accepted EVERYTHING! I mean, really? I know I'm going to be in the minority with this, but it is my opinion.
On the whole, though, this was a brilliant story. I want more from Qis and Monet, plus Anni and Charon. I honestly can't wait to see where Ms Cody will take me next. Just because I didn't connect with these characters doesn't mean I don't want more - from either the series or the author!
4-stars is still a 'very good' rating so I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book but, once again, I would recommend you read the previous trilogy first.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 21, 2021
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) in Movies
Jun 25, 2021
We all know the drill with this series by now - it's loud and stupid and dumb, entertaining as fuck, but manages to keep a heart and sense of family, even if that motif is sometimes a little forced. Hobbs & Shaw carries over the vast majority of all of that into the franchise's first foray into spin-off territory - the action is suitably ridiculous, and it has a lot of fun with The Rock and Jason Statham, building on the humorous relationship we saw briefly in The Fate of the Furious.
However, H&S is the first time throughout all of these movies that I felt like it disappeared up its own arse a bit too much. The rest of these films know how silly they are for the most part, but the comedy always well balanced. There are some funny moments in H&S certainly, but it's a constant barrage of jokes that don't stick a lot of the time. Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart both appear in painfully unfunny supporting roles that serve no other purpose than be comic relief, in a movie that's already full of comic relief, and the insults that Hobbs and Shaw consistently hurl at eachother become tiresome after a while. The runtime is definitely over long, clocking in at just under 2 and 1/2 hours, when it could have easily been 40 minutes shorter without losing any substance, and it results in a narrative that is both bloated, and riddled with plot holes, especially in the final third. On top of all of this, despite good chemistry between the two leads, and a welcome addition in Vanessa Kirby, H&S lacks the heart and soul of the series that comes part and parcel with the main crew of characters.
There's plenty of criticism to be thrown at Hobbs & Shaw, but as expected, it's still pretty entertaining. Most of the set pieces are high octane, and it's an acceptable level of switch-your-brain-off fun, but it ultimately suffers from the knowledge of how genuinely good the Fast & Furious movies can be, and joins the huge pile of generic action comedies out there.
However, H&S is the first time throughout all of these movies that I felt like it disappeared up its own arse a bit too much. The rest of these films know how silly they are for the most part, but the comedy always well balanced. There are some funny moments in H&S certainly, but it's a constant barrage of jokes that don't stick a lot of the time. Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart both appear in painfully unfunny supporting roles that serve no other purpose than be comic relief, in a movie that's already full of comic relief, and the insults that Hobbs and Shaw consistently hurl at eachother become tiresome after a while. The runtime is definitely over long, clocking in at just under 2 and 1/2 hours, when it could have easily been 40 minutes shorter without losing any substance, and it results in a narrative that is both bloated, and riddled with plot holes, especially in the final third. On top of all of this, despite good chemistry between the two leads, and a welcome addition in Vanessa Kirby, H&S lacks the heart and soul of the series that comes part and parcel with the main crew of characters.
There's plenty of criticism to be thrown at Hobbs & Shaw, but as expected, it's still pretty entertaining. Most of the set pieces are high octane, and it's an acceptable level of switch-your-brain-off fun, but it ultimately suffers from the knowledge of how genuinely good the Fast & Furious movies can be, and joins the huge pile of generic action comedies out there.