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Ross (3284 KP) rated The Eleven in Books
Apr 23, 2020
Fantastic characters and original story
* I received an advance reader copy from the author and netgalley in exchange for an honest review *
Quite simply: this is a fantastic book.
The characters involved are all well-crafted and unique. They have their own back-stories that we learn over time, appreciating who they are, what they have been through and why they are how they are.
The main character is Keira, a human who spent a large part of her late childhood imprisoned, tortured and raped by the upper echelons of the government. She escapes and seeks revenge on her abusers, but needs Courage to achieve this. We first meet her as she begins her attack on the first such abuser.
She teams up with Rowan, an assassin, though the circumstances of their meeting don't become clear until later, and travels to a magical realm to track down more of her tormentors. The details of Rowan's current assignment are somewhat mysterious and only revealed later.
They eventually meet Dess, who we have started to get to know, an elf-like magical scholar who has had his own issues in adolescence and is seeking revenge on the people involved in the murder of the love of his life.
And finally we have Sirris, a funny little slave creature who seeks escape from his life of misery, abuse and servitude.
Those back-stories are gradually woven together over the course of the book in a very ambitious, and flawlessly executed, series of split timelines. Fans of Mark Lawrence's knack for splitting a story into separate timelines will love the way Gaskill has done this and more here. We have the "present" story, told from a number of different viewpoints and places, as well as each of the main characters' backstories. Over time we learn to understand how people met, what tensions there are (or could be lurking under the surface) and what each is trying to achieve. These interactions, conflicts and tensions are masterfully written and revealed.
The action throughout the book is fairly gruesome and gritty, and some of the sexual scenes of torture and rape are a little hard to take. Rather than being gratuitous on the whole though they do serve to give the reader a better appreciation for the terrors the characters have been through.
Over the course of the book we see Keira ticking the names off her list of the eleven, albeit out of sync due to the split timelines.
This really was a wonderful book that got me out of something of a slump, keeping me engaged and guessing the next revelation all the way through.
I sincerely hope Gaskill writes the hinted at follow-up book, as there certainly is scope for it in the world he has masterfully created and the cast of (surviving) characters.
Quite simply: this is a fantastic book.
The characters involved are all well-crafted and unique. They have their own back-stories that we learn over time, appreciating who they are, what they have been through and why they are how they are.
The main character is Keira, a human who spent a large part of her late childhood imprisoned, tortured and raped by the upper echelons of the government. She escapes and seeks revenge on her abusers, but needs Courage to achieve this. We first meet her as she begins her attack on the first such abuser.
She teams up with Rowan, an assassin, though the circumstances of their meeting don't become clear until later, and travels to a magical realm to track down more of her tormentors. The details of Rowan's current assignment are somewhat mysterious and only revealed later.
They eventually meet Dess, who we have started to get to know, an elf-like magical scholar who has had his own issues in adolescence and is seeking revenge on the people involved in the murder of the love of his life.
And finally we have Sirris, a funny little slave creature who seeks escape from his life of misery, abuse and servitude.
Those back-stories are gradually woven together over the course of the book in a very ambitious, and flawlessly executed, series of split timelines. Fans of Mark Lawrence's knack for splitting a story into separate timelines will love the way Gaskill has done this and more here. We have the "present" story, told from a number of different viewpoints and places, as well as each of the main characters' backstories. Over time we learn to understand how people met, what tensions there are (or could be lurking under the surface) and what each is trying to achieve. These interactions, conflicts and tensions are masterfully written and revealed.
The action throughout the book is fairly gruesome and gritty, and some of the sexual scenes of torture and rape are a little hard to take. Rather than being gratuitous on the whole though they do serve to give the reader a better appreciation for the terrors the characters have been through.
Over the course of the book we see Keira ticking the names off her list of the eleven, albeit out of sync due to the split timelines.
This really was a wonderful book that got me out of something of a slump, keeping me engaged and guessing the next revelation all the way through.
I sincerely hope Gaskill writes the hinted at follow-up book, as there certainly is scope for it in the world he has masterfully created and the cast of (surviving) characters.
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Sarah (7798 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of A Way Out in Video Games
Apr 28, 2018
Doesn't live up to its potential
A game designed entirely with co-op play is a rarity now, so A Way Out is a refreshing change. Its just a shame that the gameplay itself isn't as promising as the concept.
Graphics wise it's very good and the scenery is very well done. The whole concept of the game with split screen co-op gameplay is fantastic, and having to work together with another player is a fun idea. The problem with this game is it just doesn't live up to it's potential. There are far too many cut scenes throughout the entire game and this gets very boring after a while. The co-operative gameplay although fun, seems very basic and repetitive after a while. I feel like they couldve done so much more. There's also the fact that this gives you the ability to explore a location, but other than playing random games, conversing with the locals doesn't appear to add any benefit or link in to your storyline whatsoever. This game is also very short, and despite my above criticisms, I could've played it for a lot longer!
This had a lot of potential but was sadly a bit of a let down. If they improved the game play options and made the interactions a little more similar to something like Until Dawn, it would be much better.
Graphics wise it's very good and the scenery is very well done. The whole concept of the game with split screen co-op gameplay is fantastic, and having to work together with another player is a fun idea. The problem with this game is it just doesn't live up to it's potential. There are far too many cut scenes throughout the entire game and this gets very boring after a while. The co-operative gameplay although fun, seems very basic and repetitive after a while. I feel like they couldve done so much more. There's also the fact that this gives you the ability to explore a location, but other than playing random games, conversing with the locals doesn't appear to add any benefit or link in to your storyline whatsoever. This game is also very short, and despite my above criticisms, I could've played it for a lot longer!
This had a lot of potential but was sadly a bit of a let down. If they improved the game play options and made the interactions a little more similar to something like Until Dawn, it would be much better.
Nikki Massey (8 KP) rated The Bletchley Circle - Season 2 in TV
Feb 8, 2019
This continues on from the first series of The Bletchley Circle, following for friends and former colleagues after WWII.
This series is split in two. In the first part, one of their fellow former colleagues is accused of murder. Can these ladies unravel the truth and prove her innocence? In the second part, as the ladies caused a few headaches for the military in uncovering their secrets and shady ways they find they have lost their security clearances so some of the women are no longer able to carry on with their jobs such as translation work. So they have to give other avenues to make money and it winds one of them up in a very sticky situation.
As before, I really warmed to the characters and was genuinely sad when one moved on to another life. I grew to love these women; I felt they were almost my friends and I actually cared for them and their outcomes.
You could feel the suspense of them closing in on the truth but realising time was running out. It really kept me gripped until the end.
I do love how they made being intelligent cool by being steps ahead of the police but also in forming such bonds with one another.
We could learn a thing or two from these ladies and their bravery.
This series is split in two. In the first part, one of their fellow former colleagues is accused of murder. Can these ladies unravel the truth and prove her innocence? In the second part, as the ladies caused a few headaches for the military in uncovering their secrets and shady ways they find they have lost their security clearances so some of the women are no longer able to carry on with their jobs such as translation work. So they have to give other avenues to make money and it winds one of them up in a very sticky situation.
As before, I really warmed to the characters and was genuinely sad when one moved on to another life. I grew to love these women; I felt they were almost my friends and I actually cared for them and their outcomes.
You could feel the suspense of them closing in on the truth but realising time was running out. It really kept me gripped until the end.
I do love how they made being intelligent cool by being steps ahead of the police but also in forming such bonds with one another.
We could learn a thing or two from these ladies and their bravery.
Awix (3310 KP) rated War of the Worlds (2005) in Movies
Mar 25, 2018 (Updated Mar 25, 2018)
Here's the paradox: H.G. Wells' original novel is an absolute classic. The 1953 film version is not particularly faithful to the book, but still really a classic. Spielberg's film kind of tries to split the difference between the two and ends up not being a classic. (Maybe he should have kept the definite article in the title.) Belligerent aliens whose technological mastery is oddly lacking when it comes to getting their vaccinations embark upon slightly eccentric invasion scheme; Tom Cruise spends most of the film running away, bravely.
Still, it's not all bad: looking back on it, this is yet another of those films which attempts to use SF as a device to try and process the September 11th attacks and ends up not being nearly as profound as it thinks it is, and the way it's structured so that, hey, cities are smashed and thousands slaughtered by the Martians (look, they could be Martians, it doesn't say they're not), but at least Cruise gets to become a better dad, so it's not all bad news, is quite fatuous. But it does get closer to Wells' original intent, just about, it looks very good, and there's always Spielberg's casual mastery of the genre to enjoy. A decent stab at a book which probably isn't as easy to adapt as it first appears.
Still, it's not all bad: looking back on it, this is yet another of those films which attempts to use SF as a device to try and process the September 11th attacks and ends up not being nearly as profound as it thinks it is, and the way it's structured so that, hey, cities are smashed and thousands slaughtered by the Martians (look, they could be Martians, it doesn't say they're not), but at least Cruise gets to become a better dad, so it's not all bad news, is quite fatuous. But it does get closer to Wells' original intent, just about, it looks very good, and there's always Spielberg's casual mastery of the genre to enjoy. A decent stab at a book which probably isn't as easy to adapt as it first appears.
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated When Katie Met Cassidy in Books
May 29, 2018
I was excited when I found out I won an advanced copy of this book - I tend to read a lot of the same books and I try to step out of my bubble and read things I normally would not have heard of - and I find myself usually really glad that I did!
I hadn't read The Assistants, by Camille Perri, but it's definitely on my TBR list. This one sounded interesting and it was definitely a great story. I do think it got a little boring in parts, and the character development was pretty lacking.
Katie is fresh off a pretty major breakup with her fiancé when into her shambled life walks Cassidy. The attraction is almost instant for Cassidy and quickly follows with Katie, although pretty confused about her feelings, the story goes on to see how things all fall into place, or fall apart - all while still reeling from a devastating split from a man, and a life she thought she knew and fit into all so well.
I found some things a bit unbelievable and had a hard time taking the attraction between Katie and Cassidy seriously. I'm not sure what sparked it between them - I found it a bit far-fetched, but it was a fun quick read and overall that's fine by me!
I hadn't read The Assistants, by Camille Perri, but it's definitely on my TBR list. This one sounded interesting and it was definitely a great story. I do think it got a little boring in parts, and the character development was pretty lacking.
Katie is fresh off a pretty major breakup with her fiancé when into her shambled life walks Cassidy. The attraction is almost instant for Cassidy and quickly follows with Katie, although pretty confused about her feelings, the story goes on to see how things all fall into place, or fall apart - all while still reeling from a devastating split from a man, and a life she thought she knew and fit into all so well.
I found some things a bit unbelievable and had a hard time taking the attraction between Katie and Cassidy seriously. I'm not sure what sparked it between them - I found it a bit far-fetched, but it was a fun quick read and overall that's fine by me!
Cori June (3033 KP) rated The Wolf and the Rain in Books
Dec 3, 2018
Voluntary honest review after receiving a free ARC.
An excellent book and fun read, if a bit of a bumpy beginning. It takes a little time to get into it.
After a collapse of civilization due to climate change. The North and South of a country has split into opposites. Divided by a heavily militarized border. The North is chaos and almost anarchy where the only authority are the elite compounds or the gangs there are many ways to die in the harsh living conditions. The people are ruled by superstition and fear. Most of the citizens are illiterate and disease is rampant, even if you go to a "stitcher" it is just as risky or riskier as doing nothing. In the South there is order and an almost totalitarian society where the government uses science and logic asking for complete obedience in return. And that you fill out a form for almost everything, even when choosing a sexual partner.
Samarra (Sam) is the main character. She has made a new home in the North after escaping from the South. She has a job as a carrier to one of the compounds that inhabit the North. Felling guilty about taking the place of a former teammate and daughter of a friend. She becomes obsessed with trying to find out what happened to the missing (possibly dead) girl.
An excellent book and fun read, if a bit of a bumpy beginning. It takes a little time to get into it.
After a collapse of civilization due to climate change. The North and South of a country has split into opposites. Divided by a heavily militarized border. The North is chaos and almost anarchy where the only authority are the elite compounds or the gangs there are many ways to die in the harsh living conditions. The people are ruled by superstition and fear. Most of the citizens are illiterate and disease is rampant, even if you go to a "stitcher" it is just as risky or riskier as doing nothing. In the South there is order and an almost totalitarian society where the government uses science and logic asking for complete obedience in return. And that you fill out a form for almost everything, even when choosing a sexual partner.
Samarra (Sam) is the main character. She has made a new home in the North after escaping from the South. She has a job as a carrier to one of the compounds that inhabit the North. Felling guilty about taking the place of a former teammate and daughter of a friend. She becomes obsessed with trying to find out what happened to the missing (possibly dead) girl.