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ClareR (5674 KP) rated South in Books

Apr 26, 2019  
South
South
Frank Owen | 2016 | Dystopia, Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I do like a post-apocalyptic kind of book, and this delivered in spades. It was written in a completely believable way, beginning with a second American Civil war, that was ended by the North releasing hundreds of airborne viruses that infected and killed those in the South indiscriminately. And those viruses continue to kill.
Vida meets two brothers, Garrett and Dyce, and they travel together in a world where to travel alone is death, to travel or to be outside when the wind blows is death.
I loved the world building in this. There will always be comparisons to Stephen Kings ‘The Stand’ with books like this, but other than viruses and a complete breakdown of society, I couldn’t actually see a comparison.
I’m looking forward to reading ‘North’, which is the final part of this two part series, and seeing where the authors take us.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Corvus, for my copy of this book.
  
HF
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
As usual, too much romance for my tastes--but the rest made up for it. I keep reading Sinclair's work, even though it is largely romance, because she also has good plots and does a good job with character development. Unlike many authors, each of her main characters is a well-defined individual, not "another good guy" or "another beautiful-yet-insecure woman." There was a touch of beautiful-yet-insecure in Rya Bennton (SUCH an annoying clich@eacute;!), but she got past it.

Some of the things that annoy me the most are, apparently, standard romance memes. Having relationship problems just because nobody will say, "Hey, this is what I want and need, how about you?" is fairly realistic, but I'd love to see SOMEBODY in a book who has grown past that.

Anyway, this was a worthy read, and it does stand alone, but everything will make far more sense if you read the earlier books in the same universe.
  
Death of a Ghost (Hamish Macbeth, #32)
Death of a Ghost (Hamish Macbeth, #32)
M.C. Beaton | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is good classic Hamish Macbeth. If you are a fan of the series already, then you won't be disappointed. If not, I think you could easily pick this one up and enjoy it as a stand-alone mystery without having read the previous books.

Called to the village of Drim to investigate claims of a "haunted" castle, Hamish and Charlie discover no ghosts, but they do find a dead body. Unfortunately it disappears before CDI Blair arrives on the scene. When the investigation points to local smugglers, the department is quick to wrap up the case. Hamish is not convinced, however, and puts his own life on the line to find the real killer.

Read more on <a href="https://booksthething.com/2017/02/03/review-death-of-a-ghost-by-m-c-beaton/">The Book's the Thing</a>.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.</i>
  
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Erika (17788 KP) rated Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) in Movies

May 28, 2018 (Updated May 28, 2018)  
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
2018 | Action, Sci-Fi
I think I liked this film, I'll definitely have to see it at least once more to form a full opinion. But, for now:
The plot was engaging, but fairly predictable. It did a good job of checking off the boxes, how Han met Chewie, the Kessel Run, and winning the ship from Lando.
I don't think I can currently comment on Alden's Han, I'll definitely need to see it again. I don't think he was bad, but he needed to make the character his own. I'm not sure he really had a choice in that though.
I do take a slight issue with Donald Glover's Lando. I'm not particularly a Lando fan, I don't feel one way or another about him. Lando was schmaltzy, corny, and I don't need a stand alone Lando movie.
I think Ron Howard did a good job with fixing the film. And I liked that he threw his bro in as a cameo.
Also, the appearance of ... that character... great.
  
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ClareR (5674 KP) May 28, 2018

I’m hopefully going to see this this week with my children - one of whom is a Star Wars purist. Should be interesting!!

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Andy K (10821 KP) May 28, 2018

I want to see on Thursday or Friday as I am on vacation!

Monstrous Regiment: (Discworld Novel 31)
Monstrous Regiment: (Discworld Novel 31)
Terry Pratchett | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
It’s All In the Trousers
Contains spoilers, click to show
Polly Perks leaves home to join the army, to look for her brother. Naturally, as it’s a male dominated institution, she has to disguise herself. The short hair cut is easy, it’s the learning to belch, fart and swagger like an ape that takes time. Plus a well placed pair of rolled up socks in a strategic position makes all the difference.

She’s off to fight for her country Borogravia, a country that picks wars with other countries almost as often as a small child picks its nose.

Polly (or Ozzer as she becomes known) joins a raggedy band which becomes known as the Monstrous Regiment, lead by the legendary Sergeant Jackrum. A troupe consisting of a troll, a vampire, an Igor, and others. All with a big secret.

Although part of the Discworld novels, this can be read as a stand-alone novel. a thoroughly enjoyable read, which brings in some old Discworld characters we know and love.
  
Vlad-Handing (Silver Hills Cozy Mysteries, #5)
Vlad-Handing (Silver Hills Cozy Mysteries, #5)
Sam Cheever | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Vlad-Handing is book 5 in the Silver Hills Cozy Mystery series. It is set in a singles/retirement residency (think 55 and older) filled with an eccentric cast of characters. This time around, Flo and Agnes find themselves trying to prove that manager Vlad Newsome, who many consider a reprehensible creature of the night, is innocent of murder. The only problem is that these ladies are a not 100% sure that Vlad isn’t the murderer.

Flo and Agnes are two ladies that you would love to call your friends. They are laugh out loud funny adding comedy to a terrific cozy mystery that will have you in stitches until the end. I highly suggest starting out with book 1 Dose Vidanya and reading the books in order. While these books can be read stand alone, the cast of characters build as each book in the series continues.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
  
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Sue (5 KP) rated Hair of the Dog in Books

Aug 13, 2018  
Hair of the Dog
Hair of the Dog
Carlene O'Neil | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Winery owner and amateur sleuth Penny Lively is knee deep in another murder. There is trouble at the veterinarian’s office where Cousin Annie is being accused of murder. She is found standing over the body of her business partner and holding the murder weapon. It is not what it looks like so Penny is on the case to find the real murderer and clear Annie’s good name.

The book has a lot of great suspects to choose from; the grieving widow, the fired vet tech, an old friend that’s in love with the grieving widow, a flirty business rep, and a bookkeeper with memory problems. Just when you think you know who the murderer could be, another murder takes place. The characters are quirky and enjoyable, the pace of the book is good, and the plot/mystery has enough twists and turns.

This is the third book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone without much confusion.
  
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
2018 | Fantasy, Horror
Absolutely amazing!
Contains spoilers, click to show
A great darker version of Sabrina!
Had me gripped from beginning of the series. Starting off as a half-mortal, half-witch, Sabrina must partake in a dark baptism. This is where her mortal side comes in, she doesn't want to lose Harvey or her friends and attend a new school so refuses to sign her name over to the dark lord. Cue a court case in the witching world and Sabrina with a mortal representative....what could go wrong?!
The series continues with it seems Sabrina leaning more to the darker side of her powers with the help of her 'school teacher'
I won't spoil the ending of the series but it is definitely worth watching. Having grown up with the Melissa Joan Hart version of Sabrina I thought I would of made more comparisons but this really does stand alone, the only similarities is obviously the names.
Really hoping I won't have to wait too long to watch the next series.
  
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Merissa (11950 KP) rated Tigana in Books

Dec 17, 2018  
T
Tigana
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another stunner of a book by GGK although this one is a stand alone book and is based loosely on Italy in the 11th and 12th centuries.

In so many ways similar to The Fionavar Tapestry series but so different too. A brief synopsis is that there has been a major battle between 2 wizards in which one of the wizard's sons dies. In revenge the wizard removes the name "Tigana" from the memories and vocabularies of its inhabitants so that eventually the name will die, just like his son did.

This story is so intricate and involved and it is not a clear black/white, good/evil book which is what makes it such a superb read. Everything about is well written, from the villains to the locations to the history that you are given.

This book is bittersweet and poignant and I'll leave it to you to see if there is a happy ending.

Certainly classed as a classic by me and a firm favourite.
  
Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)
Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)
2017 |
When i watched this i was stuck on a runway for 1.5hours waiting to take off, so that might influence my rating.

I grew up with the batman cartoon and well this is not your tv cartoon batman. A lot of adult themes going on in here. So you might want to take a peak at it before letting the little ones watch it. It is ment for older teens and adults.

 What I like about this is how it is empowering for a female character. Harley Quinn might be a loose cannon but this shows she does not need Batman, Nightwing or the Joker. She is her own stand alone kick ass character and she does not need to be a sidekick.

If you like batman you might want to check it out or leave it but if you are a fan of Harley Quinn i say it is a must to see.