Search

Search only in certain items:

The Outsider
The Outsider
Stephen King | 2018 | Thriller
8
8.7 (31 Ratings)
Book Rating
I often forget how much I enjoy Stephen King's writing style. It's almost a fun game trying to see how his work fits into his larger King-Iverse. This one ties in quite well, and in fact reminded me quite a bit of my absolute favorite of his, The Dark Tower Series. There were a few elements that I felt were a bit unusual and wondered why they were added like the weird affair between characters. But I understand that characters do what characters do. You, as a writer, don't necessarily control them. You are a conduit for their story and often times they will tell it the way they want to tell it. So for those I will deduct the one star. Not King's fault necessarily, more the fault of the characters.
  
40x40

Book Divas (227 KP) rated Romanov in Books

Jun 7, 2019  
Romanov
Romanov
Nadine Brandes | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
7.8 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Completely Captivated
From the time I heard this book was coming out I just knew I had to read it. I will tell you that I lived Anastasia's life while reading this book and that's in part to the author's creative writing style. I found myself caught up in all of the emotional turmoil and upheaval that the entire family went through and I cried with the losses that occurred within this storyline. The blending of historical facts with fantasy kept me captivated until I turned the very last page. I quite honestly did not want the book to end and will reread this book. I really wonder how Anastasia's life would have turned out if she hadn't been murdered and this author gave me a glimpse of what could have been.
  
40x40

Book Divas (227 KP) Jun 7, 2019


X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
2006 | Action, Sci-Fi
2
6.2 (37 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Then it all came crashing down with 2006’s The Last Stand. All the fan favourites returned and the cast remains a highlight of this film, but everything else was such a mess. It didn’t help that Bryan Singer left the franchise and Fox brought in Brett Ratner, hardly renowned for his understated filming style. The Jean Grey side-plot was muddled, the special effects were poor and this was such a disservice to the fans who had stayed with the franchise for six years. To its credit however, the action was staged well and there were some very exciting set pieces that saved it from total oblivion. Unfortunately, Vinnie Jones as the Juggernaut was the final nail in this film’s coffin.

https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/06/01/the-entire-x-men-franchise-ranked/
  
Despite being the second in a series, The Trouble with Mistletoe is a standalone that can be enjoyed without reading the first.

I have never read from this author before, but I enjoyed her easy light hearted style. From page one, I knew I was going to enjoy the author’s humor as well as characters. From the beginning, it was hard not to like Willa. She is sweet, kind-hearted, and funny at no one’s expense. Keane was just as likable. Despite their troubles and pasts, there was a delightful lack of angst and self-loathing. A definite win in my opinion.

Just in time for the beginning of the holiday season, The Trouble with Mistletoe is lovely read for those wanting a sweet, not too complicated romance.
  
AG
A Grim Almanac of Norfolk
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Written in almanac form  'A Grim Almanac of Norfolk 'covers over 300 hundred years of Norfolk history. There is a story for everyday of the year and is accompanied by many black and white illustrations. Naming just a few you can find tales of  bizarre accidents, smuggling, body snatching ,murder and much more. Because of the style of writing it is easy to dip in and out of with no need to read from front to back. The book is well presented and must have taken the author many hours of research to complete the book , I am enjoying reading the book and those with an interest in social history will find it interesting , however some people may find it repetitive as the book has a running theme.
  
40x40

Awix (3310 KP) rated Peter Rabbit (2018) in Movies

Mar 19, 2018 (Updated Mar 23, 2018)  
Peter Rabbit (2018)
Peter Rabbit (2018)
2018 | Animation
Almost wholly ghastly bastardisation of Beatrix Potter's charming, gentle tales. Starts off with Peter Rabbit essentially killing Mr McGregor (not before contemplating sticking a carrot up his rectum) and goes on from there. 'Hilarious' jokes about Asbestos poisoning and anaphylactic shock ensue, plus a sight gag where Mrs Tiggy-Winkle walks into an electric fence.

Made all the more indefensible by a lovely fully-animated segment which completely captures the style of the original stories. Film-makers clearly not interested in that, though: not nearly 'contemporary' or 'irreverent' enough for them. Often resembles a mean-spirited parody of Beatrix Potter, twisted so it can make knowing jokes about rom-coms and so on. Very nearly completely horrible; scrapes one point for the animation sequence, another for Rose Byrne (what can I say, I'm sentimental).
  
The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle
The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle
Stuart Turton | 2018 | Mystery, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
7.9 (24 Ratings)
Book Rating
Convoluted murder mystery
I would love to watch this as a TV series because as a book it seems rather all over the place. Following Aiden Bishop, who seems to be appear in a new host body every day in order to solve a Gosford Park-style murder, he's also stacked against competitors desperate to flee this entrapment.

The premise is fantastic - it's Inception mixed with Agatha Christie- but I feel the author Stuart Turton may have overstretched himself because by the end it's a tangle of a mess, and finishes rather abruptly, trying to tackle loose ends. I may be in the minority, but I found myself drifting away quite a bit, actually forgetting characters. There's far too many murders and body swapping, and I don't think it reached its potential.
  
A Creature of Moonlight
A Creature of Moonlight
Rebecca Hahn | 2014 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book reads a lot like a fairy story, starring a girl who feels drawn into the magical world of the forest despite her attachments to the world outside. The writing style felt very lyrical, which seemed very appropriate for the story, and helped to pull me into it all the more effectively. Though it took me a couple of chapters to really get into the story, once I did I found that it was a quick read and kept me interested in the characters and what would happen next. If you're looking for an action packed fantasy story this might not be the book for you, but if you're looking for a magical story and beautiful writing this might be a good book for you to pick up.
  
Diary of a haunting
Diary of a haunting
M. Verano | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror
6
6.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I saw the cover and immediately jumped on this book. Haven't read a good horror in a while, and I was super intrigued. Diary style, no issues with that. Kinda cool in some ways, as we get the MC's version of what's going on in her own words. I even found myself a little creeped out at some points.

This book would've been a solid 4-star rating if it weren't for that ending. It was almost like the author took too long, got to the day before the deadline, then just cobbled some nonsense together and said, "Here, take it." Still, not a bad read up until the last 15 pages or so, and could still be decent for those who aren't uber horror fans.

3 stars
  
40x40

Tami (7 KP) rated Roomies in Books

Jul 10, 2018 (Updated Jul 10, 2018)  
Roomies
Roomies
Christina Lauren | 2017 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I just found Christina Lauren by reading Love and Other Words and had to find another of her books, I'm glad I found this one.

I loved the dynamic between Holland and Collin. It's a crush, it's a ruse, it's love. The characters are easy to relate to and you root for them the entire book. There are some VERY steamy parts in the book that make the book just that perfect segway from sweet to sultry. As a woman, I'd love to rumple some sheets with Collin myself. :)

As with any romance, the storyline runs on a formula:

*girl meets boy
*insert positive storyline
*insert insurmountable problem
*insert resolution
*insert HEA

Luckily the storyline, writing style, character dynamic, and steam give the formula the kick it needs to be a good book.