Search

Search only in certain items:

The School For Good and Evil
The School For Good and Evil
Soman Chainani | 2014 | Children, Young Adult (YA)
6
7.2 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
I started off really confused as to what the genre was supposed to be. The cover seemed YA, but the plot was more MG. It seemed to be trying to be both at the same time which was a bit confusing.

I liked that it was a new take on fairytales that I hadn’t read before and it definitely made it stand out to me – five years on and I still haven’t read anything quite like it, which is quite an achievement.

It’s full of action from the beginning, but I feel like it may have taken it too far and there was actually too much plot. Sophie and Agatha had to escape a few too many times and in places it just felt like the plot was going around in circles to bulk out what was already quite a heavy plot.

I’m not sure that I would read this one again, and I never actually read any of the other books in the series because I just didn’t get myself invested enough in the story.
  
Halloween (2018)
Halloween (2018)
2018 | Horror
Jamie Lee Curtis is back! (1 more)
Michael Myers is back!
The night he came home......again
Contains spoilers, click to show
Remember all those Halloween sequels (there's a fair few) well scrap them as this is Halloween 2 (strictly speaking the 3rd Halloween 2)

After that night in 1979 Michael Myers was captured, subdued and put in an asylum (coz that worked so well before). How on earth he got captured is beyond me but anyway go with it.
2 internet bloggers/vloggers want to write up a story on Michael and go visit him. I mean why not he's definitely known for his very chatty nature isnt he....oh and while there take his mask I'm sure he'll love that.

Inevitably Michael escapes and once more begins his pursuit of Laurie Strode (who isnt his sister). Cue tension, that musical score and many gruesome deaths.

An ending that is similar to home alone and that you would 100% confirm the end of Myers.......but this is Hollywood, the film made money and a new Halloween has been confirmed (is it Halloween 2 or 3 now)
  
The Poet (Jack McEvoy, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #5)
The Poet (Jack McEvoy, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #5)
Michael Connelly | 1996 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
9.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Crime reporter Jack McEnvoy’s world is turned upside down when his twin brother Sean, a cop, commits suicide. But when Jack goes to write a story on it, he discovers a disturbing pattern that will take him cross country and ultimately to the FBI. But will he learn the truth about what happened to his brother?

This book is praised as one of Connelly’s best, and I can see why. This book introduces an entire cast of characters, and they are all strong. The plot is ingenious, and I was on board for all the twists. Unfortunately, it is 20 years old, and the parts of the book that attempt to profile the villain and the scenes that are written from the villains point of view felt clichéd to me. Maybe it is because it has been done so often since this book. Whatever the reason, I found this the only flaw in an otherwise outstanding book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-poet-by-michael-connelly.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
In an effort to learn more about local rocks and minerals, Morgan has been taking a class from the local college. While one a class field trip, she gets separated from everyone else and finds a mountain man guarding a skeleton. The discovery reopens an unsolved disappearance in this small Colorado town. But what happened all those years ago?

It had been a while since I read the first book in this series, but it didn’t take long before I was back on board with the characters again. They are wonderful, and I enjoyed seeing the growth in them. The book had too many sub-plots, which crowded out the mystery a little at the beginning, but as the book when on the mystery took over and came to a very strong climax that kept me turning the pages.

NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-stone-cold-case-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
40x40

Sarah (7798 KP) rated The One in Books

Feb 28, 2018  
The One
The One
John Marrs | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.6 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Very Black Mirror-esque
This is such a great idea for a story, you can almost imagine a slightly darker version of it featuring on Black Mirror. The idea of there being a genetic match out there for everyone found through a dating website is so plausible and in keeping with today’s society that it wouldn’t surprise me if something like this was to happen in my lifetime. It’s an intriguing take on modern dating too and for someone who sadly has experience in dating websites, it’s very relatable.

It’s well written and it does well to hold your attention by breaking into 5 separate stories with different characters all related by the same matching experience, in small bite sized chapters. The characters themselves are all likeable in their own way and you get very invested in their stories. There are a number of twists and my only criticism would be that some parts of this story get a little bit far fetched. It’s fiction, but I did find myself questioning the plausibility in parts. That said, I really couldn’t put it down.
  
40x40

Charley (64 KP) rated The Mermaid in Books

Jan 28, 2019  
The Mermaid
The Mermaid
Christina Henry | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
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.
  
40x40

Chloe (514 KP) Jan 28, 2019

Woo that sounds so interesting and scary ?? I may have to read this even if it does ruin my childhood lol

40x40

Charley (64 KP) Jan 28, 2019

its brilliant and very thought provoking

40x40

Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Batman: The Animated Series in TV

Nov 12, 2019 (Updated Nov 13, 2019)  
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
1992 | Animation
10
8.3 (24 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Voice acting, animation style, story lines. (0 more)
Not well known enough. (0 more)
Best Batman
If you are a fan of this series, as soon as you see the cover, the opening music will be playing in your head. This is the GoT of 90s animation. It is all done so well, and on a big scale, a proper score, talented voice actors, quality animation, it's all here!
The odd episode may miss the mark, but otherwise you are fully drawn in to a Bat man that is dark, has depth, but also some humour. While it is suitable for kids (Not too young, and I would advise parents take a look, just incase) it does not pander to them and is great for adults too. Some other DC animations have tryed to emulate this, and done well. But none have quite found the same beauty the original has achieved.
A Must for any Bat-fans out there, and I can not wait for my son to join me in a binge session on this classic.