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Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Tiny Epic Defenders in Tabletop Games
Jun 12, 2019
The Tiny Epic series. Where do we begin? They’re tiny and they’re epic – need I say more? Oh, I do have to say more? Ok then, here I go. Tiny Epic Defenders was the first of these games that I ever played, so I think it’s appropriate that it is the first one we review!
DISCLAIMER!! This review is for vanilla Tiny Epic Defenders, first edition. We have since added the second edition and The Dark War expansions, so we will revisit this game again including those additions for a nice contrast. -T
A kingdom at peace, finally, after years of war. All is calm across the lands, but the quiet never lasts. Reports start to come in of monsters spotted in the surrounding regions. If they manage to take over the Capital City, all will be lost. But there is still hope! A group of mighty warriors bands together to defend their kingdom at all costs! Only by working together can this group (the only line of defense between peace and destruction) defeat the monsters and save the realm!
In Tiny Epic Defenders, you play as one of the heroes trying to defend the kingdom. You and your comrades must travel between the outer regions of the kingdom and fend off the advancing monsters! Communication and cooperation are key – one small misstep could be the difference between victory and defeat. All of the heroes have unique special abilities, and all of the regions of the kingdom offer either a bonus or penalty for the heroes defending them. On your turn, you get 3 actions to either move, defend, or use a special ability. Once per round, there will be a group turn, where you must collectively decide how to best use the 3 actions between all players. New monsters surface every round, and eventually the Epic Foe will begin its final assault on the realm! If you manage to slay the Epic Foe before the Capital City falls, you win! But if you are overrun with monsters, unfortunately it’s game over for your kingdom.
The thing about Tiny Epic Defenders is that it starts off seemingly super easy, but then suddenly everything is on fire and you lose. I think that disparity comes from the turn order. The turn deck is shuffled anew every round, so the hero turns are not always evenly spaced throughout the deck. Sometimes all of the hero turns occur early in the round, which allow monsters who emerge later to attack undefended regions (players can move only on their turn), and overwhelm the heroes. The same happens if all the hero turns occur too late in the round – the monsters have already done their worst and the heroes must scramble to rectify the situation. And on top of that, a more menacing monster is added to the deck every round as well, so that just creates more of an imbalance between player turns and monster turns.
Even though the game can get a little overwhelming, I do really like the cooperative aspect of it! Everyone is working towards the same goal and all communication is open and free. Need advice for what to do on your turn? Just ask! Have an idea about how to deal with a certain monster? Tell the group! No single player bears all of the pressure because it really is a group effort!
Someday soon we will get the Second Edition to the table. And get that expansion added in too. But for the time being, our thoughts based solely on the original base game, Purple Phoenix Games give Tiny Epic Defenders a 16 / 24.
https://purplephoenixgames.wordpress.com/2018/12/05/tiny-epic-defenders-review/
DISCLAIMER!! This review is for vanilla Tiny Epic Defenders, first edition. We have since added the second edition and The Dark War expansions, so we will revisit this game again including those additions for a nice contrast. -T
A kingdom at peace, finally, after years of war. All is calm across the lands, but the quiet never lasts. Reports start to come in of monsters spotted in the surrounding regions. If they manage to take over the Capital City, all will be lost. But there is still hope! A group of mighty warriors bands together to defend their kingdom at all costs! Only by working together can this group (the only line of defense between peace and destruction) defeat the monsters and save the realm!
In Tiny Epic Defenders, you play as one of the heroes trying to defend the kingdom. You and your comrades must travel between the outer regions of the kingdom and fend off the advancing monsters! Communication and cooperation are key – one small misstep could be the difference between victory and defeat. All of the heroes have unique special abilities, and all of the regions of the kingdom offer either a bonus or penalty for the heroes defending them. On your turn, you get 3 actions to either move, defend, or use a special ability. Once per round, there will be a group turn, where you must collectively decide how to best use the 3 actions between all players. New monsters surface every round, and eventually the Epic Foe will begin its final assault on the realm! If you manage to slay the Epic Foe before the Capital City falls, you win! But if you are overrun with monsters, unfortunately it’s game over for your kingdom.
The thing about Tiny Epic Defenders is that it starts off seemingly super easy, but then suddenly everything is on fire and you lose. I think that disparity comes from the turn order. The turn deck is shuffled anew every round, so the hero turns are not always evenly spaced throughout the deck. Sometimes all of the hero turns occur early in the round, which allow monsters who emerge later to attack undefended regions (players can move only on their turn), and overwhelm the heroes. The same happens if all the hero turns occur too late in the round – the monsters have already done their worst and the heroes must scramble to rectify the situation. And on top of that, a more menacing monster is added to the deck every round as well, so that just creates more of an imbalance between player turns and monster turns.
Even though the game can get a little overwhelming, I do really like the cooperative aspect of it! Everyone is working towards the same goal and all communication is open and free. Need advice for what to do on your turn? Just ask! Have an idea about how to deal with a certain monster? Tell the group! No single player bears all of the pressure because it really is a group effort!
Someday soon we will get the Second Edition to the table. And get that expansion added in too. But for the time being, our thoughts based solely on the original base game, Purple Phoenix Games give Tiny Epic Defenders a 16 / 24.
https://purplephoenixgames.wordpress.com/2018/12/05/tiny-epic-defenders-review/
Shaun Collins (3 KP) rated Star Trek, Volume 12 in Books
Jan 12, 2018
The ship passes through an Ion storm and enters the mirror universe for this time line, discovering Khan is alive in the mirror reality, and in the second set of issues, rescues a pair of crew members from a renegade faction of the Orions.
Live Evil is another slightly skewed version of "Mirror, Mirror", and while there were some very cool notions and ideas in the story, it's still a revamp of a Trek episode we've already seen. This title is MUCH more successful and enjoyable when it's not re-inventing the wheel every issue. (I know it seems like I'm harping on this, but use the format to tell us NEW stories with he occasional revamp thrown in, not the other way around!)
The Orion arc is much better, and kudos for bringing back the lovely Gaila from the 2009 movie. Can't wait to see more of her now that she's a science officer.
Interestingly, both these arcs (and most of the proceeding ones) feel like they could use ONE more issue to flesh them out fully. I'm a fan of shorter arcs, because it seems that most comic artists plot things too big and then don't know how to wrap up. Mike Johnson's trek stories are all nice and tidy, but I can't help but feel we're rushing to the climax and moving on. I would enjoy a bit more telling of the tale. But over all another solid, enjoyable set of stories.
Live Evil is another slightly skewed version of "Mirror, Mirror", and while there were some very cool notions and ideas in the story, it's still a revamp of a Trek episode we've already seen. This title is MUCH more successful and enjoyable when it's not re-inventing the wheel every issue. (I know it seems like I'm harping on this, but use the format to tell us NEW stories with he occasional revamp thrown in, not the other way around!)
The Orion arc is much better, and kudos for bringing back the lovely Gaila from the 2009 movie. Can't wait to see more of her now that she's a science officer.
Interestingly, both these arcs (and most of the proceeding ones) feel like they could use ONE more issue to flesh them out fully. I'm a fan of shorter arcs, because it seems that most comic artists plot things too big and then don't know how to wrap up. Mike Johnson's trek stories are all nice and tidy, but I can't help but feel we're rushing to the climax and moving on. I would enjoy a bit more telling of the tale. But over all another solid, enjoyable set of stories.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Map of Lost Memories in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This book took a little while to really pick up the pace. Once I got a handle on who was who & who had which agenda it became a lot more interesting. The characters were easy to like or to hate depending on who's side you were on. Identifying with them on a "real world" level was a bit more tricky though.
It tells the story of Irene, a museum assistant who gets passed over for a big promotion. When she is so easily dismissed she wants to do something to make a name for herself. With the help of her deceased father's wealthy best friend she goes treasure hunting. She sets out to find the lost Khmer copper scrolls which supposedly tell the as yet unknown history of the Khmer reign in Cambodia.
Yes, there is a good dose of history & politics mixed in throughout the story. Even if you know nothing about the Khmers in Cambodia you can still get into this book & understand the plot lines.
Along her journey from Seattle to the Orient, Irene assembles a misfit band of scientists & treasure hunters...everyone from a drug addicted Khmer scholar to a man who runs the "knowledge" network in Shanghai.
All in all this was a good book. It can be enjoyed by anyone despite the time period setting & the oriental history sprinkled in throughout the text. The story is easy to get lost in once you figure out who is who.
It tells the story of Irene, a museum assistant who gets passed over for a big promotion. When she is so easily dismissed she wants to do something to make a name for herself. With the help of her deceased father's wealthy best friend she goes treasure hunting. She sets out to find the lost Khmer copper scrolls which supposedly tell the as yet unknown history of the Khmer reign in Cambodia.
Yes, there is a good dose of history & politics mixed in throughout the story. Even if you know nothing about the Khmers in Cambodia you can still get into this book & understand the plot lines.
Along her journey from Seattle to the Orient, Irene assembles a misfit band of scientists & treasure hunters...everyone from a drug addicted Khmer scholar to a man who runs the "knowledge" network in Shanghai.
All in all this was a good book. It can be enjoyed by anyone despite the time period setting & the oriental history sprinkled in throughout the text. The story is easy to get lost in once you figure out who is who.
Merissa (11958 KP) rated Lost Wolf (New Dawn, #4) in Books
Mar 21, 2019
Lost Wolf (New Dawn, #4) by Rachel M. Raithby
Lost Wolf is the fourth book in the New Dawn series, and we not only have a new couple, but we go back and re-meet the others too. The start of this book runs concurrently with a couple of the others, so you get to see Tyler and Regan in action that you 'missed' last time.
Regan hasn't had it easy, and it is her story to tell so I won't even try. Needless to say, Tyler is the one who helps her to live again, although being Dark Shadow, that poses a problem all of its own. Not only that, but Kat and Bass are having their own problems, brought about by Castor still trying to ruin their lives. No-one said being a shifter was easy.
There is so much in this book - from meeting new characters, to new romance, to building plans, to the world ending... it's all there. And without a single editing or grammatical error that I noticed. The storyline flowed smoothly, and with the chapter headings, you always knew when you were. I have thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the series, and I can't wait to see where we go from here. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Regan hasn't had it easy, and it is her story to tell so I won't even try. Needless to say, Tyler is the one who helps her to live again, although being Dark Shadow, that poses a problem all of its own. Not only that, but Kat and Bass are having their own problems, brought about by Castor still trying to ruin their lives. No-one said being a shifter was easy.
There is so much in this book - from meeting new characters, to new romance, to building plans, to the world ending... it's all there. And without a single editing or grammatical error that I noticed. The storyline flowed smoothly, and with the chapter headings, you always knew when you were. I have thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the series, and I can't wait to see where we go from here. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated A Good Enough Mother in Books
May 22, 2019
The most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
Dr Ruth Hartland rises to difficult tasks. She is the director of a highly respected trauma therapy unit. She is confident, capable and excellent at her job. Today she is preoccupied by her son Tom's disappearance.
So when a new patient arrives at the unit - a young man who looks shockingly like Tom - she is floored.
As a therapist, Ruth knows exactly what she should do in the best interests of her client, but as a mother she makes a very different choice - a decision that will have profound consequences.
This was an outstanding and compelling read.
I think this is one of those books that will be talked about for a while and would fit into a book club read to be discussed.
The story is very well written and thought provoking. I found it really pulling at my heart strings.
Each character in this novel is shown with all their flaws and strengths in achingly real scenes and images.
A well written, emotional, thought-provoking story.
A really good mix between an emotional troubled teenager and the relationship with his mother, and a thriller as the unpredictable Dan story line builds to a horrifying conclusion. Really memorable, and I didnt see all the twists coming.
Would thoroughly recommend.
Thank you kindly to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc, in exchange for this honest review.
Dr Ruth Hartland rises to difficult tasks. She is the director of a highly respected trauma therapy unit. She is confident, capable and excellent at her job. Today she is preoccupied by her son Tom's disappearance.
So when a new patient arrives at the unit - a young man who looks shockingly like Tom - she is floored.
As a therapist, Ruth knows exactly what she should do in the best interests of her client, but as a mother she makes a very different choice - a decision that will have profound consequences.
This was an outstanding and compelling read.
I think this is one of those books that will be talked about for a while and would fit into a book club read to be discussed.
The story is very well written and thought provoking. I found it really pulling at my heart strings.
Each character in this novel is shown with all their flaws and strengths in achingly real scenes and images.
A well written, emotional, thought-provoking story.
A really good mix between an emotional troubled teenager and the relationship with his mother, and a thriller as the unpredictable Dan story line builds to a horrifying conclusion. Really memorable, and I didnt see all the twists coming.
Would thoroughly recommend.
Thank you kindly to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc, in exchange for this honest review.
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated The First Mistake in Books
Jun 5, 2019
The first mistake could be her last.
Fairly early on in this book, I assumed that Alice's "first mistake" was her first husband, since when we meet her she's already on her second marriage. Also, the manner in which her first husband died seemed like the perfect scenario for him to actually NOT be dead and to pop up later on. Makes sense, right?
Well....yes and no.
You may think you have things figured out. You don't.
You may think you know who's doing what to whom. You don't.
You may think you know how it's going to end. You don't.
Several times throughout, my assumptions and theories were blown. Not all of them, mind you, because I was definitely right about a few things, but enough of them to make me say, "What? Wait. How?" That first big reveal? OMG WHAT. ?
I liked the alternating POVs from Alice and Beth. It helps to tell a complete story. However, I have to say that I did not like the character of Nathan at all, and was pretty quick to jump on the he's-definitely-cheating-on-her train of thought. (Is he, though?)
I enjoyed the author's first title, The Other Woman, very much, but I think I liked The First Mistake even more. Find out June 11th if you feel the same!
Thank you to BookishFirst and Minotaur Books / St. Martin's Press for the gorgeous ARE!
Fairly early on in this book, I assumed that Alice's "first mistake" was her first husband, since when we meet her she's already on her second marriage. Also, the manner in which her first husband died seemed like the perfect scenario for him to actually NOT be dead and to pop up later on. Makes sense, right?
Well....yes and no.
You may think you have things figured out. You don't.
You may think you know who's doing what to whom. You don't.
You may think you know how it's going to end. You don't.
Several times throughout, my assumptions and theories were blown. Not all of them, mind you, because I was definitely right about a few things, but enough of them to make me say, "What? Wait. How?" That first big reveal? OMG WHAT. ?
I liked the alternating POVs from Alice and Beth. It helps to tell a complete story. However, I have to say that I did not like the character of Nathan at all, and was pretty quick to jump on the he's-definitely-cheating-on-her train of thought. (Is he, though?)
I enjoyed the author's first title, The Other Woman, very much, but I think I liked The First Mistake even more. Find out June 11th if you feel the same!
Thank you to BookishFirst and Minotaur Books / St. Martin's Press for the gorgeous ARE!
Dan sellwood (1 KP) rated The Name of the Wind in Books
Feb 2, 2018 (Updated Feb 2, 2018)
Read. It. Now.
Contains spoilers, click to show
The Name of the Wind begins to tell the story of Kvothe, a fiery-haired arcanist on a lifelong journey to understand a tragedy that befalls his family. Kvothe is a born performer, both on the stage and off. He has a natural charisma and sheer brilliance that seem to be his ticket out of a poor childhood into a wonderful world of adventure.
The story is told from a grown up kvothe's point of view and while when he talks about his childhood and adolescence the story is filled with this lighthearted and magical energy, you soon learn that on his journey something terrible has happened to kvothe to change his adult self into someone much more reserved. It's clear he carries a terrible secret but of course in true Rothfuss style this is yet to be revealed.
This book does what many fail to do. It creates another world that's dazzling and something you want to be part of while also creating characters with such depth and personality that by the end you feel you truly know them.
All I can say is that this book was the first fantasy book I decided to read and now as a result it is all I want to read. Therfore if you haven't read it, read it! - but be warned, it is part of a triology and we are still eagerly awaiting a third book which as of yet has no release date.
The story is told from a grown up kvothe's point of view and while when he talks about his childhood and adolescence the story is filled with this lighthearted and magical energy, you soon learn that on his journey something terrible has happened to kvothe to change his adult self into someone much more reserved. It's clear he carries a terrible secret but of course in true Rothfuss style this is yet to be revealed.
This book does what many fail to do. It creates another world that's dazzling and something you want to be part of while also creating characters with such depth and personality that by the end you feel you truly know them.
All I can say is that this book was the first fantasy book I decided to read and now as a result it is all I want to read. Therfore if you haven't read it, read it! - but be warned, it is part of a triology and we are still eagerly awaiting a third book which as of yet has no release date.
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Wasp's Nest (Roma Series Book 2) in Books
Feb 15, 2018
The Wasp Nest is a complicated scheme for what you learn from this. There is a professional assassin out the kill a few targets. We also meet some new friends along the way. Again who is Loki? What does Rendition want?
We are back in the United States with Bianca. Her friends show up in a few days laters. Things go from okay to creepy. This book really gave me the creeps and still was good. I enjoyed it none the less but think you can not be creepy out by how it goes.
I am still trying to figure out who Loki is and what exactly Rendition wants her to do. She seems to get the help she needs from this computer person who is named Loki. I will tell you there are lots of deaths. I believe we will see more in the coming books for they seem to all running though Roma Underground.
We find out more about Sergeant and Nasonia Pharmaceutical. I do not want to give away much here for it really bring to life and what this book is about. The author did have me confused, but I also enjoy the story along they way. How is Garnero and Farugia past involved in this all of this. We meet a few new characters and find new friends. There seem to be connection and something else also know as corruptions.
We are back in the United States with Bianca. Her friends show up in a few days laters. Things go from okay to creepy. This book really gave me the creeps and still was good. I enjoyed it none the less but think you can not be creepy out by how it goes.
I am still trying to figure out who Loki is and what exactly Rendition wants her to do. She seems to get the help she needs from this computer person who is named Loki. I will tell you there are lots of deaths. I believe we will see more in the coming books for they seem to all running though Roma Underground.
We find out more about Sergeant and Nasonia Pharmaceutical. I do not want to give away much here for it really bring to life and what this book is about. The author did have me confused, but I also enjoy the story along they way. How is Garnero and Farugia past involved in this all of this. We meet a few new characters and find new friends. There seem to be connection and something else also know as corruptions.
Booksnthreads (19 KP) rated Salt to the Sea in Books
Jun 4, 2018
So, I’ve just finished reading all three novels nominated for the YA category of the California Young Reader Medal. The first two I read kind of left me feeling “meh,” so I was all set to be unimpressed with this one as well. I’m so delighted to tell you that I was wrong.
The story is told from the perspectives of four different characters, and I loved how Sepetys begins the narrative by telling of the same opening event from each character’s view point. After that, things unfold a little slowly, but it is completely worth it as you approach the climax…by that time, I was completely invested in each of the characters and was absolutely riveted to what was happening to them.
I’m also terribly impressed that Sepetys tackles telling a story from the “wrong” side (Germans during WWII), painting the characters not as the accepted “evil” caricatures but as real human beings caught up in a horrific war. In doing so, she sheds light on a human tragedy that so few of us know anything about (myself included) because it happened to the Germans as they were losing the war.
I will warn potential readers that the end of this novel does get rather graphic and emotionally wrenching, as you would expect in a novel about war and death. Although writing for a young adult audience, Sepetys does not gloss over the terror, panic, and trauma of the events.
The story is told from the perspectives of four different characters, and I loved how Sepetys begins the narrative by telling of the same opening event from each character’s view point. After that, things unfold a little slowly, but it is completely worth it as you approach the climax…by that time, I was completely invested in each of the characters and was absolutely riveted to what was happening to them.
I’m also terribly impressed that Sepetys tackles telling a story from the “wrong” side (Germans during WWII), painting the characters not as the accepted “evil” caricatures but as real human beings caught up in a horrific war. In doing so, she sheds light on a human tragedy that so few of us know anything about (myself included) because it happened to the Germans as they were losing the war.
I will warn potential readers that the end of this novel does get rather graphic and emotionally wrenching, as you would expect in a novel about war and death. Although writing for a young adult audience, Sepetys does not gloss over the terror, panic, and trauma of the events.