Search

Search only in certain items:

The Shadow Reader (The Shadow Reader, #1)
The Shadow Reader (The Shadow Reader, #1)
Sandy Williams | 2011 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This starts with McKenzie doing in a test in a lecture hall at Uni, only she's interrupted mid test by her friend and love interest, Kyol--sword-master of the current Fae King. The rebels have found her and she's in danger. They run from the room but get attacked by the rebels as they try to escape. In the end, McKenzie fall into the rebels trap and ends up their captive. McKenzie keeps attempting to escape and though half of the rebels want her dead, the leader, Aren, wants her kept alive.

What follows is a complicated twisty tale of right and wrong, of realising that what you thought was the truth for so long has been twisted and put in a new light so you'll go along with it. Truths are revealed that you agree with.

There is an element of love-triangle going on in this. She's had a "thing" with Kyol for ten years: touches and kisses that are prohibited under the King's ruling of no relationships between humans and Fae. And then there's Aren. The rebel leader who steals her away and tries to convince her that the Court is using her for their own gains and not for the good of the people.

In truth I think I was more Team Aren. We got to see more of his relationship progression with McKenzie. They go from not trusting or liking each other particularly to that tender, sweet touches, stage of falling for each other. Don't get me wrong, I like Kyol. But I think because we missed the start of their relationship growth all those years ago that I don't feel as strong of a connection between them.

By the end of this I was urging our group to win the fight. And now I'm very interested in what's going to happen next with this ragtag group.
  
    Goodbudget Budget Planner

    Goodbudget Budget Planner

    Finance and Productivity

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    Goodbudget is a personal finance app for budget planning and money management. Share a budget with...

    Sole Supplier

    Sole Supplier

    Lifestyle and Health & Fitness

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    The Sole Supplier is the UK's first dedicated app, committed to showcasing some of the world’s...

    Thief Alert.

    Thief Alert.

    Utilities and Entertainment

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    * DELUXE VERSION OF THE BEST RATED ALARM APP ON SALE FOR VERY LIMITED TIME * YOU COULD RECORD YOUR...

40x40

Kate (493 KP) rated Pretty Killer in Books

Aug 19, 2020  
Pretty Killer
Pretty Killer
Johnny B Truant | 2019 | Crime, Mystery
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Kept me guessing (0 more)
I enjoyed this book as it was crime book that kept me guessing which everyone knows I love. I did guess the final 2 little surprises but that was very close to the end.
I like a crime book which is not straight forward and very easy to guess.
To be honest the downside of the book was it took me a while to get into and I was a little worried that the introductions would be most of the book. But it was a long book so it was ok. It also didn't end when I thought it was going to so it was little a bit extra bit at the end. Once I got into it was a page turner and I couldn't put it down. I t was one of those '1 more chapter' books.
The way the book was written I got a good feel of each character and how they looked, sounded and acted which I feel brings you into the book more.
The book did go back and forth but it was needed. The book wouldn't of worked without it. It didn't hurt the flow or confuse the reader.
I really felt for Casey and could see why Harper was doing this and why she was going to do to herself what she wanted to do (don't want to spoil the book). I felt anger towards each character in turn. Some more than others.
I haven't read or watched anything similar to this. It was a very well thought out and written book.
This is a book I would read again and most crime books I don't as I know the ending.
The book exceeded the blurb. And definitely a book I'm so glad I decided to read.
I would definitely read other books by this author and would highly recommend to other people.
  
40x40

LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) in Movies

Aug 28, 2020 (Updated Aug 28, 2020)  
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
2019 | Drama
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is genuinely wonderful.
Like any good drama, it if course has its somber moments, but the overall atmosphere is so heart warming, it honestly feels like a lovely hug, but one of those lovely hugs that makes you cry because life is hard sometimes.

Growing up in the UK, I never watched Mr Rogers, but was always aware of him, and just how much he meant to a massive number of people. This film is less a biopic, and concentrates firmly one one point of Fred Rogers life, namely when he met Tom Junod (presented here as fictional character Lloyd Vogel), a journalist writing for Esquire and profiling Mr Rogers for a piece on American Heroes.
Lloyd is a cynical person, who doesn't hold much love for his fellow man. This begins to change as he spends more time with Fred, a man who truly sees the good in everyone.
At the same time, Lloyd's estranged father is trying to reconnect with him, forcing him to relive past trauma as he struggles to forgive.
It's all very emotionally charged, but wrapped up neatly in Oscar-baiting packaging.

Tom Hanks as Mr Rogers, and Matthew Rhys as Lloyd are nothing short of excellent. Their chemistry is thoroughly believable. Tom Hanks is at the top of his game here, just as much as he has ever been.
The supporting cast are great as well, especially Susan Kelechi Watson and Chris Cooper.

ABDITN also looks fantastic. The contrast of real life drama to dream like sequences within Mr Rogers' show is an inspired choice by director Marielle Heller, and the use of model cars and cities as segues is effective.
The original score by her brother Nate Heller is just downright pleasant.

Overall, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a decent drama about the importance of family, and what it means to love others, whilst remaining a well written love letter to Feed Rogers himself. It's just a really swell movie, definitely check it out.
  
The Willoughbys (2020)
The Willoughbys (2020)
2020 | Animation, Comedy, Family
Character development (or not) (3 more)
Good messages
Cute music
Adorable storyline
Random Candy Guy (0 more)
Absolutely Adorable
This film takes hard and upsetting topics, addressing them in a light-er tones that can be understood by children. This film is a heartwarming tale about the trust meaning of family and what it really means to choose your family. At the end (no spoilers!) there is a single moment where I began to worry that it would be one of THOSE movies and trust me you'll know it when you see it. I'll give you a hint and say it involves es both the parents and kids but that's all I'm saying!
The reason I enjoyed this film so much definitely has to do with how they chose to address the topics of social services and what it means to put a child into the system. They also do this in such a way that a child can understand and clearly see that there's something not right with how they go about things. However, despite this, they do not make 'orphan services' as it's called in the film, the bad guy. Rather they add a slightly different tone, hinting that they care and that their coldness is a result of trying to be apart of the working system. They're not the 'problem' in the film but simply another aspect within the film pushing the real problem. The system is broken, a system set up to help and keep children safe (they even mention it in film), is instead breaking up families for no other reason than minimal circumstance and (not sure if people caught this one) NO EVIDENCE.
I fear I'm starting to hint around spoilers so I'll say no more but the film is worth a look. Even if you don't necessarily like kid films the ideas in this film on family and 'the system' is truly something to marvel.