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Freiyon Fables: Hooked on Power
Freiyon Fables: Hooked on Power
Justin T Hunt | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What I liked best was how the book answered major questions that arose during the first two books, even if some of the explanations seem a bit far fetched. (0 more)
My main problem was with the time difference between Freiyon and the human world because it made things really confusing. (0 more)
Honest Review for Free Copy of Book
WARNING: PLEASE NOTE THE CONTENTS IN THIS REVIEW MY NOT BE COMPLETELY ACCURATE. THIS REVIEW WAS DONE ON THE BOOK BEFORE IT WAS COMPLEATED FOR RELEASE AND THE AUTHOR MAY CHANGE THINGS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. KEEP THIS IN MIND AS YOU READ ON.



Freiyon Fables: Hooked on Power by Justin Hunt is the third and I believe the final book in the Freiyon Fables series. Right from the start, the book promises to answer some questions that I had from the start of the series. I have noticed some inconsistencies in formatting or writing style, such as the first book being broken into three separate parts, the first book being one whole book, and now the third being broken apart again. However, I did not notice any problems with the timeline between the three books.

The story starts out with a letter to the reader from an unnamed author (that is until the very end). This author claims that the reader would not recognize him or her from previous stories about Freiyon but intends to “explain the many different mysteries of the World of Freiyon”. It then starts with the story of some pirates who find themselves in Freiyon by mistake. These pirates then capture and torture poor Quasapoor (who you may remember was evil in a previous book) until he goes insane. They then run into Sybil and Helen Rochester and the creation of the Rochester Runes is explained as well.

Adam, a young boy who heard of Freiyon from his mother then and his battle with Captain Liberty (an evil power-hungry pirate) becomes the main focus of the story. He soon finds that time runs differently in Freiyon from the human world and the events his mother told him about are yet to happen. Adam is even present for the creation of Lord Libertas, but I am not going to ruin how that happened for the curious reader. As Adam travels Freiyon and the surrounding lands the reader also learns about how Freiyon itself came to be along with the Wise One and Lightning Tail Island. Will Adam with the help of some new friends and some well-known favorites be able to protect Freiyon from Captain Liberty or will Freiyon be destroyed once and for all?

What I liked best was how the book answered major questions that arose during the first two books, even if some of the explanations seem a bit far fetched. I really enjoyed the appearance of Adam as I had been looking forward to finding out his identity for quite some time. My main problem was with the time difference between Freiyon and the human world because it made things really confusing. I don’t really understand how Adam could even be in Freiyon before his mother and the events she tells him about, even if it was because of a spell gone wrong. Time travel always gets me confused. Also Adam frequently reminds himself that he is in Freiyon’s past and if every time he dose that is mixed with all the times the story backtracks over what a character just did or what happened in a previous book about a third of this book could be completely removed.

The target readers for this book changed a bit from the previous two books in this series. This third edition to the Freiyon Fables is directed more towards middle school readers. While previous Freiyon Fable books may have been appropriate for even some elementary students I feel as if they would get bored after the first one hundred pages or so of this one. Staying consistent with the first two books I rate this one as a 2 out of 4. Originally this final book was going to be given a three for explaining some of the strange things that happened in the first two. However, because of all the repetition (entire paragraphs and pages seemed directly taken from one of the first two books) and how it felt like it was dragging for the final third of the book, I felt like a two was better deserved once again.

https://www.facebook.com/nightreaderreviews
  
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Kaz (232 KP) rated Pet Sematary in Books

May 15, 2019 (Updated May 15, 2019)  
Pet Sematary
Pet Sematary
Stephen King | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror
7
8.4 (53 Ratings)
Book Rating
Atmospheric and creepy (0 more)
The ending (0 more)
Contains spoilers, click to show
What the 'Blurb' says:


When Dr. Louis Creed takes a new job and moves his family to the idyllic rural town of Ludlow, Maine, this new beginning seems too good to be true. Despite Ludlow’s tranquility, an undercurrent of danger exists here. Those trucks on the road outside the Creed’s beautiful old home travel by just a little too quickly, for one thing…as is evidenced by the makeshift graveyard in the nearby woods where generations of children have buried their beloved pets. Then there are the warnings to Louis both real and from the depths of his nightmares that he should not venture beyond the borders of this little graveyard where another burial ground lures with seductive promises and ungodly temptations. A blood-chilling truth is hidden there—one more terrifying than death itself, and hideously more powerful. As Louis is about to discover for himself sometimes, dead is better…-


My Thoughts:

I've just finished 'Pet Sematary' and have mixed thoughts on this.

On the positive, I liked the creepy, macabre writing. This book is full of dark atmosphere and some parts of this book gave me the chills just reading them. The characters are believable, even if some of their actions were a bit questionable and I liked how the story flowed.

However, what I wasn't too keen on, was the fact that during the book, a couple of the characters, particularly the family's cat Winston Churchill and Ellie,the daughter, were built up to be important characters and in the end, were forgotten about. Whilst reading this, I spent a lot of the time wondering what had happened to them, when I should have been focusing on what was actually going on in the story at that time. Churchill does get rediscovered at the end of this book, but I'm still unsure what happened to Ellie. So I don't think all of the strands of story were tied up as well as they should have been and for me, the ending of this book was just ok, if slightly frustrating, due to the actions of certain characters.


I haven't seen the original film adaptation of this novel, but I'd be interested in watching the adaptation, to see how this translates into film.


If you want a creepy tale to read for Halloween, you might want to consider this book.


My Rating *** ½
  
Look to the Stars
Look to the Stars
Catherine Wilson | 2016 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
“Look to the stars, little bird.”

It isn’t often I take quotes directly from the book, but I feel as if this one explains a lot, or it would once you read it.

I’m a sucker for secrets and books with lots of fantasy adventure travel, and this book had both. Brave, a spoiled yet adventurous girl makes the almost perfect main character for the book. Aras, an annoying yet somehow intriguing man that Brave finds in the forest, made just as much as a good main character. They have flaws just like any good character, but some of the time they seemed to forgive each other to easily. It seems like in their weird love/hate friendship almost anything can go without repercussions. Some of it just seemed a little fake and forced by the author.

While I do like these two characters, the others become confusing. Maybe it’s just my brain, but the characters, the more minor ones, started to get mushed and jumbled in my head. They lacked distinctive character traits. Luckily, much of the book doesn’t involve the confusing characters, so it didn’t last long or affect much of the plot.

The middle and end of the book kept my attention. That’s not saying that the beginning didn’t, just that it was much more interesting. When I was almost done with the book, I stopped reading it for a reason even I don’t know, and over time I felt obligated to finish it. So I decided I would at least skim the last few chapters, because the book deserved to be finished. It was silly of me really, the end was good too, I just somehow forgot why I wanted to read it in the first place.

My point is, don’t do what I did and just randomly stop reading this book six chapters from the end.

This book was good, and the ending, while surprising in a predictable sort of way, was a little anti-climatic. It felt like an ending, but the umph factor just wasn’t there.

I’m giving this book 4 stars for a great plot and main characters. The lack of a climatic ending kind of made me uninterested, I thought the book would have been better if the ending was the second to the last chapter. It left more to the imagination until the next book. Also, some of the mild characters were confusing and unreal.
  
Sisters (2015)
Sisters (2015)
2015 | Comedy, Drama
7
6.7 (6 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Life for sisters Maura (Amy Poehler), and Kate (Tina Fey) has not worked out the way they had planned. Maura is a nurse who lives in Atlanta and two years after her divorce is busy doing do-good projects and learning to make cheese in her spare time.,

Kate is a single mom who cannot hold a job and has recently been kicked out of the place she was living in. When their parents inform Maura that they are selling their childhood home, Maura helps Kate travel to Orlando in an effort to convince their parents to change their minds.

Seeing that the deal is pretty much done and that their parents are now in a condo, Maura and Kate opt to spend their time in their old home, and do whatever they can to discourage the prospective new buyers from following through on the purchase.

Kate has always been the wilder of the bunch and decides that Maura needs to let loose for once. As such they opt to recreate a party from their teens with as many of their former classmates as they can gather.

Naturally as anyone who has ever seen a house comedy knows, this is a disaster in the making as everything from drunken party games to a drug mishap and sex accidents follow.

It is different to hear Poehler and Fey use R-rated language as they have kept much of their career to the wink and a nod style of adult humor that their pioneered on Saturday Night Live but once you get used to it, it does not seem overly forced.

The two have a real chemistry and there are many funny scenes in the film, the biggest issue is the transition and setups can be a bit slow and at times awkward. This is to be expected from people who started in sketch comedy and neither of the two had a hand in writing the film as well.

Ike Barinholtz does great supporting work as a love interest and his “accident” is one of the funniest and most cringe worthy moments in film comedy.

If you can handle the slow parts and need some good laughs, then you will want to check out “Sisters’ as it is mindless and raunchy fun.

http://sknr.net/2015/12/18/sisters/
  
Minions (2015)
Minions (2015)
2015 | Animation, Comedy, Family
8
6.5 (30 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Those lovable and mischief filled Minions are back and this time they have a new solo adventure that chronicles their history.

The film chronicles the minions through the ages as they have followed their compulsion to find a master to serve which always results in hilarious misfortune for the Masters.

After a recent setback, the Minion tribe takes refuge in an ice cave and builds their society over the passing years. Unfortunately, depression seeks in as the Minions are missing their basic drive and as such, an inspired member named Kevin decides he will venture out to find a new Master for them to follow.

Kevin is joined by Stuart and Bob and after a long trip; they find themselves in New York in 1968. Of course the city that never sleeps is an ideal place for them to get into all sorts of mischief and also allows them to view and underground television broadcast promoting a Villain Con in Orlando.

Inspired, the trio sets off and makes some dubious travel companions along the way, yet eventually arrive at their destination.

At the convention they encounter Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock), and in a twist of fate, become her new apprentices. Kevin decides to call the tribe and tell them to head to London to start serving their new master, who is as unstable as she is evil.

Scarlett and her husband Herb (Jon Hamm, have devised a plan so cunning and diabolical that nothing can stop them from carrying it out, nothing that is save for the Minions.

The film takes a bit of time to get up to speed but is as charming and funny as you would wish for. The Minions generate plenty of laughs and there are tons of Pop Culture gags that fill the entire film.

For me the 3D animation was a nice touch and really added to the enjoyment of seeing the lovable characters in action and the new cast members did a great job adding to the lore of the Minions.

The film moves along at a steady pace and keeps the laughs coming throughout. With “Despicable Me 3” due in 2017, it is not out of the realm that we could see more solo minion outings in the future. This is a move that would bring plenty of smiles, as there is much to like about this film.

http://sknr.net/2015/07/07/minions/
  
The Abyss (1989)
The Abyss (1989)
1989 | Mystery, Sci-Fi
Story: The story focus on many different vision people have of something happening, we have the military view, the scientist view and the everyday workers view. Each one if different because each shows fear, interest or curiosity of the unknown. Everything comes together nicely without leaving you asking any questions, which in today’s film industry is a normal to get you coming back for more. This was ground breaking for its time and will always be considered a classic. (9/10)

 

Actor Review

 

Ed Harris: Bud the lead engineer on the underwater oil rig, he knows how to handle his team to get the most out of them and has all their respect. The whole team supports him over his ex-wife Lindsey, he is also one of the most experienced divers and believes in what he can see. Good performance from Harris showing he was going to be a lead actor for years to come. (9/10)

 

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio: Lindsey ex-wife to Bud and creator of the underwater rig system, she is more interested in investigating what is going on rather than just blowing it up and hoping for the best. Good performance in a difficult role which needed her character to be hated. (8/10)

 

Director Review: James Cameron – Cameron has been behind some of the most ground breaking films in history and this is right up there with his best. (9/10)

 

Sci-Fi: A sci-fi film that isn’t about a bleak future or space travel, this really is a rarity in the business. (9/10)

Settings: The isolation adds tension from start to finish. (10/10)

Suggestion: I think this is a film that everyone should see at least once in their life time, it will surprise you the quality even after 25 years. (Watch)

 

Best Part: The water creature investigating the rig.

Worst Part: It can seem long.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: Yes

 

Oscar Chances: Won an Oscar for Visual Effects.

Box Office: $90 Million

Budget: $69 Million

Runtime: 2 Hours 26 Minutes

Tagline: A place on Earth more awesome than anywhere in space.

 

Overall: A Forgotten Masterpiece

https://moviesreview101.com/2014/08/16/the-abyss-1989/
  
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JT (287 KP) rated Rogue (2008) in Movies

Mar 10, 2020  
Rogue (2008)
Rogue (2008)
2008 | Horror, Mystery
6
6.3 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Along the quiet river banks of the Australian outback, buried deep within the baron red plains that surround desolate bush, lies a fear, a fear that lurks beneath the murky waters. Greg McLean does to boat trips what backpacking did for Wolf Creek, after seeing it you’re going to want to steer well clear of ever doing it.

Pete (Vartan) is a travel writer, sent around the world to exotic locations he finds himself in a place that he has no idea about. Taking a boat trip up the river with a bunch of people that we really won’t care much about, he goes in search of what the territory has to offer.

Leading the tour is Kate (Mitchell) someone who is the polar opposite to Pete and has never traveled out of her comfort zone once. As the boat glides up the river McLean makes sure he includes sweeping shots of the quiet picturesque landscape, of which is beautiful.

The focus of course is on the salt water crocodile’s that populate the river itself, a quick lesson from Kate about these prehistoric looking creatures sets up for the carnage that is only minutes away. Once the boat is capsized the unfortunate crew end up stranded on an island surrounded by a fast rising tidal river, with no direct route off it.

Like any monster movie we only ever catch glimpses of the predator (at least until the very end), a tail there, a moving ripple in the water there. The stranded patrons of course go through the motions, there’s infighting, emotion, selfishness and a coming together that in the end they are going to be able to escape the island.

It does carry a fairly decent degree of suspense even though it is predictable in places, and has an ending which quite frankly is a little preposterous.

The story line is as basic as it can get and the script is not brilliantly written, the acting has its moments with characters that don’t really have time to reveal their back stories to great effect, before a few all but disappear between the teeth of the seven foot beast.

It’s not overly gory but does have some scenes for those that are blood thirsty. On a whole it’s a decent flick, not as terrifying as Wolf Creek but holds itself well for the 100 minute run time.