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Debbiereadsbook (1197 KP) rated The Amphitheater of Souls in Books
Aug 9, 2024
A step out my comfort zone but a very good one!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Cian is sent on a journey to find out who or what is causing all the deaths in his village.
I really enjoyed this! It's a step out my comfort zone, and a very good one at that.
I'd class it as high fantasy. Very Tolkien-esque, with an epic journey, lives at stake, elves, dwarves, centsaurs, sea serpents on the rampage and a madman, messing with dark blood magic.
Throw in a slow burn sweet romance, between Cian and his guide, Thanyon, and you've got a near perfect book!
Only Cian gets a say, though, and at points, he had a lot to say.
But a fabulous read.
4 good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Cian is sent on a journey to find out who or what is causing all the deaths in his village.
I really enjoyed this! It's a step out my comfort zone, and a very good one at that.
I'd class it as high fantasy. Very Tolkien-esque, with an epic journey, lives at stake, elves, dwarves, centsaurs, sea serpents on the rampage and a madman, messing with dark blood magic.
Throw in a slow burn sweet romance, between Cian and his guide, Thanyon, and you've got a near perfect book!
Only Cian gets a say, though, and at points, he had a lot to say.
But a fabulous read.
4 good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Cori June (3033 KP) rated Iron Tower Trilogy (Mithgar #9,10,11) in Books
Jan 10, 2020
I quite enjoyed this book. It reminds me of Tolkien and yes Mckiernan does comment about it in the foward. I like that there are female characters and they don't just sit there or are only for plot/character development.
Although you can get each book individually I recommend the single volume because after the first book you want to go directly to the next. It's a good starting point in the series and yes they do occasionally talk about the other books you don't have to read them first.
The dark tide is the first story and it is told exclusively in Tuck's POV. The other two follows more people (mostly warrows) so the is a bit of back tracking.
As an epic he does get a little overblown and you will get a little tired of hearing winter war or dimmendark but it is what it is.
Although you can get each book individually I recommend the single volume because after the first book you want to go directly to the next. It's a good starting point in the series and yes they do occasionally talk about the other books you don't have to read them first.
The dark tide is the first story and it is told exclusively in Tuck's POV. The other two follows more people (mostly warrows) so the is a bit of back tracking.
As an epic he does get a little overblown and you will get a little tired of hearing winter war or dimmendark but it is what it is.
Beren and Luthien
Book
Painstakingly restored from Tolkien’s manuscripts and presented for the first time as a fully...
The Fall of Arthur
J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien
6.0
Rate It
Book
The world first publication of a previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the...
Jade Clarke-Mackintosh (7 KP) rated The Silmarillion in Books
Jan 23, 2018
He is a master!
It has been a while since I have read anything by Tolkien, but as usual he never disappoints.
From the first page of the book he weaved his magic and I was once again transported to Middle Earth. He has such a gift for writing and storytelling you feel like you are there living and breathing the story. No wonder the man is a legend, his imagination knows no bounds from the poetic location names to the wealth and personalities of the characters, especially in this version as I listened to the audiobook my mind was conjuring up all sorts of colourful images. I guess it help having read previous books in the Middle Earth Universe collection, lots of the place names and characters were familiar to me.
No-one writes elves, goblins or dwarfs quite as well this man.
From the first page of the book he weaved his magic and I was once again transported to Middle Earth. He has such a gift for writing and storytelling you feel like you are there living and breathing the story. No wonder the man is a legend, his imagination knows no bounds from the poetic location names to the wealth and personalities of the characters, especially in this version as I listened to the audiobook my mind was conjuring up all sorts of colourful images. I guess it help having read previous books in the Middle Earth Universe collection, lots of the place names and characters were familiar to me.
No-one writes elves, goblins or dwarfs quite as well this man.
David McK (3425 KP) rated The Hobbit in Books
Jan 28, 2019
JRR Tolkiens classic children's(?) tale of Bilbo Baggins, and his journey to the Lonely Mountain in the company of Gandalf the Wizard and 12 Dwarves who are seeking to reclaim their inheritance from the dragon Smaug.
(According to the preface in the edition I read), this was written before his Magnum Opus of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy, with Tolkien later going back and revising key portions of this - namely, the Riddles in the Dark sequence where Bilbo encounters Gollum, and finds the Ring of Power - to bring it more in line with those sequels.
Like <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, while this may be (is) a good story, the prose can also be a little bit on the dry side - I did find myself occasionally skimming through some of the chapters. Not as dry, however, as I remember <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> to be!
(According to the preface in the edition I read), this was written before his Magnum Opus of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy, with Tolkien later going back and revising key portions of this - namely, the Riddles in the Dark sequence where Bilbo encounters Gollum, and finds the Ring of Power - to bring it more in line with those sequels.
Like <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, while this may be (is) a good story, the prose can also be a little bit on the dry side - I did find myself occasionally skimming through some of the chapters. Not as dry, however, as I remember <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> to be!
The Hobbit: The Definitive Movie Posters
Book
The unforgettable world of Middle-earth returned to theaters in Peter Jackson's trilogy of films...
The Fellowship
Philip Zaleski and Carol Zaleski
Book
In The Fellowship, Philip and Carol Zaleski offer the first complete rendering of the Inklings'...
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Forsaken Island (The Dancing Realms #2) in Books
Feb 24, 2021
How do you even write a review for a book that you find so amazing you can barely put it into words... That is the real question.
After hearing so many good things about Hidden Current I knew I had to read Forsaken Island, and I am so glad I did. Sharon Hinck’s style is like that of C. S. Lewis, and J.R. Tolkien. She has such a unique and compelling storyline with an allegorical style that I. ABSOLUTELY. LOVED. It was beautiful to read and filled with some great truths about life, God, and finding our purpose in life. With mystery, intrigue, and a light sweet romance woven into every page.
Carya and Brantley are some of the sweetest characters I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Carya is strong, passionate, and eager to learn what the Maker has for her to do. Brentley is also strong, caring, and an adventurous planner
After hearing so many good things about Hidden Current I knew I had to read Forsaken Island, and I am so glad I did. Sharon Hinck’s style is like that of C. S. Lewis, and J.R. Tolkien. She has such a unique and compelling storyline with an allegorical style that I. ABSOLUTELY. LOVED. It was beautiful to read and filled with some great truths about life, God, and finding our purpose in life. With mystery, intrigue, and a light sweet romance woven into every page.
Carya and Brantley are some of the sweetest characters I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Carya is strong, passionate, and eager to learn what the Maker has for her to do. Brentley is also strong, caring, and an adventurous planner
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Onward (2020) in Movies
Dec 19, 2020
I'll keep this one relatively short - Onward is fucking delightful. It's brimming with charm, it's emotionally exhausting, it's full of colour.
It feels different for Pixar. The opening scenes feel more like a Dreamworks effort, but it's not long before the studio's signature stamp is prominent. The narrative is imaginative, and emotionally draining. I'm a goddam grown man and I 100% was welling up on multiple occasions. I'm a big brother who has always hoped that my younger brother looks up to me, and I frequently feel that I don't always get it right, so this screenplay really got me. Right in the feels.
It also happens to have a damn fine voice cast just to seal the deal.
Onward is genuinely brilliant. Seeing Pixar's take on the realm of Tolkien-esque fantasy is wonderful, and it deserves to stand up with the studio's very best productions. Now excuse me whilst I go and cry into a pillow.
It feels different for Pixar. The opening scenes feel more like a Dreamworks effort, but it's not long before the studio's signature stamp is prominent. The narrative is imaginative, and emotionally draining. I'm a goddam grown man and I 100% was welling up on multiple occasions. I'm a big brother who has always hoped that my younger brother looks up to me, and I frequently feel that I don't always get it right, so this screenplay really got me. Right in the feels.
It also happens to have a damn fine voice cast just to seal the deal.
Onward is genuinely brilliant. Seeing Pixar's take on the realm of Tolkien-esque fantasy is wonderful, and it deserves to stand up with the studio's very best productions. Now excuse me whilst I go and cry into a pillow.