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Merissa (12363 KP) rated Pass (Shattered Pawns #1) in Books

May 21, 2021 (Updated Jul 26, 2023)  
Pass (Shattered Pawns #1)
Pass (Shattered Pawns #1)
Jennifer Cody | 2021 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
PASS is the first book in the spin-off series Shattered Pawns that follows on from The Diviner's Game. Although this is the start of a brand new story, it does follow characters and situations from the previous trilogy, so I would absolutely recommend you read that one first!

Right then, onto Pass. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I adored seeing old favourites and learning how they are getting on. And meeting new ones for the first time - I looking at you, Anni! The story is compelling and moves along at a fair pace, keeping the reader's attention from the first word to the very last. So why only 4-stars, I hear you ask. Let me tell you.

Tio - Auggie - Luca

Although the scenes with them were incredibly well written, I just didn't connect with them. Auggie was probably the closest I got. Tio drove me insane 99.9% of the time, and Luca just accepted EVERYTHING! I mean, really? I know I'm going to be in the minority with this, but it is my opinion.

On the whole, though, this was a brilliant story. I want more from Qis and Monet, plus Anni and Charon. I honestly can't wait to see where Ms Cody will take me next. Just because I didn't connect with these characters doesn't mean I don't want more - from either the series or the author!

4-stars is still a 'very good' rating so I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book but, once again, I would recommend you read the previous trilogy first.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* 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!
May 21, 2021
  
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Merissa (12363 KP) rated Shadow Guardian (Blood Shadows #1) in Books

Feb 4, 2022 (Updated Jul 3, 2023)  
Shadow Guardian (Blood Shadows #1)
Shadow Guardian (Blood Shadows #1)
Jennie Lynn Roberts | 2022 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
SHADOW GUARDIAN is the first book in the Blood Shadows trilogy and I may have just found a new trilogy to crush over!!!! We have fated mates, a secret society with secrets galore, the wilds of Wales, betrayal, treachery, druids, and did I mention Wales? It's here, it's all here, and it's bloody brilliant.

I won't even bother doing a run-down of the story. I know I'd miss something out accidentally. This is a fast-paced, intricate and intriguing story that lets you absorb all the details as you go along. I never felt like I was being rushed, but I also couldn't wait to see what happened next.

The characters and world-building are of the extremely high standard I have come to associate with this author but put into a contemporary paranormal setting rather than fantasy. Kay is a strong female protagonist who, yes, has her own battles to overcome, but will fight instead of waiting for rescue. And I adored how she turned Ethan down. (Read it; you'll know the bit I mean.) She let him know exactly how she felt, and how his words had hurt her, and I loved that. Don't get me wrong, I want the HEA but, sometimes - just sometimes - the men need to work a little harder for, you know what I mean?!

All in all, it was an outstanding read that I devoured in one sitting. Sheer brilliance and I can't wait for Zach's story. Highly recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* 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!y/i>
Feb 4, 2022
  
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix (1999)
1999 | Action, Sci-Fi
Do you remember the first time you saw this?
I think for a lot of people, The Matrix was one of their very first DVD purchases as it was once of the first major releases that sold extremely well.

Having recently upgraded my original DVD to a Matrix trilogy Blu Ray collection, I was anxious to give the film another viewing. Boy was I not disappointed.

Citing the obvious breakthrough visual effects as a marvel at the time for their truly unique vision, the story and ideas presented in the film are still really what stands out. The riveting thought-provoking vision and cinematic experience of watching the original Matrix film are still a unique experience and one which is tough to beat.

Say what you want about the sequels, the original film is still a masterpiece.
  
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Lee Ann (116 KP) May 25, 2018

There is no spoon!

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Kyle King (18 KP) Feb 16, 2019

Everybody wanted a "matrix phone"

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2001 | Adventure, Fantasy
One of the most successful movie franchises of all time, McKellen played yet another iconic character in Gandalf. This wise wizard was a mainstay in the series and became a fan favourite thanks to his brilliant line-delivery and magical abilities.

McKellen was also asked to audition for the part of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series but declined after suggesting he’d had enough of wizards. He did of course return to the role of Gandalf in the Hobbit trilogy that ran from 2012 to 2014.

A supremely talented man who clearly still has a long and bright career ahead of him. Happy birthday Sir Ian McKellen, thank you for bringing so many amazing characters to the big screen! What are your favourite Ian McKellen performances?

https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/05/25/top-5-ian-mckellen-performances/
  
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CKD (37 KP) rated Still Me in Books

Dec 7, 2018  
Still Me
Still Me
Jojo Moyes | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance
10
8.7 (31 Ratings)
Book Rating
Full Disclosure - this was an unedited, pre-release Goodreads win.

This is book 3 in the "Me Before You" trilogy. Not sure if there will be another one in the series. This book picks up Louisa's (Lou) story after she stops caring for Will Traynor and dealing with her emotions and feelings afterward. It continues with her relationships built from the previous book, "After You". In this book, Louisa reunites with Nate in New York working for a wealthy family as an assistant to the wife. She discovers that, while this life in NY is totally different than her life in England, she really enjoys it but misses home and her family. She is seeing everyone around her (both in NY and England) moving on with their lives and, by the end of the book, it is her time to move on.
  
How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea
How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea
Mira Grant | 2013 | Dystopia, Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Hilarious (0 more)
Description from Mira Grant's website: Post-Rising Australia can be a dangerous place, especially if you’re a member of the government-sponsored Australia Conservation Corps, a group of people dedicated to preserving their continent’s natural wealth until a cure can be found. Between the zombie kangaroos at the fences and the zombie elephant seals turning the penguin rookery at Prince Phillip Island into a slaughterhouse, the work of an animal conservationist is truly never done–and is often done at the end of a sniper rifle.

This novella is part of the newsflesh trilogy and explores how Australia would deal with a zombie outbreak. The answer is they would not bat an eyelid. This book is hilarious, well written and we get more of an insight into Mahir as he investigate's a story in Australia.
  
Last Human (Red Dwarf #3)
Last Human (Red Dwarf #3)
Doug Naylor | 1995 | Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy
4
7.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
The third and, unfortunately, least of the 4 <i>Red Dwarf</I> books, I actually read this one last, thinking it was book 4 of 4.

Written by Doug Naylor (who co-wrote the first 2 booms with Rob Grant), this follows an all-new plot with certain scenes lifted from the TV show on which it is based. Unfortunately, it fails to capture the humour of the show, with most of the 'funny' bits falling flat.

Both this and the next book (<I>Backwards</I> by Rob Grant) are perhaps best viewed as alternate third books in a trilogy: if that is the case, <I>Backwards</I> is the better of the two, even if neither of the two books in question live up to the first two. In short, the whole (Grant Naylor) is better than the sum of the parts!
  
Prince of Darkness (1987)
Prince of Darkness (1987)
1987 | Horror
6
7.3 (6 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A underrated horror film
Contains spoilers, click to show
Prince of darkness- is a underrated horror film directed by john carpenter and stars donald pleasences.

the film is the second installment in what Carpenter calls his "Apocalypse Trilogy", which began with The Thing (1982) and concludes with In the Mouth of Madness (1995).

The film is about cellar, a priest finds an otherworldly vial filled with slime. Frightened, he brings his discovery to a circle of top scholars and scientists, who eventually learn that the strange liquid is the essence of Satan. The slime then begins to seep out, turning some of the academics into zombified killers. As the possessed battle the survivors, student Kelly is infected by a large quantity of the liquid and becomes Satan personified.

It has supernatural elements, psychological elements and horror elements.

Its underreated and i think more people should watch it.
  
Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, #4)
Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, #4)
Karen Chance | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry
Curse the Dawn balances serious action with a very funny Freaky Friday style hijinks. However, such adventures are not just for kicks, and actually help to further the plot of other major characters.

The stakes are higher in book 4, with a God on Cassie's tail. At one point, quite literally. But when I look back over the books, I can't get over my love of book 3 enough and book 4 seems lacking in comparison.

Not that it is a bad book. Quite the opposite. Curse the Dawn is a necessary book in the series. It takes the series to a higher level. It's the start of a new arc for Cassie. We've had the trilogy of her finding herself, and now this starts her journey to find her power and place in the world. I can't wait for more.
  
Captain Ingram's Inheritance follows on from the two previous stories in this trilogy, Miss Jacobson's Journey and Lord Roworth's Reward. They are Regency romances in the traditional vein, but a bit more tongue in cheek than someone like Georgette Heyer. The best comparison would probably be with some of the Regency stories written by MC Beaton - if you like them, you'll love these.

English readers may know Carola Dunn from her Daisy Dalrymple books, but she is originally English and has written a fair number of regencies. It looks like most have only been published in the US, although they are available on Amazon as Kindle editions.

The three books are very much related and should be read in order to give you the bigger picture; this book and the previous volume very much cross over, almost like one story.