The Verderer (Pitch & Sickle #2)
8.0
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Silas Mercer is a dead man walking. And the mysterious Order of the Golden Dawn have big plans for...
MM Historical Gaslamp Fantasy
Stone of Shadows
Book
In the slums of Gereon, sixteen-year-old Will struggles to survive and keep food on the table for...
Fantasy Romance Novella MM
Debbiereadsbook (1788 KP) rated The Vampire's Curse (Beyond The Mist #1) in Books
Apr 13, 2022
This is the first book in the Beyond The Mist series, and as such lays down the ground work, the background into these vampires and how they came to be.
I enjoyed it, I did. It didn't blow me away, but it's left me intrigued enough to want to continue on with the series.
Not least because there are a whole host of characters we meet here who now need their stories. Korinna, especially and Roman, I think, needs a happy ever after. Andrei's brothers too.
Some smexy times, some violence, some darker themes. Vampires who shift! I liked that, it's different.
All in all, a good read, for me, but not a great one.
so, 3 stars, but I will continue with the series.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Echo Man in Books
Apr 28, 2022
With excellent characters, an engrossing story line and a plot with twists that at least one of which I didn't see coming, this is a great read however, be warned, there is a lot of violence and gore from the beginning but, to be honest, that's to be expected given it's about serial killers although it may be a bit much for some.
This is a great debut and I will certainly be looking out for more by this author in the future and I have no hesitation recommending to lovers of this genre.
My thanks go to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Local Gone Missing
8.0
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Everyone watches their neighbours. Elise King moves into the sleepy seaside town of Ebbing....
Muskets and Minuets (Muskets Trilogy #1)
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Love. Politics. War. Amidst mounting tensions between the British crown and the American...
Young Adult Historical Fiction
His Lordship's Gift (His Lordship’s Mysteries #2.5)
8.0
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Dominick has everything he needs in life—a roof over his head, food in his belly, and the man he...
MM Historical Mystery Romance Short Story
Everything Changes (Two Tribes #2)
8.0
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Fear can open doors we never dreamt possible. Shaun Moseley is in a trap and it's all his...
Contemporary MM Romance Gangster Action Close Proximity
ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Woman on the Bridge in Books
May 29, 2023
It’s the 1920’s and Ireland is fighting for its independence. There’s so much going on in this story: the fight for Irelands independence; domestic violence; poverty; tuberculosis; women’s rights; emigration of the Irish to the USA and other European countries.
Winifred O’Leary is a strong woman who wants to be independent, both as a woman and as an Irish woman. The book doesn’t go too much into the ins and outs of the political situation, but I’ve certainly learnt more about what went on during this time. It was a hard time to be living in.
Winnie’s husband certainly experiences a lot of this hardship. He’s imprisoned for his actions with his fellow freedom fighters.
This is a love story as well as a story about the politics at the time. I really enjoyed it and I realise that it was first and foremost a love story - and an enjoyable one at that!
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated The Suicide Squad (2021) in Movies
Aug 10, 2021
Positives:
- "From the horribly beautiful mind of James Gunn" gushes the trailer. But in this case, they ain't kidding. The film is (at times) hugely inventive in its visual gags as well as its dialogue. On the DC/Marvel superhero spectrum, this is right up at the "Ragnarok" end in terms of comedy value. It made me guffaw a good dozen times.
- To match that, the action scenes are suitably ludicrous and over-the-top. They feature the most "out there" big-boss since Mr Stay Puft terrorised New York in the original "Ghostbusters"!
- All the cast seem to be having a blast, which carries you, as the audience, along with the fun. Both Viola Davis and Idris Elba add real gravitas at the middle of it all, but Robbie's reprise of Harley Quinn tends to get all the best lines and the most memorable sequences. Her petal-strewn decimation of a platoon of security guards is something to behold.
- But of the lesser-known names, it's Daniela Melchior who really stood out for me as Cleo Cazo - Ratcatcher 2. This appears to be the first non-Portuguese feature she's done, and a great future beckons I think. Such extraordinary screen presence! Loved her character too: a "millennial" who sleeps in and questions what an OHP is!
- Great music choices, as you would expect from the "Guardians of the Galaxy" guy.
Negatives:
- Like Polka-Dot's mum, the comedy style is all over the place! (You have to have watched the movie to understand that gag!). I guess that's true of any comedy, but a number of the jokes feel contrived and didn't fully land.
- There is just so much gratuitous violence in this one that I am frankly amazed that the BBFC awarded it only a UK "15" certificate (this is my second query in a row to the BBFC - they need to employ me!). I reckon this will prove to have the highest body count of any movie in 2021. It's all done in a comic-book style, but when "Army of the Dead" (review still to follow) gets an "18", I'm not quite sure why this is much different.
Summary Thoughts on "The Suicide Squad": I'd mentally set myself up to really hate this one. But the opposite turned out to be true. As a comedy it made me laugh like a drain at times, and although some of the violence went somewhat over the top for me, I thought it to be a fine summer popcorn blockbuster (but very much for adults).
(For the full graphical review, please check out One Mann's Movies on the web, Facebook and Tiktok. Thanks).
