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Flights of Fancy: Birds in Myth, Legend and Superstition
Book
Did you know that Barnacle geese were once classified as fish? That both the Cherokees and the...
Merissa (12897 KP) rated Wicked Night (A Warrior's Promise #1) in Books
Aug 7, 2020
Wicked Night is the first book in The Warrior's Promise series and we meet Gwen, who is half vampire. Although she comes from a wealthy family, she is not the usual spoilt little rich girl. Wicked is in line to be the next King and has agreed to take Gwen as his charge as a favour to her father (who we don't get to meet in this book.)
Gwen is a good character for the most part. She doesn't allow unnecessary miscommunication to blow out of proportion (too much) but she is a hot-head and allows her anger to run away with her at times. Wicked wants Gwen but doesn't want to act on it, which means he is stupid until he sorts it out!
This is a long book which is good because it allows you to delve into the characters' lives. However, I would say there are parts where this book could be tightened up. Some parts seem repetitive and, for saying it is a long book, Gwen hasn't even gone through her change when the book finishes. It will be interesting to see if things 'speed up' a bit in the next book without losing any of the quality.
This storyline did remind me of the Black Dagger Brotherhood which is not a bad thing, just an observation. All in all, this was a very enjoyable book and I can't wait to see what happens next.
* 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!
Gwen is a good character for the most part. She doesn't allow unnecessary miscommunication to blow out of proportion (too much) but she is a hot-head and allows her anger to run away with her at times. Wicked wants Gwen but doesn't want to act on it, which means he is stupid until he sorts it out!
This is a long book which is good because it allows you to delve into the characters' lives. However, I would say there are parts where this book could be tightened up. Some parts seem repetitive and, for saying it is a long book, Gwen hasn't even gone through her change when the book finishes. It will be interesting to see if things 'speed up' a bit in the next book without losing any of the quality.
This storyline did remind me of the Black Dagger Brotherhood which is not a bad thing, just an observation. All in all, this was a very enjoyable book and I can't wait to see what happens next.
* 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!
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Look Away (2018) in Movies
Sep 1, 2020
Maria appears to be a bit of a loner and very quiet with low self confidence and no friends. Fairly soon into the movie, whilst pleasuring herself (which I thought made no sense to have in the movie) she notices her reflection is seemingly alive. This freaks her out but she brushes it off and goes about her life. Eventually her reflection Airam calls out to her and they engage in conversation, nothing overly interesting and Maria goes about her life again, by this time I was ready to give up on the movie as nothing interesting was happening. There are a few more exchanges between Maria and Airam, and we soon discover just how controlling Maria's dad is when he offers her plastic surgery! Seriously, who does that to their child!? Eventually Airam makes Maria realise what the people in her life are really like and offers to take away her pain. Finally after almost an hour into the movie, the main plot of the story happens. Maria and Airam switch places, and Airam seeks revenge on all who hurt Maria.
It wasn't a terrible film, it just took way too long to start properly. you kind of route for Airam and understand why she does the things she does, to be honest I did feel sorry for her. At the same time though there's not much to go on. We know Airam was left to die because of her deformity, but I was hoping for an explanation from their dad, or for mum to realise it wasn't Maria anymore, but again nothing whatsoever and the ending gave more questions than answers.
It wasn't a terrible film, it just took way too long to start properly. you kind of route for Airam and understand why she does the things she does, to be honest I did feel sorry for her. At the same time though there's not much to go on. We know Airam was left to die because of her deformity, but I was hoping for an explanation from their dad, or for mum to realise it wasn't Maria anymore, but again nothing whatsoever and the ending gave more questions than answers.
The Dream Keepers (The Powers That Be #1)
Book
This World is just one of thousands of Worlds the Makers have created. The Universe and Makers are...
New Adult Paranormal Romance
Book Mate
8.0
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Book
I’d had a hard start in life, but now things were finally going my way. That is until the front...
Contemporary Time Travel Erotica Interracial
The Storyteller of Auschwitz
9.0
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Book
Auschwitz, 1942. ‘When this is all over, you will be able to tell the world what they did to...
Merissa (12897 KP) rated The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees #1) in Books
Mar 17, 2022 (Updated Jul 3, 2023)
THE TROUBLE WITH TRYING TO DATE A MURDERER is the first book in a new series by Jennifer Cody, Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees.
Told from Romily's point of view, we find out he had his vocal cords removed as a child, and lived through two mass murder attempts. For someone who is mute, he has a lot to say! And he manages just fine - so long as he has his trust mobile phone to hand, plus his attitude - he is able to get his meaning across.
I wasn't too sure about reading this book as Rom-Com isn't really my thing, due to the very personal nature of humour. However, I would say that Ms Cody has pulled this off brilliantly. The story keeps moving along, helped by Romily's sass, and you will be swept away by it.
I do wish it had had more in the way of world-building and relationship-building. The world wasn't so hard because I just simply saw it as contemporary and that was it. But I do like some build-up to the relationship side. I read more about who and what a Harbinger is and does than I did about how Romily and Fox went from being attracted to so much more.
Still, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, wacky, crazy book that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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!
Mar 10, 2022
Told from Romily's point of view, we find out he had his vocal cords removed as a child, and lived through two mass murder attempts. For someone who is mute, he has a lot to say! And he manages just fine - so long as he has his trust mobile phone to hand, plus his attitude - he is able to get his meaning across.
I wasn't too sure about reading this book as Rom-Com isn't really my thing, due to the very personal nature of humour. However, I would say that Ms Cody has pulled this off brilliantly. The story keeps moving along, helped by Romily's sass, and you will be swept away by it.
I do wish it had had more in the way of world-building and relationship-building. The world wasn't so hard because I just simply saw it as contemporary and that was it. But I do like some build-up to the relationship side. I read more about who and what a Harbinger is and does than I did about how Romily and Fox went from being attracted to so much more.
Still, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, wacky, crazy book that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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!
Mar 10, 2022
Merissa (12897 KP) rated Broken Silence (Rock Bottom #1) in Books
Jun 23, 2025
BROKEN SILENCE is the first book in the Rock Bottom series, and features Foster Harding as the forty-two-year-old poetry Professor, and Justin Molina as the 25-year-old prison convict trying to turn his life around. Told from both their perspectives, this is a slow-burn, forbidden (due to the timing) romance between two opposite people.
I enjoyed this story and finding out about Justin's past, what he had done, and why. I also enjoyed learning about Foster. As a couple, though, these two confused me. Yes, they work together, the attraction was instantaneous, as was them both fighting it, BUT I didn't get the constantly changing attitude from Justin about people finding out. He is terrified of Carolyn finding out that he and Foster are together, but when she sees his coat and backpack on the floor, just after she's had a conversation with Foster finally finding someone and moving on with his life, Justin gets all blasé about it, saying there's nothing to be worried about. THEN he gets all nervous again when he sees her in the library. This just didn't work for me, and I hated the back and forth that came about because of it.
With a great cast of supporting characters, I did enjoy this story and look forward to reading more in this series. If you don't mind the changing attitude, then I definitely RECOMMEND this book.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 23, 2025
I enjoyed this story and finding out about Justin's past, what he had done, and why. I also enjoyed learning about Foster. As a couple, though, these two confused me. Yes, they work together, the attraction was instantaneous, as was them both fighting it, BUT I didn't get the constantly changing attitude from Justin about people finding out. He is terrified of Carolyn finding out that he and Foster are together, but when she sees his coat and backpack on the floor, just after she's had a conversation with Foster finally finding someone and moving on with his life, Justin gets all blasé about it, saying there's nothing to be worried about. THEN he gets all nervous again when he sees her in the library. This just didn't work for me, and I hated the back and forth that came about because of it.
With a great cast of supporting characters, I did enjoy this story and look forward to reading more in this series. If you don't mind the changing attitude, then I definitely RECOMMEND this book.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 23, 2025
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Dark Souls Remastered in Video Games
Aug 14, 2019
I admit it, I never was able to beat the original Dark Souls when it was released on Xbox 360 and PS3 back in 2011. A PC port of the game was also released but had limited 30FPS and clearly hadn’t taken mouse and keyboard controls into account. The game was difficult, but I’m the type of player who’s happy to replay an area on a level multiple times, however if I get to a point where I don’t feel like I’m making progress, it’s usually on to the next game for me. That being said, I do love the Dark Souls games, regardless of how difficult they are and how horrible I am at them. I love the atmosphere, I love the weight of your armor and weapons, I love the scenery, and at times I even love the challenge. This isn’t a review specifically about Dark Souls however, as the gameplay hasn’t changed at all from the original (DLC’s included of course), but rather a review of whether the remastered version is the definitive version that folks should play.
For those of you who have led a sheltered life, Dark Souls is a third-person action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware. It was the successor to their previous game Demon Souls (which was a PS3 exclusive) and carried over much of the game mechanics. The game takes place in what I call a semi-open world environment connected to a central area. You are free to travel to and from areas at will, although some areas will be inaccessible until you complete specific tasks. Bonfires act as checkpoints for each level, and at a bonfire the player can heal, refill their healing flasks, and level up if they have collected enough souls to do so. The downside to resting at a bonfire is that it resets the enemies, so areas that you worked hard to clear out must be cleared out again. The game is lauded for its difficulty, and for players to learn from previous mistakes to overcome obstacles, present company excluded of course.
The release of Dark Souls Remastered was an effort to address many of the shortcomings of the original from a purely control and aesthetic point of view. I was lucky enough to review the game on my Xbox One X and the new 4K visuals and lighting effects are truly a site to behold. The world while still dark and dreary, now boasted cleaner lines. While it’s difficult to describe how good it looks (there are plenty of websites dedicated to comparing pictures between the original HD version and the new 4K version) it is absolutely noticeable. The textures no longer look muddy, and the creatures almost pop off the screen. This IS the definitive version if you are looking for the absolute best console version of the original Dark Souls game out there.
While folks may balk at the need for 60FPS on a game that was clearly playable at 30FPS, it does make a noticeable difference. Your character responds more fluidly and there is never any perceivable stutter. When a game’s FPS drops below 30FPS as it did in various areas of the original, it can have a horrible affect on the player and lead to some unnecessary deaths. While many will argue about the ability to distinguish between 60FPS and 30FPS, there is no denying that consistent frame rates in this game can literally mean the difference between life and death. This is not an issue with the remastered version as there were not discernable drops in FPS in even the most crowded of areas.
This leads to what you are probably reading this review for…is it worth the price of admission? If you have never played Dark Souls before, then this is absolutely the version you should purchase. Not only are the FPS and visuals greatly improved, but it includes all the DLC from the previous version as well. If you have played it before but are interested in going through it again, then I certainly would play through this version as the graphics and frame rates make it well worth your time. If you have no desire to replay the game, or if it didn’t appeal to you the first time around, then there is little reason to pick it up. While there are notable visual improvements, there is no additional content (outside the DLC) or any changes to the game mechanics themselves to warrant a replay.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this review the original version came out in 2011 and I’ve had seven years of playing numerous other games under my belt to go back and best the enemies that lie within. So, with the much-improved graphics and smoother gameplay was I able to beat Dark Souls this time??? Well sadly no, apparently I still haven’t improved enough over the years to beat this game (and while I have Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III, I haven’t beaten those game either). I was able to play through most of the levels to see how the visuals had improved, but the same bosses still took no pity on me. Maybe another seven years of practice will make all the difference, until then maybe I’ll go back for one more try.
Pros: Smooth 60FPS, Incredible 4K visuals, Smoother game control
Cons: Still too tough for me, Lacking additional content
For those of you who have led a sheltered life, Dark Souls is a third-person action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware. It was the successor to their previous game Demon Souls (which was a PS3 exclusive) and carried over much of the game mechanics. The game takes place in what I call a semi-open world environment connected to a central area. You are free to travel to and from areas at will, although some areas will be inaccessible until you complete specific tasks. Bonfires act as checkpoints for each level, and at a bonfire the player can heal, refill their healing flasks, and level up if they have collected enough souls to do so. The downside to resting at a bonfire is that it resets the enemies, so areas that you worked hard to clear out must be cleared out again. The game is lauded for its difficulty, and for players to learn from previous mistakes to overcome obstacles, present company excluded of course.
The release of Dark Souls Remastered was an effort to address many of the shortcomings of the original from a purely control and aesthetic point of view. I was lucky enough to review the game on my Xbox One X and the new 4K visuals and lighting effects are truly a site to behold. The world while still dark and dreary, now boasted cleaner lines. While it’s difficult to describe how good it looks (there are plenty of websites dedicated to comparing pictures between the original HD version and the new 4K version) it is absolutely noticeable. The textures no longer look muddy, and the creatures almost pop off the screen. This IS the definitive version if you are looking for the absolute best console version of the original Dark Souls game out there.
While folks may balk at the need for 60FPS on a game that was clearly playable at 30FPS, it does make a noticeable difference. Your character responds more fluidly and there is never any perceivable stutter. When a game’s FPS drops below 30FPS as it did in various areas of the original, it can have a horrible affect on the player and lead to some unnecessary deaths. While many will argue about the ability to distinguish between 60FPS and 30FPS, there is no denying that consistent frame rates in this game can literally mean the difference between life and death. This is not an issue with the remastered version as there were not discernable drops in FPS in even the most crowded of areas.
This leads to what you are probably reading this review for…is it worth the price of admission? If you have never played Dark Souls before, then this is absolutely the version you should purchase. Not only are the FPS and visuals greatly improved, but it includes all the DLC from the previous version as well. If you have played it before but are interested in going through it again, then I certainly would play through this version as the graphics and frame rates make it well worth your time. If you have no desire to replay the game, or if it didn’t appeal to you the first time around, then there is little reason to pick it up. While there are notable visual improvements, there is no additional content (outside the DLC) or any changes to the game mechanics themselves to warrant a replay.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this review the original version came out in 2011 and I’ve had seven years of playing numerous other games under my belt to go back and best the enemies that lie within. So, with the much-improved graphics and smoother gameplay was I able to beat Dark Souls this time??? Well sadly no, apparently I still haven’t improved enough over the years to beat this game (and while I have Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III, I haven’t beaten those game either). I was able to play through most of the levels to see how the visuals had improved, but the same bosses still took no pity on me. Maybe another seven years of practice will make all the difference, until then maybe I’ll go back for one more try.
Pros: Smooth 60FPS, Incredible 4K visuals, Smoother game control
Cons: Still too tough for me, Lacking additional content
Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Tetris: The Card Game in Tabletop Games
Jul 2, 2020
One of the first video games I can remember playing is Tetris. The colorful Tetrominoes, the catchy theme music, the excitement (and anxiety!) as the speed gradually increases – what isn’t there to love? Tetris is an addicting game that has withstood the test of time, so I was extremely excited when I was gifted Tetris: The Card Game. Does the card version have a foothold in the Tetris fandom? Or does it fail to complete any rows in the matrix? (Haha, see what I did there?)
Tetris: The Card Game is a game of hand management and pattern recognition in which players are racing to be the first to earn 10 points. Setup is simple – shuffle the entire deck of cards, and deal 10 to each player. The cards are double-sided, with one side depicting a Tetris Matrix, and the other depicting a specific Tetromino. Arrange your cards in a 2×5 grid, with the Tetromino side facing up. This grid will act as your personal scoring track. Place the remaining cards, Matrix-side up, in a draw deck in the center of the table. Deal 1 additional card to each player, to go in hand, and the game is ready to begin! You will be using your hand of cards, Tetromino side, to complete the Matrix side of the top card of the draw deck.
A round of play is pretty straight-forward: draw one card, play one card. At the start of your turn, draw the top card from the draw deck. This will reveal a new Matrix on the next card of the draw pile. Choose one of your two cards in hand to complete at least 1 row in the revealed Matrix. Play the card, showing your opponents how it would fit into the Matrix, and score points. You score 1 point per row completed, so if your piece completes 2 rows, you would score 2 points. To track your points, you flip over cards in your 2×5 grid to their Matrix sides, to represent your scored points. If on your turn, you are unable to complete a Matrix line with either of your cards in hand, you must discard one card, and are also penalized by having to forfeit one of your earned points, flipping that card back to its Tetromino side. There are also a handful of Special cards that can be used to manipulate play, whether Reversing the play direction, or forcing a player to lose a point, and that adds a new little twist to the game. The game ends when one player has scored all 10 points and is declared the winner!
Probably the best things about Tetris: The Card Game, is that it is so simple to learn and play. The simplicity brings back the nostalgia of the original game to the extreme. It’s a super light game that can be used as a filler/palate cleanser between bigger games, or just as a game to toss on the table when you’ve got 5 free minutes. Another added bonus of its simplicity is that it is pretty friendly for younger/newer gamers. Looking to get your young’uns into the hobby, or just spreading some happiness with friends and colleagues? This is a good introductory game that is light-hearted, although not a complete brain burner.
Now, on the flip side, there are some drawbacks to this game. The first and biggest being that it is entirely based upon the luck of the draw. There is pretty much no strategy involved, because you are at the mercy of the draw deck. You really can’t set up a game strategy that can be adapted throughout a play because the game is so dependent upon luck. Depending on the current Matrix in play, certain Tetrominos could not be used at all to complete a row, so you end up having to burn a turn (and losing a point) to discard a card. And then you have to hope for the best next turn. Another drawback of this version of Tetris is the hand limit of 2 cards. That severely limits your options each turn, and can turn the game from light-hearted to frustrating because of a lack of choices. This hand limit also limits any strategic options. Certain Matrices can only be completed by certain Tetrominos, so unless you have those in hand, you’re stuck wasting a turn. The Special cards included in the game add a twist to the gameplay, but are a little too ‘take that’ for my taste. But without them, there is no player interaction at all. So it’s kind of a lose-lose situation for me in that regard.
Ultimately, I would say that the OG Tetris is still king. This game attempts to encompass the atmosphere and enjoyability of the video game, but it just falls flat for me. It is too dependent upon luck, and doesn’t offer enough strategic choices for players, so it ends up feeling bland and unengaging. Am I happy with this game? Honestly, no. But playing this with the right group of people could still result in some entertainment and good times. If luck-based games are your thing, then definitely consider this game. But if not, let OG Tetris be your go-to game to fulfill your tile-dropping, row-completing urges. Purple Phoenix Games gives Tetris: The Card Game a blocky 4 / 12.
Tetris: The Card Game is a game of hand management and pattern recognition in which players are racing to be the first to earn 10 points. Setup is simple – shuffle the entire deck of cards, and deal 10 to each player. The cards are double-sided, with one side depicting a Tetris Matrix, and the other depicting a specific Tetromino. Arrange your cards in a 2×5 grid, with the Tetromino side facing up. This grid will act as your personal scoring track. Place the remaining cards, Matrix-side up, in a draw deck in the center of the table. Deal 1 additional card to each player, to go in hand, and the game is ready to begin! You will be using your hand of cards, Tetromino side, to complete the Matrix side of the top card of the draw deck.
A round of play is pretty straight-forward: draw one card, play one card. At the start of your turn, draw the top card from the draw deck. This will reveal a new Matrix on the next card of the draw pile. Choose one of your two cards in hand to complete at least 1 row in the revealed Matrix. Play the card, showing your opponents how it would fit into the Matrix, and score points. You score 1 point per row completed, so if your piece completes 2 rows, you would score 2 points. To track your points, you flip over cards in your 2×5 grid to their Matrix sides, to represent your scored points. If on your turn, you are unable to complete a Matrix line with either of your cards in hand, you must discard one card, and are also penalized by having to forfeit one of your earned points, flipping that card back to its Tetromino side. There are also a handful of Special cards that can be used to manipulate play, whether Reversing the play direction, or forcing a player to lose a point, and that adds a new little twist to the game. The game ends when one player has scored all 10 points and is declared the winner!
Probably the best things about Tetris: The Card Game, is that it is so simple to learn and play. The simplicity brings back the nostalgia of the original game to the extreme. It’s a super light game that can be used as a filler/palate cleanser between bigger games, or just as a game to toss on the table when you’ve got 5 free minutes. Another added bonus of its simplicity is that it is pretty friendly for younger/newer gamers. Looking to get your young’uns into the hobby, or just spreading some happiness with friends and colleagues? This is a good introductory game that is light-hearted, although not a complete brain burner.
Now, on the flip side, there are some drawbacks to this game. The first and biggest being that it is entirely based upon the luck of the draw. There is pretty much no strategy involved, because you are at the mercy of the draw deck. You really can’t set up a game strategy that can be adapted throughout a play because the game is so dependent upon luck. Depending on the current Matrix in play, certain Tetrominos could not be used at all to complete a row, so you end up having to burn a turn (and losing a point) to discard a card. And then you have to hope for the best next turn. Another drawback of this version of Tetris is the hand limit of 2 cards. That severely limits your options each turn, and can turn the game from light-hearted to frustrating because of a lack of choices. This hand limit also limits any strategic options. Certain Matrices can only be completed by certain Tetrominos, so unless you have those in hand, you’re stuck wasting a turn. The Special cards included in the game add a twist to the gameplay, but are a little too ‘take that’ for my taste. But without them, there is no player interaction at all. So it’s kind of a lose-lose situation for me in that regard.
Ultimately, I would say that the OG Tetris is still king. This game attempts to encompass the atmosphere and enjoyability of the video game, but it just falls flat for me. It is too dependent upon luck, and doesn’t offer enough strategic choices for players, so it ends up feeling bland and unengaging. Am I happy with this game? Honestly, no. But playing this with the right group of people could still result in some entertainment and good times. If luck-based games are your thing, then definitely consider this game. But if not, let OG Tetris be your go-to game to fulfill your tile-dropping, row-completing urges. Purple Phoenix Games gives Tetris: The Card Game a blocky 4 / 12.
