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ClareR (5674 KP) rated Wolfsong in Books

Aug 26, 2023  
Wolfsong
Wolfsong
TJ Klune | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well, this was an interesting one. I went in with a “well, I like werewolf stories, so let’s give this a go”, and finished thinking “ok, you should all probably go and read this now!”

It’s about found family, loyalty, love, grief and healing.

Oxnard (Ox) narrates the story about how he meets a young boy who has moved into the house at the bottom of his remote country lane. They form a close friendship very quickly, and the boy (Joe) gives Ox a small stone Wolf as a gift. The true nature of the gift isn’t clear for a few years, and in that time Ox learns just who and what the Bennett family are. He goes from believing he’s stupid and worthless, to being an important, integral member of the Bennett pack - a family of werewolves.

Something terrible happens, and the family fragments in two: whilst one half (including Joe) go off on an arduous adventure, Ox remains behind to protect who is left along with the Bennett territory.

This does get pretty graphically violent, I’ll warn you now, but it’s in context - and these are wolves!

I was utterly beguiled by this story - and I’m glad that I have the next in the series to head to already! I’d like to know how Ox and Joe are getting on as newly mated wolves - and who we’ll learn more about in the next book, Ravensong (I have my suspicions!).
  
The Alpha Prince (Kingdom of Askara #3)
The Alpha Prince (Kingdom of Askara #3)
Victoria Sue, Michael Pauley (narrator) | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Absolutely the best one of three!
*Audible purchased, Jan 2020*

This is book 3, the final book, in the Kingdom of Askara trilogy. You don't NEED the other two books for this to make sense, but I personally think it would help a great deal. Just what I think, some others may say you need them. Luca and Kitt (The Alpha King) do pop up, near the end, though and it was fun to catch up with them both.

I said in my review of The Alpha Heir that THAT book was my favourite of the two, and that I had this one to listen to, and would probaby change my mind. Guess what?

THIS one is my favourite of the three!

Justice is descended from the wolves sent out into the desert to die for their crimes. Many generations later, and the desert can no longer keep their population alive. Justice doesn't want to leave, but he must, for his people. The Games that the evil alpha, Darius, in a close by pack organises is a perfect way to execute the plan that Justice has been years in the making, and alos to take down said evil alpha. Finding the prize of the games is the son of Darius, puts Justice on edge. He shouldn't be selling his son off. Then Justice meets Cashel and his carefully laid plans a decade in the making are thrown up in the air: Cashel is his mate.

Cashel has led a closeted life, being kept away from the pack, so much pain at his father's hands, he isn't really surprised that his father has sold him to whoever is big enough and strong enough to breed an heir for him. But when Cashel is paraded in nothing more than a lion cloth and a butt plug, he knows he really is in trouble this time. Justice is the only one of the competitors in the game who pays any attention to Cashel laps up that attention more than he should. But is Justice really the only way he can be free from his father's wrath? Can Cashel ever be TRULY free, to just be himself?

Like I said, my favourite of the three! So many twists and turns, some I saw coming, some really came out of left field! Loved that I was kept being surprised right til the end!

For Justice, he knows Cashel is his mate, he has that profound MINE moment. Cashel, though, not so much. His wolf has been so quiet for so long, Cashel wasn't even sure his wolf was still inside. he doesn't get that MINE moment til much later in the book, when his wolf comes to the surface following an order from his Alpha. Their attraction is powerful and deep, as only the matings on Askara are, and it isn't long before Cashel and Justice get some sexy time. hot hot hot!

Darius' madness goes deep, and his plans for an heir are deadly should his new *mate* produce a girl. His pack is suffering but it isn't clear, not for a time, just how far he will go to get what he wants, who he will KILL to get what he wants. Horrible listening, when things start to become clear. Horrible.

Michael Pauley narrates this instalment.

He did not narrate books one and two, and I was curious as to how close Pauley could get Joel Leslie's voices for previous characters. However, because its been a time since I listened, and because there is very little of Luca and Kitt and none of Taegan and Caleb, it didn't really matter if they didn't match. Not to me, anyway.

Pauley does a great job though!

He gets over all of Justice's worry about his pack, his people, his mate. He gets over all of Cashel's pain of what he has suffered at the hands of his father and his plans. Listening to what Darius was doing, planned to do, HAD done to cashel was awful, and it made me cry in places.

Pauley's reading voice is deep and even, and I had no trouble deciphering multi person conversations. I kept up with everything and everyone.

It's a shame these had to end, and maybe, one day, Ms Sue can write a follow up to these stories, just to catch up with everyone and with the Kingdom of Askara and how things how changed, hopefully for the better.

5 stars for the book
5 stars for the narration
5 stars overall.

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Rampage (2018)
Rampage (2018)
2018 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Action, CGI, THE ROCK (0 more)
Very thing plot. Malin Ackerman is not very good as the villain (0 more)
Pretty much what you'd expect - and it's fun
There are times when you go to a movie, you are going there to immerse yourself in a world that draws out strong emotions with stellar acting, writing and directing and Cinematography that takes your breath away.

And there are other times where all you want is to watch Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a giant Gorilla fight a giant Wolf and a giant Alligator in downtown Chicago.

Guess which one RAMPAGE is?

Based on a video-game of the same name, RAMPAGE tells the tale of a primatologist who's "friend" (a gorilla) is infected with an experimental - and illegal - pathogen that turns him (and 2 other animals) into giant killing machines. It will take all the skills of this primatologist (did I mention that he is a former Navy Seal) to withstand the onslaught and find an antidote.

But, of course, with these kinds of films, the plot really doesn't matter. All that matters is that The Rock is playing the Pathologist and Naomi Harris plays a discredited genetic engineer. The two of them teams up with a mystery "agent" (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) to battle the bad guys - and the monsters.

But, of course, in these kinds of films, the characters don't really matter either. What REALLY matters in these kinds of films is the action and the CGI that is used to create these actions - and both of them are pretty good - at least, good enough.

Director Brad Peyton teams up again with The Rock (they were together for SAN ANDREAS and JOURNEY 2), so he knows not to linger too long on anything. He moves the plot (what there is of it) along smartly and focuses most of our attention on the action and only really stops for a joke or two - and they (for the most part) land just fine.

The Rock is, of course, THE ROCK in this film. He does "his thing" and he does it well. Jeffrey Dean Morgan basically plays the same character he plays on THE WALKING DEAD (but...he is a GOOD GUY here). Naomi Harris (still smelling fresh from her Oscar nominated turn in MOONLIGHT) clearly needs to pay for a house in Malibu by "slumming" it in this movie - I can see her conversation now...

"How much is that house in Malibu...?" (calls her Agent) "Hey...how much are they willing to pay me for the Giant Ape movie...?"

Malin Ackerman - never my favorite performer - is pretty one note as the main villain in the piece. She plays a Corporate Exec who wants to...wait for it...MONETIZE the giant animals!

But again, we are here to see The Rock and the giant Gorilla fighting the giant Wolf and Alligator - all the while destroying indentifiable landmarks in downtown Chicago.

And in that...this film succeeded...well enough.

Letter Grade B (it's probably a B- or C+, but I'm a sucker for these types of films).

7 (out of 10) stars and you and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
  
Tomorrow (2019)
Tomorrow (2019)
2019 |
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The film had me at "brief strong sex" on the title card.

Tesla, a war veteran, struggles day to day being in the real world again. His loses weigh heavily on him and he hits rock bottom. A chance encounter with the over-friendly Sky leads him to new friends and new opportunities. Will he be able to see past his inner demons long enough to make a go of everything?

Firstly, someone at BBFC is leading a very sheltered life... moving on.

I had concerns going into this, Tomorrow was written by Stuart Brennan and Sebastian Street, if you're wondering why one of those sounds familiar it's because Stuart Brennan wrote Wolf (and directed, and produced and starred), I gave that 1.5 stars and I was one of the more generous viewers. You'll also spot the name Sebastian Street as he's playing the lead role of Tesla to Brennan's Sky.

I actually thought that Brennan did a great job as Sky. His storyline progressed at a much tougher rate than any of the other characters and his handling of it was surprisingly good.

Sebastian Street was in no way convincing. Tesla had an important point to make about disability and veterans but it felt more like he was acting in a bad soap opera than a film.

Unfortunately the downsides don't stop there, neither Stephanie Leonidas nor Sophie Kennedy Clark gave convincing portrayals, though I'm inclined to think that is more to do with the script. Tesla's love interest Katie, played by Leonidas, was a particularly hateful woman at times. I'm sure they were attempting to bring her on a learning curve about Tesla and his PTSD but there are moments that are entirely unbelievable. No one would be as oblivious as she was and I was genuinely annoyed by the fact he didn't tell her to take a hike then and there.

You'll also see on the cast list we have Stephen Fry, James Cosmo and Paul Kaye... I know! Cosmo gives a good performance but both Fry as Chris and Kaye as Milo felt like a let down. Neither character was well written and the tone really didn't fit the scenarios they were in. I have no idea why they went for the parts, I'm assuming bills.

While I felt there were a lot of issues with the film, many more than I listed, I was able to identify with part of the film and actually felt like they treated the subject with more respect than everything else was afforded. Because of that fact I'm giving Tomorrow a 2 star score, it deserves more than Wolf but I couldn't in good conscience recommend it to anyone. It's currently sitting at a 7 on IMDb which seems rather suspicious to me, the 29% on RT seems like a more accurate rating for this film.

What you should do

While I found something in this to latch onto there's not a lot to gain from seeing this.

Movie thing you wish you could take home

I've always wanted my own restaurant, so I'd have to go with that or Sky's adorable dog.
  
Freeing his Mate: A Howls Romance (Shifter World: Shifter Affairs #1)
Freeing his Mate: A Howls Romance (Shifter World: Shifter Affairs #1)
Nancy Corrigan | 2018 | Paranormal, Romance
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Freeing his Mate: A Howls Romance (Shifter World: Shifter Affairs #1) by Nancy Corrigan
Freeing His Mate is the first book in the Shifter Affairs series, and it is set in the same world as the Royal Kagan series. That being said, this review is for this book alone. And what a book it is! You have an 'old' wolf, depressed and contemplating suicide. He meets a waitress who perks his interest, only to find out that she is bonded unwillingly to somebody else as his breeding partner. Throw in an old murder, drugs rampaging through a town, assassins, new partners, cute kids, and you have a book that will keep you engrossed from start to finish.

Whilst this is the first book in the new series, we do reunite with some old favourites of mine from the Royal Kagan series. These appearances enhance this story without taking it over, giving it a depth and a richness. There are new characters to grow fond of, and wait impatiently for their story. A perfect combination of new and old, guaranteed to satisfy.

This story was exceedingly well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. The scenes flowed smoothly from one to the next, and the pacing was perfect. An absolute stunner of a first book, that will definitely leave you wanting more. Highly recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Prophesy (The King & Alpha, #1)
Prophesy (The King & Alpha, #1)
A.E. Via | 2017 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Prophesy (The King & Alpha Series #1) by A.E. Via
Prophesy is the first book in The King & Alpha series, and we start off with Justice and Wick. Justice is the Alpha Zenith, the biggest, baddest wolf shifter of them all. He is fated with Wick, the Vampire King. Both of these know the difficulties in ruling, the decisions that have to be made. One decision that was taken out of Justice's hand was that of a mate. He never imagined he would end up with a vampire, and he paid the price for his pride.

I wouldn't call this an enemy to lover story, as it is their RACES that are at war, not each other. Yes, they have a misunderstanding, but nothing that isn't easily resolved. I enjoyed seeing how they both knew what punishments would work best for their own, and they weren't afraid to punish those responsible. This is the first book, so there is a lot of world-building, and a hint of more story to come (crazy human scientists).

This was an easy read, with it being well-written and evenly paced. There are some steamy moments in there, and the hint of more than one story yet to come. A great start to the series, and definitely recommended by me.

* 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!
  
Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)
Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)
Marissa Meyer | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.8 (29 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am officially submerged into The Lunar Chronicles and I am anxiously waiting to read Winter. Cress, book three of the series, adds another level to the story and I love Crescent. With threads of Rapunzel woven through the book it is so much fun to see the story through another set of eyes. Cinder and Kai are still main characters in Cress. Scarlet and Wolf continue their story as well. Fairy tale retellings are some of my favorite stories and Marissa Meyer has just taken this genre to a whole new level. It is such a unique and intriguing storyline. With so many characters to follow and fall in love with, it is easy to get lost in this world.

Seeing Marissa's style mature throughout this series has been so much fun. The pace has picked up a lot in Cress. Lots of action, chaos, stress, and adventure! We also get our first glimpse at Winter and I think I am really going to like her.

Cress is so young and naive, being taken from her family as a baby and then isolated for the last seven years. She is so smart, quirky, and innocent. Seeing earth, sand, trees...for the first time through her eyes definitely inspires a new view of the world. It encourages us to see the beauty all around us rather than taking it for granted.

This series must be read in order beginning with Cinder. I highly recommend these books. Stay tuned for my review of the grand finale!
  
See No Evil (Brotherhood, #1)
See No Evil (Brotherhood, #1)
Jordan Ford | 2016 | Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I will admit, when I started reading See No Evil I rolled my eyes a couple of times. A young girl, innocent of all knowledge of what her family is actually like. Oh please! However, within the first chapter, that swiftly became unimportant as I was entwined in Chris' life, and her struggles to fit in at a boy's school. Enter Trey, Riley, and Kade - the Wolf Pack, or Brotherhood, that proves that family is what you make it, not what you are born with. Chris' struggles are real, and it broke my heart. Showing an inner core of strength, yet bowing under the pressure of what she is doing, Chris manages to find a way to cope at the school. Things take a turn for the better though, when Trey takes her under his wing and she becomes enfolded into their lives.

This is incredibly well written, with plenty of layers to every character and situation. Heart stopping romance, with 'normal' boy reactions, as well as situations pertinent to this story alone. I don't think there were any editing or grammatical errors, none disrupted me anyway. Although I will say that I was that engrossed in the story, I may not have realised anyway!

The start of another exceptional series from Jordan Ford, and highly recommended by me. Absolutely loved this story, and can't wait for Kade's.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Cade (The Society #1)
Cade (The Society #1)
Mason Sabre | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
83 of 250
Kindle
Cade ( The Society book 1)
By Mason Sabre

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

The first heart-pounding instalment in Mason Sabre's Paranormal and Urban Fantasy, Society Series. What seems like an innocent run in the woods, might just end Cade MacDonald's life...

Cade MacDonald is a man who has always had a sense of right and wrong. He fights for justice and does not back down in the face of danger. As a member of Others, a supernatural race of powerful, fierce shifters, who do not accept or sympathise with any Humans, or any race other than their own, he now finds himself in a battle with the Other Society’s leaders as they oppose his attempt to save the life of a young half-breed.

Fighting to do the right thing, Cade is simultaneously faced with the unexpected attraction he feels for his best friend’s sister. Having grown up with Gemma, he is confused and torn at the strong pull of his wolf towards this beautiful tiger.

Willing to accept any repercussions of his rebellious actions, will he go as far as to lose the love of his life in the process?


While on the whole I did enjoy this and it was better written than most shifters books I’ve read in the past I found it lacking something. The characters felt really stiff and sometimes forced. I do think it shows promise and like I said I did enjoy it overall.
  
Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
2019 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
At first, the start of the movie didn't make much sense to me. A middle aged couple purchase Annabelle and on their way home their car breaks down, they witness what Annabelle can do but yet they're still willing to get back in the car with the doll and take her home! I'd have been burning that thing but hey ho! Anyway, it turns out this couple 'the warrens' collect possessed artifacts and keep them under lock and key, and Annabelle is no exception, the Warren's lock her away in a glass cabinet and have her blessed every week to keep the evil away.
One day a friend of the Warren's babysitter comes over to hang out, keen to see the cursed artifacts, and when she's left alone she goes wandering into the locked room where she comes across Annabelle. She unlocks the cabinet to prop her back up after she falls forward and is scared by the kitchen smoke alarm causing her to flee back to the kitchen leaving the cabinet unlocked. Low and behold Annabelle falls out of the cabinet which I found pretty amusing. After that, strange things start happening such as a child asking for annabelle to come out and play, people seing ghosts and annabelle appearing in random places, nothing overly scary really. The movie finally gets going after about an hour with a few jump scares, evil ghosts and a rabid wolf to name a few, but it was over quicker than it started and in quite an abrupt way too.