Search

Search only in certain items:

And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga #1)
And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga #1)
Kiersten White | 2016 | History & Politics
4
6.9 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
And I Darken: Audio Book Review
Contains spoilers, click to show
Historical fiction! Heavy on the fiction, light on the historical, and a good young adult. Now, this is young adult fiction, the kind that even adults can appreciate. Though, this is not for YOUNG young adults. If you are wary of what your kids read, stay away from this. I enjoyed this story, and loved the twists and turns the author took us on.

Again, I did not like the voice of the reader for this novel. She was grating, could not do much variation of the voices and I wish she would not have tried, and was the reason I often considered stopping the track. And I have no idea how to spell any of the names without looking them up.

This novel, by Kiersten White, follows Lada and Radu, in the 1400s, in the Ottoman empire as insurances for the Sultan.

I wonder if, like many young adult series, this would have been better as a single book with the next being far in the future or following other characters during the same time frame.

If you enjoy war novels, historically-set novels, or stories of growing up in difficult circumstances will enjoy this.

Alright, SPOILERS BELOW, SPOILERS BELOW, PLEASE SCROLL FOR DISCUSSION there, that is out of the way.





So, this book covers a good lifetime, showing us the development, fully, of characters. Saw the gay man coming as soon as he was born, which is kind of sad. Why, why make the gay man beautiful? Why make it so obvious from the start?

Why have her fall in love with the future Sultan?

I wanted her, based on the description of the book, to be in her homeland more often than they are. The hatred between the siblings isn't what is odd, but what causes it. How Radu doesn't understand Lada's love towards him and what drives her. I do not understand it.

This book is also supposed to be a gender-bend of Dracula the Impaler. Which is interesting, because I did not figure that out from reading it. It is the correct time period, but gender bending DOESN'T WORK historically. I am sorry, it would be far to complicated to do that. It, it just doesn't work. You can write it and ponder what it would have been if one character was different. But not all. So, is that what this is?

I think I will be reading (or listening?) to the second book of this.

THIS VOICE IS TERRIBLE!

Alright, there. Little bits done
  
A(
Asylum (Asylum, #1)
10
6.5 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
I cannot begin to express just how much I loved reading this book. I wasn't even halfway through it and I had already purchased the second book in this series.

This is truly a creepy read as it blends young adults, an old and abandoned asylum with portions of it turned into dorm rooms, vintage pictures and of course an eerily paranormal factor. Edge of your seat, spine tingling read that pulls you in right from the very beginning and overwhelms your senses with a strong story line, well developed characters and the world building was fantastic.

I can't wait to start reading the second book as I must say that I was completely impressed by the author's skill at storytelling and the goosebumps I got while reading this book.
  
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
1962 | Classics, Drama
10
8.8 (24 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Incredible depiction of book (1 more)
Gregory Peck at his finest
Incredibly moving, beautiful film
Very rarely does a film do absolute justice to its original book, but To Kill A Mockingbird exceeds expectations. Gregory Peck was so brilliantly casted as Atticus Finch, the moral figure of society, that you can only envision him while reading the book. The film, set after the Great Depression, is shot in black and white and is beautifully crafted.

The characters of Scout, Jem and Dill are fundamental to the storyline, showing how innocence is lost after being exposed to the discrimination of adults - in this case, an innocent black man accused of raping a young white girl, and a man with mental health issues being stigmatised by his community. A true classic in every sense.
  
Farmer Boy (Little House, #3)
Farmer Boy (Little House, #3)
Laura Ingalls Wilder | 2007 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.2 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book get me and enjoy each and every time I pick it up and read it. This book is about Almanzo Wilder and his family. It about him and his brother, sisters and his mother and father.

It goes though all the seasons. It tell about Almanzo childhood. There time that he grateful to have Eliza Jane as his sister there an accident that happens while his parents are on Vacation for a week. You can tell Almanzo does not want to school and enjoy working on the farm more then going to school.

It tell you in detail about the planting season. It also tell you a lot about his livestyle and the way he was raised. It a good book for young adults and children as well.
  
CT
Catdoodles: The Cat Lovers Drawing Book
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Catdoodles by Akiko Masuda is a wonderful doodle book of cats. It teaches several types of cats that the reader is able to learn how to draw/doodle. Each page is full of colorful cats which all vary showing the versatility on how to create your own types of cats. 

The book is suitable for any age and any capability of drawing talent from young children to adults, these cats are all simple doodles and we can all manage a cat doodle with this book if you're unsure how to. It has simple instructions for drawing cats and lots of space to practice drawing them.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys drawing and cats. 

I received this book from Quarto Publishing Group and Quarry Books via NetGalley.
  
Farmer Boy (Little House, #3)
Farmer Boy (Little House, #3)
Laura Ingalls Wilder | 2007 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.2 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book get me and enjoy each and every time I pick it up and read it. This book is about Almanzo Wilder and his family. It about him and his brother, sisters and his mother and father.

It goes though all the seasons. It tell about Almanzo childhood. There time that he grateful to have Eliza Jane as his sister there an accident that happens while his parents are on Vacation for a week. You can tell Almanzo does not want to school and enjoy working on the farm more then going to school.

It tell you in detail about the planting season. It also tell you a lot about his livestyle and the way he was raised. It a good book for young adults and children as well.
  
Ma (2019)
Ma (2019)
2019 | Horror, Thriller
Not bad
This movie had some good acting(and some mediocre) but the cinematography was good and the story, overall, hit the mark for creepy. This lady played the part of humiliated high schooler turned psycho pretty well. The story unfolded well. A little slow at first but rolled along at a good pace pretty quickly and smoothly. These kids, however, missed so many red flags with this woman. Naivety at it's finest. The ending was a little weak but at least they didn't go the typical "leave it open for a sequel" way Hollywood seems to love doing so much. Some partial nudity but otherwise nothing to graphic for younger viewers, though probably not for too young of viewers. Anyway, for you adults this one is worth a watch.
  
After We Collided (2020)
After We Collided (2020)
2020 | Drama, Romance
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Good production value (0 more)
Very clichéd (0 more)
Fifty Shades of Deja vu
Spotted this on Amazon prime based on a a series of books I believe. I didn't realise this was the 2nd film in a series, not made clear at all on Amazon. It did keep referencing things that happened before you wouldn't know about. So I would suggest seeing After first..... But maybe just skip both.
This felt like a young adults version of Fifty Shades of Grey.. Just without the millionaire and for 15 rating. There really doesn't seem to be much of a plot as such. Despite the opening telling you this isn't a story you've seen before... It's exactly that and very clichéd at times. Ok cast and obviously had a fair budget for this but After you'll forget it quickly.
  
The Magic Sapphire (The Decoders #1)
The Magic Sapphire (The Decoders #1)
Alba Arango | 2018 | Children, Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Looking for a good mystery for young adults? I think I found it. This book or series is good for young readers or teens. It focuses on three friends. They seem to work together well. Their names are Matt, Jenny and Steve.

These three friends end up going on adventures together. They go on these adventure but ask for help when they need it. I really like the fact they they need to use their minds and teamwork to solve the clues. The way the author does this is well done.

Children will enjoy this book as it shows puzzle solving and teamwork throughout the book. The author also makes it fun and easy to read. It enjoyable for you to read. There a jewel thief and and men, He seem to want the the item the Steve bought but why?

There are some twist and turns throughout the book. Parents is really good for children learn about team work. It also teaches them to use their minds to solve the puzzles. Will Steve, Jenny and Matt find the hidden treasure? Will they solve the mystery?
  
The Legacy (Children's House, #1)
The Legacy (Children's House, #1)
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir | 2018 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The book began with a scene of 3 young children, parent-less, sitting on a bench, while a group of adults decided what would happen to them. Would the children be split up, or kept together? What were the pros and cons of each? The children were split up and sent to opposite sides of the country, and since they were young enough, they would never remember.

The story then completely changes pace and goes forward about 30 years to a crime being committed, and that's where the main characters, Freyja and Huldar show up. Freyja is a child trauma psychologist, and Huldar is a recently-promoted detective in charge of his first case.

The first few chapters I really struggled to follow the characters, as it switched 4 times between different perspectives, but then once I figured out who was who I started to follow better. I loved how quickly the characters were developed and built, but it didn't feel like building, it felt like a gradual discovery. I figured out "who's the bad guy" about 15 seconds before it was revealed, which is my favorite way to discover a crime thriller. Looking back, of course there were subtle hints, but there's no way I would have figured it out on my own.

I'm very happy with the ending. It was conclusive enough to feel satisfactory, but definitely open to more adventures in the future. I anxiously await the next two books in the series, and will keep my eyes out for the author. (And no, I have no clue how to pronounce her name.)

Content/Recommendation: 17+, violence, language. It goes without saying that a crime thriller is for adults only, but I'll stress that even having read many crime thrillers over the past 10 years, this one managed to shock me.