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Hazel (2934 KP) rated Ghost Virus in Books

Nov 11, 2018  
Ghost Virus
Ghost Virus
Graham Masterton | 2018 | Crime, Horror, Thriller
7
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Strangely entertaining
This book is like Marmite®, you are either going to love it or hate it ... well I can't stand Marmite® but I really quite enjoyed this book ... I found it rather entertaining in a strange sort of way although I must admit that it did get a little OTT which had me giggling to myself and shaking my head at times BUT it did make me tell loads of people about it and isn't that the point?

Well written, good pace, great characters and a very unique story line makes this a pretty good read but it does contain a lot of violence, gore and graphic descriptions of death so be warned ... it is not for the fainthearted so if you don't like that type of thing, I would give this a wide berth if I was you.

Over the years, I have read a lot of Graham Masterton's books and I have never been disappointed and even though this probably isn't one of his best, I will carry on reading his stories and will continue to be entertained that I have no doubt.

Thank you to the publisher, Head of Zeus, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
  
Poseidon Is Mine (Gods and Monsters #2)
Poseidon Is Mine (Gods and Monsters #2)
Mila Young | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
185 of 200
Kindle
Poseidon is mine ( Gods and Monsters book 2)
By Mila Young

I’m a champion. Bound to fight Titans. Sworn to act as Zeus’ shield and defend the gods.

And I’m in trouble.

Apollo’s bright love is consuming, and the dark god Hades fills my dreams with lust and desire. Even though I’m torn between them, the sea god, Poseidon, surfaces to calm the chaos, except I’m falling for him.

I’m living my new life on a sword’s edge, losing part of myself with each passing day. Trying to walk the fine line between my humanity and godhood is proving difficult.

Heracles attempts to help me control my new power, and Ares insists I leap into the fight. All while the darkness is consuming souls with greater frequency. And I worry not even the gods can stop Death.

I’m drowning in Poseidon’s affection…it’s either hold on tight…or be swept away. But either way, Poseidon is mine.


I’m such a sucker for books about the Greek gods I’m obsessed and this series is so good at feeding that obsession! I love Elise and the gods I love the relationships building between them! We just need X gone now!!
  
The House at Phantom Park
The House at Phantom Park
Graham Masterton | 2022 | Horror, Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I think I can safely say that I am a fan of Mr Masterton's work and have been for many, many years and whilst, for me, some of his books have been hit or miss, this one is definitely a hit and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Mr Masterton has taken the haunted property/ghost theme and added a new dimension to it. The ghosts were something a bit different which I thought was great; even after all these years, I can still be surprised by the way good authors can bring unique and different ways to kill their characters off and give their readers the chills and Mr Masterton does it with skill here.

I didn't particularly like the majority of the characters very much and admit that the main character of Lilian annoyed me a tad, however in this instance, I don't actually think it matters whether you like the characters or not and it certainly didn't detract from my reading pleasure.

Although a little slow to get going, I would recommend this to people who enjoy a horror story which is a bit different and my thanks must go to Aria & Aries, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The House at Phantom Park.
  
The Heart Keeper
The Heart Keeper
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
How do you mend a broken heart?
It's been three months since Alison Miller-Juul's world fell apart when her six-year-old daughter, Amalie, died in an accident. Three months of sympathy cards, grief counselling and gritting her teeth, but it's still only the vodka and pills that seem to help.
Across town, Iselin Berg's life is finally looking up. Her seven-year-old daughter, Kaia, has survived a life-changing operation. After years of doctors, medication and hope, they can now start thinking about the future.
When Alison uncovers a dangerous secret, she is left in turmoil. She can now see a way to heal her broken heart, but will she risk everything to do so?

This is an intense family drama, it is being told from the viewpoints of two mothers.
Both of their stories start off separately but the they do become connected dramatically.
This such an emotional read, very intense and realistic.
The emotional turmoil was heartbreaking; as a mother could totally relate.
The characters were complex and very believably written.
The ending had me on the edge of my seat.
Totally gripping and magnificent story.
Recommend reading!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Victoria Joss at Aria / Head of Zeus and Alex Dahl for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
  
The Ron Burgundy Podcast
The Ron Burgundy Podcast
Comedy
6
6.9 (7 Ratings)
Podcast Rating
The fake ads that Ron reads (0 more)
Not really that funny (0 more)
By the beard of Zeus! Ron Burgundy has himself a podcast!
Will Ferrell brings his popular Anchorman character, Ron Burgundy, back for a 12 episode season of 'The Ron Burgundy Podcast'. So far, we're only 2 episodes in, so I'm possibly a little premature in reviewing and rating this. Hopefully so, as I feel there is currently a lot of room for improvement.

I'm a fan of the original Anchorman movie, but I don't love it anywhere near as much as a lot of other people do. There's a lot I find funny about it, but I think it only worked as well as it did because of the team of characters surrounding Ron (ie Brian, Brick and Champ), enabling some fun banter and improvisation. In the podcast though, it's pretty much just Ron, although he is accompanied on each episode by his quietly spoken producer Carolina and a guest 'expert'. It's basically down to Ron to carry the whole show, and so far it's very hit and miss. Don't get me wrong, I've laughed out loud on a couple of occasions, making myself look like an idiot as I'm walking home from work, but the rest of it definitely doesn't provide anywhere near the level of humour that the movies do. Still, it's early days, and I'll modify my review if things improve.
  
Apollo is Mine (Gods and Monsters #1)
Apollo is Mine (Gods and Monsters #1)
Mila Young | 2020 | History & Politics, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
172 of 200
Kindle
Apollo is mine ( Gods and Monsters book 1)
By Mila Young

I’m a warrior. Cursed to fight monsters. Sworn to act as Zeus’ sword to protect mankind.

But I’d give it all up for one last kiss with the god who stole my heart…Apollo.
I never wanted to carry my family's legacy. But blood ties cannot be broken, and I’ll keep the promise I made my father on his dying bed. Legendary monsters hunt in city streets of Chicago, and my job was to take down the worst.
I’ve trained with Heracles.
Been blessed with super human powers.
What I’ve never done is fallen in love—until Apollo crossed my path. But he isn’t the only god to catch my attention. Hades is here too, and with him comes a darkness that leaves behind a trail of human bodies. Heracles and my gut instinct urges me to destroy this creature, but each step brings me closer to the truth…

Darkness cannot win…or the Earth will tumble into chaos and I’ll lose the god I’ve come to love…Apollo is mine.



Greek gods? yep! Hot sex? yep! Strong female lead ? Yep!
It was fun and I love a good Greek gods book they are just yum! Interesting story and a very good start to a RH series! Why is always Hades that’s the draw for me? Worth a read if you like RH and a quick book!
  
The Sky Throne
The Sky Throne
Chris Ledbetter | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
9.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
<b><i>The author/publisher provided a free copy of the book for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a review copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore do not affect the opinion or content of the review.</i></b>
I haven't been on a blog tour in so long, it's weirddd. How do I format things again?

Honestly, I'm starting to trust Chris Ledbetter's ideas because all of the books I've come across/read that are by him all have one thing in common: they're different, they're unique and they refreshing take on something. <b>Please don't ever let me down with bookish concepts. I'm picky now, and I'd probably cry.</b>

Ledbetter doesn't disappoint, of course. Well before the demigods of Mount Olympus and Percy Jackson existed, there were the Titans and the Olympians. "<b>WAIT, you ask. DOES THIS MEAN IF I LIKE RICK RIORDAN'S BOOKS, I MIGHT LIKE <i>THE SKY THRONE</i>."</b>

And let's be honest: the Olympians probably didn't spring into adulthood straight from birth, so they have to start somewhere, even if it starts with Hyperion attacking young Zeus and killing his best friend in the process. <b>This would be a highly tragic way for Lupe to die because she IS my best friend.</b> He is then sent to Mount Olympus Preparatory, which if we're putting two things together, all of the students who go there will later be known as the Olympians.

Considering the fact Greek mythology is vast, there is a large cast of characters - anyone who knows little to nothing about Greek mythology might end up lost keeping track of all the characters and who they are. We've got the major players: Chronos/Kronos, Rhea, Zeus, the rest of the Olympians, the Titans, etc. - most of them have nicknames that are remotely similar to their original name, but it may be difficult to keep track regardless. <b>Or maybe I'm very strange and have a shabby memory. My brain cries when I try to remember too hard.</b>

"Okay, but the Olympians and Titans usually bicker like nobody's business. Is that included and will it give me headache (aka make me want to throw the book against the wall)?" Despite the somewhat large cast of characters, Ledbetter has a great balance between what <i style="font-weight: bold;">we</i> as readers know about Greek figures depicted in media and a personality each character has of their own. The Olympians have their bickering and putting each other down sometimes, but it's a lot less bickering and more familial than what I know of, which is 10 tablespoons of bickering and 1/2 teaspoon of actually getting along. <b>Yes, Percy Jackson. I'm eyeballing you, even if I loved you in my middle school days.</b>

<i>The Sky Throne</i> brings back great middle school reading memories without trying to replace them - fans of Rick Riordan's <i>Percy Jackson and the Olympians</i> and <i>The Heroes of Olympus</i> will most likely find themselves enjoying the first book in Ledbetter's new series.
<b>
</b> And lo and behold, Ledbetter has confirmed! There is a sequel in the works! Secretly I'm dancing around. Shh.

<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/blog-tour-sky-throne-by-chris-ledbetter/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
  
<b>First Time Rating:</b> 5 out of 5 (Give me a break, I was a kid.)

<b>Second Time Rating:</b> Ya girl is debating between a 2 or a 3, but I'm feeling nice, so 3 it is.

Adapted from the novel by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel by Robert Venditti follows Percy Jackson as he journeys with Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood across the US to retrieve Zeus’ lightning bolt before the summer solstice.

As an avid fan of the novels in middle school when the movie was in production, I was curious about the graphic novel version. When I first read The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel shortly after it came out, I just enjoyed myself. Reading it now with a more critical eye, I still enjoyed the adaptation, considering how poor the movies were. The graphic novel remains faithful to Riordan’s book and while most of the main storyline is still included, it does cut out some scenes and the story would have been better if it were longer.

In addition to the briefness of the graphic novel, I also noticed during my second read that the characters appear to be much older than they really are. There were moments in the story where if I didn’t read the original novels or knew the plot really well, I would have forgotten that Percy and many of the other characters are around 12 years old.

Overall, The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel is perfect for those who are avid fans of Riordan’s original series and want a recap, but not the greatest intro for those who want to read the graphic version before the novels.

<a href="https://60secondsmag.com/the-lightning-thief-review/">This review is originally posted on 60 Seconds Online Magazine</a>
  
Hades is Mine: Rise of Hades (Gods and Monsters #4)
Hades is Mine: Rise of Hades (Gods and Monsters #4)
Mila Young | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
187 of 250
Kindle
Hades is Mine: Rise of Hades ( Gods and Monsters book 4)
By Mila Young

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

I am a Legend. Born to fight Death itself. Sworn to act as Zeus' thunderbolt against the darkness.

And now I'm mortal.

Despite having Apollo, Poseidon, and Ares by my side I lost. I don't have any second chances. Ares trained me to be a stronger warrior, Poseidon taught me to be the wisest leader, and Apollo showed me passion to be a glorious champion. Each of them has entrusted me with their hearts, and I have given them mine as well.

And it's still not enough.

I need to convince Hades, Ruler of the Underworld, to help me. With his aid we stand the smallest chance, the slimmest of hopes. He's one hot mess of a God and the closer we get the further he pulls away, and the more it tears me apart. But I need to win him to my side, to our side, and make this brooding loner deity a team player too.

Can I even trust Hades with my heart, when I have already lost my soul to something darker?



This book was an emotional rollercoaster!! You know it’s a good book when you get that gasping and aching feeling that you can’t wait to see what’s written on the next page! Hades needed a slap for 3 quarters of the book. It was just a brilliant ending to such a good series. Mila Young has become one of my favourite indie authors and this series has me wanting to read so much more of her work. If you love Greek Gods and you love a bit of spice and spice done well I highly recommend this series. Just brilliant!
  
OY
Open Your Eyes ( Chosen Fate book 1)
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
94 of 230
Kindle
Open your eyes ( Chosen by Fate book 1)
By Aspen Winters
⭐️⭐️

Gods are vanishing; their only salvation is bonding to a human soul.

My name is Clara Daniels. I was your average New Yorker with a degree in business and a need for a job. Everything in my life was normal; well, as normal as it could be with an overbearing mother obsessed with the Lord and trying to find me a man. Not to mention, dealing with the many chauvanistic men that dominate the business world of New York.

Then one day, I ran into Fate - literally - and my entire world was changed. Now, my normal is being the human soul for four, overpowering, disturbingly hot gods. Think Zeus, Aries, Hades - see where I'm going with this. Turns out all that mythology was true. Now, I'm the only chance these four gods have to continue to live and soon they'll become my only chance.

Unfortunately, there's a group of people that don't agree with this and I just became their next target.

Can I trust them to protect me? Or will they let me down like so many others before them? Only Fate knows...and she's not telling.

I almost DNFd this a few times but something in me wanted to see how it played out. Now I’m not into author bashing and I’m not about to start now. This had some major plot holes and a few cringy parts. The mother is just instantly dis likeable I mean she is absolutely vile. There are bits that make you think why?. There are some ok bits and towards the end it came together. The story had good foundation so I think it why I stuck it out.