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BookInspector (124 KP) rated Beast (Six Stories, #4) in Books

Sep 24, 2020

Beast (Six Stories, #4)

Matt Wesolowski | 2019 | Paranormal, Thriller

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

I find it hard to determine, who was the protagonist of this story. Scott King is interviewing people, who knew Youtube Vlogger Elizabeth or her killers, and trying to find out why and who locked Elizabeth in the Vampire Tower, where she was found dead. The characters in this novel are absolutely brilliant. They are diverse, complex, incredibly absorbing and mysterious. I really liked the way Scott King was choosing the people he interviewed, it showed different opinions and views, that kept me immensely intrigued.

The narrative was told from multiple sources, I should say. We are able to read what Elizabeth was saying to her followers, while she is doing an online challenge, as well as to read what Scott King uncovers during his interviews. I loved everything about this narrative, the way vampires were incorporated, giving this book a dark and ghostly feeling, the kind of Q&A writing style, and all the twists and discoveries that unravel as we read along. The topics discussed in this book were very dark, troublesome but at the same time very modern and realistic. Such as need of validation, the power of manipulation, abuse and bullying, social exclusion, social degradation and many, many more.

I really loved the setting of this book as well. It is set in Ergarth, a miserable town, that feels forgotten by the world, where unemployment and homelessness thrive, where the trouble is always next to you, and it is haunted by the Vampire Tower. LOVED IT! The whole book is divided into six chapters, and they are quite long, but the story absorbed me so much, that the pages just flew by. (And that comes from a person who despises long chapters

Kudos

LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Revenge (2018) in Movies

Sep 20, 2020

Revenge (2018)

2018 | Action, Thriller

8.2

(9 Ratings)

Movie Rating

I always feel a bit iffy about rape-revenge horror - it's a sub genre that at its best can be a satisfying and empowering thrill ride, and at it's worst, can come across as cheap exploitation. Revenge is luckily in the former camp.

Lead actress Matilda Lutz gives us a badass vengeance seeking protagonist for the ages, while the other three actors (it's a damn small cast) Kevin Janssens, Vincent Colombes, and Guillaume Bouchède effectively provide the the absolute bastards we all want to see die so badly.

The locations and wide shots in Revenge look stunning by the way. In between all the nasty bits(which we'll get to), it's just a stunning and vibrant film to look at, with a lot of the horror elements taking place in blazing sunshine.
As for the aforementioned nasty bits - holy shit, this film is violent. By the time the credits roll, everyone and everywhere is just covered in blood. The practical effects used are pretty great, and looks believable, even if the sheer amount of viscera is absurd at times.
It provides us with some grisly set pieces that linger on the brain, in particular, a scene where a character has to un-impale herself from a tree - it's genuinely quite harrowing.
Also, maybe give this a pass if you're squeamish about foot stuff. I don't know about you, but I always found the foot abuse in Die Hard rather uncomfortable, and this makes that look like a children's cartoon at times.

Overall, Revenge is just a smack to the face. A fairly slow build, but high octane when it gets rolling, with good performances, plenty of blood, and enough jarring sound and camera edits to make you uncomfortable. Worth a watch for horror fans, without a doubt.

Kudos

ClareR (5996 KP) rated The Illustrated Child in Books

Oct 26, 2020

The Illustrated Child

Polly Crosby | 2020 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Romilly and her father Tobias move in to a run-down house in the countryside when she is 9 years old. Her father is an eccentric artist, and she doesn’t know anything about her mother. Later, Monty the cat joins Romilly and her friend Stacey on adventures in the local countryside, in what seems to be an idyllic childhood.

Tobias creates a series of beautifully illustrated books starring both Romilly and Monty, and their lives are changed. They find fame, as readers believe that the books are a kind of treasure hunt - which, incidentally, reminded me of the Kit Williams book, Masquerade, published in the late 1970’s. Strangers start to camp out in their garden, digging holes all over their land to find the treasure - meaning that Romilly is unable to leave the house.

Life changes again when Tobias’ behaviour becomes more and more erratic, Romilly’s mother comes back in to her life, and she meets her grandmother. Things seem to be continuously changing, and nothing is consistent - there’s no stability in Romilly’s life.

This book was not at all what I expected. It started out as something of an idyllic childhood, but as time went on, Romilly’s life is irrevocably changed. I felt so much sadness for her, and there were times when I was almost in tears (you might need a hanky!). This deals with some pretty serious themes: dementia, mental illness, death and child abuse. All the way through I was rooting for Romilly and hoping that she would get the help that she needed and deserved. This is such a beautifully written book, and I would have no hesitation in recommending it.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my e-ARC.