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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Unearthly (The Unearthly #1) in Books
Feb 16, 2020
From Book 1: The first time I was declared dead, I lost my past. The second time, I lost my humanity. Now I’m being hunted, and if I die again, my soul is up for forfeit.
After enrolling in Peel Academy, an elite supernatural boarding school on the British Isles, the last of the sirens, Gabrielle Fiori, only wants to fit in. Instead, the elixir meant to awaken her supernatural abilities kills her.
When Gabrielle wakes up in the morgue twelve hours later, something wicked is awakened in her, something even the supernatural community has never seen before. Now the only person who can help her is Andre de Leon, the community's infamous bad boy and the king of vampires.
Yet even his help can’t prevent the repeated attempts on Gabrielle’s life. Someone is after her, and they will stop at nothing to end her short existence. Only Gabrielle cannot let that happen now that her soul hangs in the balance, because she may have met the devil. And he wants her. Bad.
The Unearthly is a YA novel that will appeal to fans of paranormal romance and those who love vampire novels.
A new author for me!
Very good! Gabrielle is definitely unique and her love life is super complicated. The man in the shadows is Lucifer and I'm excited to see what part he plays in the future. I felt a few areas were rushed but I'm liking the character profiles in the world Laura has built! It's very much Hogwarts crossed with a version of vampire academy! I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes!
After enrolling in Peel Academy, an elite supernatural boarding school on the British Isles, the last of the sirens, Gabrielle Fiori, only wants to fit in. Instead, the elixir meant to awaken her supernatural abilities kills her.
When Gabrielle wakes up in the morgue twelve hours later, something wicked is awakened in her, something even the supernatural community has never seen before. Now the only person who can help her is Andre de Leon, the community's infamous bad boy and the king of vampires.
Yet even his help can’t prevent the repeated attempts on Gabrielle’s life. Someone is after her, and they will stop at nothing to end her short existence. Only Gabrielle cannot let that happen now that her soul hangs in the balance, because she may have met the devil. And he wants her. Bad.
The Unearthly is a YA novel that will appeal to fans of paranormal romance and those who love vampire novels.
A new author for me!
Very good! Gabrielle is definitely unique and her love life is super complicated. The man in the shadows is Lucifer and I'm excited to see what part he plays in the future. I felt a few areas were rushed but I'm liking the character profiles in the world Laura has built! It's very much Hogwarts crossed with a version of vampire academy! I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes!
Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death and Jazz Chickens
10.0
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'I know why I'm doing all this,' I said. 'Everything I do in life is trying to get her back. I think...
The Worst Witch
8.4
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The Worst Witch written and illustrated by Jill Murphy is reissued with exciting new branding and...
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Slaughterhouse Rulez (2018) in Movies
Nov 14, 2018
Such a disappointment
I've seen a lot of horrendous reviews for this film and whilst I'd agree that it isn't great, it's not nearly as bad as expected.
The problem is that this film has a stellar cast with impressive comedy credentials, yet apart from one or two titters, it just isn't funny. The humour falls completely flat. Michael Sheen, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost ham it up the best they can but their performances border on cringeworthy. Even the cameo from Margot Robbie is wasted. I did quite like Asa Butterfield though, who managed to get away with some of the best lines in the film.
The plot isn't the worst, and is surprisingly relevant to current affairs. Considering the ongoing debate over fracking and the fracking going on in Lancashire (30 mins down the road from where I live), I was impressed at the relevance even if they didn't really touch on any of the serious issues. The start of the story is a little bit cliched too. Fish out of water Northerner going to a posh Southern boarding school? Some originality would be nice, as a northerner myself it's gets a little frustrating seeing so many films choose this sort of plot mechanism.
The creatures themselves are underdeveloped and aren't scary, although the amount of blood and gore was a nice touch. And it all just gets a little bit silly and ridiculous with them towards the end, which is a shame as there was some potential hidden here somewhere.
That said, as horror comedies go it's fairly inoffensive. Whilst I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to watch it, if you're ever at a loss for something easy to watch, there are worse films you could choose. Just don't expect another of the Cornetto films...
The problem is that this film has a stellar cast with impressive comedy credentials, yet apart from one or two titters, it just isn't funny. The humour falls completely flat. Michael Sheen, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost ham it up the best they can but their performances border on cringeworthy. Even the cameo from Margot Robbie is wasted. I did quite like Asa Butterfield though, who managed to get away with some of the best lines in the film.
The plot isn't the worst, and is surprisingly relevant to current affairs. Considering the ongoing debate over fracking and the fracking going on in Lancashire (30 mins down the road from where I live), I was impressed at the relevance even if they didn't really touch on any of the serious issues. The start of the story is a little bit cliched too. Fish out of water Northerner going to a posh Southern boarding school? Some originality would be nice, as a northerner myself it's gets a little frustrating seeing so many films choose this sort of plot mechanism.
The creatures themselves are underdeveloped and aren't scary, although the amount of blood and gore was a nice touch. And it all just gets a little bit silly and ridiculous with them towards the end, which is a shame as there was some potential hidden here somewhere.
That said, as horror comedies go it's fairly inoffensive. Whilst I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to watch it, if you're ever at a loss for something easy to watch, there are worse films you could choose. Just don't expect another of the Cornetto films...
Alone of All Her Sex: The Myth and the Cult of the Virgin Mary
Book
This unique study of the cult of the Virgin Mary offers a way of thinking about the interrelations...
Villette
Charlotte Brontë and Helen Cooper
6.0
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Villette is Charlotte Bronte's powerful autobiographical novel of one woman's search for true love,...
ClareR (6054 KP) rated Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel in Books
May 9, 2021
Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel is only the second book by Ruth Hogan that I’ve read (The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes was the first), and I had only read the first 20% of this book when I pre-ordered her latest book Madame Burova. That’s how much I loved this book.
This story is told from two points of view: 6 year old Tilly and 46 year old Tilda. We see Tilly in flashbacks as Tilda goes to her late mothers seaside home to clear out her belongings.
Tilly had been an outgoing, happy child, who adored her Daddy. But one day he leaves the house and doesn’t return. Her Mummy tells her that he’s dead. Tilly doesn’t really seem to understand the concept of ‘dead’. Indeed, Tilly doesn’t seem to understand that there are people she sees that others don’t seem to notice - dead people (this isn’t a huge theme in this book , so if you don’t like reading about the supernatural, it doesn’t dominate. But I like the supernatural, so 🤷🏼♀️). This is such a lovely story filled with very likeable people, such as the flamboyant Queenie Malone and her mother, who has a different Hollywood starlet name according to the day of the week.
In the present day, Tilda starts to work through her feelings of resentment towards her mother: the way that she felt abandoned when went to boarding school, in particular.
Tilda is a very solitary figure - a polar opposite to her childhood self, in fact. When she finds her mothers diaries and starts to read them, there are many revelations that explain her mothers motivations - some of them very sad.
This is another wonderful book from Ruth Hogan, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it (I bought a copy for my mum as soon as I finished it, in fact!).
This story is told from two points of view: 6 year old Tilly and 46 year old Tilda. We see Tilly in flashbacks as Tilda goes to her late mothers seaside home to clear out her belongings.
Tilly had been an outgoing, happy child, who adored her Daddy. But one day he leaves the house and doesn’t return. Her Mummy tells her that he’s dead. Tilly doesn’t really seem to understand the concept of ‘dead’. Indeed, Tilly doesn’t seem to understand that there are people she sees that others don’t seem to notice - dead people (this isn’t a huge theme in this book , so if you don’t like reading about the supernatural, it doesn’t dominate. But I like the supernatural, so 🤷🏼♀️). This is such a lovely story filled with very likeable people, such as the flamboyant Queenie Malone and her mother, who has a different Hollywood starlet name according to the day of the week.
In the present day, Tilda starts to work through her feelings of resentment towards her mother: the way that she felt abandoned when went to boarding school, in particular.
Tilda is a very solitary figure - a polar opposite to her childhood self, in fact. When she finds her mothers diaries and starts to read them, there are many revelations that explain her mothers motivations - some of them very sad.
This is another wonderful book from Ruth Hogan, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it (I bought a copy for my mum as soon as I finished it, in fact!).
BookwormLea (3034 KP) rated Bridgerton in TV
Jan 11, 2021
Memorable Characters (3 more)
Beautiful fashion design
Handsome men!
Based on a book!
Thank you Tik Tok!
Contains spoilers, click to show
I don't usually like period dramas or anything historical. But this, is art. The fashion is gorgeous, enough to make me buy a corset and several dresses in the style. And its quite funny for something set so long ago.
Daphne is the beautiful oldest daughter of the Bridgerton house, one of Londons richest. She is one of the debutantes set for marriage along with many other eligible bacholerettes and is highly sought after the Queen dubs her a Diamond. But since their father is gone, her oldest brother Antony is responsible for scaring off matches, and that he does. Leaving her with no choice but some hideous man who I can't even remember the name of.
Simon is the Duke of Hastings, taking over his fathers work after his death. He is very handsome and very rich. All the ladies want him and all the mothers want him for their daughter's. He happens to be Antonys best friend from their boarding school times and after meeting Daphne, they decide to fake a courtship so she can seem desirable again and he will be left alone. But without even realising, they start to fall in love.
After the Queens handsome nephew starts to fall for Daphne, and their plan seems to be working, he realises he wants her and 'defiles' her honour at a party. After a failed duel on her brothers part, they are to be married despite his refusal and his insistence that he can't have children or give her the big family she dreams of.
Daphne is the beautiful oldest daughter of the Bridgerton house, one of Londons richest. She is one of the debutantes set for marriage along with many other eligible bacholerettes and is highly sought after the Queen dubs her a Diamond. But since their father is gone, her oldest brother Antony is responsible for scaring off matches, and that he does. Leaving her with no choice but some hideous man who I can't even remember the name of.
Simon is the Duke of Hastings, taking over his fathers work after his death. He is very handsome and very rich. All the ladies want him and all the mothers want him for their daughter's. He happens to be Antonys best friend from their boarding school times and after meeting Daphne, they decide to fake a courtship so she can seem desirable again and he will be left alone. But without even realising, they start to fall in love.
After the Queens handsome nephew starts to fall for Daphne, and their plan seems to be working, he realises he wants her and 'defiles' her honour at a party. After a failed duel on her brothers part, they are to be married despite his refusal and his insistence that he can't have children or give her the big family she dreams of.
Charles (Learning to Love #1)
10.0
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Opposites attract in this low-angst romance filled with British snark and humour. Life should be...
Contemporary MM Romance
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Dark Summer (The Witchling, #1) in Books
Jun 7, 2018
(This review can be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.co.uk">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>.
I won this book off of a blog paperback giveaway. I was so happy as I loved the description!
Summer is a sixteen year old girl who is used to being kicked out of schools over and over again because she can't control her magick. She knows not to get attached to anyone or anything because it's only a matter of time until she's shipped off to some new school. That all changes when she gets sent to a new boarding school, one for children and teens who have magickal powers. It isn't long before Summer is crushing on the dark Decker. Why is he so moody? What secrets is he hiding? Will Summer be able to figure out Decker or will she be sent away before she has the chance?
The title of this book definitely suits what it's about. I won't go into too much detail because of spoilers, but the title is a big clue to the story.
The cover is nice although I thought it could've had a bit more going on instead of just a picture of Summer with her amulet. Maybe the boarding house in the background and/or Decker on the front of the cover would've made it a bit better. However, it's not a bad cover.
I love the setting of this story, in the Rockies. The description of the forest is fantastic, and I could almost imagine myself being surrounded by a nice lush forest such as the one Summer is surrounded by.
The pacing of the story did start out rather slow, and I found myself not really enjoying it or caring what happened to the characters. However, that all changed a little before halfway through the book. I found myself engrossed in the story and caring very much about the whole Decker and Summer storyline. So the pacing does eventually quicken up which I was more than thankful for.
The dialogue is very easy to understand. I didn't find myself struggling with what certain words were. There is talk of sex and at one point, the mention of an erection, so just keep that in mind. However, there's not too much sex talk in it which I found to be very good as I hate when books go on and on about sex.
My favourite character was definitely Summer. She came across as being naive (in a good way), loving, protected, and shy which is understandable considering she'd been passed from pillar to post in her past. However, she does start opening up in the story. She's just a great character!! And Decker, wow! Decker is definitely my type of guy...the dark, brooding type. I instantly liked him more than his brother Beck even at the beginning of the story. There's just something about Decker that I find sexy.
One thing that kind of bugged me was the fact that Summer was made fun of for being overweight, and she even considered herself overweight. She's only a US size 4!!! Someone tell me how that is fat or overweight!?! I could understand the size 0 girl, Dawn, in the story trying to tease her as she wasn't as small as she was, but when Summer admits to being overweight, really!?! Okay, rant over.
I definitely fell in love with this book halfway through. This is one of those books where I'll probably buy the next in the series on the day it comes out, and I usually don't do that!
This book made me feel alive. It also made me feel frustrated when I reached the gigantic cliffhanger at the end of this book, lol. So yeah, I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
Overall, I'd recommend this to everyone aged 17+. It's an amazing book!!
I won this book off of a blog paperback giveaway. I was so happy as I loved the description!
Summer is a sixteen year old girl who is used to being kicked out of schools over and over again because she can't control her magick. She knows not to get attached to anyone or anything because it's only a matter of time until she's shipped off to some new school. That all changes when she gets sent to a new boarding school, one for children and teens who have magickal powers. It isn't long before Summer is crushing on the dark Decker. Why is he so moody? What secrets is he hiding? Will Summer be able to figure out Decker or will she be sent away before she has the chance?
The title of this book definitely suits what it's about. I won't go into too much detail because of spoilers, but the title is a big clue to the story.
The cover is nice although I thought it could've had a bit more going on instead of just a picture of Summer with her amulet. Maybe the boarding house in the background and/or Decker on the front of the cover would've made it a bit better. However, it's not a bad cover.
I love the setting of this story, in the Rockies. The description of the forest is fantastic, and I could almost imagine myself being surrounded by a nice lush forest such as the one Summer is surrounded by.
The pacing of the story did start out rather slow, and I found myself not really enjoying it or caring what happened to the characters. However, that all changed a little before halfway through the book. I found myself engrossed in the story and caring very much about the whole Decker and Summer storyline. So the pacing does eventually quicken up which I was more than thankful for.
The dialogue is very easy to understand. I didn't find myself struggling with what certain words were. There is talk of sex and at one point, the mention of an erection, so just keep that in mind. However, there's not too much sex talk in it which I found to be very good as I hate when books go on and on about sex.
My favourite character was definitely Summer. She came across as being naive (in a good way), loving, protected, and shy which is understandable considering she'd been passed from pillar to post in her past. However, she does start opening up in the story. She's just a great character!! And Decker, wow! Decker is definitely my type of guy...the dark, brooding type. I instantly liked him more than his brother Beck even at the beginning of the story. There's just something about Decker that I find sexy.
One thing that kind of bugged me was the fact that Summer was made fun of for being overweight, and she even considered herself overweight. She's only a US size 4!!! Someone tell me how that is fat or overweight!?! I could understand the size 0 girl, Dawn, in the story trying to tease her as she wasn't as small as she was, but when Summer admits to being overweight, really!?! Okay, rant over.
I definitely fell in love with this book halfway through. This is one of those books where I'll probably buy the next in the series on the day it comes out, and I usually don't do that!
This book made me feel alive. It also made me feel frustrated when I reached the gigantic cliffhanger at the end of this book, lol. So yeah, I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
Overall, I'd recommend this to everyone aged 17+. It's an amazing book!!