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A Discovery of Witches - Season 1
A Discovery of Witches - Season 1
2018 | Fantasy
So much missing from the book
This is ok. I have read the books unfortunately it does not come close to the book. The build up to the characters and their connection in the TV series is too fast and bland. If I had not read the book then maybe the rating i gave would have been higher but I would still have the same issue with the lack of build up in the characters connection and the lack of story details to race through to the end. Their is so much missing and changes have been made which I do not believe is an improvement. Saying this, it is still worth watching but would definitely recommend people to read the book as the book is much more "magical" and makes the reader care more about each character and their story.
  
School Lies
School Lies
Kimberly G. Giarratano | 2019 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
5
5.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
When I read the description of School Lies by Kimberly G. Giarratano on Goodreads I could not wait to start it. “Guilt, lies, and betrayal–all before first period.” What a great tagline.

Unfortunately I thought the book was just OK, 2 stars using Goodreads’ rating system. There seemed to be a lot left out of the story. It felt as if it was only allowed to be a certain length and much of the story needed to be deleted to fit the length or if this was a second book in a series where I had not read the first book.

I could not relate with the characters and the story felt as if there were gaps in it. I would have stopped reading except the writing was adequate and I did not hate the book. Also, the page was less than 300 pages so I was well into the story and did not have much left before I thought of stopping. The book has a high rating on Goodreads, 4.0, and I would be willing to give Kimberly G. Giarratano a 2nd read but I would not put her at the top of my “authors to try again” list.

Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 2/24/19.
  
Furyborn: Empirium Trilogy Book 1
Furyborn: Empirium Trilogy Book 1
Claire Legrand | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.3 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
When I saw this book on Netgalley, I knew I had to read it. The description grabbed me & it sounded like a book that I would fall in love with. Once I finally found time to read the book it grabbed my attention. Unfortunately, I wound out of time to physically read the book so I ended up buying the audiobook. When I first listened to the narrator's voice I was hesitant but by the end I loved it. Fiona Hardingham (Narrator)just added a little bit more to the story. I was so glad that I switched to audiobook that I think it added a half star to my rating.

My rating would be a 4.5 but since I cannot do a half star I'm going to round up to 5. The plot was fascinating and I loved all of the characters that I read. This book was jam packed with action, swoon worthy heroes, and some really powerful women. I loved that Rielle & Eliana had their flaws and I loved that we got to know them on a fundemental level. It was fun to see the growth in them.

All in all, I really liked this story. I probably wouldn't consider it young adult though. I think it belongs in the adult fantasy section.
  
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Angie (0 KP) rated The Meg (2018) in Movies

Aug 26, 2018  
The Meg (2018)
The Meg (2018)
2018 | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
I am a big fan of the Steve Alten book series of the Meg. Now....when it comes to the movie....it was....entertaining at most. I saw it in 3D so maybe that’s why. Special effects were okay....nothing spectacular. I do feel that maybe if the movie were casted differently....my rating may be a little different. Wasn’t a big fan of the acting (if that is what we can call it)....
  
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
7
8.2 (101 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dysfunctional and heart-warming
Read this before I made the decision to watch the movie, and I certainly enjoyed the book more (although the movie was not a bad one). The more I read the book, the more I was hooked, (possibly because it was quite a heavy read, and I wanted to finish it, again not because I dislike it). Many of the characters are likeable, and the material was well written.
A coming of age story of a young man beginning high school with the emotional and mental baggage of his traumatic childhood. Charlie was an unusual main lead, appearing quite odd at times and very emotional. He made friends with Sam and Patrick, and the relationship was heart warming if not a little dysfunctional.
My rating of the book, did not quite give it the max rating, as I felt after I had finished reading, I was left a little confused, and with a number of unanswered questions. At times throughout the novel, I kept thinking the next chapter will be the big reveal, but that chapter never came.
I can see why it has the following it has, went mainstream and has remained popular, but not a book I aim to reread anytime soon.
  
Hello, Universe
Hello, Universe
Erin Entrada Kelly | 2017 | Young Adult (YA)
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So first off I just want to put out there that I'm deducting a star from my rating for the repeated and completely unnecessary usage of ableist slurs through out this book. There is no excuse for ret*rd to be used as almost every insult in a book, or being used multiple times on a single page. Putting that aside the book was just okay. The characters were very one note and had little to no development. The plot was predictable. It felt like someone was holding my hand down the most likely path possible. Overall I just don't think I gained anything from reading this other than some annoyance at its use of language.
  
In West Mills
In West Mills
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it. The things that brought the rating down for me were the transitions between years toward the end of the book. It wasn't until you were a few pages into the chapter that you knew it was 5 or 10 years later.

Knot is the kind of woman who does what she wants no matter what other people think about it. This story takes us from 1942 all the way through 1987. Telling the story and secrets of West Mills. Each character has a different story that all melds together in one incredible telling. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to other books by this author.
  
I'm settling for an average rating because while I liked the genre listing aspect with the many varieties of books, I felt like the author needed to tell more about each book, and frankly, the book wasn't a very enjoyable read, it was too dry. More information was needed so that I would even get interested in books she mentioned; sorry a title and author are not enough. The book wasn't that big that she couldn't elaborate on her thoughts of the book. What are her reasons for recommending the book in the first place? The author was also repetitive, she mentioned <u>The Prince of Tides</u> at least five times, once is enough. What's the point of badgering the reader that she likes it? I found it more palatable by reading it in smaller doses and not by reading the whole thing at one time. Maybe it's a good reference book featuring different lists of books but I can find more informational reading lists online.
  
After (After, #1)
After (After, #1)
Anna Todd | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
6
6.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
3.75 rating. You could just tell this was a Wattpad book from the start. Wasn't aweful but wasn't the greatest. I really hate when people say that they didn't like Tessa's character. When you read it on paper yeah you are pissed that she keeps running back to Hardin but at the same time there are millions of couples who do this same shit....well not the betting part but the emotional entanglement. So with that aside and as someone who has been in that situation, this book is actually decently done and it's great that this author got published.
  
Beholden (The Fairest Maiden #1)
Beholden (The Fairest Maiden #1)
Jody Hedlund | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Are you looking for a good clean romance for your teens or young adults? Well, Beholden is good for them. It deals with princes and knights. It also has a sweet story about beauty. What a way to have action and adventures. The heroes have to work together.

I enjoyed learning about the gem mines and the slaves. We get a bit of an evil queen and slavery. It seems it is a modern-day fairy tale of Cinderella. Jody does well with the plot and storyline. What a way to pull into the story. It keeps you wanting to turn the pages once the action starts to pick up.

The adventures begin to heighten up once Gabriella is released from the mines. Who will win? The princes are to do testing to see if they are worth the kingship. The princes are given a phrase that is different for each prince.

I wonder what each means and for that prince. Slave for all what can that mean. You will be trying to figure it out along with Vilmar. What is Gabriella's plan? Can Vilmar find the true meaning to Slave to all and find help from the slaves and Gabriella?

My rating for this book is 4.5 stars (Moons) on my rating system. Which make my rating system will have it marked 4 stars (Moons). This book good for teens and young adults. It got romance and fantasy. If your teen or young adult enjoy fairy tales, this book has it and more.