Search
Search results
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone #1) in Books
Jun 30, 2023
86 of 235
Book
A Touch of Darkness ( Hades x Persephone 1)
By Scarlett St.Clair
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Let me worship you," he said.
She remembered the words she had whispered to him in the back of the limo after La Rose. "You will worship me, and I won't even have to order you." His request felt sinful and devious, and she reveled in it.
She answered, "Yes."
Persephone is the Goddess of Spring in title only. Since she was a little girl, flowers have only shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hoped to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. All of that changes when she sits down in a forbidden nightclub to play a hand of cards with a hypnotic and mysterious stranger.
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible. But nothing has ever intrigued him as much as the goddess offering him a bargain he can't resist.
After her encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead, and his terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone's failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—a love that is both captivating and forbidden.
Loved it!!! I’m a huge fan of Hades so I was hopeful about this one. I couldn’t put it down. It’s definitely a series I can’t wait to read more of.
Book
A Touch of Darkness ( Hades x Persephone 1)
By Scarlett St.Clair
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Let me worship you," he said.
She remembered the words she had whispered to him in the back of the limo after La Rose. "You will worship me, and I won't even have to order you." His request felt sinful and devious, and she reveled in it.
She answered, "Yes."
Persephone is the Goddess of Spring in title only. Since she was a little girl, flowers have only shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hoped to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. All of that changes when she sits down in a forbidden nightclub to play a hand of cards with a hypnotic and mysterious stranger.
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible. But nothing has ever intrigued him as much as the goddess offering him a bargain he can't resist.
After her encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead, and his terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone's failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—a love that is both captivating and forbidden.
Loved it!!! I’m a huge fan of Hades so I was hopeful about this one. I couldn’t put it down. It’s definitely a series I can’t wait to read more of.
Tekhenu: Obelish of the Sun
Tabletop Game
Four millennia ago on the eastern bank of the Nile river was laid the foundation of the Temple of...
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated The Chalk Man in Books
May 16, 2018
It’s hard to believe that The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor is a debut; it’s even harder to believe that it’s not considered horror. Though the book focuses primarily on a whodunnit sort of plot, it borrows heavily from my favorite genre. Certain elements of The Chalk Man are downright grisly, which is a welcoming change from many of the mystery books I tend to read. Then again, I love gore and that’s no secret.
The Chalk Man bounces flawlessly between past and present as the story of an unfortunate girl’s murder unravels. Normally, I find back and forth plots confusing. Tudor approaches this not by labeling each shift as a new chapter, but by naming the chapters with the year they take place. This weaving of the plot creates a sense of urgency, with each chapter ending on the cusp of a new discovery. When all the cards are on the table, nothing is as it seems. The popular, snarky definition of the word “assume” definitely plays a heavy-handed role in this book and Tudor pulls it off well.
Creating complex characters appears to be another forte of Tudor’s. By complex, I mean that his cast, much like the plot, has as several layers to it. In some cases, this can make a story difficult to comprehend, but Tudor exercises some caution in giving any of his characters too many traits.
The Chalk Man is a quick, entertaining read which is always a plus. The constant action kept the book from becoming a chore and thus I was able to devour it in a few days. I’d like to thank Penguin’s First to Read program for providing me with a free copy of this book. This review reflects my own opinion.
The Chalk Man bounces flawlessly between past and present as the story of an unfortunate girl’s murder unravels. Normally, I find back and forth plots confusing. Tudor approaches this not by labeling each shift as a new chapter, but by naming the chapters with the year they take place. This weaving of the plot creates a sense of urgency, with each chapter ending on the cusp of a new discovery. When all the cards are on the table, nothing is as it seems. The popular, snarky definition of the word “assume” definitely plays a heavy-handed role in this book and Tudor pulls it off well.
Creating complex characters appears to be another forte of Tudor’s. By complex, I mean that his cast, much like the plot, has as several layers to it. In some cases, this can make a story difficult to comprehend, but Tudor exercises some caution in giving any of his characters too many traits.
The Chalk Man is a quick, entertaining read which is always a plus. The constant action kept the book from becoming a chore and thus I was able to devour it in a few days. I’d like to thank Penguin’s First to Read program for providing me with a free copy of this book. This review reflects my own opinion.
Peter Russell (61 KP) rated Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle in Tabletop Games
Mar 21, 2019
A friendly jaunt through the world of Harry Potter
This is a cooperative Harry Potter Board game for 1-4 players. A cooperative board game puts all players on the same team against the board with challenges that are randomly generated by a deck of cards in this case. This game is a deckbuilder/ card drafter and each play you build a new deck thoughout the gameplay. This game also has elements similar to a legacy game (a game that has more content that is unlocked after each playthough), however, this game does not require any destruction of parts and can be completely reset. There are 7 boxes, corresponding to the 7 books/ years of Harry Potter. You start at year 1 and after each play through and defeating the villains, the group can choose to move on to the next year, adding the secrets of the next box to your next play through. Each year does get more difficult. I love this game for the theme, the cooperative working together part and the thrill of getting a new experience with each playthough. The only bad aspect of this game I have experienced is that because the random generation of challenges by the board, a scenario can become unbeatable, the good news if that happens, ypu just reset where ypu are, shuffle everything and try again. I really love this game and after writing this review I even increased my rating from 7 to 9, as writing this made me happier about the game.
If you get through year 7, there is an expansion with more boxes to open and work through.
If you get through year 7, there is an expansion with more boxes to open and work through.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Never Be Alone in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Joon is eight years old when her parents are killed and she is put into the foster care system. For 4 years, she is with the same family, but the way they treat her is worse than you would an enemy. When Joon has her chance, she runs away an tried to make a life for herself on the streets. She sees more in her short life than many people experience in an entire lifetime. Will Joon be able to survive on the streets or will she succumb to the pressures of drugs and prostitution?
Thank you to NetGalley and Fiction With Meaning for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is a book that every person should read. We have all seen a homeless person and I'm sure many of us judge them without knowing their situation and how they got to where they are. For some, maybe living on the street is better than their other choices.
In this story, I could see myself as Joon, going through life trying to survive, but I don't think I could have done all she did. This book will make you cry, it is absolutely heart wrenching. You want to jump in and try to save Joon. According to the Author's Notes(yes I read those), this book was taken from her own experience with homelessness.
Again, this is a book everyone should read. It will make you look at the world and the people in it very differently. We are all human and we all are just trying to make it through life with the cards we were dealt. Some of us were given a great hand, and others the worse, but it's what we do with it that makes all the difference.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fiction With Meaning for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is a book that every person should read. We have all seen a homeless person and I'm sure many of us judge them without knowing their situation and how they got to where they are. For some, maybe living on the street is better than their other choices.
In this story, I could see myself as Joon, going through life trying to survive, but I don't think I could have done all she did. This book will make you cry, it is absolutely heart wrenching. You want to jump in and try to save Joon. According to the Author's Notes(yes I read those), this book was taken from her own experience with homelessness.
Again, this is a book everyone should read. It will make you look at the world and the people in it very differently. We are all human and we all are just trying to make it through life with the cards we were dealt. Some of us were given a great hand, and others the worse, but it's what we do with it that makes all the difference.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Smashed (2012) in Movies
Feb 9, 2018
Awesome
After a horrible lie goes wrong for Kate Hannah (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), she finally decides she needs to do something about her alcoholism which is causing her life to spin out of control. Throughout this Movie-a-Day experience, I have already watched a number of classics (see previous reviews). I randomly sprinkled in some films I had never heard of, Smashed being one of them. This is one hidden gem of a film that I'm so thankful it found its way on to my list.
The messages in the film aren't preached, but still manage to resonate strongly due to a powerful delivery. Kate's character shows us that it doesn't matter how you start (or the cards you're dealt in life), rather it's about how you decide--and only YOU get to decide--to finish. Kate wants to change but she has no support system as her husband is just as bad as her. In spite of the incredible adversity she's battling, she decides to go for it anyway, refusing to make excuses.
What makes this so important is the fact that Kate is a complete wreck and you recognize it almost instantly. Her life is a downwards tailspin, kind of like watching a car crash in slow motion. Her story is layered seamlessly into the film and you slowly start to understand that she never really had much of a chance to be anything other than what she became. Winstead captures the role in phenomenal fashion, aided by yet another strong performance from Octavia Spencer as Jenny. Through the two of them, we experience a powerful meaning that says doing the hard thing will always come with a sacrifice.
Recommended. I give Smashed an 86.
The messages in the film aren't preached, but still manage to resonate strongly due to a powerful delivery. Kate's character shows us that it doesn't matter how you start (or the cards you're dealt in life), rather it's about how you decide--and only YOU get to decide--to finish. Kate wants to change but she has no support system as her husband is just as bad as her. In spite of the incredible adversity she's battling, she decides to go for it anyway, refusing to make excuses.
What makes this so important is the fact that Kate is a complete wreck and you recognize it almost instantly. Her life is a downwards tailspin, kind of like watching a car crash in slow motion. Her story is layered seamlessly into the film and you slowly start to understand that she never really had much of a chance to be anything other than what she became. Winstead captures the role in phenomenal fashion, aided by yet another strong performance from Octavia Spencer as Jenny. Through the two of them, we experience a powerful meaning that says doing the hard thing will always come with a sacrifice.
Recommended. I give Smashed an 86.
Eve Oxspring (14 KP) rated Phantom Thread (2017) in Movies
Feb 15, 2018
Excellent performances (2 more)
Interesting concept
Beautiful cinematography
An intense character study with a side of high fashion
Contains spoilers, click to show
I haven't been able to stop thinking about this movie for days. On the surface, it's a somewhat absurd look into the life of a overly privileged, egotistical fashion designer (Day-Lewis). His every whim is provided for by his stoic sister (Manville) and a number of lovers that he, in some way or other, always manages to drive away.
It should have been forgettable, but, in fact was the complete opposite.
The lack of context really makes this film. There are clues throughout, the odd word or image littered here and there, but it is left almost entirely to the audience to piece together the meaning of everything. Woodcock clearly has issues when it comes to his mother, who taught him everything he knew and who died years before the film takes place. He projects these issues onto those around him, involving them in the "game" that is his life. As we, the audience, begin to realise this, so, too, does Alma (Krieps), his current lover. She repeatedly poisons him, knowing the only time she will be truly alone and at his full attention is when he is incapable of being anywhere else. She takes care of him almost as a mother would a small child, further adding to (or relieving?) already prevalent issues in him.
The more I think about this film, the more I love it. I admit, I didn't care for it at all when I first walked out of the cinema, but as time has passed - as I've had a chance to digest and unpack all the gifts this film gives - I find myself liking it more and more. A second viewing is definitely on the cards.
It should have been forgettable, but, in fact was the complete opposite.
The lack of context really makes this film. There are clues throughout, the odd word or image littered here and there, but it is left almost entirely to the audience to piece together the meaning of everything. Woodcock clearly has issues when it comes to his mother, who taught him everything he knew and who died years before the film takes place. He projects these issues onto those around him, involving them in the "game" that is his life. As we, the audience, begin to realise this, so, too, does Alma (Krieps), his current lover. She repeatedly poisons him, knowing the only time she will be truly alone and at his full attention is when he is incapable of being anywhere else. She takes care of him almost as a mother would a small child, further adding to (or relieving?) already prevalent issues in him.
The more I think about this film, the more I love it. I admit, I didn't care for it at all when I first walked out of the cinema, but as time has passed - as I've had a chance to digest and unpack all the gifts this film gives - I find myself liking it more and more. A second viewing is definitely on the cards.
The Marinated Meeple (1848 KP) rated The Bottle Imp in Tabletop Games
Sep 17, 2018
So much deeper strategy that it appears (1 more)
every round is tense
Exceptional 3 player trick taking game.
This is the kind of game every person should own. It's simple, and easy to play, and yet is really tense and you are making fun decisions. Someone at the table is getting screwed, will it be you. You push your luck for a few more points, or play it safe. The simple mechanism of making the "trump" the highest low card. and then that becomes the new bar you have to play below to activate the trump. But it also gives you the bottle, and if you end up with the bottle at the end of the round you get none of the points you collected and the card people put in the middle at the start are your negative points. You can also "Control your destiny" by passing three cards from your hand, one to the left, one to the right and one you bury in the middle" At first this seems like an easy choice, but then you see the are layers to that decision. This is the kind of game with lots of ah-ha moments and I would say the first play reveals some, the 2nd play reveals more and by the time you have played 3 or 4 hands, you probably love the game as much as I do now. It's worth the $20, this will be in my collection a long time. I'm very strongly considering creating a 6 player version of this game, we have lots of game nights with 6 and almost none with 3. I'd love to get this game out more often.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Brexit: The Uncivil War (2019) in Movies
Jan 11, 2019
A painful watch
I have to admit, I’m a little undecided about this. On one hand I found it informative and amusing, but on the other I found it such a difficult and painful thing to watch.
The performances in this were great, especially Benedict Cumberbatch and Rory Kinnear. There were some hilarious takes on some of the politicians, it didn’t shy away from allowing them to come across as conceited a-holes, and the impression of Boris Johnson wasmost notable. Yes it was probably verging on parody, but it brought some much needed humour to the film. It’s well shot and scripted, and it is undoubtedly very smart and has obviously picked up a few pointers from the likes of House of Cards. It was interesting to see the story of someone I’ve never even heard of (politics isn’t my strong point I’ll admit) and to see what happened in the background of Brexit - or at least this film’s version of events... I am concerned that this has tried to summarise Brexit in the space over 2 hours and doesn’t seem to include as much detail as it should.
My main issue with this though is that as a Remainer, this is a painful thing to watch. Considering Brexit is still very much ongoing and fresh for anyone in the UK, it raises the question of whether we really needed to see this film right now. It’s not exactly putting our minds at ease, and instead seems to be raising more questions and causing more ructions. But then conversely, I can see the reasons why it would be the perfect time to release this, because we haven’t even left yet. It’s very divisive, and I honestly can’t quite decide exactly how I feel about this. It’s definitely informative and well made, just very difficult to swallow.
The performances in this were great, especially Benedict Cumberbatch and Rory Kinnear. There were some hilarious takes on some of the politicians, it didn’t shy away from allowing them to come across as conceited a-holes, and the impression of Boris Johnson wasmost notable. Yes it was probably verging on parody, but it brought some much needed humour to the film. It’s well shot and scripted, and it is undoubtedly very smart and has obviously picked up a few pointers from the likes of House of Cards. It was interesting to see the story of someone I’ve never even heard of (politics isn’t my strong point I’ll admit) and to see what happened in the background of Brexit - or at least this film’s version of events... I am concerned that this has tried to summarise Brexit in the space over 2 hours and doesn’t seem to include as much detail as it should.
My main issue with this though is that as a Remainer, this is a painful thing to watch. Considering Brexit is still very much ongoing and fresh for anyone in the UK, it raises the question of whether we really needed to see this film right now. It’s not exactly putting our minds at ease, and instead seems to be raising more questions and causing more ructions. But then conversely, I can see the reasons why it would be the perfect time to release this, because we haven’t even left yet. It’s very divisive, and I honestly can’t quite decide exactly how I feel about this. It’s definitely informative and well made, just very difficult to swallow.
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Human Waste in Books
Jan 31, 2019
I came across C. M. Saunders through a website that I wasn’t sure about, so I randomly messaged him on Facebook. In response, after explaining that I was a book blogger, Saunders kindly provided me with some of his work for the purpose of review. While it’s taken me awhile to get to it, I’m glad I did because Human Waste is a fun, albeit somewhat (keyword: somewhat) predictable take on the zombie apocalypse.
Dan Pallister is, undoubtedly, not playing with a full deck of cards, if you catch my drift. Despite this, he makes for a fun, original character. Ever since childhood, he’s been obsessed with survival–he wants to be prepared for when shit hits the fan, after all. One morning, exactly what he’s been waiting for happens: he looks out his window and sees zombies. This prompts him to go for supplies at the supermarket nearby, and from there Saunders dips his metaphorical toes in the world of splatterpunk which, if you’ve been reading my blog for sometime, you’ll know I like.
My only gripe with reading this is the fact that I had the story figured out (mostly) from pretty early on. Despite that, Saunders continues to entertain with Dan’s skewed view of reality and that is a feat. Rather than becoming boring, the story kept me hooked and I read it in one sitting.
This story comes with some bonus content, however I will not be reviewing it as I consider bonus content to be separate material. I definitely look forward to reading Saunders’s No Man’s Land.
A special thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of his work for the purpose of unbiased review.
Dan Pallister is, undoubtedly, not playing with a full deck of cards, if you catch my drift. Despite this, he makes for a fun, original character. Ever since childhood, he’s been obsessed with survival–he wants to be prepared for when shit hits the fan, after all. One morning, exactly what he’s been waiting for happens: he looks out his window and sees zombies. This prompts him to go for supplies at the supermarket nearby, and from there Saunders dips his metaphorical toes in the world of splatterpunk which, if you’ve been reading my blog for sometime, you’ll know I like.
My only gripe with reading this is the fact that I had the story figured out (mostly) from pretty early on. Despite that, Saunders continues to entertain with Dan’s skewed view of reality and that is a feat. Rather than becoming boring, the story kept me hooked and I read it in one sitting.
This story comes with some bonus content, however I will not be reviewing it as I consider bonus content to be separate material. I definitely look forward to reading Saunders’s No Man’s Land.
A special thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of his work for the purpose of unbiased review.