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Underground - Single by Lindsey Stirling
Underground - Single by Lindsey Stirling
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Lindsey Stirling is an electronic violinist based in Los Angeles, California. Not too long ago, she released a music video for her “Underground” single.

The Tom Teller-directed music video finds Lindsey Stirling inside a futuristic dystopia which features neon lights and acrobatic dancers.

Her “Underground” single contains adventurous instrumentation centered around her immaculate violin performance.
Also, the four-and-half-minute tune is a somber and enticing introduction to her upcoming studio album, entitled, “Artemis”.

“There have been times of my life where I have felt completely overcome by the ‘shadow’ of grief or depression. I felt like I’d never feel full happiness again. But the moon has taught me a powerful lesson. Just because she gets covered in shadow doesn’t mean she isn’t still there, and that she won’t fight back to reclaim her full light. Also, Artemis is the goddess of the moon. This album tells her story. It tells my story. I think it tells everyone’s story.” – Lindsey Stirling

‘Artemis’ will be available on September 6, 2019, via BMG. The anticipated project will tackle themes of overcoming obstacles and fighting through life’s downfalls to reclaim one’s happiness and strength.

Also, it recounts the story of Artemis, Goddess of the Moon, whose life uniquely draws parallels to Stirling’s personal experiences.

Lindsey Stirling is internationally recognized for her performances on America’s Got Talent and Dancing With The Stars.

As a solo artist, she has amassed well over 11M YouTube subscribers and 2 billion-plus YouTube streams. Also, she has won multiple Billboard Music Awards since releasing her self-titled debut album in 2012.

According to Billboard, in 2016, Stirling was the highest grossing Electronic Artist. Ahead of headlining acts like The Chainsmokers, Flume, and Kygo. Also, she’s a New York Times Bestselling author, and she was featured in Forbes ’30 Under 30’ list.
  
Where Love Grows
Where Love Grows
Jay Northcote | 2019 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Where Love Grows is a beautiful story between two men who have struggled with hard times, set in the gorgeous backdrop of Wales. Stephen has been seriously ill and is struggling to get his life back on track. It appears hopeless and he feels helpless. Luke is suffering from depression and has no idea on how to make his life better OR be able to move forward. Together, these two are amazing.

Oh my, I loved this story. I am not a gardener although my heart is in the right place. Unfortunately, my brown thumb doesn't cooperate! So I was immediately sympathising with Luke as he struggled to understand the difference between a weed and a flower. Stephen is a prickly character that endears himself to you as you learn more about his story. Yes, I wanted to slap him upside the head a couple of times, but I want to do that to my husband at times too, so count it as a compliment 😉

The writing is excellent, with clear descriptions of places, weather, emotions, you name it. The pacing is smooth, with the ending sneaking up on me. I was so engrossed in the story, I didn't realise I was nearing the end. I could have carried on reading! There is only a small cast of characters but this works so well. The storyline is superbly simple, focusing on the important things between our two characters rather than unnecessary drama.

This is a book to enjoy all year long, no matter what the season, or what is growing in your garden. Absolutely fantastic, and highly recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Audience/ Reading Level: 18+

Interests: Kidnapping, Sexual Assault, Heartbreak, Depression, and Murder.

Point of View: Third Person

Insights: When I first picked this eBook up, I was surprised by the style of read this was. It honestly wasn’t anything like I expected it to be. I was expecting a more romance/erotica feel of things, but this read more as a thriller. There were quite a few grammatical errors and the overall story was alright, but I wouldn’t reread it again and actually deleted it off my kindle once I finished it. It was fast-paced for me, almost too fast-paced. Causing parts of this series to be written in a very juvenile way and in turn, that made it just plain hard to read.

Will I reread? No. But that’s just because it wasn’t an appealing storyline worth a reread. Do I recommend? I mean, if you like cheesy written thriller’s that are just average. Then sure, read it.

Favorite Quotes: “He was supposed to shoot for the stars, not me…”

“Have you ever felt so carefree about something that you just forget that time affects your every action and you feel okay with losing all of it.”

○ interested in its physical book
○/● a continuous read / page-turner
○ diverse in any way
● something’s lacking
○ took me a long time to finish
○ an LMAO read
○ I laughed more than a few times
● it’s j u s t awkward
○ gave me goosebumps
○ one of the best books I’ve read
○ painful & sad
○ tear-jerker
○ a roller-coaster of emotions
○ thrilling
● confusing
○ sooo relatable
● it is kind of annoying
○ it has a lot of flashbacks
○ it moved me
○ would recommend!
○ great even for a reread
○ definitely a YAY
○ I’m sorry it’s a NAY
● it’s between YAY and NAY
  
Cunning Folk
Cunning Folk
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
174 of 250
Book
Cunning Folk
By Adam Nevill

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

A compelling folk horror story of deadly rivalry and the oldest magic from the four times winner of The August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel.

No home is heaven with hell next door.

Money's tight and their new home is a fixer-upper. Deep in rural South West England, with an ancient wood at the foot of the garden, Tom and his family are miles from anywhere and anyone familiar. His wife, Fiona, was never convinced that buying the money-pit at auction was a good idea. Not least because the previous owner committed suicide. Though no one can explain why.

Within days of crossing the threshold, when hostilities break out with the elderly couple next door, Tom's dreams of future contentment are threatened by an escalating tit-for-tat campaign of petty damage and disruption.

Increasingly isolated and tormented, Tom risks losing his home, everyone dear to him and his mind. Because, surely, only the mad would suspect that the oddballs across the hedgerow command unearthly powers. A malicious magic even older than the eerie wood and the strange barrow therein. A hallowed realm from where, he suspects, his neighbours draw a hideous power.


Brilliant!!!! You certainly don’t know who lives next door and who you’re pissing off with a chainsaw! Just brilliant then again I didn’t expect anything less from Adam his books are just the highlight of the year. He’s taken annoying neighbours to a whole new level. I tried so many times to slow myself down but it just wasn’t happening I needed to keep reading. I know I’m going to have a book depression waiting to see what he comes up with next.
  
A Spell of Good Things
A Spell of Good Things
Ayobami Adebayo | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Spell of Good Things by Ayòbámi Adébáyò is a book that looks unflinchingly at the have’s and have not’s in Nigeria. The two main characters come from two very different backgrounds.

Eniola is a boy who looks like a man. His schoolteacher father loses his job due to a shakeup in the education system, and falls into a deep depression. This leaves Eniola working as an errand boy for the local tailor, collecting newspapers and begging (much against his will). He wants so much more for his life, though…

Wuraola is from a wealthy family. Her parents are proud of her succeeding in her aim to be a doctor - and now they expect her to marry. And Kunle is the son of friends that they favour. But he’s volatile in private (to say the least).

We follow the stories of Eniola and Wuraola and the differences in their lives are stark. Eniola goes to school hungry, he’s beaten by the teachers because his parents pay their school fees late (if at all). And finally, he thinks he has found a way out of his poverty - when in fact it’s something far worse.

Wuraola’s life is difficult in a different way: she has a well-paid, well-respected job, but the Nigerian health system is overstretched, underfunded and doesn’t have enough doctors. But she believes in doing her duty, so she works hard, and says yes when Kunle proposes.

Wuraola’s and Eniola’s lives are on a collision course though.

I inhaled this book. It’s gritty and doesn’t hold back in any way. It’s an insight into lives I’ve never experienced and so powerfully told. The themes of domestic abuse, poverty, access to education and political corruption make for a heartbreaking read.
Recommended.