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ClareR (6250 KP) rated An Unexpected Ally in Books

Jul 8, 2026  
An Unexpected Ally
An Unexpected Ally
Sophia Kouidou-Giles | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I’m rather enjoying the Greek mythology retellings we’re getting recently. The women, I think, are more fairly represented. Less evil, just trying to get on with their lives - and An Unexpected Ally does just this with Circe. She’s not the evil, manipulative witch of the traditional myths. She doesn’t wail and gnash her teeth when Odysseus leaves - in fact, she helps him.

Instead, she turns her attention elsewhere. To Glaucus. The story deviates from the original with regards to the treatment of Skylla (Scylla), but why not? It’s not a history book!

The relationship between Skylla and Circe was interesting, and I liked the intervention of Perse in the story. I felt the settings were richly described, making them easy to see as I read. I liked the narrative voice, and how it harked back to the original style yet with a touch of modernity. It’s an accessible read, not bogged down in old-fashioned turns of phrase that often give a clunky feel. It DOES have a “fairytale” feel to the narrative, however (this is not bad in my opinion).

Let’s face it, Circe deserves a break after years of being the manipulative, evil witch. Here, she’s seeking connection, friendship, love and redemption from what happens to Skylla.
This is well-told, and I’m currently reading the next in the series that’s due out soon (Perse gets to tell her story) - so I’m loving this series so far!

Thanks to BookSirens for my copy of this book, and these are - as usual - all my own opinions!
  
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Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Aladdin (2019) in Movies

Jun 12, 2019  
Aladdin (2019)
Aladdin (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical
6
7.2 (157 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Naomi Scott! (2 more)
Normal Guy Ritchie visual flourishes
Some good Disney "in-jokes"
Marwen Kenzari not nearly evil enough as Jafar (2 more)
Others are cast because they look like the animated characters: some would be good in the Disney parade... less convincing on the big screen
Comparison with Robin Williams (RIP)
Pointless remake but adequately done.
My full review is on One Mann's Movies here: https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2019/06/11/one-manns-movies-film-review-aladdin-2019/
  
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Snowman (1 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) in Movies

Jan 20, 2018  
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
2017 | Action, Sci-Fi
6
7.8 (306 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Some original parts (3 more)
Funniest Star Wars movie yet
Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley are superb
Visually stunning
Didn't answer a lot of important questions (4 more)
Some stupid and pointless parts (one in particular)
Can't take Kylo Ren seriously as a villain (not evil enough)
Didn't leave you feeling that the next episode would blow you away
Made me think Disney have just cashed in and are ignoring what made Star Wars great under George Lucas!
The Last Jedi Overview
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2591 KP) rated The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia, #7) in Books

Mar 9, 2018  
The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia, #7)
The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia, #7)
C.S. Lewis | 1956 | Children, Fiction & Poetry
10
8.4 (18 Ratings)
Book Rating
A great evil comes to Narnia. Can good defeat it one last time? This is a different book for the series, and it certainly wasn't the ending I expected when I first read it in 3rd grade. However, as an adult, I've come to love it. This is my second favorite in the series.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-last-battle-by-c-s-lewis.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Cynthia Armistead (17 KP) rated Demon Seed (Good Will Ghost Hunting, #1) in Books

Mar 1, 2018  
DS
Demon Seed (Good Will Ghost Hunting, #1)
Lesli Richardson | 2009
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not the first time I've encountered this take ("demons" are just powerful beings in charge of a particular reality who have been labeled "evil" by beings from a competing reality whose PR has fared better in modern times) but I can't remember the last time it was pushed quite this heavily. I would probably advise most Christians, particularly Baptists, to give this one a pass.

Don't worry, you aren't exactly missing any deathless prose or original plotting, anyway.
  
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J Elizabeth Klug (21 KP) rated Harry Potter: A Journey Through Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts in Books

Dec 14, 2019  
Harry Potter: A Journey Through Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts
Harry Potter: A Journey Through Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts
J. K. Rowling | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
7
8.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
A short non-fiction ebook that draws comparisons from the magic written by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series to the historical myths and folklore from which it's based. Invisiability, transforming into a creature, and warding off evil are just a few of the topics you'll find in this book.

I found this to be a fascinating read and would recommend it to any fans of Harry Potter who are interested in Mythology and Folklore.
  
    Abject Suffering

    Abject Suffering

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    Podcast

    This is a podcast that's nominally about bad games. In reality, it's about the horror of daily life,...