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David McK (3663 KP) rated Dawnthief (Chronicles of the Raven, #1) in Books

Jan 30, 2019

This is pretty much what I would term your standard high-fantasy fiction: high fantasy as opposed to, say, urban fantasy, as it involves Dragons (albeit only at the very beginning, and then more-or-less forgotten about), Elves and Magic amongst other genre staples.

The Raven of the sub-title ('Chronicles of the Raven', remember!) are a group of mercenaries who, at the beginning of the novel, have lived and fought together for years. At the end of one contract, they are hired by a former enemy, before events start overtaking them and they find themselves as amongst the last hope for their land, which is descending into war ...

I found this to be an OK read: not the best of such-like books I've ever read; nor the worst.

Kudos

Jeremy King (346 KP) rated Shaft (1971) in Movies

Aug 15, 2019

Shaft (1971)

1971 | Action, Crime, Thriller

7.0

(22 Ratings)

Movie Rating

I just finished watching this film.
All i can say is WOW and not in a good way.

This film and character are iconic in pulp fiction. After i watched this film i question why? I was bored with this film. Now it might because movies today have more action, so maybe i was expecting it to be more action pack.

To me this film was good and forgettable. If i seen this in the early 70s and it was not hyped up as much as it is it would just be a footnote on the bottom of a page.

The theme song was great and i would remmber that.

Music was great.
Setting was great
Acting was great

I plan to watch more of the Shaft movies. I know the newer ones are better.

Kudos

Milleen (47 KP) rated The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle in Books

Jan 14, 2019

The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle

Stuart Turton | 2018 | Mystery, Science Fiction/Fantasy

7.9

(24 Ratings)

Book Rating

Mindblowing Murder Mystery

Any fan of a jolly good, old fashioned murder mystery may enjoy a new spin on the favourite format. Imagine an Agatha Christie style thriller from the point of view of several characters, a narrator who swaps bodies and arrives at different times in their week. He must solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle, avoid the evil Footman and play time to his advantage if he is ever allowed to leave Blackheath. This was a complex, and yet highly enjoyable, work of fiction. Within three chapters you will begin to appreciate the work it must’ve taken Turton to create this tense thriller. It’s an exhilarating peek into the minds of other characters and their perspectives, the more their individual stories overlap, the more the narrative flows. Definitely a book for discussion.

Kudos

Erika (17789 KP) rated A Long Long Way in Books

Mar 22, 2020

A Long Long Way

Sebastian Barry | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics

6.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Slow beginning (0 more)

I got this nookbook on sale for $1.99. I'm glad I only spent that. I enjoy Great War fiction, and the added dynamic of the Easter Uprising of 1916 made me even more interested in it.
This book started out so slowly, and some of the descriptions felt completely unnecessary. I don't want to read about every time someone let their bowels go when they were scared literally and figuratively sh--less.
The one positive is that I felt like the dynamic of the Irish soldiers coming back to an Ireland they didn't recognize, and that they were considered traitors in some ways because they were fighting with the English.
Never expect a happy ending to a book (or any media) about soldiers in the Great War.

Kudos

lurkykitty (3 KP) rated The Animals at Lockwood Manor in Books

Mar 26, 2020

The Animals at Lockwood Manor

Jane Healey | 2020 | LGBTQ+, Romance

10.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

A tense, suspenseful debut historical novel

The Animals at Lockwood Manor is a debut historical fiction novel. It takes place in England during the second world war. Hetty Cartwright is tasked with moving animal specimens from the Natural History Museum collection to a manor in the countryside to protect them from the German air raids. Shortly after moving to Lockwood Manor, Hetty realizes all is not quite right with the inhabitants of the manor. The novel is well-written, tense, and atmospheric. The author skillfully builds the suspense, culminating in the motive for hosting the zoological collection and the revelation of multiple secrets. There is also a romance intertwined with the plot and, although important, is not the main focus of the story. It was highly readable and difficult to put down.