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Kristin (149 KP) rated Destined to Kill (Destined Novels, #1) in Books

Dec 7, 2018

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anala is a Hunter, the child of the Leaders of their society, and she's one of the best. Too bad her parents never let her go out and actually hunt any Cursed Ones. One night, she and her friend Thomas are out, and his sister scares them. When Thomas leaves Anala behind to take his sister home, she lets her guard down for one minute; however, that's all it takes. She's bitten, and her life will change forever.

This story pulled me in from the very first sentence. Everybody loves a good vampire story, but this was more than that. It was a coming-of-age story, of sorts, mixed with a little romance, some intrigue, and some good old-fashioned butt kicking. I'm fond of all the characters, even Jenna (the proverbial sour grape), and I would definitely love to read more about this group. I really hope there's a sequel already in the works!!

5 stars =)

Kudos

Sharpie0499 (114 KP) rated Murder on the Orient Express (2017) in Movies

Jul 10, 2018

Surprise ending (2 more)

All-star cast

Heart-wrenching

Poirot's moustache (1 more)

Kenneth Brannagh isn't David Suchet

Intriguing Agatha Christie Adaptation

I was very excited to watch the most recent adaptation of Agatha Christie's Poirot and for very good reason. It was a very well-rounded film filled with humour, intrigue, and devastation. I particularly loved the surprise plot twists so the audience can never really tell (unless extremely clever) who the culprit actually is until revealed by Hercules Poirot himself. The camera angles used were absolutely brilliant and refreshing. The all-star cast was a plus as it was nice to see familiar faces in unexpected roles. The acting, costumes, writing, and set all contributed to making the film have that true Agatha Christie feeling to it. On the downside, I was not a huge fan of Poirot's moustache and found it to be over-the-top and irritating. I also find myself leaning more towards David Suchet's version of Poirot than Kenneth Brannagh's. But, overall, this film was extremely entertaining and had my brain doing somersaults trying to figure out who the culprit was.

Kudos

HLD (99 KP) rated Baby Driver (2017) in Movies

Jul 3, 2018

Baby Driver (2017)

2017 | Action, Comedy

8.2

(158 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

The soundtrack (2 more)

Recognisable faces - and not just for 2 minute cameos

Ansel Elgort is strangely appealing. Even if he barely freaking speaks

Kevin Spacey (1 more)

I had friends that 'couldn't get into it', but it's the kind of film that's not everyone's taste

So good. So. So. So good.

Went into this not knowing a thing about it. Except, I assumed, there would be some driving involved. Just the poster alone made me think I'd like it, and I did.
It's just such a fun experience. The story isn't overly serious or convoluted, yet Baby's obsession over music and, the reasoning for it, add depth to him that really make the character a touch more loveable.
Action scenes aren't boring Michael Bay-esque. There is an element of fear for the characters safety, but more-so intrigue and respect at how those shots were created.

Without spoiling anything; I enjoyed the ending. It was a touch unrealistic, but the entire film dips its toe in that realm.

I left feeling satisfied, happy, and most of all, entertained. That's what it is all about!

Kudos

Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Wives in Books

Mar 16, 2020

The Wives

Tarryn Fisher | 2020 | Thriller

6.6

(5 Ratings)

Book Rating

What started off as a promising well-written story with a lot of promise of intrigue and mystery as we learn who the "other Wives" are. Unfortunately, it lost me completely at the halfway mark and turned into something that looked like it had been picked up by a totally different author who decided to just go wild.

Our protagonist is in an agreed polygamist relationship with Seth and two other women all of whom know of the other's existence but not who they are. Seth splits his time between the 3 and all seems happy in her world until she decides to look into who the other women are. This is the part of the book that worked for me and it sounds crazy enough so trust me when I say it then goes off the hinges but not in an enjoyable way.

I slogged through until the even less satisfying end - sorry not for me.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC.

Kudos

David McK (3791 KP) rated The Commodore in Books

Apr 27, 2020

The Commodore

CS Forester | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Fourth published but chronologically the ninth of CS Forester's Hornblower series of novels, this is the one that is set mainly in and around the Baltic, starting with Hornblower's investiture as Lord of the Manor alongside his second wife, lady Barbara (nee) Wellesley - yes, of that Wellesley name - and with his sole surviving toddler son from his first marriage.

Finding shore life stifling, dull and tedious, Hornblower is (secretly) relieved when he receives a summons from the Admiralty, and is sent off to the Baltic to shore up Britain's interests and (hopefully) stop further French incursion into Sweden and Russia.

As such, this is thus set before Napoleon's disastrous (for the French!) Russian campaign, with the starts of that campaign occurring in the latter pars of this novel: a novel which takes in court intrigue (even meeting the Russian Tsar), sea battles, unusual sailing vessels (the bomb ketches) and land battles before its denouement - a denouement that will see Hornblower return back to Blighty before his next mission.