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The Witches of BlackBrook (Witches of BlackBrook #1)
The Witches of BlackBrook (Witches of BlackBrook #1)
Tish Thawer | 2015 | Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is an enjoyable and entertaining tale told in the present time but with flashbacks to Salem. It is smoothly linked and always done with a reason, not simply gratuitous. With lots of intrigue and suspense to keep you turning the pages, this is a story that is an easy read with plenty of references made to Wicca and the correspondences to various flowers and crystals etc.

I enjoyed this story and didn't find any editing or grammatical errors. I enjoyed the climax of the story although it didn't really come as a surprise. However, I wasn't reading it for the shock value so this in no way detracted from the story for me. It did remind me of 'Charmed' in more ways than one so I would have no hesitation in recommending this to any fans of Charmed or their version of Wicca.

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

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 20, 2015
  
Still Standing (Matt Standing #3)
Still Standing (Matt Standing #3)
Stephen Leather | 2023 | Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Once again, Mr Leather treats us to a story full of action and intrigue from the start. This might be the third in the Matt Standing series but can easily be read as a standalone so don't worry.

When Pete Green apparently commits suicide whilst taking a break in Thailand, his twin brother smells a rat; Matt agrees to accompany him to find out how Pete died and repatriate his body back to the UK. On arrival, it quickly becomes apparent that things are definitely not what they seem and things quickly go downhill and it's going to take all Matt's SAS training and guile, as well as a little intel from a certain "Spider" back in the UK, to get out of the trouble he finds himself in.

Well written, fast paced with great characters and an excellent story, this is a great read that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others and my thanks go to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of Still Standing.
  
Reborn (Hollow City Coven #6)
Reborn (Hollow City Coven #6)
Hazel Hunter | 2016 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Gillian and Shayne have made it out of Tenebris, only to find Mathias under attack. Apparently, he has been for the whole amount of time that they were in Tenebris. Help arrives in the form of a coven master and a friend. Things are not as they seem to be though, and Gillian, Shayne, and Mathias are drawn deeper into intrigue that they have no control over. They need to do something but are unsure of what.

This is an explosive and twisted ending to this series, which has been full of turns the whole way through. There is so much more to this than just hot sex, although, trust me, that is more than good too. 😉

The perfect ending to a fantastic series, each novella is the perfect length for a quick and steamy read, full of enjoyment and adventure. Definitely 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!
Feb 24, 2016
  
Parasite (2019)
Parasite (2019)
2019 | Drama
Kills You With Intrigue
This is the portion of the review where I usually give a quick synopsis, but I’m not going to do that for Parasite. I want you to go in like I did: Completely and totally blind. It’s so much better that way, trust me on this.

Acting: 10

Beginning: 9
Nice set up for what is to come, especially when you don’t really know what’s coming. You’re introduced to the primary family and get a better understanding of their story. I appreciated how director/writer Bong Joon Ho sets up the intrigue but doesn’t give you too much.

Characters: 10

Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Parasite is cinematically gorgeous from beginning to end. It gives you a feeling that you are witnessing something you’ve never seen before. I won’t dive too deep into this, but I especially love the cinematic contrast shown between the lower and upper class. Brilliantly done.

Conflict: 10
One minute, you think you’re watching a light comedy. The next, you’re saying, “Holy shit!” The perceived conflict is big enough, but when more gets added to the mix things get extremely out of control. I loved every minute of it.

Entertainment Value: 8

Memorability: 10
As soon as I finished watching Parasite, I immediately looked up who directed Oldboy as the shooting style and varying levels of constant tension felt very similar. Though not the same director, I will say this: If you’ve seen the latter, expect to be just as shocked by the former. Parasite gives you an experience you will never forget.

Pace: 10
Not a dull moment throughout. I spent so much time trying to figure out what the hell was happening that things never got boring, especially during the second half of the movie. There were so many moments of tension, you would be hardpressed to lose interest in the movie.

Plot: 10

Resolution: 1
As phenomenal as the movie is, the ending definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. Wasn’t a fan in the least. In fact, it was the one thing in my mind keeping this from being a classic.

Overall: 88
If you’re planning to see Parasite anytime soon, make sure you go in completely blind. It is memorable beyond belief. Expect it to stay in your mind for a long time after watching it.