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Steph (468 KP) rated The Great Book of Amber (The Chronicles of Amber, #1-10) in Books
Jul 9, 2018
I'm rating this book as a 5 for a few reasons. First, I think the world is extremely innovative and unique. I really enjoyed the well thought-out and different magic system and setting. The plot and intrigue was also very enjoyable. The first set of books especially did this quite well. However, the second set of five books really fell short for me, especially 7-10. It seemed like there was a lot of random stuff thrown in that didn't make a whole lot of sense, wasn't explained very well, and no one thing was really focused on. It seemed very haphazard and complicated for no good reason. The ending also seemed to come on extremely quickly. The second to last page of the book was a fight scene and then everything ends on the very last page when Merlin decides to become the King of Chaos with very little rationale given how strongly he had been hinting he was not going to do this. The book completely lacked a resolution. So while I enjoyed it on the whole, I don't feel I would be missing much (except perhaps depth in the magic system) if I didn't read the second 5 books at all.
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Shelter in Place in Books
Sep 27, 2018
Amazing, beginning to end.
Contains spoilers, click to show
THIS BOOK. I don't know how Nora Roberts continues to write so many stories that intrigue and enthrall me after all these years, but she does, and flawlessly.
The first 15 pages of this book were pretty traumatizing. I actually had to put it down for a couple of days before I could go back to it. I felt like I was THERE, in that mall, feeling what those people were feeling. Written from the perspective of several different characters, the shock, the pain, the absolute horror of it all comes through loud and clear.
As we follow the lives of these victims after the shooting, a complex and emotionally charged story is masterfully woven, drawing the reader further in with every page. I fell half in love with Reed myself, laughed at the silly dog getting his head stuck between the railings, cheered when Patricia was taken down, and let silent tears fall when Simone's memorial was unveiled. It was a beautiful, moving, timely story - and as with all Nora Roberts books, I truly felt like I knew the characters intimately by the end.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARE and the opportunity to read this early!
The first 15 pages of this book were pretty traumatizing. I actually had to put it down for a couple of days before I could go back to it. I felt like I was THERE, in that mall, feeling what those people were feeling. Written from the perspective of several different characters, the shock, the pain, the absolute horror of it all comes through loud and clear.
As we follow the lives of these victims after the shooting, a complex and emotionally charged story is masterfully woven, drawing the reader further in with every page. I fell half in love with Reed myself, laughed at the silly dog getting his head stuck between the railings, cheered when Patricia was taken down, and let silent tears fall when Simone's memorial was unveiled. It was a beautiful, moving, timely story - and as with all Nora Roberts books, I truly felt like I knew the characters intimately by the end.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARE and the opportunity to read this early!
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Cabin in the Woods (2012) in Movies
Oct 14, 2018
Not just your average horror film
If you're expecting your run of the mill slasher/horror flick then this film won't be for you. Whilst it starts off exactly like every other cabin in the woods type film, there are a few odd bits of intrigue thrown in that make you realise it isn't just your average horror. And as far as horror goes, this isn't one for typical jump scares. In fact, this film is actually hilarious and the only real bits of horror are the copious amounts of gore and creeps towards the end. The elevator scene is by far one of my favourite scenes out of any horror, it's delightfully bonkers and horrifying.
This film is in its entirety pretty crazy and bonkers, but for the most part it doesn't matter as it does brilliantly at challenging your typical horror movie cliches and this is so fun to watch. The ending itself is possibly the only part that goes a little too far & is probably a bit too farfetched, but it is still a far more refreshing ending than what you'd get in your typical horror.
I'd love to see them make a 'choose your own' ending type game out of this film, it'd be so much fun!
This film is in its entirety pretty crazy and bonkers, but for the most part it doesn't matter as it does brilliantly at challenging your typical horror movie cliches and this is so fun to watch. The ending itself is possibly the only part that goes a little too far & is probably a bit too farfetched, but it is still a far more refreshing ending than what you'd get in your typical horror.
I'd love to see them make a 'choose your own' ending type game out of this film, it'd be so much fun!
Merissa (12066 KP) rated Desires of a Mage (Mages of the Nether, #2) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Desires of a Mage follows Marcus as he becomes bored with being a bodyguard for Daniel and Aiden. He wants more, but doesn't appear to be able to get it. Edmond is from a scholarly house, more suited to teaching than fighting. These two have a history but Marcus broke it off for reasons unknown. All does become clear as the story progresses though, I promise you.
With meddling families, traitors in the mix, unrequited love, there is plenty of action going on. I was very pleased when things were cleared up with Tullia, but a bit disappointed when left with a hint that things still weren't in the clear regarding Camelia. There is plenty in here to move this story along, as well as laying the groundwork for future stories, full of intrigue.
This is well written, with a smooth and easy flow to it. I would recommend that you read it as part of a series, rather than a standalone, but have no hesitation at all in recommending it completely.
*A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.*
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
With meddling families, traitors in the mix, unrequited love, there is plenty of action going on. I was very pleased when things were cleared up with Tullia, but a bit disappointed when left with a hint that things still weren't in the clear regarding Camelia. There is plenty in here to move this story along, as well as laying the groundwork for future stories, full of intrigue.
This is well written, with a smooth and easy flow to it. I would recommend that you read it as part of a series, rather than a standalone, but have no hesitation at all in recommending it completely.
*A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.*
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
David McK (3425 KP) rated The Last Camel Died at Noon (Amelia Peabody, #6) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Book number 6 in Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody (think female Victorian Indiana Jones) series, which sees Amelia, her husband Radcliffe and son Ramses back in the dusty climes of Egypt following their adventures in the previous ([b: The Deeds of the Disturber|32139|The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody, #5)|Elizabeth Peters|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388887764s/32139.jpg|2176252]).
I have to say, though, that the plot of this one is more-than-slightly reminiscent of [a: H Rider Haggard|4633123|H. Rider Haggard|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1298296700p2/4633123.jpg]'s [b: King Solomon's Mines|108914|In Search of King Solomon's Mines|Tahir Shah|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348655880s/108914.jpg|4188], pretty much just swapping the African setting and characters of that novel for the dusty climes of Egypt - a similarity that Emerson, in a bit of meta-fiction, himself complains about.
Throw in a dash of [b: She|5203|She's Come Undone|Wally Lamb|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408313457s/5203.jpg|1003370] (also by H Rider Haggard) with a soupcon of intrigue and more entertaining byplay between the Emerson's (with Ramses his usual precocious self), and the result is another entertaining read in the series.
I have to say, though, that the plot of this one is more-than-slightly reminiscent of [a: H Rider Haggard|4633123|H. Rider Haggard|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1298296700p2/4633123.jpg]'s [b: King Solomon's Mines|108914|In Search of King Solomon's Mines|Tahir Shah|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348655880s/108914.jpg|4188], pretty much just swapping the African setting and characters of that novel for the dusty climes of Egypt - a similarity that Emerson, in a bit of meta-fiction, himself complains about.
Throw in a dash of [b: She|5203|She's Come Undone|Wally Lamb|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408313457s/5203.jpg|1003370] (also by H Rider Haggard) with a soupcon of intrigue and more entertaining byplay between the Emerson's (with Ramses his usual precocious self), and the result is another entertaining read in the series.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Silent Companions in Books
Oct 16, 2019
A gripping gothic horror
I decided to give this a go purely because I enjoyed Laura Purcell's second novel The Corset, and I'm so glad I did because I could not put this down. I stayed up far too late last might purely to get this finished as I couldn't bear the thought of waiting until tonight to read the ending. It's that good.
This is the first horror book I've ever read that has truly scared me and given me the creeps. The plot and idea behind the companions is a wonderfully creepy idea and the gothic setting works so well. The story is told in a great way too, flitting between the different times and viewpoints, to really build up the tension and intrigue to where you can't stop reading as you need to find out what happens next. The only real criticism I have is that Elsie is not the most amenable and endearing of protagonists, so even after the ending you don't necessarily feel sorry for her, but I personally was so gripped by the rest of the plot that whether I loved Elsie or not was irrelevant. The kind of book I'd love to see made into a film (done properly of course!).
This is the first horror book I've ever read that has truly scared me and given me the creeps. The plot and idea behind the companions is a wonderfully creepy idea and the gothic setting works so well. The story is told in a great way too, flitting between the different times and viewpoints, to really build up the tension and intrigue to where you can't stop reading as you need to find out what happens next. The only real criticism I have is that Elsie is not the most amenable and endearing of protagonists, so even after the ending you don't necessarily feel sorry for her, but I personally was so gripped by the rest of the plot that whether I loved Elsie or not was irrelevant. The kind of book I'd love to see made into a film (done properly of course!).
Merissa (12066 KP) rated Shadow of Deception (The Kazumi Chronicles #1) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
There is so much that goes on in this book, but that is not a bad thing. In fact, even when it had finished, I still needed more!!
You get a prologue with a young child, then it skips forward ten years and she is the sole survivor of a plane crash. You don't know how or why, and you stay with "Gabi" as she tries to figure out who she is and where she belongs. She is taken to a secret location where there is a specialised group of people called Sarcomeres.
I won't go into the story any further as I hate giving away spoilers. Suffice it to say, I loved every word. It is full of action and intrigue, with snippets of memory surfacing occasionally. There is certainly more than enough to keep your attention! With a hint of romance between Finn and Gabi/Kazumi as well, this is a well-rounded story with full-bodied and believable characters.
This is certainly an author I will be following and I really hope that she brings out more books in general, but specifically with this world and characters. Highly recommended.
* I received this book from Xpresso Book Tours in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
You get a prologue with a young child, then it skips forward ten years and she is the sole survivor of a plane crash. You don't know how or why, and you stay with "Gabi" as she tries to figure out who she is and where she belongs. She is taken to a secret location where there is a specialised group of people called Sarcomeres.
I won't go into the story any further as I hate giving away spoilers. Suffice it to say, I loved every word. It is full of action and intrigue, with snippets of memory surfacing occasionally. There is certainly more than enough to keep your attention! With a hint of romance between Finn and Gabi/Kazumi as well, this is a well-rounded story with full-bodied and believable characters.
This is certainly an author I will be following and I really hope that she brings out more books in general, but specifically with this world and characters. Highly recommended.
* I received this book from Xpresso Book Tours in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Stranger Things - Season 2 in TV
Aug 4, 2019
Another great series
I binge watched this entire series in one day, and it really was rather entertaining. The first episodes start off rather slowly, but this at least gives a chance to catch up with the returning characters and introduce some new faces. It soon picks up though, and is packed full on intrigue, humour, some rather dark moments and of course a pretty awesome soundtrack. The CGI has improved a fair bit since the last series and it was such an enjoyable series to watch. My favourite parts so far were anything involving Hopper. David Harbour is just fantastic and Hopper’s character has developed well this series, especially his relationship with Eleven. Her story and development too was good to see.
Of course it isn’t perfect. I found parts of the storyline ridiculously predictable, even if they were alright to watch (like Eleven’s storyline). I liked most of the new characters but I found Bob a little too much and sickly sweet (sorry!). And the whole childhood romance thing was a little too over the top and cringey and a bit much.
But still overall one of the best series Netflix has to offer and I’m just looking forward to catching up on series 3 now!
Of course it isn’t perfect. I found parts of the storyline ridiculously predictable, even if they were alright to watch (like Eleven’s storyline). I liked most of the new characters but I found Bob a little too much and sickly sweet (sorry!). And the whole childhood romance thing was a little too over the top and cringey and a bit much.
But still overall one of the best series Netflix has to offer and I’m just looking forward to catching up on series 3 now!
Running on Red Dog Road: And Other Perils of an Appalachian Childhood
Book
"Mining companies piled trash coal in a slag heap and set it ablaze. The coal burned up, but the...
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Seeking Solitude: Glenn Gould and the Goldberg Variations
Book
Glenn Gould s legacy continues to intrigue us; new areas of research emerge every year. In this...