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Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Frame-Up (The Golden Arrow Mysteries Book 1) in Books
Apr 16, 2020
Great idea but could've been executed better
When I first saw the synopsis of this book, I thought it sounded great - superheroes, geeks and comic books is right up my street. However what is a great idea for a story isn't executed very well.
My main problem is the character of MG herself. A female geek character is a great idea, but my issue is that I found MG very unlikeable. Her attitude and actions started off fairly well, but by the end I found myself getting so irritated by her inability to listen to other people and her stubborn and rash attitude. The romance aspect of this novel doesnt help matters - it sounds like every geeks dream and so farfetched and ridiculous it's laughable. This could not be any more predictable and cliched than it already is. Matteo as a character too seems fairly undeveloped and comes across as a rather one dimensional love interest.
This is a shame as the idea behind the story is quite interesting and rather fun to read. There's also some very decent minor characters like Lawrence who are a lot more intriguing and fun that should've been featured more. I also loved the references to geek and pop culture, and overall this aspect of the book was a lot of fun. I did find the lack of resolution in some parts of the story frustrating - your typical sequel baiting. I do have the sequel to read which I probably will read as I enjoyed this book enough, but I pray for a resolution as I doubt this series will hold my attention enough longer than that.
My main problem is the character of MG herself. A female geek character is a great idea, but my issue is that I found MG very unlikeable. Her attitude and actions started off fairly well, but by the end I found myself getting so irritated by her inability to listen to other people and her stubborn and rash attitude. The romance aspect of this novel doesnt help matters - it sounds like every geeks dream and so farfetched and ridiculous it's laughable. This could not be any more predictable and cliched than it already is. Matteo as a character too seems fairly undeveloped and comes across as a rather one dimensional love interest.
This is a shame as the idea behind the story is quite interesting and rather fun to read. There's also some very decent minor characters like Lawrence who are a lot more intriguing and fun that should've been featured more. I also loved the references to geek and pop culture, and overall this aspect of the book was a lot of fun. I did find the lack of resolution in some parts of the story frustrating - your typical sequel baiting. I do have the sequel to read which I probably will read as I enjoyed this book enough, but I pray for a resolution as I doubt this series will hold my attention enough longer than that.
Merissa (12817 KP) rated Hidden Realm (Legends of Lightning #1) in Books
Oct 28, 2021
HIDDEN REALM is the first book in the Legends of Lightning series, and I was really looking forward to it.
What I got was a fantasy with elements of Brothers Grimm and all their original fairy tales. Now, it DOES say it is dark, so please pay attention to that if you have any triggers.
Esther is content (as far as she seems possible to be) with her life, but it takes a strange turn when she starts to manifest injuries from her dreams. She does a minimum amount of digging and decides to pack up her life and travel to a different realm.
There is a LOT of violence and rape is inferred on what felt like every page. Due to this, the impact of it lessened with each repeat. The emotional connection with the main characters was also lacking for me. I felt more for one of the supporting characters when his family died than I did for Esther or Oisin.
Just a quick heads up - prepare yourself for whiplash as Esther's emotions change course on a dime.
There is a lot of potential to this story with plenty of intrigue and twists to keep your attention. It does need tightening up in places, but on the whole, it was a good read. I am engaged enough to want to know what happens to Esther and Oisin now.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
What I got was a fantasy with elements of Brothers Grimm and all their original fairy tales. Now, it DOES say it is dark, so please pay attention to that if you have any triggers.
Esther is content (as far as she seems possible to be) with her life, but it takes a strange turn when she starts to manifest injuries from her dreams. She does a minimum amount of digging and decides to pack up her life and travel to a different realm.
There is a LOT of violence and rape is inferred on what felt like every page. Due to this, the impact of it lessened with each repeat. The emotional connection with the main characters was also lacking for me. I felt more for one of the supporting characters when his family died than I did for Esther or Oisin.
Just a quick heads up - prepare yourself for whiplash as Esther's emotions change course on a dime.
There is a lot of potential to this story with plenty of intrigue and twists to keep your attention. It does need tightening up in places, but on the whole, it was a good read. I am engaged enough to want to know what happens to Esther and Oisin now.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Morbius (2022) in Movies
Apr 2, 2022
For better or for worse, Morbius is finally out and, well, it ain't anything to write home about, but it's not quite as piss poor as I'd been hearing.
I've always liked the Morbius character, a solid C-list villain of Blade and Spider-Man, but did he ever really need his own movie? Well evidently not. It's essentially a run-of-the-mill comic book adaption that feels like it belongs in the mid 2000s with Elektra and Daredevil. It's kind of like a less fun Venom. Jared Leto isn't too shabby in the title roll when he's onscreen by himself, but there's just no chemistry between anyone otherwise, rendering a lot of the runtime quite boring. The action scenes are the kind of predictable grey CGI orgies that we've come to expect by now, and it's difficult to make out what's even happening on some occasions. The CG itself is hit and miss. Morbius actually looks pretty decent for the most part, but Matt Smith's character looks like a reject from I Am Legend. The movie suffers from a lack of an R rating, with a lot of weird looking bloodless scenes where gore was clearly meant to be present. To top things off, it boasts a mid credits scene that at best, doesn't even try to make sense, and at worst, manages to cheapen the events of Marvel movies that have come before.
Honestly though, I didn't outright hate Morbius. There are certainly worse comic book adaptions out there, but I won't be in any rush to watch again. Sony insisted on pushing ahead with it, and ultimately could have done so much more.
I've always liked the Morbius character, a solid C-list villain of Blade and Spider-Man, but did he ever really need his own movie? Well evidently not. It's essentially a run-of-the-mill comic book adaption that feels like it belongs in the mid 2000s with Elektra and Daredevil. It's kind of like a less fun Venom. Jared Leto isn't too shabby in the title roll when he's onscreen by himself, but there's just no chemistry between anyone otherwise, rendering a lot of the runtime quite boring. The action scenes are the kind of predictable grey CGI orgies that we've come to expect by now, and it's difficult to make out what's even happening on some occasions. The CG itself is hit and miss. Morbius actually looks pretty decent for the most part, but Matt Smith's character looks like a reject from I Am Legend. The movie suffers from a lack of an R rating, with a lot of weird looking bloodless scenes where gore was clearly meant to be present. To top things off, it boasts a mid credits scene that at best, doesn't even try to make sense, and at worst, manages to cheapen the events of Marvel movies that have come before.
Honestly though, I didn't outright hate Morbius. There are certainly worse comic book adaptions out there, but I won't be in any rush to watch again. Sony insisted on pushing ahead with it, and ultimately could have done so much more.
Merissa (12817 KP) rated Interstellar Angel (Astral Heat #1) in Books
Sep 16, 2021 (Updated Jul 14, 2023)
INTERSTELLAR ANGEL is the first book in the Astral Heat series and is a slow-start, slow-burn reverse harem science fiction story.
The prologue starts with a character called Zorin being held in a cell. He escapes (with help) and disappears until the last part of the book, but not before kissing one of our main males senseless. Kaia has run away from home to escape the chains of being a princess - and I mean that literally. Only now she has been caught and things are never going to be the same for her.
There was a lot to this that didn't make sense to me - the whole cyber aspect of it, if I'm honest. I use a computer but I don't know all about the innards, and that's what it felt like. Once I skimmed over those parts, it got better.
There are some very steamy moments in this but, as Kaia says, no penetration. There is also a lot of back and forth, life-mates, mating pheromones, protective instincts, you name it. Overall, it was a good read that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
Fair warning though - it does end on a cliffhanger so be prepared to wait to find out what happens next. The next book, Renegade Angel, is due for release in December.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Sep 16, 2021
The prologue starts with a character called Zorin being held in a cell. He escapes (with help) and disappears until the last part of the book, but not before kissing one of our main males senseless. Kaia has run away from home to escape the chains of being a princess - and I mean that literally. Only now she has been caught and things are never going to be the same for her.
There was a lot to this that didn't make sense to me - the whole cyber aspect of it, if I'm honest. I use a computer but I don't know all about the innards, and that's what it felt like. Once I skimmed over those parts, it got better.
There are some very steamy moments in this but, as Kaia says, no penetration. There is also a lot of back and forth, life-mates, mating pheromones, protective instincts, you name it. Overall, it was a good read that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
Fair warning though - it does end on a cliffhanger so be prepared to wait to find out what happens next. The next book, Renegade Angel, is due for release in December.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Sep 16, 2021
ClareR (5869 KP) rated Creation Lake in Books
Jan 20, 2025
Creation Lake was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and I can see why. I really enjoyed this story of a spy called Sadie, who infiltrates an eco-terrorist cult in France. They are led from afar by a man called Bruno, who lives in a cave, and believes that the only way to save humanity is to give up technology and return to out non-mechanised, non- fossil-fuelled past. They are extremists, but even the eco-cult reach a point where they can see that Bruno’s vision goes a bit too far.
I really enjoyed reading Bruno’s emails with Sadie (she has hacked into the email account of the eco-terrorists), got really involved with his theories, googled some and discovered that what he was saying may not have been 100% true or sane.
Sadie is an observer. She’s not your typical all action spy, but she certainly drinks quite a lot of alcohol and has to fend off a lot of unwanted male advances. But she does also use her sexuality to get what she wants.
There are some observations on the state of modern life: greedy landowners who will do anything to make money, the effects of modern life on the young (there’s a young boys story that I found particularly disturbing, and the fact that I wasn’t surprised by it, made it all the more disturbing!).
There were several laugh out loud moments in this too, and the laughs tended to come most needed.
I liked this thought-provoking, tongue-in-cheek novel, and I thought that the way that Bruno’s emails were dotted throughout the novel really worked well alongside Sadie’s investigations.
I really enjoyed reading Bruno’s emails with Sadie (she has hacked into the email account of the eco-terrorists), got really involved with his theories, googled some and discovered that what he was saying may not have been 100% true or sane.
Sadie is an observer. She’s not your typical all action spy, but she certainly drinks quite a lot of alcohol and has to fend off a lot of unwanted male advances. But she does also use her sexuality to get what she wants.
There are some observations on the state of modern life: greedy landowners who will do anything to make money, the effects of modern life on the young (there’s a young boys story that I found particularly disturbing, and the fact that I wasn’t surprised by it, made it all the more disturbing!).
There were several laugh out loud moments in this too, and the laughs tended to come most needed.
I liked this thought-provoking, tongue-in-cheek novel, and I thought that the way that Bruno’s emails were dotted throughout the novel really worked well alongside Sadie’s investigations.
Debbiereadsbook (1421 KP) rated Embracing the Stalk (The Rhubarb Effect #4) in Books
Nov 30, 2024
full of rhubarb, custard and goat jokes!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Book 4 of seven in The Rhubarb Effect series, and they are still keeping me entertained!
This is the story of Red (a rhubarb) and Gordon (a goat) Someone keeps trying to kidnap Red and he is scared, but Gordon makes him feels safe, secure and happy. If the pair can live cocooned in Red's house, he would be a happy stalk, but it doesn't quite work out and the pair end up in the pack house.
These books are a lot, and I mean a LOT of fun! Full of rhubarb, custard and goat jokes, they are laugh out loud books and I'm thoroughly enjoying them.
They are keeping on tenterhooks too. Because we know WHO is trying to kidnap Red, but not yet WHY and it's annoying that I haven't figured it out yet!
There is steam a plenty in these books, and this is no exception. I loved that it was the ALPHA partner, Gordon, who was inexperienced, rather than the omega, Red. I loved how Red accepted the thing that goats do, when mating in his stride and Gordon was so fretting over it.
So we are 4 down, and 3 to go. I still don't know which of the pride is the sheriff's mate, unless my book brain missed it. And I really NEED to know why the old pride alpha is so intent on destroying the wonderful village that is Valentine.
4 thoroughly entertaining stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Book 4 of seven in The Rhubarb Effect series, and they are still keeping me entertained!
This is the story of Red (a rhubarb) and Gordon (a goat) Someone keeps trying to kidnap Red and he is scared, but Gordon makes him feels safe, secure and happy. If the pair can live cocooned in Red's house, he would be a happy stalk, but it doesn't quite work out and the pair end up in the pack house.
These books are a lot, and I mean a LOT of fun! Full of rhubarb, custard and goat jokes, they are laugh out loud books and I'm thoroughly enjoying them.
They are keeping on tenterhooks too. Because we know WHO is trying to kidnap Red, but not yet WHY and it's annoying that I haven't figured it out yet!
There is steam a plenty in these books, and this is no exception. I loved that it was the ALPHA partner, Gordon, who was inexperienced, rather than the omega, Red. I loved how Red accepted the thing that goats do, when mating in his stride and Gordon was so fretting over it.
So we are 4 down, and 3 to go. I still don't know which of the pride is the sheriff's mate, unless my book brain missed it. And I really NEED to know why the old pride alpha is so intent on destroying the wonderful village that is Valentine.
4 thoroughly entertaining stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
ClareR (5869 KP) rated The Safekeep in Books
Jan 26, 2025
The house in The Safekeep is at the centre of this story. Isabel lives alone in the large family home in the countryside, whilst her brothers, Louis and Hendrik, live in the city. Isabel and Hendrik are invited to meet yet another of Louis’ girlfriends, and they don’t seem to take either one of them seriously. Shortly afterwards, Louis has to leave for France on business, and his girlfriend doesn’t want to stay in their city flat alone. So she asks to stay with Isabel.
Isabel lives a very rigid life. Not religious as such, but close to the Calvinist religion that their mother brought them up in. She’s paranoid about things going missing from inside the house, she constantly counts everything and tries to keep the house as her mother would have done. It becomes clear towards the end why she does this.
Isabel clearly doesn’t want Eva to stay. She wants to be alone in the house. Isabel also doesn’t want the attention of a rather over-enthusiastic male “friend”. She goes on dates with him, barely tolerating his company.
As Isabel and Eva’s relationship develops, we see another side of Isabel, and in the latter half of the book there are diary entries that explain a lot about her (I love a book with diary entries). This is a love story, but also a story about what happened to the property of returning Jews after WW2. It’s a psychological novel with a lot of secrets at its heart. It must have been a tough call for this book NOT to win the Booker in 2024.
Isabel lives a very rigid life. Not religious as such, but close to the Calvinist religion that their mother brought them up in. She’s paranoid about things going missing from inside the house, she constantly counts everything and tries to keep the house as her mother would have done. It becomes clear towards the end why she does this.
Isabel clearly doesn’t want Eva to stay. She wants to be alone in the house. Isabel also doesn’t want the attention of a rather over-enthusiastic male “friend”. She goes on dates with him, barely tolerating his company.
As Isabel and Eva’s relationship develops, we see another side of Isabel, and in the latter half of the book there are diary entries that explain a lot about her (I love a book with diary entries). This is a love story, but also a story about what happened to the property of returning Jews after WW2. It’s a psychological novel with a lot of secrets at its heart. It must have been a tough call for this book NOT to win the Booker in 2024.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) in Movies
Sep 27, 2017
Great mindless fun but sadly just didn't live up to the original.
I keep bouncing between a 7 and 8 rating but after some of the shit that was pulled and I'm still upset about it's getting a 7.
Okay don't get me wrong Golden Circle was a fun movie with the same over the top violence as the first one but to me it felt like parts of the movie were missing for some reason and after seeing it I found out the apparently the original cut was like 3 1/2 hours long and to me it really did feel like they left out a fair bit of the story and a hell of a lot of the character development.
But hey Elton John was fabulous and the fight scenes were fucking Ace!
Okay don't get me wrong Golden Circle was a fun movie with the same over the top violence as the first one but to me it felt like parts of the movie were missing for some reason and after seeing it I found out the apparently the original cut was like 3 1/2 hours long and to me it really did feel like they left out a fair bit of the story and a hell of a lot of the character development.
But hey Elton John was fabulous and the fight scenes were fucking Ace!
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Google Maps - GPS Navigation in Apps
Nov 4, 2017
Essential app, but still needs a little work
This is the most important app on my phone - especially for walking routes and using public transport. My only gripe is the fact it still lacks in terms of disability access - a general issue across the UK. So as a 'local guide' I've begun manually uploading the information.
While walking, I tend to have Google Maps reciting the directions to me through my ear phones. A lot of the time it stops and I keep wondering if the app has switched off. No doubt, it beats all competition in terms of navigation, but it needs to update quicker. And Google needs to stop telling me to 'add an image' to places. I'm not taking a picture of a shop like a weirdo.
While walking, I tend to have Google Maps reciting the directions to me through my ear phones. A lot of the time it stops and I keep wondering if the app has switched off. No doubt, it beats all competition in terms of navigation, but it needs to update quicker. And Google needs to stop telling me to 'add an image' to places. I'm not taking a picture of a shop like a weirdo.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Krampus (2015) in Movies
Nov 26, 2017
A refreshingly different Christmas film
A Christmas horror film really shouldn't work, but for the most part it actually does. It's strange, as you usually associate Christmas films with sickly sweet happiness, but this is the complete opposite and it's a nice change.
It's funny, dark and doesn't take itself too seriously. The physical effects and make-up are very good, although some of the CGI is questionable in parts. It has a great cast and I loved the idea behind Krampus and also the strange ending. My only criticism would be that it could have been a lot scarier. It was creepy at times but I think it concentrated more on the laughs than the horror, which is a shame as a scary Christmas horror film would be truly terrifying.
It's funny, dark and doesn't take itself too seriously. The physical effects and make-up are very good, although some of the CGI is questionable in parts. It has a great cast and I loved the idea behind Krampus and also the strange ending. My only criticism would be that it could have been a lot scarier. It was creepy at times but I think it concentrated more on the laughs than the horror, which is a shame as a scary Christmas horror film would be truly terrifying.