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Kristin (149 KP) rated Unhappily Ever After; Fairy Tales with a Twist in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
We all grew up hearing the regular version of Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, Jack and the Beanstalk, etc., but have you ever wanted to change it up a little, make them more like real life where we don't all come out smelling like roses in the end? Then this is the anthology for you. Classic stories are twisted and turned into something else, without the happy ending tied up in a nice little bow. I enjoyed each and every story, and I was surprised when I saw who wrote some of them. I'm sure this was a fun work to put together, and I'd definitely recommend it to fans of the slightly-off.
5 stars
We all grew up hearing the regular version of Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, Jack and the Beanstalk, etc., but have you ever wanted to change it up a little, make them more like real life where we don't all come out smelling like roses in the end? Then this is the anthology for you. Classic stories are twisted and turned into something else, without the happy ending tied up in a nice little bow. I enjoyed each and every story, and I was surprised when I saw who wrote some of them. I'm sure this was a fun work to put together, and I'd definitely recommend it to fans of the slightly-off.
5 stars
ClareR (5721 KP) rated The Affacombe Affair (Pollard and Toyne #2) in Books
Nov 21, 2018
A great, old-fashioned, cosy mystery!
I have really enjoyed the first two books in this republished series - I honestly didn’t expect to. It’s such a nice, comfortable read though. The storyline nicely plays out (well, as nicely as a murder can!), the characters are all very likeable (especially Pollard and Toyne), and the way they go about their investigations is really rather interesting. This is not a story set in modern time - it’s set in the 1960s, so before DNA testing and all of the technology that we have today. So the story hangs on old fashioned humans using their brains and experience to work it out. I like these stories a lot, and I’m very glad that Sapere books sent me a copy to read and honestly review!
Rachel Maria Berney (114 KP) rated The Holiday Calendar (2018) in Movies
Dec 4, 2018
Solid feel good Christmas film
I enjoyed this Christmas film. It had magic, romance and drama. The acting was good and the storyline was a nice Christmas story line.
The main character will be familiar as Bonnie from The Vampire Diaries and as good an actor as she is, she is more annoying than likeable. That is the case in this film too. It's a shame, but the mistake she makes that causes the drama, seems like something a spoilt pentulant toddler would do. You take an instant dislike to her, not that you loved her from the off though.
Overall, I liked the idea and did enjoy the movie. Everyone needs a little magic at Christmas and The Holiday Calendar provides it.
The main character will be familiar as Bonnie from The Vampire Diaries and as good an actor as she is, she is more annoying than likeable. That is the case in this film too. It's a shame, but the mistake she makes that causes the drama, seems like something a spoilt pentulant toddler would do. You take an instant dislike to her, not that you loved her from the off though.
Overall, I liked the idea and did enjoy the movie. Everyone needs a little magic at Christmas and The Holiday Calendar provides it.
Merissa (12051 KP) rated Birthrights (The Awakening Trilogy #1) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
This is the story of Caislyn and Jax, two very different women with attitude!
Jax has run away from an abusive relationship and started a new life. She considers herself wholly human in a world where the 'paranormal' exists.
Caislyn is a witch whose parents are missing and the world, including her lawyer, presume dead although she refuses to believe this.
Throw them together and what have you got? A fast-paced, punchy book that made me laugh with their humour and search along with them for answers. Vampires are "alive and kicking" in this book but are not, for once, in the hot seat but more a back seat driver which makes a nice change.
Will definitely be getting the second and third books in this series.
Jax has run away from an abusive relationship and started a new life. She considers herself wholly human in a world where the 'paranormal' exists.
Caislyn is a witch whose parents are missing and the world, including her lawyer, presume dead although she refuses to believe this.
Throw them together and what have you got? A fast-paced, punchy book that made me laugh with their humour and search along with them for answers. Vampires are "alive and kicking" in this book but are not, for once, in the hot seat but more a back seat driver which makes a nice change.
Will definitely be getting the second and third books in this series.
David McK (3425 KP) rated American Gods in Books
Jan 28, 2019
I don't get it: what's all the fuss about?
Written by an English-man now living in America, I'm aware that this has won numerous awards and is on the top of many peoples favourite reads, but for me? Not so much.
I found it tedious, dull, and un-involving, with the idea of new and old Gods fighting it out itself done better (and more enjoyably) elsewhere.
I'm sorry, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who asked for a Neil Gaiman book, pointing them instead towards the far superior (IMO) [b:Stardust|16793|Stardust|Neil Gaiman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328433738s/16793.jpg|3166179] or (even better!) [b:Good Omens|12067|Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392528568s/12067.jpg|4110990].
Written by an English-man now living in America, I'm aware that this has won numerous awards and is on the top of many peoples favourite reads, but for me? Not so much.
I found it tedious, dull, and un-involving, with the idea of new and old Gods fighting it out itself done better (and more enjoyably) elsewhere.
I'm sorry, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who asked for a Neil Gaiman book, pointing them instead towards the far superior (IMO) [b:Stardust|16793|Stardust|Neil Gaiman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328433738s/16793.jpg|3166179] or (even better!) [b:Good Omens|12067|Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392528568s/12067.jpg|4110990].
ClareR (5721 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies
Dec 31, 2018
Don’t believe the hype (or lack of it!)
I enjoyed this. I didn’t expect to, because it hasn’t had the best reviews, but I’m always pretty open minded when it comes to comic adaptations. I like the action and the unbelievability (if I want reality, I watch the news!), and I think Jason Mamoa was a pretty ‘believable’ Aquaman. Or at the very least, nice to look at ??♀️ (Shallow, I know). Special effects were really good, lots of underwater, floaty stuff, with loads of action and fighting (my boys really loved those bits).
And the environmental message was pretty clear: stop throwing rubbish in the sea, people!
So, we’ve seen the origin of Aquaman, and I feel we’ve been set up nicely for a follow up. I’ll be watching it.
And the environmental message was pretty clear: stop throwing rubbish in the sea, people!
So, we’ve seen the origin of Aquaman, and I feel we’ve been set up nicely for a follow up. I’ll be watching it.
Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, #4) in Books
Dec 30, 2019
All right, so the high school crap was taken care of. Kate was being a passive-aggressive douchecanoe and Curran was being the stereotypically boring alpha male and they called each other out on it, which is awesome.
I really don't want to give away the plot because it's a doozy. I loved this book and the only real complaint I have is Kate's internalized misogyny. I'm referring to the "slut" and "bimbo" comments. Come on, Kate! The only bimbo is Curran!
I also really enjoyed the Frienship between Andrea and Kate and hope it's explored more in the next book. It's really nice to see female leads in UF who like and respect their fellow women and don't think they're evil whores out to steal their man.
I really don't want to give away the plot because it's a doozy. I loved this book and the only real complaint I have is Kate's internalized misogyny. I'm referring to the "slut" and "bimbo" comments. Come on, Kate! The only bimbo is Curran!
I also really enjoyed the Frienship between Andrea and Kate and hope it's explored more in the next book. It's really nice to see female leads in UF who like and respect their fellow women and don't think they're evil whores out to steal their man.
Deborah (162 KP) rated Wars Of The Roses in Books
Dec 21, 2018
I think the title of the book is rather misleading - it's not really about the Wars of the Roses per se. The blurb on the inside of the dust jacket tells me it's a book looking more at the impact of this civil strife and the political, social and military situation. It does, as it claims, include many primary sources; 'English and European writings, diplomatic correspondence, personal letters and propoganda', but it is the promised 'detailed interpretation based on modern research' that I must have missed while reading this! To me this was a series of unconnected original documents linked with short paragraphs of text by Lander. In many places the book is so bogged down with inumerable footnotes that the flow of the text is completely lost.
Nice idea, but it doesn't work here.
Nice idea, but it doesn't work here.
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Snapchat in Apps
Nov 14, 2019 (Updated Nov 15, 2019)
Downhill
I used to quite like Snapchat, but in all honesty, i was put off by the location feature. This showed where all your Snapchat friends were and was at risk of being hacked, so I instantly deleted the app. My worry was intensified when police came round out local college to warn parent, and tell them how to deactivate it. It does seem like an easy bullying or abuse tool now, if misused, and I did not like how the function is automatically on, and no clear instructions were given as to how to turn it off.
The idea is a nice one, but just not safe or practical. I no longer use the app and have no plans to reinstall unless it is made safer.
Sorry for the mum-rant.
The idea is a nice one, but just not safe or practical. I no longer use the app and have no plans to reinstall unless it is made safer.
Sorry for the mum-rant.
Dean (6926 KP) rated The Hole (2012) in Movies
Jan 27, 2020
A little different
Hard to think of this as a horror as it's a 12a (PG13), however I can see why as it is quite creepy and wouldn't be suitable for younger kids! An intriguing hole in the basement of a new house just has to be checked out by the young brothers, aided by the cute girl next door. They get a lot more than they bargained for when they decide to take the locks off and open the door.
It felt a bit like the 'Burbs/Disturbia, crossed with the Messengers. Which is no bad thing as they are all good films. It has some nice touches, set design and the young actors do a pretty good job. For those who like stronger horror don't be put off by the film rating.
It felt a bit like the 'Burbs/Disturbia, crossed with the Messengers. Which is no bad thing as they are all good films. It has some nice touches, set design and the young actors do a pretty good job. For those who like stronger horror don't be put off by the film rating.