Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (3097)

Content

Dancing Bees: Karl Von Frisch and the Discovery of the Honeybee Language

Tania Munz

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

We think of bees as being among the busiest workers in the garden, admiring them for their...

Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change

Ellen Pao

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 FINANCIAL TIMES AND MCKINSEY BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR | NAMED A BEST FALL...

Business biography technology

Merissa (12684 KP) rated Avenged by Fire (Between Ruin and Salvation #3) in Books

Apr 12, 2023

AVENGED BY FIRE is the third book in the Between Ruin and Salvation series and you must read these books in order, as one follows on from the other.

I won't rehash the storyline - you've got the blurb for that. Suffice it to say it is full-on action once again. Now Ava has beaten Alpha Thomas, she has set her sights on the Council. After all, they do have her parents, child, and mother-in-law! Together with Makaii, they set off around America to form alliances in a bid to take them down. While doing that, the full horror of what the council is doing comes to light - and there is no way that Protector Ava or her associates are going to stand for that!!!

Ava is just as kick-ass as in the other stories and I am finally warming up to Makaii. In fact, I actually felt for him in this book as he tries his best to go against his instincts to wrap Ava up in cotton wool to keep her safe. I may not have been that keen on him but I love their relationship. There are mistakes being made, give and take between two very strong individuals. They haven't just immediately fallen into this perfect life.

Ava also gets to meet more of her family - together with a Fae Prince who is a bit of a jerk, if I'm honest. Mind you, Ava does manage to bring him into line in spectacular fashion. That may be my favourite scene out of the whole book.

Oh, and Bailey sniffs out her mate but avoids him like the plague. I know which one I want for her but I will have to wait and see.

One helluva cliffhanger wraps up one helluva book! I really can't wait for the conclusion and to see Ava in action again. HIGHLY recommended by me.

** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 12, 2023

Kudos

D.B. and Me

Rob Rosen

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

In the gripping tale of D.B. and Me, the enigmatic hijacker, D.B. Cooper, parachutes into the...

Contemporary MM Romance True Crime Suspense Mystery

Kayla Ackerman (15 KP) rated Halloween (2018) in Movies

Jun 5, 2019

Halloween (2018)

2018 | Horror

7.2

(120 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Hints at the original just enough to make you go "oooh I got that reference!" without being too overbearing. (4 more)

Amazing soundtrack, they took what we all know and love and used it to gain inspiration for new music, rather than just remixing the original.

Halloween was brought into modern times without succumbing to the Hollywood Horror cliches that plague the cinema today.

They made an excellent decision to ignore the many previous sequels, which allowed them to create a plot that made sense, and welcomed newcomers who haven't followed the entire franchise.

Jamie Lee Curtis, and everything that she had to do with this film. Heck yes.

It is of course still nowhere near the level of the original, and they did opt for the jump scare in a few places where they could have gone another way, but the intimate vibe was there. (0 more)

This is a Halloween film. It's revamped and revitalised, but it still feels like it belongs, it's got those good vibes that you associate with the first Halloween, and if you say it doesn't then you probably missed the point because you were rocking those nostalgia goggles a little too hard. This isn't a film made for nostalgia, this is an extension of the franchise, not a copy. There are throwback and recalls to the original, it is heavily inspired by it in all the right ways, but they took it and modernised it and they did a damn good job. Is it the best film ever? God no, its a still a horror, but it is so difficult to take a beloved classic and try to make something new, and they did such a good job. I feel a sense of irrational pride that they even attempted this and managed to not massacre that Halloween vibe, like a certain other attempt did. This was a highly enjoyable experience and I got so hyped feeling the Halloween energy pouring off of this shiny new film.
This film is like visiting your childhood home after many years and finding that someone completely redecorated. If you long for things to stay the same all the time, you're gonna have a bad time. But if you appreciate someone elses vision and attempt to make improvements, then you can enjoy the whole experience, from exploration of the new, to recognition of the familiar hidden behind it all.

Kudos

Kyera (8 KP) rated World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie Wars in Books

Feb 1, 2018

This novel is the oral history of the zombie war - as told by soldiers, civilians, doctors, and those who had a hand in decision-making. Some were people who created containment or attack plans, while others were in the government coordinating the military, corralling the people, and planning for the future of their countries.

You learn about the experiences of everyday people just prior to the outbreak. This is a time when no one knows what is happening. People are dying, becoming infected, and turning into violent cannibals. Is it some strange new disease that modern medicine has yet to find a cure to, or something worse?

Then, the stories become more dire, strained, broken; as the population begins to figure out the absolute devastation that this event will wreak. Suddenly, the stories are just people trying to survive or those attempting to combat the enemy. No one knows how to halt the impending storm. The absolute destruction such an enemy poses.

Unlike humans and their armies, the undead need no respite. The undead don't feel pain, hunger, anguish, or lose moral. And as the military's forces dwindle in battles, the zombies swell in ranks. Each loss to you is a welcome addition to their force. An enemy that is unknown cannot easily be beaten.

Will the human race even survive long enough to worry about rebuilding, destroying every trace of the plague, or even what brought it to the world to begin with?

The novel was a unique take on the zombie/war genre and interestingly written. I did find my attention wandering at times and would have to reread sections. Although I prefer reading physical books, this novel has an incredible voice cast for its audio-counterpart. Their talents brought this book to an entirely new level, giving each character a unique voice and story (and I'm not just saying that because there was a different person voicing each one.) I've never read a book before (or listened to one) that had such a diverse cast to bring the book to life.

If you like historical fiction or zombie novels, than you're likely going to enjoy this. If zombies and historical/realistic fiction (regardless of the fact that zombies are involved) are not your style, than you may not enjoy this.

How would you react if the dead began to rise, attack, and devour your neighbors, overrunning your town - could you survive?