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Serpentine
Serpentine
Laurell K. Hamilton | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Anita's over herself (0 more)
Can't really think of anything (0 more)
Finally!
So I just finished Serpentine in the Anita Blake series. I borrowed it from the library because, well, the series has gone down in quality. In this one, Anita is back to kicking ass and taking names! All of my favorite characters are back (Edward, Olaf, Nicky) and happily, Richard and his baggage are nowhere to be found. Anita's let go of alot of her own so she didn't push and moan her way through this one. Finally.
In Serpentine, Anita and her fiances are in Florida for Edward and Donna's wedding, where Micah has also been in contact with a new group of "Weres" whose body parts become actual snakes. Of course, despite promising to use this time as a threesome vacation, the Four Horsemen have to solve a murder and a kidnapping, deal with a new flavor of psychic, a wedding party that is completely crazy, and keep her relationship going. There is some sex (which honestly makes me happy), but it's not the focus of the story. This book reminds readers that Anita has always been a badass with badass friends, and they start doing what they do best. Even Donna shows some fire, though it quickly goes out again. Still, Anita hardly does any magic or psychic stuff compared to the other books and manages to come out swinging. Hamilton seems to have gotten the memo about the series, because this book finally focused on the action outside of the bedroom.
  
A local group who have dubbed themselves the Winsome Witches use October to raise funds for literacy. However, this year their leader is murdered. With Jenna’s Aunt Vera a member of the group, Jenna starts poking around to find the killer.

I truly do enjoy these characters, and so I was delighted to spend time with them again. The plot does drag in the middle a bit, but the clues all come together for a great climax. There was also more about Aunt Vera’s supposed psychic abilities than normal, an emphasis I didn’t like. Overall, however, I found this a fun Halloween cozy.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-stirring-plot-by-daryl-wood.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Insidious : The Last Key (2018)
Insidious : The Last Key (2018)
2018 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Nice to see the familiar characters and learn a little more about Elise (0 more)
This film lacks atmosphere, or any sense of real stakes (0 more)
Time to throw away the key for this franchise...
So wow we are onto the 4th film huh?

Oh its another prequel based off of the psychic woman...

This movie is lacklustre, not great on scares, adds little to the mythos other than a few more questions, and is just plain weak.

I don't really have a lot to say on this, I mean its not terrible...its watchable...the sidekicks are starting to really grate by this point...and all the best moments are essentially versions of moments from other Insidious movies.

Only watch if you are a big fan of the series!
  
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Doctor Sleep (2019)
2019 | Horror
I really wish that I had re-watched 'The Shining' before catching Doctor Sleep, as it's been far too long, and I kind of feel it would have helped my enjoyment of this movie a lot more. However, despite all of that, I thought that Doctor Sleep was an incredible movie.

Ewan McGregor gives a subdued, but brilliant performance as the troubled Danny Torrance and Rebecca Ferguson is captivating as the psychic vampire Rose the Hat. Great score, amazing visuals, plenty of nods to The Shining, but still enough to stand out on its own. At 2h 31m, I never felt that the movie was dragging at any point either.

Full review to follow, but for now let's just say that I loved it!