Search
Search results
Sensitivemuse (246 KP) rated Song of Blood and Stone in Books
May 27, 2018
Great fantastical world, excellent characters
I greatly enjoyed reading this one. Not only was the fantasy world written well and different, but the characters had excellent chemistry and the plot flowed to make the reading enjoyable and quick.
The world building is excellent and different. The story alternates in between with Jack and Jasminda’s point of view, but also there are some chapters that tell the background story of how their world was created. I enjoyed these alternating chapters. It provides better structure of the setting, it provides the mythology and a better understanding of the “True Father” and “The Queen who Sleeps”. It’s well written and everything comes together seamlessly.
The plot itself is also excellent. I love the concept of “Silents” and “Songbearers” and both are living side by side but marred by war and prejudice. And did you ever see the hate towards Jasminda throughout the book. You get angry at her treatment but Jasminda bears it and she does it well. The plot is pretty fast paced and it’s feels like a fast read - not to mention the fact that it’s very interesting. There’s a good mix of fantasy, action, and romance. What wasn’t really necessary was the Lizvette part. It made that aspect predictable and it didn’t really mesh well with what was going on with all the other things. It felt like it was placed there for filler reasons (I mean, we all know who Jack was going to go for a this point…)
Now for Jack and Jasminda.
I LOVED both of them together. They had this chemistry going on and you could feel it throughout the novel. It was heart wrenching in various parts of the book and you wanted to reach out to them and MAKE them go together (Jack you deserve some slaps of stupidity for some of the stuff you said). They’re both great characters and Jasminda’s development throughout the novel was excellent. Despite the changes she went through she didn’t lose her sass and her ferocious independence (love how this exasperates Jack by the way lol)
Definitely looking forward to the second book of this series! The ending was great (and I’m sure there’s way more battles to come)
The world building is excellent and different. The story alternates in between with Jack and Jasminda’s point of view, but also there are some chapters that tell the background story of how their world was created. I enjoyed these alternating chapters. It provides better structure of the setting, it provides the mythology and a better understanding of the “True Father” and “The Queen who Sleeps”. It’s well written and everything comes together seamlessly.
The plot itself is also excellent. I love the concept of “Silents” and “Songbearers” and both are living side by side but marred by war and prejudice. And did you ever see the hate towards Jasminda throughout the book. You get angry at her treatment but Jasminda bears it and she does it well. The plot is pretty fast paced and it’s feels like a fast read - not to mention the fact that it’s very interesting. There’s a good mix of fantasy, action, and romance. What wasn’t really necessary was the Lizvette part. It made that aspect predictable and it didn’t really mesh well with what was going on with all the other things. It felt like it was placed there for filler reasons (I mean, we all know who Jack was going to go for a this point…)
Now for Jack and Jasminda.
I LOVED both of them together. They had this chemistry going on and you could feel it throughout the novel. It was heart wrenching in various parts of the book and you wanted to reach out to them and MAKE them go together (Jack you deserve some slaps of stupidity for some of the stuff you said). They’re both great characters and Jasminda’s development throughout the novel was excellent. Despite the changes she went through she didn’t lose her sass and her ferocious independence (love how this exasperates Jack by the way lol)
Definitely looking forward to the second book of this series! The ending was great (and I’m sure there’s way more battles to come)
Sarah (126 KP) rated Nest Learning Thermostat in Tech
Jul 30, 2018
Control via app when at or away from home (2 more)
Compatible with Alexa/Echo
Ease of operation and reading temperatures
Excellent Product
We've had a Nest Learning Thermostat for almost 18 months now, and it's been a really good investment. It was installed along with a new boiler, when our just out of warranty, 10 year old boiler gave up the ghost.
Since the installation of the new boiler and Nest thermostat, our heating bills have decreased significantly - and the time that the thermostat was installed coincided with the time that I began working from home and so, one would assume, our heating demands would have also increased.
The ability to connect the thermostat to an app controlled with our mobile phones means that it recognises when no one is home and so the house does not need to be kept warm, and instead is kept at the minimum temperature we set, and also when we are returning home and can begin to warm the house up. Similarly, I can also turn the heating up when I'm away from home so that it's nice and toasty when I get in during the winter months, or can increase the minimum temperature if I want to keep it a bit warmer for the pets while we're all out.
The device can also be paired with Amazon's Echo devices and so controlled with Alexa - great when I'm working and want to crank up the heat in the room without breaking from what I'm working on.
It's so easy to read and operate, even our 5-year old can use it (and could almost as soon as it was installed) to increase or decrease the heat to a specific temperature. Probably my only criticism is that the input of things like the WiFi password could be a bit more straightforward - I accidently put it in wrong first time, and even the electrician who installed it had to jump through hoops to go back and change it.
Overall, I would buy it again and would heartily recommend it to anyone looking to get a smart thermostat.
Since the installation of the new boiler and Nest thermostat, our heating bills have decreased significantly - and the time that the thermostat was installed coincided with the time that I began working from home and so, one would assume, our heating demands would have also increased.
The ability to connect the thermostat to an app controlled with our mobile phones means that it recognises when no one is home and so the house does not need to be kept warm, and instead is kept at the minimum temperature we set, and also when we are returning home and can begin to warm the house up. Similarly, I can also turn the heating up when I'm away from home so that it's nice and toasty when I get in during the winter months, or can increase the minimum temperature if I want to keep it a bit warmer for the pets while we're all out.
The device can also be paired with Amazon's Echo devices and so controlled with Alexa - great when I'm working and want to crank up the heat in the room without breaking from what I'm working on.
It's so easy to read and operate, even our 5-year old can use it (and could almost as soon as it was installed) to increase or decrease the heat to a specific temperature. Probably my only criticism is that the input of things like the WiFi password could be a bit more straightforward - I accidently put it in wrong first time, and even the electrician who installed it had to jump through hoops to go back and change it.
Overall, I would buy it again and would heartily recommend it to anyone looking to get a smart thermostat.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated The Bronze Horseman in Books
Jan 6, 2021
2.5 stars.
Reading this on Scribd probably wasn't the best idea ever. Having to sit at my computer for god knows how many hours while I read all 800+ pages...
It started great, I loved Tatiana and her first meeting with Alexander...but then it went downhill from there when it turned out Alexander was the guy her sister had been seeing. It got progressively worse for me when she decided to end whatever blossoming thing they had as she felt she would break her sisters heart if she got together with him instead. This continued for almost half the book, which drove me mad--it was pretty repetative, especially considering it was set during the war and they might not live to see the end of it.
People changed over that time, lots of people died. I think one of my updates quite clearly captured this:
<blockquote>"Really driving me mad now :( You're sister is not a nice person anymore, Tatiana. If anyone deserves Alexander it's you for still being the same person you were at the start of the book, the same person that Alexander fell in love with. I hope, beyond everything, that you break your promise so that he has a reason to call things off with your sister so you can be together!!!!" </blockquote>
The ups and downs every few % did my head in. One minute they were kissing and saying nice things and the next they were shouting and arguing with each other.
I thought it would improve after the halfway point when they finally leave Leningrad but it continued for another 10% or so. I was expecting them to do the deed and then be all nice and happy. And this was the case for a while. Eat, have sex. Swim, have sex. Wash up, have sex...Repetative once more.
By the 70% mark, after reading each page word for word--and after almost a month of reading--I just wanted it over with and skimmed the remaining 250 pages. I got the gist and though I was happy they got together in the end I can't say I'm interested in finishing the trilogy. Really, stupidly, long books are not for me.
Reading this on Scribd probably wasn't the best idea ever. Having to sit at my computer for god knows how many hours while I read all 800+ pages...
It started great, I loved Tatiana and her first meeting with Alexander...but then it went downhill from there when it turned out Alexander was the guy her sister had been seeing. It got progressively worse for me when she decided to end whatever blossoming thing they had as she felt she would break her sisters heart if she got together with him instead. This continued for almost half the book, which drove me mad--it was pretty repetative, especially considering it was set during the war and they might not live to see the end of it.
People changed over that time, lots of people died. I think one of my updates quite clearly captured this:
<blockquote>"Really driving me mad now :( You're sister is not a nice person anymore, Tatiana. If anyone deserves Alexander it's you for still being the same person you were at the start of the book, the same person that Alexander fell in love with. I hope, beyond everything, that you break your promise so that he has a reason to call things off with your sister so you can be together!!!!" </blockquote>
The ups and downs every few % did my head in. One minute they were kissing and saying nice things and the next they were shouting and arguing with each other.
I thought it would improve after the halfway point when they finally leave Leningrad but it continued for another 10% or so. I was expecting them to do the deed and then be all nice and happy. And this was the case for a while. Eat, have sex. Swim, have sex. Wash up, have sex...Repetative once more.
By the 70% mark, after reading each page word for word--and after almost a month of reading--I just wanted it over with and skimmed the remaining 250 pages. I got the gist and though I was happy they got together in the end I can't say I'm interested in finishing the trilogy. Really, stupidly, long books are not for me.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Nocturnal Animals (2016) in Movies
Jul 28, 2017
Great story (1 more)
Tension & suspense
The best film of 2016
I don't readily give out full 10 reviews (you'll know that if you've seen any of my others) but this was by far my favourite film of 2016 and the only one from last year that I'd give full marks to.
There's some brilliant acting on all parts, it's ridiculously tense and suspenseful, very dark and completely enthralling. Tom Ford does a fine job (I still can't believe the director and the fashion designer are the same person) and Amy Adams is probably my favourite actress right now. The ending was great, I love an unhappy ending and this doesn't disappoint.
I went on to read the book after this, and it was completely different and nowhere near as good as the film. One of the rare times when the film is better than the book.
There's some brilliant acting on all parts, it's ridiculously tense and suspenseful, very dark and completely enthralling. Tom Ford does a fine job (I still can't believe the director and the fashion designer are the same person) and Amy Adams is probably my favourite actress right now. The ending was great, I love an unhappy ending and this doesn't disappoint.
I went on to read the book after this, and it was completely different and nowhere near as good as the film. One of the rare times when the film is better than the book.
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated Special Topics in Calamity Physics in Books
May 25, 2018
I loved, loved, loved this book! 5 STARS!
Blue Van Meer is a young girl studying at Harvard who decides to write about her life. Kind of a brainiac, and a bit odd, she starts with some tidbits of her childhood. Her mother died when she was very young, so she was raised primarily by her eccentric father who is a professor that moved her around a lot, from place to place. But most of the book takes place in Blue's high school years, particularly her senior year where she meets and befriends her teacher Hannah Schneider and joins an elite group of eccentrics, named the Bluebloods. And then, there is a murder.
Its a great mystery, a definite page-turner and you see how this murder has impacted Blue's life, and my goodness, it just gets better and better as you read on. I'm a big fan of Pessl's now!
Blue Van Meer is a young girl studying at Harvard who decides to write about her life. Kind of a brainiac, and a bit odd, she starts with some tidbits of her childhood. Her mother died when she was very young, so she was raised primarily by her eccentric father who is a professor that moved her around a lot, from place to place. But most of the book takes place in Blue's high school years, particularly her senior year where she meets and befriends her teacher Hannah Schneider and joins an elite group of eccentrics, named the Bluebloods. And then, there is a murder.
Its a great mystery, a definite page-turner and you see how this murder has impacted Blue's life, and my goodness, it just gets better and better as you read on. I'm a big fan of Pessl's now!
Beckie Shelton (40 KP) rated Ring on Her Finger in Books
Feb 8, 2018
I received a e copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Amanda St. Claire awakes to find she has unintentionally married rich playboy Blake Worthington in Vegas, an event she has no memory of,, with plans in place for Africa the last thing Amanda wants is a partnership with a boy she has loathed for the past 4 years of college an annulment is the answer.Blake has had feelings for Amanda for a long time he had his chance a few years ago and blew it and knows now his time has run out to act if he wants Mandy for himself.What follows is the ups and downs of a relationship where opinions are changed (with a lot of time and effort on Blake's part)and two young adults fall head over heels and eventually get their HEA. a sweet clean read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Amanda St. Claire awakes to find she has unintentionally married rich playboy Blake Worthington in Vegas, an event she has no memory of,, with plans in place for Africa the last thing Amanda wants is a partnership with a boy she has loathed for the past 4 years of college an annulment is the answer.Blake has had feelings for Amanda for a long time he had his chance a few years ago and blew it and knows now his time has run out to act if he wants Mandy for himself.What follows is the ups and downs of a relationship where opinions are changed (with a lot of time and effort on Blake's part)and two young adults fall head over heels and eventually get their HEA. a sweet clean read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2540 KP) rated The Black Echo (Harry Bosch #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The body in the drain pipe looks like a drug overdose, and everyone is willing to record it that way. Everyone except LAPD Homicide cop Harry Bosch, who thinks the scene is telling a different story – murder. Then he makes the shocking discover, he knows the victim, although he hasn’t seen the dead man since their days as tunnel rats in Vietnam. What’s going on?
Overall, this is a strong debut from an authors who is now wildly popular. I did feel that Bosch could be a bit too cold at times, and there were certainly clichés in the story. On the other hand, the plot moved forward quickly and always kept me engaged. And I did enjoy the characters most of the time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-black-echo-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Overall, this is a strong debut from an authors who is now wildly popular. I did feel that Bosch could be a bit too cold at times, and there were certainly clichés in the story. On the other hand, the plot moved forward quickly and always kept me engaged. And I did enjoy the characters most of the time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-black-echo-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2540 KP) rated A Second Chance at Murder (A Love Or Money Mystery #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Georgia and Scott are back to compete on a second reality show, this one a race across Europe with challenges along the way. But the night before the race even begins, Scott disappears and a woman is murdered. With the police certain that Scott is a killer, Georgia must find him and prove his innocence. Can she do it?
This was a wonderfully creative cozy. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and the disappearance added a nice element to the story. The characters were strong as well. The race aspect was kept as a sub-plot, and the location in Spain was brought to life so much that I now want to visit.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-second-chance-at-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was a wonderfully creative cozy. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and the disappearance added a nice element to the story. The characters were strong as well. The race aspect was kept as a sub-plot, and the location in Spain was brought to life so much that I now want to visit.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-second-chance-at-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
book sparrow (239 KP) rated Pretty Lost Dolls (Pretty Little Dolls #2) in Books
Dec 15, 2019
omfg this book was so explosive from beginning to end.
i fell more in love with jade and dillon (didn't think that was possible)
i fell more in hate with macy and benny (if that's possible)
im usually a person who can predict what is going to happen in a book and i speed read but this ......i mean ...... the evil and gore i just did not see some parts coming .
i really don't know what to say without spoiling this book.
lets just say the anger and hate i felt while reading this book was raw and real but at the same time the happiness and glimmers of hope were amazing this book had me gripped all the way through and hooked like an addict also think i literally was shouting out loud at this book .....eeeek i love it now on to the next x
i fell more in love with jade and dillon (didn't think that was possible)
i fell more in hate with macy and benny (if that's possible)
im usually a person who can predict what is going to happen in a book and i speed read but this ......i mean ...... the evil and gore i just did not see some parts coming .
i really don't know what to say without spoiling this book.
lets just say the anger and hate i felt while reading this book was raw and real but at the same time the happiness and glimmers of hope were amazing this book had me gripped all the way through and hooked like an addict also think i literally was shouting out loud at this book .....eeeek i love it now on to the next x
My Life as a Foreign Country
Book
In 2003, Sergeant Brian Turner was at the head of a convoy of 3,500 US soldiers as they entered the...