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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Meg and Jo in Books
Mar 19, 2020
A modern retelling of Little Women, MEG AND JO looks at the four March sisters in present day. We have Meg, a mom of twins, married to a man who works at a car dealership. Jo, an aspiring writer, who works in New York City at a restaurant and writes a food blog. Their sisters, Beth and Amy, flit in the background--Beth is pursuing her musical dreams and Amy is chasing fashion in Paris. But when the girls' stalwart mom gets sick, they must come home for the holidays to help at the family farm. There they will learn lessons about family, sisterhood, and following their dreams.
This one grew on me. It's not as jarring as I expected to see the girls in real time--I actually enjoyed that aspect. What's odd is that while the modern setting exists, there are a lot of outdated gender norms. Meg has to be the perfect mom who refuses help from everyone; the girls' father is basically worthless, etc. It's hard to overcome at first.
But I eventually took to Meg and Jo. I liked Jo's feisty nature, even if some of the problem/distance with her chef/boyfriend seemed a bit contrived. And I could identify with Meg, who felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders (twin moms unite).
Overall, this is a sweet and funny story. It's silly at times, but also heartwarming. I enjoyed seeing where Kantra tweaked the plot (there's a piece with the March patriarch that I particularly enjoyed). It's no Eligible--perhaps my favorite modern retelling of all--but it's a fun read. I've heard there may be a second book featuring Beth and Amy, and I would certainly read it. 3.5 stars.
This one grew on me. It's not as jarring as I expected to see the girls in real time--I actually enjoyed that aspect. What's odd is that while the modern setting exists, there are a lot of outdated gender norms. Meg has to be the perfect mom who refuses help from everyone; the girls' father is basically worthless, etc. It's hard to overcome at first.
But I eventually took to Meg and Jo. I liked Jo's feisty nature, even if some of the problem/distance with her chef/boyfriend seemed a bit contrived. And I could identify with Meg, who felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders (twin moms unite).
Overall, this is a sweet and funny story. It's silly at times, but also heartwarming. I enjoyed seeing where Kantra tweaked the plot (there's a piece with the March patriarch that I particularly enjoyed). It's no Eligible--perhaps my favorite modern retelling of all--but it's a fun read. I've heard there may be a second book featuring Beth and Amy, and I would certainly read it. 3.5 stars.
Merissa (13585 KP) rated Seeds of Sorrow (Immortal Realms #1) in Books
Apr 28, 2022
SEEDS OF SORROW is the first book in the Immortal Realms trilogy, and we start with a retelling of Hades and Persephone.
We find ourselves in a world divided into three realms, each brother ruling one. Draven chose to go to Andhera when it was clear it needed someone in charge. Staying there brought about changes expected but not guaranteed. Many years later, he is pulled into his younger brother's -- Zyron -- machinations and ends up with Eden as his unwilling guest for six months. The sparks initially fly between these two until Draven takes a step back. Eden grows into her own person as the turmoil starts within all three realms.
This was a good story that I enjoyed. There are parts of it that I think are unnecessary and parts that I wanted more from. That is just the way of books. A lot of emphases was placed on one Big Bad and I'm not entirely sure why. I don't feel it did much to move the story along, other than to paint Eden in a glowing light. And after her swift exit, it moved on to the next one without much of an ado.
The next book is hinted at the end of this one, with Travion/Poseidon having his story. This was a great retelling that I have no hesitation in recommending, and will definitely be continuing this series if only to see if my questions are answered.
** 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!
We find ourselves in a world divided into three realms, each brother ruling one. Draven chose to go to Andhera when it was clear it needed someone in charge. Staying there brought about changes expected but not guaranteed. Many years later, he is pulled into his younger brother's -- Zyron -- machinations and ends up with Eden as his unwilling guest for six months. The sparks initially fly between these two until Draven takes a step back. Eden grows into her own person as the turmoil starts within all three realms.
This was a good story that I enjoyed. There are parts of it that I think are unnecessary and parts that I wanted more from. That is just the way of books. A lot of emphases was placed on one Big Bad and I'm not entirely sure why. I don't feel it did much to move the story along, other than to paint Eden in a glowing light. And after her swift exit, it moved on to the next one without much of an ado.
The next book is hinted at the end of this one, with Travion/Poseidon having his story. This was a great retelling that I have no hesitation in recommending, and will definitely be continuing this series if only to see if my questions are answered.
** 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!
The Women of Troy
9.0
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Following her bestselling, critically acclaimed The Silence of the Girls, Pat Barker continues her...
Mythology Greek Mythology Folk Tales Myths and Fairy Tales
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Murder on the Orient Express (2017) in Movies
Nov 14, 2017 (Updated Nov 14, 2017)
A Serviceable Retelling
I'm not going to tell you that this is one of the greatest detective movies ever made, but it is a lot better than a lot of reviews are making it out to be and I had fun with it. Branagh does a good job with directing the all star cast and they each get a moment to shine. He is also brilliant as Poirot, working as the staple that holds the whole movie together. The lighting and the cinematography in the film is stunning. It does have it's cheesy moments and certain actors could be mistaken for being in a pantomime, but that comes with the territory with a period murder mystery story. I'm not saying it's brilliant, but it is good fun and as remakes go, it could have been a lot worse.
Book Divas (227 KP) rated Isla Emerged in Books
Jun 7, 2019
Beautiful Story
OMG!! This is so much more than a simple retelling of the Little Mermaid as it goes beyond the scope of a mermaid who wants to be a part of the human world. This well-paced, beautiful story introduces us to Isla and we get to bear witness to her growth from a young girl with a lot of attitude to a woman who does what needs to be done to save her people.
The characters and storyline are impeccably done and the author's storytelling immediately captivated me. I did not want this story to end and I am beyond thrilled that I was able to read an advance readers copy. As soon as this is available in paperback, I will be purchasing it to add it to my bookshelf as I will be delving into this story again and again.
The characters and storyline are impeccably done and the author's storytelling immediately captivated me. I did not want this story to end and I am beyond thrilled that I was able to read an advance readers copy. As soon as this is available in paperback, I will be purchasing it to add it to my bookshelf as I will be delving into this story again and again.
Dana (24 KP) rated Gilded Ashes (Cruel Beauty Universe, #1.5) in Books
Mar 23, 2018
I absolutely love Rosamund Hodge's writing. She somehow manages to balance beauty and darkness perfectly. It reminds me a lot of the Grimm fairy tales, but in a way, more romantic.
This is a retelling of Cinderella and has become one of my favorites. It keeps the darkness, but keeps it in some sort of fantastical world that makes it even more beautiful.
This was just a short story, but that doesn't mean I didn't absolutely love it. I need to get my hands on Crimson Bound soon. Even in this short story, Rosamund was able to fully flesh out the characters and make them completely believable. I didn't feel like the story was rushed or too drawn out. It was just right.
I would highly recommend this to people who love dark stories, fairy tale retellings, or just a good short story.
This is a retelling of Cinderella and has become one of my favorites. It keeps the darkness, but keeps it in some sort of fantastical world that makes it even more beautiful.
This was just a short story, but that doesn't mean I didn't absolutely love it. I need to get my hands on Crimson Bound soon. Even in this short story, Rosamund was able to fully flesh out the characters and make them completely believable. I didn't feel like the story was rushed or too drawn out. It was just right.
I would highly recommend this to people who love dark stories, fairy tale retellings, or just a good short story.
Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey
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Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. These were the words...
biography history
Greatest Magical Stories, Chosen by Michael Morpurgo
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Award-winning children's writer and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo has collected his...
The Greek Myths
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The gold standard in Greek mythology, in a dazzling Graphic Deluxe Edition with a new introduction...
William Shakespeare's Attack of the Clones
6.0
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The popular, NYT best-selling Elizabethan/sci-fi mashup series continues, with a Shakespearean take...