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Ross (3284 KP) rated The Path of Flames in Books
Oct 24, 2017
This book has popped up a number of times as I have strolled through the fantasy section of Amazon's kindle store in the past. However, I was never really taken with the cover (which sadly I do base my TBR list on, in part) as I'm not much of one for elves. However, with the invitation to sample Kindle Unlimited for 60 days I thought I'd try and maximise my trial period and blast through this (now completed) series.
The first in the 5 book series (unless you count Escape from Bythos, a short opener) begins with Asho (the white haired character on the cover, not an elf after all but a Bythian human, at war alongside his lord and the army of "the good" against the armies of "the bad". We gradually start to see the world revealed at a gentle pace and each of the races are at different stages of their ascension to heaven, each step depending on how they lived that life (kind of like a tiered Buddhist reincarnation with eventually getting to heaven after a number of good lives). The Bythians are the lowest of the low and Asho is very lucky to be allowed to squire the Ennoian (read annoyin') Lord Kyferin.
From the result of that battle, further PoV characters are introduced: Ishkra and Kethe (Lord Kyferin's widow and daughter respectively), Audsley the magister and former knight Ser Tiron, as well as the orc-esque kragh Tarkon. All but Tarkon's narratives blend together to give an overall storyline from different perspectives.
The somewhat familiar castle setting is quickly thrown out the window as Lord Kyferin's brother takes over the castle and banishes his widow through a lunar gate (a mystic portal that only opens once a month used to travel great distances) along with her loyal followers into a ruined inhospitable wasteland with demons wandering the moors.
The characters are well defined and develop well through their trials and tribulations. While the plot is somewhat reactionary (there isn't really one main quest set up early on, rather events unfold and the plot is driven from there) this doesn't feel like it evolved that way, everything slots together well.
I have really enjoyed this first episode in the world of the black gate and have carried on with the follow-up, The Black Shriving.
The first in the 5 book series (unless you count Escape from Bythos, a short opener) begins with Asho (the white haired character on the cover, not an elf after all but a Bythian human, at war alongside his lord and the army of "the good" against the armies of "the bad". We gradually start to see the world revealed at a gentle pace and each of the races are at different stages of their ascension to heaven, each step depending on how they lived that life (kind of like a tiered Buddhist reincarnation with eventually getting to heaven after a number of good lives). The Bythians are the lowest of the low and Asho is very lucky to be allowed to squire the Ennoian (read annoyin') Lord Kyferin.
From the result of that battle, further PoV characters are introduced: Ishkra and Kethe (Lord Kyferin's widow and daughter respectively), Audsley the magister and former knight Ser Tiron, as well as the orc-esque kragh Tarkon. All but Tarkon's narratives blend together to give an overall storyline from different perspectives.
The somewhat familiar castle setting is quickly thrown out the window as Lord Kyferin's brother takes over the castle and banishes his widow through a lunar gate (a mystic portal that only opens once a month used to travel great distances) along with her loyal followers into a ruined inhospitable wasteland with demons wandering the moors.
The characters are well defined and develop well through their trials and tribulations. While the plot is somewhat reactionary (there isn't really one main quest set up early on, rather events unfold and the plot is driven from there) this doesn't feel like it evolved that way, everything slots together well.
I have really enjoyed this first episode in the world of the black gate and have carried on with the follow-up, The Black Shriving.
Merissa (13169 KP) rated Darkness Rising (Chateau Seductions 0.5) in Books
Nov 7, 2017
Darkness Rising (Chateau Seductions 0.5) by Lisa Carlisle
Darkness Rising is a short prequel to the Chateau Seductions series. We meet Antoine for the first time, and see how his life changed from being a gargoyle sculpter, to becoming a gargoyle/vampire hybrid recluse, owning a chateau and helping artists.
This isn't a long book, but it definitely helps to give you an insight into the enigmatic owner of the chateau. You are with him through the years as he says goodbye to his family and learns how to cope by himself. Two characters are introduced who will play a big part in the next book, Dark Velvet. We meet Cameron in dire circumstances and see how his friendship with Antoine grows. And we meet Savannah, who Antoine is immediately attracted to, but always want to help with her poetry.
For a quick dip into the Chateau Seductions world, then I can definitely recommend reading this short prequel. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This isn't a long book, but it definitely helps to give you an insight into the enigmatic owner of the chateau. You are with him through the years as he says goodbye to his family and learns how to cope by himself. Two characters are introduced who will play a big part in the next book, Dark Velvet. We meet Cameron in dire circumstances and see how his friendship with Antoine grows. And we meet Savannah, who Antoine is immediately attracted to, but always want to help with her poetry.
For a quick dip into the Chateau Seductions world, then I can definitely recommend reading this short prequel. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Tyrone (0 KP) rated Bright (2017) in Movies
Dec 26, 2017
BRIGHT
Contains spoilers, click to show
BRIGHT has a really good concept, and I really hope someone else continues this "world" into a possible series. Bright takes place in a world where Orcs, Elves and Humans live. That is enough and awesome, if they had just told a day in the life cop story about that this movie probably would have been much better, but no. They had to get into this whole backstory of a mythical being that would return one day (to destroy the world or destroy the Elves, depending on who you believe). The movie takes place in the poorer areas of Los Angeles and the characters and gangs (Hispanic and Orc) are pretty well done. However then we have Officer Ward's (Will Smith) wife who starts out the movie as an over worked emergency room nurse, then she is in a fancy dress sitting in a very fancy restaurant/bar with several other ladies also dressed expensive, kind of confusing. I really feel this film could have been so much more. If they had done "End Of Watch" with Orcs, Human & Elves this would have been Awesome.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Deepwater Horizon (2016) in Movies
May 23, 2019
True-life disaster movie permits the audience to feel good about paying their respects to victims of a genuine tragedy while still having all the fun of watching tons of stuff blow up. Marky Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell and his moustache, and various other characters head off to the titular rig, where evil corporate suits in pursuit of the bottom line (boo!) force them to cut costs, imperil safety standards, and so on. Sure enough, something important eventually goes boom.
I don't mean to sound glib about events in which nearly a dozen people died, but the fact is that this is a pretty glib movie - structured like a thriller, clearly designed to entertain, and making full use of its factual basis to include stuff you just wouldn't believe in a work of fiction (one character gets an award for his safety record literally an hour before his oil rig explodes). Capably done and exciting entertainment, but at the same time you are (on some level) watching real people die - I know many people don't have an issue with that, but it makes me uncomfortable, no matter how gravely reverential the film tries to be.
I don't mean to sound glib about events in which nearly a dozen people died, but the fact is that this is a pretty glib movie - structured like a thriller, clearly designed to entertain, and making full use of its factual basis to include stuff you just wouldn't believe in a work of fiction (one character gets an award for his safety record literally an hour before his oil rig explodes). Capably done and exciting entertainment, but at the same time you are (on some level) watching real people die - I know many people don't have an issue with that, but it makes me uncomfortable, no matter how gravely reverential the film tries to be.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Hummus and Homicide (Kebab Kitchen Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Lucy Berberian is back in her hometown of Ocean Crest, New Jersey, while she tries to figure out what to do next in her life. While she is reconnecting with family and friends, she is also working at her parent’s restaurant, Kebab Kitchen. Her high school nemesis, Heather Banks, is now the health inspector, and goes out of her way to make trouble for Lucy. However, after eating at the restaurant’s hummus bar, Heather dies in the parking lot. With business declining and Lucy the prime suspect, Lucy begins to search for answers. What happened to Heather?
This series is off to a good start. Lucy has a great collection of family and friends, although I did feel that her parents could be better fleshed out. We see hints of more here, something I hope is developed further as the series progresses. The mystery is solid with several believable suspects and plenty of secrets. The ending surprised me and kept me turning pages.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-hummus-and-homicide-by-tina.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This series is off to a good start. Lucy has a great collection of family and friends, although I did feel that her parents could be better fleshed out. We see hints of more here, something I hope is developed further as the series progresses. The mystery is solid with several believable suspects and plenty of secrets. The ending surprised me and kept me turning pages.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-hummus-and-homicide-by-tina.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Kristin (149 KP) rated Calves In The Mud Room in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
While this may not be your typical "coming of age" story as it only takes place over the course of a couple days, I would still term it as "coming into your own".
Wade lives on a farm which has gone to crap since his granddad passed and his stepdad started taking over. Not "taking over the farm", mind you, because he can't be bothered to lift a finger. No, he's just taken over Wade's life, and not for the good.
When we meet up with Wade, it's the date of a school dance and the girl of his dreams as actually asked him to be her date. He should be on cloud nine, right? Well, he is, until his day snowballs into one from Hell. Cue all the ill-timed things which can possibly happen when you're in a hurry and need to look your best, and multiply it by 10 because he's on a farm. How will his night turn out?
Great little story, and I'd definitely be interested to see where this character and author go from here.
5 stars
While this may not be your typical "coming of age" story as it only takes place over the course of a couple days, I would still term it as "coming into your own".
Wade lives on a farm which has gone to crap since his granddad passed and his stepdad started taking over. Not "taking over the farm", mind you, because he can't be bothered to lift a finger. No, he's just taken over Wade's life, and not for the good.
When we meet up with Wade, it's the date of a school dance and the girl of his dreams as actually asked him to be her date. He should be on cloud nine, right? Well, he is, until his day snowballs into one from Hell. Cue all the ill-timed things which can possibly happen when you're in a hurry and need to look your best, and multiply it by 10 because he's on a farm. How will his night turn out?
Great little story, and I'd definitely be interested to see where this character and author go from here.
5 stars
Melanie Johnson (34 KP) rated Snapchat in Apps
Aug 14, 2018
Silly (1 more)
Entertains the babies
A review by someone over 25
Allow me to shed some light on snapchat from someone who is not 16 and using it to send nudes. Yes, the pictures disappear after you view them unless you save them, but there is more to this app than destroying the evidence. My two year old enjoys to see her face with doggie ears. My theater friends enjoy to watch their last scene with a tanning taco in the foreground. My sister in law and I snap before and after videos while we clean our house. I can send videos of our children to my husband at work and know that the quality of what I send will be better than a text message. So what I'm saying is that there is a lot of good here, even if you are saying to yourself "I dont use anything that the Kardashians do" and I hear you. Just know that you are missing out on the silliness that a adults need in their life ever so often
ClareR (5950 KP) rated Muse of Nightmares in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Just read this book
This is so good. Ok, I could stop right there with this review, really. If you haven't read Strange the Dreamer, then what are you doing here? Go and read it immediately, then come back and read this one. You won't regret it (well, if you don't like Fantasy, you might. I can't say as I haven't tried to convince you though!).
Two new characters pop up in this book: Kora and Nova, and I couldn't for the life of me work out why. Of course it all becomes clear as the book goes on. I loved the way their story was woven into the story of Lazlo, Sarai, Minya, Ruby, Sparrow and Feral.
Laini Taylor writes beautifully, I love her style. It's dreamlike, really.
I'll leave you with a bit from the blurb, because it says it all so well:
"Must heroes always slay monsters, or is is possible to save them instead? Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to Strange the Dreamer"
They're right: it is gorgeous. Just read it and see.
Two new characters pop up in this book: Kora and Nova, and I couldn't for the life of me work out why. Of course it all becomes clear as the book goes on. I loved the way their story was woven into the story of Lazlo, Sarai, Minya, Ruby, Sparrow and Feral.
Laini Taylor writes beautifully, I love her style. It's dreamlike, really.
I'll leave you with a bit from the blurb, because it says it all so well:
"Must heroes always slay monsters, or is is possible to save them instead? Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to Strange the Dreamer"
They're right: it is gorgeous. Just read it and see.
The Writer's Idea Book: How to Develop Great Ideas for Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, & Screenplays
7.5
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Where do you get your ideas? It's a question that plagues every writer. And once you've got an idea,...
My Only: Alex & Jamie
8.0
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The Firefighter… With his sexy good looks, natural born charisma, and playful sense of humor,...