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Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated The Book of Life in Books
Mar 2, 2019
The best of the trilogy
Wow, this was literally absorbing from start to finish and it is my favourite of the trilogy; it is not often that the final book achieves the highest rating. This truly is a story and a bunch of characters that have built and built.
So much change came to Diana and Matthew's lives in this book, more than in book two in the past. I found the plot to be fantastically planned, intricate and well-researched. There were details for days but not so that I got lost.
Family was more central to THE BOOK OF LIFE than any other book and it was the side characters that enriched the read so fully. I have the biggest soft spot for Gallowglass and I want a book just about him. What was subtly fascinating was the meeting of the human and creature world in this book the crossing of threads, meeting of similarities and shared-being.
The narration was excellent, Ikeda can even sing beautifully in French and German as part of the story. Again, sadness that she doesn't narrate any more.
If you are like me and you found book two a bit of a hard trudge, please don't let that put you off the final instalment, it was the best of the three.
So much change came to Diana and Matthew's lives in this book, more than in book two in the past. I found the plot to be fantastically planned, intricate and well-researched. There were details for days but not so that I got lost.
Family was more central to THE BOOK OF LIFE than any other book and it was the side characters that enriched the read so fully. I have the biggest soft spot for Gallowglass and I want a book just about him. What was subtly fascinating was the meeting of the human and creature world in this book the crossing of threads, meeting of similarities and shared-being.
The narration was excellent, Ikeda can even sing beautifully in French and German as part of the story. Again, sadness that she doesn't narrate any more.
If you are like me and you found book two a bit of a hard trudge, please don't let that put you off the final instalment, it was the best of the three.
Merissa (11943 KP) rated The First Secret (Hidden Portals Trilogy #2) in Books
May 24, 2019
The First Secret (Hidden Portals Trilogy #2) by Maya Daniels
The First Secret is the second book in the Hidden Portals Trilogy, and there is no second-book-slump with this little beauty.
This is Fern and Iris' story, and we are able to catch up with Raphael and Artemis too. I love Iris, and have done from book one. She is sassy, has an attitude, and isn't afraid to stand up for herself against 'others'. Fern fights his attraction to Iris, fearing her to be the same as Lazarus. It takes a while, and some 'advice' from others, plus a near death experience before he realises he is an ass. And don't we all love it when that happens?!
Once again, this story is complete by itself, but it does lead you nicely to the next book. As with all Maya Daniels books, there were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. I love her world-building, and the characters are just amazing. I am loving this series, and have no hesitation in recommending both the book and the series.
* 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!
This is Fern and Iris' story, and we are able to catch up with Raphael and Artemis too. I love Iris, and have done from book one. She is sassy, has an attitude, and isn't afraid to stand up for herself against 'others'. Fern fights his attraction to Iris, fearing her to be the same as Lazarus. It takes a while, and some 'advice' from others, plus a near death experience before he realises he is an ass. And don't we all love it when that happens?!
Once again, this story is complete by itself, but it does lead you nicely to the next book. As with all Maya Daniels books, there were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. I love her world-building, and the characters are just amazing. I am loving this series, and have no hesitation in recommending both the book and the series.
* 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!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) in Movies
Feb 17, 2018 (Updated Feb 17, 2018)
Four's a crowd
Twenty-sixth Godzilla movie (also eleventh Mothra movie, eighth Ghidorah movie and third Baragon movie, in case anyone's counting) recruits director Shusuke Kaneko, helmsman of the brilliant 90s Gamera trilogy; results are (perhaps inevitably) disappointing. A new incarnation of Godzilla threatens Japan, but a young tabloid TV journalist encounters a mysterious old man in an equestrian safety helmet who tells her of three legendary Guardian Monsters who will defend the country against this menace (Baragon is also a Guardian Monster but not famous enough to get his name in the title).
Some interesting innovations: first film to address (even obliquely) issues of Japanese culpability for events of the Second World War, first film where King Ghidorah is a good guy, first film with a scene set in Godzilla's intestinal tract. However, the end result is let down by a fatally uncertain tone - seemingly serious scenes of death and carnage are intercut with knockabout cheesy humour and in-jokes (in the English dub at least). The retro feel of the movie, hearkening back to the 60s films of the series, is not unwelcome, but its take on the formula is just plain weird. Most importantly it lacks the mythic grandeur of the Kaneko Gamera trilogy. Still better than the films which immediately preceded it, though.
Some interesting innovations: first film to address (even obliquely) issues of Japanese culpability for events of the Second World War, first film where King Ghidorah is a good guy, first film with a scene set in Godzilla's intestinal tract. However, the end result is let down by a fatally uncertain tone - seemingly serious scenes of death and carnage are intercut with knockabout cheesy humour and in-jokes (in the English dub at least). The retro feel of the movie, hearkening back to the 60s films of the series, is not unwelcome, but its take on the formula is just plain weird. Most importantly it lacks the mythic grandeur of the Kaneko Gamera trilogy. Still better than the films which immediately preceded it, though.
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated The Dan Diaries in Books
Aug 30, 2018
In the Dan Dairies we get to see Dan’s POV. It in point of view that we see how it is for him and his friend Frank. It mostly the journey of Dan and how he helps his loves one and including Hank.
It starts out with Dan and transition. What he needs to do and help the main man up head and what need to direct one person path to her destiny. Will Dan succeed or will he not? To me this is more a summary of the 3 books that are before this one. It goes over summary of some of the big events that Hank has to deal with and Dan having to convince Hank (Olivia Henry).
Frank is a part of this, with Dan is it mostly about Dan and though his point of view. If you have not read the Beyond Trilogy. This is only the summary of it. This really concludes the series and helps define some of the holes or to see Dan and his view point. If you want the story and details of Olivia and Finn story, you will need to read Beyond Trilogy - books, Beyond Believing, Beyond Love, Beyond Forever.
The author does a really good job of this. She really show the Dan’s life in the afterlife and his point of view well.
It starts out with Dan and transition. What he needs to do and help the main man up head and what need to direct one person path to her destiny. Will Dan succeed or will he not? To me this is more a summary of the 3 books that are before this one. It goes over summary of some of the big events that Hank has to deal with and Dan having to convince Hank (Olivia Henry).
Frank is a part of this, with Dan is it mostly about Dan and though his point of view. If you have not read the Beyond Trilogy. This is only the summary of it. This really concludes the series and helps define some of the holes or to see Dan and his view point. If you want the story and details of Olivia and Finn story, you will need to read Beyond Trilogy - books, Beyond Believing, Beyond Love, Beyond Forever.
The author does a really good job of this. She really show the Dan’s life in the afterlife and his point of view well.
A great start to a potentially exciting new trilogy!
Rosewater is a city which has grown around an alien biome in Nigeria. Once a year, a part of the dome opens and heals all those in the vicinity, regardless of their illness. The biome also appears to have triggered strange abilities in many people - one of whom is Kaaro. He has become a 'Finder' and via the xenosphere he is able to find things. If someone knows where an object or a person once was, he can find this object or person if they are later lost. The xenosphere is like the 'astral plane' (not that I've been!), and those who are like Kaaro also use this xenosphere to find out information.
Kaaro works for S45 - not willingly though. In the past, he had used his abilities to steal from people, and he is almost blackmailed in to working for the government. He doesn't make it easy for them. He does what they want on his own terms, it seems.
I really liked this. I liked the world building, the science behind it all, the characters (Femi is one of my favourites - she is a woman who takes no nonsense!). I think it's a good start to a trilogy - I'm very interested to see where this goes!
Kaaro works for S45 - not willingly though. In the past, he had used his abilities to steal from people, and he is almost blackmailed in to working for the government. He doesn't make it easy for them. He does what they want on his own terms, it seems.
I really liked this. I liked the world building, the science behind it all, the characters (Femi is one of my favourites - she is a woman who takes no nonsense!). I think it's a good start to a trilogy - I'm very interested to see where this goes!
David McK (3369 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) in Movies
Dec 23, 2019 (Updated Apr 28, 2020)
Let's face it: no matter what JJ Abrams did, he was never going to please everyone.
Personally, I feel he wasn't helped by the fact that there was no clear over-arching strand to the sequel trilogy; no guiding hand (as it were) such as with Kevin Feige's role in the MCU, leaving each director free to do their own thing, to ignore what had went before or (as in this case) to blatantly attempt to fix what many see as the flaws of the previous film.
Set up as both the capper to this particular trilogy, and to the 9-movie Skywalker saga as a whole, Abrams was definitely NOT in an enviable position ...
It's hard to talk about this movie without giving too much of the plot away: I think it's fairly safe to say that Palpatine returns (he's in the trailers) for reasons, that the issue of Reys parentage is - again - brought up, and that this was intended to be Leia's movie (before Carrie Fisher passed away) in much the same way as The Force Awakens was Hans and that The Last Jedi was Luke's.
It also very much has a 'Return of the Jedi' feel to it, and seemingly lifts from the 'Legends' series of no-longer-canon Star Wars spin-offs, with the inclusion of the Katana fleet in all but name.
Personally, I feel he wasn't helped by the fact that there was no clear over-arching strand to the sequel trilogy; no guiding hand (as it were) such as with Kevin Feige's role in the MCU, leaving each director free to do their own thing, to ignore what had went before or (as in this case) to blatantly attempt to fix what many see as the flaws of the previous film.
Set up as both the capper to this particular trilogy, and to the 9-movie Skywalker saga as a whole, Abrams was definitely NOT in an enviable position ...
It's hard to talk about this movie without giving too much of the plot away: I think it's fairly safe to say that Palpatine returns (he's in the trailers) for reasons, that the issue of Reys parentage is - again - brought up, and that this was intended to be Leia's movie (before Carrie Fisher passed away) in much the same way as The Force Awakens was Hans and that The Last Jedi was Luke's.
It also very much has a 'Return of the Jedi' feel to it, and seemingly lifts from the 'Legends' series of no-longer-canon Star Wars spin-offs, with the inclusion of the Katana fleet in all but name.
The Unintentional Wish (42 KP) rated Six of Crows in Books
Dec 25, 2019
New Verisom of Sherlock Holmes
Where do I start? Before I read Six Of Crow there was a trilogy before it. And I read it before Six Of Crow came out so when I got my hands on it. I already knew about the world the setting took place. And I recommend anyone to read the trilogy FIRST has there are people, and inside jokes you will miss if you don't but nothing major or important.
But Six Of Crow it self. Was a fanominal book, it was new and different, and there was twist in it I didn't see coming. Six Of Crow left a mark on me where I put it in my Jewel Collection. Kaz is an choas Sherlock Holmes, he dosen't help if there isn't anything in it for him. His gang all have different personalities and back stories. They each add a new element to the story, you get to know them like friends. I don't think there is a si gle thing Leigh could have done to make this story any better. I couldn't put the book down, I wanted to know what would happen. Also there are some good lessons you could learn for it.
I highly highly recommend this book to anyone willing to expand their taste in genre.
But Six Of Crow it self. Was a fanominal book, it was new and different, and there was twist in it I didn't see coming. Six Of Crow left a mark on me where I put it in my Jewel Collection. Kaz is an choas Sherlock Holmes, he dosen't help if there isn't anything in it for him. His gang all have different personalities and back stories. They each add a new element to the story, you get to know them like friends. I don't think there is a si gle thing Leigh could have done to make this story any better. I couldn't put the book down, I wanted to know what would happen. Also there are some good lessons you could learn for it.
I highly highly recommend this book to anyone willing to expand their taste in genre.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (2007) in Movies
Nov 20, 2019
Drunk Johnny Part 3
This one, this one is my favorite out of all of them. Let my explain, this one ends the trilogy, this one continues off from the second movie and does it excellently. This one has the most epic battle out of all the movies, this one you see the chacters at their best, you see them at their peak, you see them battle for their lives. You see Keith Richards in this one, wait what? Yes you read that correctly, Keith Richards is in this one and he plays as Captain Jack Sparrow's Father, of course he does. Cause Johnny Depp is playing a drunk verison of pirate Keith Richard's. Anyways the plot:
Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) join forces with Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) to free Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from Davy Jones' locker. Meanwhile, the crew of the Flying Dutchman ghost ship wreaks havoc on the Seven Seas. The friends must navigate dangerous waters to confront Chinese pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) and, ultimately, they must choose sides in a battle where
in the pirate life hangs in the balance.
At World's End is the pefect title for a perfect trilogy and should of ending with this one, but nope had to make two more after this one.
Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) join forces with Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) to free Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from Davy Jones' locker. Meanwhile, the crew of the Flying Dutchman ghost ship wreaks havoc on the Seven Seas. The friends must navigate dangerous waters to confront Chinese pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) and, ultimately, they must choose sides in a battle where
in the pirate life hangs in the balance.
At World's End is the pefect title for a perfect trilogy and should of ending with this one, but nope had to make two more after this one.
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated The Rise of Magicks (Chronicles of The One #3) in Books
Dec 16, 2019
A wonderful end to a fantastic trilogy.
The conclusion to this trilogy was everything I wanted it to be and more. A truly beautiful ending. I want to be very mindful of spoilers so as not to ruin the magic (see what I did there?) for other readers.
The evolution of Fallon's relationship with Duncan was exactly right; I love him for her. In fact, I loved all of the relationships in this story.
When they travel to New York, back to where it all began, I could still picture everything the way it was described in the first book, overlaying the current state of things in my mind. This is great storytelling, in my opinion. I could see Arlys at the news desk next to the corpse of her co-worker. I could see Fred and Arlys traversing the tunnels. I could see a frightened Lana discovering her powers.
There are deaths, of course, because, you know, war. One absolutely heartbreaking death in particular - and the characters' reactions to it - literally brought tears to my eyes.
The emotions throughout this story are so powerful. You can FEEL their triumph, their heartbreak, their joy, their rage.
And, while this is classified as fantasy, the entire story certainly feels like a commentary on modern society, no?
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARE!
The evolution of Fallon's relationship with Duncan was exactly right; I love him for her. In fact, I loved all of the relationships in this story.
When they travel to New York, back to where it all began, I could still picture everything the way it was described in the first book, overlaying the current state of things in my mind. This is great storytelling, in my opinion. I could see Arlys at the news desk next to the corpse of her co-worker. I could see Fred and Arlys traversing the tunnels. I could see a frightened Lana discovering her powers.
There are deaths, of course, because, you know, war. One absolutely heartbreaking death in particular - and the characters' reactions to it - literally brought tears to my eyes.
The emotions throughout this story are so powerful. You can FEEL their triumph, their heartbreak, their joy, their rage.
And, while this is classified as fantasy, the entire story certainly feels like a commentary on modern society, no?
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARE!
The Lord of the Rings
8.5
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Continuing the story begun in The Hobbit, this three-volume paperback boxed set of Tolkien's epic...