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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 4, 2022  
Joining me on my blog today is author Preston Lewis in a fascinating interview about his historical Western series, the Three Rivers Trilogy. You can also read up about the third book in the trilogy, RIO HONDO, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of the book - two winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/08/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-rio-hondo.html

**RIO HONDO SYNOPSIS**
With the embers of the Lincoln County War still burning, rancher Wes Bracken must rebuild his life amid the white-hot animosities lingering from the deadly feud. His vengeful brother-in-law vows to kill him, the county's economic kingpin seeks revenge, and the despicable outlaw Jesse Evans, who violated Bracken's wife, intends to murder Bracken and his young family. Two promises complicate Bracken's survival chances: a pledge not to kill his wife's brother and a commitment to help William H. Bonney earn a governor's pardon for his crimes. To survive and fulfill his dream of a peaceful life in 1880s New Mexico Territory, Bracken must fight a corrupt legal system, a duplicitous governor, a ubiquitous political ring, and the evil Jesse Evans. If Bracken keeps his promises to his wife and Billy the Kid, he risks an early grave in the same soil that holds so many of the Lincoln County War's dead. If he ignores those pledges, he will dishonor the good name he hopes to build his future upon.
     
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
2015 | Action
Grim, not for kids!
My first reaction was how can they call this a teen movie? It's so graphically brutal, from harvesting young people, to zombies, this should definitely not be geared towards a younger audience.

There are certain similarities with the Hunger Games series, with the younger generation in the future, seen as expendable. And unlike the first, where there was more action, this starts opening itself to a larger cast and more developed plot. As with any trilogy, the middle tends to be an explainer for the first and set up for the third film. Is it the best of movies? Probably not, given that HG was far better, but it's not bad.
  
Show all 3 comments.
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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) Oct 27, 2017

I don't think I have the stomach for it! How are they?

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Sarah (7800 KP) Oct 28, 2017

As with most, I think the books are better than the films. The second film is very different though from the book. If you enjoyed the films then I'd definitely say read the books!

OU
Once Upon the End (Half Upon a Time, #3)
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The trilogy comes to an end as Jack completes his training for his new master and sets out on a mysterious quest of his own. Meanwhile, May is living with her wicked step-mother and Phillip is wishing for more adventures. Will these three reunite to overthrow the Evil Queen? If you've enjoyed the first two, you'll love how the series ends. There's more humor and more twists and suspense. I always had a hard time putting it down. And if you haven't read the series? Don't start here, but read all three of them.

My full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-once-upon-end-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
2017 | Action, Adventure
Tom Holland is a brilliant Peter Parker/Spiderman (0 more)
Finally a decent Spiderman movie
Tom Holland is a spectacular Spiderman he is the closest to the comic version out of all the actors to portray the character. I was unsure about Michael Keaton as Toomes/Vulture at first but he was excellent. The addition of Tony Stark and Happy was a great idea but not necessarily needed, it feels they were added to get the bums on seats in case it failed. All in all, the action and thrills you expect from Marvel/Disney and then some. I loved the Sam Raimi trilogy, and i cant wait to see what Jon Watts can do with his incarnation of Spidey
  
Authority (Southern Reach #2)
Authority (Southern Reach #2)
Jeff VanderMeer | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
'Ok' is a perfect word to describe the second installment in the Southern Reach Trilogy. I was expecting something a lot like Annihilation. But, this novel was office-based and kind of boring. The last part of the book was the most exciting, after slogging through the first parts. This novel is about the Southern Reach itself, and it's impending collapse. Is the border advancing? What is Area X? Welp, this book still wasn't sure about these questions. The only reason I'm going to complete the series is that I want to know what Area X is.
At least in this installment, they finally use the term 'alien', it only took a book and a half.
  
I really expected to like this book, but it didn't really live up to my expectations. Plot is aristocratic family, land rich and cash poor and what are they going to do about it. Nothing really new there either. Some other reviewers have seen this as a brilliant satire, but I'm afraid for me it was just a novel with lots of characters, many very undeveloped and most of them not even very likeable.

It is supposed to be the first part of Weldon's Love & Inheritance trilogy, but a lot of lose ends are tied up and this could really be a standalone novel. Certainly I'm far from feeling the compulsion to read the next two volumes.
  
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Ross (3284 KP) rated Limited Wish in Books

Dec 20, 2019  
Limited Wish
Limited Wish
Mark Lawrence | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
More of the same (timey wimey)
The second book in this trilogy is largely a retelling of the first book. Nick sees some mysterious people, who turn out to be from the future, there is a lot of talk about time travel and parallel universes and there is a heist sequence at the end.
This book was a lot heavier on the pseudo-science and that got a little tiring and head-scratchy at times, with all the talk of paradoxes and whatnot.
This was an enjoyable read, but as with anything time travel related too much creativity and inventiveness can only lead to stretches in plausibility and lengthy justifications for the "science".