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Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated Slipstream (A Crisis of Two Worlds, #1) in Books
Mar 15, 2018
After my playthrough of the "Mass Effect" trilogy of video games wound up as a tragically optimistic, sci-fi, gay love story; I decided to look into finding some gay sci-fi romance fiction and stumbled upon this title. I have to say I am glad I did. This book is by no means perfect; there are a few questionable character decisions and some of the dialogue just doesn't feel like something that people in the age group represented would ever actually say, but despite those flaws, this still wound up being a highly entertaining read. The romance elements are kept somewhat to a minimum, which actually works better for me, but when they do arise they are indeed pretty romantic and about 90% believable. The sci-fi / fantasy / adventure elements are more pronounced and while they can stretch credulity a bit more regularly, they were more than suitably exciting enough to allow for the requisite suspension of disbelief. It ends satisfactorily while still leaving quite a lot to be resolved in the sequel, which I can say I look forward to reading.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated Shady Lady (Corine Solomon, #3) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I have to give a fairly high rating to a book that involves a woman who largely saves herself from multiple assassins (natural and supernatural) sent by the head of a drug cartel. There are sexy men in her life (three, in fact), but she's definitely the heroine here, not a clinging vine. That's a refreshing approach.
To be honest I don't think this book should be shelved with paranormal romances at all. It deserves to be called urban fantasy, or something along those lines, because relationships are not the main focus of the plot.
Corine has changed a great deal from the beginning of the series, and we learn much more about her background in this volume, explaining some of her behavior. The exposition is never tiresome or without reason — it's worked into the plot very nicely. I enjoy seeing character development, and getting more of the "why" helps the reader make sense of her decisions.
This volume feels like the end of the series, but it was a nice little trilogy and well worth reading.
To be honest I don't think this book should be shelved with paranormal romances at all. It deserves to be called urban fantasy, or something along those lines, because relationships are not the main focus of the plot.
Corine has changed a great deal from the beginning of the series, and we learn much more about her background in this volume, explaining some of her behavior. The exposition is never tiresome or without reason — it's worked into the plot very nicely. I enjoy seeing character development, and getting more of the "why" helps the reader make sense of her decisions.
This volume feels like the end of the series, but it was a nice little trilogy and well worth reading.
Joelene Marie (28 KP) rated The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms in Books
Oct 1, 2018
Finally got around to reading this one to see what all the fuss was about. I purchased the omnibus ebook on my nook app to have all three after reading the sample a few days prior and it stuck with me. let me just say that the hype is warranted. going into it I really didn't expect to be so entranced by the story, as I haven't read this sort of fantasy in a long time, but I found myself resentful every time real life interfered with my reading forcing me to put it down for a while. I was so absorbed that I even dreamed about it lol. there is something about the authors writing style that hooked me from the beginning, the world building is superb, and the characters were very well developed. I loved that there were plot twists I didn't see coming a mile away, especially at the end. the ending was nicely done, tying up this particular story while also setting up the next book in the trilogy. highly recommended! now I'm on to book two!
Leah Rothwell (170 KP) rated The Devil Rides Out in Books
Oct 8, 2018
Hauntingly amazing
This is the first time I’ve read this book, I read it because my grandfather did the cover illustrations for this edition and I can honestly say this book is amazing. I didn’t connect with it when I was younger but now I’m older I am amazed at how haunting this book is.
The suspense is there, the panic leaps between you and the book all the time and it’s amazing.
This isn’t my typical genre of book to read but now I can’t stop at just this one.
It’s not a particularly long book but it doesn’t miss anything, you won’t be grasping at the next one, you’ll just be taken by this one and transported like it’s the first book you’ve ever read.
I can’t say I found anything bad about this book because I didn’t. I will definitely be rereading it and moving onto the other two books in the ‘trilogy’ that Wordsworth Editions printed. I hope they are as satanic as this book, creepy but breathtaking.
The suspense is there, the panic leaps between you and the book all the time and it’s amazing.
This isn’t my typical genre of book to read but now I can’t stop at just this one.
It’s not a particularly long book but it doesn’t miss anything, you won’t be grasping at the next one, you’ll just be taken by this one and transported like it’s the first book you’ve ever read.
I can’t say I found anything bad about this book because I didn’t. I will definitely be rereading it and moving onto the other two books in the ‘trilogy’ that Wordsworth Editions printed. I hope they are as satanic as this book, creepy but breathtaking.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) in Movies
Nov 10, 2018
For starters, I haven't bothered to read this book, or the next book that weren't written by Stieg Larsson... If this film is any indication of how the book was... I'm glad I didn't waste the time.
There's nothing really wrong with the film, per say, it's an interesting thriller. It really wasn't the Lisbeth Salander I remember, she's been changed into just a bland, strong female character with an edgy look.
It was a strange move for Sony to skip the rest of the original trilogy. I thought Rooney Mara was a fantastic Salander, and I thought Daniel Craig did alright.
Claire Foy did alright, I guess, if that was the script she was given. Still, I couldn't help but compare her, and I don't think I'm the only one that will do that. I did really like Sverrir Gudnason as Blomkvist.
The opening credits tried so hard to be like GWTDT, but failed, and it kind of annoyed me that they even attempted it. Sorry but, you can't compete with a Trent Reznor and KO cover of the Immigrant Song.
There's nothing really wrong with the film, per say, it's an interesting thriller. It really wasn't the Lisbeth Salander I remember, she's been changed into just a bland, strong female character with an edgy look.
It was a strange move for Sony to skip the rest of the original trilogy. I thought Rooney Mara was a fantastic Salander, and I thought Daniel Craig did alright.
Claire Foy did alright, I guess, if that was the script she was given. Still, I couldn't help but compare her, and I don't think I'm the only one that will do that. I did really like Sverrir Gudnason as Blomkvist.
The opening credits tried so hard to be like GWTDT, but failed, and it kind of annoyed me that they even attempted it. Sorry but, you can't compete with a Trent Reznor and KO cover of the Immigrant Song.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Behemoth (Leviathan, #2) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
As the world plunges into The Great War, the Leviathan travels to the Ottoman Empire in hopes of keeping the peace with the Emperor. Follow Deryn and Alek as they travel around the world. These books abound with secret missions, new beasts and machines, hidden lies and truths that are (FINALLY) revealed and many historical figures encountered. As you may have guessed, I have a problem with binge reading. When I find a series that I am IN LOVE with, I won't stop until I am finished! However, most of the time I need to wait six months to a year before the next installment. Thankfully that was not the case with Mr. Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan Trilogy. My favorite beastie by far is the perspicacious loris. I want one!!! It was so much fun reading this alternate history of WWI. Learning a few interesting details about the war that did in fact happen along the way. Although Mr. Westerfeld has made some definite changes to history in this book, it was very entertaining and engrossing. I love the whole idea behind this series.
Otway93 (567 KP) rated Star Wars: Queen's Shadow in Books
Dec 31, 2019 (Updated Dec 31, 2019)
Idea (1 more)
Captain Panaka
Characters (1 more)
Story
The most tedious entry to the Star Wars canon.
When I heard about this book I was fascinated to know she went from Queen Amidala to Senator Amidala, and what happened following The Phantom Menace. Turns out, not much.
All of this can be read on the blurb: basically her royal predecessor asked her to. That was basically it.
The book answers these questions rather pointlessly, and describes her relationship with her handmaidens. The book can therefore be summarised in a single sentence: She was very close with her royal handmaidens, and the next Queen asks her to be senator.
The book is incredibly slow, to the point you can no longer be bothered and just want to skip to the next part of the Star Wars canon, a few Age of Republic comics, which are shorter, but far more fun.
It's single redeeming feature is the inclusion of Captain Panaka, the character portrayed by Hugh Quarshie in the prequel trilogy, a rather underrated and underused character.
All of this can be read on the blurb: basically her royal predecessor asked her to. That was basically it.
The book answers these questions rather pointlessly, and describes her relationship with her handmaidens. The book can therefore be summarised in a single sentence: She was very close with her royal handmaidens, and the next Queen asks her to be senator.
The book is incredibly slow, to the point you can no longer be bothered and just want to skip to the next part of the Star Wars canon, a few Age of Republic comics, which are shorter, but far more fun.
It's single redeeming feature is the inclusion of Captain Panaka, the character portrayed by Hugh Quarshie in the prequel trilogy, a rather underrated and underused character.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Iron Angel (Deepgate Codex #2) in Books
Nov 15, 2019
The first novel in the Deepgate Codex trilogy, Scar Night, explored the immediate surroundings of the suspended city of Deepgate. This second entry follows the fallout from the battle of Deepgate as the balance between the powers of the world realign themselves.
As with Scar Night, Campbell's imagination creates some stunning characters and imagery; the Soft Men, John Anchor, a nightmarish journey through hell. The descriptions are extremely evocative, the whole having a sort of Gothic Steampunk feel to it.
This is, however, weaker than Scar Night, partly because there is just so much Campbell is keen to show us that the detail gets lost, and at times the story grinds to a halt for some lingering descriptions of something that although interesting has no real bearing on the story and just means momentum is lost. The result is unfortunately a bit of a mess.
Not a bad book by any means, but a case of an author's enthusiasm for their own creations reducing the focus on developing an interesting and coherent story
As with Scar Night, Campbell's imagination creates some stunning characters and imagery; the Soft Men, John Anchor, a nightmarish journey through hell. The descriptions are extremely evocative, the whole having a sort of Gothic Steampunk feel to it.
This is, however, weaker than Scar Night, partly because there is just so much Campbell is keen to show us that the detail gets lost, and at times the story grinds to a halt for some lingering descriptions of something that although interesting has no real bearing on the story and just means momentum is lost. The result is unfortunately a bit of a mess.
Not a bad book by any means, but a case of an author's enthusiasm for their own creations reducing the focus on developing an interesting and coherent story
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3) in Books
Nov 25, 2019
Completing Tolkien's genre-defining (and dominating) epic fantasy, the Return of the King follows the Lord of the Rings trilogy to it's conclusion. With the company sundered and The Ring being carried by a reluctant Samwise against the might of Mordor it seems that all may indeed be lost.
The Lord of the Rings is certainly a long read in its entirety, but this is where everything that has been building comes together. Cleverly switching between the plot strands, from the faded grandeur of Gondor to the desperate crossing of Mordor to huge battles this has everything. And the returning hobbits find both them and the Shire have been changed, possibly forever.
The final ending of the book (even though Tolkien originally wrote another chapter) is a superb piece of understated melancholy with the ending of the Third Age and the clear message that all things change, even good things don't last forever. The bittersweet ending is one of the things that makes this one of the greatest works of fiction ever written, in any genre.
The Lord of the Rings is certainly a long read in its entirety, but this is where everything that has been building comes together. Cleverly switching between the plot strands, from the faded grandeur of Gondor to the desperate crossing of Mordor to huge battles this has everything. And the returning hobbits find both them and the Shire have been changed, possibly forever.
The final ending of the book (even though Tolkien originally wrote another chapter) is a superb piece of understated melancholy with the ending of the Third Age and the clear message that all things change, even good things don't last forever. The bittersweet ending is one of the things that makes this one of the greatest works of fiction ever written, in any genre.
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Land You Never Leave in Books
Feb 7, 2020
Fantastic
The second book in Watson's West of West trilogy continues following the Hardworkers (a small tribe of Nordic descendants) and the former Calnian Owsla (a Native American warrior team), who have now joined forces. Their aim is to simply head West to try and save the world, as told by a dream. The book sees them approaching Badland country and expecting trouble. The Calnian army are gathered to track them down and attack them, the empress being controlled by her mysterious new healer, and following her own dream which told her the Hardworkers would destroy the world.
As in the first book, the humorous dialogue keeps this book rolling along really well. The interactions and relations between characters is superb and believable. The world is familiar enough to us, but with some unusual creatures and customs thrown in. The Badlanders are a truly psychotic tribe.
The pacing of the book is top notch with plenty of action and excitement spread throughout, and told from numerous different points of view.
A wonderful read with excellent characters.
As in the first book, the humorous dialogue keeps this book rolling along really well. The interactions and relations between characters is superb and believable. The world is familiar enough to us, but with some unusual creatures and customs thrown in. The Badlanders are a truly psychotic tribe.
The pacing of the book is top notch with plenty of action and excitement spread throughout, and told from numerous different points of view.
A wonderful read with excellent characters.