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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Lord of the Things Book I: The Mellow Hip of the Thing in Books
Nov 20, 2019
This is by no means the first parody of Professor Tolkien's enduring (and weighty) fantasy tale, nor will it be the last. This is a broad retelling of the first book of the classic trilogy, and as such it's really only for people who are familiar with the source book.
This started as an online creation of a discussion group, later edited and extended by the author to the published version. The history shows in the writing, the first half being distinctly uneven in tone and with plenty of things that were no doubt funny to the group, but don't work so well without the background.
However once past Rivendell, things get a lot better (if no less silly), although the story does feel a little rushed. There are some good chuckles to be had throughout as fun is thoroughly poked at some of the rather po-faced pontification of the source text. Yes the jokes use the scattergun approach but enough hit the mark - certainly more later in the story - to make this an entertaining read.
This won't be to everyone's tastes - it is very very silly and the start can be a bit hard going - but this book is there purely to entertain, not to win any literature prizes. The thing is, for all of it's disposable puns, references and silly jokes just occasionally there's a glimpse of some real wit underneath it all.
This started as an online creation of a discussion group, later edited and extended by the author to the published version. The history shows in the writing, the first half being distinctly uneven in tone and with plenty of things that were no doubt funny to the group, but don't work so well without the background.
However once past Rivendell, things get a lot better (if no less silly), although the story does feel a little rushed. There are some good chuckles to be had throughout as fun is thoroughly poked at some of the rather po-faced pontification of the source text. Yes the jokes use the scattergun approach but enough hit the mark - certainly more later in the story - to make this an entertaining read.
This won't be to everyone's tastes - it is very very silly and the start can be a bit hard going - but this book is there purely to entertain, not to win any literature prizes. The thing is, for all of it's disposable puns, references and silly jokes just occasionally there's a glimpse of some real wit underneath it all.
Otway93 (580 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) in Movies
Dec 19, 2019
Acting (4 more)
CGI
Script
Predictable
Characters
A rushed ending to something special.
Well, this film has felt like a long time coming, but the disappointment took far less time.
Poor acting and poor CGI work make this film bad enough, but with a predictable plot and an awful script, it makes it in my opinion the worst Star Wars film ever made (so far), and made me wish I'd stayed at home and watched Attack of the Clones.
Daisy Ridley's acting was pretty poor in the more dramatic moments, and the CGI, particularly bad during large explosions, detracted from the feeling a Star Wars film usually brings. I'm talking Sharknado level CGI at some points, but at least that was supposed to be bad...
The characters, some of them turning out to be a completely pointless addition to the trilogy, learn absolutely nothing about themselves, with a couple of exceptions of course, but all of them with poorly written characteristics.
The ending is of course predictable, as it was always going to be realistically, but as for that, I'll let you guys judge for yourself!
The only redeeming feature is a nice little twist or two, but I'm obviously not going to tell you that!
Of course, some things are better the second time around, so maybe I'll watch again when the DVD is released and update my review...or not update it if that be the case.
Poor acting and poor CGI work make this film bad enough, but with a predictable plot and an awful script, it makes it in my opinion the worst Star Wars film ever made (so far), and made me wish I'd stayed at home and watched Attack of the Clones.
Daisy Ridley's acting was pretty poor in the more dramatic moments, and the CGI, particularly bad during large explosions, detracted from the feeling a Star Wars film usually brings. I'm talking Sharknado level CGI at some points, but at least that was supposed to be bad...
The characters, some of them turning out to be a completely pointless addition to the trilogy, learn absolutely nothing about themselves, with a couple of exceptions of course, but all of them with poorly written characteristics.
The ending is of course predictable, as it was always going to be realistically, but as for that, I'll let you guys judge for yourself!
The only redeeming feature is a nice little twist or two, but I'm obviously not going to tell you that!
Of course, some things are better the second time around, so maybe I'll watch again when the DVD is released and update my review...or not update it if that be the case.
Cassy Klindt (5 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) in Movies
Dec 20, 2019
This ending of the trilogy closed many of the plot lines and the characters story lines played out well. (3 more)
Visually beautiful. The scenery was absolutely wonderful
The pace of the movie was very consistent. There wasn't a great place to get up and get refills or go to the bathroom because it was very consistent.
The score was wonderful, consistently for the scenes.
The ending felt a bit forced. They were trying to make all fans happy but in attempting to do so messed with relationships a bit more than necessary. The movie wasthis (1 more)
Some of the characters' story lines at the end felt out of character. They just didn't seem to connect.
This movie was much better than the last. Abrams did a good job bringing the story back to its original direction for the most part. I love how some of the characters followed previous ones in their story lines, but not enough to negate the character. The scenery was absolutely wonderful! The places they visited were very well done. Visually beautiful. The ending felt a bit forced as they were trying to close all story lines and make everyone happy and some of the things that happened didn't really feel like they fit the original story, but making everyone happy is impossible. Overall I think it was a good closing the the story line and the characters stories. I enjoyed seeing this movie and would definitely go see it again!
Ross (3284 KP) rated You Die When You Die in Books
Jan 21, 2020
Fantastic witty pre-historic Viking / Native American fantasy
This is the alternative-reality story of the Hardworkers, a small clan of Viking descendants in pre-Columbian North America. A mentally-damaged young boy in the clan has a premonition that the village will be attacked and they should head west. When the village is indeed attacked by natives (who themselves had a premonition of these Vikings ending the world), the clan quickly up-sticks and head off.
There follows a brilliant, exciting, funny story of this small clan with mixed abilities (some well trained warriors, some powerful yet cowardly warlocks, some useless wastes of space) travelling across North America, hunted by the magically-enhanced warriors sent to end them, and meeting numerous clans and tribes along the way.
The wonderful merging of plausible pre-history America and a more familiar fantasy setting (prophecies, evil empires, warriors) results in this superb story. The dialogue is witty and funny, the world is familiar yet strange enough to make you think, and the action sequences are fantastically narrated, often from different viewpoints.
The characters are all very well crafted and unique, and their interactions and conflicts really spur this story on.
I would urge anyone keen on fantasy to read this book. While the cover, and title, may suggest it is a brutal slobberknocker of a book, it is actually very clever, funny and thrilling.
I cannot wait to jump in to the next book in this trilogy. Wootah!!!
There follows a brilliant, exciting, funny story of this small clan with mixed abilities (some well trained warriors, some powerful yet cowardly warlocks, some useless wastes of space) travelling across North America, hunted by the magically-enhanced warriors sent to end them, and meeting numerous clans and tribes along the way.
The wonderful merging of plausible pre-history America and a more familiar fantasy setting (prophecies, evil empires, warriors) results in this superb story. The dialogue is witty and funny, the world is familiar yet strange enough to make you think, and the action sequences are fantastically narrated, often from different viewpoints.
The characters are all very well crafted and unique, and their interactions and conflicts really spur this story on.
I would urge anyone keen on fantasy to read this book. While the cover, and title, may suggest it is a brutal slobberknocker of a book, it is actually very clever, funny and thrilling.
I cannot wait to jump in to the next book in this trilogy. Wootah!!!
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Ignite the Shadows (Ignite the Shadows, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
I always have a thing for books related to hacking (or if the main character is a hacker). But while <i>Ignite the Shadows</i> certainly isn't about hacking (it only plays a minor part to the story), I still enjoyed the book regardless and the world Seymour builds. <i>Ignite the Shadows</i> is almost like a combination of the first and second book in a typical dystopian trilogy, which makes it stand out.
Plus, an <i>infection</i> is involved, and it's just really cool how those infected by sentient parasites can take advantage and develop superpowers - very similar to <i>I Am Number Four</i> in my opinion. Trying to get used to those parasites in a symbiotic relationship is definitely going to be a struggle for Marci continuing through the second book, but I think it'll be an adventure to see what Marci comes up with.
<i>Ignite the Shadows</i> is fast paced and intriguing - I have high hopes for this series despite the power similarities to <i><a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-i-am-number-four-by-pittacus-lore/">I Am Number Four</a>.</i>
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/blog-tour-ignite-shadows-by-ingrid-seymour-review/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
I always have a thing for books related to hacking (or if the main character is a hacker). But while <i>Ignite the Shadows</i> certainly isn't about hacking (it only plays a minor part to the story), I still enjoyed the book regardless and the world Seymour builds. <i>Ignite the Shadows</i> is almost like a combination of the first and second book in a typical dystopian trilogy, which makes it stand out.
Plus, an <i>infection</i> is involved, and it's just really cool how those infected by sentient parasites can take advantage and develop superpowers - very similar to <i>I Am Number Four</i> in my opinion. Trying to get used to those parasites in a symbiotic relationship is definitely going to be a struggle for Marci continuing through the second book, but I think it'll be an adventure to see what Marci comes up with.
<i>Ignite the Shadows</i> is fast paced and intriguing - I have high hopes for this series despite the power similarities to <i><a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-i-am-number-four-by-pittacus-lore/">I Am Number Four</a>.</i>
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/blog-tour-ignite-shadows-by-ingrid-seymour-review/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Joseph Rogers (13 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) in Movies
Jan 14, 2020
Another Star Wars Movie, And It's Great!
The Good:
The saga is over and we finally know where Rey comes from! Would have preferred not to have known but who cares!
A lot of people dislike this movie, almost more than Last Jedi I feel but I take it for what it is: a Star Wars movie. If they didn't make it people would be mad but they did and you can dislike the movie but it's the facetious reviews I can't stand.
We see a lot of older characters return and it really felt like a reunion of old and new.
The Bad:
The editing felt really wonky in places, the first 30mins alone was too much to handle in one sitting (had to see it twice).
I did feel like they suffered slightly by getting a different director in for Last Jedi as they're bound to have a different outlook on Star Wars. That's not discrediting Rian Johnson's directing at all. I'm just a purest and completeist, if you're going to start a trilogy with one director, keep that director for the rest of the movies.
All in all a movie worth watching over and over if you're a star wars fan. I tend to rate a movie 10/10 if it's part of a franchise like star wars that I know I'd watch over and over but as it just came out I'll leave it at 9 for now 😉
The saga is over and we finally know where Rey comes from! Would have preferred not to have known but who cares!
A lot of people dislike this movie, almost more than Last Jedi I feel but I take it for what it is: a Star Wars movie. If they didn't make it people would be mad but they did and you can dislike the movie but it's the facetious reviews I can't stand.
We see a lot of older characters return and it really felt like a reunion of old and new.
The Bad:
The editing felt really wonky in places, the first 30mins alone was too much to handle in one sitting (had to see it twice).
I did feel like they suffered slightly by getting a different director in for Last Jedi as they're bound to have a different outlook on Star Wars. That's not discrediting Rian Johnson's directing at all. I'm just a purest and completeist, if you're going to start a trilogy with one director, keep that director for the rest of the movies.
All in all a movie worth watching over and over if you're a star wars fan. I tend to rate a movie 10/10 if it's part of a franchise like star wars that I know I'd watch over and over but as it just came out I'll leave it at 9 for now 😉
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The King of Bones and Ashes (Witches of New Orleans #1) in Books
Mar 13, 2020
From the bestselling author of the Witching Savannah series comes the first book in a fascinating trilogy following the quest of a young witch to uncover her family’s terrifying secret history…
Magic is seeping out of the world, leaving the witches who’ve relied on it for countless centuries increasingly hopeless. While some see an inevitable end of their era, others are courting madness—willing to sacrifice former allies, friends, and family to retain the power they covet. While the other witches watch their reality unravel, young Alice Marin is using magic’s waning days to delve into the mystery of numerous disappearances in the occult circles of New Orleans. Alice disappeared once, too—caged in an asylum by blood relatives. Recently freed, she fears her family may be more involved with the growing crisis than she ever dared imagine.
Yet the more she seeks the truth about her family’s troubled history, the more she realizes her already-fragile psyche may be at risk. Discovering the cause of the vanishings, though, could be the only way to escape her mother’s reach while determining the future of all witches.
A decent book and a brilliant take on different magical communities in New Orleans. I really enjoyed the 1st book in the Savannah series so thought I'd try this one to. I enjoyed the book although sometimes I found myself a little lost in so much information,but overall I quite enjoyed it! Would recommend especially to those witch loving readers.
Magic is seeping out of the world, leaving the witches who’ve relied on it for countless centuries increasingly hopeless. While some see an inevitable end of their era, others are courting madness—willing to sacrifice former allies, friends, and family to retain the power they covet. While the other witches watch their reality unravel, young Alice Marin is using magic’s waning days to delve into the mystery of numerous disappearances in the occult circles of New Orleans. Alice disappeared once, too—caged in an asylum by blood relatives. Recently freed, she fears her family may be more involved with the growing crisis than she ever dared imagine.
Yet the more she seeks the truth about her family’s troubled history, the more she realizes her already-fragile psyche may be at risk. Discovering the cause of the vanishings, though, could be the only way to escape her mother’s reach while determining the future of all witches.
A decent book and a brilliant take on different magical communities in New Orleans. I really enjoyed the 1st book in the Savannah series so thought I'd try this one to. I enjoyed the book although sometimes I found myself a little lost in so much information,but overall I quite enjoyed it! Would recommend especially to those witch loving readers.
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Switched (Trylle, #1)
7.8
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