Search

Search only in certain items:

    Upheaval

    Upheaval

    Jared Diamond

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    Book

    In his international bestsellers Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse, Jared Diamond transformed our...

40x40

David McK (3835 KP) rated The Dark Knight Rises (2012) in Movies

Jun 30, 2019 (Updated Aug 2, 2024)  
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
2012 | Action, Drama, Mystery
The final part of Christopher Nolan's Christian Bale starring Batman trilogy (after both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) that takes a large part of its inspiration from the 1990s Knightfall series of graphic novels in introducing the character of Bane: the man who (quote unquote) 'Breaks the Bat'.

As portrayed by Tom Hardy, this version of the character is nothing at all like you might remember from the Batman and Robin abomination: there's no mention of venom (the drug) in this movie, nor is it overstuffed with villains like that earlier movie/portrayal of the character was.

Instead, we have Bane as the primary antagonist throughout, although - in the tradition of Batman Begins - he is later revealed to be but a pawn, with deliberate call-backs to that first movie. While Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow does make a return (in what largely amounts as a camoe) alongside Ra's Al-Ghul (again, largely as a cameo in flashbacks), there's no Joker this time round - probably as a result of the real-world death of Heath Ledger (although I might have preferred even a throw-away line saying why the character wasn't in this!)

We also have Anne Hathaway's take on Catwoman/Selina Kyle, here portrayed more as a cat burglar than the Michelle Pfeiffer version from Batman Returns, and the 'passing on' of the mantle of Gotham's protector to another very-familiar character (who doesn't use his given name until the very end).
  
Warrior Hearts Academy: Dragon Trap
Warrior Hearts Academy: Dragon Trap
Ellie Horn | 2025 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
DRAGON TRAP is the second book in the Warrior Hearts Academy Dragon Trilogy and MUST be read after Book One, Dragon Lost.

The story continues where the previous one finished and gets more in-depth and twisted. Slowly, the individual storylines are beginning to merge. One of these is with Razir and Bree. He is injured trying to find out information that links his older brother, Taran, to Victor. Bree, or rather Caliel, heals him enough to keep him alive, although his Dragon has gone. Whether or not Razir ever heals enough to bring his Dragon back remains to be seen.

My heart is breaking for Caliel, and I really REALLY need to know what happens next. As for Tez, well, I can't say as I particularly like him (as intended by the authors), but I am looking forward to seeing the role he has to play. Maybe he'll grow on me? Either way, Nemi remains the star of every scene she is in, especially with the hint of grandmother too.

Another cliffhanger ending designed to make you throw your e-reader at the wall! A great continuation and absolutely recommended by me.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 17, 2025
  
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Suzanne Collins | 2020 | Young Adult (YA)
10
7.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Quite often after the success of a series when the author comes back to write more, it falls flat. This did exactly the opposite for me! I was hooked from the first couple of pages.
We follow Coriolanus Snow during the tenth Hunger Games as he becomes a mentor to an underdog, the female tribute of district 12 - Lucy Gray Baird. What follows are a series of disastrous events following the tributes and their mentors, which makes you wonder how the Games were still around when it came to Katniss’s Hunger Games.
It was perfect finding out more about Coriolanus Snow, and what made him the way he is when it came to the Hunger Games trilogy. We find out where his love or roses comes from and whether he has always been as ruthless throughout his life or if something made him that way.
Whilst the book seems a bit long when you pick it up, I loved every minute of it and when I was coming to the end I really didn’t want it to end at all! I would love to carry on reading about Coriolanus and what happened after this book and how that shaped him into President Snow.
This has renewed my love for the Hunger Games series, and I hope that Suzanne Collins has more plans for the series as I would love more. An easy 5 star rating from the start.
  
TO
The only girl in town
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The ending of the novel The Only Girl in Town by Ally Condie was unexpected. I loved the plot of this novel. The plot was confusing at times, but it kept me wondering what was going to happen next. The plot of this book was sometimes fast paced other times it was slow paced but no matter what it kept me hooked to the storyline. I wanted to read this since Ally Condie is one of my favorite authors so it's an automatic read for me. I also wanted to read it because the synopsis of the story also pulled me in.

One character I loved was July's cat Yolo due to them being a cat and cats are awesome. I also liked them because they were always cracking me up and made the story even better. Some characters I disliked are Sam, Alex and Ella. I don't like Sam because of what he did to July. I didn't like Alex because he liked her one minute than couple days later he's all of a sudden over her. I didn't like them being together at the jump in the end breaking July's heart. It made me mad for her. Also in my opinion cliff jumping is stupid, dangerous, and it's not worth it. I definitely recommend reading this book. I give it a five out of five stars. I also recommend reading the authors trilogy Matched it's one of my favorites.