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Connie (244 KP) rated Super Powereds: Year 1 in Books
Jun 8, 2018
A twist on the classic super hero story
This is an interesting in-depth look at a Hero Certification Program and how young Supers become full-fledged Heroes. Gifted with incredible powers, the Supers have to complete 4 years of rigorous training to be allowed an internship under an existing Hero.
The Powereds, on the other hand, have to be contained and avoided--they have no control over their abilities. And that's fine if your ability is, say, shooting water out of your fingers... But what if you control the flow of gravity, or absorb electricity?
When a mysterious treatment turns 5 Powereds into Supers, you can bet there is chaos, mischief, and at least a little destruction to boot!
I loved this book because it was well-written, with interesting and deep characters. There are no Mary Sues here, and even the professors become real as opposed to just static authority figures.
Additionally. I bought this book for Kindle for $4, and it's like 700 pages long. Can't beat that price!
I reccommend this book to everyone!
The Powereds, on the other hand, have to be contained and avoided--they have no control over their abilities. And that's fine if your ability is, say, shooting water out of your fingers... But what if you control the flow of gravity, or absorb electricity?
When a mysterious treatment turns 5 Powereds into Supers, you can bet there is chaos, mischief, and at least a little destruction to boot!
I loved this book because it was well-written, with interesting and deep characters. There are no Mary Sues here, and even the professors become real as opposed to just static authority figures.
Additionally. I bought this book for Kindle for $4, and it's like 700 pages long. Can't beat that price!
I reccommend this book to everyone!
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Asphyx (1972) in Movies
Jun 14, 2018
Early 70s British costume-drama horror movie, so you know roughly what to expect - scientist consumed with hubris decides to play God, learns the hard way he doesn't have the full set of qualifications for the gig. But this is really a rather morbid Victorian melodrama, an impression which is only heightened by how primitive some of the special effects are (the asphyx puppet in particular is a bit of an eye-popper).
At a time when the average Hammer horror was brazenly carnal and exploitative, and Amicus' line of portmanteaus was recycling the same jokey twist endings, The Asphyx takes itself wholly seriously and is positively bleak throughout - the whole movie is about death and despair, and the effects this can have on people. (At one point the plot boils down to a race between two characters to see which one of them can commit suicide first.) The intensity of the telling (good performances from the leads) makes it somewhat mesmerising to watch, even if it's a slightly chilly and unsettling experience.
At a time when the average Hammer horror was brazenly carnal and exploitative, and Amicus' line of portmanteaus was recycling the same jokey twist endings, The Asphyx takes itself wholly seriously and is positively bleak throughout - the whole movie is about death and despair, and the effects this can have on people. (At one point the plot boils down to a race between two characters to see which one of them can commit suicide first.) The intensity of the telling (good performances from the leads) makes it somewhat mesmerising to watch, even if it's a slightly chilly and unsettling experience.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated The Good Book for Kids: How the Bible's Big Ideas Relate to YOU in Books
Jun 18, 2018
The Good Book for Kids: How the Bible's Big Ideas Relate to YOU by Lisa Tawn Bergren is a great book that teaches the Bible for kids. The Bible is broken down by chapters from Genesis to Revelation in an interesting way that gains the attention of kids. This book can be viewed as a devotional for kids. The lessons are short but have meaning.
The book is a narrative of the main stories of the Bible. The stories are written in way that engages children in a way to instill Christian principles. After the short lesson, the book has a section titled "skinny" which breaks down the lesson into key points with a modern twist. At the end of each lesson there are a few questions that are asked that can be used as discussion points.
This book is a great resource for church, Bible class at a Christian school or a devotional at home.
I received as ARC from David C Cook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is a narrative of the main stories of the Bible. The stories are written in way that engages children in a way to instill Christian principles. After the short lesson, the book has a section titled "skinny" which breaks down the lesson into key points with a modern twist. At the end of each lesson there are a few questions that are asked that can be used as discussion points.
This book is a great resource for church, Bible class at a Christian school or a devotional at home.
I received as ARC from David C Cook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gail (4 KP) rated Brant (Secrets #2) in Books
Jun 4, 2018
Brant by D.B James
Four Stars
Yes!!! This book was sooo good. I need my own personal Brant. Tessa was just perfect her personality was similar to a lot of my friends and even myself. She had it bad at the beginning of her adult life but she came out of it stronger but still afraid. Once we lose our fear that’s when we stop sensing the trouble. I hate the thought of women and sometimes men too going through abuse. Feeling like its your fault. Never really trusting another person again. Brant was just fabulous he treated Tessa like we all want to be treated. He sent thoughtful gifts and put his heart on the line without expecting her to do the same. The danger throughout the story wasn’t really big so it didn’t really effect how I viewed the story. The plot twist was funny even though it was meant to be serious. I am excited to se what else this author has to offer. The writing style was smooth and the chapters flowed together perfectly.
Four Stars
Yes!!! This book was sooo good. I need my own personal Brant. Tessa was just perfect her personality was similar to a lot of my friends and even myself. She had it bad at the beginning of her adult life but she came out of it stronger but still afraid. Once we lose our fear that’s when we stop sensing the trouble. I hate the thought of women and sometimes men too going through abuse. Feeling like its your fault. Never really trusting another person again. Brant was just fabulous he treated Tessa like we all want to be treated. He sent thoughtful gifts and put his heart on the line without expecting her to do the same. The danger throughout the story wasn’t really big so it didn’t really effect how I viewed the story. The plot twist was funny even though it was meant to be serious. I am excited to se what else this author has to offer. The writing style was smooth and the chapters flowed together perfectly.
This book was definitely unique in it’s plot line and characters. It gave you a little bit of everything. From biblical stories to fairytale magic you wont be disappointed with this read.
Sophia thought she was a normal 20 year old. What she wasn’t expecting was to be attacked by weird creatures. To have her family and friends threatened and hurt. I loved her hair. If I could I would rock that style.
This book was pure magic with the plot. The way the author weaved her own world around things we learn in bible school. The growth of her characters was perfect. Sophia went from following everyone’s word to standing her ground and voicing her opinions.
The plot twist at the end had me like WTF!!! I dislike cliffhangers but I am excited that the story isn’t over. I just hope this is just two books and not four. I don’t think I can take the wait. One thing I dislike was the long winded paragraphs and scenes that could've been shortened or cut out.
Sophia thought she was a normal 20 year old. What she wasn’t expecting was to be attacked by weird creatures. To have her family and friends threatened and hurt. I loved her hair. If I could I would rock that style.
This book was pure magic with the plot. The way the author weaved her own world around things we learn in bible school. The growth of her characters was perfect. Sophia went from following everyone’s word to standing her ground and voicing her opinions.
The plot twist at the end had me like WTF!!! I dislike cliffhangers but I am excited that the story isn’t over. I just hope this is just two books and not four. I don’t think I can take the wait. One thing I dislike was the long winded paragraphs and scenes that could've been shortened or cut out.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2526 KP) rated Fiction Can be Murder in Books
Jun 6, 2018
Mystery Author Framed for Murder by Her Own Manuscript
Melinda has a reputation for taking pleasure in being mean to people. Even though Charlee Russo is an author this agent represents, she’s seen Melinda’s mean streak before. So it isn’t necessarily a surprise when Melinda winds up murdered. What is a surprise is the method – straight out of Charlee’s just submitted book. Clearly, someone in her life is trying to frame her for murder. But which of her friends could it be?
Early on, I was worried that I was about to be flooded with suspects. While there are a lot, they were presented in a way that it was easy to remember them as the book went along. It also helped that potential series regulars are also suspects and that the characters are distinct. I did feel like the plot focused on one aspect of the mystery over some of the others, but there was still a good twist or two and the ending had me turning pages as quickly as possible.
Early on, I was worried that I was about to be flooded with suspects. While there are a lot, they were presented in a way that it was easy to remember them as the book went along. It also helped that potential series regulars are also suspects and that the characters are distinct. I did feel like the plot focused on one aspect of the mystery over some of the others, but there was still a good twist or two and the ending had me turning pages as quickly as possible.
Lindsay (1807 KP) rated Rebels (Safe Lands, #3) in Books
Aug 30, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
This book is constitution from the two other books called "Captives" and "Outcasts". I would love to read the two books before. This book deals with lowlands and Midlands areas along with Kinderds. This deals with mostly the rebels in hiding and though of send to liberation. You goes though the adventures and to find the truth about Liberation and what the government was doing.
Can the rebels get the truth out about Liberation and what it means. What happening to Safe land folks? Levi find out that Jenna is having his baby? Omar and Mason work together to get the rebels to help with getting the truth out. Is the Owl know all and sees all. Omar has thing to deal with and will he come over it. What about Mason will he tell where his brothers are staying or will they do need to do a trade to get his brother? There are so many twist and turns that is will having wanting more and to want to turn the page to find out.
Can the rebels get the truth out about Liberation and what it means. What happening to Safe land folks? Levi find out that Jenna is having his baby? Omar and Mason work together to get the rebels to help with getting the truth out. Is the Owl know all and sees all. Omar has thing to deal with and will he come over it. What about Mason will he tell where his brothers are staying or will they do need to do a trade to get his brother? There are so many twist and turns that is will having wanting more and to want to turn the page to find out.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Jigsaw (2017) in Movies
Sep 3, 2018
Contains spoilers, click to show
A sad, desperate attempt to wring one last film (we hope) out of what was once a great movie premise. I admit I didn't quite see the twist coming, but knew there would be one, and found that aspect reasonably clever.
But overall this film was full of plot-holes, the acting was atrocious, the ending made no sense and the games have lost the character of those in the original films.
A number of things just kept annoying me and took me right out of the film (one minute Logan is apologising to his daughter and her babysitter for another late night, the next he is heading to the pub?!, Logan takes the bullet out of Edgar's body - but Edgar had been in a coma for days, why was the bullet not taken out of his body while he was in hospital?!, along with the usual horror movie illogical actions trope).
This film added nothing to the Saw series, if anything it urinates over its corpse, and added nothing to my life.
But overall this film was full of plot-holes, the acting was atrocious, the ending made no sense and the games have lost the character of those in the original films.
A number of things just kept annoying me and took me right out of the film (one minute Logan is apologising to his daughter and her babysitter for another late night, the next he is heading to the pub?!, Logan takes the bullet out of Edgar's body - but Edgar had been in a coma for days, why was the bullet not taken out of his body while he was in hospital?!, along with the usual horror movie illogical actions trope).
This film added nothing to the Saw series, if anything it urinates over its corpse, and added nothing to my life.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated Sick Summer Camp (Something Horrific) in Books
Nov 14, 2018
<b>3 Star Rating</b>
This was a gore-fest! 100% gore-fest! And for that...it was fab!
People bleeding here, people bleeding there, blood for fun, blood for no reason...here have some blood! (And maybe an eyeball...I'm feeling generous).
<img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/julius1213/blood.gif"; width="300" height="300"/>
I mean seriously, how great was that gore? (Gore-whore right here *waves*)
Then why the 3 stars you ask? Why not 5?
It was too short...waaaaaay too short for any kind of story or character development, too short for any real explanations and it just left me with lots of unanswered questions. Personally, I would love to see this as a full length novel as I want to know what happens next.
That twist was kick-ass by the way!
More character development was definitely needed as there were too many people being introduced and I lost track...sooo who is that person? Oh...but I thought that was her...wait that was him? *confused*
But that gore though...<b>WIN!</b>
This was a gore-fest! 100% gore-fest! And for that...it was fab!
People bleeding here, people bleeding there, blood for fun, blood for no reason...here have some blood! (And maybe an eyeball...I'm feeling generous).
<img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/julius1213/blood.gif"; width="300" height="300"/>
I mean seriously, how great was that gore? (Gore-whore right here *waves*)
Then why the 3 stars you ask? Why not 5?
It was too short...waaaaaay too short for any kind of story or character development, too short for any real explanations and it just left me with lots of unanswered questions. Personally, I would love to see this as a full length novel as I want to know what happens next.
That twist was kick-ass by the way!
More character development was definitely needed as there were too many people being introduced and I lost track...sooo who is that person? Oh...but I thought that was her...wait that was him? *confused*
But that gore though...<b>WIN!</b>
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Blacklist - Season 1 in TV
Jun 17, 2019
FBI action series with a twist
This American crime thriller series focuses on criminal mastermind Raymond Reddington (James Spader) who turns FBI informant; as long as he can work with a particular agent: Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone.)
Initially the series follows a very episodic nature with Reddington providing info on particular bad guy and the FBI team chasing them down, it’s good fun and nice to the more recent trend of series long arcs. However as the series progresses you get a more ongoing underlying story hinting at why he insists on working with relative FBI rookie Keen and it’s engaging enough to keep coming back for the full 22 episodes of this first season. Some of the CGI especially early on is laughable but I've never let that stop me having a good time.
James Spader at times is amazing and others a tad cringe worthy, while Boone is unremarkable I did like Parminder Naga as agent Malik a lot. Overall entertaining diversion, I will be carrying on with the next season.
Initially the series follows a very episodic nature with Reddington providing info on particular bad guy and the FBI team chasing them down, it’s good fun and nice to the more recent trend of series long arcs. However as the series progresses you get a more ongoing underlying story hinting at why he insists on working with relative FBI rookie Keen and it’s engaging enough to keep coming back for the full 22 episodes of this first season. Some of the CGI especially early on is laughable but I've never let that stop me having a good time.
James Spader at times is amazing and others a tad cringe worthy, while Boone is unremarkable I did like Parminder Naga as agent Malik a lot. Overall entertaining diversion, I will be carrying on with the next season.