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Merissa (13600 KP) rated Beyond the Black Mist (The Familiar Curse #2) in Books
Mar 19, 2021 (Updated Aug 2, 2023)
BEYOND THE BLACK MIST is the second book in The Familiar's Curse series, and we continue with Dante and Juliet's story. Both of them are separated, and in places where they don't want to be. With all the fear and mistrust, how will they ever be together?
You really do need to read book one as this is a series, not a bunch of standalones. We are introduced to new characters, and well as being reunited with old ones. And, I'm afraid to say, Nicholas doesn't get any nicer in this one! Pops, though. Aww, I want one of my own.
Anyway, moving on. For most of the book, Juliet and Dante are working towards being together, and when they do, it's lovely, but not over the top. There is a twist at the end that you may have seen coming. It certainly crossed my mind but then I thought 'no'. LOL Guess I was wrong!
A brilliant continuation of the story, with some major changes in one particular character. I know who I want to end up with her, but I will wait to see. I love being surprised.
Absolutely fantastic, a great addition to the series, and definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 19, 2021
You really do need to read book one as this is a series, not a bunch of standalones. We are introduced to new characters, and well as being reunited with old ones. And, I'm afraid to say, Nicholas doesn't get any nicer in this one! Pops, though. Aww, I want one of my own.
Anyway, moving on. For most of the book, Juliet and Dante are working towards being together, and when they do, it's lovely, but not over the top. There is a twist at the end that you may have seen coming. It certainly crossed my mind but then I thought 'no'. LOL Guess I was wrong!
A brilliant continuation of the story, with some major changes in one particular character. I know who I want to end up with her, but I will wait to see. I love being surprised.
Absolutely fantastic, a great addition to the series, and definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 19, 2021
Fate and Switch (Weavers Of The Ether #3)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Just when I thought I was done with fate messing me around… I have another mate with a fated...
Shifters Paranormal Romance Reverse Harem Fated Mates Why Choose
Merissa (13600 KP) rated Twist of Fate (Weavers Of The Ether #2) in Books
Jun 23, 2023
TWIST OF FATE is the second book in the Weavers of the Ether. You don't necessarily have to have read book one but I feel it would help more if you did.
Anyway, this is Wren's story and we start off with her rambling around in a forest, goodness knows where, as she ponders her life and just how she ended up in this position. Then she falls into a trap laid by rogue mages, plus meets two of her three mates. And then the third turns up and the fun really starts.
There were parts of this book that felt slightly disjointed or jerky as the story moved from one thing to another and I was left with unanswered questions. I'm not sure about that epilogue. It felt as though Wren's story was done with when that happened! I will have to wait and see. I am glad to hear other books will be coming in this series though, as this is a world I am enjoying and look forward to learning more about.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and catching up with Soren, Echo, and the rest. Orion is definitely my favourite out of this lot. So let's see what happens next!
** 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!
Jun 23, 2023
Anyway, this is Wren's story and we start off with her rambling around in a forest, goodness knows where, as she ponders her life and just how she ended up in this position. Then she falls into a trap laid by rogue mages, plus meets two of her three mates. And then the third turns up and the fun really starts.
There were parts of this book that felt slightly disjointed or jerky as the story moved from one thing to another and I was left with unanswered questions. I'm not sure about that epilogue. It felt as though Wren's story was done with when that happened! I will have to wait and see. I am glad to hear other books will be coming in this series though, as this is a world I am enjoying and look forward to learning more about.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and catching up with Soren, Echo, and the rest. Orion is definitely my favourite out of this lot. So let's see what happens next!
** 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!
Jun 23, 2023
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Awaken (The A’vean Chronicles 1) in Books
Jun 28, 2023
84 of 235
Kindle
Awaken (The A’vean Chronicles 1)
By G.R. Thomas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SOME PEOPLE AREN'T DESTINED TO BE ORDINARY.
Sophia Woodville holds a secret gift close to her heart.
A 20-year-old nursing grad, she thought she had her future mapped out. However, destiny is about to intervene.
A night out ends in bloodshed with Sophia now hunted by an unspeakable evil. She is whisked away by her family, a family she thought she knew, a family who holds secrets more powerful and darker than her own.
Her secret is not so secret. Her gift just a hint of something far beyond her wildest imagination. Sophia is pulled, kicking and screaming, into an unseen, ancient world of angels and demons. A beautiful and terrifying world that challenges all that she thought to be true of herself, her family and the origins of humanity.
Sophia cannot simply visit this world... she must save it.
Original sin, forbidden love and her life in constant danger...
Will Sophia survive this dark twist of fate?
Will the devil be her saviour?
This was one hell of a book I don’t think I’ve read anything like it the amazing amount of detail gone into it is just extraordinary. Take everything you think you know about how the world was mad, angels and demons then add some. It was just so involved the characters were all so well thought out and intricate. Just loved it.
Kindle
Awaken (The A’vean Chronicles 1)
By G.R. Thomas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SOME PEOPLE AREN'T DESTINED TO BE ORDINARY.
Sophia Woodville holds a secret gift close to her heart.
A 20-year-old nursing grad, she thought she had her future mapped out. However, destiny is about to intervene.
A night out ends in bloodshed with Sophia now hunted by an unspeakable evil. She is whisked away by her family, a family she thought she knew, a family who holds secrets more powerful and darker than her own.
Her secret is not so secret. Her gift just a hint of something far beyond her wildest imagination. Sophia is pulled, kicking and screaming, into an unseen, ancient world of angels and demons. A beautiful and terrifying world that challenges all that she thought to be true of herself, her family and the origins of humanity.
Sophia cannot simply visit this world... she must save it.
Original sin, forbidden love and her life in constant danger...
Will Sophia survive this dark twist of fate?
Will the devil be her saviour?
This was one hell of a book I don’t think I’ve read anything like it the amazing amount of detail gone into it is just extraordinary. Take everything you think you know about how the world was mad, angels and demons then add some. It was just so involved the characters were all so well thought out and intricate. Just loved it.
Lincoln’s Return
Book
Imagine if one of the most revered American Presidents returned in time to run again for the...
Malicious Intent
Book
World-renowned Attorney Alexandra Phillips has a knack for turning open and shut cases for the...
medical thriller thriller
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Murder on the Med in Books
Jun 7, 2024
Kat Finds Sailing with Seniors Dangerous
Kat’s latest assignment for the travel magazine she works for is supposed to be a quiet, relaxing week on a luxury ship that caters to seniors who live on board full time. She’s supposed to spend a week experiencing everything the ship has to offer as it cruises on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. But then, Kat hears that the woman whose unit she is subleasing might not have left the ship willingly. Kat isn’t quite willing to take it seriously until she finds the woman’s purse in the cabin. Then she finds a rare coin. What is really going on?
While we don’t really see any of the other characters we’ve met in this series, that gives Kat plenty of time to shine. It’s also great if you’ve missed the earlier books. It was a little work to keep all the people we met straight, but I did by the end, and it was worth it since the plot is wonderful. Just as I was wondering where things might go next, we got a great twist that kept me turning pages as quickly as I could. I did think there were some timeline issues, but nothing that impacted the plot. On the other hand, I really want to visit the Amalfi Coast now and see these areas for myself. If you are looking for a great armchair travel book, you’ll be glad you booked passage on this deadly Mediterranean cruise.
While we don’t really see any of the other characters we’ve met in this series, that gives Kat plenty of time to shine. It’s also great if you’ve missed the earlier books. It was a little work to keep all the people we met straight, but I did by the end, and it was worth it since the plot is wonderful. Just as I was wondering where things might go next, we got a great twist that kept me turning pages as quickly as I could. I did think there were some timeline issues, but nothing that impacted the plot. On the other hand, I really want to visit the Amalfi Coast now and see these areas for myself. If you are looking for a great armchair travel book, you’ll be glad you booked passage on this deadly Mediterranean cruise.
Debbiereadsbook (1620 KP) rated Who Said Witness Protection Was Boring? (Mobster Mayhem #2) in Books
Feb 14, 2025
fun and flirty with some danger thrown in!
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Mobster Mayhem series, and I have not read book 1. I didn't think I was missing anything, honestly, until Leo and Chai turn up in this book and now I wanna read their story!
While the undertone of this book is dark, people are killed keeping the secrets that Matt and Kieran are discovering, the general tone is light and fluffy and these guys are a lot of fun.
Matt and Kieran find themselves on the run from the CIA and Lord knows who else, cos Matt's aunt and uncle are keeping an asset for the CIA. The CIA! Matt is dumbfounded when he discovers that his auntie and uncle, and indeed, his parents, have been keeping such secrets from him, but when he finds himself wound up in it all, he understands.
I did NOT see the twist with Kieran's parents coming at me, so well played with that one!
And you know what?? I did not realise its first person, present tense AND multi point of view until I was filing it, so SUPER well with that!
From what I can see, this is the first I've read of these authors, so they are firmly in my crosshairs!
4 fun and flirty stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Mobster Mayhem series, and I have not read book 1. I didn't think I was missing anything, honestly, until Leo and Chai turn up in this book and now I wanna read their story!
While the undertone of this book is dark, people are killed keeping the secrets that Matt and Kieran are discovering, the general tone is light and fluffy and these guys are a lot of fun.
Matt and Kieran find themselves on the run from the CIA and Lord knows who else, cos Matt's aunt and uncle are keeping an asset for the CIA. The CIA! Matt is dumbfounded when he discovers that his auntie and uncle, and indeed, his parents, have been keeping such secrets from him, but when he finds himself wound up in it all, he understands.
I did NOT see the twist with Kieran's parents coming at me, so well played with that one!
And you know what?? I did not realise its first person, present tense AND multi point of view until I was filing it, so SUPER well with that!
From what I can see, this is the first I've read of these authors, so they are firmly in my crosshairs!
4 fun and flirty stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
A Cowboy Holiday
7.0
Rate It
Book
The cowboy, the rancher, and a little holiday magic... Tanner I met the grumpiest man on the...
Contemporary MM Romance Seasonal
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Village (2004) in Movies
Aug 14, 2019
Deep within a lush meadow a thriving community is enjoying a communal dinner following the passing of a young member of the town. The smiles and laughter that emerge from those seated at the table hide that fact that the town lives in perpetual fear of an unspeakable evil.
The towns residents are haunted by creatures that are referred to as “Those we do not speak of” and are bound within the borders of their village by a long-standing set of rules. The rules consist of not having a trace of the color red anywhere within the town, and never breaking the boarders of the village as angering the creatures or venturing into their territory is sure to result in certain death.
Under the leadership of Edward Walker (William Hurt), the village has grown and a truce has been maintained with the creatures by following the rules of conduct that have been established. Walker is a happy man as his oldest daughter is marrying and his blind younger daughter Ivy (Bryce Dallas Howard) is becoming very close to Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix). On what should be joyous time in the community, instead becomes one of fear as mutilated animals and bizarre sightings have been found throughout the village indicating that the creatures from the woods have become annoyed and are making their displeasure with the local townsfolk known.
Lucius has provoked this situation by his challenge of the borders and has admitted that he has ventured into the woods and desires to travel to the towns that the elders speak of that lay beyond the woods. This is put off as youthful indiscretions and when Lucius agrees not to travel and his intentions to marry Ivy, things seem to be right in the world, especially to his mother Alice (Sigourney Weaver), who worried that her son would meet a bad end the same way her late husband did.
Things do not go as planned as an unforeseen accident has caused dire repercussions for the town and forces the town elders to allow travel beyond the village as not doing so can have even larger repercussions than doing so.
What should be a tight thriller instead becomes a mess as “The Village” suffers from a bad plot and terrible sequencing that eliminates much of the suspense in the film. We were asked not to reveal the surprise ending, but suffice it to say, that 6 minutes into the film, I looked at my watch, and told my friend what I thought the surprise twist would be. Low and behold, I was dead on as the film offers very little surprises.
This is a tragic shame as the concept of the film is good and the cast and performances are first rate especially Adrian Brody in a supporting performance and the amazing work of Hurt and Phoenix. Sadly it all becomes much ado about nothing as the film promises so much and yet delivers amazingly little. Writer/Director M. Night Shyamlan has created 2/3 of a great film but the pacing of the film and resolution of the key events of the story are so badly done, they make you wonder if he was asleep. Case in point, there is a key plot point that is revealed in the film that later undermines a sequence in the woods and destroys a golden opportunity of discovery and shock for the audience as what should be a tense moment with a shocking conclusion is instead watered down by information that was revealed in a flashback that never should have been shown to the audience prior to the scene.
This is such a hard film to review as I find fault with segments yet am unable to really explain my criticisms without giving away key points to the plot. I guess the best way to describe the film would be to think of it as an episode of “The Outer Limits” or “Twilight Zone”. It has a great premise, but unlike the two series, the outcome is badly done and at least for me, very easy to see coming. At least it took me 15 minutes to see the twist in “The Sixth Sense”, and allowed me to enjoy the story despite this fact. Once I figured out what twist the story would take, the film implodes as the entire premise is based upon a flimsy base that once exposed, causes the film to implode like a house of cards.
My advice, wait for the DVD.
The towns residents are haunted by creatures that are referred to as “Those we do not speak of” and are bound within the borders of their village by a long-standing set of rules. The rules consist of not having a trace of the color red anywhere within the town, and never breaking the boarders of the village as angering the creatures or venturing into their territory is sure to result in certain death.
Under the leadership of Edward Walker (William Hurt), the village has grown and a truce has been maintained with the creatures by following the rules of conduct that have been established. Walker is a happy man as his oldest daughter is marrying and his blind younger daughter Ivy (Bryce Dallas Howard) is becoming very close to Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix). On what should be joyous time in the community, instead becomes one of fear as mutilated animals and bizarre sightings have been found throughout the village indicating that the creatures from the woods have become annoyed and are making their displeasure with the local townsfolk known.
Lucius has provoked this situation by his challenge of the borders and has admitted that he has ventured into the woods and desires to travel to the towns that the elders speak of that lay beyond the woods. This is put off as youthful indiscretions and when Lucius agrees not to travel and his intentions to marry Ivy, things seem to be right in the world, especially to his mother Alice (Sigourney Weaver), who worried that her son would meet a bad end the same way her late husband did.
Things do not go as planned as an unforeseen accident has caused dire repercussions for the town and forces the town elders to allow travel beyond the village as not doing so can have even larger repercussions than doing so.
What should be a tight thriller instead becomes a mess as “The Village” suffers from a bad plot and terrible sequencing that eliminates much of the suspense in the film. We were asked not to reveal the surprise ending, but suffice it to say, that 6 minutes into the film, I looked at my watch, and told my friend what I thought the surprise twist would be. Low and behold, I was dead on as the film offers very little surprises.
This is a tragic shame as the concept of the film is good and the cast and performances are first rate especially Adrian Brody in a supporting performance and the amazing work of Hurt and Phoenix. Sadly it all becomes much ado about nothing as the film promises so much and yet delivers amazingly little. Writer/Director M. Night Shyamlan has created 2/3 of a great film but the pacing of the film and resolution of the key events of the story are so badly done, they make you wonder if he was asleep. Case in point, there is a key plot point that is revealed in the film that later undermines a sequence in the woods and destroys a golden opportunity of discovery and shock for the audience as what should be a tense moment with a shocking conclusion is instead watered down by information that was revealed in a flashback that never should have been shown to the audience prior to the scene.
This is such a hard film to review as I find fault with segments yet am unable to really explain my criticisms without giving away key points to the plot. I guess the best way to describe the film would be to think of it as an episode of “The Outer Limits” or “Twilight Zone”. It has a great premise, but unlike the two series, the outcome is badly done and at least for me, very easy to see coming. At least it took me 15 minutes to see the twist in “The Sixth Sense”, and allowed me to enjoy the story despite this fact. Once I figured out what twist the story would take, the film implodes as the entire premise is based upon a flimsy base that once exposed, causes the film to implode like a house of cards.
My advice, wait for the DVD.