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A Shade of Kiev (A Shade of Kiev, #1)
8.0
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From the million-bestselling author of the A Shade of Vampire series, comes an enchanting new tale...
Her Dear and Loving Husband (Loving Husband, #1)
6.0
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How long would you wait for the one you loved? Professor James Wentworth has a paranormal secret....
Awix (3310 KP) rated Viy (Spirit of Evil) (1967) in Movies
Sep 21, 2021
Soviet horror movie from the 1960s rather unexpectedly turns out to be a close spiritual cousin of the kind of films that Hammer et al were making in the west at the same time. A trainee priest finds himself compelled to spend three nights reading prayers over the body of (supposedly) a wealthy landowner's daughter - but the corpse bears a striking resemblance to that of a witch he earlier killed...
Not the longest of films, which is just as well as the pacing may require patience on the part of the viewer; after a very eerie sequence early on, there's a long wait until the stuff with the protagonist's vigil in the second half. Nevertheless, it's worth it, mainly because the special effects are remarkably good, well up to the standard of equivalent western films of the same period (and probably better). Not particularly scary or graphic by modern standards, but the climax has a creepy sort of power to it and the overall impression is of a classy and well-made film; if there's a political subtext to it, it's very well-hidden.
Not the longest of films, which is just as well as the pacing may require patience on the part of the viewer; after a very eerie sequence early on, there's a long wait until the stuff with the protagonist's vigil in the second half. Nevertheless, it's worth it, mainly because the special effects are remarkably good, well up to the standard of equivalent western films of the same period (and probably better). Not particularly scary or graphic by modern standards, but the climax has a creepy sort of power to it and the overall impression is of a classy and well-made film; if there's a political subtext to it, it's very well-hidden.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2554 KP) rated Once Upon a Wardrobe in Books
Nov 13, 2024 (Updated Nov 13, 2024)
Mixed Journey of Self-Discovery
Megs’s younger brother George has a heart defect that keeps him in bed reading. It’s 1950, and he’s just discovered The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and he wants to know where Narnia came from. Since Megs is at Oxford, she goes to ask the author himself. But will C.S. Lewis’s answer help Megs and George?
I’ve been a Narnia fan since I first read the books in 3rd grade, so the premise of this book intrigued. However, it didn’t work for me. It felt too scattered, with too many storylines. It’s part biography of C.S. Lewis with vignettes about his life. It’s part coming of age story for Megs. I see where the author was trying to combine them thematically, but it didn’t quite work for me. I needed a bit more focus on something. Plus, some events in the story really strained what I could believe. But I did enjoy the characters, and I found myself tearing up a time or two. If the premise really intrigues you, check it out. Otherwise, give this one a pass.
I’ve been a Narnia fan since I first read the books in 3rd grade, so the premise of this book intrigued. However, it didn’t work for me. It felt too scattered, with too many storylines. It’s part biography of C.S. Lewis with vignettes about his life. It’s part coming of age story for Megs. I see where the author was trying to combine them thematically, but it didn’t quite work for me. I needed a bit more focus on something. Plus, some events in the story really strained what I could believe. But I did enjoy the characters, and I found myself tearing up a time or two. If the premise really intrigues you, check it out. Otherwise, give this one a pass.
ClareR (6225 KP) rated The Bell Witches in Books
Mar 16, 2025
I don’t read much YA anymore, but when I do I realise just how much I enjoy it (and wonder why I don’t read more of it 🤷🏼♀️).
A winning combination for me is the supernatural and coming of age.
Emily is recently orphaned and has been taken to live with her rich grandmother in Savannah. She learns that her fathers side of the family has an unusual and rich family history. On her 17th birthday, Emily will become a fully fledged witch at a special ceremony. However her new boyfriend may risk everything.
There are some great characters: a haughty, glamorous grandmother, a resentful aunt, a very attractive boyfriend, and some great new friends.
This is the start of a new series, which I hope will be as exciting as this first book. Ashleigh Haddad narrated this so well - although I feel an accent for Emily might have helped show just how much out of her comfort zone she was (she had never lived in the US, she’d last lived in Wales).
If you’re a fan of all things witchy, then you’ll probably enjoy this as much as I did!
A winning combination for me is the supernatural and coming of age.
Emily is recently orphaned and has been taken to live with her rich grandmother in Savannah. She learns that her fathers side of the family has an unusual and rich family history. On her 17th birthday, Emily will become a fully fledged witch at a special ceremony. However her new boyfriend may risk everything.
There are some great characters: a haughty, glamorous grandmother, a resentful aunt, a very attractive boyfriend, and some great new friends.
This is the start of a new series, which I hope will be as exciting as this first book. Ashleigh Haddad narrated this so well - although I feel an accent for Emily might have helped show just how much out of her comfort zone she was (she had never lived in the US, she’d last lived in Wales).
If you’re a fan of all things witchy, then you’ll probably enjoy this as much as I did!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Void ( Witching Savannah book 3) in Books
Feb 4, 2022
20 of 230
Kindle
The Void ( Witching Savannah book 3)
By J.D. Horn
⭐️⭐️⭐️
An otherworldly energy runs through the city of Savannah, betraying its sleepy, moss-cradled charm. The old, beguiling streets look welcoming to most - but certain families know what lurks under their genteel surfaces. Families like Mercy Taylor's, which has the most powerful lineage of witches in the South, know this all too well.
Mercy and her husband, Peter, are happily preparing to welcome baby Colin into their lives. But their excitement quickly becomes overshadowed by a gruesome discovery: someone has scattered severed limbs throughout the city. After a troubling visit from an old foe, Mercy learns dark magic is at play, and someone - or something - wants her and her unborn child out of the picture. To uncover the shocking reason why, the amateur witch must face a force beyond her power - or risk losing everything.
This wasn’t my favourite of the series it seemed a bit fragmented and rushed. Although the ending was good an I enjoyed seeing things reversed ect it just felt strange. Despite this I did enjoy a most of it.
Kindle
The Void ( Witching Savannah book 3)
By J.D. Horn
⭐️⭐️⭐️
An otherworldly energy runs through the city of Savannah, betraying its sleepy, moss-cradled charm. The old, beguiling streets look welcoming to most - but certain families know what lurks under their genteel surfaces. Families like Mercy Taylor's, which has the most powerful lineage of witches in the South, know this all too well.
Mercy and her husband, Peter, are happily preparing to welcome baby Colin into their lives. But their excitement quickly becomes overshadowed by a gruesome discovery: someone has scattered severed limbs throughout the city. After a troubling visit from an old foe, Mercy learns dark magic is at play, and someone - or something - wants her and her unborn child out of the picture. To uncover the shocking reason why, the amateur witch must face a force beyond her power - or risk losing everything.
This wasn’t my favourite of the series it seemed a bit fragmented and rushed. Although the ending was good an I enjoyed seeing things reversed ect it just felt strange. Despite this I did enjoy a most of it.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Bewitched ( Betwixt & Between book 2) in Books
Jan 25, 2022
13 of 230
Kindle
Bewitched ( Betwixt & Between book 2)
By Darynda Jones
Forty-something Defiance Dayne only recently discovered she comes from a long line of powerful witches. Added to that was the teensy, infinitesimal fact that she is what’s called a charmling. One of three on the entire planet. And there are other witches who will stop at nothing to steal her immense power, which would basically involve her unfortunate and untimely death.
No one told her life after forty would mean having to learn new lifeskills—such as how to survive a witch hunter dead set on killing her—or that the sexiest man alive would be living in her basement.
Whoever said life begins at forty was clearly a master of the underappreciated and oft maligned understatement.
It was ok! For some reason this just didn’t grip me as much as the first one did and I normally love her work. It wasn’t a bad book at all but for me it lacked that spark that would have me normally give it 4 or 5 stars. There are some very likeable characters. Just felt a bit rushed.
Kindle
Bewitched ( Betwixt & Between book 2)
By Darynda Jones
Forty-something Defiance Dayne only recently discovered she comes from a long line of powerful witches. Added to that was the teensy, infinitesimal fact that she is what’s called a charmling. One of three on the entire planet. And there are other witches who will stop at nothing to steal her immense power, which would basically involve her unfortunate and untimely death.
No one told her life after forty would mean having to learn new lifeskills—such as how to survive a witch hunter dead set on killing her—or that the sexiest man alive would be living in her basement.
Whoever said life begins at forty was clearly a master of the underappreciated and oft maligned understatement.
It was ok! For some reason this just didn’t grip me as much as the first one did and I normally love her work. It wasn’t a bad book at all but for me it lacked that spark that would have me normally give it 4 or 5 stars. There are some very likeable characters. Just felt a bit rushed.
ClareR (6225 KP) rated The Lighthouse Witches in Books
Nov 27, 2022
Liv Stay rents a Scottish lighthouse on the island Lion Haven, despite the fact that it carries a decidedly spooky reputation involving witch hunts and islanders who have disappeared. She doesn’t believe in these things, and only wants a home for herself and her three daughters. But soon, only one daughter will remain: Luna’s mother and two sisters will have disappeared without a trace.
And then one day, twenty years later, someone resembling Luna’s sister turns up - and she hasn’t aged a day.
This is an eerie, unsettling story, packed with history, ancient beliefs and paranoia.
There are three timelines: the 17th century explains the origins of the witches and their slaughter; 1998 where Liv comes to live on the island with her daughters; and the present day, when Luna returns to the island as an adult. These timelines are expertly woven together, and they explain what has happened in the past to form the opinions of the future.
I couldn’t put this down! The more ominous and creepy it became, the more I wanted to listen to it. You certainly won’t want to be visiting caves or lighthouses anytime soon after reading this!
And then one day, twenty years later, someone resembling Luna’s sister turns up - and she hasn’t aged a day.
This is an eerie, unsettling story, packed with history, ancient beliefs and paranoia.
There are three timelines: the 17th century explains the origins of the witches and their slaughter; 1998 where Liv comes to live on the island with her daughters; and the present day, when Luna returns to the island as an adult. These timelines are expertly woven together, and they explain what has happened in the past to form the opinions of the future.
I couldn’t put this down! The more ominous and creepy it became, the more I wanted to listen to it. You certainly won’t want to be visiting caves or lighthouses anytime soon after reading this!
Her Dark Angel (Her Angel: Bound Warriors #1)
8.0
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Centuries in Hell have taken their toll on Apollyon. Tired of guarding the Devil, he longs to break...
Paranormal Romance