rogier caprino
3.5
First of all I loved the Greek chorus and the use of we .but It did not wow me . I liked the characters but I felt distant
But not a bad book
Gathering thoughts for a review
???It was a heat that didn???t just melt tangible things like ice, chocolate, Popsicles. It melted all the intangibles too. Fear, faith, anger, and those long-trusted templates of common sense. It melted lives as well, leaving futures to be slung with the dirt of the gravedigger???s shovel.???
Summer has lots to offer. It depends were you life what will be. Summer should be a fun time with family and friends. The summer of ‘84 in Breathed, Ohio is different. Attorney Autopsy Bliss is the cause of it. He invites mr morningstar in a sarcastic manner after a chase did not go as he wished. His request has been answered. It's a shock because were a cloven hoofed biblical figure should be a thirteen year old black kid with the oddest green eyes shows up claiming to be the devil himself. The authorities can't find his family looking for him and he ends up staying with Fielding Bliss and his family. Fielding Bliss is the narrator and tells his story summer of 1984 story somewhere in the future as an older man.
Tiffany McDaniel's debut is shelved on goodreads as a magical realism adult novel. The magical realism aspect for me at least is in the setting. I love how Breathed, Ohio breathed heavily as if it was out of breath of the heat. Haha, a pun. The book shows characters that have monstrous capabilities. The citizens display how mob mentality happens. Racism, homophobia, fear of AIDS, agoraphobia, child abuse and religion are shown not heavy handed and are done in a non preachy way. This book has brought me out of an reading slump. A 6-month reading slump, the agony. McDaniel's writing is amazing. Although it it hit me hard emotionally i'm glad i had the chance to read. I will definitely re-read it in the future. I can't wait to see what will be next.
Wow. I'm in love with the sisters even more. Betwixt, you are fucking awesome . ^_^
My toughts:
Cover: THis is one of my beloved covers. A pillow , a purple one on a bedsheet and the background. LOVE'd the cover the first time i saw it on goodreads, this year in februari i think. sad did not lived to my expectations.
Book: This book was not for me. Before i begin i'm not bashing the author i can imagine her blood sweet and maybe tears writing the dream catcher series , this is book 1 out of 3. Great name for a series. Now that's out in the open here i begin . Ready, set go
When i got it i was so excited. Love this cover. Though please don't suck. It. The writing was different. So far i know this is my first book that i've read with a 3th person present tense. I think that ruined it for me. I felt like a bystander watching them and not as a friend. In other words did not feel emotionally connected to the secondary or even main characters
What i loved was the chapter in Cable Strumheller's pov . the main leading male chapter. This was not in the book it was more like the addendum or something like that. I felt more connected to Janie and cable in that chapter than trough the whole book. If cable were ‘‘speakin ‘' so to say i think it would be as least a 4. My opinion.
Plus the the excerpt let me in to thinkin maybe book 2 will be better.
Loved his dreams , how ever they there ##spoilerish maybe## twisted and janie helped him when she got a hold of her ability and helped people in their dreams###
What i disliked. OK janie is a girl who not voluntary was sucked into people's dreams. She hates it actually since she was 8. Did not feel connected to her. There was no romance and if there was i didn't feel it. Did not hated her but did not like her either.
secondary characters ; Mom , she is a drinking !@#$ or to say a alcoholic.That's where Janie gets her taste for alcohol. Ok Janie is on the lower classes in society when a bit sorry for her. Dylan's mom makes her mom angelic. Here is her mention .
I can't even remember the names of her friends(how little she had) or people in her school or where she had a job. In a elderly home.
Plot was very slow but the last 70 pages where enjoyable. said a goodfrend used her money to buy it for me.It was a gift . Should have asked for something else. A lot of people loved it a coupple of my goodreads frends did. Will read book 2 and 3 but only if i win it. Was not my cup of tea. lov tea. lol
really great worldbuilding. i read the dutch version maybe thats why i had no attachment to the characters
i can't wait for the sequel. in dutch/ yea i'm wacky
If I had read it growing up I'd give it 5 stars. Haha I've been reading it since March .
I really liked it . The characters reminded me of the boys from Hannah moskowitz ‘ gone, gone ,gone . I liked this one . Gathering my thoughts 4 review
It is was a free read on pulse it
3.8
My thoughts:
Cover: I love the red and the font
Book:The Flash, the fastest man in the World( having flashbacks of 90???s superman episodes where Flash and Superman try to outrun each other)
This volume is part of the DC Comics redesign. Wally West has been the Flash for more than 2 decades after Barry Allen sacrificed himself. But Barry Allen has risen from the dead and Wally West never existed. A lot of people were mad 12 months ago when it was revealed . I???m not mad but a bit pissed . I grew up with Wally. I have read Barry???s ??????beginning?????? and it ok . I have not connected with Barry . Sad I know but I still enjoyed it. Here is why?
The PLOT is freaking good. There is time travel, vortexes, cloning, and the ability to regenerate. The plot had me hooked. SCI galore
Info on BarryAllen: When Barry Allen was only eleven, his mother was murdered. His father was tried and convicted for the murder, and later died in prison. However, the young Allen refused to believe that his father was guilty of the crime. His life ground to a halt as he dedicated himself to finding the real murderer and, more importantly, finding the motive behind the murder. To this end, Allen studied forensic science, and dedicated himself to solving not only his mother's case, but those of other people in his situation.
After graduating, Allen found work with the Central City Police Department as a police scientist, with a well-known habit for slowness and lateness. Working late in the lab one night, a rack of chemicals that he was working next to was struck by lightning, and Allen was doused in chemicals. Surprisingly unharmed, Allen cleaned up the mess and returned to work, but soon noticed that the world appeared to be moving much slower than normal. He soon realized that it was not the world that had slowed, but himself who had sped up. And he was the 2nd Flash
A summary without spoiling ( There are 8 chapters and 2 interlocking storylines . 4for each) :
Barry has not yet learned to control his powers. He stops a thief during a theft and they plummet down from the roof of a lab. The impacts kill the thief. When Barry arrives at the scene he sees that the dead man is his childhood friend.
The art style was really good but lacked the beauty of Aquaman. I do have to admit captain cold is drawn amazingly ( hot) lol
Still exited for future releases
My thoughts
Cover: An epic cover. I love the Trident
Book: I always liked Aquaman growing up but never liked him as mutch as the popular ones. Until now . After reading this wonderfull comic book written by Geoff Johns, and illustrated by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado ( never heard of those people but they are pretty huge in the comic world).
The Aquaman jokes and Arthur being used as the laughingstock of the superheroes are present in this comic and I felt very sorry for Arthur Curry. I???m still getting bullied at school because I???m not mainstream and I read. I could connect with a fictional character .Heck that what books are for to connect even comic books .
This volume has 6 chapters or stories. Four for one plot and the last two bridges to the second volume.
A kind of summary but nothing spoilerific
Aquaman appears midtown Boston, interrupting a car chase and successfully stopping the crime in action, much to the surprise of present criminals and policemen alike.
Arthur later goes to have lunch at a seafood restaurant, in full costume. Apparently subscribing to the common misconception that
Aquaman speaks to fish, a number of people react with surprise when Aquaman orders ‘fish and chips' from the menu. He clarifies that his ability is to control various forms of sea life rather than speaking to them in the conventional sense, as fish don't actually converse. A blogger approaches Aquaman with various questions, despite the latter's insistence that he's just trying to have some lunch. Aquaman leaves when the blogger's final question offends him, but tells the waitress to keep the change (having paid with gold coins).
At Amnesty Bay, Aquaman recalls his childhood with his father, when Mera appears. Aquaman tells her he has decided to have new life with her, free from the responsibilities of being the king of Atlantis.
From the depths of the Atlantic ocean, the ‘Trench'( monsterlike aquatic creatures) emerge, confirming their suspicion that ‘there is an above'. After dragging a fisherman into the water and eating him, one of creatures declares that there is food on the surface world.
Mira , his wife and royal of Atlantis is a bad ass. She is not help less like humans think she is and still has a gentle side of her. And she is a ginger . Va Va voom
I loved the art style. If it was not color inked I would not have the same experience. I already knew than Aqua man was cool but Geoff shows how awesome and kind hearted Arthur Curry aka Aquaman is . I am exited for volume two in the future.
gwen and logan finally admit having feelings and saying i love you after four books and that happens . :? :////
i neeed book 5
sad its ending
My thoughts
Cover: Love the flames and background. That???s how I imagined Samael. He looks fierce and concentrated. Don't mess with him ,lol.Is it just me but those red eyes are blazingly hawt.
Book: I saw a book ad on a blog I frequently visit. I immediately added it to my wishlist on goodreads [reshelved it and book 2 is currently on my wishlist] The author asked me to review?????? Rapture??????. My reply was yes, yes yea. Lol. When it finally arrived from New Zealand. I read in two days flat. Monday and was done the next day amidst my midterms. Not a smart thing I know. But I could not put it down
The rapture has happened, the tribulation has begun. And we meet Sam, short for Samael, our leading male and taken in , adopted at a early age. He is a half-demon ,18 years old, alabaster skin and living in the mids of a devoted catholic Japanese sensei and daughter,Aimi [Hikari???s daughter]
You immediately start to feel affection towards Sam and to care for him and taste his sorrow and loneliness at times. His family is gone, gone with the rapture and he is left behind to defend the innocence left behind. And those who need to protected are cautious of him.Honestly I would be to ,he is a half demon but still one for Pete???s sake
In Ya parental figures are almost not in the picture. But in the moments that Hikari is there is a model father figure. A REAL parent.
Love appearsin Rapture,between friends,parental love and little bits and pieces of romantic love between him and Aimi. But the latter is not the main plot in the book. I like that however maybe in book 2.
Every chapter begins with a bible verse.It looks somewhat religious but not preachy at the same time.The use of bible verses is new to me.It is told in 3th person perspective and told in time slots, before the rapture, after it and the present. And it???s not jarring at all or confusing. It all fits perfectly. I read it at free periods, while doing a doo doo on the toilet, yes even there basically everywhere I could. Not the bathroom, ha ha.
Not a single scene felt like a drag or filler. WOW, the fighting scenes felt fresh and not repetitive at all. The monsters are??? you guessed it's demons. I???m no expert but I lke to add Phil did his research. The plot twist, the betrayal , I honestly did not think that person who???d be the betrayer . The bad guy was a Baddie, lol.
I encourage everyone to get this one and read it. He all you???re in luck a blogging comrade has got Phil for a interview and giveaway on her blog Realm of fiction
Eagerly awaiting book two called Tribulation of the trilogy and wishing Phil all the best with his family, baby son and his writing goals
Thanks Philip for this review copy and this is 100 % honest review
i really liked it . i thought blue was little boy blue but i like the twist but i hoped a plot line was not deserted
fun retelling and very brothers grimmy
My thoughts
Expectations : I was in a dystopia and post-apocalyptic mood during a 2013 titles goodreads browse last year. And the mention of a LGTBQ relation and to be precise the G part of the acronym in the synopsis intrigued me . I have read some m/m fiction in 2012 but mostly in adult titles. That type of romantic relation is not that common in YA fiction. So I wondered if it would be as stereotypical as some YA titles that also highlight it.
Cover : The scene that the cover illustrates could be anywhere in the novel. But I think most likely during one of the trials. The dude on the cover is Lucian ??????Lucky??? Spark, the protagonist, the cover helped me paint a picture of him in my mind. The locator on wrist has a very important role during the trials. I love green, which I have mentioned at moments before and love the sickly greens used on the cover.
Book : There???s a city shrouded with smog and smoke. It???s called the parish. Workers slave away in the industrial borough. That powers the flickering gaslights. Most people don???t reach the age of forty and if they reach it, starvation or the Reaper???s cough struggle with each other to hand over that life to Mr. Death. The latter is caused by the smoke and stress in the factories and it has been rumored to be engineered by the Establishment. The Establishment, a big brother government in this novel, has the Recruitment day annually. Some ???lucky ???few get to be chosen, recruited to have a chance belonging to the elite military ops. Called The imposers or imps for short. 5 candidates are chosen in the recruitment. They face 2 months of excessive training before entering the trials. The recruit who places last after each trial will have to choose which incentive (the military term for loved one)will be murdered and if both incentives are expired, that recruit will be eliminated from continuing and immediately shipped off to work camps. This will go so forth till one recruit remains triumphant. This 16 year old fellow nicknamed Lucky is betrayed and accused of treason against the state. The only way to save his 4 year old brother is to win. Will he succeed?
When I read I try not to see similar storylines in books. Yes its sounds like THG at points. For example the recruitment day sounds as it was an adapted version of The Reaping. Some parts could be annoying to some readers if they don???t start with an open mind. This is not a rip off of The Hunger Games if you ask me but just a YA title with a totalitarian government with parts that seem similar to THG. This genre is crowed and of course you???ll find some similar plots or storylines along the way and it???s okay as long as they???re no copy cats. I have to admit the world building in THG was put together greatly and that???s where The Culling loses some points. The government and the world building were vague at parts. There are farms mentioned, are they outside the parish and I want to know the name of that region called. There are group of people that are miners and develop reaper???s cough when they???re older but it is mentioned that at age 16, the youth enters the normal military or the special ops. Lucians??? parents were miners and died of Reaper???s Cough. How does the Establishment get a hold of people to work in the mines or work camps? Let???s just say the new employees at the mines are former military personal, you have to replenish your livestock to do the manual labor because they die when they are a certain age from reaper???s cough. Can???t the former cadets fight back? Yes I have some problems with the word building but nothing other than that.
The negatives are out of the way, so let???s focus on the positives. The characters made The Culling what it is. A torture for the characters and the reader to experience scenes where their loved ones, are murdered. Whilst sending a message that love for the state is more important than loving people close to you. Getting attached to people is very dangerous because the Establishment will use it against you at any cost. Lucian and his fellow recruits, who he bonded and became close with, got to know. The manipulation and murders reminded me of high quality slasher movies. You are a very evil man Mr. Dos Santos for making me care about lucky???s competition.
You have to like the protagonist otherwise reading about him or her could be a chore. Lucian was very na??ve at first but trough out the novel he became more level headed and I???m happy that he did not lose his kind heart. The remaining recruits are Digory, Gideon, Ophelia and Cyprus. Out of the remaining recruits, Cyprus tugged at my heart strings the most. She???s a female by the way and 17 or 18 with raven long hair. She came across as a bitch at times but if you read her back story and the situations she was thrust in you only feel sorry for her. She was hard like a rock but soft in side in the good meaning of the word. Another thing that I liked was the bond between the brothers. Lucky would do anything for his brother.
Hallelujah. Can I get an AMEN? The romantic angle was not forced, rushed or in your face. It was important to the story line but did not overpower it. And there was not a love triangle in sight but please don???t let there be one, it could be if you nudge it some. Digory and Lucian???s romance was slow building and I look forward seeing it grow more and more till it???s a crescendo in future books. There romance was handled Iike any other romantic love and not like HEY THIS IS A GAY LOVE.I read about 4 gay men in this book and none were stereotypical stick figure gay guys. Thank you Dos Santos. Digory was the kind next door type of guy. He has tawny wavy locks with blue eyes and 1 or 2 years older. Maybe in the next book some steamy kissing scenes. Poke, poke. (There aren???t any so far)
I whizzed through The Culling. There were some problems along the way and I hope that a love triangle will not be developed. I really want to know what happened to Digory. The ending was bitter sweet. I hope that there will be more details on the military, imposers, The Establishment and that thing that scares them. And more scenes with Lucky and Cole, his 4 year old brother would be lovely. Do want to read about loving someone and doing anything to save them. Even if it could mean sacrificing others loved ones. The bond between brothers and a slow building romance between two kind wonderful young men. Give The Culling a try.