Short Movie Reviews: Another Avengers movie

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Writers: Christopher Markus (screenplay by), Stephen McFeely (screenplay by) | 

Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo 

3h 1min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi 

By now all know that some of our heroes died. One death, could not have cared less. Another, you mofos! WHY!?

It was too long, too long winded too, too repetitive.

Hawkguy is still boring as dirt.

Why did Cap cut his beard, he was finally interesting!

Thor is the greatest! I love Stark.

Sadly others were dead so not around, hmmm.

Also Cap Marvel is so powerful that it is stupid. She could have ended this ages ago, I kind of hate her now. Ugh, worst character ever.

Recommend

I mean I had to watch, but rec, eh, only if you have watched the others

Audio: Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

Narrated by Marguerite Gavin

Imprint: HarperAudio

On Sale: 05/26/2020

Urban fantasy

To review

I have been looking for a new UF series to love, well for ages to be honest. I want another Mercy, another Kate, another Toby.

But I just do not know. I was not a fan of Rachel, I did not like Ivy at all, I do not understand why they sent assassins after Rachel.

I did like the Pixie.

I did not like what the future romance sets out to be, I did read the premise for the next 12 books, and yes in the end that will happen, and I am so over baddies.

Nothing wrong with the narration, but I really could not keep my attention on the story. Still I listened on cos I wanted to know if something food would happen

All the creatures of the night gather in "the Hollows" of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party... and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining - and it's Rachel Morgan's job to keep that world civilized.

A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she'll bring 'em back alive, dead... or undead.

Twelve Kings in Sharakhai by Bradley P Beaulieu

Paperback, 592 pages

Published July 12th 2016 by Daw Books (first published September 1st 2015)

Series: The Song of the Shattered Sands #1

Fantasy

Own

I felt the beginning was strong (though why couldn't she have been older?) It made it feel so YA. I hate when younglings are the best at everything.

Yes it went downhill for me after that, I should have stopped, but it had good bones, but poor execution. 

It was the flashbacks, those dang flashbacks! They did not add anything, it could have been done another way. Ugh they were so boring.

Also I liked the evil kings more than the main character...I hope she looses

Sharakhai, the great city of the desert, center of commerce and culture, has been ruled from time immemorial by twelve kings -- cruel, ruthless, powerful, and immortal. With their army of Silver Spears, their elite company of Blade Maidens and their holy defenders, the terrifying asirim, the Kings uphold their positions as undisputed, invincible lords of the desert. There is no hope of freedom for any under their rule.

Or so it seems, until Çeda, a brave young woman from the west end slums, defies the Kings' laws by going outside on the holy night of Beht Zha'ir. What she learns that night sets her on a path that winds through both the terrible truths of the Kings' mysterious history and the hidden riddles of her own heritage. Together, these secrets could finally break the iron grip of the Kings' power...if the nigh-omnipotent Kings don't find her first. 

TMST

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

May 26th: What are your summer reading plans?

To read books

That's all. I never really have plans. I plan to read my own books, and listen to review books.

Carole' Monday: Nightmare City

Author: P.S. Newman 

Title: Nightmare City

(Nightmare City #1)

Genre: UF, Fantasy

Format: ebook

Pages: 359 

Published:  November 26th 2019

Where I Got It: My shelf (Netgalley)

In post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, dreams come true. So do nightmares. 

 Ever since a shift in reality twenty years ago, peoples' dreams and nightmares come alive, spreading chaos and destruction. Monsters ravage cities, bottomless chasms split roads, and gold rains from the sky - the possibilities are limitless, unpredictable and often deadly. Eden Maybrey is a hunter of these "shades". When a friend tasks her with tracking down and eliminating an evil shade, the hunt threatens to expose Eden's deepest, darkest secret. To find her prey, she is forced to team up with Vaughn Taylor, a hunter who hates shades with a passion - and who won't hesitate to put a bullet in Eden's head should he figure out the truth.

I could not resist this one! The concept is so cool! It fell on the back-burner for a while, but I am so glad I was able to finallllyyyyy get into this one. 

The story is set in LA after a terrible event happened years previously. Dreams AND nightmares can come true LITERALLY. It's unpredictable and can be deadly. They call these manifestations "shades". We follow Eden who is a hunter of these shades and is tasked to get rid of them. There are many other hunters out there, but there is something different about our Eden and she cannot let the world know what it is. When a friend manifests a shade, he hires Eden to take care of it, because it is dangerous. So dangerous it puts Eden and everyone she loves at risk. She is forced to team up with Vaughn Taylor is who is anti-shade that even fellow hunters worry about him. 

Loved Eden. She was kickass! 

Loved Cece too. She was kickass. 

Aunt Vy the sword was a hoot and she was certainly a fun "character". 

Sean was fishy to me. 

Loved David. He was so sweet to Cece and her baby sister. 

Bella.....hate you. Hate you, hate you, hate you. I get you are a teenager who really went through some stuff. But you are manipulative and terrible. Someone needs to kick her ass. Maybe Eden will one day. But seriously Bella...get your head out of your arse. 

Besides for my loathing for that snot-nose kid, I really enjoyed this. I could NOT read this fast enough especially near the end. THAT TWIST! I guessed it, but I thought I was just being a negative nancy and cynical, but OMG. Danggg I need book 2 now!!!!!!

Okay - okay. Overall...this was awesome and fun. I highly recommend it. 5 stars. 

PS - Yes, I was bored so I had a little fun with doing HTML and formatting lol. Let me know if you like it! Maybe I'll force myself to not be lazy for future reviews/posts ;)

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson

Hardcover, 457 pages

Published November 26th 2019 by Delacorte Press

Series: Skyward #2, Cytonic Series

YA Sci-fi

Own

I do have to read everything Sanderson writes, and now I am up to date. I tried to brace myself with this one as I do know how slowly/fast he writes. Considering he writes like 10 books at once or smth. Which means it will be a long wait for book 3.

There were some revelations in book 1, and she now has to deal with the fact that she is cytonic, she is in a prison colony, and that the world is so much bigger.

I want to know more about the delvers, like how why, also the cytonics...

In this one she takes the fight to the enemy. I did feel like at times she was a bit too lucky, and could do too much. But I can forgive those tendencies. Cos when it all comes down to it, this is easy fun sci-fi YA. All those other YA saviors and their love triangles are not to be found here. Sansa is doing things her way and on her own.

I can't wait for book 3

All her life, Spensa's dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she's a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. The rumors of his cowardice are true—he deserted his flight during battle against the Krell. Worse, though, he turned against his team and attacked them.

Spensa is sure that there's more to the story. And she's sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars—and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie.

But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself—and she'll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.

Audio: Chaos Reigning by Jessie Mihalik

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Series: Consortium Rebellion, Book 3

Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 05-19-20

Language: English

Publisher: HarperAudio

Sci-fi romance

To review

Finale!? What?! No this can't be it! There are more siblings! I need Ferdinand, well I do not really need it, I kind of need the how they met, now how they continue. But I want Benedict and Hannah too. Sad sad day.

Catarina is the "dumb" socialite, a persona she works hard on. Her siblings thinks she is weak because they do not know what was done to her. She is stronger than any of them, but she does not have the confidence to see it.

She is the risktaker, and she will blaze her way through this war.

Because yes there is that dang war going on between her house and another, and she is sent to gather intelligence, together with a hot bodyguard. And I did feel the connection between her and Alexander, they were alike, I felt it, I got it. Sure they did not have a lot of time to get to know each other. But I believed that instant attraction and that instant connection of finding a kindred spirit.

This book is action filled, intrigues everywhere, space battles and more. The romance is fast, and at the same time really slow burning, they are both careful and that made it better.

But I do want more! The war might be over, but there are more stories to tell. Light action filled scifi with romance, what more can one want!

Narration

Emily is great as always, I do like her and she fits well here. She can be every aspect of Caterina, from noseup highborn, to fury. She makes the characters come alive and fills every space (ha, pun intended.) It makes these fun listening to.

Definitely go audio

As the youngest member of her High House, Catarina von Hasenberg is used to being underestimated, but her youth and flighty, bubbly personality mask a clever mind and stubborn determination. Her enemies, blind to her true strength, do not suspect that Cat is a spy - which makes her the perfect candidate to go undercover at a rival House’s summer retreat to gather intelligence on their recent treachery.

Cat’s overprotective older sister reluctantly agrees, but on one condition: Cat cannot go alone. Alexander Sterling, a quiet, gorgeous bodyguard, will accompany her, posing as her lover. After Cat tries, and fails, to ditch Alex, she grudgingly agrees, confident in her ability to manage him. After all, she’s never found a person she can’t manipulate.

But Alex proves more difficult - and more desirable - than Cat anticipated. When she’s attacked and nearly killed, she and Alex are forced to work together to figure out how deep the treason goes. With rumors of widespread assaults on Serenity raging, communications down, and the rest of her family trapped off-planet, Catarina must persuade Alex to return to Earth to expose the truth and finish this deadly battle once and for all.

But Cat can’t explain why she’s the perfect person to infiltrate hostile territory without revealing secrets she’d rather keep buried.... 

Audio: Always be my banshee by Molly Harper

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi, Jonathan Davis
Series: Mystic Bayou, Book 4
Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
Original Recording Audiobook
Release date: 04-07-20
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Originals
Paranormal romance
Own

I did find something missing from this one, action? I felt it mostly went on and on, and everyone who has been in previous books where there and, well hello the plot?

Or maybe it was the chemistry between them that I did not buy? Also Brendan being a banshee, not the best paranormal being considering. Poor guy.

As for Cordelia, if she touches someone she will see what they have done, and some people do bad things. Same with things, if she touches an object it is the same.

And together they will figure out what the f i going on...

But yes the drama was lacking for me, first at the end it got going.

I did like the narrators. Ronconi is good and I liked the guy doing Brendan's chapters too. But then I can never say no to an Irish accent.

Even  though I read the previous book I feel that buy now you should have read them all, there are way too many people stopping by.

Cordelia Canton is on a top-secret assignment: travel to Mystic Bayou and use her powers as a touch-know psychic to learn more about the mysterious artifact that’s been pulled from the rift site. She’s partnered with Brendan O’Connor, a rare male banshee whose tall, dark, and broody good looks are a major distraction. Before long, it becomes clear that the artifact they’re studying is sentient - and brimming with supernatural power. Can they harness its magic in time to stop the secret forces conspiring to steal it?

TMST

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

May 19th: If a book disappoints you by an author that you read for the first time, how likely are you to try that author again?

It happens, everyone can have a bad book, it happens to authors that I love too.

Of course it depends on HOW bad...

But even authors who I go all come on! I still try again, and still hate so yes it is not always a good idea. But then there are those that i try again and suddenly  I like it.

I find it worse when I like a series and then they get worse and worse, that does not make me want to read more. But then I am a sucker for punishment

Carole's Monday: Miranda and the D-day

Author: Shelly Frome
Title: Miranda and the D-Day Caper
Genre: Mystery
Format: ebook
Pages: 338 
Published:  March 1st 2020 
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)



On a sparkling spring morning in the Blue Ridge, small-town realtor Miranda Davis approached the tailgate market, intent on dealing with her whimsical cousin Skip’s unexpected arrival from New York. It turns out that Skip was on the run and, in his panic, grabbed his beloved tabby Duffy, recalling that Miranda had a recent part in solving a case down in Carolina. His predicament stemmed from intercepting code messages like “Countdown to D-Day,” playfully broadcasting the messages on his radio show over the nation-wide network, and subsequently forced to flee. At first, Miranda tried to limit her old childhood companion’s conundrum to the sudden abduction of Duffy the cat. But the forces that be were hell-bent on keeping Skip under wraps by any means after he stumbled close to the site of their master plan. Miranda’s subsequent efforts to decipher the conspiracy and somehow intervene placed both herself and her old playmate on a collision course with a white-nationalist perpetrator and the continuing machinations of the right-wing enterprise, with the lives of all those gathered for a diversity celebration in nearby Asheville and a crucial senatorial vote on homeland security hanging in the balance. 

I've been excited about this one! It's been a minute since I've had a really interesting mystery to read!

The story follows Miranda Davis who is a small-town realtor. Her whimsical cousin, Skip, has come to town unexpectedly. Well - not for a family visit, but it turns out Skip is on the run and needs Miranda's help. He intercepted a coded message and had no idea it was a code or what it is about. Now he is on the run and Miranda is his only hope. 

Ooooo Miranda. I feel so bad for her! If it was me I don't know what I would do if one of my cousins came knocking on my door and was on the run. Bless her heart for wanting to help! Maybe that is why I liked her so much. She is so sweet and smart and just so cool. I would want to be her best friend in real life! I adored her. 

Skip...well...he was Skip. 

Duffy the cat was cute. I wanted more time with Duffy!

This was a fun mystery and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I finished this in just a couple of sittings. I had to know what was going to happen next!!

The beginning took a little bit for me to get into though. Once Skip showed up and the mystery started getting interesting, then I was hooked. 

I wanted more from the ending too. I wonder if there will be more for Miranda!

Overall, this was a nice mystery to read while it has been rainy over here. Fun characters and an intriguing mystery! I for sure recommend. I'll give this 4 stars. 

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We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's case, by shouting out one word - SHAZAM - this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the grown-up superhero Shazam.

Director: David F. Sandberg

Writers: Henry Gayden (screenplay by), Henry Gayden (story by) 

Stars: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel

 2h 12min | Action, Adventure, Comedy 

This started slow and I was not impressed, but then it got funny and honestly, best superhero movie in quite some time. Take that marvel movies who have been boring!

Levi was great too!

Recommend:

Yes, but beware of that slow beginning. It was a fun movie for the whole family.

Dölj citerad text Den fre 15 maj 2020 23:03Carole Szymanski skrev:

Author: Shelly Frome
Title: Miranda and the D-Day Caper
Genre: Mystery
Format: ebook
Pages: 338 
Published:  March 1st 2020 
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)



On a sparkling spring morning in the Blue Ridge, small-town realtor Miranda Davis approached the tailgate market, intent on dealing with her whimsical cousin Skip’s unexpected arrival from New York. It turns out that Skip was on the run and, in his panic, grabbed his beloved tabby Duffy, recalling that Miranda had a recent part in solving a case down in Carolina. His predicament stemmed from intercepting code messages like “Countdown to D-Day,” playfully broadcasting the messages on his radio show over the nation-wide network, and subsequently forced to flee. At first, Miranda tried to limit her old childhood companion’s conundrum to the sudden abduction of Duffy the cat. But the forces that be were hell-bent on keeping Skip under wraps by any means after he stumbled close to the site of their master plan. Miranda’s subsequent efforts to decipher the conspiracy and somehow intervene placed both herself and her old playmate on a collision course with a white-nationalist perpetrator and the continuing machinations of the right-wing enterprise, with the lives of all those gathered for a diversity celebration in nearby Asheville and a crucial senatorial vote on homeland security hanging in the balance. 

I've been excited about this one! It's been a minute since I've had a really interesting mystery to read!

The story follows Miranda Davis who is a small-town realtor. Her whimsical cousin, Skip, has come to town unexpectedly. Well - not for a family visit, but it turns out Skip is on the run and needs Miranda's help. He intercepted a coded message and had no idea it was a code or what it is about. Now he is on the run and Miranda is his only hope. 

Ooooo Miranda. I feel so bad for her! If it was me I don't know what I would do if one of my cousins came knocking on my door and was on the run. Bless her heart for wanting to help! Maybe that is why I liked her so much. She is so sweet and smart and just so cool. I would want to be her best friend in real life! I adored her. 

Skip...well...he was Skip. 

Duffy the cat was cute. I wanted more time with Duffy!

This was a fun mystery and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I finished this in just a couple of sittings. I had to know what was going to happen next!!

The beginning took a little bit for me to get into though. Once Skip showed up and the mystery started getting interesting, then I was hooked. 

I wanted more from the ending too. I wonder if there will be more for Miranda!

Overall, this was a nice mystery to read while it has been rainy over here. Fun characters and an intriguing mystery! I for sure recommend. I'll give this 4 stars. 

The poppy war by RF Kuang

Hardcover, 530 pages
Published May 1st 2018 by Harper Voyager
Series: The Poppy War #1
Fantasy
Own

I did not know what to expect from this one. I started with a girl trying to find a way out of an arranged marriage, she will take this exam and go to the best school in the country! Luckily she is smart, but she is also desperate. Then she gets to the school, and there she is just a peasant while everyone else has the best connections and bloodlines.

But Rin is desperate and does everything to get ahead, I mean that one thing, dang girl!

I really can't say a lot more, she makes enemies, she makes one friend, she gets a teacher that sees her potential, one who sees her danger.

But I really want to talk about the coming war, shit gets dark as f. What we have here is a fantasy China in whatever age it is. Lurking across the sea is fantasy Japan. Then the war starts, there is a "rape of Naijnking" story and all the horrible stuff they ever did during the war, such gruesome cruelty that it hurts your eyes seeing it. It all builds up to making Rin so filled with revenge and anger that, oh I can't say but it does follow what happened during WWII.

Because there are others powers at play, there are Gods, there are shamans, there is power beyond your imagination.

I liked the book, and I do want book 2, but I mean, such darkness. She will destroy the world as she is at it. I do wonder how she can rein it it 

When Rin aced the Keju — the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies — it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard — the most elite military school in Nikan — was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power — an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive — and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away.

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity ... and that it may already be too late.

Audio: Night shift dragons by Rachel Aaron

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Series: Detroit Free Zone (DFZ), Book 3

Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 05-05-20

Language: English

Publisher: Audible Studios

Urban fantasy

To review

I really like her dad, and I mean he is such an asshole! But then the truth is he is a dragon, a real dragon. Not like Julius, whom I loved, but no, Yong of Korea is a proud dragon. And dragons are might fickle, old beings.

This is book 3, a lot has happened. Like how her dad is in a coma since he used all his power on her bad luck curse. Opal has also become a priestess of the DFC. She has not talked to anyone in 2 months. And she has no idea what to do next.

But something is stirring in the DFC, something the city itself can not see.

Korea needs its dragon back, what will she do about her dad? Other dragons will find out and come for her.

And then there is Nick.

Action, fun and just, well I really love this world. So what did I do the minute I finished this? To see if there would be more! And she is writing about someone new, and I want to know what this new series will be about! Gimme! Also, more dragons please, I love them.

Narration

Emily is great for this series, and her Yong, oh he is so proud and haughty. Just perfect. And her DFC! Well, yes I like how she narrates everyone so that they will stand out.

And as always, definitely listen. I do love listening.

They say family always sticks together, but when you’re your dad’s only lifeline and the whole world—humans, dragons, and gods—wants you dead, “family bonding” takes on a whole new meaning.

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m in way over my head. I thought getting rid of my dad’s bad luck curse would put things back to normal. Instead, I’m stuck playing caretaker to the Great Dragon of Korea. That wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t such a jerk, or if every dragon on the planet wasn’t out to kill him, or if he was my only problem.

Turns out, things can always get worse in the DFZ. When a rival spirit attacks my god/boss with the aim of turning the famously safety-optional city into a literal death arena with Nik as his bloody champion, I’m thrust onto the front lines and way out of my comfort zone. When gods fight, mortals don’t usually survive, but I’m not alone this time. Even proud old dragons can learn new tricks, and with everything I love falling to pieces, the father I’ve always run from might just be the only force in the universe stubborn enough to pull us back together. 

Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett

Paperback, 400 pages
Published April 21st 2020 by Jo Fletcher Books
Series: The Founders Trilogy #2
Fantasy
In exchange for an honest review

So I read this other review that said she did not remember a lot from book 1, and honestly, that was totally my experience too! But even if I didn't remember much, or anything, it did not matter, I thought it would, but I just breezed through it.

This book is hard to explain, the magic system is unique and interesting, and well, hard to explain!

They city is ruled by Merchant Houses, who hoard the scriving techniques they have invented. But then Sancia and the rest started their own firm and soon others set up shop too. How is it going? Eh, it is going.

And Sancia is not like the rest, someone put things in her and she can now talk to, well the "magic" that holds things together.

Now a new threat is coming, something old and powerful, and interested in what makes her tick.

Shit goes down! What more can I honestly say, because it will get really really bad and it's not like the book ends with a cliffhanger, no, they are fine for now, but it ends with a boom, this is not bad, this is apocalyptic.

I enjoyed it and I do want more. Like I said, events happened, and it looks bad, what will happen? Who do I even root for? I do not really know. I honestly have no idea what will happen in the next book. I like that.

So if you want techmagic, and a crazy ride then this is it 

The upstart firm Foundryside is struggling to make it. Orso Igancio and his star employee, former thief Sancia Grado, are accomplishing brilliant things with scriving, the magical art of encoding sentience into everyday objects, but it's not enough. The massive merchant houses of Tevanne won't tolerate competition, and they're willing to do anything to crush Foundryside.

But even the merchant houses of Tevanne might have met their match. An immensely powerful and deadly entity has been resurrected in the shadows of Tevanne, one that's not interested in wealth or trade routes: a hierophant, one of the ancient practitioners of scriving. And he has a great fascination for Foundryside, and its employees - especially Sancia.

Now Sancia and the rest of Foundryside must race to combat this new menace, which means understanding the origins of scriving itself - before the hierophant burns Tevanne to the ground.