Monday, October 31

B's Monday Review: Carniepunk - The Three Lives of Lydia by Delilah S Dawson

The question isn’t whether Charlie Dregs has met Lydia, a Sang riff on Lydia the Tattooed Lady, but rather whether the woman has even met herself. Enter the mysterious steampunk world of Sang, and prepare to be amazed. 

My thoughts:
This was a strange short story that packed a twist. A dark one, or not.

Lydia wakes up in a strange world. A carnival where there are vampires and others. And they say she is a stranger from another world. She meets someone and she sort of finds herself too.

Short and good.

Kindle Edition, 39 pages
Published December 15th 2014 by Pocket Star
Blud 0.5
Paranormal fantasy
XoXo after dark free

Sunday, October 30

Joint Review: After You by Jojo Moyes






Happy end of October everyone! This week Blodeuedd and I are discussing, "After You" by Jojo Moyes. 

Author: Jojo Moyes
Title: After You (Me Before You #2)
Genre: Fiction and Romance
Pages: 353
First Published: September 2015
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Bought from Grocery store - totally on sale)

How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future...


For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings.

Welcome to Izzy Spellman's off-kilter world. Equal parts Sam Spade and Bridget Jones, she's a damn good investigator—if only her dysfunctional family would back off and let her do her thing. Izzy's cynical—okay, wise—enough to realize that a primrose-covered cottage with a white picket fence is not in her future. That's okay with her. Ever the jaded P.I., she catalogs her ex-boyfriends with calculated brevity, reducing her romantic misjudgments to curt summaries of name, age, occupation, hobbies, duration, and last words. No sooner has she met a new man that she begins composing his exit profile.


Hired to trail a husband whose wife suspects he's gay, Isabel easily determines that nothing could be further from the truth. 


**FOREWARNING - THERE MAYBE A COUPLE WEE SPOILERS ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST ONE**

B: I need to rant first. See, someone was holding on to the English version and I had to borrow the Swedish translation. God! Blergh. Translation rant! When you translate a book you can’t just directly translate things, well at least not in literature, and this book was badly done. Of course I could be wrong and the book itself could be really bad, but the thing here was language. First it sounded like a 80 year old tried to be cool, when everyone spoke! One word I yelled out to bf and he laughed, it sure was not a word anyone has used in ages. So many sentences and words made me cringe, and conversations that are totally normal should not make you cringe. One word I even had to check the definition of! I have never ever heard anyone use it in rl, tv, books, never! There were other normal definitions of that word that people would use 100% of the time. I mean honestly! But that was not all. All conversations sounded like the same person spoke. The language was stilted, the nuances lost. I am not saying I am a translator (sure I did take classes in uni, but not in literary translation). But I know literature, I have read amazing English books translated from other languages, books whose language sang. Here it was grey and lifeless. The whole book lost its meaning cos all I thought of was the language. And that is why as soon as I knew enough English I started to read in English. Because I have read too many books like this. Especially fantasy books, those all sounded like they were made for 10 year olds. I could write pages about this, but let’s talk about the story and see what Carole thought. It might just be that the book sucked ass. C: Holy rant! I’m sorry the translation sucked!!! But the story wasn’t too bad. It was a little rough at the beginning...it felt like the author hadn’t written in a while and was getting back on her feet. But after a while she found her baring and I was hooked.
B: Oh, I was never hooked :/ I just could not get over the language and nitpicked everything. I would def have dnfed this stupid translation, but read it to the end.
C: Oh no! I thought the story was decent. Nothing compared to the first one, but it was interesting. I’m really upset about the road Lou took. Sure...nothing is ever perfect, but she really fell off the wagon of what Will wanted for her. :( B: The feel of the movie was gone for me, here I just wondered how she could have been in love that fast. Also she really went, not crazy, but honestly girl! You effed up your life. Bohoo, you are sad, but think of Will! She was a mess. C: Yes and that pissed me off. AT the end of the last book she was happy and ready to take the world by storm in honor of Will. But no - this was annoying. I wanted to punch her. I felt like everything was stripped away and she was nothing. The character was destroyed….she didn’t wear her funky outfits until near the end. Ugh...and I hated Lily. Like - the character was okay - but I freakin’ hated her role in the story and who she was to Will. Like...why? Ugh.
B: It felt like the author wanted some easy cash and wrote a book and just made her sad again so she would have a book. And yes Lily felt unnecessary. Also if her mother had told her, why not check them out sooner, why on earth go for Lou? Also Lou, you are not a social worker, that kid needed help.
C: Completely agree. I think it would have been more entertaining if the author kept Lou happy and then Lily came out of nowhere. However, I did like the story with Sam. Sam was a sweetie. B: Sam was ok, I did not feel any sparks, but hey that could have been the translation and everyone having the same voice.
C: Maybe, but I didn’t feel any sparks for the vast majority of the book, because Lou was sooooooooooooo miserable all of the time. Why would Sam stay? She treated him like dirt! I felt so bad. He was legit so nice to her and did all that for her. But Lou is still obsessed with Will (which whatever) and how could Sam want to stay? I just don’t get and I don’t think it’s realistic at all. The vast majority of this book was not realistic and it frustrated me. However, I was hooked, because it was like a car accident….you can’t help but move forward and watch in curiosity! C: Lol, well those wrecks are fun to watch, and maybe I could have felt like that too. Sigh. But yes, honestly Sam, you should have run way. Also I so did not get the end….oh and the whole Lily thing, you know, the thing, helllo! Call real people, if you get what I mean B: LOL yeah. No...the whole Lily thing should have been dealt with differently. Her mom and stepdad should have child services called on them, because they are TERRIBLE parents. The mom was a total beeeee-word. With that parenting style and the way they treated her, DUH she was going to grow up to be a mess and want nothing to do with them. B: What else could we talk about, hmmm, miserable Lou, strange Lily, not coping and moving on. Check. Bad parents, check. Nice guy being all nice, check… C: Oh! Don’t forget the slutty red-head secretary that Will’s dad left the mom for. Big check there. This was SUCH a soap opera. I feel it really went off track from the first one. This...was a wreck.
B: I hope they do not make a movie. What a depressing mess that would be. C: 100% agree. If they do make it, I’ll probably watch it because I am one for self-torture. I think we should put a “possible spoiler” at the beginning ;) I’m so bummed that this not nearly as good as the first one. That one was awesome, this? Wreck. B: I do not even know how to rate it, dang, I wish I had read it in English :/ C: I think the story would’ve been better in English and the characters’ convos better, but the whole plot and layout would not have changed I think. B: True, but at least I could have enjoyed the story, and thought if it as a train wreck then ;) C: Hahaha, maybe track down an English version or I can send you mine because I will not be re-reading it. xD B: Thanks, but no thanks, I do not want to take the risk. C: Alriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight whatever you say ;). Anything you want to add?? B: I am good, translations suck! ;) Whose turn next? C: Yours? IDK honestly. LOL XD B: Omg, I will TRY AND PICK SOMETHING GOOD! C: May the Book Gods be with you!

**CAROLE'S CONCLUSION**
I loved the first one and I recently watched the movie and I loved it (I need to write a review for it). I was SO excited for this one, but in the end - I was so let down. I feel the character, Lou, lost everything that made her her. Which is stupid. Lily was interesting, but I hate the whole story and who she was. This was a soap opera and nothing at all like the first book. Nothing felt real. I was hooked, yes, but it was like a car accident and I couldn't put the book down. The ending was decent and there is hope, but I have no faith that the author will allow Lou to be happy. After I was done reading this and everything was able to soak in, I tossed this book. Was this truly the sequel to what seemed a bright future at the end of the last one? Will would be disgusted at Lou and his family. Now...a rating? Mhmmm....2 stars...barely. Sam is the only reason, because I loved him and his story.










Saturday, October 29

Saturday Movie Night: Swiss Army Man (2016)






Come one, come all to the second Saturday Movie Night! Blodeuedd and Carole will be leading the charge! This month's movie is "Swiss Army Man" which is Blodeuedd's choice. Sit down, eat some popcorn, and enjoy the discussion. 



Title: Swiss Army Man
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama 
Running Time: 1 hour and 37 minutes
Rating: R
Released: July 2016

A hopeless man stranded on a deserted island befriends a dead body and together they go on a surreal journey to get home.














TRAILER: 



DISCUSSION: 

C: Welcome one and all. Just an fyi...B picked this one. LOL


B: Whaaat, it was the perfect movie to review ;)


C: Hehehehe. It was for sure a good one to check out. But I’m just saying ;)


B: It was amusing to watch, but would I recommend it...eh, LOL


C: I would recommend it for one and one reason only….because I want to know what they think.


B: hat is a good reason. BF was all, wtf are we watching, and then he laughed.


C: I was rude and watched this without BF and now he’s mad. So I am going to have to rewatch it! LOL


B: Bad Carole, it was totally a movie you need to watch with someone else!


C: I know, I know. But I actually don’t mind watching it again especially with knowing what I know with the ending. It will be interesting to see.


B: It sure was one of the weirdest movies I have watched.


C: Same. I wasn’t sure what was going on and if it was true. But that was a good ending for sure. What do you think?


B: The ending was effed up! Honestly. I am so confused.


C: And that is why I liked it. LOLLLLL!!  The whole movie was effed up. I can never look at Harry P---I mean Daniel Radcliffe the same! Especially with the lake scene…..eww harry---I mean hairy butt. D:


B: He did not do a lot of acting now did he, lol. Gods, this movie. You really have to see it to understand how weird it is.


C: Yes, he did little acting. I do wish we knew more about the character before he became a dead body. :/ BTW - poor Hank! I don’t think I would have survived.


B: At first I was all poor Hank, but then at the end when I realised things...well, Hank was just weird. Saying no more


C: I mean - its not his fault...but ya - he was weird and it was his fault he got into that situation. Rule 1...never get on a boat ALONE, because shit will happen.


B: On the other hand, was he ever on an island? And how far away? We really know nothing.


C: True, true. The whole story about him on a boat could have been a lie.


B: We only saw the beach, maybe it was like 1 min swimming from another beach ;) OR in the middle of nowhere cos he was an idiot who went out in a boat


C: LOL it could have been either or. You know what really confused me? The “powers” of the dead body. Like….how and why would you drink that water coming from his mouth???? I wanted to puke.


B: Hank is obviously gonna die soon….but how long was he really in the woods? Then again he did a lot there. But then again, oh those powers were weird. The pointy thing, ahem, that I understood when they got back to the beach.


C: I don’t think he was gone for too long. But that is just me. And where did he get a perfectly working shaver to do such a clean shave on his face??


B: True! Maybe he snuck out and drank water and shaved when we were not watching ;) But then the movie is not meant to be understood. I mean, the ending, come on!


C: Agreed. I think the movie is left up to the watcher to decide. I think it is all how we view it. I did like the message the film was trying to give out. It was nice.


B: It gave a message?


C: Yea! You didn’t catch it? It is okay to be oneself and to love.


B: I did watch it two weeks ago ;) And mostly thought it was weird.


C: Hahaha. True and I just watched it last night. The message was subtle.


B: I do see it. I just wonder what happened to him in the end.


C: Maybe he went back to the island and spread his message of love and being accepted to others who have been stranded! LMAO Hank is in an asylum for sure.


B: Poor Hank, but yes he is not running around the woods anymore for sure. Maybe he is happy now. As for Harry Potter, still out there spreading love around


C: LOL! Yup. That is what I am going with.


B: Strangest movie ever then. Do watch it folks, it is weird.


C: Yes...but a must see! I’ll be watching it again tonight. Sighs. XD Did you want to add anything else?

B: No, I hope more watch it and will be grossed out, laugh and wonder.



C: Awwwe. Fun. Good pick. I’m still grossed out...but I’m glad I gave it a shot! Onto the next movie!


B: Onward!


C: The end?

B: The end


**CAROLE'S CONCLUSION**
A crazy, weird, strange, but damn good movie. I'll give this a 5 and I highly recommend it. 






Thursday, October 27

Book Review: Deceit by MJ Haag

Author: MJ Haag
Title: Deceit (Beastly Tales #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Pages: ebook
First Published: July 2015
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Bought on Amazon)

Safely hidden within the estate’s enchanted walls, Benella no longer has time to fear her tormentors. She’s too preoccupied attempting to determine what makes the beast so beastly. It might be the taxing visits from the aged enchantress who cursed him or his growing vexation at not being allowed to touch Benella. 

In order to gain her freedom, she must find a way to break the curse, but first, she must help him become a better man while protecting her heart.



OMG OMG OMG. WHAT!? YOU CANNOT LEAVE ME LIKE THIS!!!!! DAMN YOU AUTHOR! *shakes fist* 

Okay - okay - let me back up a bit. 

This is the second book in the series in this Beauty and the Beast remake. The first one was good and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. It fell on the back-burner for a bit. I finally got time to read this. At the end of the last one (this is not a spoiler), but Benella has agreed to stay with the beast in order to spare her family. In this one, we get to finally meet the beast and learn about him. But dammit, it was hard to like him because he was so creepy and pervy for the first half of the book. Sure he got better as the book went on and he actually liked Benella for her brain/soul more than just her hotness. 

The price to remove his curse was interesting and fitting. It, also, for sure fit this dark and dirty world. 

And yes, this world is dark and I'm glad we got to learn more about this world and why everyone is poor. It makes sense and I'm content. 

Now, the first 50 pages made me sleepy. I was so bored and so annoyed. Like Beast...calm your shit. I get you wanna bang Benella, but that is not how you win her heart. >_< He did calm down when he realized he was acting like an animal and Benella had to lay some truth on him. SO things finally gained some momentum and I couldn't put the book down. And then there is the ending.................SO GOOD AND I AM DYING FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!!!!! What?! WHY?! NO!!!!!! FIX THIS, FIX THIS! I totally didn't expect the huge, HUGE twist at the end. I cannot say, but why beasty, why! HOW COULD YOU!?

Ugh....I'm so mad. As a reader, I shake my fist, but as a writer I must tip my hat and say good job. 

I must also tip my hat to the author, but I sense a bit of "Cinderella" mixed into the story. I noticed it a bit last time, but her two bitchy sisters need to fall into a ditch. They are terrible, but they do make the dynamic of Benella's family life interesting. 

In the end, I am in love with this dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The beginning of this was slow, but it got good and I couldn't put it down. I am dying for the second one because of that ending. I shall stamp this with....mhmmmmm....4. Everything better be fixed in the next book or I will kick something!!!!!!!!!!!












Tuesday, October 25

A Late B's Monday Review: Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen

Nettie Lonesome lives in a land of hard people and hard ground dusted with sand. She's a half-breed who dresses like a boy, raised by folks who don't call her a slave but use her like one. She knows of nothing else. That is, until the day a stranger attacks her. When nothing, not even a sickle to the eye can stop him, Nettie stabs him through the heart with a chunk of wood, and he turns into black sand.

And just like that, Nettie can see.

But her newfound sight is a blessing and a curse. Even if she doesn't understand what's under her own skin, she can sense what everyone else is hiding -- at least physically. The world is full of evil, and now she knows the source of all the sand in the desert. Haunted by the spirits, Nettie has no choice but to set out on a quest that might lead to her true kin... if the monsters along the way don't kill her first.

My thoughts:
At first I wondered whether this was fantasy or not, but nope, it is a western with lots of paranormal in it.

Nettie is half black, half Indian. She lives with mom and pap, but let's be honest, she is their slave. She longs to be somewhere else. Like tame broncos on the nearby farm. To be a man and not confined by society's view on women.

And as this a paranormal western then something will happen and her worldview will be changed. There are many things out in the desert, in towns, everywhere. Good and bad, and dangright evil.

I enjoyed the setting, it was different, even so different that is did not really feel like a western. More as a fantasy with a western setting. All those beings...

I guess it's YA, or not. Honestly even if YA, it could go either way. It never feels like it is one thing, and she is no normal teen either. She has been worked hard all her life. She just wants to live.

Conclusion:
An interesting story.

Cover
meh

Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Published October 27th 2015 by Orbit
The Shadow #1
Western paranormal
NG

Sunday, October 23

Book Review: Shinju by Laura Joh Rowland

Author: Laura Joh Rowland
Title: Shinju (Sano Ichiro #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction & Mystery
Pages: ebook
First Published: November 17th 1994)
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Bought on Amazon)

When beautiful, wealthy Yukiko and low-born artist Noriyoshi are found drowned together in a shinju, or ritual double suicide, everyone believes the culprit was forbidden love. Everyone but newly appointed yoriki Sano Ichiro.

Despite the official verdict and warnings from his superiors, the shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People suspects the deaths weren't just a tragedy; they were murder. Risking his family's good name and his own life, Sano will search for a killer across every level of society determined to find answers to a mystery no one wants solved. No one but Sano...

I read  the last book of series a while back and LOVED IT! Yes, yes, I did this, but I had no idea honestly. ;D So I decided to go back to the beginning and read the beginning. 

Now, this is the first book in the long, long series. Sano is a young man and he has just began his career in the life of investigating the crimes of the city. Compared to who he became in the last book, this Sano is very young and very naive. He is so innocent and new to his desire to get justice. He finds himself stuck in-between doing what is right justice-wise vs doing what is right by tradition. Sometimes the two do not go together. 

The young Sano is annoying. I can't wait for him to feel more comfortable and not be so "OH NO! WHAT DO I DO?! I CANNOT POSSIBLY MAKE A DECISION! UGH! I FEEL SO BAD! WHO AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!?" I wanted to slap him. Yes, yes, I get it...but dammit so annoying. Due to his issues, he made some REALLY DUMB DECISIONS! Yes, people make mistakes...but sighs...so dumb compared to older Sano. Hopefully, he is better in the next book now that he finished his first adventure. 

BUT looking at the positive.....I'm glad he wasn't the best detective/investigator! He seemed real and I liked that. But dammit....HE BETTER FIND HIMSELF IN THE NEXT ONE!



The mystery is good. Lots and lots of red herrings, BUT my original guess was right. However, I will admit I drifted from my original theory here and there, but in the end I drifted back at the end of the bread-trail. It was good and I loved the play-out of the murderer's reveal. It was good. Kinda sad and a part of me felt bad for the murderer. Just a touch...nothing more LOL. 

Now...the ending made me want to die. It was dragging on and on and on. I think the author was not sure what she wanted to do in order to tie it off nicely. The last couple of pages were good, but there was a HUGE chunk that good have been avoided. Even good stories need to end. I really wanted to go to bed, but I needed to finish it and be done with it. I want to move onto the next mystery in the series!



In the end, this was a good beginning. Sano is young and naive. Sometimes annoying as hell, but it is a new world for him so you have to give him some wiggle room. I'm glad the author made him feel real. The world was done nicely and the mystery was good. The end dragged on and on, but I'm excited for the next one in the series. People of the world...do not be like me, please read this one first...not the last one. LOL! ;D Out of five stars, I stamp this with 3. 









Friday, October 21

Book Review: The Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Staton by Sarah Bates

Author: Sarah Bates
Title: The Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Genre: Historical Fiction & YA
Pages: ebook
First Published: February 22nd 2016
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Johnstown, New York, 1823: It is a time when a wife’s dowry, even children, automatically becomes her husband’s property. Slavery is an economic advantage entrenched in America but rumblings of abolition abound. 

For Elizabeth Cady to confront this culture is unheard of, yet that is exactly what she does. Before she can become a leader of the women's rights movement and prominent abolitionist, she faces challenges fraught with disappointment. Her father admires her intellect but says a woman cannot aspire to the goals of men. Her sister’s husband becomes her champion–but secretly wants more. Religious fervor threatens to consume her. As she faces depression and despair, she records these struggles and other dark confidences in diaries. When she learns the journals might fall into the wrong hands and discredit her, she panics and rips out pages of entries that might destroy her hard-fought reputation. Relieved, she believes they are lost to history forever.

I've always been a fan of Elizabeth Cady. Yes, yes, she helped women get the right to vote and helped slaves be free. Those things make her a force to be reckoned with. However, I really find her an interesting and intriguing. I've read and seen many videos/movies about Elizabeth as a suffragette, but there is pretty much nothing about her early life. 

This book covers the early life of this great woman. It was wonderful to read. Very entertaining. The beginning was a little slow, but it did get really interesting and even though I knew what was going to happen next, I was curious to see what was going to be happening next. 

Her husband annoyed me. Meh. He was okaaaaaaaaaaaay - but I always thought she could've done a hair better. The pickings back then were slim....so I guess that was the best in her area. 

There were some chronological oopsies and "stretches" from the historical facts that had killed my history-nerd soul a bit, but like any historical fiction has creative license. However, the author did an excellent job bringing the time period alive and didn't make it sound like a history book. So this is good for those who are not crazy about historical-type books. 

I do wish that it would've followed more of her later life, because I find that even more interesting. I can't imagine living a life like that! Fighting for a simple right like to vote? SMH. 

Anywaysssss....

This was a fun story about an interesting story about an influential person. I want to read some more about her. Some historical inaccuracies and slow parts, but overall this was pretty good. I do recommend this for those that want to learn more about the brave women who helped change the history of the US and the world. In the end, I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 
















Thursday, October 20

Music Album Review: The Great Big Nothing by Spinning Naru




It's been so long since I've shared some good music on here! Now it is time blow off the dust of this old meme and revise it.

This is a special occasion! What? Why? I personally was asked by a new band to review their first album, 'The Great Big Nothing'. I'll go through each song and review them. I'll also give a rating between 1-5.


Artist: Spinning Naru
Album: The Great Big Nothing
Release Year: 2016
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Spinning-Naru-991729710894739/
https://soundcloud.com/user-854441523 http://www.audiomack.com/artist/spinning-naru https://spinningnaru.bandcamp.com/ https://twitter.com/Spinning_Naru










1) As You Wish
I loved the little sound bit at the beginning, because it really is clever and funny. This song really reminds me of the movie "The Princess Bride" grunge-style. If they ever made a modern movie, this song should be the theme-song. My two favorite parts of the song would be the lyrics and the harmonica part. The beginning (after the sound bit) was a little rough, but it surely did pull together nicely. Overall, not a bad way to start the album. I personally would have started with the next song coming up. I shall stamp this with 3.

2) Get Up
The beginning is awesome. I think this should have been the song to open the album with. A good song to jump up and down and yell out the lyrics. This was a fun one with an upbeat tempo. Not sure what else to say for this, so I'll give this a 4.

3) Anchors
Love, love, love the guitar and bass part at the beginning! Best part of the song. I love the meaning behind the lyrics. It all tied in together nicely. There was a quiet part that I feel should have been a little louder, but that could have been a recording thing since they self-recorded. I wasn't too crazy about the part at about 3 mins where the vocals drift into a round thing (whatever the term is for when one person sings and then another one joins in). I'm not sure what its called, but I feel like it was not really in sync correctly. I'll give this one a 3.

4) Idiot 
MY FAVORITE OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!! SO GOOD! Deep and sad and gives you the feel. We all have a part of us that hate's ourselves and this defiantly plays off of that self-hate we all feel here and there. There is a clean version and one with swear words. I, of course, prefer the one with swear words ;) But yes....if you were to listen to ONE song from this album, I would recommend this one for sure. Out of five, this is getting a solid 5.

5) If It All Goes Wrong
Eh. It's okay. Not my favorite. Nothing really wrong with the song that I can pinpoint...I just connect with it. A 2 for this one. 

6) Lilith
My 2nd favorite! Very grungy and Nirvana-feeling. I'm a huge Nirvana fan, so this is right up my alley. The vocals are a little scratchy, but it oddly works for this song and this tempo. Maybe they did it on purpose? The beginning instrumental is the best and then it is followed with some great lyrics. This shall get a 4. 

7) Words in My Dictionary
The first two minutes are really good, but I feel it drifts off for a bit and then gets good again. I feel like their is a blank space in the middle. Maybe its just me? The ending is funny and makes me smile. It really is original and worth listening to after the rest of the song. I love when bands put in little sound bits of themselves. I'll give this a 3.

8) Thank You
*Claps* *claps* 
Love the clapping parts! This would be my third favorite! It has a nice tempo and the lyrics are fun. Anyone can really relate to this song. It reminds me of the fun I had in my youth. Ah. Memories. Very fun! I'll give this a 4. 

9) Dandy Man
Yayy another sound bit at the beginning! I really wanted to love this song, because I love the reference. But it fell short for me. I think the tempo was off and I wasn't crazy about the instrumental or lyrics. A 2 for this one. The reference and the beginning give it a bonus star. 

10) Blue Duck Academy
A very long song...which I was worried about because it is a hit or miss when a band does a song that is over the typical 2-4 minutes. However, I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it in the end. It is a strange song for sure, but it's pretty catchy and pleasing to the ear. At first I wasn't crazy about the speaking parts...but they grew on me. This will get a 4. 

OVERALL
I've listened to this album a few times and I will listen to this again and again. It was such an honor to be asked to review this album and the songs these boys made themselves. They are a good mix of Nirvana and Weezer with a sprinkle of Pink Floyd. A couple of the songs were meh, but the vast majority were awesome. The cover is cool and I feel like it captures the feeling of the album. I like the back of the cover too (I'll share it below). After looking at all the songs, I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

 




Monday, October 17

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Make Me Burn by Tiffany Roberts

Groomed to slaughter, Morthanion spent millennia battling the forces of light, claiming countless Mesmerized by her voice and beauty, he is powerless. Captured and banished to a remote island by the Mage Council, his fury knows no bounds - until he meets her.

Aria knows survival means avoiding the other islanders at all costs. Yet when she encounters the dangerous, persistent Morthanion, it’s clear all the rules have changed. But can she forgive him the wrongs he’d done and grant him her trust…and love?

Stripped of magic, Morthanion understands that savagery is necessary to survive. When Aria’s true nature is revealed, the other inmates will stop at nothing to have her – and the demon would fight the entire world to keep her safe.

My thoughts:
I need to get this review written, I need a new concept...something fast.

Story.
A demon is sent to an island with other people that mages do not like. The island is hell, wtf is mages thinking, women do not stand a chance there. I get that mages are all, let's get rid of the baddies, but this was such a bad idea. But it makes for an interesting story since people are bad. Though we learn something late on that really makes me hate the mages, they were assholes too.

Characters:
Ok so at first I was really worried about Mort, he is such an alpha hole. He sees a woman and is all, I will have her. Omg man, ahole much, and then he makes his I have never raped anyone speech. Which I find hard believing since he is very alpha hole. But like always he does get into his big stupid brain that she is his mate. And he does care for her.

Aria, oh this girl was naive beyond words. I get that someone took care of her for 20 years ago, but I have a hard time believing she did not die one day after that person went away. She does have some sort of self-perseverance...at times. And she does go all My demon so very fast. 

They are perfect for each other. 

Judgement.
It was cheesy in a good way. A fantasy romance with darker moments, passion, and two people who I do not understand are still alive falling in love. So read it for the cheesy escapism.

Oh look, it comes with a warning, I know someone if you will like that ;)


-------------------------------------------------

Standalone in a three book series.

Warning: This book contains explicit sexual content and violence and is intended for mature readers only.


Paperback, 306 pages
Published March 5th 2016 by Createspace
Isle of the Forgotten #1
Fantasy romance
For a review

Sunday, October 16

Book Review: The Choice by Nicholas Sparks



Author: Nicholas Sparks
Title: The Choice
Genre: Romance & Fiction
Pages: 272
First Published: September 2007
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given as a gift)

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life -- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies -- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him...and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Despite himself, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

It has been SOOOO long since I have sat down with a Nicholas Sparks book. Yes, yes, he is known for his cheesy romances that pull at the heart. I am a romantic by nature, so I can't help but adore his books. For some reason, I have had a hard time picking this one up. It has been on my shelf for eons. But I finally decided enough was enough and to give a read.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh! WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO MY HEART MR SPARKS?! Ugh. 

This book is divided into two parts. 

Part 1: Goes over the beginning and how the two lovebirds found each other. 

Part 2: It has been years of happiness and love. However, Travis is face with a terrible choice to make. I will not spoil that, but it is a decision that would break the heart of even the most strong-willed person. I can't even imagine making this decision. Nope. 

The beginning was a little slow. I wanted to smack Gabby. She was so annoying and so unnecessarily bitchy to Travis. I liked Travis a lot. I felt bad for Kevin though....I was hoping he would end up with Stephanie in the end. 

I want to know more about Travis' friends and how they met their spouses. Honestly, I just wanted to know more about them and their stories. Maybe a short story some day?? *waggles brows*

The ending was good. I wasn't sure what to expect honestly. I had my hopes, but I had my doubts. There was a point I did cry. DAMMIT FEELS! It ripped my heart in two. SO SAD!!!!!!!! But the ending made the whole journey with it.

In the end, this was pretty good. The beginning was a touch slow and it took a while for me to like Gabby. I could hardly put down the rest of the book. So good, so much feels. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4 stars. 

I now kinda want to re-read some the books I have already read. Mhmmmm....