Book Review: The Watsons by Jane Austen

Author: Jane Austen
Title: The Watsons
Genre: Classics, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, & Romance
Pages: 40
Published: 1923 (but technically unfinished)
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Used bookstore)

Mr. Watson is a widowed clergyman with two sons and four daughters. The youngest daughter, Emma, has been brought up by a wealthy aunt and is consequently better educated and more refined than her sisters. But when her aunt contracts a foolish second marriage, Emma is obliged to return to her father's house.




I am really bummed that the author never got a chance to finish this novel. Sure, there are some versions that authors attempted to finish. For some reason, Goodreads does not have just the plain version listed, which is silly to me. Oh well.

From what the author had, I enjoyed it and wanted more. This was bound to be a great story. Maybe someday I'll read some other adaptions from other authors. 

The aunt was an idiot and I felt bad for Emma for having to return home. 

According to some articles, this was bound to be really sad. I could sense it was going to be a wee bit dark. Gah. I am so bummed. Maybe someday they'll find more of this story. 

In the end, I for sure recommend it even if it is not finished. I'll give this 4 stars.

Time for TV Tuesday #1

**Someone had asked me why I don't discuss the shows that I watch since I seem to watch more TV compared to movies. This is an excellent question. Well...I will be doing this weekly Tuesday post sharing what I watching and some of my thoughts. Of course, I highly encourage sharing what you are watching too!!**

Recently, I finished watching two shows: 

• Master of None (Season 1 & Season 2)

This is labeled as a comedy, but I found it to be very sad and inspirational. It showed the modern life of adults. Not only dating, but relationships, being the child of an immigrant, Race, finding oneself, cheating, friendship, the gay community, getting over an ex, finding happiness, traveling, finding the right job, and simply just trying to make it in this crazy world. Comedy was there, but it was relatable. 

The show followed many characters, but the main character was Dev and his journey to finding himself in crazy New York. There is two seasons. 

I was immediately hooked. I loved the characters for many reasons, but the main reason is that they are all highly flawed. They have a lot of growing up to do especially Dev. I really want Dev to find his HEA. There is one character (I will not name names) I want him to end of with...but yeah - he really messed that up.

The ending for Season 1 made me really anxious to move forward, so I started season 2 right away. 

Now...season 2 did lose me near the end. The show started to become a little unrelatable and unrealistic. I hated the romance. It felt so very forced. The ending left me wanting more, but I am not dying for the next season like I was at the end of season 1. We shall see what happens when the next season comes out. 

• F is For Family (Season 1 & Season 2)

Ooooh I do love sitcoms. This is a more "mature" sitcom on Netflix. Since there is a lot of freedom from the FCC, it can be pretty raunchy and have a lot of adult content and a lot of swearing. Now, this sitcom is set in the 1970's with the Murphy family. Atypical 70's family...a dad who works and is grumpy, a mom is tries to hold everything together, and three "loving" children. 

This has a lot of laughs and lots of "awee" moments as with every sitcom. I think what really separates this sitcom from other is the story. It does not shy away from the truths of the 1970s. Also, the story really shows the characters road to changing. 

Season 1 was a lot of fun. I am entirely hooked to the characters. I've watched season 1 a couple of times while waiting for season 2 to come out. The ending was a cliff-hanger and it drove me crazy. It felt like forever for season 2. 

Season 2 was equally as good as season 1. This season was a little darker and sadder. There were a lot of times when I was worried for the characters. It left on a high note, BUT another cliff-hanger. I can't wait for season 3. It is bound to be hilarious. 

Currently Watching:

• Medici: Masters of Florance

I just started this show today. I am currently on episode two of Season 1. It is okay so far. I know a little bit about the Medici history of the 15th century, so I will have to do my history check when I am done. Curious to see what they change to make it more dramatic. 

I do not have a lot to share opinion-wise since I am so fresh in the show. I will say...they need to do better with the transitions between changing times. At first I was extremely confused on the jumping around between 20 years. 

Also, I am utterly in love with Cosimo. He is so tortured and has constant someone-kicked-my-dog look oddly is adorable. My only issue with him is that he seems like an ass to his wife. I want to understand more on the whys. I get his dreams were dashed because he was forced to marry her, but c'mon...it's not like she wanted to marry him either. We shall see what comes next. 

But yes, I am interested in the characters and who the main "baddie" is at this point. I have my guesses, but it hard to tell since the Medicis had loads of enemies. 

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: The Sworn by Gail Z Martin

Summoner-King Martris Drayke must attempt to meet this great threat, gathering an army from a country ravaged by civil war. Tris seeks new allies from among the living - and the dead - as an untested generation of rulers face their first battle. Meanwhile, the legendary Dread are stirring in their burrows after millennia of silence and no one knows what hand wakes them and whom they will serve when they rise.

Now, Drayke turns to the Sworn, a nomadic clan of warriors bound to protect the Dread. But even the mighty Sworn do not know what will happen when the Dread awake. All are certain, though, that war is coming to the Winter Kingdoms.

My thoughts:
I think this was a bit weird, I mean the last series took place just 6 months before this. At least make it 10, or 25 and have it about their kids or something. Let them fights some battles.

I am never awed by these books, yes I know that sounds bad, they are good, just never awesome. They are light, fast to read and since this is a two book series I will read book 2 even though I totally know it will not be awesome, but it will be good.

Right, so it has only been 6 months since that last series and something bad is coming again.
Tris and Kiara worry about their kid, and the fate of their two kingdoms since peeps are all we will not be ruled by those other guys! Omg chill people. You are still your own kingdom, they just have to make enough babies to go around.

Jonmarc and his wife are with their vamps, to be honest, I was never a fan of his. But I liked how there are vamps in this world, it fits considering all the ghosts too.

A new player comes in, a prince from another country and his wife has knowledge of those who could help. I liked these two, they could totally have a tragic book of their own.

So yes it's a light fast fantasy, sure it has many pages, but it's so light that they just disappear. People die likes flies, but it still totally light. At least to me.

Conclusion:
Since it's only one book left I guess the war will come and end.

Cover
ok

Paperback, 563 pages
Published February 1st 2011 by Orbit
Fallen Kings #1
Fantasy
own

Book Review: Lord of the Sea Castle by Ruadh Butler

Author: Ruadh Butler
Title: Lord of the Sea Castle
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: ebook
Published: June 2017
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

It is 1170 – a tumultuous time for the people of Wales, England and Ireland. Raymond de Carew is in love, but the woman he desires is an earl's daughter and so far above his station that he has no hope of ever winning her.

However, Raymond’s lord has a mission for him: one that if it succeeds will put an Irish king back on his throne and prove Raymond worthy – for in Norman society, a man can rise as high as his skill with a sword can take him.

With only a hundred men at his side, Raymond must cross the ocean to Ireland ahead of his mercenary lord's invasion. There he will face the full might of the Viking city of Waterford... and either his deeds will become legend or he will be trampled into dust.

There are a couple of reasons why I picked this up...1) I wanted a good historical book, 2) I wanted war!! Yes, I got the blood-lust ;D, and 3) It is set in Waterford and I live in a Waterford (not the Waterford that this is set in, but ya know lol). 

There was a lot of battles and blood and war and I liked it!! It was really good and written well. It was not gross, like some novels can be, and it was not boring and didn't drag on. A nice flow. There was a decent balance with the war/action-y parts versus the "calmer" parts. The balance could've been better, but it wasn't bad. 

I wish there had been a hair more time with character development and world-building. I didn't feel connected with the main character until about halfway through the book. And I had a hard time seeing the world. Maybe it was just me? 

It was really interesting seeing this side of the conflict. Mainly books in this time period is written on the English side, so I was happy to read the other side. 

The love story was okay and it added a human element to the story. Without it, I feel it would've felt more like a history book. I wasn't a fan of the girl tho (heck - I can't even recall her name). I feel he could've done better in my opinion. Her family was a pain.

I am curious to see what is going to happen next. There was a little epilogue at the end, but there is so much story left! 

In the end, this was okay. I loved a lot of it, but there was a lot I didn't like or thought was just okay. If you love or need some bloody historical fiction with a touch of romance, this is the book for you. In the end, I'll give this a 3.