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findingmontauk1
Parts were good. Parts were slow. And I wanted to punch Louisa for 70% of the book. I almost don't think Me Before You needed a sequel...
4 out of 5! it was fun to revisit Mrs W's! full review to come
Kealan Patrick Burke has not let me down once with anything I have read. His stories are so versatile and creepy in different ways. The Tent is no exception. On the surface, The Tent follows a married couple lost in the woods on a hiking trip looking for their son. Their son has been lost and a massive storm is coming through to add to the literal "shitstorm" in which they have found themselves.
Tired and freezing as their search grows longer, the mom and dad come across a big camping tent in the middle of the woods. Should they take refuge in it? Should they be cautious since they just found what looks like a human-sized blob resembling an owl pellet? I guess you have to be there to know how you would actually react. I, for one, would never be there because fuck hiking/camping at night. Most of the time I would never even camp at all. And thanks to this book, I am steadfast in my decision that the only "roughing it" I wanna do is one of those flea-bag, roach motels.
Burke introduces us to a new type of monster, an ancient horror. At first I thought it might get a little hokey, but Burke was quick to correct my thinking and transformed my doubt into sheer terror because of how real it was all becoming.
As with a lot of novellas, I was left wanting more. I wish this could have been longer and there were more "incidents" with the monster/beast and that we just got.... more. But knowing that it is, in fact, a novella up-front makes it work.
Tired and freezing as their search grows longer, the mom and dad come across a big camping tent in the middle of the woods. Should they take refuge in it? Should they be cautious since they just found what looks like a human-sized blob resembling an owl pellet? I guess you have to be there to know how you would actually react. I, for one, would never be there because fuck hiking/camping at night. Most of the time I would never even camp at all. And thanks to this book, I am steadfast in my decision that the only "roughing it" I wanna do is one of those flea-bag, roach motels.
Burke introduces us to a new type of monster, an ancient horror. At first I thought it might get a little hokey, but Burke was quick to correct my thinking and transformed my doubt into sheer terror because of how real it was all becoming.
As with a lot of novellas, I was left wanting more. I wish this could have been longer and there were more "incidents" with the monster/beast and that we just got.... more. But knowing that it is, in fact, a novella up-front makes it work.
A Whole New World is the first installment of books in the Twisted Tales series by Liz Braswell. I grew up as and have remained a pretty big Disney fan, and her books offer a new perspective on some of my favorite stories. A Whole New World is (as the title suggests) based on Aladdin. What if Aladdin never found the lamp and Jafar was the first to summon the genie? What if the story basically starts out with Jafar getting the lamp and using his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in Agrabah and the rest of the world? A rebellion forms as Agrabah prepares in fear for Jafar’s final wish with the genie in attempt to return to freedom. Aladdin becomes a “Han Solo” of the story and Princess Jasmine evolves into a “Leia” of the story and becomes a revolutionary.
So the plot of the story instantly had me intrigued and I already added the rest of the series to my TBR. With this darker twist to our beloved tale, the story of Aladdin suddenly becomes more relevant as an adult because of the real-life similarities and understanding of the consequences of civil war and government takeover.
The first quarter (approximately) of the book is almost identical to the Disney movie most of us have seen. The differences start to occur when Aladdin goes to retrieve the lamp. Part of me wishes that “introduction” would have been shorter and more focus would have been placed upon the twist of the story, but another part felt wonderful to revisit the classic story and be refreshed of what happens. We get a handful of new characters to the story and an army of the undead, too!
There was one death in the book that shocked the heck out of me and I actually gasped and did a little pearl clutching motion. I won’t give anything away, but just know that going into this book you may have some moments where you are pleasantly surprised as well as shockingly saddened.
This book was a 3.5 out of 5 for me. This was a pretty quick and easy book to get through. The story flowed as simply as one might expect. One of the reasons I am deducting a half star or so is because I wanted to learn more about Jafar and get inside his twisted, dark mind. Instead, there was a LOT of information focused on Aladdin and Jasmine, which we could also get from the original movie. Like, does Jafar just like to look menacing while he’s rubbing one out or what?!
That being said, I am looking forward to see if other books in the series DO take that stance and focus more on the villain than the hero/heroine. I am excited to read the next book in the Twisted Tales series, Once Upon A Dream, which is based upon Sleeping Beauty and if she never awoke from her curse.
So the plot of the story instantly had me intrigued and I already added the rest of the series to my TBR. With this darker twist to our beloved tale, the story of Aladdin suddenly becomes more relevant as an adult because of the real-life similarities and understanding of the consequences of civil war and government takeover.
The first quarter (approximately) of the book is almost identical to the Disney movie most of us have seen. The differences start to occur when Aladdin goes to retrieve the lamp. Part of me wishes that “introduction” would have been shorter and more focus would have been placed upon the twist of the story, but another part felt wonderful to revisit the classic story and be refreshed of what happens. We get a handful of new characters to the story and an army of the undead, too!
There was one death in the book that shocked the heck out of me and I actually gasped and did a little pearl clutching motion. I won’t give anything away, but just know that going into this book you may have some moments where you are pleasantly surprised as well as shockingly saddened.
This book was a 3.5 out of 5 for me. This was a pretty quick and easy book to get through. The story flowed as simply as one might expect. One of the reasons I am deducting a half star or so is because I wanted to learn more about Jafar and get inside his twisted, dark mind. Instead, there was a LOT of information focused on Aladdin and Jasmine, which we could also get from the original movie. Like, does Jafar just like to look menacing while he’s rubbing one out or what?!
That being said, I am looking forward to see if other books in the series DO take that stance and focus more on the villain than the hero/heroine. I am excited to read the next book in the Twisted Tales series, Once Upon A Dream, which is based upon Sleeping Beauty and if she never awoke from her curse.
I honestly have no idea where to even begin with my review for The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass. No amount of words will seem to convey how I really feel about it. I went into reading it after months and months away from the ka-tet paired with a LOT of mixed reviews on it. It seems people either loved it fiercely or hated it. But now that I have read it, my question is, “How the hell could anyone hate this or think it’s boring?” How can people not think it’s better than spending half a book on a crazy psychopath train answering riddles? Alas, I loved it and do not care if anyone else doesn’t. It gave me MULTIPLE KA-GASMS and I am not ashamed. My mind will not be changed! The rest of this review may contain spoilers, so if you have not read it and plan to, here is your warning to go ahead and stop! *****SPOILERS BELOW STOP NOW BEWARE*****
To summarize briefly, this book is about Roland and the rest of the ka-tet (Eddie, Susannah, Jake, and Oy) after they have escaped from Blane the Monorail and landed in Topeka, Kansas in the 1980s (the fascinating thing to me here is that it’s the same where and when for The Stand and the Captain Trips pandemic is in full motion here! I have not read The Stand yet but I was definitely able to understand. AND there are mentions of Abagail later on, too!) As night approaches, Roland decides it is time to tell a story. This story is back when he was around fourteen years old and it is all about his long-lost love, the quixotic young woman named Susan Delgado.
Susan. SUSAN SUSAN SUSAN! While they were both basically teenagers and their love was a whirlwind of passion, I totally understand how Roland could fall in love with her so fiercely and quickly. Ka is the wind. She is quoted once as telling Roland, “If anything happens to thee, Roland, I won’t be able to do anything. Except die.” TOTES PASSION. The story starts with her in a precarious situation, where she is to be the gilly of the Mayor (which is basically just saying he’s gonna plant his seed in her so much it will be oozing out of her earholes) and she is living with her unbearable aunt (think of Cinderella and the terrible stepsisters and stepmother combined into one basically), and she is just in a really bad place. Yet she is determined to sass her way out of this and be the person she wants to be and the person she knows her father would want her to be, too. SHE has not forgotten the face of her father! She straight up tells her B of aunt, Cordelia, “Go on. Cut my face open on the other side, if ye like. Will that change how ye sleep tonight with no man to warm the other side of the bed?” Ruthless and SAVAGE! Of course then when her aunt leads a revolt to burn her alive at the stake I basically melted into a catatonic puddle of tears, spit, and despair. Oh, Roland… my heart breaks for you!
Then we get into a lot of Wizard of Oz nostalgia and some good time after they continue their journey once Roland is done telling his story. And that’s about that! I loved how ghastly the witch Rhea of Coos (she makes me think of a hagraven or something) is. I love everything about Maerlyn’s Rainbow and the glass ball. Just a fantastic story with all kinds of magical realism and I NEED MORE. I AM NOT READY TO SAY GOODBYE, ROLAND. KA BE DAMNED, LET ME HAVE MY CLOSURE!
Clearly 5 stars out of 5!!!
To summarize briefly, this book is about Roland and the rest of the ka-tet (Eddie, Susannah, Jake, and Oy) after they have escaped from Blane the Monorail and landed in Topeka, Kansas in the 1980s (the fascinating thing to me here is that it’s the same where and when for The Stand and the Captain Trips pandemic is in full motion here! I have not read The Stand yet but I was definitely able to understand. AND there are mentions of Abagail later on, too!) As night approaches, Roland decides it is time to tell a story. This story is back when he was around fourteen years old and it is all about his long-lost love, the quixotic young woman named Susan Delgado.
Susan. SUSAN SUSAN SUSAN! While they were both basically teenagers and their love was a whirlwind of passion, I totally understand how Roland could fall in love with her so fiercely and quickly. Ka is the wind. She is quoted once as telling Roland, “If anything happens to thee, Roland, I won’t be able to do anything. Except die.” TOTES PASSION. The story starts with her in a precarious situation, where she is to be the gilly of the Mayor (which is basically just saying he’s gonna plant his seed in her so much it will be oozing out of her earholes) and she is living with her unbearable aunt (think of Cinderella and the terrible stepsisters and stepmother combined into one basically), and she is just in a really bad place. Yet she is determined to sass her way out of this and be the person she wants to be and the person she knows her father would want her to be, too. SHE has not forgotten the face of her father! She straight up tells her B of aunt, Cordelia, “Go on. Cut my face open on the other side, if ye like. Will that change how ye sleep tonight with no man to warm the other side of the bed?” Ruthless and SAVAGE! Of course then when her aunt leads a revolt to burn her alive at the stake I basically melted into a catatonic puddle of tears, spit, and despair. Oh, Roland… my heart breaks for you!
Then we get into a lot of Wizard of Oz nostalgia and some good time after they continue their journey once Roland is done telling his story. And that’s about that! I loved how ghastly the witch Rhea of Coos (she makes me think of a hagraven or something) is. I love everything about Maerlyn’s Rainbow and the glass ball. Just a fantastic story with all kinds of magical realism and I NEED MORE. I AM NOT READY TO SAY GOODBYE, ROLAND. KA BE DAMNED, LET ME HAVE MY CLOSURE!
Clearly 5 stars out of 5!!!
3.5 out of 5. I enjoyed the narcissism and pure psychotic nature of Paul. he is like a modern Patrick Bateman in the sense of how twisted his thoughts can be.
Monster Blood is the third installment in R.L. Stine’s coveted Goosebumps series. While it is the first one (chronologically) that I did not absolutely love, I still enjoyed it and do know that there will be sequels involving this dangerous monster blood. I wonder how all of the Monster Blood books hold up as one, over-arching story? I will find out soon enough!
This story follows a young boy named Evan who has to go live with his great aunt Kathryn because his mother is going to Atlanta for a trip (ATL haaaaay!) Who would be excited about something like that? So to make things more entertaining, he goes to the local toy shop and buys a can of monster blood – because ALL kids must purchase something that’s called “monster blood,” right? *rolls eyes*
So basically the monster blood just keeps growing and growing and growing. And while that seems like it should be important (and it might be more of a vital role in the sequels), it is not the underlying threat in this story to me. Strange things are happening with aunt Kathryn and her black cat. We have all the ingredients we need for a suspenseful twist-ending. Well, it didn’t totally surprise me… but I bet it would have had my 8-year-old self all shook up!
Things I did not like: the repetitive nature of Evan always chasing/looking for his dog, the actual monster blood itself (just growing and not really doing much of anything), and how blunt his cooky, great aunt Kathryn is! She straight up comes out of the woodworks asking him if he likes girls. Maam, MAAM! This is some distant family member you haven’t seen in how long? And you are asking him to just come out to you as a tween in the 90s?! You must be trippin’, aunty K!
Monster Blood gets 3.5 out of 5 for me. And I may be super lenient here… part of me wants to give it a 3 in fact. If the monster blood actually did frightening things I think I would give this one a higher rating. But the fact that this book spawned two sequels makes me think this must just be the introduction to the monster blood’s true and terrifying powers… and that we will all be in for a world of hurt as the next books unfold! At least… I HOPE!
This story follows a young boy named Evan who has to go live with his great aunt Kathryn because his mother is going to Atlanta for a trip (ATL haaaaay!) Who would be excited about something like that? So to make things more entertaining, he goes to the local toy shop and buys a can of monster blood – because ALL kids must purchase something that’s called “monster blood,” right? *rolls eyes*
So basically the monster blood just keeps growing and growing and growing. And while that seems like it should be important (and it might be more of a vital role in the sequels), it is not the underlying threat in this story to me. Strange things are happening with aunt Kathryn and her black cat. We have all the ingredients we need for a suspenseful twist-ending. Well, it didn’t totally surprise me… but I bet it would have had my 8-year-old self all shook up!
Things I did not like: the repetitive nature of Evan always chasing/looking for his dog, the actual monster blood itself (just growing and not really doing much of anything), and how blunt his cooky, great aunt Kathryn is! She straight up comes out of the woodworks asking him if he likes girls. Maam, MAAM! This is some distant family member you haven’t seen in how long? And you are asking him to just come out to you as a tween in the 90s?! You must be trippin’, aunty K!
Monster Blood gets 3.5 out of 5 for me. And I may be super lenient here… part of me wants to give it a 3 in fact. If the monster blood actually did frightening things I think I would give this one a higher rating. But the fact that this book spawned two sequels makes me think this must just be the introduction to the monster blood’s true and terrifying powers… and that we will all be in for a world of hurt as the next books unfold! At least… I HOPE!