A. Renee Hunt's Blog, page 26
April 9, 2018
A Quiet Place
As soon as I caught the trailer, while attending another movie preview, I knew I was going to see A Quiet Place. Whether alone or with my husband- I needed to see it. I caught it and fell in love! But it carries a strong similarity with a book I'm currently reading. #element-70fe65ac-e166-4299-ac31-eef788794afb .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The movie is set in 2020. The world has fallen and there aren't many survivors. The world has succumbed to creatures that attack what they hear. Like large bat-like creatures, they run and fly through the air to destroy their prey. But how did they arrive? How are there so many? Where did they come from and are they really invincible?A man and his family are survivors. Walking along sound proof paths, using items that make no noise and using well-practiced sign language, for more than one reason, they endure quietly You could even say they're slightly happy, but no. They aren't, Having to always be on watch for danger and careful to always, EVER quiet, they reside on a farm with plenty of contingency plans. Is it enough for them to live carefree? Not in the least.
And how do you defeat an enemy who appears to be unbeatable?
A Quiet Place is incredible! From the very beginning to end, I found myself thinking- looking at small things. Like the newspaper articles, the news reports on screen and even the calendar beside Evelyn (the wife) as she prepares to deliver her baby. I found myself watching for particulars that explained things- sorta like Easter egg hunting.
I loved this movie. It was carefully played out as a classic horror movie. There wasn't a great showing of the monsters before the story got deep, allowing the character interaction to carry the movie along. It worked because I found myself reading eyes, facial expressions and trying to predict the next move. I don't recall exactly, but the soundtrack was heavy and intense too, without being too distracting. It was perfect, but I do have a concern...
A Quiet Place carries a great deal of commonality with a book by Tim Lebbon, called The Silence. It even has a deaf child. It seems like The Silence is a fore-story to A Quiet Place. It provides an origin to the creatures, talks about their flight capability and how they take over... I won't say anymore to prevent SPOILERS, but. if you get the opportunity to read The Silence before seeing A Quiet Place, it may help. If not, see the movie anyway- you're going to love it either way! I'll be posting The Silence review soon- don't miss it! Cheers! A Quiet Place
Directed by John Krasinski
Produced by Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller
Screenplay by Bryanb Woods, Scott Beck and John Krasinski
Story by Bryan Woods and Scott Beck
Starring Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe and Cade Woodward
Hematophages
When I began reading The Hematophages, by Stephen Kozeniewski, I didn’t think it would be a successful read. I figured it would take me two to three weeks and I’d end up writing a review that made me come off callous and disinterested. Thankfully, the story turned into a bloodbath of sorts, held my interest and provided an ending that could have been a little more, but satisfying nonetheless.. #element-603b6d42-bf15-4ef6-9d4b-29459e111062 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The Hematophages shares the tour of the Borgwardt (a salvage ship). The main character, Ambroziak, has won a position with Hestle, a salvage corporation to expeditiously get the job done. The job is to retrieve a derelict ship. A ship that’s been a part of both human and alien legend. The race was to reach the battered wreckage on a plant known for its ocean of blood containing vampirous lamprey-like creatures. Regrettably for the Borgwardt crew, the lamprey weren’t their only adversary.The beginning of this book was the most difficult for me, especially getting to know Ambroziak. She was crude, a drug addict (of sorts), flippant and other various, negative descriptors. As the expert of the ship being salvaged, Ambroziak convinces the director over the mission to open a portion of the ship they were supposed to have left alone. A portion that had been submerged under the bloody water for decades.
So my thoughts on the book: I kid you not, it wasn’t till they reached the skinwrappers that the story got good. The voice of The Hematophages made me feel as if either the author or the character was so full of themselves they trapped me, beneath an info dump. It was excessively, scientifically wordy, raunchy and plain weird! Ambroziak was weird! She’s also why I both liked and didn’t like the book at first.
But the ending was pretty good. It put me in mind of a couple movies, and books without losing originality. The wording was still a bit much, but I couldn’t help but enjoy it. I even bookmarked where the best parts came in, sure to reread them on another day. The book turned into an eye-popping, pogrom of a read!
The Hematophages is one of those books where you have to trudge through some ridiculous situations, verbiage and innuendo. If you survive all that, then you’ve got an audacious slaughterhouse to get through. Read this book! Cheers!
The Hematophages
Written by Stephen Kozeniewski
Published by Sinister Grin Press
326 Pages
Released April 2017
April 4, 2018
The Faewitch
Novel by M. J. Boshers 
One day, you're hanging out with your friends, visiting the mall and oogling over boys, then said boys try to kidnap you, waving sticks that actually throw enough force to knock someone off their fee! That's what happened to Sophie. She's nearly killed, then her life is never, ever the same... #element-df206d14-3240-4f6d-8f8a-e89c127a4daa .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;} 
The Faewitch, by M. J. Boshers is about a girl who discovers she's not human. She's a lot of something else. She also discovers the world is bigger than the one she's always lived - so much bigger, in fact, that she actually crosses over into another realm. A place where fairies, wizards and more are real.
The Faewitch carries a very interesting storyline. It's filled with amazing fantasy and possibilities beyond anything Sophie could have imagined, but I didn't like how it all played out. Everything happened too fast. I don't mean the introduction; that was amazing and meant to be fast. The author didn't allow me to enjoy the character. Instead of coming off as a girl who'd just had her entire world swept from beneath her, I felt she was a disrespectful brat who never knew when to keep her mouth shut! She stood before a king, who just happened to be her grandfather and nearly went off! The penalty for just saying something is death in some parts- but she just fusses, yells and goes off on tangents! I didn't like her at all, so I didn't care for her. Other characters were much better.
I also didn't like the proper feel of the teenaged conversations. No one, no matter who they are speaks THAT proper, unless they're British! Sometimes you need a conjunction, some abbreviation or simple slang! It didn't feel real enough for me.
I can say that I believe Boshers has a future in storytelling. Her ideas of the novel were unique and fun on many instances. I just think this one isn't the one to carry her to fame. I'll be looking for more.
The Faewitch
Written by M. J. Boshers
Published by Amazon Digital Services, May 2017
Teen & Young Adult Fantasy
286-pages
One day, you're hanging out with your friends, visiting the mall and oogling over boys, then said boys try to kidnap you, waving sticks that actually throw enough force to knock someone off their fee! That's what happened to Sophie. She's nearly killed, then her life is never, ever the same... #element-df206d14-3240-4f6d-8f8a-e89c127a4daa .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;} The Faewitch, by M. J. Boshers is about a girl who discovers she's not human. She's a lot of something else. She also discovers the world is bigger than the one she's always lived - so much bigger, in fact, that she actually crosses over into another realm. A place where fairies, wizards and more are real.The Faewitch carries a very interesting storyline. It's filled with amazing fantasy and possibilities beyond anything Sophie could have imagined, but I didn't like how it all played out. Everything happened too fast. I don't mean the introduction; that was amazing and meant to be fast. The author didn't allow me to enjoy the character. Instead of coming off as a girl who'd just had her entire world swept from beneath her, I felt she was a disrespectful brat who never knew when to keep her mouth shut! She stood before a king, who just happened to be her grandfather and nearly went off! The penalty for just saying something is death in some parts- but she just fusses, yells and goes off on tangents! I didn't like her at all, so I didn't care for her. Other characters were much better.
I also didn't like the proper feel of the teenaged conversations. No one, no matter who they are speaks THAT proper, unless they're British! Sometimes you need a conjunction, some abbreviation or simple slang! It didn't feel real enough for me.
I can say that I believe Boshers has a future in storytelling. Her ideas of the novel were unique and fun on many instances. I just think this one isn't the one to carry her to fame. I'll be looking for more.
The Faewitch
Written by M. J. Boshers
Published by Amazon Digital Services, May 2017
Teen & Young Adult Fantasy
286-pages
April 3, 2018
A Plague of Giants
A novel by Kevin Hearne 
When this book hit my doorstep, I was thrilled; it is huge! 620 pages huge! The cover made me want to know more, with its dark and ominous glimpse of the warrior. What I didn't know what that this book would blow me away. Filled with magic, adventure and lots of and lots of fighting, I couldn't stop reading until it was a finished, done deal! Follow me into the review of A Plague of Giants, by
Kevin Hearne
. #element-0706abd2-1818-4550-8bc1-61a0c6e2c03d .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Let me tell you, this book is an epic tale. It's masterfully written, and the characters are so beautifully created it's hard to not be interested in the story. Yet, I found it difficult for me to truly become attached to them.
This is a world under invasion. Clan against clan and plots so tightly woven, you nearly miss them until the strike. I loved how Hearne wrote through the telling of stories from the Bard (master storyteller), and the magic used was fabulous. BUT the entire story is told through stories! This is where I found trouble with the novel.
Remember, this is a very large book, so when you're reading, thinking "I'm gonna find out what happened to What's-Her-Name!", you do. But only by the smallest smidgen. The languages, creatures, people- they all capture your heart and interest, but they're quickly snatched away, to allow the Bard sleep, drink and the sharing of other intricate details for the story. I simply found it too exhausting. I received the ARC, but purchased the audiobook, because of the size. Doing so allowed me to finish the book faster than I'd expected, but even it was over 20-hours long! NO LIE!
Anyway, the story reminds you of other fantastic authors, like Tolkien, because they written with such care and craft. But be prepared to not become emotionally invested. You'll like it, but you can't love it the way you should.
Im off to the next read. Check out Kevin Hearne's A Plague of Giants and his other works!
A Plague of Giants
Kevin Hearne
620-pages
Fantasy, Mythology, Thriller
Random House, October 2017
When this book hit my doorstep, I was thrilled; it is huge! 620 pages huge! The cover made me want to know more, with its dark and ominous glimpse of the warrior. What I didn't know what that this book would blow me away. Filled with magic, adventure and lots of and lots of fighting, I couldn't stop reading until it was a finished, done deal! Follow me into the review of A Plague of Giants, by
Kevin Hearne
. #element-0706abd2-1818-4550-8bc1-61a0c6e2c03d .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Let me tell you, this book is an epic tale. It's masterfully written, and the characters are so beautifully created it's hard to not be interested in the story. Yet, I found it difficult for me to truly become attached to them. This is a world under invasion. Clan against clan and plots so tightly woven, you nearly miss them until the strike. I loved how Hearne wrote through the telling of stories from the Bard (master storyteller), and the magic used was fabulous. BUT the entire story is told through stories! This is where I found trouble with the novel.
Remember, this is a very large book, so when you're reading, thinking "I'm gonna find out what happened to What's-Her-Name!", you do. But only by the smallest smidgen. The languages, creatures, people- they all capture your heart and interest, but they're quickly snatched away, to allow the Bard sleep, drink and the sharing of other intricate details for the story. I simply found it too exhausting. I received the ARC, but purchased the audiobook, because of the size. Doing so allowed me to finish the book faster than I'd expected, but even it was over 20-hours long! NO LIE!
Anyway, the story reminds you of other fantastic authors, like Tolkien, because they written with such care and craft. But be prepared to not become emotionally invested. You'll like it, but you can't love it the way you should.
Im off to the next read. Check out Kevin Hearne's A Plague of Giants and his other works!
A Plague of Giants
Kevin Hearne
620-pages
Fantasy, Mythology, Thriller
Random House, October 2017
Mom and Dad
A Bizarre, Horror Movie Review 
So many movies get lost in the shuffle. Good movies. They release and you don't hear a thing- like this one. Mom and Dad released back in 2017 and I don't even remember hearing about it. I'm on more than a few movie lists, but this one got away. Thankfully, I found it. I watched it and now I own it. Mom and Dad, starring Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair, is one of those movies that will be cult, watched and loved for years to come. It's fresh, original and oh so classy! And I say that with the biggest, cheesiest grin ever! #element-065ce4b3-ac70-48df-8580-c4609a209ffc .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Out of the blue, a sort of virus hits. When it strikes, it doesn't bring on a fever. It doesn't white out your pupils, destroy your joints or induces seepage from your orifices. It makes you want to kill. But no, this is not like the movies where everyone kills everyone. It's an apocalypse of filicidal (that a real word?) proportions!
When a teenager and her little brother are pressed into a corner, they fight back. Even though the ones attacking are their parents. There's no explanation why the world's gone to hell, but it's a downslope of laughs, cringes and "Holy Cow- did that happen!?" It's a fun thriller, with a musical score that is spot on! It's freaking amazing!
But this isn't just one of those horror movies where there are senseless killings. The stories shared, as the killings take place make you actually think about you own life. Especially if you have teenaged children, because who hasn't wanted to just wring the necks of their kids? The movie was well-thought out and I'm actually jealous of the writer and director, Brian Taylor. He was on point with this one, making a ludicrous situation totally realistic. I enjoyed it so much, I purchased it right after viewing. I'd have gone to the show for this one. Seriously!
Mom and Dad is an insane ride that only true horror fans will appreciate. Just remember, it is not a family movie. Cheers! Mom and Dad
Written & Directed by Brian Taylor
Produced by Nate Bolotin, Cassian Elwes
Starred Nicholas Gace, Selma Blair, Anne Winters, Zackary Arthur and Robert T. Cunningham
2017
So many movies get lost in the shuffle. Good movies. They release and you don't hear a thing- like this one. Mom and Dad released back in 2017 and I don't even remember hearing about it. I'm on more than a few movie lists, but this one got away. Thankfully, I found it. I watched it and now I own it. Mom and Dad, starring Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair, is one of those movies that will be cult, watched and loved for years to come. It's fresh, original and oh so classy! And I say that with the biggest, cheesiest grin ever! #element-065ce4b3-ac70-48df-8580-c4609a209ffc .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Out of the blue, a sort of virus hits. When it strikes, it doesn't bring on a fever. It doesn't white out your pupils, destroy your joints or induces seepage from your orifices. It makes you want to kill. But no, this is not like the movies where everyone kills everyone. It's an apocalypse of filicidal (that a real word?) proportions!When a teenager and her little brother are pressed into a corner, they fight back. Even though the ones attacking are their parents. There's no explanation why the world's gone to hell, but it's a downslope of laughs, cringes and "Holy Cow- did that happen!?" It's a fun thriller, with a musical score that is spot on! It's freaking amazing!
But this isn't just one of those horror movies where there are senseless killings. The stories shared, as the killings take place make you actually think about you own life. Especially if you have teenaged children, because who hasn't wanted to just wring the necks of their kids? The movie was well-thought out and I'm actually jealous of the writer and director, Brian Taylor. He was on point with this one, making a ludicrous situation totally realistic. I enjoyed it so much, I purchased it right after viewing. I'd have gone to the show for this one. Seriously!
Mom and Dad is an insane ride that only true horror fans will appreciate. Just remember, it is not a family movie. Cheers! Mom and Dad
Written & Directed by Brian Taylor
Produced by Nate Bolotin, Cassian Elwes
Starred Nicholas Gace, Selma Blair, Anne Winters, Zackary Arthur and Robert T. Cunningham
2017
April 2, 2018
HIM, 2016
An ITV mini-series review 
When you watch a show where a teenager is torn be-tween two families where he fits into neither, It's heart-wrenching. HIM is a show where you get emotionally involved and, to me, needed to be much longer than three episodes.
HIM is a story of discovery. When a teenager with a mystical, possibly hereditary powers, he's afraid of what could possibly happen. Can he grow strong enough to handle it or will he become one of the fallen... like before? He can do things. He shares them as little magic tricks, but they're not- you have to see. But when he uses them during times of emotional upset, control is lost.
#element-47f59e49-36e5-4e1e-9242-0a00408057a2 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The program is enigmatic as you attempt to develop an empathetic feel to the teen's plight. Addressed as Him or He, you never get his name. He's more of an inconvenience to his family and the one who grows to know him and find any form of true love, can't be there for him. It's hard to watch because you want to coddle him.You want to help.
I grew concerned with the flow of episode one, but it gave a great deal of explanation. Episode two was amazing, leading in to three, which ended way too fast. Though you find out how He deals with his issues, you never find out how. You don't get to know such amazing things. The tied up ends didn't tie up.
Thanks to ITV and Britbox, I was able to watch this show in a one day binge, but you can actually watch all three episodes on Youtube.com. Check it out. I promise, if you give episode one a good chance, you'll enjoy it.
Cheers!
HIM, 2016
Written by Paula Milne
Directed by Andy De Emmony
Produced by Chrissy Skinns
Stars Fionn Whitehead, Simona Brown, Katherine Kelly, James Murray and Patrick Robinson
3 episodes
When you watch a show where a teenager is torn be-tween two families where he fits into neither, It's heart-wrenching. HIM is a show where you get emotionally involved and, to me, needed to be much longer than three episodes.HIM is a story of discovery. When a teenager with a mystical, possibly hereditary powers, he's afraid of what could possibly happen. Can he grow strong enough to handle it or will he become one of the fallen... like before? He can do things. He shares them as little magic tricks, but they're not- you have to see. But when he uses them during times of emotional upset, control is lost.
#element-47f59e49-36e5-4e1e-9242-0a00408057a2 .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The program is enigmatic as you attempt to develop an empathetic feel to the teen's plight. Addressed as Him or He, you never get his name. He's more of an inconvenience to his family and the one who grows to know him and find any form of true love, can't be there for him. It's hard to watch because you want to coddle him.You want to help.I grew concerned with the flow of episode one, but it gave a great deal of explanation. Episode two was amazing, leading in to three, which ended way too fast. Though you find out how He deals with his issues, you never find out how. You don't get to know such amazing things. The tied up ends didn't tie up.
Thanks to ITV and Britbox, I was able to watch this show in a one day binge, but you can actually watch all three episodes on Youtube.com. Check it out. I promise, if you give episode one a good chance, you'll enjoy it.
Cheers!
HIM, 2016
Written by Paula Milne
Directed by Andy De Emmony
Produced by Chrissy Skinns
Stars Fionn Whitehead, Simona Brown, Katherine Kelly, James Murray and Patrick Robinson
3 episodes
Planet Dead: Bloodthirsty
eBook review by Sylvester Barzey 
In a book world, filled with varying degrees of the apocalypse, Planet Dead: Bloodthirsty impressed with more than a story of a dead world. It didn't trying to lure you in with gory, ambulatory corpses and extended dialogue either. It sought to give the you a strong leader that wasn't a man. It's been happening a lot- and Planet Dead did not fail.
The story tells of Catherine, a woman looking to reconnect with her family after everything went to heck in a hand basket! It's also about trying to keep connections severed, but for the ones you love- which can be impossible unless you simply have no heart. When an unexpected visitor arrives on her doorstep, literally, she has to decide if she can take on a traveling partner while trying to find her loved ones.
The story was filled with humor, action and zombies! I didn't connect with Catherine as much as I thought I would, but I liked her. A lot! I appreciated her strength, with is always needed during the apocalypse and her wit. She was a woman on a mission, but still found a way to smile through it all. Plus, we need more female, lead heroes, yeah? #element-0804ed8c-ed8a-4054-9bbe-414e904e2d1c .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The story was cool, but Catherine was a bit colder than I'd have liked her to be. Since she was a family woman, I expected a bit more of a motherly approach to her sidekick. A bit more compassion, I guess. Then again, young Sue was an ignorant pain.
There are also a huge amount of errors in the book. They're everywhere, but not so much that they took from the story. I didn't mind them, but if I'm reading a scene and the working is botched, that's a negative stumble for me, because now I have to reread that scene. You know? All in all, the story was fun and I feel it could easily catch on.
So check out Planet Dead: Bloodthirsty. I believe its going to be a series, so get in on it now! I'm off to the next read.
Cheers!
Planet Dead: Bloodthirsty
Sylvester Barzey
200-pages
Horror/Thriller
Amazon Digital Services, August 2017
In a book world, filled with varying degrees of the apocalypse, Planet Dead: Bloodthirsty impressed with more than a story of a dead world. It didn't trying to lure you in with gory, ambulatory corpses and extended dialogue either. It sought to give the you a strong leader that wasn't a man. It's been happening a lot- and Planet Dead did not fail. The story tells of Catherine, a woman looking to reconnect with her family after everything went to heck in a hand basket! It's also about trying to keep connections severed, but for the ones you love- which can be impossible unless you simply have no heart. When an unexpected visitor arrives on her doorstep, literally, she has to decide if she can take on a traveling partner while trying to find her loved ones.
The story was filled with humor, action and zombies! I didn't connect with Catherine as much as I thought I would, but I liked her. A lot! I appreciated her strength, with is always needed during the apocalypse and her wit. She was a woman on a mission, but still found a way to smile through it all. Plus, we need more female, lead heroes, yeah? #element-0804ed8c-ed8a-4054-9bbe-414e904e2d1c .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
The story was cool, but Catherine was a bit colder than I'd have liked her to be. Since she was a family woman, I expected a bit more of a motherly approach to her sidekick. A bit more compassion, I guess. Then again, young Sue was an ignorant pain. There are also a huge amount of errors in the book. They're everywhere, but not so much that they took from the story. I didn't mind them, but if I'm reading a scene and the working is botched, that's a negative stumble for me, because now I have to reread that scene. You know? All in all, the story was fun and I feel it could easily catch on.
So check out Planet Dead: Bloodthirsty. I believe its going to be a series, so get in on it now! I'm off to the next read.
Cheers!
Planet Dead: Bloodthirsty
Sylvester Barzey
200-pages
Horror/Thriller
Amazon Digital Services, August 2017
March 28, 2018
Lullaby Road
A Novel by James Anderson 
Because I have near a year of OTR training and driving, out of Utah, I felt this tory would be right up my alley. I'm not a retired driver; it was just something I wanted to experience. It was fun, but it was tiring after those months. I'd been young and had a plan that didn't come to fruition. I believe this book did though. Today's review is about the novel Lullaby Road by
James Anderson
. #element-87612317-a08e-4505-b745-1c438838029f .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
It took me a while to understand what Lullaby Road was about. The story derives from another book written by Anderson, making the story feel like a series. Thankfully, it's not. The author's previous book, The Never-Open Desert Diner, is a location mentioned in Lullaby Road, so I'm assuming many of the characters crossed over as well, but it is a stand alone read.
Filled with curious personalities, the story tells of a truck driver who's got a fractured past. He's a good man who desires to be alone, with available friends only when he wants them. He enjoys his quiet life, but deep down, he's lonely. He almost feels he deserves the loneliness.
When a gift is left for him, on a wintery day, he's baffled beyond measure. Someone, an associate, has left a child for him to care for. They left a note, but it's vague and mysterious. Add to that, the unexpected babysitting gig of a close friend and the story begins.
Lullaby Road is not a fast-paced story. Anderson took time to build on each interaction, each personality and each flaw. It made the story interesting, but also created a drag for me. I like my suspense much more eventful. Not to say the story isn't good. It's very good, with humor, intrigue and an excellent ending, but the plot was deep. It turned out be bigger than I'd imagined.
If you're interested in the Lullaby Road, check it out. It released January 2018. Grab yourself a copy of the Never-Open Desert Diner as well. Cheers!
Lullaby Road
James Anderson
Crown Publishing, January 2018
320 pages
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Crime/Murder/Kidnapping/Human Trafficking
Because I have near a year of OTR training and driving, out of Utah, I felt this tory would be right up my alley. I'm not a retired driver; it was just something I wanted to experience. It was fun, but it was tiring after those months. I'd been young and had a plan that didn't come to fruition. I believe this book did though. Today's review is about the novel Lullaby Road by
James Anderson
. #element-87612317-a08e-4505-b745-1c438838029f .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
It took me a while to understand what Lullaby Road was about. The story derives from another book written by Anderson, making the story feel like a series. Thankfully, it's not. The author's previous book, The Never-Open Desert Diner, is a location mentioned in Lullaby Road, so I'm assuming many of the characters crossed over as well, but it is a stand alone read.Filled with curious personalities, the story tells of a truck driver who's got a fractured past. He's a good man who desires to be alone, with available friends only when he wants them. He enjoys his quiet life, but deep down, he's lonely. He almost feels he deserves the loneliness.
When a gift is left for him, on a wintery day, he's baffled beyond measure. Someone, an associate, has left a child for him to care for. They left a note, but it's vague and mysterious. Add to that, the unexpected babysitting gig of a close friend and the story begins.
Lullaby Road is not a fast-paced story. Anderson took time to build on each interaction, each personality and each flaw. It made the story interesting, but also created a drag for me. I like my suspense much more eventful. Not to say the story isn't good. It's very good, with humor, intrigue and an excellent ending, but the plot was deep. It turned out be bigger than I'd imagined.
If you're interested in the Lullaby Road, check it out. It released January 2018. Grab yourself a copy of the Never-Open Desert Diner as well. Cheers!
Lullaby Road
James Anderson
Crown Publishing, January 2018
320 pages
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Crime/Murder/Kidnapping/Human Trafficking
Pacific Rim: Uprising
An Action Movie Review 
I love movies like Pacific Rim for one reason. The impossibilities are endless! I grew up on movie like Godzilla and all renditions of, Shogun Warriors, old Kung Fu flicks and more. This movie series fits right in for me. Not only that, it allows me to share the loves of mechs, kaiju and other monsters with my son. Friday, we saw Pacific Rim: Uprising; did we walk away just as happy as when we watched the dreamy Idris Elba and hunky Charlie Hunnam? #element-869500ae-376c-4a4d-b78d-0363fe65e5fa .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Let me just get this outta the way first... (Spoiler Alert!)
Okay, before I talk about how fun and visually amazing this movie is, I have to say this. I must let it go, because it ate at me for the entire freaking movie! How in the world was Jake Pentecost Stacker's son? I don't remember the mention of family before Mako was adopted. There was no son in the movie. And then, Jake and Mako were like, practically the same age, yet she's the older sister. Well, Stacker died while Mako was in the academy so.... yeah- I need some clarification on that one. Can anyone answer that one?
Now I do know that the Pacific Rim story is closely similar to the Japanimation saga Neon Genesis Evangelion. It's not a copy or movie rendition, just close in story. But not. This follow up to the 2013 blockbuster comes back with a new reason for fighting. The story is good and the action is fast-paced, but I figured out what was going to happen! I just had the wrong person as the culprit. Think how pleasantly pleased I was to see I'd fingered the wrong villain! No really, I like being wrong.
Pacific Rim: Uprising was good. Very good. So good, I'll purchase it, as I already own the first one. I just loved the action- especially with the moves of Saber Athena! She rocked the show. The Mark-6 Jaegers were top-notch technology, but after the world felt the Kaiju were no longer a threat, they stopped making them. Then a Chinese corporation took over, thinking drones are the way to go. After that, I can say no more without giving away vital information and I've already said too much!
So PR:Uprising was fun. It's not as big as the first, and I'm sure there will be a third, but if you are into these sort of movies, you're going to love it. Pacific Rim: Uprising
Screenplay by Steven S. DeKnight, T. S. Nowlin, Kira Snyder and Emily Carmichael
Produced by John Boyega, Guillermo del Toro, Thomas Tull, Femi Oguns, Mary Parent and Jon Jashni
Starred John Boyega, Jing Tian, Scott Eastwood, Rino Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Adria Arjona and Burn Gorman
I love movies like Pacific Rim for one reason. The impossibilities are endless! I grew up on movie like Godzilla and all renditions of, Shogun Warriors, old Kung Fu flicks and more. This movie series fits right in for me. Not only that, it allows me to share the loves of mechs, kaiju and other monsters with my son. Friday, we saw Pacific Rim: Uprising; did we walk away just as happy as when we watched the dreamy Idris Elba and hunky Charlie Hunnam? #element-869500ae-376c-4a4d-b78d-0363fe65e5fa .waddons-blog-image.hideImage { display: none;}
Let me just get this outta the way first... (Spoiler Alert!)
Okay, before I talk about how fun and visually amazing this movie is, I have to say this. I must let it go, because it ate at me for the entire freaking movie! How in the world was Jake Pentecost Stacker's son? I don't remember the mention of family before Mako was adopted. There was no son in the movie. And then, Jake and Mako were like, practically the same age, yet she's the older sister. Well, Stacker died while Mako was in the academy so.... yeah- I need some clarification on that one. Can anyone answer that one?Now I do know that the Pacific Rim story is closely similar to the Japanimation saga Neon Genesis Evangelion. It's not a copy or movie rendition, just close in story. But not. This follow up to the 2013 blockbuster comes back with a new reason for fighting. The story is good and the action is fast-paced, but I figured out what was going to happen! I just had the wrong person as the culprit. Think how pleasantly pleased I was to see I'd fingered the wrong villain! No really, I like being wrong.
Pacific Rim: Uprising was good. Very good. So good, I'll purchase it, as I already own the first one. I just loved the action- especially with the moves of Saber Athena! She rocked the show. The Mark-6 Jaegers were top-notch technology, but after the world felt the Kaiju were no longer a threat, they stopped making them. Then a Chinese corporation took over, thinking drones are the way to go. After that, I can say no more without giving away vital information and I've already said too much!So PR:Uprising was fun. It's not as big as the first, and I'm sure there will be a third, but if you are into these sort of movies, you're going to love it. Pacific Rim: Uprising
Screenplay by Steven S. DeKnight, T. S. Nowlin, Kira Snyder and Emily Carmichael
Produced by John Boyega, Guillermo del Toro, Thomas Tull, Femi Oguns, Mary Parent and Jon Jashni
Starred John Boyega, Jing Tian, Scott Eastwood, Rino Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Adria Arjona and Burn Gorman
March 27, 2018
Scabs: The Gemini Exception
Audiobook review, written by Eric A. Shelman 
An apocalypse of a different breed. Literally!
Scabs, by Eric A. Shelman, is about the world going through changes. A bright light, lasting days, hovered over the planet. It cast no shadows and raised gooseflesh across every body caught in it. It's an annoying phenomenon, but the trouble doesn't begin until the lights goes away.
Everyone, around the world begins to develop a skin issue- that I can not go into detail on, but should you become injured, you develop the title of this book. And then it's curtains for you!
Scabs is different. It's intriguing and interesting, but was it enough for me to desire purchasing book 2? Will I want to know the ending... ?
Okay, so with the story partially completed - I say partially because this is book one of a two-book series - I am left wondering if I want to venture into the saga. The story is interesting, due to having ever evolving creatures, but they quickly became practically fantastic in nature! There's really no way to win in such a situation. I don't see that happening, and if the humans do win, I feel the solution they come up with will be angering.
The characters were in one way, realistic and relatable, even without my being a twin. Then they were so freaking stupid, I didn't know whether to like them or not. I just don't know. PLUS, they're unbelievably fortunate. They don't seem to have bad luck, no one dies in their crew...
But I can say, I thought a few pieces were hilarious! Like how one of the heroes of the book uses Cosplay swords to battle the creatures - those swords aren't sharp, so does that mean the bones of the monsters are brittle and easily broken, lending to one of their many talents? AND there's a crack on T-Mobile service. It was fabulous.
All in all, I found regenerative, monstrous beings that come from the things they came from was very original. I was intrigued, but the way it was carried just didn't hold me enough to want book 2 or 3. It's predictability was just too much for me- even when I listened to the epilogue, I was let down. BECAUSE I SAW IT COMING! Maybe I'll check something else out by the author. Till then, I'm off to the next read.
Cheers!
Scabs
Eric A. Shelman
Dolphin Moon Publishing, July 2015
375 Pages
Science Fiction/Alien Invasion/Colonization
An apocalypse of a different breed. Literally!Scabs, by Eric A. Shelman, is about the world going through changes. A bright light, lasting days, hovered over the planet. It cast no shadows and raised gooseflesh across every body caught in it. It's an annoying phenomenon, but the trouble doesn't begin until the lights goes away.
Everyone, around the world begins to develop a skin issue- that I can not go into detail on, but should you become injured, you develop the title of this book. And then it's curtains for you!
Scabs is different. It's intriguing and interesting, but was it enough for me to desire purchasing book 2? Will I want to know the ending... ?
Okay, so with the story partially completed - I say partially because this is book one of a two-book series - I am left wondering if I want to venture into the saga. The story is interesting, due to having ever evolving creatures, but they quickly became practically fantastic in nature! There's really no way to win in such a situation. I don't see that happening, and if the humans do win, I feel the solution they come up with will be angering.
The characters were in one way, realistic and relatable, even without my being a twin. Then they were so freaking stupid, I didn't know whether to like them or not. I just don't know. PLUS, they're unbelievably fortunate. They don't seem to have bad luck, no one dies in their crew...
But I can say, I thought a few pieces were hilarious! Like how one of the heroes of the book uses Cosplay swords to battle the creatures - those swords aren't sharp, so does that mean the bones of the monsters are brittle and easily broken, lending to one of their many talents? AND there's a crack on T-Mobile service. It was fabulous.
All in all, I found regenerative, monstrous beings that come from the things they came from was very original. I was intrigued, but the way it was carried just didn't hold me enough to want book 2 or 3. It's predictability was just too much for me- even when I listened to the epilogue, I was let down. BECAUSE I SAW IT COMING! Maybe I'll check something else out by the author. Till then, I'm off to the next read.
Cheers!
Scabs
Eric A. Shelman
Dolphin Moon Publishing, July 2015
375 Pages
Science Fiction/Alien Invasion/Colonization
