review

The Book of Boba Fett – Review

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Synopsis: Bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand navigate the underworld when they return to Tatooine to claim Jabba the Hutt’s old turf.

Before I really get started, I feel I should mention that I am not, in any way, a Star Wars fan. I was aware previously of Boba Fett as a character as I have seen all of the Star Wars movies. However, I really don’t have much love of the Star Wars universe as a whole and I never had any intention of watching the Book of Boba Fett.

I am, however, a fan of the show The Mandalorian, so when I went looking for information on season 3 of The Mandalorian and found out that he and Grogu appear in the Book of Boba Fett, I realized I would need to watch it.

Sadly, I had no love of this show at all until The Mandalorian appeared. I didn’t find Boba Fett to be a particularly intriguing character, I felt no connection to him and therefore didn’t care about his journey at all. I liked Fennec Shand from The Mandalorian but when she appeared in this show, I just felt very meh about her as well.

Even the action scenes, which I would normally be really into, were kind of long and drawn out which just made them boring. Who knew action scenes could be boring?

I managed to soldier through until the Mandalorian finally appeared. Then, suddenly, I was actually interested and engaged in the show. Probably because I care about the Mandalorian as a character and his relationship with Grogu. I could have cared less about the stuff with Luke Skywalker though.

I know there are lots of Star Wars fans out there who will disagree with my assessment of this show. I’m sure this show was made more with actual fans in mind, which is completely fine. Fans will love this show and enjoy Boba Fett’s story. I just didn’t. It wasn’t for me. Only the last 3 episodes were of much interest to me. I’m glad I watched this only because it means I won’t be missing anything in season 3 of the Mandalorian.

My rating for the episodes without the Mandalorian: 2 stars, episodes with the Mandalorian: 4 star out of 5.

Whispers of Stone (The Last Gift #2) by Allegra Pescatore – Book Review

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Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

A God is Dead. A Queen is Missing. Secrets are Unraveling.

On trial for the murder of the King, Elenor and Gabriel must become allies if they want to survive. His magic is spiraling out of control, awakening a mystery hidden in the very walls of the palace. She has one month to pass her Water Rite and find a way out of the marriage her parents set up. But things are about to get much more complicated.

Between sadistic family members intent on taking Elenor’s throne, Tirit Mindel breathing down Gabriel’s neck, and a Golden Dragon appearing in the sky above the Mondaer Desert with an ominous warning, more than the Kingdom of Lirin is at stake.

If that weren’t bad enough, time is ticking down for Fedrik and Fay as well. With the desert turning against them and Daemon as a questionable new ally, figuring out how to control Fedrik’s Gift has become a matter of life and death.

Picking up in the fallout of Where Shadows Lie, In Silence Abiding is the long-awaited and non-stop second instalment of The Last Gift. Dive back into the world of Dracona and hold onto your hats. Things are about to get… salty.

What? This book is over? No! It can’t be over! When does the next one come out?

Seriously, though. This book came to an end far too soon for my liking and I now have a major book hang over. I wasn’t ready for it to end just yet and now I have to wait for the next one to be published. *sigh* the life of a book worm can be so difficult.

ok, now, in all seriousness, I would like to thank the author for providing me a free ARC copy of her book and allowing me to be one of the first people to read this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end and I will impatiently await the release of the next volume.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Where Shadows Lie (read my review here) but I think Whispers of Stone has taken the plot to a whole new level. As this is book two, most of the world building is established, as well as the main cast of characters. A few new ones are introduced, of course, but for the most part, we’re sticking with those we already know and love. My biggest dislikes of Where Shadows Lie was Fay – I don’t like her as a character and I really don’t get what Gabriel and Fedrick see in here – and not enough of Gabriel.

Well, Fay is still there, of course, and although I still don’t particularly like her, she has grown on me a bit and I believe she has a part to play in the over all larger plot of the series so I’ll continue to tolerate her. The best part? More Gabriel! I definitely think he is my favorite character overall. He’s the kind of person I would want to be with. I love how he understands the importance of a hug.

There’s so much going on in this novel, I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say that if you love a good fantasy series with interesting characters and political intrigue then you need to read this! If you haven’t read Where Shadows Lie, go pick that up first.

I would like to add that this novel does contain a few things that could be triggers, such as drug use, sexual assault and violence.

My rating for this novel is 4 out of 5 stars.

Thanks for reading!

Urban Fantasy Book Review – Magic Bites – Kate Daniels # 1 by Ilona Andrews

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Magic Bites

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for the magic…

When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way…

Buy Now: Amazon

Reread: August 31, 2020

I just finished rereading this book in anticipation of reading the rest of the series. I’m glad i did.  In the 3 years it’s been since I read it, I seem to have forgotten almost all of it.

On my second time around, I loved it just as much as the first time, and my original review (below) stands. There’s little else I can say about this book that I haven’t said below.

Other than that, I am pumped to keep on with the series.

Original Review: June 14, 2017

Many Urban Fantasy novels begin with a main character who is seemingly ordinary, a college student or waitress or private investigator, etc. Suddenly, this ordinary person is thrown into a situation that changes their whole world, everything they ever believed to be true and they discover they are somehow special and possibly needed to save the world.

This novel isn’t like that.

Kate, our lovely protagonist, has known about magic her entire life. She grew up being taught about magic and the different types of magical creatures that exist. In the world of this novel, magic isn’t a secret. Some might think that the world building in this novel is flawed, that it doesn’t explain how the world works properly. Personally, I liked the way things were presented. The novel is narrated from Kate’s point of view so she already knows how the world works. It would seem out of place if she were suddenly to start explaining things to the reader. Read between the lines (as the saying goes) and the workings of this world aren’t difficult to figure out.

The plot may seem a bit generic at first. Kate’s Guardian and mentor (the last person she considers family) has been murdered and she volunteers to investigate for her own personal sense of justice. Murder and revenge is a common story, but this plot doesn’t unravel the way you might think. During her investigation, she gets tangled up with Necromancers and Shapechangers while also being pursued by a human doctor. Despite the short length of the book, nothing feels rushed and there’s more than enough action to keep a reader satisfied.

Kate is a strong, independent, kick-ass female character. She knows exactly what she’s capable of and, more importantly, what she’s not. Though, that’s not going to stop her from trying. She may not be able to defeat 8 shapechangers at once but that doesn’t she won’t take down as many of them with her as she can. She will kick ass and shoot her mouth off at the same time.

As evidenced by the fact that the series is still ongoing, there is still a lot to learn about Kate and the world she lives in.

Overall, I give Magic Bites 4.5 stars out of 5. I would have given it 5 but some of the overbearing alpha male characters were a little stereotypical.

Have you read Magic Burns? What did you think?

Eragon – Inheritance #1 – Review

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eragonSynopsis: (from Goodreads) One boy. One dragon. A world of adventure.
When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.

Buy Now:Amazon

I’ve thought long and hard about what to say about this book. The problem, you see, is that I saw the movie first, and couldn’t help comparing the book to the movie the entire time I was reading it. Now, I know that no movie based on a book is ever the same as the book but the differences here were quite vast. However, this review is for the book, not the movie. I will try to refrain from comparing the two.

Going into this, I truly expected to like this book, if not love it. After all, I had seen and liked the movie and the movie was based on the book. Logical conclusion: I would like the book. It didn’t quite thrill me as much as I expected it to though. I felt the pacing of the story was too slow. Eragon and Saphira were supposed to be on the run for their lives from the King, but I never felt much of a sense of urgency in their travels. It was often like they were just out traveling, or like Brom was a mentor taking his apprentice for training by wandering the empire and teaching him things as they went along.

That’s not to say that I didn’t like this book. There were things I definitely like. For instance, Saphira is a fun and complex character. Though she is still very young, it’s clear that she must have been at least somewhat aware of her surroundings while still in her egg because she knows things about the past before she hatched and often speaks in a wise-beyond-her-years tone.

The bond between Eragon and Saphira is deep and very touching. It’s clear that they care for each other greatly. As they journey and deal with all the things that come their way, their bond strengthens and they have in each other someone to lean on and grow with.

I can’t adequately describe how I feel about this book. I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t love it either. I suppose in the end, I would say it was okay. 2.5/5 stars.

Inu x Boku SS Volumes 7 & 8

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*** MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ PREVIOUS VOLUMES***

inu x boku 7Summary (from Goodreads): Ririchiyo has decided to make a fresh start, removing the blinders from her eyes and releasing Soushi from his contract. From now on, she has resolved to treat this incarnation of Soushi as his own person and to mourn the loss of the man she loved in a previous life. The change has given Ririchiyo a clear perspective, but Soushi’s heart remains clouded. Playing the part of his former self for Ririchiyo’s sake was an act–what will happen when Soushi’s true feelings come to light…?

Buy Now: Amazon Chapters Barnes & Noble

At the end of volume 6, Ririchiyo chose to release Soushi from the contract that makes him her bodyguard. She wants to see him for who he is currently, but then doesn’t have much of any interaction with him. Distraught, Soushi goes looking for the time capsule that they all buried in their previous lives. What follows is a look into the current Soushi’s past and how he grew up this time and why he loves Ririchiyo now.

This volume contains the usual silliness with a welcome party being thrown for Nobara where Ririchiyo, Carta, Zange, Kagerou and Watanuki dress up in various outfits to Nobar’s taste. Although, she doesn’t really care for Zange or Kagerou’s cross dressing.

Unknown to the rest of the group, Watanuki has made friends with Mikoto Inugami, the genetic throwback who lead the Night Parade and was responsible for nearly all of their deaths. The second act of the story is coming to a close and moving toward the conclusion.

Summary (from Goodreadsinu x boku 8): Mikoto Inugami’s friendship with Watanuki has alerted Zange to the fox’s plot to repeat the Night Parade, which claimed so many supernatural lives over twenty years ago. The residents of Ayakashi Hall rush to confront their enemy, but time is not on their side. Inugami’s plan is not to initiate the Parade in this incarnation-but to revisit the past!

Buy Now: Amazon Chapters Barnes & Noble

After enlisting Zange’s help to find Watanuki’s missing friend, the entire group learns of his friendship with Mikoto Inugami. They rush off to confront him but are already too late. Mikoto has traveled to the past, to 23 years ago when everything went horribly wrong. A brief argument ensues about who will follow into the past to stop him. Finally, Watanuki suggest sending letters to their past-selves into the past.

This volume was quite exciting. There was lots of action and the plot is moving forward like a freight train. What will happen next?

Inu x Boku SS Volumes 3 & 4

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*** MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ PREVIOUS VOLUMES ***

Summainu x boku 3ry (from Goodreads): The residents of Ayakashi Hall decide to make a time capsule and bury it on the grounds, so everyone writes letters to their “future selves” to be included within. As Ririchiyo composes her letter, she reflects on her time with Soushi, realizing how much she has grown with the fox at her side. But when those heartfelt feelings are accidentally delivered not to her future self but to Soushi, Ririchiyo’s budding social skills will be put to the test! Is she ready for a face-to-face confession of her true feelings?!

Buy Now: Amazon Chapters Barnes & Noble

Volume 3 begins with the residents of Ayakashi Hall starting a time capsule. Ririchiyo, trying to be more social, decides to participate, but accidentally mixes up her letter to her future self with one meant for Soushi. Since this letter reveals that Ririchiyo wants “to remain by his side” she immediately freaks out when she learns that he has read it and disappears to hide in a park. Of course, Soushi finds her and the two share a very romantic moment when their feelings for one another are revealed. This was my favorite scene in this series so far. When Ririchiyo comes out of her hiding place and tells Soushi that she loves him, the look on his face is almost heartbreaking. Likely that was the first time he’d ever heard anyone say that to him. The moment they share is lovely, but also funny and a bit awkward as a few kids at the park see them share their first kiss.

The rest of the volume is somewhat silly. Kagerou shows up from time to time, bringing people inappropriate souvenirs from wherever he has been and playing pranks on the residents in the form of signs posted around the building telling them to do this like speaking in a confrontational manner to one another.

This volume isn’t all fun and games though. There are moments when we get a hint of darker things to come.

inu x boku 4Summary: When Ririchiyo returns home for the New Year’s festivities, she is hesitant to admit to her family that her bodyguard is also her boyfriend. Over the past several months, the other supernatural boarders at Ayakashi Hall have become more like a real family to her than any she has ever known. Never have these bonds been more evident than when danger threatens one of her new friends…

Buy Now: Amazon Chapters Barnes & Noble

New Year’s has arrived, the yearly cleaning has been completed and Ririchiyo is visiting her family, along with Soushi, when she is summoned by Shimon Satorigahara, a sort of elder for the community of supernatural throwbacks. While still away from Maison de Ayakashi, Ririchiyo is notified that Carta has been attached by another supernatural creature. After being in a coma for several months, Carta suddenly wakes up and wanders off to a park, where she transforms and can’t change back. A battle soon begins with Mikoto Inugami and his Night Parade!

The ending of this volume was very confusing. It seems to have come full circle and thus ended the prologue of the story, or so says the end of the volume.

Well, onto volume 5 to figure out what is going on.