Blog Tour: A Curse of Ash and Iron

Posted by cat2002116 on June 5, 2015
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Ash & Iron eBook 1000

A Curse of Iron and Ash, by Christine Norris

Genre: historical-fantasy romance

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release­­: May 21, 2015

Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson

Find Online: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

Description:

Benjamin Grimm knows the theater is much like real life. In 1876 Philadelphia, people play their parts, hiding behind the illusion of their lives, and never revealing their secrets.

When he reunites with his childhood friend Eleanor Banneker, he is delighted. His delight turns to dismay when he discovers she has been under a spell for the past 7 years, being forced to live as a servant in her own home, and he realizes how sinister some secrets can be. She asks for his help, and he can’t refuse. Even if he doesn’t believe in ‘real’ magic, he can’t abandon her.

Ellie has spent the long years since her mother’s death under the watchful eye and unforgiving eye of her stepmother. Bewitched and hidden in plain sight, it seems no one can help Ellie escape. Not even her own father, who is under a spell of his own. When she sees Ben one evening, it seems he is immune to the magic that binds her, and her hope is rekindled along with her friendship.

But time is running short. If they do not find a way to break the spell before midnight on New Year’s Eve, then both Ellie and her father will be bound forever.

 

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I found this book to be a really good take on the story of Cinderella. It was good to see the friendship between Ben and Ellie at the start of the book and I couldn’t help feeling a lot of sympathy for Ellie. I was glad that Ben had his mother, and that she cared about him as well.

There were times in the book that I didn’t especially like Ben, I have to say. Despite his promise to help Ellie, I felt that he neglected even thinking about her problems for a while, even when he didn’t think she’d lost her mind. He did come through for her, though, and I felt that they had a real relationship.

I was glad to see that this book didn’t follow all of the cliches of the Cinderella story. For instance, Rebecca (Ellie’s stepsister) was actually a really nice person. Olivia… was pretty far from that.

It was interesting that there was a cat, since a cat does feature in the Cinderalla story. No mice, though, even if they were referenced.

It was fairly cool to learn a bit more about the kind of illusionary magic that Ben was interested in. I would have liked to know if his family was actually related to the Grimm brothers, but I suppose it didn’t really matter in this.

I really felt for Ellie through this book. The situation she was in came across as a really awful one. And the scenes of her trying to talk to her father were heartbreaking.

I felt that the author showed the time period this book was set in really well. I felt like a lot of research was put into this book and the way the characters interacted was realistic for that time period. I did think that some of the romance moved a bit too fast, though.

I would definitely be interested in reading more books by this author in the future, especially if there’s a sequel to this book, where I can see how the characters are getting on. There were some things I would have really liked to see a bit more of, especially in regards to one of the romances.

 

About The Author

Christine Norris

Christine Norris is the author of several speculative fiction works for children and adults. She is extremely overeducated, having a B.S. Temple University (Kinesiology), a B.A. from UMUC (English), AND a Masters in Library and Information Science from Southern Connecticut State. All of which means she loves to be in the library, which is her secret day job (whoops…).

She is married with one son, two rescued cats, a rescued Jack Russell, and a rescued palomino rabbit. There’s a lot of rescuing. She also has a complete weakness for Doctor Who, Sherlock, and other British television shows, as well as an addiction to movies, re-told fairy tales, and police procedural shows. She believes in fairies and lives in New Jersey.

Find Christine Norris Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

About Curiosity Quills Press

Curiosity Quills Press (CQ) is a small hybrid publishing company specializing in genre fiction of the highest quality. With 150+ titles in our catalog already and approximately 6 new books coming out each month, there’s never a dull moment at CQ. We work with major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible to ensure that you, the reader, can find whatever you are looking for at your convenience.

Founded in 2011 by Eugene Teplitsky and Lisa Gus, CQ was initially a resource portal for writing and publishing, created in an effort to help writers, like themselves, survive the publishing industry. After rapid success, CQ morphed into publishing press that over time has solidified its share in the market. Now we spend our days searching for the next great escape!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Tron: Legacy

Posted by cat2002116 on June 4, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Tron Legacy

(This review may contain spoilers).

I don’t really know how long ago I originally watched the first Tron film, but I’m reasonably sure it was on television. It became one of my favourite films, so when I discovered a sequel was being made, I immediately jumped at the chance to watch it.

I was disappointed that the character of Tron was shown very little in this movie, but I liked the fact that Kevin’s son, Sam, was one of the main characters. I felt for him when he was a little boy and his father didn’t come home and it was good to see his relationship with Alan, in particular, in the material world.

I thought this film was good in that it acknowledged how much time had passed between the two movies. But I also felt that, although the digital world itself was much more vamped-up, it managed to stay true to the digital world seen in the original.

I didn’t really like Kevin all that much in this movie, I have to say. He came across as much more passive than in the first one and while I could understand why, I felt that he hadn’t really matured. He still spoke like he was much younger than he was and I felt that he didn’t really treat Sam as a son, barring their first scene together after being reunited.

I did like Quorra. I felt the actress who played her did a good job of demonstrating her capability when it came to the digital world and her naivety when it came to learning about the world Sam came from. I would have liked to see a bit more depth to her character, but I enjoyed seeing the way she and Sam bonded.

There were some really intense moments in this movie and I did have a little bit of sympathy for Clu… though not a whole lot. It was interesting to see the way the programs fought each other, but I couldn’t help wondering how it would all look for someone out in the material world.

Although the film did reach a somewhat satisfying conclusion, I felt I would have liked to see more. I think it would be good to see a sequel to this… just not waiting another twenty-odd years for said sequel.

I did thoroughly enjoy watching this movie and the special effects were really quite cool. It made me want to seek out my copy of Tron and watch that, too.

Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes: Doctor Strange

Posted by cat2002116 on June 4, 2015
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Marvel's Mightiest Heroes Doctor Strange

(This review may contain spoilers).

When I first saw Doctor Strange in one of the previous graphic novels, I’d assumed he was incredibly old. It was a bit strange to see that he wasn’t as old as all that.

Once again, it was interesting to see a character I’d already seen something of in the other graphic novels. I thought it was an interesting concept to have a hero who was entirely a magician… though he did seem capable when it came to having to physically fight.

It was really good to get looks at the other dimensions. I was a bit confused by Doctor Strange ‘shielding’ himself when he was entering the dark dimension, though. I found myself particularly intrigued by Umar’s story… and her relationship with Clea. I did feel for Clea, considering her father didn’t seem to like her very much.

I didn’t see a huge difference in the artwork in the two comics, but I still enjoyed reading both of the sets. I was intrigued by Dane’s storyline. It was an interesting concept to see him affected by the evil contained within the sword he wielded as the Knight. I did also notice a connection between Strange and Victoria… but that didn’t really seem to have anything come of it in this series of comics.

I noticed that the first comic in this graphic novel was a very short one, but it did do a good job of showing Strange and introducing his abilities. I also liked seeing some of the other characters that he had more than a passing connection with.

I liked seeing the hints of Clea and Strange’s relationship and it was interesting to see how the Outcasts were treated in the Dark Dimension. I also found it interesting to read the final comic in this collection… though it was a bit disappointing to see that the new character introduced (and I’m not sure who or what he was supposed to be) wasn’t explored in this. I might read some of the other comics involving Doctor Strange, since I think his storyline was one of the more interesting ones. I’m all for the characters who start off as arrogant jerks but reveal a heroic side to them. *Cough*Tony Stark*Cough*.

Blog Tour: Shadows of Asphodel

Posted by cat2002116 on June 3, 2015
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Shadows of Asphodel

Shadows of Asphodel, by Karen Kincy

Genre: Historical-fantasy romance

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release­­: May 11, 2015

Cover Artist: DamonZa

Find Online: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

Description:

She never asked for the undying loyalty of a necromancer.

  1. Austria-Hungary. Ardis knows better than to save a man on the battlefield. Even if he manages to be a charming bastard while bleeding out in the snow. She hasn’t survived this long as a mercenary without some common sense.

When she rescues Wendel, it isn’t because he’s devilishly handsome, but because he’s a necromancer. His touch can revive the dead, and Ardis worries he will return from the grave to hunt her down. Besides, a necromancer can be useful in this world on the brink of war.

A gentleman of questionable morals, Wendel drops to one knee and pledges his undying loyalty to Ardis. She resists falling for him, no matter how hot the tension smolders between them. Especially when she discovers Wendel’s scars run much deeper than his skin, and it might be too late to truly save him from himself.

My Review

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I don’t read too many historical-themed books with elements of the paranormal, so this was a fairly good change of pace. It was interesting to see that magic was widely accepted, at least in some parts of the world… and also to see how people viewed those who could use magic; including the scarier forms, such as necromancy.

I did find Ardis to be a really interesting character, though I was a little confused about what she’d said about her father. I’d assumed he’d been killed, but then it turned out Ardis knew that he lived… and I don’t know if I misunderstood, or if that was something left in there accidentally.

I had some mixed feelings about Wendel in this book, I have to say. Although I found his powers quite cool to read about, there were various times when he came across as darker than even his history suggested… particularly towards the end.

I found Konstantin to be an interesting character and one I would have liked to learn a bit more about. I was hoping the romance would run a slightly different route… and it was disappointing to see that it followed the usual formulae. Even though I felt the chemistry between Wendel and Ardis was real, I did think it moved a bit fast between them.

I found the concept about Ardis’ sword to be quite intriguing, but was a bit disappointed that she didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about it and the enchantment placed on the weapon.

I would have liked to know a bit more about the different kinds of magic there were, though the ones that were explored sounded really interesting. I was confused about the concept of the Lazarus Project and what exactly it was supposed to be.

I’d probably read the sequel to this book at some point in the future. I’d like to see more of Konstantin in particular, but it would also be good to learn more about Ardis’ own past… and see how things go with her and Wendel a little way down the road.

 

About The Author

Karen Kincy

Karen Kincy (Kirkland, Washington) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College.

Find Karen Kincy Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

About Curiosity Quills Press

Curiosity Quills Press (CQ) is a small hybrid publishing company specializing in genre fiction of the highest quality. With 150+ titles in our catalog already and approximately 6 new books coming out each month, there’s never a dull moment at CQ. We work with major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible to ensure that you, the reader, can find whatever you are looking for at your convenience.

Founded in 2011 by Eugene Teplitsky and Lisa Gus, CQ was initially a resource portal for writing and publishing, created in an effort to help writers, like themselves, survive the publishing industry. After rapid success, CQ morphed into publishing press that over time has solidified its share in the market. Now we spend our days searching for the next great escape!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Immortals

Posted by cat2002116 on June 3, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Immortals

(This review may contain spoilers).

I’ve probably mentioned before how much I like ancient mythology. The Greek myths were the original ones I enjoyed. I always read every book I could get my hands on which featured those myths. So when Immortals originally came out, I was naturally very excited.

Although this movie does use many of the characters from mythology, I couldn’t say this was accurate to the myths at all. I did like Zeus’ character in this and the close relationship he had with his daughter, but none of the other relationships between the gods are explored and I felt there were a lot of areas they could have been.

I felt the actor who played Theseus worked really well. I could really believe in him and he worked really well as a hero. It was interesting to see that Zeus refused to interfere in the affairs of mortals… a stark contrast to his mythological counterpart, who was a faithless husband who had affairs with a large number of mortal women.

Although there was quite a bit of fantasy in this movie, it was a really violent one, with scenes of torture both implied and outright shown. It definitely isn’t good viewing for people who don’t like torture-fests. While I do appreciate that some attempt was made to give Hyperion more of a background and round his character out, he was a pretty awful person even so.

Although the concept of the virgin Oracle was an interesting one, it did seem (to me) that one vision in particular wouldn’t have really worked… since I’m fairly certain there was no way it could have come about.

There were quite a few nameless characters who I found difficult to care about when they were killed. I did like Stavros as a character. His banter was amusing at times and I felt he was one of the good ones. I felt that many of the other characters didn’t get the screen time they could have, which was a shame, since they came across as kind of one-dimensional at times.

I do think Zeus was a hard character in this. I like the actor who played him, but one scene made me dislike his character a bit more. I did think that the fight scenes towards the end were pretty cool, though.

It’s a shame that no sequel exists for this movie. Personally, I would very much like to see the aftermath of the events in this.

San Andreas

Posted by cat2002116 on June 3, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

San Andreas

(This review may contain spoilers).

This isn’t the first disaster-type movie I’ve seen, but I found it a really intense viewing. I was sitting on the edge of my seat for a lot of the film, drawn in very quickly.

Almost from the start, it was obvious how intense this movie was going to be. It was good to see something of the work that Ray did and what went into being part of a rescue team. I really like Dwayne Johnson as an actor and I thought he worked really well in the role of Ray.

It was also good to see some of the family situation that Ray was in. I liked Emma and Blake and I was intrigued by the obvious tragedy their family had suffered. It was also really good to see that Emma and Blake were really strong characters in their own rights.

Many of the scenes with the earthquakes in during this movie made me tense up and hope for the safety of the characters. I didn’t think this film let up a great deal. It was good, but the action was fast and hard-hitting… with very few moments to diffuse the tension. Though I have to say that there were a few amusing moments in this movie, particularly with Ben and Ollie.

Ollie was probably my favourite character in this movie, even though I did like most of them. I enjoyed seeing the real brotherly affection between him and Ben and how Ben continued to treat him as a priority. Too many romances show family members being treated as much less important than the love interest and it was good to see that didn’t happen here… though they did pick the wrong times to share a kiss.

One of the things I thought was really good in this was that the movie showed people helping each other. There was one particular scene right at the beginning that I found really emotional.

I also thought it was good to see the effects of the earthquakes in another part of the world. I recognised quite a few actors in this movie and I liked them in their roles… even the characters I didn’t particularly like. This is a film I would probably enjoy watching again, especially because I do like the family style relationships more than romance.

Blog Tour: The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly

Posted by cat2002116 on June 2, 2015
Posted in: Blog Tour, Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment
MinnowBly2

9780803740709_b45b4The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly

by Stephanie Oakes

Publisher: Dial/Penguin

Release Date: June 9th 2015

Genre: Young Adult, Retelling, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Thriller

Rate: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
With a harrowing poetic voice, this contemporary page-turner is perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, Julie Berry’s All The Truth That’s in Me, and the works of Ellen Hopkins.
The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.
And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.
Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it’s clear that Minnow knows something—but she’s not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.
The Sacred Lies of Minnow By is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in oneself. 

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

Although this isn’t the kind of book I would normally choose to buy, when I received the invite to the blog tour, I was immediately intrigued by the storyline. Sadly, it’s a situation that I could see happening in reality… that probably has happened in reality.

I really felt for Minnow through the course of this book. It was good to get glimpses of what her past had been like, growing up in the cult. Some of the details of the way the people there were treated were pretty awful… and it was horrible to see how everyone listened to the Prophet; including people with children who should have protected them.

The contrasts to life in the Community compared to life in the prison were really interesting to read about. Minnow was treated a bit better in the prison… at the same time, it seemed like the officers in charge hadn’t really been given the right information on how to handle Minnow, particularly not when it came to the counsellor she was given… although it was good to see the almost-friendship that formed between them, despite the fact that both of them were using each other, in a way.

Despite some drawbacks when it came to her education, I felt that Minnow came across as a very capable young woman. Even though she was indoctrinated into the cult at an early age, it was interesting to see the way she formed her own opinions and realised it was wrong… a gradual realisation, rather than everything happening at once.

I found Angel, in particular, to be a really intriguing character. Although there were times she came across as vicious and dangerous, I felt that the hints of her past gave her reasons for her actions in the present… even if they weren’t exactly excuses. I did find my sense of justice offended while reading this book, though. I’m sure it happens in reality, but it did make me angry to see people who were actually victims locked up and given very little help with what they’d gone through. Angel put it very well with one of her comments.

It was also good to see that the author showed Minnow’s difficulties with her hands having been cut off. Although this book didn’t properly end, I felt it did come to a satisfactory conclusion… but I would like to see more of Minnow and how she continues to cope, perhaps in a sequel to this book.

9780803740709_b45b4
photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg
Follow the The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly Blog Tour and don’t miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.
followthetour (1)
Stephanie Oakes is a teacher and YA author from Washington State. Her debut novel, THE SACRED LIES OF MINNOW BLY (Dial/Penguin, June 9, 2015), about a girl who escapes from a religious commune only to find herself at the center of a murder investigation, is based on the Grimm fairy tale, “The Handless Maiden.”
THE ARSONIST, her second YA mystery through Dial/Penguin, is scheduled for publication in fall 2016.
US ONLY
 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ffbc

 

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Posted by cat2002116 on June 2, 2015
Posted in: Movies, Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Pirates of the Carribean On Stranger Tides

(This review may contain spoilers).

I have seen… I think all of the current Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I saw this one at the cinema and, like many other movies I saw when they first came out, liked it so much, I bought it on DVD.

Although Captain Jack Sparrow is amusing and a very likable character, I’m not sure he works as the main character in a movie. Some of the lines he came out with were very amusing, but he’s not exactly hero material… even if I did feel he did some good in this movie.

The Pirates of the Caribbean movies are an interesting mix of historical and fantasy and this movie was no exception. It was good to see Jack and Barbossa… I like the almost friendly rivalry they have between them. Even though Barbossa is technically one of the bad guys, he grew on me during the previous movies and it was cool to see him and Jack having the opportunity to work together in this.

The relationship between Blackbeard and Angelica was a fairly interesting one. I liked the grey areas of Angelica’s character and it would have been good to see a bit more of her past explored.

I think my favourite character in this was probably the missionary, Philip. Even though his character wasn’t explored as fully as it could have been, it was good to see that he stuck to his beliefs. I also found the romance between him and Syrena to be one of the better side plots in this movie. There were some very sweet moments in this.

I recognised quite a few of the actors in this movie, as well as the running jokes from the previous movies in this franchise. Captain Jack Sparrow is amusing… and I felt like he did the right thing towards the end of this movie.

The music soundtrack was very familiar in this and it was cool to see the fight scenes, as well as the effects with the mermaids, among other things. This is definitely a film I don’t mind seeing again.

Jupiter’s Legacy

Posted by cat2002116 on June 2, 2015
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Jupiter's Legacy

(I received a free copy of this book, through NetGalley, in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

Ideally, I’d give this comic book 3.5 stars. It doesn’t quite hit the four-star mark – mainly because I wasn’t that keen on the characters for most of the chapters. I did like seeing that Chloe had grown up by the end of volume one, though. It was interesting to see how the responsibility she had matured her quite a bit as a character.

I felt that only a few of the characters were really explored with any depth… and I struggled to see how the rivalry between George and Sheldon had changed so much, considering their relationship in the past. I couldn’t help but feel for Sheldon later on, though.

I was a bit unclear as to what kind of powers the children inherited from their parents… and out of the children, only Chloe and Brandon seemed to be properly developed.

It was interesting to see how the superheroes dealt with their family matters and that they were still normal families, despite having powers. I would have liked to see more of the relationships, because when I was reading this, I didn’t really feel much in the way of emotions; and I should probably have been affected by at least some of the things that happened in this.

I did find George to be a really creepy character. Even early on in the book, the way he spoke to people he used his powers on made my skin crawl. To be honest, I found it hard to see them as the ‘good guys’ even from the start. And Brandon just annoyed me more and more.

The artwork was quite good in this, though Chloe looked almost… anime at times. She was probably the only character I could really understand and get behind. Her husband was an intriguing character, but I didn’t really know enough about him… and I assumed he was a proper bad guy when he transported someone to shark-infested waters.

I’m not sure I’d read the next volumes. I would like to see a redemption-style storyline, but it doesn’t seem likely to happen. At the same time, this volume did end on a bit of a hopeful note… and if redemption comes in later, I’d be interested in seeing more of the storyline.

Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes: Mockingbird

Posted by cat2002116 on June 2, 2015
Posted in: Books, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Marvel's Mightiest Heroes Mockingbird

(This review may contain spoilers).

I saw a version of Bobbi Morse (Mockingbird) in Agents of SHIELD… though only a brief scene, since I haven’t actually seen season two; I just managed to watch a video clip.

I think that the characters who don’t have any special powers are pretty interesting in the Marvel universe. Bobbi was clearly highly trained and a strong female character. In the last four comics, she had obviously been damaged psychologically by what had happened to her after she’d been taken.

There seems to be a lot of instances of characters, heroes mainly but also some villains, being killed and then being resurrected in the Marvel universe. I felt the explanations in this set of comics made sense as to how Bobbi had come back, though.

I liked seeing the interactions between Clint and Bobbi… and it was also pretty cool to see a different version of Clint in the second set of comics. As always, I could see the obvious differences in the artwork styles from the first comic, which appeared much more family friendly, to the next four… which seemed more digital, not to mention clearly aimed at adults.

It was interesting to see the new version of Captain America and how different he clearly was to Steve. I also liked seeing Clint’s interactions with him… how he clearly didn’t respect him in the same way he did Steve. Even if he did originally call the new Cap for help, I got the feeling that was just because he felt like he had to.

It was good to see Bobbi team up with Spider-Man in the first comic. I was a bit confused as to why she came across as a bad guy to begin with… but as the storyline went on, it became clearer as to what was going on with her.

I liked the fact that there were flashbacks in the second set of comics, but it did get a bit confusing at first when I found myself viewing a scene from the past. I would have liked to know a bit more about the Skrulls, since this is the second comic book that features them.

This comic book has triggered my interest in seeing more of Bobbi’s adventures and how she deals with the emotional scars she carries. I’d also like to see more of the second Cap and learn more about him.