Tome Thursday: Cold War, pt 2

 

Hello everyone!

 

And here we are as February draws to a close, with the second half of a review that we began last week.

 

Have you enjoyed the book? I hope you have!

 

See here's the thing, as far as I can understand it: it was originally published as a duology but then edited and re-published as one single book written in two parts, which actually works in its favour, come to think of it.

 

Ms Andrews has released an actual duology earlier this year, but the problem there was that the second book certainly suffered from the fact that it was second.

 

It would have maybe been better if it had also been done like this one in the past.

 

But I don't claim to be an expert and certainly not on publishing methods, nor writing! In any event, I enjoy Ms Andrews' writing regardless, and so here we are.

 

Let's head back into the world of figure skating for another week, shall we?

 

Cold War is up, for a second time - and has nothing whatsoever to do with real life situations right now.

 

Talkie Tuesday: Eternals

 

"When you love something, you protect it."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Well, we made it.

 

Four weeks and four Marvel movies later, we're now all caught up until No Way Home becomes readily available for streaming, since I'm still not comfortable just going to the cinema to see it in these times.

 

And man, it was a bumpy, bumpy ride!

 

It started off weak and then climbed until it peaked last week, so I was fully expecting this week's to knock it out of the park, except ... it didn't.

 

Not even a little bit.

 

It's disappointing because one would THINK that after so many years of making these movies Marvel would have the formula for success down pat, and yet it looks like that's not even remotely the case as they continue further into Phase Four.

 

They're doing okay with the TV shows, but the movies are often struggling.

 

Let's dive right into Eternals, shall we?

 

Saturday Snippet: The Rings of Power TEASER TRAILER

 

YATATATAAAAAAAAA 😍

 

xx

*video not mine

Tome Thursday: Cold War, pt 1

 

Hello everyone!

 

Now I'm not reviewing this particular book - or part one of the book - because of anything that's happened at this year's Winter Olympics, because I haven't really been paying attention to the games.

 

Well, at least to the ice skating portion of it. I did watch the ski jumping, or some of it.

 

But for the rest I really haven't even lost sleep over what has or has not gone down, so don't mistake this for anything other but me enjoying a good book.

 

See it's come to my attention that, despite the fact I say I've read most of Keira Andrews' published works, I actually haven't.

 

There's a BUNCH of them I still need to either pick up or finish, and it's just so much fun to explore, I'll be honest with you guys! Because Ms Andrews tends to write some of the best contemporary fiction I've had the privilege to read.

 

Tonight's book, or the first part of it really, is no exception, so why don't we stop dropping hints and whatnot and simply get right into it?

 

It's titled Cold War, and you'll figure out the reasons VERY quickly!

 

Talkie Tuesday: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

 

"A blood debt has to be paid by blood." 

Hello everyone!

Week three in our Marvel catch-up series and we're still going strong, trying to finish off the month with HOPEFULLY a top note rather than a low one!

And thus far, it hasn't disappointed me yet.

After a rough start with Far From Home, Black Widow helped us rise out of the abyss, but it's tonight's movie that REALLY gets the ball rolling, and us soaring! Rhyme unintended, but I mean, we work with what we've got here.

I'll admit I went into the movie more-or-less blind, as I've only seen the teaser trailer way back when, then nothing whatsoever, and ended up watching the movie late as well.

It paid off, though.

It SO paid off.

Without further ado, let's open the scroll of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, shall we?

Saturday Snippet: Obi-Wan Kenobi DATE ANNOUNCEMENT!

 

We have liftoff, people!

 

xx

*image not mine

Tome Thursday: Cards on the Table

 

Hello everyone!

 

It's been a while since I touched on anything Agatha Christie-related on this blog, so I figured, why not go back to what are essentially my roots, for a spell?

 

I've been doing all kinds of fantasy and sci-fi jumping about, but haven't done a good ole murder mystery in what feels like forever.

 

So here we go!

 

I think I actually have Death on the Nile on here somewhere, book version, though I may do a more updated review in the style I use nowadays when writing them. It seems fair given that the movie is releasing soon enough - not that I'm expecting much, but it should at least be SOMEWHAT entertaining, maybe.

 

We'll have to wait and see.

 

In the meantime, we delve into another rather fabulous case of Hercule Poirot - and one in which ALL FOUR SUSPECTS could have done it!

 

But the question is, which one DID? Cards on the Table answers that, and more.

 

Talkie Tuesday: Black Widow

 

"Your pain only makes you stronger." 

Hello everyone!

Week two of our Marvel catch-up is here and we're back on the grind, but this time it's at least with a character that I've known and loved since pretty much the beginning of MCU.

Listen, I love me Peter Parker, too, but ... maybe not this particular one.

Black Widow, however, was one of those I always wanted more information about.

She was our window into SHIELD besides Coulson, and she was a total badass who managed to keep up with gods and super-soldiers just by being spectacularly trained, skilled and disciplined.

And yes, it helps that Scarlett Johansson pretty much NAILED the role once she was cast.

But having said all that - I'll say this movie suffers. A lot. And it suffers mainly from the incredibly ridiculous decision from the higher-ups, who didn't include this one in the chronological lineup of the Infinity Saga.

Before I get too far into that, though, let's just figure out what's what, shall we? Black Widow, enter, stage right!

Saturday Snippet: The Lord of the Rings POSTERS!

 

I can't wait for September!

(Pssst ... click on the image to be taken to the hi-res versions.)

 

xx

*image not mine

Tome Thursday: The Dawn of Peace

 

Hello everyone!

 

I return with another vampire-themed book, or well, a connected one at least.

 

BookSirens is really good for feeding my obsession with these every once in a while, and then it all depends on my mood I suppose.

 

But I will admit that this prequel is a quick and easy read altogether, which definitely works in its favour.

 

I stumbled across Rebecca Hefner by complete accident when I picked up one of the ARCs she listed on the site, and then breezed through her other series without pausing to take a beat.

 

Her vampire one hasn't really laid such a claim on my heart and my attention as the first, but when there was a listing for a prequel I thought to myself, well, everyone and everything deserves a second chance, right?

 

So I went and requested to be added to the team.

 

It totally paid off.

 

Without further ado, let's just hop right into it, shall we? The Dawn of Peace, which is a very uplifting title, is up next!

 

Talkie Tuesday: Spider-Man Far From Home

 

"Be ready for anything."

 

Hello everyone!

 

As stated and announced in my weekend post, this month and this Tuesday especially kick off the four week long Marvel catch-up, because ... well, because I haven't been on the ball with the MCU since Endgame.

 

I figured that I could at the very least give it a go since these things all connect to one another, somehow.

 

But of course that presents its own unique challenges along the way as you go, really.

 

See, there are a few movies in the Avengers lineup - what I call the MCU in my head anyway - that I really just can't be bothered with, no matter how hard the directors and cast may try to make their characters appealing.

 

And unfortunately, tonight's choice is one of them, as sad as that may sound.

 

I tried though! I tried my very best to like the movie and enjoy it for what it is, but it turns out that what it is, is ... well, not exactly my cup of tea, regardless.

 

Shake out those web-shooters, everyone. Spider-Man: Far From Home is where we start.