Talkie Tuesday: The Sword in the Stone

 

"And the glorious reign of King Arthur was begun."

 

Hello everyone!

 

I'm taking it old school today.

 

And I'm talking very, VERY old school. 

Because I was feeling nostalgic this weekend what with some things going on in my family and at work, so I decided to sit down and watch something I haven't in a long while.

Turns out, it's even better nowadays when I can actually UNDERSTAND all the jokes that went right over my head when I was a child!

So without further ado, I'm just going to hop right into it.

Because, like they say in the movie itself, nothing ventured - nothing gained.

And we'll gain nothing whatsoever if we don't talk about The Sword in the Stone.

Tome Thursday: Bound by Blood

 

Hello everyone!

 

Yes, you're seeing this right, this is once again NOT an ARC that I' reviewing.

 

What news, huh?!?

 

LOL.

 

Anyway, a while back - and I think it was quite a while back - I picked up a retelling of the Arthurian legend and fell in love with it, for multiple reasons.

 

One, it felt much closer to what might have actually happened back in the day, in terms of realism and the fact that Arthur was not actually a medieval king riding around in full armour, and two, because it was a story in which he didn't want Guinevere, but her brother.

I mean COME ON.

I was hooked, but it took me a bit to return to the series, which is what I'm doing tonight as you can see. The Sons of Britain has six books overall so I play to go through all of them, slowly.

Tonight it's Bound by Blood's turn, the sequel one.

Talkie Tuesday: King Arthur

 

"It has always fallen to a few to sacrifice for the greater good."

 

Hello everyone!

 

So hot on the heels of that first returning blog post, I now return to regular programming with my movie reviews as well.

 

And BOY, do I have some goodies for this month!

 

... also for the start of September, because Netflix just told me that's what's going to happen.

 

Now.

 

A little while ago, I had this 'history' run here on the blog wherein I was watching and reviewing some of the better historic adaptations of stories that we all know and love. For some reason, however, I apparently never got around to reviewing the ONE actual historical movie that even experts agree is probably, to this date, the most accurate when it comes to the story it's telling!

 

And it's a shame because I FREAKING LOVE THIS MOVIE.

 

Without further ado, here it is then: better get that sword from the stone to fight, because King Arthur will absolutely need you.

Tome Thursday: Marked by Fire

 

Hello everyone!

 

Tonight we're covering a slightly different take on a well-known legend, and to be honest it was the best thing to happen to me in a while.

 

See, I've probably looked at or at least taken a peek at seventy percent of what's out there about this stuff, and most of it is pretty straight-forward at the end of the day. One guy, becomes king, marries a woman, second guy comes in.

 

I'm still salty because of First Knight but, I mean, what can you do?

 

This though, this is a little bit ... new.

 

Well alright, new to ME, maybe, would be better if I said it that way.

 

And man did I love it.

 

I didn't expect to as much as I ended up doing, but here we are, and I'm including it in my blog, so it MUST be that good, right?

 

Marked by Fire, by Mia West, is here.

 

Talkie Tuesday: Quest for Camelot

 

"A knight's strength comes from the heart."

 

Hello everyone!

 

I finally return with an actual, movie-related blog post, which has been a bit lacking since I fell into the black hole of gaming on Youtube.

 

But never fear, I still have a list of stuff waiting to be watched, including but not limited to Black Widow, so here we go! Tonight's one is a blast from the past more than anything else. I mean, the movie IS 23 years old, which is as long as someone's lifetime.

 

Then again all the good movies seem to have the longevity to them at the end of the day so I'm not even remotely surprised that this is what happens.

 

Anyway, I'm rambling now.

 

Why don't I stop with my babble and jump straight into the important bits?

 

Aka, you know the story of the Sword in the Stone - but do you know, or do you remember, the story of the Quest for Camelot?

 

Tome Thursday: 'Twas the Knight Before Christmas

 

Hello everyone!

 

With how 2020 is going I feel like we all need a little something to cheer us up - and with Christmas season starting next week, it's safe to say that there will probably be a lot of watches of the Grinch and Night Before Christmas and stuff like that.

 

Also, yes, I consider all of December Christmas season, basically.

 

I will be doubly considering it this year given everything.

 

Fingers crossed we at least get to spend the holiday with our loved ones if nothing else - at this point I don't even need a big party or anything, just the chance to be able to see my sister and decorate Christmas trees with her!

 

But before we can even move anywhere close to THAT, it's time for a book review, and if I'm this excited about it, you know what time it is.

 

Serenity Woods is easily my all-time favourite contemporary author, and her work under pen-name Hermione Moon is right up at there at the top with the rest.

 

So have those brooms ready as we take flight in 'Twas the Knight Before Christmas!

 

The Avalon Café Mysteries (Booktober)

 

"With Arthur by my side, I can face anything life cares to throw at me."

 

 

For any of you reading my Thursday book posts, you'll probably recognize this title. Serenity Woods adopted a new pen name in Hermione Moon and started publishing cozy witch mysteries from The Avalon Café series about kitchen witch Gwen, who just so happens to give a home to a suit of armour in her coffee shop that it turns out houses none other but the spirit of Arthur! Yes, THAT Arthur. Together with Merlin the loyal labradoodle, the trio then proceed to unravel murders and mysteries happening in their sleepy little town of Glastonbury, and just in case you're wondering - yes, Gwen IS the reincarnation of Guinevere. So really, what better way to spend your fall afternoons than by reading about King Arthur and his lady-love?

 

Gwen Young runs The Avalon Cafe in Glastonbury, England, and solves murders with a psychic Labradoodle called Merlin and a boyfriend who only materializes when she’s in trouble. Well, every girl needs a knight in shining armour! Join Gwen, Arthur, and the rest of their friends as they solve mysteries and murders, and fall in love along the way!

(from Goodreads)

 

xx

*image not mine

 

The Lost Legion (Booktober)

The Bourne Trilogy (Booktober)

Becoming Mrs. Lewis (Booktober)

Lord John Grey (Booktober)

The Last Wish (Booktober)

The Inheritance Cycle (Booktober)

His Dark Materials (Booktober)

The White Queen (Booktober)

The Thorn Birds (Booktober)

The Bourbon Kings (Booktober)

Cop of the Year (Booktober)

Nefertiti (Booktober)

Timeline (Booktober)

The Murder at the Vicarage (Booktober)

Persuasion (Booktober)

The Longest Ride (Booktober)

Midnight Sun (Booktober)

Percy Jackson & the Olympians (Booktober)

The Chronicles of Narnia (Booktober)

Atlantis (Booktober)

Origin (Booktober)

Quo Vadis (Booktober)

Death on the Nile (Booktober)

The Little White Horse (Booktober)

The Sign of Four (Booktober)

Harry Potter #2 (Booktober)

Troublemaker (Booktober)

The Lord of the Rings (Booktober)

Tome Thursday: Her Wedding Knight

Hello everyone!

You know what they say - when you find something that works, stick to it!

As you may or may not have noticed, Serenity Woods has been publishing some cozy mysteries for the last little while under the name Hermione Moon, and her main characters are Gwen and Arthur.

If those names ring any bells at all for you, well, I'm here to tell you why.

It's because they're ACTUALLY King Arthur and Guinevere.

Well, okay, he's not the king - he says so himself - but that's how we modern folk know him.

But there's one more book int this series to look at now and here I am with the review of it for tonight - I haven't had the chance to read it a second time yet because of some real life issues, HOWEVER, I can honestly say that if you've enjoyed the series so far, this one won't disappoint either.

It has our favourite crime-solving duo, stunning locations, more than enough intrigue to keep you going, and a little unveiling at the end that had me grinning like a Jack-o-Lantern.

So, without further ado: Her Wedding Knight!

Tome Thursday: A Knight to Remember

Hello everyone!

I am, once again, back with yet another Hermione Moon book - or should I say yet another FANTASTIC Hermione Moon book.

Because I'm loving this series. I really am.

To bits and beyond, because COME ON. Arthur and Gwen? How could you NOT love them??

If you haven't been paying attention to this blog, I'm sure you may have noticed the books as they were being published. And if not, well, this is an ideal chance to catch up, since we're headed into some pretty interesting territory now!

You thought this was going to be an easygoing, cozy witch mystery, did you?

I did too.

And then Hermione Moon went and turned everything on its head with this last book she just released, which I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of.

So be sure to pay attention, because A Knight to Remember is a book you can't afford to miss!

Tome Thursday: A Knight on the Town

Hello everyone!

I'm back with another review from Hermione Moon, aka the author who is bringing us the lovely kitchen witch stories that hold more than a dusting of romance, and a speck of mystery along the way.

Also, there's the labradoodle (I think the dog breed was changed from the first to the second books, BUT the cuteness of said dog has not), who can honestly steal the show.

I have to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying these stories, and they're short enough to be able to read in one sitting and one afternoon only; me personally? I've read this second one at least two times by now since graciously receiving an ARC, and I have to admit that I'll probably be reading it again sooner rather than later.

There's something to be said about charming heroes and magical heroines, after all, not to mention when they have psychic dogs to help them along their quest.

And if you know that the Holy Grail is included, but not exactly in the way you think, then you'll probably be able to tell this is, indeed, a whole lot of fun.

A Knight on the Town, here we come!

Tome Thursday: One Dark and Stormy Knight

Hello everyone!

As promised last week, I'm returning with the actual first book in Serenity Woods' new series, The Avalon Café. She's publishing these under the name Hermione Moon, but if you've read any of her contemporary novels at all, you'll know the kind of writing you can anticipate!

Last week, we tuned in to this new, magical world of potential reincarnation and King Arthur, or, alright Arthur Dux Bellorum, since he doesn't like to be called 'king'.

We were introduced via a canine companion, because every witch needs her familiar, right? Right.

That said, it was only a novella and didn't give us much to sink our teeth into, but this one, ooooh this one is grand.

Have you ever read anything by Agatha Christie? This isn't quite as morbid as the Queen of Mystery can make it, but it's got the same general idea AND it's also happening in the UK, which is another nod to Ms Christie if you ask me.

And although there's no egg-shaped headed, mustachioed detective mincing about, I'm pretty sure Hercule Poirot would be quite proud of the sleuthing done in this one.

Without further ado, let's can my blabbering about, and go right into One Dark and Stormy Knight.

Tome Thursday: Every Dog Has His Day

Hello everyone!

I don't know about you guys, but the weather is definitely looking up on my end, which is SUCH a relief after all the insane dips back down below zero. It's April now, can it please start getting warmer?

Not that we can take full advantage of it yet - quarantine is still in effect, after all, and there will be a little something about it at the very tail end of this blog post, something fun, so stay tuned - but EVENTUALLY even this has to pass, right? And we'll be able to head out and actually soak up all the rays of sunshine, both real and the ones from our friends and family.

Until then, however, we have to keep entertained in different ways.

As you know, I tend to read pretty much anything and everything that I can get my hands on, with a couple notable exceptions that I won't be going into tonight. So if I get asked to come along on an exciting new adventure, you bet I'm going to say yes!

Serenity Woods being pretty much my favourite contemporary author of all time, it was a no-brainer to check out her new, witchy works.

Published under the name of 'Hermine Moon', these begin with Every Dog Has His Day.

Talkie Tuesday: King Arthur Legend of the Sword

"You're no longer a myth. You're starting to mean something."

Hello everyone!

It's another Tuesday and time for another movie review. They just keep on coming, don't they? I mean, regardless of the fact that it's been a while now since I've felt the need to absolutely HAVE to see a movie so I can review it, since ... I have a bunch of them still waiting to go. 

Yeah.

But anyway, this current one I'll be doing came as a recommendation from a very good friend of mine. I never intended to watch it - Guy Ritchie is one of those directors I have a love-hate relationship with. And by this, I mean that I genuinely love the stories he usually tries to sell on the big screen, but I hate the adaptations.

For instance, the Sherlock movies were so not my cup of tea. 

Which was why when I first saw the trailer for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, I thought to myself - this looks amazing, but it has Jude Law in there and some weird magic and King Arthur looks wonky ... it has to be Ritchie.

Let me tell you, however - my friend convinced me. And I'm so glad she did.

Talkie Tuesday: The Last Legion

"Hail, Caesar!"

Hello everyone!

To be perfectly honest, I seem to be bouncing back and forth between genres when watching movies and/or TV shows, because I wanted to actually do a different review today, one about Star Trek, because, hello, I watched Beyond this weekend and YES is all I can say! 

But sadly, I also finished reading a Roman-esque book today and I'm still pretty much under the sway of that particular influence, ergo I went back to find this Roman-inspired movie I had watched waaaay back. I think it was last summer, but in any event, who cares about the when, if I get to them at some point, right?

Anyway.

After finishing Simon Scarrow's Eagle book (number three, to be exact), I fell into the whole Roman craze and dug through my sheep notebook until I found the movie called The Last Legion.

Which, to be honest, I originally watched only because of a book I'd read of the same title, but in the end realised it wasn't even CLOSE, content-wise.

Well, it did have Colin Firth, if nothing else.