Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme started by the Broke and the Bookish.  Each week they chose a new meme and bloggers pick their Top Ten Books, TV Shows, Movies, etc that fit that theme. For the next week the girls at the Broke and the Bookish are on hiatus. That means that won't be any set themes until August. It's a free for all!! This week I thought I'd do: Some of My Least Favorite Movie Adaptions.

1. Troy based on The Illiad by Homer 

• I honestly don't think I have enough space to write everything I didn't like about this movie. The Illiad and The Odyssey are two my favorites of the classics, but I hated this movie. 

1. Percy Jackson by Rick Riordon .

• The movie was cute, but some much was changed from the book that I always have a hard time sitting through it. 

1. John Carter of Mars  is based on the series Barsoom by Edgar Rice Boroughs.

• Okay, so this series is a bit cheesey, but it's this movie. I have yet to make it through the whole thing before: falling asleep, picking up my phone, or annoying my cats.

Prince Caspian by CS Lewis

• I only have one question. Why did it need a love interest?!

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

• I think this was one of my biggest disappointments. I really enjoyed this book series and was so excited when it got picked up. However, I felt they left at key moments and added things that were unneeded. -_-

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore 

• Ugh, I love Alan Moore and was so excited for this. The characters were meh, and I was disappointed in their Moriarty. He's one of my favorite literary villains and this one felt too cowardly to be the Greatest Criminal Mastermind in the World.

the Lone Ranger  by Fran Striker

• This is another one that I don't have the space to vent about. The worst part is the cast was so good.

The Omen, the 2006 remake based on The Omen by David Seltzer

• This is one of those books I read while I worked at Girl Scout Camp. On night it was too hot to fall asleep, but our campers were exhausted and out like a light. I also remember it scary the crap of me. Not long after I finished it, I rented (because Netflix wasn't a thing then) the original and slept with the lights on. The remake had a few jumps, but nothing that made me hide under my covers.

Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

• I dislike this movie with every fiber of my being. The Gothics are some of my favorite books, because I love a book that puts a chill up my spine. Dorian Gray is one that still makes me jump if I read it at night, but this movie... there was very little of what I loved from the book in the movie. It seemed to have all the sex put not of the suspense.

War of the Worlds, the remake which was based on War of the Worlds by HG Wells

• I couldn't even squint and find the story that was told over the radio and caused mass hysteria. However, it's good to nap too. :) 

So, if you click the posters you get sent to the page of the books they were based off of! Also, I'd love to hear what movies disappointed you the most!

Can't Wait Wednesday - Bedlam Stacks

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine. 

Release Date: August 1st, 2017

Publisher: Bloomsbury, USA

Author: Natasha Pulley

Genre: Fantasy 

Pages: 336

In 1859, ex-East India Company smuggler Merrick Tremayne is trapped at home in Cornwall after sustaining an injury that almost cost him his leg and something is wrong; a statue moves, his grandfather’s pines explode, and his brother accuses him of madness.

Why I'm Waiting: I've heard a lot of good things about Natasha Pulley's writing, and the premise of this one sounds right up my alley.

Cover Release: Age of War & A Thousand Monsters

Okay, so I'm not sure when the new covers were released, but I stumbled across this morning when I went to check a couple of my Amazon.com orders. The squeal I let out was not ear piercing despite what my flatmate said. It was full of excitement and glee! EXCITEMENT AND GLEE! Michael J. Sullivan and Kim Newman are two of my favorite authors. In fact, later today I'm picking up the Age of Swords from my local bookstore! The covers for their new books are amazing and I wanted to share them with everyone, and you know throw their other books at you. So here's a looks at them! Aren't the fantastic?!

Release Date: October 3rd, 2017

Publisher: Titan Books

Author: Kim Newman

Series: Anno Dracula #5

Japan, 1899. A party of vampires – exiled from Britain by Prince Dracula – seeks refuge in Tokyo and are confined to Yokai Town, a ghetto where the Meiji Emperor keeps the country’s vampires – bizarre creatures as different from European nosferatu as they are from living humans. Dr Geneviève Dieudonné, Kostaki, a soldier, Daniel Dravot, a spy, and Christina Light, a revolutionary princess, try to survive in Yokai Town as forces within and outside its walls threaten to destroy the newcomers and the long-time residents. What secret lies under the Temple of One Thousand Monsters?

Release Date: February 20th, 2018

Publisher: Del Rey

Author: Michael J. Sullivan

Series: The Legends of the First Empire #3

War arrives as the Battle of Grandford begins. The full force of the Fhrey army arrives and is seemingly invincible. As the fane’s forces prepare to overwhelm the hastily prepared human defense, the fate of mankind depends on the birth of a butterfly, the speed of a cripple, and the courage of a coward. 

Seriously I recommend these books to people all the time. Michael J. Sullivan creates wonderful worlds and fantastic characters. I devoured the first book in the The Legends of the First Empire series, and I'm about to do the same with the second book. In fact the man created my book husband, Royce Greenleaf. I love that smarmy man! Kim Newman also created one of my favorite female characters, Kate Read. She's spunky and has no time for your manly crap! I love the entire Anno Dracula series, and I'm beyond excited to get a fifth installment!! 

Both authors have so many other books to enjoy and ready. Check them out!!

HAPPY READING!

HAPPY RELEASE DAY - Age of Swords

Raithe, the God Killer, may have started the rebellion by killing a Fhrey, but long-standing enmities dividing the Rhune make it all but impossible to unite against a common foe. And even if the clans can join forces, how will they defeat an enemy whose magical prowess makes the Fhrey indistinguishable from gods?

The answer lies across the sea in a faraway land populated by a reclusive and dour race who feels nothing but disdain for both Fhrey and mankind. With time running out, Persephone leads the gifted young seer Suri, the Fhrey sorceress Arion, and a small band of misfits in a desperate search for aid—a quest that will take them into the darkest depths of Elan. There, an ancient adversary waits—an enemy as surprising as it is deadly.

I will read anything that Michael J. Sullivan writes. The first book, Age of Myth, was amazing, and I've seen so ready for the second installment since I finished that one last summer. I pre-ordered my book through my local bookstore. So I'll picking it up later today and adding to my pile of summer reads!

HAPPY READING!!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme started by the Broke and the Bookish.  Each week they chose a new meme and bloggers pick their Top Ten Books, TV Shows, Movies, etc that fit that theme. For the next week the girls at the Broke and the Bookish are on hiatus. That means that won't be any set themes until August. It's a free for all!! This week I thought I'd do: Hidden Gems From the Library!

1. Anno Dracula by Kim Newman
2. Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone by G.S. Denning 
3. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

1. The Yard by Alex Grecian
2. Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero
3. The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan

1. The Lady Trent Series by Marie Brennan
2. The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw
3. The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham

1. The Truth of All Things by Kieran Sheilds

See any books that look interesting, the images will take you to their Goodreads page! I'd love to hear about any hidden gems you all found in your local library, or bookstore! Let me know in the comments!!

The Hell-Hound of the Baskervilles - Review

Author: GS Denning

Publisher: Titan Books

Genre: Paranormal / Retelling

Format: Paperback

Pages: 320

The game's afoot once more as Holmes and Watson face off against Moriarty's gang, the Pinkertons, flesh-eating horses, a parliament of imps, boredom, Surrey, a disappointing butler demon, a succubus, a wicked lord, an overly-Canadian lord, a tricycle-fight to the death and the dreaded Pumpcrow. Oh, and a hell hound, one assumes.

The Hell-hound of the Baskervilles takes place not long after the first book, A Study in Brimstone, ends, and I've been waiting since then to get my hands on this book! Unlike the first book the main story takes place at the end. Believe me it's worth the wait. The short stories that G.S. Denning chose were ones I haven't read in years. In fact most I haven't read more than once.

This book is everything I loved about the first book, and more. Watson has always been my favorite of the duo, and G.S. Denning writes one of my favorite versions of Dr. John Watson. So I loved that he got the first story all to himself. However, it wasn't my favorite my story. That goes to the The Adventure of the Solitary Tricyclist. It was seriously adorable and I love Grogsson. He's so precious.

So what did I love about this book?

Well I love the paranormal take on Sherlock Holmes, in fact I'm a sucker for it. Add in the comedy and I'll just throw my money at you. However, what I adore about this book is Warlock himself. I love the bumbling and confused Detective of Baker Street. I love how Watson has to constantly remind Warlock how to do things like a mortal and stop having demons toss dead horses into their living room. Also, we finally get to see how Warlock Holmes became the, well, warlock that he is.

Warlock's backstory comes at the end of the book the Hell-hound of the Baskervilles, and it was wonderful. The original version is my favorite of all the Sherlock Holmes stories, because it was the first I ever read. And I loved G.S. Denning's version of that story. It had everything I loved about the original, plus so much more.

Another thing I love is the humor in this book. Waston's narrative is always fun and full of sass. I love the back and forth between Warlock and Watson, how comfortable they are with each other. But, what I liked the most was how much Watson had grown into the paranormal world since the first book. While he's still uncomfortable with most of it, he's started taking some of it with stride. Not much had changed with Warlock, except for the missing bits, but that was okay. I like Warlock the way he is. Strange and unusual.

Honestly, there wasn't much I didn't like about the The Hell-hound of the Baskervilles. The stories all flowed well together. Each happening not long after the other, and I felt like each one flowed without pause. I think my biggest upset was the fact I have to wait a while for the third book, but I'm super excited. There might be more Moriarty in the next one!

P.S. I love that the book is orange!

Buy, Borrow, and Skip: Buy! Buy them both! Read them and love them and then share them with all your friends!

Can't Wait Wednesday - See What I Have Done

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine. 

Release Date: August 1st, 2017

Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press

Author: Sarah Schmidt

Genre: Historical

Pages: 336

On the morning of August 4, 1892, Lizzie Borden calls out to her maid: Someone’s killed Father. The brutal ax-murder of Andrew and Abby Borden in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts, leaves little evidence and many unanswered questions. While neighbors struggle to understand why anyone would want to harm the respected Bordens, those close to the family have a different tale to tell—of a father with an explosive temper; a spiteful stepmother; and two spinster sisters, with a bond even stronger than blood, desperate for their independence.

Why I'm Waiting: The story of Lizzie Borden has always fascinated me, and I'm a sucker for books around her story.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme started by the Broke and the Bookish.  Each week they chose a new meme and bloggers pick their Top Ten Books, TV Shows, Movies, etc that fit that theme. For the next week the girls at the Broke and the Bookish are on hiatus. That means that won't be any set themes until August. It's a free for all!! This week I thought I'd do: Books I Loved Because of Other People! Basically ten books I picked up because of blogs, friends, or family that I then fell in love with!

From Family & Friends:

1. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson - Recommended to me by my flatmate!
2. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary - My Father gave me his copy and it was one of my favorite growing up!
3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - Put into my life thanks to my flatmate!

1. Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - Brought into my life by my Mother!
2. Agatha Christie books - These were introduced to me by my Great Grandmother!

From Book Blogs:

1. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
2. The Novice by Taran Matharu
3. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

1. Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio

College Professor:

1. The Call of the Cthulhu and other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft