Tuesday, January 31, 2023

#Review ~ Wolves of Asgard (Wolves of Valhalla Trilogy, Book 3) by J.R. Rain and H.P. Mallory @HPMallory #PNR #Paranormal #Fantasy #NorseMythology

 


ASIN: ‎ B0BH4WJ1HC
Publisher: ‎ Rain Press
Publication date: ‎ January 13, 2023
Print length: ‎ 228 pages
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wLF0Tj
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63065682-wolves-of-asgard

About the Book:

Now we are all pawns in a war against the gods…

The four of us (Skarde, Fyrcat, Torsten, and I) all have one common goal: to find the goddess Freya and convince her to join us against Odin to end the forever Winter that’s overcome the earth.

But along the way, we encounter more and more hostile enemies—the forces of Odin sent to deter us on our mission.

Not only that, but we’re also suffering internal battles as we all struggle to understand whom we can trust and whom we can’t.

Will the ice of the forever Winter eventually overtake us, or will we be successful in our mission against the gods of Valhalla?

My Review:

Wolves of Asgard picks up right where Wolves of Winter, book 2, ended. Jovi, Torsten, Skarde, and Fyrcat are on a mission to locate Freya. The goddess is instrumental in going against Odin to save Freya's descendants. As they traverse the lands, Odin's armies come out of the woodwork to impede their plans. There is a lot of internal battles as each character tries to figure out their place, who they are, and whether their travel companions are trustworthy. 

The authors created a wonder world and exceptional characters. The characters were complex and their history rich with Norse mythology. This complexity, the way their destinies were intertwined, and the masterful plot kept me engaged in Wolves of Asgard - the whole series, actually. The final book in the trilogy is full of twists, turns, and gasp-out-loud events. I really enjoyed the Wolves of Valhalla series, the characters, their enemies, and their ultimate showdown. 

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:




Thursday, January 26, 2023

Saph's Cozy Corner is hosting a #Bookmark #G1veaway

 It's bookmark giveaway time!

(Photo is an example. Bookmark prize~variety of bookmarks and quantities~may be different than shown.)

(Photo is an example. Bookmark prize~variety of bookmarks and quantities~may be different than shown.)

Head over to Saph's Cozy Corner for details and the Rafflecopter entry form!



Wednesday, January 11, 2023

#Review ~ Cycle of Hatred (World of Warcraft #1) by Keith R.A. DeCandido #EpicFantasy #VideoGame #WorldofWarcraft

 

About the Book:

The Burning Legion has been defeated, and eastern regions of Kalimdor are now shared by two nations: the orcs of Durotar, led by their noble Warchief, Thrall; and the humans of Theramore, led by one of the most powerful mages alive -- Lady Jaina Proudmoore.

But the tentative peace between orcs and humans is suddenly crumbling. Random attacks against Durotar's holdings suggest that the humans have renewed their aggression toward the orcs. Now Jaina and Thrall must avert disaster before old hatreds are rekindled -- and Kalimdor is plunged into another devastating war.

Jaina's search to uncover the truth behind the attacks leads her to a shocking revelation. Her encounter with a legendary, long-lost wizard will challenge everything that she believes and illuminate the secret history of the ...

World of Warcraft

Book Details:

Publisher: ‎ Pocket Star; 1st Printing edition 
Publish Date: February 1, 2006
Mass Market Paperback: ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10: ‎ 0743471369
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0743471367



My Review:

 I began playing WoW after meeting my husband in 2007. He had been playing since Vanilla dropped and I decided to go by the old adage: "If you can't beat them, join them" and created my very first toon. You can read more about how my name, Sapphyria, came about by reading my About Me page on this blog. There is a WoW tie-in. As a gamer girl who has been playing World of Warcraft (WoW) for 15 years, I loved this book.

Cycle of Hatred is a fun book with recognizable characters and locations. The story is rich in lore and begins after the war against the Burning Legion. Jaina Proudmoore is the leader of the humans and Thrall is the leader of the orcs. Both Jaina and Thrall are desperately trying to keep the alliance between both their races. While Jaina, Thrall, and their trusted teams fight to strengthen the alliance, a sinister force is working hard to break them apart.

This novel takes the reader on a trip through Azeroth and even readers who've never played WoW will get a sense of the land. The author does a great (although, sometimes inaccurate) job of setting the stage. There is backstory that aids in progression of the story and it provides why the orcs and humans are enemies. I'm excited to move on to the next book in the series.

My Rating:

Monday, January 9, 2023

ARC Review ~ Colors of Film The Story of Cinema in 50 Palettes by Charles Bramesco

Taking you on from the earliest feature films to today, Colors of Film introduces 50 iconic movies and explains the pivotal role that color played in their success.


Publisher: ‎ Frances Lincoln 
Publish Date: March 14, 2023
Hardcover: ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10: ‎ 0711279381
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0711279384

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About the Book:

The use of color is an essential part of film. It has the power to evoke powerful emotions, provide subtle psychological symbolism and act as a narrative device.

Wes Anderson’s pastels and muted tones are aesthetically pleasing, but his careful use of color also acts as a shorthand for interpreting emotion. Moonlight (2016, dir. Barry Jenkins) cinematographer (James Laxton) and colorist (Alex Bickel) spent 100 hours fine-tuning the saturation and hues of the footage so that the use of color evolved in line with the growth of the protagonist through the film. And let’s not forget Schindler’s List (1993, dir. Steven Spielberg), in which a bold flash of red against an otherwise black-and-white film is used as a powerful symbol of life, survival and death.

In Colors of Film, film critic Charles Bramesco introduces an element of cinema that is often overlooked, yet has been used in extraordinary ways. Using infographic color palettes, and stills from the movies, this is a lively and fresh approach to film for cinema-goers and color lovers alike.

He also explores in fascinating detail how the development of technologies have shaped the course of modern cinema, from how the feud between Kodak and Fujifilm shaped the color palettes of the 20th Century's greatest filmakers, to how the advent of computer technology is creating a digital wonderland for modern directors in which anything is possible.

​Filled with sparkling insights and fascinating accounts from the history of cinema, Colors of Film is an indispensable guide to one of the most important visual elements in the medium of film.


My Review:

Colors of Film is a remarkable coffee table book, but is also available as an ebook. As a lover of photograph and movies, I found Colors of Film to be a wonderful book filled with historical information on the use of color in cinema. While filled with interesting history, color, and information for the casual reader, this book may be better suited for the professional photographer, cinematographer, and/or movie buff. 

I was enraptured by the film stills and color pallets presented throughout Colors of Film. Each film includes an infographic color pallet, including RGB color numbers, and some historical data. As I read through the pages, I could feel how passionate Charles Bramesco is on this subject. His passion made these movie stills leap off the pages. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Review:

Sunday, January 8, 2023

#Review ~ A Vampire's Kiss (Dark Protectors/Rebels, #15.5) by Rebecca Zanetti #PNR #Vampires #1001DarkKnights @jennw23

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**


ASIN: ‎ B09NLHL77C
Publisher: ‎ 1001 Dark Nights Press
Publication Date: ‎ January 3, 2023
Print Length: ‎ 136 pages



About the Book:

Unlike several of his brothers, Athan Maxwell accepted the curse inherent in his DNA and solved the problem a century ago by mating his one true mate and saving her life at the same time. Now they only meet up four times a year to exchange blood and keep themselves healthy because that was the deal. Yet after a hundred years, his mate has only become more beguiling and intriguing, and when he discovers a new threat on her tail, his promise of sitting back and leaving her alone goes right out of the window.

Ivy O’Dwyer has enjoyed the last century as an immortal being, evolving from being a farmer’s daughter to the successful CEO of an Internet company. Sure, life gets lonely without the chance to date, and yes, she’s grateful to her vampire mate for saving her life so long ago, and yet the dreams she has of the sexy male won’t desert her. So when he storms in to save her life, in all vampire-possessive mode, it’s difficult to stand her ground. Unfortunately, when they finally discover that living forever but alone isn’t worth it, it might be too late.

My Review:

A Vampire's Kiss is a well-written novella in the Dark Protectors/Rebels world. My first read in this world, the author did a great job writing a book that kept me engaged and entertained. I never felt lost or confused. The book fulfilled its purpose and I'm intrigued by this world. Ivy and Athan are fantastic characters and can't wait to dive into their world from the very beginning.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating: