Tag: magic

Posted in all posts, books

The Dark Wizard: Adventures of Sebastian Morrow Review

Posted on by kimberlyheskett

Have you ever had one of those times where you try to predict where the plot is going but the actual plot is nothing like how you wanted it to go? Well reading this book was one of those times for me. I wanted this book to be a complex story with a morally grey/anti-hero/good bad guy type main character who realizes everything’s not black and white and that “dark” magic in itself isn’t evil. I wanted an intense emotional struggle ending in the realization of “fuck society I do what I want”. But instead, I got a boy worried about being rude/sarcastic to the man who essentially enslaved him.

Besides the fact that the book was nothing like how I thought it would be, it was also boring, unfortunately. The fight scenes were insanely quick and severely lacking in description. We barely saw Sebastian learn any magic even though multiple people said he was super powerful. Most of the magic we did see was just telekinesis. Literally, the most interesting parts of this book were the violence committed by the main villain and the possible dilemma of either choosing to die or sacrificing people to live that Sebastian would have faced when The Dark Wizard died. But that last one was a lie anyway so that was bullshit. I was just really disappointed with this book so I have to give it a 5 out of 10.

Advertisement
Posted in all posts, books, tv shows

Harry Potter & Twilight Series: Thoughts

Posted on by kimberlyheskett

With the announcement of remake series of 2 of my pillar fandoms, I thought I should share some of my thoughts.

Harry Potter

I’m not super excited for this show but I’m also not upset about it. While I think the movies were perfect and it’s way tooooooooooo soon for a remake I am very interested(and a bit excited) to see the scenes they had to change/cut out. But even though I don’t think it’ll be a bad show I would have much preferred if they did a spin-off or prequel to add to the Wizarding World. Specifically, if they did a prequel about the Marauders or a spin-off about Ilvermorny. If they did that instead I would be extremely excited instead of the semi-interested I am. But ultimately I probably will watch the show and maybe even enjoy it.

Twilight

Unlike the Harry Potter series which I can completely understand how doing a series is worth it, doing a Twilight series is stupid. I know it’s been a while since I’ve watched the movies and even longer since I’ve read the books but there is almost nothing I can remember that was in the books but not the movies. So, it just seems plain useless to make a show, like what else can they add to the story to make it more than 2 hours. The only way I can see them make a show “worth it” is by turning it into some high school drama show. But also again I will still probably watch it because I’ve been dying for a good vampire show right now.

Posted in all posts, books

Starship’s Mage (Starship’s Mage Book 1) Review

Posted on by kimberlyheskett

Magic and space travel make for a great combination and this book was that perfect combination of sci-fi and fantasy! When I first read the description of the book I was afraid that the magic was going to be more along the lines of superpower magic, so I was pleasantly surprised that it was runic magic. That choice to use runic magic combined with tech pushed the book from being a book I was amused by to a book that I found really entertaining. I also loved how Damien was both humble and sarcastic at times, it made for a very likable main character.

This might be random, but as someone who’s liked the premise of the show The Expanse enough to slowly watch it all but not like it enough to binge it all, I have to say that if Starship’s Mage was made into a show, I would binge it all as quick as I could. The magic in this book adds that extra oomph to make this book much more enjoyable for a hardcore fantasy fan.

As much as I got really into this book there was one issue I had. While reading the book I was kind of getting annoyed about the fact that info was repeated a lot, I was constantly saying to myself “Yes we already know this”. After enough times of that, I started to suspect that this book was most likely multiple novellas in one. It was only after I finished did I learn my suspicions were correct. Now, after learning that I’m much more understanding but ideally, I would have liked some editing so that it wasn’t as repetitive. Or at least a little blurb in the description of the book(preferably for the Kindle attention where I read it) so that I would be forewarned. But even with this issue, I would still give this book an 8 out of 10.

Posted in all posts, books

Dragon Thief (The Skystone Chronicles Book 1) Review

Posted on by kimberlyheskett

Are you looking for a book with dragons, magic, and a flirty main character who constantly does stupid risky things? Then Dragon Thief is for you! I loved everything thing about this book but there are a few things specifically that I want to talk about. First off are the maps and guides!!!! Any book that includes a map immediately becomes ten times better but Dragon Thief also includes guides about the magic and other creatures which is AMAZING. It’s a perfect and unique way to teach the readers about important details in the book without actually talking about them in the book.

The second thing that I really enjoyed was the actual writing of the book. Normally I only really pay attention to the plot and characters but the writing really stuck out to me in this book. Three things stuck out to me in this book the setup of chapters vs. visions vs. fragments, the switching from different characters’ POV, and how Asher’s POV was unique to everyone else’s. I thought the distinction between chapters/visions/fragments was a nice way to make things very clear and precise. Now I recently read a different book that really annoyed me with how they balanced the POV switches so I was extremely happy with this book. Dragon Thief not only had the primary POV be Asher’s(the clear main character) it also made his POV even more distinct by having it be the only one that used “I”. As much as I love getting different point of views from different characters I love it even more when there is a very obvious main character.

Now, I love everything about this book but I do have one complaint… I wanted Asher to be even more special!!! From the beginning, I was predicting and hoping he would bond with the true dragon, so I was pretty disappointed when it wasn’t him. I was a little sad because by the end of the book, he’s not the only Astromancer and he’s not the only one with a dragon bond. The only thing that makes him stand out at that point is that he’s a half-blood which is not enough for me! I want my mc to be the bestest most specialist awesomest character ever! So I hope by the end he becomes even more awesome than he already is.

Oh, I almost forgot, but I of course give this book a 9 out of 10.

Posted in all posts, tv shows

Dead Mount Death Play Review So Far

Posted on by kimberlyheskett

Dude, it’s only been 2 episodes but I am in love with this show! Which is kind of surprising since like a lot of people I too am tired of the isekai genre, especially the ones with the super ridiculous long titles. But I discovered I’m not tired of a reverse isekai, even less tired of reverse isekai with the “villain” as the protagonist, and even less less tired of a reverse isekai with the “villain” MC who can still do magic! Plus this show is the perfect example of how anime isn’t “just for kids” and I always appreciate a mature anime.

Oh, I also forgot to mention white hair! I am always a sucker for a white-haired protagonist. Another thing I can’t get enough of is the characters’ style. I really really enjoy Misaki’s outfit but I absolutely love Polka/Corpse Gods style even though I haven’t even seen it in the show yet! I’m super excited to see it next episode hopefully. Basically, I’m already giving this show a 10 out of 10 and will be hugely disappointed if it doesn’t live up to my expectations.

Posted in all posts, books

Moonrise (Risen and Hunted Book 1) Review

Posted on by kimberlyheskett

I read a lot of werewolf books but recently I’ve been craving a specific type of werewolf book. Most of the books I’ve come across recently have had a werewolf protagonist who has come to terms with being a werewolf and is living a pretty okay life. So, I’ve been wanting a book where the main character has to deal with all the trials and tribulations that come with being turned into a werewolf. And as you might have guessed I found exactly what I was looking for in Moonrise. This is one of the happiest moments for a reader when they find a book that has exactly what they are looking for. Now about the book specifically there was so much I loved about it with only a few things I wasn’t as into.

First, I was happily shocked by how mature the book was, for some reason I thought it was going to be way more YA than it was. So, not only was I surprised when things got pretty dark and gory I was also unable to predict how the story was going to end since I misjudged it. Which of course made the book that much better. The second notable thing I loved in this book was of course the magic. I’ve said this for other books too but I love every new addition of a new magic world setup. Every new addition just allows for even more to spawn from its setup which is just fantastic for the fantasy genre.

Now, sadly I do have to mention the 2 minor problems I had. First is an extremely minor problem but I can’t deny what I prefer and that is the fact that the werewolves only change on the full moon. I know it’s stupid but I like when they can also change not on the full moon. But at the same time, I completely understand making that choice for this story because it fits very well. The other problem is also minor because I could say it’s both good and bad. Basically, some parts/explanations seemed a little long-winded. I both enjoyed the excessive details and was a tad annoyed at moments just hoping it would get back to action. But even then I would still give this book a 7.5 out of 10.

Posted in all posts, books

Charm School (The Demon’s Apprentice 4) Review

Posted on by kimberlyheskett

Once again another great addition to The Demon’s Apprentice series. Just like all of the others, I can’t get enough of this book’s brand of magic. For some reason, it feels more “magical” than other books I’ve read and I love that. What I love even more is Chance, there are not many MCs that make me as emotional as Chance does. Every time he mentions his trauma so casually I just want to hug him and tell him that pain shouldn’t be his norm. While I want to comfort him I’m also constantly impressed with his strength and his ability to be more than his past.

Now as much as I love this book as a whole I was disappointed with one thing. I wished there were way more magic classes. That seems strange but I was really looking forward to seeing Chance show all of the snobby bluebloods how smart he can be. I was also hoping there would be one of those scenes where the asshole teacher realize that “hey this kid’s smart and not at all like I thought they were.” I also just plain love classes in books because it’s a perfect way for me to learn more about the book’s world in a fun way. This lack of classes is actually a big factor for me so I have to give this book 7.5 out of 10.

Posted in all posts, books

One Dark Window Review

Posted on by kimberlyheskett

This book is going straight into the I can’t wait to read the sequel pile! There are so many parts of this book that I loved, so let us go ahead and jump right in on my favorite parts. My third favorite part of this book had the perfect combination of action and romance; as a reader who usually prefers the romance as a subplot and not the main plot, it was perfect. The second one is of course the type of magic this book has created. I’m always a sucker for a new type of magic that I haven’t come across before, it gives my imagination something new to think about. And my all-time favorite part of One Dark Window is the main characters and their relationship.

I feel like when many books try to make a strong female lead, she tends to be arrogant or the epitome of “I don’t need your help, can do it myself”. Which is fine sometimes, but I prefer when she is confident but is 100% willing to have help. Another thing I enjoyed about the couple was that in terms of power whether magically or physically they were equal in my eyes. The relationship didn’t feel unbalanced at all which I love to see. I can’t get enough of this book and am eagerly waiting for the sequel, 9 out of 10.

Posted in all posts, books

The Shadow of What Was Lost Review

Posted on by kimberlyheskett

I recently finished The Shadow of What Was Lost which is the first book in The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington. So I thought why not share my thoughts on it and of course we’re going to start with the good. First things first I really enjoyed reading the book as a whole the mysteries, unanswered questions, and loose threads all kept me on the edge of my seat. The whole time I kept thinking to myself “What’s going on?!” “How do they know this?!” and I just knew I will have to read the whole series to have my questions answered. My second favorite part was the world and the magic itself. As a voracious reader of fantasy books, I’m always looking for a new type of world-building with interesting magic. Which is exactly what this book provided. This book definitely kept me compelled and interested the whole time.

Now as you might have guessed I would say I have 1 and a half complaints. The half-complaint part is… Oh my gosh, why are there so so so many names with T, I, and L in it!? I’ve never before needed(not wanted but truly needed) an index or glossary of characters. I kept getting names mixed up! Now truthful that’s not even a real complaint I just wanted to mention it. The one true problem I had with the book was the school of thought the author took on time travel/timeline. I’m not the biggest fan of time travel stories but I’m even less of a fan when they take the “the future is inevitable and you can’t change a thing”. I’m a much bigger fan of multiple-branching timelines that allow for (at least the illusion of) free will and choice. When a story takes the future written-in-stone path especially when it also allows for physical time travel (not just seeing the future) my mind just can’t stop thinking about how that must allow for the possibility of paradoxes more than if the future is ever-changing. And then I also keep thinking “Why bother allowing the characters to see/travel to the future if they can’t do anything about it?”. Basically, this all just boils down to the fact that I much more enjoy the “fate and destiny are what you make it” stance.

But even though I have that one big problem with the book I’m definitely interested in where it’s going and sooner or later I will finish the trilogy so I can get my answers. I would give this book a 6 out of 10.