Tag: 3 Star Reviews

All 3 Stars Reviews In One Place

“Hexen Hammers: Preview” By Ben Fisher &  Eric Layton & Mike Henderson Review

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The Hexen Hammers follows witch hunters in the late 17th century, commissioned to eliminate the dark spawn prowling the New World. Close to disbanding, the team agrees to one last assignment in the sleepy town of Gossamer Lake. But as the lines between corrupt politicians and deadly supernatural horrors begin to blur, the Hammers find themselves facing an ancient evil far more powerful than anyone could have imagined.

Let me start this review by saying that this one is just a preview for the entire comic book. And I read it because I wanted to see if the full comic book was worth the money and time I would spend on it. And im gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

This preview gives us an somewhat intriguing glimpse into a world brimming with magic, mystery, and mayhem but I personally was left with mixed feeling on this one after reading this preview. 

This preview has some promising elements, but there are times where it feels like it’s still trying finding its footing on how to get people to read the entire comic book not only this preview 

This preview has a unique and engaging premise about weaving together themes of witchcraft and adventure that could captivate fans of the genre. A part of me liked a lot the blend of fantasy and action in this preview since it was well made and the setup of this preview hints at a rich lore that could be explored further in the full comic book. However there are times in this preview that feels in a way uneven because there are a fair share of moments where the story rushes through its premise without fully fleshing out its central ideas.

The characters in this preview are very mixed bag when it comes to this preview. Because some characters are introduced with intriguing backgrounds and motivations, making them relatable and engaging. But at the same time there are other characters in this preview which come across as one-dimensional, lacking the depth needed to make readers truly care about their journeys.

The characters in this preview are very inconsistent because some are good while others are very shit have feel like they were made by a toddler.

The artwork in this preview is very vibrant and plays well with the dark atmosphere of the story in this preview. Which made me give this preview an extra point for that since the visuals complement the text well, enhancing the magical elements and action sequences

There are times where the pacing of the plot feels mismatched with the artwork, leading to moments where the visuals outshine the narrative.

I Give This Book 3 / 5

“Divine Intervention: Preview” By Frank J. Barbiere & J.C. Grande Review

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Marc Graham, a conflicted, contract killer, could hardly be considered a hero. Things change when he stumbles into an ancient conflict between the Templar agency, a clandestine organization that protects powerful artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, and strange, demonic forces seeking to control the world. After gaining mysterious, angelic powers from a freak accident Marc must dive headfirst into a dangerous new world where he is hunted by deadly monsters who will stop at nothing to unlock the secret of his new powers and possess them for themselves.

Let me start this review by saying that this one is just a preview for the entire comic book. And I read it because I wanted to see if the full comic book was worth the money and time I would spend on it. And im gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

I gotta admit the reason why I picked up this preview of the entire comic book it offers an intriguing mix of fantasy and drama, delivering a concept that piques interest but ultimately settles into a middle ground. It has a compelling narrative but at times it struggles to fully captivate.

The plot of talks about the themes of divine influence and moral complexity, setting up a premise that promises philosophical exploration alongside action.

The writing style in this one is engaging, with moments of sharp dialogue and thought-provoking ideas that hint at deeper layers beneath the surface. 

But the pacing feels uneven, occasionally dragging in parts where more tension and urgency would enhance the overall experience.

The artwork in this one is good, it shows a vibrant style that complements the fantastical elements of the story. The artwork is good at conveying the emotional tone of the characters, bringing the world to life in a visually stimulating way.

The main characters are relatable, but they occasionally feel like they’re teetering on the edge of cliché which really didnt help me to like then more in a way. The character’s motivates or backstories could have been more put forward for us, because at times its very hard to notice either of them in this one.

I gotta admit that I will read the entire comic book at some point in the future, but when it will happen im very unsure, because my reading plan for this year is very packed since there is a lot of books and comic books which I planed to read this year.

I Give This Book 3 / 5

“Rural Funerals” By Washington Irving Review

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I gotta say here that this short story is far better than the majority of short stories by Washington Irving I’ve read so far.

The descriptions in this short story are pretty good here because the descriptions create a unique and cozy atmosphere of rural life which this short story is about. 

The pacing in this short story is very uneven like in the majority of short stories written by Washington Irving. Since it changes multiple times during the short story. What I mean here is that the pacing of the narrative of this short story goes from being fast to being very slow to then again being fast. Which isn’t very consistent and good in my opinion.

I Give This Book 3 / 5

“Rip Van Winkle” By Washington Irving Review

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Washington Irving’s story of a man who sleeps for twenty years in the Catskill Mountains and awakens to find a changed world has been a classic of American Literature. This deluxe gift edition carefully reproduces thity-four of Arthir Rackham’s enchanting and exquisuute paintings.

I gotta say that this short story isn’t as bad as some of the other short stories by Washington Irving.

This short story has a good scary aspect and descriptions but at times those descriptions falters and drags.

The plot itself for this short story has a good premise and reminds me of H.P Lovecraft’s stories, but done in a worse way than what H.P Lovecraft’s stories.

This short story has the same issue as some of the other Washington Irving’s short stories which is that the pacing of the short story is very uneven. Since it changes as the short story continues.

I Give This Book 3 / 5

“Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man/Venom #1” By Al Ewing & Ram V. Review

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Fans who pick up FREE COMIC BOOK SPIDER-MAN/VENOM #1 will see the very beginning of the major storylines writer Zeb Wells and legendary artist John Romita Jr. have planned for their run on AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, including Tombstone’s first steps towards becoming Spidey’s most terrifying villain. FREE COMIC BOOK SPIDER-MAN/VENOM #1 will also give fans a chance to check out the thought-provoking work Al Ewing, Ram V, and Bryan Hitch are doing on VENOM! The groundbreaking changes this mastermind trio has in store for the symbiote mythos starts here!

I gotta admit that this comic book, is a very decent comic book from Marvel. The recent comic book I’ve read and reviewed weren’t that great as you might have noticed if you read my recent comic book reviews. But this one is pretty decent and so much better than them.

In a way this comic book offers us as readers an intriguing glimpse into the dynamic relationship between two of Marvel’s most iconic characters. But even thou I found this book to be fun and interesting it isn’t without its bad moment here and there throughout this comic book.

The storytelling in both the spider-man part and in the venom part is very good because both of the storylines are showcasing their contrasting personalities and moral complexities. But still both of the stories had their downsides at times, which in a way affect the rating I gave this comic book because of how I didn’t enjoy moments which weren’t that good.

The dialogue in both of the storylines presented in this comic book are in a way sharp, with moments of humor that feel true to character, particularly in the interactions between Spider-man and Eddie Brock aka Venom.

The narrative in both of the storylines in this comic book could have been better than what we actually got here. Because it feels rushed at times. It felt like the writer tried to cram too much plot and story into a limited space which of course this comic book is.

The artwork in this comic book is very good since its vibrant and sort of has the dynamic panel layouts to it which makes the plot a little bit more interesting. However, there are moments where the art feels overly stylized, potentially alienating readers who prefer a more traditional comic book aesthetic.

However the plots in both of the storylines feel more like an appetizer to get into Spider-man and Venom comic books rather than this comic book being a full storyline in itself.

I Give This Book 3 / 5

“The Ultimate Wizarding World Guide to Magical Studies: A comprehensive exploration of Hogwarts’s classes and curriculum” By The Editors of MuggleNet Review

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This comprehensive tome examines every aspect of the Hogwarts curriculum, from class descriptions and exam questions to potion ingredients and the magical world’s perspective on Muggle history. Certain to make reading (or re-reading) the Harry Potter series that much more intriguing, this book explores the full breadth of instruction at Hogwarts, as well as the fine details of each class, from each class syllabus to final exams.

Here we are again talking about another book from the Wizarding world.

This book talks in depth look into the Hogwarts classes as well as the extracurriculars at Hogwarts and the Non-course subject offered at Hogwarts. 

To be very honest here I didn’t have a lot of expectations for this book, because I thought it would be a heavy text book type of book like the once you have to read at High School which no one really finished. But after reading this book I gotta say that it was much more interesting and enjoyable than what I thought it would be.

This book gives us history of every class and activity offered at Hogwarts but also the aspect of depending of what classes you choose at Hogwarts controls what career you can have after you finish Hogwarts.

I gotta say reading this book was like preparing to go to Hogwarts for the first time as a student. 

Some classes and extracurriculars had more information and backstory than some other once. But at the same time if you are a huge wizarding world geek as myself then you should read this book as well because it gives you more knowledge and information about Hogwarts and why it does offer the classes and extracurriculars as it does. 

This book also mentions other popular magic schools around the world other than Hogwarts of course and how all of those magic schools around the world tries to have intersected activities occasionally. Which for me was super fun to read about as well, because it extends the wizarding world in a way and it isn’t just the Hogwarts bubble.

The writing style in this book is very text-book like which at times is very heavy and I personally needed to take breaks often while reading this book. While reading this book you will easy notice that it is very clear that it wasn’t written by J.K Rowling because it doesn’t have the same vibe as the original Harry Potter books. But rather it is a book which builds onto the Wizarding world which of course J.K Rowling has created for humanity.

I gotta say that after reading this book, I got into a little reading-slump because of the heavy text-book like writing style of this book. And looking back now, reading this book in less than 24hours might not have been the greatest idea because of the writing style.

I Give This Book 3 / 5

“Star Wars: Shadow Games” By Michael Reaves & Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff Review

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Javul Charn is the most famous pop star in the galaxy—and the runaway bride of a violent lieutenant in Black Sun, the crime syndicate commanded by Prince Xizor. Or so Javul says. Soon after Dash Rendar, broke and desperate, agrees to be Javul’s bodyguard, he realizes that openness is not her strong suit—and that murder is stalking her tour. Between the discovery of dead bodies in a cargo hold and an attack by an unidentified warship, Dash and co-pilot Eaden Vrill desperately try to understand who is terrorizing Javul’s tour and why. When Han Solo suddenly joins Javul’s road show, the stakes are raised even higher. Now Dash, who has a history with Han and an even worse history with Prince Xizor, follows his instincts, his discoveries, and Javul herself—straight into a world that may be too dangerous to survive.

I gotta say that this book is far from being one of the best Star Wars books I’ve read. Sure I haven’t read a lot of star wars books yet but after reading some of them I gotta say that this book is okay. 

This book has a very unique premise and plot when it comes to the Star Wars universe. Since the plot in this book follows the biggest pop star in the Star Wars universe. And this premise for a plot is the first book I come across which in the star wars universe which follows a pop star in the universe. 

The plot in this book also involves a fair share of shooting action and spacecraft action which really makes this book fun to read. But the action here isn’t as fun as in some other Star Wars books I’ve read which really didn’t impress me much in the “action” category.

After reading this book I need to say that this book feels more like a Sci-Fi Neo noir rather than a star wars books. Because there is no real star wars politician struggle, lightsaber battles, sith lords, jedi knights and all of the other stuff which makes Star Wars. 

The only connection this book has to star wars other than being part of the Star Wars book universe is that this book mentions the Rebel Alliance once and Han Solo appearance in the story in the second half of this book. Other than that there are no connection indicating that this book is in fact a Star Wars book universe.

The plot in this book feels at times very long and unnecessarily longer than it needed to be. My opinion is that this book could have cut out at least 50 pages or so and it would make this book longer. Because of the fact that this book drags for far too long at times.

The characters here are okay for the most part. We get very few characters in this book but those we get are very average characters. The characters here are okay but there isn’t a lot of depth to them and they don’t have the same feeling like the OG characters from the Star Wars which made us fall in love with them from the moment we saw them. 

The writing style in this book is pretty okay but it has the feeling that it was written by multiple authors which of course is the case in this book. The feeling of this book being written by multiple authors is the duality of this book because during the action moments the writing style feels like being written by a man (Michael Reaves) and during other moments the main character Dash gets very emotions and goes on those 5 pages long monologs like a female would do which makes the writing style feel like it was written by a woman (Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff).

However if you are looking for a stand alone star wars book to read then this book could be a good choice. Since this book is easy to read, its a quick read and it doesn’t have a connection to other books you should have read before reading this book.

I Give This Book 3 / 5

“Batman Special Edition (FCBD) #1: 2021” By John Ridley & James Tynion IV Review

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The Batman creative team of James Tynion IV and Jorge Jimenez take their epic run to the next level. Gotham City is on the brink of a violent evolutionary path and the danger level to Batman and his allies reaches a fever pitch. The Magistrate now have full support from the mayor to handle high level law enforcement in Gotham and have branded the Dark Knight as Enemy #1. Plus, the Scarecrow has his own terrifying agenda as he takes this chaotic moment to launch his master plan. This is the first look at the epic FEAR STATE event that runs across the Batman titles beginning this Fall. The new Dark Knight, Jace Fox has arrived in this sneak peek of the upcoming I AM BATMAN series written by Academy Award-winner John Ridley with stunning art by Travel Foreman. Fans will get a taste of this blockbuster storyline starring the next Dark Knight.

I gotta admit that this comic book was a okay read for me. Even thou it wasn’t the best comic book I’ve read in my time. 

This comic book is able to offer us a engaging story and very impressive artwork. But at the same time it falls short of fully capturing the depth and complexity that Batman fans often expect.

This comic in a way gives us new elements to Batman’s character and his relationships, particularly with supporting characters. Which I found to be very interesting. But at the same time it gives us more exploration of themes like legacy and responsibility which of course is a huge part of the Batman lore.

But at the same the the artwork in this comic book is very good, since its very beautiful and plays very well with the whole Batman theme of this comic book. At the sane time the artwork in a way complements the narrative’s tone of this comic book. There are a lot of times during this entire comic book where the artwork help to elevate key moments, making the action sequences and emotional beats more impactful.

However I have to admit that this comic book has a few issues here and there. One of those problems is the pacing of this book. Because at times it feels very rushed which makes it just gloss over certain intriguing aspects which weren’t explored in depth as they should have been. 

The other problem for me with this comic book is that some character motivations could have been fleshed out more to enhance reader engagement. Because at times they feel very shallow and like there weren’t a lot of thought put into them.

The last problem I personally had with this comic book is the familiar tropes this comic book has. Above I said that the plot introduces new ideas which I liked. But the way the new ideas are introduced to us, makes it very similar to some Batman tropes we have seen a million times in other batman comic books or even batman movies. 

I Give This Book 3 / 5

“Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World” By Tom Wright & Bradley Hope

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The dust had yet to settle on the global financial crisis in 2009 when an unlikely Wharton grad was setting in motion a fraud of unprecedented gall and magnitude–one that would come to symbolize the next great threat to the global financial system. Billion Dollar Whale will become a classic, harrowing parable about the financial world in the twenty-first century.

Ive been wanting to read this book ever since it was published back in 2018, and finally I did. I gotta say that it lived up to my expectations which doest happen very often for me. 

This book the author a lot of time to research the case and all the schemes Jho Low. The case of Jho Low involves a lot of people, companies, banks and even parties to write a book about this case in a month or so. Because at the same time because all the people, companies, banks and parties we are told about in this book the entire case becomes so much confusing and hard to keep track of.

This book makes you realize how ridiculous the entire thing was and how schemes it must have taken for the whole thing to not be exposed for so long as it did.

However this book could have used better timeline than it did. Because it keeps skipping back and forward in time without any specific reason other than telling us as much of the story as possible. 

The writing style in this book is pretty simple and easy to understand. But at times it throws at us the big fancy financial words which no one really understands who isn’t working at wall street or some other financial institutions.  

However if you liked the Jordan Belfort story, you will also enjoy this book. Because the story Jho Low involves famous people like DiCaprio, Jordan Belfort and other people from Hollywood. 

I Give This Book 3 / 5

“It Ends with Us” By Colleen Hoover Review

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Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

I gotta say that this book surprised me a lot because its the only Colleen Hoover book I’ve read so far that I actually liked. But before we get into this review I gotta give you a warning that this book talks about abuse and have some very hard moments like pushing someone down the stairs or rape attempt. 

The plot in this book is very interesting which really surprised me because the books I’ve read in the past by Colleen Hoover were pure torture for me. But this book and the plot of this book is actually interesting and somehow good written.

If you have read some of my past reviews of Colleen Hoover’s books you might know that she is the author I hate the most because of how bad her books are. And I don’t understand why her books are so overhyped while being so trash as they are. But this book made me think more lightly about Colleen Hoover, and that maybe I’m being to harsh on her other books.

This book turned out to be very quick read for me because of how interesting it was for me. I personally didn’t expect this book to be so interesting because of my experiences with Colleen Hoover’s books. 

The characters in this book were actually pretty good and I liked them a lot. The characters in this book are very well written and are very decent characters to follow for the entire book.

The ending was very good as well. At the same time it is very satisfying and really makes this book a little bit better.

I Give This Book 3 / 5