Tag: 4 Star Reviews

All 4 Stars Reviews In One Place

“Kord & Harley: Preview” By Matthew R. Adams Review

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10-Page Preview! The Catholic church has set up a secret order to deal with demonic activity and possessions lead by Father Merrick, a man with a long secretive past, and his ever-watchful assistant, Sister Margaret Day. Together they oversee and advise their unique Kord, an 11th century stone golem that has converted from Kabbalah to Catholicism, and Harley, a teenaged genetic creation formed by the combining of human and reptile DNA.

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 I’m gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

This preview introduces to us a vibrant narrative of the preview which is filled with plenty of action and humor which I personally liked a lot. 

The concept of this preview is pretty unique because its bleeding the elements of adventure and camaraderie which had hooked me right into the storyline of this preview, which I gave this preview some points for doing.

The storyline in this preview is pretty well-paced, because it was able to keep my attention in the momentum of this preview and interest high throughout this preview

The main two characters in this preview have pretty distinct personalities and an intriguing dynamic which really made me give this preview some extra points for doing. 

The chemistry which the two main characters in this preview have is pretty engaging because their interactions hint at rich backstories and development which would be present of the full version of this comic book. 

The side characters in this preview are also pretty relatable and entertaining which also made me give this preview extra points for doing.

The artwork in this preview very well complements the lively tone of the story in this preview. Because the illustration are pretty good looking and dynamic which really enchases the reading experience.

The visuals in this preview effectively capture the energy and spirit of the characters and their adventures which again I really liked in this preview.

This preview gives us the themes of friendship, adventure, and teamwork which are woven into the storyline of this preview which I really liked a lot in this preview because it adds more depth into the storyline and narrative of this preview. Because these elements are thoughtfully explored, providing both entertainment and substance

So will buy and read the full version of this comic book ? Yes I will. It might take some time for me to actually read the full version of this comic book because I have been way too optimistic when creating my TBR list for this year and I don’t know if I get the time to read the full version of this comic book this year. But I will read the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“The Green Hornet: Parallel Lives #1: Preview” By Jai Nitz & Nigel Raynor Review

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10-Page Preview! Dynamite adds another one! This time around, Dynamite is the only place to read the story before the story of The Green Hornet! Only, this is the official prelude to the upcoming movie starring Seth Rogen and Jay Chou and the Green Hornet and Kato! How does one man’s actions affect another man’s? Either purposely or inadvertently. Or is it just destiny? This series shows how Britt Reid’s actions lead to Kato coming in contact with the Green Hornet and the pair becoming the Green Hornet and Kato. The lead up and origin of one of the first teams in comics! Featuring incredible covers by Paul (RED SONJA) Renaud!

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 I’m gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

This preview introduces us to a very intriguing narrative that explores alternate dimensions and dual identities. Which I personally found to be very interesting and fun to read. And which really got me hyped to read the full version of this comic book.

The concept of this preview revitalizes the Green Hornet mythos with a clever twist which had gotten me very engaged in the dynamic plot and unexpected turns which this preview gives us glimpses off from the full version of this comic book.

The pacing in this preview is well-handled, which really makes it easy for us as readers to maintaining interest in the plot and narrative throughout this preview.

The 2 main characters in this preview which are The Green Hornet and Kato are portrayed with depth and complexity, which is showcasing both their iconic traits and new dimensions.

The characters interactions in this preview are pretty engaging. The interactions are hinting at rich backstories and evolving dynamics that promise further exploration in the full version of this comic book. 

The artwork in this preview captures the action-packed and adventurous tone of the story which really made me give this preview some extra points for, because it really plays very well with the mode of this preview. 

The illustrations in this preview are vibrant and detailed, effectively bringing the parallel worlds to life and enhancing the narrative’s excitement.

This preview gives us the themes of identity, duality, and heroism are woven throughout this preview which add layers of depth and intrigue to the storyline of this preview. These elements are thoughtfully presented, providing both entertainment and substance.

So will buy and read the full version of this comic book ? Yes I will. It might take some time for me to actually read the full version of this comic book because I have been way too optimistic when creating my TBR list for this year and I don’t know if I get the time to read the full version of this comic book this year. But I will read the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration” By Ed Catmull & Amy Wallace Review

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From Ed Catmull, co-founder (with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter) of Pixar Animation Studios, comes an incisive book about creativity in business—sure to appeal to readers of Daniel Pink, Tom Peters, and Chip and Dan Heath. Creativity, Inc. is a book for managers who want to lead their employees to new heights, a manual for anyone who strives for originality, and the first-ever, all-access trip into the nerve center of Pixar Animation—into the meetings, postmortems, and “Braintrust” sessions where some of the most successful films in history are made. 

This book is about Pixar and how it risen up to be one of the most well known animated movies company in the world. This book talks also about all the challenges Pixar faced as well as all the issues they had like when they are creating Toy Story or the mistakes they had.

I found this book to be very interesting because it gives us all the behind the scenes information on Pixar which I personally didn’t know about. Even thou as a kid I loved their OG movies like Toy Story, Cars, Wall-E and Monster Inc. 

This book also talks about the way artists behind the Pixar movies are taught to really see things, which I found to be very interesting. Because it really shows that at times the artists behind the Pixar movies aren’t the best at what they do, even thou it looks like they are the best at what they do. 

I personally found this book to be very interesting and enjoyable. Because of how well this book is told to us.

The writing style in this book, is very simple and easygoing which I really liked. Because it felt like having a chat with the author of this book rather than reading a book.

This book also gives us plenty of anecdotes and insights in Pixar, which I really liked because we really got a glimpse of how the Pixar company works from the inside.

But I need to admit here that I found some parts of this book to be boring and uninteresting. Because there are parts of this book, where it goes on way too long in my opinion about specific things which really made me annoyed and uninterested at times. 

This book shows at times how very passionate about animation the author of this book who is also the co-founder of Pixar really is. Which really made me like him a lot because you can very easily and clearly see his big love and passionate for animation.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Poor Unfortunate Soul” By Serena Valentino Review

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The tale of the sea king’s daughter, Ariel, is a beloved one of losing— and then finding— one’s own voice. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the mermaid wants more than her world can offer, and her father demands that she live within the confines of his domain. Her rebelliousness costs the little mermaid her voice and nearly her soul. But the power of good prevails, and Ariel emerges proud and unchanged.

This book is the third in the “Disney Villains” book series. I need to admit here that the deeper I get into this series, the more I find myself enjoying the books in this series and the series as a whole in general. But without making the intro longer than it needs to be lets get into the review.

As you can guess from the cover of the book or the summary of the book, this book is about Ursula from the story of The Little Mermaid. To be very honest here, I was never a fan of that story as a kid because I found it to be very boring and uninteresting. But after I read this book, I fully stand by saying that The Little Mermaid story should have been told from Ursula’s perspective. Because I found her perspective to be very interesting, and for me personally, Ursula’s perspective gave the story more depth and made the whole story so much more interesting. 

The plot in this book is very complex, but at the same time very interesting and at times very sad and tragic. As I’ve said above, Ursula’s perspective adds more depth and complexity to The Little Mermaid story, which really made the whole story more enjoyable and interesting for me personally. 

But for the most part, the plot in this book is very easy-going and simple. But at the same time, it gives us a lot of complexity and a fun aspect. 

The characters in this book have a lot of depth to them, which I personally thought was missing from The Little Mermaid Disney story, which was one of the main reasons why I disliked the story as a kid. 

Some of the characters from book 2 in this series have pretty big parts in this book as well. And this book is more or less what happened right after the events from book 2 in this series, named “The Beast Within”.

The characters we got in this book, which were also from book 2, had a huge character development from book 2, which really made them so much more complex and good characters than they were in book 2. 

As of Ursula and Ariel in this book, Ursula is a very badass and fucked up character because of all the things she does in this book. Which, in a way, gives her more layers than what she got in the Disney movies. In a way all of the fucked up things Ursula does in this book makes her feel more human because of how complex character she is in this book. 

When it comes to Ariel, we don’t get to spend much time with her. Because this book focuses on Ursula and her journey and story. Which made this book so much better for me, because I always found Ariel to be a very annoying character even as a kid watching The Little Mermaid animated movie. 

The writing style in this book is very YA typical, which of course means a simple and easy writing style, which makes this book a quick read. But even thou the writing style is simple and easy, it plays well with the easy-going plot of this book, making the plot and writing style in this book play together very well. 

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Crypterns Ep1 “Viva la Doge” By Dustin Plantholt & Gonzalo Martínez de Antoñana Review

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Set against the backdrop of Las Vegas’ Cryptocurrency scene, CRYPTERNS follows Ed, a deluded conspiracy theorist who dreams of being the First Man on Mars. With the help and hustle of his street-smart best friend Donna, the only thing crazy would be betting against them.

Its important to say that this comic book is the first part of a full comic book. So keep in that in mind during this review. 

This comic book introduces us to a pretty unique world where cryptocurrency and adventure collide. I know that cryptocurrency now on days is pretty much where all the scammers love to be. But this comic book in a way gives us a unique perceptive on the cryptocurrency world. 

The concept of this review is innovative and timely, because it is providing us with a clever take on modern digital culture. Which I personally really liked a lot. 

The storyline in this comic book is pretty well-paced and filled with wit which kept me at least pretty entertained and interested during the entire length of this comic book. 

The characters we are introduced to in this comic book, have a lot of charm to them and all of the characters in this comic book have their own distinct personalities which I gave this comic book some extra points for. 

The main character in this comic book is pretty relatable and intriguing. At the same time the main character was pretty likable and interesting as a main character. Which really made me like the main character a lot.

When it comes to the side characters in this book, they in a way add depth and humor to the narrative and the storyline as a whole. 

The interactions between the characters in this comic book feels pretty natural and dynamic in a way. 

The artwork in this comic book is pretty vibrant and lively, because it does capture very well the playful yet intriguing tone of the storyline of this comic book.

The artwork in this comic book effectively bring the world of “Crypterns” to life, enhancing the overall experience of this comic book. 

This comic book tries to give us the themes of technology, innovation, and humor which are woven throughout the storyline, and at the same time those themes do add layers of depth and relevance to this comic book as a whole.

These themes are thoughtfully explored, providing both entertainment and insight into the digital age. Which yet again made me give this comic book some extra points for.

So will buy and read the full version of this comic book ? Yes I will. It might take some time for me to actually read the full version of this comic book because I have been way too optimistic when creating my TBR list for this year and I don’t know if I get the time to read the full version of this comic book this year. But I will read the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Sunrise on the Reaping” By Suzanne Collins Review

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As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

I need to admit here that I wanted to read it since this book was announced to be publish, and now I finally did. Without making the intro longer than it needs to be, lets get into the review.

I need to mention here because I was kind of disappoint in this book because after reading “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” in 2022, I was expected to love this book as much as I did “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”. But I cant say that I did. Yes I liked this book a lot but I didn’t love it. 

The plot here was very good here, but there were times I felt like this book was dragging a little bit especially at the beginning of this book which really made uninterested in this book. Since it took so damn long to give us the action here. But overall I had a lot of fun reading this book because it was interesting and enjoyable.

At the same time the action we actually got in this book felt at times very unrealistic. Before you comment that it is a fictional book, yes am aware of this. But I personally prefer the fantasy, utopia books to be at least somehow realistic. And as I’ve said, there are a handful of moments where this book abandoned all logic and realism. 

The characters in this book, were pretty okay. I really loved Haymitch in this book because he is an incredible character in this book and it really gives us more of his background and why he is such an underrated character in the main trilogy of the hunger games books. President Snow was also an incredible character in this book because we learn more about him after the events of becoming the president but before the first book in the original trilogy of hunger games.

I need to say that Haymitch didn’t feel like the same character we see in the original hunger games trilogy. Because he is very stand-offish and very calculated in this book  which I don’t remember about him from the original hunger games trilogy. It can be just my faulty memory when it comes to books I’ve read 5 ish years ago because in the 5 years time period since I read the original hunger games books, I have read a lot of books and because of this my memory can get a little blurry on some details.

When it comes to the rest of the characters I gotta say that they didn’t land well with me personally. Because I felt like they didn’t have a lot of personalities to them. I felt like the only reason why the side characters existed was to either die in the hunger games or be side characters no one really cared about. Of course it can be just me being too harsh on the side characters but thats just my thoughts which I had about the characters in this book. 

The writing style was pretty good, not as good as it was in “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”, but it still was pretty good. The writing style plays well with the storyline of this book which I really like. 

I gotta admit that the story has some very tragic moments which will live rent free in my head for a while because of how fucked up they were. I really linked a lot those tragic moments because it gave this book another depth if you will. But they also show how fucked up President Snow is and I personally have a love and hate relationship with President Snow. Because on one side I really love him because he is a very good and memorable character but on the other side I really hate him because of all the fucked up things he have done.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” By Robert B. Cialdini Review

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In the new edition of this highly acclaimed bestseller, Robert Cialdini—New York Times bestselling author of Pre-Suasion and the seminal expert in the fields of influence and persuasion—explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically in business and everyday settings. Using memorable stories and relatable examples, Cialdini makes this crucially important subject surprisingly easy. With Cialdini as a guide, you don’t have to be a scientist to learn how to use this science.

I gotta admit that this book did surprise me a lot, because I was ready to not like it since I thought this book would be very university psychology text book like. But I need to admit I was wrong here and this book is actually very good. 

Reading this book have opened my eyes at how stores, sales people and fundraiser use psychology to get people to either buy something they might never need or sign up for some random shit which wont improve your life at the slightest.

I like this book a lot since it actually shows us real life tactics which so many people actually misuse now on days. And reading this book will actually open your eyes and make you aware how you might be manipulated to buy something or sign up for some random shit. 

This book talks about some heavy things in psychology, but it does it in a very interesting and fun way. Which doesn’t feel like reading a psychology textbook but rather it feels like reading a transcript of one of those very well done psychology YouTube videos. 

The writing style in this book is very easy and simple.  Which really made me give this book some extra points for doing. Because in a way the writing style makes it feel like having a long chat with the author because how easy and down to earth the writing style was even thou the author is a very educated man. 

This book gives us a lot of examples which we can see the tactics in action. I personally think that the majority of the examples used in this book could have been removes, or cut short. Because I found them to be not that great and very uninteresting to read.

The length of this book is pretty major, I personally read the new expended version of this book. I strongly believe that this book could have been cut short because there are times where it stretches point out of proportion and makes it boring.

But if you are like me and you have read some business books before reading this one, you will notice that this book repeats a lot of the same things from the majority of business books I’ve read. This book makes better points about some things than the business books I’ve read, but there is also times where this books makes worse points about some things than the business books I’ve read.

For me personally this book was very interesting and enjoyable to read, of course it could just be me because I enjoy reading psychology and business books. But there is something which really makes this book very relatable and easy to understand. Unlike some of the psychology books I’ve read in my time. 

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Beowulf” By Unknown Review

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Composed toward the end of the first millennium, Beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of Beowulf, a Scandinavian hero who saves the Danes from the seemingly invincible monster Grendel and, later, from Grendel’s mother. He then returns to his own country and dies in old age in a vivid fight against a dragon. The poem is about encountering the monstrous, defeating it, and then having to live on in the exhausted aftermath. In the contours of this story, at once remote and uncannily familiar at the beginning of the twenty-first century, Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney finds a resonance that summons power to the poetry from deep beneath its surface. Drawn to what he has called the “four-squareness of the utterance” in Beowulf and its immense emotional credibility, Heaney gives these epic qualities new and convincing reality for the contemporary reader.

I gotta admit that before I got into this book, I was ready to not like this book since I though that it was one of those very overhyped shitty books and I’ve read a few of them at this point. But after reading this book I need to admit that I’m very happy that I actually read this book. But lets get into the review without making the intro way longer than it needs to be 

The plot in this book is so good. It talks about heroism, loyalty as well as the enter struggle between evil and good. I really couldn’t stop reading this book and when I wasn’t reading this book I was thinking about what would happen next in the story. Which really says something because this doesn’t happen often for me. 

The thing I loved the most about this book is that this book combines perfectly the elements of mythology, history, and moral lessons. All of those things explored what it tales to be a hero in the society. 

I also loved the vivid imagery and use of alliteration this book has which brings the entire plot of this book to life in a way even over a century after it was first written. 

The descriptions of the confrontation with a dragon and other important moments in this book were so interesting and amazing for me personally. 

The thing which I didn’t like about this book was that the pacing of this book seemed very uneven to me, particularly at the end of this book which is the reason why I give this book 4 starts instead of 5. 

In my opinion the monologues in this book are way too long than what they needed to be, but that can just be me because in general I am not a fan of monologues in books and movies. The long monologues in this book was very distracting and boring for me personally.

The old English writing in this book, only helped the book to be more fun and interesting in my opinion. Because it really set the mood and vibe nicely which made this book feel like the action in this book happened a long time ago which it did. 

The writing style in this book was very good, because it really helped the plot in this book shine. And it was like the author knew what words to use to completely grab my attention and to not let it go until the very end of this book.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Dead Men: Decimation: Preview” By Dwight L. MacPherson & Zeke Review

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Special 25-page Preview! In the golden age of piracy, Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, and Black Bart Roberts, the three most reviled pirates in history, contend for the most sacred prize the world has ever known – the Lost Relics of Christ! These relics are now owned by the museum and on display – but the dead have now come back for their treasure

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 I’m gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

This preview sets up very fun post-apocalyptic tale filled with tension and mystery. Which I personally liked a lot because I found it to be very intriguing and interesting. 

The concept of this preview is engaging but it is very immersive because it touched the aspect of the post-apocalyptic theme where the world on the brink of collapse. Which I personally am a huge fan of. 

The narrative in this preview is very  well-crafted, providing a compelling introduction that promises more intense developments in the full version of this comic book. Which really got me hooked into reading the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

The characters in this preview are introduced to us with a lot of depth, complexity and personality to them. The characters in this preview display intriguing motivations and conflicts, suggesting rich backstories which we will see in the full version of this comic book.

The artwork in this preview is very dynamic and atmospheric which really works well with the storyline of this preview. In a way the detailed illustrations in this preview enhance the narrative of this preview. 

This preview gives us the themes of survival, morality, and redemption are woven throughout this preview and which add layers of depth to the whole plot of this preview. These themes are effectively explored, offering both thought-provoking content and entertainment.

So will buy and read the full version of this comic book ? Yes I will. It might take some time for me to actually read the full version of this comic book because I have been way too optimistic when creating my TBR list for this year and I don’t know if I get the time to read the full version of this comic book this year. But I will read the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Kade: Rising Sun: Preview” By Jay Busbee & Sean Patrick O’Reilly & Christian Duce Review

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Three hundred years have passed since the death of Ezra, but her memory still haunts Kade. He has traveled the world searching for the demons that will bring closure to his past. His quest for the demons that plague our earth has led him to the Land of the Rising Sun. He senses a demon he must banish, but there’s another person he senses. Is it the return of Ezra? Or is it the beautiful assassin Shi?

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 I’m gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

This preview sets the  stage for an epic journey because it blends all the elements I love in comic books. Which of course are elements of mythology and action. Which really got me interested en engaged in this preview. 

The concept in this preview is very compelling. Because it draw me instantly into a world filled with mystery and supernatural elements.

The narrative of this preview is pretty good paced, while at the same time us as readers offering a tantalizing glimpse of the adventures to happen in the full version in this comic. Which in a way hooked me in and got me all excited and interested in reading the full version of this comic book.

The main character in this preview is Kade. And Kade is introduced to us as a complex and intriguing protagonist, with hints of a rich backstory and deep motivations. And in a way I couldn’t help it but like him a lot as the main character in this preview.

When it comes to the side characters in this preview, they all add a depth and unique vibe to the setting of this preview. Because the side characters have sort of dynamic interactions with each other as well as with the main character in this comic book.

The artwork in this comic book is a pretty standout feature in this preview. Because the artwork is perfectly capturing the epic and mystical tone with vivid and detailed illustrations. Which made me give this preview some extra points for doing. 

The visuals in this preview are very immersive, bringing the fantastical world to life and enhancing the overall storytelling experience. Which is one of the main things which got me very interested in reading the full version of this comic book. 

This preview gives us the themes of destiny, courage, and the supernatural are woven throughout the narrative, which in a way adds layers of depth and intrigue to this preview. These elements are thoughtfully presented, providing both entertainment and substance.

So will buy and read the full version of this comic book ? Yes I will. It might take some time for me to actually read the full version of this comic book because I have been way too optimistic when creating my TBR list for this year and I don’t know if I get the time to read the full version of this comic book this year. But I will read the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

I Give This Book 4 / 5