Tag: 4 Star Reviews

All 4 Stars Reviews In One Place

“The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Writings” By Edgar Allan Poe Review

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Edgar Allan Poe remains the unsurpassed master of works of mystery and madness in this outstanding collection of Poe’s prose and poetry are sixteen of his finest tales

Let me give you a quick explanation of why I’m again reviewing Edgar Allan Poe. In December I got an Kindle, and I was playing around with it and I say that this e-book was for free on the “Prime Reading” category so I decided to read the short stories and poem of EAP (Edgar Allan Poe) because I really enjoyed reading his work the first time around. So I decided to review this book because some of my opinion about the EAP’s work included in this book have changed.

This book contains The Tell-Tale Heart, The Black Cat, The Cask of Amontillado, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Masque of the Red Death, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, Ligeia, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Purloined Letter, A Descent into the Maelstrom, The Pit and the Pendulum, Ms. Found in a Bottle, The Premature Burial, William Wilson, Eleonara, Silence-A Fable, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, Stanzas, Romance, To Helen, Israfel, The City in the Sea, The Sleeper, The Valley of Unrest, Lenore, The Raven, A Valentine, Ulanume-A Ballad, For Annie, Annabel Lee, The Bells & Alone.

The last time I read anything by EAP was in 2021, which is now solid 4 years ago and I need to be honest here and admit that majority of the stories and poems in this book have been much better now on re-reading them than what I felt about them back in 2021 when I read them for the first time. 

The reason behind it might be that my opinions, thoughts, likes and dislikes changed in those 4 years or the amount of books ive read in those 4 years have affected me without me realizing it.

Of course if you want me to re-read all of EAP’s work again and re-review them then let me now in the comments because now I would have given them different ratings and different opinions in the reviews than what I did on the first read of them. 

But I gotta say that this book surprised me a lot, because it gave me the joy of being a new reader back in 2020 and 2021 and why I decided to start this website to talk about the books, short stories and poems ive read and maybe help people decide what books, short stories or poems they should pick up and which once they shouldn’t.

Yes after reading this book, I come to the realization that EAP is easily one of my top 5 authors (so far in my life at least.)

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“The Sun Down Motel” By Simone St. James review

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Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn’t right at the Sun Down, and before long she’s determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden.

I gotta admit that this book had surprised me a lot because I didn’t think it would have been as good as it is. I need to say that this book is easily the best book I’ve read last year.

However dont buy into the fact on Goodreads that this book has a huge ghost story in it. Yes there are a few moments where the ghosts comes into the plot. But those moments are very rare and the majority of this book is a investigation about what happened to the main character’s aunt a few decades before.

In this book we get to follow 2 perspectives, one perspective takes place in 1982 and we follow Vivian (aunt) and the second perspective takes place in 2017 and we follow Carly (niece). Both of the perspective takes place in Sun Down motel and the town where the sun down motel is located in.

I think the two perspectives helped me to like this book as much as I did. Because it makes it more interesting because we get two see the story through 2 different perspectives and we can learn the story through Vivian and Carly.

The characters in this book are very good. Because all the characters have a lot of personality to them and they are very unique in their own way. All the characters have they own quirks and something which makes them really relatable.

The writing style in this book is very good, because its 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 need to admit that there were some moments in this book which dragged for too long, which made the book boring at times. 

The ending of this book has huge twist to it, but the twist in my opinion wasn’t as good as I expected it to be. Of course I cant say what the twist is but it really killed of the mood a little bit. I don’t know if it was me but I could see the the plot twist at the end coming from chapters away.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Batman: The Ten Cent Adventure” By Greg Rucka & Dave Johnson Review

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This kick-off to the 12-part ”Bruce Wayne: Murderer?” storyline is a one-shot you can’t afford to miss! When Batman responds to a series of crimes, little does he know that a crime is also occurring in the one place in the world he considers safe–his home!

I gotta say that this comic book is probably the best comic book I’ve read so far in my life. But at the same time I gotta admit that I haven’t read a lot of comic books so far in my life. 

This comic book is a very quick read and Ive read it under 20 minutes. Which really surprise me.

But even thou this book is a quick read, it doesn’t mean its bad. Its actually the opposite of that. This comic books is very good because in a way it captures the essence of batman and how it was like watching “Batman: The Animated Series” as a kid for the first time and getting sucked into the world of superheroes.

This comic books takes us in a way under the mask of batman, and actually how it is for Bruce Wayne to be the Batman where most comic books about bantam focuses on the action of Batman rather than psychology of batman.

If you are planing to start your journey into superhero comic books then I would easily recommend to anyone to start with this one. 

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Warstone: Preview” By Josh Blaylock &  Matt Cossin Review

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Abaddon is a fantastical world of elves, wizards and dragons with one catch … the magic they rely upon for power is long-gone, depleted like a natural resource. And the evil Asmodeus, a dark sorcerer who lords over legions of ogres and goblins, has decided to invade another world ripe with magic; A world whose populace hasn’t the slightest clue how to wield Earth!

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 that I liked this preview a fair share which made me put the full version of this comics on my TBR list to be read at some point within the next 10 years. 

This preview presents an exciting and promising introduction to a new fantasy saga which was really captivating for me. This preview show us that the full version of this comic book has a rich word and the characters in it are pretty compelling.

One of the standout features of this preview is the immersive world it presents to us as readers. At the same time this preview presents the lore to be richly detailed, hinting at a complex history and a vibrant culture

The concept which this preview presents was in a way powerful artifact central to the plot, is intriguing and serves as a great catalyst for the unfolding conflict.

The storytelling in this preview was very engaging and at the same time it was skillfully weaving together elements of mystery, adventure, and magic.

The artwork in this preview did complements the narrative beautifully, with dynamic illustrations that bring the characters and settings to life. At the same type the artwork did capture the essence of the world and

The character designs are particularly noteworthy, showcasing a diverse cast that adds depth to the story.

Character development is another strong point in this preview. The protagonists are introduced with clear motivations and relatable struggles.

The dynamics between characters in this preview are well-crafted, hinting at personal growth and potential conflicts that promise to unfold in the full series.

However, the preview does leave some questions unanswered, which is both a strength and a weakness. While it successfully piques interest and builds anticipation, some readers may find the pacing a bit uneven, particularly in the exposition. 

A bit more balance between action and background detail could in my opinion really improve the overall flow of the narrative.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Harry Walton Henchman for Hire: Preview” By Tom Martinek & M. Zachary Sherman Review

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Harry Walton, a disenfranchised ex-super-hero sidekick, finds himself having to work with every B-List schmuck in town to work up the ranks of the “Henchman’s Union” towards his ultimate Super-Villain status. Smarter than most of the bosses he works for, Harry is stuck as a second banana once again. But when an opportunity to take revenge against his old Super-Hero partner arises, “Henchman for Hire” Harry Walton takes an initiative and launches a plan that catches the eyes of Super-Villains everywhere!

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.

I need to admit that this one offers a captivating glimpse into the world of unconventional heroism which really got me very interested in this one as well as reading the entire comic book at some point. At the same time this one fives a blend of humor and action with a unique narrative style which really made me even more interested in this one.

The writing in this one is sharp and witty, and at the same time it is drawing readers in with clever dialogue and well-crafted scenes.

The atmosphere is very vivid that keeps the pace brisk and engaging. Which really made me give this one some extra points and there. And at the same time it gave extra motivation for reading the full comic book not only this preview.

The protagonist in this one has a very entertaining and thought-provoking journey which really made so interested in this one. There is also a lot of character development which really standout a lot. 

The main protagonist is relatable and flawed, making his experiences resonate with readers. When it comes to the supporting characters are equally well-drawn, adding depth and dimension to the narrative. Their interactions with Harry bring out both the humor and the underlying seriousness of his role in a world that often misunderstands the nature of good and evil.

The storyline in this one is pretty fresh, providing a satirical take on the typical villain-henchman dynamic, while also exploring themes of loyalty, ambition, and the quest for identity.

While the preview leaves readers wanting more, it effectively sets up the potential for a rich and entertaining full-length story. The pacing is generally well-managed, though some sections could benefit from tighter editing to enhance clarity and flow.

I need to admit here that after reading this preview I will be reading the entire comic book as some point this year or the next.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“The Elixir: Preview” By Jason Chiu & Alex De-Gruchy & Ada Zhu Review

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The race is on for a princess, a liar, a knight and an assassin; all of which are after the same the Elixir of Eternity, A single draught that will grant everlasting life. Only one of them will get it. There are twists, double-dealings, betrayals and no small amount of dry comedy in this well-crafted adventure story.

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.

I need to admit that I really liked this preview of the full comic book. Because the world this preview presents us has mystery, adventure and have good characters at the same time. And thats a secret that always works on me when it comes to my choices of entertainment.

The narrative in this one is very effective hooking our attention and making us interested in both the plot and the characters in this one.

The plot in this one revolve around a unique premise in this one. The plot in this one in a way  blends elements of fantasy and science fiction and because of this, this preview (and hopefully the full comic book as well) is able to create an immersive universe where the elixir of life holds immense power and peril.

The plot in this one, develops a rich lore, providing just enough background to intrigue without overwhelming us as the readers with all those excessive detail.

The characters seem very good and well written in this preview, so I really hope that they are just as good in the full version of this comic book. The protagonists are well-rounded, each with distinct motivations and backgrounds that make them relatable and engaging. Their interactions add a layer of depth to the narrative, and the conflicts they face are both personal and universal, resonating with readers on multiple levels.

The pacing in this preview is mostly well-handled, though there are moments where the narrative could benefit from a bit more tension to keep the momentum going.

The artwork in the in this comic book is very good and it brings the settings and scenes to life which I really liked about it.

The thing I liked the most about this one is that the exploration of themes such as ambition, sacrifice, and the moral implications of wielding great power. Because in a way it is gives us thought-provoking questions about the costs of pursuing immortality and the ethical dilemmas that arise from tampering with nature.

And of course since this is only the preview of the full comic book, it leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions to intentionally, building anticipation for the full story. I gotta be honest here, after reading this preview I will for sure at some point this year or the next year read the full version of this comic book even thou I am bonito sure when it will happen.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Ancient Oak: Preview” By Sean Patrick O’Reilly & Chris Uminga Review

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A princess struggles to save her Kingdom from an ever-lasting winter. Will a stranger save the Kingdom or destroy it? The Ancient Oak is an all ages fable that teaches the importance of doing the right thing.

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.

I gotta admit that I really liked this preview, because it was very intriguing because of how we get introduction to a world steeped in mystery and nature.this previews gives a sneak peak which I was very interested in because you can see solely from the preview that the full comic book has a rich storytelling aspect as well as an artistic flair that the full comic book promises.

This preview you gives a captivating summary of the entire comic book which is combining elements of folklore with a modern sensibility. Which I personally found to be very interesting.

The narrative gives a sneak peak to a fun and rich enchanting world where nature plays a pivotal role. At the same time this preview you gives a balance between being accessible and thought-provoking aspect of the full comic book. 

The characters we get to know in this preview have enough depth to intrigue, and their motivations are hinted at, leaving readers eager to learn more about their journeys. To be very honest here I really liked the characters in this preview so I really hope that they are at worst at least as good as in this preview. 

The artwork in this comic is very beautiful, since it gives a unique style blends whimsical and dark elements, perfectly capturing the essence of the story. The artwork in this comic is bringing the characters and their environment to life which I gave this one a few extra points for. But also the artwork here is able to emotion through his art adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative, making each panel a visual delight.

But of course since this one is only the preview for the full comic book, it leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions, which may annoy a lot of people. And to be honest it did annoy me too a little bit, so thats the reason why I gave it 4 starts instead of 5 stars as I wanted to at first. Even thou it annoyed me, I understand that it can give us all the answers since its only the preview and the the thought process behind this is to leave people at a cliffhanger to get as many people as possible to buy and read the full comic book

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“The Final Girl Support Group” By Grady Hendrix Review

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In horror movies, the final girls are the ones left standing when the credits roll. They made it through the worst night of their lives…but what happens after? Like his bestselling novel The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, Grady Hendrix’s latest is a fast-paced, frightening, and wickedly humorous thriller. From chain saws to summer camp slayers, The Final Girl Support Group pays tribute to and slyly subverts our most popular horror films—movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre , A Nightmare on Elm Street , and Scream.

Ive heard a lot of good things about this book. And I had some pretty high expectations for this book. I gotta say that this book lived up to most of my expectations I had for it.

The plot is very interesting because this book takes place after the massacre at a summer camp, after a school shooting, after someone you know murders all your friends or family and goes after you. After you survive a serial killer going after you. I gotta say that the premise of the plot is amazing, and there was no surprise for me that I got interested in this book. 

The plot itself is amazing to be honest. Yes the beginning of this book is all over the place. You don’t know whats happening, what will happen next or what to expect of this book. But the moment you reach the fourth of fifth chapter the action starts to pick up and you get sucked into the plot or at least it was what happened to me while reading this book.

In this book we get a group of the original final girls which had survived the classic slasher movie scenario 15+ years before the plot in this book takes place. We follow how different their lives have become through the eyes of the main character who is also a final girl. But then someone starts to go after the original final girls group.

The characters in this book are just amazing. They all have their own unique personalities and struggles they still face after becoming a final girl of the classic slasher movie. And I completely fell in love with them because they feel like real human beings rather than fictional characters. 

The writing style in this book is amazing because 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. The writing style was completely stunning.

The ending of this book was just incredible it was truly the perfect ending for this book. It was very satisfying especially with the twist at the end of this book when we learn who the killer is who is going after the original final girls.

My only problem with this book was the very slow beginning. Because you don’t really know what is happening.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“A Court of Mist and Fury” By Sarah J. Maas Review

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Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she’s now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people. As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre’s hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future-and the future of a world in turmoil.

This book is the second book in the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, and I gotta say that so far I’m actually liking this series. Before getting into this series I thought it would one of those very overhyped YA series which I would end up hating. But after reading the 2 first books in this series I gotta say that so far I’m actually loving this series. 

This book takes the plot of this further and we learn more about the whole universe and about the world’s politics system in a way. 

This book involves less romance aspect but more world building and action which worked for me. Because I was getting a little tired of all the romance in the series from reading the previous book in this series. And thankfully this book focuses the majority of the book on action and on showing us Feyre learning how to control her powers and use them. At the same time this book involves less of the sexual moments which wasn’t that disappointing for me personally.

The characters in this book are so much better than in the first book in this series. Its easy to see that all the characters had a lot of character development and growth from the first book and I personally loved it.

Somehow this book manages to make me love Feyre and Rhysand more than what I did after reading the first book in the series.

At the same time this book adds more characters into the universe, and I gotta say that those new character as well written and made as the characters we got to know in the first book. 

The writing style in this book as in the first book is very very good. Since its like the author know exactly what words to use to completely grab my attention and not let it go until the very end of the book.

The ending of this book is very satisfying and truly worth reading the entire 600+ pages of this book. Yes it might leave us at a cliffhanger but for me it works just fine but I already love this series a lot and the cliffhanger at the end of this book made me want to read the 3rd book in this series even more than I already did.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“The Gwaii Preview” By Grant Chastain & Sean Patrick O’Reilly & The Great LP Review

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SPECIAL 15-PAGE PREVIEW! An all-ages book from Arcana Kids! Tanu is a sasquatch lost in the Canadian wilderness who must face the Fearsome Creatures in order to find the clues that will lead him to his mother. Using his agility, speed, jumping ability, and a mean snowball-throwing arm, the young Sasquatch must find his way back home facing the most fearsome mythological creatures ever whispered about in the wild wilderness.

Before we start this review its important to say that this one, is just a preview of the full comic book. And with that being said lets talk about this preview and if its worth buying and reading the entire comic book.

From what this preview has to offer I can tell that the entire comic book has a very fun and compelling narrative which in a way made me captivated with it. But at the same time it does have a rich and vivid storytelling ability. And solely from those things I just mentioned I’m very interested in reading the entire cmic book and just this preview. 

The other thing I noticed while reading this preview is that, the author and this particular story has a very good and fun world-building aspect to it, which in a way immersing readers in a beautifully crafted environment that evokes the spirit of the Gwaii region.

At the same time this story has a fun and very interesting blend  of prose and lyrical elements, which helps the story to have a unique reading experience for the readers. And it makes this entire story a very good read for both children and adults.

The characters in this story were so very good written and illustrated. Which really gave this story another aspect to it which really made me interested in reading the entire comic book and not just this preview. 

Character development is another very strong point this preview has about the entire story because the protagonists are relatable. And the journey they got on makes them undergo a significant growth throughout the story.

The narrative of this story, which is also shown in this preview shows us that it is very engaging but also at the same time thought-provoking which would work on both children of all ages and on adults.

The writing style in this preview (and I hope it remains the same way in the full comic book) is very accessible yet poetic, making it suitable for a wide range of audiences.

This preview gives us also a fun aspect of this entire comic book, which is that the story has a theme of connection to nature but at the same time it has also a heritage undertone to it. Which I really liked because it shows that it gives us a more deeper meaning to the entire comic book and most just what we can easily define in one sentence.

However the only bad thing I have to say about this preview is that the pacing of this story may occasionally lag in certain sections. And this means that it drags for way longer than it needed to at certain moments even in this preview of the entire comic book. Which really in a way made me want to skip some parts of it, just to move forward with the story. 

After reading this preview I gotta say that I will be reading the entire comic book at some point in time. I don’t know if I can fit it into this year because I have a lot of comic books and normal books I want to read this year but I will buy and read the entire comic book at some point in this year or next. Which depends on the time I have this year to read and how fast I can read the books and comic books I have planed to read this year.

I Give This Book 4 / 5