fantasy

Awesome Movies Review 4.5/5 Stars: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, children's, Family, Fantasy, Movie Reviews , , , , , ,
Not my pic – standard poster

*Spoilers after ads

Summary:

Hiccup, Toothless, and the How to Train Your Dragon crew returns for a final adventure to the trilogy. (Though let’s be honest, if it makes money, they’ll find a way to get a 4th story and make it a cycle.) Hiccup and company have fought hard to create a dragon-human utopia. And it works, sort of. It also draws a lot of unwanted attention.

Additional Comments:

– Dragon based stories generally fall into the “dragons are adorable” or “dragons are terrifying” sides. Though they’re definitely mostly on the “adorable” side, the makers of this movie managed to include some super scary dragons as well.

– Story 4/5: Hiccup’s way of life is threatened, so he tries to move on. His clan faces big trials. Toothless meets a lightfury and falls in love (not a spoiler since that’s pretty much all the trailer and the posters focus on). There’s good balance between the two halves of the story.

– Fight Scenes 4/5: Most reminded me of the Battle for Naboo (plains side), where Jar Jar Binks is fighting off droids and succeeding despite complete ineptness. There is an exception to that noted below. Hiccup’s sword is pretty awesome though and there are some pretty sweet moves here and there.

– Flashbacks 4/5: Not usually a fan, but I think it worked well here.

– Conflict 4.5/5: Toothless and Hiccup are at an interesting point in their relationship and in life. They handled the themes with care.

– Humor 3/5: The comic relief characters had way too much screentime, and they weren’t particularly funny. On the other hand, the awkward scenes with Toothless and the Lightfury were downright hilarious.

– Epilogue 4.5/5: Not really a huge fan of epilogues, but this one worked for me. More on that later…

– Visuals 4.5/5: comments below.

Random trailer comment: I’m such a sucker for Nancy Drew, I’ll probably watch the reboot.

Conclusion:

Excellent movie worth seeing a few times. One of the rare movies where I think it matters to have it in 3D. Entertaining and fun as well as pretty (if you can get past the overdone sections of stupid humor.)

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.


OR

Spoiler Section:

– Music 4.5/5: Favorite score was the one playing while Toothless and the lightfury weave in and out of the campsite.

– Visuals 4.5/5: It’s a very pretty movie when they’re not focusing on stupid humor. The Hidden World piece is only like 5 minutes long, but it’s beautiful and majestic. I think you see the best part in the theatrical trailer.

– Best fight scene: The escape from Grimmel’s trap.

– Most of Ruffnut’s dialogue was stupid but the part where she annoyed the heck out of Gimmel was quite impressive. (Even though the evil mastermind planned for it.)

– Epilogue comments: Baby dragons! Awwwwww. They’re so flippin’ cute.

4/5 Stars: Heart of Ikchani by Craig A. Price, Jr.

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Fantasy , , ,

Narrated by Anne Marie Lewis

Summary:

Women from several backgrounds have had it with the incompetent, cruel, or corrupt rule of men. So, they decide to form their own society.

Additional Comments:

  • Intriguing concepts. I’ve heard other books by this author from this world. It’s pretty well fleshed out.
  • If you’re looking for stories with strong female leads, you’ve definitely found one. Everyone from the duke’s daughter to the bread-maker’s daughter who can control magic has a story and a reason for seeking a society free of men.
  • Humor: There are a few lighthearted moments, like the times one of the women turns her foes into toads.
  • Not exactly a kid-friendly fantasy, but a fun one nonetheless. The solution these women have to their troubles probably wouldn’t work, but it’s interesting to read. I can see this sparking some interesting conversations in a college lit class.
  • Narration was handled well. The audio didn’t have any weird background noise or anything distracting like that. The narrator kept distinct voices. I wasn’t in love with the voice for every character, but that’s neither here nor there, just personal preference. If you get a story like this with a lot of voices, there’s bound to be some that just don’t resonate with you.
  • Warnings: Contains fantasy violence and adult concepts.  This author doesn’t pull punches when it comes to describing violence. The sex scenes aren’t described in great detail but there are several references to rape.

Conclusion:

Not kid-friendly! But a well-written, fun, female character driven short fantasy novel. If you’re a Crimson Claymore fan, you should check this book out.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.


OR

Reshner Series/ Scifi and Fantasy Playlist Walkthrough

Julie Gilbert Fantasy, Prequel, scifi , , ,

Warning:

The explanations here contain some spoilers if you have not read the Reshner Series.

Introduction:

Instead of creating a list for each individual story, I decided to try for key moments throughout the series as a whole.

It’s Got my Name on it by Tommee Profitt and Sarah Reeves

The song’s probably about a competition crown and fighting hard to get it, but I love to think of it as Mavis Altran’s theme song. Most of the plotpoints in the trilogy get driven by her ambition for the crown.

Goldie’s Goldie by The Sidh, Colin Goldie

Fast-paced, light-hearted, and fun, this song is great for kicking off the Kireshana, the royal guard training exercise where the candidates basically tour a large section of the northern continent.

Drama Refinement by Leo Moody

I very rarely get flow right, but coming from Goldie’s Goldie, this song works out pretty well. It covers the switch to “things get dangerous” nicely. The prince gets ambushed.

The Legend of Lya by Philter

Prince Terosh meets Reia, the Ranger sent to shadow him and make sure he stays safe on the journey. They decide to travel together.

Dragonflies by Svrcina

The very beginnings of a forbidden romance.

Incendiary (Instrumental) by Tommee Profitt

A continuation of the dangers that can be encountered during the journey. Hidden dangers from people conspiring against the crown.

Tiger Battle by Steven Price

Second korver attack (A korver is sort of like a wolf.) More danger from unseen sources.

War of Hearts by Ruelle

The prince and the Ranger acknowledge that they love each other but it’s very complicated.

Homecoming by Thomas Bergersen

Prince Terosh finishes his renewing fire journey and returns to the palace.

The Prophecy by Tony Anderson and Aubrey Prunty

Reia gets drawn into a trap ultimately meant to draw out the prince.

Magic of Love by Thomas Bergersen

When things settle down for a second, the two lovers realize that what they have is worth the risks.

Windchimes by Michael Logozar

A nice, peaceful theme for the hopeful beginning of a new era. If there was an end of book one, this would be it.

Guardians at the Gate by Audiomachine

Book two starts off fairly calm, but things quickly turn dangerous. Threats loom large.

Requiem for a Tower

There’s a moment in the second book where the main character enters a friendly duel with his cousin, but things go terribly wrong. This song was probably meant for the siege of a castle, but it works for spiritual and emotional warfare as well.

The Other Side by Ruelle

A song of longing and fear of loss perfectly encompasses the mindset of the queen facing the possibility of ruling alone if her husband dies after the dueling accident.

Breaking Through by London Music Works

I think this song fits just before Reia attempts to heal her husband from his arena wounds.

Miracles by Two Steps from Hell, Thomas Bergersen

A good song to cover the wait time for the healing to take place. Sometimes, the miracles take place over time and take plenty of patience.

Chrono Cross – “Scars of Time” performed by Video Games Live

Wind instruments are good in representing the world as a whole. Reshner in the world language means “restful place.” Midway through things switch over to more exciting and dangerous, which also happens in this sort of really long adventure story.

Bird Song – Femke Remix by Through Juniper Vale

The song doesn’t quite ring true for the whole series, but if it was a movie, this would be the perfect second song of the credits.

“…when our hearts beat slow together”

Redemption by Zach Hemsey

The title doesn’t quite line up, but the soft, contemplative theme is great for wrapping up an epic saga.

Victory by Two Steps from Hell

If credits had to stretch quite a bit, then this one fits for the end. It also fits for the end of the third book’s events.

Conclusion:

This one has a lot more instrumental music than the other two lists for modern stories. I think instrumental music is more suited for science fiction and fantasy as a genre. Hope you find something to love on here.

Associate Links:

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

OR

Movie Reviews 3/5: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, Fantasy, Movie Reviews , , , , ,

I don’t own the poster, but it’s pretty.

3/5 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword – mild spoilers possible

Summary:

A new twist on an old tale. A brother rises up against his brother to steal the throne. His quest for power leads him to corruption, power, and ultimately doom.

Additional Comments:

– beginnings reminds me of LOTR with the elephants

– nice use of magic. Weird music.

– bridge fight like Thor.

– dude who plays Littlefinger is in this.

– civil war? Jude Law’s character. Sacrifice… ouch.

– dude who played Bolton is also in it, Jack.

– dude from orphan black in here too. Donnie I think.

– all the slow motion stuff is tedious.

– Art becomes a fugitive.

– very public execution. The mage and rebels save him.

– the sword keeps kicking his behind.

– chase scene is disorienting.

– plot is standard yet still effective. Capture his friends.

– it’s like a very strange video game.

Conclusion:

If you like strange takes on medieval tales, like A Knight’s Tale, then the music choices won’t throw you. If you’re looking for a faithful rendition of King Arthur’s rise to power, then you might be a tad disappointed. It’s entertaining but in a weird way.

 

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 … not kidding, that’s basically it.)

Amazon Prime

 

Audible – If you’d like some free codes, please email me at [email protected] with requests for any of my works.

Try Awakening. Or The Golden City Captives.


OR


Audiobook Reviews 4/5 Wendigo Fever by Kevin Hardman

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Horror, Paranormal , , , , , ,

 

Summary:

Errol Magnus, a deputy Warden for lack of a better title, sort of inherits responsibility for the region when his older brother, Tom, goes missing. Something big and scary is out there taking down people.

Additional Comments:

– Not sure why this book isn’t just called the Wendigo. It’s not really about the Wendigo Fever, that’s just sort of a sidenote. The cover confuses this issue even more as it makes it seem like WARDEN is the title and Wendigo Fever the subtitle.

– The worldbuilding is decent for such a short story. I think if I remember correctly, it’s one of those post-apocalyptic, set so far in the future we’ve come full circle to the past sorts of settings.

– The book is surprisingly lighthearted for being a horror story of the creepy things that go bump in the night variety.

– Errol’s fairly fleshed out as a character, but pretty much everybody else isn’t. Gail had potential, but she does little more than give Errol somebody to talk to while he explains stuff the reader needs to know.

– I can’t really talk about my favorite side character because that would be a spoiler, but suffice to say that there are a lot of colorful characters in this world.

Conclusion:

Interesting, short horror story.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 … not kidding, that’s basically it.)

Amazon Prime

 

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

TV Reviews 4/5 Stars: Game of Thrones Season Three

Julie Gilbert historical, Movie Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , ,

You guessed it. I don’t own the pic. It’s a suitably creepy one for the season though.

Summary:

Alliances are shifting. Joffrey’s fresh off a victory he largely didn’t win himself. He’s still a sadistic fool everybody loves to hate, except Cersi, she genuinely loves the twit. Robb Stark’s still fighting but Ironborn (Theon Greyjoy’s people) control much of the North.

Additional Comments:

– I have a new favorite character: Margaery’s grandmother, Olenna Tyrell. She calls her son Lord Oaf of High Garden in her first, very frank conversation with Sansa. The lady’s downright hilarious and I think she was on screen for like 2 minutes tops.

– episode 4 might be my favorite so far. Most was boring, but the few minutes of Dany gaining her Unsullied army were epic.

– This season adds in more torture than I remember.

– The show’s certainly not afraid to bump off main characters, though we knew that from Season 1.

– One thing I’ve started to appreciate more these days is the end credits music choices. For example, episode 9 doesn’t have music at the end, but that fits the mood perfectly. It’s a stunning silence.

– the end of the season is actually a high and beautiful note. Mhysa is both a lovely song and a sweet moment.

Conclusion:

A well-rounded season with highs and lows and understandable struggles across Westros.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 … not kidding, that’s basically it.)

Amazon Prime

 

Audible – If you’d like some free codes, please email me at [email protected] with requests for any of my works.

Try Awakening.


OR



Movie Reviews 4/5: Thor Ragnarok

Julie Gilbert comedy, Fantasy, Movie Reviews, scifi , , , ,

I don’t own the movie poster but I will say it’s probably the most colorful I’ve ever seen.

 

Spoilers ahead, maybe.

4/5 Thor Ragnarok

Summary:

Fun and weird. Some pretty sad and twisted stuff happens, but it’s no Game of Thrones in terms of grim factor. There’s usually some light moment to break up the horror of war and death.

Additional Comments:

  • Cate Blanchett plays one heck of a Goddess of Death.
  • Jeff Goldblum as the Master was pretty funny.
  • Tessa Thompson as the Valkyrie rocked too. Her relationship with Thor was intriguing: first captor, then reluctant ally, then committed ally.
  • I was trying to figure out what else Karl Urban was in. I think it was Almost Human that I remembered him most for. I miss that quirky show. Though I will say, he definitely looks better with hair.
  • Thor’s new look suits him well, but I kinda miss the golden locks.
  • The poster looks like a gobstopper candy.
  • I’m gonna hold on to the fantasy that they make it and live happily ever after.

Conclusion:

Not going to go down as the most serious Marvel movie, but an interesting time. Worth seeing a few times.

 

Associate links to follow…

Amazon Prime

 

Audible – If you’d like some free codes, please email me at [email protected] with requests for any of my works.

Try Spirit’s Bane.

 


OR


Audiobook Reviews 3/5: Sam & the Secrets of the Universe: Book 1: Monad by JA Cawood

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Fantasy, middle grade, scifi , , ,

3/5 stars Interesting Twist on Boy Learns he has Cool Gifts

Summary:

Sam’s dead (not a spoiler, that’s in the blurb). He goes to a place called Havona to learn the secrets of the universe. You’ll have to forgive my lack of details. I’m partly trying to avoid spoilers and it’s been a while since I heard the audiobook. I meant to write this ages ago.

 

Additional Comments:

– Worldbuilding (3.5/5) – This book contains a lot of really cool ideas. They’re pretty hard to describe though, and the author does an admirable job of attempting the feat. For example, the switching bodies section was very cool.

– Characters (3.5/5) – Sam meets several aliens. Only about 4 of them remain central to the story. Can’t remember the names right now, and besides, my spelling of them would be atrocious anyway. I don’t feel like you really get to know the pre-death Sam well enough to like him as a character. I did like his friend, but our time with her is short too. That may be purposeful.

– Plot (3/5) – The book splits roughly 1/5 to 4/5 before death and after death. The after death sections play out like most “training” sequences with the added bonus of very neat new worlds being thrown in the mix.

– Closure (1/5) – Clearly, this book is meant to be a series. I have a thing about closure, as in I REALLY like it and this book severely lacked it. That said, there are definitely good parts to the book. The end fails to satisfy. It’s not quite a true cliffhanger, but the end sprang up and ran right to the edge of … something, a gentle slide into “well, there’s definitely more to come.” Please note, this might just be a personal taste thing. I absolutely hate endings that feel like teasers/ setup for a new book.

– Why couldn’t I connect with the book?

After some soul-searching, I’m ready to conclude “not my cup of tea.” It’s a decent book. One of my major pitfalls in buying into the story was a lack of a real sense of danger. They’re already dead. The sense of “oh, wow, this could truly be the END” never really kicked in throughout the story, even with the threat of “Reset”. That removed a lot of the tension for me. Without tension, I couldn’t get into the conflict. Without conflict, there’s not much of a story.

– Aside: Much of this story, probably right down to starting with the cover, felt stylistically like the “new” Willy Wonka movie with Johnny Depp or the Oz, the Great and Powerful. They’re over-the-top, crazy colors everywhere kind of movies.

– Who do I think would like the book?

Middle grade boys, an underserved market if there is such a thing in literature. This is not a knock against them in anyway. It’s an acknowledgement that their tastes and mine will differ.

– Narration (2.5/5) – Usually, I’m cool with narrators. This one is okay, but his voice isn’t my favorite. He has a very matter-of-fact style of reading that made parts come across as choppy.

Conclusion:

The plot feels like the beginning act of a much larger play. If that sort of thing bothers you, avoid. If you’re cool with that, go for it. What it lacks in closure, it makes up for in imagination and neat concepts. Sam’s a likable guy. Give the audio sample a shot and see if you like it. Or read a few pages from the preview and take the leap if you like what you see.

Associate links to follow…

This book …

Amazon Prime

 

Audible – If you’d like some free codes, please email me at [email protected] with requests for any of my works.

The Science in Science Fiction

Julie Gilbert Reader Resource, scifi, Young Adult , , , ,

Introduction:

Science fiction comes in many flavors. It’s not all aliens and spaceships. Sometimes, science that matters most. Writers who strive for near-future science fiction typically ask “what if” a lot.

What’s the trick to making it realistic?

Go a step further than what’s possible now. For The Dark Side of Science, the whole premise might be beyond what’s possible now, but not by much. Mostly, ethical guidelines and massive amounts of red tape separate reality and fiction here.

The Devya’s Children series features several genetically altered children. By turning certain genes on and off, the scientists gave the children special gifts. Also, the scientists played around with their features, so that even though the biological parents were white, one appeared Asian and another African.

Is that possible?

Several documented cases show that it’s possible to get kids of mixed descent turning out with different skin tones. Take this National Geographic article about black and white fraternal twins for example. We believe our understanding of science has come far in the last few hundred years, and it definitely has. However, we’re still making new discoveries all the time.

Could it happen?

Shoving ethics aside and unfettering science, it probably wouldn’t take long to get where The Dark Side of Science started.

In The Dark Side of Science, two companies compete for the same secret government contract. They’re showing off the “best” of their products by having the children created in the programs battle in a winner-takes-all, losers-might-die competition. Since they’re not sure how to make Minders, they’re trying to get those memories out of one of the scientists who turned away from the project.

Samples of the Science in the Fiction:

(Contains spoiler for The Dark Side of Science)

In chapter 13, we find Dr. Jessica Paladon having a disagreement with a molecule simulator. Her friend got poisoned, and she must create an antidote from the raw materials. First, she designs the molecule she wants in a computer. Then, she tasks the molecule simulator to create the compound so she can test it on her friend.

To my knowledge, molecule simulators don’t exist. But 3D printers do. It’s essentially the same idea, only applied on a smaller level.

While many genetically altered plants and animals exist, probably not humans … yet. The movie Gattaca explores some of the ethical questions behind a society that allows itself to choose skin color and traits that would favor certain abilities. Long before I even started writing, the “what if” question existed.

Spaceships exist, but not ones that can take humans to the far side of the galaxy. Yet. We’re limited by resources: the fuel, the technology, and so forth. But what if something new was discovered, a stable element that lasted far longer and burned hotter than any known fuel. That could be a game changer.

Conclusion:

Science fiction takes the known and pushes it further into the unknown. It paints a picture where everything we know is true plus a few extra things.

About the Author:

Julie C. Gilbert teaches high school chemistry and writes in many genres, including nonfiction, fantasy, young adult science fiction, mystery/thriller, and Christian mystery. She collects Legos and Star Wars stuff.

Links:

Email:

Amazon page – has all the published works.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram: juliecgilbert_writer

Associate links to follow…

Amazon Prime

 

Audible – If you’d like some free codes, please email me at [email protected] with requests for any of my works.


Audiobook Reviews 4/5 Stars: Dragon’s Heir by Kandi J. Wyatt

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, dragons, Fantasy, middle grade, Reader Resource , , ,

Summary:

A young Rider leaves the comfort of home to track down a dragon hatching snatcher. He vows to bring justice, but is that the only way?

Additional Comments:

– It’s been long enough since I heard the first book that I had to spend the first bit orienting myself with the world again.

– Since I heard the audiobook, I was totally picturing Brayden, not Braidyn, but that’s cool.

– The little dragon baby (Perci? Sorry about spelling) was adorable, even if she is still inside the egg.

– Plot (4/5): Things progress logically. We get to meet Braidyn and get a brief feel for his sense of justice and fairness. Then, after the eggs go missing, he sets out on the larger quest to bring them back.

– Characters (3.5/5): Several characters’ motives didn’t seem as strong as they could be. I get that the guy who stole the egg was disgruntled, but that whole thing could have gone down without the middleman so to speak. The returning characters act as support for the young main character.

– World-building (4/5): The introduction to a new culture provided a nice touch. The Riders from the South don’t do much to adapt, but they do foster a decent relationship with the new people.

– Although several well-described fights happen, there’s not much danger sense throughout. That might be due to trying to keep it MG friendly.

Conclusion:

Kid-safe dragon adventure story.

 

Associate links to follow…

Amazon Prime

 

Audible – If you’d like some free codes, please email me at [email protected] with requests for any of my works.