Blair Witch - Movie Review

Blair Witch
Director: Adam Wingard, Writer: Simon Barrett

What is it about:
After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his vanished sister Heather, James and a group of friends head to the forest believed to be inhabited by the Blair Witch.

What did I think of it:
I remember how people raved about The Blair Witch Project back in 1999. It was so scary and so intense, I was told. Just one person who saw the movie told me he thought it sucked. I should have listened to that one person, because when I saw the movie I was bored and slightly queasy from the shaky camera work.

Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000) wasn't pretending to be anything more than a bad horror movie, and I actually enjoyed that one.

So when a friend invited me to go to Blair Witch (2016) I came along, expecting something bad, but thinking it couldn't possibly be worse than the original The Blair Witch Project.

Well.....

Think again!

Blair Witch is trying hard to be like its predecessor The Blair Witch Project, including shaky camera work. Now I can understand a camera is shaking when you're running for your life, but it's practically shaking all the time! As my friend said: no one is that unsteady with a camera these days!

Then there's the sound. For a movie that's trying to pretend it's an actual documentary it's surprising how at "scary" moments the sound suddenly is louder to make sure to add to the scare effect.

As for scary: again I was pretty bored by what was supposed to be scary. There was one scene where someone is trapped in a dank tunnel and that's where my sympathetic claustrophobia kicked in, but otherwise this movie would have been a snooze-fest if it wasn't for the erratic noisy sound effects.

All in all it's practically a tie which is the worst movie: The Blair Witch Project or Blair Witch. As another friend said: at least The Blair Witch Project was trying something new back in the day, so it's with this in mind that I have to say that Blair Witch is even worse than The Blair Witch Project.

So if you're looking for a scary movie and just have to have the Blair Witch involved: track down Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, that movie at least won't make you queasy with its camera work.

The Fire Lord's Lover - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

The Fire Lord's Lover (The Elven Lords #1)
by Kathryne Kennedy

What is it about:
In a magical land ruled by ruthless Elven lords, the Fire Lord's son, Dominic Raikes, plays a deadly game to conceal his growing might from his malevolent father—until his arranged bride awakens in him passions he thought he had buried forever.

Lady Cassandra has been raised in outward purity and innocence, while secretly being trained as an assassin. Her mission is to bring down the Elven Lord and his champion son. But when she gets to court, she discovers that nothing is what it seems, least of all the man she married.

But beneath the gilded castles lies an unspeakable evil, greater than either Dominic or Cassandra had ever fathomed, and without each other they may not survive.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
A really nice read.

I will confess I thought the obstacles in the romantic story line were overcome a bit too easily. Dominic started out as a very closed off individual, not talking with his wife, but just a few nights of physical passion were enough to make him open up apparently.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the romance, but wouldn't have minded to see both of them connect a bit more on an emotional level.

I loved the world building and the overall story. Next to Dominic and Cassandra there were some interesting characters, and I hoped that maybe one of the other books might feature some of them, but it seems I'm out of luck. That being said, the other books in this series do sound intriguing.

All in all this is an enjoyable Historical Fantasy Romance, and I'll most certainly give the next book in this series a try.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable romance set in an intriguing world.


Buy from Amazon

On Voodoo Bride's Wishlist - Implosion

Implosion (Colliding Worlds Trilogy #2)
by Berinn Rae

Humans and the Sephians have reached a tentative truce and combine forces to pursue the Draeken threat. The war is on…

Sephian warrior Nalea exists only to kill Draeken, and she’s good at her job. That is, until a particularly bloody battle, she finds herself captured by Roden Zyll, a Draeken commander known for his good looks and heartless brutality. Her tormentor ignites a passion she believed impossible, and she despises him for it. Worse, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

Desperate times call for desperate schemes…
Meanwhile, a tyrant has devised a plan that threatens to obliterate life on earth. Roden has spilled plenty of blood in his time, and he cares little for humans. But when he realizes his leader’s plan could lead to his people’s extinction, he plans a war of his own, a war that needs Nalea to succeed. But does earth stand a chance if its survival depends on Nalea opening her heart to the man who’d enslaved her people?

Lord Loss - Book Review

Lord Loss (The Demonata #1)
by Darren Shan

What is it about:
Grubbs Grady has stiff red hair and is a little big for his age, which means he can get into R-rated movies. He hates history and loves bacon, rats, and playing tricks on his squeamish older sister. When he opts out of a family weekend trip, he never guesses that he is about to take a terrifying journey into darkness. Hungry demons and howling werewolves haunt his waking nightmares... and threaten his life

What did I think of it:
I will confess I had a hard time getting into this story at first.

Maybe it's because the action and tension are all over the place. This book starts with some really gruesome events and then the action and suspense almost die down for a long time. There's some mention of magic and scary things, but nearly not as much as I had wanted to hear if I was Grubbs. If the things that happened to Grubbs had happened to me I'd be demanding answers (and a shotgun!).

Anyway: when the action started up again it was worth the wait and I will say I'm curious what the next book will bring.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice paranormal read for younger teens.

Teaser Tuesdays - The Fire Lord's Lover

"We shall argue in whispers?" she finally said in the taut silence.
This time she turned her own ear to his mouth and waited for him to speak. "So it seems."

(Page 163, The Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Cursed - Book Review

Cursed: A Collection of Coveted Short Stories
by Shawntelle Madison

What is it about:
Return to the Coveted universe with several whimsical short stories featuring the delightfully neurotic werewolf Natalya Stravinsky and the rest of the zany supernatural inhabitants of South Toms River, New Jersey. Tales include a Coveted prequel, previously released tales, as well as never seen before stories.

What did I think of it:
I very much enjoyed the Coveted trilogy, so I was very happy to get my trotters on this book with short stories set in the same world.

There are several stories with Natalya, the lead character of the trilogy, but also some with other characters from the series. I enjoyed the stories with Natalya the most I will confess. I especially liked the story where she keeps an eye on her grandmother, who's going on a date, but the title story Cursed is really cool as well.

All in all a fun and enjoyable addition to the trilogy. I can advice this book to anyone who loved the trilogy and wants to read a little bit more about the characters and the world.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun collection of Coveted stories.

Cover reveal - The Tides of Bára

Today I get to show you the gorgeous cover of The Tides of Bára, the third book in Jeffe Kennedy's Sorcerous Moons series.

If you haven't started on this series yet: you should, it's amazing!


The Tides of Bára
Book three in the Sorcerous Moons series

*click the picture for a bigger/better view*

Find pre-order links (once available) here


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Previous books in the series:


An Unquiet Heart

Alone in her tower, Princess Oria has spent too long studying her people’s barbarian enemies, the Destrye—and neglected the search for calm that will control her magic and release her to society. Her restlessness makes meditation hopeless and her fragility renders human companionship unbearable. Oria is near giving up. Then the Destrye attack, and her people’s lives depend on her handling of their prince…

A Fight Without Hope

When the cornered Destrye decided to strike back, Lonen never thought he’d live through the battle, let alone demand justice as a conqueror. And yet he must keep up his guard against the sorceress who speaks for the city. Oria’s people are devious, her claims of ignorance absurd. The frank honesty her eyes promise could be just one more layer of deception.

A Savage Bargain

Fighting for time and trust, Oria and Lonen have one final sacrifice to choose… before an even greater threat consumes them all.


Find buy links here




A Play For Power

Princess Oria has one chance to keep her word and stop her brother’s reign of terror: She must become queen. All she has to do is marry first. And marry Lonen, the barbarian king who defeated her city bare weeks ago, who can never join her in a marriage of minds, who can never even touch her—no matter how badly she wants him to.

A Fragile Bond

To rule is to suffer, but Lonen never thought his marriage would become a torment. Still, he’s a resourceful man. He can play the brute conqueror for Oria’s faceless officials and bide his time with his wife. And as he coaxes secrets from Oria, he may yet change their fate…

An Impossible Demand

With deception layering on deception, Lonen and Oria must claim the throne and brazen out the doubters. Failure means death— for them and their people.

But success might mean an alliance powerful beyond imagining…


Find buy links here