Lethal Weapon (2016-?)

lethal-weapon

Lethal Weapon (2016-?)

Network:

Fox

Starring:

Clayne Crawford

Damon Wayans

Jordana Brewster

Plot:

Based on the hit movie franchise, Lethal Weapon tells the story of classic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, as they work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. Riggs’ penchant for diving into the line of fire clashes with Murtaugh’s by-the-book technique. It’s clear from the moment they meet, that this partnership is doomed. But it might just work. If Riggs doesn’t get them killed first…

Review:

I like the Lethal Weapon movies, but they aren’t sacred in my mind so I think that helped me enjoy this show. The basic story seemed to follow the movies, the characters seemed spot on, and the action was what you would expect on a TV version. I liked it. It wasn’t amazing, it wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was comforting and fun to watch. I could easily see myself watching this every week and I’m excited to see how the show develops.

4/5

Designated Survivor (2016-?)

designated-survivor-1

Designated Survivor (2016-?)

Network:

ABC

Starring:

Kiefer Sutherland

Natascha McElhone

Adan Canto

Plot:

A low-level Cabinet member becomes President of the United States after a catastrophic attack kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.

Review:

How can you not want to watch something with that tagline? Especially with the current political climate in our country.

I’ve never watched an episode of 24 so I went into this show with very little exposure to Sutherland and in all honesty was thinking more about Jack Ryan in the book Executive Orders. If they can keep up the good guy image of Sutherland’s character I think I could really enjoy this show. Seeing him battle and win in Washington would be amazing, if unrealistic, after all I do love Mr. Smith goes to Washington.

I’m going to give the show a few more episodes before I fully commit, there’s a lot of side stuff going on and there was a lot to allude to in the pilot, so I’m still not too sure about the show. If it can keep up the idea of someone who is good and wants what’s best for the country and not make him become a corruptible asshole I think I could really enjoy the show. As long as he gets enough wins. I like the idea of hope in politics.

4/5

Battle Magic (The Circle Reforged #3) By: Tamora Pierce

battle_magic_cover

Battle Magic (The Circle Reforged #3) By: Tamora Pierce

Plot:

While visiting the God-King and the First Circle temple in Gyongxe, mages Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy are invited to visit the emperor’s summer palace. Although treated like royalty when they first arrive, the mages soon discover that the emperor plans to invade Gyongxe, posing a fatal threat to the home temple of the Living Circle religion.

Accompanied by one of the emperor’s prize captives, the three mages rush to Gyongxe to warn its citizens of the impending attack. With the imperials hot on their trail, Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy must quickly help the country prepare for battle.

But even with the help of new allies, will their combined forces be enough to fight the imperial army and win the war?

Review:

I’ve loved Tamora Pierce books since I was thirteen so even though YA isn’t my main genre I will still read and re-read her books. Battle Magic came out a few years ago and I had pre-ordered the hardback so when it came out it was on my doorstep, but I was pregnant and barely able to work let alone read so it just sat there.

The story happens before The Will of the Empress the first book in the Circle Reforged series and with the amount of time Briar spends talking about what happened to him in that book I almost felt like I’d already read Battle Magic. Except that I feel like how he acts in The Will of the Empress isn’t backed up with the actual events. I was left feeling let down.

I love the characters in the Circle universe, I love going back and reading their adventures, but there wasn’t much growth or development of the characters here. Events kept happening around them and they kept traveling to battles but you didn’t discover anything new about Briar or the others. You learned more about the world and there were some very interesting things there, but I needed something big and emotional to happen to Briar after all the buildup in the previous book. It was disappointing.

I’ve read The Will of the Empress a few times and when I finished Battle Magic I went back and skimmed it to see if maybe I’d outgrown the series, but the story was still awesome. I also noticed a few things that Briar alludes to that just never happened in Battle Magic. I almost wish that Pierce had never written this book or written something else instead. It didn’t feel up to her usual standards.

3.5/5

The Kraken King (Iron Seas #4) By: Meljean Brook

The Kraken King

The Kraken King (Iron Seas #4) By: Meljean Brook

Plot:

A former smuggler and thief, Ariq—better known as the Kraken King—doesn’t know what to make of the clever, mysterious woman he rescues from an airship besieged by marauders. Unsure if she’s a spy or a pawn in someone else’s game, Ariq isn’t about to let her out of his sight until he finds out…

After escaping her fourth kidnapping attempt in a year, Zenobia Fox has learned to vigilantly guard her identity. While her brother Archimedes is notorious for his exploits, Zenobia has had no adventures to call her own—besides the stories she writes.

But when she jumps at the chance to escape to the wilds of Australia and acquire research for her next story, Zenobia quickly discovers that the voyage will be far more adventurous than any fiction she could put to paper…

Review:

Wow, this was really long. It wasn’t until I finished it that I noticed that Goodreads has it listed as one book but also parts, like you can buy it in parts or as a whole. Weird choice for the publisher, but it might have been more digestible though probably not as satisfying.

Loved getting to see Zenobia and I really liked Ariq. He was sometimes referred to as a barbarian but he was nothing like how other author’s I’ve read depict barbarians. He was alpha male, but he was never forceful. He was smart but they still had cultural miscommunications. I really loved how he was depicted.

There was more world building than I cared for and I did end up skipping some stuff, the book was really long.

4/5

Riveted (Iron Seas #3) By: Meljean Brook

Riveted

Riveted (Iron Seas #3) By: Meljean Brook

Plot:

A century after a devastating volcanic eruption forced Iceland’s inhabitants to abandon its shores, the island has become enshrouded in legend. Fishermen tell tales of giant trolls guarding the land and of seductive witches who steal men’s hearts. But the truth behind the legends is mechanical, not magic—and the mystery of the island a matter of life and death for a community of women who once spilled noble blood to secure their freedom. Five years ago, Annika unwittingly endangered that secret, but her sister Källa took the blame and was exiled. Now Annika serves on the airship Phatéon, flying from port to port in search of her sister and longing to return home . . . but that home is threatened when expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard. Determined to solve the mystery of his own origin, David will stop at nothing to expose Annika’s secrets. But when disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, their very survival depends on keeping the heat rising between them—and generating lots of steam . . .

Review:

I stayed up way to late reading this book and seriously regretted it in the morning, but I liked the characters and couldn’t put it down.

I loved that Annika came from a hidden village where only women lived, but they weren’t just strong Amazon like women. She was brave but she didn’t see herself that way. I liked that the heroine wasn’t just another bad ass woman, she was capable and smart, but not going around taking people out. David was also awesome, he was sweet and kind and still very much manly.

Great couple and lots more world building in the Iron Seas universe, I really liked this book.

5/5