Movie Reviews

Mediocre but Entertaining | Review of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’

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By Cynthia Ayala

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales starring Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Kevin McNally, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley & Geoffrey Rush Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Image Credit: IMDB

“Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the trident of Poseidon while being pursued by an undead sea captain and his crew.”

    —IMDB

Yet another Pirates film. I missed out On Stranger Tides, although I was told I didn’t miss anything considering it was terrible. Not that I was surprised. But considering this film was returning to its roots with a ghost story, well I thought I would give it a try. What did a get? Just more of the same, nothing new, nothing fresh, only mediocrity.
 Continue reading Mediocre but Entertaining | Review of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ →

Book Reviews

Captivating from Beginning to End | Review of ‘Out of the Shadows’ (Shadowlands #1)

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By Cynthia Ayala

Out of the Shadows by Ashlee Nicole Bye
Huntuzie Press
Image Credit: Ashlee Nicole Bye

Death. So delicately controlled by reapers of The Order of Dark and Light, is being threatened by an ancient enemy, and in the hidden streets of the Shadowlands, no one is safe while darkness and light struggle against an enemy of power. For Sachi, it’s even harder. Following the death of her friend, Sachi has not been able to cope, especially once she sees him alive again, battling against a Reaper with the keys to her heart. Sachi shouldn’t be able to see them at all, the dead and mystical. She wants answers and is willing to do whatever it takes to get them. Even die…

Published May 4, 2017, by Huntuzie Press, Out of the Shadows
by Ashlee Nicole Bye is her debut novel following mystical elements familiar to young readers who read The Mortal Instruments.
 Continue reading Captivating from Beginning to End | Review of ‘Out of the Shadows’ (Shadowlands #1) →

Reading List

Weekly Reading List #91

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By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there readers. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. So it looks like I might have to take some time off from blogging. I have all these books, 2 are ARC’s and 2 are library books all set to expire in the next few weeks. Here’s hoping I’m able to get to them all. Man or man do I need a time-turner or what. Anyway, here’s hoping I don’t need to take time off for my reading. Although, I do love reading….
 Continue reading Weekly Reading List #91 →

Movie Reviews

A DC Miracle | Review of ‘Wonder Woman’

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By Cynthia Ayala

Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen & Elena Anaya
Warner Bros. Pictures
Image Credit: IMDB

“Before she was Wonder Woman she was Diana, Princess of the Amazons, trained warrior. When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and true destiny.”

    —IMDB

As a comic book fan and reader, I tend to set my standards high, especially for DC because those are the comics I buy. But ever since The Dark Knight, there hasn’t been a decent DC film. Until now. Personally, they either miss the mark on understanding the characters (Harley Quinn being the exception) or lack the humor needed to keep the audience entertained between all the drama and darkness. Wonder Woman doesn’t do that. Wonder Woman gets everything right and let me say this, it was amazing.
 Continue reading A DC Miracle | Review of ‘Wonder Woman’ →

Book Reviews

A Beautiful Debut | Review of ‘The Girl in Between’

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By Cynthia Ayala

The Girl in Between by Sarah Carroll
Kathy Dawson Books
Image Credit: Goodreads

Homeless but not alone, a young girl lives with her mother in an abandoned mill worried every day that the authorities are going to take her away. But with developers coming their way to tear the place down, she must contend with her mothers’ personal demons and the ghosts of the past haunting them.

Published June 20, 2017, by Kathy Dawson Books, The Girl in Between is the debut novel by Sarah Carroll, a young adult tale about family, homelessness and the love between a mother and daughter.
 Continue reading A Beautiful Debut | Review of ‘The Girl in Between’ →

Reading List

Weekly Reading List #90

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By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there readers. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. Haven’t had much time to read or edit this past week so I’ve fallen behind just a bit. But nothing to worry about, I’ll always find time to read, even if it’s only 20 pages a day. And I’ll always find some time to edit my novel. Anyway, see my weekly reading list right here. Happy reading!
 Continue reading Weekly Reading List #90 →

Movie Reviews

Worthy of the name ‘Alien’ | Review of ‘Alien: Covenant’

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By Cynthia Ayala

Alien: Covenant starring Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston & Billy Crudup
20th Century Fox
Image Credit: IMDB

“The crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination, and must attempt a harrowing escape.”

—IMDB

Alien: Covenant does its predecessors proud…for the most part. While the film was overly amazing, at the end of it, it’s clear that it suffers from some continuity issues. But I’ll get to that in a minute because overall, they don’t affect the enjoyment of this film at all.
 Continue reading Worthy of the name ‘Alien’ | Review of ‘Alien: Covenant’ →

Book Reviews

A Breathtaking Ending | Review of ‘Vicious’ (Pretty Little Liars #16)

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By Cynthia Ayala

Vicious by Sara Shepard
HarperTeen
Image Credit: Goodreads

For years, Hanna, Emily, Aria, and Spencer have been terrorized by “A,” a mysterious figure who has harassed them, revealed all their secrets and even threatened their lives and the lives of their loved ones. But now the mystery is over. They know A is the real Alison who. through a vicious scheme, has placed them in jail. In the final fight for their lives, some will leave broken, some will fight until the very end. One things for certain, this is the end of the Pretty Little Liars.

Published December 2, 2014, by HarperTeen Vicious by Sara Shepard is the final novel in her bestselling Pretty Little Liars series where young adult meets mystery.
 Continue reading A Breathtaking Ending | Review of ‘Vicious’ (Pretty Little Liars #16) →

Reading List

Weekly Reading Post #89

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By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there readers. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. It’s been a nice week. I had four days off from work but then I worked all weekend, which is fair, and I don’t mind working the weekends, there’s more energy on the weekends. It’s crazy sure, but time also just flies by. Been working on my business plan with my mom for “Dragin Pub House”. Can’t reveal everything about it but the title is a pun. I have quite the affinity for puns. Anyway, since it’s been pretty easy going of late (minus the bouts of insomnia) I’ve been able to catch up on my reading, editing, and writing. Love it! So check out this week’s reading list. Hope something catches your eye here, Happy reading.
 Continue reading Weekly Reading Post #89 →

Book Reviews

Powerful and Mystifying | Review of ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’ (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2)

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By Cynthia Ayala

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Image Credit: Goodreads

Feyre survived Amarantha, she broke her curse over the Fae, but the cost was high. Now she’s a High Fae, but her soul and heart will always be human, and the terrors she was forced to inflict, haunt her daily. And the day of her wedding, Rhysand whisks her away, as part of their bargain. Now Feyre must navigate through the Night Court, discovering the light in the darkness and in Rhysand. With a war on the horizon, enemies and friends must pull together, and Feyre must master her new gifts and be the hero once again—if the darkness doesn’t threaten to kill her first.

Published May 3, 2016, by Bloomsbury USA Children’s A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas is the second in her YA fantasy Court of Thorns and Roses series.
 Continue reading Powerful and Mystifying | Review of ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’ (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) →

Bringing you the latest reviews on films & novels. – Cynthia A.

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