Tag: Books

Master Sol & younglings at Jedi Temple.

The Acolyte: High Republic Story. [Non Spoily]

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What’s The Beautiful Acolyte about ?

Filming of S01 went through in London & at Shinfield Studios in Berkshire ^^ The on location filming was done in Wales & Portugal. On location sets look amazing ^^ This beautiful Telly show’s era takes place a century before the events of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace ✅ It’s sorta focused on the rising of dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic Era. It introduces a respected Jedi Master who is investigating a series of crimes. He meets a former Padawan of his & not long after it they encounter evil at work 😬 Here is my first Live Act Star Wars review. Give it a read after done reading this The Acolyte S01 PT1 review 🛋 Enjoy streaming this at Disney+ & trip to Galaxy Far, Far Away after done reading the review 🍵🥪🍪

S01E01 “Lost / Found“

This Live Act Star Wars adventure begins with gorgeous scenery of a foggy planet Ueda. Character played by talented Amandla Stenberg walking towards a bar. There Jedi Master Indara who is played by Carrie- Anne Moss is attacked by a woman who uses daggers at fights ✅ Later on The bartender identifies Osha Aniseya, a former Jedi Padawan, as the killer. It’s because she’s a twin of a character who fought at first scene. Osha works as a meknek, the profession that includes hazard work outside of starships. She denies committing the crime when arrested by Jedi Knight Yord Fandar & his Padawan Tasi Lowa. I noticed that Amandla Stenberg has the ability to play twin role very well with a soft touch. Mae & Osha characters played by Amandla connect feels lil bit similar to the Force Dyad 🤔 I’d say the pilot a.k.a opener episode gets 6.5/10 & would be 7 if the distraction at noodles joint scene not be so faulty. This & more episodes streaming in Disney+ 😋 Highlight: Droid ship goodies & facehuggah in Galaxy Far, Far Away ✅

Yord talking to Osha close to beginning of S01E01 =)

S01E02 “Revenge / Justice“

Quite soon after i launched the relaxing with this one i noticed that pace in general is much better than at opening episode 🧐 On this episode the viewer spends more time following Mae character. That allows viewer to learn more about what drives her & what she plans to do. The mystery of what happened in the past still a closed book ✅ The episode opens with what looks like an easy kill for Mae, as she finds her next target, Master Torbin meditating in a room, floating in place. He’s been doing it for a long time & with great Jedi power as soon after it is shown. This fan’s eyes & ears got a nice treat because of temple’s atmosphere, life on the street, people passing by & so on 🤤 One of the good moments is also when Jecki talks to Osha on a ship & slight smile before great Jedi Master Sol walks into room =) Another el bueno display of vibrant Star Wars Universe in Live Act production 🙂 The end scene is pure goodiness. S01E02 gets 7/10 & would be seven & half if first escape scene be more clear. Highlight: Sol’s movements at end & life around the temple ✅

Jecki, Sol & Yord near the Temple where Torbin lived.

S01E03 “Destiny”

On a planet Brendok sixteen years earlier, a younger Verosha Aniseya (“Osha”) is meditating in a forest grove beneath a bunta tree. She admires a butterfly-like insect. Her sister Mae-ho Aniseya (“Mae”) finds her meditating ✅ When Osha says the bunta tree is beautiful, Mae replies that the tree is dangerous. Osha responds that only its fruit is dangerous. Mae uses her Force Powers to suspend the insect until Osha tells her to let the creature go. On this scene i like the colourful setting in Galaxy Far, Far Away & well done with kids being as they are 🙂 Later, the sisters & Zabrak Mother Koril enter a mountain fortress populated by ladies of various species. The two sisters want some biscuits called as spice creams (not the illegal spice as that’s different), but Koril denies it as punishment because they left the fortress. All good though because other lady known as Mum Aniseya told them that biscuit munch time lil after 🥳 This place is a home for Witches that are sorta familiar sight in Galaxy Far, Far Away. Seeing other than Dathomir Witches & how they performed things was a welcome experience 🙂 Do they have any connection to ones that live in Dathomir, hmm that be nice to know 🤔

I guess this is explained in High Republic books that i’ll buy later this year from Amazon Co Uk. Chanting & song during the ritual is what Witches usually do on here it’s done quite well ✅ Everyone who have seen their work in movies & telly shows through decades knows that it’s like this 🙂 The scene where they display the use of Force for children is nice. There’s even a realism part where kids just being well -kids. This Witch group calls the Force as ‘Thread‘ & nothing wrong with it because for decade+ it’s known that Force sensitive beings interpret it differently ✅ I like the wardrobe & small details on bodies. Live Act Zabrak after couple decades & Jodie Turner’s performance, ah award worthy 🧐 The incident scene is also quite good & especially when knowing that this style of storytelling is el bueno when done right & here it is so 🙂 It was shown from Osha’s POV. On S01E05 or S01E06 we’ll get to see more of what happened in Brendok. Story for S01 is still mostly inside the wraps 🤔 S01E03 gets 7/10 🙂 Highlight: On Location Sets, Lighting & Makeup work ✅

The Acolyte S01E03 Flashback scene with Kelnacca, Sol, Indara & Torbin.

Did S01E03 break lore ? No it didn’t. Way too many people suffer with subjectivity in Star Wars lore talks & so on.

S01E04 “Day“

This beautiful episode was shot in three places. On Location Sets were used in Wales & Portugal & rest shot in London Studios 🧐 Here The Acolyte show brings us back to the present day storytelling. One of the nice things shown here is how human like the thoughts & such on this world can feel despite being in a galaxy far, far away. No i don’t mean that our reality be transfered there & then reason to complain. After short glimpse to Kelnacca’s home in Koshar we enter into Jedi Temple in Coruscant. There Osha watches Jecki during a training session before says thanks for helping her find Mae. During nice talk they have, Osha says that she’ll also share stories about their master when time is ready ✅ This is first time in Live Act Star Wars since Episode 2: Attack of the Clones when we see more than two Jedi team up together 😋

The group come to a place in a Khofar forest where alien vibe creatures are attached to trees. One of them wakes up when Osha touches it. Osha shouts Master Sol’s name & things happen 😬 This makes for a welcome creepies moment in Star Wars Galaxy 🧐 It’s nice to see on this El Beauty episode that Derek Arnold took over the work from Silas Carson as the younger Ki-Adi-Mundi. He’s a puppeteer & actor, his biography includes many roles in Star Wars. Those include work in movies like Le Sigh Awakens a.k.a Semi New Hope by J.J.A. & Rogue One. ✅ Why didn’t more bugs wake up & attack the group. Yord’s Padawan, Tasi Lowa hmm she’s been absent since her brief appearance in series opener episode 🤔 I hope we see hat Zygerrian Jedi later. S01E04 would get 7,5 if more than one buggy had woken up & that create bigger danger. 🙂 I guess they come to disturb the encounter at next episode because of noise & light. I’ll stream S01E05 soon via D+ at 1am. Restream maybe at sunday. Highlights: Good short talks with characters, Bayrn species briefly shown at spaceport scene & one other. The beauty of On Location Sets & the floating down part close to end ✅

Sol leading the Jedi group in Planet Khofar. Basil the Tynnan tracker is following the scent.

Did S01E04 break lore with that appearance ? No not at all 🙂

Wrapping up: First half of S01 gives the captivating Star Wars feeling 💯% Nice visuals, ear massage audio, on location sets, wardrobe & dialogues not bad at all ✅ Yord is cool Jedi Knight who closely follows rules & likes to keep Jedi robe in fine condition. Sol is a nice Jedi Master with good intentions. Jecki seems like a smart young Jedi who wants to live a good life in the path she has chosen. Carrie should’ve stayed around longer in present day. Many scenes where Indara investigates with Sol would’ve been welcome 🤔 It’s not a deal breaker though ✅ Lee Jung dedicated his time for the character & learned more London language, respect ^^ The way he speaks at certain volume & situations, le perfecto. I hope that Ewan welcomes him into Star Wars Family if hasn’t yet. Talented Amandla got it from Hayden 🙂 After 4x episodes The Acolyte is 7/10 ^^ I’ll add at web soon.

Good Adventure Books Pt.4

Fedaygin2 Comments

The Farseer Trilogy, Book 2 “Royal Assassin“

First time i delved into this series was few years ago. Review of first is here: Book Adventures PT1 🙂 The second part i finished on last summer. Sequel begins right of from where Apprentice Assassin ended. The Royal Assassin really gave a sense of good adventure & wind-down was a success at every evening when i went to read. This sequel isn’t a letdown at all so downer expectation wiped away 🙂 Like the first one, Royal Assassin is character-driven book with slow pacing, but still satisfying with it’s creativity. Almost every side character received good amount of development as i see it. I plan to relax with third book from Realm of the Elderlings series within next three months 🧘‍♂️📖 Fitz meets new characters, one of them being ‘Nighteyes’, a kind 🐺

“Stop defining yourself by what you can’t do. Why don’t you consider what you didn’t lose?”

During most of time in first book, Fitz spends his time doing what others asked. On this one, Fitz goes a bit rogue as in he’s more of his own person, even though he does things mostly for people he does it in his own way 👌🏼 By anticipating important things he does get himself into trouble, which is what makes this book el bueno. Fitz makes his own choices, with his own consequences. Fitz also endures more struggles than his time as apprentice. Some events in the first left marks on him, causing weakness that make him less of a complete assassin. If you like book 1 (my review link at top) then read this sequel & if not fan of first, well still read 😏 These books take you into good journeys. I can see myself re-reading them when time is ready 😋

The Shadow of The Gods “Bloodsworn Saga #1”

This great book is set in a Norse inspired world, there we follow three different people on their journeys while get to know old gods etc. In this world there are warriors, witches & magic. First i have to say that this was one of the best steps into a new fantasy series in a decade or so 👌🏼 Already then i felt good connection with the world created by talented author John Gwynne. This is set in the land of Vigrid, the Battle Plain, hundreds of years after a war between the deities. Shadow of the Gods tells three separate tales, with each storyline is focused on couple of the book’s main themes. John took a good time of setting up the world, it’s history & population, not a bad move at all ✅

“Courage is being scared of a task & doing it anyway.”

The Shadow of the Gods 📘 has more than dozen bueno set pieces, standout moments & action segments. Gwynne really knows how to do captivating fantasy world writing that has thrilling fights etc. Svik character is a welcome comic relief in such a grim tale. Every character is written with top quality, side acts included. Many chapters in this book are compelling, they come with shocking twists along the way. Some culminate lil bit over the top fashion & that’s totally fine. ✅ Then there’s battles, in which Gywnne is very talented, maybe at top three authors who write in same field. He creates stories that start at a slow pace, while working towards an mind satisfying conclusion. Often andom leaps in action to keep the pace at flow with bueno rate. The ending is perrfect, it changes a lot. I look forward to winding down with sequel when time is ready 📘🧘‍♂️🍵

13y+ dream didn’t happen. Still can with this if devs respect author.

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Dune: Spice Wars is a 4x Genre Pc game set into beautiful world created by late talented Frank Herbert. It was released to shameful Early Access (some are fine for Early Access release) 26.4.6022 (2022) on Steam platform. Many gamers have done excellent decision: Stopped buying product in early access a.k.a ‘consumers used as beta & bug testers‘ 👌 Personally i see good exception when Early Access used for literally indie company game that seems legit in many ways. Also when their product is based on known franchise & it follows the source material 110%. On this case doesn’t follow 110% & current price is 10€ too high cause of it’s content 🤖 I’ll buy once even small part of campaign is added & all characters mentioned on the book(s) match 110%. Is said by one snarky ‘Northgard‘: Spice Wars community manager that ‘beta & bugs testing phase’ is set to last 1x year.

Also said (or he quoted someone from dev team) by same weird Community Manager: “Modernising the messenger only makes the message more powerful.” <– *Picard Facepalm*  Why is gender-swapping considered “modernising a character“? Are men not “modern” enough for Shiro Games company? How does Kynes as female & leader of Fremen (not in Frank’s Book), fit in with the conservative & patriarchal nature of Fremen culture? Isn’t that cultural revisionism/erasure? Isn’t that sexism? Since one iconic character is already shown with wrong gender in Dune: Spice Wars steam page, in game should be a customization option for that character. That way keep the ability to being true to the book & really match that ‘iconic character’ that’s mentioned at one of Dune: Spice Wars news updates. Shiro Games is lying atm. when they added his name to list & it’s not “his” on their semi Dune franchise game 😦

About Gameplay week after of shameful ‘Early Access model’

Atm. Dune: Spice Wars lacks many important things like even small piece of campaign (would be ok for it to come out in parts), at least 1x more unit (tank maybe) & bigger map. Not to forget less cartoon network unicorn graphics. Faction leaders don’t really talk (same as in Civilization. Why ‘Shiro Games’ took this cheap route ?) I expected them to have at least some voiced content.. Combat is too simplified, I think they should add more variety to it. Such as unique skill for some units & weapon systems. Currently its all based on close quarters infantry, which is basically just making a task force of different buffs & destroying everything on its path with supply drops. Sadly Shai-Huluds are trash right now as they’re not a threat at all. Harvesters have ‘auto’ evasion for them 😀 😦 They should be more randomized & give them purpose of hunt, then they wouldn’t be so predictable & easy to avoid.

The largest map is still smaller than absolute most of RTS or turn-based strategy games I have played 😦 There’s only 5 unit types. No armoured & no flying machines. Scouts that are useless once the map is explored. The 4x part is done well & everyone who says this game has too much things to do, is used to playing those with lil focus & playfield. Good that it’s not possible to dominate on every field as otherwise several houses added would be pointless. Currently at 1.5.6022 the average game session lasts about ~2-3h depending on playstyle. Shameful work by devs 😦 Why so many games in these days look like they’re made for children 😦 I dislike this nickelodeon art style esp. in my favorite Fantasy Franchise / Universe.

World where Planet Arrakis is located isn’t meant to be shown as morning show where kids adventure into Arrakis & see bright unicorn theme 😦 I prefer a darker & more realistic look. As of now ‘Dune: Spice Wars’ has hard time beating Dune 1 or 2 in immersion & the cartoony art style doesn’t help here.. If ‘Shiro Games’ developers not gonna change graphics to better then hope that workshop is opened before 1x year long crap E.Access phase ends 🙂 Many talented modders who are waiting to give us that certain matching iconic character who isn’t one in Dune: Spice Wars even Shiro Games claims opposite. Here can see their false claim: Shameful lie from Shiro Games company Then darker visuals, but keep balance with light & dark areas.

Positives & Negatives week after E.Access launch

Pros: Overall Arrakis feeling cause of nice ambience. Sense of space, atmosphere.
Cons: This is more like ‘unoptimized copy of Northgard‘ & not what you expect for 30€. Esp. when released as Early Access sale model. Lack of interesting Diplomacy. No weight on battles & often many encounters can’t be called as one. Lack of Units & one out of 5x units loses value (Scout) after map is fully explored 😦 Shai-Hulud is a joke when comes to their threat now at ‘consumers used for bugs testing‘ phase. Hope their behavior is changed to more dangerous later on the roadmap. Lack of roadmap for consumers, hope it comes within next three months. Harkonnen advisor has female voice & that’s against the lore. Harvesting automation: This entire mechanic feels odd as they auto dodge worms. So them being attacked by worms has 0 effect on progress & sadly they don’t auto redeploy. This also feeds into the Spice feeling like a dull resource. AI can be won by clicking their ranged units with your melee. You won’t lose a fight. If you pull back damaged units & send them back in, you won’t even lose a unit 😦

Ending Thoughts & something

Hopefully many important changes & additions arrive. before this year’s september. As of now this game isn’t made by Arrakis Fans & not for Arrakis fans. it’s merely derived product that cheaply & with no shame surfs on the Dune IP wave 😦 Is mindboggling & sad to know that there’s prop. zero story & voice overed content made so far. If that’s the case then most likely we’ll see some of it only early 6023 (2023) 😦 I totally adore this Universe with avid heart created by Frank Herbert. That means love the books, telly mini-series, boardgame, Pc Game & movies that have come out so far. Happy to support new Dune Movie via HBO Max where i keep Subscription forever ❤ Hope that HBO Max’s Dune: Sisterhood series production that’s about to launch on this year goes well.

“Playing with the Fremen faction means doing the same colonial design systems as House Atreides & House Harkonnen. Working to pay Imperial taxes & voting in the Landsraad, even in a limited cap, just doesn’t make sense. It’s opposite of immersion & misunderstanding of why the Fremen exist.”

I’ve bought books since -90’s & in recent years as ebooks via Amazon.de & Uk website. Seeing how Dune name is used without shame just to try & get easy cash in with less work as possible is sad 😦 I’m fine with buying new Arrakis Pc game even when it’s not not like Dune 2k / Emperor: Battle for Dune RTS 🙂 Dune: Spice Wars on it’s current state just isn’t worth of 30eur price tag & being shallow as it is 😦 I’ll update this or make new review (with vid or without) once (if) proper changes & additions come to ‘Northgard’: Spice Wars 🤞 Not buying it is very sad cause of 15+ years waiting for new Dune game.

I give 7/10 now when at August 6022 & Early Access 😦

Good Adventure Books Pt.3

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So far i’ve read two books written by great WJW. They’re both part of this series & i plan to launch third one around autumn that’s knocking on the door. I launched advs. to this series july last year with relaxed pace at evenings. Finished second part at end of this spring. The basic setup is reasonably standard in cliche’ish box. The last days of glory for a massive stellar empire. What Williams *does* with this is impressive & truly one of my fav. authors on this genre. Looked into his bio after finished first book late last year & was kinda awe struck from the length of it. I’m excited of a plan to start reading his cyberpunk stories later when time is ready.

“Story that makes you look for more”

‘The Praxis: Dread Empire’s Fall Pt.1′ is beautiful adventure that’s set in Earth’s far future. The story takes place at the end of the 10k year long rule by an alien race called ‘The Shaa‘ over human species & many others. ‘The Shaa’ erected the perfect statist empire with a harsh moral code called the Praxis. Humanity handled things well for a long time under this rule & same for few other species. Lil about the story: ‘The Shaa’ built vast empire of five species & ruled for a long time. When ‘The last Shaa’ is dead, the war for the Fate of the Empire ensues. This war is mostly shown through eyes of two heroes: Gareth Martinez who is a young ship captain & a Peer. Second is Caroline Sula, a fighter pilot with a dark secret in her past. They’re interesting & imperfect characters that are written pretty well & i got fairly stuck to both. Nice surprise comes about their story appears later, which i like. The story roams around between past & present with good flow that doesn’t make you wander off the rails.

The overall tone changes on past segments is grim & emotionally well built towards heavy. This is good adventure to read & after reading first two books i can say that totally engaging & fun. The universe is well developed & comes with interesting details & settings, for example backstory for some races like the yacht. End part of the book has well written rebellion that causes you wonder during the next day about ‘what might happen’ if read at evenings like i always do. This could be a bit lengthy for some & maybe not good for those who look for more action. Both have plenty for my taste. Support here. I recommend with rating 8.2/10 ❤

“That was found at ‘continuation’ & didn’t disappoint”

‘The Sundering: Dread Empire’s Fall Pt.2‘ When i launched read journey into this, i had good feels after knowing how well first part kept feeding the imaginative content for the mind. Even i think that this isn’t on same level with the ‘Praxis‘ it’s still high-quality sci-fi space opera that’s worth of read & deserves support. Aiming not to spoil anything here as usual. This is loyal to true space opera/military scifi writing & a top-notch piece on genre. I enjoy the writing at most parts of the book & the character development, except some leader characters mentioned as they are goofies here. I think the aliens here ‘built’ by Walter are well presented & not easily forgotten as you go forward. This second part expands the plot well & world created you were introduced on the first one. I’m more fan of the first & hope that third book be like it or even better.

One of the best memorables about this adventure so far is that naval space combat is written with care & so detailed. Same with world building including other species as mentioned earlier. I think this series from talented Walter Jon Williams would be perfect as live act cinema entertainment or telly series. That is if somebody would only gather up the transformers scale budget if go to cinema & if not then budget to match ‘The Expanse‘ series on Amazon Prime Video. Looking forward to autumn evening when begin adventures on third EBook. Gonna buy it at end of this month from Amazon.co.uk as i do for book shoppings. These books offer beautiful story about love lost, political gain struggles & war that is widely known in the universe. My rating for Pt.2 7.7/10.

  • Praxis: Dread Empire’s Fall Pt.1
  • Sundering: Dread Empire’s Fall Pt.2

Good Adventure Books Pt.2

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The Stand “Brilliant mind bending adv.”

Gem that i read lil bit @late 90’s & the rest 6002 (2002) when moved to new city for first time. Got to know by mini-series in -96. It aired 2y earlier & the one i watched at friend’s home was uncut. My fav characters are ‘Trash Can Man‘ who’s weird, but interesting to follow & Randall Flagg. Randall bit less cause of his more awkward attit. Though still enjoy Randall’s chapters, filled with anger & evil plans to take down all good. 1st part “The Plague” which explains the coming of the terrible disease & its developments is one of my favs.

‘The Stand‘ has lot of commentary that are about tech, society, group-thoughts, individuality & choice. Also faith & of course the big subject good vs evil that’s always present among human species. I’ve read few SK books after started my reading adventures in mid -90’s. There’s a remake of telly mini-series that dec last year & is now available on Amazon Prime Video. I really liked the first one mentioned above & remake wasn’t bad either. It deserves higher rating on imdb. Good journey to everyone who dives into ‘The Stand‘ book. Not sure if that link opens to others without probs. cause it has ‘smile’ at front. It’s used for supporting charity target of your choosing. I use different target at both Amazon co uk & Amazon de.

The King’s Witch (Pt.1 of The King’s Witch Trilogy)

I bought this as ebook on earlier this year’s spring. Gonna buy second & third on next month. I’m close to midway & like for what have read so far. Has storytelling that keeps me wanting for more. Since mid july have had some relaxing late evenings spent with warm Peppermint Tea Cuppa & this Book. About main character & other things i know so far: This story takes place as King James comes from Scotland at time of Queen Elizabeth’s death. It takes you through Witch Hunt on this land & Lord Cecil’s Evil plot to try & show that Frances is a Witch. Frances had been giving ailmments to Elizabeth on her deathbed, using her herbs to give the queen some final comfort, when she is delivered an ominous warning – her queen’s successor – James, isn’t fond of Witches. Through cunning, intelligence & sharp bravery Frances manages to navigate life at court through the most dangerous of times.

The characters are so well written that i even wanted to teach manners to couple, yeah for real. Frances is a woman who practices herbalism & cause of that through history she’d be labeled as a Witch. It was totally stupid & clearly another way for men to control women on those times. I could rant about this subject, but won’t go to it now. Her guardian deity did the work as the Queen steps in & protects her, but not before some damage is done. With all this going Frances experiences good & bad sides of romantically loving other person. True to the time period, Tracy brings the story & lives of King James & his court to vibrant life. If you love history from this era that’s set about four hundred years into past then this is a book for you. History is on top three of my fav subjects since early high school. I enjoyed learning more about this time period. Tracy is accurate when comes to history set into those years. I aim to finish this book & chapter for Frances in next couple weeks & launch journey to continuation on some day next month. Good evening read that i recommend. Support author by making purchase from here. Same here as above: Not sure if that link opens to others without probs. cause it has ‘smile‘ at front. It’s used for supporting charity target of your choosing. I use different target at both Amazon co uk & Amazon de. Enjoy o/