Review
Book Review: Feast of Ashes by Victoria Williamson
The Earth’s ecosystems have collapsed and only ashes remain. Is one girl’s courage enough to keep hope alive in the wastelands? It’s the year 2123, and sixteen-year-old Adina has just accidentally killed fourteen thousand seven hundred and fifty-six people. Raised in the eco-bubble of Eden Five, Adina has always believed that the Amonston Corporation’s giant greenhouse would keep her safe forever. But when her own careless mistake leads to an explosion that incinerates Eden Five, she and a small group of survivors must brave the barren wastelands outside the ruined Dome to reach the Sanctuary before their biofilters give out and their DNA threatens to mutate in the toxic air. They soon discover that the outside isn’t as deserted as they were made to believe, and the truth is unearthed on their dangerous expedition. As time runs out, Adina must tackle her guilty conscience and find the courage to get everyone to safety. Will she make it alive, or will the Nomalies get to her first?
By Marie Sinadjan3 years ago in BookClub
Novelette Review: BestGhost by C. J. Daley + Spooky Season Recs
The Old Mayor’s Mansion sits just a few miles outside the town of Cemetery. When best friends Sean and Devon want to increase views on their ghost investigation channel, they know the mansion is the perfect spot to film. Armed with a slew of new equipment, the buddies set out to capture the paranormal hotspot that will make them famous—just maybe not in the way they were hoping.
By Marie Sinadjan3 years ago in BookClub
Unveiling the Passionate World of "From Blood and Ash"
Hey fellow book lovers, gather around because I'm about to spill my heart out about a literary journey that has left me utterly breathless — "From Blood and Ash" by Jennifer L. Armentrout. 📚✨ Let me take you through the rollercoaster of emotions this book unleashed upon my unsuspecting soul.
By Flyintobooks (A.J. McMahon)3 years ago in BookClub
A Fantasy Romance That Stole My Heart
Hey fellow book lovers! 📚✨ I just finished a fantasy romance that whisked me away to a world of magic, intrigue, and love. Let me share my personal journey into the enchanting pages of "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas. 💖
By Flyintobooks (A.J. McMahon)3 years ago in BookClub
Review of 'Unseelie'
Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove looks just like her twin, Isolde…but as an autistic changeling left in the human world by the fae as an infant, she has always known she is different. Seelie’s unpredictable magic makes it hard for her to fit in—and draws her and Isolde into the hunt for a fabled treasure. In a heist gone wrong, the sisters make some unexpected allies and find themselves unraveling a mystery that has its roots in the history of humans and fae alike. Both sisters soon discover that the secrets of the faeries may be more valuable than any pile of gold and jewels. But can Seelie harness her magic in time to protect her sister and herself?
By Cyn's Workshop3 years ago in BookClub
Review of 'The Three-Body Problem'
“War of the Worlds for the 21st century.” – Wall Street Journal A Hugo-Award winning tour de force near-future adventure with the scope of Dune and commercial action of Independence Day from China's most beloved science fiction writer With The Three-Body Problem, English-speaking readers got their first chance to experience the multiple-award-winning and bestselling Three-Body Trilogy by China's most beloved science fiction author, Cixin Liu. The Three-Body Problem was released to great acclaim, including coverage in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The New Yorker. It also won the Hugo Award, making it the first translated novel ever to win a major SF award. Now the first volume of the series, The Three-Body Problem, is available in paperback for the first time. Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. The result is a science fiction masterpiece of enormous scope and vision.
By Cyn's Workshop3 years ago in BookClub
Review of 'Sadie'
A missing girl on a journey of revenge. A Serial-like podcast following the clues she's left behind. And an ending you won't be able to stop talking about. Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water. But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him. When West McCray―a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America―overhears Sadie's story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie's journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it's too late. Courtney Summers has written the breakout book of her career. Sadie is propulsive and harrowing and will keep you riveted until the last page.
By Cyn's Workshop3 years ago in BookClub
Energy at Writers Guild Deal Meeting Akin to a “Rock Concert”
Meredith Stiehm, president of WGA West, began the meeting by making the "official" declaration that the guild has struck a tentative new three-year Minimum Basic Agreement following what was the second-longest strike in the history of the union. As she acknowledged each and every member of the WGA's leadership, board, negotiating committee, as well as recently elected officers, her statements were greeted by successive standing ovations. The chief negotiator for the guild who replaced David Young after he went on medical leave in February, Ellen Stutzman, received the loudest applause of the evening from the roughly 1,000 guild members who filled the Palladium to its rafters.
By Hridoy Talukder3 years ago in BookClub
Book Review: Takuan from Koto by Ryu Zhong
A stone marten, in pursuit of the sun, climbs to the very Heavens and causes quite a commotion. Both the stubborn gods and the ordinary people have a hard time when weredemons break free. Even the Lord of the Underworld turns out to be powerless. But sometimes even a mouse can be stronger than an elephant, as the old proverb says. The fate of the world ends up in the hands of Takuan — a young trickster, who deceives the greedy, angry, and ignorant people across the country of Chinayindu. On his journey, he meets the wandering warrior Zhu Leizu, a temple monk named Soliang, the clumsy sorcerer Bricabrac, and many others. Our story begins with a village boy setting off to a monastery to become a demon-hunting monk, only to find out how truly dull monastic life can be. Or does our story actually begin with the birth of the stone marten Ta Guan? This book is a full box set of series ‘Adventures of Takuan from Koto’: Prince of Blue Flowers Hunters of Weredemons Envoys of Celestials
By Marie Sinadjan3 years ago in BookClub
OpenAI Employee Discovers Eliza Effect, Gets Emotional
Designing a program in such a way that it can actually convince someone that another human is on the other side of the screen has been the goal of AI developers since the idea took its first steps towards to reality. Research firm OpenAI recently announced that its flagship product ChatGPT will have ears, eyes and a voice in an effort to look more human. Now, an AI security engineer at OpenAI says she became “quite emotional” after using the chatbot's voice mode for instant chat.
By Bishal talukder3 years ago in BookClub
