Beyond Meridian - CC Bridges

More like 3.5 stars, not quite 4 because its too short.  I don't even know where to start.  I know I read the description before downloading it but I somehow missed that is was a "romance" M/M.  No issues just caught me off guard at first.  So we are following Raine and Karl.  Raine is a Spacer...he moves cargo.  And Karl needs help getting into "enemy" territory. 

Its Firefly with a two man crew and a really fancy ship.  Its a quick read but its honestly really good.   You want to hate Raine, he's a bastard but he isn't, he has a heart so to say.  Karl seems green but there is something lurking beneath the surface.  He is on a mission to save his friend and needs Raine.  The problem is Raine is a man ho (at least it seems) and Karl is "innocent". 

Together with the amazing ship they are going to save the galaxy, and each other. 

It's written to move quickly but its captivating.  It really does grab your interest.  My only issue is it moves so fast.  I like to see more development in characters and in story.  I like to see the build in the relationship.  But even with that lacking I like Raine and Karl.  It's good.  They are good.  It's...just read it.  Like I said Firefly...plus.

I got this book for free from Netgalley to read and give my honest review.  

SPOILERS

Relic - Alan Dean Foster

This is a beautifully written story about the end of our species.  We have wiped ourselves out.  The great human race reduced to one lonely survivor.  In our rush to inhabit the stars we somehow destroyed it all.  Everything we have worked on for millennia gone in the blink of an eye.  For all of our genius our future selves create a virus that literally cleanses the universe of our presence. 

Don't worry I didn't spoil anything and I won't until you get to the jump.  Throughout this book we follow the musing of Ruslan, the last surviving human.  He was rescued by an alien race from one of our colonies among the stars.  He's become something of a celebrity being the only living specimen of a once great species.  He's fairly old and a bit lonely even among his rescuers.  He yearns to hear another human but the virus made sure that never happens again.  This story hit on every emotion.  Its happy, sad, exciting, scary, you name it I felt it.  But the best part.  The absolute most amazing thing about this story is it gives you hope.  Hope that we learn from our mistakes...and don't kill ourselves off.  I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a new unique story about our future among the stars. 

I received this book for free from NetGalley to read and give my honest review.

Nyxia - Scott Reintgen

What an intriguing story!  In the semi-distant future we have expanded into the cosmos.  We have found an amazing new natural resource on an alien planet that will change everything, the problem is the locals don't much like adult humans but they love and respect children.  Solution, send a bunch of poor "kids" into space to harvest this stuff for them.  The catch...oh the catch is they are taking a bunch of you into space but only a few actually get to go down to the planet.  Those that go will have their families taken care of generously, the rest get a consolation prize.

So begins a story of deception, friendship, love, and betrayal.  Emmett, the main character and story teller is a hardened poor kid who makes the list.  The big corp (Babel) is in complete control.  You will fight, ruthlessly, to earn your way to the surface.  People are hurt, people die, enemies are made, and friendships are formed.  The emotions Emmett must endure are a roller-coaster.   Who can he trust?  What is Babel hiding?  Will he ever make it home again to see that moms and pops are actually being taken care of?  The entire story is high energy and stressful.  You want to hate some and love others but who is being real?  You are just are distrustful as Emmett.  This might be a story about a bunch of teens but its relatable to any age.  Its a great read that captures you from the beginning and doesn't let go.  Just when you think you know what Babel is up to something else insane happens.  You experience the lies and deceit with Emmett and the hope as well.  I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes sci-fi/space travel. 

SPOILERS 







He was supposed to be with Kaya!  They freaking killed Kaya!  I did not see that coming.  Maybe she's alive and Babel is hiding her...wishful thinking.  I mean I like Morning and while I didn't trust her at first, I think she is genuinely interested in Emmett and a good person.  I'm glad the "love" scene wasn't done in more detail.  It always makes me a little uncomfortable when authors go into detail about 1st times or anything sexual between minors.  Yes, we all know it happens but that is not necessary so kudos to this author for glazing over that piece. 

I did not see that ending coming.  I knew Babel had one more thing up their sleeve but to pit two kids against each other TO THE DEATH is insane!  Roathy probably deserved to die but I am so proud of Emmett for taking the high road. For not killing him and actually trying to save him.  It showed immense character development. 

I adored Bilal.  He always sees the best in everyone and everything, even when the world turns against him.  He is a true friend and derserves better than what happened to him.  I hope he comes back somehow or is in one of the pods headed to the surface.

Vademeer is an enigma.  I thought he was a Babel bad guy at first but he is a mentor.  He genuinely cares about Emmett & Kaya when she was alive.  Sure he gets more money if his kids win but he actually cares.  He wasn't just in it for the money.  He mourned Kaya.  He was worried about Emmett and genuinely proud when he made the adult decision, i.e. not killing someone as revenge...even it it was warranted. 

Defoe...I want to think he's bad.  But I just don't think he is.  Something about him says he is different.   Yes he has done, is doing horrible things for Babel, but we get these glimpses of him that make me think he has some good hidden in there.  That he is not just a pawn for this huge corporation.  I could be totally wrong but I swear he cares, slightly, for Emmett and the other kids (well his, not the other team). 

I still do not trust Isadora.  She is crazy.  She is vengeful.  She should NOT be going to Eden.  But she was grandfathered in.  Babel and their games.  Will they ever end?  Can't wait for the rest of this story!

I got this book for free from Blogging for Books to give my honest review.  

What do they feed them in Sweden?!?!

So I got a Netflix "98% match" show.  I've seen some adverts for it but didn't know much about it so I started watching it. 

Very crazy bloody opening, hmmm interesting.  Then the guy who dies is brought back in a new "sleeve".  If you don't know what I'm watching, its called "Altered Carbon" and its kind of crazy!

In the way way way way future we have apparently expanded into the stars AND figured out how to be basically immortal.  K....  At the ripe age of 1 every person is implanted with a disc that can pretty much be reinstalled into new bodies (sleeves) indefinitely.  Well unless the disc is damaged. 

Anyways, the bad@$$ ripped Asian that dies in the first few minutes is resleeved into this 6' something blonde Adonis looking mother f**ker.  He is butt@$$ nekkid and has the "v".  The "V"!!!  I was like God Damn, who is this guy?!?!?!  Then he walked away and sweet baby Jes...nice @$$!

So I looked him up and apparently he was most recently Robocop in the reboot of Robocop.  Have I mentioned he is dead sexy?!?!  Joel Kinnaman, is a Swedish actor and was born in 1979.  What the hell do they feed them??? Between him and the freaking Skarsgård family we all look like a bunch of wet trash.   

Maybe not that bad but you get the idea.  Anyways, this show is fascinating! And the lead is not bad to look at.  Well he has some weird looks sometimes...kinda goofy but his body helps.

I mean that's not why I'll watch it but its definitely lagniappe.  

Side Note - I've seen more dicks flapping around in 1 hour than I can ever recall...

Why do we only get one season of this banter?!?!

Okay so I am sad that The Doctor is regenerating this season.  I LOVE Capaldi as The Doctor.  I know there has been a lot of criticisim but I truthfully think people are being excessively hard on the show, the actors, and the writers.  Just freaking enjoy what we have people!

And really if you stop and look he is fantastic!  I'm always leery of new companions but I like to give them a shot.  I don't think there really has been one I hated or disliked.  They are all great in their own way.  Moving on, I think my favorite part of Capaldi as The Doctor is they are staying away from the whole in love with the doctor thing.  Not that he isn't attractive but 9/10/11 was a love story...or multiple love stories and while I adored them, it took away from the fun that is Doctor Who.  He is an alien who travels in time and space.  Of course he has feelings but lets go on an adventure and forget about the sexual tension for a bit. 

So we got to meet Bill in the season premier.  And I like her quite a bit.  She is funny and smart and cute and I dunno she's fun! She had some great one liners and her repertoire with 12 seems like the beginning of a BEAUTIFUL friendship.    I feel like we are going to be cut short with him regenerating...I hope she sticks around.

My only concern is the feels.  My feeeeeeeels during the season premier were off the charts...if this is going to happen the whole season I am going to be an emotional mess!  

Why you may ask?  Well for one he is HIDING on Earth as a professor (nice).  His office has pictures of RIVER and SUSAN on his desk...what?!?!  Knife to the heart!  Then Bill doesn't know much of her mother and she tells the Doctor.  Miraculously she goes home and a long lost box of pictures appears.  He went back in time and took pictures of her Mum and left them for her!!!!!!!  They go on an adventure, yay!  And Bill get to experience like everything in on e episode.  Travel across the Earth, travel in time, travel in space, see a Dalek.  Then...then!!!! Then we get to the end and he doesn't want to travel.  He wants to wipe her memories and make her forget it all.  Then she fights back and says something like "how would you feel if someone did the to you" and f**king Clara's theme starts playing.  SERIOUSLY!?!?!!?!?  Then he says fine, go and she runs.  Then looks at the pic of Susan and says shut up, then at River and says shut up, then the T.A.R.D.I.S. chimes in and its hilarious to me. 

So he asks her to travel with him and I am so excited!  But if this many feels were had in Episode 1...I may need to Wine it up for the rest of the season!!!!

Is anyone watching Incorporated?

So I was really excited about this show when I first saw the previews.  Its a show about a dystopian future where the government collapses and Corporations take over.  It had some familiar faces in it from other SyFy shows and sounded intriguing. 

With that said I am totally hooked.  The first few episodes were a little slow but they have to explain WTF is happening.  After that its almost addictive.  I say this because the subject came up over the holidays and some family were like "it sucks" and "I am so disappointed".  At that point I think 4 Episodes had aired but they had only watched the Pilot and Ep 2.  My thing is you always give new shows a few episodes to ramp up.  I usually say 4 or 5 because in the first couple they are trying to catch you up to what is going on.  Plus how can you connect with characters after 1 or 2 episodes...you don't know them yet.  That's why I hate it when shows are canceled after 1 or 2 episodes, or even 5.  The network didn't even give it a chance. 

Anyways, I binge watched three episodes last night because with the holidays I didn't get to watch them.  They were over in a blink.  I need more!

Seriously though.   There is so much going on in the present but the last two episodes gave us a glimpse into the past.  Why Ben is doing what he is doing and why Laura is so scared to go outside the wall.  Why Julian is the way he is.  The premise of the show is about privileged vs poor but it goes so much deeper than that.  How can you decide who should be saved from the suffering? 

It really is sobering.  You have people living this lavish life.  Its the future we all dream of where wealth is prevalent, technology has advanced, and health is priority.  But then just a mile or so away, on the other side of a wall people can barely survive. They are on rations which are barely enough to sustain them.  They have horrible healthcare (or no healthcare).  They police are corrupt.  There is basically no way out of the slums (refugee camps).  You can't move into the rich people world without becoming a sex slave because you were born on the wrong side of the wall.  Unless you are Ben...then you can con your way in.

Its an awful future.  But Ben gives us hope.  Then you realize its because he wants to save his love from being a corporate call girl.  So it isn't to save humanity, its for his own personal gain but maybe...just maybe some snowball effect may occur.  Something needs to change!  Unfortunately the only thing changing is Ben.  He is on thin ice.  He is making mistakes.  And he is willing to kill to keep his secret (and family) safe.  Its sometimes hard to watch.

Personally, I think its a great show.  I hope it survives because I think it has lots of potential.  SyFy shows are my weakness....

**SPOILERS**

Ben clearly cares for Laura (his corp wife) but he is obsessed with Elena.  I know she is his love and he wants to save her but at what cost?  Laura isn't a bad corp person.  She was just born into it.  She actually wants to help those on the outside.  She has a good heart.  I bet if he told her it wouldn't be bad.  I kind of want them to make it.  I don't really know much about Elena but I think Laura deserves a chance.  Her mom on the other hand, I am not sure about her.  She has ulterior motives for everything.  Now Julian  scared me the first few episodes but after the last episode, I really like him.  He is just doing his job. He didn't want to be the corp interrogator...the heartless bad guy.  I say good riddance to Caplan...he was awful...that actor seems to always play the bad guy. 

Its a movie about Wars...in the Stars...DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ROGUE ONE

SERIOUSLY DON'T READ ON IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT.  I don't want to ruin the magic for anyone.  Including you!  I even waited 4 days to post this!

I did a thing.  For the first time EVER I went see a movie on opening night.  But not just any movie.  I went to see Rogue One *dance party music* *wookie sounds*.  I know it just came out but Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I love it so much!  So the original trilogy came out before my time.  Well sort of...two came out before I was born and the 3rd one came out when I was 2...so basically before my time.  BUT my geeky family made sure I saw them...many....MANY times.  I saw the "first three", the "prequels", when I was in college.  I wont talk about them but they are part of the universe so I have seen them a few times each.  Added benefit, Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan...I mean he is nice to look at AND he is awesome so yea.

Moving on, while I didn't see The Force Awakens on opening night last year, we did go see it within the first week.  I almost legit cried.  I was so happy for a New Chapter and it was so good.  So so so good.  Which is why back in October when my friend said "lets rent out a movie tavern theater to see Rogue One" I was like, "Oh f**k yea, I am SOOOOOOOO there!".  If you haven't realized I am purposefully putting filler intro stuff just in case people don't heed my warning!

Alright, here we go...SPOILERS below.

Can't they just have a happily ever after?!?!?!

I meant to post this a while ago....apparently I just saved it and didn't post it...doh!

Sooooooooooooooo 12 Monkeys tried to slowly kill me with frustration.  I didn't realize until last night but the whole season was a slow burn of lethal frustration in an attempt to murder...ME!  Not being dramatic...scouts honor...

Okay, right.  So we have Cole who drove me INSANE in Season 1 with his "must complete the mission at all costs" attitude.  But he changed.  He changed because he realized somethings are more important that the mission.  Somethings like, CASSIE!  But she did the opposite.  In Season 1 she was the heartfelt, caring person.  She knew that its not always about the mission, its about the people.  But she changed.  She changed because she got stuck in the f**king future and slept with Deacon (what?!?!?!) and I dunno went a  little berzerk.

So the entirety of Season 2 I am basically screaming at my TV "OMG stop being mean to each other!  You care about each other!  Remember who you are..." Sorry my inner Mufasa came out.  Granted I wasn't so focused on the messed up Cole/Cassie thing that I missed the rest of this amazing show.

Season 2, like Season 1, was a roller coaster ride of emotion.  I teared up so many times.  The writing for this show is phenomenal.  I felt so many things each week, happy/sad/angry/frustrated/etc. But the season finale last night, that was superb.

SPOILERS

So at the end of last weeks episode we have Cassie FINALLY realizing she is being crazy and going after Cole to 1957.  Its like something clicked and she said "Holy $hit I'm being unreasonable.  Lets compromise." So they are stuck in 1957 for ELEVEN months...surely they've made amends.  Look I don't need romance but they are friends...shouldn't they act like it?!?!?!  But noooooo.  Why would they be mature adults?  Instead they are being mean and lashing out and not listening to each other.  Cole says things that make me cringe (eluding to her "dates" was a low blow), Cassie basically makes him feel inferior and dumb.  STOP!

So they basically have to work together to stop time from unraveling.  Meanwhile Cole stares at Cassie like a love sick puppy and Cassie is just cold...but I think she's being cautious...like I don't think she really hates him (well I know she doesn't...NOW!).  It was just a mess.  So they fail their mission, the Primary dies and Cassie is knocked unconscious...for SIX MONTHS!  In that time he f**king abandons her because "its for the best".  What??!?!  Did you just got all "Doctor Who" on Cassie.  Dammit Cole don't be like the Doctor!!!!!

Moving on.  She finds him...they fight and then they make up!  YAAASSS!  Thank you!!! Then they REALLY make up.  Oh wait, we are going there...okay.  Then she gets pregnant and Oh my gosh, he's so adorable about being a father!  But of f**king course something is still wrong which threatens their happiness.  Meanwhile in 2043 or whatever Ramsey and company are failing miserably at stopping the Witness.  A.K.A. they all f**king die!  What is happening!??!!?  Cole can fix it by "drinking the koolaid".  No really...he can drink the red tea crap and make it right.  So Cole has a decision to make 1) stay in happily ever after land with Cassie and the baby but time still unravels or 2) Go back one more time and actually stop the last Primary from dying which will erase the time line where they fall in love.  *'scuse me while I punch something*. 

So he of course chooses to save the world because he is Cole.  Time resets and Cassie is still weird with him.  They go to the future and help Ramsey and Co. NOT die but still somehow fail.  W....T...F....?!?!!?  Turns out this Witness is a f**king Jedi or something and the city isn't just a city....the whole freaking thing time travels.  Are....you.....serious?!?!!?  Before they all splinter Cassie by some miracle REMEMBERS the aborted timeline.  Yay!!!!!!!  Then she gets stuck splintering with the City...WITHOUT Cole.  G*D F**KING DAMMIT! 

Cole is like "I gots to find my boo" and Doc lady is like "okay, I got you fam".  Flash to WAY in the future.  Cassie is in some weirdo temple and that freaking old dude that looks like a slender man is there.  Ah HA! He IS the Witness.  Hahahahaha jk Mother F**ker.  He isn't.  The witness is Cassie's unborn child.  Fade to black.
 
What....WHAT....WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!!??! What the hell kind of a...I hate you 12 Monkeys!!!  How is she still pregnant!?!?!?  Or is it somehow Deacon's?!?!?  Dude I may actually punch something if that is true...okay lets pretend I didn't say that.  How is their love child the Witness?!?!?!  Why is their child trying to destroy time?!?!?!  I have so many questions.  Thank GOD we are getting a Season 3.  I would have been SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO angry.

14 years later and I still love these two!!!

I've seen a lot of negative things about the Premier of the X-Files revival and I don't get it.  Yea it was a little off.  Mulder was a bit of a nutter...more so than normal but it was still good.  And as much as I love foosball I was feeling a bit stabby.  Gimme X-Files dammit!!!!  Yea yea yea good for you Panthers now get off my TV!

From this point forward it will be spoiled a bit for Episodes 1 & 2 so just a heads up.

My little geek heart exploded Sunday night!  One of my favorite sci-fi shows of ALL TIME (notice I say "one of", because I have a few favs) came back for a 6 episode tease.  I call it a tease because 6 episodes is not enough for me.  This is the FIRST TV non-couple that I was like "OMG be together already" (ya know...I shipped them).  I was 12 when it first came on TV and 21 when they took it off the air.  I watched it for 9 seasons.  I saw the movies.  I love love love Mulder and Scully.  With that said when I heard they were bringing it back I fangirled so hard my husband laughed for like 20 minutes.  It was pretty epic.  I imagine it would have been similar for fans of Classic Who when the show rebooted in 2005.

Anyways, I like the 1st episode.  Of course it wasn't classic X-Files people.  Think about it!!! They dismantled the department.  It didn't exist anymore.  So they had to come up with some cracked out way to bring Mulder and Scully back together.  It couldn't be straight up alien BS again.  They've done that and shown us the flipping aliens.  It had to go in a different direction.  Plus it was Episode 1 FFS!!!  It was an intro.  They had to get us all up to speed on what the f**k they've all been up to for FOURTEEN years (yes I know there was a movie in 2008 but its been 14 years since TV).  So we had to see Mulder out of his Mulder-ness and Scully being her awesome scientific self but without Mulder.  We had to see that they've gone their separate ways but they still CLEARLY love each other and you cannot convince me otherwise!

I seriously love that they are taking the alien BS to a new (way more disturbing) level.  We aren't being watched by aliens...well we are but its more than that.  All of these crazy things.  All of the INSANE experiments and abductions and weirdo $hit.  Its all because back when the Roswell thing happened our government took the technology and reverse engineered it.  We also took the BODY OF THE ALIEN and used its DNA.  Meaning aliens aren't abducting us for experiments...its our government.  At least a branch of it.  (like I needed more reasons to be paranoid) They take women who are pregnant and put alien DNA in them to see what happens.  They impregnate others with human/alien embryos.  They take men for...well you can guess based on the last sentence. 

Aliens might be curious about us but its the powers that be that are doing all the crazy $hit!  And when people try to out these higher powers they are "dealt with".  I mean I wasn't fond of the YouTubber (stop hitting on Scully!) but I can only imagine what happened to him. As in they die of mysterious causes, have freak accidents, or just disappear.  At the end we have our team mending the wounds a bit...speaking of their BABY that went up for adoption (ouch my heart)...and giving us the flipping smoking man.  How the f**k is he still alive?!?!?!

Episode 2 was more my classic babies.  Mulder is his clean shaven, suit wearing self.  And god damn he is still a very attractive man.  Scully hasn't aged.  No really what does Mrs. Anderson do because she looks the SAME!  This episode broke me more because of the "What If" flash backs.  What if they kept their son.  What activities would they have done together.  Just rip my heart out why don't you!!!  It also showed how much these two CLEARLY care for one another still.  They may not be together but the affection is still there.  When Mulder is in danger she is worried.  When Mulder drops on the ground in pain she is there in a second to save him.  When he says "You’re never just anything to me, Scully", I sniffled.  Damn where'd all this dust come from *cough cough*.  

What I am saying is I like it.  I think it is good.  I think people are being WAAAAAY too hard on it. Just enjoy it while you can....its only SIX episodes people!!! Oh did I mention Scully has Alien DNA...what the actual f**k?!?!?!