Book Review: Bay of Sighs (Nora Roberts)

Book #2 in The Guardians trilogy

Plot:

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The second novel in the Guardians Trilogy from the bestselling author of Stars of Fortune.

Mermaid Annika is from the sea, and it is there she must return after her quest to find the stars. New to this world, her purity and beauty are nothing less than breathtaking, along with her graceful athleticism, as her five new friends discovered when they retrieved the fire star.

Now, through space and time, traveler Sawyer King has brought the guardians to the island of Capri, where the water star is hidden. And as he watches Annika in her element, he finds himself drawn to her joyful spirit. But Sawyer knows that if he allows her into his heart, no compass could ever guide him back to solid ground…

And in the darkness, their enemy broods. She lost one star to the guardians, but there is still time for blood to be spilled—the mermaid’s in the water and the traveler’s on the land. For she has forged a dangerous new weapon. Something deadly and unpredictable. Something human.

Rating: 8/10

I wasn’t too excited for this part of the trilogy. Since she came in to the first novel, I thought Annika was a bit not all right in the head. I also couldn’t relate to her. I could relate to Sasha with all her stress levels and Riley as the brash academic, but this bubbly, sweet 2and excited mermaid just didn’t exhibit any signs of who I identify as.
I still don’t think she would have worked well as a standalone novel (whereas Sasha and Riley were both developed well enough to succeed at that) . Annika won’t be my favorite character of Nora Roberts anytime soon, but she managed to not irritate as much as I thought.

I still maintain that this is some of the freshest ideas Roberts has produced in ages. I enjoyed this book very much, maybe a bit less than the first, but really still very much. I liked Sawyer’s character; he seems like an affable adventurer, something which is always a plus in my book. His banter with Riley amused me to no end as it is a wealth of popular culture references.

Bay of Sighs also had some shocking moments – I mean, when in the history of ever has a Roberts character been captured and tortured? I was horrified and feared for both their safety. Malmon turns into something disgusting, his inner character shining finally showing on the outside. It was decidedly creepy and I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of Nerezza, ever. Or even on her right side, now that I think of it.

Bay of Sighs progressed with the same easy rhythm as Stars of Fortune. Naturally we end up with idealistic relationship expectations everywhere and dashing scenes of courage and bravery. You guessed it, they find the second star and that makes their nemesis pissed. I also like how they hide the stars from Nerezza, it is ingenuity combined with powers from two characters.

Definitely worth a read if you read the first book/are a Roberts fan or like some fantasy mixed with your romance.

April 26, 2017April 4, 2017 by Natasha Categories: Books, Nora Roberts, reading, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: Annika, bibliophile, Books, Guardians Trilogy, Mermaid, Nerezza, Nora Roberts, Reading, Review, time travel 3 Comments

Blindspot 2016: Back to the Future (1985)

Plot: A young man is accidentally sent thirty years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, and must make sure his high-school-age parents unite in order to save his own existence.

Rating: 7/10

I actually don’t have all that much to say about this film. I’ve struggled for a week or more with this review, because I’m feeling very blocked about it.

The rating I give is always based on my enjoyment of the film, and I try to factor in the quality, even if the film really wasn’t my style (like Birdman). A 7 generally means I enjoyed it in a detached way, not really connecting to the characters, but the film was good. Is Back to the Future good for its time? Undoubtable so. I think for 1985 it is a great film.

I really enjoyed Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly. He has always been a good actor and is enjoyable to watch in his youth. I really enjoyed his attitude – it is so 1980’s!

I enjoyed the 80’s look of the film fashionably, which is much more forgiving than the 90’s look. The outfits were definitely flashback but I didn’t cringe that much.

The plot is naturally a bit silly, but I don’t think it was ever their intention to be anything else. I enjoyed this film in a detached way – I’m sad to report that it didn’t appeal to me all that much.

However, I am glad I watched it – it is always good to know what people are referring to! I think I might even make an effort to watch the remaining two, just to finally and completely have a grasp of it.

July 14, 2016July 13, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2016, Blindspot, Movies, movies, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: 1985, Back to the Future, Blindspot, Blindspot 2016, DeLorean, Dr. Emmett Brown, Michael J. Fox, time travel 5 Comments