Posted by jukkahoo
I remember the first time I tried a kriek. What could it be? A cherry beer? Surely this was going to be an abomination and then some. Fell in love and soon found out that Lindemans Kriek is my favourite. As it happens, it also readily available in FInland, hooray! Delish sparkling cherry drink goes well with most of things and is brilliant all by itself, too.
Since kriek is a light, easy-going beer, the book should be as such. Philippa Ballantine's Geist is more than aptly that. Rollicking fun fantasy with uneasy couple of tagteam-wizards and we have a very competent and readable little fantasy series. Geist is the first book of the Order, with Wrayth and Spectyr following. These are entertainment, good for few hours/days of fluffy reading. The magic system is interesting and character relations grow and weld together really well. I believe some people might call these guilty secrets, if one is secretive type.
Ballantine is from New Zealand and besides the Order-books, she writes steampunk (as Pip Ballantine) with her husband Tee Morris. The MInistry of Peculiar Occurences is actually a shared world, where many antipodean authors have written stories to. There is also a fair amount of podcasting going on.
The Extraordinay Adventures of Adéle Blanc-Sec (2010) is also a very easy-going, entertaining funny film. A very much awaited return of Luc Besson wasn't in the end what people expected, unfortunately. It's a good film, but it should've been great, because Tardi. Lovely visuals, good story and delightful protagonist, all good building bricks for a great fantasy film and who doesn't love the pharaoh? Tres bon!
Still, something is lacking. Should it be a bit tighter? Should the plot itself be more engaging? Menetiedä.
And since our beer is Belgian, the song du jour must also be from Belgium. And who else than Monsieur Magnifique, Jacques Brel and Amsterdam could it possibly be? Spit it away, sir!
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