Nation
Books Alexx T. Holden Books Alexx T. Holden

Nation

Description via The StoryGraph:

When a giant wave destroys his village, Mau is the only one left. Daphne--a traveler from the other side of the globe--is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Separated by language and customs, the two are united by catastrophe. Slowly, they are joined by other refugees. And as they struggle to protect the small band, Mau and Daphne defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down.

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Once & Future
Graphic Novels Alexx T. Holden Graphic Novels Alexx T. Holden

Once & Future

Description via The StoryGraph:

he definitive collection of the first two story arcs of the Eisner Award-nominated series for the first time in a single volume, this deluxe edition hardcover includes Once & Future #1-12 by New York Times Bestselling author, Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine), and Russ Manning Award Winner, Dan Mora (Detective Comics). Retired monster hunter Bridgette McGuire knows that they are. And when a group of Nationalists uncover the fabled scabbard of Excalibur in order to bring King Arthur back from the dead to reclaim England, she will be the only one who can stop them. In order to do so, she’ll need to pull her unsuspecting academic grandson, Duncan, into a deadly world of myth and prophecy. Their quest will lead them to confront the complicated history of their family, confront the deadly secrets of England’s past, and throw the Otherworld into shambles, allowing for new legends and characters to make their appearance--and bring a world of trouble along with them. 

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The Head Hunter
Movies, Fantasy Alexx T. Holden Movies, Fantasy Alexx T. Holden

The Head Hunter

By every single measurable parameter, I would consider this a very small film but I’m apprehensive to call it that.

Because behind all the things by which we would measure this film’s size, is its tremendous heart. There is a very clear love for film and storytelling here that fills every shot with a huge amount of passion.

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The Hobbit
Books Alexx T. Holden Books Alexx T. Holden

The Hobbit

Description via The StoryGraph:

Venture “there and back again” with this special enhanced edition of the enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout with over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien himself, and the complete text printed in two colors.

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey ‘there and back again.’ They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon . . .

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit was published on 21 September 1937. With a beautiful cover design, a handful of black & white drawings and two maps by the author himself, the book became an instant success and was reprinted shortly afterwards with five color plates.

Tolkien’s own selection of finished paintings and drawings have become inseparable from his text, adorning editions of The Hobbit for more than 85 years. But the published art has afforded only a glimpse of Tolkien’s creative process, and many additional sketches, colored drawings and maps – although exhibited and published elsewhere – have never appeared within the pages of The Hobbit.

In this unique enhanced edition of Tolkien’s enchanting classic tale, the full panoply of his art is reproduced for the first time, presenting more than 50 illustrations to accompany Bilbo Baggins on his adventure ‘there and back again.’

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GoT: The Iron Throne (Spoilers)
Shows Alexx T. Holden Shows Alexx T. Holden

GoT: The Iron Throne (Spoilers)

Oof… this didn’t age well at all. Holy shit. In hindsight I can see how stoked I was but after traveling a bit further down the road, I can see the giant pile of waste that was this finale blotting out the horizon.

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GoT: Winterfell & A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Spoilers)
Shows Alexx T. Holden Shows Alexx T. Holden

GoT: Winterfell & A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Spoilers)

Part of the reason for this is because these two episodes felt like they were about 40% catch up for those that were pulled in by the hype and just started watching, 10% reminder for the rest of us, and another 48% was calm before the storm. That last 2% I’m reserving for the nightmare pin-wheel Fire-child because holy shit that was just insane.

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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Books Alexx T. Holden Books Alexx T. Holden

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

As I can honestly say this has been one of the greatest, most enjoyable reading experiences of my life, I’ve had a really hard time figuring out where to start. I’ve had this book in just about every want-to-read list imaginable for years. It’s been in the back of my mind for so long that every now and then something would make it come forward and I’d think upon how I have yet to read it and then put it back where it came from.

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Sunday Night Craziness! July, 30th: Queens, Mothers, and a Spaghetti Death [Spoilers]
Shows Alexx T. Holden Shows Alexx T. Holden

Sunday Night Craziness! July, 30th: Queens, Mothers, and a Spaghetti Death [Spoilers]

I know a lot of people, old fans and newcomers alike, are feeling a bit frustrated with this show at times. I think part the misunderstanding lies in the belief that The Return was about us, as viewers, returning to Twin Peaks. I believe that, in reality, The Return refers to Cooper. This is about his return to the world. Twenty-five years trapped in the Black Lodge was not going to end by walking through a door.

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