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Home > News > featured news > Apiso, Sabre to power virtual travel payments in ME
Apiso, Sabre to power virtual travel payments in ME
Trade Arabia | August 28, 2019
Apiso and Sabre Corporation, the leading technology provider to the global travel industry, have announced today a long-term partnership to increase virtual payments adoption in the travel industry across the Middle East region.The partnership, and resulting technical integration between Apiso and Sabre, will promote Apiso's unique product offering as the preferred payment solution for Sabre Virtual Payments' customers in the fast-growing Middle East. It will also enable Sabre to scale the volume of payment transactions processed through its global distribution system (GDS) and other technology solutions globally
TIME TO FLY
They did this because they consider the TMC to be their most important business partner today and wish to see them continue to play that role. But it also would be fair to say that, broadly speaking, the TMAG participants would like to see the TMC community evolve to create greater value in a new distribution landscape of the future.
Xeniapp Inc. Announces Partnership With CTW
Xeniapp Inc | November 16, 2021
Xeniapp, Inc., the travel technology company, announced that it has partnered with CTW to build the most sophisticated flight shopping engine in the world for Xeniapp's unique travel operating system. Xeniapp is transforming the travel industry with its web 3.0 operating system built on a blockchain network. Today, corporate and leisure travel professionals can launch their full-service, web-based travel agency complete with custom booking engine, traveler web portal, CRM, and payment settlement engine. Xeniapp offers a full suite of bookable wholesale travel inventory, including flights, hotels, car rentals, airport transfers, and activities. "Flight booking is the most complex issue in travel today, with heavy regulation and millions of potential booking configurations. Servicing cancellations and rescheduling of flights is the most time-consuming, costly, and complex problem that the industry faces. By partnering with CTW, our operating system can automate flight reshopping, resolving one of the key pain points for travelers and travel professionals," -Sachin Narode, CEO of Xeniapp. The CTW platform is the most accurate airline pricing system on the market as evidenced by ATPCo's ratings. It is also the only platform to offer customers two years of historical flight schedules and fares with up-to-the-minute accuracy, a crucial necessity for post-ticketing servicing. CTW offers cost-effective technology, ticket exchange and refund management. CTW enables Xeniapp to automate even the most complex transactions and itineraries that previously required painstaking manual calculations and long customer service calls. "Partnering with Xeniapp - one of the most innovative travel companies in the world - is extremely rewarding for us. It demonstrates the value that the CTW platform can add for clients who are willing to innovate around the powerful functionalities that we offer. This partnership underscores our belief that future growth in the industry will come from companies that invest in continually improving the user experience and simplifying self-management of even the most complex trips," -Andrew Cuomo, Chief Commercial Officer of CTW. About Xeniapp, Inc. Xeniapp, Inc., the travel technology company, is based in New York City. Xeniapp's mission is to transform the travel industry by bringing travel software into the 21st century. The company was co-founded by Sachin Narode and Rachel Obenshain.Xeniapp Contact: Rachel Obenshain, President, Xeniapp; email: rachel@xeniapp.com.For more information about Xeniapp, visit https://xeniapp.com. About CTW CTW has developed several generations of airline shopping and pricing systems. The CTW Platform provides complete shopping, fares and pricing, reshopping, and ancillaries. CTW connects content providers and retailers worldwide. CTW Platform provides final pricing and repricing for 20% of all ARC/BSP-issued airline tickets in the world and has operations in Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania.For more information about CTW, visit https://ctw.travel.
Launchtrip Unveils First Travel Platform Designed for Group Trips
Launchtrip | September 30, 2021
Launchtrip the world's first Together-Travel company, today releases its group-centric travel booking app. Available on iOS now, Launchtrip removes the roadblocks historically associated with group-travel by allowing users to plan and book travel based on destination city or event, and the ability to divide costs and pay separately, taking the awkwardness out of invites and chasing down money - all within the native platform's ecosystem. Launchtrip is the first application to address a longstanding challenge for consumers and the hospitality industry: the need to facilitate group bookings in one application including payment processing and soon, with an industry first: fair and transparent pricing. From today, users will be able to: Search by city or event to book accommodation and restaurants close to major sports, music, and entertainment events across the country, with more events being added regularly Book hotel accommodations from a curated selection of 3 - 5 star properties across the country. From independent boutique hotels to 5-star luxury properties and everything in between, Launchtrip offers thousands of hotels across 8 major US cities to start (including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, Austin, Phoenix and Las Vegas), with more becoming available every month Review thousands of highly recommended restaurants and book right in the app using Resy as Launchtrip's official restaurant booking partner Split and manage payments of your group trips (available for group trips of 3 or more people) Receive scaling group discounts with partnered hotels Take advantage of Launchtrip's signature 24/7 concierge service - online and with text-driven customer support, powered by humans Ground transportation and travel insurance will be available by the end of the year Google Play store availability will launch in Winter 2021 Customers will also benefit from Launchtrip's 'My Trip' feature, where users can manage all of their group reservations and guest list, meaning they won't be stuck with reservation emails from multiple vendors. Within this feature, users can name their trip, check the trip's guest list and whether they've paid or not, and send reminders to anyone who hasn't yet paid. Launchtrip recently surveyed 1,000 US adults to find that for 25% of Americans, dealing with payment is the most painful part of planning any group trip. A third (34%) of respondents even said they spend hours figuring out how to split costs. To reward these Group Trip 'Heroes' who've had to deal with organizing woes for far too long, Launchtrip is giving away an all-expenses paid vacation (including accomodation at select luxury hotel properties across the country) to one lucky 'Hero' plus three friends. Launchtrip CEO and Founder Julian Ing is dedicated to providing a better travel experience for groups a category that he believes has experienced little innovation in nearly 25 years. "Launchtrip is a new kind of travel booking company and one that we believe will transform the travel and hospitality space. From group travel to complete transparency for consumers and partners, we are committed to creating the best experience possible for our users and are thrilled to open to the public today." SaidJulian Ing,Launchtrip CEO and Founder Looking ahead, Launchtrip will roll out additional features dedicated to creating a seamless travel experience, including curated trip recommendations, an AI-driven rewards system and more About Launchtrip Launchtrip is the Together-Travel company that makes booking group trips easy and rewarding. Founded by entrepreneur Julian Ing, Launchtrip's ethos is to make every experience outstanding, from end to end. Launchtrip's team of advisors include some of the industry's top experts with previous leadership roles within HomeAway (Expedia), MealPal and Tripping.com to name a few. This includes Traci Mercer, Taleeb Noormohamed, Michael Drever, Kathleen Reaume, Terry McBride and Mark Spencer.
The Travel Corporation Brands Introduce a New Way to Pay
The Travel Corporation | October 08, 2020
The Travel Corporation (TTC) and its 40 brands are making it easier for travelers to book and pay for their vacations. Now, customers can use Uplift, a buy now, pay later program exclusively for travel. Travel advisors can now help clients spread payments out over time so clients can book the trip of their dreams and make monthly payments over an 11-month period.


Ok, so Rich Cho was probably the team's best move so far. I mean, this is the guy that convinced Charlotte to give up Gerald Wallace for Dante Cunningham.
Actually, I really like Cunningham and hope that he returns. If the Cats get a solid wing player on Thursday, he might be a bit expendable, though.
Who would be interested in Stephen Jackson right now?
I'm still pissed with the CRASH trade and thought jax should be the one whos gone. good thing Cho is now on our side and i think the JAX trade is a great move! jax is 33 years old, shaun, as much as i like him, has knee problems. corey is only 31 as of now and dude can shoots FT with his eyes close yet still got a 100% FT% and his INability of making 3s can make sure us dont jack up 3s randomly at the worst time. Corey sacrifices his body much more than Jax to get those FTs and should not have a big attitude problem as JAX does. We also save money by sending 12m away yet only getting 9.6m back. I'm not liking the idea of letting Jeremy Tyler go, he was 17 or 18 when he went to Isarel ALONE. his stats were improving in Japan and was coached by a former NBA coach over there. I believe through all that, he is becoming a player, he shows great maturity during the interviews. Well…too bad he's gone already. But if we could do some quality signings during the off season under the new CBA, the team is looking good.
Kemba should start if bobcats are going to make him the leader of the team at least for the few coming years.
Also with Joel 7.7m off the book. the bobcats have alot of cash to either get starters like DeAndre Jordan(?) or package Diaw for FA Marc Gasol(?), and what about some half man half amazing sounds? Vince Carter at our 2 spot?


Beach Parties. Group Picnics. Custom Events. Off-Sites.
Sit back, put your toes in the sand, and let us do all the work.
Special discounts for school groups are available during the school year. We offer Ocean Ecology classes, history tours, and other teacher resource materials are available.
We've got the perfect seaside setting for exclusive events, beach parties, meeting rooms, picnics, formals and more! Packages available for rides, arcades, games, food and more!
Check out our packages and custom off-site events for groups of 50 or more!
Enjoy year-round discounts on rides, attractions, and food for groups of 15 or more!
Get onboard and save on fun!
Companies can apply online for our Good-Any-Day corporate discount program where employees of participating companies receive special discounts on rides, attractions and food packages.
Throw a party at the Boardwalk!
Bring your next birthday party or small celebration to the beach! Our new Party Room can accommodate up to 35 people and offers discounts for rides, attractions, arcades, games, food and more!


What if I don't want to do homework?
Chat with people from another culture. Every time your homework is about another religion, country or culture, try to get direct information from people who belong there. In this way, you will have a real and direct perspective over the personality and habits of another nation. Ask them directly about the most common symbols of their culture or the way they see some aspects of life. You will be surprised how many of these things you will not find in your school library.
If you study another language and you need help with your homework, create a partnership with a native speaker who is studying your native language. In this way, you will both get benefit from your conversations and you will be able to help each other with your homework. You can learn many expressions that would be otherwise hard to understand.
Search for online courses. Many foundations offer online, free courses on a variety of subjects. You can join these courses and you will not only meet many students interested in the same topics, but also get help with your homework from people who are experts in the field.
Use social media. Social media became a very powerful tool nowadays. You can search for groups who are focusing on your area of interest and join them. For sure, you will find some passionate persons who will be more than happy to answer to your questions and to offer you some help.
On the internet, you will find information about any topic. News websites, articles, online encyclopedias, all of these will be useful when your books will not help. You can read about the real experiences of other people or the latest news in the field. Blogs are a very good alternative if you need to include in your homework different perspectives regarding a certain topic. The key is to be creative and to explore other people's vision.


Engadget writes Samsung is expected to introduce its first curved smartphone next month. How this device will look is unknown but a prototype that was shown earlier this year had a screen that stretched to the outer edges of the device, making it possible to display notifications along the sides.
The last time we heard about Samsung's handheld flexible displays was back in CES in January, where a 5.5-inch prototype device named 'Youm' was revealed -- that's what you can see above. The prototype's screen stretched to the outer edges of the device and was able to display notifications along the side, although the handheld itself wasn't flexible. According to Park Sang-jin, CEO of Samsung SDI, the new device will use a similar OLED panel and will be curve-shaped ("not completely flexible"), which will "differentiate" the device from Samsung's existing smartphone family.


I am writing this letter to you on Christmas Eve and — depending upon whether I'm able to articulate what I think I want to — I'll read it to you in the morning (so…now, I guess, if I decided to go through with it — it's weird thinking about how to write something into the future).
This year has been wild. I guess you know that. When it began, I never would have imagined all that has unfolded for each of us during the past twelve months — individually, and as a family. Now, I'm sitting here on the night before Christmas with a full heart, trying to articulate what I hope will be a gift.
At dinner tonight, I sat glued to my chair, dumbfounded at how a thirteen-year-old and a fifteen-year-old are able to articulate themselves and hold a conversation better that most twenty-somethings. I am proud of the ways that you display wisdom beyond your age. The ways that you carry and conduct yourselves. The ways that you are able to communicate with others, and share your perspectives — your outlook on life.
This year, I've been honest with you about struggling with work — with what to do. And should we move? And where? And what will that mean for me, for you, for us? We talked through it all while we figured it out together, but there was more to the why…more to the story.
She's said it before, I never believed her. In the past, I'd simply promised to slow down… and not. For our entire marriage, I'd promise to change — to do something different — but I never did. I just kept adding to the plate until it overflowed. I kept doing more.
I turned her promise into a challenge. A literal, thirty-day day challenge. I asked her to give me thirty days, and swore that this time would be different. We made the decision to move during a time when I needed something different and drastic to happen if I was going to save our relationship. I needed a new location — new sights and new sounds — and a break from old routines and bad patterns. And I needed to begin to think differently: What do I do? What do I keep? What do I quit?
I know these things about you, and you know them about yourselves — even at such a young age.
I learned that much of why I do what I do can be traced all the way back to my childhood. I grew up trying to fix everything from my parent's marriage to my dad's struggling businesses. Somehow, even as a kid, I was the parent, and their approval was nonexistent. When I became an adult, I turned to work and success as a way of receiving the approval of others — the approval that my parents never gave me — and I've gone long and hard after the praise of others in an attempted to fill a void that keeps leaking out at the bottom.
I want you to chase things that you don't think are possible. Anything and everything. They are possible, and you've seen some of them come true this year — from Nolan getting to do the Nike project he pitched, to Elise getting called out in her dances.
Do you remember when I joined Jeff Walker's Mastermind? That was almost a year ago, now, and just getting in was a massive turning point in my life. In fact, I believe it's the very reason that I have finally learned this lesson, because getting into the group felt like a miracle — or the completion of a dream that began as an impossibility.
The whole process — from how to ask for an application, to filling it out, to filling it out again, to coughing up a 30k membership fee, to being accepted — all of it was nerve-racking for me.
I was confident that I deserved to be in that room, and on that stage. I believe that I am capable — excellent, even — at the things that I know how to do. The things that I have done. The way that I am able to deliver a message with the same kind of confidence needed to get into the room in the first place.
Of course… that doesn't mean I don't experience insecurity. When I got in, I was nervous — out of my comfort zone with fifty-two new people (zero of which were friends) and not one connection — but I did it. (Ironically, though, after all of that…I skipped the first "fun" day and went to the spa by myself. Three days of nonstop interaction with brand-new faces was so hard on me.) I pushed through. I went back. I tried to discern how to navigate a brand-new experience.
I've been able to learn from guys that I want to be like — some of them doing thing that I was doing already, but in other areas, things that I didn't yet know how to do.
I watched Stu tell stories and love his wife like no one I've ever known — ways that challenged me to be a better husband to your mom — and then got to to spend two days with them in Canada.
Jeff told me that business (and life, for that matter) isn't about chasing revenue…it's about chasing lifestyle. I watch him work with his son, Daniel, in ways far more patient than I do with you, Nolan. I watched him trust his entire family with his business and — at the same time — saw how he refuses to let his business run him and his family.
Almost every day on our Google group, at least one person posts something — a question, a comment, a tip. Throughout the entire year, I have only commented on maybe 5 of 300 posts on our thread… and I have only started one of thread, myself. I read them all, though, and I watch the interactions that take place.
I included a few links. I included a proposal that I had previously assembled for a client, revealing our sales model and a few suggestions for the guy. I hit "send" and laughed, thinking, You chose Christmas Eve to finally engage in a post for this group? No one is going to see — let alone read — what you have to say.
What I did get, however, was a personal email from Jeff Walker, asking me to PRESENT the topic — and my methodology — at our next Mastermind.
I'm not going to lie — I freaked out inside. I haven't been in that group for a full year yet. Jeff assigns two-to-four people per group-meeting to share, and he wants me to be one of them. I couldn't be more excited to put my presentation together, and crush it. If all goes well there, I might even have the opportunity to speak at LaunchCon someday (something Jeff offers to the best of his mastermind presenters so that they can pay forward, publicly, what they've contributed to his private group)…the same event that I told Carl I'd speak at someday.
This morning's email from Jeff is just the second step in a process that — as such a fast-moving person — has admittedly taken longer than what I'm used to, but I've begun to recognize that the perhaps the best things in life are worth the wait. Maybe patience is a virtue I haven't always possessed, but it feels like the Lord has begun to provide a path for me to walk into the dream he gave me. Jeff's response encouraged me. It gave me confidence that this is happening, and it feels like a win.
I don't know quite how to explain it, but I've begun to feel more this year. It's been hard, but it's been helpful — trying to discern and understand who I am, and how I feel about things both good and bad.
Elise, I love the spirit that I see in you. I love the way that you love just being here with us — with your family and with churro. I want to spend more time with you. I mean that, and I will work on creating that time this year. I will work on finding the time for us to have our "things" — even if it simply means walking through Westminster Mall together every week…I am fine with that. Whatever it takes. You are growing so fast despite all of your longing to stay young, and you are absolutely beautiful. Your friend Ashley says that she hears all day long about how much she looks like her mom and frankly…? That's not a good thing — haha. But you? You look more like mom in so many ways, and that is a good thing. You are stunning in your photos, and in the movie we just watched together.
They say less is more. Ironically, I think I even wrote an entire book about that. It seems as though I could stand to benefit from re-reading it and — perhaps — even sharing more of the lessons I learned during that time as I re-learn them, myself.
I don't know what other LESS is going to make the list, or how each of you will see that word, or use it this year, but I wanted to share it a week ahead of 2019 — as opposed to hoping I'll have accomplished enough reduction to write about it in a yearbook at year's end.


It is an understatement to say the Bahamas are World Famous for Shark Diving, however, there is so much more! The Bahamas is the third largest Barrier Reef area in the world and covers a vast 470.000km2 of sparkling Atlantic Ocean. Existing of 700 Islands and Cays; one can easily imagine the variety of dive sites: Wrecks, Cave, Blue Holes and, obviously - Sharks!
A shark sanctuary since 2011, the Bahamas is famous for hammerheads, bulls, tigers and more. But you can also gear up for riveting drift dives, shipwrecks and classic blue holes.
The Bahamas is home to the only tidal blue holes in the world, and divers of all skill sets and experience levels arrive here to drop down into them. It's the contrast between the light-blue shallow water surrounding blue holes and the dark-blue water in their depths that gives these underwater caves their distinctive eye appeal, both topside and down below. You're on the inside looking out as you descend to around 90 feet inside Angelfish Blue Hole, a dive site in an enclosed bay off Stocking Island that's considered a quintessential Exumas dive.
Tiger Beach is not just world renowned for its clear, calm water. For years, it's Tiger shark diving encounters have made it one of the premier dive destinations in the world among professional photographers, videographers and shark lovers alike. With numerous species of shark frequenting this area, you have opportunities to see Tiger Sharks, Lemon Sharks, Caribbean Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Hammerheads and more. However, for many years now, the Tiger Shark diving has been taking front stage at Tiger Beach and changing the perception of these top predators. Thanks to the foresight of the Bahamas, making all waters surrounding the nations islands a marine sanctuary, we are able to enjoy the benefits of a healthy marine ecosystem.
The Bahamas Master Liveaboard has 8 well-designed cabins and can comfortably welcome 16 divers aboard. Communal indoor and outdoor relaxation areas are both on the upper and main deck. Upstairs is the spacious covered outdoor bar and dining area, as well as a sun deck for relaxation after dives.


← Your email marketing questions answered!
Marketing your business is like building a house! Get your foundations right for a solid and prosperous future!
This all sounds very simple but as we all know, it's not always easy to market ourselves and our businesses.
The simplest and most effective way I have explained marketing throughout my presentations and talks and in my material, books and blogs is that building up your business using marketing is like building a house. There are things you need to do or have in place before you start building and this analogy is the same for marketing.
The new online based course is aimed at small business owners who know the value of marketing and who want to promote and grow their businesses by using marketing campaigns and tools.
You will receive a chapter as a pdf document every week upon payment, with 9 chapters in total. Each chapter contains information, advise, tips and exercises to complete to help you really learn and use the information within your business.


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PhPremium
Artist who joined Queeky on Friday, 28. April 2006
Emplo
Atomic20883
cobaltgrace
sabsestern
MysticalUnicornFart
midnightmermaid89
TheAylaPrince
gummybear418
ha55ha
All drawings © ph. Variations and MultiDraws © by their respective contributors.
thank you for the favourite,
thank you for the favourite, and you got one hell of a gallery.
Sun, 10/07/2016 - 19:45 — uggie86
woah.................
you hold the lock and key to your own piece of mind... POSITIVITY IS THE KEY, NEGATIVITY IS THE LOCK...
f r e e y o u r m i n d
Mon, 12/10/2015 - 16:46 — Cindythecat
You help people, right? Well, I'm stuck. For some reason, the info for my profile doesn't match up. For example, it says I only have ten pictures, when I actually have twelve. Or one picture has 88 views rather than 108. Do you know what happened? (Thanks, too. I love this website. )
"Challenge yourself and you will be surprised by your improvement." -Me
Wed, 17/12/2014 - 07:01 — SweetieAppleAcres
Okay! Thank you very much!
Wed, 12/11/2014 - 04:10 — idamessygirl (not verified)
This comment has been deleted.
Sun, 02/11/2014 - 11:06 — idamessygirl (not verified)
I dont mean to complain, But
I dont mean to complain, But when you block someone, it just blocks them from sending you messages, is there any way you can block them completly, like where they cant comment or anything?
Mon, 13/01/2014 - 01:05 — MelloJello (not verified)
I just discovered that
I just discovered that you are the creator or one of them,I'm not so sure, of Qweeky. What a great mind and capabilities..I could never express how much this site has given to me..Thank you, thank you so much, you are offering incredible tools (although I can't use all of them, or even at the best) and already feel so lucky and happy.You gave my imagination a place to be!!
Mon, 04/04/2011 - 08:32 — danila
I wanna change my username
I wanna change my username please
Tue, 08/03/2011 - 22:57 — Yugiohgx (not verified)
Hello...I'm happy drawing at
Hello...I'm happy drawing at Queeky, ,thanks
Mon, 07/02/2011 - 13:09 — tamimapple
Hello PH
justo drop to say you hello!!
have great day
Fri, 19/11/2010 - 04:33 — aly

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The amount of water used outdoors can vary greatly. Water consumption can be as much as 500 - 5,000 gallons per day during the summer months. Be "water wise".
Water only when needed - Frequency depends on the type of plants and soil conditions.
Water only as rapidly as the soil can absorb the water - Water run off is a huge waste.
Water slowly, deeply and less often - Longer watering cycles allow roots to lengthen and strengthen, allowing hardiness in drought conditions.
Longer watering times mean fewer days of watering - Water every 3-4 days, if possible.
Install a trickle or drip irrigation system for a slow, steady supply of water to the plant roots. This method can save up to 60% over other watering techniques.
If you can not install a drip or bubble system for your landscaping needs, use a soaker or other porous walled hose.
Water the lawn in the evening, night, or early morning when evaporation is less likely to occur. Avoid watering during the heat of the day.
Turn off the sprinklers during windy or rainy weather.
Is rainy weather expected? Turn off automatic sprinklers when rain is in the forecast and avoid watering the following day, if the rainfall was sufficient.
Replace leaky or broken sprinklers and sprinkler heads promptly.
Regularly watch the spray pattern on set sprinkler systems. Often they get misaligned. Over spray on streets, driveways, fences, etc., is wasteful.
Consider water requirements when purchasing new plants.
Use native plants when landscaping your lawn. Generally, native plants require less care and water than other ornamental varieties.
Place a layer of organic mulch around plants and trees to avoid excessive evaporation. This includes bark, grass clippings or compost. Mulch helps to hold moisture into the soil.
Use a broom, not a hose, when cleaning driveways and walkways.
Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle to wash the car.
Locate the master water supply valve and label it. The master supply valve, usually just outside of the water meter box, can be easily turned off in case of a major leak or broken pipe.
Clean gutters and downspouts manually instead of hosing them down.
Leftover glasses of water around the house? Don't dump down the drain, water your plants.
Cleaning the freshwater fish tank? Use that fishy water to fertilize your plants and garden.
Place rain buckets or barrels under rain gutter down spouts. Collect and use it to water outdoor plants.
Immediately report sprinkler breaks or problems to the owner or caretaker of the property.
Place 5 or more flat bottom cans or coffee mugs randomly around your lawn.
Turn on your sprinkler(s) for 15 minutes.
Measure the depth of the water in each can with a ruler to determine the average water depth in the cans.
Refer to the Watering Chart and read the number of minutes you should water, every 3rd day. Record the times for future reference.
Gardening professionals generally agree that most landscaping receives more water than necessary. Your goal, if experiencing a severe water shortage, should be to water only enough to keep grasses and plants alive. By gradually extending the length of time between waterings, plants have a tendency to require less water and become more drought resistant.
Plant type and soil conditions play a large role in determining when and how much to water. Turf areas require more water than trees, shrubs, and ground cover. Different soil types have different water retention capabilities. Know your soil type. Ask your local nursery or county extension office to recommend low water-using plants and ways to increase your soil's water holding capacity.
Here in the Tri-Cities, our soil is more than likely, sandy. Sandy soil is porous, and doesn't hold water well. Organic mulch, such as grass, bark or compost is an excellent top cover for plants and gardens. This layer provides needed nutrients, holds in moisture and allows less evaporation to escape. Before planting, be sure to add organic material (manure, compost, or soil amendments) and till in.
The object of efficient irrigation is to water only the soil surrounding the root area of the plant, not directly on the root, but the root zone.
Consider low water using turf varieties, like ornamental grasses. Consult your county extension office or local nursery to identify low water using turf varieties for your area.
Remove thatch (dead grass) build-up in turf areas as soon as possible - Thatch restricts penetration of water, air, and nutrients.
Aerate compacted soil to increase water penetration - Aerating should be done only during the spring months or after fall rains resume.
Proper fertilizer application is important. Consult a nursery or landscape professional for a well-balanced fertilization program.
Eliminate any over-spray on paved areas or buildings. Investigate the source of any unusual runoff, puddling or over-saturated areas.
If you have an automated sprinkler system, make sure the controller is properly set to achieve minimum watering levels.
When landscaping, a properly designed and installed irrigation system should be included as a water conservation tool. Automated irrigation systems offer the ultimate in both control and distribution of water over other watering systems.
Reminder: Use this chart as a guide only, and alter your water practices according to climatic conditions. Decrease watering times and frequencies during cool and / or humid weather. Skip at least 1 scheduled watering after any substantial rainfall.


Since 1975, Kapoor Galleries Inc. has played an instrumental role in educating the public about Ancient and Classical Fine Arts of India and the Himalayas and encouraging interest in Indian art among collectors and institutions. For over forty years, they have been dedicated to building strong client-dealer relationships, earning the respect, loyalty, and trust of those with whom we build collections. Kapoor Galleries has guided some of the most significant public and private collections of the 20th century as an arbiter of connoisseurship in the field.
Kapoor Galleries Inc. is consistently the privileged custodian of top-quality bronzes, sculptures, miniatures, and thangkas, many of which are now part of the collections of major museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, The San Diego Museum of Art, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
*Please note, if uploading multiple files please select all files and drag all of the files into the box.


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City of Pueblo Receives Competitive CityStart Grant Award to Kickstart Local Municipal Financial Empowerment Efforts During COVID-19
City of Pueblo Chosen by CFE Fund as One of Five Localities to Receive Award; Will Identify Strategies to Financially Empower Residents During and Beyond COVID-19
November 30, 2020 – The City of Pueblo, along with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) today announced their selection as one of five local governments to receive a planning grant and technical assistance to identify and plan for local municipal financial empowerment strategic priorities. The CFE Fund's CityStart initiative, with support from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and others, offers local leaders and their administrations a structured approach to identify financial empowerment goals, convene stakeholders for sustainable success, develop concrete strategies, and ultimately craft an actionable blueprint rooted in local priorities and opportunities. This cohort will also have a dedicated focus on financial empowerment during COVID-19, prioritizing resident engagement and racial justice strategies. City of Pueblo will receive an intensive 6-month technical assistance engagement partnership, along with a $25,000 planning grant. In addition to Pueblo, other selected partners chosen through a competitive process include: Hennepin County, MN; Jackson, TN; Montgomery, AL; and Tempe, AZ.
In Pueblo, the COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated the need for financial empowerment and elevated it as a priority in the Office of the Mayor. Considerable time and effort is being expended addressing the immediate financial needs of Puebloans brought on by the pandemic. Mayor Gradisar understands the strong correlation between the financial stability of a city's residents and the financial stability of municipal government and its ability to serve its citizenry well. The Pueblo Mayor's Office believes that engaging its community to identify the most pressing financial empowerment needs, building a blueprint to address them, then launching programs that foster economic stability and build community wealth - with a commitment to equity - is the necessary extension of its 2020 work. Upon successful completion, the City will have collaborated with stakeholders in the community to build a Financial Empowerment Blueprint.
Pueblo is part of the third cohort of CityStart partners for the CFE Fund; these five new local partners join twenty-four localities that have already completed the CityStart engagement. Past partners have since created blueprints that outline their administration's public vision for integrating financial empowerment efforts within local government infrastructure – some working to open an Office of Financial Empowerment to serve as a platform for overall efforts, some identifying strategies centered around a specific municipal priority such as affordable housing, and some replicating existing programs such as the Financial Empowerment Center FEC Public initiative.
Says Mayor Gradisar, "These are unprecedented times, and we clearly need a plan to support our local businesses if we are going to economically recover from this pandemic. Beyond mitigation, much more work will need to be done to help residents rebound and rebuild. Financial empowerment strategies hold great promise as part of that work. Collaborations such as this with CFE and CityStart are how we accomplish this."
"Cities/counties control a host of policies, programs, and funding streams that can transform the lives of residents with low incomes on a large scale – and the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored this critical role of local government. Across the nation, more and more local leaders are turning to innovative financial empowerment strategies to improve the financial stability of their residents," said Jonathan Mintz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. "We congratulate Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar and look forward to working with him to empower Pueblo residents, and we thank JPMorgan Chase & Co. for their longstanding partnership and investment in municipal financial empowerment."
"Cities have always played a critical role in ensuring low-income and diverse communities are equipped with the tools to build financial health. With the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on communities that were already vulnerable, efforts like CFE Fund's CityStart program are critical to the financial health, resilience and stability of local city residents," said Sarah Willis Ertur, vice president, Financial Health at JPMorgan Chase.
The CityStart initiative draws on the CFE Fund's extensive programmatic work with local government leaders in over 100 cities and counties, connecting critical on-the-ground insights about the impact of financial instability on families, communities, and municipal budgets with tangible, measurable, and sustainable municipal strategies to improve families' financial lives. Pueblo, working with the CFE Fund, will craft its municipal financial empowerment blueprint identifying actionable implementation steps based on the financial needs of residents, key Administration priorities, and partnership opportunities. Development of the blueprint will be based on a series of virtual meetings with key stakeholders, with a specific focus on financial empowerment during COVID-19, resident engagement, and racial equity. CityStart partners have historically leveraged their engagement with the CFE Fund to further their commitment to this work.
About the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)
The CFE Fund supports municipal efforts to improve the financial stability of households by leveraging opportunities unique to local government. By translating cutting edge experience with large scale programs, research, and policy in cities of all sizes, the CFE Fund assists mayors and other local leaders in over 100 cities and counties to identify, develop, fund, implement, and research pilots and programs that help families build assets and make the most of their financial resources – including 24 local governments that have already completed the CityStart engagement. The CFE Fund has disbursed over $43 million in grant support to municipal partners. For more information, please visit www.cfefund.org or follow us on Twitter at @CFEFund.
⇐Previous Special Pueblo City Council Meeting To Be Held Through Zoom on Tuesday, December 1, 2020Next⇒ Mayor Gradisar Delivers Thanksgiving Message


Rolling Thunder is a Wild Sorcery spell that combines the power of Aeromancy, Electromancy, and Hydromancy. Rolling Thunder is a weather control spell that can take a clear day and turn it into a violent thunderstorm, calling down lightning to strike specific targets. The storm can produce approximately ten lightning strikes a minute.
This article has been viewed 2,394 times. It was added on January 29, 2008, and was last modified on January 29, 2008.


For expectant parents facing a prenatal diagnosis and others requiring immediate information and assistance, the AAKSIS toll-free number and confidential e-mail are checked daily or more often.
A listing of all National Klinefelter syndrome/ 47XXY Support Groups.
Contact Stefan Schwarz for meeting information.


text:
module Core::Repository
  module CMS
    class Preview < Core::Repository::Base
      def initialize(_options = {})
        self.connection = Core::Registry::Connection[:cms]
      end

      def find(id)
        response = connection.get('/api/preview/%{locale}/%{id}.json' % { id: id, locale: I18n.locale })
        AttributeBuilder.build(response)
      rescue Core::Connection::Http::ResourceNotFound
        nil
      rescue Core::Connection::Http::ConnectionFailed, Core::Connection::Http::ClientError
        raise RequestError, 'Unable to fetch Article JSON from CMS'
      end

      private

      attr_accessor :connection
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Start by marking "Soul of Stars (Heart of Iron, #2)" as Want to Read:
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Preview — Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston
Soul of Stars
(Heart of Iron #2)
Ashley Poston (Goodreads Author)
4.07 · Rating details · 1,036 ratings · 213 reviews
The highly awaited sequel to Heart of Iron, Soul of Stars is a thrilling sci-fi adventure packed with romance, shocking twists, and witty banter, perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Cinder.
Once, Ana was an orphaned space outlaw. Then she was the Empress of the Iron Kingdom. Now, thought dead by most of the galaxy after she escaped from the dark AI program called the HIVE, The highly awaited sequel to Heart of Iron, Soul of Stars is a thrilling sci-fi adventure packed with romance, shocking twists, and witty banter, perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Cinder.
Once, Ana was an orphaned space outlaw. Then she was the Empress of the Iron Kingdom. Now, thought dead by most of the galaxy after she escaped from the dark AI program called the HIVE, Ana is desperate for a way to save Di from the HIVE's evil clutches and take back her kingdom.
Ana's only option is to find Starbright, the one person who has hacked into the HIVE and lived to tell the tale. But when Ana's desperation costs the crew of the Dossier a terrible price, Ana and her friends are sent spiraling through the most perilous reaches of the Iron Kingdom to stop the true arbiter of evil in her world: an ancient world-ending deity called the Great Dark.
Their journey will take the sharp-witted pilot, Jax, to the home he never wanted to return to, and the dangerous fate he left behind. And when Robb finds out who Jax really is, he must contend with his own feelings for the boy he barely knows, and whether he truly belongs with this group of outcasts.
When facing the worst odds, can Ana and her crew of misfits find a way to stop the Great Dark once and for all? ...more
Kindle Store $8.99
Published July 23rd 2019 by Balzer + Bray
B07FCP9M8R
Heart of Iron #2
To ask other readers questions about Soul of Stars, please sign up.
How many books are planned for this series?
1 like · like
Katelyn Just the two - Heart of Iron and Soul of Stars.
Does anyone know a firmer release date than "2019"? I remember the publication of the first one ended up getting pushed back a couple months.
Gothic Goldfish as of right now the release date is set to be July 23rd 2019.
See all 8 questions about Soul of Stars…
YA Releases of July, 2019
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· 1,036 ratings · 213 reviews
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Start your review of Soul of Stars (Heart of Iron, #2)
Sep 12, 2018 Ashley Poston rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)
Hi! Um, I'm sorry I kind of broke your hearts in Heart of Iron. Hi! Um, I'm sorry I kind of broke your hearts in Heart of Iron. ...more
flag 124 likes · Like · see review
Oct 11, 2018 Candace Robinson added it
Heart of Iron was one of my favorite books of last year and I was so incredibly excited for this one! Plus, come on, Anastasia retelling in space is totally awesome!
First, the awesome! Jax and Robb! Man, oh man, I love these two gents so much! They are the perfect power couple, seriously! Also, the world building in these books is freaking great! Especially when it's hard for me to get into sci-fi most of the time!
I think my main issue was Anna. I love her, but I feel like this story wasn't real Heart of Iron was one of my favorite books of last year and I was so incredibly excited for this one! Plus, come on, Anastasia retelling in space is totally awesome!
I think my main issue was Anna. I love her, but I feel like this story wasn't really hers at all. I mean, I know there are four POVs, but I just felt like her story line and relationship with a certain other character wasn't as strong as Jax and Robb.
However, it was a good conclusion to the series with addictive writing and lots of action and emotion. I just wanted more from Anna's story line! ...more
Jul 08, 2019 megs_bookrack marked it as to-read
Shelves: ya-science-fiction-to-read, 2019-releases
Waiting on my preorder reminds me...
Perhaps I should read the first book 🤔🤔🤔
Oct 16, 2018 ✨ jamieson ✨ marked it as to-read
Shelves: anticipated-2019
first of all: that cover is STUNNING
second of all: book one had some great characters who I love and miss, I'm excited to see them again. Heart of Iron was one of those books I just saw SO MUCH series potential in, I really hope that Soul of Stars comes through for me
also .... give me more of that good gay shit or give me death Ms Poston first of all: that cover is STUNNING
also .... give me more of that good gay shit or give me death Ms Poston ...more
Jul 24, 2019 Cait (Caitsbooks) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: 2019-releases, reviewed
Check out this review (and more) over on my blog!
Overall: 4.5/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4.5/5
Review in a Nutshell: Soul of Stars is an out-of-this-world sequel. And I'm not sorry for that pun.
"Love was stubborn, and love was impatient, and thoughtless and self-centered and vainglorius. It hid in the crevices of your soul when you thought it had run away, and it never left-- like a scar: deep and ugly and enduring."
// Content Check out this review (and more) over on my blog!
// Content Warning: Violence, Death //
Premise:
Soul of Stars takes place several months after the heartbreaking events of Heart of Iron. Our main characters are still trying to deal with what happened (honestly, so am I), all while trying to save their friend and the kingdom.
- Writing & Setting-
The one thing I love about this series is just how easy it is to be immersed in the world and the writing. There's no slowly adapting to this new galaxy, instead you're thrown in and are easily able to understand all of it. The writing in Soul of Stars is just as good as Heart of Iron, if not better. There are a few fun references hidden in the book that made me so happy when I found them (including an "In A Crowd of Thousands" reference that killed me). The setting is also fantastic, and this book definitely builds on the galaxy that was established in the first book in fantastic ways.
- Plot -
This book had it's work cut out for itself, having to tie up all of the loose ends from Heart of Iron while still matching the fun and adventurous tone… and it definitely succeeded. Soul of Stars is full of action and adventure. This book has plenty of plot twists and reveals (although they are a little predictable) , as well as a crazy fast past. There was something always happening and a few other things building up in the background. That said, sometimes it can feel a little too fast with no moments of rest. Also, while I liked the ending, I just wanted a little more. I needed just a few more pages for the ending to be perfect. However, I guess that isn't the worst thing to want after finishing a book.
- Characters -
This book is a perfect mix of characters I'd die for, and characters I don't really care much about. To be honest, that has to do with Heart of Iron. The first book made me love some characters, while other characters and relationships felt a little too rushed or sidelined, and now this book pays the price of that. There were definitely a few moments that didn't have the emotional impact they could have because I just didn't have that strong of a connection to the characters. Despite that, I still adore most of the characters in this book and find them pretty well written (if not amazingly written). I mean, Di is just my favorite (I guess I can't say person?) thing ever, and this book made me love his character even more. Ana, Robb, and Jax are all amazing as well, I just pick favorites. This book definitely gave me more of an appreciation for Robb and Siege than the first book did.
One thing I really loved in this book is that it isn't solely up to a bunch of teenagers to save the universe. While I don't hate that, it was really refreshing to see these teens being helped out by actual adults and having decent family relationships (I just love the found-family trope). Also, did I mention all of the queer characters in the book? Because oh boy are they there and I am so happy. There are a few lgbtq+ relationships plus a nonbinary character!!
- Conclusion -
Pros- Great & diverse characters, interesting world, perfect resolution
Cons- Struggled connecting with some characters, I needed more!
Overall- 4.5/5 stars.
Soul of Stars was absolutely worth the wait. This book will tear your heart out (if Heart of Iron didn't already) and have you wanting more.
Follow Me Here: Blog ||Tumblr || Bookstagram || Twitter|| Reviews ...more
Jan 22, 2020 Amber J rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: 2020-reading-challenge, 5-stars-of-2020
I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler free way. If you feel anything in my review is a spoiler and is not already hidden in spoiler brackets please let me know. Thank you.
This is the second book of a duology. I fell in love with the first book after the first three chapters and I am so glad I decided to read it. This book leaves off after the first book ended on a cliffhanger.
There are so many characters in this book, each with there own wonderful personalities. The book has I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler free way. If you feel anything in my review is a spoiler and is not already hidden in spoiler brackets please let me know. Thank you.
There are so many characters in this book, each with there own wonderful personalities. The book has so much diversity as well.
While I am loving the Ana/Di romance, I would have read this book just for the Jax/Robb romance. All the relationships between the character are great though. They are such a close knit group of friends that its easy to see why they are a family.
The plot was decent. It didn't feel like it had the same heart-pounding action that the first had but it did come all to a great conclusion. I was left with a few questions though. Such as, what exactly is the great dark? What did it want? Where did it come from? Oh well, guess I'll never know.
It was great to be able to learn more about Di and his past. That was probably one of my favorite parts of this book was being able to see more of his history. Surprising to me who he was, and those he knew though.
I do wanna express that I knew who the spy was right away. I don't know if the author was trying to make it obvious or not, but to me it was extremely obvious.
All in all a great book and a great series. I'm a little sad that there isn't more to this series. The book is all wrapped up at the end so I'm sure its meant to be the end. I will miss it and might come back and re-read it some day. I'll definitely be reading more of Ashely Poston's work and following for anything new.
How I choose my rating:
1* Hated it. Had to force myself to finish it.
2** Didn't really like it. Didn't hate it but not sure why I finished it other then for some closure.
3*** I liked it. I had some issues with it, but as a whole it was good. I probably won't reread again ever, but there is a chance I might finish the series. (If part of one) But if not it's not a huge loss.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this again, and I will finish the series. (If part of one) I would recommend to those I know hold interest in this books content.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will definitely be rereading this and probably more than once. I will finish the series and reread it multiple times. (If part of one) I will recommend this book to EVERYONE!!!!
Jan 04, 2020 Diana rated it really liked it
Vid review available 13, May, 2020 here https://youtu.be/uGrkDHd3m5M Vid review available 13, May, 2020 here https://youtu.be/uGrkDHd3m5M ...more
Mar 05, 2019 Angelica marked it as to-read
This cover.
I didn't love book one, but I can't even deny that I kinda want this book, and I kinda want it now. This cover.
I didn't love book one, but I can't even deny that I kinda want this book, and I kinda want it now. ...more
Mar 07, 2020 Jodi Meadows added it
This was such a fun duology. Adventure, spaceships, and romance -- just my kind of thing.
Sep 25, 2019 Sharon rated it liked it
Shelves: 2-and-a-half-stars, multiple-romance, romance, friendship, science-fiction, lgbtq
Mediocre plot but likable characters.
Here are some of my thoughts (on both the 1st and 2nd books):
•	I love Di since his first chapter. I like his character especially in Book 1 – he is logical but also adorably sassy and surprisingly caring for a "robot." His character is easy to like, especially when you can tell how much he cares for Ana and the rest of the crew. His story definitely becomes more angsty than I would have expected and preferred. In Book 2, I find his Emperor chapters blah. It i Mediocre plot but likable characters.
•	I love Di since his first chapter. I like his character especially in Book 1 – he is logical but also adorably sassy and surprisingly caring for a "robot." His character is easy to like, especially when you can tell how much he cares for Ana and the rest of the crew. His story definitely becomes more angsty than I would have expected and preferred. In Book 2, I find his Emperor chapters blah. It is good riddance when he finally remembers who he is. It's a little exhausting to be honest with all the switching and confusion of identities. Thus, I guess I like his character less in Book 2, but still he's my favorite from this series.
•	Ana is not a bad character, but tbh annoying at times with her hot-headedness. Also, I am not saying she was "useless" because she did do some stuff – but I… guess I would have liked to see her do more. I mean she is a rogue but also an empress – and I just wanted a bit more ass-kicking from her and power moments.
•	Robb – I appreciate the character developments.
•	Jax is confident and funny – love him.
•	Also, of course I ship Robb and Jax. They are super cute in this.
•	Di and Ana's friendship/relationship is cute. That is one of the things I have enjoyed most when I read Book 1. In Book 2, this book has more memories than present moments b/w them. I would have wanted more present moments, although the memories are cute to see, especially since they were established from chapter 1, so it's nice to get a glimpse of the "before." I love their strong connection. This book has made their romance exhausting in its angstiness - but I still overall love this.
•	Interesting reveals about Captain Siege. I did not care for her character in Book 1, but she has become such a heart-warming figure in this book. I love that she is like a mother to both Di and Robb.
•	This book reminds me of a mixture of Anastasia with the lost empress and memory lost and fire, The Lunar Chronicles (which also has a lost princess with memory loss and fire btw) with the cyborgs and ship crew, and Constellations with the question of if a robot can have feelings.
•	I appreciate the diversity and LGBTQ+ representation.
•	The friendships and the crew camaraderie – I love.
I have enjoyed this, but unfortunately enjoyed this less than Book 1. I do like how I have come to like certain characters and how they interact with one another. I really like the romance but like it less in this book with the drama. Overall, I'm giving book 1 3 stars and book 2 2.5 stars.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending? (view spoiler)[Generally happy. A little vague on (view spoiler)[what's happening with Di. Like I feel like his defect doesn't sound like the WORST thing – b/c he glitches at times remembering old memories and forgets for a moment who he is when he snaps out of it. I'm hoping that's all there is to it b/c he and Ana sounded super depressed about it in their respective last chapters. But still besides this vague bad thing, generally happy ending (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? (view spoiler)[No, no, medium-high (hide spoiler)]
Tears-worthy? (view spoiler)[Did not cry but has some sad/emotional scenes? (hide spoiler)]
Humor? (view spoiler)[More humor in Book 1 – it's more humorous bantering than full-on comedy (hide spoiler)]
Favorite scenes? (view spoiler)[Ana apologizing Di for running him over before – and them laughing about it and thinking back on their time together fondly. Them calling the robot pet thing a can opener and that can opener being surprisingly cute and affectionately following around Ana and Di and beeping. When Jax and Robb said I love you to each other calling each other "my soul." The sweet scenes with Siege being such a great mom to Ana. (hide spoiler)] ...more
Aug 27, 2019 Andy rated it it was amazing
Shelves: 2019-read, own-ebook, own
What a wild ride this duology has been.
I love the world of Heart of Iron. The galaxy, world building and mythology of the world is phenomenal. I love the characters and how much they've changed since the beginning of this tale. Ana really grew in this book too. And her relationship with Captain Siege is my everything.
I loved the twists and revelations about Ana, The Great Dark and Di that happened. There were a couple loose ends that didn't feel completely wrapped up, but I really loved this co What a wild ride this duology has been.
I loved the twists and revelations about Ana, The Great Dark and Di that happened. There were a couple loose ends that didn't feel completely wrapped up, but I really loved this conclusion to Heart of Iron. Jax and Robb's storyline killed me, literally all the feels! ...more
Jul 26, 2019 Jean rated it liked it
Shelves: science-fiction
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Something's missing, especially in the way things wrapped up between Di and Ana. A little rushed and vague perhaps? I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Something's missing, especially in the way things wrapped up between Di and Ana. A little rushed and vague perhaps? ...more
Nov 26, 2019 Sara Saif rated it liked it
Shelves: i-like-you-a-lot, 2019
Heart of Iron, when I read it more than a year ago, vowed me so much I lamented that I couldn't read the sequel sooner. And by lamented I mean I felt actual PANGS. Those are super rare. Which is why it saddens me to no end that the sequel did not have that magic the first book did.
I kept trying to feel that same feeling of enchantment, it did not come.
That was the biggest letdown about this book, one that is completely personal. The second thing is, it was predictable and underwhelming because o
That was the biggest letdown about this book, one that is completely personal. The second thing is, it was predictable and underwhelming because of it. The first book had all the plot twists and revelations. This book was the aftermath and it was terribly easy to figure out how it would end. Happily, of course. Not that I'm against happy endings. There was no element of surprise in this book.
Third, the entire Great Dark and Moon Goddess business had me torn. I liked it because it was somewhat unique, but then parts of it were either lame or didn't make complete sense.
The relationships lost their charm, the plot lost its excitement. One rather big revelation was casually brushed aside, and that was the only thing I felt interested in knowing. Also, I would like to know what's with authors and their space elves having violet eyes?
So, yeah. Wanted to love it, wasn't feeling it. ...more
Jul 09, 2018 ♠ TABI⁷ ♠ marked it as to-read · review of another edition
hi I will gladly sell my heart and soul for a chance to get my hands on this book A S A P like I don't even have to read it, I just wanna touch that absolutely BEAUTIFUL cover okay hi I will gladly sell my heart and soul for a chance to get my hands on this book A S A P like I don't even have to read it, I just wanna touch that absolutely BEAUTIFUL cover okay ...more
Jul 25, 2019 Chloe rated it it was amazing
*Spoiler free, but spoilers for Heart Of Iron*
I can't believe I got to read this book. Heart Of Iron became one of my favorite books when I read it. It's a Anastasia retelling in space with robots and queer characters and such fantastic writing. My heart is basically bursting with love for this duology.
I didn't quite know what to expect with this book. The first book was so good, and I knew the basic plotlines that would carry over. But I wasn't sure how everything would play out or what route P *Spoiler free, but spoilers for Heart Of Iron*
I didn't quite know what to expect with this book. The first book was so good, and I knew the basic plotlines that would carry over. But I wasn't sure how everything would play out or what route Poston would choose to take. Boy oh boy, did she choose one that completely blew my mind. This book stays true to the first. It's just as amazing and the characters are just as fantastic and the world is just as breathtaking. It takes what is presented in the first book and expands on it so well. It makes it seem like Heart Of Iron was a set up book, even though it didn't read that way at all. Everything becomes bigger and the stakes are higher than ever. It is such a great continuation of this story, while also being a fantastic ending to this duology. This book managed to be so many things at once, and it's truly a testament at how talented Poston is.
I want to start off by saying that there were a few Anastasia Easter eggs throughout the book and my heart just about exploded when I read them. They were placed so smartly and I basically wanted to throw the book across the room because I liked them so much.
I also wanted to talk about the queer characters in this book and how much I apricated them. Robb and Jax call each other partners, a non-binary minor character makes an appearance, and Seige and Talle are wives. I loved that they just were. They were just apart of the story.
I don't know where to start with my love of the characters in this book. They are all so wonderful. I love Robb, I love Jax, I love Di, I love EoS, I love Ana. I just love them all so much. And we get to see more of Ana's crew in this book which I loved! They felt kind of background in the first book and I liked that they had more of a focus. I love how they all fought together and how much they all loved one another. Ah, all these characters have so much going for them and I want to talk about it all, but I also want this post to actually end sometime, so I'm just going to leave it on that they are all really awesome and I really love them.
I also loved how Ana wasn't the captain of her crew. An adult it. She's a teenager. She might be an Empress, but she's still a teenager. She has an adult to guide her and it's so different what is normal in YA books. I liked that she had a parental figure leading her in some ways and helping with the leading overall.
I also don't know where to start with the plot. It's so BIG. It took what Heart Of Iron was working towards and expanded it so much. The world is bigger and we get to visit new places, which was so cool. I loved seeing the new places that they traveled. The plot is also so intense. There's barely a minute to breath. There is so much fighting and sneaking on spaceships and running from bots trying to kill them. It's intense and it doesn't shy away from being heartbreaking. It's not afraid to let the pain seep into the words and the relationships. It felt really real.
I also liked the humor that was slipped in here and there. I don't quite remember if Heart Of Iron was this funny, but I did enjoy the jokes haha.
I read Heart Of Iron a good bit ago. I wasn't sure if I was going to remember everything of everything, but since I was impatient, I decided not to reread. I was able to jump right back into the plot like nothing happened. The book managed to catch you up to speed without it feeling like an info dump or a recap. You get the information you need as you go through the story and you never feel like you miss anything.
I just, I love this book and this series so much. It was such a fantastic way to wrap it up and I loved how it ended. (Hi, yes, I would totally read a companion novel that's set in the distance future.) It's just a fantastic book in all aspects. If it wasn't obvious, I highly, highly recommend checking it out. ...more
Aug 10, 2019 Zehra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: favorites, in-english
If Ana saw Redveard again after all this was over, she wanted to tell him that he had been right-- Metals could not be saved with loveand sarcastic quips. Ana wasn't even sure they could be saved at all, although she held on to that hope like a ship clinging to its mooring.
She would get the heart. She would defeat the Great Dark.
And she would bring back Di.
She had to.
Heart of Iron was one of the best books I had read last year, and the wait until Soul of Stars was gruesom
Heart of Iron was one of the best books I had read last year, and the wait until Soul of Stars was gruesom and way too long but in the end, I do not regret waiting.
Soul of Stars is a wonderful book about finding your own place in the world while fighting for the Metal you love. The family you have found on your own. And romance. The good romance, mind you. It's heartbreaking and dramatic but on the last page, I was a sobbing mess who wanted more. ...more
Jul 31, 2019 Mila rated it liked it
I was unfortunately quite disappointed by this sequel to a lighthearted and enjoyable Heart of Iron. I think the beginning was pretty strong but then it just went downhill and I lost any interest in the plot or the characters. Also, the romantic relationships were kind of cure but pulled too much attention towards them and it messed up the pacing.
Aug 22, 2020 Brooke rated it it was amazing
Shelves: own
So honestly still not even sure what the great dark is, but whatever I still really enjoyed this. I just really love the characters and the found family. Also the representation in this we have a POC main character(who I love even if she's dumb sometimes) then we have a gay couple, two lesbians couples, two non-binary characters and a character with a hearing aid. I don't know if I enjoyed this as much as the first one, but I did tear up at one point.
Jul 26, 2019 Joanna Goodrich rated it liked it
This retelling of Anastasia was a fun story and that's what really kept me going. The writing isn't amazing and Poston gives way too much away too early. She doesn't leave room for speculation or shock, the hints she gives are so specific (and she repeats things you should remember for the future) that any chance of a plot twist is lost.
Also- everything was just too easy. There was no struggle, and if a character did get into trouble, it was solved quickly and easily. Fear and hatred of someone This retelling of Anastasia was a fun story and that's what really kept me going. The writing isn't amazing and Poston gives way too much away too early. She doesn't leave room for speculation or shock, the hints she gives are so specific (and she repeats things you should remember for the future) that any chance of a plot twist is lost.
Also- everything was just too easy. There was no struggle, and if a character did get into trouble, it was solved quickly and easily. Fear and hatred of someone/thing was turned into admiration or like in seconds. Heart of Iron and Soul of Stars are the only books of Poston's that I've read and it may stay that way. She has wonderful ideas but the execution is lacking.
I will say this duology is incredibly diverse. You have all kinds of representation (non binary characters, mm romance, ff romance, people from all different races etc) and it's done so effortlessly. ...more
Oct 19, 2018 anna marked it as to-read
Shelves: 2019-releases
Covers like this remind me of what a sci fi fangirl I can be. Umm...Hello, gorgeous! You'll be coming home to me. ❤
Dec 29, 2020 Kogiopsis rated it liked it
Shelves: reviewed, queer-stuff, space-ain-t-pretty
I liked it. I did not love it.
For some reason I've just struggled a lot to connect to characters in this duology. Possibly it's because there are a lot of them, and a lot of plot events happening, so it can be hard to keep track of anything; possibly I'm bouncing off of something in the prose, which does throw me out of the story from time to time. It's a creative story and clearly told with a lot of love, but I always felt sort of detached.
Favorite bit: a line that was clearly a reference to th I liked it. I did not love it.
Favorite bit: a line that was clearly a reference to this song, which is one of my favorites from the musical.
(view spoiler)[I also am not entirely sure how... old Di is supposed to be. Or really how to pronounce his nickname, which I keep reading as 'Dee' in my head even though apparently it sounds like 'Die'. But seriously, Dmitri Rasovant was a contemporary of Ana's father, and then he caught the Plague and spent decades as a Metal - and as a Metal he had a pretty mature/older persona - and now he's got his memories of his entire lifespan, but he's still referred to as a 'boy' in text. It was a little jarring. The Ana/Di romance is cute, don't get me wrong, but I kept getting distracted by this. (hide spoiler)] ...more
Aug 11, 2020 Ashley Rose rated it really liked it
He pushed a lock of his silver hair out of his face and kissed the tears off his cheeks. "A've nan amar, ma'alor."
WOW I loved this books so, so much.
This was just a really good romance/sci-fi duology, it had a few tropes, and felt iffy at times, but I really enjoyed Ashley Poston's writing and can see her getting really far in her future books.
There were some scenes in this book that just made me reread in awe. Some of the lines are just so beautiful, the emotions were expressed so well, 4 Stars
There were some scenes in this book that just made me reread in awe. Some of the lines are just so beautiful, the emotions were expressed so well, even within characters who weren't even human, and I found myself really loving each of the characters I read about.
Ugh, now I'm going to miss Jax, Robb, Ana and Di, but I'll always remember them <3
Site note: The acknowledgments made me cry. Here's a direct quote "Sometimes the world sucks, and people suck, and life sucks, but with a few good friends, you are never truly alone. You will never be alone." ...more
May 26, 2020 Aila rated it it was ok
Shelves: action-packed, disappointment, romance, scifi-dystopia, last-of-series
I'm rating this with a heavy heart, because the first book HEART OF IRON was one of my fave sci-fi reads of that year, and I was utterly excited for this sequel, which promised victory for the beloved characters.
I think I read this last year, but the feeling remains unchanged that I was not impressed by the climax of the book and Ana's character. Reading through it was a trudge, and I only stayed for the romance and character development between Jax and Robb. I really had HUGE expectations for I'm rating this with a heavy heart, because the first book HEART OF IRON was one of my fave sci-fi reads of that year, and I was utterly excited for this sequel, which promised victory for the beloved characters.
I think I read this last year, but the feeling remains unchanged that I was not impressed by the climax of the book and Ana's character. Reading through it was a trudge, and I only stayed for the romance and character development between Jax and Robb. I really had HUGE expectations for Di that were never met. The lasting impression the book gave me was just... eh... too bad it didn't live up to the grandiose capabilities of the previous. ...more
Jun 01, 2020 anna rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: 2020-reads
I found that this novel was a good end to the story of Ana and Di. Overall, I wasn't exactly super compelled to read it and found myself prioritizing other activities over reading. That isn't to say that the book or the plot was bad, it simply wasn't quite as much of a page turner as the first book. I still enjoyed the stories and the characters, though there was significantly less character development than in the first novel and it was much more predictable. There were not that many twists tha I found that this novel was a good end to the story of Ana and Di. Overall, I wasn't exactly super compelled to read it and found myself prioritizing other activities over reading. That isn't to say that the book or the plot was bad, it simply wasn't quite as much of a page turner as the first book. I still enjoyed the stories and the characters, though there was significantly less character development than in the first novel and it was much more predictable. There were not that many twists that I didn't see coming. However, I do recommend this series and will likely come back to it at a later date, for it did make me smile a lot and the characters surely made a lasting impact in my mind. ...more
Jul 07, 2020 Alexandra ✨Reading By Starlight✨ rated it liked it · review of another edition
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
So I have some rather mixed feelings about this duology - I enjoyed it but I was never really blown away. It's a little Juvenile and the pacing could have used a little more work but the characters had a great dynamic and the last hundred pages were amazing. While I'll be rating this one a 3.5 it's a solid 3.5. I'd recommend Heart of Iron and Soul of Stars to anyone who wants their space opera on the lighter side. Actual rating: 3.5 stars
So I have some rather mixed feelings about this duology - I enjoyed it but I was never really blown away. It's a little Juvenile and the pacing could have used a little more work but the characters had a great dynamic and the last hundred pages were amazing. While I'll be rating this one a 3.5 it's a solid 3.5. I'd recommend Heart of Iron and Soul of Stars to anyone who wants their space opera on the lighter side. ...more
Nov 27, 2019 Layla rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: books-i-love
Murder, betrayal, secrets, love - this has it all.
A fantastic sequel to Heart of Iron, I really wish that this had been a trilogy rather than a duology. I adored the characters and their journey but the ending was very swift, almost anti-climactic, as to why I feel it could have been made into three books. But I adored this world and it's characters so very much, certainly one of my favourite re-tellings to date. Murder, betrayal, secrets, love - this has it all.
A fantastic sequel to Heart of Iron, I really wish that this had been a trilogy rather than a duology. I adored the characters and their journey but the ending was very swift, almost anti-climactic, as to why I feel it could have been made into three books. But I adored this world and it's characters so very much, certainly one of my favourite re-tellings to date. ...more
Aug 03, 2020 Eliza rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: books-i-own, books-i-own-young-adult, books-i-own-fiction, books-i-own-that-i-have-read, 2019-releases, 20-book-wrap-up-2
This was a fun book to read but it dragged a little in the middle but picked up near the end but i can't really say any because it's the second book and spoilers but it's worth it in the end This was a fun book to read but it dragged a little in the middle but picked up near the end but i can't really say any because it's the second book and spoilers but it's worth it in the end ...more
Jun 19, 2020 Teresa Mary Rose rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: cover-love, re-readable-books, ya, sci-fi, 2020
This was a good conclusion and I really do love this cast of characters. They all get put through the wringer in this one and nothing ever comes easy. Jax is definitely my favorite of them all. That snark of his just won me over. But I also had a real soft spot for Robb in this one as well. All in all, this was a good one and it's fun for sci fi fans.
Sep 01, 2019 Karine rated it it was ok
Overall disappointed with this. I did not care about any of the characters (old or new), some of the biggest moments of the book were anticlimactic and I was left confused for a good part of this. The worldbuilding was one of the positive points of this, but even then I would have liked certain things (aka the big bad) to be better explained.
Oh well. Will still read Poston's books.
Jul 16, 2020 Alexiani G rated it liked it
I definitely liked this book more than Heart of Iron, for me it has the same rating but my third star for the first book was because of its finale so, this is in its whole is a three star book.
This book as the first one is an easy book to read, we have a clear picture of what is going on, what they need to do and we get more information about the past to understand the why of some things and that was good, because one of the thing that bug me from the first book was that the ideas were scatter a I definitely liked this book more than Heart of Iron, for me it has the same rating but my third star for the first book was because of its finale so, this is in its whole is a three star book.
This book as the first one is an easy book to read, we have a clear picture of what is going on, what they need to do and we get more information about the past to understand the why of some things and that was good, because one of the thing that bug me from the first book was that the ideas were scatter and in this one they're more clear.
Now we get a better understanding of how everything works in this plot, the book gives us more information about the Great Dark and part of its history – not all of it though and according to the book we have to be at peace with that but, I would have liked to have the why of the Great Dark to be so evil - I don't know how to describe it but, this book has a more clear picture of each character, they are not mere mentions of other character and we actually get to meet them a bit more.
The plot was better and the fluency of the story was good, there wasn't a dull moment, the characters were doing something all the time, someone was dying, hurt or in an important mission that kept me attached to what was happening.
In reality what gives this book its life are the main characters – Ana, Di, Jax and Robb - and I'm pleased to say that Ana was way, way better in this book than the last one. Because of the first book we have the information we need to not duel on the unimportant stuff and go to the source of what matters, we get what is going on, what's at risk, what the characters want and have to do so we can worry about what is happening with the characters.
We don't have a large picture or the culture of this new world or the others for that matter, we have the main villain and what the heroes have to do to defend the kingdom but that's like on a second and third level of importance, as I said, the life of this book are the main characters. I'll try to explain better: I was not really worry about the kingdom, the worlds, the bad guys or even thrill to know this new universe, what I was attached to were them, I was excited about what was going on between Robb and Jax, worry and sad because of Di, entertain to see Ana growing a little bit and happy to finally see her relationship with the captain, I was also happy to see new characters and their interaction with the rest of the crew.
I wish to tell you how much a loved everything that happened to the main characters but that would take too long but, I would tell you this: my love for D09 or rather Di – Dmitri – is from here to the sun and back, I totally love him and, for the record I think this is my first time falling for a robot.
The story of the book tells you the main character is Ana but it's actually not, it's him, everything happens because of him, his live, his transformation, everything in the plot moves forward and backward because of him and I liked that. I wished to have more Ana-Di moments but I got what I got.
I could see that in this book my beautiful Robb grow a bit more, he was this strong but insecure character in the first book that didn't know who or what to be and that is fixed on this book, I still would have like to have more or him but what I got was good.
And the ending, I don't know what the writer has for these books but I didn't quite like the ending, it felt unfinished, like some more information was needed to truly end, to finish the cycle (view spoiler)[ by the way, I didn't like the glitch Di got because of his fight with Erik, c'mon you could have given him a happy and functional body (hide spoiler)]
Overall, this book is good, I liked it, as I said the main attraction here are the characters and only them so, if you liked to get attached to the people in a book and not to think a lot about what is going to happen because the story is way easy to understand I think this book is for you.
Shut Up & Read: Soul Of Stars by Ashley Poston 7 17 Apr 23, 2020 04:25AM
YA Buddy Readers'...: Soul of Stars (Heart of Iron #2) by Ashley Poston--Starting October 17th 2019 6 152 Oct 21, 2019 07:10AM
Challenge Corner: Soul of Stars (Heart of Iron #2) by Ashley Poston--Starting August 24th, 2019 4 2 Aug 30, 2019 07:23AM
About Ashley Poston
Ashley Poston's is a part-time author and full-time fangirl. She was born in rural South Carolina, where you can see the stars impossibly well...
Tweet her at @ashposton and read her inner-most rambles at www.ashposton.com. Ashley Poston's is a part-time author and full-time fangirl. She was born in rural South Carolina, where you can see the stars impossibly well...
Tweet her at @ashposton and read her inner-most rambles at www.ashposton.com. ...more
Heart of Iron (2 books)
Books by Ashley Poston
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Quotes from Soul of Stars
"It was as if he wasn't seeing one star-but many. Too many.
A soul of stars." — 1 likes
"He loved her to the moon and back.He loved her to the stars.He loved her beyond that, and he would love her for a thousand turns around the sun." — 1 likes