Teaser Tuesday (26)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.--BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS. Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others.
• Share the title & author, so others can add to their TBR list if they like your teasers.

Our Teasers This Week. . .

I threw it in drive and slammed on the accelerator. The tires spun, before gaining traction, and propelled us forward.

-from page 69, The Intruders by Logan Rutherford

Some small voice inside tried to reassure him that at least he was alive instead of being crushed and rotting fish-food at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. It did little to cheer him.

=from page 187, TimeRiders

 

Review: Destined (Wings #4)

Destined (Wings #4) by Aprilynne Pike
Publication Date: May 1,2012
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Pages: 307

Summary

Laurel now knows the truth: Yuki is a rare Winter faerie, the most powerful—and deadly—of all, and Klea plans to use her to help conquer and destroy Avalon. But Klea's reach extends far beyond one wild Winter faerie. With Tamani, David, and Chelsea by her side, Laurel prepares to face what may be Avalon's final days, in the stunning conclusion to the Wings series.

Okay, before I start to review this book, here are some thoughts on the third one, 'Illusions'.  Because I will mention it later.

I disliked it some much you could almost call it hate. It was so, so slow. There was almost nothing in it that was important. Well, except the ending. The ending was pretty good. But other then that, it pretty much sucked. It was like a bridge between the second one and the fourth one. To me, it was just a wasted book in the series.

Now for the review on 'Destined'.

Tamani looked at her gravely, and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear.

He hesitated for an instant, then his hands found the sides of her face, pulling her to him. He didn't kiss her, just held her face close to his, their foreheads resting together, their noses almost touching.

She hated how much it felt like good-bye.

I love this book. It takes place pretty much all in one day, which was nice after the last book. And it takes place almost completely in Avalon, the faeries home world. There was a lot of action. Mostly fights between faeries and trolls.

Almost all of the characters return. And some don't make til the end, but I won't say who. Klea is the bad guy. She is really smart, diabolical strategist, and pretty much an all around badass. You learn a little more about Yuki, Klea's pawn, and I think it's kinda easier to understand why she is helping Klea. And Chelsea gets to go to Avalon, which is awesome.

There is a love triangle, Laurel/David/Tam, but it's been there from the start. And it does get resolved by the end. And there is a little thing at the end where you find out what happens to the one Laurel doesn't pick, once again I'm not telling who. 

It was a great ending for the series. And I'm gonna miss it. It would be fun to read more about Avalon's history and culture. (Though if the author did that, please don't make Laurel the main character.) And it would be fun to know what happens to Avalon and the Winter Faeries after the book ends.  So, Aprilynne Pike, if you want to make a kinda tell all book about Avalon, it is okay with me.

 Like I said before, I love this book. If you're a fun of the series, I think you'll be happy with this final book. And if you haven't read a book in this series, I say, go pick up 'Wings', the first book and start reading.

 

  

Sunday Songs (20)

So this weekend I'm going country on you ya'll, lol.

This song I'm addicted to thanks to my boyfriend. I think it helped that he also sung it to me while we drove around. <3 

So ladies and gentlemen I present

Country Girl by Luke Bryan

Happy Listening Everybody!

My song this week is

Dark Side by Kelly Clarkson

I love the message. How it points out that everyone has their own imperfections and insecurities.

Sorry it's not the music video. For some reason that didn't want to work. But anyway, Happy Listening!

I am a Book Hoarder (1)

This is just another name for the theme of showing off our books we got in the week. I'm kind of a book buying addict/book addict over all so that's why I feel this name fits perfect in my life of books. I've got a big pile (at least for me, I'm positive you guys have biggers one then me) and so when ever I buy a new book my mom slightly gets on my case. However she just ends up laughing because it is my money I'm spending after all, :)

Anyways, these books I'm show casing some I've already read and finished plus reviewed on this blog cause I got them weeks, almost a month ago- ^_^ I'm just now finally getting to this post, since spring semester is now over. Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bought a few weeks ago

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Bewitching by Alex Flinn

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Borrowed a few weeks ago

Dead Is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez- vlog review

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Bought for Kindle a few weeks ago 

Zombie Cinderella (Zombie Fairy Tales #1) by Kevin Richey

Freebie for Kindle a few weeks ago

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

The Zombie Pinocchio (Zombie Fairy Tales #3) by Kevin Richey- vlog review

Captivated (An Affliction Novel) by Deb Apodaca

Sleepers (The Swarm Trilogy, Book 1) by Megg Jensen

Star Fish by Nicola May

Freebie for Kindle

Blood Singers (Blood Series, #1) by Tamara Rose Blodgett

I Hunt Killers - Free Preview (The First 10 Chapters) by Barry Lyga

WHEELS by Lorijo Metz

Eden by Keary Taylor

Pretty When She Dies: A Vampire Novel (Pretty When She...) by Rhiannon Frater

Now the other books I just got :)

Sent by an indie author friend- he is amazing

The Intruders by Logan Rutherford and Logan I promise sometime later this year you'll have your own sighed copy of my book ^_^

Bought

Body & Soul by Stacey Kade

That's all from me folks. Happy Weekend of Reading Everybody! ^_^

Books I borrowed from library like a month ago.

The Gift (Witch and Wizard #2) - James Paterson and Ned Rust- My review

Into the Cold Fire (Daughters of the Moon #2)- Lynne Ewing- My Review

The rest I bought.





The Serpent's Shadow (the Kane Chronicles #3)- Rick Riordan- My review

Destined (Wings #4)- Aprilynne Pike- Goodreads

City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments #5)- Cassandra Clare- My review

Scorpia Rising (Alex Rider #9)- Anthony Horowitz- Goodreads

I'm not quite the book hoarder as my sister. And on a completely unrelated note, I graduated High School this week. So I'm going to have more time to read and review books, and to work on the book I'm wrighting. See, my sister is the only author in my family.

Happy reading and Happy Memorial Day!

Review: City of Lost Souls

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare
Publication Date: May 8,2012
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 534

Summary

  

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

There are five books in the Mortal Instruments series, this being the fifth. I liked all of them, but I think they should've stopped at three. The fourth and the fifth book are more like a new series than a continuation.




As the serpent's head drove down toward Clary, a shining blur slashed across it, almost blinding her. A seraph blade, its shimmering knife edge slicing the demon's head cleanly off.




Most of the characters are the same. You get to see more of Jordan and Maia, which is nice. The POV is mostly Clary's and Simon's, which I really like. Through the first three books, I always kinda wanted to know more about what he was thinking, and starting with book four, you get to. Anyway, the POV also cycle through a few other chacaters, one off the best part about the book.




I reads like other books of Cassandra Clare's. The lot was kinda differant from the other books of the series. But there were times when it kinda felt like I was reading fanfiction. And even though I liked the book, it was probably the worst in the series. And that's not because of the writing or the plot or the characters. It's just that it feels like the series is just dragging on. It has lost some of its charm, you could say. And I'm really glad that there is only going to be one more book in this series.




Now, the world the series takes place in is awesome, and I really like it. And I'm not saying Cassandra shouldn't write more shadowhunter books. I love the Infernal Devices, which is a prequel of this series. And I hear she's going to write a sequel series, which is great. I just think this series should end.



Now, back to this book. If you like the rest of this series, then you'll probably like this one. And even with all its flaws, I still give it 3.5 hearts.

Waiting on Wednesday (32)

Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday! Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. This week I am anxiously awaiting:

From Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Publication Date: June 12th 2012            

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Pages: 398

Goodreads

Summary


Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

I've actually never read a book by Jane Austen, but don't worry I've heard the name, so this retelling I think will be a great way for me to slowly make way to her and her works. The cover is beautiful and the plot sounds amazing, I can't wait for it to come out.

On a side note- I am now done with my spring semester which means I'll be able to work on my passions more- which is this blog and my own writing I hope to get published in the rest of the year. So you'll be seeing me more and I mean for real. For a while I'll probably do a few more vlog reviews till my brain has fully relaxed and is able to have patients to actually type out the reviews instead. :)

So, Happy Reading Everybody

         

Teaser Tuesday (25)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.--BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS. Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others.
• Share the title & author, so others can add to their TBR list if they like your teasers.

Our Teasers This Week. . .

Laurel squeezed her hand and turned to survey the situation. She had to admit, things looked better than she'd feared. The doors had a stout beam thrown across them and were braced back with an enormous pile of furniture. A group of faeries were lined up replacing the area they'd torn down to let her in, and the barricade was so massive Laurel was surprised they'd been able to let her in.

-from page 142, Destined

I know it's a little longer than usual, but I don't think you will mind. Well, I hope you won't.

 

Movie Review: Shakespeare in Love

Will Shakespeare is a known but struggling poet, playwright and actor who not only has sold his next play to both Philip Henslow and Richard Burbidge but now faces a far more difficult problem: he is bereft of ideas and has yet to begin writing. He is in search of his muse, the woman who will inspire him but all attempts fail him until he meets the beautiful Viola de Lesseps.

She loves the theatre and would like nothing more than to take to the stage but is forbidden from doing so as only men can be actors. She is also a great admirer of Shakespeare's works. Dressing as a man and going by the name of Thomas Kent, she auditions and is ideal for a part in his next play. Shakespeare soon see through her disguise and they begin a love affair, one they know cannot end happily for them as he is already married and she has been promised to the dour Lord Wessex. As the company rehearses his new play...

I just adored this movie. The review down below I actually wrote for my styles of acting class, so I hope you enjoy. :)

This movie is most definitely worth seeing, whether you’re in it for the sweet romance or have a love for Shakespeare, you’ll enjoy this and get lost in this other world that once was.

         
 With it’s over the top, crazy costuming for Queen Elizabeth (which I totally adored, all of it actually) to the custom clothes they wore in that period of time. With it’s natural lighting and sounds of a different world, they created a whole new setting for our eyes to experience and our hearts to fall helplessly into their time of elegance.

         
Dirt walk ways/streets, horse drawn carriages, and farm animals roaming the land just as much as the people did. A place that seems slightly simpler than ours yet be quite similar at the same time. A moment where the simply beautiful theatres had to be shut down for fear of the plague spreading yet when reopened had to fight for their time in the spotlight.

         
The actors and actresses all played their roles amazingly. Helping you immerse yourself deeper into the movie. They all stood out in their own ways, like- Viola De Lesseps, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, wanted to act so badly on stage that she dressed herself up as a man because in those times only men could be on the stage. A person with that much passion surely stands out in a crowd, a strong willed women she was. Will Shakespeare, played by Joseph Fiennes, was an inspiring young playwright. Distressed and tortured within he’s come to look for a muse, finding it finally in his love interest Viola.

         
I believe every character was great. No one really pops in my mind to who could be the weakest. I enjoyed them all. They all carried their dialog very well. Never once was I confuse or got lost even though they were speaking another language- Shakespearian/Victorian age.

         
Action, who doesn’t love a little action and sword fights are the best kind, right? Between two rivaling theatres we get a lovely scene of it, plus, a little comedy to go with it. Of course there’s other kinds of action, too. Like dancing and them acting on stage, even a little bet that goes on between Queen Elizabeth and Lord Wessex.

        
  Over all this is a must see. This is a movie that’ll stick with you and leave you breathless. With its drama, its comedy, and its beautiful landscaping you’ll be swept up in this world and when it’s all over you’ll want to rewind the DVD and fall back into effortlessly.

             

Daring You To Read (20)...... The Mortal Instruments

Daring You To Read is a brand new meme by Tynga's Reviews. Is where you choose a book you’ve read, loved and would dare your readers to read! The book you choose must be an older release (at least 6 months ago), because let’s be honest, we’re all quite aware of the latest releases

The Mortal Instruments

Goodreads-- City of Bones, City of Ashes,  City of Glass,  City of Fallen Angels,  City of Lost Souls

I love this series. It was meant to be a trilogy, but the author decided to add on. Which I think wasn't the best idea. Even though the fourth book, City of Fallen Angels, was good, and, so far, the newest one is too. But, there really isn't a new bad guy, Clary and Jace are still the main characters, and most of the characters are the same. Though, Simon's point of view is a fun one to have.

Anyway, the series is a fun, kinda dark, and slightly sexy series. And the world that Cassandra Clare created is pretty awesome. From, Taki's, the diner for Downworlders that serves blood milkshakes, to the New York Institute, a old church converted to place where shadowhunters train and stay.

I love the feel of the books. I love the plots and how you want to know what happens, which really is the point. And I really think you will, too, so I'm daring you to read the Mortal Instruments.



Teaser Tuesday (24)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.--BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS. Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others.
• Share the title & author, so others can add to their TBR list if they like your teasers.

Our Teasers This Week. . .

He drove the dagger into Luke's chest, twisting it hard before jerking it back out, red to the hilt. Luke fell back against the wall-- then slid down it, leaving a smear of blood behind as Clary stared in horror.

-from page 102, The City of Lost Souls

Review: The Serpent's Shadow

The Serpent's Shadow (The Kane Chronicles #3) by Rick Riordan
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 401

Summary



He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade Kane can’t seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos.

To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent’s shadow... or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld...

I'm going to tell you this up front. While reading this my life kinda got turned upside down a little. And I'm pretty sure it affected my feelings for the book. So, I'm going to try and separate my feelings as best as I can. But I can make no guarantee.

The two ram-headed sphinxes stirred, their mouths glowing with flames. Then they lunged straight at me. Fortunately one of them slipped in a puddle of penguin water and skidded off to the left. The other would've ripped my throat out had it not been tackled by a timely camel.

Rick Riordan is one of my favorite writers. I love the Percy Jackson series and it's spin off the Heroes of Olympus. And I also am a big fan of the first two books in this series.

Most of the characters from the first two books are back, plus a few more. My favorite being Shelby, slightly crazy kindergartner magician. Carter and Sadie stayed pretty much the same, with little if not any growth. And the whole Sadie/Walt/Anubis was actually annoying.

The plot set up a lot like his other books, which was fine by me. Though, I don't think it read as well. The ending set seeds to make you thank there is going to be another book or a spin-off. And seeing as the Kane Chronicles is supossed to be a trilogy, so I'm going to go with spin-off series.

I really liked the book. Though, I didn't get the same giddy type of feeling I usually got from reading one of Rick's books. But that probably isn't the book's fault.