Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Review: A Thousand Nights


"Good men fall to monsters everyday."

Lo-Melkhinn might be a rich and powerful men, and yet, he struggles to keep a woman. All three hundred of his wives passed away within the first week of marriage. Ever since, girls everywhere are terrified of him. But Lady-bless moves in willingly to the castle and becomes his latest wife. She does so to protect her beautiful sister, and deep down, because she believes herself dispensable. Can her spirituality protect her or will she succumb to the beast?

Like all fairy-tales, there's a duality theme through the novel of good vs evil (god vs Satan to be exact). Although, I do believe that Lady-bless' sacrifice for her sister came from the heart, her lack of self-confidence soon emerged. Her sister was the fiery one, the gutsy, the beautiful, the one whose mom dad loved best, the best seamstress... (yup, the list is long). Every time Lo-Melkhinn tries to talk to Lady-bless she brings her sister into the conversation. Even during sex!

"My sister does her rituals too, proper ones, far from the city walls," I said to him, though I could not say how I had seen it. "She prepares for her wedding." 

And then the plot twisted. When Lady-Bless started seeing herself as someone who could give back (like sowing with the other women of the palace) she became aware of her spirit, and finally gave us the badass female that was needed to handle Lo-Melkhinn's possessed soul. 

Friday, October 23, 2015

Feature and Follow Friday: Hello Quick Fix

Parajunkee Alison Can Read


FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY



Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back


Q: If you could re-write a book, which one would it be and what changes would you make?


So many series endings could be modified without me putting up any resistance. Requiem by Lauren Oliver comes particularly to mind.

The whole book concentrated on the rebellion, with fight scene after fight scene. This wasn't supposed to be a WWF match. It's a book. What happened to the dialogue? The love triangle that had been woven in the sequel?

Rubbish.

I would make sure Lena chose on of the two boys, and make the subplot with Hana a lot more suspenseful.


Which book do think deserves a make-over?

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Review: The Indigo Spell


Sydney is all grown up

It appears the Alchemists are hiding crucial information from their members. Sydney would never dream of going against her kind, but when this information threatens to place Jill in danger, all bets are off. Not only does she become a spy for Marcus, but she also turns to Magik as a form of defense. Now that she is changing her beliefs, will Sydney finally admit her love for Adrian?

Although I loved seeing this new Sydney, strong and filled with confidence (other than in intellectual matters), the majority of the book was slow paced. From her taking lessons to running errands, Sydney just wouldn't stop working. Then every time she would get some time off, the environment was tense(sexual tension between her and Adrian, and group tension between her friends). Also the climax was solved way too easily.

Not my favorite of the series.




Bloodlines (Book One)
The Golden Lily (Book Two)


Sunday, October 18, 2015

Review: Wolf by Wolf



"She-wolf. An interesting choice."
"I didn't choose it," she told him. "It chose me."


Back in 1944, Yael was selected for an experiment in a Nazi camp. She received hundreds of injections to turn her into a perfect Aryan girl, and erase whatever Jewish traits she might have. The experiment left her physically transformed. But the memories of the camp and the loss of everyone she held dear left her traumatized. The only thing she could do after such tragic events was kill the Fuhrer.

Graudin did an incredible job at mixing both the past and the present (from 1944 to 1954). Yael might not make the sweetest decisions -- from kidnapping and usurping Adele Wolfe, a famous athlete, to putting Wolfe's family at risk -- just to join a race around the world and get closer to Hitler. But Yael remains nonetheless a brave female character. The other members of the race were well balanced. And a semi-love-triangle was formed. 

Prepare for a twist at the end.




Don't miss The Walled City also by Ryan Graudin 

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Review: Black Ice


Love can be as dangerous as black ice. One false illusion that everything is safe and boom, next thing you know, you can't even remember who you are anymore. 

David lost his virginity to Kris, a loner who refuses to see him as anything other than a friend with benefits. He tries courting her with dates, including a weekend at a chalet, but Kris remains unmoved. So David turns to his pals, booze and drugs (just like after his parents divorce) and sets forward some crazy set of events. Can he rescue Kris from her haunting past? Is he willing to kill for her?

Author Stephen Tesher twisted this new-adult contemporary novel into a thriller about a love gone wrong. Although, it was impossible to identify with David's rising anger or some turns of events, the dialogue kept the story flowing. It was realistic; harsh at times when David and his friends talked about girls. 

I'm glad the author ended the story with a lesson. Not all relationships can have fairy tale endings.


Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Review: I Crawl through it


Far more surrealistic than Alice in Wonderland

Gustav flies an invisible helicopter. Stanzi has a split personality. China's inside out. And Lansdale is a hairy female lie detector version of Pinocchio. Together, they are a time bomb waiting to erupt. It's just a matter of time.

Although, I'm no expert in magical surrealism, I am reader. A curious one! Who was waiting for an Ah-ha moment through all this chaos (like in We Were Liars). But instead, this book just concentrates on adult/teenager relationships. Gustav's dad doesn't care if his son vanishes, Stanzi's parents mourn everyone else's child but their own, Lansdale's dad could care less about how outrageous her behavior is and China lives with active BDSM parents that clean their sex toys in the sink. These issues are bound together by loose treads and odd characters (man in the bush, newsman...)that take away from the story even more.

Read at your own puzzling risk.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Cover Reveal: Convergence



A FUN THRILLER FANTASY FOR LOVERS OF MIDDLE-GRADE FICTION!


It was the first day of school and anxieties were running high. For certain​ ​there was the excitement of moving up a grade, but there was also the dread of anything and everything that could go wrong. Not only were the possibilities endless, they were totally out of your control. Whether or not you were accepted rested squarely on the shoulders of the popular kids. Suppose you were too short or too tall; too smart or not smart enough; too rich or too poor; or just plain different?

These thoughts were fresh on the minds of Otis, Chandler and Marissa. Three pre-teens whose paths had never crossed, although they lived in the same town in Connecticut. Their backgrounds were so diverse they may as well have lived worlds apart. That was all about to change when on their way to school a series of bizarre events lump them together. Literally!







Born and raised in Connecticut, Hayes still calls the Nutmeg State home. The oldest of two children, she remains close to her siblings. When Hayes is not writing or managing her business, she dedicates her time to other creative outlets and artistic pursuits. Feel free to follow Hayes via her Website and Twitter.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Caught my arrow #47

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.


Looking forward to some Historical-Fiction this week thanks to Hachette Book Group Canada.

Received from Publisher



Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin


Borrowed from Library


Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot



What are you reading this week?

Friday, October 9, 2015

Feature and Follow Friday: No, I don't want a dud

Parajunkee Alison Can Read


FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY



Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back


Q: Name a book you hated?


You can read my review of Me being Me is exactly as insane as You being You for ampler details on the plot and twists of the story.

The reason why it made my bottom list this year, is the format (all lists), the unreliable characters and the length (a long story is okay as long as it doesn't drag on purpose). Too bad we didn't click.




Which book do you consider a dud?

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Book to Movie Adaptations: To change an ending or nah

Tokyo Fiancée 


Author Amélie Nothomb wrote the book with the same title based on her life experience in Japan. Although, the film maintained a similar script as the novel, with Amélie meeting Rinri at a coffee shop for French classes, to their dates and courting process, the heartbreaking ending was entirely changed to provide the viewer with something easier to stomach. It's even more magical to look at the Japanese customs and scenery on the big screen than on my eBook, but I have to admit that above all else this new ending pleased me even more. A great move.





Paper Towns


John Green's Paper Towns film adaptation was long awaited, casting Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne. The novel centers around the disappearance of Margo Roth Spiegelman, and Quentin's lustful obsession to find her. Their relationship felt odd throughout the book, and I was sad to see the movie pursue this script. But thinking things true, Green had an important lesson about it taking two people to carry on a relationship, and not just one imaginative mind. Although, I would have loved a romantic ending, I'm glad that the film remained faithful to the novel and kept such lesson.  




Monday, October 5, 2015

Review: Half Wild



Kept pausing during this book, a clear example of what happens when short chapters work against you

A lot has changed since Nathan got his magical gifts. He can now transform into a wild animal and rob his preys of their memories and gifts. But Nathan doesn't want to admit he enjoys his new powers. After all, his heart belongs to Annalise, a white witch. Will this new revolution against Soul and his team of hunters bring these two love birds together or tear them apart forever?

With the first book, Half Bad, so well received among YA readers, it was clear that Sally Green had a lot of work on her hands. Although, I enjoyed the precise recap and animal action, I found the travelling scenes between Gabriel and Nathan confusing (couldn't he just drink a potion), as well as the love meter too borderline corny at times. 

"I can't walk ten paces away from you without it hurting me. I treasure every 
second with you. I'll help you with each breath I take and I'll stay with you."

Um, obsess much?

Alliances and relationships were rekindled in ways that didn't make much sense. Perhaps humans have bigger egos than witches, who knows. Prepare for a cliffhanger ending.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Feature and Follow Friday: Love and Hate

Parajunkee Alison Can Read


FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY



Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back


Q: Pick three book characters... Kiss? Marry? Kill?



As long as it stayed between us, (I don't kiss and tell) I would definitely pucker up with Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey to see what all the fuss is about. I mean, he even got is own book lately. That might inspire me to read it.
Marry a vampire? Just imagine becoming Mrs. Ivashkov. I would need to hit my head ten times before saying no. Adrian from Bloodlines is funny, can be a great travelling and party companion, and best of all, he can read my mood!! Who could ask for anything more?


I'm no killer, but if I had to condemn anyone to such a horrible ending it would be rapists all over the world like Room's Old Nick. The movie is coming out this October. Check out the trailer below...











Which book character would you kiss?