Flora Segunda

Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce
Published: 1-1-2007 by Harcourt

Flora knows better than to take shortcuts in her family home, Crackpot Hall--the house has eleven thousand rooms, and ever since her mother banished the magickal butler, those rooms move around at random. But Flora is late for school, so she takes the unpredictable elevator anyway. Huge mistake. Lost in her own house, she stumbles upon the long-banished butler--and into a mind-blowing muddle of intrigue and betrayal that changes her world forever.

Flora Segunda is a magical book, a little confusing sometimes, but very entertaining and charming. Flora is thirteen going on fourteen, and she's not the least bit afraid of adventure. This is definitely a trait I enjoy in a main character.

• Flora - Flora is a spitfire. She's seriously awesome and a little bit (ok, very) disobedient. She's fourteen but she's out to kick butt and be a ranger, which is basically a spy, just like her idol, Nini Mo. She doesn't spend a lot of time planning things, but she manages to get things done her way.
• plot - Everything is pretty much against Flora - even some of the people she thought were on her side. Despite this, Flora does what she believes is right, and she does so with no hesitation. It's adventurous the whole way through. It's more fantasy than paranormal and I think we need more of that in general.
• magic - I'm not completely sure I understand what Flora's magic is, but the magical atmosphere of this book is great. Flora's house has an elevator that goes wherever it pleases, eleven thousand rooms, and a strange purple guy she never knew existed.

• capitalization - There were Dainty Pirates who were also known by other names, there were monster-birds who came out of nowhere and were really creepy, and there were mansions with capitalized names that also had nonhuman creatures who were either living inside the houses or were the houses - I'm not exactly sure. One of my biggest bookish pet peeves is the capitalization of regular words. House. Butler. Elevator. It makes me confused and my brain stumbles for a second. I just don't understand the need for it. 
• Valefor - I would hope that if you live in a somewhat magical house and find a magical butler, that he would be nice. Valefor is a manipulative jerk. He takes advantage of Flora and this puts here in great danger. He's also extremely selfish. And purple. Although I guess being purple isn't a bad thing.

• But the stupid Elevator did not let me off at the Hallway of Laborious Desire. No, the stupid Elevator had slowly and silently borne me upward, gently floating as on a summer swell, and though I banged and shouted, the Elevator did not slow or stop. Past the second floor it went, past a third floor - we'd never had a third floor before - upward and upward it went, smooth and steady, until with a grinding whine, it stopped. The golden outer doors opened to a thick darkness.          - pg. 18-19
• He wiggled a little wave in my direction and dissolved into a froth of purple. Well, he could pout all he wanted; my plan did not hinge on him, anyway, though I had hoped to get him to help Udo and me with our disguises, and maybe whip us up a nice snack before we went to tackle the Warlord.            - I don't know the pg. #....oops

3 robots

A book with a brave and adventurous heroine, great writing, and unnecessary capitalizing

Acquired: swapped for on swap.com

So Silver Bright

So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev
(Theatre Illuminata #3)
Published: September 13, 2011 by Feiwel & Friends


Bertie thinks her quest is almost done. With the help of Ariel and the rest of her friends, she has managed to find her father and rescue Nate from Sedna, the Sea Goddess. Now, all she has to do is reunite her father, the Scrimshander, with her mother, Ophelia, and she will finally have a true family of her own.

However, things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Her father has vanished, Sedna is out for revenge, her own actions have trapped the Théâtre Illuminata in a strange kind of limbo, and the stress of her in-between state is tearing apart the fragile threads of her mother's sanity. Bertie's best hope for salvaging the situation may lie in a summons by Her Gracious Majesty, Queen of the Distant Castle, and the hope of winning the magical boon given to the best performance.

Bertie is caught between her growing responsibilities to home and family, and the dream of flying free - just as her heart is torn between her two loves, Nate and Ariel. With so any forces pulling on her, how will Bertie be able to choose which wish to make come true?

I love this series and while I'm sad to see it end, I'm looking forward to whatever Lisa Mantchev dreams up next. I'm also a bit relieved to see another love triangle come to a close, but this series has so much more going on than that. It's truly imaginative and unique - definitely recommended!

• Serafina talking about birth control - I thought it was great that the herb seller thought Bertie was there for birth control, even though Bertie hadn't ever thought of it or had reason to. I've read so many fantasy and paranormal books with love triangles or sexy boyfriends, and sometimes even sex, where no mention of protection is ever made even though it's important.
• Bertie's 'mask' - I won't go into details, but I loved everything about this part of the story. It drove things with Nate and Ariel, and was Bertie's own choice to help her friends.
• Nate - I love Nate. He is so fiercely protective of Bertie, even though he's the one who wants to kind of disarm her to get closer. After the flashbacks I feel for both Nate and Ariel because they waited for Bertie to grow up and even now they aren't sure if their feelings are allowed, if she's old enough, if she wants them to be more than her partners in crime and theater mischief. 
• the fairies - No matter what happens to Bertie and her crew, the fairies deal with it by shouting insults and devouring desserts by the truckload. And when they aren't eating or making foul jokes, even the boys are unwaveringly loyal to Bertie.
• Bertie's family - I adore the whole tone and magical setting of these books, and Bertie's parents' story fits right in, intertwining with the theater itself. I detest books where the plot only happens because of the love triangle, and here Bertie is on a quest all her own and her family comes first.

• Bertie as Ophelia - I didn't really enjoy when Bertie went through the mirror. It was important to the story of Bertie's family, but it felt much longer than it actually was, like dragged out time where Bertie was losing herself. I like her adventures much more when she's with the fairies and Nate and Ariel.
• traveling to the castle - I should probably be used to the unexpected bits of magic that happen by now, but the sort of being instantly transported to the castle threw me off. I was immersed in road trip intrigue and adventure with lots of time to build sexual tension, and then BAM! trip's over. 

• "Lass!" Nate caught her before she fell to the floor, but even his solid presence wasn't enough to steady her head or slow her galloping heartbeat.   "That answers that question." She'd wasted the wish. Tears threatened until a dim silver light returned to haunt the space inside her head, as mercurial and taunting as one of Ariel's winds.             - pg. 274   Bertie + Nate
• The third piece of cake she fed him came with a tiny grazing of his teeth across her finger, and she was a sailor's knot nearly undone.  He must have seen it written upon her face, for something flickered over his own features: a promise, perhaps, mixed with determination and some flavor of triumph.        - pg. 109

4 robots

A magical story with sexy guys, but not a book focused solely on a love triangle. If you haven't read this series, check it out!

Acquired: bought

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

Published: December 26, 2008 by Viking Juvenile

Eon has been studying the ancient art of Dragon Magic for four years, hoping he'll be able to apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. But he also has a dark secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been living a dangerous lie for the change to become a Dragoneye, the human link to an energy dragon's power. It is forbidden for females to practice the Dragon Magic and, if discovered, Eon faces a terrible death. After a dazzling sword ceremony, Eon's affinity with the twelve dragons catapults him into the treacherous world of the Imperial court where he makes a powerful enemy, Lord Ido. Tension builds and Eon's desperate lie comes to light.

       The idea and plot of this book are amazing. Sometimes the book was a bit dulled down by all the political nonsense going on that Eona was being dragged into. There was a lot of thinking and dwelling on things instead of acting on them on Eona's part. 

Things I love about this book:

• mystery of the Mirror Dragon - I really loved how the entire mystery surrounding the Mirror Dragon's absence came together, as well as how everything was discovered. Everything related to it came together to make perfect sense.
• dragon lore - The 12 dragons based on the animals of the Chinese zodiac, and the whole system of the Dragon Masters was genius, and contributed so much to the book making sense. 
• Eona's power - This is vague to avoid spoilers! After all Eona goes through in this book, it's very satisfying when she finally gets it all under control and I really want to see her powers unleashed in the sequel, especially after all the political drama. I'd love some more action!
• characters - Chart is the sweetest and Lady Dela is such a strong character. Even though we don't see much of them, the secondary characters are all so believable and great in their own right. 

Huh, what?:

• connecting with the Dragon - It felt like this whole book was about Eona not being able to connect with the dragon, searching for the dragon's true name, and doing the exact opposite of what the reader knows she should be doing. It got old pretty quickly.
• disguise - The entire time I was reading, I just couldn't get it out of the back of my mind that someone was going to find out Eona's secret. I think if there had been a sense that it was a question of if rather than when someone discovered that Eon was not a boy, it would have been much more interesting.
• certain plot points - Eona's friends and mentors were seemingly always being removed from her reach in order to force her to stand and act on her own, but it never really felt like she made any of her own decisions. 

Favorite quotes:

• There was something behind the question that I did not understand. Some kind of test. What did the emperor want? There was no clue in his politician's face; he'd had a lifetime of hiding his thoughts. The full-hour bell rang through the courtyard, silencing the ensemble music. It was as though the whole palace waited for my answer.       - pg. 201
• I found myself backed up against the edge of the bath, the tiled wall a solid mooring in the churn of my thoughts. I had to take the chance. So far, all I had offered the prince was lies. But if I wanted to survive, I had to take the new emperor the truth.     - pg. 413

4 robots

The story and plot overall are fantastic, but the book is too long and gets dragged down by politics.

Acquired: swapped for on swap.com

Entwined

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Published: March 29, 2011 by Greenwillow Books

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her...beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing...it's taken away. All of it. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. But there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

       This is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I had a picture book when I was young and I loved it. I'm not sure what the official version of the tale is, and according to the ever-trustworthy internet, it isn't a Grimm fairy tale. Anyway, this book is enthralling, with a villain who sugarcoats his sinister nature.

Reasons I love this book:

• Azalea - I love how feisty and hot-tempered Azalea got whenever someone dared wrong one of her sisters. She has so much responsibility, watching out for 11 younger sisters while the castle is in mourning, and she refuses to let the King intimidate her and fights for her sisters' right to choose who to marry. Another thing I loved is how she never let Keeper get his clutches on her sisters. She knew something was off about him and she protected them.
• Lord Bradford - Here is a wonderful gentleman who is kind without being perfect. He isn't everything Azalea had hoped, but he makes up for it in other ways.
• no love triangle - I am so happy that the villain of this story is almost always seen for what he truly is by Azalea (and by her sisters to some extent). For once, the heroine doesn't shove aside the off-putting traits of the guy to have a romantic encounter. She actually trusts her instincts. 
• grand finale - When everything comes to a head and a battle of sorts breaks out, it is anything but disappointing. There is plenty of time devoted to this conclusion, and there's just enough back and forth between the 2 sides to keep you guessing. 

Huh, what?:

• Bramble & Clover's love lives - While it's nice that not everything focused on Azalea, I never really got into her sisters' love lives and wasn't emotionally invested in who they ended up with at all.
• Keeper - He's dark and elegant, the creepiest gentleman you could imagine, a smooth-talking, good-looking guy who seems to offer you everything you want, while he silently takes everything you have. So creepy.
• routine - The princesses' days are so repetitive and, as this is a pretty long book, we are treated to many of their days. It seems like each day something special happens, but the book dragged a little more each time I had to read about them eating breakfast. Maybe if more than 1 special event happened in a single day it wouldn't have dragged as much.

Favorite quotes:

• "Sorry. I just had to apologize. About tonight. Honestly, we don't kick or bite or throw potatoes at all our guests." A crooked smile touched Lord Bradford's lips. "Your family has spirit," he said, taking his hat from Azalea. "I enjoyed the evening."  "Well, yes, you've just come from a war," said Azalea.                 - Azalea & Lord Bradford  pg. 175
• This was a masked ball, something Azalea had only heard of. In her imagination they had been more innocent; gentleman dressed as hussars and ladies with white, glittery masks attached to a stick. Not this chaotic meshing of gilded beasts and opulent monsters.          -  pg. 258

4 robots

An enthralling fairy tale with a dark side.

Acquired: swapped for on swap.com

Beauty Queens

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Published: May 24, 2011 by Scholastic


The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.
What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program-or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan-or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Libba Bray is a genius. Her books are all over the map: A Great and Terrible Beauty could not be any more different than this book. Beauty Queens is absolutely absurd in the best and most hilarious ways. I really enjoyed reading it.

Why I love this book:

• footnotes - Every single footnote about a product from The Corporation was brilliant! You don't see many footnotes in YA fiction, but don't be scared - these are awesome footnotes, which may be a new thing. They helped show how outrageously staged the pageant was meant to be, and how crazy The Corporation really was.
• plot - First of all, if someone told me that changing one ingredient in a beauty product could it into an explosive, I would probably believe them - there are some crazy chemicals in the stuff we are willing to put on our faces for the sake of beauty. The whole premise of this book is absurd, but Libba Bray manages to work a lot of social commentary into the story in a way that makes you laugh.
• fake pirates - Yes. This book is so cool that it has fake pirates. And their explanations for how they came to be on the island are hilarious!
• bio pages + commercial breaks - More genius! These pages are so funny and show the influence of The Corporation on the girls in the pageant while helping us get to know the girls better.
• cover - This cover immediately drew my attention to this book. The lipsticks instead of bullets is so cool.

Huh, what?:

• problems - I know this book is meant to be crazy and it's awesome that way, but some things required more suspension of disbelief than others. Tons of people die in the plane crash, which is definitely realistic. But the girls are stuck on an island and not one of them has a health problem. Miss New Mexico has an airplane tray stuck in her forehead and the only ill effect is that she has a headache for a day. It would have been intense to see some attempts to fix that, or some wounds or something.
• ending scene - The ending was way too chick-flick cheesy for my taste. A dance party on a boat with virtual freeze frames highlighting each girl's future? It's great that everything worked out ok for them getting home, but this just puts it over the top into everything's hunky-dory for the rest of their lives, they all achieve their dreams kind of cheesy.

Favorite quotes:

• "I came to Miss Teen Dream via a new program for at-risk girls that takes them from juvie to pageants, or as I like to call it, from one correctional facility to another.*     *Pageant officials didn't think this was funny. Pageant officials not big on the jokes."             - Jennifer (Miss Michigan)  pg. 60
• "The Corporation would like to apologize for the preceding pages. Of course, it's not all right for girls to behave this way. Sexuality is not meant to be this way - an honest, consensual expression in which a girl might take an active role when she feels good and ready and not one minute before. No. Sexual desire is meant to sell soap. And cars. And beer."           - pg. 178

4 Robots
A wild, fun, and smart story that's absurd to the last drop

Acquired: swap.com

As You Wish

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
Published: August 25, 2009 by HarperTeen


Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing-to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again-until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes. 
Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well...and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life-and her world-forever.

       I didn't pay any attention to this book when it came out- it seemed cute but I wasn't at the top of my wish list. Then I read Sisters Red and wanted to read more by Jackson Pearce. I loved both of her books, but they couldn't be any more different. As You Wish is a sweet almost contemporary love story while Sisters Red is more of a fairytale world with tons of action. This book is a fast read with great characters and just enough of a twist to suck you into the story.

Why I love this book:

• plot - The story is so unique and unpredictable. There were a couple times where I thought I knew how everything would get resolved, but I was wrong and left wondering what other way there possibly was to keep Viola and Jinn together. I was very happy that the plot isn't wrapped up in any of the more obvious ways I thought of. 
• Lawrence - Even though Viola takes him for granted, Lawrence is a faithful friend to her- even when she unfairly blames him for her unhappiness. He sticks with her and does whatever he can to make her happier.
• Jinn and Viola - This is such a sweet romance. Viola is intrigued by Jinn and Jinn just can't help but wonder why she so stubbornly refuses to wish when there is so much that she wants. Viola makes Jinn question why he wants to go home, something he wanted so badly, and Jinn makes Viola question why she wanted to fit in so much that she would change herself.

Huh, what?:

• Viola - I realize that Viola wanting so much to belong is very important to the story, but she just wants it a bit too much. She's at first always feeling sorry for herself and saying how alone she is even though Lawrence is always there for her. Once she gets involved with a guy and feeling that she belongs, she is willing to ignore the fact that she's not being herself anymore. At the same time, Viola is a very realistic high school girl when she snaps out of her pity party.
• timing - Everything in this book happens fast- in a matter of days. I just wish there had been a little more down time for Viola and Jinn to get to know each other, although I can see how that's now necessary because Jinn barely has a life of his own.

Favorite quotes:

• She needs me. Me, not wishes, not a wish granter. Just me, just Jinn. No one else has ever needed me, not like this. No one in Caliban needs anyone else. How could we need one another there, when we aren't even individual enough to have names?     - Jinn  pg. 78
• "And what do you think of me as?" Viola asks delicately. Tell her. But do I even know how? I don't think I have the words to use. "I...you're...my friend," I say. Moron.      - Viola & Jinn  pg.196

4 robots

A short and sweet love story full of originality

Acquired: swapped for on swap.com

Nevermore

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
(Book 1 of the Nevermore Trilogy)
Published: August 31, 2010 by Atheneum Books


(2nd book Enshadowed is scheduled for January)


Cheerleader Isobel Lanely is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due-so unfair-on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he'd rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can't help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.


Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.


As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.


His life depends on it.

       I have been reading some great reviews of this book, and while I wasn't so interested in reading about a cheerleader and goth relationship, the added Poe element was intriguing, so I picked this one up at Borders the last time I went. Ever. :( This book is packed full of suspense and romance, a great paranormal/fantasy book that doesn't fall into all of the overdone paranormal cliches. I can't do this book justice with my review. It was so enthralling that when I was skimming through it for quotes I would end up reading a couple pages again.

Reasons I love this book:

• Isobel- this is the kind of strong heroine that is so missing in paranormal YA right now. She is so much more interesting and stronger than another Isabella you may know.  Isobel is confident and stands up for herself, she's relatable and genuine. Plus she ditches her jerk friends, which is a major plus in my book.
• Varen- Varen is great- he's a goth loner but as soon as we're allowed to see more of him it's clear that he is caring and respectful, just a little Poe obsessed
• plot- the premise of this book is genius. I won't detail it to make sure I don't spoil it, but if the summary catches your attention you will love this book. Plus there is no love at 1st sight. This is a slowly building romance and it's wonderful that way
• Poe- the way the author has entwined Edgar Allan Poe and his stories into the plot is awesome- the world of Poe never becomes an afterthought and has so much to do with the story

Huh, what?:

• ending- going in I thought this was a standalone book, which it easily could have been. It's much longer than most other YA books at over 500 pages, and it was heading toward what I thought could have been an ending, and instead bam! cliffhanger. 
• Brad- I know a good story has to have more than 2 characters, but Isobel's "friends" were so stereotypically popular and rude. Once she ditched them I was looking forward to not having to read about them, but they kept coming up.
• Pinfeathers- Pinfeathers is extremely interesting, especially towards the end of the book and I definitely want to see more of him, but if this turns into a love triangle I will not be ok with that. There really isn't anything to suggest that he would be a love interest, but I've been reading so many paranormal books lately and the love triangle is something they all have. I don't want this one to be like that. 

Favorite Quotes:

• She turned to find Varen standing with his back against the wall, her own stunned expression reflected in the pair of sleek sunglasses he wore.  "Jeez, you scared me" was all she could manage while trying to kick-start her breathing again. "I've been told I have that effect," he said in that deadpan way of his.     - pg.  217-218
• The clock's pendulum sliced through the air like a scythe, reaping the seconds. With each pass, its ornately engraved silver surface flashed a mottled version of Isobel's reflection. The pendulum passed again, revealing in the circle of silver a white face of an empty-eyed figure, one which now stood behind Isobel.      - pg.  418-419 

5 robots

This is a great book, mixing contemporary with fantasy and you should read it because there are few books like this out there.

Acquired: Bought 

Sapphique

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
Published: December 28, 2010 by Dial
(Sequel to Incarceron) 


In the dark Prison of Incarceron, the prisoners tell tales of a legendary man – Sapphique, the only inmate ever to escape. There are hundreds of tales of his exploits, but are any of them true? Did he even exist?

Attia and Keiro certainly think so, and when they hear that a crazy magician called Rix is using Sapphique’s lost Glove in his magical act, they’re determined to steal it. Meanwhile, out in the Realm, Finn is not finding being a Prince easy, and he’s tormented by doubts about his own identity.

       I enjoyed Sapphique more than Incarceron, so if you thought Incarceron was just alright you should give this one a shot. While Incarceron shifted between Finn's desperation to escape the prison and Claudia's attempt to find the prison, Sapphique brings more of the main characters together which makes their stories much more interesting. These books are light on romance and heavy on adventure and imagination. 

Reasons I love this book:

• worldbuilding- I continue to be impressed with the descriptions of the widely varied parts of Incarceron, especially since it never seems like there's a paragraph of description - it's worked in seamlessly with the story
• Attia- I find Attia's journey through the prison much more interesting than the drama with Finn and Keiro's life and journey in the 1st book
• failure of Protocol- when Protocol outside the prison started to crumble I started to pay more attention to the Claudia/Finn plot. It just showed how intricate the deception of Protocol was and got me thinking on how wild it would be if all the sudden you knew that things you had physically touched weren't actually there at all and never had been
• Sapphique- what an awesome name. Anyways, who is Sapphique? This book had me starting to think I knew, then it would throw me for a loop and I'd be convinced it was someone else. I'm still not sure I know. Will the real Sapphique be in the prison or Outside? He's real right?

Huh, what?:

• Claudia- she's growing on me, but she is still so selfish! She wants Finn to be a prince so she can use him to end Protocol, but she doesn't want him to a prince because she doesn't trust him. In other words, she thinks Finn's life and future revolve around her.
• capitalization- capitalizing common words is something that just bugs me in any book. It makes my brain stop reading and go now why does that word look different than usual? I get that Finn Escaped and that Protocol is bad, but those things would be just as significant in lowercase
• Steel Wolves- I don't really see where they fit in. All they seem to do is threaten people who are actually on their side while the Queen just goes along with her business
• Jared- uh, did I miss something in the 1st book? I totally thought Jared was wise old Alec Guiness Obi Wan, but then it said he was in his 30s, so he might actually be cute young Ewan McGregor Obi Wan? 

Which is it? I'm so confused!

Favorite quotes:

• Lightning spat; from overhead the low, heavy grumble of thunder rolled down the sky. For a moment Finn knew it was the voice of Incarceron he heard, its terrible, cruel mockery, knew he had never Escaped at all.      - pg.  191
• They had become ghosts, Claudia thought, or shadows. Cloaked in black like outlaws, they fled the Court, and behind them there would be uproar, the Queen furious, the Pretender vengeful, the servants panicked, the army being ordered out.     - pg.  310

4 robots

Great sequel with adventure, suspense, and interesting characters

Acquired: Bought

Brightly Woven

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Published: March 23, 2010 by EgmontUSA

When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself ased and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

       This book is something there should be way more of in YA books. It's exciting and complex at the same time, but never lets the plot get confusing or dull. There are no paranormal creatures, just certain kinds of magic and magical skills. If you've read Graceling or Fire by Kristin Cashore, or any of the Study or Glass books by Maria V. Snyder, you will seriously love this book. 

Reasons I love this book:

• Sydelle- She's a strong character, and stubborn too. An older guy, a magician, takes her away from a home she's never left and she doesn't fall all over him and expect him to protect her. 
• North- I think what I like most about North is that he's flawed in more than 1 way. In addition to being stubborn and having family and personal issues, he gets drunk a few times too many, which is probably more entertaining than it should be.
• layered plot- North's duel with Dorwan, the curse, why North chose to take Syd with him- there's always something happening
• Syd + North- they have a cute relationship. There's no love at 1st sight (thank goodness) and they never make goo-goo eyes at each other- they fight constantly but they look out for each other.
• this book is addicting and it only took me 2 days to finish (that's fast for me- I read when I should be asleep). It's also very fast paced.

Huh, what?:

• political stuff- I recognize that some stories are fueled by an underlying political shift, but I tend to skim over those parts when I'm reading. Very rarely does a book make a direct connection between the politics and the main character, although this one did it well. 
• legend- the lore and legend behind the magicians was a little confusing for me

The Boyfriend Factor:

• My boyfriend really enjoyed this book (he also loved Graceling), but mentioned that Syd and North fought too much. He liked that they always managed to make up pretty quickly though.

Favorite quotes:

• "Some wizard you are!" I whirled back around. "How about using some of your magic to sober your sorry, drunken self up? And stop calling me Syd!"        - pg. 40
• Time sped back up, and so did my fall. I fell onto North, my arms wrapping around his shoulders. He used the force of the impact to drop us to the ground, bringing his red cloak up in one fluid, sweeping motion and pulling it over our heads.           - pg. 307-308

5 Robots

An exciting and brilliant book- definitely recommended!

Acquired: Won (I really don't know who from, I swear I'll remember to write it down next time!)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Movie)

Harry, Ron and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord once and for all.

     Obviously, you guys know what this movie's about and that there are MAJOR SPOILERS for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the book), and well as some for how the movie turned out. This movie is very somber from the start. There is a lot of silence and stillness mixed in with the action, but it is generally true to the book and very exciting. Overall, I enjoyed Part 1 just a bit more than Part 2. 

Reasons I love this movie:

• It's Harry Potter.
• Ron- one of the 1st things I noticed was how Ron (Rupert Grint) suddenly looks every bit like an action hero
• Helena Bonham Carter- she's already a scene-stealer as Bellatrix, but her portrayal of Hermione as Bellatrix (thanks to the trio's old standby, Polyjuice Potion) was so brilliantly convincing. I was doing double takes wondering if that was Emma Watson made up to like Helena Bonham Carter.
• Neville- Neville (Matthew Lewis) finally gets his chance to shine, emerging as a hero and reminding us super geeks of how easily it could have all been Neville rather than Harry. (And in case you haven't been looking up pictures of anything having to do with this movie lately, Neville grew up quite nicely. )

• Snape- we learn along with Harry just how integral Snape (Alan Rickman) is to the entire story in a touching flashback after Snape's surprisingly violent death scene

• I can't list everything great about this movie, but some other highlights to watch out for: Molly vs. Bellatrix, Ron defending Hermione, any scene with McGonagall, and Luna making Harry listen to her

Huh, what?:

• not enough Ron and Hermione kissing- their very 1st kiss is sweet, but all we see is Ron's head blocking the kiss. I was bummed, especially after the Harry and Hermione make-out session in the locket destroying scene of Part 1. I know it's not a love story, but we've waited 7 movies for this to happen.
• Harry and Voldemort jump off the school- Harry grabs him and jumps off the roof (you've probably seen this- it's in the trailers), but then they fly around grabbing at each other's faces and their faces blur together. Um,ok...this scene baffles me- it's just really strange and unnecessary. My brother defended it by saying but it shows how closely linked they are...I'm not buying that explanation, but it does give it some purpose. 
• although I think they'd make a cute couple, Neville does not end up with Luna as is implied in the movie
• the death of important characters are unseen and don't make much of an impact on the viewer (possibly because they are unseen...)
• Harry and Ginny's son at the end, as well as the other kids just looked very modern to me- like they somehow didn't fit into the world of Harry Potter

5 Robots

I mean, what can I say? It's Harry Potter. Go see it!

Beastly

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Published: October 2, 2007 by HarperTeen

Privileged, popular, and proud, high school student Kyle Kingsbury knows he can get away with virtually anything because of his good looks and his father's money.  But Kyle goes too far when he sets out to humiliate a mysterious and unpopular girl at the school dance.  The girl turns out to be a witch who casts a spell on Kyle, turning him into a beast who is now as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside. The only way for Kyle to break the curse is to fall in love with someone who will look past his appearance and love him in return.

      I decided to read this book after seeing and really enjoying the movie version. The book definitely feels like it's geared toward younger teens while the movie feels like it's appealing to all ages. There are tons of substantial changes that were made for the movie. Overall, I enjoyed the movie more than the book, although this may have something to do with the presence of Alex Pettyfer in the movie. 

Reasons I love this book:

• Plot- Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales and I loved seeing elements of it in a modern setting. My favorite was the mirror and how Kyle could use it to see anyone he wanted to.
• Kyle- you really get to see what Kyle's thinking and what he is struggling with internally. 
• Support group- the support group chats were really cool to read, and the characters are from the classic fairytales rather than the Disney-fied versions. 
• Kyle/Adrian's sacrifice- his sacrifice to let Lindy leave and see her father even if it meant his being a beast forever was so sweet.
• Princess Bride- Adrian and Lindy watch The Princess Bride, as evident from the 2nd quote.

Huh, what?:

• Lindy's dad- he's even more of a jerk than Kyle's dad. I mean offering his daughter to a stranger rather than taking responsibility for his own crimes is so low.
• Kendra (SPOILERS!)- Kendra turning out to be disguised as Magda the housekeeper was so unexpected and totally unnecessary to the story. 
• Names- Kyle. Adrian. It doesn't really matter, but the name change is a detail that bothered me. I like that Kyle means handsome and Adrian means darkness though. That's pretty cool. 

Movie vs. Book (SPOILERS!):

• Kendra- In the book, Kendra = Magda. In the movie they are 2 totally separate characters that never meet and Magda has her own family she wants to get back to.
• Lindy- In the book, Lindy's dad offers her up so he doesn't have to deal with his own mess. In the movie, Kyle asks Lindy's father for her after witnessing how much danger she's in around her father.
• Names- All kinds of names were changed for the movie. Kyle becomes Hunter rather than Adrian. His last name is slightly different, and there is no mention that Lindy's name is actually Linda. Magda's name is Zola. 
• Will- In the book? Not really a character with much impact. In the movie Will is hilarious and will have you wishing he was in more scenes. 

Favorite Quotes:

• "Who...who is that?"                                                                                                           "Adrian..." Kyle...the master of this house...the beast who lives here. "My name is Adrian. I'm the one..." The one who is holding you prisoner. "I wanted to meet you."           pg. 169
• By the time Vizzini fell over, dead, I'd finished my popcorn and put the bag down. I wanted some more. It seemed like the beast was always hungry. I wondered, if I was transformed back, would I be fat?                  pg. 203

3 Robots

Pretty good, but I can't help comparing it with the movie

Acquired: Borrowed from a friend

Beastly (Movie)

Privileged, popular, and proud, high school student Kyle Kingsbury knows he can get away with virtually anything because of his good looks and his father's money.  But Kyle goes too far when he sets out to humiliate a mysterious and unpopular girl at the school dance.  The girl turns out to be a witch who casts a spell on Kyle, turning him into a beast who is now as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside. The only way for Kyle to break the curse is to fall in love with someone who will look past his appearance and love him in return.

      This movie is based on the book of the same name by Alex Flinn. The above summary is from the book, but some names were changed for the movie (such as Kyle's last name). Yes, it's a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast (one of my favorite Disney movies), so we all know how it ends. While all the critics' reviews I've read have complained about this, I was really interested in seeing the journey to get there, especially since it involves Alex Pettyfer. I did not read the book prior to seeing this movie.

Reasons I love this movie:

• Neil Patrick Harris- NPH plays Will, Kyle's blind tutor and gets some of the best lines, especially when he's playing darts. All of his interactions with the other characters are great, particularly when he thinks something is too mushy or corny. 
• Kyle's beast form- The makeup effects they did on Alex Pettyfer are awesome. Not very ugly, but definitely unique and interesting. Plus it looked like his left eyebrow said "suck". 
• Kendra- Mary-Kate Olsen managed to make the witch creepy and entertaining in every scene she was in. 
• Romance- I know it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but this movie has all the aspects I look for in a sweet romance movie like this. When Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens) and Kyle were falling in love it was great to watch and I couldn't wait to see how everything in their way worked out so they could live happily ever after. When they were talking at parties it was so sweet to see them kind of flirting but still having real conversations about life. 

Huh, what?:

• Lindy's dad- The whole situation that occurs to make Lindy live with Kyle seems so rushed, although it was incredibly sweet the way Kyle wanted to protect her. (I'll try to stop using the word sweet I promise!) I know it wasn't too important why she was there as long as she was, but it still bothered me, especially because her dad comes up later in the story. 
• Lindy's messages- A few times in the movie Lindy's feelings are expressed through instant messages and emails with people in the outside world. The impression I got (and I could be wrong) was that she was planning to escape with another guy, but it was kind of vague and never really acknowledged again. 

Is this the end?:

• I get the impression that Beastly is a stand-alone book, so probably, but you never know if Hollywood will come up with some bone-headed idea to make a sequel. 

4 Robots

This is a great movie and my boyfriend also really enjoyed it (he went under his own will).