Seasonal Reading

I hear the terms 'summer reads' and 'winter reads' quite often, but I've never really associated any books with a certain season. At first I thought that maybe this was the case because I don't really read a whole lot of contemporary, so I don't have any summery themed books to read in the summer. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I do have seasonal reads, they just aren't necessarily the same ones that almost everyone else has...

Summer Reads

Massive Fantasy Books

 Personally I think that Fantasy can be read any time of the year, and I do read it year round, but I think that Summer is the best time to knock out the larger one's on my shelf, and by larger I mean anything over 500 pages.This method doesn't work as well for me as it has in previous years, since now I'm an adult with a job and don't really have a summer vacation anymore, but I still do the best I can. Here are some massive Fantasy books that I've read so far this Summer:

Autumn Reads
Magical Books
Ah, Autumn, the time for witchy books and romance. This is typically when I like to read fairy-tale retellings and any sort of witchy themed book that gets me all excited for Halloween. Autumn is my favorite season, but also my busiest, so I like to read books that are quick and fun. Here are some that I am hoping to get to this Autumn:

Winter Reads

Classics

There is nothing like a snow day to make you want to cuddle under the bed covers and delve into a classic, at least for me there's nothing like it. Winter always sets me in the perfect mood for classics, Victorian literature especially. I've been slacking a bit with classics lately, so here's a few that I hope to get to this Winter:

Spring Reads

Graphic Novels, Comics, & Manga

Spring is a season for illustration, it's my favorite season to draw and my favorite season to read all sorts of illustrated literature.  I'm not sure what I'll be reading next Spring, considering it is more than 6 months away, but here are a few things I've had my eye on:

Do you read any genres seasonally? Have any recommendations for me? Let me know!

Favorite Books I've Read in 2014 (So Far)

So we're a little more than half way through the year and I have read 63 books, which means that I have quite a few favorites so far. (Warning: Many of these were written by Brandon Sanderson).

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
I actually wrote a whole review on this book so you can see me gush about it here. However if you don't want to read the review, let me summarize. I THINK THIS BOOK IS PERFECTION. It is so beautifully crafted it makes me want to cry. That is all.

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

You can read my review for this book here. I read the entire Mistborn trilogy this year, yet this one remains to be my favorite. I felt that it could have been it's own stand alone novel and I would have been perfectly happy with that. The world building and magic system was just astounding, and it's what lead me to read so much more of Sanderson's works.

Cress by Marissa Meyer
I knew I loved the Lunar Chronicles, but I didn;t realize how much I loved the series until I read Cress. I was suspicious at first that Marissa Meyer wouldn't be able to write the three perspectives of our main cast and give each of them enough pages to do their story justice. I am so glad I was proven wrong. This book is a wonderful addition to the series, and so far my favorite. It creates a wonderful foundation for the conclusion, Winter. And definitely has a few tidbits that make us all excited for Fairest.

Fables by Bill Willingham

Oh my, this graphic novel series!! I am hooked! I only rated the first volume 4 stars, but holy moly it has improved so much. I have recently completed the eighth volume and I am in love with this series. It's like Once Upon a Time, but so much better!!

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Yes, another Sanderson. Trust me, there will be a few more in this list. This book was just wonderful, And honestly I loved it even more than the entire Mistborn trilogy (but I didn't love it as much as Elantris, more on that later). If you haven't picked up any Sanderson than I recommend you start with this one.

Watchmen by Alan Moore

Yo, it's fucking Watchmen, who doesn't love it? It's crafted in such a wonderful way, even if the plot isn't the greatest, the characters are so interesting and the way that the story flows is just brilliant.

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
You can read my review here. Guys, I rated this 1,000,000 out of 5 stars. This book is my perfect book, need I say more?

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

I haven't even finished this book yet, and yet somehow, it is my favorite book I have read so far this year. This book is a masterpiece of both Fantasy and just general literature. The depth of it all, and the way it's crafted. I just have no words for how beautiful it is.

Book Review: The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

For over a decade, Robin McKinley's richly woven saga has gripped the imagination of readers and caused critics to hail her as a master of fantasy. It is the story of Aerin, haunted since childhood by the legend of her mother-a "witchwoman" who enspelled the king and then died of disappointment after giving birth to a daughter, rather than the heroic son the kingdom needed. But little did the young princess know the long-dormant powers of her mother would wield their own destiny. For though she was a woman, Aerin was destined to be the true hero who would one day wield the power of the Blue Sword...

  

Review:

The book started out so well, the tale of a young princess who doesn't quite fit in with her royal counterparts and has so little understanding of who her mother is and what her roots might be. The book is split into two parts and I thought that the first part was simply perfection. However, once it turned to the second part, I found myself mentally lowering my rating of this book. 

Now, this is not to say that the second half of the book is bad, it was very good and very entertaining. But it didn't feel at all like it was the same story revolving around the same woman. I understand that Aerin develops quite a bit, but she seemed to lose so much of herself and become someone new, someone who I didn't admire as much.  

The thing that probably lowered my rating most, however, was the love triangle. Holy moly, I hate love triangles. They can be done well and tastefully, and usually they are annoying but I'm always happy with the conclusion. This love triangle though, was a nightmare. I think what made it so bad for me was the fact that there wasn't really a conclusion. There is, and there isn't. I don't want to spoil anything, but oh lord, I was so unhappy. 

That's just my personal preference though, and I think I could pick this book up again in a few years and have a completely different look on it. 

3/5 stars

I'm a Bookaholic, and I'm Not Very Proud

Bookaholic. One who continuously buys books to add to a stack of unread books.

I've never really put too much thought into my unhealthy accumulation of books, I've always viewed it as my life's library, and eventually I will read all of the books I have acquired.

But today I was faced with a brutal wake up call as I was rearranging my bookshelves. It had been a while since I last counted how many books I own, so I figured at this point I owned about 400. I was so sadly mistaken.

Need to Read in 2014: Science Fiction

It might come as a surprise to my readers that I haven't actually read that much Sci-Fi in my lifetime,
I adore Fantasy, but have only picked up a bit of SF here and there (and even those times it was pretty much only Star Trek novels).

I've decided that I want to get into the genre more, but I have a lot of catching up to do, so here's 5 Sci-Fi books that I need to read this year!

How The Goodreads Reading Challenge Changed The Way I Read

In the book-blogging and Booktubing sphere, Goodreads seems to be a necessity for any book lover. It is a fantastic website which allows you to add books, rate and review them, and even recommend them to your friends! But there is a part of Goodreads that may not be so great; the Goodreads Reading Challenge. It is an annual challenge where Goodreads members can set for themselves a certain number of books which they would like to read that year. Goodreads then keeps track of what you've read, and tells you how you are progressing in your challenge (as well as letting you know whether you are behind or not. Eek!)

At first, this may seem like a fun experience to motivate individuals to read more in a year, and help them feel more accomplished with their reading progress.

Yet I have found that this challenge is much more stressful and harmful to my reading habits than I could have ever imagined.

Book Review: Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

Goodreads Synopsis: 
“I swore an oath to avenge the death of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath.”

Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains, and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it all with only one good hand.

The deceived will become the deceiver.
 
Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.

The betrayed will become the betrayer.
 
Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.

Will the usurped become the usurper?
 
But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy

Review:

I received this as an eARC from NetGalley

This tale was weaved in a way that I am not used to, but found myself enjoying immensely. The tale of Yarvi is one that I have never experienced before and although I was disturbed by some of the things he had to go through, what he becomes at the end of the book is so worth it. You see him go from aspiring minister to a crippled king to a slave, each role bringing experience and knowledge that form him into the man he becomes. He is flawed extraordinarily, but his flaws are what make him seem so real.

I think the aspect of this book that I loved the most is that the antagonist of this story is not in inherently evil, they do evil things and ruin so much, yet that is not all they are. And I wish that happened more often in literature.

All of the characters in fact were incredibly well-rounded and three-dimensional, and it was beautiful. I never knew which character I could trust, since it seemed like anyone could stab anyone in the back.

The world itself was well built (and incredibly expansive) but there were a few things that I want to be expanded upon in the next books.

All in all I was very impressed with this book and would love to read more of this authors books.

4/5 stars!

May Wrap-Up | June TBR

Book Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Goodreads Synopsis:
It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune -- and remarkable power -- to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved -- that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt -- among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life -- and love -- in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?

Review:
A book about gamers and gaming culture? Yes please, thank you very much!!

It probably is not very well known to my readers that I am a gamer, considering I spend all of my time on the internet talking about books. And yes, books were my first love, but video games are a close second. 

That being said, I think that being a gamer both enhanced and diminished my reading experience of this book. I felt that the experience was diminished slightly because of the incessant explanation of terms that I already knew. I didn't want to be told what an MMO was, and at times it felt condescending on Cline's part. However, I understand the necessity of defining terms, I just wish he had defined them in footnotes rather than in the text.

That is my only complaint of this book. The rest was incredibly enjoyable. The world building was very well done (both in OASIS and out of it) and the characters were superb!

I loved how nostalgic this book made me feel, Cline really hit the nail on the head in bringing back all of the love and devotion for what we consider "retro games". I feel that sometimes gamers can get so caught up in the latest game (like, hey, Mario Kart 8 was just released and I am SUPER EXCITED) but they tend to forget where they started out with games, even sometimes forgetting how much they loved them. So I think it's always best to go back occasionally and play a "retro" game, whether you're coming back to an old friend or meeting them for the first time. Just because it doesn't have the best graphics doesn't mean it won't be the best game you've ever played. 

Whoa, I seriously digressed, this book made me feel some love and appreciation for games and the gaming community. Anyway, it was a beautiful book, and I look forward to rereading it in the future (maybe to see how far gaming has come and if it's anything like Cline says it will be in 2044). 

4/5 stars!

Post Script: I feel that Cline missed an opportunity to reference Deadpool. In the book, Wade says that his father named him Wade Watts because he thought that having an alliterated name would make him more super (referencing Peter Parker and Clark Kent). But Deadpool, Wade Wilson, has both an alliterated name and is ALSO NAMED WADE. Why not make the connection? I don't know, it was something that upset me.

Book Review: The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

Goodreads Summary: For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art-and he is the city's most accomplished artist.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly - and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.

But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics - and cultivate a flair for death

Review: 
I must say, this story was action-packed! Brent Weeks wove together a story of so many different people over quite a length of time (around 10 years) and although I don't think it was polished to perfection, I was still positively entertained. 

Let us begin with the characters, Azoth (later known as Kylar) and Durzo are two very rough characters for obvious reasons, killing people for a living does that to you. But it was still very interesting to see the relationship that grew between them, as well as seeing the different ways they handled important things in their lives; especially love, and even their view of life itself. I felt that both characters were well written, however I did have an issue with the way that the story jumped through their lives, at times it felt quite choppy and I would have liked to see more of their development through the years rather than just getting snippets. 

The side characters were even better than the main, in my opinion, since I found myself caring more about their well-being. I especially focused on Logan and Regnus Gyre, as well as General Agon, and I would have liked to have seen more from their perspectives. 
  
The plot, oh the plot. I think that this book could have been so much more, the plot was actually incredibly intriguing, but it didn't actually make sense until the end, and I was confused with most things for the entire book. In some books it is interesting to be confused for most of the book, and can make the book even better, but my confusion with this one was simply because things were not better explained. I just wish that the world-building had been a bit stronger.

This book is also incredibly dark and gritty, which may be appealing to some, but made it so that multiple times I had to set this book down and take a breather, so definite warning for that.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I am very curious as to what happens next, so I will certainly be picking up the next two. 

4/5 stars!

Book Review: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Goodreads Summary:
Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling.

Arelon's new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping -- based on their correspondence -- to also find love. She finds instead that Raoden has died and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat as the last remaining holdouts against the imperial ambitions of the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides to use her new status to counter the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell high priest who has come to Kae to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god.

But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth about Prince Raoden. Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris, Raoden was secretly exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle to help the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon, and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself.
  
Review:
To say that I adored this book would be one of the biggest understatements of my life. This book changed me. 
It is no surprise to anyone that I am a huge fan of Fantasy; I devour it. I have read so much that sometimes it is hard for Fantasy authors to bring something new to the table because I feel like I've read it before (yet I still have so much to read). But every time I pick up a Brandon Sanderson novel, I know I am in for something new and exciting. 

Elantris was perfect. Perfect world-building, perfect characters, perfect plot, perfect ending! It was everything I could have hoped for in a Fantasy novel and I don't know if anything could surpass it.  

1,000,000/5 stars

Bout of Books 10.0 Read-a-thon TBR

Bout of Books 10.0

Whoo! Read-a-thon time! This is my first Bout of Books read-a-thon and I am super excited to join in on the fun!
You should go and sign up as well on the Bout of Books blog!

For those who don't know what I'm talking about:

"The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team"

A video will up up later today to show off my TBR for the read-a-thon! 

Need to Read in 2014: Fantasy

Despite the fact that I never like to set aside books that I have to read, each year I have a few books that I definitely want to get to. So I decided to start a series of it (that may be turned into a video series as well). I've decided to show books based on their genre, and we're starting with my all time favorite; Fantasy!!

You can click on the cover of the book to be directed to the Goodreads page to see what it's all about 

 1) The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
I have heard nothing but good things about The Kingkiller Chronicle, and I would really like to read the first two books before the third comes out.










2) Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
I'm always looking for Fantasy standalones, and this one sounds perfect. Plus, it's Brandon Sanderson, and I want to read everything this man has ever written.

3) The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
DRAGONS! Need I say more?












4) The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
I want to read this for pretty much the same reasons as Elantris except for the fact that this is not a standalone. But oh boy am I ready to jump on this 10 book series at the beginning!











5)  The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin
I'm going to be honest, I don't know much about this trilogy. But the premise for the fist book sounds so intriguing, and I love a Fantasy book with an awesome female protagonist. (Plus, the covers are gorgeous!!) 










6)  Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed
This really seems like a breath of fresh air to me, since so much Fantasy has a sort of European feel to it, and this debut novel apparently has a "Middle-Eastern" sort of setting, so GIMME!












7) Blood Song by Anthony Ryan
This sounds like an amazing start to an epic Fantasy series (apparently the the writing and story are reminiscent on Rothfuss and Sanderson's works)











8) Elvenblood by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
The first sequel on this list, and for good reason. It's been years since I've read The Elvenbane, but I loved it so so much, the world was just so lovely to be in, so I need to pick up the sequel.











9) Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
 This sounds so wonderful I want to cry













10) Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
The only YA on this list, but holy moly I am so ready for this book. This is the third book in the Throne of Glass series and to be honest, this is one of the very few good YA fantasy series. The cover was released today and oh my is it beautiful. This is also the only book on this list that has not been released yet, so I'll have to wait till September.  

What I'm Currently Reading

I have never been a fan of making a "to be read" list for any given month, but I still like people to know what it is I'm reading, and what I may or may not decide to pick up next. 

So here I have gathered together the books that I am reading at the moment, as well as what i think of them so far, as well as a couple books that I have sitting on my bedside table that I would like to get to soon, however it is possible that I will change my mind and throw them back on the shelves. \

Who knows.

So here it goes; the list. 

Prophecy by Ellen Oh

I received this books in a giveaway from Epic Reads (they are a part of HarperTeen, in case you weren't aware) and considering I am a huge fan of Fantasy, I decided to pick this up right away.

It has been compared to Graceling by Kristin Cashore (and by compared I mean that people have been saying that the two are almost identical) which I recently read and disliked extraordinarily. However, I am really enjoying Prophecy, I am about half way through and already I feel that the plot and world building are much better than Graceling. The only comparison I can find is that the two main characters are a bit similar. They are both outcasts, killing for the kings, and have weirdly colored eyes. But the comparison stops there. Already in Prophecy I enjoy the character of Kira very much, and I do not find her at all obnoxious or bitchy. I look forward to seeing how the reast of the book turns out, and I think I will be picking up the next book in the series as well.

Sidenote: I think that it also works for Prophecy that it is the first book in a trilogy, it gives everything a little more time to develop and I enjoy it very much, it is very cool to see something so heavily based in Fantasy and Korean history.

This is why I think that maybe Graceling fell short for me, it may be the first in a series yet the other two books are companion novels, so Katsa's story is short and not very well developed, especially being a Fantasy novel.

Nocturnes by John Connolly

This is one I have been reading for a while (which is understandable, considering it is a collection of short stories).  I originally purchased it because I enjoyed his other work, The Book of Lost Things, and I was expecting something a little similar, if not a fairy-tale retelling, then at least something fantastical. But this book is scaring the crap out of me. Don't get me wrong, I love it so far, but I can only read a little at a time, and never before bed.
So needless to say, it's going to take me a little while to get through it.

Books I may or may not pick up soon...

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

I think it's about time that I start the Discworld series.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I want to read this for three reasons~

1) I have heard many good things about it

2) It has been sitting on my shelf for some time

3) I only just found out that he is married to Tahereh Mafi so....I need to support this amazing couple. 

 

Book Review: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Goodreads Synopsis:
I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die

Review

I should start by saying that I have never been a huge fan of Oz, including both the original works as well as those inspired by them, the only exception being Wicked by Gregory Maguire. However, Danielle Paige was able to achieve something that I didn't feel was possible, she made it feel fresh and new, she made it her own.

Somehow, Oz felt different in this book. Yes, it was dark and gruesome and ruled by a tyrant in a blue gingham dress, but somehow that wasn't the only difference. It felt fantastical and new, yet still felt like it had deep roots and history. I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but the world building was subtle, yet incredible.

The characters were not the greatest, however, since this is the first in a trilogy I expect many of the characters to undergo some extreme character development, and then I'm sure they will all be well-rounded individuals. (Also, may I just say, I was so worried there was going to be a horrible love triangle in this book, but that was luckily cleared up in the last few pages. Phew!)

The plot is just superb. I am so glad that I read the prequel novella, No Place like Oz, because it showed how Dorothy came to be back in Oz and how she became so corrupted. So going into this novel, I felt like I had a good understanding of the extremity of things.

Also, it is such a breath of fresh air to see the reversal of roles between witches, with good vs. wicked being flip-flopped. I am so very excited to see Amy take down this good witch from Kansas, as well as her bubbly witchy friend.

All in all it is a wonderful start to a series and I can't wait to read the rest.

5/5 stars *****

Discussion: Fantasy Sub-Genres

Genre Exploration: My Top 10 Fantasy Films

What? Something that isn't book related?! 

I know, I'm a little devastated myself. However, I have decided to start a sort of "Genre Exploration" series where I discuss my favorite films, books, and other fun stuff having to do with that genre. Today, we are starting with my all time favorite genre: Fantasy.

(Note: All of these are "live-action" (some puppets may be involved, but there are no animated films, those will be in a whole different list) 

10. Willow

This is a Fantasy film that I don't hear about very often, but it is definitely a must-see for any fan of Fantasy. Warwick Davis has been in many Fantasy films, but I believe this is his best. It's heartwarming and remarkable, and I think that it's one of the best under-known Fantasy films.

9. Labyrinth

Jim Henson films are amazing as is. Now add David Bowie, musical numbers, and an awesome universe that I think all of us Fantasy buffs would love to visit. When I first watched this film I felt very similar to Sarah's character (without the shininess and angst). She envelops herself in her own fantasy universe, just as I remember doing (even acting out scenes in my backyard). This film is wonderful and fun. I might even remind many of us how we were as young fantasy lovers.

8. The Neverending Story

I couldn't really have a Fantasy films list without this movie, it was so important to me as a child and truly shaped my love for fantasy. This film is heartbreaking at times, yet beautiful. I absolutely adore Falkor and the Night Hob (let's also not forget the adorable racing snail). This film has all the best parts of Fantasy, as well as a very good depiction of escapism in literature. One of my favorite films of all time. (The book is very good as well).

7. The Dark Crystal

Another fantastic Jim Henson film that has such cool creatures and an amazing world. It's a very cool hero story and the puppetry is quite remarkable (though of course, I couldn't expect any less from Jim Henson). This is just a truly beautiful film and I think everyone should watch it, even if you might think you don't like Fantasy.

6. The Princess Bride

I don't think I need to explain this one. Watch it, read the book, fall in love.

5. Merlin

This is the greatest film about Merlin, that's all I have to say.

4. The Lord of the Rings (yes, all three of them)

I may be disappointed with what Peter Jackson is doing with The Hobbit, but he did so many things right with The Lord of the Rings trilogy that I just can't hate him. I wonderful adaptation of my favorite book series of all time.

3. Practical Magic

A film about amazing, well portrayed women with magic, humor, and a few songs by Stevie Nicks?! Fucking sign me up, this film is perfection. A great film to watch around Halloween, or really any other time. It's a huge comfort movie of mine and no film will ever make me feel as magical as this one.

2. Stardust

This film completely changed my definition of the word "fantastic," and now it almost feels that nothing can compare. This is a beautiful film that portrays love, life, and adventure so well. The characters grow and change, and there are so many connections, as well as simplistic, yet thorough, world building. It is a mesmerizing film that has some funny moments, yet is also intense and heartwarming. (Side note: watching this film with my fiance is one of my happiest memories)

1. The 10th Kingdom

Technically this is a mini-series and not a movie, however I still consider it to be one, it just happens to be a 7 hour long film! The 10th Kingdom is so much a part of my being that it is not only my favorite fantasy film, but my favorite film of all time. I first watched it when I was around8 or 9, and I fell in love with everything; the characters, the setting, the music, the magic of it all. This film became a friend to me, whenever I needed comfort I would pop in the VHS tape and go on an adventure through the 9 kingdoms with Virginia, Tony, Wolf and Prince Wendell. Now, I might love this film so greatly because is is so embedded in my youth, but I think that anyone  who adores Fantasy and Fairy Tales would love it just as greatly as I do. Trust me, it's worth the 7 hours of your life.

Book Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...

I expected so much out of Graceling, it was incredibly hyped up and had been noted as a fantastic YA Fantasy novel. 

I was thoroughly disappointed. 

In my opinion the strongest feature to a Fantasy novel (especially if it is the first in a series) is the world building, it is the foundation of the novel and without it, everything will crumble. Sadly, Graceling had very little world building, and the little that there was happened to be very jumbled, convoluted, and thrown in the reader's face at an alarming rate. Such a terrible way to start off the book.

I had hoped that since the world was lacking, that the characters would be strong and well developed. However, Katsa, our main character, was incredibly two-dimensional and so very unlikable. She didn't seem to develop at all throughout the novel, she was stubborn, rash, and so annoyingly immature. Her love interest, Po, is a little more likable and a tad more developed, but this isn't saying much. They're relationship has quite a few elements of "insta-love" and turns into a weird sexual relationship for reasons that honestly do not meld well with the time period. I am in no way bashing non-committal relationships or open relationships, however, in this fantasy universe it simply would not make sense for them to do the things they do and not get married (especially when Katsa's reasoning is so pathetic). 

The plot was barely existent, it would have made more sense to provide some information earlier in the novel to make it a little more intense, but so much of the beginning of the novel was just flat, ugh. The ending was no better, who ends a book like that?! There was barely anything to it.

1 star

Book Review: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

This was my first Brandon Sanderson novel, and holy cow! it most certainly will not be my last.

The Final Empire is an empire where ash falls constantly, the sun is blood red, the majority of the population is enslaved, and the whole world lives under the tyranny of an immortal man that they deem their God, the Lord Ruler.

This book was freaking phenomenal, one of the best fantasy books I've read in a while!
Let's talk about the characters, specifically our two main ones; Kelsier and Vin...

Kelsier is one of the best developed characters I have seen in a while, he is not the all out hero, he is flawed and vengeful, but he is good and kind. Although he didn't develop too much during the course of the novel, finding out about his back story and what lead him to the events of this book was extraordinary. He felt so human and real, and his relationship with all of the main cast of characters was usually very entertaining to read, he was a true antihero and I love that about him.

Vin is amazing as well, the way she changes in this novel felt very similar to the character development of Daenerys Targaryen in the ASOIAF series by George R. R. Martin. At the beginning she has been abused and beaten down, but she becomes so powerful and, for lack of a better term, such a badass.

As far as plot goes it felt fast paced and exciting (and certainly didn't read like a 600 page book), the magic was new and well thought out and everything flowed splendidly.

My only complaint is that there weren't enough female characters, I love a strong main female character, but Vin was really the only notable female, which is sad. I hope that more females will be introduced in the next few books, because the series is feeling a little testosterone driven right now, which I'm not a fan of.

5/5 stars!

Birthday Mini Book Haul!

February Wrap-Up!

Series Review: Shatter Me Series by Taherah Mafi

It still is a little difficult for me to find words to describe this series and how beautiful it is. Let's start off with the writing style, which is a huge key point to the magnificence that is the Shatter Me series. The writing is poetic and is filled with breathtaking metaphors that makes you sit back for a second, just to process this one line that single-handedly blew your mind. This writing style is so important when in comes to understanding the characters and their psychology, the main case being Juliette, our main character. The most apparent expression of this is through the "crossed out" style, where a line will be written, crossed out, and then rewritten, showing how Juliette really feels. This is also a remarkable representation of Juliette's development, which leads me to my next topic. The character development in this series in extraordinary and inspiring. Juliette has had a horrible upbringing and had learned to shut so much of herself away, and her journey of learning to accept herself was so much more than I could have hoped for.

The relationships, for the most part, drive this series (which I am not complaining about). I adore the way that Mafi handled the comparison between infatuation and love, and representing the idea to do what is best for yourself, even if someone who you care about (or cared about) disagrees, which i think is so important for young women to understand. Juliette is strong all on her own, she doesn't need Adam or Warner to protect her, and I wish that I had read a series like this when I was younger and a bit more impressionable (rather than say, Twilight, which isn't exactly empowering to women). But I digress, my point is that I love the relationships, but I also love that Juliette is strong without having to be in one.

I do have one complaint though, I would have loved a bit more world building, and for the ending to have been a little longer. I want to see the entire Reestablishment be brought down, not just one sector. I am happy with the ending of the series, but I want more, so so much more (this might just be caused by the fact that I don't want to series to be over).

Definitely a new favorite series, and one of the best YA series I've read in a while. I whole-heartedly recommend :)

Book Review: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

5/5 stars. The Book of Lost Things had everything that I needed in a novel. Although it is not a direct fairytale retelling, it does pull many elements from quite a few Grimm tales, which are woven together so beautifully that the story feels so incredibly familiar, yet brand new all at the same time. It felt so much like reading a new fairytale, and Connolly made sure to keep the darker aspects that are so prevalent in the Grimm tales. This novel took a concept that I had always imagined to be epic (becoming apart of the tales that you read) and made it so much darker and twisted. I, for one, would not want to journey into this universe, where the Grimm fairytales have taken a shape of their own. I loved how John Connolly developed the main character, David, who held so much grief and anger, and is able to look past those things, move on, and learn to accept the world he lives in. This is a truly incredible novel and I look forward to reading more of John Connolly's work.

An Epic Chart of 162 Young Adult Retellings

An Epic Chart of 162 Young Adult Retellings

Reviews to come!

I'm sorry that there has been a delay in reviews recently. But I'm excited to announce that soon I will be posting reviews for Shatter Me by Taherah Mafi, Cress by Marissa Meyer, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, and Blankets by Craig Thompson! So look forward to those in the near future! :D

Happy reading! -Caitlin

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I really adored this book, and I, like so many other people, related to Cath on an incredible level. However, people related to her because of her dedication to Simon Snow and her fangirl-y qualities, whereas I related to her based on her mental issues. I myself suffer from crippling social anxiety, and it infuriates me that people have been saying that Cath just needed to "come out of her shell". THAT'S NOT HOW SOCIAL ANXIETY WORKS. Honestly, since I know exactly what Cath was feeling, I think she made tremendous strides in dealing with her anxiety, and opening herself up to new things, and I applaud her for that.

Okay, rant over, onto the review.

As far as characters I felt that they were all very well fleshed out, and they felt like real people to me. I loved the romance between Levi and Cath (although Levi did piss me off a little bit there, but such is life).

I felt that this was the perfect time for me to read this, since I too am a freshman in college, and this book held such an important message for me to learn; you don't have to change everything about yourself in order to grow up, you're awesome the way you are and people will see that and love you for it.