Book Review: Servant of the Forest

Servant of the Forest by Shona Husk

Publishing Date: September 1, 2017
Publisher: Self Published
Synopsis from Goodreads: 

“Remember to be wild,” Orabella’s mother would say. 
But her mother is dead and Orabella’s days are taken up with chores for the small estate that barely keeps her stepmother and stepsisters fed. 
Then an invitation arrives. The King is throwing a three day party for the Prince, a last attempt to find a cure for the curse that will claim him on his twentieth birthday. The witch who saves Gauthier will get his hand in marriage and will eventually become queen. 
Orabella is forbidden from going to the party even though everyone is invited. She wants to see the castle and the Cursed Prince. This time she refuses to obey her stepmother. 
As Orabella discovers the secrets of her past and the truth about her mother and the prince’s curse, she learns that no one is to be trusted and not everyone wants the prince to survive. 

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

I rated it 4/5 "really liked it"

I would like to thank the author Shona Husk for the ARC I received via email.

I know what I'm about to say is really cliche but I do mean it. This is no ordinary Cinderella retelling. The events are guided by the original fairy tale but this book has its own world. I can even almost favor this over the original. Well written and well thought out, there were no loose ends.

It's got witches, curses, potions and lots of pretty dresses, it's a three day party what do you expect. It has the right amount of thrill, mystery, and romance. I was hooked by this book from the very first chapter. Written in both Orabella and Gauthier's POV I was determined to be beside them both in their journey and see it through the end. By the end of the book it made me appreciate the forest and all living animals and insects around. It not only satisfies our reading needs but it also carries an important message.

I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because it didn't play with my feelings too much like the way I'm used to but it did keep my interest going. I'm always curious, I'm always searching for the solution and the reason.

It's so hard to give a review of this book without spoiling anything. All I can say is, take a chance and visit the world Shona Husk has created. Servant of the Forest comes out September 1st, be sure to grab a copy.

Book Review: Rhapsodic (The Bargainer #1)

Rhapsodic (The Bargainer #1) by Laura Thalassa

Publishing Date: November 15, 2016
Publisher: Lavabrook Publishing Group
Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big problem, one that stretches up her arm and far into her past. For the last seven years she’s been collecting a bracelet of black beads up her wrist, magical IOUs for favors she’s received. Only death or repayment will fulfill the obligations. Only then will the beads disappear.

Everyone knows that if you need a favor, you go to the Bargainer to make it happen. He’s a man who can get you anything you want... at a price. And everyone knows that sooner or later he always collects.

But for one of his clients, he’s never asked for repayment. Not until now. When Callie finds the fae king of the night in her room, a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, she knows things are about to change. At first it’s just a chaste kiss—a single bead’s worth—and a promise for more.

For the Bargainer, it’s more than just a matter of rekindling an old romance. Something is happening in the Otherworld. Fae warriors are going missing one by one. Only the women are returned, each in a glass casket, a child clutched to their breast. And then there are the whispers among the slaves, whispers of an evil that’s been awoken. 

If the Bargainer has any hope to save his people, he’ll need the help of the siren he spurned long ago. Only, his foe has a taste for exotic creatures, and Callie just happens to be one.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

I rated it 5/5 "it was amazing"

Desmond Flynn is King of the Night and is a Bargainer for a sideline. A girl owes him 322 bargains and he has come to collect. What does he want in return? 

"I'll be back tomorrow night, be prepared for more than just a kiss." 

From the very beginning this book got me hooked. I keep comparing Des to Sarah J Maas's Rhys but later I've stopped because they are completely different. Not just the physical description but Des is a different person with a different background (which I'm so excited to read in his Novella 'The Emperor of Evening Stars').

I love stories where two people have this huge history together and the way the book was written, to jump between the past and the present and how they somewhat parallel to their arguments and revelations.

Overall this was a very exciting read, my heart pounds whenever Des and Callie are in the same room. I could feel their electricity jumping out of the pages of the book. This is my first Laura Thalassa book and it certainly wouldn't be the last. I also heard so much about her other series and will check those out soon too. This book deserves more praise because this is truly one of the gems.

Book Review: Beowulf

Beowulf by Jacqueline Morley

Publishing Date: October 1, 2010
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series
Synopsis from Goodreads: 

This retelling of the first great epic poem in the English language recounts the story of Beowulf, his heroic struggle against the monster Grendel, and his final fight to the death with a ferocious dragon. Barron's " Graphic Classics " offer easy-to-follow retellings of immortal literary works. They introduce elementary and secondary school students to many of our culture's great plays, novels, and epic poems, and encourage boys and girls to discover the joy of reading the masterworks in their original form. "Graphic Classics " titles tell absorbing stories with high-quality color illustrations complemented with short narrative sections and dialogue balloons that capture the spirit of the originals. They also present background material to help young readers understand when and why the literary work was originally written. " Graphic Classics " titles are available in both paperback and hardcover editions.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

I rated it 5/5 "it was amazing"

This was a fun read. It works for all ages.
I always wanted to know the story of Beowulf but I didn't want to read a really thick book for it. This comic book was very helpful as it has great art with synonyms for words that are less familiar.

If you need to write an essay on a classic, choose comic books especially from this publisher because it's easy to read and it has a lot of pictures.

Movie Review: Wonder Woman (2017)

Release date: May 15, 2017 (Shanghai)
                      June 2, 2017 (United States)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Director: Patty Jenkins
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright
Running Time: 141 minutes
Language: English
Budget: $ 149 million
Box Office: $ 591.6 million


IMDB Blurb:

Before she was Wonder Woman she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained warrior. When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and true identity.

Review:

5/5 stars

Diana, Goddess of the Amazons.

The words that best describes this film are “GIRL POWER”. I have so much love for the Amazonians now. I wasn’t their biggest fan because I somehow see them as girls of the wild and like female versions of Tarzan. The film portrays them as civilized women who despite lack the interaction with other people - especially men - and the exposure to the world beyond their island, they are quite educated to the ways of the people beyond.

The film is filled with beautiful women and girls. Diana is a hero who stands for what’s right and doesn’t care if she’s out of line. If she sees or hears something wrong she speaks her mind. Her goal is to save the world. Such an achiever! To stop the war, she needs to find Ares and kill him. Well that sounds simple enough too. If you set your mind to something, you’ll reach it no matter what.

I really want to know when and how she got her superhero name “Wonder Woman”. I’m too lazy to read the comics, I hope it’ll be revealed in the sequel though.

There was never a moment of boredom in the film. All conversations meant something and are always game changers. 

I really hate it when men die before the girls. It seems really unfair for me. Steve was great, Steve was hot too. I mean come on, Chris Pine, hello! His sacrifice gave Diana the push she needed and unleashed her full power. So the plot for the first film was in order for someone to be completely strong, the factor that makes them weak must be removed. There’s just no words for this film. It’s the best. Gal was the perfect Wonder Woman, she did a really great job even though she was pregnant during shooting. This has been one of my most anticipated films of 2017 and it did not disappoint.

Book Review: Stealing Snow

Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

Publishing Date: October 6, 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Seventeen-year-old Snow lives within the walls of the Whittaker Institute, a high security mental hospital in upstate New York. Deep down, she knows she doesn't belong there, but she has no memory of life outside, except for the strangest dreams. And then a mysterious, handsome man, an orderly in the hospital, opens a door – and Snow knows that she has to leave … 
She finds herself in icy Algid, her true home, with witches, thieves, and a strangely alluring boy named Kai. As secret after secret is revealed, Snow discovers that she is on the run from a royal lineage she's destined to inherit, a father more powerful and ruthless than she could have imagined, and choices of the heart that could change everything. Heroine or villain, queen or broken girl, frozen heart or true love, Snow must choose her fate …

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

I rated it 4/5 stars

It may have mixed reviews but it all comes down to how the reader feels about the story. It's a loose retelling of the Snow Queen, but regardless whether you know anything or nothing about the story you'd still find this book entertaining. It took me a while to get into this book, but soon I found myself reading more chapters everyday and the feels started to kick in.  It was a bit unexpected. There are twists to characters, plots, and mixed emotions. Nothing really surprised me nor caught me off guard but I still enjoyed it very much. The world that Danielle created is really something, especially the different kinds of magic in their realm. There wasn't much information drop to confuse the reader, it was just right. I am so glad I crossed the Tree, and I would very much like to read the next installment. I want to see more of Jagger and the different back stories of the Robbers.

Movie Review: Barbie: Video Game Hero

Movie Trailer

Release date: February 1, 2017

Cast: Erica Lindbeck, Siena Bohn, Shannon Chan-Kent

Barbie is a video game designer and she’s making her own game called “Cupcake Cavern” with her friends and her sister Chelsea helping her in testing out the game. While playing Cupcake Cavern with her friends, they find that there’s a glitch and they can’t finish the game. 

Taking a break from the game and trying to figure out how to fix it, Barbie’s tablet keeps on beeping until she picks it up. When the screen tuned on, Cutie - the tutorial or video game narrator - came up and asked if Barbie would like to play the game. When Barbie pressed “Yes”, she was instantly sucked into the game. Cutie tells her that there’s a virus spreading and they’re taking over the game. Barbie must win all levels of the game to save everyone and fix the game.

Review:

If all the other characters and the design of the virus weren’t cute, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the movie. But that’s a Barbie film for you, there’s always that cute character. The story line isn’t that good, but then again this is a kids movie so it shouldn’t be complicated. It was pretty basic, there were no plot twists, there was only one point of view. Reading other people’s comments, they agreed about the decrease in the story lines and animation/design of the Barbie films because we always compare them to the Second Generation of films (Rapunzel, Swan Lake, Nutcracker). I myself also compare the new films to that generation but I really cannot expect much for the new films since the old films were based on classic stories and not originals.

The Barbie film franchise needs to release 2 to 3 Barbie films in a year and there isn’t much time they have to write a killer story. When writing a story they also need to consider about a lot of aspects where they can’t make it too complicated and kids the age below 10 need to understand them. They also cannot add characters that aren’t common knowledge to kids or professions that they don’t see everyday.

The animation was okay, I liked the idea where the game designs per level was different. In the first part it was a bit glitchy like a lag in the game, then came the simple looking designs, followed by the super high effects, and now to the hip game design like tiny pixels looking like Minecraft. Barbie’s main in-game character design was very cute and it felt kind of nostalgic. Her long pigtails and the shape of her eyes, there was really something about the animation and design.

I am a super huge fan of Barbie and I swore to myself that I will watch all Barbie films to my last breath. I will grow up with Barbie and I will die with Barbie too. I just hope they’ll be able to make better story lines. Does anyone know where I can send out suggestions to Barbie stories or if they ever accept any?

Best Reads of 2016

I've read 17 books last year (you can check them out here) and these are the books that really left and will keep a mark on me. I'll add their synopsis from Goodreads.

In no particular order:

Throne of Glass Series: Crown of Mdnight by Sarah J. Maas (book 2)

"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

A Court of Thorns and Roses Series: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

The Royals Trilogy: Paper Princess (book 1)
From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone. 

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.

The Royals Trilogy: Broken Prince (book 2)
From wharf fights and school brawls to crumbling lives inside glittery mansions, one guy tries to save himself. 

THESE ROYALS WILL RUIN YOU...

Reed Royal has it all—looks, status, money. The girls at his elite prep school line up to date him, the guys want to be him, but Reed never gave a damn about anyone but his family until Ella Harper walked into his life.

What started off as burning resentment and the need to make his father’s new ward suffer turned into something else entirely—keep Ella close. Keep Ella safe. But when one foolish mistake drives her out of Reed’s arms and brings chaos to the Royal household, Reed’s entire world begins to fall apart around him.

Ella doesn’t want him anymore. She says they’ll only destroy each other.

SHE MIGHT BE RIGHT. 

Secrets. Betrayal. Enemies. It’s like nothing Reed has ever dealt with before, and if he’s going to win back his princess, he’ll need to prove himself Royally worthy.

The Royals Trilogy: Twisted Palace (book 3)
These Royals will ruin you…

From mortal enemies to unexpected allies, two teenagers try to protect everything that matters most.

Ella Harper has met every challenge that life has thrown her way. She’s tough, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to defend the people she loves, but the challenge of a long-lost father and a boyfriend whose life is on the line might be too much for even Ella to overcome.

Reed Royal has a quick temper and even faster fists. But his tendency to meet every obstacle with violence has finally caught up with him. If he wants to save himself and the girl he loves, he’ll need to rise above his tortured past and tarnished reputation.

No one believes Ella can survive the Royals. Everyone is sure Reed will destroy them all.
They may be right.

With everything and everyone conspiring to keep them apart, Ella and Reed must find a way to beat the law, save their families, and unravel all the secrets in their Twisted Palace.

Book Review: What's A Soulmate?

What's a Soulmate? by Lindsey Ouimet
Publishing Date: October 28, 2016
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Synopsis from Goodreads:

Libby Carmichael has just met her Soulmate. It’s just too bad he’s behind bars.

When you only see the world in black and white until you meet yours, it's pretty simple to figure out when you’ve found your Soulmate. What Libby can't figure out is why fate/destiny/the powers-that-be have decided that Andrew McCormack is her one, true match. Libby is smart, organized, and always has a plan for what's coming next. So when she sees Andrew for the first time and her world is instantly filled with color, she's thrown for a loop.Namely because he's in a dingy grey jumpsuit.And handcuffs.And being booked into a juvenile detention facility.

Surely a boy who's been convicted of a headline-making, violent crime isn't the person she’s meant to be with. There's no way she belongs with someone like that... Right?

*Copy was received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

SPOILER ALERT

Just as I finished reading the first chapter I immediately got hooked. I love it already. This world that Lindsey created where a person is born colorblind, literally black and white until you find your Soulmate. Your Soulmate that brings color to your life. The book is about knowing when your Soulmate is in the same room as you makes the world easier to live by but just as complicated if your Soulmate is someone you can’t be with.

“A girl could find the one person who literally fills her world with
color, and he or she could already have a match. One who obviously, and unfortunately, isn’t her.”

“Well, let’s just say it’s made very clear that something beautiful in
black and white? It can be even more breathtaking in color.”

“Maybe I’m trying to convince myself nothing’s perfect. Not even Soulmates.”

The way the author described how Libby saw colors for the first time, I know it was hard to explain but she was able to write it very well that it wasn’t difficult to understand at all. You understand what she’s trying to say or to describe without actually using any color reference which is a huge challenge and I praise her for it.

The entire book was kind of dry, it needed more elements, though I can’t say what but I feel it does. Like something is missing, or I just want more. Like more explanation on how the people especially the students behave when they can’t see color. How is the world with colorblind people different from us? The part where Libby mentioned there was a separate section for colored fabric and she’s never been to, that kind of information is what I’m looking for in the book. Do companies for teen clothes make their ads in black and white rather than in color? Are the teen dramas, films, shows shown in black and white? 

Taking a step back and seeing the big picture the author gave all the side stories needed but I wish some information were dropped like bombs and just catch the reader off guard. The part where the woman in the SUV was actually the wife, and she gave the tapes to Andrew’s mom didn’t make me feel surprised because there wasn’t much suspense to the SUV thing. I didn’t feel any suspicions with it nor was there any thrill.

Overall I really love the idea of a world about Soulmates, people born not seeing in full color. I think this would make a great franchise/series, like other people’s stories who find their soul mate and don’t get a happy ending, or a teenager’s grandmother finding her soul mate after her husband died. I’m not sure if there are endless possibilities, but there are a lot of possibilities to this concept and I would really like to read other people’s perspective in this wonderful world Lindsey has created for us all.