Publication Date: October 4th 2011 Publisher: Hyperion Book CH Format: Hardcover, 513 pages
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, To storm or fire the world must fall. An oath to keep with a final breath, And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn’t know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa tol him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn’t ring and bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth
Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem – when the Voice took over he mother and commanded Hazel to use her “gift” for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn’t say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.
Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn’t see it. He doesn’t even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery – although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely – enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.
Beginning at the “other” camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven
Wow.
I seriously don’t know where to start my review or what words would give justice for the feelings I have towards this book or how I would even manage to write them without any hints of being an obsessive fan-girl.
The book was amazing.Seriously.
InThe Lost Hero, it was Jason’s story of his struggle in discovering his identity, this one is just exactly the same, but this time its about the humor-filled son of Neptune, errr I mean Poseidon: Percy Jackson, in his journey of unveiling the shroud that’s covering his memories and discovering the gods’ tricky mission while slicing off monsters together with the Roman Camp–Camp Jupiter.
At the first few pages, I cannot deny my excitement as Ive again read Percy’s sarcastic-fun thoughts!But I couldn’t deny the maturity I’ve noticed in his character. And by that, it made everything a whole lot better. He is more focused and determined and a hundred times more amusing!
Percy hated tests. Since he’d lost his memory, his whole life was one big fil -in-the-blank. He was ____, from _________. He felt like ____________________, and if the monsters caught him, he’d be ____________________.
Then he thought about Annabeth, the only part of his old life he was sure about. He had to find her.
Needless to say, Rick Riordan had once again hit it. My toes curled with delight as I read his familiar words. The way he writes our protagonists’ lines could make the readers curious and baffled and left laughing for days!
Frank said, “Just keep moving! We’re almost there.”
“Almost where?”
Juno chuckled. “All roads lead there child. You should know that.”
“Detention?” Percy asked.
Ofcourse, the books’ chapters were all adventure-packed! Somehow I still cannot imagine how the author had put up all these Greek and Roman craze in one book with lots of twists and unexpected revelations. Also, the love-o-meter in this series had rocketed into a higher level. The new characters he’d added were more involved with one another that it could make your mind burst upon predicting they’re purposes and what their actions could possibly mold one event to another; There’s this girl who makes jewels appear wherever she goes, and actually has a strong link to our favorite characters in the previous books . There’s this awkward buffy dude who is always with the girl and is yet to discover of what he’s made of. Another one is a weird camp augur who glares at Percy a lot and uses stuffed animals in his rituals. And lastly, ‘the’ Reyna who worried Piper as Jason’s “something” in the last book,and is now leaving the readers puzzled whether Annabeth would have a little competition against her in the next series.
The ending was a big “BAAAAM!” that it made me beat up my pillows harshly. Why? Well… just go and read it right now cause I swear in the river of Styx that if you don’t, you’d miss half of the true essence of reading real good fiction books!
And yea, here is a littlesneak peek for our heroes’ next quest:
“Wisdom’s daughter walks alone,
The MARK OF ATHENA burns through Rome.”
RATINGS
BOOK TRAILER ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rick Riordan is an American author from Texas famous for his Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan’s Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian). He attended The University of Texas at Austin in 1986, where he double-majored in English and History He also wrote The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles) and, most recently, The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus). He also wrote the Tres Navarre series for adults and helped to edit Demigods and Monsters, a collection of essays on the topic of his Percy Jackson series. He also wrote book one of the 39 Clues (The Maze of Bones) and co-wrote book eleven (Vespers Rising) published by Scholastic Corporation.
Publication Date: October 4th 2011 Publisher: HarperTeen Format: eARC
The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she d iscovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust…and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.
I find the story unique but I think it needs more elements in it.
Eve is a very lovely read for me, I find the story unique but it lacks certain elements that would make it a big hit for me. There’s a vaccine for the plague but she thought she was getting it and will live a happy life after her graduation but she had it all wrong. Eve ran away from school after discovering the secrets of what happens to the graduates. The graduate is submitted to the lab and becomes breeding paraphernalia for the country to survive. Eve was brought up with only girls on her school that’s why the moment she met Caleb she doesn’t know whether to trust him or not. All the things that were taught to them on school were a big lie and she must trust Caleb in order to survive. A riveting read but it left me disappointed in a good way. I don’t know if I’ll be happy throughout the whole read but as I said it needs more elements. I was not happy with the fact that the story was all over the place. I don’t know what to expect, I kept reading but got disappointed just for the fact that some details are not well covered. Best example would be that Eve easily trusted Caleb for some reason she was born to hate the alpha I didn’t find any resistance from her point. The whole story revolves about trusting, making decisions and love which I think is very much cliché for a dystopian book.
Eve as a character has never won me, I find her personality very strong yes but I can’t find the reason to get used to her personality. She obviously has trust issues which I totally understand but having them in a very short period of time makes me want to think that she was just putting the game face on. I also find her character very intelligent, well she was a valedictorian of her school right. But her intelligence lack from what the whole point of surviving is, she may have the intelligence but she lacks the skills. I think instinct is what women’s edge over males but I don’t think she has this one skill. Arden and Caleb play a big part of the story, Arden is the only person Eve trust. Apparently Arden knows everything that was happening to the graduates thus leads to her escaping the school. Caleb is obviously the love interest of Eve, his character is what you expect of a normal boy would be. I like how Caleb and Eve’s relationship progresses in the story, the constant love hate and save your life and I’m in love with you situation.
I like the cover of Eve; I like how it shows the bridge on her way to Califia which is her destination all throughout the book. The title is really good specially the font is very unique. I’m just not sure if it was the dress that Eve on her way to Califia. The cover girl reminds me of The Vespertine. The book was also quoted by Lauren Kate and I think it’s such a giveaway on how to expect this book.
Overall this book was a whole fun to read if you’re looking for something to take your time off. I can recommend this for people who has not yet read dystopian books. Too many holes from the whole read that I can’t just understand. There is a fine line of understanding the whole concept of the King and Eve but it was not discussed much. I wish there were characters who would explain more of what really is happening, the plague was not really mention very well and the ending was a cliffhanger that could frustrate you. It left me nothing but a question mark; I just can’t follow the whole scenario. I think I would give the next book a try but if it doesn’t pick up well then I might as well end the series here.
RATINGS
BOOK TRAILER
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Carey has been a gift wrapper, face painter, nanny, horrific cocktail waitress, sofa saleswoman and children’s book editor. She graduated from New York University and has an MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she’s at work on the second book in the Eve trilogy.
Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba’s world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.
Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she’s a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.
Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction. -Goodreads
Blood Red Road is amazingly good! Totally love the pacing, detailed and very well written.
Another story that left me breathless and gasping for more, I couldn’t put it down. Blood Red Road is a story of Saba who sets of into a journey to save her brother Lugh. I honestly didn’t imagine myself really drawn into this book, but then when I was half way through I just cannot put it down. The story is just very inviting and makes you want to read more. The pacing is very progressive and I really like it, add some characters that’s very adverse and barbaric, you got yourself an ass kicking story. I cannot say anything bad about the story, not to say I’m a flaws finder but the story is just very unique and I tell you not to pass reading this. I think the story is very gross and rich with every element on what you’re looking for a great book. With a touch of mystery and some heart quenching twist, I say this book is a must read.
The characters, I describe them as very adverse and barbaric, the whole attitude contributed throughout the whole book. I don’t know if you know but I really like belligerent character, I like those fighter characters specially a girl character. Saba is one character I line up with the most fierce woman character out there, I find her to be the likes of Katniss from The Hunger Games. Saba is a character that when she has a goal, she’ll do everything to do it. I really admire Saba because behind all the toughness that she shows she has a heart that cares for her sister Emmi. Saba considers Emmi as a burden; I have to agree because this little kid over here is unbelievable and very persistent. Emmi doesn’t want to be left alone and she follows Saba everywhere no matter what or how dangerous it maybe. I think it’s the best thing to do and I really like Emmi, she has this kind of attitude that keeps Saba inane which I think contributed very much half of the book. With every story I think there comes to be what you call the Prince Charming and Ohh boy this is just it! Jack I can say is very swoonish another fictional character that I wish to date. I don’t think anyone could resist this guy. I can consider him as the man of your dreams well if he’s ever true. And the Damsel in Distress award goes to Lugh which I think is the very different.
Overall this book has been very fun and engaging, I cannot say more how I like this book. The story, the characters, the writing style, it just go well with the whole package. I just want to add something for the writing style because it has captured my thoughts for about the whole part of the read. I really like the writing style of this book but I just notice some miss written words like ezzackly, yer and some other words I find misspelled. I find it really creative and showcase the whole setting of the story. But I think it was not needed, or rather if the setting was established as a place where a certain language is spoken maybe I think ill understand. I recommend this book for every dystopian lovers out there, I totally love and devour this book and I think if you love The Hunger Games you’ll love this one too.
RATINGS
BOOK TRAILER
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Moira Young has been by turns an actress, dancer, and opera singer, but her first loves are books and writing. A native Canadian, she now lives in the UK with her husband. Blood Red Road is her first novel.
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills. -Goodreads
Cinematic! A dystopian book on its finest! I love it!
Legend has been one of my favorite read this year. It is no doubt one dystopian book that is on the top of its game. The story just draw you in on every page read, it is compelling that you don’t want it to stop. I find the book very cinematic, the way it was plotted, I cannot say more because it was really awesome. Every little detail was conveyed properly and I totally love the details. The story of Day and June was plotted and written perfectly that it draws readers to read more, the details and how it was put together is just a WOWer for me. I cannot explain more how I love this book, I have to say this that I was not easily won by this book from the first 2 chapter but when the details came rushing in on the new few chapters I suddenly caught myself not stopping on reading it. I think people will be surprise on how this book will turn out, I find it very predictable but in a sense that you’ll be entertained by how it turns out. I also describe this book as Enigmatic, it is actually enigmatic or much to say very mysterious. I was actually asking myself why you would title this book Legend.
Day is one of the most admirable characters that I’ve read. I think everyone can relate to his outlook in life. I find Day as a very mischievous person but have the heart that cares for his family; I really like how he was written with the heart of a lady but the courage of a man. I personally can relate to this character because I think I would do the same when in a situation like his. June is very much like Day, she shows courage of a man but deep inside she’s still a lady in disguise. I think both of them have been submitted to a situation in an early stage they both submitted themselves to change for the sake of the country and their family. Thomas is one character that I’m most gutted; you can say that he’s the antagonist of the story. I won’t spoil anymore details so I think I’ll just leave it there.
The cover of Legend is just eye catching and very appropriate for its theme and story. I think I didn’t much read about the emblem that was shown on the cover but it’s not much of a question to me whether it was like that or not.
Overall this book is an amazing read! I can say that it deserves its movie offer. Yes, the movie rights for this book have been sold and I can’t wait for this book to be turned into a movie. I think I can recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a good read. I think it proves how this book is what I can say cinematic, even before hearing this news I think the book was meant to be in the big screens. I cannot wait for book 2 of the series. I just read that Marie Lu has wrapped up writing for the sequel. There has not been a title yet but I’m very much excited on what will happen to Day and June.
RATINGS
BOOK TRAILER
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company where I enjoyed discussing Facebook game apps with my co-workers, hearing amusing insider stories about World of Warcraft bugs, and delighting in cute 3D renditions of buildings–all via Skype. Now I shuffle around at home and talk to myself a lot. 🙂
I like food, fighter jets, afternoon tea, happy people, electronics, the interwebz, cupcakes, pianos, bright colors, rain, Christmas lights, sketches, animation, dogs, farmers’ markets, video games, and of course, books. I suck at working out. I also get lost very easily, but am a halfway decent driver. At least, I like to think so.
I was born near Shanghai, but settled down in Texas until I went off to college at the University of Southern California. California weather sweet-talked me into sticking around, so I’m currently in Pasadena with my boyfriend, two Pembroke Welsh Corgis, and a chihuahua mix.
“These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume.”—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
The most tragic love story in history . . .
Juliet Capulet didn’t take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn’t anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she’s fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she’s forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.
There are just sooo many reasons why you should read this book. This is fureakin amazing. From the writing style, to the story itself, it’s like you’re watching a movie every single scene you will not want to miss. This is the kind of book I want to keep reading. I mean come on, I feel like I’m being offered with the same things every time I read young adult books right now. But these kinds of books offer a different feeling. It’s not the usual high school girl meeting the new jerk transferee dude kind of story.
I’m not familiar with Stacey Jay honestly. I’ve never actually read any of her stories before. But as I have read her Juliet Immortal, I knew I liked her writing style. The first few pages of the book did not allow me to stop. Oh no it didn’t. It must be because of the story too. It was Romeo and Juliet. Oh well we all love them. But well in this story apparently, Romeo is the evil jerk who killed his new wife. And he will have to battle with Juliet through eternity. But our little Juliet is not as easy to kill as we think. She’s real tough and she fell for another guy in this story. And Romeo, our dear Romeo would do everything to not give Juliet her happy ending.
I’m not going to continue the story because I would end up spoiling it for you. But really, I want to tell myself that I should have seen the twist coming. I should have seen it but I didn’t. Oh well. So I’m challenging you. You will know which part of the book I’m talking about when you read it. It will be fun.
But no matter how evil Romeo might appear in this story, I still like him. Okay so this is Stacey Jay against William Shakespeare. And well as much as I like Jay’s writing, I’m still a sucker for fairy tales. I’m a romantic I guess. I still want to believe in our dear Romeo.
So yeah I had to not sleep for a night because of this. And I think it’s worth it. This is really beautiful. I love it and I would want to read more of this. There’s a sequel to this as far as I could say. The title, they say, is Romeo Redeemed and I could not wait to read it. It is going to be on my most anticipated booklist. Because I so love it. Ratings: ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stacey Jay is a recovering workaholic (or at least working hard at recovering) with three pen names, two small children, and a passion for playing pretend for a living. She’s been a full time mom-writer since 2005 and can’t think of anything she’d rather be doing. Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, waiter, math tutor (for real) and yoga instructor.
In her very limited spare time, Stacey enjoys cooking elaborate dinners and eating them very, every slowly, dressing up in costumes with her sons, and dancing like a total freak who all but the coolest of her friends are embarrassed to be seen with. You can write her email if you want. She’ll do her best to answer in a timely fashion and tell you thanks for reading.
Publication Date: May 4th 2009 Publisher: Chicken House Format: Paperback, 320 pages
Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don’t exist – almost.
When I read the plot in goodreads all I had in mind was how typical it was. Yes I’ve gone through those you-kidnap-me-cause-you’re-inlove-with-me-and-i-don’t-know-why-but-I-think-i-love-you-too for a million times in lots of stories online but I decided to give this book a shot.
Reading its first few pages made me crave for the rest. There was this thrill factor about it that you just wanna know what would happen next. There is simplicity in its narration but with the way the characters deliver their actions and lines, you could definitely feel the force of its situation.
The novel was written in Gemma’s point of view and is in a form of a long letter directed to Ty, her captor, who has temper, but is very caring of his victim and is likeable. With the circumstance given of being alone with each other, Ty gets to tell Gemma his sad stories and shows her his somewhat vulnerable part that would make you go like c’mon Gemma fall in love with him already. And you know what, between all those attempts of escaping from his grasp, she kinda did. But what’s smart about the girl protagonist is that she sensed the wrongness behind what she felt—like a helpless kidnap victim who looks at her kidnapper in a positive manner. Uhuh, hello Stockholm syndrome!
“Let’s face it, you did steal me. But you saved my life too. And somewhere in the middle, you showed me a place so different and beautiful; I can never get it out of my mind. And I can’t get you out of there either. You’re stuck in my brain like my own blood vessels.”
It could’ve been funny if you wouldn’t get to sense the emotions it brings. Yep, the tricky part is that you get to feel everything Gemma experienced, and it would make you think how strange it would be to let yourself develop attachment towards the one who caused you all those sufferings. Lucy Christopher definitely knows how to let you get into the girl protagonist’s shoes; she lets the readers feel doubt, confusion and fondness through her fitting usage of words that it could make you think everything was real.
At the very last page, I couldn’t help myself from spilling tears as I was as bewildered as Gemma was. And also, at that moment, all that I could ever think about was that this book is the bomb.
Rating:
Book Trailer
About the Author
“Let me tell you a little bit about me. I’ve lived a pretty varied life, having lived in three different countries (two of them twice!) and about twenty four different houses. I started off living in Wales, in the UK, but eventually found myself in Melbourne, Australia, where I went to school and University (and lived most of my life so far!). I moved back to Wales when I was 22 in order to study an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. And I’m still here (despite initially saying I was only going to stay for a year cos it’s sooo cold!). Doing my MA at Bath Spa is where life really took off for me … well….my writing life anyway. I seriously don’t think I would be a published writer today if it weren’t for this MA. Before this MA, I did stuff like trying to be an actor, a barista, a waitress, and a nature guide. The MA is when life focus started to slot into place, and I had the first glimpse that maybe…one day…I too could be a published writer!
There were four fantastic things about doing this MA. First, it got me a distinction (always nice), second, I met my wonderful mentor and friend Julia Green through it, third, it got me teaching work at the University of Bath Spa after I finished, and finally, it made me write my first book. Back then, this book was called The Long Flight and it was about a boy called Adam and a strange, flightless whooper swan. Six years later, a gender change of the main character, and a genre change of the book, and this book became Flyaway, my second published novel with Chicken House. It’s now about a girl called Isla whose Dad gets sick, and so, with the help of new friend Harry, she tries to make him feel better again through teaching a swan to fly. My work as a nature guide with the RSPB really helped me to write this book, and I’ll always be grateful to this wonderful charity for giving me the chances to learn about all things wild.
My first published book, Stolen, was also influenced by my life and the things I did. Thankfully, I’ve never been kidnapped, but when I was nine years old and moving from Wales to Australia, it felt like a bit of a kidnapping. Suddenly I was in a new country I didn’t understand; a place that was simultaneously beautiful and terrifying. I’ve always been fascinated by wild Australian land and, when younger, my favourite memories are of camping in the bush and exploring the overgrown creek at the back of our first Melbourne house. But this landscape scared me too, and I didn’t feel like I fitted in. I used these feelings of being simultaneously entranced and repulsed by something in order to write Gemma’s feelings for both Ty and the landscape he takes her to.
I’m now working on another teen novel for Chicken House due for publication in 2011.
In between writing, and talking about writing, and teaching writing, I do lots of other things! I am finishing a Creative Writing PhD, working on the critical part that talks about how Stolen compares to other novels about vulnerable girls in wild Australian land. I also spend a lot of time riding a grumpy chestnut mare called Topaz, and having adventures around the world. My favourite country to visit is South Africa, and I have volunteered there several times as a writing mentor and as a field guide. One thing I’ve never done but always wanted to is go in a hot air balloon. Oh, and camels make me smile.
I am represented in the UK by Greene And Heaton Literary Agency, and published by Chicken House. In the United States and Australia, I am published by Scholastic. For a full list of where my books have been published and by who, please visit the Chicken House website on http://www.doublecluck.com”
When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series.
Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times. But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.
The only thing that is keeping me from finishing this book is the fact that this is the last instalment of the trilogy. I don’t seem to want to finish it. But no matter what, I still can’t help it. Every turn of the page makes me read it all in one sitting. Oh man this book is great. Just as how I know the other two books. Although of course this would have much more than the other two since this is the last one. I can’t believe I’ve finished it already.
Torrent, as I’ve mentioned, is the third book of Lisa Tawn Bergren’s The River of Time trilogy. Cascade has been so much of a cliff hanger and so I was anxious to read Torrent. A relief flooded through me when I got a gripped of the book because I so wanted to know what had become of Lord Greco. Okay and the story too. At this point, Gabi and Lia had learned to surf the river of time. After saving their father, they went back to the medieval time, and of course Gabi to the arms of her beloved Marcello.
Dude this thing is sooo cheesy and it made me actually want it the more. I mean sure I dig bad boy types but I still am a sucker for the gentlemen. And Marcello, oh Marcello is a one fine young nobleman. Not only because he’s rich but because he’s so into Gabi. And well he’s just gentlemanly. Something very difficult to find today. Maybe it’s because of that. But as much as I am happy for Gabi, having Lord Rodolfo Greco as the villain in love with the She-Wolf of Siena made my heart ache. Not that falling in love with Gabi was bad, it was just that because she was already intended for Marcello. I’ve grown into loving Rodolfo and I couldn’t bear to read him in such a way. Okay so I might be exaggerating it.J
The story is so fast paced. Lisa might as well have mentioned something about bracing ourselves because well the story happened so fast. And I’m not complaining of course. I love the writing style. I can totally relate to every single word. The fact that she was able to combine the tough tongue of today’s language and the soft spoken words of the past is impressive. I really admire Lisa.
Well this is one of the best series that I have read. I knew this is an awesome trilogy even then when I only got to read Waterfall first. So yeah, if it wasn’t so obvious, I kind of didn’t want the series to end. It was like I really want to know what’s going to happen but at the same time I didn’t want to proceed to the ending while I was reading. I was torn. But blah I just had to read it.
And I wasn’t disappointed with the ending. Might be predictable yeah, but it’s something that I could just appreciate. I mean the book contained so much about the meaning of life. I’m almost as old as Gabi but because of her experiences, she appreciated what she had so much. And I might have not understood exactly the entire meaning of life, but I have a feeling like I’m close to it. This book is life. Well the meaning of life, more like it. It’s as though you’re also educated while you are enjoying it. Pretty awesome right?
You would surely understand more if you read it. I mean it would not be a waste because it’s amazing and all that. I even wish there was more of this so I could continue reading the series… and Lord Greco. (:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
Magical. That’s one word I can appropriately describe how this book was written. The whole novel is weaved with mystery and sprinkled with mind twisting events that could somehow make you go curios and not put it down.
The description of the sceneries that Morgenstern is trying to let the readers visualize is very enchanting. I like how she thought of putting up the rainy streets of London to the words she used on how it felt to be in the circus as if you are being placed in a wonderland. Letting yourself watch a Tim Burton film would be a great equivalent of how it felt like reading it, except that there’s something about it, may be its the wordings of this book–they make you feel like you’re moving with it.
“…the thrill of being surrounded by something wondrous and fantastical only magnified and focused directly at her. The feel of his skin against hers reverberates across her entire body, though his fingers remain entwined in hers.”
The characters are easy to grow fond with especially in the alternate past and present settings of the novel. Its like actually watching them hitting maturity and facing decisions and choosing their own destinies. Each has their sense of importance, and everything they do has relevance in the story; each of them is a piece of one big jigsaw puzzle that the novel is trying to narrate.
And the protagonists–I love how Celia and Marco cunningly interact with each other in a decent yet edgy manner; like how they keep on beating each other with illusions and masterpieces, but also realizing that they are each other’s source of inspiration. Their words linger with teases and revelations that it could make you crave for more.
“Do you remember all of your audiences?” Marco asks.
“Not all of them,” Celia says. “But I remember the people who look at me the way you do.”
“What way might that be?”
“As though they cannot decide if they are afraid of me or they want to kiss me.”
” I am not afraid of you,” Marco says.
A Night Circus is an enthralling read you should definitely check out!
John can have any girl he wants. Jennifer’s never been kissed. Everybody thinks he’s perfect. She’s got issues with pride and jealousy. They were best friends-once. Now, they’re playing Romeo and Juliet. Virgin lips Jennifer must have her first kiss on stage with John, the guy every girl in school wants. The pressure and tension build along with each staged kiss. Both are shocked when feelings bloom. Can either tell which kisses are real and which are for show?
If you want a break of reading those vampire-werewolf-human love affairs and is in the mood for the real deal Romeo and Juliet scheme, then this book is the best for you. It literally portrays the whole star crossed-lover drama, except that their families are like bffs and its the protagonists who are denying their feelings for each other and they have this dilemma of who’s going to spill it first.
John Michaels the male protagonists has this perfect social status as leader of the track team, VP of the supreme student body, the chick magnet, the friendly dude, and well, he’s the one that almost everybody worships in school. Why just ‘almost’? Because there’s Jennifer Vienvu. Now that he’s also invaded the theater, which is actually her territory, she wants to prove everybody that she’s good and she doesn’t want to live behind his shadow because she knows he isn’t perfect and that somehow the guy has flaws. Oh she knows, alright. They are neighbors, they were childhood best friends and their room windows are practically facing each other’s.
With both sides giving hints and getting each other into cat fights led by their pride and cockiness, the novel narrates us the typical girl-boy story in which I could almost tell that its cliche (and I did hope that the writer wrote a lot more complicated rather than just having the two protagonists jumbled up their feelings in between the play and in their real life situations). But its texts and descriptions are well constructed and delivered even for an overly used plot, and I must say it didn’t fail to tickle the side of me who’s still in for that typical romance story.
As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
Seeing a book being turned into a movie is just so tantalizing, I’m a big fan of books that are being turned into a movie. I’ve recently watched Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen on DVD and I must say, they did an awesome job turning the story into a movie. If you haven’t read the book I think I can say that you can just watch the movie because I cannot see any flaws on how the story was told in the movie, I think every single emotion that was in the book was captured well on the movie. If you didn’t know the book setting was in the 1930’s and I’ve been a big fan of the 1930s really, I think the writers of the movie and the author did a fantastic job with the research and the costumes and the language. I can say the same with the movie, I think Marlena’s sense of fashion was played well Reese as well as the whole cast. I also love the fact that the story was in Jacob’s POV because of his relationship with Rosie.
Jacob had such a poignant connection with her that only he could describe it. I’m a big fan of Twilight movie and watching Robert Pattinson playing a very sympathetic and mature character makes me love him more. Every single emotion that Robert Pattinson exerted for Jacob’s character has really touched me. I think beside from the character I’m a big fan of the fashion of the era, I like vintage styles and I think that Reese Witherspoon is what I totally envisioned while reading the book. Reese is absolutely beautiful no matter what. She also has that old Hollywood vintage beauty that made Marlena of the book so much better.
The love of Jacob for Marlena is really passionate yes; I think it was depicted as precise as it can be. While watching the movie and by reading that I’ve learned new things, few things that you can never learn unless you experience it. It would be experiencing the Circus life, the way the story and the movie w as shown it was learning experience that I wish that there’s no discrimination between workers and performers. Perhaps it w as a sign of times then but it really goes to show how much that divide was rampant. Basing with what I watch on what I’ve read is something new for me, there are things I can never imagine that was in the movie and I think it was really good. In the movie they have music and the music that was being played through the entire movie was very nostalgic and shows how it is on the 1930s it lived up to my expectation of what that era has brought.
Christopher Waltz is the perfect man for August, he is just the man that I imagine to play as the antagonist I think it helps that he has this unique facial expression that added to his villainous character. Over all fans of the book would really love to see this movie, it also added to the viewing experience that it has a bonus contents that came with the DVD like Raising the Tent, The Star Attraction, Robert Pattinson Spotlight, Feature Performer Reese Witerspoon. The movie was really portrayed well by the characters; I never thought that imagining books through reading can never be as precise in the big screen.
Water for Elephants is out on Blu-ray and DVD on Nov. 1st released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment so make sure to get a copy.
Official Synopsis:
LIFE IS THE MOST SPECTACULAR SHOW ON EARTH
Witness The Epic Tale of Forbidden Love Starring
Academy Award® Winner Reese Witherspoon andRobert Pattinson On Blu-ray and DVD November
Take a journey back in time with the romantic tale based on Sara Gruen’s New York Times #1 Best-Seller novel of the same name, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, coming to Blu-ray and DVD on November 1st from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Starring Academy Award®-winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk The Line), Robert Pattinson (Twilight series) and Oscar®-winner Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), the film presents an epic tale of forbidden love in a magical place filled with adventure, wonder and great danger. Showcasing the decadence of a bohemian circus and the majesty of its animals against the backdrop and beauty of a bygone era, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS makes the ideal holiday gift idea for your favorite film buff, fashionista or book-lover!
Devastated by the sudden death of his parents at the height of The Depression, a young dreamer from the wrong side of the tracks, Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson), abandons his veterinary studies at
Cornell University. With no other family, no house, and no money, Jacob stows away on a train carrying the circus performers of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Hired as a veterinarian to care for the troupe’s animals, Jacob is temporarily filled with the promise of an exciting life that comes with a traveling circus troupe. However, as he builds a rapport and falls in love with the star of the show, Marlena (Witherspoon), they become prey to the circus’s owner, Marlena’s violent and abusive husband August (Waltz). As the circus begins to crumble from within and against all odds, Jacob and Marlena come together and fall in love through their compassion for a special elephant. With their love on the line, Jacob and Marlena come to a crossroads that will forever change their destiny.
Directed by critically-acclaimed filmmaker Francis Lawrence (Constantine), WATER FOR ELEPHANTS features fantastic supporting performances from Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl), Jim Norton (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), Mark Povinelli (The Polar Express), Richard Brake (Batman Begins), and Academy Award®-nominee Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild).
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS will be available on Blu-ray and DVD in the U.S. Pre-book is September 21st.
Giveaway:
Get a chance to win a Water for Elephants Book + DVD
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