Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Upcoming September Releases!

Upcoming Releases is a new feature I'll be starting here on the blog. Here I'll tell you some of the new releases that will be coming out in the month. 


STORMDANCER by Jay Kristoff.
Release Date: September 1st, 2012


Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father Masaru are sent to capture one for the Shogun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him, no matter how hopeless the task.

But the mission proves far less impossible, and far more deadly, than anyone expects – and soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in her country's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled griffin for company. But trapped together in the forest, Yukiko and Buruu soon discover a friendship that neither of them expected.
Meanwhile, the country around them verges on the brink of collapse. A toxic fuel is slowly choking the land; the omnipotent, machine-powered Lotus Guild is publicly burning those they deem Impure; and the Shogun cares about nothing but his own dominion. Yukiko has always been uneasy in the shadow of power, when she learns the awful truth of what the Shogun has done, both to her country and to her own family she's determined to do something about it.
Returning to the city, Yukiko and Buruu plan to make the Shogun pay for his crimes – but what can one girl and a flightless griffin do against the might of an empire?  

Why is this book one to look out for? Pretty sure that this one is more adult than young adult, but it's fabulous nonetheless. I think I saw it's recommended for people over 16. It's Japanese. Steam punk. I'm currently reading it right now and loving it. Jay Kristoff is an absolute genius. His writing style is amazing, the world building is absolutely fantastic, all of his characters are complex and kick ass, and there is a Griffin. 

Also, the author just happens to be Australian, is hilarious and has a super awesome blog which you should check out. Also check out his twitter.


UNSPOKEN by Sarah Rees Brennan.
Release date: September 11th, 2012

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?  

Why is this book one to look out for? So far, it's only really been getting rave reviews. Many people adore it. Also, the synopsis sounds absolutely lovely, and I really like the idea of the setting. And isn't the cover gorgeous?!                  



THE CASUAL VACANCY by J.K. Rowling
Release date: September 27th, 2012

When Barry Fairweather dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.
Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Why is this book one to look out for? Although, again, not a YA book, it's J.K. Rowling. I'm super excited to see what everyone thinks of this one.




WHAT'S LEFT OF ME by Kat Zhang.
Release date: September 18, 2012


Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Why is this book one to look out for? Beautiful cover. Intriguing synopsis. Although has been met with mixed reviews, I still have faith that this one will be a great debut. Featured in a recent Waiting on Wednesday.



THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater.
Release date: September 18th, 2012

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Why is this book one to look out for? Uh. It's Maggie Stiefvater. Duh.






NERVE by Jeanne Ryan.
Release date: September 13th, 2012


A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly when Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game "knows" her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?



Why is this book one to look out for? I think the blurb speaks for itself, honestly. You can't read that and not think it's going to be awesome.

Waiting on Wednesday: What's Left of Me



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.


What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Release Date: September 18, 2012



Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Gotta admit, the first thing that drew me in was the gorgeous cover. I love it. Although it has pretty mixed reviews so far, a lot of people with the same book tastes as me seem to love it, so it's safe to say I'm pretty damn excited. Plus, the blurb makes it sound great and I'm loving the whole dystopian/sci-fi trend!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday #4



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday, book bloggers post a top ten list in response to a predetermined prompt. To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday, or see a list of future topics , head on over the The Broke and the Bookish.

August 28: Top Ten Bookish Confessions.


1. ) One time I... I spilled juice all over a library book. I FELT SO BAD. And to make it even worse, it was Looking For Alaska by John Green, a book I love. When I noticed it was in pretty bad condition, I tried to clean it up and make it look all pretty again, thinking I could get away with it, but when I went to hand it in at the library, they told me it was in such bad condition I had to pay for it. I felt so embarrassed and guilty. It didn't help that they looked at me like I was some sort of criminal. (Still ashamed to this day, btw)

2.) I skim more than I'd like to admit. Sometimes, I just find descriptions just so damn boring. I JUST WANT TO GET TO THE DIALOGUE, OK.

3.) I hate -- no, LOATHE -- when they change the book cover designs half way through this series. It drives me crazy. Like, Divergent, for example. I have the US version of Divergent sitting on my shelf in all its badassness, and then next to it, I've got the crappy UK version of Insurgent, because that's all my local bookstore had. NOW IT LOOKS STUPID and gross and they're not the same size and ugh.

4.) I cringe everytime I see that people dog ear their books. I'm sorry, but no, put a bookmark in it. PLEASE.

5.) For me to actually go out and buy the book, it usually has to have an average rating that's above 4 stars on Goodreads. (Although, I've gotta admit, sometimes I still don't like books that have rave reviews - like The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, for example.)

6.) I spend way more money on books than I do on clothes or other important things.

7.) I'm a terrible procrastinator when it comes to books. If I have to read a book for review and I don't find it absolutely mind-blowing, I'll put it off as long as I can by reading and buying other books.

8.) I hate when books have bent pages or creased spines. I like my books to be in PERFECT condition. That's why I don't lend them to friends all that often.

9.) If I love a book, I will go on and on about it until you're pretty much forced to go out and buy it. (I've pretty much started some sort of THG cult at my school. Crazy.) 

10.) I always buy new books even though I don't need them. My TBR pile is huge enough as it is, but I just keep buying more! 

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Book2Movie News! The Mortal Instruments, Hunger Games, Divergent!

I'm baaaaaaaack! And I bring movie news.

The Mortal Instruments

So, as many of you would know, the eagerly anticipated adaption of Cassandra Clare's City of Bones started filming just the other day. The gang are filming in Toronto at the moment, and our fandom has our own Toronto look-outs. One of the has been updating pretty much every day, and has been full of great info and pictures! Follow her on twitter! @Shadowhunting 

Here's some great pics from the set:





Also, while the filming has been going on, there have been a couple of new cast members announced as well. Chris Ratz has been cast as Eric (Simon's fellow bandmember). 

Elyas M’Barek has been cast as 'Vampire Lieutenant'. I know what you're thinking - Who the hell is that?! And to be honest, I have no flipping idea. I'm guessing it's Raphael..?But this guy is way too old for that part. Ah, I don't know. Maybe he's a vampire we meet at the party that Magnus hosts for Chairman Meow?

Also, Harry Van Gorkum has been cast as Alaric. If you want to take a look at the whole cast, head on over to the movie's official website.  


The Hunger Games

After months of speculation, it has been confirmed that Sam Claflin is Finnick Odair. I'm super excited for this casting, because I find Sam to be a great actor (and he has a lovely face). He hasn't been in many films, but you may have seen him in Pirates of the Carribean 4 or Snow 
White and The Huntsman.


If you wanna know more about the smaller roles and who they've gone to, check out The Hunger Game's official facebook page.

Divergent 


This isn't a movie I've talked about at all, as there hasn't been much news about it, but seeing who is in talks to direct it made me want to talk about it! The director of Limitless, Neil Burger, is reportedly in talks to direct. 

If you haven't heard about Divergent, get off your computer, and go read it now. It's fantastic. I would create my own synopsis for it, but I'm terrible at that, and it's hard to summarise it without giving anything away. 

So here's the Goodreads blurb:

In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Divergent and it's sequel, Insurgent, are insanely popular, and have received mostly positive reviews. Rumours are saying that they're trying to start production in March for a release date in 2014.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Updates and things!

Hey guys! Just letting you all know that I won't be blogging at all this week, as I'm going on a study tour/trip with a couple people from my school. This outta be ..  interesting! So, yeah, unfortunately there won't be any reviews going up, but there will be a Waiting on Wednesday post, that I'll put on queue. 

The reason I haven't been blogging so much is that this week and the next few weeks are a bit hectic school-wise and pretty much just .. life-wise for me. I just did the 40 hour famine, this week I'm off on the study trip, and the week after that I'm doing work experience. Plus, I've got lots of assignments due and many tests to study for in between! Sounds great, right? :/

Anyway, that's all for today! Happy reading and may the odds be ever in your favour.


Thursday, August 16, 2012

Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Onyx (A Lux Novel) by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Release Date: 14th August, 2012.
Page count: 
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Format: E-Book
Who I'd Recommend it To: Fans of the previous book!
Rating: ★★★★ 
Think this book sounds good?  Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…
Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…


Review...
*melts into a puddle*

Excuse me if I ramble on or fangirl at all. OKAY LET'S DO THIS.

I've been eagerly anticipating this book ever since I finished Obsidian, and I'm glad to say that it did not disappoint. I would've read this all in one sitting if it had not been for school (Although I did stay up till 1 to read it. On a school night.  Which obviously is not a good thing!). Onyx pretty much starts where Obsidian left off. Daemon is trying to show Katy how much he cares for her, but she keeps pushing him away, denying her feelings for him (which was annoying as hell, might I add). Then, of course, a new guy comes to the school, and he's normal, he's nice and he's a distraction from Daemon, which is pretty much what Katy thinks she needs. But is he really what he seems? (dun dun dun. . .)

The stakes are definitely higher in this one. Katy and Daemon seem to face some sort of danger everywhere they go, and no one can be trusted. It. Is. Intense.

All the characters were fabulous, as always. Though she is definitely not the same girl from the start of Obsidian, Katy was still great, besides the fact that she was utterly infuriating at times. I love seeing how much she's grown from the first book, and how much she continued to grow during this one. She's definitely matured a whole lot. And, I adore the way she talks about books and blogging. Daemon, of course, was lovely. Like Katy, he's definitely not the same guy we saw at the start of the last book. In this one, although he's still quite up himself most of the time, he shows a more caring, lovable side to him and all throughout the book I was wondering how the hell Katy could keep pushing him away. Katy and Daemon may be one of my favourite fictional couples, like, ever. I love their witty banter, their arguments, and I love how they don't get along 24/7. It's much more realistic than the 'perfect' relationship you see in books sometimes. And some of their scenes.. wow. 

As usual, the secondary characters weren't in the book at all, so I didn't really care for them. I did find myself missing Dee a lot, as she wasn't in this book as much as she was in Obsidian. The parts she was in, though, were hilarious. There were also a couple of new characters introduced, which was .. interesting.

Not gonna lie, I was disappointed with a couple little things. I really wanted to learn more about the planet Daemon and Dee are from, but sadly, we don't get much information whatsoever. And for some reason, I don't think we will in the later books (but hey, I might be wrong!). Some things in this book I found predictable, as well, and usually that doesn't happen very often. Surprisingly, I saw many things coming (but, there was one thing in particular I did not see coming at all) and somethings were a little cliche. 

And damn, was that a cliffhanger at the end, or what?! I'm glad I only have to wait till December to get my hands on the next one!

In short: As good as the first book! I loved every minute of it. Great, lovable characters; fantastic (and steamy) romance; and great action! SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #5: Spark and Defiance


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. 



Spark (Elementals #2) by Brigid Kemmerer.
Release Date: August 28th, 2012





Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.


The fuse is lit…
  
Even though I feel as if it had its faults, I enjoyed Storm (you can find my review here). And who just happened to be my favourite character in that book? Gabriel. Merrick. Obviously, as soon as I found out he was the main character in this one, I was super excited. Cannot wait.


Defiance by C.J. Redwine
Release Date: August 28, 2012


Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.
  
You just can't read that synopsis and think it doesn't sound fantastic & I'm loving this fantasy trend that seems to be going on in YA fiction at the moment! I hope it's as epic as I think it's going to be.


Sunday, August 12, 2012

In My Mailbox #1

Ahhh, my first In my Mailbox! So, I'll be doing this every two weeks, seeing as I don't really recieve many books/buy many books in a week. SO YEAH. LET'S DO THIS.





In My Mailbox
is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Its basically gives us book bloggers a chance to show what books we've bought, won, recieved for review, etc. 

Here's what I got in the last couple of weeks (Didn't take pictures. Tooo lazy):







For review:
E-ARCS
Thanks to HarlequinTEEN, Angry Robot/Strange Chemstry & St. Martins Press

Bought: 
Won: 

Friday, August 10, 2012

Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

The Lost Prince (Call of The Forgotten #1) by Julie Kagawa
Release Date: October 23rd, 2012
Page count: 379 pages
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Format: E-arc
Who I'd Recommend it To: Fans of The Iron Fey series.
Rating: ★★★★ 1/2
PREORDER IT HERE: Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he's dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

Review...

The book starts off with Ethan, after moving quite a few times, going to a new school. Obviously, he's not the cute, sweet four year old boy we read about in The Iron King. Ethan's all grown up, and he's changed a whole lot. He can see the Faeries, and they torment him constantly, resulting in Ethan trying not to get too close to people, so they don't end up getting hurt.Ethan starts off the book with a mean, cold personality, trying to be as unapproachable as possible, and he has a whole lot of resentment toward his sister Meghan, The Iron Queen, for abandoning him and their family.

This book reminded me of how much I miss The Iron Fey series and being transported into this magical, yet terrifying world. It was so lovely to go back to the Nevernever and to see the characters I adored in the books. Although we don't get to see them much, Ash, Meghan, Puck (who, might I add, is hilarious as always), Grimalkin and many more beloved characters make appearances. It was interesting to see how much had changed, and yet how a lot of things stayed the same.

Even though the old characters were delightful as always, I adored the new ones. Ethan, of course, was a fantastic character. He's a very bitter person and is a major A-hole to many people, but it's understandable. The guy's gone through hell of a lot, but his heart is in the right place. He pushes people away for good reason. He's also trained in Kali, a martial arts involving knives and sticks and stuff. So, yeah, it's safe to say he kicked some ass. 

Kenzie, Ethan's love interest, is a fantastic character, also. She seemed to even out Ethan's angst and moodiness with her lively, bubbly personality. And it was very refreshing to see a popular girl who isn't portrayed as mean and manipulative. It's hilarious how nosy she is, being a reporter and editor for the school's newspaper. She also happens to be surprisingly bad ass at times. And she's a great match for Ethan. They're adorable, and I loved the way their relationship developed. (And her confession at the end. My God. It made me tear up a little, I have to admit.) I'm definitely adding Julie Kagawa to my list of Authors Who I Suspect Are Trying To Kill Me - One Book At a Time. The supporting characters were great, also. I adored reading about Todd,  Annwyl and especially Keirran, who I'm sure we'll see a lot of in the next book!

Once again, Julie Kagawa's writing was amazing. It flows well, and keeps you interested at all times. Her world building is fantastic; everything is described so vividly. There was a lot of things I didn't see coming and didn't expect at all in this book, which is always a good thing. The only fault I can point out right now is the anticlimactic ending, but I feel like it didn't take away from the story that much. I feel like this book is leading up to something epic, so I'm excited to see where it all goes in the next book, for sure.

In short: Julie Kagawa has definitely done it again! The Lost Prince is amazing. This book is everything I'd hoped it'd be: Full of magic, great action, fantastic characters and constant surprises. Fans of The Iron Fey series will definitely not be disappointed!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Book2Movie News! Valentine is Cast in TMI!

Guys. Guys. GUYS. Mortal Instruments fans, WE HAVE OUR VALENTINE MORGENSTERN! After days of speculation, Cassie Clare confirmed it on her Tumblr. 


Jonathon Rhys Meyers is Valentine.



Okay, so I never thought I'd say this, but.. I'm a little attracted to Valentine right now. Huh. Weird. If you don't know who Jonathon Rhys Meyers is.. crawl under from out that rock and go watch some movies! He's been in many well-known films, such as Bend It Like Beckham, Mission: Impossible 3, August Rush and Albert Knobbs. He also played King Henry VIII in the show,  The Tudors. If you wanna know about any more projects he's been in, here his IMDB page.

I've gotta admit, I definitely didn't picture Valentine look him at all (I pictured him like.. maybe Paul Bettany kinda?) but hey, I'm not complaining one bit. And he is a brilliant actor, to say the least. The guy's been nominated and has won heaps of awards, including a Golden Globe. 

Now the only people (I think) that are left to be cast are Alaric and Raphael! WOO!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Review: The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke.
Release Date: October 2nd, 2012
Page count: 320
Publisher: Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry
Format: E-arc
Who I'd Recommend it To: Fans of books like Blood Red Road and Throne of Glass.
Rating:  ★★★★

From Goodreads:
Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her. 

 And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.  



Review... 


To be honest, I definitely didn't get into this book straight away. It found it pretty ridiculous at first. Within the first couple of pages, we get to see Ananna, the main character, run off on a camel to avoid having to be marry some guy from a allying pirate clan. Yeah, a camel. It was pretty damn strange. But fear not! As you can tell from how I gave this book a four star rating, I enjoyed this book immensely! When I got through maybe two, three chapters, I absolutely fell in love with it, and was transported into this fantastic world. 


Let's talk about the characters: Ananna is a great main character (although her name is super annoying to say). Being a pirate, she can kick major ass, obviously. She's strong, witty, brave, smart, speaks her mind but she's also very naive and is sometimes quite reckless. Definitely no damsel in distress business here, as she saves Naji (the assassin) as much as he saves her.

Now on to Naji. He definitely isn't your typical male hero. Although he's strong and capable, he's also very vulnerable and insecure because of his facial disfigurement. I loved that he wasn't that typical egotistical, amazingly attractive guy who seems to be popping up everywhere lately. It was definitely a refreshing change, and made him more realistic. Naji is a very mysterious and secretive guy, and we don't get to know a lot about him until the end of the book, which is a shame. But I'm definitely looking forward to knowing more about his past (and is it ever mentioned how old he is? I wanna know!). 

Also, I pictured him like Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender:



Just the facial expression and the scar screams Naji to me. 

Most of the supporting characters we see throughout the book were equally as interesting to read about. And let's just say most of them weren't the nicest of people.

Another thing I adored about this book was Ananna and Naji's relationship. The author could've easily made it an insta-love romance, but decided to develop their relationship more, which I loved. I enjoyed seeing them start to trust each other, and care for each other. Obviously there was a little bit of tension between them (though it only really started near the end), but it was very subtle and lovely. I'm really excited to see where it goes in future books!


The plot was all kinds of bad ass, obviously, and moved at a fast pace all throughout the novel. It was filled with action and danger. The writing style was fantastic, and Ananna's narration made it even better. The world building was really good; I absolutely loved the setting and it felt as I was there with them, but I would've liked a bit more information here and there. I also felt like this book was too short for me to enjoy it fully, and it ended too abruptly for my liking. I think I expected more out of the ended. Like, I wanted it to go out with a bang, but it didn't.

In short: The Assassin's Curse is, without a doubt, a fantastic debut from Cassandra Rose Clarke. Although it has its flaws, its thrilling, action-packed, and keeps you turning the pages. I mean, c'mon, it has assassins AND pirates AND magic. What's not to love? An amazing, thoroughly entertaining read! Definitely one to check out and put on your to-read list.



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