Review: Books 1-3 of Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Hi there,

Let me start off with two words: SCHOOL SUCKS. Let me add a few more: so does college applications and being sick all the time!!!!

Now that that's off my chest, I can explain that for a while my reviews are going to be rather straight forward and to the point because most have been read a while ago. So...on to the review.

Series: Fablehaven
Author: Brandon Mull

Fablehaven (Fablehaven Series Book #1)
Summary: (whoa how long has that no copy/paste thing been going on? ok no summary directly on the blog. I'll just post a link to the Barnes and Noble one (not that that's where you should buy it or anything that's just my favorite website...i don't even shop there [that much])) http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fablehaven/Brandon-Mull/e/9781416947202/?itm=1&USRI=fablehaven (yes i realize how long and awful that looks...I'll work on figuring out what to do about it.)

MY REVIEW: My friend Rachel turned me on to this series. I was immediately sucked into this story. I thought the characters balanced out each other in a way that made the story more enjoyable. I found myself eagerly turning the pages and a bit sad when the 368 page book ended.

Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven Series Book #2)
Summary: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Rise-of-the-Evening-Star/Brandon-Mull/e/9781416957706/?itm=6&USRI=fablehaven

MY REVIEW: I was really eager to start this book. I remember that I read it while I had the flu the first time this year. It helped me keep my mind off the fact that I was so sick. It's a perfectly easy read for days like that or bad days when you want to visit another place. While subconsciously sending out little life lessons the author makes sure you laugh every once in a while among even the most serious parts.

Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven Series Book #3)
Summary: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Grip-of-the-Shadow-Plague/Brandon-Mull/e/9781416986034/?itm=5&USRI=fablehaven

MY REVIEW: This was a great book, but compared to the other two it was slow in the plot and action area. It took me way too long in my mind to finish this book. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I finally finished it but I remember asking Rachel if I could perhaps just skip the rest of it and go on to book four. Needless to say that idea got shot down. It picked up a lot in the action department towards the end.


Overall Review: The characters that stuck out the most were Seth, and his friends, the satyrs Doren and Newel. Without their parts the story wouldn't have held the same for me. Its also impartant to note that these are the types of books that are read by all ages not just kids and teens. I recommend this to anyone who's looking for adventure!

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Rory!

Not According to Plan...

Hey,

So, my Big plan of catching up on my reviews didn't exactly go as planned...due to a little thing called facebook. =] Since that post i have developed an addiction to that evil website. I have read some more and I 'plan' on doing a bulk review of those books.


The bulk review will be up hopefully within the week, but don't bet on that. I still have my required summer reading for Advance Placement Literature (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Awakening by Kate Chopin). Oh and my required reading for Social Studies, Animal Farm by George Orwell. I just finished it and let me tell you its a strange book, my friend. In addition, as part of the APL summer homework I have to go to 'Shakespeare in Delaware Park'. The plays this year were The Tempest and Julius Caesar. The Tempest was awesome and Julius Caesar could have been a tad better, but then again I read the play Sophomore year so i wasn't exactly suprised. Have any of you seen them? Did you like them? Do you like Shakespeare in general? Have you ever read anything by him?


Other than that my summer's been awesome. Very busy, but awesome none the less. I got a new camera for my 17th birthday so I've been taking tons of photos (I took the one of the sky up there =] )I've been to more concerts this summer altogether than I had my whole life (Nickleback/ Saving Abel/ Papa Roach/ Hinder, Creed/ Junction Five/ Like A Storm (i met them at their meet and greet, they are all so cute, funny and talented. they signed their cd and a poster for me), and next week Fall Out Boy/ Panic! at the Disco/ Blink- 182). Added to the excitement was the new Harry Potter movie. I was able to go to the July 13th premiere in Buffalo, then i went to a midnight showing with my family, then I saw it twice more just that week alone. I dyed some of my hair, which was not like me at all, i downloaded this music thing so I have loads of new bands to love. If you add the amazing youtube which has TAI TV and Cobra Cam (webisodes from two of my favorite bands, The Academy is... and Cobra Starship), Bandom Fan Fiction and completely random times with friends I'm surprised I haven't been hospitalized let alone have time to read so much as one book not to mention reviewing them.


Basically all that waffle above is my way of saying...Sorry for the Haitus but I'm back!!!

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Rory!

Summer's Here so the Reviews are Back...

Hey!!!


You may have noticed that I've been seriously lacking in reviews lately due to an overload of school work. Well, its officially summer now and I'm going to try to review the 20 or so books I've read since my last review plus all the new ones I plan to read over the summer. However since its been a while since i read those 20 or so books the reviews won't be up to my usual standards. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.


I've also decided to quit with the uniformity of colors throughout the reviews. You Know, the red, purples and blues. I'm just going to change it up every once and a while according to my mood or even the tone of the book.

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Rory!

Review: Twilight: Director's Notebook- Catherine Hardwicke

Hey!~

Well, I'm back. I don't exactly know where I've been, but it wasn't here reviewing. So for th next week or so your going to be bombarded with reviews.

Title: Twilight: Director's Notebook: The Story of How We Made the Movie Based on the Novel By Stephenie Meyer

Author: Catherine Hardwicke

Summary: A personal, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the blockbuster film Twilight from groundbreaking director Catherine Hardwicke!This intimate full-color "notebook", designed to replicate the one director Catherine Hardwicke kept on and off the set, takes you through the creative process that went into making Stephenie Meyer's breathtaking novel come alive on screen - from casting to costumes, stunts to story boards. With never-before-seen notes, sketches, and photographs taken directly from the visionary director's personal notebook, this book includes everything from her visual inspirations, to step-by-step breakdowns of action sequences, to a behind the scenes look at some of the most pivotal moments in the creation of the film, and much more.Get the inside story - this collectible notebook will be a must-have addition to every Twilight fan's bookshelf!

My Review: If you liked the movie Twilight and have any interest at all on how the movie was made...BUY THIS BOOK! The pictures are amazing and so cool. It gives you the basic lowdown on how Twilight was made...from costumes to why 2nd unit filmed what they did. My only real complaint is that it was so small. I think it should have been larger like the Twilight: the Complete Illustrated Movie Companion. Its also an insanely fast read. i had it done with in 2 hours. All in all, a great buy.

Sorry it's a short one. Comment if you've read it or plan too.

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Rory!

Review: Parties & Potions- Sarah Mlynowski

Hey!~

Here you go....another review just for you. Yeah You!!

Title: Parties & Potions

Author: Sarah Mylnowski

Summary: Perfect hair, cute clothes, healthy tans—life’s a breeze when you’re a witch! Even special witchcraft classes Rachel agrees to attend with Miri turn out to be fun. The sisters meet other teen witches just like them—who knew? Everyone’s preparing for a magical party called a Samsorta—a debutante ball for witches. And it wouldn’t be a ball without warlocks. Cute ones. Like Adam, who wants to slow dance with Rachel, and ski with her in the Rockies—on a school night! Of course, Rachel is madly in love with her boyfriend, Raf. So why can’t she bring herself to tell Adam—funny, charming Adam—that Raf exists?Rachel knows Raf likes her. Maybe even, gulp, loves her. But Raf doesn’t know her secret. Unlike Adam, Raf doesn’t know who she really is. And she can never tell him. Or can she?

My Review: I love the Magic in Manhattan series. Its definitely one of my favorites. Everytime I read one it takes weeks to get it out of my head. BTW that's totally not a bad thing. I love it when books stick with me for a long time. My only complaint with Parties and Potions is that it ended. I could read about Rachel and Miri for ages and never get tired of them. What I like best about MiM is that they're light and easy read, they relate to real life minus magical of course although that wouldn't be so bad in my opinion. All in all a great read.

As always please comment...vote on poll, ect.

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Rory!

Review: Betrayed- P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Hey!~

I don't have school today so i'm going to try to catch up with reviews.

Title: Betrayed

Author(s): P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Summary: Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.
Night Owl Romance

My Review: Quite frankly, I'm disappointed with this sequel to Marked. Marked was amazing and I should have know that it couldn't continue. Zoey repeats the same thing at least twice a page, it's just too redundant. I was so excited when I finally got this book, I was really looking forward to reading it. I actually started it in the car on the way home. It started off well enough, but as the plot progressed it just got stupid. I didn't like the characters as much in this...their attitudes were not at all believable. I can't say much more without ruining the plot, but I just didn't feel this book like Marked. I may read the rest of the series to find out what happens, but probably not until summer.

Sorry, Its so short, but it is what it is.

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Rory!

Top 100 Teen Books (maybe?)

Hey!~

I found this on The Page Flipper's site. Chelsea is so cool... I love her blog, she's also my penpal (HI!!!).

The following list of books teens love, books teens should read, and books adults who serve teens should know about was compiled IN ABSOLUTELY NO SCIENTIFIC MANNER and should be taken with a very large grain of salt.

Instructions:
Put an "X" next to the books you've read
Put a "+" next to the books you LOVE
Put a "#" next to the books you plan on reading
Tally your "X"s at the bottom
Share with your friends!

1. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy / Douglas Adams X+
2. Kit's Wilderness / David Almond
3. Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian / Sherman Alexie
4. Speak / Laurie Halse Anderson #
5. Feed / M.T. Anderson
6. Flowers in the Attic / V.C. Andrews
7. 13 Reasons Why / Jay Asher #
8. Am I Blue? / Marion Dane Bauer (editor)
9. Audrey Wait! / Robin Benway
10. Weetzie Bat / Francesca Lia Block #
11. Tangerine / Edward Bloor
12. Forever / Judy Blume #
13. What I Saw and How I Lied / Judy Blundell#
14. Tyrell / Coe Booth
15. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants / Ann Brashares X+
16. A Great and Terrible Beauty / Libba Bray #
17. The Princess Diaries / Meg Cabot X+
18. The Stranger / Albert Camus
19. Ender's Game / Orson Scott Card
20. Postcards from No Man's Land / Aidan Chambers
21. Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky #
22. And Then There Were None / Agatha Christie X+
23. Gingerbread / Rachel Cohn #
24. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist / Rachel Cohn and David Levithan #
25. Artemis Fowl (series) / Eoin Colfer X+
26. The Hunger Games / Suzanne Collins
27. The Midwife's Apprentice / Karen Cushman
28. The Truth About Forever / Sarah Dessen #
29. Little Brother / Cory Doctorow
30. A Northern Light / Jennifer Donnelly #
31. Tears of a Tiger / Sharon Draper
32. The House of the Scorpion / Nancy Farmer
33. Breathing Underwater / Alex Flinn
34. Stardust / Neil Gaiman #
35. Annie on My Mind / Nancy Garden
36. What Happened to Cass McBride / Gail Giles
37. Fat Kid Rules the World / K.L. Going
38. Lord of the Flies / William Golding X
39. Looking for Alaska / John Green
40. Bronx Masquerade / Nikki Grimes
41. Out of the Dust / Karen Hesse
42. Hoot / Carl Hiaasen X+
43. The Outsiders / S.E. Hinton X+
44. Crank / Ellen Hopkins #
45 The First Part Last / Angela Johnson
46. Blood and Chocolate / Annette Curtis Klause X
47. Arrow's Flight / Mercedes Lackey
48. Hattie Big Sky / Kirby Larson
49. To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee #
50. Boy Meets Boy / David Levithan
51. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks / E. Lockhart X+
52. The Giver / Lois Lowry
53. Number the Stars / Lois Lowry
54. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie / David Lubar
55. Inexcusable / Chris Lynch
56. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things / Carolyn Mackler #
57. Dragonsong / Anne McCaffrey
58. White Darkness / Geraldine McCaughrean
59. Sold / Patricia McCormick
60. Jellicoe Road / Melina Marchetta
61. Wicked Lovely / Melissa Marr #
62. Twilight / Stephenie Meyer X++
63. Dairy Queen / Catherine Murdock #
64. Fallen Angels / Walter Dean Myers X
65. Monster / Walter Dean Myers
66. Step From Heaven / An Na
67. Mama Day / Gloria Naylor
68. The Keys to the Kingdom (series) / Garth Nix
69. Sabriel / Garth Nix
70. Airborn / Kenneth Oppel
71. Eragon / Christopher Paolini #
72. Hatchet / Gary Paulsen X
73. Life As We Knew It / Susan Beth Pfeffer
74. The Golden Compass / Phillip Pullman X+
75. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging / Louise Rennison #
76. The Lightning Thief / Rick Riordan #
77. Always Running: La Vida Loca / Luis Rodriguez
78. how i live now / Meg Rosoff
79. Harry Potter (series) / J.K. Rowling X+++
80. Holes / Louis Sachar #
81. Catcher in the Rye / J. D. Salinger #
82. Push / Sapphire
83. Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi
84. Unwind / Neil Shusterman
85. Coldest Winter Ever / Sister Souljah
86. Stargirl / Jerry Spinelli #
87. Chanda's Secrets / Allan Stratton
88. Tale of One Bad Rat / Brian Talbot
89. Rats Saw God / Rob Thomas
90. Lord of the Rings / J.R.R. Tolkien #
91. Stuck in Neutral / Terry Trueman
92. Gossip Girl / Cecily Von Ziegesar
93. Uglies / Scott Westerfeld
94. Every Time a Rainbow Dies / Rita Williams-Garcia
95. Pedro and Me / Judd Winick
96. Hard Love / Ellen Wittlinger
97. American Born Chinese / Gene Luen Yang
98. Elsewhere / Gabrielle Zevin
99. I am the Messenger / Markus Zusak
100. The Book Thief / Markus Zusak #

Read: 13/100 (OMG I feel so insignificant)
Loved: 11/13
Want To Read: 26/87 (okay that makes me feel a little better)

Okay doing this was probably a really bad idea because now I'm kind of depressed. How many have you read? Share Please.

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Rory!

Review: Kiss Me, Kill Me- Lauren Henderson

Hey!~

Well, here it is...my first review in quite awhile. I really hate homework...it eats your time. I may try to start review books at school during study hall.

Title: Kiss Me, Kill Me

Author: Lauren Henderson

Summary: When 16-year-old Scarlett Wakefield transfers from St. Tabby’s to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, she is relieved that no one knows her dark, haunting secret. A few months ago, Scarlett was invited to an elite party with a guest list full of the hottest names in British society, including Dan McAndrew. Before the party, Scarlett had only imagined what it would be like to have her first kiss with Dan, but on the penthouse terrace, Dan leaned in close and she no longer had to wonder. Their kiss was beautiful and perfect and magical, and then . . . Dan McAndrew took his last breath as she held him in her arms. No one knows how or why Dan died, and everyone at St. Tabby’s believes Scarlett had something to do with it. But now that she’s safely hidden away at Wakefield Hall, Scarlett would rather forget that it ever happened. Only she can’t. Especially when she receives an anonymous note that will set her on the path to clearing her name and finding out what really happened to the first and last boy she kissed.

My Review: I really liked this book. Partly because it's a mystery and partly because it's British. I have a huge thing for England. Most of it's because I'm like 65% English, but really i just love their culture, not to mention the accent. It started out with Scarlett being a normal teen doing normal things, but after a change in events it gets exciting...more fast pace. My only real complaint is that the end really wasn't an end. This is a series though so every thing that should be there will probably be in the next one, you know what I mean? But its a kind of cliff hanger and I love those series endings. They drive me insane, but they're intriguing. It kept me turning the pages. The author is also very good at describing Scarlett's grief, I felt her pain as if it was my wn. I've reccommended this book to at least 3 peopl at school... they all got hooked by just reading the back cover and I'm sure you will too.

On to my next review. sorry i'm so backed up!!

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Rory!

Review: Happy Hour At Casa Dracula- Marta Acosta

Hey!~

I'm sorry I haven't been posting any reviews lately. Schools been eating my time. But right now I'm home sick so I have loads of time to catch up.

Title: Happy Hour at Casa Dracula

Author: Marta Acosta

Summary: Latina Ivy League grad Milagro de Los Santos can't find her place in the world or a man to go with it. Then one night, at a book party for her pretentious ex-boyfriend, she meets an oddly attractive man. After she is bitten while kissing him, she falls ill and is squirreled away to his family's estate to recover. Vampires don't exist in this day and age — or do they? As Milagro falls for a fabulously inappropriate man, she finds herself caught between a family who has accepted her as one of their own and a shady organization that refuses to let the undead live and love in peace.

My Review: I really liked this book. Word of caution: I wouldn't count this as a young adult book., its rather mature, but I still enjoyed it. It's sexy, smart and sassy. This is really more of a romantic comedy type of book than a true vampire classic. And I think that's why I like it. The Vampire bit is just a twist in the story. I love how the main character is a Latina, it really is a refreshing change. I was really glad I had years of Spanish class when I read this. If you haven't had Spanish in your life i suggest you keep a Spanish-English dictionary by you. I really liked the characters they were well thought out and even better written, each amazing and funny in their own way. Altogether a good read. I can't wait to get my hand on the rest of the series.

So as always comment. Don't forget to vote on my poll and maybe send me an email to get yourself a bookmark... check out the details on my side bar.

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Rory!

I Love Your Blog Award!

Hey!~

I am so excited! I can’t believe I won another award. Especially since I’ve been dormant lately. It’s from {Insert Book Title Here}. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, you have totally made my day.

I Love Your Blog Award!

Here are the rules:
1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

I Love these blogs (and many others but most of them already have this award!)


Book Nymph

Bookworm Unlimited

Confessions of a Romance Book Addict

Mrs. Magoo Reads

Reader Rabbit

Reviewer X

The Page Flipper

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Rory!