Review: HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand

*WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS for Book 1*

Proceed at your own peril

Title: Hallowed
Author: Cynthia Hand
Series: Unearthly #2

Why I read it: To continue the trilogy!

Thoughts: I loved this book even more than the first one.

First of all, I have to say that the twist at the end of the first book? That Christian is also an angel-blood? I loved it. I couldn't say that I guessed it, because I would be lying. But I did know that something was up. I think it's a very interesting twist, and it kinds of flips the love triangle onto its head in a way.

Speaking of the love triangle, I really adored how this book dealt with it. For Clara, it's not all black and white. Christian can understand what she's going through in a different, deeper way than Tucker can. And she doesn't want Tucker involved in all the angel-blood stuff because she wants to keep him safe. It's just complicated and I love it. Still a Tucker/Clara shipper, though.

I also really enjoyed how we're getting more and more of the mythology behind the angel-bloods; what it means, what their powers are, and what kinds of angel-bloods exist.

What I loved most about this book is that while the threat of the Dark Wings still looms over the story, it's not the main focus and conflict of this book. Hallowed deals with friendships and relationships, and especially family. It deals with heartbreak and confusion and finding yourself, and loss and grief and coming to terms. I cried while reading this book, which was something I absolutely never expected from this series.

I still definitely recommend this series, especially after reading this sequel and seeing where the series is going. I couldn't wait to read the next book after I finished this.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read this book yet? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Top Ten Tuesday (22): Fairytales I Want to be Retold

 

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies at The Broke and the Bookish!

This week's TTT topic had a few variations to choose from, but they all have to do with fairytale retellings! I feel like I haven't read that many retellings yet, aside from the Lunar Chronicles and ACOTAR, so I thought I would talk about the fairytales that I want to be retold. A (good) retelling of these fairytales would perk my interests immediately! 

10. Hansel and Gretel

This would be a lot of fun to read in a YA, or even MG book. I feel like there's a lot of material here to twist enough to make the retelling super intriguing!

9. The Frog Prince

This is just DEMANDING to be retold in YA form. Especially the original form, in which the princess is a total brat and the prince is only transformed back after she throws him against the wall. Love/hate relationships, anyone? 

8. The Little Mermaid

So, real talk, The Little Mermaid is not a favorite Disney movie, by far. But the original tale is far darker and sad, and I feel like this would make such a compelling YA. Bonus points if it makes me cry. 

7. Rumplestiltskin

Rumple is one of the best characters on Once Upon a Time, though his story has meandered very far from the original tale. But I would love to get a better feel for the character through the original story as well, just retold!

6. Little Red Riding Hood

Once again, I've read Marissa Meyer's Scarlet. But there are a MILLION ways this could be reworked for the YA readership. I dabble in writing myself, and one of my favorite forever-in-progress WIPs in my collection is a LRRH retelling, but I would love for someone else to beat me to the punch!

5. The Pied Piper

How would this work as a YA novel? I honestly have no idea. But I bet it would be super dark and twisted. Delightful. 

4. The Little Match Girl

This is one of the most depressing fairytales out there, but it's still a favorite because it's extremely bittersweet. I'm not sure how it would work as a YA retelling, but I would love for someone to give it a shot. Because I would read the crap out of that.

3. Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Just think about it. A girl in the woods who happens upon a family whose child's porridge, chair and bed are just right for the girl? I smell the perfect recipe for a complicated romance!

2. Snow White

We don't have to wait long for Marissa Meyer's take on Snow White, Winter! (SO MUCH EXCITE.) But I'm sure there are many more takes on this classic that could be written, and I think I would read them all. 

1. Bluebeard

I don't know why, but the tale of Bluebeard fascinates me, and I think it has the potential to be a super swoony, thrilling, adventurous YA book. Strands of Bronze and Gold, I believe, is a Bluebeard retelling that I was very intrigued by, but there have been so many mixed reviews that my interest has definitely waned. So I'd love for there to be another retelling in the mix!

Tell me: do YOU know of any retellings of the above fairytales that I should check out? Let me know in the comments below!

Mini Reviews: Trade Paperback Edition #2!

Title: In Pursuit of Flight
Author/Artists: Kelly Sue DeConnick/Dexter Soy, Emma Rios
Series: Captain Marvel Vol. 1

Summary: Ace pilot. Legendary Avenger. One hundred percent pure bad-@$$. Carol Danvers has a new name, a new mission--and all the power she needs to make her own life a living hell. As the new Captain Marvel, Carol is forging from a challenge from her past!

It's a firefight in the sky as the Banshee Squadron debut--but who are the prowlers, and where has Carol seen them before? And how does secret NASA training program Mercury 13 fit in? Witness Captain Marvel in blazing battlefield action that may just change the course of history! Avengers Time Travel Protocols: engage! 

Why I read it: I've been dying to get into some more Marvel comics, and especially ones with badass female protagonists, so I snatched this up at my local comic book store!

Thoughts: Oh, how I love thee, Carol Danvers.

Since this is a Marvel Now! title, it is a perfect introduction to Carol Danvers, who was previously known as Ms. Marvel. We first see Carol doing her thing, working with Captain America to bring down a villain, so we are thrust into the action. But this is just a day's work for Carol. Then the real adventure begins. The story arc fits perfectly in this first volume, and it is SO much fun. Carol is such a badass woman and superhero, but she's also a fully developed character. She has her weak moments, but she learns to overcome them. The time-travel story is completely engrossing, and I had very few problems following along. The best part about this volume is that since it is a relaunch, we are treated to some backstory and origins of Carol's powers alongside the main story. So it's a perfect time to jump on the Carol Danvers wagon if you haven't already!

The one thing I will mention is that the artist changes in the middle of the volume, and it was a little jarring. I had expected to love Emma Rios's art style, so I was put off by Dexter Soy's style at first. But I admit that once Soy's issues gave way to Rios's, I discovered that I much preferred Soy, so I'm glad to see that Soy is back in Volume 2.

Rating: 5/5 stars


Title: Fandemonium
Author/Artist/Colorist: Kieron Gillen/Jamie McKelvie/Matt Wilson
Series: The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 2

Why I read it: DUH. The Wicked + The Divine was my favorite graphic novel I read in the the first half of the year, so I had been waiting for the second volume for what felt like FOREVER.

Thoughts: AHH. That was insane and wonderful and made me love this series even more.

I really can't even say much about it because I have few words. The characters are still fabulous, and I loved getting even more in-depth with them. Baphomet quickly turned into one of my new favorite characters, and can you blame me? The underworld god is pretty sexy! The ending, much like the first volume, left me on such a cliffhanger that I can't wait for more! And I can't even get into what this series does to me emotionally. (Just to give you a clue, I clutched this to my chest and just sat there for a good five minutes after I finished this volume.)

The art style of Jamie McKelvie remains one of my favorite aspects of this series, so I'm a little apprehensive about the upcoming issues and Volume 3. Each of the new issues will focus on a certain god, and each one will have a different guest artist. So I'm hoping that I enjoy the art styles of these new illustrators, because I certainly love where the story is going!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Title: International Flavor
Author/Artist: John Layman/Rob Guillory
Series: Chew Vol. 2

Why I read it: There are a ton of volumes of Chew out already, so I've decided to just pick it up a volume at a time every time I go to the comic book store. So before I pick up next volume, I thought I should read this one!

Thoughts: Just as much fun as the first volume, and the plot is thickening!

Much like the first volume, the story is still being set up and all the players are still being introduced, but the main story arc is getting juicier! I really enjoyed the return of Tony's former partner, John Colby. I have a feeling I'm really going to love his character as the series progresses. And it's nice to see Chow and Amelie again with increasingly larger roles to play.

This is still super gross, but the story and especially the humor completely makes up for it. The art is always fun and engaging, and I always make sure I've checked the backgrounds of the panels for fun extras like signs on the wall. They're easy to miss, but they might give you another chuckle. I can't wait to read more!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read these graphic novels/comics yet? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below! 

Film Fridays! -- July 17, 2015

*movie titles link to IMDB pages*

Reviews

Because we finally started Orange is the New Black, I ended up only watching one movie this week, so let's get right into it!

Title: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Starring: Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel

Thoughts: My mom and I watched The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel a few months ago, and absolutely fell in love with it. The premise is that several elderly British people find this long-term hotel in Jaipur, India, that caters specifically to the elderly. Sp we've been anxiously awaiting for this sequel to release on DVD so we could see it, and it finally came out this week!

The first movie was a sleeper hit, but this sequel got less enthusiastic reviews. And I now can see why.

The first movie was full of beautiful, touching moments, and every member of the ensemble cast got their own chunk of the story. It had its sad moments, but it was full of joy and finding meaning in your life, even in your golden years.

The sequel also had its merits; there were a few touching moments and plenty of laughs. And even though they probably weren't necessary, the dance scenes gave me so much happiness; I will never turn down an opportunity to see Dev Patel dance. (That boy is so goofy looking, but he is downright sexy when he dances. Don't ask me why.) But the story is much more of mess here. More characters are introduced, which leaves less time for other original characters. Plot threads are introduced and never fully explored, and a few are left hanging all together at the end. Though I had cried in the first movie, it left with me hope and satisfaction; the sequel left me wondering where the rest of the movie was.

I still enjoyed it. It's impossible not to love the adorably awkward Bill Nighy try to start a new relationship with Dame Judi Dench. But it just didn't give me the warm fuzzies like the first film did.

Rating: B-

Releases

In addition to The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, several more movies came out on DVD this week. On Tuesday, July 7th, the following movie came out on DVD and Blu-ray: 

Title: Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2

Starring: Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez

Title: The Longest Ride

Starring: Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood

Title: It Follows

Starring: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist

Title: Ex Machina

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson,

 Oscar Isaac

And two movies are releasing to theaters! 

Title: Ant-Man

Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll

Title: Trainwreck

Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader

What am I most excited for? ANT-MAN. Obviously. It's an MCU movie, come on! I probably won't make it out to see it this weekend, but I'm still VERY interested to see how it does in the box office. The industry thought Guardians of the Galaxy was going to be a long-shot, and we all saw how that turned out. I would venture to say that Ant-Man is even more of a stretch for box office gold, but I'm hoping that the turn out is good. So if you're a Marvel fan, go see it! 

What I'll Be Watching

I can't imagine that we won't watch at least either It Follows or Ex Machina this weekend. Maybe even both. We'll just have to see. 

Coming off the heels of Comic-Con this last week, we've got a TON of new comic book movie trailers to watch. So many, in fact, that I actually made a separate post all about them! So click here to watch the trailers and read my thoughts, then comment below in either post and let me know what you think! 

Tell me: what movies have YOU seen lately? What are you planning on seeing very soon? And what trailers are you the most excited about? Let me know in the comments below!

Comic Book Movie Trailer Bonanza!

It's been a while since I've done a full-on movie trailer bonanza. In fact, the last one I did was the first one! With the release (and leak) of so many comic book movie trailers coming on the heels of Comic-Con this last week, I thought I'd go ahead and share them all (and my thoughts on them) with you! Tomorrow's Film Fridays post will still be up as scheduled, but it will link back to this post for the trailer discussion. So let's get started!

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Release date: March 25, 2016

Starring: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Jesse Eisenberg

Thoughts: I could go on for days about this trailer. I think I will actually really enjoy Ben Affleck as Batman, and especially as Bruce Wayne. He looks great in the role. I love Henry Cavill, but I don't think he even says one word in this trailer. Jesse Eisenberg is nowhere near intimidating enough to pull of Lex Luthor, and THAT HAIR. It has got to go. I especially hated his little smirk and the line near the end of the trailer: "The red capes are coming!" I think they're pushing the Superman/Jesus imagery a little hard. What I loved about Man of Steel was that Superman wasn't just a robot superhero. Underneath the superhero is a person, alien or human, with feelings and emotions and the ability to make difficult decisions. Hopefully we'll still see some of that in the finished movie. 

The one thing I'm absolutely in love with in the trailer? Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman! We only see her a couple of times, and I'm very interested to see what side she falls on in this fight, but she looks fantastic and badass. Oh yes. I'm here for it. 

So I guess we'll see. I anxiously await the day we get another trailer to get even more footage. I'm reserving full judgment until I see the finished product. 

Suicide Squad

Release date: August 5, 2016

Starring: Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis

Thoughts: YES. Now this is what I'm talking about. First of all, you should know that I'm not a huge DC fangirl. I'd prefer Marvel over DC any day. But this just looks fantastic. It's only the very first footage we're seeing, so the jury's still out, but I'm excited. Margot Robbie especially steals the spotlight in the trailer as Harley Quinn. I will say, Will Smith playing a bad guy makes him not look like a bad guy. Cara Delevingne is an interesting choice for a comic book role, so color me intrigued. And Viola Davis is a goddess, so hell to the yes. But really, we're all just waiting for more Jared Leto as the Joker, right? That little bit at the end of the trailer was not nearly enough. But it definitely gives us just enough of a taste to be intrigued! I'm still not completely sold on the tattoos or the silver teeth, but he seems to have the attitude down and that voice sends chills down my spine. So I cannot wait to see more from this, but for now, I am very excited. 

X-Men: Apocalypse

Release date: May 27, 2016

Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, plus a lot more!

Thoughts: First of all, I apologize for the quality. I also apologize if at any point there is no trailer above, because it is the leaked trailer from Comic-Con and it may get taken down for copyright infringement. So watch it now, before it's taken down! 

Oh, X-Men. As a franchise, you've had some major ups and downs. I want to say that I think this looks good. I want to say that I believe in this movie. But I have been burned before. First by X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Then by X-Men: Days of Future Past. It's such a shame because I really loved X-Men: First Class. I still think it's a fantastic movie, and I watch it every time it's on TV. So when the trailer for Days of Future Past came out, I was enamored. First of all, that trailer uses the John Murphy Adagio in D minor that was originally composed for the movie Sunshine. I LOVE that score. It's beautiful and perfectly enhances the sense of darkness and heartbreak. (Fun fact: it is also used in the first trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness, which also gave me all the feels.) Second of all, they made us believe that this movie was going to solve all of the continuity errors between the past six films. 

But Days of Future Past let me down. Every X-Men movie that has been released is still considered canon. However, the timeline is so messed up that I can't even tell what really happened and what didn't at this point. I've seen Days of Future Past, but I still couldn't tell you exactly what happened in that movie. None of it made sense and characters had gone rogue. I mean, seriously. Where was Rogue? 

So going into Apocalypse, I am less than thrilled with the current state of the X-Men franchise. This trailer seems to go the same way as Days of Future Past, promising more and more darkness. Our poor X-Men can't seem to catch a break these days. I like the Oscar Isaac casting, but I don't like that was just keep adding back in the same characters, young and old. We're seeing young Jean Grey here, but with James McAvoy-era Professor X. And a teenage Storm who's working with Apocalypse? Remember that timeline I mentioned earlier? Yeah, this is what I'm talking about. 

So for now, I'm only going to say one thing: I'm digging Michael Fassbender in flannel. 

Deadpool

(warning NSFW: slight nudity and loads of profanity)

Release date: February 12, 2016

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano

Thoughts: First of all, I once again apologize for the quality. I also apologize if at any point there is no trailer above, because it is the leaked trailer from Comic-Con and it may get taken down for copyright infringement. So watch it now, before it's taken down! Also, be warned:

As for me? YES, YES, YES, YES. This is EXACTLY what we signed on for when we, the fandom, asked for a Deadpool movie. It is going to be a bloody, profane, fourth-wall breaking good time, and I couldn't be happier. Ryan Reynolds is on point here with his wise-cracking sense of humor that vibes perfectly with Wade Wilson's character. He's not called the "Merc with the Mouth" for nothing. I'm so excited to see Morena Baccarin here as the love interest, be still my Firefly-loving heart. It's cool to see Colossus here, and the line about Negasonic Teenage Warhead? So perfect. The trailer just nails it. We were promised an R-rated Deadpool movie, and that is completely what we're getting. THANK YOU. 

Tell me: which of these movies are you the most pumped to see? Did any of these trailers make you more excited than you were before? Let me know in the comments below!

Halfway Point -- Goal Progress Report!

Hey guys! I was inspired by Regan of PeruseProject's recent video (here) to do a sort of check-in on my progress in completing my goals and resolutions for the year, especially since it is now July and we are officially in the second half of the year. So I went back to the beginning of the year and found three posts about my year to come that I can check in on. So without further adieu, here we go!

Bookish Resolutions/Goals

1. Post more often!

I've actually been doing pretty well on this! There have been very few weeks (other than my vacation hiatus) when I didn't post at all. And in participating in the Bout of Books readathon, it actually forced me to update every day, which has been a good thing! 

2. Booktube more often!

I've been doing okay at this. I've definitely uploaded several videos, and I have plans to do more. It's just hard to find the time and space to do it while living with my parents. But I shall persevere!

3. Tweet/Instagram more often!

I've been trying to remember to tweet my links all the time, so that's better. And as for Instagram, I had a lull for a while, but I'm getting back! Thanks to the readathons and monthly photo-a-day challenges, I've been posting more often than I used to! 

4. Be more active in the community in general!

I've been trying to comment on more videos and liking more Instagram photos. I still need to be more active in the blogosphere especially, but I'm trying! 

5. Read Insurgent and Allegiant before March 20th! 

I actually finished Allegiant ON March 20th, but it still counts! I did it! 

6. Finish more series than I start! 

I was doing really well on this at the beginning of the year, finishing FOUR series in January alone! I'm starting to slide a bit, but I'm still on track. So far, I've finished NINE series and started SEVEN. But three of those seven are already completed trilogies, so I marathoned them. I'm currently reading Ashes to Ashes, the third book in the Burn for Burn trilogy by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian, so I'll be adding another series to my finished list! 

By the way, I've decided not to include graphic novels or comic book series in these counts. It's too hard to keep track of when and how many volumes come out in trades, so they just aren't counted in the series counts. 

7. Read more contemporary!

I have definitely read more contemporary this year. I've actually read more contemporary than any other genre this year, which is crazy. It never would have been the case in years past. But I'm learning to love the romance/angst/realism of contemporary YA!

8. Limit the book buying!

Well...? Hehe. I don't know how to answer this. I definitely haven't gone quite as overboard as I did in the second half of last year. But I haven't really cut down enough, either. I'm still buying a ton of books. But many of them are graphic novels that I've started really getting into. And many are the result of sales I just couldn't pass up, or my mom bought them for me! So we'll see how it goes for the rest of this year. But I definitely wouldn't expect me to really achieve this goal. :P

9. Participate in at least ONE readathon! 

I did! I participated in TWO actually! I did the Bout of Books 13 and RYBSAT in May and ended up reading six books between the two. Six books in two weeks? That's amazing for me, so I'll definitely continue participating in readathons whenever I can! 

10. Read 40 books in 2015!

YES!! I already completed this goal in June when I read my 40th book on my way home from vacation! I have now read 47 books. BUT, my mom keeps accusing me of cheating because I've been counting graphic novels and novellas into the count. So without those factored in, I have read 35 full-length novels. So my new goal is to read 50 full-length novels by the end of the the year. But I have a feeling I'll accomplish that in no time!

Most Anticipated Releases of 2015

Let's see how many of these I have already read, which ones I own but have not read yet, or which haven't been released yet!

11. Fairest by Marissa Meyer -- READ

10. 99 Days by Katie Cotugno -- OWNED, UNREAD

9. The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West -- READ

8. Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan -- OWNED, UNREAD

7. Forged by Erin Bowman -- READ

6. The Rose Society by Marie Lu -- UNRELEASED

5. Please Remain Calm by Courtney Summers -- READ

4. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo -- UNRELEASED

3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas -- READ

2. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas -- UNRELEASED

1. Winter by Marissa Meyer -- UNRELEASED

So I've read 5/11, I own 2 more that I need to read, and 4 are not released yet. I'd say that's pretty good for mid-year!

Books I HAVE to Read in 2015

1. Insurgent by Veronica Roth -- READ

2. Allegiant by Veronica Roth -- READ

3. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare -- UNREAD

4. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare -- UNREAD

5. Lark Ascending by Meagan Spooner -- READ

6. Echoes of Us by Kat Zhang -- READ

7. Forged by Erin Bowman -- READ

8, 9, 10. The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken -- UNREAD

11. The Body Electric by Beth Revis -- UNREAD

12. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld -- UNREAD

13. Reached by Ally Condie -- UNREAD

So I've read five of these 13. OOPS. I need to really get on the ball! I'd actually forgotten that I made this list until I saw Regan's video. So now, I have no excuse. I have to read them!

So that's it for this post, everybody! I think I'm doing pretty good so far, and for those areas that I still need to improve? I've got almost six months still to do it! I think I can, I think I can. 

Tell me: how are YOU doing in your goals for the year? Let me know in the comments below!

BLOGOVERSARY!

Today is such an exciting day, because I have officially been a book blogger for ONE YEAR!!

This is so exciting. Before last summer, I never would have imagined that there was a way to share my bookish love with the world. Not many of my IRL friends are YA fanatics like I am, and the only person I really had to talk to about my favorite books was my mom (who also reads YA. Go Mom!) But discovering the book community online was amazing! I discovered some awesome book blogs, and I learned what booktube was. (And subsequently, lost all my free time to the interwebs. Oops!)

Now, I have more followers on my blog Twitter than on my personal account. I get comments sometimes on my blog posts, and on my Youtube videos. I've entered (and won) some giveaways, watched an infinite number of videos, and most importantly, I've gotten to talk to some of YOU. That's the best part of this. Finding new people to talk to and flail with about the books that we all love. 

As many of you know, I have a degree in music education, and I'm still looking for a job in that field. But in the meantime while I'm searching and substituting, I am LOVING blogging. I hope to make more friends in the community, and continue to be more active around town, so to speak. 

But if you're reading this, then I want to thank YOU. Because honestly, if my blog had never been seen by anyone? If I hadn't gotten comments on my posts? If I hadn't gotten feedback from other bloggers or booktubers or authors? I probably would have quit by now. It's knowing that at least someone is seeing my posts and valuing my opinion that keeps me going. It means so much to me, and I can't thank you enough. 

So here's to one year down, and many more (hopefully) to go!