The Hunger Games Movie

I went with bunch of friends a couple of hours ago and it was...fantastic!

Despite the all hype and great trailer, I tried not to have high expectations lest I be greatly disappointed. As we all know, whenever a book is adapted into there is always something lost and sometimes something completely new inserted. Like Cirque du Freak (original books written by Darren Shan) for example. I was severely disappointed by it. Coincidentally, Josh Hutcherson also starred in that movie. 

The Hunger Games movie was really good and as a fan of the novels, I was not disappointed. Sure there were some things lost (since they had to cram it all into 2+ hours)  like some of the build up of relationships between the characters which I would have liked to see more of but overall they stayed true to the books! The setting was great, the wardrobe (especially Katniss's costume and those fancy Capital outfits) were gorgeous and best of all, the actors and actresses did an awesome job! They weren't awkward or wooden. Rue's death scene was really heartfelt and sad, a lot of the people teared up. Jennifer Lawrence did a really good job conveying Katniss's emotions. When Katniss and Peeta were announced as winners of the games, the audience in the theater broke into a loud applause. I've never been to a movie where the audience reaction was so strong before! The camera panning gave me a slight headache with all that jerking around during the fight scenes but it added to the tension of the situation.

It was the best movie I've seen in awhile, I really look forward to Catching Fire.

Another giveaway! O.O

The Midnight Garden is having a giveaway to celebrate their one year blogversary! Hop over here to check it out! TMG is one of my favorite book blogs and I hope they continue posting wonderful reviews many years to come!

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On an unrelated note, I really should finish up two of the reviews I typed up last week. I keep putting it off because school has been so busy. I practically eat sleep and breathe Adobe Illustrator. OTL

More wonderful giveaways!

In the week since I started book blogging I've noticed that there seems to be giveaways almost everywhere! I find it rather fun to join and its a fantastic chance to check out new books! xD

The first one, Claire Reads is having a giveaway for hitting the 250 mark! There's a choice of 4 amazing prize packs of 3 books each and you sure don't wanna miss this one. There are really great titles in there!

Click here! (you know you want to~ :D)

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Next up, The Midnight Garden is having a giveaway for a paperback copy of Jessica Therrien's Oppression, book one of the Children of the Gods series. To join, click → here!

Summary from Goodreads:  Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable--except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning--and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.

My thoughts:

The beautiful cover caught my eye first, as teal is one of my favorite colors. I am drawn to anything that has that color in it :P (nail polish, bracelets, shirts, etc). And Oppression has Greek mythology in it, a recent favorite reading topic as well! I wonder who is Elyse descended from? Can't wait to check the book out!

2012 YA Mythology Challenge

I'm taking part in the YA Mythology Challenge hosted by Tiffany @ For Those About To Read! This is the first challenge I'm participating as a blogger. :)

The challenge is to read 10 YA or middle grade novels that incorporate any type of Mythology in the story line (Greek, Egyptian, Norse, etc.).

Duration: 1st January 2012 - 31st December 2012

The books must be read this year!

Book List 

1. Oppression by Jessica Therrien

2. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

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10.

-to be updated!

Waiting on Wednesday #1

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

Defiance by C.J. Redwine 
Expected publication: August 28th 2012 (Goodreads)

    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. - summary from Goodreads




Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 
Expected publication: June 5th 2012
(Goodreads)

    Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart. - summary from Goodreads

Some book giveaways!

Stephanie of Bookfever is holding an awesome giveway! The winner will receive their book of choice (up to €10 or $15)  from The Book Depository. Click here for more details!

Meanwhile, in another giveaway, Jill Hathaway is having a giveaway for her novel Slide! There will be UK/US editions, bookmarks and a bunch of other goodies too. Check it out here~

Summary (from Goodreads): 

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered. 

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body. 

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane. 

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

P.S. Both giveaways are open internationally!

[Book Review] Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Attempt at a 'proper' review for my first blog post, heheh. Hope its not too bad. I went through this pretty fast so I didn't take notes or anything. 

This book reminds me of Trudi Canavan's Magician's Guild trilogy a little, probably because of the healing abilities of the main character Avry. But while the healers in Magician's Guild become exhausted if he or she uses her magic too much, the healers in Touch of Power actually absorb the sickness or injuries of their patients into themselves!

I've previously read Poison Study and Magic Study, also by Maria V. Snyder and enjoyed them. Therefore, I had expectations when it came to this book and...it did not disappoint. 

When a mysterious plague sweeps through the Fifteen Realms, fingers point towards the healer magicians and they are accused of being the cause and their inability to heal the plague only condemns them more. They are hunted down and killed. Avry, the heroine, is a healer and she is captured after she exposes herself by healing a little girl.  She is then rescued by a band of men led by Kerrick-- who wants her to use her abilities to heal a prince. Together, they travel across the lands while being hunted by mercenaries and other powers who want to conquer the realms.

I enjoyed this book and a thing that sets it apart from other high fantasy novels is the casual language. It threw me off a little when I first started but I got used to it after awhile. The world created by Ms. Snyder is interesting and there is still much unknown about the Fifteen Realms. The main character, Avry is a spunky heroine and no damsel in distress. As she travels with Kerrick and the others, she eventually comes out of her shell and becomes friends with them. She won't hesitate to use her powers to defend herself and her new found friends if the situation arises. The secondary characters like big hearted Belen (who is among the men who rescued/captured Avry) are also likable.

The only issue I have is the romance part...it seemed so sudden and I would have preferred if it had developed more, maybe in another book or two before the characters declaring love for each other.