MTV Hollywood Crush is reporting that Kevin Zegers (Gossip Girl) has been cast as Alec Lightwood in the film adaptation of Cassandra Clare's City of Bones.
BUT take this rumor report with a grain of salt, for Cassandra Clare has written that who she believed to have been cast as Alec was actually a British actor, but Zegers is Canadian. Oddly enough, I seem to be the only person who's caught this, so we'll wait on confirmation from Cassandra Clare, who's always keeping her fans up to date on casting via her Tumblr.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Jena Malone cast as Johanna Mason in 'Catching Fire'
It's official! Lionsgate announced via their official Hunger Games film page on Facebook that Jena Malone (Sucker Punch, Pride & Prejudice) has been cast as the District 7 tribute in the Third Quarter Quell, Johanna Mason!
This has been long speculated, and even reported that she had been offered the role, but now Lionsgate had confirmed it. Last night, though, Josh Hutcherson spilled on the Teen Choice Awards red carpet that she was in the film.
Thoughts?
This has been long speculated, and even reported that she had been offered the role, but now Lionsgate had confirmed it. Last night, though, Josh Hutcherson spilled on the Teen Choice Awards red carpet that she was in the film.
Thoughts?
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Review | 'City of Lost Souls'
City of Lost Souls
Cassandra Clare
535 pg., U.S. hardcover
Simon & Schuster
5 stars | A+
From Goodreads:
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace freed from captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing, so is the boy she hates: her brother Sebastian, who is determined to bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.
The Clave's magic cannot locate either boy, but Jace can't stay away from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith's magic has wrought - Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other.
Only a few people believe that Jace can still be saved. Together, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle bargain with the sinister Seelie Queen, contemplate deals with demons, and turn at last to the merciless, weapon-making Iron Sisters, who might be able to forge a weapon that can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. If the Iron Sisters can't help, their only hope is to challenge Heaven and Hell - a risk that could claim their lives.
And they must do it without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing not just her own life, but Jace's soul. She's willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.
I have loved these books since 2009, and still do, but the one thing I cannot tolerate is the over-usage of erotica. I mean, seriously, in a matter of life and death and loss, Jace's shirt slides up a little bit and Clary gets all flustered and turned on. Calm the hell down, Clarissa Fray, it's just a stomach. Just a forewarning, this review will contain spoilers to the entire Mortal Instruments series, including this one, as well as allusions to its companion/prequel series, The Infernal Devices.
WRITING:
Cassandra Clare
535 pg., U.S. hardcover
Simon & Schuster
5 stars | A+
From Goodreads:
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace freed from captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing, so is the boy she hates: her brother Sebastian, who is determined to bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.
The Clave's magic cannot locate either boy, but Jace can't stay away from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith's magic has wrought - Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other.
Only a few people believe that Jace can still be saved. Together, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle bargain with the sinister Seelie Queen, contemplate deals with demons, and turn at last to the merciless, weapon-making Iron Sisters, who might be able to forge a weapon that can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. If the Iron Sisters can't help, their only hope is to challenge Heaven and Hell - a risk that could claim their lives.
And they must do it without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing not just her own life, but Jace's soul. She's willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.
I have loved these books since 2009, and still do, but the one thing I cannot tolerate is the over-usage of erotica. I mean, seriously, in a matter of life and death and loss, Jace's shirt slides up a little bit and Clary gets all flustered and turned on. Calm the hell down, Clarissa Fray, it's just a stomach. Just a forewarning, this review will contain spoilers to the entire Mortal Instruments series, including this one, as well as allusions to its companion/prequel series, The Infernal Devices.
WRITING:
- PACING -- The Mortal Instruments series is one that is very well-written. Honestly, I think that's what I love most about the series, besides it's mostly-astounding plots. So CoLS was no exception, and that really pleased me. The story follows the quick-pacing that has been going on recently in the series, although I think City of Bones and Glass are a little less fast-paced than the others. I started the book one night, read 200 pages, and then the next day read the other 335 pages, and I'm sure that's the case for most fans of TMI. It's just so enthralling and attention-sucking, and it requires your attention without really asking for it.
- DIALOGUE -- The dialogue in TMI uses a lot of dark, witty humor. It's not really laugh-out-loud humor, but a kind of "oh, yeah, I get it" type. I probably laughed more at Fallen Angels than any of the others, including The Infernal Devices, so I was pretty let down that this book had less jokes, but I suppose I did like the seriousness of the story. There were some annoying, unrealistic pieces of dialogue, mainly from Clary and Jace, but we get those in every book, and while that's no excuse, I've grown accustomed to it. Magnus also has some weird remarks that just don't do anything, so that was also a disappoint, for I like Magnus, but I think that he's become so immature lately, but more on that later.
- ORIGINALITY -- Cassandra Clare definitely has a unique style of writing, unlike the author that I previously read a book from (Lissa Price, Starters). It's always refreshing to go back to Clare's books, because I know that she's got such intense, humorous, and then frightening writing that complements the pacing perfectly, and is able to grab you for such a long time and never let you go. That's really what I love about her. YOU ROCK, CASSIE CLARE. DON'T EVER CHANGE.
STORY:
It's time for my version of the summary! So after the events of Fallen Angels, Jace and Sebastian have disappeared, and it's become against Clave law to search for them, so, of course, the entirety of the main slew of characters do so. We've got Clary, Isabelle, Alec, Magnus, Simon, Jordan, Maia, and a little help here and there from Jocelyn and Luke, and even a return from Aline Penhallow, which was quite enjoyable. Clary finds out that she can't harm Sebastian (which she desires to do, oh so much) without hurting Jace, so she's treading on thin water in this book after being taken by Sebastian and Jabastian (the Sebastian-ized version of Jace) who have plotted to re-create the Mortal Cup, leaving Simon to group up with Alec, Magnus, and Isabelle. In their own little subplots, Alec constantly confronts Camille, who tells him that in order to have Magnus achieve mortality, he must kill Raphael, an ex-vampire leader, who, coincidentally, wants Camille dead. Big, happy vampire family, essentially. I love how Alec's storyline came to an end; the chilling revelation that Maureen (the Simon Lewis fangirl from Fallen Angels-gone vampire) has killed Camille, now making her the leader of the New York vampires. By the way, can someone confirm that Cassie Clare named her after her friend Maureen Johnson, author of The Name of the Star? Isabelle's plot revolves around her personal struggles, most of which having to do with her feelings for Simon. Simon loses his Mark of Cain in order to receive a sword from Raziel to kill Sebastian without killing Jace. The book ends with (of course) Sebastian fleeing the scene, Jace injured, and Clary in grief. Then again, would it be a TMI book without those things? Even though I gave the book 5 stars, I wouldn't say the plot is original. The books all have the same arc, so I feel no need to judge that. The best part of the TMI books, and the TIF books, is what's sandwiched in-between; all that juicy exposition and conflict. I totally believe that Zachariah is Will Herondale, beeteedubbs, anyone with me on that? The books all begin with something happening to Jace and Clary, Simon is thrown in there, Maryse is disapproving, the story goes on, and ends with some ultimate demonic battle, yadda yadda. It's the same old, so I hope to see something different in City of Heavenly Fire, but I doubt that will happen.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:
There are so many characters in this book; The Silent Brothers, The Iron Sisters, Maureen, Camille, Raphael, and the more important ones; Jordan, Maia, Simon, Sebastian. And those were just to name a few. I want to start off with Magnus's character development. He's always been this flamboyant, fun, lovable guy from the start, but I think that he has got more...annoyingly immature as the series went along. Now, I totally ship Alec/Magnus, and have nothing against LGBT-lit, so that being said, there's a difference between saying, "Well, being with Alec loosened him up a bit! And Magnus did the same for Alec! Like, duh!" and saying, "Magnus has grown more immature." I obviously think the latter. While I strongly believe that your partner shouldn't change you, I do believe that Magnus has changed for the worse. Regarding the development of other characters, I don't think that any of them have really developed. I mean, Isabelle has surely become a looser, likable character, but Alec remains irritatingly stoic. As far as Clary goes, she's definitely changed, but she still is that vulnerable hostage. In every book, regardless of the training she does with Jace, she always seems to be kidnapped or hurt in the climactic scene, and it has grown so annoying. But I think Isabelle Lightwood puts it perfectly, "'You're Clary Fray. You go charging into battle without knowing how the hell it's going to turn out, and then you get through it on sheer guts and craziness.'"
The final book in The Moral Instruments, City of Heavenly Fire, is set to be released March 19, 2014.
Review | 'Starters'
Starters
Lissa Price
352 pg., U.S. hardcover
Delacorte
4 stars | B+
From Goodreads:
HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER
Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.
He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .
To start off, this is definitely a book that people will either incredibly love or kind-of-like. I doubt that anyone would really hate the book, but I have yet to be proved wrong. You can bet this review will be spoiler-filled, so if you haven't read Starters, I strongly recommend doing something else that's as equally as entertaining as this review, or you know, actually reading the book. Kthnxbai.
WRITING:
Lissa Price
352 pg., U.S. hardcover
Delacorte
4 stars | B+
From Goodreads:
HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER
Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.
He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .
To start off, this is definitely a book that people will either incredibly love or kind-of-like. I doubt that anyone would really hate the book, but I have yet to be proved wrong. You can bet this review will be spoiler-filled, so if you haven't read Starters, I strongly recommend doing something else that's as equally as entertaining as this review, or you know, actually reading the book. Kthnxbai.
WRITING:
- PACING -- Lissa Price debuts with a quick-paced, strongly appealing story with a plot that works with the pacing. Very rarely is quick-pacing valued with a plot as fresh and needing-complexity as this one, but Lissa Price pulled it off very nicely. Pacing can, at times, become a distraction in some books, and while Starters isn't entirely an exception, it definitely avoids that stereotypes in many cases. The only issue I have with the fast-pacing is the infrequency of it. While the book is entirely-fast-paced, the speed does change a bit, meaning it goes from a mild level of quick, to this extreme-Sonic-speed that leaves the reader wondering how a writer can tell a 350-page story very strongly with such quick-pacing. I felt that she was dishing the exposition out so quickly that I wondered if there would be anything else. The ending did end up being 30-pages of recuperation, which was kind of annoying and unnecessary, but unsurprising. The final 100 pages were interesting, though, and well worth the wait, what with the whole Blake-being-the-Old Man, Sara being killed, etc.
- DIALOGUE -- The dialogue in this book definitely was not a stand-out to me; not even in the slightest. I don't really have a lot to say about it, for it wasn't a big thing in this book, for the story was more dependent on actions rather than words, which was totally fine, in my opinion. That's not to say I was disappointed in the dialogue, sure I wish there was more, but I was okay with what I was given.
- ORIGINALITY -- It's always difficult to analyze the originality of an author's originality when it comes to writing. Obviously you're going to draw similarities to other authors, and Lissa Price is no different. I don't really think I can pinpoint which specific authors I could draw connections to, but I definitely experienced flashes of 'Whoa, I've...I've seen this writing, RIGHT?' throughout the story.
STORY:
The story of this book is sort of difficult to grasp without reading the summary, so I'll try to play it out from what I understood/liked from it. Okay? Alright. So it takes place in this post-war America where teenagers sell their bodies (in a non-sexual way; sexual contact would cross into illegality) to elderly people who want to re-experience the fun that teenagers really can. I'm not saying that elderly people can't have fun, but they aren't physically able to do some things that younger, more fit, people can. Callie does so, and her body winds up in that of an assassin, which is where the story really picks up and gets interesting. The assassin is meant to kill the senator to get a point across to the body bank (if you're not following along, they're the people who are in charge of renting bodies; i.e., who gets the body, when, how, who the body is, etc.), and Callie starts to uncover, via very The Host-like internal conversations with her renter, that the Prime Destinations (body bank--run by the Old Man) is up to no good. She finds out that they plan to sell the bodies of attractive people, and this causes a whole ruckus for various reasons. She discovers that her sort-of-kind-of-maybe lover, Blake, is being rented for the Old Man, which is BLERSHKGFH. So, that's kind of it, in a nutshell. The plot and story are very, very original, except for those little glimpses of The Host, which were kind of annoying, yet very helpful to the main character. My favorite scenes and ideas from the plot were the ideas of revisiting a teenage body, and Callie's willingness to rent her body out. Just her luck, her renter is trying to assassinate the government. Had this not happened, and Callie was just living as another woman, the story would have been 5x more boring. The plot arc isn't very clear, actually. I didn't think that resolution of the book had anything to do with the reason Callie initially rented her body out, and obviously Callie did find another reason to keep the body around (whether she had a choice or not), but I feel like she lost sight of her initial motivation, and whether that's Lissa Price's fault or not, I'm not sure.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:
Callie develops a ton in this story, mostly with the help of her renter, whose name escapes me, although I'm fairly sure it was Helena. We'll just say it's Helena. Sorry if it isn't, I don't actually own the book, so I'm just trying to remember. She starts out as a bold, protective friend and sister, and ends up still protective and bold, but more learned in the government doings and that truly affects her personality and character a bit throughout the story. Callie becomes a more heroic, love-hate character, which makes her all the more realistic in a rather unrealistic setting. Her brother and friend, who we only really see a few times, do not experience much development, and it's hard to know who else did, seeing as most characters were rented out, so we never knew their true personality, which is why it's such a blow to Callie when she first found out Blake was the Old Man's rentee. I quite liked Blake, but he certainly didn't develop, even with another person inside him. I liked the Enders, though, they were pretty interesting. So, I suppose that's all I've really got to say in the development wing of this review, sadly. At least the protagonist developed, though, which is the main desire.
Starters is the first in a duo, and the sequel, Enders, is set to be released December 11, 2012.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:
Callie develops a ton in this story, mostly with the help of her renter, whose name escapes me, although I'm fairly sure it was Helena. We'll just say it's Helena. Sorry if it isn't, I don't actually own the book, so I'm just trying to remember. She starts out as a bold, protective friend and sister, and ends up still protective and bold, but more learned in the government doings and that truly affects her personality and character a bit throughout the story. Callie becomes a more heroic, love-hate character, which makes her all the more realistic in a rather unrealistic setting. Her brother and friend, who we only really see a few times, do not experience much development, and it's hard to know who else did, seeing as most characters were rented out, so we never knew their true personality, which is why it's such a blow to Callie when she first found out Blake was the Old Man's rentee. I quite liked Blake, but he certainly didn't develop, even with another person inside him. I liked the Enders, though, they were pretty interesting. So, I suppose that's all I've really got to say in the development wing of this review, sadly. At least the protagonist developed, though, which is the main desire.
Starters is the first in a duo, and the sequel, Enders, is set to be released December 11, 2012.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Lena Headey and Jared Harris join 'City of Bones'
Sorry it took me so long to post this! I haven't had access to a computer the past two days, which is why my post on Gao joining the cast of City of Bones was so crappy; I had to write it from HTML on my Kindle Fire. But I did find this news out the moment Cassie Clare announced it, if that helps...? Don't hate me. Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Jared Harris (Mad Men) have joined the cast of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones as Jocelyn Fray (Clary's mother) and Hodge Starkweather (dastardly librarian, he is), respectively.
THOUGHTS on all the CoB casting rush? Let me know in the comments below!
THOUGHTS on all the CoB casting rush? Let me know in the comments below!
Godfrey Gao cast as Magnus Bane in 'City of Bones '
Model and actor Godfrey Gao was announced via Cassandra Clare's tumblr to be playing Magnus Bane, the pivotal warlock, in City of Bones.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony Shalhoub and Melissa Leo are rumored frontrunners for Beetee and Mags, respectively
It just keeps coming and coming, doesn't it? Variety is reporting that Lionsgate is eyeing Melissa Leo (Welcome to the Rileys--brilliant film, by the way) and Tony Shalhoub (Monk, Wings, Cars, being a genius) as Mags and Beetee, respectively. Both of these characters are known for their zany behavior and unforgettable companionship to Katniss, in Catching Fire, of course, but Beetee goes on to be in Mockingjay.
The article also brings up Sam Claflin, whom we mentioned before as being offered the role of Finnick, allegedly.
So what are your thoughts? So far, except for Hoffman, we think the CF casting is going perfectly, although we still anxiously await confirmations on Jena Malone, Claflin, Leo, and Shalhoub.
The article also brings up Sam Claflin, whom we mentioned before as being offered the role of Finnick, allegedly.
So what are your thoughts? So far, except for Hoffman, we think the CF casting is going perfectly, although we still anxiously await confirmations on Jena Malone, Claflin, Leo, and Shalhoub.
Sam Claflin offered role of Finnick Odair in 'Catching Fire'
QUICK NEWS UPDATE Zap2It is reporting that Sam Clacking (Snow White and the Huntsman) has been offered the role of Finnick Odair by Lionsgate and Nina Jacobson!
What are your thoughts?
More to come...
Amanda Plummer cast as Wiress in 'Catching Fire'
Lionsgate announced via their official Hunger Games Facebook page that Amanda Plummer (Get a Clue, multiple voice roles, Pulp Fiction) has been cast as Wiress, the spacey-yet-intelligent tribute from District Three. If you are a big Disney fan, as I am, you'll notice Amanda Plummer from her role as Miss Dawson in Get a Clue, starring Lindsay Lohan and Brenda Song. ALSO, she played Reese Witherspoon's mother in the kinda-sorta-not-really-retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Freeway.
Congratulations to Amanda, and keep tuning in for more Catching Fire news!
Congratulations to Amanda, and keep tuning in for more Catching Fire news!
Monday, July 16, 2012
'How I Met Your Mother' could POTENTIALLY get another season!
Variety is reporting that (my personal favorite, besides Friends) the extremely-popular television series, How I Met Your Mother, is the subject of negotiation between CBS and 20th Century Fox for a ninth, and final, season.
For the longest time, HIMYM fans have been informed that the eighth season would most likely be the show's final season (and we can't really complain--an 8-year-run is fantastic, and a sign of a hit series that will go down in history), but now, we might get to stick around with Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin, and Barney for two more years (including this next season). As usual, talks are in the very early stages, and so many more decisions have yet to be made before any confirmations are made.
To put it into perspective, Will & Grace had 8 seasons, Doctor Who will definitely surpass the 8 seasons mark, Desperate Housewives rounded out with 8, as did 24 and The Cosby Show, and The Office has completed its eighth season. Everybody Loves Raymond had 9 seasons.
For the longest time, HIMYM fans have been informed that the eighth season would most likely be the show's final season (and we can't really complain--an 8-year-run is fantastic, and a sign of a hit series that will go down in history), but now, we might get to stick around with Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin, and Barney for two more years (including this next season). As usual, talks are in the very early stages, and so many more decisions have yet to be made before any confirmations are made.
To put it into perspective, Will & Grace had 8 seasons, Doctor Who will definitely surpass the 8 seasons mark, Desperate Housewives rounded out with 8, as did 24 and The Cosby Show, and The Office has completed its eighth season. Everybody Loves Raymond had 9 seasons.
Review | 'The Selection'
The Selection
Kiera Cass
327 pg., U.S. hardcover
HarperTeen
4 stars | B+
From Goodreads:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
My, my, Miss America...okay, so there's no pie in this book at all. But the main character's name is America, and I, as any other reviewer, am pretty much making fun of the fact that her name is America Singer, and she--well--sings. What a freaking surprise. Okay, so all stupid names aside (Tuesdsay...I mean, I liked it, but it's still stupid), let's segue into the writing of Kiera Cass's second novel, and the first in this trilogy. I've been watching Kiera Cass's YouTube videos since before the release of the second Twilight film, and she's such an appealing person, so I was, of course, excited to read The Selection, and I wasn't let down, as many other reviewers seemed to be. I went into the book with my expectations set on low due to that dreaded Goodreads review, but I was still hoping to support Kiera Cass's work no matter what. So I was pleasantly surprised to find quick-pacing, an interesting style, and more inside. With the note on pacing, the scene-to-scene without hesitation worked 90% of the time. There were definitely moments that I wish the reader was allowed to dwell on, and that would have increased the emotional appeal of the book, and made different events seem so impacting. For more on those specific events, you can watch my video review (which is chock-full of spoilers) after reading this, right? Right. The style of the book was very youthful-without-trying, and fluffy and light. I actually appreciated this, because I wasn't really expecting some intricate form of writing for the book, so while I do think that Cass could have tightened things up a bit more, the writing sat pretty well with me.
The plot of the book is very interesting. I wouldn't say that it's entirely creative, since--if you've seen my video review, you'd know--it's very similar to The Hunger Games, and it's also identical to The Bachelor, and those two franchises were what the book was marketed as being like. So while the plot was unoriginal, it was executed nicely, with a near-perfect arc. All of the happenings in the book made sense to motivations and character choices, and everything was woven together very nicely. I commend Cass on adding her own flavor to a predetermined plot, and I think that adding new terms, most notably the castes, made things more original and intriguing. I liked the weekly reports, the castes, and--although it was exposed poorly--the World War that led to the created of Illea. It's a very short and sweet book, so there isn't much to say about the plot, but I definitely think it's the highlight.
Characterization, here we go. America Singer's character definitely grows and changes, but it's very blatant. I like a good challenge with characters and their development; I want to have to dig around for little glistening shards of growth, and not have it spelled out for me, like it is in the inside cover. America spends way too much time with Maxon to the point where things become predictable and less-suspenseful. Maxon should have been this enigmatic mystery, but instead he's basically her new best-friend, which is not beneficial for the story or the reader.We don't see the other girls much--a bad thing, in my opinion--so there's no development there, and Maxon doesn't really change at all either, which is a disappointment. We barely see Aspen, and he's really a douchebag in my opinion (mind my terminology), and that fact never changes. I was so irked that America didn't communicate and interact with the other Selected, and that they weren't built up with their own distinctive personalities, because that really could have been a defining aspect for the book!
The sequel to The Selection, The Elite, is set to be released in 2013.
Kiera Cass
327 pg., U.S. hardcover
HarperTeen
4 stars | B+
From Goodreads:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
My, my, Miss America...okay, so there's no pie in this book at all. But the main character's name is America, and I, as any other reviewer, am pretty much making fun of the fact that her name is America Singer, and she--well--sings. What a freaking surprise. Okay, so all stupid names aside (Tuesdsay...I mean, I liked it, but it's still stupid), let's segue into the writing of Kiera Cass's second novel, and the first in this trilogy. I've been watching Kiera Cass's YouTube videos since before the release of the second Twilight film, and she's such an appealing person, so I was, of course, excited to read The Selection, and I wasn't let down, as many other reviewers seemed to be. I went into the book with my expectations set on low due to that dreaded Goodreads review, but I was still hoping to support Kiera Cass's work no matter what. So I was pleasantly surprised to find quick-pacing, an interesting style, and more inside. With the note on pacing, the scene-to-scene without hesitation worked 90% of the time. There were definitely moments that I wish the reader was allowed to dwell on, and that would have increased the emotional appeal of the book, and made different events seem so impacting. For more on those specific events, you can watch my video review (which is chock-full of spoilers) after reading this, right? Right. The style of the book was very youthful-without-trying, and fluffy and light. I actually appreciated this, because I wasn't really expecting some intricate form of writing for the book, so while I do think that Cass could have tightened things up a bit more, the writing sat pretty well with me.
The plot of the book is very interesting. I wouldn't say that it's entirely creative, since--if you've seen my video review, you'd know--it's very similar to The Hunger Games, and it's also identical to The Bachelor, and those two franchises were what the book was marketed as being like. So while the plot was unoriginal, it was executed nicely, with a near-perfect arc. All of the happenings in the book made sense to motivations and character choices, and everything was woven together very nicely. I commend Cass on adding her own flavor to a predetermined plot, and I think that adding new terms, most notably the castes, made things more original and intriguing. I liked the weekly reports, the castes, and--although it was exposed poorly--the World War that led to the created of Illea. It's a very short and sweet book, so there isn't much to say about the plot, but I definitely think it's the highlight.
Characterization, here we go. America Singer's character definitely grows and changes, but it's very blatant. I like a good challenge with characters and their development; I want to have to dig around for little glistening shards of growth, and not have it spelled out for me, like it is in the inside cover. America spends way too much time with Maxon to the point where things become predictable and less-suspenseful. Maxon should have been this enigmatic mystery, but instead he's basically her new best-friend, which is not beneficial for the story or the reader.We don't see the other girls much--a bad thing, in my opinion--so there's no development there, and Maxon doesn't really change at all either, which is a disappointment. We barely see Aspen, and he's really a douchebag in my opinion (mind my terminology), and that fact never changes. I was so irked that America didn't communicate and interact with the other Selected, and that they weren't built up with their own distinctive personalities, because that really could have been a defining aspect for the book!
The sequel to The Selection, The Elite, is set to be released in 2013.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Review | 'Black City'
Black City
Elizabeth Richards
373 pg., ARC
Putnam
4 stars | B+
From Goodreads:
A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war. In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable--they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash's long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they're caught, they'll be executed--but their feelings are too strong. When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.
First and foremost, this review of Black City will be completely spoiler-free, for the book is not released until November 13, 2012. This review is of an uncorrected galley, so no specific quotes will be taken from the book.
That being said, let's dive right in, shall we?
So, as per usual, I'll start off this review with a little analysis of the writing style in Black City. One vital aspect of this book is that it is split into two different perspectives, those of Natalie, the story's heroine, and Ash, the story's hero. Here's where things get a bit tricky with dual perspectives, for they can either go successfully correct, or terribly wrong. I, unfortunately, think the latter of those two, and the writing style as a whole is the reason the book lacked a fifth star. It isn't that the style was bad, but it wasn't clarified and crisp enough to solidify who was telling the story at a certain moment in time, and there were definitely moments where one character's perspective would be valued more than the other, but the reader could accidentally think that one character is narrating when, actually, the other is. Elizabeth Richards didn't make a clear voice for Natalie and Ash, so there were times that I was slipping up on who was telling the story. Some books establish a pattern with the whole dual perspectives idea, and the book started off that way (every other chapter, Ash would narrate; same for Natalie), but then got all jumbled up and difficult to discern from whom the events were being perceived. As far as actual dialogue goes for the story, there was a sense of realism, but I do not think at all that the dialogue had this massive spotlight shining on it, for it really didn't stick out to me. I'd like there to be these intense, important conversations happening between characters, and I feel like we didn't get those in this book, and it was a disappointment.
The second division of my review is the plot. The story revolves around a post-war city that has been split up by a World War-esque wall that separates the humans from the Darklings. What the Darklings are, I'm not entirely sure, even after reading the book. They're basically vampires and werewolves mixed together, and that definitely lowered the appeal of the book to me. From the first chapter, I thought the book was going to be some Fifty Shades of Grey for Teens, but I was proven wrong by page 50. I was glad that the plot wasn't so reliable on the sex appeal of Ash, who is obviously the object of Natalie's affection. However, it would be false to say that the plot was not dependent on romance. Going into the story, the plot and the world had so much potential. I mean, I don't read a lot of strongly-written stories of segregation and towns that are walking on eggshells based on their citizens' isolation from one another. There's this looming feeling that if the wall crumbles, all hell will break loose, for the humans hold strong prejudices against Darklings, and will go to extremes to avoid them. I was really hoping for more information on the war. If anything with a post-war story, readers NEVER get details about the war. For example, Legend by Marie Lu, and Cinder by Marissa Meyer, are two of my very favorite books, but they are both post-war stories, and the wars are never developed. If you're going to have a story so centered around the aftermath of a war, please evaluate on the war, its catalysts, its goings-on, etc. Why even have the war if you aren't going to mention it, aside from passing comments and tiny bits of exposition. For all I care, have the book take place after all of Wal-Mart closes down across the country, but keep the outcome; a city split by hatred and disgust. Really, at this point, they're both of equal significance to me. There are specific moments where the wall has extreme importance (and it really does matter in the whole of the story), and those moments gave me literal chills and bursts of excitement, but I just wish that it was highlighted more. Touching briefly on the arc of the plot, the novel had a clear, defined arc, and things made sense in the order that they did. Fast-pacing was good in this book, and while the conflict of the book is definitely not what I expected (the book relies a lot more on the interaction between characters), I still think it worked.
Rounding out the review will be character development. I'd first like to say that the romance in this book started out very undeveloped. I mean I didn't feel anything at all when Ash's big reveal came about a third of the way into the book, pertaining to their romance. For once, I'd just like to read a book where romance doesn't come into play until later in the story, or even the series for that matter. I definitely loved that about Harry Potter. The first bit of actual infatuation coming to fruition is in Order of the Phoenix, when Harry is dating Cho, and even a bit when Ginny is dating Michael Corner. We spend four books not having, and not needing, romance, and it entered the story at the right time. For books like this, I would have liked more interaction between the characters, and not just this sudden love for each other because they felt like two halves of the same person. I just thought it was pathetic, and it developed over the course of the story, but definitely meant nothing to me at its initial creation. Like I said, the characters did not have a set voice, and that took a toll on their internal characterization, yet I think that the only characters that had big changes were Natalie's mother, a government official, and Ash. You may be thinking, Omg Natalie doesn't change AT ALL? Wtf, this book's gonna suck. You'd be wrong. Natalie doesn't change, true, but I think that's a good thing. Natalie starts out as this patient, sympathetic, compassionate girl, and those features are not changed by the end of the story. I think that her attitude impacts others, though, and that's very rare in YA fiction, so I value that. I'm glad that she didn't become this action heroine or a bratty, rebellious bitch to her mother, for it wouldn't have made sense. So while the characterization did wind up all over the board in some cases, it redeemed itself in some aspects.
Black City is the first in a trilogy, and is set to be released on November 13, 2012.
Elizabeth Richards
373 pg., ARC
Putnam
4 stars | B+
From Goodreads:
A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war. In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable--they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash's long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they're caught, they'll be executed--but their feelings are too strong. When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.
First and foremost, this review of Black City will be completely spoiler-free, for the book is not released until November 13, 2012. This review is of an uncorrected galley, so no specific quotes will be taken from the book.
That being said, let's dive right in, shall we?
So, as per usual, I'll start off this review with a little analysis of the writing style in Black City. One vital aspect of this book is that it is split into two different perspectives, those of Natalie, the story's heroine, and Ash, the story's hero. Here's where things get a bit tricky with dual perspectives, for they can either go successfully correct, or terribly wrong. I, unfortunately, think the latter of those two, and the writing style as a whole is the reason the book lacked a fifth star. It isn't that the style was bad, but it wasn't clarified and crisp enough to solidify who was telling the story at a certain moment in time, and there were definitely moments where one character's perspective would be valued more than the other, but the reader could accidentally think that one character is narrating when, actually, the other is. Elizabeth Richards didn't make a clear voice for Natalie and Ash, so there were times that I was slipping up on who was telling the story. Some books establish a pattern with the whole dual perspectives idea, and the book started off that way (every other chapter, Ash would narrate; same for Natalie), but then got all jumbled up and difficult to discern from whom the events were being perceived. As far as actual dialogue goes for the story, there was a sense of realism, but I do not think at all that the dialogue had this massive spotlight shining on it, for it really didn't stick out to me. I'd like there to be these intense, important conversations happening between characters, and I feel like we didn't get those in this book, and it was a disappointment.
The second division of my review is the plot. The story revolves around a post-war city that has been split up by a World War-esque wall that separates the humans from the Darklings. What the Darklings are, I'm not entirely sure, even after reading the book. They're basically vampires and werewolves mixed together, and that definitely lowered the appeal of the book to me. From the first chapter, I thought the book was going to be some Fifty Shades of Grey for Teens, but I was proven wrong by page 50. I was glad that the plot wasn't so reliable on the sex appeal of Ash, who is obviously the object of Natalie's affection. However, it would be false to say that the plot was not dependent on romance. Going into the story, the plot and the world had so much potential. I mean, I don't read a lot of strongly-written stories of segregation and towns that are walking on eggshells based on their citizens' isolation from one another. There's this looming feeling that if the wall crumbles, all hell will break loose, for the humans hold strong prejudices against Darklings, and will go to extremes to avoid them. I was really hoping for more information on the war. If anything with a post-war story, readers NEVER get details about the war. For example, Legend by Marie Lu, and Cinder by Marissa Meyer, are two of my very favorite books, but they are both post-war stories, and the wars are never developed. If you're going to have a story so centered around the aftermath of a war, please evaluate on the war, its catalysts, its goings-on, etc. Why even have the war if you aren't going to mention it, aside from passing comments and tiny bits of exposition. For all I care, have the book take place after all of Wal-Mart closes down across the country, but keep the outcome; a city split by hatred and disgust. Really, at this point, they're both of equal significance to me. There are specific moments where the wall has extreme importance (and it really does matter in the whole of the story), and those moments gave me literal chills and bursts of excitement, but I just wish that it was highlighted more. Touching briefly on the arc of the plot, the novel had a clear, defined arc, and things made sense in the order that they did. Fast-pacing was good in this book, and while the conflict of the book is definitely not what I expected (the book relies a lot more on the interaction between characters), I still think it worked.
Rounding out the review will be character development. I'd first like to say that the romance in this book started out very undeveloped. I mean I didn't feel anything at all when Ash's big reveal came about a third of the way into the book, pertaining to their romance. For once, I'd just like to read a book where romance doesn't come into play until later in the story, or even the series for that matter. I definitely loved that about Harry Potter. The first bit of actual infatuation coming to fruition is in Order of the Phoenix, when Harry is dating Cho, and even a bit when Ginny is dating Michael Corner. We spend four books not having, and not needing, romance, and it entered the story at the right time. For books like this, I would have liked more interaction between the characters, and not just this sudden love for each other because they felt like two halves of the same person. I just thought it was pathetic, and it developed over the course of the story, but definitely meant nothing to me at its initial creation. Like I said, the characters did not have a set voice, and that took a toll on their internal characterization, yet I think that the only characters that had big changes were Natalie's mother, a government official, and Ash. You may be thinking, Omg Natalie doesn't change AT ALL? Wtf, this book's gonna suck. You'd be wrong. Natalie doesn't change, true, but I think that's a good thing. Natalie starts out as this patient, sympathetic, compassionate girl, and those features are not changed by the end of the story. I think that her attitude impacts others, though, and that's very rare in YA fiction, so I value that. I'm glad that she didn't become this action heroine or a bratty, rebellious bitch to her mother, for it wouldn't have made sense. So while the characterization did wind up all over the board in some cases, it redeemed itself in some aspects.
Black City is the first in a trilogy, and is set to be released on November 13, 2012.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Robert Sheehan joins cast of 'City of Bones' as Simon
Misfits star Robert Sheehan has joined the cast of City of Bones as Clary's nerd-gone-vampire best friend, Simon!
Simon's casting completes the trifecta of major characters, so what are your thoughts?
Monday, July 9, 2012
'City of Bones' film teaser poster released!
Today on her Tumblr, Cassandra Clare released the official teaser poster for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones! Take a gander:
If you'll notice, the 'o' in 'of' is a rune, which shows that they'll be of at least some recognition in the film.
So are you excited or what? Do you like the way that they're sticking to how the book's title treatment looks, but adding a little bit of movie magic to it?
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones will be released in theatres August 23, 2013.
If you'll notice, the 'o' in 'of' is a rune, which shows that they'll be of at least some recognition in the film.
So are you excited or what? Do you like the way that they're sticking to how the book's title treatment looks, but adding a little bit of movie magic to it?
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones will be released in theatres August 23, 2013.
Philip Seymour Hoffman cast as Plutarch Heavensbee in 'Catching Fire'
It's official! We have our Plutarch Heavensbee! Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Big Lebowski, Moneyball) has been confirmed via the official Hunger Games Facebook page (on a very fancy new rendition of the Tribute reveal page) to play the Head Gamemaker and rebellion leader, Plutarch Heavensbee, in the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins's Catching Fire.
Now that casting is finally having confirmations, I think we can expect a release from Lionsgate SOON regarding Jena Malone as Johanna, and casting for fan-favorites like Finnick, Mags, Beetee, etc.
What are your thoughts?
Now that casting is finally having confirmations, I think we can expect a release from Lionsgate SOON regarding Jena Malone as Johanna, and casting for fan-favorites like Finnick, Mags, Beetee, etc.
What are your thoughts?
Friday, July 6, 2012
Kevin Durand and Robert Maillet join the cast of 'The Mortal Instruments'
Kevin Durand (Real Steel) and Robert Maillet (Sherlock Holmes) are joining the cast of City of Bones as Pangborn and Blackwell, respectively.
Yeah...
So, not to sound cruel, but I don't really care! I'm pretty sure (I first read CoB way back in 2009) that both of them die in the end, and they are such minor characters! But, my bitterness aside, what do you guys think? Obviously we're still waiting for much bigger characters like Valentine, Jocelyn, Simon, Alec, Magnus, Hodge, etc. Congratulations to both actors, though, it's a big project!
Yeah...
So, not to sound cruel, but I don't really care! I'm pretty sure (I first read CoB way back in 2009) that both of them die in the end, and they are such minor characters! But, my bitterness aside, what do you guys think? Obviously we're still waiting for much bigger characters like Valentine, Jocelyn, Simon, Alec, Magnus, Hodge, etc. Congratulations to both actors, though, it's a big project!
Pottermore Slytherins to get the first peek at 'Chamber of Secrets'
Unsurprisingly, the 'big surprise' that the winners of the House Cup will receive in--as speculated--the first peek at the Chamber of Secrets book on Pottermore. The Pottermore Insider reported today that the Slytherins would get to explore the book, but that the other Houses will be able to read it 24 hours later.
Congratulations to the Slytherins! Please don't spoil the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs!
Congratulations to the Slytherins! Please don't spoil the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
COVER REVEAL | Marissa Meyer's 'SCARLET'
Exciting stuff is happening everywhere and everyday now, it seems! USA TODAY revealed the cover for the second book in Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, SCARLET, as well as providing an interview and excerpt! We also interviewed Marissa Meyer, and you can check out that interview on iTunes! Just search for The Potter People, subscribe, and download 'The One with Marissa Meyer.' As for now, here's the stunning cover to Marissa Meyer's upcoming novel, Scarlet.
To read the interview with Meyer, as well as the excerpt from Scarlet, click here, and be sure to let us know what you think of the cover!
To read the interview with Meyer, as well as the excerpt from Scarlet, click here, and be sure to let us know what you think of the cover!
Pottermore update: Slytherin wins the Inaugural Pottermore House Cup; 'Chamber of Secrets' to be 'unlocked very soon!'
Today, July 5, was the day that Pottermore presented its inaugural House Cup to the House with the most points, which--throughout Pottermore's first year, was Slytherin. Congratulations to the Slytherin House!
Also something very interesting is that, if you click on Book 2 Chapter 1 on the site, a message comes up that says that Chamber of Secrets will be 'unlocked very soon!' This is a step-up considering nothing used to happen when you clicked on any CoS chapters, so we can expect book 2 hopefully by the end of the month!
Are you excited for Chamber of Secrets? What House are you in on Pottermore? Let us know in the comments below!
Also something very interesting is that, if you click on Book 2 Chapter 1 on the site, a message comes up that says that Chamber of Secrets will be 'unlocked very soon!' This is a step-up considering nothing used to happen when you clicked on any CoS chapters, so we can expect book 2 hopefully by the end of the month!
Are you excited for Chamber of Secrets? What House are you in on Pottermore? Let us know in the comments below!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Review | 'The Book of Blood and Shadow'
The Book of Blood and Shadow
Robin Wasserman
440 pg., U.S. hardcover
Random House
4 stars | B
From Goodreads:
It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.
But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora’s best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora’s sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.
Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.
Alright, let's see if I can properly review this beast of a book, both externally and internally.
Essentially, The Book of Blood and Shadow was definitely not what I expected. I'm not really sure what I expected from a book like this, but it didn't meet my expectations to the fullest. That said, the novel has a good story, superb writing, and alright characters, so that is where I base my review, but bare in mind that the book is not at all what I was expecting, and that fact may or may not pop up once or twice in this review.
Kicking off with the story's writing, the book has a very unique style, unique to its own genre, not unique to its author. The writing style is very similar to both a contemporary YA novel, and also a myserty novel along the likes of The Da Vinci Code. It's got a writing style built for plot intricacy, so those two things definitely went hand-in-hand. As always, I'll analyze the pacing for you real quick. I thought the pacing in TBoBaS was a little all over the board. It started out pretty nicely, then slowed down, picked up by a ton, and then slowed down once more, and then finally picked up again, and that's where the book was beginning to lose me. While I was reading the book, I'd never want to put it down, but when I did, I'd never want to pick it back up again. I'm not sure why, but it may be because I knew that I would get bored, then excited, then bored, then excited once more, and I didn't want that from this book. I wanted a thrilling, emotional rollercoaster of this near-amazing novel, but that just isn't what I got. The book definitely isn't for everyone, so I do warn those going in that it's very attention-demanding.
Moving on to the plot of the story, like I said, the plot is very complex and intricate, and that worked well with the writing style. The plot revolves around these letters that the main character is translating from their original language, so you've really got to pay attention to those. Some things are spelled out for the reader, others are not, and I supposed it's for the best, but I wish that more things in a complex story like this would be recapped and made clear...for the reader's sake. Apart from that, there isn't a whole lot to cover from the plot besides its arc. The story definitely had an arc, especially considering the first line had to do with the climax and resolution, as well as the inciting incident, I suppose. The arc is there, but you've really got to be paying attention to see it. The book isn't challenging, but it definitely isn't a breeze.
Ending off with the characterisation in the story, I really only cared for the development of Nora, which I felt was pretty weak compared to how it could have gone. Some other characters displayed glimpses of development, but the development of Nora was vital to the story, and this is where I think the first-person narrative became a downfall. Having the story be told from Nora's perspective made me forget she was even there, so it was hard to identify development in her character when I wasn't paying any mind to her presence. I felt like I was just reading about the Hjafgaghsflgjhasfg or whatever they're called, as well as mentions of Chris, Eli, Adriane, etc. The characterisation was definitely the book's weakest link, and that had to pay a price in my review.
Robin Wasserman
440 pg., U.S. hardcover
Random House
4 stars | B
From Goodreads:
It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.
But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora’s best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora’s sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.
Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.
Alright, let's see if I can properly review this beast of a book, both externally and internally.
Essentially, The Book of Blood and Shadow was definitely not what I expected. I'm not really sure what I expected from a book like this, but it didn't meet my expectations to the fullest. That said, the novel has a good story, superb writing, and alright characters, so that is where I base my review, but bare in mind that the book is not at all what I was expecting, and that fact may or may not pop up once or twice in this review.
Kicking off with the story's writing, the book has a very unique style, unique to its own genre, not unique to its author. The writing style is very similar to both a contemporary YA novel, and also a myserty novel along the likes of The Da Vinci Code. It's got a writing style built for plot intricacy, so those two things definitely went hand-in-hand. As always, I'll analyze the pacing for you real quick. I thought the pacing in TBoBaS was a little all over the board. It started out pretty nicely, then slowed down, picked up by a ton, and then slowed down once more, and then finally picked up again, and that's where the book was beginning to lose me. While I was reading the book, I'd never want to put it down, but when I did, I'd never want to pick it back up again. I'm not sure why, but it may be because I knew that I would get bored, then excited, then bored, then excited once more, and I didn't want that from this book. I wanted a thrilling, emotional rollercoaster of this near-amazing novel, but that just isn't what I got. The book definitely isn't for everyone, so I do warn those going in that it's very attention-demanding.
Moving on to the plot of the story, like I said, the plot is very complex and intricate, and that worked well with the writing style. The plot revolves around these letters that the main character is translating from their original language, so you've really got to pay attention to those. Some things are spelled out for the reader, others are not, and I supposed it's for the best, but I wish that more things in a complex story like this would be recapped and made clear...for the reader's sake. Apart from that, there isn't a whole lot to cover from the plot besides its arc. The story definitely had an arc, especially considering the first line had to do with the climax and resolution, as well as the inciting incident, I suppose. The arc is there, but you've really got to be paying attention to see it. The book isn't challenging, but it definitely isn't a breeze.
Ending off with the characterisation in the story, I really only cared for the development of Nora, which I felt was pretty weak compared to how it could have gone. Some other characters displayed glimpses of development, but the development of Nora was vital to the story, and this is where I think the first-person narrative became a downfall. Having the story be told from Nora's perspective made me forget she was even there, so it was hard to identify development in her character when I wasn't paying any mind to her presence. I felt like I was just reading about the Hjafgaghsflgjhasfg or whatever they're called, as well as mentions of Chris, Eli, Adriane, etc. The characterisation was definitely the book's weakest link, and that had to pay a price in my review.
Jena Malone offered role of Johanna Mason in 'Catching Fire'
Just today I was bugged that we still hadn't received any definite casting for Catching Fire, and BAM! The Hollywood Reporter reports that Jena Malone (Sucker Punch) has been offered the role of Johanna Mason in Catching Fire, and is in primary negotiations for the role. It was previously reported that Zoe Aggeliki was a step above Malone in the race, but apparently that is now false.
What are your thoughts? At this point in time, I'm not really all that excited about casting anymore because a lot of it has turned out to be a fluke or just simply misinformation, but let's hope that we get a confirmation from Lionsgate soon! I'm all for Jena Malone playing Johanna!
What are your thoughts? At this point in time, I'm not really all that excited about casting anymore because a lot of it has turned out to be a fluke or just simply misinformation, but let's hope that we get a confirmation from Lionsgate soon! I'm all for Jena Malone playing Johanna!
'The Casual Vacancy' cover released!
Finally, the cover for J.K. Rowling's first adult novel, The Casual Vacancy, was released via Little, Brown, the book's publishing company, on its website. The cover, shown below, radiates a very classic style to it, dissimilar to Rowling's Potter books.
Little, Brown also updated much of the information surrounding the book, including a bit of the summary:
When Barry Fairbrother 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?
A big novel about a small town, The Casual Vacancy is J. K. Rowling’s first novel for adults. It is the work of a storyteller like no other.
Interestingly enough, the catalyst character of the story is now called Barry Fairbrother, rather than Barry Fairweather. Little, Brown claims that all previous press releases were essentially typos. Do you believe this, or perhaps did Jo make a last-minute 'Find & Replace'-esque change to his name?
Little, Brown also reports that The Casual Vacancy will clock in at 512 pages (Squee!).
The Casual Vacancy's audiobook will be narrated by Tom Hollander.
In America, The Casual Vacancy will retail at $35 (hardcover), $39 (large-print hardcover), $29.99 (eBook), $29.98 (audio download), $44.98 (audiobook).
Little, Brown also updated much of the information surrounding the book, including a bit of the summary:When Barry Fairbrother 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?
A big novel about a small town, The Casual Vacancy is J. K. Rowling’s first novel for adults. It is the work of a storyteller like no other.
Interestingly enough, the catalyst character of the story is now called Barry Fairbrother, rather than Barry Fairweather. Little, Brown claims that all previous press releases were essentially typos. Do you believe this, or perhaps did Jo make a last-minute 'Find & Replace'-esque change to his name?
Little, Brown also reports that The Casual Vacancy will clock in at 512 pages (Squee!).
The Casual Vacancy's audiobook will be narrated by Tom Hollander.
In America, The Casual Vacancy will retail at $35 (hardcover), $39 (large-print hardcover), $29.99 (eBook), $29.98 (audio download), $44.98 (audiobook).
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