Prince of Thorns (The Broken Empire) by Mark Lawrence

Rating 4- Would recommend it to everyone
PLOT:

Once a privileged royal child, raised by a loving mother, Jorg Ancrath has become the Prince of Thorns, a charming, immoral boy leading a grim band of outlaws in a series of raids and atrocities. The world is in chaos: violence is rife, nightmares everywhere. Jorg's bleak past has set him beyond fear of any man, living or dead, but there is still one thing that puts a chill in him. Returning to his father's castle Jorg must confront horrors from his childhood and carve himself a future with all hands turned against him.

This book blew me away. 
One thing I loved about this novel is its unique protagonist, Honorous Jorg Ancrath, a prince who saw enough bloodshed to make him ran away from his home to seek for vengeance in a most brutal, wild, motivation. Willing to sacrifice any of his comrades, use necromancy and dirty tactics. 
Oh and one thing that came out cool for me is he is just thirteen years of age, like WHOOAAA a teenage genius, who had killed too many men for his age, been in too many fights, and on a path to becoming an Emperor? This is one neat prince. 
I dont understand how some book reviewers were having reactions like "revulsion" at Jorg's evil cold-hearted manner, I enjoyed it. I understand how Jorg would want to make his mother and brother's killer to suffer, If were to have a saintly mother, and a brother with an angelic face, AND a father who doesnt care (and him being a king and all) , I would have put justice into my own hands as well. Jorg ceased to be a child when he was forced to see his loved one dying in a most brutal manner, in the company of thorns and hopelessness.
It is quite funny how people take Jorg for granted just becuase he's a kid, like haha he kills! he kills!! reminds me of Madoka Magica's Kyubey, looks can be deceiving.

Wanna watch a movie with me?

The flashbacks and action scenes were nicely written too, wont make any readers feel confused. This novel had been a good read, and I am so happy to hear that the second 
Since this is the first book of a trilogy; This novel had been a good read, and I am so happy to hear that the second book would show Jorg being more mature. The young reckless Jorg was fun, but its nice to see some character growth, so now, I will gladly wait for the next two novels. 

The Toyminator by Robert Rankin

Rating: 4-Would recommend it to everyone
PLOT

Somewhere over the rainbow and beyond the Yellow Brick Road stands Toy City, formerly known as Toy Town. And things are not going well for the city’s inhabitants. There have been outbreaks of STC—Spontaneous Toy Combustion—and strange signs and portents in the Heavens. Preachers of Toy City’s many religions are predicting that the End Times are nigh and that a Toy City Apocalypse will soon come to pass. But can it be true? Or is there a simple explanation—alien invasion, for instance? With the body count rising and the forces of law and order baffled, it’s time for a hero to step forward and save the day. Well, two heroes actually. Eddie Bear, Toy City Private Eye, and his loyal sidekick, Jack. And they are about to face their biggest challenge yet—to save not only toykind, but mankind as well.

Yep you read the description right. Toy City is a world of toys, like literally walking, living talking toys.It is actually the sequel to The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse,but once again, I read the sequel first and havent got the time to read the first one.Yep, can't tame me


So anyway, the novel starts with Eddie Bear , a teddy bear, once upon a time mayor of Toy City itself. With Jack ( of Jack and Jill only, they kind of well, drifted apart) decided to 'open' their detective agency once more to investigate the muders around Toy City; thus discovering they have dopplegangers who suck the life off the victims.


Then the adventure begins: flirting, wallets, grenades and UFOs. They followed their alien dopplegangers through "The Second Big O" which on the other side proves to be the "O" of Hollywood sign.They have finally came to our world so to speak.


The aliens it turns out were chickens! Chickens planning to take over the land of men. 
aww that had been a pleasant treat for me, I was actually already hoping for something unexpected, I mean the novel started with a walking talking teddy bear after all; but I was still surprised with the chicken part like \(n_n)/ 

yep yep this are the alien chickens,evil chickens

The novel had ended well, I enjoyed the fight scenes and the asurdity of imagining a chicken head off a teddy bear body (becuase beneath their doppleganger's faces were chickens just wearing mascots). So all in all, It a pretty funny, weird and enjoyable read. It is not really homourous all throughout mind you, but nicely paced and fun enough to continue reading, plus it's a great way to exercise your imagination.

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Rating: 4-Would recommend it to everyone
PLOT:

My name is Kvothe. I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. You may have heard of me... So begins the tale of a hero told from his own point of view—a story unequalled in fantasy literature...

ahh the story of Kvothe the Bloodless, who gets orphaned, gets educated and became a sword brandishing hero. This novel is actually the second part of The Kingkiller Chronicles, but I haven't read the first one.

The novel has everything, it begins with Kvothe, now an innkeeper telling his audience, the Chronicler and Bast, his story as he went through his studies, his intelligence , his escapades, his travels and love life.
There is more to his story of course but a summary is tiring since this book has about more that 900 pages.Took me a long time to get through

check out this fanart i saw in deviantart, real cool this is exactly how i imagined kvothe to look like

I dont like Kvothe, he's alright though, annoying, hot tempered, kind still and really wise, but I dont feel any warmth towards him. Yet I like all the other characters actually, I also love the detailed descriptions of the places our hero had been to-the University, The Archives, Maer's kingdom, etc etc.
But those seems to be just for entertainment purposes, so many things had happened and I dont know how it would all add up to one solid plot, so as for now I have no idea how the 3rd novel would be, no expectations, no hints.

But I hate the part of the Adem and all the Lethani is painfully boring...sorry it is just weird to s ee some deep philosophy, but it did helped Kvothe with his fighting prowess, so i can forgive

Rothfuss is truly one of the best writers.The world he made is perfect, amazing, created realistic characters, It is still a fantastic read and worth the time, no wonder it is such a commercial success.

Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews

Rating: 4-Would recommend it to everyone

PLOT

The four Dollanganger children had such perfect lives -- a beautiful mother, a doting father, a lovely home. Then Daddy was killed in a car accident, and Momma could no longer support the family. So she began writing letters to her parents, her millionaire parents, whom the children had never heard of before.

Momma tells the children all about their rich grandparents, and how Chris and Cathy and the twins will live like princes and princesses in their grandparents' fancy mansion. The children are only too delighted by the prospect. But there are a few things that Momma hasn't told them.

She hasn't told them that their grandmother considers them "devil's spawn" who should never have been born. She hasn't told them that she has to hide them from their grandfather if she wants to inherit his fortune. She hasn't told them that they are to be locked away in an abandoned wing of the house with only the dark, airless attic to play in. But, Momma promises, it's only for a few days....

Then the days stretch into months, and the months into years. Desperately isolated, terrified of their grandmother, and increasingly convinced that their mother no longer cares about them, Chris and Cathy become all things to the twins and to each other. They cling to their love as their only hope, their only strength -- a love that is almost stronger than death.

Certainly, the book that started it all: Dollanganger Saga. It puts soap operas and telenovelas to shame. VC Andrews was said that the story was based on a true one just so you know

Anyways "Momma" here is  Corrine, her story could be read in Garden of Shadows (i know right? so greeny), but i will just spoil just the same, we need some background when we want to discuss Flowers in the Attic. The prequel was about how Corrine grew up in a  wealthy family, being the only girl and a beautiful one too, her father was possessive of her to the point of chasing away any potential friendships and suitors, seeing them as unworthy of his daughter's time. But then came Corrine's half uncle (get it? half brother of his father) whom she fell in love with.

Oh the novel was really mainstream that time, they made a movie, but it was shit so don't bother 

Her parents, religious fanatics as they were, disinherited their daughter for marrying the man she loves. So the couple went their way and able to have four -ok here's the annoying part- charming, physically perfect children, an almost perfect life. but POOF dad was killed in the car wreck.

Corrine being brought up in wealth and splendor is not used to work and hardship and made the decision to go back to her parents and ask for forgiveness.

Cathy the narrator of Flower in the Attic, was still twleve when the four children was first locked up in there, with their mother promising of coming back and finally be able to introduce them to her father after she is forgiven.

And it seems it took Corrine a long time to be forgiven since the children were stuck in the attic for years right? Nasty Grandmother + Nasty House + Nasty mother + Hormones + Melodrama

The tale goes on a twisted route, with Momma Corrine drowning in the evilness of money, having boyfriends and poisoning her children. Yep literally poisoning her children. I wont hold that information to myself, hate her,people hate her. Also Cathy and Christopher were having trouble with lust and their twins brother and sister are deteriorating.

The end I m happy to tell you they escaped, its up to you to know how, but they escaped.

But their story doesn't end there

It is for the other books in the series and they are should we say, also filled with misery and hardships. Want me to elaborate? suicide, death, betrayal, adultery, miscarriage. 

So I just want to talk about this one, its not a walk in the park reading this, but its not boring.

But of course this novel is such that couldn't be accepted as good literature, this is just for gothic entertainment purposes, I Rated this as 4, because macabre and ugly as it is, I still want people to know their story, I don't know why, but beneath all the absurdly narration, there lies a simple kind of sad truth: Evil comes in many ways

btw I read this in wiki " In episode 21 season 4 of Gossip Girl, Serena's cousin Charlie says Flowers In The Attic was her favorite book as a child."

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Rating 2- Almost Good, Some parts are messy but bearable
PLOT:

“In the beginning we were nine.We left when we were very young, almost too young to remember. Almost. And now . . .Three are gone.We are here to keep our race alive, which was almost entirely obliterated. We’re just trying to survive.

Six are left.But we are hunted, and the hunters won’t stop until they’ve killed us all.They caught Number One in Malaysia.Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya.

I am Number Four.

I know that I am next.”

I hope so...Anyway, so I read this novel for the sake of knowing what made it turn into a movie, haven't seen the movie too, so I will judge this book by what I read

As you could see I gave it 2. I am irritated by this book. sorry for fans out there, but for this novel is just ARRRGH. Yes, the plot is nice, Fast paced and the action scenes are precious, BUT I still don't think it has given its best

First I blame John/Four for Henri's death. Henri wanted to get away already but John did what? used his powers to make his guardian 'understand' that he is happy and sick of moving blah blah blah. And his reason? because he finally found a good friend in Sam, had fallen in love with Sarah blah blah blah. John, excuse me but you are like what? 15 years old? and there is like a whole army intent to kill you. 


Also its amazing how Sarah and Mark are still alive after fighting Mogadorians, where had the superpowers of the enemy gone to? Mogadorians easily killed the Garde of Lorien and couldn't even kill two humans?


And what's with John not seeing Bernie Kosar as one of Lorien's animals? God, John had dreamed of these animals, saw one of Bernie, though in a different form, playing with him as a child, and it took him the last minute before realizing what it really is? Come on John.


The worse thing in the entire book: John and Sarah's "love story". So yeah John is the new kid and likes the cheerleader/photographer because Sarah is just so pretty and kind, yep I could accept that. But then John kicks Sarah's ex Mark off and POOF they finally have a perfect I'll-Love-You-Always relationship. 

hey, Sarah run sarah! ruuuun!!!

They did not even had a major fight or whatever in their 3 months together, their I love yous feel cheesy and when John revealed he's some kind of alien with monsters waiting to kill him she just went like believed him, no buts, no doubts. AND I THOUGHT TWILIGHT WAS BAD


The best thing about the book on the other had are my three fave characters: Sam, Henri and Bernie Kosar, because they feel real to me and lovable and thinks for other people's sake rather than their own

Well, that's that, the first part was really good actually, but in the end I felt disappointed and annoyed

The Princess Curse by Marie Haskell

Rating: 4-Would recommend it to everyone

PLOT:

Twelve princesses suffer from a puzzling—and downright silly—curse. Ridiculous though the curse may be, whoever breaks it will win a handsome reward. 

Sharp-witted Reveka, an herbalist’s apprentice, has little use for princesses, with their snooty attitudes and impractical clothing. She does, however, have use for the reward money that could buy her a position as a master herbalist. 

But curses don’t like to be broken, and Reveka’s efforts lead her to deeper mysteries. As she struggles to understand the curse, she meets a shadowy stranger (as charming as he is unsettling) and discovers a blighted land in desperate need of healing. Soon the irreverent apprentice is faced with a daunting choice—will she break the curse at the peril of her own soul?

The Princess Curse is is one addition to story retellings that had been read over the years.

However this version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses is actually just a part element of the whole story for it also has its share of Beauty and The Beast, as well as Greek Mythology.This is simply a impressive rendition. It even introduced me to this Romanian mythological creature called zmeu

if you ever had problem in imagining him, lol like i did,just stare at this red colored beauty

The narration tends to be slow and some political issues are told in a boring manner, but hey you're the reader, so skip and go to the meaty parts.

Anyway Reveka sacrificed herself and agreed to be the zmeu's wife, thus saving her father and the princesses. She then lived in the Underworld, a world of total darkness and discovered how the dark kingdom of souls suffer from deterioration that she could, in a way, help to stop.

Reveka and the zmeu had a quiet, civil relationship that grew with Reveka able to understand Frumos' (zmeu's name) problems. 

All in all, the book isnt perfect, but the way the plot was presented was nice and the later part of the whole story showed maturity and understanding. Yep its squeaky clean, nice romance for Frumos and Reveka too, something that is realistic for a 14 year old to experience.

And now for me, I am lusting for one thing : a sequel.

I have read books before that has open endings that is up to you and all, but the ending Haskell gave the readers is not satisfactory,  you know how that feels? The ending is quite good and win-win I tell you, nothing to be worried about. But still I want Reveka’s adventures to continue. The publisher however hinted he will ask more if the sales are good, and I hope it does \(n_n)/

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Rating: 4-Would recommend it to everyone
PLOT:

 Book trailer here

In this mischievous and utterly original debut, Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales. As readers follow the siblings through a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses, and outwitted witches.

Fairy tales have never been more irreverent or subversive as Hansel and Gretel learn to take charge of their destinies and become the clever architects of their own happily ever after

One of the best known fairy tales Gidwitz was able to create a horrifying yet clever narration of Hansel and Gretel, also featuring less known tales such as "Faithful Johannes" and "The Seven Swallows". As Gidwitz babbles on, he keeps on interrupting the reader with humor and warnings, of course since this book has parents chopping off their own children's heads and putting them on later and are alive once again! Statues coming to life,  facing Hell and The Devil (and its mother), fighting dragons, talking raindrops, even the moon eats children:

i know...creepy

No children in reality would of course endure what Gidwitz's Hansel and Gretel experienced, but A Tale Dark and Grimm tells us a lesson that children are not always as innocent and as stupid, and fairytales can be awesome.

A tribute to the Dragon Lady, Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey had made a significant role and leaves behind a tremendous legacy in Sci-Fi, her passing is a great loss, But her worlds and words would stay.

I first read one of her novels "The Dragon Singer" one of the Harper Hall trilogy, which in turn is part of the world of Dragonriders of Pern. We were in some book sale in a mall, while I was browsing through the shelves my mom bought it for me without my idea ( She only permitted me one book that time ) 
I was irritated of course, I want to choose my novels my own way, but of course my mother was in a hurry and I have no other choice but to read it

Back at home I realized how fancy the cover of the book was and decided to give it a chance

Of course, If any of you had read any of McCaffrey's novels, this one had been enjoyable, I came to really like the dragons, loved Piemur and just adored all the other characters.Anne was truly amazing at making them feel real, like sometimes-im-annoying-sometimes-good real.

It wasn't full of action or adventure as what most Dragon-themed novels were, instead it shows the humble story of one musically inclined Sea-holden girl named Menolly as she rises to become a respected journey woman owning 9 fire lizards (like mini dragons).
It made me look for the other two of the Harper Hall trilogy, read the whole lot and enjoyed them too
It has it flaws of course, Menolly's parents are just annoying, some characters only appeared once, I didnt understand Lessa.

SO, I finally decided to do some book hunting for the The Dragonriders of Pern, of course I did not find a single copy in bookstores, so I went for the secondhand ones and the books sales, took me two years to complete the two trilogies plus two more McCaffrey novels
Yep I'm a fan, forever will be.
So yeah, her death is really devastating, but well she had a good long life, written books full of imagination and
Some are new fans, some are recommending her books to new generations, some remember them as childhood memories. she can't be easily forgotten.

Thank you Fare well Dragonlady (1926-2011)

What kind of book blogger will I be?

First, I am not a good critic/reviewer, So the next posts I will do would come directly from my personal opinions and feelings. I tell the honest truth whether it's good or bad, so it may not agree with other readers, but I want to stay true to my own words 

Second I want to rate books based on my own rating scale \(n_n)/

1- Boring, Badly written, Useless, Abandon it while you still can

2- Almost Good, Some parts are messy but bearable

3- Good, Average, Alright, you name it

4- Would recommend it to everyone

5- Got to have a copy. Gotta reread forever

I am going to use the ones above of course, and try to stick to them through out the blog.

Hello World!! A NEW BLOG! yep for my bookwormy desires

 To distract myself from tiresome thoughts, I have only to resort to books; they easily draw my mind to themselves and away from other things. ~ Michel Montaigne

I have always wanted to do a Literature/ book review blog.
I always have some excuses against my goal of having one like schedules, stressful life and laziness
But now that I'm college already i realized that I must be mature and responsible enough to add another one more blog to moderate

The thing is, I am a HUGE book lover, I've read most of Nancy Drews when I was 10, LOTR came for me when I was 12, books, encyclopedias, you name, I grew up with them

I guess I should thank my mom for all the pages I've read through these years, she's the reason why I had this passion, but haha I believe she is regretting her efforts to force me to read early because now I have the worst eyesight.

So anyway, I want to share stories and book reviews about the novels, ebooks, non fictions, fairy tales, urban myths that I had came about.

Now the adventure of the bookworm begins \(n_n)/