tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904261209251161562024-02-20T02:16:45.527+11:00Books From MarsN.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-9885620777166802482015-11-26T10:20:00.000+11:002015-11-26T10:20:05.604+11:00From a High Tower (The Elemental Masters, #11)<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1433774780l/25687665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1433774780l/25687665.jpg" width="262" /></a><b>From a High Tower</b><br />
<b>by Mercedes Lackey</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Pages:</b> 320 pages, paperback<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Publication:</b> June 22, 2015/Titan Books<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Source:</b> eARC<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise:</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When a man is caught stealing from a walled garden owned by a strange woman, he bargains away his youngest daughter in return for food for his family. The woman, rumored to be a witch, takes the golden-haired child and locks her away in a high tower. Sixteen years later, Giselle has lived an isolated life, but her adoptive mother has trained her in Air magic, and Giselle must use her new skills on a quest to avenge her broken heart...</span></blockquote>
<br />
I was expecting great things from this. Mercedes Lackey is a goddess in fantasy fiction, so I stumbled in expecting to be awed. How wrong I was. I thought that with so many books under her belt that she'd have flawless writing and pacing, and no flat characters, but there you go.<br />
I'm writing this weeks after I'd read it, and I honestly couldn't read her name, until I looked the information on Goodreads.<br />
<br />
Basically, Giselle, being the best shot in all the land (of course..... *eye roll*) gets taken in by a circus troop. Among the troop are a bunch of Native Americans touring with the hopes of getting enough money to buy back their land back in America. I'm not sure I want to comment on the way that these Native Americans are treated, since I'm not one myself. I'lll leave it up to the Native Americans to decide for themselves.<br />
<br />
Three quarters of the book was detailed description of Giselle's life in the circus, from the travelling, to the cleaning of her guns, to every single conversation, and every single circus performance. It was tedious and so so boring. I was expecting a retelling of Rapunzel, yet those features only show up in the first dozen or so pages of the book, and during the very rushed ending.<br />
<br />
All in all, I was severely disappointed. And due to this book being her, like, 20th or even 30th book, I don't think I'm interested in reading anything else by her.<br />
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two sad clouds</div>
N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-69009275432610821162015-09-17T14:47:00.000+10:002015-09-17T14:47:42.741+10:00Review: The Thief<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427740839l/448873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427740839l/448873.jpg" width="265" /></a><b>The Thief</b><br />
<b>by Megan Whalen Turner</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Pages: </b>280, paperback<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Publisher: </b>Greenwillow Books<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Date Published: </b>December 2005 (first published in 1996)<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Source:</b> library<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise: </b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The king's scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king's prison. The magus is interested only in the thief's abilities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">What Gen is interested in is anyone's guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of the old gods and goddesses.</span></blockquote>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
"I can steal anything," so says Gen, the best thief in the land, yet he can't steal himself from prison. When the magus decides to free Gen on the condition of finding a rare, ancient artefact, Gen has no no other choice than to comply.<br />
<br />
I think the world building is on point. It is so rich, and the fables of the gods and goddesses feel real and magical. I want to immerse myself into the world, stay there forever. Which is awesome that there are several more books in the series.<br />
<br />
This is the kind of book where nothing happens for the first hundred pages, except for the party traveling from point A to point B, much like in <i>Lord of the Rings</i>. If you don't mind that sort of thing, then this book is for you; if not, you'll have to slog through the walking and talking and even more walking parts.<br />
<br />
I found the second half of the book to be lacking. I wasn't interested in the adventurous path of the party, I was more interested in the journey. There was just something about Gen being by himself, without the constant companionship of his travel buddies, that was just lonely and monotonous. By himself, Gen was a flat character who boasted to be able to steal things, but we don't actually see it, we're merely told it.<br />
<br />
I just couldn't find myself liking it as much as everyone else did, which is a shame, because I'd been looking forward to this for a long while.<br />
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3 stars</div>
N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-28298737990647624852015-08-27T23:42:00.000+10:002015-08-27T23:43:19.341+10:00Review: The Beast's Garden<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419499329l/23702432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419499329l/23702432.jpg" width="208" /></a><b>The Beast's Garden</b><br />
<b>by Kate Forsyth</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Pages: </b>429, paperback<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Publication:</b> August 3rd, 2015, Random House Australia<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Source:</b> library<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise:</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A retelling of <em>The Beauty and The Beast</em> set in Nazi Germany</strong> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Kate Forsyth retells this German fairy tale as an historical novel set in Germany during the Nazi regime. A young woman marries a Nazi officer in order to save her father, but hates and fears her new husband. Gradually she comes to realise that he is a good man at heart, and part of an underground resistance movement in Berlin called the Red Orchestra. However, her realisation comes too late. She has unwittingly betrayed him, and must find some way to rescue him and smuggle him out of the country before he is killed.</span><em style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The Beast's Garden</em><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> is a compelling and beautiful love story, filled with drama and intrigue and heartbreak, taking place between 1938 and 1943, in Berlin, Germany.</span></blockquote>
<b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> I'm a huge fan of Kate Forsyth, so I was eagerly awaiting this release.<br />
<br />
At first I was a bit weary about this, thinking it would romanticise Nazism, but thankfully--and this is not a spoiler, it's on the back of the book--the nazi soldier is a spy working to assassinate Hitler.<br />
<br />
As always, her writing is gorgeous, though this time I noticed that she used colours to describe noises, and noises to describe colours, which I found artistic and appealing, since the main character, Ava, is a singer.<br />
<br />
But unfortunately, the story failed to grip me. It felt like a traditional romance from the 80's: I love him, but he's a monster, but he's actually just a good guy after all. (The amount of bodice rippers I read with that sort of plot structure is ridiculous).<br />
<br />
Despite my qualms with it, it was a good book. With her gorgeous prose, and her main characters (the rest of the characters got lost in a jumble of German sounds in my head, unfortunately), this book really was a beauty. It's just not something I'd expected after <i>Bitter Greens</i> or <i>Wild Girl</i>. It showed the war within Germany, showing how Germans treated each other during the war: the betrayal, the loss, the unknowing terror. I was mesmerised by how much pain this book showed in both the camps--where most WW2 books are set--and within the very world it all started.<br />
<br />
As for the Beauty and the Beast retelling, you'll find none of that here. He was never a beast, it was always love at first sight, blah blah blah.<br />
<br />
The end was rushed, a swift storm of telling instead of showing which gave me vertigo after Ava's impossible and intense show of bravery.<br />
<br />
I'm confused as to how I feel about it. On the one hand, it's a Kate Forsyth book; on the other, it just didn't make me feel much.<br />
<br />
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<br />N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-69329091457715629732015-08-21T07:50:00.000+10:002015-08-21T13:20:03.329+10:00Feature Follow Friday 21/08<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If you could have any animal in the world as a pet, what would you pick? Fictional ones count too! - Suggested by <a href="http://bookcatpin.blogspot.com/" style="color: #277c9f; text-decoration: none;">Book Cat Pin</a>. </b><br />
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<a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01950/foxes_1950041a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01950/foxes_1950041a.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I would love to have a fox; they're my favourite animals ever. In the next state over there's a charity that adopts and rehomes foxes, and I so so so sooooooo wish I lived there. Either that or pay $9000 for a domesticated fox from Russia >_></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What about you guys? Any thoughts on foxes as pets?</span>N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-45648639747935005812015-08-14T22:51:00.000+10:002015-08-14T22:51:00.125+10:00Feature Follow Friday 14/08<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Feature Follow Friday is hosted by </span><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Parajunkee</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Alison Can Read</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, and is a way to meet and greet new followers.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">So hello any new followers! Feel free to say hi on this post.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #f06199;">If you could have an endless supply of food what would it be? - Suggested by </span><a href="http://nottonightimreading.co.uk/" style="color: #f06199; display: block; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Not Tonight, I'm Reading</a><a href="http://nottonightimreading.co.uk/" style="color: #f06199; display: block; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><br /></a>If I could have an endless supply of tacos and tea, my life would be complete.</b></h3>
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<b>What about you? What foods couldn't you live without?</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://booksfrommars.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/review-nutcracker-bleeds-giveaway.html" target="_blank">And before you go, I'm hosting a giveaway for a dark retelling of The Nutcracker called THE NUTCRACKER BLEEDS.</a></b></div>
N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-40338704556467264972015-08-13T10:45:00.000+10:002015-08-13T10:45:04.537+10:00Review: Retold: Six Fairytales Reimagined<div class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419505695l/24068351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419505695l/24068351.jpg" width="268" /></a><b>Retold: Six Fairytales Reimagined</b></div>
<b>edited by The Book Smugglers</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Pages: </b>145, ebook<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Source:</b> bought ebook<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Publisher:</b> Book Smugglers Publishing<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Released:</b> December 25th, 2014<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise:</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">From Beauty and the Beast to Scheherazade, and Baba Yaga to the North Wind, fairy tales have inspired readers for generations. In </span><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Retold</em><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, six fables from across the globe are re-imagined--with a subversive twist. This anthology collects six short stories from diverse, feminist, and original perspectives. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">- Hunting Monsters by S.L. Huang</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">-In Her Head, In Her Eyes by Yukimi Ogawa </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">- Mrs. Yaga by Michal Wojcik </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">- The Mussel Eater by Octavia Cade </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">- The Astronomer Who Met the North Wind by Kate Hall </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">- The Ninety-Ninth Bride by Catherine F. King </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">These aren't your storybook fairy tales.</span></blockquote>
<b>Hunting Monsters:</b><br />
This was a story that attempted to define the boundaries between good and evil in monsters and humans alike. It describes a world where otherkin have the same rights as humans, whether they're monsters or not. This is a story based loosely on what happens <i>after</i> Little Red Riding Hood, and Beauty and the Beast.<br />
What I loved most about this story was the deviation from a traditional family setting. Xiao Hong lives with her mother, and is raised by both her and an estranged woman whom she calls Auntie Rosa. This alteration in the traditional family setting, as well as creating a Chinese main character in a white, traditional world creates a richer world and makes her mother a far more complex character than previously believed. <br />
Loved it. 5/5 stars<br />
<br />
<b>In Her Head, In Her Eyes</b><br />
Hase is a woman with a pot over her head, covering her eyes. As such, she is ridiculed not only by her fellow servants but the wives of her masters. She comes from the Island, where patterns are made up and people are born with them. Hase has been sent to get inspiration for pattern ideas.<br />
This was certainly an imaginative tale, a retelling of a Japanese tale that I've never heard of.<br />
This story changed tones very quickly, and I found that to be jarring at some points, and as a result, I'm giving it 3/5 stars.<br />
<br />
<b>Mrs Yaga</b><br />
I love that this story uses Polish words; it makes me feel right at home, just like Uprooted did. It also explores a mother-daughter relationship that isn't fully noticeable until the very end, when Aurelia realises that Yaga is sending all those boys on hopeless quests because she knows they're not good enough for her daughter.<br />
It's very reminiscent of <i>Brave</i>, in which the daughter claims herself, instead of letting a boy do it for her.<br />
4/5 stars<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>The Mussel Eater</b><br />
This is a retelling of a Maori myth, which is a category I'm very unfamiliar with. Even so, the tone of the story feels ideally exotic and foreign, yet still familiar enough that I can understand some of the concepts (with Australia being so close to New Zealand).<br />
The story is utterly seductive, with food being a way to seduce--and ultimately, shackle--the Pania. Food is the focal point of the story, with Karitoki attempting to lure the Pania with cooked food and rubbing her with scented oils in a way to <i>humanise</i> her, to make her <i>his</i>. The ending is wonderful, paying homage to the imagery of food, and is a delightfully dark feminist twist.<br />
5/5 stars<br />
<br />
<b>The Astronomer Who Met the North Wind</b><br />
I wasn't too much a fan of this story. It was mainly the constant telling versus showing. That sort of thing feels jarring to me, and I've never really liked it.<br />
The sotry felt rushed, and while it was a beautiful premise with interesting characters--I loved the tricksy North Wind--it never felt fully formed to me.<br />
I liked the honesty of the story, of Minka being defiant of all the people who try to dissuade her from being an astronomer because of her age or because of her gender. Her resistance to this wall of negativity is what drives the story, and I really liked the strength and will she displays.<br />
3/5 stars<br />
<br />
<b>The Ninety-Ninth Bride</b><br />
This was the longest tale, and once again, relied on telling instead of showing. As a retelling of the <i>1001 Nights</i>, of course there's going to be some quick recapping of some of the stories, but it just felt so derivative. The big reveal at the end, though, was what made it stand out.<br />
4/5 starsN.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-60173238855968117852015-08-11T16:08:00.000+10:002015-08-13T10:41:22.270+10:00Review: Finding Audrey<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432588189l/23482825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432588189l/23482825.jpg" width="260" /></a><b>Finding Audrey</b><br />
<b>by Sophie Kinsella</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Pages: </b>288, paperback<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Publisher: </b>Doubleday Children's<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Publication Date: </b>9th June, 2015<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Source: </b>library<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Audrey can't leave the house. she can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start.And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Be prepared to laugh, dream and hope with Audrey as she learns that even when you feel like you have lost yourself, love can still find you . . .</span></blockquote>
<br />
I have severe anxiety. Leaving the house is sometimes a dreaded chore. Talking to people makes me want to cry. Everything feels too much in my brain.<br />
This is how <i>Finding Audrey</i> feels, as well. And it's amazing to finally find a character who is like me in so many ways. To be honest, my anxiety isn't near as bad as Audrey's, but anxiety is anxiety, no matter how bad.<br />
<br />
I kept tearing up at how real her struggle is, because I know what it's like to have a panic attack. I know what it's like to avoid eye contact. I placed myself in Audrey's shoes and it was a brilliant experience.<br />
<br />
Audrey's anxiety makes her unable to look people in the eyes, so she wear big, dark glasses everywhere, even inside the house. Her struggle is real and poignant, and it hurts so much because I know where she's coming from.<br />
<a href="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/11312197_1618286891721385_1267767434_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/11312197_1618286891721385_1267767434_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>I can't look people in the eyes properly, I get shaky when someone talks to me, even if it's a loved one, and I stutter when I speak to people because the words just don't want to come out. I understand her pain, and it makes the novel all the more realistic. It's obvious that Kinsella has researched for this book.<br />
There is one segment in the book where Audrey decides to stop taking her pills, just out of the blue. It takes a careful eye--one that perhaps only someone who takes pills would notice--but her behaviour becomes more erratic and unpredictable. This is the first time in a novel I've seen someone praise the use of medication for mentally unwell people. Most of the time, they stop taking their pills and are all better, but here, Audrey learns that she needs her pills to keep her stable. This was a big selling point for the book.<br />
<br />
Other stellar mentions were the writing: it was fun, lighthearted, and I could barely put it down. This is such a brilliant book, and I love love love it. It's made me want to read more of Sophie Kinsella's books.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cover: 4</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Plot: 4</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Writing: 5</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Characters: 5</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Investment: 5</b> </div>
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<b>4 stars!</b></div>
<br />N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-27611661599665318322015-08-11T15:48:00.000+10:002015-08-11T15:48:44.787+10:00Review: Beauty Queens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1289410187l/9464733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1289410187l/9464733.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<b>Beauty Queens</b><br />
<b>by Libba Bray</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Pages: </b>396, hardcover<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Publisher: </b>Scholastic Press<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Source: </b>own<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise:</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.Written by Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again.</span></blockquote>
<b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> So imagine an episode of LOST with teen beauty pageant models and a dash of <i>Lord of the Flies</i>, and this is basically what you have.<br />
Libba Bray's scathing yet comedic commentary on the perception of beauty, on mega-corporations, on sexism and racism, and so many more is a riot and a half. I had so much fun reading this.<br />
<br />
This was a book that is hardly subtle in its commentary, and for a young adult book, it feels almost revolutionary. I haven't read a book like this that was so feminist in a long time. This is outwardly and proudly feminist and I love it.<br />
At some points of the novel, though, it's a bit heavy-handed. It's already obvious enough what the topics are, but it sometimes lays it on too thick.<br />
<br />
Past the halfway mark, it gets a bit too surreal for my liking, when a ship of pirate actors washes up on shore. It became too ridiculous for me. This is my first Bray novel, though I've read some of her shorter fiction in various YA anthologies, and as far as I can tell, this is similar to another of her novels, <i>Going Bovine</i>, in that it's a surreal ride. I'm not a fan of surrealism. I had enough of it at uni.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfa1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/11374052_413511705523869_1518788806_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfa1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/11374052_413511705523869_1518788806_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>When the pirate actors come into play, even the most steadfast character, Adina, gets easily wooed, and turns into one of the gushy girls she constantly criticises. This sudden about-face was jarring and completely ruined the character for me. It felt like everything that had been so carefully built up had come crashing down.<br />
<br />
Speaking of characters, very few felt fully formed. Most are delegated to their states, and it's difficult to remember who's who. Some are complete tropes, which may or may not be intentional parodies, but either way, it took away from the serious commentaries of the story.<br />
<br />
I ended up skimming the last hundred or so pages, bored out of my mind. I'm definitely not going to check out <i>Going Bovine</i> if it's anything like this, and am side-eyeing her Gemma Doyle trilogy and <i>The Diviners</i>.<br />
<br />
To wrap up, I would have given the first half a solid 5 stars, but in the end, I give it only 2 stars.<br />
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<br />N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-30891202614037789482015-08-10T16:14:00.000+10:002015-08-10T16:14:24.571+10:00Review: A Darker Shade of Magic<div class="tr_bq">
<b>A Darker Shade of Magic</b></div>
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<b><br />
</b> <b>by V. E. Schwab</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Pages: </b>484, paperback<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Publisher: </b>Titan Books<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Date Released: </b>24th February, 2015<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Source:</b> own<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise:</b><br />
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<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.</span></blockquote>
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This book is made of magic. That's all I can say to describe it. Pure, unfiltered magic.<br />
Kell is one of the last of his kind, an <i>Antari</i>, who can travel between the doors of the four dimensions of London. There is Red London, where magic thrives; Grey London, which is our London, where magic is non-existant; White London where the magic is slowly being sapped, and slowly sapping the people in it; and finally, Black London, which was destroyed by the corruption of magic.<br />
This world-building alone makes it a brilliant, fascinating read.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/10684110_109925862686658_422537185_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/10684110_109925862686658_422537185_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Luna loved this book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The characters are compelling: Kell with his many sided coat, who smuggles in contraband between the worlds. Then there is Delilah Bard, aspiring pirate from the Grey world. She was an absolute favourite: she took no shit from anyone, and was willing to be killed if it meant the good of a world she doesn't even call home. She's one of the strongest characters (not just a strong female) I've come across in literature this year, and I aspire to be like her in so many ways.<br />
<br />
The writing was absolutely gorgeous, and I was left rereading passages over and over again, sighing in adoration. Schwab has a poetic flare to her work, and it makes me yearn to read more of her work. So far I've only read her superhero novel, <i>Vicious</i>, and I also highly recommend it.<br />
<br />
I loved every moment of this book, and as soon as I finished it, I wanted to go back to the beginning. I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in the series and see what shenanigans Kell and Lila get up to.<br />
<br />
<i>A Darker Shade of Magic</i> managed to worm its way into my favourites shelf. It's a read I highly recommend.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cover: 4</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Plot: 5</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Characters: 5</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Writing: 5</b></div>
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<b>Interest: 5</b></div>
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N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-90594121889235816252015-08-07T01:36:00.000+10:002015-08-07T01:37:25.931+10:00Feature Follow Friday 7/8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Feature Follow Friday is hosted by </span><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Parajunkee</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Alison Can Read</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, and is a way to meet and greet new followers.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Today's question is:</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If you could have 3 wishes granted, what would they be? - Suggested by <a href="http://angelica-2009.blogspot.com/" style="color: #277c9f; text-decoration: none;">Life Is Reading</a>. </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My three wishes are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Move out of home--I'm almost 24 and still living with my parents. I want to be independent, but to do that, I need to.....</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get a job. Honestly, I'd settle for any job, I'm that desperate.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be a successful author. I love writing, and I'd do anything to be published.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What about you? Any wishes?</span></div>
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N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-8845336910020681842015-08-06T16:15:00.000+10:002015-08-06T16:16:27.842+10:00Review: Everything, Everything<b class="tr_bq">Everything, Everything</b><br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429801207l/18692431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429801207l/18692431.jpg" width="263" /></a><b>by Nicola Yoon</b></div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 320, hardcover</div>
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<b><br />
</b></div>
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<b>Publisher: </b>Delacorte books for Young Readers</div>
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<b>Source:</b> galley from the publisher</div>
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<b>Date Released: </b> September 1st, 2015</div>
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<b>Premise:</b></div>
<blockquote>
<strong style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.</strong><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.</span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.</span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.</span></blockquote>
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I love the way this book is written, in diary entries and short vignettes and the like. It made it so easy to attach myself to Maddie, a POC African American and Japanese (though this is barely touched upon, which is a shame) girl who essentially lives in a bubble. It is a very intimate book, much in the way the Princess Diaries series were.<br />
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Reading it on my kindle feels like it doesn't give the book justice. There are illustrations, and charts, and lists, and handwritten diary entries, and such that I'm sure would have looked fantastic in physical form, without having to wait for the lag of my kindle to load the pages. At first I thought, <i>You betcha sweet ass I'll be buying this book and rereading it over and over for the feels and the proper experience.</i><br />
But as I read on, something didn't feel right. Maddie's condition was odd. And Ollie ended up helping her endangering her life, which made him the opposite of a sweet sexy love interest. That he would let her go through with her potentially life-threatening plan makes him an unreliable lover, bordering on abusive.<br />
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Speaking of abuse, let's discuss her mother, who knew that Maddie was never sick to begin with. Who kept Maddie in this bubble, isolated from the world so that they could be together forever. Who ruined Maddie's immune system as a result of keeping her hidden from the world. I detested that there wasn't more done to chastise her mother, no police involved, no nothing. It was just glossed over as a mother who cared too much. That made me mad, that abuse like that was seen as being overprotective.<br />
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This book was a huge disappointment. I wish I could say better things about it, but, morally, I just can't.<br />
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1 sad cloud</div>
N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-48565628076224518822015-08-04T23:19:00.000+10:002015-08-04T23:19:52.435+10:00Top Ten Tuesday: Fairytales and Retellings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Top Ten Tuesday </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">is an original feature/weekly meme created by </span><a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> featuring a new top ten list each week. Everyone can participate- head on over to their blog and sign up. This feature will be posted every Tuesday.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Favourite Fairytale Retellings</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This is an adult retelling of The Seven Swans, and it has so much depth to it. I have vivid memories of reading this out in the spring sunshine between classes at uni, and the sun warmed me as I was crying at the injustice of the world, and at the beauty of the writing. I had several people come up to me asking if I were okay, and all I could do was point at the book and mumble incoherently. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://booksfrommars.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/review-daughter-of-forest.html" target="_blank">Review here.</a></span></div>
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<b>The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly</b></div>
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I think this may be one of my favourite books of all times. Set upon the backdrop of war, a Rumplestiltskin-type figure kidnaps a boy and takes him to a world where fairytales have gone wrong. It's an epic adventure of growth and love, and it had me crying like a baby.</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>A Court of Thorns and Roses</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I loved this book so much. I think I love everything that Maas writes, but this was just special, mainly because it was targeted towards my age group. There's sex and it's not the kind that's glossed over in YA. It's very mature and realistic despite being a fantasy novel. I eagerly await the next book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://booksfrommars.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/review-court-of-thorns-and-roses.html" target="_blank">Review here.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><b>East by Edith Pattou</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;">This is one of the first retellings I'd ever read, and it remains in my heart the way a girl remembers her first time. It's a beautiful retelling of <i>East of the Sun, West of the Moon</i>, which is a fairytale I absolutely adore.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><a href="http://booksfrommars.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/review-east.html" target="_blank">Review here.</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><b>The Nutcracker Bleeds by Lani Lenore</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;">If you don't know who Lani Lenore is, then I suggest you pick up a kindle or go on wattpad and read her stories immediately. She writes dark retellings of fairytales, and this just so happens to be a retelling of <i>The Nutcracker</i>. I've never read anything as dark and unique and ghastly as this, and I loved every minute of it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><a href="http://booksfrommars.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/review-nutcracker-bleeds-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Review here. You can also win a copy of it until the end of August.</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Retellings I'm looking forward to reading</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>The rest of the Cinder series by Marissa Meyer</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I loved the first book, Cinder, but never got around to reading Scarlet nor Cress. I think I'll binge read them just before Winter comes out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519-wy9vEeL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519-wy9vEeL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Adieh</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Everybody and their grandmother has been talking about this retelling of 1001 Nights, and I have to admit I'm quite curious.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Ash and Bramble by Sarah Prineas</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The cover looks absolutely gorgeous and I love Cinderella retellings. I have high hopes for this one.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407096345l/17303139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407096345l/17303139.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I have no idea what this could be about but there appears to be a person of colour on the cover, and that's something that gets me excited.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Entwined by Heather Dixon</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This is a retelling of the <i>Twelve Dancing Princesses</i> which I adore, and the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I own a copy, but still haven't gotten around to reading it which is a travesty. One day....</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Have you read any of these books? If so, which ones, and how'd you find them?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Do you have any other recommendations for a fairytale retelling addict?</span></span></div>
N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-74903130579293002572015-08-03T23:41:00.001+10:002015-08-03T23:41:12.812+10:00Comic Review: Arkham Manor vol 1<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416182073l/23531233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416182073l/23531233.jpg" width="210" /></a><b>Arkham Manor vol 1 (#1-6)</b><br />
<b>written by Gerry Duggan</b><br />
<b>art by Shawn Crystal</b><br />
<b>DC Comics</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>eARC received for review</b><br />
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</b> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When catastrophe strikes Arkham Asylum, where will Gotham City house the world's most dangerous criminals, and when inmates are found murdered, what is Batman prepared to do in search of justice? Arkham's madness comes home in ARKHAM MANOR! A bold new collection brought to you by Gerry Duggan ("Deadpool, Nova") and Shawn Crystal ("Deadpool, Wolverine and the X-Men"). </span><span style=" font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Collects issues #1-6 of "Arkham Manor."</span></blockquote><b><br />
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</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In this series, Wayne Manor has been turned into Arkham Manor after the asylum's collapse. Why this has happened isa bit of a mystery, since there are surely better places to hold inmates, instead of raiding someone's home. </span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Someone has been killing inmates, so what does Bruce do? Disguise himself as a John Doe of course. Because that's logical. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The writing wasn't to my liking. It was too detective noir, which I agree was the right tone for the story, but just didn't sit well with me. It's not too original a story, and the while the bad guy was unique and a fresh face, the build up, while purposely misleading, was shoddily done. I wasn't a fan of the way it was handled.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The writing is amateurish--too much telling: "I feel this", "I feel that". Makes for some pretty cheap and dull writing. All this could have easily been conveyed in the art, as is done in most good comics.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I'm not a fan of the art. It feels too gritty for me, even though I suppose it fits with the gritty tone of the story. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I think the one thing I did enjoy was the interactions with Victor Fries. It was kind of cute the way he acted, especially once he gets released from the manor. His first action is to lie in the snow and make snow angels, which is just adorable. Fries is one of those characters I jut adore, and this comic just intensified it.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Overall, I'm not too impressed. I just want them to rebuild Arkham Asylum and go back to having good old family time in Wayne Manor.</span>N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-81101598859142855302015-07-24T11:37:00.003+10:002015-07-24T11:37:33.813+10:00Feature Follow Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Feature Follow Friday is hosted by </span><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Parajunkee</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Alison Can Read</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, and is a way to meet and greet new followers.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">So hello any new followers! Feel free to say hi on this post.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia/archive/00062/Labyrinth_62809c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia/archive/00062/Labyrinth_62809c.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Today's question is: </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What is your favorite movie? - Suggested by <a href="http://akernelofnonsense.wordpress.com/" style="color: #277c9f; text-decoration: none;">A Kernel of Nonsense</a>. </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favourite movie of all time is Guillermo del Toro's <i>Pan's Labyrinth</i>. It's a dark fairytale woven through the realities of war, and while I can't watch the movie often because of the gore and horror, it still resonates within me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a sucker for fairytales and fairytale retellings, and this has the same feel as one of Grimm's original gory fairytales. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Pans-Labyrinth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Pans-Labyrinth.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pale man continues to haunt my dreams</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The imagery is so gorgeous, and the atmosphere is enchanting yet hollow. It's a horror film as much as a fairytale.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a huge influence on my writing, as I too, write dark fantasy--fairytales with a twist. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What about you? What's your favourite movie? I'd love to hear all about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://booksfrommars.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/review-nutcracker-bleeds-giveaway.html" target="_blank">And don't forget to enter my giveaway for <i>The Nutcracker Bleeds</i>. It's international, and the book is a dark fairytale much like this is.</a></span><br />
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<br />N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-10807593033323349132015-07-21T10:19:00.002+10:002015-07-21T10:19:58.355+10:00Comic Review: Pure Insanity - New Suicide Squad vol 1<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432779568l/23012550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432779568l/23012550.jpg" width="208" /></a><b>Pure Insanity</b><br />
<b>New Suicide Squad, vol 1 (#1-8)</b><br />
<b>written by Sean Ryan</b><br />
<b>DC Comics</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Setting the world’s most dangerous super-criminals against the most insidious threats to national security: that’s the idea behind the elite black-ops unit officially designated as Task Force X. It’s perfect…on paper.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">But the real world rarely goes according to plan. Threats evolve. Teammates turn on each other. Blood and betrayals flow like rivers. And that’s why Task Force X is better known as the Suicide Squad.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Vic Sage aims to change the equation. Replacing Amanda Waller as the puppet-master of Suicide Squad’s motley crew, he’s introducing wild cards like Deathstroke and the Joker’s Daughter to whip the existing team-Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and Black Manta-into shape. But the world’s deadliest assassin and the Clown Princess of Crime have ideas of their own…and no explosive implants to keep them in line.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Can this new Suicide Squad survive-or will it implode before it even begins?</span></blockquote>
<br />
Well, for the most part this is all about a catfight between Harley Quinn and Joker's Daughter over the Joker's face. Hardly any attention is being focused on anyone else, and it's horribly annoying. And the way they're sexualising this cat fight is just plain awful. Give Harley a freaking bra, for god's sake. Her corset keeps slipping down, barely covering her nips, whereas Joker's Daughter--who was originally about 16 when she first showed up--is suddenly aged up and in a skimpy skirt and crop top. As for their characterisations, they might as well be the same person, the way they're written.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2vsEwAZQC7MDZMfy_eunRZn_9b82eil862wsBmd164r96LFdBBJHPpAq_Z1WIi82xgTEKOeBHrkdrbzvuZezdgWOSEBy2IAHvWnNs5NdtLRJEkq8CqfmJVE8b5touXAenly6UYMsf6f_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-20+at+1.22.42+pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2vsEwAZQC7MDZMfy_eunRZn_9b82eil862wsBmd164r96LFdBBJHPpAq_Z1WIi82xgTEKOeBHrkdrbzvuZezdgWOSEBy2IAHvWnNs5NdtLRJEkq8CqfmJVE8b5touXAenly6UYMsf6f_/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-07-20+at+1.22.42+pm.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 3 issues of this, it gets tedious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuWYyy4Saf_vExYt6Y0fbvJM1u4NQG59pwFRSOyPxZZMhj-xeGuMmhZBPL4R5857wZcL9t__sVBEkh8-Nsiiy30S-WO6cTUWs1qDN2FnSsSaZzw5pzOVl-wy5unBB6F_0F8rdoBmJjZ_-/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-20+at+1.43.27+pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuWYyy4Saf_vExYt6Y0fbvJM1u4NQG59pwFRSOyPxZZMhj-xeGuMmhZBPL4R5857wZcL9t__sVBEkh8-Nsiiy30S-WO6cTUWs1qDN2FnSsSaZzw5pzOVl-wy5unBB6F_0F8rdoBmJjZ_-/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-20+at+1.43.27+pm.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is going on with that face?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The story is sporadic and hectic, with no real purpose. The first three issues were, as I mentioned earlier, mainly about the cat-fight between Harley and Joker's daughter. The rest of the story--their entire reason for being in Russia in the first place--is often pushed to the side to make room for those two characters.<br />
Beyond the fourth issue, once they wrote Joker's Daughter out of the story, things start to make sense, but it's still a rushed and poorly written mess.<br />
For the most part it's just regular espionage stuff, going to other countries and accidentally fucking things up and accidentally saving America from communist superheroes. Nothing really special about it.<br />
<br />
The art is inconsistent, constantly changing artists and styles... and woof, there are some bad artists in the mix. Faces are badly drawn, anatomy is impossible, and the girls' outfits are as booby as possible.<br />
<br />
It really feels like no effort was being put into this when they decided to slap this together after the failure of the last Suicide Squad. Fans of the movie are going to be very disappointed when they turn to the comics to get more of their Suicide Squad fix.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Art: 2</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Plot: 1</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Characters: 2</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Writing: 1</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Interest: 1</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Total:</b></div>
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1 sad cloud</div>
N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-50361758167050456322015-07-17T12:43:00.003+10:002015-07-17T12:43:51.069+10:00Feature & Follow Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Feature Follow Friday is hosted by </span><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Parajunkee</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Alison Can Read</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, and is a way to meet and greet new followers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">So hello any new followers! Feel free to say hi on this post.</span><br />
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<h3 style="color: #f06199; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;">
Question of the Week: <b>If you had the money what would your own personal library look like? What would be in it? What colors, decorations, etc would you put in it? - Suggested by <a href="http://therealmof-books.blogspot.com/" style="color: #f06199; display: block; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">The Realm of Books</a></b></h3>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The obvious answer to this would be the library from Beauty and the Beast</span><br />
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<a href="http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140619151632/disney/images/f/f5/Beauty-and-the-beast-disneyscreencaps.com-6089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140619151632/disney/images/f/f5/Beauty-and-the-beast-disneyscreencaps.com-6089.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Ugh, doesn't that just make you yearn for more?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://booksfrommars.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/review-nutcracker-bleeds-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Don't forget to join my international giveaway for <i>The Nutcracker Bleeds</i></a></span>N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-60055769055241535512015-07-16T18:08:00.000+10:002015-07-16T18:08:34.038+10:00Review: Uprooted<b>Uprooted</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432545077l/25442488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432545077l/25442488.jpg" width="268" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<b>by Naomi Novik</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Pages: </b>400, ebook<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Publisher: </b>Tor UK<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Date Released:</b> June 1, 2015<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Source: </b>eARC<br />
<br />
<b>Premise: </b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows - everyone knows - that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn't, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.</blockquote>
<br />
The writing is so lovely. It feels so musical and whimsical, rolling off the tongue in sweet waves. I stopped often to reread sentences and passages, often reading them aloud to hear the music in the words.<br />
There's a rustic quality to the words--to the story itself. Set in an Eastern-European setting, it felt almost like coming home. I'm of Polish descent, and it makes me homesick for a place I've never been.<br />
<br />
Agnieszka's fumbling of magic is endearing, and completely realistic. She's just a plain girl who knows nothing of magic, despite having it flow through her naturally. The way she stumbles her way through saving her village is courageous, even though she is in a constant state of terror. She's a strong character, learning to bond with a fickle thing like magic, and an intolerant fickle man like the Dragon.<br />
<br />
The Dragon felt like a more adult version of the arrogant and selfish Howl from <i>Howl's Moving Castle</i>, trapping young women in his tower. His utter impatience towards Agnieszka is comedic, I couldn't stop giggling to myself. He is so uptight and to-the-letter that it's impossible for him to imagine a world different to the one he's carved out for himself, so when chaos follows Agnieszka, it's interesting to see his reactions. They are just such polar opposites, and yet they fit together perfectly.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The friendship between Agnieszka and Kasia was so raw and beautiful that it hurt whenever something went between them. And a lot of things went between them. The whole bloody Wood was conspiring to break them apart.Friendship plays a huge role within this book, and Nieszka and Kasia are together until the very end. It is their friendship that allows them to fight back the corruption of the Wood.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The Wood is a magical entity that creeps ever closer to humanity, and the Wood is corrupt. Everything within it is corrupted and pure evil, but it wasn't like that always. Long, long ago, the Wood was merely a copse of trees, who survived the invasion of humans. Since then, it has been growing ever larger, consuming whole towns, pulling people into the bark of the trees to create heart-trees.<br />
<br />
This is a book about magic and redemption, of the corruption of good people, and the purity of those corrupted. It managed to weasel itself into being one of my favourite books ever.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-90992357778762134532015-07-14T11:39:00.000+10:002015-07-14T11:39:17.562+10:00Comic Review: Batman Eternal vol 2<b>Batman Eternal, volume 2 (#22-34)</b><br />
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428761176l/23395761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428761176l/23395761.jpg" width="265" /></a><b>by Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV et. al</b><br />
<b>DC Comics</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">After Commissioner Gordon’s arrest, Batman’s world is turned upside down in these stories from issues #22-34 of the hit weekly series. New allies emerge, old allies fall and his rogues gallery of villains are not quite who they seem. With a new power structure being established in Gotham City amid rising tension and chaos, can Batman adapt to the changing status quo?</span></blockquote>
Last time on Batman Eternal: Hush has finally made an entrance, at the cost of Alfred Pennyworth.<br />
It's up to Alfred's daughter to take his place before the bat-computer.<br />
Now, as much as I like Hush, I prefer him in the <i>Heart of Hush</i> and <i>Hush Money.</i> Here, it feels forced. Once again, Tommy is the bad guy, looking to destroy Gotham for no real reason except to make Bruce's life a living hell (as usual). I'm still trying to figure out what Hush's motive is, beyond wanting to be like Bruce--which is overused and lacking the depth is once had.<br />
<br />
All the other plot threads from the last volume have been pushed to the side, and we don't see the rest of the bat-family, which is disappointing. The last volume felt rich because of the celebration of family, whereas, the most this volume has in terms of family is the strained relationship between Alfred and his daughter, and even then it's barely touched upon.<br />
The clear difference between this volume and the previous is the plot. Very little happened.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE5wAj5GNwr3upDjVGQ2wLjLHJaQjKNEFWklaGiQz-NaU2bjpPf966aSysrHeZzEFgWEGxs41WBktP067Gy1BW5Da7sBBM2IWp3e14buEuinhJ5SKxqW1ez_j1pyUB-MtATeZeiMqVrIt/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-10+at+7.03.56+pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE5wAj5GNwr3upDjVGQ2wLjLHJaQjKNEFWklaGiQz-NaU2bjpPf966aSysrHeZzEFgWEGxs41WBktP067Gy1BW5Da7sBBM2IWp3e14buEuinhJ5SKxqW1ez_j1pyUB-MtATeZeiMqVrIt/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-07-10+at+7.03.56+pm.png" width="400" /></a>Selina has turned out to be the daughter of Leo Calebresi, ex crime lord of Gotham city. And she's been given the mantle of crime lord of Gotham, whether she likes it or not. This isn't expanded in the comic, but it's promised in her own comic series. Which disappoints me. I was hoping to see more of her mob boss action, since the last volume was full of gang war politics. But I suppose we'd be seeing more of that in Catwoman's own series.<br />
<br />
Waylon Jones, aka Killer Croc, plays another vital role in the comic. It's important to note that he isn't a villain, no matter how many crimes he may have committed. He is an anti-hero, the world pitted against him because of the way he was born and is constantly perceived. His role as Selina's bodyguard makes him have reason, after having been demonised in the last volume by Commissioner Bard.<br />
<br />
Look, I'm basically very disappointed in this volume. Most of it was filler, and after reading the last hundred pages twice, I still can't remember what happened apart from Arkham Asylum blowing up for some reason, making way for <i>Arkham Manor</i> (review of that to come soon). I'm hoping that this is just a low point in the series, because the first volume built up some heavy shit.<br />
Eagerly awaiting the final volume.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Art: </b> 4</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Plot:</b> 2</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Characters:</b> 3</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Writing:</b> 3</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Interest:</b> 2</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT_I4KrA2LdjMB5HGv6xs3FRJtB1HRS17Qn3Ks4oC2tfWLs27pXzT9CGdzhSiZSuoV_rrOY1oMMBufSD0OPFfpjRd6hbEPkKkaGnvq80dssBp4LytzdbHvPbmFCHBzbCUBX-1Vh3rEITd/s1600/cloud_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d36zh7o.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT_I4KrA2LdjMB5HGv6xs3FRJtB1HRS17Qn3Ks4oC2tfWLs27pXzT9CGdzhSiZSuoV_rrOY1oMMBufSD0OPFfpjRd6hbEPkKkaGnvq80dssBp4LytzdbHvPbmFCHBzbCUBX-1Vh3rEITd/s1600/cloud_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d36zh7o.gif" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT_I4KrA2LdjMB5HGv6xs3FRJtB1HRS17Qn3Ks4oC2tfWLs27pXzT9CGdzhSiZSuoV_rrOY1oMMBufSD0OPFfpjRd6hbEPkKkaGnvq80dssBp4LytzdbHvPbmFCHBzbCUBX-1Vh3rEITd/s1600/cloud_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d36zh7o.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT_I4KrA2LdjMB5HGv6xs3FRJtB1HRS17Qn3Ks4oC2tfWLs27pXzT9CGdzhSiZSuoV_rrOY1oMMBufSD0OPFfpjRd6hbEPkKkaGnvq80dssBp4LytzdbHvPbmFCHBzbCUBX-1Vh3rEITd/s1600/cloud_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d36zh7o.gif" /></a></div>
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<b>2 sad clouds</b></div>
N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-37134377013116895732015-07-10T13:40:00.000+10:002015-07-10T13:47:23.065+10:00Feature Follow Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Feature Follow Friday is hosted by </span><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Parajunkee</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Alison Can Read</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, and is a way to meet and greet new followers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">So hello any new followers! Feel free to say hi on this post.</span><br />
<h3 style="color: #f06199; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;">
Question of the Week: <b>You can only eat one cuisine type for the rest of your life. Which would you choose? (E.g. Italian, French, Greek, Mexican, Chinese, Indian etc…) - Suggested by <a href="http://journeythroughfiction.blogspot.com/" style="color: #f06199; display: block; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Journey Through Fiction</a><a href="http://journeythroughfiction.blogspot.com/" style="color: #f06199; display: block; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</a></b></h3>
I think I could live off of scones with cream and jam and a mug of tea for the rest of my life. I adore the simple things in life.<br />
<br />
What about you? What foods would you choose to eat for the rest of your life?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://booksfrommars.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/review-nutcracker-bleeds-giveaway.html?showComment=1435714886938">Don't forget to enter my international giveaway of <i>The Nutcracker Bleeds</i></a>N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-52677437278918698472015-07-10T12:40:00.000+10:002015-07-10T12:42:26.704+10:00Review: Pieces of Sky<b>Pieces of Sky</b><br />
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<b><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422423606l/23603939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422423606l/23603939.jpg" width="257" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<b>by Trinity Doyle</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Pages: </b>287, paperback<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Date Released:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Source: </b>own<br />
<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Allen and Unwin<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Lucy's life was going as smoothly as any teenager's could. She was in the local swimming club, and loved it; she lived with her parents and her brother, Cam, in the small coastal town she'd known all her life. She had friends, she had goals - she had a life. Now Cam is dead, her parents might as well be - and Lucy can't bear to get back in the pool. All she has to look forward to now is a big pile of going-nowhere.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Drawn to Steffi, her wild ex-best-friend who reminds Lucy of her mysterious, unpredictable brother, and music-obsessed Evan, the new boy in town, Lucy starts asking questions. Why did Cam die? Was it an accident or suicide? But as Lucy hunts for answers she discovers much more than she expects. About Cam. About her family. About herself.</span></blockquote>
<br />
This feels like a precious gem, raw and unfiltered and sharp. It looks gorgeous on the outside, and it shines brightly from the inside.<br />
<br />
Lucy has to deal with the death of her brother, and doesn't know how to deal with it--as to be expected. She feels the pressure of life pressing down onto her: the stares from people at school; looking after her depressed mother; dealing with a father who just can't accept her way of grieving; swimming finals, when she can barely stand to be near water.<br />
When texts start being sent to her brother's phone from an unknown number, things get weird, and it draws Lucy even closer to the brink of obsession over her brother's death. Who is the mysterious girl that he drew before he died? Who is the person sending intimate messages to his phone? Since when has her mum had a history of depression?<br />
It makes her question her brothers death: was it merely a stupid accident, or was it suicide?<br />
The very idea that he could have killed himself is a chilling thought.<br />
<b><br />
</b> My one issue with this book is that out of nowhere, we would be in a flashback, and it was difficult to discern whether I was stuck in the present or the past. Lucy would be doing or thinking something, then she would be having a conversation with Cam that had happened before he died. It doesn't even use past tenses to denote the flashbacks, which made things very confusing.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfa1/t51.2885-15/e15/11312252_506586959488390_664956639_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfa1/t51.2885-15/e15/11312252_506586959488390_664956639_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>The romance was sweet. Evan is a cute guy, and the things that happen between them is so realistic, and so so so sexy at times. It made me yearn for that first-love feeling. It's been a while since I felt that way from a book.<br />
<br />
I read it in one sitting, within 3 hours, devouring every single word and sighing constantly at how perfectly relatable it was. It felt so distinctively Australian, and as I write this, I'm surrounded by eucalyptus trees, and kookaburras are laughing their little heads off. There's the screech of cockatoos, and I saw a kangaroo yesterday from the train. It made me smile and embrace these things.<br />
<br />
This book is so raw and emotional, I kept crying for most of the second half. Even now, just reminiscing about it is making me tear up. How does Doyle manage to get right into my heart with those amazing words of hers?<br />
<br />
Doyle has captured the Australian voice so well, it made me feel right at home. This was a stunning debut, and I can't wait to read more from her.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cover Art:</b> 5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Plot:</b> 4</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Writing: </b>4</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Characters:</b> 4</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Interest: </b>4</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluouHdxEY6GXSX1EMj4cMCLa4SNjG8sc83cqD_wT0Qq_J9kXpMlWg51QGqszs7lvdf0MoCBl-KqJSuv6EPoAX9Xzqvw9YvF8vgsKwU5BONC7ficJIFTKxNJL4P1e20ruPwhSuRu1J-rc1/s1600/star_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d37qlyo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluouHdxEY6GXSX1EMj4cMCLa4SNjG8sc83cqD_wT0Qq_J9kXpMlWg51QGqszs7lvdf0MoCBl-KqJSuv6EPoAX9Xzqvw9YvF8vgsKwU5BONC7ficJIFTKxNJL4P1e20ruPwhSuRu1J-rc1/s1600/star_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d37qlyo.gif" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluouHdxEY6GXSX1EMj4cMCLa4SNjG8sc83cqD_wT0Qq_J9kXpMlWg51QGqszs7lvdf0MoCBl-KqJSuv6EPoAX9Xzqvw9YvF8vgsKwU5BONC7ficJIFTKxNJL4P1e20ruPwhSuRu1J-rc1/s1600/star_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d37qlyo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluouHdxEY6GXSX1EMj4cMCLa4SNjG8sc83cqD_wT0Qq_J9kXpMlWg51QGqszs7lvdf0MoCBl-KqJSuv6EPoAX9Xzqvw9YvF8vgsKwU5BONC7ficJIFTKxNJL4P1e20ruPwhSuRu1J-rc1/s1600/star_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d37qlyo.gif" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluouHdxEY6GXSX1EMj4cMCLa4SNjG8sc83cqD_wT0Qq_J9kXpMlWg51QGqszs7lvdf0MoCBl-KqJSuv6EPoAX9Xzqvw9YvF8vgsKwU5BONC7ficJIFTKxNJL4P1e20ruPwhSuRu1J-rc1/s1600/star_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d37qlyo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluouHdxEY6GXSX1EMj4cMCLa4SNjG8sc83cqD_wT0Qq_J9kXpMlWg51QGqszs7lvdf0MoCBl-KqJSuv6EPoAX9Xzqvw9YvF8vgsKwU5BONC7ficJIFTKxNJL4P1e20ruPwhSuRu1J-rc1/s1600/star_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d37qlyo.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluouHdxEY6GXSX1EMj4cMCLa4SNjG8sc83cqD_wT0Qq_J9kXpMlWg51QGqszs7lvdf0MoCBl-KqJSuv6EPoAX9Xzqvw9YvF8vgsKwU5BONC7ficJIFTKxNJL4P1e20ruPwhSuRu1J-rc1/s1600/star_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d37qlyo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluouHdxEY6GXSX1EMj4cMCLa4SNjG8sc83cqD_wT0Qq_J9kXpMlWg51QGqszs7lvdf0MoCBl-KqJSuv6EPoAX9Xzqvw9YvF8vgsKwU5BONC7ficJIFTKxNJL4P1e20ruPwhSuRu1J-rc1/s1600/star_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d37qlyo.gif" /></a></div>
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<b>4 stars
</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>*Don't forget there's still time to enter my <a href="http://booksfrommars.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/review-nutcracker-bleeds-giveaway.html?showComment=1435714886938" target="_blank">international giveaway for <i>The Nutcracker Bleeds</i></a></b></div>
N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-27340922828036931772015-07-09T09:19:00.000+10:002015-07-09T09:19:03.717+10:00Review: A Thousand Pieces of You<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400282552l/20969698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400282552l/20969698.jpg" width="213" /></a><b>A Thousand Pieces of You</b><br />
<b>by Claudia Gray</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Pages: </b>357, paperback<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Publisher: </b>Harper<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Date Released:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise: </b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Marguerite Caine's physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their more astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite's father is murdered, the killer--her parent's handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul--escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.<br />
Marguerite can't let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul's guilt--and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.<br />
A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we can witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and as whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.</blockquote>
<b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> I was hesitant about starting this book. The cover is so gorgeous, but I've learned enough times that sometimes the story isn't as lovely as the packaging.<br />
<br />
It has such an interesting, promising premise: a murder mystery that spans not just our universe, but the multiverse--a universe for every single decision made. An infinite world of infinite possibilities. Marguerite Cain is on a mission to catch her father's killer, even if it means turning herself into "atomic soup".<br />
<br />
Marguerite, I found, is a boring character. Even when she inhabits the bodies of the Marguerites from other worlds, she has no personality. She's just a blank slate hidden inside other blank slates.<br />
<br />
All the plot is shoved aside to make room for a ridiculous romance that literally comes from out of nowhere. First Marguerite is so sure that this guy killed her father, and the next moment, she's pining away about his body heat and their almost touching. It made me want to gag, it was so sappy.<br />
The discussion of fate--of things that happen in all universes, such as the love between two people--just makes the romance even more gag-worthy. It's just so forced.<br />
It's such a shame about the lack of plot because it was such a unique concept that could have been fantastic under the right circumstances.<br />
<br />
I found myself constantly bored by the story. Even when she's a grand duchess in Russia, the story manages to fall flat in lieu of the romance. All danger and consequences are thrown away for the sake of the romance. There was nothing at stake except for this true love.<br />
In the end, I had to DNF this book. The contradictory nature of the multiuniverses verses fate just left me too frustrated to go on.<br />
That's not to say it's bad. I was just expecting more sci-fi than romance. If you're in the mood for star-crossed lovers, then this is probably for you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Total:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cover Art:</b> 4</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Plot:</b> 1 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Writing:</b> 1</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Characters:</b> 1</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Interest:</b> 1</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT_I4KrA2LdjMB5HGv6xs3FRJtB1HRS17Qn3Ks4oC2tfWLs27pXzT9CGdzhSiZSuoV_rrOY1oMMBufSD0OPFfpjRd6hbEPkKkaGnvq80dssBp4LytzdbHvPbmFCHBzbCUBX-1Vh3rEITd/s1600/cloud_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d36zh7o.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT_I4KrA2LdjMB5HGv6xs3FRJtB1HRS17Qn3Ks4oC2tfWLs27pXzT9CGdzhSiZSuoV_rrOY1oMMBufSD0OPFfpjRd6hbEPkKkaGnvq80dssBp4LytzdbHvPbmFCHBzbCUBX-1Vh3rEITd/s1600/cloud_icon_by_plasticumbrella-d36zh7o.gif" /></a></div>
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No stars, just one very sad cloud.</div>
<b><br />
</b>N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-41578541683495815672015-07-05T22:19:00.000+10:002015-07-05T22:21:00.289+10:00Comic Review: Batman Eternal, vol 1.<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417072865l/21524971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417072865l/21524971.jpg" width="260" /></a><b>Batman Eternal</b><br />
<b>Volume 1 (#1-21)</b><br />
<b>by Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV (story)</b><br />
<b>DC Comics</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In the wake of Forever Evil, the world looks at heroes in a different light, creating tension between Batman and his allies and the Gotham City Police Department. When a gang war breaks out and new villains arise, it's up to the Dark Knight, Batgirl, and more to turn the tides as best as they can—but will the GCPD be a help or a hinderance? Plus, a fan-favorite character makes her long-awaited DC Comics—The New 52 debut.</span></blockquote>
<br />
Ex-mob boss Carmine Falcone (of <i>The Long Halloween </i>fame--which makes me so happy to know that it's now considered canon, since it's one of the best Batman comics to date) has returned to Gotham after being silent for the last five years. With him comes a wave of chaos that the whole Batfamily has to deal with. Family is important in any Bat-story. There are some who believe that Bruce works better alone, but he has flaws--flaws that the others make up for.<br />
In this instalment, Bruce has to deal with the internal workings within the Batfamily, as they introduce several new characters into the mix.<br />
<br />
<br />
With Carmine in charge, he buys out the mayor, who in turn, buys out the police force. This sneaky plot wages a war against the cops and Batman, a tale of good versus the corrupt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LSF7QoCScl27LPmbVIJXA9qHJRCWTjudEbe0nS5IcSrVsa8l2sRzBcQ6TlMzoRrKr5dkqmm3e2S3EbN5rmuXn47VzxI1LXJT-15A778G9sXmTqrpPNEKD8TWL8JBZaFD4hFhKkQvC7fI/s1600/1435583064461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LSF7QoCScl27LPmbVIJXA9qHJRCWTjudEbe0nS5IcSrVsa8l2sRzBcQ6TlMzoRrKr5dkqmm3e2S3EbN5rmuXn47VzxI1LXJT-15A778G9sXmTqrpPNEKD8TWL8JBZaFD4hFhKkQvC7fI/s400/1435583064461.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
While Batman is occupied with the mob war, a new sinister figure arises. Something is happening deep in the bowels of Arkham Asylum, something ethereal. Batwing is sent in to investigate, and when he finds Joker's Daughter in the middle of it, shit hits the fan.<br />
To be honest, I wasn't a fan of the supernatural aspects of this book. Because it's so disconnected from the rest of the story, it feels like needless padding. And for a book that planned to be 52 issues, it really depended on the padding.<br />
<br />
In another desperate grab for padding, Barbara Gordon--Batgirl--is filled with rage. An all-consuming rage that leaves her defenceless and at risk. Jason Todd--ex Robin, now known as the Red Hood--knows a thing or two about rage, and comes to be her mentor in finding ways to channel that rage. It's disappointed me that people have started to ship them together, but it is what it is. They have a little mission in South America where they run into Batwoman. From there, it's just more padding.<br />
<br />
It's a huge disappointment that Dick/Nightwing isn't here (instead, he's apparently dead, but really just starring in the woefully awful <i>Grayson</i> series.) What does his absence mean for the batfamily? It's already frail from the events of Damian's death, and Death of the Family, and I would have liked it to be discussed more, and perhaps shown his rocky relationship with Babs (I won't let DC sink my ship).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/1/14487/3660430-spoiler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/1/14487/3660430-spoiler.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a><br />
A long-missed character, Stephanie Brown--former Robin and Batgirl--has finally been introduced into the New 52, completely by accident. She walks in on her father in costume, only to find out that he's a super-villain. Now, she's on the run, and using the moniker The Spoiler (because she spoils her dad's plans, duh). I can't wait to see where she fits in within the Batfamily, and whether her relationship with Tim pre-52 will be rekindled (another ship I refuse to part with).<br />
Her role in the story is, as expected, disjointed from the rest of the narrative, but it's one that I'm fond of, if only for the happy memories she brings back. I accept Stephanie Brown as my queen and saviour, as my Spoiler.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6b/DC_Comics_Bluebird_Batman_28.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6b/DC_Comics_Bluebird_Batman_28.png" /></a>A new hero pops up in the pages, a girl with blue and purple hair, piercings, and a ring of tasers around her belt. She doesn't take shit from anyone, especially Red Robin. Her name is Harper Row, aka, Blue Bird. She's a character I'm very interested in, and would love to see her have her own series, because she's just so badass. She's computer and technologically savvy, and could easily be the next Oracle, which I'm hoping for in the future. Her relationship with Tim is fun, and it's clear that he's become her accidental mentor. It's hilarious to see her call him the "Winged Weinie" and make fun of him for being such a dork.<br />
<br />
All in all, it was a decent story, bogged down with too many plot threads, some that seemed totally unrelated in the slightest. I enjoyed myself, and I had a lot of "WHAT?!" moments, and times where I'd squee. But I just found it wasn't strong enough to sustain all that weight.<br />
While it felt too heavy underneath all that plot, the characterisations were flawless. The building of new relationships--as well as sustaining old relationships--was a large focal point, and made each character unique and flawed and relatable.<br />
<br />
A word on the art: on the most part, it was impeccable. I adored Dustin Nguyen's pencils, as well as his covers. His design of Steph and Harper are beyond perfect, and they make me so so happy. The other artists were very talented, too, but they didn't quite stand out. (And it doesn't help that Dustin had my heart from the very moment he started Li'l Gotham.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Art: </b>4</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Plot: </b> 2.5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Writing:</b> 3</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Characters: </b>4</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Interest: </b>4</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Total:</b></div>
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<b>4 stars</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-48155831901150010272015-07-02T17:51:00.000+10:002015-07-02T22:27:08.255+10:00Guest Book Review: Blood of Elves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've taken the day off from blogging to let a friend of mine review a book based off the highly popular video game <i>The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt.</i> James is a dear friend of mine and is my sometimes-co-blogger. So, onto the post!</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I am not a real <i>Witcher</i> fan. I came to the
series, like many English-reading fans, through the video games. Specifically
the recent <i>The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt</i> and it was upon completing the
game that I thought, 'Bloody hell, how great must that have been for a Polish
fan who's been reading Andrzej Sapkowski's work since the 90's?' Even though I
had not read the books or really played the first two games, <i>The Wild Hunt</i>
felt brilliantly like the epic conclusion of something special. And it was. I
was hooked, totally along for the ride and absolutely in love with every
character involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I say this because it
meant I entered <i>Blood of Elves</i> with a very different perspective than someone just beginning a new series. Yes, it is the first book, but I had the
unfair advantage of feeling like I already intimately knew these characters.
Though, I've read some say that new readers should begin with <i>The Last Wish</i>
as it's a collection of short stories set before the series and provides some
background. I ignored that, obviously, but there is some merit in that idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">The novel follows Ciri
and Geralt, a child orphaned by war and the monster hunter whose destiny it was
to find her. Ciri is prophesied to end the world, or to save it, or shape it,
or elevate the power of whoever can manipulate, enslave or marry her. And there
are so many people who'd like very much to find her for the own purposes. Enter
Geralt, the famous and stoic witcher, who is known far and wide for both his
deadly abilities as a hunter and torrid love affairs with beautiful
enchantresses. In Ciri, Geralt does not find a valuable asset or source of
power. He finds a daughter whom he would go to any lengths to protect. Ciri
herself must come to terms with the violent miseries of her childhood in a
world on the brink of war, where everyone else is making plans for her without
a care to what she may want.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ciri and Geralt by <a href="http://dragonlizzard.deviantart.com/art/Ciri-and-Geralt-534862360" target="_blank">dragonlizzard</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Blood of Elves </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">is more of
a character study than a novel. It is the first step in a grand adventure, but
chooses to revel in its players first before doing much of anything.
Sapkowski's world is already in full swing from page one and all of its
principal players have lived long and/or eventful lives. To bring the audience
up to speed, Sapkowski uses colourful conversations where people argue about
the past in place of exposition. There are several scenes composed of only
dialogue and it allows the author to establish every character's very distinct
voice.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">There are reasonable
downsides to this, of course. The world of <i>The Witcher</i> is very dense
with multiple plot lines to follow and so many characters who will all
obviously have a part to play in later novels. <i>Blood of Elves</i> spends so
much time jumping between one interesting conversation to the next that very
little of the overall plot goes anywhere. After almost 400 pages, the story has
not moved narratively or geographically very far. Yet it all feels like the
first stones tumbling down the mountainside before an avalanche. It's a fun set
up that lets the audience get invested in their toys before they can play with
them.</span><br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I am jealous of all the people who've known them for 20 years now.</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I know Geralt, Ciri,
Yen and Triss. At least, I think I do. Even coming from <i>The Wild Hunt</i> to
<i>Blood of Elves</i> I still feel like that's true. While many of the concepts
espoused in the novel may be familiar to me from the games, it still felt like
a solid way of kicking off the saga. If nothing else, it is just fun to spend
more time with these characters.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-11097437247616265302015-07-01T17:34:00.000+10:002015-07-02T13:52:45.755+10:00Comic Review: Batman & Robin: The Hunt for Robin <a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413748997l/23308457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413748997l/23308457.jpg" width="270" /></a><b>The Hunt for Robin</b><br />
<b>Batman and Robin vol 6, (#29-34)</b><br />
<b>writer Peter J Tomasi</b><br />
<b>art by Patrick Gleason et al.</b><br />
<b>DC Comics</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Premise:</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText9376005483733822849" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">After losing his son Damian - a.k.a. Robin - Batman has finally found peace with his death. Damian's grandfather, Ra's al Ghul, has not, however. In order to resurrect Robin, he's stolen the body - and now Batman will stop at nothing to reclaim him. (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23308457-batman-and-robin-vol-6?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>) </span></blockquote>
<br />
Before I begin this review, I must add that I haven't read volume 5 of this series, mainly because I had a time limit on this copy of the comic. As such, I felt confused at the beginning, but I know the gist of it, being a continuation of vol 4, searching of Damian's body.<br />
<br />
Here, it feels like R'as ahl Ghul is hinting at the fact that Talia didn't kill Damian, that someone else put the half a billion dollar bounty on his head. I hope this prediction is true, because I adore Talia, and refuse to acknowledge the versions where she rapes Bruce (in fact, in this volume alone, Bruce consents to sex with her, though doesn't exactly consent to his sperm being used to make a baby clone)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCgsSsTHYCz9H9ekGFkRSCtilhbUO5CyLncAk_jTu_ROFCPKvG0wkCjY_SJRgLOu7PFjYfvc6MEzZevoGM1ezYYH-atATZms95O6EWmtATO-HTQ-CcMxYNWRYNqfSHAZrOhVu4Rh8t41l/s1600/1435646816516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCgsSsTHYCz9H9ekGFkRSCtilhbUO5CyLncAk_jTu_ROFCPKvG0wkCjY_SJRgLOu7PFjYfvc6MEzZevoGM1ezYYH-atATZms95O6EWmtATO-HTQ-CcMxYNWRYNqfSHAZrOhVu4Rh8t41l/s640/1435646816516.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
Bruce hunts R'as all across the globe, until they finally reach the Himalayas, and finds in his possession are the deformed bodies of unsuccessful Damian clones. The fatherly love he has for Damian makes it difficult for him to injure these malformed versions of his sons.<br />
<br />
I'm not a fan that they recognise Clark and Diana as a couple--but that's a rant for another day. But once again, on their travels to Themyscira, they are attacked by Amazons who hate men with a bleeding passion, and paints them as murderous women who fuck and kill for procreation.I hated it when I read it in one of the early volumes of the N52 Wonder Woman, and I hate it now.<br />
<br />
My biggest complaint came from the opening of the portal to Apokolips. I cannot begin to tell you how sick to death I am of Darkseid and Apokolips. And here, it made it feel cheap and convenient. I pretty much give up on any comic that mentions Darkseid/Apokolips, so I'm not sure I'll be reading the rest of this series, just keeping up with the story.<br />
<br />
I found this to be the weakest of the Batman and Robin series, and I think it's because it's trying too hard to connect strings between all the JLA members and this narrative, when it's unnecessary. And the way he turns back everyone who offers to help him, while I understand it, it makes for a long and arduous journey to slog through.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990426120925116156.post-63629843812122379552015-06-30T17:50:00.000+10:002015-06-30T18:07:54.923+10:00Comic Review: Batman and Robin vol 4: Requiem for Damian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400624695l/18490857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400624695l/18490857.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<b>Requiem for Damian</b><br />
<b>Batman and Robin vol 4 (#18-23)</b><br />
<b>written by Peter J Tomasi</b><br />
<b>art by Patrick Gleason</b><br />
<b>DC Comics</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<br />
The entire first issue is wordless, except for a letter at the end. It amazes me how much can be conveyed with just illustrations, and Patrick Gleason is a master at projecting feelings of grief. I was sobbing during the whole 18th issue, because it felt like a hole had been carved into my chest. One notable aspect to this comic was that each chapter was titled after a stage of grief: Denial; Rage... the list goes on.I found it to be creative and it added to the intensity of the grief.<br />
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOA0vr4zKdNw_pCNbiwatjZouNEhpXMZRxY3EP3jh1mmYkSkvuhk-MBjOsHOB863_KAvPspUGxhIUU9N63K5PPsoxgFfnU-5pJ0ozU2tHyqH18fJbZvQqnow4Y82KB-AK_4vAZmuQMwvJw/s1600/1435646258015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOA0vr4zKdNw_pCNbiwatjZouNEhpXMZRxY3EP3jh1mmYkSkvuhk-MBjOsHOB863_KAvPspUGxhIUU9N63K5PPsoxgFfnU-5pJ0ozU2tHyqH18fJbZvQqnow4Y82KB-AK_4vAZmuQMwvJw/s320/1435646258015.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tell me this doesn't give you feels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Let me tell you a story.<br />
When I first read some random comic with Damian, the newest Robin, I detested him. I thought him a little brat. But after reading Tomasi and Gleason's work on Batman and Robin, I've grown to adore the little brat. He's like an annoying little brother. After his death in Batman Inc. #__, I was horrified, and vowed never to read any more batman stuff, simply because I find Batman to be boring without his Batfamily, Damian most importantly. Issue 18 was the cathartic end I needed from the horrific and insulting death of Damian. It was a flawless issue.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaDS5omvOECkEVJqEqesLhbai71an8YkP2d0UhHWfKYaGYswe7VmXHFz2SEQqthVQYgSZfex3nsVUOtyKXQ-34vILjFO4sg7yqrJuuaWD6igx-9RUMFbfTUXaMEsnwSkrSaDsr_VZIrTn/s1600/1435646049300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaDS5omvOECkEVJqEqesLhbai71an8YkP2d0UhHWfKYaGYswe7VmXHFz2SEQqthVQYgSZfex3nsVUOtyKXQ-34vILjFO4sg7yqrJuuaWD6igx-9RUMFbfTUXaMEsnwSkrSaDsr_VZIrTn/s640/1435646049300.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As if that weren't foreshadowing enough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now onwards, onto the rest of the story, where my hatred for the incompetence that is DC grows. We are introduced to Carrie Kelley. Any Frank Miller fans will recognise her immediately, and it's no accident that she was written in. Her sudden removal was a conscious, last minute decision by editorial to cancel the story that Tomasi had already spent several issues working on. Tomasi had been introducing us and the Batfamily to this strange girl with a love for Shakespeare, and an instant bond with the late Damian's dog, and it feels like it's all gone to waste.<br />
This volume builds up Carrie's rise to being a Robin, but SPOILEr ALERT, all that goes down the drain in vol 5.<br />
<br />
Overall, a fun yet poignant novel that deals with grief and the memories that make death worth living for.<br />
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N.L. Marshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172835976768991585noreply@blogger.com0