My mind and body feel as if they've fallen into a pit of sand. I move slowly, the sand oppressing every undertaking, and still it's almost as if I have made no progress at all. My eyes hurt from staring at my computer (and really, one should never stare at his or her computer) and right now my curser is blinking because I left my computer on during the night. School follows the sunrise, but not before coffee, thank goodness. I wonder if it will be an easy day tomorrow? I enjoyed the reading for school. We moved on from poetry to fantasy, and we had to read excerpts from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass". How curious that Lewis Carroll was able to write two entire books out of unpredictable events. I got dizzy reading of Alice's constant change from too tall to too small, and still she left the key on the glass table. Nevertheless, it does not solve my sand-pit predicament. Why does my mind move so sluggishly when the urgency of every next activity is palpable? I don't know. It's like I've been stuck in the "real world" for far too long, and am in great need of some fantastical liberation. Where is a rabbit hole when you need one?
Gotta go. Almost midnight. Good night.
-Grace
Monday, October 21, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
"Whispers From Forbidden Earth"
Well it's about bloody time! At long last, the amazingly talented and supremely devoted fantasy writer Mark Venturini released his first novel yesterday on Amazon.com for only $4.99! It's available for Kindle right now, but I'm pretty sure it should be up for Nook soon. Please check it out. It's wonderfully creative and Mark has a gift for imagery. You'll be hooked by "crimson leaves".
Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Whispers-From-Forbidden-Earth-Venturini-ebook/dp/B00FZVDIKI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1382128679&sr=8-7&keywords=mark+venturini
-Grace
Monday, October 14, 2013
"Origin" Review
They have Katy. After all the planning, the training, the trust they'd extended, Daemon should have seen this coming. And maybe he had... in his nightmares. But now those nightmares were a reality. They had Katy. He would get her back even if he had to burn down the world to do it. They would pay for their actions.
In the latest installment of the Lux series, Daemon fights tooth and nail any being who stands between him and Katy. For want of not revealing spoilers, all I can say is that this book was full of surprises and it kept me at the edge of my seat while retaining the essences of Katy and Daemon I have grown so fond of. One of my favorite new characters was Archer. He was the kind of person I could picture talking about with my brothers and them saying, "Yeah, Archer's awesome." High standard, that. Miss Armentrout weaves a brilliant story combining lots of action, suspense, and romance in addition to making Daemon's perspective a regular contributor. This hinders it none. If anything, changing between Daemon and Katy's points of view propels the story into new and exciting territory. I would give this story a rating of PG-16. In "star rating" language? Five. Definitely five stars. My only complaint is, why can't the next book be out sooner? But I'd rather Jennifer Armentrout take her time with the quality of the story than be rushed into finishing something that felt incomplete. Well done, Armentrout. Well done, indeed.
In the latest installment of the Lux series, Daemon fights tooth and nail any being who stands between him and Katy. For want of not revealing spoilers, all I can say is that this book was full of surprises and it kept me at the edge of my seat while retaining the essences of Katy and Daemon I have grown so fond of. One of my favorite new characters was Archer. He was the kind of person I could picture talking about with my brothers and them saying, "Yeah, Archer's awesome." High standard, that. Miss Armentrout weaves a brilliant story combining lots of action, suspense, and romance in addition to making Daemon's perspective a regular contributor. This hinders it none. If anything, changing between Daemon and Katy's points of view propels the story into new and exciting territory. I would give this story a rating of PG-16. In "star rating" language? Five. Definitely five stars. My only complaint is, why can't the next book be out sooner? But I'd rather Jennifer Armentrout take her time with the quality of the story than be rushed into finishing something that felt incomplete. Well done, Armentrout. Well done, indeed.
"Opal" Review
Tensions arise and friendships are tested in the thrilling third installment of the Lux series.
Apparently the impossible is possible: good is evil, aliens exist... and Dawson is alive. But despite being just reunited with his family after a year of captivity, Dawson is determined to go back and rescue the only other person he cares about: Bethany. Nothing will stop him, though perhaps they can delay him. But in order to do so, they must team up with an old enemy, and in this game of shadows, nothing is as it seems. Can the Luxen and Katy break Bethany out? And will she be the same person as she was before?
This book had me so drawn in that I literally sacrificed certain necessities like sleep and... well, mostly sleep. I read snippets wherever I could get them, while my nieces watched "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That," in between classes, at two o'clock in the morning.... Something that captivated me was seeing Dawson in the aftermath of all things Department of Defense-related and comparing it with the images we received from his siblings of what he was like before he disappeared. The change was almost confounding. But I also enjoyed his friendship with Katy. Somehow, it made sense. Jennifer Armentrout keeps you captivated until the very last page. Thankfully the fourth book is available. As far as ratings go, I would put this at PG-16, but that's only n the assumption that if I'd read this when I was fifteen, I would have thought it was too adult for me. Thoroughly enjoyable, nonetheless, and I look forward to more from Miss Armentrout.
-Grace
Apparently the impossible is possible: good is evil, aliens exist... and Dawson is alive. But despite being just reunited with his family after a year of captivity, Dawson is determined to go back and rescue the only other person he cares about: Bethany. Nothing will stop him, though perhaps they can delay him. But in order to do so, they must team up with an old enemy, and in this game of shadows, nothing is as it seems. Can the Luxen and Katy break Bethany out? And will she be the same person as she was before?
This book had me so drawn in that I literally sacrificed certain necessities like sleep and... well, mostly sleep. I read snippets wherever I could get them, while my nieces watched "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That," in between classes, at two o'clock in the morning.... Something that captivated me was seeing Dawson in the aftermath of all things Department of Defense-related and comparing it with the images we received from his siblings of what he was like before he disappeared. The change was almost confounding. But I also enjoyed his friendship with Katy. Somehow, it made sense. Jennifer Armentrout keeps you captivated until the very last page. Thankfully the fourth book is available. As far as ratings go, I would put this at PG-16, but that's only n the assumption that if I'd read this when I was fifteen, I would have thought it was too adult for me. Thoroughly enjoyable, nonetheless, and I look forward to more from Miss Armentrout.
-Grace
Friday, September 27, 2013
"Onyx" Review
In the aftermath of Katy, Daemon, and Dee's encounter with the Arum -a being of darkness who survives on the essence of another- no one is aware of Katy and Daemon's connection, and the two are determined to keep it that way. What's more, Katy refuses to believe that Daemon's attraction to her is real or substantial. Nothing short of the love her parents had for each other will suffice. But something greater is at work. The two are constantly at odds, but when the tables are forever overturned, tempers and abilities will rise, and new foes will be recognized. In the midst of so much turmoil, not everyone can survive a betrayal of this magnitude.
Jennifer L. Armentrout delivers a fantastic sequel to the New York Times bestseller, "Obsidian." Although it starts out a little slow, "Onyx" was worth every hour into the night. Thoroughly enjoyable, I found myself having to stop in the middle of a scene to let my pulse recede from "uncharted territory." One thing I really appreciated was Kat's unrelenting resistance to Daemon. She has values and holds to them, not simply tossing them aside for a pretty face. She does not want to change because Daemon thinks she's too trusting or a friend thinks she needs to take more risks. Katy knows who she is, and that was refreshing.
The story retains the voice of the first book in all of its interesting, mysterious, dark-humored glory. I would like to make a note regarding the entire series, though, and that is that the profanity is common (meaning it's how the characters are used to talking). However I'm not usually one to snuggle with excessive language and I was fine with it. Don't read it out loud, is all I'm saying. And as far as sensuality, eh, PG-13. Actually, since about 85% of movies are PG-13 nowadays, let's go with PG-15.
I really liked this book. I thought it was well-written and it held my attention until the very last word. But if you're like me and the last word just isn't enough, then enclosed at the end of the book, as with the first one, is a chapter in Daemon's point of view. That in and of itself is a great experience. I highly recommend "Onyx" for those who enjoyed "Obsidian," because believe me, you won't be able to put it down.
-Grace
Jennifer L. Armentrout delivers a fantastic sequel to the New York Times bestseller, "Obsidian." Although it starts out a little slow, "Onyx" was worth every hour into the night. Thoroughly enjoyable, I found myself having to stop in the middle of a scene to let my pulse recede from "uncharted territory." One thing I really appreciated was Kat's unrelenting resistance to Daemon. She has values and holds to them, not simply tossing them aside for a pretty face. She does not want to change because Daemon thinks she's too trusting or a friend thinks she needs to take more risks. Katy knows who she is, and that was refreshing.
The story retains the voice of the first book in all of its interesting, mysterious, dark-humored glory. I would like to make a note regarding the entire series, though, and that is that the profanity is common (meaning it's how the characters are used to talking). However I'm not usually one to snuggle with excessive language and I was fine with it. Don't read it out loud, is all I'm saying. And as far as sensuality, eh, PG-13. Actually, since about 85% of movies are PG-13 nowadays, let's go with PG-15.
I really liked this book. I thought it was well-written and it held my attention until the very last word. But if you're like me and the last word just isn't enough, then enclosed at the end of the book, as with the first one, is a chapter in Daemon's point of view. That in and of itself is a great experience. I highly recommend "Onyx" for those who enjoyed "Obsidian," because believe me, you won't be able to put it down.
-Grace
Sunday, September 22, 2013
A Merciful Tomorrow
At 12:30 in the morning, I don't want to write. I don't want to do anything work-related, but more importantly, I don't want to sleep. Not sure how that's more important than being lazy at crest-of-the-day o'clock, but it feels like it overshadows everything else, including the knowledge that either a cat or a toddler will probably be wandering in here in a little bit to rouse me from my slumber. But at the same time, I want to write. I want to get lost in a world all my own with characters that sometimes feel too real to be just characters. Part of my dread stems from needing to rise early tomorrow... er, I mean today, later. I do my best work late at night, I believe, when all is dark and quiet and it's almost as tranquil as reading a book under a shady maple tree, with nothing but the lazy days of summer to look forward to. But I don't want to be a zombie in the morning, either, and coffee can only get you so far. I hate having to choose between sleep and writing. But maybe God will show favor on me tomorrow. Maybe it will just be one of those days where you can sit and watch a movie or read books about a cat and his four groovy buttons. No, that's not that late-night talk creeping in. We seriously have a book about a cat with "four, big, colorful, round, groovy buttons." I can quote it word for word. :-) Yes, hopefully tomorrow will be merciful. I guess there's only one way to find out.
Night.
-Grace
Night.
-Grace
Friday, September 20, 2013
Official "Obsidian" Review
Wow. I can't even read my last post it was so bizarrely horrific. I mean, come on, who only posts the book jacket and, like, nothing else? No review, nothing? I was so anxious to start the second book I guess I wimped out on you, huh? Sorry about that. I'm making up for it now, though. Here is my official review of "Obsidian," by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Lately I've found it difficult to find a book or series I can really dive into, get totally lost in, like I did when I read the Twilight series. (Don't judge me.) Oh, sure, there are tons of great books out there, but I honestly didn't think a series could possibly capture my attention as ravenously as those books had. Well, I'm here to tell you that the Lux series captured my attention, is holding it hostage, and we are currently negotiating the release of my heart, which feels like it's been lodged in my throat the last several days.
I heard about the Lux series via Coffeeshopreader's (visit her amazing blog at www.coffeeshopreader.worpress.com) glowing review of the latest installment, "Origin." Personally I think the girl has good taste and a great way with words because she immediately had me interested. The words "snarky... viewpoint" played a role in that. Of course she was reviewing the fourth book, so I was thinking, Where did this all start? Who's Katy? What the heck is a Luxen? Another thing that caught my attention: aliens. I hadn't read a thing about aliens since "The Rise of Nine" by Pittacus Lore. Onto Amazon.com I went, anticipation making my heart stutter in a dormant but familiar way.
It's a little dizzying when you jump into a novel without knowing what to expect (besides what you read in the description). It was thrilling! I felt like I'd embarked on an adventure, into the unknown, with nothing but a glass of water and one page of Goodreads quotes to go on.
I will say this once: "Obsidian" left me breathless. I couldn't get enough of Katy and Daemon's snarky banter, their arguments, just their... how did they put it... hate-hate relationship. It was surprisingly addictive and entertaining. Yeah, I mean the addictive part in a good way. Katy is funny. Her internal monologue cracked my up time and time again, and I could not help but adore Daemon's remarks, though sometimes inappropriate. I feel like this book was fresh and vibrant, a break away from the entertaining-but-usual.
On that note, I would like to make a point about something. Giving the reviews for "Obsidian" a cursory glance, I noticed someone remarking how it was a good story but the plot wasn't original. Let's get this out of the way now. There is really no story that is completely original. With the exception of Scott Westerfeld (Uglies, Midnighters, and Leviathan series), every story is borrowed from some other story and written either to reflect a different aspect or take the concept in a totally different direction. Either way, plotlines are like roots: You have the bigger ones stemming directly from the flower, but then you have these tiny little spidery arms branching out from those roots, reaching, growing. I read because I enjoy reading, not because I'm looking for something totally and completely original. It's not always the plotline that makes the book good, but the writing.
Now that we have that all settled, back to "Obsidian." Great book, I liked the writing style, and I didn't even mind the language. Honestly, if you can get through "Game of Thrones," you should be just fine with this. However, there were some scenes that were a bit... steamy. Don't worry, I would call this book PG-13, but just for the record....
If you like paranormal fantasy mixed with romance, action, and dark humor, you will probably enjoy "Obsidian" immensely, because here's the thing with these books... once you start reading, you can't put them down.
-Grace
Lately I've found it difficult to find a book or series I can really dive into, get totally lost in, like I did when I read the Twilight series. (Don't judge me.) Oh, sure, there are tons of great books out there, but I honestly didn't think a series could possibly capture my attention as ravenously as those books had. Well, I'm here to tell you that the Lux series captured my attention, is holding it hostage, and we are currently negotiating the release of my heart, which feels like it's been lodged in my throat the last several days.
I heard about the Lux series via Coffeeshopreader's (visit her amazing blog at www.coffeeshopreader.worpress.com) glowing review of the latest installment, "Origin." Personally I think the girl has good taste and a great way with words because she immediately had me interested. The words "snarky... viewpoint" played a role in that. Of course she was reviewing the fourth book, so I was thinking, Where did this all start? Who's Katy? What the heck is a Luxen? Another thing that caught my attention: aliens. I hadn't read a thing about aliens since "The Rise of Nine" by Pittacus Lore. Onto Amazon.com I went, anticipation making my heart stutter in a dormant but familiar way.
It's a little dizzying when you jump into a novel without knowing what to expect (besides what you read in the description). It was thrilling! I felt like I'd embarked on an adventure, into the unknown, with nothing but a glass of water and one page of Goodreads quotes to go on.
I will say this once: "Obsidian" left me breathless. I couldn't get enough of Katy and Daemon's snarky banter, their arguments, just their... how did they put it... hate-hate relationship. It was surprisingly addictive and entertaining. Yeah, I mean the addictive part in a good way. Katy is funny. Her internal monologue cracked my up time and time again, and I could not help but adore Daemon's remarks, though sometimes inappropriate. I feel like this book was fresh and vibrant, a break away from the entertaining-but-usual.
On that note, I would like to make a point about something. Giving the reviews for "Obsidian" a cursory glance, I noticed someone remarking how it was a good story but the plot wasn't original. Let's get this out of the way now. There is really no story that is completely original. With the exception of Scott Westerfeld (Uglies, Midnighters, and Leviathan series), every story is borrowed from some other story and written either to reflect a different aspect or take the concept in a totally different direction. Either way, plotlines are like roots: You have the bigger ones stemming directly from the flower, but then you have these tiny little spidery arms branching out from those roots, reaching, growing. I read because I enjoy reading, not because I'm looking for something totally and completely original. It's not always the plotline that makes the book good, but the writing.
Now that we have that all settled, back to "Obsidian." Great book, I liked the writing style, and I didn't even mind the language. Honestly, if you can get through "Game of Thrones," you should be just fine with this. However, there were some scenes that were a bit... steamy. Don't worry, I would call this book PG-13, but just for the record....
If you like paranormal fantasy mixed with romance, action, and dark humor, you will probably enjoy "Obsidian" immensely, because here's the thing with these books... once you start reading, you can't put them down.
-Grace
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