Waiting on Wednesday: Endless Love

This week's Waiting on Wednesday isn't a book. 

I'm waiting on the new film Endless Love, being released by Universal Pictures on Valentines Day in the US.

It stars Alex Pettyfer, of Magic Mike and Beastly fame, and Gabriella Wilde, of Carrie note, in the lead roles in this remake of the classic 1981 film of the same name.

Pettyfer plays David Axelrod, a poor boy with a sketchy past, who falls head over heels for sheltered and rich Jade Butterfield. As the summary of the film states, it's "the story of a privileged girl and a charismatic boy whose instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart." (from IMDB)

The film also stars Robert Patrick, Joely Richardson, and Bruce Greenwood. The rating is not yet set. 

I remember watching the original version of the film when I was younger, and I definitely look forward to seeing this version. And it isn't just because Alex Pettyfer is beyond hot. The story is timeless and beautiful. It truly is an endless love. 

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

All Souls Trilogy #2
Viking Penguin
July 10, 2012
Adult Paranormal

ACQUIRED: Library

SUMMARY

IT BEGAN WITH A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES.

Historian Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, and long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont have broken the laws dividing creatures. When Diana discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to Matthew. Now the fragile coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened.

Seeking safety, Diana and Matthew travel back in time to London, 1590. But they soon realise that the past may not provide a haven. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy for Queen Elizabeth, the vampire falls back in with a group of radicals known as the School of Night. Many are unruly daemons, the creative minds of the age, including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot.

Together Matthew and Diana scour Tudor London for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782, and search for the witch who will teach Diana how to control her remarkable powers... 

From Goodreads 

REVIEW

With ease, I can give Shadow of Night 5 out of 5 stars. Deborah Harkness has done it again with the continuing story of Diana and Matthew. This story was even more wonderful for a history buff such as myself as it was history taken to a whole new level. The characters were woven into a rich tapestry of history, intrigue, and romance that was bigger than life and so very simple that it was breathtaking.

My favorite thing about the novel was the fact that the relationship between Diana and Matthew continued to evolve along natural lines. They fought. They made love. They grew apart, and grew closer again. And through it all, Diana kept her own identity. I loved that even though it is in Matthew's nature for him to be possessive toward Diana, she was able to remain her own person and to keep her own power. She doesn't succumb to Matthew's every whim and desire. Instead she fights him when there is a need and follows when she feels like it.

There is drama aplenty in Shadow of Night and more romance than you can imagine. I fell more in love with everything in the story with every single page I turned. There are so many things I would love to say about the story, but I refuse to spoil it for anyone!

It's a beautiful weaving of time, past and present, magic and ordinary.

 

 

 

 

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

All Souls Trilogy #1
Viking Penguin
February 2011
Adult Paranormal

SYNOPSIS

Deep in the heart of Oxford's Bodleian Library, scholar Diana Bishop requests a manuscript called Ashmole 782 in the course of her research. Coming from an old and distinguished lineage of witches, Diana senses that the ancient book might be bound up with magic--but she herself wants nothing to do with sorcery; and after making a few notes on its curious images, she banishes it quickly back tot he stacks. But what she doesn't know is that the old alchemical text has been lost for centuries, and its sudden appearance has set a fantastical underworld stirring. Soon, a distracting horde of daemons, witches, and vampires descends upon the Bodleian's reading rooms, One of these Creatures is Matthew Clairmont, an enigmatic and eminent geneticist, practitioner of yoga, and wine connosseur--and also a vampire with a keen interest in Ashmole 782.

Equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense, A Discovery of Witches is a novel of epic scope, traveling from the cobbled streets of Oxford to the chateaus and mountains of the Auvergne to a small town in upstate New York. It also takes us into a rich fifteen-hundred-year history that spans Clovis and the Crusades, the Knights Templar and the American Revolution. As Matthew and Diana's alliance deepens into intimacy, Diana must come to terms with age-old traditions and her own family's conflicted history--and she must learn where the modern woman she is meets the source of ancient power that is her legacy. With a scholar's depth and the touch of a great storyteller, Deborah Harkness has woven a tale of passion and obsession; the collision of magic, alchemy, and science; and the closely guarded secrets of an enchanted world.

REVIEW

 Without reservation, I give A Discovery of Witches 5 out of 5 stars. This book was absolutely amazing! While it wasn't a young adult novel, it is just absolutely wonderful for a paranormal novel in the adult genre. While I was reading, I could only really find one thing that I didn't like about the novel and it was only the cliche of "you're different so you can't be together." But, of course, there has to be something to stop the relationship or to block it from going forward easily, so what can you say?

I think what I liked best about this novel was that it was deliciously fast paced and it was loaded with history. I'm a complete nerd for history and science, and this was the perfect book for me to read. I adored it! It was like a paranormal version of Dan Brown, only better! And the love story was beautiful, too. While it hinted at the intimate relationship between Diana and Matthew, it wasn't overly graphic in the most intimate of scenes. The characters were wonderfully realistic and beautifully brought to life.

Overall, A Discovery of Witches is a wonderful story about finding yourself, your destiny, and your courage. A must read.

I Chose to Die by Ksenia Ankse

Siren Suicides #1
Self published
August 5th, 2013

SYNOPSIS

On a rainy September morning that just so happens to be her sixteenth birthday, Ailen Bright, a chicken-legged, straw-haired teenager, decides to commit suicide via drowning in the family bathtub. The ornate marble tub, adhering to her abusive father's love for anything expensive and Italian, is decorated by five sirens--who seemingly help her escape the house when her father breaks down the bathroom door. After an almost-successful suicide attempt number two, which lands her at the bottom of a lake, she learns that sirens are, in fact, real, and they want to turn her into one of them. An amazing, yet dark look into the mind and heart of a suicidal teenager, this urban fantasy follows Ailen's struggle to to figure out the meaning of life, the unraveling of her confusing feelings for her theatrically goofy best friend Hunter, and her desperate battle for her father's love.

REVIEW

Overall, I give I Chose to Die a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. I normally don't do half stars, but this one was hard to put in a category. There were a few issues with it that sometimes distracted me from the story (I kept thinking, "Why is there chlorine in the bath water?"), but overall it was an amazing read. So a 3.5 it was. But it is a novel that I would absolutely recommend to others. It is an amazing example of self publishing work.

There were a lot of things that I absolutely loved about this novel. It is amazingly descriptive, especially when it comes to Ailen's emotions. It felt as if I was right there with her in her despair. I felt everything she felt, and it was breathtaking. Ailen is a wonderful character who is very relate-able, as a human and as a siren. Her emotions--especially her fear and her confusion--are palpable. The novel is also fast paced and can keep your attention. It moves from one event to another with lots of action without losing the thread of the story. Maybe more than anything, I loved that it had two characters who were amazing "villains." You'll love to hate them. And I absolutely adore how Ailen eventually embraces her own darkness.

For the most part, there were only two things that really bothered me about the novel. The father character was slightly two-dimensional, even though he is an interesting character. However, he does develop more as the story goes on. And the basic premise of the story is slightly overdone as far as selling your soul for power or revenge--but the way that Anske twists it works well with the story. 

 In the end, I Chose to Die is an amazing story about finding your strength and learning that your real strength can sometimes be found in embracing your weakness.

Panic by Sharon M. Draper

Anthenium Books
March 12, 2013

SYNOPSIS

Diamond knows not to get into the car with a stranger. 

But what if the stranger is well-dressed and handsome? On his way to meet his wife and daughter? And casting a movie that very night--a movie in need of a star dancer? What then?

Then Diamond might make the wrong decision.

It's a nightmare come true: Diamond Landers has been kidnapped. She was at the mall with a friend, alone for only a few brief minutes--and now she's being held captive, forced to endure horrors beyond what she never could have dreamed, while her family and friends experience their own torments and wait desperately for any bit of news.

From New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper, this is a riveting exploration of power: how quickly we can lose it--and how we can take it back.

REVIEW

Overall, I give Panic a solid 3 out of 5 stars. The middle of the range rating is mostly because of three things, but I really want to talk about all the VERY positive things about the book first. The good far outweighs the not so good (because I don't want to say bad since it was just... bothersome) in this book.

The premise of the novel is interesting and very timely. The novel explores a lot of realistic issues teens face in our society. I won't go into details, but the relationships and situations in this story are highly realistic and relate-able. The characters are three-dimensional and could be the kid next door or your best friend from high school. For the most part, the characters are very physically and racially neutral (although the dialogue does give some of this away), so it's easy for the reader to see that these situations apply to anyone. While the themes and events in the story are serious, they aren't described in graphic detail, which is good for individuals who are sensitive to issues such as abuse. I also loved that the story was told from multiple perspectives, showing how the victim and the people left behind are affected by these kinds of events.

As for the not so good, I found the dialogue kind of cheesy. This was actually my second attempt at reading the novel as the first time I just couldn't get past how cheesy it was. It kind of felt like an adult trying to be hip. The plot and the emotion more than makes up for this, and this feeling goes away after the first three or four chapters. Speaking of, it also took me about five chapters (which are really short by the way) to get really invested in it. But when I did, I finished it in a day. The last thing was that a small part of it was slightly unbelievable. I suppose that's why it took me so long to get really invested in the story.

Overall, Panic is brutally honest, heart-breakingly realistic and amazingly raw. 

**SPOILER WARNING**

DISCLAIMER: Please be wary of this book because it is highly triggering for individuals who have suffered from physical abuse and sexual assault.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Fire and Thorns #1
Greenwillow Books
September 20th, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness...

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king--a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary things she could be his people's savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young.

Most of the chosen do. 

 

REVIEW

Without reservation, I give The Girl of Fire and Thorns 5 out of 5 stars. Rae Carson doesn't just pull you into the story, she literally drags you into it with a compelling plot line and a remarkably sympathetic protagonist. I absolutely loved that Elisa wasn't your traditional "beautiful in a non-traditional way" young adult heroine. Elisa is awkward and overweight, she eats her feelings, and has low self-esteem. From the moment you meet her, Elisa is relate-able.

The characters are well rounded, and the relationships are wonderfully well developed and believable. The world described is brilliantly realized once you get your bearings. It's grounded in reality in the fact that the languages in the book bear a striking resemblance to Spanish and Latin. My favorite thing about the book is the fact that Elisa is at once a very strong and a very weak character. She has doubts about who she is and what her destiny is, and yet she works to find her own strength and her own courage. She is one of the rare young adult heroines who has agency. Who figures things out on her own, rather than has a male side kick do it for her. And I loved that!

There were very few things about this book that I didn't like. It did have a rather slow start, and it was slightly confusing to get my bearings. A prologue or at least a map of the world in question would have been nice to introduce the reader to Elisa's world. 

Overall, The Girl of Fire and Thorns is an amazing read. It's a story about having the courage to find your faith in yourself. It's a must have book! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lost in Babylon by Peter Lerangis

Seven Wonders #2
HarperCollins
October 29, 2013

SYNOPSIS

ONE STEP FORWARD. A week ago, thirteen-year-old Jak McKinley was a normal kid leading a normal life--totally unaware that he was about to die. He's cursed with a genetic abnormality that's giving him amazing powers too quickly for his body to handle. Jack's only hope: Find the seven lost Loculi that were hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by the last prince of Atlantis. Only they contain the magic to save him--and the world.

TWO STEPS BACK. After unearthing the first Loculus and defeating the Colossus of Rhodes, Jack and his friends are in worse shape than when they first set out. Marco had disappeared without a trace, along with the first Loculus. With no time to spare and no one to turn to, Jack and the gang have no choice but to follow the only clues they have and to head off on the next leg of their epic quest--to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

SEVEN WONDERS. Join the adventure now. Lost in Babylon is the second book in the swashbuckling Seven Wonders series from master storyteller Peter Lerangis.

REVIEW

Overall, I give Lost in Babylon a 3 out of 5. It's a good book if you're looking for a quick read, but it's kind of disappointing if you've read the Percy Jackson books first. Honestly, I find the Seven Wonders Series to be a bit of a poor man's Percy Jackson. Even though it has an endorsement from Rick Riordan, I feel like it's a bit of a rip off. But that's just me. 

Still, the story is interesting and fast paced. I read it pretty quickly (two days once I picked it up and actually started reading), and got interested in it. There were a few things that were a little annoying and seemed to be solved a bit too easily, but some of the plot twists were fun and interesting. I especially loved the puzzles and Cass. He's quickly becoming my favorite character. The twist at the end, though... I didn't see that one coming. This one is geared toward younger, more Middle Grade readers, but it's still a relatively good read.