Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits(Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Kindle edition
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: July 31, 2012, Harlequin Teen



My Thoughts:

     Ok, I admit it, shame on me for once again buying into the hype surrounding a popular book. Shame on me for thinking it was going to be something, you know, entertaining and worthwhile. I have another confession to make: I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this book, and I did have high hopes for it. But Pushing the Limits was none of that for me and I just didn’t get very far. I’ve read contemporary novels this year, some of which I’ve really liked, and some, well, not so much. Pushing the Limits just didn’t do much for me other than make me shake my head at it, and wonder why I was reading it in the first place. I don’t get this whole thing were substance/alcohol use has to be in every single book, and to be honest it just didn’t sit well with me. I don’t know, maybe I’m missing something here, but I just couldn’t do it. And I'm sorry to say that I didn’t even like Noah.

Exhibit A:
From Noah's POV

"She swept up her backpack and left the office.  Her tight @#! swayed side to side as she marched down the hallway."--pg.20

     I don't know, I just had a problem with the way Noah described Echo at times.  And I did not like his drug use.

Exhibit B:
From Echo's POV

""Yep." I took the cup from her and finished it off.  I didn't particularly care for the taste, but when at a kegger..."--pg52

"The warm fuzzy feeling that helped take the edge off also slowed the thought process."--pg52
    
      So suddenly under aged drinking is ok?  Where are the parents?! So, um yeah, that’s just my opinion, but I’m not saying you shouldn't read it because I didn’t like it. By all means, take the plunge…if you want.

Early Movie Review: Pacific Rim directed by Guillermo del Toro

Title: Pacific Rim
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Producer: Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Guillermo del Toro, Mary Parent
Screenplay: Travis Beacham, Guillermo del Toro
Story by: Travis Beacham
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: July 12, 2013
For more info on the movie visit the official site HERE

My thoughts:

        So, last night I saw an advanced screening of Pacific Rim, yeah, awesome giant robots called Jaegers that battle monsters—that also happen to be you know, GIANT—rising out of the sea. Uh-huh, what’s not to like about that? That’s the point, Pacific Rim was my kind of movie. It blended near-apocalyptic elements perfectly with technology only found in science fiction!

          Raleigh Becket, oh gosh, the guy started out as a Jaeger pilot that came off as a little too arrogant for his own good. But certain events changed him, and in the end he had to live with those decisions. Then there was Mako Mori, once I knew her history, I understood where she was coming from. There were other characters, but I won’t go into that. I don’t think I could say much about certain ones without spoiling the entire movie. Although, I will say that one of my favorite characters from the movie was Dr. Newton Geizler, the guy was spontaneous and reckless when it came to his research.

      Oh, the plot of Pacific Rim, it was fast paced despite the length of the movie, and the dialogue was kept in check. Almost from the very beginning the action started as mankind tried to take a stand against the invaders, Kaiju. The technology behind the Jaegers was pretty impressive, and the concept in itself was enough to grab my attention. It wasn’t all just mindless fighting.  There was a story to it that I liked seeing. At times, the movie left me questioning the decisions of a few characters, and the ending…no, on second thought I don’t think I’ll say anything about that.   Because I want to be as vague as possible about this, I’ll just end this review here since I could go on all day. But if you want to know how it ends, well, you’ll have to see Pacific Rim for yourself to find out, because I’m not telling you. {Actual rating 4.5}

I won tickets to an advanced screening.

 

Check out the trailer below

 

Review: Ink by Amanda Sun

Title:Ink (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Won, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Harlequin Teen



My Thoughts:


     Oh it may have taken me some time to get this review up, but here it is.  Set against the intoxicatingly unique backdrop of Japan, Ink by Amanda Sun is easily one of my favorite books of the year.  The mythology, the plot, the characters—I liked basically everything about this book!  Sun did an incredible job of capturing the Japanese culture at its best. 

      Ink is Katie Greene’s story as she struggled to adjust to her life in Japan after the untimely death of her mother.  Some of the insecurities described throughout the book were spot-on, and very believable considering the situation.  I liked seeing Katie grow over time as she became more accustomed to her life in Japan.  Tomohiro was definitely one of the more complex characters in Ink.  On one hand he would do something so coldhearted that you wondered if he really was a bad guy, but on another hand he would do something so sweet that he made you want to like him.  Tomohiro was a character who was loyal, and thought about what was best for others before what was best for him.  Katie’s friends, Yuki and Tanaka, were also nice additions to the story.

      The plot moved along at an even pace, with major plot-points placed in key spots in the book.  It was a setup that I liked since it kept me reading until two in the morning just so I could finish it.  Another aspect about Ink that I really enjoyed was how it pointed out the everyday struggles of someone who was trying to assimilate into a foreign society—with the language barriers, as well as the traditions. Considering how much I liked Ink, I can’t wait for book two to come out. {Actual rating is 4.5}  

 

Cover Reveal: Creators by Tiffany Truitt

Today Tiffany Truitt and Entangled Teen are revealing the final cover for The Lost Souls Trilogy, CREATORS. Along with an exclusive excerpt and a pre-order giveaway that Tiffany has set up on her blog!

                                                                On to the reveal!

Blurb:

Heartbroken but more determined than ever after a tense showdown in the woods, sixteen-year-old Tess once again returns to the safety of her community of Isolationists. Bolstered by new alliances and desperate to protect those she loves, this time she knows she can return stronger and more powerful than ever to take back what is hers.

As she trains in combat and grows more confident, Tess receives beautiful letters penned by her forbidden love, the chosen one James, from his prison in Templeton. He is now serving as a bodyguard to the creators—the team of scientists who created artificial life in the first place. And what he has discovered about the true origin of the illness that halted natural life could change everything.

Enemy will become ally and death will bring new hope in this stunning conclusion to Tiffany Truitt’s epic Lost Souls trilogy.

Goodreads/Amazon

Exclusive Excerpt!

Somewhere, James was just as trapped as I was.

            I thought of the morning when we lay with each other, curled against one another, never beginning and never ending. How we’d stayed like that till the sun began to rise.

            James had reached down and pulled me off the ground. He wore a satisfied grin on his face. “Someone is mighty proud of himself,” I teased.

            He laughed. It bounced through the forest, calling it awake. Readying it for the day. “I’m just insanely happy.”

            I stood on the tips of my toes and kissed him gently on his scar. “I’m insanely happy too,” I whispered.

            James looked down at me, and I was lost all over again. I would never tire of looking into those mismatched eyes. They didn’t make him different. They made him him. He chuckled as he reached over and pulled a leaf from my tangled hair. “They’ll know just by looking at you that we’ve been up to no good.”

            “No good?” I purred. “I thought it was very, very good.”

            James growled and lifted me into the air. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he pressed his lips hungrily against mine. I moved my hands to his hair, curling my fingers into it, attaching myself to him. I never wanted to let go. Every part of me ached to be touched by him, and every part of me ached to touch him right back.

            “Do you know how much I love you?” he breathed into the base of my neck. His lips fluttered against my skin.

            I nodded, kissing the top of his head. “As much as I love you.”

            James slowly put my feet back on the ground. He cradled my face in his hands. “That will never change. No matter what.”

            I looked deep into his eyes. “I know.” Because I did. It was one of life’s few assurances. I would always love James.

            I pressed my lips once again to his scar. “I adore this scar,” I whispered, unable to hide the smile that seemed etched on my face all morning.

            “You’re enough to drive a man crazy,” he said The tremble of his voice caused my toes to curl. I wanted him again. And again. And again.

            My fingers traced the waist of his pants. “Tonight?” I said, knowing full well it was a promise that I probably wouldn’t be able to keep.

            James grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. “Tonight,” he echoed.

            As the sun climb higher into the sky, I knew our moment was coming to an end. James reached down and placed his hand over my heart. “Thank you,” he said.

            “For what?” I asked, my voice choked with emotion.

            “For everything.”

            As the memory slipped away, I looked back up at the night sky. Praying and hoping that James knew how much I wanted to thank him too.

            For everything.

 

About Tiffany:

Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of  one McDonalds and Banana Rats (don’t ask), she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).

Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman(5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered “low brow” or outside the “classics.”

Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. She currently teaches the following novels: The Outsiders, Speak, Night, Dystopian Literature Circles: The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Uglies, and Matched.

Tiffany is proud to call herself an educator and Young Adult author. Her first book will be published by Entangled Publishing.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Also Tiffany has a Pre-Order Contest going on over at her blog http://tiffanytruitt.wordpress.com/ three lucky people that pre-order CREATORS will win a signed Cassandra Clare poster!

ARC Review: Blurred by Tara Fuller

Title: Blurred (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Publisher, E-ARC
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Teen, July 2, 2013




My Thoughts:

    Oh Cash, oh Anaya…why?  Why, Tara Fuller, why?  This book pulled at my emotions like it was a piece of string being chased by a cat.  For me, Blurred was an emotional rollercoaster that had me wanting to get to the end as fast as possible.  It was the kind of book that made me root for the character’s happiness at the end, no matter what it was.  It shouldn’t be hard to guess that I absolutely loved this book! 

    I did not read the book prior to this one and I went into the story not knowing who the characters were, what their story was, or how things got to be the way they were.  What I did get from the start, Cash was struggling with the aftermath of the fire.  He was angry; he was hurt both emotionally and physically.  Throughout the book, the lies that were surrounding him began to unravel.  I just felt so bad for Cash as the story progressed that I wished something good would happen to him.  Anaya was also tortured; she longed to get back to those she loved.  Her loyalties were tested as she struggled to do what was right versus what would benefit her.  Though their troubles differed, Cash and Anaya still struggled throughout the book with their emotions, and everything else.  Emma, well, she was hurting and I could tell she cared about Cash and wanted to help him.  Finn was supportive in the whole situation, and I liked the way that he was there for Emma.

    The plot, oh my god, why?  Why did Cash have to suffer so much?  Why?  You know the saying, right?  How life’s not fair, well, this just tops the cake with a pretty cherry on top.  The plot was so unfair to the characters that I seriously questioned if there was going to be a good ending.  And then the end snuck up on me way too quickly, and then it was over.  Despite everything, I felt like the ending was just right for this book and wrapped everything up nicely.  I just have one more question.  So, um, yeah, is there another book and when’s it coming out?

 
This E-ARC was provided by the publisher, Entangled Teen, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

Cover Reveal: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

First off, a thank you to Entangled Publishing for letting us take part in the Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout cover reveal!  Ah, the cover in question, based off of what what the synopsis has to say about the book, I think the cover fits perfectly.

 

 

Arrows, because they were beginning to collect dust...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The cover

The Synopsis

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links for ORIGIN

Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble

 Jennifer’s pages

Twitter Facebook Website
 

Blog Tour: This is War by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Welcome to our tour stop on the the This is W.A.R. blog tour!  Below is a little about the book, and if you reach the bottom of the post you'll find links to a cool promotion.

Title: This is W.A.R. by Lisa and Laura Roecker
Source/Format: Edelweiss, E-ARC
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Soho Teen, July 2, 2013

 

The Synopsis

This is not a story of forgiveness...

The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent. And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return. Alone. They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away. Enter the W.A.R.—the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost. 

 

My Thoughts:

 

     This is W.A.R. is yet another fast-paced novel by Lisa and Laura Roecker shrouded in mystery and suspense.  There were things I did and didn’t like about This is W.A.R..  On one hand, they presented us with another addictive mystery full of lies, dirty money, and a truth just begging to get to the surface.  On another hand, there were some bits and pieces of the story that I felt could have just been left out.  

     Following Rose, Lina, Madge, and Sloane along through This is W.A.R. was like a rollercoaster with no clear end in sight.  Fueled by hatred, the girls went after who they thought was responsible for their friends death.  I liked watching their stories unfold from each of their POV’s, as they struggled with their feelings about Willa’s death, while taking into account the wishes of others.  But there was always one clear goal in mind: Revenge.  It led to them making a few choice decisions that had me cringing.  Then there were the Gregorys, the guys with all the money in the world that one person could possibly want and who knew how to use it to their advantage.  The Gregory family was as dirty as they come, and I liked the way Lisa and Laura Roecker portrayed them.  To say the least, they were well-written antagonists.

     The plot, the secrets, all of it was shocking, especially some of the characters involved in certain revelations.  As things were revealed I slowly put the pieces of that fateful night together.  My only complaint is that some of the smaller details bothered me.  Some of the suggestive situations sprinkled throughout the book were just too much for me, and in the end those elements hampered my overall enjoyment of This is W.A.R..

An e-arc was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

 

 

Now for the information on the promotion.  If you pre-order the book you could earn yourself one of the keys featured in the book, but it's limited in quantity.  Click HERE for more information.

 

 

Lisa and Laura Roecker are sisters-turned-writing partners with a passion for good books, pop culture, and Bravo programming. Not necessarily in that order. A prepubescent obsession with Lois Duncan and their mother's insistence that they read Men Are Just Desserts inspired This is WAR. The sisters live in Cleveland, Ohio, in separate residences. Their husbands wouldn't agree to a duplex. Cyberstalking is always encouraged at lisa-laura.blogspot.com and @landlroecker on Twitter.

 

Links

Twitter This is War Book

Review: The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy

Title:The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Won, Hardback
Age Range: Middle Grade
Publisher/Publication Date: Walden Pond Press, April 30, 2013



My Thoughts:


     So many times, the classic fairy tales have been remixed into all sorts of wonderful tales, but not like this.  The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle is on a whole other level—it’s hilarious, entertaining, and everything else in-between.  Healy did a fantastic job of taking the tales we know and love, and giving them a fresh take that anyone is bound to enjoy.  Personally, I loved this book, from the characters, to the setting, and even to the plot.  And I haven’t even read the first book yet, but I plan to since I want to know how the whole series started.

     In the Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle, the Prince Charmings—Liam, Duncan, Fredric, and Gustav—are yet again enveloped in a plot that quickly spirals out of control.  After having their reputation’s destroyed, they'd spent the months prior to the start of the story in hiding.  I’m not familiar with the characters, which were all different in personality and skill set, but they were well-written and I found their antics entertaining.  Briar Rose was just crazy.  Healy did a superb job of developing Briar Rose’s character, and inevitably illustrated all of the traits that made her spoiled-rotten. 

     The plot was really interesting with aspects that I found highly entertaining, as well as hilarious.  Almost from the first chapter, the princes are thrust into yet another dangerous, high-stakes adventure.  Throughout, there was a lot of character development and lessons learned, but I can’t say anything about it because that would be too big of a spoiler.  The end, oh the end, it left me wanting the next one already!  From the way it was written, I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen next.  In a nutshell, this book was awesome, and I definitely recommend to everyone!

 

Now, check out the trailer below...

Relic by Renee Collins Giveaway

Title:Relic (Click title for Synopsis)
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Teen, August 27, 2013

 

So Entangled Publishing is running a giveaway for Relic by Renee Collins!  There's a print copy up for grabs (US only) and an ecopy of for international readers.  Feel free to enter if you want... 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spartan Frost (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased/ itunes digital edition
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Kensington Publishing Corporation, June 25, 2013






My Thoughts:

     I’m glad that Jennifer Estep decided to do a Novella from Logan Quinn’s point of view, because I always wondered what was going on in his head.  Spartan Frost really showed how Logan was struggling with what happened at the end of Crimson Frost.  Out of everything he seemed to be struggling with his guilt over what happened to Gwen, the most.  The only thing about Spartan Frost is that it was more about Logan and not necessarily how he felt about Gwen.  Sure, we get small pieces of his emotions, as well as some insight into the things he liked about her, but otherwise it was focused primarily on him and his father.  Spartan Frost was a nice bridge to fill the gap between Crimson Frost and the upcoming release, Midnight Frost.  I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but what I do know is that there will be plenty Reapers of Chaos showing up all over the place.

Review: Of Triton by Anna Banks

Title:Of Triton (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Won, Bound ARC
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Feiwel & Firends, May 8, 2013




My Thoughts:
    
     What should I even say?  I had really high expectations for Of Triton going into it, but sadly I just didn’t like it that much.  I’ve read books involving mermaids before, and I like the whole idea well enough.  But with Of Triton I just had a hard time getting into the story.  I didn't end up caring for the smaller details.  As a whole, Of Triton was an ok read but I wouldn’t exactly read it again.  The characters...sigh.  Emma was pliable and just seemed to float with whatever boat was present at the time.  She had a few instances of short-lived rebellion, which made me like her a little more than I originally did.  Galen, yeah, I didn't like him very much either. Then there was Emma’s mother, Nalia and Grom, Galen’s older brother.  I just felt like their situation was settled way too quickly, which left me wondering why it was even there in the first place.  Then there were the major plot issues.  It was just kind of lacking, plus the conflicts seemed almost superficial.  I would have liked to see a little more resistance from the characters.  Maybe if I’d read Of Poseidon before diving into Of Triton, I would have understood the structure of the world a little more, but I didn’t.  Hey I’m being honest, someone else may like this one, but I guess I’m not included in that category.

We're now on Tumblr and Pintrest

We’re now on Tumblr and Pinterest.  Drop by, take a look around, and feel free to follow us if you want.  There’s not much to look at, at the current moment, but we’ll add to it over time.  Our first post has something to do with books...kind of.  Follow the links:

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Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Title: Leviathan (Click title for Synopsis)
Illustrations by: Keith Thompson
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Simon Pulse, October 6, 2009



My Thoughts:


    Oh, I just feel the need to get this out first: I just love the Leviathan Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld!  It’s a wonderful mix of history and some very imaginative technology that combined living creatures with machines.  For someone like me who likes history, this is absolutely one of my favorite series.  Leviathan has it all action, an intriguing storyline, and a superbly built world.  Scott did an outstanding job crafting the Clanker the Darwinist societies, making the differences present from the beginning, and highlighting the tension between them.  Oh, and not to forget the beautiful illustration’s done by Keith Thompson, which captures the Clanker machines and Darwinist Beasties perfectly.

     In Leviathan we are introduced to Deryn Sharp who happens to be posing as a boy—Dylan Sharp—to gain entry into the Service/Military.  Due to a series of nail-biting events, Deryn as Dylan ends up aboard “the great hydrogen breather” Leviathan, as one of the middies.  And then there’s Alec, a prince on the run after the untimely death of his parents.  Poor Alec had a hard time with things, and I felt bad for him for how he found out about the whole thing.  There were a slew of highly interesting secondary characters as well, with Dr. Barlow being one of them.  As a boffin, which is a Darwinist fabricator, was one character that really held my interest throughout the book.  She was very secretive with what she was up to.

     There was never a point in the plot that was slow—there was a lot going on.  Once the war got rolling, everything just kind of unfolded from there.  Once Alec and Deryn finally met, well, their combined interactions just made the plot all that much better.  The science behind Leviathan was just marvelous!  The whole concept of the Beasties, and that having a living ecosystem to sustain the hydrogen breathers, just had me from page one.  Having started the trilogy right in the middle of it with Behemoth, I found that I really did miss all of the details and important events that happened in Leviathan.  Now, I just want to reread the entire trilogy from start to finish again. 

 

Now, check out Leviathan's book trailer below:

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe

    Thank you to Penguin/Viking for allowing us to reveal the cover of Stasia Ward Kehoe's The Sound of Letting Go!  Personally, I love the cover.  It's simple, but in a perfect kind of way that I think suits the book.  Make sure you visit the bottom of the post for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Arrows, because I feel like making you work to get to the cover...

and giveaway...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hah, you're almost there...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

And now the cover 

 

Title: The Sound of Letting Go

Author: Stasia Ward Kehoe

Publisher/ Expected Publication Date: Penguin Group/Viking, February 1, 2014

 

Synopsis

     For sixteen years, Daisy has been good.  A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly.  A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad.  She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave. 

 

     But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal.  Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy?  Should she side with her parents or protect her brother?  How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?

 

The all important links

For more information on Stasia Ward Kehoe

Stasia on twitter On Facebook At Goodreads At her blog

And now for the giveaway!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Movie Review: After Earth Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Title: After Earth
Director:  M. Night Shyamalan
Writers: Gary Whitta (Screenplay), M. Night Shyamalan(Screenplay), & Will Smith (Story)
Release Date: May 31, 2013
Rated: PG-13 Sci-fi action violence and some disturbing images (For additional rating information for After Earth visit the Internet Movie Data Base)

Thanks to 100.7 Jack FM, I attended an advanced screening of After Earth on May 29, 2013.

My Thoughts

I know that I am a little late with posting my thoughts about After Earth. Let me start by saying that After Earth had a great message about the relationship of a father and son. It was entertaining, but it didn’t have that wow factor. Yet, I felt that the movie captured what it takes for a service member to reintegrate into the family and the difficulties in the relationships between some parents and their children as a result of extended separations.

After Earth is the story of Cypher Raige (Will Smith), a Commander General, who comes home and is distant with Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith), his son. The family had experienced a great loss in the past and there were some unresolved issues related to  the death of Kitai’s sister. The father requires Kitai to say “yes sir” each time he addresses him, and it is apparent that their relationship is strained. Cypher takes his son on a mission with him so they can bond and that’s when their adventure begins. One problem I had was that some of the events seemed out of place. In particular, I found it odd that it was so easy for Kitai to locate his father after the accident. The accident was a turning point in their relationship. Cypher had to depend on his son, and they began to develop mutual respect. Yeah, the movie was slow and the acting fell flat at times, but once I could see the direction of this film, I started to enjoy it. After Earth—a father and son who work on rebuilding their relationship through adversity and are dependent on each other for survival…How can you go wrong with that?

I recommend After Earth to those who like films with a strong message and a touch of action and adventure. FYI-Be aware that there are some disturbing images.

Check out the official site for the summary and additional information.
 

Rating

After Earth Trailer

Review: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Title:Days of Blood & Starlight (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Hardback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, November 6, 2012



My Thoughts:

     I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into Days of Blood and Starlight, but I sure as heck wasn’t disappointed.  Laini once again did a fanciful job on capturing the world Karou lives in.  The writing was just amazing, descriptive, and really kept the story going. 
 

     Days of Blood and Starlight, was a true sequel, which continues Karou’s story.  As always the characters were fantastic and their reactions to things were realistic.  This book was set up way different than Daughter of Smoke and Bone.  Zuzana was just awesome, and she kept right on looking for Karou, which just showed how much of a friend she was to her.  I’m glad that Zuzana found some happiness in Days of Blood and Starlight.  Then there was Karou and Akiva.  Both were facing major changes in their lives, and I’m glad that they were able to work through some of them.  Still, I was rooting for Karou and Akiva—and their complicated relationship—from the start.

     The plot moved at a fast past, and with each chapter I found out something new. It was a truly amazing story, and I definitely recommend this one to anyone.  Now I just have to wait for the next one to come out.

 

Early Movie Review: Now You See Me

Title: Now You See Me

Director: Louis Letterrier

Producer: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Bobby Cohen

Written by: Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: May 31, 2013

For more information about the movie visit the official site here

My Thoughts:

     My first thoughts about Now You See Me were:  What?  How?  Where the heck did that come from?  Oh, ok, I did not see that coming.  After the end of Now You See Me, I was left reeling from it, and feeling like the movie was one giant illusion meant to trick the audience into believing they’re seeing something they’re not—well, at the very least, that’s how I felt.  It really made me think about the plot as it progressed as new details emerged.  Now You See Me is the kind of movie I’d eventually buy when it comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray, just to see if there were any small details I missed the first time I’d seen it.

      The plot follows “The Four Horsemen,” a team of talented illusionist, who go up against an elite team of FBI agents, in a series of thrilling heists.  Jack Wilder, Henley Reeves, Merritt McKinney, and J. Daniel Atlas start off as separate performers, unable to work with one another.  Through a course of mysterious events, the four end up working as a team.  The Horsemen were really the world’s greatest illusionist in this movie, as time after time, they always managed to stay one step ahead of the agents who were closing in on them. 

     Now You See Me was truly different from the other movies coming out this year.  I mean, come on.  How many times are you going to get a movie about illusionist pulling off heists?  I was so sure it was someone else, but it wasn’t.  I can’t say much more without spoiling the plot, but the secrets, oh the secrets will leave you questioning what you saw throughout the movie.  The greatest trick of Now You See Me was the movie itself, and the hidden details within it.  The only issue I really had with the movie was that there was some inappropriate suggestive content at seemingly random parts of the movie, and instances of crude humor that could have just been left out.  Otherwise, it was a pretty good movie.

 

Thank you to Summit Entertainment for the advanced screening tickets!  Another thank you to Z90.3 for the awesome Now You See Me hat!

 

Check out the trailer below:

Review: Double Vision by F. T. Bradley



Title: Double Vision
(Click on the title link for synopsis)
Author:  F.T. Bradley
Publisher/Publication Date: 
HarperCollins Children's, October 16, 2012
Source/Format:  Borrowed from Library,
Hardback

Double Vision, Double agent, Double Fun and Excitement! That explains the debut novel Double Vision by F. T. Bradley in a nutshell. The cover appeared exciting enough and the synopsis drew me in, but I approached this book with reservations since I was unfamiliar with Bradley’s work.  Now, I suggest removing the caution tape and approaching the book full speed ahead. You will not be disappointed because this middle-grade spy novel provides non-stop action and adventure.

Lincoln (Linc) Baker is a mischievous twelve-year-old prone to causing trouble, and one wrong decision lands him and his family in a world of trouble.  With a lawsuit pending against his family, and not enough funds to cover it, Linc decides to take up an offer from a shadowy government agency called Pandora. F.T. Bradley did a phenomenal job on Double Vision as she transformed a mischievous kid who used the context of the world for knowledge into a not so skilled but effective spy.  Linc’s mission was to find the “evil Mona Lisa.”  It leads Linc on a whirlwind adventure in Paris, full of action, humor, cool gadgets, spies, betrayals, and a plot that had me guessing till the end.  Along the way Linc made a few interesting friends such as a cab driver with crazy driving skills that had me nervous for Linc, and then a girl from a bakery, a strong female character, who has mad-skills with a stick.  What’s not to like about that?

I would definitely recommend Double Vision by F.T. Bradley.  Ok, ok, ok, let’s just say that it was the perfect spy themed novel that needs to be adapted into a movie!  End of discussion.                                    – Review  written by Andrea M.  & Breana M.

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Watch as F. T. Bradley Discusses Double Vision