Review: A Pizza My Heart by Various Authors + GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

Hello, everybody! Today, I'm super excited to bring you all my stop on the blog tour for A PIZZA MY HEART by Various Authors orginaized by YA Bound Book Tours so if you love pizza, stick around!

I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour.

Down below you'll find my review of the book as well as the link to where you can purchase a copy of the book for yourself, the publisher's links, and finally, A GIVEAWAY! Read on, bookworms!

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Rating: PG

Genre: Anthology

Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Page Count: 125

Stand Alone

Publisher: Hocus Pocus & Co.

Published: February 9th, 2017 (National Pizza Day)

Gooey cheese and warm pepperoni, with a side of kissing and murder.

A Pizza My Heart is a quirky and fun anthology that crosses all genres. Fifteen extraordinary authors have united to tell stories of mystery, mayhem, romance, danger, deceit…and pizza.

Sometimes spicy, sometimes cheesy, but always delicious, A Pizza My Heart invites you to explore life, happiness, and the pursuit of pizza.

Stories Include:

A Slice of Adventure by Maria Carvalho
Between Slices by Andy Grieser
Fresh, Hot, and Deadly by Rena Olsen 
KissingDancingPizzaMURDER by Darci Cole 
Kneadful Things by Jenna Lehne 
Love Pizza No. 9 by Vanessa Rodriguez
Madame Miraval’s Pizza Place by Kelly deVos
Password Is… by Jolene Haley
Pizza On the Brain by Emily Simon
Pizza Buddy by Brian LeTendre
Pizzamergency by Brett Jonas
Survival Pizza by Rebecca Waddell 
The Last Stop at the End of the World by Jamie Adams
The Pizza Guy by Jessi Shakarian
Where There’s Pizza by Jasmine Brown

Review:

PROS:

1. Can we just talk about how amazing it is that this is an anthology surrounding pizza? I mean, how could I not read it? I love pizza and the fact that all these stories have the theme of pizza was enough to make me jump at the chance to review it. So, if you're a fan of pizza, anthologies, or both, keep on reading because I'll be talking about my favorite short stories in this collection. Here's the review:

2. It's been so long since I last rated a book five stars but I really felt like this book deserved my praise. I loved that all the short stories were of different genres and even though were only a few pages long each, some of them had me on the edge of my seat. For example, Kneadful Things was just brilliant. I'm such a fan of horror movies and the clever title reference paired with the storyline along the lines of WHEN A STRANGER CALLS just stole my heart. I would easily call that short story my favorite out of the fifteen stories. Another favorite was Password Is . . . because it ends on such a cliffhanger! I was so into the story that when it cuts off, I literally opened my mouth in shock. I wanted more!

3. Some of the stories were also sci-fi and while those weren't my favorite, they were still fun to read about. Some of the stories were also more heartbreaking like Survival Pizza which told the story of a young teenage boy having to dumpster dive for food in order to feed his three younger siblings. They live in the family car and with their father having gone missing, the oldest struggles to hold everything together. I also loved Where's The Pizza? which tells the story of a dog named Moose who loves his human boy and the pizza he brings home for him. It quickly turns into a suspenseful tale which I fully enjoyed.

4. The other stories are more contemporary or murder-mystery. Love Pizza No. 9 was a really sweet and fluffy short story that is honestly perfect for the whole Valentine's Day feeling. As for the murder-mystery ones, I wouldn't say it was a favorite out of the other stories but I did think that KissingDancingPizzaMURDER was the murder-mystery I liked better. It's not a creepy read so I think it would be perfect if you want a short story that won't keep you up at night but will also have you on the edge while reading it. Overall, I just loved this anthology and would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who loves short stories! Or pizza. Always pizza. 

You Can Purchase The Book Here:

Amazon

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About The Publisher:

Established in 2014, Hocus Pocus & Co. loves to bring unique voices and stories to fruition.

Publisher Links:

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Review: Hero High by Mina Chara + GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

Howdy, everyone! Today, I have a fun review for all of you because it involves superheroes. YES PLEASE. Today, I'll be reviewing Hero High by Mina Chara hosted by YA Bound Book Tours so huge thanks to them!

I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of this blog tour.

 Down below you'll find my review of the book, the links to where you can purchase a copy for yourself as well as a GIVEAWAY! Yay! I hope you guys enjoy this one! Read on, bookworms!

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Add It To Goodreads!

Rating: PG

Genre: Fantasy

Score: ❤❤❤❤

Page Count: 348

Stand Alone

Publisher: Byzantion Books

Published: October 1st, 2016

Reality TV meets Superhero High School in this intriguing story about friendship, fame, and what it means to be a hero. 

In Icon City superheroes save the day every day on the quarter hour. Led by Captain Fantastic, scores of superhero celebrities do their best to train the next generation. Seventeen year old Friday Fitzsimmons and Jake her childhood friend are their latest starstruck recruits. When Doctor Dangerous returns from the dead and the Figure in Flames decimates the city, Captain Fantastic is betrayed by one of his own.

Torn between Jake, Ashley and her feelings for Doctor Dangerous, Friday must decide if her childhood friend is worth fighting for, and if the worlds most famous super-villain is worth saving, all while learning how to be a hero.

Review: 

PROS:

1. I was sold when I saw the word 'Superhero' in the description because who doesn't love a good superhero story? I was a fan of such movies as SKY HIGH and ZOOM so the idea of kid superheroes in high school that's also a filming set for a 'reality' show just sounded like too much for fun for me to pass up on. I'm so happy to have been able to read this book. Here's my review:

Source

2. I thought the characters were really fun and I loved seeing all the different superpowers they all had the varied from the typical super strength and flying. Our main character Fitz has the super power of being able to think at a rapid speed, spending hours thinking about such a thing as a math problem in her head when in real time, no more than a second goes by. That would totally be so useful to a ton of people I think. I thought Fitz, or Friday, was a snarky and sarcastic girl and even though she wasn't considered a 'real' superhero by others, she was determined to prove everyone wrong. She was a feisty one and though she did come across as a little immature at some points and tended to react rashly and on impulse, she was quick to redeem herself which I really liked since it kept me interested in her character. Add in Veronica who was all about the showbiz and getting any drama on film and cared about nothing else, Fitz's teammates that I wished we saw more of in the book because they were awesome, and Ashely who never hesitated to put Friday in her place and tell her what's what and constantly reminded her that she got on his nerves, it was very entertaining character wise.

Source

3. The concept of both superheroes and supervillains going to a special high school just for them was really original and I applaud that idea because I have never read a book quite like it. It had a really nice pace for most of the book and the author did a great job of establishing the famous superheroes of their world such as Captain Fantastic and Sense. Superheroes are the celebrities of their world and it was really fun to see a few of the famous superheroes play certain roles in the book and help out our main character. The book also had it's supervillains, however, and let me just say that they added some major twists and turns to the story, one of which I was anticipating and even though I was able to see it coming, it was still surprising because of the deeper explanation. It's also action packed and a few scenes had me on the edge a bit and cheering for Fitz and the other characters.

4. Overall, I was really impressed with this book and I think it's such a great read for anyone who loves superheroes and action-packed storylines. I'm not entirely sure if this book is only the first of a series but I really hope there's more to come. Not only does this book have fun characters, exciting adventures, and a really fun atmosphere, but I also really liked how seamless everything was. The writing kept the story moving without any awkward jumps which made reading it nice and easy and simple to understand without getting too complicated. The romance in the book also wasn't the forefront of the story but only a smaller sub-plot that didn't take the spotlight and wasn't constantly being thrown in your face. It added interest and I liked it.

The reason why I didn't give this book a five-star rating is because while I did really enjoy it, I think the conflict in the book could've been handled a little better, specifically the bigger plot twist that pops up towards the end. I think that situation could've had a little more of an explanation and fleshing out so that it didn't feel too rushed in moving past it. Because it was pretty big. Just saying.  

You Can Purchase The Book Here:

Amazon

Amazon (UK)

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About The Author:

Hi! I’m Mina Chara, I’m a student, an artist, a daughter, sister and companion to my two furry friends, Gimli and Gwynne. This blog is here because I’ve just written a book called Hero High: Figure In The Flames.

This is My Story

Being dyslexic isn’t so much of a problem, the hard part  is not letting it dictate what I like, and what I can do. For years I was scared of reading, but then I discovered YA fiction, real books with main characters I could relate to because most of them were girls.

When someone criticizes my writing, I feel like crying, because I feel like that I’m back in English class getting yelled at again, just wanting to go home, but I’m not a kid anymore, I’m an adult, and as an adult, I wrote a book, and you can too. 

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Review: The Kingdom of Oceana by Mitchell Charles

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Rating: PG

Genre: Fantasy, Action

Score: 4 1/2 stars

Page Count: 222

Book #1 of The Kingdom Of Oceana series

Publisher: Butterhorse Media

Published: November 27th, 2015

Five centuries ago, on the island now called Hawaii, there was a kingdom filled with adventure, beauty, and magic. When 16-year-old Prince Ailani and his brother Nahoa trespass on a forbidden burial ground and uncover an ancient tiki mask, they unleash a thousand-year-old curse that threatens to destroy their tropical paradise. 

As warring factions collide for control of Oceana, it sparks an age-old conflict between rival sorcerers that threatens to erupt-just like Mauna Kea, the towering volcano. With the help of his ancestral spirit animals, his shape shifting sidekick, and a beautiful princess, Prince Ailani must overcome his own insecurities, a lifetime of sibling rivalry, and a plague of cursed sea creatures brought forth by the tiki's spell. Can peace be restored to the kingdom? Can Prince Ailani claim his rightful place as the future king of Oceana? 

Two brothers, but only one can rule.

Review:

PROS:

1. First, I would like to thank Kelsey for sending me a copy of this book in audiobook form! When I was first contacted by Kelsey to see if I was interested in reviewing this book, I was hooked as soon as I read the first paragraph of the synopsis. I adore audiobooks like nothing else so I thought it would be really neat to review the audiobook format of this book since I don't really review audiobooks. Anyhoo, let's get on with the review so you can get my thoughts on the story! 

2. In all the years I've been alive, I've never read a book set in Hawaii which I had to remedy since it's such a cool place from what I've heard and seen in movies. I know I usually talk about the characters first but the setting was just too amazing not to mention it first. The descriptions given about the island made the book feel so magical in a way. I could almost hear the waves and see the amazing tropical sights for myself as I listened to the book and it had this certain air about it that made me feel almost as if I was in Hawaii myself which I thought was so great. Everything was so vivid and detailed with the descriptions of the ocean, coral reefs, the animal life and even simple things such as the boats people used and the surfboards. The writing was absolutely amazing and did a great job of really bringing the setting to life as the story unfolded. I also learned a little more about the culture and mythology which I loved.

3. Okay, now we can fangirl over the characters. I really loved all of them so much, especially our main character Ailani. Although the two brothers were young, they were mature for their ages and knew their duties. Of course, that didn't stop them from getting on each other's nerves. They were smart boys and were eager to learn more about their responsibilities as princes while having fun every now and then like siblings do. They were adventurous and quick learners, quick thinkers, and ready for the challenges they faced as the story moved forward. 

4. The magical elements in this book were so fun and the author did a great job of bringing light and dark magic, the curses, and the mythology to life and blending them so beautifully together. The way the magic worked was so intriguing and the magical items that helped the characters were interesting and had entertaining origins and it was fun discovering them. I also loved the intense action scenes sprinkled in the book. It made the story more exciting and had me on the edge a few times. Not only that but the narrator did a great job of reading the story and his accent really added to the cultural experience of the book. The audio was so relaxing and almost melodic at times. 

The only reason I didn't give this book a five-star rating is while I loved everything about the book, I did have a problem with the pace of the story at times. Certain scenes I wished had been a little longer to avoid feeling a little rushed. Other than that, I highly recommend this book because not only is it a great story but it has an amazing audio to go along with it should you be looking for an audiobook to listen to. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

You Can Purchase The Book Here:

Amazon

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About The Author:

Mitchell Charles’ love of the ocean and its miraculous creatures began at the age of 12 when his father taught him to SCUBA dive. From his first adventure 50 feet (15 meters) beneath the Caribbean Sea he was hooked. He has been involved in the Oceanic Society, America’s first non-profit organization dedicated to ocean conservation, established in 1969. 

Mitchell’s inspiration for The Kingdom of Oceana was born of exploring the spectacular coastline, lush valleys, and vibrant coral reefs of the Hawaiian Islands. On these excursions, he imagined what Hawaii was like hundreds of years ago. Before Captain Cook arrived from England. Before the golf courses and hotels. Before the ukulele and the Mai Tai became icons of Hawaiian culture. He dreamed of a time when the islands were an undiscovered magical paradise.

These days, Mitchell divides his time between Southern California and Hawaii. He has two teenage children and a dog named Magic.

Mitchell is currently working on the second book in the Kingdom of Oceana series, The Legend of the Nine Sacred Pearls. For more information, visit http://kingdomofoceana.com/ 

Author Links:

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Hope you all liked this review! Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

The Fifth Wave: Movie Review

WARNING: Spoilers May Be Ahead

There's really nothing I love more than books except life itself, Disney, and going to the theater as often as possible to check out some new flicks. I also really love seeing specifically action films during the cold months, I don't really know why though. It could be just because it's exciting and makes me forget that I'm cold when things are blowing up every five seconds. Anyway, I read The Fifth Wave about a year or two ago and I wasn't all that impressed by it and didn't really understand why everyone was raving about it. I didn't think it was bad, it was just okay. I read quite a lot of sci-fy so it's a bit hard for me to be impressed by another alien/military/survival story. Regardless, I felt like I shouldn't give up on the series just yet before seeing the movie. I literally just now got home from the theater and I'm very excited to be writing this review for you guys, but for other reasons.

PROS:

1. Action

The movie is surprisingly faster paced than the book itself. Not a lot happens in the book and it's faster paced scenes are too drawn out for it to be as exciting as it could have been. However, I loved that the movie added a lot more intensity to the scenes, you know with all the bullets flying, kids going into war and all that jazz. Because most of the action takes place in Ben's POV, the movie wasted no time when it came to building up his character and story-line just like the book did but at a bit of a faster tempo. The movie is more exciting because of that and they were my favorite parts of the movie. 

2. Plot

The whole plot of The Fifth Wave is that aliens have officially invaded earth and are for some reason not making contact or even giving a reason for their mayhem, which is what drew me to the book in the first place. Aliens? Guns? Lots of 'what the heck; moments? That never gets old. The movie stayed pretty much even with the plot of the book, which was nice considering the trend with book-to-screen adaptations is to NOT follow the plot at all and do its own thing. I really liked that the movie didn't stray from the whole point of the aliens gearing up for who knows what. I'm not going to lie, I was not at all impressed with the trailer for this movie because it seemed that it wasn't going to follow the story but I'm happy to say that it kept a lot of the book in and only took out parts that I'm happy were skipped over since it wouldn't have added anything to the movie. 

That's pretty much all I liked about the movie sadly. I did like about half of the cast when it came to Ben, Sam, Teacup, and Ringer. But that's about it. I'm not a big Chloe Grace fan and I had no idea who any of the other people were so I can't say much about their performances.

CONS:

1. Romance

I'm not going to lie to you guys, I hate romance when it comes to survival books. I don't know what it is about the whole romance/end-of-the-world type thing but it always feels so forced and really cheesy. And this movie was no exception. I didn't like the romance in the book and now I pretty much hate it after seeing the movie. I thought the romance should've been toned down immensely in the movie, and it seemed that it was at first. But then you throw in a couple of Nicholas Sparks type lines and a scene that could've been taken straight out of Twilight and you pretty much have the romance in the movie. Throw in the fact that there was absolutely no build-up whatsoever and it was kind of like 'hey, sorry I shot you but I love you, okay, cool.'. 

2. POV's

My favorite character from the book/movie was Ben and Sam. I thought Ben's part of the story was so much more interesting considering he's actually at the army base and being trained along with his unit to go in and hunt down the enemies. During his time at the base, he meets Sam and pretty much takes him under his wing. I loved Ben's parts in the movie and book because you find out a lot of what's really going on with the aliens invading and what the fifth wave actually is or might be. Secrets are exposed, revelations made and once Ben figures it all out for himself, he takes action in fighting for what's right. I think the entire book would've been so much greater had Ben been the main character. I think it would've made an even more interesting adaptation instead of following Cassie who didn't really do anything to contribute to fighting back against the enemies. But that's just my personal opinion on things. 

  

Overall, this movie was an okay watch for me, definitely not something I'd see again or buy on DVD. I'd say that if you loved the book, you might want to watch out when it comes to seeing the movie and it really all depends on how much of it you can take. I personally didn't like the book so I was bound to be disappointed with the movie.

If you haven't read the book or didn't know it was a book and are considering seeing the movie, just know that it isn't that great of a movie on it's own. There are a couple of plot holes that I assume are later filled in the sequel of the book and may I remind you that it does get really cheesy at some points in the movie. Basically, take your chance on it and decide for yourself if you love it or hate it.

I hope you guys enjoyed this movie review! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Review: The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy

Score: 3.5 stars

Page Count: 391

Book #1 of The Orphan Queen series

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books

Published: March 10, 2015

Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.
She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.
She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.
Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.

Review:

PROS:

1. So I'll say this right off the bat: If you love Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, more than likely you'll love this one too. I was really excited for this lovely when the book was first released and I decided to pick it up just a few days ago and get a little fantasy in my life. I'm not going to lie here, it wasn't a favorite of mine but I still enjoyed it enough to want the second book in this series! Here's the review:

2. So for the characters, I enjoyed them enough. Wil, Black Knife, Melanie, Patrick and all the Ospreys all had pretty interesting pasts. This book doesn't go into detail when it comes to their pasts, which I was a little disappointed by but the characters were all pretty strong and even a little intimidating in their own way. Wil is of course the rightful ruler of her kingdom and is very determined to take back her thrown, no matter the cost. She's an amazing fighter and can definitely take care of herself without anyone's help. She's also very strong both physically and emotionally but has an incredibly soft spot for her people and their livelihood. She's a natural born leader and fighter and that shows throughout the story. Melanie was actually a rather sweet character and wasn't as bold as Wil but more sneaky and quiet. Patrick is a lot harder than all the characters. He believes in his own reasoning for his actions and doesn't regret a thing, no matter who gets hurt in the process. Black Knife is very mysterious and honestly reminded me a little of Batman. Wears all black? Always has a mask? Vigilante? Totally a medieval version of Batman. 

3. I really loved the world building and magic system in this book because of it's descriptions and uses. I loved how old and magical the world felt and I thought it was so cool to see what kind of creatures lurked in its shadows and outskirts. I loved how the magic was simple yet powerful and how easily Wil could "animate" anything she wanted and make it do whatever she pleased. The creatures and beasts in this book were really cool because you had half-man-half-monster beings and even giant scorpions. The world was built up in a way that made it a very dark and monstrous place and I really enjoyed that aspect. I wouldn't want to live there but I still think it was pretty cool!

4. The last thing I liked about this book was that even though it had a MAJOR cliffhanger and left me like "akjsfdbajbawufga", I really enjoyed it and I'm excited for the second book which comes out sometime next year. Like I said before, if you like TOG or are just in the mood for some high-fantasy, I suggest taking a look at this one and seeing what you think of it. There's a lot going on in this book so make sure you're in the mood for some action!

The reason why I didn't give this book a five-star rating was because of these three reasons:

CONS:

1. It was a bit of a slower read despite its intense action scenes and twists and turns and I couldn't get invested in the characters or story as much as I would've liked to because of it's slower pace.

2. Because there was so much going on already, the romance in this book just felt forced and a little awkward and didn't give me anything interesting. With all the magic, war, fighting, battle, and secrecy going on, the romance was just a little too much for my taste.

3. The ending also felt very rushed and took a little bit of an awkward turn. I would've loved to have seen the last chapter be spread out into maybe two or three chapters instead of trying to wrap up the story as fast as it did. The book was also a little predictable, considering I knew Black Knife's identity halfway through the book and why Melanie was sneaking out at night without telling Wil where she was going.

Follow Jodi!

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I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email. Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

 

The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows (The Orphan Queen #2)

Available: April 15, 2016

Review: Biowars Issue #1 Infection by Mark Powers

 Biowars Issue #1: Infection by Mark Powers

Rating: PG

Genre: Comic, Action, Sci-Fi

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 28

First issue of the Biowars series

Click Here To Download

In the story of Biowars, that character is Alexander Hawking, a regular guy attending a city college in Manhattan. There is, in short, nothing remarkable about Alex. But then his father inadvertently passes a germ to him, and with it, a destiny. It’s not just any germ, but a microbe designed to annihilate the human immune system. The inner-realm of Alex’s body is a universe unto itself, as vast and complex as our own world. It is an alien setting where strange creatures inhabit living terrain and glide through pulsating corridors. To them, it is the BioCosmos.

As in human society, each of these beings has a role to play that supports the greater whole. The BioCosmos has its own supreme council, defenders, messengers, intelligence officers, and healers. These characters are known as the BioWarriors.

 

Review:

PROS:

1. DISCLAIMER: I was asked to give a full and honest review of this book. These are my thoughts and my review.  I actually hadn't heard of this comic until recently when I was contacted and asked to check out this story and asked to review it. I've been on the lookout for some graphic novels and comics to review for this blog and I was really excited when I found out about this story. I've really gotten obsessed with comics and graphic novels lately so I pretty much picked this one up immediately after downloading it. Here's the review and I hope you guys enjoy!

 



 

 

 

 


2. I always like to start off with the characters so let's do that! I actually really enjoyed the characters in this book and I have to say that Humron was my favorite! He was really sarcastic and was always cracking a joke just because he could. I thought all the characters were so cool and so cool looking for that matter! I really loved them from the very first page and I can't wait to check out the second issue! They all had pretty great character development despite how short and quick it was to read and I thought it was a pretty promising start.


3. The art, needless to say, completely blew me away! I loved seeing how much color and detail went into the illustrations in this book and I honestly couldn't stop staring at it. I'm an art student myself who loves bright colors and this comic delivered so well on the bright colors and the effects and details and depth in each picture. I really loved it and the illustrations were what really hooked me into the story. I can't wait to see what kinds of illustrations I'll see in the next issue so I'm excited! I mean, just look at that cool glowing blue thing!

4. Even though it was a very short and quick read, I still would recommend this comic to anyone who wants a quick read and loves anything with really cool creatures, unique super-hero-like characters and awesome pictures! I enjoyed this one overall and I really encourage you to pick up your copy! Link above!

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

 

Review: Secret Identities by Various Authors (GN)

Secret Identities: The Asian-American Superhero Anthology by Various Authors

Rating: PG

Genre: Graphic Novel, Pop Culture, Anthologies

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 194

Stand Alone

Publisher: The New Press

Published: May 3, 2009

 

Appealing to both comics fans and Asian Americans seeking to claim their place in American culture, Secret Identities makes brilliant use of the conventions of the superhero comic book to expose the real face of the Asian American experience.

This groundbreaking graphic anthology brings together leading Asian American creators in the comics industry including Gene Yang (National Book Award finalist for American Born Chinese), Bernard Chang (Wonder Woman), Greg Pak (The Hulk), and Christine Norrie (Black Canary Wedding Special) to craft original graphical short stories set in a compelling shadow history of our country: from the building of the railroads to the Japanese American internment, the Vietnam airlift, the murder of Vincent Chin, and the incarceration of Dr. Wen Ho Lee.
Entertaining and enlightening, Secret Identities offers whiz-bang action, searing satire, and thoughtful commentary from a community too often overlooked by the cultural mainstream, while showcasing a vivid cross-section of the talents whose imagination and creativity is driving the contemporary comics renaissance.

Review:
PROS:
1. I was really excited to read this graphic novel, not only because I was in the mood for one but I was really interested in the Asian-American theme of this one. I love diversity and I thought this one delivered beautiful on that. I thought it was a really fun and laugh-out-loud type of graphic novel so let's get into the review!

2. The first thing I really loved about this graphic novel was obviously the art styles. Each short story had it's own art and I thought it was really cool to see that. I definitely had my favorites, however, but it was really cool to see how each story was illustrated differently and how each style matched the storyline and it's characters.


3. I also really loved how many genres were in this graphic novel. I think it definitely had something for everyone. It had stories from the war years, the silver age, modern day and even futuristic stories. I have to say that I really loved the modern day ones the best because I found them the funniest for an unknown reason. I really enjoyed these different time eras that each story was placed in and I think you'll find at least one story that will stick out to you.


4. I thought this graphic novel was so funny at times and even a little depressing at others. Some stories were heartwarming and beautiful whereas others were action packed and full of fighting and even had some girl-power in a few! I found myself laughing out loud at some of the characters and stories and I just overall really loved everything about this book. It's one that I highly recommend if you want a superhero story that focuses on multiple. I would love to see a few of these become full-length graphic novels, such as "Meet Joe" by Koji Steven Sakai.  It was a really fun read and I'll more than likely be picking it up again in the future!


I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

P.S: Is anyone on a Marvel/Superhero kick at the moment? I had to watch ten hours of Marvel movies in a 24-hour time period and I'm pretty sure I'm going insane.

P.S.S: The Avenger: Age Of Ultron was AWESOME!!!! Okay, bye.

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (THG #1)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, Action

Score: 3.5 stars

Page Count: 374

Book #1 of The Hunger Games series

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Published: September 14, 2008

 

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.
When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. , she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature

 

Review:

PROS:

1. After being encouraged to finally read this book by pretty much everyone I know, I finally did so and read it to make everybody happy. I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't excited to read it but I wasn't exactly over-the-top about reading it either. Most of the hype that surrounded this book when the first movie came out ruined the book for me and made me stay away from it. What's worse than hype you guys? Nothing, that's what. But, I read it nonetheless so here's my review!

 

2. The first thing I came to love about this book was the world in which everything takes place. I liked how messed up and cruel the system of things was and it seemed a decent enough world that no one really wants to live in. It was pretty complex in a way but simple to understand. It was interesting to see just how exactly they justify the cruel way in which their world and government works and it honestly was a pretty cool dystopian world.

 

3. I really liked how much the book focused on the survival element of things. Most of the book takes place and follows Katniss as she struggles to make it out alive and in one piece back home. I liked seeing her actions as she tried to survive and outsmart the other "contestants" in order to stay alive for as long as possible. You even pick up a few survival tips from reading the book and it was pretty interesting.

 

CONS:

1. Even though I liked the book for the most part, I didn't really like any of the characters. I couldn't connect with them and honestly didn't really care what happened to them. Katniss, for me, was a hard character to like since she was always expecting someone to betray her or turn their back on her. It was a little annoying and I couldn't relate to her. The other characters, Peeta, Gale, Rue, Prim and whoever else, lacked personality and I couldn't relate to them either. They were an okay group of characters but they definitely weren't my favorite.

 

2. I was also expecting more from this book but didn't get that. I was expecting a lot of action and suspense like I was led on to believe but the book fell short of my expectations and I didn't get any excitement. It was also really slow for the first half of the book which I could've let slide were it not for how long the slowness progressed. The romance in this book was just flat-out annoying to me and I would've been happy if it was taken out completely. It was just way too forced into the story and it didn't flow well with the storyline. Don't get me wrong, I love a little romance in a good dystopian but for this book, it just didn't work.

 

Overall, it was a cool book and I'm sure it picks up in the next two installments of the series. I might pick up the second book in the future but as of now, I'm in no hurry to continue on with the books.

 

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I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter! 

Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: YA, Romance, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 550

Book #3 of the Lunar Chronicles Series

Publisher: Macmillian

Published: February 4, 2014

 

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

 

Review:

PROS:

1. So ever since I finished reading Scarlet, the second book in the Lunar Chronicles series, I couldn't get over how much I needed to know what happened next with the characters and the story and all that jazz! I finally was able to pick this book up and flew through all 550 pages in just a couple of sittings.

 

2. The first thing obviously is the characters! I thought I loved them in the first book, the second but oh my gosh did I love them in this third book so much more! I really loved how strong Cinder's characters grew to be in each book. She just kept getting more courageous and strong and determined to overthrow Queen Levana and it was awesome to see her grow in that way. Scarlet, however, didn't make much of an appearance in this third book which really disappointed me because I really wanted to see her character develop a little more. In this third book, Cress is introduced into the group of misfits and I really loved her character despite how naïve and how much of a dreamer she was and couldn't really grasp reality. Captain Thorne takes on a bigger role in this book as well and I have to say, I couldn't get enough of him! Wolf and Kai obviously make their appearances as well which I didn't mind of course. Prince Kai is just everything. And, of course, the story wouldn't be complete without the lovable and precious Iko! She's just perfect in this book!

 

3. The story took on such a fast-paced turn compared to the last two books. The third book is by far my favorite book so far in the series with all of it's action packed scenes, funny moments, and romantic elements all blending so well into the story. I loved how much more adventure and suspense was in this book and it truly had me on the edge of my seat the whole entire time! I loved reading how the characters planned on taking down Queen Levana and how they planned on getting to Luna without dying. That would be bad.

 

4. I could honestly go on forever talking about this book! Character development was just so great in this book as well as the continuous world building and storyline. It was just a really exciting read overall and I honestly can't imagine how much better the fourth and final book in this series will be! I really love this series and I have to say this book left me wanting so much more and wanting to know more than anything what happens next in the story!

 

5. Can we just talk about that ending though? I mean, seriously, Cinder and Kai are just life.

 

Winter by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #4)

Available: November 10, 2015

Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Dystopian

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 383

Book #1 of the Red Queen Trilogy

Publisher: Orion

Published: February 10, 2015

 

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.
To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.
Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.
But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

 

Review:

PROS:

1. This is of course a very popular book already and I was super excited for it even before it actually released. I thought the synopsis was interesting and sounded a bit dark and reminded a little of Throne Of Glass and The Young Elites. Here's my review for y'all!

 

2. I always like to start a review by talking about the characters first. I really enjoyed them and thought they were a great group. I really liked Mare's character. I thought she was strong, determined and ready to fight if she had to. She wasn't easily scared though she did have her fears and used them as fuel to help her fight back and protect herself. I did think she could've had a bit more development but she wasn't flat. I also enjoyed the side characters such as the Princes and Mare's family and friends. They were a loveable family and really cared about Mare and the Princes were very interesting as well. The younger Prince was sweet and quite the gentleman. The older Prince (who's name is kind of a spoiler so I won't say it) was very strong and a natural-born leader and king. Overall, I really loved getting to know the characters, both the good and the very bad.

 

3. I loved the world in this book. I really got the feeling of a post-apocalyptic and dystopian feel from the story. I loved seeing how the Reds lived, how they struggled to just put dinner on the table and how the Silvers lived, most of them living like royalty without having to worry about anything. The world was full of diversity and non-existing equality between the Reds and the Silvers.

 

4. I really loved all of the "superpowers" that the Silvers had. I thought it was cool how some were capable of controlling the elements (very Avatar-esque) and others had the ability to control anything metal, read minds, control minds and of course Mare's power. Some also had the ability to heal people which was also pretty cool. 

 

5. This book also had some major plot-twists! Completely surprising and I swear my jaw actually touched the floor. They were pretty mind-blowing and I'm a sucker for a good plot-twist that completely catches me off guard which is exactly what this book did! 

 

6. This book reminded me a lot of other popular books, the two I mentioned before and Avatar and the X-Men. It had some really cool action scenes and a lot of action in general. It was fast-paced and very detailed and a little complex which is not an easy thing for an author to make entertaining. It was a little fantasy-light, had some romance and was a quick read that was very enjoyable. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy any of the things listed!

 

Victoria Aveyard Website

 

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

The Rose Society by Marie Lu Cover Reveal!

SYNOPSIS

Behold, world! Marie Lu has finally revealed the beautiful cover art to her new book "The Rose Society" which is the sequel to the first book in this series, The Young Elites. I'm beyond excited for this book to come out! The Rose Society will be published on October 6, 2015 and it honestly can't feel any farther away than it already feels. In case you haven't read the first book, you can check out my review about it to get my thoughts about it and maybe be convinced to add this to your TBR!

 

Review: The Young Elites

SYNOPSIS:

 Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.
Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.
Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.
Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

  

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 404

Book #1 of the Throne Of Glass series

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Published: August 7, 2012

 

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.
Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined

 

Review:

PROS:

1. It took pretty much forever to finally track down this book at the bookstore and that was only because I wasn't looking for it when I found it. Ironic. Anyway, once I found it, it took a little while for me to finally pick it up and read it. That TBR pile man . . . Here's the review!

 

2. The characters in this book were so cool and I have to say I'm a huge fan of Celaena Sardothien just like every other person that's read this book. Celaena is such a kick-butt character, she's strong, smart, sarcastic and doesn't like being told what to do, how to dress, who to be or anything of the sort. Like at all. I felt like she was just an amazingly strong female protagonist that definitely represents girl-power very well. I also loved the Crown Prince in the story. I felt he wasn't the typical prince character you tend to see in books. He wasn't all that tough, not solider material, and a bit of a nerd. I also really loved Captain Westfall because he was the typical tough and no-nonsense person but that made his relationship with Celaena more entertaining since they loved picking at each other.

 

3. I loved how exciting this book was! It had awesome and nail-biting scenes with sword fighting and intense training. It also had amazing magical elements strewn throughout the story that didn't make it feel completely like a straight-up magic book. It was fast-paced and a lovely fantasy read for anyone who loves Narnia and The Hunger Games.

 

4. Lastly, I loved the writing! Sarah J. Maas is an incredible writer and author and I seriously was engulfed in the book for the most part because of that. I loved how she was able to word things to make a scene seem so epic and amazing when it was just a character walking down a hallway. I definitely can't wait to pick up the next book in this series to see what happens next.

 

CONS:

1. Even though I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it as much as everyone else did. I was expecting more from the book than what I got. I hope I'm not alone on this one but the book tended to get a bit slow at times and I felt it didn't have enough fighting scenes. I just felt it had so much more potential to be more amazing than it already was.

 

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I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!