The Scorch Trials (TMR #2) : Movie Review

Rating: PG-13

So I'm just going to say this right off the bat; If you're hoping this was a spot on movie adaptation of this amazing book, you're looking at the wrong movie. It's no secret that this movie wasn't going to follow the book really at all, I mean, even the director announced some pretty major changes to the story even before filming began. Like the first movie, I thought it made a really cool one to see with your friends on the weekend which I'm all for. As an adaptation however, it just was not at all on point. Some things were kept in the movie, however, not a lot. Naming some of the major changes would take a whole lot more blog posts since the movie is a completely different story from the book. So I'll just talk about some of my favorite moments in this movie. 

Even though the movie was nothing like the book, I still actually really liked a couple of things that played out and were portrayed on the screen. Let's get to top favorite thing to start off on a good note here:

The Cranks.

If you've read the book, then you already know just how crazy and wild the Cranks are and how much more they can be. In the movie, they were just as wild and insane. I thought they actually might've been a little cooler than those in the book. Sure, they looked and acted more like zombies on steroids but at the same time, they were creepier and more terrifying on screen with there black blood oozing out of their eyes and mouths. The infections obviously looked grotesque so if you have a weak stomach or don't do zombies or anything along those lines, you might want to watch out.

The Betrayal.

If you haven't read the book, then you won't know what the heck "The Betrayal" is so to spare you the spoilers, I won't mention this certain character who betrays everyone in both the movie and book. However, if you HAVE read the book and were worried whether or not this major moment would be included in the craziness that is The Scorch Trials, then have no fear! I loved that the betrayal by you-know-who actually took place even though it was for completely different reasons though they were still related to the original source from the book. 

The End.

Now don't fear this time either, I'm not naming any spoilers here! But let's just say some crap went down at the end of the movie that left me like "WHAT?!" The feeling I had at the end of the movie was caused by something heartbreaking that happened to my favorite character from the series and let's just say, I was so not a happy camper. You know that feeling you had of utter betrayal and pain you had at the end of the first book when you-know-who gets killed? Yeah, that was me. And Mr. Wes Ball expects me to wait until 2017 for the third movie?! What is this madness??

Overall, I really do love this movie for what it is. The effects were really cool and there was a ton of action going on. Totally worth two and a half hours if you ask me but then again, I'm a die hard Glader. As an adaptation though, it was very disappointing but at the same time, the series isn't exactly that easy to put in movie form. So take your chances and see the movie for yourself.

Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Music Matching Monday: An Ember In The Ashes

Review: An Ember In The Ashes

So this book is obviously high fantasy and pretty intense for a YA fantasy and I really wanted to choose the perfect song to pair this one with. In case you guys don't know what it's about, this book is about a young girl who goes undercover with the help of a secret organization to work as a slave in order to save her family from being held hostage in the Martial Empire by it's rulers and there meets one of the Empire's finest soldiers who's also secretly the most unwilling. This book presents just how dangerous and scary standing up for what you truly believe in can be and the characters in this book face death with every single whisper and move they make. In order to stop the Empire from destroying both them and their world, these characters will do whatever they have to in order to stop it. The lyrics in the song I chose for this book really go so well with the story! I love how the first verse really reminds me of how Laia would imagine taking down the corrupt government. I love how full and powerful the music is so I hope this song becomes your anthem for this book like it has for me. Enjoy! 

WARRIORS by Imagine Dragons

Coffee Book Tag!

So this time I'm going to be doing what I think is the most awesome tag ever!! Books? Coffee? Two of my favorite things in the whole entire world combined? Yes please! So anyhoo, now that I've freaked out enough, I wasn't tagged by anybody to do this tag but that hasn't stopped me before so deal with it. This tag was originally created by BangadyBanz so be sure to check out the video! Drum roll please . . .

1. Black. Name a series that's tough to get into but has hardcore fans.

I don't really know if this series has hardcore fans but they sure are dedicated. I LOVE the Daughter Of Smoke and Bone series and I'm dying to find out how the third book wraps up the series! No spoilers please!! These are hard to get into because of the writing style but I found it magical and poetic!

2. Peppermint Mocha. Name a book that gets more popular during the winter or a festive time of year.

I feel like the default answer for this one is any Harry Potter book but I haven't read that series yet (*runs and hides*) BUT I do see Let It Snow pop up every winter which isn't that surprising since it is three holiday short stories which I LOVED. 

3. Hot Chocolate. What's your favorite children's book?

I think I name this one every single time whenever I run into this question. But what I can say? Charlotte's Web is just such a classic and it's actually such a quick read, not to mention that it has talking animals. You can't get any cooler than that.

4. Double Shot of Espresso. Name a book that kept you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

So for this one, I have two choices. The first is The Scorch Trials because (1) I'm currently rereading it and (2) I still remember my experience reading it last year and being so invested in the book that I read it in two sittings! Needless to say, I just could not put it down.

Now for Cress. OH MY GOODNESS!!! From start to finish I just read it like crazy!! I NEEDED to know how it ended ASAP. And can we just talk about pages 544 and 545? OH. MY. DOG.

5. Starbucks. Name a book you see everywhere.

It's not exactly science to figure out why this book is in every single bookstore and website since, you know, the movie comes out in a few weeks. Or is it already out? Either way, there is a ton of excitement surrounding this book and it's adaptation.

6. That Hipster Coffee Shop. Give a book by an indie author a shoutout.

For this one, I chose an author who seriously deserves WAY more readers!! I read one of her books earlier this year and it was SO GOOD! Never have a felt so emotionally lost after reading such a short book. I needed more!! The amazing author I'm talking about is Amelia Carter whom I follow on instagram and you should too. I loved Love Of The Undefined because of it's unique and touching story. Check out my review of it linked above to find out my complete thoughts about it!

7. Oops! I accidentally got decaf! Name a book you were expecting more from.

Decaf! The horror!! Anyway, I might get a little hate from my choice but I have to say that I was expecting a little more out of Throne Of Glass because of how hyped it is and how much people are going crazy over the series. I hear that it gets better as the series progresses and I do plan on continuing with the books but at the moment, it's not my top priority. 

8. The Perfect Blend. Name a book or series that was both bitter and sweet but ultimately satisfying.

I honestly can't express my love for this series in words. They're so good with all the action, wittiness, romance, adventure, dystopian, fantasy feels going on throughout each book that it's just perfect in every way. These books were a teaspoon of sugar, hit you with something bitter, got a littler sweeter, turned bitter again, became the sweetest of all, then bitter again and somewhere in there, was both at the same time. Okay, I'm done.

I'm not sure who to tag for this one so if you want to do this, just say you were tagged by yours truly! I would love to see your answers for these so if you want, leave a link to your Coffee Book Tag post down below! 

Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Music Matching Monday: The Vanishing Season

Review: The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson

For this book, the mood for the entire story was really icy, cold and almost grey. That's the best I can describe it so bear with me here! This book is about a girl named Maggie who moves to a small town where a string of murders starts happening and her and her friends have to kind of deal with the fact that it's no longer safe in their little home town. I really loved how this book had a ghostly-tone for the narration and thought it was the perfect touch for this book. I described this book as Paper Valentine by Brenda Yavonoff meets The Lovely Bones because of the whole murder thing and one of the POV's in the book being told from a "Ghost" that isn't named and following her story as well as Maggie's. It's a perfect read for the winter and I think this book was a beautiful story about learning to love again while also being haunted by the past. I hope you guys enjoy this week's pairing and if you've read the book, then you'll probably appreciate the song a little more ;)

THAT GHOST by Megan & Liz

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.

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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

Most Anticipated YA September Releases!

It's that time again! New releases are coming and I couldn't be more excited about this month's new releases! Here are my top five most anticipated ones!

Title: Catacomb (Asylum #3)

Author: Madeleine Roux

Release Date: September 1

Genre: Horror

Publisher: HarperCollins

Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: Sometimes the past is better off buried.

Senior year is finally over. After all they’ve been through, Dan, Abby, and Jordan are excited to take one last road trip together, and they’re just not going to think about what will happen when the summer ends. But on their way to visit Jordan’s uncle in New Orleans, the three friends notice that they are apparently being followed.. And Dan starts receiving phone messages from someone he didn’t expect to hear from again—someone who died last Halloween.

As the strange occurrences escalate, Dan is forced to accept that everything that has happened to him in the past year may not be a coincidence, but fate—a fate that ties Dan to a group called the Bone Artists, who have a sinister connection with a notorious killer from the past. Now, Dan’s only hope is that he will make it out of his senior trip alive.

In this finale to the New York Times bestselling Asylum series, found photographs help tell the story of three teens who exist on the line between past and present, genius and insanity.

Title: Everything, Everything

Author: Nicola Yoon

Release Date: September 1

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Title: One

Author: Sarah Crossan

Release Date: September 15

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: Greenwillow

Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: Tippi and Grace share everything—clothes, friends . . . even their body. Writing in free verse, Sarah Crossan tells the sensitive and moving story of conjoined twin sisters, which will find fans in readers of Gayle Forman, Jodi Picoult, and Jandy Nelson.

Tippi and Grace. Grace and Tippi. For them, it’s normal to step into the same skirt. To hook their arms around each other for balance. To fall asleep listening to the other breathing. To share. And to keep some things private. The two sixteen-year-old girls have two heads, two hearts, and each has two arms, but at the belly, they join. And they are happy, never wanting to risk the dangerous separation surgery.

But the girls’ body is beginning to fight against them. And soon they will have to face the impossible choice they have avoided for their entire lives.

Title: Ash & Bramble

Author: Sarah Prineas

Release Date: September 15

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: HarperTeen

Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: When the glass slipper just doesn’t fit…

The tale of Cinderella has been retold countless times. But what you know is not the true story.

Pin has no recollection of who she is or how she got to the Godmother’s fortress. She only knows that she is a Seamstress, working day in and out to make ball gowns fit for fairy tales. But she longs to forsake her backbreaking servitude and dares to escape with the brave young Shoemaker.

Pin isn’t free for long before she’s captured again and forced to live the new life the Godmother chooses for her—a fairy tale story, complete with a charming prince—instead of finding her own happily ever after.

Sarah Prineas’s bold fairy tale retelling is a dark and captivating world where swords are more fitting than slippers, young shoemakers are just as striking as princes, and a heroine is more than ready to rescue herself before the clock strikes midnight. 

Title: Library Of Souls (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #3)

Author: Ransom Riggs

Release Date: September 22

Genre: Horror, Fantasy

Publisher: Quirk Books

Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: The epic conclusion to the best-selling series!

Time is running out for the Peculiar Children. With a dangerous madman on the loose and their beloved Miss Peregrine still in danger, Jacob Portman and Emma Bloom are forced to stage the most daring of rescue missions. They’ll travel through a war-torn landscape, meet new allies, and face greater dangers than ever. . . . Will Jacob come into his own as the hero his fellow Peculiars know him to be? This action-packed adventure features more than 50 all-new Peculiar photographs

August Wrap-Up and September TBR!

So this month I fell into a reading slump and didn't read the amount of books I wanted to but at least I got through a few, right? Here are the books I read this month and I'm happy to say, I actually had a really great month of reading by just how much I enjoyed the ones I read! Here they are!

The Secret Of The Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew Mystery #1) (4 stars)

The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Hello, I Love You by Katie M. Stout

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han (To All The Boys I've Loved Before #2)

Not Shown In Picture:

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (2 stars)

Heroes Are Extinct by Ryoji Hido (Heroes Are Extinct #1)

Death Note Vol. 3 by Tsugumi Ohba (4 stars)

September TBR!

A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J. Maas (ACOTAR #1)

An Abundance Of Katherines by John Green

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (The Maze Runner #2) (reread)

Paperweight by Meg Haston

TBR Challenge: 

Read a book set in a different country.

My pick: Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (AATFK #1) (reread)

So what are YOU reading this month? I'd love to know! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!