The School For Good And Evil

In honor of Halloween, we decided to do a book review to go along with the “Halloween” theme.  On Friday we are going to see TONS of amazing costumes. We might see fairies, brides, or princesses. Some may choose to be something more evil like zombies, vampires, or evil wizards.  Everyone decides if they want to be good or evil for the night.  What if that choice was taken away?  What if they were assigned to be good or evil for the night?  What if the thing they got assigned, good or evil, they were stuck being that way forever?  That is how it is in The School For Good and Evil.

At first I did not know what I would think of this book. Do you know the saying, "Don’t judge a book by its cover"?  I did the complete opposite when I saw this book.  I saw the cover and immediately thought, "Nope.  This is NOT a book for me."  However, I read what the book was about and I thought, "Let's just give it a shot."  I ended up liking it.  I liked seeing the two main girls, Sophie and Agatha, try to figure out how to live in these schools that they obviously did not belong to at first.  I loved trying to figure out what was going on and how everything was going to fit together.  It is a book for younger people so the language is clean, which I always love.  There are not a lot of books like this book so it was something different.

Now for the bad part. I hate saying this, but there were some things in the book I was not crazy about. Some of the things in the book were a little too weird for me.  Somethings just sounded wrong when I read them in the book. (If you read it you can probably guess what I am talking about).  However, do not let that stop you from reading this novel.

Overall, I thought the book was pretty good.  Now it is time for you to read The School For Good and Evil and decide...are you really good...or are you evil?

Here is a look at what the book is about:

Splintered

It’s national “Mad Hatter Day”!  This is the perfect day for me!!!  Why?  I guess the best way to explain it is to show you what is on my computer screen every time I log on …

That’s my life in a quote … a little crazy!  But that’s the way I like it.  J

In honor of this amazing day, I want to introduce one of my favorite books to you … SPLINTERED!

This stunning debut novel delves into the mad, magical, delicious, much-loved world of Wonderland.  When I first heard about this book, I was instantly taken by the idea of this story.  It has wonderful connections to the Alice Story we’ve known for years … taking us into the life of Alice’s very own great-great-great granddaughter – Alyssa.  However, I must admit, I almost passed this novel by.  I was attending the Vegas Valley Book Festival when A.G. Howard was there.  I picked up Splintered a few times thinking, “This is a book I would LOVE to read!”  The problem was … I had already spent TONS of money and this was one I decided to cut.  My daughter saw me contemplating the purchase and after seeing me put the book back down, secretly bought it for me, had the author sign it, and gave it to me for Christmas.  I am sooooo happy she did!

One of the things I loved about this book was A.G, Howard’s incredible talent for “world-building”. 

She takes the original Alice story and twists and turns it inside out.  This is NOT Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland.  This is a Wonderland that is darker, more seductive and more terrifying … but gorgeous and magical at the same time.  Everything Alyssa thought she knew was wrong or false.  I loved how we got a completely new “this-is-what-really-happened” story.  It’s brilliant!

If you were to ask me which character I liked best, I couldn’t tell you.  Each one was a “stand-out” on its own.

Alyssa - here's how I pictured her:

Alyssa at first appears … ummm … different.  She can hear the whispers of insects and flowers and is afraid of becoming what every women in her family has become … cursed with madness.  However, as you get to know her better, you warm up to her.  She’s independent, she’s sympathetic, she’s delightful, and above all – she’s brave.

Then there’s Jeb:

Jeb is the "best-friend" who is not the stereotypical boy-next-door.  He is definitely swoon worthy.  He is protective, a loyal friend, sensitive, and honest.  He is ruled by his emotions and sometimes that wasn’t a good thing.  Overall, “Team Jeb” has tons to brag about.

But we can’t forget about Team Morpheus!  When I read about Morpheus, this is the picture that came to my mind.

Morpheus is a Wonderland native who (we see hints) is madly in love with Alyssa and trying to win her over.  He is seduction and mystery, expertly wrapped into a dark, enticing package.  He’s all black wings, cockney accent, and a fetish for well-made hats.  In my opinion, Morpheus is sly, sexy, mischievous, and has his own way of caring.  He’s the guy we’re not supposed to like … so naturally … we like him more. 

All the other characters and creatures we meet along the way are based on the original Alice books but are definitely more twisted.

Splintered is a "can’t-put-down" book!  I found myself cheering for Alyssa as she went through her “tests” on her road to self-discovery.  I gasped along with her as family secrets were revealed.  I found myself walking beside her as I was sucked into the world of Wonderland, wanting to jump in and help her at times.  But what I especially appreciated was that Alyssa went through everything she went through out of love for her mother and father, and in the process, learned who she really was. 

The bottom line: you won’t regret reading this Splintered.  Its pages are full of heart-pounding adventure, and an unforgettable romance … not to mention a story you'll be thinking about for a long, long time.

Stay “mad” everyone!  After all … we’re all a little like that!

Here’s a closer look at what Splintered is all about:

Our First Ever Guest Blogger

First off ... I would like you all to meet our first ever "Guest Blogger" ... Belle!

Belle is 11 years old and is in her first year of Middle School.  She loves all things aquamarine and anything with bling!  She loves jewelry, shopping, drawing, doing crafts and reading.  Belle can never have enough fun.  Every day is a "GREAT!" day for Belle.  Here is her book review:

Ever After High ... The Storybook of Legends

One of my favorite book series is the Ever After High series.  I think it is a good book for anyone my age.  The first book in the series is The Storybook of Legends and I LOVED it!!!  I had a hard time putting it down each night.  I wanted to keep reading even though I needed to be getting my sleep for the next school day.  It was a resort-to-flashlight-under-the-covers kind of reading.

The Storybook of Legends taught a good lesson.  It made me want to "write my own story" and not worry so much about what others think I should be doing.  After reading this book you will realize that following the crowd is not the way to go!  

And ... you don't need to be a kid to enjoy this novel.  My Mom and I read it together and she even liked it.  Any age will love these books.  I strongly suggest reading out loud with your mom or anyone else who wants to join in the fun.  It made reading the book even better.

My favorite character in the book is Madeline Hatter (the daughter of the Mad Hatter).  I like her because Madeline doesn't care what other people think of her.  She is a loyal friend, she's carefree, she loves to have fun, she's playful, and has a good personality.  She also walks to the beat of her own drum.  All of the students in the story are children of famous fairy tale characters.  The adults in the story are also based off of fairy tales.  I loved meeting new people throughout the pages of the book and trying to figure out who's kids they were.

There is also a little side story twist that I thought was cute!  An unexpected romance at Ever After High between Ashlynn Ella (the daughter of Cinderella) and Hunter Huntsman (the son of the Huntsman in Snow White).  You don't find out too much about their story but I'm hoping to find out more in the following book.

Oh ... I almost forgot ... not only are the books great, but there are other things that go along with the books!  They have clothing ...

... and what I love ... DOLLS!

And I just found out ... they have Halloween costumes!!!

How's that for "Three Wishes"?!!  I have a few more things to add to my Christmas list!

The Storybook Of Legends is absolutely charming!  I was surprised with how fun the plot was and how much I liked the characters.  Will they choose to keep the story they were born to do or will they choose their own destiny?  Find out everything in the Ever After High Series!

Here is more about the book The Storybook Of Legends:

Lets Get Blown Away Together!

Okay ... wow! Just, WOW! I have no clue how to even start this book review. While I wrap my mind around what I just read, let me just introduce the book ...

Dorothy Must Die

When you think of the Land of Oz, what do you think of? I think of "Over the Rainbow", the yellow brick road, Dorothy and Toto, the Wicked Witch of the West, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly lion. 

If that's what you're looking for, put this book down!

Amy is a teenage girl who definitely got the short end of the stick when it comes to her life. She was bullied and called "Salvation Amy" by her peers.  Her Dad left her and her mom and her mom became an alcoholic who doesn't move off the couch for days at a time. When I started this book I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading. Her life was just a little to depressing for me.  However. it made me grateful for the life I have had and still do have. I am sure glad I kept reading!

Amy, like Dorothy, gets swept to the land of Oz by a tornado - but Oz has changed. We also find out that Dorothy went back to Oz after she clicked herself home and found magic and became evil. Os is now a land where good became bad and bad became ... well, I don't know if you can say good ... I'll say a little less bad. It's now Amy's job to save Oz by killing Dorothy. The largest problem is that Dorothy is not only ruthless but she has her Amy of evil doers ...

The Scarecrow

Oh, he got his brain all right but now he uses it to torture and mutilate the residents of Oz. 

The Tin Man

He now has a heart but his heart fell in love with Dorothy and will do anything she asks; even lead the ruthless police force sworn to uphold Dorothy's laws.

The Lion 

The Lion was the worst of the bunch. He is no coward anymore. He sucks the fear out of people until they are old and frail and then ... death.

Hold on! There is hope. There are a few groups rebelling against Dorothy, the big one being "The Order". The order is made up of the wicked witches of Oz. Oh, and a wizard! We can't forget Nox, our handsome Wizard who knows nothing more than how to serve The Order and seeking revenge on Dorothy. I can't wait to see what happens to him in the next book, due out March 30th, 2015.

This is a dark continuation of a classic tale. The story is more then Dorothy gone crazy. It a story about a girl who has to find out who she is and what she stands for. It's also about making choices and those choices creating the path of who you are going to become Good or Evil. It's Disney meets Tim Burton and my twisted mind LOVED IT! 

To read more of what this book is all about click here:

Another Great Book ... Doon

"Doon"

If you had the chance to travel to a magical, fairy-tale-type kingdom with swoon-worthy princes in kilts … 

would you go?  What if there was a chance you may never be able to return home again … would that change things for you?  That’s the dilemma that two best friends found themselves in, as they set off on an adventure of a lifetime.

Veronica and MacKenna planned to spend the summer in Scotland after MacKenna inherited her late Aunt’s cottage.  Before departing on the trip, Veronica sees glimpses of a handsome guy in a kilt that seems to be calling for her to follow him.  Does this guy really exist or is she going crazy?

Doon was the perfect book for me to read.  I am a big fan of fairy tale retellings – this you may already know.  What you may not know is that I also love musicals!  So you can imagine my excitement when I found a book that was not only a fairy tale retelling but one that was also based loosely around the legend of Brigadoon (yes, the Gene Kelly musical).

Still want other reasons to love Doon … OK … here they are:

#1 – The girls themselves.  MacKenna and Veronica are so well written.  They feel like real girls.  We get glimpses of their insecurities but we also are shown their strengths … and their friendship to each other is a huge strength!  Too many YA novels show teen girls more as frenemies than loyal, best friends who are each other’s biggest fans.  Together, MacKenna and Veronica are strong.

#2 - The setting.  Scotland is the land of fairy tales!  You just look at pictures and the magic just jumps off the photo at you.  There couldn't have been a more perfect environment set, to spin the tale of Doon.

#3 – I love the hidden messages throughout.  Like … true fairy tales take work!  And … there may not always be a happy ending.  Or … don’t be a damsel-in-distress.  Find your own courage – you don’t need a Prince to save you!

And … #4 - Heart pounding romance!  May I remind you about the hot Princes in kilts?  Need I say more?

Doon was a fun read and any fairy tale and musical lover will find it as enticing as I did.  When reading Doon, I felt like I stepped into another world.  If only I could really travel there and spend a day exploring this exciting kingdom!  Instead I will just have to imagine what it’s like as I read the second book, “Destined for Doon” which came out this week!!!  The wait is over!

Here's a closer look at what Doon is all about:

RELEASE DAY PARTY!

Today the Third book in the Throne of Glass series came out. I am so excited for this next book in the series, I already went out and bought my copy! I know some of you haven't read this little gem yet so I'm going to introduce the series to you. Enjoy ...

Throne Of Glass

 We begin the series by meeting one of my favorite heroines, Celaena Sardothien.  Celaena is not your typical female roll. She is hard, ruthless, skilled, arrogant, and witty. The author, Sarah J. Mass's inspiration for Celaena was Arwen from lord of the Rings.

Sarah said this about developing the character, "Arwen's arrogance and fierceness made me want to write about a woman like her—about a woman who never once said sorry for being talented and determined and utterly in love with herself." I think that describes Celaena to a tee. 

Once you meet Celaena and fall in love with her, we then meet the other two points in the triangle. There is Chaol - the hunky captain of the guard. He takes his job very seriously. However, right from the start you know that Celaena is going to cause problems for him and not just the trouble making kind.

Second, there is the handsome Prince Dorian - the heart breaker! I loved his cocky personality right from the start. Prince Dorian saves Celaena from the dreaded salt mines of Endovier. Endovier ia a ruthless prison that no one can ever escape from. Not even the world's best assassins. Dorian saves her so she can compete in a compition to become the king's assassin. The King is a ruthless man who is responsible for the death of her family. Her opponents are all men ... the best there are across the Empire. If she wins, she will serve the King for three years and then ... Freedom!

Here is what Goodreads has to say about the book;

"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 exhilirating. 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."

I was going to tell you all about the second book but I can't do that without giving away what happens in the first. I will just finish by showing you the awesome cover of the second book...

and the third book;

and say that you are in for a treat with the second one as well. Now we can all read the third together and fall in love with a world full of Princes, Guards, magic and best of all ... assassins together.

To read what Goodreads says about the second and third book keep reading ...

Surprise Saturday Book Review

"City of Heavenly Fire"

I had to do a post to review this book. I know I'm behind but I just finished this little gem this morning. Let me tell you, I hate to admit when I make a mistake (my husband will agree) but I was WRONG ... but wrong in a good way. There are a few series I have read in the past that at the beginning I LOVED.  Then they keep writing more and more when the series could have ended 5 books back. (cough...House Of Night...cough) I was afraid that this was where this series was heading. After I finished The Infernal Devices series I was a little "shadowhuntered" out. That's why it took me so long to read this book.  However, I was WRONG ... DEAD WRONG! This was the perfect ending to this series. Cassandra Clare took us on a whirlwind adventure as the Shadowhunters fought to save the world from Sebastian aka Jonathan. The book kept me on my toes and although I was sure they would pull through, made me constantly ask, "How are they going to get through this one?"

Now for the best news ... there is another spin off coming in 2015!! The story will begin 5 years after the Dark War and will be based on the Blackthorns and Emma Carstairs, whom we met in Heavenly Fire. I absolutely love Emma Carstairs and am excited to read on about her adventure and quest for revenge. 

One thing I wish is that we could have seen the seelie queen at the end of Heavenly Fire, I don't want to spoil more then I have but I learned to hate her and I would have loved to see her in the end (but I have a feeling she will play a big roll in the next series).

To Read what Heavenly Fire is all about, keep reading...

"Tiger's Curse"

This book is my newest obsession!!!  Ok … before I begin, I need to go back in history a bit.  A few years ago, I was on a “get-away-and-relax trip” and one of girls that was with us was reading this book.  She told me about it … I listened … and didn’t think too much more about it.  I guess the premise just didn’t grab a hold of me.  Then recently a different friend recommended it again.  This time I thought, “Let’s give it a try.  I have nothing else to read.”  Oh my gosh!  This book, this breathtaking, thrilling, romantic, and an utterly perfect book.  It swept me away in blissful awe.

I found myself completely trapped by the story, the setting, and the characters!  What could be better than a combination of India, mythical stories, an enchanted curse, and incredibly perfect young princes?  And the romance … I better not say too much except to say … it was gush worthy, butterflies in the stomach inducing, and breathtaking!  Everything was in place for the perfect read.

"Wings"

I really shouldn’t have read this book.  Firstly, I had just finished a series that I LOVED.  Secondly, I had passed by this book many times wondering if it would be something I liked.  I guess I should have gone with my gut instinct.

I think what kept pulling me back to it, was that Stephenie Meyer strongly endorsed it and put it on one of her “Must Read” lists.  I’m not saying I’m a Stephenie Meyer nut … I’m just thinking that an author who has been so successful tuning into the masses, might know what she is talking about.  So, against my better judgment, I decided to give it a try.  Wrong decision.

"The Star-Crossed"

Oh my gosh!  How do I start.  First off … I decided to clump all four books in the “Star-Crossed” series together because … well … I read them all in four days!  I think that alone sums up my thoughts on these books.  : )  All I can say is these books were incredible!

I’m a romance nut.  I love the sweet stories of love and adventure, but it’s so hard to find this genre of book not filled with inappropriate garbage.  Rachel Higginson does an amazing job creating a storyline where your heart tugs for the relationships penned, as well as, keeping some decorum in the descriptions.

"Witch & Wizard"

I hate making these kind of reviews, but with that said … here it goes.  I think my main problem I had with this novel, was that I was expecting a lot from this book when I first picked it up.  It wasn't bad.  It just wasn't up to the expectations I had.

The premise was good.  The story itself was okay.  It just seemed a bit slow.  Nothing much really happened.  I could probably summarize the book in a few sentences.  Don’t get me wrong … the story wasn’t terrible … it actually kept me curiously interested and I kept reading until the end, just to find out how it would finish.

"The Hourglass Door"

I thought "The Hourglass Door" was really good.  It has all the stuff an amazing story should have.  Adventure, a bit of mystery, and love story mixed in.  ; )  I would recommend everyone, to read this.  It is an easy read but kept me entertained through the whole thing; a magical story.  Thanks Mom and Sis for telling me to read it!  I love the characters and am so excited to start the next one to find out what happens on a HUGE cliffhanger.  Lisa Mangum did a great job telling the concept of time so we all loved and understood it!  Two thumbs up!  Check out the above video and the summary below!

"My Unfair Godmother"

After school one day, my mom told me they had made a sequel to "My Fair Godmother".  I loved the first book so much that I ran down to the store and bought "My Unfair Godmother"!  At first, I didn’t know what I thought of the novel because none of the characters from the first book (except Chrissy of course) were in the story.  But to my surprise I liked it better than the first book!  Don't skip the first novel though.  I still think it is well worth the read and, even though this book stands on it's own ... it definitely helps you understand "My Unfair Godmother" more fully.

Want a little teaser on "My Unfair Godmother"?  Here it is:

"My Fair Godmother"

I love fairy tales!  I love to get lost in the romance of a "happily ever after" story.  In this novel it combines famous fairy tale stories with modern day characters.  I loved "My Fair Godmother" and I did not want to put it down!  It kept my eyes glued to the pages as I wondered ... would I get the ending I longed for ... or one totally unexpected?  If you are looking for an easy read, but also one that makes you laugh, one that makes you "awwww" with romance, and one that is just plain AMAZING ... "My Fair Godmother" is the book for you!

Here is a sneak peek of "My Fair Godmother":

"Dark Mirror"

This book was ... fine. It took awhile to get moving. It wasn't until I was over half way through the book that I started being drawn to the story. I wish there would have been more interaction with the romance side of the story. That might have left me feeling more invested in the characters. I did enjoy the historical facts in the story ... fact mixed with fiction is always a good combination.

It is still a book I would recommend ... it's just not a recommendation that would come with fanfare and fireworks.

Here's some more details on "Dark Mirror":

"A Kiss In Time"

Recently, I have been in the mood for a good book to curl up with, get trapped inside of, and take me away to another time. "A Kiss In Time" did the job. Alex Flinn penned so well, a modern retelling of "Sleeping Beauty". I would definitely recommend this book to others.

With that said ... there were a few flaws (in my opinion) that stopped this book from getting a top rating in my reading book list.  Here's my thoughts on the novel: