Devoted: An Angel Academy Novel

Time for the next blog entry! I was given a free copy of Devoted by the author (Emery Skye) in exchange for an honest review. 

Devoted: An Angel Academy Novel

1 out of 5 Cringe-Worthy Stars

I don't even know where to begin with this one. I guess I'll start off with the most annoying aspect: the grammar and punctuation errors. It's one thing to misspell breathe vs breath (multiple times) but when you forget to end/start quotation marks when a character is speaking, that's where I draw the line. Also, "accept" and "except" are two completely different words. Seriously. Adding commas where they are not needed, ending sentences too early or letting them run on for too long, and the over use of descriptions just made the writing itself annoying to read. The readers do not need to know that a character has "long, wavy, thick dark hair." Personally, I think just saying "long dark hair" is enough information. And I can't ever see having a conversation with someone along the lines of "Hey, let's go to Chili's tonight. I really wanna go to Chili's. We're still going to Chili's right? Cause you said we would go to Chili's." The writing mistakes add up and makes reading the novel aggravating. This book was published through a publishing agency, so I don't know how there can be so many mistakes. And we haven't even gotten to the characters or plot line. 

The Story:

The main premise of Devoted is there are Angels and Demons on Earth, and the Angels train to fight the Demons and protect the humans from them. I haven't read an angel/demon book in awhile, but Devoted is very similar to Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead and The Covenant Series by Jennifer L Armentrout. Plus, there are so many cliches in it that I feel like I've already read it before. I can't stand every single character in the novel being absolutely gorgeous, including the heroin (who of course doesn't know it). This seems to be most of Young-Adult books lately - "if people aren't pretty, they're boring." Which is so stupid and a topic for another time before I get completely off track. Devoted has The Special Snowflake Syndrome (I came up with this name thanks to my sister), which is basically the main character is super special/awesome/amazing for no reason. Yes, we want  to read about a protagonist that stands out; some series have The Special Snowflake Syndrome and they make it work, resulting in an amazing series. But then there's books like this one, where SSS turns into a nuisance that you just can't seem to get rid of. You've got the protagonist being awesome, the side-kick, the mean girl, and the hot guy who is supposed to end up with the protagonist. Oh, and the hot-guy is older than the protagonist, which doesn't really matter to me, but when the age part ends up being brought up a lot (which it always is), all I can think of is "pedophile". Yeah, I don't wanna read about that. Also, it took awhile to get to the main plot described in the synopsis, which makes the first half of the book drag on. And when you feel like you've already read it before, feeling slowed down does not help. The all-powerful angels act like children and they are pretty dull - I would rather face off Lucifer by myself than have them "help" me. Only thing that I agree with is the emphasis on following rules. Angels are made to obey God, so heeding "the Law" is very important, but these angels just seem to do whatever they want and make up the rules as they go. Especially when it comes to our main character, in which the rules are changed specifically for her, cause she's just so special.

The Characters:

Anna Hasdiel is our protagonist in this novel, and she is one of the biggest hypocrites I've ever had the displeasure to read about. She's all about training 24/7 so she can destroy demons and she looks down on all the other students for trying to also have a life. She places herself on a pedestal high above others, and don't forget that she's also valedictorian of her class - although she definitely doesn't act like it. The description of the other students does make them seem like incompetent imbeciles, but Anna looks down on anyone who wants to do something other than train (like her sister with liking to draw). Enter Legite Nathan Deror. Anna immediately starts crushing on him and wanting to be with him - but wait, isn't that exactly why she looks down on the other students? For wanting to have relationships? To live a little? But it's okay for Anna to want to be with Legite Nathan Deror, cause she's a special snowflake - and then she still continues to look down on her peers, EVEN AFTER SHE STARTS ACTING EXACTLY LIKE THEM. So, hypocrite. Anna also lacks even a little bit of control and has serious anger management issues. It seems to be hinted at that some supernatural force may be making her act this way, but I think it's just her true personality showing. Then there's Anna's sister, Amalie, who seems to act as dumb as a post at times and is extremely annoying. I cannot take any of these characters seriously at all, especially the ones that are supposed to be leaders. 

In Conclusion:

I feel like I've been pretty harsh with this review, but it is constructive criticism. I want everyone reading my blog to know that I'm going to be 100% honest with everything I post, and I'm not going to be timid about posting my thoughts because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. My honest opinion of Devoted is that it is a poorly written novel that needs serious editing, and that the characters and plot line aren't that great. If you're a fan of Vampire Academy, The Covenant Series or just a big YA Fantasy fan who doesn't mind grammar errors and misspellings, then you might like Devoted. I just can't stand all these errors plus the annoying characters, so this book isn't the one for me. I read about one-third of it, skimmed a bit, then decided that I'm not going to waste my time anymore - I have better books to read that I'm really excited for. Sorry if I seem harsh, but I'm not going to hold back on my reviews. I hope to have something nice to recommend to everyone in two weeks.

Death Note (Anime)

Hey everyone! So I realize I have been very inconsistent with my reviews, and I am going to change that - every other weekend, either a Saturday or Sunday, I'm going to try a put up a new review :) Today I am going to start with a fantastic anime called Death Note (for those of you that don't know, anime is basically Japanese cartoons that are awesome).

Death Note

5 out of 5 Deathly Brilliant Stars

"The human whose name is written in this note shall die."

Wow, this is one amazing anime! It's intense, brilliantly written and filled with extremely clever characters. I remember I almost watched it over the summer, but put it off to watch Dexter instead. I'm just glad I eventually got around to watching it! I've been searching for a story with intelligent characters that would shock me, and Death Note does not disappoint. The main story line is about a genius high-schooler named Light Yagami, who one day happens to pick up a notebook that has the words "Death Note" written on the cover. After picking it up and flipping through it, Light sees a set of rules describing how the Death Note works, the first rule being "The human whose name is written in this note shall die." All you need is a face, name, and the Death Note. Figuring it is just some stupid prank, Light leaves the Death Note back where he found it, but ends up picking it up again, letting curiosity get the best of him. A situation occurs with a man holding a group of children hostage, and Light decides to test out the Death Note to see if it's real. The situation is being broadcast on TV, and after learning the man's name and seeing his face, Light writes his name in the Note. He then knows the Death Note is real once the criminal dies after 40 seconds of a heart attack, which the Death Note said would happen. Thus begins Light Yagami's quest to rid the world of evil and create a new world filled only with good, kind people.

"This world is rotten, and those who are making it rot deserve to die. Someone has to do it, so why not me? Even if it means sacrificing my own mind and soul, it's worth it. Because the world... can't go on like this. I wonder... what if someone else had picked up this notebook? Is there anyone out there other than me who'd be willing to eliminate the vermin from the world? If I don't do it, then who will? That's just it: there's no one. But I can do it. In fact, I'm the only one who can. I'll do it. Using the Death Note, I'll change the world."

Light continues to regularly kill criminals by writing their names in the Death Note while the Shinigami (god of death) Ryuuk watches. Ryuuk is the death god that dropped the Death Note in the human world, and is now supposed to stay with whoever has the Note. Only people who have touched the Death Note can see Shinigami (so yes, Light can see Ryuuk).

Eventually, people start to connect the dots that all these criminals are dying of heart attacks, and that this is not a coincidence. Enter L, the world's most brilliant detective that has solved over 2,000 cases. Light is now known as Kira to the world, and L starts working with the Japanese Police to try and catch Kira. Both L and Light are extremely intelligent, and it's very interesting watching how the show proceeds.

"Justice will prevail." --L

There are so many points that have left me speechless in this anime, and it's definitely one of the best that I've ever seen. There are plot twists within the plot twists. It's also really cool seeing the character development throughout the show, whether it be a good change or a bad one. Light, L, Ryuuk and all the other characters make up a series that is exceptionally brilliant. It's intense, screws with your head in the worst way (at least for me it did lol) and leaves you thinking about it for a long time even after finishing the anime. It also brings up a lot of interesting concepts to think about. Is the main theme of Death Note that it's wrong to kill people even if they're bad? Or is it meant to be if you're given so much power over others, it's okay to use it for a good cause as long as you don't abuse it and lose sight of your own humanity? And, I think most importantly, what would you do if you had a Death Note? Like I mentioned before, this anime really screws with you head. I'm a bit disappointed with the ending and would love to talk about that, but I am not going to post any spoilers in this review. So, if you want a show that's going to make you think, leave you speechless, is crazy intense and has you questioning your own morals, then this is definitely the show to watch. Plus, it's on Netflix, so that's always nice :)

"Humans are... So much fun."

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to the holidays! Winter vacation cannot come soon enough, just gotta survive finals first. Anyways, today's review is on......

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

3 1/2 out of 5 Revolutionary Stars

“Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!” 

Where to start with this one...

Well, first off, I love the first Hunger Games book, and like the rest of the series too. Ir has a very nice progression throughout it and I like when there's an overall arc to a story. The first two movies, Hunger Games and Catching Fire, stay very true to the book, and add in phenomenal actors like Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson (and some good scenes with Liam Hemsworth in Mockingjay) and you're bound to have some amazing films. The talent of the actors and the story line are what makes this series such a big hit. However, while Mockingjay is a good movie, I was a little disappointed and that's because all the films these days wanna pull off a Harry Potter. To clarify, Harry Potter split up the last movie, Deathly Hallows, into two separate films. Now, this is an almost 800-page book filled with action and suspense and intense plot lines. To get the full impact of the book transposed for a film, it had to be split, and neither Part 1 nor Part 2 disappoints. And since Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2 were such a big hit, Twilight decided to split up the fourth movie also. Which is a complete fail. I admit to seeing both, and Breaking Dawn Part 1 put me to sleep and Part 2 was filled with complete nonsense, even more than I expected when I sat down to watch it. Which is saying a lot 'cause I didn't really expect anything good from it to begin with. Now Mockingjay has been split into two parts, and while Part 1 was nice to watch and did have some very emotional scenes, I left the theater wondering if it was really worth the $12 to see it. Plus the third Divergent book, Alligent, is also being split up. The first movie almost put me to sleep, although I did like the novel. The trailer for Insurgent isn't so great, to put it nicely, and not sure how the third book being split is going to be a good idea, since it isn't too great to start off with. Anyway, back to the topic at hand:

“It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.” 

Mockingjay Part 1 is a nice movie to watch, but it's a filibuster. Plain and simple. It's a way for the producers to make more money, and there is no reason to have the third book (all 380-something pages) divided into two parts. It's a nice set up, but not needed, and now we need to wait another year to watch the resolution with the incredible actress Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. You can always read the book to find out what happens, but I wanna see it on the big screen. I just wish movies would stop being split into two parts, that it will only happen when it's actually needed (like Harry Potter). But alas, the world is a greedy place and I don't see that happening. 

“What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again.” 

So, if you've been keeping up with the movies and really like them, then Mockingjay Part 1 is probably worth seeing. If you've been on the fence about seeing it you might wanna wait until next year to watch Mockingjay Part 1 and 2 back to back. It's hard to say on this film, because once the movie ends, you're really going to want to watch Part 2. Let's just hope that the producers really did save the best for last.

I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent #1) by Barry Lyga

Wow, it has been too long! I finished Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers last week as planned, but didn't have enough time to sit down and write a good review on it. Apologies for the long wait, but here it is:

I Hunt Killers

5 out of 5 Killer Stars

"It’s not that he’d never seen a dead body before. Or a crime scene. Jazz had been seeing those for as long as he could remember, thanks to Dear Old Dad. For Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz had witnessed crime scenes the way cops wished they could – from the criminal’s point of view."

I've wanted to read Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers for quite awhile, only putting off reading it because I would have to buy it (I'm not registered at any libraries near me yet). I admit, I'm pretty stingy with my money when it comes to buying books. I've spent more than I like on books that I end up really not liking, but not wanting to get rid of them cause, well, I paid money for them so of course I'm gonna keep them. They might be moved into the corner of my closet, but they're still there. Anyways, eventually I decided to take the plunge and spent the money. I ended up buying the mass-market-paperback one by accident, and I don't really like those because the quality isn't the best (smaller pages, smaller font, thinner pages - I just don't really like them that much). Now, after finishing I Hunt Killers, I'm debating buying the original paperback to match with the rest of the series. I love the first novel so much that I went and bought the next two in the trilogy, and I am very eager to read them. Now, onto the details:

Jazz:

"The dice had already been tossed, the cards shuffled and drawn. He was what he was, whether he knew it yet or not. Maybe he was just a guy with a crazy dad, like other kids with crazy dads. Or maybe he was something else."

Poor, poor Jazz; he's been screwed since birth. Having the world's most notorious serial killer for a father, who is intent on making him the perfect legacy, yeah, that's the makings for a royally messed up childhood. Billy Dent is a sociopath, and he raised his son Jazz to be just like him. Eventually though, the police caught up to Billy and he was arrested before he could finish "teaching" Jazz. And now Jazz is stuck living with his crazy, senile grandmother, always looking for ways to prove to himself that he is not his father, that he won't someday kill someone. For him, the best way to do this is to catch other serial killers, work with the man that put his father behind bars to stop a killer. Jazz has valuable information having grown up with Hand-in-Glove/Gentle Killer/The Artist aka his father. He can see a crime scene the way the police wish they could - from the killer's point of view. He has different takes on what's happening, has an idea of what's going on through the killer's head. But since Sheriff G. William, the man who caught Billy Dent (and is now very close with Jazz), doesn't want Jazz anywhere near his crime scenes, Jazz will have to rely on his best friend, Howie, to help him.

Howie:

"Howie had become a constant in Jazz’s life, the kid he’d come to rely on to keep him grounded and sane when the world threatened to tip him over into the Billy-style craziness."

Being Jazz's best friend and a hemophiliac isn't the best combination, but Howie makes it work. He's the humor that balances out the darkness in this novel, the one who lightens things up a bit. After Jazz beat up some kids who were bullying Howie when they were younger, they became best friends. Howie doesn't let the fact that Jazz's father is a sociopath scare him off, and the two make a pretty good team doing illegal stuff to try and stop the new serial killer in their town, Lobo's Nod. However, not everything always works out for the two, as we learn throughout the novel. Nevertheless, Jazz and Howie have a bond of friendship that is unbreakable, and I love Howie's character not only for having funny lines, but also for reminding Jazz that he's not a serial killer, and he's not programmed to be one either.

Connie:

"Connie was different. Connie was the one girl – woman, really – he could be himself with. 'Being himself' meant a whole host of things – good, bad, grotesque. Connie accepted all of them, and most important of all, he allowed her to accept them, something he’d never done with anyone in his entire life. Did that mean there was hope for him? Hope for something beyond what Billy Dent had planned for him?" 

Connie is Jazz's girlfriend, and like Howie, she reminds Jazz that he isn't his father, isn't destined to become a serial killer just because his father is a sociopath. She's a stable constant in his life, and even though she doesn't like Jazz looking into the new murders in Lobo's Nod, she understands his need to. No matter how many times Jazz tries to scare her off to "protect" her, Connie stays by his side because she knows that Jazz isn't his father, even if he thinks he might be. Yes, she gets frustrated with him, but she can see the good inside Jazz that he doesn't think is there. Connie provides Jazz with some normalcy in his life, an escape from his crazy upbringing, but don't make the mistake of underestimating her. Connie isn't just some girlfriend that sits on the sidelines - she's an important character in the novel, and without her, things would turn out very differently, in a not-so-good way. 

Final Thoughts:

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga is an amazing start to a fantastic series. It's got suspense, mystery and creep-factor. I am very curious to see where Jazz's life leads him; what happened to his mother, what's going to happen with his father, what repressed memories are trying to make their way to Jazz's consciousness through his dreams? I'm going to start the sequel ASAP - I need to know! Jazz's internal struggles, hearing his father's voice, are interesting, and I can't wait to see what's in store for Jazz, Connie and Howie. If you don't like some gory details, serial killer hunting, or good old-fashioned creepiness, then I Hunt Killers might not be for you, but for everyone else, don't waste another second not reading this amazing series! You won't regret it.

And always remember.....

People matter. People are real.

Side Effects

Midterms are over! Finally, a little bit of relaxation time - which will be used to catch up on reading! I'm still working on Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers, but hope to have it finished and reviewed by the end of this week :) So far it's a fantastic read! Now, onto today's review:

Side Effects 

5 out of 5 Intense Stars!

"I'm not crazy."

I think I saw this movie a little over a month ago, and would definitely rewatch it again. Side Effects starts off with the main character Emily (Rooney Mara) greeting her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) after he is released from prision. We soon learn though that something isn't right with Emily, as she goes and drives head first into the wall of a parking lot. Emily's had depression in the past, and it seems that her husband's release has caused her to spiral out of control. After this, Emily starts to see a new psychiatrist (Jude Law) in the hopes of getting better. She agrees to be part of a test run for a new drug, but is this new drug really helping, or is it making her worse? Not everything is as it seems, and as new information comes to light, the viewers are left wondering, what is really going on? Is it the depression, the new drug, the psychiatrist, the husband - what is causing Emily's life to change so drastically? The atmosphere of the movie, the music, the acting - all aspects of Side Effects has the viewers questioning everything they're being told. Just when you think you know what's really going on, a new piece of information is provided and you start questioning everything all over again. Each piece of dialogue has meaning to it, and then another hidden meaning too. The ending, in my opinion, is perfect for this movie, and overall I was very satisfied with Side Effects. It's an intense watch that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and if you find you have some free time one evening, you should definitely give Side Effects a watch.

If I Stay (Movie)

Hello internet world! Sorry I haven't posted in awhile - midterms are coming and I haven't had much time. I'm currently reading I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga, and it is amazing. But since I haven't finished it yet, I figure why not revist an old review, hmm? Sooooo.......

If I Stay

2 out of 5 Conflicted Stars

I want to like this one, I really do. The trailer for the movie makes If I Stay seem like a really sad, heartbreaking film, but... I guess I'm just not really feeling it. Which is weird cause every time I saw the trailer I felt like crying. I normally always read the novel before the movie, but the trailer is so emotional for If I Stay that I decided to change things up a bit and watch the movie without reading the novel. That's probably a mistake on my part. If I Stay has its good parts, but they just seem to be overshadowed by the bad. 

Pros:

Hmm, I can honestly only think of one. The emotion. And I'm not talking about Mia and Adam. I'm talking about imagining yourself in Mia's place, feeling that while life has its complications, everything is okay, until suddenly it isn't. To lose your family like that, gone in a flash, is heart-wrenching. Especially after being given hope that things are just bent, not broken, only to have that hope ripped away. I can't even imagine what my life would be like without my family. So, if you take the main idea of the film away from what is showed on the screen, yeah, you'll have an extremely depressing story. Unfortunately, it's everything that is added to the film that makes me wonder why I wanted to see this movie so badly.

Cons:

It. Is. Just. Too. Cliche. And extremely cheesy. I feel like I can't connect to the characters at all. I spent most of the movie trying not to laugh, or being embarrassed that I had brought my family to see it with me. I swear, I didn't know Adam was going to tell Mia to play him like the cello! Jeez, even thinking about that makes me laugh out loud (and cringe at the cheesy-ness). Mia is too insecure for me to really understand her - yeah, everyone has insecurities, but Mia is made only out of them, and for what reason? It's like she can't see anyone liking her or something. It's in the way she talks, the way she thinks and acts, and even in the way she walks! Every scene she is with Adam, she just slouches over like she's trying to hide herself. I really like Chloe Grace Moretz as an actress (especially as Hit Girl) and I don't think it's her acting that made Mia so unlikable for me. I think it's just Mia as a character. Same with Jamie Blackley's character Adam. If the characters had more to them than just cliches, maybe they would have had more depth and given the actors more to work with.

In Addition:

The music is amazing. I love the cello solos, the Willamette Stone songs, and especially the adaption of Today with the cello added in. The band songs are catchy and fun (I Want What You Have) and can also be meaningful (Heart Like Yours). Jamie Blackley's voice is nothing special, but it is nice to listen to :)

Overall: 

If you're on the fence about seeing If I Stay, don't decide based solely on my review. I've talked to people that absolutely loved it, so this movie might just not be for me. Maybe I'll read the book, maybe I won't. I've heard that the movie is a very close adaption of the novel, and that the endings are the same. I've read some reviews that praise the novels (people whose judgement I trust), so one day I might read If I Stay and Where She Went, but I'm definitely not in any rush to get my hands on them. The most disappointing thing for me is how excited I was to see If I Stay and how let down I was by it. Who knows, maybe I'll read the books and fall in love with them. Probably not, but I'll keep my mind open.

Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Take Me On by Katie McGarry



4 1/2 out of 5 Worth-Fighting-For Stars

“I know what it’s like to be scared. To wonder if anything will feel normal again. There’s this hopelessness, a sadness that permeates through your pores, when you have no idea what home is or what the word means. I may be under somebody’s roof, but it’s not a home. I just want a home.” 

--Haley 

I've read several books Katie McGarry before, and while I enjoy all of them, Take Me On might just be my favorite out of the Pushing the Limits series. The storyline deals with real situations that people find themselves in  (just like all the books in this series does), and McGarry clearly knows how to pace a novel. I wasn't bored at all while reading and love that we aren't told what the characters are going through, but shown. Haley and West are two people from very different worlds, yet soon find themselves thrust into the same one, wondering how they got there. Both deal with real struggles in their lives, but soon learn that together life becomes better. Still very complicated and by no means easy, but definitely better.

Haley:

I miss who I used to be.

For Haley, her family loses everything after her father is laid off and her sister gets sick. Their only option is to live with her uncle, an evil bastard of a human being. Not to mention the fact that she used to be a national titleholder for kickboxing, until one night has her leaving her love of the ring behind. Her father is broken, her younger sister is growing up in a house made of evil, and her family feels that she's betrayed them, while really everything she does is to protect them. Then West Young crashes into her life - almost literally - and takes on a fight for her. Knowing he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help, Haley begins to train him for up-coming battle. Can she keep her feelings in check, or will she fall for another fighter and once again have to deal with the regret?

I was stupid. I fell for the wrong guy. He hurt me and I paid. He hurt me and I broke. He hurt me and the rest of the world will forever condemn.

West:

I’m not much of anything anymore.

Ever since his birth, West has felt like a failure. He was literally born in the hopes of being a bone-marrow match for his dying sister, but it was too late. Being a Young, West has been given every privilege; he doesn't wish for anything. But he's always been considered the "wild child" of the family, and knows that he will forever be a disappointment to his father. His younger sister is in a terrible accident and West blames himself, and after a fight between him and his father, he finds himself kicked out of his home. Too proud to ask for help, West lives in his car, and learns that he has taken so much for granted. It's Haley that helps him find his real self, be more than a disappointment or the spoiled rich kid. Together, they're better. Until he learns that his family may be the cause of Haley's nightmare of a life.

Abby:

I like pretending. You can create anything you want out of the world.

Abby is by far a very interesting character, and I hope that she one day gets her own book. She doesn't play a major role in the novel, but enough to make things more interesting. She doesn't take pity from anyone, and is one lethal-badass character. She knows everything, but you can never know when she's telling the truth, and I like how she helps West out a bit, protects him without him even realizing it. A very interesting character indeed.

Jax:

“I should have left a lot sooner. He’s toxic. He worms his way in, past your skin, past your muscles and into your soul. Once he’s in, he continues, eating you until you’re dust. I’m already half dust, Haley, and I’m tired of trying to hold together what’s left.” 

Jax is Haley's cousin, but their bond is so much deeper than simply cousins. He spends all his time at the gym or with Haley and her brother, Kaden, anything to be away from his father (the evil bastard mentioned above). He's gone through his rough patches with Haley, but knows that he needs to protect his family, whether it be his siblings from his father or Haley from her demons. I am frustrated with his character at times, but know that he'll do anything to protect the ones he loves.

Overall:

Take Me On is a heartfelt, intense, great read. My only complaint is that it ends a bit abruptly, but even the ending is good. Of course, I would like to know what else happens in Haley and West's future, but everything that needs to be answered is. What I really like though about this novel is how real the character's situations are - it makes them easy to connect to, and you can't help but fight with them for their happy ending. 

Speaking out takes courage, but fear can make a compelling argument. Telling the truth gives you power… It sets you free.

Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons and Panic! At The Disco

I have three obsessions for this week (and most likely next week, too) and it's on Centuries by Fall Out Boy, Warriors by Imagine Dragons, and Miss Jackson by Panic! At The Disco. All three amazing bands, with three amazing songs.

Fall Out Boy:

I saw Fall Out Boy this summer, and they put on an amazing show. I love their Save Rock and Roll album and their earlier songs too, but Centuries is quickly becoming one of my favorites by them. What I really love though are the 2-3 seconds of the song where Patrick Stump adds a little flare to the lyrics. He does it in Phoenix and Death Valley, and Centuries is no exception, like when he sings "heart" about 48 seconds in, and also around 1 minute and 50 seconds in with "opposite of amnesia." The build-up of the pre-chorus is great, and it makes the actual chorus that much more powerful. A definite must listen.

Imagine Dragons:

I also saw Imagine Dragons a couple years ago, and they too are freaking awesome. I love their Night Visions album (especially Nothing Left To Say/Rocks) and Warriors is quickly moving up to the top of my favorites list. They're not your standard band with a drum set, guitarist and bassist. No, Imagine Dragons use a wide range of instruments in amazing ways. If you know them, you know they love their multiple types of drums, and this song is no exception. Add in a string instrument (like possibly a cello, but I might be wrong on that one) and all their percussion instruments and the song just becomes more. Not sure how else to explain it. Plus those quick moments where it's just Dan Reynold's voice with hardly any music in the background, and then the crash-back of the drums and instruments, and you've got a great song. The guitar solo isn't anything crazy, but it perfectly matches the mood of Warriors. Oh, and can't forget the background vocals (like the "don't turn away" line). This song is definitely one of Imagine Dragons best.

Panic! At The Disco:

I'm not crazy about Panic! At The Disco, mainly because I just don't listen to them that much. I really like their A Fever You Can't Sweat Out album, but I've never really branched out after that. This is definitely going to change, as I plan to download their Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! album ASAP. I love the pre-chorus of Miss Jackson - the way Brendon Urie sings up a scale - and just the overall sound of the song. The background singers and added instrumentals just make Miss Jackson even greater.

Overall:

If you've never listened to Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons or Panic! At The Disco then you really should start right away (preferably with the songs Centuries, Warriors and Miss Jackson). All three bands have amazing talent and I can't wait until their next albums are released!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCbS-TLEoRA  (Centuries)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmI_Ndrxy14   (Warriors)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUc_jXBD9DU   (Miss Jackson)

Gone Girl (Movie)

So I just saw this amazing movie called...

Gone Girl

5 out of 5 Suspenseful Stars!

Sometimes the simplest answer isn't always right.

If you've seen the trailer for Gone Girl, you probably think it's just another run-of-the-mill cliche movie where a husband's wife disappears, and the husband is a prime suspect. However, this movie is so much more than that. It's suspenseful, dark, filled with tension and constantly has you changing your mind about who's the "bad guy" or "good guy." 

Gone Girl starts off quite simply; Nick Dunne (portrayed by Ben Affleck) returns to his home one morning only to realize that his wife is not there, and the glass table in the sitting area is shattered all over the floor. He calls the police and they proceed to walk around his house, looking for clues. There's blood spots on the kitchen cabinets, and Nick is not acting like a panicked husband. From there, as more and more clues are revealed, it really seems as if Nick Dunne killed his wife, Amy (portrayed by Rosamund Pike). However, not everything is as it seems. I don't want to post any spoilers for the movie, but let's just say that whatever you think is going to happen isn't, and there's a big 180 about a third into the movie.

A brilliantly executed movie with an amazingly talented cast that holds nothing back, Gone Girl is a must see. Gillian Flynn is definitely on my radar. I admit, I haven't read the book, but based on the fact that she also wrote the script, I'm sure the movie is a very close adaption from the novel. I am really looking forward to reading her other novels, Dark Places and Sharp Objects!

So, in conclusion, if you have some spare time during your weekend, or even during the week, you should definitely go see Gone Girl. You won't be disappointed, and it's worth every penny to see it. And even if you don't have time, I would really think about changing your schedule around so you can see this very entertaining, completely eerie, totally suspenseful movie that will definitely have you looking at certain situations in a different light. 

Skin by Sixx:A.M.

I heard of of band Sixx:A.M. several years ago with their song "Life is Beautiful" and a couple others, but never downloaded all of their music. If I was on shuffle on my Ipod, I'd listen to their songs, but I was never crazy about them, mainly because I didn't really know their music that well. It wasn't until a friend reintroduced me to them that I fell in love with them, especially their song "Skin," a powerful, beautifully written song. It's truthful, brutal in it's honesty, and I feel like everyone should give it a chance. This is definitely one of their sadder songs - I don't really want to use the word sad though, maybe emotional is better. But they definitely have much more upbeat songs that are worth listening to (This Is Gonna Hurt and Lies of the Beautiful People to name a few). 

The last minute of Skin gives me chills every time I hear it, and I hope you guys like it. A very emotional and moving song, Skin by Sixx:A.M. is not one to miss, and it doesn't hurt to give the rest of their songs a listen :)

Kill them with your kindness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M5lZdwOicw

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

5 out of 5 Heartbreaking Stars

Act on your impulse,

Swallow the bottle,

Cut a little deeper,

Put the gun to your chest.

Wow, I don't even know where to start with this one. It's an emotional, intense, heartbreaking, depressing, scream-your-lungs-out-because-you-can't-handle-all-the-emotions type of book. Yet there are those small bits of courage, of hope, that make you think maybe things might, just might, be able to get better. Those are few and far between, as the three main characters of this novel face very real and difficult problems in their lives. This book is not a happy book. It does not pull back any punches. And it certainly is not a book to skim over the harsher parts of life. Conner, Tony and Vanessa have been dealt some of the worst hands life could give them, and it is after all three attempt suicide that they find themselves together at Aspen Springs, a mental facility. And it is at Aspen Springs that they try to overcome everything that has gone wrong in their lives.

Conner:

I’m afraid – a strange thing

to say, but true – that despite

whatever progress I’ve made,

when I get out of this place,

everything will be exactly

the same as before – even me.

I’ll still live in my parents’

shadow; I’ll still drive myself to

achieve impossible perfection.

And I’ll never let myself

believe that someone really loves me.

Conner lives his entire life striving to be the best at everything - academics, football, appearances - always to fall short of his parents expectations. Nothing is and ever will be good enough in their eyes; Conner will never be as perfect as his twin Cara, he can always achieve more, always do better. He is always a constant disappointment in their eyes. Obviously, the lack of love from his parents - love he has never experienced, even as a child - scars Conner in an internal way that is very hard to fix. It's this lack of love that drives Conner to be with Emily - his neighbor, and also his teacher. Emily doesn't want anyone to know about them being together, and eventually all the pressure from his parents, the fact that Emily is going to break things off between them, drives Conner over the edge. He tries to kill himself with a gun, and his failed attempt at suicide lands him in Aspen Springs. It is there that he meets Vanessa and Tony, and tries to change his life. 

Tony:

“Do you know how

              Many nights I lay in bed,

wondering what I’d

done to deserve your

silence? What had I said?

              What did I ever do, but love you?”

Tony's father abandoned him when he was just a child, leaving him with mother - a prostitute - who doesn't care about Tony at all. One night, one of her boyfriends rapes Tony, only 8 at the times, and his mother refuses to believe him. Tony's then put in Juvie for several years for 'attacking' one of his mother's boyfriends, and when he finally gets out, he ends up living on the streets, not wanting to be near his mother. Bumming change, selling his body to men, anything he has to in order to survive. Eventually, he swallows too many pills, but doesn't die, instead ending up in Aspen Springs. Tony is such an admirable character though; despite his horrible childhood, he still manages to make Conner and Vanessa smile, to make them feel better, even though he's still struggling. 

Vanessa:

And the thought of that

makes me want

to open a vein,

experience pain,

know I’m alive, despite

this living death.

Vanessa's father is a part of the army, never home expect for that rare occasion every several years, and this leaves Vanessa and her younger brother Bryan alone with their bipolar, schizophrenic, abusive mother. Vanessa also suffers from Bipolar Disorder, and one day she decides that everything - her mother, the beatings, the mood swings from manic white to deep blue, her life - is all just too much. So she lets her trusty blade do more than normal, cutting deeper and wider than she ever has before. Her brother and grandmother find her, bleeding out in the bathtub, and the paramedics, and her grandmother's nursing skills, keep her alive. After being sent to Aspen Springs, she is diagnosed with BPD, and is given proper medication to help curve the effects of her disease. Conner and Tony also help her. But it's ultimately up to her to fight her bipolar disorder, to continue getting the help she needs.


In Conclusion:

All three characters face real, terrible situations and lifestyles. They don't have dinner with the family, don't have people they feel the can trust, they feel that they don't have love, and they feel that life, for them, isn't worth living anyone. I'm going to be honest, this book is an emotional rollercoaster, and is one of the saddest novels I have ever read. Oh, Hopkins also writes in verse, but don't let that be a deciding factor in whether or not you read her novels - it would feel weird if they weren't written in verse. The poetic style adds even more uniqueness to Hopkin's novels, of course adding in the real-life situations her characters face. The one thing I don't understand is why Tony and Conner see Vanessa as this perfect angel who can make their lives so much better, but that's neither here nor there. Impulse is definitely not a book to be missed. It makes you think differently, view people in a different light. It makes you not want to judge, but instead to understand.

Imperfections create character.

If you've never read a novel by Ellen Hopkins, I strongly suggest you read Impulse. If you've ever been hesitant to read one of her books, I strongly suggest you read Impulse. If you've ever read one of her novels but not this one, I strongly suggest you read it. And even if you've read Impulse, I strongly suggest you pick it up and read it again. Because this masterpiece is not one to be missed or overlooked. 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Today's Review is on.....

Divergent by Veronica Roth

5 out of 5 Stars!

"My will is mine...I shall not make it soft for you."

-Agamemnon, Aeschylus

This quote sums up this book pretty well. In the world of Divergent, society is split into five factions: Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Erudite and Dauntless. The main character, Beatrice Prior, lives in the faction of Abnegation with her family, where she was raised as one of the Selfless. However, when you reach the age of 16, you have the choice to leave the faction you were born into and choose another. This is when Beatrice ends up leaving her faction of Abnegation for Dauntless (the Brave), changing her name to Tris. There she must face three stages of training in order to be accepted and made into a member, risking becoming Factionless in the process (which is the basically being homeless, living on the outskirts of the city with no hope of ever belonging again). Belonging to a faction is the most important thing in the world this novel is set it, and you're pretty much screwed if you don't belong to a faction.

"Faction before blood."

This is like a sacred law that people live by in the world of Divergent, and if you decide to join another faction during the Choosing Ceremony, one different from your family, you are expected to forget them, and accept your new Faction as your family. I do not agree with this; asking someone to forget who raised him/her, with whom he/she has lived with for 16 years, is basically asking for rebellions of some sort. But it seems to be working for this world, for now at least. Although I don't really understand how these factions came to be. Yeah, to stop war and fighting and whathaveyou, but isn't dividing a nation like this just asking for war? 

"I don't care about the factions." she shakes her head. "Look where they got us. Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again." 

Well said, Ms. Prior, very well said. At least someone in this dystopia realizes how messed up the world has become.

Onto the main characters:

Tris:

I freaking love this character. She's strong, independent, smart, and even though she is from the Abnegation, she took a risk and chose the Dauntless. My favorite line from her:

"Did I shoot him in the leg? No. He walks."

Tris will not take crap from anyone, and this quote shows how she has grown throughout the book. Even though she hates it, she does "pretend some vulnerability" in order to survive. I know other people have said it's cliche that she goes from no training to all-star, but that's because she's Divergent. Tris has an advantage over the other initiates, and she knows how to use this advantage to its fullest.

Four:

Reading Free Four has helped me understand this character more. Four can be cruel, but he has his moments, and I will admit to grinning when he and Tris share these moments together. 

"Sometimes I forget that I can hurt you. That you are capable of being hurt."

Four has the perfect blend of strength and vulnerability, which you don't see much in heroes in recent YA novels. Or at least the ones I've been reading. Most of the time it's unbelievably hot guy that's arrogant and sometimes jerky, but will eventually show redeeming qualities and then everyone loves him. I admit, I am not immune (Daemon Black from the Lux series by JLA. Ohhhh, Daemon....) But it starts to get old -and annoying- real quick. Anyway, as I said earlier, Four is cruel during some scenes, but it really is just to help Tris in the eyes of Dauntless leaders and other initiates. And he always makes sure she's okay afterwards. And he's freaking smart and awesome with computers.

"I think we've made a mistake," he says softly. "We've all started to put down the virtues of the other factions in the process of bolstering our own."

Side Characters:

Not only are our heroine and hero awesome, but the side characters are pretty cool, too. I really liked Christina and Will, and how they helped Tris. Tris's mother is badass, and so are her father and brother (Caleb) when push comes to shove. Eric is a dangerous enemy, mixing Erudite intelligence with the newer-Dauntless cruelty, and so is Jeanine, with her genius qualities and abilities to solve any problem she is faced with, regardless of the consequences. Oh, and I hate Peter, but doesn't everyone?

The Ending:

I wasn't sure where this book would go, in the end, for the climax. But I was not disappointed. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say there is a ton of action, heartache, and holy-shit-what-just-happened moments. It was epic and amazing. This book was pretty long though; this is only the first in a trilogy, but I feel like I just read two books worth of information. Not that I'm complaining. I am very curious to see where this series will go. I'm not reading any information about Insurgent or Allegiant because I don't want to spoil anything for myself. I will admit to being nervous, though, because it seems like not many people liked the third and final book in the Divergent series. But I'm finishing this series with a clear mind and no expectations. 

If you like dystopian novels with action, romance, and just all-around awesomeness, then read this book! You will not be disappointed, and will get hooked on the amazing world of Divergent just like I did :)