Top Ten Tuesday! (1)

January 10, 2012 by Alyssa

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish which I adore and therefore chose to adopt into my weekly blog posts!

When I first started this list it was hard to compile, then after much thought it was hard to condense it down to just ten authors!! I also cheated a little as some authors are still writing but they aren’t writing any new books in the specific series that I want!!

The Brothers Grimm – I adore every one of their stories and my favorite fairy tale of all time is Snow White and Rose Red which was originally written by Charles Perrault and later collected by the Brothers Grimm.

J.K. Rowling – Who doesn’t want more stories from the Harry Potter world? Rumor has it that Rowling is contemplating putting together an encyclopedia of sorts for Harry Potter fans. That would be awesomeee!

Erin Morgenstern – I devoured The Night Circus and I was completely enthralled by her imagery. According to her website she IS writing, though it is unlikely she will ever revisit the world of Celia and Marco.

Patricia C. Wrede – I grew up on The Enchanted Forest Chronicles and LOVED Wrede’s rewrite of Snow White and Rose Red and would love to see either of these ideas expanded!

William Shakespeare – Oh, the love of my life…need I say more?

Juliet Marillier – Okay this one is kind of cheating since she is coming out with a sixth book in The Sevenwaters series but according to her website she doesn’t know if she will continue with the series after this book is published. I totally understand since from the beginning it was a TRILOGY and she now has another trilogy written in the same “world” but just keep going, Juliet..please?

Mercedes Lackey – Cheating again because I know she is still writing and just recently had a book published but I want more like The Black Swan!

Isaac Marion – I loved Warm Bodies and I can’t wait for the movie to come out but according to Isaac’s twitter (yes, I stalk him) he has no intention of revisiting a plot involving R or his world. Sad face.

Melissa Marr – Graveminder was awesome and was definitely written like it could have a sequel!

Brom – I am reading Plucker right now and though it is pretty cool, it doesn’t compare to The Child Thief. I think Brom needs to look more into doing those re-writes and keep those amazing illustrations coming!

Coming soon!!!

January 9, 2012 by Alyssa

I was browsing through my Goodreads “to-read” list and I realized there are so many books I am anticipating this year, most of which are sequels to books I read in 2011! So in no particular order, here are my most anticipated reads of 2012!

Girl of Nightmares (Anna Dressed in Blood #2) by Kendare Blake – August 2012

Goodreads blurb: In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears. Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

Ahh, I totally didn’t think I would like the first book but I LOVED it! It was heart wrenchingly awesome and I can. not. wait. for the sequel!!

Waking Storms (Lost Voices #2) by Sarah Porter – July 2012

Goodreads blurb: After parting ways with her troubled mermaid tribe, Luce just wants to live peacefully on her own. But her tranquility doesn’t last long: she receives news that the tribe is on the verge of collapse and desperately needs her leadership. Anais, the tribe’s cruel queen, wants Luce dead. Dorian, the boy Luce broke mermaid law to save, is determined to make her pay for her part in the murder of his family. And while the mermaids cling to the idea that humans never suspect their existence, there are suddenly ominous signs to the contrary. But when Luce and Dorian meet, they start to wonder if love can overpower the hatred they know they should feel for each other. Luce’s new friendship with an ancient renegade mermaid gives her hope that her kind might someday change its murderous ways. But how can Luce fulfill her rightful role as queen of the mermaids without sacrificing her forbidden romance with Dorian? Full of miraculous reunions and heart-pounding rescues, this haunting second installment in the Lost Voices trilogy finds Luce eager to attempt reconciliation with humans—as long as war doesn’t break out first.

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks – May 2012

Goodreads blurb: Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish. What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova – May 2012

Goodreads blurb: Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king. When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all. In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen – February 2012

Goodreads blurb: After seventeen-year-old Felicita’s dearest friend Ilven kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg’s magical elite behind. Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven’s death has called out of the sea a dangerous wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg’s caste system, and the whole city along with it.

I am so excited for all of these sea creature/magic themed books! I haven’t seen many “mermaid” tales (hehe pun intended) worth reading so I am excited to see how these books turn out!

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey – December 2012

Goodreads blurb: Lenzi hears voices and has visions – gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can’t help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she’s a reincarnated Speaker – someone who can talk to and help lost souls – and that he has been her Protector for centuries. Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn’t make a decision soon.

I was first drawn to this book by its cover (I know, I know, don’t judge) and I have been anticipating it ever since I read its blurb on Goodreads. The idea of reincarnation and of course the love triangle really drew me in.

Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby – March 2012

Goodreads blurb: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, friends and neighbors, allow me to change your lives! Step inside Mosco’s Traveling Wonder Show! You’ve read about them in magazines, these so-called human curiosities, this tribe of misfits—now come and see for yourselves. We’ve got a gent as tall as a tree, a lady with a beard, and don’t miss your chance to see the Wild Albinos of Bora Bora! Ask Madame Doula to peer into your future (only two dollars more if you want to know how you’re going to die). And between these covers behold the greatest act of our display—Portia Remini, the strangest of the menagerie because she’s a ‘normal’ among the freaks, searching for a new beginning on the bally, far away from McGreavey’s Home for Wayward Girls, where Mister watches and waits. He said he would always find Portia, said she could never leave . . .Oh, it’s not for the faint of heart folks. If you’re prone to nightmares or you’ve got a weak ticker, you’d best move on. Within these pages lies a tale of abandonment, loss, misfortune for the rich and glory for the poor (and a little murder doesn’t hurt). It’s a story for the ages, but be warned: once you enter the Wonder Show you will never be the same.

The cover is awesome, I love the circus theme and the fact that it’s “not for the faint of heart” means it sounds right up my alley!

Some of the books I am uber excited for don’t even have covers or blurbs up yet (sad face) but that just means I am obsessing over the websites of the numerous authors just waiting for an update!

Flame of Sevenwaters (Sevenwaters #6) by Juliet Marillier – November 2012

Probably my most anticipated book of 2012, there is no picture for this and the only information I can find is that it will be about the younger sister, Maeve. If I absolutely had to choose a favorite author, I would choose Juliet Marillier. I am reading Wildwood Dancing right now and I absolutely love it! I can’t WAIT for the next book in the Sevenwaters series!!

Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings #3) by Jackson Pearce – August 2012

This is the companion novel to both Sisters Red (which I didn’t love) and Sweetly (which I DID love) and it is a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid!! Sounds quite intriguing and I am interested to see where Pearce takes another of the Reynolds children.

Romeo Redeemed (Juliet Immortal #2) by Stacey Jay – Fall 2012

No blurb for this yet but I am intrigued to see how Stacey Jay re-writes Romeo’s character.

Mara Dyer #2 by Michelle Hodkin – Fall 2012

OH EM GEE I can’t wait for this book!! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer left me with my jaw ON THE GROUND it was so amazing and such an “I didn’t see that coming” ending. According to the author’s website the cover art, title and blurb are coming SOON!!

That’s it from me, what books are you looking forward to this year?

A Few of My Favorite Things (of 2011)

January 5, 2012 by Alyssa

Though much of my free time is spent reading fabulous novels, I do turn my brain off every once in a while and enjoy some other means of entertainment. Though I numbered this list from 10-1 I have to remind you that it is nearly impossible for me to put any of my favorite things in any particular order so these numbers are not binding!! Even as I write this post I have been changing my mind on their order! Without further ado, here is my list of my favorite time passers from 2011:

10. Water for Elephants

I will be honest; I had little desire to see this movie as I am not a drooling fan of Robert Pattinson. However, I read the book a few years ago and absolutely loved it and I do enjoy the circus venue so I gave it a try and I am so happy that I did! I was very impressed by Reese Witherspoon and I actually found myself enjoying Pattinson’s portrayal of Jacob as well. Overall I believed it to be a great on screen portrayal of a very enjoyable book.

9. True Blood

Being a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse series I was very excited to hear when HBO picked up the rights for the show. The series didn’t disappoint me until this season, I didn’t like the way in which Bill was made king and I found Eric’s character to be much more loveable in the books. Despite my misgivings the show totally redeemed itself in the season finale. **spoiler alert** First of all I shed serious tears over the loss of Jesus and I found myself “OH MY GODing” when Steve Newlin appeared AS A FREAKIN’ VAMPIRE and Alcide finds a hole in the cement insinuating that RUSSELL IS BACK BAYBEE!! I am so extremely excited for next season, though I hope Sookie and Bill are a little less annoying.

8. The Muppets

Who doesn’t love the Muppets and their crazy ways? This movie was hilarious, though I think it spoke more to me than the 5 year olds in the audience. Jason Segal and Amy Adams were amazing next to the classic Muppet characters and there were quite a few awesome cameos throughout the film. Though Muppet Treasure Island is still my favorite Muppet movie (Tim Curry as Long John Silver, looove!) this movie is a close second. Mahna Mahna!

7. New Girl

Love, love, love to Zooey Deschanel and her quirky self! This show literally makes me LOL and I find myself relating to Deschanel’s character in some way in almost every episode. I adore her roommates and can’t help but long for her to fall in love with Nick though I know it would ruin many aspects of the already amazing show!

6. Jane Eyre

I was wary to see how Mia Wasikowska portrayed Jane Eyre on the big screen since I didn’t really love her in Alice in Wonderland but she pulled off the haunting character beautifully. I was also very impressed by Michael Fassbender, though I may be a bit biased because he is delish and I tend to fall for those dark, brooding characters more often than not. Overall this was a wonderful portrayal of the novel and I was extremely impressed.

5. Once Upon a Time

The characters in Once Upon a Time are stuck in the “real world” due to a curse put on them by the evil queen, portrayed flawlessly by Lana Parrilla. The show may have started off on a somewhat lame foot but the producers knew what they were doing and they ended the fall season on an “OH EM GEE” note that really plucked the heartstrings. I am very excited for the second part of the season to start (this Sunday!!) and I definitely recommend it to anyone loving a good fairy tale with a twist.

4. Zelda: Skyward Sword

I am a long time Zelda fan and have been since I was just a little tyke pressing random buttons on my dad’s Super Nintendo controller so it is no question that I was eagerly anticipating this new release in the Zelda franchise. I was wary when I saw the preview, afraid that the graphics were too animated and cartoon-like but thankfully I was wrong and Nintendo delivered another nearly flawless chapter in the Zelda series. Though I am only in the second temple and have not put in a lot of hours yet, the game is pretty awesome. The game is designed so your enemies can learn your swordplay and use them against you so the fights are more complicated than simply running into an enemy and swinging your Wii remote frantically, this makes for a more intense and more enjoyable game play.

3. Game of Thrones

I first saw the trailer for this show as I was watching True Blood on HBO. A rider on a white horse flies through the woods at top speed and the words “Winter is coming” come over the screen with ominous music playing in the background. I was immediately enthralled, “Winter is coming? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?” I started searching for the phrase via Google and found links to all kinds of juicy tidbits, along with the information that I had MONTHS to wait for the release of the new show. Well, after months of waiting HBO delivered and like so many times before they did not fail me! Every episode left you hanging and needing more and the finale was full of jaw droppers. I can’t wait for next season!

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

How can this movie NOT make my favorite list? As I did for each film in the franchise, I nit picked my way through each scene and obsessed over the parts that were even slightly changed but I have to admit that even with the slight adjustments, the movie was ahhhhmazinggg and I was very impressed. Like so many fans, I cried when it was over. Not just because the movie was sad but because these books and movies were such a HUGE part of my life as I grew up, and now they were over! I definitely bought the blu-ray the day it was released and had a Harry Potter marathon as I finished up my last finals of graduate school ever. Ahh memories!

1. American Horror Story

This is probably my favorite show of all time; it’s so unbelievably awesome that I can barely describe its awesomeness. From the first few minutes of the first episode it had me going through a rollercoaster of emotion. It was beyond freaky and confusing yet at the same time was 100% intriguing and every episode had me trying to decipher what the eff was going on in that house! As the show progressed it brought new characters, like The Black Dahlia (!!) and answered questions as it created even more confusion. I looooved the characters, Jessica Lange deserves a plethora of awards for her portrayal of Constance. I seriously had a crush on Tate though he is quite messed up. I like to think of him as layered, though he has mostly been described as evil. Eh, po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe…The producers said that each season will be completely different, possibly even taking place in a different setting, so I am very excited to see what comes up next. If you like scary movies and especially if you are often disappointed at how they are lacking, then this is a show for you!

My Favorite Books of 2011!

January 4, 2012 by Alyssa

I had hoped to get these lists out before the New Year started but alas, the holiday festivities took precedence and (shame on me) my blog was put on the back burner! Keep in mind I am extremely fickle when making “favorite” lists, I can’t choose a favorite author, movie or book and when asked this question I constantly cheat by claiming that “there are too many to choose from” as to avoid my own personal Sophie’s Choice. With that in mind, I decided to only choose five of my top books from this year and only chose books that I have reviewed on the site thus far, that limited me quite a bit and frankly made my choices a bit easier to make! Without further ado, my favorite (reviewed) books of 2011:

5. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

By Ransom Riggs

This book was fascinating in so many ways, the pictures not only complimented the text but they stood on their own as their own individual stories. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a many layered story that starts off with an almost horror aspect that keeps you turning the page and looking for more as the story ends.

4. A Tale Dark and Grimm
By Adam Gidwitz

I loved this book. The narration style was hilarious with some aside statements made to both parents and children as well as to the characters in the story. The narrator tells the reader how it is, even if it is not always happy and positive. In fact, the narrator often explains how bloody and terrible the situations coming are going to be and “prepares” them for what is to come. It is no secret that I love a good fairy tale re-write, and although my first impression was that this story would be too juvenile for young adult (or adult) readers, after reading it I found it to be a refreshing change and relatable to readers of all ages.

3. The Child Thief

By Brom

Brom completely re-imagines the tale of Peter Pan, turning it into a thoroughly detailed and layered story. The question of who (or what) is evil is presented and as a reader I found myself wavering between the two, into an almost gray area. Brom tells the tale of horror, betrayal and dedication through a child narrator named Nick, a narrator I quickly fell in love with. The illustrations are amazing and give the story even more of an otherworldly effect.

2. Fables

By Bill Willingham

Bill Willingham has completely re-created the characters from popular fairy tales. Snow White is Deputy Mayor of Fabletown and her prince of old is not so charming. The story arcs are diverse, ranging from murder mysteries to a political war with a surplus amount of back-story on your favorite fairy tale characters. I can’t get enough of these and I am quickly reading through his other novels as I wait patiently for the next installment in his Fables series.

1. The Night Circus

By Erin Morgenstern

I absolutely loved this book. The imagery in this book was beautiful and the love story was absolutely heart wrenching. Celia and Marco’s first kiss was magical and it set the standard for their love affair in a beautiful way. Erin Morgenstern writes with such detail that it really feels as if you are transported to the center of the ice garden where Celia sits, longing for Marco. I first listened to it on audio book, read by Jim Dale (!!) and then went out and bought the hardcover so that I can read it over and over again!

That’s it for me, what were your favorite books from 2011?

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

December 22, 2011 by Alyssa

Title: The Night Circus

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Publishing Information: September 13, 2011 by Doubleday

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Series information: Standalone

Format: Hardcover, 387 pages

Source: Received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

Recommended For: Readers looking for a beautiful love story surrounded by a beautiful landscape.

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.

The Night Circus is the story of Celia and Marco, two magicians (for lack of a better word) bound together by an oath made during their childhood. This oath bounds them as opponents, but upon meeting they immediately fall in love. Their love for one another is not appreciated by their guardians who bound them to be opponents as their magic dual is inevitable to end in the death of one of them. Their life-long contest is set in the venue of a traveling circus that arrives without warning and is gone as quickly as it comes.

This circus is not like a traditional circus that involves colorful clowns and prancing ponies. Instead, the circus consists only of black and white accents and is really a maze of tents consisting of enchantments from both Celia and Marco. There is a beautiful tree covered in candles meant to represent wishes from all who visit, an enchanting ice garden that smells of roses, ice and sugar, and a fire eater who is able to sculpt fire from her bare hands. Erin Morgenstern writes with such detail that it really feels as if you are transported to the center of the ice garden where Celia sits, longing for Marco.

I loved this book. I first bought the audio book because helloooo it is read by Jim Dale!!! I took my time listening to it and honestly, I was hesitant to finish it because it was that good. So good, that not only did I not want it to end but after I did finish, I went out and bought the hardcover! The imagery in this book was beautiful and the love story was absolutely heart wrenching. Celia and Marco’s first kiss was magical and it set the standard for their love affair in a beautiful way. Though I wanted more after the novel completed I enjoyed the way in which Erin Morgenstern tied up all of her loose ends and fleshed out all of the necessary characters. The conclusion didn’t frustrate me, but made me think of the circus as a very pleasant dream.

Check out the author’s website for some awesomeness!!

Review: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

December 19, 2011 by Alyssa

Title: A Monster Calls

Author: Patrick Ness

Publishing Information: September 27, 2011 by Walker Books

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror

Series information: Standalone

Format: Hardcover, 215 pages

Source: Borrowed from my local library

Recommended For: Readers of stories that shoot you straight in the heart

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting– he’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It’s ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth.

From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd– whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself– Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

I heard about this story before it was published through one of the many blogs that I follow and I was very interested in the fact that Patrick Ness was writing a story based off of Siobhan Dowd’s ideas. It looked like a quick and interesting read with amazing illustrations. The illustrations of the monster are perfect as they almost seem to jump right from the reader’s imagination onto the page.

The monster comes to Conor in the dead of night and tells him that he is going to tell him three stories in exchange for Conor’s story, a story of the ominous “truth” that Conor shies away from. The three stories from the monster were my favorite part of the book, they were written almost like fairy tales that at first seemed so cut and dry, until the monster explains the moral which is entirely different from what you had imagined. The conclusion comes when Conor finally succumbs to the monster and tells his own story, the nightmare that haunts him even in his waking hours.

This story was so good. So good that I found myself going through all of the emotions Conor was feeling. I was confused, scared, happy, angry and so sad. As the book came to an end I found myself getting teary over the mere thought of having to go through the loss and heartache that Conor faces. I would recommend this book to any reader looking for a quick, enjoyable read that plays wonderfully with the emotions.

Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

December 14, 2011 by Alyssa

Title: Sisters Red

Author: Jackson Pearce

Publishing Information: June 7, 2010 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Werewolves, Retellings, Romance

Series information: Book 1 in the Fairytale Retellings series

Format: Hardcover, 328 pages

Source: Borrowed from my local library

Recommended For: Readers looking for a different view on the story of Little Red Riding Hood filled with strong heroines and viscous villains.

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris–the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She’s determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls’ bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett’s only friend–but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they’ve worked for?

I love fairy tale rewrites and I love that this was loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood. However, I did not love this book. I wanted to, really! Looking back, I think that the reason I didn’t love it was because I had a hard time loving the characters. I found Scarlett to be obsessive and resentful for saving her sisters life, I found Rosie to be so naïve and annoying in the way that she couldn’t follow her own desires because they conflicted with her sisters. I found Silas to be a coward and honestly kind of a jerk in the way that he falls head over heels for his best friend’s sister and then manages to not tell her, even though they are living in the same house. The love triangle bothered me the most, Silas pushed Rosie to follow her heart while trying to tell Scarlett her heart’s desire was wrong. I can’t even get into what bothered me the most about this love triangle because it would ruin a shocking and rather infuriating climax that made me want to throw the book against a wall. ::end rant:: That being said, I can give the book credit in relation to its general plot line. It is interesting to turn the Red Riding Hood character into a fighter as she is a weak character in the original story. However, I do think it could have been interesting had the wolf character not been so bad. Perhaps I am a romantic but I like to daydream that the typical bad guy isn’t always bad just as the damsel in distress is sometimes fully capable of saving herself. I also have to say that the ending shocked me, I really didn’t see it coming and that was something that really redeemed the story for me. I realize that my opinion is quite biased and I can really see why some would love this book. I am currently reading Jackson Pearce’s companion novel Sweetly and I have high hopes that I will enjoy it more than I enjoyed Sister’s Red.

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

December 14, 2011 by Alyssa

Title: Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publishing Information: August 1, 2009 by Scholastic Press

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal

Series information: Book 1 in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series

Format: Hardcover, 392 pages

Source: Borrowed from my local library

Recommended For: Readers looking for a book reminscent of Twilight, minus the vampires.

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf–her wolf–is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human–or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

When Grace was younger, she was attacked by wolves in the woods surrounding her home. As she lay dying, a wolf with bright yellow eyes fended off the other wolves and saved her life. As the years went on, Grace continued to find the wolf staring at her, keeping her safe. Grace begins to think of this wolf as “her” wolf and when a hunting party ventures into the woods she becomes terrified. Once at her house, Grace finds a naked, shivering boy on her porch who has been shot in the shoulder. Grace soon learns that this boy, named Sam, is indeed “her” wolf and has been watching and protecting her for years. The catch of his “disease” is that every summer, when it is warm, Sam turns into a human and once the temperature drops he becomes a wolf again. As the years go on however, Sam’s summers become shorter and shorter and he fears he will soon lose the ability to turn into a human all together. The story progresses and Sam and Grace work together to keep him warm, and human.

The cover of this book was what initially drew me in, and the fact that it was a book with a werewolf as a focus, a change from the typical vampire love story. I also really appreciated that the “change” for the werewolf isn’t brought on by the full moon but by the change in temperature. Unfortunately that was not enough to make me enjoy the story, I had a very hard time reading this book and found myself fighting against the storyline. I can definitely see why most readers would LOVE this book. For me, it was like the Twilight series, minus the vampires. The two main characters were head over heels, nothing can stop us, will do ANYTHING for the other in love. I had a hard time buying this, the characters were not very developed and their love was just supposed to be understood, with little evidence as to why they had fallen in “love” in the first place. Overall, I was a bit bored with the story and couldn’t really get into it; however I would definitely recommend it to readers who like teen romance and books like Twilight.

Once Upon a Time…

December 6, 2011 by Alyssa

In keeping with the fairy tale theme of this week’s review I have to shamelessly promote some things that I love, love, love.

First, the new abc series, Once Upon a Time starring Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White and Josh Dallas as Prince Charming. Though it has not been admitted that the producers of Lost used Bill Willingham’s Fables series as an influence there is a very similar plotline. The characters in Once Upon a Time are stuck in the “real world” much like the characters in Willingham’s Fables series.

Only a few episodes have aired but so far it is awesome!! The characters are likeable and Lost fans will enjoy the way in which the episodes are focusing on the past lives of the characters and what brought about the evil queen’s ire. I will be honest and say that at first glance I fell in love with Sherriff Graham, played by Jamie Dornan, and I am convinced that he has a big bad wolf alter ego (see below: love affair with Bigby Wolf) but I do have to admit that Josh Dallas has charmed (pun intended) his way into my heart after the last episode.

Definitely give this show a chance, it is quite loveable; also check out the website for some fun extras!

Once Upon a Time airs on Sundays at 8pm.

My second guilty pleasure is the fantasy miniseries, The Tenth Kingdom, which aired on NBC in 2000.

The Tenth Kingdom follows the adventures of a woman, played by Kimberly Williams and her father, played by John Larroquette, after they are transported from New York to the world of fairy tales. Ultimately they must help Prince Wendell save his kingdom from his evil stepmother after she has turned him into a dog! The show originally aired over a course of five nights and is almost seven hours long. There are many familiar faces on the cast including Scott Cohen as Wolf (LOVE him, I realize that this is probably shocking), Ed O’Neill as the Troll King and Dianne Wiest as the evil queen.

There have been many rumors about a second film being made but I try not to have high hopes, for now I will have to appease myself by watching my DVD over and over again :]

Check your local library for this movie, if you like fairy tales you will love this!!

Review: Fables by Bill Willingham

December 5, 2011 by Alyssa

Fables

By Bill Willingham

Once upon a time, all of your fairy tales turned out to be true…

Fables is a graphic novel series created by writer Bill Willingham. The series focuses around various characters from fairy tales and folklore that have been forced out of their Homelands by The Adversary. The Fables have created their own secret community in New York City known as Fabletown. Certain Fables who are unable to blend in with human society (The Three Little Pigs, Bageera, etc.) live at “The Farm” in upstate New York.

Let me start off by saying I am not a “graphic novel” reader. Not that there is anything wrong with reading and enjoying them, I just never had the desire to pick up a comic book and take a gander. So it was no secret that I wasn’t too excited when we were assigned to read graphic novels for my young adult literature course last semester. I struggled with my choice, finally settling for a standard Batman/Superman theme. Soon after I begrudgingly read through my comic I noticed one of my classmates (and Goodreads friend) was reading the Fables series for our assignment. Suddenly I was taken aback, fairy tales as comic books? Umm yes, please!! I immediately harassed her for all of the information she had on the Fables series and Mr. Bill Willingham and that, my friends, is the beginning of a beautiful love affair between myself and the characters of Fabletown (primarily Mr. Bigby Wolf, I won’t lie).

So, in a nutshell, drop what you are doing and go to your local library, find these graphic novels and start reading!! Seriously, go now.

Oh and for those of you reading this thinking how daft I am for finally jumping on this bandwagon that you have been riding on for years, did you know Bill Willingham has other graphic novels? How about a novel called Down the Mysterly River? Bet you didn’t…