Green-Eyed Demon by Jaye Wells

“He paused, letting the tension mount. His solemn gaze met mine. "How long are you going to make me wait?"

I considered making a joke. Blowing the whole thing off like nothing had happened. But I cared about Adam too much to dismiss his genuine interest with careless sarcasm. "I don't know."

He stared at me for a few moments. Behind his eyes I could see the wheels turning. Weighing the options and eventualities. Finally, he breathed out through his nose, like expelling bad energy. "Well, I guess that's better than 'never'.”

Green-eyed demon is the third book in the Sabina Kane series, it picks up a couple of days after Sabina's sister has been kidnapped by her Grandmother. I absolutely adore this series, it has everything you could want from an urban fantasy, Vampires, Werewolves, Mages and a kick-ass heroine. We move cities again in this story and Sabina finds herself in the home of voodoo, New Orleans.

This story is all about character progression, Sabina is becoming less cold-hearted and there are many scenes within this book were we see her thinking about her actions instead of just jumping in and thinking about the consequences later. In order to get her sister back she has to learn to work with others and keep her mouth shut at times. Which we know from past books is very hard for Sabina to do. I like how she becomes more open and vulnerable and she is starting to understand more why she is unable to love. Wells does all this though without losing the qualities of Sabina we love so much, she is still pretty much bad-ass, has a wonderful snarky attitude and always manages to piss someone off.

I don't want to give to much away but Sabina and Adams relationship certainly starts to heat up finally (even thought its at a snails pace). After she ran into the arms of another man in the last book,Sabina ends up having a heart to heart with Giguhl about her and Adam and he gives her some very good advice. They still have a lot to work out at the end of the book but the L word may be mentioned by a certain someone at one point. Sabina is finally understanding that letting people in and showing emotion is not a bad thing.

As usual the fight scenes are intense and action packed. Wells never fails to create fast paced and descriptive action sequences that constantly have you wondering if everyone will survive. The big bad evil that the plot seems to centre about was not too much of a surprise I had pretty much guessed it a couple of chapters in but still it is going to make a good story arc for the next story. I loved the setting of New Orleans, I've been there when I went travelling and it made the perfect setting for this story, the graveyards and voodoo queens, really give the story a spooky magical quality.

The only thing I will say about this book is Sabina's actions would at times frustrate me, she seemed to be making progress in admitting how she was feeling and then she would do something stupid again. I know learning takes time but how many times can you learn the same lesson.

Green-Eyed Demon is a fast past and well executed book, it kept me hooked from start to finish. All the characters learn something about themselves and the world around them in this book and not everyone at the end is the same any more.

Paper Towns by John Green

“The town was paper, but the memories were not.”

Paper Towns follows the story of Quintin 'Q', the one crazy night he spends with Margo Roth Spiegelman and what happens afterwards. The story is spilt into three parts; the strings, the grass and the vessel, each part discusses a different philosophy on life.Margo's 'strings' that can eventually become cut until there is nothing left, Walt Whitman's 'grass' which becomes a metaphor for so many different things, hope, life, death, connectedness or Q's  'cracked vessel' where we start out whole but as life continues on we become cracked and broken. 

This is my second John Green novel, the first one I read was 'The Fault in Our Stars' which set Mr Green on a very high pedestal. When I finished this book I found it rather hard to decide whether I liked it or not. I liked the themes and ideas behind but I don't think it had be as enthralled as the fault in our stars did but maybe that is just because I had such an emotional connection to the latter.

Margo and Q represent more than just two high school children who've known each other their entire lives but not really known each other. They show how the world views each other, we have these ideas in our heads about people, even people we are extremely close too but are they really true. Do we know the person or just a version of themselves? Q thinks he knows Margo, they live next door to each other, she appears to be happy and care free but is she really, as the story progresses it seems more and more that Margo feels lonely and isolated, misunderstood by those around here. In one particular scene Q thinks he sees Margo laughing when really she is screaming because she is angry. Q has Margo on a pedestal, he likes the idea of her without really knowing who she is. 

“When did we see each other face-to-face? Not until you saw into my cracks and I saw into yours. Before that, we were just looking at ideas of each other, like looking at your window shade but never seeing inside. But once the vessel cracks, the light can get in. The light can get out.” 

The middle of this book was hard going for me, as they searched for the missing Margo following more and more of her clues, I found myself not caring at some points, at first Margo seemed selfish and uncaring. She knew people would be missing her and yet she just left and it wasn't the first time she had done it and yet as the story progressed and I realised how vulnerable she really was, I stared wondering along with Q if she really had killed herself. 

Throughout this book Q learns more about how he judges other people based on his own ideas. He has to learn to accept his best friend Ben for his 'honeybunny'  and prom loving ways. People aren't going to be who we want them to be but you just need to learn to accept it.

“You know your problem, Quentin? You keep expecting people not to be themselves. I mean, I could hate you for being massively unpunctual and for never being interested in anything other than Margo Roth Spiegelman, and for, like, never asking me about how it's going with my girlfriend - but I don't give a shit, man, because you're you. My parents have a shit ton of black Santas, but that's okay. They're them. I'm too obsessed with a reference website to answer my phone sometimes when my friends call, or my girlfriend. That's okay, too. That's me. You like me anyway. And I like you. You're funny, and you're smart, and you may show up late, but you always show up eventually.” 

Paper Towns is a wonderful if yet slow moving and slightly repetitive story about looking at more than just a paper image of someone. This book gets you to think about people being more than just the outside shell that they allow us to see. People are complex, with hidden layers and it is only when the cracks start to show that we can really start to see them at all.  

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” 

Coraline is a delightfully short and creepy book, a story that is both appealing to adults and children alike.

Coraline is a clever and curious child who is often misunderstood by her parents. She loves to explore and on one particular boring and rainy afternoon she finds a mysterious door in her house that leads to no-where. Coraline can't let the mystery of the door rest and soon she finds a whole new 'other' world.

I love the character of Coraline, she has a wonderful imagination and is extremely brave and has a rather quirky sense of humour. Through the book she grows and learns and finds courage and wisdom to save herself and her parents.

“Because,' she said, 'when you're scared but you still do it anyway, that's brave”

 The Cat who has no name and cats require no names, is one of my highlights from this book. he is sarcastic and witty and his personality is exactly how I imagine a cat would be if they could talk.

Gaimans writing defines dark and creepy and the images in the book are enough to scare anyone. His descriptions of the other mother and other father become more and more disturbing as the book progress. A great introduction into Neil Gaiman and fans of his other work won't be disappointed.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

I finished reading The Daughter of Smoke and Bone last night and I absolutely adored it, I fell in love with world and its characters. I can't believe how long its taken for me to read it but at least I can quickly move onto the second book.

With that in mind I had a little free time today and I've been looking on deviantArt for pictures inspired by the book. I love when people bring characters from books alive with their drawing and I thought it was rather apt considering Karou loves to draws those around her so here are just a few of my favourites.

My review will be coming soon.

Girls in Young Adult Books

I was at a publishing event a couple of weeks ago and I got talking to one of the authors  about the role of female characters in fiction, especially young adult fiction. Sometimes I don't think authors are aware of the responsibility that they have in creating strong female leads that will inspire young girls to become more and to believe in themselves.

More and more books nowadays seem to have a female lead that is never quite as good as the male lead, she always seems to be in his shadow and I really wish this wasn't the way. Don't get me wrong I've read plenty of fantastic books with amazing leads, I'm only taking issue with those that have a soppy love sick female chasing a boy that is nothing but mean to her. It really irritates me.

Anyway back to the original conversation, I made the point of saying about how many negative reviews you see about games that inspire violence in young boys and yet no one ever makes the point about how books can create negative emotions and bad stereotypes in young girls. I think people don't give enough credit to the power of imagination that books can create. How many times have you read a book and imagined yourself in the females lead, being the object of affection of your favourite male character. I know I have but as they say with age comes wisdom, being in my twenties I think I can safely say I know that these characters are not real, as in no guy in real life would ever behave like that and girls shouldn't want a guy like that. Who wants a guy that leaves them for months and then you become emotionally unstable, I'm looking at  you Twilight.

Teenage girls have enough to worry about with insecurities with looks and boys and books shouldn't add to them. Books should have characters that have strong, realistic females, flaws and all.

The Diviners by Libba Bray

"Naughty John, Naughty John, does his work with his apron on. Cuts your throat and takes your bones, sells 'em off for a coupla stones." 

The Diviners is the first book I've read by Libba Bray but I can assure you it wont be the last. Before we go any further I should probably tell you that the 1920's has to be one of my favourite era's,  the Flappers, prohibition it just makes the perfect setting in my mind so the second I heard about this book I new I would love it and now onto why I loved it so.

Evie O'Neil is rebel, she is sent from Ohio to New York as punishment for what her parents and the townsfolk deem the slander of their Angel boy. Evie is sent to live with her Uncle Will who is the curator of the museum of American Folklore aka the museum of the Creepy Crawlies. Evie can't wait to get to New York and escape the oppression of her parents and be free the lead the glamorous life she believes she was born to lead. Along the way Evie meets some interesting characters and as we gleam throughout the book they all have something special about them including Evie herself, she is able to see the history of an object and the person who owns it.

This book isn't just a paranormal book its also a murder mystery and what a book it is. Let me say I've never been scared before by a fictional murderer but this one really creeped me out. Sitting in bed at 2 o'clock in the morning and reading the ending to this story, every little sound in my house sounded like Naughty Johns whispers to me and it definitely had me spooked.

Libba Bray is an expert in character development, there are very few young adult books out there that manage to create such well rounded characters and develop their interactions as well as Bray does. Evie's interactions with her friends and love interest are believable, especially with her love interest (who I'm not going to name), their relationship is slow burning and even at the end you can tell they have a long way to go, its how real relationships work. Can I just say how much I loved Evie, she was fun, flirty and a hell of a rebellion, she came to New York to have fun and have amazing adventures and she is going to do everything she can to make sure that happens. She isn't afraid to be seen and heard and in fact goes out of her way most of the time to make sure people do notice her. I wouldn't mind having a little bit of Evie in me.

The book isn't entirely from Evie's point of view, we do manage to get small glimpses into the other characters minds and I thought that this was handled wonderfully, each character has their own distinct voice that it isn't hard to work out who is talking. I liked how not everyone's chapters was necessarily about Naughty John, their were a lot of clues setting up the next book and a lot of hints as to who the Diviners actually are and what they are capable of. Plenty of story lines left unfinished which can sometimes be infuriating (and to be honest was a little for me, I normally like a conclusion to novels) but I suppose it leaves many avenues to explore in the next book.

My only negative about this book would be its slow start, it does take the first 100 pages of so to really get into it, but once you past that its one of the easiest books to read and not because the writing was simple but because the writing flowed so beautifully and the story was fast paced,I was completely hooked, each chapter left my in suspense and most of the time I couldn't put it down, 600 pages seemed like a breeze.

Overall the Diviners manages to mix historical fiction with paranormal fantasy, it has such a magical quality to it you wont want to miss out. A book that will creep you out and immerse you into New York in the 1920's so much so you won't want to leave.

From Page to Screen

Each year we see less original screen plays an more movie adaptations. Books offer the film industry intriguing plots, with well loved and engaging characters. 

I am and will always be a firm believer that the book is always better, so no matter what I always try to read the book before the film comes out.

2013 is going to be dominated by supernatural young adult books, as well as science fiction, graphic novels and classics. 

Here you'll find just a taster of what we can expect to see in our movie theatres this year. 

Warm Bodies

1st Febuary (US) 8th Febuary (UK)

Based on Isaac Marion's novel warm bodies, its been called a 'zombie-romantic comedy' with strong links with Romeo and Juliet (the leading characters being called 'R' and 'Julie'). "The film focuses on the development of the relationship between Julie and R and how their romance sets in motion events that will change the world." 

Beautiful Creatures

13th February (UK) 14th February (US)

Based on the best selling, young adult book of the same name by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Beautiful creatures follows the story of Ethan who can't wait to leave his small town that is until the new girl Lena arrives and he discovers a dark and mysterious secret that his town has been hiding for years.

Oz - The Great and Powerful

8th March (UK & US)

The film is inspired by L. Frank Baums novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The events of the film take place before the novel and describes how the Wizard came to be in charge of Oz. "Circus magician Oscar Diggs thinks he's hit the jackpot as he's transported to the Land of Oz, but his encounters with three witches and problems facing Oz's inhabitants encourage him to become the great wizard they've been expecting."

The Host

22nd March (UK) 29th March (US)

Based on Stephanie Meyers book The Host (which I loved and I'm hoping she is going to bringing out a sequel soon like she promised). An alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder but instead of letting it take over she fights back and together they learn to work together to try and find Melanie's family.

Iron Man 3

26th April (UK) 3rd May (US)

"Marvel's "Iron Man 3" pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds (Mandarin)."

The latest movie in the Marvels comic book franchise (a particular favourite of my boyfriends) and the first since the Avengers movie, see's the wonderfully funny Tony Stark back and see him searching for the answer to the elusive question, "Does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?"

Great Gatsby


 10th May (US) 17th May (UK)

Adapted from the 1925 novel The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald, it story follows Nick Carraway, a young man that moves to Long Island and finds himself fascinated by his neighbour Jay Gatsby during the roaring twenties.He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.

Man of Steel

14th June (UK and US)

Based on the DC comic character Superman, man of steel portrays the characters origin story with Henry Cavil taking on the famous role.

World War Z

21st June (UK and US)

Based on the novel of the same name by Max Brooks, the film follows UN worker Gerry Lane as he searches for information on how to stop the outbreak of the  zombie epidermic that is destroying the world.

The Wolverine


26th July (UK and US)

Hugh Jackman once again stars as Wolverine from the X-men comics by marvel.The Wolverine is based on Chris Claremont and Frank Miller's 1982 limited series, which sees Logan travel to Japan, where he engages a mysterious figure from his past.

No trailer as of yet.




Percy Jackson - Sea of Monsters


14th August (UK) 16th August (US)

Sequel to the 2010 film Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief and the second book in the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. It follows Percy and his friends as they search for golden fleece in order to protect the camp half bloods borders from magical enemies.

No trailer or movie poster as of yet.

Mortal Instruments - City of Bones

23rd August (UK and US)

This is one of the movies I can not wait to see, the first book in the mortal instrument series by Cassandra Clare, follows Clary a seemingly normal girl, that is until her mum is kidnapped and she is attacked by a demon and she discovers the truth about her past and her bloodline.

I, Frankenstein


13th September (US) 18th September (UK)

A new twist to the classic telling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, based of the comic book by Kevin Gervioux. Frankenstein's Monster Adam finds himself involved in an war between two immortal clans in an ancient city.




No trailer or movie poster as of yet.


Seventh Son


18th October (UK and US)

Based on the Spooks Apprentice by Joseph Delaney, it follows Tom Ward the seventh son of the seventh son and his adventures as a spools apprentice. 

No trailer or movie poster as of yet.

Romeo and Juliet


25th October (UK)

Another retelling of Shakespeare's tale of star crossed lovers. When two enemy families meet, forbidden love ensues.





No trailer released as of yet.

Carrie

18th October (US) 29th November (UK)

A remake of the 1976 horror classic based on Stephen Kings novel of the same name, in which a high school girl unleashes her telekinetic powers on her abusive peers at the prom.

Ender's Game

25th October (UK) 1st November (US)

A science fiction film based on the novel by Orson Scott Card, 70 years after an Alien war , Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, an unusually gifted child is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future alien invasion.

No trailer or movie poster released as of yet.




Thor - The Dark World

30th October (UK) 8th November (US)

Another marvel film, this time with the return of my favourite avenger Thor. Set a year after the Avengers film, Thor battles an ancient race of Dark Elves led by the vengeful Malekith who threatens to plunge the universe back into darkness. 
No trailer released as of yet.

Hunger Games - Catching Fire

22nd November (UK and US)

The second instalment in the hunger games trilogy from Suzanne Collins finds Katness and Peta forced back into the hunger games, can they survive a second time?

(If you've read the books then you'll already know the answer to that one)

Frozen

 27th November (US) 6th December (UK)

Loosely based from Hans Christen Anderson's the Snow Queen, it will be Disney's 53rd animated feature in their classics series. It follows the story of Anna who has been cursed by her sister the Snow Queen. Anna must battle through an icy and unforgiving landscape with the help of Kristoff (a thrill seeking outdoors man) to try and reverse the curse.

No trailer released as of yet.

The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug
 

13th December (UK and US)

The second instalment of the three films that make up The Hobbit, Bilbo has found the 'one ring' and now he and the dwarfs must continue on to get their gold back from smaug.

Not trailer or movie poster as of yet.