Excellent News/My MIA News

Okay, this does have to do with my books and my blog. *Glares at who accused her it hasn't the slightest bit to do with her blog-coughreallifefriendscough-* Well, anywho, I was given my birthday present, for my upcoming birthday, a bit ahead of schedule...and boy am I excited! You see, I got a Kobo E-Reader mine's not white though, it's black *insert girly squeal*!!!! With this I'm getting the 100 free books it comes with, but my parents are letting me buy a few books for my flight/stay in Hawaii *insert another girly squeal*! So I'll be buying books, which I haven't asked for in paper form from my grandparents, to read. I will review these books, along with all my other books from my birthday, and I will also post a simple review on my Kobo...and whatever else pops up for my birthday on Friday. *realizes* It's my birthday on Friday!?! I'd actually like some suggestions on books to buys, please and thank you, I have a few books I will buy, but It's a five hour flight so I might need more than one or two book to suffice, and with all this birthday money I got...I can buy a few books. Also, if you wish to contact my from...July 29th after 5pm (PST) to August 2nd you may tweet at me...or if you have my number text me. Also, I shall say, From the 3rd of August to about noon (PST) on the 15th of August I shall not be able to have my phone on to receive tweets or texts from anyone because of the Roaming Charges *hates roaming charges*. I will try to get on to blog, check in on everyone, and talk, but it may not happen often. So when I get back, be expecting Review upon Review, because when my birthday rolls around, I get nothing but books.
So enjoi!
Hugs and Kisses to all. Lots of Love From Me, Alia!
And Please Suggest Book Buys!

Teaser Tuesday~Fell by David Clement-Davies

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

My first Teaser Tuesday to be published (yeah!) is going to be from FELL by David Clement-Davies (Author of The Sight, Fire Bringer, The Alchemists of Barbal, and The Telling Pool)

Alina realised that perhaps the old man was saying something important about nature and the wild. That it was not the same as this civilised gathering.- (Pg 332)

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others.)

-Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Review~The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith

The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith (First copies written in 1994)

Synopsis:


When Jenny buys a game for her boyfriend, Tom, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the guy behind the counter. There is something mysteriously alluring about Julian's pale eyes and bleached-blond hair. And when he places the Game into her hands, she knows their connection is something deeper.

But as Jenny and her six friends begin to play the Game at Tom's birthday celebration, a night of friends and fun quickly turns into a night of terror and obsessive love. Because the Game isn't just a game-it's the seven friends' new reality, where Julian reigns as the Prince of the Shadows.


One by one the friends must confront their phobias to win the Game. To lose the Game is to lose their lives. And that is only the beginning...



Review:


L.J. Smith has written another amazing work. Sure it was written two years before I was born, but I hold nothing against the books publishing date. I actually think it's for the better. This book gives me a slightly larger view on books older than I am, sure the cover may have been redone to speak to the younger audience, but the writing is that of the nineties. I have to say, Smith's works may be older compared to some of the newer story, but it has no effect on the storyline or my outlook. And people say older isn't still cool.

PROS

The Characters: Jenny, Zach, Tom, Summer, Dee, Audrey, Michael, and Julian, they all have a certain feel to them. The Three Books In One: Makes you read them all at the same time, but sets them apart. The Setting: Changes with each book, but all make their way back to the new reality, they seem to be trapped in. The Boys: You have the bad boy, the good guy, the artsy guy, and the one who's not perfect for anyone but his girlfriend. So you have Julian, Tom, Zach, and Michael. All of them are nice guys, with the exception of Julian, though he has his moments. Tom is Jenny's boyfriend, a nice guy who's been in love with Jenny since they were both young. Zach is Jenny's cousin, has been really close to Jenny, and is a major photographer. Michael is Audrey's boyfriend, he's far from perfect, but he's sweet and really nice. Julian is our designated bad guy, he's dark and mysterious, mean and cruel, but he's in love with Jenny and will do anything to win her heart. The Girl Friends: There is the 'helpless' blond, the city-chic party girl, the courageous, strong, ruthless, fearless one; which brings us to Summer, Audrey, and Dee. They all hold Jenny together, and help her through rough times, and they all rely on Jenny too. Audrey, the newest member to the pack of friends, though new she gets along with everyone, but Dee. Summer is the sweet, innocent, pack-rat. She's always dressed to impress, and she always has a smile for you. Dee isn't a girly-girl, but not a tom-boy either; she's her own person who's into mystery and philosophy. She thinks brawn over brain, though her brain is just as powerful as her brawn.

Overall Pros

Everyone together brings perfection into the group as a whole. They work together and overcome problems, they're wonderful. The things they go through are horrible nightmares, and yet they all overcome them. With each person comes a flaw, and that makes them all the more realistic.

CONS

At first read I had thought I was absolutely in love with this book, but when I started writing this review, I found I couldn't find the right words to describe how much I loved it...I then realized that I wasn't into the book one hundred percent. Though it was a great book, and well written there were it's downfalls, and I mainly found it in the characters; one in particular...Jenny. L.J. Smith wrote her fine, but I, as a person, did not like her; she annoyed me, and made me utterly upset with her decisions. She played Julian, made Tom depressed, hurt all her loved ones, made promises she did not or could not keep, and she was plain back-and-forth between 'Julian's not to bad, and It's to bad we can't get along' and 'I Hate Him, and I'll show him'. She doesn't actually say those words per say, but she is indecisive over to like or hate Julian. In the end she made a good choice, but it's the overall feeling I'm talking about.

My Personal Favourites

I Loved the characters Julian and Zach. Julian was described as beautiful, and he was beautifully described. Zach wasn't described as well, and being Jenny's cousin he wasn't talked about in the same way as Julian or Tom was, he was talked about as a family member, where as Julian and Tom were talked about in adoration...or in Juian's case utter hatred.

Overall Outlook On The Book: Great not perfect, but great... 4/5 stars

Real DARKEST MERCY Cover

The Wicked Lovely Series by Melissa Marr is one of my absolute favourite series, and Melissa has shown us the final book, Darkest Mercy, cover. Set to release February 22nd 2011, Darkest Mercy is the Fifth, and final, instalment in this fantastic series.

The cover isn't one hundred percent final; Melissa, on her Livejournal, has stated that the vines are still being worked on and could be Changed.

Donia is the main figure on this cover, and with the beautiful sunshine, well I hope it means some sun-soaked Keenan. With Donia and Keenan together with steam...well we'll have to find out what that means won't we? *Is super-duper excited* Can not wait to get this book next year...or hopefully a ARC.


If you are unfamiliar with this series the Books In Order are:

WICKED LOVELY

INK EXCHANGE

FRAGILE ETERNITY

RADIANT SHADOWS

DARKEST MERCY



So excited for the release of this book!

Now Good Reading To You All!

Review~Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Synopsis:

Enter Stage Right

BEATRICE SHAKESPEARE SMITH (BERTIE): Our heroine.

NATE: A dashing pirate who will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM: Four tiny, mischievous fairies and Bertie's loyal sidekicks.

ARIEL: A seductive air spirit. Disaster follwos in his wake, but Bertie simply cannot resist him.

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. The actors are bound to the Theatre by The Book, an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of the actors, but they are her family. And sh is about to lose them all because The Book has been threatened, and along with it the Theatre. It's the only home Bertie has ever known, and she has to find a way to save it. But first, ther's the small problem of two handsome men, both vying for her attention. The course of true love never did run smooth...

Review:

Eyes Like Stars is the Theatre Illuminata Act One by Lisa Mantchev. Lisa Mantchev has created an amazing work of art full of humour, mystery, drama, and romance; in total it was a cunning piece of craftmanship. Mantchv's novel has held me captive from the first glance at the cover, and once I flipped through the pages...well from there, there was definately no turning back. Mantchev brings a new twist on the life of an actor, the romance of the theatre, the perils brought on by a show. She lets us get to know her characters; their sorrow, passion, pain, love, fear. She keeps us turning the pages until the pages can be turned no more.

This story follows the life and lov eof Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, better known as Bertie. Our seventeen year old heroine's life, from a young age, has been spent in the walls of the theatre, she was raised within it's nooks and crannies, and it is her home. But incidences have occured and her privilege to stay within it has been denied. The only way to stay is to make herself an invaluable contribution, and not a nuisance. Bertie decides to take up the challange to stay with her family and friends, instead of trekking into the world outside the entrance. While protecting the theatre she lets Ariel change that, and he threatens her hoome. Nate's protection leads to his own disappearance. Her sidekicks help her cope through it all. And Bertie, she now has the mystery to the identities of her parents, and she's willing to try anything to find the answers.

Mantchev's Eyes Like Stars has opened my eyes to broader horizons, to the life of the theatre, she's faced me with the challenge of holding back all the many smiles that came with the book. She's brought tears of joy to my eyes, and has brought my life constant laughter. Being an actress myself, this book has made me appreciate my threatre and theatre family as it is, and has made my whole acting experience one filled with more joy...and many more book refrences.

Overall Outlook On The Book: Great, Could Use A little more, but still amazing...4.5/5 stars