Character Connection (4)

Character Connection is a meme created by Jen @ The Introverted Reader.

We all have characters we love. Let's spotlight these fantastic creations! Whether you want to be friends with them or you have a full-blown crush on them, you know you love them and want everyone else to love them too! Most of you will probably post about how much you love each character, but this is a great place for the more creative ones among you to let go and have fun! Write a love letter to Captain Wentworth. Write yourself into a scene with Anne and Diana. Draw a picture of yourself in Jamie's arms. The possibilities are endless. Be sure to post the book's title and author, and be very careful not to give away spoilers while talking about how much you love your characters.

 This weeks Character Connection will be...

Cinna from The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

*** WARNING: If you have not read Catching Fire 

I suggest not reading this, you can if you want it just hints at things***

Alright Cinna is amazing! I love his designs, they are wonderfully brilliant and the way I see them in my mind just blows them out of proportion. With The Hunger Games getting opted for a movie, I'm hoping they will cast a great Cinna! You want to know why! Because I cried over him. I literally started tearing up during Mockingjay because I forgot about that little fact. I sat in the car (I was reading while we were traveling) and started staring at the book, because I just blocked the incident in Catching Fire out of my mind. Out of all the characters, not including Peeta, Katniss and Gale, Cinna is the one that stuck in my mind. Meaningfully I have never really cried over a character before, I've cried over the ending of a book, but not over a character within the first twenty pages of a book! Cinna is amazing, and at the end of Mockingjay his presence is still felt! I mean how wonderful is that. I love his prep crew and him. Cinna made Katniss into "the picture", but unlike other prep designers for the games, kept it simple, making her natural appearance and heritage stand out.

I love Cinna how much more can I say! 

Here are some actors that might be able to pull of my Cinna! But there's only two...

Jeremy Sumpter, was an actor on Friday Night Lights, and in his younger years was Peter Pan! Really I think in several ways he could pull of Cinna, he's got the looks and the facial features I picture for Cinna.

Picturing an older Cinna I would pick Neil Patrick Harris, he's just in one way has the looks and the attitude to pull off Cinna for me.

First Rate Friday (7)

First Rate Friday comes from He Followed Me Home.

A lot of interesting posts have come up in  the past week so please check them out, most of them are really fun to read! And a lot have really great book suggestions.

• Have you read any great retellings of old fairy tales? Andrea at The Little Bookworm has, check out her bibliography on them. 
• Jennifer at Reading with Tequila always has awesome posts. This one beats some of the other ones I've read! Check out: Where Do you Start When You Have NEVER Read a Book?
• Are you interested in ARCs? Have you none? Do you want some? Check out Morgan's tips and ways to get them: How To Get ARCs
• Favorites! Everyone has favorites, check out these favorites: Book Covers, Book Plot, Book Settings (By Taylor at The Library Lurker).
• Characters are fighting! I'm serious! I first found this out through Sandy the Pirate Penguin, check it out! Because they have Edward and Katsa are on the same team vs. Christopher Chant and Hermonie! Who is going to win? Check out the Website here.
• Ari at Teens actually read, made some hilarious predictions on what is going to happen in Mockingjay, I loved it: 13 Prediction for Mockingjay

So did I have any amazing posts I missed? Link'em if I did!

Recommend Me (8)

Recommend Me is a weekly event in which participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that you read yesterday or years ago. This meme is hosted by Kate at The Neverending Shelf.

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Today was the first day of band camp so in recommendation of that! And the sun burns I received (I didn't put on enough sun tan lotion), and the annoying other people I have to deal with (I so would at times rather be on my computer in the blogging world :P). I figured I would show you the two books that I have read and reviewed that deal with band geeks!

Yes I have an addiction I'm a band geek.

So check out my past reviews of...

Band Geek Love by Josie Bloss

and my favorite book...

Major Crush by Jennifer Echols

(Which was a past Recommend Me.)


So how was your day today? Were you band geeky like Ky, who's also at band camp, and Me?


Are there any other band geek books that I might not know about? I know Band Geek Love has a squeal. Are there more? I know there has to be more! Actually I know a few but I forget the titles right now.

First Rate Friday (6)

First Rate Friday comes from He Followed Me Home.

So some interesting things have been happening...

• There's been some awesome Top Ten Posts, and I think their awesome! So I wanted to show you some. What do you think if I do one or two?
• Top Ten Literary Crushes at the Story Siren by Kristi
• Top Ten Kick Ass Heroins at the Story Siren by Kristi
• Top Ten Favorite Books... at Black and Blue Ink by Chioma 
• Rhiana at Rhiana Reads wrote about Rating Books, and asked what you do? I use the method Rhiana has switched to, so check out the post here.
• Lori at Pure Imagination wrote her third addition on New Book Blogger Tips. So check it out if you new, its helpful either way.

Check out these posts their interesting and I'll think you'll like 'em.

Character Connection (3)

Character Connection is a meme created by Jen @ The Introverted Reader.

We all have characters we love. Let's spotlight these fantastic creations! Whether you want to be friends with them or you have a full-blown crush on them, you know you love them and want everyone else to love them too! Most of you will probably post about how much you love each character, but this is a great place for the more creative ones among you to let go and have fun! Write a love letter to Captain Wentworth. Write yourself into a scene with Anne and Diana. Draw a picture of yourself in Jamie's arms. The possibilities are endless. Be sure to post the book's title and author, and be very careful not to give away spoilers while talking about how much you love your characters.

 This weeks Character Connection will be...

Teagan & Finn

From Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton.

SYNOPSIS:

(From goodreads.com)

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems. Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

TEAGAN is a brave, love able character, she's one that I personally could relate to. Unlike other characters I've read about she's not just to girl in the corner with the gorillas at the zoo. SPOILER----But the girl that goes into another world to save her father.--- END SPOILER Even if it means she can easily become endangered. Teagan faces the face of danger with her cousin Finn and her little brother, and with them together she can easily save the day from the evil goblins. Teagan personally is a hero, or heroin in her case. She's a great character and deserves to be spotlighted.


FINN is a hot Irish legend, really what more can be said. He's love able much like Teagan and he'll go after goblins in split seconds and take'm down! Begin a girl I can't really relate much to Finn, but yeah I can sure say he's amazing. :) It also works that his name is one of my favorites.


Actors and Actresses well Here's a few, but I really couldn't find ones I like liked for the two. Basically, I Google searched Irish actors and actresses since both characters are Irish.


 Sarah Bolger, plays Mary Tudor on The Tudors an Showtime show. She's got some Irish blood in her, and she's one of the few that I could picture as Teagan.








Michelle Trachtenberg, she's been in a lot of films, but she might be able to play a good Teagan. I'm not sure...








Devon Murphy, he's in Harry Potter and plays Seamus Finnigan, well he might be one choice for Finn. But he doesn't look very manly in this picture...


Devon is really the only guy I could find, that I liked for Finn. Sure theres more. Do any of you have any suggestions?

Recommend Me (7)

Recommend Me is a weekly event in which participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that you read yesterday or years ago. This meme is hosted by Kate at The Neverending Shelf.

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My Recommend me this week is...
Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
SYNOPSIS:
(From goodreads.com)

“There is little more likely to exasperate a person of sense than finding herself tied by affection and habit to an Enthusiast.” Julie knows from bitter experience: her best friend, Ashleigh, is an Enthusiast. Ashleigh's current fancy is also Julie's own passion, Pride and Prejudice, and the heroine's quest for True Love. And so Julie finds herself swept along with Ashleigh, dressed in vintage frocks and sneaking into a dance at the local all-boys' prep school. There they discover several likely candidates for True Love, including the handsome and sensitive Parr. And Julie begins to wonder if maybe this obsession of Ashleigh's isn't so bad after all. . . .

 MY REVIEW:

Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman, is one of those romantic comedy type books that are short and easy to read. I still remember it, and I especially loved the characters. Julia was a girl that could still count the amount of kisses she's received and Ashleigh her best friend was obsessed with Jane Austen. It was easy to connect to the characters. And their hope for boyfriends were soon found through the boy's prep in their town. Especially when the went sneaking into a dance there and found some. But the boyfriends didn't come right away, so they had to do a little work, especially in their collaborated play between the local high school and the prep. This book was comedic, and hilarious. But romantic too, I always had hoped for another book to follow Enthusiasm but alas there is none right now. So if your looking for a short romantic comedy to read then this one would be a pick for you.

First Rate Friday (5)

First Rate Friday comes from He Followed Me Home.

So some interesting things have been happening...

• Personally this is awesome for me, but for others too. Kate from The Neverending Shelf and Kristen from 21st Century Bookshelf have formed a Graphic Novel Blog which includes Manga called Girls Love Graphic Novels. So check it out, I'm following are you?
• Jennifer from Reading with Tequila always seems to have great discussion topics, one that I've seen over the past couple of weeks  is How Do You Manga Your Book Review Schedule?  Its really interesting on her take, and what she does. Also today Jennifer posted about Books [She] Can't Face Reading.
• Tweezle from Just One More Paragraph, made an interesting debate over e-readers, and and were you can find some awesome free books. Check out all the links here.

Thats about it for this week's addition...

Teaser Tuesday (15)

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

This weeks is Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles.
Synopsis:

Carlos Fuentes doesn't want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him in Boulder, Colorado. He wants to keep living on the edge, and carve his own path?just like Alex did. Unfortunately, his ties to a Mexican gang aren't easy to break, and he soon finds himself being set up by a drug lord. When Alex arranges for Carlos to live with his former professor and his family to keep him from being sent to jail, Carlos feels completely out of place. He's even more thrown by his strong feelings for the professor's daughter, Kiara, who is nothing like the girls he's usually drawn to. But Carlos and Kiara soon discover that in matters of the heart, the rules of attraction overpower the social differences that conspire to keep them apart. As the danger grows for Carlos, he's shocked to discover that it's this seemingly All-American family who can save him. But is he willing to endanger their safety for a chance at the kind of life he's never even dreamed possible?

First Teaser:

"'Yes.'He cocks a brow. 'I'm impressed. I'm pissed off, but impressed.' He closes his locker, the ninety-nine cookies still attached to the inside."~Page 41


Second  Teaser:

"Bright. It's too bright. I open my eyes to the morning sun hittin' me right in the face. I'm still in Brittany's car." ~Page 56

Recommend Me (6)

Recommend Me is a weekly event in which participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that your read yesterday or years ago. This meme or feature is hosted by Kate at The Neverending Shelf.

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My Recommend Me this week is...

The Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill

The Icemark is a kingdom in grave danger. Its king has been killed in battle, its enemy lies in wait, and its fate rests on the shoulders of one girl. Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, a beautiful princess and an intrepid warrior, must find a way to protect her land from a terrible invasion. She will forge an extraordinary alliance of noble Snow Leopards, ancient Vampires, and ferocious Wolf-folk. She will find unexpected strength in her friendship with a young warlock. And she will lead her allies to victory with her fierce battle cry: "Blood! Blast! And Fire!"

REVIEW

So The Cry of the Icemark is the first in The Icemark Chronicles and is the first book that I read that involved war. And sucked me into war books with a powerful heroin (fine examples are Warrior Princess and Destiny's Path which I just read). I loved this book, the characters were amazing and Thirrin just inspired me. I especially liked the fantasy behind the story, and the not so obvious romance that takes place. In short war is being waged against Icemark, and with out the help of some fantasy characters, Icemark won't survive. And after the death of the King and Thirrin's father, Thirrin is forced into the role of warrior queen. Finding Oskan a warlock in a cave might just add to her little adventure and with his help this battle might not be lost. Through out this book you see the transformation of Thirrin from a minor warrior and hunter into a queen of a country and the warrior spirit of her people. Her especially long name Thirrin- Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield just adds to the adventure of this read. 

This book has had several printings and personally I like the first ones cover the one up next to the synopsis's cover. The second printings cover, to the right, I don't really like, but it matches the cover of the other books in the chronicles Fire and The Last Battle of the Icemark.

Character Connection (2)

Character Connection is a meme created by Jen @ The Introverted Reader.

We all have characters we love. Let's spotlight these fantastic creations! Whether you want to be friends with them or you have a full-blown crush on them, you know you love them and want everyone else to love them too! Most of you will probably post about how much you love each character, but this is a great place for the more creative ones among you to let go and have fun! Write a love letter to Captain Wentworth. Write yourself into a scene with Anne and Diana. Draw a picture of yourself in Jamie's arms. The possibilities are endless. Be sure to post the book's title and author, and be very careful not to give away spoilers while talking about how much you love your characters.

So I haven't done one of these in awhile and I thought it was time. This time I chose the character Brittany from Perfect Chemistry. 

Book Synopsis:

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.  In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Brittany in a sense is a strong, caring girl, that will do anything for her sister. And I respect her. Brittany's character herself is a risk taker. I typically don't connect with the most popular girl in school characters, but Brittany was the acceptation. So to Brittany I wish you luck on your endeavorers as a character. 

When thinking of Brittany, I wasn't sure who would be best to play her character, but when I looked further and when I googled her character a bit I found out Simone had a forum were some were talking about who would play whom if the book became a movie. And one of the ones mentioned was Brittany Snow, from The Pacifier and Prom Night. I like Brittany first off because her name matches the characters name. But also she's what I almost pictured Brittany to look like. And Brittany Snow also looks a bit like the Brittany on the front cover of the book, who I pictured while I read. Other than that I found two others that might play an okay Brittany, one was Katie Bosworth, except maybe when she was a little younger. She was in Superman Returns as Lois Lane and in Remember the Titians, so we know she can play a great heroin. Last was Andrea Bowen from Desperate Housewives but I'm not to sure about her, she just looks the part in some ways.

So what do you think? Who should play Brittany if the book ever comes to the movies? Who should play Alex in your mind?

First Rate Friday (4)

First Rate Friday comes from He Followed Me Home.

This post range from June 3rd to today, because of the fact  I didn't have time to write up this post before.

• Jenn @ Books at Midnight posted a discussion a while ago on Drugs and YA. I found it interesting to read. I never really took the fact that some of the books I read have drugs in them, I myself will never use drugs. I promised myself that I would never do something that could kill me like that. So yes this post was really interesting and made me think of the books I read.
• Jenny @ Take Me Away wrote a post about how reading is like eating. And I agree with her your taste in food changes as you grow and so does your literary taste.
• Chick Lit Teens posted about how books are like alcohol for us book bloggers. And it got me thinking about how I will devour a book just like a piece of chocolate cake. :)
• Taylor @ The Library Luker today posted about the size of main characters in YA and about how almost all of them are either skinny or middle weight or obsess and wanting to loose weight. What about those non cookie cutter girls?

• I'm also going to state!!!! Never sell your ARCs, there were a ton of posts at the beginning of the month after BEA (which sadly I couldn't attend) about ARCs being on e-bay and such. I find you that do that rude and inconsiderate of authors who work hard on their novels and books. They spend valuable time writing for your enjoyment so why sell something they wrote for you and you alone (in a sense). Here's a link to one of the post talking about it.

Recommend Me (5)

Recommend Me is a weekly event in which participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that your read yesterday or years ago. This meme or feature is hosted by Kate at The Neverending Shelf.

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My Recommend Me this week is..
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to  truth-telling. With Owen's help,maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

REVIEW

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen is one of my all time favorite books. And is one of the few I've reread. Combining music and romance, Just Listen is a win win for me, since I love both of those things. Annabel is an amazing character and so is Owen, and just writing this I need to go a reread this book again. Sarah Dessen is an amazing author and anyone who hasn't read anything by her is missing out. So check out Just Listen by Sarah Dessen you won't be sorry. Especially if your a music girl (or boy) like me. And the cover is really cool, you know its photoshoped a bit but still, its got a music player on it and the fonts and color scheme they used were a great pick.

Recommend Me (4)

Recommend Me is a weekly event in which participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that your read yesterday or years ago. This meme or feature is hosted by Kate at The Neverending Shelf.

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My Recommend Me this week is...

To Catch a Pirate by Jade Parker

Once caught, it’s harder still to let a pirate go. When Annalisa Townsend’s ship is set upon by pirates in search of her father’s treasure, one of the crew, James Sterling, discovers her in the hold. When he moves to take her necklace, she begs him not to, as it is all she has left of her mother. He accepts a kiss in exchange for the necklace. “A fair trade, m’lady,” he tells her afterward, before disappearing. A year later, with a forged letter of marque, Annalisa is intent on hunting down the wretched James Sterling and reclaiming her father’s treasure from him. But now she’s in danger of him stealing something far more vulnerable this time: her heart.

 REVIEW

So I read this book right before I started the blog. And never reviewed it because I didn't want to. I loved this book I finished it easily in a couple of days. And the adventure of Annalisa Townsend against the evil pirates and the crew of James Sterling, makes me want to go and read the story again. The story is short and I loved the whole book. The characters were excellent and the writing okay. But all together everything intrigued me about this book. And I love the cover, at points it looks photoshoped together but I still like it, especially the deep purple background against the white shirt. But anyway its an amazing book so I suggest it to all of you.

Recommend Me (3)

Recommend Me is a weekly event in which participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that your read yesterday or years ago. This meme or feature is hosted by Kate at The Neverending Shelf.

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So today I figured I would show you one of my favorite book...
Major Crush by Jennifer Echols

MARCHING TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM...Tired of the beauty-pageant circuit, Virginia Sauter tosses her Tiara, pierces her nose, and auditions for the most unlikely of roles- drum major of the high school marching band. Virginia wins, but is forced to share the title with Drew, whose family has held the position for generations. Sure, Drew is hot, but because of his superior attitude, he and Virginia are constantly arguing. That is, until they share more than just their half-time salute...But as the drum major's heated competition turns to sizzling romance, explosive rumors threaten everything- including the band's success. Love seemed to be a sure hit, but Virginia and Drew may be marching straight into disaster.

Review...
Okay I might go off on a tangent here, since this is one of my top favorite books. Major Crush by Jennifer Echols was one of those books I read because I was scared of something that was going to happen in real life soon. I read it in 8th grade, a year before I was going to my big scary (well not so much anymore) high school, and being forced to join marching band since I wanted to continue concert band. That's my story, I'm going to stop there. But anyway reading Major Crush gave me a sane view of the marching band world, and led me to see it as a fun opportunity. As a going in as a scared freshman, Major Crush, made the marching band world seem like a pleasant place of love and romance (which it might not be in real life but I didn't care at the time). The main character Virginia is like my hero, she's smart, sexy, a drum major, and a drummer (something I wanted to be but my parents forced me onto clarinet). After reading this story I knew I could have fun in marching band no matter what happened. And Drew the other main character I can admit is a typical trombone player, he's the same way as the boys in my bands trombone section. Arrogant but nice at the same time. I love this story and you can tell that through my my semi rant, semi loving, semi life story review. I might just go read my favorite part tonight before I go to bed. :)


Oh one of my favorite quotes from the book:
"I turned to the clarinets. They were a resourceful lot."
(TOTALLY TRUE!)

First Rate Friday (3)

First Rate Friday comes from He Followed Me Home.

As a reminder some of these posts are as old as two weeks ago to an hour ago, it depends on when they were posted.

So this time I'm also going to talk about the posts if I want to, some I might do a post on later...

• Star @ Star Shadow Book Reviews, is starting a book blogging buddies program. I signed up and I hope you do to. Even though I might not be able to ship some books to my buddy I hope a can give him or her some tips, advice, talking about blogging issues, etc. So sign up maybe we'll be paired up!
• Melissa @ Spellbound Books is hosting a project called Once Upon a Time... It's a writing contest, you have to write a 500-1,000 word short story. The stories are due in 3 weeks to her. I'm still debating if I should enter, all my story Ideas are way more than 1,000 words.
• April @ Good Books and Wine wrote a post on Rocking the Library Book Sale, I found it really interesting, especially since I found a library book sale near me through the site she recommended. Maybe I'll go I'm still debating, since I already have enough TBR books. And the fact that I don't have many libraries near me makes this possibility more enticing.
• Jennifer @ Reading With Tequila has had a lot of interesting posts in the last week here's the links:
• Author's Personal Lives Attacked
• Please Make This Movie!
• Sex in YA
• Kristi @ The Story Siren posted on the difference of a Meme and a Feature a while ago, and since this meme is every two weeks it missed the last one. I'm definently going to change what my sidebar says now, because of it. I was always confused between the two and this let me see the light.
• Lori @ Pure Imagination has another post on New Blogger Tips, numero 2. There's somethings on there I never have done and hope you don't think I've done. The post is about gaining followers so I suggest you head over there and look at it.
• Amelia @ Imagination in Focus posted awhile ago on her reading rules. I'm thinking, about doing a post similar to it, maybe. Because I have some rules, that I do.

So check out those posts! And if you know of any good ones link'em below.

Character Connection

Character  Connection is a meme that I met to start last month but when the week came around I just didn't have time to post it. So here I go. This is some stuff about the meme from Jen @ The Introverted Reader, the starter of this meme.

We all have characters we love. Let's spotlight these fantastic creations! Whether you want to be friends with them or you have a full-blown crush on them, you know you love them and want everyone else to love them too! Most of you will probably post about how much you love each character, but this is a great place for the more creative ones among you to let go and have fun! Write a love letter toCaptain Wentworth. Write yourself into a scene with Anne and Diana. Draw a picture of yourself in Jamie's arms. The possibilities are endless. Be sure to post the book's title and author, and be very careful not to give away spoilers while talking about how much you love your characters.

Book Synopsis:

Grief-stricken by the loss of his parents, Titus Attwater is convinced his life will never improve. His older sister ignores his calls, his grades in school have plummeted, and his house, once a place of warmth and security, is now lonely, cold, and alien. But when a young man appears one night in Titus's house, claiming he came in upstairs through the full-length mirror, Titus's life gets turned upside-down. For, as Titus soon discovers, this intruder is not from Earth. Against his will, Titus is kidnapped and taken to another world, a place like Earth but markedly different. It is here where he will befriend angels, face assassins, and help a young prince unravel a prophecy that proves much darker and more twisted than any of them had imagined.

Okay so I love Titus and Atreus from Titus and Atreus their the main two characters in the book, and I adore both of them. I love Titus for his charisma and acceptance, when he's in a position like having no friends or family in Typhon. And then there's Atreus who just wants to take his girlfriend Myra in one end and run away and get silence from the angels in his head. While on the other had step into his fathers shoes of being King of Belaglesha. Both twin souls have their differences, and their likenesses, and well its hard at time to tell who is saying something. Titus and Atreus are both heros, and great young men, thats why I think they need some love.

So I figured I would find some twin actors to go with this post. So I tried finding the perfect twin male teen actors that were blonde for Titus and Atreus and guess what I could only find one set. Cole & Dylan Sprouse, yup the Disney channel stars of The Sweet Life of Zach & Cody. I've watch the show occasionally when I get bored and there is nothing on and I just want a laugh, their pretty good actors all together. But I haven't really seen them take on serious before and they would need that for the roles of Titus and Atreus. But who knows; they're also 17 which is almost the exact age Titus and Atreus are in the book. If I had to assign one to be Titus it would be Dylan, and Cole would be Atreus. Just because when acting in The Sweet Life of Zach & Cody Dylan seems more like Titus and Cole more like Atreus.

So what do you think?

Want a chance to read about Titus and Atreus check out my giveaway here.

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This weeks Waiting on Wednesday is...

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kawaga>

Synopsis:

(From netgalley.com)

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Why I want it:
 I adored The Iron King, so I'm looking forward to the second book in the Iron Fey Series. It's released August 1, 2010, and I can't wait!

SYM (#1)

So everyone I would like to introduce to you a new feature that me and my two best blogging buddies will be doing every once in awhile. It's called SYM or Speak  Your Mind! I'm joining in with Almas from Fantasy 4 Eva and Ky from Can't Find a Bookmark, in this wonderful event. SYM will included a review from each of us and then also a Q&A session that we do with each other. So check it out tell us what you think!

This weeks book review is...

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Synopsis:

Katsa lives in the seven kingdoms, where very occasionally, a person is born with an extreme skill called a Grace. Gracelings are feared and exploited in the seven kingdoms, and none more so than Katsa, who's expected to do the dirty work of torture and punishment for her uncle, King Randa. But then she meets a mysterious stranger named Po, who is also a Graced fighter and the first person ever to challenge her in a fight. The two form a bond, and each discovers truths they never imagined about themselves, each other, and a terrible danger that is spreading slowly through the seven kingdoms.

My Review:

I found this novel very very enjoyable. I loved the main characters Katsa and Po, and I felt like they were really well written about. The minute I started the novel it was like I was drawn into the world of Katsa. And ever time Katsa felt sad or was happy, I felt like I was feeling that also. Kristin Cashore with this makes this book so amazing and enjoyable that I could not put this down. And the prequel Fire is amazing too.

After being recommended by one of my friends, I was a little reluctant. I hadn't really read any fantasy like Graceling since I had read the Inheritance Cycle or The Cry of the Icemark Series, and I was reluctant to read this novel seeing as I had never been a large fantasy reader. However this novel has sparked my interest in this type of fantasy.

The characters of Katsa and Po are both amazingly crafted. I loved the way the Katsa wants to be an independent woman in a world that wants her married away. And Katsa is amazing in the way of her goals, she set goals then fulfills them, which reminds me of myself in away. Po is the other major main character, and I'm just saying he's to swoon for. No longer will I think of male characters the same in fantasy after reading about him. There is also several other characters, and Bitterblue, Po's cousin is one of them. She's younger (I forget the exact age), but she goes through some terrible things in Graceling, and isn't affected by it really that the reader can see. And I think that's why her name is the title for the next book, well there's stuff at the end of Graceling that leads to this title but I won't say why.

You just need to pick up Graceling by Kristin Cashore if you haven't already. It's an amazing book, and needs to not sit on everyones long TBR list.

Ky's Review:

Graceling is one of the most original stories in YA fiction out there.  In a world where people are hated and feared because of their gifts, you can't help but feel sympathetic for Katsa.  Able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight, Katsa has been constantly used and manipulated by her uncle.  On one of her uncle's errands, she stumbles across another graced fighter who soon changes Katsa's world. Katsa, always living with the knowledge that she is considered a weapon and not a human being, doesn't know  how to truly live her life.  Katsa is tough, stubborn, hard-headed, kick-ass, and honorable.  She always tries to do right by others, even at the expense of herself.  Katsa is a young woman I greatly admire.  If I could be any literary character she would be my number one choice.  Po is a wonderful compliment to Katsa as well.  I think I fell in love as soon as it was mentioned that he had silver and gold eyes.  I mean come on!  How could you not just fall head over heels into those metalic pools of glory?!  Okay, so I got a bit ahead of myself, but I guarantee you will fall madly in love.  

Aside from the very two dynamic and amazing main characters,Graceling takes you through some twists and turns in the plot as well.  Going into it I expected more of a straightforward story line.  Surprise, surprise for me when there was a huge plot twist.  Unexpected and truly horrific things occur and Katsa has to make an unimaginable choice.  The second part of the novel will have you clutching to the pages to find out what happens next.  Danger after danger followed by yet again more danger.  This book will never leave you bored or wanting for action, believe me it is filled with it!  

Aly's Review:

So since Andrea and Kyleigh have shared their thoughts, guess its my turn!!:)

Katsa is everything I love in a female character, strong, fast, witty with a temper that’s all over the place a bit arrogant, and mean when she has to be. Ok does that sound really bad? I guess I'm just sick of the typical shy girl who needs a big strong man to whisk her away, Katsa was far of from any of that and therefore a pleasant change. Oh but don’t be fooled, at some points the extent of her arrogance did annoy me, how she was ruthless yet felt no remorse, how killing seemed so normal to her and just like a task as simple as taking your dog out for a walk, but then again that could have been down to upbringing and her grace, what got to me was, fair enough you kill, you don’t want to kill right you don't have much of a choice huh?, so then why don’t you feel anything after you’ve killed that person, don’t you think that person had a brother, a sister, a mother? there seemed to be no regret involved and so I wasn’t at first sure what I would think of her, but as the story progressed so did Katsa , I watched her grow from a girl to a women.  I can relate to her also, through her denial, her strong front, I felt like I knew the real her before she showed us that side of her, and as each layer unraveled, it was a sweet moment to see the new Katsa to see how far she had come.

What I liked about her was her independence, she did what she felt was right even when she didn’t have much of choice, where so used to seeing this rough hard edged Katsa that when Po comes along and you eventually see her let herself ease and relax a little, its quite a lovely moment I think, she lets her guard down, and lets him become a friend, something which she hasn’t had much of throughout her life,

She hasn’t had a childhood, she has grown up to fast and all she has ever known is fighting, she’s fiercely competitive, but once again we see her in a new light once she sees Po, I think i knew something was going to be different as soon as Po was introduced, you could sense the energy surrounding them both, I cant say that its so obvious, that there would be something between the two, because Katsa isn’t the type of girl who would just fall for a cute guy, she’s not your typical heroine and so her actions and choices aren’t typical,. she’s the type of girl who would swap a sword for a man any day, but when she sees Po she finds something that is much different a companion someone who seems to understand her, I think that’s what’s most important to her, I think Bitterblue is the one to look out for personally, Po was there he had been accepted by Katsa but i feel that Bitterblue was the first real person Katsa loved and took in, that involves a lot of trust, something Katsa doesn’t give out very often so why make an exception In Bitterblue,

She has killed many in her years so what does Bitterblue have to offer in return that she is provided with a Killers love and protection?? I felt drawn to Bitterblue very quickly, I adored her character and thought she was adorable, all in all this is a fantastic book, if your looking for a change form your average boy meets girl book this will be one of the most refreshing reads you have held in a long time with an instant thrill, if you liked Catching Fire, you will love Graceling!:)

Q&A:

Aly: So Andrea personally for you what would you say was the highlight moment of the book?


Andrea: Personally I think the part were Katsa decides to go off with Po was the highlighting moment of the book. I found I wanted to read more, find out what they were doing, and of coarse find out if they were going to have a romance. Because I'm just a romance junky :P. But ya I would have to say when the book went into part two (The Twisted King) that was the highlighting part of the Graceling.

Ky: Okay Aly here's your question! If you could have any Grace, what would it be?

Aly: wow i think that's probably one of the greatest questions you could have asked me.. hmmmm if i was graced i would like the ability to be the greatest fighter, Tai chi, karate , all of it! i don't think hardly anyone knows this but i am a great Bruce Lee fan, and i think fighting styles like Tai Chi can be extremely spiritual, fighting i feel if its done in the right way can be a release, so yes to be the best fighter would be my dream Grace thanks for that one my dear :)

Andrea: Almas, who is your favorite character? And your favorite scene in the book? I know you well so I'm saying Po. But I'm not sure.


Aly: I would have to say Bitterblue actually, although Po is second, I found Bitterblue to be just really strong and wise beyond her years, she'd make a great Katsa for the future , I just felt connected to this young child who had faced so much yet still sought friendship now that takes courage, plus I adored her name :)  My favorite part is when Katsa finally realises she has feelings for Po, shes so closed of throughout the book and hard, and emotionless, and tends to have this arrogance about her that she refused to accept it for a long time, and when she did I wanted to shake her and say, thank you women seriously! But it nearly broke my heart when she left him behind I thought I'd never forgive her for that arghh depressing thoughts must stop! :)

Ky:  Andrea, what do you think about Katsa's decision to remain independent in her love life? I adore Po so it kind of blew that she didn't want to make their relationship more permanent. Though I still respect the fact that she wanted to remain true to herself and her desires. What do you think?


Andrea:  I think, personally, that more will be discovered about Po and Katsa's relationship in Bitterblue, the next book in the series. But I think that she sticks by her reasons because she believes in her self. She's also taking the fact she has the right to do what she wants with her body seriously. But Katsa has some unsolved ghosts, and I think that's what 's keeping her from Po. Po is her equal, one hundred percent and I love him for respecting Katsa the way he does, but he deserves love. And I think sooner or later Katsa will stay put and fall in love with Po, even though I think she already is.

Almas: Ky, what do you think is Katsa' worst quality and why?


Ky:That's a toughy. I would have to say that Katsa's worst quality is her empathy level. I agree with your earlier statements that she has no remorse for killing and she does it blindly. Just because she is graced with being able to kill someone with her bare hands, doesn't mean she HAS to. At one time in the novel she spares a guy punishment, why could she not done that at other times. I don't know. It just seems like "Okay so Katsa you can take out 10 men easily. How in the world could the King possibly punish you for disobeying?" As the novel progresses she does indeed get better and seems to grow a more prominent conscious. It still doesn't seem to really make up for her earlier lack of it however.


Andrea: Ky, as an artist (since you are one :) ), what do you think about the picture that Kristin Cashore paints in the readers mind? And of the awesome map in the front of the book?


Ky: I think Cashore paints a beautiful rendition of Katsa's world through not only words, but playing off of the readers imagination. It's only so much to give a map to help guide the reader. Cashore vividly describes not only the characters but the outside world as well. I think your imagination takes care of the rest. :D