Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge (Book Review)

Cruel Beauty

Author : Rosamund Hodge
Pub Date : January 28th 2014
Publishers : Balzer + Bray
Genre : Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Pages : 342

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Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.
Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been training to kill him.
With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchantes castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.
But Ignifexis not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.
As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Review

I really loved this book. It really blew me away. If you are familiar with me, you'll know that i love fairytales and also mythology, Cruel Beauty is like a mix of the two of them so it definitely give it a boost. 

This book is not like happy-fairytales. This book have a dark nature to it, if you get what i mean. I, sort of, like the dark nature. I don't know how to describe the dark nature or what makes it, but it's like just there, like you can already see the vibe.

The start of the book was very slow, honestly. I was aiming to read it at Japan, but because of the slow start, i'm forced to put it down for a little while and read another book. I mean, it is slow because we are just introduced to the world and the characters so it have to take a lot of time. But after the slow start, i was already sucked into the story, so it was really worth it.

The main character in this book is Nyx. I have to be honest here, Nyx can be a really frustrating and annoying character at times but i still love her. Her passion to defeat him and to never give up is very inspiring in some ways. But with her annoyance, she's not my favourite character. I'm sorry Nyx, i tried to like you, and i did but i liked some characters better.

My favourite character is probably Ignifex. I don't want to spoil you, but he did something that just made me smile a lot. His behaviour is sometimes cruel, but i like him for that. His grace and the way he talks to Nyx is just wonderful. He even have a sense of humor. Even though he is a demon, like the plot said, it's not what we think he is, he's like human. His feelings and his love is just- aw.

There's funny parts in this story, which i really enjoyed. With a dark nature, having a bit of comedy is like putting sugar in a candy. Sweeter. In some parts i chuckled, in some parts i laughed lightly, and in some parts i just really lose it and i just cracks up. Once, one of my siblings was beside me when i was laughing and stared me like "What's funny?"

Some parts are very, very terrifying. This book has one of my favourite quotes : "Demons are made of shadows. Don't stare at a shadow for too long or a demon might look back." I was shivering down my spine when i read it. And when the terrifying things happen, the shivering comes back and i was so scared. I'll never look at a shadow the same ever again because of this dazzling book. 

So Cruel Beauty is a retelling from Beauty and The Beast and i didn't really like that fairytale. I mean, i didn't hate that, but it's not like my favourites. The Disney film for this tale was okay, i guess. I didn't hate it but i didn't love either so that's the background why i didn't really liked Beauty and The Beast. So i have to consider picking it up or not.

But Cruel Beauty, though, make me liked Beauty and The Beast a little bit more. I don't know why, but because of this story, it really makes me liked it more. Usually when i hear "Beauty and The Beast" all i could is the disney movie so it's not that pleasant but now i can put Nyx and Ignifex, which i really love. And i don't exactly know how much is the same from the tale, from what i know, it's pretty good.

The cover for this book is amazing and really beautiful. I'm not the type of people who picks up books with the cover, but if i saw this one, i would be impressed because it's gorgeous. The mashup of the red rose and the non-ending stairs is really beautiful, i applaud the people who made it. And the inside of the inside of the dust jacket is really pretty too, with the shiny rose.

The sparkling moments for this book is definitely the ending. Not the, like, ending but almost at the ending. My heart was beating loudly and i'm sweating of what was going to happen and THE FEELS. I was going to give it a 90 but because of the ending, it got higher.

The world building was very... confusing at times. The world is a bit complicated, with its past and the curse and all. Sometimes when Nyx was explaining the world, i'm like "What?" and i have to reread it again to define it more. But if you get it, it's a beautiful world, trust me.

The character development here, in this book, is pretty good too. I don't want to spoil you, but the hot-headed, mysteriously Nyx we know changes at the end of the book. I'm pretty sure Ignifex changes her but i think what really changes her is her duty and the choices she has to make. And not just Nyx, but Ignifex too and some other characters.

It's really sad that it's a stand-alone. I really want to hear about their next journey and what happens after the ending of the book. I would really like for Rosamund Hodge to make a novella after the ending, i would really enjoy that or make a companion book sequel? I know she made, Gilded Ashes, But it's not about Nyx or Ignifex's past. and i heard she's making another book, Crimson Bound, but i believe it's not the sequel but i'm still pretty excited.

Overall i gave this book a FIVE out of FIVE stars. Shocker. And in my number scale, i gave this book a 95 points, very high points so it's really good. Maybe this book will be in my Top Favourites of The Year. I would really recommend this book to anyone who likes fairytales and sweet-but-dark romance. I can see myself rereading this book in the future.

Lauren Oliver (Author Interview)

Today, i have a very special guest. She is LAUREN OLIVER the author of the Delirium series, Panic, Liesl and Po, Before I Fall, The Spindlers, and- the upcoming adult novel- Rooms! I wanted to say thank you to Lauren Oliver, being the first author that i interviewed. She's here answering some questions that i've got on my mind. Oh, a short upate, i now have a Bloglovin account! Follow my blog with Bloglovin!

Delirium
Author : Lauren Oliver 
Series : Delirium #1
Pub Date : February 7th 2012
Publishers : HarperCollins
Genre : Dystopian, Romance
Pages : 441

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Ninety-five days, and then i'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while i'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, i worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all things : It kills you both when you have it and don't.

The Interview

1. All of we readers are loving your new book, Panic. But, alas, it's a stand-alone, it doesn't have a sequel. We would like to know if you are working on a new project or not? If so and if you don't mind, please tell us a little information about it!

I'm always working on new projects! Seriously, every day! My first adult novel, Rooms, comes out in the fall. It's about a family visiting their own home, and the ghosts that live in the walls. I also have a new standalone YA novel coming out in 2015!

2. Being a writer is surely hard. All that time looking on empty blank pages. When you're young, do you always wanted to be a writer or do you have other dreams as well?

I wanted to be a Ballerina! I always knew I wanted to do something creative, but writing has always been a way that I expressed myself. 

3. Looking at all your book's cover, all of them are very beautiful! But what cover do you like the most? What cover have a special place in your heart?

I really love my Middle Grade covers. I think the illustrations for Liesl & Po and The Spindlers are so beautiful. I also really love the cover for Rooms! 

4. With a lot of books in your hand, you probably have many inspirations from great authors, also a lot of favourites books, i believe! But if you have to pick one book that you can keep for the rest of your life, what would it be?

No way. That is a totally impossible choice! 

5. Inspirations comes from many place and sometimes it came from our old roots. What i'm talking about it, fairytales. What's your favourite fairytales and have you considered making a fairytale retelling?

I'm obsessed with fairytales! I've never done a literal re-telling, but Panic was actually inspired by a Grimms tale called The Boy Who Went Forth to Find the Shivers! 

6. There must be a favourite character, am i correct? Specifically, on the delirium series, who would you take to a coffee shop and just, you know, chit-chat and gossip and maybe get a relaxing message to end the night?

Hmm... I really loved the more ancillary characters in Delirium, like Grace or Raven. I don't think Grace would be very good for chit-chat though, so I'll say that I would love to hang out with Raven for a day.

7. With a book published, there's fan. And when there's fan, there's hate. How do you deal with critism and hate?

One of the most important things to learn as a writer is how to separate helpful critiques from criticism that's just mean and unwarranted. It's really just a skill that you learn as you go. 

8. On the behalf of the asians, i wanted to ask you badly : Do you have any plans to go touring around the big world and go to asian countries?

I was actually just in Malaysia! I hope to travel to as many places as I can!

9. I know this is probably the hardest question ever, but i'm going to ask it anyway. Out of all the books you have published, which one is your favourite? The book you enjoy most writing it, with giggling and maybe a little tears?

No way! Another impossible choice. Every book has it's own joys, just like they all have their own challenges. 

10. And last but not least, the question that really has bugging my mind off lately. What do you think of the Delirium pilot? Is there any request about future episodes? Because we really want to know!

I really don't know what future plans are for the title! Right now I'm just enjoying watching it along with everyone else. :)

Again, thank you to Lauren Oliver for being here on my blog, answering some questions. If you haven't picked up one of her books yet (Which i'm surprised if you haven't), be sure to check them out because it's so good.

Her Books

 

About the Author

Her Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Tumblr

Lauren Oliver comes from a family of writers and so has always (mistakenly) believed that spending hours in front of the computer everyday, mulling over the difference between "Chortling" and "Chuckling," is normal. She has always been an avid reader.
She attended at University if Chicago, where she continued to be as impractical as possible by majoring in philosophy and literature. After college, she attended MFA program at NYU and worked briefly as the world's worst editorial assistant, and inly marginally better assistant editor, at a major publishing house in New York. Her major career contributions during this time were flouting the corporate dress code at every possible turn and repeatedly breaking the printer. Before I Fall is her first published novel.
She is deeply grateful for the chance to continue writing, as she has never been particularly good at anything else.

The Land of Stories : The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer (Book Review)

The Enchantress Returns
Author : Chris Colfer
Series : The Land of Stories #2
Pub Date : August 6th 2013
Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre : Fantasy, Adventure
Pages : 517 

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After decades of hiding, the evil Enchantress who cursed Sleeping Beauty is back with vengeance.                                                                               Alex and Conner Bailey have not been back to the magical Land of Stories since their adventures in The Wishing Spell ended. But one night, they learn the famed Enchantress has kidnapped their mother! Against the will of their grandmother, the twins must find their own way into the Land of Stories to rescue their mother and save the fairy tale world from the greatest threat it's ever faced.

Review 

This book is really... surprising. I read The Wishing Spell first before i read this book, and somehow it's really different in some ways. This book is still, like, light read but with a little darkness, like the author put a little twist into the story. I mean, the things that made this book dark is just because we see the antagonist- the villains- more. We see their past and we meet them. So it's a little bit intimidating. 

This book is more action-packed then it's prequel, The Wishing Spell. It's still the same adventure novel-type, same as The Wishing Spell, it's still the search for some important things. But now, they have to stole from the baddies instead of the goddies. Baddies is bad guys while Goddies is good guys, if you don't know. 

So instead of willingly give the things up for the crew, in this book they have to fight to get it. I liked this book a lot better because of this aspect. They actually have to try and fight for what they want while in The Wishing Spell they have to only try. And the gang's bigger this time around, so we get more point-of-views, we can see others people reaction to this journey.

The bad guy- i'm sorry, i mean, bad girl or woman?- in this story is, like, very evil. Don't worry for you out there who are allergic to bad-guys-with-no-explanation-of-why-they-are-evil, we see her back story and we know why she is evil. Although, i can't relate to it. I can understand, but it's hard for me to relate to it.

I really love fairytales, if you guys don't know. I'm a big fan of them since i'm very, very young. Before i go to sleep, i always hear their stories, so it's a lot of fun to meet some familiar faces along the way. It's not just the main fairytales like Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, etc. but we see other minors. So when they are told i was like smiling and thinking "I know this one!"

The fairytales are really woven together perfectly. So it's a chain of stories, because of this, this happened and because of that happened, this happened. So it really is great. I love how authors wove fairytales together so it makes one story and it makes sense. I don't know about you, but i enjoy reading that. 

This book is really funny too. In The Wishing Spell, i didn't laugh like at all (Okay, maybe once?) but in The Enchantress Returns, i laughed a bunch of times. Some dialogues just makes me cracks up and some made me smile and grin, some made me chuckle. And the funny dialogues didn't only focuses on one character, it's on the whole gang. I don't really like books where only one character only cracks me up, it driven me to only like only one character.

As that well said, the characters here are very loveable. Their friendship and kindness are really great. It has it advantages and it has its disadvantages. Like some characters aren't very smart, they just do before they think but beside that i love the characters. But it has it reasons too, but i'm just saying to think it more deeply.

Some scenes are very predictable while some is not. If you look at the cover and look at this book's sequel, which is The Grimm Warning, you'll definitely got spoiled if you focus on it carefully. And not to mention because this book is a middle-grade. In The Wishing Spell, it's like there's problem but they can really solve through it in a jiffy. In here, they have problems much more complex but it's like they are having a chain of miracles. But i can't blame that on the books, because it is middle-grade.

Some parts made me sad and shocked, but not that much. I didn't cry on this book because i'm not a book cry-er but if you are, i don't think you'll cry. But... there's one scene, but it's not that sad if you already research the sequel. The shocked scenes are very limited too, not like gasps but like "Oh?" but it's still entertaining. 

There's some scenes that really made me shiver down to my spine and i really loved those parts! Like, i'm shivering right now, remembering it. At the prologue when Sleeping Beauty discovers that the Enchantress is back, i was like trembling. I'm really scared for the character at that point because when a character made you shiver, it's not a good sign. 

There's some romance aspects in it. I really loved it because it's all cute, but some were like very weird. And some was like "Their love can make the world stand in glory or burn it down to ashes" like that. There's many couple in this book, because of fairytales, of course, so it's many. 

The cover is really amazing. I love the colour purple and magenta in it. It really make the book stands out. I love the characters in it : Snow Queen, a random angry polar bear, The Harp, The Sea witch. Oh and look Alex and Conner pausing dramatically for the cover with a light shining, what a coincidence. And those eyes, my what big eyes you have, lady.

Overall i gave this a FOUR AND A HALF out of FIVE. I really liked this book. In my point scale, i give it about 84. It's a decent book and i definitely recommend this if you like fairytales and comfortable with middle grades genre. The world building and character devolopment here is pretty good too, i'm pretty excited to read the sequel. 

City Of Lost Souls (Book Review)

Hey!

City Of Lost Souls is the fifth book in a series which you may know, i mean if you don't know the series then that means you- if you don't know the series, seriously? It's very popular. It's in the top six fandoms of all times, you should've know!

Anyway, City Of Lost Souls is the fifth book on, none than other, The Mortal Instruments series! The Mortal Instruments that's been buzzing around been since like the beginning of the book, i believe. 

Why? It deserves the hype because this series just takes turns to the amazingness. The series deserves to be turned into a movie. 

Let's talk about the movie for a bit. Who likes it? Well, me, personally, i didn't hate it. I gave it a 4 out 5 stars because it's a good movie, it really is. But if we switched it, is it a good book-to-movie adaptation? I don't know how to feel about that. Maybe a 3 out of 5 stars if book-to-movie. But i still enjoyed the movie.

Lily Collins is amazing. I picture her as Clary and some other main characters. But Jamie Campbell Bower? Um... i didn't really like him as Jace. It doesn't mean he is bad at acting but in teh book, JAce is described very beautiful and like that but Jamie didn't catch the beautiful part. He's not ugly, but he's not pretty either. He is a bit skinny while in the book Jace is very muscular. But i'm okay with him. My friends is like saying he's not pretty lol.

I think City Of Lost Souls stands in second place under City Of Glass in my top Mortal Instruments book. I finished rereading it in two days. The first time i read it i finished it like four days? Maybe three or five but now i finished it in two days. I don't know is it because of finals is over or what but two days is really fast. 

At first, everyone loved this but i'm like this book is okay. I mean, i think i put this book like my least favourite book in the mortal instruments. It's because that, well, i don't want to spoil you so if you want to know why, read it first then came back and we can discuss it together without spoiling anything, okay?

As i was saying, at the first read i'm like okay with this book, but now i can absorb it with a new light. I realised this book is awesome, completely surrounds by awesomeness aura, if you get what i mean. I can purely understand it. Maybe i can't really absorb it at the first time because i know there's going to be a sixth book and i have to wait so i'm dreading it. So i was like just frantic of the thought that i have to wait a year.

But City Of Heavenly Fire is in my bookshelf now so i can actually don't have to rush, just like sucking it all in. I thought i'm going to finished this book in about a week because, you know, it's okay. I'm super surprised that i finished this is in two freaking days. TWO DAYS. It feels like yesterday i'm starting City Of Lost Souls... wait, it is yesterday. Well, that's awkward.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars, of course. It's a lot better than City Of Fallen Angels because there's more of action and romance and mystery and all that's exciting stuff you'll love. Overall i recommend this book, if you stopped at City Of Fallen Angels, i really encourage you to continue the series. Cassandra Clare did a good work at this book. 

Oh, and for those of you who are asking where's the City Of Fallen Angels review, i think i'm not going to make a review about it. I'm not sure but it's most likely i'm not going to made it. It's because that i have read the sequel. Why does it matters? Everything matters! I'll think about the sequel when i'm writing it or maybe accidently spoil it. 

So i decided that i'm going to just mix the reviews here, like just putting little notes. If City Of Fallen Angels is a stand-alone, i'll probably make the review like when i did with Eleanor & Park (i made a review of Eleanor & Park right here if you want to see). If i reviewed it, i would still be in that world. But, alas, i have taken a journey to City Of Lost Souls. It means that i'm not in the City Of Fallen Angels world again.

Let's talk about the cover. I didn't really liked this cover. But i think i hated City Of Bones' cover the worst. The cover was just- ugh. Parent doesn't really allow their children to read stuff like that. Judging from the cover, i could have been an adults book. I mean the model is a bit old, i'm surprised that they're teenagers because they're like an adult. And the way they hold each other is just adult-like. But i liked the dark blue background, it suits the book.

Now i'm going to go to the SPOILER SECTION. So if you haven't read the book, which i'm very shocked, you have to leave right now. Trust me, you do not want to get spoiled on this. So, i guess, bye people who haven't read City Of Lost Souls. You should probably start reading.

I want to talk about Camille first. Her character was... interesting in some sort of way. So she came in to the world like a wrecking ball, but she's not naked. Like boom she works for Lilith. She's one of the oldest vampire that is and i'm very surprised she doesn't fight that good. I thought like the more older you are the wiser you be, i mean, she is wise but she should've been strategic. 

Like when the clave captured her, she should've known that Simon would have reinforcement, i know you're deadly but you should at least brought back-ip or at least a plan, don't be to self-centered because you're old. And poor of her vampire bodyguards, archer and walker. She does have a heart and i'm a bit mad at the clave for killing them.

Okay, so we know that Maureen has killed Camille. I'm very shocked at this because i mean Maureen is very young, and Camille is very old so how can she do that? But then i remembered that Camille is not that of a fighter and she's not very strategic so i understand. But some people thought that Camille just faked her death so she can get the hell out. But i'm still thinking. 

If you read The Infernal Devices, you'll know that Camille is a bit of a mystery. And maybe she does fear Sebastian and after the war is over, she's going to start striking at The Dark Artifices. I would love to see Camille as the main antagonist. I think she's very perfect for the job. 

When Alec was fighting Camille, i seriously thought that Alec was going to get injured or something, and he did but it's like- an iratze could fix that. And when Alec wants to reject her offer, i thought she was going to fight a lot stronger now and like make Alec faints because it's almost end of the book. But it turns out that Maureen killed her with all of the giggly.

Let's talk about Maureen. Her role in this book is not as big as in City Of Fallen Angels, but she left us with mouth-open at the end of the book. She's a rogue vampire now and she has killed nick Nick and posibbly Camille. I'm scared of what she'll target next, maybe Simon, i don't know. Or maybe she'll attack Simon's friend? I'm so scared. Maybe Camille and Maureen could go and be partners and be the antagonist in the next series.

My least favourite characters are probably Jordan and Maia. I don't really like werewolves that much, i liked vampires better. But those two are just like all romance. Maia, baby, you can't just still love him after what you have been through. You dated a couple of mens and you still love him. I'm expecting dramas because i love dramas and what's more better than a couple fighting? I'm kinda suspect that one of them is going to die in City Of Heavenly Fire.

So Jordan is a praetor. And the leader is Praetor Scott, if i'm correct. And Scott is Scott Woosley right? So i'm freaking out when i saw him because he is in The Infernal Devices, i mean how could you live that long? But writing this i'm a little bit confused if i got the name right. I could be wrong but i'm pretty sure. I could always check the book but i'm too lazyy. Ain't nobody got time for that.

The thing that made me okay with this book at first is because the switching point-of-view. I didn't liked Jordan and Maia story when they're separated from the gang. Like when they're going to the praetor house like ughhhhh get back please. And when they finally changed i was liek thank god. 

I didn't really liked Clary point-of-view in this story. I'm okay at the start of the book, she's fine. But when she decided she wants to go to Jace and Sebastian, i was like bored. Because 60% of the time it's about Clary and Jace's romance. And i don't like that. The 40% is better. I liked Simon point-of-view better, it's mostly because i ship him with Izzy.

Let's talk about Sizzy for a moment. I ship them so much, i wished they could be together already but nope, nobody want to confess their feelings. Isabelle, you like him, you slept with him, you can at least tell Simon that you liked him. When they're talking i was like so focus on them because i love them together, they are wonderful. I hope they'll be a couple.

When Simon is in the bed with Isabelle, that part when he is hungry, i was like oh goodness. Izzy actually let him bite her and then she kinda likes it. Even in that part i was awwww to them. And when they let someone bit him/her willingly, it means that him/her likes you, right? I mean, Jace doesn't love Simon but- you get what i meant. 

And when they said goodbye to each other at the lake, i was screaming. I love them so much,

My favourite character is definitely Isabelle Lightwood, if you still can't tell. I'm sorry, Clary, i really, really loved you in City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass, but Isabelle won me over on these two books. Isabelle is just so strong and a little funny and loveable and sweet- okay, maybe not sweet. When there's her on the story i was like yes, yes, YES!

Do you think she'll be an Iron Sister? Because i don't want her to be that. Iron Sisters is more worse than Silent Brothers. Everyday they just like make shadowhunter weapons and aren't you get bored? And boys really should have be the Ironers because boys are stronger. And the Silenters will be the girls because girls are silent and a bit creepy. The idea of Iron Sisters and Silent Brothers really fascinates me. If i'm correct, Jonathan Shadowhunter's brother and sister became those two?

Poor Magdalena. She already trusted Sebastian and he betray her. That is wrong, my friend. I'm surprised that an Iron Sisters can make the mortal cup, i mean, if they ran away and if they found adamas, tehy could be very powerful. And because of her, Jace becomes teh real jace for awhile but damn Clary shouted for Sebastian. How could you do that Clary, sometimes i want to strangle you. You can't just do that because you loved Jace. Doing that can make him and everyone that you care dead. I mean, whyyyyyyyy. 

Sebastian is just so- i'm very mad at him. He lied to Clary and he sided with that faerie queen and he was so evil like Valentine! And his fighting skills is not that very good when he is facing Clary, Clary was like karate-chopping him and he was like kill me kill Jace. And Sebastian is more evil than Valentine, he is half greater demon. And where do you think he got the wings at the end of the book?

Jocelyn and Luke's romance was okay, the same as Alec and Magnus'. While Jocelyn and Luke's romance is blossoming, it goes backward for Malec. And poor Luke, i think he'll die in City Of Heavenly Fire. And either Magnus or Alec will die in the last book, i think. 

Let's talk about the fighting, it was very epic. Amatis become evil and almost killed Magnus. I just hoped she turns to normal. Lilith came at the ceremony to take her blood, it's like she's the new Raziel or something. But i liked Lilith, i'm very interested in her. So Sebastian ran off. And Jace got the heavenly fire so he can burn anyone. When Clary stabbed Jace i was like whoa. I thought, at least, one of the gang are going to be killed in the fight but whew at least not. Good for them Aline and Helen to come join the fight. And who is this Jeremy?

And that's all for today, sorry if i'm very rushed at the ending. I just didn't want to make this post too long. I want City of Heavenly Fire review to be long. That's why you'll notice some things that i don't mention and some things that i don't go very detail. City of Heavenly Fire is huge and i want teh post to be huge to, yes?

THANKS FOR READING! :)

ALBERT~

Maleficent (Movie Review)

Hello!

Today, i'm going to talk about- not books- BUT MOVIE! As you can see from the title. First of all, i never even thought about making a movie review because, i don't know why, but i just can't you know. But this movie, i just have to share my thoughts. I may love it, i may hate it.

Where do i start. This review has spoilers in it but don't be afraid. I'll tell you when i'm going to said spoilers. IF you are already familiar with my blog, you know how i do this. But if you have not, then basically i'm going to say like : (SPOILERS!) and then i'm going to end it like this : (SPOILERS END!) So watch out for these signs.

So i'm going to start about why i made this movie review. I've been buying fairytale-retellings lately. I'm just kind of in a mood for a fairytale. I mean, i love fairytales you guys. It's like my childhood, i'm always fascinated by these tales. It's full of randomness but kids that young needs a little bit fantasy in their lives.

So i research a couple of stuff and found those retellings books. And i got three in a bookstore, the others are not sold so bummer for that but at least i still have those three. The trio are Entwined, Cruel Beauty, and Cold Spell. Entwined by Heather Dixon is a retelling of the twelve dancing princess, which is very interesting because i haven't seen a book that's retold from that story, so i was hooked. The next is Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge, a fairly new author, it's the retelling of Beauty and the Beast. And the last but not least, Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce, it's the retelling of the Snow Queen.

Now i'm going to talk about why i bought that three books. So if you are bored and want to skip to the actually movie review just go find this title : LE MOVIE REVIEW. And then just read.

So Entwined is the book that started it all. At first, i didn't know that it was a retelling. But then some Youtuber reviewed it and my instant thought was i have to get this book. As i said before, i haven't seen a retelling of the twelve dancing princess and i really liked that story so i just give it a try. I already finished it a couple days ago. I haven't made one but it's probably soonish.

Then i came across Cruel Beauty with it's amazing cover. I mean, really, the cover is very beautiful and when i knew it was a retelling, i just thought hey why not? I didn't liked the Beauty and the Beast that much, the disney movie was great but it didn't glued me. So i hesitated at first but then i found out that it has greek mythologies in it and i love greek mythologies. I used to make fanfictions about it. I believe that the mythology in it is some but the most standout is Eros and Psyche. I haven't read it yet because City Of Heavenly Fire. I'm rereading the last two books. So it may take awhile. 

Then the last is Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce. You probably know this author because she have made three fairytale retellings and it's pretty popular. She has made Sisters Red (Retelling of Red Riding Hood), Sweetly (Retelling of Hansel and Gretel), Fathomless (Retelling of Little Mermaid), and Cold Spell retelling of Snow Queen. I picked this book up because of the cover, it's very beautiful and because of Snow Queen. I didn't really know this story because, if i'm not wrong, Brothers Grimm didn't made this. I knew this because of- you got it- Frozen. The story is pretty cool so i might as well picked it up.

And there goes the story. I made this review because it's from a fairytale and i'm reading retellings so i just made this one because it is too.

LE MOVIE REVIEW

So this movie really surprises me. 

It's like a twist for the actual story and the animation movie. It's not the same like those two, it have some aspects in it that's the same but the story is different and i really liked it, maybe even love it.

So the story focuses on the villain on the animation movie, which is Maleficent. In the animation film we knew that she's evil and mean and all that other evil stuff without a clear past, like why is she evil? Why did she do this? We never knew why, we just knew that she is evil from birth, like all of fairytales antagonist. 

But in the movie, we know why she did that. The movie unravel the past and we have a clear view of why. I hated it when a story just like, he/she is evil so deal with it. Like there's no reason.

Fairytales usually do this. Some antagonist is just bad and we just follow the main character on how to deal with it. Like for instance, Maleficent in the animation movie, we know that she is evil because she is a dark witch and dark witch are evil so that means she's evil from birth. Or maybe the antagonist for Cinderella. The evil stepmother is just evil because, what? We don't know. Maybe it's only her kind.

(SPOILERS!) So we learned from this movie that Maleficent is evil because of her ex-lover, Stefan, which is the king right now on this story. This story really blew me away because in the animation film, there's good ol' king stefan and bad ol' Maleficent. But now, they're lovers. They meet as a child and grew together until they became lovers. The king and the witch. And at the ned, we know that the animation movie is wrong. Turns out that Maleficent is the good ol' and Stefan is the bad ol'. (SPOILERS END!) 

I really liked that the producers made Maleficent a fairy. The best fairy in the land. In the animation movie and also on the original story, she is a witch. It suits of course because if she's a witch in this movie, it wouldn't make sense in some parts. And i really liked that the they brings up the fairy weakness thing to- what is it? silver? No, it's werewolves. Iron maybe? Or steel? I forgot- because there's no many that just make the weakness rose.

Angelina Jolie really brings out Maleficent. I think if i have to pick one thing that really makes the movie alive and amazing is no other than Angelina Jolie. HER ACTING WAS SO GOOD. She portrays Maleficent's sadness, anger, happiness very, very well. She shined in this movie, i can't pick anyone else to play that role. And not to mention she looks stunning in those Maleficent costume and the majestic wings. She looks evil but sometimes she looks soft and that is good.

Maleficent is very funny in the movie. At some parts i really want to laugh out loud. Sometimes she's very evil and made my heart thumping wildly. I didn't know that an evil fairy can play tricks and be funny. Who knew?

When Maleficent is weak or in pain, Angelina Jolie delivers it very beautifully and perfectly. Her emotion is so good, it's like she is maleficent. Like when she touched iron, i can see it in her eyes that she felt pain and fear... maybe. And when she played tricks and stuff, like magic, it feels like she really controls it. Good job film editors. I really loved fantasy and this movie is spot on. 

Elle Fawning as Aurora is okay, i guess. It doesn't mean she's terrible but i think it's because of the story. I mean, almost half of Aurora do is just smiling and just being happy. Maybe it's because of one of the wish that the pixies made that made her happy all the time. Like girl you can't be happy when you see Angelina Jolie as Maleficent. You have to sucked in a breath and then paled and admire her. But Elle Fawning is pretty, i like her overall.

What i most like about Aurora is when she is a baby. She is so cute. I don't want to spoil you guys but something happened and the baby reacts very cute and you can't help but you just want to hug her and say awwwwwww. Update : There's this cat in my house and it's very cute. And when she's a toddler, she's cute too but not as cute as the baby. It feels like the more she's growing up, the more she became not cute but beautiful i think?

Aurora has that happy-go-lucky in her. I didn't really liked it, i mean, you thought your parents were dead and you lived in a village and there's something evil spying on you and you was like ok and started singing Happy by Pharell Williams. But when she's sad, i love her. She's strong when it comes to tears and agony.

That crow dude is good. He is very loyal to Maleficent and i liked loyal people. Funny story, i thought that the crow is prince Phillip, if you don't know who prince Phillip is, he is the love interest of Aurora. Because the crow spend so much time with Aurora in the childhood, i thought like he is going to be the prince and he will kiss her oh god. But that didn't happen.

The real prince Phillip was not that great. His role only comes short and it's like an insta-love. Love at first sight, typical fairytales. As i was saying, his role is very small in this movie, not like in the animation movie and i just wished we could go more in-depth and see how's their relationship goes. Like they just met and some time later he wants to kiss her so badly. 

(SPOILERS!) I hated Stefan in this movie, i mean how could you do that? Turning on your girlfriends like that. He just fell in love with her and then because of his dreams he doesn't like her anymore. And when he came to visit, he cut her wings. That is not how you treat a lady, young king. And after cutting it, you just find a new wife? How could you, you are so evil.  I'm kinda glad he's dead now. Fall from the towahhh. I almost thought that Maleficent is going to save him and then he betrayed her but yay he is dead. (SPOILERS END!)

I didn't really liked the pixies trio. Their pixie form is just like nonsense and too childish. Even in the animation they are human size. Seriously, they're too kiddy, the pixies. And they didn't kick butts like Maleficent did. And sometimes they want to be funny and it just comes as epic fail. I really liked the pixies though in the first movie. But maybe they are small because they are pixies, not faeries like in the animation movie. But why change it? Maybe to increase the Fair Folk?

The part that really stand out was the ending and the beginning. My heart was like going crazy and those scenes and i was screaming in my mind. I actually cared for Maleficent here, maybe because of her past story and because of Angelina Jolie. But the scene that really struck the whole film is the ending. It's really good.

I give it a 8 out of 10 points or 4 out of 5 stars because it's good, but it could've been done better. Angelina Jolie was amazing but the world is rather slow. I liked Angelina Jolie, the interesting story concept, little children, Elle Fawning, the vengeance, and the fantasy. I disliked some characters and the childish stuff. But i really recommend this you guys, watch it because it's fantastical. You'll definitely see this movie in my top 10 or possibly top 5 movies in 2014.

And that is all for today. I'll be doing a daily post hopefully so stay tuned. It's for the making up for the finals thing. And i think i'm going to see you tomorrow.

THANKS FOR READING! :)

ALBERT~

The Next Grade

Heyya, 

Today, i want to talk about something you all can relate to. I mean, it's pretty obvious because i use it as the title of today's post but i'm going to say it anyway. THE NEXT GRADE. If you home-schooled or something then you are lucky. I know home-school is boring and we can't get friends but sometimes it has it's advantage. First, drama.

School has many, many dramas. I liked dramas in school, actually. It's just like intimidating and also at the same time interesting. You don't get much drama in school, let me told you. Probably in some schools like there's daily but in my school, it's very rare, you know. 

But sometimes, the drama is you. Do you get what i'm saying? I mean, you're the one who's facing the drama with one of your classmates or teacher. I don't like that. I went through sometimes, of course. A day filled with dishonesty and social awkwardness and i disliked that very, very much. 

Then why do you enjoy other's pain, you ask? No one's perfect you guys. Nobody's perfect. So something has to rock it. Something has to shook the school. Like once, some random boy just came in to my classroom. He ran to another boy and some of his friends hold him back. And he started cursing and saying stuff. But me and my friends was like staring wide-eyed. My brain was just like what happened what happened. And it feels good... i think.

It's interesting. To see a competition, i mean, i want to see something different in school. Which brings me to the topic of the next grade. It's a new life. The old life will be left behind. So we want it to be good, right? We don't want it to be bad or worse. We want it to be as perfect as you dreamed, like it all fist perfectly like a puzzle. 

But teachers don't get it sometimes. I don't know if the teachers have dramas between teachers like the math teacher hates the science teacher and the sport teacher hates the art teacher. But after some research that i made, i got the conclusion that the teacher's relationship is fine. Everything is fine. If there's drama behind the teacher, i'm pretty sure it will be epic.

But come on teachers, you have faced teenagers years before. You can't be just like "Oh! let's do this for the kids! I think they'll enjoy it!" You can't just do that. We have feelings and if you claim that you are somehow close to us then you should know that we have our comfort zones.

Like for instance the pairing system. In a class, there's eleven boys and fifteen girls. And the teacher said that we have to pick pairs for a BIG project. I mean, one boy and one girl have to face this with not their friends right? Except if the boy and the girl are friends then that's okay. But most of the time they won't cooperate. And it drives me nuts. I have been through this before and like heck.

Teachers just has to count how many boys there is and how many girls there is, just simple as that. The good thing is that sometimes, some teacher allow them to join other teams. But at other time they'll be like i don't care shut up go away go make friends. I want to strangle them sometimes. Teachers are cold-hearted sometimes. 

If you thought that the pairing system is a okay then this one is the worse. Cla-ss-es. I hate this so much. These kind of teachers are like the one i hated most. Tell me now, who chooses the class' students WHO. Teachers just like choose randomly for the next grade like that's not a problem. But it is a problem, you see? 

Some students are miserable because of this like for instance, me! I clearly remembered when i was looking through my new classmates. I stared at it, my eyes filled with horror. I have no friends on that class like seriously teachers why do you do this to me why. I mean, there's one but only one. I was hoping like i, at least, got two of my friends from the twelve friends i'm hoping that i'll be class with. But only one and i'm not that close either. 

WHY WHY WHY.

Some of my friends got lucky. It doesn't mean i envied them. Friends are forever, keep that always in mind. Try to stay with them, okay? Because no matter what, in the darkness of the school, friends are the guidance so it's very important. If you're in trouble then you can count on them like one, two, three. And if i need you, you'll be there in four, three, two, it's amazing.

But when there's friends, there's rivals. When i said rivals i mean a person that we hate. There's not much person that i hate, maybe only one. But there's some person that i disliked myself and i don't want to be with them. And i keep hopin' and hopin' but we never know of course.

Teachers know who is comfortable with who. But they just like let's split them! Like what are you thinking?? They want us to make friends and just get along with other people but it's hard. IT'S CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE. The choosing ceremony of the friends are chosen at the start of elementary or the start of middle school or the start of high school. So it's very hard to make something new.

Like it's the divergent's factions in our world. SCHOOL IS THE DYSTOPIA. If we chose, maybe, Abnegation for our factions, we have to stay in that territory. Same rule goes here, if we join into a friend-faction, we have to stay in there. Or like ducks when it's time for hibernation-

Okay, now this is just full of nonsense. 

If we are comfortable in those class, it will make us good grades. And if we are not comfortable, it will makes us sad and alone and that brings low grade. So for you teachers, Don't you ever, ever ask me "Why is your score so bad?" If you put me in a class that i don't like. Got it?

Seriously, if you want the students to have good grades then put friends together! It's easy just like press, you got it. I remembered that some teacher once said "Do you know that it's said for us if you get low grades?" Well then now you can at least feel the pain of loneliness.

I know that some teachers doesn't control this type of things and i don't blame you for that. But if you have this idea on you mind then please say it to the other teachers. Like one decision of a class can change the life of one student, they can stand with glory or just fall with gore. One choice can transform them, one choice can destroy them. 

And that is all for now! I'm sorry if this post is very short, i was just scrolling up and i just realised like this post is pretty small. But i just finished finals today- YES, i just finished it today, like just four hours ago i finished the final subject of the finals- so i have to be in the mood of blogging to make a long post, I have to sit and make myself comfortable. I think i'll have another blog up soon, because there's something i want to discuss. And for The Cuckoos' Calling and Entwined review, i might have to think that one through first.

THANKS FOR READING! :)

ALBERT~