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Silvern (Gilded #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Despite the fact it was a really bad idea to request a book for review back in late August/early September, I still did... for some books. (I promise I wasn't being bad – I only requested two!) Really, the worst thing that could have happened was for the book to be completely and utterly disappointing. Resulting in me marching up to Kahlan and demanding she not waste her time. Plus, I may save it with Twilight for throwing purposes later.

In this sequel to Gilded, Christina Farley brings us back to the mythological world of Korea, where Jae Hwa is on a mission to look for the White Tiger orb before the god of darkness does. After everything that happens in Gilded and the oncoming events of Silvern, Silvern also seems to reveal the ultimate question of the entire series: does Jae Hwa belong in the spirit world, or mortal world?

<i><b>Sometimes winning is everything.</b></i>
I personally think Jae Hwa as a character pressures herself too much. While having high expectations of oneself is a great thing, Jae Hwa seems to be all about wanting answers ASAP and being at the top. (Jae Hwa is strikingly similar to one of my classmates, personality wise. Should I ever meet Jae Hwa, we won't be friends for very long.) I also think Jae Hwa seems to be extremely self conscious of what Marc thinks of her. With the way Marc is jealous of Jae Hwa spending time with Kang-Dae, I see nothing too good in the future of their relationship should another hot guy comes around. (Ugh, is this the way boys are these days? If that's the case, I'm going to remain a single pringle, thank you very much.)

Silvern seems to have a similar plot at the beginning when compared to Gilded: an orb is stolen by a "bad" immortal and said immortal is building an empire with the orb. While no actual orb is retrieved from the immortal (there is one retrieved, but that's beside the point) and placed back in the Heavenly Chest this time, Farley seems to be giving a few hints at what may happen in the third book. (So not giving any hints away.)

Silvern certainly wasn't a disappointment and a waste of time. BUT... I still want to see those archery skills. Jae Hwa does use it more here than in Gilded, but practice rounds don't count (okay, she uses it once or twice that wasn't practice, but still.).
-------------------
Advanced review copy provided by Skyscape for review
Original Review posted at <a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2014/10/arc-review-silvern-by-christina-farley.html">Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
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40x40

Ali A (78 KP) rated Promise Boys in Books

Feb 14, 2023  
Promise Boys
Promise Boys
Nick Brooks | 2023 | Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Trigger Warnings: Murder, blood

After their school principal is shot and killed at Promise Prep School for Boys, J.B, Ramón, and Trey are labeled as the prime suspects. All three of them had had some kind of disagreement with their principal before he was killed and they all may have had the opportunity to have access to the murder weapon. With all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down who really did it before one of them is falsely accused.

This book is told through multiple POVs, with each chapter giving you who the main focus is. A few of them are people you only hear from once, but they do give you important pieces of information. Because of the changing of the POVs, it does make the story go by quickly.

I usually have a hard time with teen male voices and them coming across as whiny to me. But this one, had not one, not two, but three separate teen male voices and I was intrigued by everyone. They were all authentic to me and each one captured my attention and got me turning pages. Which tells you something, because I did end up reading this book in one day.

There were a lot of twists and turns and I was still questioning whether or not each boy was truly innocent until we got towards the end and all was revealed. Nick Brooks did an amazing job at showing just how differently black and brown boys are treated when it comes down to being guilty or not. One of the boys gets in trouble a lot because his cousin is the leader of a gang around the neighborhood and a lot of people just assume he’s a part of them. Another boy jokes around a lot, and in a school where they’re not allowed to even smile in the hallways, he’s constantly getting in trouble.

Overall, this book is perfect for those who like thriller mysteries and who are fans of Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Holly Jackson. I can see this book getting more and more popular with the more people who read it. I can also see this making it to the big screen as well. Brooks wrote a wonderful, enhancing novel.

*Thank you Bookish First and Henry Holt and Co. for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
  
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
2014 | Action, Sci-Fi
Life for Peter Parker, (Andrew Garfield), has become interesting to say the least. He is juggling the delicate and complex balance of being Spider-man as well as a high school senior and boyfriend to Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone).

His enthusiasm for his wall crawling alter ego is evident from the start as he still is as fast with a quip as he is with his webs and fists when taking down the bad guys of New York.

 

A chance encounter with an ultra nerdy yet brilliant Oscorp employee named Max (Jaime Foxx), puts a series of events into motion that will put the city and Spider-man on a collision with a severe danger.

When a freak accident transforms Max into a being capable of becoming and discharging pure electricity, the passive aggressive Max has an outlet for his pent up anger and hero worship and sets to make all those who ignored him pay.

At the same time, internal politics have left Oscorp in the hands of young Harry who learns he has limited time to solidify his position and legacy.

 

All of this would be enough for anyone to deal with but Peter is conflicted by his love for Gwen and his promise to her late father to stay away from her for her own safety.

Peter also has to content with his Aunt May (Sally Field) and unlocking the mystery of his parents who left him with his Aunt and Uncle years earlier never to return.

If this sounds a bit heady for a comic book based movie then you will not be surprised with the first ¾ of the film. It does contain some great 3D moments of Spider-man slinging his way around the city and some good moments of action but mostly the audience gets character introductions and plot expositions.

 

When it does get to the action, it does so in a very sleek and stylish way but one that is so obviously CGI created that it plays more like a video game.

For me the liberties taking with the characters and the history of the series were a bit much at first as what they came up with for Electro is not even close to the way he is portrayed in the comics.

Thankfully the final act of the film delivers and sets up future films in grand style even though the trailers tease content that is barely in the film and would have made for a great addition to the film.

Garfield and Stone have great chemistry with one another, and Foxx does his best despite in my opinion being very miscast for the role.

 

Director Marc Webb is clearly a fan of the source material and I am eager to see what he comes up with for future installments.

As it stands, “The Amazing Spider-man 2”, is an enjoyable summer film but not as good as the film that preceded it and could have been so much more.

http://sknr.net/2014/05/02/amazing-spider-man-2/