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The Philosopher's Flight
The Philosopher's Flight
Tom Miller | 2018
10
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
For anyone who has been suffering withdrawal from the end of a certain magical boy wizard series, The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller is the perfect antidote! It's clever, and sharp, but also a quick read based on alternative history where special "powers" can do different things, and one boys journey to"fit in" this world where girls rule! The opposite sexism is interesting (women typically have the most refined powers and go to war, do the dangerous stuff, etc.) and Robert wants to do everything the women do - and we see if he attains that goal, while facing some pretty crazy "roadblocks" along the way.

I love stories that take me away to another place - get me out of reality and imagine what life would be like if things were "different". And this book does just that. It's very clever how it's pretty historically accurate, just with this twist of Sigilry, these signs and symbols drawn to move energy and ultimately produce some sort of effect (hovering/flying, restoring health, moving an object, sending messages). There are great stories of friendship, interesting characters, and stories of love as well. All wrapped up in a creative story of action, adventure and social-awareness.

There are a few "racy" scenes...so I'd recommend a more mature audience, but its fantastic all-around in general. I'm excited to see if the Philosopher Flies Again! Thanks NetGalley!
  
Very Best Of by The Human League
Very Best Of by The Human League
2005 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I was into so much stuff around this time. It was 1981 and I was 12, turning 13 at the end of the year. I loved Duran Duran and Associates, 2 Tone stuff, ABC, The Jam... it didn't really matter then. You didn't have to be part of any tribe. We had them, but we never called them mods or rockers or whatever. We had the Sweats - they were the heavy guys who used to sit in a circle and smoke dope on the school field. They liked Motörhead and they all stank of patchouli oil. But they were all very friendly. Then there the Smoothies - they were more like mods really. Very tidy and neat, with these wedge haircuts. But I could never really do that. I could be one thing one day, and something else the next. I liked 'Ace Of Spades' at the same time as liking 'Planet Earth'. It was all the same thing. I remember being in class and we were all talking about 'Love Action', and singing the middle bit - "I believe, I believe what the old man says...", which I thought was profoundly wise at the time. It's still pretty good. I like the line, "I believe in truth/ Though I lie a lot." The noises in the intro really intrigued me. And for a while I did put the air guitar down and get my mum's ironing board out and play the synths on that. The music's quite cold - it's quite a cold groove for a love song. And it is a love song. His voice is kind of warm, but he's got such authority - you believe everything he's singing. At the end of that year, when Dare came out, everybody had it. It was great."

Source
  
The Sun is Also a Star
The Sun is Also a Star
Nicola Yoon | 2016 | Children
10
8.5 (16 Ratings)
Book Rating
SPOILER FREE!

Young love...Who would have thought that I would actually fall in love with this story? I'm not really into romance stories it would have to really get me and I thought this story was pretty cute from the beginning to the very end. 

This book has been in my TBR jar and I selected the title surprised to find out that the movie comes out next month so It was meant to be. I knew it was going to be a romance story and I had my fingers crossed it was going to be worth the read and sure enough it was. It's different, unique, and beautiful...a love story I have not read before so it has originality for me to keep reading.

Our story starts out in New York City. We get to meet Natasha, a young girl who is originally born in Jamaica along with her younger brother and parents. Natasha and her family are being deported back to Jamaica, Natasha is doing everything she can for her and her family to be able to stay in America. Natasha is all about facts and what's in front of her type of person.

We also get to meet Daniel, who is a Korean - American whose family is from South Korea. Daniels family have high expectations for him to be a doctor and has a very important interview to get into Yale. Daniel is all about fate and destiny and true love.

I definitely feel like the love tension between the two went really fast but in a really good way. We have two completely different people and one who truly believes in fate and tries to show the other to follow your heart and what it says. 

You know its a good book when you really can't put the book down and you want to know what's going to happen and I mean I had to know what the fate was between these two young couples and where they were going to end up. So many questions running thru my head... Are they going to end up being together? Are they getting married on the same day they meet? Do Natasha and her family have to go back to Jamaica? The ending gave me goosebumps! I love endings of stories, it's everything for me and it ended perfectly for me.

Get your popcorn and candies! The movie comes out next month and I'm very stoked to have a "Me-Time" to watch this! 
  
Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle, #3)
Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle, #3)
Maggie Stiefvater | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.3 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
This series keeps getting better as is goes on (something I think every series should do, in my opinion). It's not just about the characters getting to the destination of the entire plot, but more about their own relationships with one another on the journey itself.

One of my favorite things about this series is the writing style. It is dreamlike in a way that everything is able to be fantastical but sill grounded in the truth of what the story is about. It does not get convoluted in its dream state, which is really nice. I love how, even though many of the characters narrate the story, we are able to tell which one is speaking at any given time through their diction and the tone of what they are saying instead of just focusing on who is there in the scene. I think this is very well done and I appreciate it a lot. I know it is not easy to do.

I love these characters so much. Ronan and Gansey will always be my favorites no matter what. I just want everyone to be happy in the next book, for them to find Glendower and get their wishes and live happily ever after, forever and ever, the end. I am a huge fan of the Gansey/Blue and Ronan/Adam relationships. I think they are adorable together and it needs to happen. I love how each character is not only growing as an individual and finding out new things about themselves, but also how they are growing as a group of people and learning more about their friends as well. It's just all so lovely!!

The new characters were very interesting as well. Some, we didn't get to know for long, but they were super cool and I hope some of them return in the next book!!

****ATTENTION MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD****

I am so excited for the characters to find Glendower, you have no idea.

One thing I cannot wait for is to find out more about the three sleepers. That whole idea is really intriguing to me and I just want to know more about the other two, since one is obviously going to be Glendower. I have so many questions!!!

Also, Persephone, I will always miss you, you strange creature.

MAKE WAY FOR THE RAVEN KING!!!!

I am most likely going to start reading The Raven King today. (2 July 2016)
  
Betrayed (House of Night, #2)
Betrayed (House of Night, #2)
P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast | 2007 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
4
8.0 (27 Ratings)
Book Rating
Maybe once upon a time I wouldn't be as picky about this book, but this was a disappointment compared to the first. The little things that bothered me in the first book magnified and expanded in this one. The 'Aww, shucks. Little ol' me?' routine and attitude of Zoey is wearing, to say the least. C'mon, give her some flaws or something, nobody is perfect and the false modesty is cloying.

Now the bane of the book (and series thus far)... the 'Twins.' Ugh, need I go on? The authors repeatedly bash the reader over the head with how alike they are but how different they look and how they grew up. Almost every sentence they utter contains the word twin. Such as, 'Twin, I get what you're saying.' 'Twin' this, 'twin' that! WTF? No one speaks like that. Which brings up a whole different issue with the unrealistic dialogue, but I won't get into that. I think the 'Twins' are supposed to add comedic value, but they don't, they're just annoying and I wish they'd die in the vampire transition (horrible of me I know). They're one-dimensional, don't have any depth, and are pointless to the story except for being part of the elements, which they can be replaced I'm sure. We get that they're twins, but not, we get it! We don't have to be hit over the head time and again!!

Now for the basic plot. Not as interesting as the last, but okay. Hated what happened nearer the end and I don't really get why it was done. I could have offered two other alternatives. ;P The three love interests? Overkill to the nth degree. Are we supposed to like Zoey, or hate her? I think it'll be a while until I pick up the next book, if I even do that, but I do wonder what'll happen to you-know-who. (Don't want to give anything away for those who want to read it.)