Month: March 2015

Review: Cress – Planning to Save the World by Crashing a Wedding

Posted March 23, 2015 in Reading, Review / 2 Comments

Review: Cress – Planning to Save the World by Crashing a WeddingCress by Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3
Publisher: Square Fish (2014)
Paperback (592 pages)
Rating:
Also by this author: Cinder, Scarlet, Fairest
Also in this series: Cinder, Scarlet, Fairest
Reading Challenges: 2015 Fairytale Retelling, Read 2015

Synopsis

Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker; unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

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Introducing Catholic Connections

Posted March 19, 2015 in Faith / 2 Comments

I have been thinking for a while of adding something to my reviews that I’m thinking of calling Catholic Connections. Since I am Roman Catholic and am not at all ashamed of my faith, I want to incorporate that more on my blog.

A lot of things (especially books) can have Catholic Christian values or tropes without even knowing it. There are connections I can make between any book and my Catholic faith. Most often these connection will not be perfect or even overt, especially if the author is not intending such connections. Yet I still think some connections can be made.

On the subject of magic, since I read a lot of fantasy, there are a few things I want to say. Magic does not mean evil as I have heard some people say. As I fear that I will get my words messed up here, I’m going to point you towards a wonderful post by the amazing Kendra at Catholic All Year. She wrote a post about this topic in response to comments about her daughter’s Harry Potter birthday party.

I am just human and as such I am not entitled to omniscience. Therefore, it is impossible to expect me to know everything there is to know. I am also not the Pope or anyone of any consequence in the Roman Catholic Church. I am one of the laity and what I say does not carry the official approval of the Catholic Church. It is only my opinion.

I guess this is just me telling you what I am planning to do. Starting next week, I will be adding Catholic Connections to my upcoming reviews. If you have any feedback on this, I would love to hear it.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

amanda

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Review: Evermore – Reminds Me of Twilight

Posted March 19, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments

Review: Evermore – Reminds Me of TwilightEvermore by Alyson Noel
Series: The Immortals #1
Publisher: St Martin's Griffin (2009)
Paperback (301 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2015 Alphabet Soup, Read 2015

Synopsis

After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people’s auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone’s entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact to suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school — but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.
Damen is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He’s the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head – wielding a magic so intense, it’s as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she’s left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is – or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she’s falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

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Review: The Scorpio Races – What Are You Racing For?

Posted March 18, 2015 in Reading, Review / 4 Comments

Review: The Scorpio Races – What Are You Racing For?The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic (2011)
Hardcover (404 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Also by this author: Shiver, The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves
Reading Challenges: Read 2015

Synopsis

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

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