{A Blast from the Past} The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Today's review is on:

THE SUMMARY

Vladimir Tod

NORMAL EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENT?

OR POWERFUL VAMPIRE?

Junior high really stinks for thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod. Bullies harass him, the principal is dogging him, and the girl he likes prefers his best friend. Oh, and Vlad has a secret: His mother was human, but his father was a vampire. With no idea of the extent of his powers and no one to teach him, Vlad struggles daily with his blood cravings and his enlarged fangs.When a strange substitute teacher begins to question him a little too closely, Vlad worries that his cover is about to be blown. But then he realizes he has a much bigger problem: He's being hunted by a vampire killer who is closing in - fast! This first book in this ghoulishly funny series leads readers on a nail-biting adventure that is filled with dark characters and mystical glyphs, secret identities and hidden agendas, unearthly powers and teenage angst.

MY REVIEW
I started these books when I was in middle school myself, so reading this one was truly a blast from the past. I loved coming back to the world of Vladimir Tod, a character that I understand now more than 5 years ago. The constant vampire jokes and references made me laugh, and the serious moments filled me with dread.
The characters Otis Otis scared me once again as I was swept into the mind of a young male vampire. Unlike the Twilight saga, love isn't the focus. He has a crush on a girl named Meredith, yes, but Vlad focuses more on the vampire world and his parents. Just like Vlad, you learn things about his parents, their pasts, and also about vampires and how they are.
I am also sympathetic toward Vlad because of the bullying that he receives in the book. I'm sure that many of us know how it is to be in that situation.
Basically, this book is a rollercoaster ride of emotion that I would recommend to anyone. I've really loved re-reading this book. :)

A LITTLE EXCERPT
He was spooning a big, sweet glob of half-frozen blood into his mouth when the doorbell rang. With a hurried swallow, he dropped the empty container into the biohazard box beneath the sink and popped the plastic fangs over his shrinking canines. With careful steps, he snuck over to the wall just to the right of the archway and peeked over at the front door, where his aunt was greeting Henry with a hug.
Vlad jumped out from behind the separating wall and held his cheap cape out with both arms. "I vant to suck your blood!"
Henry doubled over, roaring with laughter. When he straightened he slapped Vlad on the shoulder. "That's a sweet costume. Check me out. You'll just die." Henry placed his fists on his hips in a pseudo-Superman pose, and when he turned his head, Vlad's jaw dropped at the sight of two small holes on Henry's neck.
"No way." He stepped closer to inspect Henry's bite marks. They were flawless. Vlad had only seen one actual vampire bite on a human before, and Henry's handiwork was very close to the real thing. "What did you use?"
"Silly Putty and raspberry jam."
"Seedless?"
"Well, duh. Can't have seeds in my wound. Might get infected."

See you next Saturday!
~Sea-Solo out! :)

To learn more about Vladimir Tod, go here:
http://www.vladtod.com/

Movie Commercial: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green!

TODAY'S ARTICLE IS ABOUT:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm sure that many of you have heard of the great John Green. Book writer, vlog brother, and all around awesome guy. For those of you who do not know John Green, here is a little piece of his bio from http://johngreenbooks.com/.

In 2007, Green and his brother Hank ceased textual communication and began to talk primarily through videoblogs posted to YouTube. The videos spawned a community of people called nerdfighters who fight for intellectualism and to decrease the overall worldwide level of suck. (Decreasing suck takes many forms: Nerdfighters have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight poverty in the developing world; they also planted thousands of trees around the world in May of 2010 to celebrate Hank’s 30th birthday.) Although they have long since resumed textual communication, John and Hank continue to upload two videos a week to their YouTube channel, vlogbrothers. Their videos have been viewed more than 200 million times, and their channel is one of the most popular in the history of online video. He is also an active Twitter user with more than 1.2 million followers.

He has kindly shared his journey on the set of The Fault in Our Stars with us through his vlogs with cast members and the pictures that he posts.

Here is (going from left to right) John Green, along with Ansel Elgort (Augustus Waters), Nat Wolff (Isaac), and Shailene Woodley (Hazel Grace Lancaster).

ABOUT THE BOOK/MOVIE

The Fault in Our Stars follows Hazel Lancaster, a girl who had a tumor-reducing miracle that bought her a little time, but knows that she is terminal. This all changes when she meets Augustus Waters at Cancer Kid Support Group. Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

As you can see, no amount of tom-foolery happened during the shoot.

You might be wondering why I would find this story and its occupants interesting, given the fact that I have voiced anti-romance feelings in the past. The truth is that this subject is very close to my heart, and perhaps a little fresh. My grandmother recently lost her life in the battle with cancer, and there isn't a day that I don't think about how much time I wasted when I was near her, and I wish that she could've lived longer. This book, though, seems to say that it doesn't matter how long you live on this world, but rather it's what you do with the time that you have.

I have been recently avoiding the book because of the thing I stated above, but now that I've seen the trailer, I feel it is my duty as a reader and lover of stories to envelop myself into the book, no matter how hard it is. Definitely going to buy it today. :)

John is very excited about this book becoming a movie, as this video shows. :)

AND NOW A SPECIAL MESSAGE

Mr. John Green, if you are reading this, thank you for the time that you have put into your many books and videos. I think I speak for all of Nerdfighteria when I say that we love you and the stories that you tell.

Thank you. :)

Well, that's all for now!

See you next Saturday!

~Sea-Solo out!

EXTRA! EXTRA!

More of the vlogs off of the set!

A Book-to-Movie review: City of Bones

Today's review is on:

MY REVIEW

LE PROBLEMS

I actually noticed that there was something different about the movie from the gripping trailer. In the book, Clary is attacked by a demon and defeats it before Jace arrives on the scene (a little stretch, but it made sense, and also made Clary look stronger). In the movie/trailer, however, Clary is saved just in time by her knight in shining armor: Jace. When watching the movie, I did notice that she made several very good attempts at defeating the monster (which was less scary in my imagination), so at least they gave her that.

(Start the video at 2:06 to see what I mean)

There is only one other problem I had with the movie, and that is that they introduced a power that Clary didn't even know she had until the second book. It makes me curious as to how they're going to make the second movie, if there is going to be one.

THE GOOD STUFF

Other than the two problems stated above, this movie followed the book. Jace and Clary fell in love, there was a lot of battles, etc. It was fun seeing something that was on a page and in my imagination as a real-life movie. I bet that when I read the next book in the series, I will imagine the actors and actresses doing the things that their characters do in future books.

I loved the way that they cast the characters as well. I was a little nervous about who they cast for Jace, but he ended up doing a really good job bringing Jace into the movie. Alec (pictured above) was a little hotter than I imagined him, but I'm not complaining. ;)

Well, that's all for now!

See you next Saturday!

~Sea-Solo out!

EXTRA! EXTRA!

My favorite songs on the soundtrack:

When the Darkness Comes by Colbie Callait

Almost is Never Enough by Ariana Grande feat. Nathan Sykes

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Today's review is on:

THE SUMMARY

A CAPTIVATING STORY OF LOVE,

~ LOSS, AND IMMORTALITY ~

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned - to her old life, her family, her boyfriend - before she's banished back to the underworld... this time forever. She has six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance - and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

MY REVIEW
Ever since reading about Persephone, I've been intrigued about her story. My love of Greek mythology is no secret; I'm technically an enthusiast. When I read Allie Condie's review on the front ("I was pulled under by this bittersweet, beautiful retelling of the Persephone myth. Wonderful!"), I couldn't wait to read it! Persephone is by far one of my favorite Greek goddesses, and I had to see how Ashton had modernized her character. And let me just say that the review on the front was right!
As I read the book, I began to wonder what I would do if I had only a small amount of time left on Earth. Visit my family? Do stuff off my bucketlist? To be honest, I just don't know. You'll never know what you want to do. (Though if I could, I would go to San Diego Comic-Con. Scratch at least that off of my bucketlist...)
The ending shocked me, I wasn't expecting it at all. I was so wrapped up into the story, I wasn't spending time thinking about how it might end. All I need say is that I can't wait to read the second installment. Ashton might be one of my new favorite authors after this debut. :)

JUST A LITTLE EXCERPT
Certain emotions were stronger than others, and would hit me when I wasn't ready. Like when my dad told me he was so happy I was back and that he didn't blame me, but his disappointment in the air tasted as strong as a clump of salt.
It wasn't so easy to identify most of them, except when an entire room was feeling the same thing.
Like now. Thirty people in a room, all curious.
But as the class settled in for the lecture, one emotion, separate from the curiosity, floated on the top of the rest. I couldn't figure out what it was. It would've been easier if I'd been prepared.
"Hi," a familiar voice said from the desk next to mine.
I startled.
It was him.
Jack.
The boy who had gotten me through hell.

See you in the next one!
~Sea-Solo out!

Currently reading:

New Year's Resolution and New Plans!

Hello readers! :D Sea-Solo here!

I just wanted to say that last year I didn't do as many reviews as I wanted to. Most of the books that I am reading right now are sequels, so it's going to be a while before I can do another book review. My new years resolution for 2014 was to keep more updated with the many websites that I am on. I'm no longer going to wait a bit to post a review; I'm just going to do one the day of or the day after I finish reading said book.

That being said, I would like to start posting more about book-related things that happen after reading said book. (ex: my favorite songs from the book's soundtrack, whether or not the movie followed the book, etc.)

I look forward to posting more on this website! Thanks for following me thus far! :D

~Sea-Solo out! 

Fated by Alyson Noël

Today's review is on:

THE SUMMARY

Daire Santos is just an ordinary girl, traveling around the world with her mother, a movie makeup artist. All of the sudden, something happens. Daire can see things that other people can't and one time, these visions cause her to hurt someone: her newest boyfriend.
After months of medication and psycho analysis, Daire's mother is about to give up. A call comes from Daire's grandmother, a woman that she has never met, promising to be able to help Daire control her gift. After living in her grandmother's small town in New Mexico for a while, she finds a boy that she had dreams about was real. Now all she has to figure out is whether he is a friend or a foe.

MY REVIEW
I first picked up this book because of the author, Alyson Noël. I have read the Immortal series by her, and I loved the way that she wrote the love story (that my tomboy side cringes at) that I came to accept. I knew her style and wanted more of it. When I read the back, however, I became interested in the Native American aspect of it. I'm part Native American, and that side of my heritage has always interested me. So off I went into another adventure, narrated by a character that shocked me with every new chapter. The things that she could do!
My interest in this book wasn't in vain; I truly enjoyed it from front to back! Noël was once again the master of my imagination, taking it to Enchantment, New Mexico and away from my comfortable bed (where I do most of my reading). The only thing that I didn't like about this book was.. nothing. I've got nothing.
The visions were some of the best parts of the book! You never knew whether or not they were real, or if they were just a warning of what was to come. I enjoyed the crows as well. I've always liked crows, ever since I was a little kid. I used to talk to them, in fact. Still do, actually...

JUST A LITTLE EXCERPT
He doesn't see what I see.
Doesn't see the way everything stops.
Doesn't see the way the atmosphere changes - growing shimmery, hazy, like peering through carnival glass.
Doesn't see the way the glowing ones appear - hovering along the perimeter.
Doesn't see the way they beckon to me - beg me to join them.
Only I can see that.
Even after repeatedly blinking, trying to return the scene to normal, it's no use. Not only are they still there, but now they've brought friends.
Crows.
Thousands and thousands of crows that fill up the square.
They land on the drummer, the transvestite belly dancer - soaring and swooping and settling wherever they please - turning the once-vibrant square into a field of dark beady eyes that relentlessly watch me.
The glowing people creep forward - arms outstretched, fingers grasping - stomping the crows to a mess of black, bloodied bits.
And there's nothing I can do to stop their progression - nothing I can do to convince time to march forward again.
So I do the only thing I can -
I run.

See you in the next one!
~Sea-Solo out!

Currently reading:

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Today's review is on:

The back reads:

Ever since their mother's death, siblings Carter and Sadie have been near-strangers. While Sadie's lived with their grandparents in London, Carter has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane.

Then one night they are reunited when their father takes them to the British Museum, hoping at last to set things right. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Carter and Sadie discover that the gods of Ancient Egypt are waking, and the worst of them - Set - is after the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings must embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and its link to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs...

If you like the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, you need to pick this one up! It has all the witty humor of Rick Riordan along with Egyptian gods and goddesses and it's respectable monsters. Just like Percy Jackson, these siblings have powers that they never could've dreamed of, and an amazing amount of royalty in their blood to boot. Along with the siblings, you discover their abilities, their strengths, their weaknesses. All wrapped up in one hell of a story line.

What I liked most about this book is that it was dictation from a taping that the author found (or so we're told). That just makes it even easier to believe that what is happening really happened. It skips between Carter and Sadie telling their story so far, which really makes it a fun book to read. Carter speaks in an American accent, and Sadie in an English accent, so you can pretty easily tell by the spelling of certain words who is talking into the mic. (Mum, for example, is used by Sadie and Mom by Carter.)

My favorite part:

"You're forgetting something, Horus told me.

A little busy here! I thought back.

You might think it's easy steering a magic boat through the sky. You'd be wrong. I didn't have Amos's animated coat, so I stood in the back trying to shift the tiller myself, which was like stirring cement. I couldn't see where I was going. We kept tilting back and forth while Sadie did her best to keep an unconscious Zia from flopping over the side.

It's my birthday, Horus insisted. Wish me happy birthday!

"Happy birthday!" I yelled. "Now, shut up!" "

Well, that's all for now, folks!

See you in the next one!

~Sea-Solo out!

Currently reading:

 

More Egyptian stuff:



Learn more about the Kane Chronicles!:

http://www.kanechronicles.co.uk/site/author.php