'Fear can't hurt you,' she said. 'When it washes over you, give it no power. It's a snake with no venom. Remember that. That knowledge can save you.'
I...more'Fear can't hurt you,' she said. 'When it washes over you, give it no power. It's a snake with no venom. Remember that. That knowledge can save you.'
I was very anxious to read this because Cassandra Clare was a starred review. I'm not bashing on Clare, but I don't like her writing style; the only book I actually enjoyed by her is The Clockwork Angel. Anyway, usually most books you pick up and start reading are always a bit slow, but this wasn't at all.
The girls in YA lit I read are annoying most of the time but I liked Rory. Rory goes to a boarding school in London until she graduates. She meets Jazza and they immediately becomes friends. They say London is haunted because of the unexpected murders that was taken place in 1888. No one knew who the murderer was but they call him Jack the Ripper. His victims are women; and he slashes them across the body, spilling out their intestines and then he slashes their throats -- it's his signature. Now, Jack the Ripper is back. Rory, Jazza and Jerome are investigating the new murders that are occurring.
When Rory chokes, coming in contact with death, something peculiar happens to her. She can see ghosts, but doesn't know it... yet.
The book is a page turner. The only the was completely random and totally unnecessary was a certain passage on page 166 when Rory and Jerome go on a field trip to an Art Gallery. They have to pick a certain subject then find five treatments of that subject in paintings by five different artists. Everything seemed boring to them except for one... butts. The author writes:
For the next hour, we went around the National Gallery assessing butts. There are a lot of naked butts in classical paintings. Big, proud, classical butts everywhere, sometimes draped with a little cloth for flavour. We favoured the bigger butts with the most detail. We gave points for best cracks, best dimpling, and best smiley curvature around the upper thigh. We differed on only one issue: I liked the reclining butts, Jerome liked the action butts. Butts leading people into battle, butts about to get on a horse, butts giving speeches, butts looking dramatic. Those were his kind of butts. I liked the way more relaxed butts squished on one side, and the cheeky over-the-shoulder look most of their owners gave. 'Behold,' they seemed to say. 'Amazing, isn't it?'
Before I start let me say that I'm immune to horror. I am. I recall watching Paranormal Activity's 1, 2, and 3 laughing at how stupid it was....more3.5 stars
Before I start let me say that I'm immune to horror. I am. I recall watching Paranormal Activity's 1, 2, and 3 laughing at how stupid it was. I recall watching The Crazies only to want to have it turned off because it was so annoying and it infuriated me. I admit, the only film that scared the shit out of me was 1408 (c'mon, you're locked in a hotel and NO ONE doesn't even realise it; you can't even have the audacity to escape because you'll be re-entering the damn room. The only way to escape is by committing suicide... tell me that doesn't set you on edge). So yeah.
Anna Dressed in Blood is unlike anything I have ever read -- Blake can write some serious gruesome; scary ghost scenes. The reason I can't rate this 5 stars is because of the fact that it was slow paced. I was literally sitting there with a bored expression like:
It took a while for me to get into the story, but when I finally did I was scared shitlesss. I hated having to go to bed because my mind doesn't know when to shut up so the thought of ghosts and demons popped into my head along with Anna Dressed in Blood leaving me like this in bed:
The characters were amiable enough. Though I have to say our male protagonist, Cas, isn't a swoon-worthy boy. He's more of a oh-that's-the-homie-right-there type. LOL. Definitely recommended.(less)
This book was refreshing! It's just what I have been wanting to read. After reading City of Glass, I thought I would have never been able to read a bo...moreThis book was refreshing! It's just what I have been wanting to read. After reading City of Glass, I thought I would have never been able to read a book this good ever again.
Reading this felt like deja vu. Something about it made things seem so... familiar. Like I read something like it or even seen a film/show like it before. But then the feeling I get from watching Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown and Sabrina the Teenage Witch washed over me ― like I was there. I can't even explain it and y'all are probably just reading this with a puzzled expression. *sighs* Oh well.
Welcome to Hecate Hall, where all the Prodigium (or witches, faeries, and shape shifters) are placed, when one doesn't follow the rules or used their magic in front of humans, till they turn eighteen. Our protagonist, Sophie, is sent to this school by her father for two years; all for trying to help a petty person in her school have her dream come true. Too bad it ended in chaos.
Certain stories in this book were really interesting: like how L'Occhio di Dio (The Eye of God) came to be or how the Prodigium came into existence.
I loved the humour, it was written in all the write places and I loved how Hawkins never trailed off her plot. *Cough* Cassandra Clare take notes *cough* The story had what we all love in any boarding school novels, especially one to do with witches, faeries and shape shifters: food, balls, romance, and that one particular group of mean girls.
There's a few things I disliked about the book ― one of them being the ending. I wonder how the second book is going to be. I'm a bit nervous about how all this is going to turn out in the end and I hope it doesn't disappoint me.
And Archer Cross. Though he plays a semi-important part in the book, I didn't have any feelings towards him. Usually there's always a male character we love (like Tobias, St. Clair, etc), but it felt like Archer was just thrown in the book with no character; and no personality.
Random thought: I don't like this cover as much as I loved Anna Dressed in Blood's. I dunno, it doesn't seem as spooky as the first book and it looks...moreRandom thought: I don't like this cover as much as I loved Anna Dressed in Blood's. I dunno, it doesn't seem as spooky as the first book and it looks like this jacket artist went all extra with the red.
Whoo, this book was a roller coaster! So many emotions were rolling through me while reading this. Girl of Nightmares is definitely better than the first, in my opinion. After Anna basically sacrificed herself to save Cas and his friends by opening the gate to Hell and brought the Obeahman with her, Cas can't stop thinking about her. He sees her everywhere -- in his dreams and in real life, but with each visit Anna makes it looks as though she's being tortured. Cas knows there's something wrong with these visits and can't help but feel she's in trouble....
"Cassio," she whispers. "Get me out of here."
Girl of Nightmares definitely has more suspense; the ghosts he fights are more sinister:
His skin is black as a struck match, cracked and oozing liquid metal heat, like he's covered by a cooling layer of lava. The eyes stand out bright white.
Kendare's writing is absolutely amazing. Cas isn't the douchey guy (even though I enjoyed Cas's douche-y-ness)from Anna Dressed in Blood; however, he's a depressed, lost soul trying to get his Anna back. Everyone is telling him to move on and let Anna go since it's been months after Anna's departure, but Cas can't help it. That's the first girl he fell in love with.... I love how Cas finally accepts the fact that Thomas and Carmel are there to stay so the has this bond with them (view spoiler)[though I do not like how Carmel decides to leave the group because it isn't "what she wanted" and basically breaks Thomas's heart. Then this dumb bitch has the n e r v e to come back when Cas and Thomas heads to London to open the gate to the Other Side and give them some damn ultimatums like bitch, PAUSE. (hide spoiler)]
Major spoilers ahead
I hate how Cas started trippin' near the end. He wasn't the "oh I'm so tough with a smart ass mouth" guy that he was in middle of the book. He went completely emo and cowardice and he was really starting to piss me off. Here're some passages that makes me feel this way:
"Don't just stand there! Help her!" Jestine yells at me as she streaks past to into the fray...
My legs are frozen. Between the two of them I don't know what to do, where to attack. None of their movements have any effect. We should have gone. Gotten out when we could. Inside my head, Thomas is talking to me, his voice urgent. I can't pay attention or look back. I watch as the Obeahman snaps Anna's arm like a twig, shoves her, and sends her rolling. Jestine he just shrugs off... Not once has he taken his gaze off me... I fear him. I've always feared him.
At first I was like
Shit just got real. But then I start to realise that, yeah, Cas did have a chance to leave; instead he wanted to play hard ass and try to fight the Obeahman but then freezes and doesn't do shit to help his girlfriend and Jestine while they're getting their asses kicked, so then I was just like
Not only THAT, but now he's coming off like a straight bitch when two FEMALES are saving HIS ass while he's going on and on about how scary the Obeahman is. He finally does something when Jestine gets slammed to the ground and blood starts shooting out her mouth. Now he wants to play hero.
So yeah, I no longer like Cas even if the end was "amazing". I can't get over what he did. (less)
2.5 stars (Looks around) Did I miss anything? Oh... well look at this, I have finally finished a novel. Finally. It has taken me 2 weeks to finish Gli...more2.5 stars (Looks around) Did I miss anything? Oh... well look at this, I have finally finished a novel. Finally. It has taken me 2 weeks to finish Glimmer - TWO WEEKS. Damn my school district for making us start school on the 14th of August instead of the 9th of September. I missed this: reading, writing reviews....
Anyway, I picked Glimmer up from my library shelf without hesitation. After reading the blurb (I mean, two people - Marshall and Elyse - wake up naked together in bed with absolutely no memory as to how it happened; not to mention ghosts roaming around Summer Falls wiping people's memories) I had to get my hands on this. I know I said I wasn't going to get my hopes up, but I did - and they were HIGH. Unfortunately, I'm sitting here writing this review to say I was disappointed. This is horrible. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a terrible story, it's just... I was expecting it to be mind blowing.
I couldn't get into the characters because they didn't even know who they were, so they're just these awkward potatoes walking around trying to get their memories back. I didn't have any type of feelings for them. The romance was lame, too, and at times a bit over the top/creepy. I don't think Marshall was in love with Elyse; I think he was obsessed.
And let me get started on these ghosts. Hm. Whenever I think 'ghost' I think Paranormal Activity; these ghosts only popped up from time to time to make a person (who is under a lot of pressure) forget their bad memories. The people of Summer Falls calls this a 'heat nap'. I don't know, I have mixed feelings about this. I thought they were going to be talking and be a big part of Marshall and Elyse's memory loss.
The ending was extremely predictable and slow-paced. I had to skim the last 50 pages. Oh and I completely forgot about the magic. Yes, magic. Kitanidis failed to impress me with this, I think this was just thrown in there to make the story all more exciting. It was a nice shot, though. Glimmer had a good premise, but I'm sorry to say it wasn't all that it's cracked up to be.(less)
Do you believe there are ghosts and demons and Diviners among us?
I knew, from the minute I read the description, that this book was the one for me: fl...moreDo you believe there are ghosts and demons and Diviners among us?
I knew, from the minute I read the description, that this book was the one for me: flappers, diviners, ghosts, speakeasies, pickpockets, Broadway plays, jazz and gin... magic. Everything about The Diviners screams 'Perfection!': from the mysteriously magical cover; to the story; to the characters... need I go on? There's more to this book than the fun description, let me tell you that. It's eerily spooky, enchantingly magical, and pos-i-tute-ly fun-ski! It's filled with twists and turns on every page.
Nothing about the characters irritated me; in fact, they were all amazing in their own way: Evie, a seventeen-year-old flapper that doesn't listen to good, does what she wants and that's what got her on a train to live with her Uncle Will, curator of the Museum of the Creepy Crawlies (or so the city calls it), in New York City. What got her aboard this particular train that will change her life for ever is - how shall I put it - her ability to read any given object from another person. She could read their past and their deepest secrets. That's what Evie O'Neil does at a little party in Ohio whilst a little tipsy to a rich boy by the name of Harold Brodie.
Now in New York City, strange goings-on has been happening: mysterious murders and weird symbols. She has to find out what's happening and stop it. She was a very funny, witty, and strong-willed protagonist that I am sure you'll love. I've also grown to enjoy Theta, Memphis, and Sam with their strange abilities, as well.
There's only one tiny little thing that bothered me and that was the scriptures that were extracted from the Bible and twisted. Also (view spoiler)[I did not expect the last 70 pages to end that way. I thought Theta, Memphis, Sam and Evie would destroy Naughty John together instead of just Evie alone. (hide spoiler)]. Otherwise, Libba Bray has done an amazing job at creating a world where monsters can enter all because of a Ouija Board.... This has got to be one of the best books I have ever read in 2012 and just period. A lot of people seemed to be complaining about the way the people in here were speaking, but I didn't see it as a problem. I guess it has to do with me being head-over-heels in love with the 1920s. I didn't feel that Ms Bray tried too hard with this era, I think she's done a p e r f e c t job in perfecting this story. The Diviners not only wants to me make dance to jazz, party in speakeasies, become a flapper, and fall in love, it made me afraid to walk about the house at night.
"Naughty John, Naughty John, does his work with his apron on. Cuts your throat and takes your bones, sells 'em off for a coupla stones."
Naughty John was awakened and now he's back to fulfil his mission on releasing the Beast and take over the world. My heart literally raced whenever we were brought to Naughty John and his sacrifices. The details were vivid (I love the show-don't-tell) and spooky. If you love horror and want to read anything scary during the night; The Diviners is right here waiting for you. Please do not be discouraged by the number of pages because, I promise, it goes by swiftly. To be honest, I didn't see this as a heavy read at all, I wish it were longer.
I hope you enjoy this just as much as I have. (less)
Danielle (Devourer of Books)
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