Christopher C. Payne's Blog, page 18

Strange Places – Jefferson Smith

Publisher : Indie Publishing Ink

Language: English

ASIN: B005CK4J7

Available format : Kindle edition, e-book

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strange Places (Finding Tayna #1) – Jefferson Smith



Raised as a modern-day kitchen slave in an orphanage run by child-loathing nuns, and now stalked by disturbing strangers, thirteen-year-old Tayna gambles everything on a desperate journey of self-discovery that will lead her to the far corners of two strange and unfamiliar worlds: one filled with shopping malls and televisions, the other with Brownies, Djin and magic.

Strange Places is the first book in the Finding Tayna series.

To be honest, I'm not even sure this is a children's book; children's books involve Prince Charming and damsels in distress, and, well, if this is a children book, I would say it's very very sophisticated. I had a wonderful time reading it and all the time I was whisked away by the wonderland I was in.

I would say that this book is sort of like Alice in Wonderland, yet another kind of unique altogether. It's hard to describe, there's something about it that seemed special and strange, the 'sisters' actually creeped me out and the whole idea of 'Unlovables' is actually quite sympathetic and pitiful, however in my eyes, Tayna is a strong protagonist (not to mention a beautiful name. In fact, the names in the books are all special and unique, Veest, Djin, Abeni – those are really uncommon names) When I was reading this book, I was really absorbed into the story. Thumbs up!

This is a heart warming story about friendship and the discovery of magic, I would say that I never thought of magic that way! The writing was beautiful and the descriptive words provided me with a vivid imagination, I feel so young reading this (although I'm just a teen), it was quite adrenaline junkie and lively. Plus, I find myself laughing at Tayna's jokes. I love the characters, they are like a breath of fresh air, each with unique and distinct personality yet a part of a whole Do I make sense?

I can't wait for the next one in the Finding Tayna's series!

Reviewed by,

Natasha Anne

Hereafter – Tara Hudson

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date: June 07, 2011
ISBN13: 9780062026774
ISBN: 0062026771
BINC: 3256857
Age:13 and up

Available format: Hardcover, e-Book, paperback, Kindle edition

 

 

 

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

 

Hereafter – Tara Hudson

Typical hereafter = hell or heaven.

My version of hereafter is very much influenced by Hollywood and what they show on TV. My hereafter is simple, just heaven and hell and the in-between. Let's just say after reading Hereafter I added a couple more of possible theories into my list.

Hollywood portrayed ghosts as either funny, or real scary, and the reason why they are still wandering in purgatory is because they have some sort of unfinished business in this world, and the key to a happy afterlife is that you resolve your unfinished business. But those were not mentioned in Hereafter, Amelia lived in purgatory because she was chosen to.

Amelia is a ghost, she died in 1997 who was reportedly intentionally jumped into the haunted High Bridge and she has been haunting it ever since. Until one day when a boy crashed into the same river and came face to face with a near death experience. Joshua who apparently survived the whole incident, died and came back to life again, and was given a great gift in the process. He could now see ghosts, and that included Amelia. A relationship was nurtured, but there are forces who are determined to drive them apart.

Truthfully, I love the story line, I love that a mere mortal is capable of loving something everyone fears, and I love that even as a ghost, Amelia could still feel, considering the ghosts in Hereafter are incapable of any human sense except for sight and hearing. They could not touch, nor could they taste or smell, and apparently they could materialize wherever they want! Now those are cool ghostly traits.

I would say Hereafter is another warm up story for me (definition: A nice introduction), as I found out it will be a series, I got a feeling the next one will be better than this! I can barely wait. The characters are likable and I love Amelia because she is so willing to sacrifice herself for the ones she loves, now which ghosts do that? I would also love to praise the writing, though I find it quite short and the elaboration is inadequate, I think it managed to bring out the effect it want from the readers, at least to me, It has a steady build up to the climax and I really love how all things ended.

I am definitely loving Hereafter. So here's my reason to you on why you should read this:

1. Like me, adding a couple more theories about life after death.

2. The perfect book for you if you're looking for a book to curl up with at night and experience small doses of teenage romance.

3. I find it quite exhilarating, really.

4. Like other books, it gives you fun.

Reviewed by,

Natasha Anne

Arthur

Title: Arthur

Director: Jason Winer

Format: DVD

Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Starring: Russel Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Nick Nolte

Arthur Bach is a screw-up. He's been raised with more money than he can imagine and no one has ever told him no. He does what he wants when he wants and the newspapers and tabloids love to exploit his outrageous behavior.

One particular fun evening while out in the Bat Mobile (yes, the Bat Mobile) he gets into a bit of an accident and gets arrested. Did I mention that he was drunk? That he is always drunk? Yup. he keeps vodka in his water bottle.

Arthur's mother is a savvy, high corporate business woman who runs the multi-million dollar  family business that keeps so much cash in his pocket. It seems that Arthur's latest stunt has got all the investors in the business worried that the company is doomed because the end of the family line is with Arthur. If Arthur is passed the company then it will fail and millions upon millions will be lost.

So his mother sends for him, basically makes an appointment, for him to come to her office and she gives him an ultimatum. He can either marry a woman he doesn't love (Susan) and keep the 950 million he likes to spend or he is cut off. Why Susan? Because she's responsible, she's a good candidate to keep him in line and most importantly she is a savvy business woman who can run the company and have the family name.

So Arthur is in quite a pickle. He doesn't want to marry someone he doesn't love but he doesn't know how to live without all that money. He has no job skills and no life skills.

So what on earth will he do?

I have heard that this movie is a remake of an old movie but I have no idea if that's true. I am not familiar with another movie called Arthur from back in the day. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I turned on this movie – okay I thought it was going to be stupid. It's one of those comedies where the actor does stupid things and such (kind of like an Adam Sandler movie) and sometimes that humor is lost on me. There were a lot of stupid-funny parts in this movie and I'll be honest I laughed at most of them.

But you know what? There was some depth to this movie too, a real story line underneath all the humor and fun. And that is why I liked this movie.

Russel Brand is a good actor. Sure he plays a spoiled rich thirty- year-old who still acts like he's six but it takes talent to act like that and even more talent to let the viewer see hints that there is a lot more to him than face value. The character he played had a lot of facets to him who grew and changed throughout the movie. He wasn't the same guy at the end of the movie that he was at the beginning. Isn't that one of the things that makes a good movie – starting at point A and ending somewhere else, like point C?

Arthur and Hobson's relationship is what I liked best about this movie. In the movie Arthur's mom doesn't have time to be a mother so she hired him a Nanny (Hobson) when he was a small boy – a nanny that still takes care of him at the age of thirty. At first you get the impression that she only puts up with his crazy behavior because she gets paid to do it but then we see that she actually loves him – and that he loves her. She is actually more of a mother to him than his own mother – so much so that he has her programmed into his phone as "Mom". Their relationship was the one thing in Arthur's life for many years that was actually real. Sure, it appeared that he needed her (and for some things he really did – he was horrible in the kitchen!) but I think that really he just wanted her around; she was his friend – his best friend.

During the movie Arthur meets a girl – a writer – who lives in the blue collar district and has to work hard for the tiny apartment that she shares with her father. Arthur likes her – she's real and warm and she genuinely likes him. She makes a good love interest for him because she is down to earth where he is not but she is able to look past his immaturity to see the real him. It is his relationship with her and also his relationship with Hobson that are the true catalysts for his change.  

Arthur takes a few hard knocks in the movie and I never feel sorry for him – I admire the way he picks himself up and tries to move on. Granted a lot of attempts are very funny and unsuccessful.

The setting of the movie is something I really liked as well. It is set in New York City and he has this huge building that he lives in that includes a floating bed and a mini theater that plays Looney Tunes all day, every day. He has every cool car ever made, including the Bat Mobile and the car from Back to the Future. There is also the orange Challenger from Dukes of Hazard (my personal favorite car). At one point her rents out Grand Central Station and that is cool too.

This movie is a comedy, but it has substance to it. I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves a good laugh but doesn't like to feel like they lost brain cells after watching it. So go forth and watch this movie and have a good time.

So there you have it. My opinion.

This review is written by Cambria Hebert

Hawthorne

Title: Hawthorne

Author: Sarah Ballance

Publisher: Astraea Press

Genre: Paranormal novella

ISBN: 978-1936852-44-4

Format: Ebook

Note: 100% of the proceeds from Hawthorne benefit Japan disaster relief charities.

Emma Grace left home ten years ago and never looked back. Why? Because a horrifying accident and an encounter with the unexplained left her with scars that never healed.

But Emma is coming home, the death of her beloved Grandmother the catalyst for her to face what happened all those years ago.

She knew that she might see Noah, but what she didn't expect was that he still could affect her heart. It's going to make coming to terms with what happened and saying goodbye to the past that much harder.

Not to mention the fact that the unexplained still lurk in the shadows at Hawthorne Manor and as much as Emma Grace tried to forget them, they never once tried to forget her….

This is my first opportunity to review a novella and all proceeds of this book go to charity. What more could a girl ask for?

A good read perhaps?

Hawthorne wasn't just a good read it was a great read! I really wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up, I admit I don't usually read novellas. Only because sometimes they feel incomplete to me, like the story could go on but didn't.

This was not the case with Hawthorne. It was a full, complete story. When I put it down I didn't feel like there was anything missing, all the elements of a great story were there. There was good characterization, which to me, in a novella, is key. The writer has to have a good skill for imparting the character to the reader quickly but thoroughly and still move the story along. I will say the only thing I wished for was maybe better description of what the characters looked like. But even that set my imagination to work, creating a picture in my head of the perfect Noah.

The storyline was well thought out. It included romance, mystery, paranormal, gossip and even had a good climax towards the end. The author did a great job moving the story along, flowing everything together with ease.

The setting of the book was great too: An old manor, modernized by money and for convenience, yet still somehow stuck in the past and clinging to its history. The image my mind conjured was of sweeping rooflines, romantic balconies and a quiet expanse of lush lawn with the sweet, heavy fragrance of blooming flowers floating through the air. It is the perfect setting for all things paranormal, where things appear perfect but aren't.

And let me just say that my favorite part of this novella was the end. I won't say much more because I don't want to give it away (what fun would that be?) but I will say that it was fabulous and something that was unexpected.

I highly recommend this novella for anyone who loves to read paranormal. It's an easy read, a quick read and it is great for transporting you away from your own mind and into someone else's. I live in the south, where the heat is sometimes unbearable and the air is heavy with humidity…some days I just want to stay inside with my air conditioning and a cup of tea and pretend that it isn't blistering outside. Hawthorne was the perfect excuse to do that. Even if you don't live where the heat keeps you in, you can take this book outside with you and enjoy it on a brilliant summer day.

You won't regret it. And what makes it even better is that by buying this book you will be helping others in need. Hey, it's all in a day's work…

So there you have it. My opinion.

This review is written by Cambria Hebert

Kiera's Moon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Kiera's Moon

Author: Lizzy Ford

Publisher: Lizzy Ford

Format: E-Book

 

Kiera is starving artist who lives with her newly engaged best friend.

Only wanting the best for Kiera, her best friend drags her across the universe , without her permission, to find Kiera a man as well.

Unfortuantely, she hooks up with a warrior named A'Ran, currently a prisoner in her best friend's husband's house. A'Ran wants nothing more than to reclaim his planet and restore it to its former glory.  The planet requires A'Ran have a lifemate in order to bring life back to it and his people who have been fighting wars with other planets since his parents died.

Guess who the planet claims is his lifemate? Kiera.

True to form, Lizzy Ford gives you another very independent and strong willed female character.

Kiera is quite happy painting , sketching, playing War of The Gods and other online games.

She doesn't need or want a man because she believes they are all savages deep down and only want one thing. For Kiera, true love just does not exist.

At least that is what she keeps telling herself.

Her best friend, Evelyn, hooks up with Romas, (Kiera refers to him as Rum-Ass) and within 3 months, they are engaged and going to get married that Saturday.

Kiera appreciates the fact that her best friend is so happy and in love but isn't too fond of  Romas's old-fashioned thinking when it comes to women. Almost like the old saying about children, "better to be seen than heard"

Evelyn pleads with Kiera to come with them when they leave to go to Romas's home which is "far away."

Why?

Because they believe she needs a man in her life to straighten her out.

Yeah, and it only gets worse.

After the wedding, Kiera is knocked out and drug aboard a spaceship to take them to Romas's home planet where he intends to "mate" Kiera with one of his brothers.

It only goes downhill from there.

What I loved about this story was Ford's unwavering ability to deliver yet another snarky female role more believable than others that are out there.

Love will not come easy to the couple in this story and they will have to work together to make it work.

If you are anything like me, the men in this book will make your blood boil. Their beliefs on how women are to act and be treated can be dated back to the 1900's. However, Kiera gives as good as she gets which makes it a pleasant and often enjoyable reading experience.

As for her "best friend" dragging her off to another planet to essentially make an "honest" woman of her, I say with friends like her, who needs enemies?

At first, I wanted more of Evelyn's story of how she met Romas's, why he was on earth and how she took it when she found out he was from another planet.  As the story progressed, I changed my mind and just wanted to knock her out.

The question is this, as Ford is known for her unpredictability, will this story have a happy ending?

I guess you will have to read it and find out, just like I did.

 

Review written by: Jenn P.

 

 

Piper's Fury

Title: Passion of the Soul: Piper's Fury

Author: Rachel Firasek

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press 2011

Format: Ebook, paperback

Genre: Paranormal

ISBN: 978-0-9828200-5-6

E-ISBN: 978-0-9846394-4-1

Piper Anast is an empath. She can touch any object and be immediately transferred into another person's memories. A talent that is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because she is able to help the police department hunt down the baddies that haunt the city. A curse because using her gift is extremely draining, and it also wreaks havoc on a girl's love life. I mean, really, can you imagine getting images and thoughts from every dirty minded man you came across?

It explains why Piper never dates and hardly ever gives men the time of day.

Bu then she meets Slade, a darkly handsome and calming presence in her life. When he touches her for the first time in her life she isn't assaulted by images and thoughts. Being around him actually soothes the turbulence inside her.

Slade seeks out Piper because his daughter is missing and she is the only one that can help him get her back. Little does Piper know that their lives are connected in ways she never imagined. It is almost too much for her, but she can't let Slade's little girl down. In order to battle the evil that is all around her, Piper must face down her own personal demons so that she may find the strength to help the people that need her.

This book is a page turner! It has a strong hook that catches you at the beginning and carries you through the end of the story. It is very well written with rich characterization. Piper is a very strong female protagonist. She drives a Ducati and lives in jeans. She doesn't live up to anyone's ideals but her own and that makes her awesome. She is a girl that takes the proverbial bull by the horns and shows it who's the boss. Every nuance of her personality is understandable and the reader is never unclear about how she is feeling and why. I enjoyed the vulnerabilities that lie beneath her tough exterior which I believe showed true character depth.

Bennett Slade was also another character that I enjoyed reading about. I did not read the synopsis for the book before I started reading, so I didn't know that Slade was a vampire. And I didn't know or even suspect that until he told Piper about himself. Which, I really, really liked that. It wasn't like every other vampire book that I have read where the guy is so much hotter than the rest (even though he is totally hot), he doesn't seem to have any superpowers, and he doesn't act like he's uncomfortable around everyone because he is eternally hungry. Granted, I knew there was something different about him, but I didn't worry about it overly much because I knew I would find out and there were so many other things going on in the book it wasn't an issue. I also liked the fact that Piper didn't obsess over the fact about how hot he was and why he might actually like her. It was a refreshing change on the same old vampire book.

The story line was pretty original and the book did a great job of setting up the next book in the series. By the end of this book the reader is completely involved in all the characters, has a clear picture of who they are and their motives, and is also left with a clear picture of what the next book is going to be about. Exactly the reasons that I want to read the next book.

I cannot wait to find out what Piper does next and how she will handle the things that she has learned about herself. Also, what about her relationship with Slade? Inquiring minds want to know! Namely, me.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal with a little bit of romance thrown in. Also, if you are mostly a young adult reader (which would be me) this is a nice change of pace. Sometimes a girl likes to read on the adult side of things….sometimes a little naughty is nice. J

In all, pick up this book and go to the pool or beach. Make sure you clear some time though, because once you pick it up you won't put it down until it's done.

This review is written by Cambria Hebert

Forbidden – Tabitha Suzuma

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Pu
Date: June 28, 2011
ISBN13: 9781442419957
ISBN: 1442419954
BINC: 3273699
Age:16 and up
Available format : eBook, Hardcover

 

 

 

 

 

Forbidden – Tabitha Suzuma



She is pretty and talented – sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But …They are brother and sister.

Will my words be able to cover even a bit of what I'm feeling?

When my friends told me, guaranteed me that this book will make me weep, I had high hopes, but what this book presented, it went so much more higher that that.

Incest, a taboo in our society, goes against every religion, every law, every thoughts that humans have. Often described as disgusting, vile, an act only pedophiles and psychopaths could perform. But what if? What if the 'incest' is just a product of forbidden love? Will that be so wrong? I don't deny that the very thought of a brother-sister relationship made me uncomfortable, but after being absorbed into this unique and heartwrenching story, I guess these people who supposedly committed this 'crime' deserved to at least have a chance to be heard, to tell their side of the story.

Now, every since I'm hooked on reading, I've came across TONS of story on forbidden loves, ones which spun me off ground and ones which made me weep, but nothing could even compare to this. This, I proudly announce, is the best story about Forbidden love I ever read in my entire life. I was on an emotional ride throughout the book, the starting of the story gripped me until the end, for once, I don't feel like I'm the reader, instead, I was the character. The way the story was written did that.

Time flies when I read.

Lochie was insecure. I was not freaked out by their relationship, despite what they are. It made sense, and it ached how much I have to read them living in the dark. Battling the whole world, Lochie is always trying to restrain himself from feeling what he feels, that made me so 'tense' reading from his POV, I just wanted to give him a big hug and say it's all going to be okay. In fact, I think the inner turmoil of Lochie and Maya added the charm to the whole story.

Forbidden taught me a lot about life. The need to be independent, like how Maya and Lochan did to raise the children. To me, reading about their genuine concerns about their family warmed me, unlike teenagers in general who often take advantage of their family, I feel the love and turmoil in the Whitley family (minus the mum and dad). Being neglected by both their parents, Maya and Lochan did everything it takes to keep their remainding family intact, and if that meant sacrificing, time, and effort. I saw them take over the parents role, controlling a rebellious teenager, and comforting two innocent kids; they worked as a great team.

It taught me about love. Love is an affection, which many people take for granted these days. For Maya and Lochan, it's a forbidden emotion, they cannot love each other for something more. That is the only love that they could not have. Lochan was a social-phobe, and he often felt truly alone and frustrated, with Maya in his life, he felt noticed because she was the only one who truly understood him.

The whole read was amazing, but what baffled me most was the ending, that was the main point of my undoing actually I never expected the story to end as such! Left with so much emotion it's sort of hard to close the book and return to reality land. I found myself still depressed the next day, that proved the magnitude of effect Forbidden has on me.

Lochan, Maya, thanks for changing my perspective on love!

 

Reviewed by,

Natasha Anne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source Code

Title: Source Code

Director: Duncan Jones

Genre: Action/Adventure; Sci-Fi

Rating: PG-13

Format: DVD

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan

You have 8 minutes to save millions of lives…

No pressure, right?

Captain Colter Stevens does indeed feel the pressure. He also feels confused when he wakes up and discovers he's in the body of another man. The last thing he remembers is being stationed in Afghanistan but now he's on an important government mission to stop a bomber targeting Chicago.

Not only is a bomber trying to create havoc but Colter finds out he's part of a secret program called the "Source Code" where he is being crossed over into another man during the last eight minutes of his life.

He is charged with finding the bomb on a train, finding the man who planted it there and he is allowed to use whatever force necessary to get his answers…

Oh, yeah, and he only has 8 minutes until he's blown to bits. But don't worry because when he blows up they'll just send him back. Again. And Again.

So this movie was kind of like and action packed ground hog day. And instead of Bill Murray we get the total hottie Jake Gyllenhaal. I wasn't a fan of Ground Hog Day but I did like this movie.

But I have a confession to make: this movie gave me high blood pressure. It's a real nail biter and it elicited some emotions in me as I watching. I was beyond frustrated for most of the movie, but I wasn't frustrated AT the movie; I was frustrated because I was probably supposed to be. I mean this guy wakes up in the body of someone else, on a train and this woman starts talking to him like they know each other. He has no clue what's going on because he's a solider and he isn't supposed to be in the States.

Then he blows up.

This time he wakes up in his body but he isn't on the train. Nope. He's in this little cell thing and this government employee is talking to him through a screen. She won't answer any of his questions about where he is, what happened and where his men are. She keeps asking him about a bomb he knows nothing about.

It really made me mad. I mean give the guy some information, you know? If you want him to do something at least tell him why. Now, throughout the movie he does learn more and things aren't quite as frustrating.

It's kind of fun to try and figure things out along with him- like who the bomber is. And sometimes he does crazy things because who cares- he's going to blow up anyway.

While I liked the suspense and thought the movie had a cool hook, I didn't really think that it was believable. The whole concept just isn't possible to me. And then the end- when they show where Colter's body is…I mean the whole thing just isn't plausible.

And then I was upset because of how Colter was being treated. Frankly, he wasn't being treated any better than a lab rat. This is the most upsetting thing for me in the movie. I mean, you have a decorated solider whose bravery and clear distress at not knowing if his men were safe was tangible. They treated him horribly, using him and not giving him any peace. I don't really want to go into details because it gives away parts of the movie.

I will say that my favorite quote in the movie was when the scientist guy asks Colter if he wants to be service to his country. Colter says something like "I always thought one death was service enough." Indeed. It just makes me shudder that the government might try something like this on a solider – on anyone.

Colleen Goodwin (played by Vera Farmiga) was one of my most favorite characters. At first you see this woman who was dedicated to her job, mostly unfeeling about Colter's obvious distress. It makes you hate her. I mean how can you turn down a man who is begging to talk to his father? He isn't asking for much but she completely turns that compassionate side off. But then, throughout the course of the movie you can see her begin to shift and change, you can see that even she isn't as hardened to Colter as you might have believed. In fact, in my eyes she becomes every bit of a hero as Colter. For me, her actions at the end of the movie make some of the injustice and frustration I was feeling go away. (Which, wheew, that was a good thing because I was about to break out the Gin!)

Overall, the movie was entertaining. It was a nail biter and Gyllenhaal was easy to look at. It was kind of unbelievable but it really didn't need to be. I would recommend this movie for any action junkies, hottie seekers, and people who like an entertaining ride.

Will you get high blood pressure when watching this movie? Maybe. If you take blood pressure medicine be sure to load up before you hit play. Or just have a drink at your elbow (No, I am not advocating getting drunk, I said ONE drink). I would say do not watch this movie if you have already had a high strung day and want to relax, because you won't be able to.

Go forth and watch Source Code and then tell me what you thought of movie and then ponder this…

What would you do if you had one minute left to live?

So there you have it. My opinion.

This review is written by Cambria Hebert

Season of the Witch

Title: Season of the Witch

Director: Dominic Sena

Rating: PG-13

Format: DVD released July 2011

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Ron Perlman

Season of the Witch is about this dude (played by Nicholas Cage) who is a Knight for the church. The movie is set back in the AD times so it was a long time ago when they fought in chain mail and carried swords. Instead of a general they were lead by a priest who stood around and spouted bible stuff as they fought and killed those who opposed the bible and God. (At least that's my take on the movie)

So one day, the warrior got tired of killing innocents and he and his loyal friend walked. They were labeled deserters. In the first town they came to, they were thrown in jail. But, because of their Knight status they were offered a deal. (Note:they were offered said deal by some Priest or Bishop who had contacted "the plague" and he looked gross).

The deal was to transport a witch who they thought was responsible for a deadly plague that was sweeping every village she passed by. They were to transport her to another city where the monk had the only surviving copy of a holy book. The monks would then read something out of the book over her and exorcise her witchness.

At first the two Knights refuse but then Cage decides to accept and asks the witch be given a fair trial.

So the two Knights set off with a guide a priest and a stowaway, carting a witch in a cage. Is she a witch, really? And what of all these things that keep happening to them along their route? Will they make it to the monks and will the plague be stopped from sweeping the villages and killing innocents everywhere?

Do you believe in witches?

I didn't think I would like this movie. I hadn't planned to watch it but a friend let me borrow it so I did. Oh. My. This movie wasn't really what I suspected but then again I wasn't really expecting anything. Yeah, that about sums it up. Everyone following? Good.

First, off let me say this movie is pretty action packed, and I don't mean like car chases and explosions. I mean like creepy action. What is creepy action you ask? It's the kind of action that keeps you watching because you just know that something creepy is about to happen and also that you know not everyone is what they appear.

I'll give you an example. The opening of the movie is back in the day (like a long, long time ago) and there were three women being hanged for being witches. There is a priest and he is reading from some ancient holy book and then these thugs (yup there were thugs back in the day) push these ladies off the bridge and then caput. They're dead.

Or are they? Ooohhhhhhh.

See the thugs untie the ladies and drop them into the river but the priest wants them pulled out so he can read something out of his fancy book and banish their evilness. Well the thugs are tired of working and want to go get a pint of ale. (No they don't actually say that, but what else do thugs do after they kill three ladies?)

Anywhoo, night falls (of course the priest waits til dark, duh) and the priest gets the women and starts  reading (yeah, he has good  eyesight in  the dark) well  one lady is  NOT  happy and – surprise – she really was a witch and she comes flying out the water looking all ugly and stuff and she gets the priest.

Damn thugs. Should've done what they should have.

So that's the beginning and it was creepy! But it was good. It's probably my favorite part of the movie, just because it really grabs you and makes you watch.

So after that I was ready to watch. And can I just say that at first I didn't recognize Nicholas Cage? He looks old in this movie. Like really old. And dirty, too. But they all looked dirty. I think that is because of the time period of the movie, you know dirt floors, carts and horses, blacksmiths….

I thought ol' Mr. Cage did a good job portraying a jaded Knight who killed on behalf of the church until one day he decided that he was tired of killing. Who can blame him? So leaves the battlefield with his trusted friend and they are labeled deserters. He doesn't want to work for the church anymore because they act like bible beaters. But he accepts one last job.

Why? Because he is human. And his humanity is screaming at him to try and right the wrongs that he had committed. He was a good character with depth. Was it original depth? Not really but it was there and he did a good job portraying a guilt stricken warrior. He also showed loyalty and leadership.

That brings me to the witch. A young girl who I spent half the movie wondering if she was a witch or she wasn't…until I knew for sure. Want to know? Watch the movie.

I thought the story line was good and it had good graphics. The setting itself was very believable and so were the costumes that the people wore. I couldn't help but marvel at their clothes, the layer upon layers that these people wore to stay warm and protect against the elements. And also the chain mail that the warriors wore. I sat there wondering just how heavy that stuff really was to wear. I also felt the hardship that the people who lived back then must have felt (the movie wasn't about their hardship but I saw it anyway) and how they lived mostly out of necessity and not enjoyment. I mean, they ate when they could and showered hardly ever.

I enjoyed the forest scene with the wolves…who turned ugly and snarling.

The fight scenes were all really good and the ending had a twist. I hadn't expected it to end the way it had but the ending still seemed logical. More logical than the usual happily ever after. So was the ending happily ever after? Maybe. Watch it and see what you think.

It wasn't a scary movie but it was creepy. I would recommend this if you like fantasy type movies, if you like some battle scenes (the movie isn't overly graphic but there is killing) and you like to try and figure out the plot as the movie goes along.

This wasn't my most favorite movie but it had some good points and you know it was an easy watch. I didn't look at the clock wondering when it would be over. It went by fast (its 95 minutes) and it isn't drug out and very long. So, if you had a long week, want something to take you out of your head and still want to catch a full night's sleep, watch this.

So there you have it. My opinion.

This review is written by Cambria Hebert

Hex Hall

Title: Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Hyperion Press, 2010

Format: Paperback, Ebook

Genre: Fantasy/ Young Adult

ISBN: 1423121309

Sophia Mercer is a witch. But she isn't a very good one. All her spells tend to be disastrous and leave people pointing and screaming. So much for blending in and not drawing attention to herself. She never has lived in a place long enough to make a real friend and her dad has been MIA for her entire life. Granted, he has an excuse. He's a powerful warlock.

When a good prom night goes bad because Sophie does yet another bad spell, her dad sentences her to Hex Hall, a super exclusive boarding school for wayward prodigium. For anyone not up on the lingo, prodigium is another term for faeries, witches and shape-shifters.

Sophie doesn't want to go and her first day just hammers home her feelings. She finds herself almost attacked by a werewolf, the enemy of three hot witches and a mega crush on a guy that is totally out of her league. Did I mention that her new roomie is a vamp? The only vamp on campus, so there goes any chance of getting any sleep.

But all of these obstacles seem minor when Sophie learns that there is some kind of predator attacking the students. It turns out there is some kind of ancient secret society that wants to wipe any and all prodigium off the face of the earth…

And they are starting with Sophie.

I have heard nothing but good things about this book. When I started reading this book I didn't read any reviews, I didn't read the blurb on the back of the book, nothing. I went in blind and just wanted to enjoy the story and let the characters unfold before me. And it didn't disappoint. I really liked this book.

I was a little surprised at first because the story line seemed a little predictable…girl goes off to a boarding school for kids like her and makes enemies with the popular girl and develops a crush on an untouchable guy…and while that is the plot it was still told in a fresh way. The book wasn't predictable, and I kept reading to see what would happen.

I like Sophie, she is a great main character. She not only struggles with normal teenage angst but also has to deal with the fact that she is a witch who can't seem to do a spell right. I find it endearing that she uses her spells to try and help people but she lacks the maturity to see that her ideas aren't helping anyone – just causing trouble. She's an innocent who doesn't really know she's innocent.

Archer was a character that I liked as well, having the "bad boy with a good side" down pat. I even like the headmistress of the school and how she tried to be stern and impartial when it came to Sophie but she never quite got there.

I have to say though that one of my favorite characters was one that wasn't in the book enough. Cal. He is some yummy goodness. I found myself wanting Sophie to forget about Archer and follow Cal. I would have. He was a big beefy man with that sober exterior but who would smile or light up his eyes just enough to make you realize that there was some melt-worthy stuff inside of him, I for one pray there is LOTS more of Cal in the next book.

I can't really get into the plot too awful much because I don't want to give anything away, but this book is worth the read. It's an easy read. The author writes well and her words flow together creating chapters that go right by. She gives enough description so that the reader gets to know the surroundings and really fall into the pages and forget the outside world.

The setting of the book was cool too. I liked the juxtaposition of the boarding house, seemingly ugly in the middle of a beautiful island. I mean, what witches (who can turn anything pretty) live in a patched together, ugly boarding house?

As I said before, Hex Hall takes some unexpected turns and the reader realizes that not everyone is who they say they are. There is some bad stuff going down and Sophie is at the center. All I want to know now is what's going to happen next?

I will be reading Demonglass immediately because I want to know.

So there you have it. My opinion.

This review is written by Cambria Hebert