The Best of 2012 Tag!

As its New Year’s Eve (that is of course depending on when you read this) so as this year comes to a close I thought I would do another tag, for the best of 2012 as we welcome in the New Year.

So here goes:

BEAUTY:

1. Face product?

Favourite face product of the year has got to be Collection 2000's Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear concealer in fair. It matches my skin tone, covers all my blemishes and is great value for money coming in under £5.

2. Cheek product?

I don't really wear any blusher or bronzer so I don't have one :)

3. Eye product?

I'm cheating on this one because I have 2! First is Max Factors Masterpiece Max high definition mascara it's slightly more expensive than the likes of Maybelline or Rimmel Mascara's because it's £9.99 but it's worth it, I have long eyelashes but they are poker straight this is the only Mascara I have used that holds the curl in my lashes after I've curled them.

The second is another Max Factor product and it's the Max Effect Trio eye shadow in 01 Coco Crazy, I tend to wear brown shades during the day and I bought this on a whim it has a light medium and a dark shade the pigmentation is good and it's not too expensive at £6.99. You can get cheaper but the quality tends to not be as good.

4. Lip Product?

Okay I'm going to sound like a Max Factor addict right now but my favourite lip product is a Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in the shade Lilac Wine, it's a pretty purple shade with gold shimmer in it, and it goes on smoothly and lasts a long time.

5. Skincare Product?

Favourite skin care product I have to say my Witch Hazel cleansing lotion because I love it but since I've been home for the holidays my mum let me use some of her Liz Earle superbarm because I had a couple bad spots within a day of having this product on it had taken down the redness and dried it up it is quite literally a miracle product.

6. Nail Polish?

I got some new nail polishes for Christmas that I love but I'm not going to choose one of them because I only just got it, but my favourite is a Revlon Colorstay one in the shade Bold Sangria, it is a deep dark purple colour that looks amazing on the nails.

7. Hair product?

Without a doubt for years now my Holy Grail hair product is John Frieda's frizz ease serum, it has tamed my frizz like nothing else and I don't what I would do without it.

8. Body product/Perfume

My favourite perfume is one for Escada's 20 year celebration (they brought out three) it is the blue one called Island Kiss and it smells amazing! Light, fruity, summery it brightens my day every time I wear it.

FASHION:

9. Clothing piece?

If this is a what clothes’ do you wear most often it would have to be my Manchester United shirts because I wear one at least once a week, but it's actually a light grey cardigan that I've had for years, it's comfortable, keeps me warm and I'm forever wearing it.

10. Accessory?

Without a doubt my favourite accessory is my Thomas Sabo charm bracelet that I got for my birthday this year, I wear it pretty much every day.

11. Pair of shoes?

I'm not really one of those girls that own hundreds of pairs of shoes, generally just something comfortable like a pair of boots or trainers.

RANDOM:

12. Favourite TV Show/Movie?

Favourite TV Show would be Vampire Diaries only because the season 3 finale was epic and they finally did what I wanted them to do which I won’t say here because I don't want to spoil it, and my favourite Movie is Avengers Assemble because it was just EPIC!

13. Favourite book?

I don't know! I can't pick just one! One would have to be Insurgent by Veronica Roth, another The Selection by Kiera Cass, Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard, look let’s just say there's a lot this list goes on for quite some time, it's rare I hate a book (*cough* *cough* Beautiful Creatures *cough* yes I've seen the films coming out but the book bored me to tears so PASS on that one thanks)

14. Food?

Walkers Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli crisps the most addictive crisps I have ever tasted. Yum!

15. Beverage?

I'm inclined to say Pepsi Max because it's pretty much all I drink all year round because I'm a caffeine addict! But I also love a good cup of tea and you can't be a Hazelnut Latte!

16. Favourite song?

Ermm? I hope it doesn't have to be one that was released this year..

Okay I don't think this song was even released as a single but it's on an album it exists so I'm counting it and its Meter and Verse by Young Guns! I've listened to it nonstop this past year!

So that is my best of 2012, leave a comment if you like saying what your favourites are!

I hope you've all had a great holiday season and I wish you all the best for the New Year! See you soon!

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The Selection by Kiera Cass: A Review

Okay so though this will be scheduled to be posted at a reasonable hour I'm going to let it be known that I'm writing this at 2:50am having just put the book down. If the rest of my family weren't asleep I think I would be screaming to the high heavens on my hands and knees begging Kiera Cass to make America and Maxon happen!

But let's rewind because that definitely needs explaining!

So the book I am reviewing today is another that I received for Christmas and another that I've had my eye on for a while for one Kiersten White author of Paranormalcy describes it as a dystopian fairy tale and to be perfectly blunt there could not be a more perfect book for me to read! Dystopian fiction? Love it! Fairy tales? Hello I'm 18 and I’m still head over heels in love with the Disney films I was raised on!

Okay let's just get this out there:

How beautiful is that cover? Well I think it’s gorgeous props to whoever designed it they pulled me in and made me want to be the girl on the cover!

Anyway down to the book. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

"For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

 Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined."

So where do I begin, well for starters the plot isn't particularly strong and it seemed a bit slow going at first but it picked up the pace in the second half only for you to be hit with the WHAM "End of Book One" which equals me being devastated. (Okay slightly dramatic I will admit but it just seemed a little bit sudden of a place to end it)

Okay aside from all that I truly enjoyed this book, I fell head over heels in love with Prince Maxon, and just wish that Aspen would BACK OFF!! You had your chance boy now it's Max's turn! Ah here comes the part that bugs me . . .  that dreaded love triangle that I loathe so much I wrote a post about it which you can read by CLICKING HERE. I was happy that Aspen appeared at the start then left, devastated that he reappeared, but I guess it was inevitable but because I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale I will read the second book and just pray that America and Maxon come to their senses and just pick each other.

Side note: honestly America if you don't want Prince Maxon I'll gladly take him off your hands!

I like this book it's a good soft romantic tale perhaps not quite Young Adult, I feel it may have made too much of a point of avoiding describing violence amongst other things which perhaps may gain more focus in the sequel which I hope it does.

However having read the synopsis for the sequel I get this horrible feeling that America chooses Max and that this disaster that happens whatever it is then drives her back into the arms of Aspen. I pray I'm wrong! Please let it be the other way around!

Okay I wanted to avoid sounding like a crazed fan girl which it would seem I failed at but what can you do. I fell in love with the story I'm a sucker for fairy tales I just wish that Aspen's involvement had ended when America left for the Selection and then I would really love the story as such my distain for the Love Triangle plot device refrains me from giving this book 5 stars, but I will hold out hope for at least some partial resolution in the sequel. At least America wasn't talking about how much she wanted to be with Maxon throughout the book only to undermine it by running straight back to Aspen like most love triangles so I applaud Miss Cass for that, I lose respect for a character that undermines themselves. America remains confused and I can deal with that for now.

Book 2 is due for release in April 2013 and I am rocking back and forth with want for that book.

Until then if you love fairy tales like me give the book a shot it may just surprise you I didn't expect to like it as much as I did!

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Book Talk - Divergent by Veronica Roth

Sixteen year-old Beatrice Prior lives in dystopian Chicago, where people are separated into the five factions, Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), and Erudite (the intelligent). Every year the sixteen year-old's of the community must decide whether they want to remain in the faction they were born or whether to switch factions and leave their entire family behind. Whatever they choose they will have to denounce the views of the other factions and devote themselves to their chosen faction for the rest of their lives. For Beatrice she must decide between her family and the person she really is, she can't pick both.  So she makes a choice that shocks everyone, including herself.

What follows is the highly competitive initiation processes were Beatrice has the opportunity to create a new name for herself, she chooses Tris. Alongside her fellow initiates she at first struggles to cope with her choice. As a group they must take part in extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations which for some will have devastating consequences. The initiation will change every single one of them and Tris must determine who her friends really are and if a romance between her and her 18 year old instructor a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy would now fit in to the life that she had chosen.

But Tris has a deep and dangerous secret, one she was warned could mean her death so she hid it from everyone. As her initiation continues she discovers unrest and growing conflict that will threaten to unravel the seemingly perfect society she inhabits, she also learns that the secret she's fought so desperately to keep hidden  might help her to save those that she loves . . . or it might just destroy her first.

First the cover, I'm not sure if this is a newish addition, but it is different to the hard back; however that said I think this paperback version is beautiful.

My first opinion is on the cover, I held off buying this book for a while because everywhere I looked I could only get it in hardback, being cheapskate I waited for the release of the paperback which came in the form of this a cover strikingly different to its hardback counterpart and frankly more beautiful too.

This book as with many that belong to similar genres was marketed as being "the next...." whatever was huge then in this case it was compared to the Hunger Games. I disagree however it's clear it's just for marketing the similarities begin and end in the fact that both books belong to the dystopian genre.

Honestly I think I actually prefer Divergent to the Hunger Games. Beatrice 'Tris' is as Four describes her "tough as nails" Tris embraced her choice whole heartedly. She chooses to switch factions to Dauntless (the brave) she never succumbs to cowardice. Roth's character development is without doubt some of the best on offer in the YA world and I found myself relating to Tris more than I related to any other character, the depth that Roth goes to in fleshing out her character means you understand all the choices that she makes.

As you read you find yourself falling in love with Four as Tris does and let's be honest he's not a hard guy to love. He was a character shrouded in mystery; he wanted to live his life using the beliefs of all the factions’ not just one. But we constantly wonder who he is, and Roth doesn't disappoint when the mystery is finally revealed.

Though this book is part of a trilogy it doesn't really have any unanswered questions and you could finish Divergent and be happy never reading any further in the series if you chose.  It's a resolute ending that had an enticing cliff hanger but it doesn't end abruptly and doesn't leave you pining for the next book more intrigued. Yet it is Roth's talent that makes me want to delve deeper into the world that she created.

The story itself didn't seem at all too far-fetched as some dystopian tales can seem it feels as though the world the characters live in could actually happen.

It is a book that I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of Young Adult novels and even more Dystopian ones.

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Book Review: The Declaration by Gemma Malley

This book was one that I bought with some money I received for Christmas. I'd been thinking about buying this book for a while and I know they say not to judge a book by its cover but the minute I saw the re-release version I snapped it up as quick as I could. (I pretty much despised the original cover).

Okay so The Declaration is a dystopian novel set in the year 2140. In this world, people have stopped dying. Whilst scientists looked for cures to the worlds big diseases like cancer they released the drugs they developed could also put a stop to ageing. They named the drug longevity.

As a result people were no longer allowed to have children unless they opted out of taking the drug they called it a life for a life. But there were those who still wanted to have Children it is stated that in some countries these children are simply 'put down' but in this country they are sent to Surplus halls were they are trained and beaten into submission to become a diligent work force for the people who are known as Legals in order to repent for the sins of their parents who are sent to prison.

Anna is a Pending Surplus who lives at Grange Hall and is coming to the end of her training before she is sent to work for a Legal, the House Matron tells her that she could become a valuable asset should she continue to follow the rules and 'know her place'. She hates her parents and deems them selfish for the crimes they committed she feels she deserves the life she has been dealt and doesn't challenge anything that is expected of her. Her orderly life however is soon thrown in to chaos when she is charged with looking after a new surplus by the name of Peter. He claims that he knows her parents and that everything she has ever been told is a lie. His plan is to escape and take her with him to her parents. He wants Anna to leave her existence as a Surplus behind her and escape with him back to the outside world. If she accepts her life will constantly be in danger as people try to track her down where is they find she could be simply sent home or she could be killed.

It would be safer for all involved in she stayed put at Grange Hall and lived the life that was planned for her by the authorities. But Anna is soon forced to make a decision but will she listen to her heart and go with Peter in search of her parents or will she stay safe in the grey dark corridors of Grange Hall destined to be a slave for life.

The Declaration is and eerie book that kept me gripped until I finished which was around 5:30 am it was a gripping tale that spoke of the importance of family and love and raised ethical questions of would be write to live in a world where everyone lives forever and no one is born.

Malley's writing makes the book especially creepy as she makes you believe that this is an event that could happen what with it being set in the not too distant future.

As with all YA novels of the day there is the romance, the peril the good guys and the bad guys. And who could forget the pre-requisite twist that every book has to keep the reader hooked. It has certainly hooked me and I will be buying the sequel very soon.

If you’re looking for an exciting new dystopian novel but you've read the like of Divergent and The Hunger Games this is the book for you. It has been out longer than those two but hasn't yet received the recognition it so clearly deserves.

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The Christmas Tag!

So recently, I've been a bit addicted to watching random videos on YouTube Tags are normally done that way but who says I can't do one here! So here we go!!

1. Do you like to stay in your PJ's, or dress up for Christmas?

It's become a tradition in recent years in my family that we go on a walk up Rivington Pike (this is near where I live) so I can't really stay in my PJ's though I wish I could!

2. If you could only buy one person a present this year who would it be?

I'd by my momma a present because I love her (plus if it wasn't for her I wouldn't get presents on Christmas either) I mean let’s say I get a necklace, I’ll be wearing it six months later when my dad will remark, when did you get that? *Face Palm* anyway Dad's job in house is to make Christmas dinner, so he's excused.

3. Do you open your presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

Christmas morning! You've waited this long to open your presents can't you wait one more night. That being said last year my family were in Florida and we planned to go to the Magic Kingdom park for Christmas day, knowing that we would have to get up early to get there before they shut the entrance because the park was full we made the unanimous decision to open our presents on Christmas Eve.

4. Have you ever built a Gingerbread house?

Yes! It was a couple of years ago. It was yummy but we made it too early and put too many decorations on so it kind of collapsed. (Still tasted good though)

5. What do you like to do on your Christmas break?

I like to lounge around the house relaxing, spend time with my family watch Christmas movies, make mince pies and chocolate yule log. Wrap all my presents. The usual stuff really.

6. Favourite Christmas meal or treat?

My dad got this little recipe card from Boot's a few years ago but he only made it for the first time last year. It was for Parmesan Parsnips and literally they are high on my list of things I'm lucky forward to. You know aside from eating my body weight in chocolate all day...

7. What's your favourite holiday movie?

I've always loved Beauty and the Beast's Enchanted Christmas. Last year because we were going away for the holidays we only had one tree up so I made the decision that all the baubles we owned had to go on the tree because of how sad the baubles looked in that film when they thought Christmas wasn't going to happen that ear. (Yes I have the brain of a 6 year old) I also love The Muppets Christmas Carol.

8. Candy Canes or Gingerbread Men?

 I'm not really a fan of mint in general, I'll eat candy canes but I've always loved gingerbread.

9. Have you ever made a Snowman?

 Yes! We make one every time it snows in fact here's a picture of one that we made...

10. Which do you like better, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Though I love Christmas Eve because of the anticipation and I get to start baking my Chocolate Yule Log, Christmas day has always held a special place in my heart it's my favourite time of year. (:

11. White lights, or coloured lights?

White lights easily. In my eyes the only acceptable coloured lights are multi-coloured ones no offence to someone who lives on my street but I do not understand how your entirely purple lights are at all Christmassy, I am not a fan.

Trailer Talk!

If you didn't already know next year there will be two films released that are adaptations of popular Young Adult novels. Those Films are the The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and The Host.

Now both films have recently had trailers released, and as a fan of both books I couldn't wait to see how they would translate on film, so to say I was pretty excited to watch the trailers would be an understatement.

So without further ado in case you haven't seen them yet, here are the trailers, I suggest watching them before you read my reviews on them (:

Okay so I'll start with the Mortal Instruments.

1)Initial Reaction: I screamed like a fan girl, I had been waiting for this trailer all week watching the countdown grow smaller on the Facebook page, needless to say I was happy.

2) How do I feel now: Personally I'm still not entirely sold on Jamie Campbell Bower playing Jace, it's stupid but Jace is pretty much described as being swoon worthy and he's just not swoon worthy however there were a few scenes, in the trailer that made me feel like despite the whole 'looks' thing that he was Jace. For instance the look he gives Clary after she screams in the club, the badass flip on to the table amongst others. Clary well I liked the casting of Lily Collins from the start so I have no problems here. Simon is cute. The effects though this is just a teaser trailer and they only just finished filming look amazing! I’m assuming the woman floating above the bed was Clary’s mother? I’m not sure. Why does Isabelle have flame thrower? Sure it looks badass but her weapon of choice is a gold whip. Why are Isabelle and Alec at the Hotel Dumort, I’m pretty sure that’s what that scene is, isn’t it just supposed to be Jace and Clary? Minor grievances that I’m sure will be cleared up with a full length trailer. I may just go and watch this trailer again… and again.

3)When is it released?: So this film is due for release in August next year, it's a long way off yet and a feel it will be a while before we get our next sneak peek most likely it will be at the MTV movie awards or something like that.

4) Would I see the film based on trailer alone?: Okay so forgetting that I loved the book, yes I probably would because it showed variety in the trailer it hinted at the relationship of Jace and Clary, it showed a Silent Brother, we saw Valentine and a lot of pretty scary Demons to, so yes I would see this film based on the trailer alone.

5)Overall Score: I give this trailer an 8/10 purely because I want to see more, I love what I saw but being an insane fan girl over this series I want a full length trailer as soon as possible.

Next on to the Host.

1) Initial Reaction: What the F is this? I didn't like it, not one bit; I was extremely disappointed, which upset me because I was really looking forward to it.

2) How do I feel now: I still don't like it, I've watched it a few more time after my initial viewing and it still bothers me? I don't like that they focused so much of the trailer on the relationship between Melanie and Jared. I mean the first bit of the trailer had Melanie saying this is the beginning of a Love Story. No it isn't! At least it shouldn't be. They are turning this book into another Twilight which it isn't! There is more to the book than the relationships, there has been an Alien invasion, and this is about how those who have avoided being 'possessed' by the aliens survive in an infested world. It's about Melanie and how she fights against the Alien that is placed in her body. To me, the relationship is pretty much secondary and I didn't like that it was the focal point of the trailer. Also I still don't the casting of Melanie, she's supposed be strong and tough she looks really weak and kind of girly I don't get it, the actress cast seems more suited to the person Wanda's soul gets moved into at the end of the film.

3)When is it released?: This film is due for release in March next year, which is why we now have a full length trailer for it, I doubt we are going to get another trailer perhaps a few clips of the film here and there as the release date draws close.

4)Would I see the film based on trailer alone?: No I wouldn't, if I was just an ordinary person, who had stumbled across the trailer, having never read the book, I would think it's a cheesy love story with aliens thrown in and I wouldn't waste money on a cinema ticket to see it. I was that disappointed by the trailer.

5)Overall Score: I give this trailer a grand total of 4/10, I like the seeker, I liked the chase scenes, I liked the shot at the end when Melanie walks up to the mirror as Jared asks if she is still in there, like it shows there are two people inside that body. I didn't like anything else about it. It was very disappointing.

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Some-things you may not know about Walt Disney Animation!

"If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse." - Walter Elias Disney

Mickey Mouse was born on a train ride from New York back to Hollywood. Walt Disney had just lost the rights to Oswald Lucky Rabbit to Universal. Had Mickey Mouse not appeared then the huge Disney Conglomerate you see today would not exist. It's also true that when Walt needed funding and distribution help for his Mickey Mouse cartoons Universal attempted to get Mickey Mouse from him too, but Walt wouldn't back down quite so easily this time. Mickey Mouse was the saving grace of Disney that started it all.

It turned out to be third time lucky for Mickey. Steam boat Willie wasn’t the first Mickey Mouse cartoon. It was the third but it was the first to become a success. The short films weren’t picking up the pace the way that Walt had hoped, so he began experimenting with sound on cartoons. After many failed attempts he met Pat Powers. Powers had developed a technology named Cinephone the only sound system that could produce what Walt Disney wanted for his beloved Mickey Mouse. With the help of Powers Steamboat Willie became the first animated cartoon to feature a fully synchronised soundtrack.

However, things took a turn for the worse when Roy Disney (Walt’s older brother) discovered Powers had been keeping money the Disney’s and when the contract with Powers was terminated, Powers went on to threaten to sue any studio who distributed a Walt Disney creation. And in addition he prised away Walt Disney’s friend, helping hand/ Chief animator, Ub Iwerks - who was known to have spent tireless hours drawing frame after frame of Mickey Mouse cartoons so that Walt could meet his deadlines - thinking that without Ub, Walt Disney Animation would soon crumble. But that never happened, because Harry Cohn head of Columbia Pictures was a ruthless man who wasn’t even frightened away by Powers, he told the Columbia legal team to fight any attempt from Powers to prevent Columbia distributing Walt Disney’s work and once again Walt Disney Studios were saved.

Eventually the time came when Walt was no longer satisfied by the success of his animated shorts (Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies) he wanted more, he wanted to create something bigger.  This was when he decided it was time to make his first animated feature that was Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

Towards the end of 1937 after nearly three years of trial, experimentation and artistic and financial crises production of Snow White seemed to be finally nearing completion. In December of 1937 Disney held a preview screening for Snow White. And from its opening night Snow White drew capacity crowds and raves from the critics The New York Times called it one of the ten best films of the year. By the end of its first week Snow White had become one of the must see films of the year, and in the 1939 at the Academy Awards ceremony Walt Disney was given a second Special Award a full size Oscar and seven small ones, for the films ‘significant screen innovation which has charmed and pioneered a great new entertainment field for the motion picture cartoon”

Snow White Oscar

After Walt passed it's easy to forget that Disney animation went through a tough time. Everyone remembers the success of the likes of the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, but those success didn't come without trials, and bitter disappointments. Perhaps seen as the pinnacle of the 'dark days' of Disney Animation is the Black Cauldron, Not only did it take much long to make than first thought, but it came in millions over budget and to make matters worse was beat out at the box office by the Care Bears Movie it failed to make back the money that the studio had spent on it.

The animation department was slowly crashing and burning whilst live action was thriving and eventually the Animators were evicted for the old Ink and Paint studio to make more room for the live action department.

But the administration of Michael Eisner would see a shift in quality and style in Disney feature animation. Disney features soon became bombastic animated musicals, using music as well as high-quality animation to attract audiences. This coincided with the introduction of computer-aided animation techniques, the first of which was CAPS in the late 1980s. Also playing a role was Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a non-canon Disney-produced film with both live action and animated element that helped re-spark interest in Disney animation.

Beginning in 1988 with Oliver & Company, Disney released a string of profitable and enduring blockbusters. The next five films including 1989's The Little Mermaid (the first Disney animated film as a fairy-tale for 30 years), 1991's Beauty and the Beast, 1994's The Lion King would each win the Academy Award for Best Original Score. The Lion King still stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated feature ever made, being the top money-maker among all films in North America in 1994. The last Disney feature to be made using traditional techniques was Home on the Range in 2004 after Disney sold off all their traditional equipment in order to keep up with the likes of DreamWorks and Blue Sky Studios. The first 3D animation film was Chicken Little in 2005 and followed by Meet the Robinsons and Bolt.

The transition to CGI was not enough to renew interest in Disney animation as Disney's features were routinely outperformed by those of corporate partner Pixar, whom Disney had contracted to create CGI films originally. In response to this, Disney purchased Pixar in 2006.

On November 24, 2010, Disney's 50th animated motion picture, Tangled, Disney's first 3D-animated fairy-tale, was released. Tangled spent six years in production at a cost that has been estimated at $260 million which, if accurate, would make it the most expensive animated film ever made and second most expensive movie of all time.

  

Over the years Disney animation has been at the heart of many people’s younger years as they grew up with the films.  But this isn’t the end for Disney Animation as Disney have now released their 51st animated feature in the form of Winnie the Pooh and the 52nd was released on November 2nd 2012 under the title Wreck It Ralph.

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The Immortals Series by Alyson Noël - A Review

First things first, meet the books:  Evermore, Blue Moon, Shadowland, Dark Flame, Night Star, and Everlasting.

Together these six books make up the Immortals Series; they also make up some of the pile of books that I regret buying. The fact of the matter is I only enjoyed two, maybe three of these books. The rest I could've done without, they were wasteful and there seemed little point to them other than to drag the story out for longer than need be.

Basically for those who haven't read these books, they revolve around Ever and Damon for the most part. Two souls destined to be together in all lives that they are reborn in. In other words, this book is based on the idea of souls, and when the body dies the soul moves on to another body. Each soul has a soul mate. Ever and Damen are soul mates, well they would be if Damen hadn't made himself immortal 600 years previously. In the first book we learn that Ever died. But Damen brought her back to life with "the immortal juice" because he was distraught at losing her over and over again (basically every time he found her again in a new life she died pretty soon after). So this time he stopped it from happening. You'd think that would they could be together happily ever after forever right? No. There are five more books to contend with.

I don't want to go into too much detail as to what else happens in between the first and last books. Basically at the end of the first book Ever has forgiven Damen for what he did to her (in making her an immortal). Move on to book 2, something happens to Damen, I won’t say what, Ever has to save him, I won’t say how. But to save she has to make a sacrifice that causes a problem. This problem is not resolved until the very end on the last book. That means three or four books are focused on correcting ONE problem, and it drove me nuts, but being the person I am and not wanting to give up on something I’ve started, I continued to read them.

I know a lot of people love these books, I did too. I loved the first and I loved the last. The ones in between did nothing but frustrate and bore me. In essence, I don't like this series very much. The problem here I think (and I mean no disrespect to the Author) is that someone signs a book deal for a certain amount of books, sometimes it works and you can find enough plot lines and idea's to keep the reader interested for that length of time. This series just felt a bit lazy to me. Yes there a few background plots going on in each book that gave you a little something extra but ultimately it was just ONE big problem for the entire series. I personally wouldn't recommend these books, but that doesn't mean you should not buy them, every person is different. Just because I didn't enjoy them doesn't mean that you won’t either. Give them a chance if you want but borrow one off a friend or get it from the library first would be my suggestion.

[Side Note: This author is fond of the term ‘tingle and heat’ when Ever is describing how it feels when she and Damen touch. It can get a bit repetitive and annoying; it’s said multiple times in every book. However this is just a trend of Young Adult books these days with terms like ‘electricity’ and ‘sparks’. Damen even goes as far as telling Ever that when they hold their hands close that ‘tingle’ she feels is the energy between them, as two people who are meant for each other.]

Until next time . . . . 

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My Problem With Young Adult Novels.

Recently I've noticed that there seems to be an on-going trend of one particular plot device going on in the majority of young adult books, whether their genre is paranormal, dystopia or just plain chick lit. That plot device is the love triangle. It's highly annoying.

For example I think it was last year I bought Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini I liked the idea behind the modern retelling of the Iliad. The overall story was really good and ultimately I enjoyed it, I didn't like that it ended with the same cliff hanger as that of the first mortal instruments  book does [SPOILER - if you haven't read either] the idea that the two main characters who you've been cheering for to be together all the way through are somehow related, when actually they aren't (stupid idea if you ask me I don't see the point in this except to frustrate the reader). However I like the book and I wanted to read on so I patiently waited a year for the release of the sequel. Then I went on Good Reads and saw the dreaded plot of LOVE TRIANGLE. I wanted to throw my laptop across the room. Safe to say I haven't even bought this book yet, I don't want to read it. My biggest problem with this concept of a Love Triangle is that it completely undermines everything Helen says to Lucas in the first book and I quote:

 '"Correction, you're a jealous idiot, and that has to change right now," Helen replied seriously, still feeling light-headed, but fighting her way through it.
 "You have no reason to be Jealous. I told you that I don’t want anyone but you. I never have."' 

And then there's also:
 '"Just so you know? Just so we're clear. I care about you too. And if this hug is all I can have, I’d prefer it over anything from anyone else.'"
Now if you ask me, you can't have two characters like that being practically "devoted" to each other but then throw in a love triangle. I want to know how the story ends, so who knows maybe I'll read the last book. I haven't decided yet.

A similar situation occurred with the book Blood Red Road by Moira Young, it's a fantastic first book, and I absolutely loved it. I liked how the main characters problem wasn't about falling in love; she was trying to save her brother. Obviously there is a bit of a love story in there and it's really sweet, but then what happens?  I go on Good Reads and I see this:

Yayy another love triangle that I really don't understand because of quotes like this from the first book:

"Are we ever gonna see him agin? says Emmi.
One day I says.
One day soon says Tommo.
I hope so, I says."
I mean clearly Saba wants to see Jack again, she misses him she loves him, he loves her, what exactly is this news about Jack that it talks about that makes her want to sleep with someone else, when might I had she hadn't even slept with Jack yet. It just seems out of character if you ask me. This book was officially released today (30th October) I haven't decided if I'm going to read it yet. I want to, but I don't want to spend my money on a book that's going to frustrate me (I paid that price by buying all six books in the immortals series by Alyson Noel, but that's another story.)

Another problem that I have with the Love Triangle thing is that I have yet to read a book where the girl doesn't end up with the guy she met in the first book. I've never seen her pick the other one. Bella didn't pick Jacob, Ever didn't pick Jude (Immortals series). So it just seems like a waist of words to me to have a love triangle but the reader knows who she's going to end up with anyway. I actually wouldn't mind a love triangle if the girl picked the other guy, at least it would mean there was a reason for it to be included.

I have a current favourite book or books. They are Divergent and Insurgent both by Veronica Roth. I absolutely ADORE these books, I love the story the relationship is cute. Four and Tris are perfect. They have their problems with trust etc. especially in the second book, but it doesn’t lead to a love triangle. It's Four and Tris in both books there is no love triangle (YET!) book 3 is still being written, I pray Veronica Roth doesn't right one in that book, they are perfect without it. I mean [SPOILER] Both Tris's parents die in the first book, and then her brother becomes a traitor who nearly helps in killing her. I think that would be great cause for someone to go a little crazy but instead of Tris making a mistake and a love triangle forming, Four (or Tobias whatever you want to call him) takes care of her and it's so sweet
 '"I don't . . ." I sound like I am being strangled.
"My family is all dead, or traitors how can I . . ." I am not making any sense. The sobs take over my body, my mind, everything. He gathers me to him, and bathwater soaks my legs. His hold his tight. I listen to his heartbeat and, after a while, find a way to let the rhythm calm me.
"I'll be your family now," he says.
"I love you," I say."

It's not just the fact that there's no love triangle, but the story is really good, I find it fascinating, so if you're like me and are growing impatient with the seemingly never ending YA novel, Love Triangle plot line give the Divergent series a go.

That is my rant over.

No copyright infringement intended, all quotes belong to the respective authors; Josephine Angelini, Moira Young and Veronica Roth.

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