Happy Halloween

My favorite Halloween song:

I hope everyone has a fun day today!

Dark Matter

Goodreads Description:    “Are you happy with your life?” 

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. 

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. 

Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.” 

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

My Thoughts:

-    Parallel universes are like time travel. You pull it off or you don't. This one didn't pull it off. The science was sound enough, but the author took it too far.

-    The ending was ridiculous. Instead of a thought-provoking sci-fi, it was a slasher horror book. 

-    Why would a thousand Jasons end up on one single universe out of millions!? What are the chances? Why didn't some of the Jasons try to help each other get home? You'd think with that many brilliant minds, they would have helped each other out. Nope, they just went primal! LAME!

-    The writing was really good. The author definitely has a gift with words, and some of it was really beautiful. 

-    I really wish Jason had had a chance to talk to Jason 2 about everything. I felt like that conflict was passed over, and it bugged me. 

-    I would recommend passing this up. 

The Dragon Queen

From Goodreads:    When a human girl enters a portal into the land of the elves, she's in for a journey full of action, magic, and friendship!The chapter books in this series will have foil on the cover and offer enchanting adventures in a lush new world.














My Thoughts:

-    Gnome loves the Lego Elves sets, and she wants all the dragons. She and I both enjoy these Lego Elves books. 

-    I liked the first book better. I think the story was plotted out better in Quest for the Keys, but this story was still fun. 

-    It was fun to read about some of the Lego sets Gnome owns, and it was fun learning the names of the dragons. I didn't know they had names.

-    There is a little humor in the book, and I didn't find all of it amusing, but I always liked when Faran was teased. 

-    If your child likes fun adventures, these books are for you.

Previous Lego Elves Book

The Big Bad Fox

From Goodreads:    Who's afraid of the Big Bad Fox? No one, it seems.

The fox dreams of being the terror of the barnyard. But no one is intimidated by him, least of all the hens. When he picks a fight with one, he always ends up on the losing end. Even the wolf, the most fearsome beast of the forest, can't teach him how to be a proper predator. It looks like the fox will have to spend the rest of his life eating turnips.

But then the wolf comes up with the perfect scheme. If the fox steals some eggs, he could hatch the chicks himself and raise them to be a plump, juicy chicken dinner. Unfortunately, this plan falls apart when three adorable chicks hatch and call the fox Mommy.

Beautifully rendered in watercolor by Benjamin Renner, The Big Bad Fox is a hilarious and surprisingly tender parable about parenthood that's sure to be a hit with new parents (and their kids too).

My Thoughts:

-    This book was hilarious! It had me laughing out loud from beginning to end. 

-    Gnome and I both read this but not together. She thought it was really funny too. 

-    The illustrations are the best! They add a lot to the humor.

-    This was a very fun graphic novel that any age would enjoy. 

Dark Breaks the Dawn

Goodreads Description:    After a thousand years of peace, the battle between Light and Dark has resumed.

On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Éadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless. 

But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn into the throne much sooner than she expected. 

In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shape-shift, and rely on the alluring, but mysterious Lord Tanvir. Not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.

My Thoughts:

-    I enjoyed this one.

-    I love the magic system that Sara created. It is unique, but makes perfect sense, and it isn't over complicated.

-    I really liked Evelayn. She is a doer. She doesn't wait for things to happen, and she doesn't let others do things for her or in her place. She takes care of everything herself, and she really steps up and takes her responsibilities seriously. 

-    On the flip side, I was bugged that Evelayn would push herself too hard. There were people willing to help.

-    There were some slow points in the middle. I didn't like how the battle plans were completely laid out and then we had to read about them be carried out exactly how they were supposed to. I wish there had been variables, or that the plans weren't laid out for me so completely

-    The ending was really good. Even though I know the Swan Lake story, I was still mildly surprised by the ending. 

-    I'm excited to read the next book, and I'm happy that this is just a duology. It could change, but I hope it stays a duology.

Ruins

Goodreads Synopsis:    Kira, Samm, and Marcus fight to prevent a final war between Partials and humans in the gripping final installment in the Partials Sequence, a series that combines the thrilling action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Blade Runner and The Stand.

There is no avoiding it—the war to decide the fate of both humans and Partials is at hand. Both sides hold in their possession a weapon that could destroy the other, and Kira Walker has precious little time to prevent that from happening. She has one chance to save both species and the world with them, but it will only come at great personal cost.

My Thoughts:

-    This was my favorite book in the series. It wrapped up everything very nicely, and there weren't slow and dragging parts like in the previous books. 

-    The series is so thought provoking. I don't know think I could make some of the decisions that need to be made.

-    This book was action packed. It was exciting and engaging from beginning to end. I didn't know who was going to live or die. I didn't know what was going to happen next. 

-    There is a love triangle. Bleh! It doesn't dominate the story, thank goodness, but it is there. Thankfully it is handled quickly in the end.

-    Great series! 

Previous Books

 

The Burning Bridge

From Goodreads:    Bracing for a final clash with the evil warlord Morgarath, the Rangers rally the kingdom's allies, and Will is chosen, along with his friend Horace, as special envoys to nearby Celtica. But the simple mission soon takes an unsettling turn - the Celticans have disappeared, their town abandoned. The scheming hand of Morgarath, it seems, has been far from idle. He has found a way to bring his legions over the once impassible eastern mountains and is planning to ambush the king's army in a rout. Now with help many miles away, Will and Horace are the only ones standing in the way of the dark lord's plans.They have shown great skill and courage in their training, but how will they fare in the face of true evil?

With bigger battles and higher stakes, John Flanagan's epic adventure charges ahead with this rousing follow-up to The Ruins of Gorlan.

My Thoughts:

-    These books are thought out so well. The plot, the characters, the dialogue, etc. Everything is done so well. 

-    I loved the interactions between Horace and Will. These boys that used to be rivals are now close friends, and I've really enjoyed seeing their friendship developed.

-    I liked getting to know Gilan better. He is a fun character. 

-    I loved the introduction of Evanlyn, and I liked that she wasn't useless. She fit right in with Horace and Will, and she was a great asset to them. I also love her snarky personality compared to the boys. 

-    The war planning and tactics are so much fun! John Flanagan is brilliant!

-    One of my favorite things about this series is the humor. I laughed out loud several times, especially with some of Halt's shenanigans. Halt's interactions with Alice were the best!

-    The ending is very exciting and thrilling, but also a little sad. That last scene with Halt just breaks my heart. 

-    I love these books! They are one of my favorite series ever! I will own all of them someday! 

Previous Ranger's Apprentice Book

My Little Pony: The Movie

My Thoughts:

-    Gnome was pretty excited to see this, and she loved it.

-    I thought it was okay. 

-    There was WAY too much Pinkie Pie. The showcased her a lot more than the others, besides Twilight. 

-    I thought the movie was too long. I got a little bored in the middle, and I was wondering when the show would end.

-    There were too many songs. I love music and everything, but there were too many songs.

-    I wasn't a fan of the CG animation style. Twilight's face moved weird.

-    I did laugh a few times. There is a lot of humor. 

Two Truths and a Lie

Goodreads Says:    Sutton Mercer watches from the afterlife as her long-lost twin, Emma Paxton, takes over her identity to solve her murder. But after ruling out her early leads, Emma still hasn’t found Sutton’s killer. A lot of people wanted her dead—but one name keeps popping up: Thayer Vega. When the gorgeous and mysterious Thayer returns to town, Emma has to move fast to figure out whether he’s back for revenge…or if he already got it.











My Thoughts:

-    I liked how Emma was mending fences, but then her sister ruined it by having a fit. Lame!

-    I was curious about Thayer, but it turns out he was just another toy for Sutton, and Emma has to pay the consequences. 

-    I still don't know who the killer is! I'm tired of these books and the drama. I don't want to continue the series, so I'll just Google it and be done with all this! 

Previous Books

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Unique Titles

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Unique Book Titles

 
 
 
 
 

Fragments

Goodreads Synopsis:    Author Dan Wells is back with the sequel to the sci-fi blockbuster Partials, which Pittacus Lore called a "thrilling sci-fi adrenaline rush, with one of the most compelling and frightening visions of Earth's future I've seen yet."

After discovering the cure for RM, Kira Walker sets off on a terrifying journey into the ruins of postapocalyptic America and the darkest desires of her heart in order to uncover the means—and a reason—for humanity's survival.

Dan Wells extends his richly imagined, gritty world and introduces new memorable characters in this second installment in the Partials Sequence.

My Thoughts:

-    Most of the book is very slow with not a lot going on. Kira is mostly by herself, and there is a lot of traveling. 

-    I almost wanted to quit the book a couple times because NOTHING WAS HAPPENING! I'm glad I stuck with it though. The ending was awesome! 

-    I like all the characters, but I'm not sure we need all the characters. I don't really care what Marcus is doing. Is he that vital to the story?

-    A lot of this book could have been cut, but the ending was worth it. 

Previous Book

Fan Art Friday: Han Solo

Today I'd like to feature the best Star Wars character of all time. 

Yes, I still crush on Han Solo.

I can't pick a favorite because they are all of Han Solo and I love them all.

Which is your favorite?

All illustrations are linked to the source.

Let's talk about the Han Solo movie. Am I worried? Yes! Will I see it? Of course! Do I like the title? No!

I'm worried about the movie because I can't see anyone but Harrison Ford playing this character. Every line Han delivers is golden and so snarky, and I don't know if anyone else can pull it off. What if I don't like the movie? I don't want my favorite Star Wars character to be dampened in any way.

Starring Jules: As Herself

Goodreads Synopsis:    Lights! Camera! Action! A hilarious chapter book debut from a fabulous new talent!
Things to Know About Me

by Jules Bloom
1. I am a scrambled-eggs-and-chocolate-milk type person.

2. I have an audition for a TV commercial (which would be great if I were a tall-icy-drink type person.)

3. I am in between best friends right now.

4. I am worried that the audition will be a disaster. (See #1 and #3!)

Jules doesn't want to ruin THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME, and she's willing to turn to anyone for help--even her know-it-all ex-best friend! If only that lovely new girl in class would turn out to be the new best friend of her dreams, maybe, just maybe, Jules will be ready for her close-up.... 

My Thoughts:

-    Gnome and I had opposing opinions on this one. She loved it, and I was bored. 

-    Gnome liked all the silly girly stuff, and she liked the drama with the girls.

-    I was not so amused with the silly drama stuff. 

-    Sadly, this is a series, and Gnome wants to read more. Hopefully the next book is better.

Camp Midnight

Goodreads Says:    Ben 10 and Big Hero 6 creator Steven T. Seagle returns to comics with New Yorker Magazine cartoonist Jason Adam Katzenstein for a new graphic novel! 

Reluctant Skye is accidentally sent to the wrong summer camp. Not wanting to please her "step monster," Skye is dead-set on not fitting in. That won't be a problem, as everyone at Camp Midnight-with the exception of fellow camper and fast-friend Mia-is a full-fledged monster! 

The perfect book for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Smile, but wish it had more bowls of gooey eyeballs.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a fun and silly graphic novel. 

-    The illustrations were silly. I liked the over dramatic facial expressions. 

-    I liked the story and the camp, but I wanted a bit more. I wish the camp and its history was explored a little more. I was expecting a little more from the creator of Big Hero 6.

Top Ten Tuesday: Food

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Yummy Foods Mentioned in Books

This is one of the best prompts ever!