Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Review ~ J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter

Rating: 14,00,000.345 Stars

OMG! I love this book. Obviously, Harry Potter is just one of those books that everyone knows, because of the books, movies, games, Legos, costumes, Disney amusement park, etc. I love these books. I have read these literally hundreds of times. I actually did the math, and I have read about 130,000 pages of these books. I think that pretty much says what I feel about this series.

So, it starts off with the Dursley's, petty and nosy as ever, finding Harry on the doorstep. Then Harry, beaten down and mistreated, is told that he, Harry Potter, is a wizard, like his dead parents. He is then whisked off into the magical world, sent to Hogwarts, a school of witchcraft and wizardry. Making close friends with red-haired, humorous Ron and brainy, Muggle-born Hermione, he finds himself deeply interested in a plot, one that consists of stealing the Sorcerer's Stone, a powerful object, that may result in the returning of Lord Voldemort. Gasp! He then faces Voldemort, the killer of his parents, once again. Saving the stone, and the day, Harry once again shows his bravery and Gryffindor heritage and saves the Wizarding world.

Sorry about the long summary. I get carried away when I speak of this book. I GET SO EXCITED!

Yep, that's me. :)
So yeah, this is a bazillion star, have-to-read-or-you-will-never-truly-know-the-meaning-of-life-book. It is one of those books that everyone needs to read sometime in his or her lifetime, or else that person is missing out BIG time. J.K. Rowling is an amazing y creative writer, with such a profoundly great way of writing. Reading this book will be one of the best choices you will ever make.

Well.....That just about summarizes the whole series.

Bye!

Falling Under Review ~ Gwen Hayes

     Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

     As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

    And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Rating: 3 Stars

This book is not what I would refer to as a "must-read", but it is still a enjoyable read. Although the story and plot are solid, they seem overused, as though there are other books that are a bit too much like this one.  The story is a classic, however. The order of events is the same as usual:

1. Girl meets boy. 
2. Girl likes boy.
3. Boy pushes girl away for some paranormal reason.
4. Girl admits feelings for boy.
5. Boy reciprocates feelings.
6. Happily ever after.
7. The end.

Theia and Hayden are this exactly. Hayden is a classic bad-boy, and Theia feels drawn to him somehow. Well, it isn't that mysterious. He is the new hot boy at the school, and Theia's interest sparks. Then, she gets some strange, oddly lifelike dreams about Hayden. Then, SPOILER! I won't say. 'Cause that would be mean. But she finds something out, and BOOM! Her suspicions are confirmed.  Then, a drastic change of events leaves Hayden with no memory, Theia gone, and  Hayden's point of view. Then it becomes Hayden with the weird, lifelike dreams. What? I know right? CONFUSING

So, I suppose my point is, this is a good filler book. Or a rainy day book. Or even a book report book. But not a crazy obsession, re-re-re-re-re-reader, insane stalker book that makes you, well, do all of those things. It is a good, two-book series, with a good but slightly overused plot. A nice quick read though, if you are waiting for another book, or you need to kill some time when you are on a plane, or a road trip or something.

Cute, right? They start young, I tell you. Great readers are born, not made. :)

Angelfall Review ~ Susan Ee

 

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

Rating: 5 stars

      Sorry Hunger Games, but I think you might have just been replaced. Angelfall, by Susan Ee, totally, and completely, rocked. This book was fantastic! I mean, for God's sake, finally a heroine who can actually stand up for herself. Nope, Penryn wouldn't be caught dead cowering in corner, waiting for Raffe to kill all the "bad guys". Instead, she charges in, masterfully kicking ass, then saves Raffe from certain death. She is my favorite heroine. Also, she is not some stupid, whiney, lovesick brat who cries over all the mean things Raffe has said, or the horrible predicament she is in. She is tough, hard-core, and can fire hilarious comebacks at Raffe without batting an eye. I love their banter. The whole dynamics of their complicated relationship, no, alliance, are so different from any other books I have read. At first, they hate each other. Pure loathing, more like. But despite their disgust for the other's race (Raffe is an angel, Penryn, a human), they are incredibly protective of each other, and unwaveringly loyal. Slowly, they build a careful camaraderie.  Not mushy, gushy Twilight-staring-into-each-others-eyes love, but just friendship. They have this banter that is just hilarious!

      So, this book begins with a heart-pounding panic and agitation as Penryn gets in the middle of a angel "gang" battle. Not as much of a battle as a fight. Anyhoo, Penryn basically save's Raffe's ungrateful, condescending ass, and convinces him to lead her to her sister, which the other angels took. They travel through the wilderness of California, and then are captured by the rebel soldiers, humans who are still fighting against the angels. One thing leads to another, and they leave after a while. (Note: I skipped a fair sized chunk in the book, but I didn't want to give all that away). The bickering duo go to an angel VIP club, where the corner an archangel, and Raffe acts like the biggest douche bag on the planet. Seriously, I wanted to walk into that club. shove Penryn out of the way, and hit him in his big fat mouth with a baseball bat. I was like

 

And then, the heart-breaking ending. Seriously, my face was like Niagara Falls. I finished this book in History class, and my teacher came over and whispered "Ella, is everything okay?" And I turned around and said 

If you don't cry at the end, there is something seriously wrong with your tear glands. They were specifically designed for this type of book. Sadly, the next book World After, doesn't come out till the fall of 2013! (screams in frustration and yanks on hair) I have to wait all summer! This was one of my favorite reads of the new year, alongside Clockwork Princess, the third of the Infernal Devices Trilogy.  The only thing I wish the author did differently, was the character descriptions. I literally have no idea what Penryn or Raffe look like. All I know is that Penryn has brown hair, and Raffe has dark hair and blue eyes. Still, this is a literary gem. No, a literary, 20 carat diamond. Angelfall, by Susan Ee, is a absolute must-read. You will never really be able to appreciate a good book till you read this. That, my friends, just about sums up my feelings for his book. Adios, amigos!

 

 

 

Clockwork Angel: Will's Point of View

     
     It was so much more satisfying to wander about the vast streets of London when Will had a purpose. Normally he just meandered along aimlessly till he exhausted himself, formulating some ridiculously extravagant story of his humorous, blind drunkenness or a particularly exciting assignation with a certain young lady. Now, when he strode up to the towering, shadowy brothel, he felt the sense of excitement that accompanied these little missions. Approaching the ancient door, he slowly pulled out his stele, meaning to carve an Opening Rune upon it's weathered surface. Suddenly, there was a loud, screeching yowl when his foot collided with a dark furry object and Will stumbled, feeling a sharp pain in his ankle. It was a cat, probably Siamese by the looks of it, and it's squashed in face beheld furious blue eyes, which glinted when he glanced at his ankle. It had bitten him with its minuscule fangs. "Bloody hell!", Will muttered and rose his voice to call after the blasted cat, which had raced away in triumph. "You better run, you scrawny little bastard!" It stiffened, and looked rather offended. Will grinned, but immediately felt foolish for hurling insults at a cat. He tensed suddenly when he heard quick, excited footsteps directed toward him from the gloom of the alleyway. Not wanting to be discovered this early in his investigation, he dashed around the side of the brothel and, without hesitation, dove headfirst through one of the cracked, grimy windows.

    It shattered when he crashed through and he landed in a half-crouch, quickly analyzing his surroundings and swearing fluently at the same moment. He reached for his witchlight and instantly, the cool stone exploded into greenish light. The room was richly furnished, the bedchamber of a king. Or queen, Will thought, as he spied the long white dress in the otherwise empty wardrobe. Leaving the room, the door creaked slightly as he sprang through it, landing soundlessly like a cat on the polished wood floor of a hallway. He heard distant voices echoing from somewhere in the house, so he set off swiftly in the opposite direction. He tread as lightly and as quickly as possible, checking each bare, deserted room as he went by. Apparently, business must had been suspended for the time being, Will thought with wry amusement. When he approached the end of yet another deserted hallway, he noticed a slight movement under the door of a room. Got you, he thought, grinning tightly as he reached for the knob. Swinging it open, he advanced into the room.

    Will hadn't any idea of what to expect, but he was most definitely not expecting a large, heavy looking clay jug to arise out from the shadows and come crashing down upon him. He whipped out of the way, but despite his quick Shadowhunter reflexes, it still managed to embed thick chunks of clay shards in his left palm. Good thing I'm right handed, he thought grimly, as he swore and grunted in pain. If it comes to a fight I will still be able to-- his train of thought suddenly broke off as he saw his attacker come into full view. Still clutching his witchlight, its eerie glow fell upon and illuminated a young teenage girl. Her rather tall slender frame shook slightly he studied her intently. Her bloodied hands gripped the handle of the jug tightly, for it had not completely shattered, and she seemed to be keeping it to defend herself. Will's eyes traveled up her bruise covered arms, lingering on her bloodied wrists, then brushed over her tattered blue gown, so filthy it looked gray. She had long, curling brown hair, that framed a heart shaped face. She was very pale, and when he looked into her eyes, he saw they were a beautiful, clear blue gray. They were also burning with hostility.

     Will hid his surprise and said stated mildly, "You cut me. It might be fatal." The girl, who he realized was strikingly lovely, gazed at him with wide eyes, her hostility gone and replaced by fear.
"Are you the Magister?" she demanded, still fearful. Her accent was distinctly American, not the British that an ordinary Londoner spoke.

   Ignoring her odd question, he closely examined his injured hand. "Dear me, massive blood loss. Death could be imminent!"

   "Are you the Magister!?" , she said with such an intensity that Will straightened up and looked at her. She was tense, her jaw set, and her tone had demanded an answer.

   "Magister?" ,Will echoed, feeling a bit lost. "That means "master" in Latin, doesn't it?" He expected her to look murderous at his evasion to a straightforward answer, but she looked simply bewildered.

   "I.., I suppose it does." She looked as lost as he felt.

   "I have mastered many things in my life," Will told her. "Navigating the streets of London, dancing the quadrille, the Japanese art of flower arranging, lying at charades, concealing a highly intoxicated state, delighting young women with my charms..." The girl was staring at him, her fine eyebrows raised and an incredulous expression on her face. "Alas, no one has actually ever referred to me as "the magister" or even "the master". Mores the pity..."

    He would have gone on, but the girl cut him off "Are you highly intoxicated at the moment?", she asked, so seriously that Will laughed. He had heard somewhere that Americans tended to be more blunt, and she certainly was.

    "How very direct," Will said, amused," but I suppose all you Americans are, aren't you?" She appeared to be rather taken aback that he knew of her homeland, so he went on, "Yes, your accent gives you away. What's your name then?"

    He was curious after all. He wondered what her name would be like. He couldn't imagine that she could be named something horrid like-- "What's my name?" She said in disbelief, interrupting his train of thought.

   "Don't you know it?" He found that he already enjoyed teasing her, a daunting prospect. He ignored his pestering conscience, and watched her struggle with her words for a moment.

    "You-- you've come bursting into my room, scaring me to death, and them demand to know my name?" She said with incredulity. "What on earth's your name? And who are you anyway?"

    Well, it was a reasonable question. "My name is Herondale. William Herondale," Will said cheerfully, "but everyone calls me Will."

Clockwork Angel Reveiw ~ Cassandra Clare

Orphan Tessa Gray, sixteen, crosses the ocean from New York to find her brother Nate in Victorian London, her only possession a clockwork angel necklace from her mother. She is ignorant of her power to transform; the Dark sisters are not. They kidnap her for the Magister, who wants to marry Tessa and claim her power.

Shadowhunters, warriors of angel blood, battle demons and keep the peace in the Downworld of vampires, warlocks and other supernaturals. Orphan teen Shadowhunters Jem, Will, and Jess rescue Tessa and agree to help save Nate. Vengeful vampire Lady Camille Belcourt and her current lover, warlock Magnus Bane provide entrée to the Magister's secret Pandemonium Club...

Rating: 5 stars. (I would give it 10 if I could)


     I love this book. I hate this book. I want to marry this book, then kill it in the back yard and bury it. Whoa, that sounded a bit creepy!  Fine, I merely want to beat the crap out of this book, than hug it and never let go. Clockwork Angel, first book of the Infernal Devices Trilogy, was phenomenal. Firstly, it is set in the 1800's, in the Victorian Era, so how can you not love that? They have got freaking British accents! The characters are all perfect, too. Not perfect in an unrealistic way, but just... perfect. Not so perfect that you don't sometimes want to scream at them to stop talking because they are ruining everything by saying something they don't mean, or are grossly misinterpreting another person's feelings for them to an extent where it becomes pure stupidity, but still great. How can one not love stubborn, straightforward Tessa, sarcastic, cynical Will, and sweet, gentle Jem. All three characters repeatedly rip your heart out, tear it to shreds, and then somehow, after all they did, they still make it melt. The author, Cassandra Clare, is brilliant.

    It kicks off with Tessa being tricked and captured, and tortured by the vicious Dark Sisters, for they wanted to force the magic out of her. Your heart absolutely breaks for her. Then Will barges in, in all his sarcastic glory, and I think, "THIS IS THE ONE FOR ME!" He is so funny and, yes, drop dead gorgeous. But then, (get ready to gasp), THERE IS ANOTHER! (you can gasp now). Yes! You heard me! (if you haven't gasped yet, you should soon, 'cause the moment is passing) Tessa meets Jem, a sweet, gentle, silver haired boy who she instantly connects with, but she still is interested in Will, who obviously is keeping a dark secret locked away. (gasping at this point would be a little weird, but you could if you wanted,... but if you wanted to gasp, you probably would have already, so never mind) Jem and Will are Parabati, which area pair of warriors (Shadowhunters) who share a special bond, stronger than the bond of friends, or even brothers. Then, weird metal creatures disguised as humans, called automatons, start attacking the Shadowhunters whenever they can. They all believe the "Magister" is still out to get Tessa, and he is behind the creature's attacks. Why? They don't know. How? They don't know that either. Who is the Magister? That's a great question, now isn't it? The Shadowhunters of the London Institute would like to know...

     This is defiantly a must-read, or if you have already read it, it's a must-reread. Five stars are too few for this book. It clutches your shoulders from the beginning, then shakes you so hard you have to pay attention. It literally grabs your nose and keeps it thrust in the book. Then it proceeds to play with your emotions, making you double up in laughter over some hilarious comment from Will, makes you melt from something Jem does, and then makes you sob for days over Will and Tessa. And then Will does something so outrageous that you double up in laughter again, then you promptly start sobbing once more. And then, at the last few chapters of the book when everything feels like it is perfect, and you are smiling so wide that your face will breaking in half if it gets any wider, it plummets. It is as if you are walking through a beautiful flowered field, with butterflies fluttering by and wildflowers growing swaying in the breeze. The sky is bright blue with white fluffy clouds floating past and- BAM! You walk off a cliff. Seriously, if you don't have the next book to grab when you finish this one, you will go INSANE! I read the last line of the book and I was like

Anyway, this is a great book, and anyone who doesn't read it misses out BIG TIME. Its great for all ages, too. My mom read it, and she went crazy over it. I read it, and well,.... I guess you already know how I feel about it, don't you?