Dark Needs at Night's Edge - Kresley Cole (Immortals After Dark #5)

Right, so at press time, I have already finished reading an entire series (Blackdagger Brotherhood by JR Ward--which I really want to write a review about because I'm so in to this series, like seriously!) and have started on another (Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole).

Hold up! These titles aren't YA?!

Uhuh.. got that right. I've decided to take a break from all the YA stuff for the time being. Before I fell in love with YA books, there was my first love which historical romance (this was way back in high school--turn of the millennium). If you've seen the my reading-read-to-read list you will also notice that I have a thing for paranormal romance/urban fantasy and high fantasy novels. (hurray for world-building! does this mean that I don't like the world i'm in?--quite possibly)

I digress.

So here is I am just finished with book number 5 of Immortals After Dark and book review writing struck my fancy.



SYNOPSIS

Normally, I am not so crazy over books with ghosts as main characters. I am so in love with the urban fantasy/PNR genre but ghosts just don't seem so appealing or intriguing like the other beings that "go bump in the night. This IAD book is quite an exception.
It's got a sexy demented vampire. It's got haunting ex-burlesque-ballerina. And the plot has just the right elements of danger and passion.
In this book, Woede brother fans get to know Cade's fated woman which will just lead you to jump the next book.
Props to Kresley Cole for her Lore-world building. All my love to the Wroth brothers!

RATING:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

First off, this book has such a lovely cover! If I had to rate the book for just its cover, I'd give it a four out of five.

Fun fact: I like high fantasy stories. Gaiman and Tolkien are my favorite authors when it comes to high fantasy. I haven't read much high fantasy in the YA genre though. This book has just the right elements of a standard "hero-or for this instance heroine-journeys-and-discovers-her-strength-and-purpose-in-the-world".

So we have, Lucero-Elisa (I like her name) or Elisa. She was born a princess and on her name day was given a gift and a responsibility. She is the bearer of the Godstone, supposedly bestowed by God to a chosen one every hundred years. On her sixteenth birthday, she was married off to a King from a neighboring land plagued by threats of war. It is in this foreign land of deserts and oasis that she will fulfill the prophecy of doing an act of service to God and the people of the land.

This book had religious tones which makes it really unique from most books that I've read. Reading about the characters in the book and of their faith reminded me a lot of the saying:

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions".

Religious faith and the will of God were emphasized which eventually reflected how humans, no matter how pure or jaded they may be, are all part of God's plan.

Even if the story is in the fantasy genre, the characters are very real. Take Elisa for example, she is the first heroine that I've read in a long while who is described as fat and "sausage-looking". King Alejandro de Vega, while his name sounds oh-so-majestic, was an indecisive leader and was blind to the betrayals around him.

I would like to give Father Alentin, priest and rebel, a shout out for his wonderful quips when speaking of the King. My personal favorite would have to be

"...but His Majesty, may multitudinous sons spring from his loins,..."

As for the love angle in this book, well let's just say that it was a romance-that-never-was. I wouldn't want to spoil you of anything. *grin

This book could have been super great if:
☆ some sort of backstory was given about the Inviernos, the enemy
☆ a map of the land --it's a new world so a little help is necessary
☆ more sorcery stuff
☆ MORE HECTOR --I liked this character a lot

The second book in the trilogy is set to be released by September this year. While waiting for it, you can ogle at the lovely UK version of the book cover.

RATING:

2012 Book Challenge Update

I'm quite embarrassed of the status of my reading challenge this year. If anyone has checked my goodreads account, you might have noticed that last year I challenged myself to read 50 BOOKS! . That's like one book per week. Though I would generally describe myself as an avid reader, completing my challenge didn't come easy. I got caught up with human activities like work and socializing with other people, those kind of stuff.

I did finish it. So, hurray for me! Last year I picked up a short paperback on speed reading to improve my skill. Other than books, I have plenty of reading to do at work so it was really to my advantage.

Onward to the topic at hand, this year I was so engrossed in watching Korean dramas that I literally finished full series in, give or take, 2-3 days time (more on Korean drama and everything korean in another post). With that and my utter lack of enthusiasm to pick up new titles, I decided to forgo my reading challenge for this year. But since I have a fickle mind (so they say) and lack of anything to do, I decided to read for leisure purposes.

Since I started late and I am not too ambitious, my reading challenge for this year is to finish 20 books.

[caption id="attachment_60" align="aligncenter" width="253"] Look how pretty these book covers are![/caption]
All of the titles belong to YA genre, though. I'm thinking of reading something not YA for my next book.

Suggestions anyone??

True Blood S05E06 - Hopeless

A new episode of True Blood, finally. I was really excited for this episode because of all the buzz and excitement that went on Comic Con during the weekend. Before I got to watch this episode, I watched the teaser trailer for the second half of the season. Really--all I can say was "WOAH?!". If you haven't seen the teaser trailer yet, here it is:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7X7zU2NcEw&w=560&h=315]


Anyways, let's get back to the new episode called "Hopeless".

We get to see what happens to the Scooby gang (--> who didn't realize this while watching last week's ep?) Sookie, Eric, Bill and Alcide + Doug after meeting Russel E. Over at Fangtasia, GIRL FIGHT!! Score 1 for Tara because Mama Pam said she made her proud. Hoyt is still going through his angsty yet really pathetic fangbanger phase.


What I liked about this episode:

Lots of Eric Northman scenes. Eric glamouring Alcide.


Emma, that little wolf. She is so adorable! Well, both the kid and the wolf puppy.


The exchange between Lafayette and her mom.
Ruby Jean to Lafayette: Jesus is in trouble! Save Jesus!


What I didn't like about this episode:

Not too excited about the feys. I dunno, maybe I'm still not over the fact that they killed off Claudine almost immediately. (I really liked Claudine in the books.)


It might have been a good scene, Terry and Arlene's, but I'm not really digging this Ifrit arc. I get that other characters need to have their moments too but can't other people just stick with human problems?

Vampire "au-tho-ree-tayh" celebrating after the successful capture of Russel E. But wait, Guardian Roman, what is up with your blue polo shirt? Seriously, costume department? He should never wear anything other than pressed suits. (can't have him looking like that if he, should he escape crazy ol' Russel E next episode, is going to stab any vampire chancellors


What i will be watching out for next episode:

Who the hell are those haters who shot the shifters and why?

Who was the vampire on the bridge the night that Sookie's parent's died?

Will Roman die? I kinda hope not



RATING: out of 5

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Summary over @ Goodreads

Story dragged during the early parts. I'd like to give myself a pat on the shoulder for pushing myself to read further. When the plot picked up somewhere along chapters 9 or 10-ish, I thought this book had its own charm.
Ari's (our protagonist) character development was a slow to build. I wondered sometimes if the girl had schizophrenia.One second, she was this brave chick knocking strangely clad men's head down then she suddenly freaks and breaks down for something totally unexpected. She did grew on me eventually.

Weak point? Definitely the love angle between Ari and Sebastian. Since this is going to be a series, it might have been better if the love angle was steadily built instead of dumping it on our heads.
Will I read on to the next installment? Sure, Goodreads did give the 2nd book a better rating than this one.  SPOILER ALERT! Also, the idea that the Greek goddess of wisdom is an evil bitch is quite foreign. (fun fact: Athena is one of the godesses that i actually like. So speaks the ravenclaw in me. LOL)...Yet another reason why I'm looking forward to the next book.

RATING:

A new beginning

This is my very first post.

I've been wanting to move to wordpress ever since my LJ account has been deactivated. Finally,  I made the leap!

Unlike my previous blog, I hope I can update this one as frequent as possible. I'll be posting stuff on my tumblog <you can find it here --> http://ariannekic.tumblr.com or reviews that I write (which could be mostly about books, movies and asian dramas that I'm so addicted to)

Anyhow, this introduction is over. Time to start turning fresh pages.