Mini Reviews: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by HP Mallory & Club Monstrosity by Jesse Petersen

Title: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
Author(s): H.P. Mallory
Genre(s): Chick-Lit, Paranormal Romance
Publisher/Date: Self-Published / February 20, 2012
Series: Jolie Wilkins (Book #1)

Life isn't bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn't have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend. Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she's a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost's demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life! Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Summary Prognosis

Honestly, I don't even know where to start when it comes to this book. So much to say and none of it positive. What I thought might be an entertaining blend of Beautiful Creatures meets True Blood ended up being a train wreck of shallowness, misogyny and flimsy plots. Mallory is an ineffectual storyteller in that she doesn't show us anything, instead, we're smacked in the face with every little fact/detail, so frequently that it's somewhat insulting. She lacks the subtlety and consistency that is characteristic of more seasoned writers. And for the magic in the story to be believable there has to be a set of rules in that world and in this case, there are none. Everything happens too conveniently. There are no limitations and I just wasn't buying it. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble doesn't deliver anything new in the genre. It's one of those books where you've seen it all before. 

My other big problem with this book was the characters. Every one of them is unlikeable because they're either stupid, vapid or utterly useless. Jolie, our MC, is the a-typical ordinary girl with extraordinary power who cares more about a man's looks than his actual personality. And the men, nearly every one of them is controlling, arrogant or evil. The best example of this is our main man, Rand, who stoops to using the temptation of sex in a vain attempt to control our MC. If I'm being frank, the only thing this book succeeded in doing was making me want to throw it at the wall. I bought this audiobook hoping for something craptastic --- light and fun --- instead, I got something that was TERRIBAD. So yeah. This series is not for me.

Rating: ★½  

Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

Title: Club Monstrosity
Author(s): Jesse Petersen
Genre(s): Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampires
Publisher/Date: Pocket Star / April 29, 2013
Series: Monstrosity (Book #1)

Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So of course she needs therapy. She and her friends—er, fellow monsters—have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong? Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and—gasp—sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting. Led by Natalie—and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies—the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe—maybe—if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Summary Prognosis

I've been a long-time fan of Jesse Petersen's Living with the Dead series. Her books are some of my go-to reads --- witty, entertaining and snarky as hell --- so it was a no brainer for me to pick up Club Monstrosity. The concept of monsters in a self-help group is so great. C'mon, it's MONSTERS IN A SELF-HELP CLUB! We get to see how a Frankenstein's monster, the Blob, the Invisible Man, a mummy, Dracula, a werewolf, a swamp monster and Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde are all coping in modern day America, that is, until they start being offed in the same fashion as in their horror stories. Hell yes! Where do I sign up? This book was pretty much what I expected it would be --- quick, easy and fun. While it wasn't quite as gripping as Petersen's other series, I definitely enjoyed reading it. The only real quirk that got me were the random POV swaps between two of the main characters. They occur right in the middle of scenes so it makes it difficult to discern who's speaking. Other than that, I found it to be a quirky concept with some really cool characters. While I do prefer Petersen's other books, I will definitely continue reading this series too.

Rating: ★★★

Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

TTT: Don't Take Me There!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Combining both a passion for all things bookish with an obsessive love of list-making, this rad meme was born. This week's topic is the Top Ten Worlds You'd Never Want To Live In. They say triumph is born of tragedy, however, I'm not one to envy these characters or their situations, even if it breeds greatness. The real world is scary enough.

So, what do you think? I could only think of 9 examples but they're definitely pretty gloomy. Are there any worlds that scare the crap out of you?

TGIF / 37

Welp, it's certainly been a frigid albeit short week thanks to the holiday and unforeseen snow day. At least I had the chance to catch up on some much needed blog maintenance and reading. And I finally got my reading groove back courtesy of the the most fucked up book ever. Don't you just love when a good book does that? Happy reading!

 Bookish News

You guys, there are vending machines that dispense BOOKS! OMG!
This amazing book sculpture of Smaug from The Hobbit is all you need to see.
Cuddlebuggery lets us know the best times to read a book and, boy, are they are spot on! And Betty discusses the merits of series binge reading.
Bookish pet peeves. We all have them. What are some of yours? 
You're a sci-fi fan. Yes. You are.
Why it's important to read books written by people who were monsters. And why you shouldn't.

Entertainment News  

The Hollywood Reporter interviews SAG honoree, Rita Moreno, and it is ADORBS! And if you haven’t done so already, you really should read her fascinating memoir.
Wes Craven has been known to cause many a nightmare and now you’ll see why in this interview with him on the documentary, Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy.
A few upcoming movies get new trailers: Maleficent, 300: Rise of an Empire and Only Lovers Left Alive. 
The first official Mockingjay propaganda!

Pop Culture!

Andrew Lincoln and a Walking Dead fan pull the most epic prank ever on Norman Reedus. 
Buzzfeed delivers a series of fun quizzes: Which Hogwarts house do you belong in?, Which Pixar movie are you? & Which Simpsons character are you?.
It's a Full House reunion (for the Superbowl).
Heroines as pulp romance novel covers.
Hey Netflix subscribers, Netflix is planning on offering new pricing structures. But have no fear, you can still be grandfathered in under your current plan.

Book Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Title: Gone Girl
Author(s): Gillian Flynn
Genre(s): Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Publisher/Date: Weidenfeld & Nicolson / May 24, 2012 
Series: Stand Alone

“Because you can't be as in love as we were and not have it invade your bone marrow. Our kind of love can go into remission, but it's always waiting to return. Like the world's sweetest cancer.” -Amy Dunne

Case Study

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer? 

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet? (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

Woah. Gone Girl is fucked up. Like, reeeeeally fucked up. But in the best kind of way. It's a story about marriage gone wrong. Very wrong.

Only in this story, it's not a love fern that dies.

On the surface, Nick and Amy seem like the perfect couple. She's a cool girl, the ideal sort of wife. He, the doting and dutiful husband. But on their 5th wedding anniversary, Amy goes missing and Nick quickly becomes a suspect, THE suspect, in her disappearance. As the story unravels through Amy's diary entries and Nick's narrative, so do their lies. It turns out that Amy and Nick aren't who we think they are. And this is where things start to go a little crazy.

Yes. Yes I am.

Let me tell you something about Nick and Amy Dunne. SPOILER ALERT: They are HORRIBLE people. I don't think there's a single redeeming quality about either one of them. Nick is a philandering, misogynistic douchenugget and Amy is a narcissistic, needy sociopath. They are AWFUL. Truly AWFUL. Their relationship is AWFUL and if I had the choice to spend my time Amy and Nick or spend the rest of my days in the pit of despair, I'd choose the pit every time. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

I'd much rather hang out with this guy.

There is seriously so much hate between them and the ridiculous lengths at which they go to torment one another is appalling. Each of them is vindictive and conniving and cruel in their own special sort of way. And this is exactly why they were made for eachother. 

But what's really surprising is that as unlikeable as the characters were, the writing was well-executed and the plot complex enough to keep me guessing, even when the majour twist was otherwise predictable. Flynn had me from the very first page. This is one of those stories where everything you're told and everyone you meet is unpredictable, unreliable. You'll spend the entire time forming theory after theory and it's misleading and frustrating and fucking brilliant. I always felt like I needed to know more, to delve further into the darkness of Nick and Amy's twisted relationship. I needed to be a part of their madness. It's sick. The whole story is sick, the characters are sick and I am sick because I loved every sick minute of it.

Oh god, and don't get me started on the ending. I can't even think about that ending without wanting to hide in a dark corner and pray for sunshine and unicorns and rainbows.

It was that sadistic. And powerful, so powerful. And perfect. Even if it was a total mind-fuck. And anyone who can evoke that sort of reaction out of me definitely earns some mad respect in my book. So well done, Flynn. Very well done.

Summary Prognosis

Gone Girl has to be the most twisted love story ever written. While full of loathsome characters, deception and misdirection, this dark tale will horrify you and satisfy you in all the right ways. Though I didn't find the big reveal to be all that surprising, the ending did catch me off guard. It's quite telling and will evoke a visceral reaction out of the reader, even if it's not a happy one. Gone Girl is the first book in a long time to take me by surprise in the way that it did and I loved every torturous second of it.

Rating: ★★★★★

Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

Book Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author(s): Jennifer E. Smith
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: Poppy/Little Brown / January 2, 2012
Series: Stand Alone

“The idea that their paths might have easily not crossed leaves her breathless, like a near-miss accident on a highway, and she can't help marveling at the sheer randomness of it all. Like any survivor of chance, she feels a quick rush of thankfulness, part adrenaline and part hope.” -Hadley Sullivan

Case Study

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything? 

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row. 

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more? 

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

Anyone who knows me knows that I scoff at the idea of "love at first sight." I'm sorry but I just don't buy it. Insta-love = insta-turn-off. I guess I'm cynical like that.

So if that's true, you're probably wondering why on earth I'd read a book like this. Well, I'll tell you why. Because I was once a single, young girl who traveled on a plane and met a nice, single, young boy. Between our time in the air and a lunch date at the airport, we spent 6 awesome hours together. We connected. No, it wasn't love and we never had a happily ever after. We did keep in touch online for about a year but that was all. It was merely a connection and a memorable story. So when a book comes along about a girl meeting a boy in an airport, naturally, I was eager to check it out (and maybe compare it to my own experience).

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is more than what it seems. Though it may be a love story upon first glance, there's so much more to it if you're willing to dig beneath the surface. It's a deeply personal story about maturity, growth and forgiveness. It's a story about between a daughter and her estranged father. Honestly, I was more taken with the relationship between Hadley and her father than I was with the one between Hadley and Oliver.

Sure, I enjoyed watching the journey unfold between Hadley and Oliver. Their romance was cute, a far cry from insta-love. But Hadley's journey towards reconciliation with her father was much more touching and relatable. To say their relationship was tense is an understatement. It was downright hostile. Divorce is hard, especially when one parent seems to be moving on more quickly than the other. As a kid, it's a difficult thing to experience so I can really appreciate how tough a journey acceptance can be. I think Smith handled the topic with honesty and grace. Both Hadley and her father made mistakes along the way but I liked that, by the end, they were able to reach an understanding and start forgiving one another.

“Hadley realises that even though everything else is different, even though there's still an ocean between them, nothing really important has changed at all. He's still her dad. The rest is just geography.” 

There you can really see just how much Hadley has matured. And for someone as cynical as me, that personal journey was so much more satisfying than the romantic one. How great is that!? I went into it hoping for a small reminder of times past and came out with so much more.

Summary Prognosis

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a quick, cute and easy read. Though the romance may be what initially draws you in, it's the compelling and troubled relationship between a girl and her dad that will keep you there. Full of poetic prose, it promises lots of quote-worthy quips and sound advice. I recommend it for lovers and cynics alike!


Rating: ★★★★


Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

Need A Reality Check?

Fake. Manipulative. Boring. These are just a few of the terms that come to mind for many when they think about documentaries. But I'm here to dispel those myths. A good documentary will challenge you, as well as educate you. It will entertain as well as bring about an awareness. It will open you to new perspectives and have you asking important questions. You'll want to know more. 

With all the "reality" we experience through TV and online on a daily basis, isn't it time for a reality check? The world needs more understanding, new perspectives and documentaries provide that. Let's start off the new year by opening our hearts and our minds. Here are just a few of my favourite documentaries to get you started:

Lovelace - Okay, so this one is more of a biographical film than documentary but it's still just as fascinating. Lovelace follows 70's icon Linda Lovelace's tragic journey into pornography and the tumultuous relationship with the man who would make her a star. It would only take 17 days before she'd renounce the industry that brought her so much fame.

Blackfish - You may have heard the buzz surrounding this one, with good reason too. It follows the story of Tilkum, the famous orca at SeaWorld who killed three people. It shows the devastating consequences of keeping these animals in captivity and will change the way you view marine parks and how they treat their animals (and their people too).

Hitler's Children - Can you imagine what it might feel like to be Hitler's child? This documentary follows direct descendants of many of the Third Reicht's highest ranking officials as they struggle to cope with the guilt and coming to terms with their family's unfortunate legacy.

Hungry for Change - This film tackles issues of food addiction, juicing, cleansing and fad diets and looks at how we have a penchant for taking "healthy" to the extreme. Interviews with industry experts expose the myths and misconceptions behind these health trends. It will shift your perspective about the quality of the foods that you eat.

Happy - What makes people happy and why? This documentary takes a look at people across the globe and the specific things that bring them happiness. Experts also analyze the science behind this joyous emotion and break down why you feel the way you do. Happy will have you re-evaluating your definition of the term and reflecting upon the things that truly matter.
 

Craigslist Joe - This is the story of one man with one computer and a mission: survive solely on the goodwill of others through Craigslist. Can it be done? The results will surprise you.

Long Way Round - Long Way Round and its companion title, Long Way Down, is broken down as a mini-series of sorts. It follows actors Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman as they make their way across the globe on their motorbikes. You see their struggles, their generosity through their work with UNICEF and their cultural experiences. This show will ignite the wanderlust in you and make you want to plan a trip of your own!

Beyond the Myth: A Film About Pit Bulls & Breed Discrimination - This is probably one of the most powerful documentaries I've ever seen. It completely changed my views on this controversial breed and is a MUST SEE for all dog/animal lovers. The stats will shock you, the stories will horrify you and the movie will make you eager for change. I know it had me volunteering at my local SPCA shortly thereafter.

Valentino: The Last Emperor - The man, the myth, the legend. Valentino is man who is revered by celebrities and fashion superstars alike. This documentary gives you an inside peek into the fashion icon's life and subsequent retirement from the industry. For me, fashion is an artform, so it's amazing to see where the man gets his inspiration. Plus, he has pugs. Lots of them.

Nowhere Boy - Music fans will love this one. Nowhere Boy follows John Lennon's early years, prior to joining the Beatles. Focusing mainly on his adolescence and the critical relationships with his aunt and absentee mother, you can see exactly how the man became such a musical genius.


Netflix offers a wonderful selection of award-winning, life-changing documentaries in a variety of subjects for the music fan, history buff, health nut, fashion junky and animal lover alike, so I have no doubt you can find one to entertain you. What are your thoughts on documentaries? Are there any that you would recommend? Sound off in the comments below!

TGIF / 36

So, wow. It really has been a long time since I’ve done a TGIF post and, boy, did I miss it! I know I sort of disappeared on you guys for a while but, really, it was for the best. That’s right. I’m so not sorry (but I am)! Time to move on and get back into the groove with a Legend-ary giveaway and quirky review. It feels good to be back!

Bookish News

BookRiot discusses the downfalls of being a commoner in the wide world of professional book reviewing.
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Take a peek at some of spring's most anticipated book releases.
Get ready to share the love with Alexa and Katelyn’s 2014 Book Blogger Loveathon!
Steph over at Cuddlebuggery asks the all important question: who are you blogging for?

Entertainment News

Director, David Fincher, shoots the new EW cover for his upcoming movie, Gone Girl. And I’m not sure how to feel about it.
Talk about being typecast. Go see bad boy, Bryan Cranston, in Cold Comes the Night, in theatres today.
I will boycott Michael Bay’s version of TMNT with all of my being. Especially now.
And in YA movie news, Kaya Scodelario dishes on the making of The Maze Runner and Divergent has an official Instagram page.

Pop Culture!

Ready to feel old? Here are 23 movies turning 20 this year.
There is a Simpsons LEGO set. I repeat, there is a Simpsons LEGO set AND IT’S REAL!
OMG, there are Harry Potter travel posters! And these adorbs cat book buddies! Commence the wanting NOW!

Movie Review: Mary and Max by Adam Elliott

Title: Mary and Max
Director(s): Adam Elliott
Genre(s): Animation, Comedy, Drama
Release Date (USA): January 15, 2009
Rating: NR

"People often think I am tactless and rude. I cannot understand how being honest can be improper. Maybe this is why I don't have any friends.” -Max Jerry Horovitz

In the mid-1970's, a homely, friendless Australian girl of 8 picks a name out of a Manhattan phone book and writes to him; she includes a chocolate bar. She's Mary Dinkle, the only child of an alcoholic mother and a distracted father. He's Max Horowitz, living alone in New York, overweight, subject to anxiety attacks. He writes back, with chocolate. Thus begins a 20-year correspondence, interrupted by a stay in an asylum and a few misunderstandings. Mary falls in love with a neighbor, saves money to have a birthmark removed and deals with loss. Max has a friendship with a neighbor, tries to control his weight, and finally gets the dream job. Will the two ever meet face to face? (synopsis from IMDB)

Though most cartoons are meant for younger viewers, Mary and Max most certainly is not. The seriousness of its topics like death, sex, suicide and mental illness definitely requires a more mature audience. But, trust me, as serious as it sounds, you don't wanna miss it! It's a simple story with a BIG message about the value and beauty of oddness and unconventional friendship. You don't quite know if you're watching a tragedy or a comedy and perhaps it's a mix of both. But ultimately, it doesn't matter. The point is to feel something and you feel a lot of everything when you're watching the life-long journey of these mismatched friends. The characters, Mary and Max, are like the Odd Couple meets Sigmund Freud.

Mary and Max is touching, poignant and funny in a very raw and immature sort of way. But what makes this little gem so fantastic is the juxtaposition of the artsy sophistication when contrasted against the emotional crudeness. For starters, the animation is impressive. The whole movie is desaturated, lacking vibrancy that cleverly mimics the vulnerability in both Mary and Max's lives. I'd venture to say that the animation rivals that of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas or, dare I say it, a Pixar flick.

I know! But seriously, it's an art form, one that Elliott's got down. It's pretty incredible.

Quirky, charming and eclectic. Those are just a few of the words I'd use to describe this film. Seriously, it's hard to do it justice with my meager words because I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. While I recognize this movie won't be everyone's cup of tea, Mary and Max is one of those hidden gems that you should give a chance. I promise, you won't regret it.

Summary Prognosis

Mary and Max is not your average cartoon. Raw, poignant, funny and charming, this Sundance Film Festival opener is a touching story about friendship, self-acceptance and love. This won't necessarily be everyone's cup of tea, but for an eclectic and appreciative few, this compelling little gem is a MUST SEE! 

Rating: ★★★★★

Watch It: Amazon | Target
Discuss It: IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes
View the Trailer:

Book Review: Champion by Marie Lu & Legend-ary GIVEAWAY

Title: Champion
Author(s): Marie Lu
Genre(s): Dystopia, Young Adult
Publisher/Release Date: Putnam Juvenile / November 5, 2013 
Series: Legend (Book #3)

“Please don't take him away from this world. Please don't let him die here in my arms, not after everything we've been through together, not after You've taken so many others. Please, I beg You, let him live. I am willing to sacrifice anything to make this happen- I'm willing to do anything You ask. Maybe you'll laugh at me for such a naive promise, but I mean it in earnest, and I don't care if it makes no sense or seems impossible. Let him live. Please. I can't bear this a second time.” -June Iparis

Warning: This review may contain spoilers concerning Legend & Prodigy

 

Case Study

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position. 

But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

Series enders are hard, particularly when the prior books set such a high bar. There are a lot of expectations, always so many questions that need be answered (especially after Prodigy's WTF ending!). Needless to say, I was nervous going into Champion. But I shouldn't have been. Champion was exactly the ending I was looking for - emotional, strong and wholly satisfying.

Legend is one of those series that gets better with each book you read. The world building is incredible, so real. It's not hard to imagine that Lu's dystopian future isn't so far off from our own. The iron-fisted Republic and the corporate control of the Colonies seems so fitting and uncomfortably familiar at the same time. The series is a trailblazer in the dystopian genre, taking such strong, likeable characters and throwing them in a despotic world full of political tension and all out war. It's an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, that's for damn sure!

Champion also raises the stakes for our MC's, Day and June. While both fiercely independent and strong-willed, they never waver in their convictions. They are as strong apart as they are together and you find yourself rooting for them either way. I love the mad respect they have for one another, their loyalty and their passion. They aren't perfect but that's what makes them so likeable. They grow and learn from their mistakes and from one another. I SHIP THEM SO FREAKING MUCH, and how could you not after reading something like this:

“There's a conflicted look in Day's eyes, a joy and a grief, that makes him so vulnerable. I realize how little defense he has against my words. He loves so wholly. It is his nature.”

They are perfectly imperfect. Just like their ending. 

Bittersweet, gut-wrenching but leaves you with a touch of hope. Let me just tell you right now, Champion's ending isn't sugar-coated. While it's not quite as brutal as Allegiant or Mockingjay (both of which I have MAD respect for ), it isn’t the happily-ever-after that most people expect. And this is something I really appreciate. We're given the best of both worlds. Champion's ending is left open to interpretation, so you, the reader, can take it wherever you choose while still having enough closure to feel satisfied. All in all, Legend is a series with heart, definitely something worth investing in.

Summary Prognosis

Champion was a perfect, albeit bittersweet, series ender to the Legend trilogy. Imaginative, honest and poignant, Lu has created a realistic dystopian universe with strong yet relatable characters, cinematic action and one hell of an emotional ending. Because I love this series so much, and as extra incentive for you to read it too, I'm offering up my hardcover copy of Legend. You can enter for your chance to win this Legend-ary giveaway at the bottom of this post.

Rating: ★★★★★

Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

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I'm Baaaack!

Yes, after a month long hiatus, I'm back. And sorry. Please forgive me for the abrupt, unannounced disappearance.

Please don't hurt me!

I know I never mentioned this here but those of you who follow me on Twitter know that I took a bit of a hiatus around the holidays. Between work, a death in the family, traveling to Mexico for my BFF's wedding (!), there was just too much going on and I couldn't handle the blog. 

But in all honesty, it wasn't just the busy schedule that kept me away. Blogging had, sort of, become a bit of a chore so I used the break to reevaluate the direction I was headed and the time I'd be able to dedicate to blogging. I started Foil the Plot because I'm passionate about books/movies and I wanted to share that love with all of you. I strive to be honest with everything I post and I want the blog to reflect both that passion and honesty. I can't do that if reviewing/reading starts to feel like a chore.

Ultimately, what did I learn during my time away? That I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bookish community and the discussion that we share, the friendships I've made. I still love reading and talking about reading with all of you. I learned that I don't want to stop blogging, at least, not yet. I may have to adjust how frequently I blog because I need to maintain some sense of a decent work/blog/life balance, but I am here to stay. 

So, apologies abound, I'm officially returning next week with a review and super killer giveaway to start off the new year. Here's to another year of books, friends and FANTASTICAL discussion! 

Cheers!