News!

Hello!  Perhaps you're wondering if your eyes are playing tricks on you?  Don't worry, I've actually changed the design of the blog quite a bit.  I like what I've gotten done so far, but there are few places I still want to alter things and a few places where I'm not as sure that I like how it looks.  So I want your opinion.  Please!  If you like it, if you don't like it, if you have any ideas, I'd love to know.

And then there's the other matter of business: my upcoming hiatus.  I won't be around for two weeks.  I'm going on a trip and, while I'll have my computer with me, I won't be using the internet very much and I'll be staying away from the blog on purpose.  I want to relax over this trip, and while I love blogging, the change of pace will be good for me.  I will be back, and when I return I'll talk more about the trip.

So, what will I be reading over these two weeks?  The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan.  Hopefully, I'll manage to get through all of them, and I'm super excited to start!  I've been meaning to read these for some time, and now that that time has finally come, I'm ecstatic.

I won't be watching much TV while I'm gone, but recently I have been finishing up on Forever and started watching a few different shows on Netflix.  It's nice to finally have settled into summer and being lazy in front of the TV all day.

I will be doing a lot of writing.  That's the main reason I'm bringing my computer with me.  I'm neck deep in a short story I hope to submit to an open anthology call, and half a chapter into a novel that's been itching at the back of my mind for some time.  I haven't had the writing bug so bad in such a long time and I want to capitalize on it while I can.

There won't be any posts while I'm gone, although I originally wanted to write some in advance.  Time just got away from me.  So, until then, I hope you guys have a wonderful time reading!

5 Star Book Review: World After (Penryn and the End of Days, #2)

Author| Susan Ee (Website)
Edition| Kindle eBook
Genre| YA- Dystopian
Publisher| Skyscape
Related Posts| Angelfall
Rating| 5 Stars

This post may contain spoilers for the first book, though I'm going to try and keep it spoiler free.  Read at your own risk.

TV Review: Supernatural (Season 10)

I'm a pretty big Supernatural fan, but even I admit that the show has degraded into something pretty bad.  The characters have all flattened out, and any new ones introduced don't last long enough to be liked.  The plot line has become rote and I don't actually worry about people dying.  When it's not demons it's witches and when it's not witches... it's not anything.  What happened to hunting ghosts and wendigo's?  (This may end up being more of a rant than an actual review...)

A+ TV Review: Star Wars Rebels (Season 1 & Season 2 Premier)

If you aren't watching this show, you're making a mistake.  It's really, really good.  You don't even have to be a fan of Star Wars to like this show.  It's perfect for people who crave a great animation that's not afraid to tackle serious events.  In that vein, it actually reminds me a lot of Avatar: The Last Airbender.  It's a family friendly, carries on the Star Wars legacy, and will also appeal to adults and an older audience.

Book Review: The Courtesan Duchess (Wicked Deceptions, #1)

If you've followed my blog for a while, you may know that I've found a liking for Regency romance novels.  Yes, they're my guilty pleasure.  And while this is a mostly YA and Fantasy (and now comics) blog, I do like to throw in some other types of reviews to keep it entertaining and fresh.  The Courtesan Duchess was received as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, to thank you Netgalley.  Before you read this book, just go into it knowing that it's pretty steamy and there aren't any fade to black moments, so read at your own risk.

Waiting on Wednesday: Truthwitch

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  Click here to be taken to their most recent WoW post.

This week I'm waiting for Truthwitch, by Susan Dennard.  It's the first in her new series, Witchlands, and drops on January 5th, next year.

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.
In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.
Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.
Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.
Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch. 

Why I'm Waiting: It has an awesome cover and description!  While I haven't read anything by Susan Dennard (yet), I've heard fantastic things about her books.  This one has a lot of early excitement, especially on Twitter, and I'm hoping for the best.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Hyped Books I've Never Read

This week's theme is actually Top Ten Top Ten Posts; click here if you want to be taken to the host's The Broke and the Bookish and join in on the fun.  I'm not doing that posts for two reasons, 1) I haven't been doing these for very long and I wouldn't have a huge amount to choose from, and, 2) I won't be around for the next two weeks and wanted to do one of those instead.  That's the main reason.  I haven't talked about it much, yet, and I'll have more details in this week's wrap up, but I'll be away for two whole weeks.  Anyway, without further ado, here are the top ten (or so) books I that have incredible hype but I've never read, and may never read.  (They're in no particular order.)

Book Review: Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days, #1)

Author| Susan Ee (Website)

Edition| Kindle eBook

Genre| YA- Dystopian

Publisher| Skyscape

Rating| 4.5 Stars

Angelfall has been sitting on my Kindle for some time now, and I was happy to pick it up and check it off of my ever growing TBR pile.  I never planned on loving it as much as I did!  While it had a slow start, by the end I didn't want to put it down and ended up picking up the next two books immediately.  While it is a bit of a cliched genre at this point, Angelfall breaks out of the Dystopian rut and ends up being very original and entertaining.

Spring Wrap Up

So I wrote a similar post at the end of March (a winter wrap up) and really like having this time to reflect on the books I've read since then.  The books are in the order I read them in, and if I have I have a review written I'll link it in.  So these are my favorite books from this spring (happy first day of Summer)!

Weekly Wrap Up and Book Haul

So many unexpected things happened this week that I felt like I was living in utter chaos.  I was barely home, and when I was I got through some shoddy posts (so sorry about the poor quality) and actually forgot to write the review yesterday.  Sigh.  I'll be getting to it as soon as I can, so expect it in a day or so.  Among the things that happened- my dad got bit by a dog.  He's okay for the most part, but we all feel really horrible because it was our cousin's (his sister's) dog and they're getting rid of it now.

Even though I wasn't really able to sit down and read, I managed to finish a total of FIVE books this week.  Crazy, I know.  I devoured the Angelfall series, reading about one a day (and it was so very, very good), and also squeezed in Breathe and finished up a Star Wars graphic novel.  I didn't watch much TV because I was reading so much.  I did catch the Blackhawks game (go Hawks!) and bits of the parade and rally.  (I live about an hour outside of Chicago so we're all pretty big fans).

Sunday- Spring Wrap Up

Monday- Review of Angelfall

Tuesday- Top Ten Tuesday

Wednesday- Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday- Star Wars Rebels review and Supernatural review

Friday- Review of World After

Saturday- Wrap Up and Book Haul

*at some point this week I'll get to the review I had originally planned for yesterday

I also had a bigger book haul then I expected this week.  I went to Walmart and came back with two books.

I'll be reading Blood of Olympus next month when I binge read the entire series.  I expect to get to Hollow City before the summer is over, but I can't say when.

I also picked up issues three and four of Silk.  I've read issue three, but haven't gotten to four yet.  Still really loving this series- especially the art.

Another comic I picked up was the first issue of the original Runaways series.  I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more of them.

5 Star Graphic Novel Review: Goddess of Thunder (Thor, Vol. 1)

Author| Jason Aaron
Artists| Russell Dauterman and Jorge Molina
Edition| Hardcover
Publisher| Marvel
Genre| Superhero Comic
Rating| 5 Stars

Can we just take a moment to appreciate where Marvel is headed?  This is just one in many of the new female driven series.  Clearly they've gotten the message that we need more bad-ass women.  Thor is obviously the most drastic change to the Marvel universe.  The character of Thor has been around for quite a long time, and replacing Odinson with a woman is a BIG change.  I know there were many people upset by the change.  And it is understandable; you're used to one character holding the title and suddenly he's not worthy?  It would have bothered me, too, if I had grown up with the character.  But now people are able to grow up with this version of Thor- and she's awesome.

To avoid confusion, I'll be referring to Thor #1 (the one you see in the movies) as Odinson (since that is what he's referred to in the comics now) and Thor #2 as Thor.  Also, I'm not caught up on the comics- I've been reading the bind ups- so I don't know who they revealed Thor to be.  Please don't spoil it in the comments!

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this.  I've read a Thor comic here and there, but have never really invested in the character.  I like the Thor movies, but know very little beyond that.  The most surprising thing about the Thor comics is the tone.  Rather than read as a sci-fi, like the movies make it out to be, it's magical.  It's heavily based in mythology and the characters play up to it.  It's more fantasy than science fiction, and that was an instant draw.

And I do like the new Thor.  She's pretty awesome.  But she's also insecure, and nervous about her role in the universe now.  Her voice quickly made her likable.  And she proves (in my opinion) herself of Mjolnir.  She does have a different connection to the hammer than Odinson had, and I can't help but wonder why, and if it has anything to do with who she is.

I can talk this book up forever, so let me cut myself short.  One last note: the art is absolutely gorgeous.  I stared at the pictures for hours, just flipping pages to enjoy how it looked.  Another reason to pick this one up- aesthetic appeal.

TV Talk: NBC New Shows

I've done these twice before, talking about the new shows coming to the CW, ABC, and CBS.  What I do with TV Talk's is go through the new shows coming to the networks next season and give my opinion based off of the trailers.  Hope you enjoy and comment with what shows you're most excited for.

Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris

I like Harris quite a bit, but not enough to get me excited for this show.  I can't quite make out what it is.  Skits?  A competition?  A game show?  I think it's a bit of all three, honestly, and I have little patience for those kinds of shows.  Hopefully it manages to stay afloat, though.

This one with be on Tuesdays at 9c.

Blindspot

This is the only new show coming to NBC that I plan on watching.  It is cliche'd for sure- main character loses her memory and is probably a special ops officer set to save the world, or something such.  But the pace of the trailer and the leading lady (Jaimie Alexander) have me excited.  Actually, it's mostly due to Alexander, because I'm a big fan.

Blindspot airs Mondays at 10 o'clock.

Heartbreaker

Oh look!  Another medical drama!  Because there aren't enough of those :/  I won't be watching this one, either, but, again, our main character has a ton of power.  She looks like she shines through her role.  If only I weren't so squeamish- this would be an instant watch for me.  The concept's pretty awesome and it has some feminist undertones that I can really get behind.

It airs at 9 on Tuesdays.

People are Talking

As much as I don't watch medical drama's, I don't watch sitcoms.  I just generally stay away from them because my humor doesn't really match.  This one does look like a pretty standard sitcom, but on a market where the classic styles sitcoms don't really exist it could do well.

People are Talking will be on Fridays at 9:30.

The Player

This looks more like a movie than a TV series and I don't see exactly how it will hold up over multiple episodes.  So I'm not even going to give it a chance.  Were it a movie I'd have waited for it to stream somewhere.  I may do the same with this if it gets a second season.  Otherwise, it's a no-show for me.

Waiting on Wednesday: Thor- Who Holds the Hammer?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.  Click here to be taken to their blog and join in on the fun!

If you've followed my blog for some time, you may remember my WoW for the first volume of the new Thor series.  My review of said volume will be up later this week.  In the mean time, I thought I'd spotlight the second volume, which releases in hardcover at the end of next month.

I like the cover, but I'm not as big a fan as I was for the first cover.  Anyways, I'm really dying for this one.  I've managed to stay away from spoilers on who she is, and I'd like to keep it that way.  The wait will soon be over and I'll be able dig into this one.  I'm super excited.

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on Summer TBR

Top ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and the Bookish.  Click here to be taken to their website and join in on the fun.

I feel like I sort of already did this one back at the end of May with Top Ten Books I Plan to Have in My Summer Bag.  You can click on the link to be taken to that one, if you're interested.  The books I picked this week are all ones I'm fairly certain I'll get to this summer.  90% sure I'll be reading many of them within the month.  So, here they are, in order of least to most excited to read.

10. Day 21 (The 100, #2) by Kass Morgan

9. Because of Low (Sea Breeze, #2) by Abbi Glines

8. Blood Ties (Spirit Animals, #3) by Garth Nix

7. The Duke's Holiday (The Regency Romp Trilogy, #1) by Maggie Fenton

6. The Duchess War (Brother's Sinister, #1) by Courtney Milan

5. I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

4. Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven, #2) by Brandon Mull

3. Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) by Dan Simmons

2. Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures (Pip Bartlett, #1) by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater

1. Hell Bent (Redneck Apocalypse, #2) by eden Hudson

Five Star Book Review: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

Author| Leslye Walton
Edition| Library Book
Genre| YA- Historical/Whimsical Fantasy
Publisher| Candlewick Press
Rating| 5 Stars

This is one of those books that, after finishing, will hang around for a few days.  It resonates long after the last page has been turned, the last word read.  I'm rather upset with myself that I checked this book out of the library instead of buying it because now I have to give it back.

One of the best parts of this book is that it reads like a family history.  It starts with Ava's grandmother's story, then the story of her mother, and then, finally, her story.  It's really indescribable.  Nor would I want to describe it, because it's one of those books that it's best going into not expecting anything.  You come out so much better off.

As with all five star books, I find it hard to write a review.  I have no gripes with it, and loved every part.  It's rather heartbreaking, though.  It becomes brutal in the final chapters, during the climax, so take care when picking this book up.  Because of everything that happens, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who's uncomfortable with sex.  There's nothing super graphic, but there are several scenes where it is more than implied.  One of these scenes is a rape scene.

While it is heart wrenching, it is also uplifting.  The book is all about love.  Falling in love, falling out of love, losing those you love, discovering those you love.  All types of love, too.  Romantic, parent to child, mother to daughter, friend to friend, neighbor to neighbor, brother to sister.  Because of all of this, it ends on a hopeful note.  It lifts you up in the end with a very beautiful image of what the future holds.

So, I recommend this to absolutely everyone.  It's amazing- and don't make the same mistake as me and check it out of the library.  Buy it so you can have it forever.

Sunday Comics

Sunday Comics is something I do every other week.  Rather than review each comic individually, I wrap them all up in one place.  Lately I've been reading quite a few, but you can expect that number to start going down soon.

Blackest Night (Issue #0) written by Geoff Johns with art by Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert and Rob Hunter
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Definitely a little confusing at first, but with classic characters and a pretty good catch up on what's going on.  It sets up a very interesting concept, and many pages at the end are dedicated to the different orders of Lanterns etc.

Batgirl Preview (2011- ) written by Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart with art by Babs Tarr
Rating: 5 Stars
So much fun!  I really want to dive into the series for real now.  The characters come right off the page and our heroine is spunky in all the best ways.  Plus, she's good at what she does.  Top of my list now.

Black Canary Preview (2015- ) written by Brenden Fletcher with art by Annie Wu
Rating: 1.5 Stars
Ugh, no.  I enjoy the character of Black Canary quite a bit and was excited to see that she had a new series starting.  For one, the art is hideous (in my opinion) and the story is stupid as can be.  She's in a band now, fighting off members of other bands.  Like, it makes no sense to me, and I dislike the direction her character is taking.  Sad, because I was looking forward to this one, too.

Supergirl (Issue #1) (2011-2015) written by Michael Green and Michael F. Johnson with art by Mahmud A. Asrar, Dan Green, and Dave McCaig
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved it!  The only thing I wish is that it were longer.  I'll be picking more of these up in the near future because it was such a wonderful change.  Both the art and the story were fresh and it gets me even more excited for the upcoming TV show.

Silk (Issue #2) (2015-) written by Robbie Thompson with art by Stacey Lee
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this again, though it wasn't as interesting as the first issue.  It did a good job at starting to dive into her old life and how her new life was vastly different.  It also expanded her powers and how they worked exactly.  The villain was silly, but that's okay.  It's only issue two, and I'm still very much looking forward to reading these for some time.

Grayson Preview (2014- ) written by Tom King and Tim Seeley with art by Mikel Janin and Jeromy Cox
Rating: 5 Stars
I have no idea what's going on in this series or how it gets there, but I enjoyed every second of what I read.  It was great in every aspect, and now I look forward to reading it some day.

Midnighter Preview (2015- ) written by Steve Orlando with art by ACO
Rating: 2.5 Stars
And on the flip-side of Grayson, is Midnighter.  I'm not a fan, at least not yet.  I may give this another chance someday, perhaps when I'm more familiar with the character, but until then, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Harley Quin Preview (2013- ) written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Chad Hardin
Rating: 2.5 Stars
My cousin is a huge Harley Quinn fan, so I was eager to give this a try.  It wasn't really my stride, though it does have potential.  I think it was just a bad place to start.  I did like the writing and the cast of characters very much.  Just, perhaps, not enough to carry the story itself, which seems nonexistent.  Perhaps someday I shall continue the series.

Robin: Son of Batman Preview (2015- ) written by Patrick Gleason with art by Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray
Rating: 2.5 Stars
I'm not a huge fan of Damien in general, and this did little to help me like him.  Although, it didn't do anything to make me dislike him, either.  It was confusing from the get-go, story and art.  It didn't end on a good note, either.  Rather than getting me intrigued in the future of the series, it left me wondering what was even going on.

Wolverine (Issue #42) (Civil War) (2003-2009) written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Humberto Ramos
Rating: 4 Stars
I liked this more than I thought I would.  The character of Wolverine is normally a miss for me (I enjoy Jackman's portrayal of him for the most part, but as a supporting character in other comics I always consider him a jackass).  I am in love with the Civil War story line, though, so knowing this would tie in helped.  Wolverine's role in the whole arc is going to be great.  He's the only character actively looking for revenge for what happened, and I couldn't have asked for a better character to do it.  I eagerly await what comes next.  On a side note, I really dislike the art, it's too cartoon-y, especially for this character.

Starfire Preview (2015- ) written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Emanuela Lupacchino
Rating: 5 Stars
Sign me up, I'm hooked!  The preview's a good taste of what's to come, and the art is absolutely gorgeous.  I like where the story's headed, and the interaction with other characters was a lot of fun to watch.

Teen Titans (Issue #3) (2003-2011) written by Geoff Johns with art by Mike McKone, Marlo Alquiza, and Jeromy Cox
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This one was less personal than the previous two, and the story itself was left a little weak because of it.  However, propelling into the major story line and a confrontation with Deathstroke helped.  The ending was a bit strange, but I'm willing to see where it goes.  Overall, a very good issue, though, seeing as it manages to balance several different story lines and characters.

Weekly Wrap Up and Book Haul

So tons of extended family have come into town this week, which has been a pretty good time.  Because of this I may have overestimated how much I would be able to get done this week.  I don't really mind, though.

I did manage to finish watching Star Wars: Rebels and a review will be coming soon.  I absolutely loved it and can't wait for season two later this month.  I also finally caught up on Supernatural.  It was an interesting season, to say the least.  I was going to start watching The Messengers, but I don't have the first few episodes, so I'm going to wait until it (hopefully) comes to Netflix.  I'll be starting Star Wars: The Clone Wars (because I'm on a Star Wars kick) and maybe watching some of The Tomorrow People, since I never finished it.

On the book front, I finished The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender and loved it.  I also started Angelfall, and have a few chapters left.  I plan to finish it today.  I like it a lot, but I do think it was over-hyped.  As soon as I'm done I'll start A Court of Thorns and Roses and then The Storyspinner.

Sunday- "Sunday Comics"

Monday- Review of Ava Lavender

Tuesday- Top Ten Tuesday

Wednesday- Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday- Review of Thor: Goddess of Thunder and a TV Talk

Friday- Review of Courtesan Duchess

Saturday- Wrap Up and Haul

I picked up a few things this week, and am super happy with my little tiny haul.

• Wolverine Issue #42 (part of the Civil War story line)
• Teen Titans Issue #3

•  The Serpent's Shadow (this is the third book in the Kane Chronicles)
• Cloak Society (I've had my eye on this one for a while now)

So how were your weeks?  Let me know in the comments!

Book Review: Proven Guilty (Dresden Files, #8)

Author| Jim Butcher
Edition| UK Paperback
Genre| Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher| Orbit
Related Reviews| Dead Beat
Rating| 4.5 Stars

There may be SPOILERS for the first seven books in this series.  If you aren't caught up, I strongly recommend you do not continue to read this post.

"Blood leaves no stain on a Warden's grey cloak," are the opening lines.  They left a shiver down my back and got my heart racing in excitement for this book.  Proven Guilty picks up some time after Dead Beat and doesn't take its time in getting the ball rolling.  A new twist: Harry finds out about the crime before it happens.  These warnings must be pushed to the side when the daughter of his friend, Michael, calls him for aid.  Soon he discovers that the mysterious evil at work and Molly are tied up.

After Dead Beat, my favorite Dresden novel to date, I think I expected too much of this one.  It wasn't bad, and actually ranks up with the best of them, but didn't compare to the previous one.  Another major downfall was how predictable the story was.  Not in your face predictable, but I had the big twist penned down within the first few chapters.  It's set up well- too well, since all arrows pointed right at it.

There was still major pay off in this book, particularly in the form of old characters reappearing.  A lot happens with the faerie courts, so everyone's favorite Summer Lady and Knight have a rather large role.  Plus, some cameos from other key fey players (Maeve, who's a personal favorite, for one) held just enough tease to get all the fans excited.  And, of course, there's Molly.  She's absolutely fantastic.  I'm fairly certain she'll be upgraded to an even more major character in the next books, and I couldn't be happier.

There's a lot of character development in this one.  Charity gets pages and pages dedicated to an interesting and unexpected backstory.  Thomas starts to drift away from his brother, revealing what really happened at the end of the last book.  Murphy and Harry cement (for now) their relationship.  We finally (sort of) discover what breed Mouse is and he turns on a new level of bad ass.

So, all in all, great book.  As always, I'm looking forward to the next adventure (which hopefully will be soon).

TV Review: Person of Interest (Season 4)

Watch| NBC when it's live (I don't know where you can catch up right now)
Starring| Jim Caviezel (John Reese), Kevin Chapman (Lionel Fusco), Michael Emerson (Harold Finch), Amy Acker (Root), Sarah Shahi (Sameen Shaw)
Rating| B-

There are certainly SPOILERS for seasons 1 through 3, and possibly major SPOILERS for season 4.  If you aren't caught up on the show, you may not want to read ahead.

This show finished its run awhile ago, and I've been sitting on this review for no small amount of time because I was still formulating my thoughts.  The beginning of the season got me very excited!  Everything was different.  Not only was Carter gone, but the Machine, and her cohorts, were in hiding.  I loved that the main cast were given practical jobs, particularly Reese.  While the others all had their new secret identities explored somewhat, his was the most intriguing, and, overall, most important.

The high lasted for a few episodes before it petered off into same-old, same-old.  I wasn't bored- the show manages to always keep me on the edge of my seat- but I also can't recall any episodes immediately.  There were a couple here and there, particularly the ones that dive into Elias' back story.  That was a rich well that could have been used more than it was.  In the smack dab middle of the season when they had their big trilogy of episodes that changed everything, particularly If-Then-Else, I got excited again.  This was one of my favorite episodes this season, and was incredibly innovative.

It dragged again after that, but not for nearly as long as the first time.  From episode 18, Skip, onward I was thoroughly hooked.  This episode rejuvenated the show, introducing a new character and exploring another recent one.  Both new girls were bad-ass and incredibly fun to see on screen.  I want more of both Harper (who I'm fairly certain we'll see again, in a great capacity) and Frankie.

The show catapulted into an incredible final three episodes.  If I remember nothing else, I will remember the bittersweet heartbreak of Terra Incognita (episode 20), the nail biting Asylum (episode 21), and the heart pounding, breath stealing YHWH (episode 22).  These are the true shining stars of the whole series- TV doesn't really get any better than this.  They made the rough patches incredibly worth it.  Even for someone who's become numb to many surprises, this one had me several times.  And it also left my eyes watering.

I know the show may not last much longer, but I'm so glad to have been able to see these episodes.  If you've considered giving it up, or don't watch it anymore, I ask that you maybe give it a chance.  It always manages to deliver.  And as a quick side note, can we take a moment to just admire the poster this season?  It's one of my absolute things on the planet.

Music Review: Lovestrong. & Summer Music Thoughts

Artist| Christina Perri

Now, I haven't done a music review in quite some time, and I know this CD came out a while ago, but I thought it was a good time to talk about it.  I will forever associate this song with summer because of what happened last year.  I was on a plane, stuck next to a complete stranger (because the airline messed with my ticket) and trying to fall asleep.  The plane had a wonderful selection of music to listen to, and I ended up listening to this.  I had it play on repeat for a couple of hours, drifting in and out of consciousness.  When I got home, I still couldn't stop humming the lyrics.

As summer faded I stopped listening to it; things grow old when you hear them so many times.  But a few weeks ago I listened to it again, and it was wonderful.  Like the song Arms says, I felt like I was home.

Lovestrong. is one of those compilations that can conjure up so many images.  The melodies are whimsical, and the words are both heartbreaking and heartwarming.  I've never come across another album like this, where I can close my eyes and let my brain wander, showing me a myriad of beautiful things.

If I had to narrow it down to only a few favorites, Bang Bang Bang, Mine, and The Lonely stand out immediately, though I love the whole thing to death.

I only bring up these thoughts because it is summer (finally!) and that means summer music.  I've already found a few songs that just get my pulse racing and my heart flying.  They reek of summer in every word, and they're played throughout the season.  On one hand, it's pretty nice, getting these perky and fun songs that the winter seems to lack.  On the other, I feel like they're washed out within days of replay.

Are there any songs that have jumped out at you this summer?  And have you ever just listened to an album and enjoyed it as thoroughly as I have this one?  Let me know in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Heir and the Spare

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.  Click here to join in on the fun.

I saw this book on someone's WOW a few weeks ago, and haven't really seen it anywhere else, but it sounds so very amazing!

Family can be complicated. Especially when skeletons from the past pop up unexpectedly. For American Evie Gray, finding out her deceased mother had a secret identity, and not one of the caped crusader variety, was quite the surprise. Evie’s mom had a secret life before she was even born, one that involved tiaras.
In this modern day fairytale, Evie is on a path to figure out who her mom really was, while discovering for herself what the future will hold. Charged with her late mother’s letters, Evie embarks on a quest into her past. The first item on the list is to attend Oxford, her mom’s alma mater. There, Evie stumbles upon a real life prince charming, Edmund Stuart the second Prince of England, who is all too happy to be the counterpart to her damsel in distress.
Evie can’t resist her growing attraction to Edmund as they spend more time together trying to unravel the clues her mother left behind. But, when doubts arise as to whether or not Edmund could ever be with an untitled American, what really ends up unraveling is Evie’s heart. When Evie uncovers all the facts about her mom’s former life, she realizes her mom’s past can open doors she never dreamed possible, doors that can help her be with Edmund. But, with everything now unveiled, Evie starts to crack under the pressure of new family responsibilities and the realization that her perfect prince may want her for all the wrong. reasons

It sorta sounds like Princess Diaries, honestly.  Anyways, I'm eagerly awaiting this one (unfortunately it doesn't arrive on shelves until next year).  What are you waiting for this week?

Graphic Novel Review: Daredevil Ultimate Collection (Vol. 1)

Authors| Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
Edition| Kindle eBook
Publisher| Marvel
Genre| Superhero Comic
Rating| 4 Stars

Yes, I am still a little hungover from the Daredevil TV series, thanks for asking.  It has abated some, but every once in a while I just have to re-watch parts of it and dream of the next season, which is still much to far away.  This is the first Daredevil graphic novel I've read in a while, so it was a treat.

My biggest issue was the first story arc.  It was four or five issues (read: chapters) and seemed really out of place.  It wouldn't have been as bad if it was advertised a little clearer that it was there.  It takes place from Ben's point of view, and the art is very confusing.  In fact, I really hated the art.  Each issue got very little done expect Ben's inner monologue, and that grew very tiring, to say the least.  Were I just reviewing this short arc, I would give it merely one star.  Luckily, I'm not.

The rest of the story was pretty good, and I think it may even be a direction the show starts to head next season, or in a few seasons.  I'd love to give a summary, but it would be rather spoilery, so I'll refrain.  I'm sure there's a description floating somewhere around the internet.

My favorite part of the whole collection was how naturally the story built on itself.  One problem occurred, and while working on resolving that story, another, related one, would pop up.  They slowly culminated until I can determine there are at least three very distinct and interesting things happening at once.  I do wish there had been some closure, but I'm sure there is in the next two volumes, which I'm eager to get to.

There were also several fun cameo's that I couldn't get enough of.  Both Spider-Man and Black Widow make appearances that I wasn't really expecting, and it was really interesting to see that interaction within the superhero community.

If you're just coming off of watching the Netflix show, then I recommend this collection for sure.  You won't be too lost, though there is a gap, and you'll have a lot of fun trying to predict when, and if, the show will get to this point.

TV Talk: CW New Shows

Like I did a few weeks ago, I'm going to be talking about the new shows coming next season.  This one will be rather short since the CW only picked up three shows.  While I try to be informative in these little reviews, they're pretty loaded with my own thoughts and opinions.

Legends of Tomorrow
Here's my recent review of Arrow/Flash, and if you scroll to the bottom you'll find my thoughts on the Legends of Tomorrow trailer and what the show may hold in store for us.

This one will air during the mid-season.

Containment
I absolutely hate quarantine dramas.  Which this is.  It takes a lot for me to like disease and plague drama's.  The only one in recent times that I've actually sat down and watched is 12 Monkeys, and that was for the time travel aspects.  The one shining star about this show is that it looks like it will focus more on the relationships and is merely using the disease as a sort of setting.  It could be interesting, but I'll be staying very far away from this one.

This one will also air during the mid-season.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
I won't watch this one either, but it looks genuinely funny.  A very cute take on an old idea and told from her perspective instead of his.  I hope with time it moves away from a stalker-ish plot and becomes something else.  Either way, I think this will find a nice niche with fans.

This one will be on Mondays at 7c.

Weekly Wrap Up and Book Haul

Hey guys!  It seems like it's been forever since my last wrap up; probably because it finally feels like summer.  I wasn't able to really reciprocate on Tuesday and Wednesday (more so Wednesday) because I had a horrible headache.  TTT's and WOW's are automated posts.  I feel bad and tried to at least stop by and comment on everyone's blog who commented on mine, but I don't think that happened.  The headache continued into Thursday, though I did exist a bit better on that day.  I still didn't have much of a presence, though.  On Friday my family and I took an all day road trip, which I why I was missing yesterday.  Sorry about all that!  This week, unless I get sick, I'll be around the whole time and as soon as I finish this post I'm going to catch up on all the blogs I wasn't able to over the last couple of days.

Now for the state of things:

I found a groove in my writing right now, so I plan to really stick to it.  Hopefully I don't get stuck any time soon.

For TV, I'm still catching up on Supernatural, but I only have two episodes left, so I'll knock it out of the park before the week is over.  Then I plan on watching the Messengers even though it's already been cancelled.  I also got hooked on Star Wars: Rebels the other night.  It's so very good, and you can consider me obsessed.  I'll be finishing the first season of that in time for season two to premier later this month.  I've also got the craving for Six Million Dollar Man, so I'll be popping in a desk of that later this week.

Reading wise, I was going to start Angelfall after finishing Proven Guilty, but then The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender caught my interest and, well, you could say I'm in love.  Which, considering what the book is about, that's a bit ironic.  After I finish this (tonight or tomorrow) I'll start Angelfall, which shouldn't take me super long.  And then I'll be reading Court of Thorns and Roses (finally!).

So, here's the schedule for the week:

Sunday- TV Talk (CW)

Monday- Daredevil Ultimate Edition review

Tuesday- Nothing

Wednesday- Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday- Person of Interest review & my summer music

Friday- Proven Guilty review

Saturday- Wrap-Up and Haul

And now the part of the post I've decided to title: "Help!  I bought too many books!"

I picked up several comics this week.  I've already reviewed one of them, the others you'll see reviewed during the next Sunday Comics, since I've read them all since buying them.

• New Avengers (Dark Reign) The Reunion Issue #1
• Blackest Night Issue #0
• Supergirl (New 52) Issue #1
• Silk Issue #2

I also picked up a few eBooks (no surprise there).  I'm very excited to start all of them.

• The Master Magician by Charlie Holmberg
• Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
• Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron

I also stopped by the library this week:

• Vampire Knight Vol. 1
• Soul Eater Vol. 1
• The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
• The Storyspinner
• Anna Dressed in Blood
• The Chaos of Stars

And my local Half-Priced books:

• White Night
• Turn Coat
• Cold Days
• Skin Game

Anyone else agree I have a problem with my book buying?  Anyway, I'm really happy with my haul this week, and hope you are all as happy with yours.  Have a great week, guys!