Thursday, April 28, 2016

Review: House of Chains

House of Chains House of Chains by Steven Erikson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Highly evocative, thrilling, shocking at most parts, comical and tres poignant.
Once more, SE introduces a dynamic duo (all of them are just superbly epic with perfect chemistry i don't know how Erikson does it!) that sticks to me as a reader.
We learn more about the CG, ST and how they move pieces, er, players around the board that is Raraku.
And the reunion. Man, that brought tears to my eyes. SO happy about the BB!
This was an easy read for me although it took me a long time to finish because i am swamped, i'm not even supposed to be reading anything except medical books but this was just a treat!
I may take a long break after this read OR slowly read MT like in a span of two months? LOL we will see. I definitely don't want to rust up my brain as a lot A LOT of characters are into play and plots buried within plots are easier to forget.

Definitely an ACE FANTASY read and series. No doubt.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Lords und Ladies (Discworld, #14)Lords und Ladies by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



They are back and something sinister and elven is brewing in the midst of their day to day (and midnight, too) scheming.

This was exhilarating to read, and surely cured my allergies which is mainly triggered by low immunity and stress. Sir Terry Pratchett's books are my very own magic pill wrapped up nicely in a book.





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Tuesday, July 14, 2015

ArmadaArmada by Ernest Cline
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ernest Cline has cemented himself as master of 80s pop culture and for me, admittedly the Dan Brown of arcade video games -related conspiracies.

Can we just stop and talk for a minute. Ernest Cline mentioning Flight of the Navigator is the pivotal moment that I just told myself, “There is no way I can rate this less than 4 stars, at the very least.” Because who mentions that EPIC movie anymore? And just how awesome that movie was when we were kids?!
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A dose of advise : If you are that reader that puts on a pair of headphones while reading a book, this book is tailored to your taste! At the end of the book is a mix tape that you can upload in your iPod/iPhone or mp3 whatever. If I’d known it’d be at the very end of the book, I would have done the same thing. When I reread this masterpiece, I would definitely do the Audiobook version AND listen to the mix tape at the same time.
Some of the Cool Stuffs:
Like the rest of us smitten over comic con and such, if you are into sci fi (and fantasy too!), then you know that SWEAR WORDS are one of the coolest things to learn when subjected into an alter reality universe plot. And yes! I mean.
Firefly’s Gorram. (I still have not forgiven Joss Whedon for canceling this show. And NO, the spin off movie and those graphic novels DO NOT CUT IT. Gorr-)
BSG’s Frak. This swear word has been more popularly used by the general geek population and of course, is no surprise that Cline dropped the awesome bomb in his novel.
Doctor Who. Need i say more?
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Zack's dad's geeky jacket. It was an old black baseball jacket with leather sleeves, and it was completely covered, front to back, with embroidered patches, all somehow science fiction or videogame related

For some reason, it makes me remember Back to the Future. I dunno but darn, that jacket will be a great future merchandise based on the book (if they exist out there, i think they are very limited and strictly personalized at this time!)
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Initial Concerns:
The blurb sounded a lot like Ender’s Game and this was one of the things that I was worried about. Delightedly, Ernest Cline broke the ice by actually mentioning the said book in his novel making it one of the classic themes it is based on, and I feel good about this move because it’s like Ernest Cline is saying, “Yes, Ender’s Game is a classic. As an author, I admit and respect that. But ride my book and see where it takes you, little one.”
Although Armada is different from Ender’s Game, it does run in parallel to it. But the author did a great job overshadowing this detail with a lot of other components that drew the reader’s attention away from this like doing a Jack Bauer countdown at one point that felt breathtaking and like you're on the edge of your seat.
Essentially, there is a WHOLE lot to the story and the author did an excellent job as this was funny in ways geeks can fully appreciate. Banters are like, "This conversation was an intelligent one, right up until you joined it,"
Right?

The Characters.
Zack Lightman is a confused and quick tempered teenager in the first part of the book. He is impulsive and does not know how to tame his rage. Worse, he blames every mess on the fact that his father died mysteriously when he was a baby. Zack's character is very lovable as we will see throughout the book how he has evolved from a selfish turd into a responsible citizen of Earth. The author made this very believable and seamless.
Also, one of the most beloved characters i think is Zack's 'mentor' Ray Habashaw. (view spoiler)

About Armada

With a plethora of geek characters that injected a sense of gamer nirvana in me that I was riding the lightning fast. (which of course, the speed of lightning is not even a big deal on this novel, just sayin’)
This book has squirmed and lodged itself quite comfortably among the modern scifi books that are fast becoming classics in our time. I wish that Ray could have had more 'airtime' as we all are quickly enamored by the charms of mentors and masters and guardians of protagonists. Yeah?

I am most assured i have not spilled anything drastic on my review as you will later know upon reading the book haha

Geeky Words Worth a Tat
El Riesgo siempre vive - Based on the movie Alien, worn by one of the characters Vasquez on his plate.
Trägheitslosigkeit

Favourite Quotes:
"That's how you know you've mastered a videogame-when a bunch of butt-hurt crybabies start to accuse you of cheating in an effort to cope with the beatdown they've just suffered at your hands."

"Hello fish, welcome to my barrel."

"Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, i will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I remain." - Frank Herbert


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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

I had to say, this is the MOST AMAZING BOOK i have read since LOTR.
ANd this is putting it lightly. Who am i to say this? Well, this is coming from a reader who has read Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind, PAtrick Rothfuss, George RR Martin, Peter Brett, Anthony Ryan, and yep, Brandon Sanderson. Erikson's writing has its own complexity, wit and charm that just blew me away. The world building, the peoples, gods, immortals, humans clash in a battle that is just bred with betrayal and deceit and game play that just drew me in.
I had to be honest, the first 35% of the book, i had trouble getting into because of these loads of information dumped, no explanations or back story whatsoever and unlike other fantasy novels that you can just fly through pages, this one has minute details within that you have to note of because they do appear chapters later in the book. So many characters are in play that this book actually felt like a trilogy! And never ignore the quotes/anecdotes prior to each chapter as they do tell a lot about the Malazan world itself. However, this novel has very graphic scenes that are just too darn epic.
The flying rock, where Lord Anomander Rake resides, battle against the sorcerers and mages employed by the Malazan Empire.
Hairlock torn in pieces after the great war against Moon's Spawn, with the arrival of Quick Ben, Kalam, Whiskeyjack, and Sorry.
Jaghut the Tyrant, fighting Silanah, the great red dragon. These are only a few of the best scenes found in the first book, Gardens of the Moon.
Founding Races found in Malazan World ***
Best of all, kudos to the author for creating a main character woman who is not skinny but plump. I mean, wow!
Reading this fantasy novel felt like playing 3D chess, keeping up 5-6 moves ahead just to maintain sanity. But it is so entertaining, vivid and so imaginative that the world felt like one MMRPG that you can't just discard. I had to keep a notebook for visuals of scenes i love, and details noted filed away for future reads of the series. I honestly think this has enhanced my reading enjoyment more than threefold. Awesome book! What more can i say? I am already a fan.

Friday, August 15, 2014

The Kiss of Deception a Novel | Review

This novel was fun to read! I had problems with some of the book's aspects, i really think that the premise was cool, having your reader guess which is which is quite fun. 

Rating: 3/5 Stars


The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, #1)The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am still curious of the assassin's real person! i feel like he is still hiding a very crucial information about himself.

This was good read, not a lot of feels for me but i am sure that a heck of a lot of new adult readers would have loved this. It was fun guessing who were the Prince and the assassin. It was easy to predict it but the fact that the book has a sequel, this series is obviously going to get better!

I had trouble with two things:

a) how the Princess so easily escaped the night of her wedding. I mean, she just went straight to the back door with her friend/Lady in waiting without any hitches IN A ROYAL CLOAK which screams bloody Princess.

b) her fingers were broken and had to be immobilized and yet she managed to dig 2 graves in 7 hours straight. It was not indicated at this time that she already had her magic and that it had healed her hand faster than normal.

I hope in the next novel, the writer would be able to handle these areas of the story more solidly.

I won't mind reading the sequel. I like Rafe :)

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Monday, August 11, 2014

Hemlock Grove A Novel | Review

rating: 4.5 stars
I have heard of the show first before the book. My sister told me that this show is pretty good and knowing it's a werewolf show, i had high doubts about it but man, when i started reading the book, i was blown away how first of all, the writing was so effing good. I have watched two episodes of season 1 and the transformation of Peter into a wolf was so freaking good i just had to screen shot it. 
Peter's transformation into a wolf
In the book, it was accurately described: a snout emerged through its lips and worked open and shut, its old face bunched around it in an obsolete mask. 

I say this novel is a delicious concoction of Gothic and paranormal! 

Hemlock Grove: A NovelHemlock Grove: A Novel by Brian McGreevy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of my absolute favourite gothic reads this year.


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Okay, first things first. 

Let's polish our vocab, shall we? Big words found in this book (or words that quite tickle my fancy)

Gesundheit - German, used to wish good health to a person who just sneezed

deliquescing - become liquid, typically during decomposition
augur - (of an event or circumstance) portend a good or bad outcome
golliwog - a soft doll with bright clothes, a black face, and fuzzy hair
Peripeteia - a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances, especially in  reference to fictional narrative

This novel follows Peter, a half Italian, half gypsy young man, moving into Hemlock Grove with his mother in a trailer off the side of the road. Peter is no ordinary boy. In fact, he came from a line of werewolves, and he turns into one when the sun sets during a 'Harvest Moon'.


He had an unfortunate encounter with this weird girl named Christina, admitting to her he was a werewolf, in a jest and she started to spread gossip around school that he was and this caused Peter to suffer several bullying episodes, even though he could not care less.


The Godfreys are the town's most influential family. They own several buildings and business including a hospital that has a special unit for 'experimentation'. Peter has befriended the young heir, Roman Godfrey, who had fascination for blood and has an uncanny talent of influencing people's actions through intense eye contact. 


Peter was also quite fascinated with Roman's sister, a giant girl with a glowing blue face (much like when you read your phone in the dark except it's like blue backlight and it's coming from her features) which also made other students bully her endlessly. Roman would rescue her sister as he is very fond of her and regard her quite tenderly. Shelley is her name and she is Roman's tender spot. Godfreys tend to stick to each other and no brainer that Roman is also tight with his cousin Letha Godfrey, his uncle Norman Godfrey's sociable daughter.


Now, amidst all that's happening between school and the blossoming friendships among these young people, a mangled body of a young girl was found which appears to have been attacked by a wild animal and this drove Peter and the other kids to find out who is responsible for the murder. The murders kept coming and it would occur during night time, preferably when the moon is full. Now, going back to the gossip Christina made, Peter is now being suspected by everybody for all these murders. Roman accompanies Peter in finding out who the real killer of these poor innocent girls.


First of all, the writing is very gothic and a little bit like Lemony Snickett-y which i like pretty much. Also, the book has only 319 pages but it felt like it should have been a trilogy instead. It's brilliant in such a way that you get a lot of goings on in such a short book. The writing takes a little bit used to, sometimes it feels like the author is slowly pushing you forward in a dense foggy forest and suddenly you find yourself in the edge of the cliff and falling, fallling! 


My favourite character is Shelley, the big gentle giant. She reminds me a bit of Herman Munster, huge and tall, but gentle in spirit. Unlike Herman, though, Shelley is extremely intelligent.


In one of her letters to her uncle Norman Godfrey, she goes:


"And more important, i feel as though Mother took note. I am more than some living--albeit unweildy--marionette who will dance obediently at the manipulation of her strings; as you have been so kind to suggest, i am an intelligent, autonomous individual with valid desires."


Also, there is an introduction to the story of an unusual creature, a Valgurf,a wolf gone insane. He attacks regardless if it's hungry or not, provoked or not for the sheer pleasure of attacking. 


The story does not only revolve around Hemlock Grove and the kids and their sleuthing around but it delves deeper into the lives of the older generation... the parents of young Roman Godfrey and Peter's grandfather Nicolae, the lone werewolf and how these old families' past affected the most recent generations.


I felt like there should be more to the book, it felt like there should be a more concrete closure to each of the families. It's the only reason i'm taking a half star out of my ratings.


All in all, i was quite fascinated by the magical elements of this story, how  each of the characters have influenced each other's lives indirectly and the scary choices that each of the kids have to face and above all, heroic acts that lead them to pursue and vanquish the real enemy.


Lastly, i am sad to say i was spoiled with the ending of Season 2 of the show, and reading the book, the cliffhanger DID NOT happen in the book. This leads me to believe that the producers plan to extend the book and build more into story than what the book can offer. I can totally understand where it's coming from because the book is so rich in plot that they would be able to do so. 


"Don't hunt when you're not hungry; when you do hunt, go for the flank, thus avoiding antlers in front and hooves in the rear; and when you are filled with the song of the universe, the breathing spirit that passes through and unites all things, throw your head back and close your eyes and join in" - Hemlock Grove


"Our love must not be a thing of words and fine talk. It must be a thing of action and sincerity." - Hemlock Grove 



Saturday, August 9, 2014

Bout of Books 11.0 | TBR

It's here! Yays!

I was so proud to have finished quite a number of books towards the Bout of Books 10 challenge. I felt so accomplished reading these 9 books from the previous readathon! 

So now, we have come to the next bout of reads. It will officially start on Aug 18 and run for about a week. Anyone excited along with me? 

Here are the books i'll be reading: 
Bout of Books 11 TBR pile



Bout of Books
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team



How about you?
What are the books you would love to finally be able to read this summer?

To all the young ones,
Respect your parents,
say your Prayers before bed,
don't do drugs!
Say NO to Bullying!

xoxo Nayeomi






Books I've Finished Reading 2014

  • Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
  • Burn for Burn - Jenny Han, Siobhan Vivian
  • The Silkworm - Robert Galbraith
  • Spook's A New Darkness - Joseph Delaney
  • Memory - Chris Roberson
  • The Spook's Revenge - Joseph Delaney
  • Dreams of Gods and Monsters - Laini Taylor
  • Sandman Special - The Song of Orpheus by Neil Gaiman
  • Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini Taylor
  • Locke & Key Complete Series - Joe Hill
  • Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor
  • The Well of Ascension - Brandon Sanderson
  • Deathless - Catherynne M Valente
  • AfterLife Archie 2
  • Ruin and Rising - Leigh Bardugo
  • Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire Saenz
  • Heir of Fire - Sarah J Maas
  • Afterlife Archie - Roberto Aguirre Sacasa
  • A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness
  • Y the Last Man Complete Series
  • Crown of Midnight - Sarah J Maas
  • Beautiful Disaster - Jamie McGuire
  • The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch
  • Saga Complete Series
  • The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
  • Skin Game (Harry Dresden Files 15) - Jim Butcher
  • Welcome to the Jungle - Jim Butcher
  • City of Heavenly Fire - Cassandra Clare
  • Cold Days (Harry Dresden Files 14) - Jim Butcher
  • Unspoken - Sarah Rees Brennan
  • Blood Song - Anthony Ryan
  • We Were Liars - E. Lockhart
  • My Life Next Door - Huntley Fitzpatrick
  • The Archived - Victoria Schwab
  • DUFF - Kody Keplinger
  • Side Jobs - Jim Butcher
  • If I Stay - Gayle Foreman
  • Ghost Story (Harry Dresden Files 13) - Jim Butcher
  • Don't Look Back - Jennifer L Armentrout
  • The Course of True Love - Cassandra Clare
  • Changes (Harry Dresden Files 12) - Jim Butcher
  • Throne of Glass - Sarah J Maas
  • Vicious - V.E. Schwab
  • Turn Coat (Harry Dresden Files 11) - Jim Butcher
  • The Assassin's Blade - Sarah J Maas
  • Small Favor (Harry Dresden Files 10) - Jim Butcher
  • House of Leaves - Mark Danielewski
  • Restoration of Faith - Jim Butcher
  • The Encyclopedia of Early Earth - Isabel Greenberg
  • White Night (Harry Dresden Files 9) - Jim Butcher
  • S - J.J Abrams, Doug Dorst
  • The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson
  • We Have Always Lived in The Castle - Shirley Jackson
  • Proven Guilty (Harry Dresden Files 8) - Jim Butcher
  • Half Bad - Sally Green
  • Dead Beat (Harry Dresden Files 7) - Jim Butcher
  • The Queen's Army - Marissa Meyer
  • Glitches - Marissa Meyer
  • Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
  • Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell
  • Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
  • Blood Rites (Harry Dresden Files 6) - Jim Butcher
  • Cress - Marissa Meyer
  • Death Masks (Harry Dresden Files 5) - Jim Butcher
  • The Dream Thieves - Maggie Stiefvater
  • The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater
  • Hollow City - Ransom Riggs
  • The Neverending Story - Michael Ende
  • Insanity - Cameron Jace
  • Summer Knight (Harry Dresden Files 4) - Jim Butcher
  • A Dance With Dragons - George R.R. Martin
  • Gregor The Overlander - Suzanne Collins
  • Grave Peril (Harry Dresden Files 3) - Jim Butcher
  • Fool Moon (Harry Dresden Files 2) - Jim Butcher
  • The SIlver Dream - Neil Gaiman, Michael Reaves
  • Storm Front (Harry Dresden Files 1) - Jim Butcher
  • Interworld - Neil Gaiman
  • The Adventures of Tom Bombadil - J.R.R. Tolkien
  • What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything - Cassandra Clare
  • The Last Stand of the New York Institute - Cassandra Clare
  • The Night Circus - Erin Morgensten
  • Steelheart - Brandon Sanderson

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