Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Trailer Tuesday (24)
Best - book - trailer - ever?! I think so! I don't care that it's two years old - I am seriously in love with this video, and I have to get my hands on Pastworld!
Well, I loved it to death - what did you think of this video?
Monday, June 6, 2011
Character Interview & Giveaway!
Don't forget to check out my review of Mumbo Jumbo Circus! Now here's a fun interview with the star of the Mumbo Jumbo Circus - Evan!
How did you come to have the nickname Evan?
My mom named me Evanja Leane, at least I think it was my mom. I don’t really know. She was fifteen and I don’t remember her. Anyways, Evanja sounds like a trailer trash preacher, so I changed it. I don’t think of Evan as a boy’s name. Look at Evan Rachel Wood. She’s incredible.
What is your favorite (and/or least favorite) part of being in the circus?
My favorite part of the circus is just about everything. The circus is like a family, a theater troupe, and a traveling business. I love feeling a part of this cool thing that’s bigger than me. I wish there was a way to take baths more often though. Showers are great, but the Midway (the old Victorian mansion at the Funny Farm) needs to have bathtubs so we can have a good soak when we’re not on the road. I’ll speak to the Ringmaster about it.
Who's your favorite new circus friend? (Excluding Wally, of course.)
I’m getting to know Nan a bit better. She doesn’t open up very easily, but I’m trying to draw her out. I’m kinda jealous of her because she has her family all around. She was born to the circus. She says they drive her nuts, but I’m envious. I wonder what she would think if she knew that?
What are your plans for the future - do you think you'll stay with the circus forever? Or do you have other dreams you'd like to explore as well?
I think the circus, this particular circus anyway, is the place for me! I'm working on getting my high school diploma. After that, then during the winters I can take some classes at the college two towns over. I'd like to take writing classes. Some of the younger clowns take classes there too. I’ll be able to catch rides with them. In their clown car. Not.
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Now do you want a chance to win your very own copy of Mumbo Jumbo Circus?
The contest will run for two weeks (that's June 6th through June 20th.) It's US-address only (sorry, overseas readers.) To enter, just leave a comment on this post! Good luck :)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Review: The Mumbo Jumbo Circus
This book counts for the Debut Author challenge.
"Would you like to run away and join the circus?"
Evan is wary, of course, of a suspicious offer from a strange man. But there's no reason for her to stay in the hell on earth that is her current abusive foster home, so she accepts. She quickly feels at home in the Mumbo Jumbo circus: a circus where, even backstage, the magic seems almost real. Because it is real. The Ringmaster is able to bring out the innate abilities, or donrovai, in his performers. And Evan has a special donrovai: the ability to read horses' minds. Although she has a lingering fear of horses, Evan's willing to work at developing an act - especially if it means she gets to spend more time with Wally, the handsome young Goth cook.
But the Ringmaster has an old enemy who will do anything to take down the Mumbo Jumbo Circus: arson, kidnapping, and worse. Soon, Evan finds herself the only one able to save the circus...
Entertainment: ★★★★
I really liked this book. It was cute and fun, it had interesting characters, and it had interesting illustrations, too. I finished it in only a few hours, but it was well worth the time.
Plot: ★★
It loses a few points here because I just didn't find the plot as interesting as other aspects of the book - it was a little weird at times and rather predictable at others.
Characters: ★★★★★
Let me just say that I loved the Ringmaster to death.
That said, I also liked Evan quite a bit - as a character and a person - and many of the side characters were quite cool as well. I didn't like the villains much - they weren't all that scary or even that interesting, to me - but the rest of the cast was awesome enough that I was willing to overlook the villains.
Writing: ★★★
I thought the description, dialogue, and everything else was very well done.
End Result: four stars. A good book, definitely worth your time.
"Would you like to run away and join the circus?"
Evan is wary, of course, of a suspicious offer from a strange man. But there's no reason for her to stay in the hell on earth that is her current abusive foster home, so she accepts. She quickly feels at home in the Mumbo Jumbo circus: a circus where, even backstage, the magic seems almost real. Because it is real. The Ringmaster is able to bring out the innate abilities, or donrovai, in his performers. And Evan has a special donrovai: the ability to read horses' minds. Although she has a lingering fear of horses, Evan's willing to work at developing an act - especially if it means she gets to spend more time with Wally, the handsome young Goth cook.
But the Ringmaster has an old enemy who will do anything to take down the Mumbo Jumbo Circus: arson, kidnapping, and worse. Soon, Evan finds herself the only one able to save the circus...
Entertainment: ★★★★
I really liked this book. It was cute and fun, it had interesting characters, and it had interesting illustrations, too. I finished it in only a few hours, but it was well worth the time.
Plot: ★★
It loses a few points here because I just didn't find the plot as interesting as other aspects of the book - it was a little weird at times and rather predictable at others.
Characters: ★★★★★
Let me just say that I loved the Ringmaster to death.
That said, I also liked Evan quite a bit - as a character and a person - and many of the side characters were quite cool as well. I didn't like the villains much - they weren't all that scary or even that interesting, to me - but the rest of the cast was awesome enough that I was willing to overlook the villains.
Writing: ★★★
I thought the description, dialogue, and everything else was very well done.
End Result: four stars. A good book, definitely worth your time.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Review: Entwined
This book counts towards the Debut challenge.
Azalea is poised on the brink of her debut as a princess and a very eligible young lady. Years of balls, light, laughter, young men, and most of all dancing await her. But her mother's sudden death whisks her glittering future away and plunges Azalea and her eleven younger sisters into a world of darkness, mourning, and silence. Worst of all, none of the princesses are allowed their only comfort: dancing.
The Keeper understands, though. Each night, he allows the princesses into his magical world to dance the night away, wearing holes in their shoes as they forget, for a few hours, their unhappiness. It seems like a perfect arrangement. There's only one problem: the Keeper likes to keep things... and he may be much, much more than he seems.
Entertainment: ★★★★
I thought it was quite a clever take on the fairy tale of the twelve dancing princesses. I liked Azalea very much, I thought the villain was very well done, and overall I enjoyed the story quite a lot.
Plot: ★★★
I expected the ending, more or less, and really I can't say there were any surprises. It wasn't a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. But it was still nicely-paced, interesting, and entertaining.
Characters: ★★★★
Azalea was pretty cool, and her sisters were all right. Their father was very well-done, for a side character, and very realistic. I loved the complicated relationship between the children and the King. I loved the Keeper. He was eerie, scary yet seductive, the kind of villain that gives you goosebumps. He was amazing.
Writing: ★★★★
I like Dixon's style - it's quite easy to read and very enjoyable.
End Result: four stars. A good book, definitely worth your time.
Azalea is poised on the brink of her debut as a princess and a very eligible young lady. Years of balls, light, laughter, young men, and most of all dancing await her. But her mother's sudden death whisks her glittering future away and plunges Azalea and her eleven younger sisters into a world of darkness, mourning, and silence. Worst of all, none of the princesses are allowed their only comfort: dancing.
The Keeper understands, though. Each night, he allows the princesses into his magical world to dance the night away, wearing holes in their shoes as they forget, for a few hours, their unhappiness. It seems like a perfect arrangement. There's only one problem: the Keeper likes to keep things... and he may be much, much more than he seems.
Entertainment: ★★★★
I thought it was quite a clever take on the fairy tale of the twelve dancing princesses. I liked Azalea very much, I thought the villain was very well done, and overall I enjoyed the story quite a lot.
Plot: ★★★
I expected the ending, more or less, and really I can't say there were any surprises. It wasn't a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. But it was still nicely-paced, interesting, and entertaining.
Characters: ★★★★
Azalea was pretty cool, and her sisters were all right. Their father was very well-done, for a side character, and very realistic. I loved the complicated relationship between the children and the King. I loved the Keeper. He was eerie, scary yet seductive, the kind of villain that gives you goosebumps. He was amazing.
Writing: ★★★★
I like Dixon's style - it's quite easy to read and very enjoyable.
End Result: four stars. A good book, definitely worth your time.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Follow Friday Blog Hop Funness
Follow Friday Question:
What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen?
What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen?
Stockpiling Ramen and otherwise preparing for a siege. Either I will need to hide from zombies or friends talking about Mel Gibson's movie, and so it's better to be prepared to send the house into lockdown at any moment.
Blog Hop Question:
Share your favorite post from last month and tell us why it's close to your heart!
Well, (excluding the one where I wished myself happy birthday, of course,) I'd have to say my review of The Iron Thorn. It's a fairly well-written review, I'd like to think, and I loved the book.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Review: Shapeshifter's Quest
This book counts towards the Shifter challenge.
Syanthe is a shapeshifter. She was born the first of a set of twins, and as a result was hidden away from the priests when they came for her younger brother. So she, alone, out of the entire shapeshifter tribe, doesn't have the deadly tattoos on her cheek that would activate and kill her should she ever try to leave the forest. As the only one able to leave the forest, she is sent off to find a cure for the mysterious sickness striking down the forest and the shifters....
Entertainment: ★
I really don't like writing bad reviews... but I honestly couldn't think of anything I liked about this book.
Plot: ★★
It was quite simply uninteresting. The plot was very expected, the romance far too fast and rather cliche, even the ending pretty dull.
Characters: ★
Characterization? What characterization? Essentially, there was zero. Also, all of the characters had an odd, stilted way of speaking. Oh, and they all sounded exactly the same. I kept forgetting their names every other page. Let's just say I was massively underwhelmed and leave it at that.
Writing: ★★
The dialogue was oddly written and read awkwardly, at least for me. The shapeshifting seemed odd, too. I don't know what exactly it was about Landon's writing style, but it really didn't appeal to me. At all.
End Result: two stars. I was not impressed.
Syanthe is a shapeshifter. She was born the first of a set of twins, and as a result was hidden away from the priests when they came for her younger brother. So she, alone, out of the entire shapeshifter tribe, doesn't have the deadly tattoos on her cheek that would activate and kill her should she ever try to leave the forest. As the only one able to leave the forest, she is sent off to find a cure for the mysterious sickness striking down the forest and the shifters....
Entertainment: ★
I really don't like writing bad reviews... but I honestly couldn't think of anything I liked about this book.
Plot: ★★
It was quite simply uninteresting. The plot was very expected, the romance far too fast and rather cliche, even the ending pretty dull.
Characters: ★
Characterization? What characterization? Essentially, there was zero. Also, all of the characters had an odd, stilted way of speaking. Oh, and they all sounded exactly the same. I kept forgetting their names every other page. Let's just say I was massively underwhelmed and leave it at that.
Writing: ★★
The dialogue was oddly written and read awkwardly, at least for me. The shapeshifting seemed odd, too. I don't know what exactly it was about Landon's writing style, but it really didn't appeal to me. At all.
End Result: two stars. I was not impressed.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Wishlist Wednesday
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