Book Review: Endgame: The Calling by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton

Hello people of Earth! Sorry for taking so long but here it is! My review of James Frey's newest book of his newest series, and also the book that he promoted during his book signing here in the Philippines, Endgame: The Calling! One of the main things this book is about is puzzles so I decided to spice up this review by adding a puzzle of my own. You just have to solve some puzzles in order to continuously read this review. And I know that sounds like a lot of work so I'll just place the answers right next to the the puzzle. They're written in white font color so just highlight them with the cursor to see them or... whatever. Haha. So without further ado, let us begin! 

• Title: Endgame: The Calling 
• Author: James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton
• Genre: young adult, fantasy, dystopia
• Pages: 477 pages (hardbound)
• Published: 7 October 2014
• Series:  Endgame #1

"Twelve thousand years ago, they came. They descended from the sky amid smoke and fire, and created humanity and gave us rules to live by. They needed gold and they built our earliest civilizations to mine it for them. When they had what they needed, they left. But before they left, they told us someday they would come back, and when they did, a game would be played. A game that would determine our future.

This is Endgame.

For ten thousand years the lines have existed in secret. The 12 original lines of humanity. Each had to have a Player prepared at all times. They have trained generation after generation after generation. In weapons, languages, history, tactics, disguise assassination. Together the players are everything: strong, kind, ruthless, loyal, smart, stupid, ugly, lustful, mean, fickle, beautiful, calculating, lazy, exuberant, weak. They are good and evil. Like you. Like all.

This is Endgame.

When the game starts, the players will have to find three keys. The keys are somewhere on earth. The only rule of their Endgame is that there are no rules. Whoever finds the keys first wins the game. Endgame: The Calling is about the hunt for the first key. And just as it tells the story of the hunt for a hidden key, written into the book is a puzzle. It invites readers to play their own Endgame and to try to solve the puzzle. Whoever does will open a case filled with gold. Alongside the puzzle will be a revolutionary mobile game built by Google’s Niantic Labs that will allow you to play a real-world version of Endgame where you can join one of the lines and do battle with people around you.

Will exuberance beat strength? Stupidity top kindness? Laziness thwart beauty? Will the winner be good or evil? There is only one way to find out.

Play.
Survive.
Solve.
People of Earth.
Endgame has begun."

1. Character 344488833777|77774448999 (ANS: Diversity)

The first thing I loved about Endgame: The Calling is that it featured characters from all over the world. I could really see the culture in which these characters are from, which made me know their countries a little bit better. What was good about it too was that they weren't too stereotyped. Now let me head on to the next item before I accidentally "sound racist".

2. 9666777555394443|33 Setting (ANS: Worldwide)

Endgame was set in locations all over the world. It felt like an international field trip. There were many sights to see or on this case, read. 12 characters were moving around all over the globe and it really made the world look like such a small place to be in. One chapter they were in China, the next, they were in Iraq. Talk about a small world.

3. 333277778-72|22233|3 Reading (ANS: Fast-Paced)

One thing I loved about Endgame was that it wasn't such a snooze-off. I kept on turning pages because I always wanted to know what happens next. It kept me hooked with all its - you guessed it - twists and turns. And with more than 12 POV's, you'd might want to stay tuned to know what happens to each one of them. That's enough to get me hooked.

4. 2|2228444666|66-72|2225533|3 (ANS: Action-Packed)

Explosions? Check. Martial arts? Check. Poison dart-shooting Japanese girls? Check! Endgame was full of so much action, it almost felt like watching a movie! And before I move on to the final item, let's just set things straight. Can everyone who thinks it's just a Hunger Games rip-off cut the crap? BECAUSE IT'S NOT. There are 12 players, not 24. There's no Arena. No districts. No Capitol. Hunger Games =/= Endgame! But I do love both series!

5. 88667|77733|344422282|224445554448999 (ANS: Unpredictability)

The best thing about Endgame? Anything goes. You won't know what to expect. Plus, the POVs are written in such a way that you wouldn't root for anyone. Anyone could be your bet. That's why it is so unpredictable. Who'll go a step forward? Who'll die? Nothing's certain. And with 12+ POVs, each with different personalities and abilities, there's bound to be some unexpected alliances, traitors, and even love interests! I don't know about you but in my opinion, cliche's not on Endgame's vocabulary. 

BONUS!

6. You could win 500,000 freaking dollars!

This is legit. There are puzzles hidden within Endgame, and the one who solves the puzzle will know the location of a certain key. This key will unlock a box located in some hotel in Vegas that's filled with $500,000 worth of gold coins! And from what I've heard, the sequels also have puzzles and prizes of their own, and the prizes increase in value with every sequel. How awesome is that? $500,000 could get me through college easy-breezy. Heck, $500,000 dollars could get my kids to college! 

Therefore, I am giving Endgame: The Calling...

The only thing I disliked about Endgame was that I had a hard time figuring out who people were since I was confused by the 12+ names in the book. Haha. But I thought it was great, and I can't wait for the next book. If you enjoy those things listed above, give Endgame a shot! Happy reading!

P.S. The puzzle can be solved with the help of a cellphone keypad. Knowhumsayn? ;D

Movie Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Hey! How has your 2015 been so far? Mine has been... well, it currently involves a lot of eating, sleeping, and the internet. How productive. Anyway, while being oh so productive, I can't help but remember that I haven't shared my review of Mockingjay Part 1 yet. You might think it's a bit late but I'm going to share it anyway 'coz that's the way it is huehue. So here is my The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 experience and review! 

First thing's first. I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Nuffnang and Cadbury for letting me and my friends be a part of this exclusive screening of Mockingjay Part 1! The exclusive screening was held on November 21, 2014 at the Shangri-La Cineplex, which was a HUGE convenience for me because I always pass by Shangri-La on the way home from school. All I had to do was freshen up and wait for my Cadbury Barkada and then we were all set.

After the movie, my Cadbury Barkada and I went home with some Cadbury! Cadbury is <3.

Heaven

THE REVIEW:

If you loved the book, you'll enjoy this movie. I was able to re-read Mockingjay literally before watching the movie and I was happy to know that some lines in the movie were super spot on with those in the book! Also, what I imagined while reading the book was what the movie delivered. Some small details are gone, though. And some big ones too. But I heard that those big details weren't to appear until Mockingjay Part 2 because the producers wanted to make some sort of central theme for each movie. Think of it this way: the big things that happened in Part 1 stays in Part 1 and the big things that are going to happen in Part 2 stays in Part 2. Also, they added stuff that weren't in the book but turned out to work well for the movie. It was like they filled up the holes that the book had. Ultimately, I think the movie did great justice for the book. 

Movie-wise though, I thought that Mockingjay Part 1 was... great! It was full of suspense that would leave you at the edge of your seats. I thought that you don't need to be an uber fanboy/fangirl of the books in order to enjoy it. The story was well constructed, and you won't be confused with the events. The actors did a great job of bringing the characters to life on the big screen. J-Law was, as always, smokin' hot a great actress, as well as the others, so kudos to them haha. The camera, which became a big issue for the first movie (hint: I could have done a better job of keeping the camera from being all wobbly), was thankfully stable. 

In this movie we get to see the aftermath of Katniss's escape from the Arena during the 75th Hunger Games/3rd Quarter Quell. What happened to District 12? What happened to the Tributes? There's a District 13?! What will become of Effie's humongous hair? All those questions are answered in this movie and if you are attentive enough, you would get to appreciate the twists and turns that are going to happen. The movie also ended with an interesting cliffhanger that I'm sure will make the people who haven't read the book go: "WHAT IN THE NAME OF BACON IS GOING ON HERE?!". All in all I can say that The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 deserves 4 stars.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 was able to bring the book to life, with the price of omitting and altering some details from the book, but it was a thrilling movie, and I thought that it did great in preparing us for the finale of the Hunger Games. A huge thank you again to Nuffnang and Cadbury for hosting the event! You guys are the best! 

May the odds be ever in your favor, 

P.S. Credit for the photos goes to Tita Brenda! :))

Book Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Hi! I hope you had a merry Christmas! It may be almost New Year but I'm still pushing to finish my review of the Legend trilogy before 2014 ends so... YOLOSWAGIT! Haha! Last time I was able to review Marie Lu's Legend, the first book of the series of the same name. Now let's head on to the next book of the series: Prodigy!

Apart from the info already present on the book's synopsis, this review is SPOILER FREE!  (And I'm assuming you've already read Legend whilst reading this post lol.) 

• Title: Prodigy
• Author: Marie Lu
• Genre: young adult, sci fi, dystopia
• Pages: 371 pages (paperback)
• Published: 1 January 2013
• Series:  Legend #2

"June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector. It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. 

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller Legend, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action. "

THRILLING
Let me begin by telling you how thrilling this novel is. Yes, Marie Lu does it again with this book and in my opinion her story has become more thrilling than ever! Now that I now know the truth behind the Republic, the stakes are higher than ever! And of course, with higher stakes come more page turns. If you think Legend was fast-paced, you ain't seen nothing yet. And I'm not even exaggerating. Plus, this is the novel where all pieces come into place, which makes it a lot more worth reading. There's more history to back things up.

DANGEROUS
Also, Prodigy is more gritty compared to Legend. There were more deceptions, secrets, and the occasional deaths, which in my opinion places it more on its dystopian side rather than its sci fi side. The world becomes more dangerous. No more risky little Skiz fights. The Republic is the enemy now. And with June and Day being both official Patriots now, they literally already have the "enemy of the government" status, even without doing anything yet. But their mission just had to be to kill the new Elector. *sigh*

UNPREDICTABLE
That brings me to my next point. I loved how things were topsy-turvy. Who they thought was the real big enemy was actually a good guy and who they thought were the good guys were actually the baddies! I really enjoyed twists and turns like these. There were also big moments, and by big I mean like those moments that would look great if they were shown in a movie. The motivational speech broadcast to thousands of people with wind effect? Check! And that ending? Well... I'll leave it to you to find out for yourself. My response is only one word with three big letters: WHY?!

CONSTRUCTIVE
One more thing I admired about Prodigy was how it built up the bond between Day and June, (highlight with cursor for spoiler-induced review) just enough for readers like me to go crazy when that bond is forcefully ripped apart at the end of the book. They were able to learn more about and from each other, which makes the seemingly worthless romance actually relevant... and downright steamy (i.e. bathtub scene, and you know just how much I despise love scenes *gags*). Also, both grew in their own way but I think June grabs the spotlight in this round. She has changed a lot since the beginning. In this novel, she takes more risks, becomes more decisive, and many more. The spotlight isn't always on June, though. Kaede and Anden (characters who both appeared briefly in Legend) both shares that spotlight as well. The two turned out to be my favorite characters in the series. Just to give you a hint, Kaede has this big moment in the story and Anden will become a pivotal character in Prodigy and will work his way into being a mainframe character in Champion (third book). And I almost forgot, Tess, who in Legend is this poor young orphan that Day took in, also becomes more mature and more fearless in Prodigy. Plus, I spy with my little eye a little love triangle. ;)

So that's it for this book review. I could clearly say I had a better time reading Prodigy than Legend, but for the rating, they are still tied, simply because there were some deaths that I did not want and I thought was completely unnecessary. Hahaha! And because there was this annoying bad guy that just won't disappear. (Hint: Commander Jameson)

Happy Holidays,

Book Review: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

This is it, guys! Another well-loved series finally comes to an end. The Heroes of Olympus series ends with Blood of Olympus and oh, how bittersweet this feeling is! I have been following the series since 2011 and you could only imagine the mixed emotions I am feeling regarding this novel. But enough with the drama. Did the finale live up to the expectations of fans like me? Well, let's find out!

• Title: The Blood of Olympus
• Author: Rick Riordan
• Genre: young adult, fantasy, mythology, fiction, adventure
• Pages: 516 pages (hardcover)
• Published: 7 October 2014
• Series:  The Heroes of Olympus #5

"Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over. "

To tell you the truth, it took me 2 hours to type this sentence in because I just don't know how/where to start. This book is filled with so much action and drama and twists and turns and I just don't know where to begin! So I have come up with the Top 5 Best Things About The Blood of Olympus (not ranked). So without further ado, let us begin!

1. More Demigods + Gods (yes, plural) Co-ops!

I think that the PJO fandom agrees with me when I say that we all get giddy inside whenever we read about the demigods being helped by the gods during battles. And by help, I mean help in person, not just through long distance. When the gods stand by the demigods' side during battles, there's just this dramatic orchestra music that plays in my brain. It's good to see these gods helping out, and not just being busy with their double personalities. Okay, maybe that's a valid reason to not help out but still... their gods for crissakes! The least they could do is help their ill-fated destiny-bound children. 

2. More Character Background and Development.

I got to see more of Reyna's story since she finally gets a POV in this novel. It's always good to know a character more. And speaking of knowing characters more, I also got to see some of our heroes develop their characters. It's hard to explain without giving away spoilers but the point is that their characters are far from when we first knew them. They've grown and improved, if I do say so myself.

3. Unexpected Twists and Endings

Hard to explain without spoiling anything but NEED I SAY MORE? 

4. More Mythical Meet-ups + Old Friends Reunite!

New gods and mythical characters have been incorporated in this novel, both good and bad. I enjoyed knowing these new characters and what role they play in our heroes' destiny. Some helped them while some just got in their way. And with the new characters come the old - those that we haven't seen for a while. I saw some old friends in this novel once again and nothing beats a happy reunion. 

5. CLOSUUUURE + Happy Endings?

We do know, of course, that there are different issues present among our heroes. Saying that they settled these issues would be a spoiler already but all I can say is that I was amused with how they dealt with some of these issues. ;) And for the happy endings part, I'll leave it up for those who haven't read the book yet to find out for themselves. And for those who have read the novel, highlight the following sentences with the cursor (spoilers ahead!): OH MY GODS. Did Rick just... passively cliff-hanger us? Why did it end so abruptly with Leo and Calypso sailing into gods-know-where? Oh well... This just gives me hope that this won't be the last time we'll be seeing our heroes. 

Now that we're done listing the best things, let's head down to the worst things. Here are the Top 3 Not-So-Great Things About The Blood of Olympus.

1. It ended with a small and rather disappointing BANG.

There was a bang, I'll tell you that. But I felt that it just did not live up to the Tartarus our heroes have been through and to the amazing stories that we have read prior to this finale. I found myself thinking "That was it? It couldn't possibly be just that!", over and over after finishing the novel. I craved for more and unfortunately got nothing else. Which is why I'm really hoping for more of our heroes' stories, and even novellas and short stories would do! (Time for Rick to channel his inner J.K. Rowling)

2. (A personal opinion) No Percy's POV

Again, this is a more personal opinion (since everything I write in this blog are personal opinions). In fact, I wanted all seven demigods to have POVs in this book, even if it sounds like asking for too much. But I wanted at least Percy's POV to be present, since he was the main hero of the series that preceded the Heroes of Olympus (Percy Jackson and the Olympians). I thought it would be a good way to say goodbye to him. But no. The Percy POVs in the previous book, The House of Hades, were the last ones. :( 

3. It's the Finale :(

Simply put, I'll miss the series. I'll miss waiting for October for the next book to come out. I'll miss the beautiful emboss and velvet-y finish of the Heroes of Olympus covers. I'll miss Percy and the gang. I'll miss fanboying with my friends whenever we finish reading the book that just came out. I'll miss everything about the series. The whole series has been a great ride, and I'm just sad that it's over now. But luckily Rick announced a new series, this time featuring the Nordic gods! 

Taken from Rick Riordan's blog

So I'll guess we'll see some Thor and Mjolnir action soon, and I'm not talking about Marvel Thor. But still, nothing will replace the Heroes of Olympus series and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. And before I forget, here's my rating:

And that's it! I was very careful about revealing spoilers because I myself had been spoiled with this novel. And the worst part is that the spoiler I unintentionally saw was about the last chapter with all the surprise endings! (Oops, I'm saying too much already.) To that one guy who commented about a spoiler on that post on Facebook... I hope you're a fan of the Game of Thrones TV series because I'm willing to read all the novels just to tell you who's going to die next. 

So with all that said, guys, this has been my review on The Blood of Olympus! Let me know what you think about my review and the Blood of Olympus itself in a comment! Also, in light of the Marie Lu event that will be happening in two weeks, I am pleased to announce that this month (and if I run out of time, next month) will be Marie Lu month for Jude Reads! I will be reviewing her Legend Trilogy and her newly-released novel, The Young Elites! This month's gon' be goooood. Adios!

Book Review: Proxy by Alex London

How's it going, people? As some of you may know, National Book Store will be hosting a book signing event on August 30 featuring the author Alex London. And since I've always wanted to go to a book signing, I decided to read his books. And boy, did I make the right decision! Why, you ask? Let's find out.

• Title: Proxy
• Author: Alex London
• Genre: young adult, dystopia, sci-fi, thriller, 
• Pages: 384 pages (hardcover)
• Published: 18 June 2013
• Series:  Proxy #1

"Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid."

I actually had high expectations for this novel because of what I went through to find it. (Insignificant life-sharing ahead) I had to go to THREE NBS branches before finally securing a copy! What was weird was that the Saturday after they posted about the event, there were still lots of copies left but when I returned 1 week later, they were all GONE! Apparently when an author is scheduled to have a book signing event, his/her books magically vanish from the stores. Which sucks. Especially for people who need to save up first before buying (like me!).

Anyway, now that I got that out of my system let's head on to the review. In the first few pages, you are introduced to a totally advanced world-a world where human blood is like a program and could be patched whenever you want to change something on your body. The first few chapters themselves are a great kickstarter for the novel because of how action-packed it is. And I loved how Proxy did not have dull moments. You either enjoy the action or find yourself wanting to know what happens next because of the suspense and mysteries. It is hard to put down.

SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!

I would want to tell you something special about Proxy and I want you to know that I do not want to offend anybody and that I am trying to write without offending anyone the best way I can. Proxy's protagonist, Syd, is gay. However it does not turn the novel into a Gay YA novel. That's just a part of his identity. It does not play a major role in the story but it turns out to be a pretty good way of introducing/promoting the gay community to younger audiences like me. I loved how it wasn't such a big part of the story and that you won't consider it as a big deal when reading Proxy. Even though I'm straight, I read Proxy comfortably and enjoyed it. I mean, what's the matter with him being gay? He's a sci-fi action star! Not that I'm saying that there's something wrong with being gay. It's just that some straight people tend to be uncomfortable or worse: narrow-minded when it comes to these kinds of genres. But I think they are just being too overwhelmed with the difference between straight people and the lgbt community. This novel is perfect for those people to understand/accept the gay community without being too overwhelmed. 

What I loved most about Proxy is that you get to really see character development. An example is a character who is selfish and irresponsible at the beginning but will get to know the true meaning of responsibility as the story progresses. Although with good things come the bad. I thought that the ending was just too tragic. But that's just an emotional opinion! But really. It was too sad for them. Someone dies! The good thing is that since Allegiant, I grew indifferent to book deaths. Scumbag Allegiant. Hahaha. If you've read it you get what I mean. 

So for all those things this is my verdict:

Proxy is definitely a must-read! For my Pinoy readers, you better read it now if you want to attend the book signing on August 30! I hope you liked my honest review and I am encouraging you to comment your thoughts below. Adios!

Book Review: The Magician by Michael Scott

What's up! As some of you may have read, I was a bit disappointed with the first book of the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series. The Alchemyst  just doesn't seem to pack a punch for me. But for The Magician, it was the complete opposite. Every page was action-packed! Warning: Obnoxious raving ahead. Now without further ado, let's get down to business. 

• Title: The Magician
• Author: Michael Scott
• Genre: fantasy, thriller, mythology, fiction
• Pages: 464 pages (hardcover)
• Published: 24 June 2008
• Series:  The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

"Ashes to ashes...

California:
In the hands of Dr. John Dee and the Dark Elders, the book of Abraham the Mage could mean the destruction of the world as we know it. The most powerful book of all time, it holds the secret of eternal life — a secret more dangerous than any one man should ever possess. And Dee is two pages away from the knowledge that would bring the Dark Elders into ultimate power.

His only obstacle? Josh and Sophie Newman — who are eight thousand miles away.

Paris:
After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerge in Paris. The City of Lights. Home to Nicholas Flamel. Only, this homecoming is anything but sweet.

Niccolo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, is working for Dee. He's in hot pursuit, and time is running out for Nicholas and Perenelle. Every day they spend without the book, they age one year: their magic becomes weaker and their bodies more frail. For Flamel, the Prophecy is growing clearer and clearer. It's time for Sophie to learn the second elemental magic.

Fire Magic. 

And there's only one man who can teach it to her: Flamel's old student the Comte de Saint-Germain - alchemist, magician, and rock star. 

Josh and Sophie Newman are the world's only hope. If they don't turn on each other first."

(SPOILER ALERT!)

Two words. Action. Packed. Or one word, if you combine them with a hyphen (action-packed). Whatever. Every page is filled with excitement and action that will leave you wanting for more! I almost finished it in one day, if it weren't for the other more important things I had to do e.g. eating, sleeping, taking a shower, etc. In this book, we get to see the magical world in the romantic and ancient city of Paris. We also get to meet more heroes and baddies and guess what. More mythological characters and creatures! But that's not all! Apparently Michael Scott did not limit his characters to be only from mythology. We get to meet some historical people as well! (Think: famous French heroine.)

Also, it was as if Michael Scott saw my review of The Alchemyst and read about my hatred of scarcity of dialogue because The Magician was full of 'em! Because of this I got to know more about the character's personalities and traits. It also helps in seeing the characters develop and grow. Speaking of which, we get to see more of Sophie's capabilities with her newly Awakened powers. Plus someone else gets to have his powers Awakened! But with good things come the bad. We'll be losing one hero in this book. But he/she doesn't die. She just disappears and she won't come back until the end of the book. Oops! I didn't mean to say that. 

One of the best things about The Magician is that in this book we get to know more about Perenelle! I mean she was cool in The Alchemyst but in this book, she evolves from being cool to just being completely bad-ass. I got a glimpse of how powerful she could get and how dangerous of an enemy she could be. Even the baddies are scared of her and wanted to get rid of her before she kicks their butt! But they can't get rid of old bookseller Perry that easily. I hope I get to see more of Perenelle and the role she will play as the story progresses. She is turning out to be my favorite character. 

My Rating:

The Magician gets 4 stars! I was so into the book that I found myself flipping through every page non-stop! Every page packs a punch and the action leaves you wanting for more. I enjoyed every chapter and I can't wait for the next book. I would have given 5 stars, if it weren't for Scatty's disappearance. Oopsie. 

Book Review: The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha

Hey there! Have you ever had a day in which you felt really sad or disappointed? And just when you thought that day couldn't get any worse, the universe proves you wrong? We've all had that day. But guess what. Despair could be occasionally there but happiness is always there in its many unique forms. It could be the other side of your pillow at bedtime, or the smell of freshly mowed grass. It could be anything! The only mistake we are doing is that we tend to take these awesome things for granted. But a man named Neil Pasricha was able to gather all these awesome things together for us to recognize and fully appreciate in his undeniably awesome book, The Book of Awesome.

credits to taylormorgan83.blogspot.com

• Title: The Book of Awesome
• Author: Neil Pasricha
• Genre: nonfiction, humor
• Pages: 393 pages
• Published: 15 April 2010

"Based on the award-winning 10-million-plus-hit blog 1000awesomethings.com, The Book of Awesome is a high five for humanity and a big celebration of life's little moments:

• Popping Bubble Wrap
• Wearing underwear just out of the dryer
• Fixing electronics by smacking them
• Getting called up to the dinner buffet first at a wedding
• Watching The Price Is Right when you're home sick
• Hitting a bunch of green lights in a row
• Waking up and realizing it's Saturday

Sometimes it's easy to forget the things that make us smile. With a 24/7 news cycle reporting that the polar ice caps are melting, hurricanes are swirling in the seas, wars are heating up around the world, and the job market is in a deep freeze, it's tempting to feel that the world is falling apart. But awesome things are all around us-sometimes we just need someone to point them out.

The Book of Awesome reminds us that the best things in life are free (yes, your grandma was right). With laugh-out-loud observations from award- winning comedy writer Neil Pasricha, The Book of Awesome is filled with smile-inducing moments on every page that make you feel like a kid looking at the world for the first time. Read it and you'll remember all the things there are to feel good about. 

The Book of Awesome reminds us of all the little things that we often overlook but that make us smile. With touching, warm, and funny observations, each entry ends with the big booming feeling you'll get when you read through them: AWESOME!"

Sorry for the month-long book review hiatus by the way! After that overly optimistic intro, let us now go through my reading experience with The Book of Awesome. I thought Pasricha was clever, yet at the same time he was too consistent. Clever because he was able to write about small joys in such a way that you could really, really relate to it. Too consistent because he kept writing in a style that entertains you at first but becomes predictable as you flip another page and ultimately becomes boring. Well not boring boring but happy-but-getting-tired-of-it boring. Pasricha explained all these awesome things one-by-one in this book. He has this writing style that I could compare to a speaker at a seminar. His words are to explain, yet he mixes up fun ways to make his explaining entertaining and enthusiastic. But honestly, I ultimately got tired of the way he always ends a page with the phrase "Awesome!". But I thought this book was a whiff of fresh air from all the emotions other books have given me. This one is just filled with much humor and happiness and positive vibes. 

Book Review: The Death Cure

The Death Cure is more than just the final book of the Maze Runner trilogy. Other than ending the trilogy, it's also where we learn more about the characters' past world. In the Death Cure, we receive a few answers for some of our questions beginning with "why". But then again, like the previous books, the questions with the most juicy answers are the ones not cleared. (sigh) And I don't consider it as an "ending" either.