Une Fin Douce With My Cadbury Barkada #CadburySweetEndings #TeamChocolateMousse

Une fin douce. In English, a sweet ending! And now comes the part where you may be wondering: "Why the French-iness all of a sudden?". It is because when it comes to sweet endings, Cadbury is a veteran. Now, what does this have to do with the French words, Jude? Hold your horses because I'm getting there. Haha. It is because Cadbury is introducing two new limited edition flavors: French Vanilla and Chocolate Mousse! 

Cadbury has released two new French inspired flavors: French Vanilla and Chocolate Mousse! And with all duos come the always-present teams. (i.e. Team Edward or Team Jacob, Team Kataang or Team Zutara, etc.) In this case, my barkada is #TeamChocolateMousse! There are no second thoughts. My barkada and I are insanely addicted to chocolate mousse cakes, and to think that it now has a chocolate form - magnifique! So without a doubt, my barkada and I are proud to say that we are #TeamChocolateMousse! And speaking of my barkada, here's our shameless attempt at a french masquerade ball. Hahaha. Feel free to laugh. 

We do know that masquerade parties originated in France, so we thought to do one ourselves! That's as close as we can be to being in France for now hahahaha. #TeamChocolateMousse for the win! Just imagine that slice of chocolate mousse to cap off your day with friends, and then imagine it as tiny melt-in-the-mouth bite-sized chocolate pieces that remind you of romantic nights at the Eiffel Tower, or in our case of graceful french masquerade balls... a sweet ending indeed! These new flavors are limited edition, by the way, so grab your Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Mousse (or French Vanilla) now before they disappear!

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: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

How's it going, folks! Sorry for the short blogging hiatus. This past week has been hell for me... literally! Last week, I got a taste of my very first college Hell Week. But don't worry because it's finally over! So there's nothing to do now but to sit down and relax and blog! So now, this review is about a very special book. Why special? Let's find out.

• Title: Wonder
• Author: R.J. Palacio
• Genre: realistic fiction, childrens, young adult
• Pages: 315 pages (paperback)
• Published: 3 January 2013

"You can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside.

But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go.

Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?

Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches forever, WONDER is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page."

There are many words to describe Wonder. While I was reading Wonder, I could think of different adjectives to describe it. Let's make a run down, shall we?

• Innocent - Most of it, that is, since Wonder is divided into many perspectives (most of which are children's). As you may have already read above, Wonder is about a 10-year-old boy named Auggie Pullman. Auggie is not just your ordinary kid. He is born with a unique appearance... one that others would refer to as deformed. Auggie is aware of this, but somehow he manages to live with this kind of uniqueness. He doesn't let others affect him and he tries his very best to live a normal life. And reading all these experiences through a child's eyes is indeed innocent. I could see how pure and true and sincere his thoughts and intentions are. The same goes for the other children's perspectives in the book - what you see is what you get. 

• Adorable - Again, this is sort of a children's book (but personally I think Wonder is good for people of all ages) so our main heroes are children. Children have this tendency to be lovable, especially since all their actions and thoughts are sincere and true. These sincere actions are what makes them captivating and engaging. And who doesn't love a good children's book? 

• A roller coaster ride of emotions - So much for one word adjectives. But Wonder is indeed a roller coaster ride of emotions. I felt not only the emotions of Auggie himself, but also of those around him. There are many simple yet emotional moments, too, in which I really couldn't help but feel empathic for the characters when they are happy or sad or angry. 

• Accurate - Why accurate, of all words? It is because what happens in Wonder is really happening in the real world. Other people may not have the same abnormality as Auggie's but some people are different, too, in their own unique way in the real world. And these things really happen to them - all the repulsion towards them and all the discrimination they get. In a way I got to put myself in these people's shoes and I got to know what they are going through BUT things aren't always going downhill for them because Auggie is.. 

• Strong - And much like Auggie, this book itself is also strong. Despite it's simple and innocent story, it has moved me unlike any other book that I have ever read. The simple lesson is there, and you get to put yourself in Auggie's shoes. But it's more than that. It is also about how one young unique boy can affect and touch the lives of all those around him. It wasn't always just about him. I also felt what people around Auggie felt. Together they give Auggie lots of love and support but in a way they also learn something from Auggie. Together they make each other strong. I was truly moved. And for a book to move someone like me like that... that takes strength too. 

And lastly...

• A must-read - Hands-down, Wonder is one of the best books I have ever read! And personally I'm more meticulous when it comes to reviewing mainstream books, but it turns out that Wonder is indeed mainstream-worthy! It took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions while making sure that I learned a thing or two along the way. I felt much respect and (yes, I'm using it) wonder for the people like Auggie. Sometimes the person whom you think doesn't look like a normal human could have the most human heart imaginable, and that is what I learned. 5 juicy stars, indeed. 

So that's it for my review on Wonder by R.J. Palacio. I hope you liked my review and I hope you give Wonder a try! Trust me, you'll be moved. Let me know your thoughts and opinions about this review and the book itself in a comment below. Oh yeah, and if you want to win a copy of The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore, head on to this link. You may enter until before November! May Lady Luck be with you! Seeya!

Book Review: The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore + Giveaway!

Greetings, reader! I come in peace to share with you my review of - that's right, you guessed it - The Revenge of Seven! I have finished this book about a month ago and I've been dying to write a review although the famous arch nemesis of my blogging spirit just won't let me. You probably know who it is by now (hint: starts with a C and ends with an E with the letters OLLEG in between). But enough about my petty rants. Let's get to the reviewing part now, shaaaaall we? 

• Title: The Revenge of Seven
• Author: Pittacus Lore
• Genre: young adult, sci-fi, fantasy
• Pages: 371 pages (hardcover)
• Published: 26 August 2014
• Series:  Lorien Legacies #5

"The worst was supposed to be over. We were reunited after a decade apart. We were discovering the truth of our past. We were training and getting stronger every day. We were even happy...

We never imagined the Mogodorians could turn one of our own against us. We were fools for trusting Five. And now Eight is lost forever. I would do anything to bring him back, but that's impossible. Instead, I will do whatever it takes to destroy every last one of them.

I've spent my entire life hiding from them, and they've stolen everything away from me. But that stops now. We're going to take the battle to them. We have a new ally who knows their weaknesses. And I finally have the power to fight back.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

Number Three in Kenya.

And Number Eight in Florida.

They killed them all.

I am Number Seven.

I will make them pay."

Wow! I can't believe it has been a year since I reviewed the previous book, The Fall of Five! The Fall of Five was the very first book I ever reviewed on this blog, and this just feels like the feeling when you go to a certain place for the first time and after many years return to that place for the second time and seeing how much has changed since then. DEM FEELS. Haha. I just wanted to be feels-y before the review. So with that out of my system, let's get this started.

WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS. Just minor. But still. Spoilers! 

If you happen to have an eidetic memory and remember what I said about The Fall of Five which was a year ago (but feels much more than that), you would know that I loathed it so much (if not, click here but beware since I wasn't used to writing reviews yet at that time haha). I even called it the "worst book of the series". Well guess what. That "worst book" I was talking about just found it's complete opposite....... The Revenge of Seven is by far the best book of the series! (IN MY OPINION)

I Am Number Four was good overall but I wasn't blown away that much. The Power of Six was also good but had such a hanging ending that was just annoying. The Rise of Nine had a slow plot but an excellent ending. And finally The Fall of Five had a really boring plot PLUS an ending that sucked. But The Revenge of Seven... ooooohh The Revenge of Seven. It was just perfect. (FOR ME)

I was not even finished reading half of the book yet but the title is already starting to happen. Although, if you thought Marina is going to be the main POV in this book (because of the title), I'm sorry to burst your bubble but no, she's not. I was hoping she would be though, after what happened to Eight, I thought for sure she would do something powerful, almost cruel, to the Mogs to avenge Eight. But nooo. She just happened to have no POV at all. She did play a huge part in the "Revenge" thing. Just not that personally for Eight, though. Speaking of the couple (Marina and Eight), there was a feels-y moment regarding those two which hit me here *bumps fist to chest*. It was probably one of the most dramatic and heartbreaking scenes of the series and had me like: 

It was so action-packed too! It had the right amount a sci fi book needs. Also, our heroes were reunited quickly after being separated. I remember in the previous books, they would be separated from each other for a long time and you'd get to read the POV's of the two groups, which would just emphasize their separation more, which was extremely annoying. They still split up in The Revenge of Seven shortly after reuniting, although I didn't feel that OCD-type of feeling that they should be together anymore. You'd be so amazed at the different twists and turns that you'd disregard the feeling.

Speaking of twists and turns, I was expecting them in this book and boy was I not disappointed! They were, indeed, really amazing! Some are a bit predictable but the others just surprised me. The greatest twist of them all? THE ENDING. The ending was just too much for me to handle (in a good way). I was so amazed with the ending although I was at school during that time and you could only imagine the bookworm hell I've been through after finishing the book. I was surrounded with people I don't know! Wonder how it feels to have no one to talk to for the next 5 hours after reading a very amazing and surprising book ending? I have the answer. Not good! I was dying to blabber about the ending to someone, although 1) I don't know the people surrounding me, and 2) The people I do know have not finished the book yet during that time. 

To top things off, this is my rating:

It was probably obvious haha. The only bad thing I could point out was the extremely abrupt and cliffhanging ending which let 2015 seem so far away! The Revenge of Seven was action-packed, complete with spectacular twists and turns and just the right amount of feels! All of this together combine to make what I think could be the best book of the Lorien Legacies! (I THINK) So to the IANF fans out there who haven't read The Revenge of Seven yet, read it right now!!! And for those who are not fans, give the series a try! 

Speaking of which, let's get down to the good part. I am hosting my very first giveaway! Isn't this exciting?! I am giving away one copy of The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore! All you have to do is follow what the Raflecopter widget below says and you are good to go! One lucky winner will be picked after the giveaway ends. The winner will be emailed within a week after the end of the contest and must reply within 48 hours else I will pick a new winner. Good luck! (By the way, the Terms and Conditions says the giveaway is for Philippine residents only but I have decided to extend this giveaway's reach worldwide! So just disregard that info in the Terms and Conditions.) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Let me know what you thought of my Revenge of Seven review in a comment! Until then, this has been Jude, blasting off!

P.S. I have decided to stop the Bookshelf Bucket List as of now. Let's face it, no one reads those anyway. XD