Beautiful Creatures MOVIE

2013 is definitely the year for books becoming movies! 

Beautiful Creatures is coming out as a movie in four days on February 14. If you haven't read it by now, where have you been? 

Okay, I really can't talk since I read it just last year in December, but I read it. That counts. 

It's a really good action book (whose review is yet to be posted by me) that follows a boy and a Caster. It's a really interesting fantasy book that takes place in the South of the United States. I would pick it up and try to cram it in those four days because it is really good, and it's always fun to judge the movie based on the book. At least it is to me. 

From what I've seen in the trailer, it looks all right. The actor playing Lena matches pretty well, but the actor playing Ethan is not the one I would chose. *shrug* We'll see how he does. He doesn't look like the character I envisioned in my head. There are a lot of the actors that I probably wouldn't have chosen, but actors aside it looks like the plot is pretty much in tact.

If you haven't seen the trailer I'll put it below. 

The cast list goes as follows: 

• Alden Ehrenreich as Ethan Lawson Wate
• Alice Englert as Lena Duchannes
• Jeremy Irons as Macon Ravenwood
• Viola Davis as Amma
• Emmy Rossum as Ridley Duchannes
• Thomas Mann as Link
• Emma Thompson as Sarafine
• Kyle Gallner as Larkin

I'm not as hyped up for this one as I am for City of Bones, but I am still pretty excited. What do you think? 

Trailer: 

 


 

Familiar Origins REVIEW

Title: Familiar Origins
Author: B. Pine
Release date:  January 19th, 2011
Rating:  5/5
Publisher: Silver Leaf Books
Book Summary: 

In a universe where dragons are supreme sentient beings, divination rituals and knowledge of human magical evolution has led to the belief that eight humans will be born with extraordinary supernatural abilities that will give them the power to challenge dragons. Divided into two factions-the Draca Debellos: conquerors of worlds to fuel their powerful magic, and the Draca Tueri: protectors of the worlds and their sentient beings-they tirelessly search for these gifted children to train and bond with to help in their eternal struggle and attempt to end their tenuous deadlock.Both sides are aware of how dangerously powerful they are due to their understanding and mastery of nature, magic, and science; following a rigid code of conduct. But they are also aware that their Creator has worked into the nature of the universe an anomaly-a balancing feature that can lead to the extinction of the entire dragon race. The key to overcoming the balance between Draca and the key to victory lies in the existence of these eight special humans. These humans have different combinations of powers based on the existing types of magic-psychic talents, spellcasting abilities, spiritual summoning, and elemental control. Beyond their magical abilities, what makes these eight particular humans so special is their unique ability to bond with dragons in a way that could provide both dragon and human with powers and benefits yet unknown by either race.Both Draca factions wish for nothing more than to bond with one of these special humans and tilt the balance of power in their favor. After centuries of searching and waiting, these eight predestined humans have now all been born-humans with the power to challenge the Draca and hold the fate of the world within their hearts and minds.Follow the adventures, struggles, and development of these humans who have their innocence shattered at a tender age while trying to learn to live under the influence of powerful beings wishing to use them for their own ends, and growing up in a world of tragedy and horror, betrayal and deception.

Review:

Imagine being a five- to ten-year-old kid and being burdened with a "war" that you don't even know about. Now, imagine that this "war" involves dragons. This book is just the beginning, following most of the eight kids' lives as they learn what their powers are and about the dragons. 

I absolutely love it. 

It takes the time to go through each child's lives as they grow up from children. It shows the events that shape them and make them who they are.

It's very daring. 

I haven't read a book that takes the time to lead you though each character's memories instead of just mentioning them; or, if the memory is extremely important, shown as a flash back. 

I congratulate B. Pine in taking such risks and presenting them beautifully with wonderful descriptions of places, thoughts, feelings, etc. I fell in love with the book from the first page when I found that it started off in a dragon's point of view. :D

I highly recommend this book to all of those adventurers, lovers of fantasy, and generally anyone that loves a good story plot! I can't wait for the next installment. I'm sure it will be just as magnificent.
 

Singer

Title: Singer
Author: Jean Thesman
Release date: 2005
Rating: 3½ of 5
Publisher: Penguin Group
Book Summary:

For years, Gwenore's mother, the witch Rhiamon, has abused and ignored her. Then Gwenore learns that she has secret allies—her nursemaid and a mysterious enchanter-priest. They help her escape, first to an abbey, then to the women's community of Blessingwood, and finally to the otherworldly Lir, where she serves as nursemaid to the king's four children. No matter where she goes, the young fugitive, now called Mary Singer, is pursued by Rhiamon—but she is also learning about her own magical powers. When she learns that Rhiamon has married King Lir, she is ready. Singer knows that her mother will try to kill the children. Now she must save their lives . . . and her own.

Review:
I really like the story. It's got a great plot, it's mysterious and it has magic that doesn't over power the MC.

It's the story of a girl who ran away from home in order to escape her witch of a mother (in both meanings of the word). She is lead away from all she's know and stays with the Blessingwood women where there they work on changing her appearance...and her name.

The story goes on with the mystery, the magic and the discovering of new talents and powers. The characters were pretty strong. The built a good core for the plot to circle around and they had very good backgrounds that later came into play.

The only thing that I didn't like that gave it it's 3½ is the ending. I didn't think the ending was very good at all.

SPOILER ALERT