Ethereal Pages

Best Fantasy Books of 2013 by Goodreads Choice Awards 2013

2014-02-17T23:33:00.000-08:00

As of 2013, Goodreads have announced the books who made it to their Choice Awards as accordance to their category and genre. And here are the top ten books that made it to the Goodreads Choice Awards - Best Fantasy Books of 2013 and their sypnoses/summaries.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.

A Memory of Light (Wheel of Time, #14) by Robert Jordan

Since 1990, when Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time® burst on the world with its first book, The Eye of the World, readers have been anticipating the final scenes of this extraordinary saga, which has sold over forty million copies in over thirty languages.

When Robert Jordan died in 2007, all feared that these concluding scenes would never be written. But working from notes and partials left by Jordan, established fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson stepped in to complete the masterwork. With The Gathering Storm (Book 12) and Towers of Midnight (Book 13) behind him, both of which were # 1 New York Times hardcover bestsellers, Sanderson now re-creates the vision that Robert Jordan left behind.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass.

What was, what will be, and what is,

may yet fall under the Shadow.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. When her master, the husband who commissioned her, dies at sea on the voyage from Poland, she is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York in 1899.

Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Though he is no longer imprisoned, Ahmad is not entirely free – an unbreakable band of iron binds him to the physical world.

The Golem and the Jinni is their magical, unforgettable story; unlikely friends whose tenuous attachment challenges their opposing natures – until the night a terrifying incident drives them back into their separate worlds. But a powerful threat will soon bring Chava and Ahmad together again, challenging their existence and forcing them to make a fateful choice.

The Republic of Thieves (Gentleman Bastard, #3) by Scott Lynch

With what should have been the greatest heist of their career gone spectacularly sour, Locke and his trusted partner, Jean, have barely escaped with their lives. Or at least Jean has. But Locke is slowly succumbing to a deadly poison that no alchemist or physiker can cure. Yet just as the end is near, a mysterious Bondsmage offers Locke an opportunity that will either save him or finish him off once and for all.

Magi political elections are imminent, and the factions are in need of a pawn. If Locke agrees to play the role, sorcery will be used to purge the venom from his body - though the process will be so excruciating he may well wish for death. Locke is opposed, but two factors cause his will to crumble: Jean's imploring - and the Bondsmage's mention of a woman from Locke's past: Sabetha. She is the love of his life, his equal in skill and wit, and now, his greatest rival.

Locke was smitten with Sabetha from his first glimpse of her as a young fellow orphan and thief-in-training. But after a tumultuous courtship, Sabetha broke away. Now they will reunite in yet another clash of wills. For faced with his one and only match in both love and trickery, Locke must choose whether to fight Sabetha - or to woo her. It is a decision on which both their lives may depend.

The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

"One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.

The Firebird (The Slains, #2) by Susanna Kearsley

Nicola Marter was born with a gift. When she touches an object, she sometimes glimpses those who have owned it before. When a woman arrives with a small wooden carving at the gallery Nicola works at, she can see the object’s history and knows that it was named after the Firebird—the mythical creature from an old Russian fable.

Compelled to know more, Nicola follows a young girl named Anna into the past who leads her on a quest through the glittering backdrops of the Jacobites and Russian courts, unearthing a tale of love, courage, and redemption.

Blood of Dragons (Rain Wild Chronicles, #4) by Robin Hobb

The dragons' survival hangs in the balance in the thrilling final volume in the acclaimed River Wilds chronicles fantasy series

The dragons and their dedicated band of keepers have at last found the lost city of Kelsingra. The magical creatures have learned to use their wings and are growing into their regal inheritance. Their humans, too, are changing. As the mystical bonds with their dragons deepen, Thymara, Tats, Rapskal, and even Cedric, the unlikeliest of keepers, have begun transforming into beautiful Elderlings raked with exquisite features that complement and reflect the dragons they serve.

But while the humans have scoured the empty streets and enormous buildings of Kelsongra, they cannot find the mythical silver wells the dragons need to stay health and survive. With enemies encroaching, the keepers must risk "memory walking"- immersing themselves in the dangerously addictive memories of long-deceased Elderlings - to uncover clues necessary to their survival.

And time is of the essence, for the legendary Tintaglia, long feared dead, has returned, wounded in a battle with humans hunting dragon blood and scales. She is weakening and only the hidden silver can revive her. If Tintaglia dies, so, too, will the ancient memories she carries - a devastating loss that will ensure the dragons' extinction.

The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway

“You are now a member of the Guild. There is no return.” Two hundred years after he was about to die on a Napoleonic battlefield, Nick Falcott, soldier and aristocrat, wakes up in a hospital bed in modern London. The Guild, an entity that controls time travel, showers him with life's advantages. But Nick yearns for home and for one brown-eyed girl, lost now down the centuries. Then the Guild asks him to break its own rule. It needs Nick to go back to 1815 to fight the Guild’s enemies and to find something called the Talisman.

In 1815, Julia Percy mourns the death of her beloved grandfather, an earl who could play with time. On his deathbed he whispers in her ear: “Pretend!” Pretend what? When Nick returns home as if from the dead, older than he should be and battle scarred, Julia begins to suspect that her very life depends upon the secrets Grandfather never told her. Soon enough Julia and Nick are caught up in an adventure that stretches up and down the river of time. As their knowledge of the Guild and their feelings for each other grow, the fate of the future itself is hanging in the balance.

Emperor of Thorns (The Broken Empire, #3) by Mark Lawrence

To reach the throne requires that a man journey. Even a path paved with good intentions can lead to hell, and my intentions were never good.

The Hundred converge for Congression to politic upon the corpse of Empire, and while they talk the Dead King makes his move, and I make mine. The world is cracked, time has run through, leaving us clutching at the end days, the future so bright that those who see it are the first to burn. These are the days that have waited for us all our lives. These are my days. I will stand before the Hundred and they will listen. I will take the throne whoever seeks to thwart me, living or dead, and if I must be the last emperor then I will make of it such an ending.

This is where the wise man turns away. This is where the holy kneel and call on God. These are the last miles, my brothers. Don't look to me to save you. Don't think I will not spend you. Run if you have the wit. Pray if you have the soul. Stand your ground if courage is yours. But don't follow me.

Follow me, and I will break your heart.

Forged in Blood I (The Emperor's Edge, #6) by Lindsay Buroker

The emperor has been ousted from the throne, his bloodline in question, and war is descending on the capital. Forge, the nefarious business coalition that has been manipulating the political situation from the beginning, has the ultimate weapon at its disposal.

If it was difficult for a small team of outlaws--or, as Amaranthe has decided they should now be called, rebels--to make a difference before, it's a monumental task now. If she's to return idealistic young Sespian to the throne, earn the exoneration she's sought for so long, and help her closest ally win the respect of the son who detests him, she'll have to employ an unprecedented new scheme...preferably without destroying the city--or herself--in the process.

Most Unforgettable Lines in the Fault in Our Stars

2014-02-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

Well, since I'm sulking up with the whole movie "The Fault in Our Stars" to be shown in June rather than in February to be my Valentine Movie, I couldn't help but to reminisce and remember the whole story as I had read it last year. And believe me, this book has the greatest lines in most of YA romantic books you can find in the mall and here are some of my favorites that I'd like to share with you.

I hope you can find the feelings in them as I have and stir up emotions you never thought words can bring you.

"Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful." - Hazel Grace

"It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you." - Augustus Waters

"I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you." - Augustus Waters

"And then the line was quite but not dead. I almost felt like he was there in my room with me, but in a way it was better, like I was not in my room and he was not in his, but instead we were together in some invisible and tenuous third space that could only be visited on the phone." - Hazel Grace

"That's the thing about pain," Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. "It demands to be felt." - John Green

"There will come a time when all of us are dead. All of us. There will come a time when there are no human beings remaining to remember that anyone ever existed or that our species ever did anything. There will be no one left to remember Aristotle or Cleopatra, let alone you. Everything that we did and built and wrote and thought and discovered will be forgotten and all of this will have been for naught. Maybe that time is coming soon and maybe it is millions of years away, but even if we survive the collapse of our sun, we will not survive forever. There was time before organisms experienced consciousness, and there will be time after. And if the inevitability of human oblivion worries you, I encourage you to ignore it. God knows that’s what everyone else does." - John Green

“You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world...but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices.” - Augustus Waters

"Maybe 'okay' will be our 'always'" - Augustus Waters

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” - John Green

“Some people don't understand the promises they're making when they make them," I said. And then Isaac shot me a look. "Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway.” - John Green

Images credit to Google

June is Such a Long Time to Wait for The Fault in Our Stars Movie

2014-02-07T18:38:00.001-08:00

"A one sick love story," and a one sick of a long time we all have to wait before The Fault in Our Stars hit the big screen. As expected, the movie which is based on the best-selling book which goes by the same title, had garnered a large fan base on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Showing on June 6, 2014, readers couldn't help not to be excited to watch their favorite characters come to life through Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster (which will also portray Beatrice in Divergent) and Ansel Elgort as Augustus Waters.

The filming had started last year on August 26 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and finished around October. The writer, John Green (bless you for your creative mind and passion for tragedy) was on set for the whole filming and even made video blogs during production of the film chronicling his artistic journey in watching his creation be brought to life on a movie screen. And just this last month, January 29, 2014, everyone finally had a sneakpeek of the movie through its trailer which gained over 3 million views in less than 24 hours after its release.

See it for yourself:

For me, The Fault in Our Stars is indeed the "Romeo & Juliet" of our time, the plot and the feelings it gives are entirely priceless. And though, the story may leave you crying and sulking up, the journey of these two beautiful people as they find love and fight their fears will entirely leave a mark on your heart. It's a masterpiece which Time Magazine called "damn near genius" and described by Booklist as "Green’s best and most ambitious novel to date. In its every aspect, The Fault in Our Stars is a triumph."

If you still have no idea what The Fault in Our Stars is about, here are the synopses from IMDb and GoodReads:

IMDb: "Hazel and Gus are two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them on a journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous given that Hazel's other constant companion is an oxygen tank, Gus jokes about his prosthetic leg, and they met and fell in love at a cancer support group."

GoodReads: "Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten."

So if you're up for a one-hell tragic love story, then I bet you'll hate the fact that you'll love this story even if it left you sad and probably let you cry tons of bucket. But for now, all we can do is to wait for dear June to witness the magic and tragic of Hazel and Augustus sick story unfold in the big screen.

Barnes & Noble NOOK Valentine's Day Offer - Free $30 Gift Card w/ Purchase of our HD Tablets!

2013-02-01T23:38:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Valentine's Day, Barnes & Noble will be giving away a FREE $30 Gift Card In Store w/ the Purchase of NOOK HD or HD+ Tablets. Get a sleek tablet for your sweetheart they'll be sure to love! Order online with code N8P8L8B or redeem in store at your nearest Barnes & Noble. This offer is valid starting February 1 to February 14. Hurry, because this sweet deal won't last!

So why choose NOOK HD tablet to give you for your special love one this Heart's Day?

Highest Resolution 7" HD Tablet with Everything You Want
Download or stream movies & tv shows in seconds
Massive selection of over 3 million books, including 1 million free titles
Download all your favorite apps, catalogs and more
See something you like? NOOK Scrapbook allows you to save pages you love in one spot
Customize your NOOK with personalized profiles

Packed with pixels, NOOK HD’s brilliant display delivers text, graphics, and video with stunning HD clarity. Which means every book, movie and app looks better than ever before. Plus, it lets you create up to 6 NOOK Profiles™. Activate your profile with just a touch and watch NOOK HD instantly transform into your own personal device.

Designed to fit naturally in your hand, NOOK HD tablets are easy to hold, super-portable, and ready to go wherever life takes you. The NOOK HD tablets puts a world of reading & entertainment at your fingertips. Explore over 3 million books, magazines, videos, apps, catalogs & more in the newly expanded NOOK Store™.

And best of all, it features a speedy dual-core processor and an improved multi-tab browser, NOOK HD gets you online faster than ever before. Stay in touch with home and work through our new email app, which supports Microsoft Exchange Active Sync® and popular email services.

So get your NOOK HD now plus a free $30 GC!

NOOK HD 8GB/NOOK HD 16GB

NOOK HD+ 16GB/NOOK HD+ 32GB

Barnes & Noble Amazing NOOK Offer! Free $30 Gift with Purchase of our NOOK eReader!

2013-01-27T00:51:00.000-08:00

Barnes & Nobles are excited to announce their best offer yet, for their award-winning NOOK Simple Touch eReader. Starting January 25 up to January 31, get a FREE $30 Gift Card w/ the Purchase of NOOK eReader when you use your MasterCard. This offer is redeemable both online and in-store so better mark your calendars.

So why choose Barnes & Noble NOOK Simple Touch eReader? Well, aside that Barnes & Noble NOW offers them at a low price of $79, it has the following features that lets eReader enjoy the best:

Longest battery life – read for over 2 months with a single charge.
Ultra light and portable, holds up to 1,000 books.
25% faster than any other eReader. Download new books in under 10 seconds.
Best reading screen, with crisp text. Reads just like paper even in the sun.
Over 3 million books, get them in seconds w/ built-in Wi-Fi®
No annoying ads
Always free NOOK support in-store
Borrow books from your public library

Barnes & Noble NOOK Simple Touch eReader features the Breakthrough E Ink® display for the best just-like-paper reading—even in bright sun—with our proprietary Best-Text Technology™ that produces super-sharp fonts. Hands down, it's the best Reader!

Open your book, make the type bigger, look up words, organize your library, lend a book or shop for new titles with its 6 inches touchscreen. It is also 25% faster than any other Reader. Quick page turns, fast browsing, get to your latest read with just a tap. Download new books instantly via Wi-Fi® -usually in under 10 seconds.

Another great thing about NOOK Simple Touch is its lighter than a paperback (under 7.5 ounces) and super thin, yet holds up to 1,000 books, magazines, and newspapers--so it's easy to take your entire library with you anywhere. Plus, you can enjoy by creating a reading experience that you can truly call your own. Select one of our screensavers or upload your own picture. Arrange books on library shelves you name yourself. Even add bookmarks and highlight passages. For more information about NOOK Simple Touch, visit http://www.barnesandnoble.com.

Most-Awaited Book Releases this January 2013 (Part 2)

2013-01-26T00:36:00.002-08:00

Shades of Earth: An Across the Universe Novel by Beth Revis

The new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was: a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now that her little brother is gone too, Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

Asunder (Incarnate) by Jodi Meadows

Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls—and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

Many are afraid of Ana's presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

Ana was told that no souls can't love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death.

Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.

Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at fi rst. Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night? In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and sci-fi elements to create a captivating adventure—and a love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Most-Awaited Book Releases this January 2013

2013-01-25T21:32:00.000-08:00

Although January may be off to its end, you might not have checked out the latest and most-awaited young adult fantasy books that was released this month. That's why if you're looking for a new book to read and keep you company, then definitely one of these newly released books will suite your taste.

Star Cursed: The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book Two by Jessica Spotswood

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

Boundless, Unearthly Book Three by Cynthia Hand

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her...even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seemed like the best option, so she's headed back to California—and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he's not the only one... With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won't come without sacrifices and betrayal.

Everbound: An Everneath Novel by Brodi Ashton

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity—a debt that should've been hers. Now she is living a borrowed life, and she doesn't know what to do with the guilt. And every night, Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away. No matter how she tries to reach for his hand, she can never find it.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen—and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to help in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Prodigy: A Legend Novel by Marie Lu

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?

Doomed by Tracy Deebs

Pandora's just your average teen-glued to her cell phone and laptop, surfing Facebook and e-mailing with her friends-until the day her long-lost father sends her a link to a mysterious site featuring twelve photos of her as a child. Unable to contain her curiosity, Pandora enters the site, where she is prompted to play her favorite virtual-reality game, Zero Day. This unleashes a global computer virus that plunges the whole world into panic: suddenly, there is no Internet. No cell phones. No utilities, traffic lights, hospitals, law enforcement. Pandora teams up with handsome stepbrothers Eli and Theo to enter the virtual world of Zero Day. Simultaneously, she continues to follow the photographs from her childhood in an attempt to beat the game and track down her father-her one key to saving the world as we know it.

Narnia 4 Possibly Still Be in Limbo for 2013

2013-01-01T23:37:00.002-08:00

It's more than 2 years since the last Narnia film adaption (The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader) was released in the big screen. And since then was never followed by the adaption of its supposed next sequel, The Silver Chair, after it performed below expectations in the United States although it did well in the international box office. Many fans have accepted that the Voyage of the Dawn Treader may finally be the last Narnia film under Walden's Production.

However, there were plenty of news in the industry that Douglas Greham, Narnia film's co-producer and C.S. Lewis stepson was planning to start the production of the next installment in another three or four years time which he confirmed in May 2012. Greham announced that he would like to make The Silver Chair next as an independent film, while Michael Flaherty, President of Walden's Production want to do The Magician's Nephew instead, thus putting everything in limbo.

In December 6, 2012 though Michael Flaherty talks about the future of the Narnia movies in an interview for the December issue of World Magazine:

So, with revenue going down and production costs remaining high, so what’s next for the Narnia movie series?

There are multiple opinions on all this and a lot of different players: The C.S. Lewis estate, the studio, our company—and we’re not all of one mind. I would love to find a way where the economics work, acknowledging the decline. I’d like to do The Magician’s Nephew. Other people want to do The Silver Chair, and there’s disagreement about the economics and the overall vision of where the franchise should go next. My hope is that we may all become of one mind, but unless something providential happens there, I’m focusing on a number of other stories.

So, at this moment, no deal?

Nope.

Sources: World Magazine | NarniaWeb

Best Film Adaptation of 2012 (Part 2)

2012-12-30T03:25:00.000-08:00

Here's the second part of the Best Film Adaption of 2012 which includes their producer's movie descriptions and official trailer:

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future. Each member of the ensemble appears in multiple roles as the stories move through time. - © Warner Bros.

The Lucky One

U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive--a photograph he found of a woman he doesn't even know. Learning her name is Beth (Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job at her family-run local kennel. Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm. - © Warner Bros

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov reinvent the time-honored genre and present the terrifying creatures of the night as they were meant to be experienced -- as fierce, visceral, intense and blood thristy. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter brings to the screen the secret life of our nation's favorite president...as history's greatest hunter of the undead. - © AbeLincolnVampireHunter.com

Les Misérables

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption-a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever. In December 2012, the world's longest-running musical brings its power to the big screen in Tom Hooper's sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo's epic tale. - © Universal

On the Road (movie tie-in)

Based on Jack Kerouc's beloved American novel, On The Road is the story of Sal Paradise, an aspiring New York writer, and Dean Moriarty, a devastatingly charming ex-con, married to the very liberated and seductive Marylou. Sal and Dean bond instantly instantly upon meeting. Determined not to get locked in to a constricted life, the two friends cut their ties and take to the road with Marylou. Thirsting for freedom, the three young people head off in search of the world, of other encounters, and of themselves. - © IFC

Sources: RottenTomatoes

Best Film Adaptation of 2012

2012-12-30T01:43:00.001-08:00

Every book lover always yearns to see their favorite characters come to life. Who wouldn't want to see them in action, straight out of the big screen? Of course, no one! So most of us couldn't help but to feel gratified at the producers who had brought as these best film adaptations this 2012. See if your film adaptation had made it to the list:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey had brought us the perfect film to year the end right. Directed by acclaimed director Peter Jackson, who also brought life to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first installment of the The Hobbit book who was divided into three parts and will be followed by two other installment: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) and There and Back Again (2014). The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was the prequel of The Lord of the Rings which starts off with Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins' uncle, who was picked by the wizard Gandalf to accompany thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim their lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. This installment also introduced how Bilbo gain possession of the One Ring from Gollum's hand... the simple gold ring that will change the fate of all Middle-Earth.

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2

The final conclusion of The Twilight Saga had finally reached the big screen and was true to their promise to left a satisfying end to The Twilight series. In this astonishing conclusion, Bella who finally awoken to the life of vampires must do everything in her power to protect her vampire family, the Olympian Coven, upon the threats of the powerful old coven Volturi. With her vampire husband, Edward Cullen and her werewolf bestfriend, Jacob Black, they will find a way to save her hybrid daughter Renesmee, who will either be annihilated upon being suspected as a newborn child--a false allegation that will put their entire fates in danger. Together with Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmet, Alice and Jasper, they will sought alliance with old vampire friends to side with them in proving the Volturi that Renesmee was not a newborn child but half-human, half-vampire child that Bella sacrificed her human life for.

Life of Pi

The most inspiring and dramatic film 2012 has to offer, Life of Pi was originally adapted from Yann Martel's novel. Directed by legendary Ang Lee who brought fame to the acclaimed action movies Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Brokeback Mountain, the Life of Pi talks about a young man by the name of Piscine Patel played by Suraj Sharma, who survived a disaster at sea and hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery alone with the company of a Bengal Tiger by the name of Parker. Perhaps the most unforgetable thing in this movie is how Pi rediscovered his life and gave more importance to it after spending 227 days alone with a ferocious tiger in a boat. There he will learn to live and face his fear as he tried to fight for his survival and learn to care for tiger's life as well.

The Hunger Games

Adapted from Suzanne Collin's New York Times best-selling novel that was set in a dystopian world where in a survival game called the Hunger Games is yearly held and organized by the Capitol of the nation of Panem, where each of its twelve districts will send one teenage boy and one teenage girl known as tributes who will fight to the death until one tribute is held as a victor. But on the seventy-fourth Hunger Games, one tribute from the poorest district will stand out by the name of Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, who will change the entire course of The Hunger Games, The Capitol and of the twelve districts.

"Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love." - Lionsgate

Perks of Being a Wallflower

Based on the best-selling novel written by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower revolves around the life of an introvert high school freshman by the name of Charlie played by Logan Lerman, who's whole perspective will change upon involving himself with two seniors who will welcome him the real world. Described by the RottenTomatoes as "a heartfelt and sincere adaptation that's bolstered by strong lead performances", The Perks of Being a Wallflower will surely make a mark on teenagers and the current lifestyle and society they live in this age.

"Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up. Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a moving tale of love, loss, fear and hope-and the unforgettable friends that help us through life." - Summit Entertainment

To see continued list click HERE.

Credits: RottenTomatoes.com

Penguin USA Invites You to Join Them Celebrating Stories With Their Holiday Sale

2012-12-25T21:49:00.000-08:00

Penguin USA, one of the largest English-language trade book publishers in the world, is inviting everyone to join them in celebrating stories this holiday by offering 20% off your purchase with free shopping until January 7, 2013. All you have to do is to use coupon code HOLIDAY12 at their checkout page to enjoy the discount.

Get some of Penguin's Young Readers Best-selling Books at 20% lower than their original price, including:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green | Price (Hardcover): $17.99 / (Paperback): $ 9.99

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Reached by Ally Condie | Price (Hardcover): $ 17.99 / (Paperback): $ 9.99

Cassia’s journey began with an error, a momentary glitch in the otherwise perfect façade of the Society. After crossing canyons to break free, she waits, silk and paper smuggled against her skin, ready for the final chapter.

The wait is over.

One young woman has raged against those who threaten to keep away what matters most—family, love, choice. Her quiet revolution is about to explode into full-scale rebellion.

With exquisite prose, the emotionally gripping conclusion to the international–bestselling Matched trilogy returns Cassia, Ky, and Xander to the Society to save the one thing they have been denied for so long, the power to choose.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher | Price (Hardcover): $17.99 / (Paperback): $ 9.99

Clay Jenkins returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 13 cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Origin by Jessica Khoury | Price (Hardcover): $17.99 / (Paperback): $ 9.99

The jungle hides a girl who cannot die.

An electrifying action-romance that's as thoughtful as it is tragic.

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher | Price (Hardcover): $17.99 / (Paperback): $ 9.99

Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.

And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside - she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye, and escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know. Because Incarceron is alive.

For more information, check out:

http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/shop/celebrate_stories.html?CMP=BAC-PGICBS

Sources: Penguin USA

And thanks for Penguin Teens for following me on Google+.

Barnes & Noble Best eBooks Year-End Sale

2012-12-25T07:12:00.001-08:00

Barnes & Noble, your premier destination for books, magazines, toys & games, music, DVD and Blu-ray, has something up in their sleeves to offer eBook readers and NOOK owners this holidays. Being the Internet's Largest Bookstore, Barnes & Noble is giving every NOOK eBook lovers up to 75% off the best eBooks of the year.

Sounds to good to be true? Well, it is true and this promo lasts until January 07, 2013. So what are you waiting for? If you happen to own a NOOK and would want to enjoy the holidays lounging in your sofa bed, tucked in a warm comforter with a mug of hot chocolate with melted marshmallows near hand, while reading eBooks then grab all best eBooks this year to keep you company.

So what are some books they have to offer? Here are few of the best-selling YA novels (Top Matches) you can choose from thousands:

Beastly by Alex Flinn | NOOK eBook - $ 1.99

I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly... beastly.

Delirium: The Special Edition by Lauren Oliver | NOOK eBook - $ 2.99

Ninety-five days, and then I’ll be safe.

I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It’s hard to be patient. It’s hard not to be afraid while I’m still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness.

The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don’t.

Carnival of Soul by Melissa Marr | NOOK eBook - $ 1.99

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures—if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father—and every other witch there—fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable.

While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

Dodger by Terry Prachett | Nook eBook - $ 2.99

A storm. Rain-lashed city streets. A flash of lightning. A scruffy lad sees a girl leap desperately from a horse-drawn carriage in a vain attempt to escape her captors. Can the lad stand by and let her be caught again? Of course not, because he's . . . Dodger.

Seventeen-year-old Dodger may be a street urchin, but he gleans a living from London's sewers, and he knows a jewel when he sees one. He's not about to let anything happen to the unknown girl—not even if her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.

From Dodger's encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd to his meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a breathtaking account of adventure and mystery.

Once in a Full Moon (Full Moon Series #1) by Ellen Schreiber | Nook eBook - $ 2.99

Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever.

Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run and Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight.

Her best friends may never forgive her if she gives up her perfect boyfriend, Nash, for Brandon, who's from the wrong side of town. But she can't deny her attraction or the strong pull he has on her. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run.

Psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf are the perfect formula for what happens... once in a full moon.

Sources: Barnes&Noble.com

The New York Times Best-Selling YA Novels of 2012 (Part 3)

2012-12-24T18:11:00.000-08:00

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein | Amazon Price - $ 11.55

I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.

That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. But I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine — and I will do anything, anything, to avoid SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden interrogating me again.

He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France — an Allied Invasion of Two.

We are a sensational team.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher | Amazon Price - $ 6.49

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs | Amazon Price - $ 11.64

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here - one of whom was his own grandfather - were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive.

Every Day by David Levithan | Amazon Price - $ 11.99

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan, bestselling co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi | Amazon Price - $ 9.99

In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota--and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life...

In this powerful novel, award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi delivers a thrilling, fast-paced adventure set in a vivid and raw, uncertain future.

Credits to GoodReads | The New York Times

The New York Times Best-Selling YA Novels of 2012 (Part 2)

2012-12-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

Insurgent (Divergent Book 2) by Veronica Roth | Amazon Price - $ 13.59

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak | Amazon Price - $ 7.70

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery....

Narrated by Death, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist – books. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever they are to be found.

With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids, as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

Lauren Conrad Beauty by Lauren Conrad | Amazon Price - $ 14.95

Whether she's in front of the camera or behind the scenes, style icon Lauren Conrad has spent years learning from the pros and perfecting her look, and now she's sharing all her beauty secrets.

In her first guide dedicated exclusively to beauty, Lauren covers everything you need to know to maximize your own beauty potential. From tips for creating a strong foundation and maintaining healthy skin and hair through diet, exercise, and all-around wellness to everyday makeup techniques and tricks of the trade for special-occasion looks, "Lauren Conrad Beauty" provides the advice you've been waiting for. Lauren's personal anecdotes and illustrated step-by-step lessons for makeup, hair, and nails will have you looking great for day or night.

Dodger by Terry Pratchett | Amazon Price -$ 12.23

Seventeen-year-old Dodger may be a street urchin, but he gleans a living from London's sewers, and he knows a jewel when he sees one. He's not about to let anything happen to the unknown girl--not even if her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.

From Dodger's encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd to his meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a breathtaking account of adventure and mystery.

Paper Towns by John Green | Amazon Price - $ 9.99

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life - dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues - and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer Q gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew.

Click HERE to see the continued list.

Credits to GoodReads | The New York Times

The New York Times Best-Selling YA Novels of 2012

2012-12-22T22:27:00.000-08:00

When it comes to book hunting, one must not deny that we're all sucker for picking up one that has the "New York Times Best-Seller" phrase printed in its cover. Who doesn't? The New York Times had always help us finding the "great ones" among the thousands of books published every year. And since 2012 is almost at its end, we're going to give you New York Times best-selling YA novels as of this year. Find out if you already read them all? And if not, what are you waiting for? Try and find out why they made it on the list.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky | Amazon Price - $ 8.22

Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix-tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green | Amazon Price - $ 10.26

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Divergent (Book 1) by Veronica Roth | Amazon Price - $ 9.99

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves... or it might destroy her.

Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith by Gabrielle Douglas with Michelle Burford | Amazon Price - $ 12.24

In the 2012 London Olympics, US gymnast Gabby Douglas stole hearts and flew high as the All-Around Gold Medal winner, as well as acting as a critical member of the US gold-medal-winning women gymnastics team. In this personal autobiography, Gabby tells her story of faith, perseverance, and determination, demonstrating you can reach your dreams if you let yourself soar.

Looking for Alaska by John Green | Amazon Price - $ 9.99

Before, Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

Click HERE for the continued list.

Credits to GoodReads | The New York Times

Dystopia - The Fictional Society Built in Destruction

2012-12-20T02:45:00.002-08:00

While everyone is fussing about the Apocalypse or Doomsday about to happen (as they say) this December 21, I couldn't just literally hate the idea of it all. Why? Simply because if these false prophecies didn't exist, I couldn't imagine how my reading life would be without dystopian novels. From YA best-selling novels The Hunger Games, Julianna Baggott's The Pure, Shatter Me, Matched and The Giver, all fall under the same setting, dystopia.

But what is dystopia in the first place? Dystopia, or the word itself, literally came from two Ancient Greek words: δυσ-, "bad, hard", and τόπος, "place, landscape". According to Wikipedia, "it can alternatively be called cacotopia or anti-utopia." It is the counterpart of utopia, wherein instead of the community being built into a desirable atmosphere, the dystopia is a community or society that is built in an undesirable and frightening setting.

The term was originally coined by Thomas More in the book he wrote in 1516. The first known use of the word itself, recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary, was during the speech given by John Stuart Mill in the year 1968 as he described the Irish government land policy:

"It is, perhaps, too complimentary to call them Utopians, they ought rather to be called dys-topians, or caco-topians. What is commonly called Utopian is something too good to be practicable; but what they appear to favour is too bad to be practicable."

Dystopia in literature, for the meantime, have garnered readers and fans as writers incorporate their plot into an exciting theme of an imperfect world, already filled with sorrow, destruction, and hopelessness, new heroes and protagonists emerges with deep characteristics and fully-molded starting backgrounds as complications arises adding up to their already grim-world.

One of the most popular YA dystopian novels in the present time is Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games, a story set in a post-war dystopian North-America called Panem, which is composed of an extravagant, commanding capital (The Capitol) and twelve poverty-stricken districts that each specialize in making a certain type of products.They have a totalitarian government that forces each district to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen each year to fight to the death in the Hunger Games.

Unknown to many though, the story actually bloomed in its writer's mind Suzanne Collins while watching television and searching for something to watch: "On one channel she observed people competing on a reality show and on another she saw footage of the invasion of Iraq. The two "began to blur in this very unsettling way" and the idea for the book was formed," according toWikipedia.

Collins' childhood also played role in the book, when her father went to service during the Vietnam War and died: "Collins stated that the deaths of young characters and other "dark passages" were the most difficult parts of the book to write, but that she had accepted that passages such as these were necessary to the story."

Dystopia, as we all know it, may be an interesting approach and theme to read to keep us entertain and provide us with a whole new adventure and creepy setups, but is not something we should all enjoy to ever dream of living in. And though a lot are enjoying the Doomsday trend going endless throughout the internet, may we reflect to ourself, that the world can't be destroy in a second without a Great Force intervening, and instead of joking about the whole thing, why don't we take time to see that the world is already being destroyed.. and it will soon be gone, soon be turned into a dystopia, if we don't stop the wars, the pollution and the social issues that are all tearing us apart.

And as a fellow writer and friend, who's also writing a dystopian novel, I could only hope that we see the lesson through the dystopian novels we have read, that after the darkness, there is a light waiting ahead of us, if we're just strong enough to fight for it and run to it.

Best Dystopian Novels (Part 2)

2012-12-19T03:41:00.000-08:00

The Host by Stephenie Meyer | Amazon Price (Paperback) - $ 11.55

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.

Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, The Host is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld | Amazon Price (Paperback) - $ 9.99

Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait for the operation that turns everyone from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to party. But new friend Shay would rather hoverboard to "the Smoke" and be free. Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The "Special Circumstances" authority Dr Cable offers Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

The Declaration by Gemma Malley | Amazon Price (Paperback) - $ 9.99

It's the year 2140 and Longevity drugs have all but eradicated old age. A never-aging society can't sustain population growth… which means Anna should never have been born. Nor should any of the children she lives with at Grange Hall. The facility is full of boys and girls whose parents chose to have kids--called surpluses--despite a law forbidding them from doing so. These children are raised as servants, and brought up to believe they must atone for their very existence. Then one day a boy named Peter appears at the Hall, bringing with him news of the world outside, a place where people are starting to say that Longevity is bad, and that maybe people shouldn't live forever. Peter begs Anna to escape with him, but Anna's not sure who to trust: the strange new boy whose version of life sounds like a dangerous fairy tale, or the familiar walls of Grange Hall and the head mistress who has controlled her every waking thought?

Chilling, poignant, and endlessly though-provoking, The Declaration is a powerful debut that will have readers agonizing over Anna's fate until the very last page.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman | Amazon Price (Paperback) - $ 9.99

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

Legend by Marie Lu | Amazon Price (Paperback) - $ 12.23

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

Best Dystopian Novels

2012-12-18T04:47:00.001-08:00

With all the 12/21/2012 apocalypse scare being so damned popular over the internet and media, especially now that the "presumed Doomsday" will happen Friday of this week, why not join in with the whole fuss and put off a top ten list of the best and most popular dystopian novels in the YA fiction world today. Besides, I wouldn't forgive myself if I miss the chance of writing it down here--whether there is an Apocalypse on the way or not.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins | Amazon Price (Paperback/Kindle) - $ 3.99

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Pure (The Pure Trilogy) by Julianna Baggott | Amazon Price (Paperback) - $9.99

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters...

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash...

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

Matched by Ally Condie | Amazon Price (Paperback) - $ 9.99

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi | Amazon Price (Paperback) - $ 9.99

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

For Shatter Me book review, click here.

Divergent by Veronica Roth | Amazon Price (Paperback) - $ 9.99

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves... or it might destroy her.

Click HERE to see the continued list.

Sources: GoodReads & Amazon

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Reviews from the Critics

2012-12-16T22:30:00.000-08:00

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey had finally hit the screen. Perhaps considered to be one of the most awaited films in 2012 aside from Twilight's Breaking Dawn Finale, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was expected to become a box office hit and presently, it already gained a total of $94,525,000 since its release. From the Director of the Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson, starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage, the The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is an epic fantasy film adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, The Hobbit.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo will cross path with Gollum, the stoor hobbit corrupted with the power of The Ring.

The movie is currently at 65% on Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and has an average rating of 6.4 out of 10: "Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth is an earnest, visually resplendent trip, but the film's deliberate pace robs the material of some of its majesty."

Guardian UK's Phillip French, on the other hand, noted in his review Martin Freeman's portrayal as Bilbo Baggins, saying: "Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth is an earnest, visually resplendent trip, but the film's deliberate pace robs the material of some of its majesty."

"It's an exciting story, easy to follow and lacking both the solemnity and the portentous symbolism of The Lord of the Rings. You don't need to be a Tolkien devotee who knows their orcs from their elvish to enjoy the movie, and it's generally less irritating than the book, with none of the archness Tolkien adopts when addressing children."

“The good stuff in ‘The Hobbit’ is amazingly good,” Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal said in his review.

"It frequently seems as though Jackson was less interested in making The Hobbit than in remaking his own fabulously successful Lord of the Rings series," reviewed Christopher Orr of The Atlantic.

Washington Post's Ann Horanday on the other hand gave a different review, saying: "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" has finally arrived, not on wings of gossamer fancy but with a hairy-footed thud."

For more movie reviews about The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, you can check out Rottentomatoes.com.

Meet the Characters of The Hobbit (Part 2)

2012-12-15T04:40:00.000-08:00

Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the White - who actually doesn't have much to orchestrate in The Hobbit. He is a Maiar and becomes one of Bilbo's closest friends at the climax. During Bilbo's adventure, he spends much of his time at the White Council where he learns from his fellow Maiar Saruman that the One Ring presumably was washed down to Belegaer. He later returns to save the Elves, Men, Dwarves and Bilbo from destruction at the Battle of Five Armies.

Gloin - Of all the members in The Company of Dwarves who set out on the Quest to The Lonely Mountain, Gloin is the most outspoken and opinionated and is not afraid to challenge authority. He has a tendency to be quick-tempered, but he is also strong, brave and loyal. Gloin is one of the only married Dwarves in the Company (there being a shortage of female Dwarves in general). His wife is an acclaimed beauty with a particularly fine beard. Gloin is also the proud father of a young son, Gimli, who will later grow up to become part of the famous Fellowship of the Ring.

Gollum - an ugly subterranean creature who Bilbo meets in the Misty Mountains, and one of the key antagonists of The Hobbit. Once a Hobbit, he seized the One Ring after murdering his friend Deagol in order to obtain it and then fled into the Misty Mountains after departing the perils of Wilderland.

Kili - Younger brother to Fili, Kili is a loyal nephew to Thorin Oakenshield. Carefree and somewhat reckless, Kili has led a charmed and untroubled life to this point. Handsome and physically able, Kili possesses the invincible courage of youth. He is a skilled fighter and expert archer, having been trained with weapons from an early age. As one of the youngest in The Company of Dwarves, Kili is determined to make his mark and prove his worth.

Nori - Perhaps the most elusive member of The Company of Thorin Oakenshield, Nori is often in trouble with the dwarvish authorities. Deciding it might be a good time to leave town, he readily joins the Quest for the Lonely Mountain, not realizing the journey ahead may well lead him into far more trouble than he has left behind. Nobody ever quite knows what the quick-witted and wily Nori is up to, except that it’s guaranteed to be dodgy and quite possibly illegal. Despite rarely seeing eye-to-eye with his brothers Dori and Ori, he is nonetheless immensely loyal and will protect them by whatever means possible.

Oin - Along with his brother Gloin, Óin was a distant cousin of Thorin Oakenshield. A brave Northern Dwarf, Óin joins The Company of Thorin Oakenshield out of a sense of loyalty to his kin, and also because he has a substantial sum of money invested in the venture. Well read with an inquiring mind, Óin was the healer among the Company, often applying an herbal salve of his own invention – which has since come to be known as ‘ointment’ after its maker.

Ori - Younger brother to Nori and Dori, Ori is a talented artist, and can often be found drawing and writing in his journal. It is Ori who chronicles much of the journey through The Wild to the shores of the Long Lake and the slopes of The Lonely Mountain. Polite and well-bred, he is used to being bossed around by his older brother Dori and is usually biddable, although occasionally he can surprise his fellow companions with his courage and determination.

Thorin II Oakenshield - As a young Dwarf Prince, Thorin witnessed the destruction and terror wrought when a great fire-breathing dragon attacked the Dwarf Kingdom of the Lonely Mountain. When no one came to the aid of the surviving Dwarves, a once proud and noble race was forced into exile. Now, as the strong, fearless fighter and respected leader of The Company of Dwarves, Thorin is determined to reclaim his homeland and destroy the beast that brought such misery upon his people.

Sources: TheHobbitBlog (Posters) | LOTR Wiki (Characters)

Meet the Characters of the Hobbit (With Characters Official Movie Posters)

2012-12-12T17:18:00.000-08:00

The final day of our long wait has finally arrived because tomorrow we will finally see The Hobbit in the big screen and witness how Director Peter Jackson has maneuvered to bring life to its pages. But before that, I decided to create an entire post about The Hobbit's main characters including their official movie posters to further your excitement. How precious!

Bilbo Baggins - is a Hobbit, and the main protagonist in The Hobbit; he was hired by Thorin and Company to be their guide on the Quest of Erebor, and he fought in the Battle of the Five Armies. He was also one of the bearers of the One Ring, and the first to voluntarily give it up to Gandalf, though with some difficulty.

Balin - A descendant of nobility and a Dwarf Lord in his own right, Balin is one of the oldest members of The Company of Dwarves. Wise and gentle by nature, he has been forced to live a life fraught with war and the ongoing struggle for survival. Related to Thorin Oakenshield, Balin is one of his closest, most trusted advisers – but deep in his heart, this wisest and most loyal of Dwarves harbors troubling doubts about the wisdom of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain.

Bifur - Born in the West, Bifur has the rusting remains of an Orc axe embedded in his forehead, which has rendered him inarticulate and occasionally feisty! He communicates only with grunts and hand gestures. Unlike most of the others in The Company of Dwarves, Bifur is not related to Thorin, nor is he of noble lineage, but rather is descended from miners and smithies – simple folk with simple tastes.

Bofur - Endearing and likeable, Bofur has a disastrous tendency to state the obvious and blurt out things without thinking. With a love of music and a fine singing voice, Bofur delights in good food and good company and is unfailingly optimistic. Though not especially brave, he will do his best to help those in need, especially those he counts as friends. Along with his brother Bombur and his cousin Bifur, Bofur joined the Quest for the Lonely Mountain partly to seek his fortune – and partly because he was told the beer was free.

Bombur - Brother to Bofur and cousin to Bifur, Bombur is the chief cook amongst The Company of Dwarves. His immense size and voracious appetite causes frequent problems – and laughter – for himself and The Traveling Party. Despite his size he can be surprisingly effective as a fighter – and woe betide anyone who makes him late for dinner!

Dori - A distant relative of Thorin Oakenshield, Dori is the eldest amongst his brothers Ori and Nori. He is the strongest in The Company of Dwarves, and spends much of his time watching out for Ori, making sure he hasn’t caught a chill or gotten himself killed by Wargs or Goblins. Eternally pessimistic, with a natural tendency to expect the worst, Dori is nonetheless quite prepared to risk life and limb in order to get the job done.

Dwalin - Renowned as a great Warrior, Dwalin speaks his mind plainly and is not one to suffer fools lightly. Fiercely loyal, he was Thorin Oakenshield's staunchest supporter with an unshakeable belief in his friend's leadership. A powerful and bruising fighter, Dwalin has a natural tendency to distrust anyone who is not a Dwarf and is particularly suspicious of Elves. Proud, brave and one of the tallest of the Dwarves, Dwalin will bow to none but those who have earned his respect.

Fili - was born into the royal line of Durin and raised under the stern guardianship of his uncle, Thorin Oakenshield. Along with his brother Kili, Fili is one of the youngest in The Company of Dwarves. He has never traveled far, nor ever seen the fabled Dwarf City of Erebor. A skilled fighter, Fili sets off on the adventure ahead with little idea of the challenges and dangers that lie before him.

Galadriel - was co-ruler of Lothlórien along with Lord Celeborn. Neither she nor Celeborn took royal titles as they saw themselves but guardians of Lothlorien. Galadriel was the only daughter and youngest child of Finarfin, prince of the Ñoldor and of Eärwen, whose cousin was Lúthien. Her elder brothers were Finrod Felagund, Angrod, and Aegnor. She was referred to as The Lady of Lórien, Lady of Light, The Lady of the Galadhrim, or The Lady of the Wood interchangeably.

Sources: TheHobbitBlog (Posters) | LOTR Wiki (Characters)

The Man Behind Gollum Speaks Up About The Hobbit

2012-12-11T22:39:00.000-08:00

Although many of us have favored with the members of the Fellowship like the courageous Frodo, the noble Aragorn or the stealthy Legolas, we couldn't deny the fact how Gollum, the gnome gave us the same level of interest as we have for these characters. First introduced originally in novel The Hobbit, Gollum was said to be a stoor hobbit named Smeagol that was corrupted by the One Ring and called it "my precious". And though depicted as a villain in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic stories about Middle-Earth, we will always see him as a deeper character who was torn between his lust to have the Ring and his desire to be free of its spell.

And of course, who wouldn't forget his appearance in the film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings back in 2001 in the Fellowship of the Ring. It was terrifying and I bet there are a lot of kids back then who were damn scared about this gnome-looking creature, an impact that was made through Andy Serkins, the man behind Gollum's creepy intonations and will come back to the big screen to reprise his role for the film adaptation of The Hobbit.

"Gollum is Gollum," he started when he was asked by Time Entertainment to tell the difference between the Gollum the viewers have seen in The Lord of the Rings compared to the Gollem they will see now in the movie, The Hobbit. "Though in Lord of the Rings he’s 600 years old and in The Hobbit he’s 540, so he looks a little bit more handsome. He hasn’t been tortured by Sauron at this point. He also looks incredibly more detailed. The fidelity to my facial performance is much greater, and the subtleties in the texturing and the eye movements. So he feels 100% real. Interestingly, at the higher frame rate of 48 frames per second, characters like Gollum work terrifically well."

Andy Serkis also answered in another interview how it felt nice for him to be reunited with his old character, who he described as his own "picture of Dorian Gray", saying: "He's never been that far away from me. Not a day goes by where I'm not reminded of Gollum by some person in the street who asks me to do his voice or wants to talk to me about him. But because 'The Hobbit' has been talked about as a project for many years, I knew that at some point I'd have to reengage with him."

He even said in both interviews how Gollum had become and will forever be a part of who he is.

"He will be with me for the rest of life, and I will grow to look more like him as I get older," he joked during his interview with the Time Entertainment. And told, on the other hand, in another interview how his youngest kid, Louie, enjoy hearing him do Gollum's raspy voice and his famous phrase "my precious".

"I'm probably running out of credits in terms of my kids enjoying me do the Gollum voice for others. Especially my older ones (Ruby, 14, Sonny, 12). It was cool when they were younger. But my youngest absolutely revels in it. He would have me do it all day long for his friends at school. So I still have great currency there!"

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be shown in cinemas worldwide this coming Friday, December 14. And I have to be candid, I am excited to see the old Gollum back in the screen.

Sources: Time Entertainment | Manila Bulletin

Photo images courtesy by Google

"The Hobbit More in the Golden Light of a Fairytale," Peter Jackson Talks About The Hobbit

2012-12-10T23:41:00.000-08:00

"We always saw The Hobbit more in the golden light of a fairytale," said The Hobbit Director's Peter Jackson when he was asked to described the latest film adaptation of another J.R.R. Tolkien's novel in the latest issue of Total Film Magazine. "It's more playful. But by the time you get to the end, Tolkien is writing himself into that place where he begin that epic journey of writing Lord of the Rings, which took, as he put it, his life's blood. All those heavier, darker themes which are so prevalent in the later trilogy start to come into play."

The movie "The Hobbit", as we all know, will be released and shown in cinemas worldwide this December 14. It is the prequel story of how the hobbit Bilbo Baggins found the ring that created the epic journey of Frodo, Sam, Legolas, Aragorn and the other hobbits in The Lord of the Rings. Set sixty-years before it, The Hobbit revolves around a different adventure that Bilbo Baggins with Gandalf's decision was put together in the company of thirteen dwarves to help them in their quest to The Lonely Mountain and reclaim a valuable treasure guarded by the dragon Smaug.

Regarding its casting, it was early in October 2010, that the role was given by actor Martin Freeman. However, due to some issues regarding his schedules conflicting due to the current filming of his BBC television series Sherlock. Weeks later though, it was finally confirmed that he had been officially cast to play the role of Bilbo Baggins.

"Despite the various rumours and speculation surrounding this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us," answered Jackson during the casting. "There are a few times in your career when you come across an actor who you know was born to play a role, but that was the case as soon as I met Martin Freeman. He is intelligent, funny, surprising and brave—exactly like Bilbo and I feel incredibly proud to be able to announce that he is our Hobbit."

“What I like about the prequel feel is that we can plant all these scenes that tie into ‘Lord of the Rings, but with a different tone that’s more humorous, more whimsical,” Jackson answered in an interview with the Daily News in Wellington. “This is the film where Bilbo finds the ring, gets the ring. And the truth is not a lot happens with the ring in these stories, nor should it, because there are three other movies we made that deal with that particular topic.”

It was also stated in the same article, how Jackson at first was hesitant to direct the installment of The Hobbit a decade after he had done filming J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. He told Daily News how "he liked the idea of a studio taking the project to another producer even less." On the other hand, though, when his supposed successor Guillermo del Toro dropped the offer of being the director, he knew right then and there that he was the one destined to be behind the camera for this movie.

“It just would’ve felt wrong, for sentimental reasons more than anything, for someone else to do ‘The Hobbit’ somewhere else in the world,” he said.

Here's a video from Peter Jackson, The Hobbit - Production Diaries, talking about the movie and giving everyone a sneak peek during its filming:

Sources: NY DailyNews | MovieWeb

5 Days Before The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Hits the Cinemas

2012-12-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

9 years, that was how long it took Lord of the Rings fans to wait for the installment of the classic film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit", which was set sixty years before The Lord of the Rings. The movie will then be followed by The Desolation of the Smug and There and Back Again to be respectively release in 2013 and 2014.

The story starts with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins played by Martin Freeman, who is chosen by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to join a troupe of thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) in their journey across Middle-Earth to reach The Lonely Mountain and reclaim a stolen treasure from the terrifying dragon Smaug.

Here's the whole synopsis from its production company:

"Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever ... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities ... A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know."

Although, we may not see other main characters from The Lord of the Rings like Aragorn Sam and my favorite blond elf Legolas in this installment, The Hobbit will let us see Gandalf, Bilbo, Galadriel, Elrond and Gollum back together in the big screen. And the best part is, Frodo, the small but terrible main character of The Lord of the Rings will also take a part in the movie. Isn't that exciting?

"I’ve worn big hairy feet, a wig and pointy ears for a year ...I’m glad to see the back of them," said Martin Freeman about playing the role of hobbit Bilbo Baggins. “It’s been a challenge, but it’s been such a joy.”

"I was a little bit worried about repeating myself or competing with myself," said its director, Peter Jackson about filming The Hobbit and the high expectations set for the film. "I thought lightning could only strike once."

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is produced by New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Wingnut Films and 3Foot7. The film was written and directed by Peter Jackson, collaborating with Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro. It is to be distributed by Warner Bros. and be released worldwide on December 14, 2012.

Here's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey official trailer:

Sources: NY Daily News | The Sun

Photo Credits: HobbitBlog | SourceFeed

Hush Hush

2012-12-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

Title: Hush, Hush

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal

Amazon Price:

Paperback - $9.99

Hardcover - $12.23

Kindle Edition - $4.99

Summary:

A Sacred Oath. A Fallen Angel. A Forbidden Love.

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. At least, not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and probing eyes, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure who to trust—she can’t decide whether she should fall into Patch’s arms or run and hide from him. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth more unsettling than any feeling Patch evokes. For Nora stands amid an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen—and choosing the wrong side will cost her life.

Rating:

✰✰✰✰

4 out of 5 stars

After I savored my paranormal romance cravings to the dark vampiric side came the birth of another otherworldly romance theme revolving around fallen angels and humans. Hush Hush has the same background--a paranormal romance written by the American author Becca Fitzpatrick that tells the story of Nora Grey who found herself in trouble after becoming involved with his mysterious biology partner known for his bad-boy image named Patch. A enigmatic guy who will later be revealed to be a fallen angel connected to Nora himself upon a sacred oath from his past.

The interesting part about this book is how the author had managed to solve the puzzles connecting the two main characters although it was written in the main perspective of Nora, who I enjoyed very much as a character thanks to the author's realistic imaginations that had put her to life. As the book have promised, she was your average girl trying to graduate from high school and live up to the expectations of her single mother. And Patch, of course, how would I forget the bad boy, fallen angel in this series. Perhaps it was true, that almost all girls fall in love with bad boys. Nora wasn't an exception and so does the femme fans and readers of this book. Aside from his dark brooding good looks, Patch offered his immortality as an angel all because of his love for a mortal woman in the past. Talk about sacrifice! And what did he endure because of that? Everything, from not having to feel sensations up to having his wings ripped off by the avenging angels, thus giving him a scarred mark on his back. Not only that, in the end, the mortal woman he loved died as well making his sacrifice useless in the end.

Fortunate for him, he met our protagonist Nora Grey, who at first was intended to be his sacrifice for him to be allowed to go back to the heavens, because she has a Nephilim bloodline. Actually, she was a descendant of Chauncey Langeais, the human vessel Patch used during the Hebrew month of Cheshvan. Chauncey later introduced himself as Jules to Nora and her bestfriend, Vee. He was seeking everything to get revenge on Patch, which will drew Patch and lead to Nora falling in love with the fallen angel.

Hush, Hush received a 4 out of 5 rating from me. The same as Kate Lauren's Fallen, it gave another astounding romantic plot line that involved two people from different worlds, that of an angel and a human. A pair-of-star-crossed lovers as William Shakespeare puts it. And to top it all up, it's a best-selling novel and now is on its way to be adapted into a film by LD Entertainment, which is something I'm sure Hush, Hush fans would be waiting for with excitement. If you want more details about this new, refer to this previous article: Hush Hush to be Adapted Into a Film by LD Entertainment.