Stone Cold Touch - J. L. Armentrout ! 2 weeks to go !

OMG ! Be sure to get your hands on a copy of this on the 21/10 - Stay tuned in to ADORKABLE for a book review of the first installment of this gripping series (White Hot Kiss).

Review coming on the 15/10/2014 for White Hot Kiss -The Dark Elements

Review coming on the 28/10/2014 for Stone Cold Touch -The Dark Elements

Kia Ora fellow avid readers / writers :)

- C hirst

Free chapter / book reviews !

Be sure to post here for your chance to have any chapter or book to be reviewed by myself in a casual manner. I can give opinions, ratings and any advice that may come to me while I'm reading. Post here and I will be in touch with you with an email address!

KIA ORA

BOOK TO FILM review - Vampire Academy / re-named Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters

Vampire Academy, a novel written by Richelle Mead - Film directed by Mark Waters, Screenplay by Daniel Waters. 

The Vampire Academy series have always had a special place in my heart as well as on my top ten favourite series of all time. So needless to say, I was bouncing off the walls at the thought of it being made into a movie. It was THE movie I had anticipated since I first picked up Richelle Meads VA and absolutely fell in love with the humorous and beautiful novel that had elements of both light and dark. I could sit and read VA in one sitting without even thinking about it. I love it, and so I had high hopes for this film. My first concern was that the water brothers had taken on this film to adapt for the big screen. Dont get me wrong, I think they are a great element in the film making world, having brought us Heathers and Mean Girls. However, the thought of this adaptation turning out like one of these stand along films felt... wrong. Yes, it's a movie that starts off being set in a high school... but it needs to be said that it is far from a cheesy high school drama. There are certainly elements of this, specifically in the first book, but there is this beautiful darkness about the book that is thrilling and makes it such a good read.

Soooo.... when went to see VA: Blood Sisters, I was sorely disappointed. Bluntly, the film was over the top loaded with humor, it had this weird crazy atmosphere that was even unrealistic (yes im aware its a vampire film... but if youve read the book, you know what I mean -- what the eff was with the headmistress?!?). It was a short film by this decades standards, and therefore the film came off as rushed and the story had no depth behind it. The relationships were not built up whatsoever, so Lissa and Christian came off as very unromantic, and I dont even want to say it.... but Rose and Dimitri? There was no building of their relationship/sexual tension, so much so that during the famous necklace scene I even felt a bit creeped out that they were geting freaky. The wonderful relationship they share in the book breaks their age barrier in a beautiful and equal way, whereas the film was... shudder inducing. In a bad way.

There was also a fairly tacky voice over by Rose during the whole movie, which I would consider as 'info-dumping'. I understand it is a tad complicated trying to explain the moroi, strigoi, damphir thing, but it was like 'hey theres this, this and this in my world...BOOM now you know all'. Umm okay, thanks Rose. Not to mention the fact that the info-dumping didn't even stop with the voice overs -- it was obvious that they needed to throw characteristics into the dialogue because they hadn't written the characters to actually PORTRAY those qualities. An example I will give is that, readers of the book know that Rose is the impulsive, fierce, fiery and protective guardian, whereas her other half, Lissa, is regal, quiet, humble and all things pure and good. Sure, in the film, Roses humor and impulsivity shone through like a wild-fire (a bit OTT as previously stated), however Lissa did not come off as the aforementioned characteristics. And the info dumping? I cant remember the exact line, but there was a piece of dialogue from rose - "Im the impulsive one and you're the cautious one" ... almost as though the writers were all like... Oh, maybe we havent reaaaally shown that, so Rose, you explain this to our audience. Gee thanks Water brothers.

This scenes flew by, and were fast and choppy and was actually quite difficult to follow, even for someone who has read the book over 5 times over. And there were so many differences that I didnt think was necessary. The beginning scenes, arriving at the academy for one thing, where a strigoi fight was thrown in there randomly. It was cinematic, for sure, but it felt a but premature. And I specifically remember turning to my partner in awe, within 5 minutes of the movie starting and saying "This never happened.... the differences have started already. So it begins..."

So there were moments I enjoyed, moments were I laughed, and TBH, I loved Mason, I think he was swell and that relationship came off just fine. But mostly, everything happened to quickly, when VA was a movie I wanted to savour and lap up (like the film 'catching fire'), so I couldnt help the disappointment that radiated off of me. I dont even want to begin to describe Headmistress Kirova, who acted like a psychopath with her long fake nails and creepy dialogue. Basically, it made the movie seem like a joke the way they portayed the atmosphere of the academy. It wasnt great. it wasnt even good.
\
I give this movie a 2/5,
my lowest ever rating, because I was not a hampy camper when watching this film, and it was the one book to film adaptation I begged to the gods for them to get right. Hopefully there are sequels, and hopefully they get those right. Because dear gods, I want to see Adrian brought to life! SO SO BAD!

Any comments? Any opinions? Don't agree with me? Let me know! :)

x Chloe

BOOK TO BIG SCREEN REVIEW --- The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Mortal Instruments, City of Bones, written by Cassandra Clare --- Film directed by Harald Zwart, Screenplay by Jessica Postigo.

So guys, I decided I wasnted to start doing book to film reviews as well as just book reviews. So many people come to me and ask -- was it worth the $16 dollars to see this movie? Which is better? Well I'm here to say that generally the books are ALWAYS better, with very rare exceptions, because a screenplay generally just can't add all the beautiful scenes we picture in our heads, go to fast and rush the romanticism of it all. Yet everytime one of my favourite books gets made into a movie I happy dance, and then stalk it's progress like a crazy fangirl. Oh wait, I am that. And I always head eagerly to the premier, the excitement within me palpable -- and then I walk out of the theatre bewildered and upset at what was missed or what was completely wrong (although I will add usually I go into the movie initially with my book goggles on, so it's best if I see it more than once, so I can calm down and maybe enjoy more the second time).

So, seeing as the Mortal Instruments have always been one of my favourite series, as well as the Dark Artifices, so when I learned about City of Bones being converted to the big screen, naturally I was over the moon to have Jace, Clary and Simon brought to life. The book itself, is beautifuuly written with some scenes that made me laugh, and some that broke my heart into little tiny peices. The movie, you ask? Weeelll..... it was okaaaay....

First of all the casting was very up and down for me. I liked Lily Collins (Clarissa Fray) ability to act, I think she has great talent, however it has been years now with her, where I can't help but have that glass shattering moment when all I can look at is her eyebrows. I'm sorry, but they take up half her face, which is a very pretty face nonetheless. Jamie Campbell-Bower? He was good as Jace, I thought, and I particularly liked that he actually looked like a lion to me, which is how he was first described when Clary first came across him in Pandemonium. The character casting I enjoyed the most was Robert Sheehan, I absolutely LOVED how he brought Simon to life with the humor and the love he had for his best friend. Jemima west as Isabelle was sub-par at best, I thought she was very flat with her acting, when I pictured Isabelle as more of a feisty, passionate creature rather than what was shown, although that may have been the lines she was given, to give Jemima some credit. As for Valentine...Johnathon Rhys Meyers.... Im so sorry, but no. Just no. That is all.

The movie itself, I felt that some parts come off very strongly as so close to the book that my inner fangirl reveled in it, However about 70% was completely different, which I didn't appreciate nearly as much. I understand about the screenwriters and directors generally want to make the project their own, and to show their own creativeness, but when you're working on a book with a large fan base, it's just common courtesy and common sense at that to give the audience what they want -- and that's the scenes from the book made real.

For one thing, Pandemonium, at the very beginning happened differently. Yes it was more dramatic, because Clary was all AARGGHHH in front of the whole club, but it took away from the intimacy of the first meeting with Jace and the other shadowhunters, which originally happened in an empty room off the club. Book scene better! Not to mention that the whole end fight scene was in the institute rather than the abandoned building Valentine had been hatching his master plans in. Whats up with that? I understand they tied the story together and gave the institute a promotion of sorts by having more scenes there, but IDK... it was too 'pretty'.... the way that Simon was all like, oh hey, Clary, you're mums right here. Yup, ok.

[Spoilers ahead] In the book, it was one of the most heart breaking and soul shattering (and shudder inducing) moments when you learnt that Jace and Clary were supposed siblings. See now, this was one of THE biggest plot twists, which comes to a conclusion in City of Glass, the third installment of the series. And yet, they break that conclusion when Hodge suggests in the film for Valentine to lie and tell them they are both his children, and not just Clary. Giving it all away, that Jace is not, in fact, Valentines child. I can understand why they decided to add this, seeing as audiences who have not read the book may not take well to the incestuous plot twist.... yet I remember reading the end of City of Glass and being blown away by how it all came together to reveal they weren't brother and sister, and the events unfolding around with Clary's real brother. It was a bit saddening to learn that the non-reader audience are unable to have that revelation -- and also that if they come out of this movie to read the books, that its spoilt it for them, because I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the City of Glass. [Spoilers over]

On the brightside? There were some direct quotes that I liked alot, and laughed out loud in the theatre like a moron, prime example -- Jocyln - "Jesus!" Simon - "Nope. Just me". Ah, I love Simon.

Anyways, I would give this film a 2.5/5

Thanks for reading guys, any comments/suggestions for more book to film reviews, Im happy to review pretty much anything and read any work to review.

x Chloe

Angelfall

Penryn and the end of days series - Angelfall                       3.5 Stars

Author - Susan Ee

Angelfall is a book that I really enjoyed to live in for a while. It was another one of those post apocolyptic type books where the end of the world has happened and the majority of the human race has been wiped out, by angels. 

This was interesting, to say the least, and what I liked about it most was the fact that I had never read anything like it. I struggled to start off with, only because the style of writing was so different to what I was used to, but after trudging through the first few chapters I really started to dig this story, especially how interested I was in the character, Raffe. 

Clearly it was one of those stories about a human who befriends an unlikely ally, who is actually one of the bad guys - an angel who is on the run from his kind for some unknown reason for the time being and he is grounded - after having his wings cut off in the very first chapter. Raffe has to rely on Penryn, the protagonist of this story, and she needs to help Raffe because hes the only source to finding her little crippled sister, who was taken by the angels to their aerie. 

The journey they take together is very fun, I would say is the best word and once I got into this book it turned into the kind of book you don't want to put down until it's all over. I will say the ending was heart breaking and heart warming all in one go. Raffe leaving, thinking that Penryn is dead, and giving her body back to the humans, risking his own life? Holy jesus, just kill me now because I'll die happy. It was so beautiful and the worst thing was that when I first read this book, the second was years from being released. Good thing the second book is out now and Im about to dive into it. Review to come!

Basically I gave this book a 3.5 because, yes it was different, the characters were great and the story turned into a wonderful one - however I did struggle a little in the beginning to get into it, but that's just me. Hope you guys enjoy it too!

x

Deity

 The Covenant Series - Jeniffer L. Armentrout                            4.5 stars

As these stories go on, you really become impressed by the direction that Armentrout is taking this story, its gets more and more interesting and you become all the more invested into the characters she has created.

I for sure enjoyed these books, and after reading deity, I can officially add it to my top ten favourite series. I love it. I love this book. It just keeps getting better and better.

Alex shows that she is growing up from being so impulsive and selfish and has come along way since half-blood. There has been alot of heartbreak since the first novel and all of this has made Alex such a strong and endearing character, whose head I just love to live in. The evolution of these characters are breathtaking and makes you want to jump up and down (while still trying to read). The fire and fierceness is one of the many reasons why I love her, and how she would do anything to protect the people that she loves.

Another reason why this book reached a high for me was the development of Alex's relationship with both Seth and Aiden. One building relationship left you hot and smouldering while the other leaves you begging for answers, so much so that you feel like throwing you book across the room. Its just so damn introguing, and I am so certain that the answer is going to be GOOD. Relationships are built, enemies are made, lines are crossed, answers are revealed, alliances are formed and so much more. Purely put: this book is sublime and I will read it over and over in the years to come.

I would absolutely highly recommend this book to anybody, it has come so far in this series and I really want to hug JL Armentrout for bringing us these stories.

Aiden or Seth people?? The answer is killing me.

Chloe x

Pure

The Covenant Series - Jennifer L. Armentrout                          4 stars

I won't lie here - I began reading this second installment of the covenant series as soon as I'd finished the first book. And after finishing this one (not in a night, I swear! ... okay, I'm lying, that happened...), I decided what it was I loved the most about these series. It is such a deliciously fast-paced series of books, where there are none of those little boring explainy bits - there is literally ALWAYS something happening, it's a book where its action packed scene after an action packed scene. Just when you think it's all getting okay for good ol' Alex, something else happens to throw a spanner in the works.

This book follows on straight from Half-blood and continues to follow Alec's POV and her struggles with the daimons, the gods, furies and her romance life. I absolutely loved how they introduced more fully the insanely funny and sexy apollyon, Seth, and we really get to know him a lot more as we learn about the connection him and Alex share. And don't worry ladies, this isn't the most common of love triangles that you will come across... it has it's own little plot line that is insanely addictive and interesting at the same time.

In this book, Deity island (where there covenant resides) is being infiltrated by the evil of the story, and noone knows how this is happening. So its kind of a mystery in its own little way. And the romance, you ask? It's so gosh darn heart melting and the tension growing life a blazing fire between Aiden and Alex is incredible and it just makes me want more, more and MORE. Good thing there are three more books!

All in all, a very good book and Im falling more and more in love with the writing style of Armentrout's and how we learn to love the inside of Alex's head.

Kia Ora - Chloe x

Half-Blood

The Covenant Series - Jennifer L. Armentrout                       4.5 stars

So I delved into this book after having read Armentrout's other popular series called Lux (Reviews to come), and I went in head first hoping for the same beautiful character and world building and witty repoirte that I had come to adore about the way she writes.... and I was not disappointed. 

Okay, I won't lie, at first I was a little bit surprised at that startling similarities that I found between this book and the first Vampire Academy novel. So many of the aspects seemed to be a direct rip off from Richelle Meeds wonderful creation. So much so that I felt like I was wading through mud for the first 5 or so chapters because I felt so sickeningly disappointed. 

Then, it got good. Like insanely, lose sleep, laugh and cry hysterically out loud so that everyone in the vicinity looks at you funny, good. As the story goes on and you begin reading the sequels, you see a whole world come alive, with great plotlines that have nothing in common with vampire academy (WHEW). Half-Blood was a great read that I felt could have used a little bit more world building considering it was such a massive world of gods, demi-gods and so on. But other than that, the rest of the book stunned me. 

This world Armentrount describes has the descendants of gods who are the 'pures' and the mix of gods and humans 'halfs', and that the halfs are the minority of the race seeing as they have no powers and are the mix of the weakest race on the planet - humans. The pures basically have all the say politcally (and in high school), and the half bloods have two choices in life - to become a trained sentinel to fight off the aether loving daimons or to become mind numbed servants for the pures. And like all good stories with a romantic side plot, theres one main rule: Halfs and pures are forbidden to have relations (and for a very damn good reason). 

So Alex, a kick-ass, feisty, snarky girl with a silver tongue is a half blood, and the story follows her through an insane and amazing journey on how her life is altered so dramatically about a number of things. Its both heart breaking and heart warming all in one blubbering package. Oh and Aiden, the pure shes forbidden to be with? Holy Daimon babys, he can be my sentinel any day!

I wont say much more about what happens, because it's such a good read that I'd hate to spoil it, but I would recommend+++ to anyone who has a love for amazing plotlines and swoon-worthy romance stories. It's for sure become a series I will read over and over and never get sick of. Oh and always refreshing in a book these days -- is a male best friend to a lead female who actually share a platonic friendship with no romantic desires what-so-ever. What?! you say? I know, right? See? Read it. :)

Hope everyone finds this useful, and if there are any comments or tips about book reviews I would love to hear it -- I'm new to this! 

Kia Ora - Chloe x