Trying to Review Dreamfever (Fever #4)

Oh. My. God.

I'm breathless...
That's all I am!
After my latest review of the previous installment to these series which was quite short for my likes, as I was dumbstruck, I was hoping to be able to write more about how much I enjoyed this fourth book.
But, with that kind of ending, anything I was going to mention has been erased from my mind.
Actually, the only thing I can think right now is these phrases "Please don't let it be him. Please don't let it be him. PLEASE! Don't let it be him..." and "Ugh, I have to keep on reading. I can't. I have to! I can't! I..." You get my point.

I think if I actually tried to verbalize my thoughts I wouldn't be able to form a coherent phrase while staggering for words.
Ugh.
I just want to go bury my face into Shadowfever. But, I can't. It's too late.
Gah!
I'm hopeless.
And, I only remember one -ONE!- thing of all those that thrilled and excited me about this book and I had included in my mental review. That Karen Marie Moning must have much knowledge about Psychology.

But, that's it.
All the others? Well, they're coming slowly at me.
But which to mention first?
My totally confusing and mixed-up feelings about Barrons? About anyone in this book? About Mac's relationships with them?
The totally unexpected turns of events? The whirl of emotions I'm currently stuck in?

Geez, I think this review is totally incoherent.

But, isn't that the whole point? To get so into the story of the main character that you experience their feelings? Fragments of them, of course, but still...

xcx

Connected, Tuned, Sim-ed

First of all, I shall say a huge Thank you to everyone that has viewed those notes and scribbles (I'm not referring to my reviews. Those are just thoughts, but not scribbled down ones. I try taking good care of them.) found in this certain web page.

My pageviews have gone over 10,000 and I'm immensely happy and want to give back the gift, but don't really know the way. Should I organise a giveaway? I'd love that, and actually I've been planning it for quite a while, but well, too many projects are on queue right now. Today I even had a presentation. And, I just completed the abstract for it some minutes ago. Well, nobody said good grades in university are obtained easily. And, nobody would care, I suspect, if it wasn't for our Master's and Doctoral degrees that have to line up next, for further education, and, well, a better carreer, or, at least, a better professional future. Not in Greece, of course. I'm not sure how things will develop if all Ph.D.'s stay in this country. But, anyway, we'll come to it when it's time. Take small steps at a time, right?

Anyway, as of today, several years, or centuries, ago, Graham Bell gained ground with his invention. The phone, I mean.

And, today I (finally) got my Internet and phone connection on my new house. Not home. Just house. The distinction between those two words is pretty thin, though. Why? Well, mainly because I, like many people, tend to associate things with people, and not just my feelings. So, the phrase Home is where the Heart is doesn't need to be associated with the building. But, with the feelings I we experienced in that building, and with all the people associated with them.
And, THAT was some serious scribbling I did right now.

Anyway, I hadn't played The Sims 3 or The Sims Medieval: Pirates & Nobles for quite some time, and I deeply enjoyed it while at home. I got quite obsessed once again. And, the thing is, I wasn't really supposed to be in this place. I just got sick and furthered my stay.

So, I'm off now, to go obsess over Mac, Barrons, V'lane and their adventures, treasons, eventful lives.
And, most of all, their Fever for living life. To the fullest, maybe, but it's not like they could do otherwise. I think I finally found some series to really adore, almost matching my adoration for Vampire Academy.

xcx

Review for Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #1

Well, of course, the storyline was well-known to me, although I must admit there were some details that I was perfectly delighted that I had the chance to come across to, again!
The characters also known, and quite loved I might say!

While reading this comic book, and although I'm not exactly a fan of this type of book, I felt the thrill of reading Vampire Academy all over again!

For this great opportunity and only, I'd never even regret or have second thoughts about reading it!

My only objections?
The character that was most succesfully drawn, in my opinion, was only Christian Ozera (talking about the main heroes only).
Next, would come Rose Hathaway! She was quite charming but definitely not the beauty that was described in the books, or even the one I made with my imaginations!
Then, Dimitri Belikov, just because there were some scenes were he was actually good-looking. But, still, not the God Badass described or even imagined.
And, then? Lissa Dragomir. Gosh, I didn't like her at all. Humph.

But, anyway, I know how hard it is to draw, and I absolutely have no talent in this area. And, anyway, I always had a problem imagining those favorite characters of mine. Dimitri & Rose are absolutely idolized by me and probably nothing will ever match them in my mind. Not a drawing, not a person, an actor, nothing.
And, I guess that's the case with every other huge fan! The disadvantage of a great, successful book, I guess... 

xcx

Bloodfever (Fever #2) by Karen Marie Moning Review

Wow, that was truly amazing.
And, the most outstanding and awesome fact about this book was that it made me grow even fonder about the main heroine, especially, and some other important characters, in general.
I couldn't, wouldn't think it possible when I finished the first book of this great series that I could come to like Mac and the way she changes.
I would never believe that it wiould actually be possible for her to grow more mature in a every book, every single event she has to face and experience.

Indeed, her new experiences, demonstrated to this book, have helped Mac grow up some more, and come to understand and appreciate in a better way things and people. She's getting better at reading people and getting an insight of their actions and personalities, something I truly appreciated.
I'm a bit troubled by the relationship she and Barrons are building, but I've come to like it, too. We'll just let the events unfold and see how it goes, I guess, huh?

I have only a small -and quite insignificant, I know, haha- comment to make about this phrase taken from the book: Turned out PHI was not the twenty-third letter in the Greek alphabet but Post Haste, Inc.
PHI is not the 23rd letter in the Greek alphabet, but the 21st. Hehe!

Oh, and well, we started with phrases, so I felt like mentioning another one that I really liked.

Question: When you’re one of the few people who can do something to fix a problem, just how responsible does that make you for it?

Answer: It’s how you choose to answer that question that defines you.

For now, I won't say anything else about this book, or this series in overall, just that I absolutely recommend it.
Oh, and, of course, that I can't wait to start reading the next installment.
And, something more, haha, that I'm planning on doing it real soon!

xcx

The Golden Lily non-spoiler reaction Tweets

{By:  http://penguinbtl.blogspot.com/2012/02/bloodlinesbooks-golden-lily-tweets.html }

Sydney and her coffee - just like old times. pg 4

Well that's just plain creepy. pg 15

Dear Adrian, you are hilarious! pg 22

Eddie Castile is there nothing you won't do pg 32

Awwh Trey, you big softie pg 35

Always calm, always cool - good work Dimitri Belikov pg 43

Hmm not sure who we don't believe, but someone is lying pg 55

Well Angeline that's one way to approach things pg 61

Awwh everyone is so excited! pg 77

Sydney, should you really be thinking that at this moment? pg 91

What does purple mean?? pg 108

OH YEAH! Listen to what he's saying pg 111

Awkward have you met uncomfortable? pg 128

Sure you did Adrian, sure you did pg 136

Oh you did NOT just say that! Step off! pg 157

Sydney Sage you're freakin awesome! pg 162

Yes, absolutely take that phone call but next time put it on speaker phone. We wanna hear too pg 178

Badass is in the house! pg 185

Alarm bells! Alarms bells are ringing! pg 199

That does not surprise us at all Adrian Ivashkov pg 208

We get really different mail compared to Sydney pg 220

Eddie you charmer! pg 225

Good instincts Jill but timing, not so great pg 234

Really? You're brave enough to do that to Latte. Good luck! pg 239

WHAT! AHHHH! That is just down right mean @RichelleMead re pg 250

SA-WOOON!!!!!!!! pg 252

So crafty Ms. Terwilliger, so very crafty pg 259

This is not good pg 267

Nice move Ivashkov, very nice move pg 280

Ooch! Low blow dude pg 293

Awwh Sydney, don't feel that way pg 304

Mirror, mirror who's in an identical situation but doesn't know it yet? pg 307

If only you knew that was completely the wrong thing to say pg 315

Oh no, what happened?! pg 319

Nothing sexier than courage and bravery pg 333

No! Not them, they can't be pg 341

That's right, Eddie is awesome. Don't you forget it pg 349

Hah! Watch your mouth because we know someone who wouldn't like being called that name at all pg 351

It's not the VA/Bloodlines world without mention of this pg 357

We agree Sydney, what did he promise? pg 360

You do realize you're all a whole bunch of crazy right? pg 370

You don't have a Belikov, we do so suck it pg 378

One day, the lid is going to blow right off this thing pg 381

How do you like it now?! Coz that's how we roll pg 382

That's it Sydney, you go! pg 393

He did try, you know he did! pg 395

Well that is sort of unexpected pg 396

Meddle, we want you to meddle!! pg 397

Say more damn it, go with your instincts and say more pg 403

That is so not cool, especially in the midst of possible epicness pg 407

Oh really?! You think that do you? Pg 412

Oh snaps Adrian - you tell 'em! Exactly what they needed to hear pg 418

OH. MY. GOD!!!!!! pg 420

Can't. Breath. Too. Much pg 422

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pg 425 last page of The Golden Lily

@RichelleMead you've done it again. GL: amazing, funny, action filled, heartbreaking all at once; often on the same page. 

xcx

Publication of a... blurb!

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)

by Richelle Mead (Goodreads Author)

4.63  

 

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age-old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?
{Source: Goodreads.com}

xcx

Review for Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Phew.. Well, where to start with this book...

This was amazing! I never thought I'd like it so much!
The main heroine is MacKayla, Mac for short, whose name I didn't like in the beginning, but gradually I came to realizing that it's unique, at least for me, just like her! So, it absolutely suits her.

I'm searching for a way to avoid giving away any spoilers, I really do, but I'm not comletely sure I can manage it.
It's just that this book was so different from what I'm used to.
And, from what I was expecting, too.
It was totally better.

It inspired me in many ways, and actually showed us a heroine that isn't a fool. One that doesn't go needy for excitement and adventure. She realizes from the very beginning that it's dangerous, and knows that can't go back to her former life, although she wants it almost more than anything. But, that's what captivated me from the very beginning. That she did want to go back to a simple, boring life. She didn't need a really shocking and traumatizing experience to come to her senses. She was so mature as to realise very fast what's going on.

And, I also enjoyed very much the fact that she wasn't naive.
She knew she couldn't trust anyone.
She might have had Barbie looks, but she's clever.

So, I guess I should talk about Jericho, er Barrons, now.
Hehe, I think 'speechless' pretty much summarizes my feelings.
Anyway, he's not really my type, but, it isn't Mac's either.
And I can totally picture her falling for him in the future, so, I guess I'll just keep on reading and we'll see how it goes. :D

I also liked the way Karen Marie Moning writes, as this is the first of her books I've ever read. I loved the way it was shown as Mac had flashbacks from some years in the future.
So, the aftertaste indeed is a positive one, as I utterly enjoyed this book with the storyline and the heroine.

xcx

Laura und das Labyrinth des Lichts (Laura #6)

Reviewed for the "Reviews from Depth of Time" Marathon.

Reviews from Depth of Time

Well, I read those books awhile ago, and If I'm not wrong this particular day I ended that book (or, it was one of the previous, I've completely mixed the books of the series up, in my mind) I was having a pajama party with my cousin, and I stayed up alone 'till 5am just to end it. So, wow... These books have really affected me!

I decided to hide the rest of what I'm writing because it contains huge spoilers. I don't remember for which book exactly but, seriously, it would be awful to ruin it for anyone!
I just have to pass on my indignation! 

Spoiler Alert frm here on!
Consider yourselves warned!

[I have to admit I liked every single character on these books and one of the few I adored, and wouldn't have mind to see pair up with Laura was Alaric...
AND OH! Did he really have to DIE???
In one of the books, I'm not sure which, but I think it was the fifth one, it is implied that he dies, and when I read that I was actually devastated! I was so depressed.
And then Peter Freund comes and shows Alaric again in the next book! And, after awhile, BOOM, Alaric gets killed, or, anyway it's implied again that he is dead. And, this time it wasn't so cruel because I had already been depressed about that in the next book. But, just like with the previous time, I was waiting, expecting him to show up again! Up until the last page I was hoping, reading with an anxiety.
For the last few years, I've been quite disappointed by that fact, and even though Laura finally got together with Phillip, I still felt a little odd.

Now, there's a seventh book, and I'm really hoping Alaric will appear alive and well. I don't know how, but hope always is the last one to die. (hide spoiler)]

xcx

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6)

Reviewed for the "Reviews from Depth of Time" Marathon.

Reviews from Depth of Time

Wait, wait, wait!
As I was browsing the books I've read and reviewed I couldn't find this one. And, I've been asking myself how could that have been possible?
This is one of the most amazing end-of-series books I've read.
And, of course, it is, seeing as it belongs to the series I love the most. But, still, I couldn't believe I haven't reviewed this. I still can't. I'm thinking that maybe I'll find my review somewhere hidden in my blog. But, anyway...

This was AWESOME!
Throughout the whole book I was really tense hoping that everything will go well for Rose. The situation between her and Dimitri was left in an awkward moment, too. In the beginning I dare say I was a little disappointed by their first interactions, but then of course Richelle Mead cleared completely the situation.

And, now I'd like to say a little something about Adrian, too, but I'm afraid it might contain some spoilers, so consider yourselves warned.

Adrian shares his part of faults in this relationship and I can't really expect him to be surprised with the way things ended up being. He just learned the wrong way, and that's the only reason why I feel sorry for him. But, also he did what he did in the beginning of the book, only to save Rose, and that's why I deeply admire him. Even if before I was almost anti-Adrian, now I'm much calmer and ready to admit each part's fault for this relationship's outcome. And, I'm quite excited to see more of him in the future. But with a different girl. And, I have the exact one in my mind. For Rose only Dimitri is the one and the only! Love like that can be surpassed or avoided, so they can't really help it.

Nevertheless, I was pretty excited with the way this book unfolded and couldn't really believe it. I kept going back and back to read and reread how things advanced to this point. Before I ended the whole book, that is. And, with the end I got even mor excited, although this time it was a bit conflicted. My feelings for the breaking of the bond between Rose and Lissa, were. It was a little strange knowing that things would never be exactly the same for those two again. But, this gave the chance to Rose to be completely with dimitri not fearing all the time that she might suck Lissa's shadows and darkness. As for Lissa, it gave her the chance to privacy. Something she had lost and should have missed!

My personal feelings were a little conflicted towards the end, of course, because from one side all these excited things occurred, but from the other, those series were quickly coming to an end. Every page that I turned was a constant conflict, but a totally pleasant one!

To sum up, this book is absolutely recommended, of course, and offers a great end for the most amazing series.

xcx

Vampire Academy (by Richelle Mead)

Reviewed for the "Reviews from Depth of Time" Marathon.

Reviews from Depth of Time

I actually read that book a while ago. Soon, it will be two years. It first got into my hands accidentally one day when I had visited the bookstore. I remember that at the time I was experiencing my vampire-phase, so what really first caught my eye was that word in the title. Then, I noticed the word Academy and thought that it would be a good story. Then I actually had in mind some books I considered to be my favorite and I had got obsessed with boarding schools and that did it. I instantly decided to buy that book. But, I was wrong about one thing... This book wasn't good. It was way more! It was beyond great for me!
But, let's take it one at a time...

Richelle Mead has a unique and amazing ability to write. From the first page she can get you hooked with her unique storylines, her characters, the way she describes things and situations. She can actually make you "see" what the heroes are watching, and experience their exact feelings.

So, that's why Rose made me like her from the first few pages. She is the type of person I admire, and actually would be content to be like her even just for a little. But, also, the way her feelings and the situations she was in, were described, it could really make you experience the exact same things.
When Rose was happy, I was, too. When Rose was upset, I did, too! And, when actually Rose felt in love with someone, I fell along with her, too!

And, that was the magic with her love story. I was unlinke other heroines that fall in love with someone just for their looks. Before they have actually a chance to get to know the other person. For Rose, it was gradual and that made the difference. That's the reason why her love interest is the one and only character I really, trully, deeply love! He's the one, for Rose, and that makes me feel like he's the one character for me, too! Always special, always unique.
The one I compare with every other guy I read about.

All in all, I should say that when I first laid hands on Vampire Academy I didn't have a standard. I didn't actually have a book that has mesmerized me that much that I start comparing with every single piece of work I read. I only had some major favorites. That's not the case anymore.
Due to this book, now I have very high standards for every single story I can get my hands to. I have even found that many books on my favorites' shelf don't really deserve to have a place next to my all time favorite and her story. I know it's unfair, but I do actually give a chance to other authors and stories. And, of course, other series from Richelle Mead haven't amazed me as much.
It's just this one for me. The one book and series that fit my personality completely. But, I still hope that someone someday will give me an equal, if not bigger, satisfaction!

So, never stopping reading for me! I suggest that to everyone!

xcx

The Marathon's end.

The Reviews from Depth of Time Marathon has ended, and I have to admit that I finally got the chance to write all the reviews from some very favorite books of mine. I was postponing it for quite some time, but now I had absolutely no excuses! I'll post here some of my favorite books' reviews, but mainly I'll just recitate the reviews I wrote in overall during those 48 hours.

My first goal was to write reviews for all 6 books of my favorite series Vampire Academy, and thankfully I succeded it, although th most important ones, in my opinion are the ones of the first and the last.
Other series I wanted needed to talk about were Laura, another one of my favorites, The Mediator series, His Dark Materials, Stray, Airhead, My Soul to Take and Hush Hush. I also liked to say something about W.I.T.C.H. the comic book which stole my heart when I was younger. Hehe. Last, but not least the graphic novel Ma vie est tout à fait fascinante.


All in all, I wrote 19 reviews, something that made me very happy and elevated my reviews to 33.
Of course, I still have much way to go, but it was a good start to focus only on books I've read in the past and never reaally got a chance to say my opinion about.


OH! And, most importantly? If I hadn't decided to start writing those kinds of reviews I wouldn't have learned that a 7th book of Laura came out in 2011! YAY! I'm so excited! *w*

xcx

VA love. Scratch that... Addiction!

I've started reviewing books I'd long ago read for the "Reviews from Depth of Time" Marathon, and thought it would be a good idea to provide an update about it.
The thing is, I started with the books I like the best. Which means that I just finished reviewing the Vampire Academy books. Well, I still can't really believe I hadn't written a review for Last Sacrifice, the last installment in the VA series. I can't understand why.

But, anyway, I decided to publish this book because of exactly the reason why I decided to start this Marathon.
Even if I didn't read all those books again from the beginning, just digging inside my memories and heart for the right things to say about them, was an awesome experience.
I got a unique to chance to experience all these feelings all over again, something I truly enjoyed.

And, some minutes ago I realized that by the time I stopped writing the review and actually published it, I had a dreamful expression on. Identical of the one I had when I actually finished reading this book and those seriess, in general. All this relief for Rose and Dimitri comes out again.

And, of course, just like this day on July when I first finished the last book on the VA series, I feel once again that I can't really get into another book for awhile. After such an experience  it seems pretty useless to try to concentrate on a storyline after still feeling all those things just for one book.

But, this time, I don't have the same luxury.
What must be done, must be done, and, I'll give myself just a small break because I go back to reviewing books I'd read some time ago!

xcx

"Reviews from Depth of Time" Marathon

Lately, I've been thinking about all the books I've read and never actually got a chance to write a review about them. There are thoughts I have for every single book I've ever read and I decided it would be a good idea to share them, even now. Even after much time has passed since I first read them. The majority of the books I was thinking about when the idea first hit me, is on my "favorites" shelf. Books that I read before I even had an account on Goodreads. Books that have marked me. They were my companions. In summers and weekends. Whenever I had time. Pleading for the time they were going to be released to come any faster. Among the pages of all those books I've found pieces of myself. Pieces I don't want to lose and certainly not to forget.

So, this marathon, I decided, would give me a pretty good motivation to go back so many memories and daydream about all the sentiments they offered me. Some of these books are for children, some for young adults, but when it comes to actually good pieces of work, the only outcome can be admiration and companionship.

That's the reason why I will write some Reviews, now, from a Depth of Time, for mainly books that marked me. They are creations that never actually leave my mind. I will probably write reviews, also for books that didn't really do that much of a click to me as much as others did, but the point is to write about the feelings they inspired to me. Because, I don't read books just for fun, at least not most of the time. I like really being in the heroes' situations and living what they do. If a book can really inspire that to me, then it's a memorable one.


For all these reasons, and many more, I'd also like it very much if other reviewers would want to participate in that Marathon. It will last 48 hours (from 19.1.2012 7pm to 21.1.2012 7pm) and at the end I will share in my blog my favorite reviews, signed by the reviewer.

xcx