Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

             
I stumbled across this book while I was hunting for more fae books after reading Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Since I have a huge nerd-on for Labyrinth (1986) and subsequently anything along that line, I had to check this book out.

It's a okay book, the plot was a little rushed and confusing at times. The characters could have used a little refining, but overall it was a quick and enjoyable read. The book starts out with Greta already in Mylena and has been for a while, establishing herself as a bounty hunter. All the while concealing her humanity and posing as a sprite. She has been taken in and claimed by a high elf like creature who trains her and becomes a father-figure to her in this world that is not her own. We also meet the Goblin King, Isaac who has dream invading abilities, an ability to get under Greta's skin, and for some reason you cannot say his name because that gives him the ability to invade your dreams???

The fae(ish) creatures of this book are pretty standard, though they're kind of like weres in the sense that during eclipses they lose their ability to reason similar to a werewolf during the full moon. And of course that's a big plot point in the book. Anyway Greta's adoptive father gets murdered, leading her to seek revenge with a half-baked, ill-conceived plan and an overestimate of her abilities. She meets a group of human boys living in the woods who have escaped from an evil wizard who seems more like an afterthought than an actual nefarious villain. The books gave me serious Peter Pan feels in the sense they reminded me of the Lost Boys, which there was a joke about later in the book that had me smiling!

These boys have some hairbrained scheme to free the other human slaves working for the big baddie, which they rope Greta into. She quickly forms a bond and has a sense of camaraderie with the boys, all the while there's a bounty on her head because it was revealed to the world that she's human, and Isaac is looking for her because he's in love with her. There's this big deus ex machina ending and basically everyone goes home happy. Don't get me wrong I really did enjoy this book, I just feel with a little more work the plot could have been expanded upon and made this a better read. I'm still going to read the sequel(s) and see where this goes.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

         
This book was everything I hoped for and more. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, which as you'll recall is my favorite Disney Princess Movie. The book starts about a girl named Feyre who is taking care of her family as they have lost their fortune, their mother, and their father was violently rendered unable to work by bill collections. She is out hunting in the forest on a cold winter day and she shoots a wolf that turns out to be fae. Because of her actions she is taken by the fae lord Tamlin to live on his estate for the rest of her life to make up for killing a fae in faerie land. (It's called Prychian, but it's your typical Tír na nÓg / Otherwolrd / Annwn / Gwyn ap Nudd kind of place. I like fae mythology if you couldn't tell). At first Feyre hates Tamlin and his friend Lucien, but overtime she becomes attracted to Tamlin. Tamlin on the other hand is cursed, as is his entire court (The Spring Court). They have mascarade-esque masks permanently magicked to their faces and they talk of a "blight"in the land destroying everything, and Feyre is the key to saving everything, if only she could be honest about her feelings to herself and to Tamlin.


This book was an incredible read, I was hooked from the very beginning and to the end. I absolutely adored how the trials Feyre had to overcome took a long time and were physically awful for her. However if the second book yields a love triangle between Tamlin/Feyre/Rhysand I am going to be angry as it took true love to break the spell on Tamlin. All in all I am excited to see where this series goes in the next two books. It also makes me want to read Sarah J. Maas' other series A Throne of Glass.

Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen

This is the second book in the Malediction Trilogy and follows the events of Stolen Songbird. Cécile escapes from Trollus and finds herself in the city with her mother preforming on stage as she has always dreamed. Except that it isn't what she wants anymore. She longs to be with her husband Tristan and her friends in Trollus, but she has a mission. She must find the witch Anushka who cursed the trolls to remain under the mountain. Cècile, bless her heart, tries her best to free the people of Trollus and find Anushka, but she doesn't really have a plan of attack. Which is fine and totally within her character. She does however seek the aid of a fellow witch who can help her find Anushka and teach her more about magic. With this knowledge she desperately tries to free the trolls as the Troll King (Tristan's father) is slowly driving her mad with magic to complete the task ASAP. She fails, but manages to free Tristan from the curse by using a blood sacrifice and calling his true name. With the two of them together they attempt to solve the mystery of the witch, while trying to decide if freeing the trolls is a good idea or not.

I loved this book, it was a great sequel, but it does have a tough of middle book syndrome. It's kind of boring in the beginning and picks up midway. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series and I would highly recommend it.

Stolen Songbird and The Songbird's Overture by Danielle L. Jensen

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen is everything I wanted in a book. It has Trolls and a headstrong girl who is kidnapped to marry the Troll Prince like the rape of the Sabine women. Cécile is preparing herself for her journey to the city to join her absent mother as a professional singer and actress, but the night before on her way home to her going away party and shifty guy named Luc meets her and kidnaps her. She finds herself taken under the mountain to a hidden city called Trollus that was long thought to only be a myth. There is is forced to marry the heir to the throne, Tristan, to fulfil a prophecy to free the trolls from the spell of an evil witch that keeps them trapped under the mountain. Of course this doesn't succeed, because if it did there would be no story. Cécile finds herself stuck in Trollus with people whose motives she doesn't understand. She makes friends with her captives and starts to fall in love with Tristan.(I wouldn't necessarily call this Stockholm Syndrome, but more like the Beauty and the Beast effect).

Overall this book was an enjoyable read. If you like Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire this is a good book for you, though the political intrigue is a bit watered down for younger readers as this is a YA (Young Adult) book. It also is a great read if you like anything fae, troll, goblin, Labyrinth (1986) -esque. I look forward to the rest of this series!

This was a nice look into what Cècile's life was like before she was kidnapped and shows how her relationship with her mother is a complicated affair. It gives some good insight, and it is a free read you can find here but you don't nessisarily need to read it to continue in the series.

The Librarian(s): A Review of the TNT Show and Movie Franchise

Back in High School while working as a Page (person who puts books away) at the Public Library I work at I found some DVDs called "The Librarian" staring Noah Wyle. Since I was planning on going to school to become a librarian I checked the movies out. I really enjoyed them. They were funny and had a feel of Indiana Jones to them. Flynn is a genius with 22 degrees, despite that he is still a relatable character. There were three movies to the original franchise before the TV show. The first one The Librarian Quest for the Spear (2004).

The first film is about Flynn becoming the Librarian and going on an adventure to find the Spear of Destiny, as well as growing into his own person which is something many of us struggle to do so after school is finished and we have to navigate the "big, bad real world".
The second film it The Librarian Return to King Solomon's Mines (2006).

This movie catalogs the tale of Flynn the Librarian and his never ending quest to save magical artifacts and keep them safe within the library so that they cannot be used by evil organizations. In this one Flynn must locate King Solomon's mines before the villains, all while learning that there is more to his past that he previously believed.
The final movie is The Librarian Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008).

Which is about Veteran Librarian Flynn Carsen struggling with his personal life and his professional one at the Librarian. The job of being the Librarian is all encompassing and Flynn is starting to feel the strain. So in an attempt to recharge his batteries and take some well earned vacation time he stumbles across a plot to revive Dracula with the Judas Chalice. Needless to say Flynn once again saves the day and learns to reconcile his personal and professional lives.
In 2014 the series continued in the form of a TV Show called the Librarians which is about Flynn the Librarian and the Librarians in Training (LITs) who Flynn and his new Guardian Eve Baird collect to protect from the Serpent Brotherhood. Flynn makes them Librarians in Training with this beautiful offer: "I'm offering you a life of mystery, of misery, of loneliness, and adventure. More than that, I'm offering you the opportunity to make a difference and to save the world every week. Twice before Friday. Are you in?"
swoon
The new LITs are Jake Stone a hunky art genius from Oklahoma.

Ezekiel Jones, world class thief and Australian heartthrob.

And my favorite Cassandra Cillian who has synesthesia due to a grape sized brain tumor.

They are joined by the Caretaker, Jenkins (who replaces Judson).

and newly appointed Guardian, Eve Baird.

Now since the show came out there were many people complaining how it was a "rip off" of Warehouse 13 (which came out in 2009, five years after the first movie) and that Noah Wyle basically ripped off the 10th and 11th Doctor's. While Wyle is a fellow Whovain, NuWho did not premiere until 2005 a year after the first movie. Wyle has stated that he did take elements from various Doctors towards his acting as Flynn. As well as some fashion advice.

The Librarian(s) franchise is a fun and adventurous one. I really think you all should go and watch it because "I'm offering you a life of mystery, of misery, of loneliness, and adventure. More than that, I'm offering you the opportunity to make a difference and to save the world every week. Twice before Friday. Are you in?"


UPDATE February 12, 2015
The Librarians has been updated for a second season!

See More at @LibrariansTNT Twitter Feed!

Charmed

***SPOLIER ALERT*** this post will contain some spoilers so beware.

Charmed is the supernatural drama of three sisters who discover they are witches. The hit WB show ran from 1998-2006 and still shows episodes through it's syndication with TNT. I grew up watching the Halliwell sisters every week on my TV ready to see what was going on with the "Charmed Ones". Though I was never allowed to talk about the show as my Maternal Grandmother (Shirley) is hardcore Pentecostal and any mention of anything to do with witchcraft and paganism was a sin and deserved a huge lecture. Plus I was 7 when this show started so I had to be sneaky and watch it at my Grandma Georgia's (cause my Gram is cool). I digress. Anyways the show starts off with three sisters: Prue (short for Prudence), Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell who right after their Grandmother's death (:sob:) are living in the Victorian Style house in San Francisco called Halliwell Manor. The youngest sister, Phoebe, goes into the attic (which they have been unable to get into for year because the door was stuck) and finds a spell book. She reads a spell from the first page and it somehow awakens the powers in each sister. They are from a long line of witches dating back many generations and are the "Charmed Ones". Very powerful witches capable of tipping the scale of good and evil. It's a really good show I promise.
Eventually Prue dies (my brother said it's because the actress wanted more money). Leaving Piper and Phoebe at a loss of what to do. But they find out that they have a secret half-sister named Paige who can also become a Charmed One and complete the "Power of Three". I know this sounds like some horrible supernatural day-time soap opera but honestly it's just how I explain things. The show focuses on each sister and how they grow as witches and women. It shows the complications of relationships, family, and the battle of good and evil. The sisters also work with various offices of law enforcement as the villains they are usually fighting have left behind a trail of bodies. Some of the police are in on their secret, that they are powerful witches, but for the most part they just say that they are psychics trying to help. It usually works which kind of made me question how police handled crime scenes as a kid.
Each sister has a unique power.

Prue, the oldest, has the power of telekinesis, and eventually astral projection. She is also able to cook up potions and cast spells. Unfortunatly Prue dies at the end of season 3. Most of the fandom agrees that when she died she was reunited with her soul mate Andy Trudeau.

Piper (who is my favorite of the sisters) can "freeze" time. It starts off that she can only freeze small areas around her and it only lasted a few seconds. But as she develops more control over her powers she can freeze larger spaces or single items (falling things mostly). Later she also developes the power to blow things up. She also has the abilities of potion craft and spellcasting.

Phoebe is the youngest of the original three sisters and the middle child from season 4 and on. She has premonitions of the past and future. Later developing the power of levitation and becomes an empath. She learns martial arts from her demon boyfriend Cole and is skilled in potion making and spellcasting.

Paige Mathews is the half-sister of the Halliwells. The daughter of the Charmed Ones mother and her white lighter, Paige was given up for adoption because relationships between witches and white lighters are forbidden. Paige is telekinetic and can "orb" which is a skill for white lighters. It's basically teleporting. She does develop further as a witch and white lighter throughout the series. She also can make potions and cast spells.
Now for the eye candy of Charmed. Here are our leading gentlemen:

Inspector Andy Trudeau is introduced in season 1. He grew up with the Halliwells and dated Prue briefly in high school and through season 1. He is a San Francisco Detective and is usually assigned to the cases that the Charmed ones are involved in. He's more open to the supernatural than some of the "mortal" characters.

Leo Wyatt is the Charmed Ones white lighter and Piper Halliwell's husband. Their relationship is complicated because witches and white lighters are forbidden to be together. But he and Piper manage it and fight to stay together.

This is Cole. He is Phoebe's on and off again boyfriend throughout the show. He's a demon called Bathazar and sometimes he screws the Charmed Ones over. So he's a sometimes enemy, sometimes ally. He and Phoebe actually don't end up together in the end despite the fact that they deeply love one another. Phoebe ends up with a Cupid but since he was kind of thrown in at the last minute, to me Cole was always the one for her.

Here's Piper and Leo's oldest son Wyatt. Isn't he cute?

and here he is grown up. Still cute!

This is Chris. He's Piper and Leo's second son who time travels to the past to stop Wyatt from becoming evil. Chris sometimes is an ass but he's a loveable ass.
If all this wasn't reason enough to watch there's some fun characters I think my fellow Supernatural fans will appreciate.

Look familiar?

Yep that's Mark Sheppard playing a demon in Charmed!
What about this guy? Recognize him?

Why that's Misha Collins!

Charmed is a great show and you should definitely check it out!

My Love Affair with USB Heated Gloves

We interrupt your irregularly scheduled reviews of media to bring you this:

So I work at a Public Library and 99.99% of the time I am freezing to death. Then some of my coworkers told me about the gloriousness that is USB heated gloves and I fell in love. I just bought my first pair and they are a godsend. My hands are encased in a toasty warmth that is absolutely heavenly. Plus they’re fingerless so I can still type, but if I so desired they can become mittens. Seriously these make me ridiculously happy which causes me to want to shout my love for them from the rooftops of every building so that the world knows. I cannot convey how excited I am to have these gloves for the Winter.

I live in the “Hoth” portion of the country where our four seasons consist of Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Road Construction. Seriously here’s a picture of our state flower:

It pops up everywhere alongside the roads.

A hardy thing that even endures in winter (on occasion).

I digress.
So I live in an area where it’s not odd to see it reach temperatures of -40°F and it’s common practice to keep your snow shovel inside your house so you can dig your way out. Add in the fact that I have iron deficiency anemia and you have a really over exuberant human about USB heated gloves. I can use these babies in the car while I’m driving if I plug them into my car charger in addition to the hours they’re already clocking with me at work. I’m definitely going to buy another pair because I’m 10,000% sure I’m going to wear them out from all the use. But since they were only $12 I’m okay with that. Now I’m going to return to my winter hibernation with my beloved gloves, some hot cocoa, an electric blanket, wool socks, and thermal undies.

You can purchase the gloves here.

My Quasi-Participation in the 2015 Goodreads Challenge

Okay this rant is mostly brought on by this article on Book Riot and my struggle in 2014 to complete my Reading Challenge.

Last year I originally set my goal at 150 since in 2013 I had set it a 100 and read 113. I thought I should challenge myself except it didn't go as planned. I was frantically reading books, some I didn't even like all that much just to keep up. Every time I logged onto Goodreads and saw I was behind it stressed me out more than it should. I didn't have time to read fanfiction or even write and work on my own. So after accepting that 150 books was too much last year I changed it and set it to 120 and ended up reading 125 books. Now here it is 2015 and time to set a new challenge except I feel burned out, I want to read fanfiction and binge watch TV Shows and not worry about being behind on my challenge. So at the end of 2014 when I saw the above mentioned article it spoke to me on a spiritual level. I need a break to just read at leisure because I love reading I really do, but when something I love starts feeling like a chore it's time to make some changes. So this year I set my Reading Challenge to read one book. That's right, you read that right. One book. I know I'll probably far exceed that number, in fact I am expecting to, but I set it to one so I can relax and just see what I read this year. I'm taking the time so to binge watch Game of Thrones before the new season, and actually take my time reading to truly absorb every word on the page. I don' have to rush through books. I can reread books and not fret that I can't count them towards my goal. I can just stop and smell the roses... or spend six hours straight on Tumblr. Most likely the Tumblr option if I'm being honest. :) This also gives me time to do different things and invest time in my other hobbies, for instance I can finish some of my crochet projects I've abandoned and I have the time to help prepare things for my brother's wedding this November. (In which we're making all the flowers out of comic books and doing lots of other DIY decorations).

I'm expecting to get some well-meaning teasing from my co-workers and fellow book lovers at the Library but honestly I'm excited about the prospect of seeing what and how much I read when the pressure is off. So we can say I'm doing this in the name of science! I highly suggest you all read the Book Riot article I've mentioned above. It says all the things I'm feeling in a much more eloquent and organized manor. Everything the author talked about in the article I was internally screaming yes in agreement.

I look forward to reviewing more books, movies, and TV shows in 2015! Happy New Years and Happy Reading!