Month: January 2016

Let’s Talk | Shadowhunters 1×01 – Pilot

Source: Shadowhunters TV

The first episode of Shadowhunters premiered on Tuesday, January 12, and since I don’t have cable I wasn’t able to watch it until tonight (mostly because I forgot episodes can play online, derp). It’s a whole new revamp for Cassandra Clare‘s The Mortal Instruments series and I was highly anticipating it, as were many other people. I did see the seven minute preview when it first came out, and now that I watched the episode I wanted to talk a little bit about it.

So here are my thoughts and feels on season one episode one of the series:

The episode starts off with a little bit of a teaser as to the demons and the Shaowhunters, specifically Jace, Isabelle, and Alec. They’re hunting a demon that can change its appearance when it runs into another being and even though it changes its form about three times before entering Club Pandemonium, the Shadowhunters are still able to track it.

We get flashback scenes from eight hours before the time Jace runs into Clary, as well as ten years prior before everything started to become real in Clary’s world. I think that these parts were important to include because not only do we get a little bit of background into the characters, but we also get to see more about what is going on and why things are happening the way they are.

Now Clary just turned eighteen and so she wants to celebrate with her best friend, Simon, but her mom, Jocelyn, wants to talk to her about the Shadow World and the Downworlders and so much more, but Clary just wants to go have fun with her friend.

We get thrown around a bit as Jocelyn struggles to tell Clary what’s happening, about the fight with the demon and how Clary witnesses it, and how her mom sends her through a portal to Luke’s location and how Jocelyn is going to fight with some Circle members.

Confused yet? If you’re not a reader of the series, you probably have no idea what some of the terms I stated even mean. And I think that’s part of the reason why this first episode was a little bit of an info dump. They wanted you to understand the significance of the Mortal Cup, who the Shadowhunters are, why Clary can see them and others can’t, etc.

And I also think that was partially a downfall for the first episode. I honestly thought that the acting could have gone a little smoother, but it wasn’t that it was bad; it was cheesy during some parts, but also very witty in others.

I think that Dominic Sherwood, who plays Jace, did a good job of embodying Jace’s personality: strong, defensive, and a bit egotistical. He does ask a few questions in a way that Jace from the book would have asked them, which made me laugh out loud, literally. So while I appreciated his humor during those parts, other parts I felt that he was just trying too hard. Like dude, loosen up a little! Use some more emotion and stuff.

Katherine McNamara, who plays Clary, was actually my favorite person of the episode. I think that she’s doing a wonderful job playing Clary and that she really showed who she was: smart, loyal, and free. Of course, she was confused a lot of the episode given what was going on, but it was understandable.

Emeraude Toubia, who plays Isabelle, was also a convincing Isabelle: sexy, playful, sarcastic, a little pushy. She didn’t talk much in the episode, but I could see that she will do well to play this kickass heroine. She also has good chemistry with the actor who plays Alec.

Alberto Rosende, who plays Simon, was a good Simon: goofy, in love with Clary, and kind of a hot mess. And let’s all admit it: Simon was a hot mess at the beginning. But I’m sure that he’ll do a better job as the season progresses. He was in a few scenes, but I definitely want to see more.

Matthew Daddario, who plays Alec, was just like the book version of him: stoic, a great fighter, and a complainer. I think that he makes a great Alec and I’m interested in seeing his interactions with the group as the season continues, especially when it comes to Magnus.

Harry Shum Jr, who plays Magnus, did a good job embodying the High Warlock of Brooklyn. Though I was hoping for more scenes with him, he actually didn’t really make an appearance early on in the first book, so I was excited to see him at all in the first episode. But he did play an important role in the early part of Clary’s life, so it was good to see him in more than one scene. Also, he owns Club Pandemonium in the show, so that was a twist.

Isaiah Mustafa, who plays Luke, was actually kind of the cheesiest one of the bunch. Honestly, I was hoping for different lines or maybe different acting. Though I have confidence that he’ll definitely do better as the season progresses, I’m just not convinced yet that this is the Luke who I came to love. But again, it’s one episode, he might just surprise me.

Alan Van Sprang, who plays our villain Valentine, didn’t make much of an appearance, but I know from watching him in another series, Reign, that Van Sprang makes a great villain. And he’s already shown the ruthlessness of Valentine by killing off one of his men in this episode, so yay! A good baddie! I mean, a bad baddie, but a good actor… You know what I’m saying.

Maxin Roy, who plays Jocelyn, also did a good job of portraying Clary’s mom: fiercely protective, guilty of not sharing the secrets of the Shadow World with Clary, and a good fighter. Of course, we didn’t know of how good of her fighting abilities until later in the book series, but still it was cool to see her kick some butt.

Overall, I thought that the acting was okay at best, but it’s only the first episode and I think that some of these actors are relatively new to the spotlight, especially with one as big as the Mortal Instruments fanbase. I’d give the acting a 7/10 stars.

The CGI in the episode was decent, but not up to par with how I would have wanted to see it. Though, to be fair, it’s really hard to imagine a demon and what exactly it would do in a given situation, or even look like. Though the four mouth thing? Yeah, that’s got to stop. Give it some variety! Not every demon looks the same. I think that the effects on the eyes for Magnus were the coolest, as well as the warlock swirling blue magic, but otherwise it has yet to impress me. Also, not thrilled with the seraph blades, sorry. I’d give it a 5/10 stars for CGI.

As far as the storyline goes: yes, it follows the book, but not in a very streamline way. I mean, there are lots of elements from the first book that took place that were definitely shown, but there were a few things that were different, too. As with any show or movie, they will take liberties, but as far as adaptations go I’d give it a good 7.5/10 stars for adaptation.

Overall, I’m giving the first episode of the Shadowhunters series a 6.5/10 stars. I wasn’t totally in love, but there was still plenty there for me to want to see more because my inner fangirl is being fed as we speak. I only hope that it gets better from here, that the acting improves, and that the story doesn’t stray too far from the books.

January 15, 2016
Saga Volumes 1-5 Review

Title: Saga, Volume 1
Series: Saga volume #1
Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Illustrator: Fiona Staples
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Genre: Comic/Graphic Novel – Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance
Pages: 160
Format: Purchased Paperback

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe.

From bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan, Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults.

Collects Saga issues #1-6.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I went into this graphic novel series, but I was quickly captured by it. The story of two races who are at war with one another, and one from each side who falls in love and have a child together, is not an uncommon story, but the way Vaughan weaves it alongside the beautiful illustrations of Staples makes it a spectacular story.

I thought that the art itself was beautiful in each volume, capturing the essence of the story while giving just enough to understand the emotions being emitted or the situation at hand.

Alana, the female heroine, is kind of a hot mess. She’s fiercely protective of her child and she loves her husband, Marko, very much and would die for either of them. She’s a headstrong woman, very sarcastic, and she knows how to kick ass.

Marko, the male heroine, is a solider who vows to never use violence again – it can overtake him and control him rather than him being in control. He loves his family intensely and would do anything for them.

I think that these two, along with several other that we meet along the way, are what makes this story incredibly unique and engaging. And in just the first book I was whisked away with feelings of surprise, sorrow, joy, and so much more.

I will say, though, that this comic series is not for an underage audience. I’d definitely recommend being 17+ when reading this series. There is explicit sexual content as well as graphic violence and language, so just remember that going into this series.

I highly recommend this comic series and I give the first volume 5/5 stars.

Title: Saga, volume 2
Series: Saga volume #2
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Pages: 168
Format: Purchased Paperback

From award-winning writer BRIAN K. VAUGHAN (Pride of Baghdad, Ex Machina) and critically acclaimed artist FIONA STAPLES (Mystery Society, Done to Death), SAGA is sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. Thanks to her star-crossed parents Marko and Alana, newborn baby Hazel has already survived lethal assassins, rampaging armies, and horrific monsters, but in the cold vastness of outer space, the little girl encounters her strangest adventure yet… grandparents.

Collects Saga issues #7-12

I think this second volume really just made the series better. The plot is thickening as the family races into space to escape a lot of people who were hunting after them (not that that’s going to stop them from hunting them) when they have to rescue one of the ones who came on board with them while Marko deals with issues with his mother.

Not only that, we get more backstory into some of the characters’ pasts and why and how they got to be where they are. I think this is a crucial element to the story and one that I really enjoyed.

The Will (yes, that’s his character name) is a freelancer, someone who hunts people for a price, and he’s after Alana, Marko, and Hazel. But when he arrives on Sextillion for a little side trip looking for a good time (you know what I mean), he is given to a young girl – Slave Girl – who is six years old – and he is not okay with that. He wants to rescue the girl but ends up getting kicked out before he has a chance to. I think that The Will has a lot of potential in him for either good or bad, and I’m really interested to see where his choices take him.

I think that Slave Girl is very shy at the beginning and she’s quick to please. I think that partially comes with age and the fact that she was thrust into a very sexual world. But she doesn’t let anyone touch her in that way, at least not from what we’ve seen so far.

And then we meet Gwendolyn and she’s just all about the revenge on her ex. Very fierce woman.

I really enjoyed this volume and thought it was better than the last. 5/5 stars.

Title: Saga, volume 3
Series: Saga volume #3
Publication Date: March 25, 2014
Pages: 144
Format: Purchased Paperback

From the Hugo Award-winning duo of Brian K. Vaughan (The Private Eye, Y: The Last Man) and Fiona Staples (North 40, Red Sonja), Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. Searching for their literary hero, new parents Marko and Alana travel to a cosmic lighthouse on the planet Quietus, while the couple’s multiple pursuers finally close in on their targets.

Collects issues 13-18.

Man, the plot just keeps getting more intense as the family is still on the run from pretty much everyone in the universe. Not only do they have their own people after them, but now the Robot Kingdom is after them, too.

There were some plot twists I didn’t see coming in this book. Plus I don’t like seeing relationships become severed over stupid things, but I understand that there’s a lot of tension going around and all of that.

There’s more and more characters being introduced, which isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes it can be difficult to keep track of. As the story progresses, though, we really see more of just who and what these characters are about and what they’re willing to fight for.

I will say, though, that all of the sexual references and content I can do without. It doesn’t all have to be eliminated, just toned down a bit.

I still really enjoyed this volume, though, and I give it 5/5 stars.

Title: Saga, Volume 4
Series: Saga volume #4
Publication Date: December 17, 2014
Format: Purchased Paperback

From the Eisner Award-winning duo of Brian K. Vaughan (The Private Eye, Pride of Baghdad) and Fiona Staples (Mystery Society, Thor, SAGA is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. As they visit a strange new world and encounter even more adversaries, baby Hazel finally becomes a toddler, while her star-crossed parents Marko and Alana struggle to stay on their feet.

The family is trying to keep a low profile on a new planet as they try to make a living for themselves in this volume. Though there are a lot of struggles and a lot of bad choices made in this volume, there are some good choices made, too, but it still doesn’t stop from what the characters decide to do.

I think this was a good edition to the series, but it definitely wasn’t my favorite. I was disappointed in the decisions that Alana was making, as well as Marko, but I think that it was a learning experience for both of them to see how strong they are working together rather than trying to get through things apart.

And Hazel’s growing up! So cute!

Of course there are still people are them, and then there’s even kidnapping involved in this volume. Lots of things going on, that’s for sure.

I enjoyed this volume and gave it 4.5/5 stars.

Title: Sage, Volume 5
Series: Saga volume #5
Publication Date: September 9, 2015
Format: Purchased Paperback

Multiple storylines collide in this cosmos-spanning new volume. While Gwendolyn and Lying Cat risk everything to find a cure for The Will, Marko makes an uneasy alliance with Prince Robot IV to find their missing children, who are trapped on a strange world with terrifying new enemies. Collects Saga #25-30.

This one was just so much action going on and so many “what’s going to happen” gripping moments that I wasn’t sure how it was going to end. This volume had a lot more fear involved on the part of the parents, but it also had a lot of strength as well as fragility.

Yes, some of the characters keep making mistakes, or decide to do the wrong thing, but they do learn from them and I think that’s the most important part.

The plot in this one was following three separate stories that would all eventually come together, minus one of them, but it was still an important plot point nonetheless.

I think that this volume was a good edition, but it wasn’t my favorite. I am sad about what happens to a couple of characters and I’m happy with a few others, but I’m also really sad that I have to wait for the next volume to come out to see what happens next! Gah!

I rated this volume 4.5/5 stars.

So far, I’m really enjoying this comic book series as it’s also the first comic series I’ve ever read. The story is gripping and it’ll leave you wanting more. The art style is also really beautiful and it really helps to pull the story together. Just remember: for mature audiences.

Accompanying video: Saga Volumes 1-5 Review

January 12, 2016
Writing Goals for 2016

Let’s talk about ALL THE RESOLUTIONS! Woo!

No, but seriously, this is my third post in a week about resolutions or relating to it. I promise it’ll be the last one!

So today I wanted to talk a little bit about my writing goals for this year. I know I set up a vague goal last year to edit my NaNoWriMo novel from 2014, and that flopped, but this year I want that to change.

As a graduate of Professional Writing, I want to be a writer! I love to create and be able to tell stories with my voice. I mean, anyone can be a writer regardless of what they do or don’t graduate with, but for me, it became a goal once I made it through college. And I sort of didn’t do much of it at all last year except for Camp NaNoWriMo, and I want to change that.

So this year I’m going to make three goals that I really want to see to the end. These goals or writing for these goals don’t have to be perfect, but I definitely want to be able to see something come of them.

So here are my three major writing goals for the year and how I plan on actually achieving them:

1 . Finish editing my 2014 NaNoWriMo novel.

And this time I mean it, dammit. I loved my first novel that I completed for NaNo. I grew attached to my two main characters and their stories, backstories, the world and how they grew up in it. And every time I’d write about them, or start to edit and find out more about them, things changed and grew and expanded into something more.

So I want to make it a point this year to read through my 100 pages manuscript and at least complete editing that story. It’s written to completion, it just needs to be edited (and then rewritten to add/take away edits, but one step at a time).

How I’ll Be Doing This: I’m going to do my best during some downtimes each weekend to see this through. I know I can do it; it’s just a matter of actually doing it that’s the challenge.

2. Finish writing my 2015 Camp NaNoWriMo novel.

I love this novel, too! My characters keep growing and developing and I’m learning so much more about them as I go, which then makes me want to go back and just start rewriting into the characters that I know they can be. But I really need to actually finish writing this one first.

I’ve actually written more for this story than the previous one and I’m not even close to be done with it yet. I’m hoping to get in at least another 20,000 to 30,000 words before it’s done, but who knows?

How I’ll Be Doing This: So the way I’ll be going about this is working on it for a half hour two to three times a week. I can push out 1,000 words in a half hour, so it’ll go at a decent pace if I actually stick to that goal. And of course I won’t limit myself if I’m on a roll and I want to write more in a given day.

3. Start writing a new novel, whether for Camp/NaNo or not.

I had an idea that came to me last night as I was trying to sleep, as all great ideas do. And I actually really, really like this story idea so I’m going to start writing it this year.

Now this doesn’t mean I have to finish it this year, but I do want to at least start writing it and get what I can down before I forget anything.

How I’ll Be Doing This: a) To do this I’ll do the same as above: a half hour two to three times a week. Of course, if I choose to wait until Camp or NaNo, then I’ll have plenty of time to bust out some words, so that’ll be fine.

b) And I’ll also do accomplish this goal by doing something I hate doing: outlining. I seriously hate outlining because I just like to go right into the story and get as much as I can out on paper. But I think this will help with how I want the story to flow.

So there you have it, my 2016 writing goals! They’re pretty straight forward, and may seem daunting, but I’m going to do my best to succeed at all of them.

Accompanying video: Writing Goals for 2016

Do you have any writing goals for the year? How challenging are they? Do you think you’ll be able to complete them or do you think you’ll need an accountability buddy to help you push through it? Let me know!

January 7, 2016
The Dream Thieves Book Review

Title: The Dream Thieves
Series: Book #2 in The Raven Cycle
Author: Maggie Steifvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: September 17, 2013
Genre: Young Adult – Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 437
Format: Gifted Paperback

If you could steal things from dreams, what would you take?

Ronan Lynch has secrets. Some he keeps from others. Some he keeps from himself.

One secret: Ronan can bring things out of his dreams.

And sometimes he’s not the only one who wants those things.

Ronan is one of the raven boys – a group of friends, practically brothers, searching for a dead king named Glendower, who they think is hidden somewhere in the hills by their elite private school, Aglionby Academy. The path to Glendower has long lived as an undercurrent beneath town. But now, like Ronan’s secrets, it is beginning to rise to the surface – changing everything in its wake.

As this is a sequel there may be spoilers!

This book, guys. This book was amazing. From the way the setting is detailed to the anxious feelings of the characters, to the mysteries underlying it all, this book was spectacular.

The plot of this book mainly focuses on dreams and mostly from the perspective of Ronan, the wild card of the Raven Boys group. He’s often pretty rowdy and mean, even if he likes the person, but that’s just the way he is. And there’s really no difference in this novel even when the perspective is from him.

As it starts, the book talks a lot more in depth about dreams and just how Ronan is able to conjure things from his dreams and bring them into reality. They might be just slightly skewed from the dream world, but he otherwise brings almost perfect replicas of whatever it is he wants most in his dreams to real life. At first, no one 100% believes him, until he brings something back, and then it’s like that wasn’t the strangest thing they had seen all day.

But not only do we get an explanation of dreams and how Ronan is able to conjure these things, we get a much wider look into his life when his father was alive and how his father also had the gift. We also learned so much more about his family that I guessed some things and, sure enough, I was right. It shocked me to know that I was right because some part of me was hoping I was wrong, but at the same time it’s amazing to think how one person could conjure up so much in their lifetime.

Aside from Ronan’s life and perspective, the book does follow the other characters are well, as well as a new person: The Gray Man. Now, the Gray Man is, well, inherently gray. From the clothes he wears to his intense gray eyes, he is just an embodiment of the word and color gray. He’s also a hit man and his current job is to find the Graywaren – an object that can help bring things out of people’s dreams. He doesn’t know that the Graywaren is a person, though, and so he goes around Henrietta trying to find it.

And along the way he goes to visit the home of Blue’s family, where he meets Calla, Persephone, and Maura, and has a very lovely and interesting encounter with Maura. I actually really like those two together; they just seem to balance one another out well.

Then there was Kavinsky, who I really didn’t like, but also couldn’t help like at the same time. He was an extremely bad person in some ways and very much like an open flame: unyielding and untamed. And the fact that he, too, also has the same gift as Ronan shocked me! I didn’t think that it would be outside of Ronan’s family, but then again, why shouldn’t there be others with the same ability? And even though he did help out Ronan to really discover the potential in taking from the dream world, he was just too unpredictable.

Though he did point out something pretty awesome about Ronan near the end there and I nearly died. Oh man.

I grew to appreciate Gansey and Adam more because in the first book, I couldn’t understand the hype around Gansey – why does everyone love him? – and I just kind of thought Adam was up to no good. But this book, from the perspectives of Blue and Ronan, as well as Adam and Gansey themselves, showed more of who they are to their cores and I really appreciated those aspects of them. And now I find myself rather attached not only to them, but all of the characters.

As far as the plot goes, the underlying mystery and search for Glendower continues as the group discovers more mysterious objects from Glendower’s time and how they discover more about the ley line and why it’s acting funny and disappearing. I love how Steifvater is able to weave all of their individual stories together to bring everything out into the light slowly over time. She definitely has a way with words in this series.

And as far as the other characters go, I feel like they are each coming into their own and realizations of who they are as people is drawing on them. They are each realizing their destinies, in a way, and I think that that is a truly beautiful thing. Every one of them brings out something in the other, whether it be good or bad, but I think that those times really help to show just who they are on the inside, which is most important of all.

Of course, the book isn’t without its faults with some slow points or parts that sometimes felt just a little out of place, and a few typos here and there, but otherwise I was so wrapped up in the story itself to notice anything else wrong with it.

Overall, I loved this book. I thought that the writing was exquisite and that everything about the plot and the discoveries of the characters’ personalities was really well put together – especially at the end where I literally gasped out loud to some things and stopped breathing for others.

I rate this book 5/5 stars and highly recommend it after you read The Raven Boys.

January 6, 2016
Top Ten Tuesday: Resolutions For 2016

Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday as hosted by the lovely peeps over at The Broke & the Bookish. Today’s topic is all about our resolutions for 2016.

Now, I know I already posted my resolutions a few days ago, but I wanted to participate in this week’s T10T and go into more detailed resolutions that I’d like to accomplish for this year.

I’m going to separate these into five bookish related resolutions and five personal ones. So, here we go:

Bookish

1 . Complete the Mortal Instruments & Infernal Devices series. Like, seriously, I really want to finish these, and since I’m reading them in the order they were published I’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone and finish reading both the TMI series and TID trilogy.

2. Complete the Harry Potter series. I still have yet to finish reading the HP series for the first time and so I really want to try to make a point in finishing it this year. I love the movies and I’m loving the books, so I don’t see why it’s taking me so long.

3. Actually finish A Game of Thrones. I’ve been reading this book for about three years now and I really just need to finish the dang thing. I’m half way through and I really want to make it a goal to read at least one book in the series per year.

4. Get back into manga. I was HUGE into manga as a teenager, and sure I may dabble in it here and there, but I don’t read it nearly as much anymore when I used to love it.

5. Get more book shelves! And I’m talking the tall ones, not these small ones that we have stuffed places. Both my husband and I need more shelf space (mostly me) and so I’m thinking of downgrading my desk and making more room for some shelves.

Personal

6. Eat healthier. Okay, yeah, I know a lot of people make this resolution – “New year, new me!” – but I really do need to eat a lot healthier. I’m overweight and people are concerned for me so I need to improve my diet.

7. Finish writing a novel and edit it. I really want to get a jump start on one of my passions and I really want to further my process in writing and working toward getting published.

8. Save more money. Don’t we all need to do this? Well, for me personally my husband and I want to buy a house and start a family sometime in the near future so I really need to watch my spending and do my best to save.

9. Rebuild my relationship with God. I don’t go to church or really read my bible that much, and I want to change that. Having that relationship was important to me a year ago, so why isn’t it now?

10. Be happy. I think this is probably the most important one for me to really remember and succeed at. 2015 was a rough year for me emotionally and mentally, but in other ways it was still great. I want this year to be even better and I just want to be happy with the decisions I make and whatever it is that I do.

And that’s it! It’s a pretty simple list, but I think that I can accomplish all of these as long as I try hard enough at it.

What are some of the resolutions you made for yourself? Do you think you’ll be able to stick to them? Let me know!

January 5, 2016