Room

Title: Room

Author: Emma Donoghue

First Published: September 13th 2010

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: Fiction

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 321

My Copy: Physical copy

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Halloween - Books, TV Shows and Movies

It's Halloween everyone! It's also one of my favourite holidays in the year >:) So in honour of Halloween, I've decided to do another Halloween theme post - this time with books, TV shows and movies to enjoy during this Halloween. Are you ready?

BOOKS

1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I remember reading this entire book in one sitting - it was that good! It's not that scary, just bordering on creepy/spooky. I loved it so much and now I just want to reread it! :)

2. Coraline by Neil Gaiman - both the movie and book. I adored the movie though it did freak me out a bit. (I was 8 when I watched it - bad idea, yeah I know) The concept is so creepy and yet so thrilling!

3. Slasher Girls & Monster Boys, which I haven't actually read yet but seems pretty good. It's an anthology of horror stories, including some of my favourite authors: Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu and Jonathan Maberry! YES this is perfect :)

TV SHOWS

1. Supernatural, of course. Yes, there are 12 seasons and counting, but what a better than to start season 1 if you haven't already? There are so many monsters, demons, plot twists that can keep you entertained.

2. American Horror Story, if you are into more horror, gore and whatnot. Sure, there are scenes that make 99% of viewers uncomfortable, but what can you do? If you want more ghosty stuff, go for season 1 and season 6 ;)

3. Scream Queens, if you want something a little more light-hearted. It's a horror-comedy, and I thought the characters are pretty funny if not stupid at times. They are all sassy though, which makes up for it.

MOVIES

1. The Shining - both the book and movie works. There aren't many jump-scares or anything like that, but it's the atmosphere and tension that builds up, making the movie that much more effective. 

2. The Conjuring (the first movie) because it's way better than the second one. Also, the plot is more interesting than the other spinoffs (Annabelle I'm looking at you) , but that's just my opinion. 

3. The Exorcist - a all-time classic. I think it's pretty good, but same as in the Shining, there aren't many jump-scares since they also focus on the creepy atmosphere and rising fear.

So, here are my 3 suggestions in each category! Do you have some for me? I hope you all have a fun Halloween :)

The Midnight Star

Title: The Midnight Star

Author: Marie Lu

First Published: October 11th 2016

Series: The Young Elites #3

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 316

My Copy: Kindle Edition

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

The thrilling finale to the New York Times bestselling Young Elites series from “hit factory” Marie Lu.

There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.

Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all that she’s achieved.

Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds when a new danger appears, putting not only Adelina at risk, but every Elite and the very world they live in. In order to save herself and preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.

Bestselling author Marie Lu concludes Adelina's story with this haunting and hypnotizing final installment to the Young Elites series.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Movie Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

So, I finally got round to watching Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children! The trailer looked really really good, and I was really excited to see it! I had some minor doubts, such as them changing Emma's ability in the movie, but in the end, I went.

Thoughts

• It stuck to the book (mostly) which I was glad about. Okay, I lied a tiny bit. The ending was not at all like the book, which threw me off a bit. I thought it was going to cut off when Jake was being dramatic with his "I've got a plan" line, but then it continued. 
• The creepy music and photos right in the beginning was perfect. It really set the scene and made my heart race a little :)
• TIM BURTON!
• Loved the jump-scares >:D
• I loved how Tim Burton could easily maintain the eerie and slightly creepy atmosphere of the book. Every moment was thrilling to me.
• Emma's ability switch from fire (books) to air (movie) wasn't that bad. It wasn't absolutely critical to the movie for Emma to have her air ability, but it was quite useful a number of times.
• Asa Butterfield as Jake? A+
• The ending was pretty nice and sweet, but everything seems to be solved so I don't know if there will be a sequel or not. I'd love one, but I don't know where it would be going...
• This film was a nice break from all the action-dystopia movies we get in the YA film adaptation category these days.

So, have you watched this movie yet? If so, did you like it? Hope to see your responses! :)

And I Darken

Title: And I Darken

Author: Kiersten White

First Published: June 28th 2016

Series: The Conqueror's Saga #1

Genre: YA, Historical Fiction

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 457

My Copy: Physical Copy

My Overall Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Merchant Of Venice

This week, I had the great opportunity to watch The Merchant of Venice as performed by the Globe. No, I wasn't in London, but I watched them when they were on tour. I had to study The Merchant of Venice for school, and our English teacher thought it would be a good idea to bring us to watch the play live. I felt a bit skeptical at first, but once it began, I really enjoyed it!

I apologise for the Chinese :)

What I liked

• The interpretation. In this performance, they took the sympathetic path towards Shylock, so we would feel really bad for him. When I first read the play, I already felt pity for Shylock. As a class, we had also watched the 2004 movie version, but they portrayed Shylock as a cold bully in that one, so there was less sympathy for him. I liked the Globe's portrayal a lot more.

• The interaction. I haven't seen many plays in my life, but this is the first time where there was actor to audience interaction! It was very funny when the actors would call some of the audience up on stage and I thought this was a really good way to keep the audience interested.

• The humour. In words, the humour Shakespeare was trying to put through got lost during the decades. Shakespearian humour and 21st century humour is pretty different. However, they still kept the original humour and managed to pull it off!

• The ending. It was so powerful. They added a little bit more after the last line of the play, which showed Shylock's conversion to Christianity as part of his punishment. This wasn't in the original script, but I thought it was really powerful to add it in. You can clearly see the anguish in Shylock and it just reinforces the sympathy we feel for him. It is quite dramatic though :)

I'd put another title with "what I disliked", but I really can't think of anything! It was really good! So, if you ever get the chance to watch it performed by the Globe this year, do so! You won't regret it :)

Greek Mythology Tag

Hi everyone! Here's another tag for you: the Greek Mythology Tag a while back, but finally, I've gotten round to doing it! Before beginning, I just want to thank Tasya @ The Literary Huntress for tagging me - THANKS TASYA :D You can check out her answers here. So, let's begin! :)

Zeus (Jupiter) : God of the sky and thunder / King of the gods

Favourite book (choose your own category!)

How do I even choose? Well, I know my favourite category is Fantasy, but which book from it? Ah, I know! I adore A Court of Mist and Fury, which I thought was so good. It was packed with action, world building, plot twists... Everything I need! :)

Hera (Juno) : Goddess of marriage and fertility

Cutest book couple

How can I choose? I have so many OTPs, but I think the one that rises above the rest is Percabeth. No arguments there. All the sass and banter is so fun to read about. Oh yes, and Solangelo ;)

Poseidon (Neptune) : God of the seas and earthquakes

Book that drowned you in feels

I think we can all agree that Clockwork Princess was filled to the rim with feels and angst. The love triangle, JEM, WILL, basically everything. UGH :(

Athena (Minerva) : Goddess of wisdom, handicraft and strategic warfare

Series with the best world building

The Grisha series. One of the best world building I've read. Would you want to live there? I'd like to be a Grisha, it seems so cool. Who hasn't dreamed of having special powers?

Hades (Pluto) : God of the Underworld

Favourite book with dark/ominous plot

Asylum by Madeleine Roux, which kind of reminds me of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, especially because it also has many creepy photos inside. I always love books with mental asylums in it, so that was a bonus as well.  

Aphrodite (Venus) : Goddess of love and beauty

Most beautiful cover on a 2016 release

Ares (Mars) : God of war and bloodshed

Most violent book you've ever read

I don't think I've read a book with as much violence as As I Darken by Kiersten White. It is a retelling of Vlad the Impaler, so no surprises there about the amount of bloodshed. 

Hephaestus (Vulcan) : God of blacksmiths and fire

Scorching hot swoon worthy character

Can I choose Will Herondale? He's so sarcastic and sassy all the time. ;) 

Artemis (Diana) : Goddess of the hunt and virginity

Favourite kick-ass heroine

My favourite heroine is and will always be Katniss Everdeen. She's strong, ruthless when needs to be but also isn't afraid to show her emotions. 

Phoebus Apollo (Apollo) : God of light and healing

Sequel that redeemed the series

I think this will fall to Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd. I did enjoy The Madman's Daughter, but I thought the second book really did push the series even further, so that it was even more intriguing. 

Hermes (Mercury) : Messenger god of thieves and commerce

Book with best message

There Will Be Lies by Nick Lane is one of the best contemporary-mystery books I've ever read. The plot, the style, the character development, everything. I recommend you to read it right now.

Hestia (Vesta) : Goddess of the hearth and home

Book with most relatable story

Book with the most relatable story? I think this would fall into the Contemporary book category, therefore: The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr. I find it relatable because it's all about classical music and piano, another one of my interest! ;D

Demeter (Ceres) : Goddess of fertility and agriculture

Favourite bookish setting

The Londons in A Darker Shade of Magic. Who doesn't like the idea of different Londons? As I've said before, Red London seems to be the best to live in. 

Dionysus (Bacchus) : God of wine and celebration

2016 release you are most anticipating

So, that's the end of the tag! I hope you enjoyed reading it! :) 

I tag:

Fiona @ A Girl Between The Pages

Caroline @ Just Another Bookish Blog

Kayleigh @ A Booklovers Playlist

And anyone else!