Book Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily
Bloodlines Book #2

Author: Richelle Mead
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 417 pages
Publisher: Razorbill (June 12, 2012)

Ratings: ★  

My thoughts:

The Golden Lily is the book two to the Bloodlines novel, spinoff series of the Vampire Academy series.

Sydney. Oh boring Sydney *looong sigh* When I finished reading the book 1: Bloodlines, I was sad. So sad that I didn't get to like the book, and now after  reading the Golden Lily the experience was depressing. That feeling you wanted to love the book but you just can't! It took me months to purchase this book and when I finally decided to read the book, there was so much hope that Dimitri's appearance would somehow make the story interesting. Nope. No excitement in reading the story. Totally. I blame Sydney for all this. I see Sydney as the most boring character in all of Richelle Mead's books. Oh, add Jill to that. 

Dear Adrian. What happened to you? I don't remember getting excited seeing you this time.  I loved you! What is wrong with you??!? I know you're still heartbroken but you don't have to be "lifeless" after Rose! And where did you learn those boring lines? Oh I know. Sydney! 

Jill. I just can't understand why some people think you can be a lead character when I still see you as "jailbait", a KID. You're not like your sister Lissa. I know it's wrong to compare but I can't "feel" you! Your story is too superficial. 

Another thing I noticed which made it harder for me to like the whole "Alchemist" thing was that half the story is about dealing with human thus labeling this as "paranormal" book is not at all right. Sydney made it clear that she doesn't want to see blood and magic. She also doesn't want to be with people who are considered as unnatural and evil (Moroi and Dhampirs)... I get it. So why is Sydney still the narrator of this series??  

I couldn't connect with all the characters. Considering almost all of them are from the VA series, it felt like I don't know them.  Honestly I wished I didn't read these books at all! :=(

Amazon positive reviews, click HERE.

About the book:

I wasn't free of my past, not yet.

Sydney's blood is special. That's because she's an alchemist - one of a group of himans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worls of humans and vampire. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far orse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside - and within - the school grounds. Now that they're hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

About the author:

Richelle Mead is an international bestselling author of fantasy books for both adults and teens. Her Georgina Kincaid series follows a reluctant succubus, while her Dark Swan series features a shamanic mercenary caught up in fairy affairs. Over on the young adult side, Richelle writes the much-acclaimed Vampire Academy series and its spin-off, Bloodlines, about a secret society keeping the vampire world hidden from humans.

Richelle's books have been on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and received honors from the American Library Association. Her books have been translated into over two dozen languages, as well as transformed into graphic novels. A lifelong reader, Richelle loves mythology and wacky humor. When not writing, she can be found spending time with her family, buying dresses, and watching bad reality TV. More at: www.richellemead.com

Movie Review: Skyline

SKYLINE

Director: Greg Strause Colin Strause
Stars: Eric Balfour
           Donald Faison
           Britanny Daniel
           Scottie Thompson

Ratings:
★ 

My thoughts:

I enjoyed the first half of the film and was confused when the fighting began and was extremely irritated with the ending. No plot, no story and horrible dialogue. There's only one thing I enjoyed in this film. Seeing Britanny Daniel who played Jessica Wakefield in SVH TV series was great! What a timing because I've been wanting to buy a copy of SVH 10 years later.

Anyway, back to the movie, the aliens are taking anyone they see for no reason at all. The movie was played in the entire building and these people could not get out because they will be consumed by the alien, well their brains actually. I thought there was going to be an explanation at some point but there was none. And then when the movie ends, I was like... uhmm... one stupid ending!

Bad bad idea to watch this movie.

About the movie:

Skyline, an effects-laden thriller from directors Colin and Greg Strause, wears its various influences--films like Alien, District 9, Independence Day, and War of the Worlds--on its sleeve, but even if it doesn't measure up to those predecessors, the film offers enough thrills and action to keep sci-fi fans interested. The Brothers Strause, as they call themselves, have done visual-effects work on blockbusters like Avatar, Titanic, and 300, and the effects are by far the best part of this tale (scripted by Joshua Cordes and Liam O'Donnell) about an armada of giant spaceships that suddenly appear in the skies over Los Angeles and immediately set about their business--namely, shooting down immense blue columns of light that hoover every human in sight up into the ships, where aliens will do nasty things to them. Observing this horror from a posh Marina Del Rey penthouse are a group of gorgeous, strikingly solipsistic young people in skimpy clothes, including Jarrod and Elaine (Eric Balfour and Scottie Thompson), a couple visiting from New York. A few action sequences find them trying to escape (bad idea, as the mother ships disgorge an endless supply of smaller, tentacled craft and troops of gross, city-stomping monsters to seek and destroy any luckless fool they encounter). But for the most part they huddle inside, watching the action, screaming hysterically, and uttering dialogue that's either cliché ridden ("What are those things?" "Does it even matter?!") or merely inane (mid-attack, Elaine, who's just learned that she's pregnant, complains when someone lights up a cigarette; you'd think she'd have more pressing concerns). And therein lies the problem, as some cool images and jolting moments are mitigated by Skyline's lame script and below-average acting. --Sam Graham (Amazon)

Shutter Island Movie

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The movie was based on a novel by Dennis Lehane. I've seen a lot of good reviews on the book but i hated the movie.

I waited, waited and waited, it was a boring movie. I don't actually have the patience to watch a not-so-good movie but this time, I had given it chances but it wasn't til the last 20 minutes that the movie got interesting. I don't know if it's Leonardo Di Caprio's acting or the whole movie.

Okay - just adding some more comments . . . hubby slept after 30 minutes of watching the movie. . .

Two U.S. marshals, Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, are summoned to a remote and barren island off the coast of Massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from the island's fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane.

http://movies.yahoo.com/

New Moon Movie

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆


The New Moon movie is so boring, and it was badly scripted, and I am so disappointed with it. So shallow and super cheesy....

Well now I officially hate Bella's character as well as Kristen Stewart - she couldn't act and i think she's a horrible actress. I have watched some of her movies and she acts the same...

And Edward/Rob P., i didn't like him in this movie. And yeah, his body... when he was about to expose himself in the sun I got disappointed with his abs, eww!

What I love about this movie is Jacob's character. Taylor Lautner deserves the role of Jacob Black. He's the one in the movie that made me happy and contented. I didn't like Jacob in the books but in this movie, i am definitely Team Jacob!!

I also liked Dakota Fanning's acting. She was onscreen for only a few minutes but her acting was excellent. And yeah, Aro as well. Don't know his name hehe

As for Carlisle's family, in the movie the director did it badly. Carlisle's family only appeared for few minutes and I hate that. I love Carlisle and Emmett and so my Alice! She's so cute and i love the way she acts.

Finally about the fighting scenes, what we see from the movie trailer - that's it! I expected to see more fighting scenes with the were's and Laurent and no - that's it! I hope in Eclipse there should be more fighting scenes with Victoria. I heard that they changed the casting of the red haired vampire Victoria - Rechel's perfect for the role. I hope they won't replace her with anyone new.

I loved Twilight Saga but now I don't know. The excitement isn't there anymore...

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

★☆☆☆☆


Book 2 of Robert Langdon Series

I started reading this book not because the reviews are good but because this was the most controversial book ever written (I guess?!) You see there are a lot of things mentioned in this book that will make someone believe that these are true. I just didn't like the historical lies in it and as I am a Catholic, i just don't want to recommend this to other people. Thought a review is really necessary for this book.

"While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body and the floor around him covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci – clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion – an actual secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, among others – and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle – while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move – the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever." http://www.nationalbookstore.com.ph/