Olympos by Aki

Manga is such a large section of the book store that I work at, I felt unread to have never sampled some. After briefly flipping through several books I came back to Olympos by Aki - which was my first choice, due to the beautifully illustrated cover, and final choice due to the color and the lovely artwork within.

Let me restate that the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. I was constantly marveling at the beauty of the characters. Also, the story told was most intriguing, poignant, and sad.

As the title implies, this is a story about the gods of Greek mythology. Apollo is depicted as a beautiful female (though she is referred to as a he, because I believe all individuals of authority are referred to as hes in Japanese) who is terribly bored and mischievous. Not unlike Poseidon, and Hades. Immortality seems to be a bit too unending for them all.

In a beautiful garden, Zeus created in an unknown space, Apollo drops a beautiful young princess (called a prince in the story due, again, to Japanese translation of authority figures) Ganymede who is granted immortality. She becomes quite a piece of entertainment to the gods as they enjoy watching her endure eternity with them.

Ganymede discovers the true nature of the gods is in stark contrast to the way they are portrayed in human fables. Mocking her at one point, Apollo asks what it is mortals thought she did.

What surprises me is the strong philosophical/symbolic undertones. Aki seems to want to show readers the allusiveness of the idolized, truth, good and bad, and immortality.

For instance, in a discussion Apollo and Hades have with Ganymede, she explains that the existence of darkness (Hades) is necessary for the light (Zeus). Hades "is the god of the shadows that are created by the light."

Will the gods end everything for amusement? ...

Click here to see a copy of Olympos by Aki.

Scarlet - by Marissa Meyer

I just finished reading Scarlet (book 2 in the Lunar Chronicles) moments ago, and I instantly felt the need to go onto Goodreads and give it five stars. It was a surprisingly action-packed page-turner, and I read it all in one big wolf-licking gulp (forgive the pun). I have to admire a book that compels me to do that. I rarely give books my figurative five stars of approval unless they have some deeply intellectual underlying thoughts, or quotable life-altering messages, which this book doesn't.

However, it transported me into another world. - I was no longer just in my room reading a book, I was in France jumping-off a speeding train with some huge muscular Wolf-man, or on a huge spaceship navigating my way around radars, hiding like a fugitive. I was in this book, wrapped around its characters. - Eager to see them succeed and be true to themselves throughout their moral dilemmas.

The intricacies, all the character's seamlessly melding together, still blows me away. Its a very detailed story, with fairy-tales intersecting at all angles.

Scarlet is a feisty young lady with fiery red hair (couldn't help love her just for that) who lives in the south of France. She is extremely upset about her Grand-mere's disappearance, and convinced its fowl play. Most of the towns people think she's a little off-her-rocker. - Which reminded me a great deal of Beauty and the Beast. Interesting, too, they both have large "beasts" in them. - Scarlet can be extremely irrational, at times, its enough to make one want to ring-her-neck, and she goes on about her Grand-mere inexhaustibly. By the same token, she endears readers to her by this irrational passion. Especially, our dear Mr Wolf.

Enters Wolf. A strong dark street-fighter with an insatiable hunger, and an ominous tattoo. Before reading Scarlet, do read The Queen's Army, it will heighten your appreciation for Wolf, a deeply troubled and daunting character whom you shall come to love. I feel Meyer really did her homework on Wolves in this retelling of Red Riding Hood.

Most mesmerizing is how the above story is simultaneously told with Cinder's story. Where we get all the juicy details on how Cinder escapes from Royal Guard and continues to grow in her powers of Lunar glamour. Quickly the question of the love between Cinder and Kai enters, and one hopes its real and still alive. Kai, who is, in my opinion, a character most to be pitied, just days into his Emperor-ship he has to choose between true-love and saving his Empire and the world. - Both of which seem to lead to his eminent death. Poor Kai gets no sleep at all.

A character I've never addressed in my review of Cinder is Iko, and its a shame because she adds such life and humor to the stories. Iko is a lovable android with a defective personality chip (which basically means she's fun, dramatic, gets scared, and has crushes like a teenage girl) who Cinder had to rebuild, and save on several occasions. Cinder loves Iko like she's family, and, come to think of it, Emperor Kai feels the same way about one of his droids. The story just wouldn't be the same without Iko.

To digest further subtleties of this story, be sure to read My Friends are Fiction's Interview with Marissa Meyer. The following is an excerpt from this interview where Meyer explains setting choice for Scarlet:

"When trying to choose a setting for Scarlet, I wanted a place that had a history of werewolves and werewolf stories-although the people in my futuristic world aren't superstitious about such monsters, I liked the idea of a very old fear being replaced by a new, very real fear. So when I saw a documentary about a series of killings that happened in 18th-century France, and at the time were believed to be the act of a real werewolf, I felt that worked perfectly for a way to tie the mythology together with my own werewolf-like characters."

I couldn't suppress the constant thought that, done right, this series would make a fantastic movie. Especially with all the high-intensity action scenes in Scarlet. Which isn't as far fetched as it seems after a recent conversation I had with Marissa Meyer on twitter. - it appears movie rights are being discussed. I found myself creating a dream cast for the roles, like:

To quote Marissa Meyer "Lunars are kind of their own ethnicity. Her ancestry is very mixed, and she has tan skin, brown hair, and brown eyes."

- Kristin Kreuk (would be my 1st choice for Cinder, b/c she is Dutch/Chinese but its hard to place her. Also, she can easily be dolled-up and made to look like she's glamouring everyone.)

Jennifer Lawrence as Cinder - might be fun, she has a real intelligent seriousness about her. - 

- Tim Kang as Prince Kai

Or Daniel Henney as Prince Kai -

I know both my Prince Kai picks are Korean, however they could maybe pull-off a Northern Chinese look? No?

- Emma Stone as Scarlet (probably my 1st choice).

Or Brittany Snow as Scarlet.  - 

- Or Rachel McAdams as Scarlet, would be good too, very passionate.

Joe Manganiello is the only actor coming to mind for Wolf -

(To be honest, he was the guy I really imagined Wolf to be while I was reading. - I know, I've got one sexy imagination.)

Can't think of anyone for Captin Thorn at the moment... any suggestions?

You can buy a copy of Scarlet online at: Chapter's Specials

For my review of Cinder (book 1 in the Lunar Chronicles) click on the following link: My Review on Cinder by Marissa Meyer

The Vicar of Nibbleswicke by Roald Dahl

"Dear lady," cried the Vicar, "You must never Plug it!... What you must do is pis. Pis gently. All of you all the way along the rail must pis, pis, pis." "Dog Almighty!" So said a dear sweet innocent Reverend Lee.

The Reverend Lee is suffering from a rare and acutely embarrassing condition: Back-to-Front Dyslexia. It affects only his speech, and he doesn't realize he's doing it, but the parishioners of Nibbleswicke are shocked and confused by his seemingly outrageous comments.

I loved this book as a child, and still hold it among my favorites. And, for the life of me, I can't read it without tearing-up from laughing so hard.

Roald Dahl wrote this book in the last months of his life, and donated all the proceeds to the Dyslexia Institute. "A landmark of both his concern for people and his passionate belief in the importance of reading." - Quentin Blake (illustrator).

If you love to laugh, you must add this to your library!

Buy The Vicar of Nibbleswicke today: Chapters

Of Beast And Beauty by Stacey Jay

Release Date: July 23, 2013 | Hardcover

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra is raised merely to sacrifice herself someday to ensure her people''s vitality. In the desert outside, Gem, a mutant boy, fights to keep his people from starvation. Neither dreams that together they could return balance to their world. Isra, a Smooth Skin, bound by magical covenant to the city of Yuan, wants to help the Banished people of her city, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits the blind princess believes she also possesses. One night, Gem is captured while trying to steal the city''s enchanted roses, and he becomes Isra''s beastly prisoner from the desert. But when Isra enlists the aid of Gem to help her grow herbs that will prevent mutation, she discovers just how human he is, and she begins to question everything she''s been raised to believe. As dark secrets from the past are revealed and Isra''s sight returned, she will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

I am pretty excited about this soon to come summer release. It sounds like it has some really intriguing plot potential, and I haven't read many retellings of Beauty and the Beast.

Much thanks to mindfulmundanes.blogspot.ca for bringing this to my attention!

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Jan 29, 2015

I had totally forgotten wanting to read this book. I am very pleased that I finally did!! It was great!!


"But he that dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose. " - Anne Bronte

I have loved that quote for many moons. It was this quote that initially inspired me to buy this book. 30 pages in I was regretting the purchase, not to mention I'm not a huge fan of first person. I pressed on though I was not expecting to like this story, much less love it. But it very quickly grew on me, and then reminded me of a belief I've long forgotten... a belief in the power of love.

Its altruistic in an endearingly primitive way. I gave it 5 stars not b/c it was written perfectly, it wasn't necessarily, -at times its down right cheesy- but b/c it has been a long time since a book has made me hope for a fairy tale-like love. And I couldn't put it down until I knew the fate our two heroes.

The loyalty of Isra's maid, Needle, moved me. She is an incredible character throughout the story; completely selfless and the most beautiful, in my opinion. It is so human to believe we are ugly. To not see our own beauty. To quickly believe the worse of ourselves and our enemies. The story battles this like a hero. There are many parallels to the situation of our world... such change, and healing needs to happen for us too.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I didn't have a clue what this book would be about, and the fact it was in teens made me nervous. My twitter friends recommended it to me several times. Even then, it was only after a desperate soul called me at Chapters (I work at Chapters) praying that we would have a copy that I finally decided to put one aside for me as well.

When I read the first two paragraphs I nearly died thinking 'OH NO! This book is about depression and cancer!?' I don't think I would have picked it up, had I known, and thank god I didn't, because it was fantabulous!!!! Let me say it again: FANTABULOUS!!! A FIVE STAR BOOK! Do you even know how long its been since I've read a five star book!? Jane Austen.

Hazel Grace is an enlightened 16 year old girl, and the narrator of her seemingly inglorious story of her battle with pain and social apathy. "Sickness really does eat up one's passion for life." "That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt." However, 17 year old Augustus is quickly introduced to the plot and suddenly Hazel has an equal to challenge her mind. It was not long before I had to pry the book out of my hands, find a note book, and start writing out quotes that I'm sure I will be using for years to come. That and a dictionary, from time to time, because words like "hamartia" are regretfully not in my vocab. - Even google's blogger is trying to auto correct the word, right now, which makes me feel a bit better.

The plot moved at a perfect speed, no sooner did I ask a character/plot question, in my head, then it was answered. I felt like I was digesting such a feast, and yet with each page I was still ravenous. The seamless way Green wove Shakespeare and Maslow's Hierarchy all into one story reminded me of Malcolm Gladwell's genius. Both have a way of effortlessly explaining complexities and making it palatable.

But here I am rambling on about the writing style and not the plot. In part, because I don't wish to deprive you from peeling each layer of this onion yourself. And the other part, being, because the style was so fantastic that I feel a healthy portion of this review should just praise it.

One can't help adore the love that blossoms between Hazel and Augustus. Pity and laugh with their blind friend Isaac. And muse at the complexities of Hazel's parents position.

Suffice it to say, "I fell in love <with this book> the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."

P.S. Big Thank You to all my Twitter peeps who recommended this book to me! @charlie_n_books
For more info on the book and the writer please visit: http://johngreenbooks.com/the-fault-in-our-stars/
If you wish to buy it you can find it here: Great Deals!!

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

This story had so much promise, but it withered. I'm sorry that's the best I can say.

There was so much plot potential. Dystopian society where all girls die at 20 and boys at 25. Most of the world is underwater. Technology has made huge advancements. Girls are kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder so they can be impregnated. However, the plot seems to just rotate pointlessly around Rhine, blurbs about her boring past, her growing apathy, and then suddenly there is a random outburst of energy which amounts to nothing. Topped off with an anti-climatic finish.

Rhine is a sister bride to a wealthy landlord in a gorgeous mansion where her every whim is catered to. All she has to miss of her old life is her twin brother, and her relative freedom. One starts to loose patience for her plight as it painstakingly reveals, and then repeats over and over again, how horrible the outside world really is. The story is told through Rhine's perspective which is unfortunately too limited to be interesting and too slow to be suspenseful. It was hard to form an attachment to any of the other characters.

I will say, however, there were many scenes that were beautifully described. Her dresses seemed full of Channel and allure. The landscapes were often so sweet you could smell them. Unfortunately, the plot did not move fast enough, and with little depth. I think perhaps it was a mistake to make this a trilogy. Perhaps if all three books were condensed and merged together with updates on other characters, throughout, it would have a more substantial effect... perhaps.

Chapter's Indigo: Wither Special



All that being said, if I happen to find Fever (book 2) in the bargain section I may finger through it just to see what direction Destefano decides to take.


Chapter's Indigo: Fever Special

Coming soon February 12, 2013 : Chapter's Indigo: Sever Special

See also this review of Wither: Susan's Bloggin 'bout Books

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I'm very happy to be writing this review. I found it a pleasure to read.

To be honest, when I first heard this book was a twist on the Cinderella story I yawned. - I felt the Cinderella market had been milked, for that matter, fairy tale retelling in general, but especially Cinderella. However, this was actually a twist.

Cinder is not the sweet song singing helpless girl typically portrayed as Cinderella. Rather, she has angst, and is physically handicapped by today's standards. Treated as an outcast by a world that considers human's with artificial modifications (aka Cyborgs) to be inferior mutants, she tries to hide her cyborg parts, and somehow wills herself to persevere. She is a bold intellectual character with issues, and I like her. She's not a girly-girl, she gets excited about junk yard digging for car parts, and is quite often a dirty sweaty mess, but she knows who she is. - Or at least, she thinks she does, until she finds out she hasn't got a clue.

Watching her relationship grow with Prince Kai is no less intriguing. Any teenage girl would be bound to have insecurities when standing next to the world's cutest bachelor, but Cinder has cyborg parts to hide on top of that. The fact that this all takes place in New Beijing adds a unique flavor.

The dystopian society, Meyer creates, is a refreshing blend of Cyborgs, androids, ID chips, hover cars, Lunars on the moon with strange powers, and a deathly plague with no cure. Think Cinderella meets Sailor Moon meets Star Wars.

I eagerly await the release of Scarlet! (For my review on Scarlet click the following link: My Scarlet Review).

Right now Cinder can be purchased online or in any book store, and me being the Indigo girl that I am, here is a link, it's on sale:
Chapter's Indigo: Cinder Specials

Not to be ignored is the Prequel to Cinder which is: Glitches and the side story of The Queen's Army - the latter of which lends great promise to the Second book to come in the lunar chronicles. These are short stories that add to the plot depth.

To my knowledge Glitches (Kobo.com/Glitches) and the Queen's Army (Kobo.com/The Queen's Army) can only be purchased online for e-readers for 0.99

For another excellent review of Cinder check out these links:
Susan Bloggin bout' Books - chance to win a copy!

Brittany's The Book Addict's Guide

To read an amazing interview with Marissa Meyer, and a sneak peek on Cress:
My Friends are Fiction