Friday, November 28, 2014

Sed lex Dura Lex

Well this is the second time I have posted this, since I accidentally deleted the draft on my mobile app. Anyhoo, in the past few weeks both Mockingjay Part one and the Bane Chronicles were release. I have yet to read The Bane Chronicles but I own my copy. my post title is a quote from City of Bones, "Sed lex dura lex," said Jace automatically. "'The Law is hard but it is the Law'." It seemed quite fitting since both Katniss and Jace are living in worlds with a strict set of laws (i.e. President Snow and The Clave)  When it comes to Mockingjay, I was one of the people who saw it at 8:30 on Thursday night. I was also alone. I usually wouldn't care about going to the movies alone but it meant that I didn't have many people to talk about it to.

                My personal opinion is that it is by far the best; they have eliminated most of the shaky camera and close up shots of faces. The story was changed just a little so there would be flow for the end of the books. It wasn’t something that I really minded but most people pointed out that Gale is more aggressive and agitated than in the books. I fully believe that the make-up/CGI that was used on Peeta was on point. It truly showed how malnourished he was becoming. That was something that I was lacking in the other movies. (It’s called the HUNGER Games for a reason!) I brought that point up to my sister and she disagreed. So I pulled out logic and references, so she conceded a little.


            So, The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Rees, Cassandra Jean (Author and Illustrator) were originally released individually as e-shorts but all ten of the stories are combined in to a book released November 11.  These stories are about the enigmatic, flamboyant and AMAZING Magnus Bane. I believe that it is widely accepted if not canon, that these stories are the stories that Magnus wrote down for Alec. While we are on the subject of Magnus and Alec, I believe that they might be one of my favorite couples of time.  I haven’t read these stories yet, I wanted to read The Infernal Devices first, but I have yet to read those either. 

Throughout the TMI series Magnus Bane was always there to help but his character was very complex, as in we never knew much about him. I believe that Alec was one of the few reason he really opened up. I might just be saying this because I ship Malec hardcore.

These the nails that I made for The Bane Cronicles. I added the symbol for the Clave because as I just said I ship Malec. Also, to the right are my nails that I did for Mockingjay. The left hand which is pictured said "The Girl On Fire" and my right hand said "Burn With Us.". I wish
I had taken a picture of that hand but I forgot.


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Getting Psikid???

I was trying to figure out a play on words with psyched and psikid (they sound the same...almost). But I just wasn't sure if it would translate.

Anyhoo,  my nails for the first half of this month were in honor of 'In the Afterlight' by Alexandra Bracken.  My ring and middle fingers were first painted with a brown color. Then I took balled up cellophane and dipped it in blue nail polish. Holding it with tweezers I dabbed on the color. I repeated with yellow and orange polish. On my ring finger I drew on the Psi symbol in black.

[If we're being picky technically it's the symbol for the PSF's, but we all know the east river kids took it up as their banner.]

Now one might ask why the colors I chose. The brown was just a neutral color that wasn't too dark or light. Blue, yellow and orange are Liam, Chubs, Zu and Ruby's colors. I did the psi symbol in black because it would show up best...and because the whole "our color is black" thing. Hope you enjoy.

Monday, November 10, 2014

October Wrap-Up

So I believe these are all of the NEW books I read in October. I am horrendous when it comes to re-reads. Meaning I love to re-read books. Most of the 5 star (*****) books from this month I have already read more than once. My favorite books I have read upwards of ten times. So those won't be included in my wrap ups. I think this month I read 61 give or take a few I may have forgotten or hated.

October 29, 2014
It Had to be you (Chicago Stars #1)  Susan Elizabeth Phillips ****
Binding Arbitration (Binding Arbitration #1)  Elizabeth Marks ****
In the Afterlight (the Darkest Minds #3)  Alexandra Bracken *****
Say the Word  Julie Johnson ****
Fragment  Ellie Wade ****
Because of You  J. Lea ***
Come (The Fight Club Book 1)  Becca Jameson ***
King of Me (King Trilogy #3)  Mimi Jean Pamfiloff ****
King for a Day (The King Trilogy #2)  Mimi Jean Pamfiloff ***
King’s (The King Trilogy #1)  Mimi Jean Pamfiloff ***
Cree (My Way #1)  H.J. Bellus ****
In Time (The Darkest Minds #1.5)  Alexandra Bracken ****
Spin (Songs of Corruption #1)  C.D. Reiss **
Darkest Before Dawn (Guardian’s Diary #1)  Amelia Hutchins **
Sparks Rise (The Darkest Minds #2.5)  Alexandra Bracken *****
Mud Vein  Tarryn Fisher *****
Someday Girl (The Someday Series Book 1)  Melanie Shawn ***
Little Memphis (Little Memphis MC #1)  Bijou Hunter ***
Dethroning Crown  Lila Felix ***
Lights to my Siren(The Heroes of the Dixie Wardens MC1)LaniLynn Vale****
Zoey Avenger  Lizzy Ford ****
Love, In English (LIE #1)  Katrina Hale ****
Hard Knox (The Outsider Chronicles #1)  Nicole Williams ****
Falling Down (Rockstar Series #1)  Anne Mercier ***
Where We Belong  K.L. Grayson ****
Enticed By You  Amy Muscat ****
Crazy Beautiful  (Crazy #1)  Penny Dee***
Filthy Beautiful Love (Filthy Beautiful Lies #2)  Kendall Ryan ****
Filthy Beautiful Lies (Filthy Beautiful Lies #1)  Kendall Ryan ****
Charred Hope (Heart of Fire #3)  Lizzy Ford ****
Charred Tears (Heart of Fire #2)  Lizzy Ford ****
Charred Heart (Heart of Fire #1)  Lizzy Ford ****
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians 5) Rick Riordan*****
The Battle of the Labyrinth(PercyJackson&theOlympians4)Rick Riordan*****
The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson & the Olympians 3) Rick Riordan****
The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson & the Olympians 2) Rick Riordan****
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians 1) Rick Riordan****
In Kelly’s Corner (Fighting Connollys #1)  Roxie Rivera ***
Shelter Me (Shelter Me #1)  Kathy Coopmans ***
Needing You (Needing You #1)  T. Renee Fike***
This is Falling (Falling #1)  Ginger Scott ****
Bite & Release  Cory Cyr ***
The Summer I Fell (The Six #1)  Sonya Loveday ***
Burn (Ignite #2)  R.J. Lewis ****
Ignite (Ignite #1)  R.J. Lewis ****
Searching for Someday (Someday #1)  Jennifer Probst ***
Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)  Katie McGarry *****
Down and Out (Knockout Love #1)  Kelly R. Martin ***
Draw (Gentry Boys #1)  Cora Brent ****
Be My December  Rachel Brookes ****
Reed’s Reckoning  Ahren Sanders *****
Breaking Away (Assassins #5)  Toni Aleo *****
Blue Line (Assassins #4)  Toni Aleo *****
Falling for the Backup (Assassins #3.5)  Toni Aleo ****
Empty Net (Assassins #3)  Toni Aleo *****
Trying to Score (Assassins #2)  Toni Aleo *****
Taking Shots (Assassins #1)  Toni Aleo ****
Boarded By Love (Bellevue Bullies #1)  Toni Aleo *****
Going Down in Flames  Chris Cannon ****
Bang Bang  Rachel van Dyken *
Alpha Billionaire  Helen Cooper**
October 2, 2014

Saturday, November 8, 2014

It's OFFICIALLY Official

I have been waiting for a month to receive my cosmetology license and it finally came in the mail! I'm official! It feels so good to actually have proof in my hands that the 1800 hours I put in at school have counted. Both my graduation and passing my test were underwhelming. Neither of those things meant anything until today when I checked the mail. Look at how amazing it is... look at it!! BASK IN IT'S GLORY!!!!


P.S. The woman who took my pictures wouldn't let me smile, so I look a wee bit silly, but none of that matters because I have my license!

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1)-- Alexandra Bracken



            The Darkest Minds, how to describe this book— well to say this without ruining the plot is always the hardest thing for me. Darkest Minds is the story of “Psi-Kids” or kids with psychokinetic abilities. An illness swept through the United States called ‘IAAN’, it killed off many kids without any warning. Unfortunately, it was those who survived that ended up being fear. Each of the survivors was blessed (or cursed) with some level of psychokinetic ability.

            Green - The mildest of abilities. The children who are green are exceptionally smart, either with photographic memory, skills with electronics or code breaking.

            Blue – Telekinetic, the ability to move objects without touching them. Blue labeled kids are considered dangerous but controllable.

            Yellow – Control electricity, takes years to practice and actually gain control. These children are considered quite dangerous since so many things the PSI Special Forces to control the Psi Kids are electronic.

            Orange – Telepathy, these kids can control the thoughts of others making them extremely dangerous.

            Red – A dangerous enigma that exists, rumors surrounding what Reds actually do vary. They are rumored to be the most unstable and least controllable. Most dangerous.

            That’s the back story, our story actually begins with Ruby recounting what happened when IAAN first hit, how people just dropped dead in the middle of school. The government sent out ‘symptom’ list to the surviving children’s family and the “Rehabilitation programs” starting popping up.

            When we really meet Ruby, she is a timid girl who hides inside of herself. Everything she has been for so many years has been a lie—a lie that has made her scared of herself. Whether by fate or intervention, Ruby’s life changes when the white noise is turned on one day.

            An infiltrator from the Children’s League helps break Ruby out of Thurmond. The plan is to start her in her new life assisting the Children’s League to take down those who would harm the children. But Ruby finds a different path, one of a stowaway.  Here she meets Liam, Chubs and Zu. They are on a mission to find East River the fabled place that is a safe haven for Psi kids. The journey is anything but easy and leaves everyone to make some of the toughest decisions of their lives.

            The writing in this book is perfection. It makes you feel like you are right there besides them. I could hear the music, feel the AC and taste the fear these kids lived with daily. Alexandra Bracken writes compellingly and allows Liam to transcend the stereotypes of YA love interests. Not to say that he isn’t good looking but he has more redeeming qualities than just his good looks. He treats everyone around him with care and respect. Well, that is true except for Chubs, who he treats like an annoying brother. 
           Overall, I give this book five stars. I have read it at least 7 times and I still can’t get over it. I love it, hopefully you will/do too. Interesting side note, my son has seen me read this enough he knows the cover and dubs it "my book".