Book Review: Blythewood by Carol Goodman

Blythewood by Carol Goodman

Book Summary: Welcome to Blythewood.

At seventeen, Avaline Hall has already buried her mother, survived a horrific factory fire, and escaped from an insane asylum. Now she’s on her way to Blythewood Academy, the elite boarding school in New York’s mist-shrouded Hudson Valley that her mother attended—and was expelled from. Though she’s afraid her high society classmates won’t accept a factory girl in their midst, Ava is desperate to unravel her family’s murky past, discover the identity of the father she’s never known, and perhaps finally understand her mother’s abrupt suicide. She’s also on the hunt for the identity of the mysterious boy who rescued her from the fire. And she suspects the answers she seeks lie at Blythewood.   

But nothing could have prepared her for the dark secret of what Blythewood is, and what its students are being trained to do. Haunted by dreams of a winged boy and pursued by visions of a sinister man who breathes smoke, Ava isn’t sure if she’s losing her mind or getting closer to the truth. And the more rigorously Ava digs into the past, the more dangerous her present becomes.    

Vivid and atmospheric, full of mystery and magic, this romantic page-turner by bestselling author Carol Goodman tells the story of a world on the brink of change and the girl who is the catalyst for it all.

Liana's Summary: Avaline Hall is hears the bells in her head whenever she feels like she is in danger. She is a chime child. She is sent to Blythewood, determined to find out more about and understand her father and mother. The school teaches their students that supernatural creatures are all evil.. but when Ava meets a Darkling, she begs to differ.

Rate(1-10): 8

Movie Review: The Time Traveler's Wife

Oh Henry DeTamble, how I love you. This post contains spoilers.

So, recently, I read The Time Traveler's Wife and hoooo boy was I NOT disappointed. Audrey Niffenegger really knows how to get to the feels. Here's my book review: http://bookaholic-ness.blogspot.com/2013/12/book-review-time-travelers-wife-by.html

But the movie.. I was disappointed. A little. I got 40 minutes into it and was uber disappointed. BUT THEN, the second part of the movie made up for it. 

There were a lot of things I disliked, but there were also parts I liked.

Book Review: House of Hades by Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus #4)

Note: Review contains spoilers. So does the synopsis. If you have not read this or Mark of Athena, do not read on!

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Heroes of Olympus #4
Book Summary: At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

Liana's Summary: Without Percy and Annabeth, their two main players, the rest of the crew believes they are weakened. However, they cannot let that stop them. They have to stop Gaea and her forces to restore order. With the raging war between the Greeks and the Romans, and the monsters emerging from Tartarus, the plan seems a bit difficult to follow. But in the end, who will prevail?

Rate(1-10): 10

Book Review: The Transfer by Veronica Roth (Divergent 0.5)

The Transfer by Veronica Roth (Divergent 0.5)
Book Summary: More Four! Fans of the Divergent series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by "The Transfer," the first of four new short stories told from Four’s perspective. Each brief story explores the world of the Divergent series through the eyes of the mysterious but charismatic Tobias Eaton, revealing previously unknown facets of his personality, backstory, and relationships.

Liana's Summary: We peek into the before of Tobias's life: how he chose Dauntless and got his name.

Rate(1-10): 8