Perspective: A Book To Movie Adaptation of Stardust

Perspective: 
A Book To Movie Adaptation Review of 

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Movie directed by Matthew Vaughn

                                            

“There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart’s Desire.” 
― Neil Gaiman, Stardust

For my first book to movie adaptation review, I figured that I would do my favorite adaptation of all time first. I was first introduced to Stardust in tenth grade with the movie and I had no clue at the time that there even was a novel. Actually, I found out about the novel three years later at a bookstore. That's when I saw the book with the movie cover and I just had to have it because I adored the movie. What I found out was that the book and the movie are quite different, but I love each in their differences. Stardust is my favorite movie of all time. I just adore it and always have. The novel is also one of my favorites from fantasy. So it was interesting going into this time of reading the novel and watching the movie knowing that I was planning on comparing them.

This may have some spoilers to the plot of both the book and the movie.  So if you don't want to know anything going into either, I would recommend checking them out first. 

The Plot
We follow along Tristran (Tristan in the movie) as he tries to win the hand of Victoria, who he believes he is in love with. In a failed attempt at wooing her with overexaggerated promises, he makes a deal that he will go and fetch a fallen star for her. Little does he know that this oath to her will lead him on a daring and dangerous adventure in a world very unlike the quaint town of Wall. He will come across a witch that wants the heart of the star for herself, a few princes that need the stone that the star is carrying, pirates, and the star herself.

The stars of Stardust

Charlie Cox as Tristan and Claire Danes as Yvaine


Robert De Niro as Captain Shakespeare


Michelle Pfeiffer as Lamia the witch

Mark Strong as Prince Septimus


And so many more

Similarities

The World:

   - They did a great job making this world feel just as large as it does in the book. You can tell that there is much more that we are not even seeing in both. I have always hoped that there would be some sort of sequel and I believe I always will. I'd love to see more of the world of Faerie. 

The Three Subplots:

  - The movie basically hits every major plot point. I will mention any major changes below, but really there's not much within the overall plot that changes. They have stayed very loyal to Neil's overall story and I can see why he thinks so highly of it. Also, that's probably because it's a phenomenal movie. 

  - The editing between the three subplots is also incredible. They made each of the parts (Tristan and Yvaine's, the witch Lamia, and the princes) meld seamlessly together. 

Differences

The Beginning: 

   - In the novel, there is a good portion of time focused on Dunstan and also the town of Wall in general. We spend two whole chapters at around 20% of the book in the town of Wall before Tristran actually goes to get the star. In the movie, there are a few minutes dedicated to Dunstan but the major focus of the story is on Tristan and his adventure with Yvaine. I really liked this change because the heart of the story is in the relationship and we get to see much more of the growth in the movie. 

   -  In the novel, Tristan's real name is actually Tristran. This is a change that makes sense in the case of the movie because it is a lot easier to pronounce Tristan. 

   - We learn a lot of about Tristran's life in the town in the novel. This includes his schooling. 

   - Dunstan actually gets married to a woman in the town of Wall after his romantic night with Tristran's mother. He also is very distraught about not being able to be with her. His parents get him to marry this woman Daisy. Then Tristran gets dropped off at their doorstep. He also has a daughter with Daisy. In the movie, he seems to just have Tristan and we see him have a very different ending. 

   - In the movie, the men in the town of Wall actually all act as guards for the wall instead of just having one. Also, they let people go through the wall once every nine years when the market comes. People are able to go through the wall if they seem to have a reason for it.  In the movie, we get an older guard who has had the job for years. He never lets anyone through the wall. This adds to the humor in the movie and the mystery of what is over that wall that he is trying to protect everyone from. 

    - The movie benefits from spending a lot less time in the town of Wall and getting to the plot with Tristan and Yvaine. It makes the focus on their growing relationship and friendship. They are the heart of this story and it's great that we get to spend a good amount of time with them. This is not saying that I do not like the novel. There are just aspects that work so much better in a larger written work than would in a two-hour movie. 

Tristan Thorn:

   - In the movie, I felt that they picked the perfect person to play the part of Tristan. Charlie Cox plays both sides of the character perfectly. You can really feel the geeky, lovestruck side of him from the beginning but also the heroic side from the end. The change is so subtle in this and it feels very genuine. We really get to know Tristan and feel for him in the movie. In the novel, I'll admit, that I really did not like Tristran for a good portion of it. In the movie, he's just so likable the entire time. We want him to succeed even if we know that he's trying to get the wrong person to fall in love with him. His intentions are so pure and we just hope that he will figure out the truth the whole time. 

Captain Shakespeare:

  - A good amount of the plot of the movie focuses on the growth of the character of Tristan. This is the story of how he becomes a man as the narrator states at the beginning. A lot of this growth for Tristan happens on Captain Shakespeare's ship. He learns from Shakespeare how to fence, he gains confidence in himself, and both Yvaine and he grow closer. Captain Shakespeare and his crew are not complete additions to the plot but they are definitely different than their book counterparts. 

The Ending: 

  - In the book, the ending feels very much like a fairytale ending. It's got the right amount of a happy ending for the main characters, the villain gets what's coming to them, and it is very bittersweet. But the movie instead has an action-packed happy ending. I'm not going to go into details because I don't want to spoil the end but the overarching plots play out very differently in each. 

Little Changes: 

There are a bunch of little changes that were made between the two. I will mention the ones that stick out the most.

   - King (movie)/ Lord (book): throws the necklace out the window in the book. In the last showing of his overall power, he has his sons bring him over to the window and chucks the necklace into the air. It eventually hits the star as we see in the movie. But in the movie, we instead see the amulet fly out of his hand and out the window. This change makes a lot of sense because in the movie they would have had to add effects to get the ruby to fly into the sky. It would have been fun to see Peter O' Toole throw it though.

    - The ghosts are in much more of the movie and are played up a lot more for humor. I felt that this worked perfectly for the movie. They were funniest parts of the movie. It was also interesting to see how the "interacted" with the live characters. 

    - There are also some great deleted scenes with them. 

    - The only real change in the movie that I wish they wouldn't have changed was the mirror in the witches' home. In the novel, the mirror seems to be either reflecting what the witches used to look like or their ancestors. It would have been really cool to see this but I can see why they changed it. 

Overall Thoughts

In most book to movie adaptations, I can usually pick one out of the two that I like better, either the book or the movie. These both are great in their own way. I love the humor and the action/adventure aspects of the movie, but I also love the prose and the storytelling aspects of the novel. Each tells the same story but in two different ways that fit well. My favorite out of these two would be the movie but not by much. This is my favorite movie of all time so obviously, it would win in this case. It, I believe was perfectly made and one of the best adaptations I have ever seen. Sure, there are changes but they make me love this story more. Also, the actors bring so much to each of their characters. I can't get enough of this movie. I cannot recommend both enough. You should check them out for yourself if you never did or enjoy them again if you have.  

2018 Reviews Week 4

2018 Reviews Week 4 

January 22nd- 28th, 2018

Book 12: Seventh Decimate (The Great God's War #1)

by Stephen R. Donaldson

Read by Scott Brick

Listened to January 20th- 22nd

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What made this story better for me was the audio reading of it by Scott Brick. The world that Stephen R. Donaldson created in this book was quite interesting and it made me want to keep listening to it. There could have been so much more though especially with descriptions. I never once had a clear vision of what I assumed was a rich world from what little we got. This book could have benefited with more visuals, details on the actual world, and better fleshed out characters. Basically, the world building is subpar and never fully drew me into this story or world.

With Scott Brick's powerful narration, he carries the tale of Prince Bifalt. The realms of Belleger and Amika have been at war for centuries. Sorcerers on both sides are leading the battles with the use of Decimates, natural substances that enhance their power. The prince was chosen to go on a quest to find the book of the seventh Decimate to save his father’s land. 

Brick creates a distinct voice for each character, with the prince having the most development. He not only reflects every fault of the prince but also his overall agency. I just wish that I could have related to one character or was able to know more about them. Each is quite bland with Bifalt being the only one with any depth. Not much of one though. It just does not feel like this book was fleshed out as much as it could have been. Brick does a great job narrating what he was given to read. 

The first half of the book is very slow and the second half picks up. I believe that this book had a great premise and an interesting enough delivery. Really, I just wanted so much more from this than what I got. 

* I received this for free for an honest review *

Book 13: Soulwind by Scott Morse
Will be published February 6th, 2018
Read January 24th
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~ A Short Synopsis ~
A complex tale going between the story of a young boy who is transported across the universe trying to get the legendary sword Soulwind, an old woman who is somehow connected to him trying to figure out what has happened to her son, and another young boy who somehow is given the sword. One sword connects each story together. With a mixture of ancient myths, classic fairy tales, and a futuristic adventure throughout the universe, each part combines to create a very unique and intriguing tale. It will keep the reader guessing what will happen next. 

~ Writing Style
This was one of the most interestingly laid out stories that I have ever read in a graphic novel. There are three main pieces of this story that I mentioned above. Throughout the entire plot, the story jumps back and forth between each of these elements. At first, this feels a bit disjointed but as you continue to get more and more pieces to the story, they flow together flawlessly. It takes some time to figure out what is actually going on in this story but once you do it really comes together so well. This helps the mystery continue on throughout a good portion of the plot with the reader able to use each piece. The way that the author has combined both fantastical elements along with the science fiction fits perfectly with the story.

~ The Art, Lettering, and Coloring ~
The art fits along perfectly with the style of the writing and also the plot. Each of the different subplots is illustrated in a different way that fits the story that is being told along with them. Also, the black and white illustrations keep it subtle and simplistic. The style changes a bit for each of the parts but still feels like it connects so well together as a whole. We start in a monastery with a little boy trying to figure out why the monks don’t like him having objects. He eventually finds a sword in the water. For these sections, there is a very minimalist style. Then we get pulled to another story with cartoony animals, primates, robots, and a boy who are all searching for a sword. Then there are the scenes with the older woman that seem to have both a whimsical style but also somewhat of a minimalistic style. Each of these gets switched between by page or by groups of pages. You never know where or how the story is going to go but that adds to the story as a whole.

~ Final Thoughts ~
Overall, I felt like this was a creative tale that stood out with its intricate plot, beautiful illustrations, fascinating characters, and a great mixture of fantasy and science fiction. If you like books with the chosen one but are much more complex than that you would probably be interested in this. Scott Morse created a story that resembles an ancient myth but that also feels modern in its storytelling. I highly recommend this.

* I received this for free for an honest review *

Book 14: Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
Read January 26th- 27th
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The seventh novel and the first individual story in the Discworld series that is not part of a subseries. You can read this book on its own if you would like. I do recommend reading the rest of the series because you may miss out on the jokes. I have done reviews for the other Discworld books and will link them below for you to look at if you would like. I recommend this series to anyone.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld 

Synopsis 
It focuses on the prince and then king, Teppic of the kingdom of Djelibeybi, basically the Discworld's equivalent of Ancient Egypt. Teppic spends the novel trying to figure out how to be the next pharaoh, though he has some problems because he was trained in Ankh-Morpork's assassins' school. The first task of his is to make the most suitable resting place for his father, the largest pyramid ever. Even though their country is penniless. Then he has to deal with an insane priest who has been pulling the strings behind the kings for a long time.

Characters

Teppic: 
At the age of twelve, Teppic is taken to the famed Assassins' Guild to be trained by the best. The god-to-be was excited when he was first sent there for seven years of his education. He also was having a lot of fun in his classes and learning from everything around him in the city of Ankh-Morpork. That was until he was actually expected to kill someone. Before he can even do the deed, he finds out from a dream that his father has died. He is then summoned home to take over as the ruler of his kingdom and to make the sun rise and stuff like that.

Teppic is one of my favorite of Terry Pratchett's characters so far. He's the first pharaoh in a line of over one thousand to ever question Dios at all, which sounds very absurd (but that's the point). I really liked the dynamic of him being taught outside of the kingdom and learning about modern advances, such as plumbing. It really is a cultural shock for him when he goes to the Assassin's Guild because of just how backward the kingdom actually is. That's all because of dear old Dios, the high priest. A lot of his interactions as a pharaoh with his citizens are forced and contrived by Dios to make him seem more god-like. I thought it was quite a clever way of playing around with the ancient myths and these beliefs. Everyone in their kingdom believes the pharaohs to be doing these acts but in all reality, there is a sincere really old man behind them.

Dios:

The high priest who has been "interpreting" everything for the kings that have been ruling for thousands of years. He never ages and is always there not letting any of the laws or anything else change along the way. Basically, he is the ruler. He has created this facade for the kings to make them seem like they are gods when really it's all in his own mind. Dios is quite insane in his actions.

Probably one of the most annoying, unlikeable, and humorous characters from the series. Dios has kept the kingdom of Djelibeybi backward for thousands of years. I enjoyed watching his conniving nature and what he actually pulled throughout this entire book. It was quite comical. Teppic would say something and then he would "translate" what he was saying. Every time it was the exact opposite thing.

Favorite Parts

1.  The camel name You Bastard: Each of the camels mentioned in the book had a name similar to this, basically named after a phrase that humans use for them. In You Bastard's case, get going you bastard. You Bastard is a genius camel and the greatest mathematician on the disc (Discworld). Actually, all camels are vastly intelligent animals (at least in the Discworld) but are thought of to be stupid because they take too long to do things. The camel was doing Quantum mechanics in his head during many scenes. This was one of the most absurd and most entertaining scenes that I have ever read in my entire life. 

“The fact is that camels are far more intelligent than dolphins. They are so much brighter that they soon realised that the most prudent thing any intelligent animal can do, if it would prefer its descendants not to spend a lot of time on a slab with electrodes clamped to their brains or sticking mines on the bottom of ships or being patronized rigid by zoologists, is to make bloody certain humans don't find out about it. So they long ago plumped for a lifestyle that, in return for a certain amount of porterage and being prodded with sticks, allowed them adequate food and grooming and the chance to spit in a human's eye and get away with it.” 

― Terry Pratchett, Pyramids (This quote made me think of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams). 

2. The long title that Dios recites every single time he mentions the pharaohs: During any time he mentions Teppic, Dios recites the same long title that I have quoted below. Each time it gets funnier especially with Teppic's reactions to it.

“His Greatness the King Teppicymon XXVIII, Lord of the Heavens, Charioteer of the Wagon of the Sun, Steersman of the Barque of the Sun, Guardian of the Secret Knowledge, Lord of the Horizon, Keeper of the Way, the Flail of Mercy, the High Born One, the Never-Dying King.”- Terry Pratchett, Pyramids 

3. The Ghost of Teppicamon XVII (Teppic's father): Teppic's father is probably my favorite character in this book right below Teppic and You Bastard. I really enjoyed watching him complain about the pyramid and him trying to get everyone to listen to him. It was quite enjoyable. 

4. The play on the Sphinx riddle: One final part that I really enjoyed from this book was Teppic and the Sphinx's scene. I won't spoil the genius of this scene here but it is one of the best in this book and any of Terry Pratchett's books. Loved it. 

Ending Thoughts
I really loved the world that Terry created in this book and I hope that we will see this kingdom again in another one of the books. It would be interesting to see what happens after the ending, which I thought was perfect. All in all, this was another favorite in the series. I love the absurd humor that flows throughout this entire book and the rest of the Discworld series. It has become one of my favorite examples of British humor in Literature. I can't get enough of this series and cannot recommend it enough.

Top 10 Favorite Songs of 2017

My Top 10 Favorite Songs of 2017

Last year there was some really great music that I wanted to talk about. These are my top ten favorite songs that I listened to over and over throughout the year. Listening to music is and always will be one of my favorite things to do. This list was hard to narrow down but these are the ones that I listened to the most along with my favorites of the past. 

An honorable mention: "Green Light" by Lorde- I wanted to also mention this song as a great song from last year. Sadly, I just heard it for the first time yesterday so I can't include it on the list, but it really is a new favorite. 

10. "New Year's Day" by Taylor Swift- The closest song of hers from last year that sounds like her old music. I do like many of her songs on the new album but this one really spoke to me as soon as I heard it. The line "Please don't ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere" is one of my favorites from any of her songs. Probably because I relate to it so much.

  9. "One Foot" by Walk the Moon- I love Walk the Moon and all of their music. They have some pretty great lyrics and this is just one example of the great songs from their new album. I really love the synth sound in this song and the beat throughout the entire song. It's such a fun song to listen to.

  8. "Kiwi" by Harry Styles- I did not expect much from this album when I first heard about it but then I heard "Sign of the Times". It was so darn good. This is my favorite from the album. I really love how silly and crazy it is and how much it feels like an old-time rock song. It's just a lot of fun. I know that I will be getting any album that he comes out with now.

  7. "Hey You" by Lea Michele- This was another song of Lea's for Cory Montieth and a sort of follow-up to "If You Say So". This probably would have been higher because I adore it but I have a hard time listening to it. Her voice sounds so beautiful in this song and I really can feel all the emotions.

  6. "Every Single Night" by Computer Games- Darren Criss can do no wrong with me. I have been a fan of his since he was Harry Potter in A Very Potter Musical, Blaine in Glee, and now I'm excited for all of his new music. I love that he has started a band with his brother Chuck. This song is so much fun and upbeat and just makes me happy. Great dance song.

  5. "Evermore" by Dan Stevens- I loved the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast that came out last year. This is one of my favorite songs from it. I love Dan Stevens' voice and also his performance of it in the movie. It was great seeing it at the movies. The message and lyrics in this song are also amazing. Which is to be predicted because it was written by the amazing Alan Menken.

"Now I know she'll never leave me

Even as she fades from view

She will still inspire me

Be a part of everything I do

Wasting in my lonely tower

Waiting by an open door

I'll fool myself, she'll walk right in
And be with me for evermore"- "Evermore"

  4. "Symphony" by Clean Bandit feat. Zara Larsson- This song makes me tear up every single time I listen to it. It is such a great love song that hits me hard. This song devastates me but it also is the best. Everything about a relationship with music speaks to me more than anything else. Music has and will always be one of the most important parts of my life and I really can relate to these lyrics. Zara's voice is beautiful and the notes she hits in this are incredible. Love, love, love. Also, the music video is beautiful and heartbreaking.

  3. "Praying" by Kesha- The best Kesha song that I have ever heard. I have been a fan of Kesha since high school, especially for her ballads. She has always been great at emotional songs but this one hit me so hard. There is so much of this song to love but my favorite part is that note near the end. Stunning song, and a really powerful message.

  2. "Castle on the Hill" by Ed Sheeran- Ed's third album "divide" was my favorite of 2017. This is my favorite from the album. I love his reminiscing about the past in this song. His vocals are incredible and probably his best ever. I really wish that this would have been even more popular than it was but still. Oh and Ed can hit higher notes than I can, even as much as I try. Wonderful chorus, verses, and vocals.
My favorite part "When we did not know the answers."- Gorgeous.

  1. "What About Us" by Pink- Pink has been a favorite of mine since I was a preteen. When I first heard this song I fell in love with it and now five months later, I adore it. Pink has written so many heartfelt songs that speak to me but there is just something about the beat and message in this song that really makes me love it more and more every time I listen to it. This has become another new favorite of hers for me.

2018 Reviews Week 3

🦉 2018 Reviews Week 3 🦉
January 15th- 21st

Book 10: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

by Newt Scamander (J. K. Rowling)

Read by Eddie Redmayne

Listened to January 17th

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Before I go into my actual review, I want to explain a little bit about this book. This is not a book that holds a story, it's more of a compendium. In the voice of Newt, you learn a little about each of the creatures that he has discovered in his travels around the world as a Magizoologist. It's a great companion to the Harry Potter series, especially since it is part of the Hogwarts curriculum. An A to Z guide of around 80 creatures. The version I listened to is the most updated version of the book (the March 14th, 2017th edition or the first audiobook edition). I loved Newts' little introduction in the beginning.

This is the second time that I have read this book, but this time I decided to listen to the audiobook. If you get a chance to, make sure you listen to the audiobook version of this. It was incredible. The production level was top notch and listening to Eddie Redmayne read this book in the character of Newt was not only wonderful, but also the best way to absorb this book. Also, they have the sounds of the creatures playing in the background when he is reading the entries, which makes it atmospheric.

Overall, this is an interesting informational guide about many of the creatures that are in the Harry Potter series and also in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie. It is a great addition to the series and really if you want to read this I'd listen to the audiobook. It made me enjoy it a little more than when I read it the first time. In regards to the actual book, the notes that Ron and Harry make in the margins of the book are funny and a cute little way to tie this in with the series. Especially since this was one of their textbooks. Clever and creative.

Book 11: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Read January 19th-21st

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“There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart’s Desire.” 

― Neil Gaiman, Stardust

What really makes this book and also any of Neil Gaiman's books, is the worlds that he creates and his prose. To me, what really carries this story is his writing. Neil Gaiman has a way of writing that draws me in and really I never want to stop reading it. He creates these worlds in this book that are not only creative and inventive but also feel so real. I cannot get enough of them. 

This is the second time that I've read this book, the first was around five years ago. I can honestly say that it still holds all of the charm and wonder as my first time with it. Tristran, the main character is sometimes a little grading but I will say that he makes up for that with his growth over the novel. Every character is so well developed and you really get to know them over the course of the novel. 

I'm not going to go into too much here because I am going to be doing a book to movie adaptation review on my blog sometime this week, but I will say my overall thoughts. The world of Faerie never stops intriguing me throughout this book. I love fantasy worlds that are intricately built, and Neil is one of the best at that. This world not only has wonderful descriptions but also quirky characters and a scope that surpasses the length. We get a real feeling for the many tales that have taken place in this world, while also getting a story that feels just the right length. I hope that someday Neil comes back to this world like he has said that he would. 

There are three subplots that are interwoven so well together and built this complete narrative that felt so alive. There are also two worlds that we get to experience in this tale. One is the town of Wall, that gets its name from a wall surrounding the town. This town is in England and Neil makes references that really help set this world in reality. For instance, he references Charles Dickens in a wonderful line that I will not spoil here. The setup in the first two chapters of Wall and its citizens was a perfect introduction not only to this world but also to the characters. The other world that we are in for most of the novel is the land of Fairie. In this short novel, we really get the feel of the scale of this world and also just how beautiful it really all is. Flying ships, witches, unicorns, conniving princes, and so much more. This has it all. 

We follow along Tristran as he tries to win the hand of Victoria, who he finds very beautiful. In a failed attempt at wooing her with overexaggerated promises, he makes a deal that he will go and fetch a fallen star for her. This will be in exchange for anything he wants. Little does he know that this oath to her will lead him on a daring and dangerous adventure in a world very unlike the quaint town of Wall. This is just one of the many the plots. I won't go into the others here because I don't believe you should know too much going in. 

Overall, this is my favorite book by Neil Gaiman and a favorite in fantasy. The world is so inventive but also familiar. That I believe is because of the way that Neil has written this book to feel like a fairy tale. This is a modern fairy tale in every single sense of the term. It's a perfect story for any fan of fantasy or just Neil Gaiman in general. I would recommend this to anyone. Also, if you get the chance, I would recommend reading the deluxe illustrated edition that came out around the time of the movie. Charles Vess's illustrations are stunning and the extra material in the back of the book is great. A must-have for any fans of this book. 

Magical, with just the right amount of humor. 

The Book Combo Tag

The Book Combo Tag

Tag Tuesday- January 16th, 2018

This tag was created by Jessethereader on Booktube. Here is a link to his video if you are interested in seeing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVhKiOaXjWg

1.) What two authors would you like to see put their writing skills together to write a book? 
Leigh Bardugo and Laini Taylor- The book that they would create would be atmospheric, lyrical, and just stunning all around. It would probably also be one of my favorite books of all time.

2.) What is your favorite author collaboration? Whether it be a short story collection or just a book that the authors worked together on.
Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman for Good Omens. I love this book so much and they were the perfect people to collab together to write a book. I really wish that they could have written more together.

3.) If you could combine two stories and make them a book of their own, which would they be? & what would the reworked title be?
I would love a crossover between Percy and Harry. That would be an epic story. I really would not want them to be one book together. Just another story altogether where they have to work together.
Harry Potter and the Quest to save the Olympian.- Probably the worst title ever but oh well. :)

And apparently, this is a thing that many
people wanted. 

4.) What two characters from different books do you ship?
Can't say that I have ever shipped characters from different books.

5.) What two worlds from different stories would you like see come together to be one epic world?
Narnia and Hogwarts
Narnia and Wonderland
Hogwarts and Wonderland
The Land of Stories and this world in real life so I can go there.

6.) What duology/trilogy/series would you have liked to see be combined into one book?
The Dorothy Must Die Series- Really, I would not want each of the books to be combined into one but I feel like the four books could have been made into a series of three books.

2018 Reviews Week 2

2018 Reviews Week 2:

January 8th- 14th

Book 4: American Gods Volume 1: Shadows (Graphic Novel)

by Neil Gaiman

Scott Hampton (Illustrator), P. Craig Russell (Illustrator), and Walt Simonson (Illustrator)

Read January 6th-8th

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~ A Short Synopsis ~

The first in a three-volume adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods. The story follows Shadow Moon who has spent the last three years in prison, only to get out and find out that his wife has died. Uncertain of what to do now, he meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, who employs him as his bodyguard. Wednesday is a trickster and rouge, who seems to know much more about Shadow than Shadow even knows. Unknown to Shadow, Mr. Wednesday is an ancient god and he is now part of a war that is starting between the ancient and modern gods. Being Wednesday's bodyguard, driver, and errand boy becomes far more dangerous and interesting than Shadow would have ever imagined. This volume collects the first nine issues of the American Gods comic series. 

I have been reading Neil Gaiman's works for some time but I have never picked up American Gods. Over the years, I have heard nothing but incredible things about the novel and from what I can see from this collection they were all correct. He is one of my favorite authors and this is another great example of why. 

~ Writing Style ~

The narrative of these issues of the comic was quite interesting. We follow along with Shadow as he finds out about his wife and then as he meets Mr. Wednesday. Most of the plot focuses on Shadow's storyline as he learns more and more about what is actually going on around him.  Also, there are parts where the narrative will switch. There are many flashbacks to the gods coming to America. Then there would be scenes that are happening in other parts of America at the time period of Shadow's plot, at least that is what I assume. There were times though that instead of a switch to someone else I would have liked to stay with Shadow and what was going on with him. His part of the story, especially with his new, found role was one of my favorite aspects.  

~ The Art, Lettering, and Coloring ~

From what I can see from this graphic novel, the story works so well in the visual medium. Shadow imagines and sees many incredible things throughout the course of the story. He sees ghosts that not only haunt him but also help him along the way and he also is meeting a lot of distinct gods. There was never a moment that I did not enjoy the illustrations in this piece. Every panel stood out from the one before it and went along perfectly with the supernatural fantasy tale that was being told. Some of my favorites were when the gods would take up the whole page literally breaking out of the panels that they were in. It was a stunning experience reading the entire time and I cannot wait for more. 

~ Final Thoughts ~

Overall, this was an enjoyable experience for me that had me thinking a lot about this crazy world that Neil Gaiman has created, yet again. It never ceases to amaze me when I jump into another story and see how incredibly detailed and inventive the worlds he creates are. This world that Neil has created in this story is developed in such a way that really intrigues and creeps me out. I have always loved the way he will combine classic stories, characters, or other aspects of literature and create his own highly detailed world around it. This was a wonderful graphic novel. I can't say if it's a great adaptation because I have never read the novel. All I know is that I fully enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone that is a fan of Neil Gaiman's adult novels. This was one of a kind. 

*I received this for free for an honest review* 

Book 5: A Tale Dark & Grimm 
by Adam Gidwitz
Read January 10th-12th
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Hansel and Gretel are a prince and princess, from a kingdom, that realize their parents are not the best of people. They decide to walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm Brother-inspired tales. Through each tale, they try to find the best new home and learn to take a charge of their own destinies.

This was so much more than I expected it to be. I really loved how Adam Gidwitz used his own style of writing and also mixed it with the Grimm Brother's style. There were times that each was so distinct but then as the story continued on they meddled together so well. Also, I really enjoyed that he used mostly fairy tales that are not well known. For instance, "Faithful Johannes", "Brother and Sister", and so many others. There were even a few that I had never even heard of before which was quite refreshing. He not only made these tales entertaining to read but also made them his own while doing it. This is, at least I believe, a perfect way to get children to want to read these original tales and see what happened in them.

The fairy tales in this novel were weaved so well together. I really loved how each one felt like a piece of the whole, but also their own separate entity. This was a great take on these tales that I feel that should be read by all. The narration was very entertaining. I really enjoyed the warnings throughout and also how dark this got at times. It was dark but never too much. There was a great balance between the dark and grim and also the humor. I cannot wait to pick up the companion novels to this.

Books 6-9: The Lost Slayer Series
Prophecies, Dark Times, 
King of the Dead, and Original Sin
by Christopher Golden
Prophecies: Read January 12th- 📚📚📚📚
Dark Times: Read January 12th- 📚📚📚
King of the Dead: Read January 13th-  📚📚📚📚
Original Sin: Read January 13th-  📚📚📚📚



Set around the time of the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy is trying to balance being a Slayer and also her life as a college student and friend. She has put it on herself to not only do really great in school but also to do all of her slaying duties by herself. When she finds a new group of cult-like vampires, she asks for the help of Willow, Giles, Xander, Anya, and Oz, but she doesn't really take their advice well. Giles gets captured by a bat god demon creature and she makes a serious mistake that messes up the future. This series follows Buffy as she gets captured herself and this alternate future. Will she be able to save the world and also change the reality back to the way it should have been?

I have been collecting Buffy books at book sales for the past two years, ever since I watched and fell in love with the show. This series is one of the many I have found. This felt very much like an episode of Buffy, especially a season finale. They were always so big and epic and this could have been a good idea. I won't spoil what happens here but I did enjoy some of the many paths this took. The overall story was what really kept me interested and I just wanted to see what would happen next to "the Scooby Gang."

One of the parts of this that did not really feel right were some of the characters. There were many times that the dialogue or just how the characters would act in general that just didn't feel right to their characters from the show. The biggest example of this was Spike. When a new vampire leader takes over in the second book we see Spike as a henchman. Spike would have never acted the way he did. There were other instances of characters acting out of character but he was the one that stood out the most. Buffy was the character that felt the most right, which was good because the narration followed her for the most part.

Also, the idea of the alternate future was something that I would like to talk about. There is an episode of Buffy from Season Three, where we see an alternate future that Cordelia wishes up. I felt like the overall idea of this book may have come from that. At least somewhat anyway. The problem with this though is that the stakes are not always there in this series of books. Every time Buffy tried to fix everything or a plan would fail, it didn't feel real. The problem might be that I already know that everyone is going to be okay but it still didn't feel like there was any suspense. I just felt like the actual show did many plots similar to this but better. The overall concept was great especially with Giles but it was not executed as well as I would have liked.

I really did enjoy this serialized story and felt that it was another great adventure with the Gang that I have really been missing. The plot and concept interested me and had me wanting to know what would happen next once I finished a volume. There were just times that I wished that the characters would better reflect their character in the tv series. Also, I felt like it fell flat with some of the suspense.

The story idea for this was a great one that I do recommend for Buffy fans. Someday I hope to find a book based off of the series that reflects, the humor, characters, and plot lines just as well as the show. 

Books You Didn't Get to In 2017

January 10th, 2018

Top 5 Wednesday/ 

Books You Didn't Get to In 2017 

These are the books that I didn't get to in 2017 that I plan on reading this year.

Top 5 Wednesday is a group created by Lainey of Ginger Reads Lainey on Booktube. It is now hosted by Sam of Thoughts on Tomes on Booktube. Here is a link to the group on Goodreads if you are interested in joining. 

1. S by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst

This is a book that I have wanted to read for years and I will be picking it up most likely this month. I have been waiting to read this for when I had the time and now I just look forward to it so much. The premise of it intrigues me and I will be making time for it pretty soon. I can't wait. 

2. Cinder by Marissa Meyer: 

I have been wanting to get into this series for years. Retellings are sort of my favorite thing, well at least one of them. And these books have a science fiction twist, which is awesome. Also, I really loved Marissa Meyer's Heartless. So I need to read this soon. 

3. The Beauty and the Beast 
by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, MinaLima (Illustrator):

Yet another classic that I would love to read this year. I have known the story for years because of the Disney version but I have always wanted to read the original. This version looks so gorgeous and I cannot wait to experience it. The MinaLima collection of classics are my favorites. They are the best. 

4. The Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke:

This is another series that I wanted to finish off last year but never did. I read Inkheart years ago but have never finished the series for various reasons. One of them being the fact that I was spoiled for a major plot point that sort of makes me not want to continue. It makes me sad though because I adored the first book. This is one that I hope to get the motivation to read this year. We will see. 

5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusack: 

Another book that I have heard nothing but amazing things about. I have been wanting to read this one for years and I plan on trying to get to it soon. Most likely, I'll pick up the audiobook. I have heard pieces of it before and loved what I heard. 

2018 Book Reviews Week 1

❄️ 2018 Book Reviews Week 1:

January 1st- 7th, 2018  ❄️

Book 1: Zen Pencils: Creative Struggle 

by Gavin Aung Than 

Read Jan 4th- 5th, 2018

📚📚📚📚

This was a very inspiring collection of cartoons that went along perfectly with the quotes from many inspirational artists, musicians, writers, and scientists. Each quote stood out to me especially from those that I admire myself. Another great addition to each of the quotes was the little biography that came after each one so that you could learn about each of the people a little more. There were quotes from Vincent van Gogh, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Mary Shelley, Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, and so many more. 

What really stood out in this book though was seeing many of these very famous people express how they worked past their creative struggles. Beethoven using his music as a way of getting past his loss of hearing, Mary Shelley getting over writer's block, and so many more.

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book 2: Weave a Circle Round

by Kari Maaren

Read by Eileen Stevens

Listened to Jan 4th- 5th, 2018

📚📚📚📚📚

I had no clue of what to expect from this book before I started listening to it. When I had first heard about this book a few months before it came out, I had read the synopsis and it intrigued me. This is about a girl named Freddy who really does not want to be noticed by anyone. She lives with her divorced mother, little sister Mel, stepfather Jordan, and her step-brother Roland, who brings more attention to himself and to her that she could ever possibly want because he is deaf.

They live next to a house that is always described as the house on Grosvenor Street. This is a house that is known not to keep its tenants for more than a few months at a time. Then one day two people move in. Two extremely odd people, Cuerva Lachance and Josiah. Freddy, Mel, and Roland go over to the house after they hear a crash and find the two strange new neighbors but also hear more voices in the house that freak them out. Over the course of the next few weeks, Freddy is followed by Josiah. She and her siblings are part of a bigger picture than she can even imagine and the adventure she goes on with Josiah is more than she could have ever expected.

I will say that there were a couple of times that I wished that there was more to the descriptions but I believe that there was a major reason for this in the plot. We are just as confused as Freddy is throughout this plot and learn about what is going on as she does. The more Freddy learns the more we are able to and that really made me connect with her as a narrator. There are pieces to the puzzle of Cuerva Lachance and Josiah from the very beginning of this book. I loved learning along with each of the characters and also seeing everything come into play later on in the story. This was a neatly woven plot that I could not get enough of. Though it is a bit crazy at times. Everything paid off for me in the end and I cannot wait to read this book again to see some of the other hints that I missed when I first read it.

When I first read the title I knew that I recognized the name from somewhere but was not sure from where. It is actually an important part of this story that was a really cool piece of this overall puzzle and I will not mention it here because it is really cool when you realize it.

One of the overarching messages in this book is growing up. Freddy learns a lot about herself throughout the course of this story but also about her family. She really does grow from a girl that does not seem to care much about others around her. I really hope that Kari will continue her story somehow in the future. I know that I will read it.

Eileen Stevens’ audio narration of the novel develops a feeling of unease that matches perfectly with how Freddy feels throughout the narrative. She creates a distinct voice for each of the characters. This builds the world of the story around the characters that will immerse the reader in Freddy’s world. It will not only keep the reader interested but will have them wanting to find out the mystery of what is really going on with Cuerva Lachance and Josiah. 

I cared for each of these characters and really enjoyed how complicated and also how heartfelt this story could be. To me, this was a great debut novel and I cannot wait to see where Kari goes from here.

*I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Book 3: Whichwood 
by Tahereh Mafi
Read Jan 4th- 7th, 2018
📚📚📚📚


From the time that I first heard that there was going to be a companion book for Furthermore, I was really excited. I loved the whimsical descriptions, the characters' relationships and personalities, and the wonderful setting. I knew going into this book that it would be dark and I was ready to see what Tahereh Mafi would do in a different setting. This was just as interesting and thought out as Furthermore but I felt that it was too dark for the age group that this is being marketed too. I believe that middle-grade readers can read darker books but this even made me a bit disturbed at times. From the weird scenes with bugs to the dead bodies (especially with certain scenes at the end). What I thought was going to have a dark feel like for instance the original Grimm fairy tales, had scenes that I don't believe some kids should read.

I would also like to talk about the characters and their relationships in this book. For most of this book, I had a hard time really getting attached to the main character, Laylee. I can understand why she was so detached from the world around her, especially with the life that she was dealt. But that did not make her any easier to get attached to enough to want to read from her perspective. We also get Alice and Oliver back from the first book. Their relationship and friendship with Laylee and another boy named Benyamin was an important part of this story and its overall message. The healing power of friendship is something that is great to teach younger readers.

The narration I believe is one of the most interesting parts of both this and Furthermore. Also, I enjoyed reading the footnotes for other information about the plot.

I believe before going into this book that you should definitely read Furthermore because a lot of the focus is on events from that book. Yes, the narrator does explain this in the plot and footnotes but I feel that you will miss out if you don't.

My Favorite Books of 2017

Favorite Books Read in 2017

Here are my top ten percent favorite books of the year out of two hundred, so twenty books (well sort of). All of the books that I have listed below are in order of how I read them this year. I will mention below this list what my top five favorite books were. I did not count any of my rereads from this year though because I reread my top six favorite books of all time. I have reviews for most of these books here on my blog. If there is a review for it, I'll put a 📚 beside it.

1.)  A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness- Read January 9th
 When I first heard of this book I was not really sure about it. It was getting a lot of hype as this book with a heartfelt message. I then picked it up and read it in a few hours. This book is one of the most moving books that I have ever read. I was not expecting the overall message in this book. I made sure to go in not really knowing much about it, which is how I recommend reading it. The monster's tales that he told Connor were great and I loved it so much. I will say that this is a tear jerker and broke my heart.

2.)  Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan- Read the whole series January 10th- 12th

I have decided to put all of the books from the Percy Jackson series in this list because it's a favorite of mine as a whole. This is a series that I should have read years ago and I kind of wish that I did. I have owned it for years and I just never picked it up. Shortly after I started the first book, I could not put them down. This has become one of my favorite series of all time and I still cannot stop thinking about it almost a year later. Each book stands out with the references large or small to the original Greek Myths. Greek Mythology is one of my favorite things to read about and I love that there are many middle-grade series that have such great use of these classics. Percy is such a relatable character and his way of narrating his tales had me laughing out loud. I was invested in his life and his friend's lives so much and I did not want to leave them. The Last Olympian was a great ending to this series and is one of my favorite endings to a series ever. It felt like the best way to close this series. 

I will be picking up more of Rick Riordan's series this coming year and I cannot wait. 

3.) Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt- Read February 11th- 12th
When I had first read the synopsis of this book a couple of years ago I thought that it would be a good book. Now after reading the book I know that I was wrong. It was not only a good book it was an amazing book. A great read and an amazing story. Toby and June's friendship was something that I could not get enough of. I really got attached to every character. Another tear-jerk of the year. I love the ideas of art, love, and friendship that fill this book. One of my favorites of the year for its incredible message and for characters that I loved more than anything.


4.) Stranger than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer- Read March 1st
 This is Chris Colfer's second young adult book and I believe it was just as good as his first Struck by Lightning. Cash Carter is a young actor from a very popular television show (Chris has said that this is somewhat based off of events in his life). Four friends who have been obsessed with the show since they were kids jokingly invite him on a road trip. They are very surprised when he says yes. Cash has been hiding many dark secrets though from everyone that explain his dejected attitude about everything. Slowly, the teens and Cash develop a deep relationship. I love the sarcastic humor throughout this book. I was not expecting how sad this would get.

5.) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde- Read April 20th-26th 📚
Dorian Gray is a self-absorbed man who treats the ones that love and care about him horribly. He becomes completely enamored by a portrait of himself that his friend, Basil Hallward painted of him. After another friend, Lord Henry mentions that he will eventually lose his beauty he becomes obsessed with the idea of how the painting will never lose its beauty but he will. Dorian sells his soul so that he would never age as his portrait changes. Over time he changes into a man that only cares for himself and uses those around him. The portrait then starts to reflect the man he truly is, a corrupt man who is vain.

It is interesting to watch Dorian's self-destruction as he loses every bit of redeemable qualities that he once had. The story is slow at the beginning but it is completely worth getting through the first thirty or so pages. Dorian becomes a detestable man that it is hard to feel a bit sorry for him but his decline into narcissism is one of the most interesting stories I have ever read. I would recommend this book to anyone. His self-absorption in the fact that his beauty will eventually end is quite fascinating and I kept wondering what else this man would do.

6.) Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi- Read May 1st- 3rd 📚
This was a great novel and it makes me want to read more of Tahereh Mafi's works. She writes in clever prose with beautiful lyrical writing. Also, her asides are quite funny along with the chapter introductions. She has a companion to this book that came out last year called Whichwood that I will be reading soon. This story is geared towards Middle Grade but I cannot help but think that anyone would have a fun time reading this (I believe anyone can enjoy a good Middle-Grade novel. I don't care what age you are). Not only is this a great adventure story but it also is a story about individuality. Alice is never afraid of being herself and will let anyone know this. She, I believe would be a great inspiration for younger readers and even older readers.


7.) 180 Seconds by Jessica Park- Read May 7th 📚
It's not every day that I adore a book from the first page of it but I became utterly hooked on this book from the very first page. There was something about Simon and Allison's relationship in the first chapter that made me adore them so much. I did not know too much going into this book. I knew that Allison was a college student who had been adopted at the age of sixteen. That interested me so much because one I had never read a book with a character that had been adopted at such a late age and was very interested to see what would happen. Her interactions with Simon (her adopted father) are so beautiful and I adored them immensely as characters.

8.) Bull by David Elliot- Read May 18th 📚
One of the greatest aspects of this book is the fact that it was written in verse. I can not imagine how long this book would have taken to write let alone contemplate. I love the idea of writing in verse myself since I love writing poetry and I love reading it. The author explains at the end the types of verse that he used throughout for each character. Every one of the characters speaks differently and brings new layers to the story.

What I really liked about David's book was that, yes he stuck to the myth but he added character and motivations to the story that were not already there before. He explained at the end his process in writing this and I loved that he did this. This is one of my all-time favorite Greek myths and he added a layer to the story that made me love it so much more. Asterion, the Minotaur becomes a tragic character in this story that I loved. In the original myth he really never had much of a character but in this David makes the character have new dimensions. I felt bad for him.

9.) My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton- Read May 24th- 26th 📚
 I have said this before on this blog but I'll say it again. When I was in tenth grade I really loved learning about the Tudor family and everything else about England at that time period. Really, I just loved my history class at that time but still. I thought that their story would be an interesting historical fiction novel and I have been looking for one ever since. Last year, I heard of this book for the very first time and I knew that I would have to pick it up. Man, am I happy that I did. This became a new favorite historical fiction novel and novel with humor in it for me. I love the characters especially Jane and also the plot. The beginning of this novel is similar to what actually happened in history and then it becomes its own thing. I loved the mixture of history and fantastical elements and I could not get enough of it. Now this year, the Lady Janies have a new book coming out called My Plain Jane which I will be reading when it comes out. :)

10.) Heartless by Marissa Meyer- Read June 9th 📚
I adored this book and it was hard for me to read it at times because I knew what was going to happen to Catherine the whole time. This is the origin story of the Queen of Hearts one of the memorable characters of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Throughout the story, each of the denizens of Wonderland is shown and we learn how they ended up where they are and how they are in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Catherine is the future Queen of Hearts who has the affection of the King of Hearts who deeply loves the young woman. Catherine does not want his love or to become queen, she wants to open up her own bakery. She is known throughout the kingdom for her wonderful treats. At the ball, that she is supposed to be proposed to at, she meets Jest, who she falls hard for. She and Jest secretly court each other because of her family and the king. Catherine wants nothing more than choosing her path but she has fate to fight with. She will be the future Queen of Hearts even if she does not want it.

I really loved how Carollian the writing in this book was. Marissa Meyer did an incredible job creating her own story but also making it feel like it could have been written by Lewis Caroll himself.

11.) The Land of Stories: Worlds Collide by Chris Colfer- Read July 11th 📚
Chris Colfer has been a favorite author of mine since 2012 when his first book The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell came out. I have loved Chris from his first episode of Glee and I still do. His books are just so special to me and I kind of wish that they would have come out when I was a kid. That is not saying that I did not enjoy them now because I adore them. Really, I just wish I could have been lucky enough to grow up with them like the kids are now. I am much older than the target audience of this series, even though I don't really believe that you have to be a certain age to enjoy a book. The Land of Stories is one of my favorite series of life and that will never change. Every single year I have done a reread of each of the books leading up to the release of the new one (I'm going to miss doing this). This was a great end to a series that I have loved for five years. The characters are great, the lands he created are all so vivid, and this world is one that I would live in, in a heartbeat. I have compared the feeling of finishing this series to when I finished the Harry Potter series ten years ago. This is actually the first series that I read along with as each of the books was released instead of reading them months or even years later. This was the perfect ending book to a series that I have loved for years and I cannot wait to see the companion series that he is planning on writing. I will be reading it as soon as they come out. As I said above in Stranger than Fanfiction, I have read every one of Chris's books and I don't plan on ever stopping. Also, I am beyond excited for the movies. I may be one of the only adults that will be there without children, but I will be seeing it as soon as it comes out.

12.) Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor- July 30th- August 2nd

Laini Taylor has a writing style that I simply adore and this story was one of the best that I have ever read. Lazlo and Sarai's stories are beautiful and I could not get enough of this book. This is my second of her books with Daughter of Smoke and Bone being my first a few years ago. Strange the Dreamer has a world that I would love to live in and characters that I connected with so much. Also, that ending was powerful. I'm interested in seeing what will happen in the next book. Laini's style may not be for everyone but it is for me. It's lyrical, poetic, and each line feels alive in itself. This book was perfection.

13.) The Wendy Project by Melissa Jane Osborne, Veronica Fish (Illustrator)- Read September 2nd 📚

 This is a stunning graphic novel and is one of the best that I have ever seen visually if not the best. The illustrations/art by Veronica Fish are incredible and I just want to keep looking at them. The story is also great. I love retellings or stories that take a twist on original tales and this one was definitely very good. Melissa Jane Osborne takes the tale of Peter Pan and twists it into a story of grief and how to overcome great obstacles. The notebook-like design is not only clever and beautiful but it also goes perfectly with the story that Melissa is telling. I recommend this book to anyone that loves the original tale of Peter Pan and graphic novels. This was a great take on a classic story that I cannot get enough of. Also, it looks absolutely stunning and has a great texture to the cover. I could gush about it forever. Please, if the premise of this book sounds even a bit interesting to you, pick it up. You will not regret it. 

14.) The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell- Read September 10th 📚

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this novel. The fantasy story was interesting and also cute. I rooted for all of the characters especially our two main characters, Xar and Wish. Also, the witches are interestingly different than I have ever seen before and are creepy. Cressida Cowell is great at story building and writes with a voice throughout the story that I could not get enough of. Her use of wit and narration are great parts of this story. This is the first book of Cressida's that I have picked up and know I will pick up others of hers. She is known for writing the popular How to Train Your Dragon book series that the two Dreamworks movies are based on. Middle-grade fantasy is a genre that I have always loved and this is an incredible example of one of the best. She builds this world that I felt like I was walking around in when listening to this book. The creepiness of these witches and also just the deep dark forest was perfect for the story. She says at the beginning that we may have heard of deep dark forests before but we really don't know what we are getting into. Her descriptions throughout were perfect to show this.

David Tennant did a great job creating a distinct voice for each of the characters. I have loved David Tennant since I first saw him in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire movie and also in a few episodes of Doctor Who.  He gave each of the characters a voice that seemed to fit their characters. My favorites were for the sprites, which were amazing. So adorable. He could literally read any audiobook and I would listen to them. That is because he made these characters come alive and created this atmosphere of a reading experience that I will never forget. Saying that I enjoyed listening to this book is an understatement. He made this book so much for me and I know that I will be picking up the rest of the series once they come out.

15.) Mort by Terry Pratchett- Read September 23rd- 25 📚
 The fourth book in the Discworld series and the first in the Death subseries, which is so far my favorite of the subseries. Death has been in each of the books so far because he comes when someone dies. This book focuses on him taking on an apprentice and then trying to find a more "normal" job for himself. Death both understands humankind more than we ever could because he has watched us for so long, but also is trying to still understand emotions and the actions of humans.
His adventures and quotes within this book our some of the best I have ever read in literature let alone in this series. This easily made it onto my favorites list. I can't wait to get more of Death's story throughout the novels.

16.) The Marvels by Brian Selznick- Read October 9th 📚

The Marvels tells two different stories that connect in such an amazing way. The first is told in about 400 pages of continuous pictures. It begins with a boy named Billy who is shipwrecked in 1766 and eventually finds work at a theater in England. Throughout this story, we follow the rest of his family throughout the generations and their life as actors. This is up until 1900 when Leontes Marvel is banished from the theater.

The second part of this story takes place almost a century later, in 1990, with the runaway Joseph Jervis. He has come to England from his boarding school to try and find his uncle. Albert Nightingale, his uncle, is known to be a strange man living in the most stunningly beautiful house, that contains many secrets. Joseph becomes fascinated in this house and his uncle. He tries everything to figure out what has happened in the past with his family and also the house.

I loved both sides of this story and especially the twist that we find out in the second part of this story. This is definitely my favorite of Brian Selznick's books. I would recommend reading this and his others. They are all very good.

17.) The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo- Read November 3rd-4th 📚
 This is a beautiful fairy tale collection set in Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse. Each story in this collection is accompanied with illustrations on every page which grow with each page until they make a two-page spread illustration at the end. Besides the illustrations, the stories are just as stunning if not more. Leigh Bardugo's writing is one of my favorites ever and I could not get enough of each of these stories. Some were based on some of the original fairy tales and other classic tales, and others were completely of Leigh's own creation. I loved how each story had the feel of a classic fairy tale to them. Really, I could have had twenty more of these tales and I would have been happy. I hope that she will eventually write more of these. I'll definitely buy them. Also, I cannot wait to read more of her books this year. I will be at least reading her Wonder Woman book.

18.) Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao- Read November 15th-18th 📚
From the first sentence of this audiobook, I was hooked. I have not read many books where the villain was the protagonist. I really loved this retelling/ origin story of the Evil Queen. The Snow White fairy tale has always been one of my favorites and this twist on that was enjoyable to read. It definitely became a new favorite one for me out of any of the Snow White or any other retellings. I loved Julie's take on this story and how she made it her own.

My favorite aspect of this book was how Julie made this her own story. I just love how she took these classic concepts and twisted them into a novel that I could not stop listening to. It became one of my favorites last year among a list as you have seen here that is quite extensive. I cannot wait for the next book in this duology, which I will be picking up as soon as it comes out.

19.) Descender: The Deluxe Edition Volume 1 by Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen (Illustrator)- Read December 13th 📚
I had heard so many incredible things about this graphic novel series since it had first come out. At the end of last year, I was lucky enough to get the chance to review this first volume for the website Impulse Gamer. This was even more incredible than what I had heard before. It is definitely in my top graphic novel picks along with I Hate Fairyland and the Wendy Project. The illustrations in this graphic novel are stunning watercolor designs that just pop out. The story was very compelling. I really connected to TIM and cannot wait to continue his story in the near future. This is one incredible volume that I would recommend to anyone to read. It has a great mix of action, adventure, and science fiction.

20.) Hogfather by Terry Pratchett- Read December 26th- 29th 📚
This has been a great year of reading and I'm glad that this was one of my final books of the year. I loved starting Terry Pratchett's Discworld series last year and cannot wait to continue with Pyramids this month. Hogfather was one of the darkest so far for me of the Discworld series and also the funniest. It was entertaining reading about Death saving Hogswatch and also the world along with it. So far this is one of my favorites of the series. Terry Pratchett was an incredible writer and person and I would recommend them to everyone. He was one of a kind and it devastates me to know that he has not been with us for almost three years now. What an incredible mind and person. I cannot express to you enough about how much you should read this book and the whole series in general. If you love a great fantasy you should read this. If you love the feeling around Christmas you should read this. And finally, if you love a great story you should read this. This was an incredible book that I cannot speak more highly of. Also, Death is one of my all-time favorite characters out of any book.

Top 5 Favorite Books of the year
5. Mort by Terry Pratchett
4. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
3. The Land of Stories: Worlds Collide by Chris Colfer
2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan (because I'm counting this as one)
1. The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo