Fanboys Anonymous

Hey there, epic fantasy fans! All too often, the pages we read are filled with beauty and virtue, tainted by an enemy that expects to destroy all that is good. The world of man is made out to be magical. Unique races are, or may become, united. The fall of the enemy was foretold by an ancient prophecy. A hero is coming to save us all.

The Pact, a high fantasy novella by Graeme Brown, tells a tale of angelic creatures. Beautiful goblins frolic in the fields; exotic ogres paint the daytime grasses with wondrous colors; and the unborn bask in the sun, radiant and stunning. But when the sun falls below the horizon, these creatures become fiends of the night, terrorizing men and women foolish enough to be in the vicinity.



The book begins with a young boy of ten. All humans—including his family—have been forced into small areas that they inhabit and protect with their lives. Towns are spread to unfathable distances, thinning any human resistance yet further and children grow up behind walls. Aside from the walls, the only thing keeping people safe is a flimsy 200-year-old pact between humans and monsters. It's a pact that people are beginning to suspect the enemy would like to break soon, given the creatures' recent actions.

During the king's festivities one night, the king's knights march in wishing to break this pact and wage war on the enemy. So do other knights from afar. But one of the great wartime knights, feared by all, brings in evidence that the pact has already been broken. The time to wage war is upon us. The story opens up, following the children as they escape death and learn a little something about the outside world they have been protected from for so long. Will they become heroes, or won't they? Either way, they can't stay hidden from the dark and evil forces of the unborn forever.

This short novella was unique and fun. It's nice to follow fleeing children for a change in an epic fantasy, rather than a seasoned hero, or even an unlikely hero. It really changes things up. So, The Pact was a good story and definitely worth a read. Check it out and tell me what you think downstairs. Indie?

Movie lovers and legend lovers: recently Titan Books contacted us about reviewing Noah, the novel adaptation of the new film about the legendary biblical story. Noah is the man credited with the re-initiation of human life and the saving of animal life during the great flood that destroyed almost all life on Earth. I'm happy to say it was definitely decent, as far as action and fiction goes, though it was hard for me to relate to. Presumably everyone sees the injustice in human existence, but it would be awfully hard to find sympathy for Noah's cause considering he hardly seems sane most of the time.

Probably more than anything else that stands out about the literary adaptation of the film is the fact that Noah seems to have a tainted idea of justice, unless you take the story of Abraham and Isaac into account. If most of you will remember, Abraham drags Isaac up the mountain intending to sacrifice him simply because the Lord requests it of him. Doing as the Lord tells him, he raises the sacrificial knife and is about to strike it down on Isaac when an angel grabs his arm and stays the knife. It was just a test. Noah's task in this movie and in the Bible, however, is not a test. Apparently, Noah will cause himself to witness anything to harden himself so he can watch his species die off. My issue with it was that there was no "God said…." His actions were strictly based on his interpretation of visions.

From the beginning, Noah seems to favor the four-legged beasts over humans—humans that eat meat, that is. It sort of draws on the idea that man was meant to be an herbivore, but that the nurturing of evil has caused them to crave meat, to explain a small percentage of the violence of man described in the Bible and the reason for the cleansing. He sets out to build an arc to save two of every animal species because of his visions, but with each step he takes, there is a new obstacle. It plays on the well-known name of Cain, giving a man in Cain's future line a bigger part than he played in the Bible. An interesting fact in my own Bible was that Tubal-Cain's proclaiming that if Cain was cursed for killing Abel, surely Tubal-Cain would be cursed tenfold. It adds a unique possibility to the movie: Tubal-Cain's antisocial personality and his survival of the flood. The bible doesn't strictly say that most of this didn't happen.

Interestingly enough, Methuselah's part in this film seems a bit more prominent than it is in the Bible itself. In the original story, his part is mentioned strictly as the next in the bloodline after Enoch, who begat Lamech, who then begat Noah. Depending on what other religious books you've studied, though, or other media interpretations, you might remember Methuselah playing a larger part, having a relationship with Enoch, ministering to the people with Noah to convince them to change their ways, etc. Enoch, Methuselah's father, was so absolutely pure that he simply was taken into Heaven, and in the movie, Methuselah is renowned as a great and legendary warrior—a protector of the fallen angels.

The problem with Methuselah is not the fictional, or possibly even true, account of his wars waged, but the fact that the angels on Earth even exist. Most interpretations of the bible account for giants and great warriors, which are both pointed out whether you consider Methuselah, Tubal-Cain, or both as great warriors. As a young man, I remember reading Genesis and studying it. It is, after all, along with the first few books of the Bible the least realistic and possibly the hardest to gain an understanding of. Some interpretations, though—and the way I grew up understanding it—was that angels took human wives, breeding and creating giants, whom tended to be massive, violent warriors with generally shifty, uncontrollable moods. That understanding led me to almost instantly reject the fantasy of giants being present during the creation of man, which is how the book's author wrote his fantasy interpretation. Personally, though, the story of Methuselah struck me as unique and fun.

Another inconsistency was with Noah's children's ages. The bible places them as already in their hundreds and two-hundreds, while the movie places them in their teens and lower. Aside from that, you won't find enough evidence in the Bible to discount everything that happens in the film. For all I know, it all happened.

The reason for my critique has been this: I recently read many articles with complaints about accuracy. I also read many articles concerning the banning of this film in certain countries. I wouldn't call it historically accurate (as the Bible tells it), but then again, neither would I call the Bible accurate. The news hype and hatred surrounding this film seems unwarranted. In fact, if it didn't so heavily take from a biblical story, I might say it makes a pretty good fantasy piece. In closing, I hate Noah as a person, but I enjoyed the Noah religious fantasy story and I thought it was quite brilliant. There's going to be plenty of action and there's going to be many questionable moments, but this twist from the everyday understanding of the interpretations makes for a definitely great film novelization. Tell me what you think downstairs.

My name is Travis. I am 34 years old (one of the oldest members of Fanboys Anonymous). I have been a gamer since I was old enough to hold a controller. I have played nearly every single video gaming console that has ever come into existence.

One game series that has been near and dear to me all throughout my life has been Castlevania. I will never forget my first time playing the very first game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I was over at my late brother's apartment one weekend, and he had rented the game from a local video store. I was about 9 years old at the time. Although this was around the time when Castlevania II: Simon's Quest was available, you have to start at the beginning in order to get the full story.

It was from this moment on that I fell in love with the series. From its sometimes frustrating challenges to its incredible music, Castlevania has become one of the most beloved gaming franchises, sitting alongside Mario and Sonic as an icon.

Another aspect of Castlevania is the gorgeous visuals. Things have drastically improved through the years and have come a long way since the first NES game. As years and consoles have come and gone, this series has always found ways to trump the previous entry. Although the early games looked more colorful when compared with later titles, it always gives you a creepy feeling as you traverse through different parts of Dracula's castle.

Recently, I have had the pleasure of checking out an art book published by Titan Books that provides an extensive look into the various characters and locales for Konami's 2010 video game, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Written by former content editor from the UK offices for IGN.com, Martin Robinson, The Art of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is an excellent companion to the game. It gives fans a deeper look into what it took to create some of the most incredible visuals in any Castlevania game ever.

Courtesy of Titan Books

Admittedly, I have not played this game, which is a shame because, as I have mentioned earlier, I am a big fan of the franchise. That being said, I will say that after looking at each page of this book, I am even more motivated to go out and buy a copy.

According to the press release which I had received when I got the copy I have reviewed for this article, the book starts "from the very beginning with an in-depth look at the game's development art and moving through a wealth of concept art and detailed creator commentary, this lavish book takes readers on a thrilling journey through the ethereal world of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

Courtesy of Titan Books

"With stunning images from both Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and [the sequal] Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 – plus the chilling side story, Mirror of Fate – the book offers an exclusive look at Gabriel, and the rest of the Belmont family's everlasting struggle against demonic forces and supernatural terrors."

This book goes into tremendous detail in terms of the characters' designs. From simple sketches of each character to their finalized 3D form, this book shows you the process on how characters are designed and how they are crafted into becoming the Belmonts and all of the various enemies and allies.

One of my favorite characters from the series is, undoubtedly, Simon Belmont. Truthfully, I am still kind of intrigued how his recent design made him into a redhead. Remember, I have been following the games from the beginning. At the time, I had always seen him with blonde hair. But, he did go through a change with the release of Castlevania Chronicles for the PlayStation. Even then, I was kind of taken away seeing him with long-flowing red hair.

Courtesy of Titan Books

All minor issues aside, I really enjoyed looking at his design for the game. He looks like a total badass!

In fact, all of the more popular characters from the series have gone through a major overhaul while also retaining some of their familiarities. Although, Alucard really looks nightmarishly freaky. But, in an awesome way. Satan looks really cool, too.

In addition to all of the character designs, there are pages of hand-painted backgrounds which were used in the game itself. The artists have done such a mind-blowing job.

Courtesy of Titan Books

Any words I have written would not do this book justice. I could go on to say this book would be a must-buy for ANY Castlevania fan; especially for those who have Lords of Shadow (and, its recently released sequel) and love it. Even if you are not a fan of the series or this game in particular and just love looking at jaw-dropping visuals, this book is still an amazing collector's item.

Speaking of which, for those die-hard fans out there, Titan Books has also released a special slipcased edition, limited to 500 copies, which includes an exclusive Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 concept art print, signed by the whole MercurySteam art team.


Now, we want to hear from you. What do you think about this book and the video games? Would this be a nice addition to your art book library? Tell us what you think in the comments down below.

Aaron Allston, the author of thirteen Star Wars novels and several short stories, passed away on February 27, TheForce.net confirmed.

Photo via 501st Legion

Allston suffered from an apparent heart failure and collapsed at VisionCon in Springfield, MO, on Thursday and died later that day at the age of 53.

The news first came from game designer Sean Patrick Fannon, who said on his Facebook, "It is my devastatingly sad duty to announce I've just gotten confirmation. Aaron Allston passed away tonight, after collapsing at VisionCon. Apparent cause of death is massive heart failure."

In early 2009, Allston had a heart attack and underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery, according to StarWarsblog.

The Texan sci-fi and fantasy novelist was better known for his contributions to the Star Wars expanded universe in his novels, contributing four books in the X-Wing series, two books in The New Jedi Order series, and three books in both the Legacy of the Force series and Fate of the Jedi series. His last Star Wars novel, X-Wing: Mercy Kill was released in 2012.

He began his career in the early '80s when he was hired by game designer and publisher Steve Jackson as a circulation manager and then editor for Space Gamer magazine before going on to design game supplements for Steve Jackson Games, Hero Games, and Dungeons and Dragons.

The 501st Legion posted on their Facebook page:

It is truly a sad day for #StarWars fandom as author Aaron Allston has passed away. Aaron's work influenced many realms, but it was his Wraith Squadron novels which led to his induction as one of the original three #501st Honorary Members in 2002. His humor in the midst of his medical difficulties was an inspiration to everyone around him, including fellow authors Mike Stackpole and Timothy Zahn. 

Ever a friend to the fan community, Aaron's commitment to writing extended beyond his own work, and his loud shirts and sharp wit will be missed in the writing groups he passionately supported. 

There's a gray-striped X-wing waiting in the hangar for you, Aaron. Clear skies.

Allston's contributions to the Star Wars franchise has inspired many and will be greatly missed.

Were you a fan of Aaron Allston's extensive works in the Star Wars universe? Let us know how you feel in the comments section below.

Readers, as an adoptive parent, I tend to have a unique perspective on things. Anything can get worse, I know, because sometimes people are forced to endure them. Abuse has a real and lasting effect on children, and the effects are prevalent in their behavior long after, but to see someone triumph over such a situation is a gift. That's why I'd like to discuss a recent read of mine, The Sara Chronicles, a short book by author Laura Hughes.

The book description opens:

Imagine yourself in a place where not only your wildest, most imaginative dreams but also your worst nightmares are living, breathing reality. One second, you're a helpless, victimized child, and the next you can control ocean currents, produce rainstorms, and freeze lakes. Would you use your powers for good? Or would you give in to the part of yourself that wants revenge and control over those who caused you pain?

It's a question of stability: stability of mind, stability in life, and maybe even a question of stability with "enemies."

Sara, our heroine, is a young woman living with an abusive foster family. She tumbles down the steps of her home basement during an altercation, but when she lands, she's not quite within the reality she understands anymore. She lands upon the soft grass of a world not her own.

After walking on almost endlessly, she comes across a man and woman who are clear polar opposites to the adults she is used to. They set her on the path to find her way. Landing on the doorstep of a makeshift family, she begins to learn the ways of her new place and position. In this realm of limitless magic and potential, she makes friends with two orphaned boys who also have abilities in prestidigitation, and a powerful wizard who helps them to grow in their potential.

With her new family, Sara rises above her abusive situation and learns to take on bigger, badder enemies—enemies like The Garren. The Garren are soulless, dark fiends from a distant realm, intent on destroying all light and happiness. For those of you with an affinity for Kingdom Hearts, The Garren seriously seem to have been bred from the same thought tree.

I personally thought The Sara Chronicles was fun. It was a bit rushed and lacking in some parts, but I enjoyed the story and especially enjoyed the well-conceived enemies. Book one of The Sara Chronicles was a definite 3.5/5 Stars. Let me know what you think downstairs!

Indie Author/Comic Creator/Film Maker?

This one's for my "adult-aged" sci-fi readers. Recently I was given the opportunity to review the work of Nicola Cuti, author of the Moonie series. Actually, I admit, it was a bit by mistake, really. It would seem that dropping an all-encompassing blog call for any and all material in the sci-fi and fantasy genres, with no real stipulation as to style and content, is a boo-boo for reviewers. When you expect sci-fi and end up with skin-fi, however, hindsight is 20/20—because the Moonie series is just that: skin-fi.

Moonie vs the Spider Queen

The first book, Moonie vs. the Spider Queen, essentially follows a couple of spacecraft owners, one of whom is clever and witty and the other has just a mite more character and heart, and is the best in the series I've read yet. It begins with our captain nonchalantly spilling his guts about what he likes sexually, how he got his ship, and what he thinks of others. The man is all play, only cares about what he wants, and will do anything to earn a buck or gain a possession, even a living one.

Quite plainly, the man's narration through the beginning of the story is hilarious. It has a very "men in the warehouse break room" feel to it, which is probably what sells the book from the get-go. If you've ever read Catcher in the Rye then you know what I'm talking about when I say this book is the equivalent of Dirty Adult Sci-Fi Catcher in the Rye with a doubly-strong sexual overload.

Eventually, the space travelers stumble across something they couldn't possibly expect to find in the deep—a woman—and she isn't wearing a spacesuit of any kind. Such a preposterous insertion is exactly what a story needs to give it a very 1950s sci-fi feel, and that's exactly what Nicola Cuti did. The young Moonie, a disproportionally large-breasted woman, was biologically crafted from protoplasm and therefore lives on radiation/energy of any kind alone. That's why she needs to have as much skin showing as possible at all times, and it's also the reason she doesn't need air to breathe or food to eat.

The three find themselves on another planet where arachnids roam. There's also one giant woman, the leader of an immense people who are enemies of the spiders. It's hard to say which will be the more ferocious, but escaping with their lives, at best, will be near impossible.

Before getting into this read too much, I'd like to make mention of the slight rule change I've added to my book review page:

I will be accepting submissions that have sexual innuendos, sexual content, or language; however, because of a recent submission, I'm making known now that if the content of your book is namely for sexplay purposes, sex fantasy, or sexual sci-fi, or if the entire dialogue tends to have strong sexual weight and then leads into multiple sexual scenarios or scenes, I won't review it. If an author chooses to send me his (<--'Cuz let's face it, these ridiculous genres are owned namely by the bulkier sex), it will not get reviewed. Recap: Sex? Maybe. Porn? No thanks.

Having said that, I'm going to continue by saying I really did enjoy book 1 in the series. Personally, I thought the story would have been better if it didn't jump from perspective to perspective. I didn't feel like the personalities were identifiable enough between them, especially for shifting from point of view to point of view. However, a first impression is hard to forget, especially when it's as strong as the one I got from this read in the first 30–40 pages. If only it had lacked the strong sexual content, it would probably make a pretty decent book.

Moonie in the Slave Market of Opuul

The second book in the series, Moonie in the Slave Market of Opuul, begins with the scantily clad young lady meeting a young shape-shifting woman who is able to shift from seal in water to human on land. Needless to say, it's a very "seductive" meeting. The two become friends.

Down the road, Moonie and the shape-shifter run into a redheaded pirate, and then they run into another young woman with octopus tentacle-like arms. There are four girls, all with weird talents that the author apparently thought might make for a "sexy story." The four are captured and forced into slavery, but they break out and join a galactic policing force to end the exploitation and evil that occurred to them as slaves.

By the time I read this far into the book, I was a bit fed up. I really didn't enjoy this book. I didn't enjoy the beginning, I didn't enjoy the middle, and I hated the end. It seemed to be made of air, really. I always try to give my authors the benefit of the doubt, but this one was a major upset, save for an interesting biological research lab and some of the concoctions the scientists inside were responsible for. My feeling is that it was purely written to satisfy the porn readers. Enough said.

Too Many Moons

Before starting Too Many Moons, I had some trepidation. Book 2 was a nightmare in my opinion, but three opens, once again, with a character I could really appreciate. He's an older ship's captain who doesn't care much for anything or anyone, and he's not afraid to say so or do something about it. In fact, he opens up the story by explaining the pickle he's in: Another man is trying to skip town without paying him for his fuel. The captain is forced to take him out, which may or may not mean his arrest and maybe even his execution.

At some point, the captain also makes the acquaintance of a very personable robot—one by the name of Moonie, a sexual cyborg fashioned after Moonie. She's not like other robots; she's almost human, or star babe...whichever.


There is also a young, oddly colored, spotted princess (the employer of the dead man) who uses the situation as an opportunity to get something out of the captain. He needs witnesses saying he's not guilty of murder, and she needs a captain to pilot her ship now that her hotheaded pilot is dead. Half against his will, our hero travels with the princess across the universe to try and recover her planet's stolen national heirlooms.

When this was the story I was reading, I didn't super love it, but I didn't hate it. About 70 or so pages in, however, the book entirely flips the script. The captain goes in search of the real Moonie. Somehow, another mission, apparently more important and worth much more money pops up, and the captain, plus his crew, embark on yet another journey.

I decided to put the series away for awhile after this book. I knew it namely existed to appeal to the penis, while incorporating a fun sci-fi/fantasy story, but it's seemingly just not my cup. Also, I was pretty sure I knew just about every word there was for the vagina, but it would appear that Nicola Cuti knows more. Even so, he tends to use the same words over and over to describe it. I think that's probably a complication derived from overuse of the sexual situation. So far, save for the first book, the sex has been hard to overlook because the stories were so terrible.

I took the liberty of editing all three books and replacing most of the nouns with much less dirty words. I even took the liberty of editing the nude comic pictures inside, which I will post in "Nicola Cuti's Moonie Part 2." Let me know what you think downstairs

Does the name Tara Cardinal sound familiar? If not, you may as well familiarize yourself with it. Her rise is inevitable. What does she do? Oh, just film, books, comics, everything we love. This fangirl is an indie everything, and she's quite good at it. Tara Cardinal is an actress, director, martial artist, sword master, and humanitarian. A saddening but also triumphant fact is that her work is based on her own childhood struggles, and her story delivers a strong message about female empowerment. She became one of the first women to write, produce, direct, and star in a fantasy action franchise—and she performs her own stunts. She's an actress actively seeking empowering roles in movies of all genres.


This young lady's first film, The Legend of the Red Reaper, written, directed and played by her, begins with our heroine, the daughter of a demon and a human witch. She's traded to the demon father for nothing more than a bottle of his evil enchanted blood, probably to be used as an aging deterrent. In this demon's care, she is beaten, used, and torn down every day for years until her rescue. Beyond her torment, she is groomed to become the female, medieval, demon version of Blade, the vampire slayer. The prophesying of her witch mother, a family talent, has foretold her future as Red Reaper, deliverer of the humans from the terrible demons. The question is, will she be able to live up to that fantasy? I'd love to divulge the answer, but will do my best not to.



In my opinion, it was mad fun—diabolically fantastic. Whenever I review an indie fantasy/dark fantasy film, I always like to compare it, quality wise, to Earth Sea, a small-budget favorite of mine, because I love the Earth Sea story and the filmmakers did quite well with what they had. My favorite thing about Tara Cardinal's film is that the music never stops, the action rarely stops, and the story never gets boring. If that isn't enough, Tara Cardinal seems like she's pretty skilled with the sword, and the film has, possibly, my favorite ending quote of all time.

That's not the end of it, though. Tara Cardinal is everywhere. Her debut novel, Sword Sisters: A Red Reaper Novel, is a fantastic read, packed with action. The book is set before the film and fills in all the details you might have felt like you were missing. My biggest question was, "What was Aella doing before she set herself on a warpath with the demons who were supposed to be dead?" The book answers that question, and it does it with an impossibly better story than the film offers.

Sword Sisters smacks our heroine between a rock and a hard place, fighting for room to breathe from her klan elders and her foretold responsibility as the last reaper—The Red Reaper—but longing for the freedom to choose. Retaliating against all the pressure and running from her responsibility, the young woman treks into the wilderness in hopes of finding a caring soul who once helped her out, perhaps someone she can trust and someone she might even love.

Instead of the man from her dreams, Aella runs into a young woman with a knack for insulting others and, soon enough you find, a knack for getting into trouble. Set in such an old time, these qualities in young independent women are not something of which local men are fond. However, Aella, being a strong feminist warrior, takes to the young woman, and they kindle a friendship bound in battle. They meet not a moment too soon, because Amelia, the young woman, is to be the village's next virgin sacrifice to the god who supposedly lives in a cavern nearby.

Upon further inspection, they find that someone or something is definitely living in the cave and definitely is not an average human; whether it is a god or not remains to be seen. This read is epic! The book is loaded with beasts and packed with action, and the heroine's inner dialogue is pretty funny and seemingly realistic as far as thoughts go. I give it an instant 5/5 stars.

Generally, at this point, I like to explain my grading and offer my two cents, if it's even worth that to anyone. As a matter of opinion, Tara Cardinal and her cowriter, Alex Bledsoe, should change nothing. I'm told it's difficult to improve upon perfection, and it's few and far between that I find books I wouldn't change for the world. So you must know I'm ecstatic to report that I think Sword Sisters is perfect, and I wouldn't change it for the world. The entire Red Reaper series will be gold, I'm sure, and I can't wait to read the next. Until then, it's on to the comic series. Let me know what you think downstairs!

Indy ComicCreators/Authors/Filmmakers get reviewed HERE.

Make sure you join the Legend of the Red Reaper team for a high-tech streaming event. Anyone that has an internet connection and a computer can watch the movie while it's screening at the Florida Renaissance Festival, join the Q&A via webchat, and participate in the tweetathon on Twitter. This is the last screening before the big DVD release. If you can't wait until April 15th to pick up the DVD and don't want to pay the $15 per movie theater ticket, you can join the screening for only $8 per household and find out what the critics have been raving about—before the movie is released.

PLUS—you'll be sent a special link where you can JOIN the Q&A and ask your own questions of actress/writer/director/sword guru TARA CARDINAL, legendary comic book artist GEORGE PEREZ, actress/singer/best selling author SHAYNE LEIGHTON, martial artist/exec producer SEAN WYN, and composer/disc jockey JOSHUA PARISH GOMEZ (son of Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas).

PLUS—you can tweet with the cast, crew, and Renaissance Festival audience! #RedReaper #Girlpower or tweet @theredreaper. Send your comments, questions, and opinions!

Over the past few years, sales in "teen fiction" have gone through the roof because, let's face it, it's not only teenagers reading it anymore. In fact, children's and young adult books are the fastest-growing publishing categories, with fantasy/science fiction reigning in as the readers' favorite genre.

Check out my list of my favorite young adult/teen novels below (ranked in no particular order):

15) Unearthly, Cynthia Hand

Published: January 4, 2011
Series: Unearthly

"In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees…

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy. Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?"
- Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. Beautifully written, moving, and romantic. Cynthia Hand delves into the world of angels in such vivid detail it genuinely feels like you're there.


14) Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver

Published: February 14, 2010

"What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's hottest boyfriend, a group of amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High from the best table in the cafeteria to the most wanted parking spot. Friday, February 12th should just be another perfect day, but it turns out to be her last. However, she gets a second chance—well, seven actually—to relive her last day. During one life-changing week, she will learn the secrets behind her death and discover what she is truly losing." -Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. Sad and beautiful, but above all, honest. Lauren Oliver has an incredible gift with words and imagery that is guaranteed to take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions.


13) Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead

Published: August 16, 2007
Series: Vampire Academy

"St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger…. Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever." - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. I know the name may make it sound like just another book about a school of supernatural students, but it genuinely is a good read packed full of strong, engaging characters who are bound to leave an impression; danger; and even a hint of romance. You'll struggle to put this book down.


12) The Maze Runner, James Dashner

Published: October 6, 2009
Series: The Maze Runner

"When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade-a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up-the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind." - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. The Maze Runner is sure to have you on the edge of your seat. The plot is fast paced, full of suspense, and absolutely rammed with twists and turns to keep you guessing.


11) Divergent, Veronica Roth

Published: April 25th 2011
Series: Divergent

"In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves…or it might destroy her." - Goodreads


10) The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Cassandra Clare

Published: March 27th 2007
Series: The Mortal Instruments

"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…" - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. This book completely draws you in right from the very first page. You get sucked into Clary's mysterious world of monsters, and it genuinely makes you feel like you're in an entirely different world.


9) Looking for Alaska, John Green

Published: 2005

"Before. Before. Miles 'Pudge' Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

 After. Nothing is ever the same." - Goodreads

Rating: 5/5. I absolutely adored this book. It was funny, thought provoking, emotional, and overall wonderfully written. John Green has a unique ability to make you care about his characters, which makes his plot twists even more devastating.


8) Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, James Patterson

Published: April 11, 2005
Series: Maximum Ride

"Six unforgettable kids—with no families, no homes—are running for their lives. Max Ride and her best friends have the ability to fly. And that's just the beginning of their amazing powers. But they don't know where they come from, who's hunting them, why they are different from all other humans…and if they're meant to save mankind—or destroy it." - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. I found the Maximum Ride series extremely thrilling. Max is a strong character who grows up far too quickly due to having to look after everyone. Her and her friends' story is heartbreaking, and you find yourself on the edge of your seat willing for them to succeed. Once you start reading this book, you just can't stop!



7) Blue Bloods, Melissa de la Cruz

Published: March 27, 2007
Series: Blue Bloods

"When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society. The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner…and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead…drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?" - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. You're probably thinking that this is just another book about some vampire love triangle, but I genuinely enjoyed the spin Melissa de la Cruz puts on vampires. She packs in many twists and turns that keep you turning the pages and wanting more. Luckily, there are four books in this series!


6) Evermore, Alyson Noel

Published: February 2009
Series: The Immortals

"After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact to suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste. Damen is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head - wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is - or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him."
- Goodreads

Rating: 4.5/5. In this book we follow the life of Ever Bloom, a heartbreaking tale full of loss and pain. Her character and story are both so beautifully written that you soon become sucked into her world, which is full of excitement and adventure. A definite must read for lovers of this genre.

5) Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia

Published: December 1, 2009
Series: Caster Chronicles

"There were no surprises in Gatlin County. We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything." - Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. So we all know that the film version of this book was a complete and utter fail. It was boring, lacked interesting characters, and was just generally dull. The book, however, is anything but; the versions of Lena and Ethan are funny and romantic, and their story is full of hope and terror. It seriously draws you in.

4) The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

Published: January 10, 2012

"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten."
- Goodreads

Rating: 5/5. I dare you not to cry at this book, I honestly do. This book broke my heart into so many pieces I don't think I'll ever recover. There's not a single part of this book that I did not completely love, I fell in love with Hazel-Grace and Augustus Waters and their hopeful relationship, which made the ending of the book even more soul crushing. If you haven't already read this book, get to it—that's if you don't mind soaking the pages in tears.


3) Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick

Published: October 13, 2009
Series: Hush, Hush

"Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgement. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen—and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life."
- Goodreads

Rating: 4/5. Hush, Hush is dark, moving, and deeply romantic. Yes, you've probably read a million books that sound like this one before: brown-haired, brown-eyed nerdy girl meets and falls in love with a beautiful supernatural stranger. Yet this book has many twists and turns that keep you guessing, and I really loved Patch's back story and found it genuinely interesting.

2) The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Published: September 14, 2008
Series: The Hunger Games

"In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature." - Goodreads

Rating: 5/5. If you haven't heard about The Hunger Games yet, then you've probably been living in a cave. It stormed into the cinemas last year and captured everyone's attention instantly. If you loved the film, I can guarantee that you'll love the books ten times more. As you will all know, films tend to skip massive parts of plot to try and cram it into a two-hour cinema slot, and The Hunger Games is no exception. Katniss' story is even more gripping and hopeful on paper. Once I started reading this book I just wanted more and more and more!

1) Shiver, Maggie Striefvater

Published: August 1, 2009
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls

"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human…until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever." - Goodreads

Rating: 5/5. Everything about this book was beautiful, from the way their world was described to every single character in the book. Sam and Grace's relationship draws you in, and you find yourself rooting for them to be together by any means possible. Even the secondary characters grip you. Many people have slated this book and said it bared a huge similarity to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight, but I genuinely failed to see any similarities. Yes there's the obvious girl with the ordinary life meets an attractive, exciting stranger plot, but that's it. If you love this book, don't forget to look out for the standalone follow-up novel Sinner following Cole and Isabel's story.

Is one of your favorite books on this list? Is there a book that you think I should have included? Let me know below!

Looks like this OTP is O-U-T

Major debates are stirring up in the Harry Potter fandom as JK Rowling reveals yet another bombshell: Ron and Hermione should not have ended up together.

Say what?

In a fandom full of shippers, this bit of news came as a shock and, for obvious reasons, was not well-received.

Emma Watson, who is guest editor for the newest issue of Wonderland, interviewed Rowling for the magazine, where she confessed her true feelings about Ron and Hermione as a pair.

"I wrote the Hermione/Ron relationship as a wish fulfillment. That's how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron. I know, I'm sorry. I can hear the rage and fury it might cause some fans, but if I'm absolutely honest, distance has given me perspective on that. It was a choice I made for very personal reasons, not for reasons of credibility. Am I breaking people's hearts by saying this? I hope not."

Source: Hypable 

It didn't really help that Watson was unphased by what Rowling was saying and, if anything, agreed with her: "I think there are fans out there who know that too and who wonder whether Ron would have really been able to make her happy."

Talk about a slap to the face to Romione (Ron/Hermione) shippers everywhere. To add the icing on top of the cake, Rowling also commented that the couple probably would've needed "marriage counseling." Haha!

It has also been mentioned that Rowling stated that Hermione should've married Harry, but there are no direct quotes to support this. To me, it just seems like Rowling is advocating the idea that Hermione just ended up with the wrong guy, but it didn't mean she should've ended up with Harry (although it might be implied).

HP fans everywhere have been fighting and debating over whether they agree with Rowling or not, many bringing up that they loved the idea of the leading female role ending up with anyone but the leading male role, which let's be honest is pretty cliché. However, the opposing side (which consists of Hermione + Krum/Harry/Draco/anybody else but Ron) has argued that Ron would've treated her badly and/or in the long run, realistically, would not have gotten along well with her due to their extremely different personalities.

I, myself, favored Harry and Hermione, but was honestly impartial to who she ended up with. What is your take on this?

Pop culture made an epic twist: the Bard and the Jedi. Ian Doescher returns to the galaxy far, far away with two more installments in his Elizabethan-esque dialogue with Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back and The Jedi Doth Returns. This is the book you're looking for…

Good luck understanding Yoda now in Shakespearean dialogue.

"In time so long ago begins our play, In star-crossed galaxy far, far away." 

*Cue the music*

Ian Doescher retells George Lucas' Star Wars saga of valor and villainy across the galaxy as though it were a classic Shakespearean play. Combined with elaborate black-and-white Elizabethan-styled illustrations by Nicholas Delort, Doescher's brilliantly written mashup of the iconic sci-fi saga and the 17th-century playwright returns with two more books due out this year.

The Empire Striketh Back and The Jedi Doth Returns complete the elegant translation of the original Star Wars into five-act Shakespearean dramatic plays.

"Return to the star-crossed galaxy far, far away as the brooding young hero, a power-mad emperor, and their jesting droids match wits, struggle for power, and soliloquize in elegant and impeccable iambic pentameter," Quirk Books said on its website.

Scene 1 from William Shakespeare's Star Wars

A long-time fan of both William Shakespeare and Star Wars, Doescher published his first book, William Shakespeare's Star Wars, on July 2, 2013, and it debuted at number twelve on The New York Times best seller list for hardcover fiction.

Ian Doescher's Verily, A New Hope

"I do think any modern storyteller is influenced by the stories we all grow up with and become familiar with, our shared cultural narratives," Doescher said in an interview with Quirk Books last year. "Shakespeare's plays are a part of that tradition, so George Lucas was probably influenced at least somewhat by Shakespeare, as well as Twain, Dickens, Melville, etc."

The second installment will go on sale March 18, with Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return arriving on bookshelves July 1. Preorders are available now at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and elsewhere.

Additionally, for teachers interested in getting students excited about Shakespeare, this William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Educator’s Guide provides a side-by-side comparison between Doescher's William Shakespeare's Star Wars and Shakespeare's plays such as Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Henry V, and his sonnets.

Art thou excit'd f'r the next two installments of William Shakespeare's Star Wars? Speaketh thy mind in the comment section below. May the verse be with you.