Mindless Fun: Kong: Skull Island Review

(Photo from: www.empireonline.com)

Another monster movie has been released in theaters. 

I would argue that next to comic book films, monster movies are the most popular films for the public to see. We have been watching these kinds of films for decades now and most of all, monster movies with gigantic animals in it. There is a reason why these movies still make millions of dollars in the box office no matter the generation. I guess there is an appeal in watching humongous beings destroy an entire city or military ships and helicopters. Whether it may be a blood-thirsty shark, a genetically-mutated dinosaur, or a reptilian creature, the sight of such beings remain entertaining to watch.

And that's what I would describe Kong: Skull Island, entertaining....just not substantial.

This film was highly entertaining. The action is by far the best thing about this movie. The scenes where Kong gets to work in completely decimating the intruders of his island as well as the "bad" lizard-like monsters also inhabiting the island by the west side was just delightful. You really get to see the improvement mankind has made with computers because the CGI was great. It is obvious that there will never be an ape the size of a building wresting a colossal squid but that's just your common sense. The same way you know there will never be alien intruders when you watch Independence Day. That doesn't change the fact that the special effects were amazing and done extremely well. The cinematography was also very good. The shots they have of Skull Island was utterly breathtaking. The music was another component the film got right. The musical score was composed by Henry Jackman, the composer of X-Men: First Class as well as the last two Captain America films. He did great in those films and he did not fail to impress once again in this. And yes, the acting was pretty good. Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson and the others managed to make it work most of the time which is an achievement considering they weren't given much to work with. 

The two major flaws this movie has is the flat characters and the mediocre script. I absolutely did not care about the major characters in this film. They had no story behind them whatsoever or any agenda that wasn't thin as paper. This, in turn, made some scenes of the film make no sense because you hardly know the characters. There were times where they will do something that would appear random and misplaced. They weren't even charismatic which could have audience forgive them for having no depth. They were just there. Frankly, I cared more about the soldiers who died early on in the film than I did for Tom Hiddleston's character or Brie Larson's character or the scientists, or even Samuel L. Jackson, who I guess out of all the main characters, had the best characterization but that's not really saying much. Not caring for the characters is just a huge no-no with films. You have got to care to be invested in what happens. I barely cared which is such a shame. The fact that I'm using the actors' names rather than their names in the film is a statement in itself. The characters were just so unremarkable that I forgot their names almost immediately. It felt like such a waste for the movie had such high caliber actors in its disposal and they weren't used in their full potential.

The script didn't help matters. Instead of elevating the film it just did the bare minimum of setting up the characters and moving the story forward. The dialogue was mediocre and could have easily been improved. There were actually times where I thought to myself "Well, that was a lame line." and they were scattered all over the film. They even tried to add humor but the jokes and punchlines were hardly funny. I saw how hard the actors tried to sell the jokes to be humorous than it actually was which is quite bad. You need the jokes to flow naturally and not look forced. The whole script was fine at most but not good and certainly not extraordinary.

Overall, Kong: Skull Island is a film you go see when you want to be entertained and nothing more. I'm not taking away the ability of the film to delight the audience when it comes to action because it was awesome in regards to that. The scenes where Kong was fighting and destroying were the best. Everything but the characters were good. The characters really were the weakest link and since we focus mostly on them then that pulls down the movie down a lot of pegs. It felt like an obligatory movie which I am pretty sure it was since Warner Brothers plans to make a movie wherein Godzilla and Kong go at it. Why couldn't they make their plans much more subtle and not show throughout the movie? It can definitely be done. Look at (some) of Marvel's movies.

The bottom line is, this is a perfect example of a really fun movie wherein you can just turn off your brain and enjoy the fantastic visuals. But hey, at least it's still so much better than the Transformers films.

5/10

Sherlock's East Wind: The Final Problem: Sherlock Series 4 Episode 3 Review

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It's been one hell of a week of mysteries, revelations, and resurrections.

For the last few days, I have been binge-watching BBC's Sherlock in all the available hours that I have at hand. It's a show that has been on my hard drive for years but only got to now. Why did it take me so long? I have no idea. It seems like I have a habit of prolonging books and TV Shows that are worthy to be experienced; and Sherlock was one great experience.

I loved this show from the very first episode, "A Study In Pink", and I will always love it. I will write posts of all the other BBC's Sherlock episodes in the next few weeks but for now I want to talk about the most recent one, "The Final Problem". And as much as it pains me to say it, I was disappointed.

I never thought I would be disappointed with a Sherlock episode but here it is. I desperately hoped this wasn't the case but like what Dr. Watson said several times in "The Lying Detective", "It is what it is".

Before I continue on, I would just like to say that I will be discussing this episode in full detail so there will be spoilers ahead. A LOT OF SPOILERS. So if you have not watched the episode, please don't read this. Go watch the episode first then come back here and read.

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If you are still reading this I'm assuming that you have watched every second of episode 3 and will hopefully understand my problems with the episode. It is not the acting, God no. If anything, the acting was the very best part of this episode. Cumberbatch, Freeman, Gatiss and all of the people in the cast were amazing as always. They were class acts and there is no denying it. The main problem lies with the some parts of the plot, the script itself. There were just so many large and confusing plot holes and twists that were too ridiculous and rushed for even Sherlock to be exempted from. 

The plot holes and twists really became apparent to me after the episode. During the episode itself, there was an urgent and intense atmosphere present that helps with blocking out the questions that were popping up in your head. But the episode can't go on forever. Eventually you start thinking back, you re-watch the scenes in your head, and you just go "Wait a minute....?". 

From Sherlock and John being completely fine after jumping at a height that if not kill them, severely injure them to the revelation of the little girl in the plane being a metaphor for Eurus, there were just a lot of things that didn't feel right. There was also that thing with Eurus having some kind of mind-control power that affects everyone who speaks to her. That just....that didn't make sense at all. Maybe they could have gotten away with it if they didn't make her influence permanent but no. Apparently once you speak to her, you are under her control no matter what. Eurus and Moriarty managing to scheme and predict what will happen years from now with Sherlock, John, and Mycroft in FIVE MINUTES was also pretty hard to swallow. Unless they met up somewhere down the road before Moriarty killed himself then this will always be hard to believe. Sherlock Holmes, the consulting detective of London, not noticing there was no glass wall in front of him while talking to his sister for the first time, was also hard to believe. And is it just me or was the whole thing about Eurus being Sherlock and Mycroft's sister a little too rushed and sudden?

I appreciate them wanting to create this "big fight feel" so to speak. To make this episode feel like the ending of all endings but really, I would rather have a simple but well-made plot. You don't need to bombard the audience with twist after twist after twist especially if its not needed. Use the characters. Great characters always elevate a simple plot to something more. Give them a good context and it will be fine. 

I don't want to sound like I hated this entire episode because I didn't. Like I mentioned before the cast was as wonderful as ever but I want to take this time and congratulate the actress playing Eurus Holmes. Sian Brooke. She embodied the character really well. She played multiple characters, in fact, and each one believable and great. That is no doubt a really difficult task but it seemed effortless from the way she flawlessly executed everything. The characters are obviously another great component. I will be doing another post for Sherlock and John's character arcs soon because that deserves a whole post by itself but safe to say they have grown so much since the first episode and I can't help but feel happy and proud at how far they've come. Mycroft was simply great in this episode, his best episode actually (which, I admit, was an easy decision because we see more of him here than we've ever seen before ) and Eurus, yes Eurus, was good as well. I liked the concept of her character. I like how she was this clever individual that takes Sherlock by surprise and could be a force that is much more dangerous than Moriarty and Magnussen combined. I don't necessary agree with how she was connected to Sherlock (simply because it was not executed neatly) and what her character was made to do in some scenes but I like the very essence of her. I would also like to give not only this episode but the entire Series 4 credit for arguably being the most emotionally heavy; especially concerning Sherlock Holmes. I cried in some scenes of "The Final Problem" and well....I pretty much cried in all three episodes of Series 4 (which has not happened before in any other series).

The stuff that remains if you remove all the plot holes and confusing twists I really enjoyed. The scene between Molly and Sherlock was simply heartbreaking. We've seen this one-sided crush of Molly since the first season so we know how painful this was for her character. Its obvious from Cumberbatch's acting as well that this was trying for Sherlock, who would hate to hurt his friend more that he already has. My favorite scene perhaps would be the one between Sherlock, John, and Mycroft; when Eurus demanded Sherlock to either kill his friend or his brother. This is my favorite simply because it showed some humanity in Mycroft. It showed that he cares about Sherlock no matter how much he says that him being his brother does not affect his decisions. I was practically screaming my head off when Mycroft began telling Sherlock how he wanted his funeral to go. I love Mycroft and even though he deserves a few punches in numerous scenes throughout the show, his character is just a joy to watch as well as his dynamic with Sherlock. The scene where we learn that Redbeard was not a dog but an actual person Eurus killed due to her jealousy was actually pretty effective too. Quite chilling in fact. The montage at the end might be irritating for others but for me it showed progress for both Sherlock and John after weeks of stress and pain. I am still questioning why Molly is perfectly fine seeing Sherlock after she confessed that she still loved him but other than that it was nice seeing everyone move on. The scene between Eurus and Sherlock playing the violin together was also quite sweet. You saw them connect and bond now, something Eurus wanted since she was a child.  And of course, I can't go on without mentioning Jim Moriarty's reappearance. No other villain in this show has been more charismatic or more beautifully set-up than Moriarty. Every scene with him was a treat. I loved seeing him back, being his unpredictable and psychotic self,  for even for just a few scenes.

"The Final Problem" had a lot of positive and negative moments that just collided with each other more than any BBC's Sherlock episode in history. As a whole....it was alright but also disappointing. I have been used to expecting mind-blowing and unbelievable series finales from Sherlock because of the first three; compared to those, and to every other episode in fact, this one is the weakest. Although, that does not mean it was horrible or contained no good at all. I just had more misses than any other. I guess I should add the expectation I had of "The Final Problem" being as good, if not better, as "The Reichenbach Fall" in the reasons why I am disappointed in this episode; but really can you blame me? This is probably going to be the final episode of the whole show. It certainly felt that way after the montage in the end, at least. Can you blame me for expecting the best episode from the very last? 

Nonetheless, the disappointment I felt after this episode does not diminish the love I feel for BBC's Sherlock. In case this really is the last series we are going to get (and I won't be surprised if it is) I would like to say that Sherlock really is one of the greatest shows out there and it deserves all the awards and acclaim it has received over the years. This is definitely not bad television. Sherlock will forever be one of my favorite shows and no doubt I will be re-watching its episodes repeatedly long after this.

6/10

  

Fuck 2016 Episode 5: My Most Anticipated Releases of 2017

It's only fitting to publish the last post of Fuck 2016 on the very last day of the year and what better way to end this bookish marathon than to talk about the books we are most looking forward to in 2017?

I must confess that I don't really know much about the upcoming books being released in 2017. I only know about the sequels of the books I really enjoyed reading in 2016 and the new books/series some of my favorite authors are putting out in the coming year. Given this, my list won't be much. No doubt as the new year goes on, I will be able to learn more about the 2017 book releases as their publication date draws nearer and I can't wait to be able to know them and read those that catch my interest. Until then however, these are the books that I am terribly excited about and would absolutely get the first day they are on sale.

1. A Court of Wings and Ruin ( A Court of Thorns and Roses # 3) by Sarah J. Maas

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

You guys have no idea how anxious and excited I am for A Court of Wings and Ruin. A Court of Mist and Fury was simply a phenomenal book and it's ending just left all of us hanging, desperate to know what happens next. So of course I am looking forward to the third and final book of this amazing series and there is absolutely no world wherein I don't know how Feyre's story ends.

2. Untitled (Throne of Glass # 6) by Sarah J. Maas

I can't share any photo right now on the final installment of the Throne of Glass series because Bloomsbury hasn't released any teaser photos of it but nonetheless it's still on the list.

I, along with millions of fans around the world, am desperate to know the title of this book, how much more desperate can we be with the actual book? Empire of Storms ended very grimly and I just really want to know how our heroes will be able to overcome the millions of problems they have to face.....if they even succeed. IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. I'm just praying Sarah J. Maas will have mercy on us and won't cause THAT much damage.

3. The Dark Prophecy (Trials of Apollo # 2) by Rick Riordan

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

I absolutely love anything Percy Jackson and if you read my The Hidden Oracle Review, then you would know that I viewed it as a great and refreshing introduction to the Trials of Apollo series. I am itching to continue reading more about Apollo's journey back to godhood with the help of characters we have grown to know and love from the previous books. The stakes are high, and they're running out of time. I need to see how they all deal with this and of course how Apollo's character will develop even more compared to the last one. No doubt, this will be another enjoyable ride.

4. The Ship of The Dead (Magnus Chase and The Gods of Asgard # 3) by Rick Riordan

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

It seems only yesterday we were getting the announcement that Rick Riordan was writing a new series inspired by Norse Mythology....now it's coming to a close. 

I really enjoyed myself reading both Sword of Summer and Hammer of Thor (the latter being the best out of the two in my opinion) and I have no doubt I will enjoy myself just as much, if not more, with The Ship of The Dead. Those first two books have been leading up to the events of this final novel and I can't wait to see how everything plays out. The problem of Ragnarok starting feels much more real going in to this book because of the events of Hammer of Thor. How our heroes will get out of this one, I don't know but I have so much faith in this book that it will deliver. It's Rick Riordan after all.

5. Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

I love superheroes. I love DC Comics. I love Wonder Woman. I love Leigh Bardugo.

When I heard that DC hired Leigh Bardugo to write a YA novel about Wonder Woman, one of my favorite superheroes of all time, I was ecstatic. Leigh Bardugo is one of the best YA authors living and if you don't believe me, just read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom (SPOILER ALERT: They are absolutely incredible). The woman has got some serious skill in writing and world-building. What better way to introduce Wonder Woman, the most famous and revered female superhero, to the YA audience than through here? I am absolutely confident that she will bring us a bad-ass, heartfelt, and awesome coming-of-age story about Diana that I and a lot of readers will enjoy.

6. King's Cage (Red Queen # 3) by Victoria Aveyard

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

If that image of a crown made out of bones and that ominous tag line doesn't make you nervous for what will happen in King's Cage I don't know what will.

Glass Sword's ending pretty much ripped the rug from under my feet. It's another shocking and painful ending from Victoria Aveyard that left readers everywhere reeling. I desperately want to know what happens to Mare now that she is in this horrible situation. I need to see her sane and safe. SOMEBODY SAVE HER! Cal? Kilorn? Farley? ANYONE? I honestly don't know what will happen in the third installment of the Red Queen series. I just hope we won't be left standing in shock by the end of it although I'm quite sure we will....let's just prepare ourselves, shall we?

7. History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

The interesting and captivating premise and cover as well as Adam Silvera's credibility are the reasons why History Is All You Left Me is in this list. I was completely hooked once I read the premise. I immediately wanted to read it. I have yet to read Silvera's debut novel, More Happy Than Not but I do have a copy of it already and I have heard numerous people say it was incredible. I honestly can't wait to see and experience Adam Silvera's work myself. I have the utmost confidence that I will enjoy and love it. Thankfully I won't have to wait much longer to get my hands on History Is All You Left Me. It will be published in a few weeks. I am curious to see how his second novel will play out.

Like I said, this was a very short list but I do hope it will expand soon. I am not a very picky reader. I don't keep to specific genres and standards when I buy and read books. I like to keep my options open because in that way, I get to discover spectacular books. There are numerous books coming out in 2017 with great potential just waiting for readers to give them a chance and I intend to seek them out. 

And on that note, Lyka Cali and I's Fuck 2016 bookish marathon is now officially over.

Thank you so much for letting us end 2016 with a bang with posts about books. It was a really fun and thrilling thing for me to do and I am sure Lyka feels the same way. Feel free to let us know if you'd like us to do more collaborations in the future in the comments below!

It's hard to believe that tomorrow, 2017 will officially start. The previous new year doesn't feel too long ago and yet it has and it's time to start over. I don't know what will happen in 2017, no one does. All we really can do is hope for the best and try to succeed. If books taught me anything, it's that anything is possible. The unexpected can always happen. We don't what's going to go down, yes, but we can at least be prepared. Plot twists are exciting to read about but when it happens to you, it's less than pleasant. Let's start the year right. Let's make 2017 worthwhile. God knows we don't need another 2016.

Fuck 2016 Episode 4: The Best Books I Have Read In 2016

2016 has been a good year for me when it comes to reading

Sure I have read some bad books on the side but that is totally outweighed by the amount of good ones. This year, I have discovered numerous books that I now hold close to my heart and will always be treated as favorites. I'm not saying all of these books are the shining examples of literature but they are the ones that, personally, I really enjoyed and loved. You may not agree with my list and that's totally fine but nonetheless I thought these books are pretty sweet and I definitely recommend them to anyone who's looking for new books to enjoy.

Unlike my previous lists, this one will be arranged by date I read them simply because it's easier and because it doesn't give me a migraine over choosing which one is the absolute best.

1. Six of Crows (Six of Crows # 1) by Leigh Bardugo

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

Six of Crows is part of the list because of a technicality. I started reading this book a few days before 2015 ended and finished it January of 2016 so technically it's still a book I read in 2016. But technicalities aside, this is without a doubt one of the best books I have read, not only in 2016, but in my entire life.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book was. Reading it felt like an actual blessing from God. Everything about it is just amazing. The plot was interesting, action-packed, and flawless. It had some cunning and mind-blowing twist and turns that I mostly did not see coming. The pacing and transition were great as well but the thing I loved the most were the characters. All six of them, Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Jesper, and Wylan, are all great characters. You invest in them and root for them and they all have distinct personalities that you will never mix up or forget. The crew elevated the story even higher up when it was already on a high platform from the plot and writing alone. This book left me speechless and in awe. A warm round of applause is in order for Miss Bardugo. She has written a masterpiece.

Side Note: For my list, I am only considering the books I have read and really thought about. I am currently making my way through Crooked Kingdom which means I cannot include it on my list yet. I'll let you guys know by way of review here on my blog if it deserves to be on my list (I'm pretty sure it does since I am loving it so far).

2. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is another book I did not expect to like as much as I did. What I can really say for sure about this book is that it was effective. It was effective on telling a story revolving around this suicidal and depressed boy that feels real. You really feel bad for Leonard and you start to hate the situation he's in as much as he does. You understand why he is being this way and the gravity of his situation. Sometimes in books like this one, they end up being too over-the-top and slow but with Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, that's not the case which I really appreciated. It even had some comedic moments. Although it's the cynical kind of comedy which I personally like. What makes this novel so effective and genuine is because of the way it was written so kudos to Matthew Quick for his outstanding skill. Overall just a good book that truly made me feel.

3. Glass Sword (Red Queen # 2) by Victoria Aveyard

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

Glass Sword is a great continuation to the Red Queen series. The plot was good. It had twists and turns like the previous book, it raised the stakes to great heights, it was action-packed, and the characters continued their journeys in compelling ways. I guess from now on this series will have a reputation for having excruciating and mind-blowing endings. The ending of Red Queen had me falling off my seat and so did Glass Sword's. As much as it pained me to read the ending, I loved it and it gave us a promise of exciting adventures to look forward to in the next book. You can definitely bet that this series is now one of my favorites and that I will be getting my hands on King's Cage when it's released.

Side Note: To view my INITIAL review of Glass Sword, click here

4. Anna and The French Kiss Series by Stephanie Perkins

(Photo from: www.whatsarahread.com)

I read the three books in the Anna and The French Kiss series in three different times but I thought it was better to talk about them in one go than separate them because the qualities that I loved in the first one show up in the other two. These three books are consistent with one another. They were all amazingly fun to read. The plots may be simple but it was done in a way that elevates it to something greater. The characters were all worth investing in and were quirky, charming, and charismatic. This series would be nothing without its leads. The writing was as quirky, charming, and charismatic as it's characters. Stephanie Perkins truly has a gift in writing these kinds of stories. Yes, there are some really cliche moments but the difference between this and the other romance books out there is that it was executed well so you end up forgiving it. Personally, I liked Anna and the French Kiss the best mainly because of Anna and Etienne, their separate characters and their relationship, but you can definitely have the others as favorites. It's totally understandable since they are all great.

5. The Hidden Oracle (Trials of Apollo # 1) by Rick Riordan

(Photo from: www.riordan.wikia.com)

The Hidden Oracle was everything I wanted from a Rick Riordan book. It was refreshing, entertaining, and captivating. You think after ten books and a thousand companion books Riordan won't be able to find anything to make the Percy Jackson world feel new again but he did by telling the story from the eyes of the god-turned-mortal, Apollo. The great writing is the number one reason why this novel worked as well as it did. I shouldn't be surprised at how well-written this was considering Rick Riordan wrote it but I am. The writing benefited the execution of the fast-paced plot and it benefited the amazing characters in the book. Apollo is as lovable as his old self in the other Percy Jackson books but this time we get to see his character deepen and develop which is such a pleasure. I can't wait to see more of him. The other characters such as Meg, Will, Nico and many more all added to the story in their own way. It was a joy to read them. The Hidden Oracle made me smile, laugh, cry, and rage. It was so good! I can't wait to get my hands on The Dark Prophecy and continue reading Apollo's journey to godhood.

Side Note: To view my FULL review of Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle, click here

6. What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

(Photo from: www.harpercollins.com)

What We Saw is one of those books that tells a compelling story but at the same time is telling an important message that absolutely everyone should heed. It revolves around a rape case in a small town and the corrupt way it's being handled. This book doesn't hold back. It tells the story as it is even the graphic parts. I appreciated Hartzler not shying away from this because this is something that needs to be seen in the way it really is in reality. The book's mysterious and tense atmosphere doesn't let up until the very end which adds to the gravity of the situation. All characters in the book were written well. They also played their parts successfully. They depict what really happens in a community and the different sides people take whenever there is a rape case; even the ugly side. The story played out excellently and I was blown away at how good it was when I turned the final page. I just absolutely loved it. It's not only a fantastic book but it was a well-needed lesson. I definitely recommend it.

Side Note: To view my FULL review of What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler, click here

7. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

This book was incredibly hyped for me because some of my friends read it first and told me how good it was. Of course, their good remarks raised my expectations and I am glad to say that this book met them. All The Bright Places was a simple story elevated by it's two main characters, Violet and Finch. Their two different yet interconnected lives are incredibly painful and sweet. Most of the emotion really comes from Theodore Finch and his story and it's just profoundly sad. I remember crying my eyes out by the last act of the novel. Theodore and Violet are the furthest things from one-dimensional and they are just so easy to latch on to. It never felt too slow and before you know it I was done. The whole thing was worth the time it took me to read it. Truly a genuine and lovely book.

Side Note: To view my INITIAL review of All The Bright Places, click here

8. Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

U.S. Editions of the Throne of Glass series
(Photo from: www.playbuzz.com)

I can't believe I only discovered and read this series this year because how can I miss something truly incredible? The Throne of Glass series is simply spectacular. This is how a fantasy series should be written. The world is captivating yet simple enough to grasp. The different plots of the different books are all very good and well written. The good writing extends to the amazing characters within the series. All of them, from the characters we met from the first book until the characters we met in the fifth book, are entralling and fun to read. They all have their personal journeys that contribute nicely to the overall story. The twists that the books took are mind-blowing, the kind that makes me scream my lungs out. You have no idea how much I felt like throwing the books as hard as I can while I was binge-reading the series because I was so overcome with emotion. As for favorites, Heir of Fire is my favorite so far. It was where Maas really peaked with how she wrote her story and how it played out as a whole. Let's see how the final book turns out when it comes out next year then I'll give you a definite answer for my favorite book. But nonetheless you can absolutely have any one of them as your favorite because they're all stunning. This series is just so good I don't know how I can express my love for it without taking up a lot of your time..... and discussing some serious spoilers. Bottom line is it's glorious and you if you haven't read it yet, THEN YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD.

Side Note: My official and full review of the Throne of Glass series will be up soon. But if you want to view my INITIAL reviews of Throne of Glass up until Queen of Shadows, here are the links:

- Throne of Glass

-Crown of Midnight

-Heir of Fire

-Queen of Shadows

9. A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

(Photo from: a-vigilant-muse.blogspot.com

It looks like Sarah J. Maas can't write a bad book, can she? The first two books are absolutely phenomenal especially A Court of Mist and Fury. It was an enjoyable and beautiful retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale but it does have it's own mythology and rules around it that makes it entirely it's own. Both books are page turners. You can't stop reading once you start it. You immediately want to know what happens next after every chapter because of the different incredible scenes with its spectacular characters. Feyre is a great protagonist to follow. The writing really makes me understand and feel her joy, pain, loss, and grief. I don't know how much details I can give about the other characters without spoiling the surprise because there are so much stuff that happens to each and everyone of them. It feels like a whiplash. But rest assured, they are all very good and very easy to invest in. And of course, since this is Sarah J. Maas we're talking about, it has some twists that left me shocked out of my mind. 

As much as I loved A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury was the one that really made me love the series. It made my entire year. OH GOD HOW I MUCH I LOVED THAT BOOK. I can only hope that the third one will be as good, if not better, as A Court of Mist and Fury but knowing how Maas writes, I have complete faith in her. I am so excited and scared for A Court of Wings and Ruin but you can all bet I'll enjoy every minute of it.

10. The Infernal Devices Trilogy by Cassandra Clare

(Photo from: www.twirlingpages.com)

I absolutely regret not reading this the first time I heard about this a few years back. WHY DID I TURN MY BACK ON THIS INCREDIBLE SERIES? But I guess the important thing is that I indeed read them and loved them. 

If I had to choose the top series that made me feel all kinds of emotions, especially pain and sorrow, it's got to be The Infernal Devices. This will also be my prime example of characters elevating the story. I know I say this a lot with other books but with this series, without the characters, it would suffer a sever downgrade. I'm not saying the plot is terrible, it's nice actually with surprising and action-packed moments but the characters were just wonderful and made the story into something worth remembering. Tessa, Will, and Jem are untouchable. They will forever be precious and lovely and part of my favorite characters list. The other supporting characters such as Henry, Charlotte, and Jessamine are all good as well but nothing will surpass the three. Everything that was set up in Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince came together in Clockwork Princess and it was simply splendid. The time it took to put every piece together was worth it since it all played out so well. Clockwork Princess is without a doubt the most emotional I have been in my life reading a book. UNTIL NOW I CRY OVER IT and I am not even exaggerating. Ask Lyka Cali for confirmation if you want to. This series was such a great reading experience. It reawakened my interest in the Shadowhunter Chronicles and as a separate entity, will definitely be loved for a very long time.

Side Note: To view my FULL review of The Infernal Devices series, click here

11. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

(Photo from: www.simonandschuster.com)

Aristotle and Dante is probably my favorite contemporary novel of all time. There's just something about it that I absolutely love. It has a sort of purity, innocence, and authenticity that I never felt from other books before. It was simply beautiful. It doesn't necessarily follow a specific plot but follows Aristotle's life throughout the year starting from the summer he met his best friend, Dante. It follows his quest to understand himself, his family, Dante, his surroundings and many more. On paper, this may seem boring but it's not. His thoughts, theories, and beliefs are intriguing and relatable. Aristotle as a whole is totally relatable and so is Dante. Both of them distinct, understandable, and real. They're easy to invest it. This is a book that genuinely made me smile because of joy and peace. Aristotle and Dante is definitely a high bar to top. It's just that good. All the hype around it is well-deserved.

12. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

(Photo from: www.rainbowrowell.com)

The award for the most moments that I squealed in because of a ship goes to.... CARRY ON! But seriously this book gave me ALL the magnificent feels. I bought this book around the time it officially came out last year yet it took me a year later to actually read it.... what the fuck is wrong with me? Seriously? 

Carry On was just great and, no, I am not only talking about the main couple. Reading it felt like a treat. As a long time Potter fan, it's obvious from the first chapter that Carry On is inspired by Harry Potter so seeing all the parallels was really exciting. The plot was executed well enough and it was fast-paced too. It didn't feel like it was more than five hundred pages. I just flew right through it, excited to more. Another thing I really liked about this book were the spells. On paper and without context, it would be too silly to take seriously but Rowell explained it enough to actually make sense in the world the story is taking place. The characters are once again taking the center stage here because they were all so good and entertaining to read about. What can I say about Simon and Baz that would encompass my love for them? Either separate or together, they are both so thrilling to read about yet real in terms of being believable characters, not caricatures. Penelope, Agatha, The Mage, and Lucy were also interesting in their own right and essential to how things went along. The book won't be as strong as it is without them. In the end, Carry On was simply delightful to read and I love it with all my heart. I frequently find myself rereading some chapters when I need something to cheer me up or simply because I miss my magicians. It's definitely worth checking out.

13. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

(Photo from: www.madelinemiller.com)

If you have read my The Song of Achilles review, then you would know how much I love this book but since I have no problem gushing about one of the best books I have ever read in my life, I'm going to rave about it some more. 

To put it simply, The Song of Achilles was spectacular. If you know what happens in the Iliad (which I am assuming most of you do because it's the Iliad), then you essentially know what's going to happen in this book because it does follow the classic tale's events. So why bother reading it you ask? Because even though you know what will eventually happen, the way Miller wrote her novel was just breathtaking. It was heartwarming and heart-breaking. Tragic and hopeful. Fearful and joyful. The magical and mystical world of the Greek gods was made more intimate and human through Patroclus' eyes. He grounded the story to make it more understandable, relatable, and worth reading. You root for him from the very first chapter. You feel his loneliness, pain, and happiness as he grows older. You just invest in him right off the bat which is important if you're going to see through him the entire book. Achilles was also grounded. In the Iliad, he was this arrogant and angry character that you most probably disliked. In this, you see his formation, his years growing up, and his motivations for being what he is when the Trojan War actually starts so you get him. You don't just understand him, you like him as well. The two of them together is just lovely to read. All kinds of emotions can be felt when you read a scene between the two of them. The other supporting characters were all good and played their part for the story in impressive ways namely Odysseus, Briseis, Agamemnon, and Thetis. If Madeline Miller ever published novellas concerning the four them, I will definitely pay to read it. I will pay for anything Madeline Miller because she has proven her talent and skill in writing with The Song of Achilles. I just love this book to pieces. Everything about it is a gift from the gods.

Side Note: To view my FULL review of The Song of Achilles, click here 

I am actually surprised at how many books I thoroughly loved in 2016. No matter how much crap I give 2016 for being pretty bad, I can't deny that it was a good reading year for me. Earlier this year, I aimed to read around fifty books for my Goodreads reading challenge. And although I won't be able to reach fifty by the time 2016 ends, I can't make myself be totally upset since I mostly read good books. After all, its better to have been able to read in small amounts and for all of them to turn out great rather than have a heaping pile of terrible books. I hope to God that 2017 will again be a good reading year. I'm not sure how much I will be able to read since 2017 will probably be the busiest year of my life yet but I'm still looking forward to the new year...if only for the books. With so many books I am personally anticipating in 2017, it's practically impossible not to feel hope.

Side Note: Once you're done reading my list, check out Lyka Cali's over at her page!

Fuck 2016 Episode 3: The Best YA Book Covers Ever

We're done talking about the worst. It's time for the best.

If you have been following our blogs lately you would know that Lyka Cali and I have been doing a little bookish marathon. So far we have talked about stuff we, to put it kindly, did not necessarily like. But now it is time to flip the coin and talk about the things we really enjoyed and liked starting with this "episode", THE BEST YA BOOK COVERS EVER.

Back in Episode 1, we talked about some of the most atrocious book covers out there and we felt like it was only fair to write about the best ones too. There are some pretty amazing book covers out there and we have got to give credit to the artists for their work. It attracts readers when they go visit book stores therefore giving them good first impressions when they pick them up. I am not saying a book is automatically good just because it has a great cover but it does give the buyers some optimism when starting it. That has certainly been the case for me in numerous occasions. This is why it is essential to not take book covers for granted because they truly do have an influence on the reader. My list below covers some of the books that I felt did a great job at capturing the readers' interest because of their aesthetic and because it goes hand-in-hand with the story inside.

As always, this list is in no particular order.

1. Red Queen (Red Queen # 1) by Victoria Aveyard

(Photo from: victoriaaveyard.blogspot.com)

Red Queen's cover is just beautiful there is no doubt about that. It is simple, yes, but it still gives off a strong and elegant aura that is quite hard to find sometimes especially if the book focuses on royalty. Usually they crowd the cover with symbols and pictures that mean power but Red Queen proves that  a minimalist approach is enough. The crown and the red blood dripping from it conveys enough of the premise that it intrigues you. The tag line at the bottom adds a lot of impact too. The whole thing together is just a formidable and pleasing sight which is good since the book itself deserves it.

2. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

(Photo from: www.rainbowrowell.com)

Carry On is a good example of covers that give you a feel of the book. The two silhouettes that take up most of the cover let you know immediately that their relationship will be important in the novel which is indeed true since those two are Simon and Baz. The silhouette of the castle is of course indicating where the book will be mostly based at. It doesn't only give you a good feel of the story but it also is quite simple and good-looking as a whole. The colors don't clash and the font looks good with the other elements. Basically it's another good cover for a deserving story.

3. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

(Photo from: www.freeiz.com)

Say what you want about Twilight and how it's a blemish to literature and all that bullshit but it's got some damn good covers. It's another set of simple covers (I think you guys can guess that I love simple covers) with a specific image in the middle. The images are all metaphorically significant to the story, more specifically to Bella. The font compliments the design and the colors are lovely, more potent because of the contrast. It was awesome when I first saw it, it's awesome 'til now and I'll probably think it's awesome until the day I die.

4. Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo

(Photo from: pentatwine.blogspot.com)

God these covers are absolutely gorgeous! I am pretty sure no one can disagree with this statement. The majestic crow, the wonderful font, the splendid colors and the way it contrasts with each other, and the background all come together to make extraordinary covers. Six of Crows drew me in the first time I saw it and the same can be said with Crooked Kingdom. The vivid colors of the pages also adds to the stunning aesthetic of the books. No disagreements here when I see this duology in others' best covers list.

5. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

The All The Bright Places cover is composed of things that have a significant role in the story itself arranged in a way to make the product look really pleasing. It's really clever and simple and just beautiful. There's something about the cover that gives off an aura of authenticity and purity that I think really conveys the book as a whole. The cover is elegant, and lovely, and a "bright place" for every fan of the sweet book.

6. What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

(Photo from: www.harpercollins.com)

The cover of What We Saw is composed of a simple picture of a slightly opened door but the way it was edited elevated it to the next level. The lighting as well as the blurred background immediately adds a mysterious and tense atmosphere which is appropriate since the book itself has this all throughout. This plus the powerful tagline produces a strong cover that captivates you immediately. Truly an effective cover for an important book.

The "Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover" is very easy to abide if the covers are as gorgeous and as full of impact as the books above. They all did their duty of being aesthetically great and being closely related to the story. There are many more out there but these six really are the top books I think about when I think of the best. There are thousands more out there and I am glad when I see them because not only do I see investment in the books themselves but I see that they know the importance a cover has because whether we like it or not, it does have a effect. A surprisingly big and essential effect. Lord knows I never want to see another cover wherein a teenage girl is staring blankly ahead with her hair blowing in the background. Do you?

Fuck 2016 Episode 2: The Worst Books I Have Read In My Entire Life

Previously on Fuck 2016...

Last December 21, Lyka Cali and I published our first posts in the Fuck 2016 marathon featuring what we think are the worst young adult covers ever made. Now it's the day before Christmas and it's time to bring you guys the second "episode" to this bookish marathon, THE WORST BOOKS I HAVE READ IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I consider myself pretty generous when rating books, I try my best to really look at their good points. But there are just those particular few which barely have good in them that I couldn't deny anymore how truly BAD they were. I know when a book just didn't hit it for me whenever I feel like it was a waste of my time to read it also when I am very frustrated with it. The kind of frustration wherein you question that book's very existence and meaning. Disappointment is also a key indicator. It's when I expect a particular book to be good because it has a good premise or had a huge amount of hype around it only for it to not meet my standards.

I am sure that the authors who wrote these books are very lovely people and I have nothing against them. I am only rating their books and nothing more. If any of you liked or even loved the books on my list, feel free to like them. I wish I had your experience but I simply did not.

Also, like my last list in Episode 1, this list is in no particular order.

1. If I Stay (If I Stay # 1) by Gayle Forman

(Photo from: www. amazon.com)

If you have read my If I Stay Review, then you know I absolutely did not like this book. It was boring, underwhelming, and pointless. The pacing was all wrong. It was mostly very slow until the last few chapters wherein it rushed to tie everything up. The characters were also minimally interesting. Those who managed to capture some my interest aren't even the main characters! They were just side characters! What was more frustrating was that it had a pretty interesting premise but the interest I had in it quickly diminished after the fist few chapters where nothing remotely exciting was happening. I read the last word of the entire book feeling very irritated and unsatisfied which should never be if you just read a great book.

2. Playlist For The Dead by Michelle Falkoff

(Photo from: www.goodreads,com)

Oh God I was so so so disappointed after reading this book.

Playlist for the Dead has a very cool premise. It's the type I am definitely drawn to so when I heard about it for the first time earlier this year, I bought it the first chance I got. I even bought the hardbound copy of it. After reading the book, I regret spending so much money on it. It was just really bad. Like If I Stay, it was pointless. Everything that was set up didn't have a pay-off that was worth the time and energy spent on making it seem essential. I'm telling you guys it set up so much stuff but in the end nothing really happened. The playlist wasn't even much of a player in the book! The book was named after the something that didn't even matter much until the very end! The disappointment I felt after reading this book was unlike any other.... at least unlike any other but one. But that's later on in the list. The point is I expected so much more from this book but it just let me down.

(To view my initial review on Playlist for the Dead, click here)

3. Save Me, Kurt Cobain by Jenny Manzer

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

Another book I regret spending so much money on because I bought the hardbound version of it.

Save Me, Kurt Cobain took me TWO weeks to finish and it's not even that long. If that's not an indicator at how boring this book was I don't even know what is. This book tried I can give it that. It tried to be thrilling and mysterious but it just didn't work. I guess that time spent trying to be thrilling and mysterious added to how boring this book turned out. It took too long setting things up that I found myself losing interest in it. It ended up being a real job just to finish this book and that should never be the case. The main character, Nico, was really rash and glum that it made it really hard to invest and root for her. Also, the million Kurt Cobain facts did nothing but distract me from the story. It would have been fine if kept at a minimum instead of it popping out every two paragraphs. Like Playlist for the Dead, I expected so much more from this book but I ended up disappointed and frustrated. 

(To view my initial review on Save Me, Kurt Cobain, click here)

4. Soulmates by Holly Bourne

(Photo from: neverjudgeabookbyitscovers.blogspot.com)

This book definitely did not need to be as long as it was.

I don't mind reading thick books don't get me wrong but as long as it was necessary for that book to be long. The length of this book was not necessarily. I bought this book because I wanted to read a twisted version of soulmates, not to read a girl's life with her friends and crush. I have read millions of books with that premise, I don't need another one. The big difference was I knew those books were about a girl's life with her friends and crush. I signed up to read those books. This book failed to mention that it was mostly going to be a normal contemporary novel. I feel like I bought something different from what I expected. If it was going to focus more on the life of the girl rather than the supernatural aspect of soulmates, at least make it worthwhile and interesting but it was not. It was cliche. In the end, it made me feel nothing major. It left no impact. I just turned the last page and set it back on my shelf.

(To view my initial review of Soulmates, click here)

5. Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (Harry Potter # 8) by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

(Photo from: www.hypable.com)

I said above that Playlist of the Dead disappointed me like no other book did except for one. Cursed Child was that book.

I am not sure I can express my disappointment enough. I LOVED the Harry Potter series. There was not one book that I did not love. The story, the characters, the action, and everything in between were amazing and unforgettable and I will always be thankful to Rowling for creating the magical world of Harry Potter. So of course, I was super excited when I heard about Cursed Child and how it was going to be the "eighth" story of the Harry Potter franchise. After actually reading it, I tried my best not to think about how it was canon.

Where do I even begin? The characterization of most of the original characters were inconsistent with the other seven books, especially Harry fucking Potter. The stuff he did in this book/script were stuff his character would never do. It tried to tell a mind-blowing and massive story but in the end, it just created more confusing plot holes in a world where there are already more than enough plot holes. There were also things in Cursed Child that were clearly just convenient plot devices. If you think about it really carefully, it does not make sense. The Malfoys were the only bright spots from this story and nothing more. You would be crazy if you were a Potter fan and you didn't have expectations going in to this book. My expectations were missed by a long shot to say the least but not only that. I was disappointed out of my mind.

If you read my initial reviews of Playlist for the Dead, Save Me, Kurt Cobain, and Soulmates, you would notice that I liked them better there as compared to here. I guess the more time away from them has given me perspective on how bad they really were as stories so I don't regret putting them in this list. That said, I am actually quite surprised on how this list turned out. I thought there would be more. I have come across blogs and vlogs alike with numerous books on their most hated list. But then again, shouldn't I be thankful that there are only a handful of books that left a bad taste on my mouth? It's inevitable that I will encounter much more terrible books eventually but I guess I can look at it this way. Without them I wouldn't be able to gage terrific ones as well as separate and value the books I really love. You guys can look at it that way too if you keep on feeling overwhelming hatred towards those specific books you have read that really got on your nerves. It's better than them being the banes of your existence and paperweight after all.

Fuck 2016 Episode 1: The Worst YA Book Covers Ever

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017.

The year 2016 is finally coming to a close and what better way to celebrate than to talk about, you guessed it, books! I am collaborating with Lyka Cali over at Wander Reads to bring you guys five posts talking about different topics we feel really strongly about. What better way to welcome the new year than for blogs who mainly post about books to talk about more bookish things? Kidding aside, we hope you guys enjoy this and please let us know whether you want us to do more of these "book marathons" on our blogs in the comments

Let's get started!

We figured we should start this "marathon" with stuff about books that we really hate and end with the stuff we really love. For this first episode we are doing, THE WORST YA BOOK COVERS EVER!

I believe in the saying "Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover"....most of the time....at least I try really hard to. But every one in a while there will come a novel or a book series that truly has some atrocious covers. It would come to a point where I couldn't move on from how horrible the cover is and I end up not buying the book. Apart from being an avid reader, I am also a book collector. I am obsessed with keeping books in perfect states and having them look attractive on my shelves. So it annoys me when there are book covers that disrupt the aesthetic of my bookshelves because they are just so bad. If the cover is bad, the book needs to be really good for me to buy it. But even if that's the case, that doesn't stop me from criticizing it. Over the years, covers of Young Adult books have gotten so much better. I guess publishing companies are investing more on them since they are so popular now compared to the early 2000's. MY GOD THE EARLY 2000's YA COVERS WERE REALLY SHITTY.  I am thankful there has been a breakthrough.....even though there are still some out there who aren't getting the memo.

So without further ado, here is my "Worst YA Book Covers Ever" (in no particular order) list!

1. Anna and The French Kiss & Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

First covers of Stephanie Perkins' Anna and The French Kiss &
 Lola and The Boy Next Door
(Photo from www.perpetualpageturner.com)

These covers were just really bad. It turned me away from reading these books when I first heard about them. The actual books books are good, enjoyable, quirky, and charming but you wouldn't know that with the first covers. The covers definitely do not describe the great story inside. There are just so many things done wrong in these covers. The editing is severely poor. It is lackluster and unbelievable. The font is just really awful. The cursive adds to the cheesiness of the whole thing.

New covers of Stephanie Perkins' Anna and The French Kiss &
Lola and The Boy Next Door
(Photo from: www.fortheloveofwords.n

I personally prefer book covers to not include faces of people unless done right or if it it makes sense. These first covers are the epitome of everything I hate about human faces being on book covers. The girl and the boy in both covers are just really stiff and most of all awkward. I honestly don't know how they thought these were acceptable covers to give Perkins' books. I am extremely glad and relieved when they got new covers. That's when I finally read them and loved them. We see an amazing shot of the settings, the fonts were simple and I love how they included a symbolic shape/image in each cover depending on the story. They are now really pleasing to look at. I know a lot of people who started reading these books because of the cover change and these stories really deserve it. But even though these books got a nice cover make-over, it doesn't change how bad the original covers were.

2. Paper Towns by John Green

First covers of John Green's novel, Paper Towns
(Photo from: www.wikipedia.org)

I have one word to describe this cover: BORING

One of the latest covers of John Green's
Paper Towns
(Photo from:
theempirestrikesforward.blogspot.com)

There's pretty much nothing going on in the first two covers of Paper Towns. There is a girl staring straight ahead and, depending on the version you choose, looks either happy or sad.....and that's it. I guess you can count that the background changes too?? The point is it does nothing to catch your attention. I think Paper Towns was an satisfactory and enjoyable book filled with fun and quirky characters but, again, you wouldn't know that with those two covers. It doesn't give me a good feel of the book unlike the cover of Paper Towns on your the left. That cover is a newer design and a much more pleasing image. It definitely catches your attention and sets a good first-impression. The first ones just lacked creativity and aesthetic. I understand that those two covers were meant to represent the two sides of Margo Roth Spiegelman, one of the main characters in Paper Towns, but could they have done a better job at it? Could they at least spent time and effort in it? Those covers look like it was done in a few minutes, twenty minutes tops. They look like they came out of a freshmen photoshop class, not from an official artist hired by a publishing company to design the cover of a book. It just radiates dullness and mediocrity.

3. The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

One of the first covers of The Catastrophic
History of You and Me
(Photo from: ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com)

 

One of the first covers of The Catastrophic
History of You and Me
(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

I have no words at how bad the first covers of Jess Rothenberg's debut novel are. Really? A floating girl? Really? And to your right she's upside down... I guess they thought it would look and sell better if they had the girl upside down... yeah sure that will really work. This book was surprisingly good, it exceeded my expectations. The premise is cheesy as hell but when you start actually reading it you find yourself relating and investing more and more on it's main character, Brie.

Recent cover of The Catastrophic
History of You and Me
(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

Like Paper Towns, this does nothing to draw you in or give you a feel of the story. The only difference is Paper Towns is just boring and mediocre, this one is just full on shitty. It actually repels you when you see it in the bookstore. It's such a shame because I think this book needs more recognition because it really is a good and fun read. It deserves a much better cover and thankfully it did. The cover on your right is the latest cover of The Catastrophic History of You and Me, unlike the first two above, the colors are appealing, there are no awkward floating girls (I mean I know Brie is dead in the novel but for God's sake, JUST NO) and there is a necklace in front which is actually relevant to the story. The premise is hard enough to sell to your average book buyer because it's sounds completely cheesy! How did the publishing company get the idea that making it have these kinds of covers would work? Sometimes I really do wonder how they think up there. I just really want to know why they keep on making horrible decisions for their books.

4. Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

First covers of the Vampire Academy series
(Photo from: www.wikipedia.org)

This one is a classic.

Almost everyone, if not all (but I am pretty sure its everyone), hates the Vampire Academy covers because of how bad they are. It is famous for being seriously bad. Vampire Academy is a young adult paranormal series but based on these covers that wouldn't be my first guess. If I didn't know anything about the series and just happened to pass by it in the bookstore, I would think they were an erotic romance series. I mean seriously these covers SCREAM cheesy romance stories. Spirit Bound, the fifth book of the series, is literally a boy and girl slightly kissing with a a weird wind effect and lighting.

One of the latest covers of the Vampire Academy series
(Photo from: fansofvampireacademy.wordpress.com)

I know Vampire Academy was published during the time when Young Adult books had really atrocious covers but seriously! How can you give generic, cheesy romance covers to a paranormal series? It seriously undermines it. A few years after the final book, Last Sacrifice, was published, there was announcement that the entire series was getting new covers. Of course, long time fans were excited for a make-over but what they got were the covers you see on your left. It is basically the same covers with added color and a big "VA" to cover the faces....wow that made such a big difference guys! Those are the covers that Vampire Academy truly deserves. Kidding aside, I feel really bad for the long time fans who really hoped for good covers. What they got was basically the same thing.

I know it's late but I'm really interested in this series and I want to read it. Actually, I was already interested in this series years ago but as soon as I saw the covers I bolted the other direction. But now I realized there was really nothing I could do about the covers. They will forever be horrible, time won't ever change that so I decided to order the first book from Book Depository. I ordered the latest cover of Vampire Academy, the one with the big "VA" on the cover because, after all, I had a choice to choose between an awful cover and a slightly less awful cover wherein a big "VA" covers the face of the girl.

5. The Vampire Diaries Series by L.J. Smith

Some covers of The Vampire Diaries Series
(Photo from: www.pinterest.com)

Wow these are just horrendous.

Above is a collection of some of The Vampire Diaries series covers. I couldn't find a picture with every single book in it but I think these seven are enough to tell you how truly ghastly they are. I don't even know where to begin with these covers but I will try.

First of all, let us talk about the models. They all look like constipated and pasty dolls. I don't know if its because they think all vampires look like that so they should keep up the theme of pasty and constipated looking vampires in every fucking cover but either way it is just so unpleasant to look at. They look severely awkward and forced. Other than the models, what is up with the font of the words? Is it some kind of strange cursive that I suppose alludes to vampires? If that's their reason then that's just plain stupid. Why does everything have to suggest to vampires? Do you see Twilight having some weird shit about vampires on their covers? Absolutely not. Why do they think they need to state the obvious that the books are about vampires?? I think everyone can guess its about vampires based on the series name. And lastly, aside from the font and models there is nothing going on! There are no designs whatsoever for aesthetic purposes to intrigue the reader. It's the background color....and that's it. The Vampire Diaries covers are just really bad and there is no saving it. There are utterly no silver linings. Kudos to the artists who designed these covers. You guys really made something special!

6. The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries

(Photo from: www.pinterest.com)

The Vampire Diaries just doesn't get a break with covers, does it?

Why I think the Stefan's Diaries book covers are bad is similar to why I thought the first covers of Paper Towns were so bad. They are boring and does not grab your attention. They are just faces of the actors working on the show, some weird lighting, and nothing. They also did the whole partial-face-shot thing that I think we have established should be done well to look good. This just looks like posters of the TV show being made into a book cover to save money.....and now that I do think about it I think that's exactly what they did! I think I have seen those posters before on billboards and ads in the internet. That is laziness right there. They can't even hire an artist to make a book cover! They just reused posters. Unbelievable. 

Another problem I have with these covers is the fact they used Elena and Katherine's faces for two of the covers when both of them weren't even in those books or in any other books! I have read the entire series and I can guarantee you they don't appear. What's the point of including them then? To make people buy the book just because Nina Dobrev is on the cover? At this point whenever a Vampire Diaries book comes out, whether written by the author herself or a ghost writer, I will automatically assume that the cover is horrendous. After all, when have they ever broken the streak of dreadful covers?

7. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

First cover of Throne of Glass
(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

This cover is not as bad as the others I have criticized above but it is still pretty bad.

Latest cover of Throne of Glass
(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

The original cover of Throne of Glass was already unpleasant but I think since the new cover has been released and the fact that the succeeding books followed it's design, it just highlighted how substandard the original cover is. To be fair, it does give you a feel of the story with the model having a knife strapped to her shoulder and a silhouette of the glass castle on the background but it is overshadowed by the fact that the model just looks so awkward and edited. She takes up the entire page so in order for it to be at least decent, she should look menacing as Celaena Sardothien, the main character of the series, should be. But she just doesn't. She's like a mannequin, a doll. The author, Sarah J. Maas herself calls the original cover the "Barbie cover" and stated how much she loved the cover change. If the author herself doesn't like it, what more of her readers? If I am being honest with myself, I didn't like the new covers in the beginning. It felt too much like the visuals in the video game "Tekken" but overtime it grew on me and I actually began to appreciate how it captures Celaena in every book. Much better than the "Barbie cover" that's for sure. It is my plea to every publishing company to stop approving designs that have girls staring blankly as if they are not embodying a character. Please just stop with this trope.

8. The Mortal Instruments Series and The Infernal Devices Trilogy by Cassandra Clare

First covers of The Mortal Instrument Series
(Photo from www.bibliomantics.com)

This is bad for the same reason the original Throne of Glass cover is now considered unsatisfactory in book world...because the new covers came out. 

Disregarding the new covers of both The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices series, the original covers were at most decent and at worst shoddy. The best one is Clockwork Princess which was the most pleasing to look at. The worst are City of Bones and Clockwork Prince. What makes them mostly shoddy are the models and the colors. The models are awkward and badly edited. They stand in weird angles that doesn't seem right and just end up coming across as awkward. The way they shine is just strange and poorly done. 

First covers of The Infernal Devices Series
(Photo from: www.twirlingpages.com)

The colors in general are not satisfying colors to look at. They are all dull and dreary. There isn't much contrast to the colors. This is why the shades they used for the covers come across as drab because the contrast that should have been in there to make the colors pop out is absent. They are all murky which is a shame because there were some great potential in these covers.

Latest covers of The Mortal Instrument Series
(Photo from: www.bibliomantics.com)

The whole Shadowhunter chronicles is another set of books I have been eyeing for years now but eventually gave up on. The covers were part of the reasons why. I really just did not like the original covers. I remember cringing at the sight of the City of Bones copy my classmate was reading when I was in sixth grade.

Obviously my relationship with the Shadowhunter books did not stay the same. I eventually picked up The Infernal Devices with the encouragement of my close friends and I absolutely loved it. I've got to be honest though and say that the new covers pushed me some more to read the series too. The edits on the models were better and they weren't in awkward poses anymore. They were in sensible and bad ass poses.

Latest covers of The Infernal Devices Series
(www.twirlingpages.com)

The colors of the book covers also improved. There are still some spotty places but they have better contrast with the colors than they did with the old covers. I love these new covers. These are the type I won't be ashamed to read in public. If they were capable of making good covers, why did those old covers existed in the first place? I thought for a long time about possible reasons why this is so and there is still nothing coming to mind. Nonetheless, I am extremely delighted they gave The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devies a make-over. Cassandra Clare's books deserved an upgrade that isn't cringe-worthy.

No matter how much I try to abide to the "Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover" saying, it's still a challenge to overlook a cover especially when its just so outrageously bad. They give you the first impressions you have of books and if you mess up that step, you are going to have a really hard time convincing a reader to buy the book, even to read the premise on the back! Good covers are essential and there is just no way around it. I hope that over the next few years, the amount of bad covers will be less and less. No matter the story, it needs to have a good cover for it to automatically have a good start. Every book deserves a clean slate. Let's help leave each and every book's success solely on the story and nothing more.

(Note # 1: This list is based on what I feel are some of the worst young adult book covers out there. You are welcome to agree or disagree with me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.)

(Note # 2: Episode 2 of the Fuck 2016 marathon will be up by December 24)

(Note # 3: Now that you have read my post, you can now read Lyka Cali's list!)