The Turning Point: The Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan Review

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I had a lot of speculations and theories on what could possibly happen in The Burning Maze from the moment I read the last line of The Dark Prophecy. But I won't go into detail about those speculations and theories. Instead, I'll tell you what I did not expect from The Burning Maze: that.

I've been following Rick Riordan and his books since I was merely eleven years old. I've been through all the joys and heartbreak since the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series. I honestly thought that I can predict and prepare for everything Riordan has to offer. Especially now that I am older and have a wider scope and experience in the world of books. However, I'll admit that the Burning Maze took me by surprise in all the right ways and is quite arguably one of the best books he has ever written.

As all Rick Riordan books have done before, The Burning Maze mainly centers around a major problem that our heroes have to work to solve in order to prevent catastrophic consequences to the world. In this story we follow the god-turned-mortal Apollo, his master and companion, Meg McCaffrey, and Grover Underwood as they struggle to retrieve and free another oracle suppressed by the three Roman emperors from the Burning Maze, a section of the magical Labyrinth that has also been causing fiery disasters to happen in Southern California. This review will be SPOILER-FREE but I will also be including some spoiler-filled thoughts on some controversial subjects below (There will be a spoiler warning before that section). 

The premise I wrote above is pretty much the entire book. It's a simple quest which makes for a simple plot to follow complete with sharp and witty writing. This gives the book clear and solid direction. It prevents it from being too convoluted in its own mythology and set of characters. The presence of every plot line, characters, and their arcs made sense because they were necessary for the story to move forward. It stayed true to the prophecies that were given in the prior books and even exceeded expectations on how those elements would play out. The solid direction naturally gives way to an evenly paced story that provided enough time for our characters to evolve more.

As always, Apollo continues to be a great character. Out of all of Riordan's lead protagonists, I would say Apollo's character development is the most drastic and interesting. From being an arrogant and indifferent god, we've been seeing him gain more bravery, wisdom, and most crucial of all, empathy - more so in this book than the last two. His journey has been nothing but action-packed, hilarious, and  compelling up to this point and I am very excited to see where he goes from here. Meg McCaffrey's character has also come a long way since meeting her for the first time in The Hidden Oracle. In the Burning Maze, Riordan provided more back story for her, adding more depth and connection to the readers. Slowly, she is becoming less of an enigma to the readers and is turning into a character that can be relatable and much more likeable. Moreover, apart from Apollo and Meg, the returning characters from the previous books added so much more life and personality to the book. As I said before, it felt like all the characters were necessary and had a significant effect on the overall story. These characters', primarily Grover Underwood, Piper McLean, and Jason Grace, presence in the novel were so much more than nostalgia tricks. 

We are also introduced to the third and final emperor in this novel and he was just great. He was distinct from the two other emperors we have met so far in the series. He is the most unpredictable which makes him all the more frightening and an excellent antagonist for Apollo to combat. The triumvirate are surprisingly the most entralling and nicely written villains in the Percy Jackson universe since Kronos and have the potential of being the greatest ones yet if they continue to become even better as the series progresses.

The Burning Maze has been marketed as the "turning point" of the Trials of Apollo series and after reading it cover-to-cover, I would have to agree. What made it earn this title? Well, this is what also generated most of my surprise. Apart from how great the pace, writing, plot, and characters are, the shining elements this book produced were serious stakes and consequences. I remember writing in my Heroes of Olympus review that one of my major complaints were the lack of consequences that would match the stakes it has been building up since The Lost Hero. This made the ending of the series, frankly, lose impact with its audience. The Burning Maze seemed to have learned from this because now it has painful repercussions to match its ever growing stakes. This creates an emotional weight that I have not seen in Riordan's books in quite some time. This is a change The Trials of Apollo truly needs in order to masterfully deliver on what it's trying to do. As a fan of exciting and character-driven story-telling, I am eager for more.

Overall, The Burning Maze is, dare I say, the best book Rick Riordan has ever written since The House of Hades. It flawlessly continues the story of Apollo and elevates it in becoming a narrative filled with smart writing, fleshed out characters, and stakes and consequences that his stories have been desperately lacking for quite a few years now. It really was a refreshing turning point. I cannot wait to see what the fourth book has in its sleeve that will leave the readers reeling.

9/10

SPOILER DISCUSSION

DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BURNING MAZE!

Fuck 2017: Top 5 Best Films of 2017

2017 was a pretty good year for films. It was certainly better than 2016.

Of course, atrocities like "The Mummy", "The Emoji Movie", and "Fifty Shades Darker" were still present to ruin a moviegoer's day however, I found this year's offerings much more varied and creative than the previous years. Who starred in the films or what genre they were practically didn't matter. 2017 saw greater acceptance to all kinds of film as long as it was made well and likewise  entertained, challenged, and touched the lives of the audience.

The five films below are what I found to be the best 2017 had to offer. It made me love the art of film making even more (if that was even possible) and genuinely did touch me to the core. I was obsessed with these films and found every reason I could scrounge up to talk about them constantly with my friends and family even if they had no idea what I was talking about. It kept me up at night, thinking of nothing but the characters, the dialogue, and the themes they presented. And in all honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

It was quite difficult to narrow down the films I've watched in 2017 to the top five best. There were three in particular films that I adored but were unable to make the list. However, they still deserve to be recognized for their own incredible creativity and lasting impacts.

3. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

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Spider-Man: Homecoming is directed by Jon Watts and stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. The film follows Peter Parker as he struggles to balance being an ordinary high school student and being an established crime-fighting superhero as The Vulture, a new supervillain, appears. 

I really admired Spider-Man: Homecoming for simultaneously being a coming-of-age story and an action film and doing it so well. The result is a movie that was very much enjoyable to watch while still being relatable and emotional. This is the third reincarnation of Spider-Man on the big screen in the last 17 years however it felt fresh, it felt like this was the one that perfectly captured the essence of a very young Peter Parker trying to grasp where his place is in the world and how he could make the best out of his situation. The movie does a really good job in making you invested in Peter Parker and make you root for him as he faces his problems and insecurities. Aside from Peter, the other characters were also really great due to the good script and fantastic performances. I really want to highlight Vulture, however, because Adrian Toomes is by far the most interesting villain Marvel has put out since Loki. You understand his motivations and even feel sympathetic towards him like you would do the protagonist. And also, because Michael Keaton was just terrific in the role.

Overall, Spider-Man: Homecoming was a simple but solid movie with great performances and action. It's definitely a fresh and delightful addiction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

2. BABY DRIVER

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Baby Driver is directed by Edgar Wright and stars Ansel Elgort as "Baby", a getaway driver who gets coerced by a crime boss to do another heist that threatens his life and freedom.

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Baby Driver was the most fun I had watching a film in 2017. You've seen heist films before but none as innovative and ingenious as this. The various action sequences were stunning and jaw-dropping, the music playing such a huge role in making it exciting and lively. The plot of the movie was simple but was elevated by a great and witty screenplay as well as the outstanding performances given by the actors most especially Ansel Elgort and Kevin Spacey. Also, I got to say I didn't know where this movie was going to go which made the movie-going experience tense and exhilarating. Baby Driver is playful, stylish, and gorgeous and is undoubtedly one of the best works of  Edgar Wright.

1. WONDER WOMAN

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Wonder Woman is directed by Patty Jenkins and stars Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, an Amazon Princess that comes to the world of man to help end the war that she believes is caused by the god, Ares.

I was not a huge fan of the three DC films that came before Wonder Woman. There was always something that put me off, whether it was the lackluster execution, convoluted story, or the underwhelming characters. There hasn't really been a reason for me to expect anything more from Wonder Woman. However, I was pleasantly surprised walking out of the theater that not only did it deliver but it exceeded any of my expectations and became a film that I would readily devour again and again.

Wonder Woman was just a good movie. It was a generally a well-paced, well-acted, and well-executed story of a woman trying desperately to end a war while discovering things about herself and humanity along the way. Maybe because it was set almost a hundred years before the first DC film (Man of Steel), it was able to stand on its own and not worry about being connected to any of the other films or set up anything. I was invested on Diana's journey every step of the way. I empathized with her and rooted for her which is largely due to Gal Gadot's spectacular performance. Her character was layered and likable which made all the terrible revelations and circumstances more painful to see. The same could be said with the other supporting characters in the movie but really, Chris Pine's Steve Trevor shined the most out of all of them. It was easy for Steve Trevor to be a boring and stagnant character, to exist simply because it was required for Steve Trevor to be part of the Wonder Woman lore. But he managed to make the character so interesting and as likable and layered as Diana herself. This is one of Chris Pine's best performances along with Hell or High Water (a film you should really check out if you haven't already). Wonder Woman is not a perfect film, the third act going back to the very overused and generic explosive climax and has areas of predictability. But overall, it was a genuinely heartfelt and uplifting movie that does justice to the iconic superhero and is undeniably an important cultural phenomenon.

TOP 5 BEST FILMS OF 2017

5. A GHOST STORY

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A Ghost Story is directed by David Lowery and stars Casey Affleck as a man who, after a fatal accident, comes back as white-sheeted ghost to see his wife only to discover that he is can only passively watch as time moves on without him.

It is so easy to think of A Ghost Story as nothing more but a boring and pretentious film but there's just something about it that genuinely affected me as a viewer. Yes, Casey Affleck being under sheet for around 90% of this movie sounds ridiculous but you quickly brush aside that fact to focus on what this movie is trying to convey. This movie is not a horror film, contrary to what the title is implying. It's not made to scare you but it may haunt you as it did to me. It was surprisingly deep and sad, making you question yourself, your existence, and if anything at all has meaning. I can tell you guys honestly that after watching the film, I immediately had an existential crisis. That's how much this movie affected me. It does require patience and open-mindedness to be able to see pass the intentional slow and silent nature of the film. But if you can suspend all initial reactions and immerse yourself in Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara's raw and captivating performances, it can be a deeply moving and lovely experience.

4. GET OUT

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Get Out is directed by Jordan Peele and stars Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington, a man who gets invited to spend the weekend with his girlfriend's family upstate. However as the weekend progresses, Chris learns that the family's overly accommodating attitude has nothing to do with his interracial relationship with his girlfriend. It is with something much darker and twisted than he could ever have imagined.

Get Out was probably the biggest surprise of the year. I did not expect it to be as exhilarating, suspenseful, and smart as it was. This movie was not only well-executed, well-acted, and well-paced, but it was also satirical in a way that it critiques our society and how it still propagates racism and injustice despite changes in time and norms. Get Out is the type of film that I would watch over and over again not only because of how enjoyable it is but you can also find new meaning and metaphors present in lines or scenes that you were not able to see before. It entertains and challenges you to think and analyze at the same time. It's fresh, original, and meaningful. It's a film I would definitely recommend to anyone.

3. LOGAN

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Logan is directed by James Mangold and stars Hugh Jackman as James "Logan" Howlett. In the year 2029, an aged and weary Logan cares for an ailing Charles Xavier in a hideout near the Mexican border. However, Logan's routine with Charles as well as his plans for the future get disrupted when they cross paths with a young mutant in need of their help.

Logan was simple. It was a deeply personal story about consequences, redemption, and family. It might sound cheesy on paper but the way it was executed was far from it. The movie felt raw, displaying characters that were all grounded in realism. Although this is a movie wherein two of the main characters had adamantium claws and the third one had the power to literally wipe out an entire city with his brain, it felt real. This was all due to the excellent story telling of James Mangold, the director and co-writer. He made these people tangible. The R rating may be fun for some viewers because this we got to see Wolverine and X-23 as depicted in the comics but the rating was mostly due to the story. The problems they faced, the consequences of their actions, and the characterizations were very mature and should not be for children. It was appropriate for this movie to be entitled "Logan". The whole movies was about James "Logan" Howlett regardless whether he has claws or excellent healing powers. It was about the character Logan, not Wolverine

Aside from the fantastic story telling and themes, the performances really elevated it into a whole new level. This is Hugh Jackman's best performance in his history of playing the character and is arguably his best performance ever. You can tell he gave it his all and the result was astounding. You felt Logan's guilt, his anger, and his pain. It was truly magnificent. Sir Patrick Stewart was as phenomenal as ever as Professor X, his performance heartbreaking and raw. However the real breakthrough performance of this film came from Dafne Keen's performance as X-23. She did a lot of nonverbal acting and it didn't feel at all forced or over-the-top. She convinced me of her capabilities as an actress and I absolutely cannot wait to see more of her.

Overall, Logan was a refreshing take in the superhero genre that was starting to feel stagnant and gave us the perfect swan song to Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. The hype that surrounded this film was met and far exceeded the expectations of anyone.

2. Dunkirk

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Dunkirk is directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, and Harry Styles. The film tells the story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from the Dunkirk beaches and harbors after being surrounded by the German army during World War II.

I am a huge Christopher Nolan fan. Each and every one of his films, from Memento to Inception, has immersed its audience in outstandingly told stories with substantial and important themes and are also very entertaining to watch. I was very excited going in to see Dunkirk even though it was a breakaway from the SciFi stories he has been telling with his last few films. And I was not disappointed. Dunkirk is quite simply a masterpiece. Like all his other films, Christopher Nolan immerses you into this story and makes you feel like you're experiencing the hardships that these soldiers were facing. It had very little dialogue but the movie didn't need it. The lack of dialogue was compensated by fantastic visuals that showed you everything you need to know, the extraordinary soundtrack from Hans Zimmer that kept you on your toes, and sensational performances from all the actors that made you feel their fear, dread, and pain. This film was not a character piece. You hardly knew any of the characters and their backgrounds. However, the film is meant for the audience to, in a way, experience what it was like being in Dunkirk all those years ago and it succeeded in its mission beautifully. The film was told in a nonlinear format but somehow Nolan managed to tie it all together in a way that made complete sense. Dunkirk was suspenseful but at the end of it all managed to make the audience feel uplifted and hopeful. This is why Dunkirk is legitimately one of the best films of 2017.

1. Call Me By Your Name

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Call Me By Your Name is directed by Luca Guadagnino and stars Timothee Chalamet as Elio Perlman, a 17-year old boy living in Italy for the summer who gradually finds himself drawn to the handsome American, Oliver (played by Armie Hammer) who is staying with them for six weeks as an intern for his father.

After seeing Dunkirk last July, I thought I would never see another film this year that would replace it as my top film of 2017. However, after watching Call Me By Your Name a few days ago, it was impossible for me not to put it as my number one. Call Me By Your Name is a film that celebrates first love, sexual awakening, first heartbreak, and the power of nature and desire. It explores these themes in the most sensual, graceful, and raw way possible which makes the film feel real. It felt like I was a first-hand spectator to these people's struggles and not just simply watching a movie which had set dialogue and scenes. This film was breathtaking, every shot so beautiful but with meaning that would allude to the overall themes it was trying to convey. Its pace was deliberately slow, adding to the sensual and laid back atmosphere of the story as well as made you invest more and more on its characters, particularly Elio. The actors' performances in this film were also spectacular. The supporting roles of Armie Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg added so much life and emotion in the film however Timothee Chalamet in particular was a gem. His performance was not only convincing, it completely captivates you to his character and makes you utterly care for him and support him. He has the ability to show clear emotions on his face without saying a word. An entire monologue can be summed up in just five seconds of looking at his face. He was genuinely a site to see and deserving for all the praise he's been getting. The final scene alone which showed off his range as an actor alone is enough to get him all the awards. 

Overall, Call Me By Your Name is simply phenomenal. The story so magnificently told and so emotionally devastating with deeply impactful performances. No other film has affected me more than Call Me By Your Name has which makes it a no-brainer as to why I absolutely adore it and why I consider it the best film of 2017

So there you have it! My top five best films with some honorable mentions for those that didn't quite make it. I wasn't able to watch all the films released in 2017 which is why critically-acclaimed ones such as "The Disaster Artist", "I, Tonya", "Lady Bird", and "The Shape of Water" (just to name some) are not in the list. Those, and many more, would have to wait for 2018. But overall I was really satisfied with the all the films that I got to watch this year. This year was a good year for movie fans because of the wealth of material that we can all analyze and review for everyone else to see.I really can't wait for what the 2018 movie slate has in store for all of us. I hope it would be as good, if not better, as what 2017 gave us.

New (and more defined) Ratings!

If you have been following this blog, then you know I do reviews quite a lot. I always have a score at the bottom of each review post depending on how much I liked or disliked a certain book, film, or episode in a series. However, I've never actually expressed how I rate them. I just give out a number and that's it. A few weeks ago, Lyka Cali and I over at Wander Reads decided it was time to clearly define our ratings when we do reviews. A new way of rating would clearly describe our thoughts on a certain material and would cause less confusion for us and our readers. This new rating will take effect after this post. I won't be changing my ratings in my previous reviews anymore. I sincerely hope this clears out any confusion any of you might have when reading our posts from now on!

Special shout out to Lyka Cali for creating this cute illustration! 

Breaking Glass Ceilings: The Captive Prince Trilogy

Arguably, "glass breaking" has become more frequent in this day and age than ever before. Men and women from around the world have been sharing and promoting genuinely ground-breaking and important ideologies and beliefs in various mediums. This can be especially felt in media platforms where it is easiest to connect with an audience. I think sometimes we underestimate the effectiveness of media and its capability to propagate messages especially when its something that's been long overdue. I can go on for a million years about the films, television shows, comic books, and songs that I feel deserve to be acknowledged for exceeding expectations, but for this collaboration with Lyka Cali, we agreed to focus on literature only. After thinking long and hard as to what to feature, I finally settled on a series: The Captive Prince Trilogy by C.S. Pacat.

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Now to be fair, there are literally thousands of books that can be hailed as a glass breaker and be featured in this post. However at this point in time Captive Prince sticks out among the rest for me, not only with it's fantastic story and characters but as how it got made in the first place. 

The story of Captive Prince's rise to popularity is actually pretty incredible. It all started with C.S. Pacat yearning to write books that she wanted to read. Books with love, fantasy, escapism, sex, and sexuality that's not exclusive to heterosexuality as a queer woman herself. I, as well as all of you, know books with those themes are extremely difficult to find, and is usually depicted with many contemporary social biases and discriminations that the LGBTQ community face. She did away with that trope and focused instead on crafting a story focused on the characters and personal stakes. She published first on her blog for free in a serialized manner, which encouraged interaction among her readers on the internet. Good word of mouth from across the online community made it possible for Captive Prince to have over 15 million hits. Towards the end of writing Prince's Gambit, she thought about publishing her books after overwhelming support from her online following and requests for physical copies. At first it was a challenge, no company wanted to publish Captive Prince with the belief that there is no existing market it. Eventually, she decided to self-publish on Amazon using her 10,000 dollar loan. Captive Prince proved to be a worthy investment because it shot to the top of Amazon's charts and in the end, Pacat was able to get a three-book deal from one of the biggest publishing houses in the world, Penguin.

There is no question that the odds were stacked against C. S. Pacat. As she said herself, what she wanted to write "did not exist" and publishers tend to really consider the popularity of a genre before contemplating about making a deal with the author. She had to deal with the stigma that comes with online publishing where there are actual people who believe it is not legitimate and finally, her characters and the world they live in are very open-minded and loose in regards to sexuality. Normally, you would expect this kind of project to fail considering the world we live in is very prejudiced and unfair place but it did not. It rose to the occasion, blew everyone's minds away for how good it was, and gave readers great joy to finally see a fantasy series that was thrilling, mind-blowing, and filled with representation. 

This book series broke so many glass ceilings in one go and it deserves to be recognized for it. I feel fortunate that I managed to stumble upon the title of the first book while scrolling down my Tumblr dashboard on an ordinary Thursday night and decided it was a worth a look. I feel grateful for this series' early fan base for ensuring it's success and, of course, C.S. Pacat for writing the trilogy and for being an inspiration for readers and aspiring writers everywhere. 

(Read Lyka Cali's version of books that broke glass ceilings here )

Down The Rabbit Hole: The Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan Review

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When I saw the flying griffins and the armored ostriches on the cover of The Dark Prophecy, I knew I would be in for one hell of a ride.

But then again, when have I not been taken for a ride in any Rick Riordan book? From the first Percy Jackson novel, The Lightning Thief, to his most recent books, he has continuously delivered in making his readers laugh, cry, and care extensively for characters they sometimes forget were fictional. The Dark Prophecy was no different.

The plot was simple and had one major goal for the characters to achieve. There are times wherein adventure novels do not know how to properly give enough time to individual scenarios in their stories so much so it either tends to drag or end too quickly. The Dark Prophecy certainly did not commit this mistake. Its simplicity and consistent storytelling made things straightforward and very easy to follow. Of course there were other obstacles to overcome but it was all balanced and connected well enough that it was not messy at all. The writing was superb as always and absolutely hilarious. I would argue that this was the funniest book Rick Riordan has written yet. No book has left we laughing quite like The Dark Prophecy.

If the Hidden Oracle felt most like the other books set in the Percy Jackson world, The Dark Prophecy felt the most different. It introduced us to new settings and tons of new characters that were all so interesting and good in their own right. Frankly, I was surprised by the number of additions but I did not once feel bored or indifferent towards them. They left me eager to see more. In a way, the readers needed this to prove that Riordan was not merely creating another Percy Jackson or Heroes of Olympus book. Although it had references to characters and events from the previous books, it did not take away from what was happening inside the book itself. Old and new were joined so nicely and efficiently it's hard not to praise Riordan's skill.

The best part were the characters. Leo and Calypso were good independently and as companions to Apollo. I especially enjoyed them each having their own quests with Apollo where they shined the most. I cannot stress how much I missed Leo Valdez, his sense of humor, and the way he immediately lightens a situation whenever he's in the room. Emmie and Josephine, the heads of the Waystation, were great as well. They were down-to-earth, calm, and warm. Their personalities balance the often reckless, exuberant, and relentless personalities of Apollo and Leo. I also appreciate how Riordan made them a lesbian couple, adding representation to the LGBT community. I will not spoil the other characters who appear in the novel but let me assure you that they were all excellent. But without question the best character and the best thing about this entire series remains to be Apollo.

A large reason as to why these books work so well is because of Apollo. The books are narrated in the first person point of view by him. Being a (former) god, he thinks way different from the other characters we have read from before. He is extremely arrogant, vain, naive, and hysterical. Apollo makes the world refreshing even after we have been reading books about it for years now. In addition to this, knowing that he is a former god who now needs to learn how to survive as a human, the character development was sure to be part of the story but I did not expect how much it was going to be and it was astounding. I thought that the first book was bursting with it but I was clearly wrong. The Dark Prophecy has surpassed it by a mile. It was so captivating to see Apollo grow and to see him realize and understand what it means to live and to have something to die for; to finally see a god with humanity. I cannot wait to see more of his journey in the coming books and if this book was any indication, it's just going to get better and better.

Antagonists are a big part in making a protagonist strong and the emperors of the triumvirate are indeed magnificent. We get to meet the second emperor in this book and it totally makes sense why he part of the triumvirate considering his connection to Apollo. He was a very entertaining villain to have and more importantly, he was distinct from Nero. His appearance proves that we will not be getting one villain and his two exact copies. This proves that the three of them will each bring something to the plate. I am anxious to see what comes next for them especially considering how the third emperor and the triumvirate's schemes are mainly still mysteries.

Overall, The Dark Prophecy could be counted as another success under Rick Riordan's belt. Aside from the moments of predictability and too easy solutions in some circumstances, the book was still heartfelt, enjoyable, and solid. It was simply delightful and definitely worth the read. I am pretty sure everyone, including me, who has already read the ending is barely holding in their elation and excitement for the next book. So many important things are going to happen in the third book and no doubt it will get harder, darker, and more intense. And no matter how much theories I have up my sleeve for what would happen next, I could only guess at the moment. There's only one way to truly find out... and that's to wait, the hardest thing readers endure.

8.7/10

Half-Blood: Frostblood (Frostblood Saga # 1) by Elly Blake Review

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Inevitable. Reading Frostblood was inevitable.

Anyone who has seen my blog would know that I love and adore both the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas and the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard.  As a huge fan, anything that would remind me of any of them, much less both of them, would automatically be on my radar. Frostblood was advertised as a hybrid of both these series and as soon as I heard about it, I went to my nearest bookstore and grabbed a copy.So how did it hold up? Does it deserved to be likened to arguably two of the best and most successful YA fantasy books out today?

First of all, the marketing team weren't kidding when they said this would be a mash-up of Throne of Glass and Red Queen. There are numerous elements found in Frostblood that reminded me of elements found in both series. That would be one of the reasons why I chose to name this review as "Half-blood" for it really was a combination. I wouldn't say it was necessarily a bad thing because one way or another books can be easily inspired by other works or authors unintentionally create a story that is similar to others but overtime this created an almost expectant feeling. There were moments in the book that you expected to happen not because you were spoiled on what was going to happen but because you've read it another set of books. I don't know what Blake has in store for her sequels but I hope she would veer away from the generic components that flood the YA fantasy genre these days.

Another thing I noticed is that there were some sequences that needed to be stretched out more. These scenes felt like they were cut off suddenly and so, the emotion that was intended for the readers to feel did not hit as intensely as it should have. Not only that but when these scenes involve action and high stakes, it made it seem too easy because they were over so quickly.

Speaking of being easy, there were some solutions to the characters' problems that felt effortless. It either needed more build up or there needed to be other factors in the given solution to make it more effective and feel rewarding to read. You want your readers to feel a sense of satisfaction and elation whenever the characters succeed. I won't deny that I still felt those emotions but it wasn't as potent as I would have wanted it to be and I knew it could have been done better.

The writing was mostly good but when it came to action sequences it became a tad bit messy. This was most prevalent during the climax of the entire book. The way it was written and described felt unclear and vague in some places. It had me rereading some of the passages just to make sense what was happening in that moment and how the surroundings looked like in the scene. Without another reading of particular parts, I would have been confused as to how everything ended.

It sounds like I hate this book but I don't. I actually enjoyed Frostblood. I just wanted to get my critiques out of the way before I started talking about the positives. The thing I loved about this book the most was its world and its mythology. The stories about their gods and the ancient legends and prophecies about the Frostbloods and Firebloods intrigued me to no end. I also really liked the characters. The had specific roles to play to keep the story moving forward as well as making it interesting. The protagonists were likable with a hint of mystery that will carry on to the sequel which I personally like. The main characters are sufficiently relatable to have me invested in their respective arcs. It is clear their arcs are not complete yet. I care enough to want to know what happens next and what their ends would be. The story itself, although (like I mentioned above) rather generic, was still high entertaining. There were moments of good story telling and I wish it could have been more consistent but it was still there. 

Overall, Frostblood had its ups and downs. That's the other reason why this review is entitled "Half-Blood". Its triumphs and flaws switches throughout the book. Although it wasn't the most original and outstanding piece of literature in the YA fantasy genre, it had its glorious moments that make me hopeful for the upcoming sequels. This series still has potential. It can improve itself as we get deeper into the story. Frostblood may not be on top of the pyramid just yet but we have a long way to go. Who knows what could happen? Fireblood, the second book of the Frostblood Saga, is to be released on September this year (INCREDIBLY FAST I KNOW) and I will be getting it to continue on with this series. I just hope my faith in Elly Blake's books would be worthwhile.

6/10

Red Queen Book Tag

"POWER IS A DANGEROUS GAME"

It all started with that tag line. In case you guys don't remember, that was the very first tagline of the Red Queen series. It was attached to the it's first book, Red Queen. It was a very powerful one too. It drew me in immediately and, no doubt, drew in thousands around the world as well. It certainly deserved my intrigue and love. Why else would I be following these books so closely if it were any other way? 

There are four books in this series and three has already been released to us very eager readers. All of them unique and lovable in their own way. And since it has been exactly two months since the third book, King's Cage, came out, Lyka Cali and I decided that celebrating it's second monthsary would be the perfect way to show our love and appreciation in the form of a book tag! A book tag wherein we could discuss everything from the things we despised to the things we absolutely enjoyed in Red Queen, Glass Sword, and King's Cage. That said, this book tag would obviously contain some spoilers from the first three books so if you have not read these books, you should definitely not read this post. Do yourself a favor and do so because it'll be a fun time, I promise you. So without further ado, let's get on with the book tag.

1. Favorite Book

King's Cage is without a doubt my favorite book in the Red Queen series so far. If you thought Red Queen and Glass Sword were tense, emotional, and thrilling then you have definitely seen nothing yet. King's Cage gave deeper levels to every component in the book's world. From the politics of both Silvers and rebels to the characters. Victoria Aveyard was able to elevate them, making them more interesting which in turn made the audience care and invest more. I was certainly itching for the fourth book after I finished King's Cage. What Aveyard did in this book exceeded all of my expectations and in my opinion, is her best yet.

2. Favorite Character

From the very first scene we saw Cal Calore, I knew he was going to be my favorite character in the entire series. I am usually drawn to kind and compassionate characters which is why I was particularly fond with Cal. But as the books went on and we got to see more of the character, I loved and appreciated him more. He is a deeply flawed character and that, for me, makes him interesting. On the surface, he is merely a gentle, nice, and dutiful prince but really he is so much more than that. He has a dark and dirty side too which actually makes sense to his character. There are reasons for his actions and decisions no matter if it's good or bad. Characters with minor and insignificant flaws are boring because no one can be that pure in real life. Cal Calore is really flawed and there's no denying that but that's what makes him captivating.

3. Least Favorite Character

Before King's Cage, I would have put Kilorn Warren in this number. Throughout Red Queen and Glass Sword, he was mostly whiny and irritable and just weighing down the atmosphere because he was feeling jealous or left out. But I have grown to appreciate and admire Kilorn in King's Cage. He really evolved in that book and I am happy he did. But that left me with a much difficult time thinking of my new least favorite character and ultimately it has to be Gisa Barrow. Why Gisa? The only reason I picked her was because she was the most boring out of all. When thinking of a least favorite character, it has got to be the one that was the least riveting and least impactful. Gisa was always the nice and obedient daughter of the Barrows and nothing more. She barely did anything for the story and was simply not an interesting character for me personally. I needed more from her so alas, she is the one that I would consider my least favorite.

4. Favorite Power

If I had the choice, I would definitely choose to be a Magnetron out of every power in the series. It is not only a really cool power but a really useful one too. Being a Magnetron enables you to create structures out of pieces of metal. It allows you to create weapons for offense and defense in a single thought and even some fashionable clothes like in Evangeline Samos' case. Metals can be found in some shape or form everywhere you go. You don't need to search for it or keep it stored close to you to be able to use your power. It is simply badass. It looks awesome and it is extremely practical. Plus, it also helps that Magneto from the X-Men comics is one of my favorite comic book characters ever.

5. Favorite Silver Family

For me, there is no other Silver family that exudes power, confidence, and most importantly, loyalty than the Samos family. They are a force to be reckoned with. Their power of controlling metal already make them formidable but add their unbreakable bond and faithfulness with one another then going up against them is practically suicide. They are very smart and cunning too. Their plans are carefully crafted and thought out so most of the time it goes in their favor. They are absolutely ruthless and I just love every moment we get with them. This just goes to show how family is such an important asset in a world full on conniving and power-hungry elite.

6. Favorite Ship

No other ship in the Red Queen series will ever surpass Mare Barrow and Cal Calore's. NOTHING WILL. There is just something so engaging and charismatic about their relationship. They compliment each other as well as challenge each other. They are never constantly mellow and happy nor fighting and angry. Personally, it's just enough of both sides to make their relationship still entralling and fresh. And of course, their really sweet scenes with each other just make me feel like I'm melting. Of course, after King's Cage they are in a very difficult position with one another but I have complete faith that they will pull through and be the series' endgame (PLEASE DON'T LET ME DOWN, VICTORIA)

7. Favorite Scene

It was really hard to choose a favorite moment from all three books because I have a lot that I absolutely loved and enjoyed. But at the end of the day, it's got to be the Queenstrial scene from Red Queen. Why? It was the first scene where we got a look at all the powers of the Silver elite. Their powers all distinct and glorious in their own way. I felt as entranced as Mare while reading that particular scene. It made you realize how powerful the Silvers are compared to the Reds. And of course, the revelation of Mare's lightning powers was in that scene which left me shocked and extremely excited. The scene closed with Mare running from the king's guards and being rescued by Cal before they did much damage. My God was that a hell of a cliffhanger ending to a really great scene. Definitely a scene I will remember for a long time.

8. Least Favorite Scene

In terms of least favorite scene, I would say the training montage in Glass Sword would be mine. That's where I got the most bored in the entire series. Although we were seeing more and more Newblood recruits, the scene didn't have much impact for me. It was simply brief mentions of every new Newblood they found and were beginning to train. The story and characters didn't progress much in that section. It was the most stagnant out of all the others especially compared to the intense and action-packed scenes in the rest of the book and the entire series.

9. Maven or Cal

Cal Calore no questions asked. Although I do love Maven Calore's character in all his complexity, he is not exactly a character I will root for. King's Cage shed a lot of light on him, revealing why he is the way he is. I love how complicated he is and how tough it is to pin him down but at the end of the day, he is still an antagonist and in order for our heroes to win he has to be defeated. Also, Cal's character arc is at it's peak at the end of King's Cage. It will all come down in the fourth and final book which makes me look forward to him the most out of all the characters including Maven. And of course, as said above, Cal is simply my favorite character. 

10. Favorite Quote 

"The war never leaves."

The quote was taken from Glass Sword and I found it to be the most profound and truthful statement out of all. A battle will end no matter what but the memories will always remain with the people involved. This is the kind of statement that's universal. It not only contained in fiction or in a certain place but it is for anyone who has experienced something horrible. Fiction reflects reality and I am glad that true and important statements like this is included in books for everyone to be reminded by.

So that is all for our Red Queen book tag! Obviously these are just my personal thoughts and opinions on these questions and you are more than welcome to share your own insights. But I think all us fans of the Red Queen books can agree that this series is a roller coaster ride filled with ups and downs. It's a ride that you want to end to see how it holds up as a whole but at the same time cannot get enough of. It seems like only yesterday I was picking up a copy of Red Queen and carrying it to the cash register, without any idea what I'm in for. But all what's left to do is wait, wait for the final book to arrive. I am sure that Victoria Aveyard will deliver because she has certainly proved herself before. But in the mean time here are all my favorites (and least favorites). Will it change when the fourth book comes out? Let's just see.

(NOTE: Make sure to check out Lyka Cali's Red Queen book tag after reading mine!)