Book Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Greek Mythology has remained one of my favorite themes for literature and stories, as far back as I can remember. Both the Alchemist and Percy Jackson series have done wonderful jobs of recreating the myths in today's times. God's Behaving Badly, takes the Greek Gods, and strips them of their power, in a worship based way. The Goddess Test is something that creates a newer and also interesting perspective of the figures.

I will start this book off by saying that I did not think I would like it, but ended up with a this-is-what-Twilight-should-have-been opinion. It was something like Twilight meets Beauty and the Beast.

That said, I really have very little wrong with it. About the only issue is that for the most part the plot is relatively transparent. Again with that said, there were still things that had me surprised and pleased.

I think my favorite part is the fact that the characters are convincing, and even better, they are consistent. Often in these not so popular books I see character who don't stick to their guns, or their consistent motives. The main character, Kate, holds tight to the idea that she is trying to save her mother, while also falling for the dark stranger. The other characters are interesting and distinctive, and the twists in and out of the story lead you to believe that Eden is for real and kinda makes you want to move there.

The only reason that this book did not earn Five Star in my eyes, is that while it was an extremely easy and pleasant read. It wasn't one of those wow factor books, there is very little action, but the story is enough.

You should read this.

Movie Review: Xmen - First Class

I really don't know how to review this. I never read much of the comics, I know most of the history I do thanks to WikiPedia and other website gurus. So when I went into the theaters I had nothing in which it could ruin. Unlike many other films based off things, I enjoyed this movie. I think that the history and the development of different connections and psychosis, was excellent.

I thought the casting was awesome, and that everyone played their roles pretty well. There were very few fluidity issues, and it could go seamlessly into that of original movies. With the exception that I was under the impression that Havoc was Cyclopes' younger brother. So there was an age thing that threw me off.

The new display of powers were really interesting, and bringing in the new and yet classic characters were awesome. Emma Frost for one, was spot on.

All in all a good movie.

Group Home Wisdom 1

To a young girl I work with, who is sixteen and has dealt with sexual issues, and eating disorders. She was telling me her story one day, upset because the progress she was making wasn’t being noticed by the people in power. I looked her straight in the face, and said “It matters, because you matter.”

Two Words.

You. Matter.

These two words rocked her world, and changed her tears into a smile. These are the two words that mean more then anything else anyone can ever say to you, or that you can ever say to anyone.

People focus on “I Love You” as being the most powerful phrase.

But it’s over used, and often doesn’t mean as much as people would like it to mean.

Having someone look at you and say “You Matter”, knowing that there is someone that thinks your are worth thinking about. That is how you make it through the day.

This is me saying it to you. You Matter.

The Warlock by Michael Scott

Taking place in the modern world, among blue tooth, rock stars, and laptops, ancient wonders walk the world. Michael Scott introduced us to Sophie and Josh, who met Nicholas and Perenell Flamel in San Fracisco. This starts them on a journey that ignites their Gold and Silver Auras (of Legend!!!) and forces them to face off against many evil and deceptive characters. Their trust in the Flamels even begins to waver as we go through history in these novels.

One of my favorite aspects of this novel is the Magic system that Scott has created. Auras are no unique idea but seeing them roll off of each person and shape themselves into their spells, touched with a personalized scent, is a wonderful touch. Colored auras lend themselves to the uniqueness of each character, including Perenell whose own aura can shift colors from its clean white so that it protects her from connection to the spirit world. Sometimes I wonder what my smell would be, and I think it would be connected to the color of Aura that I would have. I am not sure what Color my aura would be but something calm and comforting, perhaps a sea green, and mixed with the smell of Rosemary...? I like it.

Me being the mythology buff that I am, I love the way he pulls any and every unsuspecting character into play. Elders, who are the Gods and Goddesses of Old, employ the use of Human Immortals who do their will on (or I should say in) the Earth Shadowrealm. You see characters such as Nicolas Flamel, but also Machiavelli, John Dee (who I may be one of the few who knew who he was before these novels = Nerd Points!) and even the likes of Virgina Dare and Billy The Kid.

The flow of the story is Atypical as well, blending the lines between good and evil. Scott, and all of his characters, very clearly state that some of the Elders are Dark Elders, and these are the ones that the "Bad" guys, like Dee and Machiavelli serve. However, there are those like the Flamels who serve no elders, and the people who are seemingly above or beyond other elders. Some characters are merely a mix of technology and Elder Aura....but yet they have more knowledge and power then the arrogant elders. The story is woven in a very non normal pattern but it forces the readers to give attention to both sides and not invest in who the author says is the good guys, which is very refreshing.

I can't say much more without breaching my NO SPOILERS rule, out of pure excitement. I don't want to wait for the Enchantress...but it is what it is.

Looking for a new series to read? Found one!

Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean 4

This movie was surprisingly refreshing. I was not disappointed with Pirates 2 and 3. I thought it fit into the fantasy/pirate motif nicely. I know a lot of people who didn't care for two and three. I think that four is a nice return to the original. It has all that you would expect, Jack's wit, fun sword fights, magical situations, and very beautiful people.

Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan, were not missed. Neither were there accents, which thinking back did get slightly annoying. I think the Cast of Characters was the most disappointing thing in this movie. There were only three original characters in this movie. I guess that has its good and its bad, but for the most part I just missed the Parler(Par-lay) guys.

Blackbeard make his appearance in this movie, which leads to many other questions from the franchise. Why was he not one of the Pirate Lords that sealed Calypso? Where the hell was he when facing the British...I feel like he could have one single handedly. Or maybe that was Captain Hook?

Jack isn't crazy! Which is cool. I didn't like his character in the third movie, it was slightly annoying that he was so insane. The Black Pearl...isn't in this movie...not really...which sucked. However Queen Anne's Revenge is bad ass.

Overall Worth Seeing if you Like Pirates 1. And you should see it even more if you liked all of them.

Book Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo

This book has such a splendid review that I thought, surely it would be an easy read and would be somewhat insightful. At very least I assumed it would present me with a new take on God, and the wonders of spirituality.

This book was horrible.

I can not fathom why it has such rave reviews by so many people. I can honestly say that NO ONE suggested this book to me, but the my understanding of this book came from the media. This should have been my first clue.

As far as spirituality and God go, this book is incredibly Shallow. The course of the adventure the main character is presented with a wide variety of questionable omens. Majority of the book is about listening to the "Language/Soul of the world". Which is an idea that rings true to me, but the characterization and development that led to this idea were non existent. Morals and Points, were given to you. Bluntly. There was no thought involved, no deeper questioning needed. Santiago is faced with a tough decision, spend twenty pages fretting over it just to have another character tell you your wrong and this is why. Santiago changed his mind in that one paragraph...

Either I missed it or I couldn't tell how old this boy was, but he was INCREDIBLY arrogant, and it seemed to be encouraged by this deity/spiritualness. He felt that he had more experience, after one trip to the desert then that of a grown man who had lived three times the life of the boy. I did not like the main character.

The ending was Morally Questionable...thats all I'm going to say.

I know somethings get lost in translation, but the writing style was not the only thing that seems to have suffered.

Save yourself the couple of hours don't read this.

Book Review: The Lost Gate

Danny North is a powerless child in a family of Gods. Or so it would seem. These God's don't have as much power as they think they should, and Danny isn't nearly as powerful as they think.

Orson Scott Card is one of those prolific authors that I avoided for along time just because I sensed Mass Market Stereotypical Stories. However, at least with this book I was wrong. His portrayal of the Gods of old was quiet intriguing. Combining mythology and comic book explanations, Card creates and world where it worked.

He hinges everything upon this Rainbow bridge, the Bifrost, or as he calls them Gates. These gates act as invisible portals to a select group of those that can sense, create, open, close, and/or eat them. 1600 years ago, not-the-original-Loki, vanished taking with him all of the gates, and now gate mages, already feared as tricksters are all but banned. Most are killed when their powers develop. Yet Danny has gotten along well, because he didn't know and apparently most of his family is far enough removed from the idea that they never suspected it.

As Danny explores the world, he meets many very interesting characters each with a true psychology of their own. Those, who have powers, have personalities similar to the idea of their natural connection as well. The characters are very believable, and they are very true to their powers.

The Plot is calm and exciting enough to keep momentum as you breeze through the book. It is not one that has an EPIC climax where you are hinged at the edge of your seat for twenty five pages. This book is one long journey that has enough twists to keep you traveling easily, and pleased all the while.

All in all, it may not have been enough for me to explore Card any farther but I'll definitely finish this series.

You should pick it up!