The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas Book Review!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas!

It all began with a ruined elixir and a bolt of lightning.

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's been told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of the Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the most powerful tyrant and mage the world has ever known. This would be a suicide task for anyone, let alone a reluctant sixteen-year-old girl with no training.

Guided by his mother's visions and committed to avenging his family, Prince Titus has sworn to protect Iolanthe even as he prepares her for their battle with the Bane. But he makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the tyrant closing in, Titus must choose between his mission—and her life.

THE BURNING SKY is an EpicReads book that you will not soon forget! I've been wanting to read it for a long while until it finally came in the mail last week! 

This book is just the perfect mix of action/adventure, fantasy/magic, and romance! So much of this book is pure, rich plot that kept me turning the pages! (Even got in trouble for reading it too late at night hehe) 

I was in absolute AWE of Sherry Thomas' natural way of writing beautifully and poetically! This was brilliant literature to read, let me tell you! She is descriptive and talentedly captivating! I MUST read more of her books!

IOLANTHE SEABOURNE. First of all I love this name. I don't really know why, but it's just kinda perfect. Secondly, she's a spell-casting, butt-kicking boss! Iolanthe is independent, fearless, and extremely determined, which makes for an EXCELLENT protagonist! You get really attached to her epic personality! Plus, not very many beautiful girls can convincingly pull off being a guy for 3/4 of a book! 

TITUS was a great guy. Though he was of royal blood and all, he certainly didn't act stuck up and arrogant about his fortune. He stayed on track with the task at hand, and I liked that. I have an embarrassing/confession moment I'm going to share with you: Somehow I missed something or read something wrong, so for the longest time I thought that "Titus" and "the Prince" were two different people... I felt really stupid when I realized my mistake. Boy, was that a revelation!

Please do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK ASAP! You will not be sorry! I cannot wait to read the sequel! Who knows, maybe I can snatch an ARC!

Have an awesome day, and don't forget to watch #TeaTime today with @EpicReads at 2:45pm CST!

-Matt

Avalon by Mindee Arnett Book Review!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Jeth Seagrave is the leader of the Malleus Shades, the galaxy’s most accomplished and elusive band of teenage mercenaries. Working for feared crime boss Hammer Defoe, Jeth and his crew have made their name stealing unsecured metadrives – the complex piece of technology that makes faster-than-light-speed travel possible. The ITA–the far-reaching organization that produces and polices metatechnology–has been on Jeth’s tale for years, and is looking for any chance to take down Hammer’s black market metatech trade.

But Jeth doesn’t care about any of this. All he wants to do is earn enough money to purchase his parents’ ship, Avalon, from Hammer. His parents, former ITA scientists, were executed for treason years back, and Jeth, his sister Lizzie, and their uncle Milton fell into debt to Hammer. Finally, Jeth has found himself just one job away from freedom. This job, however, is going to give Jeth much, much more than he bargained for – and when he finds himself in possession of information that both Hammer and the ITA will kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he’ll go to get the freedom he’s dreamed of for so long.

IF YOU LOVE FANTASTC, CREEPY, THRILLING SCIFI THEN THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! Even if you don't love fantastic, creepy, thrilling scifi you should still read it because anybody would love a book this grand!

There was never a dull moment in this book, nor was there ever a lull in the plot! It was very fast-paced and attention-grabbing! Plus, the characters were so perfectly complex!

JETH is the leader and captain of Avalon and with that responsibility comes bravery and a robust personality! He fights and navigates and kisses (yes, kisses) his way through all his problems with ease! 

LIZZIE was such a real character. She was very energetic, fun, and sanguine! I don know what else to say about her, but  she was my second favorite (After Jeth).

SIERRA was very mysterious, so I didn't really know what to think of her for the longest time! She was calm, collected and always seemed to know what was going on. A very superior character. I liked her almost fearlessness and her warrior attitude!

I hope you've gathered enough to know that WITHOUT A DOUBT you should read this book!

Publication date: February 2014

Add it on Goodreads! You won't want to forget about this epic scifi that begins a series!

-Matt

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White Book Review!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Isadora's family is seriously screwed up—which comes with the territory when you're the human daughter of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Isadora is tired of living with crazy relatives who think she's only worthy of a passing glance—so when she gets the chance to move to California with her brother, she jumps on it. But her new life comes with plenty of its own dramatic—and dangerous—complications . . . and Isadora quickly learns there's no such thing as a clean break from family.

THE CHAOS OF STARS was such a fun, thrilling read! One of the distinct things I love about Kiersten White's characters is their constant humorous, sarcastic remarks! It might just be me, but I laughed many times! 

There were so many little things going on in the plot. It was so fun to read. There was Isadora and her relationship with her mother and how that was working out, then there was the underlying problem of the death threat in her mother's dreams, and of course Isadora's relationship with Orion.

It was well-written, engaging, romantic, and humorous, all things I enjoy in a book! I encourage you to read Kiersten White's latest masterpiece of a novel! 

Look for it in a bookstore near you! 

Also, look for her other amazing books! Including MIND GAMES and the PARANORMALCY TRILOGY!

-Matt

Allegiant by Veronica Roth Book Review!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Everyone, ALLEGIANT is finally here!

*This first half of the review is spoiler free! Spoilers will have warnings to ensure your mind's security*

Truthfully, I was both dreading and anticipating the conclusion of the epic Divergent Trilogy, and I have concluded that I was right to experience those feelings. 

First off, Allegiant was everything I'd hoped for and everything I'd feared would happen in the current of the story! It was, of course, as BRILLIANTLY written as the previous two books, Divergent and Insurgent, and certainly did not lack plot twists or richness in the story itself. It was amazing how many questions were answered about characters' histories and the history of the Divergent world as a whole! Most of which were answered in one particular chapter. To remove the temptation of reading ahead, I will not tell which chapter. 
It was also very thrilling and exciting to finally see things through the eyes of Four (Tobias); how he makes decisions, how he reacts to situations on the outside versus what is going on inwardly, his thought process etc. Since I'd been hearing the story in Tris' perspective thus far, it was definitely hard to remember that, at times, I was listening to Four's thoughts. At first it was confusing and I had to constantly go back to the beginning of the chapter to review who was speaking, but then it became normal in my mind. 
As far as invigorating action scenes go, Allegiant did not make those scenes its focus, like Insurgent. Insurgent was a stressful, thrilling book full of intense, non-stop action. Allegiant was still extremely stressful, thrilling and contained great action-packed chapters, but, as Veronica Roth told us earlier this year, she is letting the developed characters run with the story. She allowed this book to use the emotional tension in the trilogy to take charge and become the main focus. 
Something I was glad Veronica did not do was forget about characters or leave someone in the dust from the previous books. All of our characters that we have fallen in love with, including the bad ones, made an appearance in Allegiant! Particularly how she made the death of Tris' parents mean so much to the story! That is probably the most complex part of the story, how/why they died. 
In conclusion, Veronica Roth did a truly phenomenal job wrapping up everything she's made for us and I am proud to say that though she made me cry, she did what was right for the finale. 
When asked about her future writing career, Veronica Roth said that she will be taking a long break, but she will definitely revisit the YA community because she loves the books and she loves her readers! 

*APPLAUSE*

YAY!

And now we have come to the part of the review where I let my feels take over the keyboard.

***SPOILER WARNING***

*MATT UNPLUGGED*

On Wednesday morning, I took a shower and immediately sat down and finished Allegiant in one sitting. I CRIED A RIVER OF TEARS WHEN TRIS DIED! AND EVEN MORE WHEN TOBIAS WAS HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT! Those scenes just ripped my heart out of my chest, through it the length of Cowboys Stadium, and laughed as they watched it explode on the concrete ground of reality. THIS WAS THE MOST EMOTIONAL BOOK I HAVE EVER READ! Yes, it even tops THE CLOCKWORK PRINCESS and MOCKINGJAY! 

AND WHY OH WHY DID URIAH HAVE TO DIE?!?! I just KNEW he was going to be the character to be killed off because he was just too perfect and brought so much joy to people that he had to be eliminated. It makes me feel slightly better that Veronica herself experienced emotional trauma from killing off one of the best characters in her book. But in the end, her evil side won over, and the great Uriah was no more!

TRIS GREW UP SO MUCH I JUST LOVED IT! Throughout these books, Tris has gradually matured and grown mentally, physically, and emotionally, making better and better decisions along the way and truly beginning to grasp what true sacrifice and selfishness is! SHE TOTALLY KICKED BUTT!!! When she foiled the evil plans of the enemy to get their hands on the death serum, I just felt SO PROUD!!! 

TOBIAS!!!!!!! IT WAS SO AMAZING TO FINALLY SEE THROUGH HIS EYES! HE IS SUCH A BOSS CHARACTER! Besides the fact that he can basically kill anyone, it was very comforting how he still had to refrain from doing so to people he despised so much (i.e. MARCUS). The worst scenes for Tobias was when Uriah was basically killed because of him and when he had to talk to Zeke and his mother (her name escapes me). It was one of those times when you were so helplessly sad and wanted to crawl into a hole and die because that scene was killing you so much!

(I realize that none of my sentences are grammatically correct in my rant, so please ignore that and keep reading!)

THE END BROUGHT ABOUT MY DEEPEST FEAR, TRIS' DEMISE..........

 While I was reading those short chapters, I was telling myself the whole way through that everything was going to be okay and I was imagining things and that they were going to somehow revive her. But deep down I knew that this really was the powerful ending Tris deserved! 

IT KILLED ME AND I LOVED IT! IT MADE ME CRY AND I WAS PROUD! IT TOOK MY SOUL AND GAVE ME A NEW ONE! 

THIS BOOK WILL LIVE FOREVER

If you want to learn more about why Veronica Roth killed off Tris and other huge plot twists, click HERE to watch an interview that brings up all the spoilery discussions! 

Thanks for reading!

Be brave 

 -Matt

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell Book Review!

Rating: stars that cannot be fathomed into constellations! 

“Eleanor & Park reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.”—John Green, The New York Times Book Review

Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.

So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.

I’m not kidding, he says.

You should be, she says, we’re 16.

What about Romeo and Juliet?

Shallow, confused, then dead.

I love you, Park says.

Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.

I’m not kidding, he says.

You should be.

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under.

I CAN'T EVEN!

JUST READ IT!

-Matt

Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis Book Review!

 Rating: 5/5 stars!

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water. 

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

-Goodreads

MY MIND HAS BEEN BLOWN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! MY HEART WAS ON A THRILL RIDE ALL DAY!!!

Mindy McGinnis, I applaud you! This has become one of my favorite scifi's EVER!!! 

NOT A DROP TO DRINK was brilliantly plotted! It was set in the dystopian future, after the drought apocalypse and a few wars have occurred. It was so full of twists and tragic events, I just had no way of knowing what could possibly happen next! 

Aside from just the story and the plot, it was pretty educational! I learned so many different little facts and survival tactics. 

LYNN was such a fierce young teen with a relentless attitude! She makes do with what is given to her and fights for her life and the lives of others constantly. I love this about her! At times she was a bit reckless, but I really loved her character in general!

STEBBS was such a great friend/mentor.

His personality reminded me a lot of Haymitch Abernathy! (Which made me really like him). It was cool how Mindy just slowly unraveled his character. 

ELI was a pretty regular teenage guy thrown into a situation where he has to become a leader and a provider. He was respectful, resourceful, helpful, and reasonable. He was one of many characters in the story who had a tragic life story. In fact, all the characters did.

In conclusion, this book is beyond-words AWESOME!!! Keeps you on the edge of your seat and throws twists at you left and right! It's a very brutal, serious, intense read. I HIGHLY recommend this book to all Hunger Games fans! It has the same survive-to-protect theme, which I know we l love! 

Add it to Goodreads and then READ IT ASAP!!!

Plus, something that I just HAVE to mention is that the amazing author, Mindy McGinnis, always has the BEST blog posts! They always make me crack up, no matter what she's talking about. It's pretty ironic, come to think of it, since Not A Drop To Drink isn't humorous in the least. ANYWAY! Here's the link to her awesome blog: http://www.mindymcginnis.com

And check out @EpicReads on Twitter! Without them, I wouldn't have been introduced to this author and her brilliance!

Conclusion: 

READ THIS BOOK! 

-Matt

Find Me by Romily Bernard Book Review!

Rating: ∞AN INFINITY OF STARS∞

“Find Me.”

These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.

Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.

Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?

Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.

But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.

Because it just got personal.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN! I have been waiting so long to finally read this EPIC THRILLER! I just read SIX MONTHS LATER earlier in the month, and I wasn't expecting to read thriller that good for a long time. THEN FIND ME SHOWED UP! Unfortunately, I couldn't get ahold of an ARC. But it was worth the wait!

This plot was so intricate and fascinating! I couldn't miss anything without feeling clueless! This was an amazing mystery/thriller! It was so genius how Romily laid out all this information of me, but I still felt like I wasn't sure. There were so many times when I thought I had figured it all out, and then BAAAMMM!!! I'm totally wrong and she has just blown my mind! 

WICK was a very relatable protagonist, which is one of my favorite fictional character qualities! I found her personality and her decision-making skills very realistic for a teen. 

GRIFF was a very hard person to figure out! Billions of thoughts about him were always milling about in my head. Is he the bad guy? Is he who he says he is? Should she believe a word he says? Isn't it creepy that he appeared at her window? Oh, the suspicions are endless! Overall, I liked his character a lot! A very patient, clever guy with the loyalty of a German Shepherd and the guts of a thousand butcher scraps. (That was probably the strangest analogy I've ever used).

FIND ME was such a page turner! The action and suspense NEVER STOPS! I looked ridiculous wallowing in the floor of my bedroom nervously and the book reached its end. SHE ENDED IT PERFECTLY! It had closure and 'openendedness' at the same time! BRILLIANT! 

Look for FIND ME in any bookstore near you! You don't want to miss this new YA series! REMEMBER ME will be released in 2014! (Hope I get an ARC for that one!)

This is the kind of book that makes me sad I didn't join the street team! Maybe sometime in the future!

I look forward to reading Romily Bernard's future works! 

-Matt

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Scheider Book Review!

Rating: 10/10 stars!

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes? 

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.

-Goodreads

ROBYN SCHEIDER, MY HEART IS BROKEN! I LOVE YOU AND YOUR BOOKS! 

Wow! This book is absolutely STUNNING!!! It is one of those books that will not allow you to speed read through it! It makes you take your time to capture its full beauty! 

This YA standalone was just EXCEPTIONAL!!! The characters were so unique and described in such detail! Also, their personalities really stood out!

EZRA is DEFINITELY the kind of guy I'd be friends with! I really liked how he doesn't act like a wimp. I hate it when people/fictional characters use and abuse injuries to make people feel bad for them. Thankfully, Ezra agrees with me and takes no part in this manipulation! He a very reasonable, genuine guy and for that I praise him!!! I felt like a part of me died when I read the tragic scenes of this book. It was a strong connection.

TOBY was so awesome! He was an awesome best friend to Ezra, no matter what happened. Even after he and Ezra's relationship was kind of out on hold, he just accepted him again and they went right back to being best buds! He would give honest advice and listen to Ezra's problems even when he didn't really feel like it. Toby, you HAVE to be my best friend!

Then there's CASSIDY. Even though she wasn't honest to Ezra all the time, I still think she was a great girl. Everyone has there ways of coping and I'm not one to judge her for keeping a few secrets. But she was very honest about how she FELT! While I was reading about her I just wanted to be there, meet her, give her a hug, and tell her how amazing she is! I will never agree with her final decision though, no matter what her reasons. I'm not going to spoil anything but the end doesn't leave you feeling happy. Don't get me wrong, it's excellent and it definitely has closure, but my heart hurt. 

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING to all Nerd Fighters (John Green fans) and anyone else who loves a great standalone! 

Can't wait to read more books from Robyn Schneidet!!!

NOW GO AND READ THIS BOOK!!!

-Matt

Waiting on Wednesday!

My Waiting on Wednesday pick this week is...

UNBREATHABLE by Hafsah Laziaf! 

This book is amazing! Though I've already read it, I am still SUPER EXCITED for it to be released!!! 

Go add it on Goodreads RIGHT NOW! It hits the shelves October 29th!

Go check out my review for it! You can type UNBREATHABLE in my search bar to the right and it should pop right up!

Happy Wednesday!

-Matt

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan Book Review!

Rating: it is infinite

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

Rick Riordan is the most praiseworthy person living on earth! His books have changed my life! Every time I read his books, I feel like I am invincible! Or perhaps able to defeat a few empousai.

Anyways, the terrible, brilliant cliffhanger of The Mark Of Athena left us fans sobbing and DYING for more! Let me tell you, The House of Hades did not disappoint! It was full of heart-wrenching plot, TONS OF ACTION, love, adventure, humor, twists... EVERYTHING! 

This book is a nonstop thrill ride that wouldn't let me out it down! (Thanks, Uncle Rick) 

Demigods, this book will destroy your soul, scatter the remnants, and put it back together with laughter. YOU MUST READ IT ASAP! 

That concludes my somewhat professional review.

***SPOILER WARNING***

OMIGOSH PERCABETH TOGETHER FOREVER! They put me in tears in the late hours of the night! They stuck together and kicked butt! AND THEY MADE IT OUT! *APPLAUDS* My OTP lives!!!

HAZEL. WOW! Her Mist manipulation is BOSS! How she defeated the thief god was just EPIC! So proud of you girl!

FRANK IS PRAETOR. He controlled the legion of undead souls WHAT NOW. He really proved himself!

JASON YOUR DEMIGOD POWERS LEAVE ME IN AWE! Plus, his leadership during this tragic journey was SENSATIONAL! And how you took Nico under your wing...

NICO! You are straight You are straight You are straight

PIPER I BARELY SAW YOU! I needed more...

PERCY JACKSON YOU SHALL ALWAYS BE MY THE MOST RESPECTED DEMIGOD IN MY REALM OF LIFE! (Annabeth too!) You were a true gentleman and hero even in the depths of TARTARUS! YOU'RE AMAZING!

ANNABETH CHASE YOU HAVE MADE OLYMPUS AND DEMIGODS AROUND THE WORLD VERY PROUD! You fought valiantly in the midst of terrible dangers WITHOUT YOUR KNIFE!!! 

SHOUT OUT TO HECATE! Thank you for helping Hazel defeat Clytius! You have gained my respect!

I LOVE YOU UNCLE RICK! I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THIS BOOK! 

I am done with my rant... 

THE END

-Matt

Dream Cast for CINDER!

Marissa Meyer is definitely one of my top ten favorite authors, I had to think really hard and make sure I get everything right. Hopefully, she shares similar ideas for the cast list for Cinder!

I had a lot of fun thinking of actors that would fit the characters in UNBREATHABLE, so I couldn't stop there! My dream cast for Cinder took me a long time to put together. It required A LOT of careful thought! So this is who I think of when I read Cinder.

After hours of careful thought, I have concluded that Saoirse Ronan would be the best Cinder! Her kind, humble, innocent look would portray Cinder's strong character very nicely! I have have never been disappointed with her acting skills!

This was an automatic response from my brain as soon as I thought of Prince Kai! Godfrey Gao was an absolutely amazing Magnus Bane in Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones! Plus, he is actually Asian! It's been bothering me that most people have been casting him with their favorite actors. Godfrey would certainly be my first choice for this charismatic role.

Iko is one of the sweetest, most innocent little characters that I've ever read about before. I loved her from the start! Though she is an android, she is a happy little thing that makes me smile. That is why I have chosen Annasofia Robb as my dream cast for Iko! Her style of acting would be PERFECT for her! I'm mostly referring to her extraordinary role as Leslie Burke in Bridge to Terabithia. If you've seen it, you will understand!

Charlise Theron is one of my favorite actresses! She is always perfect in every role she plays! Though she has a diverse character history, I believe she was born to be an evil queen! Don't take that in the wrong way! When I saw Snow White and the Huntsman, Queen Levana was the first person I thought of! Her captivating yet fierce beauty would portray the Lunar Queen perfectly!

Adri is my least favorite character in the book because she always has something condescending and down right mean to say to Cinder. So I chose an actress who could pull of the arrogant stepmother, Kate Winslet. She just has the perfect look an attitude for this terribly wicked role.

When I think of Peony, I think of someone fun, immature, and annoying, so I tried to imagine actresses that would be able to act just like her. Then Vanessa Hudgins popped into mind and she just felt right. I've seen her play roles that would fit Peony, such as her character in the High School Musical movies, Gabriella Montez.

Pearl was a very easy choice! Amanda Seifred is obviously the way to go! She captures Pearl's pride and beauty, much like her mother. I can definitely see her trying her hardest to win Prince Kai's heart to no avail.

I am very pleased with this cast list! Imagining actors playing the characters in your favorite books is such am interesting  and fun thing to do! Let me know if you have any dream cast requests!

-Matt

50 Random Facts About Me!

One of my fellow bloggers has just tagged me in a '50 Random Facts' post, so I shall persevere! I find this very hard to do every time I'm tagged! Improvisation is not my best friend, but here it is!

1. I am a Whovian!

2. Sushi causes my meal to make a reappearance (if you know what I mean).

3. I read 4-7 books a week!

4. I have a twin, truly! His name is Patrick.

5. I've been doing archery since before I read the hunger games!

6. I'm a demigod shadowhunter. Shhh, don't tell!

7. I am a MAJOR twi-hard! Yes, I'm a guy. No, I'm not gay!

8. I read Cinder the week it came out! I had no idea it would become this popular! This makes me proud!

9. MEXICAN FOOD IS LIFE

10. I'm very athletic. 

11. I have shaken Jake Abel's hand and talked with him! (Surprisingly, I remained calm... sort of. It was an awesome experience!)

12. I have seen all 7 hours of the original Pride and Prejudice. 

13. I've been single for 15 years! Crazy right?

14. I AM ALWAYS HUNGRY

15. Jesus is my best friend!

16. I don't call girls 'hot' because I think they deserve more respect than that.

17. John Green makes me cry!

18. I am a true painter! (I'll send pics to prove it if you like).

19. I have a sock monkey named King Kong.

20. I have 3 pairs of Converse (red, blue and black!)

21. I collect movie tickets and 3D glasses! (Not so I can wear them. That's an old fad).

22. I have the best friends in the world!

23. I've eaten a shrimp alive for 5 bucks. Crunchy.

24. I've jumped off a cliff. 

25. ...into water! ;)

26. I love music so much <3

27. I'm in a musical!

28. I kill snakes in my yard weekly.

29. SOPHOMORE BABY!

30. My brother just said, "You're just... wow."

31. KIM POSSIBLE WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVORITE!

32. I dye my hair funky colors regularly!

33. I decided at four that I wasn't going to wear matching clothes with my twin.

34. I have the cutest dog in the world named Jake!

35. I have lived in three decades. WHAT NOW

36. Dr. Seuss is boss!

37. I have NEVER broken a bone.

38. I've never gone a day without seeing my twin... WEIRD!

39. Never been to the west coast!

40. I LOVE SCHLITTERBAHN!

41. I can read and write Latin.

42. I have 7 siblings!

43. I have 5 or 6 signed copies of books!

44. DAUNTLESS ALL THE WAY!

45. I almost NEVER watch a movie without previously reading the book!

46. I love the fall for the YA books and because I love hoodies.

47. I'm 5'8"

48. I had an army of stuffed animals when I was little.

49. I own over 150 books on my shelf!

50. This is the first time I have done 50 Random Facts without quitting! YAY ME!!!

Well that took FOREVER! *sighs* A whole hour for 50 facts... I hope you liked it! 

Now, I shall pass it on to three more unlucky victims!

-Matt

Dream Cast for UNBREATHABLE!

I love dream casting! It gives you a visual on characters you love and gives you a peek at other's viewpoint of the characters in the books! So I have decided to make a dream cast for UNBREATHABLE! 

First and foremost, I think that Jennifer Lawrence would be an absolutely ECXELLENT Lissa! Though she'd probably be ecxellent with any character! When I think of Lissa, this is the beautiful face that comes to mind! She would certainly capture Lissa perfectly, should UNBREATHABLE become a movie.

It took a great deal of debating with myself to come to the conclusion that Alex Pettyfer would be the right actor for Julian. He would definitely be able to pull off the strong, loving, dedicated character in the book.

Though Jake Abel isn't visually who I think of to play the role of Rowan, his personality in the roles I've seen him in and even his true personality fit perfectly with Rowan's. (Plus I might be a tad bit bias for him because he's already part of 3 of my major fandoms and I've met him in person). He can't just be Luke Castellan, Mark James, and Ian O'Shea and stop there! This dude has Rowan written all over him!

The idea of Tom Hiddleston being Slate was actually planted in my mind by the magificent author of UNBREATHABLE, Hafsah Laziaf. But when she told me, it totally made sense! I kind of went over scenes with Slate in my mind, picturing Tom in them, and it just fit right. Also, like Jennifer Lawrence, he could probably rock any role given to him. Loki will always be the perfect villain!

For some reason, from the start, I've always thought of the Jute Queen as Emily Blunt! Beautiful yet fierce! So... yeah!

I hope some of you enjoyed this Dream Cast and maybe even had the same thoughts! There will definitely be more dream casting in the future from me!

Don't forget to check out UNBREATHABLE by Hafsah Laziaf! It hits the shelves on October 29th! 

Follow the author on Twitter! @IceyBooks 

-Matt

Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards Book Review!

Rating: 10/10 stars!

Chloe didn't think about it much when she nodded off in study hall on that sleepy summer day. But when she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can't remember the last six months of her life. Before, she'd been a mediocre student. Now, she's on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he's her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won't speak to her.

What happened to her? 
And why can't she remember?

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?

Six Months Later was literally the best YA psychological thriller I have ever read! She laid down a great foundation in the first chapter or two and then the rest is just one big roller coaster!

One of the reasons I really loved Chloe as a character is because she is very much like myself. I like relatable characters! 

The entire story, Chloe regains some of her memories a little bit at a time. Not enough to allow you to figure anything out on your own, but just enough to keep you in suspense and make you want to just finish the book right then!

This is one of those books that will make you want to slow down so you don't miss A SINGLE WORD! That's what I did, anyway. 

It is a story full of action, drama, romance, thrills, and it definitely sails a few ships! 

All in all this book was SENSATIONAL! I cannot wait to read more from this fantastic author! 

Look for SIX MONTHS LATER in a bookstore near you!

-Matt