Sneak Peek: POV (Point of View)

Sneak Peek: POV (Point of View)

June is the second quarter’s last month. Usually in my country, Philippines, it’s the start of new school year while in other countries it’s the month where it ends. Considering the fact I’m located in the Philippines, June is the month of new school year and June definitely the right month for me to introduce my new blog project which features readers and bloggers—POV for Point of View.

History:

Earlier month of this year, I stumbled upon a bookish friend’s blog--Atty. Monique’s Bookish Little Me. However, as I dropped by on her blog, I came across reading a blog post that featured another bookish friend of mine. At the same moment, I was still cooking up this new blog but it never darted away the idea in my mind of being inspired doing a project too that, in a way, soothes my concept.

About:

POV or Point of View features readers and bloggers through an interview. Point Of View showcases some hypothetical questions that give us idea how the interviewee thinks. Furthermore, it also offered us interviewee’s opinion over things discussed. On the other hand, POV has some base questions as traditionally done in an interview. Nevertheless, POV is the bridge of knowing better the interviewees and get closer with them.

Banner:

Part of giving birth of this project is giving it an image through a banner. Unfortunately, I’m not the one who made the banner. Yes, you heard me right. I intended it for someone to do it for me since this project involves not just about this blog or myself but also other bloggers and readers. Thus it just suggests that preparation of this blog project should involve other readers or bloggers.

Credits: Banner by Rodgine Ruiz

Book Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Title:       Unearthly
Author:  Cynthia Hand
Genre:     Paranormal
Rating:    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
















Review:

Surprising really it is that nowadays YA Paranormal has blossom its patron. Perhaps, from the category where it belongs speaks enough of who mostly reads them—young adults. Apparently, readers of the said modern genre are covered by female majority. Based from obvious fact, the reason behind it is the genre itself has been often these days associated with romance as its sub-genre. Unearthly is under this sort—Paranormal Romance—hence became a reminder to me but didn’t bother about it. Until I finished it, there I met the regrets.

Unearthly tells a story of a sixteen-year old girl, Clara Gardner, who is a one-fourth part angel. Being a Nephilim or a Quartarius angel, it grants her supernatural abilities and required her purpose to accomplish. A vision of a young man standing in a wild fire has become her purpose. Giving the hints of the location in her vision, she and her family leave California to the place where the young man is to know what purpose she has to fulfill with him.

 As Clara enrolls herself to the same School as Christian’s, the young man in her visions, she becomes aware that she is falling in love with him. As the development of her story goes on, she meets her closest friends. Then she meets Tucker.

An overview question hovers my mind right after I finished the book: If these two meet you at the same time, who would you choose: your destiny or your true love?

I intentionally picked this book despite of genre where it falls into, though I don’t deny that I read this kind of books. Friends of mine claim that this book is at its best when it comes to its genre. Unfortunately, I really doubt so.

Honestly, I like how the book becomes an easy read for me. However, my rating basis doesn’t just fall into that category. Yes, admiring really it is at how the book opened a Character who was self-aware of her abilities. Unfortunately, I am taking that credit back. Cynthia Hand didn’t start with an innocent character in her book but she still inserted the moment-of-realization-I-am-a-superhuman in a small shard in the book. Herewith, Hands unfortunately failed to build solid history of her race existence thus some of the theories about angels became too hard for me grasp. One example is glowing hair as sign of what they call glory nonetheless it failed to buy me. The abilities mentioned in the book were surreal enough for my standard to absorb.

The book has become dragging to me. Despite of being an easy read, I find the book slow-paced mainly because the narration focused not to the mission but to other else instead. The genuineness of personality of the characters in the book was too weak for me to consider.

I am not against to romance unless it is being demonstrated unrealistically. The story of Unearthly aimed more on romance, unaware that her concept was being overshadowed by it. The obsession of Clara over Christian proves how the book focused more on romance. In a while, yes, it stopped but the love story continued as the story further developed. I did find it bothering that neither of chapters I encountered subjected other stuffs other than romance. 

The book consists of twists and revelation that I still find confusing. And that I blame again how Hands didn’t give any concrete history of her world. I was also disappointed at how the purpose ended. Not pertaining about the romance, but the reason behind its difference from the vision.

I reckon this book is not just for me. I still recommend this book to those who are fans of Twilight and Mortal Instrument. The story is like Clary Fray possesses Bella Swan but she chooses Jacob over Edward. Nevertheless, I just want to point out that Hands still needs massive improvements for her next books because apparently this one didn't make me, at all.

Buddy-Read with Kwesi.

Book Review: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Title:     Mistborn

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre:   SFF

Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

 

 Review:

Let me have first a quick acknowledgment before I start. Thanks to Aaron for the awesome recommendation of this book and thanks to Kwesi, my book sponsor, for buying me a copy of this. I doubt I could have read this book if those two great people don't exist. So, hands down to both of them.

In a world where ashes to ashes fall from the sky; where mist scares common people; where slavery is abused; and where metals serve as their source of power; a god-like emperor reigns over this utopia called Underworld. Under the roof of kredik Shaw, dwells the evil rumored immortal Lord ruler.

Skaa, predecessor of people who never supported Lord Ruler during the ascension. Unfortunately,after thousand of years they become slaves. Kelsier, half-noble half-skaa master robber, is the only one who survived Hatshin--Lord Ruler's version of Hell. Despite of knowing that he was a Mistborn and gaining the title Survivor of Hathsin, which makes him an image of hope for skaa people, he vows to himself a revenge against Lord Ruler for the death of his wife.

Upon Kelsier's gathering of elite Allomancers and allies, he stumbles on meeting Vin. Same as him, half-skaa half-noble but unaware of being a mistborn who later becomes Kelsier's apprentice and becomes potent that everyone thought she couldn't be.

New is indeed the first word that came to my mind when I finished this book. These days, It is rare for me to ransack High Fantasy pieces in my book repertoire. However, dropping my eyes over this book was never a regret but instead worth it. I accidentally kept on picking books that follow the same formula as Lord of the Rings. Contrary, it is I think inevitable for authors not to bite up the formula of a farmer-boy-who-turned-hero if the genre is Fantasy. But as a reader, what matters for me is how the formula executed in a very original equation. This book, I tell you adapted the formula, too, but brilliantly altered the rest of it. New might be weak word if basing my statements above but believe me if J.K. Rowling has her Spells, Cassandra Clare has her Runes, make way for Brandon Sanderson for he has his Metals.

Creative is the best adjective to describe Sander's world-building. A vivid picture of Underworld with consistent supporting descriptions and strong detail. Underworld itself is a picturesque of doomed world and thus Sanderson gives it a proper justice. To add positive things up, the world's description is new that first catches the the readers' attention. Instead of a constant image of a hellish world, a translucent live images of a world under darkness.

Dumbfounding is in a state of being astonished. Therefore, I claim to be dumbfounded. Everything about this book is no doubt astonishing. Impressive is still understatement. The twists are absolutely great that it actually let me keep up reading till morning. If they say that the book is not realistic, in consideration with fantasy, I dare object it.

Genius truly Sanderson is. Instead of spells, he used metals. Instead of wizardry, he used Allomancy. In lieu of apparition, he used mists. His magic system is incredibly believable, not to mention that he's an effective story-teller.

Highly recommended has what Robin Hobb said. Orson Scott Card has stated his praises, too. Who are you waiting for to say something about it, Santa Claus? Don't wet you butt sitting there, go delve the bookstores for a copy of this for I assure you I will risk my neck if you won't like it.