POTTERMORE???

So, seriously, I am a Harry Potter fanatic!!!!! (and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing J)

But anyway, I had to do a post about THIS new post from Reading Teen.

I'm so curious now.  What is Pottermore??  Is anyone else surprised that Yates decided to do the epilogue???  After movie 5, I'm still not his biggest fan, but I think doing this is the right thing.

Also, there's this:

http://www.youtube.com/JKRowlingAnnounces

Since I have no review ready (been doing a lot more writing than reading lately) and since this is just an awesome, AWESOME mystery, go on over and check it out!!!  Then come back here, and tell me what you thinkJ

Ninja Girl

FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick



Forgotten was one of those books that hooked me on plot (and cover) alone.  The premise seemed so interesting, so unique to YA in particular, that I just had to know if the author could pull it off.

And Cat Patrick did.  She pulled it off and then some in her brilliant debut.

London Lane, 16, remembers forwards.  She doesn't recall anything from the past, unless she writes it down and reads about it in her notes the next day.  Then she meets Luke, a boy who stirs something inside her, a boy who gives her his sweater the first time they meet because she looks cold, a boy she has an instant and undeniable connection with.  A boy she's destined to forget, again and again, but also one she's falling desperately in love with.

I have to say that I really enjoyed it.  It took me only two days to read Forgotten (pretty much a record for me if you don't count the 7^th Harry Potter; I tore through that faster than any book I've read in my life...then read it again b/c it was just that spectacular J), and at the end, I was completely satisfied with how it all turned out.  The mystery aspect was interesting as was London's actual disorder--which definitely drove the book forward--but what I loved best was the romance.

I believed whole-heartedly that London and Luke were in love.  Despite their age, despite her inability to remember him, I bought their relationship and ate it up with a spoon.  There was something tragic yet beautiful about London falling in love with Luke each and every time they met.  Thematically, it showed London's depth of character and the strength of her and Luke's relationship.  I think that kind of maturity and depth is so often absent from YA romance (yes, even/especially the forbidden, love-at-first-sight ones that we're supposed to believe w/out the author actually showing us why these two MCs love each other).  It was great to see Patrick succeed in that area.

Also, I was fully able to suspend my disbelief throughout the book.  With this kind of novel, so dependent on the character's lack of past memory, there was plenty of room for error and plot holes.  But I didn't spot any.  I was never pulled out of the story b/c of some silly mistake, and I could just sit back and relax while Patrick wove her tale with a deftness rarely found in a first-time novelist.

Thank you Franny for recommending such a great book on your blog!  I'm glad you introduced it to me, and I'd encourage everyone who likes YA with a great romance and a little mystery thrown in to give Forgotten a chance.  It's a good one J

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

FOLLOW FRIDAY (3)

YAY!  After a crazy hectic weekend last week, I missed Follow Friday :(  But now I'm back and ready to discover some cool new blogs and bloggers!  If you didn't already know, Follow Friday is hosted by the fabulous Parajunkee and this week's feature is Nicki J Markus (looks like a very cool site, can't wait to look around more!!!)

Today's question:

Q. The magic book fairy pops out of your cereal box and says "you and your favorite character (from a book of course) can switch places!" Who are you going to switch with?

I love these questions b/c it really makes you think!  But I have so many MCs I'd want to switch with, I couldn't pick just one.  So, by genre, here are my picks ;)

1) Paranormal: Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson Series.  She's one of the toughest, smartest chicks in Urban Fantasy, and she's got Adam, Samuel, and Stefan (*sigh*).  Plus, she's got the awesomest mentor/father figures around in Zee and Bran.  Who could ask for more than that??  As a second paranormal choice ('cause I couldn't choose just one!), I'd go with Harper from Charlaine Harris's Harper Connelly series.  She goes through a lot of crap, but at the end of it all, there's Tolliver ;)  If you haven't read either one of these series yet, you are seriously missing out.

2) Historical: Margaret Hale from Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South.  Two words: Mr. Thornton!!!!

3) YA: Kate Brown from Elizabeth Scott's Perfect You.  One of my favorite YAs :)

4) YA w/paranormal elements: Probably Katsa from Kristin Cashore's Graceling.

So, there you have it.  My four-pronged, overly verbose answer.  Looking forward to seeing you guys's picks!

Have a great weekend,
Ninja Girl

THE IRRESISTIBLY SWEET BLOG AWARD

Hi everyone!!  So, I got nominated initially for this award by Amy Jones over at Amy Jones Young Adult Fantasy Fiction and then again by Silvia over at Darkest Sins.  (Apparently ninjas are very popular right now :))  I'd been meaning to do this post for a while and finally got my butt into gear and got it done!  It was so sweet of these ladies to nominate me, and I appreciate it more than I can say.

So, here goes.

7 Random Things about me

1)  I love to eat cookie dough straight from the bowl.  Chocolate chip, please :)

2)  I LOVE hoodies (see vid under Fun, fun, fun! tab)

3)  My WIP is seriously stalled at the moment (or really, I am), and I'm trying to break the block by just writing--anything, everything that comes to mind, hoping for a break through.  I go through this at least four or five times as I'm writing a novel, usually after or leading up to a  pivotal scene.

4)  Sometimes when I'm driving and a particularly good song comes on, I turn it up and roll my windows down to share it w/the world! LOL

5)  "Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap is one of my favorite songs of all time (if you haven't already, go and have a listen.  It's...just...wow!  Could listen to it all day *sigh*)

6)  My favorite poem is by John Donne.  Any guesses???  You'll never get it--but then again, maybe you will :)

7)  I really, really, really dislike Grey's Anatomy :/ (mainly b/c they always repeat themselves, re-peat themselves, REPEAT themselves three times, emphasizing different syllables and we're supposed to be impressed.  I mean seriously?  Seriously!)

Now as for 5 of the Sweetest Blogs around:

1) Middle Grade Ninja Just spreading the ninja love ;)

2) Amy Jones (A very kind lady w/a very cool blog!)

3) Silvia at Darkest Sins (She's already convinced me to buy one book just from a review.  She's that good.  Go check out her blog.  You won't regret it)

4)  Tessa at From The Bookshelf of T.B.  Great, honest reviews from a great reviewer

5)  Rachel at The Ending Unplanned   A great blog for writers everywhere

Hope everyone's having a great week!!!

Ninja Girl

VAMPIRE KNIGHT by Matsuri Hino

MANGA (mahng-guh): A Japanese comic book or graphic novel.

So obviously, this isn't a book review.  Vampire Knight was actually one of the first mangas I read, and I decided to do a post about it because, well, it deserves its own post J  Great characters aren't only found in books after all, and a great story is a great story no matter what medium is used to tell it.

The plot is simple yet intriguing.  Two groups attend Cross Academy, the Day Class and the Night Class.  They don't attend classes together, aren't supposed to interact (and for a very good reason).  There's even a disciplinary committee to keep the two student groups apart.  When day changes to night, Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are there to ensure everything flows smoothly.  While the Day Class fawns over the Night Class, clamoring for attention like a pack of rowdy fan girls--totally ignorant of the danger which lies behind those beautiful faces and the cool air of sophistication--Yuki and Zero remain vigilant, guardians of their unsuspecting peers.

They know the truth, the deep dark secret that must be kept from the Day Class at all costs: The Night Class is entirely made up of vampires.

What made this story so interesting (besides the awesome plot and beautiful artwork) and worth the time it took to figure out the format (Tip: Mangas are read from back cover to front, right to left, a detail which threw this ninja for quite a loop;)) was the Yuki/Zero/Kaname dynamic.

Kaname Kuran, head of the Night Class, saved Yuki's life when she was nearly attacked by a Level E vamp back when she was a little girl.  The Vampire Knight mythos might be a little too heavy for this post, so let's just say, Level E = Crazy/Insane vamp mad with bloodlust.

Zero's parents, well-known vampire hunters, were slaughtered in a vampire attack which left Zero scarred and an orphan.  As a young boy, he was taken in by the headmaster of Cross Academy and raised alongside Yuki.

Kaname = class, status and restrained emotion.

Zero = sarcasm, rash decisions and a tortured soul.

Now, can you guess who I was rooting for??? J

There's so much more to say about this one, but I'd recommend it for all the reasons I just listed.  The triangle was one of the best I've read (mainly b/c I was so sure she was going to pick Kaname, but I desperately wanted her to pick Zero.  Hmmm, is anyone sensing a trend??).  If you aren't into manga, you might want to check out the anime.  It only ran for two seasons (and ended in a pretty craptastic way if you ask me), but it's worth a look.  Here's hoping you enjoy the Yuki/Zero/Kaname love triangle as much as I did.

Truth: Yuki + Zero = <3

Ninja Girl

PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White



Before I bought the book, I'd read several great reviews about it and spent a good amount of time eyeballing the beautiful cover.  What?  Can you blame me?  Just look at it, you know I'm right J The title was great--GREAT.  Knowing how big paranormal is, I can't believe someone hadn't thought of it before (hats off to you Miss White).  Being a YA paranormal with a fun/original plot, Paranormalcy seemed to be right up my alley.

Here's a quick rundown: Sixteen-year-old Evie has worked for the International Paranormal Containment Agency all her life.  Her ex is a fairy (literally), her best and only friend lives in a fish tank (again, literally), her job involves clapping tracking devices on vamps, weres and other paranormaly beings, but Evie still insists that she's normal--or at least not 'paranormal'--despite her rare talent for seeing through paranormals' glamours.  Then someone (a boy, naturally...or in this case supernaturally since he can shape-shift) breaks into the Agency, paranomals start dying left and right, there's talk of a prophecy, and Evie finds out that she's not as normal as she'd once thought.

Annnnd after all those run-on sentences I'm pretty tired. *takes a moment to regroup*

Phew...okay, now I'm good.  So, the book started out great.  Fast pacing, a light tone and relatable heroine who for once wasn't depressed, suicidal, or obsessed with sparkly vamps sporting the funky I-love-you-but-I-want-to-kill-you stare 0___o (Yes, I'm looking at you Swan).  I honestly thought it was really good.  The action kept the story moving, and the plot was interesting.  Lend and Evie's relationship in contrast to hers and Reth's (the possessive fairy ex) was actually kind of refreshing.  Their budding romance was innocent and moved at a far more believable pace than most of the YA I've read.  And Lend, though not the tortured/bad boy love interest I typically go for, was sweet and courageous.  I can appreciate a bit of nice guy charm J

I did have a slight problem with Evie, though.  As the novel went on, more and more bad things happened, and she just didn't feel the impact as much as I thought she should have (don't worry, no spoilers).  I'll just say that although I didn't want her to turn weepy and weak for keeps, there are times when 'weepy and weak' is exactly what a character should feel.  She'd think about this tragic event one moment and then be laughing/shopping the next.  Her emotions just didn't run as deep as they should have, or at least that's how it felt to me.

Overall, I really liked it.  Not loved but liked.  Lend was a good guy, and I'm glad to see one of them finishing first for once (As you can tell, I'm totally Team Jacob J  But I didn't think Bella deserved him anyway...but I DEFINITELY didn't think Nessy did either.  Just...ewww.  WTH was Meyer thinking???  Twilight rant over!).  Another thing I enjoyed was the fairy slant.  I do love me some fairy stories!  But if I were to recommend any, I'd go for Tithe by Holly Black or the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr.  Darker than Paranormalcy but ultimately more satisfying I think.

Good book, but I'm not sure about buying the sequel.  Any thoughts?

Ninja Girl

HIYAH! THE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD

I had a very nice surprise today after a tough rejection on my full ms from a very cool, very kind agent (ah, the life and times of an aspiring author).  But anywho, Sinn over at Sinnful Books has nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award!!!  How awesome is that?  If I could, I'd give her 10 ninja throwing stars in honor of her kindness and perfect timing J  Thanks so much Sinn, and if you ever need a pick-me-up, let me know.  I owe you one ;)

Now onto the requirements I must fulfill to get the award: 1) Write seven random facts about yourself and 2) Nominate five other bloggers for the award.  So, the seven things is going to be easy peasy, but picking 5 out of the spectacular batch of bloggers I've found??  Now, that's a toughy.

7 Random Things About Me:

1) I love period dramas!!! (Mr. Thornton is my main regency crush, but I'd take Darcy if he knocked on my door.  Wouldn't say no to Wentworth either, for that matter J)

2) My number one, all-time, favorite favorite sports team is Duke.  I'm usually all about the underdogs, but…oh well.  Go Blue Devils!!

3) I was born and raised in the South but have been told by several people that I have absolutely no discernible accent.  But that's probably just b/c most of them had never seen me angry lol.

4) Harry Potter rocks, and I'm seriously hoping/praying that David Yates doesn't screw up this last movie

5) My favorite color is Tiffany Blue (very hoity-toity I know; though, I've never owned a piece of jewelry from the store.  A ninja can dream, right?)

6) I used to dream of being one of Janet Jackson's back-up dancers…but I'm certain I'm not the only twenty-something to claim that one

7) I have no idea what I want to do with my life, which scares me daily.  But I'm working on it J

And here are 5 Versatile Bloggers you simply must check out:

1) Parajunkee at Parajunkee's View (need I say more? ;))

2) Evie at Paromantasy (a very cool chick with a very cool blog about all things fangy, furry and fantastical)

3) Sinn at Sinnful Books (she's got a beautiful blog, poses thoughtful questions and posts great reviews)

4) Colleen at Metro Girl Writes (great poetry and an all-around awesome lady)

5) Sarah at Falen Formulates Fiction (another great woman/writer with interesting posts and thoughts on the publishing process)

Well, that's it!  Hope you all take a peek at these great blogs, and thank you again Sinn for the nomination.  Made my day J

Ninja Girl