Cloud Atlas

The other week I was sitting around bored, and really wanted to watch a cutesy romantic movie, and I stumbled upon Cloud Atlas. It is a movie from 2012, about the idea how soul mates will always find each other through out the multiply lives we have. It's a really nice concept and romantic thing to believe in, so I tried it out. I was not ready for the intensity of the movie. 

The movie goes through around six or seven different time periods. It was so hard to keep up with for the first twenty minutes or so, but I really enjoyed all the characters and how all the different situation worked out for each. Also there were some really cool futuristic worlds that brought up more intense themes of slavery and want it means to be human. It's definitely not a feel good movie you can just pop on on a random Tuesday afternoon, but I think its worth the confusion.

The acting is amazing through every cast member, and to be honest, I didn't realize it was the same cast through all the different time periods until I looked it up on imdb. Though it should've been obvious from the premise of the movie.

I would totally recommend the movie to more mature viewers, because it's not meant for a younger romcom crowd, and it takes a while to get your head around before you realize what the hell is going on. Though I think it was really well executed and I wish there were other movies similar to Cloud Atlas.

Vampire Academy Movie Review

Go watch the movie for yourself at amazon
Vampire Academy

From imdb.com 

Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, half human-half vampire, a guardian of the Moroi, peaceful, mortal vampires living discreetly within our world. Her calling is to protect the Moroi from bloodthirsty, immortal Vampires, the Strigoi. 

First reaction to this movie is that it's just trying to replicate the Twilight series, right? That's what everyone thinks now in days when every a new young adult book to movie comes out. I wouldn't say it's anything like Twilight besides the fact that they have vampires and are in high school. Besides that, it's more of an actual high school scenario if there was a vampire high school. It depicts your standard high school cliques and love life issues along with political vampire authority power.

Hana to Akuma Full Manga Review

From mangahere.co

17-years-ago Vivi, the demon, decided to leave the demon realm and come to the human world. There he found an abandoned baby and on a whim decided to keep it. Since then he lived together with Hana...but having a 14 year-old girl around you, is it really as simple as you think it might be? 

I'm going to link my manga test for Hana to Akuma so I won't have to repeat myself.

So as I continued reading the manga, the characters started to grow on me more, and I liked how the story progressed. It was very enjoyable to read even though it pained me sometimes to see the characters in pain:( I don't have anything else really to say about the manga, besides what was in the manga test, but that the ending was not what I expected and I think the author did it cleverly and with grace. (yes it did make me tear up) tbh I think my favorite part of the manga was the ending...yeah, not sure what that really says about it.
Go read Hana to Akuma, Vol. 01 for yourself

Amnesia Anime Review

from crunchyroll.com

When the heroine regains consciousness in an unfamiliar place, she has suddenly lost all memories of everything that happened before August 1. What is this place, and what was she doing there? Who is she, and what sort of life had she lived?

I saw this anime about a month ago, and only was it now when I'm searching it again that I see the animation is pretty interesting. From some reason when I think back on this anime, I see it in black and white, even though the show is obviously not and has very vibrant colors. Haha maybe that's just the amnesia working on me outside of watching the anime.

Diabolik Lovers Anime Review

From myanimelist.com

Komori Yui is a positive-thinking girl who nevertheless is troubled by seeing spirits and experiencing poltergeist phenomena. In her second year in high school, she transfers to a new school—a night school for entertainers and celebrities—due to her father's work. There are rumours that vampires exist among the student body, and Yui ends up living with the six sadistic Sakamaki vampire brothers.

I watched this anime when I was in my reverse harem mood, when I also watched Kamigami no Asobi and Amnesia. It sounds like a more extreme version of the Twilight series, and I guess in a way you can say that, but then again you can say that with any young adult vampire media. This anime was made from a video game series and at times you can definitely see the moments when you can choose what you can do next if you were playing the video game. It wasn't too bad, but it was there.

Inu x Boku SS Anime Review

From myanimelist.com

The Shirakiin house's daughter, Shirakiin Ririchiyo, who has a complex about being unable to live independently and unprotected, feels the need to move out and live on her own under the condition of residing in the mansion named "Ayakashi Kan." In this mansion, only those who have cleared a very strict examination could reside in it, and for each resident, they are accompanied with one agent of the Secret Service (S.S.). Although Riricho has rejected the company of the S.S., while residing in the mansion she finds out that the agent dedicated to protecting her is actually the Fox Spirit.

The one word that comes to mind when I think of this anime is fun. It's extremely fun with eccentric characters that can be a bit inappropriate at times, but I think this anime has a really overall fun vibe about it. It's animation is about average, I think. It's not something too special and not bad at all, there's just nothing that makes it stand out of the crowd.

Bokura Wa Minna Kawaisou Anime Review

From crunchyroll.com

Based off of the original manga by Ruri Miyahara, The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior is comedic slice-of-life anime that revolves around the main character Kazunari Usa moving into the Kawai dormitory complex due to his parent’s job transfer. He finds out that he is not only living in the same building as a perverted roommate but also his love-at-first-sight Ritsu Kawai.

I originally found out about this anime through a tumblr post, and thought that this anime was the prettiest thing EVER. Seriously, have you seen the colors and lights and shadows of this show?! Well now you have. It's what drew me into the show, because I hadn't been watching that much anime before this one (ahem, as of this year I mean). That being said, I have to say that most of my time with this show has been spent looking at the colors and animation, instead of the story and character.

Say I Love You Anime Review

From crunchyroll.com

Tachibana Mei has had no boyfriend and couldn't even make friends. One day she injures Kurosawa Yamato, the most popular boy in school, and for some reason Yamato takes interest in her...

Sword Art Online Anime Review

from crunchyroll.com

In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies using a piece of technology called: Nerve Gear. One day, players discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive unless they reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life. Their struggle for survival starts now...

I found out about SOA through a tumblr picture that I thought was cool, but this was months ago, and I can't find it :(. My initial thoughts of this series was that oooh this seems pretty cool, and it has a bit of romance tied together with some really cool fighting sequences. It is really good...for the first have of the first season. I have to say around episode 7 or so, when things get into more shit than they were before is when I found out that this series is dragging itself out too much for it to be good. I wish, like most people who have seen Sword Art Online, that it would have ended around episode 7 or so too. There's no need for more unnecessary drama. It really ruined the experience of the show for me. I'm glad I marathoned it when all the episodes had already come out. I can't imagine the shock people watching had while it was releasing. The torture they must of have been through is unbelievable. The writer of the anime needs to calm down and finish the story without added more drama.

K Project (K) Anime Review

From myanimelist.net

Set in a world where history has taken a slightly different course from the one we're familiar with, K follows the story of a young boy whose life is caught in a psychic war between seven kings.
Ashinaka High School is known for its unique setting: the entire campus is built on an island. Yashiro Isana, aka Shiro, is having lunch with a cat on one of the school rooftops. After his lunch break, Shiro goes on an errand for his classmate Kukuri to prepare for their upcoming school festival, only to be chased by some intimidating-looking men. 

I originally found out about this anime through a tumblr gif. That is probably where I find the animes that look the amazing most often. So it's safe to say the thing that drew me into this anime was the art style. I am in love with the colors and the world of this anime. It looks amazing and it makes me happy at how peaceful it is and you can clearly see the effort it takes to make something look this good. There are a lot of visual special effects that I have not seen in animes I've been watching, that really add to the experience when there are fight scenes.

I'm afraid of talking too much about this anime, because it's quite easy to spoil it. It is a thirteen episode shounen anime with kings in future japan that have supernatural powers. For instance, they can fight with fire. It's a bit confusing to understand if you're not paying close attention, but I don't think you'll get too lost if you keep following the story. I ended up watching the entire series in a day, and I was thoroughly entertained.

Review: My Little Monster(Anime/Manga)

Summary:
Shizuku Mizutani has learned to deal with life's disappointments by repressing her emotions and trusting no one but herself. She has only one focus and that is academic achievement. Haru Yoshida throws himself at life with every ounce of emotional power he has which would not necessarily be a problem except he deals with deep seated rage issues. He has seriously hurt several students over the years and consequently everyone is afraid of him. Shizuku sees no point in engaging the world around her and Haru doesn't know how to engage the world around him. All that begins to change when the two first meet and find themselves almost immediately attracted to each other. Their unlikely pairing leads both of them to begin to break out of their lonely, little worlds to see what life really has to offer.

from animenewsnetwork

Like I've been saying in my recent posts, I've been wanting to read/watch more romantic type things and this is definitely one of them. I watched the anime in about a half a day, and fell in love with it immediately. It was just really easy and fun to watch. So there are thirteen episodes in the series that aired in 2012, and I the animation is not anything crazy cool like Attack on Titan or Beyond the Boundary, but it's pretty and watchable.

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Summary:
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

from goodreads

My first review of a book in the new year, and I'm disappointed to say that this novel was everything I thought it was going to be, though I hoped for much much more. Everything about it was quite mundane, and your normal young adult paranormal novel-the craze this days.

The main character, Clara, though we have the same name, I have no sympathy for her or any real connection towards her lifeless being that is just going along with everything. Her character isn't a strong female protagonist, which I know I can't always have, but she was just so ghostly and boring to me anyways. I wanted to believe and fall in love with Clara's love interest, Christian, at the beginning of the story but that did not happen either. To be honest, they way Christian was told, it was like the author was writing about someone who I know it real life, which is also...ghostly, in a sense. But, you do get your tall dark handsome, and charming love interest, which I guess is someone who we all fall for every now in then.

The plot line is quite bland, and I spent most of my time skimming through the words, and finding that I didn't miss anything. Hand writes in a way that isn't entertaining or different from your average fanfiction writer, to be harsh. The dialogue was dull and again had no real life and character behind them. How the characters talked and reacted to each other were all so been there done that, it made it tiring to read without wanting to bash my head into a wall.

As someone who's read her fair share of the paranormal young adult novels, this novel does nothing for me at all. There was an interesting world that sucked me in, or an evil villain that we all secretly loved and thought was bad ass. I'd say, if you wanted to read about angels, go read the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor, or if you want your paranormal fix go read the indie series, the House of Slide books by Juliann Whicker. I was not trying to be mean in this review, but I honestly did not like this novel at all, and it's safe to say that I will not continue to read this series. So to one best friend to another, I'd give Unearthly a head shakes vigorously, thumb pointing down, mad face for the waste of my time, and disappointed eyes. (1 out of 5)

Review:Busgirl Blues by BR Myers

Sixteen year old, magazine quiz junkie, Kelsey Sinclair wants to make this summer unforgettable by (hopefully) seducing her secret crush, Blaine Mulder. Armed with romance advice articles, Kelsey tackles true love with scientific precision, including getting a job at the seaside restaurant that overlooks the yacht club where Blaine teaches sailing.

However, visions of rendezvous on the beach are clouded when the new kitchen guy's laid back attitude and smouldering stare quickly get under her skin. With his renegade demeanour and unpredictable stunts, Luke is the opposite to Blaine's golden boy reputation. 

Determined to follow through with her original goal, Kelsey ignores her growing attraction to Luke, certain he's not the guy for her. But when she finally manages to get Blaine's attention, Kelsey worries the magazines are all wrong, and that sometimes the best matches are the ones you least expect.

from BR Myers' Blog

BR Myers is one of the few authors I actually follow on twitter, and blog. So, when I found out about Busgirl Blues going to be on wattpad for free, I had to check it out. This short novel made me sad in a good way. It made me feel embarrass for the main character, delightedly giggle, and was just a feel good book. 

It took me about five or six hours to read the novel. That might sound long for some people, but for me that's a quick read. BTW I read it while it was being published each chapter every few days. There were edge of the seat cliffhangers. Something to be aware of when reading a novel online, whether its on wattpad, or fanfiction.net, or what else, there are going to be grammatical errors. Not the entire novel, but there will be some, and you have to deal with it. I, personally, don't mind it, unless it's in every sentence or so. Anyways, I think Busgirl Blues was well paced, and I just loved how everything kind of weaved itself together. 

I felt like the main character, Kelsey, was a stereotypical teenager. I'm not sure if it's an accurate interpretation completely, but there were some parts of Kelsey that I could see some of my good friends in her. It was difficult to get into Kelsey's mind though, because her doing a plan to kiss a guy she's had a crush on forever is just way too out there, and I guess I've never met anyone that'd actually do that. But, it is fiction after all. Kelsey repeatedly makes mistakes, after mistakes, and it got really annoying after a while, because I know characters are suppose to have mistakes, but Kelsey seems like she makes more mistakes than not, and that's just...wow. I feel very vague, so just go read the book, and you'll know what I mean. Her mistakes aren't things that I'd pass by and forget, and I don't fully understand why Luke does. 

Falling in love, or thinking that you are, is a weird thing. I can't see why Luke is attracted to Kelsey. I do want them to be together through out the book, but that's because there are no other guys that are better than Luke for Kelsey. Though Luke has problems of his own, I wouldn't see how'd he and Kelsey get along, past a summer of fun. But the novel is, just a summer of fun. 

Busgirl Blues is that book you want to bring on the beach during spring break, or just to read during spring break, you don't have to go to the beach. It's that book that I bet most of you can finish in about two hours. It reminds me of a Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins book, but I haven't read any of their books, though I know what they write, and this goes under that category. I say go read it for yourself, it's free, and if you like free things go check it out. I give Busgirl Blues by BR Myers a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)

Go read BR Myers' new novel Butterflies Don't Lie

In My Mailbox (#18)

Mind Games by Kiersten White
Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

from goodreads
my review


Perverse by Larry Rodness

19 year old Emylene Stipe is a 2nd generation Goth who, like every teenage girl, is trying to find her place in the world. One night she comes upon an old painting in an antique store and is compelled to purchase it. When she brings it home an image of a young woman appears in the sketch and then magically materializes in her apartment. Emylene nick-names her 'Poinsettia' and they soon become fast friends. But Poinsettia has an ulterior motive for her sudden and strange intrusion into her host's life which causes Emylene to question her whole belief system.

from goodreads
review to come on Thursday






Agent Colt Shore: Domino 29

When an ordinary kid learns he’s the heir to a secret agent dynasty, F.A.L.C.O.N puts him on a case to protect a famous rock group and find a missing journalist. Before he knows it, Colt Shore has gone from body guard to rock star to full-fledged agent when he learns that a human trafficking ring plans to kidnap a group of teenage girls. It will take more than his ingenuity and skills and a couple of cool gadgets to protect his new friends and rescue the captured girls before it’s too late.

from goodreads
review to come in May






I want to remind you guys again, that one of my favorite authors, E.A. Riggs, author of Casey Barnes Eponymous, started a kickstarter, and it's going to end soon. She's trying to get the word of her book out there more, and the money will help her get a publicist. I know you guys love helping authors, and her debut novel is really one of my favorites. I've been quoted on her kickstarter, saying that Casey is my favorite main character ever. Please help out, if you can. If you can't please help spread the word.

Love and Hugs
Clara

Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

from goodreads


I was really excited when I found out about this book. I ended up getting it through my nook ASAP, and finished it in a couple of hours. This novel has made me feel extremely fluffy and good, even though it's not so much of a fluffy sort of young adult novel. This is the kind of book that I want to buy a hardback cover for.

Kiersten White also wrote the Paranormalcy series, which I've heard about, but never really wanted to read because it was in the whole craze of paranormal romance, and I just couldn't handle anymore than I already read, previously. As I started reading the novel, I noticed that the writing was really simple, but the action in it was written wonderfully. I haven't read a really action packed novel is forever, not really, but still, I liked it. Something to take note of is that the novel is written between the two main character's points of views. Also, when you read Mind Games you jump write into the madness, and then you get pulled back to the past-which is as much action packed as the present. At first, that really got on my nerves, but I ended up liking the buffering motion it gave, while still giving you something to chew on.

Fia and Anna are two very different main characters, but they work well with each other. I, personally, favor Fia so much more than Anna. Probably because we see in side her brain first, and I'm just more used to her throughout the series. The idea of the novel to me, doesn't seem very light and girly, but Mind Games makes me feel like Kiersten White took a page out of my very close group of friends' party, and added a bunch of these crazy aspects.

I like the fact that I'm suspicious of pretty much everyone. You're always kept on your toes, and when I read it I felt like I was floating through this world, and just kept wanting to read more, constantly. I will definitely look into more of Kiersten White's novel. BTW this novel just came out last week, and I believe her next novel comes out in September of this year. Mind Games is the first of it's own series, which doesn't continue until the winter of 2014, which sounds far away, but that's just because I still can't believe it's the year 2013. To stop the rambles that keep spilling out, I'd tell my best friend to read this book and give it a head nods, thumbs up, and smiling like there's no tomorrow. (5 out of 5)

E.A. Riggs Needs Your Help!!

I have probably raved about Casey Barnes Eponymous for months, but it's completely true. If you haven't read about it yet, here is my review. Recently, I found out that the author of that novel started a Kickstarter project, hoping to get a publicist to get the word of the novel out there. I have done my job already by telling you guys about it, and I hope that you guys can help contribute just a little bit of money to help this going.

I'll leave the link here.

What's a Kickstarter?
It's a way for small/independent people get a 'producer' by the people that love what they do. You can donate as little or as much as you want. I, personally, love this because it just gives everyone so much more chances, and because the internet is awesome like that, I hope you make this novel big. :D

Summary of Casey Barnes Eponymous:
It's three weeks into the school year when music junkie Casey Barnes gets a second chance with her mysterious, heartbreaking ex-boyfriend. She comes up with a plan to win him back, but it soon spins out of control as rivalries, revelations about him, and music itself all start to collide. For Casey the newfound attention means learning the difference between wanting center stage and actually being on it.

from goodreads

Movie Review: La Belle et le Bete (1946)

I don't like sticking with one hobby, and I feel like I only show my book loving side on this blog. Books are wonderful in every way, but I want to spice things up a bit, and because of the holiday season, I've been slacking on reading, and been a movie watcher instead.

Today, I'm going to tell you about La Belle et le Bete. If you didn't already know, that is the original Beauty and the Beast film. The film that became a huge success when France was in the World War II depression. It sounds wonderful and all, but if you've never seen it then you will be in a ride for yourself.

The movie is completely in French-there are English subtitles-as far as I know there is not a dubbed version, so don't count on it. If you are a French loving speaker, like moi, the movie is not too hard for beginner in French. I have only taken one and a half years of French classes myself, and I catch most of the words without reading the subtitles.

Review: Pure At Heart by Sahana Epari

Lies. Betrayal. Secrets. They are worse than you think they are.The feeling of something you thought you had but you never did. Your whole train of thought changes direction. Suddenly everything you have lived for becomes a life you never had.
I thought I knew everything.
My name is Evaline Pangborne, and I am a werewolf.
When Eva and the Shadow Clan find out a ground-breaking secret of their life, they seek the only way out of the pain and suffering--an escape route. An escape route they got, but along with that came even more secrets, questions, and betrayal.
The people Eva trusted most, is now someone to despise and hate, and the people Eva never wanted to trust, get closer and closer to her. Living itself seems like a big joke to her. What's the big secret? And why is everyone keeping it from her?

from goodreads


I feel terrible for not reviewing this book earlier, but better late than never, right? Yeah... So, I received this book for review by the author herself, and my first impression was that this was going to be awesome. Then I started reading the first few chapters, and the many punctuation errors got on my nerves.

Sahana Epari is a debut and young author that is one of the few people I know that are published at such a young age. What I love about her writing is that she is aware of her characters. Her characters were the strong leads of the novel, and even though Eva got on my nerves more than once, I could easily distinguish Eva and her attitude towards life. There were many little jokes here and there, none that made me laugh out loud though. The dialogue was a bit stiff, and did not flow like it could be for some characters. Though, some characters talk in a distinctive way, and I liked the mash up.

Eva is arrogant and very naive. Actually, most of the pack is naive in my opinion. They are kids, but I think that because of their role in the world, they could have been more mature. They were very childish and the thought process of Eva wanted me to punch her sometimes.

One character I did love, was Victoria. Victoria reminds me of one of my friends. She is the bad-ass in the back ground that has this mysterious air around her, and I truly feel sorry for her the way she is treated by Eva, but both of them do get each other at their necks.

The paranormal world was built in a way that you slowly discover more of it as Eva does. The world is built in a full extent, but not at all majestic or grand as Divergent, or Daughter of Smoke and Bone. There were the basic werewolf vampire creature fight and it was a simple set up of a story.

I like Pure At Heart because of its simpleness and quick pace. If you are a werewolf fan, I think that you will love this story. So in the end, I will give Sahana Epari's debut novel a head moves back and forth, thumb moving towards the middle or down. (3 out of 5)

Short Story Friday!

I am the kind of person that likes to be organized and have things planned out. That's why most of my reviews are on Tuesdays, and the Don't Quote Me meme is always on Wednesday. Then, I have my Nanowrimo Update every Saturday. I think that it's time to show you some of my writing. I am not sure how often I can do this, but I'm hoping to post a little short story or paragraph every Friday. Please send me feedback and suggestions for writing.

I wrote this short story because it was something that has been on my mind for a while. I also have a fictionpress account (Clarareads) so if you want to read anymore stories I will put them up there first.


The day was not cold when I first met Bobby. He was in the crowd where privileged rich kids wear pastel polos, and talk about basketball shoes like it’s their living. In my past two years at this same school, I never talked to Bobby. I’ve seen him around in the halls every now and then, but he was not someone I had any relation with by friends. The middle school social caste was too big of a gap for us to ask the other the time.
Bobby stood out the first time I walked into class. He had that hair that went out of style a few years back, but he still had the side swoop long straight hair. I knew nothing about Bobby, and to this day I don’t.
His eyes lingered when class started. Those blue eyes lingered for months after wards. When I would be writing something, or working on test, I would look up and notice that his face was always directed to me. Sometimes, I’d be wild enough to look at him in the eyes. Bobby, of course being his high demeanor, would not look away. His face didn't register the fact that I looked at him.
I had many hypothesis about this look he always had. My first assumption was that he wasn't really staring at me, he just happened to be looking in my direction. Though, later on I found that even when I move seats, he always stares at me. Sometimes, he would smile when he gets a chance for us to work together. I could visibly see the gears turning in his head to conjure up a plan.
The second assumption was that he was pretending to not register my movements. As if to say, it was just a one time thing that I happened to look at him. It was me who was caught staring, but everyone presumes the first stare is of nothing. I was just looking over there.
My last assumption was that he found me repulsive. I’m not a person who has a low self esteem or thinks badly of myself, but sometimes you have those days where you think you are terrible. The days when you feel like you aren’t good enough, you’re ugly, no one wants you, and just over all down in the lakes and you can barely make out the sun rays. I thought this through as a serious situation. I don’t always look my best everyday, but sometimes I feel like I can rule the world, and I hope that it comes across in my appearance. So when a guy who is much higher in the social caste is staring at a lowerlee(a slang term for people in the lower caste), I get paranoid. Since, I am the one being stared at, it gets on my nerves and you start to over think things.
There is something I should mention. Bobby has a girlfriend. His girlfriend is ‘head’ of the school. She is not the girl when during elementary school, she was the nicest person you’ve ever met. Everyone was certain that this other girl who was the nicest person you’ve ever met, would become ‘queen bee’. Bobby’s girlfriend was The Mean Girl. She was not as cruel as Regina George, but she comes pretty damn close.
So what does that mean? I have no idea. I’ve considered this factor since I heard about them dating. I’m not the kind of girl that knows all the school’s gossip. I barely ask about my friend’s love life, let alone the love lives of people I don’t know. Apparently, Bobby is only dating head girl, Alice, for her looks. For her body. Though, I trust my friends that tell me about the love lives at our school, I don’t particularly trust the people whom my friends get their information from.
Where do I stand now? I don’t know. I feel so nervous around him these days, it gets on my nerves. There was a time-still now-where I think Bobby was trying to ‘lure’ me, as if he was waiting for me to bite the bait. I think now I have bit the bait, and I feel terrible for it. As Taylor Swift’s new song says,’I knew you were trouble when you walked in.” Now, I can’t help but wonder about Bobby. I can’t help but to try to find him in the crowd where I think he will be because his posse does a revolution around him each day. I can’t help but remember the color of the jacket he wore in the morning, so I can spot him out throughout the day. I can’t help these things, and I hate myself for biting. If I could undo it, then I would.
I don’t like to be controlled by someone else. I detest the idea that someone is controlling how my life is going to turn out. So, this has gotten on my nerves for so long, it feels like a relief to write it down. It is more like something that needed to be written, and I have been giving myself excuses not to. What is there for a girl to do?
Another thought I had about Bobby, was what if he did this to a girl every class? Is this his way of making him feel better about himself? Is this his way of making sure that he will never be alone? There will always be a girl around his shoulder, and that is why I detest him. I am beyond bias at this point, and I have no right to bash him, but I don’t like him. The way he acts makes me want to run from the concentration camps, because he is higher than the commander in chief… or that’s what he thinks.
Bobby is the guy that thinks he is going to get every girl he asks. To be fully honest, if Bobby was to ask me out at this moment-in the past, or future-I would refuse. Okay, maybe not in the future depending on who he really is years from now, but definitely if it was the past or now, I would gladly be the first girl that refused Bobby.

Review: The Forgotten by Claudia Carozza

Hazel's job at the Antioch didn't work out at all like she had planned. After a daring escape and one very risky delivery of the first baby born in years, she's still holding on to the hope of a better future. Out of the Antioch and on the run, who can Hazel turn to for help and can they really be trusted? In the second book of the Barronlands Trilogy, relationships are tested and even more secrets are revealed. Hazel tries to put the pieces together, hoping everything doesn't fall apart. Will she be able to hold it all together or will there be those who slip through the cracks?

from goodreads

I read the first novel of this series a few months back, I can't even remember when now. Ahhh! Where has 2012 gone? Anyways, I started reading The Forgotten about a week or so ago, and because I was in a reading rut, I didn't finish it until recently. Though, the novel could be read in a matter of hours.

Claudia Carozza really peaked my interest a little more in the sequel, so that was a really good improvement. I was more excited for a lot of things to come in this novel, and surprises are everywhere. Since the last novel ended in a cliff hanger, I'd say that you'll have to read about twenty pages in, an then the cliff hanger continues. The middle was lagging for me, and that's when  I usually loose interest. I skimmed some parts, and things still made sense, so that wasn't something I appreciated I can do when reading a novel.

Hazel really stepped it up a notch in this novel. I think I like her a bit more than in the first novel, because she's becoming more of herself and a strong heroine. She changes quite drastically in the novel, and if you're ready for the character development, then you'll love The Forgotten.

There are some soap opera scenes during this novel, but don't worry, it gets better, and unlike soap operas the drama ends, in a way.

This is kind of a spoiler, so if you want to be absolutely spoiler free, then skip this paragraph. Like the first novel, there is a death. I won't say who, but it's someone that is quite present in most of the novel. The death for me felt strained, and just away to kill off a character, at first. Later reading,  I did noticed that the death was for something huge for Hazel. If you liked this character a lot-I didn't- then you'd be devastated at her fast leave in the novel.

Pigeons were a huge symbol in this novel, and because of that I look at pigeons in a different way then before. Unlike thinking about them as the pesky fat birds that wander the city, I think of them as quite courageous creatures. I know that pigeons have developed a friendly term with humans, so they don't find the need to fly away when someone comes in a foot radius of them. The small birds with blue bellies I see around my town, they are cowards, in their way. I guess we're all like that at the beginning. Finding food, and then flying away when danger approaches, but Pigeons are the opposite.

All in all, to wrap things up in a nice little package, The Forgotten won't be forgotten in my mind, and some serious character battles support the novel, and the novel goes to a more violent side. Near the end, it actually gets vulgar, and that was something I didn't expect one of the characters to say. I love the story, as its world fascinates me, so I'll give The Forgotten by Claudia Carozza a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)