Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

*This review contains spoilers.*

This book is, of course, the sequel to Under the Never Sky which I read and adored last year! And now there's a sequel! And there's going to be a third one, called Into the Still Blue! YAY!

Since you've already read the first one, there's no need to tell you that this is amazing, but I'd like to mention a few things anyway, in case anyone has forgotten the utter genius of Veronica Rossi.

First off, this is one of those books where I can be reading it and think that no time at all has gone by, and then look at the clock and see it has been an hour and I've read a hundred pages. It's so immersive and seamless that I see the entire thing like a movie in my mind, completely unconscious of that. Veronica Rossi's prose is just inspired, literally...she's so good about everything - the setting is seared into your brain, but you never feel overloaded on description, you feel the characters' feelings, but you aren't bogged down with endless inner monologues...it's lush and sparse at the same time. It's like she's writing on pure talent and instinct or something...I can't even tell you why I'm so enamored with Ms. Rossi's style, but it's just fabulous, as always.

I also have to say, I enjoyed seeing characters I'd never thought would come back. I loved Marron, and it was nice to see him fitting in with the Tides and helping Perry. Also, Soren! I LOVED what she did with him.  Making his dad betray him, and then have him develop a rapport with Talon (the big softie! :) ) was so sweet and unique and I loved it.

Also, I adored the development of Cinder and Willow being a cute little thing. It was so cute how, after the storm, he was worried about her knowing what he was and seeing him like that, it just broke my heart. And Roar. Poor Roar. I'm indifferent on Liv, she was kind of a flash in the pan for me, but I was heartbroken for poor Roar, who I really liked a lot.

I was also totally enamored with the development of Aria and Perry's relationship. I liked the vulnerability Perry had as a Blood Lord, trying to save his people, feeling like Aria left him because he failed her. It was sweet and the trust issues that they had were very deftly handled. I fell in love with them as a couple even more in this novel than I did in the first. It was the kind of fictional coupling that makes your heart pound and your blood race, you know? I really, really cared for and felt for and loved Perry and Aria.

In short, this was an excellent read, and I continue to absolutely worship the literary talents of Veronica Rossi. I couldn't recommend this book more highly.

Thanks for reading!

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

*This review contains spoilers.*

This is my first novel by Maggie Stiefvater (though I did buy The Scorpio Races, I haven't read it yet), so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was really surprised with how much I liked this book, in the end.

It follows Blue, a psychic's daughter, and four boys from a prestigious private school, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah. They are all a quest of sorts, which leads them discovering something magical in their little town of Henrietta, Virginia.

First, when Gansey started into his explanation of using ley lines to find the tomb of Owen Glendower, I totally screamed. (Side note: He was the last Welshman to bear the title Prince of Wales, and fought against the English conquest of Wales in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. He disappeared into the mountains and was never found. A legend has grown around him, kind of like that of King Arthur being the once and future king, that he will wake and rule again when Wales needs him.) I love ley lines, and one of my college classes (History of the British Isles) actually came in handy for something! I was freaking ecstatic! I have an affinity for the paranormal, so a a family of psychics, ley lines and a quest to discovered the tomb of Owen Glendower was so welcome in a book I cannot even describe it.

The romance of the book was very understated, but, surprisingly, that didn't diminish my enjoyment of this book. I also really enjoyed the lush landscape of the book.  As for Blue, I really liked her as a heroine. If you were to ask me to describe her as a character, I don't think I could, though. It's like Maggie Stiefvater's characterization and development are so subtle that I can't outright tell you anything, but, while reading, everything Blue did, everything Blue was, was right.

One thing I didn't fall head over heels with was the treatment of Gansey's wealth, and the way the other characters made him feel ashamed of it. Like, when he used elevated vocabulary, he was somehow ungraciously flaunting what he had and they didn't in their faces. I guess I see the desired characterization for him, but that just felt a little odd to me.

Speaking of, I really liked Gansey. I liked his unerring dedication to his quest, his complete and utter devotion to his friends, his eternal desire to make a name for himself, do something good for the world. I don't know why, but he felt very raw to me. I almost want to call him fierce. I don't mean to say he was fierce in a shaved-head, tattoos and bad attitude kind of way (that's Ronan, by the way, and I found it adorable that he nursed a baby bird), just that he was exacting, almost? Not exacting, unflinching? I mean to say that he thrummed, you know? He felt real to me, like really real. I don't mean he was a good book character, who we can see metaphors and symbolism in, I mean that Gansey is a person, a real live person. He didn't feel literary, and like he had a purpose in the novel, like he did X in order to supplement the falling action of situation Y, he just was. Hell, he seemed more real than a lot of "real" people. He was different, fierce. Not just that he had his finger on the pulse of what it means to be alive, but that he was the very beating heart of humanity. I'm not making any sense, but Gansey is a character that I won't soon forget.

Since this was my first book by Maggie Stiefvater, I feel compelled to say that I've been missing out. Like I said, the romance was more understated than you usually see in a YA novel, and there are many things left unanswered, but, as a whole, the novel was seamless...like a living organism, almost. Again, it's hard to define why I feel so strongly about this book, but I do, and I will definitely be checking out the sequel(s), as it is book one in the Raven Cycle, and purchasing the collected works of Maggie Stiefvater as soon as possible.

I really recommend this book, I don't know what it was, but this book is something you shouldn't miss.

Thanks for reading!

Villette by Charlotte Bronte

*This review contains spoilers.*

I adore the Bronte sisters, so, in the tradition of reviewing classic literature for pleasure reading, I perused Charlotte's lesser known novel: Villette. If you don't know, Charlotte is my third favorite Bronte sister, but I was still expecting greatness because I did enjoy Jane Eyre, even if not as much as Wuthering Heights. 

I loved the character of Lucy Snowe very much. Her habit of being out of the way, the manner in which she never feels real, never feels like she partakes in life and instead sits aside and observes is so me it's scary. Believe me, I appreciate the passion and vivacity of Cathy and Heathcliff, or the pride and combattiveness of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, but I identify so much more with Lucy's character. For her alone, I recommend the book.

I also really enjoyed the  romance of John Graham Bretton and Paulina; it was adorable how it morphed from her childlike fascination to his adult infatuation.

Speaking of, how everyone kept turning up in each other's lives was marvelous and so beautifully done.

Also, the backstory and plotting around Paul Emmanuel, my God was that juicy! I mean, wow, I was floored at how intricate and mysterious it was.

I also found myself continually intrigued by the veins of Catholic vs. Protestant and French vs. English that came across in the novel, from a sociological standpoint. (Protestant and English came off the better, in case you're wondering.)

The love story. Oh, the love story. Honestly, I can't see it. I don't get it. One minute, Paul is a cantankerous blowhard who needs his ego stroked and his presence pandered too, and Lucy hates him (as I did), and then she finds herself in love with him and he with her...I just don't get this part of the book. That may be me, and you might enjoy the love story.

Also, the love story of Ginevra Fanshawe and Count Alfred de Hamal...priceless.

I enjoyed this book a lot, but then again I really love Victorian novels and the Brontes already, so I can't speak objectively on the merits of this book in particular. Nonetheless, I would recommend it.

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

*This review contains spoilers.*

So, I was looking for something to read on Barnes and Noble's website and, lo and behold, Kim Harrington has written a new book! Yay! I adored Clarity and Perception, so, of course, I picked this up.

As always, I find her books incredibly readable. It took me a few hours, and - it's a  murder mystery, too - I was guessing and re-evaluating who I pegged as the murderer constantly, but I never felt that annoying, impatient sense of "For God's sake, just figure it out already," that I get with some books.

The love interest is Donovan O'Mara, and he's great...cute, angst-ridden, tortured, lonely...he's really great, and everything you'd expect or desire.

I really enjoyed Jade, though I didn't identify with her as much as I did Clare, though I did really appreciate her bravery.

Is this book one that will stay with me forever and impact my life immensely? No, but it was a very lovely way to spend an afternoon and I highly recommend you read it!

The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson

*This review contains spoilers.*

In my tradition of reviewing classic literature for the casual reader, I read The Black Arrow Robert Louis Stevenson, who also wrote Treasure Island.

Essentially, it's the trials and tribulations of Richard Shelton, a young squire who is trying to avenge his father and rescue his love, Joanna, all while avoiding death at the hands of either Yorkists or Lancastrians during the tumultuous times of the Wars of the Roses.

The book had a decent pace, and I finished it fairly quickly for a non-contemporary novel. I really liked the Medieval feel the dialogue was given, though I could take or leave the author's habit of occasionally breaking the fourth wall to remind the reader of something.

The book was a lot of action and scheming, but there was some humor at the end, in the character of Alicia Risingham. I think her character was there for the comedic element, but I didn't really get the joke, so I didn't care for her or her sections of the book at all. At the beginning the love story fell flat for me, but towards the end, I really liked Richard/Joanna, especially how bold he was in openly declaring his feelings for her.

I also liked the history of the time period, and the way Stevenson put in Richard III in the end. However, if you're unfamiliar with Shakespeare of English history, a lot of the ending may be confusing for you.

I don't want to say that I didn't like the book, but I don't want to say I liked it either...it was okay, I suppose. There wasn't enough character depth for me to really, truly be invested in the character...I wanted Richard to win and get back Joanna because he's our protagonist, not because I felt for his plight.

I recommend picking this up only if you have nothing else to read and want to read something, or you really, really enjoy English history.

The Snowmen - Doctor Who Season 7 Christmas Special

Merry Christmas everyone!

*This review contains spoilers.*

Really loved this episode!

I adored that is was set in Victorian times, and I really liked the light, just for fun feel I felt the first half or so had. I also really liked the cool new intro.

Jenna Louis-Coleman is adorable. And I was so enthralled with the scene of her discovering the TARDIS on a cloud, I feel like we haven't seen that sense of wonder and the element of magic in a long time.

"Bowties are cool!" YES! Also, "I'm a lizard woman from the dawn of time, and this is my wife," had me hysterical.

Also, Doctor and Clara so sweet on her deathbed! When he asked her to come away with him, I about died.

Oh, and, people of the internet, Matt Smith is sexy in round glasses, that is all.

I loved that they've introduce a new mystery in Clara Oswin Oswald, and I look forward to seeing where they take that.

Basically, this show captured everything that I love about Doctor Who, and, even though I know the traditional starter for someone new to Who is "Don't Blink," I think I'm going to recommend this one. We've got a new TARDIS and a new companion, so everything can be explained, and, more importantly, this episode epitomized the show, and even the Doctor himself, at least for me.

If you haven't seen it yet, do it, it is well worth your time.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you're having a merry Christmas!

O Come, All Ye Faithful - The Vampire Diaries Season 4 Episode 9

*This review contains spoilers.*

Oh, God, I cannot wait to see what happened.

• THEY'RE IN BED TOGETHER! 
• Damon, don't you dare revoke that sire bond! Oh, God, do that, Damon! The throwing onto the bed, and never letting leave...do that. 
• ELENA! Now is not the time to go meet Bonnie. 
• Klaus! Haha, I love him so much. 
• Haha, "postmodern snowflakes," that's hilarious. 
• Tyler buried in concrete, that is a terrible idea!
• Caroline looks freaking beautiful! 
• Jeremy is dressed as a sexy lumberjack...nice. 
• Damon, you are so beautiful. So tragically beautiful. It hurts to see how wonderful you are.
• Yikes, Professor Shady. 
• That awkward moment when...that was a nice save on Elena's part though. 
• Oooooh, this is such a wonderful Klaus/Caroline moment....Klaus/Caroline you know you are a ship, just sail already. 
• Uh-oh, this is terrible...Damon, don't you let Stefan talk you out of Elena.
• I would not be letting Professor Shady into Jeremy's head like this. I just wouldn't. 
• Ouch, Jeremy, that was rough. 
• Uh-oh, Caroline and Stefan, you've got to hold your own against Tyler...don't let him kill Klaus. 
• Oh, damn, you guys are surrounded, come on, now, you can do this! Use your vampire speed. 
• Oh, Damon, you are such a sweetie when you try to comfort Elena. 
• Oh, Tyler, don't you dare pull that card. 
• Oh, Damon, I love your tactlessness. It is precious. 
• Oh, Tyler, you are going down a dangerous path...I am firmly with the Salvatores on this one. 
• We cannot trust this Professor. 
• Besides, I want you all to be vampires. 
• Yes, why should we be trusting Professor Shady again? 
• Wait a minute...why are you forgiving him, Caroline? 
• Oh, don't trust Prof. Shady! 
• Oh, Caroline, look out...that bitch is going to be right behind you...oh, damn it, you just got your neck snapped didn't you? Nice. 
• Bonnie, careful....
• Klaus, I love you!
• Caroline, I love it when you get catty. 
• Oh, dear God, this is the most beautiful, terrible, epic....wow....oh, wow....
• Aw, that look on Klaus' face...what just happened? Why? Who? 
• Oh, Damon, don't sit outside alone...aw...
• Oh, Damon, don't make this difficult...you love Elena, she loves you...
• NO! DEAR GOD! NO!!!! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
• Don't open your big mouth Caroline......
• She kissed him....she can fight the sire bond! Be together!!!
• Oh, Stefan, stop being a drama queen, and Tyler, you deserve this and you brought it on yourself. 
• Holy shit, what is April Young doing there?
• Come on, end scene is Delena getting back together! They must be a couple. 
• Klaus, I love you, you bastard, stop drowning Carol Lockwood. 

Oh, God, the Christmas music was amazing, and Klaus, oh, poor Klaus, and MY GOD DELENA NEEDS TO GET BACK TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We'll Always Have Bourbon Street - The Vampire Diaries Season 4 Episode 8

*This review contains spoilers.*

Dear God, you have no idea how excited I am to see more Delena....I hope they're not teasing us with this whole sire bond thing...Delena is meant to be! It just has to be!

• Oh, God, it's on!!!!! Wheww, breathe, breathe....
• Oh, my God, no, the sire bond isn't why, it's because Damon and Elena are soulmates!!!!
• Oh, damn, waking up Damon is so hot! And she's in his shirt and his face is so beautiful, "I'm happy." Oh, my God, this is the best thing I have ever witnessed. Ever. I've been waiting four years for this, and my God is it worth it. 
• Oooh, trouble with the hybrids. 
• I love how sweet Damon is with the bag and the scarf....aw, how happy he is when she agrees....he'll be so  devastated if this is all because of the sire bond....if they make the sire bond a thing, I will be so pissed off....Damon deserves her. 
• Oh, no, Damon, don't go and do it! 
• Oh, no, creepy Professor and Bonnie hints? Not a thing, please?
• Awwww, he just said, "Please, for me," to her.....don't break his heart! God dammit! Why do you have to ruin Delena like this! 
• New Orleans, 1942...flashback, please? YES!!!!! So, there's a Charlotte? Damn, Damon sires everyone! 
• Oh, God, they're going to drink spirit tea from Shane? Scary!
• Stefan! Damon is not wrong for Elena! Shut up!
• Wow, Stefan and Damon are making nice in the forties...oh, Lexi, shut up! 
• Aw, why does everyone have to be so terrible to Damon?
• Oh, God, Tyler, don't go putting people in their places...not cool!
• Ooooooh, damn, Stefan and Damon are going at it! I'm not going to lie, I love it when they fight! 
• Oh, shit, Charlotte is still there! Damon! Oh! 
• Damn, they're having tons of fun!
• Caroline, you bitch, Damon is not a sociopathic narcissist! Oh, my God, how dare you make Elena feeling bad about making love to Damon in the culmination of four years of my most fervent wishes. 
• She's falling in love with him! YES! CAROLINE!!!! YOU STUPID BITCH!!!!
• I'm glad they took her...I cannot believe Caroline would do that!
• Wait, wait, the bond effects how you act, not how you feel? HOPE FOR DELENA!!!
• What, Val's daughter? Damn! NO, DON'T HURT DAMON!
• WAIT, YES!!!! STONE COLD PROOF!!!! ELENA LOVES DAMON AND DAMON AND STEFAN KNOW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Oh, damn, Tyler is taking down Kim. 
• Oh, wow, power trip for Tyler. 
• Oh, God, Damon to Charlotte is so sad...
• Lexi, you are so horrible to Damon! Everyone is so freaking terrible to Damon, I can't handle it. 
• Oh, no, Bonnie, expression from Shane! 
• I cannot watch the destruction of Delena...I can't just do this. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Oh, dear God, no, no!!!!! Damon, you are the good guy, you always have been!!!! Don't break it off with Elena, don't do this, you're the right man for her! You love her, she loves you!
• WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, okay, okay, the destruction of Delena did not occur! We're still in the clear! Please, CW, have a heart....Damon is the sweetest, most wonderful, most beautiful, most caring, most loving, best man in the entire world...he deserves happiness and Elena and love!

Citizen Fang - Supernatural Season 8 Episode 9

*This review contains spoilers.*

I am SO excited to see what happens with Sam and Amelia. 

• Ooooooh, Louisiana! Hey, that's Benny, oh, no, he's "Roy," now. I bet one of them is totally a hunter or something. 
• Oh, damn! 
• Oh, okay...Crazy Martin is your source? Nice, Sam. You had Mostly Okay Martin trail Benny?! Sammy! 
• Oh, poor Dean. That look is heartrending!
• Whoa, whoa, Amelia wants to be with Sam even though hubby is back from the dead? 
• Oh, Dean and pie? Yes! 
• Yes, I love it when Dean hits on anything female...he is so ridiculous, but so adorable about it! 
• Oh, damn, another body from Benny? What is going on? Oh, no!
• Ooooooooooh, confrontation! 
• Oh, a rogue vampire! Yay! Benny is still a good guy!
• Oh, come on Crazy Martin, you've got to believe in Dean's judgment! 
• Ouch, that veiled comment about Benny never letting him down, you are certainly pulling out all the stops here Dean. 
• Jesus Christ, Martin, that was so unnecessary! 
• Oh, dear God, Sam and Don and the bar...oh, this is awkward. Oh, wow, let's respect Amelia's choice was SO not the result I was expecting. 
• Oh, Benny, please be careful! 
• Whoa, what a text from Amelia? Oh, damn, and he runs off and does it, too! 
• Is that Desmond? Oh, get him Dean, get him!
• Awww, poor Dean, with "...guys like us, we don't get a home, we don't get a family." That is so sad. 
• Awwwwww, poor Benny, having to leave his great-granddaughter and his hometown. 
• Oh, fuck, no, Martin is going after Elizabeth, that bastard!
• Oh, dear, Benny, I hope you can talk Martin down. 
• WHAT?!?!?!?!?!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT BENNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dammit, I should have known, the Winchester boys can't ever be close to anyone. 
• Now, what the hell is wrong with Amelia? Why would she text him, if they're fine? Who does that?
• Wait, that's Martin!!!!!!!!!!!
• Oh, Sammy, do not hang up on your brother!
• Amelia!!!! WHAT?! No, I've got to see where they're going!

Wonderful episode! Absolutely loved it! Watch it ASAP! 

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

I know I haven't done a book review in a while, but I want to review this because no one ever really reviews books outside of the contemporary timeline in a "just for fun" way as opposed to a way that assumes that you read it for a class of some kind. So, I'm going to! Yay!

I was hesitant to pick this up, only because I don't like to read long books if I don't know for certain that it's good, but I did, and it was amazing!

This was a very rich and complex narrative, written as an investigation of sorts, alternating between the narratives and diaries of the characters and reports by various minor person.

This is the kind of book read when you curl up under the covers with some tea and read for hours...very immersive, but still accessible.

This book was so great, and the writing and style were wonderful! I'm going to purchase the collected works of Wilkie Collins at the earliest possible opportunity!

The love story was so sweet, and Walter was so open about his feelings in his narrative that it made it all the better!

Not the kind of book you reread, but one that I am proud to own and have read!

Thanks for reading!