The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

*This Review May Contain SPOILERS*

This is a bit divergent from my usual type, but I loved it nonetheless. It's set during the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror specifically, and centers on the Blakeneys. Sir Percy Blakeney is an utter fop - shallow, vain, insipid etc. Lady Blakeney, previously Marguerite St. Just,  is gorgeous, charming, and hailed as the most intelligent woman in Europe. During this time, an Englishman known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel is rescuing French aristocrats and smuggling them from the country. He is pursued by an agent of the Revolutionary government, Chauvelin, and aided by nineteen others. Chauvelin captures Marguerite's brother Armand (who is a counterrevolutionary) and uses him to blackmail her into helping him discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel....her husband!

My Thoughts:

1. The romance between Marguerite and Percy is just amazing. At first he worshiped her openly, but her contempt for his "idiocy" led her to spurn him. Once he heard that she denounced someone to the Committee of Public Safety, he couldn't trust her, so he withdrew his love (also because of his wounded pride) and now they ignore one another. However, as the novel progresses, and Marguerite realizes that Percy has been wearing a mask and is in fact this daring hero that everyone is enamored with and totally, passionately in love with her, she realizes that she loves him too and has to save him. When she comes to his aide, he realizes that she loves him and they reunite! Yay! Happy ending!
2. The overall plot of this was good. I read the Wikipedia summary before I purchased this book, so I knew who the Scarlet Pimpernel was, and I have to say, that only enhanced my experience of this book. There was still plenty of adventure/intrigue/suspense, and the book was not wanting for adrenaline. 
3. I was a little hesitant to pick this up, since it was written in 1905. I generally peruse either contemporary fiction, or stuff of the seventeen and eighteen hundreds, like Austen, the Brontes, Dickens etc. However, I found this book to be very readable. The style was very sincere and earnest in its manner, if that makes any sense. I did have to Google two words, but I hope that each book I read gives me at least one new word. 

Who Should Read It:

• Fans of well-rounded books. This has romance, adventure, intrigue, espionage etc. 
• People interested in the French Revolution. 

Overall Score: 9/10 

This was a really good book that had everything - likable characters, an intriguing plot, a good pace, and, of course, romance! I recommend you check it out! I also watched the 1982 made for TV movie of the same name, which I also recommend!

I'm currently reading A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin and I'll be starting something else as well, so stay tuned for more reviews!

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

This novel, written in 1855, is about Margaret Hale (from the South of England), who travels to the northern town of Milton after father splits from the church. There she meets John Thornton, who she finds uncouth, ill-mannered and ungentlemanly. Mr. Thornton thinks she is beautiful and charming, but also haughty, proud and standoffish. You can see where this is going :)

My Thoughts:

1. I ordered this book online, so I was reading the reviews on Barnes and Noble's website; I was shocked to discover that some people said this book ousted Pride and Prejudice as their favorite book of all time, and John Thornton, Mr. Darcy! Of course, I thought they were just being ridiculous. Then I read the book. I wouldn't go that far, but it certainly takes a close second. 
2. First off, Margaret is a wonderful heroine. She's sweet, charming, caring etc. but she is also strong-willed, conscientious and stubborn. She is flawed, but lovable - she's someone I would think I could be friends with.
3. Second, the way the book interweaves the love story of Margaret Hale and John Thornton with the class struggles of the industrial age is very well done and enjoyable to read. 
4. All the minor characters - Bessy, Mr. Higgins, Mrs. Hale, Edith, even Dixon - are well done. There are believable people, not just means to an end for the main characters.
5. The book is wonderfully written! Some might be put off by the elevated diction, complex syntax and genuinely different manner of writing, but if you read a lot of novels from the 18th and 19th century, you really will come to understand it all. 
6. Finally, Mr. Thornton. He is such an amazing character! I love him! He's romantic without being too unrealistic and he's self-deprecating without being pathetic and he's strong without being cocky and he's just wonderful! The way he cares for Margaret (even when she is awful to him) is the sweetest thing ever. I love him! Truly! And you will too if you read this book!

Who Should Read It:

• Romance fans!
• Fans of novels of this era!
• Fans of the 2004 BBC movie version with Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe - which, by the way, was amazing! I recommend you watch it before you read the book, actually. Normally, I don't do that but I find that I am so far removed from the language of books this old that sometimes I miss things (I had to read Pride and Prejudice twice, then watch the movie, then read it again until I finally realized how amazing it is) and I don't understand that something is actually a passionate speech because the diction is so formal. So, watch the movie first if you don't normally peruse Victorian novels. 

Overall Score: Infinity and beyond/10 

I loved this book! It is going on The Shelf, I plan to re-read it and buy another copy for a friend and re-read and re-read and re-read it. This is an amazing book that is definitely worth checking out!

I have over two dozen unread books, so I have no idea what I'll be reviewing next.

A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn

This, in true Alex Flinn style, is a reworking of a classic fairy tale. This time, it's of Sleeping Beauty.

My Thoughts:

1. First off, both Jack and Talia are lovely characters - believable, but not overly realistic. 
2. The romance is so cute! Something about the way Jack thinks of Talia as so sweet and trusting and the way Talia slowly realizes she truly does love Jack...it's just so great!
3. The way Alex Flinn does Sleeping Beauty is really wonderful. I only have very vague memories of the Sleeping Beauty, since I only watched the Disney movie once, but I think I didn't care for it because it seemed almost two-dimensional. Alex Flinn actually delved into what really might happen if an entire kingdom just popped up into the modern age - how the townspeople would react, how outsiders would react to them etc. Also, she actually gave motivation to the "witch" and a personality to Talia's family. Her meticulous concern for detail and crafting a believable world, make this adaptation better than the original fairy tale. 

Who Should Read It:

• Fans of Alex Flinn!

Final Score: 9.5/10

For more info on the author, check out her website here. I'm currently reading North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, so look forward to a review on that next. 

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

This is the second book in the Infernal Devices trilogy, which is a prequel to the Mortal Instruments series.

My Thoughts

1. This is amazing! There are no words for this! Everything about it is amazing! 
2. Tessa and Will and Jem were phenomenal!
3. Henry and Charlotte were so sweet!
4. The whole book was just beautiful and lovely and shattering and magnificent and moving and the most amazing book ever!
5. I laughed, I cried, I squealed, I was shocked - this is the most engaging book I've read in a long time!

Who Should Read It

• Fans of Cassandra Clare!

Who Should be Fans of Cassandra Clare

• Everyone!

Overall Score: Infinity and Beyond to the power of infinity and beyond/10

Amazing! Read it! Seriously, if you have a heart at all, you will be truly in love with this book. For more info, check out the author's website here. I don't know what I'll be reviewing next!

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

So, Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul takes place in Victorian Era Manhattan, and centers on Natalie, a 17 year old mute girl, whose father works for the Met. She is shown a mysterious painting of Jonathon Whitby, Lord Denbury by her mentor, Mrs. Northe, a spiritualist. His soul is trapped in the painting, while the Devil wreaks havoc as he possesses Jonathon's body.

My Thoughts:

1. The book is very romantic. Sincerely romantic. There is swooning and falling into each other's arms involved here. If that doesn't convince you to read this book than you have no heart. 
2. The story is framed as a diary being held as evidence by the police department, which I find fascinating. It reminds me of classic novels like Bram Stoker's Dracula or something. 
3. Natalie is a great heroine! Identifiable, likable, strong but not arrogant, and, most importantly, headstrong in love.
4. Lord Denbury is a wonderful hero! Everything a love interest should be: accented, dashing, benevolent, blue-eyed, black-haired and so much more!
5. I read a fair amount of historical fiction and I love the Victorian Era, so I was really pleased to find this setting. It's done really well!
6. The supernatural element is very believable and engaging, even verging on the truly macabre. In my opinion, the more books you read, the less things affect you, but this one was definitely very real. 

Who Should Read It:

• Fans of the Victorian Era!
• Fans of romance! This one SO delivers!
• Leanna Renee Hieber fans! (I am so inspired to pick up her other works now!)

Overall Score: 9/10

For more info, check out the author's website here. 

*Drum roll please* And check back for a review of The Infernal Devices  Book Two: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. That's right, I am holding the latest Cassandra Clare novel in my hands RIGHT NOW! Aaaaaaaaaaah! 

Fateful by Claudia Gray

This book is about Tess, a maid for the wealthy Lisle family, who wants to start a new life after their transatlantic voyage on, wait for it, The Titanic! While on board, she meets handsome first-class passenger Alec Marlowe, who has a dark secret.

My Thoughts:

1. This book was fantastic! It was extremely well-written and very engaging! I was really able to get lost in this book!
2. Tess is a wonderful heroine! She's strong, but not to the point of being arrogant or stubborn. 
3. Alec is the perfect love interest! Handsome, with attractive hair, tortured with guilt he doesn't deserve, sweet, caring - oh, he's just perfect! 
4. The supernatural element was amazingly well done! You might think werewolves on the Titanic would come across as campy or silly, but it certainly did not!
5. The Titanic aspect was really amazing as well. There was a perfect balance of happy/sad endings for people, you know? It wasn't like all of the characters we know survived (which, statistically, they could've), but they didn't all drown either. But, even the minor characters' deaths made me cry. Irene, Ned, even Layton and Lady Regina - there were tears. And, of course, the historically accurate characters like John Jacob Astor (I think I'm just attached to him because of his role in James Cameron's  Titanic, but still.)
6. The romance was fabulous! There were so many tender, sweet moments and so many moments when I felt like the author was trying to rip my heart out, but, at the last second, didn't. Tess & Alec forever!

Who Should Read It:

• Romance fans, this is the book for you!
• Fans of James Cameron's Titanic, you should read this book. (Translation: everyone should read this book!)
• Titanic lovers in general, this is a great book! This is also a great era, in my opinion, very lush and romantic. 
• I haven't read any of Claudia Gray's other works (though I'm inspired to buy all of them now), but, if you like those, I recommend you read this! 

Final Score: infinity/10

This book is going on The Shelf. (The Shelf houses such greats as Anna and the French Kiss  by Stephanie Perkins, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, and, of course, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.)

For more info, and a list of Claudia Gray's other works (which I will shortly be purchasing), check out her website here. 

I have a stack of new books four feet high, so stay tuned for more reviews! 

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

This book is about Gretchen, an 18-year-old girl who lost her twin sister when she was seven, her brother Ansel, and her love interest Samuel. She travels to Live Oaks, South Carolina, where she befriends and moves in with Sophia, the town pariah who has secrets of her own. It's got a very fairy tale vibe, a la Alex Flinn.

My Thoughts:

1. Usually, suspense gets on my nerves; I HATE not knowing, but in this book, I really liked the lead up to discovering who Sophia truly was. 
2. This was surprisingly heavy for a teen romance. I'd say it has the same level of death as Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel, though not nearly the emotional impact. 
3. Samuel and Gretchen are great! There's this one scene, page 235, that is just adorable! He's your typical bad-boy-with-a-sensitive-side that populates the young adult section, and call me unenlightened, but  I really love those types!

Who Should Read It:

1. Fans of Jackson Pearce. Though I did not fall in love with this book like I did with As You Wish, this is still a great book if you like her style.
2. Fans of modern day fairy tale retellings. I've been buying a lot of those lately, and I don't know if it's a trend or if I just happen to be picking them up, but this book definitely delivers on that front.
3. Romance fans! What is a book without romance? Not a book at all! 

Final Score: 8.5/10

I have tons of new books, so check back soon for more reviews! The next book I'll be reviewing Fateful by Claudia Gray (and it is AWESOME)!

Motorola DROID Bionic

Yes, I am WILDLY diverging from book reviews here, but this needs to be shared!
First, happy Black Friday!
Second, a review of the DROID Bionic -

My Thoughts:

1. The camera is AMAZING! 8.0 mp rear-facing, 1.3 mp front-facing and 1080 p video! It is to die for!
2. The 4G download speeds are amazing! Both for stuff off the internet and the Android Market!
3. The sound is great, the display is crisp and the interface is easy to navigate.
4. It is very user friendly - this is my first smart phone, so I would know.
5. There is a lovely selection of pre-installed apps, the browser is fast, the five home screens are useful.
6. As with any smartphone, we've got to talk about battery - I bought the extended battery and it is awesome! I've got like a good 12 hours without sacrificing WiFi, GPS or brightness!
7. Video playback - even 1080 HD YouTube videos is impeccable! 
8. It's nice to hold - even with the extra battery and the large case to accommodate it. I found the RAZR a little awkward, since it's so wide, but this was perfect!

Who Should Get It:

1. If you're in the market for a new smartphone, get this one! And get it now! What with Black Friday rebates, I saved like a hundred dollars on this phone! (I got the phone, the car charger + screen protector + case bundle, and the extended battery for only $249.99) And Verizon is doing twice the data for the same price, i.e. 4 GB of data for the price of 2 GB ($30/month)! Go! Now! I promise I'm not being paid by Verizon, it's just this phone is AWESOME!

For more info, check out Verizon's website here.

I bought a bunch of books today, and I'll be reviewing Sweetly by Jackson Pearce next. 

The Mark of the Golden Dragon by L.A. Meyer

The full title is actually The Mark of the Golden Dragon, Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Jewel of the East, Vexation of the West, and Pearl of the South China Sea. It is the ninth book in the Jacky Faber series (see the full list here), which centers on Jacky Faber, an orphan from a poor area of England who ran away to sea in the first book (when she was like 10 or 12) and has been having exciting adventures one the high seas  and trying to live happily ever after with Jaimy Fletcher, love of her life, ever since (she's now 17 or 18). Before I jump into my review of the most recent one, I'll do a quick review of what we've had so far.

1. Bloody Jack
2. The Curse of the Blue Tattoo
3. Under the Jolly Roger
4. In the Belly of the Bloodhound
5. Mississippi Jack
6. My Bonny Light Horseman
7. Rapture of the Deep
8. In the Wake of the Lorelei Lee

So, Jacky pretended to be a boy, ran away to sea, became a pirate, escaped from a slave ship, came to America, fought in the Napoleonic War, searched for treasure and escaped from a convict ship (her own ship) bound for New South Wales, Australia. Currently, she is marooned on Burma with a small boy (Ravi) she picked up in India and everyone she knows thinks she's dead! 

On to the actual review!

My Thoughts:

1. This is a good installment, in my opinion. Adventure, romance, intrigue - it's all there. 
2. Some might think a series gets a little ridiculous by the 9th installment, and, in this case, they'd be partially right. This series isn't classic literature nor is it going for a realistic depiction of early nineteenth-century life. However, it is a fun, interesting, and entertaining read. 
3. Jacky is fun and likable, and her ongoing romance with Jaimy (and Randall and Jared and Arthur and Richard) is equal parts adorable, angsty, and amusing. 

Who Should Read It:

• People who have read the rest of the series. If you liked that, you'll like this.
• If you like historical fiction, you'll probably enjoy this one. 

Final Score:

• Entire series: 10/10
• Mark of the Golden Dragon: 9/10

For more information, check out the author's website here. 

Next, I'll probably reviewing Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, so stay tuned!

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

This is going to be a short one, since I didn't actually finish this book! This book is the love story between Nora and Patch, a fallen angel. It's the third one in the series; I absolutely loved Hush, Hush, the first one and Crescendo, the second one, had it's moments, but this one...well, I'll let you read on.

My Thoughts:

1. The premise of this one is that Nora has lost her memory of all the supernatural goings-on in her life, and I know that it's dramatic irony and all, but nothing annoys me more! Now, I'm okay with it if it doesn't go on for ever and/or the book is extremely well written/my favorite series ever (like in the case of The Son of Neptune). In this case it lasted at least to page 224, where I stopped. 
2. Maybe I would've liked it better had I re-read the first two installments in the Hush, Hush Saga and gotten back into it, however, I feel like I was getting out of it towards the end of the second book. 
3. I'm not sure why I suddenly no longer like this series, it's just that we're not seeing enough Nora/Patch. I loved their interactions, their love, their story and we've gotten so far away from that that I've lost interest. 

Who Should Read It:

• If you read the first two, I recommend you give this one a go. I never abandon a book series, so maybe that's just me, but I would advise you to check it out if you read/enjoyed either the first or second novel.

Final Score: 6.5/10

For more info, check out the author's website here. 

I'm 60 pages in to The Mark of the Golden Dragon by L.A. Meyer and I've also purchased Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, so look forward to reviews of those!