Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
488 pages

    Sophie Foster has always been...different. From a very young age, she could hear the thoughts of those around her. She is a telepath. But Sophie can't control her ability and hearing everyone's voices all the time is annoying enough to drive her mad.
    On a school field trip, Sophie encounters a strange young man who might have the answers to her questions. He tells her that she is an Elf from the Lost Cities. The young man, Fitz, takes her to what he says is her true home and she is brought before the council. Most of the council is in favour of her staying and learning at their school, but one is not. He is very suspicious of the whole situation. And he is afraid of Sophie. Even the best mind-readers could not break into her mind. But Sopie is allowed to stay.
    But Sophie must keep her ability a secret, and that is proving to be harder than she expected. And now, there is a possibility that her mind could hold secrets that could destroy the Lost Cities.Can Sophie find out the secrets and help save her new frinds?

My thoughts:
This was an amazing book! I'm sure my summary does not even begin to show how great it is...in fact it's probably a very bad summary...I can't really remember all the details...(but that just means I'll read it again. YAY!) Okay...so Shannon Messenger is an amazing author. This is her first book, and she did a great job. Sophie's story really drew me in and the settings and characters were really well written. When I found out that Sophie was an "elf," I wasn't sure how I would like the story...I'm used to elves like the ones in Eragon, adn LOTR, and I don't really like the idea of the little Santa's helper kind in fiction. But it turns out that I was completely fine even thought they weren't really the LOTR kind. Also, the author used a lot of legendary/extint animals and places in the elves' world. Normally, this would probably really bother me, too. But in this story, I was completely fine with it...in fact, it made the story more interesting. Shannon Messenger uses the Lost Cities (i.e. Atlantis, Shangri La, etc.) as the places where the elves live. Also, creaturse like T-rexes and banshees are also in the elves' land. But for some reason, I was completely fine with this kind of stuff in this book. I guess that's just because Shannon Messenger is such an amzing writer!

Now, before you go, please tell me what you think of this book in the comments and rate it with the stars/scale thing below (if you have read it, that is).
And sorry abou the different format...with Blogger being weird, I didn't want to fix it in case it decided to be evil again... :P

The Freak-Out Before the Total Obssession

    If you know me at all-whether in real life, or just from reading my blogs-you know that I am a nerd. I love to read, and I love nerdy movies and stuff like that (just not Star Trek. Nope!).

See, even he thinks Star Wars is better!

And you also know that I frequently get obsessed with things. My first major obsession was Star Wars (and I'm still obsessed), and then I got into The Lord of the Rings. And books, well I've been obsessed with reading ever since I was really little.
    But now, I have been following/liking a lot of nerdy Facebook pages (Cupcakes to Lightsabers is an awesome one, and don't forget to like mine, When You Compare Your Life to Your Fandoms...) that have been posting a lot of Doctor Who references. So that, and the fact that some of my friends are into it, has made me interested. I mean, an awesome time-travel show from Britain? Who doesn't want to watch it? So I quickly decided that I need to start watching. Now, this will be quite difficult for two reasons. 1.) It is already in the 7th season or something like that and 2.) I don't watch much TV.
   But nevertheless, I made plans to start, and Saturday I will begin watching it. (JUST TWO DAYS AWAY!!!) As you can probably tell, I can't wait. Another fandom to add to my list, another nerd thing to obsess over. :D And I will finally understand all those references on Facebook! Yay!
So Her Universe is not just a way to get Star Wars stuff anymore...the have Doctor Who stuff, too. And I just found out that Hot Topic has awesome nerdy stuff, including Her Universe's DW stuff.
    So now, you now...I am a Star Wars fan, a LOTR fan, a book nerd, and soon I will be a Whovian! So it is very likely that next time I post here, I will be totally obsessed...more than I am right now. Don't ask how I can be obsessed if I haven't seen it, I just am :P

And I am not ashamed of my nerdy-ness:

If you do have a problem, then too bad, 'cause I don't care what you think of me...

Good advice! Hopefully some day I will be able to completely be my true nerdy self without any shame...

Also, tomorrow, I will be finishing my week of costuming and I will be a Ravenclaw Quidditch Seeker...I am almost done with my gloves...I will try to post pictures sometime...And I will hopefully doing some more music video posts soon (do you guys enjoy those?)

Lastly, there is apparently a tumblr thing that has pictures called "Nerd Girl Problems" (I don't have a tumblr in case you were wondering...i don't even really know what it is...). Would you guys be interested if I made a page on this blog completely deticated to listing all 450+ Nerd Girl Problems? Some of them are hilarious and totally true, and I really want to share them all with you guys...

The Hobbit, Scarves, Pictures, and Nerd Week

First, I saw the Hobbit!!! It was soo good!!! I can't wait to see the next one. An Unexpected Journey was really amazing, and they made so much out of way less than half of the book. The end was a major cliff-hanger (for me at least). The only problem that I really had with the movie, though was the troll king. I thought that his character really didn't fit in the story very well.

And, next, I have finished two scarves...nerdy ones, too! :D

The first: 

The second:

Both together:

My second snitch: ♥

Funny pictures:

Finally, I am doing a nerd week next week. it's not an official nerd week, so don't worry about having to participate, but I am going to dress up as a fictional character every day.

Monday: Ahsoka Tano

Tuesday: Hermione Granger

Wednesday: ? (any ideas?)

Thursday: a cowgirl...I'll find some character to be...

Friday: Ravenclaw Quidditch seeker

Wednesday, I have no idea what to do, so ideas are welcome.

I hope you are all not mad at me for not posting in a while...for a long time, I couldn't post pictures for some odd reason...but all is well....

Always♥

What to expect in the near future...

Okay, so Blogger is being evil right now, and I'm really sorry that I have not been posting. Anytime I try to add a picture, it won't let me do anything else. And when I went to put up pictures of my scarves, it still wouldn't let me, even though I did it a different way. So, you will have to wait. I'm so sorry :'(

But here is a list of post to look forward to:
-My scarves (I'll post pictures and tell you about them)
-Review of Keeper of the Lost Cities
-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (I saw it a week ago :) )
-Review of Unstoppable
-More books
and more...

And now, before I end this post, I just want to thank you all for following my blog, and commenting on my posts. It really means a lot. Most of you I have never met in real life, but you still read my blog and comment. Thank you so much.

New Year: 2013

Well, first, it's good to see that you all survived 2012 and didn't die when the world didn't end on 21st December!
And now, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!



Do anything cool on New Year's Eve? I spent the night with friends, and at midnight, we ran around outside banging pots...it was so much fun!

Here are some highlights of 2012:
-I became a huge Star Wars fan...no other words are needed...
-I celebrated my first Star Wars day
-I saw all of the Lord of the Rings movies for the first time
-I think I found a group in which I belong...yay!
-I celebrated my first Hobbit Day
-I went to my first Comic-Con
-I discovered that I have the same birthday as Hermione Granger
-I read a ton of amazing books:
     Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
     The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudson
     The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer
     The Force Unleashed by Sean Williams
     Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Okay, yes, I did read a TON of other books, and I'm sure that there were lots more amazing ones, but I can't remember any more right now...if I do, I'll come back and write them here...

Now, I guess I'm supposed to share my resolutions with you...so here they are:
-Finish the scarf I just started tonight...I'll post pictures when I do, I'm sure you guys will love it...
-Write more of the book that my friends and I are trying to write
-Read these books:
     Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic
     Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George
     Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
And, like I said above, there are SOOO many more, but I can't think of them now...
-Get permission to read these 7 books:
    Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone
    Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
    Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
(Wish me luck on that one...)
-Finish my plans for my dream house. I'll post more about this some other time...
-Get more into my fandoms than I already am
-Make costumes so I can join the Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion

The best gifts I got this year:
Birthday:

Yeah, go ahead and be jealous of my snitch...I know you are...
It's a pendant watch, and I absolutely LOVE it!!!

Christmas:
my camera. (It's pink/red. The box says red, but in certain light, it's pink, so I say it's pink.)



Something I want to share with you (this is partly for you, Solace...): in the Sci-Fi magazine I looked at int he store today, they had a list of 10 fantasy figures/heroes they wanted to highlight. Legolas was one. At the bottom of the description of his awesomeness, it said that you can use Legolas' special power to defeat your opponents. Just show them this song, and they will leave you alone, or do whatever you want them to do:

And I thank you all for being nice, devoted followers, friends, and fellow fans and readers!

The Hunters by John Flanagan

The Hunters by John Flanagan
403 pages

    The Herons have again failed. Before, they were given the simple task of guarding the Skandians' most prized treasure, the Andomal, but it was stolen. They chased the pirates who took it across the sea to the village of Limmat. At Limmat, they saved the people from the pirates, but failed to capture the lead pirate, Zavac. Now, Hal and the rest of them arer determined to catch him and return home.
    Following the information given to them by one of the captured pirates, they set off again on a trail of clues to find Zavac and regain the Andomal. But they will have to face him in a final battle, and one of them will have to meet their end.

**Book 3 in Brotherband Chronicles**
Previous book: The Invaders

Christmas

That's a nice looking Christmas tree, don't you think?
Well, I had a traditional tree this year, but I found this cool picture of a book tree and I thought I would share it. Here is another:


Sorry I didn't get to post about Christmas earlier, but I was busy on Christmas day and the day before that, too. I tried to do post the next day, but something was going on with blogger and it wouldn't let me post anything for some reason. So, Merry Christmas, even thought it is late. I hope you had a good time with friends and family.

Did you get any good books this year? I got some, and then a bunch on gift cards to the bookstore, as well. Rush for the Gold by John Feinstein, Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, Christmas After All by Kathryn Lasky, Trust No One by Linda Sue Park, and Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale are just some of the books that I got on Christmas morning. Then at the bookstore, I got The Force Unleashed by Sean Williams...and I'm planning on getting many more :)
I also got a camera, which I am thining is my favourite gift, along with a beautiful leather Hobbit journal.

Now that I wished you a Merry Christmas, I have some funny pictures to share with you.

These pictures are either from the Cupcakes to Lightsabers blog, the Facebook page When You Compare Your Life to Your Fandoms, the Facebook page Fellowship of the Wizards' Lightsabers, or they were just randomly found somewhere else.
Before you leave, you should go to my other blog, where I will soon be posting more funny pictures, these having to do with Star Wars...and also I encourage you to go check out that Facebook page I mentioned before.

The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
326 pages

    Michael Vey has a BIG secret. Michael has Tourette's syndrome. But that is not his secret. His secret is that he's electric. He has the power to control electricity and he can electrocute people. He has only told his mother and his best friend, Ostin, about this, but one day, the bullying at school becomes unbearable, so he uses his powers. He knows the bullies won't tell, but they aren't the only ones who saw. Taylor Ridley, the most popular girl in school was right there when it happened. And now she wants to know what is going on.
    Michael decides to tell Taylor, but he is not prepared for what she has to tell him: she has powers similar to his. But someone found out about them, and  Michael, Taylor, and Ostin are in big trouble. Suddenly, Taylor and Michael's mother are kidnapped, and Michael is their only hope. Can he save them from the evil scientists who want to know the secret of their powers?

**Book 1**
Next book: Rise of the Elgen

"Have you found the last two?"
    The voice on the phone was angry and coarse, like the sound of car tires over broken glass.
    "Not yet," the well-dressed man on the other end of the phone replied. "Not yet. But we believe we're close--and they still don't know we're hunting them."
   "You believe you're close?"
    "They're two children among a billion--finding them is like finding a lost chopstick in China."
    "Is that what you want me to tell the board?"
    "Remind the board that I've already found fifteen of the seventeen children. I've put out a million-dollar bounty on the last two, we've got spiders crawling the Web, and we have a whole team of investigators scanning the global records for their whereabouts. It's only a matter of time before we find them."
    "Time isn't on our side," the voice returned sharply. "Those kids are already too old. You know how difficult they are to turn at this age."
    "I know better than anyone," the man said. "But I have my ways. And if they don't turn, there's always Cell 25."
   There was a long pause, then the voice replied darkly, "Yes. There's always Cell 25."

Hey, everyone! Miss Dashwood over at Yet Another Period Drama Blog is hosting a givaway for Annabeth's War by Jessica Greyson. I have not yet read the book, but it looks AMAZING! (That is why I am trying to win it...) Short summary: The king is away at war and Annabeth, daughter of a master swordsman, is fighting for the life of her father, Prince Alfred and her country. Will she save them, or will she fall beneath the power of Lord Raburn and his men?

So, go check out this book, and maybe entre the giveaway, too...
I can't wait to read it :)

Also, you should go check out our new Facebook page for books and awesome fandoms (click here) (I hope the link works...let me know if it doesn't...)

And more books will be coming soon...along with a review of Unstoppable.

Tolkien Tag by Nessíma Tavariel

 Nessíma Tavariel from "Arda Nessima" created this tag...i encourage you to go check out her blog!

1. How did you first hear about LOTR & The Hobbit?
   Well, I had to read The Hobbit for my Eighth Grade English class...and I think it was one of the best books I have ever had to read for school...but I never went any further with Tolkien's works in Middle Earth until this year.

2. How many times have you read LOTR/The Hobbit?  Or have you yet to read it at all?
    I have read The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring once each, and I have read half of The Two Towers.

3. Would you name your child after a character from it?
    I don't know...maybe.

4. What are your thoughts on Tom Bombadil?  Do you think he should have been in the movie?
    I did not really like Tom Bambadil and thought that part was quit boring...so no, I guess I do not think he should have been in the move.

5. Do you have a favourite piece of poetry from any of Tolkien's books?
    Yes, this one:
       

The Road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

    
6. Have you read any of Tolkien's work besides LOTR and/or The Hobbit?
    No.

7. Can you write in the Tengwar?
   Is that a language? I'm assuming it is...so no.

8. Were you at all disappointed that Prince Imrahil wasn't in the movie? 
    Seeing that I don't know who Prince Imrahil is, that would mean his absence did not disappoint me. If he is from The Return of the King, I have not yet read or see it, so that would be why I don't know who he is.

9. What would happen if you and Denethor were put face to face? 
    I don't know who Denethor is either...sorry people...my obsession is Star Wars, not Lord of the Rings...
But I would like to say that I would beat him in a fight... :)  If that is what this question is asking...

10. Would you rather reside in Edoras or Minas Tirith?
    No idea, sorry.

11. What think you of Éomer's armour?
    Well, i don't know, but seeing that it is the subject of this question, it must be something cool or special, so I would probably like it.

12. What do you think of Boromir?
     Boromir? That is the human guy who was part of the Fellowship in the first one, right? The one that still fought even though he had three arrows sticking out of his chest? Well, I think he was incredibly selfish at first, to want the ring for himself...but he WAS human... But I think I really admire what he did at the end of his life. He was very brave to help the hobbits get away...and I would only hope that if I was mortally wounded like he was, I would keep fighting for what I believe is right, no matter what.

13. Which is your favourite LOTR couple: Sam & Rosie, Aragorn & Arwen, or Faramir & Éowyn?
    Well, idk. I'm not one who is big on romance...Sam & Rosie are cute...although I have only seen the first two movies, so i don't know what happens in the last one. Aragorn and Arwen are the famous couple from LOTR, and their story is bigger....plus I like how Arwen is willing to give up her eternally-long-life to be with the one she truly loves. And I don't know much about Faramir and Éowyn since I have not yet seen ROTK, but last year my friends casted me as Éowyn for out LOTR likenesses...idk what that has to do with this, but I just thought I'd let y'all know :) So...I really don't know who my favourite couple from LOTR is...maybe Éowyn and Faramir since-in my experience thus far-their romance is non-existent... :P

14. Did you shed any tears when Thorin died? 
    Thorin? Is he one of the dwarves from The Hobbit? It has been so long since I read that, I don't even remember him dying...so I don't think I cried...sorry. I'm sure he was a great character, though.
 
15. Which is most terrifying of the following: orcs nabbing you in your sleep, giant spiders crawling out of dark tunnels and forests, Nazgul standing right over where you're hiding, or a ghost army that doesn't like you very much?
    Ummm, how about all of them. Or the Nazgul since they don't see me 'cause I'm hiding... ;)

16. How well would you enjoy life as a hobbit?  Would it be preferable to being something like, say, an elf?  Or a Ranger? 
    Interesting question...I really don't see myself as a hobbit...more like an elf...especially since all my friends just told me that I remind them of an elf...so ELF.


Well, I obviously was not the best person to answer these questions since I am not the biggest LOTR fanatic, but I still do love it...hope I did not annoy you too much with my ignorance on the subject...now, you may tag others, if you like.

Also, I would like to proudly display this: