Quick Review: Soldier by Julie Kagawa
I think this was the best book of the series so far. The world and the characters are now well established so we can get on with the conflict of the story. When we last left off, Garret left after hoping that Ember would tell him to stay. Ember was too raw from the fight with her brother and her dragon side feelings for Riley to say what she truly felt and let him go. They both understood that they are two different species so it probably wouldn’t work out. That’s how they justified it at least. Garret has gone to London where St. George is headquarters to get answers to if the order knows that their are good dragons, while Ember and Riley try to track down who is leaking information on his safe houses. Garret soon finds information that St. George and Talon have been working together and have set a trap for Ember and Riley so off he goes to rescue her. Meanwhile, Ember’s twin brother Dante gets promoted to a secret project that we won’t know it’s true purpose until the next book but it’s definitely not good. Even though he is all in with Talon, he is having some reservations about what he is doing but not enough to stop him from doing what he is told at all cost. So the stakes are much higher. Both Talon and St. George are after them and only if they can work together to break up the alliance. Ember is starting to come into her potential about how powerful she can be but in doing so she finds that what she has to do to survive is not always easy to live with. Killing is never easy. Garret knows that St. George is corrupt but it doesn’t make going against his former order and brothers any easier. Also Riley has been shut down for so long that it’s hard for him to open up to Ember. This book was far more action packed then previous book with a pretty big cliffhanger. One can only hope that everyone gets out alive or at least get a Jon Snow treatment.
Review: The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
Okay I’ve been trying to write this review for days now. How do I put into words how much I loved this book? How much I loved this series? And how much I’m going to miss these characters? I’m not sure I can. On so many levels this was everything I wanted it to be. It was atmospheric. It was at times intense. It was romantic. It was creepy. It was surprising. It had happy endings and ambiguous endings. It answered a lot questions but asked some more. In true Maggie fashion, she closed the door on some story lines but kept others open to interpretation. It had a little bit of everything. I was left wanting more because I am not ready to say goodbye but at the same time I’m satisfied with how she ended it. It’s been over a week since I finished it and I still have so many Feels! I guess I’m not going to write about the plot or the characters because I written about both many times and I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say this. This series should be read by all. Not just by Teens or adults who read YA. It should be read by fantasy lovers even though it’s not a straight fantasy. It should be read by literary fans even though many might turn their nose up to that. It should be read by history lovers, especially those Anglo Saxon fans. It should just be read!. So that’s it. I say see you later to Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, Noah, Maura, Calla, Mr. Gray, Henry and Persephone. This may be our last visit but here’s hoping we will meet again some time down the road.
What I’m Reading Now: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

I always love it when Rick goes back to Percy Jackson’s world. Even if he isn’t going to be in it much. Plus there are a few Demigods that I need a few updates on.
Captain America. So much Captain America
Tomorrow a movie that Beth and I (and a lot of the world) has been anticipating comes out and I have been preparing for it in typical Book Blogger fashion. I binged on some of the source material.
I started with Civil War (which Beth also read.) This is a heartbreaking title in which Captain America stands up for what he believes in and Tony Stark is kind of a dick about something that’s probably a terrible idea. But, that’s not what is heartbreaking about it. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone interested in reading the interesting title, but Cap’s arch in this comic is pretty sad.

And, then I read The Death of Captain America. I feel like that title should come with a spoiler alert? Except, I don’t. This is the post-registration world and so no one can take up the shield without registering first. And, Bucky Barnes, who once again remembers who he is or was, isn’t going to let just anyone take up the shield. I liked how this story developed and went into some of the implications of the registration act. There are still fugitive unregistered heroes. There are registered heroes who regret that choice. It was a good read.

And, then I read Captain America: Road to Reborn. Steve Rogers has been gone a year. How is everyone holding up? How are they living with what happened and the part they played in it? This was also an interesting title that unsurprisingly has left me wanting to read more.
So, a friend lent me Marvel 1602 and now that’s what I’m reading.
The good news is Comixology has got a girl’s back and they’ve helpfully had a number of sales that have let me keep reading. (Even if it meant I had to buy single issues.)
How do you prepare for a movie based on a book to come out? Do you read the book? Do you watch the interviews of cast members? Do you avoid everything and hope to be pleasantly surprised? Let us know it the comics!
What I’m Reading Now: Soldier by Julie Kagawa

I finished The Raven King and as I process it I need to move on to something else. So Dragons seem like the perfect transition.
Review: Civil War by Mark Millar
I have to remind myself that the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) is not the same as Marvel Comic Universe. The Captain America and Iron Man that we have grown to love in the movies are not exactly the same in the comics. They may share some story lines, traits and beliefs but really they are different characters. As is the story is going to be a different story then the movie. For one thing thing, in the comic the story relies kinda heavily on the involvement of both the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, both teams that do not exist in the MCU. So the reasons why the registrations of Superhero’s is necessary had to be changed but the central argument seems to be the same. To have a governing body to oversee superhero activities or continue to have autonomy on their work. I can understand both sides. On one hand, just because you have super human abilities does not mean you are or should be above the law and do what ever you like and then force other people to pay to clean up your mess. On the other hand, you can’t force someone to work for someone without a choice of employers.Not everyone has the same prioritize and they shouldn’t be forced to submit to others. I’m not sure how it’s going to play out in the movie since it doesn’t come out until Friday but I feel like the in the comic they were definitely more Team Captain. Team Iron Man was doing all sorts of shady things. Cloning older superheroes and creating new ones who will follow their directions. Release super villains to track down the rebelling superheroes. Who is supervising them? The more I read the more I felt that people’s anger was misplaced. What started it all was a few Mutants (were they actually X-men?) are filming a reality TV show. They track down other mutants in Stanford, Connecticut. Even though they know they are out matched and they confront them anyway for the sake of better ratings. They end up dying and taking with them a whole bunch of kids from a near by school. Now this is truly a tragedy but why blame all superheroes and not the producers and the network of the show that pushed them to get bigger rantings. I haven’t read all the Civil War collections, as I see their are many, so maybe there are more to this then just that but it seems to me this is blaming all for the actions of few. Say, like blaming the all Muslims for the actions of terrorist even though majority of Muslims live peaceful lives are are just as angry and appalled by the actions of Isis as everyone else. Captain America, The Falcon, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four Spider-Man and so on are not going out looking for trouble they are only responding when there is. That’s a big difference. Maybe regulations should be made but this all of nothing solution that is presented in this is probably not the way. I found this book to be enjoyable. Gave me a lot to think about. Not sure if if really prepared me for what’s to come in the movie since as I said in the beginning these are different beasts but I’m glad I did.
What I’m Listening to: The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

Oh, Will Patton. Read me a story.
What I’m Reading Now: THE RAVEN KING BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER
LIKE FINALLY!!!!
Discussion: The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater Part 7
Tomorrow’s the day! The Raven King is finally going to be out in the world and all of our questions will be answered. It’s exciting but also little sad. I really don’t want this series to end. I’m not sure I’m ready to say goodbye to Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, Noah, Maura, Calla, The Gray Man or even Orla. All things must come to an end so how will it end? How will Gansey die and how long will he be dead? Will one of the favors they ask of Glendower be to bring him back? What about Noah, will he still be dead after this? Will any of them get their happily ever after? Will Ronan live out his life at the Barns with his brother and Mother? Will Adam leave Virginia behind? Will Blue go off to college and travel the world? Will Glendower be everything they were hoping he would be?
Here’s what I think. I don’t think that Gansey will stay dead for very long. I think he will die and Noah will sacrifice his chance to live again for Gansey’s chance to live again. Finally allowing him to cross over to where you go after you die. I’m not sure how the third sleeper will play out but I think that they will have to wake Glendower to help fight it. I do think Adam and Blue will go to college out of state but will always come back every summer to hang with Gansey and Ronan who will want to stay. That’s what I think but who knows. I’m probably completely off. The Good news is that it’s only one more day until we’ll find out.
Part 1: The Role of New characters
Part 2: The Role of Characters who are not new but new to Henrietta..
