The Long-Awaited "City of Bones" Movie Not As Amazing as Book, but Still Entertaining

Most of the people I've talked to seem to agree. Lily Collins as Clary: brilliant. Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace: not so hot. Since "City of Bones" didn't get great reviews, I didn't rush to theaters to see it, even though I was a huge fan of The Mortal Instruments series. I waited for it to come to my local Redbox.

On another side note about the acting: I also loved Robert Michael Sheehan as Simon and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Valentine--at least their looks were PERFECT. They needed to direct Rhys Meyers to be scarier in a murderous-lunatic-intimidating-wizard kind of way. Rhys Meyers is a super handsome actor (let's be honest), and it seems like they tried to play up his sex appeal more than his ominous, Vodelmort-like presence. But it was still a good choice of actor.

Perhaps because I didn't have high expectations, I thought the movie was fine. I'm never going to hope or expect that a movie will be as good as a really good book. Considering that, the movie did a fairly good job of sticking to the general plot. Fun action, cheesy romance, some twists and turns. Some inaccuracies to be expected. But I'm an "entertainment value" kind of girl when it comes to movies. So if it's a girls' night with possibly some nail painting on the side, then this is perfect.

Review: Blackmoore

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I love that Julianne Donaldson is trying to resurrect the Austen-like genre is a modern way. The time period, the setting, and the mannerisms of the Victorian era are very easy to enjoy if you love stories that revolve on romance and "will they/won't they" questions running throughout the plot.

There are (of course) a few moments where you think, "that would never happen in an Austen novel" or (if you're married), "a man would never act that way in real life," but that's why it's fiction, I guess. Still an enjoyable, fun, fluffy, romantic read that you can get through in a day or two.

The main character drove me nuts once or twice. For example, she chooses to force her best friend (a man) into a bargain that is utterly embarrassing and more than a little predictable. I'm still not sure that such a bold move was believable for her character or the time period, even though she is driven and desperate when it comes to escaping her family situation (some parallels with Austen, btw).

As for the other little details I enjoyed...the main character Kate is a closet expert on birds and their various sounds while the love interest Henry has a passion for the moors and the ocean. These little details make the characters richer and make the setting come alive. Plus they add an element of mystery and foreboding to the story. (Who doesn't like that?)

But anyway, if you want a happy ending, a dashing love interest, and some romantic thrills along the way, then I say "yes." Go for it.



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Review: Shadows

Shadows by Robin McKinley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I forgot how much I liked Robin McKinley! At first I was a bit disoriented by the narrator's, Maggie's, way of narrating, but then I got used to it and enjoyed her personality. Only thing is, I got to the end & thought, "where the heck is the sequel?" The story grabbed me and now I need to find out what's in "Old World" and what all Maggie can really do with her suppressed powers. It's all magical adventure, spunky characters, romance of course, and teenagers just starting to grow up and kicking some butt. Good stuff!



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Review: Fire and Ash

Fire and Ash by Jonathan Maberry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book for me was more about the price of triumph and about what it means to grow up than it was about defeating a zombie apocalypse. Plenty of zombie fighting, blood, death, tears, and darkness, but there was also hope and sacrifice an love and triumph. I love the shout-outs to samurai ideals along the way. This series was definitely a worthwhile adventure.



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