Book Review: Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Author: Michelle Moran
Title: Cleopatra's Daughter
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 447
First Published: 2009
Where I Got It: My shelf (Birthday gift

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts. 

Honestly, Michelle Moran has become one of my favorite historical fiction writers throughout the last few years. She is an amazing writer and she has such a powerful voice. She brings not only the characters to life, but the world around them to life as well. This is one of her older novels, but I've been dying to read it. Lucky me and someone got this for me for my birthday this year. 

Now, the story follows the journey of Selene and her twin Alexander. They had a little brother, but he did not survive the journey to Rome which made me really upset. The two are Cleopatra's children with Marc Anthony (we all know the story with those two). Now, Rome has conquered Egypt and the twins are taken hostage back to Rome. They are forced to be part of Octavian's household. Which...I never understood WHY he did this. Was it guilt because they are kids and he didn't want to be known as a kid-killer? Would it be easier to turn them to his side and marry them off? IDK - that is too work for me honestly.

Selene and Alexander are 12, but they seemed so much older! I guess it makes sense, because they witnessed such horrible, horrible things at the beginning. I'm glad the author constantly reminded the reader that they are so young and so mature in many aspects now. 

Well, this was a tough journey for me. The beginning was great and had me hooked. The ending was amazing and I had to read like a madwoman, because I wanted to know how it was all going to end. Now...the middle was rough. It was extremely slow for me. Nothing really happening. Just SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW. It took me forever to get through the middle, because I felt nothing. I was annoyed with everyone including Selene. Once the tension started building I was back into the story, but it took forever. 

Also, I hated the vast majority of the characters. I've read a couple other books about Selene and I had found that I either pitied, understood, or liked. There were only a few I hated. But in this one I hated many of them. Selene was okay, but very childish in many of her decisions. Alexander seemed to conform really quick and that annoyed me. Juba was SUCH a butt! Why? Normally I really love him, but in this he was SO overly nasty to Selene. Even near the end, I was annoyed with him. Julia was an air-headed moron. Marcellus was too flirtatious, but I did like him overall. Octivia was nice. Oddly, I feel like Octavian was around enough to understand him. Tiberius and Livia were of course the "baddies" of the book like always. Livia, especially, is a special kind of snot! The rest of the people I didn't really care about. 

Overall, this was okay. I really felt the middle was super slow and it really did take me forever to get through it. Also, I didn't feel as connected to some of the characters as I wanted to be. Total bummer, because I do really like Selene. The rest of the book was addicting! I had to know what was going to happen next! I do recommend this to lovers of history. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 3. 

Movie Review: HUSH (2016)

Length: 1h 21min
Released:  8 April 2016
Genre:   Horror, Thriller 
Rating: R
Where I Got It: On Netflix

SUMMARY:
A deaf writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears at her window.

TRAILER:

REVIEW:
Seen this trailer at the theater a while back and it has been on my list to watch. Can't help but love a good horror/thriller! Especially one with an original plot like this.

The girl is a writer, who had is mute and deaf. She decided to move out to the woods...alone....to focus on her writing career. WHICH is the number 1 thing to NOT do...it always ends in bloodshed and death. So don't. JUST don't do that. *cough* Anyways *cough*. As she is working on her next book, this crazy serial killer "stumbles" upon her and realizes she is deaf and mute. To him it sounds like a lot of fun! Lets torture the poor deaf girl to the point of lunacy! Well, this writer is not going down without a fight! Hooray! 

What a shitty guy. Yes, yes, murdering is bad all around, but do you really got to play games with her? He should've just slit her throat and moved on with life. Jackass. 

I am super, duper bummed that this was not all silence. I was hoping to experience the whole movie in silence. How awesome? However, 3/4 of the movie had noise and talking and bleh. I wanted the story all in her POV, but alas, that wasn't the way of it and I am super bummed. 

Also, the jackass serial killer took off his mask right away! What? Why writers? He was SO much scarier with the mask on! He creeped me out! But alas....they ruined that.

Poor neighbor guy. Maddie (the deaf girl) really boned him. :( 

There were a couple of jump scares and on-the-edge-of-my-seat moments. Good. There was also a moment when I wanted to puke. Someone, I can't say who, got all their fingers crushed by a foot. Blashfjkahdjkdqwdhqjkwdhj! I can't handle when things happen to fingers or toes. It wigs me out! 

Also....it is technically a spoiler, but for all my animal lovers out there....the cat lives. I was SO worried! 

The acting was done pretty well. I must especially applaud the actress who played Maddie! It was a tough role and she did a good job. I especially love the scene when she is having a moment to herself to think/envision all her options. Nice. Loved it.

In the end, this was good. I was bummed by it not being 100% silent and her POV. Also, the baddie should have kept his mask on the entire time. Other than that this was a good one! If you like horrors/thrillers, I would recommend this one. It is was an original plot and the acting was well done. Now...what to stamp this? I'm super stuck. I think I am going to try something new to help: 

Plot: 5
Screen Writing: 3
Characters: 4
Acting: 4
Costumes: 4
Ending: 5

Working with the numbers, I shall stamp this with 4. 



Re-watch: I would.

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: The Price of Valor by Django Wexler

After the king’s death, war has come to Vordan. The Deputies-General, led by a traitor-seeking zealot, has taken control. Queen Raesinia Orboan is nearly powerless as the government tightens its grip and assassins threaten her life. Unwilling to see the country come under another tyranny, she sets out to turn the tide of history.

As the Sworn Church brings the powers of the continent to war against Vordan, General Janus bet Vhalnich offers a path to victory. Winter Ihernglass, newly promoted to command a regiment, has reunited with her lover and her friends only to face the prospect of leading them into bloody battle.

And the enemy is not just armed with muskets and cannon. Dark priests of an ancient order, wielding forbidden magic, have infiltrated Vordan to stop Janus by whatever means necessary.... 

My thoughts:

Hmm *reading the review of book 2* It seems I have the same issues with this one as I had with book 2. There I wanted it to be all war and camp, and yes the good parts here were war and camp. That is what he does best.

The parts with Winter were the best parts. She were leading the troops, marching, camping, dealing with issues since they now have the Girl's Own company and that brings out a lot of tensions. There are skirmishes and battles along the way. Winter is growing in her boots as she is a colonel now, and everyone still thinks she is a man! Well, some know the truth. But her parts were the good parts.

Then there is Marcus, I really do like Marcus, but the capital is so boring! And he spends all his time protecting the queen, and Raes is so boring! So yes her POV is boring too. I just do not seem to care about the capital, running around or the politics there. Even if I really like Marcus. I want him out there fighting!

It's a good book, but I still wish it was back to its roots. Here more and more drama shows up, and I wish for what it was before, military fantasy. Good times. Marching in the mud for miles, battle tactics, gods I am weird, I want that here, while in other books I'd love the capital stuff. But hey, he just did it so well in book 1.

Conclusion:
But I will keep on reading since it's an interesting series, but book 4 looks to be less about war. Noooo!

Cover
My first thought was, He is hot...he still is

Paperback, 638 pages
Published June 7th 2016 by Roc (first published July 2nd 2015)
The Shadow Campaigns #3
Fantasy
Own

Book Review: A Thousand Salt Kisses by Josie Demuth

Author: Josie Demuth
Title: A Thousand Salt Kisses
Genre: YA, Fantasy, & Romance
Pages: ebook
First Published: April 2016
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Seventeen-year-old Crystal White is the new girl on Starfish Island. Dragged to the remote community by her environmental activist father, she is eager to find fun that doesn’t involve touching fish guts or listening to local folklore.

During a midnight swim with some new friends, Crystal is pulled out to sea by the waves. Convinced she’s going to drown, Crystal is rescued by Llyr, a handsome stranger. As she searches for him in the following weeks, she finds there may be more truth to the Starfish legends than she thought.

Over a sizzling roller-coaster summer, Llyr introduces Crystal to magic she’d only ever dreamed of. But as Crystal comes to love Starfish Island, it begins to drive her family apart. A nearby power plant is devastating local marine life, and her parents are stuck in the middle. As the magic and mundane parts of Crystal’s life converge, she finds herself risking everything to save Llyr, her family, and herself.

OOoh I certainly do have a love-hate relationship with YA books. I like them, because they are quick reads and they are fun. However, they leave me wanting more sometimes. I feel like this would have been WAY better if it wasn't a YA. 

The romance was cute between Crystal and her mer-lover. However, it seemed like it was missing something. I can't really place my finger on what. It seemed so out-of-the-blue and I wasn't convinced that it wasn't a summer time fling. 

Crystal was okay and so was Llyr, buuuut I didn't really feel the connection between the two. Maybe it'll be different in the sequel? Is there a sequel? I have no idea....but there needs to be or I'll rip my hair out. The ending was a SUPER DUPER cliff-hanger? What? Why? No! GAH! 

I really want to understand more about the merfolk and their world. We got a tiny taste and some backstory, but it wasn't enough for me. I need more. Also, I want to learn more about George and his parents. I can't say much else, but I think it was crap about the whole George thing. Why? It's a total bummer and he got gypped for sure! Poor George. I want an HEA for him. 

GAH! *shakes fist* I hated Crystal's mother. Her Dad was a cutie, but the mom was a total B. Her "apology" and etc seemed out-of-the-blue too and totally fake. >_> I have low faith in her and her not breaking the Dad's and Crystal's heart again. It bugged me they so quickly forgave her. I would be weary and still angry if I was either of them.

As I had mentioned earlier, this was a quick read. I wanted more out of the story and I really felt there was something missing. I'm not sure what. Also, a few situations and characters bugged me. I hope there is a sequel, because I do want to read on and maybe the void in the first book will be filled in the second. Also, I want George's story. 

In the end, I stamp this with 3 stars.