WHY (11)

This week the question I have been thinking about is, why don't more books have pronunciation guides?

     Authors create amazing worlds and characters but sometimes I find it difficult to pronounce some of the words that they create. Have you ever been reading and all of the sudden you stumble upon a word you have never seen before? Sounding it out is kind of useless since most of the time these names, places, creatures, are derived from languages I don't speak or at other times they are made up. For example when reading the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead I came across words I had no clue how to say such as strigoi, moroi, or dhampire.  I still don't know how to say them. I can make an educated guess but most of the time my pronunciation and the correct pronunciations aren't even close. I hate when I have to trip over these words as I am reading. Try explaining a book to someone and you have to work around these words since saying them out loud is not even possible. When I did talk about the book I had to use words like bad vampires(strigoi), good vampires(moroi), mix between humans and good vampires(dhampire). No I didn't sound weird. Okay, maybe I did. I just think it would make reading and explaining these books a little easier if books with new or different words had some type of pronunciation guide. 

     So imagine my surprise when I picked up Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout and what did I find, a pronunciation guide. It made reading words like hematoi, apollyon, Agapi Mou, really easy. I didn't have to try and figure out how to say these words. When I gushed about this book I found it so much easier to explain things since I was able to use the proper terms without sounding like I was making up my own language. This is the only book that I have come across or remember reading that has a pronunciation guide. 

Have you ever come across books that you wish had some type of pronunciation guide? Or have you read books that have a guide? If so let me know.

Why (9)

This week I have been thinking about cover art. So I was wondering why do some series have inconsistent covers?

     Before I started blogging I didn't pay too much attention to how consistent the covers of a series were. I just read the books put them on my shelf and moved on to the next book in my pile. But when I started blogging I decided to not only rate the books I read but also their covers. That's when I realized the inconsistency on the covers of some of my favorite reads. Of course this is a superficial issue but one that I have thought about each time I picked up one of these books. 

(Vampire Academy, Blood Promise, Last Sacrifice, My Soul to Take, My Soul to Steal, If I Die)

     One such series I am referring to is Vampire Academy. It seems that each cover has a different model, ones that don't even resemble the main character. I understand that the Rose in my mind will not match the Rose the author envisioned. I know authors don't have a lot or any say in covers but you would think that those in charge of the cover art would want the covers to have some consistency. But when the girls on the covers have light hair as opposed to Rose's dark hair it leaves me wondering, is that supposed to be Rose or another character? The covers of the Soul Screamers also have this same issue. The models are different and their appearances don't match the main character Kaylee.With different models for each cover it leads one to believe that these girls apparently have the ability to change their appearance. I'm kidding of course. I just think it's confusing for the reader(me) to have so many versions of one character. I really love both of these series but the covers drive me crazy. I'm not opposed to having cover models on the covers of my favorite books, I just don't like it when the covers conflict with one another. For some reason this inconsistency just annoys me. Not enough that I won't still buy the books but enough that I will rant about it. I have noticed that some series use cover models but have the same one for each book of the series.

(Evernight, Stargazer, Afterlife, The Summoning, The Awakening, The Reckoning)

     I just wanted to highlight some covers that are more consistent. One example would be the Evernight series by Claudia Gray. I had to examine these books to see if the girl was the same and from what I can tell she is. It's not obvious from just a glance whether it's the same girl or not. Not only is the theme consistent but so is the cover model. If the model on the cover of The Darkest Powers trilogy is different I can't tell. Having the same model on each cover can be done. That's why it bugs me so much when it isn't done. This is just my opinion of course. And I may be crazy for spending time getting annoyed by this but I can't help it, it just bothers me. I can't help it that I want my books to match so when they don't I tend to get a little annoyed. 

Does cover inconsistency bother you? Or do you even notice? Leave a comment and let me know.

     

It's That Time Again: Rose vs Alex

Rose Hathaway, Vampire Academy Richelle Mead

Voting is underway for the YA Sisterhood's Heroine Tournament and it is once again time to show your support for the amazingly awesome Rose!

Why is Rose my favorite? Well she is dedicated, loyal, fierce, and all around awesome. Rose put others above herself in order to do the right thing. She can kick butt when she needs to but she also knows how to use her brain to get out of a difficult situation. In other words Rose is an amazing heroine who I have loved reading about. And I mean that, I have re-read the series several times. Plus she has Dimitri Belikov on her side. I'm definitely not going to go against him. I think I need to share some of my favorite Rose quotes.

♥ "I was crushing on my mentor. Crushing on my older mentor. I had to be out of my mind. He was seven years older than me. Old enough to my...well, okay, nothing. But still older then me."  Vampire Academy 

♥"Hey, I don't want to make you cry before the trip. It won't be any fun if I've already broken you before we even hit the slopes." Frostbite


♥ “By the way, my name's Rose Hathaway. I'm seventeen years old, training to protect and kill vampires, in love with a completely unsuitable guy, and have a best friend whose weird magic could drive her crazy.
Hey, no one said high school was easy.” Frostbite

♥ “No one had ever called me unnatural before, except for the time I put ketchup on a taco. But seriously, we'd been out of salsa, so what else was I supposed to do?” Blood Promise

♥ “Juliet had it easy; she never had to kill Romeo.” Last Sacrifice


♥  “When I saw you fall..." "You thought, 'Wow, she's a loser.” Vampire Academy

She sounds amazing doesn't she? That's because she is.

If you want to check out the advocate for Rose click on her pictures on the right.
Go here to vote in the Ya Sisterhood Tournament of Heroines.
POLLS WILL BE OPEN FOR 24 HOURS AND WILL CLOSE AT 12:01AM EST ON DECEMBER 24th

Review "Last Sacrifice" Richelle Mead

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6)

Richelle Mead

Publication Date: December 7, 2010

Publisher: Razorbill

Hardcover: 594 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     Last Sacrifice is the stunning conclusion to the Vampire Academy series. This book is filled with action, love, heartbreak, and of course amazing characters.We are introduced to a few new characters Angeline, and Joshua. The two have grown up in an unconventional environment one that many are unfamiliar with. There are some major changes in this last book. Changes that effect all of the characters. Good or bad? That's up to you to find out. It's hard to write a summary of this book without giving away major plot points, so I left it brief.

Review: 

     At the end of Spirit Bound Rose was charged with treason, her sentence if found guilty...death. I was eagerly awaiting this book since I finished Spirit Bound. I needed to know what would happen to some of my favorite characters. I was not disappointed with the conclusion of this series. Of course I would have wanted the series to continue but if it had to end I'm glad that Richelle Mead ended it the way that she did. I have read some series' and the concluding books have left me with unresolved questions. I enjoyed having been able to immerse myself into the wonderful sometimes tragic world of the dhampir, moroi, strigoi and alchemists. And no I still have no idea how to pronounce dhampir, moroi, or strigoi. I have an idea but I'm probably wrong. Anyway I loved this series and I'm super excited that I will be able to continue to read about  the Vampire Academy world in the Bloodlines series. Richelle Mead has created a brilliant world that I will continue to revisit every now and again.

Cover:

     This series has not had my favorite covers I think at times they aren't dark enough. Rose does not live in a carefree world therefore I think the covers should reflect that. But who am I to judge. Plus it seems as though there are different girls on the different cover. I may not have loved the covers but I sure did enjoy the books and that's the important part.

Review "Frostbite" Richelle Mead

Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)

Richelle Mead

Publication Date: April 10, 2008

Publisher: Razorbill

Paperback: 327 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     Frostbite is the second installment in the Vampire Academy series. In this novel we get to see more of the characters that we came to love in Vampire Academy. Also we are introduced to a few new characters Tasha Ozera, Christian's aunt, Adrian Ivashkov,and Rose's mom Janine makes an appearance. After a particularly deadly Strigoi attack the students at St. Vladimir's Academy are sent to a more secure location for the Christmas holiday a posh ski resort. Even though Roses's surroundings are amazing she is still srtuggling with her feelings for her instructor, Dimitri. While trying to put those feelings behind her Rose tries to move on with Mason but no matter what she does she can't seem to let Dimitri go, but she may not have a choice. He seems to be moving on as well. When three of Roses's friends leave the resort to go Strigoi hunting, she feels as though she has no choice but to go out and find them. Instead of involving her best friend she decides to ask Christian, Lissa's boyfriend for help. What Rose and the others encounter on this trip will change them forever, and all of them may not return.

Review: 

     One of the reasons I really enjoy this novel is because we get to see the character of Rose evolve as she begins to accept that she may not be able to have everything that she wants. She is begining to grow up and is learning to control her impulsive behavior. Though if she completly lost her implusive behavior than she wouldn't be Rose Hathaway. She is realizing just how important her job is, one wrong move and the person she is protecting could die. But I also like that Rose keeps her trade mark attitude. I also really love the addition of Adrian to the stroy he is one of my favorite characters in the entire series. He's funny, a little crazy, completly spoiled, and a total flirt all of which make him extremely lovable. The ending of this book had me reaching for the next book in this series. I had to find out what happens next and I did. Though I really liked this book there were some parts that I really didn't like, not because they were determential to the story but because of how the affected the main charcter. When I read these books it's easy to get lost in the charcacters and the world that they exist in. 

Cover:

     The cover of Frostbite is okay it doesn't really make me jump up and down and say I need to get this book. Mainly because I don't think it represents the characters properly. But I have seen worse covers so I guess it gets three stars.

Review "Vampire Academy" Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)

Richelle Mead

Publication Date: August, 16, 2007

Publisher: Razorbill

Paperback 332 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     The main character Rose Hathaway is a strong female lead who is not only  fiercely loyal but she has the skills to back up that loyalty. Lissa is Rose's gentle best friend, but like Rose she is strong and just as loyal to Rose as Rose is to her. Richelle Mead creates a world where not all vampires are good. The evil Strigoi are immortal and out to destroy the Moroi and Dhampirs. Strigoi are stronger and faster so taking them down is not easy. Dhampir's like Rose train hard to be able to defend the Moroi and with Rose it's more personal since she wants to guard her best friend, who is the last of her family line. In Vampire Academy not only are the girls trying to navigate high school but they also have to deal with a predator who is out to get them both. Since Rose and Lissa left school Rose must catch up, with her training, so that she even stands a chance of graduating and getting the assignment she wants most. Along with all the craziness Rose and Lissa are also dealing with a bond that they don't really understand.

Review:

    To say I really love this series is a vast understatement. I have re-read it a few times I won't mention how many because I'm honestly not sure, but it's a lot. I devoured this book and read it in one sitting. I promptly went out and bought the other books in the series that were available. I love the world and characters that Richelle Mead has created with Vampire Academy. You have a smart, strong, independent main character in Rose. The type of female lead I love reading about. She has a complicated life which includes her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Rose would protect with her life. A new super hot instructor, Dimitri. All of these elements add together to create an interesting story. This is the type of series I find myself completely engrossed in. The characters feel real with flaws and strengths just like those of us in the real world. I find myself thinking what's going to happen next. If you haven't read this series yet I highly recommend that you do. I absolutely loved it! 

Cover:

     I like the cover but I don't love it. For me it doesn't represent all that the novel involves. Plus I'm not sure who the girl on the cover is supposed to be. If it's Rose shouldn't she have really dark brown hair, hair that's nearly black. It gets confusing.