TV Series Review: Chuck (Season 5)

Continuing from the eponymous cliffhanger ending of the fourth season finale, "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger", the fifth season will feature the series returning to its roots. With their new-found wealth, Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah Bartowski (Yvonne Strahovski) own the fictional big-box store Buy More, as well as their new freelance spy organization, Carmichael Industries, which includes John Casey (Adam Baldwin) and Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez). Meanwhile, Morgan acts as the human possessor of the government database known as the Intersect, and Chuck is forced to act as Morgan's protector in the same way that Sarah and Casey were to Chuck in past seasons.

Chuck ( Season 5 )
Released: 2011-12
Runtime: 13 episodes/40 mins
Rating: 5/5 stars
Buy: Not Available Yet

REVIEW:
When i heard Season 5 will be the last of Chuck i was both happy and unhappy. Unfortunatelly, they didn't really tell us it would only be 13 episodes. That was a surprise that i didn't like.

Even though Season 5 starts, as the summary above describes it has many changes and more than one plot in. As always Interesect is the main part of the story and this time it's not Chuck the one who has it.

For me, season 5 was a lot better than Season 4. It was closer to the oldest season with the missions and everything than follow a big plotline. To also see how the characters have now changed is pretty awesome too. Especially when someone like Morgan has the intersect. There were many good episodes with Ellie and Awesome playing spies too, and even the duo Jeffster has more screentime than before.

The best part was easily the last 4 episodes, where something really unexpected happens and it turns that series into an entire different plot. You may have already see around, how sad was everyone with the ending and that wasn't just because the series ended. The ending was not the ideal perfect ending but mostly something that matched and gave you sweet-sad feeling at the end. Personally i didn't expect to be so sad about it. I thought i would be able to live without the series but it really made me want to have more but i can't say it didn't put a smile on my face too. The flashbacks was the most difficult part and they did an amazing job putting them at the right time that i'm pretty sure they made many people cry.

Chuck was one of my favorites series i ever watched. It was funny, geeky, with lots of action and every episode was entertaining. I'm really happy i followed the series and the actors around for the last 3 years ( i didn't start it when it first came out) and i'm already missing it. I highly doubt there will be ever a series to fit its place since it had an originality which yet, i haven't seen around.

Author Interview: Elizabeth Marx (+Giveaway)

Windy city writer, Elizabeth Marx, brings cosmopolitan life alive in her fiction—a blend of romance, fast-paced Chicago living, and a sprinkle of magical realism. Elizabeth resides with her husband, girls, and two cats who’ve spelled everyone into believing they’re really dogs. She grew up in the city, has traveled extensively, and still says there’s no town like Chi town. 

INTERVIEW

Describe your book in one sentence.
If Locke and Keleigh can’t locate a potent artifact, the battle brewing between ancient knowledge and modern communication will destroy everything—even their love.

What inspired you to write All’s Fair in Vanities War? Did you take ideas from other books and movies?
My daughter wanted me to write a YA novel. I always wanted to write about hereditary witches and I was toying with the location of Salem, the largest group of settlers in that area, were the English and the Irish in the Boston area. The English and Irish decent led me on the path to the druids and Celtic mythology. While researching that, I came across the concept of a Seer. She died a fiery death, grew gianormous wings and wouldn’t leave me alone; she kept poking me and telling me what to do. Finally, I gave up and let her run the show and once you’ve read the book you know she has a lot to say.

You can like The Seer on Facebook at http://facebook.com/TheSeers7DeadlyFairyTales

Did you do any research before you started or during the writing of the book?
I did a lot of research on witchcraft, Celtic mythology, magical creatures, symbols and magic, druids, paganism before I started writing. Then as I went along if I got stumped I would do research to help me along. When I was done with the first draft I traveled to Salem and visited all the locations in the book, especially American’s Stonehenge which is in Salem, New Hampshire (about 45 minutes from Salem, MA), as well as the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. I love history and mythology so it was a lot of fun to tie so many things together with the sinister history of Salem and the Witches Museum.

Which scenes were the hardest to write?
Death never come easy, while The Seer came to my imagination already dead, sprouting the scrolled up wings, I thought I had to show her death. I felt I owed her that much, since she sacrificed so much to tell the tale.

How long has it taken you to write a book?
I worked on All’s Fair in Vanities War for more than a year, but it wasn’t my sole project. If I had to estimate, I could probably write, self-edit, professionally edit, format, and do cover design in about six months. That’s if The Seer decides to cooperate, I might add.

What’s the best part of writing for you?
The best part of writing is the ability to explore new worlds, to create them, like magic from nothing but crumpled pieces of paper, to nourish them with words and then to harvest them for other people to enjoy.

Are you working on anything other projects except writing, right now?
On the home front, I moved over the summer to a larger home, and I’m an interior designer, so next up on the list is all the light fixtures have to be replaced and then custom window treatments for the formal living room and dining room.
I’ve been spending most of the last three months on marketing my books, which is all new to me because I didn’t blog. Once my website, which is under construction, goes live, I will add blogging to my daily routine.

Anything special you want to share with us?
I’d like to share some of the artwork that inspired me while writing All’s Fair in Vanities War. I’m a very visual person so whenever I get stuck I look for a image to help me along. Enjoy!

Thanks a lot for the interview!! And i have to say that i love visual interviews! They are always more special!

Salem’s always held sinister secrets. No one understands this better than a sixteen-year-old girl who dies on Halloween night and is reborn a Seer.

The Seer can’t imagine anything worse than being an invisible teenager with enormous black wings. Until she finds out she’s been sacrificed to watch over Locke’s new flame.

Locke Cavanaugh is a Druid, and part of the Order, a clandestine organization entrusted with keeping its members cloaked in the Ordinary world. Physically scarred from the accident that took his girlfriends life, Locke is searching for the OtherWorldly magic that damaged him, because only those without blemish can rule the Order. And once at the helm of the Order he has every intention of finding those responsible for her death.

On the West Coast, Keleigh Flaherty witnesses her parents’ murder by beasts that should only exist in nightmares. She is whisked off to the safety of Salem, where she learns how potent and dangerous her concealed Vate talents are. Keleigh wants to be Ordinary, but when her mother reaches out from the OtherWorld, and implores her to find a forgotten relic she’ll have to use all her ExtraOrdinary powers to locate it.

As Locke and Keleigh join forces, they unravel the Order’s involvement in the witch hysteria and murmurs of a Celtic prophecy. While Locke’s affection for Keleigh blooms, The Seer is torn between her duty to protect Keleigh, and her desire to stop Locke from making the ultimate sacrifice in order to earn Keleigh’s love . . .

But if they don’t find the witches bottle before the
ShiningOnes do, someone stalking Keleigh from the shadows will take her instead and plunge all worlds into chaos.

Official Site || Facebook || Goodreads || Amazon

ENTER FOR THE 50$ GRAND PRIZE OF THE TOUR

You must "LIKE" The Seer's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/TheSeers7DeadlyFairyTales), then post one of her best lines from All's Fair in Vanities War on the wall. Yes, this means you have to read the book in order to participate.

Book Review: Don't Fear The Reaper

Grief-stricken by the murder of her twin, Keely Morrison is convinced suicide is her ticket to eternal peace and a chance to reunite with her sister. When Keely succeeds in taking her own life, she discovers death isn’t at all what she expected. Instead, she’s trapped in a netherworld on Earth and her only hope for reconnecting with her sister and navigating the afterlife is a bounty-hunting reaper and a sardonic, possibly unscrupulous, demon. But when the demon offers Keely her greatest temptation—revenge on her sister’s murderer—she must uncover his motives and determine who she can trust. Because, as Keely soon learns, both reaper and demon are keeping secrets and she fears the worst is true—that her every decision will change how, and with whom, she spends eternity.

Don't Fear The Reaper
Publication Date: September 23rd 2011
Pages: 264 (ebook)
Part of Series: Netherworld #1
Purchased: For Review by the author
Rating: 5/5 stars
Buy: Amazon (US) - Paperback
  Amazon (UK) - Kindle
Amazon (US) - Kindle

REVIEW:
After reading The Book Of Lost Souls, Michelle Muto became one of my favorite authors. Her books are funny and original, so i couldn't really say no to Don't Fear The Reaper.

Don't Fear The Reaper is a lot darker than Book of Lost Souls but it keeps a light feeling when you read. We follow Keely's after death time, while she tries to find her sister and avoid going to hell accompanied by a reaper and a demon. I think the strongest aspect of the book are the characters. Don't get me wrong, the story is amazing. It has surprises, action, sad moments, funny moments..it's captivating and for me was impossible to not read all at once. In less than a day was done. But the characters....oh my...

All three main characters are complex. And by that i don't mean difficult to understand. I mean they have full back-stories, depth and for every action they take and every opinion they have there is a reason. You see that their back-story, good or bad, is what made them take the decisions they do.
Keely is a little strange. At first i couldn't really connect with her, because on how different POV of my life i have. But due time, when things explained i could understand her. And the fact, that she learns and grow as a person means a lot. It's a progress that makes sense. She is also a really strong girl, which kick ass when she wants and that makes her more awesome. She might took her life, but she is learning and standing up at her feet again..even if it's afterlife.
Then we have our reaper and demon. Both of them are awesome! They are the most weird duo ever! Banning (the reaper) is a real badass! And who said a reaper is a bad guy? He is protective, clever, reasonable sympathetic but when its needed can be harsh too. It's impossible to not like him.
And lastly it's Daniel. A demon with heart and honor? I don't say he doesn't do tricky or bad things. It's his nature, but he is also a good guy who doesn't afraid to sacrifice things for what he thinks it's right.He truly is the guy who will do bad for good. + I do have a soft spot for the name "Daniel".

What else can i say? I know i just fell in love with one more book by Michelle Muto and i can't wait to read the rest of the series. I recommend the series to everyone who like YA.

ALSO REVIEWED:

The Book Of Lost Souls

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

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Bleeding Hearts by Alyxandra Harvey
The Drakes and friends will be tested when an infestation of deadly vampires threatens Violet Hill.

Lucy's cousin Christabel has come to live in Violet Hill, and adjusting to the difference between life in a small mountain town and her home in the city is difficult enough. The strict curfew that Lucy's parents enforce is the worst part. Something really dangerous couldn't possibly happen in this tiny town.
But Christabel has noticed some mysterious happenings, and it seems like Lucy, her boyfriend Nicholas and his brother Connor are all in on a secret that Christabel doesn't understand—one that seems deadly serious. Although she won't admit it, Christabel would love to be in on any secret with Connor Drake. But when she is kidnapped by the ruthless Hel-Blar vampires, Christabel must cause more and more trouble in Violet Hill, Lucy and Connor finally fill Christabel in on all the undead drama. Together, they must find a way to stamp out the Hel-Blar for good.

RULES:
-You MUST be a follower of one of those to enter: GFC || RSS || NEWSLETTER
-Extra entries available

*All the social network buttons are at the header except the newsletter & GFC which are located at the sidebar

CONTEST CLOSED

Open Door, 2012

For everyone with a book waiting to be published...agent or no agent - from Strange Chemistry:

Angry Robot – our adorable but rather cross parent company – ran an Open Door month last year, which proved to be rather successful with, at last count, three debut authors signed off the back of it. We thought to ourselves that we’d rather like a piece of this action too, considering the wealth of talent that must be out there in the YA field. So, we are jumping on their (thankfully roomy) bandwagon and inviting submissions from YA authors. These submissions can be any and all flavours of SF/F!
If you have completed a novel, and are unagented, between April 16th and 30th this year, we’ll happily read it for possible publication. If you are agented, this isn’t for you.
Still here? Good.
This page is full of things you Need To Know. You’ve spent months – or possibly years – perfecting your novel; make sure you take twenty minutes or so to read the guidelines on this page. And by guidelines, we of course mean: instructions carved in stone. Last year we rejected far too many submissions simply because the author did not follow the submission guidelines.
What we’re not looking for:
• Anything other than SF/F. If you’ve written a brilliant contemporary YA novel, that’s great, but not what we’re after. We don’t publish contemporary YA. It HAS to be SF/F.
• Book 2 or later in an existing series.
• Books that have already been published elsewhere (including podcast, self-published as eBooks or print-on-demand).
• Books that have not yet been completed.
• Children’s or Middle Grade books – YA only.
• Anything shorter than novel length (approx 60,000 to 90,000 words, but there is some flexibility in this).
So, you have until the end of April to polish your manuscript, and to get it in the right format for us.

READ ALL THE GUIDELINES AT STRANGE CHEMISTRY'S SITE.

For everyone who will sent in their manuscript! Good luck!!

Blogger Problems + Changes

From the title i feel, that most of you by now think we are moving into Wordpress. We do NOT. We are going to stay here. Blogger works great for us. There are just some things i want to mention.

#1 - The Blogger Problems
I mentioned at the post title the word problems. I have seen many blogs going on and on about problems at blogger but i never had one that annoyed me. For a free service it's pretty much awesome! BUT there is something that i wanted speak about.

The biggest problem for me, is that when you code a template (not based on the simple templates of blogger) because you want to make something more of your blog, problems start. Many widgets don't work which mean additional coding. Many updates at the blogger platform don't pass to your blog which means additional coding. And other things around...
On the current template we have now, i have 3 big problems that really making my life difficult. I have solutions for all of them but i have already spent A LOT of time on it and i can't do it for any new thing that appears.
>You see that awesome slider on the top? I can change it only through coding (it's not a widget) and while for me is easy, the new blogger interface doesn't seem to like the slider. Everytime i'm trying to save, it's crushing and again for everything from the start. Until i understand that was actually New Blogger's interface problem, i lost a lot of data and time.
>Widgets. While you don't see it, many widgets needed additional coding to work out (like the sharing buttons).
>And lastly, the Reply at comments. For those who doesn't know, the Blogger staff created a Reply button as many asked for the comments. Which is quite of amazing. Guess what, not only doesn't work right for most self-made templates but it also messed up how our comments look. After spending hours yesterday trying to fix, i found out there is no solution so far. There is a choice to reset your blog, but I am afraid to do that and don't wanna try it. And all that because, the template is not blogger based.

So as you see, i'm spending more time fixing things when i could actually posting reviews. And i'm afraid i will lose many of the updates, Blogger has to offer. There are 2 options for us.
1.To stay at this template and work myself off through each problem and don't really care.
2.To change into a simpler Blogger template (which i already have ready) and everything be okay. I promise that  i will not create a new one for at least the next 6 months. PROMISE! 

#2 - Newsletter
Never actually here said anything about the removal of GFC but here we are. Just wanted to let you know, that we don't mind how you follow. Personally i love RSS feeds at my Google Reader. Everything is so easy and fast.

As additional way of following i added a Newsletter. (IMPORTANT!) I code the newsletter myself (yes more coding for me) and i only sent it out ONCE every week. It includes all the posts of the week that passed and you do NOT get emails for each single post on the blog.


#3 - More info at our reviews
We have now added additional info at all our reviews. An important one is the affiliate links on Amazon and BookDep. As you many noticed, we haven't done a giveaway for some months now. I do not have the money to host giveaway every month and especially International as i did last year. So any money from the link goes into helping us, do more awesome giveaways for you. It would be easier if i can at least save half the money (not all), and add only the other half on my own.
It's your choice of course, but i just wanted to say it in case you are interested.

Thanks for the understanding :)
-Yiota ^^

Stop SOPA and PIPA. Free internet for us all

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act


The above link will take you to read in detail about the SOPA act from wikipedia.



Hello all. I am Johnny and you might have heard of seen some of my reviews. I know that this has nothing to do with the purpose of our blog however I would like to take a few moments of your time to address my personal opinion as Johnny and not as the people and owner of SplashOfOurWorlds.


We as a generation have enjoyed a completely free internet and have turned it into an irreplaceable tool that we use for entertainment, knowledge and socializing. Since I remember using the internet I remember that there was always piracy within the internet.

However I find SOPA as an act to be the most serious threat free internet has faced as far as I have known.

SOPA basically allows the major corporations to immediately shut down and sue sites and even people that they ASSUME, MIGHT, promote piracy. In short that would place millions of sites and blogs, including SplashOfOurWorlds in risk of being shut down or even sued because some major corporation thinks that we promote piracy or have copyright violating material.

The reason of this post is to draw your notice to the issue and perhaps give you a friendly nudge towards showing your disagreement towards an act that might cause serious filtering of the internet.

Television, radio and newspapers are media that have fallen under the influence of corporations and now their gaze has turned towards the internet. As far as we are concerned, let us not allow it.

Thank you for your time

Johnny B.

Book Review: Thieves At Heart

Tavera has grown up an outsider. A half-elf in a land of humans, she finds herself dragged through various jobs for other people's benefit and used for the gain of others. When a thief named Derk plucks her from her latest job she expects more of the same from the cunning streetsman, but instead finds direction, guidance and protection for the first time in her life. Her pa belongs to a group called The Cup of Cream, a group of elite thieves, scoundrels and other sorts who seek not only personal gain but to keep balance in the Valley.To join their ranks would please her father and give Tavera the acceptance she's been seeking all her life. When the unthinkable happens, she is forced to wonder if the Cup sees her as just another tool up their sleeve, or if they understand she is an individual with her own desires, whose heart beats faster with every take. When she needs them most, will they be there for her? She's about to find out.

Thieves At Heart
Publication Date: September 28th 2011
Pages: 249 (paperback)
Part of Series: The Valley of Ten Crescents #1
Purchased: For Review by the author
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Buy: Amazon (US) - Paperback
  Amazon (UK) - Kindle
Amazon (US) - Kindle

REVIEW:
Can you believe a book with such a well done cover is from an indie author? And wait to have it at your hands! It's definitely one of the best books in a matter of a creation i had in hands. It's so well done and i just had to mention it. I know we should not judge a book by its cover, but for first impression i was just so extremely excited to read it because i felt like the inside will be the same as good.


And to talk about the inside, yes it was as good. Simple and light writing which keep you in with the right amount of details a story need so you can have a good image in your head. My favorite part were the description of the characters, which made them really real. On the story side, it's captivating. It's interesting and gets you in from the first moment. Instead of following a high class person or a prophecy girl, you get to follow an outcast in a fantasy world. And not only outcast because Tavera is a thief but also because she is also half-elf, a race which you don't really call a favorite in this world. The story contains action, relationship matters, mystery, mission, killing and it keeps you interested at the whole part.


Laslty, we have Tavera and Derk. Tavera is our main character. A half-elf thief and Derk is her mentor and an elite thief. Now, Tavera is an unique girl. For her age (because she is young) is quite clever. Later she becomes a very nice thief too. I could sympathize with her most of the time. The only negative i have to say about (and in general for the book) is how sometimes she was thinking so much about boys, kissing and at some point sex that she was becoming annoying. It's not weird to thing about those things, not only because she starts to becomes a woman but also because of her back story...but sometimes it was so concentrated on that matter and i just wanted to go on with the story, that it got impatient in a bad way. But except that, i can't say something else bothered me.
And Derk....well he is my favorite character. Mentor, mysterious, nice guy,protective etc...you can't really say no to him :P He was by far the most interesting person of all and i loved each one of his scenes no matter how small they were! I want a mentor like him too!


Thieves at Heart was a great start of a series! It was fast and different and i totally enjoyed it. Tavera might annoyed me at some points, but heck! The concept is original and i liked it! It was a good break from the romance of YA.

Book Review: The Steampunk Chronicles - The Girl In The Steel Corset

In 1897 England, 16-year-old Finley Jayne has no one expect the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch....

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her and says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help-and finally be a part of something.

But The machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of stray's appart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.

The Girl With The Steel Corset
Publication Date: May 24th 2011
Pages: 304 (ebook)
Part of Series: Book #1
Purchased: Bought
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Buy: Amazon (UK) || Amazon (US) || BookDepository

REVIEW:

What I first noticed on the book was the title, it caught my attention, and then the cover which is identical to the title and so beautiful, that I didn't need more persuation into reading the book. Last time I saw my Boss, aka Yiota, she asked my opinion about the book, but her question was out of the blue and I didn't have the time to prepare myself and answer her correctly. So here's my answer. I'd like, also to say that this was the first Steampunk novel I've ever read.

There are many things that I liked. Firstly, I liked the whole world, it wasn't something entirely different. It felt like I was watching a movie about old London, with the difference than there are some automatons or robots, and that there are some technological achievements that are newer in years.

Secondly, I liked the story and the characters. The story was a simple mystery that mixes both historical -real- figures, with the fictional characters. It also has some magic in, but nothing too fancy. The characters were different. They were acting different, they were thinking different. And that was good, because you had the opportunity to see many reactions in the same situation.

And lastly, I liked the writing. It was simple and understanding. We are able to see both lives in high society and the simpler one. The author doesn't write in point of views, which was good, because we are able to see all of the characters in equal parts and learn about their stories. Also, she doesn't stay too long in scenes, as a result the book is balanced, she cares about the romance as she cares about the action scenes, not more, not less.

Among the things I liked was the way the story flows, and how she manages to make all of her characters interesting. Sure there were some moments that I wanted to hit Sam for being so foulish, the fact that I knew who was The Machinist long before the characters find out and the cliche love triangle, that made it little boring, but other than that, it wasn't tiring at all.

Bottom line, the book was really good, I liked it and enjoyed it a lot, so I guess it's 4.5/5, it just misses the half point for the boring and already seen stuff.

P.S.: This is my first review for the new year. I don't think it counts for you, but it matters to me. So in case I forgot to already said it, Happy 2012 with many books, movies, games, etc to fill your life!!

Movie Review : Bridge to Terabithia

Jess Aarons is an outsider at school and even in his own family. Jess has trained all summer to become the fastest kid in his middle school class but his goal is unexpectedly thwarted by the new girl in school. She is by nature limitless and through a very interesting and fun process manages to unlock all the potential of Jess'es limitless imagination.

Bridge To Terabithia
Released:February 16 2007
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 3/5 stars

Buy: Amazon (UK) || Amazon (US)

Review:

The movie starts showing us the life of Jess, a young boy with three sisters. He is the only son of a farmer and he likes to draw, a lot. The first problem that the movie shows about him are some financial problems that made him wear a pair of old pink shoes in the big race. The movie didn't really took the trouble of solving that problem but instead it just threw some scenes at us regarding them.
In spite of his vast imagination and his talend for drawing he is a very close minded, realistic person. All that changes when a new girl arrives at school. She is a rebel, both the way she looks and the way she acts screams that this girl is not playing by other people's rules. The first thing she did to the school was beat the boys in a "boys-only" running race.

The story after that shows us the progress of unlocking all the hidden potential in the imagination that Jess posseses. The result is a whole new world of fantasy, where everything is possible. Untill an event that changes everything.

For the spoiler funs I will write it: The girl dies tottaly out of the blue while passing the river to get into Terabithia, their world. After so much effort into making her the most loved character in the movie she just dies... WTF !? And after that Jess just replaces her with one of his sisters. What is the point of this, that everyone can be replaced ? that sucks as an ending.

For the non-spoiler fans I will just say that the ending let me down, greatly.

So to sum up I would say that the movie would be a great introduction to a trilogy but I did not see any more movies so I guess this ending really ruins the movie. But the duration of the movie was cool, with nice animations and a lot of imagination so I will give it an above average rating for that.

Book Review: Time Gangsters

When Billy discovers a hidden cache of ancient coins, it isn't long before a gang of thugs swipes them right from under Billy. Plotting to use the magical properties of the coins to seize power in the past, these power-hungry gangsters will do anything to reach their goal. Their future threatened, Billy and Danny must race through time to steal back the coins---before history is changed forever!

Time Gangsters
Publication Date: February 8th 2012
Pages: 296
Purchased:  For Review(from publisher)
Rating: 3/5 stars

Buy: Amazon (UK) || Amazon ( US )

REVIEW:
I requested Time Gangsters from NetGalley because it seemed a really adventurous book. And that was exactly what it was.

Time Gangsters even for the few pages it has, it's a long story but not tiring. It's fun, with action and time travel,treasures,hunting and quite enjoyable. With twists and everything. I don't see how a young kid won't like the book. It's like those movies were friends were going into crazy adventures and we were all "i so wish to be in their place". And the writing is light and it makes the story to be closer to the teens(under 15).

But the best thing about it is the characters. Not only you connect with them, but they are also so fun to read. They totally take away the "dark" vibe of the book and turn it into something else. Their comments and their behavior (because Billy and Danny are not really fond of each other) and how later they change, is really the strongest part of the story.

As you may see though, i gave the book 3 stars. Not because it was bad or something. But the story could be a little better. Friends, siblings, etc different from each other is something we see in many books so i wanted the story to stand out for me little more. It was good though!

Now, the book is middle grade but i can't see why someone older won't like it. It's quite a nice read and a good break of the "oldest" stuff we are usually reading.

TV Series Review: Terra Nova (Season 1)

Terra Nova, an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making, is the new event drama slated for midseason from executive producers Steven Spielberg (“Jurassic Park,” “The Pacific”), Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga (24, “Star Trek: Enterprise”) and David Fury (24, “Lost”). The action-adventure series follows an ordinary family on an extraordinary journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a part of a massive expedition to save the human race.

Terra Nova
Released: 2011
Runtime: 40 mins/ 12 episodes
Rating: 3/5 stars

Buy: Terra Nova - Season 1 [DVD] (Am.co.uk)

Terra Nova [DVD] (Am.com)

Terra Nova Digital Episodes

REVIEW:
Terra Nova was one of the most anticipated TV Series for 2011. It was delayed about 2 times because they wanted to spent time on the special effects before it finally comes out on September 2011.

I think that most of us when they hear dinosaurs, we have in mind Jurrasic Park. Or at least action. The story of the series on the other hand is more of a drama. You barely see 1-2 dinosaurs at each episode (sometimes not at all). There is based most on the family relationship and the whole thing seems like it moves slowly. There are action scenes but not many. And even though, there is a good mystery and background storyline, the whole family thing or various events that have nothing to do with the storyline hide it. Don't get me wrong. I liked it. But there were episodes, that almost wanted to click forward and skip scenes.

For the acting it is really average for most of the cast. The only decent and interesting character was commander Nathaniel. He totally saved the show. As for the main family, i couldn't see the connection between them. They didn't fit well.

The special effects of course are more than amazing. And maybe that's why we didn't get many dinosaurs. Because the series need time. Beautiful setting too.

The show it's better than the average show we get nowdays. But from producers of Jurassic Park, Star Trek, 24 and Lost i was just expecting more. The last 3-4 episodes were the best and most interesting, and the series were finished with a cliffhanger for a story way better and more interesting than the one we got so far. Unfortunately, a 2nd season hasn't been announced yet.

Movie Review: The Double

The mysterious murder of a US senator bearing the distinctive trademark of the legendary Soviet assassin Cassius, forces Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere), a retired CIA operative, to team with rookie FBI agent, Ben Geary (Topher Grace), to solve the crime.

Having spent his career chasing Cassius, Shepherdson is convinced his nemesis is long dead, but is pushed to take on the case by his former supervisor, Tom Highland (Martin Sheen). Meanwhile, Agent Geary, who wrote his Master's thesis on Shepherdson's pursuit of the Soviet killer, is certain that Cassius has resurfaced. As Shepherdson and Geary work their way through crimes both past and present, they discover that Cassius may not be the person they always thought him to be, forcing both to re-examine everything and everyone around them.

The Double
Released: 2011
Runtime: 99 mins
Rating: 4/5 stars
Buy: Not Available Yet

Review:
Well Wednesday night and i am going to cinema after quite a long time to watch a movie!I didn't had any particular movie i wanted to watch, i just wanted to hang out for some time.Bad luck though... there wasn't any movie to pick my interest.But i wanted to watch a movie, so finally i choosed The Double, starring Richard Gere and the new spiderman guy Topher Grace.

I must admit that i haven't seen a movie with agents,detectives,CIA,FBI,serial killers etc. for a long long time and i was quite reluctant about that movie!but i was wrong!The movie as you can see in the summary is about a retired CIA Agent Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere) who cooperates with a FBI rookie Ben Geary(Topher Grace) because a serial killer has decided to start the murders again!

First i have to say, and it realy mades me happy to tell it, that this is one of the few movies that the producer has thought of a script for the movie and didn't just took a book or a fairy tale and rewrite it!Yeah maybe it has a cliche story,a serial killer who was long time vanished,starts the murders again and blah blah, but it is good.So that is one good fact for the movie,for me at least.The movie now is realy good, with some good action especially after the first half.Richard Gere does his role realy good as we expect but the real surprise here is Topher Grace.He was so good in his role!I am eager to see how he will play at spiderman in which is the main star.About the cast,except Grace and Gere there isn't any famous actor/actress, but it is good and has done a good job without something fantastic to expect.There is one special element about the movie,though, which i didn't expect and in my opinion it was good!You will learn the truth about the story early in the movie and then you will see the movie from that perspective,which is actually good.You know the truth but the characters don't, and that is so interesting!And another thing,the end is fantastic,you can never guess it!!

The music was good and it was fitting the movie really well,dark and mysterious, but it wasn't something you will want to hear again at your ipod or mp3, or something you will remember after.

To summarize The Double was a really good movie, with good cast and music, and i would say that everyone who loves movies of that kind should give it a try and watch it!And that from a guy who doesn't like those movies too much.

Cast:Richard Gere,Topher Grace,
Odette Annable,Martin Sheen,Nicole Forester,Stephen Moyer,
Chris Marquette,Jimmy Ortega,Stana Katic,Tamer Hassan.

Results for "Additional Info in Reviews"

I did a survey about a week ago, wanting to learn what readers prefer to have as additional info in the reviews. I promised since this is something that many may wonder about, to show everyone the results.

So here they are...hope they are useful to you as they are for me and some decisions i want to make.
Since most of our readers are book bloggers, i will post only the results regarding the Book Reviews. In case you want to know about the TV Series/Movies & Games too feel free to e-mail me at splashooworlds@hotmail.com

The amount of people from those who answered (about 50 people) what each one want:

Book Cover: 97%

Publication Date: 56%

Pages: 37%

Edition: 11%

How we got the book (for review,bought): 47%

Summary: 70%

Link to Amazon or BookDep: 28%

Rating System: 74 %

The survey is still open for anyone who want to answer. I'm checking the results almost daily :)

Thanks everyone for answering!
-xox,Yiota ^^

Book Review: Allegiance

Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn....

Allegiance ( Legacy #2 ) by Cayla Kluver
Paperback, 523 pages (Greek edition)
Published at October 2011


REVIEW:
Hmmmm....i'm really trying to calm myself to write this review. *deep breaths*


Kluver is young. We all know that. But she is older than the previous book. And i can't say the writing style changed much from then. It was more well written, that's true but i could still see a young person behind and sometimes i felt like the wrong words were picked to describe. I think that if Kluver had picked a more normal YA, with not so much epic fantasy in it her writing would match better the story. It's not bad...it's just...not that good for me either.


Then we have how the story progressed. I have to say the whole idea, and finally the war, and some things happened at the war was just really good. Wonderful way to continue the story and make it interesting. It was the reason that made me read it until the end. I wanted to know what will happen so i did not stop, though believe me i wanted from the first 100 pages.


Now...Alera....our main character. To say it simple. I hated her and i still hate her. She is just so annoying. I can't connect with her, and while she has some moments of clarity she once again becomes her annoying self. She is selfish to the bone. Yes, she had the bad luck to marry someone who didn't want. But for god shake's, she is a queen now! There is a war! Her sister was kidnapped! And the only thing she has in mind is if Narian still loves her, how to get Steldor mad and go horseriding? She acts childish all the time. Does she even care about her people? Except 1-2 times you see her worried about her female friends, the rest book is her worrying over small things. She is not even strong enough, to stand the pressure of a queen. And poor Steldor, doing so much for her, the kingdom. She does not deserve him at all! I mean...your are going for negotiations for both your sister and your kingdom and you actually are so calm to think "how good Narian look, and if he loves her" while there is a big chance you die when you don't even know how to fight? I'm a big fan of romance in books, but sometimes it just doesn't work all the time.

So yeah...the whole thing just didn't work out for me. I really don't like Alera and how she acts. And the end of the book was even more disappointing.The only people who made me finish the book was Steldor, London and Kanan.


The fact is i'm going to buy the next one. Just because i want to know how the story ends. I don't know how i will manage to keep up with Alera when she is the main character so i just hope there are many scenes with the rest characters to help me. Allegiance was a really good sequel idea for the story, but i just wish it was from another person's POV.


P.S: There might be some spelling mistakes with the character's name because i have read the book in Greek so i'm not entirely sure i translated them right.


P.S.2: The cover above while it's beautiful, it doesn't match the feeling of the story at all. My favorite ones are the Greek ones, with art of the characters. Here my copy to see how it looks:

Reviews Survey

Hey ya everybody!!! How long has it been from a survey eh? Too long :p

So here we are...only 3 questions with checkboxes, and you don't even have to answer all 3, regarding what do you like to see as additional info at reviews.

If you want to leave a comment, do so here, at twitter, facebook, email or wherever you want. I'm checking everything!

Thanks a lot to anyone who answers :)

Book Review: The Eye Of The World (Wheel Of Time Book 1)

The Wheel Of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend.Legend fades to myth and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again.


In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance.


But one truth yet remains, and what mortal men forget, the Aes Sedai do not...


What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.



Eye Of The World ( Wheel of Time #1) by Robert Jordan
UK:Published by Orbit, new edition ( 12 Dec 1991), 814 pages
US:Published by Tor Fantasy, 1 edition (15 Nov 1990), 832 pages
Also there is a limited hardback edition published by Orbit ( 3 Nov 2011),688 pages

Hello to all of you who read our blog and Happy New Year!This is my first post after a long long time.My name is George (probably you know me as Filios, that's how all here call me) and i will try through my posts to share things with you and give you new ideas about books, movies and blah blah blah blah... ok enough with that.On to the review.

Review:
Well this is it.The first book of the Wheel Of Time series or simple WOT.To be honest until last year i didn't know about the series.Until one of my favorite bands Blind Guardian released their album At The Edge Of Time in which there was a song called Wheel Of Time and guess what... the song was inspired by the book series.It is an EPIC, fast song, with good lyrics and some great Eastern melodies.Well i was motivated by the song to buy the first book and start the series!And here i am currently reading the book 7, The Crown Of Swords.Now lets talk about the book.

The book starts with a prologue called Dragonmount.In my opinion is one of the best prologues i have ever read, but there is a detail, not negative though.You can't understand it.It's purpose is to introduce you to the events that started everything you are about to read.By book 3 or even book 2 you will understand it perfectly (and then you will understand how brilliant this prologue is) and it plays a key role in the next books.It is the best beginning of a great book and a stunning and brutal scene which also introduce us to a great talent that Jordan has for which i will talk later.

So first chapter and the book transfers us to a little and peaceful village called Emond's Field and we meet with it's inhabitants.Particularly we will meet our 3 young heroes Rand al'Thor, Perrin Aybara and Matrim Cauthon.The village is about to be attacked by some huge and savage monsters called Trollocs and the adventure begins!

The book is fast paced almost breathtaking i can say and it hooks you from the beginning!Jordan is a great and talented writter and you can see it from many things!The world he is building is as real as our world with many details and a great history which is building slowly in all of his books and you will get to learn a lot of things about it in this book.Also he gives detailed descriptions about the clothing of the characters,how the eat how they behave,about the places they visit, you get so many details that you can form the pictures exactly in your mind which is something great!Many maybe would find this annoying but personally i like it.Of course we have a lot of character growth.We get to see how the characters thinking,how they change through the book and how that is affecting them and their adventures.You gonna like some and hate others,and empathize with them.The best thing about them is that they are so real, their emotions,their thoughts,everything about them.Last but not least is the foreshadowing that Jordan does!It's impossible to figure out what is gonna happen in the next chapters or at the end of the book

One of the talents which Jordan has and mentioned it earlier is that in the book you start knowing nothing, and you are hearing about places,events,characters,races of people, or stories that you know nothing about them in the beginning and slowly as the book progresses learn about them.In my opinion this is a great thing for a writer to do.It totally hooks you, making you want to go to the next page,to read more.

Of course maybe the best thing about the book is it's ending!Slowly the book through it's events is building to a great climax which leaves you wanting more,answering some questions you had but also leaves you with new questions, more than before.

To summarize The Eye Of The World is a brilliant start to a great fantasy series which introduce you to a battle between Evil and Good,between the Shadow and the Light.I didn't want to give you details about it because i don't want to spoil it for you and it is not the meaning of this review to tell you the story of the series or of the book!It is a MUST read for everyone who loves the fantasy genre.

Pickies 2011 - Part II

PART I - BOOKS/GRAPHIC NOVELS/MANGA

*Since we reviewed too many movies/series/games to start posting posters one by one, i will just put links of our favorites. The list is also missing everything we reviewed the last 2 months because they are not at the indexes yet.*

MOVIES

To view ALL the Movie Reviews: here

Arthur (2011)

Bad Teacher (2011)

Black Swan (2011)

Burlesque (2010)
Becoming Jane (2007)

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Charlie St.Cloud (2011) 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) 

Easy A (2010)

Gulliver's Travels (2010)

Fast Five (2011)
Friends With Benefits (2011)

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part II (2011)

I Am Number Four (2011)

Johnny English Reborn (2011)
Just Go With It (2011)

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Karate Kid (2010)  

My Babysitter's A Vampire (2011)
Megamind (2010)
My Sister's Keeper (2009) 
Marley & Me (2008) 

Paul (2011) 

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Ramona & Beezus (2010)

The Three Musketeers (2011)
The Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules (2011)

The King's Speech (2011)

Thor (2011)

Tangled (2010)  

The Pagemaster (1994)
The Princess Bride (1987)

X-Men: First Class (2011)

TV SERIES - All reviews

Warehouse 13 (Season 3)   

Modern Family (Season 1) 

Downton Abbey (Season 1) 

Fringe (Season 3)

Supernatural (Season 6)

Haven (Season 1)
Alphas (Season 1) 

Firefly (Finished) 

Relic Hunter (Finished)

Goosebumps (Finished)

 

GAMES - All Reviews

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (PC) 

The Witchers II (PC) 

From Dust (PC) 

Alice: Madness Returns (PC) 

The Cursed Crusade (PC)

Dark Messiah: Heroes Of Might And Magic (PC)  

Guilds Wars: Prophecies Campaign (PC) 

Guilds Wars: Nightfall (PC) 

Spellforce 2 (PC) 

Pickies 2011 - Part I

Welcome to Pickies 2011 with the favorites of 2011!!

BOOKS - MANGA - GRAPHIC NOVELS 

*5/4 stars rating of books already reviewed*

You can view ALL(+lower than 4 stars) of our 2011 reads here

cover	title	author	avg rating	rating
	BLEACH Vol. 52	TITE, KUBO	4.75
	Bleach Volume 51	Kubo, Tite	4.37
	BLEACH―ブリーチ― 50	Kubo, Tite	4.35
	BLEACH―ブリーチ― 49	Kubo, Tite	4.31
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 12	Shiina, Karuho	4.27
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 13	Shiina, Karuho	4.33
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 11	Shiina, Karuho	4.26
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Volume 9	Shiina, Karuho	4.32
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 10	Shiina, Karuho	4.32
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Volume 7	Shiina, Karuho	4.37
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Volume 4	Shiina, Karuho	4.34
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Volume 8	Shiina, Karuho	4.33
	Kimi ni Todoke, Volume 6	Shiina, Karuho	4.31
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Volume 5	Shiina, Karuho	4.31
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Volume 3	Shiina, Karuho	4.30
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Volume 2	Shiina, Karuho	4.31
	Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Volume 1	Shiina, Karuho	4.18
	Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1)	Blake, Kendare *	4.13
	Εισαγωγή στην επικοινωνία ανθρώπου-υπολογιστή	Νικόλαος, Αβούρης	5.00
	The Egyptian (Dominic Grey, #2)	Green, Layton	4.25
	The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June	Benway, Robin	3.78
	The Survivors	Havard, Amanda *	3.83
	Geist (Book of the Order, #1)	Ballantine, Philippa *	3.81
	The Art of Alice: Madness Returns	Berg, R.J.	4.37
	Avatar The Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures	Konietzko, Bryan	4.14
	Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2)	Hawkins, Rachel *	4.29
	The Emerald Atlas (The Books of Beginning #1)	Stephens, John	3.84
	The Wizard Heir (The Heir Chronicles, #2)	Chima, Cinda Williams *	4.16
	The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)	Rothfuss, Patrick *	4.53
	Defiance (Strange Angels, #4)	Crow, Lili St.	4.27
	The Demon King (Seven Realms, #1)	Chima, Cinda Williams *	4.30
	Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer (Twisted Tales, #2)	McGowan, Maureen *	3.64
	Betrayals (Strange Angels, #2)	Crow, Lili St.	4.13
	Strange Angels (Strange Angels, #1)	Crow, Lili St.	3.87
	Hex Hall (Hex Hall, #1)	Hawkins, Rachel *	4.06
	Curse of the Bane (The Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles, #2)	Delaney, Joseph	4.10
	Immortal War (Vampirates, #6)	Somper, Justin	4.44
	Bloodlines	Mead, Richelle *	4.26
	Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6)	Mead, Richelle *	4.52
	Eona: The Last Dragoneye (Eon, #2)	Goodman, Alison *	4.17
	Farsighted (Farsighted, #1)	Chand, Emlyn *	4.18
	Battle for Cascadia (Gaia Wars, #2)	Bennett, Kenneth G. *	4.73
	The Gaia Wars (Gaia Wars, #1)	Bennett, Kenneth G. *	4.44
	The Deliverer (The Marenon Chronicles)	Morrow, Jason D.	4.67
	The Realmsic Conquest	Jackson, A. Demethius	3.57
	Two Moons of Sera (No. 1)	Tyler, Pavarti K *	4.27
	Spectyr (Book of the Order, #2)	Ballantine, Philippa *	4.03
	Seers	Frost, Heather *	3.82
	The Summoner (Dominic Grey, #1)	Green, Layton	4.02
	Blood of Elves (The Witcher, #1)	Sapkowski, Andrzej	4.19
	Μια ζωή δυο ζωές	Themelis, Nikos	2.89
	Wayward (The Witch Wars Saga #1)	Girardi, Ashley *	3.51
	The Book of Lost Souls (Ivy MacTavish #1)	Muto, Michelle *	3.98
	Inheritance (Inheritance, #4)	Paolini, Christopher	4.10
	A Tale of Two Castles	Levine, Gail Carson	3.51
	The Dragon Heir (The Heir Chronicles, #3)	Chima, Cinda Williams *	4.11
	A Spy in the House (The Agency, #1)	Lee, Y.S.	3.84
	The Blood Moon of Winter	Conant, Courtney *	4.03
	The Stepsister Scheme (Princess, #1)	Hines, Jim C. *	3.73
	The Siege of Macindaw (Ranger's Apprentice, #6)	Flanagan, John	4.26
	The Schopenhauer Cure: A Novel	Yalom, Irvin D.	3.90
	Ember and Ash	Freeman, Pamela	3.43
	Soul Stalker (Timeless #2)	Kreitzer, Laura *	4.32
	The Warrior Heir (The Heir Chronicles, #1)	Chima, Cinda Williams *	4.01
	Beloved of the Fallen	Kline, Savannah	3.56
	Waterfall (River of Time, #1)	Bergren, Lisa Tawn *	4.23
	Jane Austen: A Life Revealed	Reef, Catherine	3.32
	Encrypted	Buroker, Lindsay *	4.17
	The Emperor's Edge (Emperor's Edge #1)	Buroker, Lindsay *	4.11
	The Sorcerer in the North (Ranger's Apprentice, #5)	Flanagan, John	4.19
	Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Twisted Tales, #1)	McGowan, Maureen *	3.65
	Virals (Virals #1)	Reichs, Kathy	3.86
	Out for Blood (Drake Chronicles, #3)	Harvey, Alyxandra *	4.30
	Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant, #1)	Landy, Derek	4.18
	Magician: Apprentice, Volume 1	Feist, Raymond E.	4.34
	Jealousy (Strange Angels, #3)	Crow, Lili St.	4.24
	Stardust	Gaiman, Neil *	3.96
	Legacy (Legacy, #1)	Kluver, Cayla *	3.72
	Steel	Vaughn, Carrie *	3.36
	Angelfire (Angelfire, #1)	Moulton, Courtney Allison *	3.97
	Late-night News (Kostas Jaritos, #1) (Kostas Jaritos, #1)	Markaris, Petros	3.44

Did you favorite books made our list? ^^

Stay tuned for the Pickies Movies, Games & TV Series!