The House of Hades Review

Hello, book lovers! If you've followed my blog for a significant amount of time, you know that I have an obsession with Percy Jackson. Though I am not a huge fan of the continuing series, The Heroes of Olympus, I was super excited to get back into it by reading The House of Hades.

Like the last two books have been, this book surprised me. I didn't think I was going to like it as much as I did. The new characters finally grew on me. In fact, it might have been my favorite book in the series, if it didn't have a certain something, which I will mention later.

What I loved: In the past few books, it's taken me quite some time to get attached to the characters. Hazel and Leo won me over instantly, but guys like Piper, Jason and Frank seemed distant towards me. At the end, I ended up loving Frank and Piper. They turned out to be more stronger than I ever thought they would be. Mr. Riordan did an excellent job with their character development , giving the little time he had with each of them.

Oh, Percy and Annabeth. They went through so much together. Even in Tartarus, Percy still made me laugh. As much as I hated seeing them suffer, I was glad the author decided to put so much of their perspective in the story. I thought that Percy had learned enough, but he ended up making mistakes, just like the others did. I adored their optimism. Even though they were in Tartarus, whenever everything was trying to kill them, they still focused on the fact that they were together.

Among the few new characters, Bob was definitely my favorite. I never thought I'd get attached to a Titan. He reminded me a lot of Tyson. He had a heart and forgave Percy. Like all of Mr. Riordan books, he promoted sacrifice, love, and forgiveness. And Leo... He was amazing, as always. But I especially cared about Leo and              I heard that they get together, but I was expecting them to act like they did. They were adorable together. (Don't want to say the name. No spoilers:)

What I really didn't care for:
Let's save the main problem for last, shall we? Okay, so there were seven perspectives. That's cool, but... still. The author only have them 3-6 chapters each, (excluding Percy and Annabeth), but it was only every 150 pages. So I would get done with one character's perspective and be like, "Oh, he's so awesome!" But when I come back to him, usually after Mr. Riordan left me on a huge cliffhanger, I'd be like, "I like you. But I haven't heard from you in so long."

No more stalling. Nico, the son of Hades and an old character from the original series, admits to Jason that he's gay. Not only that, but he used to have a crush on Percy. Personally, I cannot support homosexuality. I believe that God made us a certain way and we shouldn't try to pretend that he didn't. But this doesn't mean I hate gays or anything close to that.

I really can't say it didn't make sense, because it did. Greek mythology does have homosexuality in it, as Rick shows us right before Nico admits to this. But all the moments after this was just... awkward. But I wish it didn't happen because it would've made Nico much more relatable. Even I can relate to his introvert-ness. If he wasn't gay, he could relate to everyone who feels lonely and rejected.  And why Percy? Percy and Nico are just cool being friends, but now, the whole thing is awkward. Not to mention the fact that back when Nico is a new character, he hates Percy. How could he go from wishing him dead to.... this? Doesn't make sense.

To make things worse, right before Nico confesses, we meet a homosexual character from actual, real Greek mythology. This was a nice warning, but the guy was like, "I'm gay. Deal with it." For fans who have conservative views, this only made things worse. I was not a fan of Nico's character change. Everyone else was becoming stronger and wiser. Basically, Nico went from being cold and antisocial to being colder and even more antisocial. And why was he so mad at Percy? Percy had no idea about anything.

Conclusion:
Despite the fact that I knew about Nico, I was overjoyed to pick up this book just so I could go back to the world of Percy Jackson. This book was much better than I thought it would be. As always, it promoted great traits---bravery, love, sacrifice and friendship. You don't see that shown so boldly in many books.


I did disagree with Nico's thing, but I'm sure that in the end, Riordan will promote this message. We should accept everybody, especially our friends. Even though I don't agree with homosexuality, I think  part of the message is right. You don't have to agree with someone to love them. But, I'm also sure, that in the end, Riodarian will promote homosexuality. Still, you can't hate Nico because you feel so bad for him.

But what concerns me the most is that this book is not in the teen section. Of course, a lot of the fans are teens, but this book is being promoted with people my brother's age. I think it's sad. Kids that age shouldn't have to deal with things like this. I could totally see it in a teen book, not in a junior high book.
Overall, this book was great. If you don't mind the things I mentioned, you should read it. I'll have to think before I read The Blood of Olympus. but it's something to look forward to.

(Note: The Greek mythology version of hell is much different from the actual Biblical hell.)
Listening to: Speak Now, Taylor Swift
Reading: The Selection Stories: The Prince and The Guard
Watching: Taylor Swift Speak Now World Tour Live

The Selection Series

Hello everyone! Having a good week?

Today, I'll be reviewing a series, discussing the pros and cons of the series. And this series is the deservedly popular (not trilogy, as I originally thought), The Selection by Kierra Cass. I apology for the length of this post.

About the Series: So far, The Selection has consisted of three books, The Selection, The Elite, and The One. I'm going to leave the cover blurb.
 For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.


Throughout the series, America's affections grow, but she still can't bear to leave her first love, Aspen. The growing rebellion plays in this series as well, so it's not all about the love triangle.

Pros: Yes, this series revolves around a love triangle on the surface, but truthfully, it's much more than that. Kierra creates a intriguing new USA. It was a interesting concept: An Ester sent to a palace when she's in love with somebody else. America can be difficult, but overall, she turned out to be a great protagonist. She wasn't shy, but she wasn't a loose cannon either. I especially liked her relationship with her dad. It's funny how so many famous series keep parents as a side note, not important. But I loved it when she said that she wanted to make sure her father approved of whoever she married. Not something you see in many romances.

Most Disney movies portray princes to be lame. Either they don't explore their character at all or they make them sound overrated. The best Disney males in princess movies don't even start off as princes. (Kristoff and Eugene) As a result, I wasn't expecting to think much of Maxon, but I ended up loving him. There were some things I did make me hate him... for a little while. Of course, he wasn't a Peeta, but I loved how he loved America, despite how difficult she could be. He stood up for truth too and respected a girl's boundaries.

Cons: Though the love triangle wasn't horrible, America could be frustrating. It was mostly in The Elite, my least favorite book in the series. She would have a moment with Maxon and then have another with Aspen a few minutes later. She was on and off in a sick game. This happened in The Elite the most and a little bit in The Selection. It made me want to pull my hair out. Who do you really want, America? I felt bad for both boys.

Another thing is the content. There are definitely worse content-wise books out there, but this book did have a significant amount of kissing/making out. Honestly, I knew it was going to happen so I just skipped those paragraphs. They don't benefit to the story, if anything raise tension. They don't go all the way, but America does lie in bed for a night with someone. (I skipped that part entirely) It's completely wrong, but I will note that it is right after she find out they're getting engaged. (in The One) Only a couple of pages long, by the way

Another kissing scene involves Maxon kissing someone else. (The Elite) America says the girl is in a bra and if I remember correctly, he was shirtless. He gets punished by America, who hates him for a time afterwards and the scene is portrayed as horrible as it was. (Once again, I skipped it, though scanned a few words and read the aftermath.) In the end, he regrets it. He does give a reason for doing it that made me reconsider my first thought. (that he was a complete slime ball) It was still wrong though and was his lowest moment.

There are few mild cuss words through the three books, mostly h words and d words, and one b word. A little bit of violence here and there, as well, but nothing graphic or unnecessary. Something did happen in Maxon's past that strangely a lot like something in Divergent. I won't go into detail about that though. No spoilers.

A few characters did die and the effects of it wasn't realistic. It was like, "Okay, this person died. I wished (s)he was here. Moving on."

Conclusion: Turns out, I have a formed a new opinion of this series by summing all the "cons" up. And as good as everything was, the sexual content did go overboard and is the reason why I will not be buying the books. I was aware that most of the bad things would happen. You can see it coming and it isn't significant to the plot. I didn't hesitate to skip. So, if you do read this series, I would encourage to skip.

Through everything, I do think that the good outweighed the bad, making this book worth reading. America's relationship with her father made her instantly related to me. For the most part, America was very strong and wasn't trashy. She wasn't afraid to tell Maxon how she felt, (expect for one thing). She wouldn't let someone use her. In the end, she forgave someone who constantly hurt him through the first two books. I admired her a lot for that.

My favorite quote of this book was from Maxon when he said, "Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway." (I didn't even have to look at the book. I have it memorized.) That quote sums up the message Mrs. Cass was trying to send throughout the whole series. With America's relationship with her father. With her love for Maxon and Aspen. With everything.

Unconditional love. Loving someone, despite their status, their riches, their past, their mistakes. Unconditional love means to love someone despite... everything. If they drive you crazy or hurt you. It's needing someone and at times, wishing you didn't. It's true love. Because sometimes we forget that true love is unconditional love. Sometimes, even when people are unfaithful, love can still go on. That's another thing I don't see often.

And The Selection portrayed that beautifully. I will pick up The Heir when it comes out. In the end, America does commit to someone. I'll leave you to decide if you want to find out who. BUT, I will repeat, please skip the sexual scenes. If I wouldn't have thought of skipping them, I wouldn't have read these books.

Captives Book Review

Well, I finally got around to doing this! Yay!

Author: Jill Williamson, who has a great writing blog here.

Captives is the first book in the Safe Lands Trilogy. She also just released the final book in the trilogy, Rebels.

Back cover: In a dystopian future, eighteen-year-old Levi returns from Denver City with his latest scavenged treasures and finds his village of Glenrock decimated, loved ones killed, and many–including his fiancée, Jem–taken captive. Now alone, Levi is determined to rescue what remains of his people, even if it means entering the Safe Lands, a walled city that seems anything but safe.

Omar knows he betrayed his brother by sending him away, but helping the enforcers was necessary. Living off the land and clinging to an outdated religion holds his village back. The Safe Lands has protected people since the plague decimated the world generations ago … and its rulers have promised power and wealth beyond Omar’s dreams.

Meanwhile, their brother Mason has been granted a position inside the Safe Lands, and may be able to use his captivity to save not only the people of his village, but also possibly find a cure for the virus that threatens everyone within the Safe Lands’ walls. Will Mason uncover the truth hidden behind the Safe Lands’ façade before it’s too late?

What I liked: As I might have stated before this, Jill Williamson is an amazing author. This is my third book I've read from her and it was just great. I read on the way up to Savannah last month. I wanted to save it, but it was just too exciting. It captured my attention and didn't let go until the end. The plot was unique.

The romance was well done. It wasn't in your face and mushy. Instead, it was sweet and believable, even though I didn't see the couple before they were engaged. More than that, it showed the consequences and the pain that can come out of a relationship with no commitment. It opened my eyes to see the problems of rejecting traditional family.

Even though this book was narrated by three boys (and a girl), I still loved it. The POV characters were at particular age levels. I liked all of them. Each was different. Like all her other books, God was played a big part in this story as well.

What I didn't like: Some of the advanced technology was hard to understand. Most of the time, Omar was an idiot. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but when he finally did come around, it was a last option thing. I wasn't sure if he wanted to help or if he just wanted revenge. There were some details about taking drugs (an advanced, future world way to take drugs. I'm unsure if it was real) that I thought didn't have to be mentioned.

Content: Instead of showing the actual sinful scene, Ms. Williamson showed what happened afterwards. A girl asks Mason to spend the night with her after he spent the evening at her house. (They're friends at this point) He firmly refuses. On the other hand, Omar, who is much more immature, apparently does spend the night with his girlfriend. The actual scene is not showed, but the aftermath is. I didn't know this until it was mentioned in Outcasts, the second book. I missed it. There quite a few kisses with married and unmarried couples. All of this is showed as sin and the consequences are made clear.

People are shot. Omar beats up someone. (not shown, just mentioned) There are a few other violent scenes, nothing graphic. Omar does drugs and drinks. Other characters do as well, but he does it mostly. Women are described to be dancing in immodest outfits since they go to a "dancing club" some of the time.

Conclusion: I loved this book. It was spiritual and down to earth. The sin was showed as evil so much that it didn't bother me as another normal book would have. Realistically, it described a world that has rejected Jesus and the traditional family. I love the characters and the plot. This is a great book,  but I would definitely discuss the content with my parents first. I'm almost finished with Outcasts and love it too.

Books and More Books (plus a review)

Hello, bloggers! This is going to be a little bit of a long post. So... just warning you.

This month, school starts. Truthfully, it is bittersweet. Bitter because school is a drag. Sweet because I am a high school freshman and get to take a British Literature class! Yes, I might sound like a nerd, but I love to read. Anything, really. I hope you know that I love Jane Austen and I am going to reread Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorite classics.

But, one of the main cons of going back to school is... less book freedom. Since I'm doing school, I'm going to mostly be reading classics. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but there's so many books I want to read. So I'm going to cram. Right now, I am reading The Selection by Kiera Cass. So far, I really like it. The great part about it is, the dystopian world is actually NOT that hard to understand! Wow!

Okay, this is a little overdue, but I wanted to review By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson, the first book in the Blood of Kings Trilogy... and her debut novel.  I admit, I'm not that into fantasy. There's a lot of made up words and for a little brain like mine, that's hard. But I especially wanted to read a Jill Williamson book because of her amazing blog, Go Teen Writers. So onto the review!

Genre: YA Christian Fantasy

Back Cover: Amazon Version. (Short version, the actual one was too long to put on this post)
Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible

What I liked: Jill Williamson didn't disappoint. I loved her writing style and her characters. She put in the perspective of a girl and a boy, making it appealing to both genders. The story world was very interesting. It wasn't that hard to understand. At first, the whole "bloodvoicing" thing seemed a little weird to me, but in the end, I loved it. It was original and intriguing.

Achan had his rough spots, but I ended up liking him. Vrell was great too. They especially made good chemistry together. I'm not going give anything away but... wow. The climax was amazing! Unpredictable and incredibly awesome. It made the story. I also liked the Christian aspect too. It wasn't "in your face" kind of thing. At the same time, God wasn't treated like a last option. The author wasn't afraid to talk about Him, unlike other Christian books I've read.

What I didn't like: Like I said before, this story was in two perspectives. There's nothing wrong with that, of course. Most of the time, one character would be in this exciting scene and then the chapter would end. As a result, the perspective changed. I wanted to know what happened so I wasn't that interested in the other character. It was a little frustrating.

Also, Achan found himself having feelings for two girls. It was a little understood, but I didn't like it. It didn't make sense.

Conclusion: I've never liked fantasy that much, but I loved this book. It was humorous, exciting, and meaningful. I persistently recommend it to anyone, especially people who enjoy fantasy. You will not be disappointed. Jill Williamson is an outstanding author. I'll definitely read more of her books.
 I'm now reading the sequel. It's really long, but so far so great. So... read this book.

MATCHED (Book Review)

 

This morning, I finished Matched by Ally Condie. I thought I would post a review of it.

Title: Matched, the first book in the Matched trilogy.
Author: Ally Condie
Genre: YA Fiction, Dystopia, Romance

Back Cover: In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices, but she begins to question just how perfect her world really is when she notices things are not what they seem. As Cassia begins to doubt the Society’s infallibility, she is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

What I liked: Unlike other popular Dystopia novels, Matched wasn't action and adventure. It was mostly quiet, but interesting. I loved Cassia's character change. At first, she was a pushover, never questioning anything. But then she changed. I loved the idea of the forbidden poems and cursive writing. It made Cassia and Ky's love story even more intriguing.

Cassia's parents love each other unconditionally, promoting and showing the beauty of traditional marriage. For a romance novel, it was clean. Cassia had a great relationship with her parents and younger brother. I loved the connection between Cassia and Ky. Ky was very thoughtful and sensitive. Even though they didn't know each other well at first, their love was believable.

What I didn't like: Cassia claimed she loved Xander, but I didn't see it. She was falling so hard for Ky. To make it worse, she hardly thought of Xander when she was loving Ky. Technically, Cassia was "cheating" on Xander with Ky. (though was never really chose him) She mentions that her and her friends played love games, despite the fact that they knew they were just games since they didn't have a choice on marriage. She said it involved kissing.

The dialogue was extremely telling, instead of showing. Some of the things were hard to understand. Cassia kept things from her parents.

Content: Cassia kissed Xander a couple of times... and Ky once or twice. In a video they watch, a man gets shoot. Blood is mentioned.

Conclusion: I've wanted this book for awhile now and didn't get around to until now. It showed me how you could write a romance without getting too sexual. Besides that, it was very clean. More than that, it showed how two people don't have to be like each other to have a successful marriage. I read that the second book is a little more on the sexual side. I'll have to think about reading that one, but I recommend this book!

The Book Thief (SO GOOD)

I just got back from my aunt's house. It was great to see most of my father's side of the family since I don't do that very often. There I watched The Lego Movie for the first time. As a result, I am suffering from a serious case of EIA. I have the theme song, "Everything is Awesome" in my head. This time it's worse because I only know the first two lines in the chorus. Ever since yesterday night, I've been singing,  "Everything is awesome. Everything is cool when you're part of a team..." BUT... I still found the strength to write this book review.

Over the week of Super Summer, I finished an amazing book called The Book Thief. I had been wanting to read the book for some time, but I never got the chance. I ended up watching the movie, which was heartbreaking. The book turned out to be much more than I ever imagined it would be,

Plot: It's just a small story really, about, among other things, a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids - as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul. (Taken from Goodreads)

What I LOVED: There was so much to adore about this book. The characters. Every character was special in their own way. I can't even decide which was my favorite. They all spoke to me because they all had unique voices and different outlooks on life. It was so deep and amazing.

I saw the Germans, living while they were being practically controlled by their cruel leader. In the midst of all that killing and hatred, there were good people, people brave enough to do what was right. The book was narrated by Death. That might sound weird, but it was surprisingly interesting. I loved how Lisel's longing to read, to learn. Not only did I relate to her, but I saw how I take books and words for granted. I have tons of books, but in that time, books were hard to find.

It recognized the power of words. I didn't really understand why they were highlighting the whole stealing thing, but then I read this conversation between Rudy and Lisel about how Lisel steals books from the mayor. Both characters had many family members taken from them in some way by the government. "It feels good, doesn't it?" Rudy said. "To steal something back." Before that, I thought they were just stealing for the fun of it. It doesn't justify it, but it made me see it in a different light.

None of the book is light. Most of it is heavy, but it didn't beat around the bush. It showed the cruelty without blinking. It was to the point.

What I didn't like: Hmm... there wasn't really anything, expect for the profanity. There was a lot of cuss words. At first, it bugged me, but then my dad told me that it was a stressful time for them. So it made sense. Also, they take God's name in vain... in various ways.

Content: The book wasn't full of violence, but a significant amount. It describes fights and the Germans treated the Jews. (That was intense) Plus, one chapter talks about boys being naked and it's mentioned a few times. As I mentioned above, there were a lot of cuss words. Just about every one you think of, excluding the f word and the five letter b word. (C word too)

Conclusion: Okay, this book was amazing. The Book Thief ripped my heart out and stomped on it.. There were many heartbreaking scenes, but it made me think. If you read it, brace yourself. I highly encourage you to. Just keep in mind that it is very heavy.

The Mark of Athena (review)

I must admit, I wasn't too excited to read The Mark of Athena after finding out something about The House of Hades (the next book), but it surprised me.

Title: The Mark of Athena, book 3 in the Heroes of Olympus series.

Author: Rich Riordan

Genre: YA Fiction, Action, Roman/Greek mythology

Plot: Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare.... (taken from Goodreads)

What I liked:
Getting to see the seven demigods together was an interesting experience. They didn't click perfectly. At times, they fought over stupid things. In the end, though, they learned to trust each other, despite their many differences. I loved how the author made each one of their powers unique and special. Working their powers together made it more effective.

Annabeth and Percy were great. This was the first time I saw them together as a couple. Okay, they weren't perfect and they got too touchy. Unlike the other couples in the book though, I knew without a doubt that were in love and would do anything for each other. Even though they weren't alike, I saw how that made them an even better match. Nothing was forceful either. It all came naturally. Percy talked about wanting to get married and start a family with her, a manly thing to do. He never forced anything with her or tried to speed things up. Still, he wanted her. Their love wasn't influenced by getting physical.

The ending was frustrating, but it was very sweet. Everyone sacerficed themselves for each other. Annabeth's perspective was featured in this story, which was awesome.

What could've been better:
Other than Percy and Annabeth, the romances got in the way of things. The small bit of the love triangle annoyed me because a few characters weren't focusing on the main, more important problem. Instead, some of the conflict wouldn't have happened if they stopped worrying about whether their crush liked them or the other guy. It was like, "Wrong time, people!"

Piper and Jason were... okay. I didn't buy Hazel and Frank. Of course, I liked who they were as individual people, but not so much as couples because it just didn't seem like they were in love. The thing was, Leo had feelings with Hazel, who was dating Frank. Frank was obviously jealous of him, but we never got to see Hazel's side of the story since she wasn't one of the four perspectives.

This problem wasn't as bad as it was in other books in the series, but the perspectives weren't unique. Most of them sounded the same. I could tell when Leo was talking but the rest of them didn't have enough originality. I remember Jason sounding a lot like Percy in The Lost Hero. This book was narrated by four very different people. So it wasn't that bad, but it sounded the same at times.

Annabeth and Percy did accidently fall asleep together. They were talking in the middle of the night and fell asleep cuddling, not laying down. That was unnessscary, but they somewhat got punished afterwards. It didn't have to be included.

Content: Quite a few kisses and violence. Plus, the thing I mentioned in the paragraph above.

Conclusion: I liked the Mark of Athena a lot more than I though I would. It was exciting, never boring, and had good messages about teamwork and frienship. The sexual content got out of hand, but that was as bad as things got. Still, I don't see how this is better than the Percy Jackson series, which was cleaner. 

I have to talk to my dad about reading The House of Hades, but hopefully, I will read it. Though the series does not live up to the awesomeness of the series before it, I have to say it's a great series.

The Lost Hero Book Review

Title: The Lost Hero, book one in the Heroes of Olympus series. (Continued from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series)
Author: Rick Riodarn
Genre: Junior High/Young Adult fiction. Action. Roman and Greek mythology

Plot: Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god. (Taken from Goodreads)


What I liked: After extremely enjoying the Percy Jackson series, I was excited to read a contiuan. This book included many new characters, but also old ones. (Annabeth!) It also explored the traits of gods and goddesses that the previous series did not. (Aphrodite, Hephaestus) The humor was not lost and the excitement did not fade. Leo and Coach Hedge were hilarious. Jason, Piper, and Leo, though had one quest, had personal issues and goals of their own. Unlike in the Percy Jackson series, the gods were more involved with their children. I really missed Percy, but hopefully he'll show up in the next book!

What could've been better: Okay, it was never boring, but I would have to say that it was a little too long. There were so many things I wanted to know and it took forever for me to get there. Three perceptive made it a little more confusing.  The many, many little conflicts during their quest made me wonder if I would ever get to the end.

Content: A lot of violence while fighting monsters and giants, but nothing graphic or unnecessary. Piper and Jason kiss once and lean on each other while sleeping on a flying dragon. Not one god marries a mortal. So you figure how the demigods were born.

Conclusion: I've heard a lot of good things about this book and I definitely wasn't disappointed. I loved how the old characters made reappearances. It wouldn't have been as good without them. A little long, but nothing disinterested me. So far, I like the Percy Jackson series better, but I can't wait to read the Son of Neptune!

Purple Moon Book Review

Title: Purple Moon
Author: Tessa Emily Hall
Genre: Young Adult Christian Fiction

Plot: Selena's life isn't turning out to be as good as she hoped. Ever since her dad kicked her and her mom out, things haven't been exactly perfect. When her mother goes to rehab for a alcohol addiction, she has to live with her spoiled cousin.

Surprisingly, things aren't very bad. She befriends her neighbor and her cousin reluctantly invites her to parties. Back home in Brooklyn, her best friend has a dilemma and things with her cousin start to get complicated. Through it all, she is burdened with scars and addictions that only God can heal.

What I liked: I was unsure about this book at first, but when I finished, I couldn't believe what a good book it was. The story of Selena was an amazing reminder of how God makes brokenness beautiful. Some Christian books leave me with mixed feelings on the consequences of giving yourself physically and emotionally to a boy. Tessa managed to do this without going explicit. Though I am not an artist, I liked how the author used Selena's artistic talent to add to the story. I really saw the character change after she really became a Christian. Even though her mother hurt her, Selena got along with her well. Unlike other 'Christian' books, I saw the spiritually clearly. Neither was it preachy. It actually deserved to be called Christian fiction.

What could've been better: I felt like some of the bad things she did could've been left out. There was one word that could've been left out too. Without her mother's knowledge, she goes back to her home for a weekend.

Content: Selena drinks and smokes, though it is clear she is not happy with herself because of it. She also kisses and 'makes out' with her 'boyfriend'. A few characters get a little drunk. One teen is pregnant. She tells the story of why she is scarred and it involves something very bad. (I'm not going to say it, but nothing was explicit)  Of course, this all happened before she was a Christian. So in the end, it is shown as sin. Also, the consequences of these things are made clear. A car wreck is described.

Conclusion: Tessa Emily Hall published this when she was nineteen years old. She's always been an inspiration to me. Besides that, I loved the story. The salvation story wasn't cliché or cheesy. Though I didn't see much of Selena after she was a Christian, I could tell the Holy Spirit worked in her. . I think this book is great for any teen or adult, whether you're a Christian or not. However,  young teens need to be careful because the of the content.

Because of the content, I highly recommend you talk with your parents before reading and then talked to them about what you read. Other than the things I mentioned, this is an amazing book. To find more about Tessa, read her blog. (It's one of my favorite blogs!)

Definately Dark

There always is a certain singer who has many, many hits. Literally, every single they release goes gold. A catchy tune that gets in trapped in someone’s head. A relatable sensitive song that just happens to be pure poetry. Whatever it is, it’s popular. You have to know at least one of their songs.

Katy Perry is one of those singers. In three albums, she has released quite a few singles. A couple of them everyone knows, like ‘Firework’ and ‘Roar.’ Every one of them is a big hit. Her most recent single, ‘Dark Horse’ is no expection. It was a promotional single that went to the top as soon as it released on iTunes. It revisited its reign when it was given the honor of being the third single from Katy’s new album. Does the single deserve such attention?

The theme of the song shows itself the second you hear it. Guest rapper, Juicy J, does an introduction and Katy begins to sing. “I knew you were/I knew you were going to come to me/And here you are/But you better choose carefully.”

Why? “Because I…./Am capable of anything/and everything,” she coos in a slow way. She refers to the Greek mythology love goddess. “Make me your Aphrodite/Make me your one and only.” But she also warns him, "But don’t make me your enemy.”

In the chorus, she reveals who she is and why she is so… tempting, yet very dangerous. “So you wanna play with magic/Boy, you should know what you’re falling for/Baby, do you dare to do this?/’Cuz I’m coming at you like a dark horse.”

Creepy? Most definitely.

This witch tempts the boy by telling what he will have if he decide to take her on. “Mark my words/This love will make you levitate/Like a bird without a cage… Don’t walk away.” She also gives us a glimpse of how life changing this will be. “Are you ready for a perfect storm/’Cuz once you’re mine/There’s no going back.”

Seeing the relationship in a male’s perspective is different, make that a little more detailed. Juicy J doesn’t speak of her love as something that makes him happy or free. In fact, he says ‘her love is a like a drug’ and that he ‘messed around and got addicted.’ Yet he advises, “If you get the chance, you better keep her."

A ‘bird without a cage’ is supposed to be free. The picture Katy and Juicy J gives us seems to be anything but. Addictions aren’t freedom. They’re more like prison. An addictive love does emotional damage to both involved. If you rely on a person  too much, it becomes an unbearable burden for him or her. It will eventually hurt you as well because he or she will fail you.

More than that, there is no denying the evil subject of this song. Witchcraft. Katy Perry confirmed this at the Grammys when she portrayed a witch on the stage. At first, I thought the rap ruined the song. But now I understand that even without the rap, this song represents something evil and dangerous.

I’ve read a few Frank Peratti books. It’s hard to believe that kind of thing is real because it’s so scary. The truth is that it is real. Not only does this song hint to witchcraft, but it also presents as something dangerous, yet worth it. Even the sound of this song sounds haunting and witchy. Nothing that presents wrong as right is worth absorbing.

I admire Katy Perry’s vocals in this song, but other than that, I give it no credit. It might seem like a cool song to listen to, but underneath everything is an ancient message of evil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

Ephesians 6:12

 

DIVERGENT book review

I've been especially excited to review this book, since I've been dying to read it for some time now. So here it goes:

Book: Divergent, the first book of three in the Divergent Series
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre Sci-fi, Action, Dystopia fiction, Teen Fiction

Plot: Beatrice's world is formed by five factions, groups of people who specialize in a certain virtue. Her faction, Abnegation is the selfless, while Candor is the honest, Dauntless is the brave, Amity is the peaceful, and Erudite is the intelligent. All teens are made to choose the faction they will live in when they turn sixteen. Surprisingly everyone, she chooses Dauntless and her life completely changes. While training, she must deal with many discouragements. Everyone sees her as weak and she has a lot to learn about her new faction and ultimately, her identity.

What I liked: Beatrice, who renames herself 'Tris', is an inspiring character who could relate to anyone. I loved how she handled the bullying and the new lifestyle without feeling insecure about herself. She was very brave and had a confident side to her that was very influential. Apart from that, she struggled with being selfless and her own sins so she was a relatable character.

Roth is a professing Christian and I could definitely see some Biblical influence throughout the story. To start out, the factions themselves were Christian values, but she showed that they can be used for evil if they don't have the right motives. Two characters, who are shown to be a Christians, sacrifice themselves for Tris without fear.  Despite getting revenge on her enemies many times, once she remembers God, she is thankful that she didn't murder someone who tried to kill her friend. The story itself was interesting and had been stuck in it. Even though the book wasn't full of tones of plot twists and surprises, it kept my interest the entire time.

What could've been better:
Often Tris would think of something her dad told her that was right, but she wouldn't take up his advice, leaving me unsure what to think about it. Tris got revenge by hurting people aand again, I wasn't sure what to think of it. In the Dauntless training, the boys and gives fight each other one-on-one. I wasn't a big fan of that. I mean, I know I'm a Hunger Game fan, but they had to do it to defend someone. I got the impression though that was wrong, but I didn't get a clear enough message about it. Making it worse, it was co-ed.

Tris and her boyfriend, Tobias got touchy at times. They kiss multiple times and touch. They never have sex, but it got so frequent to the point where at times I felt like their relationship's main motive was physical. I mean, it was sweet how they protected and helped each other, but I got sick of the kissing scenes. Tris has a 'dream' where he tries to pursue her to have sex with him. Though she is tempted, she refuses. They talk about the dream later and it is revealed that they are both virgins. Tobias definitely isn't pursuing her for her body. That isn't bad, but  Tobias suggest that  they may have it someday if she wants. It is mentioned that they lay in his bed for two hours. kiss, talk, and eventually doze as she says. (Thankfully, it is only a small paragraph, but that doesn't excuse anything)

Content: Violence is definitely a issue. A boy beats Tris. Similar things happen, but not in graphic detail. While changing her clothes, she is joined by three bullies, two boys and a girl. She barely has time to cover herself by using a towel. One of them pulls it off, letting them see her uncovered backside. Tris later gets revenge by beating the girl up in training. He doesn't do anything bad, but a character is shown drunk for a scene.

Six or seven uses of the h word, but that is far as the profanity goes. A boy makes a joke about her breast. Tris rejects the joke clearly.

Conclusion:
I've heard a lot of good things about this book from Christian reviewers so I was excited to read it. It definitely stood out from a typical teen sci-fi series. The Christian influence was clear, but because of Roth's professing Christianity, I expected it to be cleaner than it was. The violence didn't bug me as nearly as much as the sexual stuff did.

Apart from that, I was inspired by this book. Tris was a brave character who can relate and influence anyone. I especially liked what she did at the end. The love of a traditional family is promoted, not discredited. (Though the values of commitment and purity remain unclear) Even though Tris chose Dauntless, selflessness still remains a part of her. I was unsure about Tobias at first, but I learned to like him and when they weren't being sexual, I adored their relationship. One of my favorite quotes from the book was from Tobias when he said that bravery and selflessness should be the same thing.

So while this book was very interesting and thrilling, I can't recommend it to anyone. Maybe the physical part wasn't a big part of the story, but it was enough. I wish I could because, like I said before, I've been really excited to read this book for a  long time. I liked it too, but when it got near the end, I started doubting. Since I've seen the movie trailer, I expected the kissing, but I didn't expect them to talk about sex. Not only did they lay in bed together, but they also hinted towards going farther next time. So while this book was great in some areas, it horribly surprised me in others.

Book Review: MOCKING JAY

Title: Mocking Jay, the third book in The Hunger Games series

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, sci-fi, action and adventure

Author: Suzanne Collins

Plot: In the final chapter of the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen is at her lowest low. Her home, District 12 has been completely destroyed by the Capital, resulting in many lost lives. Though her family and her best friend made it out alive, she is devastated. On top of blaming herself for its destruction, her friend and fellow tribute, Peeta, has been captured by her enemy, President Snow. After being rescued by a group of rebels, who have made their fortress in District 13, they want her to be the Mocking Jay. It is the symbol of rebellion that shall unite the Districts against the capital.

When she accepts the offer, she goes to difficult districts to make peace and help the wounded. She is caught off guard when she finds out that President Snow is hurting Peeta because of her. They rescue him, but it doesn't make things any better. Peeta has been 'hijacked' which means that they took memories of Katniss and made them scary. He used to love her more than anything, but now he wants to kill her. She must balance her life as the Mocking Jay and decide what she must do with Peeta.

What I liked:
The emotion of this book was... amazing. In my heart, I was crying along with Katniss through her struggles. Though the plot twists made me sad, they kept me turning pages. The author has a way of making the unlikable characters likable. Also, it showed the ups and downs of love. Instead of completely bringing it down, it showed a couple getting married.  At first, Katniss hates Peeta, but in the end, her anger softens and she learns to love him, even when he hurt her. Multiples times the characters sacrifice themselves for each other. Gale, Katniss' best friend, volunteers to go with the people who save Peeta, even though it is a life threatening mission.

Okay, no one can deny that this book is very sad. However, in the end, it shows that there is hope in tragedy. There are mixed feelings about the ending from Hunger Games fans, but personally, I loved the ending.

What could've been better:
Throughout the entire series, there have been quite a few deaths. Most of the deaths weren't too upsetting and had to happen, but in this book, two important characters died and it brought down the story. Character  deaths are sad, but sometimes they work out for good. A death earlier in series inspired Katniss to win the Hunger Games. Unlike that, the character deaths in this book didn't seem to have a point, other than to throw Katniss off her game and ultimately, off the edge. It shows sacrifice, but the death at the very end didn't have a good purpose.

Katniss did do a little life saving, but it was influenced by her hatred for President Snow. My point? My favorite scene was when Katniss saved ____'s life.  From the outside, it was really sweet. Underneath the surface though, instead of being influenced by love, she was influenced by anger and hatred. Mercilessly, Gale kills, unlike Katniss, who is haunted when she murders someone. As a result, some killing could have been avoided.

Content: Of course, violence is a thing in thestory. Once when someone is dying, she describes it as 'flesh melting off like candle wax.' Similar things happen, but not the point of being explicit. Katniss kisses Gale and Peeta once. A male character talks about being forced to be sexual with women by the cruel president.

Conclusion: I am a die hard Hunger Game fan and I was satisfied with the ending. Mocking Jay was very powerful. It enticed me and didn't disinterest me for a minute. Katniss comes across as an unlikable character to me, but I ended up rooting for her. Since I've adored Peeta, it was difficult for me to read those parts, but it worked out happily in the end.

Apart from that, it was sad. Through it all, I wish it could have more happy parts. Making up for it, the book sends a message. Unfair violence and cruelty never benefits anyone. But... there is hope even when it seems so far away.

Because of the violence, I'll have to rate this 4 stars. I really liked this book, but you have to be a certain age before you read it. There has been some controversy about it, but overall, it is amazing book. The series is thrilling and totally worth reading. In the end, it does make up for the tragic deaths.

Book Review: The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet

Genre: Young Adult Christian Fiction
The Second Book in the Ellie Sweet Series
Author: Stephanie Morrill

Book plot: Things are going great for Ellie Sweet. Her book is coming out soon, her hair finally curls, and she has won over her best friend/boyfriend, Chase. But that doesn't mean her life is perfect. When her grandmother breaks her hip, she must visit her at a nursing home where,  as she discovers, her cheating ex-boyfriend, Palmer is working. Her ex-best friend, Lucy, comes into town after dumping her wanting to make amends. On top of that, her writing mentor hold a grudge on her. Usually, she can make sense of the real world by using her fiction. But, as trouble comes her way, a writer's block overcomes her love for writing. Not everything ends in a happily ever after as she struggles to make things right with the people she loves. As she races to edit her book, can she balance her writing life and her personal life in the right way?

What I liked: Being a writer myself, I instantly felt like I could relate to Ellie from a personal aspect. More than that, though, the emotion and the way the author presented her, made me feel like I was her. I had to remind myself that this isn't real life! Though the plot twists frustrated me, it was awesome and kept me on the edge of my seat. The character development was awesome too. Ellie used to be a little shy and insecure, but I felt like she learned to stand up for herself in this book. In the end, it had a good lesson about revenge and anger, something that I didn't see coming.

What could've been better: The author, Stephanie Morrill  is really great. Her books are so interesting, but I felt like the whole spiritual part of the book lacked. Because other than quickly praying a few times, Ellie never consoled God about anything. Now this book still promoted good Christian values, like purity, forgiveness, and humbleness. But other than that, I couldn't see a personal relationship with God with any of the characters. I mean, if she had listened to God, some of the bad things that happened to her could have been avoided. On top of that, the two guys Ellie dated in the books weren't Christians. That doesn't mean that she wasn't, but because of it all, I question her faith.

Content: There were a few kisses that went too far. Sex is mentioned what not described and seen before marriage as a sin.

Overall, I liked this book. The plot twists kept you on the edge of your seat. It was very interesting. I rate 4.5 stars out of five. Still, I question whether is book is entirely Christian. Other than that, it was great.

Music Review Monday #12: Give Me Love (Ed Sheeran)

Once again, I'm reviewing a British dude. No, it's not One Direction. (I won't be doing any of that for awhile) This time I'm going to review another guy who made his big debut to the USA in 2012 with 'The A Team.' His name is Ed Sheeran.

Now Ed Sheeran's style is a little different from most guys. While other men have a lot of loud songs, his music is quiet and soft. It's more acoustic and he has a soft and sensitive voice than is hard to come by. Last year, he penned One Direction's hit, 'Little Things' and this year, he contributed to Taylor Swift's hit, 'Everything Has Changed.' Also, he has been on tour with her all this year.

His latest single from his USA debut album, +, is called 'Give Me Love.' Its a soft rock that is sad. In it, he made the mistake of letting a girl go and speaks of it in his song.

"Give me love like her," he starts off. Immediately, he suggests that when his lover and him were together, they did some sleeping. "'Cuz lately I've been waking up alone/Pain splattered teardrops on my shirt/I told them I'd let you go."

He also sings that in order to take the pain away, he drinks. (In various songs, he mentions drinking) "Maybe tonight I'll call ya/After my blood turns to alcohol/Oh, I just wanna hold ya."

He begs the girl give him a second chance. "Oh, give a little time to me/Or burn this out/We'll play hide and seek/To turn this around/All I want is the taste that your lips allow/Give me love." The song goes on like that until after the second chorus. Crying out in a angry, and even forceful way, "Love me!", he sings, rather screams, this phrase many times. Afterwards, it quiets down and repeats for more than a minutes, "Give me love."

Though I do love Ed Sheeran's style, I must say that many of his songs aren't clean. This song is sweet and pretty, until  when he's practically screaming. It leads me to think he's begging her to be sexual with him, as his many other songs do.

In other songs, there is one popular line, "I can't live without you."  Some breakup songs, like this one, speak of ending their pain by alcohol or partying, but we know this isn't the way. Why do they sing about stuff like that? Because the thing there's trying to please, is the world. In the world, this life is all they have. They don't want to think of other possibility. That's why there's many party songs with lines like, "We sleep when we die."

But the truth is that when you have Jesus, you don't  need anyone else. You don't have to go to drugs or alcohol when someone leaves you, because with Jesus, you don't need anything or anyone. Of course, you dearly love the people around you and your life would be much different without them. But you don't have to fear when they do leave you, because God gives us strength to go on. We don't have trust other things to take our pain away because God is completely satisfying.

While I love Ed Sheeran's style of music, and I do like the chorus of this song, I'm not fond of his music because, though his music is soft and quiet, it talks about sex, drugs, and alcohol. This song isn't much different.

The only song Ed Sheeran song I do know that is clean is 'Lego House.' So you can check that out.

Music Reivew Monday #10: One Direction (Story of My Life)

Today, I'm reviewing a One Direction song. Actually, it might be just me, but I find this song very sad, yet meaningful in a depressing way.

Most of you know that One Direction is releasing their third studio album in just two years. Ever since their breakthrough hit, their very first song I might add, 'What Makes You Beautiful', the band soars through the charts. They have won the hearts of millions of fans all over the world.

I know a lot of Directioners, in person and over blogging. Though I've never been into them that much, I admit that they are pretty talented and hilarious. Might I add, (this is painful) a little cute. I can understand why the band has been successful. But... even so, they're not very high on my list. I'll talk about that later. (And if you don't want to read this post. Skip to the end and read.)

'Story of My Life' is a song speaking of love, tragic love actually. It begins with doubt from the girl, sometimes the boys don't get. "Written in these walls are stories I can't explain/I leave my heart open, but it stays empty/She said she didn't feel the same about us in her bones/IT seems when I die these words will be written on my stone."

Now it seems like this guy could be... talking about suicide or the breakup? "And I'll be gone, gone tonight/The ground beneath my feet is open wide/The way I've been holding on too tight/With nothing in between."

The chorus tells the story of this relationship and how it ended. "The story of my life/I take her home/I drive all night to keep her warm/And time is frozen/The story of my life/I give her hope/I spend her love/Until she's broke inside."

The second speaks of the wish to forget this girl, but the boys can't. "Leave my heart open/But it still stays in this cage/I know that in the morning now I see us in the night on the hill/Although I am broken my heart is untamed still."

No matter what they wish, they know that the relationship is hopeless. "But baby chasing your heart is like chasing the clouds."

Though this song has a bit of hope, it speaks of a hopeless and broken relationship. It speaks truth. We try to forget things. We try to forget the people who have broke us and let us down, but there are some things we just can't let go off. Thankfully, it does eventually resent living in the past. But moving on is not a subject in this ballad.

The music video, which was released today, takes a different direction. It shows the boys remembering their family as they live in the moments they can't get back.

We never known when life will take a whole different direction, as these talent completions have shown us. So we should live today as if the next day everything will know will be gone. Anything can happen. God has a plan that no one knows about. So we should 'live like there's no tomorrow'.

Of course, this doesn't really when applied to temporary relationships. Something what we want to think is good can be bad for us.

I actually do like One Direction. Don't get me wrong. I love how they're goof half the time, but when the time comes, they are willing to be serious. I've realized why One Direction is such a popular choice, especially with teenage girls. Because they care about girls. They sincerely care. Half the rap songs out these days are totally insulting to woman. That guy, Robin Thickke, who's video is still on the top ten on iTunes, actually has lyrics like, "I fell in love with 'that thing'." That makes me want to puke.

On the other hand, One Direction don't see woman as 'thing'. They're not trying to be heartthrobs either. You know they're sincere when they talk about us and they're very sweet. But, all things considered, I won't follow One Direction for really one reason. They might have good intentions, but still, they have on they wrong with that. I'm just going to say this plainly because I know it without a doubt. They're views on sex before marriage are wrong.

Think about it. They're released two albums, one to come. The hit albums are called, 'Up All Night', 'Take Me Home' and 'Midnight Memories.' What idea do you get after reading these titles? Even in this song is suggestive! No fan can deny that these guys talk about night a lot. Their hit, 'Little Things' talks about the girl talking in her sleep. Ask yourself this question. How would he know she talks in her sleep? Furthermore, how would he know she has dimples in the back of the spine? The answer is pretty clear.

You might think that this is unclear. But one song talks about it directly. A bonus track on their second album, 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' starts out like this: "Am I awake, asleep, or something in between/I can't believe that you are here/Lying next to me." You can't argue with that.

I think people just don't really realize what they really mean because, again, they have stolen the hearts of teen girls. But we have to apply this to a Biblical perspective when the world doesn't.

So while One Direction has hope, they have one gap. Purity. Losing your purity is something you can never take back, something that you could live in forever. Unfortunately, One Direction don't see value of purity.

Music Review Monday #4: You're Not Sorry (Taylor Swift)

Today I'm going to review a song by a very popular artist. Can you guess who it is? I'll  giver you  clue. Whenever this person releases a  song, the reaction from the media and her fans is.... "Wow! Okay, what famous celebrity guy is it about this time?"

Do you get it?

Taylor Swift is well known for her autobiography style to her music. She even went as far as saying the name in the song, 'Dear John', (which is probably about her ex, John Mayer) She admitted 'Forever and Always' to be about Joe Jonas on the Ellen Show. I have to admit, though I have loved Taylor Swift ever since I watched the 'You Belong With Me' video, she can be a little mean. I can even understand maybe why she would put the names in the songs, but sometimes, (The Grammys, for instance), she can go a little too far.

Actually, one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs at the moment, is a older song from her breakthrough album, Fearless. Called 'You're Not Sorry', a remix of the song was in CSI episode which Swift guest starred in.

'You're Not Sorry' talk about a relationship which Taylor is sick of a boyfriend saying "I'm sorry," when he hurts her again and again. The song is slow and mostly has piano in it. It's country rock.

"All this time I was wasting/Hoping you could come around," she begins sadly. "I've been giving out chances every time/And you do is let me down/And it's taking me this long, baby/But I've figured you out/And you're thinking we'll be fine again, but not this time around."

That's pretty much the whole song's idea. We learn what he did in their second verse. "You got your share of secrets/And I'm tired of being last to know/You're asking me to listen 'cuz it's worked each time before." She also tells the boy how much she really did love him. "You used to shine so bright, but I watch all of it fade... You can tell me that you're sorry/But I don't believe you baby like I did before/You're not sorry/No, no."

This song is mentioned in her fearless quote. "When someone keeps apologizing for things they'll stop doing, I think it's fearless to say 'you're not sorry.' I think it's fearless to walk away."

Of course, this is a good reason to break up with your boyfriend. If you realize that the guy is doing things behind your back, and he keeps apologizing, yet, he doesn't improve, you should break up with him. But what's sad is that the relationship used to be way different. When parents from a family I knew, broke up, I was sad, mostly because I remember what it used to be. That's one of the saddest parts about any broken relationships.

I was thinking about this song one day, and I thought, 'Wow, how different would we be if God applied this same thing with us?" You've apologized to God for uncountable things. I have What if God thought, "Well, you're not sorry." Then He walked away. The question is: Why doesn't He
?

He doesn't because he knows our heart. He knows when we're sorry and when we're not. Even when there's a certain time when he knows we're not sorry, but He forgives us anyway and makes us realize it. Why?

Because of Jesus. Because He died for our sins. If you put your trust in Him, He will give you  a new desire for Him. That doesn't mean you'll be perfect. You'll mess up alright. But because Jesus died for us, God can know forgive us. How? By just asking Him. He gives us that desire to change too.

Isn't that awesome to think about? God loves you so much. He'll never let you go, say 'you're not sorry', or walk away. Why? Because of Jesus. Because He is loving, kind, and forgiving.

So Swift was probably being just in her song, but we know of more just message, a message that doesn't bring us down.

Music Review Monday #3: Atlas (the lead single for Catching Fire)

I was originally going to review a Katy Perry song, but I've been talking about her a little too much lately. So I decided about two seconds ago to review a lead single to a soundtrack, Catching Fire. This song is 'Atlas' by Coldplay.

Catching Fire, the second book to the Hunger Games Series (which I am obsessed with these days). The movie is coming on this November:)

Coldplay, which I really wasn't familiar with until I noticed that the lead song from the soundtrack had been released, is a British rock band that was formed in 1996. Compared to all the stars I listen to, they are very old. The song is talking about the relationship between the book's hero and heroine, Katniss and Peeta.

Okay, I would like to say, that I read the Hunger Games books this year. At first I wasn't sure about them, but soon, after finally reading the Mocking Jay, the final book, I realized I was a Hunger Game freak! The books are so good and I love going back to them and reading the parts again, and never get tired of it. That's  something I love and look for in books. The emotion, the love, and the intensity of these books are amazing!

Okay, I had to say that. Now onto the song. It is a slow, haunting tune, which according to the lyrics, is a promise between two friends to protect each other. But also, it sounds like a cry out for guidance to... God?

Right away, the lyrics are influenced by the book."Some saw the sun," the lead singer begins. "Some saw the smoke/Some heard the gun/Some bent the bow." The violent, and cruel world is present here in this song, like 'Safe and Sound', the lead single of the first movie.

The bridge speaks of the rebellion plot in the book. "Sometimes the wire must tense for a note/Catching in the fire, oh/We are about to explode."

The promise to love and protect is in the chorus. "Carry your world/I'll carry your world." The second verse talks about many people's love for fame and adventure. "Some search for gold/Some dragons to slay."

Crying out for help, the song mentions God and Heaven, though neither is mentioned in any of the books. "Heaven we hope is just down the road/Show me the way, Lord/'Cuz I am about to explode."

The song, though doesn't have many lyrics, says a great deal of words. The connection to the book, its plot and the relationship between the two main characters, is clear. (Well, if you've read the book and seen the movie) Through it, though, Katniss and Peeta do 'carry each other's world.' Katniss by protecting Peeta's life and Peeta by protecting and comforting her heart when their world falls apart around them.

I was quite surprised to see a cry to God for guidance, since, the book, though many people die, never mentions afterlife or God. One of the few things I disliked about the books was how many characters died. But the funny thing, expect for maybe one of Katniss' dreams, no one even spoke about what would happen after death.

Though the book doesn't mention God, this song does. I'm glad it did. I've always adored the relationship between Katniss and Peeta with all my heart. This song, though doesn't involve a catchy beat or killer vocals, is beautiful. The promise and cry out to God gives us a lesson the book fails to give.

If I really like a song I'm going to post it, so here it is!

Music Review Monday #1 Article: Yours Truly

Love is something.

Innocent love, haunted love, forbidden love. All of it is a popular topic all over the world, especially in music. Sometimes I wish someone would sing about something more. But if it isn't about love, it's about partying. So I suppose I want something that, at least, means something.

 When it comes to music, there's only two options these days. Partying or love. Or you could try a combination of them both. Once in awhile you get a respect-yourself anthem. But I'm getting less and less of that lately.

Ariana Grande is known for her starring roles in Sam and Cat and Victorious. Her single, 'The Way' was very popular and reached #32 on the Hot 100 Billboard charts.

'Yours Truly' is her new album. Featuring many collaborations, it is a love themed, Marey Carey styled, R&B album.

Wholesome Content

The second single, 'Baby I' is  a sweet love song in which Ariana tries to express her loving feelings. In the end, she simply just says 'I love you.' On that note, 'Right Here' is a promise to stay true to her lover. In 'Tattoed Heart', she assures her crush that all he needs to do is love her, instead having money or playing games.

One of the only 'breakup' songs on this album is 'You'll Never Know.' Ariana informs a guy he's too late and now she's got new guy who loves her. In 'Honeymoon Avenue', she longs for to make the next step in her relationship. Still, she has hope. "I know we'll find our way home."

The lead single, 'The Way', Grande commends her boy for getting her heart. The two songs that aren't love songs, are 'Popular Song' and 'Piano.' 'Popular Song' is a triumphant song, in which Grande doesn't let bullies' get in her down. Instead of writing a sad love song, she decides to write a fun, upbeat song on her new 'Piano.'

The only sad song in this album, 'Almost is Never Enough' regrets not sticking through an relationship and wishes it wasn't too late.

Unacceptable Content

A few songs are suggestive. Guest rapper Mac Miller raps, "Your bed feeling lonely/So you're sleeping in mine." Even though Ariana knows the relationship is ending, she still wants to be physical. "Hold on, shut up, and kiss me, baby/I just wanna get a little taste before you go." (Lovin' it)

Instead of confessing her true feelings to her ex-lover, once she leaves him, she decides to party the night away. She also mentions kissing. "I'm gonna say please/Make sure they kiss me." Night is mentioned the 'Daydreamin'. "I don't want to wait for the night." It's a tad bit suggestive.

Since honeymoons do involved sleeping together, and since Grande is not married, 'Hollywood Avenue' suggests towards nights together.

In 'Right There', guest rapper Big Sean takes God's name in vain.

Conclusion

Well, there isn't much to say. You get the picture. Grande is in love. She's happy and in love. That's why I was liked about the album. A lot of artists, including Taylor Swift, can focus a little too much on the bad things about love. Ariana looks at the bright side of things in every one of these songs.

A lot of them did sound the same, and a few songs were suggestive, but overall, I loved this album! Ariana Grande has a beautiful voice. She did a little too high at times, but other than that, the vocals were lovely. The songs were catchy. Though a few rappers ruined the mood, especially in 'The Way', it was great.

Since this album is been #1 on the iTunes since it released last Tuesday, I think, for once, the public would agree with me.

Summary

Happiest Song: Baby I
Saddest Song: Almost Is Never Enough
Most Meaningful Song: Popular Song
Best Written: Hollywood Avenue
Most Sexual Content: The Way
Personal Favorite: Baby I/Popular Song

The Great Beginning... And the Horrifying Now.

Miley Cyrus has been quite a popular topic this week.

Her performance at the VMAS (MTV Music Video Awards) was with Robin Thickie  was apparently really bad. Everyone is talking about it, from secular critics to my local Christian radio station broadcaster. Yes, it was that bad. Parents are upset because that used to be the girl that their younger children looked up to on Hannah Montana. Other comments talk about having nightmares with her... front and center. Just like it has been since Sunday.

First of all, I would like to confess, that though I didn't watch this performance, but did see a few pictures, I am disgusted. But not surprised for three reasons.

1. This is VMAs we're talking about here. MTV! A lot of really terrible things happen at this award show.

2. She did a duet with Robin Thicke. His #1 video was blocked by Youtube! I don't even want to say why!

3. This is Miley Cyrus. Sure, she was good on Hannah Montana. She was great until those pictures got out about three years ago. But let's face the sad truth: That girl died. Because if you look at her back in 2009 and get a glimpse of her now. Oooo... big difference. It's sad. She's sad. She's so vain. I remember reading her autobiography a few years ago. I saw the Psalms written in it. She talked about God and how He did great things in her life. I don't know what happened, but her story is a warning. When you get older, you change. There's no way around it. Only you can decide how you want to change. You have to surround yourself with godly influences. I've heard stories like this, not about celebrities. It can happen to anyone, even you.

Okay, enough about that. Actually, the reason I'm taling about this is because I wanted to review her new song. Her album, Bangerz, (does it surprise me that I can't even pronounce that word?), is available for preorder. Not that I would want to preorder it! Six of those songs are explicit and you can tell by the album cover that this isn't very good.

'Wrecking Ball' is the lastest song by her. Though it is nothing like 'We Can't Stop', which talks about partying and taking drugs. It's more serious. It takes about a relationship, a relationship in which Miley is determine is make work, even if she has to force him into it.

Stating out, the song goes into a soft, haunting tune with Miley singing in a narrative. We see right away how violent this relationship is. "We clawed/We chained our hearts in vain." Also sexual. "We kissed/I fell under your spell/A love no one can deny."

She confesses that though this is a broken relationship, it was much more than it seemed. "Don't you ever say/I just walked away/I will always love you." Now she sings against what she seems to be already doing. "I can't live a lie/Running for my life/I will always love you."

Here comes her meatopher as the song builds up to a very powerful chorus. "I came in like a wrecking ball/I never hit so hard in love," she confesses. "All I wanted to do was break your walls, but you broke me."

Also, she sowerfully sings of how the relationship ended. "I put you high up in the sky/And now you're not coming down/It slowly turned/You let me burn/And now, we're ashes in the ground."

Miley did love this boy, so much she wanted to 'break his walls.' Some people, when their hearts have been broken before, have 'walls' when they get into other relationship. They're reluctant, shy, and sometimes even scared. 'Walls' is a popular metaphor in music.

But this song doesn't just talk about just another, regretful, sowerfull relationship. I'm afraid it is much more. The bridge hints to what could have been emotional, and even sexual abuse. Who's doing the abusing? Apparently right now, it's Miley. She even admits to being wrong about the way she 'came in like a wrecking ball'. "I never meant to start a war/I just wanted you to let me in/Instead of using force, I guess I should have let you in."

It is unclear who's fault this was. She went too far, and the boy gave it right back to her. The mentions towards a destructive, and perhaps abusive relationship come in multiple lines and ultimately, the whole idea of the song. "You wrecked me," she tells her ex-lover. 

This song has a way better message than 'We Can't Stop.' (And it doesn't want to make me puke every time I hear it) It was well written, and it was honest. But it seems as if these lovers were just abusing each other. The sad fact is that Miley meant well, and it started with something as simple as a kiss.

It's a warning. Things might start innocently enough, but they have a destructing end. Just like Miley's career. It started so innocently with Hannah Montana. Now it's gone viral... for the wrong reasons.

One thing's for sure. Miley has demolished all the trust, and respect she had from her old fans and their parents. She has pulled the final straw, and now Hannah Montana, her autobiography, and her Christian faith, has turned into memories, memories that are slowly fading away.

It's funny. Whenever I hear a song like 'We Can't Stop', my first reaction is gag! But once I realize that person is someone I used to look up to, my feeling of disgust turns to sadness. It really is sad because things might have a great beginning, but with Hollywood, you never know how it's going to end.

From Meow to ROAR!

It's been about a year since we've heard from Katy Perry when she released Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection. In her hit album, Teenage Dream, she sings

about running away with a guy, girls with binkies, fireworks, and a supernatural relationship. Though the album was explicit, sexy, and used one too many cuss words, she ended it on a good note with her moving on song, 'Wide Awake.' After her divorce, she also released a 3D movie.

Now if you are Katy Perry fan, or if you just know a little about her style, you know that she is a candy girl. (See pic)Though her hair is naturally colored black, her hair is often colored, blue, pink and purple.

But that little stunt is over.

With the release of her lead single, 'Roar', she has released four teasers. One showed her burning her blue wig. Another took place at a cemetery where they supposedly buried the old her. The third showed a cat, meowing. He eats something black, then roars. At first, I thought these teasers were a good sign. Maybe she would go back to the way thing were before with her debut Christian album. Then I came to realize that though Katy is weird, at least she is weird in a candy, innocent sort of way. Since she's putting all that behind her, what would become of her now?

She is a cat girl. Her super fans are called 'Katy Cats'. But now, she isn't a cat anymore.
If you haven't guessed it by now, she's a tiger.

'Roar's shows a new side to Katy. It is full of girl power and triumph. Letting people push her around is not a option anymore. Staying in the depths of despair is not longer doable. "I wrote it because I was sick of keeping these feelings inside and not speaking up for myself, which caused a lot of resentment," Miss Perry says, on writing this song.

Starting off, she speaks of the old her. "I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath/Scared to rock the boat and make a mess/I stood for nothing/And feel for everything."

As the song gets faster, she tells the pusher that she will no longer put up with it. "You held me down/But I got up/Get ready cause I've had enough."

What is she going to do now?

Roar! "I got the eye of the tiger/Dancing through the fire/Cause I am champion/And you're gonna hear me Roar/Louder than the than the lion." Though she is softer now, she still has a fierce side. "Now I'm floating like a butterfly/Stinging like a bee/I earned my stripes/I went from zero/To my own hero." Katy has no intention of being merciful either. "You hear my voice/You hear my sound/Like thunder, I'm gonna shake your ground."

When I first heard this song, I was delightfully surprised. Maybe this song doesn't provide the best message, it is really good for Katy! Though I've never been a huge fan because of her inappropriate music, I did enjoy some songs. This is way better than the lead single for Teenage Dream, 'California Gurls',

Through the years, Katy has been through a lot. She started out a Christian artist, but since she has gone astray. I had hopped that her divorce had perhaps woken her up.  When I heard 'Wide Awake', I was hopeful. Then I heard that she said, "My music's about to get f---ing dark."

This song isn't dark, but I pray that the rest of her album, Prism, isn't. 'Roar' talks about girls. Think about this. When a guy ticks another guy off, the another guy beats him up and it's over with. On the other hand, girls can be mad for months. They don't punch. They talk and their words leave a mark. We're emotional people and we when we 'roar', we can hurt people more than guys do. Physical scars don't hurt, but emotional ones definitely do.

Though 'Roar' is pretty clean and its triumphant message is encouraging, when I put it that way, it isn't the best message.