Mockingjay Review

is the third book of The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins and it had me riveted from start to finish. I can't remember the last time I was caught up in a series of books, to the extent that I would read them in bed - IN THE MORNING!

Why was Mockingjay so addictive? I guess it was the ongoing love triangle of Peeta, Gale and Katniss. And the end of Catching Fire left us with a cliffhanger, which was very clever. It made you want to grab Mockingjay immediately!

Then there was the desperation to know that IF she survives, who will Katniss end up with? Peeta, Gale? Or neither of them? Would any of them die? What about the other characters who made it through The Hunger Games and Catching Fire? People like Haymitch and Katniss' family - even the hideous, so inappropriately named cat Buttercup? Would they make it to the end of the story?
Following her rescue by the Rebels from The Arena in Catching Fire, Book 2 of The Hunger Games Trilogy, District 12 Tribute Katniss Everdeen discovers that District 13 does indeed still exist. Still shocked and upset by the capture of Peeta Mellark by The Capitol, Katniss is told by Gale Hawthorn that District 12 has been destroyed and many people, including children, have been killed.
Pressure is brought to bear for Katniss to represent the symbol of The Rebellion and she finds out that before his death, her stylist Cinna had manufactured a Mockingjay suit for her to wear. In return for agreeing to the wishes of President Coin, Katniss demands that all previous Hunger Games Victors are granted immunity and she also wants the right to kill President Snow, assuming either she has the opportunity or he is captured.

Realising that Katniss is more likely to co-operate with what she wants, President Coin orders the rescue of Peeta and the others captured by The Capitol, including Annie, the girl loved by Finnick Odair, who allied himself with Katniss in the 75th Hunger Games that took place in Catching Fire.

However, Peeta has been tortured and altered by the use of Tracker Jacker venom, to turn him against Katniss and he no longer knows the difference between real memories and those forced on him by The Capitol. As a result he tries to kill Katniss and at first her love and concern for him turns to hate..
The story wends its way through several journeys. The journey to try to recover Peeta's true character and memories and the journeys to various Districts to complete the rebellion and ultimately The Capitol itself.

Each stage of the journey brings more hardships and more deaths. Katniss finds it hard who to believe and who to trust and ultimately she ends up in command of a small group that she deceives in order to convince them they must go to The President's Mansion so she can kill Snow.

However, one last death plus a conversation with President Snow opens up Katniss' eyes that in a way President Coin from District 13 is as ruthless and untrustworthy as Snow - that she too will stop at nothing to get her own way.
The final twist to the story is a shocking as some of the other deaths and it is not until the final pages that you find out what happens to Katniss.

source: http://www.squidoo.com/mockingjay-review 

The Twelve

The Twelve is an American comic book limited series from Marvel Comics, which the company announced in July 2007 would run twelve issues beginning spring 2008, with the creative team of writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Chris Weston. The series stars 12 obscure characters from Marvel's earliest incarnation as Timely Comics from the 1940s period historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books.

Plot synopsis

As related by the Phantom Reporter: During the World War II Battle of Berlin in 1945, a dozen of the many superheroes and masked crimefighters of that era are ambushed by Nazis in the basement of an SS building, where the heroes are gassed and placed into cryogenic suspension for later experimentation, but the building is air bombed soon after and anyone aware of their situation is killed. In the present day, construction workers find this bunker, and the Twelve, as they become known, are revived. Put into the care of the U.S. military, they are housed together in a mansion where they receive counseling and support, are gradually made to understand that decades have passed, and are offered a role as heroes in the 21st century.
The Twelve adjust in various ways: The Blue Blade becomes a celebrity; the Phantom Reporter starts a column for the Daily Bugle, Dynamic Man allies himself with the FBI and other law-enforcement agencies and throws himself into heroics; the Black Widow reconnects as the "instrument of vengeance" of an unknown party and begins going on missions; and Rockman bemoans being cut off from an underground kingdom that may or may not exist. On ballistics evidence, police arrest the Laughing Mask for a 1940s murder. In addition, the daughter of the creator of the robot Electro reclaims possession of the robot.
In the framing story (set "much later"), the Phantom Reporter, gun in hand, stands over the body of the Blue Blade, regretting the man's death and vowing to find the killer.
The Phantom Reporter is able ultimately to reveal the killer, in a classic mystery setup that involves rounding up the rest of the cast from their various pursuits and explaining the events step by step. The recent spate of unexplained crimes, including an attack on a gay bar Dynamic Man had visited, was carried out by Electro under the control of Dynamic Man, who is forced to admit he also is an artificial being. Blue Blade, after hooking himself up to Electro's control apparatus, discovered this, and so DM had Electro attack and kill him. Phantom Reporter has the Fiery Mask burn off DM's costume, revealing him to be a "man" who will never be anatomically correct. It is inferred that his creator's phobias about sexual purity were transferred to DM, thus explaining his discomfort with interracial marriages and the homophobia he has displayed throughout the series. He attacks the mansion, trying to trap and kill the others, but all manage to escape due to a sacrifice by Rockman.
After fleeing to his creator's home and laboratory, he is confronted by Phantom Reporter along with Captain Wonder, Mastermind Excello, and Fiery Mask. DM kills Fiery Mask by crushing his larynx, but FM manages to pass his powers along to the Phantom Reporter. DM is destroyed by the Reporter, while Captain Wonder holds him in place, suffering horrible burns. Later, at a funeral for Fiery Mask, the others discuss their future plans. Mister E plans on retiring to spend time with his family, to make up for his previous rejection of his Jewish identity. Rockman is not found, though it's believed he escaped and may have finally found his lost underground world and family.
The Witness leaves, to work with SHIELD to find those who deserve justice, with Nick Fury's blessing. He is seen confronting a "wanted" man in South America, at some later date. Phantom Reporter states he never saw The Witness again. Captain Wonder goes back into action, but with a gold half-mask covering his facial scars. Mastermind Excello has used his wealth to buy a private security company, renamed EXC Enterprises, and sets up Phantom Reporter and the Black Widow as operatives. Laughing Mask is given a deal (which views his cryogenic sleep as time served) for his previous crimes and now controls Electro, going after terrorists in sanctioned military strikes. Despite the history of loss, betrayal and punishment, the series ends on a note of hope for the survivors. In the closing scene, Phantom Reporter, in a new "combat suit" with a flame emblem, and Black Widow, back in her old "spider web" costume, are seen heading towards a new mission at an unknown location, having been sent there by Mastermind Excello's "EXC Corporation". Richard and Claire now seem, according to the phrase repeated over and over by Richard, to now be called "Fire" and "Shadow".

 source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_comic

The Mark of Athena Review

Oh my gods! Words cannot describe how pissed I am right now! I waited one whole year for The Son of Neptune to come out and it ends with a cliffhanger?

Knowing that I have to wait to 2012 in agony, trepidation and curiosity until The Mark Of Athena comes out - it really annoys me. But what annoys me more is that I know that I will end up formulating a whole pile of theories, probably inaccurate ones, until TMOA is released.

Great title by the way. I can already tell this book is going to be epic - because I mean, come on, it has Percybeth and all the other great things that Camp Half-Blood and Jupiter have to offer!

I have to let this out: AHHHHHH, I cannot wait, excited is pretty much the under statement of the century! OMFG, just want to get my hands on this now.

Okay, now that's all over *composes herself* I shall continue: Yes, blah blah blah I stop speculating now - this book was only just announced. But beware, when I come back with the latest on this new Heroes of Olympus I'll probably be totally crazy!

January: Okay, since everyone on Goodreads, and I mean everyone are blogging their predictions I'm going to do the same.

Now, let's start with the obvious:
1) The two camps will go to Greece
2) Percybeth will be united. *Does a happy dance*
3) It's going to be really awkward when Hazel and Leo are introduced
4) There will be action and butt will be kicked (pray to the Gods it's not Percy's)

Now, this is a list of my theories, we'll kick off with the love issues to get them out of the way.
1) NOTHING is going to happened to Percybeth. That is too awesome to end.
2) Hazel and Frank will stay together (because honestly, no one could think of a sweeter couple) and when Leo finds out about Sammy he'll go like 'woahh' and then shrug it off with a joke and lighten the mood.
4) Jason and Piper will still stay together. Yeah, Reyna didn't really start anything with Jason... so I'd be kinda lame if she did now.
5) Anyway, now to more fun stuff: It's told from Annabeth's point of view (pleasseee Mr. Riordan) and she does some serious stuff in Athens.

And that's it! Yeah, I know I only made a couple of real predictions but honestly speculating is such a waste - Riordan surprises me every time!

April: It has a cover! Well, not really, I suppose the release date in cool font on a not as cool background. However, it is an improvement! And we have a release date, October the 2nd. Only five more months! I know what you're thinking - five is too long. But seriously? Considering we have been waiting 7 months already it's not that bad.
source : http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/219663143

The Cat in the Hat

Poor Dick and Sally. It's cold and wet and they're stuck in the house with nothing to do . . . until a giant cat in a hat shows up, transforming the dull day into a madcap adventure and almost wrecking the place in the process! Written by Dr. Seuss in 1957 in response to the concern that "pallid primers [with] abnormally courteous, unnaturally clean boys and girls' were leading to growing illiteracy among children, The Cat in the Hat (the first Random House Beginner Book) changed the way our children learn how to read.
source : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233093.The_Cat_in_the_Hat