Book Review: Tower of Dawn

(MILD SPOILERS)

Title: Tower of Dawn

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Rate: 3,5/5 

I was very excited to read this new book, but I didn't have many expectations regards TOD, simply because Chaol isn't my favorite character. I've always thought that his journey was not very interesting and despite the fact that he had always been there for Dorian I didn't think that this adventure would be something epic. 

And it wasn't. Firstly, I considered that some parts of this book were extended - especially the scenes between Chaol and Yrene. Then, there were some other parts of the book that were cut - and those were the ones where others characters would have the opportunity to develop themselves.

But let's get back to Chaol (and Yrene). These two were meant to be from the moment they saw each other. I knew that Yrene's repulse for everything that was from Adarlan would end up not being very important or both of their journeys because if she was to be the doctor and he the patient, they had to get along somehow.

Then we have Chaol: his character development is impressive, but not amazing. I knew he would end up redeeming himself and seeing that those things that happened in Crown of Midnight weren't entirely his fault. I thought that when I read the second book of this series, and I still think about it now. 

On the other side of this narrative, we have Nesryn. This amazing character didn't have enough plot time, I believe. By the end of the book, I felt that there were some important chapters missing and I really wish she could've become a part of the narrative just as important. 

Speaking of the end of this book, it really was what I didn't like. I felt that the last 70/50 pages were written in a sort of a rush because there is so much that is cut out and then spoken by the characters also in a rush.

Because of all of these reasons, I could only give 3,5 stars because I know that the author can do so much better and the story deserved some space to develop some characters and give time to let the others breathe. 

TV Series Review: House of Cards (Season 1)

House of Cards (Netflix)

This is probably the series that put Netflix on our series radars (along with Orange is the New Black). Being a political series, I was very interested to watch it and the episodes lived to the hype but did not offer much else. Somehow, I ended up being a bit disappointed at the end of this season, even though I want to keep watching it. I feel that season 1 was just a warm-up and I hope that's true.

We have this very charismatic characters, Frank Underwood, who actually looks at you, something unusual and probably the best selling point of this series. All we need is a look from him (when he's talking to the President or when someone is upsetting him) to feel like we belong to his family.

And speaking of family, in series like Scandal, Frank and Claire would be considered the bag guys, the villains of an episode or two. But here, I didn't have an opinion on them during the first 5 episodes and then I thought that it didn't really matter, because they are the main characters and at the end of the day we will be rooting for them, no matter how bad they might be to other people.

The highlight of this badness is Peter Russo. This congressman is chosen by Frank to run for Governor of his State, but his past eventually takes the best of him. This, of course, because of Frank. Peter is not a bad person, he just didn't have an easy life and made bad decisions. Frank makes him believe that he can overcome this, but he is also the one who takes the final blow.

The consequences are not shown during this season, except for the fact that Zoe Barnes and her other two journalist friends are trying to figure out what really happened. A storyline that was left open for season 2.

On the other side of the partnership, we have Claire, CEO of the CWI. She is faced with so many bumps in the road but her face does not let it show. However, Gillian, when faced with the hypocrisy, decides to take action and now Claire has to face a lawsuit. Another storyline that will surely be developed during season 2.

So, in the end, this first season offered a good introduction to Frank and Claire's story, but it did not have the development the first episode promised. On the other hand, the good cinematography, the great actors, and some captivating storylines made season 2 even more promising.

Book Releases: October 2017

1 - Turtles All the Way Down, by John Green

Release date: 10th of October
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Ruseel Pickett, byt there's a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett's son, Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student ad maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

(Source)

2 - Origin, by Dan Brown

Release date: 3rd of October
Synopsis:
Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao to attend a major announcement - the unveiling of a discovery that "will change the face of science forever." The evening's host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose dazzling high-tech inventions and audacious predictions have mad him a renowned global figure. Kirsch, who was one of Langdon's first students at Harvard two decades earlier, is about to reveal an astonishing breakthrough... one that will answer two of the fundamental questions of human existence.

As the event bing, Langdon and several hundred guests find themselves captivated by an utterly original presntation, which Langdon realizes will be far more controversal than he ever imagined. But the meticulously orchestrated evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch's precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever. Reeling and facing an imminent threat, Langdon is forced into a desperate bid to escape Bilbao. With him is Ambra Vidal, the elegant museum directos who worked with Kirsch to stage the provocative event. Together, they flee to Barcelone on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch's secret.

(Source)

3 - The Ship of the Dead, by Rick Riordan

Release date: 3rd of October
Synopsis:
Magnus Chase, a once-homeless teen, is a resident of the Hotel Valhalla and one of Odin's chosen warriors. As the son of Fey, the god of summer, fertility, and health, Magnus isn't naturally inclined to fighting. But the has strong and steadfast friends, including Hearthstonethe elf, Blitzen the dwarf , and Samirah the Valkyrie, and together they have achieved brave deeds, such as defeating Fenris Wold and battling giants for Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. Now Magnus and his crew must sail to the farthest borders of Jotunheim nd Niflheim in pursuit of Asgard's greatest threat. Will they succeed in their perilous journey, or is Ragnarok lurking on the horizon?

(Source)

4 - Without Merit, by Colleen Hoover

Release date: 3rd of October
Synopsis:
The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother's former nurse, the litle half-bother isn't allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest sibling are irritantingly perfect. Then, there's Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn't earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark a renewed life into her - until she discovers that he's completely unavailable. Merits retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she's never been part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with th staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

(Source)