Tag Archives: Harry Potter

Kresley Cole: Endless Knight (The Arcana Chronicles)

Book review, World of Books October 6, 2013 Comments: 7

To sum up my thoughts about this book – Aaarrrrgggggghhhhh!!!!!

There I am, all immersed, last time I checked how much is left I see I have around 100 pages, so there’s enough to come yet and then suddenly – the cliffhanger end. Hence my summary. Each time I think about it, my mind screams in frustration.

But it’s all good. 🙂 The fact is, K. Cole writes in such a way that gets you hooked up on the story and once it ends, well, all there is left for you is to scream in frustration. Even when the story in the book is actually finished, the frustration stems from the fact that the wait to the next one is too long.

I should warn you now, there will be spoilers ahead.

The story continues exactly where Poison Princess ended, Evie coming into her powers, Jack having problems dealing with it and Death continuously haunting Evie. Along with other Arcana (characters from the Tarot, the Major Arcana where only one can survive), Teeth (humans who now crave human flesh because they are enchanted by Hierophant) and zombies.

In the beginning, I was reminded a lot of the Hunger Games, mostly because you have 22 kids where only one can survive (their arena being basically the US). And this is where the similarities end.endless-knight-250x375

Evie didn’t learn beforehand what she was so she’s still learning and finding her way among the ruins after the Flash, trying not to get killed, learning her powers (and the past lives in this power struggle) and figuring out boys.

Honestly, I didn’t see how K. Cole would turn the whole situation with Death into a love story but I knew it would happen. We got some seriously unexpected twists to the story and I was already wondering how come Evie got all turned up in her head around Jack but it turned out she only needed time to work things out.

As with Death as well. I completely understand now why she said she felt sorry for him when her grandma asked about his card. Which brings me to her Grandma from which Evie’s mother separated her as she kept telling Evie stories that were considered crazy. Seems that was a lucky call as families of the players turn them into vicious killing machines which luckily Evie isn’t this time around.

Basically, if you enjoy YA, you shouldn’t miss this series. And if you haven’t started yet, you might want to wait until book 3 comes out. 😉

What I especially loved about this book is the HP references (that is bound to be a plus to any book I read). But it’s not only the references themselves in the text, I also got reminded of what the fight in the HP is about from the words of Dumbledore. Those who are evil do not believe in the power of love and those who love don’t consider themselves strong because of it. That is the main reason I believe Evie is considered weak in this round even though she is the Empress – mercenaries have no time or inclination to love. And Evie loves many people. So, I’m hoping that will actually be what saves her and the people she loves this time. Although I cannot imagine that happening without one of her two male loves dying. 😦 Oh well, at least I’m prepared. 😉

I also wonder if Jack will turn out to be the Arcana card that comes into power only after killing another Arcana. I’m also wondering if we’ll meet other cards that haven’t made an appearance yet.

The Endless Knight from the title is Death (he’s millenia old because he was the winner in the last 3 rounds). But it’s also a very good play on words as in this book the sun and light slowly disappear all together and it’s what Evie needs for her powers. It’s becoming and endless night for her…

The Arcana Chronicles

I am such a freak – when it comes to Harry Potter

I've been thinking, World of Books May 10, 2013 Comments: 19

People who know me are aware of that fact but I surprise myself now and then.

Btw, actually two people who I know independently of one another, learned they both know me because one of them mentioned Harry Potter in passing. So, there you have it. 🙂

But what I want to discuss today is actually something else. I re-read the series for the umpteenth time 2 days ago. And when I say umpteenth, it means more than 10.

Honestly, I actually thought there wouldn’t be anything new in the books this time around. Well, I was, ofharry course, completely wrong about that.

This time around I found new funny moments, realized that Charlie Weasley actually never appears in the movies even though I’d say he plays a big enough role in the books to merit one. I was amazed I never wondered what happened to Harry Potter’s grandparents (none of them seem to be alive).

Those were just some of the things going through my head while reading this time (I’ve also been figuring out many twists in the book which I previously ignored).

But the thing that makes me think I’m a bit freakish when it comes to HP is the fact that each time I finish it, I want to start over. Straight away.

And it ruins books for me for a while. I want to start reading something new but nothing I pick up just seems to be as good and reading-wise fulfilling as HP.

It will pass with time (it always does) and I seem to have found a book to tide me over in the meantime (P. Briggs: Frost Burned).

Musings on the subject of Harry Potter (again)

I've been thinking August 8, 2011 Comments: 22

There is a good saying in Croatian that I cannot translate into English and retain the same idea. But the gist is that while everyone talks about different subjects, the person in question always returns to the same.
In my case, that would be Harry Potter.
Well, it is the season after all, what with the last movie playing. 🙂

Since I’m on vacation, and I obviously needed it (vacation that is), as the only thing I can read at the moment is HP. Not being interested in reading is in my case a serious sign that I am stressed out. So, I’m de-stressing through HP, as that one always works.
And here are my musings on the subject:

  • The HP series ALWAYS works when I need to relax and find peace and calm in my life.

  • I hate the fact that the movies made me forget so many details from the books (especially beginning, as I usually skip that and read the longer books).

  • I don’t know how many times I re-read the series, but I seem to be getting all the hints as to what is to come, only now. I can see where certain points in the story are going to come back later on as important details as to what exactly is happening. And I think Rowling is a genius the way she incorporated those little hints all over the books.
  • Books are much better at getting Harry’s tragic and black childhood understood. Movies cannot transfer that bleakness onto the screen. Nor everything going through Harry’s mind. Which brings me back to the question how much can people actually get from the movies.

  • I need to learn to read more slowly. Because I think that is the reason why I missed many little gems and hints hidden in the stories.

  • I wasn’t sure movies ought to have had so many fun moments (especially later on) but they are there in the books as well. And I laugh much more this time around reading. I’m frustrated much more too, though.

  • Bravery is something you are born with. So is the ability to be a true friend.

  • I wish there was more of the backstory what happened between Hermione and Krum.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Part 2.

World of Perfume July 14, 2011 Comments: 6

As you all probably know by now, I’m a huge Harry Potter fan.

So, of course I had to watch the last movie as soon as it started playing here, which was yesterday.

Basically, I am content. 🙂

I’ve had serious misgivings about The Half-blood Prince movie, but both Deathly Hallows movies were great.
Now, I have no misgivings regarding the changes they made to the story as it works great in the film, every part of the book I consider important is in this movie and in the midst of all that destruction that is the end of the Voldemort-Potter story, the movie managed to put in some scenes that make you laugh.
In my case, there are also scenes that make you cry as well.  But it’s never pathetic and the love causing them feels real.
And speaking of scenes, I don’t know what rating this movie has, but I wouldn’t recommend children watching it. It is rather brutal and dark.

I’ve had no problem following the story and understanding why things happen and who did what, but again, I can’t help but wonder how do people who never read the books manage to follow the story and how much do they actually get out of it? I have to think not as much as the readers of the books.

I’m not going to give any spoilers as I don’t want to ruin the experience of those who didn’t watch.
I just can’t help but feel a sense of closure I didn’t really feel after reading the book.
I guess that’s due to the fact that I wanted it to go on and in the mean time, I had enough time to come to terms that the story is finished and now that I saw it on the movie screen, it finally feels done.
And I mean that in the best possible way.

As I’m already planning when to go see it again. 🙂

P.S. I need to add one observation more. I think Daniel Radcliffe is an outstanding actor as there are parts in the movie when one might consider his acting stilted when actually he is portraying the HP character as he is supposed to. Harry doesn’t feel comfortable in all the situations happening in the book/movie and that is portrayed by Daniel’s acting.

Finally a HP movie worthy of the book

World of Perfume November 22, 2010 Comments: 8

Honestly, after the disaster that was the HP 6 movie, I didn’t expect the first part of the Deathly Hallows to be so much better. I don’t know if it was directed by the same person (I never remember these things) but if it was, I think whoever it was listened to what people had to say after movie 6. As someone who is a huge fan, I watched all the movies again previously to Deathly Hallows coming out, except for movie 6 because I’m still boycotting it. It was just a huge disappointment for me.

So, I am extremely glad that this one was everything I expected after reading the series several times. It’s dark, it sticks to the story so well that I, for a chnage, didn’t have any complaints as to the changes that were made for the movie, which I think is a first for me, the story feels real and the acting is excellent. There really isn’t anything that I have any complaints about – except the fact that I need to wait 8 months for the last installment. But I waited so long for the last book, I can survive these 8 months. I’m a bit scared of thinking how tragic that one is going to be, but well, the book wasn’t very happy (or almost at all).

One thing I’m wondering though is how are people who haven’t read the books enjoying these movies?! I just can’t imagine not reading the books but going to watch the movies (and I know many who did exactly that). I keep thinking they must be missing so many things I take for granted as I read the books and they have no underlying knowledge why some things happen or what they represent. Not to mention the fact that they probably forgot the stories (and little important bits of information) from the previous movies.

Can you tell I’m a huge fan? 🙂

Harry Potter musings

I've been thinking June 22, 2010 Comments: 10

I don’t want to write reviews of Harry Potter books – I could write about the Croatian translation which I was forced to read when starting the series again as I couldn’t locate my English one. It’s incredible how a translation can be at the same time brilliant and completely miss the point. The words JK Rowling invented were put into Croatian geniously but the language in which the book is written is in my opinion completely wrongly translated. This is a children’s book and is written in such a language (I recommend it to my friends whenever someone wants to brush up on their English) but I cannot read the Croatian one in the same manner. It displays the richness of Croatian language but I have to concentrate on what I’m reading in order to understand, and I keep wondering how are the children reading it managing. And if there is one thing this book has to do, it has to be approachably written (translated) for children. But this is not what I wanted to discuss.

I wrote recently about the depressing turn my life has taken and the first thing I could think of of alleviating that pain and depression was Harry Potter books. And I’m happy to be reading them from the beginning (I usually re-read just the last 3) because the movies made me forget how many things are actually missing from them.

But the point I’m trying to make is, Harry Potter is my therapy. When I need to feel better and want to lose myself in a world where my problems don’t exist, I go there (sometimes I go to Middle Earth as well, but HP is more approachable). With each reading, I get more and more from these books. The friendship, the loyalty, the bravery, all in the face of much adversity, human evil and pain (both physical and emotional).

The books are progressively darker (and longer which is a great plus) and even though people start to die, the evil starts to spread, and friends are sometimes not there for you, the reader never loses the thread of hope that being true to the human ideals we should all posess is what will win in the end and bring about a happy future.

I just finished the fourth one and I wouldn’t be writing this post but reading the book 5 if only I was able to find it. Like I said, I keep offering them to people. 🙂 So now I have no idea where it is. I’m not really worried about that (although I do wish I could have started with it tonight) – tomorrow I’m off to my favourite bookstore because they notified me that some other books I ordered have arrived, so I’ll just add this to the pile. I can live with not starting to read it tonight, but tomorrow I have to go on. 🙂

New books challenge! Summer at Hogwarts

World of Perfume June 5, 2010 Comments: 2

This one is definitely for me (yes, I’m aware I said the same for the Romance Summer challenge too). 🙂

But the thing is, I love Harry Potter books and I was thinking about reading some of them again but not sure where to start so now I know. At the beginning. 🙂

If you are interested in participating, head on over to Loving Books and enjoy. You have 2 months (summer at Hogwarts) starting June 1 to finish all 7 books (which is plenty of time).
Hope you join!

P.S. It seems she was a bit mistaken (I realized it only when I started reading the series again). Summer holidays at Hogwarts start with the July 1.

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