The Bookish Mutant

2017

Posted on December 28, 2017December 28, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Before I get on with this post, I’d like to mention a few things.

Happy Holidays, guys! I hope you all are enjoying your Holiday season!
Oops. Sorry about the absence of the BRT this Tuesday. I had just gotten off the high that was Christmas Day and the thought of doing the book review never crossed my mind. I won’t be able to do a BRT 2-year anniversary post (that would have been tomorrow) nor a first BRT of 2017 for I will be in Florida once again. Sorry, guys.

Alright, I take back what I said about 2016 being the best and worst year of my life. It’s now probably just the worst. 2017 was…well…like 2016, but a little less horrible. Like last year, lots of people died, humans did a bunch of terrible things, there’s been a bunch of horrible natural disasters, and one of the best singers of all time came out with an underwhelming fifth album. (Sorry, Annie…) What I’m saying is that it’s been one heck of a ride this year. I’m glad we’ve gotten through it…well, technically, we’ve got a couple more days, but you know what I mean.

But as with 2016, there have been some truly great things that happened this year. We’ve gotten a truckload of fantastic books (Nightfall, Darkness of Dragons, Warcross, Whichwood etc.), movies (The Last Jedi, Wonder Woman, Justice League, and even though I haven’t seen it, I know this one’s going to be awesome, The Shape of Water), albums (Everything Now, Heartworms) and TV shows (Stranger Things 2). Of course, we’ve gotten meh material from all of those categories (Thor Ragnarok, MASSEDUCTION, etc.), but man, as far as some of those things go, we’ve gotten pretty lucky. Pretty lucky to have all of these amazing things, and lucky to be alive in the first place.

And this year has been a big year for me personally as well. I’ve conquered some fears, visited some astounding and eye-opening new places (the Grand Canyon and New York City), honed my drawing skills, and realized my writing potential. Also, meeting Millie Bobby Brown at Denver Comic Con was most definitely a highlight. She was such a nice person. It was such an honor to meet her. If you’re reading this, Millie, thank you so much.

Now, 2018 is just around the bend. I’ve got hopes that we’ll further rise from the ashes of years previously, strive to be brave, strong, and kind. We can try and make the world a bit of a better place. Also, we can try and hold in our excitement for Avengers: Infinity War until May. OH MY GOD, THAT TRAILER LOOKED AWESOME!

Let’s make 2018 a great year, everyone. Together. *holds out lightsaber for no apparent reason*

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (12/19/17)-Whichwood

Posted on December 19, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi again, everyone! So glad to be back here on this oddly warmish December day! (*State Farm commerical music* Glo-bal war-ming, bum ba dum bum bum bum BUM)

As usual, I got this gem of a book from my local library, and boy, I LOVED IT!

But before this review, I have to tell you that you shouldn’t start it unless you’ve read the previous novel in the series, Furthermore. (See Book Review Tuesday-2/21/17). Though the author gives bits and pieces of the background, I still found it far easier to understand having read the previous novel. So, you might want to go back and read my Furthermore review if you haven’t read this one, and are interested. Either way, enjoy!

Whichwood

(Okay, can we just point out first that THIS COVER ART IS A GIFT TO MANKIND? I MEAN, REALLY…👌)

Laylee lives a life of sorrow and drudgery in her small village of Whichwood. Her mother is dead, her ghost haunting her at every corner. Her father left her, driven away by grief. And Laylee has taken up his job as the village mordeshoor, or the person who washes corpses in preparation for their journey to the afterlife. To top it all off, she seems to be growing sicker by the day-her hands, eyes, and hair have grown a pale, unhealthy silvery grey. But soon, her monotonous life is shattered by two other kids, and soon, she is swept off on an adventure that she’ll never forget. Will Laylee not only be cured of her sickness, but remember what it means to enjoy life?

In contrast to its prequel, Whichwood was far darker. And honestly? I loved that! From what I remember, Furthermore was lyrically written, whimsical, but almost borderline fluff. But Whichwood really blew it out of the water, introducing newer, deeper characters, spookier elements, and even better world-building than its predecessor. Such a treat to read! Such a shame that I bought Furthermore and got this one at the library…*wipes single tear from eye*

I hope you enjoyed my review, and enjoy your evening, night, morning, or whatever time it is in your time zone!

Geeky Stuff, Movies

Breathe. Just…breathe…THE LAST JEDI IS OUT!!!

Posted on December 17, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

*LOUD WOOKIEE ROARING ENSUES*

GUYS, GUYS, GUYS! THE LAST JEDI WAS AWESOME!!!!!

After the first trailer came out, I had this as my iPod wallpaper for like, a month straight or something. It was pretty dang amazing.

A word of advice: please don’t listen to the haters on this one, guys. Yeah, there’s some things that could have been improved upon, I wasn’t thrilled with a few of the new characters, but overall, it is an absolutely SPECTACULAR film. And I swear on the soul of Carrie Fisher that I won’t spoil any of the huge surprises, but I’ll tell you that both your mind and your heart will probably explode by the time the credits start rolling.

Just like in The Force Awakens, Daisy Ridley’s Rey really blew it out of the water once again. I absolutely love her-tough, fierce, and focused, but vulnerable and kind on the inside. Poe and Finn were wonderful too, aside from a few corny comments that Finn makes on the side. But hey-it’s Star Wars, you’ve gotta have a little something corny. And Kylo Ren-OH. MY. GOODNESS. HE’S SPECTACULAR. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. Something tells me that the Reylo shippers are going to go flippin’ insane after watching The Last Jedi, but now…I hate to say this, but there’s something that happens that I won’t say, but Reylo almost makes sense now. I’ll leave it at that.

Leia and Luke are wonderful as well. Leia was such a powerful character in this installment, as always, and I loved how Luke has transformed from a whiny (Sorry, Mr. Hamill…) young man into a much older and saltier one. Heck, I’m willing to bet that he’s saltier than the ocean around that island…😂 Chewie’s as lovable as always, as well.

As for the newer characters, I’ve got mixed feelings. Rose was kinda cute-a tad bit too bubbly, but she was sweet. Nowhere near as cool as Rey, but you know, nothing can possinly come close to her. I kinda hated Vice Admiral Holdo’s guts, but I kinda get the feeling that you were almost supposed to. (Also, what’s with that silver thingy in her hair? Whaaa?)

And then DJ…

GAAAAAAH. I felt PHYSICALLY UNCOMFORTABLE EVERY SINGLE TIME HE CAME ONSCREEN. SO. ****ING. CREEPY. GOD.

Also, the porgs were the best. Better than the ewoks, if I may be so bold. SO CUTE!!! They were perfect comic relief-not to annoying, and the perfect amount of feathery puffball adorableness.

SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWK!!!

The plot was also a perfect balance of Empire Strikes Back homage and startling, stunning new directions that ultimately blew my mind (and probably most everyone else’s in the immediate vicinity of the theater). Like I said, I will spoil nothing, but man-it is spectacular.

So please, fellow Star Wars fans, GET OUT THERE AND GO SEE IT!!!! PLEASE!!! I BEG YOU!!! *shrill porg screeching*

Hope you enjoyed my review!

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (12/12/17)- Star-Crossed

Posted on December 13, 2017December 13, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hey there, fellow bibliophiles! I’m back, as promised, for another Book Review Tuesday!

I just returned this book to the library *wipes single tear from cheek*, and I thought it was super cute! I found it from the Goodreads Choice Awards page, and I had read another book by the author (Barbara Dee), and I decided to give it a shot. And…it was worth it! I hope you enjoy the book and my review!

Star-Crossed

Mattie has never been an actor. But when her English teacher announces the annual 8th Grade play, Romeo and Juliet, she auditions in an attempt to change her image. She is cast as Paris, and is soon swept up in all the ins and outs of theater. Mattie also meets Gemma-she’s new, British, and she’s playing Juliet. As preparations continue, Mattie finds herself growing increasingly close to Gemma. And soon, after the actor playing Romeo becomes more and more unfit for his roles, she is cast as Romeo, bringing the two even closer than ever before. Can Mattie ace her performance as Romeo while dealing with inner struggles and questions about her sexuality?

I really enjoyed this book for a few key reasons:

1-One word-SHAKESPEARE! I’m actually reading a different Shakespeare play in my class right now (Macbeth), and his works are just all-around fabulous.

2-LGBTQ+! Mattie’s sexuality is not directly specified, but it’s implied that she is bisexual (she has a crush on Gemma and there’s a subplot where she has a crush on another boy in her class). Super cool!

Also, it’s just overall well-written, with realistic characters and a fun plot.

Thanks so much for reading this, and I hope you all have a great night! Stay warm!

(Also, I’d just like to point out that the cover looks super cute when the WordPress snow is falling on it.) 😊

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (12/5/17)-Beast and Crown

Posted on December 6, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hey there, fellow bookworms, and welcome to the first BRT of December 2017! The WordPress snow’s starting to miraculously pop into existence and float down across the surface of the computer screen…

Man, it’s already December? This year has gone by so dang fast…probably a really good thing because honestly? 2017 has been pretty sucky. Pretty much nothing compared to *last year* but you know what I mean.

Anyway, I’ve got another 2017 release (came out on my BIRTHDAY) from the author of The Fog Diver series for you today! Enjoy the review!

51wXZwQ1YLL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Beast and Crown

Ji is a servant. Sally and Roz are maid and governess. They all live in Primstone Manor, and all three of them share a wish-freedom for themselves and Sally’s little brother Chibo, who is a slave at the tapestry factory in the city. Their plan? The Summer Queen is about to choose the new heir to the throne, and the nephew of the Primstone Manor’s owner is destined to be the new king. Together, they sneak along with the fated heir into the city, but soon realize that they each have a key role in the ceremony. Will they finally gain their freedom and save Sally’s brother?

I read this sometime in October, I believe, and I thought it was really cute and fun. Not as good as The Fog Diver series, mind you, but still an inventive, enjoyable adventure.

Off topic, I always associate this song with “Pills” by St. Vincent (see my MASSEDUCTION review) because I had just downloaded it and was listening to it on repeat. It is absolutely nothing like the book or anything, but y’know. Spectacular song.

Thank you so much for reading, and stay warm!

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (11/28/17)-Warcross

Posted on November 29, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hey there, everyone, and welcome to the last BRT of November 2017! I hope you all had a spectacular break and Thanksgiving! Let’s get through the last two days of this boring months together…with BOOKS!

I read this over break, as you might have gathered. I initially found it because it was a nominee for the “Best YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy” category on the Goodreads Choice Awards this year. Scythe was there too, so I voted for it, but I clicked on Warcross because, well, to put it simply, the cover is FANTASTIC. And the description seemed really cool, too. So I checked it out at the library, and was blown away. I hope you are too!

Warcross

In the not-so-distant future, people can escape to exciting game worlds with a pair of virtual reality glasses. And one of those games is Warcross-a competitive game with a global following. Emika Chen is only one out of countless fans, but she’s got a special job-she’s a bounty hunter, searching for players who do illegal deeds in-game. But her family is struggling, so she uses her hacking prowess to steal a rare object in Warcross. Intending to snag some money, Emika instead catches the eye of the game’s billionaire creator, and is soon spwept into the International Warcross Championships, acting as an in-game spy. Rumors of corruption are spreading, with potentially global consequences. Can Emika track down the source and save the games?

I still hope Scythe will win the GCA this year, but I won’t be surprised if Warcross wins, either. Marie Lu has built an imaginative, realistic future world, complete with unforgettable characters and splendid writing. Sci-fi fans, look no further! This is the book for you.

Well, I hope you guys have a fantastic night. I promise I’ll try and get out some more fan arts for you soon. Bye bye! 😉

Animals, Random

A brief bout of cuteness overload (and other stuff like that)

Posted on November 28, 2017November 28, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Over Thanksgiving break, my mom was digging through some old CDs, and found a bunch of old photos in the process. They were all from around 2007, when I was about four years old.

I had no memory of when we had gotten two of our cats-Anakin and Padme-because, y’know, I was really little. (They are both about 10 years old, cousins, and totally inseparable <3) So I was surprised when my mom uncovered these…

This is little kitten Padme!!! AAAH! HOW WAS SHE EVER THAT SMALL????? (She’s kinda overweight now, poor thing. Sorry, Padme…)

And here’s little kitten Anakin!!! This, along with most of the other photos, were taken on the day we adopted this little Sith lord. What a cutie.

Spending time with his loving cousin. Look at those eyes!!!

Um…don’t know what’s going on here…

…Hugs?

Along with the kitten pictures came a photo of me on Halloween when I was about three. I was Princess Leia, for the second time (I had been her when I was two as well).

Great expression, huh? So regal.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my unannounced slew of kitten pictures as much as I enjoyed seeing them. Meow.

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (11/21/17)-The Secret Hour

Posted on November 21, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hey there, fellow bookworms, and welcome to this week’s BRT!

I read this book a few weeks ago at the library, and it was really interesting-it reminded me a lot of Stranger Things! So I’d definitely recommend it for all ST fans. Here’s your review!

The Secret Hour

When Jessica Day moves to the small town of Bixby, Oklahoma, she expects it to be like any other small town, where nothing ever happens. But what she thinks is far from the truth. One midnight, she wakes up, and sees raindrops, in what looks like suspended animation, frozen in the sky. Jess thinks it’s all a dream, but she’s wrong-in Bixby, times stops for one hour each night. And she’s one of the few people who can experience this “secret hour”. Soon, she finds more like her, and soon discovers that the Secret Hour is when the Darklings come out, eager for human flesh. And now it’s up to her and her fellow Midnighters to stop them.

I thought this book was really interesting and well-written. Like I said, a lot like Stanger Things-sometimes, I half expected a demogorgon to jump out of a bush or something! That would have been hilarious…

Anyway, have a great rest of your day, and watch out for the demogorgons-AHEM-sorry, Darklings while you’re at it!

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (11/14/17)-Braced

Posted on November 14, 2017November 14, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hey there, everyone! Happy November! (Well…sorta. November’s kind of a boring month, don’t you agree? I mean, it’s freezing, and the only important thing that happens is Thanksgiving, which is only celebrated in, like, 5 or 6 countries…)

One more thing before I get to the review. So, I read up to the fourth book in the Maximum Ride series (see my Halloween BRT), and books 2 & 3 were awesome, but the fourth one sucked. Just to warn you, stop at book 3 if you don’t want to be pelted with preachy info about global warming that most of us already know by now. Yeah, global warming is an insanely important issue, but the delivery of it in The Final Warning was just…ugh. Nope.

Anyway, I picked this book up at the library last week (*incredulous gasp* OH REALLY), and I thought it was really sweet. I hope you enjoy my review!

Braced

All Rachel Brooks wants is to be a normal teenage girl. And for the most part, she is. She’s a great soccer player, a steady friend group, and a boyfriend (maybe). But she’s got one thing standing in her way-scoliosis, a disorder where the spine curves sideways. Now, her scoliosis has gotten so bad that the doctor has prescribed a back brace, which she must wear under her clothes 23 hours per day. Wearing the brace changes her life-Rachel can’t play soccer as well, and now that she stands out, she’s become subject to teasing. Can she make it through the rest of middle school with her unusual challenge?

Before I read this book, I had no idea what scoliosis was. This book was very eye-opening to this disorder, and it was really interesting to learn about it. But in addition, this book was also very relatable-even if you don’t have a back brace. Rachel was a very real character, and she reminded me of a lot of girls that I’ve met. Overall, a fantastic book.

Thank you all so much for reading, and stay warm! Don’t let November bore ya too much!

Book Review Tuesday, Uncategorized

Book Review Tuesday (10/31/17)-Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

Posted on October 31, 2017December 23, 2017 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!!!!

(I have no idea what the heck that last one is, I just looked up “Halloween gifs” and it came up…

…uh…)

Weird pumpkin dude gifs aside, I’ve got a great book to review today, recommended by many friends to me and that (mostly) lived up to the hype! Enjoy!

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

Max (14), Fang (14), Iggy (14), Nudge (11), The Gasman (aka “Gazzy”, 8) and his little sister Angel (6) are all hybrid experiment, consisting of 98% human genes, and 2% bird genes. Ever since they escaped The School, the place where they were created, they’ve been running for their lives, trying to survive while evading the Erasers, dangerous, wolflike hybrids determined to bring them back. But when a pack of Erasers kidnaps Angel, they must search much of the U.S., rescue her, and above all, avoid being seen by normal humans. Can they survive the dangerous trek, and get Angel back?

Like I said earlier, at least four or five of my friends read this previously, and they all LOVED (and I mean LOOOOVED) it. I would have read it sooner as well, if it hadn’t been on hold at the library for such an egregious amount of time. *fumes* Anyway, I thought it was a very creative, fun, and adventurous Book. I’ve already read book 2 (School’s Out-Forever) and I currently have book 3 (Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports) on hold. Pretty psyched! I recommend it to all of you! Yes, ALL OF YOU!

I hope you guys have a WONDERFUL Halloween, eat lots of candy, dress up in awesome costumes!