What I'm Watching: Summer Edition

I've been asked a bunch of times about summer shows. And thanks for that, y'all! It feels really awesome to know that I'm your 'go-to' when it comes to good TV! <3

So here's what I'm watching this summer!

Returning shows:

True Blood
Season 5
June 10
HBO/HBO Canada

Big Brother
Season 14
July 10
CBS/Global

Hell's Kitchen
Season 10
June 4
Fox/CityTV

Breaking Bad
Season 5
July 15
AMC

New shows:


The Newsroom
June 24
HBO/HBO Canada

Longmire
June 3
A&E

Saving Hope
June 7
NBC/CTV

And of course, I'll also be trying to catch up on a few shows over the summer. Those are:

The Vampire Diaries
Mad Men
Falling Skies
Friday Night Lights 

And possibly a few others if I have time. ;)

So there you go! What will YOU be watching this summer?

Book Review-- Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Paperback
387 pages
Release date: January 5, 2012
Publisher: Puffin
Series: Lunar Chronicles #1
Author: Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .  Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Wow, did I love this book!
Seriously, a re-imagining of Cinderella where she's a CYBORG?! That's brilliant!

Sometime in the distant future--in a dystopian society-- androids and cyborgs are common, but definitely not seen as equals.

War looms and a plague has been killing people around the world for years.
Cinder, a mechanic, is doing what she can to survive--as well as working to support her step-mother and step-sisters.
Her only friend is an android named Iko, and her whole world suddenly changes when Prince Kai brings his android to her for repairs.

I adore Cinder. She's just so likable and my heart went out to her. The poor girl goes through hell!
Kai is also great. He's a prince, but he's not very princely. I prefer my royalty real and nice and not-snobbish, don't you? ;)

I can't really say much more without giving away key plot points, but I will tell you that I'm REALLY looking forward to book 2.

Ms. Meyer's vivid retelling of this story is fresh and new and wonderful, and I can't wait to see where she goes next!

I highly recommend Cinder to teens age 13+, and to you moms, too!

Book Review--The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

eGalley
Release date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: Steampunk Chronicles #2
Author: Kady Cross
Thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Teen for providing this ARC for review.

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.  Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

It was a true pleasure to read book 1, The Girl in the Steel Corset (see my review here) and book 2, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar back-to-back.

While I really enjoyed book 1, book 2 was even better!

Finely is just an amazing character. I can't sing her praises enough. I just LOVE the girl to death! What a great character for teen girls to relate to!
And Emily--Ah, Em. Yep, she's still my fave for sure!

In this book the gang travels to New York, giving a whole new look to the series--and a new set of troubles to Finley and friends!

Clockwork Collar has a really cool 'Gangs of New York' vibe that I LOVED. And the historical accuracy Ms. Cross adds to the pages is wonderful!

This book is the perfect compliment to the series opener. We learn more about Finley and Griffin, Sam and Emily. Jasper has a much larger role, and we meet a new cast of characters that I loved to hate! ;)

The one small complaint that I have? No Jack Dandy. ;)
But I do understand why he's not included. With Finley on a whole other continent, there's really no way--or cause--to bring Jack into the plot.
I do hope he's in book 3, which I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for.

Steampunk Chronicles has very quickly become my new 'must-read' series!

YA Book Review-Talisman of El

E-book
Source: Net Galley
Published: May 20th, 2012
Publisher: Centrinian Publishing
Series: Talisman of El #1
URL: www.talismanofel.com

One Planet.Two Worlds. Population: 7 billion....Humans. Others ... unknown. When 14 year old Charlie Blake wakes up sweating and gasping for air in the middle of the night, he knows it's happening again. This time he witnesses a brutal murder. He's afraid to tell anyone. No one would believe him...because it was just a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago - the day before his dad died. Charlie doesn't know why this is happening. He would give anything to have an ordinary life. The problem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home. He belongs with the others.

Charlie is a 14 year old boy who's had a rough life. He's lost his mother, then his father, and now his adoptive dad turns out to be a criminal.
But things are about to get even more difficult...
Alecia Stone paints a beautiful picture of Arcadia, a heaven below the earth.
Charlie and his gang go through turmoil and conflict that will test even the bravest among them in a world full of fantasy, angels and demons.
I really enjoyed the world of Arcadia. It's often described so perfectly that it was very easy to imagine the world as I read this book.
The people and creatures of Arcadia are also fun to experience.

This book is a YA novel, but even so, I felt the plot was somewhat muddied at times. I often found myself confused when transitioning from one scene to the next, and keeping the hirearchy of Arcardia straight was difficult.

That being said, this is a fun little book. It would be a perfect starter book for your not-into-reading preteens/young teens between 11 and 14 or so, and this would definitely be a great starter book for boys.
This is only the first in a trilogy, and I expect many more great adventures are in store for Charlie and his gang in the next two books.

(You can purchase Talisman of El here.)

Supernatural: Survival of the Fittest

So I've been sitting here for an hour trying to decide how I feel about this episode!

I mean, it was GOOD, yes. And it DID make up for the sub-par season...But it wasn't the strongest season finale. Not by a long shot.
We've been here before, haven't we? With one of the boys trapped on the other side, leaving the other boy alone and trying to find a way to get him back?

Argh, even as I write these words I'm of two minds about what I just watched! So forgive me. This might be a crappy review.

Let's begin!

The opening? AWESOME. Loved it to death!
Flashbacks of the whole season to 'Wayward Son'? Perfect!

Now--

Crowley and Dick are making a deal. A deal I am NOT okay with! Crowley gets CANADA?! I happen to LIVE in Canada and being Crowley's slave isn't....wait. Crowley's slave?
Okay, on second thought, I'm okay with that. ;)

So they make a deal. Crowley is going to give the boys a vial of not-Crowley blood in exchange for Canada.
The demon pulls out a looooooong contract--because Dick doesn't kiss on the mouth--and the two start revising to make sure the wording is correct.

Meanwhile, the boys are driving and they hear on the radio that Dick is holed up at Sucrocorp.
They head to a crypt to find a 'righteous bone' to kill him with, then go back to the cabin and summon Crowley.
Crowely doesn't show. At least not right away.

Meg, however, does arrive, with Castiel in tow.
Dean goes out to talk to Cas...who's sitting in the car listening to Cat Stevens...I think?..and talking about how cruel it is to test cosmetics on monkeys.

Dean gets the fallen angel into the cabin and he tells the boys that the garrison is dead and the prophet--Kevin--has been taken.
Just then, Crowley shows up and tells the boys he was trapped by Dick.
He's pissed that Sam and Dean lied about Cas being dead, then realizes that Cas is bonkers once he opens is mouth.
The demon explains that the Leviathan wants him to give the boys fake blood and hands over a vial of what he says IS indeed his own blood.
The boys are wary, but they don't have much of a choice. They have to trust that the blood is real.

Flash to Bobby--who, if you recall, is now possessing the body of a motel maid.
He's carrying a package and a newspaper with Dick's picture front and center.
He tries to steal a truck, but touches a pure iron crowbar and he's ejected from the body.
The poor woman pleads with Bobby--and it looks like he's about to give in--and then he spies the picture of Dick on the newspaper and once again jumps into the maid's body.

Over at Sucrocorp, Kevin the Prophet is locked in a room. A girl is locked in with him. He realizes that she'll be no help. She's as high as a kite.
A guard brings her a dress and tells her to put it on, and Kevin steals on of the hair pins to use as a lockpick.
He uses it to escape after the guard takes the girl away....and gets caught.

Dick has an arm brought to him. The arm of the original Dick Roman.
He then greets the arriving Leviathan big-wigs.
In the Leviathan meeting, Dick explains his plan.
He's going to divide up the country into regions. One region for breeding, one for livestock, etc. Blech!
He then brings in the girl to show-off his new formula. With one injection, he'll easily kill all of the skinny, smart, short people in the country. Ack!

Back to the boys!

Now that they've got all the ingredients, they make the magic kill-Dick bone. They have no idea if it'll work.
Then Cas brings them.....sandwiches?...and he tells them he's not going with them when they go do the deed.

The boys head to Sucrocorp, and hack into the security feed (thanks to Charlie!).
In an odd turn of events, they see not one, but THREE Dick's on the cameras! Now we know why he kept that arm!
And who does Sam then spy walking toward the building? The motel maid! He quickly realizes that she's Bobby and he confronts her. Him. Whatever.
Bobby, being all vengeance-y, almost kills Sam. Luckily he's able to snap out of it before that point, and he poofs away leaving Sam to carry the maid to safety.

The boys go back to the cabin to think up a new plan. This time, the plan involves Cas, who can spot the real Dick Roman.

Bobby shows up and tells the boys how hard it is to not be vengeance-y. He tells the boys he's done.
He says goodbye and the boys put the flask into the fire. Bobby goes up in flames as Cas watches on. *sob*

With Bobby gone, Dean now needs a third. Cas tells Dean he's bad luck. Dean convinces him to come anyway.

And finally, after being gone ALL DAMN SEASON, Baby is BACK!
Meg plays diversion in the beloved Impala and kills a few Levi's with borax and beheadings!
And then runs into a few of Crowley's lackeys.

Of course, while Meg is getting all shot up, the Winchester's are sneaking into Sucrocorp.
They split up--Cas with Dean and Sam alone.

Sam finds Kevin who tells him that they have to blow up the lab. The two head there.
Dean and Cas arrive at the lab and find the right Dick.

Dean pulls a fake-out with one bone, then pulls the real bone and kills the head Leviathan! Exploded black goo everywhere!

Unfortunately, there's one problem, as Crowley explains to Sam when he shows up at the lab.
You see, there's some kick-back when you use the bone. Cas and Dean? Yeah, sucked into purgatory with the Leviathan.
And Crowley poofs away with poor Kevin the Prophet.

Dean wakes up in a forest and Cas explains where they are.
The angel promptly disappears, leaving Dean alone in purgatory as the red-eyed monsters move in.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, a GREAT episode, but not a great finale. I think that's how I've finally decided I feel about it.

Best lines:

Let's bone this nun.-Dean

Why should we trust you?-Dean
Good God, don't! Never trust anyone!-Crowley

I thouroughly examined and comforted the pig before I slaughtered it for the ham.-Cas

Please accept this sandwich as a gesture of solidarity.-Cas

Because Dick made more Dick's.-Sam

Here's to running into you guys on the other side. Only...not too soon. Alright?-Bobby

Dude, on my car--he showed up naked, covered in bees.-Dean

What questions do we have after this episode?
-W. T. F?!?!
-How will Dean get out?
-Will Cas come back to help?!
-Will Dean get him out?
-How long will Dean spend in purgatory?
-Why does Crowley want Kevin?
-Will the boys get Kevin back?

My theories for next season:
-Cas will be back almost immediately after leaving Dean. There's no way he'd leave Dean alone in that predicament, crazy or not.
-Dean will find a way out. Or Sam will get him out. Or Cas will get them out. :P
-Crowley will be the big bad of the season.
-Lucifer and the Alpha will both return.
-Kevin will be rescued.
-There will be more stand-alone episodes and not so much arcy-ness. (Okay that last one is a hope. Not really a theory)
-Cas will bring Bobby back. Not as a ghost, but completely back to life.


So, what did you think of the finale? Strong? Weak? Did you like it?

See you back here in the fall, Winchester fans! Have a great summer!

Book Review-- The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Paperback-473 pages
Release date: May 24, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: Steampunk Chronicles #1
Author: Kady Cross

In 1897 England, 16-year-old Finley Jayne is convinced she's a freak.   No normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch.   Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special . . . that she's one of "them."

As some of you know, I've been REALLY into Steampunk lately.
Even going so far as to put together a cosplay outfit for future cons.
It's a fun and fascinating genre, so I was really looking forward to reading my first Steampunk novel, The Girl in the Steel Corset.

This book reminded me a lot of Sherlock Holmes, with a bit of X-Men and Jekyll and Hyde thrown into the mix.

Finley Jayne is a GREAT character. I loved her from page 1, but she gets even better as the book progresses.
My favourite, however, is Emily. She reminds me so much of a character I used to play in an MMO. Irish, with a shy, self-conscious side hidden by her feisty nature.

Griffin and Sam are fine...but I'm DEFINITELY team Jack. Oh, how I fell for Jack Dandy. *swoon* ;)

The plot, while slow in parts, is unique and interesting. The Organites are a great concept--Like something out of a ST:TNG episode. Great touch.

This is a bigger book, so I think I'd recommend it for kids 14+, and for adults, of course.
I AM hoping we see a bit more romance between Finley and Jack in the second book. I'll be reviewing that one soon, so keep an eye out for it!

Once Upon A Time: A Land Without Magic

YOU GUYS, THAT WAS THE BEST SEASON FINALE I'VE EVER SEEN, EVER!!!!

My brain is like mush right now, that's how amazing that was!!! I sobbed, I laughed, I freaked out, I screamed...Aside from my theory about Emma's kiss waking Henry because it's a kiss of true love (posted that on my Facebook page), I had NO idea what to expect, and I was SO impressed with every single thing about this episode!

Because this episode switched back and forth so often, and because the two worlds overlapped quite a bit, instead of posting the recap of one timeline, then the other like I usually do, I'm going to recap it all at once.
Forgive me if it's a bit messy looking! ;)

Here we go!

We begin in Fairytale Land, with Charming still locked in his cell. The guards come and take him and while they're walking down the hall, Charming fights back, knocking two of them out.
Unfortunately, he runs into two more. Fortunately,one is THE HUNTSMAN!!!! (Did anyone else squeal and tear up when they saw him? No? Just me?)
He kills the second guard and helps Charming escape.

Flash to Storybrooke.
Henry is in the hospital with Dr. Whale checking him out.
He's unconscious, and Emma tells Whale he was poisoned. Whale disagrees because Henry's showing no signs of it.
Whale tells Emma he needs something to treat. That what's wrong with Henry 'It's like..."
"Like magic.", is Emma's reply.
Emma takes the book out of Henry's bag. As she's holding it, she remembers everything Henry's told her about Fairytale Land. All of the stories flash through her mind.
And she believes.

Regina walks in and Emma drags her out of Henry's room.
Regina finally admits that it IS real. The stories, Fairytale Land, all of it.
She tells Emma that she can't wake Henry because she has no magic left, and she has no idea what the sleeping curse will do to Henry.
Regina realizes they need help, and the two go to Mr. Gold.
"Actually, he goes by Rumpelstiltskin."

Back in Fairytale Land, the Hunstman enters the Evil Queen's chambers. He tells her Charming has escaped. He promises to find him, but Regina can see the prince through her magic looking glass.
Charming suddenly finds himself in the woods. The camera pans back and we see he's in the same woods where poor Hansel and Gretel were--Miles away from anything.

Luckily, Charming runs into Rumpelstiltskin.

Rump offers a deal. He'll give Charming his now-enchanted mother's ring that will help him find Snow--Before we can find out what ol' Rumpy wants in exchange, Charming says no and the two do battle! (Who knew Rumple was so good with a sword?!)
With the help of his magic, Rumple wins, of course.

Charming finally agrees to help Rumple when the sorcerer tells him that they want the same thing--For Charming and Snow to be together.

Back to Storybrooke--
David finds Mary Margaret and tries to apologize to her again. And again, he tells her he loves her.
And AGAIN, she turns him down.
He tells her he's leaving Storybrooke.

And back to Fairytale Land!
Rumple tells Charming that he needs help to hide his bottle of true love magic.
He explains that he'd once been in love and so he's not as ignorant on the subject as Charming thinks.
He wants the magic protected inside 'the belly of the beast', because he's 'saving it for a rainy day'.
Charming agrees to help.

In Storybrooke, Regina and Emma go to Gold's shop.
He can see that Emma believes as soon as she walks in.
He agrees to help, and explains about the true love magic.
It seems that when he created the Queen's spell, he put a single drop of true love on the parchment, which is why Emma is the saviour. She was CREATED through true love. The same true love in Rumple's magic potion! (BOOM, there's a HUGE answer to one of the many questions we've had since the pilot!)


Gold tells Emma she has to get the rest of the potion. The bottle that he'd 'saved for a rainy day'.
Dancing around the 'who', exactly, Gold helps Regina figure out where the potion is.
Emma, still clueless, is told she needs to be prepared.
Gold opens a case and tell her she'll need 'this'.
Emma asks what it is.
"Your father's sword." is Gold's reply. (I squealed in glee at that line!)


Back at the hospital, Emma tells the still-sleeping Henry that he was right and leave the book beside his bed.
Regina comes in to see the boy and Emma leaves.
As she's at the bedside, she apologizes aloud, and in walks Jefferson.
He wants Regina to hold up her end of the bargain. He wants his daughter back.
Regina refuses and Jefferson walks away after Regina calls his bluff.

Meanwhile, Emma goes to Granny's to see August. He can't open the door, so Emma breaks in.
She can now see that he's Pinocchio, and that he's turning to wood.
She asks for help because she doesn't think she can do it alone.
He gives her a confidence boost--and then completely turns to wood before Emma's eyes.
(I really hope he's not dead and is able to return next season!)


Regina and Emma meet at the abandoned library and Emma goes down in the hidden cage elevator.
In the 'basement' (it's more a cave, really), Emma spies a glass coffin (*gasp*) and a HUGE fire-breathing dragon!

In Fairytale Land, Charming is in Maleficent's castle looking for the 'beast'.
It turns our Maleficent IS the beast, and she turns into a HUGE fire-breathing dragon! (*gasp*)

In a series of EPIC, wonderful, parallel scenes, we watch father and daughter battle the same dragon, with the same sword (well, mostly) in two different timelines and two different worlds.
I LOVED everything about this part of the episode!!

Finally, Charming stuffs the jeweled egg containing the true love potion into the dragon's..er...gills?

And in the Storybrooke timeline, Emma THROWS her father's sword into the dragon's heart and kills it, then finds the jeweled egg in its ashes. (Please forgive me if I'm wrong. It's been years since I've seen it, but doesn't Prince Charming kill the dragon the same way in Disney's Sleeping Beauty?)


At the hospital, Mary is reading the Snow White story to the unconscious Henry when he takes a turn for the worse.
Alarms beep and Doctor Whale rushes in to start CPR.

Also in the hospital, Jefferson, now wearing the white scrubs of an orderly, gives the basement nurse a drugged tea.
When she passes out, he rescues Belle (who now lives next door to Sidney Glass, apparently!) and tells her to 'Find Mr. Gold and tell him Regina locked you up.'
He tells her Gold will protect her and he sends her off.

In Fairytale Land, Rumple is waiting for the now-wet (wet leather pants...Oh my) Charming as he climbs out of the water after fulfilling his part of the bargain.
Gold gives Charming the ring--and changes his clothing into something a bit more regal. ;)
When Charming asks why Rumple is doing this, Rumple replies, "I'm a fan of true love, dearie. And more important, of what it creates."

Charming finally finds Snow, but he's too late. She's dead in her coffin, surrounded by her dwarfs.
He leans in to say goodbye--and kisses her.
She wakes, as we already know. :)

Charming proposes, Snow accepts, and she then suggests they take back the kingdom. (EFF YEAH!)

In Storybrooke, Emma is almost to the top of the elevator when it stops.
Gold calls down to her that is's been sabotaged and that Regina has left her. He convinces her to throw the egg up to him. Emma does and Gold takes off.
Emma climbs to the top and spies Regina tied and gagged. The two go off after Gold, but they're stopped when both get calls from the hospital.
They arrive at Henry's room and they're told he's dead.

Back at Gold's shop, he now has the potion--And in walks Belle. (HIS FACE! OMG HIS FACE IS PRICELESS!!)
Of course, she doesn't know him...but he knows her. :)
Belle tells him what Jefferson said, and Gold hugs her and promises to protect her.
She asks if she knows him and he replies, "No. But you will."
(Was anyone else completely fooled into thinking ol' Rumpy would change now? Become a good person? Just me again? Bah!)


Back at the hospital, Emma and Regina are in tears. Emma leans in to kiss Henry and tells him she loves him.

As her lips meet his forehead, THE CURSE IS BROKEN!!!!!!!!!

The WHOLE TOWN remembers! Snow on the street, Charming on his way out of town, Archie in front of his office, the Blue Fairy in the hospital--THEY ALL REMEMBER!!!
(Oh, God, did I SOB!!!)


Before she flees, Regina tells Henry that she DOES love him.

On the street, Charming, now back in town, spies his love.
"Snow!"
"Charming! You found me!"
"Did you ever doubt I would?"
And the two kiss in the middle of the street.
(And I cried even harder, if that's possible)

At the same time, Gold and Belle are walking through the woods when the curse breaks.
"Wait."
"No, no, we're very close."
'Rumpelstiltskin, wait."
He realizes the curse is broken and she remembers.
The two hug and declare their love for each other, but first, there's something he must do.
They arrive at the magic well. The well who's waters have the power to restore that which has been lost.
Rumple drops the true love potion in the water....and a purple smoke drifts across the town.

Regina, looking through her window, smiles.

Magic has once again returned to Storybrooke--And magic is power.

The town clock once again ticks to 8:15.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So...
HOLY CRAP THAT WAS THE EPICEST MOST EPIC THING OF EPICNESS, EVER!!!!

I was SO worried about how they'd answer all the questions, how they'd NOT leave us hanging regarding Snow/Charming and how'd they'd close out the season...WHY was I worried?!
I'll never doubt you again, OUAT writers! I swear!

Best lines:

"Actually, he goes by Rumpelstiltskin."--Regina

"It was a brief flicker of light amidst an ocean of darkness."--Rumple

"What is that?"--Emma
"Your father's sword."-Gold

"You can see it now. You believe."--August

"Now you're ready for your big moment!"--Rumple

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"--Belle
"No. But you will."--Gold

What questions do we have after this episode?
-Is the magic only in Storybrooke?
-Are the townsfolk still trapped?
-Is Emma now trapped, too?
-How will they get back to Fairytale Land?
-What does this mean for Regina? Is she once again in control of the town?
-Will Rumple go back to his ugly old self?
-Will Belle stay with Rumple?
-Will August survive now that there's magic in the town?
-Now that they all remember, what does that mean for the town? Are there consequences? Repercussions?
-Will Jefferson reunite with his daughter?
-How did Jefferson know Belle was being held prisoner?
-How will Snow and Charming relate to their daughter, who's now all grown up?
-Why does Rumple want to bring magic to Storybrooke instead of going home?
-What will season two bring???


Let's Talk Theories!
It's obviously REALLY early for anything but guesses, but here are my thoughts!

It's going to be the town against Regina, with a bit of Rumple thrown in. ;)

Regina will once again be the scary Evil Queen with control over the land, but I think that, somehow, Emma will  now have magic to rival the Queen.

I think August will be okay...but he'll still be wood. At least for a little while.

And I think that we'll meet Henry's father...who will turn out to be Rumple's son, Bae.

Speaking of Rumple, he'll be conflicted. He'll want the power he once had, but he'll also want Belle. There will be many episodes showing his conflicting sides.
And he'll declare an all out war against the Queen for what she did to Belle.

If my theory about Henry's father is right, I believe Henry will turn out to be the most powerful of them all...but he'll have to grow into his power.
And, of course, the Queen and Rumple will fight over Henry and that power.

What Stories Would I Like To See Next Season?
-Alice in Wonderland from Alice's point of view
-The little mermaid!
-Sleeping beauty!
-Peter Pan!
-More Pinocchio, with Jiminy
-More of the dwarfs stories
-Grumpy and Nova in Storybrooke now that they remember!
-Who is Dr. Whale?


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And now a note from me. :)

You guys, there are no words for how much you've all meant to me during this amazing, awesome OUAT season.
Because of you, this little blog has grown into exactly what I dreamed it would be.
A place for me to geek out. A place for me to 'talk' about my crazy little obsessions. A place of comfort and fun and friendship.

While I don't get a ton of comments (I'm okay with that!), I can SEE that you guys DO read these posts, and my OUAT recaps have quickly become my most popular posts, getting hundreds of views each week.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.

I've made a bunch of new friends with the help of this little blog (Hi, Laurie and Mary!), and I look forward every week to my 'regulars' posts (Hi, EB, Sheena-Kay, Deborah, Sophia!), and to all the newbie posts I do receive.

I'll still be here, reviewing books, movies and summer shows (yet to be determined), and I hope you'll all join me again in the fall when season two of our beloved show begins.

Now, lets hear YOUR theories on season two! What do YOU think will happen now that magic has returned? What did you think of A Land Without Magic? What stories do you hope to see next season?


And with that, I sadly bid you adieu for the last time this season, Oncers. Thank you for making this show such fun for me to watch.
I heart you all. :)

Supernatural: There Will Be Blood

Well wasn't that a.....boring little scavenger hunt-type romp.

You guys, I'm NOT feeling this Leviathan arc this season at all.

Remember in previous seasons, when you couldn't wait to see what would happen? How would Sam get his soul back? How would Dean get out of hell? Will Sam and Dean stop the apocalypse? Will Sam and Dean find the yellow-eyed demon? Will Sam and Dean fight alongside the angels and battle Lucifer?

Those were epic seasons! This? This is just weak and lame.

The stand-alone episodes have been the only thing holding this season together. Luckily most of those have been great. 

So what happened tonight?

Um...The boys gathered the blood needed to kill Dick from the fallen angel, the corpse and the ancient.

Dick is making the world into a zombie race by poisoning corn syrup (which is found in most foods).

There was a neat Leviathan/Ancient vampire fight.

And Bobby is going vengeful spirit....and apparently possessing people now.

Oh, and Crowley, who promised to give the boys his blood last, has been trapped by Dick.

Next week is the season finale, and they're going to have to pull some amazing magic out of their hats to pull everything together in just one episode!

Best lines:

-"Piece of paper would've worked."-Dean

-"Now you want to go Kavorkian on his ass?"-Dean

-"That's Sam's douche-tracker."-Dean

-"I can't live on rabbit food! I'm a warrior!"-Dean

-"It's friggin' Woodstock. Everyone's hopped up on the brown acid."-Dean

-"What makes Dick so hard to beat?"-News anchor

-"You got Pac Man and True Blood in the same room and that's bad news."-Dean

-"They're like...monster cousins or something."-Sam

-"See you next season."-Alpha (Ha!)

What questions do we have after this episode?

-How on earth are they going to wrap everything up?!

-Where's Bobby?

-What does Bobby have planned?

-Why does Dick want Crowley?

-Will the boys rescue Crowley?

-How will they get Crowley's blood?

-How will they defeat Dick?

-What will happen to the Leviathan if Dick is killed?

-Will the boys get Cas to help?

-Is Cas in any shape to help?

-How will the boys fix Cas?

And so, Supernatural fans, let's HOPE next week's finale is epic and amazing and perfect!

Here's the promo for Survival of the Fittest.

See you back here next week, for the last time this season, Winchester fans!

Whedonite For Life

Yep, these are my arms today, right after I had my new ink done!

I'm SO proud that I'm able to show my Whedon pride where the world can see it!

Next tat? The TARDIS! ;)

(By the way--I completely blame Nikki Stafford for my Buffy/Angel obsession. I also thank her from the bottom of my heart for it.) <3

Book Review- One Bloody Thing After Another by Joey Comeau

Paperback
160 pages
Release date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: ECW Press
Author: Joey Comeau
Thank you to Nikki at ECW press for sending this copy for review!

Jackie has a map of the city on the wall of her bedroom, with a green pin for each of her trees. She has a first-kiss tree and a broken-arm tree. She has a car-accident tree. There is a tree at the hospital where Jackie’s mother passed away into the long good night. When one of them gets cut down, Jackie doesn't know what to do but she doesn't let that stop her. She picks up the biggest rock she can carry and puts it through the window of a car. Smash. She intends to leave before the police arrive, but they're early. Ann is Jackie’s best friend, but she’s got problems of her own. Her mother is chained up in the basement. How do you bring that up in casual conversation? "Oh, sorry I've been so distant, Jackie. My mother has more teeth than she’s supposed to, and she won't eat anything that’s already dead." Ann and her sister Margaret don't have much of a choice here. Their mother needs to be fed. It isn't easy but this is family. It’s not supposed to be easy. It'll be okay as long as Margaret and Ann still have each other. Add in a cantankerous old man, his powerfully stupid dog, a headless ghost, a lesbian crush and a few unsettling visits from Jackie’s own dead mother, and you'll find that One Bloody Thing After Another is a different sort of horror novel from the ones you're used to. It’s as sad and funny as it is frightening, and it is as much about the way families rely on each other as it is about blood being drooled on the carpet. Though, to be honest, there is a lot of blood being drooled on the carpet.

It's been a long time since the last line of a book had me laughing so hard I was crying. Flat-out howling with laughter--so hard I couldn't catch my breath.
Granted, it could have been because I was overtired--I WAS up until 4am reading this book. Yep, it's THAT good! (And also short.)

One Bloody Thing After Another is weird and wild and just plain awesome.
I can honestly say I've never read such a touching, horrific book....It was a pleasure to do so!

Jackie was a fascinating character. Insane, sad and REAL, but Charlie and Mitchie were my favourites. That old man and his old dog wormed their way into my heart at the word, 'ghost'. ;)

This is my first Comeau book, and now I'm dying to read more. His writing is wonderful. Evocative and slightly twisted.
Perfect for me, really.

Of course, I'm a strange person, so this book won't be for everyone. If you like weird, off-beat  horror/humour with a touch of LGBT romance, this is right up your alley!

Once Upon A Time: An Apple As Red As Blood

So! Now we know what Henry ate! Bravest kid ever!
This episode was good. Not great, but good.
I loved the bits in Fairytale Land, but I found the Storybrooke scenes a little flat. Until the end, of course. ;)

Let's start in Fairytale land, shall we?

Charming is saved from a beheading by the Evil Queen, when she turns the guillotine blade into water.
The King agrees to hand Charming over to her. She plans to use him to bring an end to Snow White.

And speaking of Snow, she and her friends--the dwarfs and Granny--are just beyond the walls of the King's castle, plotting a way to jailbreak Charming.
Snow mentions that they need air support, and Grumpy says he can call in a favour and get them some.
Red arrives from a scouting mission and she tells Snow that Charming is still alive, but the Queen is also in the castle.
They prepare for battle.

Meanwhile, Charming sits chained in a cell. Enter Regina, who tries to put the moves on him. (Old habits die hard, apparently.) 
Vague threats are made against Snow and Regina pulls an apple from a bag as she walks away.

Beyond the castle walls, Snow hears a wolf howl.
At that sign from Red, the battle begins.
In goes the air support--the fairies!
Snow and the dwarfs scale the castle walls and battle with the guards.
They fight well, but they're outnumbered.
Just when they're cornered with no hope of escape, the fairies come to the rescue and drop glitter bombs of fairy dust that knocks out the guards!

Snow finally makes in to the dungeon and sees Charming in his cell.
She opens the door and realizes that he's NOT in the cell. It's an illusion. The Queen has taken him to her palace and is using her magic to create a window of sorts. Snow and Charming can see each other and talk to each other, but not touch.
"But I'm rescuing you." (*sniffle*)
The illusion fades and up pops the Queen.
She offers a parlay. Snow accepts.

She meets with her friends and de-weaponizes herself. The dwarfs try to stop her, but she talks them into letting her go.

Snow and the Queen meet where it all began--The stables where Daniel died.
Regina brings Snow to the field where she saved the girl. There's a grave in the field, and Regina tells Snow exactly what happened to Daniel.

She takes an apple from a bag. Snow knows it's poisoned. The Queen explains that it won't kill her. It will "entomb her in her body with nothing but dreams formed of her own regrets".
But for the apple to work, Snow must agree to eat it. It must be eaten willingly.
She tells Snow that if she doesn't eat the apple, she will kill Charming.
Snow eats the apple.
In his cell, Charming feels Snow's pain and screams for her.

We watch the apple fall out of Snow's hand and roll down the hill--Where it drops through a portal and into Jefferson's hand in Storybrooke.

The dwarfs find Snow on the ground later. Red pronounces her dead after realizing that Snow isn't breathing.
"She sacrificed herself for true love."
"She sacrificed herself for all of us."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Storybrooke--in an obvious dream sequence--we see the townsfolk finally going after Regina.
Guilty conscience much, Queenie?

Regina wakes and immediately checks on Henry. Of course, Henry is with Emma being abducted.
Luckily, Regina doesn't notice that the bed is empty because he's stuffed pillows and junk under the blanket.

Speaking of Henry, did I mention he's being abducted?
Right, so he and Emma are in the car and Henry is pretty much begging Emma not to leave the town. She won't stop, so he grabs the wheel and almost makes them crash.
Henry is now in tears as he pleads with Emma not to make him go. He tells her the town needs her to save them from the curse. Her family needs her.

The next day, Regina checks her apple tree and finds the fruit rotting. Her tree is dying.
She goes to see Mr. Gold and tells him she thinks it's a sign that the curse is weakening...because of Emma.
Gold brings up Henry and wonders if the price of keeping the curse unbroken is Regina giving up her son.
Then, in a HUGE reveal, we learn that if Regina were to kill Emma, the curse would be broken. (Whoa! And now we know why she hasn't just had Emma killed!)
And apparently, Rumpelstiltskin designed it that way. (Hmmmm.)
Regina tells Gold to undo that bit of the curse and Gold refuses. She then realizes that he wants the curse to be broken and asks why. He tells her to mind her own beeswax.
Regina tries to strike a new deal and, again, Gold turns her down flat. (Poor Regina is being rejected left and right lately!)
"I'll give you anything."
"Oh. You no longer have anything I want, dearie." (Careful, Gold. Your Rumple is showing.)

Regina then heads over to the school yard and leaves a white rabbit playing card on a little pink bike. (And we wonder...'wtf?!')


Over to Emma, who's entering Mary Margaret's place.
Mary is TICKED. She gives Emma all kinds of hell for leaving, and then even more hell for trying to abduct Henry. (Does anyone else find Mary hilarious when she's mad? Just me? Oh.)

Regina is back at her place and who walks in? Our old friend, Jefferson! (Ohhhh! THAT'S why she put the rabbit card on the bike!)
She wants him to use his hat to open the portal back to Fairytale Land. And she has just enough magic to do so.
She promises him a whole new life with his daughter in exchange.
He agrees.

Using every last ounce of her magic--including the ring she still has from her poor dead boyfriend, Daniel--Jefferson is able to open the portal just enough for him to reach in and take something from the other side.
She knows exactly what she wants.
The apple.

Meanwhile, Henry goes to see August to ask for help.
Sadly, August is in no condition to offer aid. Along with his legs, his arms have also now turned to wood.
He shows Henry, who FINALLY gets the first actual proof he's seen that the curse IS real. He realizes August is Pinocchio and asks why he's changing back to wood. August explains that he hasn't been a good boy.
He doesn't have much time left, and what little he does have he wants to spend with his father, Marco.
Henry despairs because everyone is giving up. It's up to him and him alone to make Emma believe.


Emma and Archie meet in the diner to talk about Henry.
Emma tries to get him to tell her that Henry is better off with her. Archie can't do that.
She realizes that it's time to make peace with Regina, for Henry's sake.

Back at Regina's, she's making a lovely apple turnover when Emma drops by to talk.
Emma tells Regina that she's leaving town, but she wants to be able to see and visit Henry.
Regina agrees and gives Emma a lovely parting gift....An apple turnover.

Regina goes back to see Mr. Gold and tells him she's used an old solution to get rid of Emma.
Gold guesses the sleeping curse and asks where she found it in Storybrooke.
"So you made magic FROM magic. Well I'm sure that I don't have to remind you that, ah...all magic comes with a price."
Regina rubs it in Gold's nose that he's still stuck in Storybrooke, and will be stuck forever.

Later at Mary's, Emma has called Henry over to tell him she's leaving Storybrooke.
The boy is distraught until he spies the turnover on the table. When he asks, Emma tells him Regina gave it to her.
To make Emma believe in the curse, he sacrifices himself. He tells her it's poison and to show her, he takes a bite of the turnover and collapses unconscious.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, like I said above, I LOVED the Fairytale Land story, but I found the Storybrooke side a bit weak.
It was wonderful to see Sebastian Stan back as Jefferson, of course, and the cliffhanger ending was great!

Again this week, we got many answers, but we also have many more questions!

Highlights:
-The battle within the castle walls. Who knew the dwarfs could fight so well?!
-Sebastian Stan!
-Lee Aranberg as Grumpy. He's just perfect, isn't he?
-The apple dropping through the portal into Jefferson's hand.
-Gold rejecting Regina's deal.
-August's wooden arm.
-The princess rescuing the prince for once!

Best Lines:
-"Keep the little knife between your tuffets."-Grumpy (I LOL'd!)
-"Ah, Red....You've got someone on your chin."-Grumpy
-"I miss Stealthy."-Grumpy (Aww.) :(
-Snow: "...but I'll understand if any of you want to turn back."
Everyone: "NO!"

-"Well I'm sure that I don't have to remind you that, um...all magic comes with a price."-Gold

What questions do we have after this episode?

-Why did Rumple design the curse so that the saviour couldn't be killed by Regina?

-Why does Gold want the curse broken?

-Where does Gold want to go? What is this 'trip' he's planning?

-What will happen to Henry?

-Will Emma believe now?

-How will Regina convince everyone that she didn't poison the turnover?

-Will the curse be broken?

-Will Regina honour her deal with Jefferson?
-Where was Jefferson?
-How did he get to Regina's without being seen?

-How will Gold get his revenge on Regina?

-How will August be saved?

-How are they going to end this season?!

And before I forget, the opening this week was Snow and the Dwarfs. ;)

Next week is season finale week! Here's the promo for 'A Land Without Magic'!

HOLY %&^^(%*^%(*^(&*!!!!!!!

What am I going to do all summer without this show?!? AHHHH!

See you back here--for the last time this season--next week, Oncers!

Movie Review--The Avengers

How do I review a movie this amazing? This epic? This perfect? Is it even possible?!

Here we go with NO SPOILERS. :)

Okay, look...This is going to be short. You've all heard the hype. You've read the other reviews. 

And if you haven't seen it by now, you're probably not interested.

All I can tell you is what I thought. What I loved, and what made it perfect for me.

First, the cast. Every single member of this cast was perfect. 

I've heard grumblings about Ruffalo as Bruce Banner--Stoppit right now.

Stop comparing him to Norton and Bana and start comparing him to Bill Bixby. Do you get it now?

He's NOT trying to be Bana or Norton's Banner. He IS Bixby's Banner, and he was PERFECTION.

I could NOT get over how much he reminded me of the man who was Bruce Banner....and it was beautiful to behold.

Confession time!

I know almost nothing about Nick Fury, Hawkeye or Black Widow.

I know....I'm a crappy geek, right? Sorry about that. ;)

But I CAN tell you that Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson were awesome in their roles.

Let's talk about the writing, shall we?

Okay, LOVED.

It was hilarious and witty and smart.

There were moments when the whole theater (which was sold out by the way) was gasping with laughter, that's how good it was.

Without spoilers, I'll tell you that my favourite parts all involved either Hulk or Tony Stark in some way. ;)

I'm going to be honest here..I was scared going into this movie. I mean, c'mon.

For literally YEARS we've been hearing about Joss Whedon's The Avengers, right? It was pumped up and hyped up in a thousand different ways.

So I was worried I was going into it just expecting too much. Expecting miracles from Joss.

And do you know what? I'm happy....No, I'm PROUD to say that Joss Whedon? Our Joss, who gave us Buffy and Firefly and Angel--The 'King' of cancelled shows?

Our Joss has performed yet another miracle.

The Avengers exceeded my expectations by miles. I NEVER, EVER thought it could be THIS good..

I'm sorry, Joss. I'll never doubt you again. 

And you ladies, (I'm sorry to stereotype--Just being honest again) who read my blog and are nowhere near the target audience for The Avengers?

I swear...I PROMISE...That if you go--with your girlfriends or your hubby or whoever--you'll absolutely LOVE it.

You DON'T need to be a geek to love this movie. You DON'T need to be a comic reader to understand this movie.

You can walk into it knowing absolutely nothing and you'll STILL love it.

So....what are you waiting for?!

Stop reading this review and go see The Avengers! ;)

Book Review- Surviving the Angel of Death: The Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz by Eva Mozes Kor and Lisa Rojany Buccieri

eBook
Release date: October 15, 2009
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
Author: Eva Mozes Kor, Lisa Rojany Buccieri
Thank you to Net Galley and Tanglewood Press for providing this copy for review.

Eva Mozes Kor was 10 years old when she arrived in Auschwitz. While her parents and two older sisters were taken to the gas chambers, she and her twin, Miriam, were herded into the care of the man known as the Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele. Mengele's twins were granted the privileges of keeping their own clothes and hair, but they were also subjected to sadistic medical experiments and forced to fight daily for their own survival, as most of the twins died as a result of the experiements or from the disease and hunger pervasive in the camp. In a narrative told with emotion and restraint, readers will learn of a child's endurance and survival in the face of truly extraordinary evil. The book also includes an epilogue on Eva's recovery from this experience and her remarkable decision to publicly forgive the Nazis. Through her museum and her lectures, she has dedicated her life to giving testimony on the Holocaust, providing a message of hope for people who have suffered, and working toward goals of forgiveness, peace, and the elimination of hatred and prejudice in the world.

How does someone review a book like this and do it justice? How can I even attempt to explain the emotions I went through while reading this book?

All I can do is speak from my heart and hope that the words you read here are enough.

I don't speak of this often...Pretty much not at all, really. But for you to understand my review, I feel that I must give you a bit of background on me and my family.

You see, my mother and both of her parents, my grandparents, were born in Germany. My Nanny and Grandad grew up there during the second World War.
I don't know much since the subject was very rarely brought up, but I can tell you that my grandmother was often stopped in the street by the German SS and made to show her papers. You see, my Nanny has dark skin, and so she was often mistaken for a Jew.

My Grandad was very young during the war, but from what I've been told, he was made to join the German army at the age of 16. Whether he believed in what the Germans were fighting for or not, my Grandfather, because he was wearing a German uniform, was a Nazi.
Wow, that's the first time I've ever said that aloud.

He wasn't made to fight very long. He entered the war at its end and was taken as a POW by the Americans.
I think he was grateful for this, although I never heard him say so.

My grandparents came to Canada with my mother and my aunt in 1958, when my mother was only 4 years old.
She doesn't remember much of Germany. She was very young.
At 5 and 6 years old, even here in what's considered the most friendly country in the world, my mother was bullied and beaten daily by her Canadian classmates...because she was German. Because of what 'her' people did.

So, you see, because of my German half, and the fact that I AM a first-generation Canadian on my mother's side, I feel guilt. Literally an overwhelming, crushing guilt for what was done by people of my own heritage in WWII.

Does it matter that I wasn't even born yet? Does it matter that--as far as I know--no one in my family actually ever laid a hand on a Jew?
No. It doesn't. The fact that my background is the same as the monsters that almost wiped out whole races is enough.
And it's not just me who feels this. My mother, who wasn't even born yet, can't watch any type of war movie. She can't read any type of war book. The guilt is too much for her and she just refuses to put herself through that pain.

But me? Well, I'm apparently the exact opposite. I read everything I can get my hands on about the holocaust. I watch every war movie I come across.
I feel that to make up for the atrocities 'my' people performed, I must be as informed and as knowledgeable about the subject as I can. I must sob and cry and feel as much heartbreak and do my best to remember what every single Jewish person went through. I must NEVER, EVER forget what 'my' people did, and I must never, ever allow myself to let go of this guilt.
I OWE it to them--the dead and the survivors--to always remember.
To me, shutting it out and not allowing myself to feel this guilt would be the same as denying it ever happened.
Whether there's a heaven or not, I hope that, somewhere, wherever they are, they all know--every single one of the 6 million Jews--that I CARE. That I REMEMBER. That I KNOW. And that I'M sorry.

Many tears were shed while reading Mrs. Kor's words. It's written in such a way that you feel like you're sitting in her kitchen with her while she's telling you her story.
What was done to Mengele's twins was...how do I put it into words? Disgusting? Atrocious? Heartbreaking?
All of the above and more.

I have so much respect for Mrs. Kor and what she's done with her life. She won't let people forget Mengele's twins--and that's as it should be.

This book is written in a way that middle graders will understand...but I implore you to read this TO your children.
By reading this with them, it gives them a chance to ask questions, and it gives YOU, the parent, a chance to explain.
It's OUR responsibility to teach our children about the holocaust. This book is one way of doing just that.

If we don't teach them, every single one of those 12 million deaths will have been for nothing.

If we allow them to forget....How can we prevent it from happening again?

YA Book Review- Swipe by Evan Angler

eBook
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Tommy Nelson (Thomas Nelson)
Series: Swipe #1
Author: Evan Angler
Thank you to Net Galley and Tommy Nelson for providing this eARC for review.

Logan Langley is just months away from his thirteenth birthday and the biggest day of his life- the day he will finally be Marked. The Mark lets people get jobs, vote, and even go out to eat or buy concert tickets.    Becoming Marked means becoming free. Or so he is told. Five years ago when Logan's sister went to get her Mark she never came back. Now Logan can't shake the feeling he's being watched... And then he finds the wire.

I don't often read middle grade books. I mean...I'm old. So why on earth would I read a book meant for middle graders? ;)
But this time, I'm so glad I did!

For a debut book, this is an impressive start. Swipe is full of twist and turns and mystery and thrills. It kept me turning the pages well into the evening!

Logan is a wonderful character. Flawed, smart, caring and very easy for young boys to relate to.

I was impressed that, although written for preteens, Mr. Angler didn't 'dumb down' his book at all.
Yes, it's more simple and easier to read than books meant for older kids, but he still uses the tech terms and larger words and he puts his characters in situations that he knows his intended audience can handle, and will enjoy.
All too often middle grade books are written seemingly without the actual readers in mind.
I love this author for realizing that, YES, 6th graders are an intelligent bunch!

The world created in Swipe is fascinating and wonderful. It's a whole new take on dystopian fiction, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book to--wait for it--BOYS! Yes, I'm so happy to say that boys, ages 10+, will love this book.
Of course, girls will enjoy it too, but please, moms, buy this for your boys! Those little men NEED books like this in their lives to help them realize how much fun reading really is! ;)

It IS book 1 in the series, and it DOES end on a cliffhanger--But that will just leave them begging for the next book, right? ;)

And please, let me know if you buy Swipe and what your kids think of it! I'd love to hear an actual middle-grader's take on this book!

Book Review- The Dark Side of the Glass by J.M. Frey

eBook
Release date: June 1, 2012
Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing
Author: J.M. Frey
Thank you to J.M. for providing this eARC for review.

Mary was a fan of the vampire drama ”City By Night”, until she woke up in the show. At first, Mary is thrilled – who wouldn’t want to live alongside their favorite TV characters? The charm fades when Mary realizes that the extras still don’t speak, the matte paintings don’t become real, and all the infuriating flaws in the writing are just amplified when you have to try to interact with the shallow characters.  And then, of course, the lead character Leondre DuNoir falls for her! But Leondre’s admiration comes with its own set of problems: Antonio, Leondre’s psychotic stalker, has a habit of killing off the girls-of-the-week. To stay alive, Mary has to find a way home from a world that, pardon the pun, totally sucks.

I've been a fan of J.M.'s for awhile. I first saw her on the SPACE channel's Doctor Who season finale special that aired awhile back.
Then I met her briefly at the SPACE channel's season six screening last April.
I started following her on Twitter and Facebook, and I've been meaning to pick up her first book, Triptych, for awhile now.
So when she put the call out asking bloggers to review her new novella, I jumped at the chance!

The Dark Side of the Glass is an amazingly FUN read! It breaks the fourth wall in a magical, wonderful way.
I couldn't help but think...What would it be like if I woke up in my favourite show, Doctor Who or Once Upon A Time?
According to Ms. Frey, it wouldn't be as great as you'd think. ;)

Mary is a fantastic character. Very easy to relate to, with her many flaws and quirks.
And Leondre (LOVED his name! Ha!) was perfectly written.
I often wondered if J.M. herself had somehow experienced waking up in a fantasy TV land, her leading man was written so well. ;)

The writing is fun and light, with just enough humour and romance to keep you turning the pages.
There are more than a few laugh-out-loud moments.
It's a short book, but there's a LOT written in those 100-ish pages. I definitely didn't feel cheated or left wanting as I so often do after finishing a short book.

And without saying too much, I'll say that the end is brilliant. I LOVED it, and it left me grinning like a fool.

This book is unique and refreshing and I really enjoyed every minute of it.
It would make a great day-at-the-beach or long-commute read--Although you might get a few stares from strangers once you start giggling aloud at the funny bits.

It reminded me so much of a Canadian vampire show that I used to love, 'Forever Knight', and it even had a touch of 'Angel' to it--albeit the lighter episodes of both.

I can't recommend this book enough, and I really feel like this review isn't doing it justice.
So....PLEASE read The Dark Side of the Glass! And then go tell J.M. how awesome it was!