Top Ten Tuesday (3)

Well, well, well, look who decided to stop in for Top Ten Tuesday here at PI..It's about dang time!

The Broke and the Bookish host this lovely little Triple T feature and.. blah, blah, I don't want to bore you with anymore nonsense. If you want to know why B&B started this meme, go see for yourself (here).

Now, on to how this meme works. Make a list of your top ten choices of whatever the theme is for the week. This week's theme is Villains, Criminals, and Degenerates, hence my nasty demeanor--and if you don't like it, well, that's just too darn bad!

Want to participate? How nice for you...*rolls eyes* I suppose if you want to, you can head over to The Broke and the Bookish and sign up using their Mr. Linky. And if you don't link back to them...Well, let's just say my buddies over at the jail have been feeling a little restless...

If you're interested in my post for this week, just scroll down already. If not...*shrugs* I've got better things to do, like steal some books from B&N.

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Top Ten Tuesday -11.16.10

Theme: Villains, Criminals, and Degenerates

"In the old days villains had mustaches and kicked the dog. Audiences are smarter today. They don't want their villain to be thrown at them with green limelight on his face. They want an ordinary human being with failings." --Alfred Hitchcock

Name: Kalona

From: House of Night by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Most recent crime? The murder of adorable Heath Luck, Zoey Redbird's human consort. 

My thoughts: I'm sorry, but I lurrv Kalona and all his dark glory. He's freaking hot, and he's so terribly misunderstood. 

Next..

Name: Valentine Morgenstern

From: Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Responsible for? The Uprising; the experimentation on shadow hunter children with various types of blood; the attack on Idris, home of the shadow hunters; many shadow hunter deaths; murder of several downworlders; and the list goes on and on..

My thoughts: As a villain with the name Valentine, the guy's bound to be cool. And because he's so twisted, hateful, obsessed, and crazy smart, the guy makes a perfect bad guy.

Third, we have...

Name: Cameron "Cam" Briel

From: Fallen series by Lauren Kate

Species/Position? Fallen Angel on the 'bad side'

My thoughts: Initially, I thought Cam annoying and too persistent, but when I realized his intentions and all that he stood for, I completely fell for the guy. I mean, who didn't love all that weird symbolic stuff he was doing: the snake's skin, the snake necklace, the deviled eggs and the apples. Although he's not necessarily THE villain, he is definitely a bad ass antagonist.

Fourth...

Name: Queen Mab/Mabh

From: Iron Fey series, Wondrous Strange

Court? Winter and Darkness

My thoughts: In Wondrous Strange she seemed manaical, insane almost, but completely dark and dangerous nonetheless. But, I much preferred her in the Iron Fey series. I loved how Julie Kagawa described her entrance into the Summer Court's home in the Iron King... The spill of ink-black hair that rippled down her back and the temperature of the room dropping down to an eerie cold chill...So, so awesome!

Halfway there..

Name: Madeline "Mimi" Force

From: Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Reincarnation of? Azrael, the Angel of Death

My thoughts: I hated Mimi at first, but my love grew for her character. She's a mass of contradictions and completely self-centered. She stands out among all the other Blue Bloods characters.

Choice six...

Name: Vivian

From: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Significance? A soul stealer (don't wanna say TOO much)

My thoughts: Vivian succeeded in freaking me the heck out, while making me sympathize with her. I felt that at her core she's sickly sweet and just lonely. But, at the same time she's totally...strange, for lack of a better word.

Next, a combo:

Name: Quinn/Evil Henry

From: The Devouring series by Simon Holt

Who are they? Two ordinary human boys whose minds and bodies were possessed by two very nasty Vours. 

My thoughts: Insanely creepy! They sort of make the novel. I say that because, these two are the ones that keep you up at night, force you to check in your closet or under your bed...They're the biggest scare factor, which, to me, the frightening stuff is the best aspect of the book.

Numero ocho...

Name: Sarafine

From: Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Family? The Ravenwoods/Duchannes

My thoughts: Sarafine should have 'bad chick' tattooed across her forehead with a capital 'BC'! If you're ever looking for the embodiment of evil, check out Beautiful Creatures, and you'll find this very evil gal to be precisely that.

Ooo, approaching the end...

Name: Drina Poverina

From: Evermore by Alyson Noel

Relation? The vindictive ex-wife of Damien.

My thoughts: Her name may sound funny, and it may have been a long time since I read the first in the Immortals Series, but, hey, I remember her. And that's for a good reason. You don't wanna mess with this woman. I thought she was super, super cool. I love how she nearly got Ever towards the end of this book. If you've read Evermore you know what I mean.

And finally...

Name: Uncle Bosque

From: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Who is he? Head of the Keepers, at least I believe so. Also Shay Doran's "uncle".

My thoughts: Ookay, if you think the baddies above Uncle Bosque are scary or menacing, then you're just going to love this guy. Intensely frightening, mysterious Bosque has weird, inhuman eyes and a very creepy, malicious smile (at least in my head). He's at the top of the food chain so to speak, and he can pop open a can of whoop-ass in 2.5 secs. Trust me, I would know; I did read Nightshade.

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That's all I've got this week for Top Ten Tuesday. What about you guys? Who did you pick? Let me know...

By the way, here are the aforementioned books from today's meme:

 

 

Review: The Devouring by Simon Holt

The Devouring (Book 1/3) 

Author: Simon Holt (@ Goodreads)

Release Date:9/1/08

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Source: Borrowed (School Library)

Go Buy It! Amazon/Barnes&Noble/BookDepository

Overall Feelings: Super!

"When Reggie finds an old journal and reads about the Vours, supernatural creatures who feast on fear and attack on the eve of the winter solstice, she assumes they are just the musings of some lunatic author. But soon, they become a terrifying reality when she begins to suspect that her timid younger brother might be one of their victims.

Risking her life and her sanity, Reggie enters a living nightmare to save the people she loves. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?

Bone-chilling, terrifying, thrilling...what are you waiting for?"

Plot & Ending: Two words. So spooky. I haven't read a spooky-type book in a long time. I don't have the stomach for them. But, The Devouring was tastefully done, including those creepy parts. 

This story revolves around these creatures called the Vours, beings who steal your subconscious and take you over in mind and body. Pretty creepy, right? Yeah, that's not all. The person inside that was once there disappears into another realm called the Fearscape...*shivers*

I loved soo many things about this book. I loved how Holt created such a complexity behind the Vours, what the Vours actually are, their goals. My emotions were pulled and tugged, especially when Henry, the heroine's younger brother of eight years, becomes the target of these beings. Another great touch was the seemingly harmless, fictional journal of a mad woman who knew more about the Vours than most did.

More than that, there were so many scare factors. So many gruesome scenes, but it wasn't exaggerated or unbelievable. In fact, a lot of the scary scenes seemed so real I got goosebumps. There were points that I had to stop reading because it got so intense and I became too absorbed. This novel's definitely something you want to stay away from when you're in the dark.

The ending was nicely done. I didn't feel as though it was rushed. Instead, it tied up a few loose ends while keeping others open for a sequel. It is implied that there are more problems for the main characters to face in the nearby future, but the ending didn't disappoint. The Devouring is most definitely a novel I encourage you to pick up and read.

Characters: Regina...she is amazing. And I mean that. For a character who has yet to reach full maturity, a young adolescent, she has a surprising level of strength. Rather than succumb to her fears, she embraces them, faces them, takes them head on. A very admirable quality, if you ask me. Also the love and affection she possesses for her brother, that fierce protection she feels for him that pushes her passed what would be her breaking point and go beyond. I'm telling ya, she's an amazing heroine. 

Aaron, Regina's best friend, is also a lovely addition to the cast in this book. I'm envious of his loyalty toward Regina. It's something I wish I felt for a friend, and vice versa. And because of said loyalty, he overcomes his own fears to look out for his best friend and his best friend's little brother. An amazing person, I'd say. 

I liked Eben, Regina's employer though I was ultra suspicious of him. And Henry is also awesome. He seemed like my own brother and I was constantly fearful for him. 

Another superb thing about the characters is the villains. I don't want to name them, but they're too cool for words. How they creep up on you. How you'd least expect that person to be playing for the bad team. Radical, man.

Seriously, The Devouring has a great selection of characters, ones that any reader can relate to. 

Cover: What drew me in about this cover was the fact that the model didn't seem so perfect or ethereal. She seemed to possess this human frailty that lurks in the best of us. That vulnerability, that frightened look we are all capable of getting. She looked real. Therefore, relatable, in my opinion, at least. Plus it doesn't hurt that the swirling, I guess, mist is purple. (Purple's my favorite color.)

Fragment Friday (1): The Devouring

This friday's meme, Fragment Friday, is hosted by the Book Chic Club, where you basically read a little piece or excerpt from whatever it is you're reading and share it with other readers or bloggers. If you want to participate head over to Book Chic and sign the Mr. Linky there.

This friday I'm reading The Devouring by Simon Holt. 

Thanks Picasa 3 and Youtube for helping me put up this video!