You've seen pictures of what the Fallen team did. Now you can watch the videos!
Video 1: The Stunt
Video 2: Lauren Kate interview
Video 3: Hear an Extract of Fallen
Monday, 25 January 2010
Sunday, 24 January 2010
How cool are the Fallen Publicity team?!
I'm guessing that most of you have heard of Fallen by Lauren Kate. For those who haven't, here is the blurb:
Daniel's gaze caught hers, and her breath caught in her throat. She recognized him from somewhere. But she would have remembered meeting someone like him. She would have remembered feeling as absolutely shaken up as she did right now.
But what do you do when the person you've spent your whole life looking forkeeps slipping out of your grasp? What if the person you are meant to be with can never be yours?
Dangerously addictive and darkly romantic, FALLEN is the ultimate gothic love story - a page turning thriller about fallen angels.
I reviewed this book a while back and absolutely loved it. So what have the publicity team been up to since then?
On the 11th December, (sorry this is a really late post but it's worth it), the Fallen Army took to the streets of London with their very own Fallen Angel to spread the word that Angels are the new Vampires!
The army targeted shoppers outside Topshop, Oxford Circus then walked down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus handing out copies of the books – in total the army gave out 150 copies! Each book contained a specially designed Fallen postcard directing people to the fiercebook site. The Fallen Angel braved the freezing temperatures and attracted quite a crowd!
The army then popped into the Heat offices on Shaftesbury Avenue and gave a copy to one of the girls from Heat plus one to the lovely receptionist who let the photographer take lots of snaps in the office. More magazine are also based there so the army personally delivered them a copy too. After leaving a few copies lying about on tables in reception the army left to a chorus of ‘There’s a naked man in reception!!’ from a group of ladies peering round the office doors.
Finally the army walked through the Christmas Market on Piccadilly to the small courtyard behind and took a few final photos of their brooding Fallen Angel.
Here is a picture of he gorgeous guy who wore the angel wings:
There are many better quality images of the day out here. Watch it! There's more snaps of the guy ;)
Daniel's gaze caught hers, and her breath caught in her throat. She recognized him from somewhere. But she would have remembered meeting someone like him. She would have remembered feeling as absolutely shaken up as she did right now.
But what do you do when the person you've spent your whole life looking forkeeps slipping out of your grasp? What if the person you are meant to be with can never be yours?
Dangerously addictive and darkly romantic, FALLEN is the ultimate gothic love story - a page turning thriller about fallen angels.
I reviewed this book a while back and absolutely loved it. So what have the publicity team been up to since then?
On the 11th December, (sorry this is a really late post but it's worth it), the Fallen Army took to the streets of London with their very own Fallen Angel to spread the word that Angels are the new Vampires!
The army targeted shoppers outside Topshop, Oxford Circus then walked down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus handing out copies of the books – in total the army gave out 150 copies! Each book contained a specially designed Fallen postcard directing people to the fiercebook site. The Fallen Angel braved the freezing temperatures and attracted quite a crowd!
The army then popped into the Heat offices on Shaftesbury Avenue and gave a copy to one of the girls from Heat plus one to the lovely receptionist who let the photographer take lots of snaps in the office. More magazine are also based there so the army personally delivered them a copy too. After leaving a few copies lying about on tables in reception the army left to a chorus of ‘There’s a naked man in reception!!’ from a group of ladies peering round the office doors.
Finally the army walked through the Christmas Market on Piccadilly to the small courtyard behind and took a few final photos of their brooding Fallen Angel.
Here is a picture of he gorgeous guy who wore the angel wings:
There are many better quality images of the day out here. Watch it! There's more snaps of the guy ;)
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Monster Republic
My review, which will be up in about an hour (because that's how long they take me to write) shall be of Monster Republic by Ben Horton. Here is the trailer to enjoy until then =)
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Coming Soon...
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and a Happy New Year. I shall be back on Friday 15th January - after my exams. I have a review of "The Monster Republic" and first Spiderwick Chronicle book to come.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Review: Chrysalis: The Awakening
Today's book is one that I had not heard of before. And yet I was pleasantly surprised. I read, and enjoyed, "Chrysalis: The Awakening" by M.L. Lacy. If you haven't heard of it before, here is the blurb:All families have secrets. But at 32 years old, Bree Campbell is discovering that her entire life has been a secret. Like most people, it never occurred to her to question her mortality; that is until she learns that she is a mortal born into a family of Magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life.
As the doors to Bree's new world fly open and she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen Ones. And if this were not overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving the earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the mortal world she has always known and the Magical world she is just now discovering.
Bree's journey will not be an easy one. She must face the realities of her new life and her new family; a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her mortal life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her. For no sooner than Bree is finally reunited with her long lost love, Steven, Bree must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family.
Bree's arch nemesis is Esmerelda, a powerful sorceress in her own right who will stop at nothing until the Chosen One is dead. If Esmeralda can claim Bree's blood, heart and soul and restore her Demon to his body, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and rule as she chooses.
But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace the responsibility she has been born to. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself. Will it be enough to save the world?
Well that was a long blurb! I really think it should have been cut down. But on to the real review...
I loved this book, and I'll tell you why. I loved the strong female protagonist, the mix of magic, a prophecy, love, Magicals, vampires, elves, giants, gnomes and werewolves. Although these are all mentioned, not all appear but there are references to them.
The main character is Aubrey or as she is known to her friends, Bree. I liked Bree. She had dealt with the harsh realities of her life with acceptance, but when she found out who she was, or who she was going to become, she vowed that no one would ever take her choice away from her anymore. I also loved how confident she was in the way she spoke to people. Bree always seemed to know what to say, which is down to Odessa, who is guiding her inside her mind. Bree is a Chosen One, but she never knew through her childhood and when she saw strange things, she thought she was insane.
There are a lot of characters in this book. Although I never found it that hard to keep up with who everyone else was. The characters were quite distinct. Each seemed to be entranced by Bree. Well, that is apart from those who want her dead. Her existence seems to peeve some people off. There are many who would like to see her dead.
The plot itself is excellent. I loved every part of it. And I will warn everyone right now, there is a lot of sex in this book. But none of it is really that graphic. I enjoyed reading every part of this book. It was longer than I expected it to be. It comprises of 41 chapters, 589 pages. That's why it took me a while to read. But I love long books so it didn't bother me. This really was a great book with an intricate plot. I really want to know what happens to Bree in the next book. M.L. Lacy has created a superb book.
28/30
Monday, 30 November 2009
Review: Monkey Taming
Sorry this is a day later than originally planned. I ended up sleeping in on Sunday and only just completing my homework in time. Today's review is of the book "Monkey Taming" by Judith Fathallah. Here is the blurb:
When Jessica was thirteen years old, she met the Monkey.
The Monkey lived inside her: a driving, fiery voice telling her than thinness was the only way to be safe, to be acceptable and, above all, to escape from the looming threat of approaching adulthood. Jessica listened to the Monkey, and it consumed her.
Through memory, reflection and enduring black humour, this is the illuminating story of a teenage girl's wanderings in darkness: the spiral down into madness, the terrible realities of an adolescent psychiatric unit, and the final stark choice - either tame her monkey or die.
I picked up this book from the library when I saw it on sale. It was 10p (can't beat a library sale) and the cover initially intrigued me.
The main character in this book is Jessica, a thirteen year old anorexic girl. She wasn't always anorexic but she convinced herself that if she was slimmer, everything would be better. Jessica thought she was fat and was determined to lose weight. But then she started hearing the Monkey, a voice in her head, and it became an obsession. Jessica was struggling with emotions before she started her starvation regime. And everytime she wanted to get better, for other people rather than herself, the Monkey won.
Jessica's mother is also quite a big influence on Jessica. She used to be slim herself and initially encouraged Jessica to lose weight. I don't think she is mean at all when she said that Jessica should start doing something about getting slim rather than keep going on about it. No one really knows what impact their words will have. She also supports Jessica and tries to get her the help that she needs.
The plot of this story follows Jessica's downward spiral in to anorexia and the obsession food became with her. I don't feel I'm ruining the story for you by typing this next bit as it's in the blurb, Jessica is admitted to an adolescent psychiatric ward. Just reading about the ward I knew why Jessica hated it. Some people there cared about those who were admitted whilst others just seemed to be cruel and vindictive, particularly a woman nicknamed Eleanor the Troll. Eleanor seemed to think that Jessica could just decide to eat again, when in reality, it's not that simple. Hearing about others who had been admitted i.e. other anorexics and one girl called Bethany who was a self harmer, I felt that it was so sad these people weren't receiving the help they needed. The amount of anger Jessica has at the psychiatric ward and their unfair treatment sucks in the reader to agreeing with them. I felt that the emotions that were conveyed were so strong that it must have come from Judith Fathallah's own experience in a psychiatric ward and suffering from anorexia. It was truly powerful writing.
This book was impossible to put down. It really was. I read this book about 3-4 months ago and I still remember it. It is a book that will linger in your mind. I really recommend you read it.
And a really powerful paragraph from the book can be found here.
5 out of 5 stars.
(I'm currently thinking of changing my rating system, so it'll be out of five stars for the time being).
When Jessica was thirteen years old, she met the Monkey.
The Monkey lived inside her: a driving, fiery voice telling her than thinness was the only way to be safe, to be acceptable and, above all, to escape from the looming threat of approaching adulthood. Jessica listened to the Monkey, and it consumed her.
Through memory, reflection and enduring black humour, this is the illuminating story of a teenage girl's wanderings in darkness: the spiral down into madness, the terrible realities of an adolescent psychiatric unit, and the final stark choice - either tame her monkey or die.
I picked up this book from the library when I saw it on sale. It was 10p (can't beat a library sale) and the cover initially intrigued me.
The main character in this book is Jessica, a thirteen year old anorexic girl. She wasn't always anorexic but she convinced herself that if she was slimmer, everything would be better. Jessica thought she was fat and was determined to lose weight. But then she started hearing the Monkey, a voice in her head, and it became an obsession. Jessica was struggling with emotions before she started her starvation regime. And everytime she wanted to get better, for other people rather than herself, the Monkey won.
Jessica's mother is also quite a big influence on Jessica. She used to be slim herself and initially encouraged Jessica to lose weight. I don't think she is mean at all when she said that Jessica should start doing something about getting slim rather than keep going on about it. No one really knows what impact their words will have. She also supports Jessica and tries to get her the help that she needs.
The plot of this story follows Jessica's downward spiral in to anorexia and the obsession food became with her. I don't feel I'm ruining the story for you by typing this next bit as it's in the blurb, Jessica is admitted to an adolescent psychiatric ward. Just reading about the ward I knew why Jessica hated it. Some people there cared about those who were admitted whilst others just seemed to be cruel and vindictive, particularly a woman nicknamed Eleanor the Troll. Eleanor seemed to think that Jessica could just decide to eat again, when in reality, it's not that simple. Hearing about others who had been admitted i.e. other anorexics and one girl called Bethany who was a self harmer, I felt that it was so sad these people weren't receiving the help they needed. The amount of anger Jessica has at the psychiatric ward and their unfair treatment sucks in the reader to agreeing with them. I felt that the emotions that were conveyed were so strong that it must have come from Judith Fathallah's own experience in a psychiatric ward and suffering from anorexia. It was truly powerful writing.
This book was impossible to put down. It really was. I read this book about 3-4 months ago and I still remember it. It is a book that will linger in your mind. I really recommend you read it.
And a really powerful paragraph from the book can be found here.
5 out of 5 stars.
(I'm currently thinking of changing my rating system, so it'll be out of five stars for the time being).
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Teaser
I know it isn't Teaser Tuesday. But I'm going to give you a paragraph from a book called "Monkey Taming" by Judith Fathallah. My review for this book will be up tomorrow. I thought this paragraph was so beautifully crafted and carried so much meaning that I knew it had to be shared.
"Ten per cent of anorexics die. There is no getting around that, no returning from it, no use in its denial. Mental illness can be fatal, and the degeneration of a once bright, happy person is no easier to watch than death by cancer. So don't invite it. Because there is a time (for me, about October) when you know it isn't normal any more, but you encourage it for kicks and in hope of thinness. It's the hate-love of the matador for the bull. But it isn't a bull, it's a monkey, and monkeys swing and jump and run and trick you from behind. Then one day they have you by the throat with long, strong, clawing fingers, and you cannot get free any more."
"Ten per cent of anorexics die. There is no getting around that, no returning from it, no use in its denial. Mental illness can be fatal, and the degeneration of a once bright, happy person is no easier to watch than death by cancer. So don't invite it. Because there is a time (for me, about October) when you know it isn't normal any more, but you encourage it for kicks and in hope of thinness. It's the hate-love of the matador for the bull. But it isn't a bull, it's a monkey, and monkeys swing and jump and run and trick you from behind. Then one day they have you by the throat with long, strong, clawing fingers, and you cannot get free any more."
Friday, 27 November 2009
Review: Dancing with Ana
First and foremost, I just want to say how pretty Dancing with Ana looked when 
it arrived. I don't know if the author personally sends out the copies but it was packaged really nicely (had its own plastic wallet). And the letter was printed on that posh paper (there's probably a name for it but I don't know it).
Dancing with Ana is written by Nicole Barker and if you don't know what it's about, here is the blurb:
Beth is a lucky girl... She comes from a loving family. She has three best friends. She loves to surf and lives five minutes from the beach. She also recently discovered that the boy she's grown up with has the most amazing green eyes... Beth has every reason to smile. Every reason to be happy. Every reason to feel blessed.
Then why is she sticking her fingers down her throat?
There is no girl called Ana in this story and I didn't really expect there to be. When I read the title I thought of anorexia nervosa. Some people with eating disorders shorten or, in my opinion, humanise their demons by giving them a name. Ana can be short for anorexia nervosa whilst Mia can be short for bulimia nervosa. Upon reading the blurb, I thought this book would be much darker than it actually is. It definitely touches upon anorexia nervosa but I felt that there was something it lacked. I can't put my finger on it though. By all rights it was a good read. I think that it may also have something to do with the length of the book. Granted, it was 170 pages but the font was relatively large compared to most books I've read.
I liked the characters in this book. Jeremy, Beth's best friend (or is he something more?), cares about Beth. He notices the change in her and tries to stop her on her ultimately destructive path. As do Beth's friend's, Jenny, Melanie and Rachel. They all agreed to diet but stop when they've reached their target weight, which is in the healthy range. Beth doesn't. I particularly liked Rachel. She had her own problems going on in the story but still found the courage to fight back.
I didn't really understand Beth's path in the story but then again, I don't think you really can unless you've been down that path yourself. It started off as a diet and then spiralled out of control. She was determined to exercise self-control to the point where I don't think she even knew why she was doing it anymore. One of the reasons that is hinted at is the pain from when her father left. But it was many years ago and it is only mentioned a few times and then largely at the end of the book. I think this is the something I didn't like about the book. I didn't think it was believable that she would suddenly do it because she was dealing with her father's abandonment years after it had happened. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, I'm just saying I didn't find it believable.
The plot itself is interesting. I wanted to know what what would happen to Beth. Would she be able to overcome her obsession with food? Would her friends notice how much the "diet" meant to her? There's a scene where Beth collapses because her body just can't take it. But a more poignant scene is the first time Beth gives in to eating when she isn't meant to. She feels she has to make herself sick to get rid of it. The words afterwards describes some of the horrors of what she has just done, "Her belly felt empty again, but her throat felt raw. So raw."
Did this book keep me reading? In a word: yes. Even though I read this during the read-a-thon, I wanted to keep reading. I needed to know how Beth would turn out. Would Jeremy be able to help her? Would her mother or brother notice? There were so many questions I wanted answered. But the one question I don't think was answered was simply, why?
I would recommend this book, contrary to my rather mixed review. I would just advise you that it focuses more on one girl's journey with anorexia than the reasons behind it.
20/30
it arrived. I don't know if the author personally sends out the copies but it was packaged really nicely (had its own plastic wallet). And the letter was printed on that posh paper (there's probably a name for it but I don't know it).Dancing with Ana is written by Nicole Barker and if you don't know what it's about, here is the blurb:
Beth is a lucky girl... She comes from a loving family. She has three best friends. She loves to surf and lives five minutes from the beach. She also recently discovered that the boy she's grown up with has the most amazing green eyes... Beth has every reason to smile. Every reason to be happy. Every reason to feel blessed.
Then why is she sticking her fingers down her throat?
There is no girl called Ana in this story and I didn't really expect there to be. When I read the title I thought of anorexia nervosa. Some people with eating disorders shorten or, in my opinion, humanise their demons by giving them a name. Ana can be short for anorexia nervosa whilst Mia can be short for bulimia nervosa. Upon reading the blurb, I thought this book would be much darker than it actually is. It definitely touches upon anorexia nervosa but I felt that there was something it lacked. I can't put my finger on it though. By all rights it was a good read. I think that it may also have something to do with the length of the book. Granted, it was 170 pages but the font was relatively large compared to most books I've read.
I liked the characters in this book. Jeremy, Beth's best friend (or is he something more?), cares about Beth. He notices the change in her and tries to stop her on her ultimately destructive path. As do Beth's friend's, Jenny, Melanie and Rachel. They all agreed to diet but stop when they've reached their target weight, which is in the healthy range. Beth doesn't. I particularly liked Rachel. She had her own problems going on in the story but still found the courage to fight back.
I didn't really understand Beth's path in the story but then again, I don't think you really can unless you've been down that path yourself. It started off as a diet and then spiralled out of control. She was determined to exercise self-control to the point where I don't think she even knew why she was doing it anymore. One of the reasons that is hinted at is the pain from when her father left. But it was many years ago and it is only mentioned a few times and then largely at the end of the book. I think this is the something I didn't like about the book. I didn't think it was believable that she would suddenly do it because she was dealing with her father's abandonment years after it had happened. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, I'm just saying I didn't find it believable.
The plot itself is interesting. I wanted to know what what would happen to Beth. Would she be able to overcome her obsession with food? Would her friends notice how much the "diet" meant to her? There's a scene where Beth collapses because her body just can't take it. But a more poignant scene is the first time Beth gives in to eating when she isn't meant to. She feels she has to make herself sick to get rid of it. The words afterwards describes some of the horrors of what she has just done, "Her belly felt empty again, but her throat felt raw. So raw."
Did this book keep me reading? In a word: yes. Even though I read this during the read-a-thon, I wanted to keep reading. I needed to know how Beth would turn out. Would Jeremy be able to help her? Would her mother or brother notice? There were so many questions I wanted answered. But the one question I don't think was answered was simply, why?
I would recommend this book, contrary to my rather mixed review. I would just advise you that it focuses more on one girl's journey with anorexia than the reasons behind it.
20/30
Reviews Coming Soon to a Blog Near You.... (Or err, this one)
I was off of school today (ill) so I thought I'd catch up on reviews. I've got one coming tonight. And I've prescheduled reviews over the following days. I ouldn't be totally unproductive today.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Review: Fallen
As promised, here is my review of Fallen which is written by Lauren Kate. Fallen was the first book I read as part of the read-a-thon. It's taken a long time to get this review up! Here is the blurb:
You can't comprehend my love of this book! I just... argh... what I mean to say is, I am sorely tempted to re-read this book. And I shall be getting it as a present for my friend for Christmas. It is also exactly a month until the release of Fallen in shops!
Characters? The main character is a girl called Luce. She is a very likeable character who has been sent to Sword & Cross by her parents. Sword & Cross seems to be a school for those who have had, or caused, bad things to happen. It's like a reform school. Luce was sent there after the night of the fire, but I won't say anymore than that. You'll have to read the book to find out what happened that night.
Cam is a good looking, sweet guy. He takes an interest in Luce and is always looking out for Luce. Unfortunately, everytime Luce wants to have a proper conversation and get to know Cam, she is interrupted by Gabbe, a blonde girl who Luce can't help but take a bit of a dislike too.
The other main male character is Daniel. He is "sublimely gorgeous". And Luce feels like she knows him, even when she believes she would remember someone like him. But any attempts to get to know Daniel are shunned by his outward attempts at distancing himself from her. So why does Luce feel drawn to Daniel if he clearly doesn't want to get to know her?
The plot of this book is amazing, I never would have guessed the truth of what was happening! It had me hooked until the end and I had to take a minute at the end of reading this (during the readathon) to just smile and remember how great the book was - and maybe some squealing and yearning for the next book Torment.
The ending? I'm sorry but if you choose to buy this book and read to the end, you will be left in suspense for the next book, Torment.
Overall, this book was superb! I loved, loved, loved, loved, loved it! And I'm buying it as a present for my friend for Christmas!
Characters - 10/10 (and I've worked out that I'm not a good judge of character)
Plot - 10/10 -but I'd give it more if I could-
Hookability (ability to keep you reading) - 10/10
Yup, that's full marks - 30/30
Daniel's gaze caught hers, and her breath caught in her throat. She recognized him from somewhere. But she would have remembered meeting someone like him. She would have remembered feeling as absolutely shaken up as she did right now.
But what do you do when the person you've spent your whole life looking forkeeps slipping out of your grasp? What if the person you are meant to be with can never be yours?
Dangerously addictive and darkly romantic, FALLEN is the ultimate gothic love story - a page turning thriller about fallen angels.
I. Loved. This. Book.
You can't comprehend my love of this book! I just... argh... what I mean to say is, I am sorely tempted to re-read this book. And I shall be getting it as a present for my friend for Christmas. It is also exactly a month until the release of Fallen in shops!
Characters? The main character is a girl called Luce. She is a very likeable character who has been sent to Sword & Cross by her parents. Sword & Cross seems to be a school for those who have had, or caused, bad things to happen. It's like a reform school. Luce was sent there after the night of the fire, but I won't say anymore than that. You'll have to read the book to find out what happened that night.
Cam is a good looking, sweet guy. He takes an interest in Luce and is always looking out for Luce. Unfortunately, everytime Luce wants to have a proper conversation and get to know Cam, she is interrupted by Gabbe, a blonde girl who Luce can't help but take a bit of a dislike too.
The other main male character is Daniel. He is "sublimely gorgeous". And Luce feels like she knows him, even when she believes she would remember someone like him. But any attempts to get to know Daniel are shunned by his outward attempts at distancing himself from her. So why does Luce feel drawn to Daniel if he clearly doesn't want to get to know her?
The plot of this book is amazing, I never would have guessed the truth of what was happening! It had me hooked until the end and I had to take a minute at the end of reading this (during the readathon) to just smile and remember how great the book was - and maybe some squealing and yearning for the next book Torment.
The ending? I'm sorry but if you choose to buy this book and read to the end, you will be left in suspense for the next book, Torment.
Overall, this book was superb! I loved, loved, loved, loved, loved it! And I'm buying it as a present for my friend for Christmas!
Characters - 10/10 (and I've worked out that I'm not a good judge of character)
Plot - 10/10 -but I'd give it more if I could-
Hookability (ability to keep you reading) - 10/10
Yup, that's full marks - 30/30
I really did love it =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
