Reading List

Weekly Reading List #109

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By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there avid readers. I hope everyone is having a wonderful day and a wonderful October up to now. I’ve been working hard on my novel New Girl. Final edits are coming along great so I’m on schedule for publication next year. Don’t know when I’ll get to book two though. It’s written but not typed. It’s hard to type without a desk so right now I’m just focusing on this novel and getting it out there. I’m going to try to get a 2019 pub date for the second novel but the way things are looking right now it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen and I definitely don’t want to rush it. Besides, I’m only halfway done with book three.

But I can’t be a writer if I don’t read and relax. So, on that note check out this week’s reading list.
 Continue reading Weekly Reading List #109 →

Book Reviews

A Massacre of Literature | Review of ‘The Massacre of Mankind’ (War of the Worlds #2)

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By Cynthia Ayala

The Massacre of Mankind by Stephen Baxter
Crown Publishing Group
Image Credit: Goodreads

“It has been 14 years since the Martians invaded England. The world has moved on, always watching the skies but content that we know how to defeat the Martian menace. Machinery looted from the abandoned capsules and war-machines has led to technological leaps forward. The Martians are vulnerable to earth germs. The Army is prepared. So when the signs of launches on Mars are seen, there seems little reason to worry. Unless you listen to one man, Walter Jenkins, the narrator of Wells’ book. He is sure that the Martians have learned, adapted, understood their defeat. He is right. Thrust into the chaos of a new invasion, a journalist – sister-in-law to Walter Jenkins – must survive, escape and report on the war. The Massacre of Mankind has begun.” —Goodreads

Published August 22, 2017, by Crown Publishing Group, The Massacre of Mankind by Stephen Baxter is a sequel to the H.G. Wells classic The War of the Worlds.
 Continue reading A Massacre of Literature | Review of ‘The Massacre of Mankind’ (War of the Worlds #2) →

Movie Reviews

Deliciously Frightening | Review of ‘IT’ (2017 Film)

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By Cynthia Ayala

IT starring Jaeden Lieberher & Bill Skarsgård Warner Bros. Pictures Image Credit: IMDB

“A group of bullied kids band together when a shapeshifting demon, taking the appearance of a clown, begins hunting children.” —IMDB

Before I begin, let me just say this: I was not a fan of the original miniseries, even as a child it bored the crap out of me and I did not find Pennywise frightening. It was unimpressive, the original. Part of the reason was the length. It was too long, making it dull. Yes, I understand the concept of a miniseries, some of my favorite things are miniseries (The 10th Kingdom, Dune, Children of Dune). However, with a story like this, something that is supposed to be a horror, the energy, the tension has to be consistent, it has to be there lurking behind every shadow, every corner, every scene. It needs to keep the audience on edge, and I do not feel like the original does that properly. Especially when it hits the adult part of the story, it becomes repetitive and lackluster. It stopped being scary.
 Continue reading Deliciously Frightening | Review of ‘IT’ (2017 Film) →

Book Reviews

Dangerously Magical | Review of ‘Frozen Tides’ (Falling Kingdoms #4)

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By Cynthia Ayala

Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes
Razorbill
Image Credit: Goodreads

Rebels, royals, and monsters wage war over the Mytican throne in the shocking fourth book of the Falling Kingdoms series, Cleo is still reeling from the showdown on Limeros and Amara’s betrayal. Magnus is coming to term with his role as king, deciding what kind of king he wants to be and if he wants to let Cleo inside his heart. Lucia, suffering from heartbreak has teamed up with the Fire Kindred to destroy those who would hurt her. Moreover, Jonas must decide if teaming up with his mortal enemy will hurt him or save him

Published December 15, 2015, by Razorbill Frozen Tides
by Morgan Rhodes is the fourth novel in her bestselling fantasy series, Falling Kingdoms.
 Continue reading Dangerously Magical | Review of ‘Frozen Tides’ (Falling Kingdoms #4) →

Reading List

Weekly Reading List #108

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By Cynthia Ayala

Hey, there avid readers! You know, I understand all the hype about Christmas but come on, it’s Halloween time, celebrate Halloween! I only say this because it seems that people are in a rush to just move on without enjoying what’s going on right now. I love my holidays; I try to celebrate what they were created for. I’m no saint, of course, I call into the commercialism of it all, it’s hard not to, but I try to enjoy every damn day and just go with the flow. Not jump to the next thing before I even start celebrating.

This connects to my reading. I have a very long list of books to read, a goal to read 90 books this year. But I’m not rushing. Some books I enjoy so much I can’t put them down, and then there are others that don’t read quite as fast, books that almost bore me to death. There’s one right here on this list. I also say this as a note to myself because I love to read and there are so many books I want to read. But I just need to go with the flow and read what I can and enjoy the journey I’m on with the books.

So on that note, check out this week’s reading list. Let me know what you think of the books and see if these are books are worthy of your reading list.
 Continue reading Weekly Reading List #108 →

Book Reviews

Captivating Historical Fiction with a Dash of Magic | Review of ‘Walk on Earth a Stranger’ (The Gold Seer Trilogy #1)

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Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
Greenwillow Books
Image Credit: Goodreads

“Leah Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more. She also has a secret. Leah can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it. When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.” —Goodreads

Published September 22, 2015, by Greenwillow Books, Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson is a young adult tale set in the historical context with just a dash of fantasy and magic. Continue reading Captivating Historical Fiction with a Dash of Magic | Review of ‘Walk on Earth a Stranger’ (The Gold Seer Trilogy #1) →

Movie Reviews

Fast-Paced Coupled with Stellar Performances | Review of ‘The Dark Tower’

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By Cynthia Ayala

The Dark Tower starring Idris Elba & Matthew McConaughey
Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: IMDB

“The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain, has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black, determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.” —IMDB

You know, I went into seeing this film knowing all the bad reviews that others had given it and I can 100% say this: they are wrong.
 Continue reading Fast-Paced Coupled with Stellar Performances | Review of ‘The Dark Tower’ →

Book Reviews

An Interesting Choice of Villainy | Review of ‘The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty’s Prince’ (Villains #3)

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By Cynthia Ayala

The Beast Within by Serena Valentino
Disney Press
Image Credit: Goodreads

“A cursed prince sits alone in a secluded castle. Few have seen him, but those who claim they have say his hair is wild and nails are sharp–like a beast’s! But how did this prince, once jovial and beloved by the people, come to be a reclusive and bitter monster? And is it possible that he can ever find true love and break the curse that has been placed upon him?” —Goodreads

Published July 22, 2014, by Disney Press, The Beast Within is the second novel in the Disney Villains series by Serena Valentino, exploring some of Disney’s famous villains and characters, with this one focusing on Beauty and Beast’s Beast himself.
 Continue reading An Interesting Choice of Villainy | Review of ‘The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty’s Prince’ (Villains #3) →

Reading List

Weekly Reading List #107

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Hey there avid readers. Man, I cannot believe it’s already October. I love October. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. But anyway, another week means another reading list and I hope you guys like these titles. Check them out, let me know if you’ve read them, what you think or if you have any suggestions. I’d love to hear what you think.

Happy reading!
 Continue reading Weekly Reading List #107 →

Book Reviews

Just Keeps Getting Better | Review of ‘Gathering Darkness’ (Falling Kingdoms #3)

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By Cynthia Ayala

Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes
Razorbill
Image Credit: Goodreads

“In GATHERING DARKNESS, book three of the New York Times bestselling Falling Kingdoms series, the stakes have never been higher as three teams push forward on a race to find the Kindred, the four elemental crystals possessing ancient, all-powerful magic, first: Prince Magnus has just witnessed torture, death, and miracles during the bloody confrontation that decimated the rebel forces. Now he must choose between family and justice as his father, the cruel King Gaius, sets out to conquer all of Mytica. All Gaius needs now are the Kindred – the four elemental crystals that give godlike powers to their owner. But the King of Blood is not the only one hunting for this ancient, storied magic. The only certainty in the dark times is that whoever finds the magic first will control the fate of Mytica… but fate can be fickle when magic is involved.” —Goodreads

Published December 9, 2014, by Razorbill, Gathering Darkness is the third book in the riveting young adult fantasy series, Falling Kingdoms, by Morgan Rhodes.
 Continue reading Just Keeps Getting Better | Review of ‘Gathering Darkness’ (Falling Kingdoms #3) →

Bringing you the latest reviews on films & novels. – Cynthia A.

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