Dragon Flight - Jessica Day George

So sorry guys!!! I haven't blogged in awhile...
Wasn't the snow AHHHH-MAZING?! I enjoyed it so much.(so much fun, lobbing snowballs at siblings :) don't you think) ;)
Well, so here we are, with the sequel to Dragon Slippers (to see my review, click here). Fasten your seat belts, here we go.....

Author : Jessica Day-George
Publishers : Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Page Count : 288

Main Synopsis
With the Dragon Wars over, Creel finds herself bored with life as a seamstress. Then word comes that a bordering country has been breeding dragons in preparation for an invasion. Never one to sit around, Creel throws herself headlong into an adventure that will reunite her with her dragon friend Shardas, pit her against a vicious new enemy and perhaps rekindle a friendship with Prince Luka that seems to have gone cold.

The Bad :
Kissing. That's about it. But I think that's not exactly what you call negative these days...
Violence. Battles near the end, dragon blood galore, and it made me rather sad :(
One of the counsel members (can't remember his name..) is a complete jerk. :)

The Good :
Creel returns once again as the humble seamstress / dragon savior, and she is strong, courageous, and  furious the way dragons are treated.  She stands up to the king for Shardas and Co..
Marta also returns as Creel's best friend, and is betrothed to Tobin, Luka's ex-bodyguard. I like her.
Luka... oh Luka.... he sounds so darn perfect, for crying out loud! But I still love him. He loves Creel, sadly, so no Luka for me :`(

My Thoughts :
Well, I enjoyed it, and it followed up well to Dragon Slippers. It was exciting and funny.
But it was just "enjoyed" not loved, because, something about J.D.G.'s writing style doesn't pull me in; but it has also not yet fallen under the curse of the first person- I want to kill her for thinking that!- type thing. Creel has not yet gotten annoying.... Which is a good thing, because I'll probably get Dragon Spear, the third and final installment to the trilogy, next time I'm at the library.
Total rating : 7/10
ADIEU!!

Les Miserables UPDATE!

So the amazing concert in being, as I type, transformed from stage to film!
I am so thrilled, being a ENORMOUS fan of the 10th anniversary production. I posted awhile back about some of the cast. Well, while the casting is not done, all the main characters are cast, and here
they are:
~

Sorry I would have labeled all of them, but Picnik was acting up.

Hugh Jackman - Jean Valjean
Russell Crowe - Inspector Javier
 Anne Hathaway - Fantine
Sacha Baron Cohen - Thènadier
Helena Bonham Carter - The Thènadieress
Amanda Seyfreid - Cosette
Eddie Redmayne - Marius Pontmercy
Samantha Barks* - Eponine
Aaron Tveit - Enjolras
George Blagden - Grantaire
Colm Wilkinson - Bishop of Digne
Frances Ruffelle 
~
So, you may be thinking, they can SING?! But be assured, most all the cast can (I am not sure about Sacha Cohen or Russell Crowe - at least, worthy Les Mis style), and I will post videos with their performances.
* Well Sam Barks. It is a great relief she was cast. It had been rumored and practically confirmed that Taylor Swift had snagged Eponine for herself. But when I was googling it, believe me, I shrieked with joy that Sam had been cast. Sam was Eponine in the 25th Anniversary Concert, along with Nick Jonas and Alfie Boe.
Then Colm Wilkinson. Never have been so excited for the first 5 minutes of a movie my entire life. Colm was the 10th Anniversary Jean Valjean, and he is AMAZING.
Frances Ruffelle, for those who do not know, was the original Eponine ever. She was the one who created the part, in fact. I am not a fan of her voice, though, so Lea Salonga and Sam are good for me.
I am personally very excited about this production, and just praying it's not somehow brought up to an R rating. Which is possible, depending on that 3 minute song, how far they decide to go.
Well ADIEU! and here are the videos.

There are a few. Though, in the Anne Hathaway clip, she says a swear word. Sorry.

White Collar

White Collar is a USA network show, starring Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, and Tiffani Thiessen.
I am on the 11th episode, so my review will be on the Pilot of Season 1.
~~
Neal Caffrey, convicted con-man and thief, serving a four-year sentence at a maximum security prison, escapes to find his ex-girlfriend Kate. He crosses paths with the FBI agent who arrested him three years back, Peter Burke, after a dead-end at Kate's apartment. Neal makes a deal with Peter: he will help find and arrest criminals, if Peter agrees to let him be released to his custody.
Thus begins this unlikely partnership between criminal and law.
~~

The GOOD:
Well. You can't help but like Neal(Matt Bomer). He is funny, always has witty remarks.
And his commitment to Kate(referred to as "the girlfriend") is really sweet.The mystery of Kate is also really neat.
Peter(Tim DeKay) is awesome, always good, and also pretty funny.
In the Pilot, Neal is helping Peter with his anniversary plans, which Peter had completely forgotten about.
Elizabeth(Tiffani Thiessen) is a wonderful character. She's always very loving to Peter (being his wife) and she is such a nice addition, not really having to do with the crimes(with solving), but just very dependent.There really isn't very much violence, the most seeing a man being murdered with a needle injected in his neck. That part is slightly intense.
The BAD:
Neal is a convict. Forgery, and also many things in that area.
Peter swears a few times (S.o.b.'s, and d**m, and 1 uses of the other B-word).
No sexual stuff.
The most intense scenes are closer to the end, I won't tell you what they are, but they aren't violent, besides gun pointing(all FBI stuff)
~~
My THOUGHTS :
I LOVE this show. I am so hooked. It makes me laugh, not cry, and want to watch another. Also, Neal hates guns. :)
My sister told us about it when we were up in NY, and unfortunately, she told us there was a LOT of stuff in the 3rd season. Not so much in the 1st and 2nd, though. My 11 year old brother is watching the show (which is on Instant Watch on Netflix) but I think the age appropriate-ness is around 12-13.
Rating : TVPG for language. Stars: 10/10
ADIEU!
~~
Favorite QUOTES:
Peter: There's more to this -- more to this than some lost love. Some side-angle he's playing.
Elizabeth: So you're suggesting he escapes a maximum-security prison, knowing full well that you'd catch him, just so he could trick you into letting him out again?
Peter: It's a working theory.
Elizabeth: Yeah, keep working.

Neal: Did you really put Elizabeth under surveillance before you asked her out? Peter, I underestimated you.
Peter: You told him?
Elizabeth: He said he wanted to make sure that I wasn't seeing anybody else. Honey, I think it's cute.
Neal: I think it's adorable.
Peter: I'm putting you back in prison.

Neal: Okay, Romeo. Let’s problem-solve.What makes her feel alive?
Peter: I'm drawing a blank.
Neal: How could you not know? When you were chasing me, you knew my shoe size, what time I woke up in the morning.
Peter: That's the job. Very different.
Neal: So, a relationship isn't work?
Peter: Oh, no, no. You don't get to lecture me on relationships. My wife didn't change her identity and flee the country to get away from me. 
Peter: What am I gonna do?
Neal: Nope, no more relationship advice from this side of the car. Call Dr. Phil.

Peter: [Peter runs down the stairs, after getting a call that Neal's GPS anklet was set off, only to find Neal chatting with his wife on the couch] You're on my couch.
Neal: Yeah, I came to talk to you. And Peter, I have to say, you have such an amazing wife.
Peter:Yeah, I like her. Get off my couch.

Dragon Slippers. By Jessica Day-George

"It was my aunt who decided to give me to the dragon.
Not that she was evil, or didn't care for me. It's just that we were very poor, and she was, as we said in those parts, dumber than two turnips in a rain barrel."

Many stories tell of damsels in distress who are rescued from the clutches of fire-breathing dragons by knights in shining armor and swept off to live happily ever after. Unfortunately, this is not one of those stories. 
True, when Creel's aunt suggests sacrificing her to the local dragon, it is in hopes that a knight will marry Creel and that everyone (aunt and family included) will benefit handsomely. Yet it's Creel who talks her way out of the dragon's clutches. And it's Creel who walks for days on end to seek her fortune in the king's city with only a bit of embroidery thread and a strange pair of slippers in her possession. But even Creel could not have guessed the outcome of this  tale. For in a country on the verge of war, Creel unknowingly possesses not just any pair of shoes, but a tool that could be used to save her kingdom.... or destroy it.
-------------------
Recommended Age: 11+
Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children
Author: Jessica Day-George

The NEGATIVE:
Let's see....
Besides violence, there's no swearing that I can recall, and only 2 kisses. 
The bad people are cruel, but, seriously, what can you expect?

 The POSITIVE 
Creel is very feisty and likable, very independent, and strong.
Luka rescues Creel from the guards, and Creel wants to protect the dragons at almost all costs.
 ~~
Um, as you can see, I'm not very good at this.
(If you have any tips, leave them as a comment)(Please!)
Dragon Slippers is an exciting, sweet page-turner, fairly easy read, and some very funny moments, as well as intense ones. It reminded me of Cornelia Funke, and her YA books.
I enjoyed it, but it wasn't the best or my favorite. Overall I think I'll give it around 7 out of 10, but it is still worth a read, because if you like brave heroines and human-like dragons (not to mention cute princes) then this is the book for you!
ADIEU!

Teenage Writer : The War Horn Pre-read

I discovered Teenage Writer through my bestest blog followings, Farrah's Flavor.
Now Jake(the writer/blogger) is having a draw so 5 lucky people can pre-read his book, The War Horn.
Here is the link, if you wish to enter : http://teenagewritingrocks.blogspot.com/2012/01/want-to-pre-read-war-horn-read-this.html
ADIEU!