THE B WORD

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)

by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that’s supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn’t happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he’s not normal – even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly .

I truly loved this book so much. It’s incredible to see how J.K. Rowling created one of the most fascinating fantasy worlds. I know I said this in my previous reviews of the Harry Potter books but what I read really made me want to be in the same reality, dimension, world, and universe they’re in. From the moment the Weasley men turned up at the Durselys to the moment Harry’s name came out of the Goblin Fire until the moment Dumbledore and the rest knew who “Alistair Moody” really was, I could not stop reading. Turning page after page after page.

To tell you the truth, I mainly read this book at school, during class and during breaks. I couldn’t help it. There were definitely times when I wouldn’t listen to our teachers’ discussions just to finish reading “this last page” or “this last chapter.” There was actually a moment when I was reading, you know, I was just sitting there, not giving a care about my surroundings, focusing on the story and on the characters and on the events when my classmate who was seated in front of me abruptly turns around to face me. And you know there’s nothing wrong with that. Except that our chairs were really close to each other. Because when I read, I prop up both of my knees on like a mounting under her chair and place my book on top. Like the picture below but on a chair, haha.

So I was reading and when I look up, her face was like inches from mine, of course I was startled. Then she smiled, like a smile me and my seatmate thought was a bit creepy and asked questions about lecture. I just stared at her like “wut? Can’t you see I’m reading? Cearly not listening to the discussion?” I just motioned to my book and she got the message, thankfully. My seatmate, who is an avid Potterhead and the one who introduced me to the world of Harry Potter, just laughed and shrugged her head. She gave me a look that says, “I understand.”

All in all, this book is masterful; it is the book where everything changes and you feel it with every flip of the page. It maintained the classic spirit of books 1-3 while perfectly balancing the added stakes and darkness. Also, like every other installment the way everything that is revealed at the end answers all your questions and puts all the more new ones straight back into your head was just as satisfying as it was the first three books and it was perfection. I want to curse my previous selves for not paying attention and not giving this series a chance because, boy oh boy, I wish I read this series sooner.

I just want to put in here some of my favorite parts in the book. At the beginning, Voldemort says to Wormtail, “I will allow you to perform an essential task for me, one that many of my followers would give their right hands to perform…” AND OMG J.K. ROWLING FORESHADOWS EVERYTHINGGGG. We got to meet Bill in this book and I.AM.LIVING.FOR.HIS.PONYTAIL. I like him and how chill he is.

Harry and Ron fighting made my heart hurt so much. I thought they would reconcile quickly but I didn’t expect their fight to be THAT long. My heart just aches whenever they would see each other, clearly wanting to approach each other but choose not to. AND ALSO, THE DRAMA AT THE YULE BALL GAHHH. It’s so obvious that Ron and Hermione like each other and they just don’t want to admit it THE FEELS!

another thing: WHEN HARRY WAS LISTENING TO HAGRID AND MADAME MAXIME AND HE SEES THE BEETLE? IMAGINE IF HE HAD JUST STEPPED ON IT? WOULDN’T THAT HAVE BEEN GREAT? AND LASTLY, CEDRIC! I cried when I was in that part. Cedric was such a kind, amazing, lovable person. Imagine if Cedric had only lived, he and Harry could have been good friends! UGH MY HEART!

All in all, I can’t wait to read the fifth book. And I can’t wait to see what happens. Fingers crossed, this is Barb!

Caraval (Caraval #1)

by Stephanie Garber

Imagine living your whole life in fear. Locked in, bounded by chains that hold you back from living your life, from doing what you want, and from expressing your true self. Imagine living a life where everything is planned out from the day you were born. Options are laid before you, making it seem like you can choose. But in reality, it’s all just for show, for appearances, for image. Imagine everyone keeping you from making your own choices. Imagine being so desperate for the taste of freedom you vow to give everything, and I mean everything, just to have your heart’s desire.

Imagine the feeling when out of the blue, your wishes come true. That by some miracle, a deity probably was moved, a lamp was rubbed, and a dandelion was blown, and your heart’s desires finally came true. I bet you would feel overjoyed and ecstatic. Some would feel like they are in heaven. Some would act like they have never before, seeming like an animal let out of its cage. Some would say like it’s the best feeling in the whole entire world.

But just then, just as you have received that wish, just as you are holding it in the palm of your hands, just as you are dwelling on the pits of glory; it’s taken away from you. Confusion, disdain and hopelessness starts to feed on you. On top of this, you are suddenly thrown into a magical, unfamiliar, extraordinary world you did not even know was possible to exist. This is what our main characters have felt all throughout the book. Surprisingly, it is also what I have felt, I have experienced and so much, much more.

The book revolves around sisters Scarlett and Donatella Dragna. For years, Scarlett has been writing letters to Caraval Master Legend requesting an invitation to Caraval, a mysterious traveling performance in which the audience participates in the show. And for years, she never received a response until this year, when she received a long-dreamt-of invitation from Legend. With hope in her eyes, and thrill in her heart, Scarlett is whisked away to the show, along with her sister, Tella, and a handsome, devilish, rogue, named Julian. Only, as soon as they arrived, Tella is kidnapped by Master Legend.

It turns out that this year’s Caraval revolves around Donatella. Scarlett is then told of the game’s rules, and that she has 5 nights to find her sister before everything is too late and a set of horrid consequences is unleashed. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens in Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless, she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, magic, betrayal and heartbreak.

I am pretty sure that all of you have made a book review or two before in your life. It may be a requirement in school, a hobby of yours, or the book you have read has sparked certain feelings in you, you just can’t help but share your thoughts with other people. Some may have already forgotten, but your English teacher probably presented the proper way of making a book review. You should be able to determine at which point of the book does the beginning, the rising action, the climax, the falling action and the ending happens.

Prior to reading this book, my expectations regarding the sequence of events were like of any other book. I am used to be being able to immediately distinguish the events of the book from each other. But before I finished reading, I realized the author somehow challenged the cookie-cutter way on presenting the stories. What I thought was the beginning was already part of the rising action which is usually found before the middle of the book. But what really stood out for me is the challenge in finding out which part of the book was the climax.

My mind was completely blown away again and again for the twists, secrets and revelations that happened in the book until it dawned on me: the book was written to awe and confuse minds at the same time. There are numerous points in the book wherein I would think that I have already figured out the climax when suddenly in comes a curveball to surprise me and scrap my thoughts about how the story will end.

Reading this book, to sum it up, was a rollercoaster ride. It’s just like life. Life is full of surprises and curveballs that make you feel emotions you have never felt before. This book was full of unimaginable sights, heavenly food, surprising twists every corner, and it was just so good. It would be like the person who’s toxic but is everything you want and need reincarnated as a book. I know that each and every one of you has or will have something or someone just like this in your lives. You want to cut off your ties with them because they make you feel high, your emotion levels are going through the roof all at the same time, and you’re hypnotized by them. But you can’t sever your ties with them so you keep them shelved. Knowing that when you interact with them again, or to risk even just a glance, those feelings and emotions together with your history comes rushing back to you. They’ve made you addicted. You’ll feel a little bit guilty but it’s totally worth it. That is how I’m feeling about this book right now. That is what life makes you feel. It’s one of the glories of life to make us feel out of our minds. I am impressed therefore with the author as this is only her debut book and she has already summed up what life has in store for us in one printed and bounded material.

Literally after finishing this book, I checked if my sanity was still intact. This book plays with your mind so good, you can’t seem to hate the author. It was a ploy, a clever act by the author, performed so seamlessly I was sucked and hypnotized before I even knew. I questioned everything that I just read, the author, the characters, the book, my mind, and everything that I thought I knew. I wondered if everything that I read from the beginning was even real. I reread everything to see just how much of it was real and how much was fake. Same as what happened to our main character.

Don’t even get me started with the characters. Each character’s background was so intricately weaved with each other it was so hard to doubt. All the characters were made so beautifully and I wished I was part of Caraval. Every single one had a distinct role, not just for the sake of placing characters or for the sake of having characters, but they all blended into the story perfectly. They all had a role and by the end of the book, each of those roles was justified.

The character development of Scarlett and Donatella was thought perfectly as well as their chemistry and their bond. This is not the typical sister goes to save her sister story but it is so much more than that. Telling what happened between them in this review seems cruel because every bit detail is worth to be read in the book.

This book is a combination of genres. From romance to fantasy, young adult, family, suspense, investigation, everything goes perfectly with each other. I strongly recommend it to those who want to be flying off their seat and losing their minds. A 10 out of five stars for this book.

The Song of Achilles

by Madeline Miller

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son, Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

Beginning:

The Scene at the Beach:

EVERYTHING at Mount Orthrys:

EVERYTHING TOWARDS THE END:

It’s been nearly a month since I read this book and only now I am making a review because THE.FEELS.IS.TOO.MUCH. Until now, I still can’t get over this book. And I think I never will. My heart’s been through too much. By the time I finished reading, my tear ducts were dried out, my heart constricted too many times, my life lost all color and then I cried again and again. and again.

Reading this is like reading Romeo and Juliet. We all know the story. We all know the outcome. We all know that our desperate prayers for someone, anyone to step in and save these characters from themselves will fall on deaf ears. Gods. What a bloody train wreck. Even though I knew how it was going to end, I was not prepared for how much I cared. I wanted to just literally go in the book, in that world, grab onto Achilles’ shoulder and shake him vigorously and yell at him and cry and shout and then hug him and cry some more.

There were two moments in the book that really, really, REALLY tore my heart out and shredded into a million pieces. The first was when Patroclus was begging Achilles to get out into battle and save their men but Achilles wasn’t budging. Until it got to the point where Patroclus knelt down and asked Achilles to save their people for him. And when Achilles heard that, I could just imagine his expression, the way his face falls, his heartbreak evident in his eyes.

“I knelt and pressed his hands to my face. My cheeks flowed with tears, unending, like water over dark rock. ‘For me then,’ I said. ‘Save them for me. I know what I am asking of you. But I ask you. For me.’ “He looked at me,and I saw the pull my words had on him, the struggle in his eyes. He swallowed. ‘Anything else,’ he said. ‘Anything. But not this. I cannot.’ I looked at the stone of his beautiful face, and despaired, ‘If you love me -‘

‘No!’ His face was stiff with tension. ‘I cannot…'”

The second moment was when Achilles learned of Patroclus’ death. The moment he saw Patroclus on the shroud, he instinctively reached for his sword, until he realizes that he gave his sword to Patroclus. Do you realize what that means? Upon realizing that Patroclus was dead, the first thought that comes into his mind is to reach for his sword to kill himself. Because he doesn’t want to live in a place, a world, where Patroclus is gone. If that isn’t love I don’t know what is.

Madeline Miller did what the movie producers of the film Troy (2004) were too cowardly to do; she stayed true to the homosexuality of Homer’s Iliad rather than writing a censored version of the story which stank of homophobia. Achilles and Patroclus were passionately in love, which resulted in their respective destruction. They were not cousins or man at arms, but soul mates. The watering down of this in the film Troy was an insult to the LGBT community. Nothing more. Nothing less. 
The attraction between these two men wasn’t something that was rushed and squandered. It was built up, ever so slowly, and delivered eloquently. The two were friends from boyhood, and Patroclus was charmed by Achilles after just one glance. He didn’t want to be parted from him. The two grew up together, they fought together, they learnt together and they developed together. They became inseparable and reliant on each other. Their relationship matured just as they did.
Like all relationships, there were issues. The two weren’t without their differences. They clashed and quarreled but only because they truly cared for each other. Patroclus wanted to end the war, and Achilles didn’t think the fight was worthy of his name: he wanted a bigger war to fight in. So, Patroclus, in his most bravest and stupid move goes against his lover’s wish and tries to end the war with a stroke of his sword. But he is no Achilles: he is not a god of war. He was out of his league, hopeless and outmatched.

The book is certainly appropriate for YA and up. The prose is elegant in its simplicity. Miller gives Patroclus a Hemmingway-like directness. I read a New York Times review of this book which I thought patently unfair, complaining that the style made the book seem like a fast-food version of the Iliad. I think this misses the whole point of the story. Patroclus’s mission in The Song of Achilles is to cut through the legend of the hero and show us the mortal side of demigod. He doesn’t want the pompous metaphors and flowery hyperbole of a war epic to bury Achilles’s other qualities — his tenderness, his insecurity, his honesty and lack of guile. The Song of Achilles can serve as an excellent introduction or counterpoint to the study of the Iliad.

I cannot say enough about this book. To me, this is literature at its finest. A beautifully written, masterfully crafted story capable of transporting readers within its pages, so enchanting them with what they find within that they forget that the real world lurks without, waiting for their return. I would read this book over and over again.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3)

by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter’s third year at Hogwarts is full of new dangers. A convicted murderer, Sirius Black, has broken out of Azkaban prison, and it seems he’s after Harry. Now Hogwarts is being patrolled by the dementors, the Azkaban guards who are hunting Sirius.
But Harry can’t imagine that Sirius or, for that matter, the evil Lord Voldemort could be more frightening than the dementors themselves, who have the terrible power to fill anyone they come across with aching loneliness and despair. Meanwhile, life continues as usual at Hogwarts. A top-of-the-line broom takes Harry’s success at Quidditch, the sport of the Wizarding world, to new heights. A cute fourth-year student catches his eye. And he becomes close with the new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, who was a childhood friend of his father.
Yet despite the relative safety of life at Hogwarts and the best efforts of the dementors, the threat of Sirius Black grows ever closer. But if Harry has learned anything from his education in wizardry, it is that things are often not what they seem.
Tragic revelations, heartwarming surprises, and high-stakes magical adventures await the boy wizard in this funny and poignant third installment of the beloved series.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2)

by J.K. Rowling

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls’ bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone — or something — starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects . . . Harry Potter himself?

The Unfairest of Them All (Ever After High #2)

by Shannon Hale

It’s the aftermath of Legacy Day, the day when the students at Ever After High are supposed to pledge to follow in their fairytale parents’ footsteps, and everyone is in a huff and a puff! Raven Queen, daughter of the Evil Queen, has refused to sign the Storybook of Legends, rejecting her story–and putting everyone else’s in jeopardy. 
The Royal Apple White doesn’t want to think Raven is being a rebellious pain, but Raven’s choice means Apple might never get the poisoned apple, Prince Charming, and a kingdom to rule. Behind Apple stands the Royals, those who want to play by the book and embrace their stories. The Rebels, supporters of Raven, believe in breaking free from destiny and writing their own stories. 
But when the chaos and rivalry land wonderlandiful Madeline Hatter in trouble, Raven and Apple must bring the Royals and the Rebels together to shut the book on their feud before it threatens to end all of their Happily Ever Afters once and for all. 
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…Who’s the Unfairest of Them All?

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2)

by Victoria Aveyard

If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.
Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. 
The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.
Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. 
But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. 

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The Storybook of Legends (Ever After High #1)

by Shannon Hale

At Ever After High, an enchanting boarding school, the children of fairytale legends prepare themselves to fulfill their destinies as the next generation of Snow Whites, Prince Charmings and Evil Queens…whether they want to or not. Each year on Legacy Day, students sign the Storybook of Legends to seal their scripted fates. For generations, the Village of Book End has whispered that refusing to sign means The End-both for a story and for a life.

As the daughter of the Evil Queen, Raven Queen’s destiny is to follow in her mother’s wicked footsteps, but evil is so not Raven’s style. She’s starting to wonder, what if she rewrote her own story? The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, has a happy ever after planned for herself, but it depends upon Raven feeding her a poison apple in their future.

What if Raven doesn’t sign the Storybook of Legends? It could mean a happily never after for them both. 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter #1)

by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter’s life is miserable. His parents are dead and he’s stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he’s a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.

Though Harry’s first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it’s his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.