Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday

So much Stranger Things stuff was announced this week, along with some other things that got me pretty excited this week.

BOOK

Cover of Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu (goodreads)

I have a thing for superhero stories, and I happen to love the idea of iconic superheros as teens I was super excited when this 'series' was announced. We're impatiently waiting for Leigh Bardugo's take on Wonder Woman to be released, but we get to look at the cover for Marie Lu's take on Batman to make the wait a little easier. 

This cover is going to look amazing with the Wonder Woman cover, and I cannot wait to read Bruce's story. I trut Marie Lu will do a fantastic job. 

TV/MOVIE

Stranger Things Season Two Key Art

Pretty sure everyone who visits this blog is well aware of my Stranger Things obsession. I am so excited that we're finally getting reveals about season two, the most important of which is an official release date. OCTOBER 27!!!

 

I am so excited to watch this! I happen to be off on Fridays from work so I intend to get up early and binge the entire thing.October can not come quickly enough in my opinion. 

OTHER



 Second Wave Of Stranger Things Funko Pops

I loved the first wave of Stranger Things Pops from Funko, and was excited to see that we are getting a second wave so quickly. I have preordered most of these, and am eagerly anticipating them arriving.

I particularly love the Nancy and Jonathan ones! It will also be nice to have a Hopper to put along side my Joyce one (I ship it so much).

36 Questions Podcast (link)

You may not know that I adore Jonathan Groff. Have loved him since he came to my attention as Jesse St James in Glee. He's has an incredible singing voice, and I will pretty much watch (or listen) to anything he is involved. (ie - his new Netflix show, Mindhunters, is high on my must watch list this fall). I was curious when I saw the announcement that he was going to be part of a musical in podcast format. I wasn't sure how it would work, but it really (REALLY) does.

It is called 36 Questions, and is based off the 36 Questions that are designed to make strangers fall in love.  In this podcast a couple is trying to save their marriage from the brink of divorce by asking each other these questions. The songs are catchy, both cast members have amazing singing voices, and the story really does come alive in this format. I am impatiently waiting for part two to be released so I can continue this couple's story.

What are you obsessed with this week?

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Release Date - October 7, 2014
Publisher Website - Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 355 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**borrowed from a friend for review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

Morally grey characters have always fascinated me. They are complex, often blurring the lines in ways that spark sympathy and understanding even as their choices repulse the reader. Those characters who hover on the precipice that separates hero from villain are often my favourite. There is a fine line between the two, and Marie Lu examines that potential for darkness in this rich fantasy novel.

Everything from the characters, to the world, to the writing itself, came together to create a chillingly dark look at power and the ability it has seduce. It plays with the idea of what horrible things could happen if those with the blackest of hearts gave into their darker urges, and if they had inexplicable powers in which to cause destruction.

Adelina struggles with the vengefulness that eats away at her. The powers she possesses make it all too easy to enact retribution on those who harm her. The dark is alluring, welcome even, and it would be easy to be lured into it's charms. The other characters have their own struggles. Each of these characters has choices to make and the consequences of those choices will shape them. The question for some is one of doing the wrong thing for what they feel is the right reasons, but as with any situation the right and wrong side depend on who you ask. Each of these characters have faced abuse, discrimination and this ultimately a study in how people let this mould them.

Marie Lu is masterful at creating serious sexual tension. The romance element of the plot is used to compliment the story and adds to the tension already felt throughout the pages. The romance is not safe from the darkness that seeps into every single page of this story. Motivations are hidden, and personal agendas take precedent so what is love and what is perhaps manipulation is not always clear. It's something that, as a reader, I was all too aware of. The instinct to distrust is built into plenty of these characters, and that has repercussions that are still to be felt.

There are some bold choices made during the course of this novel. Choices that will sharply impact the rest of the series. It's left me intrigued, and more than a little excited to continue this journey. Marie Lu is ruthless, and merciless and that makes for an unpredictable, and dangerous story.

Marie Lu has created a addictive, compelling read that blurs the lines between hero and villain. A fast paced, stunning start to what is sure to be a new favourite series for me. It's a delicious set up for what is to come, and the fallout is sure to be just as explosive as the first chapter of the story of the 'Young Elites'.

YA2U - Bring Five YA Authors To YOUR City

Have you ever wished that a big YA book tour would make a stop in your hometown? Well, here's your chance for that wish to come true! YA2U is a program that features five award-winning and best-selling authors who are holding a contest to see what city they should visit in an exclusive tour stop!

The authors are collecting votes from January 1 to February 15, and any city in the continental US or any Canadian city that has an international airport can win an exclusive visit from all five authors, including an author panel and book signing! Entering is super easy--and if you help spread the word about the contest, you can also enter win a signed copy of all of their books (TEN signed books in total!)--and the book contest is open internationally!

The authors in the program are

• Marie Lu, the New York Times best-selling author of Legend and the upcoming Prodigy
• Marissa Meyer, the New York Times best-selling author of Cinder and the upcoming Scarlet
• Beth Revis, the New York Times best-selling author of Across the Universe, A Million Suns, and the upcoming Shades of Earth
• Victoria Schwab, author of The Near Witch and the highly-anticipated upcoming The Archived
• Megan Shepherd, author of the debut novel The Madman's Daughter

And they want to have an event in your home town! To participate, just got to the YA2U website and let them know what city you want them to come to. And while you're there, help spread the word about the contest and you can be entered to win all of their books--TEN signed books in total! 

Here's why the YA2U Team should come to MY hometown! 

Not only does Ottawa have a lot of fantastic YA book bloggers and fans, but we also rarely get events like this. It would also be my pleasure to introduce the lovely authors to the Canadian treasure known as poutine. 

Why should the YA2U Team come to your hometown? Why not join in the fun today and share with others about this program and your hometown. The more votes your town gets, the closer you are to having your very own personal tour stop! Vote for YOUR town here!

And if you help spread the word, you can also participate in the book giveaway. Tell them that you learned about YA2U from me and we both get extra entries in the contest!

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