Five Friday Favourites: Favourite Cover Changes

Five Friday Favourites is a weekly event hosted by Book Badger, where once a week, a five favourites subject is posted and everyone is welcome to join in. You can find out more about Five Friday Favourites and the future subjects here.

Favourite Cover Changes

The first thought that came to my mind was mid-series cover changes, which can be really frustrating but necessary in some cases. But then I started to think of cover changes that were made after the series were completed as well. Some cover changes are just incredible and I have rebought whole series I already own, just so I can have the beautiful new covers on my shelf. Yes, I am that person.

The Harry Potter Series

Jonny Duddle should be given medals. All of the medals! For me, the Harry Potter covers have always been the original Bloomsbury covers. They're not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, in fact I think they're ridiculously ugly. I mean, come on, have you seen Ron and Harry in that Chamber of Secrets cover? *shudders* But they were the originals and they have always been the Harry Potter covers to me. They have redone the covers so many times, but I'd never really loved any of the others either. Until Jonny Duddle created these amazingly beautiful covers! They're just gorgeous, capture some important scenes and I love the colours.

The Anna and the French Kiss Series

I know a lot of people didn't like the new Anna covers. They thought they were boring or didn't really say much about the story inside, like the originals did. But they needed to do something, because those original covers are embarrassing. It took me years to finally pick up Anna, that original cover had put me off so much. I like the new covers, I think they look beautiful sitting next to one another. I think the new covers won't put readers off picking the book up. 

Shatter Me 

What is that first cover even supposed to be? Nope! I don't even care if pretty eyes have nothing to do with this story, the new cover is stunning. S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G. And the rest of the series has equally stunning covers that much. Best cover change decision ever. Some girl in dress covers pull it off and are brilliant, Shatter Me was not one of those covers. Eyeballs for the win!

Throne of Glass

I love the UK covers, but the colours on the US hardcovers for the rest of the series were lovely. I wanted the series in hardback, but they only had the ugly US original for Throne of Glass. So of course, as soon as I buy the books in paperback, they release the new hardback cover to match the others in the series. I hate them! The original cover is just terrible and would not have made me want to pick that book up. That girl does not look like a scary assassin that is capable of slitting my throat. She also doesn't really look like Celeana is described. 

His Dark Materials Series

I was browsing a bookshop one day when I saw these on display. I already own the whole series, but I had to have them. They are so stunning when you see them in person, parts of each cover are shiny and the colours are perfect. I liked that they kept elements from the old covers, the items they chose as well as the colour choice for each. The new covers are stunning, but they are easily recognisable as His Dark Materials. 

Book Blogger Problems #2: Co-Blogging or Going Solo?

Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios: 2/5 Review

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins: 3/5 Review

The Hunger Games - Mockingjay Part 1: 9/10 Review

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Review

This is a weekly meme that I am hosting here at Reviews from a Bookworm. To take part all you have to do is share a movie review once a week, link back to Reviews from a Bookworm and add your link to the linky tool.


This weeks movie review will be for:


The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Okay, now for the really hard part. It's time to try and put my feelings about this movie into actual words. It's so much harder than I thought it would be, I wasn't expecting the movie to be that good. Rereading the book, which I reviewed here, had actually made me so nervous to see the film. The book is actually quite disappointing and unsatisfying, it's really slow going in the beginning and most of the action doesn't happen till the last quarter. I couldn't understand why they chose to split it in two, I didn't see what they could really do with the first half. But, shame on me, I never should have doubted them. When they made a movie adaptation as truly amazing as Catching Fire, I should have known they wouldn't disappoint me.

Everyone involved in turning these books into movies have earned my love and respect. This is how you adapt a book for the big screen. They stick so closely to the book, there's no big changes or deviations. But they are willing to make the subtle changes that are needed to make it work on screen. They make the subtle changes that manage to turn the most boring part of the book seem completely riveting. It made me realise that the biggest problem with the book wasn't the plot, it was dealing with Katniss and her narration.

The movie starts where we all knew it would, in District 13. Katniss is suffering from PTSD, as well as Finnick. She's survived a lot, but she's struggling to deal with the fact that she made it out of the Games and Peeta didn't. She's consumed with thoughts about what the Capitol could have done to him. And she's reluctant to take on the role that she's unwillingly put herself in, and that's the role of the Mockingjay. The symbol of rebellion and hope to all the Districts that want to fight back. She needs a purpose to do it, something to motivate her and that's Peeta. The hope that she can free him from the Capitol and rescue him. That's what gets her to finally step into the role, to fight back and take on Snow.

I'd been trying to figure out how to review this film all the way home from the cinema. I am still unsure. I can honestly say that I can't really think of anything to complain about. There isn't something I can point out and say that I didn't enjoy. I thought it would be really slow going, it wasn't. I thought it might drag and not much would happen, but I couldn't get enough and the time seemed to fly by. I knew the end was coming, I could feel it, but I didn't want the credits to roll. I needed the movie to continue, I needed part 2. How we're supposed to wait a year is beyond me.

By this point, I don't think you need me to say that the acting was superb. We've pretty much come to expect it now, we don't need to sit through the painful moments that could happen watching some adaptations (*cough* Twilight *cough*). Jennifer Lawrence is amazing, as always, especially when portraying how broken and torn Katniss is. She's struggling with so much in this movie and you can really feel it. This movie actually had me choking up at times, something I seriously wasn't expecting. Josh Hutcherson gets all of my applause, love and respect. His performance is phenomenal and watching him seemed to physically hurt. Why would you do that to me? Why?

The atmosphere in this film is a lot darker than the last two. And that's saying a lot, the last two were about people having to just slaughter other people. But this time you really feel like the Games are over, the real battle has begun. There's so much more at stake this time then whether or not Katniss or Peeta will make it. I loved how intense it felt, with the music playing a huge role in building the tension. But, with 100% honesty, what I loved most was that we got to see things we missed in the book. Katniss isn't as completely incompetent in this as she was in the book, but she still has to sit out on things. But the movie isn't restricted to just following Katniss, so we get to go where the action goes. We get to see what's happening in the Districts and we get to go on the missions that I wanted to see so badly in the books. This delivers on the action that was so needed in the book.

I'm sorry, I can't coherently review this film. I'm trying so hard not to spoil anything for people who haven't read the books. I'm sure those people exist somewhere, living under a rock. But, for those who have read the books, all I can say is Peeta. Oh, Peeta! That boy is breaking my heart. Nope, that boy broke my heart. It's completely broken and I don't know what to do. That ending. THAT ENDING! Nooooo. Just give me Part 2, please.

9/10 Butterflies

I haven't really got any complaints about this film, but I'm saving my 10. I need it for Part 2! At least, I really hope I do. This movie exceeded all of my expectations and showed me that I never should have doubted. I questioned why they were making two movies, I felt the book only required one. I was so wrong. What I thought was a decision based on making money actually proved to be necessary to tell the story right. I can't imagine them trying to get everything into one film. I understand now why they chose to make this into two films and I love them for it. I am left completely wanting more and completely confident that the next film won't disappoint me. This was dark, emotional and really upsetting at times. My poor feels could barely stand it by the end. 

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #3): Review

Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Buy this book: Amazon / Book Depository

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost. (Goodreads summary.)

At 6pm tonight, I'll be sitting in the cinema waiting for the The Hunger Games triple bill to start! I'll get to watch all three movies back to back, and I can't wait. That meant that I felt compelled to go reread the series again. I have a little confession though, I've read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire multiple times, but I'd only read Mockingjay the once. I'd avoided rereading it because of how much I remember feeling disappointed with the final book. But, with the movie coming out, I wanted to see if it was better than I remembered and try to prepare myself for what they'd include in the first half of the film.

Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios: Review

Title: Exquisite Captive
Author: Heather Demetrios
Publisher: Balzar + Bray
Buy this book: Amazon / Book Depository

Forced to obey her master.Compelled to help her enemy.Determined to free herself. Nalia is a jinni of tremendous ancient power, the only survivor of a coup that killed nearly everyone she loved. Stuffed into a bottle and sold by a slave trader, she’s now in hiding on the dark caravan, the lucrative jinni slave trade between Arjinna and Earth, where jinn are forced to grant wishes and obey their human masters’ every command. She’d give almost anything to be free of the golden shackles that bind her to Malek, her handsome, cruel master, and his lavish Hollywood lifestyle.Enter Raif, the enigmatic leader of Arjinna’s revolution and Nalia’s sworn enemy. He promises to free Nalia from her master so that she can return to her ravaged homeland and free her imprisoned brother—all for an unbearably high price. Nalia’s not sure she can trust him, but Raif’s her only hope of escape. With her enemies on the hunt, Earth has become more perilous than ever for Nalia. There’s just one catch: for Raif’s unbinding magic to work, Nalia must gain possession of her bottle…and convince the dangerously persuasive Malek that she truly loves him. Battling a dark past and harboring a terrible secret, Nalia soon realizes her freedom may come at a price too terrible to pay: but how far is she willing to go for it?Inspired by Arabian Nights, EXQUISITE CAPTIVE brings to life a deliciously seductive world where a wish can be a curse and shadows are sometimes safer than the light. (Goodreads summary.)

Basically what happened with this book.

I'd been debating whether to do a mini-review for Exquisite Captive or not. It's a book that I ended up having to DNF because I just didn't care enough to continue. But I did get to 83%, which I felt was far enough to do a full review and rate it. If it had failed to impress me by that point, I'm pretty certain the last 17% wasn't going to do anything to change that.

I'd been so excited to read Exquisite Captive, I'd downloaded it the moment I saw it on Edelweiss. It not only had a beyond stunning cover, it had a premise that sounded incredible. I couldn't wait to read an Arabian Nights inspired story about jinni, because how could that not be amazing. It seemed like a recipe for awesome, but I should have prepared myself for the fact that it might not live up to my expectations.

Book Blogger Problems #2: Going Solo or Co-Blogging?

I'm back!

Yes, I have finally returned to the world of blogging. After two weeks away, it finally felt time to come back. I'd really love to say that those two weeks were wonderfully relaxing. I'd love to say I got a ton of scheduling done, finally tackled those 14 reviews waiting to be written, took a big chunk out of my TBR and replied to comments/visited my favourite blogs. I'd really love to say all of that, but I'd be totally lying. And, come on, would I ever lie to you? Don't answer that!

The two weeks were mostly filled with work, sickness or dealing with other things that just caused a ton of stress. Taking the time away from the blog was worth it though, I don't know how I could have dealt with all of that and the blog. But I am back and hopefully it will be staying that way for a while. I thought what better way to return then with a discussion. I love a good discussion!

Co-blogging is something that I am sure a lot of bloggers have thought about at one point or another. Whether you're just weighing up the pros and cons, or if you're seriously considering making the move yourself. Some people even started their blogs with a co-blogger, but a lot of us were all on our lonesome. I remember getting the idea to start the blog in my head one day at work, and I could think of nothing else. I came home that night and signed up to blogger and started posting straight away. I didn't read any blogger tips, I didn't think about scheduling or when and how often I would post. I just jumped straight in and didn't look back. And I've really loved every moment of it. But that doesn't mean there aren't times where I wonder if it would be easier if I wasn't doing it alone.