Fanfiction Friday: The Drake Chronicles

A Drake Chronicles Fanfiction: Christabel & Connor

Disclaimer: I know, boring, but it has to be done. I don't own The Drake Chronicles and should in no way be affiliated with it, no copyright infringement intended. This story, however, is mine and I don't authorise people using any of the content on my blog without my permission. My fanfictions and stories are off limits, sorry! Enjoy this Drake Chronicles fanfic!
~~~~

I'd read about vampires in poems, how they were doomed to forevermore live out their days brooding in dark chambers. That really isn't far off from the truth, or at least for me it isn't. 

It's been a month since I was turned into a Na-Foir, a mysterious type of vampire unknown to most other vampires. A month since I'd been kidnapped because some asshole thought I was Lucy, my cousin. I don't think anyone has ever spoken to her about that in depth, apart from me. Still, no one will really acknowledge that it was her that's supposed to be a vampire.

As hard as it is to be a vampire, I'm glad I took my younger cousin's place. Growing up, when I'd spend summers in Violet Hill, she's always taken charge and looked after me. I felt obligated now that I was a vampire to return the favour, except it's kind of hard with the bloodlust and all. Connor makes it look manageable, sometimes even easy, but I know that all the Drake siblings struggle. 

~~~~

"Christa, when you asked me to come over, this isn't exactly what I thought we'd be doing," Connor remarked. He'd been lounging on my bed for about half an hour, looking gorgeous despite wearing just jeans and some sci-fi T-shirt. I however, was representing my most disgusting self in really old pj shorts and a grey sloppy-jo. Classy.

"What, watching me type on my laptop doesn't fascinate you?"

"Well, no. However, you coming over here might fascinate me," Connor grinned, gesturing to the other half of the bed that wasn't occupied by him. 

I'm still technically living with the Drakes, but every now and then I'll go back to the Hamilton's when I know they won't be there. It'd be too hard with Cass and Stuart there as well as Lucy. Besides, I really did love this house, especially my room. Before I was turned, I hadn't really bothered with decorating it, despite Lucy's protests. There were still tea cups on the windowsill, an afghan lying at the bottom of my unmade bed and combat boots on the floor. Almost normal. 

"God, you sound like Quinn," I feigned a look of horror and shut my laptop. No one needed to know that I was writing an autobiography of sorts detailing my time in Violet Hill. It's not like anyone would ever get to read it. "But, I guess I can finish this later."

"What is this, exactly? You've been typing nonstop since I got here, which is kind of rude."

"Nothing. But I could just finish it, seeing as you seem quite content moaning about it."

Connor gave me a lopsided grin. It was adorable, although I'd never say that to his face. I moved off my desk chair and onto the bed, burrowing myself into the covers. Now that I was a vampire, being cold wasn't an issue, but it made me feel human again. 

I really missed being human.

Connor hugged me closer so that my back was against his chest. He smelled like liquorice, and I couldn't get enough of it. 

"You okay?" 

I was momentarily surprised, but he'd probably seen the look that had been plastered on my face for most of my vampiric life. "I'm fine, why?" I didn't exactly want to have another annoying yet well-meaning heart to heart with someone. 

He snorted. Ass. "Christa, a month ago you didn't know vampires existed and now you are one. You aren't fine because now, you can't even eat pizza," he didn't say this rudely, he whispered it into my ear. Connor really did desperately want to help me, but that terrified me. 

"Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer," I quoted The Raven under my breath. I'm not sure why that line came to me, but Connor seemed to understand what I meant well enough.

"I'm glad you're sure of yourself and all that, but seriously? Poe? He's so depressing." 

"The best poets are. But I'm okay, Connor, really. I mean being a vampire isn't exactly how I'd expected to spend my senior year of high school, but I'm okay."

I guess he deemed that a good enough response because after that he dropped the subject. We laid on my bed for ages, not saying much, finally taking the time to relax after everything that had happened in Violet Hill. Politics, death, crazy families, vampires. It still scared the crap out of me, and I think Connor knew that, but he didn't say anything because that's who he is. Him bringing up that pizza thing was a little out of character. 

Now that everything had changed in my life, I knew that I'd always be acting out of character. I wasn't human anymore, and no matter how much that scared me, I had Connor, the Drakes, and Lucy to help me through it. I may not be the same species, I may not be who I was a month ago, but I'm still Christabel. My favourite book is still Jane Eyre and I still wear leather jackets. My life was never a fairytale, and it never will be, but it is a story. My character has just evolved into someone a little bit different, and if I think of it like that, then being a vampire sounds exciting. Connor's snoring, however? Not so much.

~~~~

I hope you all enjoyed it! This fanfiction is a little bit different from what I usually write, but I've been wanting to write a Connabel (my ship name for them, haha) fanfic for a while. I wanted to show a slightly more of an angsty side to Conner and a vulnerable side to Christabel seeing as they're always hiding behind nerdy facades. If anyone has any ideas or requests for the next FANFICTION FRIDAY, let me know in the comments!

~Au Revoir!~

Book Review: Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick

*This review might contain spoilers*

The Apocalypse does not end. The Changed will grow in numbers. The Spared may not survive.

Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she'd come to love.

But she was wrong.

Now Alex is in a fight for her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don't trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.

Shadows, the second book in the Ashes trilogy, can be described as a whirlwind. It starts off with a bang; Alex fighting for her life and Tom's POV, but then everything goes downhill; too many different POVs. I'm all for reading from Tom's or Lena's perspectives, but there are just too many factors. Seriously, who wants to read a book from ten million different POVs when Alex is the main character. I've grown attached to Alex, so it sucked balls not having her around much.

Having said that, I did manage to move past my attachment to Alex and thought the story was a lot richer with the other POVs. Peter was a pain, and so was Chris, but to really understand the story and plots there had to be different POVs so you knew what was happening all around. I think the real reason I hated the whole multiple POVs thing was because the first book was all from Alex's point of view, and it's almost uncomfortable to have to follow the story from a different angle.

The book picks up where the last left off, Alex has just left Rule and is fighting off a few brain-zapped kids. She doesn't exactly succeed and is taken hostage by them. Alex has a habit of giving the kids she meets nicknames, so Wolf, Acne & Spider take her back to suffer with the others they've captured.
Why are all the other captured victims old?
Because, conspiracy theory. Deh. All the towns have a policy: every now and again, force a few people out of the town to make room for the Spared (young adults who haven't Changed). I'm not going to give away any more big spoilers, but it all gets extremely screwed up. Especially when Alex feels like she might be bonded with the Changed or something.

People Alex knew back in Rule have decided to follow Alex's lead and make a run for it. After Nathan, Chris & Lena kind of screwed up any chance at a good life in the small town they decided the only choice was to run. Shitty decision. Their journey is a roller coaster. Chris is assumed dead. Lena is assumed Changed. And Nathan is most definitely dead. All this happens towards the end of the book, which sucks, because you're basically hit with an emotional brick all at once. Fun.

Plotwise, this book kicks ass. Some points aren't action packed at all, but you're still freaking out while reading and doing that rocking back 'n' forth mental patient thing. I was also doing a little bit of whimpering when Ilsa kept setting up characters to die, but then they survived. Can you not? Do you not care about my mental state? I felt like crying and screaming rolling my eyes. I couldn't even deal.

Pros
1) Excellent writing. I've said that about this series a lot, but I mean it. The writing quality is really good.
2) Part 5: Kill All The Enemy is heart breaking, so's Part 6 (although it's very short). Very briefly, Tom and Alex are almost reunited but then Alex almost dies. Fun, no? This all happens in a mine that is literally falling apart as you read. Just thought I'd let you know!
3) This book pulls on your heart strings like there's no tomorrow. If you are invested in this series, you will cry.
4) Plot twist; you're led to believe that Ellie is alive. I've always known deep down that she was. But Lena hears a little girl call out for a dog while she's on the run (Lena is Changing into a Chuckie or brain-zapped kid and is fleeing from Chris's dead body). That dog is Mina! So, of course, the little girl just has to be Ellie, right? I hope so. I listed this as a pro because in Ashes there were a lot of loose ends, so it seems to me like Ilsa J. Bick is slowly tying them all up throughout the series. Yay!
5) You never quite know what's around the corner. Granted, you'll probably be able to guess what's going to happen next, but it's a nice feeling to be surprised while reading. Most books are so predictable, and while you just want to die when something knocks you over outta the blue, that's a good thing when it comes to books.

Cons
1) This series is written in parts, that's fine and all, but what really pissed me off was that it was like all the boring parts were in scheduled to happen throughout certain parts of the book. For example, while I did love Shadows, I just couldn't get into a lot of parts 2, 3, and 4. I just wanted to give up, I was so done. It wasn't even boring for some of it, but the second half of the book meant barely any Alex. She's the main character! God dammit.
2) It's a little bit confusing. The way Shadows is written makes it hard to follow things. Characters might find clues and piece things together, but you'll have no idea what's going on. For most of the book, that's kind of how it goes. You feel like there's a piece missing.
3) Similar to that feeling of something missing, I noticed that because of the whole split POV thing, Shadows is kind of off centre. Do you know what I mean? Everything is just not quite right, and I feel like Alex is ignored for a majority of the book.

Shadows was a much better read than it's predecessor, Ashes. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to stick it out and read the rest of the series, but I'm extremely glad I did. Shadows was an emotional roller coaster for me. There were dull parts, but that's just part 'n' parcel of going on a roller coaster ride - right? I'd recommend this book (and the rest of the series) to anyone with a love for dystopian, off centre books. There's an element of friendship, and a little bit of romance, but I just can't shelve this book into one category.

Because this review is kind of short, and I'm not sure what else I should say, I'll leave you with an excerpt from the book. Enjoy!
~~~~
First, there had been a fine snow spilling like white sand. Not a lot, but enough that some sifted into her hair.
Then, incredibly, a scent of musk and sweet smoke and spice that tugged her heart.
And, finally, a voice. Distant. So small.
But she made out one word.
Ellie.
"Oh God." For a second, she just hung there. Her heart stuttered and then banged into life.
It's time. It's him! He's alive. He's the only one who knows. That's his scent. It's him. It has to be. It's–
"Tom!" she shrieked. "Tom! It's Alex, it's–"
~~~~
~Au Revoir!~

Miscellaneous Friday: Vampire Academy TV Spot Trailer Review

March 13th couldn't get here any faster. To honour Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters' impending release, I thought I'd review the TV Spots floating around on the internet. I'm not sure why, but Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters has gotten next to no exposure in Australia. 

These trailers, although much shorter than the full length one, are so much better! After dissecting the original two trailers and obsessing over them, I'd kind of lost interest due to the lack of darkness and all that jazz. The two 30 second trailers are just. Oh. My. God. 

These stills were taken from both trailers, sorry about the quality of some of them!

The Saint Vlads campus layout. Awesome!

"We live in a world where the boogeymen are real."

The Strigoi's view of Saint Vlads from the caves. 

"They're coming."

Strigoi gathered in the caves. Nasty.

"I'm a guardian."

I feel like I should add a crown here. Lissa looks like a queen.

What's that calculating look for, Rose? You gonna blow something up?

Everyone applauding Lissa.

Alberta kicking the students' asses in training. Woo!

Stake training is supposed to be in the second movie, but it's okay. *swoon*

Those sneaky bitches. What are they up to?

Uh oh, who's that?

Lissa doing her thing with magic. 

The church attic!!!

Rose and Jesse makin' out. She looks thirsty.

These two. Oh my god.

BOOM.

Uh oh, Strigoi alert! Whatever shall we do?

Academy SUVs. 

*Insert terrified scream from Lissa…here.*

"Oh no."

Psi-hounds. I don't think these guys look very happy.

"Should I call for backup?" "No."

"Your life mission is to protect Lissa."

"You're gonna have to go through me."

"Did you have to hurt them?"

"Uh, you're welcome."

Welcome to Vampire Academy, everyone. 

See what I mean? The two TV spots are so much better than the other trailers. There's a darker element in these, and the focus isn't on high school drama, but more so on impending doom. Granted, there are no Strigoi keeping watch on the academy in the first book (that we know of), and I'm kind of scared that will be the only thing people take away from the movie. This first movie's main plot will hopefully be Rose doing what she thinks is best for Lissa & Lissa finding herself. I don't know. I'm just excited.

Pros

1) Action! We see a lot more action in these two trailers, and it makes me giddy with excitement. All the fight sequences shown in the trailers are awesome and feature kick-ass fighters.

2) The sarcasm isn't over the top or underdone, it's just right.

3) Darkness. Not the Spirit kind, the movie atmosphere kind. The marketing companies really did pay attention to the noise fans were making, and delivered two TV spots infinitely better than the other trailers.

4) Rose and Lissa. The acting we see in these TV spots is great! Zoey and Lucy (as far as I can tell) completely pulled it off, this makes me really excited to see the movie. 

5) Little touches. What I mean by this is those little details that make movies worth watching. For example, how awesome were the effects? Especially Rose's eyes when she was in Lissa's head.

Cons

1) The Strigoi. It really bugs me that the Strigoi play such a huge role in Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters. Of course, their role in the whole book series is big, but I'm scared that there's too much focus on them for the first movie.

2) There aren't any other cons I can think of for these trailers. The editing is a little choppy, but that's how most trailers are. There are small things I'm worried about when it comes to this film, but hopefully I'll be able to completely forget about them when I see the movie. 

Who else is excited to see the movie? Leave some comments below saying what scene you're most excited to see and which scene you're most nervous to see! 

~Au Revoir!~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4bICJtp7P8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqc-iQ2POHE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQRPtFu9YKo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k718MhbRIb8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxqlR03A6w4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic88dSXnno0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRZJVRFpQjU

Fanfiction Friday: Hex Hall

A Hex Hall Fanfiction: Jenna, Sophie & Archer

Disclaimer: I know, boring, but it has to be done. I don't own The Drake Chronicles and should in no way be affiliated with it, no copyright infringement intended. This story, however, is mine and I don't authorise people using any of the content on my blog without my permission. My fanfictions and stories are off limits, sorry! Enjoy this Hex Hall fanfic!
~~~~
Life at Hecate Hall was pretty quiet now that the end of the supernatural world was no longer a concern.
My best friend, Jenna, has never been the student body's favourite person. But now that word has gotten 'round about how she helped me save the school, people are being a little nicer. At least now Jenna doesn't have to deal with any bullying.
My boyfriend, Archer, who was in league with L'Occhio di Dio (the organisation that started all this mess) has been dealing with the fallout of people he thought were his family…ultimately stabbing him in the back. He's not got many friends on both sides, seeing as he's made a lot of enemies.
And there's me, Sophie Mercer. Brannick. Atherton. Whatever. The jury, or rather my parents, are still out on that one. I prefer Mercer, it's name I grew up with. Granted, the life I had before this mess could never compare with the life I lead now.
~~~~
"Mercer!" I was speed-walking across the quad to get out of the cold weather. I used to complain about our woollen skirts during summer, but in January they were the only things that kept me from freezing to death. Plus, my brown hair didn't hate the cold.
"Mercer, slow down!" it was Archer, trying to catch up to me. Technically he'd already graduated, but he was adamant about staying around another year.
"Huh? Oh, hey," I turned around and smiled at Archer. He looked really good even in his simple jeans, shirt, and jacket. His curly black hair looked perfect, as per ushe.
"Maybe I should get a siren or something, that way you'd at least turn around. Maybe a flame thrower? That'd be cool," Archer grinned, stepping closer until we were barely an inch apart. Normally, I wouldn't be caught dead outside when it was this cold, but Archer made it so much better. When he was around, the sucky weather wouldn't get to me.
"Well, it's freezing. I just don't fancy hanging out when it's going to rain any second."
"It really isn't that cold. You're just used to it being hot all the time. What about when we went to England?" Archer mentioned it so casually, like it could have been a romantic getaway or something. It was so much worse than that.
"English weather is different to Georgian weather," I grumbled, turning away. He was right, this cold would probably only last another day or so. "I'm going inside, coming?"
Archer nodded, taking a few steps so he was walking next to me. Then, as if he wasn't being sexy enough, put his arm around me. "Still cold?"
Shaking my head numbly, I wrapped my arms around him. It could totally be justified because I was cold, but in reality I just wanted to be closer to him.

Opening the door to my dorm room, I kind of regretted being so desperate to get out of the cold. Staying in the commons hadn't been an option because of all the creepy looks Archer and I got despite it being months since the whole end of the world thing. But it looked like there'd been a pink explosion in mine & Jenna's room. Apparently, due to the weather, it was the perfect time for Jenna to redecorate the room by adding even more hot pink.
"Jesus christ, Jenna. Did you save some pink for the rest of the world?" Archer inquired as he stepped over various fury pink things to get to my bed. What even were they? "At least you haven't touched Sophie's bed, I don't think I'd be able to sit here if you had."
"You're an ass, Archer," said Jenna, grinning. These two hadn't exactly been huge fans of each other, but they'd mostly gotten over it and now acted like brother and sister. It was nice, but sometimes infuriating.
"But you love me, right? You do."
"Mmm, nah," Jenna shook her head, hanging more pink dream catchers over her bed. It should've looked tacky, but they looked really cool. "I'll leave the lovin' to her," she added, nodding at me.
"Don't let my parents hear you say that. They'd die of heart attacks or something," I said.

This all felt so normal. And while it was nice, it was also really creepy. Sitting on my bed with Archer, half-assedly doing homework while Jenna pinkified the room. It was just another day, and that's what I found so odd about it. "Curiouser and curiouser," I mumbled.
"Huh?" Jenna asked. She'd taken a break from adding more dangly pink things to the ceiling (for which I was grateful, pink bells, really?) and was now just chilling on her bed.
"Nothing," I smiled. I'd been doing so well with all the pressure from the past year that I was due any week for a disgusting movie style break down. Complete with kicking, screaming, and crazy ranting. Why hadn't something gone wrong? It was so surreal to have everything perfect in my life. I still didn't need to worry about being head of the Council, and was only just starting to prepare for college.

"You have a weird look on your face," Jenna commented, looking up from a magazine.
"I do? Huh."
"That's all? No jokes about me having a weird face too? Are you okay? Are you dying?"
I rolled my eyes. "Ha ha. I'm not dying, and I'm fine. But don't you guys find it weird?"
I got blank looks from both Archer and Jenna. "Find what weird?" Archer asked. He was probably just humouring me, since I tend to be a little overdramatic about everything.
"Literally nothing has happened since Hex Hall was reopened. Nothing has gone wrong, why? Why hasn't some descendent of the Casnoffs shown up out of no where and burnt the school to the ground?" I wondered. It had been on my mind for a while.
"Maybe because we're just that awesome? I don't know, I guess I've been avoiding thinking about all that stuff. It's easier then wallowing in self pity," Archer said, not unkindly. I relaxed into him on the bed. He was so warm, he was solid, he was there. 

"Hey! Group hug!" Jenna was tiny, even compared to me and I was barely five feet tall, but she could hug you until all your bones were ground into a pulp. "Aren't group hugs nice? Oh, and Soph, if you jinxed us with all that talk of impending doom I will seriously hurt you."
"Oh, shit. I totally did just jinx us," I mumbled. I don't think either of them heard me, seeing as they were too busy seeing who could kill the other first. I just happened to be caught in the middle. "Jenna, I don't think you'll have to worry about hurting me. You and Archer are killing me, I think I might explode if you guys squeeze any harder."
"Dirty?" Archer said this as a question. Like he wasn't quite sure that what I'd said was in fact dirty. I didn't care, I hugged them both harder. It made me feel so loved to have them in my life. I had my family, and other friends at Hex Hall, but I wouldn't ever find another spunky Jenna or smouldering Archer.

When we finally broke part, Archer planted a firm kiss on my lips. It wasn't like the various good bye kisses we'd shared when I wanted to throw up and cry. It wasn't like the hot make out sessions we'd had, nor was it like an awkward first kiss. His lips felt so right on mine, so when I kissed him back I felt whole. I didn't ever want to move from that spot, needing him to be with me all the time and never letting go. Of course, Jenna's fake cough brought Archer and I back to reality. Mostly.
"I'm gonna call Vix, that way I won't be the lonely third wheel," Jenna jokingly wiped a few tears away from her face and left the room, grinning. "She promised she'd spend February at Hex Hell!" Jenna poked her head in the door again, and then left in a whirlwind of pink.
"Jenna really loves Vix, doesn't she?" Archer hugged me close, and I couldn't help but feel there was a double meaning to his question.
"Oh, yeah. She really does."
~~~~
I hope you guys enjoyed my Hex Hall fanfic! It's not my best, but I enjoyed writing it and have been meaning to for a long time. In this fanfiction I really wanted to bring out Sophie's awkward, uncertain side and have less sarcasm. That sarcastic facade she puts up around people is a defense mechanism and I didn't feel like she had to put that up around two of the people she loves most. I know I didn't mention Cal, but truth be told I physically couldn't. Too many feels. I hope you liked my Jenopher (JennaXSophieXArcher… does that even work?) fanfic, they're my Hex Hall OT3!

~Au Revoir!~

Book Review: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

*This review might contain spoilers*

It could happen tomorrow…
An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerised system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom–a young solder–and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and others who are spared, it's now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Awhile ago I was browsing the shelves of QBD (an amazing bookshop), looking for more paranormal/sci-fi/romance books for me to give a home to. After picking up maybe ten books, I had to narrow it down to three - story of my life. I read the blurb of Ashes, as well as a random page inside and instantly fell in love because it had everything I wanted in a good book; weird action, thick plots, friendship, a clever/kick-ass heroin. However (please don't hate me), the "as good as The Hunger Games" sticker almost made me turn away. 

Anyway, I am extremely glad that I ended up buying Ashes because it's one of the most well-written books I've ever picked up. It's about a girl named Alex, with pretty red hair, dead parents and a brain tumour. Cheerful, no? She knows that no matter what the doctors say, the cancer is terminal and as a seventeen year old girl, she's not going to let dying ruin her life. As a last-ditch effort to salvage her life and have one more go at doing something she loves, she goes on a hiking/camping trip.

Something goes very wrong on this trip, like apocalyptic-dystopian-endoftheworld kind of wrong. The rest of the book is about Alex discovering herself (and maybe some weird powers), and working out how to live in a post-apocalyptic world. I'll say this now, things get very screwed up.

As awesome as this all sounds, the book starts off slow. Although there is excellent character development and you can already understand that there's a lot of depth to the book, it's still boring. This is a letdown, especially since I had to continuously pick the book up and put it down again because I couldn't really get into it. But you know when authors go way over the top and get really descriptive when there's almost no point? That happens a lot, although it's not too annoying it stilled bugged me. I hate saying bad things about books, so I'm glad that these are virtually the only bad things I have to say about Ashes. There will be some low points throughout the book where you'll have to take a break and wait until you really do want to read it, though.

Don't worry, once you hit around the chapter twenty mark, you won't just want to read this book.

You'll need to read this book. 

Seeing as, for a third or so of the book, it's just Alex and Ellie, it's refreshing to see some unfamiliar faces (cough Tom cough). When I first started reading the book, I would have said it was a 4/10, now it's more of a 8/10 or something I don't even know. Tom was in the army, and without him both girls would have been dead halfway through the book. One thing that bugs me is the fact that he's in the army, he's got all these skills. Of course he's a genius, of course he's got wilderness skills. That is a little predictable, but I'm willing to forgive because I really do ship Tom & Alex.

The book is separated into five parts, my personal favourite being part four: Rule. Because the electromagnetic pulse and all that jazz screwed up all communications and turned people into zombies (I shit you not), there's a small town called Rule that came together to stay safe. Kind of. I mean, at the very end of Ashes you find out just how horrible those townspeople are. One person in that town is Chris, but he's no Tom. I absolutely hated Chris, it's nothing personal, but the way he and Alex kind of got together was just wrong. I found Tom's and Alex's relationship much more believable and not so forced.

Forced relationships, boringness, and the possible deaths of Tom and a lovely little girl aside, Ashes is a great read and I highly recommend it. I'm warning you now, quite a bit of the book is boring, and chapters 33 through 36 will make you want to cry. It's completely worth it! Humour and romance aren't the main focuses of the book, and I really appreciate that because it's a nice reprieve from virtually every other damn book out there. All in all, a lovely book kind of similar to The Hunger Games but with more flesh eating and less games.

I don't know how to rate this book because I loved it and it was great and all, but a lot of it was pretty dull. I'm hoping that the next book will be a lot more fast paced as Ashes was kind of setting the tone for everything, and introducing the world Alex and the gang lives in. Can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy, I'll do reviews of those too!

What does 2014 mean for Gypsies and Pixies?

On almost every Youtube channel and every blog, in everyone's notebooks and in everyone's heads, 2014 means a new beginning. The bloggers are writing about how the new year will change their blogs and are being really profound about life, Youtubers are talking about all the wonderful opportunities there are in life, and virtually everyone is thinking about making New Years Resolutions that never stick. 

I'm no exception, I've already written my New Years Resolutions and have probably failed at half of them, and I'd like 2014 to be a fresh start for this blog. In April (was it April?) 2013, when I started Gypsies and Pixies I didn't really think about how much work it would be. I've only just designed my own header for my baby, and last year I barely posted because of school and lack of inspiration. I promise, I can CHANGE.

 ☆What does 2014 mean for Gypsies and Pixies?☆

1) I have decided to be a lot more devoted to my blog, instead of it just being a random hobby I'm going to really commit. I honestly don't know how I'll do this, but I'd like to post twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. I'm warning you all now that there's a good chance I won't be able to do this every week, but I will try my hardest!

2) FANFICTION FRIDAY. The last Friday of every month will be taken over by a book, movie, Youtuber or TV series I love and I'll get to share my obsession with you guys! 

3) The three Fridays that aren't being bombarded by fanfiction will revolve mostly around lifestyle and design. This day will be a little miscellaneous because I'm not necessarily going to stick to one specific topic. It'll be a surprise, and because I couldn't think of a name for it it will remain as MISCELLANEOUS FRIDAY.

4) Every Monday I'll post a BOOK REVIEW! The length and depth of the review won't depend on the length of the book or its popularity, but how much I'm able to write and how enthusiastic I am about the review. I'll try to do in-depth reviews as often as I can, but there will be that occasional book that only gets a small review. I swear I'm not a book snob! :) 

5) I'm um-ing and ah-ing about doing something on the first Wednesday of every month called ASK JESSE. It'll basically be an advice column where you can submit any appropriate question you like via comments or email and I'll answer them as best I can. I'll also look online to find common issues that could be discussed in Ask Jesse & Miscellaneous Friday.

I hope you guys like my ideas for 2014 and that this year will be wonderful for all of you! Let me know any of your ideas as well as your New Years Resolutions, maybe we can all fail at resolutions together! Or is it just me? No? Oh thank god.

~Au Revoir!~

Something old, something new: January

I couldn't be happier for 2014. Last year kind of sucked for me; school was hard, friends and boys really sucked, and a lot of my favourite book series drew to close. There were some good things that happened in 2013 as well; Gypsies and Pixies was born, I found some fantastic new books, and I bought Dark Angel on DVD. 

To welcome 2014, I thought I'd introduce something new on my blog: Something old, something new. Each month I'll talk about books I recently finished (something old), books that I'm currently reading (something new), as well as some books I'd like to read next. Because the books will only get brief mentions, these definitely aren't proper reviews - but if anyone would like some in-depth reviews, lemme know!

☆Something Old☆

I recently finished reading the Megan Chase series by one of my favourite authors, Stacia Kane. The series revolves around a girl with a tormented past, trying to get away from it and trying to live a semi-respectable life as a counsellor. The first book, Personal Demons, was excellent and I really enjoyed it. Although Megan isn't the most kick-ass heroine I've read about, she really does pack a punch, especially seeing as she's half demon. Greyson, her love interest, is an asshole at the same time he is perfect. The next book in the series, Demon Inside, was a letdown. It took me a loooong time to finish and I was ultimately disappointed with the action. The ending is awesome, but this trilogy does what a lot of others do in the sense that the second book is really boring. However, the final instalment, Demon Possessed, makes everything totally worth it! I absolutely loved this book, it's definitely the best in the series. Megson is my ship name for Meg & Greyson because holy shit they are an odd couple. Passionate fighting, makeup sex, demons out to kill them and their friends, and the deaths of a few VIP demons are all this couple needs to have a good time. 

☆Something New☆

I'm actually being really bad at the moment and reading six different books at a time, something I do a lot. I start reading one series and then feel like I have to jump into another world simultaneously. It gets tiring, but is ultimately worth it. 

Book 1: Before the Dawn by Max Allan Collins. If you're familiar with the TV series, Dark Angel, this series is basically a book version of that. The first book, the one I'm reading, is mostly a prequel to the series. You get to see what Max got up to before she met Original Cindy and the gang, you get to read about the X5's escape from Mantacore in depth, and you get to read about a girl Max knew called Lucy. I will admit to some parts of this book being pretty boring and a huge letdown, but it's worth it if you're a fan of the TV series. The main reason, and pretty much only reason, for these books was for fans of the show that were unceremoniously kicked out of the Dark Angel world when the series was cancelled. Cons aside, I'm loving this book!

Book 2: Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap. This is a lovely book revolving around the youngest Grand Duchess, Anastasia Romanov, and what life was like for her up until her imprisonment. I absolutely adored this book, it's bittersweet and so far the plot is great. I've noticed that the writing is kind of simplistic at times, but the protagonist is a young girl from a rich family so that was likely done on purpose. Anastasia also meets a boy named Sasha who, if the book had been turned into a two part series, might have saved her from execution. To be honest, I kind of love it when authors give romantic and sad historic events a happy ending. I was bad and read the last page of the book even though I'm only halfway through, but I know there isn't any happy ending for Anastasia and her family. 

Book 3: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I read this book a long time ago, and wanted to revisit it because I adore all the characters. It's utter perfection, especially the scene at the start of the book when the girls are all fawning over the prospect of Mr. Bingley!

Book 4: Wicca For Beginners by Thea Sabin. I'm fascinated with everything New Age and Wiccan so I thought I'd start reading about it. I've barely started it, so I don't have much to say. It's not really a how-to book, it just broadens your knowledge of everything Wiccan. It sucks that it's for the Northern Hemisphere though, as all the sabbats in Australia would be completely reversed. 

Book 5: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick. I'm currently working on a review for this book and reading it at the same time because this way I can do a really detailed review for you all. For this reason, I'm not going to say much about it except that I'm loving it!

Book 6: Bleeding Hearts by Alyxandra Harvey. You all know how much I love the Drake Chronicles, I've already read Bleeding Hearts and I'm simply rereading it because I can. Christabel and Lucy crack me up, and I love it when Connor and Nicholas are really protective of their respective girlfriends. 

☆Something To Look Forward To☆

Next I'll be reading Storm Born by Richelle Mead. I've read Vampire Academy, which was pretty good, and Succubus Blues which was outstanding. I know I'm quite late with reading Storm Born as it came out while the Succubus Blues series wasn't finished, but I'm finally going to bite the bullet. I'm also going to be reading Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare so I can get ahead of my class, seeing as school doesn't start for another two & a half weeks. I'm such a nerd. 

~Au Revoir!~

Links: 

Megan Chase series by Stacia Kane

Before the Dawn by Max Allan Collins

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Bleeding Hearts by Alyxandra Harvey

Review: The Longest Night by Alyxandra Harvey (eNovella)

*This review may contain spoilers*

Since the Blood Moon battle six years ago, Lucy and her hot vampire boyfriend, Nicholas Drake, have kept the peace between the vampires of Violet Hill and the Helios-Ra hunters. But breaking up fights between rogue hunter Aggie and irresistible rebel Callahan is proving a big challenge; Aggie just can't accept that behind Cal's burning blue eyes, he is in control of his bloodlust. As Lucy's best friend and Nicholas's sister, Solange, returns home for the group's Winter Solstice celebrations, Aggie struggles to admit the real reason she finds Cal a threat – and risks far more than her heart...

I've been a longtime fan of The Drake Chronicles, so when I found out about a short story a jumped at the chance to find out everything I could about it. It was released in eNovella form on December 17th, but I restrained myself and saved it for Christmas Eve. 

I'm so glad I did, because I actually needed some time to mentally prepare myself for jumping back into Violet Hill and visiting my old friends. That's what happens when you revisit a beloved book/series, or find out about a spinoff - deep down you know you'll love it, but that doesn't mean you won't start protecting yourself in case of tears. 

Come on, I can't be the only one that cries at all my favourite books? 

Nevertheless, The Longest Night certainly didn't let me down.

Reading the first chapter, even, was like an emotional roller coaster because I was starting a new journey with old friends. I can't explain how awesome it felt to read about Lucy bedazzling stakes, and Quinn and Hunter being engaged. I kid you not, Quinn actually manned up and proposed to Hunter, wtf this is too perfect. 

I think this short story is like a set up for a Lucy spinoff (Harvey likes to tease us, but I just know there will be one), introducing some new characters as well as reconnecting us with old ones. I did enjoy reading about some new characters, but to be honest, as a hardcore shipper of every single Drake couple, I would have loved the story to just be about that. I know that's not what it's supposed to be about, but jumping right back into Violet Hill made me a little nostalgic for Logan and Isabeau's magical romance, Connor & Christa's dorky lovefest.

Set five years after the Blood Moon battle, Lucy has started up a halfway house for troubled supernatural teens. It's basically a place for angsty teen vampires and hunters to be, to help them work together and all that jazz. Of course, a romance between said vampire and hunter is inevitable. I'd like to introduce Aggie; a girl with anger management issues as bad as Lucy's, and Cal; a mysterious vampire with a crow tattoo. Aggie's hatred of all vampires and fascination with Cal was at times kind of disturbing, I guess it was pretty believable. Alyx did a good job with Aggie's character development and you got to see her grow over the course of the story. Her sister was killed by a vampire, as was her dad. Her family has instilled a hatred of vampires in her long before she came to Violet Hill.

I guess Cal's character was supposed to be a mystery, but I still feel like something is missing. I just have to know the depth of this change into a vampire, his human life, why he is who he is. It sucks that you don't get to know him on a deeper level, but that can be totally forgiven seeing as it's a short story; leaving little time to explore the character's lives in more depth.

One thing that annoyed me about The Longest Night was the scene in which Aggie and Cal confess their feelings for each other. Although their attraction has been brewing for a long time, and Alyx wrote this extremely well, the scene felt a little bit abrupt to me; like it was missing a little piece. I feel like I can gloss over this, though, because of the great writing and the feeling that these two people are meant for each other. Was anyone else reminded of Lucy and Nicholas? These two couples are insanely similar.

Maybe it's just because I'm a long time fan of The Drake Chronicles, but I couldn't find a single flaw in this short story that really stood out. Although The Longest Night might not be everyone's cup of tea, even for some fans of The Drakes, I also can't imagine not enjoying it. I also can't imagine a book about Violet Hill without some Lucy and Nicholas scenes to make you swoon - The Longest Night certainly supplied enough of that And we also got to see some Solange & Keiran scenes as well, which were really sweet.

Rating: 9/10. It would be a 10/10, but to be honest, I can't seem to ship Aggie and Cal just yet. Plus Aggie can get as annoying as Solange was in Blood Moon and Blood Prophecy.

I think I might be incredibly lame for
finding this funny, but if you're a big fan
of the Drakes, then hopefully you'll
laugh at this too!