Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

Presenting Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K . Rowling.

Here is the summary of the book:

J.K. Rowling invites you to explore a new era of the Wizarding World...

Explorer and Magizoologist Newt Scamander has just completed a round-the-globe trip in search of the most rare and unusual magical creatures. Arriving in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when Newt's case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape into the city, it spells trouble for everyone…

REVIEW ==

J K Rowling.... Can do no wrong. Harry Potter began a trend more than a decade ago. Since then that magical world had been sort of a refuge for any and everyone be it young or old... with just the swish and flick of the wand. The Casual Vacancy followed then the stories of Detective Cormoran Strike (still going on)... But the wizarding world had always been our first love.... will always be our first love.... 

And their venture of the return of that world, albeit further back in the past.... Is something we all looked to with much eagerness..... 'Fantastic beasts and where to find them'... In that essence renews that regard with much charm and gusto. A different era, a different country, different ethics but the magic just as effervescent.

This is of course not the novel we may have hoped for but the script to the movie. Adorned in the most gorgeous artwork and the adventures of Newt Scamander and his case full of magical creatures, the no-maj Jacob Kowalski, and the witch sisters Tina and Queenie. MACUSA is as ever strict in their laws.... There is a darkness growing in the streets of New York.... And Grindlewald is of course not far behind.

I might be doing a poor job of describing the book but really you have to see and experience  the movie first, to really experience this beautiful book to the fullest. But the best of all - 4 more movies will follow. But till anything new comes about, we are more than satisfied with Niffler, the Demiguise, the Occamy, the Bowtruckle, the majestic Thunderbird and all manners of beasts that call Scamander's suitcase their home.

"Magic, mayhem and wonder of wizarding world clothed in an equally magical cover"

Genre :      Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Publisher: Little Brown Book Group

Release Date: 19th November, 2016

My Copy: bought (hardback)

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Other Books from the Author:
                Cormoran Strike #1 #2 #3
                The Casual Vacancy
               Harry Potter (i read the series before 
                   I began blogging, so I never put up 
                     a review for them)
    
Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository

Of Fire and Stars

Presenting Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coldthurst.

Here is the summary of the book:

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.

REVIEW ==

Gorgeous cover. An almost high fantasy. Magic and LGBT. While I did like the overall effect of the plot but 'Of Fire and Stars' didn't give that fabulous tale I expected it to contain judging by the outer design and the synopsis. But other than that everything was just disappointing. The plot on the whole felt too generic for its fantasy setting. The characters themselves don't seem to bring much into the plot. Information dump was also seen throughout the pages which in turn brought down the pace of the story a little.

As protagonists, Denna and Mare were likable as a pair. The Princess of another kingdom being forced to marry another Kingdom's Prince to form alliances but falls in love with his cousin. This line of plot device is not that old and has been seen a lot. Although Denna is genuine is about her feelings and her decisions but there were instances where the plot goes deep into her psyche and her starts to wallow in self pity when you least expect her to because she develops feelings for not her intended but his cousin, Mare.

Mare is liked very much on the other hand. She is independent. She is nothing you would expect a Princess to be. Headstrong most of all and a fierce horse riders of all things. She may not care for anything or anyone else but she loves her horses and those are the best parts of her personality. On the whole women are treated far better than you would expect to for a story of this era. With key positions of the kingdom ruled by females even if the men seems a little reserved in their regard so that is definitely a positive point for this book.

As far as dialogues are concerned. They also don't seem constant in their execution. Some places they felt prose like and other times they felt to modern, that the transition felt too jarring to differentiate or enjoy. I'm not trying to bring the story down in anyway but while the story felt great on principal .... its those little things that don't let us enjoy the book as we expect it to.

"Magic. First love and a realm on the verge of war. Fantasy lovers will surely enjoy this new adventure"

Genre :     Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBT, Romance

Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Release Date: 22nd November, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

The Wishing World

Presenting The Wishing World by Todd Fahnestock.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the Wishing World, dreams are real. You can transform into your own hero, find wild and whimsical friends, and wield power as great as your imagination. But Lorelei doesn't know about any of that. All she knows is that a monster took her family.

It happened during a camping trip one year ago. Hiding inside the tent, she saw shadows, tentacles and a strange creature. By the time she got up the courage to crawl outside, the monster--and Lorelei's mom, dad, and brother--were gone.

Lorelei is determined to find her family. When she accidentally breaks into the Wishing World, she discovers a way. It's a land more wonderful than she could have imagined, a land of talking griffons, water princesses, and cities made of sand, where Lorelei is a Doolivanti--a wish-maker--who can write her dreams into existence.

There's only one problem: the monster is a Doolivanti, too. What he wishes also comes true, and he's determined to shove Lorelei out, keep her family, and make the whole Wishing World his. To save them, Lorelei must find the courage to face him, or her next wish may be her last.

REVIEW ==

There is much to like here and much that was just 'me-h'. The Wishing World by Todd Fahnestock while sporting a gorgeous front cover, a fictional world and a cool world to discover..... It's just maybe I wasn't in the mood for it or maybe the writing style didn't appeal to me. But I didn't enjoy the book as much as I hoped to have.

The best thing about 'The Wishing World' though was it's Narnia-esque Wishing World (I'm not kidding that is it's name) and how the author fashions this new world. It was wonderful experience. Although on the other hand how the Doolivanti add to and their significance in the plot didn't feel that clear to me. In that aspect the writing style also takes some getting used to. But otherwise I liked what I read. Of course it was nowhere near spectacular as I was expecting it to be.

As a protagonist Lorelei certainly proved her mettle. She was determined, headstrong and with a good head on her shoulders and a rather one track mind. There was an allure to the Wishing World but she never once let that impede her mission of finding her family. All the while making friends in the unlikeliest of places and unseemly of situations.

Ultimately while this world didn't wow me as I was hoping it would, but it does have its redeeming qualities that set it apart from the others. 

"A quick read into a new Narnia-esque fantasy that redefines the meaning of love and family"

Genre :     Middle Grade, Fantasy

Publisher: Starscape

Release Date: 25th October, 2016

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository