Percy Jackson Re-read: Discussion Saturday!

Hi all! Welcome to another Discussion Saturday!

Today's topic: How would you prepare to go into the Labyrinth?

Now that is an excellent question! How does one prepare to venture into a place that is designed to kill you, with hopes of making it out alive? Good question. For me, there are two main components: packing and strategy.

Packing the Everyday Essentials of Survival 101: Weapons, obviously. I'd bring my sword, plus a hunting knife. Also food, water, ambrosia, nectar, and maybe a small first aid kit. I'd take a spare change of clothes (they double as bandages if need be), since who knows if you'll find yourself in a water chamber. Maybe a compass or map. The Labyrinth is also booby-trapped, so I'd pack light.

Strategy: if possible, I'd use Ariadne's string. If not possible, I'd find a trustworthy, able-bodied mortal with the Sight. And if that doesn't work at all, well, I'd try to learn as much as I could about the Labyrinth, and how is uses your feelings against you, and then try to fool the Labyrinth into working for me. It's better than nothing!

Would I be nervous? I think you'd be crazy not to. But ideally, I'd be going in with a few other people, so I wouldn't be completely alone (that's a terrifying thought). Going mad isn't very appealing, and it's harder to lose your mind if there's other people with you.

And that's it for me! Don't forget to check Caroline's post to see her thoughts!

* * *

October Book Haul!

Allow me to be giddy as I show you my newest babies. Birthdays are great, you know? :D

MY PRECIOUSSS.

Magnus Chase and The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan: Norse mythology, set in modern-day Boston. Plus, it's Rick Riordan. Need I say more? (You can read my review here)

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: this is the most heartwarming book I've ever read. Seriously. It's definitely going on my list of best books I've ever read! Read it, guys, you won't regret it! (You can read my review here)

The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa: MY FEELS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE RIGHT NOW. Because it's the LAST book in the Iron Fey series, like ever. I can't bare it. I can't. If this blog doesn't have any activity for a while, it's going to be because I'm in a huge book hangover over this book.

The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas: this is a truly epic fantasy series! I can't wait to read this last book. After that epic war declaration in the last book, I'm super excited to see what happens! Mages, blade wands, London, dragons, blood spells, you name it, this series has it!

I also got Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined by Stephanie Meyer, but I don't physically have it with me at the moment, and thus didn't make it into the picture. (Review and discussion here)

And that's it! What books did you guys get this month? Have you guys read any of these before? (I recommend them all!)

Percy Jackson Reread: Mythology Wednesday!

Hi all! Welcome back to another Mythology Wednesday, which is part of me and Caroline's Percy Jackson reread!

My topic this week is the god Pan, and Caroline's is Icarus. Let's get started! :)

Now, when I saw Pan, I don't mean Peter Pan. I mean the god Pan, son of Hermes and Dyriope. He's the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature, and woodland music. 

One of the most famous icons of Pan are his pan flute. Syrinx, a water-nymph, attracted Pan one day, and fled from him, until she found her sisters at Mount Lycaeum. Her sisters turned her in a reed to help escape him, and Pan, not knowing which reed she had turned into, collected 7 reeds and glued them together to form the famous pan flute. Pan is always seen with his reed pipes, and is seen as him refusing to part with Syrinx.

The story goes that 2000 years ago, Pan was pronounced to be dead. Different versions tell different things about how this came to be: in some, Pan assigned the satyr Lysas to spread the word of his death, whereas in others, Pan told a sailor named Thamus to spread the word. But all stories agree that Pan is one of the gods who actually have undergone a supposed death. In Percy Jackson, the satyrs all refuse to accept it, and ever since, have been looking for him...

Pan, apart from being the god of the wild, is also known for giving out angry shouts, causing the word panic to form. This shout is one of anger and frustration, and is said to be so terrifying that any enemies who hear it immediately turn around to flee.

And that's it for this week! Don't forget to check out Caroline's blog for some fun things about Icarus!

* * *

The Retribution of Mara Dyer Review: Mara

Book: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Series: Mara Dyer

Standing: Book 3 (final)

POV: 1st person by Mara and Noah, present tense

Setting: New York City (modern day)

Genre: YA paranormal

Source: Physical copy

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Pages: 470

Release: November 4th 2014

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told. There is. She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead. She should. She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance. She will now. Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story. Retribution has arrived. (Goodreads)

Falling Kingdoms Review

Book: Falling Kingdoms

Author: Morgan Rhodes

Series: Falling Kingdoms

Standing: Book 1

POV: 3rd person by Cleo, Jonas, Lucia and Magnus

Setting: Mystia (composed of Auranos, Paelsia, and Limeros)

Genre: YA fantasy

Source: Physical copy

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 412

Release: December 11th, 2012

In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface. As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love. The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed? It's the eve of war.... Choose your side. Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct. Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making. Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield. Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword.... (Goodreads)

Percy Jackson Re-read: The Battle of the Labyrinth Begins!

Hi guys! We're onto Book 4 of the Percy Jackson series this week!!! If you guys don't know yet, Caroline from Just Another Bookish Blog and I are re-reading the Percy Jackson series, doing a book per week!

Are you guys read for The Battle of the Labyrinth? I know I am! Same as the last few weeks, we'll be having fun posts along the week! And don't forget to check out Caroline's blog for some awesome things this week! :)

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse. In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. (Goodreads)

Percy Jackson Reread: Discussion Saturday!

Hi guys! Welcome to our third Discussion Saturday! We have two more after this, so don't forget to check them out!

Today's topic: Which Archer Twin, Artemis or Apollo, would you trust more?

Hmm... I have to admit, this isn't an easy question. I like them both. Apollo is easy-going and laid-back, but when it counts, he's there to help. Artemis is a skilled huntress, and I can see myself hanging out with her, discussion the best way to hunt monsters. 

I think my final decision would be...Artemis. Mainly because she's the more rational of the two, and is proactive. She's also described as the most vocal of the Olympians arguing for action against Kronos in Percy Jackson. She knows what needs to be done, and will argue to get it done. She also looks out for her Hunters, and isn't really that absent in the world like Apollo might be.

What do you guys think? Who would you choose?

* * *