The Simpsons: Tapped Out

Title: The Simpsons: Tapped Out

Developers: Electronic Arts

Category: Freemium, Games

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Rating: Rated 12+ for the following: Infrequent/Mild Horror/Fear Themes, Infrequent/Mild Simulated Gambling, Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence, Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humor, Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References

For more information and to download the app go to its iTunes Preview Page.

STEPH SAID

Rating: 

Review:

This has become my favorite game app. If you like The Simpsons, you will this app too. The game starts with Homer playing with his MyPad at work. He was so focused on the game that he didn’t notice a red alert and, consequently, did nothing about it. There was a nuclear explosion and everything was wiped out Springfield: every house, every shop, every tree. Your task is to rebuild Springfield.

What is great about this game is that it looks like the series. Every house and store looks exactly as it does in the cartoon. Also, as you keep leveling up and adding houses and stores, more characters arrive at your Springfield. You can hear the characters talk and you can give them specific tasks that go in hand with their personalities and hobbies. For example, you can make Lisa study, babysit Flander’s kids or play the Sax; while Apu can either work endless shifts in the Kwik-E-Mart, feed the octuplets or pray to Ganesh.

Something that I love about the characters is their constant breaking of the fourth wall. They talk about the game they’re in and about the player. I find it hilarious.

Even though the app is free, you can pay real money to buy in-game currency: Donuts. The Donuts are used to buy special things or places or to speed up a process. They are useful but expensive. The good news is you don’t need Donuts to play the game. You will earn some donuts when you level up or when or complete certain tasks, but I don’t think there will be a lot of Donuts to earn.

The game gives you the option of signing into Origin. I strongly recommend this for many reasons. First, your progress will be saved online and can be accesses through any iOS device. If your iPod dies (like it happened to mine), you can rest assured that you game is safe and you’ll be able to play it again from where you left of. Also, when you sign up for Origin you receive two donuts, and you’ll receive five donuts when you first invite a friend. Which leads me to the third reason, you can add “friends” and visit their Springfields and earn money and experience while you’re at it. I wrote “friends” because sometimes you don’t even have to know the person. If you read the app’s reviews on iTunes you’ll see many players giving their username and asking to add them. And you can, and may, add them. That way you both will have another friend to visit. So, if you don’t know anyone that plays this game, or even if you do, you can these people.

You can also add me if you wish: smpm22.

iPhone Apps - Color Splash (Free)

iPhone Apps - Color Splash

Knowing that you can add color splash for free in Photobucket (you can read the tutorial on Online Tech Tips), I decided to find the best free app to Color Splash my pictures directly from my iPod. This is something fairly easy to do that can be done for free in a computer, so, I was not going to pay to be able to do it on my iPod. Thus, I downloaded the most popular free apps. Most of them offer Color Splash for free but there are premium versions of these apps that have more effects and features. I used the picture in my About Me page and colored the same thing (my watch) with all the apps, to be able to see the difference. 

In general, some apps wouldn’t even let me use my pictures (Colors Pro HD); with the free version you could only use a default picture. With others I could upload my own photos, but their controls leave much to be desired. For example, in Color Effects and Dash of Color you can't control the brush size; with TouchOfColor Free you can't actually do anything properly; in ColorUp Lite, when you zoom, the app becomes unresponsive; with ColorBlast! Lite you can only undo unce (otherwise is a nice app); with iQuickSplash - Splash Colors! you have to select the region you want with color and then the app edits it, if you don't like it, you have to go back and edit the region you have selected; and in Paint FX Free you can do the opposite: paint the picture gray and leave untouched the part of the photo you want to have color, but once something is gray, you can't easily bring it back to its original color.

In the end the best app turned out to be Illusion Hand Free. Unfortunately, this app uses OpenGL ES 2.0 and is not supported by every iPod or iPhone. That’s why I will also review the second best app: Photo Splash.

Illusion Hand Free

iTunes Preview Page

Requirements (written by The Developers): "Illusion Hand Free uses OpenGL ES 2.0 technology which is only supported on iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. Unfortunately iPhone 3G and other earlier models are NOT supported. It's the hardware limitation. Sorry for the inconvenience!"

Rating: 

Review:

I fell so in love with this app, I’m thinking about buying the premium version! I still haven’t because I don’t know if I’ll use it often. If I do I’ll post a review.

Illusion Hand Free does what it is supposed to and more. It has some options and controls I wasn’t expecting but found myself missing while I was trying the other apps.

The first app that I tried had a button to move the photo. With Illusion Hand Free you need to use two fingers to move the picture around. At first I didn’t like this because I would use one finger to move the picture and ended up coloring it. It took me some time to adjust, but after I did I saw the brilliance behind it. If you have a button to move the photo you have to click the menu, click the button, move the picture, click the menu again, unselect the button and then you can keep coloring. With Illusion Hand Free you are coloring, use two fingers to move the picture and keep coloring.

Illusion Hand Free also has a brush picker. This allows to choose the size and saturation of the brush and it gives you the opportunity to choose between sharp or blurred edges.

But, what makes this app different is that it has a “CSI lamp (to see what you paint in red light)” and the ability to “Take a snapshot as a draft (to be modified later)”. The lamp is useful when what you’re coloring that has something light, dark or of the same color, right next to it. When the lamp is on what you have in color will turn red and you’ll be able to see if you have painted outside of the borders. This feature was a nice surprised and turned out to be super useful. In the photo I was editing my watch has a shiny surface that reflected my skin color. At first I wasn’t sure where my arm ended and the watch began. This feature helped me a lot.

The snapshot feature is great because you can save what you have done up until that point and finish later.

All of these features are divided between a top and a bottom menu. This menus can be hidden by touching the picture one time.

This app also give you the opportunity to choose the resolution in which you want the photo to be saved and to share your creations from within the app with Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. I haven’t tried this last feature because I don’t like sharing my passwords anywhere.

Photo Splash

iTunes Preview Page

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Rating: 

Review:

This is a really good app; it has the basics features to do what it says. You can choose the brush size, undo and share to Instagram and Facebook or through email. In this app two fingers are needed to move the picture.

Something that this app has, that Illusion Hand Free doesn’t, is the ability to edit pictures from you Facebook albums.

However, this app lacks the "CSI Lamp" and "Snapshot" features and has advertisements. It has an ad banner bellow the top menu. Also, the menus and the ad banner cannot be hidden.

This is a good app, it does what it’s supposed too. But it doesn’t excel at it.

The Last Battle (By Steph)

Title: The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia #7)

Author: C.S. Lewis

Year of Publication: 1956

Official Fan Page

Synopsis: The last battle is the greatest battle of all. Narnia... where lies breed fear... where loyalty is tested... where all hope seems lost. During the last days of Narnia, the land faces its fiercest challenge - not an invader from without but an enemy from within. Lies and treachery have taken root, and only the king and a small band of loyal followers can prevent the destruction of all they hold dear in this, the magnificent ending to the Chronicles of Narnia.

STEPH SAID

Rating: 


Review:

Most part of this book was like any other Chronicles of Narnia book: human kids accompany some Narnians on a quest and the story ends up with a battle. What makes this book different and better is what happened after the battle.

The first chapter tells the story of how an ape, Shift, and a donkey, Puzzle, found a lion’s fur and how Shift adjusted it and made Puzzle wear it. I wish I hadn’t heard that story; I wish this first chapter was never written. Later on in the story, an ape appears claiming to be Aslan’s spokesperson. Aslan, apparently, wanted all kind of horrendous things, like selling all dwarfs and talking animals as slaves, to Calormene. If I hadn’t read the ape/donkey story of the first chapter, this would’ve intrigued me and make me feel suspicious. However, since I did know the story, I knew Aslan wasn’t asking for those things. Of course this is a book for children. I guess C.S. Lewis didn’t want kids to think Aslan would actually do such things and decided to expose the ape first handed. That way kids wouldn’t lose faith in Aslan.

Shift allied with Calormenes and so the last battle began: King Tirian, Eustace, Jill and many Narnians vs. Shift, the Calormenes and many Narnians. It wasn’t as big as I expected, or as epic. It was in fact a bit disappointing. It wasn’t a great war-like battle, more like two or three small battles.

Up to this point, the book was ok. But then came the end of Narnia and the book was way better. Not because of the actual end of Narnia, but for all the friends that we were able to see again. Every human that was once in Narnia appeared again: Digory, Polly, Peter, Edmund, Lucy, Eustace and Jill. The only one missing was Susan. In Peter and Jill’s words:

"My sister Susan," answered Peter shortly and gravely, "is no longer a friend of Narnia."

"Oh Susan!" said Jill. "She's interested in nothing nowadays except nylons and lipstick and invitations. She always was a jolly sight too keen on being grown-up."

Also, it was overwhelming to see every character that was important in the series. Fledge was there, and Trumpkin, the Badger and the Beavers, Puddleglum, but most importantly (to me) Reepicheep and Mr. Tumnus. I even cried when I read about the latter two.

It was a great ending to the series, not the actual last battle, but what came after it: the second half of the book, the actual ending. And the last page held a plot twist— which I’m not going to spoil even though I saw it coming— that made the ending of the series perfect.

Prince Caspian (By Ell)

Tile: Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #2)

Author: C.S. Lewis

Year of Publication: 1951

Official Fan Page

Synopsis: A prince fights for his crown. Narnia... where animals talk... where trees walk... here a battle is about to begin. A prince denied his rightful throne gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.




ELL SAID

Rating: 


Review:

So, we get to enjoy a bit more of the magic of Narnia on this one, which is brilliant. Caspian escapes and has his little adventure, but everything seemed weird. It felt like he (C.S. Lewis) as trying to extend the story with a bunch of non-important things, and here's a few of them: At one moment, Caspian was at war with his uncle's armies and he needed the help of the Pevensee, but they were sitting casually, talking about Caspian's story. Also, while traveling towards Caspian, they took a detour which ended up only being a plot to give more length to the story, since it wasn't needed and, in the end, didn't add anything to the story. It was epic, but most of the story seemed... Forced.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (By Ell)

Title: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia #1)

Author: C.S. Lewis

Year of Publication: 1950

Official Fan Page

Synopsis: Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist its ruler, the golden lion Aslan, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.




ELL SAID

Rating: 


Review:

So, This book is epic. The pace is brilliant and cool. It's narrated excellently and it portrays the characters well. Edmund begins beign shown as the bad guy but, honestly? He wasn't doing anything bad, considering the possition he was in. Imagine you enter a whole new world and talk to a gorgeous yet strong woman that tells you she's the queen. Would a kid his age doubt it? No. She then proceeds to give you food and drink. Bam, you're already under her spell. Of course, for Edmund, he wasn't betraying his family, he was doing what he thought was right given his circumstances. Peter, on the other hand, was far worst. His attitude towards Edmund was, at best, evil. Insulting him for acting like a kid his age was stupid, but hey, he's the one who thinks he's the adult. The Professor's short appearance was impressively awesome, but I do have a bit of a problem with Aslan. He allowed the girls to follow him all the way to his death. The fact is, letting two kids no older than sixteen witness a murder in such a horrid way shouldn't be allowed, even if he needed the support. Plus, the two girls didn't seem very affected by it. Sure they cried, but when your only hope dies, do you only cry? Over all, brilliant book, it'd be perfect if it wasn't for those tiny little details I mentioned above.

Wreck-It Ralph

Title: Wreck-It Ralph

Year: 2012

Director: Rich Moore

Rating by MPAA: PG for some rude humor and mild action/violence

Synopsis: A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.

Official Movie Site and IMDb Page

Official Trailer

STEPH SAID

Rating: 

Review:

This movie was amazing; way more than I was expecting. I loved its storyline, characters, concept, plot twists and its allusions. This story has everything: drama, action, comedy, romance and a bit of politics and ethics.

At first, mostly thanks to the movie’s trailer, I thought the movie was just about a bad guy who wants to become a hero. However, right at the beginning of the movie you find out that Ralph is not a bad guy. He is just an outsider who lives in a dump and wrecks thing because that’s his job. All he wants is company, a house and, mostly, that his work be appreciated. He decides the only way things could change, the only way for his hard work to be recognized, is by earning a gold medal and thus, become a hero. This is done early in the movie; Ralph manages to acquire the medal quickly. Afterwards, he enters, by accident, the game “Sugar Rush” and that’s where the real story and adventure starts to unfold.

I love the concept of the characters from video games being alive. That is why I decided to watch the movie. It felt like a really cool mash up between Toy Story and Tron. What is more amazing is that the characters aren’t just alive; they actually have a life inside and outside the world of the game. Of course, the player will never see that, because the player only sees either one specific point of the world, or places a camera focuses on. This is super cool for two reasons. First, there are parts of the movie which can be seen from the games’ perspective; sometimes you would find yourself inside the game looking out to the player. Second, you can see what happens "behind the scenes". For example, Wreck-It Ralph, the game, takes place in the building Ralph wrecks and Felix fixes. But when the arcade is closed we can see a town nearby, a train station and a dumpster. Also, we get to see what the characters do when they’re not working.

“Sugar Rush” was amazing. It was the right amount of sweet. In it, Ralph meets Vanellope, (love her name by the way) a girl that is also an outsider and is bullied for being different. At first, I thought she was just a funny character, but she kept growing on me as the story progressed.

I do have one complain. I have to point out one small scene that I didn’t like. In it Calhoun and Felix get stuck in quicksand; the only way out is to grab some candy that is hanging over their heads. But, the candy was too far away. However, they discovered the candy got closer to them if they were funny. Their joke of choosing: violence. Calhoun would hit Felix, leaving him all swollen, and the candy would laugh and get closer to Calhoun and Felix. Then, Felix would fix himself with his hammer and Calhoun would hit him again. I didn’t like how violence was portrayed as a joke, like nothing bad was really happening because Felix could fix himself up. That looked like the cycle of violence and I know that if the roles were reversed, Felix hitting Calhoun, the movie would have raised many objections. People would have been scandalized that Disney is teaching kids that hitting a woman is fun. But, really, the fact that is a woman hitting a man is no different in my eyes.

Leaving aside this short scene, the movie was great, thought-provoking, funny and amazing. It has a great message. I definitely recommend it for the whole family.

The Silver Chair (By Steph)

Title: The Silver Chair (Chronicles of Narnia # 4)

Author: C.S. Lewis

Year of Publication: 1953

Official Fan Page

Synopsis: NARNIA...where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans, where a prince is put under an evil spell...and where the adventure begins.

Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor...or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they pursue the quest that brings them face and face with the evil Witch. She must be defeated if Prince Rilian is to be saved.

STEPH SAID

Rating: 

Review: 

To better review this book, I will divided into three parts. The first part covers chapter one through chapter five; the second part covers chapter six through twelve; and the third part covers chapters thirteen to sixteenth, the very end.

The first part is, in essence, like any other Narnia book. Some kids, in this case Eustace and Jill, are living their lives when are summoned to Narnia and are embarked on a quest. In this case, to find Caspian’s missing son: Rilian. This book had something different though. First, upon leaving Earth they entered Aslan’s world, not Narnia. And second, in this story the mission and instructions were handed out by Aslan himself, the only time he ever has, or ever will, do something like that. Eventually, (after neglecting the first sign, out of four that Aslan talked about) Eustace and Jill recruited Puddleglum and started their journey towards the Wild Lands of the North.

The second part of this story was predictable. After crossing Ettinsmoor, the group encountered a woman on a green dress and a silent knight in black armor. Earlier, while listening to the story of how Rilian disappeared, these lines were spoken:

He saw the [snake] gliding away from [his mother] and made after it with his sword drawn. It was great, shining, and as green as poison […]

[…] at noon Drinian looked up and saw the most beautiful lady he had ever seen; and she stood at the north side of the fountain and said no word but beckoned to the Prince with her hand as if she bade him come to her. And she was tall and great, shining, and wrapped in a thin garment as green as poison. […] It stuck in Drinian's mind that this shining green woman was evil.

So, when I read about a woman in a green dress, I immediately knew it was the same woman, the witch who had turned into a snake and killed Rilian’s mother. Hence, the silent knight beside her was definitely Rilian. The group didn’t suspect this. Then, the woman, upon learning the group was looking for the ruined city of the giants, told the kids about Harfang: a city where giants were nice. She said:

"Only tell them," answered the Lady, "that She of the Green Kirtle salutes them by you, and has sent them two fair Southern children for the Autumn Feast."

Knowing that giants eat humans, I understood that the kids weren’t going to eat in the Feast, rather be eaten. Instead, the kids and Puddleglum heard the literal words and rushed to Harfang. The next chapters were employed in the journey towards Harfang, their stay there and their escape, after finding out they were the main course for the Autumn Feast.

After missing three of the four signs Aslan told them to search for, the group accidentally reached Underland, which lead to the third part of the story: the unexpected.

What came afterwards was really good. Learning that Rilian was under a spell, breaking the spell and trying to escape Underland, we even got a glimpse of the gnomes’ homeland: the Land of Bism. This part was nicely written; even though it didn’t have a faster pace, this part did have a change in tone. Even though I knew everything was going to be fine at the end, sometimes I felt tense and hopeless. The fact that they were underground and the lights were going out one by one made things worse.

The ending was great. I love how Aslan helped Eustace and Jill resolve their school issues. It is the first time I’ve seen Aslan do something good, maybe even fun, without scolding someone.

TCON: Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Title: The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Year: 2010

Director: Michael Apted

Rating by MPAA: PG for some frightening images and sequences of fantasy action

Synopsis: Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

For more information you can go to its IMDb Page.

Official Trailer



ELL SAID

Rating:  


Review:

Wow. Just... Wow. I didn't think this Narnia was going to impress me again, but, once again, Disney proved their talent making epic movies. It started out sweet, with a strange Edmund moment (As usual) and then we head into Narnia. But, this time, Peter and Susan aren't even around, but a third and new friend is discovered (Kidnapped, according to him): Eustice Scrubb, the Pevensie's cousin. He was hilarious and, definitely was the star of the movie. Starting as a jerk (Similarily to Edmund on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but a bit more pathetic), he evolves into one of my favorite characters in the whole trilogy. Magic galore, to the point of amazing: Dragons, magicians, creatures with one, gigantic foot and more! This one movie outshone the previous two. Aslan didn't play a particularly important role which, I consider, was good, because we can't always have him saving everyone. Edmund, once again, was epic, but at the start he acted kinda whinny. The plot seemed strange, but everything was amazing.

STEPH SAID

If you want, you can read the book review first.

Review:

As a stand-alone movie (not comparing it to the book):

Rating:  

To those that haven’t read the books, this will probably be the best out of The Chronicles of Narnia movies. It was an amazing journey that immerses the viewer in the magical and wondrous world of Narnia. The viewers were, for the first time, given full access to the breath-taking, enchanting places and creatures that exist beyond the borders of the country of Narnia. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian took place in the country of Narnia --that is not to be mistaken with the world of Narnia. In the country of Narnia magical creatures and talking animals exist but that’s it; in the world of Narnia there is more than that. We were able to see islands that make people’s dreams come true, waters that turn everything it touches into gold, a sea of lilies, the end of the world itself and even got a glimpse of Aslan’s country; we met invisible people, magicians, sea serpents, dragons and stars.

Eustace’s character was powerful. He starts as an obnoxious character that nobody likes; by the end, he has turned into a beloved character that makes you cry with his inspiring change. This, of course, is thanks to Will Poulter’s impressive performance. He used little details, like his facial expressions or tone of voice, to help him portraying Eustace’s different sides. As a result, the boy that enters Narnia, is nothing like the one that leaves it.

Reepicheep’s goodbye was emotional. He has become one of my favorite characters from The Chronicles of Narnia (the second favorite, after Edmund), so seeing him leaving was the saddest part of the movie.

Comparing the movie to the book

Rating: 

The movie kept the basic story straight, as is usually done, but changed many, many things. Some of these changes were for the better; those parts of the story are better in the movie than in the book. Some of the changes were for the worst; I prefer the way it was done in the book, rather than the movie.

For the better:

• The way Edmund, Lucy and Eustace entered Narnia. In the books, the kids enter the moving painting; some water came out of it, but not the whole sea. In the movie, Narnia comes out through the painting, sinking the room.

• Eustace personality. Most of this point is explained above, but not all of it. In the book, Eustace started to change after becoming a boy again. Key word being “started”, but sometimes his change was unsuccessful. Eustace, from time to time, acted cruelly and ungratefully towards everybody around him. In the movie he did have a change of heart, visible to everybody and constant. 

• The friendly swordplay. Caspian and Edmund’s practice was entertaining, and it was good to see neither of them had lost their touch. Reep and Eustace’s was an added bonus. In the book, Eustace doesn’t give Reep the satisfaction; in the movie, however, he does. But, Reep took it a step further and used that opportunity to teach Eustace the proper way to duel. The funny thing was that Eustace took Reep’s advices, even though he dislikes Reep.

• Caspian’s end. The only thing I disliked about the book was Caspian’s ending. I didn’t like how he had an out-of-character moment and contended with everybody that opposed his decision to go to Aslan’s country. In the movie, Caspian was given an accurate and realistic ending. Yes, Caspian wanted to see Aslan’s country, but he was wise enough to know he shouldn’t abandon Narnia.

• Aslan’s message on individuality. This is a present matter involving kids and teens. Now, kids want to become their favorite artists. They dye their hair, buy specific clothes and start talking like their favorite artists. Aslan, taught Lucy that she shouldn’t wish to be somebody else; she should be happy to be Lucy Pevensie, because there is not another Lucy Pevensie in the world. (And he wasn’t talking about the name). Aslan showed Lucy, what would have happened is she wasn’t born: the kids wouldn’t have found Narnia. This is a nice change from the book, in which Aslan just reprimands Lucy for the enchantments she tried.

For the worse:

• Edmund’s portrayal. At the beginning of the story he was acting just like Peter: whining about how nobody treated him like the king he was, but acting like a child, sticking his tongue out to his uncle. If he wants to be treated like a king, he has to behave like one. But what’s worse is that he is nothing like that in the books. He is the wisest and best behaved of the Pevensie children. He is the one that should have been named High King of Narnia. Not happy with that, the movie presents Edmund as the creator of the Sea Serpent (he isn’t), making him look weak, as he was the only one that had a bad thought at that moment.

• Short end of the world. In the book, the End of the World lasts for many chapters. Days and days of traveling through crystal seas and undersea cities were shortened to a few minutes of traveling through the sea of lilies. 

Voyage of the Dawn Treader (By Steph)

Title: Votage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia #3)

Author: C.S. Lewis

Year of Publication: 1952

Official Fan Page

Synopsis: NARNIA . . . the world of wicked dragons and magic spells, where the very best is brought out of even the worst people, where anything can happen (and most often does) . . . and where the adventure begins. The Dawn Treader is the first ship Narnia has seen in centuries. King Caspian has built it for his voyage to find the seven lords, good men whom his evil uncle Miraz banished when he usurped the throne. The journey takes Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace to the Eastern Islands, beyond the Silver Sea, toward Aslan's country at the End of the World. Enter this enchanted world countless times in The Chronicles of Narnia.

STEPH SAID

Rating: 


Review:

This is an amazing book. Everything I was expecting from The Chronicles of Narnia as a whole, was fulfilled in this book alone. The discovery of other worlds, different people, adventures, even a love story (although this was just mentioned at the end) and not the slightest glimpse of a battle.

From the beginning of the book I felt captivated by the scenery and change in environment. Reepicheep said that their adventures would begin after they leave the Lone Islands and, in fact, they did. One of the reasons behind the voyage was to find the lords Miraz sent to the east in Prince Caspian. And as they traveled east, the crew of the Dawn Treader discovered new islands, new people within them and, in each one, they lived a different adventure. In one island one of the crew member became a dragon, in another the water from a pond turned everything to gold; there was one that made people’s dreams a reality; in another one there were invisible people; and in one the crew met a star. Also, in between islands, they fought a Kraken! This is everything I was expecting and asking of Narnia since I read The Magician’s Nephew (the first book from The Chronicles that I read). I was left wanting more from the books of Narnia. In "The Woods between the Worlds" every world is connected and I lamented that Digory and Polly didn’t see them. But in this book the crew did. I mean, they didn’t met new worlds but they did discovered new islands; these islands were so amazing and so new and different from everything else, that every time the Dawn Treader docked on an island it felt like it had arrived at a different world. 

The other reason for the voyage, Reepicheep’s personal motive, was to go to the end of the world and find Aslan’s country. This part of journey started after the last lord was found and was so inspiring, it could’ve been stretched to last a whole book. C.S. Lewis brilliantly wrote these awe-inspiring pictures, bringing to life crystal waters, underwater cities and a sea of white lilies; a place so amazing people started to rejuvenate. The only words that can describe those scenes, Lewis already used. If I try to describe it or explain it I’ll just lessen its impact and brilliancy.

This book saw the introduction of a new character: Eustace, cousin of the Pevensie children. I didn’t like him much, even after his change in personality. At first he was obnoxious and mean. When he was on board of the Dawn Treader all he did was complain. However, during one of the adventures he underwent a change of heart. He began acting differently, changing slowly. At the end of the book, people noticed the difference. I did notice a difference: I notice that, with the exception of some “heroic” acts, he didn’t had a personality. At first he wasn’t nice, but you could say something about him. After his change of heart I couldn’t find anything to say about him. He was just there, said some lines and did some things that were considered heroic, even though worthless, by teenagers and Narnians alike.

The love story, Prince Caspian’s, was subtle; just mentioned in two or three sentences. I would have loved to hear everything about it or at least know how it happened. I still want to know what happened when Caspian reached Ramandu’s island and how and why Caspian decided to marry Ramandu’s daughter.

On a negative note I do have to point out that in a part of the story Caspian’s behavior was out of character. He was mean, rude and proud; he was shouting and even insulted Reepicheep. He was ready to fight Edmund (”Caspian's hand had gone to his sword hilt”), and if it wouldn’t have been for Lucy, he would’ve. Caspian, the character, would’ve never done such a thing. Now at this point the Dawn Treader was at the end of the world and people were feeling happier, healthier and younger every day. So, even if Caspian would normally act like a bully, he wouldn’t have such behavior under these circumstances.  It would be impossible.

My favorite quotes from this book are (in order of appearance):

Firstly:

"That's all right," said Edmund. "Between ourselves, you haven't been as bad as I was on my first trip to Narnia. You were only an ass, but I was a traitor." 

I got to love Edmund! Secondly, and this is the one I found the funniest:

[…] said the Chief Monopod “for there's no denying we're mortal ugly now" […]

"Eh, that we are, Chief, that we are," echoed the others […]

"But I don't think you are at all," said Lucy, shouting to make herself heard. "I think you look very nice."

"Hear her, hear her," said the Monopods. "True for you, Missie. Very nice we look. You couldn't find a handsomer lot." They said this without any surprise and did not seem to notice that they had changed their minds.

And last, but not least: 

 "Do you mean to say," asked Caspian, "that you three come from a round world (round like a ball) and you've never told me! It's really too bad of you. Because we have fairy-tales in which there are round worlds and I always loved them. I never believed there were any real ones. But I've always wished there were and I've always longed to live in one. Oh, I'd give anything - I wonder why you can get into our world and we never get into yours? If only I had the chance! It must be exciting to live on a thing like a ball. Have you ever been to the parts where people walk about upside-down?"

House of Dark Shadows (Dreamhouse Kings #1)

Title: House of Dark Shadows (Dreamhouse Kings #1)

Author: Robert Liparulo

Year of Publication: 2008

Official Website

Synopsis: When the Kings move to a new home in a new town, the house seems odd at first; but things get really strange when they realize that some rooms are portals to other worlds. The Kings face terrifying dangers within the rooms of their home, but it still seems like an adventure until people start coming out of the rooms and into the house. When one of the intruders kidnaps their mother, they must find a way to rescue her-but who would believe such a fantastical story?

STEPH SAID

Rating: 

Review:

If I had to describe this book in one word it’ll be: predictable. After reading the epilogue, only the epilogue, I knew what was going to happen through the whole book.

The epilogue tells the story of a family that lived in a house (the Dreamhouse, the setting of this story) 30 years ago and whose mother was kidnapped by a huge man. I guessed the boy in that family was Xander’s father, Ed, and that history was going to repeat itself. I was right. When the family first saw the house, there where huge footprints on the kitchen. At that point my suspicions were confirmed.

The whole book is about Xander and his brother looking through the house, finding the portals in the attic and going to different worlds. It culminates with a big man (probably the same one as 30 years before) kidnapping Xander’s mother. So what happens in the book is what’s written on the synopsis. It’s not like they discover the portals, their mother is kidnapped and then the adventure begins. They discover the portals, then, that their mother is kidnapped. The have a small discussion about what they are going to do and how, and then the book ends.

After Xander’s mother was kidnapped, Xander found out his father had gone trough the same ordeal. I didn’t like how Xander treated Ed afterwards. Yes, his mother was gone but so was Ed’s mother. Xander kept reproaching his dad for taking them to the house to look for his, Ed’s, mom and kept saying Ed shouldn’t have done that. But then he, Xander, said that they weren’t going to leave the house until they find their mother. Xander is criticizing his father for wanting to do exactly what he is doing; which I find hypocritical. Ed may have put the King family in danger by taking them to the house, but Xander is putting them in danger by not wanting them to leave.

On the plus side, the tone and pace are excellent; even though you know what’s going to happen, you feel anxious and nervous in certain parts. Also, the worlds are diverse, unexpected and interesting. What I’m guessing is that every world has a danger in it. You see beach attire, don’t think you’ll go to the Caribbean and enjoy the Sun; you will probably end up fighting sharks. But, most importantly, the worlds are constantly changing; which will make it hard for them to track their mother.  To make matters even worse, the big man knows how to jump from world to world without having to stop at the Dreamhouse, the Kings don’t.

The book might be predictable but it is easy and enjoyable to read. Maybe the sequels are less predictable and have more plot twists.

Dreaming Anastasia

Title: Dreaming Anastasia

Author: Joy Preble

Year of Publication: 2009

Official Website

Synopsis: What really happened to Anastasia Romanov?

Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn't. Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her. When she wakes up she discovers that she is in the ancient hut of the witch Baba Yaga, and that some things are worse than being dead.

In modern-day Chicago, Anne doesn't know much about Russian history. She is more concerned about getting into a good college—until the dreams start. She is somewhere else. She is someone else. And she is sharing a small room with a very old woman. The vivid dreams startle her, but not until a handsome stranger offers to explain them does she realize her life is going to change forever. She is the only one who can save Anastasia. But, Anastasia is having her own dreams…

STEPH SAID

Rating: 

Review:

*This review contains spoilers*

When I read the plot of this story, I was immediately in love with it. I thought I was going to read a story worthy of five stars. While reading this book I thought I’d give it two stars, because it isn’t as great as it sounds.

It turns out Anastasia is kind of suspended in time, thanks to an enchantment, waiting to be saved. An organization run by a man nameded Viktor, was created for the task of saving Anastasia. The members of the organization will also be suspended in time, not getting old and having magical powers, until they save Anastasia. The problem is that Viktor decides to never save Anastasia and live young forever. But this is threatened by Anne, who has the power, in her blood, to save Anastasia.

I started to feel this book was going south when Anne, after bumping into a total stranger a few times (three to be exact), goes full out accusing him of following her. I mean he was, but bumping into a guy three times, two of which were school related, and the third one was at the teens' hangout place, is not a big deal and definitely doesn’t prove someone’s a stalker. She said Ethan looked like a psycho, so she shouldn’t have confronted him. I guess the author wanted things to move along and wrote Anne confronting the guy instead of letting her see what would happen.

Something that made me like the book less was Anastasia’s journal entries. They were a total spoiler of things to come. For example, in one of her entries, Anastasia explains that Viktor is her half-brother (which I already suspected). Later, Anne and Ethan discover this truth and the author tries to present it like a big plot twist. I was bored, because I already knew it, of course.

But none of this made me give this book half a star. It was its ending, the last chapters.

After much trouble Anne and Ethan made it to Baba Yaga’s woods and found Anastasia in the hut. Outside the hut were three horses, which were the only way out of the woods. There were three humans and three horses, it was perfect. Except that Anastasia and Anne decided to ride one horse and Ethan another, leaving one horse alone. What they didn’t know was that Viktor had entered the woods too. Viktor, then, used the third horse to come to our world. Again, the author is writing things that will make the story move faster but that make no sense.

The four of them arrived at this world, and Baba Yaga came with them. She started destroying buildings demanding Romanov blood. Turns out that, according to the enchantment, she needed to have a Romanov with her at all times. Viktor most probably knew that. To make things worse, Anne’s mother died crushed by one of the buildings destroyed by Baba Yaga. Viktor, seeing all of the destruction, decided to take Anastasia’s place and went with Baba Yaga. This infuriated me for many reasons. First, all of these could’ve been prevented if Ethan, Anne and Anastasia each took a horse. That way Viktor would’ve stayed behind and Baba Yaga would have never left the woods. Second, what Viktor did is totally out of character. He was willing to abandon Anastasia and kill Anne to stay young eternally. And now, all of a sudden, he is giving his life for Anastasia’s? Not real.

After all this hardship I thought: “Well, at least Anastasia is alive and well.” Wrong again. Right in that instant Anastasia said she wanted to die and reunite with her family. I totally understand that, but this means that all the things in this book are for nothing, or well nothing good at least. I mean Anastasia died, Anne’s mother died. All Anne got from it was a boyfriend and powers, which she could have gotten without all this Anastasia mess. Anastasia is the only one that got a happy ending. I’m happy about her, but she is not the protagonist in this story. I’m not against sad endings, but this one feels forced. It feels like the author tried to give a real reason for everything that was going to happen (like Viktor changing because of all the destruction he witnessed) but, for me, it didn’t worked.

This book was a total waste of time; not worth it. I give it a half star because of the Romanov background story and that wasn’t even created by the author. I’m definitely not reading the sequel(s).