I apologize for not writing for a while. Somehow, the semester has caught up with me, and I seem to have something due for classes every day, as well as lots and lots of work for my beloved Western Carolinian. Speaking of which, there’s a new issue out on Friday, so you should go pick it up if you’re around campus! I’m particularly proud of my article about an upcoming play- Zombies on Campus: A Slaughterpocalypse. It’s written by WCU’s own DV Caitlyn, and I cannot wait to see it on opening night! 🙂

Oh, I also got glasses! I bought two pairs, but this one is my favorite. Pinker than I expected, and mildly difficult to get used to wearing. (They’re only for reading and computer work, so I forget to put them on occasionallyoften.)

Anyway between all of the work I’ve been doing, I finally got some time off and spent my entire weekend watching season 1 of Gilmore Girls, which I enjoyed immensely for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the relationship between Lorelei and Rory is fantastic. Secondly, we get very young Jared Padalecki doing things like walking over the backs of benches and being really really cute. Thirdly, we get 38-year-old Scott Cohen, which is always an enjoyable sight, if you know what I mean.

There have also been a few exciting books and book announcements in the past few weeks. House of Hades by Rick Riordan was released (finally), and it was fabulous, as expected. I’m grateful he didn’t leave us literally hanging over a cliff at the end of this novel, like he did in Mark of Athena. I have yet to write a review of it, or Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce, but I’ll get there eventually, I promise!

There was an announcement by another author that I enjoy, Richelle Mead. She wrote the Vampire Academy series and it’s follow-up series, Bloodlines, both of which are amazing. She also started a new sci-fi series called the ‘Age of X’ series. I reviewed the first book, Gameboard of the Gods, before it was released. (You can read my review here) Anyway, I have often complained about the book covers for both of her other series’, but I loved the cover for Gameboard of the Gods, and it’s part of the reason I even clicked on the book in the Netgalley archives.

Left is the original cover for Gameboard of the Gods. It’s a good cover, right? Not too much going on there, simple color scheme, good photo, good vector flames. (I was an art student – I’m allowed to judge books by their covers.)

The cover on the left is The Immortal Crown, the second book in the series. It’s overcomplicated, doesn’t match the first cover at all and features a girl who looks only vaguely like the character is supposed to.  (I’m assuming it is supposed to picture Mae,one of the lead characters.)

Mae’s supposed to be super athletic and somewhere in her mid-20’s. She’s a soldier. She’s not supposed to look like a 15 year old. Richelle, you let the publisher redesign the cover, and I don’t like it at all. You had a solid design that could have worked really well for the next few books, and now you give us this and a redesign of the first book?

I DON’T WANT IT. LEAVE IT BE. -huffs-

That being said, I’ll still buy the book whenever I get paid enough to not have to worry about not having enough to pay my rent and still buy books. And time to read it. Gameboard of the Gods was great, and I can’t wait to see where she goes with The Immortal Crown, but I absolutely hate the new cover.

For the most part, that’s all I’ve got for now. I might start posting my book reviews here, but we’ll see. What do you guys want to see here?