SAMPLE REVIEWS

The Vampire Diaries: What makes it so addicting

www.worldofpctures.com

I’m one of the million people, who became addicted to The Vampire Diaries, despite the fictional story; this show has become one of my favorites among all other TV Series whether internationally or locally. I’m always updated to the latest episode of this show, I have watched season one repeatedly and I don’t think I will ever be tired of watching the second season again and again.

What’s good with the show is its great roster of actors and actresses who made the series worth watching.

I specially love Ian Somerhalder’s character as Damon Salvatorre – a bad ass vampire who fell madly inlove with his brother’s girl friend Elena Gilbert as portrayed by Nina Dobrev. Damon is my favorite character, he is the foremost reason why I like this series; I love his sense of humor, witty remarks, and good-looking-bad-ass attitude. I like the fact that despite him being a seemingly soulless character a weak human girl has made him defenseless and humane.

Stefan’s character – a good vampire brother of Damon, whom the Elena chose, is also quite good.  His character was played by an equally good looking Paul Wesley. I have noticed though that more people love Damon-Elena tandem compare to that of Stefan-Elena’s.

Nina Dobrev’s double character portrayal is exceptionally great too. Her sweet, fragile but strongwilled character as Elena, gives her a very effective heroine side and despite her selfishness, I also love her flirty-bad little character as Katherine because she really gives spice and thrill to the show. All other characters, vampire, human or werewolf are also remarkable.

The series’ story is set at a very historic Mystic Falls where everyone knows each other and people almost literally grew up together.

The TV Series is an adaptation from the novel of L.J. Smith with the same title, and as much as I love the TV version I have notice its huge difference from the novel, the only thing they adapt exactly are the names of the characters, their roles and affinity is not exactly based on the book.

One example is the role of Caroline - in the TV Series she’s the Sheriff’s daughter who fell inlove with Matt and later on turned into a vampire, in the book however Caroline is not a daughter of the Sheriff, not Matt’s girl and definitely did not became a vampire. Also if you read the book, Elena has a little sister and a strong willed best friend named Meredith, in the series Meredith’s character is totally not included and Elena has no sister, she instead has a brother named Jeremy.

Yet despite its obvious difference from the book series I fell addicted to this show, i have read the book and I liked it but the TV adaptation is more endearing and heart turning and I hope they will create another season when the second season ends.

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Richelle Mead's Dark Swan Series: A Highly Recommended Adult Book Series

www.comicbooked.com

Reading Richelle Mead’s series can really make my day, her writing style is really amazing and I can say that she’s my top favorite among urban fantasy authors. I have read most of her work from Vampire Academy to Succubus Series and I love them all but my most favorite is her series about Eugenie Markham called the Dark Swan. 

Eugenie Markham is a shaman, a tough ass human woman who made a living by battling and sending faeries (gentry), ghost and otherworldly spirits back to their own world or even to the underworld (if things get worse) – the world where no one can return. She prefer to be called Odile and her name is feared in the otherworld. She surpassed all the other shamans in the world including her step-dad who taught her everything about being a gentry mercenary.

Little did she know that she’s one of them – the first book revealed that Eugenie is half human and half gentry; her human mother was abducted by a faery king and kept in the otherworld until Roland, her step-dad free her.

The best part is when she became the queen of one of the Faery Kingdoms against her will and she discovered that she has a half-sister who wants to beat her in fulfilling the prophecy that one of them will born a child that would conquer both worlds – human world and the otherworld.

I love Eugenie, her character is so great and I get adrenaline rush each time I read the book.

This series is not just another teen flicks, it is packed with ass-kicking action, hot scenes and earth-shattering magic.

Dark Swan Series has three (3) books now, the first book from the series is entitled Storm Born – highlighting Eugenie’s discovery of her hidden power which she got from her real father - Tirigan, the Storm King. The second book, Thorn Queen, is about Eugenie and her quest in the otherworld as the new queen of the Thorn Land, this book highlights her misadventures and victories including her relationship with the other faery king.

The third book which is the last book for now is named Iron Crowned; here, Eugenie set to a hard and seemingly impossible journey in order to get the very powerful and dangerous Iron Crown which according to the prophecy will stop the ongoing war of their kingdom against the Rowan Land, she was able to get the crown and true to the prophecy she has stop the war and got the Rowan Land in return.

With the way the story is going and knowing Richelle Mead’s style, there’s more to come, I just hope it will come sooner because I can’t wait to read another Eugenie misadventures again.