Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

 Hello my dears,

I'M BAAAACK! I know I have an unfortunate tendency to fall off the face of the planet and then return with earnest and well meaning promises and fall back off the face of the planet, so let's do that again. I am now making a promise to at least attempt to keep up this blog, and my bookstagram. Anyway now that my apologies and promises are out of the way, on to what I actually want to talk about.

RED WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE. Y'all the lengths I went to in order to get this book. I power walked (read all but jogged) across the square, in jeans and 83 degree humid weather, to the bookstore I thought would have this book. It did not because this book is New Adult not YA. Upon discovering that it was at a different store, I power walked even faster, back across the square while wearing a mask, practically sprinted up and back down two flights of stairs looking for this book. BUT I got it. And after all that effort, I was determined that it had to bee as good all the hype. Let me tell you it was.

Plot!!

Yes, indeed, I did skip my usual character intro, but I'm about to introduce you to the two mains. Alexander Claremont-Diaz is the son of the (Female!) president, a senior at Georgetown, and generally thinks he has everything planned out. As soon as his mother was elected he was cast as a handsome charismatic American version of a young royal. Enter Henry, Prince of Wales, an actual real-life young royal. There's only one problem, Alex and Henry don't get along, at all. When the press gets a picture of the two in a compromising position, U.S. and British public relations take a downward turn. In order to save face, and Alex's mother's reelection campaign, the two have to create an instagram worthy friendship. They turn out to have more in common than either of them thought. Soon Alex finds himself falling head first into a secret relationship with Henry. A relationship that could bring both their worlds, and everything they've been working to protect, crashing down around them. Or can love win in the end?

Review!!

Red White and Royal Blue is a hilarious and fantastic romance that had me laughing and squealing in alternate moments. I knew within the first five pages, aka the moment when there's the first mention of fanfiction, that I was going to love this book. It was almost four in the morning when I finally finished reading it. There are approximately one hundred annotations to this book. Ranging from "This book is going to kill me" (fluff) to "HENRY" the whole range of emotions that books can make you feel. I reveled in every pop culture reference, and noted everyone with a sticky note, they range from Harry Potter to John Green. The characters were all so relatable and felt like real people. Sometimes, no matter how hard authors try, their characters just don't feel real. As much as I want to say I would stick out unrelatable and miserable characters for a fantastic plot, that's not really true but I might stick out a bad plot for characters I adored. The romance itself went from snarky, bickering rivals/enemies to snarky, bickering friends to snarky, bickering boyfriends and it was absolutely wonderful. Basically GO READ THIS BOOK!! Ten of ten paw prints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Happy Reading,

Merlin:)

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

Woohoo another review. That's two this week. I'm very proud of this. It may be the only thing good coming out of having to social distance, well that and keeping other people from getting sick. Anyway we're moving on to 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston. It's set at Christmas and I read it around Valentines day but being a ROM-COM it still fit the mood. I then immediately begged CA to read it an she loved it. So now I'm spreading the love, and hopefully much needed joy with all of y'all in this depressing time. I also met the author on a rainy February day, she's really nice, so there will be some random facts I gained from her included. So the basic premise is that Sophie is spending Christmas at home with her friends and boyfriend rather than with her family. That goes down the drain and she goes to her Grandparent's house to spend Christmas with her rather large family.

Characters!

I'm only going to do the big main characters being Sophie, her cousins, Wes, and her boyfriend because I just don't want to go through every aunt, uncle and relative and I just don't have the energy.

• Sophie- She's a senior in high school and still figuring out where she wants to go to college and basically staring down the nose of the rest of her life and is understandably a little overwhelmed. She's also sweet and loves her family more than anything, even if they do get on her nerves sometimes. After all when her Christmas plans fall apart that's who she runs to. Sophie also will not take crap from people.
• Olivia- Sophie's cousin who is sweet and excited that Sophie is with them for the holidays. She wants Sophie to be happy and have fun this Christmas like they used to. She's on Sophie's side, most of the time, and much like Sophie stands by her family.
• Charlie- Sophie's other cousin I'm actually going to talk about and not just mention in passing. He's hilarious in that 17 year old boy kind of way. All of the Fab Four, being Sophie, Olivia, Charlie, and Wes (he's next) are about the same age. It's very important to remember he's a 17 year old boy from Louisiana and not to expect much more of him. The family and Louisiana play a very big role in who he is and I can just tell you this coming from a close Southern family.
• Wes- The final member of the Fab Four. He's super sweet and caring. He's not even genetically part of the their family and yet they mean so much to him too and his family is practically part of their family.
• Griffin- I don't like Griffin. He's Sophie's ex-boyfriend. He's your regular southern douche who doesn't know what he's lost until it's gone and then proceeds to be over it like that. He really irritates me.

Plot!

So we start our story with Sophie's parents leaving her at home for Christmas. They are going to see her sister, who is on bed-rest with pre-eclampsia, and the plan is for her to go spend the vacation with her grandparents and very very large family. She on the other hand plans on sneaking away and spending most of the break with her friends and boyfriend. She goes to tell Griffin this and overhears him talking about wanting to break up with her, so she saves him the trouble and breaks up with him and drives to her grandparents. While she cries, her grandmother, Nona, comes up with a plan to help her feel better. Over the rest of Christmas break, excluding Christmas Eve and Day, members of the family are going to set her up on ten blind dates. And that's where the title comes from. Some dates are great like Olivia, Charlie, and her cousin Sara's dates which include an underground Christmas party. Other's like Aunt Patice's or the Evil Joe's aren't as great, I'll leave you to decide which is worse. And of course to make it interesting Griffin comes crawling back asking for a second chance with Sophie. And makes her question everything.

My Opinion! (mixed with some random facts I learned from the author)

I personally loved this book and can't wait for 10 Truths and A Dare which is set to come out some time next year I think. The spirit of the book is incredible it's set at Christmas, came out in October and I think it would be a good read any time of the year, especially now when we need something light and happy. Ashley breaks the rule about having a cast of thousands but it just doesn't matter all of them are so much fun and a family. I mean when my entire family gets together there are fifteen people and we don't hold a candle to this family with our loudness and craziness. All of the dates are fun to read, even the ones that gave me second hand embarrassment. When I met Ashley she said the reason behind all the blind dates stems from the fact that she and her husband met on a blind date. And to top it all off this wonderful book is becoming a Netflix movie done by the same people who did To All the Boys. I'm very excited about this and can't wait. Ten of ten paw prints if you're in the mood for a cheesy romantic movie 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Enjoy social distancing (as much as you can and I hope you don't have a family like mine or Sophie's and you can get together with some of the younger members if you live really close together) Stay safe,

Merlin:)

One of Us is Next Karen M McManus

It's back my wonderful readers. Scandal and mystery have returned to Bayview once again.
About That may be gone, and Simone's death solved but Bayview is far from done with scandal. That's right my wonderful readers, there's a sequel to One of Us is Lying. Now you have two options a brief recap or reading the review I did here. So here's the gist of One of Us is Lying, five people go into detention one day only four come out. Simon Keller has died and all in the room are suspect. In the end with the plot twist of the year (maybe) it turns out that Simon was crazy and killed himself to cause a news story that would last for years. One of Us is Next is set the fall of the next year, after the Bayview four have gotten on with their lives and are moving on. This book follows three new teens, Phoebe, Maeve and Knox as a new twist on Simon's legacy takes Bayview by storm, Truth or Dare. TBH not gonna lie, when I saw Maeve's name I gasped and almost fell out of my chair It's Bronwyn's SISTER!!!

Characters!!

• Maeve Rojas- Bronwyn's sister. She had Leukemia but recovered four years ago. Super nice, but a little off on social cues after spending most of her childhood in the hospital. She's also like some technology super genius as I'm sure anyone who has read One of Us is Lying will remember.
• Knox- Maeve's friend and all around sweetheart. He's smart and sweet and logical and I LOVE him! He want's to do good in the world and is already on his way working with Eli at Until Proven.
• Phoebe- Her secret comes out first and shocks everyone and sends her family into pieces. Her dad has died some years previous to the book and she's still feeling the effects of his death. She's the party girl, the girls who hooks up with everyone, who splits up people without really meaning to, and yet still liked by many. 
• Unknown- Unknown starts the game with a text. He challenges Phoebe to pick Truth or Dare. If you don't pick it's Truth and you have to suffer the consequences. 

Plot!

So One of Us is Next picks up a year after One of Us is Lying ends. Bronwyn is at Yale, Addi is figuring out what she wants to do, Cooper is playing baseball at CalTech, and Nate is working for Knox's dad and going to college. Maeve is starting her junior year and navigating high school which is tons of fun, Knox is figuring out who he is, and Phoebe is dealing with her family and how they've fallen apart after her dad's death. The Unknown texts. Simon's legacy lives on and this time it's a game. Truth or Dare. It's up to you but I'd take the dare.

Review!

I LOVE this book. Honestly nothing Karen M. McManus has written has let me down yet. This was another what's going to happen next page turner. With huge plot twists. If you thought One of Us is Lying had a big plot twist you are in for a surprise. Full of suspense and thrills One of Us is Next will thrill mystery fans. I love the characters. Maeve is awesome! This is a truly wonderful mystery. Ten of ten paw prints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Happy Reading,

Merlin:)

P.S. Always take the Dare

Anne of Green Gables L. M. Montgomery

Hello my dears. Are you ready for a classic, because I am.
Anne of Green Gables is one of my very favorite books of all time. It's and absolute classic and if you haven't read it you are missing out. I remember reading it for the first time when I was 7 and falling in love with Anne and Marilla and Mathew, now years later I still love the characters and the story. No matter how times I read it I fall in love all over again and laugh and cry in all the same places. It never gets old. There have been so many adaptations of this book into a movie or show (Anne with an E 🤮🤮) but none have ever lived up to the book. I love it sooo much!

Characters!

• Anne Shirley- The eleven year old protagonist of our story, Anne is an orphan girl who gets adopted by Marilla and Mathew Cuthbert in Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. Anne is a spunky imaginative eleven year old girl with a knack for getting into trouble. 
• Marilla Cuthbert- A strict but loving old woman, Marilla and her brother adopt Anne. Marilla sets about bringing Anne up properly.
• Mathew Cuthbert- Sweet, shy Mathew leaves Anne's bringing up to Marilla, but can't help wanting to spoil her. Mathew in is quiet ways is Marilla's opposite and together they make a wonderful team.
• Rachel Lynde- A very outspoken but kind old woman. I hated her at first but then you get to know her more as the book progresses and come to like her more. Rachel is that person who manages to get all of her work done, volunteer to lead groups or do more work, and some how still have time to be in everyone else's business. 
• Diana Berry- Diana is a sweet, kind girl who has been brought up properly since her birth and because of it has a lack of imagination. That being said she brings out a different side of Anne and mellows her out. She also loves to read. 

Plot!!

So Marilla and Mathew are looking to adopt a young boy to help Mathew around their farm. So they send word by the family of a woman who's going to get a girl of her own. Well, somewhere the wires get crossed and instead of a boy, they get a girl. Marilla wants to send her back at first but Mathew takes a liking to her and convinces Marilla she should stay. So she does and Anne's bringing up begins immediately. Like I said Anne has a knack for trouble and over the six years that this book takes place she gets into a lot of it. She dyes her hair, forgets flour in a cake, flavors a cake with liniment, and breaks her slate over someone's head, to name a few. But she grows up and makes fewer mistakes (although the ones she does make are very memorable). All in all an amazing book.

Review!

I adore this book. ADORE it! Anne is a timeless classic that I will always love. No matter when you read it you can get something from it. It might be a laugh, or proof that everyone makes mistakes and it all turns out alright in the end. Anne is a lighthearted book that is perfect for any moment. I love the plot and the characters and the setting (which is early 1900's Canada (Prince Edward Island) by the way). Everything about this book is amazing. If you haven't read it read it. Honestly I don't know where this book falls because I read it in the second grade and loved it, I read over the years and still loved it so. I think anyone could read and understand it. Read it for yourself, read it to your kids, read it as a class, whatever you want to do, just read it!

Eleven of ten paw prints 💜💜

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Happy Reading!

Merlin:)

Wilder Girls Rosy Power

Halt! Who goes there! Declare yourself!

Merlin Bookworm!
You may enter!
So this intro is super weird, but fitting with the book. Wilder Girls is a take on the classic Lord of the Flies, but with girls (this seems to be a new thing). Sounds weird right? It is but in a good way. Essentially a horrible disease has hit this island boarding school and now the girls who attend are quarantined there.

Characters!

• Hetty- First of all what kind of name is Hetty? So Hetty is a student at Raxter School for Girls. Her father is in the Navy which is why she attends Raxter. Just like everyone at Raxter she has the Tox. 
• Byatt- Again with the names? How do you even this?? Her dad is also in the navy, and she's best friends with Hetty.
• Reese- Finally, a name I can get behind! She's the groundskeeper's daughter. Reese is that girl who looks and acts tough and everybody is scared of (really she's just a little bit of a softy). She's friends with Hetty and Byatt, but is closer to Byatt.

Plot!

So eighteen months ago The Tox struck Raxter. What the Tox is no one really knows, but it is a disease I find fascinating. I should probably tell ya'll (again) that I'm a huge nerd, especially when it comes to science so bear with me. The Tox enters the bodies of young girls and changes the DNA. It literally alters the DNA and tries to make it better. From what can tell it's activated by hormones, presumably estrogen, or at least controlled by them. Men can contract the disease but it proves fatal and painfully so. Because no one knows what causes the Tox or if it's contagious or how it spreads, Raxter has been quarantined since the first case. The Navy sends food and supplies but only certain girls, "The Boat Shift", are allowed to go retrieve them. Every girl wants to be a Boat Shift girl. Not the point. Anyway, one day Byatt goes missing, ad Hetty  and Reese have to find her.

Review!

I liked Wilder Girls. Not my fav, but still. I love takes off classics so that's great. I'm honestly not a horror person, and this book is 🎶creepy🎶. I love the Si-Fi/dystopian thing though so it balances. I did feel like something was missing, I'm just not sure what. Overall 6/10 paw prints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

DISMISSED! 

Merlin:)

PS I'm sorry I've been so bad about updating. I mean to update but I never do. I'm a horrible person.

Cat-Woman: Soul Stealer by Sarah J Maas

*Seductively whispers* Hello.
So I got Cat-Woman for Christmas, not because I'm into DC comics and know anything about Cat-Woman or her backstory but because its written by one of my favorite authors, Sarah J. Mass. Sarah J. Mass is better know for the A Court of Thorns and Throne of Glass series, which are AMAZING and currently on my TBR (To Be Reviewed) list. Cat-Woman holds up to my expectations of her in every regard.

Characters

• Catwoman/Selina Kyle- When the book starts Selina is living in the slums of Gotham and fighting in underground street fights, to support herself and her little sister with Cystic Fibrosis. Later Selina has become Catwoman, antihero extraordinaire of Gotham working with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. And infuriating Bat-Wing in the process.
• Luke Fox/Bat-Wing- Close friends with Bruce Wayne and many other influential families in Gotham former Marine Luke Fox is secretly on of Gotham's greatest protectors, Bat-Wing. When Catwoman shows up and wants to play it falls on him to find out what she wants and stop her in time.
• Maggie Kyle- Before various things happen, all of which involve drama, Selina Kyle was the sister to Maggie. Maggie has Cystic Fibrosis, and for those of you who don't know what that is. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition where you have excess Sodium and your body produces thick mucus that fills your lungs and can block you pancreas. Generally when we think about CF we think lungs. People with CF have chronic respiratory infections and can have problems gaining weight. CF is an incurable disorder that thanks to modern medicine is not as immediately fatal as it once was. People have known about CF for a long time but haven't always known what caused it or what exactly it was. It has been called failure to thrive, one early doctor even noted that if you kiss a baby's forehead and it tastes of salt the baby will not live long. Now in the US life expectancy for most CF patients is ~30 years. Unfortunately for Maggie, she's not so lucky.

So there are a lot more characters but I feel like talking about them would give too much away.

Plot!

So Selina Kyle is a member of the Leopards, a notorious girl gang who work and fight for Falcone. She only does this to take care of her sister. Then stuff happens and Selina meets Talia al Ghul who offers her a deal. Selina's past will be forgotten if she goes with Talia to her school. Selina agrees with the condition that Maggie be put into a good home after she leaves. A couple years later Selina reappears in Gotham as Holly Vanderhees, a wealthy socialite. In reality Catwoman has come to Gotham on a mission she does not intend to give up on any time soon. While causing general mayhem in Gotham Selina/Holly/Catwoman makes friends with Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Luke Fox. In Gotham where almost everyone lives a double life Selina is toeing a dangerous line with Luke/Bat-Wing. He has to figure out what the trio of dastardly women are doing and why and stop them before Batman comes back. Can he do it?

Review!

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not really a DC person and I know like zilch about DC superheroes so I had no background going into this, at all. I fell in love with Selina as a character and how much she cared about her sister. I loved the fact that Selina didn't give up that love for her sister as she became Catwoman, if anything she held it even closer. Most of the time you have female superheroes who are all "I'm so tough I don't need anybody" But Selina acknowledges her love for Maggie even after she becomes Catwoman. I just love that. I say definitely YA, swearing is pretty common, but you should definitely read it. 10/10 paw prints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 I'll always love me some Mass.

Farewell my bibliophiles,

Merlin:)

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Salut!
So if you follow my bookstagram you know I read this one a while ago, but being the horrible person I am I haven't reviewed it until now. Yikes! So the greeting is in Romanian as this book is set in Transylvania which is now a region of Romania. When we last saw them Audrey Rose and Thomas were on their way to school in Transylvania. This school happens to be in the infamous Prince Dracula's castle. Of course on the way our dear friends run into dead bodies and dodge the tension between them, a little.

Characters!

• Audrey Rose- We all know Audrey Rose. I'm assuming we all love Audrey Rose. She's still the same spunky medicine loving improper lady she was in the first book, only now she's breaking even more stereotypes at a medical school in Transylvania.
• Thomas- Ah Thomas.  I love him soo much. 😍😍 He's great. Still charming, and arrogant, and kinda nerdy. He cares so much about Audrey Rose and his family it's great.
• Daciana Cresswell- So Daci was vaguely mentioned in the first book as Thomas's sister. She plays a role in this book. Not a huge roll but a role that involves this plot twist that's great. Actually two amazing plot twists.
• Ileana- She's Audrey Rose's maid at the school. So she plays a fairly significant role.
• Anastasia- She's the headmaster's ward. She and Audrey Rose become friends because other than the staff, they are the only girls at the school.

Plot!

So at the end of Stalking Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose and Thomas are a) sorta together b) headed to Bran castle to attend Academy of Forensic Medicine and Science. On the train ride to Transylvania the pair hears rumors of Prince Dracula has returned. Naturally neither of the scientific pair want to believe in vampires, or as Thomas explains strigoi. Then one of the passengers ends up killed the same way as you would kill a strigoi. Superstition and mystery shroud Audrey Rose and Thomas's time at Academy of Forensic Medicine and Science, as they secretly investigate the rumors of Prince Dracula's return.

Review!

I adore this book. Normally sequels don't measure up to the first book, but this one does. Kerri's amazing writing and characters prevail. The imagery is amazing. I felt as though I was in Transylvania in drafty old creepy Bran Castle. I still love

• Historical Fiction
• Mystery
• Amazing characters

So this is all really amazing. Thomas is definitely still one of my top fictional crushes, ever. The plot was amazing. I thought I knew where it was going, but NOOOO. I thought I knew who Dracula was but no. Why this was happening, but no. Which is awesome. I don't want to know how things are going to end before the end. It's amazing. Trust me. Read it.

Rating!

I love this book. Definitely YA and the innuendos in the first book are present in this one too. This one is has slightly more gore than the first but it's not that graphic. Being Victorian Era they don't swear a lot. I love it 10/10 paw prints🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 

Ramas bun,

Merlin:)

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Good day my dears,

So I had been wanting to read this book for a while and was super excited about reading it. Well Kerri Maniscalco did not disappoint. She crafted a wonderfully rich, historically accurate world that sucks you in and makes you never want to leave. Also I was so shook when I read the ending. I thought I knew where it was going but well no, no no. It got crazier.

Characters!!

Audrey Rose Wadsworth- So this book is set in Victorian-era London in which women had very few rights and very little freedom. Audrey Rose resents this and is very modern, even by today's standards. She a young lady of polite society is interested in forensic medicine. So she apprentices with her uncle behind her father's back.

Thomas Cresswell- *dreamy sigh* He's my new fictional crush. I love and adore him. He's perfect. Smart, dreamy, a gentleman. However he does have flaws including being an arrogant donkey. Either way he also apprentices with Audrey Rose's uncle.

Audrey Rose's Father- Lord Wadsworth. He's just a little crazy.

Nathaniel Wadsworth- Audrey Rose's brother. He's vaguely supportive of Audrey Rose. 

Johnathan Wadsworth- Audrey Rose's uncle with whom she and Thomas apprentice. He's a scientist who specializes in the forensic sciences.

Jack the Ripper- Jack the Ripper is a famous serial killer who terrorized Whitechapel in London for anywhere from two years to three months. And yes I realize that there is a big time difference there, most historians believe that Jack only terrorized Whitechapel for approximately three months. If we go with most historians view, which I am, then Jack only killed five people. Yes I get that killing five people is a good idea but its been over a century and we still talk about the Ripper. Other accounts hold him responsible for eleven murders taking place over about two years. All of Jack's victims were working women *cough*. No one ever caught Jack and the reasons behind all of his murders remain unknown to this day. Which is tbh the most fascinating part of his story because serial killers like Jack typically don't stop killing unless they are a) made to as in caught or b) die. So what exactly happened to Jack? That question opens the door to historical fiction like this book and potentially many more.

Plot!

Ok so Audrey Rose Wadsworth is a young lady of high society in the Victorian Era. This effectively means that all she's supposed to do is gain some basic knowledge, gossip, learn to manage a household, be proficient in lady-like crafts, shop, and marry well. The only bits of this that Audrey Rose is interested in are shopping (sometimes), learning, and knowing some about managing a household. And when I say learning, I mean medicine which is largely considered inappropriate for women, and her father is extremely against her having anything to do with medicine or her uncle who's teaching her, so she's studying in secret, as a boy. While doing this Audrey Rose encounters Thomas Cresswell another one of her uncle's students. Her uncle is a well known forensic scientist and so is consulted on the murders done by the infamous Jack the Ripper, who at the time is called The Leather Apron. Given that this is a mystery and this is not at all mysterious, shenanigans ensue and Audrey Rose and Thomas end up stalking Jack the Ripper.

Review!

I absolutely adore this book! First of all Jack the Ripper fascinates me, as do most serial killers but Jack in particular. Second, Thomas is amazing. He's cocky and arrogant and yet a gentleman. I love him. Third, this book combines three of my favorite things 

1. historical fiction 
2. mystery 
3. a strong female lead character 

So yes I love this book. Victorian London is painted in such vivid color that you feel like you're there. You can feel the chaos and fear surrounding the people of London but the calm in Audrey Rose's uncle's lab. The writing is fantastic and whereas not long ago I had never heard of Kerri Maniscalco she is now one of my favorite authors. Her characters are realistic and her plots are full of twists. I love when authors write this story where you think "Oh I know where this is going." and then "boom wow what just happened?". I despise when you can pick out the end of a mystery from the beginning but when you think you know where it's going and then it goes in a completely different direction is amazing and I think it shows just how awesome the author is. I think that everyone who enjoys a good mystery or historical fiction would enjoy this book. That being said this book centers around a serial killer who is famous for mutilating his victims and a girl who performs autopsies in her spare time so yeah it can be a little graphic. Not like hard core gore and blood like in a lot of movies but you get some descriptions of the injuries and autopsies, just as a heads up. There are also some innuendos which are called out, not like really bad innuendos but they still exist. So all in all its a really good YA book and I think a lot of people would enjoy it. Ten of Ten paw prints🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Happy reading!

Merlin:)

Merry Christmas!! How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

So today is Christmas. Which means several things, first and most importantly 2,018 years ago Jesus was born well most importantly for me being Christian maybe not for everyone this is not a place for religious discourse so I mean no offense to any one and presents. The second of which is how I stumbled upon Dr, Who quiet on purpose and not accidentally at all. But that's not what we're here to talk about. No we're here to talk about books, more specifically How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess. This is truly a Christmas classic ranking up there with A Christmas Carol,  The Polar Express (honestly not one of my favorites), The Gift of the Magi, and The Nutcracker. While I'm sure everyone has heard this story I'll go through everything anyway.

• The Grinch- Predictably the main character as his name is in the title. He lives just north of Whoville and hates Christmas. 
• Max- The Grinch's dog. 
• Cindy-lou Who- who was no more than two. She's the sweetest little thing. 
• Everyone else down in Whoville- the Whos. They all love Christmas. 

Ok so the story goes as follows, exactly as follows, being very simple. "Everyone down in Whoville loved Christmas a lot. The Grinch who lived just north of Whoville did not." So hating Christmas, the Grinch decides the only thing to do is "keep Christmas from coming" ie. steal Christmas. So he dresses up like Santa Clause and goes down to Whoville with Max as his reindeer. When he gets to Whoville he steals all the decorations and presents and "even the last can of Who-hash" At one house he encounters "Little Cindy-Lou Who who was not more than two" who sees him and questions him as to why he's stealing her tree. He lies and gets away with it. The next morning the Whos wake up and discover all of their decorations, food, and presents are gone. Still they celebrate gathering where their big tree would be and singing. Bada bing. Bada Boom. Grinches heart grows three sizes and he returns Christmas.

I love this story and always have. Apparently many others have too. Even after two remakes I hold true to my opinion that the first movie that follows the book to the letter is the best version. Though Benedict Cumberbatch is definitely better than Jim Carrey. I give it ten of ten paw prints. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merlin:)

Countdown to Christmas! Two Days to GO!! The Angel Tree by Daphne Benedis-Grab

Merry Christmas! Happy (belated) Hanukah! Happy Kwanzaa!
So after What Light and it's cheesiness we have The Angel Tree which is also kinda Hallmark movieish but in a better way than What Light. Less like Fir Crazy and more like The Christmas Heart. Every year in Pine River a large tree goes up in the square and everyone puts wishes up on the tree and they get them granted.

• Lucy- She's blind and her service dog Valentine is dying of cancer. Unfortunately her family can't afford the life saving treatment she needs. So her wish on the Angel tree is for that life saving treatment.
• Max- He's part of a big family and recently his house burned down. He and his family are now living in a cramped apartment. He wishes for a new house.
• Joe- He's new to town and lives with his uncle. All he wants for Christmas is to spend it with his mom. So after finding out about the tree that is what he asks for.
• Cami- She loves to play the violin but her grandmother thinks its a waste of time. She wants to make her grandmother proud.
• The Benefactor- the person who runs the Angel Tree. 

So every year a tree goes up in Pine River for wishes. This year there are some pretty big wishes, life-saving cancer treatments for a seeing-eye-dog, a new house, and spending Christmas with mom something many of us take for granted that turns out to be a little difficult in this situation. So when all these wishes get granted, the kids decide to band together to find out who the benefactor is and thank them. Which turns out to be a little more complicated than they thought. In the process they all grow closer and Joe opens up about why he lives with his uncle.

I got this book years ago and fell in love with the story. Even now as my reading interests have changed and grown I still love this story. It truly captures that spirit you find in Christmas, one of giving and giving back. A sweet, slightly cheesy, heartwarming Christmas story. Nine paw-prints and a whisker.🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾⚟⚞ 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merlin:)

Countdown to Christmas! 3 Days to go! What Light by Jay Asher

Merry Christmas to All!
While I realize that there are some people out there who are total Grinches and don't like Christmas, even on a superficial commercial not Christian way, I love Christmas and honestly I should have started this countdown a while ago, but the idea just occurred to me now. Oh well. So now I sit here watching A Miracle on 34th Street, unfortunately battling my sinuses just over two days (counting today but not Christmas), and brining you my thoughts on one of the best Christmas books I've read,  What Light by Jay Asher. I got this book for my birthday, which is about as far from Christmas you can get, a couple of years ago from CA and since then I've read it several times and every time is as good as the last. Still haven't loaned it to CA to read though...

• Sierra- Her family owns a Christmas tree farm in Oregon and every year they go down to California to set up their lot. See the Christmas already? She's been doing this since she was a baby and has friends in both Oregon and California and has friends in both places. Everybody likes her and she's unfortunately kinda stereotypical. Beautiful and everybody likes her. 
• Caleb- Ah Caleb, also just a little stereotypical. Adorable bad boy. Yeah he's sweet but *SPOILER* HE STABBED HIS SISTER'S DOOR!! Hello! Who the frick does that?! And yes I get that people make mistakes but yeesh, that's pretty bad. *SPOILER ENDS* He does all sorts of good things and has dimples.
• Hannah- Sierra's California friend. They've known each other for a long time and are total besties. 

Looking back this is probably only one of my favorite Christmas books because its a hard genre to find. It's like reading a Hallmark movie. It even kind of follows the ROM-COM pattern. Guy meets Girl. Girl and Guy get to know each other and fall in "love". Something happens they have issues. Guy and Girl end up together. Why oh Why can't there be more books set a Christmas that aren't cheesy. Thinking about it a mouse would have a great snack out of this. Christmas always puts me in a cheesy mood so honestly this idea is genius, but objectiveishly and critically if I read this any other time of the year I would DNF it. 

Ok so Sierra and her family go to California to sell their trees for possibly the last time. Her friend Hannah wants her to have a holiday fling so they can double date, but Sierra has high standards and her dad won't let her date any of the guys who work at the lot. So what to do what to do. Enter Caleb the bad boy with the cute dimple. Against the advice of everybody, even Hannah who wants her to date, Sierra pushes past the rumors and bad boy reputation as discovers a sweetheart who loves Christmas. And then well it gets cheesier and the characters get shallower. In the end Sierra and Caleb decide to give it a try and she goes back to Oregon.

And I googled it there are at least three Hallmark movies that revolve around Christmas tree farms. Wow. I personally enjoy because its one of the few Christmas books I can find. Even so I give it four paw prints and a whisker. 🐾🐾🐾🐾⚟⚞ So cheesy. And the Characters really are shallow. Hallmark movie as a book. I still say that it's one of my favorite Christmas books but those are limited in quantity.

Merry Christmas!

Merlin:)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie

HE HAS ESCAPED!! SIRIUS BLACK HAS ESCAPED AZKABAN!
So, this is like my favorite Harry Potter movie. It holds so true to the book, its amazing. Once more movie review = SPOILERS
My least favorite things about this movie

• The very beginning. The movie just completely skips where Harry asks to go to Hogsmead. And all of Harry's gifts don't get shown. *sigh*
• Harry spends several weeks in Hogwarts not just one day. He sees Neville, and many other fellow Hogwarts students, and gets all his books. Then Ron & co along with Hermione come the day before. That's when Hermione gets Crookshanks. Also Scabbers is supposed to be sick. Ron is also supposed to be attacked by the cat. 
• The Dementor train scene bothers me too. Everyone is supposed to feel the effects of the Dementors not just Harry. Yes Harry feels it the most, but Ron, Hermione, and Neville all talk about the Dementors. 
• This particular thing bothers me in all the movies but the layout of the Great Hall. From the books what I got was that you had Slytherin Ravenclaw Hufflepuff Gryffindor. In the movies its Slytherin Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff Gryffindor Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff. G and S are on opposite sides of the hall. 
• This just bothers me for reasons. One of my very favorite quotes is from this movie "Happiness can be found in even the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.". That is one of the most Dumbledore things ever and its not even in the book. It just bothers me because I love this quote but its only in the movies. 
• They skip Christmas. Ok so Harry and Ron stay at Hogwarts for Christmas as usual. This year so few people stay for Christmas so for the Christmas feast they just have one great big table in the Great Hall and all the professors and students sit at the table. Then Trelawney comes down to the feast. And Dumbledore tells her to sit and eat with them and she says something like "No I can't because if I sit we will be a gathering of thirteen. And when thirteen dine together the first to rise is the first to die." Ya know her normal crap. Well this is home to one of the greatest bits of foreshadowing EVER. So there were only twelve people sitting at the table right? Wrong. Scabbers was in Ron's pocket. And as we all know Scabbers is the infamous Peter Petigrew. That makes thirteen people sitting and eating together. And Dumbledore is the first to rise. Dumbledore is also the first to die. 
• They gloss over Ron and Hermione's fight over Scabbers and Crookshanks. But thats not the worst part. No they also take out where Ron works tirelessly to help Hagrid defend Buckbeak. But worst of all, They remove so of the best dialogue. Chapter Nine, Grim Defeat Snape calls Hermione an insufferable know-it-all. And Ron who constantly calls Hermione a know-it-all defends her saying “You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don’t want to be told?” In the movie he doesn't, no no he says "He's right you know."
• Another small problem that I can understand is that they only have Buckbeak in the movie when in the books there are three hippogriffs. 

So I know that's a lot for this to be my favorite movie and really close to the book, but I nitpicked this movie, soooo much just because I love it so. If I had to pick a Harry movie for someone to watch and they were only going to watch this one, and no matter how much they loved it they would never watch another Harry movie, this would be it. Definitely watch it. Nine of Ten paw-prints (which is the highest I'll ever give a movie-book adaptation).🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Watch out for Dementors

Merlin:)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Movie

"Let me introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher: Me. Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class; Honorary member of the Dark Force Defense League and five time winer... of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile award. But I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon banshee by smiling at him"-Gilderoy Lockhart
Ok so I was going to start with Parseltounge but I couldn't figure out how to write in Parseltounge so I figure a Lockhart quote would be just as good. Forewarning there are SPOILERS in this review. 
This movie follows the book fairly well. As in basically every book to movie adaptation ever, there are a few small errors and things left out. 
My top problems:

• The beginning bothers me because it leaves out a little with Harry having to do yard work.
• The degnoming scene got left out, which yeah isn't that big of a deal but I love that part in the book so I wish it was in the movie.
• Harry doesn't really give Ginny his books in the movie. In the book Harry gives Ginny his Lockhart books because he knows how expensive they are and he has plenty of money and its kinda sweet and cute that he gives his to Ron's family. 
• Lucius and Arthur don't get into a fight. That part really bothers me. Lucius insults his family and then he doesn't actually get to fight him? I think they handled that very well though. 
• You miss Lockhart being really vapid and not taking them to class like he's supposed to and then Harry and Ron go visit Hermione. 
• The Deathday party. Does that not being in the movie bother anyone else? I mean I get why they didn't include it with all the CGI they'd have to have and all but substituting detention with Lockhart just bothers me. I mean he did get detention with Lockhart but he has detention before that. 
• Lockhart's detention. So Harry does indeed have detention with Lockhart for being late and crashing into the Whomping Willow, which will from now on be WW. And he does hear voices. However, Lockhart doesn't show up outside the bathroom where they find Mrs. Norris. No that is after the DEATHDAY PARTY^^.
• The complete absence of Penelope Clearwater as a character. I mean she gets petrified with Hermione and is Percy's gf. 
• Also Ginny loses a bit in the translation to movie. Not much but you never see her get pale and jumpy and try to tell everybody about Percy and Penelope.

So those are my biggest problems with the movie, yes the scene in the forrest bothers me a little but it isn't one of the worst parts. I give it seven of ten paw-prints🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 It's a definite need to watch. I love it because it's Harry even with its flaws.

Always look around corners,

Merlin:)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie

Ah the Goblet of Fire. Or Harry Potter and the Year Nobody Got a Haircut. Or HP and the Goblet of Flowing Locks. This one is pretty good, there are problems, as to be expected but it's pretty good. SPOILERS
My big problems

• The beginning. Ok so one of the best parts of the entire book is when Harry gets a letter, in the Muggle post, for the Dursleys from Mrs. Weasley. All but one square inch is covered in stamps. It infuriates the Dursleys. Not in the movie. Harry's power move intimidating the Dursleys with Sirius. Not in the movie. Sirius' tropical birds. Not in the movie. All of Harry's food gifts from Ron and Hermione because Dudley is dieting. NOT IN THE MOVIE. 
• We never get to see the Weasleys come and get Harry from the Dursley's in the movie. In the book they get stuck in the Dursley's fireplace, they being Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, and Ron. Mr. Weasley blows out the wall of the fireplace to get out. Naturally this disturbs the Dursleys. Then Fred and George give Dudley a tongue-ton-toffee that makes Dudley's tongue swell up and grow. I love it.  
• Sadly we only see Harry waking up in the Burrow and Hermione is there. But she just got there. Um no Hermione is already there when Harry gets there from the Dursleys.
• At the Cup apparently, they're in the cheap seats, but the cheap seats are like nosebleed section. But in quiddich the higher up you are the better. Also Ludo was up there along with Crouch, well where he's supposed to be.That leads me to my next point. 
• After the Cup, the deatheaters show up. In the book they like have muggles levitating in the air and are lighting things on fire. Only the fire happens in the movie. And when the Dark Mark is created you actually see Crouch jr. (Who is played by David Tennant) instead of Winky in the bushes with Harry's wand. 
• Back to the Cup though, in the movie you don't get to see Fudge and the Bulgarian minister having communication issues, and you miss some of the best dialogue. 
  • “Vell, ve fought bravely,” said a gloomy voice behind Harry. He looked around; it was the Bulgarian Minister of Magic.
  • “You can speak English!” said Fudge, sounding outraged. “And you’ve been letting me mime everything all day!”
  • “Vell, it vos very funny,” said the Bulgarian minister, shrugging.”
• You also miss the Leprechauns and Veela, but lots of CGI would be needed for that so I can forgive leaving that out.
• Time constraints also cut out the camping with Bill, Percy, and Charlie who all com the the Cup. But I find it very hard to forgive leaving out Bill and Charlie Weasley. And Fred and George's bet with Ludo. Ireland wins but Krum gets the Snitch. 
• Lots of other little things are left out too. Like Fred and George threatening Bagman because he won't/can't give them their money. And Harry splitting Cedric's bag so that he can tell him about the dragons.
• Also, Malfoy & co made the Potter Stinks badges.
• Furthermore, and this really bothers me, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are both Co-Ed. As in Flamel himslef is a Beauxbatons alumnus and the first head teacher of Durmstrang was a woman.
• Harry's dragon in the first task doesn't ever leave the spot that it started at, unlike in the movie where the Dragon dies. 
• Second task, Harry gets there first yes, and the Cedric. But he spends a fair amount of time trying to rescue the other people. As in He spent so long trying to save everybody that if Cedric finished first in over an hour, then he was definitely over an hour by a lot. You also had more creatures. 
• Third task sooo much is missing. Like all the magical creatures, Blast-Ended Screwts, the Sphinx. And then Harry saves Cedric from an Acromantantula, and THEN they go, you take it, no you take it until they decide to both take it at the same time.
• When they get back to the school, there's more reaction to Cedric being dead. And then Moody takes Harry and that's when Dumbledore knows that he's not Moody.
• Also can we take a minute to talk about the casting of Lily and James. They're supposed to be 21. TWENTY-ONE!! Not as old as they're cast.
• Also, Harry tried to give Cedric's family the money he won, but they said no. So instead he gives it to Fred and George. With the condition that they buy Ron new robes. Which they do.
• Worst for last. Right after Harry gets picked to be in the Triwizard Tournament, all the heads of school, the minister, and Ludo come back to talk to Harry. They're all yelling at Harry and then “Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?” he asked calmly." That's Dumbledore. and please direct your attention to the adverb of how he said it. CALMLY!!!!!!!  In the movie he spins Snape out of the way. Pushes Minnie into a wall. And then
  

Even though they do all this wrong, this movie has one of the best lines ever. It's the scene where Ron's robes come in the mail and Harry sees them and then goes "Is there a bonnet? There is." It's the most Harry line in all the movies.

I enjoy this movie soo much. Definitely watch it. six of seven paw-prints🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Constant Vigilance!

Merlin:)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Movie

Welcome to Hogwarts, again
So all my movie reviews are going to be full of SPOILERS because I need to compare them to the books. Therefore, if you haven't read the book or watched the movie and don't want to know what happens don't read my movie reviews.
All in all this movie is done really well and does the book justice. There are somethings that get left out but there are time constraints and the first movie in the series so the budget wasn't as high. The casting makes me so happy with these movies, even though Rupert isn't tall and gangly like Ron they are their characters. HPSS is definitely not the worst movie but it's not my favorite either. The parts with Harry's letter is wrong and they leave out some of the most fun in Diagon Alley. One of my biggest complaints is that Hagrid goes off and gets Hedwig for Harry rather than Harry picking her out. It also irritates me that Harry doesn't go to Madam Malkin's and meet Draco. Honestly though this is one of the better movies.
This is one of my favorite movies Harry Potter wise. If you've read the book you should watch the movie. I give it eight of ten paw-prints. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Happy Watching,
Merlin:)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (but not really), John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne SPOILER FILLED

Hello my dears,
So I'm trying something new. This brilliant idea came from my friend CA. This review is for you CA. This is a complement to my non spoiler review of The Cursed Child and is full of SPOILERS and just basically a rant about the atrocity of The Cursed Child. So I'm not going to tell about characters so to get a feel for them read my non spoiler filled review .
Ok this play was written not by J.K. as we have been led to believe but by Jack Thorne, which honestly explains a lot. I mean first of all Harry James Potter who his whole life just wanted a family would not tell his son "Some times I wish you weren't my son. No just no. But more importantly the plot just didn't make sense. Delphi who is some how Voldemort and Belatrix's daughter, wants to bring Cedric back because according to this prophecy that will allow Voldemort to win the Battle of Hogwarts??? Yeah that is confusing and then you add time travel into the mix to make it all possible and it gets crazy. But there is one major problems here. Cedric Diggory would never become a death-eater and definitely not because he was humiliated. But the AUs that happen with time travel are hilarious. But don't forget that Scorpius is also rumored to be Voldemort's son. The rumor is that Draco and Astoria couldn't have a child and so the Malfoy's sent Astoria back in time to have a child with Voldemort. And so at one point because he and Albus are having problems because Harry is sooo out of character rather than use his influential position in the ministry and as the Boy Who Lived to dispel this rumor Harry investigates it because he and Malfoy can't get along at all. But they go back in time several times and at one point in a present day AU Hermione didn't go to the Yule Ball with Krum and so never got together with Ron and Ron married Padma??? After they successfully bring Cedric back for Amos, because they think that they're just bringing back a sad old man's son, Albus doesn't exist, Hermione and Ron never got together, Scorpius is the King of Hogwarts, its Voldemort day, and the salute "For Voldemort and Valor" OMG. But best of all Snape's alive. How you ask. Well I don't know. Honestly this breaks so many laws of time travel. All Cedric did was kill Neville before he could kill Nagini, which wouldn't keep Snape alive. But somehow he's alive in a way the defies all logic. Then everybody goes back in time and Harry gave Albus this blanket in the present day "normal", I use this word lightly, universe and love potion got spilled on it and then they write a message on the blanket by putting some kind of ingredient on it that reacts with the love potion and Harry, Draco, Ron, and Hermione all end up in Godric's Hollow the night Lily and James died. Harry turns in to Voldemort to fool Delphi and save the world because he can speak Parseltongue. It's complicated. However the best parts are when Albus has to kiss Hermione because he's disguised as Ron to steal a time-turner from the Ministry, and the past when Scorpius sees Bathilda  Bagshot and says "Wow. Squeak. My geekness is a-quivering". And no squeak is not a stage direction. All in all this play was horrible but hilarious. Definitely my least favorite book.
Hope you enjoyed this,
Merlin:)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

IT ALL ENDS 9. 15. 11.
So that's not true because Harry will NEVER end, but I can remember seeing those posters everywhere and being excited to see it. So this is the last book in the series, I will however be reviewing The Cursed Child for two reasons a) to laugh and b) it is a Harry book even if I refuse to call it canon. Anywho, character time.

• The Carrows- Alecto and Amicus. Death-eaters but thats all I can say.
• Presenting for the first time ever MRS. FLEUR WEASLEY- It's Fleur but she married Bill so she's a Weasley and I felt like she needed a proper introduction.

So there are several other characters you meet in this book, like Andromeda and Ted, but they aren't major characters even though I love them to death. 

Sum up time! So... wait CA don't read this because I have to slightly spoil the previous book to sum up this one. So Voldy has horcruxes and Harry has to destroy them to defeat Voldy once and for all. This leads to a grand adventure and several slight misadventures. Then it all wraps up in what at the time was a fantastic ending but now its more eh. I'd explain it if I could without spoiling it and I probably will in a later spoiler filled review.

So I love this book so much and to see the growth that all the characters have had throughout the books lead up to this book is amazing. Throughout the series you see the characters go from frightened, skeptical, scrawny first years to brave, less skeptical, teens who know what has to happen and are will to do what it takes to make it happen, and this transformation is amazing. Seeing everything come together end the end is amazing even if this is in my opinion the saddest book of the series. Yes at this point the ending is a little bit of a let down but honestly I'm okay with it because its fitting. So ten of ten paw-prints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

May your love of book, reading, and Harry never end

Always,

Merlin:)

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Baby its cold out side!
I mean its November and its freezing? If you can't tell from my confusion I'm from the South where this time last year I had just pulled out my thinnest of sweaters and now I want a ski suit. Anyway, HPHBP. I love the book but the movie sucks. And before you say "They have to leave out stuff because of time constraints" I know, but don't add stuff in for the sake of it. *cough* burrow scene *cough* Characters:

• Horace Slughorn- He's an interesting person. Former head of Slytherin and a true snake. I say that as a compliment, not an insult. Slughorn's pretty cool, but Minnie is still my favorite.

Yeah that's like literally all the new characters. Wow. Well anyway to summarize. The Wizarding World is in a panic because "Voldy-Moldy really is back!!" Whoops you should have listened to Harry and Dumbledore last year. Also death-eaters are up to more no good than usual. Harry and Dumbledore get into some adventures and there's several plots gone wrong. 

I love this book like all the others because its Harry and Harry is amazing. This book makes me sad and happy all at the same time. The last four honestly make me sad, but what can you do. Everybody should read this, although I probably should have mentioned earlier that as the books go on they get darker. So keep that in mind but if you've gotten this far you can't stop now. Ten of Ten paw-prints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Enjoy the early winter wonderland

Merlin:)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

He hem.
Ah it's fifth year. The year of O.W.L.s, Umbridge, and sadness. But still it's Harry and so I love it. But that's not important yet. First the characters.

• Delores Jane Umbridge- This years DADA professor. I only have one word to describe her. PINK. Sooo much pink. I can't say anything else or I'll spoil it.
• Luna Lovegood- Unique to say the least. She belongs to Ravenclaw. I adore her. On a slightly related note Evanna Lynch is in the finals of DWTS!!!
• Tonks- Awesome. That is the only way to describe her. The only way. She is the most Bad___ Hufflepuff ever. I loved her before I knew I was a Hufflepuff and before I knew she was a Hufflepuff. Honestly she's one on my favs.

So there are several other fairly new characters, but I can't really talk about them with out spoiling stuff. 

So brief summary. Voldy-Moldy is back but the Wizarding world doesn't believe Harry or Dumbledore. Umbridge appears at the behest of of Fudge and is generally horrible. Ron and Hermione are prefects and lots of twists happen. The ending bothers me the most.

I absolutely adore this book, but the ending makes me sad. So it's not my *looks around suspiciously* *whispers* favorite *horrified gasp*. However, everybody should read this book. EVERYBODY. I think everybody should read Harry anyway but this book speaks out against bullying more and oppressive people and you have Luna and Tonks to top it off, so its great. Ten of Ten paw-prints🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

On a totally unrelated note, Its NOVEMBER and its crazy cold and SNOW???

Happy Freezing!,

Merlin:)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Come one! Come all! To the once of life time event, The TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT! Yes my dears, we have indeed reached The Goblet of Fire. Ahhhh. The sweet smell of brewing darkness.
Given that this is the fourth book there really aren't many new characters but here we go:

• Mad-eye Moody- This year's DADA professor is none other than slightly insane ex-auror Alastor "Mad-eye" Moody. Moody is well moody. Catching dark wizards comes with its price after all. Basically Moody is one of a kind (well sort of anyway)
• Barty Crouch- Picture Uncle Vernon's ideal man. You know, follows rules to the letter, neat, absolutely perfect and annoying about it. Yes that guy. There no you know Barty. For my Potterheads out there- I feel No sympathy for him. None.
• Ludvic Bagman- Crazy sports fan to the extreme; but he actually played. And now has a government job about sports.
• CEDRIC- OMG I love Cedric. He's like one of the best reps for Hufflepuff, the house to which I happen to belong. He's so sweet and amazing. No I'm not crying you're crying. (my potterheads know what I mean and why I'm crying) I love him.

All the other characters are a) the same b) boring or c) characters I cannot introduce because spoilers!

No matter which the character falls into I love them all, except Barty. I have a series of problems with him. No matter, lets move on.

PLOT! Ok so last year Wormtail *shudder* *snarl* escaped to rejoin the Dark Lord Voldy. Sirius escaped and Harry had to go back to the Dastardly Dursley's. Snape had his moment as a hero which was promptly snatched away. So now its time to go back to Hogwarts but first Harry, Hermione, and the Weasley clan get to go to the Quiddich world cup! Where its revealed that something is going to happen at Hogwarts, Percy is a prick, and disaster strikes. Then we're off to Hogwarts, where we meet Moody and find out what the mystery event that is happening at Hogwarts is. Cue adventures and problems.

So while this may not be my favorite Harry Book, I'm not actually sure which that one is, I still love this book and you meet some of my favorite all time characters. So I definitely give it ten of ten paw prints and you should definitely read this book, or ya know finish it *cough* CA *cough*. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Happy Halloween!
Merlin:)