Monday, May 11, 2009

Books After Twilight

Like many others, I’m also hooked to Twilight, and after I’ve finished reading Breaking Dawn, and the partial draft of Midnight Sun, I couldn’t get over the whole saga so I read it again and again and again and again. I suppose I’ve read the whole saga about ten times or something (No exaggeration, well probably not the whole New Moon since it hurts a lot. I can’t bear Edward leaving me… I mean Bella (Well in my OWN world I’m Bella so… all right, if I go on with this rant you’ll think I’m really crazy so let’s get back to the topic)), and after all that reading I still couldn’t get over it. So I thought about reading other books, and YES people! There are A LOT of OTHER GREAT BOOKS aside from Twilight. A LOT That I finally finally gotten over it, well not entirely, since there’s still sort of a hang over like I still feel Edward Cullen---WAIT! I’m writing like some drunk person---Well, as I said, a lot and I mean lots and lots, and like the effect of Twilight, I also couldn’t entirely get over these books, they’re all AMAZING. And I highly recommend some of them (Okay, I know you probably think the one writing these things down is crazy, but I’m not (I think I’m not… haha), but my point is, these books are really GREAT and I’m not joking.

Ehem… Well, I’ve read quite a few books after Twilight, the first (exactly after my tenth or something reading of Breaking Dawn) is…

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (More on my past post, check if you wish but note my tendency for rants, I do a lot of them).

Although it’s not in the same Fantasy/Romance genre, it’s very very very very nice. All characters, except for a few EVIL characters, are so likeable, especially the heroine/protagonist/whatever you call her, Rebecca Bloomwood (She lies a lot, but she’s very funny, and she’s talented and smart, mind you she does a lot of very funny, sometimes embarrassing stuffs. That makes the story so fun though). Also a character to watch is Luke Brandon, the love of her life. Erm… actually, I’ve already made a post about the whole Shopaholic series, so if you want note: only if you want, read my past post: “Loving Shopaholic, Becky Bloomwood, and Luke Brandon” or something that sounds like it.

After the Shopaholic Series (Confessions of a Shopaholic, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties Knot, Shopaholic and Sister, Shopaholic and Baby), I read House of the Night by PC Cast and Kristin Cast. Hmm… currently the series has four books (Marked, Untamed, Betrayed, Hunted) There’s a coming fifth book: Tempted. I think the series is well written, with good descriptions on how they do their magic and stuffs, although I have some slight er… issue with Zoey’s (the main character) tendency to fall in love so easily with so many guys (but like I said it’s MY issue, I don’t know with others, it’s good nonetheless). Anyways, the House of the Night series, like Twilight is about Vampyres (Yupz with a ‘Y’), and in the story, people are aware of Vampyres, but there are some others like the People of Faith or so they call them, who does not approve of them. Also, Vampyres are marked, which means that anyone who has the tendency to become Vampyres get marks, like tattoos on their faces (it just happens to anyone, without prior notice or something). Evidently, those marked go to a school called House of the Night wherein they study, and meet other fledglings (young vampyres) like themselves, until they turn to adult vampyres, or die during the process. And another Also, some Vampyres or Fledglings in the story, are blessed with the power of the elements or something like that (Various affinities) by their goddess Nyx. The plot is entirely different from Twilight, but it’s a good series, lots of magic, spells, twists and turns, and mysteries.

One of My FAVORITES is the Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare. And when I say favorites I really mean FAVORITES. It’s really really really really GOOD. I love all the characters, especially Jace *hearts*. The series contains humor, well it’s not a comedy series, but when you read their dialogues you really can’t help but laugh, lots of action, mystery (yup, also a lot), touchingly sweet romance *sighs dreamily*, and unexpected events. Once you start reading, it’s hard to stop (my case). Anyways, the protagonist here is named Clary (I adore her), and the story starts when she finds out that the world is not what it seems (haha, I can’t believe I’m using this phrase), and there exists entities different from people, and that there are people called Shadowhunters (unknown to the mundane world) who have the skills and the power to put demons back where they belong to keep humanity safe. Along the story she meets Jace, a super gorgeous, and talented shadowhunter and the story goes (I really do not wish to spoil anything for anyone, so I’ll stop discussing from this point). What I really want to say is that the Mortal Instruments Trilogy (City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass) is one of the best books I’ve read so far. It’s already on my favorites list. I’m sure every person’s taste differs, but I believe this series is worth a try. I think it’s really good.

After the Mortal Instruments Trilogy, I’ve read some other books like Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella, The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella, heck you should read all of Sophie Kinsella’s books, they’re all great. She’s actually one of my favorite authors.

Erm… anyways, I also read a few other books like Vampire Kisses, umm… I’m sure a lot of people like it, but I don’t feel about it so much. Before anyone reacts, please note that this is my own opinion, again others might not agree with me, I’m sure, but for me, Vampire Kisses isn’t my kind of plot because, I think it’s redundant. Like they’re already vampires, and they’re also Goths, not that I have anything against Goths, but it’s just… well anyway… it’s probably just me.

I also read Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith. Hmm… this one’s okay I suppose, but again (Just my opinion) it’s only so-so… I love Damon though. And between him and the main character’s love interest, Stefan, I would go choose Damon.

Next stop… Oh right Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead. This is also AWESOME. Great plot, good characters, again one of the books you’ll have a hard time putting down once you’ve started reading. Although it’s not that descriptive when it comes to action scenes, but overall it’s really good. I just finished reading the third book last night, and I’m well, argh… I won’t spoil anyone, but it’s really really really good. It’s got great romance by the way, and I don’t know about some, but personally I love the characters, especially the main character, Rose, and Dimitri too… Actually, I think all the characters are lovable. I also love the relationships here… anyways, I think the Vampire Academy Series (Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss) is also worth trying out, the fourth book, Blood Promise is coming on August 2009 if my sources are correct. I’m not sure. Btw, Richelle Mead seems to like Princess Diaries or Anne Hathaway since some characters seemed to be named after her and the character she portrayed in Princess Diaries, like Hathaway’s the main character’s family name (she’s Rosemarie Hathaway btw), also there’s this girl named Mia Rinaldi (I know it’s “Ri” not “Re” but still the resemblance Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi is Anne Hathaway’s name in Princess Diaries, a.k.a. Princess Mia). :)

And I’m currently reading Tattoo Faeries by Melissa Marr I’m in the middle of the third book (Fragile Eternity), and I’ll write more about this when I finish it. But, so far so good… :)

Anyway, these are the books I’ve read after Twilight. They’re not like Twilight, but some of them are in the same Fantasy/Romance genre. I’m still searching for great books, in the romance or fantasy/romance type, if you have any suggestions please tell, I’d love to read some more books.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

A Better Online Shopping Experience

Oftentimes finding exactly what you want when shopping online can be a hassle. There are a lot of websites allowing you to search through different shops, but apparently most of the results that these sites show would have something to do with placement fees. Thus, not exactly showing you the best place to buy the thing you want to purchase.

Thankfully, now we have a shopping website that works like google and gets you the best place to buy the thing you wish to get. The results they show aren’t based on placement fees, so you get more choices, with possibly cheaper prices. That’s great value.

ShopWiki gets you everything you need: from Garden Hoses, Garden Accents, to Furniture, to bestselling books like the Twilight saga, and the Shopaholic series, and other things that you would possibly want to buy. They give you more search results, and more choices. Shopping online has never been this easy, and convenient, so go online shopping at ShopWiki now.