Percy Jackson Series Review

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By Bella H.

Immersing myself in the captivating world of mythology, I have devoured numerous books, consuming many books every day after school through my years in middle school. I love books written by the talented author Rick Riordan. He is a master at intertwining modern-day storytelling with ancient legends and myths.

Percy Jackson, my absolute favorite among his remarkable book series, captivates me with thought-provoking and intricately woven plots and realistic and believable characters that I’m eager to discuss. 

I’ll not spoil the plot too much here, but Percy is twelve when the series starts. Little did he know that his life was about to change; When he discovered that he was the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. From this discovery, he finds himself in one adventure after another. Compelled to undertake a perilous quest in search of the elusive entrance to the Underworld and stop an all-out war between the gods. 

Its protagonist’s remarkable growth and development throughout the book series truly sets Percy Jackson apart. As we follow the series, we see Percy’s gradual evolution from a wide-eyed and inexperienced adolescent to a seasoned and resilient hero at the end. With each passing chapter, we observe his physical maturation and profound emotional and mental transformation. 

Mr. Riordan skillfully weaves this transformation of his protagonist seamlessly into the narration and story plot that makes us, as the readers, so invested in Percy Jackson’s personal journey.

What is a hero without friends who fight by his side, bolstering his resolve and assisting his noble endeavors? Unlike other series where side characters fade into the background, side characters are an integral part of Riordan’s books. The bond of friendship that Percy and his companion have for each other resonates with me, as the bond between these characters deepens and fortifies as they face trials and tribulations together.

The captivating tapestry of Greek myth skillfully weaves into the story. It is genuinely delightful for any fan of ancient legends.

I also love the Greek mythology theme, and the different gods and goddesses are interesting. Each turn of a new page introduces us to various Gods and Goddesses, each with unique quirks, power, and personalities. Mr. Riordan has created a masterpiece in a modern-day story where Gods and mortals collide. He breathes life into these characters, making them realistic and believable, creating a world where fantasy and reality converge. 

Will Percy stop an epic battle that threatens to unleash chaos upon the world? I suggest you read the book if you want to uncover more details. 

Happy Reading!

The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Netflix Series Review: Cobra Kai

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I can assure you, Cobra Kai, is going to be the best Netflix Series you’ve ever watched, especially if you’ve already watched the Karate Kid movies. First of all, what is Cobra Kai? Cobra Kai is a martial arts drama series that brought back the nostalgia of the 1984 movie, The Karate Kid. This thrilling saga combines both the charm of the ’80s classic with fresh storytelling and a new generation of characters, leaving teens and adults eager to watch the show. Thus, with its blend of action-packed sequences, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes, Cobra Kai continues to remain an absolute knockout.

But first, before you dive into the series, I suggest that you watch the first 3 Karate Kid movies, to get a good understanding of the background of the series

The show’s genius lies in its ability to subvert the audience’s expectations. Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), once bitter rivals, have become complex characters. Their evolving dynamic is the heart and soul of the series. Macchio and Zabka deliver performances that transcend nostalgia, reminding us why their characters are so iconic in the first place.

One of the standout aspects of Cobra Kai is its character development. The young cast members, particularly Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), Sam (Mary Mouser), Hawk (Jacob Bertrand), and Tory (Peyton List), have grown immensely over the seasons. These characters grapple with real-world issues such as bullying, identity, and the consequences of their actions, making them relatable to both young and older viewers. Furthermore, the comedic dialogues and thrilling fights occurring in and out of the dojos, add to the astoundingness of the series.

The action sequences in Cobra Kai are nothing short of spectacular. The choreography is top-notch, blending traditional martial arts with a modern flair that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The series doesn’t shy away from the brutality of karate, making the fight scenes intense and visceral, especially through the contrasting styles of Karate which both Cobra Kai and the Miyagi-Do Dojo use.

Beyond the fists and kicks, Cobra Kai explores the gray areas of morality and redemption. It challenges the idea of heroes and villains by delving into the past traumas and motivations of its characters, from Johnny Lawrence’s struggles with his stepdad to Miguel Diaz’s struggle to choose a side in school. This nuanced storytelling makes it a cut above typical martial arts dramas.

In conclusion, Cobra Kai is a martial arts masterpiece that transcends its ’80s roots. It’s a compelling blend of nostalgia and contemporary storytelling, with well-rounded characters, exceptional action, and thought-provoking themes. Whether you’re a fan of The Karate Kid or new to the franchise, Cobra Kai is a must-watch series that packs a punch. With its ongoing success, it’s clear that the spirit of the dojo is stronger than ever.

The Lunar Chronicles: Winter (SPOILER REVIEW)

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There’s a definitely a certain amount of pressure, I think, on writing the final book in a series.

It has to wrap up all the characters’ goals, defeat the antagonist, and resolve the overall plot, with no threads hung loose.

Yeah, a lot of pressure.

Does Winter live up to the standard? (Beware of spoilers!)

Winter takes a deep dive into the Winter’s pysche like none of the other books before. I find her to be an extremely compelling character. The mental willpower to hold herself back from using her manipulation even when she knew she would start to hallucinate and lose her mind is impossibly strong. It’s the exact opposite from what the entire Lunar court thinks of her. She is the most powerful of any of them.

Winter went through so much.

I wish there was more of her. She’s such an amazing character but despite the book being named after her I felt like there wasn’t nearly enough attention on her. She almost seemed thrown in, which is the opposite of what she deserves as such a rich and compelling character.

I also don’t think Wolf got a finished ending. The book was all nonstop plot and twists, with hardly any room for the characters. And there’s a lot of characters.

The climax between Cinder and Levana was bloody and dramatic, though it was really a bit of an idiotic move on Cinder’s part to think that the mass murderer wouldn’t try to kill her as soon as she put down the gun.

I have to say, I do love the ending. Cinder dropping it off the same balcony she’d jumped off of? The tiniest reference to the glass slipper? Kai and Cinder’s relationship finally resolved, with hope for the future? It’s all beautiful, tinged with just the right amount of bittersweet, knowing that the battle was far from over.

I do think explicitly having all four main characters end up in a neatly established romance made it feel forced instead of natural. I also have some problems with Cress and Thorne’s relationship, but I might save that for a review on Cress instead.

There was so much good in this book, but also a lot I didn’t like.

Still, everyone has the right to their own opinions. What do you think?

Winter by Marissa Meyer is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.



TOPIC – Coraline

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Coraline is a children’s novel written by Neil Gaiman, published in 2002 by Bloomsbury and HarperCollins.

It follows a young girl named Coraline as she finds a mysterious door that leads to nowhere in her family’s new flat. However, she quickly discovers that it connects to a tunnel to an alternate world. A world like her own, but different. There are alternate versions of everyone who lives in the house she does, including her Other Mother and Other Father. Everyone has button eyes, and the land doesn’t seem to exist past the house.

Although most people have watched the movie, I think that you should still read the book. It’s different enough that you won’t feel like you’re reading the same story again. For example, Coraline never falls for the Other Mother’s tricks. By the end, Coraline ends up playing a game against the Other Mother. If Coraline wins, she will get to go home, free her parents, and the other children that the Other Mother has trapped before her. If the Other Mother wins, she keeps Coraline. But in the events leading up to that, Coraline was never under the Other Mother’s spell.

The character Wybie also never existed in the book, nor any character that could be compared to him. The character’s appearances are also quite different, as the Other Mother is described as her hair floating around her, as if she was underwater. Coraline does not have blue hair, and the Other Father devolves into a doughy monster, instead of a pumpkin man. There is also a whole scene of Coraline trapped in a basement room with the doughy Other Father, where she has to escape by ripping out one of his button eyes, sneaking up the stairs, and slamming the trap door shut behind her.

I quite enjoyed the book, and read it all in one night.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Serpent and the Wings of Night Blog – Contains Spoilers!

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*Be advised this book is for older readers*

Yesterday I finished a book called, Serpent and the Wings of Night ‘. I must say, I got this book recommendation from my sister. She had just finished it herself, and wanted me to give it a go. At first, I was reluctant, as I was planning to read another book called, House of Beating Wings. But she insisted that I finish reading this book first (the nerve!).

I have to say, this book is absolutely AMAZING. I loved the characters and the plot. In Carissa Broadbent’s The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Oraya, the adopted human daughter of a vampire king, navigates a world where survival hinges on mistrust and strength. To prove herself and escape her prey status, she enters the Kejari tournament, a deadly contest held by the goddess of death, Nyaxia. The winner gets a sacred wish from her, and therefore attracts many vampires and people alike to the Kejari.

Throughout the book, I absolutely LOVE Oraya as a character. She embodies selflessness, strength, and kindness in the most admirable manner. Although sometimes impulsive, she knows her limitations and her boundaries.

During the Kejari, Oraya must team up with someone, and eventually chooses Raihn, a ruthless and efficient killer who will stop at nothing to win that wish from Nyaxia. They soon started developing feelings for each other, which I loved. Raihn has this mysterious vibe that’s totally captivating and makes you want to know more about him. I’m totally loving Raihn as a character because he’s not just handsome; he’s got layers to his personality that make him really interesting. It’s not a surprise that Oraya soon falls in love with him! And when it comes to Oraya and Raihn together, they’re like a dream team. They have this amazing connection that feels so real and makes you root for them. They bring out the best in each other, and it’s really heartwarming to see how they support and challenge one another. Their relationship isn’t just about looks – it’s about understanding and respect. Honestly, Oraya and Raihn are like the perfect match. They fit together so well, like two puzzle pieces that just make sense.

I have to say, the ending of this book will completely shock you! Overall, this book is amazing! I would give this book a 6 out of 5 stars!

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Book Review: Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World

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Re: Zero -Starting Life in Another World- by Teppei Nagatsuki is the first novel in the still-running series by the same name. Following series protagonist Subaru Natsuki the first novel in the series Subaru in his attempt to find his footing in a new world and his attempts to grasp the workings of his only ability in the new world: Return by Death.

In order to understand the plot of this story and why I believe it to be one of the greatest isekai(other world) series of all time, you first must understand the specifics of two things: Subaru himself and his Return by Death ability. Starting off with Subaru, one of the things that makes Re: Zero great is that Subaru sucks as a person, at least to begin with. It’s not that Subaru is a monster, to begin with, far from it. What Subaru is, is a man-child who was never forced to grow up and mature, leading to him making both selfish and selfless decisions entirely based on what he is feeling at the time. One very interesting thing when you compare Re: Zero to other isekai or even other fantasy series is that unlike them most of Subaru’s problems and deaths could have been prevented if he was just a better person.

Speaking of Subaru’s multiple deaths I should probably get around to explaining how that is even possible. You see in most stories where protagonists are summoned to other worlds those protagonists are typically blessed with some sort of special something to aid them on their journey. Maybe they were given an instinctive understanding of that world’s magic or maybe they just got a super powerful shield that will always protect them. In the case of Subaru Natsuki however, he gains the ability to reset time back to a checkpoint he has no control over when he dies. This ability is very important because it helps tie into one of the main throughlines of the series: Self Improvement.

As mentioned above Subaru is something of a idiot who tends to cause his own problems. Grant not all of the issues he deals with are his own fault but most of his deaths are caused by things he could very well avoid. However thanks to Return by Death Subaru is able to see how things go wrong and try to change things. It’s not easy for him and in novel 1 it takes him three whole death loops to even realize he is in fact returning by death, but after that he’s able to figure out what he’s doing wrong and improve upon his previous attempts. This in turn lets him escape the loop he was trapped in.

There is definitely a lot I left out of this review but this review is running kind of long so I’ll say this, Re: Zero is one of the greatest works of fiction I have ever read. It is excellently written and makes for extremely effective psychological horror for the shut in nerds who it is aimed towards. However, even to those not a part of the target audience I would still very much recommend Re: Zero -Starting Life in Another World-.

Music Review: Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo

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Most of you have probably listened to the single “Vampire” released by Olivia Rodrigo earlier in this month. Being an Olivia Rodrigo fanatic has led me to adoring this song but I also would like to elaborate on just the song.

If you haven’t heard Olivia Rodrigo is releasing her sophomore album “Guts” on September 8th, 2023. This was a change in the directive we originally saw in her debut album, SOUR where she was experimenting with a plethora of genres. I personally find it SUPER exciting she is branching away into other directives and not just sticking plainly to one thing. Ok now let’s get into the song.

If I’m being quite honest when I heard it the first time, I was a little conflicted on whether I enjoyed it or not. However, I definitely think the more times you listen, the better it gets. The general idea of song is applicable to a lot of things in life, which made it relatable and understandable for most people.

I think the range Olivia displays in this song is AMAZING. There were many different tones used throughout the song which in my opinion makes it so good. I like knowing the direction this album is heading and hopefully, she will be dropping another single before the release of the album to keep her fans entertained.

I would give this a listen despite your music taste. Many don’t listen to Olivia Rodrigo because her music is typically viewed as “overhyped” but it is for a reason. Knowing she’s a “newer” artist in the industry and YOUNG, is amazing. That’s another reason why I enjoy her music so much is that she’s super talented for her age and it’s nice knowing I’m listening to someone who grew up in the same sort of generation as us.

-Madison C.

You & Me at the End of the World by Brianna Bourne

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Imagine being the only person in the world, with time suspended for some unknown reason, until you finally stumble upon someone. A very affable, music-aficionado someone, in Hannah’s case.

Hannah Ashton and Leo Sterling are the only people in the world. They are completely isolated in an alternate reality without people, problems, or expectations. They take the opportunity to discover their true selves and each other.

I really enjoyed seeing perfect, rigorous, ballet-dedicated Hannah Ashton realize that she also loves feeling wind blowing through her hair and Leo Sterling’s guitar playing.

In real life, Hannah is a driven ballet dancer with high aspirations and Leo is a laid-back rock guitarist. They knew each other from school, but they would never talk to one another. In this dimension, they are given the chance to truly get to know each other.

The entire mystery of the reason for this apocalyptic event kept me in suspense throughout the novel. The instances where Leo and Hannah’s true connection shone, I was expecting a blackout, or a glitch in the matrix of some sort to eventually drive them apart, but it never really came.

The setting of the novel felt almost dream-like. I wondered if Hannah was only imagining Leo or if his personality was a figment of her imagination. Without the confinements of their regular lives, they are free to be whomever they choose.

Eventually, towards the end of the novel, their blissful world takes a turn of events. In the center of the chaos, they find each other.

The Light at Tern Rock by Julia L Sauer.

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The Light at Tern Rock is a Newbery Honor award-winning book by Julia L Sauer.  A man named Byron Flagg asks an eleven-year-old boy named Ronnie and his aunt, Martha Morse, to take charge of the Tern Rock lighthouse while he is away for two weeks.  The lighthouse is on a small island that is only accessible by boat.  The month is December, so Ronnie is concerned about getting back to the mainland in time for Christmas.  However, Mr. Flagg promises that he will return in time to take Ronnie and Martha home before Christmas day. 

Ronnie and Martha are excited when they first arrive at the lighthouse.  They understand that they have an important responsibility to keep the lighthouse lit to protect the ships at sea.  The living conditions are comfortable, and Ronnie enjoys spending the time with his aunt.  After two weeks, however, there is no sight of Mr. Flagg.  Ronnie becomes worried that Mr. Flagg may have broken his promise.  When Ronnie realizes that he might be stranded at the lighthouse, he becomes very anxious and upset that he may not be able to spend Christmas with his family.

This book is a quick read, being only about sixty pages long, but I still enjoyed it.  I was not expecting it to be so much of a Christmas story.  The Christ-centered focus turned out to be my favorite part of this book.  I appreciate the symbolism used by the author to describe some of the lessons learned by Ronnie.  He learns about the importance of responsibility and about the actual meaning of the Christmas holiday.  I wish that this book were a little bit longer, but I still find it enjoyable to read and deserving of the Newbery Honor.

The Light at Tern Rock by Julia L. Sauer is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

“Marie Kondoing” Your Room

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Now, I am going to assume that not everyone knows who Marie Kondo is. Marie Kondo is a Japanese woman who has various TV shows and books about organization. My mother, along with many other moms, has watched one of her shows at one point or another. So when I talk about ¨Marie Kondoing¨ my room, I mean cleaning and organizing my room. Even though, and I will admit, I don’t particularly like cleaning/organizing in my free time, I did when I was super bored one day. The results of my cleaning, I am extremely happy about. So here are the pros of cleaning my room:

  • Less cluttered. It doesn’t feel suffocating to be in my room.
  • More space. There is more space for future items, and just space. The space is so nice to have in a room.
  • Getting rid of stuff. I found so much stuff in my room that I honestly have no idea was there. I found the container of an old marker making machine, a rock, empty paint tubes and a 3D pen. Random stuff. 
  • Finding things that I like. I found a pair of new(ish) shoes from my mother and a coil of LED lights.
  • Decorating. I used the stuff I found to decorate my closet and my desk

AND FINALLY

  • It makes me feel more calm and mature. My room feels lighter and it makes me feel less anxious. It makes me feel more chill.

The method I used to clean my room was the Marie Kondo way, which involves feelings. What you do is hold up each item and ask yourself, ¨Does this bring me joy? Does it have a purpose or a reason?¨ Doing this, I realized how much stuff I had that was useless and brought me no joy whatsoever. 

My now clean room makes me feel ready for the school year and all the stress that comes with it. I really recommend cleaning your room for a less cluttered mind and a more calm mindset. 

Books by Marie Kondo are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.