Review- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut is captured in this exciting hardcover edition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screenplay.

When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, this is epic, adventure-packed storytelling at its very best.

Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader's bookshelf.

Release date: November 8th 2016

Published by: Arthur A. Levine Books

Page numbers: 293

REVIEW: 

Any book of the Harry Potter franchise always makes me happy. Always.

When I read J.K. Rowling's library collection, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander a long, long time ago, I was always curious to know more because it developed in me, a greater love for the incredible magical creatures. Then when a movie based on the book came out last year, I had the most magical time revisiting my home and the place that I belong in- the magical world. So when I saw that there was a Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay written by the Queen herself, I had to get a copy and read it. 

Reading the screenplay after months of watching the movie was one the coolest ideas I've ever had because not only did I read and get to experience the written world which Rowling does so bloody brilliantly, but I also got to revisit the movie, which I loved to bits. One of the biggest advantages of reading the screenplay is all the side action that is, albeit in brief, explained meticulously which sometimes doesn't portray so particularly well on screen because it's not explicit. Revisiting the movie and meeting the wonderful Newt again was just so amazing. 

Aside from Newt, however, I loved how close a look I got into the life of this dark but very poor and likeable child, Credence, who is one of the most important characters of the movie. It was also beautiful meeting curious and funny Jacob, sweet and sexy Queenie and lovely and strong Tina again. Not just that, but visiting the American wizarding world again was a fantastic experience. I could imagine everything so perfectly and it felt good to go back.

As always, with any magical world book by Queen Rowling, I find myself incapable of doing her writing and storytelling justice, so I will leave it up to you to buy a copy, read and devour the screenplay of which we have the privilege of reading.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts

Summary-

To celebrate the rise of their new queen, three goddesses of the moon created three stars, one of fire, one of ice, one of water. But then they fell from the sky, putting the fate of all worlds in danger. And now three women and three men join forces to pick up the pieces…

Sasha Riggs is a reclusive artist, haunted by dreams and nightmares that she turns into extraordinary paintings. Her visions lead her to the Greek island of Corfu, where five others have been lured to seek the fire star. Sasha recognizes them, because she has drawn them: a magician, an archaeologist, a wanderer, a fighter, a loner. All on a quest. All with secrets.

Sasha is the one who holds them together — the seer. And in the magician, Bran Killian, she sees a man of immense power and compassion. As Sasha struggles with her rare ability, Bran is there to support her, challenge her, and believe in her.

But Sasha and Bran are just two of the six. And they all must all work together as a team to find the fire star in a cradle of land beneath the sea. Over their every attempt at trust, unity, and love, a dark threat looms. And it seeks to corrupt everything that stands in its way of possessing the stars…

Release date: November 3rd, 2015

Published by: Piaktus Books

Page numbers: 304

Review-

This is not my first Nora Roberts read. As everyone and their mother knows, Nora Roberts is the queen of romance and so I have read a series or two by her. And for the most part I like the way she writes. Her stories are solid. Stars of Fortune is the first book in Nora Roberts' Guardians Trilogy. This is not a contemporary romance like any other. It leans more towards the paranormal side with dashes of magic and gods and mythology. While I didn't love Stars of Fortune, it was still a good read.

This is the first book in the series so Nora Roberts does lay the ground work for all the six characters who are a part of the trilogy. Like I said before this book is filled with magic and myths and gods and goddesses so time is spent explaining all of that too. But with it we also have a nice romance going on between Sasha and Bran.

Sasha is an artist. For about a year now she's been having dreams and nightmares about five other people along with her who are supposed to be on a quest to find the stars. Sasha is haunted by them but she is compelled to follow her instincts. I liked Sasha as a heroine. She seemed fragile and vulnerable in the beginning but she came into her own. She finally gained confidence in herself and in her powers.

Bran on the other hand is a magician. Literally. He is just as intrigued by the whole thing which is going on in their group of mismatched people. But Bran is far more confident of himself as well as the connection he feels towards Sasha. I liked Bran and Sasha together. Obviously the book is equal parts romance and equal parts adventure with the quest so the focus is not completely on them.

Some of my favourite parts of the book were when all six of the characters were together. I love that we are able to see the start of relationships that are sure to form strong bonds in the future. Also, its quite easy to see the next two pairings while the adventure continues for these six. I am curious to see how Sawyer and Annika's book will go. Doyle and Riley are tough but the toughest fall the hardest. Anyways, though not brilliant, Stars of Fortune was a good read. Yes, it was predictable but predictable is not always bad, it can even be comforting at times. If you are a Nora Roberts fan give this one a shot.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Hachette India in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Summary-

Serefina, daughter of Isabella, Queen of Miromara, has been raised with the expectation - and burden - that she will someday become ruler of the oldest civilization of the merfolk. On the eve of the Dokimí ceremony, which will determine if she is worthy of the crown, Sera is haunted by a strange dream that foretells the return of an ancient evil. But her nightmare is forgotten the next day as she diligently practices her songspell; eagerly anticipates a reunion with her best friend, Neela; and anxiously worries about Mahdi, the crown prince of Matali, and whether his feelings toward her and their future betrothal have changed. Most of all, she worries about not living up to her mother's hopes.

The Dokimí proceeds, a dazzling display of majesty and might, until a shocking turn of events interrupts it: an assassin's arrow wounds Isabella. The realm falls into chaos, and Serafina's darkest premonitions are confirmed. Now she and Neela must embark on a quest to find the assassin's master and prevent a war between the mer nations. Their search will lead them to other mermaid heriones scattered across the six seas. Together they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world's very existence. 

Review-

Deep Blue was lying on my shelf since a really long time but because I am doing a review pile reading challenge I decided to finally pick it up. Firstly, I'll tell you the reason I didn't pick up this book earlier. Its because its a mermaid book with mer creatures and all that stuff. I like fantasy but mermaids are far fetched and I didn't have a lot of interest in them.

Deep Blue turned out to be better than my expectations but that's only because I had none to begin with. This is the story of Serafina who is to be the Queen of Miromara. She has to rule the merfolk and his been trained for it since she was little. But unexpected things happen on the day she is to be declared the Queen and so she escapes with her friend Neela.

The whole world that Jennifer Donnelly has created is interesting. There are various kingdoms in the oceans and Serafina is to rule one of them. But there are people causing havoc and killing merfolk who need to be stopped. I liked Serafina as a character. She had a lot of weight on her shoulders but she loved her people.

I also really loved her friend Neela. Neela was the bright ray of hope in Sera's life and I just overall liked her personality a lot. The person I didn't like was Sera's betrothed, Mahdi. I'm glad we don't get much of him in the book. By the end of the book, Deep Blue goes in a different direction. The series is actually about 6 mermaids who have to come together and find talismans if they want to save the mer nations.

I liked all the 6 mermaids so I wish we'd gotten more of them from the beginning instead of the book just focusing on Sera for three fourth of the time. Deep Blue was a very different read for me as compared to what I usually read but even though I am curious to see what happens next I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next book in the series right away though its out already.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Hachette India in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.