Book Review: The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch (book #1)

Author: Joseph Delaney
Illustrated by: Patrick Arrasmith
by Aliraluna

Review:

“I was going to learn how to protect farms and villages from things that go bump in the night. Dealing with ghouls, boggarts, and all manner of wicked beasties would be all in a day’s work. That’s what the Spook did, and I was going to be his apprentice.’ (Page 4)

This is the story of Tom Ward, a thirteen year old boy and the last apprentice of Old Gregory; a Spook. But not everyone can be a Spook; you needed to be the seventh son of a seventh son, and Tom was three times that. He could also sense things that normal people couldn’t.  There’s also the fact that practically all the trades were taken by his brothers; so along the story we learn that he was always meant to be a Spook. 

After passing the test, the Spook leads him to his summer house in Chipenden, a wonderful place full of strange and mysterious books and gardens- the place in which Tom will learn about boggarts, ghosts and witches; how to make a pit, how to fight a witch and latin. On the first day, Tom learns about the different gardens that the Spook’s house has.  He also learns that the witches are bound there; dead and alive, and also about the terrifying boggarts. After eating, the Spook gives him a small, leather notebook to write down everything he will learn. In the first lesson the Spook explains the different types of boggarts and witches:

• Boggarts:  (B symbol)

• Hairy Boggarts: They take on different animal shapes such as: dogs, cats, goats and horses. Can be friendly, hostile or both. 

• Hall Knockers: They rap on walls or doors, can throw pots, cups and pull bedclothes. Very unpredictable. Can also change from Hall to Stone Boggart which can kill, making showers of stones rain or throwing pebbles and or boulders.

• Cattle Rippers: This boggart drinks blood from cattle; but if they change to full rippers they drink blood form humans; they always kill. 

• Witches: (O symbol)

• Malevolent: Evil witches. Found in Pendle Hill. They can use bone magic.

• Benign: Good witches; they help the community, experts on herbs.

• Falsely accused: They are not witches but are accused in order to get their properties.

• Unaware: This are witches that doesn’t know what they are; they can be good or bad.

After his lesson, the Spook orders him to look for their provisions and that’s when everything changes: he meets a girl with pointy shoes. And not any girl… the favorite niece of Bonny Lizzie. What have you done Tom?


Thoughts:

Everyone should know this author. He’s fantasticand his writing style is not complicated nor too simple at the same time. The story will make you crave more. Tom Ward is surely to get one hell of a ride. The drawings are simply stunningly beautiful. Give it a try!

Book Review: Divergent

by Lil' Leia 

Hi guys! Today I will be reviewing “Divergent” by Veronica Roth! OK, first I will tell you why I am doing this at this specific time. The reason is, the movie, starring Shailene Woodley and Theo James, will be released on DVD on Tuesday! Yay!  Anyways, time to focus on the actual review. If you’ve been living under a rock and don’t know what Divergent is (besides it being a book and movie), it’s a story set in dystopian Chicago far into the future, where society is divided into five factions based on human virtues:  Amity (the peaceful and kind), Erudite (the intelligent), Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), and Dauntless (the brave and daring). Every year, the 16 year olds take an aptitude test that says which faction he/she is best suited for, but they don’t all receive one conclusive response, some receive multiple, in which case the person is called Divergent and has to keep that fact secret because the city considers it dangerous. The very next day, they have to choose (regardless of their test result) at the Choosing Ceremony whether to remain in their birth faction and stay with their family, or transfer to another faction and leave their families forever regardless of their test result. If they fail the initiation process for their faction, they become factionless and live the rest of their lives on the street in poverty.

   *SPOILER ALERT* IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK OR SEEN THE MOVIE, PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK*

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Beatrice and Caleb Prior are the 16 year old son and daughter of a high ranking government official from Abnegation. Since they are 16, they can choose whether to stay in their own faction or leave and join another one, but first have to take an aptitude test to see in which faction they belong in. Beatrice took her test and her test results showed she was Divergent, a dangerous status that she must keep secret. As an Abnegation, she is supposed to be selfless. She has to care for the needs of others before herself as part of her selflessness. At the Choosing Ceremony, Caleb chooses to transfer to Erudite, but Beatrice is torn between Abnegation and Dauntless. She takes a knife, cuts into her hand, and lets the drops of blood fall to the flaming coals of the Dauntless (Editor’s note of no importance: EXCUSE ME, WHAT?!). Beatrice meets Christina, Will, and Al on the way to the Dauntless compound and they quickly become friends, but she also meets some enemies and rivals, named Peter, Molly, and Drew. Beatrice, who shortens her name to Tris, meets Four/Tobias, her instructor, who also happened to be an Abnegation transfer 2 years before her. Before she becomes a full-fledged member, she must pass through simulations and combat training. The top 10 initiates become members, the rest are factionless. At the end of initiation, Tris comes in 1st place, and becomes a member of the Dauntless along with Will and Christina. Then every Dauntless member is injected with a serum that Dauntless leaders say is a tracker in case anyone goes missing, but in reality it’s a simulation serum that makes her fellow members trek to Abnegation headquarters and plan war. Since she is Divergent, the serum doesn't even affect her. She is soon noticed and dragged to Erudite (who were making war plans against Abnegation and were using Dauntless as an army) headquarters but later escapes to Amity.                                                                                

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That is the basic plot for those of you who haven’t read the book but want or need a more detailed description than the ones given in bookstores and websites. That said, let’s get on to the review! 

So the book starts out a little slow, but it’s for the good of the book because it gradually progresses from that at the beginning to being a little bit fast at the end, and it lets the author build up a good structure for the book, if you know what I mean. I like Veronica Roth’s writing style, for the reasons you can see right above ;).  I also really like how the characters and plot are developed. And I can relate to Tris’s struggle to understand who she is, which also can factor in XD. In short, I LOVED the book, and I hope you do too.  I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. See ya later this week with the movie review!

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT ANIME ON DVD & BLU-RAY

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT ANIME SERIES ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

Complete Anime Fantasy Action Adventure From Production I.G. To Be Released On DVD And Blu-ray

San Francisco, CA, August 21, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, delivers the riveting anime action fantasy series about a wandering warrior and a fallen prince to fans with the home media release of MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT on August 26^th.

The 26-episode series, based on a bestselling collection of Japanese fantasy novels by author Nahoko Uehashi, is rated ‘TV-14’ and will be offered on 4 discs available on DVD and Blu-ray formats. The series will carry a DVD MSRP of $44.82 U.S. / $43.24 CAN; Blu-ray MSRP will be $54.97 U.S. / $66.15 CAN.  The series will also be available for digital download from a range of top media content providers including Apple iTunes, GooglePlay, Amazon Instant Video, PlayStation Network and the Xbox Marketplace on August 26^th (English dubbed version) and on September 2^nd (Japanese with English subtitles).     

The Blu-ray release features episodes presented in full 1080p High Definition 16x9 video, along with dubbed English and Japanese 2.0 dialogue as well as English subtitle options. The DVD edition features 16x9 Standard Definition video and available English and Japanese 2.0 audio and English subtitle options. Special bonus features for both sets include series trailers, a MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT promotional film, a “Pilot” production film, the series’ official press conference and discussion panels, as well as clean opening and closing segments.

Young Prince Chagum has been suspected of demonic possession by court advisors who see only one solution: death. But his salvation may lie in the hands of Balsa, the spear-wielding bodyguard from Kanbal, the kingdom across the mountains. Her vow to save eight worthy souls has led her to the imperiled Chagum and into the mystery of the water spirit, a mystical entity that may hold the key to saving millions of lives from drought. Her skill and tenacity are legendary, but can she fend off an entire empire?

“MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT is a thrilling anime series with some beautifully rendered artwork and a well developed plot from Production IG that North American action and fantasy fans will not want to miss,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Animation Marketing Manager. “The stage is set for lots of drama and action as Prince Chagum and his bodyguard journey through dangerous realm to uncover the Prince’s mysterious connection to a legendary water spirit.  We look forward to fans making this new release a riveting addition to their personal anime collections.”

For more information on MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT or other anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit: www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.