Poem: Dark Fire (Dark Stars #2)

Sequel to Dark Stars.  Kind of.  First acrostic poem I've made since Grade 2.

Dark Fire

Fire cannot live

In this world, all

Returns to the

End of light.

From the truest chaos,

Inspiration stems, to

Rebel with only an

Ephemeral order.

Fear the burning pain,

Indulge in warm embrace.

Revenge and rage

Eternal, brevity of love.

For nothing of Earth, that

Is kind is only kind.

Righteous isn't pretty,

Even more cause it's right.

FIRE, is Hate or Love?

IRE or Joy?

REprieve or Wrath?

End of days or Light of genesis?

Fire

Is

Really

Everything


Dark Stars (Dark Stars #1)

Psycho-Pass

Genre: Psychological, Mystery

Summary:
Japan is ruled by a completely impartial and automated system called the Sibyl System.  The Sibyl System can foretell your talents and flaws, and decide for you what kind of lifestyle you should live.  The Sibyl System can also determine your potential as a criminal, called your Crime Coefficient or Psycho-Pass.  Some people with high crime coefficients are assigned jobs as Enforcers and work under the careful supervision of Inspectors.  Inspectors and Enforcers work to keep society safe and capture people with high crime coefficients.  The story follows Inspector Akane Tsunemori, the newest inspector to join the force.  Akane and her colleagues work together to uncover the mystery of multiple different serial killings, seemingly having connections with each other.  And what is the Sibyl System, really?

What I liked:
Psycho-Pass is an excellent anime.  I love how it deals with human ideas on a seemingly utopian society, and whether a life that has been practically decided for you every step of the way is the way someone should live.  It has many interesting philosophies, and I love philosophies.
Another thing I liked about this anime is it's mystery factor.  It's quite interesting watching the characters figure out who a killer is, or what their plan is.  There wasn't that much mystery most of the time, but when there was it built suspense and I couldn't stop watching.
The characters were also interesting.  They had backstories that helped you understand the character better, and each of them had a different way of thinking.  The character, especially the main character, changes throughout the anime as different events unfold, and she becomes less naive and more resilient, but she still holds some of her ideals close to heart.
Anyways, I thought this was a great anime.  It had an interesting storyline, although it was slow at some parts, and has lots of thought provoking ideas.
Season two of the anime was especially good.  It had a lot of mystery in it, and it managed to tie up all of the problems described quite nicely.  The ending was very exciting and interesting, and I definitely recommend this anime.

What I disliked:
The anime was a lot more gory than I would've expected.  The main weapons in the series, called Dominators, would blow a person to bits and pieces, and most of the time blood would splatter everywhere.  The first few episodes of the anime definitely got straight into action, but some parts were somewhat slow moving.

Music:
I liked almost every song that was played in this anime.  OP 1 was 'Abnormalize' by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure.  OP 2 was 'Out of Control' by Nothing's Carved in Stone.  The music was nice, but I didn't like the singing, which was in English.  OP 3 was 'Enigmatic Feeling', also by Ling Tosite Sigure.  They're pretty similar and I liked this one too.  I'm no expert on music, but these themes were very upbeat and exciting, while also giving off a ghostly feeling.  The three EDs were all EGOIST songs, and up till now I hadn't truly appreciated EGOIST's music.  I'd liked 'My Dearest' from Guilty Crown, but I hadn't paid EGOIST much attention till now. I loved all three of the EDs, 'Namae no nai Kaibutsu', 'All Alone with You' and 'Fallen'.
Frequently throughout the anime I heard music by Beethoven and stuff.  I think I heard Ode to Joy when somebody was dying.

Graphics:
Loved the Dominator animations.  It had pretty decent graphics I guess.

Conclusion:
Watch the anime it's good.  Especially season 2.


Rating: 7 out of 10

Poem: Emptiness

Nowhere to run,
Nowhere to hide.
Nobody, no one,
Knows that I died.
Nothing to prove,
Nothing to lose.
Stop, don't move,
My 'life' is a ruse.
No love, no happiness,
No hatred, no sadness.
My body is a shell,
No soul, just emptiness.

Generation One (Book 1, Lorien Legacies Reborn)

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Superpower

Summary:
Have you read the Lorien Legacies?  Well Lorien Legacies Reborn is a sequel series to those.  After the events of the Mogadorian invasion on Earth, and numerous Earthling teenagers developing legacies(dubbed Earth Garde), an Academy is being built in the United States to keep the Earth Garde safe and teach them how to control their new found abilities.  Kopano, from Lagos, Nigeria, is enthusiastic about his powers and can't wait to go to the Academy and use his powers to help the world.  Taylor, from South Dakota, US, just wants a normal and ordinary life and wishes her Legacies never came to her.  But the world is changing, and if the Academy doesn't find you, someone else will.

What I liked:
I was super excited when I realized this was a sequel to the Lorien Legacies series, one of my favourites.  This was quite an interesting book.  Like the first book in the Lorien Legacies(aka I am Number Four series), this whole book felt like a prologue or introduction to the main series.  That doesn't mean it was boring or bad.  Each of the character's personalities were very well written.  Although I didn't like every single one of the main characters, I felt like they were diverse and interesting in their own ways.  The book switched POVs every chapter, going through one of the six main characters: Kopano, Taylor, Nigel, Ran, Caleb and Isabel.  After the book I felt like I knew each of the characters well.
The book wasn't action packed the whole way through.  Like I am Number Four, there were many times when the book took time to explain issues going on in the world, how Legacies worked and to address each of the character's personal problems.  I know I'm repeating, but I really enjoyed the personalities of the characters.  Now that the first book has you knowing all of the characters and the situation the series is based upon, the other books can be more exciting and action-packed.  But this book was definitely very interesting and still had a decent amount of action, another great quality about this book.

What I disliked:
John only appeared once.  And Professor Nine is held back by his prosthetic limb.  And nobody else from the original Loric appeared, besides Lexa, and she only got like two sentences.  Not even dialogue.
:(
I didn't really dislike any aspects of the book, and if I did it was usually a character who annoyed me. However, the book was kind of slow at some parts, but I felt interested enough that it didn't bother me.  Oh and another thing.  I was looking forward to see some more interesting Legacies, but not many of the Legacies in the book really stood out to me, besides Shapeshifting.  And Knowledge-sharing, but that guy wasn't really in the book much.

Additional Notes:
Read the Lorien Legacies first.  I don't think it would matter much either way, since this book doesn't really give spoilers, but you should just do it anyway.  The Lorien Legacies is an excellent series about alien teenagers with Legacies fighting off the Mogadorians - really cool stuff.

Final Remarks:
You should read this book if you read the Lorien Legacies and are itching for some more Lorien action.  You can read this without reading the Lorien Legacies, but I recommend reading those first just for some backstory knowledge.  I liked this book.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Poem: Pieces of Peace (Beautiful Shatter #3)

Pieces of Peace

Broken to peace,
To Pieces.
So knives may cease
Cutting creases
Into my flesh.
(Broken to peace,
To Pieces.)
All for me to,
Start again fresh.
To rise up through
My - No, his, ashes.
Absolved to burn bright.
(Broken to peace,
To Pieces.)
I saw great flashes,
Of lightning white.
Of warming yellow,
Filling the crevices,
Valleys once hollow.
(Broken to peace,
To Pieces.)
For a new genesis,
From a life un-alive,
A sweet new release,
By joining all the
Broken pieces of peace.

Beautiful Shatter (Beautiful Shatter #1)
Beautiful Art (Beautiful Shatter #2)

That's the end of my Beautiful Shatter poems.  I never intended to make it three different poems, I just felt unsatisfied by the first poem, since it was so short and all.  These poems were inspired by Japanese Kintsugi art, which are basically vases and bowls that have been cracked and broken, and then put back together using gold or other precious metals.  They don't look like much, but I like them and think they're cool.

Poem: Beautiful Art (Beautiful Shatter #2)

It has the same theme as Beautiful Shatter.  A lot longer and a bit darker, I think.

Beautiful Art

Holding on, tightly,
Nails cracked, fingers bloody.
As I watch the ones,
The ones who let go.

Falling, shattering,
A shard of my heart.
Cracking, scattering,
Beautiful art.

There's no climbing up,
No living through this hell.
I feel my grip loosen,
As I watch the others let go.

Falling, shattering,
A shard of my heart.
Cracking, scattering,
Beautiful art.

There's no screaming,
No cries of pain.
Just my soul whispering,
Telling me, to let go.

Falling, shattering
A shard of my heart.
Cracking, scattering,
Beautiful art.

I let go.

And I watch myself
F
A
L
L
.
And I watch him
S
   H
  A
       T
          T
    E
         R
              .
And I watch it
S
   C
      A
T
     T
 E
         R
      .
And then I pick them up,
All the pieces, of my heart,
So that I can, put them back
TOGETHER
Again.
And line the cracks,
With rivers of gold.
To make
Beautiful Art



Beautiful Shatter (Beautiful Shatter #1)
Pieces of Peace (Beautiful Shatter #3)

Poem: Beautiful Shatter (Beautiful Shatter #1)

Nothing of Earth,

Remains intact.

All of Earth will shatter,

Scatter into brokenness.

Though cracks are becoming,

Beautiful are the pieces,

Of what was once one.

So allow a pleasure,

And let go.

Go with a beautiful

Shatter, scatter...

And you shall be,

Put together, 

Anew.



Beautiful Art (Beautiful Shatter #2)
Pieces of Peace (Beautiful Shatter #3)

Poem: Timeline

Timeline

The sun has risen,
With morning song.
Nothing behind me,
the line is long!

The day's still young,
I've traveled short.
But I'll get farther;
I'm the tough sort.

Morning's no more,
Noon is here!
Brightest time of day,
Nothing to fear!

Evenings come,
And I turned around.
I'm following my path,
But behind me, no line is found.

It feels like I just started,
But I do not forget.
Because that ain't no sunrise.
It's a sunset.

Poem: Dark Stars (Dark Stars #1)

I think the theme of this poem is overused.  Oh well.

Dark Stars

All stars are great,
All stars are dangerous.
From far, they're beautiful.
Up close, they'll kill you,

Stars bring light to the darkness,
But stars can take away your light.
Because in darkness dwells the light,
And in light, the darkness.

Stars wrap you in their warm embrace,
But in time you'll reach for cool reprieve.
Because too much of something,
Can destroy anything.

From stars, spring life,
And stars, bring death.
For what is white,
If not, for black.

What is heaven, if there is no hell?
What is love, if there is no hate?
For there is no beauty in a star,
If it isn't surrounded,
By Darkness.

Dark Fire (Dark Stars #2)

Poem: Chasing Stars

Chasing Stars

The stars, were
First to come,
And from them,
We became.

We are all,
Made of stardust.
We can all,
Choose to glow.

Chasing stars,
Won't let you shine.
Chasing stars,
Your light will die.

From stars, we became.
So you don't need,
To chase the stars.
Cause you can just,
Light your own.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Book 1, Graceling Realm)

.

Changing up my book reviews.  No spoilers, individual reviews for books in a series, etc.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance

Summary:

Katsa, niece to the king of the Middluns, is not an ordinary lady.  Ever since the king realized that she was born with a Grace, a special talent, for killing, the king has sent her across the seven kingdoms to do his dirty work; punishing those whom the king wishes her to punish. One day, Katsa meets Prince Po, and they become friends.  Together, they search for clues relating to the the people behind the kidnapping of Po's grandfather.

What I Liked:
I read this book because of the awesome cover, it's really cool.  Anyways, there were lots of things I liked about this book.  One of these things was the main character, Katsa. Like in the cover, Katsa is pretty kick-ass.  She can use knives, daggers, swords, bows and probably other things with skill and efficiency, and fights bare-handed just as well. She has an interesting enough personality; short-tempered, impulsive, capricious, stubborn.  She doesn't really joke around, but she can be nice to people, especially children.  She avoids hurting or killing people when she can.  I also liked most of the other characters, like Po, who's a good-natured fellow and quite different overall from Katsa.  Another thing I liked was that the romance was a side thing for most of the time, and filled the spaces where there was lack of action.  I also liked that many details were given about the land the book was set in, although noticeably less details on the exact environment.  That's pretty much what I liked about this book.

What I Disliked:
I wasn't bothered too much by this book, but others might think the pacing to be too slow.  The book had long stretches of time where not much action occurred.  And due to the pacing not a whole lot happened in the book.  Another thing I disliked was that there wasn't much information given about the main antagonist, but I'm hoping it will be answered in the next few books.  There is also a minor problem that I had with some of the sentences.  Some of them seemed to run awkwardly.  But it's a minor problem.  What I disliked most about this book is that I think the problem was resolved too quickly, and it was kind of anti climactic.  That sums up what I didn't like about this book.

Additional Notes:
There is not that much character development throughout the book; her views on marriage remain the same, she's still stubborn and fickle and short tempered.  Her views do change a bit after learning certain things, but not that much really.  I personally don't have much of a problem with this, since throughout the book her interaction with others was kept to a small circle of three people.

Final Remarks:
Definitely read this book if you are a fan of the fantasy and romance genres.  If you liked books such as Throne of Glass, chances are you'll like this book too.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Poem: What Once Filled Me Is Gone

I've been noticing that I feel something like this whenever I finish a really great book(series) or anime, especially ones that had me craving to read more.  It also possibly ties in with how it feels to suddenly stop smoking/doing drugs.  Idk, I've never done drugs before.

What Once Filled Me Is Gone

The minutes, tick away.
Nothing happens, day after day.
I feel it, I know it.
What once filled me is gone.

Thoughts swirling in my head,
My body's stiff, like lead.
I yearn for it, but it doesn't return.
What once filled me, is gone.

No tales to be told,
No secrets to be spilled,
My empty heart aches,
To be filled.
But.
What once filled me....is gone.

Poem: Chains

Chains

The chains protect me,

Yet I thrash against them.

The freedom can hurt me,

But still, 

I want it anyway.

The cage, it stops me,

From flying high and far.

From being what I

Want to be.

Have to be.

No chains to ground me,

I fly high, too high.

And I drop, farther than

I could ever fly.

I am lost.

No wall has blocked me,

No cuffs have bound me.

Freedom.

It's made me

into something

I never wanted to be.

Poem: Running into the Sky

I don't know.  I think I like poems.

Running into the Sky

Look up, into the sky.

Gaze into it’s depths.

A blue deeper than the seas,

Dotted with powdery white.

Reach up, towards the sky.

Take hold of the many winds.

A gentle whisper, a powerful roar,

The tears of life fall down.

Look up, into the sky.

Wander into the blue.

Another place, another time,

Scary, yet beautiful.

Run up, into the sky.

Don’t stop, won’t stop,

Falling, forever and ever.

Falling into the sky.

Poem: A Demon's Heart

A Demon's Heart

A heart beats,
Steadily, eternally.
It's a demon's heart.
One...two...three...

It isn't black,
Nor is it blue.
Like us,
The heart is red too.

Hear the heart.
Does it belong to you?
Because humans,
can be demons too.