Words of Radiance review

I just realized that I didn't do a review on one of my favorite books! Words of Radiance is the second book in the Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson. If you go back almost a year, you'll see a review for the first book. My opinions are basically the same; amazing plot, fantastic world and great characters.

The plot is, under everything, the basic 'save the world from the Apocalypse'. There is the time limit to get everything in order, and to train people for what is to come. This was seen only a bit in the first book, and now is the most important theme in the second book.

I've said this with all of Sanderson's works, and Words of Radiance is no different. The world building is just baffling. There is so much that's new and different from our world, but it all makes sense. Everything is beautiful and described with just enough detail to form an image, but not to lose the reader. It helps that many of the more important or detailed images are followed by pictures. So yes, this book has pictures.

And finally the characters. All of their voices are great, down to the smallest characters, who only appear for one chapter. In fact, I think it's those characters that have the best voice (though I have to admit that sometimes those characters can be a little boring.) There isn't to much development in the characters between the beginning and end, but most of that development was shown in the first book. What's more, in this book there are some chapters that go back to look at the past of one of the characters. In the first book it did the same with a different character. So I suppose you get the character development that way.

There are only two things I am a little nit picky about. The first one is something that I noticed in the first book, and that's when Sanderson slips into the omniscient narrator, meaning one chapter will be about one person, but once in a while the opinions of a different person will enter the narrative. This can be as simple as just noting the feelings or intentions of someone who isn't the main character at the time. It's not something that would be too obvious by most readers.

And then something I only noticed in this book. This one versus one battle scenes are... lacking. I think it was three times in the book, he said that the character just 'felt' what to do. I understand that battle scenes, especially one on one, can be very hard to write unless you actually know how to fight with a sword, or a spear, or whatever other weapon is being used. I'm just surprised, because I never saw, or at least never noticed it, in his other books. I think this might actually be the first time that he's done the one on one combats in a book.


All in all, a fantastic book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes fantasy. It's similar to high fantasy, with a tiny bit of steampunk thrown in.

(I should also mention the humor. There were several times that I nearly burst out in laughter, and only stopped myself because I was in public.)

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag review

For Christmas I got Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. The moment I got home from my aunt and uncles place on Christmas Day, I started to play it, but I only had a few minutes before we had to go out for dinner. I have to admit, I haven't picked it up since. And technically I still haven't picked it up, my sister did.

First thing I noticed when I was playing was how hard it was to control. Bare in mind that I'm playing on the Wii U, and at that people I was still getting used to the controls for that console. Not to mention the game starts on a ship in the middle of a storm. I managed to get to the helm of the ship and got a few cannon blasts off before I had to leave. It was difficult.

My sister started playing it yesterday, and she had a lot more luck than I did. Not only did she manage to bomb the shit out of the other ships, but she has figured out almost all the controls while wandering aimlessly around an island. She hasn't gotten much farther in the plot, but hey, learning controls is always the first step.

Of course I have to mention the graphics. They are stunning. The most beautiful from any game I've ever played, and that's including Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The movement looks natural down to the smallest detail. I'm not sure how easy it is to play now, but with so many buttons on the Wii U, I can't believe it's too easy. So it's beautiful, but difficult.

I think what I really want to do is play it on a different console. I'd have to learn the next remote, but I think any remote is easier than the Wii U.

Not So Common Courtesy

After being kept awake for over an hour last night because of them very rude neighbours, I decided that it's my duty to remind everyone about come common courtesy rules.

1) If it's after eight o'clock at night, you should refrain from playing any sort of musical instrument. You may think you're playing quietly, but I can guarantee that your neighbours will hear. And you may be surprised to know, but some people go to bed early because they have something called work in the morning. This rule should also apply to parties on weekdays and any other activities that produce loud and/or annoying sounds, and should be applied for a full twelve hours, until 8 o'clock the next morning.

2) Current company will always come before company on the phone. This includes friends, family, or the poor person behind the counter trying to take your order while you hold up one finger to indicate that you need a minute. If you must finish your conversation, please get out of line and allow everyone else to get on with their lives.

3) Rules are made for a reason, especially the rules of the road. If you cannot follow them, then get off the road. This includes drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. No cutting people off, no illegal U-turns, no driving down the right turn lane and budging in at the front of a very long line, no J-walking, no thinking that you're above the law.

4) Say please and thank you. I'm not sure what other parents taught their kids, but when I was growing up my parents would always remind me to say please and thank you. (The whole always saying sorry thing is just from being Canadian. Nothing to do with my parents) If you're still learning English, I have to say that you really don't have any excuse. Some of the only French words I know are please and thank you. If nothing else, I can be polite. In addition, if you don't know how to order in English, it's 'Can I please have..." not "Give me..."

You Know You May Be a Bookworm When...

I know I've done something like this before (I think...) But I'm reading a really good book right now and I just couldn't help myself.

1) You have to be awake by six o'clock the next morning for work, but you stay up until midnight because the last three chapters have just been so good.

2) When you finally put your book down, your heart is actually racing, as if you were the one that just fought the battle, or ran the race, or escaped death.

3) You consider your two hundred books to be a pathetic collection.

4) You're sizing up some space in your room for a third book shelf.

5) You know that a perfect looking book is not a loved book. It's the ones with the cracked spine, the worn away corners and maybe the odd crease, that have been carried around in bags and purses because the owner cannot bear to be away from it. It looks like it's been to Hell and back, because, if you're taking a trip to help, you might as well have a book, right?

6) You savor your book like an expensive piece of Swiss chocolate. Nibble at it here, bite it there, then finish it all in one go once it's half way done. And always regret that it's now over.

7) You always feel like you don't read fast enough, because your collection is always growing twice as fast as you're reading it.

8) You would rather read your book during breaks at work/school than socialize with the people around you.

9) While on a large shopping trip, you made the mistake of buying two massive hard cover books as the first things of your trip.

10) Sometimes you forget that the people in the books don't actually exists, and you start to wonder if they'll ever do a tour or something, when you could meet them and get their autograph.

The Paradise Review

Time for some Netflix reviews! I recently started, and finished, watching a show called The Paradise. It's been compared to Downton Abbey, but judging by the comments, it's better. I've never seen Downton Abbey, so I can't say whether I think that's true or not.

Anyway, it's a British show, set in the Victorian times. It follows the life of a young woman working in the first department store, called The Paradise. What I loved most about it was the costumes and props. Everything was so beautiful. Even the work uniforms, which were probably the most boring outfit in the show, were so much better than any work uniform these days. Then of course there are the accents. They all range from Scottish, to Irish, to British, and from all regions of Britain. I don't think there were more than two that were alike.

I can't say much about historical accuracy. As I said, I don't watch Downton Abbey, and I don't think I've seen any other shows set around this time period, so I don't have any references. However, everything seemed pretty accurate. The mannerisms and social standards are what most people would consider of the Victorian age, to that point that you just want to punch them in the face and tell them to relax.

The show only has one season, with eleven episodes (I think), so it's very short. I read that there is another season, just not on Netflix, then it was cancelled. Although I loved the show so far, I can't see it getting far. The plot has a good beginning, but I can tell that it would quickly peter out. I think their problem is that they crammed too much into the first season, so all the plot twists and exciting parts are already done. But still, I would say it's worth a watch! It ends before it can get boring (Though there are a few slow parts...)