Fandoms Assemble - August 2013
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2
THOSE BUSY WORKING BEES
Eleanor (@prongsandthedoe)
Head of Magazine/Executive Editor
With help from Emily (@TwerkingKlaine) as our grammarian, Charlie (@Pottercrux) as our film reviewer. This
edition also includes works from Ellen (@blazingwright) who modelled and created the nails for the nail art
feature, Kirsty (@dumbled0res) who wrote the fandom wars feature, Lisa (@LisaHafey) who wrote the feature
about Jo’s new book and Sarah (@HGrangerSays) who wrote the twitter rules feature.
@fandomsmagazine
Fandomsassemblemagazine.tumblr.com
Get in touch with us
Facebook.com/FandomsAssemble
Rae (@mishasbooty)
Head of Online/Managing Editor
Emilie (@Holy_Hippogriff)
Interviewer
Juve (@PerseaJackson)
Quiz Master
Beth (@InsanelyMagical)
Fashionista
Saffy (@potterandevans)
Book Reviewer
Em (@voldemoriarty)
Book/Film Updater
Ellie (@jamesandlilys)
Book Reviewer
Imi (@saltysummerday)
Music Updater
2 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
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July has been hot month down here in England
(something we’re not used to), but how many of you
got a tan? Thought not. Oh well, who needs a tan
when you have the internet, am I right? Last month
you may have got tumblr; this month it is twitter’s
turn! But don’t worry, pg 13 is filled with all the rules
you need to know. And with everyone spending so
much more time on twitter, a lot more ’fandom wars’
have sprung up. ’Fandom wars? What are fandom
wars?’ I hear you cry. But do not fret! Pg 14 and 15 is
dedicated to fandom wars: the ups, the downs, and
the inbetweens. Or, you might have spent your
summer so far reading and maybe found a book/
series you couldn’t get through. Well, you are not
alone, as on pg 36 we have all your tweets and
opinions of books you couldn’t get through. Plus, if
you are looking for a new book, we have a pg 37 all
about Jo’s new book! If you’re looking for new
fandom ways to decorate your nails for the rest of
the summer, head over to pg 10 for a step-by-step
guide on how to create each look. Have fun and
don’t forget to take part in the survey and message
us your opinions!
This month has again been a hectic one. Luckily, school is
over now for 6 weeks and we can finally get back to fangirl/
boying. Our tumblr has had a brand new theme, thanks to our
amazing worker - Imi, and I have to say it looks great! We
have also put in a navigation page, so when you click on a
Fandom on the right hand side, you have the option of
selecting updates, fanfiction, fanart, graphics or even other
sites for that fandom. If you have any questions to ask us, then
click on our ask box, but make sure you check out the FAQ.
We love hearing from you; what you think about us, any
recommendations for us, or just to discuss Fandoms. We have
also put up the option for you to submit things onto our
tumblr. Since we can't stay online 24/7, we sometimes miss
updates, so if you submit any for us you feel need sharing,
then we will post it. As well as that, you can submit things for
the magazine; we are always looking for fanart, confessions,
or just general ideas. Finally, we are making an official
website, which should hopefully be completed soon.
Head of online
Editor
A NOTE FROM THE
HEADS
FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 3
Our star worker for July’s
edition is Juve
(@PerseaJackson) for
always sending her work
on time and to a high
standard.
4
CONTENTS
6. Most Reblogged
7. Recommended
Blogs
8. Interview—
@DanosaurArmy
12. Quiz
16. Confessions
20. Fandom
Humour
24. Fashion
26. How To Celebrate
28. Fandom
Updates
29. Music Updates
30. Upcoming Films
KATE AND WILLS
JO’S NEW BOOK
37
38
COMIC CON
22
4 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
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31. Upcoming Books
32. Music Review
33. Film Review
34. Book Review
35. To Read Next
36. Books We’ve
Abandoned
40. Celebrity
Birthdays
41. Tweets of the
Month
44. One Shot
46. Gifts
48.
14 FANDOM WARS
CORY MONTEITH
18
VS
10 NAILED IT
TWITTER RULES
13
FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 5
6
7
8
DanosaurArmy is a twitter
account run by Roisin Shaw
dedicated to the popular
Y o u T u b e r s D a n
(danisnotonfire) and Phil
(AmazingPhil). In it’s 7 month
existence the account has
gained over 13,000 followers
and with the growing
popularity of the Phandom
there is little doubt that the
account’s success will
continue.
When did you first hear about Dan
and Phil and begin to watch their
videos?
I first started watching Dan and
Phil 2 years ago. The first video
I watched was “Psycho French
Teacher”, then “Amazing Dan”.
Why did you decide to dedicate a
Twitter account to the Phandom?
I didn’t actually know you could
have a proper “fan” account of a
YouTuber on Twitter like there
could be for singers and bands
and things until November last
year when I saw a Belieber
account who was also a half-
Phandom account. I’d been
watching Dan and Phil for just
over a year at this point and I
adored them so, yeah, I made
some weird account with a
banana for an icon as you do.
Are you a fan of many other
YouTubers?
A LOT of YouTubers. A. LOT.
Do you have a favourite Twitter
account dedicated to the Phandom
or a particular YouTuber?
@ G u c c i h a r r y f e e l s ,
@ c h r 1 s k e n d a l l ,
@ C h l o e E m e r s o n 2 ,
@ l u v m e i n f i n a t e l y ,
@ D a n s P h i l l i o n ,
@ H e y I t s P o p ,
@ p l a c e n t a j u i c e ,
@ m a d d i _ f a c e e ,
@ k i c k t h e n i c k i ,
@ d a n s l l a m a s ,
Interview: @DanosaurArmy
8 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
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you prefer a more intimate feel to
the fandom?
There are a lot of views on this
question. I am very glad that
Dan and Phil are so successful
and that they have many
supportive fans, but the online
fanbase can be a bit
overwhelming at times and lots
of people I know
have actually left
because they
received hate or
they just couldn't
deal with all the
arguments going
on every other
day.
Do you watch/listen
to Phil and Dan’s
radio show?
Every week, unless
there is a serious
reason for why I
can’t, for example,
the world ending
of my head
exploding or
something.
Have you ever
h a d a n y
i n t e r a c t i o n
with Dan or
Phil, whether on Twitter or face to
face?
Phil tweeted me twice (one was
a direct tweet with a photo),
Dan’s tweeted me once, I’ve
received a personal video from
them both, Phil’s talked about
me on YouNow last year, I’m
getting a birthday card from
them and I hope to meet them
at some point in my life, even
though I would end up crying
on them both.
Summer in the City is later this
month, have you been or do you
plan on going? Have you been to
any other YouTube gatherings?
No, none. I live on an island
called Jersey, between England
and France, so I would have to
pay for plane tickets and hotel
rooms etc. to go to a YouTube
gathering in London or
wherever they’re being held.
But I am determined to got to
SitC 2014.
This magazine is called Fandoms
Assemble; are you a member of
any other Fandoms?
I am a member of a lot of
fandoms. You just sort of get
sucked into them against your
own will and there’s no
escaping from them, it’s life
destroying. Non-internet people
d o n ’ t
understand the
sheer pain of
being in a
fandom, it’s not
a laughing
matter. I don't
tend to go
through all the
fandom-names;
I’d rather sum it
up with bands
and YouTube. If
you start a
c o n v er s at i o n
with me on the
t o p i c o f
Y o u T u b e r s ,
MCR, BMTH, PTV or OM&M
then we are most likely to
become friends.
Any fandom related events you're
looking forward to?
I am unbelievably excited for
“Day In The Life Of Phil And
Dan: London Edition”, “Phil Is
Not On Fire 5” and SitC, even
though I’m not going myself.
FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 9
Favourite member of the Phandom or Foursome?
Favourite members of the Foursome are
Amazing Phil, danisnotonfire, crabstickz and
kickthepj… oh wait.
Favourite video?
All their videos are equally brilliant. Dan and Phil’s most
recent Tumblr tag videos were absolutely hilarious
though.
Favourite YouTuber outside the Phandom?
There’s quite a lot. I’m subscribed to around 300+ people,
as you can guess I don’t have a social life.
Favourite collaboration video?
Every single video that Dan and Phil are
both in are my favourite videos. I love
“How To Speak Internet”, “The Pushover”,
“Spin The Bottle”.
10
NAILED IT Fandoms at your fingertips—literally!
POTTER
1) Add a layer of white nail
polish, then let it dry.
2) I choose to use a smaller
pencil to paint the black scar
with; it’s easier.
1) Add a layer of white nail polish.
2) This can be hard, but be patient!
3) You would have to use a smaller pencil for
this and it can also be really hard so do be
patient.
ED SHEERAN
1) Add a layer of blue nail polish, then let it dry.
2) Add the red triangle (which is his scarf) with
red nail polish, and here I also used a smaller
pencil because it’s easier, but you can of course
use the normal one.
3) Then add the brown lines on both sides of
the nail, which is his jacket.
MERLIN ONE DIRECTION
1) Add a layer of red nail polish.
2) This can be hard to paint, but
if you’re careful it will be good. I
used a smaller pencil for this but
a toothpick can also work,
however, the result will not be as
good as it would be if you use a
smaller pencil.
10 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
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GAME OF THRONES
1) Add a layer of black nail polish and let it dry.
2) I used a sponge but you can also use a makeup sponge. This can be a little bit tricky
but in the end it always looks good!
3) You may have to use a smaller pencil here; the pencil from the nail polish being too
big. If you don’t have a smaller pencil you can try to use a normal one.
4) Add some black lines, the mouth and eyes. Let it dry and add a top coat.
1) Add a layer of gold nail polish.
2) I used a normal nail polish pencil for this.
3) Add his eyes, mouth and the black stripe around the red with a smaller pencil.
4) To do his white eyes, I used a toothpick. Add a top coat, then you’re done.
IRON MAN
FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 11
DISNEY
1) Add a layer of nail polish.
2) To make the Mickey Mouse heads you will have to use something that can make big
dots. I used a pen for this.
3) The first head is always the hardest.
4) Then, add Mickey Mouse heads wherever you feel like it. Add a top, then you’re
12
JAN: I went to war with…
FEB: I married….
MARCH: I rode in the TARDIS with….
APRIL: I performed on stage with…
MAY: I became besties with…
JUNE: I started a band with…
JULY: I was asked out by….
AUG: I saved the world with…
SEPT: I ran around butt naked with…
OCT: I ventured off into the unknown with…
NOV: I reigned as King/Queen of Narnia
with…
DEC: I kidnapped...
1: Dan and Phil
2: Lord Voldemort
3: Simon Lewis
4: Annabeth Chase
5: Sherlock Holmes
6: Jack Frost
7: Ed Sheeran
8: Hayley Williams
9: Thor
10: Katniss Everdeen
11: The Doctor
12: Elena Gilbert
13: Taylor Swift
14: Tris Prior
15: Imagine Dragons
16: Arthur Pendragon
17: Frodo Baggins
18: Sheldon Cooper
19: Alec Lightwood
20: *the person you last followed*
21: Ian O’Shea
22: Jacob Black
23: Amelia Pond
24: Percy Jackson
25: Santa Claus
26: Emma Swan
27: Dean Winchester
28: Sansa Stark
29: Augustus Waters
30: Captain Kirk
31: Harry Potter
RED: To protect fictional characters from
authors.
ORANGE: Because I can, so I did.
YELLOW: Because I wanted the world to be
a better place.
GREEN: And held them hostage.
BLUE: And people started shipping us.
PURPLE: Because my sass is endearing.
WHITE: And we had 3 children.
BLACK: Before being killed by the feels.
OTHER: And we defeated the odds.
NO SHIRT: Because I am so asdfghjkl;
12 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
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DO’S AND DON’TS OF
The fandom side of Twitter can be a bit
intimidating at first, so here’s a guide
on navigating the social side of things.
DO:
Start conversations with as many people as possible.
Be respectful of others’ opinions.
Try not to ignore replies.
Take note of the unique language (ex. using
“sobbing” to mean laughing) and try using it.
DON’T:
Repeatedly ask for a follow-back.
Purposely insult or offend someone.
Copy other people’s tweets.
Subtweet (tweeting about a specific person/people
without mentioning them by name).
FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 13
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FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 15
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I think Klaus and Caroline should be together.
I ship Trevor and Neville. I don’t see what’s wrong with shipping actors.
16 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
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Everyone loves Supernatural but I find it overrated.
I’m worried I’m not a ‘true’ potterhead.
I will always love the Doctor and
Rose but I cannot see him
marrying anyone other than River.
They are perfect
for each other.
FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 17
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On Saturday the 13th, fans of beloved glee star Cory Monteith heard the news of
Cory's passing. Almost immediately, on social networking sites came the flood of
posts and tweets about Cory, what he had done for fans, how proud they were,
and most of all RIPs.
It was amazing to see how many people Cory had touched with his goofy, bubbly
personality, and the support other fandoms had for Gleeks during that hard day,
with the trend of '#AllFandomsHereToSupportGleeks' which stood strong on the
worldwide trends for hours. Hundreds of fan pages were made on facebook
dedicated to him.
Mark Salling (Noah Puckerman) was seen to have tweeted 'no' in response to
the news, but later deleted it and replaced it with an emotional message of,
"going through a million memories and emotions today. ill love you always
Brother Cory."
Lea Michele, Cory’s on and off set girlfriend was ‘inconsolable’ but ‘deeply
grateful for all the love and support she’s received from family, friends, and fans’.
From the hearts of everyone working for Fandoms Assemble we send prayers
and love to every fan of Cory, to the cast of glee, to Lea and Cory's family, and we
hope they get through this tough time. We can only imagine how they feel.
The tall, awkard, Canadian, actor, drummer, person will always stay in our
hearts.
“Earth lost a person, Gleeks lost a legend, Lea lost her world, but heaven gained
an angel.“
GONE, BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
18 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
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We at Fandoms Assemble mourned his loss greatly.
Many of us were Gleeks. Although Cory is gone he
will never, ever be forgotten. RIP Cory Monteith. FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 19
20
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FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 21
22
2003
Kate and William’s Royal Romance To celebrate the birth of Prince George Alexander Louis, we
have put together a timeline of his parents’ life together.
“He’s a big boy, quite heavy, We’re still working on a name. Well he
has a good pair of lungs on him, that’s for sure. I will remind him of
his tardiness when he is older. He’s got her looks thankfully.”
—Prince William when the trio left the hospital.
22 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
2001
In September of
2001 William and
Kate meet at St.
A n d r e w s
University in
Scotland where
they are both
studying art
history.
2010
On November
16th William and
K a t e ’ s
engagement is
announced. The
prince proposed
to Kate while on a
private holiday
the Kenya the
previous month.
At Christmas the pair
reportedly became a
couple after sharing a
house together with
two friends. In March
they are pictured
together on a skiing
h o l i d a y i n
Switzerland.
23
FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 23
2012 The palace
announces that
Kate is pregnant
and being treated
in the hospital for
acute morning
sickness on
December 3rd.
Kate is discharged
from the hospital
after three nights,
telling reporters
she is feeling
“much better”. The
palace later
announces that the
baby is due in July.
2011 On April 29th
the pair wed in a
lavish ceremony
at London’s
W e s t m i n s t e r
Abby. William is
made the Duke
of Cambridge by
his grandmother,
Queen Elizabeth
II, and Kate
becomes the
Duchess of
Cambridge.
2013 It is confirmed on
June 19th that
Kate is confirmed
to give birth at the
private Lindo
Wing of St. Mary’s
Hospital in
Paddington in
central London,
where Princess
Diana gave birth
to William and
Prince Harry. It is
reported Kate is
hoping for a
natural birth.
2013 On the 22nd of July
Kate gives birth to
a baby boy,
weighing 8
pounds, 6 ounces,
with William by
her side. The next
day the couple
take their baby
h o m e t o
Kensington Palace.
2013
Royal officials say
on the 24th of
July the new baby
has been named
George Alexander
Louis.
24
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Calling all The Mortal Instruments fans. We want you to have the
best time possible when preparing for the City of Bones movie so
this is for you. If you aren’t a fan and haven’t read these books,
READ THEM. It is worth it. Okay, you want to get the most out of
this movie as possible , so there’s a lot out there for you to do. If you
have Shadowhunter friends, go with them to a premiere r midnight
screening. And don’t forget to dress like a Shadowhunter. Wear
black and rune up. If you have no Shadowhunter friend, never fear!
Just drag some friends along and if you aren’t up for cosplaying
alone many TMI t-shirts are available at hottopic.com. But if you
STILL can’t wait until the time comes for you to indulge yourself
with Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower on the big screen,
make sure to pick up the official merch! An official quote booklet
and Photo Postcard booklet are now available! Not forgetting the
Page to Screen books. Until the time comes for the glamour to be
released, have fun in the mundane world! Don’t forget to practice
those runes!
WAYS TO CELEBRATE FOR… The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
26 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
27
Grab your ballpoint pens, get your friends and let's go on a quest!
The event we have all been waiting for has arrived. Finally getting
the movie they deserved, demigods arund the world are
celebrating the release of Percy Jackson: sea of monsters! So get
your blue cakes in the oven, put on your orange camp half-blood
shirts and head to the nearest cinema on August 7th! In the sea of
monsters, there lies the long-awaited adventure, we can do this
demigods!
FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 27
One Direction: This Is Us The time has come: the release of One Direction’s new movie is
nearly upon us. Listen to their music on repeat—X-Factor, Up All
Night and Take Me Home. Or if you want to see the boys’ faces
watch old videos like their X-Factor diaries, their commercials or
behind the scenes videos. Maybe get together with a few of your
Directioner friends, and blast out your favourite songs whilst
singing and dancing around. You could do impressions, or act out
their music videos. You could also sit on tumblr all night long and
reblog photos, GIFs, videos etc. of them. Or get creative, and make
flyers and go ask people if they know who One Direction are, and if
people plan on watching the film. Make new friends! Or new
enemies! Have fun.
Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
28
FANDOM UPDATES What is happening in the fandom world right now
HARRY POTTER Rupert Grint is going to be showing
his acting skills on stage, as it has
been confirmed he will be in a
production named Mojo. Mojo is
described as a dark comedy that takes
place at a Soho nightclub during the late 1950’s. Grint will play
Sweets, a pill-popping associate of a murdered nightclub owner.
The play will be directed by Ian Rickson, who tells us the reason
b e h i n d R u p e r t ‘ s c a s t i n g :
I’d seen the Potter films with my daughter and always thought
Rupert was truthful as Ron Weasley. There’s something ordinary
and centred about him, and in this world of Mojo you want that
grittiness.
DOCTOR WHO
Moffat has presented the script
of the scenes that they used for
the 12th Doctor auditions.
Scene 1 takes place in the
TARDIS. The new Doctor is checking out the new body. Clara is
watching. It’s been a few minutes; they’re both still adjusting.
Scene 2 takes place on a space ship bridge. The Doctor is facing
down the Cyberleader, who stares balefully down from the
screen. The bridge around the Doctor is burning, ruined.
Scene 3 features the Doctor and a little boy. They’re sitting in the
little boy’s bedroom. The boy tells the Doctor when the lights out
his room changes, when he touches the wall, they’re all wet like
a mouth.
Moffat has clearly stated that none of these scenes will
specifically be used.
SUPERNATURAL Supernatural stars
Jared Padalecki and
his wife Genevieve
are expecting their
second baby. They
had their first son,
Thomas, back in
March last year.
28 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
THE HUNGER
GAMES After the Catching
Fire trailer, a still of
Finnick offering one
of his beloved sugar
cubes was released.
29
FANDOMS ASSEMBLE 29
30
Books in August
Of August
Vampire
Diaries -
Season 4
£19.99
26/08/13
Hannibal
–Season 1
£19.99
02/09/13
The Great
Gatsby,
£11.99
27/08/13
The World’s End The final addition to the Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz trilogy! 23/08/13
Sea of Monsters Percy and his friends embark on another quest, to save their home. Based on the book. 7/08/13
Kick-Ass 2 After Kick-Ass’ spurs on the nation, a new gang of heroes team up and fight evil. 14/08/13
City of Bones Clary falls into a strange world whilst visiting a club and her life changes. Based on the book. 21/08/13
This Is Us (1D) An all-access pass to the British pop s e n s a t i o n O n e Direction live in concert. 29/08/13
Movies
30 FANDOMS ASSEMBLE
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Books in August
Ellegy (Watersong Series #4)
By Amanda Hocking August 6th
An ancient curse robbed Gemma
Fisher of everything that matters
most—her friends, her family and
the guy she loves. In a frightful
world of dark magic and savage
beauty, two sisters are about to
discover that love is the most
powerful weapon of all. Don’t miss
the mesmerising final chapter of the
amazing Watersong series!
Origin (Lux #4)
By Jennifer L. Armentrout August 27th
Katy is gone. Taken. Everything
becomes about finding her. Taking
out anyone who stands in his way?
Done. Burning down the whole world
to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien
race to the world? With pleasure. But
the most dangerous foe has been
there all along, and when the truths
are exposed and the lies come
crumbling down, nothing is safe.
In This Moment is about 2 teenagers, Aimee Spencer and Cole Everly, who find an unlikely comfort within eachother. In this honest and absorbing story, Aimee and Cole struggle to sort out the thin spaces between loss and love. Ultimately, they will need to learn how to navigate through the pieces of the past if they want to hold on to the future and each other.
In This Moment
By Autumn Doughton August 12th A princess from birth, Elizabeth fell in love with Richard III, though her mother made an arranged betrothal for her with the pretender to the throne: Henry Tudor. When Henry defeats Richard against all odds, Elizabeth has to marry the man who murdered her lover in battle, and create a new royal family with him and his ambitious mother. Now a major TV show on BBC 1.
The White Princess (The Cousins’ War #5)
By Philippa Gregory August 1st
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this novel can be described from dystopian to fantasy to romance! In this daring sequel to DEFIANCE, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight against everything they know.
Deception (Defiance #2)
By CJ. Redwine August 27th
On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.
Untold (The Lynburn Legacy #2)
By Sarah Rees Brennan August 29th
Movies
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For the rest of the review, visit here.
The Hunger Games is the film adaption of the 2008 book of the same
name written by Suzanne Collins. It stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss
Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth as
Gale Hawthorne.
Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth both acted well in the film,
despite Hemsworth not having that many scenes. However, Josh
Hutcherson’s performance was lacking, and was easily eclipsed by other
actors with smaller roles. Joining the three, are veteran actors Stanley
Tucci and Woody Harrelson, as well as a small role for Lenny Kravitz,
(who played my favourite character).
Before reaching the arena where the Hunger Games takes place, there is
a lot of sitting around and listening to conversations as the audience are
fed information about what’s happening, and what the process to
prepare for the Games is like. However, once Katniss steps on her pad to
be raised into the arena, the film picks up, and becomes more interesting.
This isn’t that surprising, and this is what saves the film for me. I was
disappointed that, as I mention earlier, the need to accommodate board
classification guidelines meant that a main theme in The Hunger
Games—death—was so pacified. Lionsgate were forced to cut out blood
splashes and other ‘gore’ to achieve a rating the film needed. This was
one of the things that made the film less immersive.
Another was the CGI. The Mutts looked absolutely horrendous, and were
a joke when you consider that the budget for this film was an estimated
$78 million. Surely they could have put a bit more time into the models,
as they’re involved with one of the closing scenes, and frankly made all of
the suspense evaporate.
One more gripe is the direction from Gary Ross, which was good albeit
nothing special, until he decided that the one thing this film needed was
shaky cam.
Back to the good parts though, and there is a well-told story that makes
you feel for the characters, some more than others, but at least you do
feel for the few, instead of none of them. There are several points in the
film were it does feel suspenseful and you realise that Katniss is in
danger, and you don’t know how she’ll get out of it (unless you read the
books). Unfortunately, the film doesn’t delve as deep into the books in
terms of subplots, and more complex themes—but that’s what happens
when a book is adapted to the big screen.
In summary, The Hunger Games will be more enjoyable for you if you’re a
big fan of the books, and less so if you have read them casually. If you’ve
not read them, then this film will be a fun watch, although you may
forget about it afterwards.
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Masque of the Red Death By Bethany Griffin
Bethany Griffin's chilling debut novel, Masque of the Red Death, is a book that I was lucky to read. I was obviously first attracted to it by its cover, followed by its premise that talks of a gothic setting, a plague apocalypse, and a Debauchery club… need I say more?
As far as steampunk novels go, this is easily a favourite. I absolutely loved the atmosphere throughout the story. Bethany Griffin is able to portray a very lavish, dark, extravagant feeling in her gothic adaptation. The ruined city, the dangers in the streets, the masks, the disease; it's dark and it's dreary, with intricate details that had me truly envisioning this world in disrepair, full of mortality. The ever-present danger of
this easily contracted death is palpable. It gave me shivers and made me cringe.
Griffin clearly did not falter in her world building. Its unwavering sombre ambiance constantly propels us in a dying world so different from our own, yet frighteningly, not inconceivable.
Seventeen-year-old Araby Worth lives in a world devastated by plague, where the rich wear air-filtering masks and the poor are left to battle with the deadly Weeping Sickness which silently storms the streets. Haunted by the death of her twin brother Finn, she and her friend April spend their nights attending opulent club parties, trying to lose themselves in pleasure so they can forget the what's going on around them. In this atmosphere of dissipation and discontent, she meets the reckless Elliott, the nephew of the mad Prince Prospero who controls the city, and Will, a boy who works at the Debauchery Club who is desperately trying to take care of his little brother and
sister. Through her association with them, she is shaken out of her numb acceptance of the world she lives in, and learns that she just might hold the key to saving countless lives.
I would not consider this a very fast paced book. Nevertheless, the literary style kept me completely mesmerized by the vastly detailed world and likeable characters. The writing is noticeably elegant; the beautiful flow creates an experience where a fast pace is not necessary to enjoy its execution. But I still wouldn't have minded digging a little deeper inside the fundamental plot line instead of only getting twists (albeit fascinating) that lead to a big foreshadowing of what's to come. Also, the book did not delve deep enough into Araby's thoughts and feelings throughout and, especially with a love triangle; this definitely reduced its credibility.
OVERALL
RATING:
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SO YOU’VE READ ‘MASQUE OF THE
RED DEATH’ BY BETHANY GRIFFIN
AND ENJOYED IT? WHAT NEXT?
Something Strange and
Deadly—Susan Dennard.
The year is 1876, and there’s
something strange and deadly
loose in Philadelphia… Eleanor Fitt
has a lot to worry about. Her
brother has gone missing, her
family has fallen on hard times, and
her mother is determined to marry
her off to any rich young man who
walks by. But this is nothing
compared to what she’s just read in
t h e n e w s p a p e r .
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a
zombie delivers a letter to
Eleanor…from her brother.
H e m l o c k — K a t h l e e n
Peacock.
Mackenzie Dobson's life has been
turned upside down since she
vowed to hunt her best friend
Amy's killer: a white werewolf.
Lupine syndrome—also known as
the werewolf virus—is on the rise
across the country, and bloodlust is
not easy to control. But it soon
becomes clear that dangerous
secrets are lurking in the shadows
of Hemlock, Mac's hometown—and
she is thrown into a maelstrom of
violence and betrayal that puts her
in grave danger.
Chosen Ones — Tiffany
Truitt.
Life is bleak but uncomplicated for
sixteen-year-old Tess, living in a not-
too-distant future where the
government, faced with humanity's
extinction, created the Chosen Ones,
artificial beings who are
e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y b e a u t i f u l ,
unbelievably strong, and unabashedly
deadly. When Tess begins work at
Templeton, a Chosen Ones training
facility, she meets James, and the
attraction is immediate in its
intensity, overwhelming in its danger.
But there is more to Templeton than
Tess ever knew.
Darkness Before Dawn—
J.A. London
We built the wall to keep them out,
to keep us safe. But it also makes us
prisoners, trapped in what's left of
our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.
After the death of my parents, it's
up to me—as the newest delegate
for humanity—to bargain with our
vampire overlord. I thought I was
ready. I thought I knew everything
there was to know about the
monsters. Then again, nothing
could have prepared me for Lord
Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not
all vampires are killers. Maybe it's
safe to let one in.
For Darkness Shows the
Stars—Diana Peterfreund
Elliot North has always known her
place in this world. Four years ago she
refused to run away with her
childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai,
choosing duty to her family's estate
over love. Since then the world has
changed: a new class of Post-
Reductionists is jumpstarting the
wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is
foundering, forcing her to rent land to
the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of
shipbuilders that includes an almost
unrecognizable Kai. And while she
wonders if this could be their second
chance, Kai seems determined to show
her exactly what she gave up when she
let him go.
Silver—Talia Vance
Brianna has always felt invisible.
People stare right past her,
including the one boy she can't
resist, Blake Williams. But
everything changes at a house party
where her charm bracelet slips off
and time stands still. In that one
moment, Blake not only sees her, he
recognizes something deep inside
her she's been hiding even from
herself. Discovering she is
descended from Danu, the
legendary Bandia of Celtic myth,
Brianna finds herself questioning
who she is. And when she
accidentally binds her soul to Blake,
their mutual attraction becomes
undeniable.
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BOOKS WE HAVE ABANDONED
Almost all of us have experienced the feeling of simply not being able to go on with
a book and have to give in and slip it back onto the shelf and try to ignore the weird
guilty feeling you get... like the book was a puppy you abandoned on the streets.
This has only happened to me a few times, although I normally end up returning to
them again and loving them (this happened with The Host and boy, do I love that
book now). Sometimes it's because I don't like the writing itself or I find myself just
reading but not becoming invested in the characters, and just do not care what
happens to them. So I stop.
To help my guilt of abandoning a series (Matched was one) or book (The Casual
Vacancy) I took to twitter and asked some of you what books you left unfinished
and why.
@Hedwigsbro: "Lord of the Rings, the story took too much time to develop."
@LunaPottergood: "It [Twilight] was very cheesy and I couldn't really love the
characters at all. Bella was so indecisive and may I say weak. :)"
@DNLL_: "Twilight. I couldn't get past the uninspiring lead female and the unhealthy
obsession between her and the lead male."
@Itssoufflegirl: "I couldn't get through the first [Uglies] book at all."
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The Cuckoo’s Calling JK Rowling has written a new book—not under her name, but using a pseudonym!
“The Cuckoo’s Calling”, by Robert Galbraith,
was released in April this year. It received
some really great reviews, but didn't sell
very well. The story follows the story of
Cormoran Strike, a former soldier working as
a private investigator, although he is not
doing terribly well as one. His relationship
has broken up, and he’s living in his office.
Strike is hired by the brother of a supermodel
to investigate her supposed suicide from
falling to her death a few months previously.
the writer’s motive
Rowling wanted to test to see if an unkown
author could get a book published. She said
she would have liked her identity to have
stayed secret for a while longer, and said,
“Being Robert Galbraith has been such a
liberating experience… It has been wonderful
to publish without hype and expectation and
pure pleasure to get feedback under a
different name.”
She sent the manuscript out anonymously,
and was declined by at least one publishing
house. In the end it was picked up by Sphere
Books, part of Little, Brown and Company,
who had published her adult novel, “The
Casual Vacancy”.
what went wrong
The secret, sadly, wasn’t to remain that way
for long. Law firm, Russells, with whom she
had entrusted her true identity as the author,
leaked the news and soon it was everywhere.
First editions of the book, which had sold
originally for £16.99, are now selling for
over £600. Rowling was reportedly very
angry about the leak. One of the partners of
Russells, Chris Gossage, told his wife’s best
friend, Judith Callegari, that Robert Galbraith
was really the Harry Potter author. Ms
Callegari tweeted her identity to a Sunday
Times journalist on 9th July. JK Rowling
responded with the following statement:
“I feel very angry that my trust turned out to
be misplaced. To say that I am disappointed
is an understatement.
“A tiny number of people knew my pseudonym
and it has not been pleasant to wonder for
days how a woman whom I had never heard of
prior to Sunday night could have found out
something that many of my oldest friends did
not know.”
Russell’s solicitors have apologised
unreservedly.
a happy ending? There’s some good news about all this. JK had
signed a few copies as Robert Galbraith, and
has since signed one of those under her real
name as well. This is being auctioned for
charity on eBay. First editions signed by
Galbraith are selling upwards of £1000, so
this doubly-signed book should therefore do
quite well!
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Love Me? You Love Me?
The sun was gently setting over Camelot; however, inside the castle activity was not
so gentle. Last minute preparations were becoming hastier and hastier as the servants
realised how close the wedding really was: the next day. The king's manservant
dodged between decorations, food and other nimble servants as he carried his
master’s dinner to his chamber. When he entered, he found Arthur deep in thought.
"Are you alright, sire?" Merlin asked. The atmosphere in the room worried Merlin; it
was eerily silent compared to the bustling hallways outside, similar to the eye of a
storm: the worst was yet to come.
"Yes, yes," the king dismissed the other man's concerns with a wave of his hand. "I
was simply thinking about Guinevere and our future together."
At that sentence, Merlin's heart skipped a beat, but not in a good way. How could he
have been so stupid? Of course, of course Arthur would not have changed his mind.
Not so close to the wedding. Gwen loved Arthur, and evidently vice versa. Merlin did
not have a chance, not one in a million. So then why was it slowly corroding away at
him and his will to live until there was nothing left? It was selfish and there was no
chance; Merlin would only become heartbroken and…Countless other reasons against
the notion crossed Merlin's mind. There was one for the notion, however, just the one:
Arthur might feel the same way. It was that one thought, that one simple thought that
spurred on the hope inside Merlin. He had to at least try, he reasoned with himself.
Otherwise he would never forgive himself.
"Is this what you want, Arthur? Are you really happy?" Merlin's attempt at disrupting
the sombre silence with what he thought were nonchalant questions was ignored by
the other man in the room.
That was until Arthur responded in a confused manner. "What else would I want,
Merlin?"
Silence began to fall like dust once more, but the king refused to let it hit the ground.
"Why do you even care?" Arthur penetrated the silence that caressed the ground
gently, ignoring Merlin and becoming even more agitated, shifting from foot to foot.
"Why, Merlin?" Arthur questioned once more.
At this point, he had stood up and was staring Merlin directly in the eye.
"Because I love you."
By Anon A Merthur one shot
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Merlin's mouth was no longer his when he muttered those words partially
unwillingly. Only partially because, well, Merlin had always wanted to admit that his
feelings for Arthur were stronger than friendship, he just never had the courage to.
Now was the moment of truth.
"Love me? You love me?"
"Yes! I do!"
"Why then, Merlin, have you been so stupid and never mentioned it before?
And why did you choose the night before my wedding to tell me?"
Merlin did not reply, could not reply, as all of his worst fears had come true: Arthur
did not feel the same way and he hated him. Tears stung in the corners of Merlin's
eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
A drop splashed onto Merlin's cheek. His weakness poured out of him in the form of
tears for his whole world to see; stupid, stupid tears. Tears that were not meant to
fall; tears that did anyway. Those seemingly innocent droplets of water made sure
Merlin looked the part of being weak by giving him red, puffy eyes and a running
nose. Their numbers greatened but not yet so they blinded Merlin. No, that was to
come later.
"Merlin," Arthur's voice was quiet and sombre, similar to the room when Merlin first
entered it, "how am I meant to tell the kingdom that I cannot go through with the
wedding because I love another? See what you've done now!"
"W-What?" Merlin raised his head from where it was resting towards the floor and
stared up at Arthur. Arthur grabbed his arms and pulled them closer together until
their foreheads were touching and they getting lost in each other’s eyes.
"I love you," Arthur spoke, trying and failing to wipe away the tears that were now
freely falling down Merlin's face, but being distracted by his own. "Why? Why?"
Arthur muttered over and over again, his voice shaking with the tears. Yet still both
men cried; their silent sobbing [was] being interrupted by Arthur's constant whys.
That is when Merlin decided to tell him the truth. He opened his mouth to speak, but
this time no words came out. Where could he begin? Instead he decided to show
Arthur.
If you were listening carefully through the hurricane of whys emitting from Arthur,
you would have heard a gentle "I'm sorry." So quiet it could have been passed off as
the wind, but nevertheless it was there. If you were watching carefully through
the waterfall of tears, you would have seen the raven-haired boy's eyes turn from
their usual colour to a glistening gold. That was the moment everything changed in
Camelot.
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Bronze Pegasus earrings. HeroicHeartsDesigns. £13.62
FAN
DO
M G
IFT
S
Trident cookie stamp.
Totalum. £8.14
Annabeth’s Camp Half-Blood beaded necklace woodspriteanon. £23.83
Sea of Monsters pillow case. Sleepcase. £11.91
35
Camp Half-Blood T-Shirt.
Thingsofyourfancy. £11.57
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Charm bracelet. Murals4U. £8.84
Charm bracelet.
Tess Richardson.
£11.56
Hermes’ Shoes necklace. otterlydesign. £15.97
Hand stamped cuff.
alwaysgreener.
£13.62
Camp Jupiter shirt.
Thingsofyourfancy. £8.17
Luke’s winged shoes. ShoeShinezToo. £8.17
35
Iphone 5 case. TheElliottsCloset. £6.80
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Samantha (@merwholock456)
FANART
Celine (@5secsofceline)
Wa
yn
e (
@d
um
ble
do
rcru
x)
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R
ach
el
(@w
orl
dm
ee
tsg
irl)
Megan (@ihatemcr)
FANART
Emma (@emmajradford)
Ce
line
(@5
secso
fcelin
e)
Beth(@BAMansfield)
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