Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 Trailer

I think this is a great series and I have been very happy with what I have seen so far and cannot wait to see this movie.

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Sherlock: Series 1 (BBC One)

For those of you who don’t know me my name is Sandy and I can be found on both my book blog and art blog. I am a fan of deviantart where I watch several talented artists for updates on their latest work; one artist in particular is Alice X. Zhang whose digital paintings are always filled with a vibrant combination of colours and wonderfully expressive brush strokes. A recent popular subject of Alice’s artwork is the BBC television crime drama Sherlock which I had never heard of before Alice started creating paintings of the show’s characters and recommending them in her Artist's Descriptions.

Portrait of Benedict Cumberbatch
as Sherlock by Alice X. Zhang

I’ve always been interested in Sherlock Holmes though I’ve never read the novels and of course already being a fan of the BBC I decided to check it out. Now mind you the show was released last year (2010) and I don’t have BBC One on my cable nor was I able to purchase the digital copies from Amazon so I of course resorted to unscrupulous methods of online TV watching and watched the whole season in two days. I regret nothing.

Described as a miniseries, season 1 of Sherlock is a modern day retelling comprised of 3 - 90 minute long episodes titled A Study in Pink, The Blind Banker, and The Great Game. Now after knowing how popular the show was I was surprised that season 1 was only three episodes long and that the fans had been waiting for season 2 for over a year but after watching the first episode I understand now why it's so popular and after watching the final episode I am happy I don’t have to wait long for the new season.

This show is not only brilliant and funny, but filled with great characters and is wonderfully written. Steven Moffat became a favourite of mine from Doctor Who and in Sherlock his genius continues to shine through fast paced storylines filled with twists and turns. Benedict Cumberbatch smoothly plays the most parts perceptive genius and some parts ignorant and childish Sherlock Holmes and playing his partner in crime solving and flat mate Dr. John Watson is Martin Freeman who I became a quick fan of in episode 1 or am I fan of John who is both pragmatic and adventure loving? Who knows, either way I love the scenes where Sherlock gets on John’s nerves and is completely oblivious to why John would be upset to finding a severed head in the refrigerator or being called across London to have his phone borrowed. I really do enjoy watching them both as well as the side characters who also add to the show with their excellent acting and of course Andrew Scott's Moriarty who is downright creepy.

Sherlock is a show restored for the current century and it is done refreshingly well, and if you haven’t seen the show yet then you should because you are most certainly missing out on great television.

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Book Series: The Morganville Vampires

The Morganville Vampires

By Rachel Caine

The Morganville Vampires series is great in its own ways and even better in other ways. This series so far has had its own fascinating and creepy turns; you will never truly know what’s around the next corner until it jumps out at you.

The books never give anything away, they are always exciting but never go over board with the excitement, if it is possible I would say that this series is so well written you never miss a beat or become confused by what’s going on.

Unreleased

Last Breath Release Date: November 1st 2011
Black Dawn Release Date (tentative): May 2012

Click on the book covers to be taken to each book's information page on the book series' website.

Note: Black Dawn currently has no information page on the book series' website.

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Author Hightlight: Cinda Williams Chima

Cinda Williams Chima is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers, the first book I read by her was The Warrior Heir and that was an amazing book, in fact, it was downright fantastic. I loved it so much that I quickly went through the whole Heir Chronicles. Each book is fast pace and intriguing and they will pull you in until the end. While reading them I felt as if my whole life had become the world of the series and I would suggest that anyone who can get their hands on the first book to get it now.

I have also started reading the Seven Realms Series and at first thought that maybe it would not be as good as the Heir Chronicles but it is just as great. And these series at times may seem the same but are completely different, they both keep you on your feet and her writing is different, it is compelling, fast pace and everything you would expected from a fantastic, fantasy author.

I must tell you Ms. Chima, thank-you for these books. I can’t even come up with the words to say how much they mean to me. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next.

The Heir Chronicles


Unreleased
Titles (tentative):The Sorcerer Heir and The Enchanter Heir
Release Dates: Unknown

The Seven Realms Series


Unreleased
Title: The Crimson Crown
Released Year: 2012

Click on the book covers and links to be taken to each book's information page on the author's website.

Cinda Williams Chima began writing romance novels in middle school, which were frequently confiscated by her English teacher. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling Heir series of young adult fantasy novels. A graduate of the University of Akron and Case Western Reserve.

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