The Lovely Bones MOVIE TALK

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This movie was released in 2003 and I'm only just watching so I'm a little late for the train but... I was 2 when it first came out so I have legitimate reason.
This book, The Lovely Bones, is okay. And the movie was okay. It won't ever be on my list of favourite books but it's not my least favourite story in the world. Interestingly, my issues with the movie were the exact same issues I had with the book so I can safely say it was at least a faithful and accurate adaptation.
This movie had a load of great actors in it but was generally average. The best part was probably the very beginning and the very end but the main middle chunk felt like it had a lot of filler and unnecessary scenes.
The Lovely Bones follows Susie, a young girl murdered at 14 years old. It shows her journey in the in-between of earth and heaven and how her family cope with her death.

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I cried at the beginning of this movie. Just like I did with the book. Watching such a young girl get murdered and seeing her family find out the news was heart-breaking. It's difficult to watch parents find out their child is gone and it gets me every time.

Forever Fictional's Second Birthday!!!!

Another year has gone by and it's been a great one! A lot has happened over the past year and I'm gonna go over my personal highlights and favourite posts! Thanks to everyone who follows, comments and supports my blog!!!
(Links to each post are on subheadings)

Mystery Blogger Award
I was nominated for this award not once but twice and I appreciated each nomination so much!! I did two different posts answering questions and it was a lot of fun to complete.

Forever Fictional #Rebranding 
Maybe the biggest change for my blog during this past year was that I changed the name! Fictional Fetish became Forever Fictional and I'm so glad I followed through with the change despite my anxieties. It took a long time to change everything in terms of other social media and all the links within posts but I managed to complete the transition and I'm so happy with it.

Bookish Pick up Lines
This was one of my favourite posts to write because I love books and I love puns... it was a match made in heaven. I had a lot of fun creating it.

Iron Man 2 MOVIE TALK

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There are varying opinions on the second Iron Man but I really enjoyed it. The villains may've been a bit poor but the story was still enjoyable and a lot of fun. It had the same brilliant humour and an underline of romance which instantly earns brownie points to me because I'm a sucker for a romance.
Robert Downey Jnr. plays Tony Stark as if he's made for the role like always and we also had the addition of Black Widow which was super cool because I love watching bad-ass female characters.

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I loved the beginning with the Stark Expo and Tony taking full advantage of his superhero fame. I find it so entertaining to watch because no other superhero does this! They're all too perfect and selfless which makes it so beautifully refreshing to watch Tony make the most of his popularity.
We had the court room conversation which wasn't my favourite scene but it was still great because... Tony Stark was in it. He's so charming, cocky and hilarious that I can't help but love him.
We find out that his arc reactor is poisoning himself and... I was never really worried that it'd hurt him. There wasn't high stakes and resolving it all was pretty quick and minor. With the help of Jarvis, Tony created a new element and... that was the end of that. I will say that I do quite like all the graphics that Tony uses when he's doing sciencey stuff. Considering this movie was made in 2010, the cool holograms are transfixing to watch.

What's A Girl Gotta Do?- Holly Bourne BOOK TALK

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Holly Bourne is one of my favourite contemporary writers and this book was a great example as to why that is. What's a Girl Gotta Do? is part of the Spinster Clubs series. I've previously read Am I Normal Yet? and I loved it so had to move onto this one too. This series follows the same characters but focuses on different protagonists and separate stories.
This book was always going to steal my heart because it's predominantly about feminism and it's a subject that I'm extremely passionate about. Holly Bourne is such a great ambassador for this cause and writes about it so well! There was real sense of girl power throughout the story and I felt really empowered when reading it. It was a lot of fun and I'd recommend it for everyone.

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I didn't fully get into the book until Lottie stood up to those van guys and maybe even got them fired. I felt so empowered through that whole section and, even though I'd never be able to do it myself, I was super proud.
I also liked the link of philosophy that threaded through the story. I'm really jealous that she studies philosophy because I wish I could've done a course on it and Holly Bourne uses it to make an interesting connection with Lottie's decisions in what to do. I really appreciated the fact that Lottie is the same age as me and goes to college- our lives are in such a similar position and the feminism empowerment and strength really inspires me.

Iron Man MOVIE TALK

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I've never really been a super hero fan. Sure, I've watched the Toby McGuire Spiderman trilogy years and years ago but.... that's it. I have no idea what the difference between DC and Marvel is and yes, I agree that it's shameful. So, I recently decided to give myself a superhero education and me and my brother have now shred through all movies superhero.
Iron Man was the only movie we had so we sat down and watched.
And, man, did I enjoy it! It was so clever, exciting, action-packed and, most importantly, funny. I was instantly gripped by the characters and the plot and, if all superhero movies are like this, I can safely say I'm going to love them.
Now that I've watched all Marvel movies, I can say that Iron Man remains my favourite and it will always have a special place in my heart for being what got me into the MCU.

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I love Tony Stark as a protagonist (and I love how perfect Robert Downey Jnr is for this part). He was hilarious, smart and unapologetically cocky. I love that he didn't get his powers through experiments or getting injected with something- he invented his suit and superpower. I'm a sucker for a genius and Tony is just the man for the job. I also love how honest he is- it seems like every superhero hides their true identity but Tony.... fully admits how awesome he is. It's unique and nicely defies superhero conventions.

Most Anticipated 2018 Releases

2018 is going to be an amazing year because there are so many great releases lined up over the course of the year. I'm going to break down my most anticipated releases into books, TV, movies and more...
This is a mega long post because there's just so many great things in store for 2018!!!

BOOKS
A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOTAR #3.5)- Sarah J. Maas
This was obviously going to be my most anticipated book for the year. This is the first in a few spin-off books following the characters from the ACOTAR series. This book is set after ACOWAR and I'm so excited to see all the backlash of what happened and how my favourite ever characters are coping.

The Prophecy (Titans #4)- Jennifer L. Armentrout
This is the finale of the Titan series by one of my favourite authors in the entire world. The Titan series is a spin-off from the Covenant series and they are all absolutely fantastic. The story is gripping, the characters sassy as much as they are kick-ass and the prose is hilarious! These books are so entertaining to read and I'm super sad this is the end of this world.

Restore Me (Shatter Me #4)- Tahereh Mafi
Shatter Me was only supposed to be a trilogy so I'm thanking my lucky stars that another instalment has been announced for 2018. I love Juliette, Warner and Kenji and am so pumped to see them again in this next book. I don't know much about what the next book's about but I've read a teaser and it's hilarious so I have very high expectations. I think Restore Me is actually the first in a spin-off trilogy following these characters (similar to what Sarah J. Maas is doing with the ACOTAR trilogy) and all I say is; the more the merrier.

Best Books of 2017

I don't feel like I read too many books this year but there are still a selection of my favourites. When I looked back over the books I reads this year, I'm quite disappointed with how little new books there were. I'm not a stranger to re-reading books but I found it really hard to comprise this list because there weren't actually that many new reads that really wowed me....  but hopefully next year will be better.

Sidenote: the books in the following list weren't necessarily released in 2017 but were read by me for the first time this year.

A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3)- Sarah J. Maas
These books may not be in order but this would definitely be at the top of any list. While ACOMAF still maintains my favourite, this instalment was an epic finale and, with Sarah, you can't expect anything less than perfection. I love the characters in this series with all my heart and am so happy we're getting another spin-off trilogy with them in because I was not ready to say goodbye.
A Court of Wings and Ruin Book Talk


The Struggle (Titan #3)- Jennifer L. Armentrout
I read this in the early months of the year but I can still remember how much I loved it. Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my all-time favourite authors and this series gives me life every year. The Titan series is a spin-off of the Covenant series and they have a really big place in my heart. All of JLA's books are fantastic and this one is no exception. I can't wait for the final book in this series to come out next year.... although I'm nervous because I don't want anyone to die.
The Struggle Book Talk

Winter and Christmas Fandom Haul 2017

PRE-CHRISTMAS (aka. things I bought myself).

Ravenclaw Magnet
My parents got me this which was amazing because Ravenclaw merch is always the hardest house to find!!

Can you tell that I became obsessed with Marvel movies recently? And, in case you're wondering, Iron Man/Tony Stark is by far my favourite Marvel superhero... I love him too much for words. Movie Talks will be coming soon as well as fandom edits!!!!

Captain America: The First Avenger
The Incredible Hulk 
Avengers Assemble 
Thor: The Dark World
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Avengers: Age of Ultron 
Ant-Man
Captain America: Civil War 

December Christmas Book Haul 2017

Christmas came and went and books were collected. I don't get too many books for Christmas because all of my family try to avoid getting me books because everyone thinks that everyone else will get me them...

What's A Girl Gotta Do?- Holly Bourne
How Hard Can Love Be?- Holly Bourne 
These are the second two books in Holly Bourne's Spinster series. The first book, Am I Normal Yet?, was very good and has got me really excited for the rest of the series. Holly Bourne is one of my favourite contemporary authors- my favourite book of hers being, Soulmates, which reduces me to tears every time I read it. I'm particularly looking forward to What's A Girl Gotta Do? because it focuses on Feminism and that's just my sort of topic to sink my teeth into. 

December Wrap Up 2017

With a stroke of luck, I managed to reach my reading goal for 2017! I aimed for 75 books and read exactly 75!! I think I'll lower it to 50 next year because I'm a lot busier than I used to be with college and work and, of course, my writing. I don't have as much time to read but next year, I want to focus on reading new releases more, rather than just re-reading (which I did a lot of this year).

Undone- Cat Clarke (Re-read)
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After banging on about it constantly, I finally re-read it! I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first billion times and I love picking up the tiny details that I missed before. This story has a special place in my heart and it's weird that soon I'll be older than the protagonist when I've spent so many years looking up to her...



Secrets for the Mad- dodie
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I don't have a massive love for Youtuber books on principle but I made an exception this once because I love dodie. I listen to her songs religiously and she spreads such an important message about mental health and other topics. This book did feel a little dense at times but it was still an enlightening read and, might add, very freaking beautiful!

Poison Study- Maria V. Snyder BOOK TALK

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I went in with high expectations and, suffice it to say, they were sufficiently met. It took a little while to get into but once I reached the 100 page mark, I was off like a shot and finished the rest in a day. I loved the unique concept (why hasn't anyone ever thought about a food taster character before?) and it set up a great world for the rest of the series to further explore.
I would compare it to Throne of Glass because the protagonists are very similar in regards to their situation and the world is full of magic, royalty and intrigue.
Poison Study follows Yelena, a girl convicted of murder who takes up the offer of becoming the Commander's food taster- testing every meal for poison. It was either that or be executed. Yelena is thrust into the politics of royalty, betrayal and hidden agendas, all while risking her life every time she takes a bite.

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Yelena is a great protagonist. She reminded me a bit of Celaena Sardothian from the Throne of Glass series (Sarah J. Maas) because she was in a prison for murder, is given a way out of her execution and has ties to magic. Yelena was smart, fierce and had a nice determination to succeed and learn how to fight. There was a generous amount of character development and I liked how we progressively learnt about and dealt with her past with Reyad and Brazell.

Book Adventures with Kaitlin!

Yes, I'm holding a Sarah J. Maas book... because you wouldn't expect any less of me. 

Like the book geeks we are, me and Kaitlin (Liber Amoris) went book shopping! What a strange and unusual thing for two book bloggers to do, I know! And, of course, we had to document it because we're desperate for content and it'll be nice to look back at these kind of things when we're older... plus, it's fun.

First stop was the book shops (obviously). We went into the Works where I picked up the Poison Study series that I'm actually currently reading (they were too beautiful to say no to!) and Kaitlin picked up Wordplay. We then went to WHSmith and had a great time waiting for a deserted aisle to take photos and trying to balance my phone precariously on bookshelves and putting a timer on it to take a picture. (Important note: remember to turn your phone on silent so it doesn't beep really loudly in the middle of a quiet shop and make both subjects jump like hell.)

Gifted MOVIE TALK

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I was in a huge Chris Evans kick after watching many Captain America movies as well as the Avengers and I stumbled on a load of interviews on Youtube with him and co-star Mckenna Grace on this movie. I looked into it, watched the trailer, watched interviews with the two of them.... and here I am.
I've watched this movie twice now and my sentiments are exactly the same:
I loved this movie. It was so full of heart and made me cry on multiple occasions. It had a nice amount of humour dipped in that kept it light and funny. And I have to say, the acting in this movie was phenomenal. Chris Evans did an amazing job in his role and the leads had great chemistry but the actress playing Mary, Mckenna Grace, was flawless and the best part of this movie. Despite only being a child, she outshone every other actor and it was stunning to watch how perfectly she performed her role. (Also, in real life, she's just as eloquent and adorable. I've watched many interviews with her and she's so sweet and mature for her age. Plus, she played a young Caroline Forbes in The Vampire Diaries series 6 which immediately earns her bonus points on my scale. I can't wait to see where her career goes next).
Gifted is about a girl called Mary who is extremely talented and is a mathematical prodigy. It follows the struggle between being a kid and facing the pressures of her talent. It focuses on her uncle, Frank, who takes care of her but quickly struggles with custody issues. This movie is so heart-warming and I would definitely recommend it.
Ps. All the following edits in this review have been created by me and please don't use them without credit x

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The one thing that really allowed this movie to shine was the chemistry between Frank and Mary. Both actors did a brilliant job and the bond between these two characters was a pleasure to watch. It drove the entire movie, the plot, the emotion, and made it truly special.
They were also great as separate characters.

The Joy of Christmas BOOK TAG

Yes, yes, I must be really struggling for content as I'm doing yet another tag. I just thought it'd be nice to do some more Xmas tags on the run up to Christmas and they allow me to mention books I may not usually praise as much.
Plus, I'm struggling for content....

1. Anticipation: The Christmas excitement is real, what book release are you most anticipating?
A Court of Frost and Starlight- Sarah J. Maas
I don't think this is particularly a surprise. The ACOTAR series is my ultimate favourite and I cannot physically wait for the spin-off books to come out. This instalment is set a little while after ACOWAR and, while Sarah says it will be a novella, I'm betting it will end up as a full length novel (we all know what happened with Tower of Dawn). But no matter how long it is, I will treasure each and every page because these books have the best ever characters and plot points!



2. Christmas Songs & Carols: What book or author can you not help but sing it's praises?
The Morganville Vampires series- Rachel Caine
I don't feel like I talk about these books enough. Yes, it's a daunting series with 15 books and a novella but I can safely say it's worth it. The plot is so fun and the characters are hilarious and simply amazing. The good thing about having such a long series is that the relationships become so complex and intricate and the character development is so rewarding. It's not your typical cheesy-vampire books and I definitely need a re-read of this series.

Game of Thrones 4x01 'Two Swords' TV TALK

I'm so happy to be on season four!!! This show is seriously addictive and I know as I finish all the seasons, I'm going to dive straight into the books (I don't want to read them at the same time as watching the show because I don't want to get too confused).
This show is extremely popular and it deserves all the hype it gets because it's genius, the characters are great and the plot is one giant surprise.

TV TALKS:
Season 1:  1x01  |  1x02  |  1x03  |  1x04  |  1x05  |  1x06  |  1x07  |  1x08  |  1x09  |  1x10
Season 2:  2x01  |  2x02  |  2x03  |  2x04  |  2x05  |  2x06  |  2x07  |  2x08  |  2x09  |  2x10
Season 3:  3x01  |  3x02  |  3x03  |  3x04  |  3x05  |  3x06  |  3x07  |  3x08  |  3x09  |  3x10

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Jon Snow has a hearing in this episode and he tells the commanders of the Night Watch about the wildling plans and they let him off with no punishment despite the crimes against the Night's Watch he'd committed.

Jurassic World MOVIE TALK

75% (movie rating)

It took me way too long to watch this movie, especially as it has Chris Pratt in it. And, honestly, I loved it. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting but in the best way possible. For some reason, I had odd low expectations and now I'm just so ready for the sequel to come out next year. 

The effects were amazing and watching the dinosaurs was just so satisfying and exciting. The acting was great and the plot progressed nicely with a satisfying end. It was a lovely twist on the original Jurassic Park and I would definitely recommend giving it a watch.

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I really loved the set up of this world. Seeing the amusement park in it's entirety was stunning and, if it was real, I would definitely end up visiting a theme park full of dinosaurs. We got to see some of the rides within the park and it looks so amazing. If our technology advanced enough, it would definitely happen in real life (despite the unnecessary extremes of health and safety nowadays).

All I Want for Christmas BOOK TAG

We're nearing the festive season, I'm struggling for blog post idea so..... a tag!!! I saw this tag over at Stephanie's Book Reviews so I'll link that if you want to check it out.
And, we begin...

1. What fictional character do you want Santa to leave under your Christmas tree?
Katy Swartz (The Lux series- Jennifer L. Armentrout)
I feel like Katy being thrown into my life would be perfect. She's the ultimate bookish fangirl, even to the point of having her own blog, and she's funny, sassy and strong as well. I think we'd get along really well and it'd be nice to have her keep me company.

2. What character do you want to kiss under the mistletoe?
Rhysand (ACOTAR series- Sarah J. Maas)
It will always be Rhys. No question.

3. You write your Christmas list for Santa, what are the top 5 books on it?
Heartless- Marissa Meyer
Stalking Jack the Ripper-Kerri Maniscalo
Till Death- Jennifer L. Armentrout
Warcross- Marie Lu
Scythe- Neal Shusterman

Westworld 1x06 'The Adversary' TV TALK

This show is getting better episode by episode. I was on the edge of my seat through the whole thing and may have been shouting at the TV screen- full fangirl style. This show is expanding so much and the characters are developing at an outstanding rate. It's so enthralling to watch and things are really beginning to build up for the end of the season.

TV TALKS

Season 1: 1x01  |  1x02  |  1x03  |  1x04  |  1x05

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Let's start with Maeve because she owned this episode! Her actions in this showed exactly why she's my favourite character.
She begins back at Westworld and consciously gets a newcomer to kill her so that she can wake herself up in the modern world. She resumes her conversation with Felix and gets him to show her around the tech complex. It was amazing to watch her discover everything about the hosts and to realise that everything she does is controlled.

Writing Diary #14 - Nanowrimo Winner!!!

I complete Nanowrimo!!! With my final word count coming to 50,524 words!!

The first half went really well but it got harder and harder from the half way point. Nevertheless, I managed to finish my novel and, as a whole, I'm really happy with it. Doing this prequel novella of my current work in progress has been so insightful as I've delved into a certain character's past and it's helping plan and plot for the future.

I'm really happy I participated in Nanowrimo even though it took a lot out of me. It got very draining and it got to a point where I'd dread writing every day. But it did push me to finish this novella and I'm pleased with how it's turned out. Currently, I don't think I'd do Nanowrimo again but... by next year I'll probably be raring to go at it again. Typical.

December Releases and TBR 2017

Releases
Love, Life and the Lists- Katie West 
The Young Queens- Kendare Blake 
Instructions for a Secondhand Heart- Tamsyn Murray
Shadow Girl- Liana Liu 
Ever the Brave- Erin Summerill
Three Sides of a Heart Anthology- Renee Ahdieh, Sabaa Tahir, Veronica Roth and more!!!
Foolish Hearts- Emma Mills 



TBR
Secrets for the Mad- dodie (Book of the Month)
After buying this as soon as it came out last month, me and Kaitlin (Liber Amoris) have decided to make it our December Book of the Month!! I love Dodie Clark as a Youtuber and am really excited to start this book.