Review: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

My Rating: E, P, B

Published: 2009
Publisher: Walker Books

Author's Website: cassandraclare.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Amid the chaos of war, the Shadowhunters must decide to fight with the vampires, werewolves and other Downworlders – or against them. Meanwhile, Jace and Clary have their own decision to make: should they pursue the love they know is forbidden?

City of Glass is the third instalment in The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. This is by far most my favourite book from the series so far. There’s clarity, love, action and surprising secrets are unveiled.

Throughout City of Glass we see Jace and Clary try to fight their taboo love but neither can accept that the other is there sibling. They can’t see how their love for one another can be wrong. Clary and Jace discover some family secrets when they return to Idris but what they find out does not bode well with Jace and he then becomes a very self-destructing character. Clary is getting used to her new found powers and in the end it is what helps save them.

There was a sense of foreboding throughout the book and I kept hoping that everything would be explained and that everything would work out the way I envisioned it in my head. It nearly all worked out how I thought it would however there were a lot of twists and turns in the plot. Some of them blew my mind and made me think I was stupid for missing the set up. I love it when a book does this, makes you think it’s going one way and totally does a u-turn. It keeps you guessing and I appreciate a book that makes my mind think. Even if I do get it wrong.

I had so many favourite moments in this book. I can’t possibly list them all and if I did I would end up telling you how everything happened and I don’t want to spoil the book for you. What I will tell you is that I loved all the new characters that were introduced in this book. I loved some and I hated some. There was a part in the book where I was especially sad and it nearly made me cry. I think it’s amazing how words can stir up so many emotions within the reader and this is exactly what Cassandra Clare achieved with me.

Overall, I have loved this series so far. All the loose ends, I think, were tied up nicely except one, but I hope this is revisited in City of Fallen Angels. I would highly recommend this series to anyone out there that likes stories that cover the majority of the supernatural world, this series has everything; faeries, demons, warlocks, angels, vampires, werewolves.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(13)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Borrowed from Library

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

The Killing Dance by Laurell K Hamilton

Won

Dark Goddess by Sarwart Chadda (Won from Wondrous Reads)

What did you guys get? Leave me a link below and I will check you out =)

Review: The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

My Rating: E, P, B

Published: 2010
Publisher: Walker Books

Author's Website: cassandraclare.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray arrives in England during the reign of Queen Victoria, something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Friendless and hunted, Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Drawing ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by – and torn between – two best friends and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

The Clockwork Angel is the first instalment in the Infernal Devices series, which is a prequel to the Mortal Instrument series, written by Cassandra Clare. This book has it all; a love triangle, betrayal, action, death and much more.

What can I say about this book that won’t make me sound like a raving fanatic? I absolutely adored this book. It works well as a standalone but I think it would be better if you read the Mortal Instrument series first and then read The Clockwork Angel. The attention to detail from the time era is absolutely amazing and a lot of research must have been put in before writing this book. I don’t know much about the Victorian ages but I really felt I was there with the characters.

I thought all the characters were absolutely amazing in their own unique way. Will reminded me a bit of Jace from the Mortal Instrument series what with their affliction for mundanes (humans) and their rude and abrupt behaviour. Jem was just adorable, I just love his name, everything else about his character is a bonus. Jessamine is the one that is probably most well off of the characters but she cares for nothing to do with being a Shadowhunter. Charlotte and Henry, I think, are a match made in heaven and balance on another out quite well. Tessa, now I think she is an amazing and head strong girl. She can handle the majority of situations as a confident young lady, anything she does say she says truthfully, even if it hurts. Tessa also doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do. I would list my favourite parts of the book but there are too many so it’s safe to say I enjoyed everything about it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has read the Mortal Instrument series and for those who haven’t I would say it’s well worth it. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the characters in the next book.

Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own money. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

My Rating: E, P, B

Published: 2008
Publisher: Walker Books

Author:s Website: cassandraclare.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

With her mother in a coma and her father hellbent on destroying the world, Clary Fray is dragged deeper into the New York City’s terrifying underworld of werewolves, demons and the mysterious Shadowhunters. Discovering the truth about her past was only the beginning. Now the fate of the world rests on Clary’s shoulders, but can she master he new-found powers and control her feelings for a boy who can never be hers?

City of Ashes is the second book in the Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare. I absolutely loved this book and I am falling in love with the series.

Clary is currently without the guidance of her mother due to her being in a coma. She can only turn to those who introduced her to the Shadowhunter world. They are now her family. Luke has always been a father figure and loved Clary like his own, he would do anything for her just like her brother, Jace. They have just recently discovered that they have a sibling in one another but it came at an inopportune time and has caused a lot of mixed feelings between Clary and Jace as they were on the verge of falling in love. Now they must put their feelings to one side and fight a tougher evil, their father.

I am really enjoying this series by Cassandra Clare and I am so happy with how the story is going. I knew from the previous book that the two main characters, Clary and Jace, would have some kind of hidden powers and I was proved right. The faeiries never lie.

I feel so bad for Clary and Jace because just when everything was starting to feel so right between them, they were torn apart by the knowledge that they are siblings. Instead of being disgusted by themselves, they have tried to ignore their feelings and Clary has tried to act normal and sister like but finds it very difficult. No matter how hard it is for her, she goes out of her way not to admit her feelings to Jace. Jace on the other hand is quite brass when it comes to his feelings for her, he knows she is his sister but at the same time he can’t stop feeling what he feels for her. I know they aren’t meant to be together because they are brother and sister but at the same time I am rooting for them because when I read City of Bones I could feel their love for one another and I was on their side then and for some reason I just can’t let it go either and hope it all works out and that there’s some mysterious and miraculous unveiling that it turns out they can be together because they aren’t related or something. There was something said in the book that makes me think it is possible for them to be together but at the same time I am dubious it will pan out that way. I will just have to wait and find out.

As for Simon and the rest of the minor characters. This book isn’t too great for them either. Simon meets evil head on and comes out the other side fighting but who’s side is he now on? Isabelle introduces us to the world of the faeries and what an exciting place it is. Alec has a secret that he is not yet willing to share with the rest of the characters and this hurts someone close to him although they don’t show it.

My favourite part of the book was when Clary used her newly found powers and blew something up. That was an amazing scene, so much was going on and you didn’t know what was going to happen next. That’s exactly how I feel about this series. There was a lot more depth to the characters in this book and watching them grow and make a lot of hard decisions was great. I can’t wait to read the rest of their journey in City of Glass. I would highly recommend this series to everyone of all ages.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have wrote is of my own honest opinion.

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

My Rating: E, P, B

Published: 2007
Publisher: Walker Books

Author's Website: cassandraclare.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

It’s after dark in New York City, and Clary Fray is seeing things. The best looking guy in the nightclub just stabbed a boy to death – but the victim has vanished into thin air. Her mother has disappeared, and a hideous monster is lurking in her apartment. With her life spiralling into darkness, Clary realizes that she has stumbles into an invisible war between ancient demonic forces and secretive Shadowhunters – a war in which she has a fateful role to play...

City of Bones is the first book in The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare. If you like daring plot twists, action, adventure and the supernatural. Then this is the book for you.

I was so happy that I picked up this book as I wasn’t entirely sure about reading this book as there was so much hype surrounding it but I can safely say that City of Bones did not disappoint.

The main character Clary lives with her mum in New York and has a relatively normal life as any teenager can have. It’s the summer holidays so Clary and Simon, her best friend, are at the local club when Clary is strangely drawn to some other teenagers and follows them. What she finds; doesn’t shock her even though it should and this is only the beginning and it doesn’t get much better. She finds herself knee deep in her own world but her eyes are finally opened. Clary now knows that the things that go bump in the night are real.

I really liked this book for several reasons. The characters are relatable even though I am not a teenager. The setting is realistic with a hint of fantasy thrown into the mix. Action is sufficient throughout the story but it’s not too gory or explicit. There’s a bit of a love triangle going on between Clary and two others and the triangle gets even messier as we learn more about Clary and secret, unknown past that even she doesn’t know about.

There is a major plot twist near the end of the book, even though I didn’t expect this when I set out reading this book, it was sort of predictable for me. I think this is because I watch way too much soaps and read a lot of different books. Eventually I was going to see a similar plot line in a book but it doesn’t reduce the quality of the storyline, it’s still fantastic. I can’t wait to see how Clary overcomes this obstacle in the next book. I think it will be quite hard for her to deal with.

The other main characters in this story are Jace, Alec and Isabelle. Jace, Alec and Isabelle grew up together and are quite close, like family even though Alec and Isabelle are the only ones that are blood related. They live with Hodge, who is their guardian and teacher. Clary soon learns that she needs to depend and trust these individuals as they may just save her life and may be the only link she has into finding her mum.

Overall, I loved this book and I can’t wait to read City of Ashes, which is the next book in the series. I am curious to find out why Clary has such a natural talent for something she hasn’t been trained for. Is it a fluke or is it truly natural talent? I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for these characters. I’m sure it will be a bumpy ride.


Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from my local library. I am not paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(8)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

This week from the library I got;

Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men.
Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.

When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they can often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid’s life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies, and she can’t get a decent date without sucking away part of the guy’s life. At least there’s her day job at a local bookstore – free books: all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can’t.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle’s demon underground. And for once, all her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won’t help because Georgina’s about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...

It’s after dark in New York City, and Clary Fray is seeing things. The best looking guy in the nightclub just stabbed a boy to death – but the victim has vanished into thin air. Her mother has disappeared, and a hideous monster is lurking in her apartment. With her life spiralling into darkness, Clary realizes that she has stumbles into an invisible war between ancient demonic forces and secretive Shadowhunters – a war in which she has a fateful role to play...

Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes to the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates. But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. The death of a popular schoolmate haunts her in unexpected ways. And strangest of all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing sudden interest in her.

Once an outcast, Schuyler is thrust into Manhattan’s most exclusive social circle. Its members are the powerful, the wealthy, and – as Schuyler soon discovers – the unhuman. They are Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires, and for centuries they’ve been invincible. Now something is preying on this elite group, and Schuyler wants to find out the truth. But is she the most vulnerable of them all?

The Lost Symbol was received courtesy of Transworld (Between the Lines) for review.

The capitol Building, Washington DC: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon believes he is here to give a lecture. He is wrong. Within minutes of his arrival, a shocking object is discovered. It is a gruesome invitation into an ancient world of hidden wisdom.

When Langdon’s mentor, Peter Solomon – prominent mason and philanthropist – is kidnapped, Langdon realizes that his only hope of saving his friend’s life is to accept his mysterious summons.

It is to take him on a breathless chase through Washington’s dark history. All that was familiar is changed into a shadowy, mythical world in which Masonic secrets and never-before-seen revelations seem to be leading him to a single impossible and inconceivable truth...