Waiting on Wednesday (74)

Waiting on Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly awaiting.

Lady Midnight
(The Dark Artifices #1)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Expected Publication Date: March 8, 2016

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Synopsis:

Los Angeles. It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.

Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim.

The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

My Thoughts: This is one of my pre-orders that is coming in and I have been anxiously awaiting it since it was announced in 2014.  I, seriously, LOVE the Shadowhunter world.  Cassandra Clare is the author whose books I own the most of (all in hardcover) and will continue to buy them until she stops writing them.  The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices series are in my top ten series list and I have no doubt that The Dark Artifices will be joining them soon.

Also, Shadowhunters the TV series makes me super happy.  I don't care if it isn't perfect (except Magnus, who is always perfect), I just like seeing the shadow world come to life.

Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: March 19th, 2013

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: YA/Paranormal/Romance

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Synopsis:

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

My Thoughts: The day this book arrived in the mail for me was one of the most exciting days ever! I have fallen so deeply in love with this series since I discovered it about a year ago. Since then I have devoured these books as well as The Mortal Instrument Books and I have adored every single page within. Cassandra Clare is the author to one of my most favorite series' and I just can't ever get enough.

I feel like I had to wait forever for Clockwork Princess to get here and luckily when it did arrive it was a busy time for me so I wasn't able to plow right through it like I usually would. So I did get to savor it a little bit before the heartache of not having any more in the series to read set in. Of course, that's where I am now, and the next Mortal Instrument Book isn't due for about another year. That's a painful thought.

So I am usually prepared to be emotional whilst reading these books. I've come to expect the cracks in my heart and emotional blows, but this book knocked me right off my feet. I cried so many times while reading this book. I can't believe how attached I've become to these characters. There is just no way you can read these books and not become hopelessly lost within and completely immersed with no sign of surfacing any time soon. And you won't want it any other way either. You won't want to be pulled away from this book. You will love every minute spent within their world.

I just can't find a single reason for anyone not to like these books.  I don't have a single negative word to say. This book was a phenomenal addition to the series. Finally getting the answers to Tessa's history and watching her face her truths and battle them was nothing short of amazing. Everything was wrapped up so nicely but even still I would do unspeakable things to  read more into the series.

I don't believe I will ever find a love triangle to rival the one between Tessa, Will and Jem. Never before has my heart been so torn and confused. I am definitely team Will, but that doesn't mean I don't also love Jem immensely.  I hope everyone loves the ending as much as I did. I can see why some might have found it catered to the fans a bit much to please everyone. But what's so wrong about everyone  finding what they were hoping to find? I thought it was perfect and  I wouldn't have changed a single thing.

If you are still on the fence about this series, or you are sitting there thinking about how you've been meaning to read this series and you should soon. Please just do it now. Do yourself the biggest favor ever and pick up these books! Just don't forget to bring some tissues ;).

Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess
Infernal Devices #3

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: March 19, 2013

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: Fantasy/Historical

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Synopsis:

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?

Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.

A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

My Thoughts: I love anything by Cassandra Clare and this series definitely did not disappoint.  It was chalk -full of all the Shadowhunter-y goodness that I love and it had Magnus Bane in it.  What's not to love?

Clockwork Princess picks up right where Clockwork Prince left off.  Tessa and Jem are planning their wedding (it starts off with Tessa's dress fitting) and Will is trying his best to pretend he is happy about it.  Unfortunately, Mortmain is still looking for Tessa in order to use her for his grand plans, even though no one knows why he wants her - other than to marry her.  So, it is the book where all things must come to their peak and tie up the series.

Clare always creates characters that I am just crazy about.  At first I was reluctant to pick up this series because I so loved the characters from The Mortal Instruments and worried that these characters would not be able to capture my attention as well and wholly.  I was completely wrong.  Everyone in the London Institute and in the book were amazingly written and I am just as attached to them as I am to the characters in TMI (the only exception being Jace, because I love him so).

The Clockwork Princess dragged me back into the world of the Shadowhunters and I barely put the book down.  It was full of highs and lows for the characters and everything they were feeling, I was feeling right along with them.  All of the loose-ends were tied up impeccably and there was really that feeling of finality when the story was complete that gave me the feeling of "all's well that ends well."

Unfortunately, the very ending was a bit too sweet for me.  When you have read the book/series (which I hope you will do, because it is excellent!) you may know what I am talking about.  The last chapter seemed a little out of place to me and a little too... happily ever after?  If that makes sense.  I normally like things like that, but in this case it was a little too much for me.  I would, however, definitely recommend this whole series along with anything else written by Cassandra Clare.

Teaser Tuesday (57)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by  MizB at Should Be Reading

To Participate you:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share two 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS

This week's teaser comes from:

Clockwork Princess

Author: Cassandra Clare

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Teaser:

Guilt and sorrow drove through her like a spear, and she arched backward, her hands scrabbling for purchase in the darkness. Fire ran through her veins, a thousand branching streams of agony

My Thoughts: Do I even need to say anything here? This series, as well as The Mortal Instruments is amazing! One of my favorites series' ever. I can never get enough of Cassandra Clare's work!

Review & Giveaway: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: May 8th, 2012

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Romance

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Synopsis:

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

My Thoughts: My love for this series is off the charts and this installment has done nothing to change that. In fact, it's made me love it even more, it helped me see characters I thought I already knew in a new light and it had me falling even more helplessly in love with Jace, who would have thought that was even possible?!

The Mortal Instruments is definitely one of the best YA series' out there. If you haven't picked up one of these books yet, you seriously need to change that, like...pronto. This book was kind of long for a YA book, but oddly enough it still wasn't nearly long enough. I find myself having this problem with each one of these books, I never ever ever want them to end. I read and read and I realized the page count is going down and I convince myself there is still lots left. But when I'm getting down to the last pages I start getting really upset. I've got attachment issues here, seriously. And of course, just like every other time it was over way too soon, and I was left broken hearted, distraught and ready to do any dark deed necessary to get my hands on the next book, which isn't due to come out till 2014. What  a long and tortuous wait does lay ahead of me.

This book did  a good job of leaving us hanging, non-stop. The whole story was one giant cliff hanger. I was never sure what the characters were going to do next, or what might happen next. I was flat out blown away by things that were said and done by characters I thought I knew. I feel like in this book we get to see a different light shed on just about everyone, and it was awesome, shocking and incredible. Cassandra Clare has created the most mind blowing cast of characters in this story and at this point I feel like they are real people that I have crazy strong emotional attachments to.

I've said before that Jace is one of my all time favorite male characters. And that hasn't changed, but throughout the story my feelings towards him were all over the map because he is essentially two versions of himself at once. But the real Jace and the one we all love always shines through and I can't help but be in adoration of all things Jace. I've always loved Magnus as well, but in this thanks to this book, I love him even more. I can't even say definitively what it was that made him that much more awesome to me, but by the end I was like whoa, Magnus is ever more incredible than I thought!  And then there's Simon and Isabelle, who I loved of course but was never overly crazy over. But again, this book showed me new sides to them and I felt my attachments to them grow stronger.

I will never be able to justify these books with a proper review. They are amazing, incredible, wonderful, mind blowing , out of this world wicked. They stand in league of their own. I literally look at these books and just ooze love for them. Thank you Cassandra Clare for sharing this exceptional story with us. Everyone, everywhere, read this series. If you have already, I'm sure you understand what I am trying to get at when I describe this books marvelous-ness, and I apologize for doing it such injustice with my measly words.

without a doubt, 

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

So, as fate would have it I happen to have two copies of this book and I want to give one away to you! And by fate I mean, my lovely husband brought it home for me when  was at the store and he recognized these "Mortal Instruments" words he's heard me say 1 million times. Of course though, I already owned it. But I guess that makes awesome news for you guys! I do have to make this giveaway Canadian only because I am paying for shipping myself, sorry all other out of country followers :(. So if you are from Canada please enter the copter below and one of you will receive a brand new hardcover copy of City of Lost Souls :D Weeee! I am so excited to be sharing this book!




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Teaser Tuesday (53)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by  MizB at Should Be Reading

To Participate you:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share two 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS

This week's teaser comes from:

City of Lost Souls

Author: Cassandra Clare

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Teaser:

Their faces were only inches from each other. She felt his hot breath against her lips before he kissed her, and she leaned into it, her eyes closing. His mouth was as soft as she remembered, his lips brushing hers gently, sending shivers all through her. She raised her arms to wind them around his neck, to slide her fingers under his curling dark hair, to lightly touch the bare skin at the nape of his neck, the edge of the worn collar of his shirt.

My Thoughts: This is one of my most favorite book series'. I can never get over how amazing these books are and they constantly leave me reeling. If you haven't started this series yet, get on it!!!!

Owl Recommend (18)

Owl Recommend is a feature at Owl Read It where we try to help you find your next great read :)

I love both of these books in large amounts. While they might not be a whole lot alike, they do carry the same kind of light vs dark atmosphere with amazingly well developed characters and a plot line that will leave you reeling. If you are into paranormal, I'm pretty positive you will love both of these :).

Review: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: April 5th, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: YA/Paranormal/Romance

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Synopsis:

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one. When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

My Thoughts: Book #4 and I am still so unbelievably in love with this series. I've heard rumors that this book was a little disappointing when compared to the rest of the series. But I did not find it to be so at all. As per usual, I was loving every single minute and gripping the book with a death grip of anxiety and hope and love.

When we left in the City of Glass, everything ended on a pretty good note. It was definitely rough ride getting there, but things ended on a high note I would say. I for one was so freaking excited For Clary and Jace. Finally, it looked like things didn't have to be so complicated for them, and they could just be together like they needed to be. Oh but I was so horribly wrong.  The suspense and intensity that Cassandra Clare always dishes out for us is never ending. What a false sense of security I was lead into. But hey, I am not complaining! The constant torment, and never ending battle of good versus evil, with the most surprising plot twists imaginable are all reasons why I love these books so much. Not to mention Jace is literally my favorite book boyfriend ever.

I thought it was a great installment to the series. Immensely captivating, I just devour these books, and they in turn devour me. I always get so caught up and emotionally attached. Trying to talk to me while I am in reading these books is almost a death sentence. Don't come between me and my Mortal Instruments haha. We got some brand new plot development with new foes, and unexpected old ones.We are continually strung along with the roller coaster ride that is Jace and Clary. We get to watch Clary immerse herself more and more into the life of becoming a shadow hunter. Also, lots of character development with Simon. I will admit I never liked Simon overly much. But he is beginning to grow on me and I would say this book has made me actually quite like him.

The characters we love so much are ever growing and constantly changing. Faced with new challenges and developments that never feel old or over done. Everything always feels fresh, new, exciting, scary, terrifying, and wonderful. I have to say I am at a huge conflict with the ending. I just can't believe what happened and that that is where we were left off. I don't yet own the next book in the series, but at this point I'd do just about anything to get my hands on it!

Waiting on Wednesday (48)

Waiting on Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly awaiting.

City of Heavenly Fire
(The Mortal Instruments #6)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Expected Publication Date: March 19, 2014

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Synopsis:

In Book 6: City of Heavenly Fire, Jace, Clary and their friends are drawn inexorably into a war that pits Heaven against Hell, angels against demons—a war that threatens to destroy our world entirely if the Shadowhunters can't end it first.

Okay, so not much out about it yet, but I know it is coming and that makes me crazy that I have to wait that long! I love, love, love The Mortal Instruments (Jace, anyone?)!  That is just a filler cover too, not the actual one.

 Luckily, I have the new Infernal Devices coming out between them and the Magnus Bane Chronicles. Oh, and the MOVIE!

***

What are you waiting on?

Review: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Glass

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: March 24th, 2009

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Romance

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Synopsis:

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

My Thoughts: This series just continues to get better and better with each installment.  You probably already know how much I loved the other books based on my previous reviews. So my undying love for this book should come as no surprise.

In this book, pretty much all previous conflict comes to a head and the drama and suspense that I enjoy so much in this series is increased twofold at least. I don't want to tell you what comes to a head because I don't want to tell you which pieces of the puzzle come together. If you've read the series you know there is so much going on at all times. We're always torn by multiple conflicts at once. And I freaking love it. But in  City of Glass we get to see a lot of those things work themselves out, and we get a lot of answers to our questions that have been putting our anxiety through the roof.

I almost make reading these books sound painful haha. But the fact is, there just aren't many books out there that make me feel as intensely as these ones do. Every emotion is brought to it's breaking point and usually sits there for a while taunting us before it ultimately crashes and subsides only to start all over. There I go again making it sound painful. While reading these books might be a little painful, because of what I said above, but they are also extremely enjoyable, incredible, captivating, mesmerizing, and much more.

For me, this book was intensely fulfilling as my largest quandary finally met it's end. I closed this book and I immediately went to the store and bought the next in the series as I only owned the first 3. I was really lucky they even had it, because there isn't much of a selection in my town for books =p.  The nearest book store to me is about an hours drive. How terrible a fate is that? Hence, why I usually buy my books online. Also, it helps me sucker my husband into buying me books every time we do venture into the big city haha :). So anyway, you will be seeing a review for City of Fallen Angels soon!

If you haven't started this series yet, I strongly recommend you get on it, post haste. There are few that I would rank along side these books. They stand in a league of their own. Cassandra has created a series that will have people falling in love for years and years to come, I'm sure!

Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: March 25th, 2008

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: YA/Paranormal/Romance

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Synopsis:

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father. To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

My Thoughts: Yes, I agree. It took me way to long to read this book after reading City of Bones: review here. I finished City of Bones just before moving to our new house and after we moved I just kept ending up with other books in my hands. But here I am finally posting a review for the sequel. And  I won't make the same mistake again, City of Glass will be following soon.

If I thought City of Bones had me on the edge of my seat chewing my fingernails like mad, then this book had be laying on the floor fingerless. Yes I just said that, yes I am that lame. If you like drama in your books, then this  series is definitely for you. I am just overwhelmed with the overflowing amount of drama and character conflict and suspenseful plot and shocking developments. I read through this book pretty quickly, I always had to literally force myself to put it down. I spent about to days with this book in front of my face 70% of the time at least. I was up late every night wide awake because I just could not stop. There is no stopping point in these books. There is never a single moment where you're like, yeah this looks like a good point to take a break. Nope, every page and chapter is filled with intense excitement, mass amount of angst and emotion and heart breaking events.

Seriously, this is a series you need to pick up. As soon as you can. Cassandra Clare is an amazingly talented writer and every book I've read by her so far has been so captivating and phenomenal. I find myself giving lots of praise to lots of books lately. I guess there are just so many great ones out there. I will probably never get to read them all, which is a sad thought indeed. I look forward to my own retirement where the reading will never end. Seriously.

Another sad thought is that I own City of Glass but I have yet to purchase the rest of the series. That is something I am going to have to do very soon. Or I will roll over and die of anticipation and anxiety from needing to know what happens next.

Jace is pretty much one of my favorite characters from a story ever. I don't even know how to describe it. I just freaking love him. I've always got this feeling in my stomach when I'm reading about him. He is one of the best male characters of all time in my opinion. I can't think of another male character that carries half the emotional capacity and strength and determination that he does. He's amazing to say the least. I'd like to see you read these books and not just fall in love with him. And the tension and chemistry between him and Clary. My goodness, if my heart doesn't explode because it's beating so hard before I finish this series, I'll be incredibly surprised.

And just like my last review for this series, I've told you pretty much nothing about the plot line. I really don't want to. I don't want to give a single thing away, so you can experience it all for yourself. So you can see for yourself how incredibly hard it is to close the book and put it down. See if you can't keep the story and characters out of your head for five minutes. This series will take you over, and you will love it haha.

Teaser Tuesday (33)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by  MizB at Should be Reading 

To Participate you:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share two 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS

-Share the Title and Author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR if the like your  teaser 

This week's teaser comes from:

City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare

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Teaser:

"His wings were the color of an oil slick: black threaded with a rainbow of dizzying colors. The man looked away from him, as if the wings displeased him, but Elias didn't seem to notice. He began circling the pentagram he'd drawn, circling it counter-clockwise and chanting in a demon language that sounded like the crackle of flames."

So it's only taken me over a month to move on to book #2. I've been wanting to read it so bad, but you know, other books pop up and you find them in your hand haha. Anyway, I am so incredibly excited to be back into this series. I loved City of Bones so much! Hope you like the teaser :).

Owl Recommend (6)

Owl Recommend is a feature at Owl Read It where we try to help you find your next great read.

I really enjoyed both of these! I have a huge love of historical settings. I know, I know, love triangles.. these ones are done well though!!