Sunday, April 24, 2011

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Fallen Angels
Author: Cassandra Clare
Rating: 5
Cover rating: 4
Description: City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.
Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.
 
I really think I could sum up this review in one sentence:
 
Jace is perfect.
 
But, I will expand...a bit.
 
I'm not a big fan of spoiler reviews and I really don't want to give anything away. So, here goes.
 
Jace Wayland-Herondale-Lightwood is perfect. I love him, he's amazing in every way. He makes me laugh and smile pretty much every time he is mentioned. Beyond him, I think this is my favorite novel in the Mortal Instruments series. It is beautiful written and crafted. I was hooked throughout the novel. When I was forced to put it down I couldn't stop thinking about it. I wanted to go back and continue with the characters. I also gained a huge amount of respect for Simon in this novel. I liked him a lot more than I have in the previous.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shift
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Rating: 4
Cover rating: 4
Description: Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.


Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.
As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.


This is going to be a very difficult review to write. I don't want to release any spoilers, but I must say I loved it! It followed Shade perfectly and I fell right back into Aura's world. From the first chapter to the unforgettable last scene I was hooked.

I felt we saw a different side of Logan in this novel. Some of it good, some of it not so good. But, he is oh so real. He is not perfect by any means and I love that. I also enjoyed getting to know his family more and seeing what has become of them after his death. This book reveals a lot about Logan. Oh, he also made me cry...again!

And, Zachary. I liked him more in this novel than I did in the first. That is not to say that I didn't like him in the first, it's just we got to know him more in this one. His accent sounds so sexy in my head. I love it. We were also privy to more information about his family in this book as well as Logan's.

The dynamic between the love triangle was written flawlessly. The emotions and confusion was so spot on.

This book contains laughter, heartache, passion, and mystery. I can't wait to read more. I can't wait to unravel even more of the mystery of the shift. I'm also waiting for the 6 month reunion with bated breath! ;)

If you have not read Shift, I recommend you do so. It's lovely and thrilling.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

30 Day Book Challenge

I keep seeing the 30 day book challenge on Facebook. I think it looks fun, but I hardly ever update my Facebook. I've had it since 2007 and I think over all that time I've only had about 15 status'. So, I am going to do the 30 Day Book Challenge in one post!


Day 1: Favorite book: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. Oh, how this book speaks to my soul.

Day 2: Least favorite book: Eragon by Christopher Paolini. I know so many people who LOVE this series. I can't even get through the first book, but I plan on giving it a third try soon for my mom who insists that I'm not giving it a chance. (She loves it.)
Day 3: Book that makes you laugh out loud: Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker. The sarcasm is hilarious. I love it.

Day 4: Book that makes you cry: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. The chapter where Harry is walking to the forest I cry. No, actually I bawl and hyperventilate. I go through so many tissues when I read this book. I've read it about 20 times and every single time I cry just as hard as the first time.

Day 5: Book you wish you could live in: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Always and forever<3

Day 6: Favorite young adult book: Well, my favorite book is young adult so I'll just put my second favorite book here, that is also young adult. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Holy crepes! I love it more every time I read it! I think I've read it 6 times since its December release.

Day 7: Book that you can quote/recite: Lots! But, I'll use a book I haven't used yet. Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.

Day 8: Book that scares you: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Oh, how I love this series. So powerful. It scares me because I think it could actually happen one day. I'm not saying it will, but I definitely think there are some people capable of making a Hunger Games.

Day 9: Book that makes you sick: Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Taking away love from people? Making them almost emotionless? It does make me sick to think about it because I love love. I also love this book very, very much.

Day 10: Book that changed your life:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling. I read it when I was 7. I have been attached to books ever since.

Day 11: Book from your favorite author: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Day 12: Book that is most like your life: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.

Day 13: Book whose main character is most like you: I'm not sure about which main character is the most like me, so I'll use the most recent character I've connected with on an intense level. Brooke from So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti.

Day 14: Book whose main character you want to marry: Ah, frick. I can't choose just one! Tucker from Unearthly by Cynthia Hand. Etienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Doug from Forget You by Jennifer Echols. Wesley Rush from The Duff by Kody Keplinger. Any of Sarah Dessen's boys. The Fuentes brothers from the Perfect Chemistry series by Simone Elkeles. JACE from the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I could go on, but I should probably stop even though my mind is yelling out more names!

Day 15: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling. 7 years old.
Day 16: Longest book you’ve read: Probably one of the Harry Potters.

Day 17: Shortest book you’ve read: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer. Probably.

Day 18: Book you’re most embarrassed to say you like: I'm not ashamed to admit I like any book. I read them all proudly and will admit to liking them all.

Day 19: Book that turned you on: YA book that handles sex well: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles.

Day 20: Book you’ve read the most number of times: Any Sarah Dessen. Love her!
Day 21: Favorite picture book from childhood: Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch

Day 22: Book you plan to read next: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare or Where She Went by Gayle Forman on Tuesday!

Day 23: Book you tell people you’ve read, but haven’t (or haven’t actually finished): I don't actually remember the title, but the only book I've lied about reading was a book I had to read my freshman year of high school. It was about space or something. I said I read it, I did not. I got a 102 on paper! :)

Day 24: Book that contains your favorite scene: I don't have a specific favorite scene, but I always love when the couple meets for the first time and you can just tell. "Oh, that's the boy. There he is." I love that.

Day 25: Favorite book you read in school: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Day 26: Favorite nonfiction book: The only one that comes to mind is Night by Elie Wiesel.

Day 27: Favorite fiction book: I'll use an adult book for this one since I mostly read YA. Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty. <3

Day 28: Last book you read: If I Stay by Gayle Forman. <3
Day 29: Book you’re currently reading: Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. <3
Day 30: Favorite coffee table book: Any book that has pictures of New York City. :)

Woo! Done!