April 2015 Wrap-Up

Overall it's been a pretty good month. I read a total of six books, all of which I enjoyed. 

I think I can officially say that I am over my readers slump that has been plaguing me for a while now. If you were wondering what it was that got me back into reading, I'm sorry I can't answer that because I don't know what it was. Whatever it was, I'm grateful. 

Below are the following books I've read with a link to my review.

Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

King Arthur: Warrior Of The West by M.K.Hume

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

City Of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City Of Glass by Cassandra Clare - Review

Book Three

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?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the third installment of the New York Times bestselling series The Mortal Instruments.

Review

I am loving this series more and more as it progresses. Already half way through the series (three more books to go), and so much has happened. Especially when I'm only on the third instalment and it's the span of a couple of months, if that.

Finally we get to see a different setting, the home land of every Shadowhunter, Idris. Things start to get intense and interesting right from the get go.
We finally get to understand who Valentine really is, his motivations and why he does the things he does. It wasn't that I felt sorry for him or really understood what he was doing. He's evil and there is no doubt about that, but maybe not as evil as Sebastian....

We also get to know Clary and Jace more, why they have these 'special powers' that no other Shadowhunter has. To be honest I wasn't shocked with the final outcome. I knew the true identity of Clary, Jace and Sebastian. At some points I wanted to smack some of these characters for not seeing the obvious, I mean Jocelyn knew the truth and she has been in a coma the whole time.

What I loved most about this book was the history of Shadowhunters, where, how and why it all began. Even though book one and two gave you a taste of it, book three finally gives you every information you have been waiting for.
Actually I think City of Glass should be called, City of Finally Telling You Everything.

Does anyone know if this was originally a trilogy? Because I can see how this could end on City of Glass. Everything seems to be happily ever after, the end. Thank goodness it isn't, not only do I want to know what happens next, but I also don't want this series to finish. I think if Cassandra Clare wants, she could keep going with this series until Clary and her friends are elderly. I'm sure that would be an interesting read.

I don't want to talk too much about this book, so much happens that there is a 100% guarantee that I will spoil it for you. And if you haven't picked up this series yet, what are you waiting for?


My star rating for City Of Glass by Cassandra Clare is:

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon

So I have decided to participate in Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon. I have been seeing people do this for a while now, but for some odd reason I always have something on, or I miss it. Not this time.

I know for a fact that I'll probably won't get a lot of reading done, but the way I see it, you never know how much you will succeed if you never try.

Saying that I decided to see if I can read the following books in 24 hours:

~City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

(which I'm currently reading at the moment)

~City of Fallen Angles by Cassandra Clare

(of course once I finish City of Glass)

~King Arthur: The Bloody Cup by M.K. Hume

(last book in the trilogy that I need to finish, even though I'll be sad)

~My Single Friend by Jane Costello

(light reading, just in case)

If you are participating in Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon and you know what books you're reading, let me know in the comments below.

For more information on the read-a-thon just click the link below:

24hourreadathon.com

City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare - Review

Book Two

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?

Review

This was perfect from start to finish.
Unlike the first book, City of Bones, where it was basically an introduction into this world created by Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes was packed full of nail biting, edge of your seat action.

Finally Clary is growing up....a bit. There was a few times when I think she should just stop and listen to people who actually knew what they were talking about. When they tell you that it's probably best you don't see this, they mean it.
But overall she did start to mature in this book, she put her teenage angst against her mother on the back burner, and got down to what was more important, like destroying her father.
I enjoyed her point of view throughout the book, she started to become my second favourite character. Of course Magnus Bane is still my top one.

Which brings me to something else I loved about this book, it was finally in the point of view of different characters.
There isn't a lot of books out there which I love that is just in the point of view of one character. Most of the times I just want to know what the other person is thinking, feeling. One character assuming something of someone else, you basically can't rely on that.

Now the love interests in this book, it's fascinating, beautiful and at times confusing. There are so many people in love with each other, or in most cases confused about one another. For instance you have:
Clary & Jace
Clary & Simon
Simon & Isabelle
Simon & Maia
Alec & Magnus
Alec & Jace
Jocelyn & Luke
And I'm sure I've missed a few other people.
I love how we got to see other peoples feelings, not just two main characters and everyone else is just a background story.

Before I finish my review, can I talk about that ending. Thank goodness I decided to read the series once it was complete, and I owned every one of them. Talk about leaving you with a cliff hanger. For those who had to wait for the next book to come out, I feel your pain.

So on that note....onto the next book, City of Glass.


My star rating for City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare is:

City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare - Review

Book One

Synopsis

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end. 

Review

I knew going into this there would be a mixture of people who loved it, or rather see it burn to ashes. What side am I on, well I would never dare to burn a book for starters, but besides that I actually enjoyed the book. I loved the fantasy world Cassandra Clare created, the complex characters and the typical young adult (YA) love triangle.
Even though Stephanie Meyers, author of Twilight series (which I hate) quoted "A story world I love", I still loved it.

This is actually the second time I've read this, I decided to re-read it again because it was such a long time ago and I wanted to finally finish the series. Considering that, I was still on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen to Clary and her shadowhunter friends. You always miss something the first time around.

Set in New York City, Clary and her best friend Simon, go to an all age 'nightclub' called Pandemonium where she meets a strange looking boy with blue hair (she later discovers he is a demon) and three Nephilim, half angel half human also called shadowhunters, are about to kill him. The twist, humans can not see this other world, so when a fifteen-year-old girl did the complete opposite, things start to get interesting. Her mother is kidnapped and she finds out she isn't who she thinks she is.

This book is all about twists and turns, from finding out who her real father is, what happened to her brother that she didn't know she had (wait till the end of the book), a love interest she didn't know about, and finally the love triangle between Clary, her best friend Simon and the gorgeous shadowhunter Jace. It wouldn't be a YA novel without a good love triangle.

Even though I loved this book, there was something that I absolutely hated. It actually happens with a lot of YA novels and I wonder why authors must put this in. It's the characters relationship with their parent/s. Maybe it's because I'm a mum and I would be upset if my child hated me. Especially with all the love you give them.
For example with Clary and her mother, after finding out she was a shadowhunter and her mother didn't tell her, she gets in a pissy. OK your mother kept something like that from you, but you have to stop and think about why she did that.
There was a part where one of my favourite characters, Magnus Bane, said something that all I could think was thank God someone said that to Clary so she can shut up now:
"She did what she did to keep you out of a world that she hated. Her whole existence, the running, the hiding-the lies, as you called them-were to keep you safe".
This was sometime after Clary said she was 'mind-raped'. I actually nearly thew the book at a wall for that disgusting reference to what happened to her. This is a YA novel, not a crime thriller, must it be written like that?

Overall it was a great read, I can't wait to read the second book, City of Ashes, to see what happens to Clary, Jace and the others.


My star rating for City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare is:

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning - Review

Book One

Synopsis

MacKayla Lane's life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she's your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks...until something extraordinary happens. 

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death-a cryptic message on Mac's cell phone-Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister's killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed-a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae.... 

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister's death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane-an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women-closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac's true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book-because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands....

Review

Before I begin I just want to thank Imogen for recommending this amazing book to me. Everything about this world, characters, the setting, left me wanting more. I was reading this non stop until I realised that I finished, and really, did she have to finish it like that. Thank goodness I have the second book, because who knows what type of havoc I would do.
Also don't be overly fooled by the cover, yes this is a mature book that mentions sex, but it was (for me anyway) not all about that. It didn't seem to over power the story or the dialogue.

What stands out for me is my love for the main character MacKayla, Mac for short. I sometimes wish every character would be like her, funny, smart, brave but also scared, a genuine character that you can relate to. One of those perfect characters to read that you can't seem to get enough of.
Teamed up with the gorgeous, non bullshit talking, Jericho Barrons, they both try to find not only the killer of her sister, but also this mysterious ancient book.

I enjoyed it when these two characters came in contact with one another, and that happens quite a lot, that I was shocked when I realised that I didn't care overly much if they started a love relationship or not. Yes there were sexual tensions between the two, but it didn't clog the main story line.

I've only scraped the surface of the complete story, that's why this review will be short but sweet. That and because I want to start reading the second book as soon as possible.

If you haven't read this book yet, do it. You will not be disappointed.


My star rating for Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning is:

King Arthur: Warrior Of The West by M.K. Hume - Review

Book Two

Synopsis

Twelve long, blood-soaked years, have passed since Artor fulfilled his destiny and was crowned the High King of the Britons. Against all odds, Artor has united Celtic Britain and with a last great campaign, has banished the Saxon scourge. The legend of Camlann has begun. But even as Artor's kingdom is at its zenith, even as he has succeeded in conquering all external threats to his rule, his kingdom is being undermined from within.

For Artor has chosen Wenhaver (Guenevere) as a second wife. Queen of the Britons, Wenhaver will always love what she cannot have and have what she cannot love, and her bitterness threatens to bring down all those around her. Not only is Artor betrayed by the one person he should be able to trust, he has also learned of appalling perversion at the heart of his kingdom. He must make a terrible choice. Does he commit a deed that leaves him open to comparison with the despotic Uther Pendragon, or does he let evil go unchecked? The burden of leadership, of power, now rests solely - and heavily - on Artor's shoulders for Myrddion Merlinus, master tactician, guiding light for so many years, has left Artor to his fate. Could all that Artor has fought for, the destiny of Britain, be lost? Will Britain be torn apart?

Review

The second book in the King Arthur trilogy is just as good, if not better, then it's predecessor.
I was instantly hooked, especially the first half when we got to witness one of the greatest war scenes. M.K. Hume kept me on the edge of my seat throughout every bloody murder.
It's not until the second half when you start seeing the real change of King Artor, no longer the young boy called Artorex, he is now faced with the problems of court life. Especially when he takes a second wife, Wenhaver.

I've always had a fascination with the Arthurian times, especially everyone's different take of what "really" happened. And finally I have come across an author who wasn't afraid to create the beautiful Guenevere (known as Wenhaver in this story), as the evil cow that she is.
I've always had this odd feeling about her whenever she is mentioned in a story, like we are supposed to feel sorry for her because she "fell" in love with Lancelot. We are to forgive her for cheating on her husband and bringing the kingdom to ruin. I don't think so. So when M.K. Hume portrayed her as a selfish young woman, a spoiled beauty who is cruel and stupid, all I could think of was, "Finally, someone is on the same page as me."
If you are a fan of hers don't let this ruin it for you. It's just M.K. Hume's take on a fictional character, and you never know, this might give you a different view on Guenevere/Wenhaver.

I was still in love with the same old characters as the first book, Dragon's Child, Targo, Merlinus, Artor, and so on, but the one person who I fell in love with was Nimue. If you have read the first book (and so you should have), you will remember her as the infant that was saved by Gruffydd and given the protection tattoo from King Artor.
Now we see her all grown up, and even though she was brought up in the kitchens, she is smart, caring, Nimue is what every female character should be, not afraid to speak her mind, and isn't one to be easily pushed over by people higher than her.
The only problem/issue that I have is the relationship between Nimue and Merlinus. I'm not one to discriminate against age differences, I think there is nothing wrong with it actually. With these two characters though, for me it felt a little bit wrong. If you have read this book I would love to hear your opinion on this, and hopefully I'm not the only one with this problem.

Overall I really loved this book; the bloody war scenes, the political games played out in court. Not one part was boring to read. Like I said with Dragon's Child, it's great to read a different take on a great classic.
Even though I don't want this to end, I'm looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy, the Bloody Cup.



My star rating for King Arthur: Warrior of the West by M.K. Hume is:

Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon - Review

Book One

Synopsis

DOON…

Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months. 

But the Scottish countryside holds other plans. 

Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.

Review

Nora Roberts for YA!!

This was my first and only thought I had for the duration of this book, and no, that is definitely not a bad thing. I'm an obsessed fan of Nora Roberts, I love her beautifully told stories. If you have ready any Nora Roberts books you know she writes romance (at its best), sometimes with a bit of magic, and the characters having strong love for their friends or family.
So when I say that this book is a Nora Roberts for YA, it basically means I loved the book.

I know there are a few people out there saying this is a cheesy book and not well written, and I'm the first to say that I hate those types of books, give me blood and guts over sappy love stories any day. But there are moments when all you want is an easy romantic read, something to take your mind of the serious things going on in the world. Just sit back and enjoy it, and don't take things too seriously. Not all the time anyway.

The friendship between Veronica and Mackenna was what really won me over. Again, just like a Nora Roberts book, there was this bond between two friends that was great to read. Both completely different, Veronica the book nerd that wants the fairytale ending, and then you have Mackenna the outspoken no-bullshit girl who's life goal is to be an actress.
Having the book in both their point of views was a great idea, because you didn't just get stuck into one characters head which I would of probably started to get annoyed.
And the best part; if there was just one character that went over to Doon, then I'm guessing there would of been a love triangle, and for once THERE WASN'T!! (sort of, you'll see). Again, this is exactly like Nora Roberts, everyone felt like they were able to love someone. There was no competition, just one character falling head over heels for their one true love.

If you want a beautifully told sappy love story, a book that you can easily read in a day, then this book is for you.
Just remember, this isn't a literacy masterpiece, but it's still a joy to read.


My star rating for Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon is: