Book Review of "Clockwork Prince" by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Classification: YA Fiction, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Source: Bought from Amazon

Overall Grade:

A+

I thought...

!!!! fdsfsafhuihjjajefnc,xku=gn !!! 

This is what your brain looks like after reading this book!!

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Summary (from Goodreads): 

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends. 

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them. 

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do? 

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

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My Thoughts:


Holy holy holy crap. This book.

If you read this book and do not think that it is FULL OF AWESOME, you are probably an automaton and have been programmed to be immune to the lure of romance and intrigue and kissing and secrets and JEM and Victorian England and FREAKING WILL HERONDALE and general awesomeness and Clary will probably create a rune that kills you soon, so say your last goodbyes.

I'm not going to gloss over the fact that the last two Cassandra Clare books I read (Clockwork Angel, City of Fallen Angels) did not live up to my utter adoration of the first three books in the Mortal Instruments series. I read those three books in as many days, ignoring responsibilities left and right, breathing Jace and Clary and Simon every waking moment.

What I loved about those books came back to me in Clockwork Prince.

Tessa is a fantastic heroine. Her attitude, past experiences, and stoicism remind me of Jane Eyre, one of my all-time favorite characters.

Jem's character is given new dimension in Clockwork Prince. In the first book, we see Jem as merely the foil to Will--the damaged boy with silver hair and eyes who is the only known person on the planet who could be parabatai to Will Herondale. (OH MY GOSH JUST TYPING HIS NAME MADE ME SMILE WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!)

However, in Clockwork Prince, certain events force Jem to show more emotion than he's used to. We see him angry and frustrated. Finally this boy is given a few flaws! It was terribly refreshing.

But most of all, we see Jem being romantic and sexy. Seriously sexy.

Each of the minor characters is also given new depth: Jessamine, Charlotte, Henry, Nathaniel, the Lightwoods, and Sophie. Magnus Bane is awesome as ever, but also fills a role in this book that made me love him even more.

Then there is Will Herondale.

This is Cassandra Clare at her absolute best. (Yes, I know she has a bajillion more books coming out... but I'm going out on a limb here).

Where Jem is developed into a more functional love interest that readers will certainly root for, William Herondale becomes something else entirely: a tragic hero. An obsession of girls everywhere. Jace squared, cubed, quadrupled.

By the end of Clockwork Prince, we see a new side to Will. We finally get something true about the boy that Tessa is trying desperately to get over. Something that changes your mind about him.

But does it change Tessa's mind...?

That's the question to be answered in December's Clockwork Princess, as well as our remaining questions about the state of the London Institute and the elusive Magister.

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Overall Grade:

A+

I thought...

!!!! fdsfsafhuihjjajefnc,xku=gn !!! 

This is what your brain looks like after reading this book!!

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(Full Disclosure: Any books purchased from Amazon through the links on this page will result in a small commission to me.)

Book Review of "The Gathering Storm" by Robin Bridges

Title: The Gathering Storm (Katerina Trilogy #1)
Author: Robin Bridges
Classification: YA Fiction, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Published: January 10th, 2012
Source: ARC from Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Overall Grade:

B+

Recommended to...

Fans of A Great and Terrible Beauty and lovers of smart, atmospheric paranormal romance! 


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Summary (from Goodreads):

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

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My Thoughts: 

The Gathering Storm is a lush, rich and unique young adult paranormal with a memorable heroine!

Amidst Russia's debutante society, we follow Katerina through boarding school, royal parties, and a chilling paranormal plot. Katerina's voice is very unique; she is plucky and astute, immediately equating the galas she attends to meat markets, where royal girls like her are the prize pigs. It is difficult not to like her! 

However, once Katerina becomes more involved in the world of necromancy, ghost demons, zombies, and even vampires, the plot almost loses itself in its own complexity. It was definitely difficult to follow the complicated plot along, especially when new players were continually being introduced. 

Thankfully, The Gathering Storm was carried along nicely by Katerina's character, as well as other notables like George Alexandrovich, Prince Danilo, and even the evil Montenegran princesses. There were periods of time during this book where the plot was fairly slow, yet I was compelled to read on by the rich writing and Katerina's unique world. 

Like all historical fiction, it will take some patience to get used to the world created, the names of every person mentioned, and the plot itself. However, in The Gathering Storm, the effort is definitely worth it! 

This is a richly atmospheric start by a talented author that will appeal to fans of Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty series!


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Overall Grade:

B+

Recommended to...

Fans of A Great and Terrible Beauty and lovers
of smart, atmospheric paranormal romance!

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Book Review of "Waterfall" by Lisa T. Bergren

Title: Waterfall (River of Time #1)
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Classification: YA Fiction, Christian, Historical Fiction
Source: Public Library

Overall Grade:

B-

I thought...

Adventure. Time travel. Romance. Sword fights.


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Summary (from Goodreads): 

What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaeologist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting.

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My Thoughts:

This underrated historical novel is a serious treat! Adventure, romance, sword fights, time travel, and even some court intrigue really keep you turning pages.

Gabi and her sister Lia are very unique heroines! Growing up as the daughters or archaeologists, they are very well-versed in history, old civilizations and they are even fluent in Italian. Watching Gabi adjust to life in 14th-century Italy was awesome. She is transported back 700 years in the midst of a veritable sword fight, where she meets Marcello.

... sigh. Marcello. The dreamy, steamy, Italian hottie who is skilled with a blade, with genteel manners, and maybe even a sense of humor. However, I did find Marcello's character to be almost too perfect... where are his flaws, lady? Granted, this may be because I prefer the damaged love interests to the balanced and "normal" ones... think Cole St. Clair from The Wolves of Mercy Falls series...

Gabi is an awesome protagonist! She is very independent, strong heroine who isn't afraid to literally battle for those she loves. I also enjoyed the Christian side of this novel, which is not overt in the slightest. Rather, Gabi wrestles with her idea, or lack thereof, of God as she meets the most exciting, brutal, and heartbreaking challenges of her life. By the end of the book, we definitely see a different Gabi than the girl who surprised feuding, sword fighting Italian guys in a tank top and jeans.

Perhaps because Marcello's character was lacking an unidentifiable... oomph, I felt that his relationship with Gabi was slightly contrived. But I did appreciate their flirtations, the way they grew together through extraordinary circumstances, and yes, the kissing.

The ending of the novel was a little confusing and anti-climactic for me, but it did set us up nicely for the second book in the River of Time series, titled Torrent. I can't wait to see how Gabi, Marcello, Lia and Luca's stories end!

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Overall Grade:

B-

I thought...

Adventure. Time travel. Romance. Sword fights.

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Book Review of "Clockwork Angel" by Cassandra Clare

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Title: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Classification: YA Fiction, , Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Source: Borrowed!

Overall Grade: 

B

Would I read it again? 

No.

Would I recommend it? 

Yes, fans of the Mortal Instruments series will love it!

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Summary (from Goodreads): 

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

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My Thoughts:

Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel continues to delight her readers with great characters, luxurious writing, and an amazing story. However, readers of her Mortal Instruments series will be thrown off by this novel's slow start.

When we first meet Tessa, she is on her way to London from America to find her older brother who disappeared some months ago. Just after her arrival, she is taken by the mysterious Dark Sisters. This part of the narrative lasts for the good part of 50 pages or so.

It's not until a good way into the novel that Tessa meets Jem, Will, and the rest of the Shadowhunter clan in London. When this finally happens, the pace picks up considerably, as did my enjoyment of the book!

Tessa is a good narrator: as an outsider to the Shadowhunter community, the reader is given a fresh perspective on their lives. We get to learn her intimate reactions to meeting the other characters, and when she struggles to deal with her uncertain origins.

The plot of the novel was as exciting and interesting as those in the Mortal Instruments series, and I found myself wanting to read just one more chapter every time I tried to stop!

However, something that continues to bother me about Cassandra Clare's novels is the clunky-ness and predictability of the writing. While the other aspects of the books are spectacular, I find myself easily annoyed with common descriptions and over-done narration. This makes it impossible for me to read these books again, because they are simply filled with too much: too many unnecessary sentences, too-lengthy descriptions.

Still, I am anxiously awaiting book 2 in the Infernal Devices series, Clockwork Prince, set to be published on December 6, 2011!

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Overall Grade: 

B

Would I read it again? 

No.

Would I recommend it? 

Yes, fans of the Mortal Instruments series will love it!

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Book Review of "Revolution" by Jennifer Donnelly

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Title: Revolution

Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Classification: YA Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary
Source: Bought!

Overall Grade: 

A+ 

Would I read it again? 

Yes!

Would I recommend it? 

Yes. Already have.

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Summary (from Goodreads):

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

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My Thoughts:

You need to read this book. Even if you've already read it, read it again. If you first read a copy from the library, like I did, spend $10 to order it from Amazon, like I did.

I want you to believe me when I say that I literally have nothing bad to say about this book. 

I felt an immediate, intense connection to Andi. We are thrown into her hard life as she struggles to succeed in school, compensate for her mother's mental illness, and battle the demons of her brother's death two years ago. Andi takes an anti-anxiety, anti-depression medication called Qwell, which she manipulates depending on her mood. If you know anyone that suffers from depression, or personally suffer from it yourself, Andi's life will certainly ring true.

Music and history reign supreme in Revolution. In the novel, you are only in Andi's head until one-third of the way into the book. That's where we meet Alexandrine, AKA Alex, living in Revolutionary France, acting as companion to the doomed Prince Louis-Charles. Alex's story was extremely riveting and her voice true. I found Alex's journal entries as compelling as Andi's voice in modern-day Paris and New York. Donnelly weaves these two narratives together with seriously impressive skill.

The music aspect comes into the novel right off the bat. Andi plays guitar, sings and writes her own songs. I loved reading about the way that music helped Andi along in the most difficult times of her life. Also, it was interesting to read about the subject of her school project, which is why she was forced to Paris with her father in the first place, Amade Malherbeau.

Just when you think you understand the type of book you've gotten yourself into, Donnelly completely throws a curve-ball and merges Andi and Alex's worlds into one in an amazing, unforgettable way.

I know that this review is all over the place, but that's only because Revolution has so much to offer: Music, history, loss, grief, triumph, mystery and yes, romance. Don't even get me started on the romance in this book. It's definitely one of my favorite love stories in all the young adult fiction that I have ever read. Truly.

Please read this book. You will never, ever forget it!

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Overall Grade: 

A+ 

Would I read it again? 

Yes!

Would I recommend it? 

Yes. Already have.

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Book Review of "Poison Study" by Maria V. Snyder

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Title: Poison Study (Study #1)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Classification: Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Semi-YA
Source: Public Library

Overall Grade:

A

Would I read it again?

Already have :)

Would I recommend it?

Yes. I just did! 

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Summary:

Yelena has been accused of murdering the son of one of the land's high-officials and awaits the day of her execution in a dark and filthy prison cell. Then, one day she is summoned before the Commander's head of security, who has a tantelizing offer. According to protocol, the next prisoner in line to be executed will be offered the job as food taster for the Commander, escaping the noose but living every day with the knowledge that one more bite can bring an even swifter death. Yelena quickly accepts, recognizing that even a life of fear and danger is better than no life at all.

Yelena moves into the castle and starts her rigorous, dangerous and exhausting food tasting training with Valek, who is not only the head of security, but a deadly assassin as well. In order to ensure that she will never attempt to escape from the castle, Valek exposes her to the deadly poison Butterfly's Dust, a poison whose antidote she must take daily in order to survive.

As she adjusts to life in the castle, she quickly becomes aware that poison is not her only danger, as many make a point of targeting the infamous Yelena, murderess of the high-official Brazell's son. When trying to have a low profile doesn't keep her from being attacked, Yelena seeks out the help of Ari and Janco, talented soldiers who agree to teach her how to fight, and they form an unlikely friendship. 

While Yelena struggles with new friendships, her feelings for Valek, and consistent attempts on her life, we learn more of her past with Brazell and his son Reyad, about her inner and outer strength and her knack for survival. Then, when a plot by Brazell threatens the Commander's rule over Ixia, Yelena is forced to return to her previous home where her darkest nightmares lay.

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My Thoughts:

Poison Study is one of the best books I have read in quite some time. I will admit right now that I most willingly abandoned my homework and reading assignments from school to finish this book.

There are so many reasons to LOVE this book. First off, the story. Oh my goodness, the story! I was enthralled with Snyder's mix of historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy and romance. It is a perfect blend of my most favorite genres and is written so well that it overcame any possibility of cliché. The plot itself is one part thriller, one part political intrigue and one part romance.

Then there are the characters. From Yelena's stubborn strength of will to Valek's deadly power to Ari and Janco's playful banter, I fell in love with these characters. Each persona is carefully crafted with incredible detail by Snyder, so that you feel like you know them.

Then comes the setting. Poison Study, along with the sequels Magic Study and Fire Study are set in a world comprised of the countries Ixia and Sitia. Ixia is ruled by Commander Ambrose, whose strict ruling over the country lacks grandeur and condemns magic, while Sitia is ruled by the Head Magicians and reveres those with magical capabilities. I love the way Snyder unfolded her fantastic setting in the novels. She does so in such a way that enriches the already interesting landscape and adds dimension to her stunning characters and enticing plots.

On another note, there has been some debate over whether or not Poison Study is a Young Adult novel or not. I think this is a definite problem with the book, as it contains more (slightly) adult content than most other Teen or Young Adult fiction. This is why I've classified the book as Semi-YA.

Now, if you're wondering if I have any negative comments about Poison Study, here it comes: the only thing I can generally say that bothered me about this book, and Snyder's other books in the Study series, is her sense of fashion. Yes, I just complained about the author's fashion sense. This is because when describing the clothing of her characters, Snyder often picked styles and colors that I just did not find flattering to the imagination. And yes, that is my only complaint. :) 

Please please read this book.  Then read the other books in the series: Magic Study and Fire Study.

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Overall Grade:

A

Would I read it again?

Already have :)

Would I recommend it?

Yes. I just did! 

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Book Review of "A Countess Below Stairs" by Eva Ibbotson

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Title:  A Countess Below Stairs
Author:  Eva Ibbotson
Classification:  YA Fiction, Historical Fiction
Source:  Public Library

Overall Grade?

A

Would I read it again?

Yes... oh my, yes!

Would I recommend it?

Duh!!

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Summary:

Anna Grazinsky is not your typical Countess.  Despite the palaces, royal relatives, and the finest jewels in all of Russia, Anna manages to remain unscathed by snobbery, entitlement or general unpleasantness.  She is charming, happy, carefree and honest.

Then, when the political situation in Russia becomes unstable and later leads to outright revolution, Anna and her family are forced to free their land, their nation and their social status for England, where Anna takes up a position in the household of the Earl of Westerholme, to much opposition by her mother.  Upon arrival at Mersham, it is clear to the head housemaid and butler of the home that Anna is of regal upbringing, yet after much begging and pleading by the Countess, they reluctantly take her on.

Although the staff at Mersham is completely set on hating the new Russian maid, they are victims of Anna's charisma, including her ridiculous reliance on a horribly out-of-date guide to housekeeping and her over-the-top curtsies.  It is clear that no one is immune to Anna's charms, not even the Earl himself, despite his imminent marriage to the beautiful, but horrible, Muriel.
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My Thoughts:

I was blown away by A Countess Below Stairs!  Eva Ibbotson is clearly a master storyteller, as evident in her ability to make a book with very little action extremely exciting, to make a character like Anna gleam with happiness without becoming cliche, and to make this charming book a lasting fairy tale that I know I will read again and again.

I must reiterate how expertly Ibbotson crafted her characters, in that by the middle of the novel, you felt you knew each one as if they were your most intimate friends or enemies, and you loved the good ones, hated the bad ones, and sympathized with the more complex ones.  I was truly amazed at how invested I felt in Anna's story only 30 pages into the book and I will again attribute this to Ibbotson's style and not to the story itself, for although the story is very very good, it would have become something trite and cheesy under a less expert author.
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Overall Grade?

A

Would I read it again?

Yes... oh my, yes!

Would I recommend it?

Duh!!

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