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.)

Series Book Review - "Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead

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Spoiler Alert: This is a review of the entire Vampire Academy series and will contain slight spoilers from all of the books!

Title: Vampire Academy (series #1 - #6)

Author: Richelle Mead
Classification: YA Fiction, Paranormal
Source: Borrowed or Purchased

Overall Grade: 

B

Would I read it again? 

Probably not.

Would I recommend it? 

Yes! Paranormal romance lovers will rejoice!

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Summary of Book #1, Vampire Academy (from Goodreads):

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school; it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's; the very place where they're most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi; the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires, make Lissa one of them forever.

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My Thoughts:

When my sister first told me about Vampire Academy, I immediately checked the first book of the series out from the library. After reading about 10 pages, I decided that it wasn't my style, and abandoned it for something else in my towering stack of library books. The next time I picked it up, however, I read past the... interesting start to the novel and didn't stop until I was finished!

I read the entire series in less than a week. That's over 2,700 pages!  Yeah, it was that good. Let's just say that I shouldn't have started reading Vampire Academy over the Thanksgiving break from school... I got NO homework done whatsoever!!

Because this is a massive series review, I'm going to break down my thoughts on all 6 books into the pros and cons!

What I Loved:

• I loved the following characters: Rose, Dimitri (I heart him), Adrian, Christian, and Sydney. An honorable mention to Jill and Ambrose, as well!

• Rose was a great main character. She was a combination of just the right amounts of sass, snark, toughness, loyalty and dedication. I enjoyed watching her kick major butt, suffer through heartbreak, and grow into a fully-realized individual.

• Rose and Dimitri.... hello?! One of the best romances I've ever read, and not just in the paranormal genre. I was smitten with them in Vampire Academy (#1) and Frostbite (#2),  waiting for the sexual tension to finally amount to something. In Shadowkiss (#3), I got what I wanted, only to be heartbroken. Blood Promise (#4) took me on an incredible journey (probably my favorite book of the series, FYI). And just when we thought it was over, Spirit Bound (#5) completely threw me for a loop! Then, the conclusion of their story, Last Sacrifice (#6), was perfect for everyone... well, expect for he-who-must-not-be-named. Not Voldemort, of course, but I don't want to give it away.

What I Didn't Love:

• Lissa. I'm sorry, but she was annoying. Until the end of the series, when she finally got some guts, I was cringing during the points where we had to deal with her. I appreciated her friendship with Rose, but I just didn't feel very much depth to her character... and this was a 6 book series.

• The other love interests. I know that Rose is a flirt and likes to have her fun, but I didn't appreciate the fact that she continually dragged on relationships with other guys when she was hopelessly in love with Dimitri. Obviously, she thought that her and Dimitri would never, ever, happen, and was just trying to get on with her life. But I think that Richelle Mead could have done a better job at making the other love interests actual competition for Dimitri.

• The repetitiveness. Every novel in the Vampire Academy series starts out with a recap of the previous novel's events. If I had a nickel for every time that Mead explained to the reader what the Moroi and Strigoi and Dhampirs were, I would have too many nickels. This was extremely annoying for those reading each book in the series back-to-back, and I had to skip over several pages at a time.

Overall, Vampire Academy is one of my favorite paranormal series of all time! If you haven't read these yet, I seriously urge you to do so. Fans of paranormal romance and vampire stories will love them!!

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Overall Grade: 

B

Would I read it again? 

Probably not.

Would I recommend it? 

Yes! Paranormal romance lovers will rejoice!

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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 "Demonglass" by Rachel Hawkins

NOTE: There are several spoilers to the novel Hex Hall (the first in this series) even in the description for Demonglass. Just sayin'.

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Title: Demonglass
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Classification: YA Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy
Source: Bought!

Overall Grade: 

A 

Would I read it again? 

Yes!

Would I recommend it to others? 

Certainly! 

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Summary (from Goodreads): 

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

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My Thoughts:

Love Love Love!

 
I had a hard time putting this book down to go to work, go to bed, pick up the phone... It was addicting from the get go and I loved being back in Sophie's head. She is funny, brave, and real.

The development of characters like Cal, Archer and Sophie's father in the novel were paramount to the book's success. However, while I loved these developments (especially Cal!) I feel like Sophie's friendship with Jenna was neglected a bit. But that's okay, because Jenna's also growing in her own way in the story, so it worked out alright in the end.

The paranormal elements in Demonglass did not disappoint. However, these too, were put on the back burner a bit in favor of Sophie's relationships with others. I'm not saying it was a terrible move on Hawkins' part, because I think it worked really well and helped Sophie become a strong protagonist, but I think that some readers will be saddened by the lack of the more magical elements in the novel.

All in all, the Hex Hall series is quickly becoming one of my favorites! I can't wait to finish up the series next year with the publication of the unnamed Hex Hall #3... especially since Ms. Hawkins left us on a terrible cliffhanger!

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Overall Grade: 

A 

Would I read it again? 

Yes!

Would I recommend it to others? 

Certainly! 

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Book Review of "Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side" by Beth Fantaskey

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Title: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (Jessica #1)

Author: Beth Fantaskey 
Classification: YA Fiction, Paranormal 
Source: Public Library

Overall Grade: 

C - - (two minuses) 

Would I read it again? 

No. 

Would I recommend it?

(shrugs).

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Summary:

Jessica Packwood is waiting for the bus to take her to school on the first day of her senior year when she notices a dark, mysterious stranger across the road, staring at her intently. Then, just as the bus pulls up, she here's him whisper her old name, "Antanasia...".

You see, Jessica was adopted by her parents from Romania when she was just a baby and her Romanian name was discarded for a more "normal" American one. So how did this mysterious guy know her name... her real name?

Well, it turns out that the stranger is also in her first class of the day and is a foreign exchange student from Romania and is going to be staying with the Packwoods. Great. But that still doesn't explain to Jessica why he's here in the US and why he knew her real name...

That's when her parents reveal that when they brought Jessica to the US when she was just a baby, because her birth parents were killed in a deadly village riot, they forgot to mention one teeny tiny detail: her parents were vampires. Jessica is a vampire. Lucius Vladescu, the mysterious foreign exchange student, is a vampire. And before the untimely deaths of both Jessica and Lucius' birth parents, they made a pact that stated that the last heirs of the royal Dragomir and Vladescu lines would marry when of age, therefore creating a peace among vampires that had not been seen for centuries.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Ok, so not only is the hot new guy from Romania that has a strange accent and dresses like Mr. Darcy and talks like a Victorian Gothic novel staying with her family, he is also a vampire (which do not really exist... right?) and her so-called betrothed, sent to the US to fetch his new bride upon her 18th birthday, only a few short months away.

Well, she knew senior year was going to be interesting, but this wasn't exactly what she'd had in mind...

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My Thoughts:

The premise for this book was so intriguing, I knew I had to pick it up, and it seemed within the first few pages that I had made a great decision! Then, I realized something that made me cringe: I didn't believe Lucius Vladescu. And I don't mean this in the way that Jessica's character doesn't-believe-that-Lucius-is-a-"vampire"-like-he-says-and-that-he-is-maybe-just-a-little-bit-INSANE, either. What I mean is that I don't believe his sexy accent and his elaborate sentence structure and his ability--no, need, to command a room, even in a high school classroom. I just don't believe his act and his big vocabulary and I think his character is shallow and trite.

Believe me, it pains me to write this, because I so very much wanted to like Lucius. But I can't sit here and actually lie about what Fantaskey's writing is telling me: that she doesn't know how to breathe life into a character like Lucius. I will admit that Jessica's character is more believable and likeable. That is, until the end of the novel when the relationship between the teens changes, and then Jessica's character turns into something that is just as vapid as Lucius, in that her actions and words don't match what we previously knew about her character and I just did not buy it!

I know I may sound pretty harsh right now, so let me lighten the mood a bit. I am interested in their story. I want to love this book. But this cannot change the fact that every time Lucius spouts off a crazy monologue with antiquated turns of phrase, I cringe in my seat. So, I probably will not read the sequel, but I might if I have nothing else to read. Plus, I may not be as picky by then and Fantaskey may have switched gears for the next novel... you never know.

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Overall Grade: 

C - - (two minuses) 

Would I read it again? 

No. 

Would I recommend it to others?

(shrugs).

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