WOW - Waiting On The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan & Maureen Johnson

This week I'm waiting on

Title: The Bane Chronicles Author: Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Rees Brennan, Cassandra Jean (Illustrator) Series: The Bane Chronicles Reading Level: Young Adult Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books | November 11, 2014 Add it: Goodreads Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | Books-A-Million  Synopsis:  Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices can get to know warlock Magnus Bane like never before in this collection of New York Times bestselling tales, in print for the first time with an exclusive new story and illustrated material. This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices. Originally released one-by-one as e-only short stories by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan, this compilation presents all ten together in print for the first time and includes a never-before-seen eleventh tale, as well as new illustrated material.

Oooo, only one word: Magnus. He's one of my favorite characters in all of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter series. The Bane Chronicles looks soooo good! I can't wait!

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones Author: Cassandra Clare Series: The Mortal Instruments #1 Reading Level: Young Adult Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books | March 27, 2007 Pages: 485 Add it: Goodreads Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Books-A-Million  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.

My thoughts {bzzzzzzzzzzz}: 

The Scene

NYC. Half-human, half-angel hybrids (aka Shadowhunters) who hunt and kill demons. 15 year old girl who doesn't know what anything about this alternate world and is thrown into it unexpectedly. Sound like a typical young adult book yet?

The Girl

Clary was like of lot of main female characters in YA. Kind of normal then gets thrown into a world where normal is anything but. I actually liked her a lot. Surprising because I usually like the more kick ass variety of female main characters. I wouldn't call Clary hardcore like Rose from Vampire Academy but she's still pretty tough.

The Boy(s)

If you like cocky, sarcastic, blond, and, well hot, look no further then Jace Wayland. Jace is very infuriating from the start and kind of a jerk. Buuut, he's also a badass demon hunter who will do anything to protect his brother and sister (not by blood) Isabelle and Alec. Also, Jace really knows how to crack those one-liners. Simon is the other guy in the equation. He's Clary's best friend and kind of in the friend zone. Simon is hilarious! I think he's a great character and definitely is another great reason why I love City of Bones so much.

The WTF?!

I don't really wanna spoil it for ya'll but I have to say it. One word: incest. Yeah, it was really frickin' weird when I found out about this. Trust me, you'll be shocked too. Luckily, almost all the other books are out so you don't have to wait to read what happens next.

The Buzz

I was completely engrossed in City of Bones and read it really fast. I loved the world building and all the different elements of the book. The characters were great, the plot was great, and it kept me thinking about it all the time.

Rating

Really, it should come as no surprise that

WOW - Waiting On City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

This week I'm waiting on

ERCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID. I am coming. Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. In the long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother. Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Dark Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris -- but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons? When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim has ever know is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee -- even of their journey takes them deep into demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned... Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the world in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

I am simultaneously annoyed and excited for City of Heavenly Fire. On one hand, I love this series and I really want to read the ending. On the other hand, I'm so annoyed that it's taken two freaking years for it to be released since City of Lost Souls. 

Seriously. Let me read the book already.

Are you excited to read the last Mortal Instruments book? What are you most excited about? Is it Malec? Simon and Izzy? Clary and Jace? Or is it the overall ending of the series?

City of Heavenly Fire releases May 27, 2014.

TTT = Top Ten Character Names I Love

Top Ten Character Names I Love

1. Aisling Grey from  

  You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

2. Ezekiel Crosse aka Zeke from

 The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

3. Ethan Sullivan from

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

4. Beatrice Prior aka Tris from

Divergent by Veronica Roth

5. Hermione Granger from

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

6. Zoey Redbird from

Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

7. Dru Anderson from

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

8. Magnus Bane from

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

9. James Carstairs aka Jem from

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

10. Siobhan Grainne MacNamarra Walkingstick aka Joanne Walker from

Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy

I was really excited for this Top Ten Tuesday because for some reason I really like names. Especially from books. There's just something about a name that flows together, has a uniqueness to it, or is just plain kick ass. Leave me a link to your list!

Review: Clockwork Angel (Manga) by Cassandra Clare & HyeKyung Baek

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare & HyeKyung Baek (Illustrator)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Infernal Devices: Manga #1
Reading Level: Young Adult, Manga
Publisher: Yen Press October 30, 2012
Pages: 240

Synopsis:

A manga-adaption to the prequel of Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series, The Infernal Devices is the story of Tessa Gray, a sixteen-year-old American girl traveling alone to Victorian London who runs afoul of the city's sordid supernatural underworld. Rescued by the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, Tessa quickly finds herself caught up in an intrigue that may very well destroy her new friends - including the two enigmatic young men, Jem and Will, who have taken her under their wing...


My thoughts:

My initial reaction to learning that there was a manga adaption to the first book in the Infernal Devices series was:

HECK YES!!!! I’M SO EXCITED!!!

I mean, one of my favorite series coming to life through manga? C’mon, it’s so cool. Anyway, enough of that. How was Clockwork Angel manga style, you ask? Well, it was great! I loved it. The characters were done really well and the dialogue and whole plot of the book was adapted pretty dang good. The illustrator did a beautiful Tessa. And Will. And Jem. And Sophie, Charlotte, Jessamine, and all the other characters. Well, besides Henry. I mean I know he’s a little dorky and stuff but the illustrator could have given him a better face or a more realistic face instead of the more cartoonish face. Magnus looked fine except two things. Where are his cat eyes? and What the heck with the long hair? I was laughing so hard at that. I know it was back then but I have the picture of Magnus in the Mortal Instruments with short, spiky hair. Of course, some things (dialogue) needed to be cut out but most of it was in it. Bottom line: Clockwork Angel in manga was well done and more importantly really fun to read.


What’s your take on Clockwork Angel? What did you think about how the characters looked? Who do you think was done the best in your opinion?

Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: The Infernal Devices #3
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books March 19, 2013
Pages: 570

Synopsis: 

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

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 Shaodwhunters 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:

**Spoiler Alert**

“And maybe you should stop pitying yourself,” he said. “Most people are lucky to have even one great love in their life. You have found two.”

Holy moly. What an emotional read. Just to warn you all, there will be spoilers in this review. I don’t know how to write a review for this book without dropping a few (a lot) of spoilers. In Clockwork Princess, so much happens. There’s a giant worm, evil Mortmain, the Infernal Devices, Cecily coming to the Institute, Sophie and Gideon, Charlotte’s position at the Institute in jeopardy, Charlotte becoming Consul, and a whole lot more. But, wait, you guys don’t care for that. You care for Jem, Will, and Tessa. Well, there was a ton of the trio and their angst in Clockwork Princess.

I predicted the part where Jem would be on the brink of death and become a Silent Brother. Heck, I predicted that while reading City of Lost Souls with the appearance of Brother Zachariah. But, what I didn’t predict was the ending. I thought Tessa would end up with Will and be happy and stuff and then live her immortal life. What I didn’t expect was that Jem would become un-Silent-Brothered-defied and be, well, Jem again and have a happily ever after with Tessa. That was really unexpected.

I have both feelings of satisfaction, happiness, sadness, frustration, and not being satisfied about the ending of Clockwork Princess. Suffice it to say, after reading I have very mixed feelings. I feel happy for Will and Tessa that they got to have a life together and be happy. But, I also feel sad for Tessa that she had to watch him die and their children and grandchildren, not to mention all her friends die while still living. Then, I felt happy for Jem that he could be with Tessa. And I felt happy and sad for Tessa in this instance because Jem is going to die just like Will and she will live again. Man, that has got to hurt.

I liked how Cassandra Clare wrote the whole plot with the Infernal Devices and how it was resolved with Tessa’s clockwork angel having an actual angel inside it and her Changing into said angel. I also liked all the other characters in Clockwork Princess. I already liked Sophie before from the first two books but I found Cecily a very good character as well. The book wouldn’t have been the same without Charlotte, Henry, Gideon, Gabriel, and of course Magnus too.

I found out that their was a family tree on the back of the cover so I tried to read it but as my book was a library copy I wasn't able to see it. So, I was struggling with a flashlight trying to read it. Then, I was like this is ridiculous. So, I went on the internet and found a picture of it. Here it is:

Jeez, my thoughts were everywhere on this review. For those of you that read it, I hope I didn’t scare you away. :) What are your thoughts, feelings, and emotions on Clockwork Princess?

Gah, now I can’t wait for the City of Bones movie! And for City of Heavenly Fire!!

Favorite Quotes:

“Unfortunately, you may have to delay your plans for sororicide a bit longer. Gabriel Lightwood is downstairs, and I have two words for you. Two of your favorite words, at least when you put them together.”
“‘Utter simpleton’?” inquired Will. “‘Worthless upstart’?”
Jem grinned. “‘Demon pox,’” he said.

--Jem and Will

“Woolsey quirked an eyebrow. “You are a funny thing,” he said. “I would say I could see what those boys see in you, but…” he shrugged. His yellow dressing gown had a long, bloody tear in it now. “Women are not something I have ever understood.”
“What about them do you find mysterious, sir?”
“The point of them, mainly.”
“Well, you must have had a mother,” said Tessa.
“Someone whelped me, yes,” said Woolsey without much enthusiasm. “I remember her little.”
“Perhaps, but you would not exist without a woman, would you? However little use you may find us, we are cleverer and more determined and more patient than men. Men may be stronger, but it is women who endure.”
“Is that what you are doing? Enduring? Surely an engaged woman should be happier.” His light eyes raked her. “A heart divided against itself cannot stand, as they say. You love them both, and it tears you apart.”
“House,” said Tessa.
He raised an eyebrow. “What was that?”
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. Not a heart. Perhaps you should not attempt quotations if you cannot get them correct.”

--Woolsey and Tessa

“Badly?” she said, attempting a teasing tone.
“With passion. There are those who fight because it is their duty and those who fight because they love it. You love it.”
“I don’t—,” Cecily began, but she was interrupted as the training room door flew open with a loud bang.
It was Will, filling the doorway with his lanky, broad-shouldered frame. His blue eyes were thunderous. “What are you doing here?” he demanded.
So much for the brief peace they had achieved the night before. “I am practicing,” Cecily said. “You told me I would get no better without practice.”
“Not you. Gabriel Lightworm over here.” Will jerked his chin toward the other boy. “Sorry. Lightwood.”

--Gabriel, Cecily, and Will

“Magnus stood looking down at Jem. There was sadness etched on his face, that face that was usually so merry or sardonic or uncaring, a sadness that surprised Will. “‘For whence had that former sorrow so easily penetrated to the quick, but that I had poured out my soul upon the dust, in loving one who must die?’”Magnus said.
Will looked up at him. “What was that?”
“Confessions of Saint Augustine,” said Magnus. “You asked me how I, being immortal, survive so many deaths. There is no great secret. You endure what is unbearable, and you bear it. That is all.” He drew away from the bed. “I will give you a moment alone with him, to say good-bye as you need. You can find me in the library.”
Will nodded, speechless, as Magnus went to retrieve his gloves, then turned and left the room. Will’s mind was spinning.
He looked again at Jem, motionless in the bed. I must accept that this is the end, he thought, and even his thoughts felt hollow and distant. I must accept that Jem will never look at me, never speak to me again. You endure what is unbearable, and you bear it. That is all.
And yet it still did not seem real to him, as if it were a dream. He stood up and leaned over Jem’s still form. He touched his parabatai’s cheek lightly. It was cold.
“Atque in pepetuum, frater, ave atque vale,” he whispered. The words of the poem had never seemed so fitting: Forever and ever, my brother, hail and farewell.”

--Magnus and Will

“Jem knows—“ Cecily began indignantly, but she was interrupted, to her surprise, by Gabriel.
“Of course he knows,” he said. “Will is only doing his duty as a parabatai. He is doing what Jem would be doing if he could. He has gone in Jem’s place. It is only what a parabatai should do.”
“You are defending Will?” Gideon said. “After the way you’ve always treated him? After telling Jem on dozens of occasions that he had dismal taste in parabatai?
“Will may be a reprehensible person, but at least this demonstrates that he is not a reprehensible Shadowhunter,” said Gabriel, and then, catching Cecily’s look, he added, “He might not be that reprehensible a person, either. In entirety.”
“A very magnanimous statement, Gideon,” said Magnus.
“I’m Gabriel.”
Magnus waved a hand. “All Lightwoods look the same to me—”

--Cecily, Gideon, Gabriel, and Magnus

“He has gone after Tessa,” Sophie said.
“Good.” Jem’s long hands plucked at the blanket, contracted once into fists—and then relaxed. “I—am glad.”
“You miss him,” Sophie said.
Jem nodded slowly. “I can feel it—his distance, like a cord inside me pulled very, very tightly. I did not expect that. We have not been apart since we became parabatai.”
“Cecily said you sent him away.”
“Yes,” said Jem. “He was difficult to persuade. I think if he were not in love with Tessa himself, I would not have been able to make him go.”
Sophie’s mouth fell open. “You knew?”
“Not for long,” Jem said. “No, I would not be that cruel. If I had known, I would have never proposed. I would have stood back. I did not know. And yet, now, as everything is going away from me, all things appear in such a clear light that I think I would have come to know it, even if he had not told me. At the end of things, I would have known.” He smiled a little at Sophie’s stricken expression. “I am glad I did not have to wait until the end.”
“You’re not angry?”
“I am glad,” he said. “They will be able to take care of each other when I am gone, or at least I can hope for it. He says she does not love him, but—surely she will come to love him in time. Will is easy to love, and he has given her his whole heart. I can see it. I hope she will not break it.”
Sophie could not think of a word to say. She did not know what anyone could say in the face of love like this—so much forbearance, so much endurance, so much hope.”

--Sophie and Jem

“She touched it now, hoping for guidance but it was as still and mute as ever. As she took her hand away from her throat, though she heard Will’s voice in her head: Sometimes, when I have to do something I don’t want to do, I pretend I’m a character from a book. It’s easier to know what they would do.”

--Tessa

“Tessa’s legs gave out. She slumped to the floor, her dressing gown pooling around her like black water. “You—you want to use me to breed your children?”
Now he did grin. “I am not a man without honor,” he said. “I offer you marriage. I always planned that.” He gestured at the pitiful pile of ragged metal and flesh that had been Mrs. Black. “If I can have your willing participation, I would prefer it. And I can promise I shall deal thus with all your enemies.”
My enemies. She thought of Nate, his hand closing on hers as he died, bloody, in her lap. She thought of Jem again, the way he never railed against his fate but face it down bravely; she thought of Charlotte, who wept over Jessamine’s death, though, Jessie had betrayed her; and she thought of Will, who had laid down his heart for her and Jem to walk upon because he loved them more than he loved himself.
There was human goodness in the world, she thought—all caught up with desire and dreams, regret and bitterness, resentments and powers, but it was there, and Mortmain would never see it.”

--Tessa and Mortmain