Review and G!veway: Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Publication Date: April 24^th, 2012

Balzer + Bray

Format: Hardcover, 445 pages

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

GOODREADS SUMMARY

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, Janelle knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her reincarnation, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI-agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl’s fight to save herself, her world, and the one boy she never saw coming.

The heroine got hit by a truck and died within the first two pages of the book.

Seriously.

Then in a span of approximately two minutes, she woke up staring up at the eyes of the school’s resident stoner.

At this point, I was the figurative fish; hook imbedded deep inside my cheek, and hopelessly flailing at the end of the reel.

I can cite two complaints among the number of gratuitous gushing I have done over this book:

One, the author was relentless in jacking your emotions.  She never once let up; not even to recover. As if the thought of the end of the world wasn’t enough to put the fear of God in the character’s eyes, she also tortured the heroine with other rather, emotionally scarring events in her personal life. And as much as you want to cry with Janelle, Norris will not let you do that. Just when you thought that you can just sit back and contemplate about Janelle’s emotional upheavals, the author pulls her up by the hair on her head, slaps some sense into her and tells her to “suck it up, princess! You have a world to save.” I think this is also the reason why it’s taking me a while to post a review. I had a choice between a shot of tequila or just to step back – way back from the book.  Besides, this complaint may be a good thing to some readers but not to me. I needed time to process, decompress – before I tackle the next round of drama and angst. I'll tell ya one thing, you'll never be bored while you're in the grips of this book.

Two, Nick (brief boyfriend) was a victim of being the unfortunate, irrelevant character (pet peeve of mine). I seriously haven’t a clue why he was there to begin with. Unless he’s got a bigger part in the remaining books of the series, Janelle’s relationship with Nick was the proverbial fat in need of trimming. The same goes with her poor mother. Or maybe it’s just me. I feel like her mother’s mental health was a ploy to add angst in an otherwise, already complicated family dynamics. Her father is a workaholic; living and breathing his FBI life. But he was doing his very best. He’s mostly absent but the little time he spent with his kids was precious, nonetheless. His partner, Struz acted as the big brother who, oddly enough, spent more time with Janelle and her brother than their father did.

There were a myriad of things that happened in the book but Norris managed to bind them all in one cohesive awesomeness. Her writing was clear and concise. I found her very descriptive without being wordy, and at 445 pages, being wordy just spells boredom and imminent flouncing. I’m glad she got her point across; otherwise, this book would at least be double its size.

The way she wrote of Janelle’s emotional state after a loved one’s death was consistent of how she handled her mother’s illness. At times, I found her cold and calculating but if you look at the other things that was going on her life, you’ll find that she’s very adept in compartmentalizing her emotions. She’s always got her head on and she never let anything get in the way of her priorities.

I love the suspenseful element of the barbequed humans and the mysterious countdown. I remember wracking my simple brain for how those two would be related and coming up empty. When I eventually found out toward the end, I wasn’t even close.

Ben, the love interest: This is where I'm supposed to gush and swoon, but I'm opting to skip this part. The impossible romance: Damn it. It hurts like a mofo.  You need to read this book; you need to immerse yourself in a world where parallel universes exist. You need to meet the secondary characters that made this book that much more compelling. You need to meet Ben; the angsty, rebellious, typical bad boy who'd loved Janelle since she was probably ten years old. You just need to read this book, period.

VERDICT: Unraveling did what science fiction had somewhat failed as far as capturing this reader's interest. And though I’ve never been one to go out of my way to acquire books in this genre, the ones I have in my bookshelf seem characteristically lacking in emotional pull. Well, Unraveling is the exact opposite; it was bursting in human elements. Though I was a bit wary of the blurb “24 meets X-Files”, I can honestly say that all my hesitations were all for naught. This high octane novel exceeded all my expectations and then some. 2013 can’t come soon enough.

Who wants a copy of this awesome book? Say, I! Actually, don't do that, just enter below. :)

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Hot Off the Press: Last Week of May 2012

New releases for the week of May 24th - 31st, 2012

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini
Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London
Open Heart by Emlyn Chand

Easy by Tammara Webber
Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper
After Ever by Jillian Eaton

  

Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittermore

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

No Safety in Numbers by Dayna Lorentz

Well, I'm actually looking forward to Dreamless by Josephine Angelini. I didn't have a great time reading the first book of the series but I'm keeping the flames of hope alive that Dreamless would be better. Jennifer Estep's Dark Frost is also one of my looking-forward reads. I have the e-galley but I just can't get into it. I'm dying to get my paperback copy, however. No Safety in Numbers sounds apoclyptically good, but with four narrators, I'm toning down my excitement for this book.

Review and G!veaway: Wanted by Heidi Ayarbe

Publication Date: May 1^st, 2012

Balzer + Bray

Format: Hardback, 400 pages

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

GOODREADS SUMMARY

Sanctuary.

A one-word text message: That’s all Michal “Mike” Garcia needs to gather a crowd. Mike is a seventeen-year-old bookie, and Sanctuary is where she takes bets for anyone at Carson High with enough cash. Her only rule: Never participate, never place a bet for herself.

Then Josh Ellison moves to town. He pushes Mike to live her life, to feel a rush of something—play the game, he urgest, stop being a spectator.

So Mike breaks her one rule. She places a bet, feels the rush.

And loses.

In an act of desperation, she and Josh—who has a sordid past of his own—concoct a plan: The pair will steal from Carson City’s elite to pay back Mike’s debt. Then they’ll give the rest of their haul to those who need it most. How can burglary be wrong if they are making things right?

Wanted will thrust readers into the gritty underbelly of Carson City, where worth is determined by a score, power is derived from threat, and the greatest feat is surviving it all.

Bonnie and Clyde meets Robinhood – the premise couldn’t have sound any more interesting and unique as that. Come to think of it, there have been books written within the parameters of either work but never both. Such an ambitious undertaking, if I may say so myself.

Seventeen year-old Michal is a bookie who had never known what it’s like to live the life of a person of her occupation.  And although the temptation to gamble was severe, she’d never once given in…until Josh Ellison moved to town and dared her to step away from the sidelines. She’s always been careful – a bystander. But with Josh’s appearance in her life, she was suddenly craving for a thrilling life. She soon found the high of gambling addictive. But when she starts to lose, she felt little choice but to bet money she never had and on occasions, was never hers. As bad ideas go, Josh and Mike decided to steal to pay off her debts. It soon becomes a challenge, a mission. At first, the stealing was justified by giving them to those in need and stealing from the rich vindicated the act of thievery. Desperation sets in as authorities’ clue in on the Babylonia duo.  Mike makes the biggest gamble of her life in an attempt to right all the wrongs. One bad decision led to another and at the end of it all, she would come to a delayed conclusion that it was all worth it.

This was my first Heidi Ayarbe work and I have a hunch that it won’t be the last. I’ve read some of the blurbs for her books and they just give you a hint that the themes veer toward social consciousness. The same could be said for Wanted. It was so much more than just bored, rich kids gambling their money away. Here, the topic of social and racial divide between Mexican-Americans and Americans was highlighted by the lack of respect between the two. Like it or not and whether you agree or disagree, this issue is still relevant.

Wanted is also about a girl finding herself in a world where she felt she didn’t belong and where her existence wasn’t wanted. But if you’re anticipating a girl who’d cry a river about her shortcomings, and, or whine about her social inadequacies, Mike isn’t that girl. I thought that she was TOO accepting of her place in the world that when she was speaking about her failures, physical or otherwise, it felt too matter-of-fact. I have a lot of admiration for this girl; she commands attention with a single word; she’s strong when she wants to be and weak when she can’t help it. In other words, she’s pretty freaking normal.

The romance was subtle through practically the entirety of the novel. Finding her challenger in Josh, the boy showed her all the things she’s been missing while she was busy watching life pass her by. The subtlety however, added to the culminating build-up when these two finally happened. It was sad, unfair and ultimately just…tragic.

VERDICT: Powerful, heart-wrenching, eye-opening novel. Wanted goes to the very heart of a girl who would learn who she is through some questionable decisions she would make in life. The Bonnie and Clyde part gives you an inkling of how this book ends; the Robinhood, gives you some insight on what our two main characters are about. But this book turned out to be so much more. Heidi Ayarbe’s writing is very real and compelling. She stripped away all the high school drama and replaced it with a very mature reality. I can’t wait to read the rest of her work.

Psst! Want a copy of this fantastic book? Enter below. 

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Review: Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

Publication Date: November 1^st, 2011

Katherine Tegen Books

Format: Hardback, 316 pages

RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars

GOODREADS SUMMARY

Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Patrick Carman's Dark Eden is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and— ultimately—immortality.

mso-hansi-theme-fontI give the author props for setting up a creepy world where you expect to be horrified at every turn.

I give the author props for conjuring up a group of characters whose seemingly normal temperaments belie the crippling fears they have within.

I give the author props for setting up a creepy world where you expect to be horrified at every turn.

I give the author props for writing pages upon pages of ominous scenarios, settings, and landscapes.

And as much as I want to say this book will the scare the pants out of you…I, unfortunately, cannot.

I don’t know why anyone would say this book can be classified as a thriller when it wasn’t even mildly so. I’m not trying to be a jerk by trivializing these kids’ fears but I felt like the entire set up was beyond over the top. The author made a fanfare out of everything - promising too much without really fulfilling. It was disappointing. I read…and read…and read and waited for that moment when my heart would skip a beat but it didn’t happen.

I’ll give you this: The twist near the end almost, ALMOST made reading this book worthwhile. However, it came out of the left field. It was one of those, ‘where the hell did that come from?’ moment. In the end, it was like the majority of the book was a fruitless practice because a major element of the plot was a surprise of an epic proportions. I think this is the first book I’ve ever read where the shock didn’t do much for me.

Incidentally, there’s an app for this book. It might enhance your reading experience better. As for me, I think I’ll pass. I’m sitting here and resisting the urge to pull my hair off their roots. I’ve read reviews for this book and I’m completely aghast that once again, y’all left me at the bus stop.

VERDICT: I don’t think I read the same book as everybody else. Or…there were some subliminal messages that I completely missed. All in all, this book was a disappointment and a half.

Review: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Publication Date: May 8th, 2012

Format: Hardback, 404 pages

Katherine Tegen Books

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Reeling from the recent gruesome death of her best friend, Mac is struggling to find peace. As Amy’s ghost haunt her dreams, her remaining circle of friends seemed to be growing apart. Jason, Amy’s boyfriend is on a downward spiral, while Kyle, Mac’s best friend harbors secrets that involve his clingy ex. But the terror of the citizens of Hemlock is also far from over as wolf attacks persist.  A group of radical werewolves hunters moved in, bringing in extreme views and questionable methods enough to rival the terrors incited by the werewolves themselves. Suddenly, Mac is thrust right in the thick of it all as she tries to save Jason from himself and Kyle from his secrets.

Just when I had my fill of werewolves, Hemlock proves that once again, I really shouldn’t say, NEVER again to the call of these mythical creatures. Kathleen Peacock’s initial offering to her Hemlock trilogy was a fantastic set-up to what promises to be an addictive series. Admittedly, this book has been on my radar since I got wind of it. And let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed.

From a cast of fascinating, well-developed characters, sweet and mostly angst-ridden romance, Hemlock is a novel that had me completely obsessed. For once in my ever-loving life, I actually looked forward to what promises to be a difficult love triangle among the three characters. I say difficult, because I was truthfully torn between the two male leads in the book. And while I’m pervasively into bad boys, Kyle’s sweet disposition had me re-thinking all the reasons why I loved misunderstood bad boys to begin with. But Jason’s brooding, angry outlook in life reels me back in, soaking in all his dark glory. I predict that this love triangle will give me future headaches and not for the usual reasons that I abhor this type of romance. Kathleen Peacock achieved the impossible; she had me checking all my prejudices about werewolves and the dreadful love triangles at the door.

I must admit that I don't readily accept a reality where mythical creatures exist. I question the whys and the hows - the genesis of the world in the book, if I may. But I was quite satisfied with the premise that it all began with a disease – the lupine syndrome. I liked the ambience that Kathleen conceived in Hemlock. The rabid wolves have the serial killers quality that had me imagining a city on a lockdown at the first sign of trouble. I also loved that not all werewolves were created equal; there were some who constantly battled themselves to fight off the monster within.

The eventual killer in the book was a surprise! I never saw it coming for sure. It almost broke my heart when the culprit was revealed.

The only problem I had with this book is the heroine's predisposition to face the problems head on, all by her brave self. Yes, it’s a characteristic typical of a hero/heroine in a novel but at times, I couldn’t help but question her state of mind. Sometimes, her justification for not asking someone's help bordered on stupidity. One thing’s for sure, her courage goes deep and more often, beyond her capacity. But I guess that’s rarely a bad thing, isn't it? Regardless, I absolutely loved MacKenzie - a refreshing character lacking in fear, fiercely loyal, and an overall admirable heroine.

VERDICT: Mystery, suspense, action, and a realistic, addictive romance guaranteed to torment, Hemlock is a fantastic debut tackling a tired paranormal myth. But don't fret, this book has some twists that will sure to surprise you.

Review: Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

Publication Date: May 29^th, 2012

HarperTeen

Format: ARC, 342 pages

RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.

The war between humans and vampires has ended. And while humans would like to believe that both species could co-exist peacefully, Lessers and anti-vamps alike would beg to disagree. This is a world where a city is walled all around in the hopes of keeping the rogue vampires out. The delegate, Dawn Montgomery inherited the position from her murdered parents. The responsibility of keeping Lord Valentine supplied with ample supply of blood rests on her young shoulders. But the powerful patriarch isn’t so keen on making her job easy. With increasing demands for blood, Dawn’s spite for their kind grew with more determination. When she meets Victor Valentine, her will, principles and beliefs will be tested. But how much would it take to convince her that not all vampires are monsters?

Yes, I know. Not another vampire book. And while the authors did a phenomenal job on keeping the creepy ambiance throughout the book, it’s a mountain of a job to convince readers that this book has something entirely unique. The truth is, there really isn’t. Here are some of the plot elements: human and vampire forbidden love, humans enslaved by the vampires, and an overzealous overlord who’s bent on keeping the Victorian traditions in the modern times. Really nothing special. We've read the same ol' thing before. 

The relationship between Dawn and Michael had such sweet beginnings; but the circumstance with how quickly Michael turned on Dawn was mind-boggling. Considering how respectful, loving and sweet Michael was in the beginning, the turn-around didn't make sense and most of all, seemingly forced. It seemed like the authors wanted to get rid of him quickly. In which case, I wished he wasn’t part of the equation altogether. His role was diminished that he almost faded to black. I have tried to rationalize why Michael was in the book to begin with when he had very little impact on Dawn's overall characterization. Other than the fact that he was the other side of the triangle, I thought his character was insignificant.The authors spent time building up the relationship that had eventually ended in a resounding thud. It was a waste of my time.

Victor Valentine was your run of the mill vampire; brooding, mysterious, holy-hotness. Unfortunately, his character suffered from underdevelopment. He could've been so much more but I found him aloof and cold. I always look for emotions from characters and Victor was as frigid as an ice box even though he was the equivalent of a humanitarian for his kind.

Dawn didn't fare well either. She was supposed to be kick ass but she withered under the glare of the insipid token mean girl. I don't get it. She dealt with the Lord vampire himself; the scariest, oldest vampire there was and yet she could hardly stand up for herself when it comes to the school's queen bee.

And have I mentioned I have a general distaste for love triangle? Well, this one has it. Although it was less taxing as opposed to some of the ones I’ve read from the past, I think it was the primary reason why I didn’t love this book as much as I would’ve.

This book was actually quite predictable; no surprises and twists in the plot, though the authors tried. Unfortunately, I saw it from a mile away. The characters were a bit flat and quite forgettable. I was really looking forward to reading this book. Sadly, it didn’t deliver.

VERDICT: If vampires are your thing, then this book is right up your alley. If you’re like me who’s read one too many, then you might want to pick up another off your shelves. Honestly speaking, I think I'm still interested in how this story will progress and will probably check out the installment.   

Hot Off the Press: Third Week of May 2012

Hello Everyone!

This week's batch is not too bad - almost manageable! 

 MAY 22ND, 2012

The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo

Talisman of El by Alecia Stone

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

MAY 22ND, 2012

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross
The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson
Taken by Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

MAY 22ND, 2012

Fated by Alyson Noël
Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Which of these new releases are you most jonesing for?

In My Mailbox #35

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, which showcases the books we've purchased, borrowed and received in the mail this week. This is the 35th episode of HOARDERS, Books Edition.

_________________________________________________________________________

For Review.

The Infects by Sean Beaudoin

Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie

(Much love to Candlewick Press for these ARCs!)

BARGAIN BOOKS.

I've been slowly filling up the bookshelves that I have in my cabin so anytime I visit the bookstore, I'm always on the lookout for some bargain books. These are not too bad; they're ranging from $5 - $8. 

Night Road by Kristin Hannah - This is actually a second copy. I have a paperback but this one is a hardback, so definitely a good find...and no, I haven't read the book yet. 

Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon - This is also a second copy. I bought Infinity (the first of the series) at a bargain price too and since I'm a big Kenyon fan, I thought, why not have a second copy at the cabin? Yes, I do realize how messed up my reasonings are but hello? Hoarder?! Yep. That's me. 

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen - Don't know much about this series but since it was in the bargain bin, I thought I'd pick it up anyway. 

The Swan Kingdom by Zoë Marriott - I've read a couple of her works already and I'm becoming a fan. 

The rest of my madness.

A Whole New Light by Sandra Brown

As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender

Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

In Honor by Jess Kirby

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Wrecked by Anna Davies

Being Friends with Boys by Terra Elan McVoy

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame

The Taker by Alma Katsu

Forgotten by Catherine McKenzie

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Underworld by Meg Cabot

Kiss the Morning Star by Elissa Janine Hoole

What's in your mailbox?

Review: Changeling by Philippa Gregory

Publication Date: May 29^th, 2012

Simon Pulse

Format: ARC, 272 pages

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of the first-ever teen series from #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl

Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days.    

Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.    

Despite their vows, despite themselves, love grows between Luca and Isolde as they travel across Europe with their faithful companions, Freize and Ishraq. The four young people encounter werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers as they head toward a real-life historical figure who holds the boundaries of Christendom and the secrets of the Order of the Dragon.     

I have read several of Ms. Gregory’s Tudor series. I love her writing and her dedication to keep her novels as close to the history books as possible. I was so excited when I found out that she was writing a YA historical and got even more excited when I got an ARC of this book in the mail! Needless to say, I didn’t waste much time and got started on it right away.

I have to say that while this book held so little of what I’ve loved about Philippa’s writing, it was passable enough for entertainment’s sake. I was swept away back to a scary time when religion – most specifically Catholicism and Rome had the world on their hands. When the difference between fanatics and heretics was what separated people from enduring unimaginable tortures in the hands of those appointed by church. And while there weren’t any of those scenarios in the book, if you’ve ever been familiar with her novels, you would have those very thoughts at the back of your mind.

Changeling is a story of a gifted seminarian who left his vocation for reasons that could have earned him a stint on a rack. This book was a fact-finding mission about everything that was paranormal and, or unexplainable in the world. At a time when the only explanation was either witchcraft or Satan’s doings, Luca Vero has his work cut out for him. His first mission was to explain the sudden madness that descended upon the nuns of a monastery reluctantly headed by a seventeen year-old Lady Abess, Isolde. The investigation unearthed some pretty disturbing findings least of them had nothing to do with the paranormal.

I thought it was pretty ingenious. I love the mix of fantasy, religion and the mystical. Gregory twisted those elements in such a way that the eventual explanation had more to do with basic human nature and nothing at all to do with theology.

If you ask me, you can ignore the romance that the synopsis alluded to. It was non-existent in the book. I’m pretty disappointed that they’re trying to sell a love angle that was barely there. Aside from some realizations about how Isolde and Luca were attractive to each other, nothing really happened. I did love Freize and Ishraq’s chemistry.

Another thing that I had a problem with this book was the lack of cohesiveness between the two missions that they found themselves solving. At 272 pages, it almost felt like Ms. Gregory had a collection of short stories that she wanted to publish and this series was her outlet. But perhaps this series will be told in this method: a group of unrelated stories told as they make their way to the world, solving mysteries and debunking the unexplained.

VERDICT: If you’ve ever had a problem with long, drawn out historicals, Philippa Gregory’s Changeling is just the thing to cure your boredom. I couldn’t resist staying up till the wee hours of the morning just to finish this book. Even if I had problems, I still think Ms. Gregory is a master story teller.

Review and G!veaway: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: May 8^th, 2012

Margaret K. McElderry Books

Format: Hardcover, 536 pages

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

WARNING: Mild cussing.

Book number five follows a story of a different possession. While Lilith has been disposed of for the moment, the evil Sebastian is controlling my man, Jace. In a customary Cassie Clare fashion, the road from point A to point B was a roller coaster ride and a study on how to twist her readers’ guts and emotions. But I coasted along. Loved every minute of it. Hated some parts of it. And all the while thinking to myself, gah! What the heck is the deal with the author’s fascination with incest? Seriously.

Anyway.

This is perhaps the best book of the series, in my opinion. I love that there were a lot of Jace and Clary action even though Jace wasn’t really himself. I love that all the romantic connections with the characters went somewhere. Simon and Isabelle are moving in the right direction. Here, I’m finally able to see Jordan and Maia together. Damn. These two sizzled. And if I haven’t mentioned it before, I’ll say it over and over again.

Magnus and Alec.

Alec and Magnus. That is all.

Even if Alec was a bit frustrating in this book with how he treated Magnus, the boy needed to get over all his insecurities to see how great they really were. But Jesus Murphy Jones, did you ever annoy me, Alec! Geebus. The whole entire time, you were like a freaking girl in the relationship. Your brooding, insecure bullshit was enough to induce a bitch fit of epic proportions. I mean, seriously. Magnus has been alive for 748940598564908 years and you’re freaking out because he’s had relationships before you? Bitch please. What the hell did you expect? Was he supposed to have remained celibate while he waits for you? Are you high? And if it wasn’t the fact that Magnus is like the Wilt Chamberlain of warlocks, it was his immortality that’s bugging you? Lord. I could go on and on.

So yeah. Cassandra Clare kicked the icky factor up a notch. Sebastian went twenty past crazy in this book, yo. But hey, to each to their own. He jones-ed for his sister in a bad way [excuse me, while I swallow a whole bottle of mouthwash. Yuck.]

VERDICT: I don’t care what all you haters say, this series is freaking awesome. Yes, my review may indicate otherwise but I’d rather read a book where it got me so hopping mad than a book that made me feel nothing at all. And I just found out that the installment does not come out till 2014. I’m hurting something awful. =/

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