Book Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones – Cassandra Clare

*Warning – may contain spoilers*

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd

First published: 2007

Edition: Paperback; advertises release of the movie

Pages: 442

Blurb:    Clary Fray is seeing things: vampires in Brooklyn and werewolves in Manhattan. Irresistibly drawn towards a group of sexy demon hunters, Clary encounters the dark side of New York City – and the dangers of forbidden love.

History of my copy: One of my friends recommended the series to me years ago, probably around 2010-2011. I eventually picked up my copy just before the film was released back in 2013 and immediately became hooked. I am in love with the Shadowhunter world and Clare’s books!

This is actually a review of a re-read... I have no idea how many times I’ve read this book now, and I still love it! Especially when you pick up on links to Clare’s other Shadowhunter novels.

Plot: The first instalment of The Mortal Instruments introduces us to seemingly mundane Clary Fray and her best friend Simon. It turns out though that things aren’t quite as ordinary as it seems when Clary discovers she is actually a Shadowhunter, just like Jace, Alec and Isabelle who she meets. Thrown into a world of demons and Downworlders, Clary must find out who she is and where she belongs, whilst also trying to save her mother.

City of Bones fantastically introduces us to the Shadow world and the key characters, whilst also setting the scene for the next 5 books and the imminent war. Touches of romance and family dilemmas add to the plot, making it fast paced and real page turner. Once you’re hooked on this one, you’ll be hooked on all of Clare’s other books too!

Setting: City of Bones takes place almost entirely in New York, mainly in the New York institute, a building that mundanes see as a ruined church. For the majority of the time, Clare’s setting is gloriously detailed, from the vampire haven of Hotel DuMort to the eerie City of Bones. The one thing I have always had trouble picturing, however, is parts of the institute, especially as the TV show, Shadowhunters, portrayed it so differently to the few bits I had set out.

Characters: It’s really hard on a re-read to judge characters on what you know from that specific book, rather than everything else that you learn later. For example, I remember not being a huge fan of Alec when I started the series, but come the end he is one of my favourites. The same goes for Luke.

               Without a doubt, though, my favourite character is the one and only Magnus Bane. Again, although I didn’t love him in the first book, I never disliked him, but my appreciation for him has just grown continually. He’s such a magnificent character and person and every time he appears in any of Clare’s books, I just get super excited.

               Jace is another character I wasn’t too sure on. Sure, super-hot and cool and a great Shadowhunter, but he always came across as too full of himself and his story seemed a bit too tragic, but again, I learned to adore him.

               Clary is a fantastic lead character, and Clare has her priorities sorted perfectly. I feel like she was perhaps too trusting of the Shadowhunters initially, but I guess they do save her life enough times. And Simon! Even from the first book, I love Simon endlessly. He is witty and brave and sticks out like a sore thumb, but in a way that just makes me love him more.

To read or not to read: Must read. In case you haven’t already figured this out, I would recommend City of Bones and, subsequently, all of Cassandra Clare’s books to absolutely everyone. I adore them. They are brilliantly written and have lots of little links between the books which makes them even more fun to read. Whilst not her strongest book, City of Bones is a phenomenal debut novel and really set the scene for high expectations from Clare.

Christmas Book Haul 2

It's that time of year again folks! I hope you have all had an amazing festive period whether you celebrate Christmas, any other holidays, or nothing at all. 

As per usual, it isn't really Christmas without family, gifts and, of course, books! I thought for this post I would do a quick update on the state of the books I got last Christmas (blog post can be found here) and then dive into the literary wonders I received this time round.

Last year's books:

Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia by Christopher Paolini

This was the first book I completed in 2016 and I gave it a 4* review.

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

I'm still yet to finish this one, but the images are just beautiful!

Wars of the Roses: Bloodline by Conn Iggulden

Oops I haven't even started this one yet.

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Ahh yes this one was so good! I gave it a 5* review.

The Company of the Dead by David Kowalksi

Don't think I've even started this one either.

The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

I haven't even touched the first of this trilogy. Maybe this year?

The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

I loved this one so much I actually finished it back in 2015, just after Christmas! It got a 4* review.

The Enchanted Forest Postcards by Joanna Basford

I've done a few of these now and I'm still super obsessed with how pretty they are. Check out my adult colouring page here.

And now onto this years books!!!

The Bronze Key by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Already read this one and I am so in love with it! It had a great twist and I'm heartbroken and I just need the next one like right now. Review shall be up soon.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

I read this back when it came out and gave it a glorious 5* review which you can read here. This was the edition I really wanted because it's so beautiful and is stamped by Cassie, but it was sold out when I wanted to get it. You should've seen the look on my face when I found some in my local Waterstones just before Christmas! I practically ran across the store crying! So yes, I am very glad to finally add this to my collection.

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a pretty big Clare fan. I've wanted to read these short stories about Simon for a while now, but, as I did with The Bane Chronicles, I patiently waited until they were released as a full collection. Can't wait to get stuck in!

Wars of the Roses: Ravenspur by Conn Iggulden

Still haven't read Bloodline, but I needed this beautiful hard back edition to add to my collection.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

I am a h.u.g.e. Meyer fan. The Lunar Chronicles is one of my favourite series ever and I've been dying to get my hands on Heartless since its release. This edition is gorgeous and I can't wait to get started! Find my review for Stars Above here, including links to the 4 main books of The Lunar Chronicles.

Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

As you can see above, I loved the first book in the Magnus Chase series and can't wait to get stuck into this one.

Illustrated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Seriously, you can never read Harry Potter enough times. These illustrated editions are just a gorgeous collection to any Potter collection. They're almost too pretty to read!

Taylor Swift - This Is Our Song by Tyler Conroy

I have been a dedicated Swiftie for over a decade now so as soon as I saw this book, I knew I needed it. I'll probably get super jealous of all the fans when I read it (I still haven't seen her live - she always plays too far away for me to affordably go see) but I'll live with it because I just need more Swift in my life.


So there we have it! These are all the books I got for Christmas. Leave a comment with the ones you received!

Book Review: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Lady Midnight – Cassandra Clare

*Warning – may contain spoilers* (I have tried my hardest not to)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

First published: 2016

Cover: Paperback with blue page edges

Pages: 669 + 22-page short story

Blurb:    In a kingdom by the sea…

 In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word. A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other – but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter. She lives for battle. Alongside her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries – the most powerful of supernatural creatures – teeter on the edge of war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries are found murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held by the faerie Courts. All they have to do is solve the murders within two weeks… and before the murderer targets them.

Their search takes Emma from the sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents – and can she bear to know the truth?

History of my copy: I got this copy delivered to me on release day and I have been reading it since then. I hate how long it has taken me to read it! If I had it my way, I would’ve stayed up all night to finish it. However, amongst school, being ill, and having to catch up on work, it took me so long to read.

Plot: Lady Midnight follows the Los Angeles Institute five years (I think) after the events of City of Heavenly Fire. It’s a world where Julian Blackthorn is the father figure to all his siblings, and practically runs the Institute himself. The plot follows the Blackthorn’s, along with Emma Carstairs and Christina as they secretly investigate some murders that are awfully similar to Emma’s parent’s death.

         Without spoiling the plot for anyone, I’m just going to say this: The Guardian was totally not who I expected it to be!!! Plot twist!

         My only major problem with the plot was Julian and Emma’s relationship. I just feel like the romantic side was so forced. To be honest, I loved the brief bit of Mark and Emma that happened just at the end!

         Also, the short story at the end – Sizzy and Clace!!!!!!

         Another great thing about the plot was that it was kept separate from The Mortal Instruments. Sure, it would help to read them to get the background story, to know who Jace and Clary are, etc. but there is nothing preventing you from reading The Dark Artifices as a stand-alone series.

Setting: I do feel as if the setting could have been described a little more, as a few times I wasn’t really sure what the landscape was like. As I’ve never been to L.A., I couldn’t really picture it too well.

Characters: As always, Clare has brilliantly crafted her characters so that you fall in love with them, whilst noticing their flaws, and preparing to have your heart ripped out.

                I do feel as if the Blackthorn family is a little too large – a few times I had to pause to try and remember which child it was, how old they were, what they’re like, etc. Maybe in future books they will all begin to play a major part, which would explain why there are so many of them.

                I would also like a lot more background on Christina and Diego, and what happened in Mexico, but I imagine that shall be explored in future books. I also would’ve liked a little more back story to Malcolm Fade, the warlock.

                Furthermore, I totally cannot wait to see Kit’s character to develop as he accepts his new identity.

                One of my favourite things about the characters though was the occasional sprinkling of all those old characters we love! From Jem and Tessa through to Jace and Clary, then there is Simon and Isabelle’s engagement and Alec and Magnus and their adopted kids!! This book contains a good mix of old and new that both die-hard fans and new readers will struggle to resist.

To read or not to read: Read. Overall, this is another fantastic Shadowhunter novel by Cassandra Clare. When first announced, there was a bit of an outcry that she was over-using the Shadow World. However, with an idea so brilliantly unique and well-crafted, as long as the stories remain unique and interesting, she can write as many as she wants in my opinion! Definitely go and read, regardless of whether you have read The Infernal Devices and/or The Mortal Instruments or not. I assure you, you won’t be disappointed. (And you will probably fall in love with Mark Blackthorn too). 

World Book Day 2016

So, the most important day of the year in the book world is here! Happy World Book Day to fellow bibliophiles world wide, although I believe it's only celebrated today in the UK.

Now that I'm in sixth form, dressing up as my favourite book character is no longer an option, which is a real shame. I remember those primary school costumes that my mum spent hours on, my favourites being this beautiful mermaid tail we made with individual scales (although it was a pain to sit down in) and one year we had to wear a book-themed hat, for which we made this Charlotte's Web inspired top hat, with straw and soft animals.

There are also more recent memories, such as only a few years ago when I went as a shadowhunter, which was a lot of fun. I also went as a Hogwarts student numerous times.

World Book Day was first celebrated in 1995, and has become an annual celebration ever since, loved by bookworms both young and old. It's mostly celebrated in Primary Schools to encourage young children to read more, especially nowadays when games consoles and TV are becoming more and more popular. I highly support this motive, ass I feel that reading is an important part of development to both encourage imagination, and to help people become more accepting and open-minded of the world, and to help them in making decisions. For me, I find it much easier to make difficult and stressful decisions, if I can relate it to a book character and remember how they reasoned through it.

Although I always have numerous books on the go, I usually have a main one that is my priority to finish. Currently, Cress by Marissa Meyer is my main read, and I love it so much! The Lunar Chronicles just get better and better. I hope that I shall finish it soon, with a book review being posted within the next week.

So what books are you currently reading? And, if you're celebrating world book day, what are you up to?

Book Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess – Cassandra Clare

*Warning – may contain spoilers*

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd.

First published: 2013

Cover: Paperback

Pages: 565

Blurb:    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 Shadowhunters 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.

History of my copy: A friend of mine got me into City of Bones and the rest of The Mortal Instruments series a few years ago, and since then I've been hooked on the Shadowhunter world. The Infernal Devices are a fantastic prequel series that I picked up not much longer after getting into the Shadowhunter books.

This is the second time I have read The Infernal Devices, and I am still so in love with them! Cassandra Clare is a fantastic author, and her Shadowhunter world is beautiful and believable. I am a huge fans of books that fit a fantasy world around the real world, such as Harry Potter and The Infernal Devices, because it makes them just that little more believable.

Plot: As the final instalment in The Infernal Devices, I’m not going to delve into the plot too much as it will make little sense unless you have read the previous two novels. Basically, this book ties up Mortmain’s story, ultimately leading to his death and the downfall of his clockwork army, which have been made even more deadly by tying them to demons thanks to Tessa. Also, this book concludes the heartbreaking decision of Jem or Will in the most surprising way possible.

Setting: One of my favourite things about this series is that it is set in Victorian London, a setting I find always improves every book. The only other main setting is the ironically chosen Cadair Idris. Clare describes the settings well, allowing you to really feel as if you are really immersed in Shadowhunter Britain.

Characters: The development of Will Herondale throughout the series has led to him being one of my favourite all time characters. Funny yet kind, honest yet seemingly cold to all the world but Jem and Tessa, he really is the dark-haired, blue eyed boy you fall in love with.

                Another of my all-time favourite characters appears in this book, despite being introduced in The Mortal Instruments, is Magnus Bane. As a warlock, he is extravagant, wise and unique. Despite trying not to, you can see he really does care about the London Shadowhunters, especially Will and Tessa, and he is a pivotal character, along with Henry Branwell, in making the Portal.

               

To read or not to read: Read. I would recommend any Shadowhunter novel to everyone, as they are fantastically written and you really do get lost in their world.