April 27, 2011

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare


Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)




Goodreads Summary: 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 gas lit 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 Take: I am once again brought back into the fabulous fantasy world of another terrific novel created by Cassandra Clare. How does she do it? Where does she come up with these characters and story ideas? And, how does she create such a detailed plot picture (without being too mind-numbingly detailed); a plot that draws you so intimately into the story?

This book for me was extremely dark. It starts out with the main character, Tessa, being disturbingly imprisoned and tortured by two awful Downworlder (Warlock) women known as the "Dark Sisters." Aside from being imprisoned, part of Tessa's torture involves the Dark Sisters giving Tessa a personal item from someone and torturing Tessa into shape-shifting into whomever the item belongs to. Shape-shifting is something Tessa never even knew she was capable of doing, but the Dark Sisters force her to shift, sometimes a dozen times a day, which is an extremely painful, agonizing, exhausting and debilitating process for Tessa. And, the only thing keeping Tessa from giving up all hope and fighting for her life is the knowledge that they have also imprisoned her brother and he will only be let free if she does the Dark Sister's bidding. And her brother is the only living family she has left!

I was immediately sucked in!

One thing in particular that I really liked about this book was that I got to see the point-of-view and true feelings of someone who is not a Shadowhunter. And, I got to see and finally understand why so many Downworlders despise Shadowhunters.

Cassandra Clare did really well keeping the storyline and descriptions in the Steampunk era, including the worldly descriptions, the characters' personalities, even the politics about how people are treated in that era, especially women.

After reading Cassandra Clare’s books; I always tend to check out her website to read through some of her descriptions and FAQ’s. Her website is http://cassandraclare.com/cms/home.

I found the characters she created in this book fascinating in their own unique way. I ended up really liking, disliking or despising each character. Check out Cassandra Clare’s character descriptions here: Infernal Characters.

This book was intense, action-packed, magical, horrific and mind-boggling all at once. When reading any book written by Cassandra, it is not possible to just fast read through parts of the book. If you do, you will likely miss something that is essential in the current or later books. And even though I was really into Cassandra's Shadowhunter dream, this is a sizable book of vivid detail that would normally take me 4 days to read, but I devoured this book in 2 nights. And it was delicious!

I would highly recommend that you read Cassandra’s books in the order of publication. For example: Mortal Instruments City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, Infernal Devices Clockwork Angel and then Mortal Instruments City of Fallen Angels, but it is not necessary.  (The first 3 are linked to my review of the books).

This book left me really pondering about Cassandra’s Warlocks. How is a Warlock created? If Magnus hasn’t aged in several hundred years, did he stop aging when he was made a Warlock? Are Warlocks born or created? I can’t wait to have all my questions answered! That is what makes this whole series so fun and exciting!

So if you haven’t joined the amazing Shadowhunter world, come join now! Have fun and don’t always expect a happy ending.


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Buy on BN.com Here:
Clockwork Angel (Nook Book)
Clockwork Angel (Harcover)
By on Amazon Here:
Clockwork Angel (Hardcover)
Clockwork Angel (Kindle Edition)

View all my reviews

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We're unveiling the cover for @JKagawa's #ironfey e... on Twitpic

We're unveiling the cover for @JKagawa's #ironfey e... on Twitpic

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Clockwork Angel Quote by Cassandra Clare

I'm reading Clockwork Angel right now and I just HAD to share this quote. "Jem seemed to look through her then, as if he were seeing something beyond her, beyond the corridor, beyond the Institute iteself. "Whatever you are physically," he said, "male or female, strong or week, ill or healthy-all those things matter less than what your heart contains.  If you have the soul of a warrior.  Whatever the color, the shape, the design of the shade that conceals it, the flame inside the lame remains the same. You are that flame,""

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April 25, 2011

Magical Urban Fantasy Reads: Review or Blog Tour Requests?

Do you want me to review your book?  Would you like me to host a blog tour?
See details HERE!!!

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April 23, 2011

The Iron Fey Week Giveaway!

I <3 Reading is hosting a Book Giveaway of The Iron Fey books! 
Enter Here:  I <3 Reading Giveaway

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April 22, 2011

CoFA Book Giveaway

Week #3 for City Of Fallen Angels Book Giveaway!: "Week 3 Giveaway will have 2 winners! Two winners will receive a copy by mail of the new release City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare! ..."


Expired

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April 18, 2011

First look: Vampire Academy into graphic-novel

All you Vampire Academy lovers, check out the First Look at Vampire Academy Lovers HERE!
And if you haven't read Vampire Academy, it is a must read!

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Week #2 for City Of Fallen Angels Book Giveaway!

"City Of Fallen Angels Book Giveaway!You have 2 more chances to win! Fill out the form above for Week #2 CoFA Book Giveaway.

Expired!

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April 16, 2011

Turned by Morgan Rice

Turned (Book #1 in the Vampire Journals)



Goodreads Book Summary - In TURNED (Book #1 of the Vampire Journals series), 18 year old Caitlin Paine finds herself uprooted from her nice suburb and forced to attend a dangerous New York City high school when her Mom moves again. The one ray of light in her new surroundings is Jonah, a new classmate who takes an instant liking to her.


But before their romance can blossom, Caitlin suddenly finds herself changing. She is overcome by a superhuman strength, a sensitivity to light, a desire to feed--by feelings she does not understand. She seeks answers to what’s happening to her, and her cravings lead her to the wrong place at the wrong time. Her eyes are opened to a hidden world, right beneath her feet, thriving underground in New York City. She finds herself caught between two dangerous covens, right in the middle of a vampire war.


It is at this moment that Caitlin meets Caleb, a mysterious and powerful vampire who rescues her from the dark forces. He needs her to help lead him to the legendary lost artifact. And she needs him for answers, and for protection. Together, they will need to answer one crucial question: who was her real father?

But Caitlin finds herself caught between two men as something else arises between them: a forbidden love. A love between the races that will risk both of their lives, and will force them to decide whether to risk it all for each other…


My Take -
First off, I am going to be critical. This book really lacked character depth. I kept thinking, “I love this story line and the intensity, but I am not really feeling the characters.” It’s as if the characters have no true feelings! If I could rate only the story line of Turned, I would give it a 3 or 4 stars. But if I only rated the book based off of creating a descriptive picture of the events or for character build, I would without a doubt give this book only 1 or 2 stars.  To be completely honest, when I think of this book, I think of it being written for a college paper.  I think it is really good, but I feel like it is more narrative than a book.  Kind of like someone is telling a story in writing and leaving out the picture.  Do you see where I am coming from?

I truly think that a really good editor could make this story amazing all the way through!


Here are some parts I was questioning (as in, what the eff?!): Caitlin suddenly becomes jealous of Caleb’s wife, but Caitlin’s only known Caleb for a few hours? She’s known this guy for what, a day, and she now expects him to leave the life he has lived for 800 years? And he does? Huh?! And, are they now in love? Also, Caitlin never “truly” mourned the death of her mom and she never really seemed that upset that her brother abandoned her!  Seriously?!

In just 150 pages this story was appealing, intense and action packed! While reading I kept thinking, "How is this story going to have a resolution in just so few pages?"  And I was right; there is a semi-ending to the book but it still leaves me wanting more.

The story reminds me of a really good TV series. While reading I kept thinking, “This would be like watching the first episode of an intense season premier.”  But I really would like to know more about the characters, more about the Covens and the war that has now begun between the good and bad vampires.

It is obvious that Caitlin is a key in the war between the Covens; but my guess is that Jonah (a human that Caitlin has feelings for) will play a big part in the war as well. Who knows, I’m not very creative so Morgan Rice just might surprise me!


Buy on Amazon here:
Turned by Morgan Rice (Kindle edition)
Turned by Morgan Rice (Paperback)

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April 15, 2011

Sneak Peek of The City of Bones graphic adaptation

TH3RDWORLD Studios Presents The City of Bones art graphic preview!

TMI Preview Panel #4
TMI Preview Panel #3TMI Preview Panel #5

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Follow Friday

Q. Do you have anyone that you can discuss books with IRL? Tell us about him/her.

I have several people I talk about books with.  For the most part it is with several girls at my work and one guy.  The girls and I at my work got together and started a bookclub.  It's nice to just get away from the hubby and kids to enjoy an evening with other women.

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Afterlife by Claudia Gray

Afterlife (Evernight, #4)



Goodreads Book Summary - The fourth book in this electrifying vampire series has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray's Evernight books runaway successes.

Having become what they feared most, Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They must return to Evernight Academy, Lucas as a vampire and Bianca as a wraith. But Lucas is haunted by demons, both personal and supernatural. Bianca must help him fight the evil inside him, combat the forces determined to drive them apart—and find the power to claim her destiny at last.

Readers have fallen in love with Bianca and Lucas, and they will be thrilled to read this exciting conclusion to their romantic adventure.

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My Take - The ending to the amazing series created by Claudia Gray was exactly the ending I was looking for. From the first book in this series, Evernight, I prepared myself to expect the unexpected, and I got that and more! Everything in this book was bewildering.

The ending to Hourglass (book #3) was horrible and shocking, but at the same time, a marvelous cliffhanger. Bianca, Lucas and their families’ worst nightmares had come true. Bianca is now a wraith and Lucas is now a vampire; will the people they love accept them? Can they even accept what they’ve become?

This remarkable book is all about how every character (and I truly mean EVERY character) learns to face their fears and how some, through extraordinarily difficult obstacles, learn to discover who should be trusted.
And throughout all of this, Claudia Gray still delivers an enticing story. She had me in shock and in awe throughout the whole book!

I love how Bianca starts out in the series as a young naive girl and ends up as a strong heroine. I was a little concerned because I thought the book was leading her character into becoming an annoyingly jealous girlfriend. Did she really question if Mrs. Bethany was hitting on Lucas? That was totally weird. But, once again, I was wrong. Expect the unexpected with Claudia Gray.

I am really looking forward to reading Balthazar’s book. I sure love that guy; hopefully, the book will include more of Vic and Ranulf. They are some of my favorite characters. Ranulf cracks me up because he is this ancient vampire who talks like he’s from an era hundreds of years prior, but he still tries to include current day slang in his proper speech.

Here is a paragraph in the book that had me LOL! “Vic brightened. “Yeah, and with the rest of the humans in town on the Friday trip, less chance of us getting found out, right? Oh, man, I just called people humans.””  Ha!ha!ha!ha!  I can see why Maxie has stuck around to watch over Vic. But one question wasn’t answered, are Maxie and Vic in love? Up until the end of the book, I only saw Maxie as someone who looks out and cares for Vic. Huh?

Buy on Amazon Here:
Afterlife by Claudia Gray (Hardcover)
Afterlife by Claudia Gray (Kindle Edition)
Buy on B&N.com Here:
Afterlife by Claudia Gray (Hardcover)
Afterlife by Claudia Gray (Nook eBook)

View all my reviews

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April 13, 2011

Top 10 Things that are NOT going to happen in CoFA

Here is a fun video about the new release City of Fallen Angels!
The book I am doing a giveaway for!



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April 7, 2011

Anathema by Megg Jensen




Goodreads Book Summary - Reychel is a slave girl surrounded by magic, lies and manipulation. Her best friend disappears in the middle of the night leaving Reychel to face her fifteenth birthday, the day her master burns his brand into the back of her bald head, alone. She's sheltered from the outside world and doesn't have any hope for escape, but when people desperate for freedom ask for her help can Reychel learn to believe in herself?

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My Take -  Wow, what an amazing book! Hopefully, I won't have to wait long to read the following 2 books in this series! Picking up this book I had no idea what to expect. When I read the first page I was immediately intrigued! Even though the book is less than 190 pages, so much happens in the book that I am truly amazed that Megg Jensen was able to pull it off in so few pages.

While reading, I was so focused on anticipating what would happen next that I couldn’t put the book down until I was finished, which was about 1:30am. And when I finally put it down, I was determined to write something even though I was so delirious from lack of sleep. And this is what I wrote, “What an amazing book! I am too tired to write a review at the moment so I will be doing it in the morning. This is a good one! Very compelling, there are some twists and you don'
t know who to trust. Very good!”

The emotions I felt from reading this book ranged from excitement to intensity to shock and then to frustration! There is very little detail about the story that I would want to include in this review because I loved that I read it completely blind and I would prefer it to be the same with everyone else. I do want to say that one particular person more than disgusted me! I wanted to jump through the book and strangle them (I won’t say him or her to ruin it for you).


Buy on smashwords here: Anathema (Cloud Prophet Trilogy)
Buy Kindle edition on Amazon:  Anathema (Cloud Prophet Trilogy)
Buy Paperback on Amazon: Anathema: Cloud Prophet Trilogy: Book One (Volume 1)





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April 5, 2011

Contest & Giveaways! - Week 1 April 5th through the 11th!

You didn't win my first giveaway for CoFA?  No worries, you have another chance to win.  Fill out the form HERE "City Of Fallen Angels Book Giveaway!

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Winners for the City Of Fallen Angels Giveaway goes to....

Congratulations!
Selected by random.org

Susan Haugland
&
Donna Newman

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April 4, 2011

In My Mailbox

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In My Mailbox hosted by Story Siren

Books I won/Giveaways
My FrankensteinRise of the Wolf: Book 1Turned (Book #1 in the Vampire Journals)
Books Purchased with $50 Amazon GC I won

Nevermore Hex Hall (Book 1) Demonglass (A Hex Hall Novel) 
Clarity ParanormalcyWither (The Chemical Garden Trilogy)

Library Books for Pickup

Infinite Days

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Dear followers, fans and peeps! Some of the books I review on Magical Urban Fantasy Reads are provided to me for free by either the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. Please know that I am in NO WAY compensated for my reviews. All opinions are mine and I am not required to give a positive review in exchange for a free book! But some of the purchase links on my blog are monetized through places like Amazon, Book Depository or Barnes & Noble.