City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Glass is the best in the series...so far. Yes, I got hooked and burned through the series this week. And now, now I have to wait 43 days to read the next one! Anyone got an ARC they want to let me borrow?

Anyway...on to the review

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost? (taken from Goodreads.com)

First about Clare. She did an excellent job tying up the loose ends. I mean all the loose ends in this trilogy, even with a fourth book on the way. I feel had she ended the series with this book, I would feel happy about how it ended and have an idea about each character and the direction they were heading, and I LOVE THAT.

SO MANY THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK but I am really going to try to not to do so many spoilers.

First, Magnus Bane - yes I have a bit of an obsession. I think he is so incredibly sweet how he fell for Alec, is understanding of Alec's predicament and fear of being gay, and is helpful to all of his friends.

Second, Clary and her awesome ability. I knew she would be the crucial factor in deciding the war and she was twice technically, once with the allegiance rune and then again at the mirror. She was so incredibly brave the whole time. I think Clare also captured a teenager when Clary, when first seeing her mom, is angry for the whole situation and she's 16, she should be upset that this blindsided her.

Third Jocelyn. She was so important in finding out the real truth about the situation (though there was some foreshadowing that all was not disclosed) and when I say situation I mean why Clary and Jace were experiments and how and that they .... I'm not going to spoil it, but lord was I relieved.

Fourth, I feel for Jace in this one as he struggles with being Valentine's son, feeling a separation from the Lightwoods, having everyone at Idris mistrust him, finding out he's part ...., and his feelings for his "sister." With his previous characterizations from the first two books, I am surprised he wasn't more self-destructive then he was.

As for the plot, I really liked how half the book was non-stop war, battles, clues, and action. There was no down moments that were not making me want to read more.

Some quick thoughts

I think readers will be shocked when they discover what Valentine did to "his" children

Jace and Clary were still undeniably attracted to one another and at times, heartbreaking

Isabelle, poor Isabelle

Luke equals one of the best "dads" of all book time

Valentine has a heart, screwed up and demented, but it's there

Loved what the mirror was...

Loved the angel aspect of the book

5/5

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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.... (Taken from GoodReads.

City of Bones was a great read and I loved how Clare made Clockwork Angel background and history sync so well with this book. She did an excellent job keeping the world the same (minus the different time periods - you know what I mean!)

Anyway, I am not sure where to start so I will start with Clary... I was worried when at first she was described as shy in the first two chapters that I had another "weak" female lead, but was pleasantly, surprised when she turned out to be sharped tonuged and willful. But I am not sure why Clare classified her as shy, because she no actions that supported that at all. I loved the fact the boy with the blue hair was a decoy! I totally thought he was going to be the love interest and lead male!

Jace was great.(Spoiler) I was a little surprised that he "caved" to Valentine so quickly. He is an independent thinker with great intuition but fell for Valentine so quickly. I know that Valentine was supposed to be very charismatic but I didn't get that from the few chapters he was in there.

I will not talk about the ending connection between Clary and Jace...but I will say I cheated and found out if it was true...And in my defense only because I was devastated. I can't imagine how the people who had to wait for the next one.

One side character that really interests me is Magnus Bane. There is something very captivating and I hoping he sticks around.

There are soooo many characters to discuss from this book. Luke, Jocelyn, Valentine, Hodge, Simon. I could go one forever, but I will be brief - Luke - love him and am hoping Jocelyn wakes up and smells the man...er, werewolf? Jocelyn was a great, strong, protective mother. Valentine... he's a great villain. I already hate him. Hodge well...anything I say is going to spoil that...so maybe next book.

On to the plot. I loved how she incorporated all things paranormal and a world. I loved the description of Idris and like Hogwartz, want to go there. I know this is the first in the series but think she did a great job keeping a plot going and not just setting up the next few books. There was action and knowledge to be had in each chapter. And lately, when authors tend to series, the first book though good is just a set up.

Bring on the next one!

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Book 7 of the 100 Book challenge.

The following synopsis is taken from Goodreads.com

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince

my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of thePretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin.

I had heard a lot about Sara Shepard, currently I have several of my students reading the Pretty Little Liars series. They love them! So instead of losing an arm trying to get the first in that series, I grabbed this one.

I thought it was very creative using "YouTube" to discover that Sutton was in trouble. I thought it was something that my students would latch on to. I love it when authors use the modern fads to tie things in. Like texting, teens don't call anymore, they text. Authors should include texting... right? Am I wrong about this?

Back on topic. I like the contrast between Sutton and Emma and I think having Sutton regret the way she was and by her showing remorse for the nasty pranks pulled in "The Lying Game" is very redeeming. I do wonder if Emma will get caught up in the lifestyle, not the nasty pranks, but the whole rich and fabulous lifestyle that Sutton was accustomed to...

One thing I did not like was the flipping of the narration. It went from the third person to Sutton's thoughts. I wish instead of it saying... "Emma was talking to Mrs. Mercer." I think it should have read, "Emma was talking to my mom." I was under the impression from the beginning that this was being told by Sutton. Maybe that's just the writer in me.

I am assuming there will be a sequel to this, though I felt Shepard could have wrapped it up. If there is a different killer, great. If there is not a different killer than the "one" (trying not to spoil here) well I am concerned she will have a dragged out second novel...

The Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

This is the final chapter of the Vampire Academies series and I have to tell you that I am so sad that it is over! I found Rose Hathaway to be a captivating character. she was not the weak-willed lead. She was tough, mouthy, and reckless. She did not fail me in this novel either.

Rose is on trial for a murder that she did not commit and like the fourth book, Lissa and Rose spend much of this book apart. But through the shadow-kissed bond, we, as the readers, keep up with what is going on in court, because Rose is not there! She was broken out of her cell by some expected and unexpected friends. And what is even more shocking is the "friend" that helps her in solving who really killed the Queen.

A long the way, she continues to battle her love for the handsome Dimitri and her love for the addict loving Adrian. I could not wait until I got to the end to find out who she ended up with!!!!

However, it is sad that after six books, it's over. I wanted to know what happened to each character after the wrap up. It is one of those series that the characters became "alive" to me and they simply cannot end.

Torment by Lauren Kate

I recently received about 12 new books from Donorschoose.org (LOVE THAT WEBSITE) and got the second book of the Fallen Series by Lauren Kate. IT WAS BETTER THAN THE FIRST! You do have to read the first one to really understand the love between Daniel and Luce, but oh how I loved it.

Daniel and Cam have a truce for 18 days they have joined up against those that want

Luce and basically go around annihilating anyone who is a threat...sick, but romantic and

I am still not positive that Cam isn't in love with her too. They both are hell-bent on protecting her

and Luce seems clueless about the danger that she is in by putting herself in danger often in this novel. It is my issue with the book, I felt that stemming from the first novel's ending, she would have figured out that people were after and would still be...I'm going to chalk it up

to a character flaw

Luce is shipped off to yet another school where she meets Shelby and Miles, two very loyal friends. And though things at school are OK, and she is figurin

g out more about the nephilim world (because the school is for that), she desperately misses Daniel who really shouldn't see her (though he sneaks around and does ...oh romance!). Luce does get restless because she doesn't know what's going on and Daniel stays tight lipped about everything which begins to drive a wedge between the two, and you wonder are hundreds of life times together enough in this one?

This series is a must read!!!

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

School and National Board have been taking over my life but I did sneak in a read last week, Halo by Alexandra Adornetto. This novel includes three angels, Gabriel the warrior, Ivy the healer, and Bethany the teen. The teen? She is just that and part of the reason that the three of them are on earth. They have come down from heaven to help the shift from evil to good. They reside in a little ocean-coast town and while her older "siblings" are in control of themselves, Bethany finds herself behaving like a human teenager and even falling in love with a boy, Xavier Woods. However, evil forces come into play.

This novel was more centered around the love story of Bethany and Xavier then the fight between good and evil. And though I love a good a love story, I felt the ending was too quick... I wanted more from the "evil". I'm trying not to give it away, the ending.

I do think Adornetto did a great job capturing teenagers. She did not presume

much about them but created characters that I have in my classroom. I think my students would and will relate to this story.

I'm also finding a big draw for my students is the cover. And I get why, it's captivating. Nice job on the marketing whoever designed that one!

Clockwork Angel

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all

I finished the novel Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Claire. This novel is a wonderful supernatural world. Likened to the Harry Potter world, the author creates a world that works with the "mundane" world. I fell in love with the character test and her insecurities. She is a wonderful 16 year old girl trying to save her brother who has disappeared and in the process is forced to become part of the supernatural world. She is rescued by several characters and they take her in. You have a wide range of characters, the female trying be the leader in a man's world, a husband who can only see his inventions, a prissy teenage girl who just wants to be married (the story takes place in London during the 1800's), the wild boy Will with hidden secrets and Jem who carries a hidden addiction.

I am part of Team Will... end of story.

The plot was well-developed and I was intrigued from the very beginning!!! Has anyone read this one? I think what I loved the most about the plot were the twists. Clare had me going, "No way!" a few times.

I loved the book and was very upset when I learned the sequel would not be coming out for awhile!!!

I also did some research on this author's other works and what she has done is written a series for the same world except it takes place in modern day. The Clockwork Angel is a prequel series to the Mortal Instrument series. A friend of mine, Nadine, has started this series and really enjoys it! It is a must for classroom shelf and also for the supernatural reader!

It's that time of year... my favorite time of year... it's time for the first few weeks of SCHOOL! Yes, I truly enjoy this time of the year. I love getting all my new school supplies, like I was five years old again. There is something about a new notebook with no pages torn, no scribbles in it. And a new pen! How many wonderfully stressful things will I write!?

I'm refreshed and ready to dive into new units and see the familiar faces of my students in

the halls of Ripley. Though high schoolers can be tough, they have an uncanny ability to make me smile a

nd brighten my day!

I did read a few new books in the last week and wanted to take a minute to post about them. The first was a book called Ruined by Paula Morris. This was a great supernatural story that did not have to do with vampires. I thought it captured the "outsider" well and reminded us about New Orleans and the culture that is found there. The ending, though I won't spoil it, was quick. It "vanishes." I would say it was a 31/2 star book.

Another one was Incareron by Catherine Fisher. It's a new Big Brother theme book. It is very imaginative and so well planned the world that Fisher developed. It is most impressive. It does drag at the

end but I needed to know how it ended. The main heroine of the story is bossy, determined, and intelligent. You can't help but want her to succeed against the forces that are trying to control her. And the hero! His identity is predictable but he has a soft, caring heart and you want him to assume his rightful identity.

The last one I am going to mention is my favorite! Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick . This book involves a

new favorite supernatural topic f mine, angels. And Patch, the main character's love interest, oh, he's perfect! Yes, I secretly love him. Fitzpatrick weaves a great story, involves several great twists and left angry that I would have to wait for the sequel! It was very captivating! I mean, LOOK AT THAT COVER! One down side, the main character's best friend is too predictable and very expected. I will say it was the best summer read for me this year. 41/2 star

The Vampire Academy Series

The Vampire Academy Series is a great follow-up to the Twilight Series. Since Stephaine Meyer's series, I have had an abundance of teenage girls looking for vampire style books. They fly off of my shelves before I even know they are back. It is a wonderful sight to behold.

I have had several of my students burn through the four novels that are currently out there and they are all patiently awaiting the next release. Spirit Bound.

The series includes a different twist to vampires, moroi (good vampires) and strigori (bad vampires) with a further twist with dhampirs, who are half-human and half-moroi and sworn guardians to moroi. In the novel you meet a dhampir Rose Hathaway, a reckless, loud-mouth who is devoted to her best friend, Lissa, a moroi.

The current four books that are released encompass the girls' senior year at St. Vladmir's Academy. However, (because I refuse to book spoil), something is not quite right with Lissa. She was supposed to come into an element (air, water, earth, fire) when she matured but hasn't and she always seems angry to Rose and she can use compulsion better than anyone. It isn't normal in the world of Moroi Rose searches into the past of St Vladmir to discover the truth about what is going on with Lissa and then Lissa has to learn to control it.

And then there is poor Rose, the heroine of the story. She desperately tries to do the right thing but always finds herself in a jam. But because of this, she also spends time with the handsome Dimitri (I think he is one of the reasons my girls love these books) who is to be her trainer and mentor and Rose and Dimitri cannot help but fall in love. Throughout the four books, you see this couple come together several times and then ripped apart again and again.

And all the while Lissa is figuring out her powers, and Rose is trying to become better and stronger, Strigori, soulless, murdering vampires attack the student body of St. Vladmir's. Rose always finds herself in the middle of the battle showing how she is growing up throughout the series.

I cannot tell you enough how I enjoyed this young adult piece. If you have a Twilight junkie, I would pass on this title as well. And another series would be The Blue Blood Series, a high-society vampire series with a twist using Roanoke Island.