Bandwagon crashed! What the...

So I finished Ascend by Amanda Hocking... and all I can say is What the BEEP! She took the novel in a completely different way than I had expected...Congrats to her...really, BUT I WANTED (SPOILER*****) Finn and Wendy to be together! AND THEY DON'T GET TOGETHER IN THE END! THEY MOVE ON! Every one's happy, yaddah yaddah...

Third and final book in the Trylle Trilogy.

With a war looming on the horizon, Wendy’s fate seems sealed.

But everything she sacrificed might be in vain if she can’t save the ones she loves.

Her whole life has been leading up to this, and it’s all coming to an end.

My rants over. I promise.

OK. The third book starts three months after the second. (Its really hard to write about the third in a series because you can't give things away!) Wendy's father, who is still threatening Wendy and her soon to be kingdom, is on a mission. He kills a lot of innocent people and Wendy who is very much attached to her kingdom, palace, and friends struggles through the whole novel, trying to figure out away to kill her father who is said to immortal. I was really curious as to how Hocking was going to do it, but she uses a subtle incident Wendy has a few times and makes it work...yes it has to do with her abilities.

Three names: Tove, Finn, and Loki - that's all I am going to write.

Some quick thoughts

Hocking reminds you that your first love isn't always forever (but I rather like it in books)

Willa is a great and loyal friend

Elora not a cold-hearted bee-yatch...surprisingly loving, which made me happy for Wendy

Would have liked to have seen more on Elora and Thomas - SCANDAL

The ending came on too fast for my taste

The epilogue sums up what happened to all characters - which I love.

3.5/5

Amanda Hocking Bandwagon!

Yeah... I jumped right on it!

Torn the second installment of the Trylle Trilogy...

Wendy thought she finally understood who she was and what she wanted, but everything changes when the rival Vittra come after her.

She's caught between two worlds, torn between love and duty, and she must decide what life she is meant to lead. from Goodreads.com

First, I love a torrid love affair and forbidden ones too and Finn and Wendy have that! Yes... I am a sucker for a love story! I will get to that in a bit.

Next, I stated this in my Switched Review, i like worlds that coincide with the "real" world and Hocking (did anyone hear that she is self-published and a freakin' millionaire- who is jumping on the ePublishing train with me?!)does a wonderful job merging her troll world with ours.

Wendy finds herself having to chose between her mother's kingdom and her father's kingdom who is not dead...but through actions of her father, Wendy starts to feel loyalty to her

mother's kingdom, which is where the delicious, scruffy-faced Finn resides though he does a really good job being duty-bound. Wendy has to really grow up in the novel, no longer being the bratty girl she was in the first one. She starts to asert herself as Princess realizing that she can command a room and no will tell her "no", but her mother. Wendy starts to take a page from Finn's book and becomes duty bound... to a fault at the end...If anyone has read this can they please email me and tell me about what they thought about Wendy's commitment at the end? I don't want to ruin it on here.

Near the end of the book, we finally get to see Elora be affectionate. We get to learn what she sacrificed to keep Wendy safe, that she knows what it is to love, that she is doing things for Wendy so she is safe and a good Queen, and we also learn that she will be "giving" up the thrown a lot sooner than Wendy or her are ready for. And I w

as just happy that Elora didn't turn out to be a cold-heart Bee-yatch for Wendy's sake.

Brother Matt is back in the story and even when he discovers that Wendy is not his sister (don't worry this comes out in the beginning of the story) he still super protective of her and is new brother as well.

Ultimately, Wendy is trying to find a way to keep peace between the two kingdom, but not everyone is up for that. Willa, Tove, Rhys, Finn, and Elora are though.

Some quick thoughts:

Finn loves her, knows he can't, always seems to end up kissing her at the worst moments... LOVE IT

Tove - is a great guy, loyal, kind, a good teacher, and a good friend, but let's be real that is it.

Loki - I gotta say, he could be a third stud in the book and I can't tell if his intentions toward Wendy are good or manipulative yet.

I love Finn's reasons as to why he is jealous of certain people and not of others.

I think there are faction that are going to try to give Wendy to her father

She is still continuing to develop her abilities but everyone says she is soooo strong so I want to know what other powers she has.

Switched by Amanda Hocking

I can tell you that I bought this as an eBook for two reasons, one I had seen it and also it was $.99 on B&N. So why not?

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might have been telling the

truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

Anyway, We meet Wendy and I would say she is well balanced. She's not an "in your face" character but she is not "weak-willed." I liked her because she was bratty to her older brother and I felt for her because her "mother" was a monster toward her. Going on, Wendy knows she is different, in the first chapter we find out she can persuade people to do what she wants by making eye contact and repeating what she wants. In comes Finn (one of my favorite names and a name in my manuscript), yes, he's the heartthrob. He's loyal and duty-bound and hott!

Some what of a spoiler (considering it happens in the fourth chapter) Wendy is a troll not the Billy Goat's Gruff troll but a new spin which I havent read yet, so big credit to Hockings for turning the perception on trolls because I def think of them as smelly and gross (anyone remember the Ernest Scared Stupid, the movie? that!) Finn is there to take her "home" to her real mother and start life over. She is also very much in danger from other trolls - Vittera. They want her because as Tove tells us, Wendy is very powerful!

Wendy has a whole world thrust upon her and is trying to be a good trylle (troll) but you get a feeling of raising frustration because she has all these questions, and NO ONE answers them for her. She is expected to be a certain way but no one gives her the why. I felt myself getting frustrated for her and for me because I wanted to know more about the Trylle world.

Some quick thoughts

Finn's my new man... though I dont love him like Patch and Will

Elora is up to something ... I probably should trust her but I don't

Tove ... I think he has a thing for Wendy - maybe betrothed?

Finn and Wendy forever :)

I want to know her other abilities.

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 Ashes by Cassandra Clare

So yes, I am burning through the series now! I have to know more about Jace and Clary...

As readers of series starter City of Bones already know, teenager Clary Fray is a Shadowhunter, a demon slayer who has the gift of spotting Downworlder werewolves, vampires, and faeries. She is also an adolescent in an abnormally dysfunctional family: Her mom is in a magically induced coma and her father is probably insane and undoubtedly evil. All of which places Clary in situations that would challenge even the most talented average American girl. (taken from Goodreads.com)

Clare in this second novel does an excellent job not changing her character's personalities; they stay true to the first book. I can't stand when authors have characters do complete turn arounds with no reasons. My heart breaks for Clary; she really loves Jace and to know that it is wrong...heartbreaking! I do love the fact that she is strong willed enough but does listen to reason...aka Luke, not Jace.

Maryse Lightwood, another character my heart goes out to. To have to lie to the Inquisitor and and to Jace to protect him, take a strong person. She did what she believed what was best for Jace, though I hated her at first. (Clare does a great job making me feel towards her characters and I love to hate characters. I think an author has a great talent when they can make a reader hate a character.)

There is something big coming about Jace coming, from the Inquisitor, Luke, and Maryse... they all know/knew something about Jace but no one ever said it.

I am assuming the City of Glass has to do with the third mortal instrument. For single objects, Clare does a great job making them a focal point throughout each book. I have these very elaborate ideas in my head about what each instrument looks like. And I appreciate that Clare lets me have some imagination about it as well.

Some quick thoughts:

I still love Magnus Bane.

I wasn't surprised by Jace's enhanced ability...I think it well deserving

I want to know more about Clary's though

I want to know how Valentine messed with them as children

The Queen of the Faeries is a naughty and I love it

Simon? Whoa!

Simon and Maia saw it coming a mile away

4/5

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!

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

I was a big fan of Hush, Hush and couldn't wait for this to come out, along with a bunch of my female students.

Review from Amazon -

Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portlan

d and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

I did generally like this book. And had I read this book last year I would have been crazy about it. However, I recently have become bored with the typical paranormal romance where the girl can only think of her love interest, and that is exactly what Nora is about.

I also didn't like the the section with her father's ghost - I won't give a ton of detail but I felt that this element could have utilized much better. It was a great idea but I felt like it was tossed out at me a few times and then it was over.

I did (and still do) love Patch. I love the fact that he isn't the typical boy in the story that loves the girl uncondtionally and wants to change for the better and does everything in his power to do so. I mean, he does love Nora and always has her interest at heart but he can be shady, a jerk, pompous. In reality no person in a relationship is perfect and each person has flaws. Patch is the character and the reason that I will continue to look for the next in this series.

Another great part about Fitzpatrick is her ability for great twists. In this novel, she def. did not disappoint! and another one happens in the last three pages... be prepared to say "WHAT?!"

Overall, I would say it was 4 out of 5