City of Fallen Angels

I committed... and now I have to wait again!

Synopsis is from goodreads.

“City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.”

HOLY LOVE PLOTS ... Really the first five-ish chapters is just catching up on the drama of the shadowhunters...intense...And speaking of intense - Jace's and Clary's kissing scenes do not disappoint. Several times I was like "Omg" I was almost scandalized. and that's hard to do. Jace, my poor fictional boyfriend, again is tormented and pulls away from the confused Clary and each time he does you want to be like "Dude get the picture, she loves you." But I will say he does have a reason to pull away this time... and I will say no more on the topic.

Simon and Iz and Maia - Simon, the player? Who knew?

Luke was not a big part of this story which is sad for me because I really love the role model he is as a father, a friend, a leader, as a stable character. Isabelle is def. a dominate character in this and so is Simon which is nice. Clare mixes it up.

The rising climax did take a little while to get going for me. Once it did, I figured it out, (well not all of it, but I new what the end result was) but the evil character in this is great. Great references to the bible and lore. I will say her ending few paragraphs left me thinking it could mean two VERY different things. I await for someone to have read the book to email so I can ask his/her opinion.

Some quick thoughts

I still heart Magnus Bane - openly

They mention Will SEVERAL times from Clockwork Angel and now I need to re-read it.

How many cities are there?

Worried she may run it into the ground....anyone else?

I heart Magnus Bane...still.

I feel Max should have brought up more than he was

Great tie into the effects Clary's decision about bringing Jace back from the dead.

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!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to:

• Grab your current read

• Share 2 teasers

• Don’t include any spoilers

• Include the title and author

I finally broke down because of everyone's reassurance that nothing in the Mortal Instrument Series was going to ruin anything about the Clockwork Angel series...can't think of the series name...something devices. Anyway. Here is my teaser from City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Pg 109 Dorothea lumbered to her feet with a cry, but it was too late. Before she could even finish her sentence, Clary found herself flung forward and tumbling through empty space.

Pg 109 "Shut up," Jace said angrily. "It's a Portal. Isn't it?"

Misguided Angel - Melissa De La Cruz

I have been following this series each time it comes out. Sadly, I fell behind and the next one in line is already out! But at least I don't have to wait! Right?

After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the five remaining gates that guard earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silver Bloods.

Back in New York, Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley and with her overwhelming desire to destroy Jack, she must focus all of her energy on a perilous new threat. Vampires are being abducted and their captors are planning to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. Help arrives in the form of Demi

ng Chen, a Venator from Shanghai, who must untangle the web of deceptions before the killers strike again.

As the young vampires struggle for the survival of the coven, they uncover a deadly secret, a truth first discovered by Schuyler’s mother during the Renaissance but kept buried for centuries. And as the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler to a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart.

Stolen from Barnes and Noble

I have noticed that with a lot of her series, De La Cruz, has books that set the plot and ot

hers that wrap up situations (but lead to knew situations) Misguided Angel is definitely, a set you up for the next one, My Bloody Valentine.

I was really looking forward to Jack and Schuyler and "Spending" time with them. Howe

ver, this book does for the first 100 pages and then goes to Mimi and the new character, Deming. That was a bit disappointing because Jack and Schuyler are the main reasons I have kept with this story. She did leave me with a good ending, very reminiscent to the end of New Moon.

Spoiler alert - Mimi and Oliver become friends?!?!?! Yes, they sure do. DID NOT SEE IT COMING! Will he become her familiar?! Mimi started to show a softer side with Kingsley (which I would have liked to see him in hell- wouldn't that be a great scene?) She goes softer and less pri-madonna and I like her, which I never thought that I would. I mean she was a royal Beeyatch! But she is responsible, being assertive in the interest of vampires, a little more humbled when dealing with Red Bloods. The book ends with her going to Egypt to get Kingsley and Oliver goes with her and I really hope they end up together, (Kingsley and Mimi that is). I was really surprised by the story was more about Mimi than Jack and Schuyler.

Deming - Well, I am not sure of her purpose. She wrapped up the mini situation in this book but...what about Bliss (I know spin off series, but no scene with her? She was such a big part of the series...little sad about it.

The Lost Saint - Bree Despain

Book number 8! I can't wait to hit the double digits!

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desparate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung. stolen from Barnes and Noble

I thought this book was good... maybe a bit slow in the beginning. I was worried that Daniel and Grace were going to follow that road of "we aren't communicating so its going to destroy our relationship but don't worry we will work it out by the end of the book but only for a devastating twist to happen." Well, it did. Except I loved the TWIST AT THE END! VERY GOOD!

Grace really struggled with the wolf in this book. It took me a few times see it in the book but the italics is the wolf trying to lure Grace to the dark side and once I caught on, I saw how manipulative the wolf was being. Mini-spoiler I did think for a moment that Daniel and Grace were going to have a love scene because of the wolf, but it doesn't happen...

I generally feel bad for the Divine family. The mother goes from outrageously, overbearing mother to the catatonic mother and changes each day. A father searching for a son, leaving his other family members behind along with his parish. A baby brother who is scared of his big brother. I do wish Despain would develop James some more. They were perfect. Family dinners. Concerns. Love. Joy. Community service. A real sense of family. And it is ripped away. AND POOR JUDE. I love Jude. He was a lost soul by the end of the first book and he has become more lost since then. He's confused and I just want to make it better for him. Which makes me feel for Grace as she tries to save her brother.

I now have to wait until the next one comes out.

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!