Review: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, March 2009
Number of Pages: Hardcover, 541 Pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Teen, Paranormal Romance, Demons, Angels, Vampires, Werewolves, Magic

Plot: 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 Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters 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 newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments. (Goodreads.com)

Personal Thoughts:  Book three was fantastic... and the end of the book was amazing and surprising all at once! I was very glad that this isn't the end of the series though. (:

By the time I got to this book I was extremely emotionally invested in these characters - especially Clary and Jace, and Simon. I didn't want to see this book end... but I wanted to see the end of Valentine! The books have kept me engaged and entertained, but all along it's been the awesome cast of characters that has truly kept me reading these books!


Recommended Age Level: 13+
Rating: 4.5
Reviews/Awards:

Goodreads Nominee for YA and Favorite Book 2009
ALA Teens' Top Ten 2010
Children's Choice Book Award Nominee 2010

Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) 
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, March 2008
Number of Pages: Hardcover, 453 Pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Teen, Paranormal Romance, Demons, Angels, Vampires, Werewolves

Plot: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation. (Goodreads.com)

Personal Thoughts: The sequel to City of Bones was another fantastic read... after realizing the huge plot that covers more than one book; I was glad to have already bought the second book so that I could start it right away. Book one set off some answers and secrets that surprised me pretty quickly, but book two got a lot more in depth with Valentine and his plans for Jace and Clary... also Simon becomes a downworlder who tries to live like a mundane... it's a very interesting story! I love the world that Clare has created in this books.


Recommended Age Level: 13+
Rating: 4.5
Reviews/Awards:

ALA Teens' Top Ten 2009
Gaylactic Spectrum Award Nominee for Best Novel 2009

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) 
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, April 2009
Number of Pages: Kindle Edition, 512 Pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Teen, Paranormal Romance, Demons, Angels, Vampires, Werewolves,

Plot: 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. . . (Goodreads.com)

Personal Thoughts: This one was on my 'to read' list for a long time... mostly by recommendation from my cousin Kim. I only decided to pick it up recently because of the movie coming out next month. I was actually surprised how much I liked the book - it's going to be yet another series I read over and over again because it's just that good. I have really enjoyed learning my way around Clare's world of Shadowhunting. It took me a while to get used to some of her terminology but the characters are so lovable, I latched onto them quickly.

I'd actually read a lot of negative reviews on Goodreads about this book before picking it up, trying to give myself a chance to see how I liked it on my own. I went into it with an open mind and feel in love with the world that author has created and Jace is now very close to my heart... he's emotional and broody but tries to remain strong in his feelings for Clary. For some reason I was drawn to him!


Recommended Age Level: 13+
Rating: 4.5
Reviews/Awards:

South Caroline Book Award Nominee for YA Book Award 2010
ALA Teens' Top Ten 2008
Georgia Peach Honor Book Award 2009
Abraham Lincoln Award 2010

Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Spell Bound (#3) 
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Hyperion Books, March 2012
 Number of Pages: Hardcover, 336 pages


Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy, Witches, Magic, Paranormal, Demons

Plot: (Goodreads.com) Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Personal Thoughts: Book three was an amazing addition to the series!! I can't say much without spoiling, but it keeps you on the edge of your seat and I found myself rooting for Sophie Mercer through out the whole thing!

SPOILER ALERT! 

Just as Sophie was getting used to and learning to control all of her demonic powers - the council bound them inside her person so that she couldn't use them, as punishment. She learns a lot more about her family in this book - about who her Mom really is and how she ties into the whole story.

Sophie is sent back to Hex Hall - powerless and defenseless against the people who are raising demons. A big war is brewing and Sophie is RIGHT in the MIDDLE! She has to find the key to getting her powers back in time to help the good side win!

I enjoyed this novel even though I had a little problem with the ending. I know it had to end and I understand we can't always have these picture perfect endings, but I feel like one character in general definitely got the short straw. I don't want to give anything away and so I won't say anything more than I wouldn't have chosen the book to end the way it did. Although, it was a satisfying ending to the trilogy.

Recommended Age Level: 12+
Rating: 4.5

Review: Demon Glass by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Demon Glass (Book #2) 
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Hyperion Books, March 2011
Number of Pages: Hardcover, 368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy ,Witches, Magic, Paranormal, Demons

Plot: (Goodreads.com) Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (a.k.a. witches, shape-shifters, and faeries). But then she discovered the family secret, and the fact that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie's a demon, one of only two in the world-the other being her father. What's worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will either destroy her powers for good-or kill her. 

But once Sophie arrives, she makes a shocking discovery. Her new housemates? They're demons too. Meaning, someone is raising demons in secret, with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they're using Archer to do it. But it's not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Personal Thoughts:  Book two definitely did not disappoint! The plot gets deeper and a lot more secrets are revealed. You also get a good look into the council and the Eye in this book! There are a lot of new characters mixed in with the old favorites from book one such as - Archer, Cal, and Jenna.

SPOILER ALERT! 

This book took Sophie's world far beyond that of just a high school girl. It follows her journey across the pond to England where her Father is head of the witches council. Sophie, and her Father, are demons. We find that out at the end of book one. Supposedly they are the only two that exist, but in this book we find out there is a lot more to that story! She has to fight for her life and for her powers in this book, as well as her feelings of love towards a boy who is her biggest enemy.

Much like book one, this was a great read, easy to follow and enough plot to keep me on the edge of my chair while wanting to finish the book quickly. The story moves quickly, but Hawkins knows how to keep her reader interested. The book does start off a little slow, but about halfway through, it picks up quickly and the excitement doesn't end until the last line of the book.  So much so that I immediately bought and downloaded book three the night I finished it! (:

Recommended Age Level: 12+

Rating: 4.5
Reviews/Awards:

Just when you think it might be impossible for a sequel to surpass the first book...poof, I give you Demonglass! Yes, to me Demonglass was even more spectacular than Hex Hall which is really saying something because Hex Hall was amazing! -Jessica, Confessions of a Bookaholic 

Things are not as Sophie thought they were, and she has to adjust her feelings and actions. All sorts of family history and secrets are revealed. Rachel Hawkins spins a complex plot with unexpected surprises. Demonglass is so much more than a typical paranormal story.
-Reading Vacation
  

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall (Book #1 of 3) 
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Hyperion Books, March 2010
Number of Pages: Hardcover, 336 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy, Witches, Magic, Paranormal, Demons

Plot: (Goodreads.com) Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Personal Thoughts: I read this book based on a personal recommendation from someone that I trust a lot when it comes to YA fiction. I've always loved young adult books, and this one did not disappoint. Hawkins writes on a solid high school/college level and the book is easy to relate to. I was immediately on the main character, Sophie's side. I felt bad for her and what she was going through - not knowing her father and being a witch that was raised by a human. She gets into some trouble doing magic in the human world so the witch counsel sent her to a special school - one for witches, faeries, and shape shifters.

Sophie is very much the epitome of  a teenager - from bullies to crushes, this book took me back to high school in almost every sense. It has the added element of magic though, and then it becomes a book about solving mysterious deaths and attacks with in a school that's supposed to be protected and finding out that her Father is not even close to the man she thought she was. He's so much more. She also learns things about herself and her magic that only this school could help teach her. The end of the book left me wanting more, and I was glad to know that book two is already out!

I recommend this book to anyone over the age of twelve and those who are my age looking for an easy but intriguing read. This book kept me on the edge of my seat with things that were happening around every corner. Also it didn't hurt that it was cheap to get on my kindle. (:

Recommended Age Level: 12+
Rating: 4.5
Reviews/Awards:

Hawkins's proficient and entertaining debut is jam-packed with magical creatures and mystery. With no training on how to use the powers inherited from her absent warlock father, Sophie Mercer keeps making rookie mistakes that force her mother to move them around the country to avoid attention. But when, at age 16, Sophie makes a very public error with a love spell at the prom, she is sent to Hecate Hall, “the premier reformatory institution for Prodigium adolescents” (aka troubled shape-shifters, faeries, and witches like Sophie).... Sophie stumbles into answers more than searches them out, but the story is well paced and plotted with tween-friendly humor and well-developed characters, particularly awkward but compassionate Sophie. The ending satisfies while paving the way for future books.  - Publishers Weekly