Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess 
by Cassandra Clare

Read: March 7-17, 2018
Published: September 5, 2013
Genre: Fantasy

 

 

      A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.
      Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.
      As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain's clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?


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Why did you read this book?
Finishing the series!

What did you like about this book?
The characters really shine in this book. Of course, I love Tessa and Jem and even Will, but the secondary characters were fantastic. As seems to be Cassandra Clare's go-to, there were multiple subplots apart from the main plot line following Tessa and the boys. I particularly enjoyed the development of the Lightwood boys. I initially took a liking to Gideon, but I loved following Gabriel's growth, as well as his attachment to Cecily (Will's younger sister). And of course, I love reading about Charlotte, Henry, Sophia, and Magnus as well. The characters really make this book. The plot was at a perfect pace with just the right amount of suspense to keep me sucked in. 

What didn't you like about this book?
I've already talked about the love triangle and how it's well-written, but I still don't like it. I would have been satisfied with it if she had chosen one over the other. I do not like the way it was resolved. I won't go into too many details, but it all ended too well. It felt like there weren't consequences for the decisions made by the three involved in the love triangle. Other than that, my only complaint was that the book started on a slower note. I expected it to be fast paced from the beginning, but it took a hot second for the plot to actually move forward. Once it did start moving, it was great.

Bottom-Line:
This series was much, much better than The Mortal Instruments. Mortal Instruments felt almost like the book equivalent of a fantasy soap opera. Infernal Devices was more mature, better written, had more compelling characters, and had the advantage of building upon the world that Clare created in Mortal Instruments. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone that enjoys young adult fantasy.




"You endure what is unbearable, and you bear it. That is all." -Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Read: January 31-March 6, 2018
Published: September 26, 2006
Genre: Science Fiction





A father and his son walk through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.







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Why did you read this book?
I thought this book was on one of my 'to-read' lists, but after searching all of them (so I could check it off) it apparently wasn't. Also, my roommate and I have decided to start our own book club and this was the first book on our list, per the recommendation of our neighbor.

What did you like about this book?
The first thing I'll mention is the style of the writing. It's unlike most books, with short paragraphs, short sentences, and very little dialogue. It was very choppy and I think it was written like that for a reason. The writing style seemed to reflect the state of living for the man and the boy. Nothing was easy or smooth and words, like food and water, were used sparingly. The writing and the world was harsh and unforgiving. McCarthy built a world that was easy for the reader to step into. First, he didn't give the two characters names, just referred to them as the man and the boy, and played one of humankind's biggest fears: to lose everything they have built and become powerless and irrelevant. This book almost made me cry, which as you know, I love those books.

What didn't you like about this book?
The book itself, though well-written, was actually really repetitive and kind of boring. I didn't actually enjoy this book at all. It was depressing as hell. There was no payoff to reading the book. After I finished it, I felt so empty. Not that good empty feeling when you finish a really good book, but the bad empty feeling where you feel like there is no hope for the world. After I finished it, I just had one thought: what was the point? Both for the story and for the book itself...what was the point of the story of the man and the boy's survival if it was all for nothing in the end? It was a well-written story about the inevitability of death and a world with no hope.

Bottom-Line:
I really didn't like this book at all. I liked the writing style, but that was about it. I read books to escape from my own depressing mind, but this book must made it worse. I do not recommend.


"People were always getting ready for tomorrow. I didn't believe in that. Tomorrow wasn't getting ready for them. It didn't even know they were there." -The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Books of 2017

I failed to do a New Year's post, so this is a bit late. But I did want to give you all a list of the books in 2017 in the same style I did for 2016. So here it is!

January

• The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon * * * * *
• The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano *
• Abducting Abby by S.E. Smith *
• Twilight by Stephanie Meyer * * *
• New Moon by Stephanie Meyer * *
• Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer * * *
• Heaven in His Arms by Lisa Ann Verge * *
• Yellowstone Heart Song by Peggy Henderson * *

February

• Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer * * *
• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn * * *
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel * * * * *

March

• The Cardturner by Louis Sachar * * * *
• Caraval by Stephanie Garber * * * *
• The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon * * * * *
• Matched by Ally Condie * * *
• Beauty by Robin McKinley * * *
• The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh * * * *
• Crossed by Ally Condie * *

April

• The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh * * * *
• Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig * * * *
• Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard * * * *

May

• Passenger by Alexandra Bracken * * * *
• Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken * * * *
• Normal by Danielle Pearl * * *

June

• Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard * * * *
• King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard * * * *
• Finding Peace by Lisa Shea * *
• The Fall Up by Aly Martinez * * *

July

• Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen * * * *

August

• Just Listen by Sarah Dessen * * * * *
• She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell * * * *

September

• The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien * * * * *
• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien * * * * *

October

• The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien * * * * *
• The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis * * * *
• The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis * * * *
• Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis * * * * 
• The Voyage of the Dawntreader by C.S. Lewis * * * *
• The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis * * * *

November

• The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis * * * *
• Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis  * * *
• Perelandra by C.S. Lewis * * *
• The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis * * * *
• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis * * *

December

• Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis * * * *

I always love how the books reflect my life at certain points in the year. I was really happy in March. You can tell because I read a lot of books, they were all good books, and I did book reviews on most of them. That was a happy month for me. It was halfway through June that things took a turn for the worse. I started reading crappy books and then throughout the summer I hardly read at all. From September through December, I only read books that I was required to read for a class. It's been a hard year. Hopefully this one is better. 

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

*Spoilers*

Read: February 21-27, 2018
Published: December 6, 2011
Genre: Fantasy

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when it becomes clear that the mysterious Magister will stop at nothing to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends. With the help of the handsome, tortured Will and the devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal and fueled by revenge. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister knows their every move-and that one of their own has betrayed them. Tessa is drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa answers about who she really is? As their search leads to deadly peril, Tessa learns that secrets and lies can corrupt even the purest heart.

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Why did you read this book?
I read Clockwork Angel and I really liked it. So, of course, I had to read the next book.

What did you like about this book?
I think I liked this book better than the first one. The pace was steady, picking up at the end and the plot development was fantastic. Many of my questions from the first book were answered and now I have new questions that need answering. I really enjoyed Tessa's interactions with the other characters in the book and how her relationships were built (or not). Many of the things I love about this book will be series wide (the setting, the time period, the more mature writing style). One thing that was really a stand out for me was the character development. I love Jem and this book just reinforced my love for him. I've read other reviews and it seems to be that most people prefer Will and I just don't understand it. Jem is the kind of man I would want for myself and I love him. Will did grow on me in this novel. We finally figure out why he is the way he is and I understand now the reason for his behaving like an ass, especially to Tessa. I also loved the development of Charlotte and Henry. As the only really present adults in the series so far, it was nice to get some more insight into their relationship with each other and with everyone else in the institute.

What didn't you like about this book?
The thing that is really killing me with this book is the love triangle. It's well written, but I hate it because no matter what happens, characters I have grown to love are going to be hurt. What I really hate is that Tessa is clearly drawn to Will more than Jem, but Jem loves Tessa. And Will loves Tessa, but he loves Jem in a way that he would rather the suffer the pain of a broken heart than have Jem feel that pain. Like I said, it's well-written, but I hate it. I hate knowing that I have a whole lot of heartbreak ahead of me in the final installment of this trilogy. I didn't like Tessa's character development. She definitely grew in confidence in her abilities, but when it came to Jem and Will, she was so wishy-washy it caused me physical pain. I thought that Tessa was smarter and more sensible to be dragging along two boys, especially one as kind and considerate as Jem. And I fully do not understand why Tessa is even drawn to Will. Sure, he's beautiful, but he has been nothing but rude and inconsiderate to her since they met. If I were in her position, I wouldn't be able to stand him, no matter how attractive he was. I hate that characters in young adult novels are so often drawn to toxic people and that young people are reading this and thinking that toxic relationships are romantic. I just hate it.

Cover art:
Something else I wanted to comment on was the new cover art for the paperback novels. I think they are absolutely gorgeous. If I do end up buying these books (which I probably will), I want these covers. I like them better than the original ones that matched the Mortal Instruments covers. Just beautiful.

Bottom-line:
I really liked it. I'm both excited for and dreading the conclusion (I know I'm going to cry).



"It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them."-Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

*spoilers*

Read: February 18-21, 2018
Published: August 31, 2010
Genre: Fantasy

When Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother in Victorian England, something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld. Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, who are members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she has the power to transform into another person. 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, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. She soon finds herself fascinated--and torn between--two best friends: James and Will. As Tessa is drawn deep into a plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, she 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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Why did you read this book?
Honestly, I've been avoiding this series and all other works written by Cassandra Clare. I enjoyed The Mortal Instruments series, but after the travesty that was the decision to not leave it at a trilogy, I could find it in myself to delve back into the Shadowhunter world. It had all seemed a little overdone after six books. However, my coworker recommended it to me nearly a year ago and I finally decided to give The Infernal Devices a shot.

What did you like about this book?
I ended up liking this book so much more than I thought I would. Even though this is still the world of Shadowhunters, the world I had thought I'd seen enough off, I got sucked in just like I did the first time around with City of Bones. Cassandra Clare's writing style has definitely matured since the Mortal Instruments series. This book felt well thought out and less like a stream of consciousness (which is how I tend to write). I also loved the time period and setting. I've always been fond of Victorian era novels (Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen), so to combine that with Shadowhunters and Downworlders was a really cool experience. I feel like they belong in that era over modern day. And I like that it takes place at the London institute over the New York one, especially for this era.  Above all, I love the characters. They feel more fleshed out and I understand the reasoning behind most of their decisions. I like to understand their thought processes because then I can put myself in their shoes. I wasn't able to do this very often in The Mortal Instruments series. I'll talk more about the characters in another section. Lastly, and true to Cassandra Clare form, this book had some seriously dramatic plot twists that just sucked me in. I had to start the second book immediately after finishing this one. 

What didn't you like about this book?
This book's beginning was just kind of...meh. It was mediocre and slow and a little bit boring. It took me awhile to actually want to read the book. It's hard when a book starts in media res to truly care about the characters and what's happening to them, but it can be done if done right. Unfortunately, it was not done right in this case, for me anyway. It's a good thing I'm a stubborn reader and refuse to quit on a book after only a few chapters. I also am sensing a love triangle. I should have known, it says right in the description, but I just was not mentally prepared for another love triangle. I'll give Cassandra Clare credit, it's a well-written love triangle, but it's the sort of triangle I don't like in my books regardless. As with the Mortal Instruments series, adults seem to be mostly nonexistent in this book and the adults that are present either do nothing or don't have the power to do anything. This was a problem with the Mortal Instruments and I had hoped that Clare would have addressed that problem in this trilogy. I understand that this is a series targeted towards young adults, but that doesn't mean adults aren't needed, especially in the world of Shadowhunters. I did have some issue with the characters, but I'll save that for the next paragraph.

Characters:
I love a lot of the characters in this book, but I feel like Cassandra Clare took the characters from Mortal Instruments and changed them just enough to pretend they are original characters. We'll start with Tessa, who is the Clary of this series. She is thrown into the Shadowhunter world with no previous knowledge of it, she's beautiful and doesn't know it, extraordinary literary genius (to rival Clary's artistry). I like Tessa much more than I liked Clary, who threw herself headlong into danger without considering consequences. Tessa is much more mature and I can relate to her more than I could with Clary. The Jace of the series is Will. Will is arrogant and pretends like nothing bothers him. The only person he seems to care for his Jem. Honestly, haven't many redeeming characteristics in him so far. He's basically just an ass, but I know that he's hiding something, something that explains his behavior. So far, I prefer Jace. Jem is the Alec of the series and I absolutely adore Jem. He quiet, soft spoken, brave, and is foolishly loyal to Will. The two are parabatai, just like Jace and Alec. I could go one with the other characters, but if you've read both series, it's very easy to see the similarities in the other characters as well. They are more well written in this series, but I can't help but feel that they are recycled characters.

Bottom-line:
I really enjoyed this book. Depending on how the rest of this series goes, I might have to buy them. So far I think The Infernal Devices is better than the Mortal Instruments, but I'll hold out my judgement until I finish it. I highly recommend this to young adult fantasy readers. Onto the second book!


"Whatever you are physically...male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy--all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside." -Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare