Review - Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices Series #1) by Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Release Date: August 2010
Age Range: YA
Genre: Teen Fantasy and Adventure

Pages: 479


Barnes and Noble synopsis...

Tessa Gray descends into Victorian London's dark underworld to search for her missing brother, with the mysterious Shadowhunters as her only allies.

My Review

And this is why I must wait for an entire series to be published and on the shelves before I start reading them. I have little patience. Very little. Now waiting on the next book to be at my fingertips will be hell, torture and everything in between.

I haven’t read the whole Mortal Instruments series -gasps- but can easily say that this is by far my favorite of the two series. I almost love everything set in the Victorian London era. So when anything fantasy or paranormal is twirled in the mix, I’m hooked. Not only was it well written (Cassandra Clare just flows with intelligence with her writing) but the ideas and characters are just flat out amazing. Even those I disliked I couldn’t get enough of. Reading this story was like watching a movie as I sat as the edge of my seat. I ran through this book so desperate to see how things were to unfold for Will, Jem, Tessa and the rest of individually interesting characters. And when I reached the end, surprisingly, I was satisfied. Not that the story had ended! But how she ended it.

I don’t know how to explain to you how much I completely loved this story without giving very important details away so I will just say this about my three favorite characters. I’m in love with Will even though he is by far the most arrogant, rude, thick headed person I have ever met. But I see something under that exterior. Plus, he’s hysterical! Jem is the type of guy that you swoon over and want to be your best friend as well. You could sit and talk to him for hours on end and blush every time he smiles at you. Tessa is strong and intelligent and I would love to know her personally. I want to hug her and laugh with her and even help protect her at times.

Sometimes you get so lost in a story that you look up at the clock and it says 4 am, when you had sat down at about 10 to read it. I pray for those moments every time I sit and open a new book. And this book provided it for me not only one night, but two nights in a row. I am thankful for that. I haven’t been this happy with a book in quite some time. I have no complaints. Nothing I wish would be better or changed. So I suggest for those of you who haven’t read her books to get going already! You are missing out on an awesome ride!

Thank you Cassandra Clare. You freakin rock!

Review - Torment by Lauren Kate

Torment by Lauren Kate
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Release Date: September 2010
Age Range: YA
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 452


Barnes and Noble synopsis...

Hell on earth.
 
That’s what it’s like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel.

It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts—immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn’t told her everything. He’s hiding something—something dangerous.

What if Daniel’s version of the past isn’t actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.

My Review...

SPOLIER ALERT

Ok, since I like the concept of the story I gave it 4 stars. If not it would have been most likely 3. I have to say I never really give bad reviews because I find good in everything, even writing. To each his own. I don't feel my opinion should make or break. But, in this case I have to say I am closer to a bad review than a good.

I am incredibly disappointed. All the questions I had from Fallen I was hoping that would either be answered or at least give me some idea as to what is really going on, were completely neglected. I understand there is another book, but I feel very unsatisfied. The only reason I will be reading the next book is to fulfill my need for the answers. I feel like Luce diving into the Announcer begging for some truth. I love Daniel and Cam and Miles. The imaginary boyfriend side of me completely swoon over these boys, but it just isn't enough.

My relationship with Luce is bittersweet. I like her one minute and find her childish the next. I mean, you have been reincarnated how many times? and you still find trivial things to get annoyed about with your hot Angel of a boyfriend. I get you want to know more about you and him and why you are so important, but getting mad because he wants to keep you safe, I mean come on!

If Passion answers all my questions and gives some peace to everything that is stirring up in my head about this story, then it will be worth it. If not, then well, I will always like Lauren's writing style and concepts, but the disappointment will still be there.

Review - Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Release Date: December 2009
Age Range: YA
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 452

Barnes and Noble synopsis...

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
 
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce—and goes out of his way to make that very clear—she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.
 
Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.


My Review

I must say before I post the review, that this is from January. I wasn't sure if I was going to start posting reviews or not, but I finally made up my mind. I was thinking of starting from the most recent book I read, but I really wanted to do the all reviews for 2011. Thank God I only read 4 books so far =/. Onto the short and sweet review...

I really enjoyed this book. The concept is original, the characters believable [even with a few of them being Angels and all] and even though its a nicely sized book it's actually a quick read. I don't always like when stories jump right into things, so this taking its time to really get to the point was actually fine with me.

I like that even though Lauren Kate gave you a lot of detail as to what the story is about, she is leaving enough out to continue the story and keep your interest. I'm starting Torment right after this review because I'm still in the whole Luce/Daniel mode and I kind of don't want it to end.

I have to say, even though this has nothing to do with this stories review, I am extremely disappointed with Passion's cover. It's a beautiful cover on its own, but as part of this series, to me, it just doesn't look as beautiful as the priors. Now with that said, I'm off to read Torment.