Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Hello, and good day,

Today I am going to be reveiwing the first book the Mortal Instruments series: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Synopsis:

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. . 

Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy.

Review:

This is the first book in The Mortal Instruments series (by Cassandra Clare). The first thing I want to say about this book, is that I wish I picked it up way earlier than I did. I had this on my kindle for ages with out reading, and then one day I was browsing around the works (a cheap UK book store) and saw this book for £2.99 so I picked it up, brought it, and then read it. And wow it was amazing. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.So now on to the book review it's self...

I was addicted to this book, and I couldn't put it down. Allot of people say that this is the slowest book in the series, but I found it very fast-paced and action packed. With a allot of twists.

Events in Clary’s life just get stranger when her mother disappears without warning and monsters start to infest her home.  Suddenly Clary is seeing odd and unusual things everywhere as demons, vampires, werewolves, faeries and warlocks start to be apparent all over New York City.

Luckily Clary’s path seems destined to cross with that of Jace, the good looking teenage boy that Clary first saw in the nightclub (murdering the blue haired boy) and he introduces her to the hidden world of the Shadowhunters.  A world where werewolves roam the streets of Chinatown, faeries live in Central Park, and vampires ride demonically powered motorbikes…

The Shadowhunters are Nephilim.  Traditionally Nephilim are the children of angels who have bred with mortal humans but in City of Bones the Nephilim were created when the Angel Raziel mixed his blood with human blood in the Mortal Cup.  The Shadowhunters exist to fight demons and are trained from birth for this purpose, the Mortal Cup can be used to create more Nephilim - making it a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands.

 There is a lot happening in City of Bones. Featuring a full cast of characters, twists jump out with every turn of the page as Clary moves through the discovery of herself and the truth that is locked in her memories. Clary’s best friend Simon is one of the more human and believable characters in this novel; his awkwardness is easily recognized from any boy you went to high school with, making him even more lovable.

The Shadowhunters and their world is fantastic. Clear and all too believable, next time I go to a club I know I will be searching the dark corners for the things that go bump in the night. I might even find them.

Rating: 5/5 Stars 

Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Hello and Good day,

Today I am going to be reviewing a standalone novel: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson .

Synopsis

. Cassie and Lia are best friends, and united in their quest to be thin. But when Cassie is found dead in a motel room, Lia must question whether she continues to lose weight, or choose life instead.

Genre: Young adult, contemporary, Mental health (anorexia).

Review

Anderson's portrayal of anorexia was spot on and really accurate, she really captured the truths and hiding expects of the disease really well. I also like how she portrayed Lia's emotions and feelings. However I did find the book trigger (as someone who suffers with EDNOS it affected me in ways I wasn't expecting) therefore I warn people to read this book with caution (and please remember if the book is triggering it's okay to put it down just as it's okay to go ask for help). 

I've heard mixed thoughts on the writing style, so people found it repetitive and 'long drawn', however I found it helped portray the true version of anorexia. Also I find the repetition shows of damaged Lia is and how she is constantly reminding herself of the self-destructing behaviour which is how a lot of people with metal illness think.  

Even though I found the book triggering, it was still a good read. I believe it may help people to understand how people with eating disorders and to some extent mental illnesses think and why they think this way, and how these thoughts lead to behaviours which a lot of people don't understand. 

Overall I give this book

4/5 stars

Midnight Alley (Morganville Vampire #3): Book Review

Hello, and good morning,

Today I am reviewing the third book in the Morganville vampire series: Midnight Alley

Synopsis

When Claire Danvers learned that her college town was run by vampires, she did what any intelligent, self-preserving freshman would do: She applied for a transfer and stocked up on garlic. The transfer is no longer an option, but that garlic may come in handy.

Genre: Young adult, paranormal (Vampire)

Review:

This series gets more eventful, intense and action packed with every new book! That being said I still find the books a quick and easy read. 

The introduction of Myrnin an old and very wise vampire, who is looking for the cure and needs Claire help in the research.  However, Myrnin is getting very ill mentally which makes the plot more intense and gripping. Also with Myrnin comes more knowledge of Morganville and the people inside.

Overall: 4/5 stars

Book that follows:

The Dead Girls Dance (Morganville Vampire #2): Book Review

Hello and good morning,

Today I shall be reviewing the second book in the morganville vampire series: The Dead Girls Dance

Synopsis

Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favours beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.

Genre: Young Adult, paranormal (Vampires)

Review

MAY SPOIL THE FIRST BOOK!
I feel that this book is even more intense and emotional than thee first book, it is even slighter more darker and more action packed. The book starts of just where the previous book (review here) finishes. The beginning allows the reader to feel satisfied that the cliffhanger is being resolved but makes the reader want more.
More secrets are share but even more secrets are left secret, which are left unsolved which makes the book gripping and keeps me turning the pages. We meet new characters a main one being Shane's dad who bring with him the information of Shane's pasts.

The Book That Follows

Midnight Alley (Morganville Vampire #3)

Glass House (Morganville Vampires #1): Book Review

Hello and Good Morning,

Today I am reviewing the first book in the Morganville Vampire series; Glass House.

Synopsis

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new room mates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. Will she be able to face the town's terror or will she drown like everyone else?

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal (Vampires)

Review:

Even though this book is about vampires I find it quite a light read, with the flowing writing, witty humour and fun characters. The writing style is easy to follow, and keeps you turning the pages which makes it an easy and quick read. This twist and turns, and a range of suspense, it has a good mix of witty humour and action which keeps it engaging.

That being said the vampires are quite the cliché as in can't go out in the light however also unique in the way they aren't seen as sexy/hot rather manipulative and suave, which I believe it made it easier to read and follow. The other characters however are the complete opposite, Claire is witty and seems to always find trouble, Eve is hardcore and kick ass, Shane is overprotective and cool, and Michael is mysterious!

Rating: 4.5/5 

It's a really good vampire book however not quite as a good as my favourite vamp book The Immortal Rules. That being said they are very different, and I love to pick up the morganville vampire books for a quick yet entertaining and action packed book. 

The Book that Follows:

The Dead Girls Dance (MorganVille Vampire #2)

The Gone Series by Michael Grant: Review

Hello and good morning,

Today I am going to be reviewing one of my favourite book series: the Gone series by Michael grant. There is six books in the series: Gone, Hunger, Lies, Plague, Fear and Light (In that order).

Overview

US And UK Cover's

 (US cover is on the left and the UK cover on the right):

Genre: 

Young Adult Dystopia/ fantasy/ sci-fi

Synopsis of Book One: Gone 

(Taken from goodreads)

In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears. Gone. Except for the young.

There are teens, but not one single adult. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Overall Rating:

5/5 Stars

Review of Gone:

I love this book and the whole series, and would recommend it to anyone who likes YA dystopia 

There is never a dull moment in this book, it's fast paced and actioned packed. With a range of characters and story lines. I just couldn't put this series down

In order for a dystopia to work, the world building need to be good, and this is one thing that Michael Grant is excellent at! We are transformed into the FAYZ as the characters are, we learn about it as they do. The good parts and the damn right terrifying parts, we experience what they experience from fear to hope and every other emotion under the sun.

Some characters you'll love and some you'll want to reach into the book and kill yourself and that's why I love this series. Sometimes you'll smile, cry and even scream. Each character has there own personality, secrets and there own way different ways of surviving in the FAYZ. 

Overall this book is exciting, gripping, intense, interesting and a little (okay a lot) crazy. 

Have you read gone? If so let me know what you think!!

Have a marvellous day!