A Love Story That May Last Forever

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

We begin Clockwork Princess with Tessa and Jem engaged.  Mortmain is still at large and the threat of his automatons is very heavy on the Shadowhunters.  The leader of the Institute is being threatened by internal forces.  And so much is going on that it’s hard to outline this in one blog. 

As I finish book three of this beloved series, my heart is heavy and filled with sadness.  There is a relief when a series is completed, but also it is like parting from good friends.  I feel as I know these characters, I learned with Tessa Gray about the Shadowhunter world.  I felt what Will felt as he learns about his curse and I feel life slipping away from Jem as he tries to hold on for those that he loves.  This was a love triangle that I honestly hoped she would pick them both.  In a world where that is not possible my hope was Will.  I loved the redemption in his story, how he was hard to love, but would surprise us with kindness throughout the entire series. 

I loved and hated the ending.  I loved Tessa looking back over her life, sharing us memories on the Blackfriars Bridge.  There were so many questions answered and happy thoughts revisited.  I loved it.  Anytime I get to spend some time with new and old favorite characters I want to devour any information I can get from them.  The ending was interesting.  I can see why Clare went in that direction, I probably would not have gone in that way, but then again I have no published books and Clare has almost 10 on shadowhunters.

Of course I would be crazy to not mention the repeated errors that I found.  The Lightwood brothers names are Gideon and Gabriel, there were several times when the names were used incorrectly and I was confused when his brother arrived.  Also misspellings and words being used incorrectly.  I do not blame Clare, but I do blame whoever edited her books for her.  I can obviously look past these mistakes because I love the characters so much, but I know several readers that would not be able to do so.

I will miss this series and the characters, they were most enjoyable to read and I wish it wasn’t the end.  Farewell Will, Jem and Tessa, maybe we’ll meet some of you again in the City of Heavenly Fire.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Monsters in the Sea, No Problem for Poseidon's Son!

Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book Two: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is surprised by a very quiet seventh grade year after his first summer at Camp Half Blood.  When he found out he was a demigod, he was not only surprised to find that his father was one of the big three gods, but his father was Poseidon.  The last day of school he finds monsters in the gym.  He is saved by his new friend Tyson and Annabeth comes to the rescue and ushers Percy to camp.  The only problem is Camp Half Blood is in trouble.  There are monsters on the hill which is impossible because of the Tree that supports the border.  The tree that is made of Thalia, a daughter of Zeus has been poisoned and there is only one way to heal it.  We all know that Percy, although forbidden to leave camp by several different people in leadership over him, he goes to find the one thing that will save the camp, the Golden Fleece.  He also has been having dreams that Grover is in trouble.  His Satyr best friend that is on a mission to find Pan, but he is in big trouble and is speaking to Percy through his dreams.  The Fleece and Grover are connected and Percy and Annabeth along with Tyson will have to go and retrieve the Fleece and find Grover or die trying.

I read the first Percy Jackson when I saw the movie trailer and I knew that this series was right up my alley.  I like the book a lot and the movie although changed for theater version, I still enjoyed it very much.  I was just recently looking at movies coming out this summer and I was happily surprised to see the second book of Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters is coming to theaters in August.  I immediately reserved the book with the library and read it.

The second book was better than the first.  I don’t know if it’s because we know the characters now or because the writing is better or if I just enjoyed it more, but I like it better.  I can’t wait to continue with the series and read more of Percy Jackson’s crazy adventures.  We know that his character is a lot like Harry Potter, trouble will follow him just because of who he was born to be.  I can’t wait to see how the prophesy molds how the books will continue and end.  It’s a little like Harry Potter in that way as well.  At this point we are just unsure if the prophesy is even about Percy at all.  I for one cannot wait to find out.  I have the third book on hold at the library already!  Keep Reading my Friends!   

The End of the FAYZ

Light: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant

Book #6, the ending of the FAYZ.  I cannot believe that this series is over.  Gone was my first pick for book club.  It was recommended to me from my friend Melody and I’m so glad I read it.  My friend Renae and I continued to read even when other book clubbers decided it wasn’t for them. 

I loved the story of Sam, he was my favorite character even with his ups and downs.  Poor guy had some serious problems throughout the story, too many to get into in this blog, you’ll have to read to find out.  I loved Lana and of course her dog Patrick, Astrid and all the other characters.  After spending so much time with the kids of the FAYZ, I just can’t believe that it’s over. 

It’s hard to talk about the book without giving spoilers, so just in case I slip, beware there are probably going to be spoilers ahead.  I honestly don’t want to go into much detail about the story or what the characters go through in this last book, but just in case, you have been warned. 

The ending was quite perfect.  I don’t know what I pictured for the ending of the FAYZ, but a showdown between Caine/Little Pete and Gaia.  It was quick and over.  I actually guess I was waiting for Little Pete to reverse the effects of the FAYZ or be it was a bad dream and he wakes up in the power plant with the adults finally getting the siren turned off and the whole time was a nightmare in Little Petey’s mind.  I’m so glad that didn’t happen, it would have cheapened the pain that the survivors went through for all of those months. 

My other thought was that when the barrier came down, all of the terrible events, such as the children that died would come back, like they had fallen asleep.  Again I’m glad that this didn’t happen either although it was sad to lose such great characters like Orc, Breeze, Duck, and even Caine.  I’m glad that this option didn’t happen because as an author, Grant had to make hard decisions about characters and plot, and I respect the choices he made.  It makes me upset when authors take the easy track to make the audience happy when it is less realistic.  If an author can look at the end result and not picture a fan throwing the book across the room, I think that’s a good goal to achieve. 

I hate that Connie Temple, Sam’s mom spent all her time while the barrier was up doing everything she could for Sam and the other kids, and then he finds out a little about her past and he just can’t be around her anymore.  It’s sad to me.  With all of the growing up he did while in the FAYZ, he still has some growing up to do. 

Well those are my thoughts on this last book of the Gone series.  I’m so glad I read this and I look forward to other books by Mr. Grant.  Thanks for reading my blog and leave a comment if you have any thoughts.  Keep reading my friends!

Light or Dark? Who would claim you?

Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) by Kami Garcia

Ethan, a sophomore in high school in small town Gatlin, South Carolina, lives a normal teenage life.  He plays basketball, he gets good grades, he behaves in and out of school.  He lives with his father and house keeper Amma, who is more like a grandmother to him.  He hangs with the cool popular kids in his class and he and his best friend Link do the entire necessary checklist items to stay on that cool list themselves.  Ethan’s entire life changes when the new girl, Old man Ravenwood’s, niece moves into town and upsets the balance of the school’s cool kids.  We begin with Ethan on the first day of school when he wakes up from a reoccurring nightmare with the scent of rosemary and lemons and the familiar longing for the girl in his dream.  On his way home, Ethan almost runs Lena, the new girl, over while she stands in the middle of the road, stranded from her uncle’s hurse breaking down.  As Lena and Ethan’s friendship grows, he finds more about her family and a past that demands to be reckoned with, as they have been connected throughout the last century.  The only problem is, that Lena is a caster, sort of like a witch, the only problem is, Lena is running out of time.  On her sixteenth birthday, Lena will be claimed for either the Light or the Dark.  As they race the clock, and grow in their budding romance, many outside sources try and keep them apart. 

I loved Ethan.  He was a fun protagonist to read and I enjoyed his personality and his thought process.  Poor guy, he didn’t have a choice, he was claimed by Lena before they even met.  Even if he wanted to run from the new relationship, he couldn’t have done it.  I always enjoy a love story that it’s as if fate had its hooks in Ethan before he even knew what was going on.  There is something special about Ethan as well.  He can do things that other humans cannot do.  He is capable of communicating with Castors, sees visions, and can go in places that are specifically held sacred for Castors only.

I received this book from the library and I had to quickly read it before it was taken from me electronically.  I also had another book to read after Beautiful Creatures, but I like the book so much that I bought the second book in order to read it as soon as my reading schedule opened up.  So, would I recommend this book, sure!  It was a fun read, with interesting characters and a great plot.  I couldn’t wait to see what happens, and it ends with a semi cliff hanging ending so it makes me want to keep going. 

The only par t of the story line that I just thought was crazy was how insane every character was about the Civil War.  I have lived in the south my entire life, now in several states in the south and I have never met anyone that was obsessed with the Civil War like this entire town was.  I just wonder if there are places in this country that are really like that.  Just a thought.

I am glad I read this book, I can’t wait to go on in the series.  I want to watch the movie just as soon as possible.  It didn’t seem to do well in the theaters, so maybe we can catch it on Netflix pretty soon.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Love Triangle? Epic Battle? Mommy Issues? Don't look for Answers HERE!

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

The finale to the Delirium series could not have disappointed me more.  I looked up the name of the book Requiem because I was not familiar with the word.  It means a mass for the dead or a song for the dead.  I just knew either Alex or Julian was going to die and then Lena was going to have her decision made for her.  Well stop reading if you don’t want spoilers.  This blog is for the pissed off fans of the Delirium series!  Again, spoilers ahead!

What the heck was that ending?  “Take down the walls.” I expected 3 more chapters, that was no ending.  Ok, so we know that Alex, Julian, her mom and Grace were alive, who cares?  I want to see someone (besides Raven) die in this epic battle.  Actually there was no epic battle.  Common sense tells us that since it is the entire nation that has the cure that the capital will send in reinforcements and level Portland to the ground, taking out all cureds and invalids.  It’s ridiculous to say that the Invalids won.  They didn’t win, this was really their first battle and for it to end with no questions answered, it’s stupid. 

I have enjoyed Oliver’s writing throughout the entire series, even this book while throwing a curve ball of Lena’s questioning of the entire reason she is free.  Thinking that the cured have it so much better than the free people was a weird thought process going on with Lena, when we know that she does not believe that.  Besides those side bars, the writing is good.  The character development is good, and I enjoy the love triangle.  However, authors I believe have to make hard decisions.  They have to kill great characters, they have to choose a man in the love triangle and there was no real clear distinction on who Lena was going to end up with and who was going to get their heart broken.  She loves both Alex and Julian, dangit, Oliver, who did she end up with?!?! 

So, where does Lena go from there?  Like I said, she wasn’t happy with life in the wilds, so does she stay in the city?  Does the rest of the country come in and regain order?  So many questions, no answers at all.  Don’t start something you can’t finish. UGH! 

I loved Delirium and Pandemonium, now that was an ending!!! Alex walking in and saying “Don’t believe anything she says.” Or something like that, it was the best ending to a second book in a trilogy ever, but this Wall crap is for the birds.  The ending was rushed and too many questions! 

If you can’t tell, I’m quite upset about this book.  I am demanding a redo, a mulligan!  If you haven’t read this book, don’t waste your time.  Keep Reading My Friends!

"Okay?" "Okay."

 Fault in our Stars by John Green

Hazel Lancaster is dying.  She’s been dying of Thyroid cancer, which has now moved to her lungs since she was thirteen.  To fight depression (which is quoted to be a side effect to dying) her mom is requiring her to go to Support Group every week.  She loathes support group, where the leader Patrick talks about his experience with testicular cancer every meeting and that they meet in the basement of a cross shaped church in the “actual heart of Jesus.”  Her only reprieve is Isaac who has eye cancer and has one false eye and one real eye that he has to wear glasses for.  They can communicate through sighs.  Of course all of her life changes when she meets Augustus Waters. 

This story is heartbreaking and amazing at the same time.  I loved the characters, I loved that this book is a book about a book.  The journey that Hazel and Augustus go on together is wonderful.  The characters are well developed and no matter what is going on with Hazel even if the audience has experienced nothing even close to the horrors she went through on a daily basis, the audience felt them with her. 

Even though I am no longer in Olive Books Book Club, this was a book club pick by Lydia (I think).  And with most of her picks, I loved it.  It was a fast read with a heartwarming yet heartbreaking story.  I would recommend it to any reader of most ages.

Well it wouldn’t be a blog of my opinions if I didn’t mention at least one complaint.  It happens to be my only complaint.  The language between Hazel and Augustus was a bit farfetched.  They not only spoke like they had their PhDs in English, they spoke way above their education.  I could have understood that they were smart kids without feeling like a dummy myself every time they had a conversation.  I should have looked up words at least 20 times, of course I didn’t because I’m lazy. 

All of that to say, I had many quotes that I highlighted because Green said some things in this book that are worth remembering.  I will leave you with a few of my favorites.  Keep Reading my Friends!

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.  And then there are books like An Imperial Affliction, which you can’t tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal.” Hazel’s thoughts

“The only solution was to try and unmake the world, to make it black and silent and uninhabited again, to return to the moment before the Big Bang, in the beginning when there was the Word, and to live in that vacuous uncreated space alone with the Word.” Hazel’s thoughts

“It seemed like forever ago, like we’d had this brief but still infinite forever.  Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.” Hazel’s thoughts

“That’s the thing about pain.  It demands to be felt.” Augustus

“I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things.  I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.” Augustus

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind, Hazel Grace.  It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.” Augustus

Change is a Good Thing!

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

“R” is a zombie.  He has a zombie wife, 2 zombie kids, and he eats brains.  As he goes on a hunting trip with his best friend “M” something changes.  He meets Perry and Julie.  He meets Perry by eating his brain, and meets Julie through Perry’s memories.  R takes Julie back to his home at the airport, determined to keep her safe.  As Julie gets to know R, things start to change, not only with R, but the zombies around him.  Will change happen before the humans kill R and his transforming zombie friends?  You have to read to find out what happens in this shocking novel.

I enjoyed this book very much.  It was highly entertaining and there is action, romance, suspense, and of course a bunch of undead eating people.  I loved the anatomy pictures that start each chapter.  It was fun way to break up the action. 

I loved the love triangle between Perry, Julie and R.  It was interesting to get to know Perry’s story through R and to watch Julie with R and have to deal with Perry’s death along with R knowing everything that Perry knew about Julie.  It was an interesting way to have another character without having one. 

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but for anyone who has read the book, I guess I’m confused about the ending and why the change took place.  I have a few thoughts, but again I don’t want to give spoilers.  Leave a comment if you have any insight on the yellow eyes, the kiss, and Julie’s dad.  I was a little confused about all of those and why they happened or what was the significance of those items in the book.

So, any thoughts on Warm Bodies?  Are there going to be more books in this series?  I hope you enjoyed!  Keep Reading my Friends!