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!

Team Jem or Team Will?

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Tessa Gray longs to know what she is.  She has a unique ability to become anyone in the world as long as she is in possession of a personal object of the person’s.  As she has taken refuge from the evil Mortmain with the Shadowhunters she has learned more about their way of life.  Of course there is a love triangle between Tessa, Will Herondale and Jem Cairstars.  She is attracted to both of the Shadowhunters even though Will is a pompous, egotistical punk and Jem is slowly dying.  As the story continues, the destiny of the Institute, the refuge in London for any Shadowhunters, hangs in the balance, Charlotte, Henry, Jessimine, Will, Jem and Tessa fight to find the location of Mortmain and work to discover his plans.

Of course if you look back on my previous blogs you will find that it is no surprise that I love Cassandra Clare.  I have read all of the Mortal Instruments and now the Infernal Devices.  Her writing captures and forces the audience to fall head over hills for her characters.  I can tell you anything you want to know about Jace and Clary.  They are exceptionally written and I can’t wait until their story comes to an end and then again I want her to continue the series forever.  Jem, Will and Tessa are much the same.  The characters are so developed and the plot is wonderful so I not only read these books, I devour them.  Who doesn’t want to read about half human half angel beings fighting demons so we mundains can have a demon free world?

I love Tessa, she is a reader and that is always fun for other readers to enjoy. 

This book’s conclusion is heart wrenching.  I could not believe everything that took place at the end.  Without spoilers, there is death, celebration, reconciliation, misery, surprise.  I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.  If you are any sort of fan of fantasy or Young Adult literature, Cassandra Clare’s series come highly recommended from me!  Keep Reading my Friends! 

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

This is the third book in the Mortal Instruments series and I just have to say that I am in love with this series!  The series continues with my favorite characters Jace and Clary needing to get to Alicante, the Shadowhunter’s capital.  Jace is trying as hard as he can to keep Clary, his sister, out of the City and possibly out of danger.  The Clave, the Shadowhunter’s form of government, has requested an audience with Clary, in order to tell her side of what happened on the boat with Valentine at the end of City of Ashes.  Well we all know that it would be a short book if Jace could keep Clary out of danger and out of the City of Glass.

Of course my first reaction to this book was the cover, who is this black haired guy on the front of the book?  My first guess was Alec because he is a dark haired Shadowhunter, but then enters Sebastian.  He is dark and mysterious and Clary definitely thinks he is good looking, but there is something about him that she keeps him at arm’s length.   They have several interactions and although she can’t shake her feelings for Jace, she knows that as siblings there can be nothing between them.  So, Sebastian is a good second choice for now, or so she thinks at first.

There is so much that takes place in this book, to recap the entire book would be silly, so I will just give a few thoughts and encourage you to read this series.  This is a series that I have not just read, but I have devoured.  I have enjoyed every minute of my time with these well written characters.  I feel what each character feels, I laugh and cry and am evolved with their every move in each book and with each new character that is introduced.  I will speak shortly on the “well written” phrase from above.  Clare is not a perfect writer and it is YA literature, but the characters are so in-depth that you truly get lost in the story and are oblivious to any mistakes that may take place.  I actually can’t remember any errors, but I have read some reviews that say it is written too simplistic and there is not enough depth, it’s for teenagers, get over it!

I have read each of these books so quickly, I cannot wait to re-read them and keep them on my shelf to love them forever.  I love how each story unfolds and the audience is moved to believe what Clare is telling us to believe and with each complication and movement of the story, I lament or rejoice with these characters that I have grown to love.

If you are a lover of young adult literature, this is the next series for you!!!  Keep reading my friends!

Use the Force Clary, oh wait, wrong series...

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

This is the second installment of the Mortal Instruments and it continues immediately after City of Bones.  In the first book Clary’s life was turned upside down when she sees things she has never seen before and she is introduced to a hidden world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders.  She learns that her father is not dead like she had been told all her life, but he is the worst villain of this new world and that the boy she has fallen head over heels for is her brother.  Her mother is in a self induced coma and nothing seems to be able to wake her.  With City of Bones, the audience learns about all sorts of Downworlders, vampires, werewolves,etc.  In City of Ashes, Alec and Isabelle Lightwood introduce Clary to the Faerie world, when they go to the queen to see if she will join the Shadowhunters to fight Valentine in his mission to destroy all Downworlders.  Of course some crazy drama takes place with the Faerie Queen that I will not go into detail.  Simon has a change of situation that turns him into a key player in the war of this new world.  And Clary finds out that she is not the average Shadowhunter but is special. 

I guess there could be spoilers to City of Bones in this blog, so if you haven’t read it, please stop here, read the book and come back!  When we meet Valentine at the end of City of Bones and Jace says “this is my father.” I thought, OMG!  That is a turn that I would have never guessed and it turned my stomach inside out for Clary.  I just kept thinking to myself, no, they can’t be brother and sister.  They want each other too much.  And then I thought, thank the Lord that they have only kissed.  Eek!

I know that this author is not perfect, I see the mistakes, but Clare has found a story that has stolen my heart.  I love the Shadowhunters and this new and exciting world.  I am engrossed to see what will happen next with Magnus, Alec, Isabelle, Jace, Clary, Simon and all
the characters.  As the story continues we meet new characters and I am engrossed in his/her story and I can’t wait to see how this new and exciting character will help or hinder what’s going to happen in this story. 

The only problem with this series is that I am having is that I am reading it too fast and it has been several months since I actually read this book and now blogging about it and I have read all of the books of the series and I can’t remember details about what I liked specifically.  Oh well, just take my advice and read this series as soon as possible.  This will be the next fan series to watch out for in the movies.  Keep Reading my friends!

Clockwork Demons? It could work...

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

The year is 1878, and this story takes place in London.  Young Tessa Gray finds herself being shipped from
America to London to join her brother there after the death of their aunt.  When she arrives, she meets the Dark Sisters who take Tessa to their home to meet her brother.  When she arrives, her brother is not there, but being held prisoner and unless Tessa does exactly as the Dark Sisters say, they will kill him.  Tessa finds herself being tortured mercilessly by the Dark sisters for a hidden talent that she does not know about.  Tessa can change herself into anyone dead or alive only by holding an object that once belonged to that person.  After she masters this talent, the Dark Sisters will offer her up as a spouse to the Magister.  One fateful night, Will Herondale comes to her rescue and Tessa meets her first Nephilim.  As the book continues with twists and turns, Tessa learns more about a new world that she never knew existed and somehow she fits into this world with her power that she is learning to control and use in this war that she has been brought into. 

 Starting this book, I have to admit that I was worried.  I loved the Mortal Instruments by the same author and I didn’t know how a prequel series would sit with me.  I didn’t want to lose the magic of what I knew about this new world of Demons and Nephilim, Fairies and Werewolves, but I had a great recommendation from Laura, a Young Adult connoisseur from Books A Million.  She said that the Infernal Devices story intertwines with the Mortal Instruments in such a way that you will love it just as much as the Mortal Instruments.  I still had my doubts, but I went ahead and purchased this first book and read it.  I have not looked back or regretted my decision. 

 One aspect that I had to get over was Will.  He is briefly mentioned in City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) and Magnus Bane is the person that refers back to him.  Remembering this, it was easy for me to see how the books intertwine in that small way.  At first, I thought Clare was recreating Jace through Will.  Almost like, it worked the first time with my other books, so let’s see if my fans like Jace’s great grandfather.  It was hard for me to get over how Will’s self serving attitude had the appearance of  being so much like Jace, I didn’t want him and Jace to be alike, because I always thought of Jace as such an original character, but as the story continued, I could see distinct differences in behaviors, actions and even thought processes.  It was hard not to think concepts about this book and compare to Mortal Instruments because of how similar the plots were, as a fan, I liked it, but I can see how if you didn’t just love one, you won’t love the other either.  Of course anyone who read these books, will probably want to argue with me and say that the plots are not similar, but I ask that you think for just a minute… girl goes into new world, meets boy, against all odds does not only survive but finds out she’s got skills in this whole new world.  Sound familiar?  I’m not upset, I like the plot, but I’m just saying it’s the same. 

 Clare uses the same magical writing as she did in previous books and Laura was right, she intertwines the stories just enough to make you think about your beloved character such as Jace, or Magnus Bane, and it reminds you so much about events that take place in the later books, such as City of Fallen Angels.  I have no idea what order you should read Clare’s books in, but this is how I’m going along so far. 

City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of  Fallen Angels, Clockwork Angels, and I already own Clockwork Prince (although I have not read it yet, and I have City of Lost Souls on pre-order, so I’m not sure which of these last two I will get to first, but no worries, I will read them all.)

 So, I’ve seen around the blogosphere some Team Will or Team Jem ads.  So, what are you?  I think as of right now, after book 1 I am totally Team Jem, which is actually quite opposite of me, I am usually always for the main guy character.  All of that to say, I am a fan of Cassandra Clare!  I hope you enjoyed this blog and I hope you read both series by Cassandra Clare!  Keep reading my friends!

A Whole New World for Clary, Let the Adventure Begin

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Clarissa Fray and her best friend Simon go to Pandemonium, a teenage club in New York, for a little fun on one fate-driven night.  As Simon and Clary dance, she notices a boy following a beautiful girl into a storage closet, but it just wasn’t a normal make out session, she noticed that the couple was being followed by two guys and one of them has a knife.  She sends Simon to get a bouncer and follows the group into the closet, what happens next shocks us all, they can’t figure out why Clary can see them.  As she witnesses a murder in that closet, she can’t shake the feeling that there is something quite different about her life now.  The next day, her mom goes missing, kidnapped by a dead man, Clary learns more about her life than she ever thought possible.  Will the truth set her free or dig her deeper into the rabbit hole of a world she never signed up for? 

I loved this book.  I bought this book last August, but my line-up for books has been too crazy to get them all taken care of, so it has sat on the shelf for some time.  When I decided to pick it up, I was so glad that I did.  There was mystery, suspense, and a great love story.  From the beginning to the end I was addicted to the story and wanted to get to know each character more and more.  Clare expresses this new world to Clary through Jace and the other Nephilim in a way that had me hooked.  I love it when a character learns about their life that they should have been living in from birth, but didn’t because of someone else’s decision.  Clary’s mom decided when she was born to hide her true identity from Clary and everyone she has met.  Whenever she meets Jace he explains the new world that she has just started seeing for the first time.  As the audience goes through the story, I know that I was eager to see what was going to happen.

I have read some reviews that talk about Clare’s writing style, one person said that she switches tenses not only between the character’s points of views, but within the same paragraph.  I usually have a keen eye for these types of editing mistakes, but I didn’t notice at all, I think mainly because I was so enraptured in the story, that the world could have blown up around me and I would have died happy and never known the world was on fire.  I only feel sorry that the person whose review I read didn’t have the same experience. 

Without giving any spoilers, I’m just going to say that I hated the development in the end.  But I wasn’t surprised.  I guessed Jace’s true identity almost from the very beginning and I hated it.  I don’t want to give away too much, no spoilers, I promise, just know how disappointed I was.  I hope that it’s wrong in a future book, I have a feeling that it’s not true, but I do go back and forth on my opinion. 

I can’t wait to continue this series and learn more about the Nephilim and how Clary will continue to fit into this new world of the Shadowhunters.  I hope that if you read it that you loved it as much as I did and also that you can’t wait for more of these books to come out.  I haven’t done any research on the Mortal Instrument Series, maybe it’s over, I don’t know, but I can’t wait to start City of Ashes, TODAY!  Keep reading my friends!

***Side note, I wrote this blog 2 months ago, I have finished all of the Mortal Insturments that are released to date, and I have pre-ordered City of Lost Souls, which comes out in a few weeks!