Review : Clockwork Angel ( The Infernal Devices #1 )

Clockwork Angel ( The Infernal Devices #1 )

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publication date: August 21st, 2010
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre: YA Fantasy, Steampunk
Formats: E-book

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, 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 of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa 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.

May read for Young Adult Blogger Book Club. #YABBC 

It's been awhile since I've given a book a full 5 quills. 

I've been pretty nit-picky lately, but gosh did Clockwork Angel have it all ! I haven't read The Mortal Intruments... yet. And have been pretty hesitant about reading it too. So when I was told that I didn't have to read TMI to enjoy this one I was happy to board the train. But gosh, I didn't expect such loveliness! ;P

First off, it's Victorian London! There's just something about that era that compels me to read it. Add with the addition of my new-found interest in steampunk...

Let's try to keep this review short and sweet?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I couldn't very well put it down. I had to keep turning the pages, needed to know more about Tessa and Will and Jem and all there is to know about shadowhunters.

Tessa the main protagonist, allows the reader to discover the shadowhunter world along with her. We feel her dread, her loss, her frustrations along with her. I enjoyed her voice as I did the rest of her characters. All the characters were so wonderfully written, be it Charlotte, Henry, Magnus, Thomas, Sophie, Jessamine .

Especially so the two boys, Will and Jem.

Will Herondale is the snarky, bad boy who you can't help but love and hate at the same time. He's got his secrets and angst and what not. I'd grow so frustrated every time the douche would not express his feelings or thoughts. Spit it out god dammit! 

He may be mean but I just knew there had to be a good reason behind his misguided actions. Yes I had many a urge to slap him now and then but *sigh*, soft-spot for bad guys you see.

And there's the lovely, lovely Jem Carstairs. He's a sweetheart I tell you. See's the silver-lining in any situation. There's a hint at a love triangle in the next book. Makes me apprehensive but I hope it's worth it.

This book has got kick-ass demon fighting, the clockwork creatures!, a great backdrop, great characters, had bits that might have been over the top in places. (Ah, who cares! You love these guys right?! ) and made sure I kept reading. That makes it a winner in my eyes. Clockwork Prince here I come!

Fans of TMI may or may not enjoy it as much the modern day counterparts since the shadowhunter theme is recurrent in those books too. But hey, this book has given me the drive to maybe read City of Bones.. finally... Atleast before the movie comes out.

*Spoiler Alert*

Before I finish, here's an extra from Cassandra Clare's website. Will's perspective on the attic scene. *wink wink*

So how did you find the book? Liked it as much or were you disappointed? Let me know. :)

Rating : 5 Quills

quill design: QioDen

Review : Beautiful Creatures ( The Caster Chronicles #1 )

Beautiful Creatures ( The Caster Chronicles #1 )

Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Publication date: Dec 1st, 2009
Published by: Little Brown Books
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Formats: E-book

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

April read for Young Adult Blogger Book Club. #YABBC 

Gosh that was something. I'm still confused about whether I like this one or not. 

It took me too long to read this one. A month.. An effing month! Everytime I put this book down, I never felt the urge to pick it up and get on with it. And I had to force myself really since I had to post a review. Which is actually really sad, because I genuinely liked the idea and everything.

I thought I would hate this one, but though it did nothing to make me go "Oh, give me more!" , it wasn't really all that bad either. I actually liked it, towards the END.  

Anywhoo, let's put down some likes and dislikes now.

What I liked :

 ·       The idea behind Casters, magic and the like.

       I loved that bit! The different kinds of casters, light and dark, all of that shebang. And I'm glad we weren't flooded with all these different kinds of creatures. Basic divisions- Light and Dark, Mortal and Caster. Ofcourse there's the Lilum and all the different powers in the Lena's family. But it was soo much more better than the romance could ever be!

And that Library! Enough said I think.

 ·       Macon Ravenwood

      I was waiting for this guy to show up. And he proved to be worth the wait. Which was long for me since I kept keeping the book down and took way too long to pick it up again.  He was my favorite character in here, and what happens to characters I like? It'll be a spoiler so I better shut it.

 ·       Male POV ! & Ethan Wate ( To a certain degree )

       Ethan's point of view was great. I think this was why I even managed to get towards the second half of the book.

 ·       Boo! And Ridley too.

     Okay the dog didn't do much indivisually. But I liked him. And I know he should be mentioned along with Macon, but I had to mention him separately.
And Ridley. God I loved that bitch. Lena's sickly sweet and dark dark cousin. They got that character down pat..

What I most certainly did NOT :

 ·       The Romance

     I'm not saying I don't like romance. Ofcourse I do! But this was just too much maybe? Too many soppy moments. And what was that scene in Greenbier where they behaved like a human see-saw? ( Will mention the line in the last point. ) I just wish we could find out more about Lena's family and ancestry and magic and maybe even more about Genevieve (Lena's great times four, grandmother).

 ·       Ethan and his dad

     *Sigh* What was going on with Ethan and his dad!? I wish we were told more about him really. I understand him becoming a shut-in because of losing his wife. But I never thought a woman like Amma would let him stay locked up in that room of his for an indefinite period of time. 

Amma was great. The parent Ethan needed and had. So what was his dad doing there anyway? Waste of space I tell you.

 ·       Connection with the characters

     *Sigh again* I didn't feel anything for anyone of them. Nil. Nada. Zilch. Not when Ethan's dad planned on jumping off, nor when the whole town went against a singular, sort-of defenceless 15 year old girl, nor during that "incident" with Macon Ravenwood towards the end. I liked him, very much so. But did I feel a twinge of sadness? Nope. I was pretty neutral really, as I was for pretty much all of the book.

 ·       Better writing? I'm not sure

     I'm not really sure what went wrong. There was the brilliant magic and creatures and characters and parts that made you want to join in. But I just couldn't get invested. Something was off and I'm still not sure what.

And that scene in Greenbier. 

“As I lay down, she sat up, I sat up, she laid down, I laid down. Awkward.”

I'm sorry. What just happened? I would've laughed at this but I didn't. I just sat and stared at the bit of text wondering what I was going to encounter further in.

            So all in all a good read? Umm..... Yes to a certain extent. The imagination of the authors and the magic, flashbacks etc was really good, and I absolutely enjoyed those bits. I can see the appeal of the many who liked this book. I think... But sadly I just failed to connect.

Will I be reading the sequel. Maybe.

 Rating: 3 Quills

quill design: QioDen

Review : Under the Never Sky ( Under the Never Sky #1 )

Under the Never Sky ( Under The Never Sky #1 )

Author: Veronica Rossi

Publication date: Jan 3rd, 2012
Published by: HarperCollins
Genre: YA Dystopia
Formats: E-book

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

March read for Young Adult Blogger Book Club. #YABBC 

Under the Never Sky is set in the future, a world ravaged by Aether storms scarring the earth. Society has split into two - the Dwellers and the Outsiders. While the Dwellers live safe inside their domes and traverse virtual worlds where there is no danger, no fear, be what you want, experience what you like. The Outsiders are hunters and gatherers living under the Aether and surviving. But the Outsiders have something else, a select few have enhanced senses of sight, smell and sound which helps them to survive and live.

When Aria, a Dweller is exiled from her dome for breaking the rules in search of her mother meets Perry the Outsider, who is on the lookout for someone too. They decide to help each other find the ones they love.

Let's get the things I didn't like out of the way first?

• Dweller Pods
  I wish we knew more about the why, how and what, behind the dweller pods. How did they get there? What happened?
• Aria
  Through majority of the first half Aria was just a mean, whiny, cranky dweller who needed to be taken care of. Yes, I get it. You are bound to be disarrayed when thrown into the desert from your life of comfort. But I would atleast try to look after myself, however pathetic I may have been at it. It seemed like she didn't even try. Oh let's not forget her being mean. But she does get better.
   

I liked generally everything else in this. There are holes here and there. Some missing bits that will hopefully and most probably be filled in the upcoming books.

And now the good stuff. Gosh there was so much good stuff !

First off.......

• Perry
  Ok dreadlocks are not my type, but i'm willing to ignore that. Vain, not a big talker, great at archery (how is that not hot?) , gruff and initially seemingly mean, which I get. Of course he would hate the dwellers who have it all. Good food, better living conditions, free of illnesses. I love how he warms up to Aria gradually.
• NO Insta-love (WooHooo!)
  I loved the fact the two despised each other, they didn't want to touch the other let alone be in their very presence. Their love is slow, gradually growing with understanding and getting to know the other. Just as it should be.
• Roar !
  I loved this guy. The fun best friend who is an Aud (super-sharp hearing) and can also hear the thoughts of people if he touches them! How awesome is that?
  

There's loads more to love along with the Aether storms, that threaten the lives of the Outsiders that potentially is the cause of some people developing "super senses", basically a select few who develop enhanced senses which potentially help the tribe in surviving. Read it will you!

On the whole a interesting read that sucks you in and keeps you turning the pages, as soon as Aria stops being annoying that is. Should you pick it up? Most definitely, Yes!

Rating: 4 Quills

quill design: QioDen

Young Adult Blogger Book Club !! Oh yeah!

Look what I discovered on Readers In Wonderland! Young Adult Blogger Book Club! 

This book club hosted by Readers in Wonderland will be focused on discussions and communicating with fellow book bloggers! Using a forum that can be built into posts, discussions will be easy to follow and reply to like never before with a large variety of topics and questions. Using various forms of social media, you can keep track of each other's progress, share favorite quotes, and participate in challenges.

The nice thing about this is you don't have to participate more than you want to. You can sign up and read the book all by your lonesome and not leave a single comment. BUT you DO have to review the book at the end of the month. That is the only requirement if you sign up. I'm trying to think of an incentive for those who do participate frequently though. 

Anyone can join up, but you have to have a blog. The books read, however, are young adult. 

The book for March has been voted for, and the winner is Under the Never Sky.

So head over to Readers in Wonderland and sign yourselves up here.