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

coming off the high of reading the entire Mortal Instruments series and learning that there was a companion series that i probably should have been reading at the same time, i got my hands on the e-copy of Clockwork Angel and it didn’t disappoint

This first installment of the series introduces us back into the world of ShadowHunters, ‘Downworlders’ and the unexpected.  The great thing here is that there were all the good aspects of MI, but with a different spin.  Also, one of my all time FAVORITE characters – Magnus Bane was involved. so you know that only good could happen right?

anyway, we are introduced to Tessa an American who is on her way to London because her family in the US is gone (parents died and her aunt that she’s been living with just passed away).  Her brother Nate moved to London for a job and sent for Tessa to come and live with him.  Good stuff right?

well from the moment Tessa steps foot off the boat, things take a turn for the worse.  Her brother doesn’t meet her at the ship as planned – instead these 2 women a.k.a. the Dark Sisters come and meet her and bring her back to the house.  From there she’s imprisoned, held captive and basically is made to do whatever these women want of her because they are holding her brother and she is the only way for him to stay alive.

Not surprising, a pair of ShadowHunters come to her rescue.  Will i guess is supposed to be our Jace from the Mortal Instruments – anyhow, he comes to her rescue and brings Tessa back to the Institute.  From there, and from her experiences at the Dark Sister’s house, she learns about so much more that’s going on. See, the Dark Sisters discovered that Tessa is able to do something that no one else can do, and well, everyone wants someone who’s that special right?

in any event,  the ShadowHunters get involved, and they involve Vampires and Warlocks which is how we meet up again with Magnus Bane….and interestingly Camille Belcourt…and excitement ensues.

what throws me off in this story though is that i kept wanting to relate characters to their ‘descendents’ in Mortal Instruments yet i kept forgetting the parentage.  oh well…definitely worth another read at both series again in tandem.  So many unanswered questions too from this book that makes me thrilled that Clockwork Prince is out so i can get that too.

i want to know more about Tessa’s back story, about what happens with relationships, whether or not characters that we love will continue to be around or not……onto Book 2 for me…

Review: City of Lost Souls (Book 5 of The Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare

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Title:  City of Lost Souls 
Author:  
Cassandra Clare
Publisher/Year:  
Margaret K. McElderry Books 5/8/12
Length:  
560 Pages
Series: 
The Mortal Instruments #5

Overview

Overview

This Barnes & Noble exclusive edition includes a letter to Jace from his father!

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon. Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

My Thoughts

so we were left off from book 4 with quite a problem on our hands weren’t we?  greater demons were killed, suprise visitors/villians return, things happened to characters that we prayed wouldn’t…evil over took the souls of the souls of some of the good and yet we still really want to believe that there’s a way to come out of this on top.

Let’s just say that i’m really happy that City of Lost Souls was already out otherwise i don’t know what i’d do with myself right now.

***potential spoiler alert**

so Jace is missing – and we are fairly certain that he’s with sebastian…who SURPRISE isn’t dead

the lightwoods, magnus, clary and simon and friends just won’t give up trying to find him because they just know that he can’t be dead.  Clary aligns herself just a little bit with the seelie queen to find out a little of what she needs to do to find Jace, and even more trouble ensues.

it woudln’t be a TMI book if Clary didn’t throw all caution to the wind.  She tends to leap without looking.  Also, we find ourselves yet again in a place where Simon is a hero and needs to do it again.

We also find ourselves in a place where Magnus is the savior to all things necessary, yet he and Alec are not quite in the same happy place and that’s just not good…

so here are my questions for the next story (i didn’t have to talk about it after book 4 because i already jumped into 5 but now i have time)

1) what’s going to happen to Jace now ?  seems like there are after affects of what happened to him and i wonder what that means?

2) what’s going to happen with Alec and Magnus ?  things can’t quite be what they seem right?  I HOPE NOT!

3) what’s going to happen with Izzy and Simon?

4) are things going to be smooth sailing for Jordan and Maia?

5) are Luke and Jocely ever going to get married

6) what’s going to happen with The Lightwood’s marriage

and a big question i have is….

is Alec really a herondale???? why did Camille keep making reference to Will and how much Alec looked like him?

brother zachariah – what’s his ties to the herondales?  is he really stephan who was thought to be dead?…just wondering since he’s sooo insistent on doing what he can to save any relative of the family.

Review: City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments Book 4) by Cassandra Clare

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Title:  City of Fallen Angels
Author:  Cassandra Clare
Publisher/Year:  Margaret K. McElderry Books 10/2/12
Length:  448 Pages
Series: The Mortal Instruments #4

Overview 

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her—his mother just found out that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

The stakes are higher than ever in the #1 New York Times bestselling fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series.

My Thoughts 

one of my favorite pats to finding a new series is to find myself totally enthralled in it, and after having my faith reinstilled after book 3, book 4, City of Fallen Angels keeps me so intrigued that i read right through it evenw hen i had a ton of other stuff to do.

so at the end of book 3, we think that things are finally going to fall into place for Clary and Jace, yet of course that would be WAY Too easy.  they are finally able to be tegoether which was a long time coming, everyone is beginning to get back to some sense of normalcy now that the mortal war is over and done with (or so they think), Simon finds himself in an interesting position where he’s ‘the man’ but his mother hates him.

suffice it to say that Cassandra Clare keeps us really invested in all the characters.  like what’s going on with Magnus and Alec, What’s going on with Izzy and Simon, and Simon and Maia, and how aer Luke and Jocelyn doing?

it wouldn’t be another edition of The Mortal Instruments though if one of the most hated characters doesn’t some how come back, and if other GREATER demons didn’t show their faces.  Camille, the high vampire in NY returns, but for what and at what price?

ahh, so much to think about and so much that i don’t want to spoil.  Let me just tell you, you’ll read right through this one and find yourself really thankful that City of Lost Souls is out so you can breeze right into book 5.  the ending of book 4 makes you so on edge that you really feel like you can’t wait until you pick up the next one.

Review: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments Book 3) by Cassandra Clare

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Title:  City of Glass
Author:  Cassandra Clare
Publisher/Year:  Margaret K. McElderry Books 8/3/10
Length:  576 Pages
Series: The Mortal Instruments #3

Overview 

To save her mother’s life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters—never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family’s past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he’s willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City—whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the third installment of bestselling series the Mortal Instruments.

Includes an exclusive sneak peek of the fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series: City of Fallen Angels! And don’t miss the teaser from Clockwork Angel, the first book in the Infernal Devices trilogy, the prequel to the Mortal Instruments series.

 

ssandra Clare
Publisher/Year:  Margaret K. McElderry Books 8/3/10
Length:  576 Pages
Series: The Mortal Instruments #3

Overview 

 

i’m definitely a happy girl when after a few books into a series and i’m losing faith a little bit that a story line comes out that reminds me why i was keeping at it.  book 3 in The Mortal Instruments does just that.  Cassandra Clare brings us to the home world of the ShadowHunters so we can really deal with some strife.  (yes i used the word strife)

so in this story, we’re still focused on Jace and Clary, and Simon has a big part as does Luke.  We’re left wondering if Clary will be able to save her mother from the spell that she put on herself as protection against Valentine…and then there’s Valentine.  Such a nice name, yet such a nasty person.

so…we start off the story basically with Jace trying to trick Clary into not being able to get to Idris to track down the warlock that can help her mom.  Simon’s dragged into it (in more ways than 1) and then, Clary some how manages to get herself there.

lots of battles ensure, and we’re introduced to a few new folks:

Sebastian – he’s the cousin of the people that the Lightwoods are staying with, yet everyone seems to think that there’s ‘something’ off about him, but can’t quite put their finger on it.  read on in the story and you’ll figure that one out .

Aline – the daughter of the family that the Lightwoods are staying with who sort of makes a play for Jace, but as you read you find out more about that one

a return of Maia which is always nice – kind of like this chick – she’s helpful and turns up when you least expect it and i feel like there’s so much more we could do with her.  maybe she’ll become more important in the following books.

we’re also introduced to the Fairies (for the most part) and the Seelie Queen is an interesting one.  she speaks in riddles and makes you think about things, yet you do and don’t want her thoughts to come true.  again, you’d have to read to get where i’m going with this.

GOOD NEWS here, is that a few of the questions that i had at the end of Book 2 (City of Ashes) get answered in a pleasing way.  now i have a few more:

1) do we think that what the Seelie Queen says about Jace and Clary will be the truth?

2) what’s going to happen with Simon – now that we know he’s a daylighter – what does that do for him

3) what role will Jocelyn (and Luke) have in the future since we know that Joce is really a key player in a lot of different ways

4) what’s going on with Jace?  i mean really?

so – i’ll keep reading because i’m happy to say that this book was really good – and the next 2 hopefully will be just as good.  What i just learned though is that i should also be reading Clockwork Angel and that series since it’s kind of parallel with similar characters.  too bad i didn’t know that before.  wonder what i’ve missed….