City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #2
Release Date: March 25, 2008
Pages: 453
Review by: Tessa
       This is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. So, if you didn't read The City of Bones first you are either a very confused person or looking for spoilers. I suggest reading the wonderful review for City of Bones by Max.
       I was so excited after City of Bones that I HAD to read the sequel ASAP!  Imagine how I felt when I found out there are going to be 6 books! This book did not disappoint. The cover alone was enough to make me happy (Some people say that I am easy to impress). The book has just the right amounts of action and humor.
       Clary's mother is now in the hospital, but she has bigger problems. Clary's best friend is suddenly her new "boyfriend" and the Institute is in chaos. Jace is accused of some stupid "crime" and sent to the Silent City to be questioned. The Silent Brothers discover that Valentine has stolen the Mortal Sword, aka the Soul-Sword. In an attempt to regain the Mortal Sword a ship blows up, Clary is put in danger (again), and some noble people die.

City of Bones Movie Countdown

Hi everyone!  Cassia here!  Tessa, Max, and me are huge fans of Cassandra Clare and her books.  We've read all of her books that are out, and can't wait for The Dark Artifices, Clockwork Princess, and City of Heavenly Fire.  We also can't wait for the City of Bones movie on August 23rd 2013.  Here's a countdown:

Review | Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

In this book, Aislinn can see faeries that walk among us . . .invisible.

Rule #3: Don’t stare at invisible faeries.

Rule #2: Don’t speak to invisible faeries.

Rule #1: Don’t ever attract their attention.

Aislinn has lived by these rules all her life.  But they don’t work when two powerful Court faeries start stalking her . . .and other powerful faeries start appearing human . . .with her best friends.  Keenan, the Summer King, and Donia, the Winter Girl, draw Aislinn into a 900 year old deadly conflict between the Summer and Winter Courts.
If you read the introduction post, you’ll know that this is my absolute favorite series EVER.  So, naturally, I called dibs on the whole series, so this might get a little long.  Just so you know, the protagonists name, Aislinn is pronounced ash-linn or ash-ling.  By the time I found this out, I had finished the whole series.  If you want to know how to pronounce the characters’ names, you can visit www.melissa-marr.com.  Believe me, it helps.  In this review, I’m only doing the first book, but just to let you know, my favorite character is in this series.  His name is Irial, and he’s the Dark King.  You don’t come across him much, but once you know about the curse, you’ll find that he plays a big part.  Well, in the whole series actually.  Okay, enough babbling.

Marr writes in third person omniscient, which means she’s the narrator, and she’s in the minds of a lot of characters, basically.  If you don’t like that, don’t panic.  After a while you don’t even notice.  Marr also uses incredible imagery.  A couple times just in this book alone I stopped reading, looked around, and thought, “Where’d everybody go?”  It’s so easy to get lost in her world of Faery.

On to the characters.  Aislinn, the protagonist, is strong, stubborn, and easy to like.  There’s not much about her that I don’t like.  Her best friend is Seth, handsome, caring, and . . .well, perfect.  Some people like Keenan better, but if you ask me Seth is anything any girl could want.  And then there’s Keenan, volatile, temperamental, handsome, caring, and gentle when he wants to be.  His mother, Beira, the Winter Queen, is cold and power-hungry, and will do anything to get it.  I love all of the characters, and these descriptions don’t do them justice, but it’s the best I can do without giving anything away. ;)

The plot is amazing.  I wasn’t bored at all, and that’s hard to not have me get bored during a book, since I’m restless.  The ending will satisfy you, and it may seem like nothing else can happen, but don’t forget-- There’s a second book!  Did I mention this was my favorite series? ;)

Bye for now,
Cassia

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Hi everyone!  Cassia here!  I know we don't have the City of Bones or City of Ashes reviews yet, but here's my review for City of Glass by Cassandra Clare!

                                               

WARNING:  City of Glass is the third book of The Mortal Instruments series.  If you haven't read the first two books, I advise that you do not read this review.  Thank you!

In City of Glass, Clary, Jace, the Lightwoods, and eventually Simon head to Alicante in the Shadowhunter country of Idris.  That's all I'm going to say as a summary, but Goodreads has the real summary. ( If I said anymore, there would most likely be spoilers.(; )

This book is my favorite of the series!  Everyone knows that war is coming, and it does.  I don't consider that a spoiler since its inevitable.  Anyway, for you Jace-lovers out there, you'll have your fill of him.  This book really shows just how awesome of a fighter he is.  If you love Simon, you get a lot of him, too, so don't panic.  While in Idris, Clary and the Lightwoods stay with their cousins, the Penhallows.  Also staying with them is Sebastian Verlac.  Quiet and polite, Clary finds herself wanting to know more about him . . .

In City of Glass, secrets are revealed and not everyone appears as who they really are.

5 stars!!!!

Bye for now,

Cassia

Introduction

Hello fellow bloggers and YA book fans!

Some friends of mine and I are going to be reviewing our favorite-and sometimes not so favorite-books on this very blog right here. It's going to be a blast. However, before we really get to reviewing and writing and reading and all that good stuff, I figure you should get to know us all!

I'm Max.  Of course, that's not my real name, but we all chose to use character names on here. I chose Maximum Ride, because, as one of my friends you'll meet in a minute said, I can't kick butt like Max can, but I got the humor. The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson from which Max is from is one of my absolute favorite book series ever. My favorite color is purple, and all my reviews will have purple headings. I love reading, writing, The Voice, sarcasm, British Youtubers, puns, and chocolate.

My fraternal (which means we don't necessarily look alike and some other scientific stuff I don't feel like explaining) twin sister's name is Tessa, from the Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare. She chose Tessa because I suggested it, and who can say no to me, plus, that's just who she's like a lot, especially the book-lover part. She likes the color pink, reading (obviously), being smart, Renaissance England, arguing with me (and winning, apparently), and Christmas music.

Lastly, and certainly not least, is Cassia. Her character name is from Matched by Ally Condie. She's Cassia because she loves the name. She plays the viola, which is like the violin BUT DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME THING, and softball. Her favorite series ever is Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. Her favorite bands are Shinedown and than 3 Doors Down. Of course, she loves reading.

Fly on,
     Max.