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THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS BY CASSANDRA CLARE

12/6/2018

49 Comments

 
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When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...


I quite enjoyed this adaptation and found that the pacing suited the book well as it illustrated all the important scenes that appeared in the first third of City of Bones, up to Magnus Bane’s party, and even included some other smaller details. However, it would have been preferable to have the entire contents of City of Bones in this single volume as a larger and thicker copy, rather than having the one book split into several graphic novels. Though, I am glad that Cassandra Jean has chosen to include most scenes from the book, rather than fast pacing and skipping the extra information. The art is simplistic, easy on the eyes and represents each character well enough, despite Isabelle’s character not quite picturing up to some of Jean’s past work. Although readers should keep in mind that the characters are of fifteen to sixteen years of age, so having less remarkable features on their character art, allows for them to appear more youthful and innocent before the hardships they all endure throughout the course of this series impacts their growth. It is to be noted that the publisher also ended up using an earlier version of Jean's artwork for the first chapter in the volume, which resulted in some last minute changes such as Simon's hair and his glasses that were not included original in the draft. This has caused the chapter to be different from the rest of the graphic novel. Overall, this graphic novel was an exciting and enjoyable read as it was great seeing all the characters again in a well-loved series, but this time, bought to life through art. This book is definitely a great read for those who wish to jog their memory on the contents of what occurs in The Mortal Instrument, in a fun, light and easy way.

The Mortal Instruments Graphic Novel:
The Graphic Novel Volume 1

49 Comments

ELECTRIC EMPIRE BY VIOLA CARR

2/1/2018

48 Comments

 
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Solving the infamous Chopper case has helped crime scene physician Dr. Eliza Jekyll establish her fledgling career in the chauvinistic world of Victorian law enforcement. But the scrutiny that comes with her newfound fame is unwelcome for a woman with a diabolical secret. And there is the mercurial Royal Society agent and wolf man Remy Lafayette. Does he want to marry her, eat her, or burn her at the stake? Though Eliza is uncertain about Remy, her dark and jealous shadow self, Lizzie, wants to steal the magnetic and persistent agent, and usurp Eliza’s life.

It’s impossible to push Remy away when he tempts her with the one thing she can’t resist: a bizarre crime. The search for a bloodthirsty ritual torturer dubbed the Pentacle Killer draws them into a terrifying world of spies, art thieves, and evil alchemy, where the price of immortality is madness?or damnation—and only Lizzie’s dark ingenuity can help Eliza survive.

As Eliza and Remy race to thwart a foul conspiracy involving the sorcerous French, they must also overcome a sinister enemy who is all too close: the vengeful Lizzie, determined to dispose of Eliza for good.


The Devious Dr. Jekyll is yet another complex and intriguing story filled with mystery with it’s enthralling discoveries that are the perfect blend of historical and literary characters in one. – Abooktopia
 The Devious Dr. Jekyll is the sequel to Viola Carr’s ‘The Diabolical Miss Hyde’, which is an extension of the infamous tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that follows the story of his daughter Dr. Eliza Jekyll and her dark side Miss Lizzie Hyde who resides within her.
 
Sharing the same body, Dr. Eliza Jekyll, a forensic investigator, continues to be at odds with her other half, Miss Lizzie Hyde who lurks in the shadows at night as an unapologetic woman who knows nothing of boundaries. Both reluctant to give the other dominance over their shared body, they must learn to work together when their mutual existence could be compromised with a serial killer on the loose, followed by uncanny rituals. As Eliza comes to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the gruesome and unnatural killings, her darker side, Lizzie, has grown restless of living in the shadows… But that’s not the only issue.  There is more to the murders than anyone ever could suspect. It soon becomes clear that the murders are part of a bigger picture that could have deadly consequences, and Eliza is caught up in the middle of it all.
 
Overall, this book is packed to the brim, full of murder, mystery and mayhem with dark twists turning everything you know upside down. Eliza and Lizzie’s complicated relationship continues to be full of surprises. Despite them sharing the same body, the two characters prove to be completely different entitles with their own unique and dynamic personalities where they each have different characteristics that define them.
***I received a personalised signed copy of this book in return***
***for an honest and unbiased review***

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Viola Carr was born in a strange and distant land, but wandered into darkest London one foggy October evening and never found her way out. She now devours countless history books and dictates fantastical novels by gaslight, accompanied by classical music and the snoring of her slumbering cat.

Viola also writes urban fantasy adventure and dark paranormal romance under a pseudonym known as
Erica Hayes.



Electric Empire by Viola Carr:
BOOK 1: The Diabolical Miss Hyde

BOOK 2: The Devious Dr. Jekyll

BOOK 3: The Dastardly Miss Lizzie
48 Comments

THE INFERNAL DEVICES BY CASSANDRA CLARE

7/4/2017

53 Comments

 
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Tessa Gray thought her journey to London would be the beginning of a new life, but she never could have envisioned the dark turn that life would take... Abducted upon arrival, Tessa is introduced to London's Downworld, the sordid supernatural underbelly of the city, and informed that her future will be recast to service a man known as "The Magister". Only the intervention of the London Institute's Shadowhunters delivers the girl from this fate, but sinister forces are still gathering around Tessa. Even so, Tessa's attraction to two of the young Shadowhunters who have taken her under their wings may prove more dangerous by far...

In this dazzling manga of The Infernal Devices, readers will rediscover the Shadowhunter history of London 1878 in this all-new adaption with intricate illustrations capturing the details of a world beyond shadows. – Abooktopia
​Fans of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles will cherish this exquisite adaption of The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel, in manga form. I am so ecstatic that this series has been adapted this way, as I personally cannot stand the ‘hideous’ comic adaptions of books I love, as they tend to ruin my views on the characters; a tad bit. But a manga adaption? I am all up for that for I am in love with the gorgeous artwork and I’m not even a manga reader myself.
 
The Infernal Devices is a steampunk fantasy, which takes place in London, 1878. The manga stuck true to the original books and even included phrases from them, making it a perfect adaption that follows the series accurately. The funny scenes and lines still cracked me up and I adored seeing how the manga displayed each characters emotion dramatically. I was overjoyed with the illustration in this book and the way my favourite characters were presented. However there was one character that looked out of place unfortunately, Henry. It seems as if his character was drawn for comic relief with his childish face with lack of detail. I honestly don’t know how I feel about the way he was drawn but I can kind of, sort of, understand why his particular character was drawn in such a unique way as throughout the book series, Henry Branwell’s character was underestimated by the Clave and many who did not know him thought of him as a fool when in reality he was a genius at work creating new technology that would change the shadow world forever and help aid the shadowhunter’s in their tracking of demons for generations to come. Henry’s character can come off as a little childlike in the midst of him getting excited about his new ideas for inventions, but how could one not get all giddy at the thought of the possibilities? Especially when his inventions prove to be of value to the Clave.
 
Overall, Hyekyung captured the characters quite perfectly and they were how I imagined each of the characters to appear which was fantastic to see. Hyekyung did a good job at carefully selecting what scenes needed to be included, as I know that not every scene could have been included in this adaption. This manga is the perfect refresher for The Infernal Devices series if you want a quick recap and read of the series and cannot recommend purchasing a copy enough, for the images are striking to gawk at.  However, I do recommend reading Clockwork Angel first by Cassandra Clare as it provides one with a lot more background information that is skipped out on in this manga adaption. 
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare:
BOOK 1: Clockwork Angel
BOOK 2: Clockwork Prince
BOOK 3: Clockwork Princess
53 Comments

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS GIVEAWAY! (NEW COVER)

30/1/2017

437 Comments

 

🎉🎉 GIVEAWAy 🎉🎉
HAS ENDED

***Winner is: Brooklyn F. ***
Walker Books Australia have sponsored this amazing giveaway of the newly redesigned set of The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. This set of six books is complete with the new gorgeous covers and spines that are a must have for every die-hard fangirl and fanboy!

You know you can’t resist entering *smirks*
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 To enter follow the rules below:
  • Yes! Giveaway is International
  • Please ensure you have parental consent
  • One winner will be announced
  • Click the Read More button to view Entry Forms
  • All entries will be checked for valid proof
  • Invalid Entries will automatically be deleted
  • Lastly, No Cheating! Thank you.
  • I will be checking ALL entries

If you have any questions regarding the giveaway or my blog, merely shoot me a message in the comments section or contact me through the Contact Form on my Blog.

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ELECTRIC EMPIRE BY VIOLA CARR

30/9/2015

56 Comments

 
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Magic, mystery, and romance mix in this edgy retelling of the classic The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-in which Dr. Eliza Jekyll is the daughter of the infamous Henry

In an electric-powered Victorian London, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a crime scene investigator, hunting killers with inventive new technological gadgets. Now, a new killer is splattering London with blood, drugging beautiful women and slicing off their limbs. Catching "the Chopper" could make Eliza's career--or get her burned. Because Eliza has a dark secret. A seductive second self, set free by her father's forbidden magical elixir: wild, impulsive Lizzie Hyde.

When the Royal Society sends their enforcer, the mercurial Captain Lafayette, to prove she's a sorceress, Eliza must resist the elixir with all her power. But as the Chopper case draws her into London's luminous, magical underworld, Eliza will need all the help she can get. Even if it means getting close to Lafayette, who harbors an evil curse of his own.

Even if it means risking everything and setting vengeful Lizzie free . . .

I was fortunate enough to receive a signed copy of this dark and perplexing novel and I’m so glad I did! This novel is a new personal favourite of mine, and I cannot wait until the second novel The Devious Dr. Jekyll as part of the Electric Empire series is released this coming October. The cover is breathtaking and has completely wooed me, as it is the best cover I have seen all year! This novel has definitely compelled me to read a lot more steampunk and mystery novels, so don’t be surprised if I get my hands on some in the near future.

I love how The Diabolical Miss Hyde is not just a retelling of the well-known story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but instead is the extension story of his daughter Dr. Eliza Jekyll and her dark side Miss Lizzie Hyde.

Now an orphaned woman, Dr. Eliza Jekyll takes after her father: the infamous Dr. Jekyll. Eliza is a crime scene investigator and a doctor who works at the insane asylum Bethlam. With two new murder scenes, Elisa must expose the anonymous murderer known as the ‘Chopper’ (who cuts the limbs off his victims) before he kills his next target.  

Things start to get complicated when the Royal’s Captain Lafayette is oddly positioned to work alongside Dr. Eliza with her murder case. Unsure whether to trust him, both Elisa and Lizzie suspect he’s hiding something and could potentially become a danger to them both. But Lafayette is not the only one hiding deep secrets… With a single drop of elixir, there’s no knowing just what Elisa’s impulsive shadow façade Lizzie Hyde might do once she’s freed from her slumber.

I found it extremely intriguing that Viola Carr chose to alternate her writing from 1st person to 3rd person as she wrote from both Eliza and Lizzie’s perspective. She does an incredible job at keeping both their characters separate from one another. Eliza is the smart shortsighted girl with her opticals and resourceful gadgets, whilst Lizzie is the wild and adventurous shadow persona that is uncontrollable. Though Lizzie may be extremely strong willed and brave, she is still afraid that Eliza wishes for nothing more than to get rid of her. I also loved how throughout the novel, they consistently helped one another out, even without the other one’s acknowledgement at times.

This novel was fast past and unpredictable as it had you second-guessing just who this ‘mysterious’ murderer might be. Viola Carr also cleverly weaves other potential murderers artfully. The plot is well built with remarkable new characters that you can’t help but want to grasp just what was going on inside that head of theirs. I hope to one-day see this novel be produced into a film, as I believe it would work wonderfully.
***I received a personalised signed copy of this book in return***
***for an honest and unbiased review***

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Viola Carr was born in a strange and distant land, but wandered into darkest London one foggy October evening and never found her way out. She now devours countless history books and dictates fantastical novels by gaslight, accompanied by classical music and the snoring of her slumbering cat.

Viola also writes urban fantasy adventure and dark paranormal romance under a pseudonym known as
Erica Hayes.


Electric Empire by Viola Carr:
BOOK 1: The Diabolical Miss Hyde

BOOK 2: The Devious Dr. Jekyll
56 Comments

A TITAN NOVEL BY JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

15/9/2015

55 Comments

 
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The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

Book 1 in the new adult paranormal TITAN series, spin-off to the best selling COVENANT series.

I may not have been a Seth fan right from the start during the Covenant series, but I sure love him right now in this new spin off series Titans. I’m overjoyed that Jennifer L. Armentrout decided to write a new spin off series with Seth as the main protagonist after he redeemed himself.

The story takes place one year after the Covenant series. I found it wasn’t necessary to have read the Covenant series beforehand to understand what was happening, though I highly suggest reading the Covenant series first to get a better grip of what exactly happened in the past that lead up to point in The Return.

Seth and me sure as hell didn’t hit off on the right foot. I never liked his cocky arrogance and his slap-able characteristics. Finally I get to see the side of him that was meant to be: if he hadn’t been under Lucian’s fatherly spell. At first I hadn’t really noticed that much of a different in him but as I continued to read along I saw how much his past actions affected him and how he hates himself for what he did. He strongly believes that he deserves what’s coming for him, but so much worse.

Then there was newest edition to the series. Josie. I mean she’s a demigod. What’s not to like? Plus she’s Apollo’s daughter, which is a bonus.

I loved all those Sethie and Joe moments that hit off right from the start. They were absolutely perfect. After all, despite all Seth’s previous mistakes, he was still a good guy and deserved to be with someone who would make him happy. I also immensely enjoyed how the novel is written from both their perspectives, giving us an ideal inside of their heads. It made it easier to connect with both characters and sweep you into their world. I loved their chemistry together and how their relationship progressed throughout the entire novel. How Josie was able to tear down those walls and make Seth whole again. I’m so happy that Seth has finally found his salvation.

My only problem with this entire novel is that I at times felt like Seth’s and Josie’s story was a bit of a rewrite of Alex and Aiden’s love story all over again. There you had Seth believing he didn’t deserve Josie, just like Aiden had, and then you also had Josie having quite a few of Alex’s characteristics such has her temper. But that could be explained due to them both being Apollo’s lineage…  I’m sure that as the series progresses, their love story will become their own.

Also a couple of the other characters such as Luke and Deacon from the Covenant Series made an appearance. Unfortunately Aiden and Alex did not, but they were mentioned on more then one occasion. Hopefully we’ll get to see them in the sequel The Power.

Overall, I loved this new spin-off series and cannot wait until the entire trilogy is released!  

Titan by Jennifer L. Armentrout:
BOOK 1: The Return
BOOK 2: The Power
BOOK 3: Untitled
55 Comments

TALES FROM THE SHADOWHUNTER ACADEMY BY CASSANDRA CLARE

30/7/2015

49 Comments

 
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Simon learns the worst crime a Shadowhunter can commit: desertion of their comrades. In the early nineteenth century, Tobias Herondale abandoned his fellow Shadowhunters in the heat of battle and left them to die. His life was forfeit, but Tobias never returned, and the Clave claimed his wife’s life in exchange for Tobias’s. Simon and his fellow students are shocked to learn of this brutality, especially when it is revealed the woman was pregnant. But what if the child survived…could there be a lost Herondale line out in the world today?

This short novella disappointed me quite a bit, as it was not what I expected. Maybe it’s because I had high expectations since I had previously enjoyed Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy. I thought we would get to meet this mysterious ‘lost Herondale’ but I should have known better. Hopefully the ‘lost Herondale will make an appearance in one of the future novels to come. Tobias Herondale’s story was quite sad, and had more depth to it than I had expected.

Simon is still questioning the laws of the Shadowhunter, and does not like the fact that everyone still expects him to be someone he isn’t and doesn’t remember. It was a shame that once George Lovelace came out as being a mundane, the shadowhunters that he had called friends became less accepting of him.

Jon Cartwright is a bit of a d***head who has a massive ego as he likes to act real tough, but when it comes to facing a vampire? He freezes and whimpers… Yeah… Real tough buddy.

Can I just say how amazing was that excerpt from Lady Midnight? A-M-A-Z-I-N-G I’m so happy that it was added in to make up for the slight disappointment in The Lost Herondale. I now officially ship Julian and Emma more than ever! I seriously wonder just what they were up to before the incident happened? I also loved seeing Emma’s passion for Julian, and Julian’s cute sense of humor.

Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare:
BOOK 1: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy
BOOK 2:The Lost Herondale
BOOK 3: The Whitechapel Fiend
BOOK 4: Nothing but Shadows
BOOK 5: The Evil We Love
BOOK 6: Pale King and Princes
BOOK 7: Bitter of Tongue
BOOK 8: The Fiery Trial
BOOK 9: Born to Endless Night
BOOK 10: Angels Twice Descending
49 Comments

COVENANT BY JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

15/7/2015

46 Comments

 
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"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

Deity was hands-down the best book in the series thus far. It was utterly phenomenal. This book was a huge improvement compared to its first novel Half-Blood, which seemed to be a copy of Vampire Academy at the time. Now there is no way I can say that this series is a mere shadow of Richelle Mead’s work. Deity was a roller coaster of emotions that was fast-paced and filled with unexpected plot twists that will keep you gripping onto the edge of your chair waiting to see where the next page will lead you. So many things came alive in this book, which fitted together to create not only an engaging plot, but an intriguing story line as well.

I adored the character’s, especially Aiden and Deacon, but as for Seth… I was quite displeased with his character development even though I had never been a fan of him. Though what he did was not acceptable, you couldn’t help but mourn for the sad lonely boy he is, who seeks desperately for the love of a man who is a father figure in his eyes. I hope that in the future novels that his actions will change, and that he will be redeemable as I like to believe that there is still hope for him. I fell in love with Aiden and Alec’s love as the story progressed on and was blissful when Aiden finally admitted to his feelings, and action was put into the works. *wink wink* But seriously though, Deacon’s ‘secret’ lover? Adorable. I was extremely happy that there was finally the appearance of the gods, and about time too!

Deity left me breathless and begging for more. This novel will not disappoint you, I guarantee. I cannot wait to see how things work out in Apollyon, but before you head off into the fourth novel, I highly suggest you read Elixir, which takes place right between Deity and Apollyon.

Covenant by Jennifer L. Armentrout:
BOOK 1: Half-Blood
BOOK 2: Pure
BOOK 3: Deity
BOOK 4: Apollyon
BOOK 5: Sentinel
46 Comments

THE DARK ELEMENTS BY JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

15/6/2015

57 Comments

 
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One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

After reading Bitter Sweet Love as the introduction to The Dark Elements, I just knew that White Hot Kiss and Stone Cold Touch would make it onto my favourites shelf. Words cannot express how much I loved this series. The premise was once again unique, but this time it had gargoyles (Wardens) instead of aliens (Luxen and Arum). This is the type of book that you can read in one sitting as the plot is gripping and captivating. Do not start this book at night, as you will continue to read until your eyes drop out of your head. Trust me, they really sting the next morning.

Layla is half-gargoyle (Warden), half-demon. She was taken into a Warden’s family when she was just a little girl, and grew up there ever since. Abbott the leader of the Warden clan is the closest thing to a father figure that Layla has ever known. I really didn’t like his character as I found him much too demanding and strict. I found that he doesn’t treat Layla as his own daughter as he constantly reminds her of what she is, and what she can do with one simple fatal soul-eating kiss.  She is bought up to fear her demon half and to reject it. Helping to hunt down the demons, she tags them with a single touch lighting them up for any Warden to find like a Christmas tree. That is, until they start hunting her down and she finds out that Abbott and some of the other Wardens are hiding dark secrets from her. Untrusting to turn to the ones she called family, she confronts to her newfound friendship with the Demon Prince: Roth.
 
First off, Roth completely owned this book! I fell in love with his character instantly. His sometimes-awkward social behaviours were hilarious and enjoyable to read, as were his snarky comments. After all, Jennifer L. Armentrout had based his character upon Daemon Black from her other series: Lux. He takes no time in showing Layla the other side of things as he tells her the truth. As Roth teaches Layla more and more about herself and her abilities, he slowly changes alongside with her, revealing a different, kinder side of him that is overly protective and unlike that of a demon.

As for Layla’s best friend Zayne, I wasn’t sure how I felt about him. He was just ‘another’ character who was there. But as I continued onto Stone Cold Touch, Zayne’s character became a lot more developed, and couldn’t help falling in love with him. (Especially at the end!) Zayne clearly cares about Layla a lot and is willing to go out of harms way to protect her though he wasn’t always easy to like.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what happens in the final novella Every Last Breath and whom Layla will choose.

Are you Team Roth or Team Zayne? I haven’t fully decided whose side I’m on. You could say I’m sitting on the fence being Team Bambi while I decide.

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The Dark Elements by Jennifer L. Armentrout:
White Hot Kiss
Stone Cold Touch
Every Last Breath
57 Comments

TALES FROM THE SHADOWHUNTER ACADEMY BY CASSANDRA CLARE

30/5/2015

47 Comments

 
After living as a Mundane and a Vampire, Simon never thought he would become a Shadowhunter, but today he begins his training at Shadowhunter Academy.
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I loved reading from Simon's perspective after what happened in City of Heavenly Fire. Seeing how he struggles with his memory loss and not fully knowing who he is/was, makes me fall in love with his character all over again, showing that I clearly had not appreciated his character enough!

I am so excited about reading the new character developments in the future novels of the students at the Shadowhunter Academy as I am already in love with George Lovelace. I cannot wait until The Lost Herondale is released!



P.S. Isabelle was utterly brilliant. Going in there like that... She is clearly not one to mess with.


P.P.S. Is Vivianne Penhallow by any chance named after Vivianne Hebel from HebelDesign?


Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare:
BOOK 1: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy
BOOK 2:The Lost Herondale
BOOK 3: The Whitechapel Fiend
BOOK 4: Nothing but Shadows
BOOK 5: The Evil We Love
BOOK 6: Pale King and Princes
BOOK 7: Bitter of Tongue
BOOK 8: The Fiery Trial
BOOK 9: Born to Endless Night
BOOK 10: Angels Twice Descending

47 Comments

COVENANT BY JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

15/5/2015

49 Comments

 
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The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals--well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

This book is so much like Vampire Academy it was just ridiculous. There were a few times when it felt like it was plagiarism disguised. I usually hate it when people compare books with one another, but this was just way too similar not to notice. If you are looking for an original story, then this is definitely not the book for you.


It’s almost like Jennifer L. Armentrout just changed all the names:

Alex a.k.a. Rose Hathaway
(Both had left school for a period of time and lived in the human world, only to return at a later date. They are both also irrational)

Aiden a.k.a. Dimitri Belikov
(Both happened to train the main female protagonist, and are both a few years older than the females. They both fall in love with the protagonisists)

Seth a.k.a. Lissa Dragomir
(Both of them had a special connection with the main protagonist)

Caleb a.k.a. Mason
(They are both best buds with the protagonist, and die)

Deacon a.k.a. Adrian

(They both have drinking problems)

Lea a.k.a. Mia

(They are both considered the mean girls, and both their parents are attacked and murdered. Lea is probably Mia’s birth name. They do rhyme after all…)


The terms as well:


The Covenant a.k.a. St Vladimir's
(Both are schools)

Half-Blood a.k.a. Dhampirs
(Half Pure-Blood/Moroi, half human. Sworn to protect the Pure-Bloods/Moroi)

Pure-Blood a.k.a. Moroi
(They both have the ability to control the elements)

Daimons a.k.a. Strigoi
(Creatures that were once a Half-Blood/Pure-Blood/Dhampir/Moroi, that now kill and occasionally turn others into one of them)


Though there are so many similarities that I cannot list them all, my overwhelming need to continue reading the series has not hindered, even though they do lack originality.

I found that as the story progressed on, the more the novel and plot became it’s own story and not a copy of Richelle Mead’s work.

Covenant by Jennifer L. Armentrout:
BOOK 1: Half-Blood
BOOK 2: Pure
BOOK 3: Deity
BOOK 4: Apollyon
BOOK 5: Sentinel
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THE DARK ELEMENTS BY JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

30/4/2015

49 Comments

 
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Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again...

Oh. My. Pukwudgies...

I am already in love with this book series and this is just the introductory. Bitter Sweet love is a unique phenomenal world of gargoyles and demons.

The protagonist Jasmine is torn between following her heart and listening to her mind, when the boy she loves suddenly returns unexpectedly after disappearing after three years without a word. He wants to pick things back up from where they left and claim her as his own, but she’s not exactly ready to fly off and produce little gargoyle offspring’s with him. Jasmine is unsure whether she can trust Dez again after those three years she grieved his disappearance, not knowing whether he was still alive or dead. Why did he leave her that night after her dad gave them his blessing for them to mate? What made him leave so urgently and to only now decided to reappear right back into her life like he never went away? Dez has seven days to prove himself to her and agree to her conditions, even though he already knows she plans on saying no…

I cannot wait to head on into White Hot Kiss after my first glimpses of the new world she has created. The Dark Elements is definitely a new favourite of mine. 

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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THE GRISHA SERIES BY LEIGH BURDUGO

30/3/2015

66 Comments

 
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Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.

Shadow and Bone takes place in the once-great nation of Ravka, torn in two by the Shadow Fold: a vast void filled with darkness created by the Black Heretic in the result of his greed for power.

The Grisha are the magical elite of Ravka, also known as the Soldiers of the Second Army. They practice the Small Science: they manipulate matter at its most fundamental levels.

The main characters Alina and Mal grew up as orphans at an estate owned by a kind duke. They were sent away to serve their country in the First Army after neither showed aptitude as a Grisha. Mal served as an accomplished tracker whilst Alina studied the maps of a cartographer. Their lives change drastically when their regiment is attacked on the Fold, with Mal injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves both their lives that she never knew she possessed – a power that could possibly be the key to setting Ravka, a war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is forced to learn the way of the Grisha in order to save her country and the people she loves.

Leigh Burdugo’s series The Grisha is a memorising, phenomenal piece of art. She cunningly weaves a captivating new world that is unpredictable and distinctive. Giving you no other choice, but to beg and plead for more! You have to forcibly amputate yourself from its alluring pages, and every second you are separated from your love; your soul and mind delves into the world of Ravka, imagining of all the possible outcomes and scenarios that could happen in the next page you discover. This book is a must read! After all it’s like The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter meets Twilight meets Lord of The Rings meets Game Of Thrones; basically an epic magical fantasy but completely for grown-ups.


The Grisha by Leigh Bardugo:
BOOK 1: Shadow and Bone
BOOK 2: Siege and Storm
BOOK 3: Ruin and Rising
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OBSESSION BY JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

28/2/2015

50 Comments

 
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This is a stand alone novel that is an adult spin-off of the Lux series. You do not need to read a Lux book to read Obsession and vice versa.

He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter

I am seriously conflicted now. I don't even know whether I should be #TeamLuxen or #TeamArum anymore.  Before reading Obsession, I believed that everything was black and white; light and dark; Luxen and Arum. But clearly it's not always the case as there will always be the good and bad within each race. Whilst reading this book I learned more and more about the Arum and their nature.
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As I made my way through the novel, I discovered that not all  Arum where necessarily evil, such as Hunter's brother Lore and his sister.  Though there were some good  Arum's, there were still plenty of Arum's s whom were cold, cruel and selfish, and enjoyed inflicting pain upon humans and Luxen alike.

Serena's best friend Mel claims that the senators sons are aliens when she sees them turn into 'light bulbs' as she overhears them argue about Daedalus and Project Eagle. She's scared that they will come after her for the secret she's discovered, and confides in Serena. As Serena sees the truth unfold as her friend is murdered by one of those alien 'light bulbs', she no longer believes that her friend is crazy. Luckily for Serena, the DOD believe that she may have gotten some useful  information from her friend before she was brutally murdered by a Luxen. And who better to protect her from a Luxen than an Arum? And this Arum happened to be Hunter; a cocky and demanding asshole.

Serena carried herself well and was strong willed and didn't lose hope even when she thought it was the end for her. What I really loved about her character was the fact that she didn't let Hunter intimidate her, and even at the beginning she didn't cower in fear in his presence. She always believed there was goodness inside of him, and boy was she right!
It was such an enjoyable experience watching Serena and Hunter fall in love with one-another and it was pretty cool that Hunter could read auras as it gave me a sense of how Serena felt when I wasn't reading her point-of-view.
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Hunter never understood the meaning of personally boundaries and patience didn't even make it in his vocabulary. Hunter had to have one of the dirtiest minds on the planet, and always seemed to have internal thoughts related to sex, which made him all together an interesting character. After all he was turned on by a sandwich (One which Serena had so kindly made him). I ached for him to overcome his true nature and to bring out the human side of himself as he fought his demon's not to consume the girl he was falling in love with.

I'm glad that this extra novel was added into the Lux Series as it broadened my understanding on the Arum's nature.
Afterall, not all Luxens are rainbows and sunshine, as some can be just as cruel and unforgiving as the worst of Arums.

***This book is intended for readers 18 and up as it contains explicit sexual contents and a lot of STEAM***

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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THE LUX SERIES BY JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

30/1/2015

55 Comments

 
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Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.


I’ve heard so many great things about the Lux series for quite some time now and just knew I had to pick up the series though I must admit I was worried about it being a disappointment like some of the other hyped up books I’ve read in the past. I don’t even know why I was worried!?? It was such an amazing and loveable book! I did have some difficulties in obtaining the book in the beginning considering I couldn’t just go down to the local library and borrow the book or go down to the bookstore. Instead I had to buy the book online, and luckily mum was willing to buy online just this once from Booktopia, whilst she bought me my school textbooks for 2015. I am so blissfully thankful that I got a copy, and was so worth my money. This series is by far one of the best books that I have read in my 3 years of reading. There was never a dull moment in the series right from the beginning. Once I got sucked in, there was no turning back. I couldn’t stop myself from devouring the pages one by one, as they got better and better as the story went on.  I loved how everything fit tightly together like a jigsaw puzzle. The writing style had an easy flowing pace that never dragged on and was purely an enjoyable experience.

It was a pleasant change to read a YA book about aliens rather than the usual vampire/werewolves/Nephilim/faerie, which make up most of the fantasies these days. I can’t think of many young adult books that revolve around the idea of aliens. The behind story was well thought out and original, and didn’t sound ridiculous. I loved the fact that no two Luxen had the same level of power and that they all blended into human society quite well. The chemistry in this book? On-point. There is no love at first sight.

I just absolutely fell in love with Katy’s character right from the start. She was down to earth, funny, sarcastic and full of witty remarks. She was easy to relate with her being a book blogger and all. I admired her strength and her ability to stand up for herself against someone such as Daemon Black with his infuriating, arrogant and stab-worthy personality. I didn’t know whether I should love him of hate him. He got on my nerves a few times to the point that I wanted to smack him senseless. He grew on me eventually like moss, or a skin disease. (In a nice way… if that’s possible. Reference from The Mortal Instruments) So basically watch I'm trying to say is... Watch out Jacob Black, because there's a new Black in town that's hotter than ever!

LUX by Jennifer L. Armentrout
BOOK 1: Obsidian
BOOK 2: Onyx
BOOK 3: Opal
BOOK 4: Origin
BOOK 5: Opposition


55 Comments

CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE

15/1/2015

37 Comments

 
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In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!


The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
BOOK 1: City of Bones
BOOK 2: City of Ashes
BOOK 3: City of Glass
BOOK 4: City of Fallen Angels
BOOK 5: City of Lost Souls
BOOK 6: City of Heavenly Fire
WARNING

Spoilers are up ahead. If you haven't read this book or plan on reading it in the future I highly suggest you do not go ahead and click read more.

Please do be mindful that if you post a comment and didn't want to see any spoilers, you are most likely to accidentally catch a glimpse.

You have been warned!

When I first went to read City of Heavenly Fire I was terrified of this book because of the six character deaths. At least there was always the fact that there was to be two weddings at the end which was always a happy thought. I already knew that shadowhunters weren't going to cease to exist and that Sebastian Verlac wasn't going to win the war, since there was going to be The Dark Artifices and The Wicked Powers after The Mortal Instruments.

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