City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

Genre: paranormal and fantasy
Series and Book #: Mortal Instruments, book 4
Pages: 432
Synopsis: The Mortal War is over, and 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 important of all--Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, 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. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side--along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls--neither of whom knows about the other.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she 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.

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I love this series. I started to read it a few years ago, but thought it was a little dark. Then I got it for Christmas and I started reading it and I fell in love: hard. Jace and Clary's story captivated me as soon as I got into the series deeper. A definite must read: I can't say it enough.

I love Cassandra's writing, because she paints the picture of the Shadowhunter world very well. Her details are always very good, but in COFA, I thought it was heavy in places. Like she added a little too much clarification and detail to the story. That's why it probably took me a week to read it, but then again I've been pretty busy.

I LOVE the characters! You see so much more of Simon in this novel, and I think its great. Downworlders are very interesting, and after reading about Shadowhunters for the first three books that I think it was refreshing to catch a glimpse into the other world. Also, Isabelle was amazing, as usual. I love her. She's so honest, but she had a soft spot on her, somewhere....

Overall, this installment had me thirsting for more. Clare left a wide opening at the end, making me scream (more than once) "OH MY GOD, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW???" Love her writing, the characters, all of it!

The Cover: Although in previous posts I said that I like the face being shown, I think I changed my mind. I'd rather Clary's face to be hidden, first because her eyes are demonic and second because I just like the hidden faces. It gives the books an air of mystery. But I do like the two people on the cover.

Daily Dose (18)

Daily Dose is a meme hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly where we share inspirational photos we've found lately.

It's Monday! What are you Reading? (18)

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we share what books we've read, what we're currently reading, and what we're hoping to read. This weeks read was awesome, because it was the newly released City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare! EEP!

Read:
City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare (check for the review tomorrow)

Reading:
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

To Read:
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

Kiss Me, Kill Me by Lauren Henderson

Genre: teen social issues and mystery
Series and Book #: Scarlett Wakefield Series, book 1
Pages: 260
Synopsis: When Scarlett Wakefield transfers from St. Tabby's, a posh private school outside London, to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, the world-renowned prep school her grandmother runs in the English countryside, she is relieved that no one knows her dark, haunting secret.

A few months ago, Scarlett was living every girl's wildest dream. Plum Saybourne, the queen of St. Tabby's "Smart Set," had surprisingly invited her to an elite party with a guest list full of the hottest names in British society, including Dan McAndrew, the king of Scarlett's nighttime fantasies. Before the party, Scarlett had only imagined what it would be like to have her first kiss with Dan, but on the penthouse terrace, Dan leaned in close and she no longer had to wonder. Their first kiss was beautiful and perfect and magical, and then...

Dan McAndrew suffocated in her arms.

No one knows how or why Dan died, and everyone at St. Tabby's, especially the powerful Plum, believes Scarlett had something to do with it. After all, she was at the scene of the crime and was the last person to see Dan alive. But now that she's safely hidden away at Wakefield Hall, Scarlett would rather forget that it ever happened.

Only she can't. Especially when she receives an anonymous note that will set her on the path to clearing her name and finding out what really happened to the first and last boy she kissed.

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Alright, so not my most favorite book ever. The summary suggests that she has something more-than-normal about her, like a dark power she doesn't know she has. But no. It's a regular, set up murder.

This book was more beginning than anything. Henderson spends so much time building up the story, that it's like she forgot to add a climax. Only when you reach the last few chapters does it really pick up and the mystery comes to light.

The characters made up for the failing plot. I liked Scarlett as an MC. I thought she was a very real teenage girl with very real problems. The side characters weren't touched on so much, so you didn't get a great feel for them.

Overall, I would give this a three out of five. The plot was uninteresting, but Scarlett was a wonderful character. I don't know if I will ever read the sequels to this one, even though the ending isn't really a ending but a suspense into the next novel. Wasn't my favorite.

The Cover: I love this cover. The girl kissing the guy (who looks dead) really gets the feel for the novel and what its about. Nicely done.

Daily Dose (17)

Daily Dose is a meme hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly where we post inspirational photos.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (17)

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we share what books we've read, what we're currently reading, and what we're hoping to read. This week was pretty successful, I'd say. Also, I got CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS from Amazon! So awesome.... :)

Read:

The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti

All We Know of Heaven: A Novel by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Kiss Me, Kill Me by Lauren Henderson (review to be posted later)

Reading:

City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

To Read:

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti

Genre: teen social issues
Series and Book #: none
Pages: 321
Synopsis: I thought it had worked for me, looking after everyone else. But it didn't. Not anymore.

Scarlet spends most of her time worrying about other people. Some are her friends, others are practically strangers, and then there are the ones no one else even notices. Trying to fix their lives comes naturally to her. And pushing her own needs to the side is part of the deal.
So when her older sister comes home unexpectedly married and pregnant, Scarlet has a new person to worry about. But all of her good intentions are shattered when the unthinkable happens: She falls for her sister's husband. For the first time in a long time, Scarlet's not fixing a problem, she's at the center of one. And ignoring her feelings doesn't seem to be an option....

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"When someone gave you everything and it still was not enough, when you made them prove and prove their love again, you were the evil witch of fairy tales; you had snakes for hair and a small stone heart."

-Scarlet, The Six Rules of Maybe, page 57

This was a good book, but it was a little too profound. Scarlet had a lot of, "Oh my gosh, I think I understand the universe" moments. One or two epiphanies would have been enough, but with each chapter, there came a new one. And it took up most of the space. Caletti was detailed in her writing, overly so in some areas, which had me struggling through the book and zoning in and out of attention.

Scarlet was a nice character, who did learn that being overly nice all the time doesn't work. At least, not for all people. Towards the end, when she finally understood her sister Juliet, you could see her take charge with Juliet's help, and you can see her overcome her love for Hayden (Juliet's husband).

Overall, it was a very nice novel towards the end. The details in parts were overwhelming and unnecessary. The profound moments happened a little too often I thought. But some were inspirational. Some of the novel really made you think. I loved Scarlet's character development, and the cast of characters around her. The writing may have been a little sketchy, but the plot and the characters made up for it.

The Cover: I love the openness of the cover. The vastness of the ocean really makes the word "maybe" into this huge possibility of things. I love the summer background, too: I've missed the sun!