Waiting on Wednesday: Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine

 What I'm waiting for...

 

GoodReads/ Amazon/ TBD

Sunny Los Angeles can be a dark place indeed in Cassandra Clare’s Lord of Shadows, the sequel to the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Lady Midnight.

Emma Carstairs has finally avenged her parents. She thought she’d be at peace. But she is anything but calm. Torn between her desire for her parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the brutal consequences of parabatai relationships, she has begun dating his brother, Mark. But Mark has spent the past five years trapped in Faerie; can he ever truly be a Shadowhunter again?

And the faerie courts are not silent. The Unseelie King is tired of the Cold Peace, and will no longer concede to the Shadowhunters’ demands. Caught between the demands of faerie and the laws of the Clave, Emma, Julian, and Mark must find a way to come together to defend everything they hold dear—before it’s too late.

 *****

Why am I waiting on this book? I feel like I'm cheating here, because I haven't read the first book in this new series (I haven't even read THIS synopsis). But I love Cassie Clare and the shadowhunters, I mean, it's the reason why I'm a reader, and I will read Lady Midnight next week. So, I'm really excited for this book!

What about you?

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Waiting on Wednesday: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine

 What I'm waiting for...

 

GoodReads/ Amazon/ TBD

Los Angeles. It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.

Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim.

The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

***

Hi everyone!

Today I’m waiting like crazy for Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare.

Why? Because this author is the reason why I started reading. I love the TMI series to pieces and I’m dying to know what happened to my favorite characters in those five years.

Also, I love the Shadowhunters world. I think I’ll read everything Cassandra writes only because her books took a piece of my bookish heart those early days.

What about you? What are you waiting on?

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My thoughts on: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

City of Heavenly Fire

Series: The Mortal Instruments #6

Author: Cassadra Clare

Pages: 725

My rating: 6 stars (special rating)

GoodReads/ Amazon/ TBD

Summary:

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!

So, this not a review at all, just a lot of thoughts about the last book in the series that turned me into a reader.

I guess that the reason I’ll never say anything bad about TMI, because if it wasn't for City of Bones, five years ago, I would have never been a reader. I would be a boring and angry zero-girl.

Anyway, even If I wasn't thankful for this series there’s no reason to say something bad about City of Heavenly Fire.

It was perfect.

It was an emotionally draining rollercoaster.

It was an incredibly satisfying ending.

I devoured this book even when I was trying to read it as slowly as possible. It was impossible. Cassandra Clare’s writing is addictive and phenomenal! I cannot even believe I read 725 pages and I never got bored, I never wanted to stop, I never got tired of any of these characters.

I still have a book hangover because after all these years loving every characters, every challenge against the Shadowhunters, loving the world-building, the stories, it’s impossible not to feel like a part of your life is missing.

“There are memories that time does not erase... Forever does not make loss forgettable, only bearable.”

City of Heavenly Fire is epic, beautiful and heartbreaking.

I’m still amazed about how different each character is. The plot developed perfectly and the romance was always there, sweet and painful and real.

Oh, and well, I guess this is the part where I say that Simon Lewis is my favorite character ever! Yes, favorite, in the whole bookish world.

But is not just Simon that I love, I love all of them. Jace was my first book-boyfriend, Clary and Izzy are my heroines. And the others, well, I would NEVER forget their names. They’re immortal to me.

So, about City of Heavenly Fire again… It was unforgettable. It had a lot of different POVs. Each of them was unique and important for the plot.

Betrayals, passionate romances, the strongest friendships and a thrilling and unforgettable last battle. City of Heavenly Fire is the best book I’ve read this year.

“Heroes aren't always the ones who win... They're the ones who lose, sometimes. But they keep fighting, they keep coming back. They don't give up. That's what makes them heroes.”

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Under the Cover #2: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare.

 

Is not a secret that I don’t like hardcovers.
But let me tell you why: Most of the time the covers (jackets?) are too fragile, and too hard to take care of. And If I decide I will carry the book naked, then, it's too plain, and it gets dirty so easily!
But I need hardcovers.
That’s why I copied Tahereh Mafi’s idea, and I scribbled under those covers.

 I just finished reading City of Heavenly Fire yesterday, but I picked the quote for my cover the first day I started reading it.
I loved that quote, it reminds me of the series, and I added some runes (it took me forever). But in the end, I loved  my scribbled cover!

The cover

  

Well, I forgot to take a pic of the cover, but it's the same, so, it works the same. 

 Now, Under the Cover.

I was so happy to see the hardcover was black, because my silver pen looks great in it.
And yes, that's the illustration in the jacket. It looks really cool!

 

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!

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My thoughts about: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Pages: 568

Goodreads Rating: 4.64

My Rating: 6 roses, special rating.

Summary: Add to Goodreads.

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.  

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

Some of my friends thinks I'm madly crazy because I didn't love Clockwork Prince, the way they did. It was mostly because I'm not Team Will, in fact, those days I wasn't on Team Jem either. And they were heartbroken mostly because of Will. So... I loved Cassandra Clare's writing, I loved the world, the plot, the characters, but I was dissapointed of my feelings when I finished it. I didn't feel that passion and achingly beautiful connection between me and the main characters.

That's why I was really really scared of reading Clockwork Princess. I wanted to choose a "team" I wanted to be part of the fandom. And I wanted to cry because I feel the connection.

Today, I'm really glad to say that I did. I loved Clockwork Princess. I loved every little part of it.

The plot.

The characters.

The romance.

The action.

The writing.

The dialogues.

The development.

The ending.

The freaking prologue!

There wasn't a thing I didn't love about Clockwork Princess. It had me on the edge.  I was going crazy thinking what will happen? what will happen? what will happen? And in the end, it even gave me a knew view about The mortal instruments series. I did understand everything. I had the answer to all the questions I once asked.

This was an ending, a truly, madly, deeply epic ending for a series. I wished it never ends. It was too good to have an end. But when the time finally came, it fitted perfectly.

Clockwork Princess is now my favorite book by this author. I always thought it was City of Fallen Angels, even though I loved all the TMI books. But now I'm not sure anymore. Both are really different, but again, my feeling made the difference.

Do you love books that make you cry?

Do you love books that cut your heart in a half, because one moment you're happy, and then you're so sad?

Do you love perfect, well created, love triangles?

Do you love epic final battles?

YES?

YOU. WILL. LOVE. CLOCKWORK PRINCESS!

...... now I have to say it......

I LOVE JEM!!!! TEAM JEM - TEAM JEM - TEAM JEM!!!!

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Book Review: Shadowhunters & Downworlders (A Mortal Instruments Reader)

Shadowhunters & Downworlders (A mortal instruments reader)
Authors: Cassandra Clare (Editor), Holly Black, Kate Milford, Diana Peterfreund, Sara Ryan, Scott Tracey, Robin Wasserman, Kendare Blake, Gwenda Bond, Sarah Rees Brennan, Rachel Caine, Sarah Cross, Kami Garcia, Michelle Hodkin, Kelly Link
 Pages: 256
Goodreads AVG Rating (actual): 3.96
Source: ARC provided by NetGa

Summary: / Add here 
Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, epic urban fantasy set in a richly imagined world of shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, fairies, and more, has captured the imaginations and loyalty of hundreds of thousands of YA readers. Originally a trilogy (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass), the series has extended to six titles, plus a prequel trilogy, the Infernal Devices, and a planned sequel series, the Dark Artifices. A feature film is planned for 2013. 
Shadowhunters and Downworlders, edited by Clare (who provides an introduction to the book and to each piece), is a collection of YA authors writing about the series and its world.

My POV

 

For a girl crazy and completely in love with TMI series, this book called Shadowhunters and Downworlders was a wonderful thing. Because let's be honest, Cassie killed us by revealing that the last book in the series would be released until 2014 ... A whole year without my favorite series... devastating.
But hey! We had the end of the Infernal Devices, and although Clockwork Princess is set in the world of the Shadowhunters, it isn’t just the same. Some of us need to read more about Simon ... ok, maybe just me. Actually most of you might want to read more about Clary and Jace, I know! I also love them and want to read more of them. But personally I was looking for more about Simon.

Returning Shadowhunters and Downworlders (sorry, when I have to talk about series that I really love, I cannot stop, the words just come out), is a book with different point of views of successful authors who are also fans of this series as much (or more) than we do. So reading this book was like listening to the words of a friend who understands me, thinks the same, and possibly have done some searching to explain something that we may not understand at first glance.
I must say that my chapter (or story) favorite was the number 2 called "The Art of War (Never Underestimate The Girl with the Sketchbook)" by the author Sarah Cross.
This writer described Clary as a heroine in such a detailed and sweet manner that we can only fully agree with her point of view. She makes comparisons with other heroines who have great fighting skills while Clary wins our hearts (and fights) with nothing but his art.

And so it goes, one story after another of opinions not only by fans of the series, but professionals who know what they do and love Cassandra Clare's writing which only confirm how well she created the characters and the world of the Shadowhunters.

This is a book for fans of TMI. It is written in a clear manner and easily understandable. With notes and quotes from the books which serve as evidence of what is being discussed. A talk with people who understand and speak to us in a loving, funny (and even sarcastic) way about the characters (or moment) of our favorite books.

Shadowhunters and Downworlders is a great book for those who have loved the world where these wonderful beings live.

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Rock on! The author of August: Cassandra Clare

 

Welcome to the celebration of my favorite books of this year.

Each day, I will be featuring my favorite book and author of each month. And at the end of this celebration you'll have the chance to win a hardback copy of a book by one of my favorite authors.

 

If it was a difference between Clockwork Prince and City of Lost Souls, which I read this same year, it was the freaking awesome cover of CoLS!!!

I promised myself that I won't read my kindle copy of that book, I needed the paperback! And finally, on August I got the chance to buy it in my country. It was awesome! It's on the top of my shelf, I soooo enjoyed reading about the shadowhunters one again.

PS: I love you Simon!!!

 

 

"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."

Find her: Website/ Twitter/ Facebook/ Goodreads/ Blog

                  

        

 

For the giveaway, you have the chance to win a Hardback copy of one of the books featured in this celebration.

Today's pick is. 

 

Don't forget that if you already have this book, you can pick another from my favorite authors of January, February, March,  April, May, June, or July.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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