Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Book Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare


Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (Infernal Devices #1)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publish Date: August 31, 2010
Hardcover, 496 pages


My Review:

First off, I read this through a tour website (Book it Forward).  I chose this one because I read the first book City of Bones in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare and was intrigued by her world building and her characters and plots.  So when I saw she had a  new book coming out starting a new series, I jumped right in.

So what did I think?  I think this is going to be a great series.  A lot of the world building was done in this book like all first books in the series.  I loved getting to know the differing people/kinds that inhabited late 19th century London.  I'm guessing this is steampunk, but since I'm really not familiar with that subgenre I can't say for sure.  Whatever it is, it makes a great book.

I enjoyed the characters, loved Tessa who is strong but feminine.  She makes a great heroine for this book.  I also enjoyed the various Shadowhunters that make their appearance in the book, Will, Jem, Charlotte, Henry and Jessamine.  All the characters are being developed as the book goes along and I enjoyed getting to know each of them, and look forward to getting to know them better as the series progresses.

I also enjoyed the love-triangle of sorts between Tessa, Jem and Will.  I don't know which team I would be on if I had to choose because I really like Jem and Will both.

So Clockwork Angel has a great characters, a great setting, some real action, great plot, some romance and amazing world building.  It has me anxious for the next book in the series and to get back to reading the Mortal Instruments series as well.  Ms. Clare has a flare for writing and I enjoy her style and ability to put her ideas on paper.

I don't often do this, but I did mark a favorite quote while reading this book.  It's from Will, who I adored, such a smart alack and so fun:
“Are you implying that shreds of my reputation remain intact?” Will demanded with mock horror.  “Clearly I have been doing something wrong.  Or not doing something wrong, as the case may be.”  He banged on the side of the carriage. “Thomas! We must away at once to the nearest brothel! I seek scandal and low companionship.”


My Rating:  4.25/5.0

About the Book:
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.


About the Author (her official bio on goodreads.com):
"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."

Her Website
Her Blog
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FTC Information: I received this book through Book It Forward Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.


 

Book Feature: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County




The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publish Date: January 25, 2010
Trade Paperback, 320 pages

About the Book:
Truly Plaice, an overly large and ungainly girl, is the polar opposite of her sister, Serena Jane, the epitome of feminine perfection. With their parents dead, Truly and Serena Jane are separated: Serena Jane to live a life of privilege as the future May Queen and Truly to live on the outskirts of town, the subject of constant abuse and humiliation. There, while Serena Jane’s beauty proves to be her biggest curse, Truly finds her calling—the ability to heal illness with herbs and naturopathic techniques—and, in reckoning with her demons, the possibility of love in unexpected places.
About the Author:
Tiffany Baker lives in Tiburon, California, with her husband and three children. She was an English major at Denison University, and later earned a graduate degree in creative writing from UC Irvine and a PhD in Victorian literature. She is currently working on her second novel, due out in 2011.

Author's Webpage

FTC Information: I received this book from Jessica O'Neill at Newman Communications for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

 

Monday, July 26, 2010

Book Review: Losing Faith by Denise Jaden


Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
Publisher:Simon Pulse
Publish Date: September 7, 2010
Paperback, 400 pages


My Review:

Losing Faith has a lot going on in it and Denise Jaden does a wonderful job of tying it all together and presenting it in a wonderful package that keeps you in suspense and keeps you engaged with the characters at the same time.

At first I wasn't sure what I thought of Brie, she seemed a little self-centered.  Then I thought back to my high school years and what teenage girl isn't self-centered?  Who doesn't want to meet up with their boyfriend at any cost?  However Brie's sister, Faith's death really does a lot to change Brie.  Brie was always second-best to her sister in the family and after Faith's death her parents further disengage from her while trying to keep a tighter leash on her at the same time.  Brie acts out some, but as her life changes so does she and ultimately she wants to get to the bottom of Faith's death which she does not believe was suicide.

I enjoyed the wide span of characters in this book, from Faith and her friend Celeste who were the goody-goody type girls, to Brie who was somewhere in the middle to Amy and Dustin the uber-popular people (for a time) and Tessa who is the scary girl we all remember from high school.  I also liked the introduction of Alis to shake things up a bit more, and introduce a love interest for Brie.

Suspense, religion, romance, teenage angst, this book has it all and it is all well-done.  Losing Faith was an amazing read that hooked me in the beginning and when it was done I was well-satisfied with the conclusion.  Great from start-to-finish!

My Rating:  4.25/5.0

About the Book:
When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don't know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith's final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger. 


About the Author:
Denise Jaden lives just outside Vancouver, Canada. When she’s not writing, she can often be found homeschooling her son or dancing with her Polynesian dance troupe. Losing Faith is her first novel.

Her website 
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Her Blog

FTC Information: I received this book through Traveling ARC Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

 

Got Books? Event Winners

http://gotbooksevent.blogspot.com

Wow what an event.  I had well over 100 entrants for my giveaways and thank everyone who left a comment as well as filled out the form.  I had a lot of fun entering the giveaways as well and finding new book blogs to read - my Google Reader has many more subscriptions after this weekend.  The Got Books? Event was the work of GMR of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers and The1stdaughter of There's A Book.  Thanks so much to both of them for putting this together - it was a lot of fun!

All winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to contact me with their address or I will draw another winner.  Books will be mailed early next week to the winners.

Winner Christian Suspense/Thriller:

Indivisible: A Novel  The Last Christian: A Novel

Bethie

Romantic Suspense:

Death Echo  Enemy Lover

Latisha D

Suspense:

The Rule of Nine: A Paul 
Madriani Novel  In the Name of Honor

Wendy W

What are you Reading Monday - July 26th

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and join in!

Books Completed Last Week 
  • Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
  • Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (review)
  • Brightly Woven by Alexandria Bracken (review) 
  • Wings by Aprilynne Pike (library) 
  • The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (mine)  
  • The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells (review) 
Reading Now:
  • The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (audible at work)
  • Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook in car)
  • Virals by Kathy Reichs (review)
Next:
  • The Passage by Justin Cronin
  • The Island by Elin Hildenbrand (review) 
  • Running Dark by Jamie Freveletti (review)
Reviews completed this week (books read before this week):
Other books still need to review:
  • The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
  • Losing Faith by Denise Jarden (review)
Summary -

Great reading week - lots of good books.  On the home front we finally took our boat out for the first time this summer and had a great time.  The boys played in the water and got along for 2 hours, Mitch rested and I sat in my chair got a little sun and finished up The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.  Great Saturday.


Favorite book of the week:  It's a tie between Brightly Woven by Alexandria Brackman and The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.  The Summer of Skinny Dipping was wonderful as well.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Winner - Two Blazes by Samantha Hunter


Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume IV  Make Your Move

Thanks for all who participated and ask Samantha such great questions - I really learned a lot.  I hope you also checked out my review of her mystery title she talked about in the guest post, Past Tense.
 
And thanks too to Samantha for taking time out of her busy schedule to do the guest post and answer questions!

The Winner is:

Karenk

I have contacted Karen by email and she has until Monday at 6pm to contact me or I will draw a new name.  Karen if you see this and haven't received my email, please email me at crystalfulcher(at)ec(dot)rr(dot)com.

Winner - The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong






Thank you so much for all the entries and for those of you who tweeted - this was a really popular giveaway.

The winner is:

Cass

I have contacted Cass by email and she has until Monday at 6pm to contact me or I will draw a new name.  Cass if you see this and haven't received my email, please email me at crystalfulcher(at)ec(dot)rr(dot)com.
Thanks!