Book Review: Valiant by Holly Black

Book: Valiant (Modern Faerie Tales #2) by Holly Black, 2006 by Simon Pulse, 313 pages.

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads:
When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system.

But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends.
And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

My Thoughts:
I love how Holly Black writes about characters who are normally invisible in YA books, and this book is no exception. This is the second book in the Modern Faerie Tales series, though it is more like a companion book with the world that Black created, rather than continuing the story of the first book. This installment focuses on teens who are living on the street in New York.

I enjoyed this - Black is a fantastic story teller and I enjoy the dark world of faeries that she has created. However, I didn't like this one as much as Tithe, the first in the series.

Seventeen year old Val runs away from home and finds herself living on the streets with a group of other teens who squat in the subway tunnels. They are linked to the world of Fey and take a faerie drug that gives them a unique high.

Val's character was good and I liked how she developed. I could understand her anger and betrayal, but she also grew beyond that. I wasn't as fond of the group of homeless teens that she hooks up with. I also found reading about taking copious amounts of drugs uncomfortable.

Overall, I liked the dark story and that faeries are not portrayed in a "nice" light. Black writes with a frank and honest tone that I think will appeal to many fans of YA fantasy who are looking for something different.
 
Note: There are significant amounts of drug use, swearing and sex in this book.

Book Review: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Book: Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead, 2010 by Razorbill, 594 pages.

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads:
They come first.

My vision was growing dimmer, the blackness and ghosts closing in. I swore it was like I could hear Robert whispering in my ear: The world of the dead won't give you up a second time. Just before the light completely vanished, I saw Dimitri's face join Lissa's. I wanted to smile. I decided then that if the two people I loved most were safe, I could leave this world.

The dead could finally have me.

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardians to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose - for a crime she didn't even commit. She's in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She'll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose's life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back...and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

Join Rose, Dimitri, Adrian, and Lissa in Last Sacrifice, the epic, unforgettable finale to Richelle Mead's international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series.

My Thoughts:
This was a great ending to the Vampire Academy series. It was full of action, tension, and twists. 

Rose is charged with killing Queen Tatiana is about to stand trial for treason, an offense punishable by death. While she is locked up, the tables turn as it is her friends who have concocted the crazy plan to help her escape.

The story has two aspects: Rose and Dimitri and their life on the run, following leads and getting into their own trouble when they are supposed to be laying low; and Lissa and their friends trying to find the real murderer back at the royal court. Again, the connection between Lissa and Rose proves to be invaluable so that we can see what is going on in both places.

Then there is the development of the relationship between Rose and Dimitri - and how Adrian fits into what is going on between them. I did feel sorry for Adrian, but I thought it was interesting how Mead dealt with the whole thing. There certainly was no nicely wrapped up solution and I liked how Mead didn't pretend there was. She left some things messy.

There are also some great twists in the plot that keep the reader turning the pages. I love how so many threads throughout the whole series come together to make sense in this book. However, there are also some tangles, and though things all make sense in the end, there are still questions about what will happen next.

Overall, I think anyone who has read the Vampire Academy series will really love this book and will completely devour it, eating up every word and savoring the tension between Rose and Dimitri.

Book Review: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Book: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead, 2010 by Razorbill, 489 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong...

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's-and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him... forever.

My Thoughts:
I'm really enjoying this series, and found Spirit Bound to be one of the best in the series yet.

Again, Rose has to make difficult choices, and puts herself in mortal danger to help those she loves. This time, Rose and Lissa have graduated from St. Valdimir's and are at the royal court. Adrian plays a pretty big role as he is now dating Rose.

I still love how strong and independent Rose is, how she is smart and tough and able to take care of herself, though sometimes she still needs help from her friends and has a certain amount of teenage moodiness. I also like how Lissa is becoming more independent too, and more considerate of how things are affecting Rose. Then there is Adrian. I like Adrian, how genuine and caring he really is, but how no one looks to him to save the day.

Like the other books in this series, it is full of action, suspense  and twists. I absolutely loved the twist at the end and can hardly wait to read the next (and I believe) last in this series.

Book Review: Alice in Zombieland

Book: Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter, 2012 by Harlequin Teen, 404 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

My Thoughts:
I found Alice in Zombieland to be a unique take on zombies, a way to make them into an urban fantasy myth and not a dystopian future novel. This was clever and innovative. That, combined with the Alice in Wonderland nuances made for an interesting read.

Ali grew up sheltered by her parents, believing her father was crazy because he saw monsters that no one else saw. He wouldn't let them go out at night, they had to learn to defend themselves, he patrolled the house, and drank himself into oblivion. Then, an accident changes everything for Ali. She learns that her father was right, that the monsters are real and she becomes determined to fight them.

The book combined Ali's new reality with knowing that zombies exist, trying to fit into a new high school and life, her new best friend, and falling for the badder than bad boy in the school. There is lots of drama around who likes who and social cliques. I felt the voice was probably pretty true to teenaged life, but, at times, it was also a bit much. Maybe it's just me, but I get tired of the gorgeous, uncommunicative, moody, irresistible love interest and the girl who puts up with it.

I am honestly torn with this book. I liked the paranormal aspects and how the zombies were portrayed, how Ali was determined to be strong and fight for herself, the relationship between Ali and her friend Kat, and the realism of Ali's devastation. However, I found Ali's relationship with Cole (the bad boy) predictable (except there was no real triangle, maybe that will be in the next book), and I wanted more Alice in Wonderland-y aspects to the book.

Overall, I think teens, especially girls, will like this book, but those looking for a meaty zombie book may be disappointed. It will be interesting to see where the author takes this series.

Here is the book trailer from YouTube:

Book Review: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Book: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead, 2009 by Razorbil, 503 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

My Thoughts:
This fourth installment of the Vampire Academy series had me turning the pages, yet again. The story was fast paced and there were some great new characters.

I really liked some of the themes of this book, especially how Rose feels she has to explicitly choose between the man she loves and her best friend. The other books have been leading up to this, but this one dealt with it more fully. And, I'm sure, the next book will too.

I liked Rose again in this book. I love seeing strong female characters who can stand up for themselves, but who are flawed as well. Rose is relatable and kiss-ass fun at the same time. I am hoping that her relationship with Lissa gets better in the next book. Not that it's bad, I would just like to see the growth.

Mead uses the fun devise of Rose being able to go into Lissa's head to keep us up with what is going on at the Academy while Rose is in Russia. I thought this was a clever way to keep both story lines going and developing.

There are parts to this book I wasn't thrilled with, especially during some of Rose's time in Russia (I liked the parts with Dimitri's family, but not some of the other times, I'm being vague so as not to spoil anything).  Overall, though, I did enjoy the book and will be on the lookout for the next one. I felt Rose is really starting to come into her own and I can't wait to see what she does in book 5.

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Book:  Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead, 2008 by Razorbil, 443 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all... might be seeing ghosts.

As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose's forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line - and choose between the two people she loves most.

My Thoughts: 
I just love this series.  It's easy to read, but, at the same time, completely captures my attention.  Shadow Kiss is the third in the Vampire Academy series.

I like the new challenges thrown at Rose in this book and how this forces her to explore what she truly wants and who she truly is.  Rose has a great, dry humour and clever insights into her own behaviour. 

I like that her friendship with Lissa is evolving too, though sometimes I get frustrated that Lissa is so entitled and clueless.  And I especially like the dynamic between Rose and Christian.  There is also more of Adrian in this book and it will be fun to see where this goes in the next book.

This book has everything, suspense, romance, action, and good friendships.  I love the tension set up around Rose's duty to Lissa versus following her heart.  I probably liked this one better than Frostbite and am anxious to pick up the next book in the series.

Red Glove by Holly Black

Book:  Red Glove (Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry Book, 325 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Curses and cons.
Magic and the mob.

In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth — he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything — or anyone — into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she’s human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila’s been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion-worker mom. And if Lila’s love is as phony as Cassel’s made-up memories, then he can’t believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel’s oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue — crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too — they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can’t trust anyone — least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this second book in the Curse Workers series, though not quite as much as the first one.  It was still fast paced and exciting and full of cons and imagination.

I like Cassel.  I feel for him.  He so wants to fit in, but he's not sure where - at his private school where he is clearly an outsider? with other Curse Workers and the mob who want to make him into a killer?  with his family who have all manipulated him?  with the FBI who have their own agenda?  I like how he tries to do the right thing, tries to be a good friend.  I also like how clever he is.

I enjoyed Sam and Danica in this book and how their characters are developing.  Unfortunately, I didn't like Lila as much.  She's been cursed to love Cassel and so he can't trust anything she says or does until the curse wears off.  This does add to the romantic tension of the book and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the next one.

There are a lot of subplots in this book, which certainly adds to the feeling that there is a lot going on in this book.  Sometimes the main plot got a little lost.

One of the things about coming to a series late is that you don't have to wait for the next book to come out to see what happens next.  I can't wait to read Black Heart to see how this series ends.  I would certainly recommend this series to others, and think it will appeal to both boys and girls, something I enjoy in a YA series.

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Book:  City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry Books, 424 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old 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 importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering 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 one.

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.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

My Thoughts: 
I keep coming back to this series even though it drives me slightly crazy.  I do like it and enjoy the writing, but I find I am not overly fond of the Jace - Clary relationship.  I don't like it when a girl loves a guy despite how he acts. I know he always has a good reason for being broody, but still, he could crack a smile once in awhile.

This book is more about Simon and the vampires, however, than the Shadowhunters.  I liked that because I like Simon.  I didn't mind reading about his inner turmoils, though I hope he comes into his own one day soon.

There is also Isabelle and Mara.  I was happy to see more of them in this book, as well.  I love strong female characters who can take care of and stand up for themselves and these two certainly fit the bill.

If you are a fan of this series, you won't want to miss this one, though I know that I am in the minority for liking the Simon story line more than the Jace - Clary one.  There is lots of action, especially at the end.  The romance is angst ridden.

Here is the book trailer from YouTube:

 

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Book:  Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead, 2008 by Razorbill, 327 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

My Thoughts:
I'm really enjoying this series - it is well written and fast paced and fun to read. 

Frostbite takes place soon after Vampire Academy, with Rose pining over Dimitri and Lissa and Christian are together.  The Strigoi, or bad vampires, are out to kill the Moroi, or good vampires.  They are targeting entire families and have put the whole vampire community on alert.  Everyone at the Vampire Academy goes to a ski resort for Christmas for maximum security, and this is where most of the action unfolds.

The friendship between Rose Lissa isn't as developed in this book and sometimes it annoyed me how much Lissa didn't seem to notice how her best friend was feeling.

I like Rose, even though she goes off on tantrums and acts without thinking sometimes.  However, it is interesting that she is aware of her bad behaviour, but acts anyway.  She is young and impulsive.

There were some great new characters introduced.  The storyline between Rose and her mother was good.  Tasha and Adrian are fun additions.

I like these books because even though they are about vampires and romance, there is more to them than that.  I recommend these books, though there is some drinking and talk about sex.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Book:  Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater, 2009 by Scholastic Press, 392 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also share a problem. When the temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity and must retreat into the woods to protect his pack. He worries that eventually his human side will fade away and he will be left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen romance.

My Thoughts:
 The writing in Shiver is just beautiful.  I love how Stiefvater uses words and conjures up images.  There is a richness to her writing which is certainly worth reading.

And then there is the story.  To tell you the truth, this one was a little too much romance for me, but then, I'm not a huge romance fan.  The story did take me in and kept me reading, though I was happy when the pace picked up at the end.  I think I found it hard to buy the instant romance at the beginning.

This is the story of Grace and Sam, with chapters told by each of them from a first point of view. Luckily each character has such a unique voice that this didn't become confusing.  They have a doomed to fail romance, though neither is willing to give up on it - it is almost a star crossed lovers scenario.  Grace is very independent and capable while Sam is good looking, reads poetry and plays guitar.

I liked Stiefvater's explanation for werewolves and their history.  This was original and seamless, and tied together well with the temperature changes in the book.

I would recommend this book to young adult romance fans, especially those who like a paranormal twist.

White Cat by Holly Black

Book:  White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black, 2010 by Margaret K. McElderry Books, 320 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads: 
Cassel comes from a family of Curse Workers - people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all criminals. Many become mobsters and con artists. But not Cassel. He hasn't got magic, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail - he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Cassel has carefully built up a facade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his facade starts to crumble when he finds himself sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading this book!  It is about Cassel, a boy who lives in a family of curse workers and con artists.  Though he is not a curse worker himself, Cassell has certainly learned the art of the con.  

The book is told in first person by Cassel, and it is interesting to have a boy's point of view - Black does a great job of this.  I found that I liked Cassel and was rooting for him, even though he isn't always portrayed in a favourable light.   It is interesting how Black's characters are not always easy to like or how they represent segments of society we don't always read about in books.

Pulling cons on people was a big part of this book and one which Black obviously researched well because it was convincing and compelling.

I'd recommend this book for both boys and girls, in fact, my teenaged son took this one off me when I was finished so that he could read it. There is something for everyone here:  some romance, action, mystery, and tension.  I can hardly wait to get my hands on Red Glove, the next book in this series to see what Cassel does next.  


Here is the book trailer from YouTube:

Tithe by Holly Black

Book:  Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale (The Modern Faerie Tales #1) by Holly Black, 2004 by Margaret K. McElderry Books, 331 pages.

Summary from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms - a struggle that could very well mean her death.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book, even though it was not what I was expecting  Black is a great writer who knows how to keep the reader turning the pages. 

I liked the realistic portrayal of the main character, Kaye, her life and how the fantasy played into that.  She is definitely not the middle class girl that we find in many young adult books.  Kaye's reality is much harsher.  In Tithe, this means that there is swearing on nearly every page.  This may be difficult for some readers.

Then there is the dark fantasy and the whole faerie underworld, which was terrific.  Black had this whole world set up so well that it all felt plausible and I would love to read more.

This book will not be for everyone.  There is swearing, drugs, drinking, talk about sex, etc.  However, I also think these are things that teens are thinking about or dealing with and I like how matter of factly the author presents them.  If you are looking for a darker book about faeries in an industrial urban setting, I would recommend this book.

Extraordinary* by Adam Selzer

Book:  Extraordinary*: The True Story of My Fairygodparent, Who Almost Killed Me, and Certainly Never Made Me a Princess by Adam Selzer, 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Reader, 324 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Jennifer Van Der Berg would like you to know that the book ostensibly written about her—Born to Be Extraordinary by Eileen Codlin—is a bunch of bunk. Yes, she had a fairy godparent mess with her life, but no, she was not made into a princess or given the gift of self-confidence, and she sure as hell didn't get a hot boyfriend out of it.
Here's the REAL scoop . . .

My Thoughts:
This was a fun, lighthearted, entertaining book to read, perfect for summer.  I love twists on established stories and fairy tales and this one is great - it takes so many of the expectations that we have for princess stories and living happily ever after and turns them on their head in clever ways.

The book is held together with Jennifer, an ordinary teen with a passion for purple, setting the record straight after a book was written about her, a book that was far from the truth of what really happened.  This is a nice way to frame the story and set up the contradictions between fairy tales and what reality - and also to explore the theme of how a normal person can make choices and take actions to become extraordinary, and not to have a fairy godmother solve all of their problems for them and magically make them extraordinary.

The tone of the book was easy to read, with Jennifer facing many of the same kinds of issues that many teens face - bullies, boys she likes, how to fit in...  The book is conversational and a bit brash.

There are also some great plot twists and funny turns of events, especially around unicorns.  There is lots of action and even zombies and vampires.  I think this will appeal to teens, especially younger and middle teens who like quirky, fast paced books and fantasy not too far removed from real life.

Here is the YouTube book trailer:

Book Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Book:  Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead, August 2007, Razorbil, 332 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

My Thoughts:
I have shied away from vampire books as they generally are not for me, but I kept hearing about Vampire Academy from different people, so decided to try it and was pleasantly surprised.  Maybe because it is about vampires in a whole vampire society, not how they interact with humans, I'm not sure, but the vampire part of the story was not in the forefront.  Instead, it was about these kids with unique challenges in a boarding school, who happen to be vampires and half-humans training to protect the vampires.

Mead does a good job of creating the world of this boarding school, the routines, the cliques, the bullying, the politics and the pettiness.  Even though many of these are taken to the extreme, I'm sure most teenagers will relate to these characters.  There is even romance and adventure.

I really liked Rose and the story is told from her point of view.  She is strong, gutsy, feisty, and no nonsense.  She also shows some really good growth in the book.  I loved her friendship with Lissa, her best friend.  Their connection is so interesting, but I also loved reading a book that is largely about the friendship of these two girls.  All of the other story lines, the romances and the drama, supported this major theme.

Lissa is a great foil for Rose, part of a whole other social circle.  There is a story line where she has self destructive tendencies that I think the author handles really well and matter of factly.  She goes into the reasons, the emotions, and the fact that she ultimately needs help beyond what her friend can give her.

Actually, there are several issues mentioned in the book, such as sex, drugs and drinking.  These seemed authentic to me to how teens act and I liked how Rose thought about where her boundaries were for these things.

I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it, especially to teen girls.

To find the author:  Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Book Review: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Book:  City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009, 541 pages.

Source:  purchased.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

My Thoughts: 
I really enjoyed reading this installment and found it much better than City of Ashes.  There was lots of tension, action, twists and turns.  Again, I found myself impressed with Cassandra Clare's writing and ability to create an interesting fantasy world within the real world.  The world changes in this book as the characters travel to Idris, the City of Glass, which is outside the normal world - it was nice to have a change of setting and focus.  


I enjoyed the characters more in this book and am glad that the Clary/Jace story line took a turn as I didn't like their brother/sister storyline.  Clary starts to grow into herself more in this book as she has had some time now to get used to being a Shadowhunter and her strengths are being more revealed and she acts more purposefully and less by accident.  It is also nice to see Jace act like less of a jerk.  

Again, I found some of the more minor characters to be some of the most interesting, such as Alec, Magnus, Isabelle, and Simon.  In fact, some of the best scenes for breaking the tension and adding humour were between Simon and Jace.  


This was supposed to be the final installment of the series, and it does tie up all of the loose ends, but Cassandra Clare has written more, with the City of Fallen Angels already out and more books planned - it will be interesting to see where things go from here.

Book Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Book:  City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2008, 453 pages.

Source:  purchased

Synopsis:  (from Goodreads):
As readers of series starter City of Bones already know, teenager Clary Fray is a Shadowhunter, a demon slayer who has the gift (?) of spotting Downworlder werewolves, vampires, and faeries. She is also an adolescent in an abnormally dysfunctional family: Her mom is in a magically induced coma and her father is probably insane and undoubtedly evil. All of which places Clary in situations that would challenge even the most talented average American girl.

My Thoughts: 
This is the second in The Mortal Instruments series, in which Clary, who has recently discovered a whole world of Shadowhunters, demons, vampires and werewolves, hiding in the real world.  I love the idea of a whole world hiding in plain sight, as it were.  In this book, Clary and the Shadowhunters are trying to stop Valentine, her father, from using demons to take over the world.

The story is exciting and there is lots of action.  However, I still did not like this book as much as the first one, City of Bones.  I felt as if this was a transition book, with everyone running around and reacting to things rather than a strong overall story.  I know there is the plot of stopping Valentine, but everyone just keeps reacting.

I was also a little disappointed that Clary was not stronger.  After the first book, I was hoping that she would become a more take charge, competent character.  I felt like she spent running around after others and when she did do something, it was by accident.  However, she is still young and this book did only take place days after the first one, so I still hold out hope for her.

This novel, like the first, does have some interesting twists and foreshadows even more - which definitely keeps the reader reading and waiting for the next book.  I don't want to say too much about this, but I am hoping for some big shake ups in the third book.

Jace, the young, good looking jerk from the first book, does soften a bit in this one, which is nice.  I am not sure about the relationship between Clary and Jace though.  I don't want to give away any of the plot (if you have not read City of Bones, you may want to stop reading now), but I don't like the story line of them being brother and sister, but still having a romantic attraction.  I can also see the foreshadowing that they are not actually brother and sister, but they think that they are and I find the whole scenario a bit much and kind of creepy.

I found some of the other characters in this book to be the most interesting, for example, Simon, Mangus, Alec and Isabelle.  They are really good, interesting supporting characters with a lot of personality and are not as caught up in feeling so morose (except for maybe Alec).

I did enjoy reading City of Ashes - it is a fun summer read, and will certainly read the next in the series.  I can really see teenage girls liking this book, as well as those who like urban fantasy.

Book Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Book:  City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2007, 485 pages, young adult fantasy.

Source:  purchased.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

My Thoughts:
I have heard people raving about Cassandra Clare for quite some time, but for some reason, it took me a while to get to City of Bones.  Better late than never, right?  I loved reading this book, even more than I thought I would because I am not usually a big fan of books that involve love triangles.  I was able to read it on the beach this summer, which was perfect because it made a great, entertaining read.

To start with, I enjoyed Cassandra Clare's writing, her style is vivid, imaginative, descriptive and exciting.  I could really feel the world that she created and how she layered them so there could be two worlds at once, the one that most people can see and an exotic world filled with Shadowhunters, demons, werewolves and vampires. 

I also liked how Cassandra Clare explored the notions of good and evil, and how she used Clary, a naive fifteen year old girl to do this.  Clary is young and tends to see things in terms of good and bad, black and white, right and wrong, but the world is not always like this.  Clary gets challanged on these beliefs, learning that there are shades of grey and this is almost too much for Clary to wrap her head around, something I think that most teenagers experience.

For the most part, I enjoyed the characters in City of Bones.  Clary, as I said before, is young and fifteen - she rushes in, doesn't always think and is fiercly loyal, which I think is fairly realistic for a girl her age.  She also needs to be rescued a lot, and I am hoping that changes as her character grows in the next books of the series.

The other characters are good also, even if some of them are a bit stereotypical.  Most, however, are well developed and show some sort of growth.  Jace, the sarcastic, macho, obnoxious Shadowhunter, can be a bit much sometimes.  I am not sure why everyone loves good looking jerks so much.

There are also some great plot twists which will keep the reader turning the pages.  Many of these are foreshadowed in the book, which makes them even better.  Overall, there is a nice balance between action and "down time" as well as some humour thrown in.

I can really see young adult readers enjoying this book, as well as adults who enjoy this type of urban fantasy genre.