City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare Review

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 424
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Source: Mega Bookshop Haul
Rating: 4 Stars
Series: The Mortal Instruments (#4)

The Short Version: Not perfect, but unexpectedly enjoyable.

The Breakdown:

Initial Reaction:
I am not usually a fan of paranormalcy. Especially not paranormal romance. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised. City of Fallen Angels showed that pretty decent action can go along with it. I actually didn't like the cover at all though. Get that character off my cover!

This is the fourth book in the series, and the first one I've read (comes after City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass). I actually bought it because I'd seen so many quotes from it  here! I was left guessing about many of the preceding events because I'm starting with the fourth in the series but I figured it out. Except for the Jace/Clary thing.  I know they're not *exactly* related but...Reading their backstory would help. I really should read series' in order!

Setting:

Basically, world with vampires, warlocks, werewolves, Shadowhunters, Angel, STRONG references to an almighty deity....you catch my drift. The *under*current of God would have been a bit of a turnoff but it avoided it somehow, a spectacular feat when put beside my aversion to authors being too preachy in their professional works. The outside world is oblivious to what's going on, just the way I like it. Can you imagine how bad Harry Potter and Skulduggery Pleasant (and many more) would have been if the public knew about magic?!

Characters:

Clary: I noticed that a lot of the novel is spent with different characters talking about Clary, not necessarily with her talking, which was interesting. Of course, she featured prominently, being on the cover and all....the relationship between her and Jace was interesting enough, but I'm very glad it wasn't made the focal point of the novel. I CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE PARANORMAL ROMANCE! UNLESS THE PROSE IS ACTUALLY UNBELIEVABLE! 

 and will keep you 

Jace: To be honest, I just love Jace's fighting scenes to bits. I love where his speed and skill are described, because they're somehow the opposite of a certain 'skin as hard as granite'. As in, at the right moments and not overwhelming. I didn't really appreciate his dreaming episodes. Very angsty. But they furthered the plot, so I'll let it go.

Simon: I really liked Simon, actually. He was one of my favourite characters because I subconsciously identified him as the underdog and sided with him. I'm not going to avoid spoilers too much, the book's been out long enough. Don't crucify me, I usually do. His 'coming-out scene' with his mother (I just made you think he's gay, even though he isn't. Didn't I?) was excellently written and just the right side of angsty. You can always count on a paranormal for that! OH MY THE MARK OF CAIN.

There are so many other characters. Wait until you read the book!

Plot:

I've heard say that this was an unnecessary addition to the original trilogy. While I haven't actually READ said original trilogy *cough*, I really don't think it was. there were plenty of events in it and since I've decided not to spoil it after all, I can't tell you what they are. What I CAN say is that one scene at the end, which reminded me of a terrifying Snow White coffin scene, was brilliant.. Look out for it when you read it. Which you are going to do, aren't you? Of course. The plot isn't exactly fast-moving, but it's not noticeably slow and will keep you plenty entertained. 

Jumped out at me: Issues, issues everywhere.

Cassandra Clare is really not afraid to jump in the deep end. With controversial issues, she's got all the bases covered. Let's see now. Ho- Actually, I wrote all this and then backspaced it. I think people will take offence. Sorry.

Overall

Initially slow, but it really grew on me towards the end. Hilarious quotes. A terrible cliffhanger. I'll definitely be reading City of Bones/Ashes/Glass!

I think you should go here next...

Aylee from Recovering Potter Addict's Review

A Paranormal Fan Reviewer

That last one is quite negative and the first one is positive. Nobody ever said I wasn't balanced! Oh wait, I did. Today I bought a dystopian with prize money from a book review contest and I have an excellent review of that on the way, so come back soon! 

Blood Ties - Sophie McKenzie Review

Before I start the review, some news. My school ran a book review competition just after Christmas and I entered my review of Partials by Dan Wells which is here http://darquessedreams.blogspot.ie/2013/01/partials-dan-wells-review.html  . There were hundreds of entries but I came second and got a voucher for a bookshop, which means more reviews for you! I was happy with second, since I accidentally handed it in late anyway. Moving on.

Official Summary:
A gripping thriller from the Richard and Judy award-winning author of Girl, Missing, Sophie McKenzie.

When Theo discovers the father he thought died when he was a baby is still alive, he's determined to find him. The clues lead him to the lonely Rachel, who has problems of her own, including parents who compare her unfavourably to her long-dead sister.

But when Rachel and Theo are attacked by men from RAGE - the Righteous Army against Genetic Engineering - at Rachel's school disco, they are rescued by strangers and taken to meet a mysterious figure. There, they both make some startling discoveries about their identities, which will affect their past, present, and future in dramatic and life-altering ways...

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Source: Christmas Present
                                                          Genre: Fiction, Thriller
In Short: Gripping, enjoyable, fast-paced novel with a little humour thrown in. I'd read it again.
Rating: 4 Stars

The Breakdown:

Initial Reaction:

No, this book is not a crime novel. Although it touches on that. Ignore the title, it's a clue to the big reveal at the end of the book. Look back on it later and wonder.Overall it's a  nice cover, nothing too fancy. I am really diversifying in my taste in genre!

Setting:

Blood Ties is futuristic in its science, but not noticeably so. It might not be set in the future at all, actually, if what's done in the story could possibly be done at some high-tech resort in the world today. The scary truth is that with someone intelligent enough at the helm it probably could. I like the background story, Rebecca is very intriguing.

Characters:

Rachel and Theo were refreshingly...normal after all my kickass heroines. Rachel's backstory was heartbreaking and realistic, especially the constant comparisons with her dead sister. Theo's fraught relationship with his mother and his over-independence were great to read about. The characters were great vehicles for the narrative as well. The scene with Roy at the start is excellent.

Plot:

There is a fast, driven, purposeful plot and it's great fun, to put it simply. The momentum of the energetic first scene is somehow sustained throughout the whole novel and builds towards the climax, and what a climax it is. The narrative is satisfyingly filled out and runs smoothly.

Jumped out at me: Am I ALLOWED say Science AGAIN?

I've said Science already. I apologise. Of course I don't. I'll change to technology instead. I wish I could say what the actual technology is, but that is the biggest spoiler I can possibly think of so it's not happening.

Overall: Very likely to be re-read if you buy it. Also, get Girl, Missing by the same author. Though I have yet to read it it's said to be very good and is on my TBR list.

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld Review

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13581049-uglies

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

Official Summary:
Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait for the operation that turns everyone from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to party. But new friend Shay would rather hoverboard to "the Smoke" and be free. Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The "Special Circumstances" authority Dr Cable offers Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.
                                                      
                                                       Source: On loan from a friend.
                                                       Publisher: Simon Schuster Children's.
                                                       Length: 425 pages.
                                                       Rating: 4 Stars.
                                                       Genre: YA negative-utopian.
                                                     
In short:  Not perfect with the storytelling tone the whole way through but when the climax hit, amazing. Good set-up and plot unfolding.

The Breakdown:

World-Building:
This is actually one of the most realistic (but quite disturbing) worlds I've discovered lately. With the way the media is, it conceivably could happen. I liked the idea of the surgery and the types of Pretties, Middlies and Crumblies. Those, Rusties and Smokies were great names. The hover-boarding was really interesting and made for entertaining reading. I loved the detail about the deposits of metal everywhere because it is such a cool source of power. Excuse me, I would like my hoverboard now please.

Characters:
Tally: Tally...was a good enough main character, in that she was a good way to get the story through. But I wouldn't have thought of her as a character in her own right until well through the book. I loved her fire-jacket escape. I liked her escape to the ***** but I didn't like the reason she went there. Sometimes I want my main characters to defy the plot and just get what they've always wanted. That's why I didn't entirely write off Tally as a character. i started to feel for her after a while.

Shay: Hmmm, Shay... I really didn't know what to think about Shay. I liked her when she was teaching Tally how to hoverboard. I liked her in the Rusty Ruins. I liked her when she was in the Smoke. I didn't like when she went there. To be honest, in my head I was screaming to Tally 'NOOOO GET PRETTY YOUR LIFE WILL BE RUINED!'. I had come to care for her and I resented Shay's bad influence. I really, really didn't like Shay as a ******, although that was presumable a device of the author to teach us the effects of the *********.

Peris:  I HATED Pretty Peris! He was OK some of the time, I know, but he was the perfect example of a Pretty, and NO.

David:  All I can say about David is that he fulfilled his purpose in the narrative. I really liked Maddie and Az though.

Plot:
The book starts off by saying that the sky was the colour of cat vomit. That should provide a clue that it likes to take unexpected turns. The start wasn't exactly gripping but it wasn't boring either, I just had to pay attention...but it was worth it in the middle and at the end. I LOVE THE STORY OF THE SMOKE. In any place where there's been massive progress/revolution there's always going to be a community who do not want it. And this was that encapsulated perfectly. THE CLIFFHANGER ENDING WILL KILL YOU. I NEED THE SEQUEL. GIVE IT TO ME NOW.

Jumped out at me:
The way their world works. I loved how most things were fueled by magnetism. It's renewable. And it's cool. There is a grid of metal laid out through the city. That just reminds me of Wi-Fi, but even cooler. Be warned, if you have unlocked Wifi, I WILL use it. I have to be an internet fiend, with this blog. AND THE RUSTIES WITH *THEIR* STURDY METAL BUILDINGS.

Overall:
You won't have to drop everything and get it, but definitely worth a read. Four stars!

Other Reviews:
http://www.zoesbookreviews.com/2011/05/uglies-series-by-scott-westerfeld.html
http://wornpagesanddustyshelves.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/book-review-uglies-by-scott-westerfeld/
http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/uglies

Get it:
Amazon
Waterstones