Book Review: City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare

Book Review: City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare
Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:


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. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque 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.... 

Book Review:

     It isn't often that I find a book so flawless as this one. From the very first page, I was hooked, reading late into the night every night. I was literally unable to put it down.
     This is definitely not the first demon-hunter book out there, but Cassandra Clare invents a whole new world completely different from anything one might expect. Effortlessly weaving a tale of  magic, intrigue, mystery, and romance, Clare introduces us readers into the dangerous world of Shadowhunters,  a race of demon hunters that were created by the angel Raziel a thousand years ago.
     When Clary Fray sees several of these Shadowhunters kill a demon, one of them, Jace Wayland, appears before Clary the next day and takes her to the Institute, which is basically a safe house for the New York Shadowhunters. 
       Clary is suddenly thrust into a dangerous battle between Shadowhunters and demons, as well as faeries, werewolves, vampires, and warlocks. She also develops feelings for the handsome Shadowhunter Jace.
     Clary, Jace,  and Simon's love triangle was absolutely riveting. When Simon walked in on Clary and Jace making out, I sat up and squealed like a little girl. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, but Simon has been Clary's friend for almost her whole life, which makes for some killer romantic friction.
     (Note: I'm listening to Anthem of the Angels, does anyone else get the irony? Demon hunters? No? Okay.)
     Cassandra Clare's writing was exciting and powerful and City of Bones is an exhilarating, moving read, perfect for fantasy romance lovers. I enjoyed every minute.
     Six out of five stars.

 Post-script: This will be the only blog post today. Happy Holidays!

Book Review: The Vampire Stalker, by Allison van Diepen

Book Review: The Vampire Stalker, by Allison van Diepen
Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?

Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.

 Book review:

    This is my first time reading a book by van Diepen, and I must say, I was, and am, very impressed. I found the main character, Amy, to be very relatable and well-written, and Alexander, the vampire-hunter love interest, to be engaging and funny.
    One scene in particular stood out to me- Amy is at a "teen club" for her friend's birthday, and Vigo shows up, with Alexander in hot pursuit. Amy throws herself in front of Alexander to save him from a bullet (I think it was a bullet- that part wasn't really clear.) 
     Anyway, I enjoy when, in books, the main character "sacrifices" him/herself for their friend/boyfriend/girlfriend, whatever. I think that it makes the character appear selfless and brave in the face of danger.
     Unfortunately, to write an honest review, I must point out that in several parts of this book, the author did not write with clarity, thus making these sections hard to understand. Like in the end, when Alexander decides to stay in the human world instead of returning home- van Diepen doesn't really say why he stays, apart from Amy. He's still a vampire hunter- and it's not like, with Vigo dead, there's a sudden shortage of vamps out there. However, the characters did say that bringing him back with them would be complicated, because of vamps that are out for revenge. To which I reply: He's a vampire hunter!  He'll probably survive it.
     Overall, though, this book was witty, engaging, and action-packed, making it a must-read for people 12 and up.
     Five out of five stars.

Book Review: Confessions of a Murder Suspect, by James Patterson

Book Review: Confessions of a Murder Suspect, by James Patterson
Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:

James Patterson returns to the genre that made him famous with a thrilling teen detective series about the mysterious and magnificently wealthy Angel family...and the dark secrets they're keeping from one another.
On the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, Tandy Angel knows just three things: 1) She was the last person to see her parents alive. 2) The police have no suspects besides Tandy and her three siblings. 3) She can't trust anyone—maybe not even herself. Having grown up under Malcolm and Maud's intense perfectionist demands, no child comes away undamaged. Tandy decides that she will have to clear the family name, but digging deeper into her powerful parents' affairs is a dangerous-and revealing-game. Who knows what the Angels are truly capable of?


Book Review:

     I picked up this book for half off at Target, excited to find a James Patterson book I hadn't read. 
     I was disappointed.
     James Patterson's style of writing was as close to perfect as could be, as always, but I found the book to be rather anticlimactic and boring. It is just another murder mystery that turned out not to actually be "murder," and the one suspect who could "crack the case" chose to stay silent until the end of the book, which led to a boring and disappointing ending.
    Also, the main character, Tandy, suffers from memory loss for the majority of the book, which was never explained. Neither was the loss of funds for Angel Pharma, or the conviction of the children's uncle for shipping illegal drugs. In fact, I'm not even sure he was convicted.
    Not to mention the fact that the whole book was leading up to finding out who killed Tandy's parents, when, instead, the parents killed themselves. I, for one, was disappointed.
    Part of Tandy's memory loss was connected to this mystery boy, and in the end, when everything was finally revealed, nothing about him seemed to tie in with the rest of the story, apart from having something to write about in the Confessions sections every other chapter.
     However, the plot was intriguing for the most part, so this story wasn't a complete disappointment. I did enjoy a lot of it. But the flaws ruined most of it for me, making this a not-so good read.
     Two out of five stars. 

Book Review- This Dark Endeavor, by Kenneth Oppel

Book Review: This Dark Endeavor, by Kenneth Oppel
 Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:

 Bravery, danger, and intense passion. How does obsession begin?

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real.
     They stumble upon the Dark Library and discover secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies. Father forbids them from ever entering the room again, but when Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is drawn back to the Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Victor, along with his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and friend Henry, immediately set out to find a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help them create the formula.
     Determined to save Konrad, the three friends scale the highest trees in Strumwald, dive into the deepest lakes, and even make an unthinkable sacrifice in their quest for the elixir’s ingredients. And as if their task was not complicated enough, a new realm of danger—that of illicit love—threatens to end the ordeal in tragedy.

Book Review:

     Recently I decided to reread This Dark Endeavor, having only read it once a couple years ago. All I remembered was that I enjoyed it.
     To my younger self, this book was magnificent- but to my older, reviewing self, I immediately identified the obvious flaws.
     First, however, I must say how much I loved the beginning, then and now. The intriguing fight scene really drew me in, as well as Victor falling off the balcony and being rescued by Konrad. I could feel their brotherly affection for one another where minutes before they were fighting to the death.
     I must also mention the comic relief provided by Elizabeth, the love interest, Victor, and Konrad. I was cracking up well into the night. The love triangle, also, was extremely well-done, and did not interfere in any way with the overall plot- everything was woven perfectly together, one event fueling another, and subtle foreshadowing that hinted at later conflicts, as well as a sibling rivalry that was backed by an undying affection for each other.
     Now for the flaws.
     Some parts, like the discovery of the Dark Library, were extremely underdone, while others, like the preparation of dinner for the servants, were overdone. 
     I found it a little TOO convenient that each of the ingredients for the Elixir of Life were revealed only one at a time. Also, there were only three ingredients. It is an Elixir of LIFE, people! There should be more ingredients!  And it was also extremely convenient that each of the ingredients was extremely close to where Victor, Elizabeth, and Konrad lived. 
     Overall, however, I really enjoyed the dark story of the apprenticeship/corruption of Victor Frankenstein
     I recommend this book for anyone 12 and up.
     Four out of five stars.

Book Review- Tallstar's Revenge, by Erin Hunter

Book review: Tallstar's Revenge, by Erin Hunter
Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:

     A desperate quest for revenge.
Tallpaw is a loyal WindClan app­rentice who is eager to protect his Clan. But before Tallpaw can complete his apprentice training, a tragic incident leaves his father dead—and Tallpaw consumed by a burning desire for vengeance. Even as he earns his warrior name, Talltail, he cannot see past the anger in his heart.
Though it goes against everything he has been taught, Talltail puts his loyalty to WindClan aside and travels far from home in search of justice for his father. But Talltail's new life outside the laws of the warrior code is filled with danger . . . and he is forced to decide how much he is willing to sacrifice for revenge. 

 Book Review:

     Erin Hunter is, honestly, one of my favorite authors. I have read all the Warriors books, but only just figured out that this one came out a while ago. When I checked it out of the library, I had high expectations for the story.
     Typically, the Warriors Super Edition books tell the story of one cat's life, from kithood to leader or medicine cat or whatever. This one tells the story of Tallstar's rise to power, and his quest for revenge. Hence the title, Tallstar's revenge.
      When Tallstar was an apprentice, his father went into one of the underground tunnels with Sparrow, a rogue cat. The tunnel caved in while they were in it, and only Sparrow made it out alive. For this, Tallpaw hated Sparrow, and viewed him as the cat who killed his father. Which is understandable. I would think that too. 
      The first half of the book tells about Tallstar's kithood and apprenticeship. Tallpaw felt like he had to prove himself to his father because he didn't become what his father wanted, which I found kind of foolish. I mean, cats keep telling him, oh, it doesn't matter what your father thinks, yada yada yada, and even Tallpaw came to this realization himself, but he wouldn't stop feeling the need to prove himself. Just buck up, cat!
     Joining up with Jake, a "kittypet" from Twolegplace, Talltail hunts the rogue who "killed" his father. Half of the second half of the book is dedicated to Talltail's quest for vengeance, and when finally presented with the opportunity to kill Sparrow, he realizes that Sandgorse saved Sparrow's life, and thus, couldn't kill him. So the book should be renamed The Quest For Revenge That Lasted For Like One Quarter Of The Story. 
     Catchy.
     Seriously, after he DOESN'T get his revenge, he goes back to the Clan and gets an apprentice, and then skips directly to his leader naming ceremony in StarClan, which seemed kind of fast to me.
     But I loved Erin Hunter's style of writing, and the plot IS engaging and exciting. I suppose that if Talltail had killed Sparrow, than it would have "corrupted" him, and he wouldn't probably have become leader. And I get that he had to become leader before the end, hence the time-lapse between getting an apprentice and going to the Moonstone. Also, at the end, I absolutely LOVED the connection to Firestar.
     I did enjoy the book, and I will keep reading the series for as long as they keep coming out.
     So, all in all, I recommend this book for anyone 11 and up.
     Four out of five stars.

Book Review- Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater

Book review- Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater
Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:

     For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Book Review:

     I am a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater (pronounced steve-otter) and her books. I am also a fan of werewolves. So it seemed only natural that I should check out this book from the library and proceed to finish it in four hours.
     I'll admit, I was a little worried- was Stiefvater going to go with the traditional full-moon approach, or take the Twilight route and have emotions trigger the "shift?"
     To my surprise, Maggie chose neither, instead taking a whole new approach and having the change from human to werewolf and the reverse be triggered by the seasons- namely, the temperature.
     I was, and am, impressed at her ability to present Sam, the love interest and werewolf, and his family/past/murder attempt by parents so flawlessly. There was a lot that could have gone wrong, but there wasn't even information overload- instead, there was extremely effective foreshadowing, but I didn't feel like I was deprived of information, either. So kudos to you, Stiefvater!
    One thing that I wasn't overly pleased with was the first-kiss segment- I felt like it happened too quickly, seeing as they only met as humans for the first time, like, the night before, when he was bleeding to death. Also, he's a freaky werewolf. I would be a little hesitant.
    The werewolf wasn't an ultra- sexy muscular dude, as written in so many other books. Which was a nice change. I felt like it only empathized the fact that Sam was normal, human, before he was bitten. Jacob, step aside. There's a new werewolf in town!
    Grace, the other main character and love interest, was extremely well-written. I really understood her, and her personality was perfect for dealing with werewolves- calm, cool, and collected. Even if she could be a little too calm at times.
     I loved the wisecracking side characters, and was extremely impressed at Stiefvater's ability to express the danger represented by the hunters determined to kill the Mercy Falls wolf pack.
    This fast-paced, exciting love story is a must-read for ages 12 and up.
     Five out of five stars.

Book Review- Fallen, by Lauren Kate

Book review- Fallen, by Lauren Kate
Spoilers alert!

 Synopsis:

Some Angels are Destined to Fall

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.


Book review:

      Honestly, the first time I read Fallen, it took me forever to get through. I lost interest halfway through the book, and only recently picked it up again and finished it.
      I suppose it was well written, but nothing much really happens until, like, halfway through the story. The main character, Luce, I found shallow and self- absorbed,  focused on "oh, the beautiful Daniel Gregori", which irritated me. Also, when Daniel and Cam, a dude who is into Luce, are fighting, she didn't even do anything- instead, she stands by and watches. I mean, get in there and stop them, you idiot! Not to mention the fact that she spills all her problems to Daniel, when he obviously doesn't care and leaves her both times they go on a sort of date. Ain't nobody got time for that!
     In all seriousness, though, the plot intrigued me. I loved the fallen angel rivalry and Luce and Daniel's mysterious past. But I was a little confused on whether they are all fallen angels, or some or fallen and some aren't, because in my experience AND in the bible, fallen angels get their wings ripped out. Which didn't happen in this book.
     I also enjoyed the way Lauren Kate describes the Sword and Cross boarding school, as well as the twist ending. So I suppose this book isn't all bad.
     I have to say that when Luce went to the bar with Cam, I sat up and screamed, "You idiot!" Because who goes to a bar with a guy who barely knows her and is into her? Hello?
     The reason Luce is sent to the boarding school, lighting a boy on fire, was never thoroughly explained- WHY did she light him on fire? Or rather, how? She's human, mostly. As far as I could tell, her abilities did not extend to spontaneous combustion. This confused me.
     Despite this book's obvious flaws, I think I am going to read the rest of the series, if only because I like reading about fallen angels and want to see how Luce and Daniel's relationship progresses.
     Three out of five stars.