The Infernal Devices: Book 3, Clockwork Princess

By Cassandra Clare.

[As Tessa Gray prepares for her wedding, a net of
shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters
of the London Institute. Mortmain needs one last item
to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. Jem and Will,
the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart,
will do anything to save her.]

I reallyyyyyy need to start writing these up as I finish them like I do on Goodreads!

I've actually managed to become quite organised this year (so far). I pack my lunch the night before work, I stop watching TV by half eight/nine o'clock, I get ready for bed by half nine and leave myself plenty of time to read as I have set myself a higher goal of 50 books this year.

I'm also running regularly and eating healthier which was a main goal last year but it sort of fizzled out towards the end of the year.

But no, this year I'm running alone more and my driving is way more confident. I'm itching to get out more and actually do stuff, so now all I need to do is write these posts up as soon as I finish a book...

Can't be that hard, can it?

I wonder how long this will all last.

The review today is for the final in the Clockwork trilogy. I finished it ages ago so I only really remember the basic outline.

But I loved it. Even more, I think I'm in love with one of the fictional characters. 

Haha, whoops.

He's just so dreamy and chiselled.

My God though, I was so distraught when I finished it!

The epilogue shattered my heart into a million pieces. It was such a bittersweet ending what with it sort of working out okay in the end, but sort of not? I don't know, I can't say too much without giving it away.

From unexpected deaths, twists, romantic notions, drama and and one hell of a battle, this book and the storyline is by far the best of Cassandra Clare's work that I've read so far.

I can't even say that much else without spoiling it. I'm blown away and a little lost for words.

I didn't want it to end. I wanted to be in Tessa's world forever.

These three books outrank the six Mortal Instruments by far for me.

I will definitely be re-reading these again at least.



☽

The Infernal Devices: Book 2, Clockwork Prince

By Cassandra Clare.

So, everything seems to be falling apart in this house all at once. 

One of the hobs wouldn't turn off and because it's gas we had to turn the gas off completely so we had no hot water, heating or use of the cooker for one day. (The following day I pulled the dial off of the faulty one and straightened the metal piping so we could turn the gas back on without the worry of any gas leaking out. Sigh). 

The shower also decided all of a sudden, that within a minute of turning it on the whole bathroom would flood. So every morning I've been ramming towels into the gaps beneath the bath in some sort of vain hope that it would soak the worst of the waters up and mopping up the rest. 

After. every. damn. shower. 

Oh, and the mouse is back. That little critter made it's first appearance since the weather turned cooler so I couldn't sleep at all that night. Wonderful.

[In the magical underworld of Victorian London,
Tessa Gray finds her heart drawn more and more
to Jem, while her longing for Will continues
to unsettle her. Could finding the Magister free
Will from his secrest and give Tessa the answers
to who she is and what she was born to do?]

I absolutely adored this book.

I don't know whether when I read the first one I was getting slightly bored by the samey-samey plots/characters/love triangles/YA in general. But this one sure changed my mind.

The development of characters and plot lines was brilliant. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters more in-depth, especially Will and the Lightwood family.

I have to say, love triangles are annoying in most cases, but this one had me hooked! I can't figure out who I want Tessa to end up with. Jem is so caring and sweet, but Will is all bright eyes, sarcasm and charm. I was definitely surprised by the turn in events towards the end!

I'm still loving the era as well, it feels so authentic and interesting. Clare must've done so much research for her characters to have all the correct mannerisms and to describe London so well!

The mechanical creatures weren't in this one as much, nor the main villain (just mentioned), but the overall drama within a number of different families, revelations and lust was enough to satisfy me.

I really really can't wait to read the last one. I'm enjoying these more than The Mortal Instruments series!



✌︎

Girl Crush: Carrie Bradshaw

I was late to the Sex and the City party. As in the only reason I actually came across it was because all of my family were out one night (same old homebody, aren't I?) and I was bored of watching Friends reruns. No good films were on either, I believe. But I came across a couple of episodes of Sex and the City and thought why the hell not?

I'd heard good things about it. Very good things. But I didn't know how much I would actually enjoy it. Yes, the show was a little dated but some of the fashion items, New York city in all her glory and each career of the four girls was enough for me, something to envy and look up to even. 

And so my girl crush on Miss Bradshaw commenced.

The strong female leads were definitely something that drew me in, with each of them teaching me many lessons about life, relationships, careers and whatnot, especially that you can be your own woman without a man to make you happy (although it is pretty good to have one too).

Anyways, moving on.

I can't remember a specific time of wanting to be a writer, but it has always been there in the background, amongst the fleeting careers idea of wanting to be an artist, a photographer and even a tattooist at one point (crazy I know, but I was heavily influenced by the likes of America's Next Top Model and Miami Ink during my teen years!)

Writing gives me freedom, escapism, life. I absolutely adore it. And so whenever I see a protagonist that is a writer, I instantly click with them, wanting to be them, looking for hints in any way shape or form to get to where I want to be.

So - for me - this makes Carrie's life perfect. I aspire to have one like hers. I want to write books, to be published, to have a meaning in somebody's life, to have my own place where I can escape to and write to my hearts content, hell I'd even try writing a column if the opportunity came my way. 

The only thing is, blog posts are the only writing I've been doing of late. My novel's first draft is done but it needs a lot of editing and I. just. keep. putting. it. off. I get so annoyed at myself because I can be on the train, listening to my Pirates of the Caribbean score and ideas just swim into my head and I scramble to add them into the notes on my phone.

But they stay there, awaiting to be written up.

So, excuse me whilst I go and browse Amazon for a boxset of Sex and the City and avoiding my editing plans once more...

