The Mortal Instruments: Book Six, City of Heavenly Fire

By Cassandra Clare.

[Darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter
world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the
Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon, and their friends
band together to fight the greatest evil they have ever
faced: Clary's own brother. Nothing in this world can
defeat Sebastian - but if they journey to the realm
of demons, they just might have a chance...]

Well this one certainly started with a bang.

Tense throughout with twists and turns right up until the very end. The final instalment is addictive and answers all looming questions. The characters grow, some die and relationships blossom.

Funnily enough Isabelle and Simon's "TBD" relationship was my favourite out of the three main ones, Magnus and Alec a close second.

I found myself liking Alec a lot more in this one. He'd been so serious in the rest of the previous books, that for him to make me laugh repeatedly in this one was quite a change - even if it was just because of his sarcastic comments at inopportune moments.

I also loved seeing Magnus of all people vulnerable for once, not the all powerful demon we know him to be.

The ending was also tied up all neatly and beautifully.

I enjoyed the addition of Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn too. I thought starting the story off with the Shadowhunter children training was lovely and an interesting insight into the Shadowhunter upbringing.

I loved the tension between the downworlders and the Shadowhunters throughout. It had you guessing as to who would betray the Shadowhunters in the end (not who you expect!!)

Sebastian's antics were horrific and had me bawling within a few chapters! The demon dimension was also a nice touch and change of scenery.

A good ending to a great series and lovely for Tessa and Jem to make an appearance to tie up any other loose ends from the Clockwork series!



✌︎

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 Mortal Instruments: Book Five, City of Lost Souls

By Cassandra Clare.

[Jace is now a servant of evil, bound for all eternity to Sebastian.

Only a small band of Shadowhunters believe he can be saved.

To do this they must defy the Clave. And they must act without

Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone.

The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace's soul. Clary

is willing to do anything for Jace, but can she trust him?

What price is too high to pay, even for love?]

Do you ever watch a TV show where it's like eight series in and it really could've done with finishing at about series 4 yet it's still going. 

Yeah? 

Well that's how these books feel sometimes.

I don't have a whole lot of new things to add since the last one to be honest.

The plot was alright; there were some interesting twists but again with the incest theme, it just kinda creeped me out.

I get that Sebastian just wants someone to love him, but his sister? And like that? Yuck.

If I'm honest, I was more intrigued by Simon's storyline than I was with Clary's, it just seemed to grip me more.

I also preferred Isabelle and Simon's relationship development over Clary and Jace's. It was so lovely to see Isabelle's vulnerability grow as her feelings towards Simon became true to herself.

I was even more partial to the relationships of Magnus/Alec and Maia/Jordan over Clary and Jace. 

Clary is really really irritating now, as is Jace, and I can't stand how they constantly have to be gazing at one another or whatever. It's that relationship where they're all over each other and it just makes you sick.

I wasn't sure how there was a whole other book after this one (but I've since finished them all!!) and what it was going to be about, but I couldn't wait to just be done with them.

That all changed with the last book though, review to come soon!

✌︎

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!



✌︎

The Mortal Instruments: Book Four, City of Fallen Angels

By Cassandra Clare.

[Clary is back in New York and life is good: she's training to 

be a Shadowhunter and is finally able to call Jace her boyfriend. 

But nothing comes without a price. When Jace inexplicably 

begins to pull away from her, Clary is forced to acknowledge 

that she herself has set in motion a chain of events that could 

lead to the loss of everything she loves. Even Jace.]

I actually loved this book.

I was a little worried at first that Clare might have gone too far with writing another three novels in this series on top of the first three. 

Would it just be the same sort of stuff repeated again from the other instalments or would it be better? 

But, I'm happy to say, she genuinely did a good job, really allowing the characters to grow. They are so in depth that I don't find any of them boring at all.

I still find Clary and Jace to be rather annoying as a couple (and Clary on her own), but I always seem to feel that way about the protagonists in YA fiction. 

I'm still rooting for them, don't get me wrong, it just seems to be the same thing all the time with Jace feeling sorry for himself, like he's never good enough for Clary. Blah blah blah, man up.

I love Simon and Isabelle's weird relationship in this one. 

He has slowly become my favourite character I think. He's really grown a great deal and it's interesting to see his continuing struggle as a vampire. 

Isabelle really grew on me as well. It's not that I didn't like her in the others, she just came across more stuck up and almost snobbish. But in this one, she shows some vulnerability.

Alec and Magnus weren't in it an awful lot and I kind of thought their tiff was a bit pointless. But, I liked the addition of Jordan/Kyle (did not see that twist coming!) and the overall villain was definitely an interesting one, one I wasn't expecting. 

I've always seen her character come up in other vampire-related TV programmes but in this she was a demon which was a different spin on it (don't wanna give that much away!)

I definitely enjoyed the plot. I don't know what I was expecting from a continuation but this wasn't it. This didn't disappoint though! 

I'm super intrigued by the little revelations we've found out about Magnus's past that are starting to link up with the Clockwork novels (am currently just finishing book two of these) and can't wait to see how they all wrap up!



✌︎

The Infernal Devices: Book 1, Clockwork Angel

By Cassandra Clare.

Do  you ever get all these emotions and doubts run through your mind day after day and worry that things aren't going the way they're meant to be?

I do, mostly about my relationship, but then once he's here at the weekend I feel almost restored back to faith and like I've taken a chill pill.

God, the past two weekends have been so great. Although if I write it down it doesn't look like we did much, but I guess it's just the little moments and how I seem to be appreciating them all the more.

Ah, I feel so full of love for him ♥︎

Anyway, as much as I could probably write a full post on why I love him, I'm going to get on with the review instead.

[When Tessa Gray arrives in England during

the reign of Queen Victoria, something terrifying is

waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, 

warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit 

streets. Friendless and hunted, Tessa seeks refuge with 

the Shadowhunters, a band of demon hunters. Drawn 

ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated 

by - and torn between - two best friends.]

I'm not too sure how I feel about these sorts of books anymore. 

Like, I think I've read far too many YA novels and am now so used to their predictable plot lines and complicated love triangles that I find myself growing restless whilst reading them.

However, it was an easy read, a very easy read, and I did enjoy the setting in Victorian London. Clare's description - as always - was beautiful and I could feel my mind bringing her ideas to life.

I liked the concept of the mechanical/clockwork creatures in this one. It was definitely different from the initial series with Clary and Jace. Not so much love drama, although there is a hint of it going in that direction and there is a mysteriousness about Will that is kind of enticing.

The other characters are all quite interesting. I'm not annoyed with Tessa or Jessamine yet, as the only prominent female figures. There's no unnecessary whining or selfish behaviour at the moment. Plus, I think Clare nailed the way women and men perceived each other back then with all the informal politeness and the men taking lead in the fighting. I didn't find it sexist at all like I have done in some books, Clare touches on it gracefully.

I enjoyed the plot and the twist at the end of who the Magister really was, definitely not who I expected! The epilogue left unanswered questions about Will which I can't wait to find out about and I'm intrigued as to how the plot continues and how it will all link up with The Mortal Instruments Series.



✌︎

The Mortal Instruments: Book Two, City of Ashes

By Cassandra Clare.

I've literally got a whole load of reviews still stored up with all the books and films I've watched recently so I might just start posting them every Wednesday until I've caught up and post other stuff on Sundays!

Anyways, onto the review:

[Haunted by her past, Clary is dragged deeper into

New York City's terrifying underworld of demons

and Shadowhunters - but can she control her

feelings for a boy who can never be hers?]

Oooooh, I enjoyed this one much more than I did the first one. Maybe it was because I didn't know the plot to this one and it was all brand new and exciting.

I loved the constant battle Jace and Clary both clearly had within themselves, about their current situation, and with each other. It was difficult to read at times, being that it's kind of gross that I wanted what they did, but also that none of us should have wanted it at all under said "circumstances". 

(I'm not convinced these circumstances are the truth though... I hope)

Okay, enough riddles. I really can't say that much without spoiling anything.

However, there was a lot of action, especially with Simon's character. His whole role changed abruptly and I must admit, I didn't see it coming, at all. 

I loved Alec and Magnus' attempt at sneaking around, it was kind of really cute. 

Plus, the whole final-ish scene on the boat was pretty epic. I think - if they had of made it into a film - that that scene would have been phenomenal. They definitely kept hinting at us - and the characters - not really knowing all of the facts which was intriguing.

I also think Cassandra Clare's way of writing is really easy and simple to follow, with a whole abundance of description and decent dialogue thrown in that keeps you well and truly hooked!

Can't wait to read the next one!

✌

The Mortal Instruments: Book One, City of Bones

By Cassandra Clare.

I'm a bit off this week, what with the bank holiday and having Friday off too!

And I know I've been writing a lot of reviews lately but that's because I've been an unprepared nancy of late and need to get my butt in gear and prepare you some more interesting posts!

Definitely some on the way, I promise.

For now though, I've been wanting to read The Mortal Instruments series for a while now, especially after seeing the film a few years ago.

[Clary Fray is seeing things: vampires in Brooklyn and

werewolves in Manhattan. Irresistibly drawn to the

Shadowhunters, a secret group of warriors dedicated

to ridding the earth of demons, Clary encounters

the dark side of New York City - and the

dangers of forbidden love.]

So, even just reading the blurb again, I can see that this may look a little like one of those predictable and cheesy books. Don't get me wrong, some of it really is, but it's actually a lot better than I expected as well and so easy to read!

Clary, the protagonist, was a little young for me to really engage with - especially everything she managed to get herself in to. However, I did thoroughly enjoy the plot.

I enjoyed the different fantasy elements and the dialogue was excellent, although there was some rambling in places that wasn't really needed. The characters were well developed and I grew to know all of their motivations through their actions and the way others spoke of them, even if they were the antagonists.

Jace and Magnus Bane were my favourites with their sarcasm, wit and charm. Luke was a character that also grew on me the more I read. Clary, on the other hand, was whiney and irritating, especially as she kept forgetting all about Simon. No one forgets about their best friend, no matter how interesting their new life has become.

And the ending! Even though I knew about it thanks to the film, it still grossed me out (no spoilers here). What a twist though, if I hadn't known the plot already!

I'm definitely intrigued to see how the rest of the books unfold.

✌