Monthly Archives: January 2013

Cassandra Clare: The City of Ashes

Book review, World of Books January 1, 2013 1 Comment

city ashesThis will not be a long review as book 3 awaits (yes, I am very eager to get back to it).

Like I said in my review of The City of Bones, we see the possibility of the family issue being resolved to the happiness of our little tragic couple (it really seems like they came out of a Greek tragedy).

After stealing the Cup in book one, Valentine manages to steal the sword as well. Both being very important Shadowhunter objects of power necessary for them to perpetuate their line.

Of course he wants to use them to gain control of the Shadowhunter world and kill all demons and Downworlders then (those being the werewolves, vampires and fae) even though there is an uneasy truce between SHadowhunters and Downworlders – demons being the creatures bent on destruction and not belonging to our world.

So, Jace being Valentine’s son has to deal with the backlash of the pretty much whole Shadowhunter community and I must say, I didn’t expect him to behave like a grown person and was very much surprised when he did. Pleasantly.

The reason I am so eagerly waiting to read book 3 is because we get several hints as to the possibility Clary and Jace are not brother and sister (yesss!) and it ends with the possibility of Clary’s mother waking – so with cliffhangers like that, I’m off to see what happens next. 🙂

Cassandra Clare: The City of Bones

Book review, World of Books January 1, 2013 Comments: 2

city bonesSometimes I wonder how is it possible that even though I read YA novels regularly and sort of follow the scene, I miss some of the more famous series?!

Like the Shadowhunters one. Happened with the Hunger Games too. And Beautiful Creatures just a week ago. I learned about all of them only because they were made into movies. I guess I’m not following the scene as much as I thought.

The story is not really new. 🙂 We have a bad guy re-appearing for whom everyone thought was dead. The bad guy who used to be a good Shadowhunter.

Then we have the girl stumbling into the world because her mother’s precautions got  a bit late this year and now she can see through the glamours the Shadowhunters, Downworlders and demons throw to hide themselves from people. That is also how Clary meets Jace just as her mother is kidnapped by the bad guy and the story starts getting complicated.

Here is also where from the beginning it becomes clear who is who and I got really upset when my thoughts on the subject became true. Well, you couldn’t really come to any other conclusion.

Luckily for me, I’m already starting on book 3 so I know from the second book, that (spoiler ahead) the family issue will probably be resolved to the satisfaction of all. Not without tragic teenage suffering, I am sure. 😉

Liesel Schwarz: A Conspiracy of Alchemists

Book review, World of Books January 1, 2013 1 Comment

conspiracyI am slowly but surely beginning to understand the love people have for steampunk novels. They are just so much fun to read.

I guess having a good writer helps too. 😉

I very much enjoyed this book although I must say in the beginning, I got a distinct impression that Elle wasn’t so much stubborn as stupid in her discussions with Marsh but that improved later (it seemed she gained both a backbone and a logical mind).

What I enjoyed so much was the fact that steampunk was so easily mixed with paranormal to create a new world – one where paranormals exist together with people (everyone being aware of everyone) and wizards are “good” (as much as old men with power and the possibility to get more, albeit for good can be) and alchemists works with (or for) vampires which is the reason for their conspiracy from the title.

Where do Elle and Marsh come in? Well, Elle doesn’t remember her mother as she got killed when Elle was very little but we soon learn she is to follow as the Oracle in her mother’s footsteps (as a direct descendant of her line).

Not something Elle (and for that matter Marsh too) is happy about. Especially as she needs to find her hijacked father.

So, here we embark on the adventure – well, the adventure basically started from the second page, but here we embark on the second part of adventure.

I won’t discuss what that entails but I’ll just assure you, it’s not slow going. 🙂

P.S. It seems lately either I’m reading books that discuss scents more, or I am more attuned to them, but here I especially loved the fact that Elle applies freesia perfume oil.