The First 10 Pages: A Tale Dark & Grimm

My Review of A Tale Dark & Grimm

Witchfall (The Tudor Witch Trilogy, #2)

Summary:

"Her darkest dreams are coming true 
In Tudor England, 1555, Meg Lytton has learned how powerful her magick gift can be. But danger surrounds her and her mistress, the outcast Princess Elizabeth. Nowhere is safe in the court of Elizabeth's fanatical sister, Queen Mary. And as the Spanish Inquisition's merciless priests slowly tighten their grip on the court, Meg's very dreams are disturbed by the ever-vengeful witchfinder Marcus Dent. 
Even as Meg tries to use her powers to find guidance, something evil arises, impervious to Meg's spells and hungry to control England's fate. As Meg desperately tries to keep her secret betrothed, the Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, out of harm's way, caution wars with their forbidden desire. And with her most powerful enemy poised to strike, Meg's only chance is a heartbreaking sacrifice."

Witchfall like Witchstruck leaves me wanting more. I want more of the story and maybe something else... I don't know what I can't put my finger on it but just more. We have more magic and magical obstacles in Witchfall, as well as the terror of the Inquisition in town. Meg has grown as a character she is becoming more confident as a person but less so as a witch and we watch her struggle with being very powerful and common country witch.

Her relationship with Elizabeth is more strained and in a lot of ways more realistic for the era in Witchfall. As far as Alejendro goes.. I like him as a character but I am still not convinced of his and Meg's relationship. I personally feel no connection between them. I most definitely "ship" her and Richard though... he is Master Dee's apprentice.

Overall my feelings about Witchfall are quite Neutral. It was a great middle book and like most middle books in a series, they are more of a transition book than overly exciting. There was lots of drama and action, but nothing that wasn't strongly foreshadowed while reading. I definitely anticipate Book 3 to be craziness though. For those who haven't read the trilogy, I recommend you do since it is a nice blend of witchcraft and history.

Fairest of All : A Tale of the Wicked Queen

Summary:

"The tale of the young princess and her evil stepmother, the Wicked Queen, is widely known. Despite a few variations from telling to telling, the story remains the same--the Queen was jealous of the girl's beauty, and this jealousy culminated in the Queen's attempt on the sweet, naive girl's life. 
Another tale far less often spoken of is the one that explains what caused the Queen to become so contemptuously vile. Still, some have attempted to guess at the reason. Perhaps the Queen's true nature was that of a wicked hag and her beautiful, regal appearance a disguise used to fool the King. Others claim that the Queen might have hated the girl for her resemblance to the King's first wife. Mostly, the Queen is painted as a morally abhorrent woman who never loved another being during the course of her miserable life.
In fact, the theories about exactly what cause the Queen's obsessive vanity and jealous rage are too numerous to catalog. This book recounts a version of the story that has remained untold until now. It is a tragic tale of love and loss, and it contains a bit of magic. It is a tale of the Wicked Queen..."

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2)

Summary:

"Darkness never dies.
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm."

Why HELLOoOoOoO.... Darkling!
It doesn't take much to get sucked back into the Grisha world. In fact, it only takes 25 pages to leave you with your mouth gaping.  The plot does more story and world building, than action and plowing through, which for Book 2, I think was the perfect choice. Bardugo, does a marvelous job at giving the reader what they want, while still making them beg for more.

I am liking Alina more and more especially as her confidence grows, I also enjoyed Mal more in this book, but still am not convinced in him as the leading man. I just feel there is something lacking in his and Alina's relationship. Mainly, because it is SO brother-sister like. There are 3 additions to the book, that I enjoyed very much. That being the Privateer, whose role I think is vital to caring this story, and who I definitely have a crush on. I am definitely wishing him and Alina to hook up! Then there is Tamar and Tamin. They become Alina's confidants and they have a way about them, that makes you love them. Maybe it is the protective gentle giant type thing.

And of course... we cannot forget the Darkling. He actually isn't present very much and it mostly, just a Shadow to be feared. However, when he does appear I still love him and I pretty much never love the bad guy. A bad boy sure, but not a truly evil person. Which, is something I truly admire about Bardugo's writing. She can make you not just LIKE the bad guy but become Infatuated with him.

There is SO much that happens in Siege and Storm and all very much important to the series storyline. While reading Siege and Storm though, I knew there was to be an epic ending, since I had heard SO much about this epic ending, I was read through the book rapidly, eagerly waiting and anticipating it and I was disappointed. ONLY, because I was anticipating it so much, that I already saw it coming. I had built it up A LOT. However, I can say it is a good ending and if you don't over think it like me, you will hate and love it. Bardugo's writing is beyond superb and Siege and Storm is just one of those books, that is hard to review... because you might let something possibly spoilery slip. It is a great sequel to Shadow and Bone and overall, a HIGHLY recommended series. 

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, #1)

*this is a netgalley review

Summary:

"In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.
When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.
Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of Xseries, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense"

Plot: The story line starts off quickly and you are instantly intrigued by all that is happening and than the book hits a lull and kind of it like a roller coaster from there on... you hit an exciting part and then slow down and back and forth. Lots of side stories, that may seem random but I promise they are not. Overall, Mead is really building the RUNA world and Mae and Justin's story lines for the series here.

Characters: I love both the Main Characters Mae and Justin. They each have their faults and their strengths which makes them very relate-able and like-able characters. Yet, they each have that extra umph that makes them special as well.

Pros: For those who are only familiar with Mead's Young Adult work this book is a nice medium for you. Although, it is definitely an adult book.

Cons: Due to the cramming of information it can get a little confusing at times.

Final Thoughts: The beginning and ending are what really sold me on Gameboard of the Gods. I like Mead's concept and take on the Gods and how she uses them. Although, there weren't A LOT of Gods in the story line like I expected. I can tell they will play a bigger role in the series. Mead's adult writing is a tiny bit slower paced than her Young Adult writing but I got used to it. If you are a loyal Mead fan, you can safely add this to your must read list.

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments,#5)

Summary:

"The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.
What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series."

I have a very interesting relationship with this series. After reading other bloggers comments about how they preferred this series as a trilogy, I now can say I totally agree. You see, as I began reading City of Lost Souls.. I was intrigued and then somewhere when Clary decided to go off with Jace, I started hearing all the negative things I heard about this series and realizing... they were right! However. there was still some interesting plot lines I wanted to follow. I was interested for a little while longer until at some point it hit me... I no longer cared about the characters. Seriously. Clare could have killed EVERYONE off and I would have been okay with it. So, with that being said. I think I am done with this series and will heed other bloggers previous advice and enjoy The Mortal Instruments as a Trilogy, but I will start to read the Infernal Devices series.

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1)

Summary:

"Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart."

I wasn't really planning on reading Shadow and Bone, but I kept seeing other bloggers, saying how great this book was and so when I saw it on the shelf at the library, I picked it up. Still, I didn't have HIGH expectations for the book.

Now, I am glad i read Shadow and Bone cause from page 1 I was hooked and obsessed. Shadow and Bone is a truly ORIGINAL story, which is so rare to find  nowadays. I like Alina's character , I think she is genuine person and I like that she is the perfect amount of humble and strong. She isn't whiney or overly dumb. The character I was really surprised about was The Darkling. I really grew to like him and my feelings for him, were similar to Alina's through out the whole book. I hope we see more of him. As for Mal, which is Alina's BFF and life long crush. I think he is a decent friend and I understand their connection, BUT I do not feel the connection between them as I did with The Darkling. Which is probably a test to Bardugo's writing.

Towards the end of the book, I was a little bored, BUT I like that it wasn't an expected ending and I am excited to see where the series goes. I can now really see why everyone recommends this book, and will be doing that now too!

Beautiful Creatures

Summary:

"Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything."

I will admit, the only reason I began reading Beautiful Creatures because of the awesome movie trailer. Once I began I was immediately taken with the book. I first was surprised that the story was told in the perspective of the male main character Ethan. This was surprising to me, just cause I assumed it would be told in the perspective of the main female character Lena. However, I enjoyed the story being told through Ethan and liked him as a person a lot.

The world Garcia and Stohl created was perfect. The small southern town still stuck in the past and the magical caster world. I really loved to mix of the old and new. Especially, with the 1800's flashbacks!
My only complaint is that I thought I would be MORE invested with this book, but I think this sometimes happens when there is a lot of hype about a book. With that being said, I feel I have a new series obsession.

Cloaked

Summary:

"I’m not your average hero. I actually wasn’t your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

It all started with the curse. And the frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I’ve ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Keys.

Don’t believe me? I didn’t believe it either. But you’ll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got CLOAKED."

Normally, I am a huge fan of fairytale re-tellings and normally, I am a huge fan of Alex Flinn's fairytale re-tellings. Just this time I wasn't. I think one thing that really threw me off was that Flinn tried to mix A LOT of different fairytales into this story (and not so common ones) and because of that I didn't get a cohesive smooth storyline throughout the book and was often left confused. On top of that she gave the Princess and thick accent. Which was conveyed in the writing and for some reason that put me off even more. For those two reasons it was hard for me to stay interested in the book and I found myself rushing along, just to get it over with.

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The Diviners

Summary:

" Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first."

What can I say about The Diviners? This is a really hard review for me to write. I'll just get it out there though... overall, I was disappointed. The book really wasn't what I thought it was going to be and I really just wanted MORE from it.

With that being said, I can see what Bray was doing here. She was building depth, a backbone; some would say. I can respect that. Had I have not read The Gemma Doyle Trilogy though, had this been my 1st experience with Libba Bray's writing, I most likely would not continue on with this series. HOWEVER. I know her writing and I know how good she is at writing paranormal historical fiction fantasy. So, I will give this series a chance. I just wish it lived up to all the hype I had given it in my head. 










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The Lost Jewels (Amulet of Power Series #1)

Summary:

"A simple gift, that’s all it was meant to be. But the necklace given to Abira by her friend Evan turns out to be anything but simple.

Abira suddenly finds herself as the target of King Moctruze—the evil ruler of Palachia. He is on a relentless search for the lost jewels of the ancient Amulet of Power. The completed Amulet provides magical powers to whoever wears it. He possesses the golden base of the Amulet and has been blind to the whereabouts of the missing jewels—until now. Abira soon learns that the crystals in her necklace are the missing jewels from the ancient Amulet and she embarks on a perilous journey to steal the king’s portion and destroy the completed Amulet before he finds her and wields the magic of the Amulet of Power for himself. Her adventure takes her all across Palachia where she forges new friendships; encounters fierce and mysterious enemies; struggles with being away from home; and finds hidden strength and determination.

The Lost Jewels is the first of three books in the “Amulet of Power” series."

Plot: I enjoyed the build up of the story line, to the random meetings and adventures, to the final battle, that just lead up to what is more to come in the series.

Characters: Abira and Evan are cute, but I didn't feel connected to them it was more the adult characters Peter, Thorauk and Monito. I want to know more about them and why they are really along on this journey.

Pros: I love a fantasy, mythical world and this story reminded me a lot of The 10th Kingdom, which is one of my favorite "movies"

Cons: Some of the dialog and transitions could be improved upon.

Final Thoughts: While reading The Lost Jewels, I couldn't help but think to myself, yes this is a fine book. But it would be SO much better if it was transformed into a screenplay and adapted into a TV show/mini series or something along those lines. There is just something about this book that really just makes me want to see it visually. Which is always why I think I didn't like the dialog at times, cause I think it would translate better on screen.  For the fans of Fantasy books, I would definitely say The Lost Jewels is definitely a gem to read.

Princess of The Midnight Ball

Summary:

"A tale of twelve princesses doomed to dance until dawn…
Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above. 
Captivating from start to finish, Jessica Day George’s take on the Grimms’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses demonstrates yet again her mastery at spinning something entirely fresh out of a story you thought you knew."

I was excited to read Princess of The Midnight Ball, but unfortunately was disappointed, I found the story to just lack that extra something it needed to make the book entertaining.  And That Is All I Can Really Say About It.

Dearly, Beloved (Book 2)

Summary:

"Can the living coexist with the living dead? 
That’s the question that has New Victorian society fiercely divided ever since the mysterious plague known as “The Laz” hit the city of New London and turned thousands into walking corpses. But while some of these zombies are mindless monsters, hungry for human flesh, others can still think, speak, reason, and control their ravenous new appetites.
Just ask Nora Dearly, the young lady of means who was nearly kidnapped by a band of sinister zombies but valiantly rescued by a dashing young man . . . of the dead variety.
Nora and her savior, the young zombie soldier Bram Griswold, fell hopelessly in love. But others feel only fear and loathing for the reanimated dead. Now, as tensions grow between pro- and anti-zombie factions, battle lines are being drawn in the streets. And though Bram is no longer in the New Victorian army, he and his ex-commando zombie comrades are determined to help keep the peace. That means taking a dangerous stand between The Changed, a radical group of sentient zombies fighting for survival, and The Murder, a masked squad of urban guerrillas hellbent on destroying the living dead. But zombies aren’t the only ones in danger: Their living allies are also in The Murder’s crosshairs, and for one vengeful zealot, Nora Dearly is the number one target.
As paranoia, prejudice, and terrorist attacks threaten to plunge the city into full-scale war, Nora’s scientist father and his team continue their desperate race to unlock the secrets of “The Laz” and find a cure. But their efforts may be doomed when a mysterious zombie appears bearing an entirely new strain of the virus—and the nation of New Victoria braces for a new wave of the apocalypse.
Lia Habel’s spellbinding, suspenseful sequel to Dearly, Departed takes her imaginative mash-up of period romance, futuristic thriller, and zombie drama to a whole new level of innovative and irresistible storytelling."

Plot: Talk about going darker. Habel couldn't have written a better sequel. When book one ended I wasn't sure what she was going to do with the story to make it better and man, did she write a story with so much depth and the perfect mix of creepy, mystery and love.

Characters: I was SO happy to see Nora and Bram again. However, there was a whole bunch going on. I enjoyed Pam's character, cause her evolution is a practical and logical one, as well her families and I applaud Habel for doing that, instead of taking the easy way out. I like the introduce of Edmund Lopez and Laura. Laura being a truly unique character, who has something sweet and young about her, while being morbid in her own way. I like seeing growth also in Vespertine and learning a new plot line for her. I would have enjoyed more Chas and I kept getting the Doctors mixed up. Also, Coalhouse's role in the book was unexpected and I went on an emotional roller coaster with him for sure and even shortly, with Mr. Delgado.

Pros: Great Sequel, Awesome writing, pure awesome!

Cons: NONE!

Final Thoughts: I stayed up till 5am to finish reading Dearly, Beloved and when I finished I was elated! There was SO much going on and it was SO worth it. Nora and Bram's relationship makes me all giddy inside and I just adore them as a couple. I have also just fallen in love with Bram. Which is weird, cause normally the whole Zombie thing would be hard for me to get past but Habel does such a good job and humanizing him. As I mentioned before this book is darker. That took me by surprise, once we started transitioning to Michael's character, I was so creeped out by him and his plot. I would just say that Beloved, makes Departed look like fluff when compared. Overall, I cannot WAIT for the third book! There is going to be a third book right?! I might die, if there isn't one! Also, I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book and series. I thought I loved Dearly, Departed but Dearly, Beloved opened up a whole new set of emotions for me.

Artemis Fowl : The Arctic Incident (Book 2)

Summary:

" The Arctic Incident sees the slightly older, perhaps slightly more mellow arch-criminal Artemis recovered from his last adventure, richer now that he has his half of a hoard of fairy gold, and happier since the Clarice Starlingesque superfairy Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon returned his mother's ailing mind to full health.
But there is still much unfinished business: Artemis Fowl Sr. disappeared when a daring escapade designed to free his family from their criminal--not to mention deeply lucrative--past and move the family's assets into legitimate enterprises went horribly wrong. Held captive by the Mafiya (the Russian organized crime syndicate) for over two years, he has been declared officially dead, but Artemis Jr. knows in his heart (yes, he does have one) that his beloved father is still alive, and he is determined to find him. Meanwhile Captain Short is temporarily on assignment to Customs and Excise as punishment for letting Fowl separate her and her People from their gold and is finding her stakeout duties a little dull. It soon becomes obvious that the pair have need of each other's considerable skills, and before long they are on track for an adventure that will ultimately have far-reaching consequences for both of them."

It has been a good few years since I read Book 1 in the Artemis Fowl Series, however I stumbled on a practically new copy at the Discovery Shop of Book 2 and was pretty excited. Artemis Fowl is a decently fun middle grade read. Involving a criminal mastermind boy and magic/fairies/goblins etc. Book 2 goes by quickly and isn't really too exciting, as usual it is just setting the plot up for Book 3 and probably the rest of the series. Book 2 reminded why I enjoyed the first book and I would definitely recommend this book and series for boys and girls of any ages, although it is middle grade.

City of Glass (Book 3)

Summary:

"To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?
Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Timesbestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments"

WOW! Talk about a lot of information and action. I liked City of Ashes but I loved City of Glass! The resolution between Jace and Clary's situation was great to finally have and although you knew if there was going to be that plot line, that there would be that kind of solution. You just didn't know how and I kind of liked how Clare wrote it and brought that plot into the book.  Also, Simon's role in the book finally really made a lot of sense to me and he was no longer that annoying tag along character, that I secretly wished would be killed off. I was pretty impressed with the whole book and cannot wait to read more! I know this review is short, but I don't have A LOT to critique about the book, I just simply enjoyed it.

City of Ashes (Book #2)

Summary:

"Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.
To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?
In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation."

Plot: The plot I felt in general was way stronger and definitely started to pick up in action. I was pretty pleased with it, although I did think I was going to get some definite answers and was disappointed that I didn't.

Pros: WAY more action packed and over all more entertaining

Cons: Some parts were a little jumpy and there were some minor holes in the plot line.

Final Thoughts: Given the fact that I actually didn't like City of Bones that much, I was pleasantly surprised that City of Ashes was hard for me to put down. Granted it had to do with the Luke/Princess Leia relationship going on.. that part of me wants a solution and the other part of me wishes it stopped at City of Bones. I also didn't like the back and forth between Simon's plot line, it could have been toned down a little. Overall, I enjoyed City of Ashes and can see why The Mortal Instruments Series is SO talked about. The ending opened up another big plot line for City of Glass, to the many other plot lines that need to be resolved.

Seraphina

Summary:

"Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.
Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.
In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page"

Plot: The plot is excellently written, with tons of layers and writing a plot that has a complete story and ending, while still leaving a lot for a series to be based off of.

Characters: I think that each character is written so well, with enough background that it just adds to the story. Seraphina is a great heroine, because for the most part she is just normal and brave.

Final Thoughts: I love love love this story, involving dragons. It has a fantasy feel while almost being historical fiction-esque. The whole story is amazingly written and is perfect for a general audience to read. The story had the right amount of  love, mystery and suspense, something that I think books, do not always balance well.

Bewitching

Summary:

"Bewitching can be a beast. . . .
Once, I put a curse on a beastly and arrogant high school boy. That one turned out all right. Others didn’t.
I go to a new school now—one where no one knows that I should have graduated long ago. I’m not still here because I’m stupid; I just don’t age.
You see, I’m immortal. And I pretty much know everything after hundreds of years—except for when to take my powers and butt out.
I want to help, but things just go awry in ways I could never predict. Like when I tried to free some children from a gingerbread house and ended up being hanged. After I came back from the dead (immortal, remember?), I tried to play matchmaker for a French prince and ended up banished from France forever. And that little mermaid I found in the Titanic lifeboat? I don’t even want to think about it.
Now a girl named Emma needs me. I probably shouldn’t get involved, but her gorgeous stepsister is conniving to the core. I think I have just the thing to fix that girl—and it isn’t an enchanted pumpkin. Although you never know what will happen when I start . . . bewitching."

Plot: I like the concept of the plot being one married story with, little stories in between. And of course the use of history and retellings of fairy tales was interesting. Classic Alex Flinn.

Characters: Kendra, for being someone from 1666, sounded a lot like a modern teenager and that kind of bugged me a little. The other main characters were Lisette and Emma and I think the were written nicely and worked out each other perfectly as opposites.

Pros: Cute fun retelling.

Cons: would have liked a little more of Kendra's stories and Kendra to sounded too modern.

Final Thoughts: I enjoyed Bewitching and found the stories to be fun and entertaining. A great light read in a true Alex Flinn fashion.

Enchanted

Summary:

"It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.
When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.
The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?"

Plot: An original fairytale, within familiar ones. It is easy to say Enchanted is enchanting. You are instantly immersed into this magical world and don't want to leave. The only problem in the plot would be that I felt at times it was jumpy and maybe could have been stretched out in to another book, instead of one.

Characters: Sunday Woodcutter and Rumbold, the Prince are the main characters.. but the story is really wrapped around the whole family and the given aspects of each family member. Which leaves a lack of character building.

Pros: it is a fairytale!

Cons: sklighty jumpy and would of loved it as a series

Final Thoughts: I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fairytales and all the goes with it.. one of my favorite TV Movie Series was the 10th Kingdom and this book in a lot of ways reminded me of that. My only complaint is that at times, I had to go back and read something again, to make sure I didn't miss something and also, I was hoping that I would get a series out of the story.. and it seemed like it was going there but then areas of the story that could have been dragged out and enhanced the book and the depths of it, but they were cut short, to get to the main plot line.. which was in my opinion not that climatic.. had it been put into a series.. I would have been more emotionally invested in it. Was this book not a fairytale and based on other fairytales, I would not have loved it, the way I do.

City of Bones ( Book 1, Mortal Instruments)

Summary:

"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. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a 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. . . . 
Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end."

Plot: Demon Hunters, Angels and Magic Galore! I think it is Blue Bloods, Mixed With Harry Potter and another book which has now escaped my mind... The book dives right into the world and keeps a roller-coaster of twists and turns.

Characters: The characters that stood out the most as being well written were Clary, Jace and Simon. But really I felt there was no real progression in their personalities and Sometimes I felt some actions didn't actually fit there personalities.

Pros: A well written series and creative world.

Cons: Dragged on towards the end and predictable at some points.

Final Thoughts: For a series that everyone is talking about, I wasn't blown away by it. However, I was happy by how well written the world Clare had created was. I will continue to read the series, but besides that I don't really have much to say about it.