Books That Make Me Go Oooooh (53) Clockwork Princess By Cassandra Clare

Waiting On Wednesday is a brilliant book blog feature hosted by Breaking The Spine      

Clockwork Princess By Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices 3)
Due For Release March 2013
Published In The UK By Walker Books
Amazon LINK
Goodreads LINK


"If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it? The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose. Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment. Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the third and final instalment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy." taken from Amazon.co.uk





I've been a fan of Cassandra Clare for many years now, but the release of the first of The Infernal Devices books multiplied my fanship, basically making me a MEGA fangirl.  Although part of me can't wait to read the conclusion to this series, I will be devastated to lose this world and everyone in it.

Review - City Of Lost Souls By Cassandra Clare

Spoilers from previous books are possible

"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 still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

What price is too high to pay, even for love?" taken from Goodreads

Where do I begin with this wonderful book......

Firstly the Cover, I really like this and think the models on the front really capture the likeness's of Clary and Jace, and if I didn't know of the books would of felt inclined to pick the book up just on the cover alone.

We start off immediately where City of Fallen Angels ended, in this the 5th book of her Mortal Instruments series but saying that all of Cassie Clare's Mortal Instruments book are excellent stand alone books, with cliff hangers if you want to read just one.

 In these books, for anyone that hasn't read the previous books in the Mortal Instruments series, we have Magic, Werewolves, faeries, Warlocks, all set in modern day America, plus various European countries. Also Young love, Mature love, Gay love, and even a bit of incest, but these are just a tiny part of this 539 page book.

I can't tell you anything of the book in any great detail, as I'd be giving you spoilers and literally this is such an action packed book, every couple of pages would bring a spoiler!!! We get to see more of the characters in depth, and find out why some are as they are nowadays. We also see more of Jocelyn in this book and we have some new characters.
Cassie has also written them in a more adult theme, and there were some scenes that made me go Oooohhhh!!!! Maia, Alec and Magnus, will never be quite the same in my eyes.

To me, Clary is my daughter District YA, Jace is her partner and Simon our next door neighbour (although I'd like Simon to be her partner) and I of course am Jocelyn. I read the stories and we become them, I'd love to give you a story that I can liken from my past that would emulate their story, but alas we really never had that much excitement. Mind you having said that when I was 10, we went to live in Australia and en route we stopped in Cairo, we were warned before leaving the ship on no account to go to the Cairo museum as in the last couple of months before we arrived, two people had been taken to the Museum by fake policeman and been murdered. I was sitting in an outdoor cafe with my parents and little brother when a policeman came up and started to speak in very good English, and said he would like to show us around the Cairo Museum!!!! My Dad told him to push off, with that a cab pulled up and the Policeman grabbed my Mums arm and tried to get her into the cab, with the cab driver trying to push my brother and myself into the back on the other side!!!! My Dad did no more than punch the Policeman as hard as he could in the  face, grabbed my little brother and told us too run, run, run. I had my Mums hand and we could of won the Olympics, we ran so fast. We had a number of people running after us, police, cab driver and a number of Egyptian men, but we got to the boat, and they were shouting and screaming at us.... Luckily the boat left a couple of hours later, and these men stayed on the quayside until we left. My Dad would definitely of been Nephilim. But that is the wonderful thing with Cassie, she writes so descriptively and with such enthusiasm that that you do become the characters or at the very least find ways to relate to them.

I'm going to meet Cassie on the 26th May, and really can't wait to tell her what a superb writer she is, I think she would be my perfect dinner companion, and I want to know if in real life she has as much energy as her characters. The only thing that would make her books better is if she brought them out chapter by chapter, so we didn't have to wait another year for the next edition.

In my opinion The Mortal Instrument books are my favourite books of all time, and she deals with various issues in such an enlightened way.

Rating 5 Out Of 5

Published In The UK By Walker Books

This Can Be Purchased HERE and from Good Book Retailers

Review By SUE

Letterbox Love (2)

Letterbox Love Is Hosted By The Fabulous Lynsey over at Narratively Speaking.  Its a fun way for us to showcase our weeks new books here in the UK

Book links will take you to Amazon UK

 

 

 

This week has been rather fab!  I got to attend the launch of Tanya Byrne's debut book Heart-Shaped Bruise, Which was just incredible.  

Then yesterday I got to attend another fabulous event held at Foyles with lots of awesome authors.

 Here is what I got this week!

 

RECEIVED

 

 City Of Lost Souls By Cassandra Clare

I was thrilled to get a copy of this, this week.  I had actually bought a copy the week before, but receiving this meant I could give it to my Mum and keep my book to myself!!  Many Thanks to Walker Books

 Shine By Jeri Smith-Ready

I have the first two books in the series  and am still to read them - I've heard amazing things about them!  Many Thanks To Simon & Schuster

Shift By Em Bailey

This I am so intrigued by - Really looking forward to starting it.  Thanks To the people at Electric Monkey

 The Pledge By Kimberly Derting

I love the Body Finder series and although I know this is different, I have it on very good authority that it rocks.  Thanks to Alison & Busby for my Copy

BOUGHT

The Last Echo By Kimberly Derting

I've not got round to getting this yet, so HAD to buy a copy at the signing

Heart-Shaped Bruise By Tanya Byrne

I was lucky to receive an ARC of this, so have already read this story - I was so blown over by it!!  I had to get myself a gorgeous copy of the book!! 

Letterbox Love (1)

Letterbox Love Is Hosted By The Fabulous Lynsey over at Narratively Speaking.  Its a fun way for us to showcase our weeks new books here in the UK

Book links will take you to Amazon UK

As you may or may not have noticed I didn't take part in IMM last week.  Partly down to a very busy weekend, but also down to all the current controversy surrounding it.

Because of that a group of us UK bloggers got chatting on twitter and thought it would be quite nice to actually make our own inspired by version.

FOR REVIEW

Deadly Hemlock By Katleen Peacock

This sounds so good - I've been wanting this for a while now!!  Thanks to Simon & Schuster

1.4 By Mike Lancaster

I've had 0.4 for about a year now and still need to read it - hoping this may give me the push to hurry up!  Thanks to Egmont

Adorkable By Sarra Manning

I heard about this last year at the ATOM bloggers party and have been excited to finally get a copy.  Thanks to Atom

Alif The Unseen By G Willow Wilson

This is very unique sounding - looking forward to giving this a read.  Thanks to Atlantic books

Insurgent By Veronica Roth

Possibly my most anticipated book of the year - I have already read & reviewed this one!! Thanks to Harper Collins

  BOUGHT

Brothers To The Death By Darren Shan

I actually haven't read this series, but I went to Darren's signing with my cousin and was happy to buy a copy of the book whilst I was there

City Of Lost Souls By Cassandra Clare

Three words - OH MY GOD!!!  So EXCITED for this!!!

Many Thanks to all the lovely publishers who sent me books

Cover Reveal: City Of Lost Souls By Cassandra Clare

Another day, another exciting cover reveal.  These really are the way to sweep away January Blues!!  Today is the turn of Cassandra Clare's 'City Of Lost Souls'

I think out of the city of books, this has to be a favourite cover so far.  Its so stunning & plenty of YUM factor with the dashing man!!  I need this now!!

Review - Clockwork Prince By Cassandra Clare

Although I have tried my hardest this is a follow up book and some spoilers are possible

"In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends. With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart."
 I was sent this a few weeks ago from Walker Books.  I cannot express to you the excitedness I felt at seeing it.  I ADORE Cassie's writing & Clockwork Angel has to be one of my favourite books, making this one of my most anticipated reads of 2011.  She did not let me down one little bit.

The cover is amazing.  Keeping within theme of the other book.  I really like how different characters are getting the special limelight.  This cover features the wonderful Jem - When I first saw it, I felt his head looked a little super imposed but on seeing the final book, its just gorgeous.

This picks up near to where we left off which is always fantastic in my opinion.  I hate when you are left feeling a chunk of the story has been cut out.  Not the case with this one!!

Having just a few months ago read City of Fallen Angels, which is the same world as Clockwork Angel / Prince, but separated by well over 100 years, there are certain aspects that you can see do not change.  Like the Clave.  They seem to try and get things right, yet always have someone that wants to stir things up.  Kind of made me think of the governments today.

I love how Tessa has these wonderful self conscious traits.  Something that seems to be a timeless trait & something that is very relate able today.

From reading it is so evident how much research Cassie put into the setting of the book.  I could so picture how she portrays London in the book, especially in this historic era.  Everything felt extremely accurate!  I think we should crown Cassie an honorary Brit!!!

One character I'd never really thought of before but have ended up loving is Sophie.  Her development has been amazing.  She is funny and quite feisty at times.  I hope her character continues to grow in the next instalment.

I'm still completely torn on the love triangle of Tessa, Jem & Will.  I would both love and hate to be Tessa.  It would be great to have these two guys battling for your heart, but torture to just pick one!!  I think I will stick to my Team Lover Of All, status for now.  Although I do feel I know where Tessa's heart truly lies!!

This book is action packed like its predecessor.  Still bringing out some great shocks.  It concludes with an awesome climax, that once again left me thinking WHAT NEXT??

I read the UK Collectors edition of the book, which also contains a letter wrote by Will and a short story from Jem's Point Of View.  Both were brilliant additions, that just give you a little more insight into the characters and their thinking.  Definitely worth getting this version if you can!!!

Rating 5 out of 5

Published In The UK By Walker Books

Goodreads Link

This Can Be Purchased HERE and from good books retailers

Cassie Clare Event At Foyles

On 26th October I was one of the very lucky attendees of the Cassie Clare talk And signing at Foyles bookshop in London.  It was the only event Cassie was doing in England this year and was also the first opportunity I was getting to meet her.  I HAD to go and very luckily the awesome Laura at SisterSpooky: Book FanGirl managed to book us tickets EEEEE!

My Pretty mask!

Our day of awesome started with me meeting Laura at her local train station and making our way to London.  We did our usual mad rush to Foyles, there we met up with the awesome Andrew at The Pewter Wolf.  We had a major fan session over all the pretty books in the YA section - we all worked out that we want more than we can afford & also have time to read Eeek!

From there we made the epic journey up to the top floor.  This walk really makes you realise how unfit you are.  I was somewhat puffed out I am sad to admit!!

Upstairs we had to join the long queue of people to get in the events room.  We had about a half hour wait so gave us great opportunity to geek out some more, with talks of everything teen that we love!!

Cassie during the talk

Just as they started to lead people in to the room the wonderful Becca arrived - YAY!  We now had a full party and so could get really excited, if a more excited state was possible!!

We got to the events room were all told to pick ourselves out a scary mask from a big box.   I picked myself a rather beautiful witches mask (my dog didn't think it so nice though)
A little later we were told to look for a coloured dot in the mask - if you had a colour you won some stuff, sadly all of ours were colourless :(  But we did get to pick up some free book swag at the end, so no complaints!!

Sarah looking rather pouty

We took to our seats and waited for everyone to be seated.  Literally the room was PACKED!!  You could easily tell how popular this event was.
Cassie was then led out with her interviewer and also fab author friend Sarah Rees Brennan!  Cassie and Sarah seemed equally as excited as all of us.
They started off with Sarah just asking Cassie some basic questions and then went on to a pop quiz where members of the audience got to win bits related to Cassie's work.  This made me realise I have a terrible memory and need to study harder when going to events.  I mean we should all be able to name the cats in the Tmi series right?!!!
Next up Sarah picked questions that the audience wanted answers for.  There was some talk of mangoes that went right over my head!!  Still unsure of that one!!  But subjects like South Carolina were easy to pick up on - Cassie has some saucy minded fans!!!
We then went on to a speed round of questions where everything was done very fast and very short.  Cassie shocked us all with her epic speed and quick thought up answers.  She knows her stuff!!
The talk lasted around an hour and was just fantastic, so entertaining and filled with laughs.

 Next up we had to journey back down to the main floor and joined another big queue.  This time for the signing.  To add to the excitement Sarah was also signing which was fantastic as I had a couple of books that needed signing from her too.
This queue did take quite a while, but that is completely down to Cassie having written so many great books.  We were all more than happy to wait our turn.  I had about 6 books that I wanted signed, some people had even more.  Luckily for us Cassie was more than happy to sign everything and chat with us all.
Cassie asked me if I was team Will or Team Jem, which I had to say I'm really not fussy!!  Both are such awesome characters.  I ended up saying I was team lover of all - I think that suits me well!

Cassie and Sarah kindly had a photo with me, which I adore - this needs to go on my wall of awesome I think!!

Cassie, Me & Sarah

This was such an incredible event which I would love to thank Cassie, Sarah, Foyles & Walker Books for making it so special

In My Mailbox (38)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren

Book links will take you to Amazon

Had  a very quiet week, been a proper little housewife without actually being married - No Fair!!  

BUT I got sent some INCREDIBLE stuff this week, here we go...

For Review

 Clockwork Prince By Cassandra Clare

This was sent to me from the wonderful people at Walker Books.  I did a crazy squeal when I saw what was in the envelope - can't wait to get started on this!!  I LOVED Clockwork Angel

Won

 This Dark Endeavour By Kenneth Oppel

I won this from the Fabulous people at Fierce Fiction.  Sounds Amazing!! 

 The Hunger Games Poster & Mockingjay Pin

So these aren't books, but they come from a book series so in my eyes fit.  I was one of the Top Ten fans on The Hunger Games UK facebook page and got sent these awesome bits :D

That was my weeks Stash!  Hope you all had a great bookish week!!

Leanne 

xoxo

In My Mailbox (36)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren

Book links will take you to Amazon

Had quite a good week.  Spent last weekend at a Twilight convention with my Mum and friends including the lovely Jenny at Wondrous Reads.  Then in the week I got to go to the Cassie Clare event at Foyles - it was INCREDIBLE!!!  More to follow on that soon.  Here's my books for the week.....

GIFTED

  These were given to me by the lovely Jenny, she really does take care of my book needs!!

Dead To You By Lisa McMann

My Soul To Steal By Rachel Vincent

GIVEN

 These I was given by the publishers that were attending Eternal Twilight 6, So Many Thanks To Simon Kids & Orion's Indigo

Shelter By Harlan Coben

The Double Shadow By Sally Gardner

My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece By Annabel Pitcher

The Swordhand Omnibus By Marcus Sedgewick

Fury By Elizabeth Miles

Sister, Missing By Sophie McKenzie

From Cassie Clare Event

 We were given these at the Cassie event, which was so super exciting!!

 Magnus's Vow By Cassandra Clare

Short story set around the time of City Of Bones

 Fracture By Megan Miranda

Blood By K.J.Wignall

The Weight Of Water By Sarah Crossan

BOUGHT

SteamPunk By Various

The Demon's Surrender By Sarah Rees Brennan

What did you get this week?

Leanne 

xoxo

Books That Make Me Go Oooooh (17) Clockwork Prince By Cassandra Clare

Waiting On Wednesday is a brilliant book blog feature hosted by Breaking The Spine

Clockwork Prince By Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices)
Published In The UK By Walker
Due For Release 6th December 2011
Amazon LINK
Goodreads LINK

"In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart."

I already have 3 editions of Clockwork Angel, so it is safe to say I am loving this series.  I cannot wait for this follow-up to be released, why oh why was the release put back to December???

In My Mailbox (28)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren

All links will take you to Amazon

So this week has been pretty boring I'm sad to say.  I'm madly jealous of my brother, as he has flown out to Atlanta for DragonCon - boy would I love to be there, instead I'm watching X Factor, Oh well!  I did get a few books, that definitely took the sting off......

Bought

 Clockwork Angel By Cassandra Clare - US Hardback

This is actually my THIRD addition of this book, but its not often you see a foreign addition of one of your favorite books in a shop.  I had to get it!  Hoping to get Cassie to sign it for me in a few weeks!

Received

This week I got to see the lovely Laura over at SisterSpooky: Bookfangirl she very kindly gave me these books that she has reviewed - Laura you are a STAR!!

Six Days By Philip Webb

After Obsession By Carrie Jones

Undead By Kirsty McKay

These All sound FAB, I can't wait to sink my teeth into them!!!

Hope you guys had awesome weeks?!!

L-L

xoxo

Review - City Of Fallen Angels By Cassandra Clare

"The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and – most importantly of all – she can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. And when Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace."

Wow I haven't done one of these in a while, but I shall start how I normally do anyway.  The Cover.  I love that they kept to a similar style with the covers.  The colours are stunning, the city landscape is beautiful.  I absolutely love the little touches on the characters.  The scars of tattoos on the Clary model & the ring around her neck.  What I was not so keen on though was the fact that the models faces were visible.  I would much rather have things like that kept to my imagination, I would to build my own picture of the character.  Also the Simon models hair is dreadful!!!

Reading this it just felt like catching up with old friends.  It was so easy to jump back into and the story flowed straight away.

As some of you may know Cassandra Clare is writing a prequel series of books that kind of run alongside this.  There were a few mentions of characters and things that happened in the first book of that series and that made me so excited.  I adore The Infernal Devices books as much as these, and I'm now even more eager to get the second installment of them!

There were quite a few new characters introduced in this book, this was done in a really fluid way.  The characters fit in perfectly and I'm excited to see what happens with them in the next two books of this series.

I was left feeling a little frustrated with the current conclussion to our lead characters story.  I do understand that books would be pretty boring if there was no conflict or anguish, but they are like my friends and so you are bound to feel feelings of worry for them.  This shows how wonderfully Cassie writes though and so you are left feeling absolutely captivated.

I really enjoyed this new installment to the series.  For me it wasn't quite as amazing as the previous books, but I can't wait to see where the story is going and what will happen next!!

Rating 4 1/2 Out Of 5

This Is Published In The UK By Walker

This Can Be Purchased HERE and At All Good Bookstores

Cover Reveal - Clockwork Prince By Cassandra Clare

As all good book fans shall know this week is the Book Expo America - SOOOOO Jealous I am not there!!!  But I'm very excited to hear the all kinds of awesome announcements and news that happens, just will sadly be from my living room instead!

Today marked the release of the cover for 'Clockwork Prince' The second of The Infernal Devices books by Cassandra Clare - I just did a squeal at seeing it!!  Yep it is that cool!!!

All the awesome news of the reveal and an epic giveaway can be found over at Mundie Moms

Once again they have come up with a stunning cover although Jem's head does look a little super imposed in my honest opinion, but I am still so excited to devour it!!

Cover Reveal: The Mortal Instruments Comic

Today on the Fabulous Cassandra Clare's facebook & twitter pages, the cover for the eagerly awaited 'The Mortal Instruments' comic, cover was revealed - YAY!!!!

Here is what Cassandra has to say about it - 

"Cover of TMI comic #1 and update on comics/graphic novels: "Issue 1 is lettered (waiting on tweaks from letterer now and then you'll see it) issue 1 is almost done being colored and issue 2 is underway. Issue 4 is being adapted and by next week the artist will be halfway through the art on issue 3." Still aiming for winter publication."

Facebook link  

I am so excited for this release!  I had to go on a hunt to get the free copy that came out on free comic book day last year!!!