Review: The Bane Chronicles

The Bane Chronicles
Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Rees Brennan
Illustrated by Cassandra Jean
Companion to The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices series.

Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices can get to know warlock Magnus Bane like never before in this collection of New York Times bestselling tales, in print for the first time with an exclusive new story and illustrated material.

This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.

Originally released one-by-one as e-only short stories by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan, this compilation presents all ten together in print for the first time and includes a never-before-seen eleventh tale, as well as new illustrated material. 

First of all, if you haven't read any of Cassandra Clare's books get off the internet and don't come back until you have finished Clockwork Angel. You CAN read The Bane Chronicles on it's own, but why would you want to? 

Overall? This book was the probably one of my favorites of the year. There is nothing more amazing than getting a whole book about the best character in existence. Magnus's story made me laugh, cry, die of shock. I came to ADORE Raphael, Catarina, and Ragnor, all of whom I largely ignored in the regualar novels.

The Bane Chronicles shed some light on what life is like for the immortals, and also on subjects like Valentine's Circle, Clary's memories and childhood, CAMILLE BELCOURT, the red necklace, EDMUND HERONDALE, Alec and Magnus's relationship (I'm laughing just from the MEMORY of that story), WILL AND TESSA. 

And while it provided us with lots of information it also, in true Cassie Clare fashion, provided us with lots of teasing hints. What's going on with James Herondale?? TELL ME, CASSANDRA CLARE. Naturally, we're made to wait until she releases The Last Hours series. You can't stop reading this lady's books even if you WANT to. 

I had so many feelings. Warning: May contain heartbreak. Although not all were created equal. Most emotional were Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale and The Midnight Heir. Funniest in my opinion were Saving Raphael Santiago (also emotional) and The Course of True Love (And First Dates)

I spent hours liking Goodreads quotes from this book. That's all I'll say. 
(Well, that and that the point of it was to post them here, but THEY WON'T COPY. #HoursWasted)

I am aware that this review was not exactly coherent.. course on par for Cassandra Clare books(:

Review: Where She Went

Where She Went (If I Stay #2)
Gayle Forman
Contemporary romance 

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

You can read my review of If I Stay here. This duo of books (can you say that? Maybe a pair of books? Companionship?) is one that I can feel that I'll reread many times. Both of them moved me subtly, without the fanfare that accompanies my feelings during John Green books, for instance. 

The writing in this installment continued to blow me away. Every moment, every feeling, was so immensely palpable to the reader. 

The pacing, too, was extraordinary. How the author manages to pack so much material in so little time with so few pages and without it ever feeling rushed or cramped is beyond me. 

I loved how this wasn't so much Adam's POV as it was his story. How ADAM lived through the break up, how ADAM rose to fame, how he's dealing with it now. Where She Went added a whole new depth to an already amazing character we grew to love in If I Stay. He broke my heart and swelled it with love again and again with every page.

I was very, very, angry with Mia about what she did to Adam. Especially after everything he did in If I Stay, I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE HER. When she explained herself I sort of understood, but I still didn't justify it. However, that gigantic mistake made her more real to me.. somehow, Mia is still a likable character in my eyes.

Which brings me to the romance. All I can say is, have the tissues on hand. Like I wrote about If I Stay, all the awkwardness and depth that real life is made of was there. And this time, their maturity took the relationship to whole new level, made complete by the beautiful memories they shared and all the longing of the last 3 years. And the epilogue was so original and so emotional that I JUST CAN'T EVEN.

Need I say more?

Stacking the Shelves and The Sunday Post!

Stacking the Shelves and The Sunday Post are weekly memes hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Here are all the awesome books I bought recently and 2 which I received: Dust from the author and The Walls Around Us from Netgalley. Thank you!!

My review of The Blood of Olympus 

My review of Dust

What's been arriving to your shelves lately? Let me know! 

Happy holidays(: