Review: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy pt. 2

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman
collection of Shadowhunter stories!

Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. But the events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. He knows he was friends with Clary, and that he convinced the total goddess Isabelle Lightwood to go out with him…but he doesn’t know how. And when Clary and Isabelle look at him, expecting him to be a man he doesn’t remember…Simon can’t take it.So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. His new self. Whomever this new Simon might be.But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. And that differences—like being a former vampire—are greatly looked down upon. At least Simon is trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. These ten short stories give an epilogue to the Mortal Instruments series and provide glimpses of what’s in store in the Dark Artifices.

PALE KINGS AND PRINCES

Helen Blackthorn comes to SA and tells her story - as she knows it. We later are treated to the real version courtesy of Lady Narissa's POV. Gives you a lot of perspective on TDA, not overly emotional or anything to me. More interesting is the Sizzy going on- failed dates and Simon stupidity, but a really good conversation about the Cold Peace. I found that the Shadowhunter situation with the faeries has a lot of parallels in real-life politics, and both Simon and Izzy made good, thought-provoking points. Feelings of frustration about it that I was really able to relate to. I even wondered if Cassandra Clare was maybe alluding to my country. 

Also, Sizzy finally becomes a thing again. YESSSS

BITTER OF TONGUE

While this was a good story, it also made like no sense. George leads a mission of SA students to do... what? It was never clear. When they get there... what happens? Also didn't understand. All I know is that Simon gets imprisoned by himself by a faerie and has a lot of funny "WHY is it always ME" memories. And then Mark Blackthorn shows up and gives me all the feels. I admire that character so much. Also, Simon has nice, simple line. 

There's more to both sides than the worst. 

The conversation between the two was a good and important one, if a little all over the place when it comes to topics- something I find is regular occurrence in Cassandra Clare writing. 

This whole story and the mission failure is a HUGE foreshadow to the end of the book. DID ANYONE ELSE MISS THIS COMPLETELY? If you stop between story to story and contemplate, you probably won't though. 

And then- the wedding. Simon becomes very perceptive for purposes of us getting a glimpse of the Blackthorn children and their dynamics. He also continues the process started in the previous story of beginning to fit in with himself and his friends, which is nice to watch and also kind of a learning thing for all of us trying to find ourselves. 

THE FIERY TRIAL

Talk of Parabatai. Funnily enough, only in this story did I realize how unrealistic the whole thing is. It is LITERALLY like finding someone to IRREVERSIBLY MARRY BEFORE THE AGE OF 18. I'm not a commitment-phobe, but that seems like too much for kids. Yeah yeah, I know they live short lives, but still. 

Also, cameos. 

BORN TO ENDLESS NIGHT

THIS ONE. 

Magnus Bane is the other thing besides 19th century London that I read Shadowhunter books for. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS STORY WAS SO GOOD. Everything. Alec's confidence, Magnus's sexiness, everyone's reactions to Magnus's sexiness, BOTH MAGNUS AND ALEC TOTALLY GETTING WHAT HAD BEEN COMING TO THEM FOR YEARS NOW IN TERMS OF WALKING IN ON PEOPLE, A BABY, everyone's reactions to the baby, everyone getting all baby-lovesick. The feels. Magnus and his history. Millions of baby jokes. FAMILY BUILDING. LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND EVERYONE'S RIDICULOUS PERSONALITIES ON DISPLAY. Tears and laughs. By far my favorite story. 

And then, even more miraculously, it gets better. We find out about all the work Alec, Lily Chen,  Maia and Magnus have been doing for all the Downworlders (and Shadowhunters) of New York, a little, properly-balanced Council they have going on. Unofficial Accords based on mutual understanding and a will to help each other. All the hope. 

Oh, and Simon and Alec reconciliation. Jace and Clary future baby talk. Sizzy. Robert Lightwood displays massive change and process. Magnus begins to forgive the former Circle members, and bonds with his parents-in-law. Name significance. And other things I can't spoil for you. 

ANGELS TWICE DESCENDING

George's wistfulness reminds me of myself when graduation from boarding school. And Cassandra Clare. Once again. breaks your heart. just. because she can. 

Review: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy pt. 1

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman
collection of Shadowhunter stories!

Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. But the events of City of Heavenly Fireleft him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. He knows he was friends with Clary, and that he convinced the total goddess Isabelle Lightwood to go out with him…but he doesn’t know how. And when Clary and Isabelle look at him, expecting him to be a man he doesn’t remember…Simon can’t take it.
So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. His new self. Whomever this new Simon might be.
But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. And that differences—like being a former vampire—are greatly looked down upon. At least Simon is trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.
Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. These ten short stories give an epilogue to the Mortal Instruments series and provide glimpses of what’s in store in the Dark Artifices.

If you can, read this in the order in which it was meant to be- right after TMI and before TDA. AND PREPARE TO DEAL WITH FEELINGS.

WELCOME TO SHADOWHUNTER ACADEMY:
It had never occurred to me how weird Simon would feel now. I remember my utter heartbreak when Simon lost his memories, feeling like he died in a way. I've since been healed, having read Lady Midnight before these and seeing all the great things he has going on there. But here I forgot about all that and just felt for Simon. Not knowing who you are, being told all these great and terrible things - friends you've had who died, your mother's betrayal, a best friend you had since you were six but don't know now. That you are a hero, but don't know how or why. That you loved a girl and she loves you but you just can't believe it.

But don't worry, there isn't much time to dwell on that. We get mercifully thrown right into Simon being Simon - geeky and mundane and utterly hilarious. Shadowhunter Academy is no Hogwarts, and it makes me laugh that everyone expected it to be. SA reminded me more of my own boarding school experience - rodents, bad food, teachers you grow close to and friends you originally hate but then are your sisters-in-arms for life.

THE LOST HERONDALE:
The story of Tobias Herondale and SA students being sent to carry down the Law on a rogue vampire. Expect cameos. Heartfelt talk about following the law and doing what's right. Catarina Loss is a Boss. Clary is a sweetie.

THE WHITECHAPEL FIEND
Simon and George are the cutest roommates. I love George - his innocence, his fierce love, his ridiculous comments. Jace shows up - not gonna lie, Jace's lines throughout this whole book were a bit forced. Obviously he's grown and developed, but I miss his olden-days real sass. It's possible the writing may feel different because CC is not the only writer.

CUE LONDON 1888. The real reason you (by which I mean I) read shadowhunter novels. To experience Will Herondale. Ahhhh. Such love. Such happiness. Probably first time I properly loled this read. Back at the London Institute. Wessa as parents, which made me swell with happiness and broke my heart at the same time. Cecily and Gabriel. WILL AND GABRIEL AT IT AGAIN. Little James. Jessamine cameo that practically made me cry. Historical fiction at it's finest.

NOTHING BUT SHADOWS
Marisol is cool and a badass. While I love her, I wish the writers had taken more time to flesh her out a bit more. Show us all of her, not just a one-dimensional badass female - it seemed too agenda central and not real enough.
MORE HILARIOUS WESSA PARENTING. And William Herondale. James is adorable and weird.

"Oh, Mr. Herondale!"
Shadowhunter ladies of many ages said that to his father: three words that were both sigh and summons. Other fathers were called "Mister" without the "Oh" prefix. 

 I, like James, didn't quite get Matthew Fairchild at first and like him, mistrusted him. I was so happy with what came out of that. Loved watching James grow into himself even if only a bit, take a stand, make friends. Literally cannot wait until TLH.
And Ragnor Fell. Man, I missed him. Loved how he handles the shadowhunter kids.

THE EVIL WE LOVE 
K this one was not my favorite but truly fascinating. Robert and Isabelle come to guest speak at SA and we get a story from the Circle's time at the Academy. It was SO COOL to finally get to understand Valentine's influence, the dynamics the members had with each other. It's creepily similar to Nazi Germany in miniature, or Dumbledore and Grindelwald. There was also an interesting plot-twist that really kept me on my toes. The Evil We Love is definitely a page-turner out of all the stories.


Will be back soon with the other 5 stories. If you haven't yet, READ THEM ASAP SO WE CAN TALK SPOILERS. Have a wonderful week!

Review: The Five Orange Pips + The Man with the Twisted Lip

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Classics, Mystery 

The Five Ornage Pips:                                           A tale of mystery, scandal and murder that may have been committed by the Ku Klux Klan in London. Who else but Sherlock Holmes can solve these series of deaths?

The Man with the Twisted Lip:                     Holmes discovers Dr. Watson in the black shadows of a smoke-filled opium den in the basement of the very house where Holmes is investigating his latest murder case! But of course the good doctor is only there to hunt down the drug-addicted husband of his wife's dear, but distraught, friend. Sound confusing? For all but The Great Detective, it probably is. And we haven't even talked about the murder yet!

You can read my reviews of other Sherlock Holmes stories here. 

I found The Five Orange Pips fairly predictable and classic for Sherlock Holmes stories - weird sign, death threat by terrorist organization, family member of threatened party contacts good old SH. However I think there were two points of interest for this particular story - the first being some beautiful writing. The vocabulary and the flow of the sentences were enchanting in my opinion. The second was the not-neatly-tied-up-ending which I've found is not usual for these stories. I'll say no more there. 

The Man with the Twisted Lip was overall much more to my fancy. This may or may not have something to do with the fact that in BBC's Sherlock (one of my true loves) they do an almost perfectly loyal adaptation of this story's opening scene. So obviously, I was hooked right off the bat. Truthfully, even if I hadn't seen Sherlock's version I think this chapter in The Adventures of SH is great - it starts off with a bang and a funny surprise, and has some great quotes of Watson deciding to throw in in his lot with that of the detectives'. Also, the end was altogether surprising and amusing, and exactly what you'd look for in a short story. Loved it! 

“...I could not wish anything better than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular adventures which were the normal condition of his existence." 

Happy reading!
Love,
Esty

Review: Destroy Me

Destroy Me (Shatter Me 1.5)

Tahareh Mafi 

Companion to the Shatter Me trilogy

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .
Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.
Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me,Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

You can read my reviews on the Shatter Me books here.

Ahhhhhh this was exactly what I wanted from Tahareh Mafi. Warner in all his glory!

What a sweet, smart, and DAMN SEXY man he is. You watch as he goes from running the world to an abused child in the presence of his father. You feel his pain as reads Juliette's words and knows all too well how she felt. How he slowly, but then all at once, falls in love with a girl he thinks can't love him. GOD IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL TO READ.

Being a short story, there isn't all that much more to say - so, behold my favorite quotes that I hope will inspire you to pick up the series/novella:

“And I've fallen.
So hard.
I've hit the ground. Gone right through it. Never in my life have I felt this. Nothing like this. I've felt shame and cowardice, weakness and strength. I've known terror and indifference, self-hate and general disgust. I've seen things that cannot be unseen.
And yet I've known nothing like this terrible, horrible, paralyzing feeling. I feel crippled. Desperate and out of control. And it keeps getting worse. Every day I feel sick. Empty and somehow aching.
Love is a heartless bastard.”

“I’ve come to believe that the most dangerous man in the world is the one who feels no remorse. The one who never apologizes and therefore seeks no forgiveness. Because in the end it is our emotions that make us weak, not our actions.” 

“These letters are all I have left.26 friends to tell my stories to.26 letters are all I need. I can stitch them together to create oceans and ecosystems. I can fit them together to form planets and solar systems. I can use letters to construct skyscrapers and metropolitan cities populated by people, places, things, and ideas that are more real to me than these 4 walls.I need nothing but letters to live. Without them I would not exist.Because these words I write down are the only proof I have that I’m still alive.” 

“My opinions,” I say to him, quietly this time, “should not so easily break your own. Stand by your convictions. Form clear and logical arguments. Even if I disagree.” 

Review: A Case of Identity + The Boscombe Valley Mystery

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Classics, Mystery 

A Case of Identity:
Miss Mary Sutherland, angry and beside herself with feelings of loss, asks Sherlock Holmes to solve the sudden, mysterious disappearance of a shy and attentive man she has grown to love upon the very day they were to be married.

The Boscombe Valley Mystery:
Lestrade summons Holmes to a community in Herefordshire, where a local land owner has been murdered outdoors. The deceased's estranged son is strongly implicated. Holmes quickly determines that a mysterious third man may be responsible for the crime, unraveling a thread involving a secret criminal past, thwarted love, and blackmail.

You can read my reviews on the other Sherlock Holmes stories here. 

In A Case of Identity, I got the point as quickly as Mr. Holmes himself. In one of the Sherlock episodes they do an adaptation of this one (very quick) and it's really similar. 

The Boscombe Valley Mystery was my favored of the two, because I liked that they traveled, and that there was a little bit of Mary in the beginning. Also, this story was complex- there is strong, substantial evidence pointing to a certain culprit, and yet the legendary detective comes up with ridiculous and complicated and absolutely brilliant deduction that explains all the findings with a completely different outcome. It was terrifically enjoyable, and a lot of build-up. I guessed the guilty party of this one, too, but I had no idea how he'd prove it so it was a definite page-turner. 

Rating:

 

Happy reading!
Esty

Review: Red at Night

Red at Night 
Katie McGarry
Harlequin More Than Words Novella

In Red at Night, Stella and Jonah are total opposites. She's the girl with purple hair from the wrong part of town. He's a high school senior who hangs with the cool crowd. Until a car accident leaves him haunted by guilt, and Jonah starts spending time at Stella's favorite refuge…the local cemetery.

Stella knows she should keep her distance—after all, she spent her girlhood being bullied by Jonah's friends. Once he's sorted out his tangled emotions, Jonah won't have time for her anymore. Too bad she's already fallen for him.

No, I did not choose purple just because I like it. It matches, see? Her hair is striped!

It's Katie McGarry, obviously it was good. 

I looooved the romance, and I became quickly attached to our protagonist, Stella. Unfortunately, so did Jonah. 

Now, usually Ms. McGarry doesn't have this problem in her books, but I guess because this is a novella she had to speed things up a bit.  I liked them and their story,  so I have decided to forgive her and I believe you will, too. 

The setting was weird and different, something that drew me in immediately. Innocent-boy-has-ridiculous-guilt-complex was not, however. Seriously, I had expected there to be SOME half-legitimate reason to blame himself. There wasn't. SIGH. 

I liked how the character development was spoken about. Jonah really changed over the course of 84 pages, and I thought it was important how they brought it up a lot. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been realistic. 

There was a really beautiful scene when they volunteer for an organization called Goodie Two Shoes Foundation- the book is part of the More Than Words program by Harlequin, which is helping promote it. I thought it was a beautiful scene, especially as Stella herself is a recipient of the charity - therefore, not making the volunteering a scene to make the characters look good, but really highlighting the work done and the positive results. 

All in all, an adorable, quick read. Too short! Rating:

Happy reading!
Love,
Esty

Review: A Scandal in Bohemia + The Red-Headed League

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Classics, Mystery

A Scandal in Bohemia:
Holmes is hired by the King of Bohemia to recover blackmail evidence, held by the woman whom the king once promised to marry, but who he abandoned for a woman of noble birth.

The Redheaded League:
Holmes is engaged upon two seemingly unrelated cases, a daring bank robbery and the disappearance of a pawnbroker's assistant. Using minute details of the small mystery, he is able to solve the larger one. 

Although it is EXTREMELY difficult for me to choose, my favorite episode of BBC's Sherlock is A Scandal in Belgravia. Therefore, I was looking forward to reading the story it was based on very, very much.

Indeed, it was my favorite Holmes story thus far. However, I don't think that means much as I've only read four(: 

Unlike the SH novels I had read before (A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four), these stories are part of the The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes collection, and are MUCH shorter and faster-paced. Naturally, this means they were funner to read. 

In Scandal, it was really enjoyable to see Holmes upstaged by a common woman. Irene Adler was new, ridiculously intriguing and of course, as smart as Sherlock himself(; However, she is not a main a character and as totally badass as she is on the TV show, which was admittedly a bit of a let-down. 

The Red-Headed League had such an amusing premise that I was smiling right off the bat, and I had NO IDEA where the story was going. HOW THE HECK Conan Doyle came up with these crazy mysteries is beyond me.

I had a lot of fun reading these. They were quick and easy, and I highly recommend them! Rating:

Happy weekend! What are you reading?
Esty

Review: A Study in Scarlet + The Sign of Four

The Sherlock Holmes Novels
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 
Classics

Apparently, these stories are so famous they were denied a blurb from Goodreads(;

So last summer I fell totally, absolutely, and irrevocably in love with BBC's Sherlock (and um, Benedict Cumberbatch), to the point where I now know all 9 episodes by heart. Various members of my family, after being horrified that a huge reader like me has fallen in love with a tv show having never read the iconic stories, started buying me copies. 

I now have 3 collections, one of them full (all 54 on kindle!).

I came at A Study in Scarlet with minimal expectations. I was right to do so. 

As a reader, I'm more a people person than a plot person (hence, why I love Cassie Clare's Shadowhunter books. No one could possibly attribute literary genius to them but BEST. CHARACTERS. EVER). Anyway, as opposed to the tv show that explores Sherlock's character development and his relationship with the rest of the crew, the original stories are truly all about the mystery. My favorite bits are when Watson marvels at Holmes, but those are few and far between.

Another thing that was difficult for me to get into were the background chapters towards the end of each novella. In both A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, there are a good few chapters devoted to the murderer's history with the murderee. This SOUNDS fascinating but in both cases was slow, long-winded, and most annoyingly, NOT ABOUT WATSON AND HOLMES. 

Also, these stories were written over 120 years ago. THEY ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND. A lot of times after the big reveal my response was like, 'WHAT are you talking about??'

YET SOMEHOW, I really enjoyed them! And I never really like short stories! It's truly bizarre. There is something intriguing about them - maybe because each story is new, so you never know what to expect. That is almost a guaranteed way of making me read all of them. 

Rating: 

Review: Four: A Divergent Collection

Four: A Divergent Collection
Veronica Roth
Dystopia, Companion 

Two years before Beatrice Prior made her choice, the sixteen-year-old son of Abnegation's faction leader did the same. Tobias's transfer to Dauntless is a chance to begin again. Here, he will not be called the name his parents gave him. Here, he will not let fear turn him into a cowering child.

Newly christened "Four," he discovers during initiation that he will succeed in Dauntless. Initiation is only the beginning, though; Four must claim his place in the Dauntless hierarchy. His decisions will affect future initiates as well as uncover secrets that could threaten his own future--and the future of the entire faction system.

Two years later, Four is poised to take action, but the course is still unclear. The first new initiate who jumps into the net might change all that. With her, the way to righting their world might become clear. With her, it might become possible to be Tobias once again.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth comes a companion volume to the worldwide bestselling divergent series, told from the perspective of the immensely popular character Tobias. The four pieces included here--The Transfer, The Initiate, The Son, and The Traitor--plus three additional exclusive scenes, give readers an electrifying glimpse into the history and heart of Tobias, and set the stage for the epic saga of the Divergent trilogy.

You can read my review of Allegiant and Divergent movie here. 

We'll start with the cover- SOOOO PWETTY. I love the the dark blue color, the ferris wheel on fire, the shiny 3D covers all the Divergent books had. This book has been screaming at me to pick it off the shelf for months.

Truthfully, I didn't know what to expect. I LIKED the Divergent books, but I was never as crazy about them as everyone else. I found Tobias's POV in Allegiant kind of lacking. 

HOWEVER

I really liked him in this companion! Delving into his past and fears was truly a beautiful experience. You feel his pain and applaud his courage. His voice is much more unique here (in my review of Allegiant I ranted that he sounded too much like Tris). I even found myself liking Tris more after having read her through his eyes! 

Plot-wise, Four explains some things that happen in the regular series. This was nice and necessary (exactly what I would hope for in a companion)- so I was satisfied! It also features Shauna and Zeke(:

All in all, a quick and fun read, while also being Divergenty and suspenseful. Enjoy!

Love,
Esty

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: Son of Sobek

Son of Sobek
Rick Riordan
middle grade short story

Carter Kane is investigating rumored sightings of a monster on Long Island when he runs into something else: a mysterious boy named Percy Jackson. And their meeting isn't exactly friendly. . . . 

Basically a crossover between Percy Jackson and the Kane Chronicles. Can anyone say, RECIPE FOR WIN??

Of course it was perfect! Percy and Carter funny and sarcastic as usual, saving Manhattan from bloodthirsty monsters. What's new? Honestly, my only complaint was that it was too short. I thought there would be earth-shattering revelations on both their parts, what with realizing there are other gods alive, but not to worry- nothing changes. You'll see.

I was also happy to see Rick Riordan left us an opening that Carter and Percy will meet again in the future... hmmm :) Rating:


Anyone else been seeing these rumors about a new Harry Potter? They're not true... right?
Happy Monday!
Esty

Double Crossed review+ Clockwork Princess trailer!

Double Crossed
Ally Carter
YA novella

*SPOILER FREE FOR BOTH SERIES*
Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.

GOSH I LOVED THIS.   I love each  Heist Society and Gallagher Girls separately, so naturally when Double Crossed was announced I had a fangirl attack.  Macey and Hale? Abby and Kat? Ally Carter took her best characters from both sides of the law and gave us a *completely free* and ridiculously exciting short story.  You can read Double Crossed even if you have only read one series- I promise you it's worth it! Naturally there's a twist that even Ally's most experienced readers didn't see coming, plus a super duper exciting something offered to Kat that left me jumping up and down hoping we'd get to read in the future.  Now I'm even more pumped for Perfect Scoundrels which is out and I have yet to get my hands on!! You can read Double Crossed HERE . Highly recommended! Grade: 100%

Also, today the book trailer for Clockwork Princess was released!! You can watch it HERE . I am soooo ecstatic about this (***26 DAYS***). In less than a month we find out if Jem will make it and who Tessa is and GOD WHO WILL SHE END UP WITH (TEAM WILL ALL THE WAY BABY). Is it just me or did the last line in the trailer make you faint? Let me know in the comments and please follow my blog (no emails or notifs or anything I promise!) it means a lot! 
Have a good weekend!
-Esty