“Book to Movie” Monday – City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare

23 Monday Jul 2012

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Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments
Pages: 422
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 2007
Goodreads

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.

“Book to Movie” Monday is a post about what books I would like to see made into a film or a book that is already in production.

As this is my first week I have to start with a book that I have been dying to see on the big screen and it so happens that it is in production.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.  It is said to hit theatres August 2013. Only just over a year away.

Jamie Campbell Bower is to play Jace,

Lilly Collins as Clary, and

Robert Sheehan as Simon.

They are not my favorite picks (not even close), but I’m hoping they will change my mind when I see them next year 🙂

Room – Emma Donoghue

22 Sunday Jul 2012

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Title: Room
Author: Emma Donoghue
 Pages: 401
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Picador
Published: September 13th 2010
Goodreads

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it’s where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

The first time I picked up Room i was in my creative writing class. We had a print-out of the first two chapters. I had never heard of it before. I started to read and I hated it. Trying to read through a five year old’s narrative voice was annoying.

But by the end of the two chapters I wanted more. I was hooked. Addicted! After class I ran straight out to the bookstore and purchased a copy. I didn’t mind the child’s voice after all. I was captivated by every word and ever scene. Donoghue is an amazing writer and I began to see that more and more as I read on.

Jack is a five-year-old boy that has grown up in a room and has never been outside it. He lives with his Ma and has a wonderful imagination of his world.

I had no idea what I was in for reading this book. It was an emotional ride. Once you begin to realize what is really happening, you will not be able to put it down.

If you give it a chance, you will love it. Don’t do what I was so easily prepared to do and dismiss it. The voice in the book grows on you and in the end without it the book would not be as gripping and heart wrenching.

5 Stars: Amazing! I loved it and could not put it down. I highly recommend it.

TGIF (1) – July 20th

20 Friday Jul 2012

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Happy Friday everyone 🙂

It is TGIF time of the week. TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by GReads. This weeks question is:

Throwback TGIF: Pick a previous question you posted on your blog in the past & revisit your answer. Has it changed since then?

So as this is my very first TGIF i thought i would look back at a question asked in my birthday month, September. I picked – Reading Challenges: Did you sign up for any this year? How has your progression been?

Yes, my challenge this year is to read 52 books. That is at least one a week. I was hoping to do 100 but Uni got in the way. So maybe next year. I am currently at 23 which puts me 6 books behind. Oooops better get reading 🙂

You can view my challenge on the side of my blog. I can’t wait to see everyones throwbacks.

I hope you all have exciting plans for the weekend, including some book time.

Happy reading!

Dragonswood – Janet Lee Carey

19 Thursday Jul 2012

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Title: Dragonswood
Author: Janet Lee Carey
 Pages: 407
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Dial
Published:  January 5th 2012
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Wilde Island is not at peace. The kingdom mourns the dead Pendragon king and awaits the return of his heir; the uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans is strained; and the regent is funding a bloodthirsty witch hunt, hoping to rid the island of half-fey maidens.

Tess, daughter of a blacksmith, has visions of the future, but she still doesn’t expect to be accused of witchcraft, forced to flee with her two best friends, or offered shelter by the handsome and enigmatic Garth Huntsman, a warden for Dragonswood. But Garth is the younger prince in disguise and Tess soon learns that her true father was fey, making them the center of an exciting, romantic adventure, and an ancient prophecy that will bring about peace between all three races – dragon, human, and fairy.

Any book that has the word dragon in the title gets a star before I even start the first chapter. Dragonswood is a beautifully written fantasy novel. It is filled with everything I could ask for. Dragons, fairies, witch trials, romance and magic.

Tess is accused of being a witch and is tortured. She escapes with her friends and is on the run. She meets a handsome young man, Garth who helps hide them from the witch hunter.

Tess is drawn to the land he protects called Dragonswood. It is a sanctuary for the Fey and for Dragons. On waiting for the return of the Pendragon Prince, Garth must protect the walls. Once Tess arrives in Dragonswood she discovers her destiny.

My favorite part of this amazing novel is that Arthur Pendragon’s ancestors rule the kingdom. There is even a mention of Merlin. (I love King Arthur adventures)

The writing flows beautifully and the characters are easily likeable. If you are a fan of fantasy make sure Dragonswood is on your bookshelf.

4 Stars: I really liked it. I recommend it.

“Waiting On” Wednesday (#1) – Girl Of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

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Title: Girl Of Nightmares (Anna #2)
Author: Kendare Blake
Published: 7th August 2012
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It’s been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can’t move on.
His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live–not walk around half dead. He knows they’re right, but in Cas’s eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.
Now he’s seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong…these aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.
Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

I am excited for the next installment in the Anna Series. It’s so close and I need some more ghost hunting action. Also what an awesome cover.

“Waiting on” Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It’s where we can share the upcoming titles we’re most excited to get our hands on!

The Serpent’s Shadow – Rick Riordan

16 Monday Jul 2012

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Title: The Serpent’s Shadow
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: The Kane Chronicles
Pages: 401
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Puffin Books
Published:  May 2012
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He’s b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade Kane can’t seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos. To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent’s shadow… or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld…

Cater and Sadie are back for one last fight in The Serpent’s Shadow, the last installment in The Kane Chronicles.

The Kane Chronicles are translated from recordings that the Kane siblings sent to Rick Riordan. Every few of the chapter’s change prospective, from Cater to Sadie, with hilarious brother/sister bantering.

Battling to return Ma’at – order – and destroy Chaos, Cater and Sadie are joined by their friends, to save the world.

In the Serpent’s Shadow we see more of the gods we already love with a few new editions (including a not so friendly ghost). We also see lots of action, a little less humor, but a bit more romance in this installment. Riordan sums up the trilogy perfectly. I was not disappointed.

I’m happy to say that the concluding chapter gives us fans hope that we will see our favorite characters reappear in Heroes of Olympus series.

If there are any fans out there who loved the world of Percy Jackson and the Greek gods, and are thinking about reading The Kane Chronicles, make sure you do (if only for the cross over references later).

You can find more of Rick Riordan’s amazing series, including Percy Jackson on his Goodreads Page

4 Stars: I really liked it. I recommend it.

Obsidian – Jennifer L. Armentrout

08 Sunday Jul 2012

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Title: Obsidian
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: A Lux Novel
Pages: 268
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Published: December 2011
Goodreads

Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Sexy, scorching, and sizzling! Obsidian is a breathe of fresh air. If you thought vampires and angels were hot wait until you meet the sexy aliens in the Lux series. I was hooked from the very first page. Obsidian is full of wit, humor and action. It has amazing story lines and exciting twists. Never has science fiction been sexier. No more green men with big heads. Armentrout gives us hotness beyond our wildest dreams times three.

It is hard not to fall in love with Katy. She is smart and witty; she also gets bonus points for being a book blogger. Daemon is the typical bad boy that gets your blood pumping. One minute you are swooning the next you want to slap him.  Then there is Dee who is gorgeous and sweet.

Only one more month to go and Onyx is out. Yay! I can’t wait to get my hands on more of these amazing series.

Also if you haven’t already, make sure you grab yourself a copy of Shadow (Lux 0.5) from the Lux series. It is even hotter than Obsidian! Dawson is by far my favorite alien and I have a soft spot for Bethany.  It is only short which made me sad as I could have read a whole series just about them.

For a few extra chapters from the series make sure you check out Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Goodreads page.

5 Stars: Amazing! I loved it and could not put it down. I highly recommend it.

Rapture – Lauren Kate

08 Friday Jun 2012

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Title: Rapture
Author: Lauren Kate
Series: A Fallen Novel
Pages: 448
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 12th June 2012
Goodreads

The sky is dark with wings . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.
Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen. For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.
In the fight for Luce, who will win?
The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

After reading Fallen in Love in January, I could not wait to get my hands on a copy of the last installment in the Fallen series by Lauren Kate, Rapture. I was excited when I found out being in Australia I could get my copy a few days earlier then the rest of the world. I raced out straight away to grab my copy.

Fifty pages in and I was a little disappointed that it did not have the same fast pace feel as the other installments and I found myself struggling to go back for more. But I am very glad I did. From page two hundred and forty on everything finally came together and I could not put it down. Luce finally finds out who she is and when her and Daniel first met. I was sad that Shelby and Miles hardly made an appearance, as they are some of my favorite characters.

The ending of the series did not disappoint me. The twist I was waiting for left me with a smile on my face as Lauren Kate finished off the amazing Fallen series just the way I hoped. There were no real unanswered questions.

The series is a wonderful take on Fallen Angels and their descendants. I have left the novel with four stars only because it took a while to capture me.

Also don’t forget to checkout the Fallen Shorts. You can find them on Lauren Kate’s Goodreads page.

4 Stars: I really liked it. I recommend it.

City Of Lost Souls – Cassandra Clare

10 Thursday May 2012

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City of Lost Souls

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author:Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments
Pages: 540
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 8th May 2012
Goodreads

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees. No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

I want to start by saying that I understand that people have a problem with Cassandra Clare continuing The Mortal Instruments series and not finishing with City of Fallen Angels. The best thing to do is to pretend it was the last one and not to read anymore. Problem solved.

Now for the rest of us who wish the series never had to end, I wanted start with what I loved about City Of Lost Souls. First, I loved that the book was 540pages long. I loved that we got to see more of Izzy, Alec, Maia and of course Magnus. There are so many characters to fall in love with. My favorite couple in this book was Jordan and Maia followed closely by Isabelle and Simon.

There are only two bad things for me:

1) I didn’t find it as addictive compared to the other installments.

2) Clary was pretty annoying at times.

I can’t wait for the next book to come out. I’m sad it’s the last one but I am curious to see where it goes. What will happen with Alec, and Magnus? What about Simon? He isn’t protected anymore and a very big will Clary and Jace finally do it!

One book to go and we have to wait till March 2014. It just doesn’t seem fair but the good news is the next book in the prequel to The Mortal Instruments, Clockwork Princess, will be out in March 2013 to keep us occupied.

If you haven’t read Cassandra Clare’s prequel to The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal devices, Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince, make sure you do. I loved picking up the crossovers in City of Lost Souls.

Also don’t forget to check out all the deleted chapters from City of Lost Souls (there is a very hot scene). You can find these on Cassandra Clare’s Goodreads page.

4 Stars: I really liked it. I recommend it.