Review for Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch 
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Release: 14th October 2014
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Source: Received for review via Edelweiss




Synopsis

"Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. The Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been searching for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild their kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, Winter’s future king—she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again. So when scouts discover the location of half of the ancient locket that can restore their magic, Meira decides to go after it herself—only to find herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics, and to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own."

Review 
In Sara Raasch’s YA fantasy world the kingdoms are split into seasons each with a royal bloodline where either male or female heirs can harness a unique kind of magic that affects only their people and acts as an amplifier to increase things like loyalty, health and business across their kingdom. The kingdom of Winter has been overthrown by the King of Spring and with their magic lost so is all hope.

Snow Like Ashes follows Meira one of the last Winterians who is trying to find where she belongs in the world with no place to call home. She’s a warrior and wants nothing more than to fight for what’s left of her kingdom but Winter’s general has other plans for her and how she can best help restore Winter’s former glory. Meira constantly struggles with what she wants versus what would best help repair her land. Snow Like Ashes is a strong coming of age story about sacrifice for the greater good, community and finding both where and to who you belong in the world, taking place in a unique fantasy setting that sweeps you away into enticing adventure.

One of the many things I loved about this book was how it read like a complete story. I believe it’s the first in a new series but what starts in Snow Like Ashes ends in Snow Like Ashes. It read like a standalone which was so refreshing compared to those long drawn out plots that span over an entire series. There’s only a hint as to what could happen in the next book and I’m so excited to see where Sara Raasch takes us next.

Snow Like Ashes gave me everything I could want in a fantasy read with a strong cast of characters, unique and widely explored world building and shocking twists and turns. For me it is the best fantasy debut of the year and I’m hoping it gets a UK publishing deal because I want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to read this book! Snow Like Ashes is the one for YA fantasy fans.

Review for Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan

Warning 
This is a review for the third and final book in the Lynburn Legacy trilogy and so may contain spoilers from the previous books.

Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release: 25th September 2014
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




Synopsis:

"Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice? Kami Glass has lost the boy she loves, is tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before. With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her town. Sorry-in-the-Vale has a new master, and he demands a death. Kami must use every resource to try and stop him, and together with friends Rusty, Angela and Holly, she uncovers a secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes responsibility, and a painful choice...a choice that will risk not only Kami's life, but also the lives of all those she loves most."

Review 
Unmade is the kind of final book that I always dream of reading. All too often I’m left unsatisfied with final offerings to a beloved series because I feel like a lot of the time situations are created for shock value and memorable endings that don’t necessarily fit what feels true to the characters and their story. However Unmade shows Sarah Rees Brennan at her best and I loved it completely.

I’m going to keep this review short and sweet because there’s honestly not much I can talk about without giving away major spoilers and this alone is a testimony to Sarah Rees Brennan’s writing. There is action, mystery and emotion right from the start. Instead of a build up to one big final battle and conclusion at the very end the characters work through their problems both big and small from start to finish which meant that every page was a pleasure to read and brought something to the story.

Like every book in the Lynburn Legacy, Unmade offers hilarious dialogue, heart-breaking choices and nail biting suspense. Kami and her friends are on top form as they each make their sacrifices and tackle their problems head on. I was so proud of them all but none more so than Kami who was the problem solver, rescuer and ultimate hero of her own story. These characters in their final acts made me laugh, cry and my heart soar with pride. The united community protecting their town and those they love was so moving to read.

Unmade gave me everything I could have wanted from this final book and is my new favourite of the trilogy. With great love comes great pain and the hours of emotional distress that Sarah Rees Brennan has put me through with this series were more than worth the pay off.

Review for Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Warning
This is a review for the third book in the Throne of Glass series and so may contain spoilers from the previous books.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release: 11th September 2014
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




Synopsis:

"Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien's only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan's Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King's Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan's biggest threat - and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?"

Review 
Heir of Fire feels like a different read compared to the first two books in the series. It’s less action and mystery driven and instead focuses on world building and character development, both of which are done incredibly well making me feel more immersed in this world and more attached to these characters emotionally.

We’re introduced to several new characters in Heir of Fire which created multiple storylines all of which I personally really liked. Each storyline had so much going on and I enjoyed reading about each character equally which really kept the pages turning. All too often with books like this I tend to have my favourite characters and find myself spending the chapters in between their story wishing I could flick ahead to continue reading about them but I never felt that way once with Heir of Fire.

Celaena’s story brought out so many emotions in me. She’s now in Wendlyn training her fae abilities with warrior Rowan and coming to terms with her past and who she truly is. I loved getting some of Aelin’s backstory and by the end of the book Celaena Sardothien has rose from the ashes of her past and has never been more fearsome.

Chaol and Dorian keep us up to speed on the goings on back at the castle whilst both of them are coming to terms with Celaena’s revelation and where their loyalties lie. They also have to contend with the arrival of Aelin’s cousin Aedion who is a fantastic new character who keeps you guessing!

My favourite new character introduced is Manon a brutal and blood thirsty witch who is training with Wyvern (DRAGONS!!!) to fight for the King of Adarlan. Although Manon’s storyline perhaps didn’t fit in as smoothly as the other new characters I absolutely loved anything to do with her and her Wyvern and I’m intrigued to see how her part plays out in the rest of the series.

Heir of Fire is without doubt my favourite book of this series so far. With dragons and witches, fae and magic, fire and love, betrayal and loyalty Sarah J. Maas has given me everything I could want in a Fantasy novel. This series just gets better and better and has introduced a whole new generation to a love for Fantasy.

Review for Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Usborne
Release: 14th August 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, YA
Source: Bought




Synopsis

"Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on brooding artist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And, after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer break, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to face uncertainty about their futures, and the very real possibility of being apart."

Review 
I’m a long term Stephanie Perkins fangirl having read both Anna and Lola way back when they were first published in the US. Isla has been a long time coming but I’ve been patiently waiting with the faith that Stephanie Perkins would deliver this final instalment when it was good and ready and every delay was well worth the wait – Isla is here and it’s fabulous!

Isla felt like a different sort of read to me compared to Anna and Lola. It feels less fairytale romance and more grown up as the book focuses less on falling in love and instead takes a look at what comes after the happily ever after perfectly capturing the highs and lows of being in love.

Isla is very much a dreamer. She’s a quiet girl who’d rather read about adventures than actually live one and that would explain why she’s crushed hard on Josh for years but hasn’t ever dared do anything about it. Isla made a great first impression on me, she’s so adorably awkward and I loved how protective and loyal she was to her best friend Kurt who has Autism.

Isla’s story begins one summer when fate puts her on the path she was always meant to travel when she runs into Josh outside of school but it’s up to Isla to take those bold steps forward and to figure out who and what will be her destination. Isla’s insecure and makes mistakes along the way but I loved her flaws and all. But this book isn’t about me loving Isla or even Josh loving Isla it is about Isla loving herself and feeling like she is enough. I loved the message throughout this book that you have to love yourself first before someone else can love you.

The book is set in New York, Barcelona and of course the final showdown for the ultimate happily ever after sees us go back to Paris and reuniting with Anna, Étienne, Lola and Cricket to conclude the series and Isla and Josh’s story. I laughed, I cried and I flailed all over the place during those gorgeous final chapters.

I’m so sad that this hugely beloved trilogy is over. I only hope that Stephanie Perkins shares more of her storytelling magic with us before too long, she truly is a wonder.

Review for The Dead Wife’s Handbook by Hannah Beckerman

The Dead Wife’s Handbook by Hannah Beckerman 
Publisher: Penguin
Release: 13th February 2014
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Afterlife, Grief
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




Synopsis 

"'Today is my death anniversary. A year ago today I was still alive.'

 Rachel, Max and their daughter Ellie had the perfect life - until the night Rachel's heart stopped beating.

Now Max and Ellie are doing their best to adapt to life without Rachel, and just as her family can't forget her, Rachel can't quite let go of them either. Caught in a place between worlds, Rachel watches helplessly as she begins to fade from their lives. And when Max is persuaded by family and friends to start dating again, Rachel starts to understand that dying was just the beginning of her problems.

As Rachel grieves for the life she's lost and the life she'll never lead, she learns that sometimes the thing that breaks your heart might be the very thing you hope for."

Review 
There are an abundance of books about fictional afterlives out there and I always really enjoy reading them so when I read the synopsis for The Dead Wife’s Handbook I knew it was a book that I just had to read. When I started reading I was quite surprised to discover that this book is less about the afterlife and more about life itself which put a refreshing new twist on the dead heroine narrative.

The book begins on the one year anniversary of Rachel’s death where we find out that Rachel died unexpectedly in her thirties leaving behind loving husband Max and young daughter Ellie. Rachel isn’t sure where she is or why she’s there but every so often the clouds part and she is allowed to see Max and Ellie begin to build a new life without her.

I say this book is more about life than the afterlife because the focus is never on where Rachel is now. Instead we watch the living through Rachel’s eyes and experience the different stages of grief for everybody who Rachel’s death has affected, including Rachel herself.

A year after his wife’s death Max is gently pushed back into the world of dating by concerned friends and family. Max thinks it’s too soon and his first few dates go horribly wrong, that is until Max meets Eve and beings to fall in love all over again. Rachel is heartbroken watching another woman take her place and so she grieves not only for the life she’s lost but also for the life she’ll now never lead. You see throughout the book how Rachel’s death and Max moving on affects Rachel’s family, friends and young daughter Ellie in different ways showing the messy complexity of grief.

This book brought out a range of emotions in me and my feelings towards each character would shift and develop throughout the book. Sometimes I’d feel so frustrated with Max but then he’d have a heart to heart with Ellie and I’d suddenly understand his feelings. At the start I really didn’t like Eve and was fiercely on Rachel’s side but as I got to know her I warmed to her and began to see that even though she didn’t know Rachel her death has very much affected her life as well.

Overall The Dead Wife’s Handbook is an emotionally powerful debut novel about life, death, love and everything in between. It broke my heart and put it back together again and is a firm favourite of mine for 2014. I’m hugely looking forward to seeing what Hannah Beckerman writes next.

Review for The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith 
Publisher: Headline
Release: 15th April 2014
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Travel
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




Synopsis:

"Owen lives in the basement. Lucy lives on the 24th floor. But when the power goes out in the midst of a New York heatwave, they find themselves together for the first time: stuck in a lift between the 10th and 11th floors. As they await help, they start talking...

The brief time they spend together leaves a mark. And as their lives take them to Edinburgh and San Francisco, to Prague and to Portland they can't shake the memory of the time they shared. Postcards cross the globe when they themselves can't, as Owen and Lucy experience the joy - and pain - of first love.

And as they make their separate journeys in search of home, they discover that sometimes it is a person rather than a place that anchors you most in the world."

Review 
The Geography of You and Me was one of those rare and special books that was so perfect that I felt like it was written especially for me. It’s almost as if I gave Jennifer E. Smith a list of ingredients that would make my ideal cute contemporary read and The Geography of You and Me is the end result. I’ve read and enjoyed all of Smith’s books but this one is hands down my favourite so far.

The book begins in an elevator in New York during a blackout that sweeps across the city on a scorching summers evening. Despite living in the same building Lucy and Owen have never met before but sparks fly as NYC plummets into darkness and the two get to know one another over free melting ice cream, cool kitchen tiles, and the rare sight of thousands of stars lighting up the sky. New York in the dark sounded strangely magical and exciting. It was such a fun note to kick start the book on and created the perfect backdrop for Lucy and Owen’s relationship to begin.

Lucy and Owen find each other just when they need someone the most. Both are incredibly lonely for different reasons. After spending that one whirlwind night together there’s hope that they will become something more but fate has other plans for the couple as Owen’s dad is taking him on a road trip and Lucy’s father has been offered work in London. Despite the distance between them and the unlikeliness of ever meeting again the two write to one another from all around the world. As they try on different countries and different cities all they really want is a place to call home but perhaps they’ve already found it in each other.

The Geography of You and Me has to be Jennifer E. Smith’s most beautifully written book to date. Her way with words really brought this global love story to life as we visit New York, London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome to name only a few destinations visited during our characters travels. I loved seeing these places through Lucy and Owen’s eyes and there were times when they’d be thinking of each other at exactly the same moment on the other side of the world that would make my stomach dance with butterflies. The written postcards were another lovely touch to their story. You spend the whole book waiting in anticipation with the hope that they will find their way back to each other.

I was completely charmed by The Geography of You and Me it was over all too soon for my liking and I’m already craving a re-read. If you love cute contemporaries with gorgeous prose then you’re going to love this story of carrying your home in your heart.

Review for Half Bad by Sally Green

Half Bad by Sally Green
Publisher: Penguin
Release: 3rd March 2014
Genre: Witchcraft, Paranormal, UKYA
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




Synopsis: 

"You can't read, can't write, but you heal fast, even for a witch. You get sick if you stay indoors after dark. You hate White Witches but love Annalise, who is one. You've been kept in a cage since you were fourteen. All you've got to do is escape and find Mercury, the Black Witch who eats boys. And do that before your seventeenth birthday.

In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and fifteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his sixteenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?"

Review 
I’ve been trying to decide how much I want to say about Half Bad and how much I want to hold back on. On the one hand I don’t want to set impossible standards in reader’s heads but on the other I want to be honest about how much I enjoyed this book. And so after a lot of thought I have a little secret to tell you…Half Bad gave me the Potter feels.

I imagine at this point you’re either getting terribly excited or rolling your eyes at the idea of a Harry Potter copycat and that’s where I want to come in and say that you couldn’t be more wrong. Half Bad is completely unique in its own right. With not a magical beast or wand in sight Half Bad surprisingly feels less fantasy and more realism as Nathan has to deal with many contemporary issues.

Half Bad is very much a coming of age novel only with powers and a civil war between witch kind. You have the white witches who are good, the black witches who are bad and Nathan a one of a kind Half Code who is both and so has never really fit in anywhere. With a white witch mother and a father who is the most powerful and hated black witch of all time Nathan is feared and shunned by the white witches who keep him locked up in a cage and run experiments on him.

One of my favourite things about Half Bad was how Sally Green blurred the lines between good and evil. The characters in this book are much more dimensional than their labels with some of the white witches being cruel and insatiable and some of the black witches showing kindness and loyalty to Nathan. There’s also the theme of Nature vs Nurture are we destined to become a certain way? Or do people who push labels on to us make it so?

The world building in this book was spot on. All the information we need is revealed as and when needed which is so much better than a massive information dump at the beginning of the story. The hidden world of the witches is a simple and believable one and the lonely Welsh countryside created the perfect atmosphere for Nathan’s story.

Overall Half Bad was a book that ticked all of the right boxes for me and I can’t find fault with it. Unique and compelling I closed the book with the feeling that I’d just read something truly special.

Review for The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes 
Publisher: Penguin
Release: 27th February 2014
Genre: Fiction, Family, Romance, Chick-Lit
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




Goodreads Summary: 

"One single mum
With two jobs and two children, Jess Thomas does her best day after day. But it's hard on your own. And sometimes you take risks you shouldn't. Because you have to...

One chaotic family
Jess's gifted, quirky daughter Tanzie is brilliant with numbers, but without a helping hand she'll never get the chance to shine. And Nicky, Jess's teenage stepson, can't fight the bullies alone. Sometimes Jess feels like they're sinking...

One handsome stranger
Into their lives comes Ed Nicholls, a man whose life is in chaos, and who is running from a deeply uncertain future. But he has time on his hands. He knows what it's like to be lonely. And he wants to help...

One unexpected love story
The One Plus One is a captivating and unconventional romance from Jojo Moyes about two lost souls meeting in the most unlikely circumstances."

Review 
Jess Thomas lives with her talented young daughter Tanzie, troubled teenage stepson Nicky and the large and loveable family dog Norman in a small seaside town but their life is far from the idyll that you’d imagine. Tanzie is a child genius who’d rather spend hours pouring over maths problems than playing with other children her age and Nicky is badly bullied for his love of mascara and skinny jeans. Their small town is one that is equally small minded and labels anybody who’s a little bit different a freak and for Jess and her family life is a daily struggle. That is until one day when wealthy business man Ed Nicholls comes into their lives and offers a helping hand and so they set off on a whirlwind road trip adventure that will change not only Jess’s life but Ed’s life for the better.

The One Plus One is a character driven read told from Jess, Ed, Tanzie and Nicky’s points of view. After a few chapters I quickly became immersed in this story, so much so that I devoured this 500 plus page book in two days. The Thomas family are such underdogs and I felt every emotion alongside them as we watch them struggle through life. I laughed, I cried, I got angry and I desperately wanted things to change for them. This book is about family, misfits, hope and the random acts of kindness from strangers that can make someone’s day a hundred times better. The One Plus One shines a light on those struggling with poverty in the UK and I loved seeing how wealthy Ed’s views regarding money gradually changed throughout the book as he got to see how the other half live.

I completely fell in love with every character in this book but I just have to give a special mention to our heroine Jess who not only is a wonderful mother but such an inspiring lady to read about. Jess is such a kind and hopeful character – when life knocked her down she’d get right back up again and I admired her so much. For all you romantics there is also a lovely slow simmering romance between Jess and Ed that develops throughout the book. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted two characters to get their happily ever after more!

Simply put The One Plus One is the best book that I’ve read in 2014 so far. If you like books about life changing road trips with a bright and eccentric cast of characters and a loveable furry companion to boot then I couldn’t recommend this book to you more! I laughed, I cried and a week after finishing I still can’t get the Thomas family out of my head!

Review for The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

Warning 
This is a review for the fourth book in the Bloodlines series and so may contain spoilers from the previous books.

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin
Release: 19th November 2013
Genre: YA, Vampires, Magic, Paranormal Romance
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




Goodreads Summary:

"WHEN PULSES QUICKEN NO SECRET IS SAFE. Sydney always believed that alchemists were born to protect vampire secrets and human lives - until she met Marcus and turned her back on everything she once knew. But she's not free yet. When her sister Zoe arrives, Sydney can only tell her half-truths about her past. And with every word she risks exposure - and the fatal consequences. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney must choose her path once and for all. Even if that means harnessing her magical powers to destroy the way of life she was raised to defend..."

Review 
The Fiery Heart is hands down the best book in the Bloodlines series yet. I know I say this with every book but each one gets better! The Fiery Heart is the most romantic in the series yet as we finally get to experience Sydrian as a couple – it was well worth the wait! The book starts with sweet and tender stolen moments between the two and as their relationship strengthens and develops we see the spark between them burst into flame as their love becomes more urgent and steamy.

Of course with their Vampire/Alchemist relationship Adrian and Sydney have to keep their romance a secret and they have to be extra careful with Sydney’s Alchemist sister Zoe lurking around *sighs.* Part of me loved the extra thrill this added to their relationship and another part of me was sad that they couldn’t behave and be treated like a normal couple. I basically swooned and fangirled my way through this book and my hatred for the Alchemists and everything they stand for intensified.

For the first time we’re given an insight into Adrian’s thoughts and feelings with the inclusion of chapters from his point of view. I’m always a bit wary when a dual narrative is suddenly added but Richelle Mead captures Adrian’s voice perfectly and I never had any trouble distinguishing between him and Sydney. It was so nice to see what was going on behind his brooding looks, to read his feelings towards Sydney and explore the bond he has with Jill. It was also really interesting to see first-hand the affect Spirit has on him mentally and to see how he actually uses his magic to create Spirit dreams and heal. I really felt like I got to know Adrian on a deeper level and I came away from this book loving him even more.

Plot wise I feel like everything has started to come together in this book. There is certainly some development with both Spirit and Sydney’s magic and I love the direction Richelle Mead has taken with this. As well as the supernatural issues both Sydney and Adrian are going through contemporary problems as well; Sydney with her family and Adrian with his mental health. I love that Richelle Mead deals with real world issues as well as the supernatural ones; it makes her characters and world feel even more real.

The cherry on top of the cake for me was that we got to go back to court and hang out with all our old friends. Dimitri, Rose, Lissa, Christian and Sonya are all present in this book. I always had the biggest smile on my face whenever they were around or mentioned!

Although I completely saw the ending to this book coming it still broke my heart to read and has left me desperate for book five. The Fiery Heart brings ALL OF THE FEELS and was an emotional rollercoaster to read. With high stakes, a burning romance, and a plot that is heading towards a series climax The Fiery Heart has left me with my emotions all over the place, my nerves in shreds, and my heart holding on to hope as I impatiently await Silver Shadows.

Review for World After by Susan Ee

WARNING 
This is the second book in the Penryn and the End of Days series. Although this review will contain no spoilers from World After by talking about the plot there may be unintentional spoilers from the first book in the series.

World After by Susan Ee
Publisher: Hodder
Release: 21st November 2013
Genre: YA, Angels, Romance, Dystopian
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




Goodreads Summary: 

"When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken. 

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

 Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?"

Review 
Angelfall was a book that I read and fell in love with only a few months ago and so I had the advantage of not having long to wait for World After. I started it as soon as it arrived and read the entire book in a day because I could not put it down. Like Angelfall it was gritty, romantic and exciting and I loved it just as much.

In World After we’re introduced to some new characters and some new places as well as catching up with old characters and re-visiting familiar areas. We get to find out more about the creepy Scorpion creatures and more about the children like Paige and what the Angels plans are for them. We were left with all this new information at the end of Angelfall and I loved learning more about the Angels’ creations and finding out the extent of their apocalyptic plans for our world.

I’m sad to say that there is less Raffe in World After and although I did miss him it only made the chapters with him in even more special and there are some gorgeous moments between him and Penryn. In Raffe’s absence Susan Ee keeps him as a central part of the story in a unique and clever way. Penryn is left with Raffe’s sword and early on in the book Penryn starts receiving visions from the sword as it shares Raffe’s memories from key moments during Angefall that I absolutely loved getting his thoughts and feelings on. We also get to see memories from Raffe’s past which is something that I was always curious about in Angefall. I loved this aspect to the story and thought that it was a clever way to still keep Raffe involved whilst he wasn’t physically present.

Now that Penryn and her family are reunited there is more from her mother and Paige in this sequel and I loved getting to know them better. Paige actually plays quite a big role in this story and we find out exactly what she went through in the time that she was missing which made me cry on several occasions because it was so heart-breaking to read. My heart broke for that poor little girl and everything she’d been through. We also get to find out what Paige has become and what her abilities are now that she’s not entirely human.

With any beloved book there is always the worry that the sequel won’t be as good or that it’ll suffer from the dreaded “second book syndrome” but World After is just as extraordinary as its predecessor and looking back I think I might have loved it a tiny bit more than Angefall - which I didn’t think was even possible! World After made me laugh and it made me cry and I literally couldn’t put the thing down. It also finished on a nice solid ending and I applaud it for relying on its gripping storyline and lovable characters to leave readers desperate for the third book instead of an unresolved and abrupt ending which seems to be all too common in YA these days. I am already anticipating the third book and I think that speaks volumes about Susan Ee’s talent as an author and the quality of this stunning series.

Review for This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales 
Publisher: Macmillan
Release: 10th October 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age, YA
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




Goodreads Summary:

"All her life, Elise Dembowski has been an outsider. Starting a new school, she dreams of fitting in at last – but when her best attempts at popularity fail, she almost gives up. Then she stumbles upon a secret warehouse party. There, at night, Elise can be a different person, making real friends, falling in love for the first time, and finding her true passion – DJ’ing. But when her real and secret lives collide, she has to make a decision once and for all: just who is the real Elise?"

Review 
“Sometimes people think they know you. They know a few facts about you, and they piece you together in a way that makes sense to them. And if you don't know yourself very well, you might even believe that they are right. But the truth is, that isn't you. That isn't you at all.” ― Leila Sales, This Song Will Save Your Life 

This Song Will Save Your Life is Leila Sales’ UK debut. I’d heard brilliant things about Leila’s books from US bloggers and was excited to finally check out this author. I went into this book expecting a fun, contemporary story about a girl who loves music and whilst that is somewhat true this book goes so much deeper than that and deals with bullying, self-harm, suicide and self-worth to name a few of the topics covered in this book. This Song Will Save Your Life hit me right in the feels and had me emotionally invested in Elise’s story. It’d be fair to say that I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did. Leila Sales – I underestimated you.

Elise is an outcast. She’s an intelligent girl who cares for her family and has a passion for good music. She’s a good person yet she doesn’t fit in to social conceptions at school and although she tries to fit in she’s awkward and feels like she doesn’t belong. Elise is isolated and lonely and carries this inner rage and embarrassment at herself for not being ordinary, for standing out, for being smart, for being special. In high school being different is the worst thing you could possibly be. You have to be normal and blend in else you become a target for the small minded which is exactly what Elise becomes.

“I had this feeling suddenly. I get this feeling a lot, but I don’t know if there’s one word for it. It’s not nervous or sad or even lonely. It’s all of that, and then a bit more. The feeling is I don’t belong here. I don’t know how I got here, and I don’t know how long I can stay before everyone else realizes that I am an impostor. I am a fraud. I’ve gotten this feeling nearly everywhere I have ever been in my life. There’s nothing you can do about it except drink some water and hope that it subsides. Or you can leave.” ― Leila Sales, This Song Will Save Your Life 

Right from the start I connected with Elise and understood how hard it is to be different and stay true to who you are in a world that demands you be just like everybody else to get along smoothly in life. This book captures those feelings of inadequacy perfectly. On the flip side this book also shows how your passions and interests can save your life – in Elise’s case that’s her music and being a DJ. It brings out the best in her, draws likeminded people into her life, gives her an escape from the bullying and most importantly provides her with a home and community that embrace her exactly as she is. At its heart I guess you could call this book a coming of age story but it’s also about hope and embracing the things that make you different and so many other wonderful things that make this book special.

“I don't believe that anyone who is a legitimately interesting person can be popular as a teenager," Mel went on. "Or ever, maybe. Popularity rewards the uninteresting.” ― Leila Sales, This Song Will Save Your Life 

The most important relationship in this book is the relationship Elise has with herself. But I also loved the relationship she has with her family and the friendships she makes throughout the book. I also loved the relationship Elise had with Char - but not in the way you’d imagine. Char is Elise’s love interest throughout the book but they don’t exactly have a healthy relationship or one that you’re desperate to see work out. We all know a guy like Char who messes girls around and takes advantage of girls with low self-esteem. Char is as insecure and selfish as they come and I LOVED that Leila Sales decided to showcase a relationship that girls are more likely to experience as teenagers as opposed to the happily ever after romances that are so popular in YA. Everything about this book was so raw and honest and I absolutely loved that about it.

This Song Will Save Your Life is the kind of book that made my heart ache with emotion and I’d thoroughly recommend it. You’ll connect with and root for Elise throughout and will close the book emotionally exhausted due to feels overload. This Song Will Save Your Life unexpectedly crawled under my skin and nestled into my heart where I imagine it will stay for a long time to come.

Review for Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release: 10th September 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age, Romance, YA, NA
Source: Bought





Goodreads Summary: 

"Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan. But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words. And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?"

Review
Fangirl is a book that I loved so hard that I feel like my review can never do it justice but I want you guys to read it so much that I’m going to try and put into words all of the feelings I had for this book. From the first few chapters it had already surpassed my expectations and they were already sky high to begin with. Whilst reading every so often I’d stop and say out loud “why is this book so good!?” I cried at the end for no particular reason other than the book had ended and I wanted more like a little kid on the way home from a day at Disneyland - I didn’t want the magic to end! Needless to say this is a new all-time favourite book of mine.

Fangirl is everything that I want the New Adult genre to be. It’s about navigating your first year at college when you’re socially awkward and meeting new people and sharing a room with a stranger fills you with social anxiety. It’s about longing for the ease of childhood and that nostalgia for the things you loved back then and finding it hard to give that part of your life up when everyone else has moved on. It’s about breaking out of your comfort zone. I loved the message that it’s okay to prefer fictional worlds to the real one and to love them worlds and be all nerdy about it. But I also loved how this book shows that your life, that your story is the most important one that there is.

Every character in Fangirl is so well developed. They are funny and charming and adorable and they each have their quirks that make them individual. Cath is one of the most relatable heroines I’ve ever come across. I understood her addiction to the Simon Snow series (which is this books fictional equivalent to Harry Potter) and I feel like if you grew up as part of the Harry Potter generation you’ll find yourself in Cath like I did. Cath has always seen herself as the unattractive, awkward twin compared to her confident sister Wren and when Wren decides that she wants to live out their college years as separate people leading different lives it really forces Cath to step out of her twins shadow and into the big wide world.

The secondary characters were also fantastic. I loved Reagan Cath’s cool as a cucumber roommate and the twins’ lovely Dad who’s fragile at the best of times and is going through empty nest syndrome. And then there is Levi. Oh Levi, Levi, Levi where do I even start with you? Levi is the nicest guy. He treats everybody he meets like they are the most important person he’ll meet all day. He greets everybody with a smile, even strangers. He’s funny and he genuinely loves life and people. Levi and Cath couldn’t be more different, they have nothing in common but I knew I wanted them together from the moment they are introduced. I absolutely fell in love with Levi and had the biggest smile on my face reading about him and Cath. I could not handle the adorable radiating off this book!

Charming, happy, nostalgic, adorable and geeky are only a few words I’d use to describe Fangirl. It made me laugh and cry and is without doubt not only one of my favourite books of this year but one of my favourite books ever. I enjoyed Eleanor and Park by this author but my love for Fangirl was on a whole other level. Stephanie Perkins, John Green, Sarah Dessen make room on your pedestal for Rainbow Rowell - one of the brightest rising stars in Young Adult Contemporary Fiction.

Review for Soulmates by Holly Bourne

Soulmates by Holly Bourne 
Publisher: Usborne
Release: September 1st 2013
Genre: UKYA, Contemporary, Sci-Fi, Romance
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review





Goodreads Summary:

"Every so often, two people are born who are the perfect matches for each other. Soulmates. But while the odds of this happening are about as likely as being struck by lightning, when these people do meet and fall in love…thunderstorms, lightning strikes and lashings of rain are only the beginning of their problems.

Enter Poppy, the 17-year-old cynic with a serious addiction to banana milk, and Noah, the heart-throb guitarist; residents of mediocre Middletown, sometime students, and…soulmates.

After a chance meeting at a local band night, Poppy and Noah find themselves swept up in a whirlwind romance unlike anything they’ve ever experienced before. But with a secret international agency preparing to separate them, a trail of destruction rumbling in their wake, (and a looming psychology coursework deadline), they are left with an impossible choice between the end of the world, or a life without love…"

Review 
Soulmates is a unique and compelling debut by fresh new British talent Holly Bourne – I was utterly blown away by it! “Soulmates” and “True Love” is a worn out concept in YA and yet Holly Bourne puts an exciting scientific spin on it. What if meeting your soulmate was a bad thing? Holly Bourne puts romance under the microscope and asks the eternal question “what is love?” In this contemporary love story with a sci-fi twist.

Despite being a fairly chunky novel I was immediately captivated by this story and never got bored nor did the book feel overly long. I think this was mainly down to the authors writing style; it was funny, thrilling, current and hugely readable. There were times when I laughed, sobbed, and was on the edge of me seat with anticipation. The book is told from Poppy’s perspective and there are alternate chapters told in third person following a secret society who seem to be keeping tabs on Poppy and Noah’s romance. I loved this extra insight and I was so curious to find out why Poppy and Noah were so dangerous.

Poppy was such a refreshing heroine. She’s snarky and a complete cynic when it comes to the idea of “true love” so nobody is more surprised than her when she meets Noah and they have an instant connection. Don’t get me wrong I’m not a fan of insta-love but for this particular story it worked in this books favour. What I really loved was that although Poppy and Noah had an instant spark their relationship still grew and developed over time as they got to know one another.

One of my favourite things about Soulmates was the scientific aspect to the book. Holly Bourne really examines what love is and the chemical reactions our bodies have to that loved up feeling. A lot of the science behind the book is actual facts and the nerd in me loved asking the big questions like “is love just an illusion?” “Is it a chemical reaction?” “Is there really a perfect person out there for everyone and if so what are the chances of finding them?” Soulmates looks at love from every angle and I loved how thought provoking it was.

Whilst reading this book my heart raced, I had butterflies in my stomach, clammy hands and a dry mouth. My diagnosis? I’ve fallen head over heels in love with Soulmates! Holly Bourne is a bright rising star in UK YA if you love books by C.J Skuse and Cat Clarke you won’t want to miss this extraordinary debut!

Review for Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall by Susan Ee 
Publisher: Hodder
Release: 23rd May 2013
Genre: YA, Angels, Romance, Dystopian
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review



Goodreads Summary: 

"It's been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain. Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back..."

Review 
I’m a huge fan of both the Angel and Dystopia trend in YA so I really should have known that Angelfall ( a brilliant mixture of both genres ) would go on to become one of my new favourite books! I’m a little late to the party for this one but I recently found myself in a reading slump and needed something fresh and compelling to pull me out of it. I’m so happy that I decided to pick up Angelfall! I was immediately sucked into the world and I’d stay up late reading long into the night promising myself just one more chapter which would inevitably turn into several more.

Penryn lives in a future world where Angels of the Apocalypse have destroyed Earth as we know it. The world is in a state of chaos and the remaining humans are out for themselves with supplies and safe houses running low. It’s a gritty and brutal new world and if survival wasn’t hard enough Penryn also has a disabled younger sister to take care of and a schizophrenic mother who has run out of medication to stabilize her illness. All too often in Paranormal YA the characters are young, perfect, healthy and beautiful the fact that Penryn’s family have real world struggles to contend with on top of the apocalypse made them feel like real people which I couldn’t applaud more.

The book begins with Penryn and her family witnessing an Angel brutally having his wings hacked off by his own kind. Noting her sister Paige’s distress Penryn tries to help the Angel and as punishment the angels that were attacking Raffe fly away with Paige and so Penryn and Raffe are forced to work together as Penryn needs Raffe to find where the Angels took her sister and Raffe needs Penryn to navigate the human world now that he’s without his wings.

The banter between Raffe and Penryn was quick and witty. Their relationship builds at a slow and steady pace throughout the novel as they go from accomplices to something more. I loved that despite whatever Penryn felt for Raffe her priorities never shifted from saving Paige. Penryn had a good head on her shoulders and I respected her as our heroine. I loved the relationship between Raffe and Penryn - Raffe was always on hand to support Penryn but she was always more than capable of taking care of herself. Instead of the powerful angel saving the weak human girl they worked together as a team.

Although I loved them together I also enjoyed both characters separately. Penryn has quickly become one of my favourite heroines and Raffe one of my favourite book boys. Penryn was intelligent, loyal to her family, and strong both mentally and physically. She’s a total survivor and adapts to her frightening new surroundings thanks to her mentally unstable mother having her trained in several types of self-defence to protect herself against her mother’s dark episodes. Raffe was different to any other angel I’ve ever read about he’s witty, hilarious, modern and doesn’t believe in god. I loved him straight away but he’s also still so much of a mystery. I can’t wait to find out more about his past in future books!

Angelfall has such a cinematic feel to it that I could vividly picture everything in my mind making it easy to absorb myself in this gritty and harrowing world. I can’t believe I waited so long to read this absolute gem of a novel but I am glad that I now don’t have long to wait for the sequel!

Review for Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Warning 
This is a review for the second book in the Throne of Glass series and there may be spoilers about the first book in this review.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release: 15th August 2013
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Magic, Romance
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review



Goodreads Summary: 

"Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful – the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King’s contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. The slavery of the suffocating salt mines of Endovier that scarred her past is nothing compared to a life bound to her darkest enemy, a king whose rule is so dark and evil it is near impossible to defy. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her heart to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all . . . And trying to may just destroy her."

Review 
I’d read Throne of Glass last year when I was poorly and when I picked up Crown of Midnight I found that I couldn’t remember much from the first book (which didn’t surprise me as I was having really bad headaches at the time.) Turns out it didn’t really matter how much I remembered as Crown of Midnight is very much a new and separate story and there is clever and discreet re-capping when needed to jog the memory which made it easy to slip back into this world.

Crown of Midnight felt like quite a different read from Throne of Glass and I think those differences made it even stronger than the first book. Crown of Midnight is more mystery driven, don’t get me wrong, there is still a *lot* of fighting, although perhaps not as much as there was in Throne of Glass. Instead there are secrets, politics and conspiracy, murder, ancient magic and intrigue. With surprises and plot twists throughout, this book is expertly paced. I lost count of how many times my jaw physically dropped open in shock! Crown of Midnight showcases what a masterful storyteller Sarah J. Maas is. A good writer can write an action scene with lots of gore, blood and brutality for thrills but it takes a masterful writer indeed to weave a twisty turny mystery full of subtle hints and surprises around every corner.

The plot once again follows our beloved characters: Celaena, Chaol and Dorian, who have their own subplots and secrets that come together as the book goes on. We get to learn more about Celaena’s life before the tournament as she goes back to her roots as an assassin only this time tasked to kill for the King now that she is his champion. She also uncovers secrets in the castle about the King and his plans along the way. Meanwhile Chaol is struggling to balance his loyalty to the King with his ever growing feelings for Celaena and his need to keep her safe. And Dorian is hiding a powerful secret of his own that could cost him his life. I loved following each character and their stories individually and together, there was so much going on with each of them! The character development was wonderful and I felt like each character grew in this novel and that I got to know them all a bit better.

I’ve been on the Chaol and Celaena ship since day one and I loved watching their flirty banter from Throne of Glass build into a consuming romance in Crown of Midnight. Their relationship is fiery, passionate and emotionally compelling – it was well worth waiting for! Unfortunately the couples love story isn’t a smooth one and my heart would break for both characters at times. Celaena and Chaol’s romance struck me as an epic, end game, all time love and no matter what happens I will be pushing for them to end up together throughout the rest of this series!

Sarah J. Maas has completely upped her game with this stunning sequel. The world, the characters, and the plot everything is more vivid and polished compared to the first book. Crown of Midnight felt darker, more romantic and was entirely unpredictable. The quote from the cover “Before she was deadly. Now she is unstoppable” is completely true for Celaena’s character development as we see a darker more deadly side to her awaken in this book. Crown of Midnight is without doubt one of the strongest sequels I’ve ever read and is a favourite of mine for 2013. After that huge game changer of an ending I can’t wait to see what Sarah J. Maas has in store for us in book three!

Review for The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Publisher: Penguin
Release: 7th May 2013
Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopian, Apocalypse, YA, Survival
Source: Received from the publishers in exchange for an honest review 



Review 
In The 5th Wave Rick Yancey creates a gripping and thought provoking future of our world shattered after an Alien apocalypse. We humans live a free and fairly safe existence being the most intelligent life form but what if there was something out there more intelligent and advanced than ourselves? What if our minds were to them what an animal’s mind is to us? Could you imagine a world where we were no longer the most powerful beings? In this clever and enthralling survival story author Ricky Yancey examines the human condition.

“We’re here, and then we’re gone, and it’s not about the time we’re here, but what we do with the time.” ― Rick Yancey, The 5th Wave

The 5th Wave is about intelligent, scheming, Aliens. When they first arrive in the Earth’s atmosphere the mothership does nothing but hover for a while leaving the world in a state of suspense to wonder who the Aliens are and what they’re here for. Little do they know that the Aliens are plotting a series of waves that will wipe out humanity yet leave Earth in one piece. The 1st wave hits at the things we’ve come to depend on the most: Electricity, power, batteries. All technology is cut off. The 2nd wave is Tsunamis large enough to wipe most countries out entirely. The 3rd wave is an airborne virus deadly to all but those who carry a natural immunity. The 4th wave is Alien assassins picking off the last few survivors. And the 5th wave is coming…

Rick Yancey’s world building is some of the best I’ve come across in a long time and I quickly became immersed in this believable future. The book is full of action and suspense and mind blowing twists that I didn’t see coming at all. As well as The 5th Wave being a gripping thriller it’s also incredibly thoughtful and beautifully written. There were so many passages of this novel that I fell in love with. Rick Yancey is a wonderfully skilful writer.

“Some things you can never leave behind. They don't belong to the past. They belong to you.” ― Rick Yancey, The 5th Wave

Where this book is strong in plot it is equally strong in its characters, there were so many who captured my heart! The book is told from several characters narrative and although at the start it is a little confusing as there isn’t any indication that the point of view has switched over you do soon get used to it when you figure out who everybody is and the figuring out only adds to the mystery of the book. Once I became used to the way this story is told I really appreciated how each character offers you a different vantage point to view the affect the Alien invasion has had on earth. At first you’re not sure how these seemingly random characters connect but all is made clear as the book goes on.

I loved all of the characters in this book but my absolute favourites were Cassie, Ben, Ringer and Sammy. Cassie and Ringer are two really strong, kick-ass, female leads. I especially loved Cassie with her black humour and snark that actually had me sniggering away despite the bleak situation. Ben’s chapters were my favourite. I loved his little crew at the camp and how protective he was of little Sammy, I also felt like he grew the most as a character. Sammy was simply adorable and I wanted to protect him from all of the horrors of his world. The things he had to go through as a five year old broke my heart!

“But if I'm it, the last of my kind, the last page of human history, like hell I'm going to let the story end this way. I may be the last one, but I am the one still standing. I am the one turning to face the faceless hunter in the woods on an abandoned highway. I am the one not running but facing. Because if I am the last one, then I am humanity. And if this is humanity's last war, then I am the battlefield.” ― Cassie, The 5th Wave, Rick Yancey.

Basically if you’re a human and you enjoy reading to some extent you should check out this book. I could gush about how good it is all day long. The hype surrounding this book is totally justified and it has become a new all-time favourite of mine. The 5th Wave is up there with the very best of the Sci-Fi and Dystopian genre and although it had a nice solid ending I am still left desperate for more to find out what happens next.

Spoiler Review/ Discussion on Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare 
Publisher: Walker
Release: 19th March 2013
Genre: Steampunk, Paranormal Romance, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Rating: 5/5 stars
Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary: 

"Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her."

WARNING 
This is the third and final book in The Infernal Devices trilogy and WILL contain spoilers not only from the first two books but Clockwork Princess itself. I usually don’t write spoiler reviews but could not review this book any other way and I found it therapeutic to get my feelings on what happened out there. In short Clockwork Princess was INCREDIBLE go read it and then come back and discuss, okay?

Review/Discussion 

"“You know that feeling,” she said, “when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing tight around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a carriage and you cannot let go or turn the course aside.”" ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess 

A lot of people rave about The Mortal Instruments series and whilst I do enjoy those books The Infernal Devices is one of my favourite series of all time and so I was anxious and excited for Clockwork Princess and was literally counting down the days on my calendar for this final instalment. I raced through this 568 page monster in less than 48 hours and by the end my eyes actually hurt from all of the tears I had shed. Happy tears, sad tears and tears of pure grief over this series ending.

On Plot, Mortmain, and Links to The Mortal Instruments:-
Clockwork Princess is one of Cassie’s more slower paced novels plot wise. Instead of lots of action and fight scenes the book is very emotionally driven and the focus is mostly on saying a final farewell to these beloved characters. I kind of wished the take down of Mortmain was longer, all of these books were building up to this twisted villain who in the end got snuffed out like a bug. However I was really happy that Tessa was the one to kill Mortmain it was so ironic and felt so right. When Tessa changed into her Angel I literally gasped, I didn’t see that one coming at all and although I was expecting a bigger final battle it was a fitting end to Mortmain.

One of the things I love about this series is the foreshadowing Cassandra Clare does for The Mortal Instruments. In this book we find out that Henry and Magnus actually created the portals which I loved. We also find out how Church ends up in New York and Magnus’s comment on all Lightwood’s looking the same had me in stitches! One thing I did pick up on that I haven’t seen anybody else comment on was how Clary’s middle name is Adele. Clary and Adele (Tessa’s mother) were both Shadowhunters who were brought up as Mundanes and I wonder if Cassandra Clare intended to give us a clue to the Adele story-line by the use of that name. Its little details like this that I absolutely love about the books set in this world. Cassandra Clare’s world building is so rich and detailed.

On Characters, Relationships and Teams:-
It was so hard saying goodbye to the characters in this book; I love all of them so dearly! Charlotte was such a bad ass and I absolutely loved her strength. Henry was adorable and I loved his friendship with Magnus in this book – finally somebody who gets his genius! Sophie and Bridget were courageous and loyal and Cecily was a wonderful new character who reminded me so much of Isabelle! I loved Will and Cecily’s relationship and how protective Will was of his little sister. I also grew to really love the Lightwood brothers in this book as they struggle between family loyalty and doing the right thing. I was so pleased with who everyone ended up with and that everybody got a happy ending – hurray to not killing anybody off! I’m really going to miss this family of the London Institute.

Of course this series wouldn’t be what it is without our beloved trio Will, Jem and Tessa. I’ve never been purely Team Will or Team Jem. I wanted both of them to be happy and loved both boys so much. I always wished that there was a way for Tessa to be with both of them but couldn’t see how that would work so I was mighty impressed that Cassie found a way to make that happen. No matter what team you’re on I feel like both sides have their share of heartbreak and happiness in this book.

“Most people are lucky enough to have even one great love in their life. You have found two.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess 

What blew me away about Clockwork Princess and what made this book so phenomenal in my opinion was the complexity of our trio’s relationship. Will and Jem are like two halves of a whole – literal soul mates. Their relationship was really well explored and described to us in this book and I consider their friendship up there with the greats like Harry, Ron and Hermione and Frodo and Sam. Cassandra Clare made me feel and understand their relationship and what it means to be Parabatai. To my surprise Jem and Will’s relationship became the most important relationship to me in this series. Their heart to hearts was the source of most of my tears over Clockwork Princess.

On THAT Epilogue:-

“They say you cannot love two people equally at once,” she said. “And perhaps for others that is so. But you and Will—you are not like two ordinary people, two people who might have been jealous of each other, or who would have imagined my love for one of them diminished by my love of the other. You merged your souls when you were both children. I could not have loved Will so much if I had not loved you as well. And I could not love you as I do if I had not loved Will as I did.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess

I know that the epilogue is causing a lot of conflict between the fandom especially for Will fans but you know what guys? No one would be happier with that epilogue than Will. It’s that simple. I personally LOVED the epilogue. I LOVED that both boys got to be happy with Tessa in their lifetimes. There is NO WAY that Will would want Tessa to live out eternity a lonely, grieving, widow and he would be so happy that Jem and Tessa had each other. And I’m sorry but if you think otherwise do you really know Will Herondale at all!? Have we even been reading about the same character!? I can seriously imagine him doing a little jig and singing a song about it up in Shadowhunter heaven. I, unlike a lot of readers, didn’t feel like either love belittled the other but instead created something special, something greater. I think that Tessa, Will and Jem’s circumstance is a unique one that required a unique ending I don’t think a lot of authors could have pulled that epilogue off but for this story it worked beautifully.

Overall Clockwork Princess was a phenomenal if bittersweet ending. I usually hate love triangles but Cassandra Clare has created the ultimate triangle in The Infernal Devices one of respect, love and loyalty that runs from angle to angle between all three characters. I’m now going through a mourning period over the end of what has become one all my all-time favourite series. Clockwork Princess was a masterpiece of a conclusion and The Infernal Devices will always hold a special place in my heart.

“Every meeting led to a parting, and so it would, as long as life was mortal. In every meeting there was some of the sorrow of parting, but in everything parting there was some of the joy of meeting as well.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess