May I Suggest... Giveaway Hop

While I haven't read this book yet, I can suggest the series as amazing and incredible.

Giving away a Pre-Order

eBook copy of this...

Available May 27th
Prize delivered that day as well.

752 pages

The Mortal Instruments (Book 6)

International as long as you can accept an eBook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hop along to the next blog....

The Clockwork Princess by Cassandar Clare ~ Review

Source:  Purchased audio book

Book Description:

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy

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.

 Spoiler free for Clockwork Princess but not Clockwork Prince

My Thoughts:




5 stars - So emotional but so brilliant, I'd give this one more than 5 stars if I could.

Let me start with the narrator, Daniel Sharman.  His performance of this book was brilliant.  I loved his voices and could listen to him read to me for hours.  Truly, his efforts added to the book.

Never have I read a series that included a love triangle that was quite like this.  Every love triangle has it's teams and I have always seen a clear choice.  It seemed there was always the one that I felt would be the chosen one.  I'm normally always right.  But Will and Jem are different.  They love each other as much as they love Tessa.  Their bond makes this triangle so different.  At the end of Clockwork Prince, I was totally destroyed when Will willingly stepped aside to allow Tessa and Jem to be together.  I'm team Will.  He is so broken and Tess makes him whole but so does Jem.  I didn't get that at the end of Clockwork Prince but I do now.  I also became Team Will/Jem.  How can anyone choose between them?  They are two halves of one whole that loves Tessa.  All I can say about how things turned out is - BRILLIANT.

This book had me in tears from the beginning to the end.  I couldn't read it straight through, though I was desperate to know the end.  I needed the breaks to control my emotions.  Books don't do that to me very often.  Sure I cry sometimes but not like this.  I mean it.  Tears rolling down my cheeks, a sobbing mess.  Twitter friends helped, assuring me to keep going.  That's what I would say to anyone else working up the courage to read this one.  Keep reading.  Keep reading.  The middle half is hard.  The resolution is brilliant.  I loved it. 

I want to sit down and read the whole series front to back and enjoy every incredible minute of it.  This series combined with The Mortal Instruments is a work of art.  Crafted and plotted with perfection.  It's complex, intricate and beautiful.  Art. 

I love how this book resolved the infernal devices aspect but didn't end there.  There was more to resolve.  There was Will and Jem.  There were other wonderful relationships to figure out.  There was a connection to The Mortal Instruments to be made.  I'm impatiently for the actual book to actually arrive (I won a pre-order but TBD ships slow boat) so I can go over the family tree.  I know them now but I want to see it. 

I loved getting to know Magnus more.  His character is explained so much in this book/series.  I found myself wanting to re-read The Mortal Instruments just so I could see him again.  Remember what happens to him later.

Some of my favorite books are urban fantasy.  I love the fantasy hiding in the normal.  Cassandra Clare sets the highest standard for the best kind of urban fantasy.  If you haven't started any of her books, start here with The Infernal Devices series.  BUT have them all available because you will want to keep reading once you start.

Cassandra Clare | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook 

Amazon | B&N | Audible

Clockwork Priness (The Infernal Devices, #3) by Cassandra Clare ~ Giveaway

Now Available 

About Clockwork PrincessDanger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the New York Timesbestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close.
If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.

About The Infernal Devices SeriesSet in the Victorian London underworld, in the prequel series to The Mortal Instruments, Shadowhunters are barely winning against the forces of evil.

 Amazon | B&N

About the Author

Cassandra Clare is the author of the New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Mortal Instruments series and Infernal Devices trilogy. Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages.

Cassandra Clarie | Infernal Devices

 Facebook | Twitter

****GIVEAWAY****

I am honored to be hosting this giveaway for Simon & Schuster.  
I have The Infernal Devices Complete Trilogy to give away.

US addresses only 

Fill out the rafflecopter below. 



 
  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare ~ Review

Source: Purchased audio book, narrated by Molly C. Quinn

My Summary:

With Jace gone and tracking him useless, Clary is desperate to save him.  Most don't believe he can be saved but Clary will try even it means going alone.  Finding him is only the first impossible thing she has to do.  How can she trust Jace as he is or that matter Sebastian?  Her brother tries to convince her his plan is good but can she really believe him?  What are his true motives? Then there is the clave - the law is hard but it is the law.  With them involved what chance does Jace really have?   Who will survive and who will never be the same? 

My Thoughts:

4 stars - Fabulous world & story

I'll start with the narrator since I listened to this book.  It was find, that's all.  I missed the voice of Ed Westwick that helped narrator the last book.  But Molly's voice didn't distract from the book at all.

So I love Cassandra Clare books.  Well, most of them.  I will admit that book 4 in this series, City of Fallen Angels, was very hard on me.  I get so personally involved with the characters in her books that I feel like I'm suffering right along with them.  With book 4, my heart was smashed beyond repair.  I had a hard time wanting to read this book.  I couldn't stand the thought of a Jace that wasn't Jace.  And I was right to be worried.  I struggled to read this one.  I've never taken so long to finish a book by Cassie ever.  I started this book on June 16th.  I JUST finished it last night.  I put it aside so many times to read other books.  Now don't get me wrong, it's still got Cassie's fabulous writing, world building and twisting story line - it's just that I couldn't bare to watch the characters going through what they did.  I think, too, that I've learned that more than two POVs is too much for me.

Yes I will be reading book 6 and I hope that Cassie brings all the pieces together with an ending that I can be happy with.  

Cassandra Clare | Goodreads | Twitter | FB | Amazon | B&N | Audible | The Book Depository   

Teaser Tuesday ~ 7/10/12

This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To participate you:

* Grab your current read

* Open to a random page

* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This weeks teaser comes from City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare.

At last she heard it, a long slow rushing noise, like water pouring through a broken dam.  The sky darkened and churned as figures rushed across it.  She could barely make them out through the clouds and the distance, but they seemed to be men, with long hair like cirrus clouds, riding horses whose hooves gleamed the color of blood.  The sound of a hunting horn echoed across the night, and the stars shivered and the night folded in on itself as the men vanished behind the moon. Page 230

It's the wild hunt! Loved that Cassandra added this little tidbit in there. What do you think of my teaser this week? What's your teaser? Leave me a comment.

Team Clary needs VOTES today

It's Clary's Day and Team Cassie needs your support!

TODAY we need support for TeamClary so spread the word about voting for Clary and  you can enter to win

Clockwork Angle pendent (Supplied by Cassandra Clare)

A copy of "Clockwork Prince" (supplied by ME)

 A Nephilim-Facilis Descensus Averno bookmark from Hebel Design (supplied by Letters Inside Out)

Winners choice of "City of Bones", "City of Ashes", "City of Glass" or "Clockwork Angel" (supplied by Avery's Book Nook)

Change your twitter pic to one of our team buttons and add an entry under spreading the word in some other way.  Just tell me your twitter handle on the extra info line.

Go here to vote for Clary!

I have adjusted the tweet button for today to link to voting for Clary so us it to spread the word!

Vote Team Clary TODAY & GIVEAWAY

Clary did a fabulous job fighting through the first round of the Heroine Tourney and now it's time for round two.  This time, she battles with Cammie Morgan from the Gallagher Girls series.  I think the choice is clearly Fray.  Make sure to VOTE today then spread the word to enter to win ALL of Cassandra Clare's books SIGNED.  See the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

Clary Fray/Morgenstern is the heroine from Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments Series, which includes City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, and coming City of Lost Souls, and City of Heavenly Fire.

*** Spoiler Alert Quotes from 1st four books below ***

Fray's Fabulous Features

By Kara Lija

A petite 5 feet tall
Curly red hair
Green eyes
Freckles 
Survives the worst father ever, Valentine Morgenstern
Received Ithuriel's blood giving her special talents
Shadowhunter
Beautiful

Fiercely loyal & driven to help those she loves

From City of Bones - "I don't want tea," said Clary, with muffled force. "I want to find my mother. And then I want to find out who took her in the first place, and I want to kill them.

Feisty & independent - she doesn't put up with anyone's um ... you know

From City of Bones - "I was ninety percent sure." "I see," Clary said.
There must have been something in her voice, because he turned to look at her. Her hand cracked across his face, a slap that rocked him back on his heels. He put a hand to his cheek, more in surprise than pain. "What the hell was that for?" "The other ten percent," she said, and they rode the rest of the way down to the street in silence."

Funny & great to have around

From City of Bones - "Don't touch any of my weapons without my permission."
"Well, there goes my plan for selling them all on eBay," Clary muttered.
"Selling them on what?" Clary smiled blandly at him. "A mythical place of great magical power." 

Figures it out when everyone else gives up 

From City of Glass - "No. I wanted to tell you that I was proud of you." Clary slewed around to look at her mother. "You were?" Jocelyn nodded. "Of course I was. The way you stood up in front of the Clave like that. The way you showed them what you could do. You made them look at you and see the person they loved most in the world, didn't you?" "Yeah," Clary said. "How did you know?" "Because I heard them all calling out different names," Jocelyn said softly. "But I still saw you."
 

Forever drawn to the gorgeous Jace

From City of Glass - All that existed was Jace; all she felt, hoped, breathed, wanted, and saw was Jace. Nothing else mattered.

From City of Fallen Angels - Not to be outdone, Clary slid her hands under the hem of his soaked shirt, and let her fingers explore what was underneath: the tight, hot skin over his ribs, the ridges of his abdomen, the scars on his back. This was uncharted territory for her, but it seemed to be driving him crazy: he was moaning softly against her mouth, kissing her harder and harder, as if it would never be enough, not quite enough —.

Fierce & Fights for what she loves

 From City of Glass - "Is this the part where you say if I hurt her, you'll kill me?" "No" Simon said, "If you hurt Clary she's quite capable of killing you herself. Possibly with a variety of weapons." 

From City of Glass Jace - "You could have had anything else in the world, and you asked for me."  She smiled up at him.  Filthy as he was, covered in blood and dirt, he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.  "But I don't want anything else in the world."

Firm hold on herself

From City of Glass, right after Jace yells at her - "When you told me the first time that Valentine was your father, I didn't believe it," she said.  "Not just because I didn't want it to be true, but because you weren't anything like him.  I've never thought you were anything like him.  But you are.  You are."
   
Flair for making new or stronger runes  

From City of Ashes - "The completed Fearless rune was a matrix of strongly swirling lines: a rune as bold and aerodynamic as an eagle.  She tore the page free and held it up so the others could see it."

What makes Clary better than Cammie

So, um.... I am a bit... biased here.  LOVE Clary and I know very little about Cammie.  She seems cool and all but she isn't Clary.  What more can I say, here? Really vote TeamClary.  BESIDES if Clary wins this whole deal, Cassandar Clare will write the Greenhouse scene from Jace's POV.  YES you read that right!

Last point - Clary gets Jace's vote! Nough said.

From City of Glass - "There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then."

Vote #TeamClary

StuckInBooks has teamed with Cassandra Clare to inspire a #TeamClary victory!

This inspiration has two parts.  First, there is a GIVEAWAY.  Everyday you can tweet, blog, FB, or whatever about voting #TeamClary, and be entered to win SIGNED copies of ALL of Cassies books.  Just use the Rafflecopter below to record your efforts at getting the word out.  The contest will remain open as long as #TeamClary is competing.  After the final victor is declared, the books will be awarded.

AND if that victor is Clary, then Cassandra Clare will write the Greenhouse scene from City of Bones from Jace's POV for all to enjoy!

Seriously, how good is that! Vote #TeamClary!

Support #TeamCassie HERE!

Team Cassie needs Votes TODAY

It's Izzy's Day and Team Cassie needs your support!

TODAY we need support for TeamIzzy so spread the word about voting for Izzy and  you can enter to win

Clockwork Angle pendent (Supplied by Cassandra Clare)

A copy of "Clockwork Prince" (supplied by ME)

 A Nephilim-Facilis Descensus Averno bookmark from Hebel Design (supplied by Letters Inside Out)

Winners choice of "City of Bones", "City of Ashes", "City of Glass" or "Clockwork Angel" (supplied by Avery's Book Nook)

Change your twitter pic to one of our team buttons and add an entry under spreading the word in some other way.  Just tell me your twitter handle on the extra info line.

Go here to vote for Izzy!

I have adjusted the tweet button for today to link to voting for Izzy so us it to spread the word!

Vote TeamClary from Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instrucments & GIVEAWAY

Clary Fray/Morgenstern is the heroine from Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments Series, which includes City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, and coming City of Lost Souls, and City of Heavenly Fire.

*** Spoil Alert Quotes from 1st four books below ***

Fray's Fabulous Features

By Kara Lija

A petite 5 feet tall
Curly red hair
Green eyes
Freckles 
Survives the worst father ever, Valentine Morgenstern
Received Ithuriel's blood giving her special talents
Shadowhunter
Beautiful

Fiercely loyal & driven to help those she loves

From City of Bones - Clary felt suddenly annoyed. "When the self-congratulatory part of the evening is over, maybe we could get back to saving my best friend from being exsanguinated to death?"  

From City of Bones - "I don't want tea," said Clary, with muffled force. "I want to find my mother. And then I want to find out who took her in the first place, and I want to kill them.

Feisty & independent - she doesn't put up with anyone's um ... you know

From City of Bones - "I was ninety percent sure." "I see," Clary said.
There must have been something in her voice, because he turned to look at her. Her hand cracked across his face, a slap that rocked him back on his heels. He put a hand to his cheek, more in surprise than pain. "What the hell was that for?"
"The other ten percent," she said, and they rode the rest of the way down to the street in silence."

From City of Ashes - "Hey Baby." "Baby? You're kidding me, right?" "I was trying it out. No?" "No."

Funny & great to have around

From City of Bones - "Don't touch any of my weapons without my permission."
"Well, there goes my plan for selling them all on eBay," Clary muttered.
"Selling them on what?" Clary smiled blandly at him. "A mythical place of great magical power." 

From City of Bones - "I figured all your classes were stuff like Slaughter 101 and Beheading for Beginners."Jace flipped a page. "Very funny, Fray." 

Lily Collins

Figures it out when everyone else gives up 

From City of Glass - "No. I wanted to tell you that I was proud of you." Clary slewed around to look at her mother. "You were?" Jocelyn nodded. "Of course I was. The way you stood up in front of the Clave like that. The way you showed them what you could do. You made them look at you and see the person they loved most in the world, didn't you?" "Yeah," Clary said. "How did you know?"
"Because I heard them all calling out different names," Jocelyn said softly. "But I still saw you."
 

Forever drawn to the gorgeous Jace

From City of Glass - All that existed was Jace; all she felt, hoped, breathed, wanted, and saw was Jace. Nothing else mattered.

From City of Fallen Angels - Not to be outdone, Clary slid her hands under the hem of his soaked shirt, and let her fingers explore what was underneath: the tight, hot skin over his ribs, the ridges of his abdomen, the scars on his back. This was uncharted territory for her, but it seemed to be driving him crazy: he was moaning softly against her mouth, kissing her harder and harder, as if it would never be enough, not quite enough —.

Fierce & Fights for what she loves

 From City of Glass - "Is this the part where you say if I hurt her, you'll kill me?" "No" Simon said, "If you hurt Clary she's quite capable of killing you herself. Possibly with a variety of weapons." 

From City of Glass Jace - "And then I met you.  You were a mundane.  Weak.  Not a fighter.  Never trained.  And then I saw how much you loved your mother, loved Simon, and how you'd walk into hell to save them.  you did walk into a vampire hotel.  Shadowhunters with a decade of experience wouldn't have tried that.  Love didn't make your weak; it made you stronger than anyone I'd ever met." 

From City of Glass Jace - "You could have had anything else in the world, and you asked for me."  She smiled up at him.  Filthy as he was, covered in blood and dirt, he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.  "But I don't want anything else in the world."

Firm hold on herself

From City of Glass, right after Jace yells at her - "When you told me the first time that Valentine was your father, I didn't believe it," she said.  "Not just because I didn't want it to be true, but because you weren't anything like him.  I've never thought you were anything like him.  But you are.  You are."
   
Flair for making new or stronger runes  

From City of Ashes - "The completed Fearless rune was a matrix of strongly swirling lines: a rune as bold and aerodynamic as an eagle.  She tore the page free and held it up so the others could see it."

From City of Glass - "She squeezed her eyelids shut and, against the darkness behind the them, began to draw with her mine in curving lines of light.  Lines that spoke to her of doorways, of being carried on whirling air, of travel and faraway places.  The lines came together in a rune as grateful as a bird in flight.  She didn't know if it was a rune that had existed before or one she had invented, but it existed now as if it always had."

What makes Clary better than Kate

So I enjoyed Die for Me by Amy Plum but Kate was not the reason why.  Vincent was my favorite character in that book.  Kate was a puzzle to me.  She's withdrawn, even sullen and not pro-active.  It's been seven months since her parents death and while I understand it's hard for her, she is still hiding away not dealing.  Clary would never do that!

Last point - Clary gets Jace's vote! Nough said.

From City of Glass - "There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then."

Vote #TeamClary

StuckInBooks has teamed with Cassandra Clare to inspire a #TeamClary victory!

This inspiration has two parts.  First, there is a GIVEAWAY.  Everyday you can tweet, blog, FB, or whatever about voting #TeamClary, and be entered to win SIGNED copies of ALL of Cassies books.  Just use the Rafflecopter below to record your efforts at getting the word out.  The contest will remain open as long as #TeamClary is competing.  After the final victor is declared, the books will be awarded.

AND if that victor is Clary, then Cassandra Clare will write the Greenhouse scene from City of Bones from Jace's POV for all to enjoy!

Seriously, how good is that! Vote #TeamClary!

Support #TeamCassie HERE!

#TeamCassie for the #HeronineTourney GIVEAWAY

TeamClary, TeamIzzy & TeamTessa are teaming up to make sure a TeamCassie girl wins the YA Sisterhood Heroine Tourney!

So here's how it works.  Whenever you tweet, blog, FB, or whatever to promote voting for one of our girls, you can enter to win Clockwork Prince, a Nephilim - Facilis Descensus Averno bookmark from Hebel Design, or choice of CofB, CofA, CofG or CA.  First place chooses first and so forth.  We hope to add to the pile of prizes as we go along.  ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRIZE PILE, let one of the teams know.

You can also get entries for adding team buttons to your blog.  Check out StuckInBooks for Team Clary buttons.  Check out Letters Inside Out for Team Izzy buttons.  Check out Avery's Book Nook for Team Tessa buttons. (Special thanks to Avery's Book Nook for making the buttons)

Contact StuckInBooks at valerie(at)stuckinbooks.com or @StuckInBooks on twitter

Contact Letters Inside Out at amanda(at)lettersinsideout.com or @lostalice7 on twitter

Contact Avery's Book Nook at mailto:averys.book.nook(at)hotmail.ca or @AverysBookNook on twitter

Support TeamCassie heroines!

Calling all Shadowhunters

YAY!

StuckInBooks, oh that's me Valerie, 

is advocating

for Clary Frey 

from the Mortal Instruments 

in the YA Sisterhood Heroine Tourney!

SQUEE!

So that was my first reaction.  Now, I may be stressing a little.  It's such a BIG responsibility.

But then I thought, I just need to ask for suggestions on how to advocate for the BEST heroine ever.  If you have a suggestion on what makes Clary a great heroine, please leave a comment.  

What does it mean to be a great heroine?

What is it about her that draws you to her?

I do have one really good, well I think so anyway, idea but I'm so open to others.

Let me know what you think.