{NIN} Review: The Clockwork Angel

I love Cassandra Clare. She got me to start reading YA Lit again with The Mortal Instruments series. Actually, I guess I should say it was {Ja} since she introduced me to TMI, but it was Cassandra Clare's City of Ashes that hooked me, line and sinker. I was such a Clace shipper, quite shameless actually. I {heart}ed Jace a lot! :-)

So when I heard about her next series coming out after City of Glass was released, I eagerly checked my local library's hold list religiously each day for the past 6 months until the day it became available to be put on hold. And it totally paid off! I was #17 and got the book on the first round of releases. Never before touched pages of a brand new book - aaaahhh... I digs.

The Clockwork Angel, the first book in The Infernal Devices trilogy (for now, since TMI was supposed to be a trilogy but now it's going to be a 6 book series), takes place in the same Shadowhunter world that we were introduced to in TMI, but in the year 1878 and in London, no less (which is awesome because I can read all the characters lines with a Bri'ish accent...in my head...).

The protaganist of the story is Tessa Gray, an American who journeys to London at the behest of her brother. She arrives only to be kidnapped by a mysterious pair, the Dark Sisters who reveal a startling truth to her - Tessa is a warlock with the rare ability to shape-shift. Threatening harm to her beloved brother Nate, the Dark Sisters force Tessa to hone her warlock skill in preparation for her betrothal to the mysterious Magistrar, who wants Tessa's power under his control.

By fortuitous occurrence, Tessa is rescued by the dashing Shadowhunter of piercing blue eyes, Will Herondale (Jace's forebearer of some sort, I suppose), who had been investigating a series of mysterious mundane deaths that all pointed back to the Dark Sisters. Will brings her back to the London Institute where Tessa is introduced to the world of Shadowhunters, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, and fairies. Together with the Shadowhunters, Tessa endeavers to learn the truth about herself, her parents' past, her brother, the strange mechanical creatures that are attacking them, and the mysterious Magistrar who controls them.

I definitely liked this book a lot, though it did not elicit the same gushing obsession that TMI did. The book is set in Victorian England, so the decorum of the day is somewhat interesting to read about, and London sounds like it was pretty bawdy in the late 1800s. But other than that, the setting, dialogue, and expressions used by the characters didn't seem that much different from American English. In something like Harry Potter, the British slang was definitely more noticeable (bloke, snog, take the mickey), but not so with The Clockwork Angel. Perhaps it has to do with Cassandra Clare being American. Or did Londoners have expressions more similar to Americans back in the day? Anyhoo...

The character recipe for The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments are quite similar:

• Tessa = Clary as in girl new to Downworld who learns that she's not quite the average human she thought she was.
• Will = Jace with the handsome and sarcastic overlay covering his true internal tortured self.
• Jem = Alec in the sense that he is another Shadowhunter boy living at the Institute and Will's parabatai.
• Jessamine = Isabelle of the bizotchy superior attitude.

Magnus Bane also makes an appearance, which is great because I love crossovers. His role is rather limited in this novel, but I expect his role will expand in the coming sequels.

Tessa is an interesting character - loyal almost to a fault, struggling with the idea that she may not be human afterall, and learning the baffling and scary ways of the Downworld. She is also highly attracted to the sarcastic, tempermental, and cocky Will Herondale (sounds just like Jace, eh?) who behaves hot and then [really] cold to her for no apparent reason. And of course, no hot male lead would be complete if he were not TORTURED, and Will most certainly is. His arrival at the Institute at age 12 is a mystery and he refuses to speak of his past. We get flashes into his past (from what I gather, his trauma has to do with...a box), but he is tight-lipped and brusque on any questions about his past. Will's behavior towards Tessa is simply abhorrent at times (Colin Firth says stuff like "abhor" and he's British...hehe...). I seriously wanted to smack him at times...but I also wanted to love him because Tessa is attracted to him, and frankly, I love his cocky attitude. Will is just waiting for Tessa to heal his damaged soul, I know it, even if he doesn't, the bastard. So I guess Cassandra Clare has got me there with the romantic aspect of the story.

Cassandra Clare also manages to weave just the right amount of sarcastic and snarky dialogue into the story, especially from our dear Will, that left me cracking up. I also love that Tessa isn't a meek, submissive girl who isn't afraid to dish it back out to others, even to Will. On Will proclaiming he has a tryst later in the evening with an attractive person, Tessa replies: "Goodness, if you keep seeing Six-Fingered Nigel like this, he'll expect you to declare your intentions." How can you not love that??!! Most awesome!

The mystery is rather intriguing as well - who is the Magistrar and what are his intentions? What is the truth about Tessa's parentage? And what the heck is Will hiding???

It's hard to wax philosophical and analyze this book fully since it's part of a series and character growth will most certainly occur over the course of three books. However, by the end of this book, Tessa has most certainly grown - less naive, accepting of reality (of certain...stuff, I don't want to say and give it away), and possibly moving on the path of making peace with her non-human nature. As for Will? I don't know yet, but I sure hope the cocky tortured bloke gets some sense smacked into him (preferably by Tessa, whom he will then fall madly in love with. But don't lose the sarcastic comments and become wussy like Edward. I don't digs that).

All these questions have got me waiting eagerly for the next installment, The Clockwork Prince (due out in Sept 2012 2011 sorry for the freakout, Ja!!).

JaReview: The Truth About Forever

In the beginning there was this hot boy name Wes.

Tall, dark and handsome. Do you need any more than that?

Alright. Fine.

There’s actually a girl name Macy too (but we mainly care about Wes).

I’ve heard several sources recommend Sarah Dessen. And her story, The Truth about Forever, was #4 on Persnickety Snark’s Top 100 YA books. So why did it take me so long to actually pick up a Dessen book? The only excuse I can think of is that I was ignorant and oh-so oblivious. In a nutshell Sarah Dessen is a smashingly awesome writer. Just brilliant really.

The Truth revolves around Macy, a teenager who’s recently lost her father. Add to that her stick-in-the-mud boyfriend (and trust me, he makes Hermione Granger seem like an irresponsible party girl) has just left for summer Brain Camp. Macy finds herself at a crossroad in her life, only I don't believe she’s aware of it. She’s got her entire future (or at least the summer) planned out. Studying for the SAT’s and maintaining the image of a picture perfect daughter and girlfriend. However, when she meets Wish Catering, run by a lovable but scatterbrained Delia and a crew of other assorted characters (including the previously mentioned Wes), she finds that maybe there’s more to life than just studying.

Do you get the picture? Now can I gush about Wes?

It’s been a while since a “love connection” has reduced me to a squealing schoolgirl, but what can I say. Dessen’s definitely got a way with words. I absolutely loved the fact that Macy and Wes didn’t just fall into a relationship. It was not your average "love-pow" YA romance. It was not a love connection based on his otherworldly beauty, the way she smelled or some other inexplicable force that just draws them together. Furthermore, this amazingly romantic and squeal-worthy book would rate an almost non-existent on the PDA factor.

But how can that be you might ask? How in the world does an author create a relationship with off-the-charts chemistry and there isn’t any scandalous (or innocent) action to be had?

It’s because the sparks aren’t coming from raging hormones or superficial lust. Well…obviously there’s the “whoa he’s pretty hot” reaction. But, more importantly, it’s a slow build up of dialogue, sharing and connection. Dessen slowly pulls you up to the precipice, inch by inch with every secret, buried fear and experience, before she flings you off the edge. And before you know it, you’re jumping up and down, screaming “Kiss her, kiss her!” in a public park and people staring at you.

It’s way too easy to simply write a character as tall, dark and handsome. And what can I say, usually I go for it because I’m shallow. But the hook, it’s when they have that “sparkling” (and I’m not just talking about glittering in sun) personality to go with it. Wes had a troubled past and could have played up the whole tortured artist card. Instead he is to the core incredibly stable and has as much integrity as he’s got devastating good looks. Which is to say, he’s got it in spades.

And of course there is the forbidden love factor. Sure it’s not the standard “he’s a vampire and I’m just a wimpy mortal girl” or “He might be my brother.” But there are extenuating circumstances that add just enough angst, trauma and, more importantly, interest to the storyline.

All in all, it’s been forever since I’ve read a really good swoon worthy couple that doesn't rely on immediate danger or death defying situations to bring them together or maintain the relationship. There is no doubt that The Truth about Forever delivered and Sarah Dessen totally lived up to the hype.

{NIN} Review: Guardian of the Gate

The second book of the Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy by Michelle Zink starts off…really slow for me. It took me a long time to get into it because the book’s pace was so darn slow (and boring) at the beginning. Also, it didn’t help that Mockingjay came out while I was in the middle of reading Guardian of the Gate, so that quickly got put on the backburner while I read, then re-read, Mockingjay, then re-read Catching Fire (I had to get my fill of Katniss/Peeta action in!).

But since Guardian of the Gate was due soon at the library, I knew I’d better finish it soon, so I forced myself to read it, no matter how uninterested I was. However, when I reached a certain point in the book (Chapter 13), the plot got interesting (because hot new love interest entered the scene). After that, I couldn’t put the book down and very quickly finished the rest of it.

Guardian of the Gate picks up where Prophecy of the Sisters (Book 1) left off. Lia has left behind everything of her former life in America (family, friends, boyfriend) and is in London, honing her powers and preparing herself for the final battle she must eventually have against her twin sister Alice. Lia journeys from London with a trusted party of friends to the hidden isle of Altus, home of her Aunt Abigail. Lia needs to find the missing pages from The Book of Chaos that will tell her how to defeat the Souls and end the Prophecy, and only Aunt Abigail knows its location. It is a long and dangerous journey, and they are pursued by Hellhounds bent on keeping them from reaching their destination. Along the way, an unexpected and staggering betrayal occurs, finally forcing Lia to realize that she cannot trust and rely on anyone as wholly and innocently as she once did.

As I said in the beginning, the book started off really slow… but then I got to Chapter 13 and Dimitri Markov.

Helloooo, nurse!

Tall, dark, handsome, exuding power, and a sense of calm. Wowzas. I dig it.

Dimitri is a member of the Grigori sent to watch over Lia as she makes her journey. His role is to not intervene, for good or bad, in her journey but to ensure that she does not violate any laws of the Grigori as she works to end the Prophecy. However, we learn early on that Dimitri is really, and I mean REALLY, attracted to and protective of Lia, and she finds that she quickly and unabashedly feels the same, despite the nagging guilt in the back of her head for James. Their relationship develops at a fast pace but in a believable manner as they just have that instant and soul-wrenching connection. They have so many sigh-worthy moments that I happily got my fill of YA (innocent) romance.

Lia certainly develops into a much stronger person in this book. While still fearful of her sister’s power, she slowly grows into her own, and her self-esteem and self-reliance increase. I enjoyed seeing her fall for Dimitri, yet she is not so blindly in love that she won’t put him in his place when his over-protectiveness irritates her (because actually, it was starting to irritate me too). I thought the book’s conclusion was a worthy display of this self-reliance and growth in her character.

Overall, the book was okay. But now that Dimitri is on the scene, I must finish the series for the sake of finding out what happens with the Lia-Dimitri-James love triangle. Never mind the Prophecy. :)

I really want to give this book two ratings:

Ch.1-12: Didn't Suffer Too Terribly

Ch.13+: I Digs

But I suppose as a whole, I give the book...

JaAuthor Wrap-up: Elizabeth Scott

Or what should really be called “I’m getting freaking sick of the frenemy.” Honestly, is it too much to ask for the main character’s besty to not be an evil back stabbing, slutastic, boy stealing, bit of a witch? Though to be fair, I admit that not all of Elizabeth Scott’s books included the frenemy. And I had been reading a few non-ES books in between that did deal with the wicked besty. Hence the frenemy induced overdose.


Stealing Heaven - This actually started off better than it ended. The beginning entertained me right off the bat. Here’s a girl, Dani, who’s been living her life as a grifter and thief. Her accomplice and teacher is her beautiful but cunning and manipulative mother. I thought her mom was a bit one dimensional and a little distant. Their relationship was more of a partnership between criminals, lacking that mother and daughter bond.

Upon arriving to a small town called Heaven, Dani befriends two people. Allison should be the snotty rich girl you’d love to hate but she’s not. She’s kind, loyal and open. Normally someone so inherently nice would annoy me, but in Allison’s case it’s not fake. I loved Scott’s ability to create a likeable character who isn’t snarky, rude or moody (qualities I normally dig). Greg was adorable, though he definitely lacked in that burning flash of attraction found in characters like Jonah, Gale or Gabriel. But his charm and thoughtfulness made him endearing and definitely likeable.

Unfortunately it seemed to slow down near the end. But the story left me wanting another Scott fix so I’d have to say –

I didn’t suffer too terribly.


Something, Maybe - A story about a girl who remains constantly embarrassed by her mom (yeah her mom’s a step above a porn star, but seriously, who doesn't have parents that embarrass them), in love with the “deep thinker” (who’s really just an intellectual poseur), and deals with an absentee father (who reads like a Hugh Heffner if he ever did the Real World). The main character in this story was so clueless to the obvious; I felt the need to bang her over the head with a blunt object in hopes that she’d get the point. The true object of her affection, not the wannabe tree hugger, is cute but the main’s obtuseness seemed to detract from the story.

It also ended rather abruptly. I would’ve liked to see a bit more development in the characters and a little bit more….closure.

I didn’t suffer too terribly.


The Unwritten Rule – Again, I’ll say this, I’m sooo tired of the Frenemy. Although, I'm not quite sure if this is really a case of the Frenemy. Did her besty knowingly and intentially poach the boy she liked? Or was her besty clueless to the whole thing?

I believe a true besty would know who you crush on, regardless of how secret you try to keep it. I mean T ferreted out my crush on “Flatface” in the 7th grade and I swear I was so covert about that. Either way, it begs the bigger question. Why can’t these main characters have good bffs that aren’t total witches? Do they need to take classes in character judgement? Should that be a recommended class course: Identifying the Frenemy 101 (or "Sorry dude, but your besty is an evil witch"). Nin and I argued the point, but the only conclusion we could come up with was that the main needed to grow a back bone and her love interest to cease from being a stupid boy.

I digs.


Perfect You – This story was good but it was also a bit redundant. Girl’s father goes nuts, quits job and peddles miracle vitamins at the mall. Girl loses besty and becomes social outcast. Girl argues with cute boy from class. Girl struggles to find her way in the story of life, occasionally stopping to kiss said cute boy.

Similarly in Something, Maybe, the love interest is painfully obvious. However there was just enough of turmoil and trauma in the relationship (mostly due to communication and misunderstandings) to keep me entertained. Because you know me, I like my love stories to be epic. Spanning years and continents. Lives ruined and bloodshed. Not that there was really any bloodshed, but there was most definitely a hickey or two.

I digs.


Of all four Scott books, I liked Perfect You the best. Though because of the overwhelming redundancy of the frenemy plot, I’ve since transitioned back to the darker realm of YA-lit, the one that deals with vamps and other assorted things that go bump in the night. But Elizabeth Scott’s books definitely made for entertaining reading.