City of Glass, Cassandra Clare, Simon and Schuster, 541 pages

What can I say except I <3 <3 <3 this series. Am I heartbroken that the series is over? I was for about a nano-second until I heard there was going to be a fourth! City of Fallen Angels comes out March 31, 2011. I am assuming that’s Simon on the cover since it alternates between characters. BUT that is for another review. We are talking about CoG!
And what really IS there to say? Except that it was awesome. As always. The characters have grown and come into themselves. The plot thickened. The unraveling of major points was done masterfully. And yeah, just loved it.

I really wanted to give you more of a variety, more snarky, sarcastic comments from the characters that I’ve grown to love. But...have I mentioned before that I’m a sap? Yeah...

"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."

"And I'm suppose to sit by while you date boys and fall in love with someone else, get married...?" His voice tightened. "And meanwhile, I'll die a little bit more every day, watching."

"I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you," he said, "and how after that I couldn't forget you. I wanted to, but I couldn't stop myself. I forced Hodge to let me be the one who came to find you and bring you back to the Institue. And even back then, in that stupid coffee shop, when I saw you sitting on that couch with Simon, even then that felt wrong to me-- I should have been the one sitting with you. The one who made you laugh like that. I couldn't get rid of that feeling. That it should have been me. And the more I knew you, the more I felt it--it had never been like that for me before. I'd always wanted a girl and then gotten to know her and not wanted her anymore, but with you the feeling just got stronger and stronger until that night when you showed up at Renwick's and I knew."

""You said you were going for a walk!? What kind of walk takes six hours?"
""A long one?"

"And now I’m looking at you,” he said, “and you’re asking me if I still want you, as if I could stop loving you. As if I would want to give up the thing that makes me stronger than anything else ever has. I never dared give much of myself to anyone before – bits of myself to the Lightwoods, to Isabelle and Alec, but it took years to do it – but, Clary, since the first time I saw you, I have belonged to you completely. I still do. If you want me.

"I wouldn't change it," Simon said. "I wouldn't give up loving you. Not for anything. You know what Raphael told me? That I didn't know how to be a good vampire, that vampires accept that they're dead. But as long as I remember what it was like to love you, I'll always feel like I'm alive."

"...there was an electric anger in his gaze, and a sort of challenge that made Simon long to hit him with something heavy. Like a pickup truck.”

City of Bones, Cassandra Clare, Simon Pulse, 485 pages

(Dec. 4) So when I first read this book back in 2007, I thought it was good but because of the twist between the two main characters I put it back. I mean, ugh, and how could I continue with the series? It was just too upsetting. I like a good love story, I like happy endings.

And so for the next two years I ignored the really amazing covers of the next two books. Kept telling myself to stay away.

Then Kristi, The Story Siren, convinced me to pick them up again.

And boy did I ever.

I couldn’t put them down. Seriously. I’ve finished all three books in like a week. And now I can’t wait for the “prequel” series, The Infernal Devices, to start coming out. Or the fourth “surprise” book in The Mortal Instruments series, City of Fallen Angels.

City of Bones has so much going for it, intrigue, monsters, warriors, normal people, the warriors call Mundanes. And of course that bit of romance I was talking about earlier, plus unsettling twists, adventure, and magic.

The main character of Clary, pulls you in and makes you feel like you are apart of the story. Each and every character is well fleshed out, relateable, and even funny in their own ways. That’s something I actually really enjoyed about the characters, the main ones and even a few of the secondary ones, they each had their moments of humour. Most of the time that’s focused in on one character. You know, he’s the funny one, usually the best friend of the girl (mc) and while Simon did have quite a few funnies, so did Clary, Jace, Alec, Magnus, Luke, and even Isabelle.

In fact, for my quotes section, it was so hard to leave some of them out, but for the sake of time and space I did.

So here they are, and if you haven’t read the series, I suggest you do so.

Right now.

Why are you still here?

Oh yea, the quotes. That’s why...

"How did you know I had Shadowhunter blood? Was there some way you could tell?"

"It seemed the most likely explanation."

"You guessed? You must have been pretty sure, considering you could have killed me."

"I was ninety percent sure."

"I see," Clary said. Her hand cracked across his face, a slap that rocked him back on his heels.

He put his hand to his cheek, more in surprise than pain. "What the hell was that for?"

"The other ten percent," she said. -Clary and Jace pg. 84-85

"You hate the Silent Brothers," protested Isabelle.

"I don't hate them," said Jace candidly. "I'm afraid of them. It's not the same thing."

"I thought you said they were librarians,"said Clary.

"They are librarians."

Simon whistled. "Those must be some killer late fees." -Isabelle, Jace, Clary and Simon pg. 158

Jace's grin was a white flash in the darkness. "It means 'Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies since 1234.'"

"Jace--"

It means, said Brother Jeremiah, The descent into Hell is easy. Jace, Clary, and Brother Jeremiah pg. 179

"The other ten percent," she said. -Clary and Jace pg. 84-85

Betrayals, Lili St. Crow, RazorBill, 296 pages

(Dec. 2) I do so enjoy this series and where Betrayals was a little slower in moving forward I felt like it was worth it.

Dru is now stuck in a school, out in the middle of nowhere, full of vampire and werewolf boys.

This book is pretty much all about Dru trying to come to grips with how her life has changed since Strange Angels, why she is where she is, and why, despite what Christophe told her when he sent her to the school, no one at the school is trying to help train her.

She distances herself from everyone, not really wanting to be there. Even a little from her best friend Graves, because he seems to be fitting in better.

Dru did bug me a little bit with her moping.

She wasn’t as talkative to Graves as she usually is and he had to drag a lot out of her. Do I understand why? Sure. But it still bugged me to read it chapter after chapter.

The ending of the story, say the last 10-12 chapters were pretty action packed and ended the story well.

I thought the twist in there about Ash and the Broken was intriguing.

And am curious when we will learn Graves’ first name. Does it matter? Not really, just curious. (I tweeted Ms. St. Crow and she said we find out in book 3!)

Also, just so you know, in case you are wanting to purchase this book for someone younger, or if you are a parent, there was more cussing in this book than the last. And not just hell’s and damn’s. I personally didn’t think a lot of it was necessary to further the story or show how “bad*ss” a person was supposed to be.

Mind you, this was set in a school for the “delinquents” so some of it did lend to the overall feel of the story.

I will absolutely be waiting for Jealousy, in June of 2010.

Now for some quotes

“You wanted to be a physics professor.” My throat closed up; I could only whisper.

“Yeah, well, things change. Now I want to be here.” Another long, seconds-ticking pause. Dust danced in one fading gleam of gold coming through a low window, following long lazy swirls down to the ground. “With you.”

“Doesn’t it bother you? That I...well, that I wanted to...suck his blood?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. The silver earring winked mischievously at me, catching a stray gleam of sun. “Nah. You wouldn’t, you’d have stopped yourself.”- “Besides,” he said, flipping open the first huge leather-bound book with a thump, “it’s kind of hot.” A smile hovered around the corners of his mouth, fighting to stay hidden.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan, Delacorte Press, 310 pages

(Nov. 4)I am unsure how I felt about this book. Some moments I liked it others I hated. I didn’t hate the story, I thought it was clever. I guess I should say some moments I liked Mary but most moments I hated her. Though hate seems such a harsh word, I despised her, wanted to smack her. Thought she was really really selfish. It was heartwrenching watching her life play out, almost from word go.

And I did cry. Real tears. More than once. So in that aspect I think Carrie did an amazing job in making me apart of the story. Drawing me in.

But in the end I still had too many unanswered’s.

I figure they will be answered in the companion novel titled, The Dead-Tossed Waves. It sounds really good, but I’m hoping for more than just Mary to be a character we see again. Meaning I hope some of the others from TFHT aren’t gone. Did that give away too much? I don’t think so.

I was so taken with the world that Mary and the others were a part of. There was so much heart-ache, I just had this ache the whole time I read the book. Some of you may wonder, if it’s that painful, why, why would you put yourself through it. Because it makes you feel.

You know how there are some moments when you want to watch a movie you know will make you cry?

Kind of like that.

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins, Scholastic, 374 Pages

Okay, I just re-read the book because I wanted it to be fresh in my mind for this review. It’s funny because I actually put off buying this book for quite some time because it sounded like something I might enjoy but not something I wouldn’t be able to put down.

How wrong I was!

This book, both times I have read it, was un-put-downable. I loved, Loved, LOVED it. Which seems kinda strange since it’s essentially about a group of teenagers trying to kill each other off till they are the last one standing.

But OH it is so much more.

Here is a quick synopsis for those few that have not read it.

Katniss Everdeen, 16 year old that lives in the poorest district of Panem, what used to be North America. There isn’t much left, but what is left is sectioned off into districts and these districts each have a specific function. District 4 is close to the Sea, so Fishing, District 11 is Agriculture and District 12 is Coal Mining. There was a District 13 but it was inhialated when a rebellion broke out 74 years ago.

Because of that rebellion the Capitol now holds the ultimate reality tv show, The Hunger Games, where two Tributes, a boy and a girl, from each District is randomly chosen to participate. It’s a battle to the death. 24 go in, only 1 can win.

Every chapter pushed me forward to the next. I didn’t want to put this book down and having a 16 month old daughter that needed my attention, and a hungry hubby is the only reason I did.

I thought the descriptions of the arena was amazing, the characters each had a distinct voice, you never got confused on who was talking which is a pretty terrific feat considering how many characters there are.

Re-reading this book (and having read Catching Fire) there were subtle hints of things to come that I did not catch the first time or even remembered while reading CF.

I have to say that although I think Katniss is a great character, and really could relate to her in many ways, she kind of irked me when it came to expressing herself, her thoughts I mean. She was always holding things back, which I get, I really do but is still irked me.

Needless to say my favourite character is Peeta Mellark, the boy Tribute from District 12. For many reasons that I can’t exactly go into in case I spoil something for you. Just let’s say he seems like someone I would hang out with. Which to me is one of the highest compliments I can give. Because, if I’m so super cool, why wouldn’t you want to? I jest, but seriously, I’d like to have him as a friend. Hopefully many, if not all of you, will realize that I am a bit random, sarcastic, and a joker so Peeta seems like all three of those things. Which is why I’d want him around. Well, one of the reasons. Another big one for me is that he didn’t care if people saw that he’d cried. Although he doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve, he’s also okay with being sweet, and charming, and kind.

I like a guy who can be that way, and be okay with it. Hence, why I married my hubby. Well one of the reasons. But I digress.

If you have not read The Hunger Games you must run, do not walk, do not pass Go, Run, RUN out to your nearest bookstore and get a copy. You will not be disappointed. I promise.

Thank you Suzanne Collins for your amazing creativity. I aspire to be you one day. Could I be your friend? :D

Now, because I am a quotes person, I scoured the book for some of my favourites that didn’t give away much. (I hope)

I realized after writing them down, that most of them have Peeta in it....and some are long...some may spoil something for you...be warned...

Katniss-”What about you? I’ve seen you in the market. You can lift hundred pound bags of flour,” I snap at him. “Tell him that. That’s not nothing.”

Peeta-”Yes, and I’m sure the arena will be full of bags of flour for me to chuck at people. It’s not like being able to use a weapon. You know it isn’t,” he shoots back.

Katniss-He can wrestle,” I tell Haymitch. “He came in second in our school competition last year, only after his brother.”

Peeta-”What use is that? How many times have you seen someone wrestle someone to death?” Says Peeta in disgust

Peeta-”I do the cakes,” he admits to me. (So random, I love it)

Katniss-Somehow the whole thing-his skill, those inaccessable cakes, the praise of the camouflage expert-annoys me. “It’s lovely. If only you could frost someone to death,” I say.

Peeta-”Don’t be so superior. You can never tell what you’ll find in the arena. Say it’s actually a gigantic cake-” begins Peeta

Katniss-”Say we move on,” I break in.

Katniss-”Trust me killing things is much easier than this,” I said. “Although for all I know, I am killing you.”

Peeta-”Can you speed it up a little?” he asks.

Katniss-”No. Shut up and eat your pears.” I say.

Katniss-”And you ate without me!” I really don’t care I just want something else to be mad about. (Such a girl thing to do.)

Peeta-”What? No, I didn’t,” Peeta says.

Katniss-”Oh and I suppose the apples ate the cheese,” I say.

Peeta-”I don’t know what ate the cheese,” Peeta says slowly and distinctly, as if trying not to lose his temper, “but it wasn’t me.”

Katniss-I should have known the moment I saw the missing cheese.

and the last one...

Katniss-This is the first kiss where I actually feel stirring in my chest. Warm and curious. This is the first kiss that makes me want another.