**spoiler alert** 4.5 stars. In the beginning of this book I found myself getting slightly annoyed because it seemed like nothing was going to get don**spoiler alert** 4.5 stars. In the beginning of this book I found myself getting slightly annoyed because it seemed like nothing was going to get done or nothing new was going to be revealed. I really enjoy these books but I feel like they drag out parts sometimes. Turns out I was wrong about this book. While the beginning was a little slow, the middle picked up and the ending...WOW. After hating Dragon's attitude for the majority of the book, I found myself crying at his death. I was also super happy that the killing of Zoey's mom was revealed, along with Heath being inside Aurox. I find myself really looking forward to the next book and wondering how this is all going to work out. ...more
Finally done with this one. It felt like I was reading it forever. I normally like the fantasy element of this series, but with this one, it felt...I Finally done with this one. It felt like I was reading it forever. I normally like the fantasy element of this series, but with this one, it felt...I don't know, a little too much. These are supposed to be children's books, but the plot was hard for me to keep up with. There seemed to be multiple plot points happening, but when they finally all added up, I felt let down. I did enjoy the introduction of Artemis' alter-ego Orion, he at least provided some comic relief. ...more
This book was slightly confusing, but I guess that happens with time travel and everything. Interesting to see Artemis battle with his younger self anThis book was slightly confusing, but I guess that happens with time travel and everything. Interesting to see Artemis battle with his younger self and realize just how much of a brat he was when Holly first met him. Also, Holly and Artemis kiss...not sure how I feel about that lol...more
It seemed a little rushed to me, but I also wasn't a huge fan of the first book in this series. I also probably shouldn't have read this after readingIt seemed a little rushed to me, but I also wasn't a huge fan of the first book in this series. I also probably shouldn't have read this after reading the Twilight one. The art just didn't compare. This wasn't how I really pictured the characters, but I did like the drawings of Christian. ...more
I do really love the drawings in these books. With the exception of Alice, they are all pretty much how I envisioned them. It's also fun to read TwiliI do really love the drawings in these books. With the exception of Alice, they are all pretty much how I envisioned them. It's also fun to read Twilight with the just the conversations, ignoring everything else. I wonder if Stephenie Meyer is stopping with these or if she will continue do do the rest of the series. ...more
Parts of it were a little slow for me, but what a brilliant ending. I never saw that coming! One thing I am confused about though is if Artemis still Parts of it were a little slow for me, but what a brilliant ending. I never saw that coming! One thing I am confused about though is if Artemis still looks the same? I'm assuming he didn't age since technically he was only "gone" for a few hours. Definitely intrigued about the next one. And will Artemis get a girlfriend?...more
3.5 stars. This was such a haunting book. The writer wrote such a gruesome world but in a way where it wasn't hard to believe that it was real. Temple3.5 stars. This was such a haunting book. The writer wrote such a gruesome world but in a way where it wasn't hard to believe that it was real. Temple, for being only 15, moves through this zombie infested world with ease adm familiarity - which shouldn't be surprising considering its all she's known. The people that she meets and the stories that exisit just add to this tale leading up to the end. Although for me it wasn't completely unexpected, I was still shocked at the end. ...more
**spoiler alert** OMG! This third installment in the Mortal Instruments book was the best by far. I went through so many different emotions while read**spoiler alert** OMG! This third installment in the Mortal Instruments book was the best by far. I went through so many different emotions while reading this one - annoyance, happiness, anger, sadness, confusion, amazement - you name it, I can pinpoint one place where I felt it. Spoilers ahead btw.
At the opening of the book, I felt annoyance toward Clary. I was right there with Luke when he was telling her she was acting like a spoiled child. She really was. But the minute she went through the portal, almost died in the lake and went to see Jace, my emotion turned to almost astonishment at the way Jace regarded her. Not only did she walk in on him kissing another girl, but then he acted like a complete asshole to her. This was the first book where I really felt like Clary grew as a character. The scene where her mother returns is a perfect example. I felt like the writer was building up this epic reunion and that Clary would weep with joy when she finally saw her mother again, but what we got was raw emotion and anger and feelings of betrayal.
Now for Jace, what can I say but that I love him...dearly. A part of me always knew that he wasn't Valentine's son, but I never knew how they were going to explain it since everyone was pretty much like, yup that's Jonathan. The moment the angel showed Clary and Jace what Valentine did to his children - putting the demon blood into Jonathan - I knew it wasn't Jace. There was just no way. He was angelic, not demonic. And how right I turned out to be. Cause honestly, it was a little weird rooting for the brother and sister pairing lol.
So if Jace wasn't Jonathan, who was? Sebastian. I knew something was off with him the moment Clary came. Why else would he seem familiar? Why would he remind her of something dark? The moment he confronted Isabelle, I knew who he really was even though I didn't know how to explain it. But I will say, he was one messed up cookie. Cause let's face it, he knew Clary was his sister, yet he kissed her. WTF?
And why oh why did Max have to die? I know that it's a battle and there will be lives lost, but the 9 year old brother? That broke my heart. The pain that came in the aftermath I felt was really critical in the joining of the Downworlders and the Shadowhunters.
And who can forget Simon? I loved how he stepped up in this and realized that while he may be the undead, that didn't mean that he had to stop living. He embraced who he had become and while he was still the Simon I've grown to love, he became this force to be reckoned with, especially in the scene where he confronts Rafael in the forest.
Some other parts that deserved to be mentioned - Jocelyn chasing after Luke because she loves him, Alec kissing Magnus, Jace dying, Simon not giving into the Inquisitor. Just all around, an amazing book. I didn't want to put it down. ...more
My reread is complete! I still agree that this was the best book in the series and yes, I still love this series. It was just so much fun to dive backMy reread is complete! I still agree that this was the best book in the series and yes, I still love this series. It was just so much fun to dive back into this world and get to know the characters again. It is funny how when you reread books years later how much your perspective changes towards certain situations. I found that there were times I would be like "What are you doing, Chloe??" then I would have to remember that she was only 15. So that was fun lol.
One thing I really liked about this finale was how many twists there still were. After everything that was thrown at us in the first 2, it seemed like all the secrets were out and this book would be about getting free and saving those in trouble. But no, more information was thrown at us from all sides. People we thought were trustworthy turned on us. Everyone was shady and it was a game of 'who to trust' the entire time.
I liked how the characters also really grew into their roles. I mean, Simon remained pretty steady but he was the most well adjusted to begin with and was really only there to support his brother. But Chloe, Derek and even Tori all matured and it was really nice to see it happen and not feel forced.
My only gripe is the ending and how open it was left. It seemed like there could be another book here to wrap it up a little more. I heard that some of these characters show up in another of her series, so maybe I'll check that out but somehow I just know it won't be as satisfying as if there were a 4th book here.
***2011 Review*** This one was probably my favorite of the series. I loved how it all came together at the end and how the ending itself holds so many possibilities - like another book maybe lol. This book had me on the edge of my seat for pretty much the whole book, and who I thought the bad guys were weren't. Excellent series....more
**spoiler alert** Gah! I don't even know where to begin or what to think! Ok, first, thank God that Simon is not dead! I've kind of grown attached to **spoiler alert** Gah! I don't even know where to begin or what to think! Ok, first, thank God that Simon is not dead! I've kind of grown attached to him and what he brings to Clary. It's an interesting choice to make him a vampire and now he's some special kind of vampire which I know is because he drank Jace's blood. Valentine didn't seem to happy about that which leaves me thinking that there's something more to it than just a Downworlder drinking the blood of a Shadowhunter.
Now for Clary. I'm really surprised that she wasn't snatched up and taken back to Idris. I really want to know what Valentine did to her and Jace. From his talk with Clary on the boat, it seems as if there was another child and then Imogen said something to Jace right before she was killed and of course we don't know what it is. All these secrets have been building since the first book and I'm just hoping that we get some sort of answer in the next one.
I do love Jace though, and at times, my heart breaks for him. He's been lied to his whole life, is most likely still being lied to and/or played like a pawn. People tend to just shun him off to this side. What he did for Simon shows how much he does care about Clary and even how he acts around Alec and Isabelle.
The end seems to bring more secrets and the possibility of Clary's mother waking up. I am anxious for her to awaken so that she can try to explain her actions and maybe shed some light on this Clary/Jace situation because they can't be related! lol...more
I'm normally not one for biographies. I find most of the boring and hard to follow. This one wasn't boring, but it was hard to follow. There were too I'm normally not one for biographies. I find most of the boring and hard to follow. This one wasn't boring, but it was hard to follow. There were too many name thrown out that half the time I felt like I needed to flip through the earlier pages just to see if this person had been mentioned before.
Not much new was revealed in this, I think mostly because it's not a new book anymore and most of Diana's life has been thrown out into the public, especially with the recent wedding of William....more
A good end to this great series. I honestly didn't know how it was going to end, because nothing looked like a good way out. I did like that we got soA good end to this great series. I honestly didn't know how it was going to end, because nothing looked like a good way out. I did like that we got some background on Janie's father. I honestly never actually thought about where she got her dream talent from, looking back, it should have been obvious. Cabel still remains my favorite character in the books. I just love that his love is so pure for her and he's willing to stand by her through whatever may come. Great series.
Now, here's to hoping that Miley doesn't actually play Janie in the movie. lol...more
**spoiler alert** Wow, just another great book. The author writes it from a point where you feel like you're in the moment. I think the time stamps we**spoiler alert** Wow, just another great book. The author writes it from a point where you feel like you're in the moment. I think the time stamps were a brilliant idea. Everything seemed to be happening in real time and it made the emotions just that much more heightened.
Janie's undercover job here was to find a sexual predator at school. All points seemed to point to Mr. Durbin, which I found suspicious so I didn't immediately suspect him, but I did always feel that there was something out of place with him. What I didn't expect was the outcome. Not one, but three male teachers were sexually harassing students. Janie came so close to being one of those girls at the party, thank God she had assault training.
And Cabe, every book just increases my love for him. His love for Janie is so fierce, so protective, that it scares him - which doesn't help since he's already scared for her. I just hope that when the time comes, that he's really there for Janie.
And as for Janie, the information in the notebook Mrs. Stubin left behind would be enough to scare anyone. I knew from reading the first book that there would be repercussions from dream catching, and during the course of this book I figured that blindness would be one of them. But the deformation of the hands actually shocked me - even though looking back, it shouldn't have.
I am anxious to continue this series, and can't wait to see what the 3rd book has in store. ...more
This book was really interesting. The narrative is very simple and straightforward but it just sucks you right into this dream world. I really felt alThis book was really interesting. The narrative is very simple and straightforward but it just sucks you right into this dream world. I really felt all of Janie's confusion as she tried to learn how to control her talent. And I fell in love with Cabe right from the start. Can not wait to read the second one. ...more
So I had originally rated this book 4 stars back in 2011. Apparently I'm a more picky reader now lol.
Well, we finally got back to good ole police worSo I had originally rated this book 4 stars back in 2011. Apparently I'm a more picky reader now lol.
Well, we finally got back to good ole police work with this one. And boy was I happy. Don't get me wrong, these books will always be my guilty pleasures but they've been lacking lately and quite ridiculous. The reason I fell in love with these books was the core characters and the crime factor. Anita had a job, a life - and she was good at it until it all became about sex.
This book starts right off with Anita doing her marshal duties, which of course means we get more Edward - which I'm always fine with because he has somehow become the best character in this series. Anyway, Anita and Edward solving murders, I'm here for it. We got a few familiar faces, but I'm still missing my core group. The cast has become so big that I forget a lot of these new people right after I meet them. Anyone that's come in after book 12, yeah forget it, I don't remember you. And that's a problem. These new characters aren't fleshed out. They're just sex bait and it's frustrating because not only are you not allowing your characters to mature and grow (mostly because it seems like you forgot about them), but then you're introducing characters for a hot minute that we're suddenly supposed to care about. Well I don't, so you failed.
Side note: can Anita just grow up and learn to feed herself like an actual adult? The fact that multiple times every book someone has to remind the girl to eat is ridiculous. And not only that, she pouts about it every time. Even though she knows the outcome, apparently this makes her a strong independent female - no, it just makes you stupid. It seems Anita keeps losing brain cells the more sex she has. What I wouldn't give for her to finally own her sexuality and stop whining every book.
Also, Olaf. Why is he still alive? It literally makes no sense. He's creepy and not in a fun way that makes me want to read more about him, no I want him gone. Dead. There's no point to him.
I know it seems like I complained a lot about this one, but mostly they are the same complaints I have about the series recently . But the plot here was better and there was less sex, so yay! Progress. I have also finally reached the point where I originally stopped reading the series so everything after this one will be all new to me. Here's hoping they keep getting better, we get our core group back, Anita grows up, and Olaf dies. I know, it's a lot to wish for but a girl can dream, can't she? ...more
Still loving my decision to reread this series. Yes, it's a little juvenile in it's scope but it holds such nostalgia value to me that I can't help buStill loving my decision to reread this series. Yes, it's a little juvenile in it's scope but it holds such nostalgia value to me that I can't help but still love it.
As far as middle books go, this one is solid. The stakes get higher and more background is revealed about our main characters and even the Edison Group itself. And of course there's no solid ending, just more mystery that ensures you will read the final book.
I really feel like the characters are finally coming into their own as well. They are learning to trust themselves and each other, but stay wary of outsiders. I liked reading about them discovering more about their powers. Tori was always the shock here. While you still don't like her, you understand her more and why she is the way that she is. I ultimately believe that she wants friends and she wants to be liked, but doesn't know how to go about making that happen. She just keeps putting up shields and pushing people away. But with a mother like hers, can you blame her?
But it's mostly our main three who run this show: Chloe, Derek and Simon. I love their relationship with each other but you just know problems are about to come because brothers can't like the same girl and it end happy.
And now on to book 3!
Original review from 2011: (view spoiler)[ This was my second time reading this book, but I wanted to reread it before I reviewed it in case my memory was tweaked. It wasn't. I love this series. The characters are so rich and so distinctive that you can't help but fall in love with them and pray that they get out of this mess.
Chloe- I like that the author stays true to her youth. Chloe is very solid through all the books, changing as her life changes, at a natural pace. Times I want to smack her because of how naive she is, but then I remember her age and how confused she must be with everything going on. I do believe that she honestly does like Simon, but I know that her heart is with Derek - even if she doesn't realize this yet.
Derek- I LOVE DEREK. I don't understand how you could not. His protectiveness not only over Chloe, but his brother as well is so endearing. He knows what people think of him and he pretends that he doesn't care, but he does. And he's so obviously in love with Chloe but torn at the same time because of Simon's attraction for her. He's extremely loyal and it's not his fault he's a werewolf.
Simon- For some reason, I can never picture him the way the author describes him. I have my own picture in my head, it's weird lol. But I do like Simon. And in any other scenario, he would be perfect with Chloe, just not here when there's Derek.
Tori- You gotta love to hate her. And in the beginning, I did hate her. Tori's roll in this group is the brat. I love how she pretty much tells it like it is, regardless of what people think. She pretends to hate everyone around her, but deep down, I think that she's happy with this group, happy to belong somewhere when it's so obvious that her parents don't want her around since her mother only uses her as a science experiment.
Loved this book! I loved the way the author used the old legends of New Orleans and mixed it in with modern day. I've always been interested in the suLoved this book! I loved the way the author used the old legends of New Orleans and mixed it in with modern day. I've always been interested in the subcultures of New Orleans. It's city with such history and this book played on that. So much history is immersed in the story.
The characters were intriguing, especially Anton who I really couldn't figure out the whole book. As for our lead Rebecca, I was constantly trying to figure out the connection between her and the "old blood" families of New Orleans. The book always managed to stay one step ahead of me, giving me just enough to satisfy but also to question.
The ending came a little fast, but I couldn't stop reading it. It had me turning page after page trying to solve this mystery. ...more
**spoiler alert** Even though it followed a different court, the emotions were the same from the first book. I love the dark look at the fey world tha**spoiler alert** Even though it followed a different court, the emotions were the same from the first book. I love the dark look at the fey world that the author has created. And I also really like how everything is not all wrapped up in a pretty little bow - not everything ends in a happy ending. I didn't want to like Irial, but as the book went on, I found myself drawn to his misery. I wasn't completely surprised when he gave up his court in the end because I felt that was where his character was moving toward this whole time, especially after Leslie. I was however, surprised that he just gave it to Niall - even though looking back, I really shouldn't have been. I do believe that Niall will make a great king of the Dark Court.
With Leslie, I went through many emotions. I felt bad for her in the beginning. Her life was horrible and she was just trying to survive. But as the book went on, I found myself wanting to smack her for the choices she was making - even though I know they weren't all her own. I felt that her character was made to be weak and not strong, which is what Leslie wanted when she got the tattoo. She was redeemed when she finally broke through Irial's haze and severed her ties to him. I wonder if she will frequent the series in later books.
Now, I have to talk about Keenan for a moment. I loved him in the first book. Even though I wanted Ash with Seth, I adored Keenan's attitude. But in this book, his true colors came out. He has no emotion, no empathy, except for his court. Don't get me wrong, that's good when he's ruling his court, but the fact that he's withholding information and acting behind his queens back shows how deceitful he actually is, which is interesting considering he's from the Summer Court.
I am very intrigued to see where this series goes. The snippet at the end shows more with Seth in the next book and I love Seth. Can't wait to read it!...more
**spoiler alert** Another one of those books where I wasn't sure I would like it when I started it. But wow, this one just grabs you and doesn't let g**spoiler alert** Another one of those books where I wasn't sure I would like it when I started it. But wow, this one just grabs you and doesn't let go. I liked that the legends surrounding the wolfs differed from your normal werewolf stories. I actually spent half the book pretty much in the mind set that this wouldn't end happily. I love the connection between Sam and Grace and the mystery that surrounds the two of them. Sam is such a sweet character and my heart broke for this curse that had been placed upon him. I went through so many emotions while reading this with Sam - almost like I was on this roller-coaster with him. He pretty much knew that this would be his last year human, and when reading his POV you could feel the agony of predicament. HE loved Grace, I never doubted that, but he also felt loyalty toward his pack and the ones who showed him the way and helped him. When he changes back in the end, you just know that their relationship is over. The way the author wrote the very last chapter...not knowing whether Sam was human or wolf was perfect. When he appeared before her in human form, I think my heart stopped right along with Grace.
And this book made me cry! That's how invested I was with these two characters. Can't wait to read more. ...more
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