Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Summary taken from Goodreads

Another fabulous book from Clare, as always. But what really sets this series apart from the TMI series is the setting. Clare's writing never fails to impress me and her Victorian London is so vivid and beautiful. I felt completely transported back in time when I read this.

Another thing that Clare does way too well, love triangles. Even more in this than TMI. She makes it almost impossible to choose between Jem and Will. They are completely different people, both wonderful in there own way. Though if I'm being honest, Will has my heart completely after this one.

We finally get to see more into Will's past and we gain a  much better insight into him. Thank god! I was furious at the end of Clockwork Angel, so many unanswered questions! And while she doesn't wrap everything up, my Will curiosity was satisfied.

Jem is just wonderful too. He is such a sweetheart and has been such a loyal friend to Will, no matter how horrible he's been. If I didn't have such a soft spot for damaged bad boys I'd be head over heels for Jem. But I see him more as someone Tessa should be best friends with. Just friends, Tessa, you hear me?

The mysteries of the Magister just grow! Not to mention how Tessa came to be! Ah I cannot wait for Clockwork Princess to finally answer all my questions!

I can't say one bad thing about this book. Seriously. I think Clare is pretty much flawless and just keeps getting better with each book. I can't wait to read more by her. I hope she never stops writing about the Shadowhunter world.

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

The astonishing final novel in Richelle Mead's epic series!

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. Now, with Rose on trial for her life and Lissa first in line for the Royal Throne, nothing will ever be the same between them.

Summary taken from Goodreads


After the shocker ending of the last book, I couldn't wait to dig my teeth into this one. And while I loved every minute of it, I  am so sad to see the end. I know there's Bloodlines and it's set in the same world, but I'm afraid it just won't be the same. Rose quickly became one of favorite heroines and I'm sad to see her story end. 


But what a wonderful ending! This whole book was just full of twists and turns. The adventure was amazing! Seeing Dimitri and Rose together again, fighting together instead of against each other, oh man. It finally felt right again. 

The world Mead built here is so complex and interesting. I know Bloodlines will be great, even if I know I'll miss Rose and Dimitri greatly. The VA series is definitely on my favorites shelf. I'm going to say it one last time, if you haven't read it yet... what's wrong with you fool?

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

 In Book 5: City of Lost Souls, the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling.



City of Lost Souls!!! After the cover reveal last week I knew this was going to be my WoW. Especially since I just finished Clockwork Prince (review up Friday!). I just love everything Cassandra Clare does. And this cover! So beautiful! I may or may not have teared up a little just looking at it and reading the prologue. I just cannot wait. At all.


What are you waiting for?

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Hmm. This is going to be a tough one...

1. Neil Gaiman!
I love him so much! I still haven't read all the ones he has written, but I still wish he would write more novels. I know he is doing some graphic novels, but those aren't really for me. I hope he writes another novel ASAP.

2. Stephen Chbosky- author of Perks of Being a Wallflower
As far as I know, that was the only book he's written. And it was completely amazing!!! I still love it years later! Write me another one please!

3. Annette Curtis Klause- author of Blood and Chocolate
Such a great werewolf novel. She has an amazing writing style and I would love to see more books from her.

4. Chevy Stevens
Okay. She just wrote a book last year. So what? I want another one!


And sadly, that's all I got. All the authors I read are still putting out books. Wait.... That's not sad at all :-D

Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.



 Summary taken from Goodreads



Lola. I don't even know where to begin. Other than, I COMPLETELY LOVED IT!

Okay. Got that out of my system. I guess I'll start in the obvious place. With Lola. I loved her character so much. She was completely unique and fun. Her clothing style was so eccentric and really helped bring her to life. Perkins is fabulous at creating these female characters you wished you were friends with. 


Lola's two dads were also a treat to read about. They weren't styrotypical by any means. Watching them interact with Cricket and Max was fantastic.

Max, Lola'a boyfriend, was hard to hate at first. It was clear Cricket was meant to be with Lola, but she was with a very hot, rocker type bad boy that seemed to really care about her. I found myself swooning over him once or twice...


But Cricket. Oh my lord Cricket. He was so geeky, in that really adorable and charming way. I more than swooned over him. I fell head over heels for him.


This book had a lot more going on than just Cricket and Lola. And I really enjoyed that. It was nice to see that it wasn't just about the romance. Lola's relationship with her dads, her birth mom, even Cricket's sister were what really made the story for me. Having more than just romance going on is what made it such a great read.


Oh. And can I mentioned how much I loved  seeing St. Clair and Anna?? They were still so perfect and so in love. I enjoyed every scene they were in so, so much.


All in all, Perkins is quickly becoming a must read author for me. And she should be for you too!!

Debut Author Challenge 2012!

This year, I decided to particepate in a few different challenges. I really want to read 100 books this year and figured if I had some challenges to complete along the way, it would really help. The one I'm most excited about is this one: The Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren. The goal of this challenge is to read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 – January 31, 2013. For more information, visit here.

So here is my temporary list. I reserve the right to change this at anytime. (All summaries taken from Goodreads)



Incarnate by Jodi Medows
NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? Out January 31st.

   Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's. Out January 24th 



Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling. Out January 3. 
 
Tempest by Julie Cross

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world. Out January 17th.



Born Wicked By Jessica Spotswood
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other. Out February 7th

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one 
of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved
Out January 13

  The Selection by Kiera Cass
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. 
Out April 24th

 Elemental by Emily White
Just because Ella can burn someone to the ground with her mind doesn't mean she should.

But she wants to.

For ten years—ever since she was a small child—Ella has been held prisoner. Now that she has escaped, she needs answers.

Who is she? Why was she taken? And who is the boy with the beautiful green eyes who haunts her memories?

Is Ella the prophesied Destructor… or will she be the one who's destroyed? 
Out May 1st 

 The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?
Out February 21st

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi   
Worlds keep them apart.

Destiny brought them together.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answer.


Out February 7th


Queen of Glass by Sarah J. Maas 
No photo avaibile. 
An infamous young assassin who is more than she seems must battle her way to freedom in a corrupt kingdom where magic has been outlawed. 

Out sometime 2012


The last one has very little information on it but I like the title and the little bit they have shared.

So that's my list so far. I reserve the right to change this list at anytime. Who else is taking part in this awesome challenge? What debuts are you planning to read? Let me know in comments!

In My Mailbox No. 8

As always, hosted by the Story Siren

Hey guys! Long time no see. 2012 is the year of reading (and reviewing) books for me so be prepared to see a whole lot more of me.

Also, excuse the rambliness that is me in this video. I recorded it at 2 am after I was done with work.

Deadly Little Games
Touch of Frost
Matched
Cryer's Cross