3 “Cups” to City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Posted at Apr 25, 2013 12:00 pm in author, Book Hungry, Patty Blount, What I'm Reading

This month’s Book Hungry pick comes from our newest member, Blake Leyers. We’re so happy to have you join us, Blake! 

Cassandra Clare’s first book in The Mortal Instruments series and soon to be a movie is about 15-year-old Clary’s newly-discovered ability to see the Shadow world and all the creatures of stories gone by like vampires, demons, and the like. Also part of the Shadow world are the Shadow Hunters, like the adorable Jace and his troop of demon hunters, Alec, Isabelle, and Hodge. When Clary’s mom disappears under highly mysterious circumstances, Clary turns to the Shadow Hunters for help. 

As far as stories go, it’s got something for everyone. There’s the cute boy, the best friend, the love triangle, the special powers and magical lore. My only complaint is that it gave me a little sense of deja vu. First, Clary and BFF Simon are ‘mundies’ — which means mundane. They can’t see the Shadow World. Until Clary suddenly can. This sounded a lot like ‘muggle’ to me. 

SPOILER ALERT: Then, you’ve got a whole Star Wars family dynamic that took the story into ‘creepy’ territory for me, but this is book 1. I’m curious to see if what we know in book 1 is true or just supposition. 

Finally, some of the dialogue felt way older than teen to me. I don’t know any teens who even know what ‘laconic’ means, let alone use it in a sentence. 

If you can forgive a few little issues like those, you’ll enjoy this book. The action and the fight scenes are vivid and the emotion/angst is gripping. Overall, I’d give 3 out of 5 ‘cups’. Why ‘cups’? So glad you asked! In this story, whoever holds The Mortal Cup gains all the power. 

Don’t take my word for it! Please visit my Book Hungry sisters’ website for their reviews. 

Have you read City of Bones? What did you think? 

Abby

Kelly

Karla

Blake

6 Comments

Confession: I was bullied as an adult

Posted at Apr 22, 2013 1:10 pm in bullying, Patty Blount, YA

Join me over at YA Outside the Lines. I’m blogging about adult bullying. 

Be the First to Comment

Today I’m at YA Outside the Lines

Posted at Apr 22, 2013 2:38 am in bullying, Patty Blount, YA

I’m blogging at YA Outside the Lines today. Stop by? In today’s blog, I talk about a bad boss and being bullied as an adult. 

Be the First to Comment

Rock the Drop!

Posted at Apr 18, 2013 12:58 pm in rock the drop, teens, YA

Happy to participate in this year’s ROCK THE DROP! 

If you’re in Islandia, look for SEND in public places  

2 Comments

5 out of 5 Pickles to Quick Fix by Linda Grimes

Posted at Apr 17, 2013 2:34 am in What I'm Reading

I was fortunate enough to have participated in an ARC tour and read Linda’s sophomore novel in a matter of hours. From the first page, I was laughing out loud. Main character Ciel Halligan and her circle of protectors are back for another job – as auror adaptors – one of the most unique premises I’ve ever read. In Linda’s world, auror adaptors can assume the identity of anyone they touch. Anyone human, that is.

On this particular job, Billy, one of Ciel’s protectors and one of the two men vying for her attention, has his little sister along for a day at the zoo, where Ciel is pretending to be a woman hoping for a board appointment. Everything’s going fine until young Molly touches an orangatan and spontaneously adapts to it.

Which isn’t supposed to be possible.

That’s as much plot as I’ll reveal and it’s not spoiling the story – it’s back cover copy. The story proceeds in Ciel’s first person point of view in usually clever and frequently funny turns of phrase while she and Billy try to fix Molly’s problem. In addition to Molly’s spontaneous adapting, Ciel tries to handle her brothers, her mother’s annual Come as You Aren’t party, a certain CIA agent she’s been crushing on since her teens, her evolving feelings for Billy, and an attempted murder. There are enough twists and turns to keep even the best armchair detective guessing.

But you know what really got me?

The romance.

Okay, I admit it, I’m a total sap for love. This story has the most tender love scene I’ve ever read. It was face-fanning hot, heart-achingly sweet, and side-splitting funny all at the same time.

I give it 5 out of 5 pickles. Why pickles, you’re probably asking? And you think you know, don’t you? Pervs. You’re wrong. Remember the tender part in that love scene I told you about? Pickles. *sighs* Read it this August and tell me what you think of this love scene — well, the book, actually, but really the love scene. 

4 Comments