To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?
What i thought: This novel is done so wonderfully and there is no possible way Cassandra could have done better.
Not that i will deny how scary it is when you get to the final book in a series or trilogy that you particularly care about--and the Mortal Instruments series i care about, believe me.
Its pretty tricky for the author to wrap things up in a way that has great word fluency, is completely and utterly steady with the themes and characters of the books that precede it, meets their high ratingsand is still an excepsionally enjoyable to read. I've yet to read a final book in a series or trilogy that somehow manages to do all of those things. Amazingly, City of Glass did. The entire novel, and the way it was approached, is absolutely fantastic, and is in no way comparable to that in another series.
The entire plot is so creative and unique that i cannot even THINK of another book similar to it in the least.
The final novel in the Mortal Instruments series, City of Glass will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and holding onto every last word.
PS: I know this review was Scrumdidilyumptious
POSTED BY Leah:)
Two books highly anticipated boooks have been released this week . . . and im sure a ton of you guys are waiting for them too!
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare: 
audia Gray:
A big smoocheroonie for Insert Book Title Here from {Insert Book Title Here}! You are fantastic!
Here are the rules to spread to spreading the sisterhood spirit:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog and/or in their CBOX.
5. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.
*Here are my nominees for the Sisterhood Award:
1) Lizzie from The Book Obsession
2) Hope from Hope's Bookshelf
3) Lenore from Presenting Lenore
4) Kristi from the Story Siren
5) Steph from Reviewer X
6) Just Blinded Book Reviews
7) Tasha from And Another Book Read
8) Thao from Serenehours
9) Ana from Young Adult Romance Reviews
10) Laina from Laina Has Too Much Spare Time
Thanks guys for being such great book-bloggers with amazing attitudes and AWESOME reviews!
POSTED BY Leah :)
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
I'm not crazy. I don't see what the big deal is about what happened. But apparently someone does think it's a big deal because here I am. I bet it was my mother. She always overreacts.
Fifteen-year-old Jeff wakes up on New Year's Day to find himself in the hospital. Make that the psychiatric ward. With the nutjobs. Clearly, this is all a huge mistake. Forget about the bandages on his wrists and the notes on his chart. Forget about his problems with his best friend, Allie, and her boyfriend, Burke. Jeff's perfectly fine, perfectly normal, not like the other kids in the hospital with him. Now they've got problems. But a funny thing happens as his forty-five-day sentence drags on—the crazies start to seem less crazy.
What i thought: First of all, this book was absolutely hilarious--which you can probably see from the little blurb in this past tuesday's Tautological Tuesday post. Each and every word was DRIPPING with sarcasm, and all of the characters can be formed pretty clearly in your mind, especiallly the Crazies.
I really loved how Ford gave you time to cross-examine and really get to know the characters, and get the chance to try and figure them out before he reveals everything. Each of the characters are extremely well developed, and all have dominant personalities, but also seem to have a sign that clearly states STAY AWAY: CRAZIES--a sign that Jeff really doesnt want to ignore--and one that is a bright neon.
First there's Sadie. Sadie tried to drown herself, which is really the building block of her personality. Her way of dealing is trying to make jokes.
Then there's Juliet, who's parents think is posessed by some sort of demonic spirit, and are going to preform some sort of religious exorsism on her when she leaves the Psych Ward. She has got it bad for Bone.
Bone is just well . . . Bone. Sort of creepy, sort of funny, sort of odd--plus he has tattoos of the Alice in Wonderland characters, which i just loved.
Next there's Alice. Alice's mother's boyfriend supposedly did things to her (Alice) when the mother is not there and she (Alice) got extremely mad--and, well, sort of tried to light him (the boyfriend) on fire, landing a place in the local NutHouse--if you catch my flow.
Martha's just . . . odd. Extremely odd. You'll find out more if you READ IT!
Jeff i will not go into, but he is extremely complex. Plus he relies heavily on sarcasm--which, lets face it, ALL teens do. Jeff's irreverent sarcasm drew me in from the beginning and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I was also intrigued by Jeff's suicide attempt - what caused him to try to take his own life? He was obviously hiding something and I wanted to know what.
This story is completely captivating and, although there are many, has one specific theme that is extremely prominent: Everyone is a Crazy. Ha-ha. I know that that may not sound so . . . fantastic, but its true. We all are a bit odd, and thats what makes us . . . unique. Special. One-of-a-kind. Jeff really helps you try and remove, or at least closely examine, the fuzzy line that defines whether or not you are 'normal'.
I really liked this book. From the inside cover of the book, I instantly knew I would like it. It touches on mature subjects, such as sexuality, suicide, and drugs, but it makes it very relatable to teens. The topics discussed in this book are all met with humor, with a hint of a serious tone. But when it comes down to it, the book quickly becomes honest and full of truth--some truths you may not even want to find out.
Dark, witty, and unbelievably hilarious, Ford examines topics many would much rather not think about--and makes you wonder: will i ever get my invisible jet?
PS: this is the greatest rhyme ever. but . . . i wouldnt read it to your kids.
Seven little crazy kids chopping up sticks;
One burnt her daddy up and then there were six
Six little crazy kids playing with a hive;
One tattooed himself to death and then there were five
Five little crazy kids on the cellar door;
One went all schizo and then there were four
Four little crazy kids going out to sea;
One wouldnt say a word, and then there were three
Three little crazy kids walking to the zoo;
One jerked himself too much and then there were two
Two little crazy kids sitting in the sun;
One took a bunch of pills and then there was one
One little crazy kid left all alone
He went and slit his writsts and then there were none.
(Sadie, Page 268, Suicide Notes)
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In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at the Story Siren!
This week was EXTREMELY slow, but yesterday (Saturday) i went to this little antique bookstore and got four books, and am going back tomorrow to check out an extremely old copy of Dracula by Bram Stoker (which i might be able to buy! EEE!). Anyway, here are the four books I got:
The one all the way on the left is a first edition of Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (Who died recently, btw):
Jurassic Park opens in South America with several unusual and dangerous interactions between people and an unknown animal. Through miscommunication and cover-up, no one is able to determine exactly what is going on in Costa Rica. Meanwhile, in the Badlands, paleontologist Dr. Grant and paleobotanist Dr. Sattler are unearthing dinosaur bones. They get a call from their benefactor, the wealthy and eccentric entrepreneur John Hammond, who asks that they join him for a weekend consultation.
The two scientists, along with a mathematician and a lawyer, fly with Hammond to a private island off the coast of Costa Rica. Here, they discover that Hammond's genetic engineering company has created a zoo of real dinosaurs, cloned from DNA trapped in fossilized tree sap. The group, along with Hammond's grandchildren, takes the very first tour of the island. While some.....
I'm pretty sure y'all have seen the movie, i know i have! I really want to read this one! TBR pile, here i come!
The second one with the tree and man is a copy of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte from 1943:
Emily Brontë’s only novel, Wuthering Heights remains one of literature’s most disturbing explorations into the dark side of romantic passion. Heathcliff and Cathy believe they’re destined to love each other forever, but when cruelty and snobbery separate them, their untamed emotions literally consume them. Set amid the wild and stormy Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights, an unpolished and devastating epic of childhood playmates who grow into soul mates, is widely regarded as the most original tale of thwarted desire and heartbreak in the English language.
This is my all time favorite classic, and i have two modern copies of it, but i really wanted an old, antique one. Bella Swan (Now Cullen) inspired me to read this, and i LOVED IT! Catherine and Heathcliff's doomed love torments them in a tempest of madness, vengeance, and redemption. Very depressing, but still amazing. I filled out an alert form for when the store gets older copies of it in.
The small one, the third one, is a copy Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beacher Stowe from 1897:
Uncle Tom's Cabin is the most popular, influential and controversial book written by an American. Stowe's rich, panoramic novel passionately dramatises why the whole of America is implicated in and responsible for the sin of slavery, and resoundingly concludes that only 'repentance, justice and mercy' will prevent the onset of 'the wrath of Almighty God!'.
How many of you have learned (or are right now) about Uncle Tom's Cabin? I know it sounds kind of like a drag, but the book itself is written wonderfully and this copy is from 1897! So its a definate keepsake, dont ya think?
The fourth one, all the way on the right, is Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (Nothing special, but we lent our copy to a friend and they lost it in a move, so this is the replacement, and it only costed $8, whereas at Borders, it being hardcover, it would have been $16-$18.):
. . . Brown seems as much juggler as author--there are lots and lots of balls in the air in this novel, yet Brown manages to hurl the reader headlong into an almost surreal suspension of disbelief. While the reader might wish for a little more sardonic humor from Langdon, and a little less bombastic philosophizing on the eternal conflict between religion and science, these are less fatal flaws than niggling annoyances--readers should have no trouble skimming past them and immersing themselves in a heck of a good read. "Brain candy" it may be, but my! It's tasty.
--Kelly Flynn
My older sister and mother have both read and loved the Davinci Code as well as Angels and Demons, so this is going in my [rapidly growing] TBR pile.
Bad week, i know. You have to admit, though, that the Wuthering Heights and Uncle Tom's Cabin are pretty awesome, and i'll keep y'all posted about the Dracula from 1918 or 1920, theyre not sure.
I hope all of your weeks have been much better!
POSTED BY Leah :)
Nori Tanaka is thrilled to be studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan, but it isn't exactly what she had imagined. She expected tranquil gardens and swoopy-roofed houses, not concrete and neon. And everyone assumes that, with her traditional Japanese features, she's a native instead of the naïve Japanese-American that she really is. Even Erik, a gorgeous German student, mistakes Nori for Japanese, and treats her like a personal tour guide. Nori is sure that he'll like her for who she is once he gets to know her, so what harm can come of temporarily pretending to be Japanese? It doesn't take long to realize that she has a lot to learn about Japan, and about herself, before she can pass for a native. But after exploring the karaoke clubs in Tokyo, the peaceful temples in Kyoto, and the tranquil heights of Mt. Fuji, Nori knows she has a good chance of finding the hidden Japanese spirit and Zen mindset within herself.
What i thought: I picked this up last friday at the library on a whim. I had been wanting to read Death By Bikini, also written by Linda Gerber, and thought, 'the hell with it!' I love all of the covers for the SASS series as well; SO CUTE! This book is extremely short, and that definately put a damper on things, but i still enjoyed this read.
Gerber combined the Japanese culture with the teen frill quite well, making this novel and educational yet entertaining read.
Nori comes to Japan expecting the worst, but when she meets Erik, things start to look better. And there's also Natsushi, a boy who Nori thinks only spends time with her because he feels it is his job or obligation, and boy is she wrong, there. While Nori herself is not a great heroine--she does something very stupid related to a boy she likes (Erik), and takes a LOOONG time to realize how stupid she really is being, despite the many hints--I really enjoyed the descriptions of Kyoto and Tokyo. At the end of the book Nori finds out who her true friends are and most importantly she finds out who she really is.
I love to travel, (although i must say, i REALLY hate airplanes) and want to visit Japan, so this was a really interesting read for me. I enjoyed this book and i recommend it to teens who enjoy reading about different cultures.
In Now and Zen, the S.A.S.S. series travels to Japan in one of the most exotic--and fun--installments yet.
Fanboy has never had it good, but lately his sophomore year is turning out to be its own special hell. The bullies have made him their favourite target., his best (and only) friend seems headed for the dark side (sports and popularity), and his pregnant mother and the step-fascist are eagerly awaiting the birth of the alien life form known as Fanboy's new little brother or sister. Fanboy, though, has a secret: a graphic novel he's been working on without telling anyone, a graphic novel that he is convinced will lead to publication, fame, and--most important of all--a way out of the crappy little town he lives in and away from all the people who make it hell for him. When fanboy meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, he finds an outrageous, cynical girl who shares his love of comics as well as his hatred for jocks and bullies. Fanboy can't resist someone who actually seems to understand him, and soon he finds himself willing to heed her advice--to ignore or crush anyone who stand in his way. But Kyra has secrets, too. And they could lead Fanboy to his dreams...or down a path into his own darkness.
*THE FOLLOWING IS A SPOILER: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE SUMMONING, STOP WHILE YOU STILL CAN!*
