City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

MY RATING: 4/5
SERIES: The Mortal Instruments Book 5

BLURB: 

Jace is now a servant of evil, bound for all eternity to Sebastian. Only a small band of Shadowhunters believe he can be saved. To do this they much defy the Clave. And they must act without Clary. For Clary s playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace's soul. 

Clary is willing to do anything for Jace, but can she trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love? 

REVIEW:

I am going to do my best to write a proper review without spoilers and without just gushing about how much I love Cassandra Clare's books. She is just amazingly brilliant! Although I would not recommend reading this review if you have not read City of Fallen Angels, or you want to stay away from all things City of Lost Souls, as I will be mentioning a few thing about the characters.

City of Lost Souls picks up two weeks after the events at the end of City of Fallen Angels, Jace is missing and they have not been able to track them. I don't know how much else I can say without spoiling anything. Everybody does some dangerous stuff, and everything is super exciting.

I think one of the main reasons that I love Clare's book so much has to be her characters. They are just so amazing, every single character has so much depth and their own stories. Which I like because it's realistic, everyone has their own life stories. I love getting to know the characters stories, even small characters like Maia and Jordan and the Lightwoods parents, we get to know all of their stories and learn about them. Secondary characters are part of what really makes a story for me.

I really enjoyed the development of Simon and Izzy's relationship. It's kind of like just admit how you feel to each other! Why can you not see how the other feels about you! But they are just both so clueless, Simon because I mean he doesn't think anyone like Izzy would ever be interested in someone like him, she's beautiful, and he's just a nerdy guy. And Izzy doesn't know how to do anything about what she's feeling. She's just so used to dating guys and it doesn't mean anything. She is so cute and funny!

I really loved Clary in this book. I just absolutely love the person that she has become. She is such a strong female protagonist, what she had to do!! Those of you that have read  the book will know what I'm talking about. I also really liked Simon a lot more. I didn't really feel for him much in the first three books, he kind of grew on my in City of Fallen Angels, but I really started to like him in this one.

Sebastian kind of really interested me while reading this. It could just be me, but because I am so used to just thinking of him as this evil, demon I guess. I have forgotten that he is still a shadowhunter and he has all the same knowledge that Jace and the others do. He wasn't brought up in a cave. I know he is supposed to be totally evil and all but I just can't help but be fascinated with him. His lack of real feelings, and the confusion when he does feel anything. I am so looking forward to City of Heavenly Fire.

So, I know this wasn't the best review. I have trouble reviewing books that I really love, because I just want to gush and talk all spoilery about everything that happened. But I think I can definitely say that the ending to this series is not going to disappoint and I am actually really kind of looking forward to it, not in terms of the series ending, I don't want that to happen, but I just want to know what happens. After read City of Fallen Angels, and City of Lost Souls I don't know how I would ever have been satisfied with the series ending with City of Glass. It just seemed so unfinished. I think Clare will deliver a satisfying yet possibly horribly heart breakingly amazing ending to the series. I seriously look forward to anything written by Cassandra Clare in the future.

If you haven't read The Mortal Instruments series I would highly recommend going and getting the first book in the series City of Bones right now! I can't wait to see the cover of City of Heavenly Fire, who do you think will be on the cover? I was thinking Clary to go with the theme, because first was her and Simon, then her and Jace, I have been thinking maybe her and Sebastian. What do you think?

Jammie the Book Nerd
<3  

P.s. I really hope I didn't spoil anything in this review, but if you feel as though I did please let me know in the comments and I will edit or warn spoilers. Thanks! 

Shannon Kook as Magnus Bane

Hey everyone, 

So I saw a while ago that Shannon Kook, had never heard of him at the time, posted some pictures on his Facebook page of him dressed to audition for Magnus bane in The Mortal Instruments, City of Bones movie. At first I sort of though, you know, oh he looks really cool! It's so fantastic to see an actor really get into their character and go to that sort of extent, posting picture for fans and stuff. 


But over the last week or so, there had been quite a bit of talk about other actors that have confirmed auditioning for the part, so everyone's discussing who they like best and all that. And I have just fallen in love with Shannon Kook as Magnus Bane, I don't know anything about him n terms of his acting abilities, but based solely on looks I would love for this guy to be cast as Magnus. 


And he's totally cute too! Okay, I know I am probably being all fan-girly here, but I am going to post a bunch of pictures for your viewing pleasure :)

 

So what do you think of Shannon as Magnus in The Mortal Instruments movie? If you don't like him who would you love to be cast? 

Jammie the Book Nerd <3

P.s. I just finished City of Lost Souls today :D So I will hopefully be able to write a review for it and put that up soon :D 

Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel (Review)

MY RATING: 3/5

BLURB: 

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir's Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It's filled with intrigue, danger - and even romance. 

Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page-full-colour graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life. 

REVIEW: 
First off I just want to state that my rating of his is based largely on how it came across to me in comparison with the book. It would probably be different for people who haven't read the book. Graphic novels translate very different to an actual book, in the same way that movies compared to books do. Also this was my first graphic novel (I have read manga before, but it's a little different), so this is from someone who is not at all familiar with these kinds of books. 

I actually really enjoyed this, I think the artwork was fantastic, and most of the characters were just like I would imagine them to be. So while I really enjoyed this book (would you call it that?) I am curious as to how it would come across to someone who hasn't read the book. At times I felt it was a little jumpy, like they would be doing one thing and all of a sudden they would be somewhere else. Graphic novels may just be like this, I wouldn't know. I also realise that it is impossible to include every little detail when it comes to transferring a story in such a way, so it may also have been that. I also didn't feel as though the chemistry between Rose and Dimitri communicated very well, (from what I remember, and correct me if I am wrong and I will change it) they had a lot more chemistry in the first book. They had a sort of instant attraction to each other that they were constantly battling. And I don't feel as though you really got that from this. 

The artworks were all really amazing. I loved how the moroi magic looked. I also how the frames were fogged around the edges when Rose was in Lissa's head, I think that was a really interesting touch. I think sometimes the characters eyes were a little on the small side, but other than that, I think the artist did a fantastic job with this. Christian was hot! And while I never imagined Mason to be very attractive, I know he was descrived to be good looking in the book but i am just not a fan of red hair, I think the artists really made his looks work for him. He was really good looking! The only character that really surprised me with how she looked was Natalie. I know she probably looked as she was desciribed in the book, but for some reason I pictured her with brown hair. Not sure why. 

Anyway, all in all, I think this will be great for a quick Vampire Acamdey fix when you don't have time to read the book, as I read it in under an hour while I was on my way home this afternoon. And I really cannot wait to get my hands on Frostbite so I can stare at Adrian :P I love Adrian <3 I also think he looks amazing in Frostbite! I would definitely recommend this if you have read the books and are interested. Great, quick and fun read. 

Jammie the Book Nerd 
<3

Trending #TheGoldenLily on Twitter

Hey guys :D 

So, are any of you fans of Richelle Mead's series Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series? Well, if you are, you would know that the latest book in the Bloodlines series The Golden Lily is coming out in a month, June 12th to be exact :D Yay, so excited! Cannot wait. What are you most looking forward to in it? I am personally looking forward to Adrian, and I have also heard that The Golden Lily is full of romance, so here's to hoping we get some Adrian and Sydney, or Sydrian as they have adopted :)

Isn't the cover just gorgeous? I also stuck the cover for the first book, Bloodlines, down there, because I love that one too. If you have not read Bloodlines, but love Vampire Academy, I would highly recommend checking it out in preparation for The Golden Lily. Or if you haven't read Vampire Academy you should check them out! I know, I know. Another vampire book, but they seriously rock!

Anyway, back to the whole point of this post, @VampireAcademyAus (the link will take you to their twitter page) over on twitter are trying to get together as many fans as possible to try and trend #TheGoldenLily, so if you are a fan, or are just interested in helping out, then you can head on over and sign the twitition they have set up here. And spreading the word through blogging, twitter, tumblr what ever is your forte will be greatly appreciated I'm sure. So help them get the troops together and lets get #TheGoldenLily trending on June 12th :D 

We can totally do this! 

Jammie the Book Nerd

<3

Star Wars

Hey! :D 

Not that I am like a Star Wars fan or anything, but today is International Star Wars Day :D So May the Fourth be with you all :P 

Hope you had a good Star Wars Day.

Jammie the Book Nerd 

<3

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

MY RATING: 3/5
RELEASE DATE: 10th May 2012

BLURB: 

Against all odds, 17-year-old Gene has survived in a world where the general population has eaten humans to near extinction. The only remaining humans, or hepers as they are known, are housed in domes on the Savannah and studied at the nearby Heper Institute. Every decade there is a government sponsored hunt. When Gene is selected to be one of the combatants he must learn the art of the hunt - but also elude his fellow competitors as suspicious about true nature grow . . . 

MY REVIEW: 

The first thing I have to say about this book is that ending!!!!! Oh my god! That was just torture. There is going to be a second book right? There has to be. I didn't love this book, I didn't hate it either, but after that ending I am going to have to find out what happens to the characters. This is a really original story, not like anything that I have ever read before. 

Gene is one of the few lottery winners that were randomly selected to participate in the hunt. But during the "training" process, the other hunters begin to become suspicious of Gene's true nature. So while trying to find a way to get out of being in the hunt, without raising any question, he must also try to hide who or rather what he really is. 

At the beginning of the book Gene really annoyed me, he frequently thinks back to his father telling him 'Never forget who you are', but I really felt as though he had. He looks at hepers and thinks of them with slight disgust, when he is one of them. Still looks at them as stupid savages, when he should know full well that they are intelligent. I can kind of understand how he is like this, given the circumstances that he has had to live through, it would be hard not to lose yourself. I liked him a lot more when his true personality sort of broke through the facade that he had to put up for so long. I felt the same way about Ashley June, at the beginning we see her as snobby and controlling, and I didn't like it. But as you get to know her more you see that she isn't really like that. 

I disliked the lack of background story to the world tat Gene lives in. I would have enjoyed a short history on how their world came to be run by vampires with no humans in sight. I know some people may have enjoyed the lack of boring description, but I personally felt a little lost without it. Although I am now going to hold out hope that if there is a sequel we will learn more in it. I also didn't particularly like how the vampires in this story were portrayed, that they actually eat human flesh, it was a little too freakishly cannibalistic for me. They were almost sort of like a completely different animal to humans, rather than really just being sort of evil super-humans, that's just how I see vampires though. So although I didn't personally like this interpretation, I do have an appreciation for people that put their own twists on things such as vampires. 

I know there was quite a bit that I didn't like about the book, but it was really pretty good. I really liked the description of simple human actions like smiling, it really gives you the feel that they are pretty much in a different world. Also a little forewarning, there is a lot of talk of saliva and descriptions of the vampires turning to pus when they are in the sun, it is really gross. The description of the attack on the heper is not super graphic, but I would probably not recommend this book to fainthearted. 

This was a really original story. Something that I have always wanted to see done, vampires taking everything over, and not like anything that I have ever read before. So I would definitely recommend checking it out. 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for giving me the chance to win this book to review. 

Jammie the Book Nerd 

<3

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

MY RATING: 2/5

BLURB: 

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. 

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. 

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers. 

REVIEW: 

I just want to clarify that I didn't give this book two stars because it was a bad book, it just wasn't for me. Suicide doesn't sit well with me. 

I should have thought about the fact that this book is about suicide more before I bought it. I was really intrigued at the beginning of this book, wanting to learn Hannah's story, it definitely hooks you in from the very first page. I only realized about half way through why I wasn't getting into the book as much as I thought I should be I personally believe that suicide is the most selfish thing that any one person can do, I'm not saying that it isn't a serious matter and that we shouldn't try and stop it, it's just to me when someone does something like this, they are thinking only of themselves. Of taking away their own pain because they don't want to fight anymore, not caring enough about how what they do will affect the ones that love them. 

Hannah's character annoyed me quite a bit throughout the book, I wasn't really getting why she wanted to commit suicide other than just because she couldn't be bothered to put up with any of it anymore and to kind of get revenge on the people that had hurt her. I couldn't really see what Clay liked about her either, but I guess he didn't know her that well. Other than that, this was a great awareness sort of book and I would highly recommend it, you may like it more than me. It is a very education story about ehat effects our actions can have on others, especially when we don't realize it. In the case of this story, it is both the effects that Hannah's "friend's" had on her life, but also what effect her actions had on the people who cared about her like Clay. I really liked that about this book. 

If you have read this book, you should check out this song by Alice Invictus here.

All of her other songs are really good too :D

Jammie the Book Nerd