Book Review: Siege and Storm

August 5

Curling up with a sequel is like ... well, actually, I don't like sequels. No matter how good the first book was, unless you are starting the sequel the moment you finish the first book, you start out feeling a bit lost. I it is like trying to recall a dream. I know these people, what was their story again? What were the emotions this ended on? Sigh. 

Lucky for me, I blogged about Shadow and Bone, so if you also need a refresher, you can read that (I did, it was helpful). 

Let me walk you through the first chapter. Here is Alina, boarding on feeling sorry for herself and leaving work. There is Mal, looking as delicious as ever (as EVERYONE has noticed), but he only has eyes for one girl. I feel back in step with this novel with only a mere misstep at the beginning. However, in a less than twenty pages the book takes off, the Darkling is back, there will be no happy Alina and Mal chapters. Not only do I already dislike the Darkling, but he is back with new tricks. 

August 5 ... continued

Well, Leigh Bardugo certianly knows how to suck me into a book. I finished the first title in under 24 hours, but I think this one will take longer (I did have to go to work today, after all). Wowza, what a story though!

Oh, and I totally love it when an author responds to my tweets!!

August 6th

Ummmm, you know how Mal is awesome? Maybe this other guy is slowly gaining ground on Mal. I mean, he is pretty awesome and princely and has more emotional depth than Mal (or maybe I just like him more). He is charming and wonderful. 

Other than that guy - the book has taken so many twists and turns that I'm surprised I got any sleep last night. It is wonderful and exciting and I'm going to go keep reading. I'll post the finished review tomorrow! (I can finish as soon as I'm done with this rerun of Gossip Girl!)

August 7th

You know how Blair originally loved Nate, but she actually belonged with Chuck (keep up, I'm on a Gossip Girl kick) -- that is sort of how I feel right now about Alina, Mal, and the Prince. Sigh.

Book Review: Paradise by Joanna Nadin

Paradise

Joanna Nadin

August 4

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover. But I did. This book is pretty much nothing like what I thought it was going to be. I'm not sure what I thought it was going to be like, but it is a teenage angst story about Billy, her mother, and her grandmother, their stories told in alternating chapters. The story is interesting so far and I almost feel sorry for Billy, but is she a little one sided? Is she a little bland? Do I care what happens with the story? I haven't decided yet. 

August 5

This was a short, quick read. It went from being a story about Billie, an unhappy teenager with a classically messed up family, to a web of lies spanning three generations. Nothing is what I expected with this book. I wish that Nadin would have fleshed out the last third of the book a little and focused on how the characters FELT rather than just a recount of the action. However, the book is a great read, quick and poignant. 

Serious Question for All Mortal Instruments Readers

Dear Mortal Instruments Readers -

Hello Kindred Spirits! I, as you, have loved Clary and Jace, Alec and Magnus, Simon and the whole cast of characters that make up this delightful series from Cassandra Clare. I've "Fan-girled" my page with gifs of the upcoming movie and book quotes. I'm eagerly anticipating going opening night to the movie and have had my own misgivings about the casting job ... nevertheless, this isn't about the movie.

This about book 5, City of Lost Souls. This book is too long. Nothing happens in this book. I went from loving this book to just hoping I can finish it. It's taken me a month. Normally it takes me two days. I'm dying.

I've spoken with other fans and they have felt the same way. Did Ms. Clare run out of ideas? Did her publisher insist on a certain amount of pages? Did someone feel that this slow moving action was good? I'd like to disagree with that someone.

Now, as a good reader I feel I must finish the book (not always the case) and in order to read the next one (which, hopefully, will be infinitely better). I like these characters, this series, but I feel like this book is still in a draft form and I should be giving advice of what writing to tighten and what to cut because it is so repetitive. If Clary and Jace have one more make-out scene where she is trying to remind herself that "THIS ISN'T HIM," I might put the book down forever.

There is light at the end of the tunnel ... 78 pages to go. I feel like Clary would do anything for Jace, which I don't think was ever the case before. Clary knew the difference between right and wrong, good and bad ... now, gah, now she is Bella and her whole life will fall apart just because Edward, I mean Jace, is gone.

What do you think? Seriously now, tell me if you think that this was up to the standard of Clare's other books.