Book Review: The Bane Chronicles - Cassandra Clare

The Bane Chronicles - Cassandra Clare

This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.

Originally released one-by-one as e-only short stories by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan, this compilation presents all ten together in print for the first time and includes a never-before-seen eleventh tale, as well as new illustrated material.

3/5 stars (liked it)

I loved reading about how Magnus got to know Camille and their relationship.  Also his relationship with Santiago when he was first made a vampire.  Loved seeing all the people and Shadowhunters that Magnus got to know over time.  Especially the end stories with his first date with Alec and how he begins to help Clary.

Book Review: Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.  Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything.  But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life--a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free.  Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems.  With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha...and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.

3/5 stars (liked it)

I thought this book started out a little confusing.  But once Alina saves Mal things really picked up.  I really enjoyed that Alina was clueless on Grisha history and how things worked so we were able to learn about that world along with her.  I also really liked watching her struggle with her new found power and how she was not able to harness it well.  The book ended in a way that made me want to read the next one.

Book Review: The Last Time We Say Goodbye - Cynthia Hand

The Last Time We Say Goodbye - Cynthia Hand

There's death all around us.

We just don't pay attention.

Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before.  When she had a family that was whole.  A boyfriend she loved.  Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself.  And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died.  But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone.  But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

3/5 stars (liked it)

What a sad subject to read about but so well written.  Lex is dealing with losing her brother and not understanding why he did what he did,  a father that is no longer around and really doesn't communicate, a mother that is dealing with the same loss and an ex-boyfriend that she couldn't deal with.  You see how Lex is by reading from her perspective in first person as well as journal entries she has written.  I thought it has a great ending.  I would love to read where things are with Lex 5 years from now.

Book Review: A Feast For Crows - George R.R. Martin

A Feast For Crows - George R.R. Martin

After centuries of bitter strife, the seven powers dividing the land have beaten one another into an uneasy truce.  But it's not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters of the Seven Kingdoms gather.  Now, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed while surprising faces--some familiar, others only just appearing--emerge from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenge of the terrible times ahead.  Nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages, are coming together to stake their fortunes...and their lives.  For at a feast for crows, many are guests--but only a few are the survivors.

2/5 stars (it was Ok)

Not my favorite book in the series.  I thought it moved slowly and had characters that I did not care too much about.  Although I really liked Arya in this one.  Also I love how some characters under different names will run into each other and not even know it.