| MEMES | TOP TEN TUESDAY – TOP TEN BOOKISH SETTINGS I’D LIKE TO VISIT

Hello lovelies ! It’s time for another TTT ! Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.
Today’s theme is  Top Ten Bookish Settings I’d like to visit ! Let’s start, shall we ?

• I’d love to visit Camp Half-Blood from the PJO series by Rick Riordan ! I’m sure it would be so much fun !!
• The world from the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I’d love to see if I’d be gifted with allomancy ! How AMAZING would that be ?
• Ombre from L’Héritage Des Rois-Passeurs by Manon Fargetton is another great setting I’d like to visit.

 

• Red London from A Darker Shade Of Magic by V.E. Schwab. This seems like the perfect place for holidays, per say !
• Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series. No need to explain why I think !
• The New York Institute from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. The library, the garden etc… Really it sounds great !

And that’s it ! My Top Ten is a Top 6 but that’s okay ! As you can see, it’s only Fantasy settings haha !

 

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| MEMES | TOP TEN TUESDAY – TOP TEN BOOKS TO READ IF YOUR BOOK CLUB LIKES FANTASY SERIES

Hello lovelies ! How are you ? I can’t believe we’re already in November !! Anyway, it’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday ! It’s a weekly meme hosted by The Brooke And The Bookish.

Let’s talk about my top ten books to read if your book club likes fantasy series !

This top ten couldn’t exist without the Harry Potter series ! This is such an amazing series ! I grew with Harry, Hermione and Ron.
The Daughter Of Smoke And Bone by Laini Taylor is such a great and compelling trilogy !! Speaking of trilogy, I had to talk about my favorite : The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare.
Throne Of Glass is another amazing series that isn’t finished yet. I am waiting for Empire Of Storms to be released in US paperback so I can grab it !!

Percy Jackson And The Olympians by Rick Riordan is another great and funny series ! I laughed SO MUCH while reading these books !
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare is one of the very first series I read in English. It strengthened my choice of reading in English !
The Grisha trilogy is an awesome series I didn’t want to read for so long ! How wrong I was !

The Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson talks about such a complex world where magic is based on metal ! I found it brilliant !!
The Sword Of Truth by Terry Goodkind is another complex fantasy series ! I only read the first 5 books so far but I highly liked it !
The Shades Of Magic trilogy by V. E. Schwab is not finished yet but I loved the first two books and I can tell you that A Conjuring Of Light is one of my most anticipated releases for 2017.
Finally, the Fever series by Karen M. Moning because it’s such an addictive read !!!!

That’s it ! What was your TTT about ?

| MEMES | TOP TEN TUESDAY – TOP TEN FAVORITE VILLAINS IN BOOKS

Hello lovelies ! It’s that time again ! Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish !

This week’s theme is : top ten favorite villains !

Beware this post contains spoilers, so if you haven’t read the books featured on the pictures, maybe skip this post !

The first six villains are the ones that I really like and can’t manage to hate haha ! First is obviously The Darkling from The Grisha trilogy ! It’s such a complex character, he is dark, twisted and yet I can’t help but really like him. There’s also Sebastian Morgensten from The Mortal Instruments series. This guy is pure evil but yet … There’s also Blake from the Lux series, even though he is less appealing than the two previous ones !

 

Holland from the Shades Of Magic series is another perfect example ! There’s also Dimitri from the Vampire Academy series, when he is a strigoï. And finally, Seth from the Covenant series when he is driven by his need of power.

These 6 villains I can’t help but love them or care deeply for them ! Now for the following ones, it’s different : I love to hate them ! The perfect villains you want to strangle personally, you know ?

In no particular order : Thiago from the Daughter Of Smoke And Bone series, The Commandand from An Ember In The Ashes, the King Of Adarlan from Throne Of Glass series and finally Voldemort from Harry Potter ! These 4 villains are creepy and have such a twisted mind !

That’s it ! Tell me about your favorite villains !

| MEMES | TOP TEN TUESDAY – SONGS THAT MADE ME THINK OF BOOKS

Hello lovelies ! It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday ! TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.

This week’s topic is audio freebie. I decided to list my top ten songs that made me think of books.
You know when a song reminds you of a book you’re currently reading ? That’s what I’m talking about !

Just Like Fire by P!nk reminds me a lot of Clary Fray from The Mortal Instruments series. It suits her perfectly and that’s the song that inspired this post !
Part Of Me by Katy Perry makes me think of Celaena Sardothien from the Throne Of Glass series.
Eye Of The Tiger makes me think of Alex from the Covenant series. The fighting spirit she’s got matches perfectly with this song !
Unconditionally by Katy Perry reminds me of Claire and Jamie’s romance. Outlander is such an amazing series !

I knew you were trouble by Taylor Swift is perfect for After‘s Tessa and Hardin. Their back and forth relationship.
Shatter Me by Lindsey Stirling and Lzzy Hale is perfect for Fallon from November 9.
Cake by The Ocean by DNCE matches All Played Out.

That’s it ! My TTT is a top seven hahahaha !

| BOOK REVIEW | CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE BY CASSANDRA CLARE

City Of Heavenly Fire
Author : Cassandra Clare
Series : The Mortal Instruments
Genres : Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication : May 27th 2014 by Margaret K. McElderry

This review will spoil you if you haven’t read the previous books !

Goodreads’ synopsis : In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary’s own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris – but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee – even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned…

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

First read when it came out, reread in April 2016.
This is the final book in The Mortal Instruments series.

The final battle against Sebastian and his Endarkened shadowhunters.

Temper us in fire, and we grow stronger. When we suffer, we survive.

Plot :

This book is so action-packed and full of information we’ve been looking for during the whole series ! There are so many plot twists. And seriously, you can’t guess wha the big plot twist will be ! I was dumbfounded (well, the first time I read it obviously) !

It’s more than just a story about a war between the good and the evil. It’s a story about the power of friendship, and love. How to deal with family issues and how to cope with loss.

I think it’s a great ending to an amazing series. It brings closure !
The ending is not an happily ever after but it brings hope nonetheless. It’s a bittersweet ending, in my opinion.
It’s an emotional roller coaster. I smiled, laughed and cried. All the things I loved in this series, it was in this book !

Every time I think I’m missing a piece of me, you give it back.

In this book we get to meet new characters, some of which are going to be important in The Dark Artifices series !
Characters :

They’ve all evolved so much since City Of Bones ! They’re way more mature.
– Clary is a skilled fighter now. She has this new born self confidence and that’s amazing to read about this Clary 2.0.
– Jace has opened up so much ! He is a different version of himself, too !
– Alec is the most impressive, in my opinion. He changed so much. He has such an honest vision about what he wants, whether it’s about his relationships or his role in the team. he doesn’t want to repeat the same mistakes. It’s an impressive change ! He also he has some funny moments. I loved the funny Alec haha !
– Izzy is still herself. Fierce, independent, and yet she has learned to speak her feelings !
– Simon is a real badass now. He doesn’t want to be left behind anymore.

I also enjoyed the parts where we got to learn more about Raphael.
Maia has a more important role in this book. We discover the responsible part of her. She knows she has to do whatever it takes to save the shadowhunters and thus the downworlders.

Because the world isn’t divided into the special and the ordinary. Everyone has the potential to be extra ordinary.

I really loved this book ! Rereading it doesn’t diminish the impact that book can have on me ! Now I cannot wait to read The Tales Of The Shadowhunters Academy, and Lady Midnight !

 

About the author

 

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

| BOOK REVIEW | CITY OF LOST SOULS BY CASSANDRA CLARE

City Of Lost Souls
Author : Cassandra Clare
Series : The Mortal Instruments
Genres : Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Young AdultPublication : September 6th 2012 by Walker Books (first published June 1st 2012

This is the fifth book in The Mortal Instruments series. If you haven’t read the previous books, this review will spoil you.

Goodreads’ synopsis : 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 must defy the Clave. And they must act without Clary. For Clary is 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 still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

I loved this book, so much more than the previous one. I found it more interesting, plot wise, and more action packed.

At the beginning of this book, they’re all desperate to save their beloved Jace. They know he’s alive but that’s all. They’re all ready to do whatever it takes to save him.
Clary more than the others. He is her world.

I don’t care,” Clary said. “He’d do it for me. Tell me he wouldn’t. If I were missing-”
“He’d burn the whole world down till he could dig you out of the ashes. I know,” Alec said.

I don’t know if it was her plan, but it seemed to me that Cassandra Clare wanted us to see Sebastian as more human, more “likeable”. (that’s it, until a certain moment !)
Because she wrote those “normal” moments that Sebastian shared with Clary. It’s a reread so obviously I knew what would happen next, but I found myself wanting him truly changed. The only thing that was betraying him was his behavior toward Clary. It’s not how a brother acts toward his sister, not at all !
In the end he is still the same as in City of Fallen Angels, a blood thirsty teen, more demon than human.

The Malec parts were awful. what Alec was plotting is really unforgivable; you cannot decide your beloved’s fate.
All he had to do was talk to Magnus, he would have understood. He needed to open up.

Missing, one stunningly attractive teenage boy. Answers to ‘Jace’ or ‘Hot Stuff’.

The Sizzy parts were better. In the previous books, Isabelle is this badass warrior, shielding herself in coldness. She first seems distant and cold, but it’s just her way to hide her weaknesses. In this book she opens up, because she can’t take it anymore. Max’s death, Jace’s disappearance… It was too much for her. We get to see her inner fragility, her doubts, her weaknesses. And I loved to (re)discover that part of her !
Simon’s behavior was cute too. He didn’t know how to deal with a Izzy who was needing him.
I also enjoyed his moments with his sister Rebecca.

Despite knowing that it wasn’t the true Jace, I loved reading about the Clace moments. Even if it was the false Jace, it was still cute and bittersweet.

Clary made a lot of rash decisions and acted a lot without thinking of the aftermaths. But in the end it was the right thing to do. In this book, she endured a lot. She is tougher, and has became a badass warrior somehow, loving the adrenaline of a bloody fight.

I never cared,” he said. “I wanted you anyway. I always wanted you.

I really enjoyed this book. Rereading it doesn’t diminish my interest for this series, and more generally the shadowhunters’ world.

 

About the author

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts

| BOOK REVIEW | CITY OF ASHES BY CASSANDRA CLARE

 

CITY OF ASHES

Author : Cassandra Clare
Series : The Mortal Instruments
Genres : Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication : July 7th 2008 by Walker Childrens Paperbacks (first published March 28th 2008)

City of Ashes is the second book in The Mortal Instruments series. If you haven’t read the first book, this review may spoil you.

Goodreads’ synopsis : Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what’s normal when you’re a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who’s becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn’t ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary’s only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

This second book is darker than City Of Bones. A lot of suspicion is surrounding Jace. It’s a dark time for him. His “foster” family is doubting him, the father he once admired turned out to be a psychopath, and on top of that the Inquisitor is determined to make his life a living hell.
We can see Jace’s shell cracking : when it comes to his father and when it comes to his sister, that he doesn’t love as he should.
In this book, we learn more about Valentine’s schemes. We also learn about Jace and Clary’s special abilities.

I don’t want to be a man,” said Jace. “I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can’t confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people instead.

This book is so well balanced between action and what I’m gonna call “drama” ! The plot thickens, and there are numerous new characters that seems to have important roles in a near future. Even as a reread, I found the plot pretty amazing.
The comic relief is also something I appreciated ! Every time the mood was getting darker, a witty reply, or a funny stuff happened, which cooled down the situation.

I’m pure at heart. It repels the dirt.

Another thing I enjoyed is seeing the hints I missed the first time I read it.

Characters :
– Clary is trying her best not to hurt Simon. But it’s an impossible task. I love her fierceness and her stubbornness ! She is amazing and won’t hesitate to dive head first into danger !
– Jace : I love that we get to see his vulnerability. It reminds us that although being a kickass shadowhunter, he is also a teen. A teen in need for love, for a family.
– Simon is the comic relief. Well, at least a part of it. But in this book, he suffered a lot. I love Simon, he is such a faithful character. He is funny, appealing and so cute ! What he had to go through wasn’t easy at all. Jace and Clary aren’t the only ones to suffer.
– Alec is at a critical moment in his life. He likes Magnus but isn’t totally ready to come out yet. He is slowly getting to know himself and what he truly wants. And he is much more pleasant.
– Maia is a newly introduced character and a pretty interesting one (especially knowing what happens to her in the next books!). Though I didn’t appreciate how whiny she can be at times.

As long as there was coffee in the world, how bad could things be?

In a few words, let’s say that I can wait to read City Of Glass next month !

About the Author

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

| BOOK REVIEW | CITY OF BONES BY CASSANDRA CLARE

City Of Bones
Author : Cassandra Clare
Series : The Mortal Instruments
Genre : Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy
Publication : March 2007 by Walker Books

Goodreads’ synopsis : 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?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…

I read this book first when the movie came out. I gave it 5 stars. I’m still giving it 5 stars !
This review contains some minor spoilers in the characters part.

It means ‘Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234’.

The shadowhunters’ world is such an original one. I really love the universe Cassandra Clare has created. It’s utterly brilliant, in my opinion.

The plot is also really interesting. It is twisted, dark and most of the time you can’t see what’s coming ! There are some huge plot twists !

I forgot how funny this book is. The Infernal Devices’ books have a more serious tone.

Just coffee. Black – like my soul.

Characters :
– Clary is a teenage girl, a normal one. She’s not really girly. When she discovers the truth about her legacy, she doesn’t cower nor cry.
She fights to save her mother.
– Jace is the badass and witty character. Funny in a dark way, he carries his own insecurities. I didn’t like the way he acted toward the end of the book. His lack of action wasn’t his usual demeanor. He was weak-minded.
– Simon is Clary’s sidekick, with awesome quotes. He is neglected not because he is a mundane but because Clary wants to protect him from this madness.
– Magnus is the magnificent character. I love Magnus ! He is helpful but without looking like he actually helps the shadowhunters.
– Alec is an angsty teenager. He is not assuming what he is. Somehow, he is jealous of Clary.
– Luke is such a nice character. He is the fatherly figure Clary needs.
– Jocelyn is a good mother. SHe lied to her daughter because she wanted to protect her, she wanted to offer her the most mundane life.

to love is to destroy, and that to be loved is to be the one destroyed.

I really enjoyed this book, obviously ! The shadowhunters’ books are a reference in the YA fantasy genre !

About the author

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

| ON SCREEN | THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS : CITY OF BONES

The Mortal Instruments : City Of Bones
Directed by Harald Zwart
Released in August 2013

I know I know, it’s a book blog and I’m posting two articles about movies in a row.
But since the casting for The Shadowhunters TV show has been announced (at least for the main roles), I wanted to post my opinion about this movie.

I absolutely loved the book. I won’t post a review about it anytime soon but I will eventually.
It’s needless to say that I was beyond excited to finally watch this movie adaptation. Well.

First thing first, the casting. I really liked it, nothing to criticize about it.
Lily Collins was a great Clary Fray.  She is a great actress and I really like her work in this movie.
Same thing for Jamie Campbell Bower. Splendid Jace. Made me discover a brilliant artist (his music is really great). Robert Sheehan as Simon was my favorite. He did such a great job ! I couldn’t have wished for a better Simon !

Kevin Zegers, Godfrey Gao and Jemima West were also great castings.

The universe was well built, too. Kind of creepy and pretty disgusting demons, and very gothic shadowhunters.

Now for the less pleasant part : the synopsis.
Why did they have to make so many changes ?! I mean, okay, I got it, they had to spoil the watchers about the end of the third book, because of the content rated. That I could understand, even if it’s such a waste.
But that change about the end ? The mortal cup ? What’s the point ? The second movie was scheduled. How would they have explained that plot change ? I was so upset about it !!!

So I enjoyed the movie, because I’m not that difficult, but I didn’t like it that much. I was disappointed.

Now, I am kind of afraid about the Shadowhunters TV show being aired on ABC Family. I hope they will be more faithful to the story.
I’ll post my opinion about the cast later !