First and foremost, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’m so excited to see where this year takes me and all of you guys! I have a feeling this year is going to be special. Maybe it’s because I graduate from college or because I’m finally doing what I love, writing about books that I love. I have read more than usual in December. My days typically surrounded reading—eat breakfast, read, homework, read, lunch, read. You get the point. The longest stretch of time I spend reading is in bed at night. There’s nothing better than lying in bed and getting comfortable with a book. I can act out my emotions and reactions to what is happening in the book.
Here’s what I read in December:
City of Lost Souls & City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
These two are the last two in The Mortal Instruments series. I feel that these books are slightly underrated. People are put off by the direction that Clare takes at the end of the first book, City of Bones, that sets up the following two novels. These books expertly build up the tension and action, setting up the climax. The character development continued to be brilliantly built upon, forming connections across books and her different series.
“He’d burn the whole world down till he could dig you out of the ashes.”
city of lost souls
The imagery is so vivid, it is evident Clare loves the world she has so expertly created. She leaves no stone unturned when giving her readers information. She ends the series in a way that makes your heart content but also what to continue following the character’s lives.
Authors typically begin setting up the following series within the last book. Clare goes beyond that; she not only mentions the Infernal Devices but she even implements The Dark Artifices, the trilogy succeeding the Infernal Devices.
Click here to read my post on The Mortal Instruments Series.
Lord of London Town by Tillie Cole
The story is set in London, as you can tell by the title, and is from the perspectives of Cheska Harlow-Wright and Arthur Adley. He comes from a prominent Mafia family based in London. She comes from a wealthy, well-known family.
After a close encounter, Cheska goes to the only person she trust, the man she has been in love with since she was thirteen years old. Arthur is willing to protect Cheska but he will continue to keep her at arms length. Secrets uncovered tried to pull them apart. Characters are not who they seem and a plot twist left me wanting more.
“He was perfection. Raw, savage, tattooed and scarred perfection”
Lord of London Town
Amazing plot; there are so many good things about this book. I love the characters, they each fill a role and have a great dynamic. I want to see Charlie and Gene get together (maybe a novella).
There were a few things that were a bit excessively. For one, the repetition of a specific curse word. I understand that the author was trying to get a glimpse and show off how they might speak, I just felt like it was a bit too much for me.
A second book is being written but I still don’t know when it will be released (I’m hoping within the next few months).
Clockwork Angel & Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
I really enjoyed the concept that Tessa Gray is an avid reader and how she connects and compares her life to those in the books.
The first novel, Clockwork Angel, sets up the storyline beautifully. I fell in love with Tessa’s character because she is completely relatable to any readers. She compares her life to those in novels, going through her options as if she herself is a heroine. Of course, to us, she is.
“One must always be careful of books and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”
Clockwork angel
The second novel focuses on Tessa’s individual relationships between both men, Will and Jem. I, myself, felt the tug between Jem and Will. I did start this series with the knowledge of how it ends. However, the dynamic between the three characters still gives off the stress that makes you want to keep reading.
I have read MANY classics and poems, from college and personal interest. The references Clara makes throughout the story, not only novels but poems from that time period, made my heart sing.
January TBR
For the month of January, I’m hoping to read the following books.
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
AH!! I’m excited to finish this trilogy and I’ll be sure to do a detailed review of the entire series on the blog and podcast.
The Dark Artifices Trilogy by Cassandra Clare
I know I sound a bit obsessed with Clare’s books. It’s because, well, I am. This is the last complete trilogy of hers before the one that she’s writing at the moment. This series takes place five years after the end of City of Heavenly Fire so I will be seeing plenty of old characters, hopefully.
Court of Thorns and Roses by Sara J. Maas
I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to read the all the books out in this series so far but I am hoping to read the first one at least. I’ll keep you guys updated as I go along.
[…] I have ever cried as much as I did with the Infernal Devices. As I said in an earlier blog post (December Roundup & January TBR), I knew the overall ending of the story, I just didn’t know the specific […]