Book Review | Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

{NOTE: This post does not contain any spoilers, however, it will spoil the previous two novels. For those of you who have not read, and have obtained a Collectors First Edition copy, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, look at the beautiful geneology tree on the back of the book jacket. It however, IS a spoiler! }

THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray. Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever. As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army? Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

-Amazon

I'm reeling after only having finished the novel a half hour ago. I have no idea where to start, or what to harp on first, but the end result is the same: Pretty Darn Awesome!

First things first: It's wonderful to be back in the Iinstitute with a cast of characters that I've grown to love in such a short time. I wish it were to grand circumstances, however what kind of novel would it be if all were dandy? Clockwork Princess forces us all to come to terms with Jem's precarious illness, Tessa's origin,  her decision which could tear the the parabatai apart, and Mortmain's team of crazed automatons. Cassandra Clare has penned a fantastic conclusion to The Infernal Devices series.

In Clockwork Princess, Tessa matures, and stands as a true warrior. Seriously, by the end, you will be in awe of the risks Miss Gray is willing to take in order to keep her newfound Shadowhunter family safe. The most stunning portions of this novel, however, are those which showcase the unstoppable love that Jem and Will have for each other. Clare could have used this triangle as an opportunity to showcase yet another predictable, push-pull showing of testosterone. But in pure Clare fashion, she has made Tessa's decision layered and complicated, and thus obliterated the whole 'Team Will' / 'Team Jem' argument. I won't go any further, but, there will be tears, ladies and gentlemen.

Second, I loved getting to see Cecily in action! I thought that her inclusion is nothing short of genius, what with her brothers wit, her ability to ruffle Will's feather's a bit, and a certain other Shadowhunter. She is just as stubborn as her brother, and quickly comes into her own in a cast of well established characters. As far as other characters go, I certainly sympathized with Gabriel and Gideon's challenges, and I loved watching Gabriel, in particular, grow through them. Charlotte is her strong heroic self, and Henry continues to be bright and adorable. I believe this novel finally credits his genius! Sophie is just wonderful!

The conflicts within the novel are wonderfully executed, with the evil of Mortmain, as well as those within the Clave who consistently challenge Charlotte's position within it. I love that within this fantastical tale, Clare finds time to discuss the practical challenges that women had during this Era.

The challenge I have with this novel is the ending. It's truly hard to gage my own reaction to it, honestly. I both found it beautiful, yet I can see how others may wish to challenge it. I will say that Cassandra Clare executed it brilliantly, as it felt very organic, not at all contrived as other novels I've read.

Bare in mind: This novel discusses demons, the occult, and witchcraft. This novel also depicts violence, and sensuality.

I have had a thoroughly awesome experience reading The Infernal Devices series. As I've only come into the fandom last summer, I'm a bit sad to see it end so soon. But Cassandra Clare fashions a world that is intoxicating, she truly brings this fantastical Victorian Era to life. She's also given me an exemplary example of what it is to create characters who literally live and breathe as if on their own. I'm not sure I've experienced very many novels that can pull off character voice as she has.

I give Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare 5 out of 5 cups of Gunpowder Tea!

P.S.- Has anyone of you ever tried Gunpowder Tea? If so, what's it like?

Lit Rants: Cover Changes

I'm horrendously late to showcase the new cover changes to the beautiful Anna and the French Kiss series, but I had to show off these beauties. Before I get to my rant, I just want to bask in the loveliness of these new covers. I love these covers about a million times more than the former. Not that I thought them horrible, but I did find that they had a kind of 'judge a book by its cover' quality. When I first came across Anna and the French Kiss, for instance, the title paired with its kind of cheesy cover lessened its intrigue at first. I feel like the new covers are simplistic and colorful. It's possible that these may draw some to the audience that may have once overlooked it upon first sight of the cover. 

And now for the rant: It's seems a growing trend with publishers that once, say, the second novel releases in a series, they feel the need for a facelift. Meanwhile, all of us who have populated our bookshelves with glowing, cohesive covers, either have to start over, or pair series' with mitchmatched counterparts. Thankfully, in terms of this series, I've never bought the print versions, so when I do, I'll be able to buy these fresh beauties. Now the dilemma seems to be whether they will re-release the books in hardcover. At the moment it seems that they will release the first two novels in paperback, while Isla releases with the new cover in hardcover. This whole business makes me mad. I'm finally about to put up my first bookshelf, and I really want this whole series in hardcover. 

What are your thoughts on new covers midway the series?

Book Review | Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

A moving and haunting novel for readers of The Book Thief Fifteen-year-old Lina is a Lithuanian girl living an ordinary life--until Soviet officers invade her home and tear her family apart. Separated from her father and forced onto a crowded train, Lina, her mother, and her young brother make their way to a Siberian work camp, where they are forced to fight for their lives. Lina finds solace in her art, documenting these events by drawing. Risking everything, she imbeds clues in her drawings of their location and secretly passes them along, hoping her drawings will make their way to her father's prison camp. But will strength, love, and hope be enough for Lina and her family to survive? This powerful tale of heartbreak and hope is sure to haunt readers long after they finish the last page. 
-Amazon

Between Shades Of Gray is unofficially one of the most profound novels that I've read this year. Ruta Sepetys pens a novel which is hauntingly reminiscent of Anne Frank,  yet on the opposite side of the coin. I humbly admit that I had no idea that a forced removal of Lithuanians took place before Hitler rein. I consider it an honor to have read a novel that aims to tell their stories, especially in Young Adult fiction.

This novel is told from the perspective of Lina, a young fifteen year old artist, and opens on the night that she and her family are taken away from their home. From that moment, Lina, her mother, and younger brother embark on a heartbreaking and tiresome journey that tests the very fabric of their family, and their fellow people. Lina is portrayed very effectively, a beautiful mingling of hope and confusion. There are moments that I truly wanted to shake her because of her seeming selfishness, yet, it all comes from her desperation to find her father, and make it through this time of testing. I adored her mother. She is such a lovely symbol of hope and strength. She and Lina's younger brother are two characters that lift this work from being completely heartbreaking to having great faith amidst often tragic difficulties. 

Andrius is also a wonderful character to experience. I loved the dynamic between he and Lina, the challenge they pose for each other. Lina and Andrius develop a subtly profound romance in the midst of such dismal realities. I loved every minute of it. Ruta Sepetys has a beautiful way with infusing hopeful moments that almost make every struggle they endure worth it. Nothing is completely hopeless, because many of the characters that Lina and her family encounter look to small yet profound ways of keeping their love alive.

The only thing I found that I loved and hated about this book is the ending. To those of you who have read this novel, did you experience the same need for more closure? Nevertheless, this does not detract from its profundity.

Bare in mind: This novel contains some violence, and disturbing scenarios.

Between Shades of Gray embodies many of the great autobiographical accounts of genocide. Even as a work of fiction, before long, I came to see Lina, her family, and friends as real people, thus making Ruta Sepetys' desire for this work a reality. It was a truly powerful and moving story that I'm sure will continue to intrigue many for generations on!

I give Between Shades Gray by Ruta Sepetys 4 out of 5 cups of Prince of Wales tea.