Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare
Margaret K. Eldenberry (imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens), 528 Pages
US Release Date: December 6, 2011
Challenges: Local Library Challenge

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.
---------------------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote

I feel myself diminished, parts of me spiraling away into the darkness, that which is good and honest and true-- If you hold it away from yourself long enough, do you lose it entirely? If no one cares for you at all, do you even really exist?

*Because this is Book TWO of a series, there may be spoilers from Book ONE. You've been warned!*

If you would like to read my review of Book 1, Clockwork Angel, please click here.

"...Master Will has always been the brighter burning star, the one to catch attention--but Jem is a steady flame, unwavering and honest..."

I ended Clockwork Angel not knowing who I loved more: Jem or Will. And now, after Book 2, I can tell you that while my love for both have grown exponentially and past many more depths than I thought they could...I belong to Will. Forever.

"They're not hideous," said Tessa.
Will blinked at her. "What?"
"Gideon and Gabriel," said Tessa. "They're really quite good-looking, not hideous at all."
"I spoke," said Will in sepulchral tones, "of the pitch-black inner depths of their souls."
Tess snorted. "And what color do you suppose the inner depths of your soul are, Will Herondale?"
"Mauve," said Will.

Truthfully, I don't know how to review this book because I enjoyed all of it so much. I feel like Cassandra Clare only gets better with every book of hers I read; and I already think she can do no wrong, so there's few more ways I can express how much I love her books! I was wary going into CP because so many people had told me it was better than Clockwork Angel and that the book broke their heart. I mean, that's expectation and anticipation! How was I to get past that?

But I did. And this one is SO much better. And I am heartbroken. Heartbroken. For Will, because of so many sad reasons, and for Jem, because I feel like he's going to get hurt in the end (aside from his imminent death, of course), and for Jessamine, because she just wanted a normal life, and for Tessa even, because we still don't really know what she is and how she came to be. Even though I wanted to punch Nathaniel at the end of CA, I'm still sad for what happens with him.

I'm a bit stunned to realize that I don't care for Tessa much. I'm trying to figure out if I don't like her, or if she simply pales next to such stunning other characters. I feel like all the others have such a unique set of details and personality -- and Tessa is sorely lacking. She's still got redeemable qualities, and I find her to be a good, strong woman amongst the mess Mortmain has made. She can hold her own, sure; but there were a few passages I just wanted to smack her. Especially when it came to the parts with Jem, because I simply don't believe she has the feelings for him she thinks she does.

Aside from Tessa, everything else was fantastic. I loved the plot line of this book, it was exciting and filled with the action and adventure we come to expect from a Shadowhunter world. I loved the addition of Gideon and Gabriel into the story, and was extremely happy to see Sophie take a bigger role: I love her. I think she's strong and loyal and does right by who she is and is supposed to be. I've never wanted to hug Charlotte and Henry more, especially that one scene...well, I'm sure those who have read it know which one.

I do think this suffers from what I call "Book Two Syndrome" - that unfortunate time in a trilogy/series where a book is simply a bridge, a means to get to an end. While it's not necessarily a bad thing, I always feel like Book Two Syndrome books are a bit...boring? Not quite the right word, but while I'm reading, I can't shake a sense of biding time until something massive hits. A lot of information to prepare for the next book, and not an equal match of action.

Regardless though, I still loved this book. I craved the information it did provide, and I think it was all presented well and necessary. I loved the character development and how much of Will we get to finally see, and I'm more eager than ever to find out what the hell evil Mortmain is up to. Such a tangled web! Clockwork Prince does nothing but spin more to the mess Tessa finds herself in, and it's fantastic. Filled with intrigue and passion and romance, I can't believe now I'm in on the wait for Clockwork Princess. Dear World: Can you make March 2013 come faster? Please?!

PS. Who's the anonymous commenter on my Clockwork Angel review that wrote 'demon pox is real'? Because at the time I got that comment, I had no idea wtf it meant! I'd half considered marking it as Spam. BUT I GET IT NOW AND AHAHAH YOU'RE FUNNY! (seriously.)

PPS. Did we all see the cover reveal last week of the cover for Clockwork Princess? Because ohmahgah IT'S GORGEOUS. I think it's a Herondale on the cover, for some reason. What say you?

5 Stars / 5

TGIF (17): Swoon-Worthy Quotes

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at Greads!

Quotes That Make You Swoon

What are some of the most swoon-worthy quotes you've experienced in a book?

I know I'm missing some from this list, and as soon as I go visit other TGIFs I'm totally going to think "YES THAT ONE OMG." So, my horrifically incomplete but still swoon-worthy quotes that I can recall:

***There may be spoilers! You have been warned!***

"I want you to play me like a cello."

- If I Stay, Gayle Forman

***

"I am," he said. He was staring at me, and I could see the corners of his eyes crinkling. "I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

- The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

“Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”

- The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

***

"Oh, God," he whispers, reaching his hand behind my neck and bringing my lips to his. "Let's let the whole fucking world explode this time."

And we do.

- The Sky is Everywhere, Jandy Nelson

"There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then."

- City of Glass, Cassandra Clare

***

He leans close and says, "It matters to me," right against my mouth, and then kisses me like he means it.

- Saving June, Hannah Harrington

***

Dear Charlotte: What are you trying to do to me?

- Being Friends With Boys, Terra Elan McVoy

“I don't deserve you. You know that, querida, don't you?"

- Perfect Chemistry, Simone Ekeles (truthfully, every time he calls her querida or mujer, my heart skipped.)

***

"I don’t think it’s going to work out. Winning...won’t help in my case," says Peeta.

"Why ever not?" says Caesar, mystified.

Peeta blushes beet red and stammers out. "Because...because...she came here with me.”

- The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

***

"I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the land of the dead, I'll drift about forever, all my atoms, till I find you again..."

- The Amber Spyglass, Philip Pullman

I say, "I will not be your weakness, Sean Kendrick."

Now he looks at me. He says, very softly, "It's late for that, Puck.”

- The Scorpio Races, Maggie Stiefvater

***

I slide my hand between our mouths, just in time. His lips are soft against my palm. I slowly, slowly remove it. “No, I don’t love Max anymore. But I don’t want to give you this broken, empty me. I want you to have me when I’m full, when I can give something back to you. I don’t have much to give right now.”

Cricket’s limbs are still, but his chest is pounding hard against my own. “But you’ll want me someday? That feeling you once had for me … that hasn’t left either?”

Our hearts beat the same wild rhythm. They’re playing the same song. “It never left,” I say.

- Lola and the Boy Next Door, Stephanie Perkins

***

“Once upon a time, there was a girl who talked to the moon. And she was mysterious and she was perfect, in that way that girls who talk to moons are. In the house next door, there lived a boy. And the boy watched the girl grow more and more perfect, more and more beautiful with each passing year. He watched her watch the moon. And he began to wonder if the moon would help him unravel the mystery of the beautiful girl. So the boy looked into the sky. But he couldn't concentrate on the moon. He was too distracted by the stars. And it didn't matter how many songs or poems had already been written about them, because whenever he thought about the girl, the stars shone brighter. As if she were the one keeping them illuminated. 

One day, the boy had to move away. He couldn't bring the girl with him, so he brought the stars. When he'd look out his window at night, he would start with one. One star. And the boy would make a wish on it, and the wish would be her name.

At the sound of her name, a second star would appear. And then he'd wish her name again, and the stars would double into four. And four became eight, and eight became sixteen, and so on, in the greatest mathematical equation the universe had ever seen. And by the time an hour had passed, the sky would be filled with so many stars that it would wake the neighbors. People wondered who'd turned on the floodlights.

The boy did. By thinking about the girl.”

- Lola and the Boy Next Door, Stephanie Perkins (seriously, I think I was weeping through this entire scene.)

What quotes make you swoon?

Leave me your link and I'll come check it out!

Review: My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody
Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 320 Pages
US Release Date: June 7, 2011

Challenges: Local Library Challenge

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.
-------------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote

Some things don't require practice. Some things simply work on the first try.

Do you not love the summary of this book?! I myself can relate very much to being "decisionally challenged", and I loved the premise. If I were in my teens still, I would probably follow suit and make a blog to have others make all my decisions, too! There were so many fun possibilities too, I definitely looked forward to reading this.

Mostly, my expectations were met; but unfortunately, there were some things I didn't quite like. I never really took to Brooklyn, the main character. She's funny and lively, sure, but I also felt like she was incredibly selfish. I know she's supposed to be in the beginning, but she never really lost that trait throughout the entire novel and it was bothersome. I wanted to thump her on the forehead a few times for bonehead decisions she'd make, too - which I know is why her blog (and thus, the book) exist in the first place, but even so there are parts I just wanted to yell and ask her where the hell her brain was.

I also felt like more fun could have been had with this whole 'the public makes her decisions' thing. I know you can't go too crazy or else the novel wouldn't be plausible, and it is still a teen book so you can't do any super crazy shit - but it felt so unexplored! I just wanted some fun, useless decisions to be made, too - not just which Shakespeare play she should choose. And even though I wasn't looking for some wacky, off-the-wall plot, the story was terribly predictable. Almost as soon as you meet characters and find out their relationship to Brooklyn, you knew how it would end. I was able to figure everything out really early on, even down to how things would happen, which could be frustrating as I read because I felt like I was waiting the entire novel for a character to catch up.

But enough with the bad! I know I just ranted for 2 paragraphs, but trust me when I say this was a fun, enjoyable book and I'm really glad to have read it. Brooklyn gets herself into some funny situations, and I did like how real the book kept itself. Her decisions are things we legitimately go through in high school, and it was nice to see a real teen in the pages. And even though most of the cast was predictable and a bit typical, I still enjoyed who they were. Everyone was written really well, with quirky little traits or adorable features. Brian was my favourite (as expected) because he felt like a guy I would really like in real life.

Something I really enjoyed about the book was the voice and tone - the style is a perfect YA, and Brooklyn is so clearly this sarcastic teenage girl. She's a bit snarky and a lot defensive, equal amounts of flirty girly girl and tough independent chick. Her indecision is so clear and endearing (usually), and it's expressed perfectly. Jessica Brody has the most fun writing style that works perfectly with the content.

Two random things that made me really happy: 1) that underwater basketball game she refers to that Izzy is fiddling with it while discussing the blog with Brooks, because I TOTALLY HAD THAT WHEN I WAS YOUNG. and 2) that kissy scene. ohhhh yes.

3.5 Stars / 5

Comic Con 2012 schedule! #sdcc12

If anyone is coming to Comic Con 2012, find me and say hi! I will NOT be dressing up, so I'll look as I always do :) I know it's almost impossible to spot one person in the massive crowds, but I've definitely run into random friends before in exhibit halls and various panels.

And to further help you along, this is my tentative "schedule" - I'm trying to make the panels listed, but as we all know, I might not make it into lines in time. Any down time between panels will be spent walking booths in the exhibit hall!

Friday, July 13:
       12-1pm: The Big Bang Theory panel @ Hall H*
       1:45pm-2:45pm: Bones panel @ Ballroom 20
       7-8pm: What's up with Penguin publishing panel @ Room 9

*if the line is too long for BBT though, I'm going to go to Legend of Korra at 11:15pm in Ballroom 20!**
**and if both lines are too long, I'll head over to the Remixed Fairy Tales and Superhero Lore literature panel at 11:30am in Room 5AB!

Saturday, July 14:
      11am-noon: Avatar: The Last Airbender panel @ Ballroom 20 (DANTE BASCO <3333, featured above)
      3-4pm: Grimm panel @ Room 6A
      5-6pm: Glee panel @ Indigo Ballroom, Hilton Bayfront Hotel
      7-8pm: What's New at Harper Voyager and Harper Teen publishing panel @ Room 9

I also do not have signings listed, but the only one I really try to make is The Big Bang Theory anyway. I am only in the convention center on Friday and Saturday - possibly Sunday, but it's not confirmed yet so I won't put up my schedule for that day. I will, however, be Downtown on both Thursday and Sunday. Most likely hanging out at Nerd Headquarters, and I do chase after the [adult swim] free ice cream truck often and duck into any of the surrounding hotels to see what's going on. Lunch is always spent at the food truck gathering!

My Twitter will be the fastest way to reach me (unless you have my phone number - in which case, text me!)! And to anyone who is coming, ask me questions if you want! About the area or about Comic-con in general; I live in San Diego and this will be my 4th year in a row attending SDCC, so I feel like I could maybe help or point you in the right direction :)

And for blog readers, this does mean I won't be around from Thursday-Sunday; Comic Con is marathon status, camping out in lines and coming home only to grab 3 hours of sleep before heading right back out. I'll do my best to read on my phone, and I do have posts that will go up as normal.

Will you be at Comic-con? Tell me if so!

And if not, would you want to attend? Could you handle the crowds?

Waiting on Wednesday: Taken by Erin Bowman

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine,

meant to spotlight an upcoming release we are eagerly awaiting!

Taken (Taken #1) by Erin Bowman
HarperTeen, 352 Pages
Expected US Release Date: April 16, 2013

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?
---------------Goodreads summary

This may be a weird reason I want to read this, but here's my question: if all the boys simply disappear at age 18, how the hell does this town have children? There are no men, so no marriages, and no kids - right? Logically that's how it would follow suit. And I'm sure Erin Bowman addresses that in the book
and explains how it's possible, I just NEED TO KNOW. My imagination is running wild here. I've got things as extreme as an entirely new way to procreate ideas to as simple as 'they come back in a few years.'  Or maybe there are no new families! Maybe it's a dying colony! Maybe clouds make babies and the stork story is real and they bring children to doorsteps!

Tell me you've seen this Pixar short. SO CUTE.

I'm crazy, I'm aware. But I need to know the answer, and therefore I am waiting impatiently for this.

(And also because this book sounds damn good.)

What book are you waiting for impatiently?

Leave your link and I'll hop by!

Tune-In Tuesday: The Teenage Years...featuring BOYS!

Tune in Tuesday is hosted by Ginger at GReads!

I've always loved this meme, but never participated before - I figured what better time to hop in than a retrospective to our teen years?! My teen years were spent in the early 2000s, which was a great time of pop music. And oh boy was I ever a part of that...but I'll save my favourites for the end of the month!

Today, let's chat boys. We all know boys and kissing and 'omg he smiled at me' is the apex of teenage years. We agonized over little glances for hours, analyzed with friends for days about the tone of his "hey what's up", and if he gave you a hug hello? It was over. That was love.

Like a lot of others, I quickly had certain songs that would become my theme or anthem with a boy. Some were my feelings towards him, others were memories created with the song playing...somehow, a boy always equaled a song in my head. Which is still true today, actually, but we're not going to talk about my current wonky love life.

Allow me to share 3 songs that held special boys in my life!

Usher - U Got It Bad

The first boy to ever break my heart.

Sophomore year. And at the time, it wasn't just broken; it was slaughtered, crumbled, absolutely crushed. I truly thought I would never get over him or what happened. In any case, during this whole 2-year crush/love for him, this song was the constant soundtrack. It was true in the first place, and when we slow danced to it at a friend's birthday bash...cemented it forever in my heart as mine and his song. It still kind of hurts to hear.

Lifehouse - You and Me

The boy I'll always have feelings for.

When I moved to the States in 7th grade, there was a guy in my classes. He was this small, cute boy with the best smile...incredibly smart, ultra cool, and way out of my league. But he was always friendly with me, and I liked him immediately. As the years went on, we weren't really friends but we'd say hi and chat before classes. My crush faded, as it tends to do in fickle teen years, but it always lingered. Senior year, we were in a few activities together and I got to spend more time with him. He'd gotten much taller, even better looking, and so much more cool...but he still had that boyish smile and friendly demeanor that just made my world tilt. He held my hand for a few seconds once when we were watching a tense sporting event, and I swore in that moment I knew what happiness fulfilled was. Even now, we're still distantly friends and somehow he'll never stop being someone who makes my heart skip.

Howie Day - Collide

The best guy friend through everything.

My best friend during Junior and Senior year was a guy. Sure, I had my girlfriends, but this guy...he was the Best Friend. It was complicated since people always insisted we were dating, or should date; made only messier because he started dating a few friends of mine. It didn't help that he was kind of an asshole to everyone...except me. No matter whose heart he was breaking, he loved, protected and took care of me - which of course caused a lot of issues between me, him, and whatever girl he was with at the time. And we weren't perfect, we had our own rocky, complex, fuzzy relationship to sort out. But despite all the shit high school drama threw at us, this guy and I were strong. We were always friends and we could always count on the other. There's a line in this song that goes "I found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind" - and it was that line that spoke his name to me. No matter what problems we had, either with each other or because of others, we'd find our way back together.

What song reminds you of that one boy from teen years?

Leave your songs or links in the comments!