City of Ashes- Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry books
Published: March 25, 2008
453 pages
Goodreads page

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?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

I really wanted to like this series. After all the hype its gotten i had high hopes for it. Unfortunately I'm finding that I'm just really not a fan. 
I don't particularly care about the characters and i find the story line kind of dull. The whole time i was reading this book i was constantly wondering when it was going to end.
I cant put my finger on specifically what it is i don't like but it kind of just isn't my thing i think.

I feel like sometimes when the characters have a conversation it always feels robotic and they will try to chuck in some witty remark or try to be funny and it really just doesn't work well.

I may read the next book out of curiosity but i am not guaranteeing anything.

I'm still interested to try out the infernal devices trilogy because i have heard quite a few people who didn't like the mortal instruments actually liked the infernal devices. So i think ill give it a go and if that doesn't interest me it may just be that Cassandra Clare's writing style doesn't work for me personally.

***
Three stars

Flashback Friday #5

Flashback Friday is a weekly meme i created where we can take a look back at books we loved when we were younger. Being someone who has loved reading my whole life its fun to look back at the books that you once enjoyed. If you want to join the fun link up below and share you favorites!

This weeks book is:

The secret garden- Frances Hodgson Burnett
First published: 1911
331 pages

What secrets lie behind the doors at Misselthwaite Manor? Recently arrived at her uncle's estate, orphaned Mary Lennox is spoiled, sickly, and certain she won't enjoy living there. Then she discovers the arched doorway into an overgrown garden, shut up since the death of her aunt ten years earlier. Mary soon begins transforming it into a thing of beauty--unaware that she is changing too.But Misselthwaite hides another secret, as mary discovers one night. High in a dark room, away from the rest of the house, lies her young cousin, Colin, who believes he is an incurable invalid, destined to die young. His tantrums are so frightful, no one can reason with him. If only, Mary hopes, she can get Colin to love the secret garden as much as she does, its magic will work wonders on him.

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The iron daughter (Iron fey #2)- Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: Aug 1, 2010
359 Pages
Goodreads page

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

I really love this world that Julie has created. It took me a bit to get back into it because i read the first book quite a while ago but once my memory caught up i was taken away to this magical world.
I know that a lot of people aren't into books about faeries but i actually really enjoy it, its a great escape from reality.
I liked how the story adventure continued and although Meghan could get annoying at times its pretty easy to see past that to the other great characters that are in this book. I love Puck and Ash and the rivalry they have going.
The one part in this book that kind of bugged me was the dance (those who have read it will know what I'm talking about). It was kind of cheesy and i think it would have been better for the story if they made that part in a different setting, but that's the only problem i had.
I'm excited to continue the series and see where the story and adventure goes.

****
Four stars

July wrap up

The perks of being a wallflower- Stephen Chbosky

Goodreads page

***

Three stars

Pretty little liars- Sara Shepard
Goodreads page
*****
Five stars

Twenty boy summer- Sarah Ockler
Goodreads page
****
Four stars

A million suns- Beth Revis
Goodreads page
*****
Five stars

Looking for Alaska- John Green
Goodreads page
***
Three Stars

Shades of earth- Beth Revis
Goodreads page
*****
Five stars

Really great reading month! I didnt get around to doing a review of Twenty boy Summer but i didnt have much to say on it, it was just ok for me.
I might be MIA the next two months, im due to have my baby so i will be pretty busy, but ill try and get a few reviews up if i have a chance.

Happy reading!

Shades of earth (Across the universe #3)- Beth Revis

Publisher: Razorbill
Published: Jan 15, 2013
369 Pages
Goodreads page



Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

This last book was quite different to the other two, it obviously had to be considering what went down in the last book but i still thoroughly enjoyed it.
I thought it was a really solid end to the series.

Amy's character still quite annoyed me in this one but not as much as the last book and it didn't make the story any less enjoyable. She just kind of bugged me the way she thinks sometimes.
I loved Elder's character throughout this series. He was definitely my favorite.

I don't want to talk to much about this book as it is the last in the series but ill just i was really happy with the way they ended it and i was kept full of suspense the whole way through.
Beth Revis has a captivating writing style that i really enjoyed.

*****
Five stars

Flashback Friday #4

Flashback Friday is a weekly meme i created where we can take a look back at books we loved when we were younger. Being someone who has loved reading my whole life its fun to look back at the books that you once enjoyed. If you want to join the fun link up below and share you favorites!

This weeks book is:

The baby sitters club- Ann M.Martin
First published: 1986
153 pages

Kristy thinks the Baby-sitters Club is a great idea. She and her friends Claudia, Stacey and Mary Anne all love taking care of kids. A club will give them the chance to have lots of fun-and make tons of money.

But nobody counted on crank calls, uncontrollable two-year-olds, wild pets, and parents who don't always tell the truth. And then there's Stacey, who's acting more and more mysterious. Having a baby-sitters club isn't easy, but Kristy and her friends aren't giving up until they get it right!

I loved this whole series but i thought i would just put the first on here. There was so many of these books i dont think i ever got round to reading them all but i loved all the ones i did read.
They had the best adventures and the friendship in this book was really great.

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Looking for Alaska- John Green

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Published: Jan 1, 2005
221 Pages
Goodreads page

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.

This book really disappointed me. I have heard so many good things about it but i actually really had to push myself to get through it. I don't know if its because Ive been sick and maybe just not in the mood for it but i just really didn't find myself interested.
I didn't feel particularly attached to the characters and i felt like the story line had nothing going for it.
Maybe I'm missing the deeper meaning to this book but it just felt like it was trying too hard to be 'deep' and missed out on actually creating a good story.

I think it is definitely way over hyped. I do like John Greens writing style though, because i have read The Fault In Our Stars and loved it. I wont be giving up on him just yet i do plan on reading his other work but this one just wasn't my cup of tea i think.

***
Three stars