The Demon's Covenant By Sarah Rees Brennan (4.5/5)

The first thing I have to gush about in this review is how much I adore this author's witty humour and wonderful writing, the banter between the characters is always entertaining and fun to read. I swore a long time ago that I would read everything she wrote, even if it was a menu. I'm sure that the menu would be a great read! In fact I recall her discussing Muffins, Sandwiches & Pastries in a blog post once ; )

I thought this book was even better than the first. I felt that I got to know the characters a lot more and I found myself strongly liking all four of the main characters and understanding their motivations a lot more than I could in the first book. My connection with Mae in particular was a lot stronger, this was due in main part to the book being written in her point of view. She is smart, tough and a very loyal and caring friend. I found myself loving her attitude and really believing in what she could do, even if she does seem a little impulsive and callous at times. I could relate to why she was acting the way that she was in each situation now that I could see the world from behind her eyes. Her emotional understanding about her true romantic feelings at the end of the book were touching and well done. For such a strong, wilful character this could have been handled badly, but throughout it she kept her strength and kept my respect for her character. This wouldn't have been the case if I felt her character had rapidly shifted, but throughout all of her pain I thought she remained essentially the strong wonderful girl she was. I enjoyed the developing relationship between her and Sin a great deal. Since Sin is going to be such an important character in the next book I loved the insight we got of her through Mae's perspective.

I also felt a greater understanding for Alan in this book. The flashbacks via his dad's diary were either heart warming or heart breaking with very little in the middle and they made me feel for Alan more than anything else. The thought of him as a child going through what he's gone through, and being, at all times, a caring, loving brother. It was just wonderful writing. The flashbacks were some of my favourite parts, especially when their dad starts to see Nick through Alan's eyes. The change in his opinion is so gradual that you can't see it happening, but real life is like that. You can never pinpoint the moment when you truly started feeling an emotion, you only realise when you've been held under it's influence for quite a while. The writing was so brilliant in these scenes that I felt I could lie down and snuggle into them. They were so tactile and real, I loved them ever so much.

Nick broke my heart. He broke it and smushed it and yet I still cared, I cared so strongly for a Demon who would never be able to appreciate it and yet I cared anyway. The parts of the book in which he was trying to learn how to act human were great reading and yet made me hurt so much. He doesn't understand what people's feelings or motivations are, he can't comprehend affection, even when it is directed at him. He also thinks he isn't capable of feeling these things. The brief periods in this book where he shows he cares, without always even knowing it made my chest swell with adoration and pride. He doesn't seem to notice that he is capable of love and affection, he loves Alan, he loves his brother fiercely and would do anything for him. The fact that he can't see this hurts me muchly. I just want to shake him and make him realise how much he cares. Though the fact that I wouldn't survive the experience of shaking Nick keeps my hands firmly at my sides. : ) His developing relationship with Jamie in this book was adorable. The way Jamie learns to trust him completely and how Nick is fiercely protective over Jamie as if he was already part of his family was enough to make me want to huggle them both in a big happy circle. Although once again, I wouldn't like my chances of survival.

And now I get to Jamie, oh Jamie! You wonderful, amazing, deep, caring, witty, fabulous creature you! I wish he was my best friend, I wish he was my brother, I wish I could communicate with him in any way shape or form as he is so fabulous. I may rename this book, “The Story Where Everyone Loves Jamie” And damn right they should. He is a wonderful, amazing character and he brings out my fan girl muchly. He is just so witty! Every line he has either makes me chuckle or love him just a little bit more. He is so caring and fiercely loyal and towards the end of the book shows an inner strength that surprised even me. Also, Did I mention the wit? The lines that his character speaks are so entertaining that I could quote every one of them here, though then this review would be even longer, and it's pretty epic as it is! I loved his interactions with the rather new character of Seb and they broke my heart just a little. The way he threw himself so completely into new relationships with both Nick and Gerald, giving them both so much trust and capacity to hurt him. Oh! Oh Jamie! I feel my love for you is eternal and if anyone ever dares to hurt you they will have to face me *looks menacing* *twitches* *attempts menacing look again* I loved the reveal of his relationship with his mother and how much he cared, I also found her character to be fairly kick ass as well! Who knew Mae and Jamie were hiding her at home? : )

The story is a maze of twists and turns and you never quite know who to trust or who to believe in. Though throughout the book you get the wonderful character's relationships, pain and motivations to keep you turning page after page. They are so wonderful and vibrant and they leap out of the story at you. I wish I could keep them with me when I put the book down, as life will seem just a little bit duller without them. Also, have you seen the cover? It's so beautiful, I love Mae sitting nicely next to her matching Nick companion, she's all pink and silver and lovely. : ) I am anxiously awaiting the third book in this trilogy!

Read about my meeting with Sarah Rees Brennan HERE

Radiant Shadows By Melissa Marr (3.5/5)

The characterisation in this book, like the ones proceeding it, was wonderful. Melissa Marr has a great skill of creating realistic, believable characters. In this story we get a closer look at the previously mentioned characters Ani and Devlin. Their relationship was an interesting one and I really enjoyed how they were both trying to figure out their own place in their different courts, and yet feeling like they didn't really belong to them for different reasons. I felt like the affection they expressed towards each other was well paced, and even though they felt somehow connected it wasn't in a sickly sweet way as they acknowledged it wouldn't be too shocking for one to kill the other! The character of Rae was interesting in her own way, her skills and history were good aspects of the book, although her relationship with both Devlin and Ani was a little strange in an “overly familiar without being corporeal way” O_o As entertaining as I found the characters however, they were not my favourite part of the novel.

My favourite parts were the parts including the background characters, which weren't as frequent as I would have liked, as this author has a great skill with her background characters, none of them ever feel superfluous or unnecessary, I loved all of the parts that involved Irial, Niall and Seth. Seth's parts were some of the most intriguing. I love the concept that this recently non human has become such a friend of all of the court's, even though they are all battling and at the throats of one other. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, he is so easy to like and yet not so nice that he seems false or overly nauseating in his affection. I just want to pat him on the head and croon at him in soft tones, bless him. : )

Now onto Irial and Niall, Oh my! I love them, I adore t heir interactions. They are so very snarky and edgy with one another and yet this lays on top of such a layer of deep, unalterable affection. They have meant a lot to one another for centuries and yet they often disagree over one another's actions. They probably found it easier to justify hating each other when they were in opposition, now they are on the same side things are a little more complicated when they don't agree. The love and dedication they feel for one another is brilliant to read about, and a certain scene near the end of the book is one of the only moments that made me feel quite emotional whilst reading this story. I love Irial's casual attitude, though this may have something to do with the fact that he is supposed to be the King of Temptation, that rewards him a certain amount of arrogance!

My one criticism of this book is that is isn't very plot driven. This is obviously because it was so focused on the characters, but it still makes it more of a study of brilliant personalities than a race to the end. This is good in it's own way, but I've read other books that combine the two differently, causing the book to be non optional reading. This book was still an easy read, and I got through it in about two days, but it wasn't a hysteria inducing read. I still really enjoy reading about these characters though, mostly for the way they casually all interlink through their own motivations and desires and yet these same feelings have an extreme effect on the land of Faerie that go beyond their comprehension. These connections through various relationships are the best thing about this series in my opinion.

Currently Reading: The Demon's Covenant By Sarah Rees Brennan

White Cat By Holly Black (3.5/5)

This was another book that I have somewhat mixed feelings about. I'll start firstly with the things I quite liked. The world that was built up in this book was brilliant, I liked the idea that “worker” was often synonymous for criminal because it was outlawed at around the same time as prohibition. I like the way that everyone has a different magical skill, I think this was a very smart way of shaping their personalities. How they had to directly lay their hands on people for it to work was a nice touch, this adds a realistically limited aspect to their powers, it was interesting how this expanded into an almost phobia of not wearing gloves, and about people having bare hands. This was an extra added feature that gave the story more depth and realism.

I enjoyed reading about the consequences of memory alteration, and the whole concept of not being able to trust your own memories. I liked the parts of the story that included the “White Cat”, I particularly enjoyed the parts that was unnerving, as given the circumstance these would make sense. I liked the idea that the cat had a personality of it's own and was perfectly content to either be affectionate or to attack you if you crossed it.

I liked the friendship between Cassel and Sam and how the former didn't even consider himself in a friendship until he realised how much he was relying on and trusting someone who he had previously seen as just an aspect of his fake life. This seems to be often what real friendship is about. I found the idea of not being able to trust family, when you have been drilled to believe that family is the most important thing in the world, very interesting to read, especially considering the relationship that Cassel is trying to nurture with his brother near the end of the book. I found Cassel's fast thinking and ingenuity very impressive in that it allowed him to outmanoeuvre people whom he may have considered his betters at previous points in his life. It was also really interesting to see people as he did, through his perspective, as marks to be victims of his cons.

I liked the character of Lila in the flashbacks and found her to be a very entertaining, vibrant character. I liked her fierce strength and how it seemed to mask a certain vulnerability, she seemed very human to me and I enjoyed to read about her. I like the idea of growing up with a childhood friend who you realise at one point you have fallen in love with and don't know what to do about it. This meant that I could understand the main character's pain right at the end of the book, and that to me was almost one of the most affecting parts of the book.

However, for some reason I didn't find myself connecting with the book as much as I would have liked to. I read it very quickly and it required very little effort, yet something didn't quite click. It seemed too simple, I predicted most of the twists before they happened and only minor events escaped my guesses. There seemed to be a small detail missing, and even though I found the book pleasing in a lot of individual ways, when it was all strung together it still seemed slightly hollow. I really wasn't expecting that since I have loved, and occasionally, been overwhelmed by Holly Black's books. I liked everything about the books but somehow I think I needed it to go one step further, something felt missing and I am unsure what. This is the main reason I am anxious to get my hands on the sequel, as the world is already established, it may fill in some of the detail that my brain seems to have decided this first book lacks. All in all, an entertaining, interesting, well thought out read. I just needed a little more 'oomph', I think. Whatever that may be.

Currently Reading: Radiant Shadows By Melissa Marr

City of Glass By Cassandra Clare (4.5/5)

This is the second time I have read this book, and I enjoyed it immensely. I don't know if I loved it as much as the second book in the trilogy, but it was still immensely entertaining. The characterisation and humour still flowed strongly in this tome and made it a very entertaining read. All of the characters were written brilliantly, all lending their own unique story lines to the tome.

The plot twists can be predicted by people who are paying enough attention because of the hints given, but they were still written beautifully. I loved the story and the creation of the world, it was all just wonderful. Idris is such a beautiful place that you can practically feel with all of your senses. It is the kind of worls that stays with you after you leave it.

I loved the relationship between Alec and Magnus and how it was understandably complicated and yet sweet at the same time. Magnus clearly has a lot of patience to wait for Alec to make his mind up about what he wants, and what he is prepared to give, but he is a Warlock who has seen many centuries so clearly he knows what he wants! The love triangles (Octagons?) had my head spinning! I could barely keep up, it showed the characters painful humanity and I loved it!

The relationship between Clary and Jace is beautiful and painful. It demonstrates gloriously the wonder of what true love is, the way it can make a person feel and how it can affect their body and soul. Yet it is forbidden, it is openly discussed that it will be perceived as disgusting for most people and that they would have to run away if they were to ever be truly together. But they themselves know it is wrong so they manage to abstain and hide their true feelings for one another. After all, incest is not something that they can accept and move on from, especially when they find themselves only being able to love one another. It is awfully beautiful and yet agony at the same time, in the hands of a more juvenile author this could have been a disaster, but Cassandra Clare handled it brilliantly, and in my opinion she got the balance just right, the characters had a level of love that most could only dream of, and yet it was bitter sweet as they faced the realisation that they could never truly be together, even though being apart would be a harsh experience for both of them. It was a daring, unique love story and I don't think I will read one that is similar to it, any time soon.

The dialogue in this book is some of the best I have ever read. The character's interactions are engaging and can make you laugh out loud. And the wit! Oh dear the wit! The humour in this book was brilliant, I loved the banter and the one liners. Their quips are enough to make you jealous and their emotions are so intense that you can do very little to stop yourself being carried along on the journey with them. From Jace's biting sarcasm and pointed wit to Simon's casual self deprecation this book will have you chuckling and gasping along with the character's that the comments are directed towards. They could take a very dramatic scene and still leave you chortling at a character's bare faced cheek and brilliant comments.

The character of Sebastian created a new twist to the story, and even with the revelation that occurs just over half way through the book the ending reveal about his character still tops it. He was a fresh new personality to see in the series and in my opinion increased the pace and the drama. The action of the book doesn't slow down, and every twist is written wonderfully enough to make you dizzy. I love the way that Clary slowly develops from a somewhat comfortable, almost shy, character to a powerful lead capable of great inner strength and skill. She shows herself to be loyal, determined and an unlikely heroine of the Shadowhunter world, and yet she is at no point perfect or over confident, which can be over powering in some stories. This is a balance that Cassandra Clare has achieved brilliantly, and Clary is a character that I really like to read about.

There was not a part of this book that felt a chore to read, which given it's length is quite an achievement. It covers more than one battle, and many twists and turns for the individual characters and yet doesn't feel over filled with information or description. From the heartbreaking emotional moments to the sections that make you feel triumph along with the characters, this book is a great read. I would recommend this series to anyone and I genuinely can't wait for the next book or the prequel trilogy to be released. I just know that anything by this author will be a joy to read.

Currently Reading: White Cat By Holly Black

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