Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Look at me, I am on a roll with 3 posts in one month? More posts than I have done all year! Maybe because it's the summer and I have less to do so that means MORE READING! This is what I've felt like so far this summer:

Okay, maybe I can't quit! But it's a better hobby than some other things! Okay now onto Cinder:

Cinder is about a girl living in a futuristic world, where Cinder is a cyborg living with her stepmother and two step sisters as their maid. Sound familiar? Yep, a futuristic Cinderella. The cool thing about this series is that Ms. Meyer took different fairy tales and rewrote them and incorporated more futuristic things as well as real life problems that fairy tale characters don't often face. Cinder is being used as a maid and fixer-upper around the house by her stepmother and stepsisters, during a time where the "plague" is taking over New Beijing. Cinder meets Prince Kai one day when he comes to get his android fixed. Soon after, she starts her adventure trying to find the cure and this mysterious "princess selene" who can stop the Lunar Queen Levana from taking over Earth. 

The thing that I liked the most about this book is how ferocious Cinder is.  She is a great leading lady and really fights for her family and those that she loves, including her android Iko.  Queen Levana is also one of the best villians that Ms. Meyer could have made for this novel.  She is vain, obsessed with power (and herself) and willing to risk it all to make sure that Princess Selene is never seen or heard from again. This is witnessed in the stories of her burning down Princess Selene's nursery when she was just a small child. While as soon as Princess Selene was mentioned, I knew how that part was going to turn out, the story was not as predictable as I thought it would be.  The plot moves along nicely, and doesn't get slow at any points.  One thing about all of the Lunar Chronicles is that Ms. Meyer does a wonderful job leaving you wanting more and more for the next book. It was excruciating to have to wait a whole year for Scarlet to come out after reading Cinder. 

Great book! Go out and buy it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. 

(Copyright Marissa Meyer, 2014)

Quick Review:

Title: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Pages: 390 (hardcover)

Recommended for: Young adults, both boys and girls because it has some action in it as well!

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments Book #3)

City of Glass is the fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.  I'm telling you, although these books are for young adults (I still consider myself a young adult, I'm only 22) they really suck me in! I couldn't put them down!

City of Glass picks up where City of Ashes leaves off, much like City of Ashes did with City of Bones.   I love that in these books, certain things do get tied up at the end, but there is always that burning question or problem that still is left unanswered or unsolved for the next book to pick up. That's the sign of a great author, someone who really won't let you put their series down and keeps you coming back for more and more.  Oh and of course, as I'm sure you know.. Don't continue reading if you haven't read City of Ashes, or if you're okay with spoiler alerts read on! 

This book is great. I didn't know what to expect once Simon became a vampire, but I really like that he is semi-normal and can walk in the sun, every since he fed off Jace. Clary is now still trying to save her mother's life and to do so, she has to travel to the City of Glass, the home of all Shadowhunters.  Clary enters the city without permission (which is against the law) and is met by worse and worse news.  Jace doesn't want her in the City and Simon was thrown in prison by the Inquisitor because they are skeptical of a vampire that can walk in the sun (uh yeah, I'd be too!). Clary must find the friend of her mother's to help save her mother's life before it is too late.  Valentine is on his way to destroy all Shadowhunters and allow demons to rule the world.  Clary must convince Shadowhunters to fight along side of their eternal enemies, werewolves, vampires and fairies to help stop Valentine and the demons he is planning to bring into the world. Luckily, Clary finds out she has a magical power that can aid the "good" side in the fight and she has to decide how she can use it to help.  

Definitely a must read! Find it on Amazon here and Barnes & Noble here. 

© Margaret K. McElderry Books, Cassandra Clare

Quick Review:
Title: City of Glass (Mortal Instruments Book #3)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 576 (paperback)
Recommended: Young adult girls, 14-17 (or 22!)

Ascend (Trylle Trilogy #3) by Amanda Hocking

Ascend is the way every single trilogy or even series should be ended.  Kind of like what J.K. Rowling did with the Harry Potter books, Amanda Hocking included a short epilogue that explains where the characters are in the future. It's amazing. Hocking ends the story and sums everything up, then she does a little "where are they now" type thing.  Perfect. Just the way I like it.

Wendy has discovered now that in order to save the Trylle from the deadly Vittra, she must sacrifice herself to the Vittra King, who also happens to be her father.  If she doesn't surrender to the Vittra, then the Vittra will mount an enormous attack on the Trylle that the Trylle may not be able to survive. Wendy must decide what to do. Chance a fight with the Vittra or sacrifice herself so her friends can be safe.  Among Wendy's decisions is to decide what guy to choose to be with forever.. Loki or Finn? Finn or Loki? Wendy does get married in the book but you'll just have to read it to find out to who..... The future of the entire world rests in Wendy's hands and it's up to her to figure out what to do to save the world!

Excellent series and easy to read. I really enjoyed reading these books, and I think it only took me about a week to power through all three of them.  I would definitely recommend checking them out! I've also been looking into Amanda Hocking's blog, where I found out that she has sold the movie rights and someone is now trying to make a movie out of the books! Fancy shmancy. I hope they do a better job with these than what they did with the Beautiful Creatures novels.  That movie adaptation was atrocious. But that's besides the point.. read the Trylle trilogy! You won't regret it!

Want to buy it? Here it is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

                                                   © ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, Amanda Hocking

Quick Review:
Title: Ascend (Trylle Trilogy #3)
Author: Amanda Hocking

Pages: 326 (paperback) including the "bonus" story

Recommended for: Young adult girls, with some reservations about the language and content. Probably ages 14+

And So It Begins...

             I have decided to start a new adventure today. It's summer, it's nice out, perfect tanning weather, yet all I want to do is read. I've decided sharing the books I read and what I think about them will make the amount I read seem a little less scary. I have to admit, I am a total bookaholic. I buy books even though I have a million on my shelf still waiting to be read.  I'm pretty sure I inherited this trait from my mom. She does the same thing. I have millions on millions of books to read, yet I still buy more books when I see them. I have a hard time walking past a bookstore without walking in and buying something.  McKay's in Manassas? I can barely drive past there without feeling an overwhelming urge to pull over, run inside and scoop something up. 
            My boyfriend thinks it's a problem. And you know what, I think he may be right. But with this blog, it will make it seem (to me at least) that I HAVE to read. I have to blog about my books when I'm done and somebody is dying to read about what I've read! I'm thinking that this may turn out to be a terrible idea, or maybe it'll end up being fun? Who knows. 
           Join me on my adventure this summer as I try and read as many books as humanly possible and then blog about each and every one of them.  If you ever have any suggestions or books you think I should read, please let me know! (As if I don't have enough to read already, what's one more book right?) 
            
         And now..  Let the games begin.....