Rain's Reviews: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Glass
To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the third installment of the New York Timesbestselling series The Mortal Instruments.

~

Review

City of Glass is the third installment of the Mortal Instruments series. I’m no good at sequel reviews but I’m going to try nonetheless.

The book starts out and I already wanted to put it down- not permanently but you know, to cool down. But I stuck with it and it did get better. I think one thing I enjoy about the characters is that they hold Clary accountable for her actions. Jace and Clary finally get some answers to their plethora of questions. Simon is a very large part of this story and you see more of Magnus and Alec. I liked that Cassandra spread around the POVs and you get a lot of little side stories and the main plot from many different viewpoints. This book, though marvelous didn’t leave a large opening for book four so I am anxious to find out what’s next for this series.

~Rain
Goodreads

Rain's Reviews: What We Saw in the Night by Jacquelyn Mitchard

What We Saw in the Night by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Allie Kim suffers from Xeroderma Pigmentosum: a fatal allergy to sunlight that confines her and her two best friends, Rob and Juliet, to the night. When freewheeling Juliet takes up Parkour—the stunt-sport of scaling and leaping off tall buildings—Allie and Rob have no choice but to join her, if only to protect her. Though potentially deadly, Parkour after dark makes Allie feel truly alive, and for the first time equal to the “daytimers.”

On a random summer night, the trio catches a glimpse of what appears to be murder. Allie alone takes it upon herself to investigate, and the truth comes at an unthinkable price. Navigating the shadowy world of specialized XP care, extreme sports, and forbidden love, Allie ultimately uncovers a secret that upends everything she believes about the people she trusts the most.

~~~

What We Saw in the Night was good. It is a mystery-adventure type book told by a 17 yr old girl with XP. I can’t say to be well versed in XP but you do learn a bit about it in the book which I thought was pretty cool.

Allie Kim is a confused teenager that doesn’t really know what to do in her waking hours. She has two best friends Rob and Juliet. She just rolls with the punches and lets life pass her by. But when her life becomes shaken up she decides to take notice. It took a while for me to really like her and though I’ve warmed up to this female lead she isn’t really my fave. Her passive aggressive attitude and utter obsession with Rob really doesn’t make her appealing. When the action starts to heat up you get a hysterical vibe from her and as weird as it sounds I liked that because that’s how any sane person would be.

Rob is a sweet guy who I enjoyed but I don’t think he was developed enough. He is kind of two dimensional, I would have liked to get to know him better. And then there’s Juliet the Great and Terrible. the biggest self absorbed butt face I’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting.

But of course every one loved her and she is a huge part of the story *wink wink*

What We Saw In The Night was written well and if you like mysteries then this will definitely be up your alley. The romance between Allie and Rob went all the way and was hastily thrown in and was entirely unnecessary. However despite that is was still a good read.

What We Saw At Night
Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Rapture (Elfin Series Book 2) by Quinn Loftis

Rapture (Elfin Series Book 2)

By Quinn Loftis

Synopsis

Triktapic, the deadly dark elf assassin, has been restored by the Forest Lords to his rightful place as king of the Elven realm. Now, he must face his former comrades as he attempts to stop Lorsan, king of the dark elves, from enslaving the human race. Lorsan has already begun distributing Rapture, the irresistible drink that destroys those who unknowingly become addicted to it. Will Cassie, his Chosen, be able to give Trik the strength he needs to face his dark past?

Meanwhile, Cassie’s best friend, Elora, is in a fight for her own life. Elora, her mother, Lisa, and a small band of light elves have traveled deep into the dark elf realm in hopes of rescuing Cassie and Trik. But their mission quickly turns into a battle for their own lives as they are surrounded by Lorsan and his warriors. Though outnumbered ten to one, the humans and elves fight heroically. They fight for a King once lost, but now found. They fight for the human realm that doesn’t yet know it is in need of saving. They fight for love; a love that has already been discovered and a love that is waiting to be revealed. Despite their valiant efforts, the band is captured and held captive by the dark elf king.

The peaceful world that Cassie and Elora knew is long gone, shattered by their realization that elves walk secretly among them, and are bent on their destruction. Soon, each of the girls will be forced to choose her own path. Cassie must decide to which world she belongs and Elora must decide if she will fight for a warrior hell bent on keeping her from his side.

Two species, human and elf, stand on the precipice of war, united in one goal; shatter the dark elf king’s plan, and unite a divided race under the rule of the one true King.

Coming December 2013

About The Author

 

Quinn lives in beautiful NW Arkansas with her husband, son, Doberman and cat (who thinks she is a ninja in disguise). She is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her. Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid imagination it takes to write.

Links

Website: http://www.quinnloftisbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuinnLoftisBooks?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthQuinnLoftis

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5014564.Quinn_Loftis

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Quinn-Loftis/e/B005HJPD9C/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1370647120&sr=1-2-ent

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/quinn-loftis?store=allproducts&keyword=quinn+loftis

Add to GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18457506-rapture?from_search=true

Rains Reviews: Seeking Havok by Lila Felix

All she wanted was a friend---one that knew her and not her circumstances. She needed somewhere to call home. Hers was an open door for countless men looking for the services her mother offered them. She camouflaged herself against lockers and blackboards to avoid the stares and whispers at school.

And then she found Cal...and Fade.

Cal lives like Frankenstein, rising at night to work and just trying to make it until dawn. He avoids most relationships, afraid of the things he will be asked to do. He moonlights as Fade, a radio station DJ who spends hours counseling his peers on their troubles. It was all mundane until Jocelyn called the station.

Cal and Havok pursue a friendship.

Jocelyn and Fade pursue a relationship beyond the confines of the radio waves.

But when Havok disappears, Cal will find that Havok has been guarding a lifetime worth of secrets. And when Fade and Jocelyn’s all night phone conversations cease, he finds a link between them he never saw coming.
~~~
Seeking Havoc. Hmm. How about a quote?

“A great book should leave you with many experiences and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.” ~ William Styron

Yep, pretty much. This book wasn’t in any way anywhere near a feel good happy romance. But I liked that about it. Because life is crappy and it throws you off your groove. And though Havok hasn’t had a good homelife, though she is struggling, though she is in a bad situation she hasn’t given up. Not completely, not remotely- not really. And I admire her for that. Don’t get me wrong, she has her bad judgment calls and her own brand of naivety she is a fighter even if she doesn’t always think so.

Fade is a typical sweet, caring, swoon worthy guy that I wouldn’t expect anything less than from Lila. He listens to, cares for, and worries about Havok, Jocelyn and everyone else who need it. He is an all around stand up individual. And inside that awesome thing he calls a heart he finds he most cherished spot to put Havok. The safest most wonderful spot and that is where he puts his girl. Because that is where she deserves to be.

Seeking havok is a heavy book that made my tear up and laugh and fear and, yes, swoon. You’d think with statistics and human nature at least one of lila’s books wouldn’t be a home run but no. Way to beat the odds Lady Lila.

~Rain

~~~

Goodreads

Amazon

Lila Felix

Rains Reviews: The Fairy Ring by Mary Losure

The Fairy Ring by Mary Losure

The enchanting true story of a girl who saw fairies, and another with a gift for art, who concocted a story to stay out of trouble and ended up fooling the world.

Frances was nine when she first saw the fairies. They were tiny men, dressed all in green. Nobody but Frances saw them, so her cousin Elsie painted paper fairies and took photographs of them "dancing" around Frances to make the grown-ups stop teasing. The girls promised each other they would never, ever tell that the photos weren’t real. But how were Frances and Elsie supposed to know that their photographs would fall into the hands of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? And who would have dreamed that the man who created the famous detective Sherlock Holmes believed ardently in fairies
— and wanted very much to see one? Mary Losure presents this enthralling true story as a fanciful narrative featuring the original Cottingley fairy photos and previously unpublished drawings and images from the family’s archives. A delight for everyone with a fondness for fairies, and for anyone who has ever started something that spun out of control.

~~~

The Fairy Ring was an informative book on fairies in england 1900s. How nice to know they actually exist! That there is solid proof! And you know, that everyone is so easily fooled when they want to believe in something.

Frances and Elsie were oh so very different but they meshed. Frances was the quiet type that like to stay under the radar. She was sort of sensible I guess you could say. She saw fairies and thought nothing of it. They were just there, why do something about it?

Elsi was the artistic type and though she wasn’t an outgoing Social butterfly her shell wasn’t as thick as Frances’.

The Frances and Elsie were teased for believing in fairies. So they decided they were going to do something about that.

Through two simple pictures they made an entire country come to attention. They had all of england asking about fairies, believing that they were real and that two simple country girls caught them on camera!This rouse lasted their entire lives. But they didn’t know it would did they?

This story was told in distant third person and was a fast moving retelling of the event that shaped their lives and changed a country. It was interesting and welcome and I greatly enjoyed this short novel.

~Rain

~~~

Goodreads

The Fairy Ring: Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World

Mary Losure

Blog Tour: Twisted by KayCee R

Tour Schedule

Twisted Cayden Rivers wants nothing more than to be normal, but we don’t always get what we want. For years he has been hiding a secret, afraid of being labeled a “freak”. Every day he goes to school, plays football, spends time with his girlfriend, and helps carry his drunken adopted father to bed. Nobody knows the truth about his unnatural speed and strength, including his life-long friend Camilla. Suddenly, four strangers enter Cayden’s life, and not only do they know his secret, they also have one of their own. With their help, Cayden discovers there is more to his power, something much more dangerous. Something other people will kill to possess. Camilla wishes her parents were around more. She gets lonely sleeping in her big empty house night after night. Sure, she has all the money she could ever need, but the only person who is there for her is Cayden. He has his own family and a girlfriend who takes up most of his time, so Camilla knows he won’t be there for her forever, and recently he’s been acting really strange. Will Cayden be able to keep his secret and his friendship with Camilla, or will his new found power destroy everything, including his own life? Switching between Cayden and Camilla's point of view, Twisted will leave you aching for more.  
~~~
Excerpt
I pushed the guy’s weight off me so I could get up to see if Dom caught the ball, but I stopped short when I looked up at who had tackled me. It was… me? I must have hit my head. Hard. I heard cheers roaring, but they felt like they were coming from far away. That I was watching from a distance, even though I was there on the field.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

  KayCee R KayCee is a 24 year old self-published author from Cleveland, Ohio. KayCee has always loved reading. After a re-occurring dream she decided to try writing about it. She wrote the first installment of Twisted when she was 20. “I kept having this dream about these twins, and then I just decided to run with it. I wrote the beginning, the end, and then filled in the middle.” KayCee finished the book in 8 months and then decided to share the book online. After seeing people get interested in the book and the characters, she decided to write another book and turn Twisted into a series. KayCee has finished four novels in the Twisted series and is currently working on the fifth book.

Twitter * Facebook * BookRix

Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/4/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rain's Reviews: The Descendants Second Coming by Vrinda Pendred

Between kisses, Aidan kept asking her questions: Where do I come from? Who was my father? Who made me? Why am I here?

The Ancients are coming for them. In fact, they’ve already landed on Earth and now they’re searching for the boy who will lead them to the Wisdom.

Some say the Wisdom is ultimate knowledge of the Creator; others say it’s just a myth. But the golden giant Quetzal knows better. The Wisdom was lost thousands of years ago, and only its recovery will stop the Ancients from dying.

Meanwhile, Aidan is desperate to discover the identity of his birth parents…and the real reason why he was led away from home in pursuit of the black pulse of his dreams. Can Itzy protect him from the truth that threatens to divide them?

~~~
The Descendants Second Coming is just as astounding as the first. The adventure, Mystery, and romance of it all is amazingly woven together into a fantastical tale. Itzel, Aiden, Oz, Seth, and the rest of the gang and trying to protect the wisdom- kind of.

Itzel Loveguard has grown up. She has gotten more confident in herself and her powers but she still has a lot to learn. That, however, didn’t keep me from loving just as much the second time around.

The book was written in an encore cast all told in third person with the focus on Itzy, Sethe, Aiden, and the ancients mostly. Yep-the ancients- you get to meet them and see new sides to the already interesting cast.

The mystery was very well written and balanced. I didn’t figure anything out unless the characters did. I actually thought I’d gotten clever and figured it out a couple times but there was always another twist- silly me.

There was a lot more romance in this book, and much more steamy. I must admit that I was a little disappointed. It was very blatantly stated that they went past PG-13 and though there was no description I had always- for some fantastical childish reason hoped that Itzel was the type to wait. Nevertheless It was all such a small insignificant part of the story that I don’t think it would keep me from recommending it to a friend. Moving on.

The climax had a lot of build up and didn’t happen until the very end of the book as per Vrinda’s usual M.O. *Sighs* I have a theory that when Vrinda started writing she had an amazing mentor whom she grew to trust completely and always took his advice. Then one day Vrinda came to him with a problem- she couldn’t figure out how write the ending of a book. And her mentor in all his gentle wiseness told her, “then don’t. Leave your readers in miserable agony until you write the next book and then eventually when the time comes, and ending will present itself. Until then just stop and publish it at the least and yet most opportune moment.” And since that was the most she had ever heard her very old- slow to speak mentor talk at once she decided then and there to do exactly that; every single time. Congratulations old man you’ve cultivated an exquisite author with the ability to make lives and powers and fairytales come to life and I think you should be proud of her, dear fictional man. Lets just hope no one has to wait too long for the next installment, I think she might be responsible for a few admittances in to a psych ward if they have too long of a wait.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

~Rain