So Many Books, So Little Time

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead Okay, let me start by saying I really love this series and the Vampire Academy series.  I did enjoy this book but I don't think it was as good as the previous ones in the series.  I know the whole point of this books is to set the stage for the final book so I'm cutting it some slack.  The story was really slow for the first three quarters of the book and then it felt like a million things were shoved into the last bit of the book.  There were some big surprises that I was pretty excited about so that helped my opinion of it a lot.  Of course, there was a very crazy cliffhanger so now I have to read the last book!  Silver Shadows is definitely the weakest of the series but still a must-read for fans.  3 stars.   You'd Be So Pretty If...Teaching Our Daughters to Love Their Bodies-Even When We Don't Love Our Own by Dara Chadwick I have had a lot of body issues over the years and I'm terrified of p...

From Goodreads:  After traveling through time in Shadow of Night , the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches —with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency. In the trilogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago. My Thoughts:  I loved this trilogy, but T...

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead I love this series so much and this book was a great addition to the series.  I loved reading Adrian's point of view and the story in general was just awesome.  Sydney's sister makes an appearance in this book and I am so not a fan of hers.  There is also a crazy cliffhanger ending.  I seriously don't know if I can handle waiting until the next book comes out!  4 stars. Allegiant by Veronica Roth Okay, I'm going to be honest, I have never really been a super fan of these books.  I think these are books I read simply because they were so popular.  I wasn't wowed by Divergent but I did enjoy Insurgent so I decided that I needed to finish the series.  Allegiant was just okay.  I didn't like the ending and the story took turns that kind of surprised me.  Overall, I am just not impressed by the trilogy in general.  3 stars.

From Goodreads:   Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?  Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her. My Thoughts:  I can't believe it's over!  I have said it before and will say it again, the Infernal Devices is so much better than the Mortal Instruments. I loved this whole series and I loved the way the author wrapped it all up   I could not put this book down at all!  I loved all the little romances that popped up and all the action that was going on as the Shadowhunters tried to fight and stop Mortmain.  I a...

From Goodreads:  Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another.... Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand. Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal ...

From Goodreads:  In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next. My Thoughts:  I love this series so much!  I just can't get enough of these characters and the worlds of Moroi and Alchemists.  Sydney is as awesome as ever in this installment ...

From Goodreads:  What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series. My Thoughts:  This book was, for the most part, a complete and utter disappointment.  I hate leaving series unfinished but I am not...

  From Goodreads:  Indiana , 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness." "My baby boy..." she whispers before dying. Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire. When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, " henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose ..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House. While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in ...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish . This week's topic is:  Top Ten Books for People who Like Vampire Academy I love the Vampire Academy books so I decided to make a list of fun vampire books that I think people who like Vampire Academy might also enjoy. 1.) The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice- These were the first vampire books I ever read so they have a special place in my heart.  Plus, they are really good! 2.) The Black Dagger Brotherhood books by J.R. Ward- Super sexy vampires?  Yes, please! 3.) Dracula by Bram Stoker - This is the original vampire book 4.) The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - This is an incredibly smart vampire book.  I highly recommend it. 5.) Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist - This is probably the scariest vampire book I have read.  Definitely not one to read by yourself late at night. 6.) A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - This is not just a vampire book as t...

From Goodreads:  Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens. Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season. My Thoughts:  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  It has been almost a year since I read A Discovery of Witches and I had forgotten how much I loved it until I picked up Shadow of Night .  This sequel is as good, if not better, than the first book and I flew through it.  Diana ...

 From Goodreads:  Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought. Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher. My Thoughts:  Can I just tell you how much I love the Vampire Academy/Bloodlines books?!  ...

From Goodreads:  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 Wil...

From Goodreads:  When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos. Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own. Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two be...

From Goodreads:  Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment is a heartbroken shadow of the vampire leader he once was. Brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel, he fights again with ruthless vengeance- and is unprepared for a new tragedy. Seeing his beloved in dreams—trapped in a cold, desolate netherworld—he turns to the angel to save his former mate, only to despair at the path he himself must take to set her free. As war with the lessers rages, and a new clan of vampires vies for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between an unforgettable past, and a future that he doesn’t know he can live with… but can’t seem to turn away from. My Thoughts:  I have been waiting for Tohr's book since the beginning of the series (I know I have said this many times).  I really liked him as a character from day one and after the tragedy that befell him, I wanted to know more.  He seemed like such a sincere character; he cared so much for his friend,...

From Goodreads:  Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident. Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late My Thoughts:  This book was a littly sassy!  The dialogue was sarcastic and fun and there were some great lines.  I definitely found myelf giggling a little at the sarcasm.  This book picks up pretty much where Demonglass left off and all kinds of surprises are revealed in the first few chapters.  There is a lot of background pr...

From Goodreads:  The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most important of all—Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her. His mother just found out he’s a vampire and now he’s homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse wrecking his life. And they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he’s dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other. When Jace begins to pull away from Cl...

From Goodreads:  To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing 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 Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters 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?  My Thoughts:  Hands down, this is my ...

From Goodreads:  Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, warrior cloth as her brother: A fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side… and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either. When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can- and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous, secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night- like vampires- he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul. As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide … just as a centuries old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in deadly jeopardy. My Thoughts:  I can't get enough of this series.  I wasn't super excited to read Lover Unleashed simply because...

From Goodreads:  John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown. Taken in by The Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was-or his true identity. Xhex has long steeled herself against the attraction to John Matthew. Until fate intervenes and she discovers that love, like destiny, is inevitable. My Thoughts:  I love this series!  Lover Mine finally gives more background on Xhex, a character we have been seeing throughout most of the series.  I honestly didn't like her much in past books but she really surprised me.  We learn about her past and why she is the way she is and I liked that she actually was a little vulnerable in this book as opposed to being a full time bad ass.  Lover Mine is a cool book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series because there is so much going on it.  Not only is there the John and Xhex story but there is more about the Blay and Quinn situation, T...

From Goodreads:  When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning. Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood. My Thoughts:  YAY!  I loved the Vampire Academy series and it was awesome to see all my favorite characters again in Bloodlines !  Though Rose makes a brief appearance, this is definitely Sydney's story and by the end of the book, I decided that Sydney is just as awesome a character as Rose.  She has a lot more self-control but is really just as much of a bad ass as Rose is. ...