Book Review - An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunters & Denizens of Downworld

I am a bit behind on my Shadowhunters reading. I have, on my current TBR; City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy and Lady Midnight (though, when I do get my rear in gear to read these, I won't be reading these in order. I sense I might read Shadowhunter Academy and Lady Midnight before I read City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls. And let's not get me start of the upcoming Last Hours trilogy coming soon...).

So, imagine my surprise when, out of nowhere, Simon and Schuster sent me a copy of (brace yourselves for long title to say in one breath) An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunters and Denizens of Downworld. And with my weird reading slump, I decide to blitz this tiny gift. 

In this anthology, we see characters from all of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter world - The Infernal Devices, The Mortal Instruments, Tales from the Shadowhunters Academy, The Dark Artifices and the upcoming The Last Hours - with never before known titbits of information on each character and with illustrations from Cassandra Jean - creator of the Shadowhunter Tarot that we've seen on Clare's website. 

I am a bit torn over this book. On one hand, I think true fans of this series will love this christmas stocking filler. Cassandra Jean's art is beautiful and is the real selling point for this book, in my opinion (and I love reading art books and spent quite a bit of time looking at illustrations in the books I read). 

Like I said, true fans of the series - all of the Shadowhunters series - will love this. But for someone who isn't up to speed (aka myself), the information given is a bit of a problem. While new information (and fans will be reading these and going "oh, that makes sense with so-and-so"), it doesn't feel entirely important to the world. For example, why is it important to tell us that, when younger, this one character had a brief spell at stamp collecting? 

There were times that I looked at this and thought "Is this a cash cow moment?". 

This is a die-hard fan book. But if you are a casual fan, I would say get a copy from your library. But go enjoy the art. 

GoodRead - Clockwork Princess

We've FINALLY got our hands on the final book in the Infernal Devices! And with the strict embargo, the lovely Hannah from Walker Books couldn't send Clockwork Princess till the book's general release! That's how tight security was on this book and keeping the spoilers away from the fans till after the book's release!

Tessa should be happy. All brides should be, right? But having Magister's shadow looming over the London  Institute doesn't put her in the right frame of mind. He wants one more thing to complete his master plan against the Shadowhunters - Tessa. And it's not only that. There are forces within the Clave doubting the London Institute's claims that the Magister will strike soon. With allies turning heir back on Tessa and her friends, the Magister makes a move that puts lives in danger. But can Tessa defeat the man who murdered her brother? Who will win Tessa's heart - Will or Jem? And will there be a happily ever after? 

I'm going to admit this here and now: I much prefer the Infernal Devices over the Mortal Instruments (well, what I have read, which is the first three. Although, I am looking forward to the movie - the trailer of which is below!). And I enjoyed reading this as much as the previous two within this series so... will the finale live up to the rest of the trilogy?

Oh yes. Yes, it does.

It was wonderful returning to Tessa, Will and Jem and the world of Infernal Devices and finally, FINALLY, getting answers to questions that have bugged me since book one! Cassandra gives us the answers - some of which are so straight-forward, you bang your head against your palm and go "How did I not see that?!" while others you have to read and think it over before you realise that the clues were there...

The epilogue - I feel I have to write about that as I sense it will split the fandom/readers. You are going to be in 2 camps. You are either going to go "Oh, what a lovely ending" or "NO! HOW COULD CASSIE WRITE THAT?!" (that seems to be the reaction to most epilogues, I find), but to me, I am in the "Oh, what a lovely ending" camp. It just fitted (and Cassandra explains why in her "A Note About Tessa's London" bit) and, shockingly, it gives everyone the ending they want (writing this without spoilers is hard, but I sense I revealed something).

This just went perfectly with the rest of the series, and with rumours that Cassandra Clare in writing another trilogy linked to the children of these characters (as well as The Dark Artifices), we shall see if I return to the world of the Shadowhunters, but to me, this is a perfect ending to a friendship, whichever I return or not.





PS - not sure if anyone else noticed this, but there's a tiny mistake in chapter 10. In one scene, we have two chapters in a shop. A third character looks at some paintings on the wall, which is impossible as he's back at the Institute. So.. yeah... Not sure how I saw that but... yeah... bar the mistake, loved this book! 

GoodRead - Clockwork Angel: Manga

I heard rumours that there will be graphic novels of Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments coming out (perfect tie in for the upcoming movie that's coming out next year). But it was only recently that I realised that Cassandra's Infernal Devices series were being turned into manga (I believe it was Mundie Moms who filled me in so thank you). So, imagine my surprise when I got a parcel from Atom & Orbit and the manga Clockwork Angel was in it with other goodies. I grabbed this and read quickly.

It is the same plot as Clockwork Angel (my review of this is here). But, for those who aren't familiar with this series, this is what you should know. In Victorian London, American Tessa Gray comes to visit her brother, Nate. But instead of meeting him, she meets the Dark Sisters. Who then take her hostage. So, when she is rescued by Will, she finds herself in a world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders and then, soon afterwards, she finds herself between two best friends. With her heart torn in two directions, Tessa finds out she's more connected to this new world than she first thought...

I don't really want to talk about the story (as I have reviewed the novel before), but I am very pleased how the novel was adapted to become a manga. And for good reason as it was adapted by the author herself. This helped explained how the book kept loyal to the story and kept the essence. This is very important in adaptations, in any form. If you lose the essence of what made a story great in its adaptation, it feels... wrong. Does that make sense?

The art. Now that I do want to talk about. I liked the art, done by (according to the press release) "the phenomenal manga artist HyeKyung Baek". But... yes, I have buts. First of all, Henry. Why was he done like that? WHY?! That's a small thing, as is the "Do all men in manga look similar?"

The main "But" I have with this is the chemistry. This is meant to be a love story, and while the manga did the supernatural side brilliantly, the chemistry was lacking. If this was stretched over several issues, then this would be done and we would, probably, be sick of it. But, as this was only one volume, it felt a little rushed. Maybe I'm putting too much focus on that as Cassandra tackled this brilliantly in the novel, but... I didn't carry over very well.

I think I may be a little harsh. I really enjoyed it (and it was a fast read. Took a few days to read!) and I am itching to see what the manga version of Clockwork Prince is like! And, this is the perfect "Tie Me Over" till the Infernal Devices finale, Clockwork Princess, comes out. I can NOT wait!



PS - just realised that on the cover, Will is doing the Fearless Rune. Now, am such that Clary created that in City in Ashes. She created and Alec almost told his parents that he was gay. Or am I misremembering? Let me know guys!

Cassandra Clare News (YEAH!!!!!)

This was revealed last night so...

Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments trilogy (which is technically not a trilogy because she has written a fourth book - City of Fallen Angels) announced last night that TWO MORE books will be added to the series, making it SIX books in total. And, if you see her prequel trilogy - Infernal Devices - as part of the same series (I don't, but still, some do), that makes it NINE books!

But not only that, SHE GAVE US TITLES!!!

The titles are... THE CITY OF LOST SOULS and THE CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE!!!

AND - we have YEARS OF RELEASE AND TAGLINES!!! So exciting!!!!

Let's deal with the taglines first... ready?

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS: "Who will be tempted by darkness?"
CITY OF LOST SOULS: "Can the Lost be reclaimed?"
CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE: "Will love be their salvation or destruction?"



Mouthwatering, huh? And now, we have dates. Well, not dates, but year release. Now, hold on. This is kinda confusing.

2010 - Clockwork Angel (Book 1 in Infernal Devices)
2011 - City of Fallen Angels (Book 4 of Mortal Instruments - April) AND Clockwork Prince (Book 2 in Infernal Devices - September?)
2012 - City of Lost Souls (Book 5 of Mortal Instruments - date unknown) AND Clockwork Princess (Book 3 in Infernal Devices - date unknown)
2013 - City of Heavenly Fire (Book 6 of Mortal Instruments - Date Unknown).

Also, one tiny mouthwatering piece of information Cassandra said (she was very vague about the new books - as she should) is the following: She also said that new characters will be introduced including a female and a male that will shake up some relationships as we know them.

SO EXCITED!!!!

AND - someone gave the link to the video! SCORE!



And now, because we have no book cover of CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS to show you (it won't be revealed till December 2010!), here is a song I HUGELY relate to this series (and I hope Imogen Heap will release TONS more music before the books are released!)

Clockwork Angel Countdown

GoodRead - Book Cover Excitement (Clockwork Angel)

Now, another book cover but this was the one I'm the most excited over.

The book series I discovered last year (and fell completely in love with - Team Alec and Magnus!!!) was the series Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. So, I am very thrilled that she is writing a prequel trilogy called the Infernal Devices and a fourth book to the Mortal Instruments called City of Fallen Angels.

Today, the cover to the first book in the Infernal Devices is called Clockwork Angel (God, I love the name!) and this is the cover for the US and, maybe, the UK!



And this is a close up of the gentleman on the front cover which, Cassandra revealed on her LiveJournal is one of the main characters called Will.



I LOVE this cover! Just love it! Though I wasn't happy when the UK publisher switched the covers to the US covers, I do LOVE this cover! I do hope the UK publishers - Walker Books - use this cover...

Oh, here is a small interview where the cover was revealed... http://shelf-life.ew.com/2010/03/18/exclusive-first-look-at-the-cover-of-cassandra-clares-next-novel-clockwork-angel/. ENJOY!