Dreamcasting (8): From books to film

I am a very visual person and when I read a book I like to envision in my head what each book character would look like in actuality and who could play their roles if they ever adapted that particular book into a film.

What is a dreamcast? Well, it's the cast of actors that you think would be perfect to interpret a character on screen. Today I will dreamcast a popular book character and explain why I think the actor I chose for this dreamcast would be perfect for the role of said character.

Dreamcast for Gideon Lightwood

Benjamin Eidem as Gideon Lightwood from Clockwork Prince

 

 

So, Benjamin Eidem as Gideon Lightwood might not come as a surprise to many in the Infernal devices fandom (at least TID fans on tumblr). There is pretty much a general consensus on Benjamin being the perfect choice for Gideon. Mostly, I think its because Benjamin has the physical attributes (height, body, sandy blonde hair) that match up perfectly to the descriptions of Gideon Lightwood in Clockwork Prince (by Cassandra Clare). 

 

 

Benjamin Eidem is a very popular male model who is Swedish. Not only does he have an amazing look, but he has a really fierce and serious presence not only on the runway, but on screen and on print (pictures). There also is a versatility to him in the sense that he has a very vulnerable look to him sometimes, that is all in his eyes. And when he smiles, to quote a very good friend of mine "it's like the angels sing" - he has quite an adorable smile, with dimples and all, that you would never suspect from his really strong runway presence. 

 

 

Why do I mention all of this? Well, Gideon Lightwood, encompasses all the qualities that Benjamin has in his presence, as a character. Gideon is not only quite the Victorian gentleman, but he is a character who has depth to him, honesty, strength, and charm (he loves to talk spanish when he is happy). He is just this amazing character that came onto the Infernal Devices scene in book 2 of that series (Clockwork Prince) - who made a tremendous impression on all TID fans because he fell in love with Sophie (a maid with a scar) despite that being taboo in the Victorian world and shadowhunter world that he lives in, in the book. 

 

 

 

 

 Have you ever dreamcasted your favorite book characters? If you have, let me know about it. Also, if any of you have a different dreamcasting idea for the character I mentioned in this post, I would love to hear about it, as well. Thanks for reading :) 

 

 
 

 

Showcase Sunday (21) - Stacking the Shelves (13)

Showcase Sunday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Vicky at the Books, Biscuits and Tea blog. It is a meme inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and The Story Siren. The goal of this meme is for us bookish peeps to showcase & highlight the books that we have either bought, borrowed, won, downloaded, or received for review the past week :)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Review to highlight the books us bloggers have gotten during the week, as well.

 

I like both memes, so I've decided to take part in both =)

BOUGHT

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (Hardcover)

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest (e-book)

Remembrance +Vengeance+Timeless by Michelle Madow (e-bundle)

GIFTED

Dark Genesis by Dave Ferraro (e-book)

Sidenote: I cannot wait to read all of these. I am a massive fan of the Infernal Devices series and I want to see how everything concludes itself in Clockwork Princess. A Shade of Vampire is a book that comes highly recommended to me from a friend of mine, so had to get it.

I actually own the paperback of Remembrance by Michelle Madow but have not had the chance to read it yet. When I saw that they were selling the ebundle of the whole series for that book on amazon, I decided to get it so when I read book 1, I can just keep on reading and finish the whole series.

I'd like to thank Dave Ferraro for gifting Dark Genesis to me. He was generous enough to give away all of his titles for free to all the book bloggers who took part of the blog tour for his book because he had this whole amazing giveaway. I love the cover and can't wait to read it eventually.

What book loveliness did you receive this week? :)

Waiting on Wednesday (34): Clockwork Princess

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. Visit Breaking The Spine to see more entries!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: March 19th 2013 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

 Format: Hardcover

Goodreads Summary:

Danger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close.

If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.

Reasons I want to read & own this book: 

1. The cover. Guilty. I love books with pretty covers. They lure me in like nobody's business (Shameless, I know). But let's talk about that dress. THAT DRESS. Isn't it beautiful? I just love book covers with girls in fabulous dresses and the fact that the red dress the cover girl is wearing is a red dress from the Victorian era just makes my inner fashionista geek out like crazy :D

2. The genre. Young Adult historical fiction/steampunk/urban fantasy. The Infernal devices is a series that just has a bit of everything. These books are so creative and so well-written. They feel like you are a reading a period novel, but a fun one. There is just so much depth in these books and the fantasy elements are so interesting. Need Clockwork Princess asap!

3. The character development. The characters in the Infernal devices series are just SO amazing. They really tug on the heartstrings and are so layered and complex and unique. I love them all so much and need to know what happens with Will, Jem, Tessa, Sophie, Gideon, Charlotte and the rest of the cast of characters.

What do you guys think? :)

Dreamcasting (7): From books to film

I am a very visual person and when I read a book I like to envision in my head what each book character would look like in actuality and who could play their roles if they ever adapted that particular book into a film.

What is a dreamcast? Well, it's the cast of actors that you think would be perfect to interpret a character on screen. Today I will dreamcast a popular book character and explain why I think the actor I chose for this dreamcast would be perfect for the role of said character.

Dreamcast for Sophie Collins, Warner & Adam Kent

Astrid Berges-Frisbey as Sophie Collins from Clockwork Angel

I originally learned of Astrid because she is an Spanish/French actress who appeared in the last Pirates of the Caribbean film (On Stranger Tides) as a mermaid named Syrena. Her character in that film really stood out to me because on the surface, she was part of a group of very vicious mermaids who attacked men at sea, but when you got to know more of her, she showed that she was not as violent as the rest of the mermaids. Astrid was incredibly fierce yet gentle in Pirates of the Caribbean and also caring and full of character. 

Sophie Collins who is a secondary character in the historical urban fantasy novel named Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, holds all of the qualities that Astrid displayed so well in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Sophie is a very strong character who carries a scar on her face because when she was a parlor maid (a maid chosen for her beauty in the Victorian era) - she refused the advances of the younger man who was her boss and he later proceeded to cut her face to 'ruin' her physical beauty. Sophie definitely is insecure about her scar but she is described as being incredibly beautiful, loyal, shy but determined to do the right thing and smart. I definitely feel like Astrid could portray the beauty, vulnerability & fierce strength that characterizes Sophie to the T.

Sebastian Sauve as Warner from Shatter Me

Warner is the resident villain in the incredibly poetic and powerful dystopian novel named Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. He is a unique villain in that he is incredibly young, he is not the older Voldemort-esque villain that tends to be prevalent in young adult literature. He is described as being very fit, handsome, perfectionistic and obsessed with power. He runs an army on behalf of the reestablishment which is lead by his father and controls the society at large in Shatter Me. Warner is a very cold villain, who will shoot and kill anyone on the spot to inspire terror and fear at large with his soldiers. He also, as evil as he is, has a certain charm and hidden vulnerability that makes him all the more dangerous because here is this young man who is incredibly physically beautiful, who at first glance people would not suspect to be so murderous and dangerous, who nevertheless is incredibly corrupted and murderous.

I decided to pick Sebastian Sauve as my Warner because he is an incredibly popular male model in the fashion world, who has the build, height and look for Warner - blond hair, height, angular face, strength to his presence. Also Sebastian seems to be in his personality, very light hearted and charming and Warner - though incredibly cold and calculating- is a charmer, despite his psychopathic tendencies and I think Sebastian could embody that on screen and as a model, he can bring that silent/strong energy that he uses on the runway to Warner's calculating & villainous personality as the head of an army for his dad.

Michael Fjordbak as Adam Kent from Shatter Me 


Adam Kent is the male lead in the dystopian novel Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. He is a soldier in the army of the Reestablishment (that is the government and system in place that controls society in Shatter Me). The only reason why Adam joined the army was to learn of Juliette (the female lead in Shatter Me who has been locked up for years because she can't touch people due to having special powers). Adam is incredibly caring, strong, and an amazing support system to Juliette and his little brother, and he is a character that tugs on the heartstrings because of how ill he was treated by his father. Adam is described as being tall, with incredibly piercing blue eyes and dark hair. So, when I saw Michael Fjordbak on Teen Wolf one day, I was, like, "that is so Adam Kent" - since Michael has the height and physical appearance of Adam and also because I feel like he could portray the goodness, determination, strength that so defines Adam in Shatter Me from what I saw from his character on Teen Wolf (the young Peter Hale).






 Have you ever dreamcasted your favorite book characters? If you have, let me know about it. Also, if any of you have a different dreamcasting idea for the character I mentioned in this post, I would love to hear about it, as well. Thanks for reading :) 

 

Cover Reveal Thursday

Hey guys.

So, lately there have been a lot of cover reveals for either new books, upcoming releases or re-releases and I wanted to share with you, my readers, my favorite two covers that I have seen over the last few weeks.

Cover #1

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: March 19th 2013 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

 Format: Hardcover

Isn't this cover just gorgeous? I love the Victorian era red dress on the cover model. I think it's stunning, along with the city backdrop. Just love it. And, I am incredibly excited about this book. The Infernal Devices is one of my all time favorite book series. The writing is just beautiful and the character development is really good. These books really tug on the heartstrings. Cannot wait to read Clockwork Princess!

Cover #2

Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand
Release Date: January 22nd 2013 by HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover

So, Boundless, is the 3rd installment in the Unearthly series. I own book 1 in this series but have not read it yet. I am excited about reading it eventually and catching up with this series because I always hear very high praise for these books. And, I just love the covers for them as well. They are always so ethereal looking and I love the blue/purple-ish tones that are always used for these.

What do you guys think? Are there any book covers that you are gushing about? And if so, which ones are they? :)

Thanks for reading lovelies <3

Dreamcasting (5): From books to film

I am a very visual person and when I read a book I like to envision in my head what each book character would look like in actuality and who could play their roles if they ever adapted that particular book into a film.

What is a dreamcast? Well, it's the cast of actors that you think would be perfect to interpret a character on screen. Today I will dreamcast a popular book character and explain why I think the actor I chose for this dreamcast would be perfect for the role of said character.

Dreamcast for Adrian Ivashkov & Will Herondale

 Mathias Lauridsen as Adrian Ivashkov from The Golden Lily

 

So, I actually have dreamcasted Adrian before but reading The Golden Lily (book #2 in the Bloodlines series) really changed my whole view of him. And this time, with the help of a friend, ladies and gents, I have found my new Adrian. Adrian Ivashkov is a character who originally appeared in The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. In Bloodlines (the spin off series to Vampire Academy) Adrian becomes the male lead. Adrian is a stylish and witty vampire royal, a moroi, and in his twenties. The Moroi have distinct features amongst the different types of vampires in the Vampire Academy world. They usually are very tall and lean and often described as resembling human models. Hence, why Mathias Lauridsen, a Danish male model, would make an amazing Adrian Ivashkov. 

 

There is even a quote in the Golden Lily that describes Adrian as looking like a "pensive European model" at some point and Mathias is European and a top male model in the fashion world. Adrian also has always been described as being quite handsome and in my head, I've always felt like Adrian probably had a certain mystique to him, in his look. And Mathias is, like, the epitome of that. This man could be wearing pastels and still look intriguing and pensive. There is just something about the structure of his face and his look, that screams that. And Mathias has that height and lean structure. The precise height and lean look that characterizes moroi, especially Adrian. Also, Mathias on camera, has this natural charisma to him. So, yes, Mathias Lauridsen = Adrian Ivashkov for me!

Nicholas Hoult as Will Herondale from Clocwork Angel & Clockwork Prince

Nicholas Hoult made quite the impression on me in the films A Single Man and Xmen: First Class. I thought he was highly compelling with a very powerful glance. In Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, Will Herondale, is an English young man that lives in Victorian England as a shadowhunter (a warrior of angel blood who fights demons). He is described as being tall, handsome, with extremely striking blue eyes and black hair. Nicholas is tall, handsome, with very beautiful blue eyes, black hair and he has an English accent. I don't know about you guys, but I think he would be a perfect Will Herondale. Will in Clockwork Angel comes off as sarcastic, determined, and a fighter and in Clockwork Prince we get to know the softer side of him and get to uncover some of the layers to his character. I think Nicholas could portray those array of emotions perfectly and he just looks like Will. He really does match the Will I pictured in my head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Have you ever dreamcasted your favorite book characters? If you have, let me know about it. Also, if any of you have a different dreamcasting idea for the character I mentioned in this post, I would love to hear about it, as well. Thanks for reading :)

 

Showcase Sunday #2

Showcase Sunday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Vicky at the Books, Biscuits and Tea blog. It is a meme inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and The Story Siren. The goal of this meme is for us bookish peeps to showcase & highlight the books that we have either bought, borrowed, won, downloaded, or received for review the past week :)

BOUGHT:

-City of Lost Souls (book #5 in The Mortal Instruments series) by Cassandra Clare

 &

 -Feathermore by Lucy Swing

Thanks for reading <3

 

What book loveliness did you receive this week? :)

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry Books

Release Date: December 6th 2011

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary:

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 Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.


  
My Review:
Clockwork Prince which is the second installment in The Infernal Devices series has to be one of the best sequels I've read in quite a while. It really blows Clockwork Angel out of the water and that is a lot to say because Clockwork Angel was such an amazing beginning to this Infernal Devices series. What I really loved about Clockwork Prince is that it has a lot of intensity. It's mysterious, dark, and incredibly profound. And the author really does an amazing job at going to the heart of things and at peeling away the layers to each character and the hidden world of the Shadowhunters. Shadowhunters being humans who hunt demons and have angel blood in their veins.

What I love the most about The Infernal Devices books and especially Clockwork Prince is that the character development is astounding. I truly felt that every single character is explored deeply in this book and every single one of them is of extreme importance, including the new characters that are introduced, as well. And for me it something very unique because with most books it is easy for the author to focus only on the main characters and to ignore the character history of the secondary characters but not in Clockwork Prince. In this book, The secondary characters are incredibly special and captivate you immediately because the author of this book makes sure to give each character a unique history, a special charm, and nuanced personality. In short words, yes the focus on the book is Tessa, Will, and Jem but their journey never overwhelms the rest of the characters and I loved that. And the main villain in this book is so incredibly complex and methodical, even when he isn't present in a scene, his schemes and plotting never cease to amaze. Which I think is the mark of truly great villain development.

I also feel that in this book Cassandra Clare does an amazing job at exploring the social customs/gender roles of the Victorian era. Through the poetry, the literature references, and character challenges you can tell that the author of this book truly researched Victorian society heavily and she truly does captivate it's essence in this book. You literally feel like you are walking the streets of Victorian London and that danger can be awaiting you at every corner. The constraints, the extreme concern with propriety, the self-consciousness of each character depending on their social standing in Victorian society, the reader catches a glimpse of all of it in this book. And when you add to that, a secret underground world of magic, shadowhunter politics, fantastical creatures, demons; the world building really gets taken to a new level, I think. It was really fun to read about and beyond intriguing.

The romance in Clockwork Prince. Holy cow. And when I say romance, I don't only mean romantic love but romance in all its forms. This book is full of it. There is a constant air of nostalgia, and wanting, of desire for what is good, and true, and beautiful amongst an incredibly dark and mysterious environment. To say that this book tugs on the heartstrings is not enough. This book is a roller coaster of emotions. It  takes your heart, shreds it up in its blender, returns it to you in tattered pieces and then always adds a dash of hope in the end, just to leave you even more hopeful and confused and on the edge of your seat. And the level of misunderstanding and secrecy is just so elevated in this book. It was amazing. 

The stakes are high in Clockwork Prince and the emotional journey of the main characters: Will, Tessa, and Jem is raw, painful, beautiful, and haunting. There is just so much profoundness in this book and so many of the characters are so good at feeling things deeply, it really leaves a mark on the reader and I cannot wait to see how everything turns out in Clockwork Princess. I need to know. For, like, my sanity. I fell in love with this book, the world in it and it's characters and I need to know how it will all end.


My Rating: 5/5

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry Books

Release Date:  August 31st 2010

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary:

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 best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

My Review:

If I could describe Clockwork Angel in one word it would be: Exquisite. Clockwork Angel is a rather perfect book in more ways than one. The writing contained within this book is elegant. The characterization is of a high caliber and the plot is full of the adventure one requires of an Urban Fantasy. I just found myself completely enamored with this book and it took me by surprise. Why? Well, because this book is the first book in the prequel series to The Mortal Instruments which in of itself is a rather top notch series created by Cassandra Clare. I wasn't sure if I would like Clockwork Angel as much as I loved City of Bones -1st book of The Mortal Instruments series- in all honesty, but luckily my worries were quickly put to rest when I found myself completely absorbed in the Victorian London setting presented to us in Clockwork Angel.

Clockwork Angel centers around the story of Tessa, a sixteen year old girl from New York City, who has to move to 19th Century London to meet up with her brother after her caretaker, her Aunt Harriet, dies suddenly. Upon her arrival she soon discovers that she has the power to transform into other people and finds herself immersed in the dangerous and hidden world of Downworlders (who are hybrids of humans and demons and include: werewolves, vampires, faries, warlocks etc) and the Shadowhunters (a race of warriors who hunt demons and have angel blood in their veins). To say that this book is action packed would be an understatement. Clockwork Angel is a roller coaster ride full of dangerous encounters and fights, first loves, self-discovery, and villainy. Fans of fantasy and the supernatural will never be bored with this book, the plot is fantastic and has a little bit of everything for everyone.

What I loved the most about Clockwork Angel was the character development, I have to say. Every single character in this book, from heroes to villains, have a history and are layered. Something that is not easily accomplished in Young Adult Literature. Not only did I find myself rooting for the main characters (Tessa, Jem, and Will) but for the secondary characters as well. I felt like in this book, the secondary characters didn't feel secondary at all. They all had their own little story and mystique to them that you had to peel away with every turn of the page, just like you had to do with the main characters. What a cast! I loved them all! They all had such heart and such charm. All of the female characters in this book from Tessa to Charlotte, to Jessamine to Sophie and Camille, were all so interesting, strong and self assured. I loved that. The male characters (Jem, Will, Henry, Thomas, Magnus) as well, were also men of great sensibility and bravado. Even the villains in this story were amazing. I really liked that there were several, that you never quite knew who was the evilest of them all and that there just wasn't what I call "the resident Lord Voldemort of a story" there were many and boy were they dark.

The setting of this book is quite mesmerizing. I loved that this book was set in 19th century London. Victorian London, to be exact. I definitely felt myself transported to that era through the descriptions given in this book. Victorian London felt like a character of it's own in this story and it felt very real. Cassandra Clare definitely did her research and accentuated the era in the book through her thorough knowledge of Victorian era literature and poetry. When I saw references to Charles Dickens and Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, my Victorian era loving heart, just went pitter-patter. And my favorite thing of all were the Victorian Era quotes that Cassandra Clare used at the beginning of each chapter as inspiration for her chapter titles. I love it when authors title their chapters and use quotes at the beginning of each one, it just helps you speculate about what each chapter is about prior to reading it and informs you a little of what the author was thinking about when writing each chapter. I thought it was a nice touch that added elegance to the story since each quote had a touch of either romance or nostalgia in some form or another.

My advice: Read this book. It just whisks you away on a journey of self acceptance and transports you to a time and setting, full of challenge but promise and adventure. This book is great for anyone who might feel a little lost and wonders what they should do when they feel stuck. I found this book full of inspiring characters who were bent on fighting for their beliefs and learning about themselves in their own individual way. And you really can't beat the fact that this book is set amongst such a mystifying and creative world, that is full of suspense and wonder.

Rating: 5/5

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

 City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 

Book 1 in The Mortal Instruments Series 

Publisher: McElderry Books

Release: March 27th 2007

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Source: Bought 

Goodreads Summary: 

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

My Review: 

If I was to describe City of Bones, I would say that it is the lovechild of Harry Potter and Twilight. Why do I say this? Well, I feel that City of Bones could appeal to both the Harry Potter and Twilight fandoms. Harry Potter fans would love to read City of Bones because like Harry Potter, City of Bones has intricate world-building. Twilight fans would love to read City of Bones because it has the complex-love-triangle-romance dynamic that so characteristically defines Twilight. In addition, City of Bones has a lot of paranormal and fantasy elements. Within this book you will find vampires, werewolves, pixies, magical elements and newly created creatures, lands, and groups of people who live in a secret world totally unknown to humans (whom Cassie Clare has dubbed 'mundanes')


What I liked about City of Bones was learning about this whole  new world Cassie Clare has beautifully created where you have shadowhunters (humans who hunt demons and have angel blood in their veins) and downworlders (who are hybrids of humans and demons and include: werewolves, vampires, faries, warlocks etc). Clary the main character, suddenly finds herself being a part of this world by a series of events which change her life forever. Clary is a likeable main character. She is clever, artistic, and strong willed. She also has a secret past that not even she is aware of and it was great to go along with her on her journey to discovering who she truly is.


The best thing about City of Bones are the secondary characters. They are all very well developed and all have very unique personalities. For instance, you have Jace Wayland, a shadowhunter teenager, who is so sarcastic and funny. He's your typical bad boy but he insists on doing the right thing. You also have Simon, who is Clary's best friend and he is just a delight to read. He is so witty and smart. Loved him. Magnus the warlock - oh there are no words. He is so awesome. He has so much personality and so much fun to read. Also, the villain in this book is just wow - there are no words for how evil and twisted he is. And those are just a list of some of the characters. There's much more and they are all very unique and fun to read.

City of Bones is really action packed which I loved. You also have a complicated love triangle and Cassie Clare throws such a big twist towards the end of the book. And, I was not expecting it at ALL. I felt like I got book smacked when I read it. Way to surprise us Cassie. Such a huge cliffhanger, can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the series. Overall, you can't go wrong with this book. Its a a great read. 


And what I loved the most in City of Bones, I have to say, is Cassie Clare's word usage. She just uses the most interesting words I have to admit that I had a dictionary next to me the whole time while I was reading this book. That never happened to me even in college, and I read some tough stuff in college (Anyone up for reading a Saskia Sassen essay? Yea I wouldn't like to be in that spot again either). But yea I kinda loved the word usage of Cassie Clare. I learned a bunch of words I have never heard of in my life before. I was kinda always looking forward to the next cool word Cassie would use. And that may be a geeky confession but I like to keep it real. So there you go :D


Rating: 4/5