Hello! My name is Chie. I am likely to be the girl you'll see whose eyes would bulge out of their sockets at the sight of a book store and be seized by waves of epileptic shock whenever there is a book bargain. I'll probably be the one pushing you out of my way to get through the book bargain bins and tediously combing through the pile. (I forget my manners when it comes to books). I am tone deaf and have two left feet. But I would endure the embarrassment of a performance in exchange for books (terms and conditions apply). I have created this blog in order to find kindred souls. Those who would gladly share the same passion for books and reading because although reading is solitary task most of the time, it's no fun having no one to ramble to after..
Synopsis: 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 had died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warrior 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 alot like 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.
Review: To start with, the cover, I wasn't and am still not a huge fan of it, I don't like too many greens and yellows all mushed together, and I don't think that I really want it with the book. The nice looking fellow on the front though really gave me a feel for Jace.It helped me imagine him, and having already seen pictures of the characters set for the film, I felt like I already had a fully formed picture in my head of him.
Character wise, I think my favourite character is between Simon, and Jocelyn. Now hear me out, I understand that really, the only times she's attacked quite earlier on, and whenever Clary is having a typical mother/daughter tiff with her, otherwise, she's almost a forgotten character, but I feel like she is quite possibly one of the most important in this book, and quite possibly, later in the series. It was Jocelyn who helped create the circle with Valentine, and it was Jocelyn who helped destroy it with Luke. It was Jocelyn who fell in love with the wrong man, a hidden monster, and it was Jocelyn who left him, or planned to leave him. In the real world, many women suffer at the men who hurt, distress and physically make them feel as though their lives are not worth living, and Jocelyn not only had the bravery to become stronger than that, and leave him, but also plotted against him to bring him and his plan down. That is one brave woman. And then further, she escaped him entirely, running away in order to protect her unborn baby from a life of pain, and suffering, and from a destructive family. I truly believe that Jocelyn was a vital character in this book, and will continue to be. She is the driving force behind Clary's goals, she has fought her life to keep her daughter safe, and she more than likely will try to continue so further into the series. She is a mother that Cassandra Clare should be proud of creating.
When it comes to Simon, I can't help but repeat what others who have reviewed this have said. Simon is charismatic and charming character, with humour to boot. He cares so much for Clary and even during their rough time in this book, he still continued to be there for her, like a true friend would. He took on board that she wasn't like him, that she had other things in her life now, and through pain hat showed, he was still faithful to her, and her other friends in the book. I also feel that Simon had some of the best character development within his book too. Unlike Clary's, which I felt was quite rushed and unclearly thought about, almost like Clare had decided to add more and more as it came along, it felt like she a line of growth for Simon. Whether he was a human or a rat, he grew to believe that he was greater than others gave him credit for. I really hope that Clare continues Simon's growth as a character and look forward to more humour and emotions with him.
Plot wise, I constantly fell baffles and a little confused, so much so, I had to do some research into some of the characters and read a little on some of the further story lines, merely to steady my brain. Sometimes, I felt like not enough was happening in the story, almost like Clare had to fill a gap, and other times, I felt like she was trying to cram way too much into a small amount of space. I especially thought that the last few chapters were rushed and quickened, and made to include as much information as possible. I would have much rather have found out some details further into the series, for example, the connection between Clary and Valentine, although it was quite obvious to me, close to the beginning, and others such as Hodge leaving so early into the series. I can't help but feel he may be another important later on, and so I was quite disappointed on that front. On the other hand, the action scenes were so full of excitement and energy. I am sure I skimmed past non-vital words such "a" and "the" just to feel the excitement pouring through the words and the lines, Of course, the plot twist at the end threw me off the ball. I wasn't completely feeling the whole "ClAce" or whatever it's called, but I also wasn't put off by the twist though, which I was surprised about. Having read snippets, I do know otherwise, but whilst reading, I was taken. Well done Clare.
Although I did have some problems with this book to start with, I fell into the story so easily a recognised a number of names due to having read The Infernal Devices first. Seeing names I recognised, and features that were similar to characters in The Infernal Devices was lovely, and the fact that so many characters have bloodlines directly to past ones was brilliant. I really loved that little touch.
Synopsis: 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 had died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warrior 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 alot like 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.
Review: To start with, the cover, I wasn't and am still not a huge fan of it, I don't like too many greens and yellows all mushed together, and I don't think that I really want it with the book. The nice looking fellow on the front though really gave me a feel for Jace.It helped me imagine him, and having already seen pictures of the characters set for the film, I felt like I already had a fully formed picture in my head of him.
Character wise, I think my favourite character is between Simon, and Jocelyn. Now hear me out, I understand that really, the only times she's attacked quite earlier on, and whenever Clary is having a typical mother/daughter tiff with her, otherwise, she's almost a forgotten character, but I feel like she is quite possibly one of the most important in this book, and quite possibly, later in the series. It was Jocelyn who helped create the circle with Valentine, and it was Jocelyn who helped destroy it with Luke. It was Jocelyn who fell in love with the wrong man, a hidden monster, and it was Jocelyn who left him, or planned to leave him. In the real world, many women suffer at the men who hurt, distress and physically make them feel as though their lives are not worth living, and Jocelyn not only had the bravery to become stronger than that, and leave him, but also plotted against him to bring him and his plan down. That is one brave woman. And then further, she escaped him entirely, running away in order to protect her unborn baby from a life of pain, and suffering, and from a destructive family. I truly believe that Jocelyn was a vital character in this book, and will continue to be. She is the driving force behind Clary's goals, she has fought her life to keep her daughter safe, and she more than likely will try to continue so further into the series. She is a mother that Cassandra Clare should be proud of creating.
When it comes to Simon, I can't help but repeat what others who have reviewed this have said. Simon is charismatic and charming character, with humour to boot. He cares so much for Clary and even during their rough time in this book, he still continued to be there for her, like a true friend would. He took on board that she wasn't like him, that she had other things in her life now, and through pain hat showed, he was still faithful to her, and her other friends in the book. I also feel that Simon had some of the best character development within his book too. Unlike Clary's, which I felt was quite rushed and unclearly thought about, almost like Clare had decided to add more and more as it came along, it felt like she a line of growth for Simon. Whether he was a human or a rat, he grew to believe that he was greater than others gave him credit for. I really hope that Clare continues Simon's growth as a character and look forward to more humour and emotions with him.
Plot wise, I constantly fell baffles and a little confused, so much so, I had to do some research into some of the characters and read a little on some of the further story lines, merely to steady my brain. Sometimes, I felt like not enough was happening in the story, almost like Clare had to fill a gap, and other times, I felt like she was trying to cram way too much into a small amount of space. I especially thought that the last few chapters were rushed and quickened, and made to include as much information as possible. I would have much rather have found out some details further into the series, for example, the connection between Clary and Valentine, although it was quite obvious to me, close to the beginning, and others such as Hodge leaving so early into the series. I can't help but feel he may be another important later on, and so I was quite disappointed on that front. On the other hand, the action scenes were so full of excitement and energy. I am sure I skimmed past non-vital words such "a" and "the" just to feel the excitement pouring through the words and the lines, Of course, the plot twist at the end threw me off the ball. I wasn't completely feeling the whole "ClAce" or whatever it's called, but I also wasn't put off by the twist though, which I was surprised about. Having read snippets, I do know otherwise, but whilst reading, I was taken. Well done Clare.
Although I did have some problems with this book to start with, I fell into the story so easily a recognised a number of names due to having read The Infernal Devices first. Seeing names I recognised, and features that were similar to characters in The Infernal Devices was lovely, and the fact that so many characters have bloodlines directly to past ones was brilliant. I really loved that little touch.
