City of Lost Souls Release & Trailer!

It is here! The time for the fifth book in The Mortal Instruments has arrived! City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare is hitting shelves today, May 8 from Margaret K. McElderry. This book is destined to be as great as the rest of the series and has flooded the world with awesome reviews and I cannot wait to read it. The fact that it comes out in the summer is a sweet timing to fulfill my TMI needs in between the Infernal Devices wait as well! Check out the magnificent trailer and be sure to read this summer hit!

Goodreads | Amazon

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

More on The Mortal Instruments:

City of Fallen Angels Review

Waiting on Wednesday: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine that gives bloggers the chance to express their longing for books before they're released!

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Mark it To-Read: Goodreads

Pre-Order: Amazon

Release Day: May 8, 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

More on The Mortal Instruments

City of Fallen Angels Review

Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (December 6, 2012)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 498
Series: The Infernal Devices
Read Next: The Clockwork Princess (Nov. 2012)
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9781416975885
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Steampunk
Author: Website | Twitter | Blog
Series Reviews: Book 1 (5★)

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. 

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.
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Overview:

Again, Cassandra Clare has crafted another piece of art. Continuing from the Clockwork Angel, we join Tessa on the journey full of the twists and turns that we have come to expect from Clare. Thick with mystery, laden with glorious steampunk, wrought with drama, and completed with our favorite characters, The Clockwork Prince leaves us in waiting purgatory for the Clockwork Princess.

Review:

The one thing that can consistently be said about these books is that they are well worth the wait. Cassandra Clare has such a solid world creation and concept behind each of her characters and the Clockwork Prince only perpetuates this as fact. As one of the most anticipated books of 2011, this book doesn't disappoint.

What we get from this book is deeper mystery, more about the characters we love, and triumph.  Tessa, as a female protagonist, continues to shine through in this book in her strength, courage, and unwavering loyalty. The delicate love triangle blossoms into a very intricate situation in this book. Tessa acknowledges the feelings for Will but behind that the feelings exist for Jem.

I have always been Team Jem. I feel like the idea of Will being the bad boy is overdone and cliche, where the creation and history of Jem is unique and vivid. From the color of his hair to the cane, he is unique and heartwarming. The relationships amongst these characters, and all other characters as well, are all tried and tested in this book as secrets, lies, and cheating are all.

Cassandra Clare's trademark in my eyes are her twists. You never expect the plot to unfold the way it does and she has an uncanny way of keeping you on the edge of your seat; that rings true for this book as well. It is this unfolding mystery that has me waiting for Clockwork Princess.

Follow Friday (11)

In addition to First Impressions Friday, I take part in the blog hop Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee.

Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour 

or a meal with just talking about their books 

or get advice on writing from?

The quick version of the answer is that I would love to meet the authors of three of the most pivotal YA series!

The specific answers would be JK Rowling for her astounding job at creating the phenonmenon that is Harry Potter. For turning her life around and never giving up though in the beginning, no one wanted the story of the boy who lived.

There is also Cassandra Clare, author of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices. A talented author, she has created a world in existence of shadows and threaded together a meticulous story lines that gave me a thrill ride of a read. She is also VERY approachable. Always chatting her fans up on the twitter.

And Julie Kagawa, author of my new love, The Iron Fey. A teller of great fairy tales and a dreamer of wondrous stories in the mid-summer! Also very approachable on the twitter!

All of these authors are fantastic and I love the stories they all have to tell. I am sad that Harry Potter has come to a climatic and epic ending but so lives on TMI...TID...TIF....

Review: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (April 5, 2011)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 424
Series: The Mortal Instruments (Book 4)
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9781442403543
Genre: Urban Fantasy

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 that 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 that's 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 Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare. She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever...

___________________________________________________________

This review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.

I am an avid fan of The Mortal Instruments; in the series, Clare develops a shadow set world where all matter of supernatural creatures exist in a haggard attempt at peace. In this installment, that thin layer of peace between the Downworlders and Shadowhunters is tried and tested as the world of the vampires is thrown into a civil battle and someone is after the blood of Shadowhunters.

Overall, I thought that this book picked up intensely from the events in the City of Glass that were left obscure and unsettled. As we begin to watch the plot unfold, it is a deep and interesting point and climax to the book and the unsettling mystery that has drifted through the story. However, and to refrain from spoilers, I will simply say the ending the plot was a little too simple. How were two teenage Shadowhunters and a Vampire really able to pull that off? I think it was powerful and illustrated the significance of inner power, but it was just a little on the impossible side.

I cannot deny that I enjoyed this book but compared to the others in the series, it was not the thrill ride I was prepared for. In the first three books, every time you thought you were settled into the story, another twist and another turn were thrown at you, keeping you at the very edge of excitement and page-turning. But that wasn't the case for this book, the plot was linear until the end, vamping up the setup for the next book, City of Lost Souls.

I also felt that there was too much of a focus on the relationship between Jace and Clary. I admit that it is a hot blossoming romance but there are so many other couples and so many more story plots that could have been introduced if we weren't always thrown back to the (hot) almost-sex scenes of these two. Jordan's introduction was strong and well planned and made for a great addition to the TMI cast; he helped to expand on Mia and all the intricacies of the support characters including Simon, a focused character in this book. But then we go back to Jace to realize that he hasn't changed throughout the series, he hasn't grown as all the characters have. He still finds withdrawal his safest place and still refuses to fully accept Clary they way she deserves and craves.

Rating out of 5:

First Impressions Friday (4)

First Impressions is a meme hosted here at Within Pages where we take a look at all things, mostly booky, and reflect on our initial thoughts. Non-bloggers, non-book bloggers, and everyone alike can participate. Feel free to drop your links or thoughts in the comments!

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This week was the Book Expo America, though if you're a reader, you already know that as I participated in Armchair BEA. All the same, some very exciting information was revealed this week at the BEA: The Clockwork Prince cover! This was the talk of the book world on Wednesday when the cover model for Will from Clockwork Angel made the reveal!

This is a stunning cover, very in line with the rest of the books. The beauty of it lit up Twitter for Cassie Clare like Grand Central Station. Most people believe it is the most beauitful cover yet and it does feature Jem, who I absolutely adore. For this cover, I love the staff, the background, the runes, THE HAIR, but something makes it hold back in being my favorite cover.

His face is too much of a focus point for my eyes to be able to take in the whole picture. On Clockwork Angel, the colors are all subdued and matching but here, his face just sticks out too much, almost as if it is protruding from the page. He is hott, and there is no denying it is still a gorgeous cover, but the spotlighting seems to be just a little too much on his face and I can't take my eyes away from it.

I absolutely cannot wait until December to get my hands on this book, both series are absolutely phenomenal series and Cassandra Clare does such an amazing job at writing. For her adoring fans, she also gave us an amazing extra teaser for the month of May. Did I mention it was amazing?

Tessa pushed the carriage curtains aside. Outside she could see the gaslights going by in a yellow blur; two children were slumped in a doorway, leaning against each other, asleep. Temple Bar flew by overhead.

“Have you ever thought of transforming yourself into one of your parents?” Will asked. “Your mother, or father? It would give you access to their memories, wouldn’t it?”

She turned to look at him. “I have thought of it. Of course I have. But I have nothing of my father’s or mother’s. Everything that was packed in my trunks for the voyage here was discarded by the Dark Sisters.”

“What about your angel necklace?” Will asked. “Wasn’t that your mother’s?”

Tessa shook her head. “I tried. I — I could reach nothing of her in it. It has been mine so long, I think, that what made it hers has evaporated, like water.”

Will’s eyes were dark blue in the shadows. “Perhaps you are a clockwork girl. Perhaps Mortmain’s warlock father built you, and now Mortmain seeks the secret of how to create such a perfect facsimile of life when all he can build are hideous monstrosities. Perhaps all that beats beneath your chest is a heart made of metal.”

Tessa drew in a breath, feeling momentarily dizzy. His soft voice was so convincing, and yet — “No,” she said, sharply. “You forget, I remember my childhood. Mechanical creatures do not change or grow. Nor would that explain my ability.”

“I know,” said Will, with a grin that flashed white in the darkness. “I only wanted to see if I could convince *you*.”

Tessa looked at him steadily. “I am not the one of us who has no heart.”

It was too dim in the carriage for her to tell, but she sensed that he had flushed, as he did when startled or upset, across the tops of his cheekbones. To her surprise, he reached out a gloved hand for her. It just brushed the edges of her curls, the kid leather smooth against her cheek — and the carriage wheels came to a jerking halt. They had arrived. --Clockwork Prince c. Cassandra Clare

Armchair BEA: Best of 2011

Today's topic for discussion for Armchair BEA goer's is the best picks of 2011. There are a bajillion new selections that come out every year, it is so many I have to make up a new amount for it. Here are some of my picks, I've broken it into a couple different categories!

New Releases

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

This book is fantastic. It is an extension to one of my favorite YA series The Mortal Instruments. Clare does a great job at creating a world in a brilliant Urban Fantasy setting full with the mix of a GREAT story and a HOT love. This extends into the series The Infernal Devices you'll here more about in a minute!

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wow, Rhine is such a deep character and the world is so fully created and I am not left with a sense of confusion in the creation of her dystopian environment. I can feel the tension amongst all the characters while I read this book, as I am doing now.

I feel like Divergent by Veronica Roth is going to be on this list but I haven't had the chance to read it yet, it is next in the TBR!

Upcoming Releases

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

This release has been delayed from September to December of this year and the cover is to be revealed tomorrow morning at BEA and Mundie Moms will be sporting the cover reveal tomorrow with an Armchair BEA event! This book is the second in The Infernal Devices series, second to The Clockwork Angel which I absolutely adored. It has its own flair and uniqueness to it that I didn't expect with it being the prequel series to The Mortal Instruments.

Sacrifice by Melinda Metz & Laura Burns

This book is the sequel to Crave which received a five-star review from me. Crave ended in a very harsh cliffhanger so I cannot wait to get my hands on this YA vampire sequel.

Finally Read in 2011

Have I mentioned just how much I love Cassandra Clare? The Clockwork Angel was released in August 2010 and Crave was released in September 2010. I had heard great things about CA and I knew I would enjoy it having read The Mortal Instruments but I recently went into reading Crave completely blind, just grabbing it off the library shelf and I fell in love. The story was amazing. Strongly recommend either of these!

What are the books in your top for this year?

In My Mailbox (6)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren; here we share with you, the lovely readers, what books came to us this week whether it be in the mail, from the library, purchased or borrowed.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Wither by Laura DeStefano

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

Fallen by Lauren Kate

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Thank you, Natasha for my wonderful gift!

Be sure to let me know what it is in your mailbox!

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Margaret McElderry Books (August 31, 2010)

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages (Paperback): 478

Series: Infernal Devices (Book 1)

Source: Library

ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-7586-1

Genre: Paranormal/Steampunk

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.

This series is the prequel to The Mortal Instruments.

I am in my own little love affair with the works of Cassandra Clare. I was first introduced to her writing when I read the Mortal Instruments and was astounded; I couldn't put those books down, and now I lie in torment as December slowly approaches and the countdown to Clockwork Prince is on; The Infernal Devices have just whir-clicked their way to my favorites shelf!

Clare's writing style gives me all of the aspects of the story I crave; what is going on inside the main character's (Tessa) head, what happens with scenes that she isn't a part of and this is all wrapped up and protected in the sanctuary of a great story. Something else that I began to pick-up and love in TMI was that with Clare, you should never expect anything; she will throw a twist at you that sends your world spinning and leaves you turning the pages!

The sheer complexity of the characters is another aspect of this book that I am in love with; Clare does a phenomenal job at creating complex yet loveable characters; they aren't overtly whiny, some are dark and mysterious, others are frilly, while some are light-hearted and entertaining. Each character that is introduced, including support characters like Sophie, have their own intricate details that are illustrated that you get such a sense of world in Clare's writing style instead of just another character that comes and goes. Have I mentioned how much I love her character creation? I did? Good...because I love it.

Even more so about her characters is their growth. Tessa, the female protagonist, is set seemingly so rigidly into the defined gender roles of the Victorian London setting; but through Jace, Jem, and Charolette we witness Tessa's growth and acceptance into her destiny. We also get to witness the growth of first love; while TMI fans may have expected to fall into the same romance as we did with Clary & Jace, the triangle with Tessa, Jem, and Will is all its own and is so carefully constructed with the aspects of loyalty, compassion, desire, and admiration all the while all three of them maintain their own complex storylines/lives.

But a story can only go so far with the characters; the plot of this book only adds to its 5 star rating. This steampunk, historical setting is exceedingly detailed in Clare's depiction of Victorian London; it allows you to escape into the vision as if you were the one looking out the curtained, carriage window. She notes that for the most part, this description of London is geographically correct, she has successfully created her own world within the existence of our own; that which we cannot see. This only serves to add an aspect that I love in books...that, maybe, this could really happen.

I've never forayed into steampunk and was unaware that I was doing so with this book but I loved it. If you haven't read The Mortal Instruments fret not, this is a stand alone series; however, if you do read or have read TMI, you will have an amazing level of appreciation for the tie-ins, nods, and connections this book provides including the Pandemonium Club, Magnus Bane & Church! Be on the look-out in the remaining 2 books of the series for other pieces of history to the Shadowhunters and the families we grew to love in TMI, I am sure they will be there.

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a meme from The Story Siren that I will be using as a feature for this blog. I first discovered this on the Rant Page and then in my new found book blog love, have uncovered other book bloggers who participate like the writers of Novel Thoughts and Reading Teen. Sadly, unlike a lot of the book bloggers, I doubt I can do it every week as I don't really have access to getting a lot of books in any given week; book buying is out of the question and I can only go to the library so many times! But anyways, I have re-connected with my love of reading (its funny how other addictions weed out things you love) and so as I have mentioned, books will be a featured topic here at TN: Eclectica so I will participate in IMM as much as I can! In my journey, perhaps I will have more from contests, book swaps, or maybe I will even be lucky enough for ARC's someday.

I thought that since what I actually picked up this week is minimal that I would include a brief synopsis of my bookshelf as well! So without further ado...the books!

Books on the shelf...

• Harry Potter 1-7 by J.K. Rowling (All Hardback US Editions) - Goodreads
• Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer - Goodreads
• Tales of Beetle the Bard by J.K. Rowling - Goodreads
• Series of Unfortunate Events 1-10 by Lemony Snicket - Goodreads**
• The Liars Club 1-5 by Celeste Bradley - Goodreads
• The Royal Four 1-4 by Celeste Bradley - Goodreads
• The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown - Goodreads
• Angels and Demons by Dan Brown - Goodreads**
• The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown - Goodreads**
• The Giver by Lois Lowery - Goodreads
• Stormrage by Richard Knaak - Goodreads**
• The Color of Water by James McBride - Goodreads
• The Marriage Contract by Cathy Maxwell - Goodreads
• The Loner by Genell Dellin - Goodreads
• Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice - Goodreads**
• Night Huntress 1 & 2 by Jeaniene Frost - Goodreads
• Games of Thrones by George R.R. Martin - Goodreads**
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini - Goodreads
• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - Goodreads**

Books from the Library...

• Marked (House of Night #1) by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast - Goodreads
• Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare - Goodreads

I would like to note that The Infernal Devices is a prequel series to another amazing series by Cassandra Clare The Mortal Instruments. I've requested that the library order City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare that released April 5, 2011 and is the fourth of six books in the The Mortal Instruments series.

That's all I have for today! Be sure to let me know if you had anything in your mailbox!

**Denotes books owned but unread