Throwback Thursday: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Throwback Thursday is a feature in which I recommend a book that is not a recent publication.  It's just one of my favorites that I feel everyone should read, and I'd like to talk briefly about why I feel that way.

City of Bones

Cassandra Clare

Published February 19, 2008 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Amazon Book Description:

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.

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I'm going to admit, I saw this book around for years in my library, and I dismissed it every time as too fluffy.  I thought it would just be a ripoff of Twilight, but with angels or something, and probably read like poorly written fanfiction.  When a coworker recommended it to me, and I finally gave it a chance...I fell in love.  Say what you want about Cassandra Clare, an author that actually did get her start writing fanfiction, but these characters, this world, and this story are to die for.  I have never read a story with such a well-though-out backstory, save for the Harry Potter series.  The way that the storylines weave together, the twists that are so unsuspected that they break your heart, and the forbidden love story that plays center stage all illustrate that whatever her background, Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter are here to stay.

Clary is a strong but relatable character. She makes her own decisions, argues her opinions, and her integrity shines through in each decision that she makes.  She is a character that young women should strive to emulate, and one that I wish I had been more like when I was a teen.  Jace is, of course, my fictional boyfriend; a literary heartthrob if there ever was one, he could kick Edward Cullen to the curb.  And Simon, who makes up the trifecta of main characters, is the best best friend you could ask for.  He's loyal, tolerant, and helpful, and even as the story progresses into a series and Simon's character goes through some harsh changes, his core is never shaken.  His morals remain and that sense of honor that he has never falters.

The fifth book in this series just came out, and I'm starting it today.  There's also a semi-prequel series set in the same world and involving the ancestors of these characters--it's called The Infernal Devices, whereas this one is called The Moral Instruments.  In addition, there's going to be another series set in this world when these two wrap up, called The Dark Artifices, and it should be in the near future of Los Angeles.  And finally, there's a film adaptation in the works, starring Jamie Campbell Bower and Lily Collins as Jace and Clary.  It's all very exciting, and if you haven't given this series a chance, as I was hesitant to do, you should get in now before the movie comes out and ruins the fandom for you.

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

Cinder

Marissa Meyer

Published January 3, 2012 by Feiwel & Friends

Amazon Book Description:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

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This book sucked me right in.  I was sold from the first time I saw the cover.  A Cinderella remake with a cyborg mechanic?  Move over, Seven of Nine, I've got a new favorite cyborg.  Not to mention that I heard before I read this one that the sequel will feature Scarlet, a new take on Little Red Riding Hood, and she allegedly might be French fighter pilot.  How could I not love this series?  Anyway, this book was easy to dive right into, and it certainly kept me hooked.

Over all, I give this book a 90%. Here's the breakdown:

Setting: 19/20
Though the timeline is vague, Cinder's story takes place in the far future, in what Meyer terms the Third Era.  The world has been remade as a small number of united countries, and New Beijing is the capital of the Eastern Commonwealth.  Technological advancements coupled with economic class divisions and indentured servitude create a nice contrast between old world and new.  New Beijing is clearly imagined, thoughtfully crafted, and fully realized.  The future created in Cinder is one that I, as a reader, could really see it coming to pass.

Characters: 19/20

A unique feature of Cinder is that the characters include not only humans and cyborgs, but androids, as well.  And I have to say that, as much as I enjoyed the main character, it is her android friend, Iko, that steals the show for me.  'She' has more personality than many of the humans in other books; she's funny, sweet, and completely enamored with the Prince of New Beijing, Kaito.  Fascinated with all things human and amazed by anything beautiful--including a simple scrap of ribbon--Iko is charming and relatable.  Who could have imagined a relatable android?

Aside from Iko, the other characters in Cinder are pretty well developed, as well.  Cinder is tough, but the narration shows us a side of her that is easily affected by the harsh world around her, and though she perseveres through whatever challenges are thrown her way, she reacts with just the right mix of endearing common sense and justified outrage.  The supporting cast fill their roles nicely, with a truly magnetic love interest, a frustratingly logical doctor, and a couple of villanous women rounding out the storyline.

Style: 17/20
I can't complain about Meyer's style, and for a beginning effort, I am especially appreciative of the talent illustrated in Cinder.  It didn't hurt that I listened to the audiobook for most of the story, and Rebecca Soler does an excellent job with the narration.  Even the parts I read in print, however, convey a winning combination of lightness and gravity that keep the story going without weighing it down.  In a book highlighted by an actual plague, the jokes are still funny, the flirting doesn't seem inappropriate, and the discussions of dresses and balls is not out of place.

Plot: 15/20
Let's get one things straight:  the actual story here is phenomenal.  The take on a tired fairy tale is breathtakingly original, the additions of robot parts and a deathly virus and an Asian setting are ingenious, and I can't imagine anyone complaining that they weren't rooting for Cinder in this book.  So why am I only giving Cinder a 15?  There are two reasons.  The first is that I had figured out all the major plot points within the first four chapters.  This didn't ruin the book, clearly, but it was cetainly disappointing.  The second is that the ending is a total cliffhanger.  I understand wanting to attract readers to keep reading the series, but giving us absolutely no resolution is not the best way to accomplish this goal, in my opinion.

Heartbreak: 20/20
I did not shed a single tear for this book.  There are deaths, and other tragedies, but nothing so awful that I was moved to break down emotionally on behalf of the injustice of it all.  I am someone that likes to be left uplifted by everything that I read, and so for me, the light darkness in Cinder is just the right touch of heartbreak to leave me wanting more.  I only hope that Scarlet delivers.

Future Reads: May Releases.

These are the books coming out this month that I fully intend to read.  It's more of a mental checklist for me than it is recommendations, since I can't tell yet if they're awesome.  ^_^  They're arranged in publication date order.

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Monster High 4:  Back and Deader Than Ever

Lisi Harrison

May 1, Poppy

Amazon Book Description:

The RADs are free and Draculaura (Lala) is flashing her fangs with pride. But when Daddy Drac pays her a surprise visit everything goes batty. Mr. D. thinks RADs should have their own school, but Lala isn't ready to give up the rights they fought so hard for.

It's father against daughter in a battle for Salem's student body. Despite the many challenges, Lala is determined to save Merston High. But she might die twice while trying.

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Sweet Evil

Wendy Higgins

May 1, HarperTeen

Amazon Book Description:

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test.

He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

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City of Lost Souls

Cassandra Clare

May 8, Margaret K. McElderry Books

Amazon Book Description:
Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide?
 
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.
 
Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

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Hemlock

Kathleen Peacock

May 8, Katherine Tegen Books 

Amazon Book Description:

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome--also known as the werewolf virus--is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

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Darkness Before Dawn

J. A. London

May 29, HarperTeen

Amazon Book Description:

Only sunlight can save us.

We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.

After the death of my parents, it's up to me—as the newest delegate for humanity—to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in.

Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever.



Book Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano.

Wither

Lauren DeStefano

Published March 22, 2011 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Amazon Book Description:

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males born with a lifespan of 25 years, and females a lifespan of 20 years--leaving the world in a state of panic. Geneticists seek a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

When Rhine is sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Yet her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement; her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next; and Rhine has no way to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive.

Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

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I will admit up front that it took me three tries to make it through this book.  The first time I attempted to listen to the audiobook, and I didn't make it past the first disc.  A few months later I tried to read it, with pretty much the same results.  Finally, a friend talked me into trying it one last time, and I promised myself I would give it a chance.  While the story is definitely slow to start, I am glad I pushed through the opening build up and stuck with it til the end.  It's certainly worth the wait.

Over all, I give this book a 78%.  Here's the breakdown:

Setting:  18/20

DeStefano leaves no stone unturned when describing the world she has created.  Her ability to show a word picture is probably her biggest strength as a writer.  She goes into detail on every level.  As a reader, I could describe to you the house that Rhine lives in, the grounds the house sit on, and the state, country, and world that remain after the virus and war have ravaged the earth.  Aside from the physical atmosphere, DeStefano also clearly expresses the feel of Rhine's world.  She captures the despair at the shortened life spans the characters face, the hope some of them hold for a cure, and the survival instinct that each of the brides have prior to becoming one of Linden's wives.

Characters:  16/20

The people that inhabit DeStefano's infected world are complex and well-developed.  Instead of one-sided, cardboard characters that are either all sweets and unicorns or all snakes and darkness, each character is relatable on some level, even though they each make mistakes and at times their decisions are difficult to suffer through.  The main character of Rhine, who narrates the story in first person, is intelligent, motivated, and thoughtful.  She is also begrudging, occasionally impulsive, and frustratingly fickle when it comes to her feelings for her husband.  Her sister wives are equally as multifaceted, and even Linden is sometimes endearing. 

Style:  14/20
The tone of the book is pretty melancholy, and it is definitely void of any laughter on my part as a reader.  The descriptions are whimsical and delicious, but the narrator is so serious throughout the entire story--which is, don't get me wrong, to be expected in a post-apocalyptic tale of doom.  However, it could use some levity.  I appreciate the author's approach, however, and feel that she really had a handle on what her style was going to be and thoroughly maintained it, which is something of a feat for a first-time novelist.  Sometimes you can really tell that you are reading a freshman title, and with Wither, the moments when you are sucked out of the story by a misstep on the author's part are few and far between.

Plot:  17/20
Like I said above, it was difficult to get into this one at first.  The timing in the beginning is pretty slow, and the narrator is so quiet and reserved that it seems as if not much happens.  Once it gets going, though, the action, though subdued, is pretty nonstop.  Because Rhine's internal monologue is so expressive, it eventually seems as if things are happening even when there is no action, quite the opposite of the first few chapters.  Rhine has a lot of decisions to make, and this inner turmoil adds tremendously to an already packed plotline.  The basic idea for the story, that of a virus that kills everyone young, forced child brides, teenage prostitution, even the hint of rape, it's all very controversial.  It could have easily crossed the line into sensational or political, but instead the author created the world as if it these are the most normal of circumstances.

Heartbreak:  13/20
This is the one area where I really have to dock some points.  There were a lot of tears reading this novel, especially toward the end.  Sensitive readers beware, there are a couple of major character deaths, lots of despair, and some absolutely tragic circumstances involving the remaining characters.  The reason the score in this category stayed above 10 is because the resolution in Wither is hopeful,  leaving me ready and willing to dive in to the second of the trilogy, Fever.