Review: Wicked (Pretty Little Liars: Book Five) by Sara Shepard

Title: Wicked

Author: Sara Shepard

Series: Pretty Little Liars #5

Publishers: Harper Teen

Date of Publication: 25th Nov, 2008

Genre: YA, Suspense

Format: Library Binding

Length: 312 pages

My Source: E-book

Synopsis

In idyllic Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four very pretty girls just can't help but be bad. . . . Hanna will do anything to be Rosewood's queen bee. Spencer's digging up her family's secrets. Emily can't stop thinking about her new boyfriend. And Aria approves a little too strongly of her mom's taste in men. Now that Ali's killer is finally behind bars, the girls think they're safe. But those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. And they should know by now that I'm always watching. . . .

Review

I am actually very disappointed after reading this book. I loved the mystery that surrounded the previous books of the series, but after reading this one, I've lost the interest to read the sequels. 

As the last book "Unbelievable" revealed the identity of A and Alison's killer (presumably wrong though!), I was wondering what happens next in the story. That's why I started reading this one.

From the very beginning, it was BORING. At some point I thought I might not be able to finish the book but thankfully I did, though it look much more time than usual. The prequels have already built the characters of these girls- Spencer, Aria, Hanna and Emily, so it was monotonic to read the same kind of things over again. 

Moreover, the incidents were way too predictable. 

Like Spencer's parents being mad at her for confessing the truth about the Golden Orchid thing (it was obvious! What did she think? Her parents would be proud of her for being honest? Duh! Even after finding out the truth the Hastings insisted on keeping the secret safe, they didn't even rebuke Spencer for stealing Melissa's essay. So it was obvious their reaction would be like this, if not worse!). Being unmentioned in her grandmother's will, Spencer finds out that she is adopted child, that too with the help of Andrew Campbell!

Hanna is all the same- typical, annoying-wanting to be popular. Kate wants to befriend her and she agrees and ends up being friends with Naomi and Riley; only to realize later that Kate's proposal was not quite fruitful for her (as usual!). And this bitch ignores Lucas for all these stupid popularity thing after all that Lucas has done for her! So damn irritating!

Aria is stuck with her mother's boyfriend Xavier. 

And Emily is now attracted towards a boy! 

I loved the character of Lucas. He is thoroughly adorable and seems like the only sensible human being. 

As things turn out to be, it ends in a note where they found Ian dead, so obviously, Ian's not Ali's killer. So who is it? (Personally I think its Jason, Ali's brother. Its just intuition).

Also the girls are getting texts from new A again. So who the hell are sending those creepy notes?

I don't know and I won't know for some time now as I've no plan to read the next book soon. I feel like it'd have been better if I abandoned the series after book 4.

About The Author

Sara Shepard graduated from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She currently lives in Tucson, Arizona. Sara's Pretty Little Liars novels were inspired by her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line.

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Book Blitz: Scarred Love by M. S. Brannon

Scarred Love

Book One

Title: Scarred Love

Author: M. S. Brannon

Series: Sulfur Heights #1

Genre(s): Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis

“I am certain, without any doubt, she was meant to be in my life. We belong to each other. I spent too much of my time consumed with what everyone else thinks of my feelings for Darcie, but the truth is, it was always supposed to be this way.” ~Reggie Evans
Darcie Claiborne spent several years of her young life living with a monster, always fearing what he would do next. Clasping onto her last ounce of hope, Darcie releases a scream. It’s her final attempt to live; to survive the villain of her reality. Sweeping her up in his arms, Darcie’s knight in shining armor rescues her from the hell she’s been living; from the stepfather she’s feared for all those years. Reggie Evans has been forced to grow up before he’s ready when his mother dies of an overdose, leaving him responsible to raise his younger brothers. One fateful night, Reggie jogs by an old, run down house and discovers a young girl clinging to life as she screams for help. Three years later, Darcie is healing and always protected by the man who saved her, but now she’s fighting with something she isn’t prepared to face. The growing love for the man who saved her life three years ago, the same man who’s nine years older. All the while, Reggie fights to protect Darcie from the demons of her past and new ones of her present.

**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language and sexual content**

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Author Bio

M.S. Brannon was born and raised in the Midwest. She still resides there today with her wonderful husband and son. When she is not writing or reading, M.S. Brannon spends time with her family, watching movies, and discovering new music. She writes romance because she believes love and heartache is the rawest emotion one can experience.

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Excerpt

Darcie ~ Age 12 

“Darcie, your stepfather does these things because you refuse to listen to anything I tell you,” my mom says while swallowing a handful of pills with her glass of red wine. “Just stay out of his way, be in your room when he’s home and it will give him less of a reason to punish you.”
 I’ve been putting up with Robert’s punishments for eight years and I’ve come to the conclusion that I will never escape them until I leave. My mom takes pills and drinks from her bottle of wine several times a day. When she’s not drinking or downing pills, she’s sleeping. I despise my mother. She’s weak and I fucking hate her. She tells me I deserve punishments and she’s probably right, but what she’s neglected to tell me is why she allows him to do it. I barely remember what our life was like before Robert Stein, but I know it was never this horrible. We managed to have fun and I never lived in fear. Why did she let Robert change her? Isn’t a mother supposed to protect their child? Once a child is born, isn’t their mother expected to possess this sixth sense, that same kind of sense that can allow women to lift cars off their children? My thoughts fade as soon as she squeezes the ointment on her finger and rubs it onto the fresh cigar burns on my back and thighs. Robert never gave me a reason why he did it other than he couldn’t find his ashtray.

Cover Reveal: Wasteland by Lindsay Leggett

This is the official cover reveal of the book Wasteland by Lindsay Leggett! And you know what? The cover is designed by the author herself! Isn't that great?
Anyway the information regarding the book and the synopsis is right below in this post. 

Title: Wasteland

Author: Lindsay Leggett
Series: Fight #2

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Here's the Cover

Synopsis

Wasteland, the next book in the FLIGHT trilogy, takes place a few months after the ending of book one. Trapped in a cell and experimented on, Piper Madden’s only hope is remembering Asher. Then, Elder Corp President Rupert Elder gives her new orders: to be a leader in a war against the Harpies. Without a choice, Piper must obey Rupert’s commands or suffer from paralyzing and painful Nanomachines. But the war is just beginning, and Asher has gone missing. The resistance is slowly building, and the upcoming war will be larger and bloodier than anything seen since the Devastation that ruined the earth. Throughout all of this, Piper remembers the time before she ran to Ichton, when David was alive and her hope in Elder Corp was still strong.

 Author Bio

Nearly every writer struggles to put together information about themselves, perhaps because we’re so used to detailing the lives and ways of others. For the most part I am a writer, editor, photographer, and all-around artist living in the wilds north of Toronto, Ontario. I thrive on the juxtaposition of beauty and grit, enjoy urban crawls, indie everything, and time well-spent in the woods.

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WWW Wednesdays: October 30, 2013

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.
To play along, just answer the following three questions!

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finished reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.What are you currently reading?

Answer:  21 Hours by Dustin Stevens.

2. What did you recently finished?

Answer: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

3.What do you think you'll read next?

Answer: The Reckless Engineer by Jac Wright. 







What are YOU reading currently or planning to read next? Feel free to share below in comments, even if you don't participate in WWW Wednesdays. I'd love to hear from you!

Blog Tour: Crimson Darkness by Amos Cassidy

About The Book

Title: Crimson Darkness

Author: Amos Cassidy

Genre(s): Urban Fantasy, Adult

Synopsis

London is in the grip of an unnatural darkness. Rose is in the grasp of an unrelenting power and Raven and Thistle, along with their supernatural allies, are battling to survive and find a way to restore their home city. For the fey, the song remains the same. They must return the power to Faerie or die. Unfortunately for them, the task has been superseded by an even more important one - help save Earth or perish along with it! For Rose, the stakes are even higher as she is forced to make a terrible deal that will damn her if she does and damn her if she doesn’t. Now enemies must work together as allies if they are to save their worlds from an ancient threat….

About The Author

Amos Cassidy - a team of two. Amos is a 29 year old Diva and Cassidy a 36 year old mum of three. Aside from a passion for writing and a love of reading they also share an addiction to coffee, love anything Joss Whedon and are constantly playing tug of war over Jensen Ackles. They have been writing together for four years and the third book in their Crimson Series.

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Excerpt

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. “What?” she called. “It’s me. Gabriel. Can I come in?” “No!” The door opened and Gabriel stepped into the room closing it softly behind him. Thistle was immediately on her feet glaring at him, hands on hips. “Let me guess, no one’s ever said no to you before have they?” “I just wanted to make sure that you were okay.” “Well, you’ve seen me. I’m okay. Now get out.” She pointed to the door. Gabriel sighed. “You’re not okay, Thistle. You’ve just lost the two people closest to you.” Thistle felt her temper flare. “So you’ve come to rub it in have you?” Gabriel looked taken aback. He exhaled in exasperation and raked a hand through his hair. “Look, I’m not very good at this. I just wanted to say I’m sorry and…and I’m here if you need me. I am your superior and it’s my job to provide counsel in times like these.” She couldn’t believe it. He was playing the superiority card again. After everything that had happened, that was happening; he couldn’t get off his high horse for one minute and show some humanity. Instead he wanted to counsel her! “Get out.” Her voice was low, dangerous. “Thistle-” “Get OUT!” She flew at him, pushing him with all her might. “Get out get out get out!” she punched him in the chest, slapped at him, kicked him. “I don’t need you, I don’t fucking need anybody! I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m…” the tears came again then, hot and salty burning a trail down her face. Strong arms wrapped themselves around her. She resisted at first, tried to pull away but he was stronger and in that moment more determined. She was suddenly so tired. All the fight had drained out of her and she found herself pressed against his hard chest, his arms like bands of comforting steel holding her upright. “It’s okay, I’m here. Let me be here,” he crooned soothingly, his lips close to her ear, face pressed to the side of her head. He was like a big muscular teddy bear, offering comfort. Her arms moved as if of their own accord until she was hugging him back, her hands pressed against his shoulder blades. She allowed the tears to flow, her heart to break. After what seemed like an eternity, she slowly pulled back until she was staring at his shirt, stained with her tears. A finger caressed her jaw line, stopped at her chin and tilted her face up until she was looking into warm amber eyes. Gabriel’s expression was soft, unguarded. He dropped his chin so his forehead was pressed against hers. “Okay?” He whispered softly. She wasn’t sure what made her do it. Maybe it was a vulnerability that a culmination of the lack of moonlight, the loss of her friends and the warmth of those honey eyes had wrought. Or maybe it was those perfectly formed luscious lips only an inch away from hers. Whatever the reason she pushed up on her toes and pressed her lips against his. It was meant as a gesture of thanks, at least that was what she told herself and she pulled away after a second. She studied him boldly, his lips were parted, his expression dazed. Shit, she’d probably scared the crap out of him. “Sorry.” “Are you?” His voice was husky, sexy. Their eyes remained locked for the longest moment; a moment in which she allowed herself to feel every point of contact between their bodies. Her fingers against the hard ridges of his shoulder blades, her chest pressed against the muscled planes of his, the heat from his thighs seeping into hers. “No,” she said softly. The corners of his eyes crinkled in a smile and his lips descended to meet hers. The earth shook and a siren ripped through the air. They jumped apart. “What the hell was that?” Thistle stood hand on heart. Gabriel was already at the door. “The shield’s been breached!” he called over his shoulder as he disappeared out the door.

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Book Blitz: The Dream Slayer Series by Jill Cooper

The Dream Slayer

Book One

Title: The Dream Slayer

Author: Jill Cooper

Series: The Dream Slayer #1

Genre(s): Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis

When your dreams come true, sometimes you get more than you bargained for... Natalie Johnson has always dreamed she’s someone else; calm, beautiful, in control. A chosen warrior with a maniacal arch nemesis and a dreamy boyfriend, the type that can make your knees melt and your heart quiver. Real life is much different. She’s tormented by a bully and endures the sharp tongue of her father, but finds solace in her dreams. When her bully ends up dead, de ja vu from a dream hits her hard as everything around her begins to fall apart. Whatever killed Sarah in her dreams is now in reality, hunting her from the shadows. And it wants her dead. Somehow as the lines between reality and nightmare blur, Natalie must discover hidden strength to pull her friends and family back from the brink of madness.

Book Two

Title: Demon Royale

Author: Jill Cooper

Series: The Dream Slayer #2

Genre(s): Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis

Since becoming employed by a supernatural protection agency, Natalie Johnson's life has been more interesting than ever. While most teens are working on their summer tans, Natalie works on slaughtering the undead lurking just outside her town's borders. The workload takes more than just a toll on her love life, it dampens her spirit and her health, as the town is plagued by a mysterious murderer intent on stealing the residents' souls. Natalie's investigation is hampered by her declining health and the sicker she gets, the more inadequate she feels. Guilt over her inability to act, weighs heavily on Natalie's shoulders during a time when her strength is needed more than ever. As some of those closest to her begin to lose faith, she must make the hardest stand yet to save the soul of the one person she can always count on: The Slayer.

Book Three

Title: Dawning Apocalypse

Author: Jill Cooper

Series: The Dream Slayer #3

Genre(s): Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis

Protection, murder, deception.... No one can know Natalie works for a supernatural protection agency and is charged with protecting Meadow’s Creek from vampires. But as their numbers swell, their presence doesn't go unnoticed throwing her town under the microscope from the local government and the FBI. Natalie’s job is pushed even further into the shadows where she must dodge the police, concerned citizens and even her own parents. Meanwhile a deadly plague grips the town and Natalie suspects it’s more than just a hacking cough. While the stress of working overtime erodes her relationships she will race against time, illness, to face a familiar enemy, save an old friend, and stop an undead seize that wants nothing more than to suck Meadow’s Creek dry.

Purchase Link

Author Bio

Author of the YA Dream Slayer series, Jill loves to blend horror, comedy, the supernatural, and love, through her novels. A fan of genre blending, her work strives to cross boundaries, but most of all strives to entertain.

She loves soft cuddly cats, warm blankets, and paranormal romances.

Jill resides in Massachusetts, is constantly renovating her home that she shares with her husband, young daughter, and two skittish cats.

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Excerpt

Behind the backdrop of the moonlight she saw a human form moving, shadowing the movement of several officers on the west side of the building. “Bob’s still here.” Natalie used their keyword for vampires since the media had dubbed the ‘serial killer’ Pinhole Bob thanks to the marks left on the victims’ necks. “He’s on the move.” Her ear cleared of static. “Be careful,” Charles Buckle, her guide and old mentor said with a stern sharpness to his voice. She didn’t have a cover story if she got caught and the last thing she needed right now was having her parents awoken in the middle of the night by the police. Natalie managed to skirt closer by ducking car to car. She reached down and gathered some small pebbles, but they were big enough to do what she needed them to do. Reaching her arm back, Natalie propelled them toward the police cruisers and then ducked down low, her back against the tires and her knees bent to hide her frame. The flashlights from the officers changed direction and their footsteps moved to investigate the noise. Natalie used that time to move around the side of the car and duck behind the other side of the apartment building. Using a drain pipe, she climbed the side of the house like she was Miss Piggy in the Great Muppet Caper, only with more skill and more comfortable shoes, and launched herself onto the roof. She sailed through the air, her legs extended and the soles of her boots collided with the chest of a fangy vampire, his eyes glowing yellow like the rodent he was. His back crunched against the roof and Natalie rolled onto her feet, reaching inside her pocket and retrieving her wooden stake. She gave it a spin for bravado and took an offensive stance. The vampire launched an attack, swinging his mighty claws, but his eyes flashed recognition. He stopped. Recoiling away, he hissed a warning. “Finish it.” Natalie taunted. “I’m just a girl. Come here and take me on.” All vampires fought to the death, but not this one. He ran like he was afraid, like he was acting on more than just instinct. “Hey!” Natalie called and lunged; grabbing the hem of his jacket and yanking him backwards. He growled, his nose against hers. There was no fight in him at all. He was the most non-vampire vampire she had ever fought. When Natalie pushed the wooden stake into his chest, it was too anticlimactic. Like the battle had to be fierce to be won, but he just dissolved. Into a black puddle, like they always did. And then there were a dozen small lights shining on her. Crap, Natalie thought and dove to the ground, rolling against the flat roof. Voices ran out from downstairs. “Someone is on the roof!” She scampered across the rooftop on all fours, keeping her belly low to the ground. When she reached the other side, footsteps charged the fire escape. Her heart galloped so fast in her chest, she could barely breathe. There was no time to think or plan, Natalie just had to react. She jumped off the roof, landed in a squat on the dumpster below, and dove onto the grass. She fell into a rolling summersault and before she knew which way was up, Natalie was charging from the street. But she wasn’t alone, there were officers charging her and in the distance, a car engine reved to life. Sirens turned to full volume. If ever Natalie needed an emergency super spy extraction, it was right then. But there was no one that could help her. Only she could get herself out of this. Heck, Natalie had created a dream dimension out of nothing where everyone she knew had an alter personality. She herself was the all-powerful slayer. What would the slayer do? She couldn’t get caught. She couldn’t be arrested or let the secret out, not without WOMP being seriously pissed of at her. Natalie didn’t know if she was right or wrong, but she needed to hide. And hide fast.

Cover Reveal: Peaceful Genocide by J. A. Reynolds

This is the official cover reveal of the book Peaceful Genocide by J.A. Reynolds! The book is expected to be published on 25th November, 2013. The information regarding the book and the synopsis is right below in this post. 

Title: Peaceful Genocide

Author: J.A. Reynolds

Paperback: 323 pages

Expected Publication: November 25th, 2013

Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult

ISBN: 1481820281

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Mitzi and Deuce can recall how many drops of water were on a leaf from a rainstorm five years ago and conversations from last week, month, or year. They have the ability to remember every second of everyday—since birth. 

This gift has blessed Mitzi with a history of being sexually assaulted by researchers and abused by her own parents. She trusts no one. Likes no one. Deuce, however, is a high school standout. His gift has made him a superstar on the football field and his memory promises him endless opportunities. 

When they both end up at an Alzheimer’s research facility under false proviso, they quickly realize this place isn’t what it seems to be. They endure crazy military-style tests, are forcefully drugged, and complete real-life simulations that haunt them. 

Mitzi and Deuce have no idea what the researchers want to do with them or their memories. But one thing is clear: the researchers will go to any lengths to get what they want.

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publishers: Dutton Books

Date of Publication: January 10th, 2012

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Format: Hardcover

Length: 313 pages

My Source: Ebook

Synopsis

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Review

Hazel is a 16 year old girl with stage IV thyroid cancer, and has been living with an oxygen tank since she was first diagnosed at 12. She realizes she is going to die, but she is on a drug that is keeping the tumors at bay. At a support group meeting she meets hottie Augustus Waters, who is in remission. They immediately hit it off and change each others lives drastically.

The Fault in Our Stars is another beautifully written book by John Green. A few months ago John made a video on his youtube channel, and in this video he read the first two chapter of this book. I was hooked instantly. I wanted to know everything there was to know about Hazel and Augustus. I'm not going to say that this was the most original cancer book out there, but it felt more personal.

Let's start with the characters. John Green wrote the same exact character over and over again in his previous books. This is one complaint I've always had, but you won't find that here. Hazel is no Alaska Young, she is no Margot. She's just Hazel, and she's lovely. Same with Augustus. He's unlike all of John Greens male characters, and I adore him.

There is simply one complaint I have about this book. John needs to make his 17 year old characters sound more like 17 year old teens than 35 year old men. Most of the dialog in this book and sweet and enjoyable, but then the characters come out with these crazy words and there are other ways to show your characters are intelligent people without always making them spout out these weird, random words. In all honesty it's a bit annoying, but it doesn't bother me too much, because I understand that his younger readers will build a much better vocabulary if they pay attention. Also, his book is full of quotable lines as you can clearly see from everyone else's reviews. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. John is a phenomenal writer. He's great at building suspense when needed, and also at hitting you in the gut with a healthy dose of raw emotion. Almost everyone I know who has read this book cried. At least a little. He also throws in lots of humor which is usually appreciated to break up sad moments.

As far as John writing a female voice for the first time, I thought he did a good job. This book wasn't life-changing for me, but I easily could see how others could be affected by this book in an astounding way. It tackles cancer, death, loss of sight, loss of loved ones, love, thoughts of the afterlife and shows vividly from one girls perspective what it may feel like to know you are dying. This book may not suit everyone, but if you don't have issues reading about those things I would recommend this book to you. It was quite depressing at times, but I'm sure you would know that just by reading the synopsis. 

About The Author

John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012, his most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, was met with wide critical acclaim, unprecedented in Green's career. The praise included rave reviews in Time Magazine and The New York Times, on NPR, and from award-winning author Markus Zusak. The book also topped the New York Times Children's Paperback Bestseller list for several weeks. Green has also coauthored a book with David Levithan called Will Grayson, Will Grayson, published in 2010. The film rights for all his books, with the exception of Will Grayson Will Grayson, have been optioned to major Hollywood Studios.

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But for the book, it is

Sunday Series #3

Sunday Series is another weekly meme, to be posted on Sundays, dedicated to the several books belonging to a series of books.
Since majority of the Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary, Dystopia (and other genres too) books are written as series, I thought arranging all books of a particular series in one place will be helpful and nice!
Each week I'll post about one series (I'll pick it randomly) and will post about all the books of the series. My post will include the author bio and short synopsis of each book. Hope you, my readers, will find it interesting! :)

The Series I chose for this week is:

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural. 

• City of Bones (Book 1):

Published: March 27, 2007.

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 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.

Average rating on Goodreads:  4.13/5 ,  423,298 ratings.

• City of Ashes (Book 2):

Published: March 25, 2008

Synopsis: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.26/5,  247,556 ratings.

• City of Glass (Book 3):

Published: March 24, 2009

Synopsis: To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Timesbestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.36/5,  270,777 ratings.

• City of Fallen Angels (Book 4):

Published: April 5th, 2011

Synopsis: The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old 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 importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering 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 one.

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 in City of Fallen Angels.

Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.16/5,  144,032 ratings.

• City of Lost Souls (Book 5):

Published: May 8, 2012

Synopsis: The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.32/5,  100,869 ratings.

• City of Heavenly Fire (Book 6):

Expected Publication: May, 2014

Synopsis: ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID. 

I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance? Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last installment of the Mortal Instruments series!

Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.60/5,  2655 ratings. (prior to publication!)

Author Bio

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

You can find her online at 

www.cassandraclare.com

Her blog:

http://cassandraclare.livejournal.com/

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/Cassandraclare

Twitter:

www.twitter.com/cassieclare

The Complete Series