The Alchemyst Review

Title: The Alchemyst
Author: Michael Scott
Series: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1
Audiobook Narrators: Denis O'Hare
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Alternate Universe, Mythology, History

Review:

I am glad that I decided to finish all six books first before writing a review as I am to excited to read the next book that reviewing would will have to wait. Each books are written mostly in 3rd person format which I like since this series has a number of interesting characters and doing a first person point-of-view would be straining to both the author and to the some readers (Which is why it took me a long time to finish any of George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire books).

The Alchemyst introduces us readers to initial set of characters which is Nicholas Flamel, his wife Perenell Flamel and the twins Josh and Sofie Newman which are the real focal characters to this series (To which I would personally change the series title to "The Chronicles of the Twins of Legend" or something like that if given a chance). We also get to know the main antagonist Dr. John Dee, as well as a number of supporting characters and places that are based from history and mythology (Scathach, Hekate, the Witch of Endor, Yggdrasil etc.) The audiobook narrator (Denis O'Hare) did a great job as he was able to infuse the proper pronunciations as well as the accents of every character.

City of Lost Souls Review

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instrument #5
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Nephilim, Angels, Demons, Warlocks, Vampires, Demons, Faeries

Review:

After at least a month of reading (without any assistance from an audiobook), I was able to finish reading "City of Lost Souls".

Obviously the story starts off where "City of Fallen Angels" left of as Clary and the rest of her friends are try every other ways to find Jace Wayland/Lightwood/Herondale after he went missing with the diabolical Sebastian a.k.a. Jonathan Morgensterm.

As the story goes along I was a bit disappointed on the bulk of the story as it was focused more on the "drama" between the love relationships with each characters and not with the issue at hand on which the Shadowhunters are to rescue or hunt down one of their own. 

I was glad though that upon Book III, we finally get the action I was clamoring for and in typical Classandra Clare fashion, the story ends in a favorable resolution (the rescue of Jace) and the signature cliffhanger (which serves somewhat of a preview of things to come in the upcoming sixth book "City of Heavenly Fire").

Mockingjay Review

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: Hunger Games #3
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction

Review:

Mockingjay is the final installment within the Hunger Games Trilogy series. The tale starts with the particular dreary results of "Catching Fire's" ending line, "Mockingjay" starts with Katniss Everdeen wandering with the wreckage on her District 12 local, tripping more than skulls and getting the ashes in the incinerated bodies that is used to be her neighbors.

Difficult as it would seem to top the ingenuity and action-packed, edge-of-your-seat storyline of "The Hunger Games," or the continued, in-the-ring thrill ride of its follow-up, "Catching Fire," "Mockingjay" leaves the government's kid-on-kid hunting grounds and heads into the destitute reality of the districts, which have come under heavy fire from the Capitol for rising up against its superficial and oppressive leadership.

The final plot is not surprising at all as with the previous books. Nonetheless, Suzanne Collins seems to keep us visitors entertained as well as appalled during the entire inevitable revolt and ending. There is a good surprise twist in the end, the particular moral that is buying and selling in one master for another isn't a stepping-stone on the path to freedom. Mockingjay may not have the accolades simlar to Tolkien's "Return of the King" but a great one nevertheless.

Catching Fire Review

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: Hunger Games #2
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction

Review:

Catching Fire is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed "The Hunger Games". Like the Hunger Games, Catching Fire has an undercurrent of impending rebellion. It has action, death, deceit, loyalty, love, abuse of power and much more. In some ways, it is as good as The Hunger Games. In other ways, it falls short or exceeds the first novel.

Catching Fire held its own in comparison with its predecessor. The pace of the story was initially a shock from the cliffhangers and action that concluded the previous book, but the unfolding of events allowed for a natural, engaging continuation.

The story begins in District 12 where Katniss and Peeta are preparing to tour the 13 districts and Capitol City to celebrate their victory at the Hunger Games. There is an element of wariness and disdain about the whole process. Katniss is being pressured by President Snow, who sees her past actions in the arena as subtle rebelliousness. Katniss wants to protect her family by doing as Snow says. However, from the beginning, the reader gets the sense that Snow is not to be trusted and that things will not go according to plan. Throughout the book, the plot progresses very quickly and there are multiple instances where some events are merely skimmed over

The one area in which Catching Fire exceeds its predecessor is the ending. A surprise twist followed by a cliffhanger was the perfect way to keep readers rabid for more. By the end of this book, it is easy to be curious about what Katniss' fate will be.

In short, Catching Fire was a page-turning follow-up to an extraordinary novel. As with any good series, you have to ready the next book to enjoy the whole series and I expect the final book, "Mockingjay" to be a good finale.

The Hunger Games Review

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: Hunger Games #1
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction

Review:

On her first young-adult novel, Suzanne Collins has mixed together elements both classical and modern to produce a story that, if not entirely new, nevertheless bears her unique imprint. Beginning with elements of the Theseus myth, she mixes in a large dollop of Battle Royale by Koushun Takami, elements of Richard Bachman's The Running man and Alan Moore's V for Vendetta and an extrapolation of current social and political trends. But she makes it her own, and the book avoids feeling derivative through her complex and impressive characterizations of both lead and supporting characters, and the bewildering interplay of personal emotions and political conspiracies.

Overall, the Hunger Games had it's impressive early run I was disappointed on how the story ends. I was expecting a much better ending but since this is a trilogy, I would hope the series would end in a much better note.

Clockwork Angel Review

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Infernal Devices #1
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Nephilim, Steampunk, Romance.

Review:
Clockwork Angel is the first installment of the Infernal Devices Trilogy a prequel story to the highly successful The Mortal Instruments series. This series is set into  Victorian time London other than setting, the theme is rather the same with the TMI.

Clockwork Angel is a captivating novel that Twilight fans will enjoy sinking their teeth into. At the end of each chapter, the Clare dangles just enough information and action to keep the reader hooked. As with the original series, Clare has a penchant for using cliffhangers to keep the series interesting.  

Even so, the Cassandra Clare succeeds in offering enchanting and diverse characters placed in a well-constructed "steampunk" Victorian London setting. Readers will find the characters' background -- each was orphaned as a young child, has a secret past, and struggles with identity and longing for home.

Overall, Clockwork Angel is a great introduction to world of the Shadowhunters particularly the ancestors of the characters in the TMI series. Despite some similarities with the original series, the overall flow of the stories was more mysterious and interesting.

The City of Fallen Angels Review

Title: City of Fallen Angels
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instrument #4
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Nephilim, Angels, Demons, Warlocks, Vampires, Demons, Faeries

Review:

City of Fallen Angels, The fourth installment of Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series was a slight shift in terms of the storyline as the focus of this story now rest on Simon Lewis, the vampire "daywalker" and Clary's best friend. Though the series main protagonist Jace Weyland( or Morgentstern or Lightwood or Herondale?) and Clarissa Fray (or Morgensterm) as well as the rest cast  with some new characters particularly Jordan Kyle a member of Praetus Lupus and a new threat in demon Lilith, 'The mother of all warlocks".

The fourth installment was not deprived of drama, romance and some light comedy which fans love from the first three books. On this book, you will find out that Jace and Clary's relationship has encountered some "rough" times along with the new threat. As with the previous series, book ends in a cliffhanger which will surely the make the readers clamor for excitement of the upcoming next book entitled City of Lost Souls.

Overall, City of Fallen Angels is a good start to the second trilogy of the Mortal Instruments Series even though the technically the "mortal instruments" are where no longer the focus of the story.

Review: City of Glass (book 3 of 3 of the Mortal Instruments)

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Title: City of Glass
Author: Cassandra Claire
Series: The Mortal Instruments #3
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Nephilim, Angels, Demons, Warlocks, Vampires, Demons, Faeries.

Review:
Finally posted my review for the 3rd installment of Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series City of Glass

The third and final installment in the first Mortal Instruments trilogy definitely lives up to the reputation of the first two – City of Bones and City of Ashes .City of Glass picks up a short time after City of Ashes ends.Clary has a mission. Madeleine, her mother’s friend, is possibly the only person who knows how to wake her mother from a coma.Clary will have to travel to Alicante in Idris to get what she needs.

Alicante is the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters.It is known as the City of Glass because of the beautifully tall glass towers that guard the city from harm.The only way to get to Idris is through a portal and Magnus, the warlock, has arranged one.Clary is planning to go through the portal with Jace and the Lightwoods.The only problem is, Jace doesn’t want Clary to go so he lies to her about when he and the Lightwoods are leaving.He thinks it is too dangerous for Clary.

After being left behind, Clary eventually finds her way to Alicante.She uses her ability to create runes and makes a portal for herself.Being new to the Shadowhunter world, Clary doesn’t know that using a portal and entering the city without permission is against the law. If she is found she could be put to death.

Once in the City of Glass, Clary is thrown in the middle of the largest battle the Shadowhunters have ever had to face.Valentine’s evil plans are in the final stages and everyone is on full alert, not knowing what he will do next.Jace and Clary’s complicated relationship keeps them just as confused as ever, but provides great excitement for the reader.

Review: City of Ashes (book 2 of 3 of the Mortal Instruments)

Title: City of Ashes
Author: Cassandra Claire
Series: The Mortal Instruments #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Nephilim, Angels, Demons, Warlocks, Vampires, Demons, Faeries.

Review:
Clary Fray is having some major issues. Her best friend, Simon, is falling in love with her; her bad-boy crush, Jace, just might be her brother; her mom is in the hospital in a coma — oh, and did we mention that her dad is summoning an army of demons in a plot to take over the world?

It’s enough to make any girl want to scream, but Clary isn’t just any girl — she’s a Shadowhunter, and in Cassandra Clare’s new book, City of Ashes, her life gets a lot more complicated.

Book Review: City of Bones (book 1 of 3 of the Mortal Instruments)

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Claire
Series: The Mortal Instruments #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Nephilim, Angels, Demons, Warlocks, Vampires, Demons, Faeries.

The first book that I read after years of not reading fictional books because of my busy schedule. To be honest the main reason why I read this book (and looking forward in reading the succeeding books) is that I saw this book on the bookstore while I was buying some educational supplies for my daughter. As I read the overview at the back of the book, it got me intrigued. Since I prefer reading this as an e-book, I got online and purchased all three e-book of the Mortal Instruments series.