Note; You guys know how fan girly I have been over this series in the past few years which was why I decided it was time for a re - review. My 2009 review was just ridiculous, too much gushing and not enough explaining, so I thought it was time to be more logical about this, analyse the book, be fair and review it like I would any other book. In case you're wondering, this is kind of where I try not to write a super super long review since I will be writing three here! Wish me luck xD PS Just to let you know I'm going to try and be a little vague this time around :) *runs back after finishing review* (LOOKS AROUND) *LOOKS AT LONG REVIEWS! *cries*
All three reviews are spoiler free = yay! Have replaced the names with a little something to avoid spoilers :D
I was once again sucked into the world of Shadow hunters which I was relieved to see. Having read it quite a while back my instant concern was that I wouldn't fall in love with the first opening scene in the book like I once did, that the world building wouldn't be on point. Sure the world building isn't as fantastic as I once thought, but it’s not half bad either and actually develops rather well by the third book. Yet Looking back through the whole concept and the role the characters play I can't help but feel a little bit of a let down. The characters are pretty predictable. Let me explain;
Simon -- Nerdy best friend, Clary—The MC and best friend of Simon that has for ten years failed to notice his adoration, Jace –the hot brooding cocky guy she falls for, Isabelle - Rosalie beautiful and equally as arrogant as Jace; she can't stand Clary as well as her brother Alec. It seems all too familiar now, but maybe it's because since then the same thing has been done so many times; at the time these things weren't as noticeable.
DO not fear! There is a pretty great plot in between all of this, and some interesting concepts. The Shadowhunters being one of them. Mundanes *like me* can't see these super bad ass folks, but Clary can and that might be a bit of a problem. Things change for Clary when she spots a girl with long black flowing hair wearing a white gown who is being followed stalked by a cute boy with strange hair and a super dorky costume. *or so we are told* Okay I know it doesn't sound all that impressive but I swear it is! Throw in a missing mother, a bad guy called Valentine *who is pretty evil* and you have City of Bones
"Is this the part where you start tearing off strips of your shirt to bind my wounds?" "If you wanted me to rip my clothes off, you should have just asked."
City of Jace's personality of course is the one that takes a lot of the limelight. Personality - wise not much has changed, he is still cocky and irresistible as ever.
Without going into too much detail Shhhh is far from dead and back for more!
L OL's patience is tested quite a lot from now on, how can they feel this way, I mean isn't how they feel wrong? What can they do about these feelings that niggle at them? Well a certain queen is about to answer that question, and let me just say as wrong as it should be, because you know, we should be creeped out/ disgusted/ freaking out, but OMG I CAN'T EVEN! I was like DO it, DO it!! I didn't care anymore, I was so sick of them denying it to themselves, so sick of the fact that they moped around the house, avoided each other and sulked that it just got to the point where they needed to do it! No joke! Oh and there's a new character in town "Maia" and she means business! I liked her. More of my kind of character, a little more ambitious, street smart and brave. Probably too good for the certain someone I can see her falling for.
There's a lot of action throughout the series and it certainly picks up in COA.
Okay many of you are either in love with this series or not by now, and if you still don't love it then I doubt you will by the next book. If this applies to you then feel free to walk away. If you're in love, adore/want to marry this book then ……..
Scroll down loves.
"I don't want to be a man," said Jace. "I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people instead." "Well," said Luke, "you're doing a fantastic job."
The stakes are higher this time; a war is brewing and tensions are taking it's tole. Many of Shhhh's followers are undercover and even part of the Clave -- to put it simply you cannot trust anyone. Alliances are building and crumbling. L OL are fighting a little something called love, and to make things even more difficult a war is heading their way with Shhh right at the top who refuses to be hindered. Meanwhile the girl who was underestimated from the very beginning and kept on the sidelines will be the one to take a step forward and be the first to bring together the very thing that Shhhhh sacrificed everything to destroy. This is her opportunity to finally show others and the readers that she is more than just a vulnerable feisty girl. Yet It’s through this bleak time that the new addition Sebastian is introduced. He's charming, cool and probably the one person who can give Jace his worth. Their banter was one of the highlights in the book for me!Let’s not forget Jace’s story. It’s easy to judge him straight up, but I was happy that there was more to him. That there is this hideous past that has made him the way that he is. I loved how he had this vulnerability -- it showed that there is more to him than what you take at face value. I have had a long time to think about Jace and I think I will always have a soft spot for him, but I do find myself battling with the thought if his past is an excuse enough. If the way he treats others is okay because of what he has been though. My answer is no, it’s not okay, and it’s no excuse, but what I will say right alongside that is that after discovering the ugly truths of his past you understand Jace a lot more, and you understand why he acts the way that he does.
Hmm let's say X and Y' relationship comes to light, and are they not just adorable?! It goes a something like this. X enters room = Y; *blushes*. X is furious = Y *likes*. They share secret smiles , annoy each other and bicker an awful lot, they are in love. Which I don't mind so much because now X can stop loving L when really X thinks they love L but really X doesn't, ya know?
Not all is sun and roses though, there's a loss, and not just any loss. It’s the kind of loss that leaves you breathless and is completely unexpected. I think I'm still mourning for it; I hated that it had to happen. I still wish it didn’t, but in a way it portrays the message perfectly. War is a messy thing.
Things that we have been wondering since the very first book about L OL are finally explained!!! YES! Was my instant response the first time I finished COG. It tied up things pretty well and although the ending was a little too perfect it pretty much promised an end to a series that has its flaws, sure, but one that I had fallen for hard.
Overall I have come to the conclusion that TMI is a definite strong contender amongst its genre and in YA overall. It feels good to know that the book is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Over the course of the three books you'll find yourself immersed in a world where glamour, mystery, love and betrayal are at its peak. I can't promise that all of you will love it. In fact, many of you like myself will re - read it now and see things a little differently, touch up on things you don't love so and and others that you still do, but hopefully that won't take away your enjoyment of the book altogether. It's important to remember, although "some" characters are predictable not all are; there are a lot of secrets that keep you guessing and on your toes. The twists in this series are truly epic, probably one of the best because you will be continually hit by them just when you think you have figured something out! It depicts this Gothic, sexy, dark and seductive -- secret world that you can't help but get sucked into and completely mesmerised by.
City of Fallen Angels
"I am a man" he told her, "and men do not consume pink beverages. Get thee gone woman, and bring me something brown."
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