Stand Alone Review: City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6)

A Stand-Alone Review

Title: City of Heavenly Fire

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: May 27, 2014

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Synopsis:

ERCHOMAI, 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.

First sentence: “On the day Emma Carstairs's parents we're killed, the weather was perfect.”

My thoughts:

*UNSPOILERY REVIEW*

Do you have any idea how long I've waited for this?! I really don't have any idea how to review this. I'm just emotions and feelings and tears and heart-break and happiness rolled into one single person. My head and my thoughts is a mess right now, stars that I can't fathom into constellations but still I am writing this.

“Erchomai. Veni. I am coming. I am come.” said CoHF. And now it has come and wrecked my life. And I don't know how to cope. And I don't know if I'm thinking straight. And I don't know what I'm writing in this review.

Who will survive? Well, I did, at least. I thought no one would survive. I thought all my ships would be blasted off to bits and pieces. Cassie said so. NO ONE IS SAFE. 6 characters will die. 2 weddings. That's all we knew before CoHF. I didn't have any theories and predictions on what might happen in the book because I don't want to make one. I never think of theories because I'm afraid they might be right and then there wouldn't be fun, so I don't.

Okay, let's get this over with. We all know that no one is safe because of Sebastian and his demon blood. He want's to wipe out the whole Shadowhunter race and make them his minions-err I mean his Endarkened Ones (whom he can control and bend to his own will) and no one can stop him but Jace and his heavenly fire. So that's basically where the plot revolved. Fighting Seb and fighting Seb and fighting Seb and his Endarkened for the peace of the Nephilim's race.

There are new characters, Jules and Emma and the other Blackthorns. They're young yet they are essential characters. So that we will be introduced and prepared to the new series, The Dark Artifices. The main characters though are always developing along the way. We still see Clary and her new runes. Jace is back to his old self, the sarcastic and hot Shadowhunter. Though for me he's lost his charm ever since City of Fallen Angels. I can't really see the Jace on City of Glass anymore. The one I fell in love with. Magnus and Alec were still stubborn and in denial of their feelings. Simon and Isabelle are--- (excuse me I'm speechless about Sizzy) They are the best couple and has the best conversations and the best chemistry and basically the best everything in this final installment.

But what I really loved the most in this book is about Bro Zachariah. How he was cured. How he helped in the war and how he was back to his old self. MY JEM. I loved everything Zachariah said all throughout the book. And I love that Jem and Tessa is also here. *wipes tears* I love all their little conversations and—well you get my point. I love them the most that it overshadows all the main TMI characters even. Honestly before you read this book and you haven't read The Infernal Devices, I suggest you read the other series first. Because if you read this before TID you'd be kind of lost either way.

I'm only sad about one thing. I hope I can say it without spoiling but I can't. I would have to spoil you if I mention so. (I'll put this on the spoilery review). No one should be beyond redemption, you know. *chokes sobs*

Finally after 5 books, Cassie found the story to end this beautiful series. And it's a very good ending. Well written and very satisfying. I can say that after City of Glass, City of Heavenly Fire is my next favorite book. There weren't a dull moment. After all the feels and everything we'll now be saying goodbye to TMI and saying hello to TDA. The conclusion is beautiful. I am happy and contented now. Thank you so much, Cassie. I cannot ask and say anything more.

Ave Atque Vale, TMI. Hail and Farewell.

Rate: 4.5/5 stars

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Warning: If you haven't read or finished the book, please stop here. Spoilers ahead. You have been warned. Scroll on at your own risk.

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*SPOILERY REVIEW*

AAHHHHH! FINALLY I'VE BEEN HOLDING MY SILENCE FOR RAZIEL KNOW HOW LONG ENOUGH. I JUST WANT TO RANT AND NEVER STOP RANTING ABOUT COHF.

Okay who we're your 6 deaths?????? (I'm just a little confused on this because other have different characters) Let me enumerate. I think they are:

*Jordan

*Maureen

*Meliorn

*Raphael

*Amatis

*Jonathan

Some says that Praetor Scott or Andrew Blackthorn should be on the list. I don't know, I'm not so sure. Can't wait for Cassie to confirm it though. BTW who are yours?

Okay, so can we just talk about Sizzy first. HUHUHUHU. Simon at the last chapters. So heartfreakinbreaking. WHY HIS MEMORIES? And at the epilogue, the name of their band is The Mortal Instruments *rocks self bc crying* Sobs at least Simon chooses to Ascend in te epilogue. *sighs a happy sigh*

Malec though. LOL I was getting sick of their denial when we all know they'd finally get back together because they love each other.

Remember Magnus's father?! For a moment there I THOUGHT MAGNUS WOULD DIE!!!! (I braced myself for what might have happen and I can't I nearly broke down) COHF: Okay, Magnus doesn't die..but wait there's more! I THOUGHT SIMON WOULD DIE TOO!!!! For the love of runes everywhere Cassie gave me a heart attack! But Jordan died. Lol I was expecting that one because I was spoiled (I hope the one who spoiled me is pissing blood right now.) And I expected that would be early too so I wasn't surprised. Other deaths are like, “Yeah, Okay” to me.

BUT HAHAHAHA. What is with Herondales and their sexy dirty scenes in caves? Why weren't they called Heroncaves rather? But still laughing at the foil in Chapter 20. Like wow Jace aren't you a boyscout! Lol. My initial reaction: WAIT..FOIL? WHAT IS A FOIL DOING IN A CAVE HOW COULD A FOIL BE THERE???????? I understand that before they go to war (whatever war it is) It really is a practice -lol not really a practice but some kind of need- to do it even in the early days because it kind of wakes up your blood, body and mind, I guess?? Love making in a cave at the midst of war? Only Cassie. (But I think this scene is not stong enough to be compared with the alley scene and the other sexy scenes in the past books) In here they just had to do it. Like there's no choice because it's the last book already.

I just feel sad for Jonathan. When Jonathan has his green eyes. I don't know, I may or may not have been crying. When he said he dreamed the same dream as Clary I--(wait excuse me there are tears) I mourn for Jonathan. If only he'd just been affacted of the Heavenly Fire as that in the previous book then maybe everyone could've still accepted him. When I was halfway of the book, I gave up on him. I didn't think he could still have been redeemed. But no one should be irredeemable right? Right? TEARS. I like Seb, because of Jonathan you know. I still loved Seb even if he's like that because deep deep deep inside he's still a normal guy. It would have been better If Cassie made a way on how to save Jonathan.

2 WEDDINGS. One is Jocelyn and Luke's and the other one is Jem and Tessa. (LOL THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ TID, THEY THINK IT'S CLARY AND JACE'S DREAM WEDDING WHATEVER BUT NO) It's Jem and Tessa's! But crying only the UK and AU versions have the wedding comic strip of the book I am sobbing. I need that so bad! I hope it would be on the CP2 Manga, I hope :(((((

Can't help to think what happened after the wedding. Ooops. :D

So I think TMI ends here. Ave Atque Vale TMI. Hail and Farewell.

ARC Review: (Don't You) Forget About Me

A Stand-Alone Review

Title: Don't You Forget About Me

Author: Kate Karyus Quinn

Release Date: June 14 , 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: HarperCollins (ARC)

I received a copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. No compensation of any kind have been received for this review and all of the opinions in this review are solely my own.

Synopsis:

Welcome to Gardnerville.

A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.

Except...
There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.

Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all.

First sentence: It was a bizarre May day parade at midnight instead of midday.

My thoughts:

I just want to thank HarperCollins again for their generous hearts in providing this book. I just cannot thank them enough. This is my third official ARC Review. I might not be as good as the long time reviewers yet but I will be better in time.

Another suspense book. I'm mostly into dystopian but it seems I've been reading a lot of paranormal books lately. Since I needed to finish reading and reviewing all the ARCs before the next semester starts, I decided to read Don't You Forget Me. “Pairing the otherworldly touch of Tuck Everlasting and the eerie suspense of Stephen King (Don't You) Forget About Me is perfect for fans of Maggie Stifvater's The Raven Boys.”

I have read or encountered neither of Tuck Everlasting, The Raven Boys and any Stephen King's books. I really have no idea what this book would be like. I thought it would have creepy and disturbing things like the last suspense book I've read but I'm not so sure. Before reading I thought it would be something like the Beautiful Creatures by Kamie Garcia and Margaret Stohl. But it isn't. I haven't read anything like it yet. The style of writing of this book is nearly poetic. Just like Tahereh's writing style of Shatter Me but without the numbers. I liked the writing style of this book, it's beautiful.

“Those secrets run through me like cotton candy, sweet and airy and insubstantial. The others are like sticky spiderwebs – they cling no matter how you try to pull them away.” - (pg. 37)

It was slow paced but it doesn't make you stop to read it. It's a bizarre read. Everything about this book is weird. The good kind of weird. Gardnerville is Bizzaroville. Gardnerville is a town where all kind of otherwordly things happen and it just leaves you there like, “whaaaaaat?” People with otherwordly abilities like read secrets like it's nothing but something being handed to you as nothing. Making people bend to your will. Charming people to love you with no boundaries. Absorbing pain and death for other people. Making people blink out of existence. Willing people into existing. Those kinds of things.

When you live in Gardenville, the kind of paradise most people dream in this wicked, sickly world. You would never get sick, you never get old. But nothing good comes with a great cost. Every fourth year in Gardenville, something, (okay the most bizzare of the bizzarest things) happens in the place. Where teens die and not survive puberty. That is the cost of living in Gardenville, your life is in the brink of danger every other four years.

It was just a bit hard to follow the story because the chapters of the book is alternating from the past and the present. Sky has lost her sister and cannot bear her lost. She cannot unforget her. Normally, if you've lost a love one you'll eventually forget about them but not Sky. She cannot let her go. She clings to her even more. She refuses to believe she's gone and does everything to bring her back. So she drinks these pills to make her forget even just for some hours.

“They take away the sorrow, they take away the pain, and they leave the great gaping holes in my life. “You'll only remember the good times.”” - Sky (pg 55)

(I'd like to have some of the pills of my own sometime.) But her mind commits her to memory again, the things she wants to forget the most, are the ones that she really cannot forget no matter how many pills she take. Even if this book is a thriller, suspense, it has a slight touch of sweet romance. A different kind of love in the shortest of times.

“So, was it worth? What I mean is...Is it worth having something good when it's gonna be taken away? When it's only temporary and later you're left wondering if you imagined it anyway?” - Sky (pg 273)

If you have issues on memories that you couldn't let go or memories you would want to let go, this book might be seeking for you. You need to read this so that you'll know how important and essential our experiences and memories to our existence. They define us.

“Remember Me. But do it the right way. Remember it all. The good, the bad and the ugly. I'd rather be forgotten than remembered the right way.” - Piper (pg 281)

Sky is someone who I can compare myself to. I let go of the past that easily not really caring what had happened and what will happen tomorrow. All we do is believe to this: “It's okay, don't worry.” But little do we know that our past makes the most of us and our homes made us to what we really are to this day. Read this book, it's raw of emotion and feelings. It may not be the book you'd scream about, but it's the kind of book that will leave a mark in your mind and heart.

“Forgetting the past doesn't change it, and if we want a better ending we'll have to go out and create it for ourselves somewhere on the other side of the mountain” (pg 309)

Rate: 4/5 stars

ARC Review: Sleep No More

A Stand-Alone Review

Title: Sleep No More

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Release Date: May 14 , 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: HarperCollins (ARC)

I received a copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. No compensation of any kind have been received for this review and all of the opinions in this review are solely my own.

Synopsis:

Oracles see the future. But they are never supposed to interfere. Charlotte learned that the hard way. If she hadn't tried to change one of her childhood visions, her mother wouldn't be in a wheelchair—and her father would still be alive.

Since that fateful accident, Charlotte has tried to suppress her visions. But when she receives a premonition of a classmate's murder, she knows she can no longer sit idly by.

Then she meets Smith, a man who not only knows Charlotte's secret but who also claims to have a way for her to manipulate her visions to change the future. But doing this means Charlotte must put herself in the path of the murderer.

First sentence: I sit on the itchy couch and stare at Mommy's eyes, wishing for them to open.

My thoughts:

Okay, so it's my first time to receive Advance Review Copies and I just want to thank HarperCollins again for their generous hearts in providing this book. I just cannot thank them enough. This is my second official ARC Review so allow me to start again and try. I'll get better in this, I promise that.

At first, I really didn't know that this book is somewhat paranormal, suspense, thriller type.

I only realized it when I was almost halfway of the book. This book says that “Lisa McMann's wake trilogy meets the blockbuster film Inception”. I didn't really know what to make of this book since I haven't read the wake trilogy or watched Inception yet (since I'm not really a big fan of suspense and horror movies, so I had no idea.

This book is about seeing the future and what it's like to be an oracle. We've read through history that oracles were once real. Back in those grecian and roman times, Oracles used to help heroes in their quests by giving them an idea or glimpses of the future. This book now tells us how and what oracles do if they still exist these days. First thing I asked myself when I learned that Charlotte can do is “If I we're in her place would I want to see the future?” I said I'll answer this when I finish reading this book.

Forget the past. Change the Present. Fight the Future. A dark, exhilarating, blood-pumping read which will put you at the edge of your seats and will plant a lot of questions in your minds. This is what this book will do. Like what would you do if you really have premonitions or visions that does really happen? What if you see a bad premonition, would you dare to right it? Would you dare to go against fate against nature to change the future? Would you dare to trip the balance for the sake of making things right and face the consequences of it? Charlotte will help you answer this questions. It maybe a little disturbing for other people, this story but it will open your mind more to violence, revenge, trust and the truth.

Charlotte is someone who you would call a hero, in times of horror. She was brave enough to discover by herself her abilities and her responsibilities by her own though it led to danger and safety as well. She was reckless and to trustful which made her weak but she made herself strong enough to face the mistakes that had lead to other people's deaths and right everything. The past might not be changed but she knows she can do something about the future and does a huge leap of faith to do what she thinks is right. She may fight what she is, but finally she will understand that she cannot fight her nature and continue living her life.

Heartbreaking as it is, You will like this book because it will make you question all the characters's motives and guess who's involved in the evil ploys. I wasn't smart enough to figure out who really was the killer here. I wasn't shocked but I wasn't expecting it either. It was like I've always known who the killer is on my mind all along but I just refused to believe it. This book made “Trust No One” the understatement of the millenia. If you have trust issues I suggest you read this book, pun intended.

I may not love paranormal books but this made me finish it, even a little later than I expect but I've read it until the last page, didn't I? A page-turner, a remarkable book for those who are seeking for thrill and suspense. If you loved The Lovely Bones or Mara Dyer, you would want to read this. You would want to go to the bookstore now and grab a copy if you love paranormal books. You must read this if you are a Newtown survivor, this book is dedicated to you.

Rate: 4/5 stars