Waiting on Wednesday

Whoa! I haven't done this post for a VERY long time! But I have two NEW books that are SO AWESOME!

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Release Date: November/06/2012
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 304
Purchase: Amazon | B&N 

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed “Daughter of Smoke and Bone,” Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone was declared a “must read” by Entertainment Weekly, was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon.com, and The New York Times called it “a breath-catching romantic fantasy.”


SWEET! I read the first book and guessed it was okay. But I'm willing to give this series another try with this book! Here's another awesome book!

Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver

Release Date: November 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Previous Books: Legacy | Allegiance

The Synopsis is still to be released. But what do you think of the cover? AMAZING! :D Hoped you liked my two little books I wanted to share with you guys! (:

REVIEW: "Crescendo" by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Crescendo
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Series: Hush Hush
Series #: 2
Pages: 432
Rating: 


Summary:

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Selena's POV:
Let's just point out that I was stupid enough to NOT read this book fast enough. I've read Hush Hush a while back, but that was like, last summer! Currently, I'm just catching up on my forgot-to-read-the-rest-of-the-series-so-I-should-read-it-now series, and this happens to be one of them.

Let's state the obvious: This book was the most intense, most emotionally sequel I've EVER read in my entire lifetime! You're probably asking, "Why is that, Selena?". Well, there are two reasons:
1. The characters, plot, setting, problem, solution, EVERYTHING was AMAZING!
2. I wanted to SCREAM in frustration because of how much this book caused me pain & because I waited SO LONG to read this book!

I legitly wanted to punch myself because of reason 2 ... well, the end of reason 2, I mean. At the end of the book, I just kept thinking about how could I pass this book up?! How could I have not read it ANY SOONER?! And let's point out that I finished this book in two days, and that's pretty good for me, considering that school is ending, and all the stress is filling my head.

Now, let's go to the book, shall we? When we left off from Hush Hush, we found that Nora & Patch were happily together! YAY! And when we start Crescendo, mother of ducks, just HELP THEM ALREADY! This is the part I wanted to scream in frustration because, let's face it, every relationship has their ups and downs, and in the beginning of the book, you see that with Nora & Patch. Now that's all I'm gonna say before I can't hold myself back and tell you EVERYTHING!

Throughout the book, you met a guy named Scott who is a long-time friend from Nora's childhood. He's mysterious (but not as mysterious as Patch!) and keeps Nora guessing about his background and why he moved back in town. I really hated him in the book. His attitude just threw me off, and I didn't like him. But to be honest, in the end, I liked him. I thought he wasn't a bad guy after all, & that he was a decent guy.

Also, throughout the book, I REALLY hated Patch! He was keeping TOO many secrets and I just couldn't handle them anymore! I felt that he was just horrible and I didn't like him. I STILL kinda don't like him ...

Now ... onto the next book! :D

REVIEW: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments
Series #: 5
Pages: 544
Rating:  .5



Summary:
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?
Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.
And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Selena's POV:
I'm going to make this short and sweet, and I already had a review with lots of spoilers in it! So when your done with the book, you can go on over to my OTHER SPOILER review of this book and READ IT! (:


Anyways, I thought this book was MUCH BETTER than City of Fallen Angels. I just felt that Cassandra Clare focused more on Clary & Jace rather that Simon. I mean, Simon was in the book, yes, but not as much as the last book, and I liked that. I also liked that Cassandra switched off for point-of-views. I really liked seeing through different character's eyes here and then. 


I felt that Clary has grown SO MUCH from the last book, and the whole series in general, and I LIKE THAT! But at some parts, I just wanted to PUNCH her in the face! The decisions she made? Oh jeez. Don't get me started on THAT! 


The ending was INTENSE! I LOVED it SO MUCH that I started crying because I was depressed and because they were tears of joy! I liked how Cassandra ended it, thought the epilogue was long and I LOVED IT! :D


See, I told y'alls it was short(: But if you guys ARE done with this book, click here to read my more in detail and intense review! You'll love it! :D

Bloggers Note:

Hey guys! If you want to keep up with what I'm reading, and how far I am in the book, PLEASE friend me on Goodreads! It's just an amazing software, and I love it! Just friend me, and you'll know every book I'm currently reading, which one I've read, which one I want to read, and how I rated them! If you don't have one, GET ONE (although I'm not pressuring you to get one, btw). It's such an amazing software to keep track of the books your reading!
Remember to friend me! 
Thanks! ;)
Xoxo,
Selena
Click here to friend me on Goodreads! 

REVIEW: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare *SPOILERS* Picture Edition

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments
Series #: 5
Pages: 544
Rating:  .5


Summary:
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?
Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.
And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Selena's POV:

First of all, I'm going to point out that ...

THIS IS *FULL* OF SPOILERS! 

(Psst! The title of this blog post ...)

So if you haven't read this book, then I shall warn you now that you SHOULD NOT read this! But you can read this OTHER review of City of Lost Souls that I made that doesn't have any spoiler in it (:

Are we where we should be?

Everyone who's read the book HERE,

and the people who didn't read the book GONE? (:

Alright?

Good?

Great!

...

...

...

So let's state the obvious: I was ECSTATIC when I got the book. I got the book a day AFTER the book officially came out, and to be honest, I was MAD! My mom wouldn't buy it that day, but eventually bought it for me. I was pretty much like this when I had the hands in my book:

When I first started reading City of Lost Souls, I was like


 

I was REALLY confused because I haven't read this series in two year. Yes, I said 2 YEARS! I know, I was kind of surprised too. But while I was reading, I was trying to reach into my brain and think of what happened in City of Fallen Angels. It was hard, but I tried! And kinda failed ...


When Jace & Sebastian showed up at Clary's house, and specifically when Jace was on top of Clary the first night they've seen each other since the rooftop incident, I was like 






I was WAITING for JACE! I was WAITING for him to RETURN for CLARY! I knew he would, and I was SO excited! Especially when he KISSED HER! Oh jeez! I was SO EXCITED about that too! I just knew Jace would return (:


But when Luke got stabbed in the kitchen, I was like 




And




I was mad first of all because LUKE GOT STABBED! And then I was scared because Cassandra said that SOMEONE was going to die in the book, and I was like that when Luke got stabbed. Turns out, he didn't die.


When Clary went with Jace, my reaction was:

I WANTED Clary to leave. She NEEDED to leave. If she didn't, I was going to DIE! But she did, and I was HAPPY! 


But throughout the book, I really liked how the author went in everyone's head, and they had a part in the story too! In the last book, I didn't like that it focused around Simon. In THIS book, it surrounded EVERYONE! Like, LEGIT! Cassandra went in Clary's head, Simon's head, Isabelle's Head, Alec's Head, and so on!





When Clary was with Sebastian & Jace, I was trying to figure out WHAT IN THE WORLD THEIR PLAN WAS! Like this ...






I knew Sebastian wanted to 'burn down the world' (Ha! yeah, right!), but I just didn't know HOW! But when I found out, my expression was kinda like this:






And when I found out JACE came up with the idea to make new Shadowhunters but the demon's side ...






I WAS HEART BROKEN! He was himself AGAIN too when he actually admitted that he came up with the plan! Oh, and that brings me to my next point. When Clary yelled Sebastian's name when Jace was going to turn him in, I was like 






I was SO MAD! Like, I legitly wanted to punch Clary right in the face then and there. WHY IN THE WORLD DID SHE DO THAT!?! :(


UGH! I also loved how Simon & Isbelle were kinda falling for each other. But then I was like HURRY UP AND ASK HER OUT ALREADY! 


At the end, I knew someone had to die, and when I found out that Amatis died, I was like




I honestly didn't really care for her, though I she knew was kinda important ...


You have to admit, and ENDING WAS INTENSE! >.< I couldn't stop reading, and when Clary stabbed Jace with the sword, and Jace fell to the ground all bloodly, I was like 








Like I said before, Cassandra Clare said that she wouldn't hesitate to kill off a main character, and I thought JACE was the main character Cassandra was going to kill (crazy, right?!), so I started crying.






It was BAD. I honestly thought she was going to kill him off. And when Clary tried her best to awaken him, and when her mother told Clary that Jace was dead, and I was like 






I saw the book was coming to an end, so I DID BELIEVE that Jace and truly going to die. But that last sentence ... OH, THAT LAST SENTENCE! It just saved me! :D I was jumping with joy! Well, technically, I cried again. But it was tears of joy! 

I WAS SOOOOOOOO HAPPY THAT CLARY FELT A HEARTBEAT! My heart legit stopped as Jace's heartbeat began!! I WAS SO HAPPY that I was like this:



It was AMAZING! And then ending was HEART BREAKING! MAGNUS & ALEC BROKE UP!

 

I was like



Just hope they get back together in the last book (which, they TOTALLY WILL!) ;) And that crazy 13 year old vampire chick?



She's pretty dangerous for a small gall like her! And she's the head of the Vampire Clan now? Oh my goodness ...

Now that Jace is back to normal and okay, I was like



But then I realized he was glowing and could burn me ...



And when the note arrived that said "I'm Coming", I was like




Oh well, we're just gonna have to wait for the next book, CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE! >.< And Honestly? I don't even KNOW what's going to happen next! I have no guesses ...

Bloggers Note:
Hey guys! I hope you guys liked this review! I had SO MUCH FUN doing this! It was something different, and I'm willing to try it again! (: Other than that, if you want to keep up with what I'm reading, and how far I am in the book, PLEASE friend me on Goodreads! It's just an amazing software, and I love it! Just friend me, and you'll know every book I'm currently reading, which one I've read, which one I want to read, and how I rated them! If you don't have one, GET ONE (although I'm not pressuring you to get one, btw). It's such an amazing software to keep track of the books your reading!
Remember to friend me! 
Thanks! ;)
Xoxo,
Selena
Click here to friend me on Goodreads! 

In My Mailbox: Bookmarks!

So as I said in my last post of "In my Mailbox: Divergent Style!", I had something ELSE coming in the mail for me. And it ARRIVED! I was SO happy & excited!

Signed bookmarks from Cynthia Leitich Smith! I absolutely LOVE her! I entered in her giveaway, and won! I already had the big red bookmark, so I may give it away sometime. And that brings me to my next subject ....

Remember that 200 Likes on Facebook Giveaway? Yeah, I remember too. And I didn't ship it out yet ... I WILL THOUGH! I know the winner is patiently waiting, and I THANK HER FOR THAT! It's just that I haven't gotten the time, and I will soon! PROMISE! :D

In my Mailbox: Divergent Style!

I won this a few weeks back, and I was SO happy! A twitter account, @Divergentlxicon, was doing a FINAL giveaway the day before Insurgent by Veronica Roth came out. They were giving out a grand prize, and it included: A copy of Insurgent, a "Four Thinks I'm Beautiful" pendant, Amity coffee cozy, bracelet, earrings & a bookmark. It was the GRAND prize, and I NEEDED to win it! To win it, you had to retweet THEIR tweet/message on twitter (that's what they call it on Twitter.) Unfortunately, I didn't win it :( 

Instead, this happened:

So as you can see, I reached my daily limit, and BOY ... was I MAD! >.< If you look at the left side, that's what I was tweeting for the last, oh ... what is it? The last TWO HOURS! Stayed up until 10 PM on a school night. When that came up, I just gave up and went to bed! 

But when I woke up the next morning, this is what I got:

So I kinda started jumping up and down, and couldn't stop screaming. I was excited I won something from them, and I LOVED IT! :D Well, the prize I mean. 

Before I got my actual prize, this is what I got for being in the Amity Fraction:

I was also really excited for this, too! I mean, a "Four Thinks I'm Beautiful" bookmark? That's AMAZING! I use it all the time, especially whenever I'm reading one of Veronica's books! It wasn't until Saturday, May 12th, that I got my package, and  BOY; Was I EXCITED! :D

Here's the package:

PS: I had my info blurred out. Safety reasons(:

Then came the opening:

I then SLOWLY opened the package, peeking inside:

And FINALLY, this is what I got:

...

...

...

...

...

...

EEK! My favorite is the TATTOOS! I think they're SO AMAZING! And the coffee cozy? I will use that ALL the time, as I am addicted to coffee(:

Today, I put on my first tattoo, and guess what fraction is was!

DAUNTLESS! :D I am Amity, but I wanted to try out the Dauntless first. I had to admit, it made me feel pretty badass! >.< I showed all my friends who read Divergent and/or Insurgent today, and they all got pretty jealous (: 

Here's a closer look at the tattoos I got:

So I just wanted so share that with you guys today. I also won something ELSE, and soon, you will hear from that (: