The Golden Tower by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Title: The Golden Tower
Author: Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: September 11, 2018
Pages: 256
Source/format: Hardcover // Library

Rating: ☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com): 

The final, thrilling installment in this extraordinary series from bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.

A generation ago, powerful mage Constantine Madden came close to achieving what no magician had ever achieved: the ability to bring back the dead. He didn't succeed . . . but he did find a way to keep himself alive, inside a young child named Callum Hunt.

Facing up to what he is, Callum has battled chaos and evil across four years of magical training at the Magisterium, eventually defeating the armies of chaos in an epic battle.

It came at a cost.

Now, triumphant and heartbroken, Callum Hunt has just about had enough, and is ready to complete his training. But the evil Callum faced has not given up just yet...

M Y  T H O U G H T S

"We must learn from this lesson that we cannot allow fear to rule us...When fear rules us, we forget who we truly are. We forget the good we are capable of."

The Golden Tower is the fifth installment in the Magisterium and it's the last book in the series. Although the romance of the novel is untimely and it feels out of place, the character development from The Iron Trial to The Golden Tower grew for some characters while stayed the same for others. The pacing of the book was good at the beginning to the middle of the novel but it sped up too quickly from the middle to the end. It felt too rushed. The Golden Tower is a short book to begin with and I felt like the pace was too fast in terms of when Call and his friends were hunting down the four Devoured of Air, Earth, Fire and Water in order to displace the Devoured of Chaos.

The novel depicts some language and actions that are not up to par with what a teenager says or does. Call is about 16 right now and Alex is a little bit older. However, Alex acts much younger demanding things like a child would. He throws temper tantrums. Aaron is definitely the most mature with well thought out ideas. He thinks before he acts and speaks. Tamara will seek out resources if she doesn't know about something. Call relies on his friends in order to make decisions. Jasper grows the most out of all the students. He used to be cruel and bullied Call and his friends at the start of the Magisterium journey. As each year passes, he learns to accept Call and his friends to the point where he is part of their friendship circle. Readers find out what happened to his father which could have added to why he behaved in the past as he did.

Alastair's decision at the end of the book is a surprise but it shows what a parent does for their child in order to save their life no matter what the consequence. It shows that Alastair truly loves Call. Because of spoilers, I won't name who the true enemy is but the enemy could have been a very complex character and the enemy is actually very simple and not very interesting. I was hoping for more character development for the enemy or at least find out more about their backstory.

The Golden Tower sums up the Magisterium series fairly quickly. For those who love fantasy middle grade novels involving boarding schools and magic, this series is one to pick up for a quick read.

The Silver Mask by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Title: The Silver Mask
Author: Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: October 10, 2017
Pages: 240
Source/format: Hardcover // Library

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):   

A generation ago, Constantine Madden came close to achieving what no magician had ever achieved: the ability to bring back the dead. He didn't succeed . . . but he did find a way to keep himself alive, inside a young child named Callum Hunt.

Now Call is one of the most feared and reviled students in the history of the Magisterium, thought to be responsible for a devastating death and an ever-present threat of war. As a result, Call has been imprisoned and interrogated. Everyone wants to know what Constantine was up to-and how he lives on.

But Call has no idea.

It is only when he's broken out of prison that the full potential of Constantine's plan is suddenly in his hands . . . and he must decide what to do with his power.

In this spellbinding fourth book of Magisterium, bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare take us beyond the realm of the living and into the dangers of the dead.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Call is imprisoned in Panopticon for being the Enemy of Death until one day a fire is set loose and he is freed by Tamara and Anastasia. Unfortunately, it is all the same day Jasper decided to visit Call. What is even more unfortunate is that Anastasia had other plans and roped in Master Joseph who was supposedly dead. Call, Tamara and Jasper end up being imprisoned on an island. While being prisoners with the true enemy, Call has no where to go. The Magisterium thinks he is still the Enemy of Death and they do not trust him. Tamara and Jasper help devise a plan to alert the Magisterium who the real enemy is and what is at stake.

The plot is fairly interesting and of course the necromancy that was involved in The Silver Mask brings some form of happiness between the main characters. However, it is not meant to be. I was devastated at first when I thought Havoc died but he is still alive. Ravan, as a character, has grown on me. Although a lot of people are biased against the Devoured, not all Devoured are considered evil. Some characters I cannot talk about in this review due to major spoilers but lets say if you think someone died, there is a chance the person is still alive. Also, there is a lot of foreshadowing which I love to read about. The Devoured, the swapping of souls and the history of the Maddens all shape The Silver Mask well. The Maddens' memories, no matter how they are preserved, provide valuable insight for Call to survive and to do the right thing.

The only thing I wasn't too fond of in The Silver Mask is when Anastasia claims that Tamara likes Call, Call becomes infatuated with Tamara. He is so obsessed that he even forgets that he needs to be looking for a way off the island. There is too much instalove for me and also, Call loses focus very easily. Tamara for the most part, is looking for away to escape even if she does show some interest in Call. I just found it odd that she shows as much interest as she did since she had a thing for Aaron not too long ago.

The Silver Mask is the fourth installment in the Magisterium series. Almost everyone doesn't believe Call when he claims he is not the Enemy of Death. He eventually proves them wrong by the end of the book by actually saving all magekind. The Silver Mask takes a darker turn compared to its predecessors. This book is a turning point and a climax in Call's journey. Call doesn't know who to trust and who wants him dead.

The Bronze Key by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Title: The Bronze Key
Author: Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: August 30, 2016
Pages: 256
Source/format: Library//Hardcover

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Magic can save you.
Magic can kill you.

Students at the Magisterium are supposed to be safe. Under the watchful eyes of the mages, they are taught to use magic to bring order to a chaotic world.

But now the chaos is fighting back. Call, Tamara, and Aaron should be worrying about things like pop quizzes and magic contests. Instead, after the shocking death of one of their classmates, they must track down a sinister killer… and risk their own lives in the process.

As Call, Tamara, and Aaron discover, magic can only be as good as the person who wields it. In evil hands, it has the capacity to do immeasurable harm, unless it is stopped in time.

In this striking third book of Magisterium, bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare present us with a school where anything, good or evil, can happen, and the only way to unlock the truth is to risk everything to find it.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

"One of you will fail. One of you will die. And one of you is already dead." - Prophecy from The Bronze Key

The Bronze Key is the third book in the Magisterium series and so far is my absolute favorite installment. It's the turning point of the series and it doesn't disappoint. The pacing of the book is good. Readers join third years Call, Aaron and Tamara on a journey to discover who the Magisterium spy is and to learn so much about other people's intentions. Holly Black and Cassandra Clare definitely keeps my mind open to all possibilities.

Black and Clare have created a story where magic and friendship collide. Trust and loyalty are hard to come by at the Magisterium especially since the Magisterium is no longer safe. One cannot even guarantee to feel comfortable in their own room without being ambushed. So who is hunting Call, Aaron and Tamara?

Call, Aaron and Tamara have to work with Jasper (the frenemy), much to their dismay, but it's the only way to keep their secret. But they're not the only ones who harbor a secret. The twists and turns in The Bronze Key caught me by surprise. Never rule anything out. That ending is still looming in my head! It's the perfect cliffhanger; Black and Clare nailed it! I had to re-read the last couple chapters just to let the ending soak in! I cannot wait for the next fourth installment, The Silver Mask, to find out more.

Looking Ahead: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child & Book News

Today has been a wonderful day in the bookish world. Not only do we find out that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is becoming the official 8th book but there is also more information about upcoming re-releases of Harry Potter books! Time to save up money for the Harry Potter book fund!

Siriusly, who would have thought Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will become a book and will be releasing this summer on July 31, 2016!!! This is HUGE NEWS for any Potterhead. Who's ready for the midnight release parties?

We’re thrilled to announce a new publishing programme from @jk_rowling #WizardingWorld: https://t.co/ffbBrlH3dz pic.twitter.com/b3Ks88WiZd

— Pottermore (@pottermore) February 10, 2016

Check out the following links about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as well as some new editions of previous printed books.

Mugglenet chats about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Publishers Weekly discusses about the two versions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as well as some future editions of previously released books. According to Publishers Weekly, The “special rehearsal edition” book arrives the day after the show formally opens in London’s West End on July 30, and will consist of the play’s script from the stage production’s early preview period. The “special rehearsal edition” will be available for a limited time, and will be replaced by a “definitive collector’s edition” at a date to be announced.

P R E - O R D E R   D E A L S

Lately there has been a good amount of cover reveals and pre-order campaigns spreading on social media. I highlighted some of the ones that are on my radar and I hope they are on yours as well.  

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury | Offer ends February 16, 2016
Submit your proof-of-order to receive a limited edition exclusive map of Zahra's world, signed bookplate and bookmarks! 

Glittering Court by Richelle Mead | While Supplies Last
Show your receipt to receive a welcome kit containing gemstone tattoos and a guide to The Glittering Court. You can also enter for a Glittering Court Grand Prize which includes a Skype call with Richelle Mead, a $500 American Express gift card, $100 Sephora gift card and Glittering Court necklaces.

When We Collided by Emery Lord | Offer ends April 4, 2016
Pre-order When We Collided and fill out the form to receive a set of frameable postcards featuring quotes from and sayings inspired by the book.

C O V E R   R E V E A L S

Mundie Moms revealed the cover art to Foxheart by Claire Legrand. According to goodreads.com, Foxheart is a stand-alone middle grade fantasy adventure about a 12-year-old orphan and thief named Quicksilver, who discovers she is a witch and, after joining forces with her cantankerous and magical older self, goes hurtling back in time with her dog, Fox.

Publication date: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 336


According to TMI Source, The Tales of the Shadowhunter Academy will be released later on this fall. This is the print bind up of all the e-novellas published in 2015. According to Goodreads, the series follows the adventures of Simon Lewis, one of the stars of Cassandra Clare’s internationally bestselling series The Mortal Instruments, as he trains to become a Shadowhunter. Throughout the course of Simon’s education, characters from the Mortal Instruments and the The Infernal Devices will make appearances, as will characters from the upcoming The Dark Artifices series and Last Hours series.

Publication date: November 15, 2016
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 528



What upcoming books are you looking forward to?

Looking Ahead: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare Cover Reveal

If you don't know me by now, I am a HUGE Cassandra Clare fan. I have been following the writings of Miss Clare since the days of her Harry Potter fan fiction, The Draco Trilogy back in the early 2000's. I was fortunate enough to meet her three times in 2014, one being the day of the City of Heavenly Fire launch at my former middle school. I am ecstatic that Harry Shum Jr, Magnus Bane in the new Shadowhunters TV Show, revealed the cover for Lady Midnight not too long ago today at New York Comic Con. Can I say the cover is absolutely STUNNING! It's INTRIGUING and I want to know more!

.@HarryShumJr just joined @cassieclare on stage to reveal the cover of LADY MIDNIGHT! pic.twitter.com/pIINbQzmVs

— simonteen (@simonteen) October 9, 2015

Now revealed! The cover of Lady Midnight, first in the forthcoming Dark Artifices series, companion to The Mortal Instruments! Out March 8, 2016!

A photo posted by Cassie Clare (@cassieclare1) on Oct 9, 2015 at 10:15am PDT

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Los Angeles. It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.

Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim.

The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

I am soooo stoked for March 8, 2016! Are you? What are you looking forward to in Lady Midnight?

The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Title: The Copper Gauntlet
Author: Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: September 1, 2015
Pages: 304
Source/format: ARC from BEA 2015

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):

Callum Hunt’s summer break isn’t like other kids’. His closest companion is a Chaos-ridden wolf, Havoc. His father suspects him of being secretly evil. And, of course, most kids aren’t heading back to the magical world of the Magisterium in the fall.

It’s not easy for Call . . . and it gets even harder after he checks out his basement and discovers that his dad might be trying to destroy both him and Havoc.

Call escapes to the Magisterium -- but things only intensify there. The Alkahest -- a copper gauntlet capable of separating certain magicians from their magic -- has been stolen. And in their search to discover the culprit, Call and his friends Aaron and Tamara awaken the attention of some very dangerous foes -- and get closer to an even more dangerous truth.

As the mysteries of the Magisterium deepen and widen, bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare take readers on an extraordinary journey through one boy’s conflict -- and a whole world’s fate.

My Thoughts

Callum Hunt is back at home with his father Alastair. He discovered shocking news about who he is at the end of The Iron Trial and is trying to figure out what to make of it. Everyone is out to kill the Enemy and Callum is trying to figure out who to trust. When I first read The Iron Trial, I couldn't wait for The Copper Gauntlet. Holly Black and Cassandra Clare crafted a Middle Grade series with adventure, magic, suspense and with a little bit of humor. The twist is the main character is not the chosen one. The Alkhahest, a copper gauntlet, is missing and if under the wrong hands, chaos will occur. Call, Aaron and Tamara are trying to stop the Alkhahest falling in the wrong hands or the Makar will die.

Callum, Aaron and Tamara start their copper year aka second year at the Magisterium. They are still trying to hone their skills as a Mage. Once a Mage learns to controls the elements, they are able to graduate from the Magisterium. The pace in The Copper Gauntlet moves consistently and I enjoyed this installment more than the first. The first book was more about laying out the foundation of the series. The second book is more about Call learning about who he is and what he can become. He harbors a secret very few people know about. He doubts himself a lot but proves that he can overcome anything. Chaos magic is discussed more in detail throughout this novel. Friendship and trust is super important and it's interesting to see how each character approaches what friendship truly means to them. Trust is tested and it's intriguing to see what each character is hiding from each other. Everything unfolds at the end and everyone thinks the Enemy of Death is dead but of course they cannot outrun the Enemy.

One of my favorite characters is Call's pet chaos-ridden wolf, Havoc. Even though he is not a main character in the series, he is an important asset to the group. The Copper Gauntlet is a fun Middle grade read for all ages. I highly recommend the Magisterium series for readers who enjoy the Harry Potter series and books written by Rick Riordan. I can't wait to pick up The Bronze Key.

Looking Ahead: Cover Reveals

Can I say this week has been an AMAZING cover reveal week? All of the covers are absolutely stunning and I cannot wait to get my hands on following books to see the beautiful covers in person. Of course the books won't be released for awhile but I can't contain my excitement!

Image from twitter.com/josieangelini

Title: Fire Walker
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:  September 1, 2015

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.

"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."

Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.

Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.

Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!

These covers are pretty amazing. The Trial by Fire cover has been redesigned. As of now, I am not sure if it's just for the paperback or if it's for the paperback and the hardcover versions. I love the redesign and I love the Fire Walker cover design. They are electrifying and gorgeous!

Title: The Rose Society
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication date:  October 6, 2015

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 

From New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu comes the second book in the exhilarating Young Elites series

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.
Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers that murdered her love, the Crown Prince Enzo Valenciano.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

I love this cover design more than The Young Elites cover. It's more mysterious and I love how the wolf is on the cover. Very Adelina-like!

Title: Soundless
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date:  November 17, 2015
Pages: 368

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever...

The cover design to this book is STRIKING! I am very intrigued and I cannot wait to read this standalone!

Title: Wandering Star
Author: Romina Russell
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date:  December 2015

Synopsis and exact date are not provided by Goodreads at this time but how gorgeous is this cover? 

I love the gradient of vibrant colors. I assume the horoscopes like Taurus will play a big part in the plot of the novel.

The Mortal Instruments UK books will have new covers! I love the new cover redesigns for all six of the books in the series. I need to get my hands on them when they hit the shelves in the UK! Thank goodness for Book Depository. 

The release date is scheduled for July 2015.

For more information about the new covers, check out the Female First website. 

The website mentioned how "each of the six titles in the series features gorgeous cover illustrations by Mila Furstova, the artist who created the album artwork for Coldplay's Ghost Stories." 

Boston Book Festival 2014

Boston Book Festival was fantastic this year! I only attended events on Saturday and was able to attend two events I planned to see and one event that I wanted to see but wasn't my number one priority. Originally, I wanted to see Rick Riordan at the Kid's Keynote but of course you had to show up super early to even get seats. Even two hours prior to the event, there was at least 20 people in line. Because I was at a Harry Potter Ball in Salem the night before, I opted to go into Boston a little later than I planned to.

Trinity Church

However, arriving to Boston at 10:00 a.m. was actually not that bad. I was able to peruse around the area in front of the Trinity Church in Copley Square. There were dozens of tents and I was able to find one that were giving away free books. I was able to pick up a couple of ARCS and four finished copies. Surprisingly I found a book by Holly Black. Since I planed to see Holly later on the day, I figured it was worth keeping in order to get it signed.

Some of the books I was able to pick up.

Rick Riordan's panel was at the Trinity Church and right across from the main Boston Book Festival tent. I was able to see a table full of pre-signed Riordan books. I believe all the pre-signed books were from The Heroes of Olympus series. Riordan was the only author that did not have an author signing after a panel due to how insanely popular he is. I don't blame him either because I bet so many people would be in his line just to get their books signed. Plus, I would feel bad for little kids who have to stand in line for hours just to meet him and to get a book signed.

My first panel of the day ended being Fiction with a Twist. It was my only Adult panel but I enjoyed it very much. The guest speakers included Lauren Oliver, Ben Mezrich and William Giraldi. Robin Young was the moderator. The event was hosted in the Church of the Covenant which was gorgeous but then again most panels were held in churches. I arrived to the church around 10:20 and I was able to get a 5th row seat. The event started at 11:00 but at 10:55, the reserved seats opened up and I was able to snag a front row seat. I was super excited when the reserved seats opened up. During the panel, the authors touched upon their stories of characters that haunt us. The panel was very informative and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I am glad I was able to attend it. After the panel, autograph signings took place. I met Lauren Oliver and had her sign a copy of Delirium and a copy of Liesl and Po. The latter I had personalized and signed to my little cousin, Alicia.

Around 12:20, I was done with the signing and proceeded to the Emmanuel Church for the Middle Grade: Masters of Fantasy panel. Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Soman Chainani and Gregory Maguire were guest speakers. Roger Sutton was the moderator. I love how The Iron Trial and the The World Without Princes trailers were shown at the panel. It definitely amped up the vibe. Everyone was super excited. I wasn't able to get super close seats like the previous panel but I have to say 7th row is not that bad at all. I love how Chainani wrote his college thesis on Maguire's Wicked and now he gets to be a panel presenter with Maguire! How cool is that? I would love to present with one of my favorite authors.

The signing line for Black and Clare was suuuuuper long. I wasn't surprised by it. Clare signed three books and in City of Glass, she drew a picture of Church. Now, I have Church in City of Glass and in Clockwork Prince. Chainani and Maguire had pretty short lines. My friend Melissa (1/3 of Novelty Podcast) and I were able to be in the first 20 people who stood in the Black and Clare line. Afterwards, we lucked out being the last two to be in the Maguire line. Maguire was leaving at 2:30 sharp and we made it just before he left the venue. I know a lot of people were super sad that he left early. I plan to see Maguire again in December when he visits Cambridge.

Maguire was amazing when he sang a song from what he thought Baba Yaga would sing. You can see a picture of him above. "She sings when she is nervous and so do I," exclaimed Maguire right before he started singing.

Melissa and I went to Starbucks and Panera afterwards since we had a break between panels. Panera was sooooo gooood. I was looking forward to a sit down meal instead of eating snacks all day.

Last but not least, I went to the YA: Reality, Meet Fantasy panel. Panel guests included Scott Westerfled, Meg Wolitzer and A.S. King. Cathryn Mercier was the panel moderator. Even though my friend Melissa and I were there at least 45 minutes prior to the event, we got seats near the middle back. I guess it was good that we were near the signing area but I didn't expect the line outside to be so long so early. I anticipated Scott Westefeld's line to be long and I was right. Melissa was near the front of the line which was good since we were able to meet the authors near the beginning of the signing. I was able to meet A.S. King and I had her sign Glory O'Brien's History of the Future. King barely made it to the event. She said her flight was delayed and she just made it to the panel. She's such a trooper. Also, on Twitter, I heard that Lauren Oliver almost missed her panel earlier on in the day because her taxi got pulled over. Authors are super determined to make it to their panels and to meet their reader fans. I LOVE how dedicated they are. 

THANK YOU to all the authors, publishers, Boston Book Festival organizers and volunteers for making this event possible!

Books I got signed.

I will do another post about the panels in more detail. There is so much stuff that happened in one day but I hope you enjoyed reading about my BBF experience. 

Anticipating Boston Book Festival

The Boston Book Festival is around the corner. BBF is an annual event in and spreads out through multiple indoor and outdoor venues in Copley Square located in Boston, MA. Authors, librarians and book lovers alike can enjoy panels, a street fair, live music and more. The festival is free and open to the public.

This year, the festival will be on Saturday, October 25, 2014. I am looking forward to the following events.

10:45 a.m. Kid's Keynote featuring Rick Riordan

Image from camphalfblood.wikia.com

1:00 p.m. Middle Grade: Masters of Fantasy featuring Holly Black, Soman Chainani, Cassandra Clare and Gregory Maguire

Images from startribune.com, crackingthecover.com and goodreads.com

4:15 p.m. YA: Reality, Meet Fantasy featuring A.S. King, Scott Westerfeld and Meg Wolitzer

Images from cbcbooks.com, scottwesterfeld.com and nytimes.com
Don't forget to check out the venue map here.

The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Title: The Iron Trial

Author: Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication date:  September 9, 2014

Pages:  304

Source/format: ARC from BEA

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis  (from Goodreads):

Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail.

All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him.

So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing.

Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . .  

My Thoughts:

The Iron Trial is a fun read. To me it's a mashup between The Heroes of Olympus series and the Harry Potter series. There are a lot of similarities between The Iron Trial and Harry Potter series to the point where some readers might think the Magisterium series is a rip off of Harry Potter. Thus being said, some of the plot twists were not twists for me at all because some of the things that happen in this book are similar to Harry Potter but it is not a Harry Potter rip off. Who doesn't like reading books full of magic and boarding schools? Three friends go to a magic school and a male mentor guides them through their journey. Sound familiar?

Black and Clare add their own flair to their world of the Magisterium. Students who have an affinity for magic don’t automatically receive a letter when they turn eleven to attend the school. Students must work hard to enroll into the school, only if they are worthy enough.

Masters will then choose three students to be their apprentices. These Masters are mentors will guide their apprentices until they finish school. There are five trials to complete, each trial to pass through each school year gate. They teach their students how to control their magic. Control is very important in this book and I assume in the entire series.

Instead of being witches and wizards, magical folk are called Mages or Masters. Mages are those who have the magical affinity and are being trained to study the five elements (earth, air, water, fire and the void). Once a Mage passes through all the Magisterium gates, one will become a Journeyman/Journeywoman Mage. When one masters all five elements, one will become a Master.

I love the cover art for this book. It's absolutely gorgeous and captures the book accurately. The book reads at a pretty decent pace but the Sand Room sections of the book moved fairly slowly.

I can't wait to read the next installment of the Magisterium series and I am definitely going to read each book of the series when they are released.

 

Looking Ahead - The Bane Chronicles and Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

Fans of the Mortal Instruments and the Infernal Devices will be delighted to hear that the print bind up of ten Bane Chronicles novellas will be available on November 11, 2014.

I am a huge fan of both the Mortal Instruments and the Infernal Devices and Magnus is one of my favorite characters in Clare's books. So, it's not surprising that I am ecstatic about this bind up. The novellas were first available online. Clare released a novella e-book each month starting in April 2013. However, I believe there was a gap between the ninth and tenth novellas.

Image from Entertainment Weekly

Speaking about novellas, Cassandra Clare mentioned yesterday that she partnered up with Sarah Rees Brennan, Robin Wasserman and Maureen Johnson to create the Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy series. This series will revolve around Simon Lewis from the Mortal Instruments.

Beginning February 2015, a new novella will be available each month where e-books are sold. There will be a bind up of all the novellas in print form just like what they did for the Bane Chronicles which is exciting!

According to Entertainment Weekly, this is the current line up for the Shadowhunter Academy series:

February 17, 2015
Welcome to the Shadowhunter Academy
Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

March 17, 2015
The Lost Herondale
Cassandra Clare and Robin Wasserman

April 21, 2015
The Whitechapel Fiend
Cassandra Clare and Maureen Johnson

May 19, 2015
Nothing but Shadows
Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

June 16, 2015
The Evil We Love
Cassandra Clare and Robin Wasserman

July 21, 2015
Pale Kings and Princes
Cassandra Clare and Robin Wasserman

August 18, 2015
Bitter of Tongue
Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

September 15, 2015
The Fiery Trial
Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

October 20, 2015
Born to Endless Night
Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

November 17, 2015
Angels Twice Descending
Cassandra Clare and Robin Wasserman

What are your thoughts about novellas? Would you rather own a print bind up of all the novellas or do you like owning novellas on an e-reader?

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Margaret K. McElderry

Publication date:  March 27, 2007

Pages:  485

Source/format: Borrowed from the library, hardcover

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis  (from Goodreads):

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.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit that I read the Clockwork Angel before diving into City of Bones. I was late to the reading game for the Mortal Instruments series but I do not regret reading City of Bones when I did. I actually enjoyed reading Clockwork Angel before City of Bones since the Internal Devices series is a prequel series. 

Just like in Clockwork Angel, Cassandra's world building is amazing. Still set in the Shadow World, City of Bones takes place in modern day New York. It was a bit of a chance of pace compared to Clockwork Angel but for good reason. 

Clary used to live a normal life as a mundane with her normal friend Simon until unseen events happen which introduces her into a Shadow World. There is a secret her mother, Jocelyn, has been hiding from her for her entire life. Clary find out more about her heritage and meets her evil father for the first time. 

Can I say I love Magnus? It's great that he appears both the Infernal Devices and the Mortal Instruments series. He is definitely one of my favorite characters in this Shadow World. I also love Izzy too.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Margaret K. McElderry
Publication date:  August 31, 2010
Pages:  479 
Source/format: Borrowed from the library, hardcover

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis  (from Goodreads):

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them....

My Thoughts:

I have been following Cassandra Clare ever since she wrote Harry Potter fanfiction and had a presence on Livejournal way back when I was in high school. When I found out about her Mortal Instruments series and her Infernal Devices series, I knew I had to read both series.

Clockwork Angel is the first book in the Infernal Devices series. I love the fact that the Shadowhunter world takes place in the late 1800's. It's part historical fiction and part paranormal fantasy which are two of my favorite genres to read.

The world building of this book is amazing and the characters Cassandra created are phenomenal. I love the interactions between Tessa, Will and Jem. Also, who doesn't like Magnus? Cassandra does an awesome job with the descriptions about the time period whether it be about the clothing the characters wear to the background setting. There is something magical about Victorian London and it is captured beautifully in Clockwork Angel.

Even though I normally despise the love triangle, for some odd reason I was okay with this one. It was about Tessa picking and choosing one guy over another. She cared for both Will and Jem and Will and Jem cared for her as well. But Will and Jem, being parabatai, also care deeply for one another as well.

What I love was how Charlotte was a strong woman leading fellow Shadowhunters in a time period where men had the power. Even though some doubted her, she never gave up. She always stood her ground and did what she needed to.

I am sure the rest of the series will be just as good or even better than Clockwork Angel.