City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments Book Six; The Shadowhunter Chronicles)

I'm not going to phrase this like I normally do because, really, who needs an introduction to this series? I would suggest that The Shadowhunter Chronicles is basically the greatest thing in literature today. It needs no introduction.

I'll just say that I loved this book. IT WAS PERFECT. Cassandra Clare has done it again, this was an absolutely perfect end to The Mortal Instruments saga of The Shadowhunter Chronicles. Everything I love about CC's work was here, it was fast-paced and exciting and romantic and epic and deep and lush. The worldbuilding, the loves (especially Jace and Clary), the style, it was all as perfect as you would come to expect. Everything, and I mean everything, down to the very epigraphs, was beautiful and epic and glorious and I cannot tell you what this book means to me. I will be rereading this many times as we wait for The Dark Artifices.

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Caution, spoilers.

I have to say, I LOVED this book. I had read one of Kelley Armstrong's other series before, so I was certainly expecting an enjoyable read, but I was completely blown away by this work.

Things I Liked:

• Multiple perspective with Ashyn and Moria. I love dual perspective books in general, but I feel like they worked for this novel in particular because, broadly speaking, a reader can most likely identify with some aspect of at least one sister. Personally, I enjoyed the Ashyn sections more, and I *loved* her character. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for a heroine who is a developed, strong, powerful character, but who *isn't* necessarily an action heroine throwing her sword around all the time. I really, really *loved* Ashyn. I identified with her, she was so real to me, and I could not stop rooting for her. Moria...Moria was a well-drawn character, but I preferred Ashyn, really. 
• The love interests! I love Ronan! He's wily and rakish, sure, but he was also really sweet with Ashyn, at times, I think, like in the inn, over their meal, he seemed genuinely embarrassed and such. Gavril...I'm usually partial to love/hate romances, but I think Gavril's final scenes in the book really soured me to him. 
• The possibilities! This book was so great in terms of keeping things open for the next installment in the series. Obviously, there's a war on, but think about the little things as well: Will Ronan save his siblings from his life of crime? Will Ashyn contact him? Will Gavril's treachery be revealed to be a misunderstanding or is he actually evil? Will Moria's affections turn to Tyrus? Also, when Ronan told Ashyn he was leaving before they entered the city, I think he was about to reveal something else, first, but then pulled back. I don't think it was his love, since, judging by the kiss, he's not quite so shy about that. I think it was something else, and I'd like to see what it was. The character of Belaset, as well. I think she was given too much time and attention to be merely a device to show Ashyn the way of the world. I think she'll return. 
• World-building! This was AMAZING! I think it was really, really cool to show the creatures (thunder hawk, death worms, etc.) as something not believed even by people in this obviously fantastical world (i.e. having Seekers and Keepers and such), and to see how that develops. Also, in the social relations, like those who are "empire-born" and the people from the North, who decide, by Ashyn's dress, that she is not really from the north, in the inn, I think that all speaks to such a rich, complex world that is going to open up to an even greater depth in the next book. There is just such lush detail (like Ashyn and Moria being disallowed from cutting their hair off because of sorcerers and such), that it really, really makes this world feel real and true and if it genuinely exists, and we are seeing but a window into it. 

Final Thoughts: 

• I just loved everything about this book. The characters were relatable, well-developed, and lovable, the world is lush and fantastical and totally engaging, the style is totally engaging as well, I finished this very quickly. The plot, the pacing, everything is just perfect, I can't wait to read the second installment in this series when it comes out. 

A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron

Caution, spoilers.

This is an older book, and I had gotten it at a secondhand bookshop a while ago, but I just got to reading it, as I was looking for a light, standalone novel to read during finals week at school! This is my first book by this author.

Things I Liked:

• The creepy atmosphere. I'm not sure how to define it, but this book had a really Gothic feel (and I mean that in the traditional sense, not the sense of angry, overly-eyeliner'ed teenagers), and it was just very lush. This was a really enjoyable book to read in dim lighting, curled up with some tea. 
• The pacing/development of the mystery. I'm sure that some people found that once they inferred the mystery, the book lost its appeal. For me, that DIDN'T happen. Obviously, from the title and the fact that Queen Victoria is a principal character, I figured from before I even started the book that this was about hemophilia. For me, hemophilia was NOT the mystery, it was how Albert died, how Victoria came to have the disease, etc. That was the mystery for me, and I thought it developed really well. I hate to be teased in mystery books, but this did a good job of keeping me guessing while keeping me interested. 
• The history. I LOVE the Victorian era, I cannot tell you how badly I would love to live in the Victorian era, I love everything about it. I also have a particular interest in royalty, so I was over the moon to see a book concerned with both. I could see how someone might be offended with the implications of this book, but I, for one, was not. I wouldn't want to read the same sort of archetypal versions of these notable figures every time, and I really liked seeing Barron interpret them in new and interesting ways. 
• Georgie and Patrick! I really, really loved this little romance! Who doesn't love a (very well-written) Irish accent? And a slightly haunted, jealous, brooding, dashing man? Fair point, many people won't, but I really do, and such I enjoyed this book, and, if you do as well, this book is worth checking out for Patrick Fitzgerald alone. Georgie, I really liked Georgie as a heroine! She's an incredibly intelligent, accomplished woman (especially considering the obstacles living in her time would have put before her), but she did NOT lord it over the less educated (like Patrick) or shun women less educated (Lizzy, who she tried to save), so I really appreciate that in a character, and I also thought she was super sweet with Patrick, throughout. 

Things I Disliked: 

• One might say that the scene with von Stuhlen and Maude, or Patrick's rescue of Georgie at the last second were quite convenient and even a bit sensational, but I don't really think that is a drawback, per se, just something to be aware of, if you like a more gritty realism. 

Final Thoughts: 

I enjoyed reading this book! The mystery did keep my attention and did surprise me, as I think it will you, so long as you don't expect the entire mystery to be the hemophilia thing. The style, pacing, and development were all spot on for an engaging, enjoyable read (I finished in two days). I was rooting for the romance, and was glad to see it come to fruition, and I thought Patrick was yummy! All in all, I think you should give this book a try if you are remotely interesting in the Victorian era, a quick, fun read, or mysteries!