Post Edit: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare is very involved with her fans and on her website recently she let fans ask questions about City of Fallen Angels  and then she posted her answers. I really enjoyed reading it. It answered some of my own questions and left me wishing it was May 2012.

Link HERE.

The Last Apprentice: Rise of the Huntress by Joseph Delaney

436 pages

"The Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, have returned to the county after a long journey and a hard battle. But their troubles are far from over. Their home has been over-run by enemy soldiers. The Spook's house is in ruins, the boggart protecting it has fled, and the malicious witches imprisoned in the gardens have escaped.

Tom, Alice, and the Spook must flee, too, across the ocean to the island of Mona. And it's on Mona that this small band fighting against the dark will face an old enemy grown terrifyingly powerful. Will they be able to vanquish an evil that crawls beneath the ground itself? At what cost? Will Tom and the Spook ever be able to return home?" -Dust Jacket

*SPOILER ALERT*
This 7th book didn't have the twists and turns that the 6th one did, but I'm always amazed when a series that contains this many books continues to stay interesting and keeps the reader wanting more. Parts of this book were very sad, like the realization that Bill Arkwright is actually dead, Daniel Stanton's death at the hand/teeth/claws of the Buggane, the final agonizing moments of Tom's mam's life, and the one that hit home the most--the destruction of the Spook's library. (There's definitely a theme of death and destruction in this book.) It leaves him broken for a time and I think for the first time in the series you get the real sense that Tom is becoming more the Spook, at least in the active, physical sense, than the apprentice. I felt bad for the Spook in the end especially because I think he realizes that he must finally compromise his values and beliefs in order to win the battle against the dark and that's a hard thing for someone with such a sense of honor and duty. I also think he realizes that he's getting old.

I'm sure the 8th book probably isn't the end of this series but at least it will be for awhile, having just been published! Then it's on to the 10th Ranger's Apprentice  and then, finally, something new. I'm wanting to read The Help.

The Last Apprentice: Clash of the Demons by Joseph Delaney

395 pages

"As the Spook's apprentice, Thomas Ward's first duty is to protect the County from ghosts, boggarts, and other dangerous creatures. But now his mother has come back from her homeland to seek his help. One of the most dangerous of the old witches, Ordeen, is about to return to earth, bringing with her suffering and devastation. Tom's mother has mustered a powerful army--including Tom's friend Alice, the Pendle witches, and the assassin Grimalkin--to confront Ordeen. If Tom joins them, the Spook will refuse to take Tom back as his apprentice. What sacrifices will be made in the battle against the dark?" -Dust Jacket

*SPOILER ALERT*
This book started out just all right for me compared to the last one. At some point the author needs to understand that he doesn't have to repeat explanations about certain things for the reader. We know that Tom's key will unlock any door! This book started to get good around chapter 9 and finished with several unexpected twists. Finding out that Tom's mam was the  Lamia was the biggest one. I had a feeling that she was a lamia but not the original one and she did some bad things before she became a servant of the light. I was sad to see her die the way she did but having her appear to Tom in his dreams makes me think we haven't seen the last of her. I'm glad that the Spook finally gave in a little to using the dark against the dark, but I think that his concerns and worries over doing so will prove to be valid. I'm hoping that Bill Arkwright isn't really dead and I'm looking forward to seeing how Tom gets out of his dilemma with the Fiend. Eventually he's going to have to tell the Spook what he and Alice have done.

There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel with this series. Only two more books to go. This series is probably best for kids age 10+, unless they're easily scared and then I'd say 12+. It's been a fun, fast, enjoyable read, but it's time to move on to something else! I've been in the middle of three different series for months now. Series are great, but waiting for an author to finish one isn't.

The Last Apprentice: Wrath of the Bloodeye by Joseph Delaney

511 pages

"Thomas Ward has spent two years as the Spook's apprentice. He's faced unimaginable peril, and survived. But a new danger has emerged: an ancient water witch, Bloodeye, is roaming the County intent on destroying everything in her path. To strengthen his skills, Tom is sent to the far north to train with the demanding Bill Arkwright. Arkwright lives in a haunted mill on the edge of a treacherous marsh, and his training methods prove to be harsh and sometimes cruel. Will Tom's new bag of tricks be enough to overcome a critical mistake that leaves him confronting Bloodeye on his own?" -Dust Jacket

This one is perhaps my favorite of the series so far. I loved Bill Arkwright's character. His methods do seem harsh at times but it was fun to see Tom have some physical training with nothing held back, including his learning how to swim. The dogs are great additions as well. Grimalkin, the witch assassin, is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. I love that she's brutal yet lives by a code of honor. Which makes chapter 28 pretty cool. I'll say it again, this series wouldn't be the same without the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. They completely set the scary mood and provide a little glimpse of what's to come in each chapter. Patrick Arrasmith does great work. 

Oh, and water witches are SCARY. 

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

424 pages

"The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And--most importantly of all--Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side--along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls--neither of whom knows about the other.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace."
-Dust Jacket

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. That's about all I can say. Well, maybe not. Peace Like a River  had to wait because this one arrived in the mail. I knew from glancing at reviews online that this one was a mixed bag, with a major cliffhanger at the end. I'm okay with that. Except when you're going to be stuck on that cliff for over a year. And then another year after that. That's annoying.

*SPOILER ALERT*
I liked Simon in this book. He kind of took over the central character role and I enjoyed the drama with Isabelle and Maia, as well as Simon's band. (Their name changes are pretty funny.) I liked the introduction of new character Jordan Kyle and the references to characters from The Infernal Devices, although now I feel the need to read those books as well. What kind of bugged me in the beginning was Jace & Clary's relationship. I would have been content had the series ended with City of Glass. Jace and Clary struggle through all they do and then wind up happy. This book seemed to take them several steps backwards, with Jace agonizing all over again over his past and the push/pull to be with Clary and to stay away to protect her, all while keeping Clary in the dark. (At some point just talk to each other for crying out loud!) I was also sort of bugged by Jocelyn's feelings towards Jace. She and Luke are hardly in this book, but you'd think she'd be more sympathetic towards Jace, having been married to Valentine and knowing what he was capable of. Once you start to understand what's happening to Jace it makes more sense and I liked the idea that Jace, having been brought back from the dead, no longer has the protection that Shadowhunters are given when they are born. That makes him susceptible to all kinds of crazy. Again though, had he been open with Clary--which is what people who are that deeply in love should be--they probably could have solved a lot of their problems much sooner. But, then the story wouldn't have been as hard to put down.

I am glad that Cassandra Clare is continuing this story. Mostly. I felt, up until about halfway through, extending the series was just an excuse to make more money, but now I think that there may be more story to tell. I just hope it's not the same story. Clary and Jace seem to have that epic love that withstands anything and I feel confident that the author won't let the ending disappoint all of us readers who are hoping (again) for a happily ever after and believing in the idea that love conquers all. I think the next book will involve the search for Jace, but I'm not holding my breath that he'll be safe before the end of book 6. I bet Clary's gift will ultimately have something to do with freeing Jace from Sebastian's grip. I'm looking forward to having Sebastian back as the villain but that was predictable. At least during the long wait I'll be able to finish up the other two series I've been reading and finally get to read something new, hopefully not another ongoing series!

The Last Apprentice: Attack of the Fiend by Joseph Delaney

532 pages

"Thomas Ward is the apprentice to the local Spook, who banishes boggarts and drives away ghosts. But now a new danger is threatening Tom's world: the witches are rising and the three most powerful clans are uniting in order to conjure an unimaginable evil.

Tom and the Spook set out to stop the witches before they unleash the demon. But when Tom finds himself on his own, he wonders if he has the courage and cunning to defeat the most powerful enemy he has ever encountered." -Dust Jacket

Ugh. I went to bed last night not feeling good and woke up feeling even worse. I think it's this Utah "is it or isn't it spring?" weather. One day it's 71 degrees and the next it's 40. I have to watch the news every night just to figure out what my kids should wear to school. Laying on the couch all day gave me the perfect excuse to read the 4th book in this series though and I have to say that they keep getting better and better. This one was the scariest so far and I loved it. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter really brought characters and situations to life in a delightfully frightening way. I'm so glad Tom and the Spook finally got to go to Pendle. The previous three books have been hinting that they would and that things would be bad there, and they were. This book opens with a bang and pretty much goes full speed until the very end. I loved that we finally meet one of Tom's other brothers. I also loved that the reader learns more about Tom's mom and her trunks are finally opened!

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull

454 pages

"Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable - until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason transporting from the hippo tank to a strange, imperiled world. Lyrian is full of dangers and challenges unlike any place Jason has ever known. The people live in fear of their malicious wizard emperor, Maldor. The brave resistors who once opposed Maldor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes." -Dust Jacket

I really like Brandon Mull both as a person and as an author. My daughter and I heard him read the first chapter of this book at our local library before it was published and his excitement about the story was contagious. (Apparently he's been working on this story since before Fablehaven.) It is a very different story than Fablehaven, yet some of the elements that made that series so popular are present in this series: a boy and girl as the main characters, an interesting story, magical creatures, and an evil wizard trying to rule the world. Jason and Rachel didn't come to life as quickly for me as Seth and Kendra did and at times it felt like Jason was acting well beyond his 13 years. Thinking about it though, the fact that Seth and Kendra are brother & sister makes the witty banter between them much easier than it would obviously be between two strangers who are thrown together. I had a small issue with some of the vocabulary (i.e. big words that aren't used a lot in every day language). I'm pretty sure my 11-year-old won't understand some of it. I'm also pretty sure she won't grab a dictionary and look them up.

Having said that, my criticisms are very few and far between. It's great that an author can write more than one interesting, fun, captivating world. I loved the Displacers and the Amar Kabal. They have some pretty cool character traits. I love the Blind King. I love the first chapter. It sucks you right in. I love that Jason acts older than he is. (Yes, both a criticism and something I enjoyed as an adult reader.) There are some great twists and turns in this book, including the ending, and a fight with billiard balls that's a hilarious example of the author's quirky sense of humor. The supporting characters are well-written and likable. One of the things that I absolutely love about Mull books is that they are 100% appropriate for kids. There is never any bad language and there is usually a moral or two thrown in there. I love the theme of heroes throughout this book and the message that accompanies it. I have yet to meet a Brandon Mull book that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed.