Book Post July

[signourney]

Colour of Magic (Discworld 1) by Terry Pratchett


3 out of 5 stars
Somewhere on the frontier between thought and reality exists the Discworld, a parallel time and place which might sound and smell very much like our own, but which looks completely different. It plays by different rules. Certainly it refuses to succumb to the quaint notion that universes are ruled by pure logic and the harmony of numbers.
But just because the Disc is different doesn't mean that some things don't stay the same. Its very existence is about to be threatened by a strange new blight: the arrival of the first tourist, upon whose survival rests the peace and prosperity of the land. But if the person charged with maintaining that survival in the face of robbers, mercenaries and, well, Death is a spectacularly inept wizard, a little logic might turn out to be a very good idea.

It is a difficult book to review. Looking back, this book might not have been the best place to start reading the Discworld. In parts it felt a little all over the place and I wondered where exactly it would go. I cannot say I disliked it but I am not yet entirely impressed. Parts made me smile but I didn't think it was terribly funny over all.

Rincewind as the reluctant main character was interesting with Two Flowers. Still I think the stereotypes of the negative one vs the positive one were too outplayed in this in parts. It could have used a bit more layers. Still they are original characters in their backgrounds.

The luggage is quite terrifying and some of the things Death said did make me laugh. I'm looking forward to reading more about that sassy one.


City of Fallen Angels (the Mortal Instruments 4) by Cassandra Clare


3 out of 5 stars
The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old 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-she can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price.
Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, 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. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary 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.

This book did not move me in any way. The third book felt like the end when I finished it. I know it originally was. After reading this book it makes me almost wish this hadn't been added.

The writing of the book is good for the most part. It is easy and you are easily swept through the book. This does not however mean much happens in this book. There is a lot of talking in the first halve of this book. I wasn't completely invested in the supernatural/fantasy plot of this book. However the last chapter does make me a little curious, considering that the next book is called the City of the Lost Souls. It is also one of the reasons this got three stars.

One of the things I did find positive was that about halve of this book was focused on Simon. Though I am not a big fan of his character and how he was fitted into the supernatural world, I like that this time we got to see the consequences to his life and finally his struggles that have nothing to do with Clary. And no I do not mean his girl problems. It adds something to his character and I do feel more positive towards him.

The other halve of the book of course focuses on Clary and Jace. Parts of this I could have done without. One would think that after 3 books of struggles about their relationship and not being able to be together, they would be together a lot. However there is no sunshine in this relationship. Every relationship has their problems, I am aware of that. But in this case it is once again Jace completely shutting down and pulling away. Even more than he did in previous books. It feels like this is a standard thing to make him do and it feels like he has grown so little through these four books. Not just in his relationship with Clary but also in his self doubt about his own good. The steps forward that I saw in the second book seem to have all but disappeared. The plot point that makes this happen does not make a good of enough reason. It does not make Jace an appealing or believable character any more. I do like that there were consequences to bringing Jace back that happened in the third book.

A few scenes were focused on Magnus and Alec. It felt like this was thrown in more for the fans that love this couple. I would have preferred there to have been more scenes with these characters then to have them be more incorporated into what was happening instead of the odd throw in.

There was also a new addition to the cast. Kyle. He is interesting but I remain unsure of him. So far I'm not sure what he really adds into the plot except being a love interest to Maia.

I loved the mentions of Will and Camille. I am very glad I read Clockwork Angel before reading this one or it would have meant nothing to me.


Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days 1) by Susan Ee


4,5 out of 5 stars
It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.
Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.
Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

This book people. It has been a while since I had so many feels at the end of a book or where I wanted the next book now.

The plot is interesting. After reading Fallen and various negative book reviews about books with angels, I was a little unsure of this. That was thrown out of the window very quickly. In the first few chapters this book grabs you by short, fast-paced chapters that give you hints as to what has been happening to our world in the past six weeks. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because the middle of the book did not grab me as much as the start and the ending. It was still good though and with 271 pages certainly not drawn out.

Lets talk about that ending though. Expect feels. The second part of the book already turned darker than the start with certain topics arising. And the start of the book wasn't exactly bright and peachy either. But the way it build up gave the feelings at the ending. I kind of knew what probably happened to her sister somewhere at the start of the second halve. But there was this part of me that wished it wasn't, that was dreading it and like Penryn wanted nothing more than to not think about that possibility at all.

Penryn is certainly an interesting character. In the first few chapters I could certainly identify and sympathize with her. If she grows in parts I'm pretty sure she could become a favourite character for me in the next book. Her relationship with her mother is strained which is very understandable. I thought there was a nice balance between the apprehension but also the love she has for her mother.
I also liked her relationship with Raffe. There is a slow build-up where there is a change from needing him to get her sister back to being humane to him to liking him. The 'romance' the way it was, wasn't entirely necessary for me.


Clockwork Prince (the Infernal Devices 2) by Cassandra Clare


4 out of 5 stars
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street-and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move-and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will-the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

One of the things that strikes me while reading this series with the Mortal Instruments is how much more invested I am in these characters after two books compared to the characters of the Mortal Instruments series after four books. For me these characters feel so much more real. In the Mortal Instruments they all feel like they have to be a certain type. Now Will did start off like he seemed to have to be a certain type in the first book but a lot of that was satisfactory explained in this second book for me to warm up to him. I feel for him now. I hope that the slight change in his character will continue on into the third so we can really get to know him.

I still like Tessa but I am not too fond of the love triangle. After the first book I had hoped it would not go there but it was obvious it probably would.
I like the addition of Gideon. Curious to see if we will get to know him better.

The plot was interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the book and the pace overall was good. There were no big surprises, save for maybe the ending/cliffhanger. I had not considered that.


Mostly Harmless (Hitchhiker's Guide 5) by Douglas Adams


3,5 out of 5 stars
Adams is back with the amazing, unprecedented, logic-defying, but-why-stop-now fifth novel in the Hitchhiker Trilogy. Random, the daughter of Arthur Dent, has grown up on a remote world at the edge of the universe. Now she sets out on a transgalactic quest to find the planet of her ancestors. . . .

For me this fifth instalment certainly was more enjoyable than the fourth. The feeling felt closer to the first three. I did feel that the beginning of the book was stronger than the middle part where Random comes in. Random was certainly not a favourite character of mine. The ending though...it was a circle back to the beginning. Very nice.


Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling


3,5 out of 5 stars
The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers’ attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, thanks to Hermione Granger’s new translation from the ancient runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore. Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales: “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot,” “The Fountain of Fair Fortune,” “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart,” “Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump,” and of course, “The Tale of the Three Brothers.” But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter

I liked the stories. The commentaries of Dumbledore were interesting in parts (like the letter exchange with Lucius Malfoy) but also felt a little long.


Insurgent (Divergent 2) by Veronica Roth


2 out of 5 stars
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable-and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Where Divergent, despite its flaws, was still an enjoyable read and tickled my curiosity, Insurgent fell flat for me on delivering. There were moments where I had to restrain myself from just skimming to the end.

After the first 80 pages I wondered if I would be able to finish this book with the make-out sessions between Tris and Four. I'm glad that faded and it momentarily picked up. There are parts of Tris I do understand in this book, her fear of holding a gun again for instance. But the other parts of her I could not like in this book. She felt almost like a different person at the start and while what happened to her would warrant some change, I would not think this much change. Four was really playing up that he is two years older by almost scolding her has a child while he did the exact same thing in parts that he accused her off.
I did enjoy Uriah as a side character. I will not agree with what happened with Caleb. No.

As for the plot, that did not hold my interest very much. Very early on when there were no answers given to the questions the world building in Divergent played up, I already suspected what the information was most likely going to be. The cliffhanger missed its punch for me. And honestly I wonder if I even want to read the third one now..


A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy 1) by Deborah Harkness


2,5 out of 5 stars
Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

I find this a difficult book to review. There are parts and ideas in this book that I did enjoy but the overall length and the many ideas that were thrown into this first instalment made me almost lose interest.

This book left a good impression on me in the first few pages. It certainly was well written then and other characters were slowly introduced. At first it seemed clear what the plot would be about, the Ashmole 782 and Diana's connection to it. Somewhere along the way the manuscript got lost in the plot of romance and the many other ideas (the evolution of vampires/witches/demons with the DNA; the congregation; the knights of lazerus; the death of her parents etc). In 600+ pages the manuscript was only actively in the book once, at the very start. After that there was a slight focus on it in first 150 pages or so and after that only mentioned here and there. It did get included in a good way in the last 100 pages or so but for me it felt like a let down. The romance was a huge factor in this, as was clearly advertised in the summary, but it took over a big portion of the plot in the first 300 pages where it rudely shoved aside anything else with diners, wine talk and yoga. This book has left me with a feeling as if every idea was shoved into this book. Also there are too many details in parts of this story. For instance there are parts where everything Diana does around the house when she gets back home is written down. Diana did this, then she did this and she also put something in the sink. These 600 pages could and probably should have been trimmed to at least 300-400 pages. I think having things taken out would have done the plot some good.

Another slight issue I had was that a large part of this book is written in the first point of view of Diana. But a few chapters become third point of view, with Matthew. I would have preferred that this entire book had been first point of view. The thing that happened or were revealed in those few chapters(maybe 5) could have been incorporated in a different way.

Diana as a main character at the start was interesting with her resolution not to use her magic. When Matthew entered the picture she seemed to easily forget what he was. When something happened he was her confidant, not her family. I felt she so easily shoved her aunts to the side in parts as if she had no respect for the two ladies that raised her after her parents died. Diana's character did change the more she became dependant on Matthew. Her willingness to accept how easily Matthew would kill for her is something I could not see her do at the start of the book. Her aunt pointed this out but it was easily pushed aside. Her strong magic but her inability to use it is interesting. I do hope there will be a twist and she does not become overpowered in future books. Despite some annoyance I had with Diana later on in the book she does remain likeable for the most part.

Matthew, the vampire, is quite a bit different from the normal idea of a vampire. He can walk in sunlight, does yoga and is a professor of biochemistry. It feels as if they wanted to give him a clear human identity. Despite that there is also a focus on his animal side when it comes to blood and Diana even. The two sides are so extreme though that it makes it almost unbelievable. Still for the most part he is likeable and you can feel in the book that he cares for her.

I think what appeals to me the most though are Diana's family (her parents and aunts) and the special house with its special inhabitants. I quite liked that. I also liked the glances into the magic and the history concerning the three (or actually four) species.

I do see potential in this book. I hope that in the next book it will certainly pick up.


Mort (Discworld 4) by Terry Pratchett


4 out of 5 stars
It is known as the Discworld. It is a flat planet, supported on the backs of four elephants, who in turn stand on the back of the great turtle A'Tuin as it swims majestically through space. And it is quite possibly the funniest place in all of creation...
Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job.
After being assured that being dead was not compulsory, Mort accepted. However, he soon found that romantic longings did not mix easily with the responsibilities of being Death's apprentice

Despite the subject of this book, Death and his new apprentice Mort, it feels quite light hearted with its humour and approach of the subject. Especially the start made me laugh.

Death as a character is interesting. He's just doing his job. He's not killing anyone. So he can't quite understand why people are so afraid of him. It frustrates him. The concept of humanity is foreign to him. Yet there is his daughter and the cook with the later addition of Mort.

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2014 Goodreads Challenge: 43/50 books

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - 4 stars - 512 pages
- xxxHolic: Rei volume 1 by Clamp - 4 stars - manga
2. In Extremis (Crime Scene Investigation 9) by Ken Goddard - 3 stars - 288 pages
3. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson 3) by Rick Riordan - 3 stars - 294 pages
4. Among the Nameless Stars (For Darkness Shows the Stars 0,5) by Diana Peterfreund - 3 stars - 60 pages
5. Castle in the Air (Howl's Moving Castle 2) by Diana Wynne Jones - 4 stars - 383 pages
6. Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires 1) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 348 pages
7. The Demon King (Seven Realms 1) by Cinda Williams Chima - 5 stars (reread) - 506 pages
8. The Witch of Duva (The Grisha 0,5) by Leigh Bardugo - 4 stars - 43 pages
9. The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms 2) by Cinda Williams Chima - 4 stars - 586 pages
10. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments 1) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars - 485 pages
11. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games 1) by Suzanne Collins - 2,5 stars - 454 pages
12. First Day of the Rest of your Lives (The Morganville Vampires 0,5) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 25 pages
13. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 453 pages
14. Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles 2) by Marissa Meyer - 3,5 stars - 454 pages
15. The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker - 3 stars - 644 pages
16. The Little Android (The Lunar Chronicles 0,6) by Marissa Meyer - 3 stars - 35 pages
17. Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin - 3,5 stars - 837 pages
18. Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy 1) by Richelle Mead - 3 stars - 352 pages
- Death and what comes next (Discworld 10,5) by Terry Pratchett - 3,5 stars - 5 pages
19. Dracula by Bram Stroker - 3 stars - 334 pages - E Book
20. Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini - 3 stars - 497 pages
- Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus Volume 2 by Clamp - 5 stars - manga
21. Divergent (Divergent 1) by Veronica Roth - 3 stars - 487 pages
22. Don’t Hex with Texas (Enchanted Inc. 4) by Shanna Swendson - 3 stars - 292 pages
23. The Iron King (Iron Fey 1) by Julie Kagawa - 2,5 stars - 363 pages
- The First Kiss (Iron Fey 1,25) by Julie Kagawa - 2 stars - 8 pages
- Shutterbox volume 3 by Rikki Simmons - 2 stars - 192 pages
- Shutterbox volume 4 by Rikki Simmons - 3 stars - 176 pages
24. Cress (the Lunar Chronicles 3) by Marissa Meyer - 5 stars - 550 pages
25. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympans 4) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 350 pages
26. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments 3) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars -
27. The Cordelia Collection (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Novelization 12) by Nancy E. Krulik - 2 stars - 176 pages
28. The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices 1) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 482 pages
- The Last Airbender: Prequel - Zuko’s story by Dave Roman, Alison Wilgus, Nina Matsumoto - 2 stars - 100 pages
29. So long and thanks for all the fish (Hitchhiker’s Guide 4) by Douglas Adams - 3 stars - 187 pages
30. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone 1) by Laini Taylor - 3 stars - 363 pages
- Air Gear Volume 7 by Oh!great - 3,5 stars - 198 pages
31. Frostbite (Vampire Academy 2) by Richelle Mead - 4 stars - 327 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 1 by Haijme Isayama - 3,5 stars - 208 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 2 by Haijme Isayama - 4 stars -
32. A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire 2) by George R.R. Martin - 3 stars - 1007 pages
33. Eon (Eona 1) by Alison Goodman -3,5 stars - 368 pages -
34. Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) by Suzanne Collins - 3 stars- 472 pages
35. The Colour of Magic (Discworld 1) by Terry Pratchett - 3 stars - 286 pages
36. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments 4) by Cassandra Clare - 3 stars - 435 pages
37. Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days 1) by Susan Ee - 4,5 stars - 271 pages
38. Clockwork Prince (the Infernal Devices 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 496 pages
39. Mostly Harmless (Hitchhiker’s Guide 5) by Douglas Addams - 3,5 stars - 230 pages
40. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling - 3 stars - 119 pages
41. Insurgent (Divergent 2) by Veronica Roth - 2 stars - 525 pages
42. A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy 1) by Deborah Harkness - 2,5 stars - 651 pages
43. Mort (Discworld 4) by Terry Pratchett - 4 stars - 251 pages