Clockwork Angel Countdown

Shannon's bookshelf: read

The Emperor's Code
4 of 5 stars
This is a good little series. I like how each author has had their own voice, while sticking with the overall story. I thought there was a bit more character development in this installment. I enjoy listening to this series to and from w...
White Cat
4 of 5 stars
I liked this book, it was fast paced and hard to put down. When I started reading, I realized I was already 1/2 way through. Black provided a dark tone to a different "under world." The fae are not involved with this story, but ...
Eleventh Grade Burns
4 of 5 stars
11th grade is tough for most students, but Vlad has more than the SATs to worry about. Joss, D'Ablo, and new vampire, Dorian, keep going after him. Meredith is resistant to give up on their relationship, while Vlad is reluctant to start a...
Tenth Grade Bleeds
4 of 5 stars
D'Ablo is still after Vlad. Vlad keeps secrets and they are eating away at him. Henry seems to be "dumping" him. Vlad is happy in his relationship with Meredith, but he is developing a bloodlust and fears Meredith may be his ne...
The Book Thief
4 of 5 stars
Oh my gosh, I just finished this book. I abandoned it twice, mainly because I could not invest time in it. If you are looking for fast read, look elsewhere. I finally muscled through by listening to the audio version in the car. It is l...

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Sunday, March 28, 2010

Strange Angels Series by Lili St. Crow

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According to Lilith Saintcrow...
Strange Angels:  Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. She travels from town to town with her father, hunting the things that go bump in the night and eat the unwary. It’s a weird life, but a good one–until it all explodes and a zombie busts into her new house.
Alone, terrified, and trapped in an icy town, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. Can she trust the boy who is just a little too adult–and just happens to get bit by a werwulf? Or the strange blue-eyed boy who tells her she’s heir to a long-forgotten power? Can she even trust her own instincts?
Because Dru is not the first in her family to be killed by the darkness of the Real World. The monsters have decided to hunt back–and now Dru has to figure out who to trust, who to fight, and when to run. And not incidentally, she has to figure out how she’s going to get out of this alive.
And she has to do it by sundown, or it’s all over…

Betrayals:  Dru Anderson’s parents are long gone, her best friend is a werwulf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)
Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England Schola for other half-vampire teens like her, and there’s a big problem—she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide.
When murderous vampires start showing up and the body count begins rising, Dru has to figure out who to trust and when to run–or tonight might be her last…

Jealousy:  Dru Anderson might finally be safe. She’s at the largest Schola on the continent, and beginning to learn what it means to be svetocha–half vampire, half human, and all deadly. If she survives her training, she will be able to take her place in the Order, holding back the vampires and protecting the oblivious normal people.
But a web of lies and betrayals is still closing around her, just when she thinks she can relax a little. Her mentor Christophe is missing, her almost-boyfriend is acting weird, and the bodyguards she’s been assigned seem to know much more than they should. And then there’s the vampire attacks, the strange nightly visits, and the looks everyone keeps giving her. As if she should know something.
Or as if she’s in danger.
Someone high up in the Order is a traitor. They want Dru dead–but first, they want to know what she remembers of the night her mother died. Dru doesn’t want to remember, but it looks like she might have to–especially since once Christophe returns, he’ll be on trial for his life. The only person who can save him is Dru.
The problem is, once she remembers everything, she may not want to…

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Dark Guardians #4

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"Well of Sorrows" by Benjain Tate

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To escape a war brewing in their country, Colin and his parents take refuge in a new land. Like most immigrants, the family struggles with unjust treatment. To save his family and friends, Colin’s father grudgingly agrees to lead an expedition to expand the new lands. The wagon train trip through the Plains parallels the dangers the American pioneers faced during the westward movement of the early United States. The settlers expected to find freedom; unfortunately, they encountered hostile inhabitants, The Dwarren. Only Colin survives. Colin is saved and receives a “baptism”’ from the waters of the Well of Sorrows. He emerges with untold powers and a connection to the supernatural force of the forest and the Well.


The author seems very definite about the moral fiber of his characters; there is no grey area. During the beginning of the story, the author takes time to provide a strong back-story and significant development of the protagonist, Colin and the antagonist, Walter. Colin’s integrity is balanced by the delicious badness of his enemy Walter. Colin is not a reluctant hero, though. He just jumps right in and accepts his fate. He remains resistant to being corrupted by the power of the Well; however, it seems inevitable that he will become consumed by its control.

The author’s fantasy world seems very genuine and realistic. He creates vivid settings including: the sea side community lined with cobblestone streets, bustling docks, and rugged wilderness.

The author created a well paced battle scene by incorporating various settings and strategically placed characters. He provides different points of view and shifts time to reveal the stakeholders’ role in the epic battle of power and control. Similar to other fantasy novels I have read, I had some trouble keeping up all the names of the lords and warriors.

I anticipate Colin’s character will develop as the series proceeds. I really didn’t see any growth or change in Colin’s character as an adult. Both characters remain static: I expected Colin to be good and Walter to be bad. In turn, Colin will always need a foil to balance the stability of Well’s Life Blood. Will Colin keep hold of his humanity? How will the Well of Sorrows remain contained?

This suspenseful story will leave the reader with lingering questions and thirst to continue the adventure.

According to Penguin...An epic tale of a continent on the brink of war, and a deadly magic that waits to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world.



Colin Harten and his parents had fled across the ocean to escape the Family wars in Andover. But trouble followed them and their fellow refugees to this new land, forcing them to abandon the settled areas and head into unexplored territory-the sacred grounds of a race of underground dwellers and warriors. It was here that they would meet their doom. Driven to the borders of a dark forest, they were attacked by mysterious Shadow creatures who fed on life force. Only Colin survived to find his way to the Well of Sorrows-and to a destiny that might prove the last hope for peace in this troubled land.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Novel Novice

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Novel Novice
I am liking this site!

The Sequel BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS in stores October 26, 2010

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Thursday, March 18, 2010

Exclusive: First look at the cover of Cassandra Clare's next novel, Clockwork Angel | EW.com

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Exclusive: First look at the cover of Cassandra Clare's next novel, Clockwork Angel | EW.com

Monday, March 15, 2010

5 bat Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

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5 bat Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

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Dark Guardian Series by Rachel Hawthorne

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Easy reading! Great addition for the vampire/werewolf reader. Similar plot in each story. The female protagonist awaits her transformation to wolf, her brooding mate helps to accept her fate. The antagonists are a group of scientists trying to steal the shifter DNA for research purposes. Book #4 will be out soon.

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

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The “Evernight” series is a story about star crossed lovers stuck in the middle of a war between vampires and humans. Bianca, the teenage daughter of vampires, falls in love with Lucas, a member of an elite group of vampire hunters. They meet at Evernight Academy, a private vampire boarding school.
Hourglass continues the summer after Evernight Academy was raided and torched. Bianca escapes with Lucas and joins The Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. She must keep her supernatural abilities hidden or face certain death. The situation gets more difficult when her friend, Balthazar, is captured and tortured at the hand of The Black Cross. Following Balthazar’s escape, Bianca’s secret is exposed by her friend Raquel, and Lucas and she are on the run.
Thanks to Vic, Bianca and Lucas enjoy a stolen summer before they have surrender to the war that surrounds them. No matter how much she tries to resist, though, Bianca cannot escape her destiny.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

All Things Urban Fantasy

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All Things Urban Fantasy

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

How Do You Like Your Vampire? « 25 Hour Books

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How Do You Like Your Vampire? « 25 Hour Books

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Author Event : Seth Grahame-Smith (and a signed book giveaway!) « 25 Hour Books

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Author Event : Seth Grahame-Smith (and a signed book giveaway!) « 25 Hour Books

Monday, March 1, 2010

Bookselling This Week: ABA Announces Finalists for the 2010 Indies Choice Book Awards

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Bookselling This Week: ABA Announces Finalists for the 2010 Indies Choice Book Awards