Raven Boys Review

The Raven Boys 

             The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater is a about a girl named Blue Sargent, who's mother is clairvoyant.  Blue is told that the first boy she falls in love with will die if she kisses him. Every year Blue stands next to her mother at a ruined church yard where her mother observes the march the soon to be dead.  This year Blue observes one and is told that there are only two reasons a non-seer would see a soon to dead on that day, St. Mark's Day. Either the person you're true love or you killed them.

I liked the Raven Boys, but I don't think I ended up liking it as much as I wanted.  The characters were good but were frustrating a lot of the time.  I really liked the mystery happening but it took so long more than half the book was finished and we had yet to really deal with the mysteries so the pace was slow.  As for the writing, I'm still not sure whether I like Maggie Stiefvater's style.

This book felt at times as if everyone where physic even those that weren't suppose to be.  Sometimes someone would just be standing or respond to a question and the narrator would give you a page of explanation on exactly what that character was thinking.

I liked that the characters were flawed but I felt like at times it was too heavy handed.  I found these especially true with the character of Adam.

This felt like part of a book instead of a whole book on it's own.  This especially true of the ending.  To me, it seemed to appear at of no where and was not really explained.  For example the magic that appeared at the end killing someone.  Also what happened to Neeve?

Despite that I think I would recommend you read the beginning and the last part. Or maybe since this seems to be part one of a series but reading part 2.  

            

Catching Fire Book and Movie

Catching Fire

Katniss and Peeta are the winners of the 74th annual Hunger Games.  Before embarking on the 'victory tour', President Snow pays Katniss a private visit.



Catching Fire, for me seemed to be a copy of the Hunger Games in terms that some of the things that happened in the Hunger Games seems to get repeated here again. District, train travel, another Hunger games.  One thing I really didn't understand even after finishing the book was how the world worked.  I am not sure I even was certain of how Panem was physically structured and how it made sense that if it's North America geographically more than one district should be able to have a fishing, or mining industry.   The way the world seemed to run just made little sense to me.  How was Snow in power the length that they seemed to allude that he had been in power.  At times President Snow seemed quite incompetent.

From the start of the book, why would Snow not just kill Katniss and Peeta, instead playing this whole idea of love which was false to begin with? Why not just kill the rebellion before it really formed if that was the case instead of everything that happened.    Also the whole idea of Katniss and Peeta's romance being portrayed as if it was a form of rebellion itself.

I liked the Hunger Games more than Catching Fire and despite it's flaws the books are not that bad.  One thing I liked and hoped would have appeared more was Katniss's first person narrative and assumptions that she feed to us as facts being challenged.  One particular example is that Katniss always states that District 12 is the poorest and worst district and at time Suzanne Collins has other characters repeat that.  However, when we meet some of the other victors we discover that it's not completely true and the only reason that we have that idea is because Katniss knows nothing of the other districts and she never makes any effort to find out.  I also liked Joanna, because when they group she's actually a vital part to the group. However at a point, Katniss just wants to kill her and it's because Joanna actually has a come back against her demands.  Finnick was also interesting but I did not like how Katniss kept thinking about ways to kill him but not wanting to do it herself she was trying to figure out who else would be able to do it.

I really did not understand the point of having a game winner. What is the purpose? I mean what we learn about the older victors is that their lives are in no way better for having won the game. Seriously, the game winners and their families are shunned, abused, they ended up becoming addicted to alcohol, drugs or others things.  In Finnick's case the moment he won he ended out being pimped out.  That's just horrid and he was a kid.

I really don't understand how the author created it so that the rebellion seem to center just around one person, Katniss.  Because if that really true then that rebellion is weak beyond measure.  The rebellion should be based on people wanting to overthrow the government to better their very existence and not because Katniss said they should.

Catching Fire in some ways was a better movie then Hunger Games. The movie was brighter and seemed to be on a grandeur scale.  I believe that many people prefer this movie to the Hunger Games in some parts there was no shaky camera work and many felt they understood the that Panem was run by a totalitarian government.  

        For me having read the books and seen the movies I still don't have so many questions that were not answered. For one how the government or Panem runs and how Snow is in power? How do people get to live in the capital as suppose to the district? What is it based on, wealth, lineage, job, geography? Is you earn a dollar less than a certain amount do you get sent to a district? If so what district? Can people travel and choose a district? Can you live in district 1 but making cloths is your calling can you move to district 8? Can people not travel to the capital or other districts even if they don't live there? Do people not take vacations?

The above pictures are three different maps of what Panem is suppose to look like that I found online. Just looking at them I wondered how were the district numbers designated? I mean district 4 is closer to 11 and 12 than it is to 5.  What happened to Hawaii, Florida and Alaska? If they are all under water, why is it that only district 4 has a fishing industry? Wouldn't there be multiple fishing industries in other districts near a coast thus having more food for people?

    To move on to the movie, these questions arose as I was watching.  I still don't understand why President Snow as powerful as he seemed would want to support the fake love story?   Also were all the victors being watched or was that done just to Katniss? It was always portrayed that Katniss was so dangerous but I only ever remember her killing one person in the Hunger Games.  Peeta killed no one.  Also during the Hunger Games and the victory tours things were always being broadcasted, especially Katniss's fake love story that was suppose to be a form of rebellion in itself and the protests.  I just had me wondering did editing no longer exist? What about the districts on different coasts?  Media is such a powerful tool that can be used to educate or mislead people. This had me wondering, is everything in Panem broadcast live everywhere all the time? Because if the goal especially in the Hunger Games was to have one victor, why did the game maker not just tell Katniss and Peeta they were both victors, but the killed one and then edited and broadcast a video showing only one victor? What could the victor possible do or say about that? Problem solved.  Which just made me think that however powerful President Snow is, he was probably incompetent.  Even that why would something like that demand his personal attention? Doesn't he have anyone he can delegate to that can do their job? 

      I was upset when they went back to the whole idea that Peeta had to be the one to survive the games in Catching Fire.  The Hunger Games made it so that to survive you had to kill, did not matter if the person was from your own district. Peeta did nothing to contribute to their survival in the Hunger Games, the bread thing doesn't matter nor the fake love story.  I did not understand nor like the constant forced idea that Peeta was too good for Katniss and that she owed him. 

      Even in this hunger games I did not understand the need for the volunteer rule to remain intact, because why couldn't Hyamitch just re-volunteer to go in if he wanted to save Peeta so much. If your chosen and someone volunteers for you, what's to stop you from saying no and still take your place?

      Hyamitch talks about how the Quarter Quell was that much more difficult because all the previous victors knew each other, but how? We got no evidence or mention of victors meeting or really interacting besides the previous victors being mentors to those in their district.  Even during the victory tour Katniss and Peeta never see, let alone meet any other victors.    Also the Quarter Quell had male and female victors from each district from different years. Wouldn't have there been a district without any victors at all?  We learn that most of the recent games have all been held in forested areas. So what about people from districts that are completely urban and know nothing about surviving in the wild like the two women that Katniss meets in the woods.  The few days they would spend during the evaluation in the capital would not be able to repair them to find water, food and shelter let alone learn to kill.  I mean the survival skills that the books portray that Katniss had as a hunter, she should be dead already.   

     I thought Effie was more of a fleshed out character in the movie, but it was upsetting to see that while most of the characters going into the Quarter Quell actual said things about how they felt about having to be in another game, Katniss only used her dress.  Here Katniss used fashion to deliver a message yet she always seemed to be insulting Effie and everyone who used fashion.  Katniss was always making judgements about other participants and what they wore but she was doing the same thing. It was only that Cinna did not wear as much make up and was a better designer?

Participants of the Quarter Quell

    I tried to figure out why President Snow listened so much to Plutarch? It seemed to me that Plutarch had been a game maker before Senneca then comes back. In made me wonder as to why the rebellion did not have more Plutarchs infiltrate the capital change things from the inside maybe kill Snow or something instead of resting their hope on Katniss, who knows nothing about the rebellion and hardly initiate any action. 

     When we enter the games, why did it take so long for the cannon to go off after Peeta's heart stop? They waited and waited for the long minutes for Finnick to restart his heart.  Isn't there someone responsible for the cannon and don't they know their job? How come no one found this suspicious and reported to Snow? What about the person at fell in the water? His cannon went off immediately, countless people have been saved from drowning, but I guess he had no team mate or anyone who cared about him.  The fog was a interesting way to kill people but why would the fog be held back by a forcefield that Katniss could just walk through? Wouldn't having fog and killer monkey overlap but more efficient?  I understood what they were trying to do with the jabber jay but why would any of them fall for it?

So as a movie Catching Fire an okay movie, but because there were things I did not like from the books and questions I had, I also had them about the movie.  I have found that with the recent trend of young adult books to movies especially series there is a problem that I see that are not being addressed.  I understand that usually studios start with the first book of a series and then if it does well they do the following books.  Books and movies are different mediums, somethings that work in one does not always work in the other.  For me I have come to see that what seems to work is an adaptation from one to the other not a direct copy.  Usually in the book things can be revealed more slowly but in movies you don't usually have the time and seeing a picture of a scene is a bit different then reading about the scene.  One usually needs you to create the image out of your own imagination with the information given but the other you have the image is already there.   That is why I think in a movie the world and how things work need to be set up from the beginning so you know what kind of world it is and it's rules.  However, books can sometimes give you the sense of the world little by little.  I usually get upset when I am given a set of rules of how a world works in a movie but then in the second or third movie starts to throw in more rules that usually contradict or make no sense with the rules we already had.  So I think some of these movies need to set up the world completely in the first movie even if some of that information maybe from the second or third book of a series.  

Hunger Games vs. Battle Royale

Battle Royale

Battle Royale takes place in an alternate time line where Japan is part of a state known as the Republic of Greater East Asia.  Under the guise of a school trip 42 students are taken to an isolated island to take part in the Program. The Program being the BR ACT created to help maintain order.   

I first saw Battle Royale when it was translated and available on DVD.  At the time I had never heard of the Hunger Games.  I don't think it had even been published yet.  I have yet to read the Battle Royale book but having seen the movie, I liked it.  What I liked was not just the content but how it was dealt with and some of the issues it brought up.

 Hunger Games

The Hunger Games movie was better than its book in the aspects that come to play when movies are made.  One being that you are no longer in Katniss's head although the story is still covered and colored by how she saw the world not an impartial narrator. Although a bit more so than in the book.  Second, was having some things be trimmed down, but that also goes to magnify some of vague ideas about how Panem worked. Also having good actors in some roles went in bettering the movie.

Having seen Battle Royale first then reading the Hunger Games, I couldn't help but see a lot of similarities, but this did not cause me to judge one thing to the other because they came from separate worlds.  From what I have heard Suzanne Collins claims that she was inspired by reality T.V and the coverage of war.  However, I have a hard time believing this because there is very little evidence to support this in the actual story itself.  Sure she has the Hunger Games televised and there is the talk of audiences , but they are all vague and never make complete sense.  If it was more of a Survivor type game where you got voted out based on your likebility which Katniss talks a lot about playing to the camera then I could understand and see that the Hunger Games was inspired by most reality T.V. But the Hunger Games children are going to kill each other so what person would bet on someone they like over someone that has more chances of winning? Also she never really deals with the effects of trauma and other issues that invaders and those being invaded might feel if indeed those two very broad ideas inspired these stories. 

I have no problem with someone getting inspiration from another writer.  I mean the very fact that Suzanne Collins and Koushun Takami are from different countries, cultures, upbringing and gender means that even with the same idea they would produce something different. And that would have been fascinating to see.  

What I really liked about Battle Royale over the Hunger Games book and movie among others was the treatment of the characters.  In Hunger Games, Katniss is just so special.  For over 70 years that these games have been taking place no one has ever volunteered.  So none of the kids that have died over the pass 70 years had any family, friends or anyone that cared about them and was willing to take their place even when they were as young as 12 years old.   Also the created star-cross lovers between Katniss and Peeta.  Real or not. For the camera or not. Has none of these children ever clung to each when they got chosen or two people that already cared about each other ever been chosen?  In the book and movie it is as if that has never ever happened.  Also how the other kids  (Careers? why name them that) are made out to be villains and evil when the Capital and all those that watch including the districts and do nothing are responsible.  All the kids during this Hunger Games were forced to enter them, of everyone Katniss chose to be there. I understand that it was to save her sister and that is one of the few things I liked but that was a choice made. She could have done nothing like apparently everyone has been doing for over 70 years. All the kids in the Hunger Games don't want to die, they had friends and family too, not just Katniss, Peeta and Rue.  You also only ever get Katniss's story and her view on things. Plus there is only one reaction that is portrayed and not judged by Katniss in the Hunger Games that is her own.

In Battle Royale they portrayed how this thing was horrible. Not just Hunger Games where it's horrible for Katniss and small little Rue. But it's horrible for everyone, because they are all kids.  Doesn't matter if some were richer or more popular then others.  They are being forced to kill or be killed and that is going to scar and harm everyone. There was no big evil "Careers" tribe or a Cato that had to be allowed to agonize in pain for the whole night being eaten by wolves instead of having Katniss make a hard decision and put him out of his misery.  There were some antagonists which makes sense and works.  In Battle Royale, I also liked the reactions that were shown in the classroom even before we get outside.   People are scared, nervous, in denial, enrage and on.  They go through a range of emotions.  Also unlike the Hunger Games, Battle Royale shows the range of reactions that most people would have.  Some cling tight to each other, others become paranoid, some don't want to believe and try to test the collars, other decide they don't want to kill, other just give up, other kill themselves, others team on, some go on alone and there are more examples.   Not the Katniss and Peeta special love that no one has ever seen in 70 years.  Because whether the event was being televised or not, there would be people who would cling to each other, some would fight, other would cry and some would most certainly try to run. 

Hunger Games Book Review

Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is story told through the eyes of 16 years old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the nation of Panem in Northern America. The Hunger Games are an annual event, where one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18 are chosen through a lottery system from the 12 districts surrounding the capital compete to the death. The event is televised.   

When I read the Hunger Games I did not like the story or Katniss as much as I thought I would or wanted to based on the praise that many people were giving it.  After reading the story I realized why many would want to see Katniss was such a strong heroine.  Because compared to a lot of the prevail ant YA heroine, Katniss is perceived to actually be taking action and making choices. 

From the beginning there were things that I did not like about the story especially when many seem to praise for having supposed admirable heroine.  The first being the treatment of women.  The way Katniss introduces us to her mother is through her looks and the fact that she is no longer pretty. Also the mother never gets a name throughout the inter story.  Even the other women that ate mentions are shown as being completely useless.  For one Katniss's mother's family owned an apothecary.  Why would she not continue working there? Also why would Katniss's father not work there when it meant making a better living then going to the mines and dying. Even Gale's mother, who seems quite capable  but she had to give me to her son to suddenly be the provider.  While Peeta's mother is shown to be abusive for no reason.  

The world building of Panem is quite shoddy. We don't really know anything really works.  Even with the Hunger Games that play such a big part of the reason the story exists.  One there was apocalyptic event that destroyed things. What was it?  The capital is oppressive.  Why? and How? These were just said and assume never shown or spelled out. Was this destruction only in North America? What about the neighboring places and the rest of the world? The capital does not make a single thing, it gets it all from the district and atop that it demands that each district sentence 2 children each year to the death.  who would accept that? What is stopping them from boycotting? Because if no one or even just part of the miners in district 12 did not go work, the capital will not have the productions they need.  How would the Capital force them to work? They are already starving and dying what else could the Capital threaten them with.  Now if they were living a life of luxury then they would have something to fear.    

This also ties into the attitude towards survival in this book.  Why is there a fence around the district when there is suppose to be no where for people to go? Why make hunting illegal when the animals are not in danger of being hunted out.  According to the book itself, everyone wants meat even the guards. So why are only Gale and Katniss hunting? So for all these years, no one else has every gone into the forest not only to hunt but to forage?  A lot of people are starving in district 12. A child who has grown up starving would ever see game and think can we nurse it health and not I won't starve into. which is the example the book gives us through Primrose.  Also why do they have a cat they need to fed when they can hardly feed themselves.  Katniss seems to be able to survive well in the forest so why is she and her family not living off the woods instead struggling in the town.  Katniss is suppose to be our badass survivalist heroine, she has grown up starving her whole life and most certainly suffered malnutrition but all her actions and way of thinking in this book goes against all of it. Why would she go to the Seam to trade meat that has fat and protein that she needs to survive for something like baked bread that has mostly air in it. Where from there a type of baked good that is made from beans and dried  meat or fruits. it dense and full of protein and nutrients.  But that is not what Katniss buys and we are never told that it is never things else other regular bread.  Why not keep the meat to feed yourself or even dry the meat for a later time. If she was exchanging it for legumes or other rich foods she can't get I can understand but she doesn't.  People who go without something for a tim usually horde it when they get it, but on the train to the Capital Katniss actually throws food out the window. Most people who have starved not even near the amount the Katniss is suppose to have would waste food that way. In the game arena there is a scene where Katniss skins a game throws out the innards and puts it on the fire.  To some people there is nothing wrong with it.  They would even praise Katniss for a badass hunter. No hunter, survivalist, or someone who has experience some hunger would do that.  The innards; liver, heart, brain all contain protein, nutrients and fats that is good for you why would someone who has experienced starvation not have come to know and throw them out.  Also I know based on a lot of images grilling over an open may seem like a great way to cook meat.  But that is an idea prevalent for people afraid of the fat. Grilling is a way to cook but all the fat will just melt and fall into the fire. Katniss doesn't need to worried about getting fat, she absolutely need the fats from the meat. Her lack of know of the many uses of plants, roots and herbs has food and medicine is just unbelievable, Suzanne Collins doesn't seem to have done any research at all. 

I was quite upset at Katniss's reaction when she arrives at the Capital.  Especially, when she was in the room with the game makers.  I was speaking to someone about how if I was Katniss I would have shoot at the people and not just the apple. They asked why not kill them instead of just harming them like I described.  The thing is Katniss the defiant heroine doesn't do any of this.  Even the reason that she get angry upset me.  It's not that the Capital is working them to death for their own gain, or that they are pretty much responsible for the death of many and that they are about to have her killed too.  No, Katniss was angry because they were eating and laughing and not paying attention to her. 

Along those lines was the idea of the book constantly trying to sell the idea of an impartial third party narrator but narration is from Katniss's point. Colored by her experiences, ideas and prejudices.  But the author and story never allow this to be seen they never question Katniss's judgements and conclusions.  Katniss herself never evaluate things that shows that she had given things real thought.  Which leads to the psychotic thoughts of outright murdering others and Peeta that Katniss constantly had and then claimed that others were having them too.  How would she know what they are thinking or feeling? We are in her head and she never inquires after anyone else. Example being the treatment of Effie, since she wears a lot of makeup and smiles she is a bitch but Cinna is such a great guy because he wears less makeup and makes Katniss look pretty.  Though they both seem to be just doing their jobs.  

Because of these issues and many others that I did not really get into the Hunger Games or Katniss as much as some people seemed to have.  Katniss's psychology and action added to the vague world Suzanne Collins created though better than most of the YA out, it just did not work completely for me.  The only thing really setting Katniss apart seems to be the idea that she can shoot a bow and seems to be doing things but the those things are made out to be accidental instead of having Katniss work and struggle through and achieve something.  

Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel. Clockwork Prince and Questions

Infernal Devices

 I heard from many that the Infernal Devices were much better than the Mortal Instruments especially since the author had published two more books after City of Glass.  I had found the idea of the Shadowhunters interested but felt the story was not that good. So, I wanted to see how the Shadowhunters would be when done well.  

Clockwork Angel

  I listened to the audio book of Clockwork Angel.  I did not mind the narrator, she made each voice seemed distinct although Tessa sounded similar to the other voices.  Clockwork Angel was similar to the Mortal Instruments, but I liked it a little more.  I liked Tessa more than Clary.  At the being Tessa was actually strong and not just said to be. I felt Tessa was strong because she had just arrived in London but someone else picked her up than her brother whom she expected.  Then we jump forward a few months and we find that she as been imprisoned all this time.  She has been emotionally and physical tortured and at one point whipped.  Though I don't remember her having any physical signs of it.  Did she change her skin so it would not have scars.  I would have liked to see Tessa's letter since it seems writing them played a part in remaining hopeful, sane and alive throughout her ordeal. 

    I was okay with Will, I didn't liked him as much as others seem to.  I liked Jem but it felt like he was just nice and there was nothing else to him. I felt he should have had more to him and thought he should have had sarcasm, bitterness, dark spirit and edge considering went the went through. Maybe in the following book we will see more to him.  I liked Charlotte and her ability to run the institute despite her youth, the criticism and that she probably had not been given any help in doing it.  Henry and his constant inventions.  Jessie did not appeal to me.  Sophie was okay.  I had the suspicion that whole time about De Quincy and the Magister.  I thought that the Magister would be someone human. I liked that they had Tessa used her power to go against the Magister, but I thought it stupid that she didn't take the object and gain information but not turn into the person or answer the Magister's question.  Since Tessa is conscious and aware no matter whom she turns into.  So why didn't she? It seemed a bit of a cop out that Tessa didn't even prick herself though she was supposedly ready to defeat the Magister and die if need be.  It seemed like other characters were able to move the events along, which if done right would have been great.   

Clockwork Prince

  Once I heard of Will's curse, I immediately knew it was not real.  Not because a curse like that couldn't exist but because nothing surrounding it supported it being true in any way.  I do see why a young Will would have believed it completely but once he would have reached the institute and started to be educated that he should have seen all the clues that concluded that there was no curse and his sister died of something else.  I found it weird that Will based everything over one event and it was never even spoke about it. I don't remember the demon saying that part of the curse was not to speak about it.  I would have thought will would become a expert in demons and the pyxis but he hardly knew nothing about it. Not even that the pyxis weakened demons.  What's the point a pyxis when it keeps the demon strong? 

     I found it sweet but a bit lacking that both Henry and Charlotte loved each other but based on a misunderstanding thought did other did not care for them.  Especially when Henry did all to protect Charlotte from the automaton and was holding her so close.  Was she unconscious then?   The blackmailing of Benedict Lightwood also seemed lacking in some tensity.   I didn't like Tessa as much as when I first learned of her.  the more I learned about her, I found she knew that she liked and was more attracted to Will and almost always thought of Jem as a friend and she said her goal was finding her identity.  But then she just accepts Jem proposal even when she knew that if she married and will suddenly wanted her she might have an affair. Tessa was willing to marry Jem because he too delicate and she is so selfless because she broke her own heart to make someone else happy? 

      

Clockwork Princess

      From what I have heard about Clockwork Princess, I don't think I am going to read it. The biggest issue for me is the ending and what they did to Jem and the Epilogue.  Why did Cassandra Clare not let Jem die since he had asked all his friends not to look for a cure.  He should have died in battle. Jem I don't see choosing to become a brother because he would lose everything that he held dear or had cared about that kept him living.  Jem died and Will felt the break of their parabatai link.  So how did a dead Jem become a brother, although I never heard of the process that makes a brother.  Even if for whatever reason Jem becomes a brother, he stopped being Jem so there is no way that ending would have happened.  I don't know much about the brothers and the clave but Jem would have been a great asset so why would they just cure him, lose a great brother so that Tessa could have Jem after she had already had will? 

    Another, which I already suspected since the beginning was Tessa's warlock origin.  Once they said that she was a warlock I knew she would from a combination that was deemed rare.  I didn't understand why no one suspected that she could be a Shadowhunter and Demon offspring when the possibility existed. I know Will kept saying the offspring would be dead but that seemed based on propaganda to stopped any Shadowhunter from consorting with demons and not based on real evidence. So, it was not a big shock that Clare wanted to make it.  Also, why is that Tessa can have children? I have yet to read so I don't know what reasoning Clare gave, but in all the previous books warlock are not fertile.  What makes Tessa so special? Because she is half shadowhunter and shadowhunters are so great? Tessa should have remain infertile so we could see what losing that possibility did to the relationship with Will or anyone lover who would have wanted children in the future. 

Questions:

Here are some questions that I had that linked the overall mythology of shadowhunters from the Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices and now the movie.   

     Why is it that in the Mortal Instruments only Shadowhunters and downworlders can see themselves.  While in Infernal Devices Shadowhunters and Downworlders are only hidden when they are using glamour or something similar.  Will mentions this sometimes the only time he is not seen by normal people it was because he was using some glamour, but in The Mortal Instruments people can not see them "unless they believe" although in the movie clip people can see Clary.  She is actually a shadowhunter, so why can normal people see her but not the others? The logic in Infernal Devices makes more sense.   I don't understand why that logical gap was not fixed in the Mortal Instruments movie that was filmed after the Infernal Devices came  out.  In the trailer there is a clip where Clary is walking down the street with the other shadow hunters and someone recognizes and sees only her. Why? Clary is a shadowhunter since she was born so no normal person should have been able to see her, Jocelyn and Luke from the beginning. For me that does not make any sense. 

      Why is that Jace in the 2000s is saying that women shadowhunters were only allowed to be warriors a generation before while in Victoria, England Charlotte and Jess were both great warriors.  The Clave even had Sophie and Tessa trained even though Sophie is a person and a servant and Tessa a downworlder.  Did something happen? Because that a big gaping question.  

         I liked the idea of Parabatai but in Mortal Instruments Jace and Alec were not even friends let along have the bond of a Parabatai.. Will and Jem were a little bit of a better example.  However, how is it that though they had this suppose stronger than brotherhood bond with a steadfast friendship despite all  neither knew that the other had some feelings for Tessa?
        Of the City of Bones trailer I have seen. There are only two things I liked.  One, the kind of tone they are trying to go for with the darker and fight scenes and two the image of Magnus Bane below. The movie seemed to have been modified so that Isabel and Alec will be at the fight with the vampires. Also Valentine does not look anything like Jace and it was one of the things I thought might have been great in the book.  The physical resemblance between Jace and Valentine and how that could play in foreshadowing of Jace's life. Even Jocelyn who knew Jace was not her child could not seem to get over the resemblance.
     The image below invokes the idea of Magnus that I had in my head someone sexy and mysterious with experience and wisdom behind his eyes and beyond the years he appears and has lived. With all the other images I can't see beyond the glister and lip gloss.

Magnus Bane



 

Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass

Mortal Instruments

I read the Mortal Instruments when the three books: City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass were published and it looked like it would end with the third book.

City of Bones

               Clary is a fifteen year old girl that witness a murder by three teenagers cover in strange tattoos brandishing weapons in New York City.  However, the victim's body vanishing and she seems to be the only one able to see the three teenagers.  This is her first encounter with the Shadow Hunters, within a day Clary is pulled into their world searching for answers and her missing mother.

               When I started with City of Bones I knew nothing about Cassandra Clare.  After I started reading the book and had passed the night club scene, I had to stop and think about whether what I was reading was really what I thought I understood.  I found many thing wrong with the story.  Clary was suppose to be around 15 years old  but yet she and her friend Simon (around the same age) were going to the Pandemonium Club.  The Pandemonium Club was a night club with long lines filled with teenagers and adults that ran outside the side of the building, and had a bouncer.  The bouncer was an adult and inside the club people are drinking, using drugs and having sex. I believe that the book falls under the contemporary genre.  Where things run basically like today's contemporary America and in the case of City of Bones, New York City, until you are shown and told otherwise.    Where in New York City or most places (I assume) is there a legal night club that serves alcohol for 15 year old to go to?  Ms. Clare made a note to bring our attention to the long line outside, so presumably everyone knows about it. Any passerby could see it.  If it was a club created by some wealthy kid in his parents basement or some abandoned place where kids met secretly to throw parties, that I could buy more. However, this was a legitimate club with a bouncer, so their is an owner who owns or rents the space, has an alcohol license that the city has to issue and caters to 15 year old.  It's not like Clary got a fake i.d or tried to sneak in.
          Then Clary and mother, who is an artist are suppose to be poor.  I have never lived in Brooklyn but I know that brownstone walk up or with elevator in New York City, so the five boroughs are not cheap to own or rent.  I would be living in one.  Where in the five boroughs can someone as poor as they are suppose to be afford to live in a brownstone selling pieces of art and jewelry.  Well, unless her mother had 5 karat diamond and gold necklaces she brought from Idris, then yeah.  Also having a tarot card reader as a neighbor doesn't give credit that you are poor.  The neighbor would not be able to afford the place on card reading alone.
        The whole reason that Clary supposedly sets out on this whole journey is to find her mother and maybe get some answers. But I felt that her mother was hardly ever mentioned, Clary hardly thought of her or brought her up and we learn very little about who the mother was or is now.
        Throughout the book Clare tells us that Clary is suppose to be shy but I felt like she was not, especially when she would slap someone she didn't know or for any good reason.  Clary is also said to be clumsy but then she was fighting vampires in a mini, and high boots when she had never really fought before. Even throwing a knife that struck a wolf.  Clary is said to not be beautiful but everyone says she is. And a lot of boys want her except Alec and I think that was just an attempt for useless competition for Jace's affection. Then, suddenly she has this amazing power, wields it better than more trained and experienced people. The worst for me was with the runes, suddenly she can read and write them. It's like  an English person who grew up in Thailand all their lives never knowing that England existed, when they meet someone from England they suddenly can read, write, and speak English not only that they can create new words for the English language.  Clary can do everything that takes Shadow hunters years to accomplish.  Also the way Clary treats people around her. She has no interest in Simon, but gets jealous when  he shows interest in Isabelle.  Isabelle welcomes her, but she dislikes her because she is prettier than her and her comment about there being no ugly vampires. Like only beautiful people could want to live forever or that an ugly person could find no reason to go on.  Clare tries to make Clary down to earth and different but all I got was that Clary was the opposite.  So what if Clary is rich? Being able to relate to someone is not completely dictated by wealth or the monetary kind.
     As for Jace, I did not like him at all.  From the first scene, he murders that boy.  Some will say he was a demon and wanted to kill someone.  However, they did not know that and he didn't hurt anyone. Isabelle lured him to get killed.  We never get a real reason as to why shadow hunters really exist.  Especially when Jace and company were the ones constantly causing trouble for humans, downworlders and shadow hunters.
     Why did Jace go with Valentine? I found nothing Valentine said convincing enough to join him and I disliked him. Then Jace wanted to build a life with Valentine.  Nothing Clary said or did was enough to give up a life he wanted, so I did not believe those scenes.  Clare seemed to bring in too many supernatural creatures that had little to do with the story or served a purpose.  Plus, Clare was always changing the definition of things even when those things were used in the context of the definition we are familiar with.

City of Bones Japanese Cover #1

I like the Japanese covers for City of Bones. I believe the book was separated into two in Japan. The above is the first cover and I think that is Isabelle, Alec and Simon. The outfit is the one that Isabelle wears in the Pandemonium Club and I like it better than the one from the movie trailer image.  I also really like her necklace.
The image below is the cover for the second section and I believe that is Jace and Clary.

City of Bones Japanese Cover #2

City of Ashes

I read City of Ashes and later City of Glass just to see whether the story would get better and how it would end.  

               City of Ashes picks up with Clary's mother being in a coma.  Valentine, who is revealed to to be Clary's father and also Jace's is suspected of murdering Downworld children.  The Shadow Hunters discover that the second of the Mortal Instruments being Soul Sword has been stolen and the Shadow Hunter Inquisitor suspects Jace.  The first of the Mortal Instruments was the Mortal Cup that Clary's mother hide in the City of Bones.

              In city of ashes I did not like the running theme that if anyone argued with a main character they were portrayed as the bad guy. even if they were an adult and had a point.   I did not like Simon becoming a vampire.  It went against his beliefs having the life of a vampire. Clary let him get turned because of her selfish reasons.  Simon pretty much has been banished from the world he liked living in.  And Clary should have been allowed to deal with the consequences of Simon being turned.  Plus Simon woke up a vampire and not really all that upset or anything, I mean now he can't even utter god's name or hold symbols that hold meaning for him. 

           I did not like how, it seemed that Shadow Hunters had disdain for humans even though it's their duty to protect them. They seemed to see humans as low and weak.  They didn't seem to be protecting humans because they saw value in them but because it reinforced their feelings of being superior. They seemed to hold no responsibility to humans, downworlders or other Shadow Hunters.  The clave seemed useless since they couldn't do anything about young Shadow Hunters running amok.  Also these young ones, in particular Jace since people seemed to see him as a great Shadow Hunters was the best they had.

City of Glass

I spoke a little about this, but I did not like Simon on how his beliefs and traditions seemed mean so little to him.  When Clary turns him he just seemed fine even though it meant he would be losing his family and these he held dear would now be out of his reach. 

          Max's death meant little to me even though they made it seem like such as great tragedy. Yes, children dying is never okay, but I knew very little about him.  I knew more about the cat than Max and really served no purpose except maybe to try and show how Valentine was suppose to be such a villain, but I didn't feel it worked.  Question, if Idris had wards to protect it how did Jonathan who has demon blood in him since he was born able to get through?

           Clary had the power through the angel to do almost anything but all she chose was for Jace to be brought back? She could have wished for something in the past to happen, like Valentine actually dying instead of hiding away and she would have helped so many people.  Her brother and Jace would probably been raised in better environments.  Her mother would not have needed to go on the run, whipping her mind and she would have had both her children with her.   Max would not have died as well as many other people. I am sure some fans would like what about Clary and Jace, they would not have meet. But they probably would have since the young kids would most likely be in Idris training or visiting.  She had many choices but she chose something that benefited her just like she did with Simon.

      Having said all that, I found that there were character's I found I would like when you meet for the very first time.  But as I got to know what the author made them into I disliked them.  Most notably Alec and Magnus. I liked the idea of who I thought Alec might be from the first scene we see him in.  His image seemed better looking than Jace and it seemed like he would be a complete jerk.  Alec seemed to be mostly in the background saving and protecting Jace, Isabel and the institute. While Isabel and Jace jumped into danger and then claimed the glory though Alec kept them alive so they could bask in it.  But then Clare showed him to be just as bad as the other characters.   Then there was Magnus, I imagined him as a tall and sexy warlock with wisdom but still found joy and cared for life despite his many decades of life.  I imaged him as someone who loved those he had a stable, nurturing, genuine connection with whether they were man or woman. but I did not get that and I did not liked him having a relationship with Alec.  Magnus despite his real age looks to be in his 30s-40s and Alec was around 16 years old.  So he should not have been in a romantic relationship with a minor. This got worse when I found out he was immortal and had lived at least 80 years. so what could 2 years of waiting have been for Alec to become an adult and more mature?  i know you can't always chose whom you fall in love with or find a connection with but if you are an adult man or woman.  If you love and care for someone and they are a minor then wait for them to become an adult. If you can't wait a few years, that often pas quickly stay away from them. If your feelings are true a few years won't matter that much.  If they are not then you won't have harmed anyone.

City of Glass Japanese Cover #1

The image above looks like Simon and Isabel.  And below is another Clary and Jace cover.



 

DARK VISIONS: The Passion

The Passion

In the finally book that deals with the pure big crystal being destroyed after Gabriel left with Mr. Z's daughter.  The smaller shard is given to Kaithlyn and the group find themselves living with Maresol's brother. The Kaithlyn decides she will save the day pretends that she wants to help Mr. Z and is in love with Gabriel. Somehow she convinces a lot of people (I was not).  Then she joins them for parties and a theft of like $20 millions.  Then she is caught placed in a deprevation tank, where Gabriel uses there link to feed her all his good memories. The Rob and the other show up and Gabriel stabs the dark crystal with the pure shard destroying it along with Mr. Zetes.

I not sure I liked how the book kind put everyone but Kaithlyn in the back for a while.  Although we got to learn a little about the psyches that kept attacking and the first pilot. but I wanted a lot information about the process that drove some crazy and the two guys into those drooling creatures.  I did not believe Kaithlyn sudden love.  I know L.J Smith is kind known for it, even with Gabriel doing what he did to save her it should have solidified they bond of friend/family not love.  Because Kaithlyn called Rob her other self and that she was complete and she spent almost 2 1/2 books being or atleast saying she loves and chosing Rob. Also why did Rob and Anna have to be sudden pushed towards each other? and with such force too. The End also seemed to have come quite fast.  I wanted to know more about the other kids private lives and the limits of the powers people had with/without a crystal.  I also wanted to read something about Gabriel and Lewis becoming mates and going off on adventures together.  They seemed to me, like they could make a great pair.  Lewis learning to be more confident and less shy and Gabriel having a loyal bud who knew how to make him better.

The Passion was good. But you probably need to read all three to get it all.  Kaithlyn was less annoying in voice but the constant self reflection of looking "witchy" was much.

Here are the UK covers, which I think I better than the above and more creepy.  You can even see some renditions of Kaithlyn's drawings in black and white.

DARK VISIONS: The Possessed

The Possessed

Please ignore the cover and the useless tag line.
The second book continues with the kids getting help and driving north to look for the mysterious white house they have seen in their connected and shared dream.  In the last book, Gabriel had connected all five of them in a mind-link.  Gabriel was turned into a psychic vampire.  So he burns up to much of his own life energy that he needs to consume it from others, but he almost kills them except for Kaithlyn it seems.  After much travel they meet Zetes daughter, then Anna's parents before they find the white house.  Where they learn of the People of the Crystal, who destroyed themselves. But some got away and inner married where they settled.  Thus making the kids descendants of the People of the Crystal.  Zetes too is assume to be a descendant who inherited or found his deformed crystal. So, the shard of the white house's people pure crystal is needed to destroy the deformed one. But other than that they basically cannot seperate the mind-link or cure Gabriel.  Towards the end Gabriel leaves with Zetes daughter.  After being seen my most as nothing as a monster and killer and there being no way they were looking to help him.  Gabriel goes back to Zetes, who then attacks the white house.  The pure crystal is shattered and the leader is killed.  So Kaithlyn is given the crystal to help fight Mr. Zetes.
       In this book I felt that although the book is in Kaithlyn's point of view which gives her all the judgement and despite them all being linked she was the only that seem to gain any understanding of the other characters or see into them, especially Gabriel.
      One thing that L.J Smith's books seem to have is this instant love and looking into another person which happened with Rob and Kaithlyn in the first book.  In the Night World series Smith called it the soul mate principal but similar things happen in almost all her books. Which is interesting when she tries to explore who it would work.
Also although I understood how the Strange Power reflected the events of the book.  The possessed not so much except in Gabriel case.
To be continued........The Passion

DARK VISIONS

 Dark Visions is a set of 3 books by L.J Smith. Consisting of The Strange Power, The Possessed, and The Passion.  I read this when I was in High School.  I don't remember liking them as much as L.J Smith's Forbidden Game and Night World books but they were good.   I have also read the Secret Circle but did not enjoy it as much as the other three I have mentioned.  I have never read the Vampire Dairies because they just did not appeal to me at all despite liking all of L.J Smith's other books.  I also did not get into the books adapted T.V. series.


         Dark Visions: The Strange Power  

The Strange Power is about five youths, who get scholarships to attend an institute to test their physic power by a man named Zetes.  The story is mostly told through Kaithlyn Fairchild and at times Gabriel Wolf.   in Strange Power we see the kids meeting becoming quick friends except Gabriel who wants to be left alone.  Then a research assistant falls into a coma after trying to warn Kaithlyn.
          For the most part I like the book and how it set up what would followed.  Having read and listened to the books, although I sympathized and understood where Kaithlyn was coming from and her situation. I found her voice quite annoying. The voice was most annoying on the audiobook despite loving the narrator who gave distinct voice to each character.  However, when Khistine Hvam did Kaithlyn's voice I could barely stand her at times.  All though there was a good set up I did not learn much about the other characters and where they came from and how their powers were really.
          Gabriel and Lewis were my favorite characters. Despite the facts that Lewis was kind of created to be a through away person.  Anna and Rob were view by Kaithlyn and thus us to be just too person, good and the light.   Kaithlyn is like that too but is tried to be made more exotic by everyone because of the way she looks.
        The book cover is not great since Kaithlyn is a red head with ringed eyes but the cover has a blond.
At the end of the book, the kids are on their own and on the run.
To be continued........ The Possessed.