Posts Tagged: simon schuster

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Claire

09 Mar, 2021 by in ya Leave a comment

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Claire

Chain of Iron

on March 2, 2021
Pages: 592
Format: Hardcover
four-half-stars
Buy the BookGoodreads
Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade.

But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.

Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.

It’s been a long time since I have bought a book on release day, but I did purchase Chain of Iron as soon as it came out. I loved book one in the Last Hours Series, Chain of Gold. (5 Stars. Pick it up if you haven’t already) Cassandra Clare has created a world of escape. No matter how many books I read of hers, I still enjoy everything she puts out.

Chain of Iron has so many plot twists and points of view. The marriage between Cordelia and James Herondale is beautiful and selfless. James shows what a gentleman he can be and Cordelia is selfless and strong. It was a delight to just sit with them in their home and enjoy the time they spent as a couple. I did not like the scenes of disloyalty and fleeting romantic encounters between characters, but, they are meant to be developing….young and reckless. The portrayal of alcoholism by two characters is raw and real.

The end was a bit muddled because there’s so much going on all at once. Plots converge at a cliffhanger for book 3. A year is a long time to wait for the ending!

Cassie is one of my favorite writers. She’s a master storyteller in every way. Gorgeous cover!

Content and trigger warnings: alcohol addiction, heavy petting, kissing, moderate violence.

About the Author

Cassandra Clare is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices trilogy, and coauthor of the Bane Chronicles with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson. She also wrote The Shadowhunter’s Codex with her husband, Joshua Lewis. Her books have more than 36 million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Cassandra lives in western Massachusetts. Visit her at CassandraClare.com. Learn more about the world of the Shadowhunters at Shadowhunters.com.

The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson

09 Feb, 2021 by in YA contemporary Leave a comment

The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson

The Meet-Cute Project

on January 12th 2021
Format: Hardcover
Buy the BookGoodreads
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Save the Date in this sweet and hijinks-filled rom-com about a teen girl who will do whatever it takes to find a date for her sister’s wedding.

Mia’s friends love rom-coms. Mia hates them. They’re silly, contrived, and not at all realistic. Besides, there are more important things to worry about—like how to handle living with her bridezilla sister, Sam, who’s never appreciated Mia, and surviving junior year juggling every school club offered and acing all of her classes.

So when Mia is tasked with finding a date to her sister’s wedding, her options are practically nonexistent.

Mia’s friends, however, have an idea. It’s a little crazy, a little out there, and a lot inspired by the movies they love that Mia begrudgingly watches too.

Mia just needs a meet-cute.

Review

Mia is in her junior year of High School and is involved in swim team, math club, volunteer work. She practices every day, escaping real life in the water. When her sister Sam needs her to find a date for the upcoming wedding, Mia’s life is about to get turbulent. Sam is crazy caught up in details. She needs the perfect dress, balanced numbers and a sister who is willing to go along. Sisters can only stretch so far when things get out of hand and Mia is left with a lot of responsibility.

Fans of pop culture and romantic comedies will love the Meet- Cute Project. Mia’s friends are determined to line her up with the perfect reception date. There are awkward moments, and a coming-of-age story made for tweens and teens. This is a read which will appeal to both. At times I felt oh so sorry for Mia as she navigates being less than smooth around boys. It’s relatable for every day teens. There are bumps and potholes in life which need to be worked through. I appreciated Mia’s parents and the healthy boundaries as well as her friends who were unflinchingly honest. the plot moves a bit slowly, but picks up and there is growth in our main character.

This arrived in our mailbox just in time for Valentine’s Day and Black History Month. Thanks so much Simon and Schuster for Young Readers.

Content: sneaking out, mention of playboy magazine, a couple swear words, clean.

About the Author

Rhiannon Richardson was born in Oreland, Pennsylvania—a town she still has yet to find featured on a printed map. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s in English literature and writing. When she isn’t writing she can be found hiking with her dog, Ernesto, exploring local cafes in search of the best vanilla cappuccino, and editing photographs. She currently lives in Stow, Ohio, with her best friend, dog, two guinea pigs, and twenty reptiles and amphibians.