The Bone Charmer by Breeana Shields

The Bone Charmer by Breeana Shields
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Number of Pages: 400 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads}: In Saskia’s world, bones are the source of all power. They tell the future, reveal the past, and expose secrets in the present. Each village has a designated seer who performs readings for the townsfolk, and in Midwood, the Bone Charmer is Saskia’s mother.

On the day of her kenning—a special bone reading that determines the apprenticeships of all seventeen-year-olds—Saskia’s worst fears come true. She receives an assignment to train as a Bone Charmer, like her mother, and even worse, a match-making reading that pairs her with Bram—a boy who has suspicious tattoos that hint of violence.

Saskia knows her mother saw multiple paths for her, yet chose one she knew Saskia wouldn’t want. Their argument leads to a fracture in one of the bones. Broken bones are always bad luck, but this particular set of bones have been infused with extra magic, and so the break has devastating consequences—Saskia’s future has split as well. Now she will live her two potential paths simultaneously. Only one future can survive. And Saskia’s life is in danger in both.

She thinks: Split story line? Sign me up!

Saskia is a force to be reckoned with in both plots after the unfortunate mishap with the bones at her kenning. I loved how fierce she was, but, let's be real, she had some seriously dumb moments, too. Which is fine by me because nobody is perfect. I just wanted to reach in a slap her a couple of times. That's all.

I'm also completely on #TeamBram ONE MILLION PERCENT. Mysterious tattoos? Dark, brooding male? Yes, please. Where can I get my own? [Don't worry, honey. I still love you, too!] And, then, when you learn the origin of his tattoos...oh my stars! I'm swooning at just the thought. God B.l.e.s.s.

Ahem.

And, just when you think your heart can't possibly take it anymore...the story lines merge. And, then, the end comes. And, then, you cry. Because it's bittersweet. And, it hurts. And, you need more. But you have to wait until May 2020, and, honestly, that's too far away.

Breeana Shields, you are a master at manipulating my feelings with your words. Thank you.

The Cerulean by Amy Ewing

The Cerulean by Amy Ewing
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 29, 2019
Number of Pages: 496 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQ+
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads}:
Sera has always felt as if she didn’t belong among her people, the Cerulean. She is curious about everything and can’t stop questioning her three mothers, her best friend, Leela, and even the High Priestess. Sera has longed for the day when the tether that connects her City Above the Sky to the earthly world below finally severs and sends the Cerulean to a new planet.

But when Sera is chosen as the sacrifice to break the tether, she doesn’t know what to feel. To save her City, Sera must throw herself from its edge and end her own life. But something goes wrong and she survives the fall, landing in a place called Kaolin. She has heard tales about the humans there, and soon learns that the dangers her mothers warned her of are real. If Sera has any hope to return to her City, she’ll have to find the magic within herself to survive.

She thinks: I wanted to like this book. God, did I want to like it.

The first 68 pages were...good. Not great, but there was a lot of world building going on. So, I can be patient. And, I was. And, it got better. I felt invested in Sera and her story line. The City Above the Sky and the Cerulean people were fascinating.

But theeeennnn, I got to page 72, and I had to learn a whole other world from the perspective of t.w.o. new characters. Not one, but TWO! Who does that?

Leo can be summed up as an ASS. He knows nothing but thinks he does. Big surprise there. [insert eye roll here]

Agnes is a woe-is-me-because-I'm-different type of character. I don't have time for that. I get it, but let's move on to the actual plot.

Speaking of plot, nothing happened. I got all the way to page 150 on so before I realized only one thing had happened - Sera had sacrificed herself and been found alive. ...that's it...

Like, what?

I wanted so much more for this book. There's a utopia of sapphic polyamorous people. How cool - albeit a little cult-ish at times. But, to each their own. I'm not here to judge your lifestyle. You do you.

So, the more bored I became (by about page 95 - not even page 100!!), the more I wanted to know what others thought. I popped on GoodReads to read some reviews, and boy, do people have FEELINGS about this book. And...I get what they see and take issue with in the book. If I finished the book, I might feel the same way.

As it is, I tried to skim the rest of the book to see what happened, but I just couldn't. I said Adios! to it and haven't regretted it. Just...pass on this one. Unless you need help falling asleep.

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K McElderry
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Number of Pages: 725
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal
Source: borrowed from local library

Summary {via GoodReads}: 
In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: her brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, her transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of a nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has ever set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the world in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments.

She thinks: It took me a whole week to read 725 pages!!! A.WHOLE.WEEK. I don't remember the last time it took me a whole week of reading to finish a book. I was probably young and just beginning to read chapter books. This is how I felt after finally finishing the book and emerging back into the real world.

{via know your meme}

I neglected the blog all last week just to finish the silly thing. And, let me tell you, I am not happy. The book is 725 pages of finishing one series but starting another. I haven't read The Infernal Devices series yet, but of course I want to now. And, yet, she's starting a third one - The Dark Artifaces!!!! help?

Ahem.

I digress.

Let's focus and talk about this book, the last one in The Mortal Instruments series.

It did what it was supposed to. It tied up most of the loose ends and made me feel. Some of it was very redundant. Like the fact that she repeats that anyone under the age of 18 can't vote. Uhm...we got it the first five times you mentioned it in the book. I don't think you have to keep telling us; we're pretty smart. I think we can figure it out by page 600. The writing/editing was less than spectacular too. There was so much that could have been cut, and the book would have still been cohesive and plot driven. I wanted so much more than what I got from this last book.

And, holy George R R Martin! You didn't like all the plot revolving characters did you? Good, because death happens early in the book and keeps going until the end.

{via somofos.com}

Okay. Maybe not everyone dies, but you get the point, right?

Good.

I liked this book despite it's length. By about page 500 I just wanted to be done. It's not that I didn't like the book. It's just that I wanted to move on to another book already. I'm used to finishing a book in two or three days. When I spend every waking moment reading and it still takes me a week to finish a book, I feel overwhelmed...and a little disappointed in myself that it took so long. Books should not be allowed to have so many pages. I'm exhausted from heading one plot line for so long. My brain needs a break!

At any rate, I'm glad that all the characters {who lived} got what they needed in the end. I won't say it was a happy ending for them all, but it was a true ending. Not everyone can have everything they want in their life; that's not how it works, and I'm glad that the books reflected that in the end. If you can manage to read 725 pages, then this book is definitely worth it. Now, I'm off to read something light and fluffy. I've been reading too many heavy books lately!!

See what others are saying about City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare:

• Caitlin @ The Y.A. Bookworm
• Dyan @ Deadly Darlings
• Therin Knite @ Knite Writes
• Sandy @ The Reading Cafe
• Emily @ Emily's Crammed Bookshelf