1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.
Witty and sassy, this was an enjoyable read. However, I guess I was expecting more from it, because I felt very underwhelmed. It was good, but it definitely wasn't anything special. For starters the characters felt very flat to me. I read TMI first, so I will compare it to that in terms of character development. It is bad enough that Will is basically Jace, in a different body (or vice versa, depending which series you read first) Jem, with his calm and grown up demeanor reminded me of Alec and Jessie reminded me of Isabelle a little bit, with all of her feistiness. It doesn't help that Alec and Jace are parabatai, just as Jem and Will were. Clary loves drawing, Tessa cannot live without her books...Same blueprint - different characters. Their similarities didn't bother me much though. What I didn't like is how unreal they felt. In TMI we saw characters interact - hang out at their favorite cafe, go to Simon's concerts and things like that. In Clockwork Angel (except when Jessie takes Tessa shopping and Jem takes her out on an evening stroll) they don't do anything except fight, eat at the dining room and talk shadowhunter business. All of that said I enjoyed Jem's character the most. I found Tessa, and her old fashioned views on women, fighting and servants quite annoying. And Will, there was not enough about Will to form my opinion on him, yet. I also thought that it needed more details about shadowhunters and the way their world works. I have read TMI, so I was well informed. But I felt if I were a first time reader, I would have been somewhat lost. All of that said, I did enjoy it. Hoping that books two and three bring more to the table (that ending ensured that I have to read the next one). 
2. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
I took my time reading this novel. At one point I just had to stop and pick up something lighter. Something that didn’t make me want to bury myself in a hole, because of how horrid the human race is. “He makes the same mistake as the others when they look at a feeble-minded person and laugh because they don’t understand there are human feelings involved” Flowers for Algernon is a heartbreaking journey of a man who was born deficient, but with the help of science was made into a genius. From a retarded person to the highest level of intelligence. This book deals with a lot of issues (which can pose as triggers to some readers) bullying, domestic abuse, anger issues and sexual mentality. 
3. The Queen and The Cure by Amy Harmon
I am planning on writing a full review on this pretty soon. But for now I will say that I was slightly disappointed, okay, not slightly, but actually a lot. The Bird and The Sword by Amy Harmon will forever remain my favorite fantasy-romance of all time, but this installment didn't live up to my extreme expectations. 
4. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
What is up with the cliffhanger? How dare I even hope for a standalone novel?! I should have known that this was going to be series. I wasn't prepared for the end with no ending. At a first glance the plot for Strange the Dreamer seems very unique and interesting, but take away the whimsical and weird writing - and it's really nothing new. I figured the ending when I was about 80 pages in. A guy goes on a quest, finds out that the hero he's been worshipping is not who he seems he is, there is a girl, they fall in love and the main character takes girl's side and then it's them against the world. That is the premise of this book (more or less), plus few very interesting twists and turns. I wrote full and lengthy review on this and you can read it in the link below. 
5 - 8. Locke and Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez
Welcome to the Lovecraft This novel contains graphic material, language and is very gruesome. This was actually a re-read for me. I forgot how gory, brutal and bloody this graphic novel is. Normally I am squeamish about things like that, but this story just sucks you in so you just roll with the punches. A horrendous murder. Three kids and their mom try to cope with the death of their father/husband. They move across the states to escape their terrible past. But the worst is yet to come.... Full of magic doors, keys and maniacs on the loose, Locke and Key is bound to mess with your mind in the best kind of ways. The pacing is so perfect. The story jumps around on different time lines but it is so easy to follow. As far as graphic novels go - this is pretty epic. Head Games This novel contains graphic material, language and is very gruesome. I liked this one little less than the first one, it felt too short. I like the way the plot progression is going - things are being explained and revealed at a nice pace. And of course we meet some more horrid characters. I am wondering if anybody will actually survive till the end of the series. Crown of Shadows This novel contains graphic material, language and is very gruesome. This one is my favorite from the series so far. Less gore - more plot. Also art was just outstanding in this one. I like how they keep dipping into the past, revealing things slowly. Also, it seems that all of the Locke family is finally losing their marbles. Can't wait to see where the 4th book takes me. Keys to the Kingdom This novel contains graphic material, language and is very gruesome Things just got whole lot of crazier! And that CLIFFHANGER?? Come on now! I only own four volumes, so now I have to go and buy the last two asap. I am trying to guess where is this insane train going, but with the way things are unfolding - anything is possible! They also touched up on some pretty important humane issues in this one, so I really enjoyed it. 
9. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Somehow I forgot to take a picture of this book, and it was a library copy, so a web-picture will have to do. I know that Scarlet was supposed to be about Scarlet and her story, but Thorne and Cinder's dorky friendship made this book! I loved Cinder in this book and I have a feeling that she will come even further in her character development in the next two books. "Once, people had looked at her with revulsion. Now, people were terrified of her. She wasn't sure which was worse. She wanted to scream to the world that it wasn't her fault she was this way. She'd had nothing to do with it." I will be writing a full review on these series soon. 10. A Queen's Army, a short story by Marissa Meyer A queen's Army is a short about Wolf. It is obviously not good on it's own, but as an addition it's perfect. And very sad. 
11. Cress by Marissa Meyer
This is where the story gets very involved, intense and action packed. And it's pure awesomeness! With Cinder and Scarlet I knew that I really liked The Lunar Chronicles, but now with Cress, I LOVE it. I cannot even begin to express how much I love that all of the characters in The Lunar Chronicles represent something, be it a race, a skin color, a disability or a mental issue. Full review of The Lunar Chronicles is coming up soon. I just have to read Winter, which is over 800 pages long.
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January 2019
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