The Gates by John Connolly

Title: The Gates (Samuel Johnson Vs. The Devil #1)

Author: John Connolly

Publisher: Atria 2009

Genre: Horror

Pages: 296

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New to Me

Young Samuel Johnson and his dachshund, Boswell, are trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a full three days before Halloween, which is how they come to witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Road. The Abernathys don't mean any harm by their flirtation with the underworld, but when they unknowingly call forth Satan himself, they create a gap in the universe, a gap through which a pair of enormous gates is visible. The gates to Hell. And there are some pretty terrifying beings just itching to get out.... Can one small boy defeat evil? Can he harness the power of science, faith, and love to save the world as we know it? 

Another long-time resident of my TBR shelf. I finally picked it up and it was such a joy! Reminded me of Good Omens or any of Christopher Moore's books. I loved the combination of horror and comedy. Samuel is a great foil for the forces of Hell. And Nurd was so much fun. I started reading this as a holdover while my hold book was arriving, fully intending to put it up when my other book came, but I ended up flying through this book instead. Love love loved it!

Samuel Johnson Vs. The Devil

• #1 The Gates
• #2 Hell's Bells
• #3 The Creeps

Next up on the TBR pile:

Reading People by Anne Bogel

Title: Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything

Author: Anne Bogel

Publisher: Baker Books 2017

Genre: Nonfiction 

Pages: 217

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar -- Career Advice

For readers who long to dig deeper into what makes them uniquely them (and why that matters), popular blogger Anne Bogel has done the hard part--collecting, exploring, and explaining the most popular personality frameworks, such as Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram, and others. She explains to readers the life-changing insights that can be gained from each and shares specific, practical real-life applications across all facets of life, including love and marriage, productivity, parenting, the workplace, and spiritual life. In her friendly, relatable style, Bogel shares engaging personal stories that show firsthand how understanding personality can revolutionize the way we live, love, work, and pray.

I'm a huge fan of Anne Bogel's podcast What Should I Read Next and was intrigued by the entire premise of her new book. I ended up preordering this one so I would get it when it released, but life got in the way of me reading this when it arrived. I ended getting this book this week and really did enjoy it. I read through all the various personality frameworks Bogel discusses but probably only really absorbed about 60% of the information presented. This book will definitely need a reread in a few weeks to continue my understanding of personality framelworks and how they apply to our lives. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Title: Paper Valentine

Author: Brenna Yovanoff

Publisher: Razorbill 2013

Genre: YA Horror

Pages: 304

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New to Me

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one.  Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders?  Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

Another random book that's been sitting on my shelf for too long. I thought it would be perfect for a spooky October. Unfortunately, I was very bored by this volume. I was not impressed by the characters or the storyline. I usually need one of the two to really get into a book. This one did not give me either. So I pushed through the story, but was thoroughly bored. Oh well. At least I made another space on my shelf.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Title: The Haunting of Hill house

Author: Shirley Jackson

Publisher: Viking 1959

Genre: Classics - Horror

Pages: 182

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Classics -- 20th Century

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

How have I never actually read this one? I read and loved Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. This one is such a masterpiece of terror and suspense. By the end of the book the reader starts to doubt even their own experience in reading this volume. Did the supernatural elements actually occur or was it all in our imaginations? Did Eleanor actually feel called to the house or was she just wishing for a place to belong? I put the book down at the end and promptly started doubting my own thoughts of what happened. Such is the brilliance of Shirley Jackson. Fascinating book. A great choice for spooky October. Now to watch the two movie adaptations... 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Title: Hidden Figures 

Author: Margot Lee Shetterly

Publisher: William Morrow 2016

Genre: U.S. History

Pages: 349

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Mount TBR

Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race, Hidden Figures follows the interwoven accounts of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, four African American women who participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades they faced challenges, forged alliances and used their intellect to change their own lives, and their country’s future.

We watched the movie a few months back and I've been itching to read the book. I heard it included much more information and I wasn't disappointed. In this deceptively slim volume, Shetterly packs in so much information. We trace the careers and lives for four women but also learn about social movements, the space race, court cases, and the inner workings of Langley through a very tumultuous time in our nation's history. I was completely entranced by the stories from page one although I will admit to taking a few breaks to allow my brain to absorb the information. The movie did a great job taking very complicated stories and distilling it down to something that could be enjoyed in two hours. But after reading the book, I'm a little disappointed that we didn't get to see more of Mary Jackson's story. Hers was the journey that really stood out for me. Her passion for engineering, helping her neighbors, and promoting education was fascinating. Definitely a must read! This one will most likely end up on my Top 10 Reads of 2017 list!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Mummy by Anne Rice

Title: The Mummy (Ramses the Damned #1)

Author: Anne Rice

Publisher: Ballantine Books 1989

Genre: Horror

Pages: 399

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Anne Rice); Mount TBR; Popsugar - Eccentric Character

He was Ramses the Damned in ancient Egypt, but awoke in opulent Edwardian London as Dr. Ramsey, expert in Egyptology. He mixes with the aristocrats and samples their voluptuous lifestyle, but it is for his beloved, Cleopatra, that he longs, and will do anything to be with...

In my middle school and high school obsession with Anne Rice, I somehow never actually read The Mummy. I think I got sucked into the Interview with a Vampire series and neglected her other works. I'm so glad that I finally picked this one up. I love Egyptian history and the early 20th century interest in archaeology. I immediately fell in love with the setting and characters. I loved traveling from England to Egypt throughout the course of the book. My favorite character has to be Elliott. I loved his entire storyline. Definitely an interesting character study. As Rice is the author, I was expecting a full out horror story. I won't call this horror necessarily, but the story has sufficient suspense and horror to keep me guessing as to what would happen next. This was such a page-turner. After getting about 20 pages in, I just couldn't pause in my reading. Loved it! I can't wait to pick up the sequel next month.

Ramses the Damned:

• #1 The Mummy
• #2 Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra

Next up on the TBR pile:

Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

Title: Secondhand Spirits (Witchcraft Mystery #1)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Obsidian 2009

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 313

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; What's in a Name -- Alliterative Title; New to Me

Lily Ivory feels that she can finally fit in somewhere and conceal her "witchiness" in San Francisco. It's there that she opens her vintage clothing shop, outfitting customers both spiritually and stylistically.

Just when things seem normal, a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area. Lily has a good idea that some bad phantoms are behind it. Can she keep her identity secret, or will her witchy ways be forced out of the closet as she attempts to stop the phantom?

Such a great little cozy mystery! Bonus points for being set in San Francisco, my adoptive city across the bay. I loved diving into Lily Ivory's world of clothing, mystery, witches, romance, and goblins (or pigs). I sped through this book waiting impatiently to find out the mystery behind La Llorona, Frances Potts, and all the other fun characters. I loved the world building in this volume. Can't wait to pick up the next in the series!

Witchcraft Mystery

• #1 Secondhand Spirits
• #2 A Cast Off Coven
• #3 Hexes and Hemlines
• #4 In a Witch's Wardrobe
• #5 Tarnished and Torn
• #6 A Vision in Velvet
• #6.5 A Haunting is Brewing
• #7 Spellcasting in Silk
• #8 A Toxic Trousseau
• #9 A Magical Match

Next up on the TBR pile:

8.4 by Peter Hernon

Title: 8.4

Author: Peter Hernon

Publisher: Jove Books 1999

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 460

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New to Me

A massive earthquake in America's heartland causes massive destruction and a launches an equally epic struggle to save the survivors. 

Random book from my shelves. Along with my scary reads for October's FrightFall Readathon, I threw this one in as a thriller. Unfortunately it just wasn't great. The style is very much in the same vein as Michael Crichton. Lots of science passages and action with only a bit of characterization. The plot jumped around a bit between all the characters. The characters themselves weren't that well developed. The romance was silly and forced. The action sequences were the only parts that kept me reading. I made it through the book, but wouldn't recommend it to anyone...

Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine

Title: Ash and Qull (Great Library #3)

Author: Rachel Caine

Publisher: New American Library

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Red Spine

Hoarding all the knowledge of the world, the Great Library jealously guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny....
 
Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the Library’s rule.
 
Their time is running out. To survive, they’ll have to choose to live or die as one, to take the fight to their enemies—and to save the very soul of the Great Library....

Going into this volume, I thought it was the last one in the series. Unfortunately it is not, and I will have to wait a few years for the conclusion... Beyond that slight annoyance, I was blown away once again by this series. It was nonstop action from page 1 and I was right there with it. I love Jess and his band of misfits. I loved seeing the other side of the conflict, namely the Burners. We get to meet some great characters in Philadelphia. My favorite character from this volume had to be Brendon. I loved seeing more of Jess's family but especially his twin brother.  Very interesting relationship. I'm really not sure if I can wait a few years for the next volume...

The Great Library

• #1 Ink and Bone
• #2 Paper and Fire
• #3 Ash and Quill

Next up on the TBR pile:

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine

Title: Paper and Fire (Great Library #2)

Author: Rachel Caine

Publisher: New American Library

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 357

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Set During Wartime (fictional war, but still)

Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. 
 
Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.

Oh my! I positively adored this volume of The Great Library series. With the first volume, we spend time creating the world and introducing the characters. In this one, we dive right into the action. I fell even more in love with Jess and the band of rebels. I seized up in fear during the scenes featuring automata. I also cried when Morgan and Jess were reunited. I definitely teared up during an intense scene in the Black Archives (yes they find them; spoiler but you knew it had to happen). I wanted to read this in one sitting, but children forced me to take a few more days to read it. Oh so good! I can't wait to run out and get the third volume. 

Great Library

• #1 Ink and Bone
• #2 Paper and Fire
• #3 Ash and Quill

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

Title: Fates and Furies

Author: Lauren Groff

Publisher: Riverhead Books 2015

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 400

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Unreliable narrator

Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives. And sometimes, it turns out, the key to a great marriage is not its truths but its secrets. At the core of this rich, expansive, layered novel, Lauren Groff presents the story of one such marriage over the course of twenty-four years.

At age twenty-two, Lotto and Mathilde are tall, glamorous, madly in love, and destined for greatness. A decade later, their marriage is still the envy of their friends, but with an electric thrill we understand that things are even more complicated and remarkable than they have seemed. With stunning revelations and multiple threads, and in prose that is vibrantly alive and original, Groff delivers a deeply satisfying novel about love, art, creativity, and power that is unlike anything that has come before it. Profound, surprising, propulsive, and emotionally riveting, it stirs both the mind and the heart.

Our book club selection for September and a huge disappointment. I had heard mixed reviews with the book being compared to a literary Gone Girl. And I would have to agree if they meant that this is a story of two horrible people and their life. I couldn't stand the main characters or the side characters. I was thoroughly disgusted by how the characters treated one another. I was bored with the storyline. I slogged through this one, but definitely didn't want to. Not recommended at all...

Next up on the TBR pile:

Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh

Title: Simply Perfect (SImply #4)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Bantam Dell 2008

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 448

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR

As headmistress of Miss Martin’s School for Girls in Bath, Claudia Martin long ago resigned herself to a life without love. Until Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough, arrives unannounced and tempts her to toss away a lifetime of propriety for an affair that can only lead to ruin, embarking on a plan of seduction that leaves them both yearning for more. But Claudia knows she has no place in Joseph’s aristocratic world. And now that world is about to be rocked by scandal.… An arranged marriage, a secret that will shock the ton, and a man from Claudia’s past conspire to drive the lovers apart. But Joseph is determined to make Claudia his at any cost—even if that means breaking every rule for a love that is everything he has ever wanted.…

After finishing Simply Magic I just had to finish out the quartet. At first I wasn't super excited about Claudia's story. I could only see her as the prim schoolmistress. But over the pages, she really grew on me. In the end, I respect her strong sense of self and integrity. I loved how she opened up over the course of the book. And then we get to the romance section. Joseph and Claudia were perfect together and I loved their journey. The big twist was a surprise for me. I should have picked up on the twist, but somehow it took me completely by surprise. Still I loved it. Definitely a good ending to the series. 

Simply Quartet:

• #1 Simply Unforgettable
• #2 Simply Love
• #3 Simply Magic
• #4 Simply Perfect

Next up on the TBR pile:

Simply Magic by Mary Balogh

Title: Simply Magic (SImply #3)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Bantam Dell 2008

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 433

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR

On a splendid August afternoon Susanna Osbourne is introduced to the most handsome man she has ever seen . . . and instantly feels the icy chill of recognition. Peter Edgeworth, Viscount Whitleaf, is utterly charming—and seemingly unaware that they have met before. With his knowing smile and seductive gaze, Peter acts the rake; but he stirs something in Susanna she has never felt before, a yearning that both frightens and dazzles her. Instantly she knows: this brash nobleman poses a threat to her heart . . . and to the secrets she guards so desperately.

Another fluffy romance for this sick week. I fell for Susanna and Viscount Whitleaf immediately and loved them throughout the book. It was a fun adventure following them from Bath and back. Not a ton to really say about this book, but I did enjoy it. 

Simply Quartet:

• #1 Simply Unforgettable
• #2 Simply Love
• #3 Simply Magic
• #4 Simply Perfect

Next up on the TBR pile:

Simply Love by Mary Balogh

Title: Simply Love (SImply #2)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Bantam Dell 2007

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 448

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR

New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh returns to the elegance and sensuality of Regency England as she continues the enthralling story of four remarkable women–friends and teachers at Miss Martin’s School for Girls. At the center of this spellbinding novel is Anne Jewell, a teacher haunted by a scandalous past…until she meets a man who teaches her the most important lesson of all: nothing is simple when it comes to love.…

Another fun historical romance while I am down with a cold. I loved the first half of this book. The budding relationship between Anne and Sydnam is great. Their conversations are what kept me turning the pages. But then the second half comes in. The predictable event threw me a bit and I debated putting it down. Thankfully the book redeems itself in the end with growth of both of the main characters. 

Simply Quartet:

• #1 Simply Unforgettable
• #2 Simply Love
• #3 Simply Magic
• #4 Simply Perfect

Next up on the TBR pile:

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry Books 2011

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 501

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR

With the help of the handsome, tortured Will and the devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal and fueled by revenge. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Eh. I must say this one was a bit of a struggle to get through. I like most of the characters, especially Will in this volume. I like the storyline. The over reaching world is pretty interesting. And yet I struggled to get through this book. I think I've decided that Clare's writing bothers me. She draws out chapters and situations way longer than they need to be. I think this would have been a much better book at 350 pages instead of 500. Still debating about whether or not to finish this series. 

The Infernal Devices

• #1 Clockwork Angel
• #2 Clockwork Prince
• #3 Clockwork Princess

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Title: The Turn of the Screw

Author: Henry James

Publisher: 1898

Genre: Classics

Pages: 327

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Read Your Book Shelf; Classic - Horror

A young governess is sent to a great country house to care for two orphaned children. To begin with Flora and Miles seem to be model pupils but gradually the governess starts to suspect that something is very wrong with them. As she sets out to uncover the corrupt secrets of the house she becomes more and more convinced that something evil is watching her.

A random classic from my bookshelves. Somehow I have never gotten around to reading this one. I dove in and am so glad I did. This is a fascinating novella of potential supernatural events. I loved the ambiguity in James' writing. The characters are interesting and the house as a character is fascinating. I especially loved the critical essays presented after the novella in my edition. It was nice to read some more academic reviews of this story. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh

Title: Simply Unforgettable (SImply #1)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Bantam Dell 2005

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 422

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar --Author from a country I haven't visited

New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh returns to the seductive world she knows so well–Regency England–in a new novel filled with her trademark wit, sensuality, and breathtaking storytelling. With this, the first in a dazzling new quartet of novels, Balogh invites us into a special world–a select academy for young ladies– a world of innocence and temptation. Drawing us into the lives of four women, teachers at Miss Martin’s School for Girls, Balogh introduces this novel’s marvelous heroine: music teacher Frances Allard–and the man who seduces her with a passion no woman could possibly forget.…

A little fluffy romance was exactly what I needed this week! I was a little wary of the story based on the first three chapters. Thankfully the characters and storyline improved quickly. I really came to love Lucius and Frances. They are such a great pair. And the side characters were amazing, especially the Earl and Amy. Definitely a good start to a series. I an't wait to start the next book...

Simply Quartet:

• #1 Simply Unforgettable
• #2 Simply Love
• #3 Simply Magic
• #4 Simply Perfect

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Title: Dearly, Departed

Author: Lia Habel

Publisher: Del Rey 2011

Genre: YA - Horror

Pages: 470

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Read Your Book Shelf; New Author

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the mores of an antique era. Sixteen-year-old Nora Dearly is far more interested in her country’s political unrest than in silly debutante balls. But the death of her beloved parents leaves Nora at the mercy of a social-climbing aunt who plans to marry off her niece for money. To Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses. Now she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting a fatal virus that raises the dead. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and thoroughly deceased. But like the rest of his special undead unit, Bram has been enabled by luck and modern science to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

One of those books that's been on my shelf for way too long! I finally picked it up and was glad I did. I love a good zombie book and this one had some good twists on the mythos. We get good zombies and bad zombies. We get a future dystopian world (at least for the New Victorians). We get a good adventure story. I will admit that it took me about 100 pages to really get into it, but once I did, I sped through it.  There's a companion novel that I had to put a hold on at the library. 

Gone with the Respiration:

• #1 Dearly, Departed
• #2 Dearly, Beloved

Next up on the TBR pile:

Christmas Present by Jodi Taylor

Title: Christmas Present (The Chronicles of St. Mary’s #4.5) 

Author: Jodi Taylor

Publisher: Accent Press 2015

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 41

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR

It's Christmas Eve at St Mary's, And all through the house, Nothing is stirring ... Except for Max, Peterson, and Markham, sneaking out at midnight for an assignment that is very definitely off the books. It's ten years ago tonight that Senior Historians Bashford and Grey went missing in twelfth-century Jerusalem. So how did they end up in AD60 Roman Colchester? Max has a theory. Peterson has a plan. Markham has bacon sandwiches. Colchester has Boudicca and her bloodthirsty Iceni hordes. And then there's the giant pig ... the enraged giant pig ...

Another great St. Mary's adventure. As much as I love the main books in the series, these short stories are lots of fun. In this one, we get to meet Boudicea!!! The settings of these short stories are almost the best party. Beyond the setting, we get some great character growth of Markham and Guthrie, two of the great side characters in the series. Super short read, but I loved it!

The Chronicles of St. Mary’s:

• #0.5 The Very First Damned Thing
• #1 Just One Damned Thing After Another
• #2 A Symphony of Echoes
• #2.5 When A Child is Born
• #3 A Second Chance
• #3.5 Roman Holiday
• #4 A Trail Through Time
• #4.5 Christmas Present
• #5 No Time Like the Past
• #6 What Could Possibly Go Wrong
• #6.5 Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings
• #7 Lies, Damned Lies, and History
• #7.5 The Great St. Mary’s Day Out
• #7.6 My Name is Markham
• #8 And the Rest is History
• #8.5 A Perfect Storm
• #9 The Long and Short of It

Next up on the TBR pile:

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry Books 2010

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 497

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NPR Teen); Mount TBR

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them....

A friend loaned me this trilogy after we discussed how I was not a fan of the Mortal Instruments series. She claimed this one was better. So I finally go around to reading it and this series is most definitely better. Even the moments when Tessa really annoyed me, it was just her. I didn't loathe every character like in the other series. And thankfully this volume was free of absolutely ridiclous plot twists. The twists were appropriate and well timed. To took me awhile to finish this volume, but I really did enjoy reading it. I'll be continuing this series just as soon I finish my book club book...

The Infernal Devices

• #1 Clockwork Angel
• #2 Clockwork Prince
• #3 Clockwork Princess

Next up on the TBR pile: