The Copper Gauntlet by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black

The Copper Gauntlet by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black
Release Date - September 1, 2015
Publisher Website - Scholastic
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 304 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for review**

*SPOILERS FOR THE IRON TRIAL*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Callum Hunt’s summer break isn’t like other kids’. His closest companion is a Chaos-ridden wolf, Havoc. His father suspects him of being secretly evil. And, of course, most kids aren’t heading back to the magical world of the Magisterium in the fall.

It’s not easy for Call . . . and it gets even harder after he checks out his basement and discovers that his dad might be trying to destroy both him and Havoc.

Call escapes to the Magisterium -- but things only intensify there. The Alkahest -- a copper gauntlet capable of separating certain magicians from their magic -- has been stolen. And in their search to discover the culprit, Call and his friends Aaron and Tamara awaken the attention of some very dangerous foes -- and get closer to an even more dangerous truth.

As the mysteries of the Magisterium deepen and widen, bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare take readers on an extraordinary journey through one boy’s conflict -- and a whole world’s fate. 

After a stunning first book I was eager to continue the spellbinding story Holly Black and Cassandra Clare started in The Iron Trial. The first book offered up one of the best twists I've read and the sequel continues to not hold back. The authors once and more complex as the story continues and they are not afraid to take the plot into unexpected places.

After the twist of the first book I did not think the second book could pack the same punch. There are still plenty of tricks up the sleeves of these authors, and it is a delight to see them twist and flip the typical tropes that go into a story of this nature. The shock waves of the twist regarding the status of Callum's soul are something that reverberates throughout this entire book. Callum's entire journey is one of choosing what defines him. He struggles with who he is and is constantly weighing if his decisions tip the scale towards good or evil. With this it teases whether it is our decisions that make us who we are, or whether we are slaves to fate. I hope the overall story continues to play with how complex people are. That there is perhaps no good or evil, and that people can make both good and bad decisions sometimes. This storyline, as Callum continues to struggle with his identity and who he actually is, will be felt throughout the entire series, and is such a perfect basis to form the story around.

The friendship between Callum, Aaron and Tamara continues to solidify. We see them grow and change together. There is quite a bit of character development to be found within these pages. Callum, in particular, is poised to have what could be an incredible story arc if they continue down the path that is set out so far. Aaron is moulded and shaped by the weight of being the Makar. He and Cal's futures are entwined and seeing them become friends is an exquisite torture. You want the complexity that storyline creates even as it has the potential to lead to devastating heartbreak.

The stand out of the story is Havoc. The chaos-riden dog steals the spotlight and becomes a beloved character in his own right. The dog is used as not just a sidekick for the group but furthers the story as well as checking off the magical creature box for stories like this. You'll wish for some magic that will keep him safe as the danger steadily progresses and that makes all the difference. The stakes are becoming real just as these characters are working their way into your heart.

A middle grade series that continues to surprise me with both the ability to twist popular tropes, and keep me completely engaged in the story. This is one series that I am going to enjoy seeing progress as the characters age and develop and it's also one that will be joining my nieces book collection as they get a little older. Those who love middle grade will not want to miss this darkly magical series.

The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Release Date - September 9, 2014
Publisher Website - Scholastic
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  295 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a riveting new series that defies what you think you know about the world of magic.

From two bestselling superstars, a dazzling and magical middle-grade collaboration centering on the students of the Magisterium, an academy for those with a propensity toward magic. In this first book, a new student comes to the Magisterium against his will -- is it because he is destined to be a powerful magician, or is the truth more twisted than that? It's a journey that will thrill you, surprise you, and make you wonder about the clear-cut distinction usually made between good and evil.

Some novels leave you enchanted. They fill you with whimsy and wonder. In the case of The Iron Trial it was the risks that the authors took, and well as the delightful characters that ensnared me. It is a darkly thrilling, exhilarating, magical journey that is only just beginning. It's a novel that plays with what it means to be the hero, the villain and those delicious shades of grey in between.

I rarely read middle grade. I make a few exceptions and don't often find myself as engrossed as I did with this story. The writing style is geared more towards the younger readers, but there is something captivating in the story that will charm older readers as well. It's one that I believe will have cross over appeal for a broader audience.

Certain genres have tropes. Things that you expect to happen, in some format at least, before you even read a single page. These tropes often work well, and that is why they continue to be used. Defying those tropes, and creating something truly surprising out of them, is what Cassandra Clare and Holly Black designed to do with The Iron Trial and they succeeded. It takes those expected elements of the middle grade fantasy novel and delightfully twists them

There were a few reveals that are truly jaw dropping. One however is truly 'game changing'. It defies the genre in a way that is unexpected and intriguing. I think many will want to continue reading just for the tantalizing possibilities these reveals set out for the further novels.

There is a prophecy contained within that sets out an incredible premise for the rest of the series. A premonition of things to come, and none of them are exactly cheerful. Dark, twisty novels tend to be my favourite, and the fact that this will only progress as the series characters (and it's readers) age leaves me with anticipation. I predict that these authors will not be afraid to crush our hearts and continue to defy our expectations as Callum's story continues.

The setting and it's characters are only beginning to be fleshed out. The world building is limited to the Magisterium itself, and even that feels like ground work for more to be unveiled in further installments. There is plenty of character development as we get a good feel for each of the main characters. Aaron and Tamara in particular as they have a larger role in the story to come. Aaron's story in particular was not what I expected, and I look forward to seeing that progress as the series continues. The roles of these characters are clearly defined, even if who is fulfilling that role isn't quite what you expected. The most important element is that I found myself growing fond of these characters already. I am looking forward to continuing their journey and all the surprises still to come.

A masterfully surprising read that I cannot wait to share with my nieces when they get a bit older. The Iron Trial left me spellbound and eager to follow the rest of this magical series.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Release Date - September 3, 2013
Publisher Website -  Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  432 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**obtained for review from publisher via BEA**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

Imagine a world where vampires are the ultimate celebrity, death is alluring, and living forever may not be as long as you think. Holly Black has taken something classic, and paid it the respect it deserves in her own, unique voice.

A vampire novel being sexy and sensual may not be surprising. It meshes the allure of living forever, with the brutal truth of death that surrounds these immortal beings. The world Holly Black has built takes center stage, and seduces us. It's mesmerizing, and addicted. It excels where the characters didn't. I got lost in the world, and that is what kept my interest. The Coldtown itself, and the image shown to the outside world contrast in a way that created intrigue and drama. She captures the wickedness, the decedence, and the loneliness of these immortal beings. She showcases why, time and time again, we are drawn to stories about them.

The lore, and backstory to vampires is a mix of the usual. Holly Black's version of how you become a vampire is filled with the horror these creatures are known for. It's also fairly unique. The blood lust that consumes a newly born vamp is terrifying, especially deadly to those unfortunate to be near them. The blood flows and coats everyone's hands in this novel, it almost becomes a river, but it's a nice change. These vampires are monsters. They feed, kill, and have little or no remorse for what they do. It takes you back to the original stories that left nightmares dancing in your head.

Tana is not the hero of the story, far from it. However she is resourceful, resigned, and shows a tremendous ability to judge people by their actions. She wants to save everyone, which is immediately endearing. She's someone who doesn't mind walking on the wild side, and at the same time would do anything for her family. She's much more complex than I anticipated and first. She follows a decision through, and is quite determined. Even at her most overwhelmed she is able to rally herself, and go on. Her past haunts and drives her in a way that almost consumes her.

Some of the characters felt like they were there to fit a certain role, and nothing more. Winter and Midnight, two vampire obsessed kids Tana meets along her journey, fit such a description. They show the allure these Coldtowns posses and are the embodiment of the notion of 'everyone wants to live forever'. They are naive, and sadly, unprepared for the truths that come with being part of this world.

Creepy, disturbing, but at all times mesmerizing, Holly Black has expanded her short story to a fine novel that could stand on it's own, and yet there is the possibility of a series too. Her writing talent is evident and on par with her previous works. It's the little details that make this novel, from the celebrity like fever of the vampire craze, to the haunted past that keeps Tana on her path. Holly Black knows caring about characters, even if it's just one, in a sea of madness will humanize the whole story, and she does it to great effect in this.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a love letter, and homage to classic vampire tales of years past. It's a twist on a tale that is both familiar, and loved. Holly Black fans will be sure to devour this one, and hope for a revisit to Tana's world, even though she ends this particular story in a perfectly imperfect place.

Weekly Obsession

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOKS

Tarnish by Katherine Longshore

I was extremely lucky to get an ARC of this. I immediately had to devour it. It's everything I hoped it would be and more. Anne Boleyn is such an iconic figure, and Katherine Longshore captures her the way I invision she was - intelligent, quick witted and progressive.

It also has a shiny new cover

While I miss Anne on the cover, this is one just so pretty. There is something about it's simple elegance that stands out. I hear that Gilt's paperback is also getting a new cover to match, so I can't wait to see it! Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf.

ARCs for The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

The people behind the Bloomsbury twitter tweeted the following picture

Causing me to freak out! This means it is that much closer to me actually reading this. Very excited. I love the simple look of the ARCs too, but do wish they had that awesome cover that was revealed recently. If you haven't checked out the synopsis yet, be sure to check out Goodreads.

The cover of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Not sure what exactly draws me to this cover. It's certainly eye catching, and I love faint vein like lines that can be seen around the title. I don't know a whole lot other than the Goodreads synopsis but it sounds awesome. Very much looking forward to getting my hands on a copy.

TV

Once Upon A Time

It's back!!! I get to watch a new episode this Sunday. I am really looking forward to the following Sunday's episode titled 'Manhattan' but am just glad to have it back. Hiatus are not fun, especially when you are eagerly awaiting some EPIC reveals. Sigh...hurry up next Sunday.

OTHER

Book Expo America (Children's Author Breakfast)

I immediately purchased a ticket to this when I heard Veronica Roth would be one of the guest speakers. I am looking forward to finding out who the Master of Ceremonies is. May seems both so close and so far away. I am beyond excited.

Ottawa Book Blogger Meet Up

SUNDAY! It is this Sunday! I am pretty excited and can't wait to share my recap on Monday. Everything is almost ready and

So what are you obsessed with this week?

Black Heart by Holly Black

Black Heart by Holly Black
Release Date –  April 3, 2012
Publisher Website –  Simon and Schuster
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages - 296 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**obtained from book blogger swap**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Cassel Sharpe has the most deadly ability of all. With one touch, he can transform any object - including a person - into something else entirely. And that makes him a wanted man. The Feds are willing to forgive all his past crimes if he'll only leave his con artist family behind and go straight. But why does going straight feel so crooked? 

For one thing, it means being on the opposite side of the law from Lila, the girl he loves. She's the daughter of a mob boss and getting ready to join the family business herself. Though Cassel is pretty sure she can never love him back, he can't stop obsessing over her. Which would be bad enough, even if her father wasn't keeping Cassel's mother prisoner in a posh apartment and threatening not to let her leave until she returns the priceless diamond she scammed off him years ago. Too bad she can't remember where she put it. 

The Feds say they need Cassel to get rid of a powerful man who is spinning dangerously out of control. But if they want Cassel to use his unique talent to hurt people, what separates the good guys from the bad ones? Or is everyone just out to con him? 

Time is running out, and all Cassel's magic and cleverness might not be enough to save him. With no easy answers and no one he can trust, love might be the most dangerous gamble of all.

Reading the ending to a series is always bitter sweet. You’re saying goodbye to beloved characters, but at the same time getting answers to questions that have plagued you from book one. Black Heart is a solid ending to a fantastic series.

Holly Black has managed to create a world that you not only want to explore but is filled with characters that you become invested in. The premise is unique and the books have an overall fun feel to them. The crosses, double crosses and cons only make the experience that much more of a thrill ride.

Cassel thinks working for the Feds will help him stay on the path he’s chosen. He wants to do the right thing and wants to be “good”. Most of all he wants to forget his past. The irony behind working for the Feds is that they ask Cassel to do the one thing he doesn’t want to do - use his ability. This makes for an interesting dynamic as Cassel has to determine which side has his best interest at heart, and does being used by the good guys necessarily make what he’s doing any less horrible? I love that he is torn. Neither side is especially appealing to Cassel and he is much more weary than he used to be.

The romance between Lila and Cassel is intense. She’s either his salvation or the person who costs him everything. His unwavering devotion left me swooning. Holly uses Cassel to make us care about other characters. I love Lila because Cassel does, seeing her through Cassel’s eyes makes me care about her. Their fates are so intertwined  that you have to want them to have some version of a happily ever after. This world of lies and cons, however, offers no guarantees however, and sometimes love requires sacrifice.

Saying goodbye to Cassel happens the only way it could - the con is still the thing, and our reluctant hero’s morality is still as muddled as ever. I, for one, wouldn’t want it any other way. If you have yet to pick up this series, I highly recommend you do so immediately.

Waiting on Wednesday...Black Heart by Holly Black

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is Black Heart by Holly Black

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

I love this series, and am really looking forward to this one. I hope Cassel gets his version of "happily ever after" when the series ends.

Expected release date - April 3, 2012 (my birthday!)

Red Glove by Holly Black

Red Glove by Holly Black
Release Date – April 5, 2011
Publisher – Simon and Schuster
Pages - 325
My Rating- 9/10

Here is the synopsis from GoodReads

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

I love White Cat. Holly Black made me fall into this world she created. The world was so well developed that I was excited to return to it again in Red Glove. I was not disappointed.

You can read my White Cat review here. This will have spoilers for White Cat so if you haven’t read it you may want to come back once you have (and go pick up a copy right away).

At the end of White Cat we found out that Lila had been worked by Cassel’s mom to love him. This in Cassel’s view made it impossible for him to ever really be with Lila. I felt so bad for him. I honestly believe that Lila did like Cassel even before she was worked, but sadly Cassel will not believe it even if Lila does admit it. I am a sucker for romance and Cassel’s love of Lila is actually a sweet backdrop to the grit, crime and film noir feel. I have to say that my book crush on Cassel is still very much intact. Lila is crazy to not have snapped him up earlier! J

The big question of this novel is who killed Cassel’s brother Philip. The pacing and way in which clues are revealed is perfect. We learn things as Cassel learns them and this results in us only knowing who the killer is when Cassel figures it out. Holly is able to keep the feeling of suspense going and as a result you keep turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next. I was surprised by who the killer was when we did find out. I was thinking it was someone else.

I love that because of the cons, curse work, and the mobster feel that we don’t know who to trust. Everyone is suspect and we treated to a few twists and reveals as a result of the lies, and cons going on.

I still love Cassel’s friends Sam and Daneca. It’s nice to see Cassel have actual friends that he can lean on and even trust. They are the only slightly stable thing in his life.

Cassel’s mother was exactly what I wanted her to be. I loved to hate her. What she does I this book made me raise my eyebrows and I can’t wait to see how it plays out in the next book.

I really enjoy Holly Black’s writing style. It really does have a crime noir feel. I mentioned that I thought Holly got Cassel’s voice exactly right in my White Cat review, and I am happy to see that it is still pitch perfect in Red Glove.

I adored Red Glove as much as White Cat. I am now dying to see how Cassel’s story will continue in Black Heart.

White Cat by Holly Black

White Cat by Holly Black
Release Date – May 4, 2010
Publisher – Simon and Schuster
Pages - 310
My Rating- 9/10

Here is the GoodReads synopsis -

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.
Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love — or death — and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

This was the first novel by Holly Black that I had read. I found her writing style to be easy to read, and she has great pacing. I was immediately immersed into her story and the world she created

Cassel was my favourite part of the story. He’s the likeable bad boy that you can’t help but root for. He’s flawed but you want to forgive him. It can sometimes go very wrong when a female author tries to write from the male point of view, however Holly Black get its oh so right. It may be that I have a soft spot for the bad boy but Cassel was mesmerizing, charming and interesting. I found myself feeling angry on his behalf at how much he had been lied to. I am not ashamed to admit that I would most likely be conned by him.

The other characters in the book that I liked were his friends Sam and Daneca. They helped show a softer side of Cassel and show that he was capable of having a real friendship with someone. I found his brothers interesting and loved reading about them (even if they are not characters I “liked”).

The fact that the story deals with cons, secrets and people who can take your memories away often results in twists, reveals and surprises. I found myself thinking I had things figured out only to be proven wrong a little later. Once you understand the world the author has created some of the twists are easy to figure out, but there were also a few nice surprises.

As curse work is illegal a majority of what happens in the novel takes place in the “underground”. The story has a very “mobster” feel to it. It’s dark and gritty. A lot of the characters are flawed and this makes the book even better. Some people may have issues with the characters as some of them have very little redeeming qualities but this somehow made it work for me. The type of environment the story takes place in would absolutely have these people inhabiting it.

The ending of the story left me wanting more. I am now itching to get my hands on Red Glove and may have to run to the bookstore and grab it. I am hoping to see more of Cassel’s mother as she seems like someone I am going to love to hate.

If you are fan of complex, well developed plots and characters I think you will enjoy this novel

Epic Book Release Day...

Today I will be going to the bookstore and walking out with an amazing haul. April 5 has turned into a fantastic day for book lovers.

Cassandra Clare's 4th Mortal Instruments novel City of Fallen Angels is released today. It's one of the most anticipated novels of the year and I expect it to be a hot seller.

Here are some promotional videos that were released.

A cute video shot by Maureen (a new character in the novels). It's cute, and we get to see some of our favourites. View it here at EW.com

A second video discusses the making of the audio book. You get to hear Ed Westwick's sexy voice. It can be found here. (Again, from EW.com). I could listen to him read all day.

Also, Holly Black's Red Glove is released today. I have yet to read White Cat (must fix this immediately) but there is tons of buzz surrounding this sequel.

Also being released today is the first book in Kelley Armstrong's new YA series The Gathering. I had posted the trailer for the book here.

Lastly (and there may be more that I am forgetting) is Gayle Forman's Where She Went. The follow up to If I Stay that I can't wait to get my hands on.

So fellow book lovers - which books are you picking up today? Or will you be getting all 4? Any I forgot?