Book Review ---> Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

By:  Cassandra Clare
Series:  The Infernal Devices #1
Published By: Margaret McElderry - 2010
Pages:  476 Hardcover
Rating:  4
Book Cover Rating:  4
Read:  August 2011
Genre:  Steampunk, Young Adult, Paranormal, Historical Fiction

First Line: The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts.

Black Disaster Fairy's Take:
This Fairy was in love with the City of Bones so I had to give this prequel Steampunk wonder a whirl!!  Plus I am ashamed to admit this beauty was perched on my shelf for way too long.


Tessa Grey is our damsel in distress if you will.  In the beginning she leaves America and heads for London to meet up with her older brother, Nate.  Shortly after she arrives she gets herself kidnapped by a crazy duo appropriately named the Dark Sisters!  These ladies push her to do painful tasks that reveal to us and her that she is not as human and normal as she thought.


It seems dramatic, however, don't let that fool you.  The beginning of this novel is very much on the slow pace.  Skip 50 pages if you will.


Aha!  Now we get to meet the dashing silver haired Jem, the mouthy bad boy you want to slap and kiss at the same time is Will, and a handful of other shawdowhunters.  Now Clare is getting somewhere!  These boys make the pages fly and I hope more of their stories appear in the following books.  


Now please do not fret.  If you did not pick up the City of Bones or any of the following in the series.  It is very much ok, at least a little bit.  You would have a bit more of an understanding if you have read the Mortal Instruments first.  Tessa does a good job at bringing the Shadowhunter world to the reader.  As she struggles to find out more of the world and of how her origins fit into it the reader is given information slowly.  Tessa is also wonderfully strong and confident which was intriguing giving the time frame.  I was expecting more of a daffodil who had to have matching parasols and shoes.


This is a prequel I remind myself but there were so many similarities between this book and The Mortal Instruments.  The characters are about the same.  Tessa resembles Clary for me.  As Will does Jace and Jem is like Alec.  I would even say Jessamine is Isabelle.  I was hoping for more of a jump into something that did not seem like a remake.


Overall, Clockwork Angel was a good read. Truly.  Victorian London, clockwork automons, and the mysterious twist add enough to make it a dark Steampunk read.

Book Review ---> Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight

By:  Sophie Jordan
Series:  Draki #1
Published By: HarperTeen - Sept. 2010
Pages:  323 Hardcover
Rating:  5
Book Cover Rating:  5
Read:  Sept. 2011
Genre:  Fantasy Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Dragons

First Line: Gazing out at the quiet lake, I know the risk is worth it.

Black Disaster Fairy's Take:
Dragons?  Really Dragons?


WOW!  I can't smirk at the concept of dragons no longer.  Sophie Jordan had me deeply enthralled with the draki world she created.  Added bonus... The cover is beautiful!!  


Draki's are descendants of dragons, their secrets must be kept at any price.  They shapeshift into a human form, however, some of their talents are still available.  Jacinda is the first Fire Breather in centuries and she struggles to control her life.  As the soul fire breather her pride has made plans for her future for her.  A future of mating with Cassian, the next alpha, to create more little fire breathers.  Honestly, I think there is a spark between Jacinda and Cassian... Maybe I'm hoping for more in the next book.  *Fingers crossed*


Of course, this leads to the hot headed Jacinda to rebel.  Except she puts her life on the line and risks revealing the secret of the pride.    


She is takes a huge risk... one that changes her life quickly.  Jacinda's mother is pushed into drastic measures, whisking her and her twin Tamra to a town in the desert where they live among the humans.  Against her will she starts to lose her draki side, she will risk even more to keep this part of her alive. 


The chemistry between Jacinda and Will, a draki hunter, is flaming hot.  Smoldering!  LOL!  Will awakens her dying draki senses which is clearly dangerous if she cannot learn to control herself around him.  She has to keep her secret from him, at least for her family and draki everywhere.


Ah, a Forbidden Love!

A hunter in love with his prey.

It is more then that.  Jacinda struggles to find where she fits in.  What her life is about and where she belongs?  A basic internal conflict of personal identity and purpose that young adults go through.


Sophie Jordan's world flowed wonderfully.  Her characters were diverse with many layers.  I enjoyed finding out about them throughout the book, ALL THE WAY TO THE END!!  Literally!  What an amazing way to end the book!!


Overall, Firelight has wonderful characters and a beautiful world for you to get lost in!  Jacinda will surprise you, the vivid description of the draki's will intrigue you, and a girl fight in the bathroom will draw you in while the uniqueness of the book will keep you reading.

After running for my life from hunters, a girl with too much lip gloss doesn't register on my fear radar.

BDF highly recommends this book!!  It is for more then just the paranormal fan.

*Recommend by Jen at In The Closet with a Bibliophile*

Book Review ---> Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

By:  Kody Keplinger
Series:  N/A
Published By: Poppy - Sept. 2011
Pages:  273 Hardcover
Rating:  5
Book Cover Rating:  4
Read:  Sept. 2011
Genre:  Contemporary, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

First Line: There is nothing more humiliating than being topless in the backseat of your boyfriends car when someone decides to throw an egg at the windshield.

Black Disaster Fairy's Take:
Let's just say the Fairy thoroughly enjoyed Shut Out!  I raced through this book in two days.  That says a lot.  It normally takes me a bit longer.  Now I'm looking forward to picking up DUFF. 


Lissa, the protagonist, is a confident OCD girl who yet has flaws that are likable.  She is dating Randy, a quarterback, who happens to be a jerk.  Sweet sometimes but mostly a jerk.  We see just how much through the book.  It makes us cheer for Cash, a soccer player and rival of Randy's, all that much harder.  He literally made me swoon and he will make you as well.  Hardworking, takes care of his family, smart, and is great for Lissa.  


Now please do not fret, there is a huge showdown in this book!  The black football marks makes you think battle or a fierce game.  Actually, it is even better!  A Battle of the Sexes!  Lissa along with the girlfriends of the football and soccer teams go on a sex strike until the ten year feud between the teams comes to an end.  They are sick of how the rivalry is disrupting their relationships every season.


Let the manipulation begin!


It was more than entertaining watching the boys beg and carry on like they cannot live with out sex.  It was encouraging to watch the girls learn to value uniqueness and girl power. 


I do love that Kody Keplinger shows that using sex or anything of the sort to keep a boyfriend is just plain ridiculous!  Also that it shows the female readers that we want to be "normal" when it comes to this issue.  Which is ridiculous as well!  There is no "normal" and we should not feel shame as a result of our cultures double standards.

I didn't understand why it was okay for Cash to flirt with every girl he met and never commit to any of them when, if a girl did the same thing, the guys would call her a cock tease. --- Page 58

Kody Keplinger was not afraid to censor herself or push the boundaries concerning sexuality and teenagers.  It made the book feel more real, like I would meet these characters if I walked into the high school, it felt that realistic.


Overall, Shut Out was very addictive!   Hilarious, cute, touching and a lessons on the double standards that our society covets.  The sexuality touched in the book was not extremely graphic and should not make you feel uncomfortable.  The way it is broached in the book is not over powering the rest of the messages.

Chloe didn't have all the answers, either.  I knew that now.  But she had known something all along that I hadn't:  that being ashamed of what you want or how you feel is pointless, and letting anyone else make you feel ashamed is a waste.  We all wanted different things and that was OK.  --- Page 267

BDF would recommend for older teens and adults.

* ARC from BEA*