City of Bones & City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare: Where I Struggle To Get IT!

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Walker Books

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know... 

I have never been, and will never be, someone who beats around the bush. I am just going to come right out and say it: I did not enjoy this book. It's the second time I have read it, and I didn't enjoy it any more the second time around. The important thing here is this though, I am not going to give up on this series. I am determined to finish this series, the Infernal Devices (which I hear is a lot better!) and then get to Lady Midnight straight after. My hopes is that I will enjoy the series more as it goes along. But, at the moment, I am not all that impressed with the series and really can't see what all the fuss is about.

So you might be curious why I ended up not liking this series. Don't worry, I am going to go into all the detail, as I feel it is only fair to explain why I didn't enjoy this book. So, here we go, time for the negatives:

The length: Oh my, I hate unnecessarily long books, and this one was just that. It is over 400 pages long and really doesn't need to be. I understand that Clare is trying to create a world here, one that is very vast and needs a lot of world building. I just don't think that needs to be crammed into the whole first book, especially when it means that the plot drags because of it. I got so bored whilst reading this book, which isn't good for a first book in a series - they're supposed to get you hooked, so you want to continue on.

Here's Some Books To Read If You Want To Laugh

It's time for Top Ten Tuesday and this weeks topic is:

Books That'll Make You Laugh

I actually struggled with this weeks topic and I am not sure why. I find it easier to think of books that make me do so many other things: cry / want to throw it across the wall / drop it in shock. But ask me to think of books that made me laugh, and suddenly I struggle. I just seem to not laugh at books very often, unless they offer up something truly special. So, without further ado, here are the books that have made me laugh:

    

Weekly Recap: I'm Back & I Bring Books!

Hello, bloglings, it has been rather a long time since my last recap and, I admit, I have been a terribly absent blogger. I have had good reasons though, so I can't bring myself to feel bad about it. The only good thing about being absent from the blog is that I have had plenty of time to read - which was much needed!!! So keep an eye out for reviews, I have a lot coming up. I also have a lot of discussions planned as well, I just need to find the time to get them all written up.

The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas: A Dark, Psychological Thriller

Title: The Darkest Corners
Author: Kara Thomas 
Publisher: Random House Children's
Buy this book: Amazon / Book Depository 

The Darkest Corners is a psychological thriller about the lies little girls tell, and the deadly truths those lies become.
There are ghosts around every corner in Fayette, Pennsylvannia. Tessa left when she was nine and has been trying ever since not to think about it after what happened there that last summer. Memories of things so dark they will burn themselves into your mind if you let them.
Callie never left. She moved to another house, so she doesn't have to walk those same halls, but then Callie always was the stronger one. She can handle staring into the faces of her demons - and if she parties hard enough, maybe one day they'll disappear for good.
Tessa and Callie have never talked about what they saw that night. After the trial, Callie drifted and Tessa moved, and childhood friends just have a way of losing touch.
But ever since she left, Tessa has had questions. Things have never quite added up. And now she has to go back to Fayette - to Wyatt Stokes sitting on death row; to Lori Cawley, Callie's dead cousing; and to the one other person who may be hiding the truth.
Only the closer Tessa gets to the truth the closer she gets to a killer - and this time, it won't be so easy to run away.

Hey guys, welcome to my stop on The Darkest Corners blog tour, being hosted by the wonderful people at Random House Children's Books. I jumped at the chance to review this book because I absolutely love psychological thrillers. My all time favourite young adult psychological thriller is still Dangerous Girls, but I am always looking for new one to reads. This one sounded so intriguing and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

My biggest worry when I read a thriller is that it might end up being quite predictable. I have the habit of correctly guessing who the killer is quite early on, which can ruin the book for me as it takes away the element of surprise. The Darkest Corners didn't let me down though, this book kept me guessing right up until the very end and I never once figured out what the hell was going on.


Ten years ago, Tessa and her cousin, Callie, helped to put away a serial killer, a man who they believed murdered Callie's cousin. But Tessa has always had her doubts, a worry that she helped put away an innocent man. So when a new body shows up, it looks like she might have been right. This is a read that will keep you guessing, and have you turning the page late into the night, unable to put down the book until you find out the truth.

I found this to be a really engaging and engrossing read, I love a great thriller. I spend my whole time trying to figure out the truth and what is going on. I really did enjoy this and loved how Thomas was able to keep me guessing right up until the very end. I love that she was able to shock and surprise me with the twists that the book took.

3/5 Butterflies

I really did enjoy this book, and the fact that it was able to keep me guessing until the very end. I do feel it went very slowly in the beginning, and wasn't as gripping as I could have hoped. The last half of the book was a lot better though and the pace really picked up. I feel this is going to be a read that crime fans and people who enjoy psychological thriller will really love.

You Should Be Following These Awesome Bookish People

It's time for Top Ten Tuesday and this week I am doing last weeks topic, as I missed it and think it's way more interesting to do than my Spring TBR.

Bookish People You Should Follow

I LOVE this weeks topic, it is perfection. This gives me the opportunity to talk and gush about some of my favourite bookish people on the interwebs! I am going to be trying as hard as possible to stick to ten people only, but that might prove difficult. I love my book bloggers, but there are a few booktubers that I love to watch too. I am going to try and talk more about newer blogs I have found, or those I don't mention too much. I have lots of favourites that I mention all the time, so I will try to change it up a bit today. I really hope I don't offend anyone if I've left them off, if I visit your blog then just know it's because I love your content. Ten is far too small a number >.<

But first, I have to take the opportunity to share my own Instagram, as I am obsessed with Instagram, so be sure to check it out!

FOLLOW ME HERE

Cait @ Paper Fury

To be honest, you're all probably following Cait already - if not, go do that!!! She is my absolute favourite blogger and her blog makes me happy. Her posts just always speak to me so deeply, she understands all my bookworm ways. I also love that Cait can discuss the books with me, regardless of whether we both enjoyed a book or not. We definitely don't have completely identical tastes when it comes to books, but do love a lot of the same books. And even when our opinions differ, I really respect her opinion on books. Another reason to follow Cait is because she posts brilliant reviews. She does some of the greatest discussion posts around. She is also absolutely hilarious and very artistic - she has an Etsy store AND a Society 6 store (which will take all my money when I finally have any to spend, haha)

Stalk her here:

Blog / Instagram / Twitter / Goodreads / Society 6 / Etsy

Lexie & Natalie @ The Honest Bookclub

These two are bloggers I found very recently and I am in love with their blog. Their blog quickly became one of my absolute favourites. I love their individual writing styles and voices, and love reading everything they post. They come up with some of the best discussions and really get me thinking. They review some brilliant books and aren't afraid to give their honest opinion.

 Stalk them here:

Blog / Instagram / Twitter / Lexie's Goodreads / Natalie's Goodreads