City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Hey there, guys!
How was your weekend?
I'm back with a new review!

Basics

Title: City of Bones
Series: The Mortal Instruments
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: March 27^th 2007
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
ISBN: 1416914285

Number of Pages: 485
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
What's special? Nephilim are protecting the mortal world from demons!

Summary

15-year old Clary lives a totally normal life with her artistic mother Jocelyn and her best friend Simon.
But then, one night, she can see things nobody else can.
When Simon and Clary are in a club, she watches three teenagers murder another while everyone around her seems oblivious to it.
Only hours later, her mother is abducted and she's attacked by a demon.
She's sucked into the dangerous but compelling world of the shadowhunters Jace, Isabelle and Alec. And with their help she's determined to save her mother.

My Opinion

Back in September 2014 I've listened to the German audiobook and frankly, I didn't enjoy the book at all. Now, after reading City of Bones in English, I can say: That was due to the terrible reading of the narrator. She gave Clary such a naive and childish voice and spoke without emotion which made the book seem boring and shallow.
I still have some troubles with the first half of the it but I enjoyed the second part way more than while listening to the audiobook!

At the beginning Clary does act and think so naive. I couldn't help myself but roll my eyes at some of her lines.
Some things were just so damn obvious, I have no idea how she couldn't get them.
I get that she was thrown into this world and had to learn everything and she was pretty confused, but come on.

But then – finally – in the second half of the book, she has got the knack of it.

And Jace, too, gets a lot funnier once the story takes off.
And especially after watching the movie, I loved all of his one-liners.

I found this awesome fanart which I just have to show you!

It was drawn by tabeck!

Ugh, it's amazing!


Okay, moving on to my next point.
Honestly, I didn't feel any concern about any of our characters.

They've never seemed real to me, just weren't complex enough.
Sometimes they did something which didn't fit their character or normal behaviour – I noticed this especially with Jace! Their emotions changed so fast, I had some hard time following them!

In general, it was hard to grasp their character or where they stood. Like, who did they hate, who did they like?
Isabelle's behaviour in particular was really confusing for me.
Sometimes she was quite nice, then she was mean again – and does or does she not like Simon??

City of Bones is a nice setup for the whole Shadowhunter-World, and even though we get only a 'glimpse' we got lots of information and I can't wait to read more about this world in the next books!

It seems to be really complex – after all there are over 10 books about it!

As I've already mentioned earlier, I've watched the movie.
And I see why so many fans don't like it but I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would (I don't like the Bane actor, tho).
Even though there are some major differences (It seems like Simon being a rat just wasn't creepy enough for the producers), they used many one-liners from the book!
I would even go so far as to say that the movie made me love the book more!

But for those who didn't love the movie as much as I did, I have good news!
The book will be turned into a TV SHOW! This is going to be

I will continue this series anyway. I've heard that it will get better and like litereally everybody is raving about this series, so I really, really want to love it too!

Rating
3.5 out of 5 stars

Stay funky, guys, stay funky!
Franzi

Fanart Friday! "Fairest" and "The Art of Being Normal"

Hi there, guys!
How was your week?
Mine was fine, a bit slow reading-wise but school is stress-free at the moment!

Let's dive right into the Fanart!

Fairest

First of I have A LOT of different Levanas to show you!

Number One was drawn by Fiona Kelly!


I don't know who drew Number Two, I found the picture while browesed through the Lunar Chronicles Wikia


Number Three was done by lostie815
I'm in love with her Lunar Chronicles Fanart!


Candy8496 drew Levana Number Four!






Number Six was drawn by LeSeera!


And last but not least Number Seven done by Ellie Weed!




The Art of Being Normal
This book is amazing, so I'm really sad that there's no fanbase. You guys should totally check it out!

If you have read it already, which actor does fit your idea of the characters the most?
Tell me in the comments!
I'm not quite sure how Leo was described in the book (except for having sandy hair) but I've always imagined him looking like a younger Jamie Campbell Bower! (even though he's smiling too much for Leo)




I never really thought about David, tho.
Maybe a young Logan Lerman or Joseph Gordon-Levitt?


Stay tuned for a new review tomorrow!
Franzi

Want-to-read-Wednesday #2

Welcome back to another Want-to-read-Wednesday, guys!


The book I'm going to talk about today is:

Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

The book was released in 2011 and the sequel which concludes the duology came out in 2012.
It has roughly 300 pages and was published by Tom Doherty.

Anna Dressed in Blood is about Cas Lowood, the son of a ghosthunter.
After his father's death Cas inherites the vocation.
Together with his mom he drives through the country until he gets the misson to kill the ghost people call 'Anna dressed in blood'.
Even though, she has killed everyone who had the courage to go into her old home, she spares Cas's life.

And that's actually all I know!
But I've heard loads of good stuff about it on Goodreads and BookTube, so I'm excited to get this one!




Have you read this book already? If so, have you enjoyed it and would recommend it to me?

See you guys soon!
Franzi

The Art Of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Hey, guys!
I'm back with a review on one of my favourite books!
It has a spoiler-y section at the end, so watch out!

Basics

Title: The Art of Being Normal
Author: Lisa Williamson
Release Date: January 1^st 2015
Publisher: David Fickling Books
ISBN: 1910200328
Number of Pages: 368
Genre: Young Adult
What's special? EVERYTHING

Summary

14-year old David wants nothing more than to be a girl.
But except his two best friends nobody knows the truth. His parents think he's gay and the whole school calls him a freak.
Leo Denton transfers to Davids school tries his best to seem repellent. But then he falls in love with the most beautiful girl in his class and she falls for him too.
When David is brutally mocked by one of his classmates, Leo stands up for him and they slowly become friends.

But not only David has his secrets, Leo, too, has buried something deep down...

My Opinion

This gif summarizes my thoughts perfectly:

Oh my god, this book made me feel all the feels. It had me on a hike up and down.

I cried, I giggled, I gasped.

Lisa Williamson has the talent to write her characters so real. They were complex with many, many layers and everyone was well thought-out. Even the side characters had depth and weren't only 'there' to show that our main characters had friends.
I cared for (almost) everyone and loved Leo and David so, so much.
I desperately need to know more about them!

Even though, I cry really fast, I normally don't while reading. But there's one scene (on page 316) where I just couldn't fight back the tears.

The book made me feel sad constantly – even tough, nothing bad was happening. And then, that one sentence broke my heart. Not only broke it but shattered it into tiny pieces.

There are some Harry Potter references in here, too!

And there's this plot twist which I would have never guessed. Maybe it was obvious, but it wasn't for me.

I read that particular part while my mom was driving me to my Korean class and I scared her so much because I gasped that loudly.

Then: that ending. There's no ending which would have fitted better.
I loved it! David's friends are so thoughful and kind! I hade a huge grin on my face while reading the last chapters. You guys rock.
When I closed the book, I just sat there, hugged it and stared into blank space(I'm not even joking).

Afterward I told my mother the whole plot – now she knows it as well as if she had read the book!
I litereally talked her ear off.

This is such an important book – especially right now - and Lisa Williamson mangaged to convey her messages so well, I honestly don't know why nobody is talking about this book!

But enough about the inside of this book, let's talk about the cover! It's gorgeous.
The front is rather minimalistic and speaks for itself and the font! Lovely!
And then you turn the book around!
There's no text on the back, except for #whatisnormal?

Everything about this book is just perfect.

And everybody should read it!

Rating

5 out of 5 stars and a spot on my favourites-shelf!

Spoiler Section! Proceed with caution! Don't proceed at all, if you haven't read the book!There's something I need to know!
Do they fall in love with each other? Or is it just their kind of friendship?
Because at the ball, when David says that dancing with Leo is 100 times better than dancing with what-was-his-name-again, Leo blushes and they were holding hands before – am I reading too much into these scenes?
Tell me your thoughts on it!
Stay funky!

Franzi

Quote of the Week #1

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” 

- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I'm a sucker for first sentences and every time I hear this one, I get so many nostalgic feelings.
I've read Pride & Prejudice so many times and I enjoy it everytime as much as the first time round!

If I had enough money (and time) I would buy all those Spin-Offs or Sequels!

Febuary TBR

I am here, guys!
And so is my February TBR!
I will try to read a little slower this month because can't I afford to always buy as many books as I bought in January.

                                     Books I've already started in January:

  -  Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

This was my school's book club's pick for February!
It's one of my friend's favourite books
but I don't think I can share her excitement.
It's an interesting read, tho.

- Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil by Johann Wolfang von Goethe

  This one, too, I have to read for school.
  Goethe may have been a genius, but I'm not, so I don't get half
  of the stuff he's writing in here.

- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

It took me a while to get to know the characters and care for them, but now I really enjoy the story!
Some things seem to be a bit rushed, tho.



















                               And these are the books I want to start this month!

- Frostbite and Shadow Kiss by
  Richelle Mead

I loved the first book in this series!
Still, I dodge reading these two installments because I'm scared that I won't like them as much as I liked the first one.
But they are on my TBR, so I will read them!

 - Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
 The second installment in the The Darkest Minds series!
 I can't wait to read it!
 I NEED RUBY AND LIAM TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN!
 

- The Elite by Kiera Cass

I got this book for Christmas, so even tough I didn't like the
first one that much, I'll read The Elite!
Maybe the series gets better with each book (I hope so at least).

- A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
The summary of this book gives me a Mean Girl-esque feeling!
I can't wait to dive into it! I heard a lot of good things about it on BookTube!














That's it, guys!
Have you read any of these books yet? If so, what did you think of them? Tell me in the comments or link me to your blogs! :)
Stay funky!
Franzi

Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Hi, guys!
I'm back with another review!
I was literally bouncing on my couch when this book was delivered!

Basics

Title: Fairest
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #0.5
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: January 27^th 2015
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
ISBN: 1250060559

Number of Pages: 222
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Dystopian, Young Adult
What's special? THE LUNAR CHRONICLES PREQUEL!

Summary

In this installment of the Lunar Chronicles the story focuses on our villan, Queen Levana. More precise: On her years as a teen and young adult.
The story takes off with the funeral of her assassinated parents, King Marrok and Queen Jannali, when Levana is 15 years old. Now, here cruel and selfish sister Channary is the new queen and mocks Levana on every occasion.
Levana is sure: She would be a better regent than her sister who is not interested in politics and holding court.

And then there's Evret, a royal guard Levana is secretly in love with.

My Opinion

Okay, guys. I anticipated this book so much. I preordered it about 3 weeks before it came out and counted the seconds, the seconds, to the 27^th since then. And then I had to wait 3 more days until it finally arrived in the mail.

I opened the package, hold my breath – and said 'Wait, what'.
This book was praised as a full-length novel → it has roughly 220 pages!
And where's the full-colour art? We get one picture – twice! It's an amazing drawing but still.
I need more.So be prepared that this is really only a prequel and no whole novel.

But even though it's was written to explain Levana's character, there's a whole plot leading to the events of Cinder.

But let's forget or at least accept this little disappointment and move to The Cover. This is the most stunning cover yet. It's creepy, pretty and glossy. I love it.

At the beginning of the story I felt so much pity for Levana because she suffered under her sister's mockery. All I could think was 'Please, don't make me feel sorry for her. I don't want to. I don't want to. Don't tell me she's just misunderstood!'
But then in the second part of the book we see how twisted and delusional she is.
This prequel made me hate her even more (If that's even possible).
The whole story gave us an in-depth and revealing view on her character and it added new layers to her personality and made her more complex.
But even though her story is truly sad:

(Ha! See what I did there? *chuckles *)

And we don't only get 'sneak peaks' from our beloved main characters! We get to see a lot of Cinder, Winter and Jacin(I already love these two). Kai and Dr. Erland are also mentioned here and there and Cress once.

We finally understand why Jacin is so loyal to Winter and how a princess and a guard fell in love.

And then there's the Winter-extract and I just drowned in feels.

The writing of Marissa Meyer is – as always – amazing. I really felt like I was there.

The whole story takes part on the moon which means we finally learn something about the Lunar culture!

It was so interesting and shocking to see how their society works.

I recommend to read the books in the order they were/will be published:
Cinder – Scarlet – Cress - Fairest – Winter
When you already know and love the main characters in the present, it's truly fascinating to read about their past, especially about Jacin and Winter's childhood!
We also finally get to know how Winter became Levana's step-daughter!

It's a book every fan should definitely check out!

Rating

4 out of 5 stars

Love you, guys!
Franzi