Raven: City of Ashes

A novel by Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: March 25th, 2008
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 453
Targeted Audience: Young Adult (Fantasy & Romance)

Summary: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

I liked this book way better than the first one. There is more action (By now you would have guessed that I am a total action loving freak), more comedy, more drama, more confusion, more everything!

Unlike the first book, the plot is not dragged. We get to know more about the "confusion" between Jace and Clary and Simon. There are a few new characters coming up in the book whom you are bound to love. The plot unfolds to more mysteries and more grief.

In the last book, Valentine stole the Mortal Cup and in this book he wants to steal the Mortal Sword. The violence that follows his robbery is so gruesome that I loved it. Call me Psych.

We are introduced to the Fairy folk where takes place a few awkward scenes. Something terrible happens to Simon but I thought it was pretty cool. And that last part of the book will blow you away! It's just so much of awesome sauce!

In the last book, Clary and Jace just seemed so normal but suddenly you are being slapped on the face! What I mean is that Clary and Jace are anything but normal. I couldn't stop reading it. It was just so... wow! Both of them being the children of Valentine and Jocelyn Frey have special characteristics. Jace has super strength and Clary can draw the most powerful ruins and also create new ones.

I love Simon. He is trying so hard to be the cool guy, not that he needs to be one, he is cool already. I also love Luke, he is just such a great father figure. I love Magnus too. God! I love all the characters! I can't choose so don't make me.

In my opinion you should read it. It's a great book. I have already reserved the third book in the library, but I won't be able to get my hands on it until the 21st. *pouts* I rate it a 4! And oh of course! I can't forget to put up a few of my favorite quotes from the book. So here goes...

"We came to see Jace. Is he alright?"

"I don't know," Magnus said. "Does he normally just lie on the floor like that without moving?"

And here's another one...

"I'll just have them change the entry in the demonology textbook from 'almost extinct' to 'not extinct enough for Alec. He prefers his monsters really, really extinct.' Will that make you happy?"

[Warning: This book has a cliffhanger *Computer voice*]

P.S: Why don't Alec and Magnus just shut up and kiss?
P.P.S: My review of the first book is right here, just click on it if you want to see it---> http://ravenandbeez.blogspot.ae/2013/09/raven-city-of-bones-mortal-instruments.html

Lots of Love & Pasta

Raven

Beez:- Lola and the boy next door 

Stephanie Perkins

OR/AND

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

I just finished this book. And i am grinning so stupidly.

This book is soo cute. 

Lola and cricket sitting on a tree.

K I S S I N G.

Loved this book.

6 on 5 stars!!

I am obviously on a book high right now. How can i not be?? The ending is so darn adorable!

Though i have a feeling many of you wont agree with me here but, i liked this book better than Anna and the french kiss. Unbelievable since i am a doomed lover of Paris and cute guys with english accents. But for some reason i prefer Lola better. I love her outlook on life. Her costumes!! Although they are not practical and  would steer clear from them, they are totally Lola. And to actually wear them and go arougn in weird colour wigs takes a lot of courage. But they are so colorful. And it is soo Lola.

Let me shed some light on Lola and her obsession with costumes. Lola has taken a vow not to war a single outfit more than once. She wears the most weirdest combinations with bright colored wigs and boots(among other shows). She even wears a yellow raincoat when its not raining. And she practically wears the whole deal everyday! One of the days i was reading this book, a little Lola rubbed of me and i decided to experiment with my costume skills. I wore blue flare pants with a black and white newspaper top with a vest(that eventually came off) and my amazing hat(which i brought from Italy on my visit to Italy, France and Switzerland!). Not much of a costume but then i'm not Lola. 

So Lola lives a hilarious life. She has 2 gay dads(this is my first book where the character has two gay dads) and a boyfriend which is 5 years elder to her, Max. He is that guy that fascinates Lola but is kind of a jerk. I quite like him in the starting of the book. My like started waning when he mentioned that going to the dance would be a punishment to him. My like expired when he was a royal jerk to Lindsay. I don't understand why she didn't just break up with him then and there. Asshole. But before those incidents he is not that bad. He has a band and played pretty good from what Lola says. Lola's parents highly dissaprove of him mostly because of the age difference. 

If you ever thought having two gay dads was easy since dads are kind of mellow, you're wrong. Take 1 over protective dad X2. Minus the calming spirit that remotely understands what you are facing. Not good.

Apart from that i think its pretty cool to have two gay dads. Its so different than normal. Refreshing. Lolas birth mother does make more than one appearance in the book. She happens to be the brother of 1 of Lola's dads. Well unlike other families, Lola's parents are fun.

The other amazing thing that i'd like to mention is that GUESS WHAT? Anna and St.Clair are soo there in this book. I love it whe old characters come in other books. They both were still very much in love and St.Clair was always following Anna like a puppy dog. And St. Clair also gives Lola some priceless advice on the one; his being Anna.

The boy next door is named Cricket Graham Bell. Yes you heard read) right. His name is Cricket(loove it) and he is one of the ancestors of Alexander Graham Bell, the famous telephone idea which today the world would be incomplete without. But as it turns out Alexander Graham Bell did not really invent the telephone, he stole it, which is why Cricket being the good guy he is is not proud that he comes from a lineage of a liar and a cheater. I have no idea whether this is true or not nut it could be. Whoever it was I am grateful to them.

Cricket is a cute, shy and amazing guy. He has long luscious legs and he dresses very nicely and is adorable. He is also a complete romantic failure. H has always loved Lola. And that might sound like its bordering on pathetic but quite the contrary, it makes him more desirable. Cricket is very 

swoon-worthy. And on top of that he is a great inventor. 

I absolutely heart the story of their first kiss and am not going to ruin it for you(even though its mighty hard). A little clue it includes the words 'planted one on him'.

Now the Cricket and Lola chapter has been going on quite a while. This book is a little slow paced but all the very entertaining. 

Cricket and Lola live next door and always talk to each other through windows. Which is dead on cute. Cricket even travels from his window to hers on several occasions not all of which which end good. 

But the ending is incredible.  Its the perfect happy ending which Lola wanted. 

S-wooooon.

There is nothing i would change about this book. I love Lola and her outlandish costumes. I love Cricket Bell and his long legs. I love Lola's happy family. I love her bff and her only friends relationship with Charlie. Puurfect.

Except maybe one thing. I would absolutely like more kissing in this book. There is not much esp with Cricket. though they get it on in the end, i was waiting for some secret kisses stolen in the middle. But the way things progressed was not a problem for me.

This is a book that has to be read. No doubt. 

What are you waiting for?

GO READ!!

Lots of love and pies

Beez. 

Ok, so i read this poem on goodreads on the book and i can't resist so imma put it up :)

(Set to "Copacabana" by Barry Manilow)

Her name is Lo-la. She's a steal-the-show girl.

With purple stripeys in her hair, wearing leggings worthy of Cher.

She's friends with Etienne, and of course, with An-na.

The boy next door draws on his hand, and Lola yearns to understand.

Across their midnight lawn, they talked from dusk til dawn.

They were young and needed each other.

But did the boy next door want more?

Raven + Beez: Between the lines 

Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

What happens when happily ever after... isn't?

Delilah hates school as much as she loves books. In fact, there's one book in particular she can't get enough of. If anyone knew how many times she has read and re-read the sweet little fairy tale she found in the library, especially the popular kids, she'd be sent to social Siberia... forever.

To Delilah, though, this fairy tale is more than just words on the page. Sure, there's a handsome (well, okay, hot) prince, and a castle, and an evil villain, but it feels as if there's something deeper going on. And one day, Delilah finds out there is. Turns out, this Prince Charming is real, and a certain fifteen-year-old loner has caught his eye. But they're from two different worlds, and how can it ever possibly work?

Together with her daughter Samantha Van Leer, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult has written a classic fairy tale with a uniquely modern twist.

Long long ago, I happened to be reading all the summaries of Jodi Picoult books. I didn't really like many but I made up my mind to read 3 books. My sisters keeper, Harvesting the heart (god knows why) and Between the lines. I loved the idea of it. Prince in a book wanting to come out?? Me Me Me. Anyways I didn't read it at that time. Then in one of the last days of school I saw BTL in my school library. I freaked. But unfortunately we could not issue books. But my mind was made. I was going to read that book.
Fast forward to after the holidays, every library period I  checked for the book yet it was never there. And then one day.. TADA!! My wish came true. I did a small (I was in school) happy dance and squealed as loud as I could in the library but still didn't issue it. The reason is Insurgent. If you've read Divergent's review then you know I was crazy to read it. So instead I reserved it (yes I can do that).
And I finally got it this week. 
So I'm in the bus and open this book. I'm already love struck. Then I proceed and read the authors note. And I knew I would love it. Or if I wouldn't I would be so disappointed and disheartened that no words could describe it. 
So I start reading and fall....

One of the authors of this book might be Jodi Picoult but this book couldn't be further from her normal book type. Its has a world of difference. And the reason for that is Samantha, Jodi Picoult's daughter. She a teenager which makes me love her a lot already. She's also different and has an awesome sense of imagination. And of course she wrote this book. 
Oh and she made Oliver.

Oliver is soo cute. When I discovered this book had pictures I went crazy. Oliver is sooo cute. Drop dead gorgeous! He wears this green tunic and has messy hair and eyes you could drown you in forever. He is the perfect fairy tale prince. I won't even try to deny it, I am in love with Oliver. I wish Oliver would talk to mee!!

I am also heads over heels in love with this book. I loved every part of it. The idea behind this book is soo ingenious and amazing. Something different. And the way Oliver is around Delilah is soo cute. I think that I've already established the fact that I think Oliver is beyond cute. Delilah is a different sorts of girl. A total bookworm, shy and sweet inside. She fell in love with this fairy tale even though its highly! unusual for a teenager to like a fairy tale but I can see why. The idea of Oliver is what attracts her. And it is absolutely hilarious that she thinks shes crazy when Oliver starts talking to her. But she helps him, when he just tells her that he wants out. 

I know I'm just ranting endlessly about this book but its just one of the ways I express my love for very special thing. This book was amazing. It gave me a butterfly feeling towards the end. I was grinning stupidly. My heart was soo full it was gonna burst. I love love loved this book. Its one of my favs!!

Let me talk a bit about the characters. Delilah. I love the name. Delilah is this kid who doesn't fit in. She loves book but one book in particular. A fairy tale. Her liking of the book is very obsessive. Delilah is a very likeable character and very soft hearted. Her life lacks excitement and wildness. She kinda reminds me of Amy(the one who gets pregnant) from the Secret life of the american teenager. A good girl. Shes a loner and likes to spend her time in a library just like mee! I totally get why Delilah falls for Oliver. After all I love every other character in the books I read. Oliver is noo exception.


Oliver. Oliver is dreamy princy guy every girl wishes for. Hes our knight in shining armor. Oliver Oliver Oliver. I love his name too. Oliver has truly captured my heart. Oliver made me laugh soo many times in this book. He is adorable. Especially when he speaks out whatever is in his mind about Delilah. When he asks her soo many questions like a curious child. He cracks me up. And I felt like I was melting in a puddle of goo in front of Oliver. God knows what would happen to me if he actually appeared! I'd faint on the spot. I also love the million ways Oliver thinks of getting out of the book. Boy, is he smart. There is nothing in Oliver I would ever change. I will love him forever. 

Lots of love and love for Oliver
Beez.

So there I was at school, trying to understand what was being taught when suddenly Beez catapults the book on my face! The teacher is teaching and Beez is squealing about how much she loves the book and is also giving me a vague image of how I will end up if I don't read it.

To begin with, the only book I have read by Jodi Picoult is My Sister's Keeper, which was a beautiful book but at the end I had made up my mind that this book is not something that I would enjoy at my current age (since I am soo immature) I thought it would be better if such life changing books were read by me in my twenties or so. But then Beez made me read the 'Author's note' of BTL and I thought that maybe this one would be a good book. And I wasn't disappointed.

I open the book and I see Oliver's picture and I giggle, remembering my childhood when I used to beg my mom to buy me more picture books. And when I started reading I knew that I wouldn't be able to stop. It began with 'Once upon a time, in a land far far away...' and then I just went haywire. 

Having not read books with such an opening in almost a century, I felt so excited to read more.

I usually take 4-5 days to complete a 350 page book but I finished this in one day! I made sure that I woke up early in the morning and finished it.

The story is really creative. Though I must say that I have imagined my book characters talking to me and asking my help to get out of a book, I never really thought of all the complications of actually having them taken out, neither did I think of the consequences of it. This book isn't just some gibberish on a character wanting to get out. There is some weird, fiction-like logic to it, which is what I loved.

The characters are wonderful. I can absolutely relate to Delilah. The awkwardness, the book loving, the ridiculous swimming incident (I laughed so hard at this part) and the absolute gag at cheesy stuff.
Oliver is the kind of guy I have always dreamed about. A smart, cute and loving prince. He is an absolute to-die-for character.
We love him so much that we clicked a picture of him and saved it as our smart phone's wallpaper.

Also, I have a small recommendation for you guys. Read the BOOK! Not the e-book. The luxury of having this book in your hand will make you feel proud. To begin with, it's got pictures and coloured text (Black-for the actual story, Blue-for Oliver's point of view and Green-for Delilah's POV) I loved this "book" soo much that I was even planning on telling the librarian that I lost the book, just so I could keep it. I mean I wouldn't even mind paying the lost fee. Unfortunately I happen to be a rule keeper, so... *sigh*

Now on the ending... some books leave you like a snake (writhing all over the floor in desperation to read more) but this book's ending leaves you feeling happy and satisfied. The same way you feel when you read the words "And they lived happily ever after"  So obviously I rate it a five.

I want Samantha Van Leer to write more YA books. I can't wait to read her books. I and Beez are planning on mailing her, begging her or let's say, THREATENING HER to write more books for people like us. 

Lots of love & Dragon Breath
Raven

How can you ignore this hot guy?? Oh Oliver! <3

Some moments we loved:

Oliver's first line- “Just so you know, when they say 'Once upon
a time' . . . they’re lying” 

Delilah talking to Oliver- “believe me, you're all I've thought about --"
At this, I grin.

Olivers POV-And just like that, something inside shifted very subtly, so that all the empty spaces in him suddenly disappeared, so that his breath timed to hers, so that his blood sang. 
This is why there was music, he realized. There were some feelings that just didn't have words big enough to describe them.

“Princes don't come around everyday, and happy endings don't grow on trees” 

Oliver's to die for thoughts- “I think her flaws make me love her even more. She's not perfect, but she's perfect to me” 

It actually deserves a 6 on 5! Yup it was that good.