Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, & Lauren DeStefano CONTEST!

Like I mentioned in my last post, I had several goodies from the Clare-Black-DeStefano signing... I don't need all this stuff for myself... so you're all in luck :D I have:



THREE promotional posters for the Books of Wonder event, SIGNED by all three of the authors!






Postcards [an unopened pack] between Magnus and Alec on their world travels (mentioned in City of Fallen Angels) and the others in NYC... oddly about a Malec wedding... [These are HILARIOUS!]




TWO sets of Curse Workers postcards with slogans - if you've read Red Glove then you'll find these familiar!






A double-preview with chapters from Holly's Black Heart and Cassie's Clockwork Prince!





A preview from Book Two of The Chemical Garden Trilogy, SIGNED by Lauren DeStefano!






For those keeping track, that is EIGHT items to be given away! Want to win one of them? Here's what you need to do!

TO ENTER: (only available to people in the USA)

+Follow my book review blog: The Pages of Brooks

+Comment on this entry [yes, I will be making sure you are a follower!] with the book you are most excited to read from these authors!
+LEAVE YOUR EMAIL in the comment so I can contact the winners!

+Spread the word about this contest give-away. You can easily copy: http://dft.ba/-pgsobrooks :and paste it wherever you wish

Winners will be chosen RANDOMLY on June 1st!

An Evening with Authors, Fans, and Characters (and lots of linking)

Books of Wonder happens to be the place I went to my first book signing and where I first met Cassandra Clare in real life :D Very fond memories.

Tuesday, May 3rd was Cassie and Holly Black's only appearance in New York City for the spring, so of course I had to go; Lauren DeStefano, though little known for now, also tagged along [I'm extremely excited to read Wither]. I'm especially glad I attended because it was one of the most fun signings I've been to - all because of the people I met.

I arrived two hours early and I wasn't even near being the first person to have arrived. Luckily, while I waited for Dorothy Donne (of MundieSource)and Michael Sourcows to arrive, Mitali (from The Alley of Books) recognized me as a friend of Devyn Burton and I clung to her like a fangirl to Robert Pattinson (who wasn't there and won't get a link). Through her, I was introduced to Rachel (The Book Muncher). We three bonded - fun ensued.

It's interesting to see how intense some fans become for their favorite authors. There were plenty of home-made shirts that looked like they took hours; part of me wonders how anyone possibly has the time to be that detailed, but the rest of me already figures that the Fearless Rune Tattoo on my back is proof enough that I'm a fan.

We took our seats LITERALLY right in front of the authors' tables [not creepy at all] and mingled with Vania (known to most for creating book trailers - particularly for City of Fallen Angels). The authors came out like rock stars, but with better shoes. Cassie, Holly, and Lauren each read us an excerpt before moving quickly on to the Q&A segment. In all, we've learned that Magnus's favorite color is sparkle; Lauren doesn't outline her stories at all; Holly could practically run a marathon with the amount of effort she puts into getting the microphone to people. Also, there's a fanbase for Chairman Meow and Church - unexpected, but true!

With big-named authors, the signing part of the event takes forever. I was Number Four 38 and I didn't get to the table until at least 45 minutes after the first person [she arrived at the store at 10am]. Holly gave out wristbands for different kinds of curse working [I chose one for Luck] and a combo preview of Black Heart and Clockwork Prince; Cassie gave postcards between Alec and Magnus on their world travels and those back at the Institute [probably the funniest things I've read. (i.e. Isabelle planning Malec's wedding) - more on these COMING SOON.]; Lauren had little candied sunflower seeds and a preview of her next book as well.

I stalked Robin Wasserman [who promptly asked "Haven't I already signed every book of mine you own?] outside with Barry Goldblatt [agent to practically everyone] and made a fool of myself asking her to sign Zombies vs. Unicorns... which she isn't a part of. She did sign it though, just as Maureen Johnson [which works since MJ signed my Geektastic even though she isn't in that one]. It turns out that Robin will be in a coming anthology that will be released around the same time as a movie next summer... Detailed, right? All Barry would tell me is that the movie has a very hot guy in it and the cover to the anthology will probably be along the same lines - brief mentions of Robin posing in a bikini were given... This is a wonderful rumor - go spread it :P

My night ended by riding on the subway with Jace. You really can't make things like that up.

Now, for Cassie to read the prologue of Clockwork Prince

Also, a much longer version with some conversation with all the authors and their readings. Thanks to VintageBomb for letting me borrow it!

COMING SOON: A contest to win some little things (several autographed) from Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, and Lauren DeStefano.

City of Fallen Angels

by Cassandra Clare

Overall: YYYYY
Action: aaaaa

Comedy: aaaa4

Drama: aaaaa

Romance: aaaaa

Suspense/Mystery: aaaaa

Tragedy/Tear-Worthy: aa4

Explanation of rating

***VAGUE SPOILERS! But, I don't think, anything too horrible >.> ...But Cassie says SPOILERS so it must be true :P ***

Summary: The story opens with Simon mulling over a cup of coffee about his Vampire Mojo [yes, it does exist]; in the past several weeks since City of Glass ended, he finds himself dating two girls, Isabelle Lightwood [sexy Shadowhunter] and Maia Roberts [nerdy werewolf]. Isabelle meets him at the diner, but their date is cut short when Simon is approached by two blood slaves to a powerful vampire of Manhattan. [Hint: Simon's love-life is pretty much its own blood-sucking demon.]

Camille, a beautiful vampire introduced in TMI's prequel Clockwork Angel, has returned to the city to reclaim her clan that Raphael had coerced from her. She offers Simon a deal to partner with her to remove Raphael - with Simon's Mark of Cain [which comes into action], few vampires would want to go against them. She gives him five days to decide - which happens to be the most drama-filled days of his life [but he's getting used to trouble following him and his friends... kind of]. Not only is Camille after him, but another mysterious power keeps trying to kill him [more than his undead life-style already required].

Meanwhile, Clary has been training to be a Shadowhunter. More than once Jace unintentionally distracts her and [what fans have craved more of from the past three books] several scenes are dedicated Clary and Jace finding it hard to keep their hands off each other [or finding a private room to do so]. With constantly shifting points-of-views, it is learned that Shadowhunters are being killed in Downworlder territories, someone is playing with babies and Demon-blood again, and teenage hormones are becoming trickier. With each of The Mortal Instrument's familiar characters, the past doesn't seem to want to stay in the past, not even for the immortals.

I can't give a jolting final sentence to end this summary, purely because there is no one way to sum up the story. There are so many twists and un-expectations [I was shocked to tears in the last few pages] that you simply have no other choice than to read this book and flail your arms wildly at the end.

"The love that moves the sun and all the other stars.

The kind of love that can burn down the world

or raise it up in glory."

~~~~~~~~~~

Opinion: I have never been so thrown off by an author's answers to questions as greatly as I have with this book. For those of you who follow Cassie Clare on Twitter, you know that she answers fans' questions almost daily - and she answers them truthfully. That's the worst part. Like I mentioned on my own Twitter, she's like a faerie - she doesn't lie to her fans, but she secretly and gleefully enjoys the subtle misconceptions we so willingly fall into. She gave us straight answers, but giggles like a devilish child while doing so. Touche, Miss Clare. Touche.

Was that not enough of an opinion for you? Fine. Here you go:

This book is even more fabulous than Magnus in a sari. With glitter [always with glitter]. Perhaps in South Carolina.

~~~~~~~~~~

For School? (Hey, I'm a teacher, I think about this stuff!) Pretty sure I would make my students read this purely so I can have another hundred people to talk to about it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

For a spoilery review, go over to Mundie Source

Clockwork Angel

by Cassandra Clare

Overall: YYYY4
Action: aaaaa
Comedy: aaa4
Drama: aaaa
Romance: aaa4
Suspense/Mystery: aaaa
Tragedy/Tear-worthy: aa4
Explanation of rating

THIS IS A REVIEW OF AN *ADVANCE* COPY! IT IS *SPOILER FREE*

***Clockwork Angel will be released August 31, 2010***

Clockwork Angel is now in stores!

Summary: Taking place in London in the last quarter of the 1800s, American-born Tessa Gray comes to England after her aunt dies to live with her older brother, Nathaniel. Upon arriving, she is taken in by two women, the Dark Sisters (as they like to be called), who have a letter from Nate, telling Tessa to trust the women to bring her to his home. Surprise, surprise, this doesn't go as well as expected.

The Dark Sisters kidnap Tessa and force her to learn an ability she never knew she had. Turns out, she is a Downworlder, potentially a warlock, with the power to shape-shift - changing into any person and gaining insight into their personalities and memories. Every day she is forced to push herself further in this training all for the sake of the mysterious Magister, whom the Dark Sisters are working for. Once Tessa discovers she is actually being prepared to marry the Magister, she begins to make her escape... and fails. But then she escapes again [she's really a bit clever throughout the book] and is simultaniously rescued by William Herondale [does the name ring any bells?], a beautiful young shadowhunter with a knack for witty comebacks.

Taken to the London Institute, Tessa is introduced to the other Shadowhunters that inhabit the church: Charlotte, the head of the Institute struggling to gain respect as a powerful woman; Henry, an wonky inventor with a mild case of ADHD [love him!]; Jessamine, who only wants to have a normal life for a woman of the time without the demon blood on her clothes; Jem, Will's parabatai and the more logical and calm of the pair who easily befriends Tessa; and Thomas, Sophie, and Agatha, each Mundanes who have the Sight and work for the Clave. Throughout the book, other characters come into play as well, including a couple of Lightwoods and Magnus Bane himself [If you are wondering: yes, it is possible for him to be as incredibly fabulous in the 19th Century as he is in the 21st, just less sparkly.].

It's hard to continue with a spoil-free summary after this, because Clare jumps into some pretty intense [and rather descriptive] action. In essence, the Shadowhunters agree to help Tessa find her brother as long as she, in turn, uses her shape-shifting abilities to uncover evil-doings of the Pandemonium Club and the people/Downworlders behind the recent influx of mechanical beings with a tendency to kill.

~~~~~~~~~~

Opinion: First of all, remember to suggest amazing books to amazing people - you will always be rewarded. Several years ago, I told one of my most fabulous friends, and sorority sister [w00t Phi Sigma Sigma], Ashley about The Mortal Instruments [Cassie's first series... duh]. She kind of fell in love and created the official fansite MundieSource.net a few days later. In return, I read City of Glass in advance when she let me borrow her copy, and now she gave me a advance copy of Clockwork Angel (only 300 of which were given out at BEA). So, I devote this entire paragraph to you, Ashley ;)

Moving on...
This story is completely different from what we all knew and loved in The Mortal Instruments that I even dislike trying to vaguely compare character roles. Will does not equal Jace; Jem does not equal Alec; Tessa does not not NOT equal Clary. It will be hard to convince the more stubborn readers out there that this is true, but within the first few chapters it's obvious.

The only reason I gave this book 4.5 Ys rather than 5 is because I felt as if it was setting me up for something even better. It's like climbing up the ladder for a high dive - you reach the top and can see out over the lake; you get to the end of the board, look down and realize where you are and take in the weird feeling in your tummy that is telling you "Hey, this kind of goes against basic survival instincts. Just sayin'," but you ignore that silly little tummy of yours and you want to jump.

This book basically ends there. I want to jump sooooo bad, because that's the best part. Clockwork Angel is more like climbing the ladder: I absolutely laughed a bunch of times [we all know Cassie has the best one-liners, and Will delivers them perfectly], I held my breath during some pretty intense fights [really brilliant descriptions], and I definitely cried [Cassie always makes me cry]. And I love that there is going to be something even more amazing in the books to come. Throughout this first installment, there are little details that are sure to play a bigger part (especially the reason behind the title 'Clockwork Angel'), again making me more excited to read the rest of the series!

p.s. I'll have you know, I am pretty decisive about "teams." I'm Team Peeta, for the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I'm Team Draco, as in Hermione/Draco [blame Cassie for this one too...]. Hell, I am even Team George when it comes to the Weasley twins. But this book.... From Cassie's cookies, I thought Jem. But after actually reading it all, I'm not sure. And you know what? I love this story even more because of my indecisiveness. This really just means that Cassie was able to present two equal and well-deserving characters - nothing blatantly sided like it was for Jace/Clary.

~~~~~~~~~~

For School? (Hey, I'm a teacher, I think about this stuff!) How do I say no to Cassandra Clare? While this isn't generally something a regular English class would probably study, any properly tailored course could do wonders with this book - especially if the class were to compare the story of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices. The way Clare is able to use a basic premise (Shadowhunters) and create two very different stories is something I don't get to read often. Many authors fall into the same story, just with different names and setting; it gets boring. Cassandra Clare is never boring. #fact

Realistically though, this book is purely for entertainment and should be kept that way.

p.s. Happy Birthday, Harry Fricken Potter!