Review: The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

Goodreads summary:  The vast multi-generational epic that began with The Tea Rose and continued with The Winter Rose now reaches its dramatic conclusion in The Wild Rose. 

London, 1914. World War I is looming on the horizon, women are fighting for the right to vote, and global explorers are pushing the limits of endurance at the Poles and in the deserts. Into this volatile time, Jennifer Donnelly places her vivid and memorable characters: 

- Willa Alden, a passionate mountain climber who lost her leg while climbing Kilimanjaro with Seamus Finnegan, and who will never forgive him for saving her life. 

- Seamus Finnegan, a polar explorer who tries to forget Willa as he marries a beautiful young woman back home in England. 

- Max von Brandt, a handsome sophisticate who courts high society women, but who has a secret agenda as a German spy; 
- and many others.

I am going to keep this one short and sweet (well maybe not so sweet), since I wasn’t asked to review this book. First off, let me tell you how much I LOVE Jennifer Donnelly. I have read all of her books and I pretty much beg people to read The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose. I have been waiting 5 LONG years for this book so you can imagine how I felt when it turned out to be such a disappointment. It took me 4 weeks to read. I just wasn’t interested in picking it up 

Donnelly’s previous two books were Epic romances with some crazy twists and turns that she managed to make believable. The Wild Rose on the other hand is completely unbelievable. I feel like the author just forced out this last book because she had a contract to fulfil and we have been waiting so long as it is. The ‘epic’ romance between Willa and Seamus was over shadowed by their adultery and delusions. Normally I always route for the soul mates; no matter what stands in their way, they should be together! But I just didn’t feel it this time. I had no sympathy or liking towards Willa.

My favourite character was poor Jennie. She was like a breath of fresh air blowing through all the heart ache and war. I felt so sorry for her, an innocent person, stuck in a marriage to a man who loves someone else. She is wronged throughout the book and it didn’t sit well with me.

I also felt that there was just too much going on in this book; too many sub plots, too many POVs. The story was written in a very similar way to the last books so I found it incredibly predictable, which made it boring.

I don’t want to tear this story apart. It did have some good moments. I loved seeing Sid and India again. I was intrigued by post-war England; shell-shocked soldiers returning home to a ruined economy. I also enjoyed Max, the villain of the story. I felt him and Josie were the only two characters with any real depth. It is the first time I have ever felt sympathy for the bad guy! So ya, I am glad I read it. I did enjoy moments of it. I just had such high expectations!

Evidently this was not short and sweet at all. The Wild Rose aside, I still urge you all to read The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose. They are amazing stories by a wonderful writer. While they are meant to be a trilogy you can definitely read them as standalone books! Despite this let down, I will still run out to buy any new book Donnelly writes. I have loved all her books; I just felt this was rushed and tired. It genuinely pains and upsets me, but I am only giving this one 2/5 Stars.

Review: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

GoodReads Summary: To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

So much is going on in this book! It felt like every paragraph ended with a cliffhanger. There was just so much to take in and I loved it all! The term tortured hero couldn’t apply more to Jace in this book. His character is darker this time round but he is still fundamentally a good guy. I loved how all the characters seemed to mature so much in this book, in particular Simon and Clary. It is fast paced and packed with extraordinary descriptive visions and creatures. Clare has created a magnificent and wild world that is completely believable.

The story is full of twists, one huge one in the form of Sebastian! It delves further into the relationship between Magnus and Alec, much to my delight. I’d like to see more on them in City of Fallen Angels. Magnus is such a character with all his quirky clothes and blue glitter.

At this stage all of the books have just blurred together for me, but I still think this one is my favourite because it centered around Jace and Clary a lot more than the other ones. I usually don’t include quotes in my reviews but I’m just going to add a few that I keep gushing over!


"There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then."


"And I'm suppose to sit by while you date boys and fall in love with someone else, get married...?" His voice tightened. "And meanwhile, I'll die a little bit more every day, watching."

And just one more quote for some Lols!
"I am a man" he told her, "and men do not consume pink beverages. Get thee gone woman, and bring me something brown." – Jace

Over all, I am adoring this series and am delighted with the end of this book. I was completely sucked into the world of shadow hunters and the relationship between Jace and Clary. However I’ll be taking a break from Young Adult for a while, I can’t handle all this teenage angst. I’m giving it 5 stars, and I HIGHLY recommend this series!

Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Goodreads 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. 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.

My eyes feel like they are going to fall out my head. I have not put this book down once today. City of Ashes is the second book in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. I loved this book!
The story carried on from where it left off in the first book but this time it delved further into the lives and relationships of all the characters, even the minor ones. I don’t want to go into too much detail in case I spoil the first book for people.  I was very excited about the new relationship between Alec and Magnus the warlock and am looking forward to seeing how it progresses through the series. 

The plots are well written. It's fast pace and very detailed. Many parts kept me on the edge of my seat while trying to read faster to see what happens next! I am still in emotional turmoil over the relationship between Jace (whom I love a bit too much) and Clary. Despite their creepy situation I am still routing for them and I still have hope that there has been a huge and ugly misunderstanding! (If you haven’t read City of Bones then you have no idea what I’m rambling on about; I don’t want any spoilers!) There is even more conflict, tension, jealousy and adventure in book two which makes things so interesting. 


I’m giving this one 5 stars! 

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Blurb: It’s after dark in New York city, and Clary Fray is seeing things. The best-looking guy in the nightclub just stabbed a boy to death – but the victim has vanished into thin air. Her mother has disappeared, and a hideous monster is lurking in her apartment. With her life spiraling into darkness, Clary realizes that she has stumbled into an invisible war between ancient demonic forces and the secretive Shawdowhunters – a war in which she has a fateful role to play.


I know I’m a late bloomer in terms of starting The Mortal Instruments series. But hey, better late than never!


What did I think about City of Bones? I thought it was brilliant; although I have literally just read the last page and I’m still feeling very shell shocked about the revelation at the end! I will admit I started this book a few years ago and just couldn’t get past the first few chapters; the same thing happened this time round. At the start I found Clary to be foolish and naïve, following knife yielding men around a nightclub?! But once I read past that and got to know her better I really warmed to her and began to appreciate how awesome the story and characters are.


After meeting shadowhunters, Jace, Alec and Isabelle, Clary’s life as she knows it is turned upside down as she races to save her mother. The world Cassandra Clare has created is seamless and believable. She included everything; vampires, werewolves, demons, faeries, witches and warlocks. 


Clary is funny and refreshingly strong. She doesn’t let others walk all over her and she says it how it is. At the same time she is an ordinary girl that any reader can easily relate to.  Jace is beautiful (and he knows it!), arrogant, sarcastic and pretty much a badass. There is an instant spark between the two and their banter-filled dialogue often had me laughing out loud. I definitely fell hard for Jace! Arrogant but Vulnerable is my favourite!


If you like urban fantasy then this is the book for you. I have two more books on my list before I can read City of Ashes in which I am praying the horrific revelation at the end of this book will be sorted out, although I can’t see it happening. I am looking forward to reading what happens next regardless! This book has it all really; romance, mystery, adventure, violence and that twist at the end! 


I'm giving this book 5 Stars!