Tiffany

Touches on some incredibly thought-provoking and challenging topics. I came into the story with no expectations and ended up crying at the end. When two sides both have their evils, how can you choose which to side with? I loved Lee, cried with him, empathised with him. I didn't love Antigone (and I think Annie is a blasphemous nickname for such a unique name - but I've never liked the name Annie), but I came to respect her and her decisions in the end. The themes the author wanted to explore were well-executed, and incredibly impressive for a first book. I'm not a fan of dual POVs and am still not, but I think in this case, it lend rather than took away from the message the author wanted to convey.

I think the most disappointing thing was that dragons weren't really integral to the story - you could take them away and replace it with any other element and it would continue to read the same. Labelled as a fantasy, but doesn't really take advantage of fantastical elements.

I didn't love the story, but I think I will with re-reads. Fingers crossed that the sequel remains within lines of expectations.

Felt like The Secret History fanfiction, but with even more obnoxious characters (who had no reason to be as obnoxious as they were). The writing is incredibly purple prose and overly pretentious for no reason.

Fireborne: 4/5
Flamefall: 3.5/5 (4/5 on a good day)
Furysong 3.5/5


I started Fireborne morning of December 16th, and finished Furysong by noon of December 17th. I came into the series without reading any of the synopsis or reviews - I only knew that it had dragons in it. I think it was the best decision I've ever made. The Aurelian Cycle is such an impressive debut series by Rosaria Munda, and while I don't exactly love it quite yet, I think I will with time. The highlights of the story included the prose and character development. I cried so many times reading the series - certainly, not a comfort read by any means. I came to love the characters that I wasn't fond of in the beginning: Power, in particular - I'll always have a soft spot for him. Lee I've loved from the beginning. I still have mixed feelings for Antigone, but she certainly makes a compelling MC.

There were a few gripes: a lot of lore terms that sort of muddled within the story; other countries, which I wish had been incorporated more seamlessly starting in book 1; Lee and Annie's relationship. In truth, I think it would have been a beautiful friendship. Lovers, however, I'm still not entirely convinced by. I think Power was done dirty, and that Annie and Power together would have been incredibly compelling. I loved the way he lifted her up, made her independent in all the ways Lee couldn't. Similarly, I wish there was more depth in Delos & Griff's relationship, and the exploration of the shift of servitude and power. Pacing also became a significant issue in books 2 and 3. Furysong felt slow, but the ending felt rushed.

In my opinion, I think the fantastical aspect of the story fell flat as well. It felt as if you could replace dragons with any other object or magic system, and it wouldn't change much at all. For me, this series was less fantasy, and more political intrigue. Don't get me wrong, I love political intrigue and The Aurelian Cycle does it splendidly; however, I wish it tapped more into the fantasy as well.

What I found most disappointing: I wish that Ixion posed as a more compelling villain. The questions posed within Fireborne: in the face of two evils, how do you choose the lesser? With the power to choose which regime rises and falls, how do you cope with the choice? How do we break this senseless cycle of violence? All this sort of dissolved as the series went on when the balance clearly tilts to one side where Ixion clearly becomes the extreme.

Reading this felt like everything and nothing simultaneously happened. There was an attempt at political intrigue, but it didn't feel well executed. The magic system was fascinating, but it felt as if the plot only skimmed the surface - perhaps the author attempting to too much, all at once. I think the story would have been stronger if it went all in on one or the other.

All things considered, I enjoyed Ning as a protagonist, but felt that all other characters within the story fell flat. The story felt too short to have properly fleshed out all the side characters, and even the male lead/main antagonists. While Ning made a compelling protagonist, the pacing (and perhaps even overall plot) of the story let her down.

Overall, not bad, but not great. Would not re-read.

“Magic is dangerous–but love is more dangerous still.”

Clockwork Angel is the start of the prequel series, Infernal Devices, to Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instrument series. I bought this book eReader wise early this January, and I have to say, it's a definite wonderful read! Clare takes her readers back in time to the Victorian Era, with descriptive writing and conflicts existing in the time of Victorian Era, such as the struggle for the women Shadowhunters to be proper young ladies and women that society demands while balancing the Shadowhunters' need for strong fighters.

The main protagonist, Tessa Gray, travels to London to visit her brother Nathaniel; but as the ship docks, she is kidnapped by two women, also known as the ‘Dark Sisters.' Terrified, confused, and worn out, she is rescued by two Shadowhunters: Will and Jem. They take her to the London Institute, where Tessa learns that her powers are different, otherworldly...and that there is a world within the world, a battle ready to start; and Tessa is in the middle.

In Clockwork Angel, you can see that Cassandra had changed her writing a little bit, to fit in with the mannerisms and beliefs of the Victorian Era. The speech, actions...everything is more refined. But even so, Cassandra managed to sneak in some dark humor and action scenes. And of course, the hazy, mysterious background of Will and Jem - which are bound to become bigger issues in the Clockwork Prince, the sequel to Clockwork Angel - that keeps readers entranced and entertained.

When I first picked up this book however, I was a bit skeptical. I generally have an aversion to reading books set in a different period of time from the original series, because I've already developed an attachment to the original characters. All I can say is, I definitely loved TID more then TMI. Not only the plot, but also the characters. The characters themselves are engaging, from dark-humoured William Herondale to high-strung Jessamine Lovelace. The interaction between characters, especially Tessa, Will, and Jem. You can't help but feel for all of them, in different ways.

Through this book, you will find spine-racking battles, intriguing mysteries, and a twist at the end, that tells you that the book is only the beginning. This book will certainly leave readers impatient for the sequel!