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.
Nothing much happened in this book. I'd rather wish I could read the first installment instead. 2 stars of 5 stars rating.
In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art
school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night,
the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her
along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to
Siberia. Lina’s father has been separated from the family and sentenced
to death in a prison camp. All is lost.
Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she
will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their
experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art
as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father’s prison camp
to let him know they are still alive.
It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible
strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day.
But will love be enough to keep them alive?
Between Shades of Gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath,
captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human
spirit.
It’s a book that will capture your heart. A brilliant author who
wrote a brilliant story. It’s amazing! A sorrowful and terrifying,
carrying us to the setting in 1941. The characters are courageous even
when they fear the Soviet, they fight through the tough times—living
each day knowing that everyday will be another challenge of surviving,
hoping to hear news from their relatives from the parts their relatives
are sent to.
Lina is a different fifteen-year-old if you compare me to her. She’s
very brave and can handle what she sees in front of her and she need not
hesitate to face it, she learn to face them. The difficulties. With her
mother and brother. Despite her father sentenced to death in a prison
camp, she continued to live life with her mother and brother. Her mother
give them hope that things are going to be all right.
Let us watch this very moving video from the author:
Now, I really do see what love can do to change our lives starting
today. For Lina, I think if I were her, I do not know where I stand
anymore. Or much less, any good things will come by my life. *shrugs*
Probably, I’m just too weak. My faith is not strong enough and that
maybe is the reason why. For her, she continued on. She knows that if
she gets through this, there’s a light that will eventually filter
through even in teeny tiniest bit of light in the darkness.
Lina found love in a hopeless place. I kinda envy her because she
received a love that is selflessly. True love that comes from within
even when countries are tearing each other apart or the people are out
of their sanity killing thousands of people – Love still stands! My
favorite word in the book is krasivaya meaning beautiful. It’s a
Russian word. The guy truly knows how to love a fragile heart – he
knows what he’s got into. This is what I always get in the books. I’m
jealous because guys in it are such gentleman!
Some quotes from the book: “Sometimes there is such beauty in awkwardness. There’s love and
emotion trying to express itself, but at the time, it just ends up being
awkward.”
“Krasivaya”
The human nature is love. Read this (from the last paragraph of the author’s note in Between Shades of Gray):
…They (the three Baltic countries) chose hope over hate and showed the
world even though the darkest night, there is light. Please research it.
Tell someone. These three tiny nations have taught us that love is the
most powerful army. Whether love of friend, love of the country, love of
God, or even love of enemy – love reveals us the truly miraculous
nature of the human spirit.
I love this song, Human Nature covered by the Glee cast.
This song was originally sang by Michael Jackson. It all connect to us!
Love is a human nature! Spread the love to the people who need love!
*hearts, hearts*
Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can’t figure out if it’s for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father’s death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn’t answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?
I can’t believe I still have interest to read the sequel of Hush Hush. This, Crescendo. It’s not my first time giving a bad review on a book either. I had already done it for Stephenie Meyer’s, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. That book I didn’t like and this book too. Well, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner was not that boring compared to this Crescendo.
I read through all the pages all the way to the end of the story of Crescendo because I want to find out what’s the new character like, the author added into the book. To my disappointment, in the end I had no idea who Scott truly is though there are parts the author mentioned Scott being all on edges. The new character didn’t get the nice intro that much.
Hush Hush and Crescendo is whole lot draggy, rambling novel that won’t get you to the whole point of the story. It keep rambling but never get to the point directly! And while I was reading it, it’s boring some parts are predictable like, she’s going to wake up in the morning, brush her teeth, breakfast and then of course there is school – we all know that routine SO well already! Come on! Write something that we don’t already know yet!
I read this book… I guess I just wanna find what’s the next story and Scott. But I was disappointed really! One thing I learned from reading Hush Hush & Crescendo, it’s about how you write. Now I know what it’s like to read not-so-good book. And I also understand now what my English teacher was saying about not going directly to the point of the story. It gets boring, draggy. I don’t know if I’m going to read Silence or not. *sigh*
I don’t even think of giving 1 star for this book. I leave it to zero. Not good book at all. But I’m tempted to read Silence that’s really surprising to me though this is me, deciding… I don’t know. We’ll see. Probably if I read Silence, you never know I might actually eat my word about these books or something. I’m not sure. We’ll see how it goes.
Ciao for now! Happy April! Keep the brain close to the fictional world!
