Mundie Moms

Monday, December 10, 2012

Weekly Round Up in the Stacks (IMM #149 / Stacking the Shelves #13)

Welcome to this week's edition of my weekly round up in the stacks (inspired by both The Story Siren's In My Mail Box and Tynga Review's Stacking the Shelves). I don't know about you guys, but my mind is still back in October, and my body is in December. How in the world is it already the end of the year?! I am not ready for it to be the end of 2012 yet. 


Mac Kids:
Random House:
Disney Hyperion:
SOHO Teen:
Penguin Teen:

Harper Teen:
Amulet Books:
Random House:
Gifted:
  • signed book plate from AC Gaughen
Bought:
Thank you to: MacKids, Random House, Harper Teen, Penguin, SOHO Teen, Amulet Books, Disney Hyperion and AC Gaughen for this week's awesome goodies. 

Weekly Recap: Here's some of the things featured on MM's this past week:

Book Reviews:
Cassie's Latest Posts / TMI & ID News:
Blog Tours/Giveaways:
Thank you for stopping by & have a lovely week! Feel free to leave me a link to your feature so I can stop by and leave you a comment. 

Coming in Feb. '12: The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson


The exciting news all of us Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan & Maureen Johnson fans have all been waiting for has finally arrived! Magnus fans get ready for fan girl, because per EW's Shelf Life, Cassie, Sarah and Maureen are writing The Bane Chronicles!

Here's what the press release said:

Can’t get enough of Magnus Bane? Let the new short story cycle, The Bane Chronicles, fill the void. Cassandra Clare will collaborate with YA authors Sarah Rees Brennan (Unspoken, Team Human) and Maureen Johnson (The Name of the Star, 13 Little Blue Envelopes) on the serialization which will be focus on Bane, the immortal warlock seen in Clare’s Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series.

Starting in February, one story in the cycle will be released every month in e-book format leading up to The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie (out Aug. 23). This will be followed by a single print edition in 2014.

MORE MAGNUS!!!! *dances around & throw glitter* The Bane Chronicles will be published in e-book format starting in February 2013 and be released monthly up until City of Bones the movie is released. The entire series will be released in print in 2014. Sarah's teased us with what we can except in this 10 book series:

- We'll find out more about Magnus's past loves, his lies, his and Alec's 1st date, how he and Camille got together and what happened in Peru!

This calls for a celebration.... let's celebrate with Magnus & Chairman Meow:



What do you guys think? Share your excitement on Twitter with #TheBaneChronicles

The Mortal Instruments Movie Monday #10: Simon aka Robert Sheehan


Welcome to this week's edition of The Mortal Instruments Movie Monday. This week's post is about our favorite best friend, SIMON and the actor who's portraying in the movie, Robert Sheehan. Go ahead, fan yourself. ;)

I mentioned the other day on Twitter that seeing Robert Sheehan playing Simon, makes me see Simon in a whole new way. Boy does he do Simon justice! I'm just saying.... I have a feeling I'm going to have hard time being annoyed with City of Bones movie Simon vs book Simon. I adore Simon. He's that fabulous best friend who's always there for Clary, but yet he bugs me to no end when he won't just let her go. Let me clarify, I get why he's protective of her, and I admire him for that, what I get annoyed at is even when it's obvious she doesn't share the same feelings towards him as he has for her, he won't back off. That totally annoys me in the book. BUT, Simon is a character who slowly but surely grew on me. The more I got to know him, the more I fell in love with him.



The moment I realized it was going to be impossible for me to be irritated at Simon in the movie..... that look. No, not the Jace look, the one above. I had to include Jace for my viewing pleasure, because it was part of the video clip. ;)




I feel Simon is the character that grows the most in the series, and it's one of the things I love that Cassie does with his character. That growth he has in each book made me love him more. He is a character who as he matures more, and changes, becomes more comfortable in his own skin. Out of all the characters in The Mortal Instruments series, he's the one who surprised me the most. I wasn't excepting geeky Simon (which I love), to become hot vampire Simon who can hold his own against Jace. I think Robert is the only actor who can portray that growth perfectly. I feel as an actor, Robert really gets and understands Simon. I'll elaborate more on that at a future date when my movie set trip embargo is lifted. ;)

For example, I will admit Simon kind of ticked me off with Magnus's party scene when he gets himself turned into a rat. I loved that Clary rescues him and all, but this scene here:



You know what my first thought when seeing Simon in this scene was, "Aw, poor Simon!" I would love to say curse you Robert Sheehan for making me feel for Simon here. Really how could I not?! Not saying I didn't love Simon in COB or don't feel bad for him during this time, but seeing him here just gets me in a way that it didn't in the book. See what I mean.... Robert Sheehan is the perfect Simon! I don't think anyone else would make me feel sorry for him and want to protect him. 


With Simon, I loved how Cassie made him a crucial character in the storyline. We know with Cassie most of her characters of a point being in the storyline. I felt like Simon's progression goes like this: boy who's in love with his best friend and doesn't take the hint she doesn't love him, but will do anything for her, boyfriend, broken up, awkward stage, starts to realize Clary may not be right for him after all, changes into a vampire, he has more confidence, and slowly becomes more of Clary's protector, confidant, friend, someone who's grown to be some what of a leader. Then we get to COFA and I am full grown in love with this Simon! COLS- Kick butt Simon has full emerged onto the scene.

When I took to twitter last week to ask you guys one word you would use to describe Simon some of you said:
- Understanding
- Reliable
- Comfort
- Best Friend
- Hot Nerd
- Geeky
- Supportive

No matter what anyone says, Robert Sheehan is the perfect Simon in my book and I can not wait to see what he does with Simon on the big screen. I have a feeling he's going to have Jamie/Jace some stiff competition. I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on Simon & Robert Sheehan's casting of Simon.

#BIR2012 Day 1: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare / Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen / plus 2 GIVEAWAYS


Best I've Read is back! I'm excited to be taking part in this for the third straight year. Through out the entire week I'll be spotlighting some of my favorite reads along with hosting some giveaways. I'm not the only one featuring my favorites, myself along with Page Turners, Once Upon a Twilight, Reading Lark, Books Complete Me, Portrait of a Book, Amethyst Daydreams, A Reader's Ramblings, Cindy Thomas, YA Author, I Am A Read, Not a Writer, are all also taking part in this year's week long feature. 

In addition each of our posts, don't miss all of our top favorites which will be featured on Best I've Read's blog along with giveaways! Collectively as a group we came up with our shared favorites which are being featured on the BIR blog each day. So you have numerous chances this week to win some fabulous goodies. You can check out each blog's individual schedule's here. Next week you'll have more chances to win goodies with our annual Mundie Moms Best of series. 

Don't miss today's BIR2102 blog favorites: The Raven Boys & Pushing the Limits

*************

Kicking off this week's series I don't think it's going to be a surprise to anyone why Sophie & I both listed City of Lost Souls as one of our favorite reads this year. Cassie gave us plenty of romance, action scenes, some shocking revelations, and of course one heck of a cold hearted villain who even had us fallen for him at first. She also gave us what we wanted..... Magnus & Alec, Jace & Clary, Simon & Izzy, and Jordan & Maia. Of course one of our favorite moments included a boat, water and Jace & Clary. 

Published by: Margaret McElderry Books
Released on: May 8th, 2012
Purchase from: Simon & Schuster | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series -quoted from Goodreads

You can read my full spoiler free review here. Thank you to Simon & Schuster, I've got a copy of City of Lost Souls to giveaway to one lucky reader! To enter, please fill out the form below.

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Best I've Read Book Feature #2- Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen


This is one of my all time favorite books from this year! You'll see it at the top of my 2013 favorites list next week. I'm a huge fan of Robin Hood, and this story blew me away! I LOVED getting an entirely different side and version of this story. Not only that, but it was from girl's point of view. Okay, it might also have to do with the romance that takes place in this book that also sold me, and the fact that Scarlet is an unforgettable heroine, at least for me. If you're a Robin Hood fan you have to read this book, and even if you're not a fan, but you love a well written story, you have to pick this up!

Published by: Bloomsbury Teens
To Be Released on: February 14th, 2012, 
Purchase from: IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for -quoted from Goodreads

You can read my review for it here. Thank you to Bloomsbury, Amethyst Daydreams and I are hosting a giveaway! One lucky reader will win a copy of Scarlet. 

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Mundane Monday #166: Will and Tessa

Happy Mundane Monday! 



And it did matter.

"It's too late," she said.

"Don't say that." His voice was half a whisper. "I love you, Tessa. I love you." 

- Clockwork Prince, page 468, Will & Tessa

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