Mundie Moms

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Bane Chronicles: Vampires, Scones & Edmund Herondale by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan, Teaser



We're right about a week away from the next installment of The Bane Chronicles: Vampires, Scones and Edmund Herondale being released, and today Cassie treated us to a snippet:
Bane Chronicles snippet #3: Vampires, Scones and Edmund Herondale
I was very stupid,” Edmund said, almost violently. “I thought of love as a game. It is not a game. It is more serious than death. Without Linette, I might as well be dead.”
“You speak of giving up your Shadowhunter nature,” said Magnus softly. “One can give up many things for love, but one should not give up oneself.”
“Is that so, Bane?” Edmund whirled on him. “I was born to be a warrior, and I was born to be with her. Tell me how to reconcile the two, because I cannot!” — Vampires, Scones and Edmund Herondale, coming out June 18th for e-readers everywheres!
This installment, which is co-written by Cassie herself and Sarah Rees Brennan, will be available for e-book download on June 18th, 2013.

The Mortal Instruments Movie Sweepstakes from NYX Cosmetics


NYX Cosmetics is hosting an incredibly AWESOME giveaway! For your chance to win a VIP trip to LA for you & a guest, fill out their form here. Check out what they have to say about the sweepstakes here.

Per their site:

Enter for a Chance to Win a VIP Trip for Two to Los Angeles!
A winner will receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes package for one person and their guest. This prize includes two round trip airfares, a two night stay in a hotel, VIP studio tour of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a red carpet worthy makeover from NYX, $500 worth of NYX cosmetics, an exclusive $500 shopping spree at ULTA Beauty and movie swag bag with signed poster! Read the Official Rules

Speaking of makeup, have you picked up your TMI inspired make up kit from Ulta? It's under $30, and I'm itching to get my hands on this!


Is this something you'd get and use or is this something you'd get just to have, since it's part of the TMI movie? 

The Mortal Instruments Movie at Comic Con


Exciting news for those attending Comic Con, there just might be a little something something that has to do with the movie on that Friday. I can't say much else, but I can say that those of us attending will be sharing the exciting events/news of that day. Cassie confirmed today on Twitter, what I was told in person from a VERY reliable source while attending BEA two weeks ago. So Shadowhunter fans, let us know if you're attending Comic Con this year. Hopefully I'll see you there. ;)

Shadowhunter 101: #1 Nephilim / #2 Mundane

The Mortal Instruments Singapore Facebook Page has started a new series called: Shadowhunter 101. I know, awesome right? Here's what they've shared with Shadowhunter fans so far:

Shadowhunter 101 #1: Nephilim
Nephilim, an older word for Shadowhunters. They walk among us, unseen but ever-present.




Shadowhunter 101 #2: Mundane
Someone from the human world. Like you, like me.

Be sure to follow their page, by liking them here. I'm curious to find out what word they feature next. 

Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff Blog Tour & Giveaway

Welcome to today's Boy Nobody Mission Briefing tour stop. Today's stop features an interview with the author of Boy Nobody, Allen Zadoff and a giveaway!



Thank you Allen for being on Mundie Moms today. I'm excited to talk to you about the technology side of Boy Nobody. What's Boy Nobody's favorite gadget to receive his assignments and why? 
Great to be here, and thanks for having me! Boy Nobody’s main gadget is not really a gadget at all—it’s a regular iPhone bought from the Apple Store. What makes it special is its operating system, because after he buys it, he downloads a secret security suite that runs below the surface of the regular phone.  Boy Nobody puts his phone in “secure mode” by swiping with a unique gesture. That gives him access to a set of apps that do amazing things.  The cool thing is he could switch his phone back to normal mode, hand it to you, and you’d never know it was anything but a regular iPhone.

If you were in Boy Nobody's shoes, what way would you prefer to receive your assignments? Would you go with the more subtle approach or a Mission Impossible style one?
I’m all for Mission Impossible-style. It’s a lot more fun. Soon Boy Nobody might be getting his assignments on Google Glass. Have you read about that?

In what ways could the gadgets that Boy Nobody uses help him find out who he really is, and get the answers he's been looking for?
Interesting that you mention that because I’m working on Boy Nobody 2 right now, and some of those questions of identity that have been plaguing him are beginning to get answered.  In Book 1, we find out that Boy Nobody’s father was killed when he was twelve, and his whole life changed as he was trained to be the boy soldier and assassin he is today.  He doesn’t know why this happened, but he senses there are secrets in his past that need to be uncovered.
They say that once something is on the internet, it’s always on the internet. (Think about that the next time you upload a Facebook photo.) The good news about this from Boy Nobody’s perspective: Maybe some of the answers he seeks are buried deep inside the web…

If we got a hold of Boy Nobody's iPhone, what kind of applications would he have on there? 
You might have Boy Nobody’s phone right now, and you’d never know it!  But let’s say he showed you the secret of how to access the security suite. You’d see apps that allowed you to make secure calls, apps that could call in military forces  to help you in a fight, apps that could turn someone else’s phone into a “zombie” phone so you could use it (or use its camera) without the person ever knowing. And on and on. The hackers of The Program (the organization that Boy Nobody works for) are quite ingenious.

Since technology is a huge thing in the story, and Boy Nobody is a teen, does he have a favorite networking site we'd find him on? If so, what would it be, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter etc?
One of the mottos of The Program is “hide in plain sight”.  Boy Nobody uses social media to read and pass on mission information. For example, his assignments sometimes appear as Facebook profiles, because who will notice one Facebook profile in a sea of millions?  Similarly, there are ways to hide data inside of photos, which makes things like Tumblr blogs and Instagram particularly useful. And Boy Nobody can do a lot of damage in 140 characters. My point is he doesn’t have a favorite. He’s familiar with all of them, he’s savvy at using them, and he and The Program are infinitely creative. So as social media apps change, his approach to using them will change.
That’s all I can say, though you might find out more on http://facebook.com/boynobody.

What's one thing Boy Nobody can't live without 
Love. But he doesn’t know that. At least not yet.


Thank you Allen for stopping by and giving us a glance into Boy Nobody's story and his iPhone.
Want to learn more about Boy Nobody? Check out the info about the book:


They needed the perfect assassin.

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends, and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die-of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target. 

But when he's assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change. The daughter is unlike anyone he has encountered before; the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching. Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission.

In this action-packed series debut, author Allen Zadoff pens a page-turning thriller that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, introducing an utterly original and unforgettable antihero.


By: Allen Zadoff
Published by: Little Brown
To Be Released on: June 11th, 2013
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads



About The Author

Allen Zadoff is the author of several acclaimed novels including Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have, winner of the Sid Fleischman Humor Award and a YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults. He is a graduate of Cornell University and the Harvard University Institute for Advanced Theatre Training. His training as a super spy, however, has yet to be verified. Visit him on the web at www.allenzadoff.com.

The Giveaway
Thank you to Little Brown I have 5 copies of Boy Nobody to giveaway! One winner per copy. US residents only. To enter, please fill out the form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, Book Review




Published by: Henry Holt
Released on: June 4th, 2013
Series: The Grisha #2
Source: arc from publisher to review
5 Stars: I Loved It!
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads

 Darkness never dies. 

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long. 

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.


A dark, dangerous and enchanting sequel, Siege & Storm is a book I devoured in one sitting. I clung to this book's pages as Leigh Bardugo took me on a darker, more suspenseful journey through the dangerous parts of Alina's world. WOW! I wasn't excepting the majority of what happens in this book, and I loved it! From the action, to the character relationships, romance, and shocking twists, this sequel screams brilliance. What a fitting sequel to Shadow and Bone. It was nothing that I excepted, and oh Darkling, did this book leave me an emotional wreck. 

There's something to be said about an author who's not afraid to tell the story their character wants to tell, and not the one they want to tell. These are the authors who aren't afraid to make their readers hurt, cry, laugh, love, sigh, and have their readers email them going "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?". Oh yes, I have officially put Leigh Bardugo in the same category I have Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, and other authors who aren't afraid of the wrath they receive from loyal fans/readers who are totally caught off guard with what they put their characters through. Let's face it, if we always got that happy, go lucky, perfect storyline in every book we really loved, it would be boring. These authors know how to shake things up, and make you feel every emotion their characters do. That's one of the things the makes me pick up their books over and over again. Well that and the fact their writing is brilliant, and their characters have found a spot in my heart that's all their own.

And like the authors I've listed, Leigh Bardugo also has that talent of making the tides turn. Prior to the start of Siege and Storm I was totally on a certain team, but some events happen, and misunderstandings occur, I became part of Team Alina. This is a character who surprises me. No matter how dark, and discouraging things get, she prevails, and keeps going. Sure she does something less than stellar things in this book, but who doesn't make mistakes. It's all part of her learning process. Through all the stuff that happens in this book Alina stays true to herself, and her belief in what she's doing is for the best/good. Even though there are moments of despair and heartbreak for her, there are also moments she had me laughing, and moments that had me sighing. Though Mal and The Darkling play a big part of her darker journey, there's a new character who came bursting onto the scene in this book that not only made me laugh with the way he ruffles Alina and Mal's feathers, but this guy is seriously one sly fox. 

Sturmhond is a character I wasn't excepting to met, nor did I except to like him after his first introduction. He's one of those characters who takes charge of the scene he's in. He's someone who firmly puts in himself in this story, and makes it extremely hard to one, not notice him, and two, hard to forget. He's one of those characters who makes you as a reader put your guard up a little bit ( or a lot), as you're not sure if you want to trust him or not, but the more you read about him, the more you realize your guard goes down a little bit more each time. Part of his intrigue is finding out what his real motives are, and finding out who he really is. I love the big twist Leigh throws in the story with his character. One of the things I liked the most about him, is the humor he brings to the story. 

Siege and Storm is one heck of a sequel. It's dark, intriguing, twisted, and a book I couldn't put down. Nothing I excepted to have happen in this book happened, and I love that! It's full of surprises, despair, hope, action, strong will, and as that sizzling character chemistry I loved about Shadow & Bone, but in a different way this time. If you were a fan of Shadow & Bone, I highly recommend picking this one up. If you've not yet read Leigh's series, GO PICK IT UP! It's one of my all time favorites. Even though I'm still trying to recover from all that happens in this book, I can't wait for book 3! Though I won't lie, I'm a little nervous about what's to come, and who Alina will choice. Let's just saw, picking herself looks like a fabulous option to me. I'm all for Team Girls Who Kick Butt!


Stop by my Siege & Storm blog tour post HERE to meet Sturmhond and Alina and enter to WIN.

The Mortal Instruments Movie Monday #20: The Latest Mortal Movie Facebook Happenings


Happy Monday! Welcome to this week's edition of The Mortal Instruments Movie Monday

The Mortal Instruments Facebook page has been busy recently. Check out all of their most recent posts below:


HUGE Congratulations to the Mortal Instruments Movie page on Facebook for hitting 500,000 followers this past week! They posted the image above to celebrate.


"Leave the world behind ..... enlist as a Shadowhunter and enter to win."

Have you joined the Become a Shadowhunter site yet? You're missing out if you haven't. It's FREE and you are automatically entered to win prizes for spreading the world. Check it out HERE.


Have you taken the Shadowhunter Alliance quiz yet? Find out what side you're on, the Shadowhunters, Werewolves, Warlocks or Vampires. I'm with the werewolves!


Yesterday both The Mortal Instruments movie facebook page & their instagram pages shared this picture of our favorite Shadowhunter with this inscription:

"Together we fight. Are you in?"

Why YES we are! 

If you haven't already, be sure to follow The Mortal Instruments movie page on FacebookInstagram & Twitter.  You don't want to miss posts like the ones features above and these that were also featured recently:


"The world is depending on you. On us. On love." 
Posted here.







The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones character posters, which were posted here.


The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Movie to Play in iMax Theaters



Yesterday Sony revealed that the TMI movie will be played in both regular and iMax theaters, when it's released on August 21st! I don't know about you guys, but I think this is a great excuse to at least see this movie more than once. One time in the regular theater and once in the iMax theater. Though I'm pretty confident we'll be seeing way more than two times.

I've totally lost count on how many time I've watched the trailer.....



How many times do you think you'll see the movie? Are you planning on seeing it in an iMax theater? Ooh I wonder if we'll ever get to see Jace in 3D. ;D

Lily Collins Talks About Kicking Shadowhunter Butt


In Lily Collins's most recent interview she talks about how excited she is to kick more butt in City of Ashes. Around the 2:56 mark she says that,

“The Shadowhunter guys had it more difficult (in City of Bones) than I did because I only learn that I have skills halfway through the movie. But they all kick ass and it was really fun,” Lily told Flicks and the City. “I can’t wait for the sequel because I get to do more of that.”



I can't wait to see Lily in action on August 21st when the movie hits theaters!

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