Mundie Moms

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

STAR CURSED by Jessica Spotswood, Book Review


By: Jessica Spotswood
Published by: Putnam / Penguin Teen
Released on: June 18th, 2013
Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2
Source: arc from publisher to review
4 stars: I Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

Twists, betrayals, romance, magic and war. Star Cursed is a sequel that has it all. I loved Born Wicked, and ever since finishing that book last year I've anxiously awaited the release of it's sequel, Star Cursed. Let me just say that Jessica Spotswood throws in a few shocks, some wicked surprises, and cliff hanger that left me holding back tears. Oh wow, I was NOT excepting that ending, and I seriously can not wait an entire year to know what happens next.

Star Cursed takes a bit of a darker more dangerous turn than Born Wicked. As if I needed more of a reason to despise the Brotherhood, these guys become ruthless and repulsive to me in this book as their witch hunt becomes much more frequent and relentless. Jessica wrote their part in this series so well. If they even suspect any girl of being a witch, she's done for, and that ups the danger tenfold for Cate, and her sisters. The lovely twist in this book comes in the form of a twisted sister who not only betrays Cate, she does something so horrible that it made me for a second hope she gets what she deserves in book three. Oh yes, I said that. I always had my suspicions with this character, but I did not except her to do what she does.

Character wise Cate is someone who I felt spent a lot of her time being torn. She has her love for Finn, and her love for the Sisterhood, and it's almost impossible to make the two work. Cate is a character who doesn't easily give up, and I admire her for that. With Star Cursed, I felt much of her journey was spent trying to find that inner leader I knew she had in her. There's a lot at stake for her, and I understood why she was reluctant to do certain things, and why at other times she went and did the things she does without thinking. It's not until something happens does Cate really step into her role without even thinking, and I'm really anxious to see what that outcome will have for her, and everyone else in the next book. I have a feeling it's not going to be pretty for some characters.

I have to admit I missed something I felt in Born Wicked, that wasn't as present in Star Cursed, and that was the chemistry between Cate and Finn. Don't get me wrong, they have these really sweet stolen moments together, but they're few and far between, which is for good measure. They can not risk being seen together, let alone caught together. Maybe it's because I've been reading too many new adult books lately, but I seriously just wanted to whisk these two off somewhere so they could just be themselves together. Oh Finn. What a knight in a shinning armor, in his own way of course. How could I not love him for doing what he does in this book. Jessica does a fabulous job at allowing Finn and Cate to work things out, and to talk through the hurt and everything they've felt and feel for each other. Of course nothing comes easy in this series, and I'm seriously worried about what will happen in book 3.

Let's talk about this cover! I am in LOVE with it! There's something captivating about it that makes me sit and just stare at it. The beautiful back ground scenery, the storm brewing in the back ground, and the model on the front all make for stunning cover. Normally I don't like see full models on the front of book covers, but I think Penguin/Putnam did an awesome job with finding a model who resembles the character. The storm brewing in the back ground, I LOVE IT! It's so symbolic of what happens in this book, especially at the end of the book.  I know covers don't always tell a story, and don't often get talked about in reviews, but this is one cover that fits this book perfectly.

If you're a fan of witches, magic, romance, danger, friendship, and twists, this is a book for you. If you loved Born Wicked, definitely pick this one up! Jessica dives much deeper into the Sisterhood and Brotherhood societies and really allows this series's time period to shine in this book. Jessica's a fabulous writer. I'd highly recommend picking up her books. They're clean cut, enjoyable reads.

Cassie & Jamie's Message to TMI Fans in Latin America!

DiamondFilmsArg shares messages from both Cassie and Jamie Campbell Bower to Latin American fans of The Mortal Instruments movie. Check out Cassie's message here:

Jamie's message here:


August 21st will be here before we know it!

Twitter Tuesday - Ally Carter


I think I must have spit out my precious coffee yesterday morning when I saw this announcement from Ally Carter:
NYT bestselling author Ally Carter’s new series EMBASSY ROW, about the granddaughter of a powerful ambassador who returns to her home on Embassy Row and uncovers an international conspiracy while solving the mystery of her mother’s death, in a three-book major deal, at auction, moving to David Levithan at Scholastic, by Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency (NA).
And then here's a brief synopsis from Scholastic's press release:
This exciting new series focuses on Grace, who can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world, and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row. Now, at age sixteen, she’s come back to stay— in order to solve the mystery of her mother’s death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.
So relieved that we will have more from Ally Carter who is one of Mundie Moms favorite writers. And just think, I have a feeling we will love Grace and those DiplomaticBoys (yes, I have a new label for them) she's bound to run into. Parties, jet-setters, is everyone thinking diplomatic immunity and Euro-trash characters may be involved? Okay, I promise to stop thinking about it because look what's just around the corner:

United We Spy (Gallagher Girls, #6)

Why it's September 17th and the release of United We Spy! Not that I'm excited or anything about this series ending story, but...Cammie! Zach! Mr. Solomon! (you guys knew I had to mention him in my exclamations)

Remember to pre-order it here: amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound and to add it to your goodreads TBR:  United We Spy (Gallagher Girls, #6).

TMI Movie Merchandise: Rune Cell Phone Cases

Yesterday's quick Google search for The Mortal Instruments iPhone cases brought up a few awesome looking cases featured on Redbubble. Under each of the featured cases I've linked to where you can purchase it at. Now the only problem is figuring out which one I like the most. Check them out here:

 You can get this one here on Redbubble


Or this one here on Redbubble


This one here on Redbubble.


This one here on Redbubble


Which one is your favorite?

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