Showing posts with label Cassandra Clare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cassandra Clare. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Mid-Winter’s Eve Blog Hop Winner

Congrats to Tara W. for winning the Mid-Winter’s Eve Blog Hop and winner of Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel! The winner will be notified via email and will have no more than 72 hours to respond before another winner is drawn. The contest winner was selected by the reputable Random.org.

I have lots planned for my blog before we ring in the New Year, so stay tuned.  Coming up, I have a Creepy Classic review I’ll be posting and possibly a guest post from an author friend.  I can’t believe it’s almost 2012.       

Cheers!

Mina B.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Midwinter's Eve Hop

Hi, minions! Happy Holidays and welcome to the Midwinter's Eve Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Oasis For YA.  With over 250 blogs participating, there are tons of wicked cool books to try to win!

Before I begin, I need to give props to my Free Sh** Fairy. Once again, he worked his mojo and sourced yet another brilliant giveaway. Damn he's good!


For this year's giveaway, I'm giving away one (1) copy of Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel.  For those that don't know book 2, Clockwork Prince, was recently released and here it's hot!  I've always wanted to discuss this series so... Thanks Free Sh** Fairy!
   
To enter…
You MUST be a follower of my blog and MUST fill out this entry form. (And yes, I do check GCF)


Extra entries…
+2 Subscribing via email to my blog
+1 if you Retweet this on Twitter (limit 1 retweet)


Again, the giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on Dec. 21st - Dec. 27th, midnight. Contest is open to International participants!  


Feel free to comment and thanks again for everything. Want to see who else is participating? Check them all out HERE! 

REMINDER, my 1000 Follower Giveaway to reach 1000 ends by the end of 2011. I'm about 25 away from my goal. Suweet! Tell your friends!

Happy Holidays!


Mina B.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Book Review: Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones

Book one in Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones (Mortal Instruments), was definitely not what I expected.   Truth be told, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.  I’ll do my best not to mention too many spoilers but I’m won’t make any promises.
The book opened with fifteen year old Clary Fray hanging out at a club called Pandemonium in New York City where she sees things that no one else can see.  I was hooked instantly by Clare’s vivid words and artful imagination.  Clary spied the unthinkable and doesn’t know how or why.  It’s there where she meets a young pack of beings called Shadow Hunters.  She’s drawn to them, but for what reason?  These Shadow Hunters she befriended are both fierce and feared.  But how can Clary, such a young, insecure and innocent teenager, have the courage to hang with demon hunters…killers even?

In a series of events, her overprotective mother disappeared and not too long after, she’s chased by horrifying demons.  Everything that was familiar to her is now inexplicably different.  The tale then moved from one task to the next as Clary tries to find her mother, save her friend and find the mortal cup.  During her quest, she slowly discovered the truth about what she is.  And not to mention who her father is.

This book had pros and cons for me.  First pro, it was unbelievably well written.  The dark urban fantasy world Clare created was amazing and captivating.  The beginning started with a bang, but then at times, I found the book lagging.  For example, Clary and her new shadow friends did a bunch of running around which I found tiring and unnecessary.  During the last third of the book, the plot spiked and I was excited.  With all the foreshadowing, it was easy to guess who her father was so I was excited to read the outcome.  Unfortunately, the author did what I thought was a bait and switch with the plot, revealing a major character – and potential love interest – as her brother.  For me, I found that confusing and slightly disappointing.
Overall, my favorite aspect was the dark world of Shadow Hunters, Idris and the City of Bones.  I loved the characters Jace, Simon, Alec and even Luke.  I couldn’t get enough of them and wanted to read more.  For me, Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones (Mortal Instruments) was a 3.75.  If you’re looking for a unique take on dark YA urban fantasy, then this is just the book for you! 
Until next time…Mortal Instruments anyone?

Mina B.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Midsummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop: Winner

Congrats to Veronica L., the winner of the Midsummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop and the recipient of Cassandre Claire’s Book 1 in her Mortal Instruments, City of Bones. The Winner will be notified by email and will have no more than 72 hours to respond before another winner is drawn. Winners are selected by the reputable Random.org.
City of Bones (Mortal Instruments)was a completely different read for me; one I wasn’t expecting.  Stay tuned as I review it in the next couple of days.  You won’t want to miss it!

Thank you, everyone for participating.  I especially love all the wonderful comments.  They warm my heart.  And I want to give a big SHOUT OUT to my Free Sh** Fairy for delivering a great giveaway.  She’s the best, really.   In fact, she’s so good; she’s already found the giveaway for the Freedom Giveaway Hop which starts July 1st – 7th .

If you remember, I recently reviewed bestselling author, Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series, Deeper Than Midnight.  (Note:  I loved it.  See my ARC review here!)  Well, as promised for the Freedom Hop, I am giving away one copy of book, Deeper Than Midnight which is 9 in the series.  The book releases June 28th so you can enter to win the book plus I'm giving away some bookmarkers plus some book plates signed by Lara, herself! Awesome, isn't it?  I know.  The contest starts July 1st so stay tuned.

Once again, thanks minions.  I know summer can be crazy but at least we have our books.

Until next time…

Mina B.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Midsummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Midsummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop.  I don’t know about you guys, but my summer has been insane.  I’ve been so busy; I’ve barely had enough time to think about a giveaway for this hop.  Luckily I didn’t have to…thanks to you know who…. The Free Sh** Fairy.  
Thank the gods that my FS fairy had her sh** together (cuz I sure didn't.)  I gotta hand it to her.  I don’t know where she gets all this free sh**.  She could pull it out of her a** for all I know. The point is…my giveaways wouldn’t be possibly if it weren’t for her…and of course her free sh**.   

Now, let’s get down to business.  This time my giveaway is for Cassandre Claire’s Book 1 in her Mortal Instruments, City of Bones.  This New York Times Bestseller is one of the hottest YA novels out there.  And now one (1) lucky winner will win the first book of the acclaimed series.  How’s that sound for a giveaway?  Good?  Great! 

 If you haven’t read the series, check out the hit reviews on GoodReads and why not try the City of Bones excerpt here. 


The MidSummer’s Eve Blog Hop runs from 12:01 AM on Tuesday, June 21st on thru June 24th, midnight.


To enter…
You MUST be a follower of my blog and MUST fill out this entry form. (And yes, I do check GCF)

Extra entries
+2 For Becoming my Fan/Like on Facebook/MinaBurrows
+2 NEW/OLD Followers on Twitter @MinaBurrows
+1 if you Retweet this (limit 1 retweet)




Again, the giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on Tuesday, June 21st to June 24th, midnight.  Contest is for US residents only. Want to see who else is participating? Take a look at the links here and hop on by.

Mina B.

(Note: The Winner will be notified by email and will have no more than 72 hours to respond before another winner is drawn. Winners are selected by the reputable Random.org.)

Monday, September 13, 2010

Top Steampunk Books I’m Dying to Read

Okay, so I wanted to do a quick post on Steampunk novels I have on my TBR list. In no particular order, I compiled a list of Steampunk books that I’m dying to read. I’m slowly working them in queue under my Dying To Read section of my blog.

Did you know that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is considered Steampunk? Yes, Shelley’s monster classic is considered Steampunk. And what’s funny is I’ll be reviewing it for this month’s Creepy Classics segment. Pretty cool, huh? Anyway, take a look at the ones below. Have you read any of these? Are they any good? Please comment and send me the link to your review. Also, comment to add additional books to this list.

Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate)  Soulless by Gail Carriger

Anno Dracula by Kim Newman   Anno Dracula


Perdido Street Station  Perdido Street Station by China Miéville

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest  Boneshaker (Sci Fi Essential Books)

The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book)  Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare  Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)

 Frankenstein  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 


Around the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Vern Around the World in Eighty Days (Enriched Classics Series)

Until next time….looking for something different, try a Steampunk novel.


Mina B.