Showing posts with label The Midnight Heir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Midnight Heir. Show all posts

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Thoughtful Thursday: The Midnight Heir


Warning: Avoid this post if you haven't read The Midnight Heir (or Clockwork Princess)!!!

Yesterday I read The Midnight Heir. And a ton of question rose up. Thus a lot of theories. It's been a while since I post theories about stuff and this time, it's more about TLH and TMH (because they are related).

First is the big bad question: How can Lucie Herondale marry Jesse Blackthorn?

Yeah apparently Jesse was already dead. So how can he marry Lucie Herondale?

But hey, there's a twist. Check out this excerpt:

"I had one child, my beautiful boy, my Jesse, but he could not be trained to be a warrior. He was always so weak, so sickly. I begged them not to put runes on him - I was certain that would kill him - but the Shadowhunters held me back and held him down as they burned the Marks into his flesh. He screamed and screamed. We all thought he would die then, but he did not. He held on for me, for his mama, but their cruelty damned him. Each year he grew sicker and weaker until it was too late. He was sixteen when they told me he could not live." --- The Midnight Heir, Location 569/760
and this:

"And the Nephilim had no power to save my son."--- The Midnight Heir, Location 590/760

Those sound like Jesse was dead for 9 years. Right? Nope. Just because the Shadowhunters told Tatiana that he could not live when Jesse was sixteen doesn't mean he was NOT living. He could still be alive, maybe very sick and weak, but he could be alive. You might ask: "Then why Tatiana want Magnus to kill 5 Shadowhunters?" For revenge is totally the answer, but that still doesn't mean Jesse was dead. Magnus only assumed that Jesse was passed away but he actually didn't know so. And from the second excerpt, just because the Nephilim had not power to save Jesse doesn't mean others had no power to do so.I think this little excerpt can prove that Jesse might not be necessarily dead:

"The only reason she could have to go to a warlock was if she wanted to use those deaths, to alchemized Shadowhunter lives into magic for a spell. It would be the darkest of dark spells, and the fact that Tatiana knew of it told Magnus this was not the first time she had turned to dark magic." --- The Midnight Heir, Location 590/760

(And I think I see Jesse in this picture drawn by Cassandra Jean based on this description:

"His eyes were a deep, still green, like a woodland pool hidden under the overhanging leaves of a tree, never exposed to sun or wind. He had dark hair falling, as fine spun and straight as silk, across his brow..." ---The Midnight Heir, Location 530/760
And check out this photo here (I can't upload it for some reason):

http://24.media.tumblr.com/23fd640e95cd727b3d0fdeaa2ed0d97d/tumblr_mme2r8hhpP1r3oy4vo1_1280.jpg

I think I saw Jesse there."

Or Jesse wasn't really Jesse. Maybe the real Jesse was secretly being other person (that can happen according to Cassie). Although I can't imagine how this was possible. I don't think this is a changeling thing, because in Clockwork Princess, the changeling Adele Starkweather was DEAD when she was applied Marks. Jesse was not dead right away then.

Or Jesse was truly dead, but Tatiana was about to, what, resurrect him by killing five Shadowhunters and use their blood or whatever life they had to resurrect him? And when he waked/was better/whatever, he would still be 16, and since Lucie might only be 1 or 2 years younger than James (According to the family tree, Lucie is 5 years younger than James, but there's no way Cordelia Carstairs will be Lucie's parabatai because Cordelia is 6 years older than Lucie.), the age difference won't be so wide. (Though I seriously don't think the age difference will stop a Herondale from loving anybody.) And the excerpt about why Tatiana might want to use Shadowhunter lives to perform dark magic might be proof to this theory.

Or Jesse stayed dead, and Lucie married some other Shadowhunter. He can be a Blackthorn, though. Hey, we don't know about the Blackthorn family tree. How can we assumed that there aren't any offspring of the Blackthorn family in 1903 other than Jesse? But if he's not a Blackthorn, than who is he? And worse yet, the Blackthorns in 2012 aren't even Blackthorns. Jeez.

This is getting so messed-up I'm already anticipating for TLH before I even read TDA. But hey, maybe something in TDA will link back to TLH. Who knows what Cassie is thinking?

Another question: Who the heck is Grace?

Grace is adopted by Tatiana. And she claimed herself as a Blackthorn. But look at the description about her appearance:

"Her hair was the color of the pearl too, palest ivory with a sheen of gold on it..." --- The Midnight Heir, Location 483/760
Can I assume that this Grace is the girl at the center in the same photo I mentioned above? If that's true, she is a Cartwright. (And don't tell me she's soothing Jesse... yeah I think the guy that the girl/Grace is holding is Jesse. Because I somehow find that really gross.) It's no surprise that she might be adopted because Shadowhunters often die young and her parents might have been dead. But how did she end up with Tatiana when there's the London Institute?

And what is she? Because there's something seriously wrong with her, like she's nothing but a shell made of ice, detached from any human feelings. She might be a Shadowhunter, but that doesn't she was accustomed to dark magic.

Uh, everything is so confusing right now. How can we wait 5+ years for TLH?

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: The Midnight Heir by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

This weekly bookish meme is host by MizB @ Should Be Reading

To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3.  Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4.  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5.  Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This time I choose The Midnight Heir (The Bane Chronicles Part 4) by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Breannan

"Magnus had little time for the Shadowhunters’ overweening arrogance, and usually enjoyed seeing them taken down a peg, but even he had rarely seen a family fall so far so terribly fast. Gabriel and Gideon, Benedict’s two sons, had managed to claw their way back to respectability through good behavior and the graces of the Consul, Charlotte Branwell. Their sister, however, was another matter entirely" - Kindle, Location 424/760










Add The Midnight Heir on Goodreads:


Check out my review of The Midnight Heir here:


The Midnight Heir: Review

Synopsis:

In Edwardian London, Magnus Bane discovers old friends and new enemies—including the son of his former comrade Will Herondale. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

Magnus thought he would never return to London, but he is lured by a handsome offer from Tatiana Blackthorn, whose plans—involving her beautiful young ward—are far more sinister than Magnus even suspects. In London at the turn of the century, Magnus finds old friends, and meets a very surprising young man . . . the sixteen-year-old James Herondale.

This standalone e-only short story illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality populates the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. This story in The Bane Chronicles is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.

***

(Warning: Avoid reading this review if you haven't read Clockwork Princess because the whole review, I mean the whole damn thing is a huge spoiler!!!)

The Midnight Heir. You know what that means. James Herondale! Another beautiful, broken boy. Just like Will. From what Cassie said, he has his heart broken because of love and he wants to die. Well all I can say is he's truly his father's son because he's so freaking much like Will! Agony is certainly in my future, when I get my hands on TLH.  And finally, I know where Jace's eyes come from... actually quite some time back, but I know this is from The Midnight Heir. So no difference.

This boy had shining golden eyes, like a crystal glass filled brimful with crisp white wine and held up to catch the light of the sun. If his skin was luminous, his eyes were radiant. Magnus could not imagine these eyes as tender.

And my favorite warlock also shows up in this e-book. Well, my favorite other than Magnus, of course. Ragnor Fell! Our lovely green warlock. I totally Fell in love with him in What Happened In Peru. No pun intended.

Unlike the previous three adventures, this one actually has a villain in it, although I will always think of her as a foolish girl just like twenty-five years ago other than a villain. The most mysterious of all parts, because that holds a lot of information. And I'm hoping Cassie is not playing with the repeating-names thing again, because I will seriously rip the family tree into pieces if a certain someone is truly a certain someone. (Oh, you will know what I mean if you read Clockwork Princess... with a family tree along, of course).

There are also mentions of Magnus' old friends. Will, Tessa, and Jem. More heart-break. But surely it's worth it, because the love shared between them is an unbreakable thing. It will always be the three of them. Feels are guaranteed, by the way.

And then there are mentions about Shadowhunters being all arrogant to the Downworlders because of their blood. Okay, Magnus totally changes my point of view towards Shadowhunters, at least to some of them. Apparently not all of them are noble good guys trying to keep human and good Downworlders safe from demons. The arrogance is also mentioned in Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale. Hey, an open mind is good while reading a book. I can really thank Cassie and Sarah for that.

Oh there are many good humorous moments. Like this:


Then I lost him for a brief period of time, and by the time I caught up with him, he had wandered into Hyde Park, waded into the Serpentine, spread his arms wide, and was shouting, ‘Ducks, embrace me as your king!’” --- I think Will is appalled :)

And this:


 “Do stop flirting with my husband,” --- I shall not. 

And this:


I have a shocking memory for Lightwoods. --- Of course you do :)

It's safe to say that The Midnight Heir is by far the best Bane Chronicles story I've ever read.

Rating: 9/10

P. S. It's also safe to say the family tree is MASSIVELY and CATASTROPHICALLY misleading. Damn it.
P. P. S You can check my Tumblr page (on the right side of the blog) for more of my... confessions (warning: involves a lot of feels and frustration)

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Cover Reveal: The Midnight Heir by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

By the Angel, the cover of the most anticipated short story in the Bane Chronicles is here! Why is it the most anticipated? Because it involves (SPOILER! DON'T READ IT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ CLOCKWORK PRINCESS) James Herondale, Will's son! (End of Spoiler)

Here's the cover:

Synopsis (WARNING: HUGE SPOILERS. AVOID IT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ CLOCKWORK PRINCESS!)

In Edwardian London, Magnus Bane discovers old friends and new enemies—including the son of his former comrade Will Herondale. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

Magnus thought he would never return to London, but he is lured by a handsome offer from Tatiana Blackthorn, whose plans—involving her beautiful young ward—are far more sinister than Magnus even suspects. In London at the turn of the century, Magnus finds old friends, and meets a very surprising young man . . . the sixteen-year-old James Herondale.

This standalone e-only short story illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality populates the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. This story in The Bane Chronicles is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.


The Midnight Heir will be released on July 16, 2013

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Gonna Read: July 2013

Yeah! Summer is finally here! Here are the new releases that I wanna read in July. But actually, my summer reads list is far longer than that :D

1. Vortex (Insignia #2) by S.J. Kincaid

Synopsis:

The impossible was just the beginning. Now in their second year as superhuman government weapons-in-training at the Pentagonal Spire, Tom Raines and his friends are mid-level cadets in the elite combat corps known as the Intrasolar Forces. But as training intensifies and a moment arrives that could make or break his entire career, Tom’s loyalties are again put to the test.

Encouraged to betray his ideals and friendships for the sake of his country, Tom is convinced there must be another way. And the more aware he becomes of the corruption surrounding him, the more determined he becomes to fight it, even if he sabotages his own future in the process.

Drawn into a power struggle more dramatic than he has ever faced before, Tom stays a hyperintelligent step ahead of everyone, like the exceptional gamer he is—or so he believes. But when he learns that he and his friends have unwittingly made the most grievous error imaginable, Tom must find a way to outwit an enemy so nefarious that victory seems hopeless. Will his idealism and bravado cost him everything—and everyone that matters to him?

Filled with action and intelligence, camaraderie and humor, the second book in S.J. Kincaid’s futuristic World War III Insignia trilogy continues to explore fascinating and timely questions about power, politics, technology, loyalty, and friendship.



Expected Publication: July 2, 2013

***

2. The Midnight Heir (The Bane Chronicles Part 4) by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

Synopsis:

In Edwardian London, Magnus Bane discovers old friends and new enemies—including the son of his former comrade Will Herondale. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

Magnus thought he would never return to London, but he is lured by a handsome offer from Tatiana Blackthorn, whose plans—involving her beautiful young ward—are far more sinister than Magnus even suspects. In London at the turn of the century, Magnus finds old friends, and meets a very surprising young man . . . the sixteen-year-old James Herondale.

This standalone e-only short story illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality populates the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. This story in The Bane Chronicles is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.


Expected Publication: July 16, 2013

***

3.  Unwanted by Alivia Anders

 Synopsis:

She would be his freedom.
He would be her price.

In a world overrun with people and narrowing resources, the basis of life has turned to do or die. No longer does the balance of wealth and power apply. A strict split between the rich and poor has made the lines clear- the more money you have, the more power you control.

For seventeen year old Emily Beucant, life is an equal gift and curse. Having grown up pre- Unwanted society, she can still remember the days it was okay to play with children from the other side of the concrete wall, back when her father was still alive, and back when the Unwanted program was used to Mark and hunt criminals, not sign away the lives of ungrateful children or spouses with high insurance collections over their heads.

But since her father's creation of the program, the government has taken control and made it into a lucrative monster. And as Emily is days away from her eighteenth birthday, and handsome inheritance, she will soon see just how badly it is to be Marked.

When her soulless aunt places Emily up to be Marked an Unwanted, she is forced to go on the run from all she has ever known. No where is safe for her, and no one will protect her, least they wish to have the same fate as her. It isn't until she forms a tense, explosive alliance with a former doctor, Ben, that it looks like the tables may turn in her favor. Together they race against those searching for her, desperate to find a way to free her from an early death. But is it too late?

No one is safe.
No one is free.


Expected Publication: July 30, 2013

***

4. Frigid (Frigid #1) by J. Lynn

Synopsis:

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.


Expected Publication: July 30, 2013

***

5. Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5) by Jennifer Estep

Synopsis:

Here we go again …

Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can’t get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities — until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I’m still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.

As Nike’s Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I’m still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I’ve got to get my hands on the antidote fast — otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins — and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there …


Expected Publication: July 30, 2013

Check out my review of Midnight Frost here:  http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2013/06/midnight-frost-review.html