Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale: Review

Synopsis:

Magnus Bane leverages his alliances with Downworlders and Shadowhunters on a venture to Victorian London. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

When immortal warlock Magnus Bane attends preliminary peace talks between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders in Victorian London, he is charmed by two very different people: the vampire Camille Belcourt and the young Shadowhunter, Edmund Herondale. Will winning hearts mean choosing sides?

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, Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale, is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.

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More Herondales! Magnus made an acquaintance with young Edmund Herondale (aka Will's father!). Why are Herondale boys so perfect and lovable? It's hard not to fall for his fair hair and light blue eyes and the healthy ego and that charming grin of his:

"He had hair the color of a coin that was pure gold, no base metal, and the lines of his face were as clean and elegant as a profile etched on one of those princely coins."

"The most remarkable thing about him were his eyes. They were laughing eyes, at once both joyous and tender: they were the radiant pale blue of a sky slipping toward evening in Heaven, when angels who had been sweet all day found themselves tempted to sin."

"'But I'm always noindentattered to be admired." said Edmund, with an engaging grin. 'And I'm always admired.'"

Aww. It's hard not to fall for one that is so carefree. And the dislike of ducks runs deeper than I thought:

"I shall never eat duck again. I cannot believe I used to like duck. The duck betrayed me."

Heart-breaking moments are obviously included. But what do you hope to accomplish with a Herondale? It's their natural charm.

Anyway a Herondale with Magnus equals a whole lot of fun! Not just their encounter but their encounter with Linette as well. (Esp. the one with Linette because that is amusing :D)

Aside from Edmund, we also have Camille which is very different from the Camille in The Mortal Instruments or even The Infernal Devices. She's lovely AND lovable. Actually I have a hard time picturing this vampire with the cunning and slightly evil vampire in TID and TMI. 

This book is fast-paced, humorous and a whole lot better than the first two. We get a glimpse of the Shadowhunter world even before TID. More heart-wrenching moments are present and believe me, it's just as bad/good as TID. This is a must-read, I have to say. Now... onto the wait for The Midnight Heir, one of the most anticipated in TBC, involving yet another Herondale *cough *cough Will's son *cough

Rating: 8.5/10

Oh did I mention the last part of the story? More TID breaking-your-heart-wide-open moments are guaranteed

Cover Reveal: Vampires, Scones and Edmund Herondale by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

Yep, the cover for Vampires, Scones and Edmund Herondale is here? And guess what the best part is? Edmund HERONDALE! How can I not fangirl over that?

Here's the cover:

Synopsis:

Magnus Bane leverages his alliances with Downworlders and Shadowhunters on a venture to Victorian London. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

When immortal warlock Magnus Bane attends preliminary peace talks between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders in Victorian London, he is charmed by two very different people: the vampire Camille Belcourt and the young Shadowhunter, Edmund Herondale. Will winning hearts mean choosing sides?

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, Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale, is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.

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Release Date: June 18, 2013

(Hey, can someone combine this with the cover of The Runaway Queen and What Really Happened In Peru because that will be awesome :D) 

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Here's a snippet from 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!”

Gonna Read: June 2013

Yep, June's coming fast. I'm gonna read 4 new releases. But don't think that's all I'm gonna read in June, because after June 19, I will be free to read whatever I want and I'm planning to read Gone series by Michael Grant and Mara Dyer trilogy by Michelle Hodkin (and possibly more :D).

1. Phoenix (Black City #2) by Elizabeth Richards.

Weeks after his crucifixion and rebirth as Phoenix, Ash Fisher believes his troubles are far behind him. He and Natalie are engaged and life seems good. But his happiness is short-lived when he receives a threatening visit from Purian Rose, who gives Ash an ultimatum: vote in favor of Rose’s Law permanently relegating Darklings to the wrong side of the wall or Natalie will be killed.

The decision seems obvious to Ash; he must save Natalie. But when Ash learns about The Tenth, a new and deadly concentration camp where the Darklings would be sent, the choice doesn’t seem so simple. Unable to ignore his conscience, Ash votes against Rose’s Law, signing Natalie’s death warrant and putting a troubled nation back into the throes of bloody battle.

Expected Publication: June 4, 2013 (The date pisses me off a little because that's the first day of the whole 12-day-long of Annual Examination section)

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2. Vampires, Scones and Edmund Herondale (The Bane Chronicles Part 3) by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

Magnus Bane leverages his alliances with Downworlders and Shadowhunters on a venture to Victorian London. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

When immortal warlock Magnus Bane attends preliminary peace talks between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders in Victorian London, he is charmed by two very different people: the vampire Camille Belcourt and the young Shadowhunter, Edmund Herondale. Will winning hearts mean choosing sides?

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, Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale, is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.

Expected Publication: June 18, 2013 (Ahh, I want it earlier because I want more Herondales!)

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3. Defy The Dark (Anthology)

Defy the Dark, an all-new anthology edited by Saundra Mitchell. Coming Summer 2013 from HarperTeen!

It features 16 stories by critically-acclaimed and bestselling YA authors as they explore things that can only happen in the dark. Authors include Sarah Rees Brennan, Rachel Hawkins, Carrie Ryan, Aprilynne Pike, Malinda Lo, Courtney Summers, Beth Revis, Sarah Ockler, and more.

Contemporary, genre, these stories will explore every corner of our world- and so many others. What will be the final story that defies the dark? Who will the author be?

Expected Publication: June 18, 2013



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4. After Daybreak (Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy #3) by J. A. London

(Reminder: I found THREE different blurbs for this book. Take you pick)

First blurb (from Goodreads):

Dawn returns from L.A. with terrifying news: In his greed for power, the maniacal Day Walker Sin is raising an army and infecting his followers with the Thirst—a rabieslike disease that will turn them into mindless killers. To stop him, Dawn and Victor will have to convince humans and vampires to work together before it’s too late.

Second blurb (from Harperteen):

After Daybreak brings J. A. London's romantic dystopian Darkness Before Dawn series to a thrilling conclusion.

Dawn grew up behind a wall, terrified of the vampires outside who controlled the lives of humans and demanded their blood. But when she became a delegate for her city and met Victor, she realized that not all vampires were the same, that maybe one could be trusted.

Now Day Walker Sin is infecting his followers with a disease that turns them into mindless killers. Dawn and Victor will have to convince humans and vampires to band together to stop him, because alone they will all die.

After Daybreak is perfect for fans of the YA series Morganville Vampires and the Vampire Diaries. 

Third blurb (also from Harperteen):

Our last hope lies with our oldest enemies.

When we lost the war with the vampires, our world changed. The Old Family overlords trapped us in a few scattered cities and demanded our blood. Then Victor—the first vampire I've ever trusted, ever loved—came to power, and I hoped for peace between our kinds. Only now a new type of monster, Day Walkers, has emerged, and their maniacal leader is threatening to destroy us all, human and vampire alike.

The Old Family Council is stubborn and proud, unwilling to acknowledge the danger. But once I claim my birthright as the last living member of the Montgomery line, they will have to listen to me.

Neither fully human nor vampire, I am the bridge between both. Even if I'm not sure where I belong anymore, I know that the only way any of us will survive is if we stand together.

Expected Publication: June 25, 2013