Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour is definitely a great book. It was light and cutesy.

The way the book pans out. In the beginning, we see our protagonist as this scared girl trying to get through each day and try to rebuild her life after a tragedy and we get to see her evolve into this confident young woman.

To me, her trusting herself enough to drive again was the biggest achievement in the story.

I liked Roger. He wasn't like most male protagonists I read about. He wasn't cocky and self-assured. I liked that in some ways he was naive. I mean come on the thing with Hadley? Really? He thought that could work?

I loved reading about their trips through the different states. As a foreign citizen I know close to nothing about every place they went to but damn, sometimes it kind of felt like I was there myself.

Also. Let's talk about the playlists. I am quite ashamed of the fact I knew exactly zero of the songs on it. I mean, I've definitely heard of Elvis but never really listened to any of his music. I like the typical American Top Forty kind of music.

Anyways. Back to the story. I really liked the moments where we saw Amy starting to open up. I was glad that her recovery didn't have everything to do with Roger. I mean yeah, he was kind of a part of it but her learning to trust herself had a lot to do with the trip, not him and the people she met on the trip like Hadley's brother, who I really like.

I really like the ending, it wasn't overly cheesy but just cheesy enough, especially his gift to her. I love that gift, it was so thoughtful. I do wish we knew what happened after but the story was about her gaining trust in herself again not just about them.

I don't know what else to mention but I would like to say, it was a great read and a quick one too.

Lady Midnight

Lady Midnight. Well after waiting for two years I finally got to experience the greatness of Cassie Clare again. Yes. I read the Shadowhunter Academy but it wasn't the same. I love TSA but this was a full-on Cassie Clare book and I was so happy to read it. It kills me that I have to wait another year for book two. This book met every one of my expectations and exceeded it by so much.
PS. Did you know, I've been calling this series The Dark Artifacts? I was actually shocked to learn it was Artifices.

I love Emma and I love Julian. They are such great individuals!

I love the way Julian is so committed to his family. I love his relationship with each and every member of his family. I love how he takes care of them and how selflessly he loves them, how he puts them first. In my mind, Emma and Julian are like parents to those children, just like in Julian's dreams.

What I don't like about him is his cruel side. The ending when he plans the whole thing and uses Anselm Nightshade as a scapegoat. I hated that actually. I like Nephilim who respect other species and using them the way Julian did is not right. I really hope he makes up for it. I mean it could start a war between shadowhunters and the vampires.

I love Emma's strength, I admire her for it. I love that she and Clary kept in touch, thus she kind of has a connection to Jace too. I mean how many people can say that they are close to their role models?

I loved all the Emma and Julian scenes and I was so happy when they got together but I knew it wouldn't last. Before this book, I always thought the anti-relationship between parabatai thing was stupid but I see the reason. I get it but there has got to be a way around it. And it can't be that bad, can it?

I kind of expected his secret painting room to be a room full of Emma's portraits. I mean for an artist, art is a window into their soul, take Clary for example. How can he not draw the person he loves the most. Also, I loved that beach scene. I love that they have this bond stronger than everything else.

Also, when Tessa said that thing about making the other person hate you being easier, she should've mentioned that it didn't work. I mean Will tried and they still got married!

I'm excited to see how the Parabatai thing turns out. Also, Mark? Really? And I really wish that never really happens.

I am curious about Mark. I hope he can stay. The Faeries' deal was not really fulfilled but I hope they let him go. I want him to be with his family. He might need time to find his place again but he is needed. Julian needs him, also, I'm scared about their relationship with what Emma's about to do.

I wonder if Helen will be in the other books and I hope the Clave sets her free.

Now Ty and Liv. I really hope he doesn't join the Scholomance. I want him to stay with his family. And I love those two. They're brave and strong shadowhunters but Ty can't go.

Now. I have a few questions about Ty's condition. Is it a real thing? Is it like what Henry and Christopher Lightwood (TSA)? I Matthew mentions having to take care of his father and Christopher needing the same and Ty kind of reminded me of them, a genius!

Speaking of the Scholomance, am a crazy for shipping Diego and Cristina. I mean he didn't betray her like she thought he did, and honestly, he isn't all that bad of a person.

Now, Kieran. I want him and Mark to make up. They're good together. I wonder if he can leave the Wild Hunt 'cause that's the only way they can be together.

Now onto important things.

I did not see that coming about Kit! I did not expect it to happen. It was like that story about Tobias Herondale went out of my mind! It's so like Tessa to go save her descendant. I love her. I Want to read more about Kit, I want to see him turn into a shadowhunter, grow into his own person. I was kind of hoping something happens between him and one of the Blackthorns. I thought it would've been Livvy but read online he's probably Ty's love interest. But wasn't Kit interested in that girl in the prologue? I'm excited to see how this plays out either way!

Now. Malcolm. I did not see that coming. I was heartbroken about it. But here's what really bothers me. Annabel is back and he's gone. Now that is cruel. I am actually hoping he didn't die. I mean Emma didn't get him in the heart so he could be fine.

I wonder if there is a way of breaking the Parabatai bond. I mean in the TV Show they mention Alec and Jace's bond becoming extremely weak almost to the point of breaking so I wonder if Cassie will introduce that in the books too. I wish they do something about it. I mean if Clary and Jace can be allowed to be shadowhunters with exceptional powers why can't these two.

Also. I loved that extra scene in the end when they are about to leave for the LA institute from Sizzy's engagement party, it says she would have to give him her answer when they returned and she dreaded it. Was she going to say no? She can't say no! Why would she dread marrying Jace? He's Jace! She loves him! What the hell! Or am I over analyzing?

Anyways, I am in love with this book and it's fantastic characters and I can not wait for book two. I would love to more of our old characters. Clary, Jace, Simon, Izzy, Magnus, Alec, Jem, Tessa, the whole lot of them. I miss Will. I wish he were still alive!

Reviews for rest of the series:
Lady Midnight
Lord of Shadows (Coming Soon)

Stars Above

Well, I'd been anticipating this book since I read Winter in November. I honestly think my heart stopped beating for a second when I got my hands on it. And the cover. It's gorgeous. I was so excited about the epilogue that I jumped right to the last story. It was amazing. I couldn't bring myself to be as psyched about any other short story. I just wish we had more epilogues!

The Little Android

Okay, the little android happened to be my least favorite story among all these short stories. Firstly because it wasn't about any of the characters I love oh so much. 

And secondly, I didn't quite understand it. I mean, I got the gist but I didn't quite understand the ending. 

Oh and Cinder made a small appearance, and Iko was mentioned.

It was like the sad version of Little Mermaid. I didn't connect with the characters or find myself lost in the story.

Glitches

Well, guess there's no redemption for Adri. It's like she never gave Cinder a shot. But she did love Garan and her daughters. 

And how could Adri treat Cinder the way she did. Cinder was the last thing, person, Garan left her. Couldn't she care for Cinder for Garan's sake?

I really liked Peony here. She was so sweet and nice to Cinder. The only one other than Garan that treated her like a human. I wish Pearl died instead of her!

The Queen’s Army

Z. Well, a new nickname for Wolf. This gave us a little back story on Wolf and Ran. I hated how his life was forcibly changed because of stupid Levana. 

Watching him as a part of Levana's army, training, trying to fit in, becoming the Alpha...

I wish he has a happy life with Scarlet because he deserves it. PS. I hate Ran.

Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky

Thorne has always been awesome. I mean how many people can say they were so awesome at thirteen. 

This story gave us a backstory for Throne, I get that he didn't have a tragic past like Wolf, Cinder, Cress and the others but he was neglected. He had no idea what real love was. His parents treated him like a roommate, not a son.

So, we meet his parents. Did not like them. 

They don't seem interested in their son. It's like they didn't even care. They were so heartless. I was absolutely frustrated by them and their coldness.

Also. We met his crush! Thorne always the player. ;)

The Keeper

I really liked Scarlet's grandma in this but this story kind of left me wondering. 

Did Logan find out who Scarlet was? I mean Michelle only mentioned Scarlet in passing once and she seemed to think he knew but they never confirmed it. I kind of wanted him to confront her about it.

Logan was a great character. I kind of felt bad for him. The poor man caught Lunar sickness! I was curious about what happened to him. I wish things were clearer.

We also read about Scarlet's father. Still not a huge fan.

Michelle, on the other hand, was an awesome person!

After Sunshine Passes By

Little Cress goes to the satellite. I kind of felt bad for her. 

The poor girl was sent there and told she had hope of returning one day. 

It's so sad. 

We saw a little bit of Cress's childhood at the place where the Shells were kept. I hate Sybil so much.

I felt bad that even among others like her, she was treated as if she was different. I'm glad she found the Rampion!

The Princess and the Guard

Winter and Jacin were never really my favorite characters but it was still nice reading about them as children but it wasn't a grasping story. 

It only fired my hatred for Levana.

Winter's childhood was burdened by Levana and her people. She thought that when she saved that maid she did a good thing but she was a kid. I feel so bad for everyone on Luna. Not only did they have to live under such a tyrant but they also had to tolerate people like Aimery.

Jacin sacrificed so much to protect Winter, to be there for her. He gave up his dreams, became a slave to Levana just so he could protect Winter.

The Mechanic

Kai. We saw their first encounter from Kai's point of view. It was kind of cute. 

It was like a recap of book one from a different perspective. 

Not much to say but it was absolutely sweet.

Something Old, Something New

This story had me anticipating the release of this book the moment I read about it. I mean a sequel to Winter. Hell Ya! 

A wedding of the century, definitely. 

I kind of hoped it was Kaider but I had a feeling it was Wolflett. It was sweet. 

The impromptu wedding. God. I never thought Wolf could make me swoon like that. Wolf was amazing in this. I kind of wish that we delved further into how everyone accommodated to his transformation in Winter. We never saw the whole turnout for that. 

I loved this story. All parts of it. It was a cutesy, drama free, amazing story that touched base with a lot of things. 

I still wish Cinder played a bigger part in Luna's government. I understand why she's an ambassador but I wish she was at least a minister. 

The Lunar people are being introduced to a whole new concept. They need her. 

Also, I still wish one seat on the government was for the Royal family representatives. You know, they'd have equal power as anyone else in the government. 

Anyways. The ending. Kai. God. Amazing. His proposal. I was so happy. It was amazing. Kaider was so cute and perfect in this! I love that Kai is such a great person even though he was raised in a royal household and always had what he wanted. He ended up being a kind man.

Also, what was going on with Kinney and Iko.