The Rift Between Us - Rebecca L. Marsh

Book: The Rift Between Us
Author: Rebecca L. Marsh
Releasedate: July 2019

"After a family dinner turns into a bitter fight, sisters Maria, Lauren, and Avery decide to go their separate ways. Their father warns them that someday they will need one another. When he dies suddenly, they learn that he intends to make sure that they do. He’s left them a substantial inheritance, far more than any of them ever imagined.

There’s just one catch. If they want the money, they will have to spend two weeks together at a secluded lake house and follow all of their father’s instructions—no matter how strange.

Their task seems simple enough, but each one is holding onto painful secrets and old grudges the others know nothing about. But if they can learn to trust each other again, they might be able to mend the rift between them and give their father his dying wish."

Just a little while ago Rebecca herself approached me to read her book that is coming out in July of this year, so first of all, I feel honoured to have read this before its release, thank you for that!

I mostly read scifi and fantasy, as most of you might have noticed, so this book from Rebecca was a refreshing turn to read something different. It's a familydrama with all the feelings packed into it. At first I was a bit apprehensive, since the teaser for the book doesn't reveal much and doesn't feel like much is going to happen. But I was wrong. The story takes you through this broken family with the main characters, Maria, Lauren and Avery. I like the fact that they all have their own perspective view of what happens, so you can really see what is going on inside their heads. The story gives some real time takes on what does happen in normal life and what can happen when your family falls apart and how that feels. 

Despite the fact that the story might feel simple, the feelings it brings within shows so much more. Rebecca did do a good take on what someone might experience in their daily life and make it tangible. She even made it so that I was able to relate to all three sisters and that counts for something.

Rebecca's reading style is easy to read and paints a good picture inside your head. Through reading on I discovered I wanted to read more of it. And when I finished it, it felt complete and with a proper ending, so kudos to that. There were some things that were predictable, but I assume it came more from a sense of hope that things would happen this way. 

So, if you want an easyreader that pulls you into the story and to taste a slice of real human life, this is your book to go to. 

More information can be found on Rebecca's website or follow her on her Facebookpage! 

Renegades - Marissa Meyer

Book: Renegades
Author: Marissa Meyer
Releasedate: 7th of November, 2017

As a true Lunar Chronicles fan, I just had to read this one. To see how Marissa would fare in a different setting with a different background. And to be really honest; I liked this book, but not as much as I did like the Lunar Chronicles. 

It was enjoyable to read and as always easy to read thanks to her writing style. 

For those who do not like superheroes and villains, it still can be an enjoyable story to read. It's better if you like superpowers and such and I must say I like the diversity of powers that are displayed in this book. 

Though I liked the story, it did have some clichés that were pretty much dripping of the pages. It didn't surprise me as much as the Lunar Chronicles did. 

Still, I'm definitely gonna read the next book as soon as I get my hands on it. 

The Red Scrolls of Magic - Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

Book: The Red Scrolls of Magic
Authors: Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu
Releasedate: 9th of April 2019

I always wondered what happened with Alec and Magnus when they went on their vacation. While reading the Mortal Instruments, you definitely wonder what happened to the new lovers and why weren't we involved? Well, now we know through the latest book from Cassandra in cooperation with Wesley Chu. 

The most bizarre thing for me was the day I started reading it, a week after the release, the Notre Dame went up in flames. And if you look at the cover itself you can see one of the spires that actually disappeared in the skyline right now. So the picture that was painted in favor of the cover, is a very valuable piece of something gorgeous in history. Well, we're probably sure the Notre Dame will be rebuild, but it's not the same one as it was in the story of Malec.

We finally get to follow the fresh and new lovers on their very first holiday. I really enjoyed this book and the way Alec and Magnus were portrayed. You see the struggles, the doubts through all the events that take place, but you see the pair growing as the story proceeds. We get to see more of Europe through the eyes of Magnus and Alec and it's refreshing. 

I won't reveal any spoilers, but if you like Malec, then you are definitely going to like this saga. It's witty, funny, lovely and great to read and to know more of the pair. 

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy - Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman

Book: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
Authors: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman
Releasedate: 17th of Februari, 2015 (first story) / 15th of November 2016 (print edition)

Since I've read the Mortal Instruments and the Dark Artifices, I was happy to read this one, because it

filled in so many gaps I experienced while reading the Dark Artifices. It follows the story of Simon Lewis (Simoooooon <3) after the Mortal Instruments when he departs for the Shadowhunter Academy. In his quest to find himself after all the events that happened.

I really liked this book, because I like Simon, lol. But seriously. It was cool to read what happens there and to also read some more history of the Shadowhunters. We even visit some old friends and stories from a different era and I love that. The more I read, the more I know of the families that transpired in the Shadowhunter World and that is pretty cool. 

To be honest, the image I have from Simon is pretty much based on the Simon from the Netflix series, because that was exactly how I pictured him, so I even got a bigger crush on him. He's such a nerd and his world is jampacked with references that are also in my world. He would've been the perfect nerd for me, weren't it that I already have my perfect nerd at home, lol. 

And to be fair, I was a bit sad and shocked when I finished the book, but what happens is part of that world and it can happen. I don't want to spoil it for people who still need to read it, but it was pretty heavy at the end of the book. 

And I got the latest book, The Red Scrolls of Magic in the Eldest Curses serie (book 1) on the mat this week, so I know what I'm gonna read next!

The Bane Chronicles - Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson

Book: The Bane Chronicles
Author: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson
Releasedate: April 16th 2013 - March 18th 2014

Well, if you love Magnus, you're gonna love this one. The Bane Chronicles is a series of short stories involving Magnus and I really liked it. It gives so much background to the already existing stories and it makes it even more amazing. I learned a lot more about Ragnor and Catharina as well as Alec and Tessa. It was adorable to read a story involving Tessa and William setting after the Infernal Devices. Amazing. And also an encounter with the Circle, that was really interesting.

I can't tell much more actually without spoiling what happens, so I'll keep it brief:

Read it if you love Magnus.

Read it if you want to know more what happened to Magnus and whoever he encountered.

Magnus galore!

Queen of Air and Darkness - Cassandra Clare

Book: Queen of Air and Darkness
Author: Cassandra Clare
Releasedate: 4th of December, 2018

Well, it took me far too long to read this one, because it was a massive read. It took up quite some space in my bag! But where I usually read on the sub to and from work, I was tempted to read this one when I was home. And for those who know me, I don't have a lot of spare time at home. So that counts for something. I even read it while I was gaming with my husband. 

A friend of mine had some issues with the pofs in the book, but that's her bane. Lucky for me, I don't have that problem, so I had no problem at all to keep up with the switching views. I rather liked it to see what was going on in everyone else's head. For me, Queen of Darkness is a true and epic end to a trilogy. It brought some surprises with it in the story and I loved that.

What I mostly admire about Cassandra is that she is able to weave the struggles of everyday life in her story. And she is so able to do that, that it even looks normal and totally logical that it happens in the story. She touches the topics of being transgender, equality for the lgbt community itself and even a dash of polyamory. And it all sounds perfectly normal within the story. To love one another for what people are. I really admire her for that balls to put that in her stories, but to not make it a main subject. There is still the focus on the story itself and it's pure craftmanship that she is able to do so.

Back to the story. We see the story of Emma and Julian and how it ends. And I loved every single bit of it. It really took me some effort to put it down when I arrived at my station. We see some old familiars in the story and some new people. I loved the fact that we got to see what happens to the people from the Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices series. If you want to enjoy the Dark Artifices series more, I advise you to read the other two series first. There are so many crossreferences that you really are going to miss if you haven't read them.

On to the next one!

Lord of Shadows - Cassandra Clare

Book: Lord of Shadows
Author: Cassandra Clare
Releasedate: 23rd of May, 2017

Where I had some trouble getting into the story with Lady Midnight, I had none whatsoever getting into Lord of Shadows. It just catched me. I'm still flabbergasted how it ended and slightly stunned, but I loved the book. it was amazing. 

Lord of Shadows is well written and it even refers back to persons we've met in the Infernal Devices series and I love that. I really love the crossovers and I really loved the fact the Blackthorns swapped environment what felt so familiar. It just weaves the story and world together. We even got a peak from a different realm!

We also get to know more of Julian and Emma as they struggle through their relationship as parabatai.

May I just say I really love the idea of parabatai? Cassandra, amazing idea!

Cassandra's choice of words is rich and you almost feel like you are there amongst all the fuss. 

I can say much more, but I'm afraid I would be leaving too much spoilers.

If you liked Lady Midnight, you're going to love Lord of Shadows. It's set in a world old and new and tells so much more history for the Shadowhunters.

*picks of Queen of Darkness*

And now to end this epic saga...