This is the best book in the entire series. It explains nearly every question I've ever been confused about throughout the books. I'm really pleased that Cruz put this book out, BUT unfortunately it doesn't make up for her lack of detail in the other novels. She even used it to clear up inconsistencies in spellings of names and other plot points from the first book.
I don't understand why, if she has all of these details put together in her head, she doesn't explain them clearly enough in the actual novels. I wish I could put better into words what I mean, but it just bothers me even more now that the books aren't really well written.

I'll keep reading the series though.

I actually enjoyed this book more than any other in the entire series. It finally feels like Cruz is putting attention into constant detail rather than just skimming over scenes or characters. The only story I really didn't like from this "in-betweener" was Jack and Schuyler's bonding - I didn't buy the miniature plot and the 'ring bound by love' seemed really Twilight-y.

I guess just refer to all of my other reviews for these books, because this one is gonna sound the exact same. Except it was longer.

This was definitely the best of the series I think. Although Maze Runner is pretty close. Like The Hunger Games, this group of books definitely took a thematic and plot turn that I in no way expected and I still haven't really decided how I feel about that. I will say that these books are really, really dark. I don't think I've read another YA series with so much death or gore. Not really my cup of tea, but I bet some people like it! I definitely liked reading this book much better than I liked listening to the first two.
I don't think I would really recommend the series overall, but I'm glad I finished it so I could discuss it with my friend who read them.

I really really enjoyed this book! I have seen it in the hands of friends and random people since early high school and to me it always seemed like one of those book fads. I finally gave in and read it due to the recommendation of Carrie Fletcher on YouTube who read it this week for her reading club. I listened to the audio during a long solo drive to and from San Antonio over the weekend.

SPOILERS BELOW.

I really liked Tally Youngblood and her transformation was sound and believable. What I found especially captivating was Westerfield's ability to make me root for Tally to become Pretty. I wanted her to go betray Shay (don't even know if I'm spelling it right because I only listened!) and I wanted her to get the empty but happy life that she initially wanted. While I knew this society wasn't ok, I always took Tally's side during any argument against becoming Pretty. And by the end, I also understood why Tally finally realized that being Pretty wouldn't be the life she had hoped for.

My favorite passage was Tally's solo journey to the Smoke - the descriptions were captivating and I loved all of her obstacles and clues.

Here were the few issues I took with the plot: I didn't really buy Tally and David's relationship. They fell for each other really quickly (he trusted her with really personal information after simply meeting her - despite how he later described his first impression of her) and she too quickly (for me) decided she had feelings for him in return. Even by the end, I just never felt the pull of their relationship like I have in other YA novels (distopian or non).

All in all though, a FANTASTIC read! Clearly I had my thoughts gathered for this review - I think it's my longest so far this year!

Reread so I could see the movie confident that I remembered the important points.

I thought I could take a few days to gather my thoughts to write this review but I just don't think I have the words to express how I feel.

If you've read you understand.

I will say the movie was fantastic and beautiful and heart-wrenching. Stephen Chbosky was brilliant as the screenwriter and director. He even wrote a piece for the movie!

Re-read from high school. First review: 3/5. 2012 review: 5/5.

Like The Great Gatsby, this is a book I read first in high school that I just could not possibly appreciate until I got older. This book didn't make me weep for the characters nor was it relatable to my life. It's almost as if Bradbury visited this world then returned to our own but still with the desire to speak out against the horrors of the society he had witnessed. What is truly and unbelievably beautiful about his writing is the constant use of metaphor for even the simplest and seemingly mundane descriptions. Every paragraph was like a painting and I almost felt bad for just reading past his efforts without stopping to admire every word.

Thanks Vlogbrothers for another surprising summer read for me.

Oooooh Riordan.

This was the BEST of the series. The POVs were of course managed fantastically.

Spoilers below.

I loved how Riordan upheld the relationships, but I want someone for Leo!!! He is such a sweetheart and so smart - he deserves someone awesome. I'm glad we got to hear from Percy AND Annabeth! And oh my gosh - Annabeth! She is so complex and AWESOME! I loved the review from CassJayTuck on YouTube about all of the demigods going on almost mini-quests from the Argo II and coming back to report on them. We got to interact with every single character, all of the storylines were continued, and we were left with a heartwrenching cliffhanger.

Oh the end. THE EEEEEND. I can't.

And we have to wait a YEAR for the next book? For real?

Love triangles love triangles everywhere.

I think Clare does a FANTASTIC job of making these books different enough from Mortal Instruments that they are intriguing and completely stand alone. I love Tessa (aside from the occasional typical 'how could anyone ever love me' melodrama that accompanies most YA heroines now) and it amazes me how different these characters are from Clary and Jace and the others. She is a truly incredible author and storyteller.

I am VERY intrigued to find out what happens between Tessa, Will, and Jem in Clockwork Princess.

This book made me so depressed. From start to finish.

The writing is superb, the characters poignant and true, and the story unique and well thought out.

I guess what I mean to say is that this is a fantastically written book that Nicholls should be rightly proud of. What I disliked about it was also what made the book great - that it was so, so real. The anecdotes and insights into life through the minds of Dex and Em are depressingly realistic. I think that, especially with it being summer and all, I am just not in the mood to hear about how brief and sad life can be. And how many chances we can so easily miss out on.
So I guess I just want to be lied to right now? Back to YA.