angelreads, Author at Angel Reads

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TV Review: Shadowhunters 2 x 10 ‘By the Light of Dawn’

Mar 8, 2017

Shadowhunters: Season 2 Episode 10

Episode Name: By the Light of Dawn
Release date: 6th March 2017
Running Time: 42 minutes
Starring Katherine McNamara, Dominic Sherwood, Alberto Rosende, Matthew Daddario, Emeraude Toubia, Isaiah Mustafa, Harry Shum Jr.
Directed By: Joshua Butler
Watch: Freeform (US) – Netflix (Worldwide)
Episode Reviews: Season 1 | Season 2

The New York Institute is under attack as Valentine’s plan for The Soul Sword is getting dangerously close to coming to fruition. The Shadowhunters must act fast to save their loved ones and the rest of the Downworld.

Meanwhile, some of the Downworlders have their own plan to stop Valentine and their target is Clary.

By the Light of Dawn:

Wow, what a way to have a mid-season finale. Throughout the whole episode, I was on the edge of my seat, not knowing what is going to happen next. After last week’s episode, I knew that we were in trouble this week. Valentine has Simon and downworlders still want Clary dead – and Valentine is crazy.

In By the Light of Dawn Valentines plans come in full force. Valentine and his followers attack the New York Institute trapping everyone inside. While Clary, Luke. Jace and Magnus try and figure out a way to stop Valentine from the outside.

Clary

This was one of my favourite episodes for Clary. She really showed her strength, her determination to save Simon. I loved the grit she had when she fought. I admired that she would take a chance on her life for a world that she hasn’t been in for long. We really get to see her stand up for what she believes in and doesn’t let people around her make the decisions.

Jace

Wow – what an episode for Jace. If you thought he was tested in previous episodes then you have another thing coming. Jace not only has to deal with what is going on around him, but also what is going on inside him.

Again like Clary, Jace showed really power and strength in this episode and I loved it! We also get to see his vulnerable side – his weakness.

Those last scenes with Valentine – yes! They showed his skills as a fighter, but also how much he does care for others around him. Especially those that mean a lot to him.

Alec + Magnus

I am dead. They have killed me. Goodbye.

Okay, let’s be serious. YES. YES. YES. I loved Alec and Magnus from the start, but as the series has gone on, I feel more and more in love. They are both so innocent with each other and even though Magnus has had years of experience and I mean years – this is new. That end scene between them. I cannot wait to see what 2b brings.

Valentine

I love Valentine. I mean I hate him, but he is also such a great villain. His manipulative and evil and just works so well in this world.

The way that he plans things and we think they aren’t going well, but he always has something up his sleeve that just changes everything. And how the episode ended for Valentine, I am not too sure that it’s over for good and I cannot wait!

Ending

Wow. What an intense episode and the last 20 minutes, kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what was going to happen next.

That moment with the soul sword – wow – that was intense, but also really good and brings so much more for 2b. All the emotions of everyone are brought to the surface and shadowhunters and downworlders alike are ready to fight to save their lives.

The ending scene with the sword – we all know who that is!

Overall

This was a great ending to 2a and I cannot wait to see what 2b brings. We know that Sebastian will be there ready to cause trouble. And we know that Valentine is gone just yet – plus I reckon the Seelie Queen is about to start causing trouble.

What did you think of By the Light of Dawn? Did you enjoy it? I know it’s a long time to 2b, but what are you looking forward to? Let’s Chat!

Book Tag: The Summer Reader

Mar 7, 2017

I wasn’t tagged by anyone this time, but I thought it would be fun since it’s currently coming to the end of Summer here in Australia. I love summer when I am able to go to the beach or pools not so much when it’s 40+. Anyhow, I hope you like. I saw this tag on Igniting Pages, however, I don’t know where the tag orginated. Please do tell me if you know.

Lemonade: Pick a book that started off bitter but then got better

We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan and Brain Conaghan: Okay, this didn’t exactly start off as bitter, however, it’s was one of my first verse novels. So getting into the rhythm of that was hard. But, in the end, I ended up enjoying the book.

Golden Sun: Pick a book that made you smile beyond compare

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally: I just recently re-read this and I forgot how much these books make me smile. I love Sam and everything that he does. I love Jordan and how strong and vulnerable she is. All these series are quite similar in this fact, and I love it.

Tropical Flowers: Pick a book set in a different country

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: Because this didn’t fit in any other question, I had to slot it in here. The Hate U Give is set in America so it totally works. But I suggest that everyone picks up this book as soon as you can because it’s brilliant.

Green Grass: Pick a character(s) that was full of life, making you smile

Blake Riley from Good Boy by Sarina Bowen Elle Kennedy: He is such a fun character that gosh it made me smile. I just think all these books by these two in this ‘series’ are so good.

Tree Shade: Pick a book where a mysterious or shady character is introduced.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber for sure! Throughout the whole book, you are introduced to new characters, but you also don’t know who to trust. Everyone is trying to deceive you, it’s all a game. You think that you can trust a character, but then something happens and you are second guessing yourself before you know it | Full Review

Watermelon: Pick a book that had some juicy secrets

Him and Us by Sarina Bowen Elle Kennedy: These books were fantastic! If you are looking for some good NA, then these are the books for you. I smiled, I cried, I loved. Oh, and there are defiantly some juicy secrets.

Sun Hat: Pick a book with a vast big universe/setting

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor: This book was fantastic. I cannot even begin to explain. I was intrigued and pulled right in. The world of this book, though, is phenomenal. It’s different, yet familiar and I loved it.

Beach Sand: Pick a book that was grainy and the plot barely developed

Cheater by Rachel Van Dyken: I really didn’t like this book at all. So much contributed to it, but I didn’t even know what was happening half the time, plus the character aren’t that crash hot either.

BBQ: Pick a book in which a character was portrayed as hunk

Crash into You by Katie McGarry: Not as much as a hunk as a Bad Boy – but gosh do I love him. I think he might be my favourite boy from the Pushing the Limits series.

Summer Fun: Pass The Tag On

Ely from Tea and Titles
Casey from adoptabook
Danielle from The Chronicles of Danielle
Tash from Confessions from Romaholics

And that is it for this tag! I love doing tags so if you want to tag me in anything please do, but let me know! Have you read any of these books? Do you agree with me? Do you disagree? If you are not tagged about, don’t worry you can still do The Summer Reader Tag. Let me know if you do. Let’s Chat!

I love talking so talk to me over on my twitter @angel_reads, Facebook, instagram and Goodreads. You can also follow Angel Reads on Bloglovin and via email (in the sidebar)

Book Review: Off the Ice by Julie Cross

Mar 5, 2017

Off the Ice by Julie Cross

Pages: 320
Publish date: 28th February 2017
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
ASIN: B00Z7C1I0M
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

All is fair in love and hockey…

Claire O’Connor is back in Juniper Falls, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be. One semester off, that’s what she promised herself. Just long enough to take care of her father and keep the family business—a hockey bar beside the ice rink—afloat. After that, she’s getting the hell out. Again.

Enter Tate Tanley. What happened between them the night before she left town resurfaces the second they lay eyes on each other. But the guy she remembers has been replaced by a total hottie. When Tate is unexpectedly called in to take over for the hockey team’s star goalie, suddenly he’s in the spotlight and on his way to becoming just another egotistical varsity hockey player. And Claire’s sworn off Juniper Falls hockey players for good.

It’s the absolute worst time to fall in love.

For Tate and Claire, hockey isn’t just a game. And they both might not survive a body check to the heart.

Off the Ice:

I received an e-arc of Off the Ice by Julie Cross Entangled: Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Off the Ice is one of those books that I wasn’t sure if I was going to like. I asked to review it on a whim because I felt like some romance. But, it just didn’t hit the spot and I was left disappointed.

Off the Ice follows protagonist Claire O’Connor whose return to her hometown in unforeseeable circumstances and Tate Tanley is thrust into the spotlight when he is unexpectedly called to take over as his ice hockey team’s goalie. The last time these two were together, secrets were revealed, but then Claire left for university.

I didn’t really like this book. There I said it. I was expecting more and was left dry. Recently I’ve loved reading about hockey players, I blame Elle Kennedy for that. So I was super excited to start this one, but as Off the Ice went on, I become more and more disappointed.

I’m not too sure how I feel about Claire. I liked her determination and her grit, but there was something that just didn’t sit right with me. I loved that Claire has left her life at university doing what she loved, to come back for her family. To be there for her father. But, then at times all she did was complain that she was there and that her life was ‘ruined.’

Tate again wasn’t a protagonist that I loved. I think I liked him more than Claire, but he again didn’t sit right with me. I felt for Tate, he’s a character that hides all his emotions, wants to help everyone else, but when it comes to helping himself. He didn’t. It was frustrating at times, but overall I understood why.

The reader knows that secret that Claire finds out before she leaves for university, and it’s heartbreaking. One of the things I liked about Off the Ice was that Julie Cross was able to interview the secret and really make it work. However, it was also really angsty at times and was just too much to make a smooth story.

The romance in Off the Ice was okay. Claire and Tate were totally adorable at times, but again the angst really put me off it. I liked that Claire was older than Tate as we don’t see that too much in YA. It’s part of what made me enjoy the romance side. Claire and Tate balanced each other out, and it was great to see how their relationship worked.

The family aspects of Off the Ice were another reason why this book wasn’t my favourite. Both Claire and Tate don’t have great home situations. Claire’s father is very sick and it’s put a damper on how the family works. Claire’s had to leave university, her family doesn’t want her to give it up, but she wants to be there. It’s all a bit of a mess.

Overall, I didn’t like Off the Ice that much. There were parts here and there which I enjoy the romance. However, it was a little too angsty for me. Off the Ice explores the notion of family, friendship, love and finding yourself. It’s about standing up for what you believe and that sometimes you need to look after yourself, before others.