One Sit reads: An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunter & Denizens of Downworld

Sometimes a girl just needs a Shadowhunter fix; that's exactly what I got with this short little volume. This book covers every Shadowhunter and character that we have meant in all of Clare's books. What made this book so special is that it features the artwork of Cassandra Jean; who has been working along side Cassie Clare to bring the Shadowhunters to life for several years. Another magical thing about this little tome is that every blurb about the characters features something we didn't know about them. For instance, I loved the bit about Tatiana Blackthorn (sister to the Lightwood brothers in Infernal Devices); supposedly she was prone to nastiness. Throwing tantrums when she did not get her way etc. Well, if any of you remember the elder (father) Lightwood turned into a worm after contracting Demon Pox. According to this book Tatiana went into a rage after her father ate her fiancé in front of her.
I literally laughed. I remember that part of the book very well because her reaction was not one of horror or grief but childish anger. I laughed at that scene and I laughed at the blurb. Another thing that I found enjoyable was that the cats (Chairman Meow and Church) are featured. Not to mention my book boyfriend, Jen Carstairs, is featured twice. This book was a quick, easy read, and it took me two days to get through (it would have been one if I had not been so tired Monday night). This book is definitely a must have for all Cassandra Clare fans. I really can not wait to add it to my Shadowhunter shelf. I gave this 5/5 stars of goodreads.com

Below is some of the art work from the book:

One sit reads: The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

In the hurry to get the rest of my reading goal met I have decided to do several one sit reads. And tonight's selection was The Sleeper and the Spindle. This small volume has been sitting on my TBR shelf for months. I really have no clue why it took me so long to get to this book.
In this book Neil Gaiman takes us to a small kingdom that is falling under a "sleeping spell" - a spell that was cast on a young princess in a Kingdom that borders their own. The young queen of this kingdom takes it upon herself to go and save her people; and she (along with the dwarves that accompany her) are immuned to the sleeping spell. Our Queen in question was once asleep herself for a year; in a glass coffin. (That should be a clue to who she is. She is never named).
They make their way to the castle; only to discover that things are not what they seem. The villain is killed in the end but there is no real happy ending. The people of the Kingdom the Queen rescues has no clue what happened. And the Queen heads back to her Kingdom to get married.
This little book seems to have two intentions 1)to let the reader know that women are capable and equiped to save themselves; 2) Not all fairy tales get happy endings - sometimes the endings are all to real. This book also left me with some questions like: Where did the villain come from? Will the Queen take the same lead in her own life? Will she marry because it's what is expected or because she wants to? Maybe she needs to rescue herself.
The main attraction of this book was the artwork (by Chris Riddell); the illustrations where gothic and hauntingly beautiful. Which is what I would expect in a book about spells, witches and queens. I gave this book 4/5 stars on Goodreads.com.

****Above is just some of the artwork for the book****