Mundie Moms

Friday, January 29, 2016

NIGHT STUDY by Maria Snyder / Blog Tour: Book Review / Giveaway



Hello and welcome to today's stop in the NIGHT STUDY blog tour! I LOVE this book! I'm excited to not only share my spoiler free review with you today, there's also a giveaway! Be sure to enter it at the end of this post. 

ABOUT THE BOOK


By: Maria V. Snyder
Published by: Mira
Released on: January 26th, 2016
Series: Soulfinders #2
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
Add it Goodreads
Rating: 5 Stars - I Loved It!
Source: purchased book / received e-arc to review from publisher in exchange for my honest review
Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia is safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.  

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek…secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.
Yelena and Valek are back! I first fell in love with these two over eight years ago. With each book since Poison Study, I have fallen in love with them more and more. I love how each book feels like first one. Every time I jump into reading one of Maria's newest releases featuring Yelena and Valek, it's like coming home. Reading their stories, and getting to jump right back into the world of these characters is like reuniting with family and old friends. 

The story of Yelena and Valek has progressed so beautifully! There's so much to their story that I want to say, but I'll keep this spoiler free. Let me just say that long time fans of Yelena and Valek will love the newest revelations, and developments between this all time favorite literally couple. It's so hard not to swoon with the way these two are when they are around each other. I love seeing that tender side of Valek, a highly feared assign, when he's with Yelena. Getting the story from his point of view of fabulous. I love how protective of her he is, while at the same time he respects the missions she has to go on. Despite his wanting to lock Yelena in a tower to keep her safe, I love how he has always allowed her to be her own person, and has supported her in her quests. 


Yelena has always been, and will always be one of my favorite heroines. I have always admired her strength, her intelligence, and her duty. She is the perfect match for Valek. The love, respect, and desires they have for each other are perfectly written. *sigh* One of the things I've always loved about this series, and the books that center o the world of Sitia and Ixia, are the relationships. Two of my favorite characters (aside from Yelena and Valek) are Janco and Ari. Not only do they bring the humor to the right parts of the story, I have long admired their loyalty to Valek, as well as Yelena. They are the characters who long ago started out more like side kicks, and quickly morphed from being secondary characters to main characters. I love these two. 


The best thing about Night Study, aside from the magic, romance, and action packed scenes, is this book is written from four points of views! The story is told from Valek, Yelena, Janco and Lief's points of views and it is AWESOME! Maria is one of the few authors who can write a book from multiple points of views and do so effortlessly. I loved getting to know Lief more. He continues to surprise me. 


Night Study is a fantastic addition to a continued series I can't get enough of. I love the complexity of the plot line, the continued storyline of many of the characters fans have previously met, and the shocking twists and secrets that are revealed. There's a lot that happens in this book. I loved that the depth of some of the relationships really makes the betrayal and shocking discoveries that much worse. I definitely was not excepting some of the plot twists to go in the direction they did, and I love that Maria still has that element of surprise. This book is the perfect continuation of the previous book in this series, and the series before it. If you haven't picked up those books, I highly recommend that you do! 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Maria V. Snyder changed from being a meteorologist to a novelist in 1995, when she began writing to keep her sanity while raising two children. Since then, she has published numerous freelance articles in magazines and newspapers, and teaches fiction-writing classes at the local college and area libraries. The classes give her the wonderful opportunity to encourage fellow writers, and to keep improving her craft.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria always had a fascination with big storms. Dreaming of chasing tornados, Maria earned a bachelors of science degree in meteorology at Penn State University. But she discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. In order to chase tornados you had to predict where they might form. Creating fantasy worlds where she has complete control of the weather was more agreeable to her.

Maria's research on food-tasting methods with an expert chocolate taster, her husband, turned out to be a delicious bonus while writing Poison Study.

Maria has a brown belt in Isshinryu Karate, and enjoys playing volleyball and the cello. Traveling in general and via cruise ship in particular are her biggest distractions from writing. Maria has traveled to Belize, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.

Maria lives with her husband, son, daughter and yellow lab, Hazelnut, in Pennsylvania where she is at work on more LUNA novels. She is also pursuing a master's degree in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University.

Readers are welcome to contact Maria at the following email address:maria@mariavsnyder.com.
Where you can find Maria: Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads




ENTER TO WIN


6 Winners will receive a finished copy of NIGHT STUDY, US Only.
4 winners will receive a finished copy of NIGHT STUDY, International.

FOLLOW THE TOUR


Week One:
1/18/2016- Dark Faerie TalesInterview
1/19/2016- The Bibliophile ChroniclesReview
1/20/2016- Two Chicks on BooksGuest Post
1/21/2016- The Moonlight LibraryReview
1/22/2016- Read Now Sleep LaterInterview

Week Two:
1/25/2016- Seeing Double In NeverlandReview
1/26/2016- Magical Urban Fantasy ReadsExcerpt
1/27/2016- a GREAT readReview
1/28/2016- FiktshunInterview
1/29/2016Mundie MomsReview

Lady Midnight Snippet on Pinterest


Cassie treated us to another Lady Midnight snippet, and this time it's on her Pinterest board.

Boy, oh boy, is this ever a powerful image and quote:


Okay, who is already feeling Mark's pain as well as the unfairness of it all??? Don't forget to check out the rest of Cassie's Pinterest board, Dark Artifices Research. The images on there are all so dark, haunting and beautiful all at once. 

Thursday, January 28, 2016

REIGN OF SHADOWS by Sophie Jordan / Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway




Hello and welcome to today's stop in the REIGN OF SHADOWS blog tour! Today's stop features a giveaway (be sure to enter at the end of this post), as well as my review for Sophie Jordan's upcoming release! First, here's a little bit about the book. 

ABOUT THE BOOK


By: Sophie Jordan
Published by: Harper Teen
To Be Released on: February 9th, 2016
Series: Reign of Shadows #1
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository
Add it to Goodreads 
Rating: 4 Stars - I Enjoyed It
* I received an ARC from the publisher to review, in exchange for my honest review

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

With lush writing and a star–crossed romance, Reign of Shadowsis Sophie Jordan at her best.


I am a huge Sophie Jordan fan. I love her YA books, especially the ones that have those well written fantasy elements, swoon worthy romances, and action packed scenes. If you've not yet picked up one of Sophie's books, you're missing out. I'm really excited about her newest series, Reign of Shadows. While this book may have had a slow start for me, and I may have felt the pacing was a little off at times, I am so glad I stuck with this book! I went from feeling not connected to the story for some of the first half, to feeling like I couldn't turn the pages fast enough for the second half. 

Reign of Shadows is an interesting blend of fantasy and dystopia. I really liked how these two elements worked together in this story. Normally I'm not a huge fan of dystopia, but it worked out well for Reign of Shadows, particularly with the freaky creatures that live within this book's dark world. The world itself is a fascinating one. It's a dark and dangerous place that for the most part has been without light for the last seventeen years, except for the midnight. The time of day have offers a little bit of light. It added a lot to the story, and what the characters dwell with. From dwellers who feed on people, to huge rabbit eating bats. This is one world I wouldn't want to venture out in, unless of course I had Fowler and Luna with me. 


It took me a while to really connect with both Luna and Fowler, but once I did, I ended up loving these two characters. Luna has lived in a tower for much of her life, and has rarely been out doors. There's a reason for why she's been there. Despite her little contact with the outside world, I liked that those entrusted to protect her, have trained her and have taught about the world outside. Luna is far from helpless, and I loved that she 'sees' and experiences the world differently than those around her. I admired her fearlessness, and her attention to detail. That alone is crucial in her ability to survive in the outside world.


Fowler is a character who was harder to like, but once I did, I ended up loving him. He's definitely been through his fair share of hell. The world he's lived in has changed him, which is excepted given all the death and destruction he's witnessed. I really liked the way Luna and Fowler's story intertwined. They both do their fair share of saving each other. I loved how they both change each other, for the better, more so Fowler than Luna. I liked their little moments together. The little touches, the glances and their nearness to each other. Those moments are ones Sophie Jordan writes so well. She builds up to just the right moment between the two characters, so that when things finally start heating up, you want to yell FINALLY!


Of course, just as things start heating up, shocking secrets get revealed. Talk about a great twist at the end of this book! I was not excepting that twist, though I totally should have. Sophie Jordan what have you done to me! I need the next book. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for it be released. 



ABOUT SOPHIE JORDAN


Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.



Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

ENTER TO WIN


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Follow the Tour


See Sophie Jordan on Tour

  • St. Louis, MO
  • February 9, 2016
  • Main Street Books, off-site at Spencer Road Library, 7 PM
  • Naperville, IL
  • February 10, 2016
  • Anderson’s Bookshop, 7 PM
  • Washington, D.C.
  • February 11, 2016
  • Politics & Prose, off-site at the Bethesda Library, 7 PM
  • Fairfax, VA
  • February 12, 2016
  • Barnes & Noble, 7 PM
  • Bensalem, PA
  • February 13, 2016
  • Barnes & Noble, 1 PM
  • New York City
  • February 14, 2016
  • Books of Wonder, 4 PM
  • *Billed as “Epic Reads Presents: A Date with Royalty”

Shadowhunters TV Series: Episode 3: Dead Man's Party / Review



We're now three weeks into the Shadowhunters TV series. This week's episode, Dead Man's Party, has all three of us sharing our thoughts on what we watched. This week's review is a little bit different than my previous reviews of the series, which you can read here, and here. This week our snark, and say it how it is attitudes, may be much more present than normal. We'd love to know what you thought of this week's Shadowhunters episode. Please feel free to share your thoughts below in the comments.




Katie's Thoughts


 I don't even know what I just watched, but it wasn't good, and I wish I could unsee most, if not all of it. Forget about the descent to hell, this week it was more like the descent into every one's pants. What was with the sex scenes/sensual scenes?! Yes, I have issues with the characters using sex to get what they want. Those scenes weren't just over the top, they were completely unnecessary. The everyone seducing everyone took away from the intelligence of the characters. They don't use seduction to get what they want. I'm a little miffed that the crucial seen between Jace & Clary in the greenhouse got cut from the TV series, and in it's place we get an episode full of sex and some troubling sexual seduction.


Let's talk about the scene with Jace watching Brad the vampire groping Clary. This entire scene was horrible, and completely uncharacteristic of Jace. Jace actually respects Clary, and women. He would never use Clary to get something he wanted. The fact that he allowed Brad to grope her, and use her in the manner he did to the vampire's motorcycle, was disgusting. Then there's the Izzy and Meliorn scene. They could have kept with the scene from the book, and it would have been just fine. I didn't need to see the unnecessary sex scene between them. The scene with Camille and Simon was, I don't even know what the heck that was, but it was a waste of air time. I couldn't help but laugh at the horrible, "Don't worry, my little caramel...." line. Wow.... I couldn't even take these vampires serious, and in the book they're a bit terrifying. 


Ed Decter has totally lost me with this episode. I have held out hope with the series, but after this disastrous episode, I'm not so sure. Thankfully the acting outshines the horrible script writing. The were a couple good things from this episode, like Simon and Alec. They continue to be my favorite characters. I love the way Alberto and Matthew bring their two characters to life. They are completely believable in the way they deliver their lines, down to their mannerisms. I also liked getting a very small glimpse of book Jace. I liked getting to see more of Izzy and Alec together, and I liked the end (and not just because the episode was finally over) with Simon and Clary. The scene between them summed up their relationship; Clary has always loved Simon as a best friend, and Simon has always loved Clary more than a friend. 


I wish I could say I'm hopeful about next week's episode, but I'm still trying to process what I just watched this week. One things for sure, I wasn't a fan, I'm not even sure I'll continue watching the series.



S
ophie's Thoughts


This episode should've been called "There is a Downworlder in My Pants". Everyone seduces everyone in the name of discovering secrets. Meliorn and Izzy were an unnecessary sexy aside.  Seelies can't lie and some things I can't unsee. 


Speaking of that, Camille comparing Simon to chocolates. "Don't worry, my little caramel...". That line has got to be one of the cheesiest vampire lines I have ever heard. It's almost as bad as "you're my own, personal brand of heroin" from that other poorly scripted (albeit much loved movie). Also, I didn't know vampires can stop time (for a well placed info dump)?!?!

The things I liked outweigh the badly acted, sexy asides.  I continue to love Alec. He is that voice of reason that was portrayed in the book. I adore his "this is a bad idea" moments. Matthew delivers them so believably. Simon. I love him, too, and Alberto brings him to life in such a sweet,  bumbly way.  He's so much like BookSimon. And before I forget, JACE ON A MOTORCYCLE! That's always fun to watch. The last scene with Clary and Simon was pretty book-perfect. Their relationship as well as Jace and Alec's is pretty well done. I think the chemistry between the actors overrides the badly written script.

Will I keep watching? Sure, for now.



Emmaly's Thoughts


This episode was very dialogue heavy, as my husband said as he walked in around the graveyard scene, "they just talk all the time, when are they going to do something" I also think the sex (or what your saw of them) scenes were unnecessary. Surely Izzy could have had that conversation with Meliorn with out it being so much about the sexy times. That along side the Camille and Simon scenes were a little over the top. But again the main cast were awesome. I think I saw the real Jace I know and love from the book tonight, when he is fighting with Alec and looking at Clary on the roof.  And Simon oh Simon was just like the book. The banter between the main cast will defiantly keep me watching.




Tune in! Shadowhunters airs on Tuesday nights at 9/8 pm CST on Freeform. *All image's found here and here, and are property of ShadowhuntersTV.com.

Cassandra Clare Talks Lady Midnight and Shadowhunters TV with Publisher's Weekly



Earlier this week, Cassandra Clare talked Lady Midnight, writing, and Shadowhunters TV with Publisher's Weekly. While you can read the entire article here, I've included two of PW's questions, and Cassie's answers below.


You always have some cool contest or giveaway for your readers when you release a new book. What are you planning for Lady Midnight 
Well, I really wanted to be able to sign the entire first run of Lady Midnight but then they told me how many books that would be (at least 600,000) and I realized no human being could do that. I’m aware of what signing 150,000 copies [of The Fault in Our Stars] did to John Green. So I remembered that when Suzanne Collins hurt her wrist and couldn’t autograph any copies of Mockingjay, she had a special stamp made that she used during her tour but then retired, never to be used again. So I asked if we could create some kind of unique stamp and I would stamp as many books as I could, which still turned out to be less than they were going to actually print. So we drafted a bunch of people with connections to the book – the designer, the editor, the president of Simon and Schuster – and we had stamping parties to get it done. So if you get a stamped book, it was done by me or by somebody very close to the production of the book.
All this and a TV show, too! Freeform [formerly ABC Family] just launched Shadowhunters, its own series based on the books. Did you get to have any input? 
I’m actually not involved at all. I mean, I did visit the set but I am as clueless as the next person as to what will happen next. Well, I do know a little, but I wasn’t involved in writing it and I didn’t have right of approval or get a consultant fee or anything like that. But, of course, all my readers always come to me with questions about it. That’s the thing about having a close relationship with your fans: they think to ask me first even though the TV series is really a completely separate thing that doesn’t have anything to do with me or the books. I think that will change. I think fans of Pretty Little Liars have finally separated the books from the show. [The show] is a riff on my work, not my work. A lot of people want to know, ‘Why aren’t you involved?’ and the real answer is, if I insisted on being involved, nobody would have bought the rights to make it. That’s just not the way these things work except in very special circumstances. And I’m okay with that.

Read more of Cassandra Clare's interview with Publisher's Weekly, here. Lady Midnight will be out on March 8th, 2016! You can find out more about it, and where to pre-order it at here.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys / Book Review



By: Ruta Sepetys
Published by: Philomel Books
To Be Released on: February 2nd, 2016
Pre-Order From: Penguin Random House | Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 Stars - I Loved It
*I received an arc / copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review

The author of Between Shades of Gray returns to WWII in this epic novel that shines a light on one of the war's most devastating—yet unknown—tragedies.

In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are  Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer toward safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.


If there is one book you read this year, read this one. Salt to the Sea is a book that will forever change you, and in a good way. It is one of the most powerful books I've read in some time. There's something to be said about an author who can bring history to life within the pages of their book, and do so with fictional characters who's outcomes you know may be grim, but you can't help rooting for till the end. I have long been a reader of historical fiction books that take place during WWII, but this is a book that stands out from the rest.

Salt to the Sea is a beautifully, written piece of heartbreaking history, and given an unforgettable voice in modern day. It's a harrowing, unforgettable read that follows four main characters who's lives all interconnect in the middle of World War II. Florian, Joana, Emilia and Alfred are all on different sides of the war. Each wear the scars and carry the burdens that WWII has brought with it. Each is a victim. It's the burdens, and scars that Florian, Joana and Emilia each carry that push them and others whom are with them, to continue on. To not lose hope. It's the false sense of security of drives Alfred in his quest to give his best service. Through all the adversity each character faces, they never give up. I can't imagine experiencing all they do. 

Salt to the Sea has moved me in a way that no other book has. It's made me contemplate what I would have done if I had been in any of the characters shoes. Sepetys continues to prove why she's a powerful writer and story teller in the YA book world. She brings history to life like no one else can. Through her talent for writing historical fiction, Sepetys has given history a voice, and names, that I won't soon forget. Though I'm left wondering why it is, that I have to read a YA book to learn about the deadliest disaster in maritime history. I can't thank Sepetys enough for writing Florian, Joana, Emilia and Alfred's stories. I'm still thinking about them long after I've read them.

Each point of view progresses the story, and brings a different side of the war with it. Salt to the Sea is written in such a way that I felt it was respectful to what not only these fictional characters endured, but what others really experienced. Sepetys does a beautiful job at not shying away the horrors of what happened during WWII. As horrible as it may be, that is the part of the story that broke not only the characters, but me as a reader. I felt like I was reading pages out the journals of these characters. I loved the way Sepetys told each of the character's stories. By the end of the book, I felt like I really came to understand each of them, as individuals. 

Through grief, loss, and unthinkable experiences, there's hope, love, and courage. There's the spirit of never forgetting, but of moving on, and taking all the horrors and glimpses of hope, with them. Though much of the story takes place during the war, I loved how Sepetys ends the story. It's a realistic, heart felt ending that was just right for this book. Salt to the Sea is a book what will forever remain with me, as are the characters, and history this book is based on. This is one book I would highly recommend picking up. It's one I'd recommend for upper middle grade, and high school reading. There's a lot of history lessons that can be taught from this book. 

On a personal level, this book's history is personal to me. My great grandparents (including my grandmother), left Schneidemuhl, Germany, which is now in northern Poland, in the 1920's. My grandmother passed on stories from her father, who had been in the German services prior to her arrival. My Grandfather was a POW in Germany, during WWII. He openly shared his experiences from during that time, something I'm forever grateful to know about. Combing those with the experiences, and the journey I went on with the characters of Salt to the Sea, left me emotionally raw. Yet, at the time, I'm in awe over the courage they each had. Well I should say, all but one had. As tragic as the story of WWII is, I am forever grateful for those who share their stories, and those who research their stories to share. That through these stories we can be moved, and inspired to do better, and learn from the past, while never forgetting all the past holds. 

If you only read one thought provoking book this year, let it be this one!

SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys / Waiting on Wednesday #270




By: Ruta Sepetys
Published by: Philomel Books
To Be Released on: February 2nd, 2016
Pre-Order From: Penguin Random HouseAmazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

The author of Between Shades of Gray returns to WWII in this epic novel that shines a light on one of the war's most devastating—yet unknown—tragedies.

In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are  Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer toward safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.


This book is one of the most powerful books you'll read this year. I'm cheating a bit by featuring as it a Waiting on Wednesday book, because I've already read it. However, I can not wait for this book to released, so that it can get into the hands of numerous readers. It is a harrowing, unforgettable read, and a book that will leave you forever changed. 


Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Alberto Rosende Talks Playing Simon Lewis in the Shadowhunters TV Series #Shadowhunters



Recently I had the chance to talk with Alberto Rosende about his role, playing Simon Lewis in Shadowhunters (which airs tonight on Freeform at 9/8 pm CST). One of my favorite things about the TV series has been Alberto's portrayal of Simon. He has captured the essence of what I loved about Simon's character in Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments book series. I love seeing that brought to life in the TV series. The best part of our interview was getting to geek out over Simon's character together. Please note that I have condensed our interview, only included the Q&A portion of the interview, below.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

What Do You Admire Most About Simon?
I've read the books (the Mortal Instruments series), and my intro to Simon was just like all the fans. I was charmed by his humor, his integrity, and his loyalty to his best friend, Clary. I feel like I've made a new best friend in playing Simon. What Izzy says about Jace being the ultimate protecter, I feel that Simon is that ultimate best friend. He has an undying willingness to save the people he loves. We need more people like that in the world. 


I have loved your portrayal of Simon. It's one of the things I have loved about the series. How have you approached bringing book Simon to life for the TV series?
Simon is a mundane thrown into the Shadowhunter world, and has to explore it. He's been thrown into the deep in and told to float. He's doing the best he can. Our biggest job with the series, is we knew we'd have to change the story. You can't tell the same story, that story has already been told in the books, but we had to get the true essence of the characters. When we do that, the fans trust us with their story. I wanted to bring the true Simon to life.

What Can Fans Except To See With Simon's Journey?
Simon is the most important, underrated character. We really get see his importance at the end of book six (City of Heavenly Fire). I want to show how Simon began his journey and all he's learning about himself. In the tv series, starting with episode 3, we see Simon go deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole. With episodes 8, 9, 10 and 11, we get into the thick of the Shadowhunters' world, and the heart of the season. We see the characters explore who they really are. 


How Are You and Simon Alike?
He's the character I relate to the most. Simon's a great best friend. He reminds me of my best friends. I see their qualities in Simon. They're loyal. They're excited to learn about the world around them. Those are the type of people I want to be around. 

If There Was One Prop You Could Keep, What Would It Be?
I would have to pick two. The first, is Simon's glasses. I'm in characters when I have his glasses on. I could be doing anything on set, but as soon as I put the glasses on, I became Simon. I really want to keep those close to me. The second one would be Simon's van. I love Simon's van. I like that they kept it old like it is in the books. I think there's even a spider or two living in there. The van is like it's own character, and really means something to Simon. It also represents Brooklyn. I want to drive it around Brooklyn. 


Thank you to Alberto and Freeform for making the interview possible! 

One of the things I loved about my phone interview with Alberto, was not only getting to geek out over our love of Simon's character, I felt like Alberto truly gets Simon. He's a fan of the books, but most importantly respects Simon, and gets his character. I really appreciated his wanting to stay true to the essence of Simon's character. It's one of the things that has really stood out to me so far in the Shadowhunters series. Fan wise, I love it when actors really, truly understand the characters they're portraying. Thank you Alberto for loving Simon's character as much as we do! 

Tune into Freeform tonight at 9/8 pm CST to catch the third episode of Shadowhunters! 

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