cassandra clare

Books and music. Two of the best things this world has to offer. Why not mix them?
I thought I’d create a list of books paired up with one or two songs – because I feel that the mood, characters or plot of the books are somehow reflected in that song. Hope you enjoy!

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare: Demons by Imagine Dragons

This song is such an accurate description of Will Herondale (my bae).
It’s like he’s the one singing it to Tessa.

Don’t want to let you down
But I am hell bound
Though this is all for you
Don’t want to hide the truth

Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide

They say it’s what you make
I say it’s up to fate
It’s woven in my soul
I need to let you go

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton:
No Angel by Birdy

I actually feel that Birdy’s whole album Fire Within fits – the songs and the book have that same beautiful sadness about them. And the lyrics to songs like “Wings” and “Strange Birds” are also really fitting to many of the characters and themes. But I had to go with this one because.. well, if you’ve read the book you know why.

I ain’t no angel, I never was
But I never hurt you, it’s not my fault

Wings by Little Mix

A completely different kind of music than Birdy’s and while the mood may not be all that fitting for Ava Lavender’s story, the lyrics always make me think of her character and situation.

Mama told me not to waste my life,
She said spread your wings my little butterfly
Don’t let what they say keep you up at night
And they can’t detain you
‘Cause wings are made to fly

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: Sinister Kid by The Black Keys

A sinister song for the sinister gang of misfits in the Six of Crows duology. When I listen to this song my head always fills with images of Ketterdam’s grey streets and Kaz Brekker’s troubled face.

Well, the crooks are out
And the streets are gray
You know I wouldn’t have it
Any other way

I got a tortured mind
And my blade is sharp
A bad combination
In the dark

Winter by Marissa Meyers: Castle by Halsey

I think this one is pretty obvious. You know, with Cinder storming the castle and everything.

I’m headed straight for the castle
They wanna make me their queen
And there’s an old man sitting on the throne that’s saying that I probably shouldn’t be so mean
I’m headed straight for the castle
They’ve got the kingdom locked up
And there’s an old man sitting on the throne that’s saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins: Wear Your Demons Out by Alex Vargas

Mockingjay was such a dark and agony-filled read. I feel that this song kind of describes what Katniss and Peeta (but especially Peeta) are going through during the book.

Hoping you could bear it, but you want to run
The agony you carry is blocking out the sun
So breathe in
Take it out on loved ones, I know you want to fight
Nothing really matters when you wanna die
But we’re breathing, keep breathing

Don’t disappear into a dream
Everything here is what it seems
I’ll be around
To tear all your demons out

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas: Save the Hero by Beyonce

To me, this song is pretty much Feyre at the beginning of ACOMAF. She’s deeply depressed by what she did in ACOTAR and she’s slowly dying on the inside with no one there to see the pain she’s in. Until…

I bottle all my hurt inside
I guess I’m living a lie
Inside my mind each day I die
What can bring me back to life?

Who’s there to save the hero
When she’s left all alone
And she’s crying out for help?
Who’s there to save the hero?
Who’s there to save the girl
After she saves the world

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater: King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men

This song reminds me of Henrietta and magic forests and ghosts. Also, I always think of Gansey and Blue, the king and the lionheart.

Howling ghosts they reappear
In mountains that are stacked with fear
But you’re a king and I’m a lionheart
A lionheart

BONUS ROUND
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling: Born to Die by Lana del Rey

Y’all know why…
(Sorry, but I just couldn’t have one of my favorite books and one of my favorite artists missing)

This post was so much fun to make and I hope you enjoyed both reading and listening to it!
Hugs from Ida ❤

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!”

This is said by Miss Bingley in Pride and Prejudice, and while she may not actually have meant it, it still does a great job of underlining my point: The fictional characters we so enjoy to read about also have some excessive readers and fangirling bookworms among them. And honestly, is there anything better than a book about books? I don’t think so. Therefore I’ll now be recommending books that all have a true bookworm as the main character. I hope you enjoy!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cath is an introverted girl who would rather read fantasy and write fan fiction than attend social events at her college. She uses books and fanfic as a way to hide and to disappear. She prefers fictional worlds to the real one and she cares deeply for her favorite characters and ships. I think most bookworms can relate to her in some way.

“This was why Cath wrote fic. For these hours when their worlds supplanted the real world.”

“‘I’m not really a book person.’
‘That might be the most idiotic thing you’ve ever said to me.'”

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Liesel isn’t a thief – that is until she discovers what we all know to be the most tempting thing in the world: books. And so she begins to steal banned books from the Nazi book burnings during WWII. Liesel recognizes the power of the written word and discovers both the negative and positive consequences words can have. She calms people down during bomb raids by reading to them, and through books she connects with a jewish man hiding in her basement. Ultimately, books are what gets her through the horrors of war.

“The words. Why did they have to exist? Without them, there wouldn’t be any of this. Without words, the Führer was nothing.”

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

(SPOILERS AHEAD) Tessa and Will are the biggest booknerds ever. Come on, they actually named their daughter after a character from their favorite book (A Tale of Two Cities)! The love for literature that these two share is just amazing. They both go through so much hardships, but books make them feel less lonely and somehow connect them to one another, even when they are apart.

“One must always be careful of books and what is inside them. For words have the power to change us.” (Clockwork Angel)

“Sometimes, when I have to do something I don’t want to do, I pretend I’m a character from a book. It’s easier to know what they would do.” (Clockwork Angel)

“We live and breathe words. …. It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them.” (Clockwork Prince)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Thanks to Charlie’s English teacher, Bill, Charlie reads a lot of books in this story.They’re mostly classics and we hear his thoughts on many of them. I’ve actually used it as a list of book recommendations. Charlie is a wallflower who, at least in the beginning, observes rather than participate. He kind of reminds me of Cath from Fangirl, since they both are introverted young people with a love for books and so much potentiel.

“[To Kill a Mockingbird] is now my favorite book of all time, but then again, I always think that until I read another book.”

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

I think many of us have tried being so completely in love with a certain book or series that you can’t quite articulate how much you love it – you can’t do it justice. When you aren’t able to think about or read anything else, when you’re obsessing over the characters and you have a burning wish to meet the author of this masterpiece that’s so speciel to you. This is how Hazel feels about the book An Imperial Affliction. It’s a story she’s read countless of times and it has a very speciel place in her heart.

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book. And then there are books like An Imperial Affliction, which you can’t tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like betrayal”

And I would just like to end this of with a speciel mention of the bookworm of them all. You know who I’m talking about, right?
Hermione Granger ❤

Have a lovely day everyone!

Books & Stardust

Reviews. Recommendations. Ravings.

Songs that remind me of books

Books about bookworms