Oh! (view spoiler)[HOLY SHIT SHE CUT OFF HIS HAND! The Queen of Attolia caught Gen and cut off his hand! (hide spoiler)] So that happened.
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That Oh! (view spoiler)[HOLY SHIT SHE CUT OFF HIS HAND! The Queen of Attolia caught Gen and cut off his hand! (hide spoiler)] So that happened.
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That was the thing that I didn't expect, and it set the tone as far more adult from there on out. The other thing(view spoiler)[(that they were in love and would end up together at the end) (hide spoiler)] was the thing that I did kind of expect. And since I was thinking that was what was going to happen, it made that first bit extra juicy for me. As in, how is this author going to pull that off now?
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I can see why some of my friends weren't as fond of this as I was and I can't really blame them. I think you might need to know what you're getting into because not everyone is going to want to get on board with the dark turn the story takes. I actually liked how uncomfortable the complexity of it all made me, but that's not going to be the case for everyone. Nothing that happens here is what you think of when the words healthy relationship flashes through your mind. Then again, should we only read about healthy things?
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I don't know the answer to that, by the way. Ok. Without doing any more spoilers than absolutely necessary, this one centers on a war that has been percolating for a while and was ignited by what happens in the opening bit. Then you have a lot of Gen being a drama lama (it's actually quite understandable) and working through some of his issues that were also caused by the opening bit. Then there's the ending bit that brings up all of the complexities that not every reader will enjoy or approve of (fair!), but that I thought took this shit to a 10. Highly recommended. <--but maybe not for everyone...more
3.5 stars This was a really good young adult trilogy set in the fairy world, and it had a very enjoyable conclusion. I really grew to like this whole c3.5 stars This was a really good young adult trilogy set in the fairy world, and it had a very enjoyable conclusion. I really grew to like this whole cast of characters in a way that I didn't anticipate when I started. It's very much like an unexpectedly well-done CW show. <--you know, you're probably too old to be so into it, but it's your guilty pleasure anyway? That was this series for me.
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Anyway. I'm also glad I listened to the audiobook version read by Caitlin Kelly because she did a great job. If you're looking for fairy stuff, you could do a lot worse than this....more
Ok, so for whatever reason, I'm still digging the storytelling. But that's not the same as saying I think this is an excellent story. It's3.5 fun stars
Ok, so for whatever reason, I'm still digging the storytelling. But that's not the same as saying I think this is an excellent story. It's just holding my attention and I want to see how it all plays out.
Spoilers for the 1st book below!
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So, as we now know, the White Cat from book 1 was actually Cassel's childhood BFF & first crush, Lila, whom he had transformed with his crazy magic instead of killing - like his brothers wanted. Also, she's the big mob boss's daughter and looking forward to the day when she can finally take the family business over from her Pop. She's not a snuggly gal, and her years as a cat didn't help matters much. If fact, no one in Cassel's life is very snuggly. His mom is a career con artist, his grandpa is a killer for the mob, and both of his brothers used him to 'dispose of bodies' and then repeatedly wiped his memory. And out of all of those, the hitman is the nicest. The mom is just hoooooorible in this. The worst. And it's because she's one of those people who isn't outright abusive or mean, just so manipulative and narcissistic that their simple presence causes maximum carnage everywhere they go.
Ok. So he's trying to get through school at this fancy-schmancy place and be a (relatively) normal guy. But that's not in the cards. And really, would we be interested in the story if he had managed to pull off a boring year at Snooty Prep? I think not.
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So. To recap: This is a fun YA story about falling in love, getting cursed, conning con men, and trying to survive prejudice, the FBI and the mob.
If you're thinking of listening to the audio, Jesse Eisenberg does a fantastic job reading....more
I thought there would some sort of BIG CON that happened in this one. You know, because Cassel comes from a family of grifters.
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And yeaaaaaaah. I thought there would some sort of BIG CON that happened in this one. You know, because Cassel comes from a family of grifters.
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And yeaaaaaaah. Sort of. But it wasn't all that well thought out and he should really probably be dead now because of the sheer amount of stupid involved in it. But ok. Whatever. HE CAN TRANSFORM SHIT.<--very cool
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FYI there's a little fade to black sex scene in this one. But by god, those poor kids deserve a little nookie after all they've been through!
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I still enjoyed not only the world and the characters but also Jesse Eisenberg's narration of the audiobook. And if there's a spin-off series, I'd come back to read it....more
I don't even know why I liked this so much. I kind of guessed most of the twists, but it still so damn delicious that I immediately downloaded BOTH ofI don't even know why I liked this so much. I kind of guessed most of the twists, but it still so damn delicious that I immediately downloaded BOTH of the next two audiobooks as soon as I finished this one.
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And it was read by Jesse Eisenberg who did a really good job of it. I was sort of surprised that I liked his reading of this thing, but I did....more
Alright. I really didn't quite know what I was getting into with this book. I thought it was some sort of a YA mystery/thriller with a young sociopath Alright. I really didn't quite know what I was getting into with this book. I thought it was some sort of a YA mystery/thriller with a young sociopath as the main character. And, yes. It is that. But it's also a paranormal story with real demons in it. So...yeah. I think that's something you should probably know upfront.
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Ok, so the gist is that this kid named John, who is trying his dead-level best not to turn into a serial killer, ends up becoming the only one who can save his town from potentially the most sympathetic murdering demon I've ever read about. Or listened to, since this was an audiobook that I downloaded on the fly because it was 'currently available' from my library and I needed something quick - which explains why I didn't realize it had all the spooky monster shit in advance. Anyway, the point is, John's sleepy small town is being rocked by a vicious killer and everyone is in a tizzy.
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Spoilery things happen, people die, & John has to deal with a real demon and his inner demon before the story is over. I enjoyed the dark humor and thought the narrator (John Allen Nelson) did a fantastic job of bringing the whole thing to life. I can see there are quite a few books in this series, but I feel as though if I wanted to stop here, I could. I'm not sure yet, to be honest. We'll see....more
Not just any old B&B reboot, folks. This one is Disney's retelling of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
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Which is kind of cool in and of i3.5 stars
Not just any old B&B reboot, folks. This one is Disney's retelling of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
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Which is kind of cool in and of itself. Ok, so this is a more adult version of the Disney classic that stays true to the original storyline until Belle swerves toward the forbidden wing with the enchanted rose in it.
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I don't want to spoil too much, but I think it's safe to say that from there on out it goes in a new direction. <--there are still iconic moments peppered into the scenes, though.
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Also, another major difference is that the story is being told in two parts. One POV is Belle's mother & father's story, which then directly leads up to the enchantresses' curse on the young prince.
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The other POV is Belle & the Beast trying to figure out how to fix everything. I really enjoyed how much meatier the world became this time around and I liked that I wasn't quite sure how it would all end up.
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So how did it end? Much differently. <--that's all I'm gonna say.
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It's not perfect and it's not going to go down as one of my tippy-top favorites, but it was a surprise hit with me. I went into it thinking it was probably going to be more than a little bit cheesy and terrible, but that wasn't the case at all. There was more depth than I thought there was going to be, and I was honestly far more interested in this version of the story than I thought possible. If it looks like something you might be interested in, give it a try.
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Edition: Unabridged James Patrick Cronin - Narrator...more
Nope, not even the kind who've been resurrected for vengeance. Sorry, Eric.
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So if it's not Spoiler Alert! There are no CROWS in this story.
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Nope, not even the kind who've been resurrected for vengeance. Sorry, Eric.
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So if it's not about crows, then what's this book about? Well, it's a fantasy/heist story with a magical backdrop! However, I didn't think this was like Ocean's Eleven or The Palace Job, because it was a bit darker than either of those. Not that this story was bleak, but the characters just weren't as quirky, fun, and lovable. Quirky, yes. Fun and lovable...not so much. At least, not to me. What I'm trying to say is don't go into this expecting a lighthearted romp.
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But I still really enjoyed it, and I came to care for each of the flawed individuals in this story. I started the book off feeling one way about everyone and ended with a different impression of each of them. Maybe I didn't love them, but I felt like I understood them enough to like them. To root for them to rise above their problems, and maybe become better people. Even find happiness?
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The group is made up of thieves, gangsters, assassins, con-men, fanatics, and one wannabe demolition man. So what brings this band of derelicts together? Well, to steal an impossibly powerful weapon, and the man who created it, from an impenetrable fortress in order to save the world from war and destruction. Oh, and make a shitload of money in the process. Naturally, there are no surprises, no one double-crosses them, and everything goes according to plan! Or maybe not...
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Ok, when I picked this up, I had no idea it was set in the same world as Bardugo's Grisha series. I was under the impression that this was an entirely new thing. I was aware of her other books, but having heard mixed reviews on them, I'd put off checking them out. So when I started reading Six of Crows, and the term Grisha came up I had a freak-out moment. Oh my God! Why does it say Six of Crows #1 if it has these Grisha people in it?! I'm going to have to quickly read the first series if I'm going to understand what the hell is going on, aren't I?! Whhhhhhhy didn't I think to ask someone anyone tell me?! Waaaaaah!
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Thankfully, I have some long-suffering friends on Goodreads who managed to calm me down and set my mind at ease. So. Here's the skinny on it for those of you who are wondering: This is set in that same world, but you DON'T have to read the other books to enjoy this one. There's good world building and enough explanations for newbies to dive right on in, without spending time scratching their heads over obscure references. That was my experience, anyway.
I've also heard through the grapevine that this is actually better than the original series. So, whether you read the Grisha stuff and didn't care for it, or you haven't read the other books at all, I'd still recommend this one if you're looking for a good YA fantasy with lots of twists and turns.
Ugh. Don't you just hate that? Here I was, hoping that there would be some sort of conclusion, and it turns out there's noShit. It's not over?!
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Ugh. Don't you just hate that? Here I was, hoping that there would be some sort of conclusion, and it turns out there's not one but two MORE books...at least! And after the second book, I was pretty over the romance, so all I was hanging in for was to find out how all this stuff with the Arcana turns out. I mean, Cole has really come up with an interesting world here! And I wanna know what happens so badly!
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So if it's so awesome, why the low rating? Several reasons. First, nothing much happens in this one. Yeah, stuff happens, but the plot doesn't advance a whole hellava lot. There are two rescue missions, but the majority of those pages are spent with Evie writhing and moaning about how much she luuuuuurves both Jack & Death Aric.
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Which brings me to the second problem: Mother-Fucking Love Triangle. There's such a great story buried under all that angst, that it makes me sort of sick to my stomach over the wasted potential. WASTED! Oh. My. God. I hated it! And that psychotic fart, Aric, shouldn't even be in the running! Not by any sort of normal/healthy standards, at least. Do I even need to bring up that he's pretty much a 1,000 year old virgin? He hasn't been able to touch anyone (since he was a real teenager), so that equals almost zero experience. That whole scene in the bedroom (where she could barely stop panting long enough to fend off his coerced sexual advances) is a load of bullshit. He's hawt? Sorry, but that doesn't count for fuck-all when you've (maybe) had sex once before. Did I mention he was trying to bully her into sex? Add his age and inexperience to his unforgivable rapey tendencies, and you don't have a misunderstood sex symbol at all. You have a old, gross, Creeper!
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I will say the Cajun (Jack) is much easier to tolerate this time around. Although, I felt bad for him as he begged, pleaded, and groveled at Evie's feet, simply for the chance to maybe be the one she chooses. Pick me! Pick Me! Listen up, chickies. That's not cool! No guy deserves to get jerked around by his short 'n curlies like that, and I was honestly hoping that he'd dump her on her wishy-washy ass at the end.
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It's not romantic to string someone along till you finally decide what you want to do. Plus, she kept making out with whatever warm body happened to be the nearest! It wasn't casual dating, it was borderline abusive. Butbutbut...I love them both! Fuck you, bitch. If Jack were my son, you'd already be taking a dirt nap.
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Last, but not least, was the way the author expected us to fall for that jacked up, rushed, cliffhanger ending.
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Really, Ms. Cole? Do you really think you've fooled anyone with that lame-ass death in the last few pages. We all know that {spoilery person} is Arcana, they will have survived somehow, and they're gonna pop up like a daisy in the next book. Surprise! No. No one is that stupid.
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PS - There's a whole lot of nipple sucking and shit going on for a YA novel. Also, if she spent any more time dry-humping these two boys, they all would have been too chapped to rescue anyone. Couple that malarkey with the fact that it promoted dangerously unhealthy relationships, and I wouldn't recommend this one for teenagers. Or if you do give this one to your teen, make sure you talk about all the bogus WhatTheFuckery that happens.
This is how you end a trilogy! Maybe this wasn't quite 5 star material, but I'm rounding up, because I think it deserves it for not being a huge letdoThis is how you end a trilogy! Maybe this wasn't quite 5 star material, but I'm rounding up, because I think it deserves it for not being a huge letdown. Like some other trilogies...
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Alright, I'm really horrible at writing reviews for books that I loved, so this might not make any sense. It's just so hard to explain the feelings that come with realizing that the ending of a beloved series didn't suck! It didn't suck at all!
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These characters didn't morph into weird parodies of themselves, there wasn't that odd moment of forced Happily Ever After, and no one died just to prove that the author had BALLS...or some such nonsense. It's always disappointing when an author loses sight of what made you love characters, or maybe just doesn't know how they want the story to end. Whatever the case, the end result is that they phone it in, or toss out a bunch of random insanity. Meanwhile, as a reader, you deflate like a balloon, because everything you initially loved is gone, and in its place is a bizarre version of what made it so special.
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However, these guys always stayed true to their character...except when they didn't. But, in reality, that was precisely how they needed to act for the story to be delicious. Make sense? No? Too bad. I'm trying not to give anything away here! Thing is, Crewe didn't go anywhere I thought she was going to, and I don't want to ruin the story for those of you who haven't read this yet... Buuuut. I can't help mention a few things that I really loved. Now, I'm not going to spoil how it all goes down, but if you don't want to know anything, then back away from this review. Fair warning, and all...
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Ok, first off, I did NOT see the proposal thing coming! Whaaaaat? Like, if I were going to make a guess about something that was going to happen in a Soul Eaters book, that marriage would never have crossed my mind. NEVER! But, now that I think about it, an unromantic wedding is exactly what the trilogy needed. And the tone of it solidified my feelings about Crewe not vomiting out garbage at the 11th hour. It sounds crazy, but I ended up loving it.
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Next up...Evil Joe. I can't even properly express how much fun I had reading about Joe giving in to her dark side. Muahahahahahaha! It was fantabulous! I thought it was so awesome that she...no. Must shut up...can't...spoil!
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And that Big Reveal about God, the Crusaders, and the demons? Ack! So perfect! I'm not religious, but even a heathen like myself could appreciate the Moral of the Story at the end of this sucker.
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This was just... *fangirl squealing* See? I just can't write a good review when I love a book. Sorry. The best I can do is tell you that I gobbled it up, thought it ended the way it should, and wasn't in the least heartbroken or disappointed. There. Now go read it for yourself.
Audio Re-read 2021 Still an excellent story. I really enjoyed watching Lia come into her own even more. It's all about standing on your own two feet, liAudio Re-read 2021 Still an excellent story. I really enjoyed watching Lia come into her own even more. It's all about standing on your own two feet, listening to your gut, and not letting people steamroll you into doing what they think is right for your life. I'm digging the themes in this more now than I even did 6 years ago.
2015
If you weren't a fan of the first book (and some of my friends were not), then I don't think anything about this book is going to change your mind. Sorry.
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Buuuut... If you've been chomping at the bit (because maybe you're a horse?) to find out what happened to Lia, Rafe, & Kaden once they got inside the walls of Venda? Then I think you'll be pretty happy with Pearson's book. Secrets, magic, prophesies, and (as the title suggests) betrayal! Good stuff.
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Best part of the book for me? The Heart of Betrayal is exactly what I hoped it would be, in that the non-love-triangle-triangle didn't morph into a real Triangle. Sure, Kaden is still in love with Lia, but she doesn't return anything but friendship. There's none of that wishy-washy Who-Do-I-Really-Love shit happening here. It's Rafe. Boom! End of discussion. Kaden can just keep on pining...
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And why should she have feelings for Kaden? I mean, Rafe is putting his ass on the line to save her, and, meanwhile, Kaden has turned her over to his evil boss! Sure, he's hoping he can protect her, but I'm not sure why he thinks that would make him her go-to guy for romance. Psssht. Men. However! After finding out more of his backstory, I'm definitely hoping he gets a HEA. Poor guy. That sob story got me right in the feels, and I can see why the fella might have a few issues.
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Alrighty, I do have one complaint... Pearson didn't do the bestest job recapping what happened in the last book. Some authors are better than others when it comes to this, and I'm afraid that Pearson isn't one of the good ones. Now, I know a lot of you out there probably reread the previous books before you crack open the brand new ones. But I read a shitload of books each year, and simply don't have the time to do that. And while I may remember the general theme of most books, after a year or so, I just can't remember the details. I tend to rely on the authors to give my mind a hard shove gentle nudge when I'm reading books that are part of a series. And, honestly, that wasn't very well done here. I was still trying to play catch-up right till the end.
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I said that to say this: if you don't have a stellar memory for details, then you may want to go ahead and do a reread before picking this one up. Oh, and watch out for that CLIFFHANGER at the end! Dear God, Pearson! Are you trying to give me a heart attack, woman?!
2023 Ok, just finished the audiobook and it was great. It's been a long time since I read this one originally and (thanks to my terrible memory) I was 2023 Ok, just finished the audiobook and it was great. It's been a long time since I read this one originally and (thanks to my terrible memory) I was just as shocked this time around by the deaths as I was last time. Looking forward to finding out how this ends finally.
2015 Just finished Book 3 and it was AWESOME! How did I not know about this series before a month ago?! I'm guessing it was because my Pushy Librarian wasn't quite pushy enough. Anyway, this is a reallyreallyreally good mature young adult fantasy. If you're into that sort of thing, you should really give these books a shot.
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The main thing that I love about these books (as I've mentioned before) is that you never know who the hell is going to end up getting offed by the end of the book. Some of the characters that I thought would make it to the end of this one most certainly didn't.
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And to top it off, there were a few unexpected saves, as well! Only not by a mini-Godzilla...
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Magnus & Cleo are the heart of this story, but the other characters are all well fleshed out and just as important, in my opinion. However, I could probably stand to lose any of them. Whereas, Rhodes needs to keep in mind that I Will Not Tolerate anything happening to either of my favorites! Because I'm sure she cares what I think. Really.
Alright. So the mystical gateway Road-thingy is almost finished, the rebels are still getting slaughtered every time they turn around, Nic may have fallen for a treacherous prince, the evil Watcher chick has all of her nefarious plans in motion, Lysandra has her head (quite literally) on the chopping block, a hawk turns into a human and renounces his immortality, Jonas has been befriended by an assassin with a dark past, Cleo is playing a dangerous game inside the palace walls, Magnus has to decide whether or not he's going to stand by his father, and it looks like Lucia has totally trusted the wrong guy! Oh, yeah. It's getting goooood.
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I can't believe it took me this long to discover this series! The next book doesn't come out until December, but you can bet I'll be standing in line to get my hands on it.
I loved this, I really did...just not as much as the first book. I think the reason has to do with the lack of Raffe for the majority of the time. He'sI loved this, I really did...just not as much as the first book. I think the reason has to do with the lack of Raffe for the majority of the time. He's off doing stuff, and Penryn is on her own trying to save the day. Which is cool. Really! I think the story was more entertaining when they were all bickery with each other. *shrugs*
For those of you who don't like to know anything before you read a book, there are mild spoilers in this review. Be warned!
Ok, so what happens in this book? Crazy-Mom gets crazier, because the nutty gleam in her eyes and rotten egg fetish weren't bad enough. She's like an insane ninja sneaking around and taking out perceived threats. Still. Insane is the key word to remember here.
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The What-Happened-To-Paige mystery is delved into a lot deeper, and we find out that she may be suffering from Stockholm syndrome. *cough* Among other things. Penryn has a hard time looking her little sister in the eyeballs, which causes some trust issues. Especially when villagers with the torches and pitchforks decide she ate a dude. Did she? Well, it's possible...
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Remember the Scorpion things that the angels were cooking up in those incubating vats? Guess what? Soylent Green is people!
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Also, it looks like there's a HUGE Apocalypse conspiracy going on that most of the angels are unaware of, and Penryn has stepped right in the middle of it. I'm so crazy excited to see where exactly Susan Ee is going with this one! I have theories. Many theories. One of them is bound to be right, I just know it...
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There were plenty of other fun tidbits sprinkled throughout the book that made up (somewhat) for the lack of Raffe. Such as: Pookie Bear! The most accessorized sword to be wielded by a archangel teenage girl... And what kind of accessories does an ass-kickin' sword need, you ask?
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And, of course, we finally get an answer to the age old question: Can angels swim? Although, in the ocean, does it really matter?
2023 I'm finally getting this whole series done, I swear. I will say that I noticed a lot more of the...not love triangle because there aren't just 3 pe2023 I'm finally getting this whole series done, I swear. I will say that I noticed a lot more of the...not love triangle because there aren't just 3 people...but there's a lot of potential love interest stuff happening between all of the characters. It didn't hurt my enjoyment, but your mileage may vary with that sort of thing.
2021 The narrator for this is AMAZING. I'm crushed that my library is only hit and miss with the audio versions because Fred Berman is maybe one of the best narrators that I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Ok, so this was just as good (maybe better?) than it was the first time around. I can't believe I let this series fall to the wayside because it's such an incredibly interesting story.
2015 Well, I'm back for Round 2 of this series that my Pushy Librarian is making me read! If you don't have a Pushy Librarian of your own, I highly recommend you get one. Mine is very sweet once you get to know her...
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The first book, Falling Kingdoms, was a total bloodbath. Main characters that I thought would make it to the end of the series weren't any safer than the minor characters who barely had time to say OUCH! before someone killed them off. So, I was kinda expecting the same thing to happen in Rebel Spring. Ha! The author changed it up on me, and I got lulled into a false sense of security. Not very many people bite it in this one, but when they did? I didn't see it coming. I would be all, La-la-la-la-la!, and then BOOM! CRACK! SNAP! Wait. What?! Really? Did he just twist her head off?!
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Did that really happen in the story? Eh. I may be exaggerating. A tad. But, this one is a true story: I had just read the part where a knife is sliding into the heart of one of the Main Characters, and all I needed to do was turn the page to see how it all turned out. And I swear, the alarm on my phone goes off to let me know it's time to get in the car & pick up the kids from school, or I'll be late. I actually sat there for a few seconds thinking to myself... Would it REALLY kill them to be the last kids picked up. I'm never late. Maybe they'd appreciate me more if they had to sweat it this one time? It could be a learning experience for them! In the end, even a slack parent like myself couldn't rationalize it, but I came close. Real close. Does that make me a bad mom? Maybe. But you know what I tell my kids?
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I really think this series may be perfect for me. You have multiple POVs going on, with each story telling a different side to the main plot. And there are honestly too many for me to go into detail with each one. The main ones I'm riveted by are Magnus and Cleo. Especially Magnus. He's the son of the evil king who has just forcibly taken over two other kingdoms. This dude has serious issues going on in his personal life. Not the least of which are his unrequited feelings toward his adopted sister. Now, normally, I'd be all horrified and disgusted by this. Because...
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But Rhodes manages to keep him from feeling like a total scumbag. By the end of this book, I was actually rooting for him, because it seems like he may be on the verge of going in a different direction. In fact, almost every character is wildly different than they were when we first met them. That's not to say they all got personality transplants, but it seems like they are growing and changing in a natural way. Each one influenced by their own experiences during the course of the story. Very cool!
Another thing I'm enjoying about this is the distinct lack of Twue Wuv as something that moves the plot. And now that I think about it, nobody in the entire book is having much luck in the love department. It's one long list that looks like this: He-Loves-Her-But-She-Loves-Someone-Else-And-They-Ain't-Interested.
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I'd like to go on and on about his one, but the truth is, I have the next book sitting on my coffee table right now. If you're looking for a YA Game of Thrones sort of tale, then check this out....more
Well, whether or not you like this is going to depend on what you're expecting from it, I think. To me, it was a lot like The Chaos of Stars, 3.5 stars
Well, whether or not you like this is going to depend on what you're expecting from it, I think. To me, it was a lot like The Chaos of Stars, in that the magic stuff sort of took a backseat in the book.
In this, magic is something that only the nobility have running though their veins. Commoners don't have any idea that their countries' leaders are wizards. Ok. Not wizards, Magic-users. Something. Anyway, Jessamin comes from a made-up island called Melei, which I assumed was supposed to be like a pseudo-Polynesian island. And she's recently moved to the made-up country of Albion, which I assumed was code for England. She's studying at the college (forgot the name), and working at a hotel (also forgot the name) when she meets Finn. He's a NOBLE! *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*
The blurb implies that there's an overabundance or danger and secrets, and while that's technically true, this isn't a fast-paced thriller. It's more of a historical/fantasy/romance. I don't want to give any spoilers, but there is an evil villain who's pretty horrible. Although, I guess Pretty Horrible is sort of implied by my calling him the Evil Villain, no? So there is danger. It's just the slow kind of danger. And maybe because there wasn't an some in-depth mystery/conspiracy involving the magical world, it seemed...less something than I was expecting. I mean, yes, the bad guy is after ALL THE POWER, but it's more like a hostile takeover, and all of the other magic folks are (pretty much) aware that it's happening. I don't think I'm explaining this right... It's more about the characters than the magic, if that makes sense?
The good news is, the romance isn't super-cheesy. Jessamin doesn't swoon, bite her lip, or get all weak in the knees. The girl had a backbone, and I liked her! And Finn didn't give me the Creeper-vibe, even though there was one point where he spied on her with his shadow (yes, his real shadow). It was kind of like a safety thing, and I didn't get the impression that he was watching her go to the bathroom, or anything else skeevy.
Anyway. I liked the story, I liked the characters, and, for the most part, I really enjoyed this book. Did it change my life? No. But it was entertaining. So, if you don't go into this expecting a thrilling paranormal, you'll probably enjoy it, too.
Audiobook 2022 I bought the audiobook. I bought a hard copy of this book. I think I even own a digital copy somewhere out there in the ether. What I'm Audiobook 2022 I bought the audiobook. I bought a hard copy of this book. I think I even own a digital copy somewhere out there in the ether. What I'm saying is that I've read, re-read, and re-listened to this book several times. And I still love it. When someone asks me what my favorite young adult book is, this one always pops up on the list because, for whatever reason, I just love it.
2015 I am all about the DUFF! Loved it! I was interested in this books years ago, when it first came out, but then I read some reviews that said it was full of inappropriate sex and promoted low self-esteem in girls. Unfortunately, I let that scare me off. I recently noticed that they were making a Movie about the book, and my interest perked up again. Psst. The movie a very cherry-picked PG version of the book.
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This book really struck a chord with me. Now I'm not going to give you some sob story and tell you that I felt like a DUFF in high school. Because the truth is, I actually had pretty good self-esteem by that point. And the thing is, so does Bianca. At least until Wesley decides to tell her that her friends are the hotties of their group. And yet, she still sleeps with him. And I think that's where a lot of readers get the idea that this promotes low self-esteem. I don't think so. See, she doesn't sleep with him to get his approval, she does it to find an escape from what's going on in her home life. She figures since he's a manwhore, it's not like a real relationship that she has to care about or foster. Turns out, Wesley may be sleeping around for the same reasons that Bianca is sleeping with him. And what starts out as Enemies With Benefits, begins to into something more as they get to know each other.
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Oh, and speaking of Wesley... Wesley is a straight-up douchecanoe at the beginning of this book. I wanted to strangle him! I mean, just wrap my hands around his neck and squeeeeeeeeze.
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Which, when you think about it, is sort of a great thing for a writer to be able to make me want to do to one of their characters. By the end of the book though? I was like, Girl, kiss him already!
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Another big complaint I see is the teen sex in this sucker. So, if you think teenagers shouldn't have sex in books...don't read this. However, if you (like me) have some wiggle room in your brain for that, then you probably won't be offended. It's basically fade to black with no details, other than kissing and some heavy petting. I also loved the fact that she was on the pill and they used condoms every time. Because yay! for promoting safe sex as the norm.
And as far as the term DUFF goes, I think the author did a good job showing that it's just a word. Everyone feels that way sometimes, and the only real difference between the Plain Jane and the Femme Fatale is the way you feel about yourself.
I received a digital copy of this book for review from NetGalley and the Publisher....more
OMG! Talk about a book that makes you feel (a bit) sorry for the psychotic villain in all the other books! Are you reading the Lunar Chronicles?[image]
OMG! Talk about a book that makes you feel (a bit) sorry for the psychotic villain in all the other books! Are you reading the Lunar Chronicles? Yes? Then this is a Must-Read. No, you can't skip it because it's a novella...and let me tell you why, ok? First, this sets up EVERYTHING that happens in the rest of the Lunar Chronicles. It's the prequel that doesn't suck. Second, you get to find out about the past that Cinder forgot. You know what I'm talking about, right? No? Then you need to go read the other books. Now. Third, it sets you up for the upcoming FINAL installment of this series, Winter. Not to mention, you get the first 3 chapters of the new book (they were awesome, by the way) in the back of this one. Fourth, Levana's creepy-yet-pitiful descent into madness is not to be missed! Oh! I wanted to hug her, then slap her, then pat her on the head, then stab her repeatedly, and then give her a band-aid...maybe. You need to read her story! Besides, it's over 200 pages, so you're definitely getting your money's worth out of this.
So what's this one about? Witches, alternate realities, and allergies. So. It 's got an interesting premise, no? It starts out in our world, wit3.5 stars
So what's this one about? Witches, alternate realities, and allergies. So. It 's got an interesting premise, no? It starts out in our world, with Lily struggling to find some amount of normalcy in her life. Absentee father, schizophrenic mother, and she's got something seriously wrong with her immune system. The only bright spots in her life are her sister, Juliet, and her one friend, Tristan. Her longtime secret love for Tristan has finally been reciprocated, and he's taking her to a party. Her allergies are bubble-boy debilitating, but she's determined to be seen on his arm just one time before she becomes totally incapacitated by them. Spoilery stuff happens, and it turns into the worst night of her life. Depressed and alone, she hears a voice in her head asking for her permission to take her away from everything. Naturally, she assumes she's losing it, just like her mother, but in that moment of weakness, she says yes. Ooops!
Ok, now she's in an alternate reality filled with magic, and her counterpart is none other than the evil witch who runs the place. It's a sort of quasi-medieval kind of place, where the lines between science and witchcraft blur together. Science has been outlawed, and anyone caught 'practicing' it gets the noose treatment. However, in this world, Lily has massive amounts of power...instead of an EpiPen. Bonus! There's also a hot boy in this world that isn't in hers. Rowan. Unfortunately, he had been in love with (and betrayed by), Lillian, the ruler of New Salem. But even though he doesn't exactly trust Lily, he knows the rebels need her on their side if they are going to have any sort of chance of survival.
Alrighty, this one is a big old mash-up of all kinds of genres, which was kind of cool. Although, I was almost halfway through it before I got really invested in what was going on. I'm thinking it was around the time she got her stone things?
I didn't really care for the romance, because it just seemed weird that Rowan could fall for the same person twice. Even though they weren't really the same-same, it felt like a kind of insurmountable kind of thing. And how could Lily get past the fact that he had already loved Lilian that much? I don't know, something felt odd about it, but it wasn't awful or anything.
The vegan thing really annoyed me, though. I'm not anti-vegan, by any means. I think it's actually a really healthy way to eat, and if I didn't love my cheese and sour cream so much, I would give it a whirl. Meat? Eh. I don't eat much. But dairy products will always be my downfall... Anyhoo. There were a couple of times I wanted to strangle Lily over this. You're in another reality, you need protein, and you're getting sassy about what these rebels feed you? Eat the fucking chicken, bitch! However, if you're a vegan, I'm sure you'll appreciate that she stuck to her beliefs. So...there's that.
Overall, this was a decent story that held my attention all the way to the end. Not sure if I'll keep going with this series, but I don't regret reading it, either.
I'm not giving this 2 stars because it's unreadable or unbelievably boring. I'm giving it 2 stars because I couldn't find many redeeming qualities in tI'm not giving this 2 stars because it's unreadable or unbelievably boring. I'm giving it 2 stars because I couldn't find many redeeming qualities in the characters or the story.
I really enjoyed Cross' first book in this world, Kill Me Softly. It was darker than most of the fairytales I'd read, and I thought the world itself was very cool. Viv was a minor character from that one, and I wanted to see what happened to her. Yeah, now I'm wishing I hadn't.
Viv is living under a Snow White curse. She and the people around her are destined to play out some form of the Snow White story. Her stepmother was cursed to be evil, and her best friend from childhood (now her boyfriend), Henley, has been cursed to be her Huntsman. So. Either he will eventually give in to her stepmother's wishes (and kill her), or he will let her escape (and lose her to her Prince Charming). He swears he will never hurt her, but Viv lives in fear of what will happen when he's faced with that choice. Alright. sigh If their relationship is one of those "We shouldn't be together, but our love is strong enough to overcome anything", kind of things? Yeah. I could get behind that. However, this was, by far, the most toxic relationship I can ever remember coming across in a young adult novel. Viv is constantly doing and saying horrible things to Henley throughout the book. She makes out with boys he has no interest in just to hurt him, and then within hours runs back into his arms. She knows she's being selfish and terrible...but, darn it, she just can't seem to let him go. Mmmmm. See, if one of my boys run into a girl like that, my advice would be this: Run, don't walk, as far away from this person as you can get. Yes, I know you want to help them, to fix them... You can't. Nobody, not even a trained psychologist can unless they commit themselves to getting help. This person will drain you, drag you down, break your heart, leave you bleeding on the side of the road, and then twist it around until you think it's your fault. And, quite honestly, I don't want to spend the rest of my life in jail for strangling your psycho girlfriend. Poor Henley, right? sigh Yeah, not so much. Wanna know what he did when he saw her making out with some random idiot? He takes a shovel to the guy's car in a fit of blind rage. He's so scary, that Viv doesn't dare to approach him. And this is the guy we're supposed to be rooting for?! Are we expected to look past this kind of behavior...because she made him do it? Hi, Girls! This is your mother. If at any point in your relationship with a man, he displays jealous and/or violent tendencies? GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE!!! Again, Mommy doesn't want to end up in prison...
The rest of the story? It mostly held my interest, but it wasn't awesome enough to overcome the above-mentioned flaws. Boys and Girls, you will not get your Happily Ever After with a person who acts like Viv or Henley. And I'm more than a little angry that this book seemed to promote the idea you could.
If you loved this one, GREAT! But the only reason I didn't 1 star it, was because it truly wasn't badly written.
Sure, you could purchase each of these novellas separately, but why would you? Besides, how can you say no to that Also reviewed for Addicted2Heroines
Sure, you could purchase each of these novellas separately, but why would you? Besides, how can you say no to that cover!
Most of the time, the novellas connected with a series tend to give you insight into side characters, and maybe provide a bit of filler while you wait for the real books to come out. Not so with this collection. When read all together like this, it acts as another full book in the series. A prequel book, but a book, nonetheless. Also, sometimes novellas need to be read in a certain order, in conjunction with the regular books, or you might end up getting an unwanted spoiler. This collection doesn't function that way. You could read it like I did, after reading the other books, to get a better understanding of Celaena. Or you could read it before, as an introduction to the character and her world.
I'm not going to get all spoilery, so I'll just say that this tells the story of what happened to Celaena in the months leading up to her stint in the salt mines. Her relationship with the mysterious character, Sam, who has been often mentioned in the previous books, is finally revealed. Pull out the hankies, ladies! You're about to have your heart broken. Celaena's twisted mentor, Arobynn, features prominently in these stories, as well. At long last, the exact role he played in her fate is brought to light in The Assassin and the Empire. And, believe me, if you are a fan of these books, you're gonna wanna know what he did.
The weakest story was The Assassin and the Healer, because it was the only one that actually seemed like a filler novella. The others each uncovered a new layer of Celaena's backstory, and helped move the overall plot forward. It really made me want to go back and do a re-read of the other books, so I can prep for Heir of Fire!
If you're a Throne of Glass fanatic, you do not want to miss out on this little gem! ...more
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