Ethan can't wait to get the hell out of Gatlin, the small Southern town that his family has lived in for generations. He can't help but feel as if he Ethan can't wait to get the hell out of Gatlin, the small Southern town that his family has lived in for generations. He can't help but feel as if he doesn't belong, a feeling only exaggerated by his nightly dreams of a girl he's never met….until now. Lena Duchannes is new into town, the odd niece of the town recluse, and Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her. Ethan soon discovers that Lena just isn't different in the way she dresses, but she is a Caster in a bloodline that has been cursed for generations. Desperate to find a way to be together in a world that seems determined to keep them apart, Ethan and Lena will try to untangle the mysteries of their ancestors and save themselves from a potentially deadly curse.
For some reason, I liked this one. Logically, I would have expected to hate it, but I found myself enjoying it more and more as I turned the pages. I have more complaints than praises, actually, but this book was the first story in a long time that I found myself thinking about even after I turned the final page.
First of all, I like how the book was written in a male perspective. That's pretty hard to find in a YA paranormal romance. Ethan's voice for the most part was genuine. I mean, there were a view instances where I raised my eyebrows (this boy knows his fragrances), but overall I was able to forget the authors were female.
But, hey, this book was waaaayyy too long. I don't even know the reason for it. Looking back there was absolutely nothing that required this novel to be a honkin' 500+ pages. It just seemed like a mistake on the editor's part. It his (or her) job to whip the book into a size that I can actually fit into my backpack. Unfortunately, it doesn't look the sequel is on SlimFast either.
Also, the fantasy aspects confused the shit out of me. Okay. Let's walk through this. Lena is a Caster. Her entire family is Casters, except for her uncle who is like this vampire incubus thing. Casters are like witches, right? They can do spells, but also have raw power. There are different types of Casters, though. Lena is a Natural, unless she turns Dark and then she's a Catalyst. Naturals can basically do whatever they want. So is a Natural just a compilation of all Caster types, or are there specific powers designated to Naturals that no other Caster can do? I don't know. What the hell was Uncle Macon? Is that ever cleared up? Do Caster's need spells? Do the spells just allow them to do things their powers won't them do? Oh, just forget I said anything.
The romance between Lena and Ethan was pretty cool. I like how they didn't immediately jump into each other's pants but started out with friendship first. Even though, I don't understand the connection between Lena and Ethan, especially the whole telepathy thing. I feel bad for Ethan. From what I understood (which isn't a lot) Lena can read Ethan's thoughts, but Ethan can't read hers. Lena, however can "project" her thoughts at Ethan or something like that. I don't know. All I know is, if some dude could read my mind, I sure wouldn't hook up with him. I am a woman of mystery and intrigue and I shall stay that way.
I loved how Amma and Uncle Macon were all like "you can't be together!" but then did nothing about it. The kids did basically the same thing as they were doing before except now I have to listen to "I hope we don't get caught!"
Oh, and it totally annoyed the hell outta me when Ethan referred to Lena as "L". He names is Lena, dipweed! Its one extra syllable! If her name was something like "Laffricalicasia", then it is acceptable to call her L. This probably annoyed me though because I don't have any nicknames relevant to my real name. People call me "chicken nugget" and "horse girl" but those don't count.
Anyway, I completely lost my train of thought writing this review. I had a funny bit planned involving a fork in an electricity outlet, but I've completely forgotten what I was going to say about it.
An irrelevant plus side to this book is that it gained me an ally at the school library. Usually there is just this really cranky librarian who always kicks me out of the library for talking too loud last period on a Friday, but now there is this also this nice new librarian. We bonded over this book, and now every time I walk into the library we make small talk about YA lit. So suck on that meanie librarian! Try kicking me out now!
So I guess I'll end it here. Overall, I liked this book. In retrospect, it probably deserves more of a three than a four, but I won't deduct the star after I already bestowed it. That's like giving a kid a fully automized fire truck for Christmas, only to replace it with a crappy little Hot Wheels car after they've already opened it.
I totally called it about Link's mom btw. Imma G like that....more
This book could have very nearly been a disaster. It could have taken the sour young-adult fantasy route that I'm experiencing more and more these dayThis book could have very nearly been a disaster. It could have taken the sour young-adult fantasy route that I'm experiencing more and more these days. It even had the dreaded love triangle. But, I was pleasantly surprised in the end.
This books is about a girl, named Aura (the name made me cringe), who can see ghosts. Which is not unusual because everyone born after the Shift can see the violet figures of people who once were. The night of his 17th birthday, Aura's boyfriend, Logan, dies. He isn't completely gone though, and haunts her whether she wants him to or not. Then enter Zach: the sexy foreign exchange student who has a secret nearly as big as Aura's own.
This book moved quickly and fluently, without just being comprised of action. I was sucked in nearly immediately. I was reading this on my laptop, so I began taking my laptop everywhere. The writing, while not particularly stunning, was fluidly done.
The characters were strong. Aura, the main character, was no Mary Sue. Assertive and passionate, she was quick-witted enough to hold her own in the tensest conversations. Logan was perfect in that he wasn't perfect. He had a temper, but was overall very sweet. Even though he was dead for 90% of the novel, he managed to develop through out the story.
And then there was Zach. Oh. My. God. I think I'm in love. All foreign exchange students are sexy, but a Scottish one? *melts* Smith-Ready must have dived into the deepest parts of my psyche, because he is a man of my dreams. And the love-triangle was well-done. All the emotions Aura felt were believable, and I think readers will be conflicted as to whom to favor.
This was a smart paranormal read. The plot was original without being completely out-there. It was exciting and entertaining, with plenty of unanswered questions left at the end. Once the sequel comes out, I guarantee ya I'll be one of the first in line.
Oh, and I thought the cover was ugly, but that besides the point. ...more
I don't have too many strong feelings about this book.
My favorite aspect of this book was the concept. I really liked all the curse-worker stuff, andI don't have too many strong feelings about this book.
My favorite aspect of this book was the concept. I really liked all the curse-worker stuff, and the blowback idea was great. In this book, actions had consequences, whether it'd be killing a man with one touch or just changing the odds of a game in your favor. Most fantasy nowadays, people just do whatever they want with the unrealistic threat of "dire consequences". Well, this book has a system. I like systems.
Cassel was a pretty unreliable narrator. I mean, he was wrong about his own life for about 80% of the novel. I found his personality pretty generic. Yes, it is cool who his family is and that he a super-cute conman, but the personality? He is whipped by a dead girl. Speaking of the dead girl, Lila was awesome. She was tough, mysterious, and a bad-ass. I actually liked Cassel's entire family, even his brothers. I know they aren't exactly the good guys, but I thought they were more realistic that way.
Oh, the plot was nice, albeit a little predictable. The twists smelled from a hundred pages away. Except perhaps the one that ended the book...it will be interesting to see how that plays out in future books.
This book was engaging, the concept was great, and I'm interested to see what happens next.
I didn't like the cover though. I dislike it when the author's name is more prominent than the title, and the smoke thing at the top is annoying. ...more
Ever since their mother died, Carter and Sadie Kane haven't exactly been close. Carter travels the world with their Egyptologist father, while Sadie lEver since their mother died, Carter and Sadie Kane haven't exactly been close. Carter travels the world with their Egyptologist father, while Sadie lives with their grandparents in London. On Christmas Eve, one of the few days a year all three of them are together, their father brings them to the British Museum for "a research experiment". The end result is a blown-up Rosetta Stone, a released evil Egyptian god, their father banished to who-knows-where, and the kids are on the run for their lives. Over the next couple days, Carter and Sadie discover they are magicians from a powerful family descending from Egyptian pharaohs, able to host gods and do powerful deeds. Soon, Carter and Sadie are on a mission to get their father back, while dealing with manipulative gods and uncovering deep family secrets.
I love Rick Riordan. Well, I love Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and when I first heard of this series, I thought it was going to be exactly like that. While there were similarities, The Red Pyramid never obtained that spark that set Percy Jackson on fire (not literally). The Red Pyramid was good, but a bit disappointing if you were expecting something as good as Percy Jackson.
Both Carter and Sadie narrated this novel, in the form of telling their story for a recording. They would take turns every couple of chapters, sometimes interrupting each other and bickering. This was very Lemony Snicket like for some reason, and I enjoyed. After a while though, I found it hard to distinguish Carter and Sadie's voices. Towards the beginning, it was a bit easier because Sadie sounded girly and British, and Carter sounded shy and unsure. But as the story went on, their voices blended together and I am thankful that it had the name of the person narrating at the top of the page.
I also found the book a bit long and the plot too repetitive. I felt the story could have been significantly condensed. Was it really that necessary to have so many moments where the kids get cornered by a god, they battle for a while, someone finally manages some big magic in order for them to escape, while someone gets left behind only to resurface later? I did appreciate, though, some of the more ridiculous elements in the story that added some humor. Like when Carter and Sadie turn a goddess into a cow by gorging her with salsa, tricking her into thinking its blood. Who can possibly come up with something like that? Rick Riordan can.
I'm not sure if I like the mythology of the Egyptian gods. While I do like learning it, I'm don't know how much of it is actually fact based, and how much Riordan is making up. The mythology just seems too confusing. I'm not sure what all the relationships between the gods are. Are they siblings or spouses?
Overall, the book was enjoyable, although not quite as fantastic as Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
This book was beautiful. No, not in the writing, in the presentation. I lovvvvve pictures. I would stare at the illustrations, and kept turning back tThis book was beautiful. No, not in the writing, in the presentation. I lovvvvve pictures. I would stare at the illustrations, and kept turning back to look at the map inside the cover. Even the pages were nice and snow white- especially rare since I got this book at the library. Presentation wise, I give this book an A. However, things aren't that simple.
I like steampunk. It fascinates me, and if not for my extreme dislike for the feel of metal, I would love to live in a steampunk setting. Leviathan is no normal steampunk. It contains fabulous fabricated creatures right out of man's imagination. Messenger lizards, floating giant jellyfish, six-legged hydrogen sniffing dogs, and best of all- a humungous flying whale. That's right.
Scott Westerfeld's imagination will never cease to amaze me.
Then there is the more traditional eight-legged walkers and zepplins, you know the usual. These machines are created by the Clankers-Germany and Austria-Hungary, enemy of the Darwsinists- England and France. Both sides have reasons to distrust each other. The Clankers find the fabricated creatures unGodly and the Darwinists don't believe in the reliance on machines. Then World War I happens, and that's where the story starts.
Aleksander is a prince from Austria Hungary and is on the run from the people responsible for the murder of his parents. Deryn Sharp is a girl disguised as a soldier aboard the Leviathan (the aforementioned flying whale). Of course these two main characters are very different, but there is no story unless fate drags them together.
Then some action happens and the story ends openly for a sequel. I was a bit annoyed with that actually. I knew it was going to be a series, I just didn't expect such a cliffhanger. As for the action- there was plenty of it. It was confusing truthfully, and I would have been completley lost if not for the nifty illustrations.
While I preferred Alek as a character, Deryn's story was much more interesting. Both characters, however, where written very young. I couldn't picture them as 15 year olds, but rather as pre-teens around the age of 12. That just seemed to fit their actions better and it suited the middle-school level writing. For being actioned filled, it went slow for me. I just couldn't get the motivation to read it.
If you are expecting romance (as I was), prepare to be disappointed. There was hints of it, of course, but Alek doesn't even Deryn is a girl by the end. I have a feeling any romance in this book will be drawn out verrrrrry slowly.
Overall, its not what I expected. It was an adventure novel for middle-school boys essentially. The pictures were my favorite part. As was the concept of a flying whale with people walking around in it (kinda biblical, ain't it?).
I will most likely read the sequel and have only one demand....
I am new to the whole paranormal romance genre. Being a teenager yet, I can finally read the dirty bits without giggling or tossing the book across thI am new to the whole paranormal romance genre. Being a teenager yet, I can finally read the dirty bits without giggling or tossing the book across the room in an embarrassed panic whenever someone walks into the room. Yay for maturity!
Soulless was a fun read, and oddly very funny. I was cracking up. My favorite line: "The vampire's eyes were open, and he was staring at her intently. It was as though he was trying to speak to her with simply the power of his glare. Alexia did not speak glare-ish".
Heehehehe
And the vocabulary! Carriger used words like "deleterious" and "cosset" like they were going out of style....which they kinda are, actually. Anyway, I got to employ all the vocab knowledge that my SAT prep teacher tried to force down my throat. At least it was useful for something.
I wanted to bottle up Alexia's spunk an sprinkle it all over the dull, vapid minds of most YA heroines. "See, this is what an entertaining heroine looks like! Learn from her! Absorb her personality! Stop being so dumb!"Alexia was an interesting, likable character, and I'm looking forward to her further adventures.
On to the romance......*sigh* This was the weakest part for me. It was just so repetitive. Lord Maccon and Alexia would bicker for a while, then they would jump on each like two male giraffes (yes, that happens a lot). It just got annoying. And what was with all the neck biting? If a guy started chomping hard enough on my neck so that it would bruise, I would be all "heeeellll nah". A hickey is one thing, neck noms are another. And then Alexia would try to be the proper Victorian lady, which she failed at because proper Victorian ladies do not get freaky on a chair, with their family listening at the door. Creeepin.
Also I FREAKIN GET THAT ALEXIA IS ITALIAN. CAN WE MOVE ON PLEASE?
And I like how the ending wasn't cliff-hangery. I like that I can read the next novel on my own terms, not just because the previous ending left me unsatisfied and frothing at the mouth.
Overall, I really like this one, although now that I think about it, it was a little light on the steampunk. I want more steampunnk.
Sorry for the jumpy, inconsistent review. I'm trying to multitask between doing this and watching TV. TV is winning. ...more
Note to self: Never start a Rick Riordan book the eve of the due date of a big project. It will end with a half-ass poster board and disapproving lookNote to self: Never start a Rick Riordan book the eve of the due date of a big project. It will end with a half-ass poster board and disapproving looks from my Spanish teacher.
So, I couldn't flippin' put this book down. I even read it during dinner and blew off prime-time TV! When I had to put it down for something trivial like, IDK, school, I spent the whole time day-dreaming about it, and eagerly waiting for the moment when I could immerse myself in it again. Rick Riordan's world is just completely absorbing.
Now, if you haven't noticed, I gave this book four stars. I had reasons for the point deduction. First off, although this book was awesome, Percy was awesomer. Some things about The Lost Hero bothered me. For instance, I wasn't a fan of the multiple third-person POVs. Usually, I don't mind them, but I would much rather have this novel focus on one hero and tell the story from their perspective, like in the Percy Jackson books. I didn't feel quite as connected to the characters as I had previously, and it didn't have the same humor or charm. The character development was slightly lacking, I think sacrificed for the sake of the break-neck pace. Jason, one of the three main characters, was very dull. I didn't find him interesting in the least. I liked Piper and Leo, though, they had slightly more personality, but reminded me a little too much of Annabeth and Grover. Also, it annoyed me how many times the fact was repeated that Percy was Annabeth's boyfriend. Every time Percy's name would come up someone would go "Annabeth's boyfriend?". It was just annoying. Especially since it just renewed my pain over Percy's absence.
But I still loved this book. Every time an old character would come up I would give a little squeal, although the one character I was REALLY HOPING FOR never showed up. I just can't believe how big a tease Rick is. I waited for five fricking years to see Annabeth and Percy together and then HE'S NOT HERE. HUGUAHGJABB;UBGUBUGBJ!!!!!!
And did anyone else find this book super-predictable? I found the ending just kind of like "Well, duuuh".
Overall, The Son of Neptune is much too far a wait away!!! Come here nooooooow!
Oh, one more thing........*spoiler*
Look awayyyyyyyyyyyyyy
IF PERCY FALLS FOR ANOTHER GIRL AT THE ROMAN CAMP I WILL CASTRATE HIM. I AM SOOO NOT KIDDING. ...more
Jessica Packwood is just your average American teen looking for a great senior year. Everything is looking good...until Lucius Vladescu comes to town.Jessica Packwood is just your average American teen looking for a great senior year. Everything is looking good...until Lucius Vladescu comes to town. Lucius Vladescu is a sexy new foreign exchange student from Romania- who claims Jessica is a vampire princess and his betrothed. Jessica reluctantly transists into her vampiredom with a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions and with some tough decisions to make. Jessica is an ordinary girl, is she ready for eternity with a complicated, ruthless vampire?
From the title I was expecting some light and funny satire, but that's not exactly what I got. I'm not sure what this book wanted to be. At times it was hysterical, sometimes silly, occasionally sexual, and other times heavy. I didn't know what to expect. My favorite part of the books was whenever Lucius wrote letters back home to his uncle. His commentary was hysterical. I wish the whole book was from his eyes. Jessica was okay, but not really that interesting. She was sometimes funny or witty, but most of time was pretty dry. I am kinda sick and tired of nice narrators that guys unexplicably fall for. Jessica wasn't as bad as other narrators, but that makes me for frustrated because I see what she could have been.
The book overall was pretty unique- if slightly predictable, but what isn't nowadays? The book was slow-going sometimes, and there could have been more action. Some parts were ridiculous, like the Wuthering Heights drama and the stake-thrusting mob. And (sorry if this confuses you), I wanted more! It ended too abruptly. As soon as it gets juicy in Romania, I get shut down. I was like "Nooooo!" I don't get a nice little epilogue? A postcard? NOTHING? Alas, I guess that is life...
One thing I have to point out is this random phrase that had me staring at it for like 12 minutes: "phantasmagoric edifice". Wicka wicka WHAT? And it wasn't the fancy European guy who said it either, but rather the farm girl from....I forgot where she's from. Some farm place.
Anyway, not exactly what I was expecting, but entertaining enough. If I see something else by this author, I'll pick it up. ...more
Loading...
