Envy (Fury, #2)

Sep 08, 2012 Mitch rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't know how it's possible, but even as the covers of the Fury trilogy have gotten more beautiful, the books themselves are getting far uglier. Whereas Fury was merely a train wreck I couldn't look away from, Envy is just frustratingly bad - the first book on steroids, or, in this case, more bad behavior, more shallow romance, and generally more moral ugliness. Don't be fooled by the cover. Just don't.

At this point, I don’t think the premise is salvageable. A bunch of teenagers engaging in q...more I don't know how it's possible, but even as the covers of the Fury trilogy have gotten more beautiful, the books themselves are getting far uglier. Whereas Fury was merely a train wreck I couldn't look away from, Envy is just frustratingly bad - the first book on steroids, or, in this case, more bad behavior, more shallow romance, and generally more moral ugliness. Don't be fooled by the cover. Just don't.

At this point, I don’t think the premise is salvageable. A bunch of teenagers engaging in questionable behavior and drawing the wrath of the vindictive, capricious Furies may sound good on paper, but the execution just doesn’t work. These are tough characters to write, they have to be flawed enough to deserve the attention of the Furies, but not so fatally flawed that they become unsympathetic. It’s a tough act to balance, and Miles hasn’t done what’s necessary at all, between what happens to Chase in Fury and new girl Skylar in this book, it’s only really appreciable by someone with an extremely twisted sense of justice. And I don’t just mean the Furies targeting Emily and her friends when there are plenty of bigger fish in the world to fry - as I said, the Furies are capricious, they punish whoever they want, it’s not fair - or even what these beings of vengeance are doing in Maine - Envy actually gives a half decent explanation for their presence, but it’s this combination of unsatisfying, even repulsive characters and moral ugliness all around that makes this series such a huge turn off.

Skylar of course is the prime example. I don’t know what her role in this book is supposed to be - hero? antihero? villain? - because she’s one of the most unlikable characters I’ve ever had the misfortune of reading. She’s vain, petty, jealous, so awful I actually wished what happened to Chase in the last book happened to her. But no matter how delusional she becomes, and there’s not just one but many scenes that are just cringe-worthy to read about, that’s how deluded she is, when I just wished the Furies would go violent on her a-, that heartless b-, but I honestly don’t understand what the point of her character is at all. Is she an example of someone who genuinely deserves the wrath of the Furies even though I wouldn’t go as far as to call her irredeemably evil? Someone who deserves redemption even though nothing I read redeemed her - at all? I don’t know. And the way Meg seems to push her character from flawed to fatally flawed, what was that about? I don’t get it.

Skylar’s by far the most irritating character, but certainly not the only one. Emily, oh Emily, how could you have gotten even worse since you were an idiot with Zach? With Zach out of the picture - rehab in Florida thanks to the Furies, or maybe dead, it’s really not explained well at all, no surprise - Em gets in another lame triangle, this time with minor bit player Crow from the last book, and … I … just … can’t. Between the continued pining for JD and her new feelings for Crow, if Skylar’s obsession with Pierce is ridiculous, this is just painful. Apparently, feelings, emotions, all that sacrificing she did in the last book, out the door within five seconds after discovering JD hasn’t forgiven her. Total fail. If I’m supposed to sympathize with her for being put into this awful position by the Furies, nope, you put yourself in that position girl. Ty, please get her.

Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend Envy even to people looking for resolutions to the plotlines left over from the last book. In addition to Em’s total fail, JD not doing anything of note, and Zach dropping off the face of the earth, Chase’s death, the high point of the last book, there’s a big gaping hole in the plot where this book should’ve addressed that. I gave Miles mad props for killing off a point of view character, but I guess it’s really just a cheap trick, because, as far as I can tell, his death is pointless. Is it an object lesson? If so, which one of these repulsive characters learned anything from it? Is it an important plot point? If so, how does it affect the plot? Actually, that’s a good question, because while Fury was actually kind of creepy in places, maybe, Envy just alternated between boringly, cringingly, and eye-rollingly bad.

You know how they say beauty is only skin deep? Envy shows that age old adage applies to more than just people, applies to books too. Beautiful cover, ugly inside.(less)

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Sep 05, 2012 Juhina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-arcs, own, review-books

Envy was a definite step up to Fury. I enjoyed Envy so much more than Fury and that is mainly due to the fact that the characters in this installment weren't as clueless and hence frustrating as Fury. Emily Winters knows the Furies are back. She doesn't ignore the obvious clues and occurrences and this time she's not going to wait for The Furies to come and get here, she's going to fight. I finally let out a sigh of relief when I saw how Emily isn't going to hide in her room and is actually tryi...more Envy was a definite step up to Fury. I enjoyed Envy so much more than Fury and that is mainly due to the fact that the characters in this installment weren't as clueless and hence frustrating as Fury. Emily Winters knows the Furies are back. She doesn't ignore the obvious clues and occurrences and this time she's not going to wait for The Furies to come and get here, she's going to fight. I finally let out a sigh of relief when I saw how Emily isn't going to hide in her room and is actually trying to figure away to defeat The Furies. The writing is superb, Elizabeth Miles knows how to keep you anticipating and guessing what happens next and you're usually wrong. Which is something I pleasantly take. This novel is told from two POVs, Emily, like in Fury, and also Skyler, a new girl in town, however she is even more clueless than Emily was in Fury, but what's different with Skyler is that she is desperate for attention, to be liked, and to be popular, the three things that would turn off any female protagonist for me.

The main reason I liked Envy much more than Fury is the fact that we do not delve into the tiny details of the surroundings of our characters every time. You don't see paragraphs of descriptions about the color of snow or how cold the winter is. That was my main issue in Fury and I'm glad I didn't see that in Envy. Also, we actually get some progress in Envy. We find out more about The Furies and their history, as well as hope that there might be a way to get rid of them. All of this is with the help of Emily's newfound friend Drea. Also, there is Crow, a new guy that I actually really like. I wasn't that fond of the romance in Fury and how it suddenly started and then ended within 20 pages, so Crow was a pleasant distraction for Emily and I hope Elizabeth Miles keeps him in the story.

Envy, while not as creepy as Fury, still had its fair share of creeped out worthy scenes, especially the ones with The Furies. Throughout the novel you also get to witness the normal everyday life of the characters in the book, so this novel doesn't just center around the mythology, you get a glimpse of what could have been if The Furies never showed up and I liked that The Furies and talk of them didn't occupy 100% of the novel. I really enjoyed Envy and the ending Elizabeth Miles wrote was mouth gapingly shocking. She's not an author scared to take the extreme and I salute her for that. I honestly don't know what's in store for her third and last installment but I'm going to be one of the first waiting for a copy to get to me so I can finally figure out how to get rid of these darn Furies! If that is possible...(less)

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Mar 31, 2013 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: high-school, myths, paranormal, washyarg, young-adult

Back at Ascension High, the Furies are back. Meg has latched onto Skylar, a new girl with a mother in prison and a sister that haunts her memory. Skylar is determined to change her life, become one of the popular kids, and win the heart of the campus heartthrob. In the meantime, Drea and Em are still suffering from the consequences of their last encounter with the Furies that resulted in the deaths of their friends. They are on the track of the means of ridding themselves of the Furies forever....more

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Jan 13, 2013 PrincyJessie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finished

Envy by Elizabeth Miles
Summary : the furies are back with a new target skylar
Characters :
Skylar: this is the brand new target of the furies, she just want to fit in and be loved by someone. At the end I finally know what she did to Lucy and I feel sad for her one mistake caused the furies to chase after her. Sometimes she can be ignorant but I still like her, alot of scenes makes me soo nervous for her.
Gabby : the sweet best friend that skylar and Em has, she is caring and sweet I hope on the...more Envy by Elizabeth Miles
Summary : the furies are back with a new target skylar
Characters :
Skylar: this is the brand new target of the furies, she just want to fit in and be loved by someone. At the end I finally know what she did to Lucy and I feel sad for her one mistake caused the furies to chase after her. Sometimes she can be ignorant but I still like her, alot of scenes makes me soo nervous for her.
Gabby : the sweet best friend that skylar and Em has, she is caring and sweet I hope on the books later Gabby can be one of the targets I want to see more of her and Em friendship she is very sweet she is like the best friend a girl wants.
Emily : Finally my favorite girl, Emily has been on psycho mode lately and the last page the last words shocked me Crow mentioned she can be a fury herself now things are heating up for Ems. I love how strong she gotten she can fight off Ty and I love her relationship with Crow it's different from the popular group she is in. I want to see what happen to Ems!! This series is getting very good.
The furies
Ty: she has always been my favorite fury, she is strong and can be very evil sometimes I love how she said she to Em they are bonded. I want to know why she wants Em.
Meg : she has been skylar friend when gabby treated her bad, she is very manipulative I will watch out for her.
Ali : I want to learn soo much more about her she seems mysterious to me also.
Crow : the flirty guy who is also like a bodyguard, I love how caring he could be with Em and he sang a song for her which soo sweet and I wish he will be in Em life instead of JD.
Drea : the punk that Em goes for when she is dealing with he furies, I finally found out why she is after the furies and I am glad the furies didn't go after her yet. I love to see her vulnerable side, I felt bad for her mom and I love how protective she is of Em even though they didn't know each other for long.
Over all: the last few pages put me on the edge of my seat!!! And the ending is a shocker can't wait for the next book!! I can't wait to find out more!!
Cover + writing: I bet the cover is skylar or Em or maybe could be gabby the work is beautiful and the writing drove me crazy for each chapter.
Fav quote : She knew what Crow meant, but she needed him yo say it out loud. "The Furies," Crow said quietly. " You're becoming one of them." (less)

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Dec 01, 2012 Pamela Kramer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Envy" by Elizabeth Miles is the second book in the "Fury" trilogy about a New England town visited by the Furies. The Furies seem bent on revenge for past mistreatment (past being several hundred years ago), and the teens of the town are the ones who will pay the price of their ancestors' violent behavior.

In the second book, Emily Winters is still recovering from the deaths in the first book as well as from her final run-in with the Furies when she was forced to swallow some seeds and be "bound...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Melissa (YA Book Shelf) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I read the deliciously creepy book, Fury by Elizabeth Miles, I was in Gothic novel loving heaven, and I was looking forward to continuing the series. The follow up novel, Envy, certainly kept my interest, but I have to say that I enjoyed it less than the first book in the series. Written from the prospectives of Em Winters and a new character named, Skyler, this book has less of a Gothic feel to it than the first book. Moreover, I found that many things - including why Skyler was targeted b...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(This review may contain spoilers).

I didn't actually intend to read the whole of this book today, but I started reading it before my work shift and then I carried on.

I didn't do a very good job of remembering what had happened in the previous book and unfortunately, I couldn't double check, since the book is either in storage or has been given away.

Still, after some confusion over who was who and which fury had starred in book one, I managed to settle in and enjoy the book fairly well. I've foun...more (This review may contain spoilers).

I didn't actually intend to read the whole of this book today, but I started reading it before my work shift and then I carried on.

I didn't do a very good job of remembering what had happened in the previous book and unfortunately, I couldn't double check, since the book is either in storage or has been given away.

Still, after some confusion over who was who and which fury had starred in book one, I managed to settle in and enjoy the book fairly well. I've found myself eager to learn more about the origins of the furies. Were they tricked into what happened? Were they born as the furies, or is Em right and they became the furies... or the furies became them?

In the first book, Ty seemed a little more human than Meg and Ali. I assumed that was just a trick on her part, but it also seemed to come across a bit in this book, too. I don't like Meg or Ali very much at the moment, but Ty strikes me as more interesting. I hope that the third book will have more about her in it and confirm some of my suspicions/theories.

It's interesting that Gabby seems to be the main focus again in this book, once more as the victim. But even though she hasn't done anything specifically wrong, it seems that she's one of those being specifically targeted by the Furies. She could have died quite easily in this book and I would have thought that those deemed innocent would be left alone.

Clearly, Nora knows something about the three girls. And there was that weird woman in the library, too. The last line in Envy indicates why they might be scared, but not how they know. And for that matter, I'm not sure it's made clear how Crow knows about the Furies.

I felt sorry for Skylar in some ways, but in others, I had to struggle not to roll my eyes. Chances are good that anyone would fall for something like that - offered popularity and the guy or girl you like.

I'm certainly intending to read the last book in this trilogy, but I feel like I'll be sorry once it's over.(less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Sandy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ENVY (The Fury Trilogy #2) by Elizabeth Miles

ENVY is the second novel in Elizabeth Miles’ series focusing on the quiet but cursed town of Ascension Maine. Some background information is required to keep focus on this particular storyline otherwise the reader will be lost. FURY is the first novel that sets the stage for Ascension’s fated townspeople when three beautiful women exact revenge for something that happened a very long time ago. The Greek goddesses of retribution known as the Furies wil...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Liz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

We continue to follow the story of Emily Winters in Ascension, Maine. After having a nasty run-in with the modern-day Furies (think greek mythology), Em is trying to recover whatever bits and pieces of her life she has left. But that's easier said than done. The boy she loves hates her after the Furies implanted false memories that Em left him to go make out with some other guy and cruelly laughed at him when he followed her. What really happened is that Em saved his life...but at what cost? One...more We continue to follow the story of Emily Winters in Ascension, Maine. After having a nasty run-in with the modern-day Furies (think greek mythology), Em is trying to recover whatever bits and pieces of her life she has left. But that's easier said than done. The boy she loves hates her after the Furies implanted false memories that Em left him to go make out with some other guy and cruelly laughed at him when he followed her. What really happened is that Em saved his life...but at what cost? One of the furies - Ty - made Em bind herself to them by eating 5 glowing red seeds.

Very ominous.

But what does that even mean? While Em tries to find out more about her fate and scrambles to figure out a way to banish the Furies from Ascension for good, a new student has come to town. Skylar moved from Alabama to escape her past. A past that includes an alcoholic mother, a cruel, yet beautiful older sister, and a pageant circuit that she hated. She sees life in Ascension as a way to start fresh and finally live the life she deserves. She quickly befriends Gabby, Em's best friend, and slowly begins to start emulating her behavior. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Or maybe the imitator will tire of trying to become you and decide to replace you instead?

The Furies are working their evil magic in Ascension again, and this time it may be impossible for Em, Skylar or anyone else to escape their deadly grasp.

Best Thing: The blend of old and new characters was a refreshing addition for this second book. It allowed you to have different depths of knowledge for what was going on, as well as providing different viewpoints on a situation. The strength in these series has always been the character development and how closely the created characters mirror actual teenagers and their motivations for things. Well, that and the chilling imagery the author conjures up.

Worst Thing: There was still a noticeable lack of information about the Furies. I feel like the overall story is moving too slowly toward a conclusion. The premise is a brilliant one and I'm a fan of everything I've learned so far about these mysterious creatures, but I still think we should know more about them and what their motivations are.

Overall: A suitably creepy follow-up to Fury, but I wanted more Fury action! 3.5 out of 5.

See full review with gifs at: www.thebookwranglers.com (less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Mara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 stars

I thought this sequel to FURY started out stronger than the first and I liked the inclusion of Skylar as a POV. The excessive use of parentheses in Book #1 have been replaced by an excessive use of hyphens, and pop culture references still abound, but not quite as much. I wanted a bit more on what, exactly, happened to Zach, but I'm guessing that is addressed in Book #3. Gabby keeps getting more perfect, which is annoying, and sometimes the descriptions of clothing were too long, detail...more

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May 06, 2013 Krystal rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, romance, ya-fantasy

Okay, let's get one thing straight. I am so mad I have to until September for the last book! I love this Trilogy and I can't wait to dive into the next book! I have to say, I thought JD was a good person for Em, but then Crow came into the picture. Please, tell me I am not the only one who is like in love with Crow?! There is something about him that just makes me think of one of my friends and I think he's perfect. I know that makes me sound crazy and messed up, but it's the truth. I, hm, I don...more

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May 01, 2013 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought that this second book in The Fury Trilogy was much better than the first book. For one thing, Miles has created some interesting secondary characters like Emily's new friends Drea and Crow. I particularly liked the addition of Crow, a high-school dropout and musician whose particular talent is having premonitions of bad things. I enjoyed how Emily was more engaged with what was going on in her town and she was more empowered to deal with the Furies on her own terms. The only thing I th...more

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Sep 18, 2012 C.penn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Gossip, Thrillers

If you loved Fury, Envy is right up your alley.

Jealousy rears its ugly head when insecure Skylar, ailing from a strained relationship with her perfect sister and alcoholic mother moves to Ascension after things at home have unexpectedly gone horribly wrong. But here, at last Skylar has an opportunity for a fresh start. To reinvent herself.

And Who else to model herself after than Gabby, the most well loved resident socialite?

Mirror Mirror on the wall who is the Vainest of them all?

Only time wi...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Kai (Amaterasu Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-tbr-pile, for-review, teens

Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

My impression for the whole trilogy took a complete 90 degree turn after reading this book. My feelings for Fury were lukewarm at best, but Envy was a step way above my expectations for a sequel. Surprise, surprise. Envy was way better than Fury.

As the ice slowly melts away from Ascension, Emily's life is transforming, and so is Em herself. Gone was the perky, joyful Em that was Gabby's best friend, she was a hollow shell of her self, forever haunted by The Furies...more Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

My impression for the whole trilogy took a complete 90 degree turn after reading this book. My feelings for Fury were lukewarm at best, but Envy was a step way above my expectations for a sequel. Surprise, surprise. Envy was way better than Fury.

As the ice slowly melts away from Ascension, Emily's life is transforming, and so is Em herself. Gone was the perky, joyful Em that was Gabby's best friend, she was a hollow shell of her self, forever haunted by The Furies' presence. She had paid dearly for the mistakes she did in Fury, and now she wants to make everything right. Em wants to banish the Furies forever from Ascension, and she knew she must find a way before they could destroy the whole town. But The Furies has found a new target, and like Em, she doesn't know it until it's too late. Skylar McVoy just want to fit in. She wants to be adored just like her older sister Lucy, to stop feeling like a freak, someone who isn't good enough, and to get away from a mother who could care less if she lives or dies. Skylar had a chance to start over when she came to Ascension, but when popular girl Gabby became her friend, all Skylar wants is to be like her. To be her, loved and cared for by everyone, and she'd do anything to achieve that. Anything.

I liked that a lot of changes had happened in this book. It was darker than what I expected it to be, but to deal with such a powerful feeling as Envy, you have to write that way. Gritty, edgy. Everything was darker. Emily's character was slowly morphing into something else, and the intrigue that surrounds such a change gives the book a more interesting feeling. Skylar's story was Envy personified. It happens to everyone, that single minded desire to want what they don't and couldn't have. Envy plunged deeper into the uglier side of a person, and combine that with Em's feelings of regret and grief over her losses, it's a lot to take in, but Envy was surprisingly an easy read. It didn't drag on, and the steady, suspense filled pace kept me in step with the story.

There was no such thing as coincidence when it involves the Furies. A target of their vengeance was chosen specifically by them for a reason. Lives were lost because of the secrets the persons keep. And it seems that good girl Gabby was again the central force that drove this story. Everything was put into motion because of her. Also, the introduction of new characters like Crow and Drea gave the book some more intrigue. Who is Crow? I enjoyed reading about him a lot, but I wish more of his character was revealed. But he definitely gave the book a more mysterious edge to it. Em, who has suffered through a lot and was so close to breaking in this book needs a reprieve, and I see a potential love interest on Crow. Em and JD's relationship were still shaky at best, and it got me so confused at times. There's only so much rejection a person can take. Em has been a tougher, more resilient version of herself. Maybe a little paranoid and mad, but with her persistence, she was slowly getting closer into revealing the true origins of The Furies. And that particular twist, the reason why Em is slowly transforming? I did not see that coming.

Again, with Envy, you have to wait and see how the pieces will fit together. How could one story, one death, be tied to the others? I never had such patience with the first book, but Elizabeth Miles did a better job in putting together this story that it was an enjoyable experience to see the whole thing slowly forming and making sense right before my eyes. Although it is still a great mystery about what are the true origins of The Furies and how their vengeful ways all started, I hope it gets revealed soon. I felt like the clues left were not enough to really give a clearer idea of just really what The Furies are out to achieve.

More chilling than the first, a lot more intriguing as the second book in the series, Envy has done a great build up for what I think will be a fantastical ending in Eternity. Twisted and more sinister, Envy unlocks all the negative feelings and the consequences that comes with desiring what is not ours. Are you prepared to sacrifice anything and everything just to get what you want? At what lengths are you willing to go to achieve what you desire? The Furies are watching. Be careful, because one mistake can end up with them knocking at your door, seeing through those deep dark, buried feelings in your heart, and they will destroy you. A great follow up for Fury, Elizabeth has done an impressive job with Envy!(less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Yolanda Sfetsos rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, thriller, ya-contemporary

I borrowed this book from the library and as soon as I started reading, I was hooked. I got sucked into this one as quickly as I did with the first one.

Em's still being haunted by the three beautiful but super freaky girls she now knows are the Furies. Her neighbour--who also happens to be the guy she's in love with--isn't talking to her. She's becoming distant from her friends and can't concentrate on schoolwork. All she wants to do is spend time trying to figure out a way to stop the Furies fr...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Kelly Hager rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am so in love with this trilogy. Yes, it's a complete guilty pleasure, but those are definitely worth having. I love the mythology in this series and I kind of wish I were a Fury.

Yes, I know they're the villains, but I think I've missed my calling. I would also have been an excellent vengeance demon.

Anyway. :) We learn more about the Furies in this book (especially their backstory) and they are seriously evil. And they are so good at picking their targets! (Both to hurt and to "help.")

I can't...more

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Aug 23, 2012 TheBookSmugglers rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: notable-reads-of-2012

Originally Reviewed on The Book Smugglers

Holy vengeful furies, Batman! When I started Fury last year, it was with apprehension and fear - fear that the book would be some ridiculously contrived "retelling" that might involve a so-called "fury" falling in love with a hot teenage dude and thus being redeemed (gag). I was thrilled upon reading that first novel to discover that Elizabeth Miles' furies were true to their mythological roots - these are horrific characters bent on revenge at any cost,...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Miss Ami E. Bowen added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 100-books-in-2013

It's been a long time since I've been graced by the literary presence of a character so self-centered, vapid and insensitivelly cruel. Skylar embodies all of these traits and more. She uses emotionally blackmail to her advantage and then, when she gets what she wants, becomes unsympathetic to her fellow peers going through a bad time and uses people as pawns and stepping stones to climb the path of high school popularity. There are several places when I went from feeling sorry for her to wanting...more

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Sep 03, 2012 JL rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, the-fury-trilogy, owned

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the vainest of them all?
This book did very well living up to the title "Envy".

Despite the plummeting reviews of the first book in the Fury Trilogy--Fury--this book was a lot better. Through out reading the novel I felt goosebumps when I knew something bad was going to happen, I felt warmth in my heart during romantic scenes, I felt overwhelmed when I was left with cliff hangers. The main characters have their flaws which help the readers connect on a certain lev...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Shaheen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: s-saust

Miles' haphazard writing is back for another instalment, but whereas Fury had a few great characters, there's not much about this book I liked. Envy is told in dual perspective - Em, our simpering, shallow protagonist from the last book is back and tells the story with Skylar, the new girl at school laden with secrets. Still lacking in execution and solid grounding in mythology, Envy seems to take everything I disliked about Fury and run with it.

I had thought - hoped - that the events at the end...more Miles' haphazard writing is back for another instalment, but whereas Fury had a few great characters, there's not much about this book I liked. Envy is told in dual perspective - Em, our simpering, shallow protagonist from the last book is back and tells the story with Skylar, the new girl at school laden with secrets. Still lacking in execution and solid grounding in mythology, Envy seems to take everything I disliked about Fury and run with it.

I had thought - hoped - that the events at the end of Fury would have instilled some maturity in Emily, but I was saddened to see that her new-found selflessness lasted a handful of chapters. She is quickly confused by her feelings for two utterly unremarkable boys: her random but strong feelings for JD disappear almost instantaneously and she's flirting with Crow, a minor character from Fury. The new protagonist, Skylar, continued the trend of being morally ambiguous but only held my attention for a few chapters. She is at best a very confusing character, and at worst a prime example of the type of character authors should avoid at all costs: someone so repulsive and flawed that it's difficult for readers to harbour even a modicum of empathy. I really liked Chase, the other protagonist of Fury, and I had hoped his death would play a larger role in the series arc (after all, why kill off a narrating character if his death is meaningless?). Not only are Chase and Zack reduced to objects of whispered gossip at the school in Envy, the fates of both boys are largely ignored, by both the Furies and Emily.

Many of the relationships between the character in Envy are destructive, which only served to further detach me from the characters. Emily apparently hasn't learnt the lesson of taking her friends for granted. She treats both Gabbie, her long time best friend and Drea, her Fury-hunting companion, very badly and ignores them until she needs something from them. Skylar sneers at the friendship Em and Gabbie share, which is hypocritical because she, herself, is only friends with Gabbie for the popularity it brings her.

The romance in the book doesn't fare much better. While Emily's attraction to JD might be explained through his steady presence in her life since childhood, she isn't attracted at all to Crow until he takes his short off in front of her, at which points she practically jumps him. Skylar is instantly attracted to Pierce and weirdly jealous of any female interaction he has, even stalking him at one point. The one romantic scene in the book lacks the driving forces of emotion and passion and probably shouldn't have been included at all.

One of my main concerns about Fury was the lack of explanation given for the presence of the Furies in a small town. This is dealt with in Envy, and is just about the only thing I liked about the book. Although the story offered by Miles is shaky in terms of its relationship to the original Greek mythology, I liked it and thought it clever. The Furies themselves, however, again perplexed me to the point of frustration. Although Skylar is a flawed character from the beginning, Meg encourages her to behave a certain way and helps to justify it, and then punishes her. Miles' Furies don't make any sense at all and I found it harder and harder to keep reading the book as one nonsensical event followed another.

Envy is a disappointing addition to the Furies series, and I think it's safe to say the series premise fails to live up to its potential. Although the books are quick and easy reads, I don't think they are very enjoyable and leave a lot to be desired in terms of plotting and character development. If you pick up this series, I hope you enjoy it a lot more than I did!

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .(less)

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Sep 18, 2012 Krystal rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Envy follows the lives of Em, Drea, JD and others from the first novel in this trilogy, Fury (my review here). We are reunited with these characters along with Ali, Ty and Meg, the beautiful 'cousins', also known to destroy the lives of others because they are Furies. Beautiful girls who wreak havoc on those who have wronged someone. The wrath they dealt out continues when the new girl in town, Skylar becomes close friends with Meg. Skylar moves to Ascension to start her life again and make the...more Envy follows the lives of Em, Drea, JD and others from the first novel in this trilogy, Fury (my review here). We are reunited with these characters along with Ali, Ty and Meg, the beautiful 'cousins', also known to destroy the lives of others because they are Furies. Beautiful girls who wreak havoc on those who have wronged someone. The wrath they dealt out continues when the new girl in town, Skylar becomes close friends with Meg. Skylar moves to Ascension to start her life again and make the most of it. She had a tough life where she was always in the shadow of her sister and now she's ready to become popular and have people notice her. Skylar, being the new girl meets Gabby, the girl who is super nice to everyone and right away the click. They become good friends and Skylar is happy. That is until one of the Furies tries to ruin it all and put ideas into Skylar's head, that may change everything.
Envy is written so that each chapter focuses on a different social group per se, though the all overlap and intertwine. Em, from book #1 is trying her hardest to explain her situation with JD, whom she has finally admitted feelings for. But he feels betrayed and hurt and cannot fathom ever forgiving her for what he thinks happened. Meanwhile, Em is trying to put a stop to the Furies and finds out some things along the way that may or may not be the answer. And this new Crow character, there's something to him that I just cannot wait to read about in book #3. I'm eager to find out more about this mysterious high school drop out.
I really enjoyed Envy, more so than Fury. This book was written better with more character development and more depth. Overall, Envy was just more enjoyable. And I'm happy to see that we are getting some answers and some explanation with the history and background of these ladies who are out to get you. There was definitely a creepy feel to the book. Envy will seep into your mind and haunt you well into the night. It's just that kind of good!(less)

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Feb 17, 2013 Merin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mythology, read-in-2013

I am the first to admit that I'm a sucker for anything mentioning Greek Mythology retellings. As such, I dove into the first book of this series, Fury, and came away rather disappointed. Yes, I enjoyed it enough to read the second installment, but the book was really slow to develop and I very nearly put it down. I also really disliked Em quite a lot (her actions left a very bad taste in my mouth), which made reading a story from her point of view very difficult. I am happy to report, therefore,...more I am the first to admit that I'm a sucker for anything mentioning Greek Mythology retellings. As such, I dove into the first book of this series, Fury, and came away rather disappointed. Yes, I enjoyed it enough to read the second installment, but the book was really slow to develop and I very nearly put it down. I also really disliked Em quite a lot (her actions left a very bad taste in my mouth), which made reading a story from her point of view very difficult. I am happy to report, therefore, that the things I just mentioned as bothering me in the first book are nearly nonexistent in the second installment, and as such, I enjoyed this book much more than the first.

This book is very dependent on your reading Fury first, because there are several references throughout to things the reader learned in the first book, particularly when it comes to the name-dropping. So if you're going to read this one, you really do need to pick up Fury first. Whereas Fury took a very long time for things to really happen and develop, you're thrust pretty quickly into the action this time around, which definitely helped with the pacing. And while the actions of the Furies - and the person they target this time around - are borderline horrific and awful, there was a certain compulsion to the words and events that kept me eagerly turning pages (I essentially read the last 300 pages of this in one sitting), even when I was dismayed at what was going on. I so wanted to reach out and shake Skylar because she fell right into their trap; she wanted to be loved and accepted and surrounded by friends, and Meg knew exactly how to manipulate those feelings to their advantage. Her story arc was really terrible and I couldn't help but feel bad for her, even when she was making some truly terrible choices.

I also really loved that we FINALLY got some explanation about why the Furies are so focused on the small town of Ascension. That was my biggest question in the first book; why this small town? What was the lure? Now I know and I can't wait to see how things are going to shake out! And while I am not a fan of love triangles by any means, I kind of can't help but be curious about Em's ultimate decision between JD and Crow; while I loved JD in the first book, I wonder if things can be rectified in that regard, and can't help but feel that perhaps Crow is the better way to go for her. I will continue to not be "team anyone" though, and just see what happens in the end, because I really do like them both.

There was a turn of events at the end of Envy that I definitely did not see coming, which just makes me all the more excited to read the last book, Eternity, which I have to wait until September to read. September! How's that fair?

If you read Fury and liked it well enough, definitely give Envy a try. The faster pacing alone makes it a much more satisfying read, and while we're definitely given more questions and the book is basically just a set-up for the final installment, there was enough new information to keep the book from being overly frustrating. I can't wait to see what happens next!

***

To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

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Aug 18, 2012 Amber rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist, simon-schuster, arcs, books-i-own, reviews

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Envy mixes every deliciously bad thing that the girls in Mean Girls did to each other with supernatural beings hellbent on revenge, a girl hellbent on getting the supernatural out of her town and just a touch of the trainwreck known as Toddlers and Tiaras into one. And you know what? It really, really works!

I know that fury received a lot of mixed views. And it is the opinion of this blogger that it did because the characters were almost too flawed to like. Both Em and Chase screwed up royally i...more Envy mixes every deliciously bad thing that the girls in Mean Girls did to each other with supernatural beings hellbent on revenge, a girl hellbent on getting the supernatural out of her town and just a touch of the trainwreck known as Toddlers and Tiaras into one. And you know what? It really, really works!

I know that fury received a lot of mixed views. And it is the opinion of this blogger that it did because the characters were almost too flawed to like. Both Em and Chase screwed up royally in Fury and it was hard to figure out if you should be rooting for them or not. Luckily, Envy does not give the reader the same moral dilemma. Yes, some of the characters are clearly bad but I think they are sympathic enough to be likable and if you don't, at least they get what's coming to them.

Em is back but this time, she is on a holy mission and it is a good one. After dealing with the Furies in Fury, Em has no tolerance for their games in this one and she lets her intentions be known. I loved watching Em become a stronger character in her right and her journey to redeem herself (by kicking the Furies out of her home) is a pleasure to see unfold. You get a much more likable character because this one is all about Em caring for other people instead of solely for herself. That isn't to say that her mistakes of the past are gone and forgotten but she is really working to make up for them and it's nice to see that she is way more accepting of other people.

To replace Chase, we've got a character named Skylar. Even though I knew *spoiler highlight to read* she was going to be the Furies plaything in this book, I still find her a lot easier to identify with than Chase. I think it probably had something to do with her being a girl and just wanting to find a place to fit in. *end spoiler* It's in Skylar's chapters that we get an extra big does of the Mean Girl with a side of Toddlers and Tiaras. I liked how Skaylar constantly warred with herself about her feelings about Gabby. She wanted to love her and be her best friend so badly and sitting right next to that need was her intense jealousy because Gabby made it look easily. I really loved that the author made it a point for Gabby to tell Skylar that it was not easy for her, that she was so tired of working at it all the time, and then having Skylar still choose to believe that it was easy for Gabby. I think, in the end, Skylar's reasonings for doing the things she did made sense to me so it was hard to hate her. I mostly just felt pity.

Envy is fueled by a a diverse cast that wasn't so big as to make everyone feel like a stereotype but small enough to capture that small town feel. As in the last book, I really loved Gabby. It was nice to see a popular girl that was mostly nice to everyone. Gabby had a way of making the room light up and you felt that every time she was on the page. I also loved the addition of Crow. We'd heard about him in the first novel but it was cool to see Em hanging out with him and he really confused my feelings as to who Em should end up with. I loved her sweet charming best friend JD in the first book but Crow sort of took the place of JD in this novel. The nice thing is that Em still seems to know who she wants so it didn't feel like the stereotypical love triangle. I'm interested to see where his character is going in the future.

What I kept noticing about this book was just how good the writing was. Miles has a way of capture little sensations, of pointing out things in everyday life that are intangible or back music and bringing them into Envy to make it feel real. You'll notice that most of my favorite sentences are things that feel familiar but are never seen in novels like the idea of headlights punctuating a conversation in the car. So many times, I marveled at the words strewn togehter like perfectl ittle pearls on a necklace that brought home the mood. I read one review that said this book seemed more shallow than the last one and lacked the creepy factor of the first. I've got to completely disagree. I got chills every time the Furies decided to show their faces or laugh into the night. At one point, Em and Drea go into the woods and every hair on my neck stood straight up on edge. Envy is bursting with the creepy factor and I love how its sandwiched between the creampuff girlyness of Skylar and Gabby.

My only compliant would be that the plot felt a little straight forward. I guessed pretty early on what the big reveal was going to be with both girls which made the novel feel just a little long during some parts. However, I really enjoyed getting to the end and going on the journey with the characters even if I already knew how it was going to end.

If your looking for a read that one part creepy to every two parts Mean Girl than I think Envy is perfect. If you're having doubts because you didn't like the first one, I think you might want to consider Envy anyway because it has a very different tone than Fury and the characters are a little softer. I'm glad I took the berries with Em in Fury and came back to find out what they meant in Envy!(less)

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Aug 17, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, love-the-cover, arc, for-review, love-triangle, mythology, paranormal, paranormal-romance, review, urban-fantasy, young-adult, chic-lit

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

*A copy was provided by Simon Pulse for review purposes*

I have a policy that when I read the first book in a series and hate it, I always read the second book to give the author another try. That is what I did with this series. The first book, Fury , I didn’t care for at all, but this book was a huge improvement over it.

I think what made this book so much better than Fury was the fact that the story line was already established and explained. (view spoiler)...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Kaitlyn Francis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowing-from-sandy, x, ax, reviewed

Being tormented is hard enough, but losing your closest friends to a bunch of furies isn't really fare, for Emily just getting through the day without interruption is hard enough. Having to lie to friends close to you is hard to stomach, but when you add in the furies, if you cross them than its not only your life, but also theirs as well. Keeping her promise, Emily has not shared what she went through and how hard it was for her, even her friends are noticing that her behavior has changed. So w...more Being tormented is hard enough, but losing your closest friends to a bunch of furies isn't really fare, for Emily just getting through the day without interruption is hard enough. Having to lie to friends close to you is hard to stomach, but when you add in the furies, if you cross them than its not only your life, but also theirs as well. Keeping her promise, Emily has not shared what she went through and how hard it was for her, even her friends are noticing that her behavior has changed. So what is a girl to do but talk to the one who is likely to listen Drea.

Newcomer Skylar a typical sophmore who wants to fit in, but can't seem to forget her past as well. Coming to a small town and starting over is tough and with Skylar's mom in jail, getting away has never been easy. Because of what she desires she is met by a fury by the name of Meg who tries to help. But with that kind of help strings are always close by, Skylar doesn't see that her new found interest is hurting her as well as the town, she just wants attention. Can too much attention be to much for her or can it change her thinking forever.

In Envy, Miles gives us another fury, Meg who isn't quite like the others but in a way the same, gain trust than turn on that person. In the world with furies its hard not to think anyone can be a target and even though the three cousins seem nice and harmless they can turn a good day to anyone's nightmare. Emily of course has changed since Fury because she knows the moment she thinks of saying one thing, something happens like a warning that she can not tell anyone. With Drea's help she is able to have another perspective, and also someone who she can talk to about the tormentors. Everyone of course wants to be in spotlight but Skylar wanted more it seems, stealing to get inside was one warning that she was willing to whatever it took. So looking forward to the 3rd, and to see what else Emily has to go through to be able to be her again without having to look behind her back.

read it over here http://silenttbookblog.blogspot.com/2...(less)

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Jan 13, 2013 Giselle at Book Nerd Canada rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, from-publishers

Warning: if you haven't read Fury the first book, my review might contain minor spoilers.

Emily Winters is determined to bring the Furies down after they have created havoc on her life. She doesn't believe that JD has forgotten her so she does everything she can to make him see she cares about him and only him, but another boy has caught her interest, and things soon heat up. Then there's Skylar who is new to the school and wants to be popular no matter who stands in her way. What will the Furies...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Georgia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cannot-wait-to-read, obligation-to-read, weird-creatures

4.5 stars

I loved Envy! It was a very exciting story and there was never a dull moment. A close second to Fury, Envy was a perfect blend of mythology, romance, suspense and action. I loved every second!

It's almost spring in Ascension, and the Furies are back. After promising to leave her alone, Em thinks she's safe from the Furies, but she's wrong. She can feel them haunting her. She can feel something bad is about to happen. Something big, but she's not sure what. Why won't they just leave her...more

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Aug 05, 2012 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, paranormal, young-adult, for-review

Dangerous and seductive, 'Envy' was the perfect sequel to Elizabeth Miles's bestseller 'Fury'. With a cover which is equally entrancing, I adored this book and read it from cover to cover in one day.

Returning to the small town of Ascension, Em is struggling to cope after the events of the previous book. Still trying to find out more about The Furies and what they want, she also finds herself distanced from JD, the boy she loves.

Em's point of view is interspersed with that of a new girl, Skylar M...more

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Aug 12, 2012 J. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Envy picks up shortly after Fury ends, and we see Em having to deal with the aftermath of what the Furies did to her. She has to not only live with the guilt of her own actions, but she also has to live with the penalty they have inflicted - not being able to tell JD about what really happened, not knowing how to communicate the depth of her feelings in the midst of this huge misunderstanding. She's also making new friends, trying to get to the bottom of the Furies' origins with Drea, who has a...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Lára rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

I have to admit that the first time I started reading the Fury I gave up reading. It was kind of annoying but since I bought the book I eventually tried again and liked it. Envy was even better, so much better actually.

What I found extremely pleasing is the description of the so called "goths". Most of the authors have no idea what the dark wave and darkwavers are. Miles obviously have valuable informations or had actually done her homework and did some research. I am darkwaver and I have to sa...more

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Envy (The Fury Trilogy #2)

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