Nightingale

Apr 15, 2013 Beanbag Love rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I bought this book when several authors launched a "book bomb" to support David Farland after his son was seriously injured in a skateboarding accident. That was the first time I'd ever heard of Farland, but it turns out he's a pillar of the community having mentored such luminaries as Brandon Sanderson.

This is YA Fantasy. Not my favorite genre. At. All. But I actually liked this story a lot. It's told in a mature way, even when the POV is from one of the featured teenagers. The world unfolds s...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-spec

The premise of this book was really interesting to me. Bron James has lived his entire life in the foster care system, being shunted from one home to another, while he slowly cuts himself off from caring about anyone else. Everything changes when his newest foster parent, Olivia, recognizes him as one of her own people. His heritage gives him superhuman abilities, but also places him, and everyone around him, in incredible danger.

Aside from the prologue--which I thought was way too spoileriffic...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Rachelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm always intrigued when an author can set a story in our world, but introduce a new species. So in Nightingale, we have this inter-weaving of humans and Bron, who is the Nightingale, a baby abandoned by its species and he has wicked awesome powers.
Farland has a gift when it comes to creating characters. Each one walks off the page. We know the main characters, but we can feel the secondary characters standing next to them. The plot line is engrossing and I was rooting for several of the chara...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Karleneb rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a difficult book to review and to rate. As far as the concept goes, it was really intriguing. I loved the concept of there being two separate races mixed in with the humans on earth--one being mostly good, the other mostly bad. And that they can mess with memories. And that there's a boy who has special powers that he doesn't yet know how to control. Totally cool. I want to read the next book. I'd give it a 4.

I know a lot of David Farland fans are raving over this book--and like I said,...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, supernatural, young-adult

I read the regular hardcover version of this book, not the enhanced one. I am intrigued by the enhanced one, though, because I think multimedia options for teens are a great idea - combining songs, videos, and print enrich the story. I liked the premise of the story, but the pacing felt a little "off" to me as well as the character development. The main character is Bron Jones, a teen who has been moved from foster home to foster home since he was a baby. In his latest foster home, he is finally...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Nightingale is an enhanced e-book which can be read on the Web or tablet device (such as an iPad). It combines print, music, and video clips into a visually and auditorily stunning work. Once you start Nightingale, you will not be able to put it down! We’re first introduced to Sommer and the mystery surrounding her missing memories and child. Both are very important….but why??

Years later we are introduced to Bron, a foster child whose life couldn’t possibly get worse at the hands of his foster m...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Mason rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-sf

I read the book in approximately two days. I haven't done that in years. I still love reading. I write my own stuff too, so I have to read fiction to keep up on my trade. However, I haven't had a book pick me up and become one I couldn't put down in years. I don't even think I had a single college text that engaged me this much. But, not many of my college text books dealt with topics like the following:

*Psionic Communication
*Identity of the Self
*Moral Obligation to Self and Society
*Immoral Acti

...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Paul Genesse rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was fortunate to get an advanced copy of the hardcover of Nightingale, written by New York Times bestselling author David Farland. I was very impressed Farland's first YA fantasy novel, and it has a great opening chapter, and definitely hooked me right way. After the prologue--which features a young woman named Sommer--the story centers around a 16-year-old outcast boy, Bron Jones. He has never fit in, and is stuck living in a terrible foster home with grotesquely fat woman who uses him as sla...more I was fortunate to get an advanced copy of the hardcover of Nightingale, written by New York Times bestselling author David Farland. I was very impressed Farland's first YA fantasy novel, and it has a great opening chapter, and definitely hooked me right way. After the prologue--which features a young woman named Sommer--the story centers around a 16-year-old outcast boy, Bron Jones. He has never fit in, and is stuck living in a terrible foster home with grotesquely fat woman who uses him as slave labor to take care of her house and her brood of children.

Bron seems to have nothing going for him, except he is an incredibly handsome young man, but he can't make friends because of his ragged clothing and the stigma of being a "foster kid." He's quite cold and distant, which seems to be from the treatment he received in the foster care system, which moved him around a lot and never let anyone really bond with him. The truth is more complex, and is buried very deeply and Bron is fascinating character.

Everything changes when Bron ends up with a new foster mother, a music teacher named Olivia Hernandez, and we find out that Bron is not who he thought he was. This is the main issue in the book: "who," or more precisely, "what" is Bron? We find out that his birth mother, Sommer, who is featured in the prologue, gave him up when he was an infant, and he is not like everyone else . . . (minor spoiler) because he is not human. He is one of the masaak, a species similar to humans, but more evolved. Bron has strange and terrible powers that are discovered by his new foster mother, who is like him, one of the masaak, but has far different abilities than he does. She is a "memory merchant" or a "Muse" and Bron turns out to be something extremely rare, which is why his father's hunters are after him, and why his presence endangers everyone around him--and puts one person in the hospital by mistake.

At first, when Bron moves in with his new foster mother, Olivia, he thinks that he's going to be just a regular kid in a high school for the performing arts, a real place in southern Utah called Tuacahn High School where he can learn to be a guitarist--one of his few dreams in life. He meets a girl, actually he meets two gorgeous girls, who vie for his affection, but when he is spotted by masaak hunters, (known as the Draghoul) his life is at stake, and the big mystery about who he really is becomes extremely important for his survival. His foster mother helps him as much as she can, and wants to save him from becoming a pawn of the Draghoul, and their adventure leads them down a dangerous road, where dating and the drama of high school seems fairly unimportant.

This book is definitely aimed at today's teens, primarily boys, but I think girls will enjoy this book as well. There are numerous references to current movies, music, and media that today's teens will be intimately familiar with. Somewhere in the first third of the book I started to feel like this novel was not the flavor of fiction that I liked best--as I'm no longer a teenager with raging hormones--but once the mystery of Bron started getting solved, and information was coming out about the masaak, and their powers, I was extremely interested again. The writing was solid the whole way though, but the drama of high school, first love, going to a new school, bullies, and the somewhat immature nature of teenagers clashed with where my sensibilities are at this stage of my life. I think also, I didn't want to remember how awful aspects of high school actually were. Poor Bron doesn't realize what his powers are doing to some of the people around him, and he causes havoc that he doesn't intend, making the high school experience even worse.

Even though I felt this book was aimed at the teen demographic, I was fascinated with the true nature of the masaak, and their role in shaping the world with their amazing powers. They go way back in history, and were instrumental in so many things, and learning the details of that was my favorite part. Toward the end of the novel, you get to learn a lot about the powers the masaak possess, and Bron comes into his own--though this is just the beginning.

Nightingale is Bron's origin story, and creates a dark shadow world, where factions of super-humans war for the future of the planet. Bron's lineage has given him rare powers and the choices he makes might alter the course of history. The awesome ending was a huge payoff, and this series is just getting started. I blasted through Nightingale in two days, and whenever I wasn't reading it, I wanted to be reading it. I can't wait for the next book, Dream Assassin.

Highly recommended for teens and fans of Twilight and The Hunger Games

Paul Genesse
Author of the Iron Dragon Series and Editor of the Crimson Pact Series (less)

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Mar 15, 2012 Cait rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews, fantasy, received-for-review, arcs

NIGHTINGALE by David Farland is an intriguing fantasy novel presented in a very unique package – an enhanced e-book, with pictures, animations, music, video interviews with the author and more. My review will of the story itself goes along with my 3 heart rating. I’ll talk about the presentation of the story at the bottom, since I feel the format needs to be mentioned.

Our main narrator is Bron Jones, a foster kid who’s been shuffled through the system into increasingly unsuitable home situations...more NIGHTINGALE by David Farland is an intriguing fantasy novel presented in a very unique package – an enhanced e-book, with pictures, animations, music, video interviews with the author and more. My review will of the story itself goes along with my 3 heart rating. I’ll talk about the presentation of the story at the bottom, since I feel the format needs to be mentioned.

Our main narrator is Bron Jones, a foster kid who’s been shuffled through the system into increasingly unsuitable home situations. But it’s not until he comes to live with Olivia that his entire world changes, and not really for the better. Bron is a masaak – not human, he has powers available to him that he can only begin to control. When he stumbles across others like him, Bron and Olivia are in a race against time to hide their whereabouts and discover just who Bron really is, and what he can do. The chapters alternate between Bron, Olivia and a few other characters. The ones narrated by a character other than Bron tend on the shorter side and give glimpses into how Bron’s presence is affecting those people around him.

I found it difficult to connect with the characters in NIGHTINGALE. Bron is very hard to pin down, and though we see most of the story through his eyes you’re never quite sure of his motivations or mindset. Olivia does what she thinks is right, and the best course of action, but I think she’s in over her head and making decisions for Bron that may backfire when he finds out the extent of her ‘helping’. The two female characters that are, of course, immediately in like with Bron are just that – in like with Bron. There’s a sinister male classmate, Bron’s father and mother and a few more characters who advance the plot and are probably important down the road. I enjoyed the story but felt some parts were a little rushed, or missing details that would have given a better picture of some events. A few of the details about masaaks, their powers and such were a bit confusing. I definitely enjoyed the story and want to see where it goes – especially with Bron, since he seems to be something new to the masaak groups (Aels and Draghouls) – but it didn’t suck me in and keep me hooked from page to page, and the ending was a bit too abrupt for my tastes. I’m thinking the sequels will delve more into Bron and his decisions regarding the two factions of masaaks and the main villains big plans.

I think NIGHTINGALE has a strong young adult/adult crossover appeal, and that the enhanced web/iPad version of the book is amazing – but not the best for my reading experience. I don’t own an iPad, so had to read the web version. Which means that I had to wait until when I had long enough moments to sit in front of my computer to read it. I really loved the chapter heading illustrations, music and animations and then the fact that the rest of the chapter was regular e-book. The videos from David Farland were informative, as were the highlighted words or sentences throughout the story that could be clicked on to provide information from the author about why that particular word or phrase or thing is in the book – but they could be distracting and break the flow of reading. Eventually I just stopped clicking and kept reading. Also, by about half way around the book, the chapter headings were just blank white pages with a quote. This may be because I was reading an advance view of the book, but it left me unable to fully appreciate the media aspect of the story.

Although I did not connect with the characters as much as I would have liked, and the format of the story was not my favourite (I still prefer traditional print over e-books), NIGHTINGALE by David Farland is a fairly solid fantasy that I think will appeal to fans of Davids other work and those who enjoy a fast-paced, detailed fantasy world.

Originally posted at Escape Through the Pages with the same rating.(less)

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Mar 04, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bron Jones was abandoned as a newborn. Thrown into foster care,he is rejected by one family after another, until he meets Olivia, a gifted and devoted high-school teacher who recognizes him for what he really is--what her people call a "nightingale".
But Bron isn't ready to learn the truth. There are secrets that have been hidden from mankind for hundreds of thousands of years, secrets that should remain hidden. Some things are too dangerous to know.
Bron's secret may be the most dangerous of all....more

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Mar 03, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was contacted by the publishing company and asked if I would like to review this book. It was sold to me as "an enhanced novel with more than a hundred full-color illustrations and animations; author’s notes and interviews; and its own 45-minute soundtrack. It is being hailed as the "first rock opera of novels," because it combines many types of art and technology, performing together." I thought, that sounds really cool, I can't say no to that, my mind is just too curious. So I accepted the r...more I was contacted by the publishing company and asked if I would like to review this book. It was sold to me as "an enhanced novel with more than a hundred full-color illustrations and animations; author’s notes and interviews; and its own 45-minute soundtrack. It is being hailed as the "first rock opera of novels," because it combines many types of art and technology, performing together." I thought, that sounds really cool, I can't say no to that, my mind is just too curious. So I accepted the review. I was given a special code to access this 'enhanced' novel online.
When I first loaded it I was surprised, I got a full colour cover with some eerie music playing on it and I was quite excited. You then get a page of illustrations and then a page with songs on, you can click on a title and it will play, cool right?
Anyway I started to read, the prologue starts with a page of illustrations and some moving images, music, sound effects and a short introduction it looks incredible! Then you turn the page and it becomes an ordinary e-book.
Let's leave the awesome effects alone for a minute, the story itself was very gripping to start with, you get introduced to Bron and some of his past and start to feel a connection to him. You know he isn't all he seems but you can't figure out why. I like Olivia - Bron's foster mother, she seems quite cool and introduces a whole new world to him.
I got a little bit annoyed as I went through the book with girls throwing themselves at Bron, practically every girl that sees him drools. Despite popular belief that is not all that girls think about.
The story does progress at a good pace and there is a mix of adventure, mystery and a bit of what you could call magic, the character development is good and I really felt like Bron was changing as he learned more.
There is good graphics and music at the start of each chapter for quite a few, but towards the last third of the book, it's all stopped, just a simple title heading and a quote on a white page, it felt a bit like they had run out of steam. After being so impressive it went completely plain. It's not a big issue and ultimately didn't hurt my reading experience, it just seemed a little odd.
Throughout the book words or phrases would be highlighted, clicking on these would bring a small box up containing the authors thought or experience whilst he was writing the book. These were quite interesting to read but I also felt that it really slowed down the pace of the book, as I would be in the flow of reading and then get distracted and stop to read these anecdotes. As the novel went on I found myself just ignoring them.
I didn't get anymore music, pictures or sound effects the further I went into the novel and I'm not sure if that was how it was supposed to be or if my computer didn't load it properly, I don't know, but to be honest I didn't miss it that much. In fact I was secretly pleased as it meant I could move on through the book faster. At 424 pages this book is quite long and as I take a very long time to read e-books anyway this one did take me longer than usual. In fact I had it for a couple of months as I kept looking at other things or not making time for this. (Sorry to the publishers and David for the delay)
Overall the actual story itself was very good although I felt it got a little silly towards the end, there seems to be a little bit of a trend at the moment to introduce Lucifer or Satan as the villain in the book, I don't know why, it seems a little bit silly to me and also like they couldn't come up with their own villain and so have fallen back on this one, and I didn't quite believe it, but up to about 380 pages I did rather enjoy it.
If I was buying it I will admit that I would go for the ordinary version instead of the enhanced, for me it didn't wow me, others may think it incredible, but I just want to read the book, that's all, my imagination is strong enough to create the world and feel for myself.

I was glad I tried it though, it was very different. I just wasn't wowed as much as I thought I would be.

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Jan 04, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Strap yourself in my friends, you're in for a wild ride! Nightingale is the whole package. Bron Jones is an orphan. Shipped from home to home over the years, he's never quite figured out what it is about him that is different. Try as he might he just doesn't seem to fit in with any family. Is it just bad luck, or is it fate? Bron's character isn't a confident one, he isn't comfortable in his own skin, at least not at the beginning. After so much heartache and disappointment, he's still managed t...more Strap yourself in my friends, you're in for a wild ride! Nightingale is the whole package. Bron Jones is an orphan. Shipped from home to home over the years, he's never quite figured out what it is about him that is different. Try as he might he just doesn't seem to fit in with any family. Is it just bad luck, or is it fate? Bron's character isn't a confident one, he isn't comfortable in his own skin, at least not at the beginning. After so much heartache and disappointment, he's still managed to become a caring and sweet individual which really endeared me to him. There's a lot of hurt hiding there, but a lot of strength too.

Every character in this story, from those that steal the center stage for a bit to the more supporting ones, is extremely well written. David Farland shows his expertise at creating characters who are vivid and believable. There honestly wasn't a moment while I was reading that I wasn't fully immersed in the story. I cared about these characters. I loved, I loathed, I shivered with disgust. The evil and the good, it all bleeds off the page and into your heart. It was almost as if I was watching a movie unfold in front of me except, in this case, it was all happening in my mind as I read the words on the page. If you are a reader who craves character development, welcome to your Eden.

Nightingale just further proves to me why David Farland is considered to be a master of this genre. Bron's story navigates all types of twists and turns, and there is so much to fall in love with in every chapter. Perfectly paced, this is the type of book that will keep you reading fervently until the very end. Add in the stunning enhancements that the book provides to the readers, and this isn't just a story, it's an experience. Each chapter has it's own graphic novel page with moving characters, sound effects, and even a music track that fits the tone of where the story is going. I found myself excited to start a new chapter, just to get a glimpse at what was going to happen next.

Even without all the bells and whistles that Nightingale hides within its pages, I can assure you that this is one hell of a story. The animated pages at the beginning of each chapter were amazing. The music that fit just perfectly with that particular chapter drew you in. However when it comes right down to it, David Farland's uncanny ability to write an engrossing story is really what really brings it all home. I can promise you that Nightingale is unlike anything you've ever read or experienced before. It's an all encompassing, immersive experience that will draw you in and make you forget reality. If you aren't a David Farland fan yet, you will be. You will be.(less)

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Dec 03, 2011 Denae rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-present-day

This sounds like it would be a great book for boys. Or girls who are more into boys. Honestly, though, I felt annoyed with all the teens in the book. I never obsessed over needing all the newest things (too materialistic), never obsessed over "being really cool" (I'd rather be smart), and NEVER obsessed over boys' lips (gross). Why do all the girls throw themselves at Bron? Almost the first 3 teenage girls he meets want to make out with him and date him. They keep talking about how "hot" he is....more This sounds like it would be a great book for boys. Or girls who are more into boys. Honestly, though, I felt annoyed with all the teens in the book. I never obsessed over needing all the newest things (too materialistic), never obsessed over "being really cool" (I'd rather be smart), and NEVER obsessed over boys' lips (gross). Why do all the girls throw themselves at Bron? Almost the first 3 teenage girls he meets want to make out with him and date him. They keep talking about how "hot" he is. Even Whitney, who talks to him about music, is regularly kissing him within three days of meeting him. That just seems shallow, on both their parts. Doesn't he want to make any real friends? With guys maybe (insulting/talking to Whitney's former jerk boyfriend doesn't count)? And WHY does he have to think lustful thoughts about nearly every girl he meets? Granted, I've never been a teenage guy, but the book doesn't have to include those sort of details. So, I felt completely disconnected from Bron, and I didn't relate to any of the girls his age. I mostly liked his foster mother, although there were parts where I felt like she was trying to act like a teenager, which was weird.
Ok, rant over.
The rest of the book was great, and the whole "stupid teenage romance thing" wasn't a main part. The sizrael things are ugly, but I'm trying to get past that.
The magic was just right. Powerful enough to make a difference, not so powerful that they couldn't get into trouble. Bron was special, but not astronomically more powerful than everyone else, which was also well done.
The bad guys were pretty believable and cunning and tricky. Yet, I would've thought them easily defeated if not for the epilogue, which was a great ending. I do wish there were more good guys for Bron to interact with, since he's too much of a loner (aside from the time he spends kissing).
The right number of people died, and in the right ways (tragically, heroically).
The school was well done, though, and I liked how active everyone seemed to be, joining all these clubs and doing all these performances and practices, and it was only the first week. (I liked how Bron didn't get invited to an underage drinking party, which happens in a lot of stupid highschool books; those scenes are unnecessary, only showing how dumb all the characters are.)
So, the writing was brilliant, and the plot was great, and the magic systems is well thought out, and I have hopes for the characters, even if I don't much care for them now.(less)

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Nov 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

My First Impressions: I was approached by a publicist from the new publishing company East India Press, and I was asked to take a look at this new book, Nightingale. It's an enhanced ebook edition that can be used on the Web or on iPad. I had NO idea what any of that meant until I spoke more with the publicist and started to read the novel. As all of my readers know, it's usually my husband's job to do the reviews for ebooks. I typ...more See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

My First Impressions: I was approached by a publicist from the new publishing company East India Press, and I was asked to take a look at this new book, Nightingale. It's an enhanced ebook edition that can be used on the Web or on iPad. I had NO idea what any of that meant until I spoke more with the publicist and started to read the novel. As all of my readers know, it's usually my husband's job to do the reviews for ebooks. I typically don't enjoy ebooks as much as I do print. It's just a matter of preference. I like the feeling of a book in my hands. But, this idea of an enhanced ebook novel sounded really clever, so I agreed to check it out.

My Review: Right from the start, there is immediate action and suspense. I was hooked right from the start. Sommer is a strong female character, which it one of the many reasons why I adored this novel. She knows how to defend herself and she doesn’t need to be saved. Sommer has a great mystery to unravel in the very beginning, with the loss of her memory of a very important event that she cannot recall. She has a missing child, her child, who for some reason seems to be very important. Adel Todestall is the head of a man that had kept Sommer captive for many years, Lucius, a wicked being. In order for Sommer to save her sisters lives, she has to find the child. But for what reason? Well, that’s the mystery.

Fast Forward quite a few years and we meet Bron, a young boy who is in foster care with Melvina. He’s been bounced from home to home and doesn’t quite know his place in the world. Pretty much anywhere would be better than living with Melvina, who uses Bron much like a slave and only keeps him around for the payments she receives. Bron is accused of stealing peaches and gets kicked out of his current home and is picked up by his caseworker. In less than an hour, he will have a new family, a new city, and a new home, with hopes that everything new will be better than the old.

Olivia Hernandaz, Bron’s new foster mother, gives us readers more insight into Bron’s background. Some of the events he had to endure as a small child were absolutely horrible. She seemed to be a nice lady who sincerely wanted to make Bron’s life take a turn for the better. She seemed a tad bit eccentric, but good of heart as she tries to make Bron feel welcome to his new life. Olivia decided withen minutes that she would like to adopt Bron, even though the consequences could be enormous. She could be killed for what she is going to do. Bron on the other hand, seems almost confused at all of this newfound good behavior from his adoptive mother. To him, it almost seems too good to be true and he awaits the days when Olivia decided she no longer wants him.

Olivia to me felt more like a best friend then a mother. Yes, she was caring and protective of Bron, but she did some odd things with Bron that seemed more friendly than motherly. I really enjoyed her character though. She was very unique in her own way. She goes on a shopping spree to buy all of the things that will make Bron “a cool teenager,” and at a stop to pick up some electronics, danger awaits.

I don’t want to give away any more spoilers but what follows is a gripping story into Bron’s past and the uncovering of secrets and mysteries that have never before been told. I devoured this entire book in just a couple of hours, and for once I could not walk away from my laptop. The story is extremely intriguing and I just had to keep going to find out what would happen next. This E-book even has its very own soundtrack which is pretty cool!

Everything flowed so easily. The fantastic writing, the pace, and the word-smithing were simply spot-on. It felt like I was experiencing the book, not just reading it. So many digital pages had music and small clip- its of comic-like motion images that really enhanced the reading process. Throughout the text, there are links with Author’s Notes which gives the reader a little more insight into certain phrases or current events, or just the author’s thoughts on whatever is going on. There are also short videos with the author which I found really interesting. It definitely was a completely new experience for me to dive into!

My Final Thoughts: This book ends with a cliff-hanger that made me want to pull out all of my hair. Oh yeah, I became completely attached! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series, Dream Assassin! I hope it won’t be too long before its release because I simply do not know how much patience I am going to be able to have.

I am SO glad I gave this a try. It really surprised me! I highly, highly suggest giving this book a try when it is release. I cannot emphasize enough just how good this story is! It’s creative, imaginative, and the most unique book I have read this entire year, hands-down!(less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love supernatural YA mysteries, and when I picked this up, I was expecting a certain formulaic narrative--young person living in contemporary US, mistreated, finds out he has a special something, and then goes on a quest. Done.

Well, I am delighted to say that this book does not follow that story arc. Indeed, the juxtaposition between contemporary US and the way the protagonist, Bron, and people like him experience the world is extremely dramatic, and Farland is a master at having these two wor...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Seawood rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-book-challenge, fantasy, fiction, kindle, young-adult

I really wanted to like this more than I did. The first few chapters are fantastic, I really got pulled in, but as the storyline developed I found myself saying "Eh? But..." quite a lot. I appreciate that Bron is, in D&D terminology, a "True Neutral" character, and that's both interesting and hard to deal with as a writer. But I found the infodumping really jumpy and scattered, with many of the secondary characters no more than paper people against a pretty backcloth setting. There are plot...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Aimee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just have to say first that this whole multi media enhanced book idea is awesome. I love it. The animations, the links, the author tidbits, and the music along with the book just moves this into a whole new world. Wowza. I wish I could have read the whole book in this enhanced version but alas, I don't have an Ipad. Yet.

As for the actual book, I really enjoyed it. It was fast paced and kept my attention throughout the book. The characters are interesting and I could easily picture them in my...more

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May 11, 2013 Noor Jahangir rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tale, urban-fantasy, fantasy

Nightingale is the first in a series of urban fantasy books by David Farland, bestselling author of the Runelord fantasy series and mentor to a whole new generation of bestselling genre writers. Nightingale is about a changeling boy named Bron Jones who has been raised through the social welfare system, bouncing from one family to another, rarely finding a place where he fits or is welcome. But then he meets Olivia Hernandez, a teacher in a performing arts school who is hiding a secret that will...more Nightingale is the first in a series of urban fantasy books by David Farland, bestselling author of the Runelord fantasy series and mentor to a whole new generation of bestselling genre writers. Nightingale is about a changeling boy named Bron Jones who has been raised through the social welfare system, bouncing from one family to another, rarely finding a place where he fits or is welcome. But then he meets Olivia Hernandez, a teacher in a performing arts school who is hiding a secret that will prove to be the key to Bron's own past. Suddenly, Bron learns that the world is a lot bigger than he could ever have imagined and that he is the heir to the most powerful and evil being in the world; a fact that threatens his hope of ever having a normal life.
Its hard to critique the work of a man who has taught some of the biggest names in genre fiction how to write and can count thousands of writers as his students. I read an early draft of this book and found myself blown away by how gripping and near perfection it already was. When I picked up the finished version during the book-bomb effort to raise money for the Wolverton's son, I had no idea that I would find this book as compelling the second time around too. The plot is as perfectly balanced as a samurai sword, arranged with the control of a great composer and realised like a fine painting.
The characterization is handled so well that I would have happily have continued reading this book, even if nothing fantastical happened, and even if the plot didn't take a turn down a darker road. As a reader, it would be easy just to give this book five stars, and compared to many of the other books I've reviewed, this book is a five star read.
So why didn't I give it five stars? If anything, its because this book is almost too perfect, too well-crafted, like a finely engineered sports car that seems to have lost the spark of fun and passion that gives it character. Perhaps its because as a writer myself and a student of David Farland, I can see the various influences (Twilight, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Immortal Instruments), brought together and woven into a single tapestry, or perhaps I miss the clean and simplicity of the early draft I read, or more likely, my expectations of this book were much higher than is fair.
One thing is for certain, this series is definitely one of the best YA series out there, and will no doubt be made into a blockbuster series of films. Buy it, read it and despair of ever matching it.(less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Ali Cross rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

I love twists on angels and demons and NIGHTINGALE is about as unique as they come. I'm totally blown away by Mr. Farland's creativity on this one!

I found this story to be a great page-turner, taking me on a journey that was completely new, and wholly believable. It could almost make me rethink what I believe about the world!

The only thing that brought this book down a notch in my estimation was the main character's lack of humanity. Now, there's very good reason for his coldness--one very human...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Andy Angel rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. Didn't think I would at first (it sounded a bit "Twilight meets Glee") but on starting it I was, thankfully proved wrong.
The action starts from the get-go and never really lets up till the very last word.
The "Nightingale" of the title is Bron, a 16 year old in care after being abandoned as a baby. He is moved from home to home never really settling. On being moved on from his latest home, he is passed into the care of Olivia who finds that, like herself, Bron is a mem...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Dave rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really wanted to love this book. Dave is a friend and mentor and he had talked up the cool aspects of the interactive version. I read the web version, and I must say that the technology just isn't there yet. The story was pretty good, but felt forced. There was too much stuff packed in such a small package. Also, I felt the "magic" system didn't work for me. Any group that had been around as long as this one supposedly had would have more sophisticated ways of countering the downside to their...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Julianna Helms rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-arc, e-stuff

**Thank you to East India Press for sending me a complimentary copy of this novel. This does not, in anyway, influence my opinion.**

3.5 stars

Original is here. (Note: Due to copy-and-paste, links and formatting has been lost.)

Nightingale will change your perspective on the reading world. Buried inside the pages of this enhanced novel is the story of a boy, a legend, a destiny, and plenty of secrets that will keep you addicted.

I enjoyed Nightingale. It's a story with tons of history that adds up...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Sheri rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Sheri by: I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

A world within a world and a boy striving to do what was right despite the odds.

Bron was immediately easy to fall for. A victim of the System, he'd been bounced from one foster home to the next with no advocate really watching out for him and his best interests. The story opened with him in one of those less-than-fortunate situations, which sent the images of a male Cinderella to my mind. Emotionally battered, yet a strong will to survive, his plight was one many can connect with. Like most teen...more A world within a world and a boy striving to do what was right despite the odds.

Bron was immediately easy to fall for. A victim of the System, he'd been bounced from one foster home to the next with no advocate really watching out for him and his best interests. The story opened with him in one of those less-than-fortunate situations, which sent the images of a male Cinderella to my mind. Emotionally battered, yet a strong will to survive, his plight was one many can connect with. Like most teens, Bron felt different. And he really was.

The mystery of Bron's tale soon took him to yet another 'foster' situation. However, this time was a move of fortune - a window into his real identity and a provided him with a guide to show him the way. The setting was interesting: a school focused on kids with creative talents such as artists or musicians. From this world building, Farland thrust the reader into Bron's first of many threats that could cost him his new found home - which he actually liked.

Another race living among the human race was clean and probable. Good verses Evil bled through the hidden race as well as between that race and humans. Basically, there was plenty of 'bad.' The concept of implanting memories and/or erasing them was intriguing. I won't say that I bought every explanation of the process throughout the book, but it was thought-provoking.

At one point, the story took a turn, refreshing the reader with a loving and self-examining tone. With all this memory swapping, implanting, and altering, it had to be difficult to figure out what one believed and who could be trusted - just as in real life: What really makes a person behave the way they do? Could more hope, love, or courage change their behavior?

At the climax, Bron was wedged between good and evil again, but more than that, he was forced to confront the inner battle of right and wrong within him.

As expected, the writing flowed and engaged me. Crumbs of information lay scattered amid the words with each turn of the page. Strategic places, teasing the reader. There was no doubt - Farland could tell a story. Though Bron was surely the main character, I enjoyed seeing his development through Olivia's (his new step-mom) eyes.

I'd have to say my only frown upon the book was the pacing. At times, the story lagged, almost seeming like information dumps, even during a few sections of dialog; felt too convenient. But in Farland's defense, he definitely had a ton of information to feed to the reader.

I would recommend this book to any tween/teen/adult with a passion for reading longer novels consisting of strong world building and characters. Check it out.(less)

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Nov 07, 2011 Mary Gray rated it 4 of 5 stars

Once again, Farland proves a great mind. This is a book so large in scope it will appeal to many audiences as he tells the story from several points of view varying in age and gender. But the protagonist is a male teen, so I think this book will appeal to teen boys the most. The world is rich in description, the fantasy elements well flushed out, and I especially loved the artwork and quotes at the beginnings of the chapters. As with Farland's other books, the three-quarters mark was when the st...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Barry rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just read Nightingale, which turns our world and the world of urban fantasy on its head. I didn't know what to make of the main character at first, but then again Bron doesn't know what to make of himself. He's been adrift in foster care for a long time. Then everything changes - really fast as Bron begins to learn the truth about himself and that humans aren't alone in our world. Nightingale is Dave Farland's first Young Adult novel and this is the first book in what looks to me to be a serie...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Christian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Mostly I find myself disappointed with this novel. The writing was rather shallow. Character descriptions and motivations are typically glossed, as is the action. (The one element of character description that was not shallow was Farland's obsession with women's breasts. I would be hard pressed to give you a physical description of any of the male characters in this book, but I could go bra shopping for every single one of the female characters, no matter how inconsequential she is to the plot.)...more Mostly I find myself disappointed with this novel. The writing was rather shallow. Character descriptions and motivations are typically glossed, as is the action. (The one element of character description that was not shallow was Farland's obsession with women's breasts. I would be hard pressed to give you a physical description of any of the male characters in this book, but I could go bra shopping for every single one of the female characters, no matter how inconsequential she is to the plot.)

In my experience with Farland's writing, I find that he has fascinating plot and world creation ideas but seems to fail on delivery.

My disappointment with the story was compounded by my disappointment with its presentation. I got this book because it was being extolled for all its interactive ebook features. I like the idea of beginning each chapter with the graphic novel style, except that this had a tendency to spoil the main plot point for that chapter. If this were truly an innovative use of an ebook's capabilities, the graphic portion would actually tell that part of the story where it's placed.

The music at the beginning and ends of the chapters was interesting, but I'm not sure if it set the mood as much as was hoped.

The popup boxes were generally an utter waste. Half of them gave information that was brought into the narrative a few chapters anyway. And the other tidbits seemed to be authorial ego stroking more than anything else. I'm not sure a reader cares that such and such character was named after this person or the other. The links and popups ought to be used to enhance the reading experience by providing information that isn't essential to the story but that helps the reader experience it more fully, almost as if the reader were getting a Wikipedia snapshot on a historical character or even a picture.

Aside from the interactive elements not actually contributing to the reading experience, I'm also a bit upset that they're not even complete. I assume they'll become available and that my version will be updated, but I'm not going to read the book again or go back to see the illustrations.
(less)

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Apr 15, 2013 Christine Rowe rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I got really excited about this book at first as I was reading it, but towards the end felt a little disappointed with how everything turned out. Loved the little quotes foreshadowing future events, but some of it was a tad anticlimactic. Also wasn't crazy about the romance with zero buildup or the fact that the mc sways so much between sociopathic and normal. Despite all this I did enjoy the book and got through it in just a couple of days. Couldn't put it down. Might improve on reading again....more

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Apr 14, 2013 Dona Watson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nightingale was an amazing book! I couldn't read it fast enough. I just wish that the next book, Dream Assassin, was already out! I purchased the eBook as part of a book bomb to help pay for the author's (David Farland) son's medical bills and since Farland had already been on my list of authors I wanted to read, I decided to read it as soon as it downloaded to my e-reader. I wasn't disappointed. I don't say this lightly but this is probably the best YA book I've ever read. I can certainly under...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Brian Lee rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review is for the hardcover. Not the enhanced ebook. Dave is a longtime friend and fellow Writers of the Future alumn. Bought this at his recent booksigning in SLC. Read it in two nights. This book is for young adults. And i dont read much young adult fiction (harry potter, hunger games is about it). But I did like this. And I liked that Dave wasn't afraid to juggle a lot of characters and place them in real world situations--even though this is ultimatly a supernatural thriller of sorts. E...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Jennie added it · review of another edition

I'm not sure I should assign stars to this one. I read very little fantasy or YA and I'm not sure I'm qualified to critique this type of book. I find it annoying when someone rates a book low just because it's not a genre they personally like. I found the technical details poor and it appeared there were some plot holes, but it might just be that this isn't my kind of book. I've read other work by Farland and admired his ability to tell a story. I can't recommend this book, but if asked I'd say...more

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