reviews
Jun 06, 2011
Ruhama
rated it: 
Zee has never quite fit in, so when she meets Relly, who never questions her name, she finally feels a connection with someone. The friendship deepens when she joins their band as the bass player, and Scorpion Bone starts rockin' the town. But things go a little deeper than the foursome's garage band (or attic, in this case), especially when Zee starts meeting a couple of other suspicious characters. Relly reveals that they are, in fact, gods, and she is the element of water. Now it makes sense
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Apr 18, 2009
Christine
rated it: 
I felt like this book really wasn't thought out. The idea of music and the immortal seems like a good idea in theory, but the author did nothing to explain why they're connected, or even show an instance where the two really had anything to do with...well, anything. A lot of the plot were "quick fixes," events that happened because they needed to, without any explanation. I also didn't really see a distinct beginning, middle and end. The whole story was a messy blur, and it wasn't u
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Apr 28, 2011
Rosalia
rated it: 
I picked this book up off the shelf over a month ago at this point. When I finally started it I couldn't entirely remember why I picked it up , but I know that I am happy that I did. When Zee starts her new school she can't find anyone who looks interesting until she meets Relly. Relly has his own band and needs a bassist and he thinks Zee is the perfect fit. The four play ghost metal a sound so big you can hear the silence in it. Then Zee finds out that there is more to Relly, herself and
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Oct 23, 2009
Hollowspine
rated it: 
A story about a teenage girl, Zee, who makes a new friend, one whom she finds both attractive and dangerous, and who introduces her to a secret world within the everyday world. In this hidden world she has mysterious elemental powers. But...with power...comes immense danger. It seems that the skeevy bio teacher is also more than he seems and he has it out for Zee and her new friends.
I found the book somewhat interesting. It had good ideas and some potential to develop into someth More...
I found the book somewhat interesting. It had good ideas and some potential to develop into someth More...
Jul 14, 2009
Nicole
rated it: 
So yeah, teenage metal band fights evil. *snort* Heck of a tag line.
I liked it, really it's more of a 3 1/2 star book.
Kinda stark on the prose, but most rock songs are, and I can dig it.
Zee plays bass, meets Relly at school - they instantly bond over being in the "parents who named us weird" club.
The creepy biology teacher hates them both, so they have more in common.
Zee joins Relly's band, Scorpio Bone.
Then it gets weird... like elemental magic we More...
I liked it, really it's more of a 3 1/2 star book.
Kinda stark on the prose, but most rock songs are, and I can dig it.
Zee plays bass, meets Relly at school - they instantly bond over being in the "parents who named us weird" club.
The creepy biology teacher hates them both, so they have more in common.
Zee joins Relly's band, Scorpio Bone.
Then it gets weird... like elemental magic we More...
Feb 14, 2011
Kaylee
rated it:
I want to say I actually liked this book... But I have grievances. You start with a loner, bass guitar girl and this crazy kid and some brand of music called "ghost metal". The other characters are interesting in their own right, and you get into the author's rhythm quite nicely. Then literally half way through the book, he smacks you over the head with one heck of a twist you never see coming. Twists are nice when they fit the first half. You have had clues, you kind of suspected it,
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Apr 12, 2010
WillowBe
rated it:
I'd really give this 3 and half stars. Great imagery and evocation of a place, time and feelings. But the world building was sparse, and I never really understood the magical powers or why they had them, and who knew about it etc. confusing. Also I didn't understand fully one of the key developments with the main charactar that made her so strong at the end nor did I like the major guilt trip laid on her. What was up with that? Sure, it saved the day, but still. I've never heard of an author app
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Jul 07, 2009
Mary
rated it:
Teenage heavy metal gods fighting evil.
This book rocks. I read it one afternoon and wished I'd stretched it out, because I was sorry it ended. This book was pretty much perfect, and I'm picky about my books.
I don't even know much about heavy metal, but I loved this book anyway. When the music plays in the book, you don't just see the band, you hear the music all around you, you feel the vibrations in the air, the bass shaking the floor under your feet, the steel string More...
This book rocks. I read it one afternoon and wished I'd stretched it out, because I was sorry it ended. This book was pretty much perfect, and I'm picky about my books.
I don't even know much about heavy metal, but I loved this book anyway. When the music plays in the book, you don't just see the band, you hear the music all around you, you feel the vibrations in the air, the bass shaking the floor under your feet, the steel string More...
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Nov 04, 2010
Crystal
rated it:
Beautiful City of the Dead is definitely one of the most wonderfully written books that I have ever read.
It combines two of my favourite things in the world: Heavy Metal and the Paranormal. I've never even heard of the two combined in a single storyline.
Leander Watts is a truly lyrical writer and I found the entire storyline to this masterpiece absolutely flawless. The references to bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath continued to further my engrossment in the book. Beautiful More...
It combines two of my favourite things in the world: Heavy Metal and the Paranormal. I've never even heard of the two combined in a single storyline.
Leander Watts is a truly lyrical writer and I found the entire storyline to this masterpiece absolutely flawless. The references to bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath continued to further my engrossment in the book. Beautiful More...
Oct 26, 2011
Christian
rated it:
I read this book when I was in Jr. High. I was really into starting my own rockband and I played the bass guitar, so I really resonated with Zee, the main character. She moves to a new school and her first day is really awkward and uncomfortable. She knows that she's different from other teenagers, and she sometimes creeps other people out. She makes a friend named Relly, and he is the guitarist in a band. He asks Zee to be the bassist for his band. His band plays experimental music that Relly c
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Jan 21, 2008
Huiling_mei
rated it:
This book by Leander Watts is about teens who aren't like any others, but teens with a life of music and magic. These four teens Jerod the god of wind, Butt the god of earth, Relly the god of fire, and Zee the goddess of water. Because they were different people looked at them differently and they were being chased for their powers by older gods with the same power. And they need Zee to make their group whole with the four elements. Besides this craziness they have another life, a life of m
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Dec 10, 2010
Sue
rated it:
quite a twist in this book! i started reading it at a students suggestion. i didn't realize it was set here in rochester until after i read about waterstreet, pittsford, and mount hope cemetery! i think that combined with the whole heavy metal rock thing might attract some of my students to this book - oh yeah and the mystical god thing going on too won't hurt.
Nov 29, 2010
Luz
rated it:
I liked it, but I felt like it could've had more. It's pretty short and when I read it (a couple years ago) it didn't take me long to finish.
I love how he combines music with elemental powers, but he doesn't explain much about the powers. And the ending could've been better if he'd explained some things.
I love how he combines music with elemental powers, but he doesn't explain much about the powers. And the ending could've been better if he'd explained some things.
Dec 28, 2010
Jamie
rated it:
This book was about a bassist who didn't fit in with any given group she was a loner and preffered to be on her own. Until one day she met a boy who wasn't necessarily the most popular boy in town. In fat he was hated by most, except for those who liked his music. His music was even critiscized because he tried making a genre of his own that being Ghost Metal. The final element that he needed in his band happened to be a bassist and guess what the main character was just who he needed. This bein
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May 22, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
Very confusing, but somehow kept my interest from the very first page to the last, leaving me breathless. If you like rock & roll, you may want to take a stab at reading this. Warning, though, it can be very confusing with the making of its own language, of a sort.
Jun 06, 2009
Raine
rated it:
This was a really good book. My mom bought it for me because I'm also a female bassist, and it's kind of Gothic looking... pretty much my style. So I gave it a chance and ended us loving it. :)
Nov 07, 2011
Valeri
rated it:
I read it about this about three years ago and completely adored it. Based on the memory I would give it 4 stars but since I can't really recall the plot, I'm going with 3.
Apr 06, 2008
ananka
rated it:
I enjoyed it, but there were a lot of unanswered questions and not much build up to the story.
Zee meets Relly one fatefull day on her way to school. She joins his band and and finds that she has joined a group of gods and that she is one herself. The goal is to have a group of 4, one of each element, to become whole. A rival group is trying to recruit her, but their ways are corrupt and they are evil and powerful old gods.
I think this book would appeal to teens who like More...
Zee meets Relly one fatefull day on her way to school. She joins his band and and finds that she has joined a group of gods and that she is one herself. The goal is to have a group of 4, one of each element, to become whole. A rival group is trying to recruit her, but their ways are corrupt and they are evil and powerful old gods.
I think this book would appeal to teens who like More...
Mar 29, 2010
CeCe
rated it:
This is a book that I picked up my freshman year of High School and I always go back to it whenever I run out of things to read. I simply love it!
Jul 13, 2009
Evelyn
rated it:
This book was sooo good! I love the mixture of elemental beings and hard-core screamo!!!!
Dec 23, 2011
IT SUCKED!!!WORST BOOK EVER!!!I would not recommen this book to anyone.IT truly is a waste of time.
I wish the author would have gone into more detail as to why the characters had the powers they had.
I wish the author would have gone into more detail as to why the characters had the powers they had.
Sep 30, 2008
Qi Wen
rated it:
A fiction that i did not know of before and is interesting because of it show another side of how teenager feels during that time.
It is a first person narration, is write from a teenage girl's perspective. Also all the lonely people come together that make a stronge team and help themselves grow. To gain confident from what them as a teenager has-their ability to become a band that make others favored their songs and way of playing the songs.
It is a first person narration, is write from a teenage girl's perspective. Also all the lonely people come together that make a stronge team and help themselves grow. To gain confident from what them as a teenager has-their ability to become a band that make others favored their songs and way of playing the songs.
Oct 19, 2010
Kerri
rated it:
Like the name of the band - "Scorpio Bone" this book is so unique. It is an intriguing, mysterious story filled with screaming music, human Gods, witchcraft, omens and curses all interwoven together into a small town setting creating a suspenseful quick read.
