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Another Faust (Another #1)

by Daniel Nayeri, Dina Nayeri, Katherine Kellgren (Goodreads Author) (Narrator)

3.13 of 5 stars 3.13 · rating details · 2,172 ratings · 406 reviews

One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish - only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and
elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary “gifts.”

But as the students claw thei...more

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Dec 13, 2009 Rose rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is hard to get into. The first chapters are supposed to be mysterious, but end up just obscuring the truly fascinating mystery readers discover if they keep on.

The writing reminds me of my junior high school literary journal. The Nayeris describe and describe. They tell about their story, rather than telling their story.

The premise is so-so. Five Faustian teenagers in modern NY society? Eh. As urban fantasy goes, that's pretty lame. It's hardly fantastic that the people of high socie...more This book is hard to get into. The first chapters are supposed to be mysterious, but end up just obscuring the truly fascinating mystery readers discover if they keep on.

The writing reminds me of my junior high school literary journal. The Nayeris describe and describe. They tell about their story, rather than telling their story.

The premise is so-so. Five Faustian teenagers in modern NY society? Eh. As urban fantasy goes, that's pretty lame. It's hardly fantastic that the people of high society have failed to remain in possession of their souls.

What's redeeming about this book is the question it asks about parenting and free will. Four ten-year-olds from all over the world beg to make a deal with the devil: anything for power, anything for wealth, anything for beauty, for charisma. The devil comes along, kidnaps them to raise as her own, and grants their wishes. One child tries to back out when he realizes what's going on. Another child brings along an innocent twin. The devil keeps the two who have not made this deal, raising them with the three who have. She gives the innocent two as well as the swindling three what they have been or might be willing to trade their souls for. Who will end up damned? Who will escape the devil?

Sadly, the ending did not have such a satisfying psychological ring as the build-up. At the point when I expected to be almost part of the characters, rushing through their emergency with them, I felt confused and awkward because they weren't being themselves, and with no explanations. They became plastic people manipulated to ensure there could be a resolution to the story. It was disappointing after I had stuck it out with this book.

I'm not going to pass this on to my kids. As much as I love an opportunity to make them aware of their lack of folkloric knowledge and thereby provoke an urge to bury their noses in old books, I can't see them doing well with this title. The nine-year-old will worry that her failure to find a sensible climax is her fault; the twelve-year-old will be frustrated that he spent reading time on this when he could have been writing his own Faustian characters. (less)

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Oct 14, 2009 Nely rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

I really tried to love this book. I read some stellar reviews and was super excited, headed out to my local bookstore and picked up a copy the day it came out - but sadly it fell flat for me.

I loved the idea of this book. The premise was fantastic - kids selling their souls to the devil in exchange for being beautiful, popular, intelligent, etc. But in the end, I just couldn’t relate to any of them. Don’t take me wrong, I once also dreamed of being the most beautiful girl in a room or excelling...more

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Aug 27, 2009 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an interesting read to say the least. I wasn’t aware when I first found the title was that the title was an extension of “Faustian bargains” or what I’ve always known it as– selling your soul to the devil. Perhaps I was alone in this revelation. I’ve seen it portrayed in literature and movies before, but this was an altogether take, which was refreshing.

I enjoyed the overall story, the manipulations, the deceit, the jealousy, makes you feel all warm in fuzzy inside to know what humans a...more

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Jan 13, 2010 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who often wonder, "What if?"

I have to say that this book was one of my favorites of 2009.

If this book were to be classified as horror, I believe that would be apt. In the vein of Frankenstein or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, at times this story gave me goose bumps -- the mark of a truly scary tale that, more than horrifying you with blood and gore, makes you think, "What if?". The "what if" here has to do with souls and what it would mean to sell your soul to the devil.

Based on the tale of Dr. Faustus (the title is very clear o...more I have to say that this book was one of my favorites of 2009.

If this book were to be classified as horror, I believe that would be apt. In the vein of Frankenstein or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, at times this story gave me goose bumps -- the mark of a truly scary tale that, more than horrifying you with blood and gore, makes you think, "What if?". The "what if" here has to do with souls and what it would mean to sell your soul to the devil.

Based on the tale of Dr. Faustus (the title is very clear on that), this book follows five teenagers -- all who had been desperate for something, whether it be beauty or success or just survival -- who maneuver their way into New York upper society with the help of their beautiful governess. The governess, however, is more than she seems -- and she doesn't give anything to her charges without a price . . .

Yes, the characters are hard to take at times: I wanted to slap them all silly at various points throughout the story. But I found that I was sympathetic to them, sometimes even despite myself. They were all flawed individuals, all yearning for something that they felt they couldn't give themselves on their own. And therein, despite their choices and their actions, I felt twinges of sympathy tugging at me.

I loved how the chapters began with flashbacks and flashforwards. It helped piece together how the demons/devils entice and beguile humans with their innermost desires and ambitions to get more souls (the authors even go so far as to incite that famous leaders throughout our history had devils on their sides), and how very dedicated the demons are in getting hold of whatever souls they can.

I think what impressed me most, beyond the plot, was the fact that the authors were brother and sister. (It's difficult to write a book on your own -- but with your sibling along for the ride? Gah, wow.) Also, the descriptions in the book -- down to the languages that Bice speaks -- were very detailed. Either this sibling duo did a LOT of research, or they really know A LOT already. (The blurb on the flap of the backcover said that the book had partially been inspired by the fact that they, as adolescents, hadn't had the laid-back visions for the future that their teenage peers had. I thought that was fascinating; it gave me an idea of how this story was shaped into being.)

This book is worth reading if you have the time to delve into it and appreciate it. It's not for the narrow-minded -- since I imagine most people don't even think about their souls most days -- but it is fascinating. Beyond the characters, beyond the happenings, it's just one of those books that's meant to make a person think and wonder and contemplate.

If you, like me, ever happen to wonder, "What would happen if a person DID sell their soul?" -- well, then, this book is for you. Enjoy it -- if you have the stomach to face the facts.(less)

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Dec 26, 2009 Raquel rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-couldn-t-bear-to-finish

OKAY!!! I'm soooo sorry, but I couldn't read it, I just couldn't! I got to page 47! I swore that I would pick it up and read it again, but I just couldn't. WHEN I READ IT, I FELT LIKE THIS BOOK WAS PUNISHING ME. I CAN'T READ IT, I JUST CAN'T.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, The beginning of the book threw me off already. It gave like a little background of the characters in the book, foreboding that the beautiful lady with the blond hair was...I dunno. Something like this mistress kidnapping them, the devil...more

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Sep 28, 2009 Valerie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, books-i-own, read-in-2009, reviewed, dnw-anymore

Another Faust is one of the most unique books I've read in a long time, if not ever. I don't recall having ever read a book that involved people, in this case kids/teenagers, selling their souls to the devil to get what they want. The unique plot line is what drew me to the story.

Unfortunately, overall the book was disappointing. Sometimes I found it difficult to follow all the different storylines of each character. Each character had their own ''gift'' from Madame Vileroy and sometimes it was...more

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Aug 11, 2009 BOOK BUTTERFLY rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another Faust tells the journey of five children who vanish from their homes and are re-introduced years later at an exclusive Manhattan prep school by their strange "governess", Madame Villeroy. The cover art of Another Faust gave me the impression that this book would be a much lighter read, but wow, was I wrong. If you think that Another Faust is going to be a glossy soap opera about spoiled rich kids with too much power, then you'd be mistaken, much like I was. Another Faust is a well crafte...more Another Faust tells the journey of five children who vanish from their homes and are re-introduced years later at an exclusive Manhattan prep school by their strange "governess", Madame Villeroy. The cover art of Another Faust gave me the impression that this book would be a much lighter read, but wow, was I wrong. If you think that Another Faust is going to be a glossy soap opera about spoiled rich kids with too much power, then you'd be mistaken, much like I was. Another Faust is a well crafted, educated and chilling tale of epic proportions. It is a re-imagined take on the Faustian tale that is masterfully written, with heavy prose and dark themes. To really understand it you need to give it your undivided attention. There are so many subtle machinations in motion as Madame Villeroy artfully exerts more and more of her control over the group of children.

The most appealing characters for me were Christian and Bice, because they had the most humanity. Having special abilities sounds fantastic right? Well Bice finds out that nothing is without a price when it comes to Madame Villeroy. Christian was willing to go to such great lengths for fame and fortune. But when reflecting on his background, I could understand his motivations, even if I didn't condone his actions. Bella’s regret over her superficial fixation with beauty was heartbreaking and I kept hoping Bice would get her out of the jam she was in. My least favorite person, however, was Victoria. She was so selfish and downright diabolical, it was difficult to actually care about whether she would turn her character around and break free from Madame Villeroy. But on the flip side, if a writer can inspire that kind of loathing in a fictional character, then you have to realize they are quite talented! I will say, though, that at then end of Another Faust, I did feel like I understood Victoria a great deal more than I had initially perceived, and almost felt sorry for her. The outcome of her character's storyline was appropriately handled by the authors though and I wouldn't change a thing! Valentin reminded me a lot of Victoria in that he had lost much of his decency, but there were times when I saw shreds of it coming through. More than anything I wanted these five teens to find REDEMPTION. This desire kept me anxiously turning pages and reading much too late on many a night I might add! The outcome of the novel was incredibly gripping and left me wondering if the authors will be writing more books in a series of novels. I have a feeling readers might not have seen the last of Madame Villeroy!

One additional note- If you enjoy thought provoking novels that can foster intelligent discussions about issues of morality and the pitfalls of greed and ambition, then this is a great book for you. For this reason I would even go a step further and suggest that Another Faust should be added to high school English curriculums. In my opinion it's a lot more fun than the original tale and I suspect would be more relatable for contemporary teen readers. In addition, Another Faust has allusions to the original tale which are fun to pick out—for instance, the name of the elite prep school is ‘Marlowe’, a nod to Christopher Marlowe, who was the first to turn the Faustian myth into a morality play. (less)

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Aug 23, 2009 Alea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bea, read-for-review

Like I said about Fairy Tale, Another Faust for me was another book that felt like my own personalized version of fantasy and reality. I'm the sort of person that sometimes avoids fantasy because I fear if there is too much fantasy there will be nothing I recognize and will be utterly and completely lost. So again, Another Faust was a perfect balance of me of the recognizable and the fantastical.

For me, Another Faust is all about the characters. I adored them and their gifts and their everyday a...more

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Feb 13, 2010 Holly rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, debuts, witches_magic

Before Christmas, when I saw this book in the store, I was jumping out of my skin to get a hold on a copy. It looked so good and the plot looked amazing.

Unfortunately, reality bites. The plot was character driven, which sucks when you don't like the characters. Just before the halfway mark, I almost quick reading it because I just couldn't get into it anymore. But I kept on.

There were many things I didn't like about this story, the biggest being the ages. Why do we have 10-year-olds selling thei...more

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Jul 27, 2010 I ♥ Bookie Nookie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-pnr-uf, z-ya, zz-reviewed

This book just didn't do it for me. It had a good lesson to be learned for the YA audience it is meant. In the beginning, one of the girls asks her sister if she would rather sell her soul to be young, thin and beautiful forever, or keep her soul and be fat and ugly. Well, that is foreshadowing if I ever read it!

5 kids are kidnapped and raised by their "governess" and lead a very privileged life. There really is not much that happens that is interesting in this book--it seems to try too hard to...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Adam Hall rated it 5 of 5 stars

The novel Another Faust, by Daniel and Dina Nayeri, follows the story of five, very strange, very gifted teenagers, as they are stolen from their homes, and show up years later in New York City, under the care of the beautiful governess, Madame Vileroy. As the story progresses, each child makes a deal with Madame Vileroy, and in return they receive a gift. For example, the gift of extreme beauty,or the ability to stop time. The Faust teenagers, however, have no idea exactly how much these gifts...more

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

This book is a modern tale of the Faustian Bargain. This is where you pretty much want something so bad that you will sell your soul to the devil to get it. In this book you have five teenagers, three who seem to remember everything and two that have blocks in their past. Also a very wicked Governess that will do anything to make the teens dreams come true, but at what cost is the real question.

The writing style in Another Faust wasn't that great and could have been improved. Often times you cou...more This book is a modern tale of the Faustian Bargain. This is where you pretty much want something so bad that you will sell your soul to the devil to get it. In this book you have five teenagers, three who seem to remember everything and two that have blocks in their past. Also a very wicked Governess that will do anything to make the teens dreams come true, but at what cost is the real question.

The writing style in Another Faust wasn't that great and could have been improved. Often times you could see them getting off point because there was no real point of view in this book, which was definitely an interesting aspect. I love the darkness of it but it is not to over the top.

With Another Faust I really enjoyed how each chapter started out with a brief sneak peek into Madame Vileroy's past and her many misadventures into stealing people's souls. I was often surprised at what people were sometimes brought up and also what had happened in her past. You also learn what she truly wants and even for her is unreachable.

When the characters get their gifts of course it comes with stipulations and Madame Vileroy is always there to coax them into tweaking things but with that you have to make more deals and it definitely starts to shake things up. I don't want to go too far into the gifts because that will spoil things.

All the characters play a significant role in this book and are so well written that it could have been a series about each person I think. They are so dynamic and I wanted to learn more about each one, well maybe not Victoria. The gifts that each character ask for, isn't really out there, you could see a average everyday Joe asking for the same thing and I think that is why it was so easy to relate to Another Faust and become easily engrossed in it.

One of the characters I absolutely adore and if anything was very heartfelt for was Christian. His gift was to steal and it is not the kind of stealing you will typically think of. All he wanted was to be good at everything and really I think to just be noticed and loved. Victoria could cheat and she would do it obsessively. I have to say I cannot stand her, in the book she was always trying to be Madame Vileroy's favorite and it was to the point of obnoxious. Of all the characters I really don't think she learned any lessons at all. Belle had the gift to play tricks. Her whole life she wanted to be beautiful and when she finally had the chance to, she did a very devastating and selfish thing. With all that beauty came loneliness for awhile and when she did finally get her final accomplishment she finally has to see how ugly she is on the inside. Bice is my favorite of them all and I can relate to her the most. She has her books as her friends and is very lonely. Her gift is to hide and it is a reader's dream or so she thinks. Belle and Bice are twins but they are not as close as they use to be and you really see the relationship effect Bice. Valentin is the last of the group and you could say that his gift is stealing as well but not the same stealing as christian. At first I liked Valentin but then honestly he just became so egotistical and arrogant it was off putting. I thought he was going to be that guy that acts bad but is a sweetheart but no he is just a dick.

Another Faust definitely is a book that makes you think about good versus evil. It makes you think about when is it so bad in life that you would do anything for it to be better, like selling your soul. And if you sell your soul, it really shows you that it isn't some cake walk. There are consequences, loved ones get hurt, and the side effects could make you keep bargaining with the devil till there is nothing left of you. In Another Faust you will catch glimpses of the teens struggling with what they have done and if they made the right choice. It was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone.(less)

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Aug 09, 2012 Tabytha C. rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone, especially teens

This was by far the best book in the whole entire series -I'm not saying the later novels weren't good, I'm just saying that they weren't as good as the first.

Daniel & Dina Nayeri artfully spin a tale centering on the theme of the classical tale "Faust": What would you want in return for the exchange of your soul?
I believe that's as far as much as the two novels are alike, after that the story is told by highlighting the lives of five teenagers, who could be seen as symbols to the five leadi...more This was by far the best book in the whole entire series -I'm not saying the later novels weren't good, I'm just saying that they weren't as good as the first.

Daniel & Dina Nayeri artfully spin a tale centering on the theme of the classical tale "Faust": What would you want in return for the exchange of your soul?
I believe that's as far as much as the two novels are alike, after that the story is told by highlighting the lives of five teenagers, who could be seen as symbols to the five leading traits or talents that people treasure most in the world.
*Victoria symbolizes those of us who are desperate to prove ourselves and our worth by the measurements of intelligence and accolades. She is desperate to not be overlooked, and is driven by blind ambition fueled by emotional anger from her always unimpressed parents in her childhood.
*Christian is the boy who is afraid of being poor, and so he pushes himself to be something that he is not, causing him unhappiness and confusion.
*Belle is the classic case of low self esteem complex. And so she sells her soul to become superficially beautiful, in order to be happy and loved. Though of course this doesn't absolve her constant self depreciating nature.
*Bice {pronounced: Bee-Chay} is the type of quiet and shy type of person, who lives in constant fear for the most part of the book. And is the type of person who just wants to live in peace despite everything that goes wrong.
*Valentin is the poet who constantly likes the feeling in control. But as the story develops, Valentin's life spins more and more out of his control.
It is a very intriguing story, and its' haunting revelations and truths weaved throughout the story can teach us all a lesson or two on the meaning of what true happiness is. I highly recommend the book, even if you don't ever read the last two which are little more for quick good reads, because I believe we all can learn a little something from Another Faust and the consequences of our choices and beliefs that can drive us to obsessional fears that can control our life more than we realize...(less)

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Jun 12, 2012 Carolyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-like, fiction, almost-fantasy, young-adult

Usually I don't write reviews, but I was genuinely shocked by how low the ratings were for this book, so I had to throw my two cents in. First of all, if you are expecting a run-of-the-mill teen fiction book with a flashy story and a happy ending, this is not the book you should be reading. Second, this is not a love story or even really a story about someone triumphing over odds. This story is about human failure. Faust is a completely different genre of fiction than most present-day teen liter...more Usually I don't write reviews, but I was genuinely shocked by how low the ratings were for this book, so I had to throw my two cents in. First of all, if you are expecting a run-of-the-mill teen fiction book with a flashy story and a happy ending, this is not the book you should be reading. Second, this is not a love story or even really a story about someone triumphing over odds. This story is about human failure. Faust is a completely different genre of fiction than most present-day teen literature. Faust is a morality tale about a dude who basically sells his soul to the devil for knowledge and worldly pleasures, makes a bunch of really stupid decisions, and then regrets ever dealing with the devil in the first place when he's on the verge of dying and realizes the eternal consequences of his misadventurous life (in some versions of the tale, Faust repents at some point or other and God saves him from eternal damnation...in others Faust doesn't repent and he is ultimately damned). Most teen fics these days are predictable stories about awkward teenagers who find love or win in some circumstance despite the overwhelming odds (like Twilight, for example); these stories usually end happily, triumphantly, or at least with the “good guy” winning (not really the case with Faust, it's more like the good guy is neutralized at the beginning). As you can see, there is a definite difference in substance and general trajectory of these two different kinds of stories. I like to think that the mediocre ratings people gave this book came from unmet expectations regarding its genre rather than judgments on the actual quality of literature, clever reproductions of the original Faust theme, and truthfulness of story (although I was a little disappointed with the un-Faustian ending. It left the reader with too much hope in human nature, the destruction of which was one of the main points of Faust to my mind. Then again, realistic views of human nature don't sell well these days, especially to the crowd teen literature is marketed for, so I don't judge too harshly although I do think it could have been true to the original and still maintained its form. Selling out to pop-culture makes me sad, especially when authors have a chance to shed light on pivotal but under-emphasized influences on Western literature, philosophy, and theology. Faust is all of those. *steps off soap box*).

That said, I was pleasantly surprised at the overall depth in this book. It is a very condemning and pessimistic, but ultimately true commentary on human nature (until the end, that is). It reminded me of C. S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters, to a certain degree, where we get a glimpse into the workings and machinations of the devil. From the perspective of religious morality, it gave me a lot of bits to mull over about greed, lies, ambition, sacrifice, relationship rifts, and also how human weaknesses and “little sins” are so easily manipulated and twisted into giant webs of chaos and destruction. If we're all honest with ourselves, we can see the truth of this in our own lives where we've “sold” ourselves (to some degree or other) for what we perceive to be better circumstances that are ultimately destructive not only to ourselves but to the people around us. The authors captured human nature pretty well, to my mind. In our post-modern psychological entanglement, we're all too willing to believe that people are good at heart and that every human action is ultimately justifiable and that rainbows, puppies, cupcakes, and unicorns orbit the relative perfection and enlightenment of the human race (barring a few evil people like Hitler, Che Guevara, Ghengis Kahn and other “really really bad” people, of course). The point of Faust is that there are evils and weaknesses in all human beings, not just the “really really bad” people. Faust wasn't a bad guy at the beginning of the story, he was a paragon of virtue and scholarly wisdom. If a man like Faust can fall to temptations and the wiles of his nature (if children like Victoria, Belle, Bice, Christian, and Valintin can fall to temptations and the wiles of their natures), the rest of us can too. It left me examining my decisions and my weaknesses, which, I suppose, is the ultimate aim of morality stories such as these.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faust Here's pretty much the bare bones of what you should know about the Faust mythos before you read this book to better appreciate what these authors have given you. I can't recommend enough that you read at least one version of Faust at some point in your life just to better yourself, if for nothing else. Faust is almost as foundational to Western literature as Dante's Inferno, the Odyssey and Ovid's Metamorphoses. Yes, old dead-guy books are not the priority for most teenagers, but if you really want to understand the undercurrents of Western thought and literature and what people actually mean when they write -and if you want to understand yourself better and why you think the way you do- you have to be familiar with the foundational pieces of your culture, otherwise you will spend your time guessing randomly about what things might mean instead of having a reference point for your ideas. While uncertain meanings are appealing to the Postmodern mind, there will come a day when we will grow up and wish to know what things mean with certainty.)(less)

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Feb 07, 2012 Chapter by Chapter rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. Absolutely loved it! From the beautiful cover art, to the plot that was unfolding with every flip of a page, I loved this book. I was actually very curious prior to reading Another Faust to what exactly a 'Faust' is. So to the Wikipedia-mobile! Apparently, Faust is a German legend (I won't say any more because I don't want to risk any spoilers) and after finishing the novel you'll see all of the similarities that make Another Faust a great remake.

When I first began reading, I...more I loved this book. Absolutely loved it! From the beautiful cover art, to the plot that was unfolding with every flip of a page, I loved this book. I was actually very curious prior to reading Another Faust to what exactly a 'Faust' is. So to the Wikipedia-mobile! Apparently, Faust is a German legend (I won't say any more because I don't want to risk any spoilers) and after finishing the novel you'll see all of the similarities that make Another Faust a great remake.

When I first began reading, I will admit I was a bit of a skeptic (like I am almost all the time) but only because I was wondering why we were learning about events that took place five years previous to the events taking place in the story. Meaning, we got to see how all of the characters ended up meeting Madame Vileroy, their governess. I felt like each character was very three dimensional and really expressed the reasons why they had the abilities that Madame Vileroy gave them. From being able to stop time, to learning languages, to being beautiful beyond all belief, to controlling insects…each of the five main characters had special gifts that I found very interesting.

I will also add that authors Daniel and Dina Nayeri had such a great and memorable writing style. There is one scene that I remember, and that I will always associate with Another Faust, is when Bicé froze time and wondered what would happen if she sprayed some Fabreeze, that if before doing so, would the water would appear like frozen crystals…one of my favorite. Probably the best part of the novel was how before every single chapter, you would end up reading a scene that took place in the past, all of which were haunting, and I would have to re-read it a few times so that I could find out exactly who is the protagonist was.

Now to the exciting stuff: The Elite Marlowe School. Kinda sounds like something you would find on Gossip Girl right? Well despite it being a school where all the smart and pretty rich kids in New York go to…guess what? The characters in Another Faust end up going there as well and attempt to achieve their own personal goals- turned obsessions- using their dangerous abilities. All of the characters did have different goals. Daniel and Dina Nayeri did show the lengths that the characters would go through to get what they wanted, no matter what the cost.

All in all, the novel was something that I definitely enjoyed and I'm glad that I came across it. From before the novel even started, with its hilarious dedication, to the opening sentence, and to the explosive ending, I can proudly say that this is one of the few novels that has managed to sate my hunger for a read that would give me everything I wanted and more.
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Jan 04, 2012 Shweta rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fantasy

Quite a summary and exactly the kind that made me pick it up. With a Faustian theme I was expecting a 5 starrer but somehow book failed to leave that effect. I am in no way saying it is a bad book. It is a well written story but characters failed to hold my attention. During the time I read this book , I was never felt compelled to just sit and finish it in one go or even very curious to get back to it .

Bice , was a character I would have liked to know more about . She being very vital to the pl...more

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Oct 30, 2011 Erin (Bookish in a Box) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Another Faust is unlike any book I've ever read. I didn't like a single character and wasn't interested in anyone in particular, but just the same, I wanted to know what happened next. I cringed from the Governess Vileroy and shuddered whenever Victoria's time to steal the spotlight had come. I grimaced when Christian messed up, and I almost closed the book when I found out what Belle had done. Bice was the one redeeming character but she was so dull...or so I thought.

My favorite character (and...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Anna added it · review of another edition

Sometimes when you randomly pick up a book just because something about catches your eye, you get lucky. This was one of those times. It was a compelling and interesting take on the Faust story; once I started reading it, I couldn't get my nose out of it, especially during the last 40 pages or so. It's the first young adult novel I've read in a while and I was impressed with the quality: it's an intelligent story without being heavy-handed or simplistic; the characters were so well done that I w...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

One strange night, five different children from all over Europe disappear, and no one seems to notice. It's as if the children vanished without a trace. Five years later the children surface at a prestigious party in New York City with a mysterious governess. Each child -the over-achieving Victoria, the linguistic Bice, her vain sister Belle, the thieving poet Valentin and the athletic Christian -has been granted a special gift that allows them to go beyond the ordinary. The group enrolls in the...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Reading Teen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had actually pretty high expectations for this book. I enjoy a re-telling of classics like this one. Checkout Faust on Wikipedia if you're unfamiliar with this one. Selling your soul to the devil for a gift/wish can have great potential, for a storyline. I know Another Faust and it's sequel Another Pan have been pretty popular amongst YA teen books. So naturally I wanted to review them. Well, I wasn't that crazy about this book. I found Another Faust slow and hard to follow. The characters gif...more I had actually pretty high expectations for this book. I enjoy a re-telling of classics like this one. Checkout Faust on Wikipedia if you're unfamiliar with this one. Selling your soul to the devil for a gift/wish can have great potential, for a storyline. I know Another Faust and it's sequel Another Pan have been pretty popular amongst YA teen books. So naturally I wanted to review them. Well, I wasn't that crazy about this book. I found Another Faust slow and hard to follow. The characters gifts were not really explained in the beginning, so this left me guessing a lot on what each teens specialty was. I liked the idea of the storyline and I felt the authors did an O.K. job in the beginning defining where each character was from. But setting up the plot, was kind of messy. Closer to the middle it started to fizzle for me, the characters and the plot. This book had a sadness about it, I can't explain it.

The teens would attend extravagant parties, theaters and even school where they would use their gifts on others, to manipulate and get what they wanted. This scenario became a little boring. Nothing ever really was climatic for me. Close to the very end was when everything happened, it became very clear which side each character was on and who Madame Vileroy really was. The constant arguing against the five teens became annoying. There always seem to be turmoil and fighting with each other in almost every conversation.

I did like several scenes. I loved the description of their NYC apartment. I liked how you actually felt the coldness and utter depravity of Madam Vileroy. My favorite character was Bicé, she was the quietest one. However, you could tell there was more to her, than meets the eye. Sadly, the authors did not develop her character as they should have. I loved the fact that she came out her shell somewhat and realized her strength closer to the end of the book.

I know that when it I read a paranormal book, I want tons of action, romance and tense moments. I know every book will not have a perfect mix of all those things. I did feel this book could have used a little more of those things. If you like a slow paced paranormal, you will probably enjoy reading Another Faust. As for me it was just O.K., I believe the authors missed a great opportunity this book, it had great potential. Again, just a little slow for me. I will read Another Pan, I am curious to see if that book meets more of my criteria. Hmmm, I wonder what classic tale that one is about?

Amy
http://ReadingTeen.net/(less)

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Apr 04, 2011 Whatchyareading added it · review of another edition

Shelves: christine, paranormal, series, young-adult

One night, from cities across Europe, five children vanish, only to appear again at an exclusive party five years later in Manhattan, accompanied by their mysterious governess. These children have been accepted into the city’s most prestigious school, where they quickly raise to great heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary “gifts.” As they cheat, lie, steal, trick and hide, they find themselves suffering from the side effects of their own addictions.

Who is this elegant woman w...more

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Feb 14, 2011 Nan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had high hopes for this book, but it unexpectedly fell flat for me. As the cover copy explains, this is the story of the five Faust children and their governess Nicola Vileroy. Each of the children has a special gift, but only three of them know why. They sold their souls to Miss Vileroy, and now she's raising them to achieve their dreams. Two of the children don't understand what's happening; they believe that all of them were adopted by Miss Vileroy as babies. Vileroy plays them against each...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Lily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another Faust by Daniel Nayeri and Dina Nayeri

Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews

One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish - only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary “gifts.”

But as the students claw their way up - reading minds, erasing sce...more

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Dec 20, 2010 Sami Haggood rated it 3 of 5 stars

It wasn't an amateurish so much as a novice attempt at recreating a classic tale. The overdramatic dialog worked with and against it, because sometimes it felt far too cliche where the authors gave some of their strongest characters the weakest lines that were purely for exponstional purposes - mostly Victoria whose constantly filled with spoilers and restating events that we as an audience can figure out on our own. Although a great example of this working in their favor is when someone such as...more

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Nov 05, 2010 Mari rated it 1 of 5 stars

I loathe this one. Its preachy, boring and obvious. Worse yet, its a good concept, so it takes away the possibility someone would have done it better! You don't need to read it to know what its about, and you don't need to read past the first chapter to know how it ends. Five kids make a deal with you know who. By the time you read the word FAUST you DO know who. In this case its a governess. She isn't the main guy downstairs because she is not scary, and not neary cool enough. She gives out bar...more

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Aug 28, 2010 Samantha The Escapist rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: I can't think of anyone...

Shelves: barely-finished

DULL DULL DULL

Ever get 100 pages into a book and STILL not like a single thing about it?

It wasn't poorly written enough to force me to put it down (as is the case with many others) but I wish it had been.

There isn't a single likable character in this story, one would argue that Bicé was meant to be the sympathetic character but the problem was that she was only in the story enough to make you pity her, she never did anything likable, you just knew she was probably a good person and had to take...more

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Aug 26, 2010 Tammy Dahle rated it 3 of 5 stars

My thoughts:
This story is a modern telling of Faust and the devil. First, I think it's important to know who Faust is-it explains the story line a little better. Faust was a magician and alchemist in German legend who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for power and knowledge.
Another Faust is about five kids who wished to be rich beyond all imagination, beautiful above all others and more powerful than anyone else. They wanted it so bad they were willing to do anything-even sell their souls...more

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Aug 25, 2010 Amanda Pace rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don't want to get into the habit of saying "other people" or "other reviewers", but I have to on this one. A lot of reviewers and readers out there have given this book a bad rep, saying that it is hard to get into or it's boring, or poorly written, this and that, but I have to disagree. The problem with this book is not so much the book's problem, it's just the simple fact that people don't know what to expect going into it. Something that is quite helpful before reading this book is to first...more I don't want to get into the habit of saying "other people" or "other reviewers", but I have to on this one. A lot of reviewers and readers out there have given this book a bad rep, saying that it is hard to get into or it's boring, or poorly written, this and that, but I have to disagree. The problem with this book is not so much the book's problem, it's just the simple fact that people don't know what to expect going into it. Something that is quite helpful before reading this book is to first read a little bit about Faust and then visit the author's page and read what the author's have to say. Admittedly after reading a couple of chapters, I tilted my head to the side and said, "What?!" But after reading about Faust on wiki and doing a tiny bit of research, I realized this book is a modern dedication to Faust.

What is Faust? Faust is the protagonist of a German legend in which a man who is a scholar is unsatisfied with his life and makes a deal with the devil in exchange for unlimited knowledge and world pleasures. There are many similar stories out there involving a pact with the devil in exchange for something, but I have never read one that is so unique and actually based upon the real legend! The school that the character's go to is even named after Christoper Marlowe, a writer who made the story famous in his play called The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.

The story itself is very character driven and I accept that the beginning can be a bit confusing, but if you enjoy classic literature or gothic genres, then hang on just a little bit. The characters are interesting and if you've ever wished for more out of your life, more money, beauty, intelligence, popularity, success, or whatever the case may be then you can understand why these characters are so interesting. Madame Vileroy was so incredibly mysterious and gorgeous *in my mind* and almost like a mother to the poor children. Christian, Belle, Bice, Valentin, and Victoria each had their own detailed background and storyline which for me kept me entertained and engaged in the story.

This book is not a light read nor is it cuddly or cute, it is dark and detailed. If you can get past the first couple of chapters it is more enjoyable for those who are not into classic literature.

I give this book four and a half book geeks. Perhaps if one didn't have to do research to *get* the storyline then I would give it five, but all-in-all it is a phenomenal. (less)

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Nov 18, 2009 Nicola rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own

Reason for Reading: The plot drove me to choosing this one. Plus, I'll admit the cover also attracted me.

Summary: Five children disappear from their homes, all ten years old. Five years later they all arrive at an elite New York high school with a governess in charge of them. They are all beautiful, brilliant or athletic and soon take over the school with their popularity. They each have a special talent such as stopping time, reading minds, etc. and they'll do anything to get what they want inc...more

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Sep 19, 2009 Books and Literature for Teens rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, fantasy, young-adult

Another Faust was filled splendid detail and glamours characters, but the overall story fell flat for me. I tried really hard to concentrate throughout the book, but some of the details were so long, my mind would wonder and then I'd have to start all over again.
I understood that the characters were robotic on purpose since they "sold their soul" to the devil, but they were still human and I was expecting them to be a little more personable. They weren't though, they felt too unrealistic.
Many co...more

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What's The Name o...: 5 teens live with this women who provides them with "talents" [s]	2	119	Nov 19, 2012 01:56am
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About Daniel Nayeri

Daniel Nayeri is a writer and editor in New York City. He wrote and produced “The Cult of Sincerity,” the first feature film to be world premiered by YouTube. He has had all kinds of jobs around books, including book repairman, literary agent, used bookstore clerk, children’s librarian, Official Story-Time Reader Leader, editor, copy-editor, and even carpenter (making bookshelves). He’s also a pro...more

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Books by Daniel Nayeri

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“I think the biggest lie the devil ever told was that beauty and goodness are the same.” — 68 people liked it

“Do you know what makes someone beautiful? Confidence. You don't have to have this shape eyes or that shape lips. No one seems to be able to decide which shape is best anyway. You can have every kind of blemish. It's confidence that attracts people. That's what everybody's looking for. It's what no potion can really give you. And believe me, Belle, you've got it. You've got it if you want it.” — 30 people liked it

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