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77th out of 979 books
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Other (Other #1)
by
Karen Kincy (Goodreads Author)
Gwen Williams has been hiding a strange and fantastic secret: she's a shapeshifter. Although society may tolerate vampires, centaurs, and "Others" like Gwen, there are plenty of folks in her small Washington town who don't care for her kind.
When a new werewolf pack moves into the area, tensions rise—and Others start showing up dead, including someone ...more
When a new werewolf pack moves into the area, tensions rise—and Others start showing up dead, including someone ...more
Paperback, 1st Edition, 336 pages
Published
September 1st 2010
by Flux
(first published July 1st 2010)
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Janina
rated it
I was really looking forward to reading Other, and altogether, I wasn’t disappointed. The book does have some minor flaws, and it took me a few pages to get used to the very direct writing style, but I enjoyed it.
Gwen is Other, half pooka, half human, and in her small home town, this means she has to hide her true identity. Although Others are out in the open, it doesn’t mean they are accepted. Gwen struggles a lot with her situation, sometimes unable to resist her urge to shapeshift, ...more
Gwen is Other, half pooka, half human, and in her small home town, this means she has to hide her true identity. Although Others are out in the open, it doesn’t mean they are accepted. Gwen struggles a lot with her situation, sometimes unable to resist her urge to shapeshift, ...more
view all 10 comments
3.5 stars.
Other was not a bad read by any means. The world-building was wonderful and my book-tuitive bells were chiming. The idea that you could be a natural born Other or a bloodborn Other, inflicted by either bite or sexual contact. That's right. You could become an Other in the same way you get nasties in the no-no. I found that pretty creative.
Other contains a wide variety of species. Vampires, were-creatures, centaurs (non-chalant supermarket shoppers), kitsune, dryads, and pookas, as G...more
Other was not a bad read by any means. The world-building was wonderful and my book-tuitive bells were chiming. The idea that you could be a natural born Other or a bloodborn Other, inflicted by either bite or sexual contact. That's right. You could become an Other in the same way you get nasties in the no-no. I found that pretty creative.
Other contains a wide variety of species. Vampires, were-creatures, centaurs (non-chalant supermarket shoppers), kitsune, dryads, and pookas, as G...more
Kristi (The Story Siren)
added it
What a fantastic debut novel! I absolutely loved this world that Kincy created..... Where 'Others' live among humans. It's 'normal' to see a centaur beside you shopping in the produce section at the grocery store. I mean wouldn't that be a riot! It was interesting to have a novel that included an array of mythological and magical creatures. So many times a novel is focused on one being, werewolves, vampires, fae.... but Other is something unique. I'd love to hear about the research that Kincy di...more
Rating - a good solid 3.5 stars!
A shudder both painful and pleasurable ripples down my spine. It almost unbearable. I hug myself tight, then grasp as magic floods my veins. My skin prickles as glossy black feathers unfurl.
I really liked Other. It was a light and fun read that was full of unique paranormal characters, mystery, action, and of course some romance.
The writing style was a little bit choppy but still easy to read. The plot was sometimes predi...more
A shudder both painful and pleasurable ripples down my spine. It almost unbearable. I hug myself tight, then grasp as magic floods my veins. My skin prickles as glossy black feathers unfurl.
I really liked Other. It was a light and fun read that was full of unique paranormal characters, mystery, action, and of course some romance.
The writing style was a little bit choppy but still easy to read. The plot was sometimes predi...more
This book had so much potential to be great but in the end, it mostly crashed and burned. The beginning started off with a bang, her standing in her room contemplating her shapeshifting and her desire to be free, but it took a giant nosedive after a few chapters.
Okay, there were some great things about the book that I loved. The fact that the main love interest for the girl was Japanese. That was cool in and of itself but he's *shorter* than her which made it doubly awesome. I mean, ho...more
Okay, there were some great things about the book that I loved. The fact that the main love interest for the girl was Japanese. That was cool in and of itself but he's *shorter* than her which made it doubly awesome. I mean, ho...more
BOOK BUTTERFLY
rated it
OPENING LINE:
“I can't last much longer. It's been one week, three days and I can't remember how many hours. ”
NOTABLE SCENE:
“Whatever. I've earned this. I'll be careful. I've been a good little girl for long enough. It's easy to transform again, I'm so giddy with the lingering magic. Back to girl I go. I climb through the window and onto the roof. Naked, I curl my bare toes around shingles and grin nervously in the moonlight. I hope ...more
“I can't last much longer. It's been one week, three days and I can't remember how many hours. ”
NOTABLE SCENE:
“Whatever. I've earned this. I'll be careful. I've been a good little girl for long enough. It's easy to transform again, I'm so giddy with the lingering magic. Back to girl I go. I climb through the window and onto the roof. Naked, I curl my bare toes around shingles and grin nervously in the moonlight. I hope ...more
I have been wondering often about these teen books which sound so amazing, but I am often disappointed when they fall flat. Is it because I am an adult? Perhaps. This book had charm, it was genuinely written from the point of view of a teenage girl who was struggling with telling her boyfriend she was part Other, their slang for non-human. Whether a born Other (Pooka, the fey such as dryads or leprechaun) or becoming a blood Other (Vampire, Werewolf), they are not treated well. Especially in a s...more
This book.
Well.
It was just so awkward...
The good:
Gwen's a real character. Yeah, she goes on about how annoying stereotypes are, and then turns around and stereotypes people, but hey, I don't know anyone who's NOT like that. Another good thing: I didn't predict who would be the killer. I guessed the cousin, so I was half right, but I was impressed that Kincy pulled gauze over my eyes. I loved the different kinds of "others" there were, and I was so glad it didn't...more
Well.
It was just so awkward...
The good:
Gwen's a real character. Yeah, she goes on about how annoying stereotypes are, and then turns around and stereotypes people, but hey, I don't know anyone who's NOT like that. Another good thing: I didn't predict who would be the killer. I guessed the cousin, so I was half right, but I was impressed that Kincy pulled gauze over my eyes. I loved the different kinds of "others" there were, and I was so glad it didn't...more
I knew I was in trouble a few pages in when the angst-ridden narrator described herself as "snarky" no less than 10 times, but when the boyfriend showed up speaking like a love struck knight out of a bodice ripper it was all over. The parents change character so much I started to believe they were "other" too, although all the characters seem bent to dramatic emotion shifts and "I'M SUDDENLY SO ANGRY BECAUSE I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH" dialogue. The foreshadowing is like...more
*spoiler...kinda* I always kind of liked these types of books, with magic and shapeshifting and all that. This book wasn't bad...the plot was pretty interesting, and the characters were unique. I felt like there wasn't really a solid introduction, but I'm assuming that was the author's purpose...but I tend to follow books with nice introductions better. Also, the back of the book seemed to give a LOT of the story away. After reading the first few chapters, I knew who was going to die, who Gwen w...more
The writing was solid. Written in first person, present tense, it had a very active and direct style which I found refreshing. The author uses wonderful descriptions and a number of magical elements. The pooka was a great pic for her character, as it's not your main stream "Other". However, I couldn't help thinking of another well-known book series that also depicts werewolves in Washington, and the first one we see at the grocery store is a (you guessed it) Native American...
...more
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Let’s just say I kinda know what a book is going to be breathtaking. I get really excited about reading it and I can’t stop thinking about it once I start. Other was one of those books that I started obsessing over. And when I start obsessing, it gets intense.
Gwen has one heck of a personality. She’s strong, emotional, crazy and nervous. The person she is makes me want to be like her because of the way she handles situations and stands up for certain things. Her character is well ro...more
Gwen has one heck of a personality. She’s strong, emotional, crazy and nervous. The person she is makes me want to be like her because of the way she handles situations and stands up for certain things. Her character is well ro...more
So resently I was at barns and noble on the seach for a good book, a really good book. So I looked at the displays looked at books that were recommended, nothing really apealed to me. So I went depper in to crevices and saw a book not displaded with a boring spine and I thought ??? so i picked it up looked at the cover read the back and decided I had found the really good book I was looking for.
Boy was I right this book was breath taking the opening scene I was already hooked. The book has...more
Boy was I right this book was breath taking the opening scene I was already hooked. The book has...more
I liked the plot summary of Other because it seemed like it would include lots of different types of magical creatures... and it did! That was my favorite part of this book. Most of them I hadn't heard of before, and I'm not sure if they all exist in folklore somewhere or if the author made some up, but they were all interesting and had very cool characteristics.
Unfortunately, the pacing of events was a little slow for me. Only towards the last half to last quarter of the book did I ...more
Unfortunately, the pacing of events was a little slow for me. Only towards the last half to last quarter of the book did I ...more
So when I first saw this book on this site, I didn't feel like reading it. The synopsis sounded ok and I wasn't too thrilled with the cover. I thought it would be historical. After reading some reviews I decided to give it a try. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this book a lot. Read it in one whole day!
What I really liked was that in this book there were other paranormal creatures besides the usual werewolves and vampires. There were pookas (shapeshifters), Japanese spirit fox, ...more
What I really liked was that in this book there were other paranormal creatures besides the usual werewolves and vampires. There were pookas (shapeshifters), Japanese spirit fox, ...more
Meh. The plot was very slow and uneventful, pretty boring to be honest, and it was quite obvious who the bad guy(s?) were, because they acted damn creepy right from the beginning.
There were also a lot of little inconsistencies that nagged at me throughout the story, for example, Gwen being unsure whether Ben was super religious or just trying to be funny when she had dinner with Zack's family ... surely, after a year of dating Zack, she'd know whether his brother was ridiculously OTT r...more
There were also a lot of little inconsistencies that nagged at me throughout the story, for example, Gwen being unsure whether Ben was super religious or just trying to be funny when she had dinner with Zack's family ... surely, after a year of dating Zack, she'd know whether his brother was ridiculously OTT r...more
I had a feeling it was my kind of story, and it really was! I love that there are Others 'out' in the world and that they live among humans. Even if they do have to hide what they are in order to not be persecuted.
I liked Gwen's personality and felt like I could connect with her. I actually felt like that with all the characters but I have to say that Tavien is definitely my favorite character. I also liked that her parents seemed more present then some YA books.
...more
I liked Gwen's personality and felt like I could connect with her. I actually felt like that with all the characters but I have to say that Tavien is definitely my favorite character. I also liked that her parents seemed more present then some YA books.
...more
“I can't last much longer. It's been one week, three days and I can't remember how many hours. ”
I don't know how I feel about this book so this review is going to be short. The world that Karen Kincy has put together in this book is incredible, people know about vampires, werewolves, and they also know about others. An 'other' is exactly what Gwen is classified as, Gwen is half pooka from her dads side, A pooka is a mythical creatures that shows up as a dark horse with glowing gold...more
I don't know how I feel about this book so this review is going to be short. The world that Karen Kincy has put together in this book is incredible, people know about vampires, werewolves, and they also know about others. An 'other' is exactly what Gwen is classified as, Gwen is half pooka from her dads side, A pooka is a mythical creatures that shows up as a dark horse with glowing gold...more
Other was definitely a unique story, which is what I was looking for considering the fact that YA Paranormal is saturated with fairy/vampire/werewolf stories.
Gwen Williams is half-human, half-pooka. She can shapeshift into any animal she wants and she lives in a house with her human mother, her human sister, and her step-dad, who all discourage her shapeshifting on a daily basis.
In this world that Karen Kincy built, paranormal creatures walk amongst humans. Though...more
I really wanted to like this book, but was a bit dissapointed. It is a good storyline, but I never got use to the writing style. Also, it had quite a bit of language, and I could have done without it. The story build up was too long, and it came to an end a bit aprubtly, for my liking. And as much as I tried to like Gwen, couldn't get over how whiny and immature her character was. And it had a predictable ending for me, which in some books is ok, but on this one, I saw it coming to early on, and...more
I don't usually write reviews because I find them extremely hard to do, but I feel that I must say something about this book.
Firstly, umm… yum?
It was such a refreshing young adult book! I felt like these characters could have actually been teenagers, some authors just try way too hard.
I commend Karen Kincy actually saying the “s” word! I’m sick of young adult authors tip toeing around the subject or shoving it in a YA book with a two sentence reference.
But, to sh...more
Firstly, umm… yum?
It was such a refreshing young adult book! I felt like these characters could have actually been teenagers, some authors just try way too hard.
I commend Karen Kincy actually saying the “s” word! I’m sick of young adult authors tip toeing around the subject or shoving it in a YA book with a two sentence reference.
But, to sh...more
I'm glad I finally read Other, although it took a few chapters to get into it. I liked how Kincy really explores both sides of Gwen, her human and pooka side and deals with real issues that real girls go through which makes her relatable but at the same time you get the fantasy aspect of shapeshifting and how that molds Gwen into who she is. Tavian is of course totally swoonworthy so I hope that we get more backstory in book 2 about him. Also loved the setting in Washington State since I live ...more
'Other' is a book much like, 'None other.' Starting out with rip roaring drama and angst, Kincy pulls the reader in with her distinctly snarky wit and keeps you hooked with suspense. The mystery of multiple murders and intrigue of a beautiful love almost-triangle, just allow the good times to continue flowing. After just a small amount of time, the realization that Kincy is in fact, a new blooming author of significant talents becomes apparent. Fully enjoyable and remarkably original within the...more
Maybe a smidge over 3 stars. I liked the world building, the idea that persons of lore(dryads, centaurs, vampires, werewolves) walk around us everyday They even put Other on your driver's license. The descrimination of Other. The infighting between the Others. Nicely dones. The descriptions of nature were beautiful. I liked that we got to see Gwen's parents, which is something rare in YA. I was a bit shocked about their ...it wasn't indifferent... but it was a kind of lackluster response to the...more
Diana
rated it
There are two kinds of Others, those who inherit their otherness and those who are infected by a bite or sexual transmission. The infected are usually vampires and werewolves. Gwen is half pooka. Her birth father was one of the faerie kind who could shape shift and Gwen fights her own urges to transform into a horse, an owl, or a cat. She feels like an outsider in her small Washington town and wishes she knew more Others. When she and her boyfriend find a couple dead in a pond she suspects they ...more
The concept for this book intrigued me. What is an Other? What is a Pooka?
The beginning was a bit slow and personally for me, I wasn't hooked until I hit 170 pages. I didn't always agree with Gwen's idea's... in fact, I didn't agree with any of her idea's. She's the type to worry and to fight for what she believes in (which is NOT a bad thing), but doesn't think of the consequences of the things that she's doing. She finds herself in trouble the majority of this book. For someone who...more
The beginning was a bit slow and personally for me, I wasn't hooked until I hit 170 pages. I didn't always agree with Gwen's idea's... in fact, I didn't agree with any of her idea's. She's the type to worry and to fight for what she believes in (which is NOT a bad thing), but doesn't think of the consequences of the things that she's doing. She finds herself in trouble the majority of this book. For someone who...more
I was dying to read Other since I saw the cover on on a blog ages ago. Read it over Christmas, and loved it.
Gwen is snarky - which I love snarky characters. The beginning starts with her shapeshifting because it's not just something she can do it's apart of who she is. Which Gwen and her family have been keeping the fact that she's Other a secret.
Being Other where Gwen lives isn't always a good thing - especially when there's a serial killer on the loose targeting Others...more
Gwen is snarky - which I love snarky characters. The beginning starts with her shapeshifting because it's not just something she can do it's apart of who she is. Which Gwen and her family have been keeping the fact that she's Other a secret.
Being Other where Gwen lives isn't always a good thing - especially when there's a serial killer on the loose targeting Others...more
Other was really good. There was a lot of romance, suspense and action. I'd never read a book about Pookas which was a nice change.
I think this book was pretty good, and that it was different from other books with similiar situations because something happened to the main character that most authors would stop it from happening to other characters. Even though it is a fantasy book, the event that took place kind of made the situation more realistic because it's something more likely to happen in real life. The main character, Gwen, seems like someone who likes adventure, so I would recommend it to a teenage girl who likes t...more
I read Other today, and I very much so enjoyed it. It was a nice read, it flowed well. It carried with it some good snark, always a plus. In fact the main character Gwen's blog was titled, "Premeditated Snarkiness" which gave me a hoot.
This new authors weaves a nice setting and great characters for an everyday world filled with Other (fey) creatures/people in it. Basically one character in the story lays it out as humans vs. Others and would be Others' against Others, since ther...more
This new authors weaves a nice setting and great characters for an everyday world filled with Other (fey) creatures/people in it. Basically one character in the story lays it out as humans vs. Others and would be Others' against Others, since ther...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What Other are you? | 4 | 31 | Apr 17, 2011 11:43pm | |
| What the BLEEP is a pooka? | 4 | 105 | Nov 20, 2009 05:41pm |
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Karen Kincy (Redmond, Washington) lives among countless trees, some of which—her pet kumquats and oranges—have lovingly invaded her apartment. Unlike her characters, she has never been on the run from the law or bitten by a werewolf, though she has been known to howl at the moon. Karen has BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College, and is studying toward a Master’s in Compu...more
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“He looks sexy in a black army jacket - brass buttons and braids - over a white shirt.
I have to admit, he's got style. I can only hope it's not gay style.”
—
7 people liked it
I have to admit, he's got style. I can only hope it's not gay style.”
“I prefer not to be called 'cute' or 'little,' thank you very much." He grins again. "I should get a T-shirt that says that.”
—
7 people liked it
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