Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Shadow Hills (Shadow Hills #1)

by Anastasia Hopcus (Goodreads Author)

3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 · rating details · 2,562 ratings · 424 reviews

After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA -- a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned i...more

Hardcover, 388 pages

Published August 24th 2010 by Egmont USA (first published July 13th 2010)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

2010 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade Literature)

8th out of 301 books — 1,973 voters

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

YA Books of 2010 & 2011 I'm LIVING to read!!

49th out of 1,073 books — 6,107 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 15, 2010 Daisy Chain Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shadow Hills has been a hotly anticipated 2010 release around the blogosphere, and now I know why! Anastasia Hopcus has delivered a great story combining elements of gothic mystery with Greek mythology, shady town secrets, great characters, and one of the hottest YA romances I’ve read in a while. If you’ve been getting a little tired of the same old paranormal romance, then this book is for you. I can guarantee you won’t have read anything quite like it before! I raced through this book in one s...more Shadow Hills has been a hotly anticipated 2010 release around the blogosphere, and now I know why! Anastasia Hopcus has delivered a great story combining elements of gothic mystery with Greek mythology, shady town secrets, great characters, and one of the hottest YA romances I’ve read in a while. If you’ve been getting a little tired of the same old paranormal romance, then this book is for you. I can guarantee you won’t have read anything quite like it before! I raced through this book in one sitting, and have been totally left wanting more!

I liked the character of Phe right from the start. She’s come to Shadow Hills to attend Devenish Prep, the subject of her dead sister Athena’s last diary entry, and the place that has been haunting her dreams. Phe is a great protagonist - her character is so well written, and she’s very likeable and easy to relate to. I also loved the fact that Phe is by no means perfect. She’s a complex character, who is dealing with a lot of grief, she makes mistakes, likes to party, and takes a lot of risks.

One thing I really loved about Shadow Hills is that it has a great cast of characters all round. I really love character driven novels, and I often complain when I finish a book and don’t feel like I know the characters at all. That didn’t happen here. Even the fringe characters are beautifully described. Phe has some great friends, each with their own unique personality and quirks. I particularly loved reading about Adriana, who I thought was going to be a stereotypical beautiful ‘mean girl‘, but turned out to be one of the characters who made me laugh the most, and the opposite to what I was expecting. I also loved that the not-so-nice characters in this book were not just one-dimensional, and pure evil. Even the ultimate villain of the piece has understandable motivations, while Zach’s cousin Trent and sister Corinne are just characters you will love to hate!

I have to mention the relationship between Phe and Zach. These two are instantly drawn to each other, and their romance is hot. Phe falls hard for Zach, and he sounds totally dreamy, but I liked the fact that in embarking on this relationship, she didn’t ditch her friends like so many other characters in YA fiction. And why would she ditch these friends? They are awesome!

I loved that the story of Shadow Hills was completely unique. Often when I pick up YA fiction these days, I am just waiting until I encounter a vampire, werewolf, fairy or angel - that’s all well and good, but sometimes you want something a little different, and that’s provided here. This was such a refreshing read, with a really interesting storyline that is meticulously researched. This book kept me guessing right to the end. There are lots of twists and turns along the way, and more than a few surprises!

Overall, Shadow Hills is a great debut and one of my favourites of 2010. If you’re looking for a really great read with lots of mystery, suspense, action and romance, then this one is for you! Highly recommended!(less)

12 likes · like · see review

Apr 19, 2010 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jennifer by: jennsicurella@verizon.net

Shelves: favorites, paranormal-other

Shadow Hills was so engrossing, I couldn't put it down. I found myself almost frantic, needing to know what was going to happen next. The story is a compelling mystery with an amazing mix of science and magic. I don't think I have ever read a book like this before. I loved every scene, no, every single word of this novel. I can say, without a doubt, Shadow Hills is going to be one of my top picks of 2010, as it has already been added to my short list of favorite books of all time.

After the death...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jul 08, 2011 Skye rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.

Reading Shadow Hills felt like going back in time to where all the books I read were paranormal romances cut from the same cloth. During this I wasn't feeling what the characters were, but feeling nostalgic, laughing "recurring dream sequence at the beginning! Old pal!" and "love interest who's so suddenly and deeply in love with our protagonist that he confesses his uber-secret non-human species! It's been too long!"

So I kind of regarded...more This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.

Reading Shadow Hills felt like going back in time to where all the books I read were paranormal romances cut from the same cloth. During this I wasn't feeling what the characters were, but feeling nostalgic, laughing "recurring dream sequence at the beginning! Old pal!" and "love interest who's so suddenly and deeply in love with our protagonist that he confesses his uber-secret non-human species! It's been too long!"

So I kind of regarded Shadow Hills like small child that is annoying but also kind of endearing for it.

Shadow Hills follows Persephone (a goddess being her namesake turns out to be almost completely inconsequential) -- Phe -- as she goes to a new boarding school that her sister mentioned before her death, in order to understand her better (because she's grieving. You know she's grieving because she tells you that she is. Her usually-chipper tone will try to convince you otherwise). There, our curious protagonist soon meets three attractive boys: one, a best friend; another, the love interest; the last, evil-seeming. The latter two seem to have some huge, long-buried secret, which she naturally (and somewhat inconsiderately) tries to unearth.

The writing style struck me as pretty standard. I didn't find it particularly noteworthy, though it was smooth in a way that made me able to read it fairly quickly. It didn't do much to help me get to know our main character or evoke any emotion, but it was good for simply telling a story.

The background characters were at extremes. Adriana was a brat, Graham was the helpful best friend, and Toy was the loveable, awkward friend. But exaggerated to where eye-rolling is triggered by any dialogue. Trent was...Trent was almost comically evil. He asks Phe out, gets rejected, and responds (paraphrased, possibly playing it DOWN) "Good. Now I can ask someone actually worth my time." He was just...too much.

The romances felt unnatural and forced. Our main character scouts out the most attractive guy and they become a couple, and then everyone else seems to just shrugs and grab the nearest person of the opposite gender.

Overall, Shadow Hills proved to me to be mostly another of those dime a dozen paranormal romances. It used the standard plot and character templates, but had a few more interesting embellishments.

I give Shadow Hills a 3 out of 5.

This has been a not-entirely-serious review brought to you by a Skye In A Surprisingly Jubilant Mood!(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 04, 2010 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, paranormal-supernatural-world, paranormal-romance, favourites

Loved it. I would have never guessed that this is Anastasia Hopcus debut novel. She is an extraordinary writer. Original, addictive and wonderfully descriptive. It is a fast paced and gripping read that had me constantly guessing. When one mystery was solved another would arise. One scene also had my heart pumping and gave me chills. I also loved the paranormal element in this story is refreshingly different from other books out there. A mix of science, magic and mythology.

Phe, the main charact...more

19 likes · like · see review

Oct 30, 2010 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, sci-fi-fantasy, mystery-suspence, romance, debut, favey-faves, library-book

A cutie description:
Since the death of her sister, Phe has felt empty, aimless, and lost, her world now turned upside-down with grief and regret. When she starts having strange dreams similar to ones her own sister had suffered from before her death, Phe searches for answers. Answers which she believes can be found at Devenish Prep in the small town of Shadow Hills, Massachusetts. Little does she know that this small town not only holds the key to her understanding herself and her sister, but it...more

5 likes · like · see review

Dec 13, 2010 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Lately I've been reading lots books and most of them were about werewolves and vampires, and I'm kind of tired of it. Shadow Hills was definitely not one of those books. It was so original and well written. Every time I stopped reading it, I found myself thinking about the book and always asking myself "OMIGOD! what's gonna happen next!" Phe is a relatable character, she's fun and reckless and that's something I like cause what fun would it be reading a book where the main character's always afr...more

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 09, 2010 Aja rated it 5 of 5 stars

I saw this book the other week on goodreads and have been living to read it ever since. So when I was at the mall the other day to see a movie with my friends, I dragged them all to the bookstore so that I could get this book. I got home kind of late after eating dinner and watching Inception but I really wanted to read a chapter or two before sleeping so I began to read. I ended up reading the whole book that night (and into the early morning). It was an amazing and marvelous and incredible (an...more

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 30, 2010 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: summer-reading-2010, favorite-books, 2010-debut-author-challenge

Shadow Hills is the compelling story of Persephone "Phe" Archer. Phe's sister, Athena, has recently died and Phe decides to go to Devinish Prep School in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts. Why is Phe going there, you may ask? The town of Shadow Hills was in the deceased sister's final diary entry. When Phe arrives in Shadow Hills she realizes there is something very strange about the town. There was some sort of weird, unexplained epidemic that plagued the town in the 1700's and only a some survived....more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 06, 2010 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book sounded amazing reading the book blurb and I was curious what type of paranormal creatures the townies were going to turn out to be. It was nice change to find out that they are not your stereotypical paranormal creatures that have been all the rage lately. Overall the characters were great. I wish we had seen more background of Phe's sister's interest in Shadow Hills as it seemed a little glossed over why Phe felt the need to enroll in Devenish Prepatory just because her sister receiv...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 29, 2010 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Anastasia Hopcus has created an original and complex mythology in her debut novel Shadow Hills.
This – the first book in the series contains a lot of world building and you have to be paying attention or you may miss out on the clues being thrown at you.
Although I liked Phe and I definitely liked Zach – Phe’s love interest, I was more intrigued by Zach and his sister Corrine’s relationship. Corrine is ice station zebra – and a real bitch but you can tell she has her reasons and I liked the compl...more

like · see review

Oct 24, 2010 Misty rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-ya, horror-mystery-suspense-thriller, helluva-halloween, read-in-2010, sci_fi-fantasy, folklore-myth-fable-fairy-tall-tale, 2010-debuts__tenners

3.5
I was torn on whether I wanted to read this or not -- boarding school books make me a little leery -- but I had read some good reviews, and thought it'd fit pretty well with Helluva Halloween, so here we are. Now I've read it, I'm still a little torn.

On the one hand, I really liked Hopcus' incorporation of (real) (weird) history and science (like the story of the town of Eyam, and the witch trials), and thought that this aspect added a great layer to the story. At the same time, I don't know...more 3.5
I was torn on whether I wanted to read this or not -- boarding school books make me a little leery -- but I had read some good reviews, and thought it'd fit pretty well with Helluva Halloween, so here we are. Now I've read it, I'm still a little torn.

On the one hand, I really liked Hopcus' incorporation of (real) (weird) history and science (like the story of the town of Eyam, and the witch trials), and thought that this aspect added a great layer to the story. At the same time, I don't know if this weird bit of reality will appeal to everyone because it can seem far-fetched, and if you don't know the truth behind it, it can be pretty fantastical, maybe even absurd. I don't know. I can only speak for myself, and as a weird history buff, I've always been fascinated by the town of Eyam and think Hopcus makes interesting use of it. The link to the witch trials and historical idea of witches, too, was fascinating, and grandiose as it can be, I liked the idea of something linking Phe to the town and drawing her closer. This little bit that goes beyond the traditional ya paranormal romance storyline was the high point for me. [We talked about this in my interview with her.]

Things like this kept the story going for me, but there is a trait to Hopcus's writing that held me back from ever fully committing or feeling any edge-of-your-seatness: things just happened way to easily. The romance was there from page one (literally, as Phe dreams about Zach before meeting him), and I never felt that they really had to work at it. There wasn't any tension for me because it was just there, this dedication and budding love, without any questions or setbacks, which is unbelievable on its own, but especially in light of the creepy events continually going on for Phe -- something should have made her question or doubt at least once. The same goes for the sort-of thriller aspects of the story. There is some good villainousness, and there is no dearth of people to choose from as the Big Baddie, but it's all resovled so easily (*cough* Deus Ex Machina*cough*), and this bothers me. There was a moment where I thought that all of the danger was going to catch up to Phe and Zach, and I was sort of glad of it because it makes it seem that much more real, but it was just swept away, all better, the end. This is such a pet peeve of mine, because then I know that no matter what happens from that point on (in that book or future ones), it carries no real weight, because something will swoop in and fix it. Why care? Danger becomes meaningless and the tension is just gone, poof -- and I check out as a result.

On a more minor note, I also feel Hopcus might be giving the book a short shelf life with the treatment of some things, especially pop culture and the continual (mostly indie) music references. I also don't know if they act as anything more than a thinly-veiled nod to the indie set, and a sort of insider easter egg hunt. I'm not sure how many teens really know who Gogol Bordello is, but then maybe I'm not giving them enough credit for expansive music tastes. [side note: ^ link to one of my favorite songs. This is why everyone hates when I take over the music...]

In the end, I liked but never loved Shadow Hills. It reminded me a little of Firespell in the way that, yes, there are tons of boarding school books out there, and none have ever wowed me (at least not in the teen paranormal romance genre; there are certainly good boarding school books out there); that being said, if you have to read one, or are in the mood for one, you could do worse than Shadow Hills (or Firespell). If you go in reading it for what it is, and don't expect something really deep or powerful, then yes, it's fun and quick, and not a waste of time.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 16, 2010 Wicked Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars

My quick wicked thoughts...A unique and enthralling spooky romance that will keep you hooked until the end.

Why I was tempted to read this...I had read a few reviews and just the blurb about it made it sound different and fun.

Cover thoughts...It's okay...it doesn't blow me away.

Romance meter...heck yes! The intense attraction between Phe and Zach is just perfectly written. As much as they try to deny it, they have some major sparks going on!

Characters and plot...I really loved the characters in t...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 15, 2010 Meaghan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a book I have been really excited about, I saw it at BEA and was pining after it but could not manage to get a copy. But when I got to ALA and saw it again I was lucky enough to get a copy and I think I even did a little happy dance when I did. This is another book that I started and finished in one day, even though it is almost 400 pages, but I am on vacation so reading is taking priority right now :)

One of the things I like about this book is that the "paranormal" element is not what y...more This is a book I have been really excited about, I saw it at BEA and was pining after it but could not manage to get a copy. But when I got to ALA and saw it again I was lucky enough to get a copy and I think I even did a little happy dance when I did. This is another book that I started and finished in one day, even though it is almost 400 pages, but I am on vacation so reading is taking priority right now :)

One of the things I like about this book is that the "paranormal" element is not what you think it is. There are no vamps or werewolves running around which is a little refreshing. Don't get me wrong, I love the vamps and werewolves, but sometimes it is nice to read books that don't have anything to do with either of those species. This is that book. I was intrigued with the strange town of Shadow Hills and it's residence, but there is also something going on with Phe that you are not quite sure of. This added another layer of mystery that I was eager to get to the bottom of.

Phe has strange dreams that have a tendency to become part of her reality, and that is not always a good thing. The dreams always seem to happen at the same time during the night, which is odd to her, but she is diligently keeping track of the dreams in her sisters old journal to try and decipher them. There are so many mysteries shrouding her life and they all begin with the death of her sister. Now her sisters journal and Shadow Hills seem to be the only clues she has to discovering the truth behind her dreams.

And what good paranormal doesn't have a little romance? Enter Zach, a Shadow Hills local, who seems to pop up wherever Phe is. There is something not quite right about him and Phe is determined to figure out what it is. In the mean time, there is quite a bit of chemistry going on between the two of them. They quickly stop avoiding each other and start to explore the spark between them. I think my favorite line from Phe to Zach was "So don't." You will know what I am talking about when you get to that point of the book and I think you will agree with me. Either way their attraction is undeniable and it is deliciously fun to watch unfold.

Another element I really enjoyed about this book was all the musical references. I really like when authors are describing their characters and go into their musical preferences. Being a lover of music, I always find it interesting to see what other people are listening too. I think it tells you more about who they are and helps shape their character. Well, Phe is definitely a music lover, actually there is one point in the book where she says

"By the time I hit middle school, discovering new bands had become a contest between us."

By "us" she means herself and her sister Athena. So her musical preferences do not include typical pop music icons, they are bands that may not be as well known, but are sweet, like the Pixies. Personally that just makes me like her more. When it comes to music I like finding new bands too and I am more of a punk lover myself so Phe gained big points in my book with her taste in music. There were quite a few bands in there that I have never heard of so I had to underline them so I can look them up later, which I am excited about.

The book does end nicely and you are left satisfied with the information that you have, but there are still numerous questions swimming through my head. I am still more than a little suspicious of some of the remaining characters, but I will just have to keep those thoughts to myself for now. I am hoping there is going to be a sequel because I would love to get caught up in this world again. Won't you please write a sequel Anastasia?!?

Language Love:

Fear was spreading through my chest like thick creeping ivy.

Love it! I can feel her fear jumping of the page almost like it is crawling on me too. Great sentence.(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Oct 02, 2010 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut-author-challenge, mundie-moms-review, arcs-i-own, 2010-100-book-challenge, books-i-own, signed

*SPOILER FREE* Shadow Hills is such an engaging read, that from the moment I started reading, I had a hard time putting it down. I was not only captured by the story, intrigued by the characters, but I was engrossed by the setting. The descriptions are so vivid that I had the urge for it to be fall and wanted to find the cemetery the story takes place around.

Shadow Hills is a good blend of mythology, mystery, and romance, mixed in with some suspense. It's the type of story you sit down to read,...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 23, 2011 Krys rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of urban fantasy, YA, and Beautiful Creatures

Shelves: medium-length-book, young-adult, urban-dark-fantasy-paranormal, read-in-2010, mystery-suspense, first-person-narrative, specialized-high-school, series-i-love, own, series

First off, allow me to say that I will not just be reviewing Anastasia Hopcus' Shadow Hills... In fact, I will be gushing... at length... in abundance.

...And with that, commence gushing...

California native Persephone (Phe) Archer has made a life altering decision to move across the country to attend a prestigious school, Devenish Prep. The cause behind this effect is thanks to her older sister's sudden death nearly a year before. Athena had been considering going to Devenish for reasons that die...more First off, allow me to say that I will not just be reviewing Anastasia Hopcus' Shadow Hills... In fact, I will be gushing... at length... in abundance.

...And with that, commence gushing...

California native Persephone (Phe) Archer has made a life altering decision to move across the country to attend a prestigious school, Devenish Prep. The cause behind this effect is thanks to her older sister's sudden death nearly a year before. Athena had been considering going to Devenish for reasons that die with her, and it is up for Phe to unearth them.

Phe arrives at Devenish and immediately things seem off. The town seems to have too many secrets, the students are all way too smart, and Phe has too many nightmares about her sister. When Phe meets Zach and Corrine Redford, the local Adonis and amazonian siblings, things get even weirder. Zach can do things that Phe has never seen a human do, and Corrine seems too ready to chase Phe off. Does their behaviour tie into what happened with Phe's sister a year before?

This book is wonderful... delightful and sweet, and so well written. I've been telling people for two days about my new book crush. I'm so glad that the initial premise had a phenomenal payoff. It does ring of themes I usually like... specialized prep school, outsider coming in, a bit of a mystery and a supernatural taste... however, all those things considered this is a wholly unique concept for YA paranormal urban fantasy. Wow. I can honestly say that having said all of that I still have not read anything like this before.

I love this book. I loved the main characters and the conflict. I loved the fact that reading this book made my entire life go away for about 48 hours. I love that Hopcus managed to surprise me and elate me... and, miracle of miracles, managed to write an ending to a Mystery that I DID NOT SOLVE!!! Seriously, huge gush points there. My main problem with the mystery genre is that I always pinpoint who did the deed within the first 100 or so pages...usually a character introduction is sufficient. Well, Shadow Hills delivered my first culprit I have not been able to guess in I can't tell you how long. I thought one way and it ended up being someone totally different. Genius. Awesome. I can't tell you how happy I am that I could not guess it. Bravo.

So...yeah... 5 of 5 stars. As if I needed to clarify.

Ms. Hopcus, I want a sequel. Pretty please with everything on top?

*Endgush*

- review courtesy of www.bibliopunkk.net (less)

1 like · like · see review

Jun 11, 2010 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

Shadow Hills is an intriguing mix of Greek mythology, mystery, romance, and a hint of suspense. From page one, readers will be sucked in to the captivating world that Hopcus has created. It is vibrant, full of life, and descriptions.

The premise of Shadow Hills is completely engaging. You enter into the novel believing that Phe is mainly wanting to find answers about her sister's life. But what you get is so much more. This is really a story within a story. And I have to applaud Hopcus for being...more

8 likes · like · see review

Jul 30, 2010 Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, books-i-own, afew-ofmy-favoritethings, 2010-read, favorites

For more info and reviews please visit my Book Review Blog here - A Life Bound By Books

5 Stars - Shadow Hills was all I was hoping it to be and then some. With a mysterious yet thrilling story and characters, I found myself swept away and lost within its pages. Hopcus was able to incorporate history, mystery, magic, science, romance and much more into an exciting plot that flow and fit together with ease.

Phe is the main character and early in the book we learn how she comes to Shadow Hills and...more For more info and reviews please visit my Book Review Blog here - A Life Bound By Books

5 Stars - Shadow Hills was all I was hoping it to be and then some. With a mysterious yet thrilling story and characters, I found myself swept away and lost within its pages. Hopcus was able to incorporate history, mystery, magic, science, romance and much more into an exciting plot that flow and fit together with ease.

Phe is the main character and early in the book we learn how she comes to Shadow Hills and Devenish Prep school. With haunting dreams of a place she doesn’t’ know and her late sister Athena’s own obsession with getting into the school, Phe take’s it upon herself to figure out why they were both drawn to this the mysterious town.

The magnetic draw between characters either works or it doesn’t and for Phe and Zach it’s like puzzle pieces locking together. The writing is what makes the pull these two feel powerful and honest. Phe needs answers to the questions that started with her sister and Zach just might be the only one who can help her get them. He’s the all around good guy who’s a local to Shadow Hills and has links to all its secrets. Through supernatural forces they are brought together and it’s only the two and some well meaning, quirky and amazing friends, that allow Phe and Zach to work to solve a mystery of what could just be pretty epic for all in Shadow Hills. With an unknown evil and a council with all its rules against then, they need to work quickly to get the answers they’re looking for.

The mystery aspect of the book was written wonderfully with its ever twisting plot turns and left me guessing right until the end as to what the outcome would be. One thing I need to point out was that I had no clue what was going on with the people from Shadow Hills and kept questioning who or what they really were.

In the end, I can easily see this being the beginning to a series and if so, I can’t wait to see what happens next. Shadow Hills has become one of my favorite books in 2010. Anyone looking for something different when it comes to YA fiction should grab this book with both hands and not let go!(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 03, 2010 A Canadian Girl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, egmont, 4-stars

Right from the start, Shadow Hills is attention-grabbing. It begins with a dream sequence that immediately has the reader on edge and manages to keep being suspenseful right up until the end of the novel.

Each of the characters that Hopcus has created is unique and multidimensional, and I liked that even the bad guys may not seem so “bad” once the reader understands their motivations. It takes skill to create well-rounded characters and Hopcus does this impeccably.

It was also fascinating to read...more

1 like · like · see review

May 09, 2011 Once Upon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Here is my review on my blog. I gave the book actually 4.5 stars.

This book from the moment I started reading it, I was captivated by it. Every time I thought I would reach a point in the book where I could close it and take a break, it just got better. I ended up reading it in 2 nights only. What a gripping tale Hopcus wrote.

I seriously hope that it becomes a series. there is so much more to learn about Shadow Hills. The way Ms. Hopcus writes does not let you put the book down. You will Enjoy...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 19, 2010 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

I need more NOW!!! I am so serious!!! I need more Phe & Zach!!! This book could have been a thousand pages and I would have read them all! I loved this book! I just want to read it again right now! You are so talented Anastasia!!! I will read anything you write!!!

This is the best paranormal romance book I have ever read. The plot and story just suck you in and won't let you go, even after you finish the last page. It is just so flowing and well thought out! I read it in 2 days, now I want to...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 03, 2011 Bohemienne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, arcs, fiction, mystery, paranormal, romance, ya

Recommended for: Fans of the 'House of Night' and 'Darkest Powers' series

Ms. Hopcus offers up a fresh but often confusing blend of genetics, Greek mythology, pagan magic, and superpowers in SHADOW HILLS. We're invited into the mind of Persephone "Phe" Archer, a wise-beyond-her-years LA girl (as we're reminded every page) who follows her dead sister's trail to a boarding school in the New England town of Shadow Hills. Phe unravels the numerous mysteries of the town, sometimes a little too easily...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 28, 2012 Rae rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghosts, if-there-is-nothing-better, paranormal-supernatural, ya, mind-powers, mythology-fail, deus-ex-machina

I do have to give the book credit for a few things. Instant love aside, the romance between Phe and Zack wasn't awful, and it was thankfully free of a lot of the creepy things that have been plaguing YA romance lately. Phe's friends, Graham and Adrianne were actually fairly interesting and the book didn't automatically equate popular and pretty with being evil.

The biggest problem this book had was that I never felt the characters were in any danger and they never had to struggle for anything. Ph...more

like · see review

May 15, 2012 Meaganr rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was definitely a refreshing change from all of the paranormal romances that I have been reading lately. The synopsis that I read was a bit ambiguous so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect when I first got this book. That feeling continued even after the book started which I loved!

When we are first introduced to the weirdness going on around Shadow Hills and Zach, I honestly could not guess what kind of paranormal beings we were dealing with here. I went from vampire to alien to ghost...more This book was definitely a refreshing change from all of the paranormal romances that I have been reading lately. The synopsis that I read was a bit ambiguous so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect when I first got this book. That feeling continued even after the book started which I loved!

When we are first introduced to the weirdness going on around Shadow Hills and Zach, I honestly could not guess what kind of paranormal beings we were dealing with here. I went from vampire to alien to ghost and it ended up being something completely different entirely. But I loved how they built up to the realizations by only giving us small hints towards something being different (like the ipod and spiral notebooks).

This book revolved around a multitude of secrets with Shadow Hills, Zach and the other "townies" and even her and her sister's names. There was never a moment when I wasn't caught up in the suspense of the book. And I liked that Hopcus could combine different aspects of the paranormal genre without it seeming to convoluted.

Another thing I liked about this book was the characters. I also liked that the first attractive male that we were introduced to didn't fall straight in love with the main female character. I'm honestly kind of tired of the uneven love triangles. Instead he just becomes a good, funny friend (who has his own love dramas to attend to). PHe was definitely my favorite character. She was outgoing and different. She had a great taste in music, she was obviously a caring sister (I mean she transfered to a completely different school to figure out what was going on), and also a good friend. What I liked the most about her though was her recklessness. She didn't just randomly run into dangerous situations like alot of stereotypical heroines do, but she wasn't afraid of doing things that could potentially get her in trouble as long as she got what she needed. I liked that she wasn't scared to go after what she wanted.

Now about Zach. Honestly, I wasn't sure how I felt about him. It's not that there was really anything wrong with him, I just felt that there was something a little off about Phe and his relationship. I understand that seeing someone who was in your dream would cause a connection between you but I still felt that the relationship kind of spurred out of randomly out of... well not nowhere but I can't think of a better way to describe it. Other than that though, the relationship was cute. They had some funny banter and he was sweet and protective of her which was nice.

Now the thing that I liked the most about this book was the scientific part of it. Hopcus introduced something new to the paranormal genre and what made it even cooler was that the majority of what was could be explained with science!

I'm really hoping that there is another book because while one major problem was resolved in this book and there were definitely lots of realizations, I still had questions that I wanted answered at the end of it. If there is, I will definitely be reading it :D (less)

like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 Ruby rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen, young-adult, paranormal

This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

I was really excited about this book. I thought I had unearthed a heretofore undiscovered (by me) Teen Paranormal Romance Set in a Private Boarding School. And I had. And it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great, either. All in all, this was a pretty average book. There was nothing new or surprising in it and there was nothing in it that got me excited one way or the other. I mean, in either a good way or a bad way. True, I rolled my eyes...more This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

I was really excited about this book. I thought I had unearthed a heretofore undiscovered (by me) Teen Paranormal Romance Set in a Private Boarding School. And I had. And it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great, either. All in all, this was a pretty average book. There was nothing new or surprising in it and there was nothing in it that got me excited one way or the other. I mean, in either a good way or a bad way. True, I rolled my eyes at certain points, but sometimes I do that when I'm reading a book that is a guilty pleasure. Shadow Hills doesn't qualify as a guilty pleasure book. Whether or not I'm eager to get to the end of a book is one of the benchmarks I use to gauge how much I like what I'm reading. That's probably true for you, so I'll just say that I was eager to finish Shadow Hills. But not because I wanted to see how things turned out at the end--because I wanted to move on to the next book in my TBR pile.

Shadow Hills takes place in one of my favorite settings. Which I've mentioned already, so there's no need for me to tell you what it is for the six thousandth time. The main character and narrator, Persephone "Phe" Archer, has come from LA to go to school at Devenish, your standard East Coast Prep School. It's somewhere in Massachusetts. There's no point in my rehashing all the things the description tells you about this novel, so I won't. But the death of Phe's sister plays a much smaller role in this book than it suggests. Phe's sister (predictably named Athena) died some time ago--six months to a year. I don't know why, exactly, but that surprised me. I think it took some of the immediacy away from the story--but on the other hand, it gave Phe enough time to have moved on and eased up on grieving enough to move on with her life a little.

Phe is fifteen, though she doesn't come off the page as one so young. This could be attributed to the death of her sister, but she seemed a little too, I don't know, adult-minded to be authentically fifteen. Also, I couldn't help feeling that she was a bit Mary Sue-ish. I say this without knowing anything about the author. Except what's on the back cover blurb. But I suspect that Anastasia Hopcus is as much a music snob as Phe. Even if Phe isn't a Mary Sue, she's a wee bit on the perfect side. If she has flaws we don't see them much. She's attractive, of average height, a good swimmer, a decent student, makes friends easily, sticks up for herself and others, and it all kind of got boring after a while. What foibles Phe has are cute. Like snorting when she laughs or blushing easily.

Zach, the hero and designated "hot guy" also suffers from the Perfect Syndrome. He's extremely good-looking, kind to his elders, superpowered and supersmart. He stands up for others and rescues kittens from rooftops. Okay, I made the last part up. But, seriously, when Zach's alter-ego (and enemy and cousin) showed up on the scene, I wanted him to be the hero because, hello? Dark chocolate-y bad guys are infinitely more interesting than vanilla-y boring wonder boys. Yawn. Unfortunately, the bad guys crosses too far into evil jerk territory to be an realistic foil for Zach. In fact, he's so perfect he doesn't really have any competition. You know, I think I was more disappointed in this book than I thought when I first started this review.

The thing that this book suffers from the most is that vanilla thing I mentioned. I don't really have a problem with vanilla, as a flavor, but I'd much rather eat dark chocolate. I didn't really care whether or not Phe and Zach got together. They were too cutesy together and everything was too easy. I was talking to a friend once about how a couple on a TV show I liked was sooo boring and she said that was probably the sign of a good relationship. If that's so, then Phe and Zach will, in all likelihood, spend an eternity together. (less)

like · see review

Feb 28, 2012 Aik Chien 인첸 rated it 2 of 5 stars

When I was first introduced to the paranormal genre, almost everything I read strikes me as unique and alluring. But after a while, I started to get somewhat bored with the similarities in many books. It seemed everyone was trying to reproduce the Twilight phenomenon. However, thankfully, there aren't any mythical creatures in Shadow Hills.

Our heroine Persephone "Phe" Archer often experiences strange, inexplicable dreams which shows her a graveyard, a tombstone and a person who looks eerily like...more When I was first introduced to the paranormal genre, almost everything I read strikes me as unique and alluring. But after a while, I started to get somewhat bored with the similarities in many books. It seemed everyone was trying to reproduce the Twilight phenomenon. However, thankfully, there aren't any mythical creatures in Shadow Hills.

Our heroine Persephone "Phe" Archer often experiences strange, inexplicable dreams which shows her a graveyard, a tombstone and a person who looks eerily like her sister. She decides to investigate her sister's death by attending a school in Shadow Hills. She meets a handsome guy who can send electricity up her fingers - I mean real electricity, not the ones opposite sexes feel when they are physically attracted to one another. He even charged up her dead iPhone. (Can you imagine how useful he is? I bet he can light up a pile of dry leaves with his super-electricity.)

Although this book sounds great, I couldn't particularly connect to any of the characters. Please forgive me for my ignorance, but I did not have the slightest bit of idea what Phe's favourite music / bands are, as in I have never heard them before. The pacing was too slow for my liking, and the story too long. I almost gave up halfway through, but I wanted to see what all the fuss about Athena's mysterious death / genetic mutants was about, so I kept on reading, only to find out that the mystery isn't that much of a mystery after all.

(view spoiler)

The identities of the bad guys were so predictable. Obviously it's one of those who were portrayed as morally askew people right from the beginning of the novel. I didn't even feel surprised that they were the culprit. So much for the grand revelation.

Bottom Line: I didn't like this book, but it was not that bad. I won't go around recommending this book to everyone, but if you're a fan of paranormal fiction in general, you might want to give it a try.(less)

like · see review

Feb 22, 2012 Ariel rated it 2 of 5 stars

I haven't read this book in awhile or I would have given it a review much sooner (I forgot what the title was). So I'll only be able to give a review about what I remember. Unfortunately, I don't really remember anything good.

The MC, Phe, is a moron. I'm sorry, but there is no other way to describe her. She is dumb. One of the few things that I remember about this book is this one particular scene during a dance/party/prom. Phe is left alone for some reason when she gets a call from her teacher...more

like · see review

Jul 25, 2011 Kristi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus wasn't bad. I loved the mystery, which kept me reading (and guessing) through the whole book. The plot was pretty original, except for the Devenish Prep boarding school setting. I've read way too many books that take place in boarding school and I'm getting tired of it. Other than that, the small town of Shadow Hills was intriguing. I liked how Hopcus combined old myths and folklore with modern day science. That was most original; the reason I kept reading.
But th...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 15, 2011 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-5-stars

Plot: 3.5 Stars
There were many aspects to this novel that were fresh and exciting. The biggest thing: it was a paranormal young adult novel without a love triangle. Amazing, I know. Not that I have anything against love triangles, but it was nice to see a main character have one love interest. I also liked the paranormal aspect of the story. It was the little details that I enjoyed most, like how they attracted metal and could read a whole page in the blink of an eye. But there were also a few p...more Plot: 3.5 Stars
There were many aspects to this novel that were fresh and exciting. The biggest thing: it was a paranormal young adult novel without a love triangle. Amazing, I know. Not that I have anything against love triangles, but it was nice to see a main character have one love interest. I also liked the paranormal aspect of the story. It was the little details that I enjoyed most, like how they attracted metal and could read a whole page in the blink of an eye. But there were also a few parts of the novel that fell short for me. For one thing, about halfway through, Phe just seems to forget she has a sister to be mourning. Plus, the whole plot with Hecate's Wheel needed more. It was mentioned about a third of the way in, and then didn't come up again until near the end when Phe just seemed to know what needed to be done. Nothing was really explained and the details were a bit spotty.

Pace: 4 Stars
This novel had it's ups and downs, but for the most part, it kept me interested and the story kept up a nice pace. I didn't really read anything quickly this month, so I can't really take that into consideration, but I think if the circumstances were different (in other words, I worked less this month) I probably would've finished this book in about two days.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
I enjoyed many of the characters in this novel, but it felt like many of them could've used with a bit more depth. There were many characters introduced early on that didn't end up playing nearly as big a part as it seemed like they would. I really enjoyed Phe as a main characters. Although I didn't know a lot of the music she listened to, I always enjoy when details like that are included. It took me a bit to get into Zach's character, but I blame that on my brother also being named Zack. He came across a little odd at first, but as we saw more and more of his character, I warmed up to him. Phe's friends were interesting and eclectic, but I wanted to see more of them.

Cover: 3 Stars
This cover confuses me. Although the colors are striking against the black cover, I don't really know what they stand for. I was hoping there might be a scene in the book that explained the cover at least a little, but that never happened. I almost didn't pick this book up because of the lackluster cover. There was nothing to draw me in, and I didn't know anything about the novel until I started seeing some reviews because I was never interested to click through and read the summary. Overall, there were many directions they probably could've gone in for the cover that would've portrayed the story much better.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment. (less)

like · see review

Jul 05, 2011 Amy Jacobs rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

After reading this book, I only had one question for myself. Why the heck did I wait so long to read this book? I was skeptical at first when the book was gifted to me, but once I sat down reading it, I could not stop until the last page!

Phe was a great character. She wasn't too girlie, but she wasn't a tomboy either. She held her own amongst her group of friends who were great side characters in the book. Graham was a great friend to have for a guy. The moment Phe meets him, I fell in love with...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 01, 2011 Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: christine, debut-author, paranormal, young-adult, series

I didn’t know much about Shadow Hills when I picked it up at my library, but it was in the Texas YA Authors section and I love to support Texas authors, it seemed to be more mystery than paranormal, which I was in the mood for, and I’m a sucker for simplistic covers.

What. A. Find.

Seriously, it was great! And I really hope I don’t spoil anything for y’all in my enthusiasm.

This book really was more mystery than supernatural. I have four pages of notes dedicated to theories of what the heck is goin...more I didn’t know much about Shadow Hills when I picked it up at my library, but it was in the Texas YA Authors section and I love to support Texas authors, it seemed to be more mystery than paranormal, which I was in the mood for, and I’m a sucker for simplistic covers.

What. A. Find.

Seriously, it was great! And I really hope I don’t spoil anything for y’all in my enthusiasm.

This book really was more mystery than supernatural. I have four pages of notes dedicated to theories of what the heck is going on at this town, with emphasis on Phe herself and a fellow student (who is GORGEOUS and I want) named Zach. Never fear, you do get answers, but only to some questions. Many more spring up toward the end and I really, really hope Anastasia releases more information concerning the second book soon. (It’s not officially confirmed yet. *eep*) Even if it doesn’t get a follow-up, it’s a great book. Honestly, it’s one of the most original supernatural books I’ve read in a while.

Along with Phe and Zach, the characters in the book were fabulous. I loved Graham and Toy (and the nickname ‘Toy’). Anastasia actually used one of my favorite names ever – Trent! I almost never see this name in a book. So, really, what choice did I have but to love him? Plus, I could see him twirling an invisible mustache with some of his lines to Phe. The introduction of Adrianna was an ‘Oh-no’ moment because I thought she was going to be typecast, but she wasn’t! She actually had a personality and was nice… sort of.

My one ‘eh‘ moment happened at the beginning with the “I dreamed this and it’s real!” aspect, but I’ve recently read a slew of books that dealt with weird dreams that either suddenly came true or revolved around a real person who brings either sunshine or doom to the narrator’s life. But I just shrugged and went with it. The mystery part quickly overshadows it once you get into the story anyway, so it’s not even a big deal.

After finishing it, I wanted to know about the people in this town and more about Phe. We still don’t know how any of this relates to Phe’s sister (unless I just completely missed it). And what’s going to happen to Trent? I honestly think he’s a misunderstood guy who’s really good on the inside. (But that could be my name-love talking.)

So, if you’re tiring of the usual supernatural story (there are no vampires or werewolves here!), or just want a good mystery to figure out, definitely give this a try. And I’m not just saying that because Anastasia is from Texas.

Reviewed on WhatchYAreading on October 20, 2010.(less)

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Room for improvement, definitely.	1	4	Aug 24, 2012 02:38am

combine
Other Editions (6)

More editions...

Videos About This Book

23 comments

Genres

Young Adult

150 users

Fantasy > Paranormal

112 users

Fantasy

63 users

Romance

44 users

Mystery

40 users

Fantasy > Supernatural

26 users

Romance > Paranormal Romance

18 users

Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

18 users

Fantasy > Magic

18 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Paranormal

12 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Anastasia Hopcus

I'm a YA author (and addict). My debut novel, SHADOW HILLS, is out July 13th 2010 from Egmont! I love going to see bands, singing in the tiny rooms at Austin Karaoke, and making an idiot out of myself at the Alamo Drafthouse sing-alongs.

More about Anastasia Hopcus...

Books by Anastasia Hopcus

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Shadow Hills

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Shadow Hills

“Is this your car?” I raised an eyebrow at him.
“No. I thought I’d steal one and drive it into town. Think
anyone will notice?” Graham reached across to unlock the passenger’s-
side door, then pushed it open. “You wouldn’t know
how to hotwire by any chance?” — 36 people liked it

“The real reason I couldn’t tear my gaze away, the thing that
turned my muscles to ice even as my skin burned, was the one
and only thought running through my mind: That’s him. That is
the guy from my dream.” — 17 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Shadow Hills
avg rating	preview: Shadow Hills Goodreads rating: 3.73 (2562 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6920820-shadow-hills?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320520560l/6920820.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6920820-shadow-hills?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus[/url]

Shadow Hills (Shadow Hills #1)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website