Shades of Atlantis (Shades, #1)

Jun 18, 2011 Missie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

I'm in love!

First I should say that although I take my Kindle everywhere I go, I never read at work. I don't want to get busted reading during my office hours. Nor do I ever try reading while driving. But with Shades of Atlantis, I was so hungry for every word, it was all I could do to put down the book when a student popped in to my office or when the red light changed to green!

Triona Pryor is your typical girl with dreams of leaving her small town behind once she graduates from high school to...more I'm in love!

First I should say that although I take my Kindle everywhere I go, I never read at work. I don't want to get busted reading during my office hours. Nor do I ever try reading while driving. But with Shades of Atlantis, I was so hungry for every word, it was all I could do to put down the book when a student popped in to my office or when the red light changed to green!

Triona Pryor is your typical girl with dreams of leaving her small town behind once she graduates from high school to head to London, the city where her parents fell in love. She never expects the meet "the one," and she never expects to find her life so changed that she must now find the courage to embrace a destiny that could alter everything she knew.

Shades of Atlantis broke many of my barriers. Plot devices I usually find myself groaning at, I really came to enjoy with this story. Having been largely disappointed with the last couple of books I've read dealing with Fae mythology, I was beyond thrilled to find that the mythology offered in Shades of Atlantis was familiar yet still mysterious and exciting. I loved the way it all came together to make something that was consistent yet unique. I believe that not only would fans of Karen Marie Moning's Fever series recognize the mythology used in Shade of Atlantis, they will also enjoy this Young Adult version because of the similarities but also because this story brings new, thought provoking elements to the mythology.

Triona's character development was as fascinating as it was frustrating. I have to admit, I'm kind of tried of reading YA fantasy books with a protagonist that doesn't think she's attractive despite boys throwing themselves at her. Such was the case with Triona. At the beginning, there were times I could have just slapped her for pretending to be so mature and thoughtful, only to break out into tears when she didn't get what she wanted. But as the story progresses and Triona is forced to face the unknown, she develops a stronger sense of self, she becomes more confident and sure of who she is. She grows into a beauty that shines inside and out.

For a long time, I wasn't sure how to feel about the male lead, Caleb. Utterly beautiful, yet cryptic, he spent most of his time talking in circle with Triona, which drove me mad! Also, love at first sight stuff always seems so cheesey to me, but something about the way it was done in Shades had me feeling anxiously giddy. Every time butterflies fluttered in Triona, I felt them, too! Ultimately, Caleb had his reasons for being so cautious, and he was completely devoted to Triona despite her being a brat sometimes. By the end, my reservations about Caleb melted away and I fell hard for him. Also, I don't think there was a secondary character that I didn't love. They were a mix of warm, caring, stubborn individuals who brought out all kinds of different emotions in me.

Finally, everyone who knows me, knows I loath epilogues. I think they ruin the story. Some of my favorite books have been murdered by picture perfect epilogues, and it is enough to make me seethe. BUT, in Shades of Atlantis, *gasps* I actually really enjoyed the epilogue. I thought it concluded the story with a different kind of perfect, one that was hopeful, and it proved to me that epilogues are not always a bad thing.

If I had to point out something that didn't work for me with this story, it would be the eerie similarities Shades of Atlantis had to the Twilight series. Triona 'drank in' Caleb's scent one too many times for my liking, and there many have been some other stuff, but I don't want to spoil anything. And to tell the truth, I didn't mind it too much since I am actually a Twilight fan.

Really, I can't say enough how much I loved this book. Author Carol Oates is a master story teller, and the proof was in everything that I usually dislike in stories because somehow she managed to make me not only accept those things but also really appreciate them. I really can't wait to read more from this debut author.

I received Shades of Atlantis as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and as soon as I was done with it, I ordered myself the paperback because I just have to have it on my bookshelf. As soon as I get it in, I'm gonna re-read it.

http://www.theunreadreader.com/2010/1...(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Arthistorychick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, paranormal-series

Purchased: 3½ stars/5 stars

I have always maintained that a good set of characters can carry a mediocre plot right to the end of a novel. I honestly never imagined that I would come across a book with just the opposite scenario. I did, however, find this to be true with Carol Oates’s Shades of Atlantis.

From the beginning, I knew I was in for something pretty sweet. The title alone had me hooked, as I love all things related to the Atlantis legend. (Lynsay Sands anyone??) I was right. The plot for...more Purchased: 3½ stars/5 stars

I have always maintained that a good set of characters can carry a mediocre plot right to the end of a novel. I honestly never imagined that I would come across a book with just the opposite scenario. I did, however, find this to be true with Carol Oates’s Shades of Atlantis.

From the beginning, I knew I was in for something pretty sweet. The title alone had me hooked, as I love all things related to the Atlantis legend. (Lynsay Sands anyone??) I was right. The plot for Shades is really good and hands down the novel’s greatest aspect. It has lots of action, drama, and some very, very intense romance. To be completely fair, the combination of action, drama, and romance is sort of like a perfect storm and really keeps the reader moving through the book at near lightning speed from beginning to end. The super quick summary includes:

*Triona and Caleb are crazy, scary in love after only a few days of knowing one another. This part of the story gets really intense.

*Caleb and his family are something other than human. It takes Oates quite a while to get to the explanation of what the “other” actually is, but the dragging out of the big reveal worked quite nicely.

*A nasty little prophecy is floating around that Triona may be the beginning of the end for Caleb and his kind.

*As you may have guessed from #3 above, the book has a group of super-bad guys that will do whatever it takes to prevent Triona from fulfilling the prophecy – nastiness ensues!

Here’s the downside for me: I am a strong character lover, and Shades just really didn’t deliver for me in this respect. Here’s the skinny on the characters for me:

*Triona: if ever there was a case of someone needing to be told “suck it up, buttercup,” Triona is that girl. At some point, I just got used to the fact that no matter what the situation, big or small, Triona was going to break down into tears.

*Caleb: although delightfully lickable in terms of his looks, as my grandmother used to say, “pretty is as pretty does”. Caleb, while well-intentioned, is really kind of an idiot! Caleb’s trouble all begins when he tries thinking for everyone else and determines that everyone, especially Triona, is better off not knowing everything about the über-dangerous situation they are all in. Add to this the fact that Caleb totally wimps out and runs away at a critical moment, and you have a recipe for a wreck!! All of Caleb’s credibility and likability pretty much goes out the window after all the mistakes.

*The characters that were pretty awesome for me are Triona’s brother Ben, her BFF Amanda, and the super-awesome, lie detector Eila. For me, none of these characters were present enough. Each of these characters were the by far the strongest, most straight-forward and forthright in the novel, and I really, really wish there would have been a lot more of all them in this story. Ben is strong, courageous, and loyal. Amanda is faithful, kind, and brutally honest. Eila is beautiful, strong, and compassionate, all while being a super-human lie detector. It’s a pretty sweet super-power ☺

The bottom line: I really am torn over this book, as it had such a great plot, but characters that sadly fell short for me. The plot in this novel is strong enough to carry the weaker characters, and I think the book will actually play well with readers who are fans of super-intense, love-at-first-sight romance reads. This is a YA novel, but I would be remiss if I recommended it to the younger end of the YA reader spectrum, as the romance is certainly not sexually explicit, but it is quite intense.(less)

like · see review

Apr 16, 2011 Yvonne rated it 3 of 5 stars

First of all, let me say this. This review may be one big ramble because it was so hard for me get this review out. There were parts of the book that I loved and parts that I didn’t particularly care for, and after rewriting and rewriting, I just decided to let it flow...

When I first picked up this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I liked the story and the characters, but it gave me such a déjà vu feeling that I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. True, in most YA novels, you get the sa...more

like · see review

Apr 08, 2011 Trisha Wolfe rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had no expectations going into to this book. I hadn’t read any other reviews, and didn’t know too much about it. The beginning was slow, starting off like so many books in this genre do, and right away I felt the instantaneous connection between Triona and Caleb was leading to a derivative tale. Then, I was blown away. The story quickly became passionate and powerful. Twist and turns I didn’t see coming sprang out of nowhere and my mouth hit the floor. Triona’s character starts off rather typi...more I had no expectations going into to this book. I hadn’t read any other reviews, and didn’t know too much about it. The beginning was slow, starting off like so many books in this genre do, and right away I felt the instantaneous connection between Triona and Caleb was leading to a derivative tale. Then, I was blown away. The story quickly became passionate and powerful. Twist and turns I didn’t see coming sprang out of nowhere and my mouth hit the floor. Triona’s character starts off rather typical. She’s the average teen girl who is pretty but doesn’t realize how beautiful she is, and everyone around her wants to protect her, even from her own indecisiveness. However, after one of her closest friends points some things out to her, Triona truly takes her friends words into consideration. Something that rarely happens in most books. I loved this about her. I loved that she was able to see herself through others eyes, open her own, and become a stronger person and grow. Caleb’s character starts off pretty typical also. Gorgeous new guy that is so hot he’s god-like. He’s smooth, smart, and mysterious, and he keeps things from Triona in order to protect her. At first, his secretiveness kind of made me mad, I always wonder why the girls in the story just don’t smack the guy when they don’t give up the information, but as the story revealed its secrets, the reasoning for this became clear and imperative. Caleb’s strength and his desire to protect Triona was the underlying cause for his evasiveness, and ultimately his most endearing quality. The romance between Triona and Caleb… WOW… Can you say super steamy? Oates has set a new bar for sexy in YA. But at no time did I feel that the scenes were done just for the sake of doing them, they felt necessary to the story and the characters and their plight. And they were done tasteful. The passion between Triona and Caleb was part of their connection. I really enjoyed the other characters also. They were developed with care and each was unique and had their own wants and desires. The end of the story wrapped up tightly, and though it left me satisfied, I can’t help wanting more. I was extremely impressed with Oates writing. She’s clear and descriptive, and her style along with beautiful prose kept me turning the pages just as much as the heart-pounding plot. This was truly an amazing read. I highly recommend it to all lovers of Paranormal Romance as well as those who love stories with a twist that you don’t see coming. It’s a wonderful addition to the YA market and a must read!(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 06, 2010 Tara SG rated it 3 of 5 stars

* * * 1/2

--This book in 6 words:

second half made up for beginning

--Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

As one of Missie’s loyal readers, I did not hesitate to buy this after reading her 5 star review. While I unfortunately didn’t love it as much as she did, I did enjoy it and am glad I picked it up. I’m going to try to keep my review short since I’m behind on reviews and Missie’s review is fantastic (so head over here if you want a more thorough review).

I really liked the mythology and only...more

like · see review

Nov 30, 2010 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-i-own, for-review

see an exclusive author interview and ebook giveaway on our site at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com

It's been a while since I have been completely swept away into the world of a book, but Shades of Atlantis carried me away and left me there. Author Carol Oates reawakened my creative spirit and desire to learn about Celtic myth and lore. With only a month left of 2010 and over 115 titles reviewed, her book easily slides onto my list of favorite reads this year.

The tale begins with main heroin...more see an exclusive author interview and ebook giveaway on our site at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com

It's been a while since I have been completely swept away into the world of a book, but Shades of Atlantis carried me away and left me there. Author Carol Oates reawakened my creative spirit and desire to learn about Celtic myth and lore. With only a month left of 2010 and over 115 titles reviewed, her book easily slides onto my list of favorite reads this year.

The tale begins with main heroine, red haired Alitriona Pryor, a regular high school student growing up in Camden, Maine. Raised by her aunt and uncle after the tragic death of her parents, she and her brother Ben find themselves pitched into a battle involving family secrets and hidden destinies. Triona begins work at a local seaside restaurant where she meets her new boss Caleb Wallace and immediately they both feel an attraction that is magnetic. The chemistry between the two of them soon proves to be dangerous. Caleb believes in Platos' concept of soul mates, two halves that make a whole. Soon he starts to open up to Triona with tales of an ancient sword, magic, hidden civilizations and a gifted people. Are they all tales from his childhood or is there some truth to his stories?

Readers travel to the mountains of Maine, Clerkenwell London, Oxford, Dublin and ancient Tara, Ireland in search of the truth. Breathtaking scenery and local legend made the book vivid and alive. The author combines faery lore with Celtic history and adds a dash of Arthurian legend to Atlantis.

Her characters are all well developed and I dare say you will fall in love with both main heroes Caleb and John for the strengths they bring to Triona. Once you pick up Shades of Atlantis you'll want to carve out enough time to read it entirely because there is no turning back. I stayed up late into the night and woke up early the next morning entranced. My only reservation was that at times there are similarities to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, but with enough of a twist to make this book stand alone as unique and powerful. Even the Epilogue was amazing! Each page well crafted and important. Congratulations to Carol Oates for an incredible debut. Shades of Atlantis is mesmerizing and magical.

Readers may also enjoy The Mark by Marilyn Bunderson or The Books of Faeirie by Maggie Stiefvater. I would recommend this book for readers 16 and older as it does contain some sexual content and violence.
(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 30, 2010 Jennie Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Yet another great publication from Omnific! The originality of the plot, characters, and the world that Carol created complete sucked me in from the beginning. I am glad that I got this debut in just in time for my debut challenge and am glad to say that it is easily one of my top books for this year. Carol’s creativity of the Celtic myths was just what those of us who are stretching our creative writing brains need… and those of us who simply love to get swept away in a world completely believa...more Yet another great publication from Omnific! The originality of the plot, characters, and the world that Carol created complete sucked me in from the beginning. I am glad that I got this debut in just in time for my debut challenge and am glad to say that it is easily one of my top books for this year. Carol’s creativity of the Celtic myths was just what those of us who are stretching our creative writing brains need… and those of us who simply love to get swept away in a world completely believable and tremendously imaginative.

My cousin and best friend are red heads and both have often said to me that there aren’t many good books out there with strong red headed females. Well Manda and Rachel, this one is for you (and all you other strong red heads out there)! Triona is the kind of girl we all secretly hope to be. She lost her parents at a young age and went with her younger brother to live with her aunt and uncle. She has a determined personality and a past that she is slowly coming to realize is far more complicated than she could have ever imagined. When the hottie Caleb moves into town, Triona doesn’t think much of it because she considers herself plain but is completely shocked when he shows interest in her. As they fall in love seemingly immediately, they quickly find that their destinies are more entwined than they could have ever imagined.

Readers will find themselves traveling from America to London all through Triona’s eyes and living right with her as she finds out more about her past, her parents and her future. Seeing as I have never been to many of the places Triona mentions, I found that Carol did an amazing job describing even the little things so that I could (quite literally) see it through Triona’s eyes. I love that Triona had two equally impressive men vying for her attention who were vastly different. It was easy to fall in love with all of the characters throughout the novel and feel the raw emotions they were dealing with.

This wonderful debut needs to join the rest of the amazing books you have on your shelf… and not just as a decoration! Carol’s creativity of a brand new world, description of her characters, and enticement within the plot will have you sucked in from the very beginning and you won’t put it down until you are done. Then, if you are like me, you will send emails begging her to write more!
(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 09, 2011 Rachel Harris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fun read, read it in one sitting.

I loved the relationship between Triona and Caleb. Steamy is too light a word to describe these two. And I loved how the author kept me guessing about Caleb's secret, and just when the reader thinks they understand, she throws a major twist at you. I found myself smiling for much of the book.

There have been comparisons to Twilight, and honestly, there were quite a few places where I could see that, but the best example of how Shades of Atlantis differed--for me-...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 22, 2011 CoffeeTimeRomance andMore rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, paranormal, romance

Shades of Atlantis is a tale shrouded in mystery, paranormal activity, and a young love that will not be denied even if it means death. I love how Carol Oates starts the book off with Triona scoffing at the sensationalism of Caleb until she actually meets him. The intriguing tale continuously spins a story full of heart and soul, anguish, forbidden love, destiny, and one girl who finally figures out what she wants to be when she grows up. The way the author showing Caleb bouncing between being a...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2011 Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shade of Atlantis was a very refreshing read for me. I enjoyed it a lot and I am glad that I got the chance to read it, thanks to Omnific Publishing.

It was different from what I normally read, but in a good way. I loved Carol Oates take on immortality and where she took the story. When I first started reading Shades of Atlantis, I honestly did not know what to expect. I was thinking Vampires, werewolves, something along those lines. It turned out to be something totally different and caught me b...more Shade of Atlantis was a very refreshing read for me. I enjoyed it a lot and I am glad that I got the chance to read it, thanks to Omnific Publishing.

It was different from what I normally read, but in a good way. I loved Carol Oates take on immortality and where she took the story. When I first started reading Shades of Atlantis, I honestly did not know what to expect. I was thinking Vampires, werewolves, something along those lines. It turned out to be something totally different and caught me by surprise.

There were lots of moments where I just couldn't put the book down. Then there were those moments I wanted to throw the book across the room, but at the same time I just couldn't stop reading. I loved the relationship between Caleb and Triona. I love it when two characters first meet and they just can't stay away from one another. All they think about is each other and feel an instant connection with one another. That is exactly what happened to Caleb and Triona. No matter how hard Caleb tried to deny the chemistry between the two, he just simply couldn't.

Now we all know every book has to have some kind of love triangle, but what makes Shades of Atlantis different is that, Triona from the very beginning knew exactly who her heart belonged too. Even after others try to tell her maybe it didn't, her heart and love for Caleb NEVER changed. That was another thing I absolutely loved about this book. I wasn't torn between two characters and even felt positive myself that Caleb was the one for Triona lol.

The only issue I had with the book is that in the very beginning Triona was very needy and whiny. She cried over every little thing and always assumed the worse instead of hearing things out. I was a little annoyed with her character, but I have to say she did grow. She went from needy and whiny, to strong and being able to hold her own. Especially with everything Caleb and Triona go through, she was perfect. So my advice, keep reading. Triona grows into a very independent person. (less)

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 18, 2011 Cathy/The Crazy Bookworm rated it 4 of 5 stars

The premise for this book captured my interest right away. I knew it was going to be a refreshing read because of it's original storyline. I was not disappointed!

There are books that are great because of the plot, or their are books that have a good balance of both. However, for me, I loved this book because of it's character cast. Carol Oates created such riveting characters, that it made the book nearly impossible to put down. The first half of the book is the character development, but it was...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 01, 2011 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Review originally posted at http://beyondtwilightfictionreviews.b...

I loved this book.

The writing style is very good and kept me captivated. The story was fast paced and had enough mystery to keep me interested, but provided enough just enough detail and back story to let me build an understanding of and relationship with the characters.

This was a refreshing change from some of the YA paranormal books I have read recently that have kind of 'dragged me along' with the story before I have any ide...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 13, 2011 Mels78 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ok I really wanted to love this book. I thought the premise looked awesome. Unfortunately I only liked the book. I'm trying to put my finger on what I didn't like and I think that I came up with the fact that it became too wordy. If I had to read one more time how the characters were "reacting" to the other's presence I thought I would scream. Plus the male lead seem to be a little bi-polar; reacting one way one minute and then swinging to the opposite emotions the next minute. Now that being id...more

like · see review

Apr 01, 2011 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shades of Atlantis almost feels like two books in one. The first half is building relationships and connections, where the second half is revelations and action. You do need the first half to understand the unwavering decisions in the second half. The main character Triona transforms toward the end and it is necessary as she learns her destiny. In the beginning, I wanted to smack her for crying at the drop of a hat. But as the end neared, she had grown into a heroine. This is a good thing since...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 05, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jennifer by: Julie

Shelves: ya, ebook

Shades of Atlantis has shades of brilliance. Carol Oates has created a compelling magical world which I entered too briefly and left too soon. It left me lost in contemplation.

The story is entrancing and although it has several parallels to a recently popular series, it's differences more than make up for it. I love the romance between Triona & Caleb, though several times I wanted to shake her for being so blind. I especially love the way she has Amanda describe destiny to Triona -very Slidi...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 17, 2011 Debbie (at) I Heart YA Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once I sat down to read Shades of Atlantis, I couldn’t put it down. Triona’s character at the beginning honestly frustrated me. I was screaming: OPEN YOUR MOUTH GIRL; say what you need to say. But if a book didn't get you worked up, it wouldn't be good. I'm glad to say by the end, Triona had grown into strong and powerful women. And Caleb had me loving him from the start. He's handsome, strong, knows what he wants, and he wants Triona. He sacrificed everything for her. There was one character I...more

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Candace (Lovey Dovey Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shades of Atlantis is an intriguing novel filled with soul mates, tragedy, and hope. Carol Oates has written every chapter with an entertaining and fascinating plot. The characters are lovable, flawed, and completely easy to relate to.

Triona had never been interested in boys before she met Caleb, so of course he sweeps her off her feet and fills her days and nights with thoughts of him. Their romance is sweet and intense, sometimes cheesy, but it inspires hope for the future of mankind.

Shades of...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 17, 2011 Read for your future! rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-books

Read my review at:
http://www.readforyourfuture.net/Shad...

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 02, 2011 April (CSI:Librarian) marked it as did-not-finish

Carol Oates definitely has a good writing style, but I just did not find myself believing in the love between Triona and Caleb. I get that they had love at first sight going on, but for me that is not compelling reason in of itself to buy into a relationship.

For me as a reader, it is never enough to be told someone is in love. I have to see that in the writing itself, and that didn’t happen. By Chapter 6, it seemed that loving Caleb and Triona’s love was essential to enjoying the rest of the bo...more

like · see review

Jul 27, 2012 Hannah Fielding rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy fiction that weaves itself into history or mythology, especially when it links to places I have visited, or would like to visit. So I was keen to read this book, Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates, which ties into the mystical Hill of Tara – the seat of the High Kings of Ireland and one of Ireland’s most famous ancient sites. This book has many fascinating elements – Celtic mythology, King Arthur and Merlin, Plato, and the lost city of Atlantis – all drawn together in a love story...more I really enjoy fiction that weaves itself into history or mythology, especially when it links to places I have visited, or would like to visit. So I was keen to read this book, Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates, which ties into the mystical Hill of Tara – the seat of the High Kings of Ireland and one of Ireland’s most famous ancient sites. This book has many fascinating elements – Celtic mythology, King Arthur and Merlin, Plato, and the lost city of Atlantis – all drawn together in a love story of soul-mates and their action-packed destiny.

The heroine, Triona, lives in Camden, Maine, with her aunt, uncle and brother, Ben. She has never quite felt like she ‘fit in’ and she dreams of travelling to Europe after completing her senior year at high school. Triona is working part-time in a local restaurant to help fund her travels, and when she meets her new boss the attraction between them is instant.

‘I couldn’t explain it; though I’d never laid eyes on Caleb Wallace before, I recognized him instantly. I knew the contours of his face, the straight line of his jaw, the shallow dimple in his chin, the deep blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires…’

‘I didn’t want to move an inch. Being with Caleb right there was like one of the fairytales I’d never believed in, my very own happy ending.’

When tragedy strikes, Triona eventually follows her dream and goes to London. Here she learns the meaning of many of the stories Caleb had told her and she begins to understand his fascination with mythology. But when legend becomes Triona’s reality, and her soul-mate and family are in danger, can Triona live up to her destiny?

‘There have always been mysteries, since the dawn of time… Things that no human has been able to explain.’

I love this book. The mysterious Caleb is a great character – handsome, strong, elusive and passionate, and it was really nice to also see the female lead character, Triona, develop from a somewhat insecure schoolgirl into a strong, fiery, independent woman, guided by Caleb’s love and knowledge. I love the way that this book brings Celtic myth and legend into a contemporary romance, and puts forward the idea that these ‘stories’ are not yet complete, and are part of our living future. I am sure that having read this book many people will want to visit the beautiful Hill of Tara, to get lost in its ancient history, and touch the Stone of Destiny for themselves.

The plot has some great surprises as well; I was caught out several times on what I thought was going to happen. It’s very difficult to give you too much more on the plot of this book without giving the surprises away. But if you like the romance and thrill of magic, mythology and legend, all tied up with contemporary fiction… if like me you find the idea of soul-mates and destiny irresistible, then you will love this book.

It was an adventure that left me wanting to read more, to see what happened to the characters next. Luckily, Carol Oates has hinted in interviews of a sequel coming very soon – which may even be written from a different character’s point of view. I shall certainly be adding her future books to my bookshelf.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 26, 2011 Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a 3.5 for me after looking at the books I have given four stars to. The storyline is really good and different. It was really brilliant that the author gives the reader the short two page preface where it tells of a baby girl born in a cave with a battle raging outside with the sounds of swords clanging. The baby is handed to a waiting man by the midwife who is the mother's sister. The midwife hands him a leather bound packet and they say their good-byes, obviously caring deeply for each...more This is a 3.5 for me after looking at the books I have given four stars to. The storyline is really good and different. It was really brilliant that the author gives the reader the short two page preface where it tells of a baby girl born in a cave with a battle raging outside with the sounds of swords clanging. The baby is handed to a waiting man by the midwife who is the mother's sister. The midwife hands him a leather bound packet and they say their good-byes, obviously caring deeply for each other. When asked where he will take the baby, he answers, "I only know who waits to take her from me, not of her journey's end."

This preface is important to the reading of the book, because the book begins in present time and is told in the first person by Triona, a high school senior who works at a restaurant part time. Triona has barely met the third of the brother, Caleb, who own the restaurant. She is very attracted to him and her best friend Amanda teases her about it. I personally in books am not real fond of the "instant attraction" and the idea of being deeply in love before the couple even knows each other, and this was a drawback to me for this book. From this point for far too many pages, it pretty much goes on to a great deal of sensual kissing and losing themselves in each other (no real sex and it is not graphic - I would consider the book YA). I have read some other books that IMO make the mistake of having too many scenes like this and too often using the same phrases over and over - a bit too much of thundering heartbeats and such. There is of course a mystery about Caleb, and while Triona is troubled about the secrets he obviously is keeping from her, the reader is trying to decide just what Caleb really is. I won't do a spoiler on that because I jumped from one idea to another and I think that was a fun part of the book - the mystery of what is really going on.

The last third or so of the book was the best part, but somehow it never really drew me in like I had hoped it would. The premise of what Caleb and his family really are and the tie to the preface (which I went back and read probably a dozen times to get clues) are really the most interesting part of the book. For me it just took too long to get there. There are some other good characters in the book although I thought they were a little vague (except Amanda) even Triona's brother, Ben didn't really come to life for me until close to the end. Good story but probably would have been better with a lot less pages. It's 307 pages but another negative for me - small print.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Feb 01, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-e-books, read-in-2011, favorites, teen-action-adventure, teen-fantasy, teen-paranormal-fiction, with-reviews, 2011-teen-book-reviews, teen-romance

Triona looks forward to the end of her senior year when she plans to leave her small town of Camden, Maine behind to travel to London. She doesn't plan on falling in love, but from the moment she first see's Caleb she feels an irresistible attraction to him. When the unthinkable happens, Triona heads off to London to find her way, but little does she know that she is a pawn in a much bigger game, and that her very life could be in jeopardy.

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I first starte...more
Triona looks forward to the end of her senior year when she plans to leave her small town of Camden, Maine behind to travel to London. She doesn't plan on falling in love, but from the moment she first see's Caleb she feels an irresistible attraction to him. When the unthinkable happens, Triona heads off to London to find her way, but little does she know that she is a pawn in a much bigger game, and that her very life could be in jeopardy.

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading this novel. All of the summaries and blurbs that I had found were somewhat on the vague side, but very intriguing. I certainly didn't expect this novel to grab me the way it did and leave me completely breathless. As soon as Triona met Caleb, I found myself riveted to the story and flipping the pages as quickly as I could read. Oates had me hooked from her prologue, and although I would really have liked more of the background story presented in the prologue, Triona's story was mesmerizing.

I love the strength of Triona's character. She is intelligent and determined. I love that Triona takes chances and does what is right even though she wishes she could take another path. I also loved how she followed her heart. Her actions were realistic, and she had believable flaws. One of her friends points out to her that she can sometimes be a bit oblivious to things going on around her. I loved that flaw in her because we so often get wrapped up in our own concerns and lives that we do miss things going on around us. That flaw made Triona feel very real to me.

The love triangle is nothing new in teen fiction, but I do like how this one was handled. Triona's heart never wavers even when it seems like all hope is lost. In some respects I was having some Twilight flashbacks, but I think the relationships in this novel were handled so much more deftly, and the fact that Triona is a much stronger character influenced how these relationships developed.

Although this book would probably fall into the paranormal genre, the use of the celtic legends and the city of Atlantis mythology was definitely an original aspect. I loved how she incorporated some of the myths into her story--it was different from all the vampire and werewolf fiction that has flooded the teen market. In fact, I was very pleased that the paranormal aspects in this novel did not have vampires or werewolves.

My only criticism was that I felt a few of the story lines could have been tied up a little more completely. The Chris storyline could have had more explanation and I would have loved to have more information on the history presented in the prologue, although maybe that is material for another book. Neither of these are major complaints--in fact it may just be me and my curiosity. I loved the book so much I just wanted more.

Overall this was a riveting read. I couldn't imagine where this story was going to take me, but I loved the journey getting there. Oates is a talented author who knows how to keep a reader on the edge of their seats. I can't wait to read more of her work.

Definitely recommended, I loved it. I will say that if you are seeking a paper copy of the book you may have to be prepared to hunt around a bit for it and pay a bit more. It seems this book is much more readily available in the digital format. If you are seeking a paper copy of the book you will probably have to purchase it directly from the publisher Omnific Publishing, or from them through Amazon Marketplace.

Cautions for sensitive readers: Some violence.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 15, 2011 Jules rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, reviewed, sent-4-review

My full review can be read at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

This was an enjoyable read that I think will appeal to readers of various ages. I am glad that I was able to be a part of this fun blog tour.

The story starts with an emotional scene from the very distant past and then switches to the present and some normal teenage girl angst - "who am I going to the dance with", "what will I wear" and "will he or won't he kiss me"? Then the story really takes off when Triona meets and connects with her n...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 07, 2011 Sally rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, ya, really-het, paranormal-wtfckery

"There's a magic stone." He was almost shaking with excitement.

"Of course," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "There would be, wouldn't there."

That above exchange pretty much sums up my feelings about this book. ;) Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am not a fan of the current trend for paranormal/supernatural YA books. There are of course a few exceptions, but they're pretty rare. Generally if I am reading a blurb and the girl comes across a dark, brooding guy with a Secret: he's a we...more "There's a magic stone." He was almost shaking with excitement.

"Of course," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "There would be, wouldn't there."

That above exchange pretty much sums up my feelings about this book. ;) Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am not a fan of the current trend for paranormal/supernatural YA books. There are of course a few exceptions, but they're pretty rare. Generally if I am reading a blurb and the girl comes across a dark, brooding guy with a Secret: he's a werewolf/vampire/zombie/angel/etc, I put the back straight back on the shelf. I am just not interested.

So this book was really not up my alley in the slightest! It wasn't too bad though - I did finish it pretty quickly and was definitely interested to know what happened/what the hell was going on. Triona was likeable enough for the most part - although when she was doing the whole heart pounding/legs shaking/voice failing/cheeks flushing thing over Caleb it made me groan. Not my kind of thing. Also, if I'd been playing a drinking game, the term "sapphire eyes" would have gotten me totally smashed.

I can't say I was a big fan of Caleb's, or of Caleb/Triona. See, she came across as a bit younger than 18, and he came across as well older than 21. (Which he was. Hah.) Also, he was one of her bosses - so it came across as this really creepy older man type thing. Then he kept doing the whole "I can't tell you anything, just trust me" thing on her and basically treating her like a little toy.

The first part was high school teen angst and creepy relationship, that I could have dealt with. The second half however was a sudden explosion of what I have to call paranormal-wtfckery. Suddenly, she's One Of Them, and there's a Council out to get them, and she has super powers, and is royalty, and there's a prophecy... too much, too much! The idea about the Guardians was an interesting one, but the story surrounding it all was just not to my liking. I think I need to go read some Enid Blyton now!(less)

like · see review

Feb 09, 2011 Kai (Amaterasu Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kai (Amaterasu Reads) by: Teen Book Scene

Shelves: teens, 2011-tbr-pile, arc

Full review posted at Amaterasu Reads

Action packed, and thrilling, Shades of Atlantis is a fresh tale about a lost city, its people and the magical tale that behind it.

Cheesy at times, but very sexy, intense and invokes emotion upon the readers, I do love how Carol Oates shaped Caleb and Triona's characters. They weren't just two love sick people. Triona can be really stubborn and Caleb is this gentleman who would do anything for the girl he loves, even giving up his life for her. He sounds so...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 05, 2011 Lindsay Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, own

I really liked this book. Caleb was a dreamy gentleman with manners and he was sweet. Triona, just like everyone else, was under his spell.

All of the characters were diverse and great (even the few bad ones).
It seems as if this could’ve been made into more than one book with all that was happening. Oates started and finished her work with one book and it worked.

The only thing that seemed to bother me was that during the second half of the book, I felt as if the characters were rushing things. W...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews, 2011-debut-authors, 2011-100-book-challenge

4.5 stars

A fabulous mythology, rich history, a great love story mixed with some great action scenes makes Shades of Atlantis a wonderful gem of a read.

There were a couple times while reading this story I couldn't help but think of another well known YA book, BUT the way in which Carol writes and owns her unique, refreshing story quickly pulled me right back into the story. I enjoyed the world building and the setting which goes from the east coast, to London and then to Ireland. Let's talk about...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2011 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, mundie-moms-review, 2011-100-book-challenge, debut-author-challenge

4.5 stars

A fabulous mythology, rich history, a great love story mixed with some great action scenes makes Shades of Atlantis a wonderful gem of a read.

There were a couple times while reading this story I couldn't help but think of another well known YA book, BUT the way in which Carol writes and owns her unique, refreshing story quickly pulled me right back into the story. I enjoyed the world building and the setting which goes from the east coast, to London and then to Ireland. Let's talk about...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 09, 2011 Penelope rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-books

2 1/2 stars! This review was originally published on my blog: The Reading Fever.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I read Shades of Atlantis; I hadn't read much about it (it' a new thing I'm trying, to keep my expectations in-check). I tend to love books about people discovering family secrets...maybe I'm holding out for my parents to reveal that I'm really a princess, or something. :)

For the most part, Shades of Atlantis didn't end up being for me. I thought I would like it a lot more than I did...more 2 1/2 stars! This review was originally published on my blog: The Reading Fever.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I read Shades of Atlantis; I hadn't read much about it (it' a new thing I'm trying, to keep my expectations in-check). I tend to love books about people discovering family secrets...maybe I'm holding out for my parents to reveal that I'm really a princess, or something. :)

For the most part, Shades of Atlantis didn't end up being for me. I thought I would like it a lot more than I did, but I didn't. Although there were some things I liked, there were more things I didn't like about this book, which I really hate to include, especially since this is a blog tour. I thought about not posting them, but I can't be honest to my readers without an honest review, so I'll get the negatives over with first. I do urge you to read other reviews in the tour though, since many others participating in the book tour absolutely loved the book, and have much different opinions about it.

First of all, I thought the beginning of Shades of Atlantis was a bit too slow, and the romance developed too quickly for my taste. It felt like two books to me, and in all honesty, could have been split into at least a duology, if not, a trilogy. There were two parts in the book that felt like endings, but when I looked down at the meter on my Kindle, there was a lot more still left in the story.

As far as the romance, I do believe in love at first sight, but when all the emotions are laid out on the table in the first third of the book, it's hard for any romantic scene to be better, or more emotional. There was a scene that almost made me cry towards the end, but most of the other scenes just seemed like a repeat of what had already happened at the beginning of the book. Too much had been given away at the beginning.

Lastly, I couldn't help but think of how similar the situations of these characters were to the characters in Twilight. There were many times when I thought: wait, didn't Edward do this? or didn't that happen in Twilight? I just couldn't shake it from my mind, and it brought me out of the story a few times.

Aside from all of this, I think the second half of the book made up for a lot of the first half (this is where I think it could have been split, and more added to the first half). Everything began picking up, answers were given, and the characters began to grow and develop. With the mystery finally revealed, the story became much more interesting, and I became emotionally invested in the characters. The romance was more believable, and--as I said before--almost made me cry at one point (always a good thing).

The other thing I really liked was that folklore was a main part of the story. I am seeing more and more books with mythological/folklore elements, and they are always fun to read. This one was no different, putting a spin on Irish folklore and Celtic legends.

In conclusion: Despite the fact that Shades of Atlantis wasn't for me, I think it would be a great read for anyone who likes a little romance and danger in their books; especially older teenagers who are interested in Celtic legends.

This book was provided for review by: Omnific Publishing, as part of the Shades of Atlantis Book Tour hosted by A Tale of Many Reviews.
(less)

like · see review

Mar 06, 2011 Jodi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, signed

I won this book on goodreads a while ago and I finally got a chance to sit down and read it all.

First off let me start by saying, there are A LOT of words in this book! Don't let the simple, 300 page YA idea give you the wrong impression. Most ya books have 250 words per page (??), this one has. . . well, I'm not going to count the words, sorry, but I know it takes me three times as long to finish a page as a normal YA book. Yeah, it's LONG!

Now about the book! Well. . . the first about half, wa...more

2 likes · like · see review

title link	preview: Shades of Atlantis
avg rating	preview: Shades of Atlantis Goodreads rating: 3.92 (140 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9662110-shades-of-atlantis?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328016487l/9662110.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9662110-shades-of-atlantis?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates[/url]

Shades of Atlantis (Shades #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Carol Oates

Books by Carol Oates

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Shades of Atlantis