The style: Mr. Carpenter can be my Game Master any day. The novel mixed the futuristic world with the gaming world. Basically, Gabby’s life was a game...moreThe style: Mr. Carpenter can be my Game Master any day. The novel mixed the futuristic world with the gaming world. Basically, Gabby’s life was a game of racking up points in order to reach the next level. Talk about your rat race.
It totally took me back to my EverQuest addicted days. The game talk, the leveling, the never-ending pursuit to acquire more, whether it be points, gear, etc… I was there. But it was a bit more, especially in the final raid. It took me out of online roleplaying and plunged me into paper DnD.
The plot: The story was well-paced. Once I got into it, I had a hard time putting it down, even going so far as taking it to the bathroom with me. Is that TMI? One thing I will say is Gamers seemed more like the beginning of something big. The major players were introduced but it didn’t have a sense of finality to it. It was more as if it set me up for the end of one adventure while opening the door for a whole new adventure. I haven’t read the full trilogy yet, but I definitely would say Gamers isn’t the book to stop on.
Okay… I really want to ruin this book for you with sentences that start with “like this one time…” But I know you’ll hate me for it. So… let’s talk about…
Characters: The novel was told from Gabby’s POV. She started out very much a part of the system, very focused on the end game, which in her case happened to be getting into the grand university. She reminded me a lot of the AP straight-A students I’d encountered while working in the high school. She knew what she wanted, how to do get it, and didn’t slack in reaching her goals. Yet she never acted like she was better than everyone else. She was just a regular kid (except for being a super genius) with typical problems…. well typical until the poo hit the fan. I liked her.
The other characters were rather fleeting. They didn’t take up much of my time, but each played important roles which pushed the plot forward or gave insight to an aspect of Gabby’s character of the total story. To be honest, if you quizzed me, I wouldn’t remember a single name. That doesn’t say a lot though. I’m horrible with names and even had to read the blurb to remember Gabby’s. Still, I love the cohesiveness the characters brought to the entire story. Each was rememberable (not so much the names for me but the personalities definitely). I’ve snapped a photograph of each of them in my mind’s eye.
Final thoughts: Gamers had a few loose ends which gave the first book a cliffhanger feel to it. You all know how much I hate cliffhangers. Yet at the same time, I was satisfied with the ending, especially knowing the next two books are already available.
My score? 4.5 – 5 out of 5 stars. HIGHLY recommended for RPG-ers.
I received my copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.(less)
I received an event showing this would be offered for free. It sounded interesting, PLUS it's short... something I could knock out in a few minutes.
I...moreI received an event showing this would be offered for free. It sounded interesting, PLUS it's short... something I could knock out in a few minutes.
I imagine it was a heartfelt endeavor for a father to take the opportunity to write letters of love to his daughters. Kudos to him. Not everyone takes the time to say, "I love you" to the ones they care about.
The letters were told in a fairytale fashion--once upon a time. I can imagine in later years his daughters sitting with their children at bedtime and reading the letters. One child might even ask, "Who is he talking about, Mommy?" And the daughter would say... "Me." Or "My sister."
So what did I think of the work overall? Well, it wasn't for me. I wasn't fond of the story telling and couldn't get into the once upon a time style. It also had an air of repetition. I think it'd work for a children's book, as I mentioned, a bedtime story, but not so much on an adult level. And since the letters were written for grown daughters, I think it missed the mark when it comes to the adult audience.
For the most part, I think these letters are something his daughters would appreciate. Perhaps the letters would even appeal to his family and friends, since they'd have a background knowledge. As for me the reader, I didn't connect with the work.
One last item I'm adding. This work could use another round of editing. It's short enough that a pass through a critique group would likely do the trick. As it is, it makes me wonder if English is the author's second or third language.
Just my opinion: An interesting conversational piece and keepsake for the author's descendants but lacks commercial appeal.(less)
A+ read! I wish I had time to write a review for it RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT, but alas I've got to get going. As my son would say, "It's ohshum!" :) 201...moreA+ read! I wish I had time to write a review for it RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT, but alas I've got to get going. As my son would say, "It's ohshum!" :) 2012 Favorite Read!(less)
I’m going to start with the cover. Going into this book, I had no idea the girl was interracial (black/white). Now I’m not saying a gal like the one on the cover couldn’t be interracial. However, the description in the book made her seem like she leaned toward the black side of the interracial spectrum. The gal on the cover looks VERY white. I have to say, I’m rather disappointed in the cover art.
If I Tell had a rough start. It began with leaving the reader in the dark. I knew something big had happened, but what exactly, I couldn’t say. I’m one of those folks who believes the reader should know everything the main character knows, so right off the back I was a little apprehensive about this book.
I’m happy to say, the “something big” was revealed rather quickly. My best guess is the author presented the “something big” as a mystery to draw the reader in… a hook. To be honest, if I’d read the sample in the store or online, I wouldn’t have purchased the book. I’m glad I picked it up from NetGalley, because I felt obligated to read a bit further… really give the book a try, because If I Tell was a decent read. Not fabulous, but decent, and I was lucky to receive the opportunity to read and review it.
The main character had me confused at time. She created a lot of unnecessary drama for herself. She boasted about her honesty and keeping the lines of communication open with her mother. However, she kept the “something big” to herself for much of the story. If she had just spilled the beans early she could have saved everyone a lot of grief. Of course, the story would have been over since that was the main conflict.
As for the plot, it was interesting enough. The MC was faced with a difficult dilemma. I truly felt for her situation. But like I said, she caused more trouble for herself than necessary. There were also quite a few slow moments in the story. The book wasn’t overly long, but it could have used a bit a trimming to really keep me engaged.
What I really liked about If I Tell was Ms. Gutler’s style of writing… the way she was able to use the language in a way which flowed well and was natural sounding.
Over all, If I Tell had an interesting premise. I liked the writing style. Ms. Gurtler did a great job stringing words together. I even liked the storyline. However, the book was a bit slow in the middle, and quite a few scenes seemed like the same but written in different ways. As a result, this was about a 3/5 star read for me. (less)
I was looking for something short and sexy. This was it. In very few words, the author managed to create meaningful characters in addition to a...moreBravo!
I was looking for something short and sexy. This was it. In very few words, the author managed to create meaningful characters in addition to a plot which made me think "it could happen." :) The sex was hot and well-written. Definitely kept me entertained.
As the description stated, this is a super short story despite the large file size. Beyond the story is an excerpt for another work in the same series. I didn't read the excerpt, however. Like I said, I wanted something short, and Stolen did it for me.
Well done, Jinx Jamison! I'll have to see what else you have to offer.(less)
I’ll just come out and say it. What a Boy Needs was another great read. Not sure if I liked it more or less, or the same as What a Boy Wants. I do know I liked the beginning a lot… a lot more than What a Boy Wants, which is saying a lot, because I liked the beginning of What a Boy Wants A WHOLE LOT! The middle maybe about the same and the ending a little less. Still all around good and 5 stars.
So now that I’ve ruined the surprised, what exactly did I like about What a Boy Needs.
The Boy Jay: “Fake it till you make it” seemed to be his motto. The words he verbalized were so different from what he truly felt inside. My heart broke for him. I know what it’s like to put on a smile when downer emotions are twirling inside. It’s tough. And Jay did it every single day. I don’t know how he managed some days. I could see myself barring the door to my room and shutting the world indefinitely.
I loved Jay’s struggle with his home life. Well… not gleeful he had struggles, but what his struggles did for the book. I was lucky to land parents who believed in me and encouraged me. It’s easy for me to get wrapped in my own little world and be oblivious to the struggles of others. Nyrae Dawn made Jay’s home life real. Despite my background, I could understand the trials he faced… I truly felt for his situation. *I* wanted to encourage Jay and tell him he was important, loved, desired… that he had a future.
Because Jay had real problems… emotional problems, not just “get the girl” like in What a Boy Wants, the story meant more to me. I looked forward to Jay growing… finding and accepting his true self, trusting in others.
Definitely a worthy sequel to What a Boy Wants.(less)
I have to admit, I was a bit bummed to see one of my favorite free resources with a price tag. But really, I don't blame the authors. Their Emotion Thesaurus is a treasure cove.
Okay... I'll be honest, I didn't read this book in its entirety. But then again, it's not that kind of book, since it's for reference. Still, you're getting my review anyway.
Without fail, I've gone to the Bookshelf Muse (the author's website) during the writing process, and even more often during the editing process. The website offered a variety of ways to show different emotions. No more getting stuck with a frown for anger or a smile for happiness. The Bookshelf Muse showed how to show emotions throughout your character (internally and externally). When the author/blogger condensed and simplified the Emotion Thesaurus on her blog, she put it all in this book.
An excellent resource. The purpose of the book isn't to copy and paste ways to show the emotion into your own writing, but rather to help spur your imagination... give you ideas to expand upon.
What I like less about the eBook version: Clicking through the emotions isn't nearly as easy as the website version. With the website, I simply went to the sidebar and click the emotion. In the eBook version, I might have to flip through a few pages before I could click to the table of content then flip through more pages before I hit the emotion I wanted.
Still, the author made it as convenient as possible. At the end of each emotion you can click to the table of contents.
What I liked more about the eBook version: Not worrying about the internet going out or her blog being down (not that I recall her blog ever going down). When I'm stumped, I just pick up my eReader and find the emotion I need. I don't need the internet or anything.
EDIT: Okay... the review. Also posted July 2, 2012 on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2012/07/n...Follow the link for a ch...moreEDIT: Okay... the review. Also posted July 2, 2012 on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2012/07/n...Follow the link for a chance to win a copy of What A Boy Wants! Giveaway Ends July 4, 2012
By far the best read I've had all year. I'm totally buying "What a Boy Needs" RIGHT NOW! I'll add more to me review later. Right now I've got to get that book!
First of all, I love Nyrae Dawn’s voice. Her style was a bit different that I’m used to… she actually wrote as if she was talking to the reader. Often I’m put off by the random “you” in a story. Who is you? Are you talking to me? haha In this case, it worked. I say it’s because of the consistency throughout the story. It was always Sebastian talking to me… telling me what was going through his head, as if I was along for the ride.
Speaking of Sebastian… let’s talk about him. My boy was jaded. In his world, love didn’t exist, only heartbreak. He did his best to keep the “no-strings attached” attitude. He was so out of touch with romance and love that when it did hit, he was so flustered he didn’t know what to do with himself. Oh, my man thought he did… but he was wrong… so very wrong. In fact, I have one note that says “why you so stupid, man?”
The parent in me loved this book. First, I loved how responsible the kids were in this book. Like the PPP — pre-party plan. What a wonderful idea! I totally had a talk with my teenage daughter after reading about that. And since I have a girl, let’s talk about hanging with boys. Awesome idea, if you have friends like Sebastian and Jay. When I hit the partying age, I never felt safer than when I had my guy buddies around. I know a lot of parents are like “no way is my baby girl hanging with boys,” but I’m more on the lines “who’s the boy who’ll stand up for you when you’re in a tight bind?”
So I had in my head this was going to be a fabulous review, because the book was that great. Unfortunately, I looked through my notations and most say things like “this is going to be a fave,” “I’m going to start reading more contemporary books because of this,” and “I want to buy Nyrae Dawn’s other books so bad, but I’m afraid I might not like the ending… better wait.”
Needless to say, this book was good. So good, there came a point I just wanted it to end. What?!?! I know. Crazy right? I just couldn’t wait to get to the end so I could rave about how much I loved What a Boy Wants. This was definitely a favorite read. Best book I’d read all year.
I devoured this book in a few hours then immediate purchased the next in the series. Stop by on Wednesday for the review of What a Boy Needs. I haven’t written it yet, but I hope my notes are better than the ones I took for What a Boy Wants. I guess I just got too involved to take time to make notes. Anyways… get it. It really was that good.(less)
This book was supplied to me by the publisher through NetGalley.
This was NOTHING like The Iron King. I read online (maybe at Ms. Kawaga’s website) she was reluctant to write a vampire book. OMG! I am SO glad she decided to take the leap.
I loved the main character, Allie. Bad ass. Yes, that’s what she was. She was the type of girl who wasn’t playing games. If she told me to get out of face for whatever reason, you better believe I’d do it, cause I’d know without a doubt, her next move would be to make me physically comply in the most unpleasant way. And the thing was, I’d deserve whatever she dished out. I love a gal who sticks to her guns!
Quite a few side characters in this book. I’m not going to go into them all, but if you were able to get over all the expendable characters in The Hunger Games, you should be fine with this book.
PLOT!!! Wonderful plot… always moving forward. I almost wonder if Julie Kawaga wrote this one by the seat of her pants. A lot of books start with an overall goal to achieve. This book sort of just moved along from incident to incident. I never really felt like there was an end goal for Allie other than to survive… and that gal was a survivor! Even though the book didn’t seem to have an ultimate goal, pretty much all the main strings were wrapped up in the end. HOWEVER, the story didn’t really end. New goals were created in the last few pages… something to look forward to in the next book.
Overall, great book. I’d say 4.5/5 stars. I’ll definitely have my eyes out for the next in this series. In fact, I enjoyed The Immortal Rules so much, I’m going to give the next book in the Iron Fey series a try. (less)
The blurb on the back of this work was a bit misleading. I thought the ghoul queen would have a greater role, but really her role was no more prevalen...moreThe blurb on the back of this work was a bit misleading. I thought the ghoul queen would have a greater role, but really her role was no more prevalent than the one she played in the last book. Yes, an important role, but I saw very little of her.
I wasn't disappointed in this book though. It was interesting enough even though it wasn't what I expected after reading the blurb. My biggest complaint was the secrets Cat hid from the reader. I have a preference to knowing whatever the main character knows. I'm not even sure Cat revealed the secrets she whispered to Bones. I can think of only one minor surprise announcement, and even then it wasn't that big of a deal.
Overall, this series is really sucking me in. I found I missed an offshoot of the Nighthuntress world, so I'll be start on Spade's and Mencheres's books next before cracking One Grave at a Time.(less)
The first thing I noticed about this work was the narrative. I don’t recall ever reading a work in first person plural. This story was told from the perspective of both the twins, which doubly interesting because the twin girls (main characters) in the story were nameless. The narrative was presented in such a way it gave the two girls a collective thought. For me, the over all effect made Someone Else, Somewhere Else a worthy read if only for analysis.
As for the story itself, Someone Else, Somewhere Else was thought provoking. Not only was it a reminder we don’t get to pick the families we’re born into, but that children have even less say in the hand they’re dealt. They get what they get and adjust the best they can. I finished this story wondering if I protected my children effectively from the harm always around the corner, and hoping their childhood memories will be filled with enough joy to outweigh the bad.
This read left me with a bittersweet sadness, and I hoped Ariya found happiness in her choices. I say if you have 20-30 minutes of spare time, check out this read.(less)
This review also posted July 9, 2012 on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://wp.me/pPz8s-2xJ
What can I say? The story line was interesting enough to...moreThis review also posted July 9, 2012 on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://wp.me/pPz8s-2xJ
What can I say? The story line was interesting enough to keep me engaged. It wasn't a book I spent hours reading at night, but it also didn't take me a month like other books. More the middle of the road type of read which kept me just interested enough to keep going.
I have to say, I wasn't overly fond of the main character. She was quite unlovable, even before her mother died. Though it was noted as a character trait, I had a difficult time understand why she steadily pushed people way... and often she had a mean streak about it. She was also quite immature at times, particularly toward the beginning of the book. The story spanned her life from about 14 to 20. However, she seemed to behave more like a 5-6 year old at times during the first part of the story. It was odd and made it difficult to connect with her.
As for the story itself, I'm not really sure how to classify this one.
Was it a Christian novel? It did have a Christian undertone, particularly toward the end. However, her Christian disbelief seemed to be resolved rather quickly. It really lacked the journey which I normally enjoy with Christian books. Christianity was more of a light switch for her. One moment she didn't believe, the next she did. All of a sudden she was a better person for it. When I think of someone changing, I imagine it comes in increments. For her, it seemed she took on a completely different personality.
Was it a romance? The relationship she had with her beau was fun, but so little time was spent on it that the romance lacked depth. I truly would have loved to explore more of the romance. The relationship seems to have so much potential... like they were two halves of the same whole at times. Yet the time we spent with her beau was too insignificant to really call this a true romance.
Overall, this book had a lot of potential and was intriguing. However, I think this book could have offered a bit more.
Did I enjoy the read? Yes. I certainly don't think my time was wasted. But as I mentioned, it was lacking the oomph which really makes a book great.(less)
I'm going to have to reflect on this a bit. BSDM really isn't my 'cup of tea' as Kitty likes to put it. Beyond the BSDM the style was interesting and...moreI'm going to have to reflect on this a bit. BSDM really isn't my 'cup of tea' as Kitty likes to put it. Beyond the BSDM the style was interesting and reminded me a bit of The Story of O... the movie that is, since I've never read the book.
Give me a few to gather my thoughts, and I'll be able to come up with a review.(less)
For the longest time... okay, for the last couple of years, I've wanted to read a romance written by a male. Lorenzo il Magnifico gave me that opportunity. It's one of those books which hit me on a psychological level.
It was interesting to find the main character in the book had a lot of the same insecurities I have going into new relationships. Luke offered a sort of rawness he shared with the reader, and it made him a character I could relate to... understand and appreciate.
One of the things I loved about Lorenzo il Magnifico is the vulnerability a lot of women miss when writing from the male perspective shows up in this book. Society says men are supposed to be butch and stoic. :) I've been married (add some dating years in) long enough to know the stoic shell hides a lot. It was nice getting into Luke's mind and see he was just... well, human, rather than the unemotional brute I see so often in romances.
So we had a bit of gay love happening. :) What did you expect from a gay romance? It actually reminded me a lot of Queer as Folk. When Luke wanted sex, he simply went to the place were the guys were and got it on. He didn't have to play games or pretend he was not into.
And it made me wonder, what would life be like if women didn't have to play the chaste games... if women weren't called sluts for seeking sex when they wanted. After all most people enjoy sex (men and women alike). Yet women have to put up the appearances that they're not that interested in order for society to view their behaviors as acceptable. I have to say... for straight guys so eager to get it on, they're really screwing themselves over with the name calling. :)
Despite the stigma still surrounding being gay, it seems very liberating to do away with the sex games heterosexual couples play and just do. I liked that about Lorenzo il Magnifico.(less)
Complete review available on my website: http://wp.me/pPz8s-2yd This book surprised me a bit. I'd expect a lot more, but by the end of the book, not mu...moreComplete review available on my website: http://wp.me/pPz8s-2yd This book surprised me a bit. I'd expect a lot more, but by the end of the book, not much had been resolved.
I wasn't at all fond of the heroine. She thought she was quite clever, but sadly she wasn't very bright. She was a horrible judge of character, made extremely poor decisions, and pretty much made life difficult for those around her with her actions. I honestly can't think of one thing the main character did which enhanced the book.
For the most part, she acted more like a secondary character than the star of the show. As such, it made it difficult to want to follow her journey.
The ending had a cliffhanger feel to it. As I mentioned, little had been resolved. However, there's no indication this is book one of a series.
Normally, I don't stick with a book this long (34 days, Goodreads says). However, the book was like following breadcrumbs. I kept expecting more... hoping an event would redeem the entire book. Alas, this book remain just shy of interesting--enough appeal to get me to read a few paragraphs at a time but not enough to keep me engaged for very long.
I started this book expecting to truly enjoy it. I'm just so shocked I found so little to like about it. Overall, this book left me unsatisfied.(less)
Replication had two story lines. The first centered around Abbey, a gal who's moved into a new school from DC to AK after her father landed a new job. I have to say, I wasn't at all impressed with this portion of the novel. Abbey came off as snobby and a goody-goody. I'm not quite sure what her problem was. I will say her attitude did nothing for the storyline. When she wasn't snubbing those she'd labeled beneath her, she spent the rest of her time reading.
:) Now I'm all for reading... I'm a big reader myself. But I don't want to read about someone else reading. I want to read about people doing interesting things.
So looking through my notes, I didn't have a lot of nice things to say about Abbey. In truth, Abbey had quite a lot of potential for growth. Unfortunately, her growth came as a verbal proclamation rather than showing she truly changed.
The second storyline was related to the Jason Experiment with Martyr being one of the Jasons. I very much enjoyed this portion of the book. The only gripe I had was Martyr seemed a little too perfect. He was altruistic to a flaw. Still, I kept coming back to the story to read what would happen next to him.
I would love to read follow up stories to the Jason Experiment... see how Jason 3:3 faired as well as the other clones. Even though the clones seemed to be two dimensional characters (for instance 3:3's altruism), they were a fascinating bunch.
This novel also had a Christian undertone. If God made humans with souls, did clones (made by man) have souls also? Hmm...
Overall, this was a great novel. I truly cared about some of the characters. And like I said, I would love to learn more about their lives. 4/5 star read for me.(less)
I’m going to start with the cover. Going into this book, I had no idea the girl was interracial (black/white). Now I’m not saying a gal like the one o...moreI’m going to start with the cover. Going into this book, I had no idea the girl was interracial (black/white). Now I’m not saying a gal like the one on the cover couldn’t be interracial. However, the description in the book made her seem like she leaned toward the black side of the interracial spectrum. The gal on the cover looks VERY white. I have to say, I’m rather disappointed in the cover art.
If I Tell had a rough start. It began with leaving the reader in the dark. I knew something big had happened, but what exactly, I couldn’t say. I’m one of those folks who believes the reader should know everything the main character knows, so right off the back I was a little apprehensive about this book.
I’m happy to say, the “something big” was revealed rather quickly. My best guess is the author presented the “something big” as a mystery to draw the reader in… a hook. To be honest, if I’d read the sample in the store or online, I wouldn’t have purchased the book. I’m glad I picked it up from NetGalley, because I felt obligated to read a bit further… really give the book a try, because If I Tell was a decent read. Not fabulous, but decent, and I was lucky to receive the opportunity to read and review it.
The main character had me confused at time. She created a lot of unnecessary drama for herself. She boasted about her honesty and keeping the lines of communication open with her mother. However, she kept the “something big” to herself for much of the story. If she had just spilled the beans early she could have saved everyone a lot of grief. Of course, the story would have been over since that was the main conflict.
As for the plot, it was interesting enough. The MC was faced with a difficult dilemma. I truly felt for her situation. But like I said, she caused more trouble for herself than necessary. There were also quite a few slow moments in the story. The book wasn’t overly long, but it could have used a bit a trimming to really keep me engaged.
What I really liked about If I Tell was Ms. Gutler’s style of writing… the way she was able to use the language in a way which flowed well and was natural sounding.
Over all, If I Tell had an interesting premise. I liked the writing style. Ms. Gurtler did a great job stringing words together. I even liked the storyline. However, the book was a bit slow in the middle, and quite a few scenes seemed like the same but written in different ways. As a result, this was about a 3/5 star read for me.
Fabulous sequel to Ashfall. I'm guessing there will be a third book in the series since it was a bit open-ended. I can't believe I read the entire book in 24 hours.
One of the things I loved most about Ashen Winter is the emotional connection between the characters. I could really feel the love. It was more than just lip service. The love was shown in actions even to the point of sacrifice.
The realism in this work was awesome. Alex is a perfect example. He's a kid, and most kids know very little about survival. Despite going through hell in Ashfall, Alex is still pretty much clueless most of the time, and it shows. My boy Alex had a heroic complex. Problem with his heroism was he usually puts himself and everyone around him in danger.
Usually it's an insult to say a character is too stupid to live. Okay... it's still an insult. :) But in the case of Alex, even he recognized it. Some of his choices infuriated me. Yet at the same time, most wouldn't have even survived what he'd survived. Alex did the best he could with the limited knowledge he had.
I've seen some authors counter their character's stupidity with unbelievable luck. Mike Mullin had enough respect for the reader not to play the coincidence game. When Alex screwed up, people suffered, people got hurt, people died.
What about the other characters? Darla was sensible to the point of being a major drag. But after dealing with the consequences of Alex's actions, sensible would have been great for them. :) After awhile, I started to miss Darla's innovation. One thing for sure, she's a tough chickadee.
Mom and Dad also made an appearance. I didn't like them. They were no-nonsense in a scary way. Really, they were the kind of parents who frustrate children until the kid yells, "You never listen to me!" I wanted to throttle them at times. Yet I couldn't deny they were parents through and through. Unfortunately for them, Alex had grown too much to be treated like a child. Despite all the stupid decisions Alex made, I was thankful he manned up to his parents and did the right thing.
Anyway, Ashen Winter was even better than Ashfall. This book was harsh, gritty, and at times it brought tears to my eyes. Other times it had me dying laughing. I'm really looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy. 5 star read.(less)
Hmmm.... I guess I'm a bit shocked. When this book came in the mail, my daughter and I debated who would read it first. Since I was in the middle of a book, she got it. :) At last my turn came. I hopped in, full of eager anticipation. I am beyond astonished I didn't like it nearly as much as Divergent.
I'm really not sure what happened to this book. It's like the manuscript came back from beta readers with LOTS of suggested changes. Then the changes were made, but no one read through it to make sure everything made sense in the end.
For example, (view spoiler)[Tris is about to be executed via injection. She gets injected with a purple substance and fades... loses all feeling in her body (paralyzed). Peter rolls her away on a stretcher then when he's out of sight of Jeanine, he picks up Tris and runs with her to Tobias. Apparently, she wasn't injected with death. I get that. But when she asks how she survives the injection, Peter explains that he switched the death syringe with a syringe filled with a water/purple food coloring solution. Okay... when does purple colored water paralyze? (hide spoiler)]
Anyway, the entire book is filled with plot holes and inconsistencies. The Erudite are supposed to be geniuses, or at least logical, but they spend more time asking questions everyone knows the answer to than applying their logic to important tasks... like not letting people with questionable loyalties guard Tris.
Character analysis. I was so not fond of Tris this time around. She was so intent on killing herself, I'm not sure why she didn't run back to the Dauntless compound and throw herself into the pit. It certainly would have been more effective than risking her life, so others felt obligated to save her and risk getting killed themselves.
Even my beloved Caleb fell through. There was a point I was so proud of him. I thought, now here's a hero. Resourceful, dedicated, and level headed. Then I found that Caleb was just a simulation in Tris's head. Talk about your major bummers. He turned out to be the biggest liar of all. And Tris continued to fawn over him until the end. I would have kicked his butt to the curb and never looked back. "To the left, to the left. Everything in the box to the left."
The ending. I hit it and found it terribly anticlimactic. I think it was meant to be a cliffhanger... end in a way to make me eagerly anticipate the next in the series. But when I hit the big reveal, it was more with a shrug and an "oh."
This book had so much potential to be good. Unfortunately, it dragged and most of the real story didn't start until the last 100 pages.
So how did I come up with this rating. Despite my many complaints while reading Insurgent, I clung to a three star rating. I kept telling myself, this had to be at least three stars. After all, Divergent was pretty decent. Every time I hit one of those plot inconsistencies, which were many, many, my rating plunged to 2 stars. Then I'd read on and convince myself Insurgent would pull out of the slump... we had to make it to three stars. Then another plot hole would hit a page later.
I truly wanted to give this 3 stars, but this book was so poorly executed, it seemed dishonest to give it anything more than 2 stars. When I looked through other books which have earned 2 stars from me, this one didn't even rank that high. I'm totally bummed and feel awful this book wasn't better. I wish there was a way to take this book off the market and put it through a developmental editor before rereleasing it. Cut the filler, fix the plot screw ups, and make Tris more like the survival Tris in Divergent. This might inch its way to a 1.5-star read, but I hesitate to even go that far.
As it is, I don't see myself purchasing the next book in this series. I feel like something went horribly wrong, and the people the author should have been able to trust to tell her the truth fell through. I read Divergent and know the author can do better. I'm just not willing to bet my money (or time) on more of the same I got from Insurgent.
I am well-pleased. :D It's hard to believe we're 13 stories into this series, and Kresley Cole has yet to disappoint me. Ran into a few drab moments a...moreI am well-pleased. :D It's hard to believe we're 13 stories into this series, and Kresley Cole has yet to disappoint me. Ran into a few drab moments about 100 pages toward the end, but it quickly built up to a satisfying ending. 4.5 stars! Can't wait until the next. I might even try some other series by Kresley Cole.(less)
The stories just keep getting better and better. I'm a bit sad... I don't have the next book on my shelf. I'm also quite excited. I've found there are...moreThe stories just keep getting better and better. I'm a bit sad... I don't have the next book on my shelf. I'm also quite excited. I've found there are spinoff series featuring Vlad and Spade, whom I'm quite fond of. :) I'll be honest, folks... I never developed a crush on Bones. Really, I find him annoying most of the time, despite enjoying the stories.
Back to the story. I can see why folks have fallen in love with this series. The stakes were high this time around. It's been a while since I've had the desire to cruise through a book as I did with Destined for an Early Grave. Not sure if I should head to the bookstore or go for an eBook for the next work. :) We'll see.
I'm seeing some definite improvement with this series as I advance through. This one started out with the good stuff and had very few everyday mundane...moreI'm seeing some definite improvement with this series as I advance through. This one started out with the good stuff and had very few everyday mundane things happening. This was a 3.5 star read for me, but since there are no half stars, I'm pushing it to the next level. :)(less)
Lately I've been reading the ending of trilogies with one eye squinted in apprehension. :) I was pleased to find my fears were unjustified with Head R...moreLately I've been reading the ending of trilogies with one eye squinted in apprehension. :) I was pleased to find my fears were unjustified with Head Rush. The final book offered a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful trilogy.
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