hahaha

Well, it's true! Downtown L.A. is a wasteland. ;)

haha brilliant. L.A is one of the few cities I've lived in that the downtown has such a crappy rep. So many homeless folks, I tell you.

Hah, I love Los Angeles and they're doing a lot to build up downtown...but let's be honest. Most of it is dead space.

hahaha cannot wait to read this, doesn't the cover remind you a bit of Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Who knows! I hope it's not like Crescendo. :(

The cover is pretty much similar with

I wonder if the same illustrator created the covers.

I like this cover better than that one, actually. And it's more professional looking, so I doubt it's the same illustrator as the self-pubbed book.

Which cover better than what one?

I like the cover of Struck better. It looks like a real lightning storm. Fantastic color choices!

I like Struck's cover much better than the other one. Although the character has some cool stuff going on with her that would have been great to see illustrated, too.

Nice! I think lighting is an awesome power to be shown in a movie.

Yes, it's a great visual. The special effects would be awesome.

Are you enjoying this so far, Wendy?

I really love the concept, Michelle, and so far there's a lot of potential here. It's probably too early to tell yet, although I will say some of the names/terminology are a bit of a question mark for me. And the instant the boy came into play, my little red flag went up. But we'll see! Maybe it will be fun.

Thats what I thought while reading this book. People would either love or hate all of the cult/religion.

I'm glad I'm not the only one taken aback by all the cult stuff in this book, Julie. Not what I expected at all.

I rated it a C because it was different and could see the potential but it walks a fine line with religion/cults. So hope that you like it. Loved that it was a new area instead of New York (cough cough) all seem to take place there.

Oh, interesting. I go by GoodReads' rating system in which 3 stars is "I like it," which is probably where this will be for me, unless something really spectacular happens in the end.

I actually love that it's set in Los Angeles. I live here, and it's interesting to see her talking about the different parts of the city.

hoping to read this1 soon

3 stars...well it must be somewhat good, right? *pleads*

"Somewhat good" describes it well, hah. There are parts I really, really liked, Ally, and then there were parts that were pretty frustrating. But I did like it overall.

Oh, I just got an ARC of this today! I'm looking forward to your review.

Oh good, I'm glad you have it already Emilia! It will be good to have more people weighing in on this one.

*deep breaths* Ok, so I am not very far into this book yet, and am trying to get a feel for what the message is about the Followers. That they are bad...I'm hoping? I've chatted with the author on Twitter a little, so I know that she grew up in the same religious culture because parts of this are hitting too close to home for me. So without trying to offend anyone, do you think I am going to like this book if I am not keen to the dominant religion of my home state?

I think most people who are not keen on reading about religion are going to have trouble with this book, Jen. As you know, I live in L.A. and at first I was actually thinking how interesting it was that there was some talk of religion, because of course there's everything from Hasidic Jews to Buddhist temples to mega-churches within a short distance. But the religious stuff takes over so much of the story in the second half that it really weighed it down for me, regardless of whatever group she might've based it on.

I've made it through 25% so far, and I am wondering if I am just digging too deep for religious similarities. I've been typing out passages from the book for a scientific minded friend, and he's not buying the "lightning caused the earthquake" scenario. Also, he said some of the Revelations stuff is not accurate. I don't know much about earthquakes or Revelations, but I have always been fascinated by Revelations...at least the little of it that I do know.

I'm not particularly upset by anything...yet...

I don't come into it with any kind of real religious education/background, Jennifer, so you'll probably notice many things I won't. Will be interesting to get your perspective on it...

This is going to be a seriously hard review for me to write. :-(

I'm sorry. :( But I'm sure your review will be very helpful, so I have faith you will find the right words when the time comes.

I certainly hope so!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to offend either side of whatever argument there might be. I'm going to have one of my LDS friends read through it first before I post it.

It's nice to have friends you can call on, hah. Religion aside, I still want to see what you think of this one. I have very mixed feelings.

I think I like the idea so far...though now my buddy has me wondering about lightning causing earthquakes because he's all scientific. I think I'm like 28% now and just got past a rough part (Dealer). I hate those types of scenes, but at least it wasn't gratuitous. *sigh*

I wish I knew more about the seven seals. I might do some Googling/quick research after I finish. If I do it now, I might get nit picky and that would be baaaad.

Oh yeah. Nitpicking over this one is a bad idea if you hope to enjoy it, hah.

Trying really really hard. :-) May need some breaks between this one.

The author will be coming to UT in a few months on tour with Anna Banks. I am planning on buying Of Poseidon, but most likely not this one. Which makes me feel bad...

Hm. (view spoiler)[I've tweeted a few times with Anna Banks and she seems like a sweetheart. But I read the first few chapters of the book and I don't think it's for me. :( (hide spoiler)]

BUT I started Monstrous Beauty last night and I freaking LOVE it. The writing is gorgeous, and the mermaid is absolutely deadly.

Hmmmm....(view spoiler)[So far, Of Poseidon is my favorite mermaid book of the ones that have been published in the last few years. I was not happy with Tempest Rising, and I haven't read Lies Beneath or Monstrous Beauty yet. I hope you might reconsider giving it a few more chapters. (hide spoiler)]

I have a copy of Monstrous Beauty that is wanting to be read!

Really? Hmmm. Okay, I'll leaf through it a bit more then!

But yes, please do read MB soon. It's on track to be my favorite mermaid book ever. Not that there's that many, mind you. ;)

Ack!!! Not out till September??????? I was planning on reading my NetGalleys in publication order. :-(

I may have to make an exception!!!!!!!

Yeah, I've had an ARC since January and have been trying to be good, but I couldn't resist any longer! And I have to read Vicious Deep next week, too. But I don't care, it's so so good. At least for my tastes, hah.

Argh!!! There are issues with the Vicious Deep widget I was sent. Haven't heard back in like a week about what's going on with that. Not sure why they didn't just mail an ARC...

I'm supposed to kick off the blog tour for Vicious Deep, and I still haven't gotten my ARC yet. It's pretty frustrating. I prefer those over ebook for certain things because it's so much easier to take notes with a DTB.

Are you working with an intern? I was asked if I wanted to move my tour date up, and I'm thinking, uhhh, I don't even have the book, ebook or otherwise, so ummm, NO.

Yes, an intern seems to be coordinating it. I cc'd the publicist on my last email, though, so hopefully somethin happens soon. I try to be polite about these things, but we all have a lot of books to review. Not to mention other interviews and features to run. These books should have been in our hands months ago.

Agreed. The intern said s/he is frustrated, but I explained twice that the widget was not working, and WHY it wasn't working. The solution the first time was to just send me the widget again.

Everything you've said in the comments so far is pretty much on par with my feelings about this one. Look forward to your full review!

Ugh, that's annoying, Jen. I really hope this tour comes together, it's a shame if the author ends up being penalized because of..whatever.

Ah, 3 stars from you too, Amanda! I look forward to comparing notes. I really wished this had been a 4 star read . :( It seemed so promising!

I hope it does, too. I know I am going to be really busy over the next few weeks with another sponsored trip--and I leave for San Francisco TUESDAY--so I'd really like to have this book thing figured out, like today. :-)

I am totally going to email Jennifer when I'm done with Struck--I have questions, and want to see if I'm right on a few things before I do my review.

Oh yeah, you definitely need it all sorted out then! I have another interview posting that same week, too--and I still haven't gotten that ARC either. *sigh* I think I'm going to have to make it a policy that I need stuff sooner to do these tours. April sneaked up sooner than expected, though, I should have been harder-nosed about it. But it's not like I haven't been talking to both parties, for months.

Hopefully it will all work out.