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Need #3
Emprise
Zara et Nick sont faits l'un pour l'autre, de véritables âmes soeurs qui veulent pouvoir s'aimer. Pour toujours. Mais Nick a été emporté au Walhalla par une Walkyrie... Pour tenter de sauver son bien-aimé, Zara a accepté de se transformer en lutin, elle est prête à surmonter toutes les épreuves, à faire tous les sacrifices. Pour ne rien arranger, des créatures malfaisantes continuent de s'en prendre aux adolescents de Bedford. Il faut donc absolument retrouver rapidement Nick, le seul qui soit assez puissant pour mettre fin à ces terrifiantes agressions. Mais chaque fois que Zara et ses amis semblent sur le point de réussir, ils affrontent une nouvelle épreuve et découvrent de nouveaux ennemis... Réussiront-ils à retrouver Nick à temps ? Et quel rôle joue le séduisant Astley, qui appartient à la race de ceux que Nick a toujours combattus ?
314 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2010
189 people are currently reading
17338 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Jones
84 books4,097 followers***SO MANY APOLOGIES***
I had been unable to get into my Goodreads account for years. If you have friended me, I have just friended you back (July 2021). If you have messaged me, I'm going to be working through those in the upcoming weeks.
Thank you all for reaching out and I'm so sorry.
Now onto the regularly scheduled bio:
Carrie Jones likes Skinny Cow fudgsicles and potatoes. She does not know how to spell fudgsicles. This has not prevented her from writing books. She lives with her cute family in Maine, but she grew up in Bedford, NH where she once had a séance with cool uber-comedian Sarah Silverman.
The Meyers brothers are from Bedford, too, so you’d think it would make Carrie funnier, coming from Bedford N.H. Obviously, something didn’t work.
Carrie has always liked cowboy hats but has never owned one. This is a very wrong thing. She graduated from Vermont College’s MFA program for writing. She has edited newspapers and poetry journals and has recently won awards from the Maine Press Association and also been awarded the Martin Dibner Fellowship as well as a Maine Literary Award.
Here’s the lowdown about Carrie…
1. Carrie can not drink coffee. It makes her insane. Do not give her caffeine.
2. Carrie is very responsive to loving strokes on the hair, kind of like a puppy. However, do not do this without asking first unless you are a ridiculously handsome man or an editor who is about to offer her a trillion dollars for the first draft of her novel.
3. Carrie is secretly really, really shy even though she’s pathetically outgoing in person. She has a very hard time calling people. So, if you want to talk to her, make the first move. And, if you’re her in-Maine female best friend, Jennifer, do NOT get mad at her because she is so bad at returning emails.
4. Carrie sometimes wears mismatched socks, if you do not think this is cool, do not tell her. You will hurt her feelings.
5. Carrie really, really wants you to like her books. Please like her books. PLEEEAASSSEEEE. She’ll be your best friend forever. That is, if you want a friend who is shy about calling and emailing and who wears mismatched socks and can’t drink caffeine and likes being pet on the head. Hhmmm….
6. Carrie is not above begging.
7. Carrie, like Belle in TIPS ON HAVING A GAY (ex) BOYFRIEND drinks Postum. It’s for the same reason, too.
8. Carrie loves Great Pyrenees dogs. They are huge and white, and furry and it looks like they have white eyeliner and mascara on, which is way too cute. Do you have one? Send a picture!
9. Carrie lives in Maine. She has a hard time with this in the winter. It is bleak in Maine in the winter. Imagine everything shades of gray and brown and no green anywhere except for in people’s noses. This is Maine in Winter. Maine in summer is the best place in the world, so it’s a trade-off. Feel free to invite Carrie to your house in the winter, but not if it’s in Greenland, Canada, or anywhere north of Florida.
10. Forget that. She’d still probably come.
I had been unable to get into my Goodreads account for years. If you have friended me, I have just friended you back (July 2021). If you have messaged me, I'm going to be working through those in the upcoming weeks.
Thank you all for reaching out and I'm so sorry.
Now onto the regularly scheduled bio:
Carrie Jones likes Skinny Cow fudgsicles and potatoes. She does not know how to spell fudgsicles. This has not prevented her from writing books. She lives with her cute family in Maine, but she grew up in Bedford, NH where she once had a séance with cool uber-comedian Sarah Silverman.
The Meyers brothers are from Bedford, too, so you’d think it would make Carrie funnier, coming from Bedford N.H. Obviously, something didn’t work.
Carrie has always liked cowboy hats but has never owned one. This is a very wrong thing. She graduated from Vermont College’s MFA program for writing. She has edited newspapers and poetry journals and has recently won awards from the Maine Press Association and also been awarded the Martin Dibner Fellowship as well as a Maine Literary Award.
Here’s the lowdown about Carrie…
1. Carrie can not drink coffee. It makes her insane. Do not give her caffeine.
2. Carrie is very responsive to loving strokes on the hair, kind of like a puppy. However, do not do this without asking first unless you are a ridiculously handsome man or an editor who is about to offer her a trillion dollars for the first draft of her novel.
3. Carrie is secretly really, really shy even though she’s pathetically outgoing in person. She has a very hard time calling people. So, if you want to talk to her, make the first move. And, if you’re her in-Maine female best friend, Jennifer, do NOT get mad at her because she is so bad at returning emails.
4. Carrie sometimes wears mismatched socks, if you do not think this is cool, do not tell her. You will hurt her feelings.
5. Carrie really, really wants you to like her books. Please like her books. PLEEEAASSSEEEE. She’ll be your best friend forever. That is, if you want a friend who is shy about calling and emailing and who wears mismatched socks and can’t drink caffeine and likes being pet on the head. Hhmmm….
6. Carrie is not above begging.
7. Carrie, like Belle in TIPS ON HAVING A GAY (ex) BOYFRIEND drinks Postum. It’s for the same reason, too.
8. Carrie loves Great Pyrenees dogs. They are huge and white, and furry and it looks like they have white eyeliner and mascara on, which is way too cute. Do you have one? Send a picture!
9. Carrie lives in Maine. She has a hard time with this in the winter. It is bleak in Maine in the winter. Imagine everything shades of gray and brown and no green anywhere except for in people’s noses. This is Maine in Winter. Maine in summer is the best place in the world, so it’s a trade-off. Feel free to invite Carrie to your house in the winter, but not if it’s in Greenland, Canada, or anywhere north of Florida.
10. Forget that. She’d still probably come.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,264 reviews
August 20, 2011
I can't stand this series. I want to punch myself in the face for continuing on and checking these out from the library. That's one thing though; I haven't spent a single dime on these books. Yes, I've spent a few hours reading them, but the investment has been small. I'd advise the same for any others out there who are curious about this series - check them out from the library, because then at least you'll hate yourself a little less when you've finished reading them and realize you've only wasted time and not money.
This whole series is based upon the selfishness of Zara White. Her boyfriend died in the last book and so in this one she stops at nothing to retrieve him from Valhalla; the place where fallen warriors go. Or, whatever. The mythology is pretty much thrown together however Jones feels is the most angsty. No matter at what cost, Zara is going to get back the boy she only barely knows. Who cares if someone dies along the way? Or that people get used and abused to achieve her goals? They knew what they were getting into, right? Damn the consequences - Zara is getting her boyfriend back.
Jones's writing is terrible. With the first book she decided to start each chapter with descriptions of phobias, and in this one she chooses to start each chapter with something much worse. She uses Facebook statuses, tweets, news channel blurbs, and blog posts as a way to start each chapter. You might think, hey, this makes the book relevant to the teens of today! But no, it mostly screams, "hey look, I'm hip! I know what's cool! I'm with it!" But really, it's just a sad plot device that doesn't add anything to the story, and most of the time all it does is recap what happened in the previous chapter. The chapters are 8-10 pages at most and recaps are just not necessary. Even a teen with ADHD could follow the storyline without a recap, so it just feels like page-filler.
She also tends to describe things that just don't make sense or work for the scene. Telling me that your character lifts his leg and plays with his sock is dumb. Especially when he's doing this for a whole conversation, standing on one leg. It doesn't add anything, and it is awkward and useless. "Soft, mushy-looking eyes" are gross. Describing your "heart whooshing into your spleen" and then your "heart falling out along with your stomach" doesn't make anatomical sense. Saying "his face is a broken branch" isn't a descriptor, and even as a simile it doesn't work. Jones's writing is frustrating, amateurish, and an affront to English teachers everywhere. The fact that her characters "squee" should have clued me into the fact that this was not a work I should take seriously. But still, it makes me angry that a book like this was published.
Also, I do not need to know how everything and everyone smells. I get it. Your character has enhanced senses. Please, I don't need to know that this girl smells like coconuts, that boy smells like pine, and pixies smell like mushrooms and Dove soap. THIS DOESN'T ADD ANYTHING TO THE STORY. It's just dumb and annoying, and strikes me as filler. Oh, you can't think of anything interesting to talk about? Then describe how every person in the room smells, that'll surely add something to the story. Uh huh.
Even if I could get past the annoyances I had with her writing, Jones still felt the need to steep this novel is EXTREME TEEN MELODRAMA. Case in point:
Someone get that boy a fainting couch, STAT. Seriously though, that's how most of the book read; overreaction and melodramatic teen angst are the bread and butter of this story.
But then, even when parts are supposed to be intense, I found myself laughing. This was probably not the intended effect. Characters died and I couldn't help chuckling. I'm sure this wasn't what Jones was going for, but there's just no tension during these scenes. I'm not emotionally attached to any of the characters and I found it funny when they were killed. Yeah, probably not how I was supposed to feel, but I can't help that.
To be blunt: this book sucked. The first book held promise, the second book was stupid, and this last book isn't worth the paper it's printed on. I don't care about a single character, the plot is ridiculous, and the writing is on par with a teen's livejournal. Seriously, it's barely worth the trouble of checking it out from the library. Do yourself a favor and just stay away.
My reviews of Need (Need, #1) and Captivate (Need, #2).
This whole series is based upon the selfishness of Zara White. Her boyfriend died in the last book and so in this one she stops at nothing to retrieve him from Valhalla; the place where fallen warriors go. Or, whatever. The mythology is pretty much thrown together however Jones feels is the most angsty. No matter at what cost, Zara is going to get back the boy she only barely knows. Who cares if someone dies along the way? Or that people get used and abused to achieve her goals? They knew what they were getting into, right? Damn the consequences - Zara is getting her boyfriend back.
Jones's writing is terrible. With the first book she decided to start each chapter with descriptions of phobias, and in this one she chooses to start each chapter with something much worse. She uses Facebook statuses, tweets, news channel blurbs, and blog posts as a way to start each chapter. You might think, hey, this makes the book relevant to the teens of today! But no, it mostly screams, "hey look, I'm hip! I know what's cool! I'm with it!" But really, it's just a sad plot device that doesn't add anything to the story, and most of the time all it does is recap what happened in the previous chapter. The chapters are 8-10 pages at most and recaps are just not necessary. Even a teen with ADHD could follow the storyline without a recap, so it just feels like page-filler.
She also tends to describe things that just don't make sense or work for the scene. Telling me that your character lifts his leg and plays with his sock is dumb. Especially when he's doing this for a whole conversation, standing on one leg. It doesn't add anything, and it is awkward and useless. "Soft, mushy-looking eyes" are gross. Describing your "heart whooshing into your spleen" and then your "heart falling out along with your stomach" doesn't make anatomical sense. Saying "his face is a broken branch" isn't a descriptor, and even as a simile it doesn't work. Jones's writing is frustrating, amateurish, and an affront to English teachers everywhere. The fact that her characters "squee" should have clued me into the fact that this was not a work I should take seriously. But still, it makes me angry that a book like this was published.
Also, I do not need to know how everything and everyone smells. I get it. Your character has enhanced senses. Please, I don't need to know that this girl smells like coconuts, that boy smells like pine, and pixies smell like mushrooms and Dove soap. THIS DOESN'T ADD ANYTHING TO THE STORY. It's just dumb and annoying, and strikes me as filler. Oh, you can't think of anything interesting to talk about? Then describe how every person in the room smells, that'll surely add something to the story. Uh huh.
Even if I could get past the annoyances I had with her writing, Jones still felt the need to steep this novel is EXTREME TEEN MELODRAMA. Case in point:
"Something in my face must show my fear, because he throws up his hand and rails off the side of the couch. He staggers toward me before falling on his knees in front of me."
Someone get that boy a fainting couch, STAT. Seriously though, that's how most of the book read; overreaction and melodramatic teen angst are the bread and butter of this story.
But then, even when parts are supposed to be intense, I found myself laughing. This was probably not the intended effect. Characters died and I couldn't help chuckling. I'm sure this wasn't what Jones was going for, but there's just no tension during these scenes. I'm not emotionally attached to any of the characters and I found it funny when they were killed. Yeah, probably not how I was supposed to feel, but I can't help that.
To be blunt: this book sucked. The first book held promise, the second book was stupid, and this last book isn't worth the paper it's printed on. I don't care about a single character, the plot is ridiculous, and the writing is on par with a teen's livejournal. Seriously, it's barely worth the trouble of checking it out from the library. Do yourself a favor and just stay away.
My reviews of Need (Need, #1) and Captivate (Need, #2).
September 2, 2014
At the end of Captivate I was a complete Nick supporter. I was so sure that Zara and Nick were soul mates that it was almost religious... All that has changed. I am pro-Astley. Throughout Entice you fall in love with Astley. Its inescapable, he is caring and personal in a way that Nick can't possibly be as he lives in Valhalla, worlds apart from Zara. Where things will go from here, I am excited to find out!
May 30, 2015
I've read Entice more than 5 times. I've listened to the audiobook every night since I got it (Dec 11th). THAT is how much I LOVE this book! I've been Team Astley since he was introduced in Captivate. I won't post any spoilers here. But I truly loved getting to know more about Astley and seeing him and Zara's relationship develop. Issie, Devyn, Cassidy and Grandma Betty were wonderful as well. Zara really matured in this book. And she is learning to accept the changes in herself and her circumstances a lot better. This book made me laugh, and then cry all within a few pages of each other. Carrie Jones would pull me into a very dark place in some parts but would bring me back to the light just as quickly. I cannot wait until the 4th and final book of this series comes out. Carrie's publishers say around late 2011 or early 2012 which I think is TOO long to wait. It killed me to wait so long for Entice to come out and now that it has and I have read it I am even more anxious for the final book. This is a great series! I will continue to re-read this book over and over until the final book comes out.
December 27, 2018
Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together for ever. But that's not quite how things have worked out. For starters, Nick has gone. He has been taken to the mythical place for warriors known as Valhalla. Zara and her friends might be able to get him back, it's just not going to be easy. Meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But even if Zara and her friends do discover the route to Valhalla, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't turned into just any pixie... She's Astley's queen
CHARACTERS-
Nick, I hate him so much and I was so grateful that he was absent throughout this book. Astley is my favrouite out of all the characters, he is just so loveable and amazing.
ROMANCE-
I will always ship Zara and Astley and they were kinda rising in this book which was super cool.
PLOT-
The plot was super unique because we got to learn about Pixies and the mythology of them which was super interesting.
ENDING-
The whole ending was Actaully beautiful "One day you will love me like you love your wolf" Astley was so heartbroken and he states that he will win Zara's heart even if Nick is there which was super cute and just beautiful,
Characters-10/10
Romance-10/10
Plot-10/10
Ending-10/10
Speed-10/10
CHARACTERS-
Nick, I hate him so much and I was so grateful that he was absent throughout this book. Astley is my favrouite out of all the characters, he is just so loveable and amazing.
ROMANCE-
I will always ship Zara and Astley and they were kinda rising in this book which was super cool.
PLOT-
The plot was super unique because we got to learn about Pixies and the mythology of them which was super interesting.
ENDING-
The whole ending was Actaully beautiful "One day you will love me like you love your wolf" Astley was so heartbroken and he states that he will win Zara's heart even if Nick is there which was super cute and just beautiful,
Characters-10/10
Romance-10/10
Plot-10/10
Ending-10/10
Speed-10/10
August 8, 2011
This book was freaking amazing!
I really hope that Zara gets with Astley because he is the sweetest thing ever. I can't wait until the fourth book!
I really hope that Zara gets with Astley because he is the sweetest thing ever. I can't wait until the fourth book!
December 18, 2010
In a Sentence: Entice is easily the best book in this series so far!
My Thoughts
You know how books in series sometimes tend to either one of two things as they progress: they get better, or they get worse? The Need series definitely falls into the latter category. While I enjoyed reading Need and Captivate, Entice beats the previous two books in every category!
As I mentioned in my review of Captivate, I loved that the main character, Zara, has continued to develop realistically throughout the series. In Entice, we see the biggest jump she's made so far. In the end of Captivate, Zara decides to turn into a pixie in order to save her boyfriend, Nick, who was killed by an enemy pixie king. As a result of this decision, Zara faces her biggest problem yet. By turning into a pixie, she risks losing the love and trust of everyone she holds dear. Yet she does it anyways, knowing that it's the only way that she can save Nick and protect her family and friends. The fact that Zara made this decision in spite of all that risk really made me respect her as a character.
This brings me to the character of Astley. Astley, one of the pixie kings fighting for control of the Maine territory, is the one who turns Zara, by her request. As a result, Zara becomes not only a pixie, but a pixie queen--specifically--Astley's pixie queen. I really enjoyed the characterization of Astley. First off, he's chivalrous and handsome and brave. But in addition to that, there's more to him than just an appealing superficiality. Astley cares so much about his people, and he tries so hard to make Zara understand that not all pixies are evil and untrustworthy. In addition to that, he treats Zara as a valued equal. He wants to protect her and does his best to keep her safe, but at the same time, he doesn't smother her with controlling attempts to keep her out of the line of battle. He allows her to fight, which is one of the things I like most about him.
I still really like the character of Nick, don't get me wrong. I haven't quite figured out who I think Zara should end up with. I'm really looking forward to the next book!
My Thoughts
You know how books in series sometimes tend to either one of two things as they progress: they get better, or they get worse? The Need series definitely falls into the latter category. While I enjoyed reading Need and Captivate, Entice beats the previous two books in every category!
As I mentioned in my review of Captivate, I loved that the main character, Zara, has continued to develop realistically throughout the series. In Entice, we see the biggest jump she's made so far. In the end of Captivate, Zara decides to turn into a pixie in order to save her boyfriend, Nick, who was killed by an enemy pixie king. As a result of this decision, Zara faces her biggest problem yet. By turning into a pixie, she risks losing the love and trust of everyone she holds dear. Yet she does it anyways, knowing that it's the only way that she can save Nick and protect her family and friends. The fact that Zara made this decision in spite of all that risk really made me respect her as a character.
This brings me to the character of Astley. Astley, one of the pixie kings fighting for control of the Maine territory, is the one who turns Zara, by her request. As a result, Zara becomes not only a pixie, but a pixie queen--specifically--Astley's pixie queen. I really enjoyed the characterization of Astley. First off, he's chivalrous and handsome and brave. But in addition to that, there's more to him than just an appealing superficiality. Astley cares so much about his people, and he tries so hard to make Zara understand that not all pixies are evil and untrustworthy. In addition to that, he treats Zara as a valued equal. He wants to protect her and does his best to keep her safe, but at the same time, he doesn't smother her with controlling attempts to keep her out of the line of battle. He allows her to fight, which is one of the things I like most about him.
I still really like the character of Nick, don't get me wrong. I haven't quite figured out who I think Zara should end up with. I'm really looking forward to the next book!
March 12, 2011
OH MY GOSH! Okay so first of all I thought this book was pretty awesome. It mostly concentrates on Zara and Astley finding Valhalla to save Nick. Along the way they both face a lot of loss and find that people aren't always as they seem. And your friends and family can sometimes leave the deepest scars. With only each other for company most of the time, Zara and Astley become quite close. But Zara soon finds out that he's not being completely honest with her about his past. Zara always says she wants Nick back and stays true to her journey. But when people start dying and her family seems as though it's ripping apart, is Nick really worth all the lives that've been lost? Could they afford another? Or is Astleys love for her the simple answer? Can she let go of Nick? And will he want her back after what she's become...? Guess you'll just have to find out ;) this book is a must read! With treachery, love, and a test of who you choose to be, you'll find yourself sucked into a world of fae, weres, and much more.
For those of you who haven't read the series I recomend it highly. The story is about a girl named Zara who has to move in with her grandmother because her mother is scared of how shes acting regarding her fathers death. She doesnt seem to take interest in anything. Ever since her step-father died (who might as well have been her real father) she hasn't acted like herself. There are things she doesn't understand and has been led to believe that he died an innocent death.
What she doesn't know is that there are such things as pixies but they are far from the sparkly fun creatures that people think. They are human size and they have blue skin and ragged teeth. They take pray on human men when they don't have a queen. A fairy king has his eye on Zara and wants her as his queen. She has the perfect mix of someone elligable to be a queen. But her boyfriend Nick--a werewolf--isn't going to let that happen.
Well I don't want to give anything away so that's about it.
Enjoy!
For those of you who haven't read the series I recomend it highly. The story is about a girl named Zara who has to move in with her grandmother because her mother is scared of how shes acting regarding her fathers death. She doesnt seem to take interest in anything. Ever since her step-father died (who might as well have been her real father) she hasn't acted like herself. There are things she doesn't understand and has been led to believe that he died an innocent death.
What she doesn't know is that there are such things as pixies but they are far from the sparkly fun creatures that people think. They are human size and they have blue skin and ragged teeth. They take pray on human men when they don't have a queen. A fairy king has his eye on Zara and wants her as his queen. She has the perfect mix of someone elligable to be a queen. But her boyfriend Nick--a werewolf--isn't going to let that happen.
Well I don't want to give anything away so that's about it.
Enjoy!
Want to read
October 18, 2010I think this is the first time i've ever rooted for the underdog o.O nick seems too overprotective and machismo-like and not in a good way. Astley, on the other hand, seems genuine and likeable. To tell you the truth, i just find nick annoying and i think Astley would the better choice even if Zara doesn't deserve him.
January 1, 2011
For some reason I thought this series was a trilogy and that this was the last one.... I was so very very wrong. There is going to be more!
Entice starts right where Captivate stopped.... Zara is a pixie... and she'll stop at nothing to find Nick. And she does not stop.... she will find him... or else. Don't read this next sentence if you have't read the book yet. (Was anyone else a little annoyed in Zara's quest.... I mean I'm glad she found him when she did, because I think if anyone else died because of her selfishness... ugh. I was going to loose it.)
The only character that I liked this time around was Astley. I respected Zara, but I think she made some very rash decisions.... she never seemed like that sort of character in the first two novels. I don't want to go as far as saying she was 'level' headed, but she just thought a little bit more about her actions before jumping into them. I think I missed that aspect of her. By the end of the novel, she did start to grow on me again! I'm looking forward to seeing her become the Queen I know she can be.
Dare I say that I am on Team Astley after reading this book.... we'll have to see how the next few books play out to be sure!
There is something very addicting about these novels. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I can't stop reading them once I start! I just love the story... the mythology, the pixies and Valhalla, it's all so very captivating.. enticing... mesmerizing.
Entice started out a little bit slow for me... I felt like we were jumping all over the place, but around page 104... I think the story really came to life! I CANNOT WAIT for the next book!
Entice is an awesome addition to the series... surprising characters, a plot that continues to thicken, Kings & Queens... and blood thirsty pixies, yes please!
Entice starts right where Captivate stopped.... Zara is a pixie... and she'll stop at nothing to find Nick. And she does not stop.... she will find him... or else. Don't read this next sentence if you have't read the book yet. (Was anyone else a little annoyed in Zara's quest.... I mean I'm glad she found him when she did, because I think if anyone else died because of her selfishness... ugh. I was going to loose it.)
The only character that I liked this time around was Astley. I respected Zara, but I think she made some very rash decisions.... she never seemed like that sort of character in the first two novels. I don't want to go as far as saying she was 'level' headed, but she just thought a little bit more about her actions before jumping into them. I think I missed that aspect of her. By the end of the novel, she did start to grow on me again! I'm looking forward to seeing her become the Queen I know she can be.
Dare I say that I am on Team Astley after reading this book.... we'll have to see how the next few books play out to be sure!
There is something very addicting about these novels. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I can't stop reading them once I start! I just love the story... the mythology, the pixies and Valhalla, it's all so very captivating.. enticing... mesmerizing.
Entice started out a little bit slow for me... I felt like we were jumping all over the place, but around page 104... I think the story really came to life! I CANNOT WAIT for the next book!
Entice is an awesome addition to the series... surprising characters, a plot that continues to thicken, Kings & Queens... and blood thirsty pixies, yes please!
July 15, 2014
Is saving Nick really worth the deaths of 2+ characters and the complete abandonment of plot?
NOTE: I received an ARC via Amazon's Vine Program.
NOTE: Potential spoilers of book 2! Ye be warned!
Last time we were in Bedford, Maine, Zara had turned pixie to attempt to go to Valhalla and save Nick. Oh, and attend the high school dance. “Entice” picks up immediately—and I mean immediately—after “Captivate”. Zara, Issie, Devyn, and Cassidy head to the dance, where they fend off some evil pixies. From there, it is off on the chase for the mysterious Valhalla. The team follows lots of clues in their attempt to save Nick. Meanwhile, pixie attacks increase and more young Befordians go missing. Can Zara find Nick in time?
I Liked:
One of the first things I noticed when I started reading “Entice” was that the writing style had greatly improved from “Captivate”, which was particularly amazing as I had an ARC of “Entice”. Gone (for the most part) was the silly, juvenile sentence structure, the overly simplistic writing, and the lack of descriptions. I actually got a better idea of what Astley looked like, what vehicle Issie drove, what color Issie's hair is (red!! Finally!) and what the surroundings were.
Astley continues to be an intriguing character even if a tragic event in his past is presented in a hokey manner.
This book has a lot of character deaths. One particular death, while unwanted, was well written with good reactions from all our major characters. It also hit all the right notes and left me wanting to cry.
Jones doesn't have our heroine cop out of tough life decisions. Zara turns pixie and must face that fact that if or when she meets up with Nick again, he won't love her. Plus, her own mother has begun to hate Zara for being a pixie. Too many young adult novels cop out of such repercussions, making the ending feel as if out of a Disney movie. Not Jones.
The last 40 or so pages are particularly whirlwind as Zara finally makes her way to Valhalla.
I Didn't Like:
I almost don't know where to begin.
Let's start with the writing tone. “Need” was dark and ominous, almost more horror than urban fantasy, something I really liked. “Captivate” was more generic urban fantasy with most of the freaky, paranoia gone. “Entice” continues this trend. The tone is what made the book stand out, that creepy “Look over your shoulder” feeling. Now, it's been replaced with Generic Teenaged Urban Fantasy. If I wanted that, I would read the bajillion other pixie books out there (such as “Wicked Lovely”).
Characters are all over the place. Zara has become a selfish, selfish girl, more concerned about her boyfriend, Nick, than the 20 other youngsters that have gone. She spends this ENTIRE book racing around after Nick. The 20 other kids, some of whom she probably went to school with? Who cares! We have to get Nick, who died! Her obsession even overlaps her love for her mother, as shown in this out-of-the-blue quote:
Wow, this came out of left field! When did Nick become the do-all, be-all, see-all? Yes, she's been obsessed about finding him for almost two books (TWO BOOKS), but still, she did care about Issie, Devyn, Betty, and her mom (and others). With this quote, it's like she's changed into a completely different person.
The characters, when you see them, have become all sorts of cliché. Devyn, Issie, and even Cassidy are barely even on the radar and are reduced to 1-dimensional characters (ooh, Devyn researches! Issie is cute! Cassidy can heal!). Zara's pixie father is a wasted character; Zara's mother is now a work obsessed mother who suddenly has a 10 month obligation to her work (yet another discontinuity). I can't take the giggling, evil Isla seriously, the stereotypical British butler, Bentley, makes me want to vomit nails (Zara really hasn't watched enough movies and TV to be able to recognize a stereotypical British butler? Please!), Vander was so obviously a traitor, the people of Valhalla are descriptively described as wearing “Viking” clothes, the gods act like surfer dudes, and so on.
Let's now get to the juicy stuff: the story. It's obvious that some publishers have realized they hit a gold mine and told Jones to write more, because this book is filled with barely enough plot for a novella. Nick's capture shouldn't take almost two books to resolve; it should have been accomplished by the middle of “Entice”, leaving the rest to resolve the pixie uprising (sort of like “Return of the Jedi” resolves Han's capture from “Empire Strikes Back”—actually, the correlation between those two movies and the last two Need books is what I was somewhat expecting). So, to fill up the 200+ pages, Jones is forced to drag out finding the key to Valhalla endlessly. Honestly, I was beginning to wonder if they would ever find the blasted city.
This plot is handled very carelessly and sloppily, strewn with more red herrings than a fish farm. After the dance (which accomplishes absolutely nothing story wise, other than to show A) the town is filled with idiots who don't know how to enforce martial law during a crisis and B) Jones had to find something to fill the first 50 pages of this novel), the team tries to figure out how to get to Valhalla. Devyn does his internet searching, and the rest slouch around. Then Astley miraculously approaches Zara stating he knows how to get to Valhalla and the key is in Iceland! Betty hardly bats an eye as Zara hops a plane in Bangor International Airport to Iceland, which seems slightly out of character.
SIDENOTE: It's also odd that a small airport like Bangor International Airport has a convenient flight to Iceland just when Zaran and Astley needed it. I checked the website, and most of the flights at BIA lead to NYC or other DOMESTIC flights to American cities. If Zara and Astley were to fly to Iceland, they likely would have had to fly to New York then to Keflavík International Airport, which isn't even mentioned by name (it's just the generic “airport in Iceland”).
To substitute for the lack of a plot, Jones spends a lot of time in the useless trip to Reykjavik, in which nothing is accomplished and Zara's father is mindlessly, senselessly, stupidly killed for no other reason than he was an inconvenience (which was a shame, as I wanted to have him bond with his daughter). When Zara returns (the Iceland trip a bust), Cassidy provides the next plot contrivance when she notices a costume party at a bar being held by a “strange guy” from a bazaar she saw. Wow, now that is what I call hard-core evidence! When he proves to be useless other than to get Zara shot, Zara and Astley sneak off to New York (the “apple” from the BiForst guy's clue — wow, there is so much creativity there, I think my brain will explode!) to meet Astley's mom, where more sidestories/diversions are thrown at the reader. From there, coincidences and plot contrivances pile up until it is one big pile of deus ex machina.
As if this isn't bad enough, I can't tell you how many continuity issues. I had just finished “Captivate”, so I remember that Astley had left the house to drum up pledges from pixies. However, at the beginning of “Entice”, all of a sudden, Astley is looking for his mother who apparently knows the location of Valhalla. Wow, news to me!
At one point, Zara complains about the lack of diversity in Maine; however, most of the Maine characters that she interacts with have dreadlocks, Mohawks, or described to be non-white (specifically Devyn and Nick, who, I got the impression from “Captivate”, was black or Native American). What is she complaining about, lack of diversity? Or does she just attract every single character who is diverse?
Another thing that made me explode in rage was the instantaneous creation of the “anti-iron pill”, a plot contrivance created so that Zara and Asltey can fly planes to Iceland without having to fret over all that nasty iron and steel in planes. Jones never once indicated earlier there was such a pill; if it did exist, why does no one use it earlier? Why is Astley the only one with this pill? Why don't the bad pixies have it? Who created it? You do not spend two books creating this world, just to dump a half-@ssed patch for your pixies' greatest weakness. If you are going to include an “anti-iron pill”, you at least make an effort to A) introduce it earlier or B) make some allusion to its sudden creation beyond “Oh, yeah, Astley had these really cool pills, but he doesn't use them much and only he has them”. Talk about totally violating the trust you built in your readers.
This disregard of sticking to the rules of the world continues when Zara is able to wield a power she A) had experienced only minutes before at the hands of Isla, a more powerful practitioner, B) had never used nor practiced using before, C) was able to use almost perfectly the first time to get exactly what she wanted, and D) although there are numerous times later on where Zara could use such a talent, she never does, as if she “forgot” she had this ability. I can't even begin to describe the head-banging and yelling sessions this caused me to experience. You don't have a character immediately learn a new skill without lots of practicing and trial and error. This is Writing Characters 101. This is why so many fan fiction Suethors with their Mary Sue's & Marty Stu's fail: in wanting to prove the uber coolness of their character, they have their Mary Sue immediately learn skills she has no business learning.
It's hard to take the events in this novel seriously when the characters don't seem to take the events seriously. The biggest example is the dance. A bus-full of students has been attacked, several are dead, and more are disappearing. Does the militia come in and order a military curfew? Do the parents/teachers discontinue school? Do the police create a perimeter? Nope, apparently not, since our characters rush to make it to the high school dance, which hasn't been canceled and isn't even being monitored. What the hell? Who does that? How can you give your audience a sense of urgency about Nick and all these others who are dying or have been abducted when your characters are more upset about what heels go with what dress? In fact, as the quotes at the beginning of the chapters indicate, no one even THINKS of enforcing martial law until the very end, after 20 youngsters are gone! Glad to see this town is in good hands—NOT!
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
A possible f-bomb is replaced with @#$%. Spatterings of da**, he**, cr*p and p*ss are present.
Teenagers at a party are said to be grinding. The costume party at a bar has scantily clad women.
Zara and her friends fight off a lot of pixies. At one point, a character is shot.
Overall:
“Disappointing” hardly seems the apropos word I feel after reading this mess of an entry in the Need series. I am disheartened, crushed, and sad. I loved “Need”. “Need” was genuinely unique, a standout in this genre. It made me fall in love with pixies and yearn for more. “Entice” almost doesn't feel like the same story, the same world as “Need”. What was dark and creepy, accented with the eerie recitation of phobias has become “Generic Young Adult Urban Fantasy Pixie Story 869”.
I got this as an ARC, but I was 100% prepared to buy this in paperback when it came out, so much did I love the series. After finishing, I can easily say I won't be buying “Entice” in paperback; I don't even know if I will be pursuing the rest of this series. (NOTE: In fact, I ended up selling back all but "Need", so great was my disappointment in this series.)
For those just thinking about starting the series, I suggest to read “Need”. If you love it like I do, don't continue; it will just ruin the taste in your mouth. If you don't like it, then just stop because the sequels won't improve the taste.
NOTE: I received an ARC via Amazon's Vine Program.
NOTE: Potential spoilers of book 2! Ye be warned!
Last time we were in Bedford, Maine, Zara had turned pixie to attempt to go to Valhalla and save Nick. Oh, and attend the high school dance. “Entice” picks up immediately—and I mean immediately—after “Captivate”. Zara, Issie, Devyn, and Cassidy head to the dance, where they fend off some evil pixies. From there, it is off on the chase for the mysterious Valhalla. The team follows lots of clues in their attempt to save Nick. Meanwhile, pixie attacks increase and more young Befordians go missing. Can Zara find Nick in time?
I Liked:
One of the first things I noticed when I started reading “Entice” was that the writing style had greatly improved from “Captivate”, which was particularly amazing as I had an ARC of “Entice”. Gone (for the most part) was the silly, juvenile sentence structure, the overly simplistic writing, and the lack of descriptions. I actually got a better idea of what Astley looked like, what vehicle Issie drove, what color Issie's hair is (red!! Finally!) and what the surroundings were.
Astley continues to be an intriguing character even if a tragic event in his past is presented in a hokey manner.
This book has a lot of character deaths. One particular death, while unwanted, was well written with good reactions from all our major characters. It also hit all the right notes and left me wanting to cry.
Jones doesn't have our heroine cop out of tough life decisions. Zara turns pixie and must face that fact that if or when she meets up with Nick again, he won't love her. Plus, her own mother has begun to hate Zara for being a pixie. Too many young adult novels cop out of such repercussions, making the ending feel as if out of a Disney movie. Not Jones.
The last 40 or so pages are particularly whirlwind as Zara finally makes her way to Valhalla.
I Didn't Like:
I almost don't know where to begin.
Let's start with the writing tone. “Need” was dark and ominous, almost more horror than urban fantasy, something I really liked. “Captivate” was more generic urban fantasy with most of the freaky, paranoia gone. “Entice” continues this trend. The tone is what made the book stand out, that creepy “Look over your shoulder” feeling. Now, it's been replaced with Generic Teenaged Urban Fantasy. If I wanted that, I would read the bajillion other pixie books out there (such as “Wicked Lovely”).
Characters are all over the place. Zara has become a selfish, selfish girl, more concerned about her boyfriend, Nick, than the 20 other youngsters that have gone. She spends this ENTIRE book racing around after Nick. The 20 other kids, some of whom she probably went to school with? Who cares! We have to get Nick, who died! Her obsession even overlaps her love for her mother, as shown in this out-of-the-blue quote:
“I won't regret my decision no matter the consequences, not if I can get Nick back. I won't regret it at all, not even if it means my own mother can't bear to look at me.”
Wow, this came out of left field! When did Nick become the do-all, be-all, see-all? Yes, she's been obsessed about finding him for almost two books (TWO BOOKS), but still, she did care about Issie, Devyn, Betty, and her mom (and others). With this quote, it's like she's changed into a completely different person.
The characters, when you see them, have become all sorts of cliché. Devyn, Issie, and even Cassidy are barely even on the radar and are reduced to 1-dimensional characters (ooh, Devyn researches! Issie is cute! Cassidy can heal!). Zara's pixie father is a wasted character; Zara's mother is now a work obsessed mother who suddenly has a 10 month obligation to her work (yet another discontinuity). I can't take the giggling, evil Isla seriously, the stereotypical British butler, Bentley, makes me want to vomit nails (Zara really hasn't watched enough movies and TV to be able to recognize a stereotypical British butler? Please!), Vander was so obviously a traitor, the people of Valhalla are descriptively described as wearing “Viking” clothes, the gods act like surfer dudes, and so on.
Let's now get to the juicy stuff: the story. It's obvious that some publishers have realized they hit a gold mine and told Jones to write more, because this book is filled with barely enough plot for a novella. Nick's capture shouldn't take almost two books to resolve; it should have been accomplished by the middle of “Entice”, leaving the rest to resolve the pixie uprising (sort of like “Return of the Jedi” resolves Han's capture from “Empire Strikes Back”—actually, the correlation between those two movies and the last two Need books is what I was somewhat expecting). So, to fill up the 200+ pages, Jones is forced to drag out finding the key to Valhalla endlessly. Honestly, I was beginning to wonder if they would ever find the blasted city.
This plot is handled very carelessly and sloppily, strewn with more red herrings than a fish farm. After the dance (which accomplishes absolutely nothing story wise, other than to show A) the town is filled with idiots who don't know how to enforce martial law during a crisis and B) Jones had to find something to fill the first 50 pages of this novel), the team tries to figure out how to get to Valhalla. Devyn does his internet searching, and the rest slouch around. Then Astley miraculously approaches Zara stating he knows how to get to Valhalla and the key is in Iceland! Betty hardly bats an eye as Zara hops a plane in Bangor International Airport to Iceland, which seems slightly out of character.
SIDENOTE: It's also odd that a small airport like Bangor International Airport has a convenient flight to Iceland just when Zaran and Astley needed it. I checked the website, and most of the flights at BIA lead to NYC or other DOMESTIC flights to American cities. If Zara and Astley were to fly to Iceland, they likely would have had to fly to New York then to Keflavík International Airport, which isn't even mentioned by name (it's just the generic “airport in Iceland”).
To substitute for the lack of a plot, Jones spends a lot of time in the useless trip to Reykjavik, in which nothing is accomplished and Zara's father is mindlessly, senselessly, stupidly killed for no other reason than he was an inconvenience (which was a shame, as I wanted to have him bond with his daughter). When Zara returns (the Iceland trip a bust), Cassidy provides the next plot contrivance when she notices a costume party at a bar being held by a “strange guy” from a bazaar she saw. Wow, now that is what I call hard-core evidence! When he proves to be useless other than to get Zara shot, Zara and Astley sneak off to New York (the “apple” from the BiForst guy's clue — wow, there is so much creativity there, I think my brain will explode!) to meet Astley's mom, where more sidestories/diversions are thrown at the reader. From there, coincidences and plot contrivances pile up until it is one big pile of deus ex machina.
As if this isn't bad enough, I can't tell you how many continuity issues. I had just finished “Captivate”, so I remember that Astley had left the house to drum up pledges from pixies. However, at the beginning of “Entice”, all of a sudden, Astley is looking for his mother who apparently knows the location of Valhalla. Wow, news to me!
At one point, Zara complains about the lack of diversity in Maine; however, most of the Maine characters that she interacts with have dreadlocks, Mohawks, or described to be non-white (specifically Devyn and Nick, who, I got the impression from “Captivate”, was black or Native American). What is she complaining about, lack of diversity? Or does she just attract every single character who is diverse?
Another thing that made me explode in rage was the instantaneous creation of the “anti-iron pill”, a plot contrivance created so that Zara and Asltey can fly planes to Iceland without having to fret over all that nasty iron and steel in planes. Jones never once indicated earlier there was such a pill; if it did exist, why does no one use it earlier? Why is Astley the only one with this pill? Why don't the bad pixies have it? Who created it? You do not spend two books creating this world, just to dump a half-@ssed patch for your pixies' greatest weakness. If you are going to include an “anti-iron pill”, you at least make an effort to A) introduce it earlier or B) make some allusion to its sudden creation beyond “Oh, yeah, Astley had these really cool pills, but he doesn't use them much and only he has them”. Talk about totally violating the trust you built in your readers.
This disregard of sticking to the rules of the world continues when Zara is able to wield a power she A) had experienced only minutes before at the hands of Isla, a more powerful practitioner, B) had never used nor practiced using before, C) was able to use almost perfectly the first time to get exactly what she wanted, and D) although there are numerous times later on where Zara could use such a talent, she never does, as if she “forgot” she had this ability. I can't even begin to describe the head-banging and yelling sessions this caused me to experience. You don't have a character immediately learn a new skill without lots of practicing and trial and error. This is Writing Characters 101. This is why so many fan fiction Suethors with their Mary Sue's & Marty Stu's fail: in wanting to prove the uber coolness of their character, they have their Mary Sue immediately learn skills she has no business learning.
It's hard to take the events in this novel seriously when the characters don't seem to take the events seriously. The biggest example is the dance. A bus-full of students has been attacked, several are dead, and more are disappearing. Does the militia come in and order a military curfew? Do the parents/teachers discontinue school? Do the police create a perimeter? Nope, apparently not, since our characters rush to make it to the high school dance, which hasn't been canceled and isn't even being monitored. What the hell? Who does that? How can you give your audience a sense of urgency about Nick and all these others who are dying or have been abducted when your characters are more upset about what heels go with what dress? In fact, as the quotes at the beginning of the chapters indicate, no one even THINKS of enforcing martial law until the very end, after 20 youngsters are gone! Glad to see this town is in good hands—NOT!
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
A possible f-bomb is replaced with @#$%. Spatterings of da**, he**, cr*p and p*ss are present.
Teenagers at a party are said to be grinding. The costume party at a bar has scantily clad women.
Zara and her friends fight off a lot of pixies. At one point, a character is shot.
Overall:
“Disappointing” hardly seems the apropos word I feel after reading this mess of an entry in the Need series. I am disheartened, crushed, and sad. I loved “Need”. “Need” was genuinely unique, a standout in this genre. It made me fall in love with pixies and yearn for more. “Entice” almost doesn't feel like the same story, the same world as “Need”. What was dark and creepy, accented with the eerie recitation of phobias has become “Generic Young Adult Urban Fantasy Pixie Story 869”.
I got this as an ARC, but I was 100% prepared to buy this in paperback when it came out, so much did I love the series. After finishing, I can easily say I won't be buying “Entice” in paperback; I don't even know if I will be pursuing the rest of this series. (NOTE: In fact, I ended up selling back all but "Need", so great was my disappointment in this series.)
For those just thinking about starting the series, I suggest to read “Need”. If you love it like I do, don't continue; it will just ruin the taste in your mouth. If you don't like it, then just stop because the sequels won't improve the taste.
December 20, 2010
In a few words: dragged out
**spoilers IF you haven't read the first books of this series**
I first have to say that I ADORE this series. The characters and plot are excellent. The twists and turns unseen and surprising. That said, this book of the series seemed to drag on about nothing much. I honestly think I could have read the first few chapters and final two chapters and not missed a thing. The middle was completely dispensable, unfortunately. My guess is that this series was supposed to be a three book deal, then someone had the bright idea to drag it out further. I think it was a mistake. This book could have ended here. I am not giving up on the series because I still love the characters and want to know how it all will end, but this book was disappointing on several levels.
Entice starts where 'Captivate' ended. Children are missing, a school bus full of teens has been attacked by evil pixies and the main characters are going to a school dance. That just rubs me all wrong. The town is in chaos, the police can't figure out why so many kids are missing. The FBI is moving in and they aren't any closer to figuring things out either. But that is not heroine Zara's biggest problem. Her problem is she kissed the Pixie King Astley and with that kiss she has turned into the Pixie Queen. She's blue with vicious shark-like teeth in her mouth. She must keep up a glamour so she doesn't scare people away, even her own friends- who are trying to figure out if she can be trusted or not. You see pixies feed off humans- males mostly but any human blood with do in a pinch. Zara's other problem...her were-wolf boyfriend died and was taken up to Valhalla and she is determined to find a way to bring him back- even at the cost of other lives. This didn't sit well with me either.
Zara is so pigheadedly stubborn that she is willing to jeopardize her life and her friends lives in order to just find a clue as to how to get into Valhalla and retrieve Nick her boyfriend. People are injured, people die and still Zara is determined to go after Nick. I get that she loves the guy, it was first love. They were only dating a matter of weeks and now she's willing to risk her life and the lives of everyone around her, to bring back a dead boyfriend. I didn't get that. It would be one thing to martyr herself, but she continually put everyone else at risk. I didn't like that.
My opinion, while I really liked Nick, he died. Let him go. There are other more important things happening in this story. I just never saw Nick as vital to the story. He was great, but the Pixie King Astley is far more interesting and he's in love with Zara. Zara just can't see anything beyond Nick. (Remind anyone of Bella Swan? But Bella was all about protecting people and Zara is all about risking people to get what she wants.) I lost some respect for Zara in this book, I hope to get it back in the next one.
http://moonlighttotwilightblog.blogsp...
**spoilers IF you haven't read the first books of this series**
I first have to say that I ADORE this series. The characters and plot are excellent. The twists and turns unseen and surprising. That said, this book of the series seemed to drag on about nothing much. I honestly think I could have read the first few chapters and final two chapters and not missed a thing. The middle was completely dispensable, unfortunately. My guess is that this series was supposed to be a three book deal, then someone had the bright idea to drag it out further. I think it was a mistake. This book could have ended here. I am not giving up on the series because I still love the characters and want to know how it all will end, but this book was disappointing on several levels.
Entice starts where 'Captivate' ended. Children are missing, a school bus full of teens has been attacked by evil pixies and the main characters are going to a school dance. That just rubs me all wrong. The town is in chaos, the police can't figure out why so many kids are missing. The FBI is moving in and they aren't any closer to figuring things out either. But that is not heroine Zara's biggest problem. Her problem is she kissed the Pixie King Astley and with that kiss she has turned into the Pixie Queen. She's blue with vicious shark-like teeth in her mouth. She must keep up a glamour so she doesn't scare people away, even her own friends- who are trying to figure out if she can be trusted or not. You see pixies feed off humans- males mostly but any human blood with do in a pinch. Zara's other problem...her were-wolf boyfriend died and was taken up to Valhalla and she is determined to find a way to bring him back- even at the cost of other lives. This didn't sit well with me either.
Zara is so pigheadedly stubborn that she is willing to jeopardize her life and her friends lives in order to just find a clue as to how to get into Valhalla and retrieve Nick her boyfriend. People are injured, people die and still Zara is determined to go after Nick. I get that she loves the guy, it was first love. They were only dating a matter of weeks and now she's willing to risk her life and the lives of everyone around her, to bring back a dead boyfriend. I didn't get that. It would be one thing to martyr herself, but she continually put everyone else at risk. I didn't like that.
My opinion, while I really liked Nick, he died. Let him go. There are other more important things happening in this story. I just never saw Nick as vital to the story. He was great, but the Pixie King Astley is far more interesting and he's in love with Zara. Zara just can't see anything beyond Nick. (Remind anyone of Bella Swan? But Bella was all about protecting people and Zara is all about risking people to get what she wants.) I lost some respect for Zara in this book, I hope to get it back in the next one.
http://moonlighttotwilightblog.blogsp...
July 16, 2012
Darn, I hate where the book ended- sorry but it ended with a sort-of cliffhanger and I don't like cliffhangers very much. Othervise Entice was really amazing. It picks off exactly were Captivate ends and basically all through the book, Zara is on a quest to save and bring back Nick. The plot does twist and turn a bit during the book (not in a bad way) and the relationship between Zara and Astley becomes stronger and as you may have guessed, Zara's got herself stuck in a love triangle.
If you're on Astley side then your gonna love this book so much because there's a lot of Astley through Entice :) If your Nicks side then you'll feel like beating Astley up in some parts of the book.
I can't wait till the next book in the series, I still don't like the whole idea of Zara being Pixified though...
If you're on Astley side then your gonna love this book so much because there's a lot of Astley through Entice :) If your Nicks side then you'll feel like beating Astley up in some parts of the book.
I can't wait till the next book in the series, I still don't like the whole idea of Zara being Pixified though...
June 24, 2011
I could have sworn this series was supposed to be a trilogy! I'd actually forgotten about the series, and then became excited when I could read Captivate and Entice together, thinking it was the end. Guess not.
The ONLY reason I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 4 is because Zara annoyed the crap out of me in this book. I admired her dedication to going to get Nick, but holy cow she practically ran over everyone just to get there. So many sacrifices were made to get him home, and it just seemed excessive.
Also, I'm not one to usually switch my allegiance when there's a love triangle, but I am totally for Astley! That's also perhaps why I had a hard time with the whole getting Nick back, because Astley was right there and willing and the better choice.
Another thing that annoyed me was how Zara let her friends and family discriminate against other pixies when she herself was one! I hate how she didn't stand up for her pixie friends (namely Astley) after all they did for her. Drove me nuts! I hope she gets a clue in the next novel b/c I can't stand reading a series when I hate the main character.
The ONLY reason I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 4 is because Zara annoyed the crap out of me in this book. I admired her dedication to going to get Nick, but holy cow she practically ran over everyone just to get there. So many sacrifices were made to get him home, and it just seemed excessive.
Also, I'm not one to usually switch my allegiance when there's a love triangle, but I am totally for Astley! That's also perhaps why I had a hard time with the whole getting Nick back, because Astley was right there and willing and the better choice.
Another thing that annoyed me was how Zara let her friends and family discriminate against other pixies when she herself was one! I hate how she didn't stand up for her pixie friends (namely Astley) after all they did for her. Drove me nuts! I hope she gets a clue in the next novel b/c I can't stand reading a series when I hate the main character.
December 29, 2010
**A disclaimer to anyone who doesnt like this review, New Moon & Breaking Dawn were my favorite Twilight books. I dont need action, but I DO need character development in a series!** Even though I put this book on my Amazing YA bookshelf I really wanted to put it on the Total Dissappointments shelf! If youve read the past 2 books you know that Zara changed into a Pixie to save Nick from Vallalah. SO one would expect that Entice is all about dealing with that change, a growth book, if you will. But NO. In fact I really liked Zara in the first two books and now shes whinier than Bella Swan could ever hope to be! There is very little character or story line development. All I can think is hopefully the next book will be better, I'll still read it but probably not one I'll be holding my breath for.
May 20, 2022
Need (3): Entice ~ Carrie Jones
Bloomsbury, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Echt een heerlijke serie! Ik zit ieder deel steeds meer en meer vastgezogen in het verhaal, en moét gewoon doorlezen. Vreselijk verslavend! Carrie Jones heeft echt een leuke manier van schrijven en een geweldige humor. Ik hou van de Buffy referenties, en geniet van Valhalla, Odin en een vleugje Thor. Snel door in het vierde en laatste deel. Bring it on!!!
Bloomsbury, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Echt een heerlijke serie! Ik zit ieder deel steeds meer en meer vastgezogen in het verhaal, en moét gewoon doorlezen. Vreselijk verslavend! Carrie Jones heeft echt een leuke manier van schrijven en een geweldige humor. Ik hou van de Buffy referenties, en geniet van Valhalla, Odin en een vleugje Thor. Snel door in het vierde en laatste deel. Bring it on!!!
December 24, 2010
This review may also be found on A Thousand Little Pages.
3.5/5
Various predicaments have presented themselves to Zara since the death of her stepfather and the unwilling move to Bedford, Maine that followed. There is, of course, the whole pixie situation, but now Nick, her boyfriend and warrior werewolf, is gone, too. Zara, heartbroken and determined, allows the pixie king Astley to transform her into a pixie herself as a last resort to aid in the quest to retrieve Nick. The problem is: the only leads they have are the words of a disdainful Valkyrie and the existence of a mythical place -- Valhalla, said to be the ruling place of the Norse god, Odin. As Zara and the crew continue to search for more clues, evil pixies led by the newly appearing king, Frank, are kidnapping boys left and right. Zara, now the Queen of King Astley, also faces entirely new problems as her relationship with Astley and the trust of her friends are brought into jeopardy by these recent turn of events. However, Zara is nothing if not stubborn, and she will not rest until Nick is safely returned to Bedford.
As I read each of the Need books one after the other, the growth of the author was especially evident. Descriptions of the background and setup of each place, which were lacking in the first two books of this series, are found embedded throughout Entice, creating an even more realistic world for the reader. I adore the steadily increasing plot complications, too. A series that started out with a relatively simple concept -- eliminate the evil pixies and their violent ways -- has successfully morphed into an intense story involving mythical places and the existence of benevolence in an initially evil species.
Young adult books nowadays all seem to contain the classic love triangle scenario, and this book is not an exception. There does seem to be an almost two-dimensional quality to Zara and Nick’s relationship, though. Why are they even in love? I suppose there was a time limit on the development of their relationship since Nick was whisked away to Valhalla so soon after the series started. On the other hand, the author did a great job with Zara and Astley, whose relationship is multi-faceted and angst-filled enough to keep me interested. It also seems obvious who Zara will choose at the end, if one were to observe the popular trend followed by other YA novels. But who knows? Maybe Carrie Jones will spring out a surprise for us at the end of the series.
Entice is packed with action and is easily my favorite book out of the Need series so far. I will be looking forward to the next installment of the series.
Book Source: Review Copy via Flamingnet
3.5/5
Various predicaments have presented themselves to Zara since the death of her stepfather and the unwilling move to Bedford, Maine that followed. There is, of course, the whole pixie situation, but now Nick, her boyfriend and warrior werewolf, is gone, too. Zara, heartbroken and determined, allows the pixie king Astley to transform her into a pixie herself as a last resort to aid in the quest to retrieve Nick. The problem is: the only leads they have are the words of a disdainful Valkyrie and the existence of a mythical place -- Valhalla, said to be the ruling place of the Norse god, Odin. As Zara and the crew continue to search for more clues, evil pixies led by the newly appearing king, Frank, are kidnapping boys left and right. Zara, now the Queen of King Astley, also faces entirely new problems as her relationship with Astley and the trust of her friends are brought into jeopardy by these recent turn of events. However, Zara is nothing if not stubborn, and she will not rest until Nick is safely returned to Bedford.
As I read each of the Need books one after the other, the growth of the author was especially evident. Descriptions of the background and setup of each place, which were lacking in the first two books of this series, are found embedded throughout Entice, creating an even more realistic world for the reader. I adore the steadily increasing plot complications, too. A series that started out with a relatively simple concept -- eliminate the evil pixies and their violent ways -- has successfully morphed into an intense story involving mythical places and the existence of benevolence in an initially evil species.
Young adult books nowadays all seem to contain the classic love triangle scenario, and this book is not an exception. There does seem to be an almost two-dimensional quality to Zara and Nick’s relationship, though. Why are they even in love? I suppose there was a time limit on the development of their relationship since Nick was whisked away to Valhalla so soon after the series started. On the other hand, the author did a great job with Zara and Astley, whose relationship is multi-faceted and angst-filled enough to keep me interested. It also seems obvious who Zara will choose at the end, if one were to observe the popular trend followed by other YA novels. But who knows? Maybe Carrie Jones will spring out a surprise for us at the end of the series.
Entice is packed with action and is easily my favorite book out of the Need series so far. I will be looking forward to the next installment of the series.
Book Source: Review Copy via Flamingnet
March 1, 2011
Continuity Folks: Astley's eyes are green, not blue. (I'm so OCD that I even looked up the references in Captivate. Yes, I own that one, too. *hangs head*) Who forgets the correct physical description of their own characters? I thought these imaginery people, like, lived in the authors' head for six months while they write their book. Anyway...
These three stars are all for Astley.
He's the only reason I'm still reading this series. I probably should have given up after Need, but then I read an Astley teaser chapter for Captivate so I'm still here. I want to know how the story ends for him (even though Zara totally doesn't deserve him at this point).
This book is middle-book-in-a-series at its worst. Pure fluff and filler. This book could have been condensed down to about three chapters and stuck at the beginning of the fourth andhopefully last book. Why are they dragging out this series?
The writing in Entice continues to be awkward and clumsy, especially the dialogue. The plot drags. and drags. and drags. Zara morphs into this selfish, self-absorbed girl who will do anything, sacrifice anyone to get her boyfriend back from the dead. I'm feeling a little nauseated right now.
Zara, it's the Circle of Life, honey. (I would write baby but Nick beat me to that word in Captivate a few hundred times.) I wanted to scream at her, "NICK IS DEAD. LET HIM BE. MAYBE HE DOESN'T WANT TO COME BACK BUT YOU DON'T CARE BECAUSE ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS WHAT YOU WANT."
Let's take a tally of gains and losses. How many people did Zara lose getting Nick back? How many people did she gain? Zara, you are running at a loss right now. You should be fighting your pixie war with Astley right now and actually saving some lives instead of obsessing over your boyfriend.
I'm sticking around with this series for the last book because I'm curious if Ms. Jones will take the untrodden road of picking the obligatory third vertex of the love triangle for our heroine. You know, Guy #2. Have you read a YA book in the past few years (since the dawn of the requisite love triangle) where the girl chooses Guy #2 who isn't even introduced in the first book? Here's hoping, Astley!
These three stars are all for Astley.
He's the only reason I'm still reading this series. I probably should have given up after Need, but then I read an Astley teaser chapter for Captivate so I'm still here. I want to know how the story ends for him (even though Zara totally doesn't deserve him at this point).
This book is middle-book-in-a-series at its worst. Pure fluff and filler. This book could have been condensed down to about three chapters and stuck at the beginning of the fourth and
The writing in Entice continues to be awkward and clumsy, especially the dialogue. The plot drags. and drags. and drags. Zara morphs into this selfish, self-absorbed girl who will do anything, sacrifice anyone to get her boyfriend back from the dead. I'm feeling a little nauseated right now.
Zara, it's the Circle of Life, honey. (I would write baby but Nick beat me to that word in Captivate a few hundred times.) I wanted to scream at her, "NICK IS DEAD. LET HIM BE. MAYBE HE DOESN'T WANT TO COME BACK BUT YOU DON'T CARE BECAUSE ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS WHAT YOU WANT."
Let's take a tally of gains and losses. How many people did Zara lose getting Nick back? How many people did she gain? Zara, you are running at a loss right now. You should be fighting your pixie war with Astley right now and actually saving some lives instead of obsessing over your boyfriend.
I'm sticking around with this series for the last book because I'm curious if Ms. Jones will take the untrodden road of picking the obligatory third vertex of the love triangle for our heroine. You know, Guy #2. Have you read a YA book in the past few years (since the dawn of the requisite love triangle) where the girl chooses Guy #2 who isn't even introduced in the first book? Here's hoping, Astley!
January 10, 2012
Astly *swoons*
This series just gets better and better for me. I love the unique pixie plot. There continues to be shocks and twists at every page and the characters continue to grow and surprise me. I continue to fall more madly in love with Astly. He really made this book for me. I know there are a few Team Nick people left but Astly really blew Nick out of the water with this one.
Zara is on a mission to save Nick from Vahalla but she has no idea how to get there. With the help of the oh so sweet and sexy King Astly, they travel all over following clues on how to enter Vahalla and bring Nick home. Astly is one of the most chivalrous and supporting characters I have ever read about. Even though Zara's heart is for another, right now!, he continues to help and support her through every step of the way. With that kind of love and support who wouldn't fall for him. She definitely begins to see how she leans on him and needs him.
Zara is learning to be a pixie queen and what that means for Astly and his people. She is dealing with a mom and grandma that hate pixies. She is dealing with so much yet stays so strong in her efforts to find Nick. She may take it a bit far though because there is a lot of danger and sacrifice to get Nick back. If you are looking for a lot of action, emotion, surprises, and a great love triangle then this series is for you. I can't wait for the final book, Endure, out May 10th!
This series just gets better and better for me. I love the unique pixie plot. There continues to be shocks and twists at every page and the characters continue to grow and surprise me. I continue to fall more madly in love with Astly. He really made this book for me. I know there are a few Team Nick people left but Astly really blew Nick out of the water with this one.
Zara is on a mission to save Nick from Vahalla but she has no idea how to get there. With the help of the oh so sweet and sexy King Astly, they travel all over following clues on how to enter Vahalla and bring Nick home. Astly is one of the most chivalrous and supporting characters I have ever read about. Even though Zara's heart is for another, right now!, he continues to help and support her through every step of the way. With that kind of love and support who wouldn't fall for him. She definitely begins to see how she leans on him and needs him.
Zara is learning to be a pixie queen and what that means for Astly and his people. She is dealing with a mom and grandma that hate pixies. She is dealing with so much yet stays so strong in her efforts to find Nick. She may take it a bit far though because there is a lot of danger and sacrifice to get Nick back. If you are looking for a lot of action, emotion, surprises, and a great love triangle then this series is for you. I can't wait for the final book, Endure, out May 10th!
January 19, 2023
1. Nobody deserves Astley.
2. Fucking Zara.
3. Can someone give Zara's mother the douchebag Nobel prize pls.
4. AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T CARE ABOUT NICK?
5. Also, please, can someone slap Zara?
6. At least, this book was way better.
7. But I feel the story was sidetracked.
2. Fucking Zara.
3. Can someone give Zara's mother the douchebag Nobel prize pls.
4. AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T CARE ABOUT NICK?
5. Also, please, can someone slap Zara?
6. At least, this book was way better.
7. But I feel the story was sidetracked.
September 20, 2011
**Spoilers**
I adored this book. As for the question of, Nick or Astley, I'm Team Astley. I like Nick too, since book one, but I think he's too ordinary, despite the werewolf factor. He's sweet and all, but there's nothing about him that is really "wow". I do want to find out if he accepts Zara or not, but I believe he will. I really hope that Ms.Jones touches more on the virus and "he had to kill his dad" issue. I thought that was good character development for someone with almost no back story. It did bother me that Zara had to find out through Devyn, which is why I hope it gets brought up again in "Endure". Maybe there's more to Nick.
Onto Astley. I simply adore him. I was first convinced that I would love his character the moment he appeared and Zara saved him. His pixie aspect was something major. I'm like Zara in the sense that I believe everyone deserves a second chance and you can't judge a race by the actions of a few and I probably would've saved him from that tree and Thruth as well. Astley captivated my attention instantly, which is good for a character because it means they're well written. What got me so interested, was the fact that he was a young king and that Ms.Jones always described him as "young, tired,and sad". Along those lines. The moment I read that, I knew there was something deeper to Astley; a harsh past.
The fact that Astley has to live with himself knowing that his dad sacrificed himself for him must be hard. The burden of being a young and weak king is always on his shoulders, more so when he couldn't find the rouge and Amelie killed his queen. All these hardships are always on his mind, not to mention his mother hates him and that's always a constant reminder of his past. I've always been attracted to men with troublesome pasts(something I can relate to) especially when they've overcome them or are trying to overcome them.
Also, when Astley is talking to Zara's mom, and he says "I think she's the one using me." That broke my heart. We all know that Astley knows that Zara is only using him and only turned pixie to save Nick. Astley's too nice.
Lastly, I want to find out if we ever find out what was the price he had to pay to get the council to reveal how to get to Valhalla. I hope it's not something drastic. We love you Astley!!!
I adored this book. As for the question of, Nick or Astley, I'm Team Astley. I like Nick too, since book one, but I think he's too ordinary, despite the werewolf factor. He's sweet and all, but there's nothing about him that is really "wow". I do want to find out if he accepts Zara or not, but I believe he will. I really hope that Ms.Jones touches more on the virus and "he had to kill his dad" issue. I thought that was good character development for someone with almost no back story. It did bother me that Zara had to find out through Devyn, which is why I hope it gets brought up again in "Endure". Maybe there's more to Nick.
Onto Astley. I simply adore him. I was first convinced that I would love his character the moment he appeared and Zara saved him. His pixie aspect was something major. I'm like Zara in the sense that I believe everyone deserves a second chance and you can't judge a race by the actions of a few and I probably would've saved him from that tree and Thruth as well. Astley captivated my attention instantly, which is good for a character because it means they're well written. What got me so interested, was the fact that he was a young king and that Ms.Jones always described him as "young, tired,and sad". Along those lines. The moment I read that, I knew there was something deeper to Astley; a harsh past.
The fact that Astley has to live with himself knowing that his dad sacrificed himself for him must be hard. The burden of being a young and weak king is always on his shoulders, more so when he couldn't find the rouge and Amelie killed his queen. All these hardships are always on his mind, not to mention his mother hates him and that's always a constant reminder of his past. I've always been attracted to men with troublesome pasts(something I can relate to) especially when they've overcome them or are trying to overcome them.
Also, when Astley is talking to Zara's mom, and he says "I think she's the one using me." That broke my heart. We all know that Astley knows that Zara is only using him and only turned pixie to save Nick. Astley's too nice.
Lastly, I want to find out if we ever find out what was the price he had to pay to get the council to reveal how to get to Valhalla. I hope it's not something drastic. We love you Astley!!!
September 13, 2013
This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
Entice starts off right after Captivate where Zara’s friends are still struggling to accept that she is a good pixie and Zara is determined to rescue Nick from Valhalla.
This is basically about Zara learning about Valhalla and Norse mythology to find a way to rescue Nick both for her and as the defender of Bedford. At the same time Zara worries whether Nick will even accept her as a pixie. Also Frank and his evil pixies are terrorising the town and are kidnapping boys for their needs, and Zara plus friends have to help protect everyone.
One down side is the lack of Nick in this book although he does influence everything in this book. There are plenty of plot twists and turns and you do not know what will happen next.
What I love about this series is the relationships between the characters, especially Betty and Zara relationship, and how Betty overcomes her resentment of pixies because of Zara. I also like the friendship between Astley and Zara and how they are both there for each other when they need help.
Even though I love this book it is a bit of a filler between Captivate and Endure. However it is still a very enticing read and I would recommend for those who have the rest of the series of if you like YA paranormal books.
Entice starts off right after Captivate where Zara’s friends are still struggling to accept that she is a good pixie and Zara is determined to rescue Nick from Valhalla.
This is basically about Zara learning about Valhalla and Norse mythology to find a way to rescue Nick both for her and as the defender of Bedford. At the same time Zara worries whether Nick will even accept her as a pixie. Also Frank and his evil pixies are terrorising the town and are kidnapping boys for their needs, and Zara plus friends have to help protect everyone.
One down side is the lack of Nick in this book although he does influence everything in this book. There are plenty of plot twists and turns and you do not know what will happen next.
What I love about this series is the relationships between the characters, especially Betty and Zara relationship, and how Betty overcomes her resentment of pixies because of Zara. I also like the friendship between Astley and Zara and how they are both there for each other when they need help.
Even though I love this book it is a bit of a filler between Captivate and Endure. However it is still a very enticing read and I would recommend for those who have the rest of the series of if you like YA paranormal books.
December 2, 2010
**slight spoiler alert**
This one will have you hanging AGAIN at the end. I am really beginning to hate it when that happens. I thought I would finally get a bit of closure between Nick and Zara, but now Zara has thrown a wrench in the happily ever after by becoming a bit more friendly with Astley. Zara concludes this book being more confused than ever! There were a few slow parts in the plot, but by the end you will be satisfied that you finished it and demanding the next in the series.
This one will have you hanging AGAIN at the end. I am really beginning to hate it when that happens. I thought I would finally get a bit of closure between Nick and Zara, but now Zara has thrown a wrench in the happily ever after by becoming a bit more friendly with Astley. Zara concludes this book being more confused than ever! There were a few slow parts in the plot, but by the end you will be satisfied that you finished it and demanding the next in the series.
September 11, 2011
I loved the first book, but during this one I skimmed an awful lot thinking is it over yet?
The story was good at first, and now just feels drawn out and boring. I guess this series is going to still continue, but I personally believe it should have ended as a trilogy.
The story was good at first, and now just feels drawn out and boring. I guess this series is going to still continue, but I personally believe it should have ended as a trilogy.
June 14, 2016
5 Stars!
I really liked how the story line was written in this book. It changes over time as you read. I like the characters and everything about them. I hope I like the last book as much as I do with this book.
I really liked how the story line was written in this book. It changes over time as you read. I like the characters and everything about them. I hope I like the last book as much as I do with this book.
June 3, 2018
Final Rating: 4.5 Stars
July 25, 2020
Hooked me in with a wonderful story and characters. Astley grew on me, and I kinda hope Zara ends up with him.
January 7, 2024
This book is made of awesome-sauce
December 22, 2010
Best in the series so far, 3.5 stars
Carrie Jones' ENTICE picks right up where CAPTIVATE left off: Zara has just been pixie-kissed and turned into Astley's queen, the town remains ravaged by pixies who are killing teens, and Nick may or may not be alive and accessible in Valhalla. Having given up her humanity in order to save him, Zara must wrestle with how to keep her friends and her town safe while going after Nick. When others begin to get hurt in the process, Zara must also decide if her quest is worth it, especially since Nick may not even want her now that she's a pixie.
While there were flaws in this book, I found ENTICE to be the best in the series so far. Compared to the previous two novels, there's a noticeable reduction in the amount of silly dialogue between Zara and her friends; the writing, and therefore the characters, felt more mature because of it. The expansion of the Norse mythology, combined with the pixie lore, was also unique. The biggest strength of the book, however, was the development of Astley as a character: he is the most interesting and complex character in the series, and he receives a lot of attention in this installment. The layered examination of how some (namely Astley) deal with hurt, pain, and loss was handled well, and there were moments of brilliant and sadly descriptive writing. Again, like in the previous books, this installment also examined significant issues like what it means to be human and the importance of choice.
Even with these improvements, certain aspects remained frustrating. The dialogue and actions of some characters were still often silly or immature, and some repeated descriptive phrases became conspicuous. The most troubling part was the character inconsistency in Zara, in which she kept vacillating between being strong and selfless to being weak and selfish. At the end of the second book, Zara realized that her actions had hurt others, but that awareness doesn't seem to have stuck, as she continues to jeopardize others for her own desires. Even though Zara obviously loves Nick, the series is also moving towards an obvious love triangle that appears as though it will have striking similarities to that in Melissa Marr's WICKED LOVELY series. Secondary characters like Devyn, Issie, and Cassidy were present but of limited importance.
Though I thought this series was a planned trilogy, it's obvious now that Jones plans to expand the story across additional books. Even though I'm not completely smitten, I know I'll be looking forward to see where Zara, Nick, and Astley's stories lead next. In the books to come, I hope that Jones continues to hone her writing and dialogue and that we'll see more consistency in Zara's character.
Carrie Jones' ENTICE picks right up where CAPTIVATE left off: Zara has just been pixie-kissed and turned into Astley's queen, the town remains ravaged by pixies who are killing teens, and Nick may or may not be alive and accessible in Valhalla. Having given up her humanity in order to save him, Zara must wrestle with how to keep her friends and her town safe while going after Nick. When others begin to get hurt in the process, Zara must also decide if her quest is worth it, especially since Nick may not even want her now that she's a pixie.
While there were flaws in this book, I found ENTICE to be the best in the series so far. Compared to the previous two novels, there's a noticeable reduction in the amount of silly dialogue between Zara and her friends; the writing, and therefore the characters, felt more mature because of it. The expansion of the Norse mythology, combined with the pixie lore, was also unique. The biggest strength of the book, however, was the development of Astley as a character: he is the most interesting and complex character in the series, and he receives a lot of attention in this installment. The layered examination of how some (namely Astley) deal with hurt, pain, and loss was handled well, and there were moments of brilliant and sadly descriptive writing. Again, like in the previous books, this installment also examined significant issues like what it means to be human and the importance of choice.
Even with these improvements, certain aspects remained frustrating. The dialogue and actions of some characters were still often silly or immature, and some repeated descriptive phrases became conspicuous. The most troubling part was the character inconsistency in Zara, in which she kept vacillating between being strong and selfless to being weak and selfish. At the end of the second book, Zara realized that her actions had hurt others, but that awareness doesn't seem to have stuck, as she continues to jeopardize others for her own desires. Even though Zara obviously loves Nick, the series is also moving towards an obvious love triangle that appears as though it will have striking similarities to that in Melissa Marr's WICKED LOVELY series. Secondary characters like Devyn, Issie, and Cassidy were present but of limited importance.
Though I thought this series was a planned trilogy, it's obvious now that Jones plans to expand the story across additional books. Even though I'm not completely smitten, I know I'll be looking forward to see where Zara, Nick, and Astley's stories lead next. In the books to come, I hope that Jones continues to hone her writing and dialogue and that we'll see more consistency in Zara's character.
December 30, 2010
Time and time again, this series delivers a devourable and explosive plot. Entice, the third installment, was beyond thrilling, thus, making it my favorite. The original quality behind the detailed descriptions elevated my imagination to the max. Zara, has transformed immensely since I first met her. Her true nature has finally surfaced, balancing her kind heart and confident persona. The certainty behind her actions were admirable and straight forward. I didn't find myself growing impatient with her naive decisions, like I did in the past. I must say though, Astley's influence has been a positive one so far. Also, he is just so damn sexy. There is something about his caring behavior towards Zara that oozes through the pages. I wouldn't mind turning into a pixie if I knew Astley was going to be by my side. Yes, they remind me of evil looking Avatars with sharp teeth, but for him I would jump at the chance. Hm, I think I might be in love.
Moving on, the anticipation for Nick's rescue from an unfortunate capture in Captivate was undeniably taking over. Therefore, the mystery behind Valhalla was slowly developing and creating a vibe that appropriately fit the fast-paced style. Once Zara visits this secretive world, she is confronted with tasks and wondrous creatures, I just wished she stayed there a bit longer. Yet again, Carrie Jones leaves me with an ending that left me drooling for the next book. Will Zara give in to her pixie king or succumbed to her first love Nick? I have to wait and see! All I know is that I'm Team Astley all the way! I look forward to seeing what surprises are in store for us next. After three books, this pixie series continues to fascinate me with it's relatable characters and well-written story line.
Moving on, the anticipation for Nick's rescue from an unfortunate capture in Captivate was undeniably taking over. Therefore, the mystery behind Valhalla was slowly developing and creating a vibe that appropriately fit the fast-paced style. Once Zara visits this secretive world, she is confronted with tasks and wondrous creatures, I just wished she stayed there a bit longer. Yet again, Carrie Jones leaves me with an ending that left me drooling for the next book. Will Zara give in to her pixie king or succumbed to her first love Nick? I have to wait and see! All I know is that I'm Team Astley all the way! I look forward to seeing what surprises are in store for us next. After three books, this pixie series continues to fascinate me with it's relatable characters and well-written story line.
August 6, 2012
This book was too short. I loved it mostly because of Astley, who I adore. I personally feel that Nick is a jerk and I cannot stand how often female characters are written to be with the jerk boyfriend. Now I know often in life girls pick the jerk, but that is because the nice ones never looked or acted like Astley. I not sure how I feel about this whole Valhalla thing, for some reason it felt a little campy to me. I enjoyed the time without Nick, Zara growing up and realizing the world has shades of grey, and getting to know Astley better. I am also extremely disappointed in the short redemption part that appeared in the book. I definitely felt that a lot of important story details were rushed and shorten in the book, which is sad for such strongly built characters. Why then if I have all these things to do I mark this book as couldn't put it down and so on? Because the series is great, the character are strong and interesting, You want to see what will happen despite the short comings, and finally and most importantly Nick isn't really in this book.
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