What do you think?
Rate this book
Arrows
A modern cupid story set in present-day Wisconsin combining the fantastical elements of Greek mythology with the contemporary drama of MTV's Teen Mom.
People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.
Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.
A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?
This fast-paced debut novel explores the internal & external conflicts of a girl who finds herself inexplicably drawn to a boy who seemingly doesn't reciprocate her feelings, touching on the issues of love, sex and responsibility, with a heroine struggling to control her destiny--perfect for fans of Katie McGarry's novels and MTV’s 16 and Pregnant.
People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.
Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.
A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?
This fast-paced debut novel explores the internal & external conflicts of a girl who finds herself inexplicably drawn to a boy who seemingly doesn't reciprocate her feelings, touching on the issues of love, sex and responsibility, with a heroine struggling to control her destiny--perfect for fans of Katie McGarry's novels and MTV’s 16 and Pregnant.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2016
About the author
Melissa Gorzelanczyk
2 books159 followersMelissa Gorzelanczyk is a former magazine editor and columnist who believes love is everything. A dreamer for life, Melissa has been writing books since she was nine years old when she penned her first story about a beloved black horse. She is a member of the Class of 2k16, the SCBWI and The Sweet Sixteens. She lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with her husband and family.
She is represented by Carrie Howland of Donadio & Olson.
See more at: www.melissagorzelanczyk.com
She is represented by Carrie Howland of Donadio & Olson.
See more at: www.melissagorzelanczyk.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
May 25, 2020
for more reviews and giveaways, please visit Her Book Thoughts!
OMG YOU GUYSSSSS!!!
Oh my heartttt. Arrows is such a perfect book for this season. Don't get me wrong, I would recommend Arrows anytime of the year but reading it at this month, when it's all about love... it's just perfect. I wouldn't exactly call ARROWS a complete retelling of the famous tale of Cupid and Psyche but I can say that the book was inspired on that particular mythology story. In this tale, our main character is Cupids son himself, Aaryn.
The story opens up with Aaryn and his trainer, Phoebe, doing some love arrow shooting to the clueless couples in a highschool dance. It would've been perfect, Aaryn will pass his test and be an official cupid and a couple will fall madly in love, but... Aaryn messed up and now he has to clean up that mess.
What I liked the most about Arrows is it's refreshing plotline. I can confidently say that I have never encountered a storyline like this before. I was anticipating every page while slowly absorbing every word. The pacing helped a lot too because I didn't find any dull moment throughout the book. The book caught my attention the moment I started reading, it's very easy to follow and Melissa's writing is simple and beautiful at the same time. Of course I finished it in one day!
I don't know about you but I adore the book even more when I can read the thoughts of the two main characters, in other words, if it has two POV's. The characters are rich and vibrant. I wasn't only fond of the leads but also with the secondary characters. Melissa effectively destroyed the conceited good looking greek god tradition with Aaryn. He's such a swoony love interest. I honestly can't think of anything bad to say about him. I'm not saying he's perfect though, far from it. Even with his god-ness, the story revealed how flawed he is. Karma definitely belongs to my favorite heroines list. I adore this girl to bits! She made me feel a lot of things compared to Aaryn. Everytime I read her thoughts, I'm torn between hugging and crying with her and smacking and shaking some sense to her. In short, Melissa writes such authentic characters that will totally affect the readers hearts. They're a hard bunch to let go, here's me hoping for a second book!! I feel like the last chapters were a little rushed as well and that's another reason why I am demanding for a follow up and that's why I didn't give a complete 5. Arrows ending is far from being a cliffhanger so no on should worry about that. Whatever the author decides abour Aaryn and Karmas journey, I'll be fine with it.
And lastly, what is this book without its romance? This book is written to melt your heart and for you to explode of FEELS. What a magnificent debut by Melissa Gorzelanczyk! This novel clearly knows how it feels to fall in love, what it means to get your heart broken and how important it is to move on. With a gorgeous writing, a dash of mythology and a heartwarming romance.. you don't need to be shot by an arrow to love this novel.
OMG YOU GUYSSSSS!!!
Oh my heartttt. Arrows is such a perfect book for this season. Don't get me wrong, I would recommend Arrows anytime of the year but reading it at this month, when it's all about love... it's just perfect. I wouldn't exactly call ARROWS a complete retelling of the famous tale of Cupid and Psyche but I can say that the book was inspired on that particular mythology story. In this tale, our main character is Cupids son himself, Aaryn.
The story opens up with Aaryn and his trainer, Phoebe, doing some love arrow shooting to the clueless couples in a highschool dance. It would've been perfect, Aaryn will pass his test and be an official cupid and a couple will fall madly in love, but... Aaryn messed up and now he has to clean up that mess.
What I liked the most about Arrows is it's refreshing plotline. I can confidently say that I have never encountered a storyline like this before. I was anticipating every page while slowly absorbing every word. The pacing helped a lot too because I didn't find any dull moment throughout the book. The book caught my attention the moment I started reading, it's very easy to follow and Melissa's writing is simple and beautiful at the same time. Of course I finished it in one day!
I don't know about you but I adore the book even more when I can read the thoughts of the two main characters, in other words, if it has two POV's. The characters are rich and vibrant. I wasn't only fond of the leads but also with the secondary characters. Melissa effectively destroyed the conceited good looking greek god tradition with Aaryn. He's such a swoony love interest. I honestly can't think of anything bad to say about him. I'm not saying he's perfect though, far from it. Even with his god-ness, the story revealed how flawed he is. Karma definitely belongs to my favorite heroines list. I adore this girl to bits! She made me feel a lot of things compared to Aaryn. Everytime I read her thoughts, I'm torn between hugging and crying with her and smacking and shaking some sense to her. In short, Melissa writes such authentic characters that will totally affect the readers hearts. They're a hard bunch to let go, here's me hoping for a second book!! I feel like the last chapters were a little rushed as well and that's another reason why I am demanding for a follow up and that's why I didn't give a complete 5. Arrows ending is far from being a cliffhanger so no on should worry about that. Whatever the author decides abour Aaryn and Karmas journey, I'll be fine with it.
And lastly, what is this book without its romance? This book is written to melt your heart and for you to explode of FEELS. What a magnificent debut by Melissa Gorzelanczyk! This novel clearly knows how it feels to fall in love, what it means to get your heart broken and how important it is to move on. With a gorgeous writing, a dash of mythology and a heartwarming romance.. you don't need to be shot by an arrow to love this novel.
May 27, 2016
Warning: this review has some mild spoilers, but it's things that you find out in the first couple of chapters so I didn't use tags.
This wasn't completely terrible... but it wasn't that good either.
I almost gave up on this book multiple times, but the one thing it had going for it was that it was short. If this novel had been any longer, I definitely would have DNF'd it.
One of my biggest pet peeves while reading a new book is the predictability of it. If I can predict the majority of events to come, especially the ending, that leaves me with zero motivation to continue reading it. Arrows is a highly unsurprising book that I mapped out from the first chapter. And each chapter thereafter was so wildly unspectacular with obvious outcomes, it almost didn't make sense for me to finish it. The writing was just so uneven, unconvincing, and tenuous. There was no real depth to the plot, the romance, or the characters which were exceptionally one-dimensional and cliched. And for a book that centers on mythology, there was absolutely no world building.
There's a lot of instances where I feel like the author failed to really illustrate certain aspects of the God and human relationships, and also the role and function of Cupid. It left me with more questions than the book provided answers to. I mean, does he just shoot random characters that he sees making out? Is there an age limit, because why people in high school of all places? Does everyone get a shot, or is it just a one and done type of thing?
And the chapters are so off-kilter. The time in between two chapters could be days or weeks, which was at times confusing, but most times just plain annoying. The jumps made me feel like so much was left out, which probably explains why I couldn't see any real growth in the plot or characters.
The romance was filled with the two things I hate most: insta-love and love triangles. It just wasn't convincing, and I really hate cheaters in books and there's a lot of that that goes on.
And I could be jumping to conclusions, but it just really rubbed me the wrong way with how the female MC was presented like a lovesick fool. Ugh. I know, I know... the whole arrow thing, I get it. But it was just so... nauseating. It almost made it seem like an excuse for both her and her boyfriend. Like, She got pregnant in high school and lets her boyfriend treats her like crap because she got hit with the arrow. He treats her like crap and got her pregnant because he didn't get hit with the arrow. Yes, yes, teenage pregnancies and dead beat fathers all make sense now.
Lastly, that ending. What is up with author's ending on such an abrupt note? There were so many loose strings that failed to be tied, and the plot had just started to peak... and then nothing. WHYYYY?????!
I guess if you're in a mood for a short, romance-centered book, then maybe pick this one up, but seriously there are so many other well executed and better developed novels to read. Arrows had an intriguing premise, but fell flat for so many reasons. It certainly failed to impress me, even for a debut novel.
This wasn't completely terrible... but it wasn't that good either.
I almost gave up on this book multiple times, but the one thing it had going for it was that it was short. If this novel had been any longer, I definitely would have DNF'd it.
One of my biggest pet peeves while reading a new book is the predictability of it. If I can predict the majority of events to come, especially the ending, that leaves me with zero motivation to continue reading it. Arrows is a highly unsurprising book that I mapped out from the first chapter. And each chapter thereafter was so wildly unspectacular with obvious outcomes, it almost didn't make sense for me to finish it. The writing was just so uneven, unconvincing, and tenuous. There was no real depth to the plot, the romance, or the characters which were exceptionally one-dimensional and cliched. And for a book that centers on mythology, there was absolutely no world building.
There's a lot of instances where I feel like the author failed to really illustrate certain aspects of the God and human relationships, and also the role and function of Cupid. It left me with more questions than the book provided answers to. I mean, does he just shoot random characters that he sees making out? Is there an age limit, because why people in high school of all places? Does everyone get a shot, or is it just a one and done type of thing?
And the chapters are so off-kilter. The time in between two chapters could be days or weeks, which was at times confusing, but most times just plain annoying. The jumps made me feel like so much was left out, which probably explains why I couldn't see any real growth in the plot or characters.
The romance was filled with the two things I hate most: insta-love and love triangles. It just wasn't convincing, and I really hate cheaters in books and there's a lot of that that goes on.
And I could be jumping to conclusions, but it just really rubbed me the wrong way with how the female MC was presented like a lovesick fool. Ugh. I know, I know... the whole arrow thing, I get it. But it was just so... nauseating. It almost made it seem like an excuse for both her and her boyfriend. Like, She got pregnant in high school and lets her boyfriend treats her like crap because she got hit with the arrow. He treats her like crap and got her pregnant because he didn't get hit with the arrow. Yes, yes, teenage pregnancies and dead beat fathers all make sense now.
Lastly, that ending. What is up with author's ending on such an abrupt note? There were so many loose strings that failed to be tied, and the plot had just started to peak... and then nothing. WHYYYY?????!
I guess if you're in a mood for a short, romance-centered book, then maybe pick this one up, but seriously there are so many other well executed and better developed novels to read. Arrows had an intriguing premise, but fell flat for so many reasons. It certainly failed to impress me, even for a debut novel.
November 23, 2015
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.
Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.
A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?
This fast-paced debut novel explores the internal & external conflicts of a girl who finds herself inexplicably drawn to a boy who seemingly doesn't reciprocate her feelings, touching on the issues of love, sex and responsibility, with a heroine struggling to control her destiny--perfect for fans of Katie McGarry's novels and MTV’s 16 and Pregnant.
What I Liked:
This book was recommended to me by Kathy MacMillan in October, which is how I discovered the novel. I'll be honest - this definitely isn't something I'd typically read. I tend to avoid books with teenage pregnancy, usually because those books are the tough-issue contemporary types, the realistic contemporary novels with mental health issues or trauma or sad, sad stories. I just can't read and enjoy those types of books, so I don't read them. This book, however, was different. There are plenty of "tough issues" addressed in this book, but with a mythological context, and a light tone to the story. It's pretty cool how Gorzelanczyk pulled it off!
Aaryn, son of Cupid, shot Karma with an arrow, and he was supposed to shoot her boyfriend Danny with one too. But a mistake happened, and only Karma got shot with the love arrow. A year later, Aaryn's mistake is found out, and he is sent to Earth as a human (no longer a god) to right his wrong in ninety days. A lot has changed in a year; Karma had a baby, who is now three months old. Karma is desperately in love with Danny, and overlooks so many faults of his. Danny isn't a loving boyfriend, but Aaryn needs Danny to love Karma just as much as she loves him, in order to fix Aaryn's mistake and keep him on Olympus.
I wasn't expecting this book to be quite as... tough-issue-heavy as it was! Nine months after Aaryn shot Karma with an arrow, she had her baby, Nell. Karma is basically raising Nell by herself, with her mother and sister and the help of a few friends here and there. Danny isn't quite a deadbeat dad, but he is constantly too "busy" to watch his daughter on the one to two nights a week. "Busy" meaning partying with other high schoolers, getting drunk, hanging out with his friends, football practice... hooking up with someone else?!
Meanwhile, Karma is so love-struck - literally - that she can't see past his lies and bulls***. She forgives him every time, even makes excuses for him when her mother or sister or friends point out that he is a horrible boyfriend and father. It would be sickening to read (Karma's naivety) if we didn't know exactly why she felt the way she did (she was hit by Cupid's arrow)!
Despite all of that, I really liked Karma. You can't blame her for staying with her jerk boyfriend who is a terrible person and not good for her or her daughter at all. Karma is a very talented dancer, so good that she didn't lose any chance of getting scholarships or winning competition because of her pregnancy. Karma is so strong and tough and normal, even. She's got a baby and she loves her daughter, but she also works hard in school and even harder on the dance floor. Karma never expected to get pregnant or have a baby, but she is such a great teen mom.
Aaryn was a god until he was sent down to Earth to make Danny fall in love with Karma - rather, somehow get Danny to propose to her... yup, that's not going to be easy, with no arrows or god powers or help from Olympus. Aaryn feels awful about how drastically Karma's life changed after his mistake. He's such a sweetie, such a nice and caring guy. Maybe it's because he's a god, or because he's seen so much more than most people, but Aaryn is a genuinely good person.
This book is told in both Aaryn and Karma's first-person POV, starting with Aaryn's. I preferred Aaryn's POV to Karma's because he's such a sweetheart, but also because Karma's denials about Danny's infidelity, her excuses for him, her naivety, grated my nerves a bit. I couldn't fault her, but I REALLY wanted to strangle Danny!
I loved seeing the positive female relationships in this novel. Karma has several girl friends who are also fellow dancers that really support her in everything - dancing, watching Nell (SUCH nice friends!), having her back with Danny. Karma's sister Leah nags Karma about Danny a lot, but Leah means well. There are so many great relationships among females in this book - not a bunch of catty, b****y ones that you usually see in YA contemporary.
I absolutely LOVE the romance in this book. There is subtle chemistry between Aaryn and Karma, but this book isn't about Karma and Aaryn's romance at all, so it's there but it's not. The romance builds very, very slowly - as you might expect, since all Karma can see is Danny. No love triangle (I know, how am I saying that, given this book's structure?!) - you'll have to trust me on that. I love how the romance resolves in this book.
Greek mythology, yo! Aaryn is a son of Cupid, living on Olympus. I love the touch of Greek mythology in this book - more than a touch, really. Everything started with a cupid's arrow...
This book was nothing I expected, nothing I would usually read, but so much that I enjoyed. Overall, I am so glad that I sought out a copy of this one after Kathy MacMillan recommended it to me. It's not something I would find myself reading, but I so enjoyed it!
What I Did Not Like:
Putting a comment about this in the dislikes section - you'd think I wouldn't like the romance, given the way it's set up, but I really liked it. I loved seeing Karma work through relationships, sex, college applications, and making some pretty life-changing decisions.
Yes, I definitely got annoyed with how much she stuck up for Danny. Yes, I really wanted to punch Danny. But then I would remember - it's not Karma's fault!
Would I Recommend It:
If you're a tough-issue contemporary fan, I would DEFINITELY recommend this novel. Yes, it's a mythology-based novel, but it's set in the modern world, and the "tough issues" are heartbreaking and so real. Not something I would usually enjoy (I'm more of a fantasy girl!), but I really liked this book!
Rating:
4 stars. What a unique and fresh debut novel! Not all heartbreak and doom, but an important story of self-discovery, love, sex, and relationships. Side note - if only guys like Aaryn really did exist!
Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.
Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.
A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?
This fast-paced debut novel explores the internal & external conflicts of a girl who finds herself inexplicably drawn to a boy who seemingly doesn't reciprocate her feelings, touching on the issues of love, sex and responsibility, with a heroine struggling to control her destiny--perfect for fans of Katie McGarry's novels and MTV’s 16 and Pregnant.
What I Liked:
This book was recommended to me by Kathy MacMillan in October, which is how I discovered the novel. I'll be honest - this definitely isn't something I'd typically read. I tend to avoid books with teenage pregnancy, usually because those books are the tough-issue contemporary types, the realistic contemporary novels with mental health issues or trauma or sad, sad stories. I just can't read and enjoy those types of books, so I don't read them. This book, however, was different. There are plenty of "tough issues" addressed in this book, but with a mythological context, and a light tone to the story. It's pretty cool how Gorzelanczyk pulled it off!
Aaryn, son of Cupid, shot Karma with an arrow, and he was supposed to shoot her boyfriend Danny with one too. But a mistake happened, and only Karma got shot with the love arrow. A year later, Aaryn's mistake is found out, and he is sent to Earth as a human (no longer a god) to right his wrong in ninety days. A lot has changed in a year; Karma had a baby, who is now three months old. Karma is desperately in love with Danny, and overlooks so many faults of his. Danny isn't a loving boyfriend, but Aaryn needs Danny to love Karma just as much as she loves him, in order to fix Aaryn's mistake and keep him on Olympus.
I wasn't expecting this book to be quite as... tough-issue-heavy as it was! Nine months after Aaryn shot Karma with an arrow, she had her baby, Nell. Karma is basically raising Nell by herself, with her mother and sister and the help of a few friends here and there. Danny isn't quite a deadbeat dad, but he is constantly too "busy" to watch his daughter on the one to two nights a week. "Busy" meaning partying with other high schoolers, getting drunk, hanging out with his friends, football practice... hooking up with someone else?!
Meanwhile, Karma is so love-struck - literally - that she can't see past his lies and bulls***. She forgives him every time, even makes excuses for him when her mother or sister or friends point out that he is a horrible boyfriend and father. It would be sickening to read (Karma's naivety) if we didn't know exactly why she felt the way she did (she was hit by Cupid's arrow)!
Despite all of that, I really liked Karma. You can't blame her for staying with her jerk boyfriend who is a terrible person and not good for her or her daughter at all. Karma is a very talented dancer, so good that she didn't lose any chance of getting scholarships or winning competition because of her pregnancy. Karma is so strong and tough and normal, even. She's got a baby and she loves her daughter, but she also works hard in school and even harder on the dance floor. Karma never expected to get pregnant or have a baby, but she is such a great teen mom.
Aaryn was a god until he was sent down to Earth to make Danny fall in love with Karma - rather, somehow get Danny to propose to her... yup, that's not going to be easy, with no arrows or god powers or help from Olympus. Aaryn feels awful about how drastically Karma's life changed after his mistake. He's such a sweetie, such a nice and caring guy. Maybe it's because he's a god, or because he's seen so much more than most people, but Aaryn is a genuinely good person.
This book is told in both Aaryn and Karma's first-person POV, starting with Aaryn's. I preferred Aaryn's POV to Karma's because he's such a sweetheart, but also because Karma's denials about Danny's infidelity, her excuses for him, her naivety, grated my nerves a bit. I couldn't fault her, but I REALLY wanted to strangle Danny!
I loved seeing the positive female relationships in this novel. Karma has several girl friends who are also fellow dancers that really support her in everything - dancing, watching Nell (SUCH nice friends!), having her back with Danny. Karma's sister Leah nags Karma about Danny a lot, but Leah means well. There are so many great relationships among females in this book - not a bunch of catty, b****y ones that you usually see in YA contemporary.
I absolutely LOVE the romance in this book. There is subtle chemistry between Aaryn and Karma, but this book isn't about Karma and Aaryn's romance at all, so it's there but it's not. The romance builds very, very slowly - as you might expect, since all Karma can see is Danny. No love triangle (I know, how am I saying that, given this book's structure?!) - you'll have to trust me on that. I love how the romance resolves in this book.
Greek mythology, yo! Aaryn is a son of Cupid, living on Olympus. I love the touch of Greek mythology in this book - more than a touch, really. Everything started with a cupid's arrow...
This book was nothing I expected, nothing I would usually read, but so much that I enjoyed. Overall, I am so glad that I sought out a copy of this one after Kathy MacMillan recommended it to me. It's not something I would find myself reading, but I so enjoyed it!
What I Did Not Like:
Putting a comment about this in the dislikes section - you'd think I wouldn't like the romance, given the way it's set up, but I really liked it. I loved seeing Karma work through relationships, sex, college applications, and making some pretty life-changing decisions.
Yes, I definitely got annoyed with how much she stuck up for Danny. Yes, I really wanted to punch Danny. But then I would remember - it's not Karma's fault!
Would I Recommend It:
If you're a tough-issue contemporary fan, I would DEFINITELY recommend this novel. Yes, it's a mythology-based novel, but it's set in the modern world, and the "tough issues" are heartbreaking and so real. Not something I would usually enjoy (I'm more of a fantasy girl!), but I really liked this book!
Rating:
4 stars. What a unique and fresh debut novel! Not all heartbreak and doom, but an important story of self-discovery, love, sex, and relationships. Side note - if only guys like Aaryn really did exist!
July 24, 2015
When I first heard about ARROWS, I had a really bad case of the GIMME GIMMES. Elements of Greek mythology combined with the drama of MTV's Teen Mom? YES, please. (I actually studied Greek mythology in university and I loved watching Teen Mom back when I had cable, so it sounded beyond amazing to me.) So when I got a chance to sign up and read the ARC, I snapped to it. And ARROWS was everything I had hoped for and much, much more.
ARROWS is the story of Karma, who gets shot by a Cupid arrow and falls instantly in love with Danny, a boy who doesn't treat her very well. Danny was supposed to be struck as well, but the other arrow in Aaryn, son of Cupid's pack was useless. So while Karma's dreams are ruined, she is also stuck loving Danny for reasons nobody else can see or understand. ARROWS is also the story of Aaryn, who is sent to Earth from Mount Olympus to fix things... only to find himself falling for a girl he can't have.
Melissa Gorzelanczyk is an extremely talented writer, weaving love and loss and romance and heavy emotion with humor and lots of heart. The perspectives in this book change between Karma and Aaryn, and both voices felt very distinct and unique. I was whipping through pages because I needed to know what happened to both characters-- I became very invested in them. And this is the sign of a really, really good book.
There are some difficult themes brought up in ARROWS. Teen pregnancy, unhealthy relationships, unrequited love. They are handled so well and with so much grace. As a character with so much stacked against her, Karma still manages to see the hope in small things and think toward the future. Melissa does an amazing job with the Karma-Danny relationship. As a reader, you want Karma to see what's really going on so badly, and you feel for her every step of the way. The excuses she makes for Danny's behavior ring so true for someone being manipulated, even without being under a Cupid arrow spell. Her emotions are raw and believable and, at times, heartbreaking.
I loved reading from Aaryn's point of view as he got used to life outside of Mount Olympus. Being inside his head was at turns funny, adorable, and painful as his feelings for Karma grew and his deadline to fix things loomed nearer. I'm a huge fan of boy POV, and it's done so well here.
This is such an important book, and I think it's one that should be on everyone's TBR. Melissa Gorzelanczyk is a debut author to watch for!
ARROWS is the story of Karma, who gets shot by a Cupid arrow and falls instantly in love with Danny, a boy who doesn't treat her very well. Danny was supposed to be struck as well, but the other arrow in Aaryn, son of Cupid's pack was useless. So while Karma's dreams are ruined, she is also stuck loving Danny for reasons nobody else can see or understand. ARROWS is also the story of Aaryn, who is sent to Earth from Mount Olympus to fix things... only to find himself falling for a girl he can't have.
Melissa Gorzelanczyk is an extremely talented writer, weaving love and loss and romance and heavy emotion with humor and lots of heart. The perspectives in this book change between Karma and Aaryn, and both voices felt very distinct and unique. I was whipping through pages because I needed to know what happened to both characters-- I became very invested in them. And this is the sign of a really, really good book.
There are some difficult themes brought up in ARROWS. Teen pregnancy, unhealthy relationships, unrequited love. They are handled so well and with so much grace. As a character with so much stacked against her, Karma still manages to see the hope in small things and think toward the future. Melissa does an amazing job with the Karma-Danny relationship. As a reader, you want Karma to see what's really going on so badly, and you feel for her every step of the way. The excuses she makes for Danny's behavior ring so true for someone being manipulated, even without being under a Cupid arrow spell. Her emotions are raw and believable and, at times, heartbreaking.
I loved reading from Aaryn's point of view as he got used to life outside of Mount Olympus. Being inside his head was at turns funny, adorable, and painful as his feelings for Karma grew and his deadline to fix things loomed nearer. I'm a huge fan of boy POV, and it's done so well here.
This is such an important book, and I think it's one that should be on everyone's TBR. Melissa Gorzelanczyk is a debut author to watch for!
February 22, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
A surprisingly fun and unique story makes Arrows a book that you will want to add to your February to-be-read list. This book has a really interesting storyline that will draw you in and keep you flipping pages all night long. Also, the mixing of genres and a determined main character gives Arrows an added element of excitement in this debut novel.
With a storyline this distinct, Arrows offers a lot to the reader. It is like no other book out there and the pacing is so perfect that it can easily be read in one sitting. In short, Arrows is about a cupid who only shoots one lover by mistake and must go back to our world and try to fix it, because only one person shot can have some pretty bad effects. Sounds like an amazing read to get you through the dark days of winter, right?
Admittedly, at first glance of the synopsis, one might be skeptical about the mix of Greek mythology and Teen Mom in this novel. if you are not a fan of Teen Mom or over dramatization, don’t be fooled. The story does not focus on the main character’s struggles of being a young mother. Arrows is an unexpected blend of contemporary and Greek mythology. This had some hilarious effects on one of the main characters, Aaryn, a cupid, since he really doesn’t understand modern objects and customs.
Another endearing aspect about Arrows is how the other (human) main character, Karma, is a dancer. There is just something about dancers in YA books that is so attractive and attention grabbing. The skill and dedication that the characters must display creates a really exceptional personality. Though Karma wasn’t the wisest main character, her dance skill is truly admirable, especially since she has a child to take care of.
Arrows is a unique book that combines Greek mythology and Teen Mom in a way that is very enjoyable to read. The Greek mythology adds some humour to the book as the cupid struggles to figure out the modern world, and a main character who is a dancer adds admiration. I think anyone could enjoy this book, as there is such a mix of genres and elements!
A surprisingly fun and unique story makes Arrows a book that you will want to add to your February to-be-read list. This book has a really interesting storyline that will draw you in and keep you flipping pages all night long. Also, the mixing of genres and a determined main character gives Arrows an added element of excitement in this debut novel.
With a storyline this distinct, Arrows offers a lot to the reader. It is like no other book out there and the pacing is so perfect that it can easily be read in one sitting. In short, Arrows is about a cupid who only shoots one lover by mistake and must go back to our world and try to fix it, because only one person shot can have some pretty bad effects. Sounds like an amazing read to get you through the dark days of winter, right?
Admittedly, at first glance of the synopsis, one might be skeptical about the mix of Greek mythology and Teen Mom in this novel. if you are not a fan of Teen Mom or over dramatization, don’t be fooled. The story does not focus on the main character’s struggles of being a young mother. Arrows is an unexpected blend of contemporary and Greek mythology. This had some hilarious effects on one of the main characters, Aaryn, a cupid, since he really doesn’t understand modern objects and customs.
Another endearing aspect about Arrows is how the other (human) main character, Karma, is a dancer. There is just something about dancers in YA books that is so attractive and attention grabbing. The skill and dedication that the characters must display creates a really exceptional personality. Though Karma wasn’t the wisest main character, her dance skill is truly admirable, especially since she has a child to take care of.
Arrows is a unique book that combines Greek mythology and Teen Mom in a way that is very enjoyable to read. The Greek mythology adds some humour to the book as the cupid struggles to figure out the modern world, and a main character who is a dancer adds admiration. I think anyone could enjoy this book, as there is such a mix of genres and elements!
October 17, 2015
A well written, enchanting, and inventive reimagining of myth, ARROWS has a little something for everyone. Holding fantasy and realism in perfect balance, this book is a portrayal of young love at its best and worst. Melissa Gorzelanczyk has written a novel that is full of fun, heart, and sweetness, while still managing to tackle serious issues like teen pregnancy, self-esteem, family, and the importance of not giving up. Both protagonists—Karma, a gifted dancer and teen mom, and Aaryn, an earthbound cupid on a mission—are well-rounded and loveable characters who evolved throughout the story, as they learned to follow their hearts and find the inner strength to let go of the relationships that were holding them back. I especially loved Karma, who shows readers that true love should never mean taking abuse or disrespect. She also beautifully demonstrates that you can be a young parent, with all the joys and challenges parenthood brings, and still follow your dreams. An uplifting story about falling in love, and most importantly, learning to love yourself. Highly recommended!
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
January 18, 2016
Cupid must have struck me with an arrow because I fell for this book so quickly and devoured it in two sittings! :)
Aaryn is the son of Eros, the original cupid, and for Aaryn's final test before becoming a full cupid he must strike a couple with an arrow each to solidify their love. He accidentally only brings one arrow and doesn't realize his mistake until he has already shot out of the people, Karma. She ends up pregnant and in love with her slacker boyfriend Danny who doesn't return the same amount of adoration because he was never shot with an arrow too. One year later, after Olympus finds out Aaryn's mistake, he is forced to return and right his wrong. But as he tries to make Danny fall in love with Karma and be a better boyfriend, Aaryn starts to fall for Karma himself...
The premise of this book seems a bit silly, but it's so enthralling and adorably executed. Karma is a dance prodigy who puts her dreams on hold when she becomes pregnant. Now with a three-month old adorable baby girl Nell, Karma tries to balance school, motherhood, and her dream of dancing professionally. I really liked Karma as a character, but her constant forgiveness towards Danny for his mistakes annoyed me so much. Aaryn was thoughtful and perfect and the one voice of reason. I was rooting for him and Karma the entire time, and I love how their relationship builds.
Arrows does have a darker side and focuses on the toxic relationship between Danny and Karma. Danny is not a good person. He clearly only cares about himself and being in control. His jealousy and volatile nature were disgusting, and I was so frustrated with Karma for staying with him. Although she was shot through an Arrow and completely lovey dovey for him, this relationship rings true in reality for people who keep making excuses as their partner manipulates or walks all over them. I am so proud of the decisions Karma eventually makes in regards to this issue, and Melissa did a wonderful with the portrayal of this relationship.
This book is riddled with cuteness and is sure to make you grin. There are some scenes that will definitely pull at your heartstrings. I love the dance aspects strung into the story because we see Karma's personality shine through. The secondary characters didn't stand out much, but I especially liked Karma's tell-it-to-you-straight younger sister Leah and Karma's supportive best friend Peyton. The pacing of the story was perfect, and I absolutely love Melissa's engaging writing.
I did have a few qualms with this book though. I wish there was a bit more emphasis and development in Olympus and the God world. There was so much potential in that aspect and so much more I wanted to know. I felt at times like there were jumps in the story and explanations left out, especially in regards to the Olympus-related scenes.
The last few pages of the book had me on the edge of my seat, and I adore how the story ended. If you're looking for a fun and romantic contemporary with a dark edge on the side, I recommend you check this book out. And Valentine's Day is right around the corner, consider buying this one!
Aaryn is the son of Eros, the original cupid, and for Aaryn's final test before becoming a full cupid he must strike a couple with an arrow each to solidify their love. He accidentally only brings one arrow and doesn't realize his mistake until he has already shot out of the people, Karma. She ends up pregnant and in love with her slacker boyfriend Danny who doesn't return the same amount of adoration because he was never shot with an arrow too. One year later, after Olympus finds out Aaryn's mistake, he is forced to return and right his wrong. But as he tries to make Danny fall in love with Karma and be a better boyfriend, Aaryn starts to fall for Karma himself...
The premise of this book seems a bit silly, but it's so enthralling and adorably executed. Karma is a dance prodigy who puts her dreams on hold when she becomes pregnant. Now with a three-month old adorable baby girl Nell, Karma tries to balance school, motherhood, and her dream of dancing professionally. I really liked Karma as a character, but her constant forgiveness towards Danny for his mistakes annoyed me so much. Aaryn was thoughtful and perfect and the one voice of reason. I was rooting for him and Karma the entire time, and I love how their relationship builds.
Arrows does have a darker side and focuses on the toxic relationship between Danny and Karma. Danny is not a good person. He clearly only cares about himself and being in control. His jealousy and volatile nature were disgusting, and I was so frustrated with Karma for staying with him. Although she was shot through an Arrow and completely lovey dovey for him, this relationship rings true in reality for people who keep making excuses as their partner manipulates or walks all over them. I am so proud of the decisions Karma eventually makes in regards to this issue, and Melissa did a wonderful with the portrayal of this relationship.
This book is riddled with cuteness and is sure to make you grin. There are some scenes that will definitely pull at your heartstrings. I love the dance aspects strung into the story because we see Karma's personality shine through. The secondary characters didn't stand out much, but I especially liked Karma's tell-it-to-you-straight younger sister Leah and Karma's supportive best friend Peyton. The pacing of the story was perfect, and I absolutely love Melissa's engaging writing.
I did have a few qualms with this book though. I wish there was a bit more emphasis and development in Olympus and the God world. There was so much potential in that aspect and so much more I wanted to know. I felt at times like there were jumps in the story and explanations left out, especially in regards to the Olympus-related scenes.
The last few pages of the book had me on the edge of my seat, and I adore how the story ended. If you're looking for a fun and romantic contemporary with a dark edge on the side, I recommend you check this book out. And Valentine's Day is right around the corner, consider buying this one!
September 24, 2015
I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
No one can argue that love is complicated. Add a cupid’s mistake to the mix and complications abound. Gorzelanczyk’s debut explores a unique take on the cupid story, which is both clever and compelling. But more than a love story, this debut explores the theme of self-love and self-worth. It is a story about finding one’s voice and creating one’s own destination, despite all the complications. Or maybe because of them. I particularly liked how the author gave Karma so much strength in her motherhood (as a teen mom) when Karma couldn’t manifest that strength to see Danny for the crap boyfriend he was. Her motherhood gave her strength and layers, and ultimately helped her to see past Danny into a future that was right for her and her child.
No one can argue that love is complicated. Add a cupid’s mistake to the mix and complications abound. Gorzelanczyk’s debut explores a unique take on the cupid story, which is both clever and compelling. But more than a love story, this debut explores the theme of self-love and self-worth. It is a story about finding one’s voice and creating one’s own destination, despite all the complications. Or maybe because of them. I particularly liked how the author gave Karma so much strength in her motherhood (as a teen mom) when Karma couldn’t manifest that strength to see Danny for the crap boyfriend he was. Her motherhood gave her strength and layers, and ultimately helped her to see past Danny into a future that was right for her and her child.
October 28, 2015
I got an ARC of this book through an ARC tour (which contained no expectation of a positive review).
I was a little dubious at first about the premise. Mostly because if Karma's magically in love with this dude, Danny, then where's the room for character development? Either she breaks the spell and it's hokey because the rules of the magic have been broken, or she continues to be in love with him and it's static.
However, while reading the book I realized, oh duh, this is exactly what the book is about. Love does strike you unpredictably, and it's not false love, either. It's real love. You can love someone very much, and feel all the tenderness and affection in the world for them...and they can still treat you badly, and I think the book wrestles with that very well. Definitely worth reading. The pacing is also quite good too, I blew through it in a morning.
I was a little dubious at first about the premise. Mostly because if Karma's magically in love with this dude, Danny, then where's the room for character development? Either she breaks the spell and it's hokey because the rules of the magic have been broken, or she continues to be in love with him and it's static.
However, while reading the book I realized, oh duh, this is exactly what the book is about. Love does strike you unpredictably, and it's not false love, either. It's real love. You can love someone very much, and feel all the tenderness and affection in the world for them...and they can still treat you badly, and I think the book wrestles with that very well. Definitely worth reading. The pacing is also quite good too, I blew through it in a morning.
October 4, 2015
A fun, original fantasy romance with a unique twist. I loved that Karma's predicament--being a teen mom with a deadbeat boyfriend--came from a Cupid's arrow mix up. Arryn, the offending cupid, and Karma are both such well drawn, incredibly sweet characters. The struggles of a teen mom aren't something we see a lot of in YA fiction, and it was handled with such grace and maturity here. I was rooting for Karma and Arryn from the beginning. This book is just lovely, and I can't wait for other people to read it.
March 1, 2018
Arrows is a story of love - kind of.
The premise revolves around a teen mom Karma, her baby-daddy and "boyfriend" Danny, and the guy that considerably messed up their lives, Aaryn. This book started out on a positive and light note, with Aaryn (a real life cupid god) aiming an arrow at Karma and Danny to make them fall madly in love forever. Unfortunately, there was a missing arrow that left Danny out of the equation.
Sounds innocent enough right? Well, wrong. This mistake resulted in Karma getting pregnant with Danny's child. One year later and things couldn't be much worse. Karma lost out on a dance scholarship that could have changed her life, she is stuck raising her child with help only from her single mother and younger sister, and she is pretty fucking miserable. ::thanks a lot Aaryn::
Now Aaryn is on earth and trying to fix his mistakes. Not because he is a good guy... just because the gods in the sky found out and he will be in huge trouble if he doesn't.
Danny is a piece of shit boyfriend who only wants his arm candy around when it's convenient for him. He is also mentally and physically abusive at points during the story. Instead of leaving him, Karma is still under the arrow's spell and can't fall out of love. Aaryn seems to be taking advantage that she is in an extremely emotional state at times, instead of being a good friend like he is portrayed.
The ONLY reason this book gets a 3 star rating is because Karma is a strong, badass lady. She has made bad decisions, but sometimes they were out of her control. It was also surprising and appreciated to have a teenage pregnancy story line, even though it wasn't the basis.
The premise revolves around a teen mom Karma, her baby-daddy and "boyfriend" Danny, and the guy that considerably messed up their lives, Aaryn. This book started out on a positive and light note, with Aaryn (a real life cupid god) aiming an arrow at Karma and Danny to make them fall madly in love forever. Unfortunately, there was a missing arrow that left Danny out of the equation.
Sounds innocent enough right? Well, wrong. This mistake resulted in Karma getting pregnant with Danny's child. One year later and things couldn't be much worse. Karma lost out on a dance scholarship that could have changed her life, she is stuck raising her child with help only from her single mother and younger sister, and she is pretty fucking miserable. ::thanks a lot Aaryn::
Now Aaryn is on earth and trying to fix his mistakes. Not because he is a good guy... just because the gods in the sky found out and he will be in huge trouble if he doesn't.
Danny is a piece of shit boyfriend who only wants his arm candy around when it's convenient for him. He is also mentally and physically abusive at points during the story. Instead of leaving him, Karma is still under the arrow's spell and can't fall out of love. Aaryn seems to be taking advantage that she is in an extremely emotional state at times, instead of being a good friend like he is portrayed.
The ONLY reason this book gets a 3 star rating is because Karma is a strong, badass lady. She has made bad decisions, but sometimes they were out of her control. It was also surprising and appreciated to have a teenage pregnancy story line, even though it wasn't the basis.
February 4, 2016
When it comes to this book I had a few mixed feelings. This one certainly had its flaws, but I think it deserves the four stars simply because I had so much fun reading it and enjoyed the time it gave me. And I can be as critical as I like, but when it comes down to rating a book, enjoyment is what factors into it more than anything else.
This book follows Karma who initially wanted to be a ballerina. She was shot by a love arrow and fell in love with her boyfriend – although he wasn’t shot too so he doesn’t really love her back. The novel hints at all the wrong things that Danny does. He can be a bit rough with her, he kisses her but when she needs his help (especially as they are teenagers with a child) he is never around. We even learn that once in the year that they have been together Danny has cheated on Karma, although she did stay with him. And even though we think Karma should have dumped the dirt bag by now, she’s powerless. The arrow has changed her life.
I honestly couldn’t stand Danny and the way he treated Karma. It was perfectly okay to dislike him because that’s how the author meant for it to be. He wasn’t deserving of Karma at all and Karma, deep down, could see this. She just had a hard time when she felt pulled to him by some kind of force. I wanted to slap that guy hard in the face but it was sad that he didn’t actually exist, so I couldn’t do it.
Karma was a lovely main character. She’s made some mistakes in her past – getting pregnant as a teen being one – but she loves her daughter, her family and her friends. She’s trying not to dwell on the past and the ballerina career she had to give up, and face the future for the better. I could really admire her strength. Even though it might not be present at the fore-front of things all the time, you can tell there is an underlying strength in her through all she does.
I also really liked Aaryn as a character. He’s the cupid who botched Karma and Danny’s arrows. In the beginning I found his character to be a little vague and hard to pinpoint but I think that has to do with the world building more than Aaryn himself. He was a gentleman, and respectful, but even though Karma was under the arrow spell, he still fought for her nonetheless. You had to love his cluelessness when it came to human terminology and some human things, but it turns out that when it gets to emotions and partying, Olympus isn’t too different from earth.
I liked the dancing aspect of this book as well, and how Karma was fighting for a dancing career because it is her dream and ambition. Despite having a terrible boyfriend and a baby she wasn’t giving up on that dream, although she did have to put it on pause during her pregnancy. I could admire that and I loved all the dancing moments as well.
The romance itself was just too sweet. I am not going to say much. You might think the whole love triangle vibe is coming from this because Aaryn loves Karma, and Danny is dating Karma, but I didn’t feel like there was at all? It was Karma and Danny together, and Aaryn wishing it wasn’t so because he wanted her for himself. The romance worked for me and the ending was surprising. It wasn’t as predictable as I guessed it would be, and reading this book made me so happy in general.
Despite enjoying reading this book, there were some flaws. Even though I loved the book I feel obligated to mention them just because I like my reviews fair. So let’s start with the whole Greek mythology aspect! I wanted there to be more of that. There wasn’t much world building when we were in Olympus, and the Greek Gods and Goddesses felt more like names than anything else because they weren’t too developed. We don’t spend to long up there so that makes sense. But I felt like the novel could’ve been a bit longer and incorporated more mythology? Especially as it was an aspect of the novel I was looking forward to.
The other thing would have to be the secondary characters. They were there and all, and added to the story, but I didn’t feel much for them because they weren’t too developed. I did like them all, and the two that stood out to me most was Leah and Peyton (especially as Leah seemed to be doing the whole rebellious teenager thing) but for the most part they were just there.
But when it comes to those two points and weighing them out with my level of enjoyment, I know what wins out! Can’t wait to hear more from this author in due time.
This review and more can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
This book follows Karma who initially wanted to be a ballerina. She was shot by a love arrow and fell in love with her boyfriend – although he wasn’t shot too so he doesn’t really love her back. The novel hints at all the wrong things that Danny does. He can be a bit rough with her, he kisses her but when she needs his help (especially as they are teenagers with a child) he is never around. We even learn that once in the year that they have been together Danny has cheated on Karma, although she did stay with him. And even though we think Karma should have dumped the dirt bag by now, she’s powerless. The arrow has changed her life.
I honestly couldn’t stand Danny and the way he treated Karma. It was perfectly okay to dislike him because that’s how the author meant for it to be. He wasn’t deserving of Karma at all and Karma, deep down, could see this. She just had a hard time when she felt pulled to him by some kind of force. I wanted to slap that guy hard in the face but it was sad that he didn’t actually exist, so I couldn’t do it.
Karma was a lovely main character. She’s made some mistakes in her past – getting pregnant as a teen being one – but she loves her daughter, her family and her friends. She’s trying not to dwell on the past and the ballerina career she had to give up, and face the future for the better. I could really admire her strength. Even though it might not be present at the fore-front of things all the time, you can tell there is an underlying strength in her through all she does.
I also really liked Aaryn as a character. He’s the cupid who botched Karma and Danny’s arrows. In the beginning I found his character to be a little vague and hard to pinpoint but I think that has to do with the world building more than Aaryn himself. He was a gentleman, and respectful, but even though Karma was under the arrow spell, he still fought for her nonetheless. You had to love his cluelessness when it came to human terminology and some human things, but it turns out that when it gets to emotions and partying, Olympus isn’t too different from earth.
I liked the dancing aspect of this book as well, and how Karma was fighting for a dancing career because it is her dream and ambition. Despite having a terrible boyfriend and a baby she wasn’t giving up on that dream, although she did have to put it on pause during her pregnancy. I could admire that and I loved all the dancing moments as well.
The romance itself was just too sweet. I am not going to say much. You might think the whole love triangle vibe is coming from this because Aaryn loves Karma, and Danny is dating Karma, but I didn’t feel like there was at all? It was Karma and Danny together, and Aaryn wishing it wasn’t so because he wanted her for himself. The romance worked for me and the ending was surprising. It wasn’t as predictable as I guessed it would be, and reading this book made me so happy in general.
Despite enjoying reading this book, there were some flaws. Even though I loved the book I feel obligated to mention them just because I like my reviews fair. So let’s start with the whole Greek mythology aspect! I wanted there to be more of that. There wasn’t much world building when we were in Olympus, and the Greek Gods and Goddesses felt more like names than anything else because they weren’t too developed. We don’t spend to long up there so that makes sense. But I felt like the novel could’ve been a bit longer and incorporated more mythology? Especially as it was an aspect of the novel I was looking forward to.
The other thing would have to be the secondary characters. They were there and all, and added to the story, but I didn’t feel much for them because they weren’t too developed. I did like them all, and the two that stood out to me most was Leah and Peyton (especially as Leah seemed to be doing the whole rebellious teenager thing) but for the most part they were just there.
But when it comes to those two points and weighing them out with my level of enjoyment, I know what wins out! Can’t wait to hear more from this author in due time.
This review and more can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
February 22, 2016
I meant to post a review a while ago. Oops.
I… am so disappointed? Ever since I’d heard about this book, I’d been beyond excited for it. I haven’t read many contemporary books with a mythology take on it, let alone one that leans toward the whole Cupid and arrows ordeal, so Arrows was a big deal for me.
And I have never been so let down before.
This was a debut and I’m kind of ashamed to say that it shows. The pacing felt waaaay off, jumping from a day to day basis then spanning out into giant weeks. I’m fairly sure that this was supposed to help out with the fact that our main characters–Aaryn and Karma–weren’t falling for each other instantly. And I’ll give it that, even though I had problems with that.
Then there was the writing. It didn’t help me delve deeper into the story. This is a fairly short book, less than 300 pages, and it’s been to be a short and sweet novel, so I shouldn’t be complaining about the writing. But the thing is that I couldn’t get into the story because of the writing. It felt choppy and awkward and some sentences or phrases just… didn’t work out. I often times cringed at what was being said or how an action was carried out.
As for the characters, I guess I liked them. I preferred Karma to Aaryn because she was more tolerable and the situation she was put in was really compromising, and I felt bad for her. She was hit with a love arrow (I guess?) but her boyfriend wasn’t and it led to some troubles… A year later, she’s with a child, has lost a scholarship, has an estranged boyfriend who’s even worse a father, but ultimately still completely and utterly in love with him because she can’t stop being in love with him. Her boyfriend, Danny, is honestly a prick. He hurts her over and over and it killed me to read that Karma had to keep making excuses and still had to love him when he didn’t deserve it.
As for Aaryn, oh lord. He was sent to earth to fix the mistake he made in the first place or be sent to *ominous voice* a place of no return. So now he’s a human and somehow has to get Danny to propose to Karma. Easier said than done, buddy. Oh, and there’s a time limit: 90 days.
See, I would have liked Aaryn except there was something off putting about him. It wasn’t that he was described to be SUPER duper hot or anything, not even the fact that he wasn’t used to what normal things humans do or say. It was just his attitude. He was the main reason I winced so many times reading this. And it seemed like he kept trying to make a move on Karma despite the fact that he was supposed to be helping Danny fall in love with Karma. You know how in TV shows, the guy likes a girl who’s taken and somehow still has the gall to go after her, despite the fact that she’s with someone?? Yeah, that’s what it felt like. It was INFURIATING.
There were a few side characters but they weren’t much focused on, which was kind of sad, but understandable.
Overall, I did not like this. Which was sad.
-----
I'm disappointed to say that I did not like this book very much. I had high expectations, due to some of the 4-star reviews I'd seen... But the story felt flat. The characters, the writing... I just couldn't like it.
I… am so disappointed? Ever since I’d heard about this book, I’d been beyond excited for it. I haven’t read many contemporary books with a mythology take on it, let alone one that leans toward the whole Cupid and arrows ordeal, so Arrows was a big deal for me.
And I have never been so let down before.
This was a debut and I’m kind of ashamed to say that it shows. The pacing felt waaaay off, jumping from a day to day basis then spanning out into giant weeks. I’m fairly sure that this was supposed to help out with the fact that our main characters–Aaryn and Karma–weren’t falling for each other instantly. And I’ll give it that, even though I had problems with that.
Then there was the writing. It didn’t help me delve deeper into the story. This is a fairly short book, less than 300 pages, and it’s been to be a short and sweet novel, so I shouldn’t be complaining about the writing. But the thing is that I couldn’t get into the story because of the writing. It felt choppy and awkward and some sentences or phrases just… didn’t work out. I often times cringed at what was being said or how an action was carried out.
As for the characters, I guess I liked them. I preferred Karma to Aaryn because she was more tolerable and the situation she was put in was really compromising, and I felt bad for her. She was hit with a love arrow (I guess?) but her boyfriend wasn’t and it led to some troubles… A year later, she’s with a child, has lost a scholarship, has an estranged boyfriend who’s even worse a father, but ultimately still completely and utterly in love with him because she can’t stop being in love with him. Her boyfriend, Danny, is honestly a prick. He hurts her over and over and it killed me to read that Karma had to keep making excuses and still had to love him when he didn’t deserve it.
As for Aaryn, oh lord. He was sent to earth to fix the mistake he made in the first place or be sent to *ominous voice* a place of no return. So now he’s a human and somehow has to get Danny to propose to Karma. Easier said than done, buddy. Oh, and there’s a time limit: 90 days.
See, I would have liked Aaryn except there was something off putting about him. It wasn’t that he was described to be SUPER duper hot or anything, not even the fact that he wasn’t used to what normal things humans do or say. It was just his attitude. He was the main reason I winced so many times reading this. And it seemed like he kept trying to make a move on Karma despite the fact that he was supposed to be helping Danny fall in love with Karma. You know how in TV shows, the guy likes a girl who’s taken and somehow still has the gall to go after her, despite the fact that she’s with someone?? Yeah, that’s what it felt like. It was INFURIATING.
There were a few side characters but they weren’t much focused on, which was kind of sad, but understandable.
Overall, I did not like this. Which was sad.
-----
I'm disappointed to say that I did not like this book very much. I had high expectations, due to some of the 4-star reviews I'd seen... But the story felt flat. The characters, the writing... I just couldn't like it.
February 16, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating: 3.5*
Lots of good stuff in this one with only a few complaints, but it didn't really take away from the story. I am part of the blog tour so you can see my full review in a couple days!
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
Actual Rating: 3.5*
Lots of good stuff in this one with only a few complaints, but it didn't really take away from the story. I am part of the blog tour so you can see my full review in a couple days!
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
February 9, 2016
Original post on Reading Addict
To be honest I had some expectations about this one, because the cover is very cute and original, and also the synopsis is intriguing and funny, and it promises you somehow a very cute, light, fluffy and lovely read.
I don't say it was bad or I didn't enjoy it but it was a bit too predictible for me, the plot wasn't as complex as I wanted it, sometimes I felt like things got repetitive and nothing was moving and the characters were a bit maybe uni - dimensional. Also, I think that this can be enjoyed more by teenagers and younger people than as I read it at 23. Or I don't know, to be it seemed pretty childish compared with the situations the characters were in and with their age.
And if I wasn't as impressed as I wanted to be by the characters and the plot, I liked the writing style; it's very light and cute and makes you feel warm inside and you just want to hug someone after finishing this or while reading it. I think it's a perfect read for Valentine's Day or just for when you want a romantic and fluffy, short and innocent read; because it's not New Adult, it doesn't have sex or steamy scenes in it and it's more about family, friendship, different type of relationship, maturity and how people and teenagers deal with different types of situations. And in this aspect I think that the book is very close to the truth, because how many guys don't and won't act as Danny did and does in the story?
I consider that this book is worth reading and maybe if you don't have high expectations as I did you'll enjoy it even more, because if you don't take it too seriously, it's very lovely and a perfect romantic read. You can pick this up, snuggle with a pillow, eat some chocolate or some fruits and have a nice and relaxing night or day or morning.
I'll end my review here, because I don't want to spoil anything for you, but I'll wait for you to read this, enjoy it, smile and then we'll discuss. Happy reading and keep in mind, if I didn't love it or it didn't blew my mind it wasn't bad. I mean, look at the rating! :))
To be honest I had some expectations about this one, because the cover is very cute and original, and also the synopsis is intriguing and funny, and it promises you somehow a very cute, light, fluffy and lovely read.
I don't say it was bad or I didn't enjoy it but it was a bit too predictible for me, the plot wasn't as complex as I wanted it, sometimes I felt like things got repetitive and nothing was moving and the characters were a bit maybe uni - dimensional. Also, I think that this can be enjoyed more by teenagers and younger people than as I read it at 23. Or I don't know, to be it seemed pretty childish compared with the situations the characters were in and with their age.
And if I wasn't as impressed as I wanted to be by the characters and the plot, I liked the writing style; it's very light and cute and makes you feel warm inside and you just want to hug someone after finishing this or while reading it. I think it's a perfect read for Valentine's Day or just for when you want a romantic and fluffy, short and innocent read; because it's not New Adult, it doesn't have sex or steamy scenes in it and it's more about family, friendship, different type of relationship, maturity and how people and teenagers deal with different types of situations. And in this aspect I think that the book is very close to the truth, because how many guys don't and won't act as Danny did and does in the story?
I consider that this book is worth reading and maybe if you don't have high expectations as I did you'll enjoy it even more, because if you don't take it too seriously, it's very lovely and a perfect romantic read. You can pick this up, snuggle with a pillow, eat some chocolate or some fruits and have a nice and relaxing night or day or morning.
I'll end my review here, because I don't want to spoil anything for you, but I'll wait for you to read this, enjoy it, smile and then we'll discuss. Happy reading and keep in mind, if I didn't love it or it didn't blew my mind it wasn't bad. I mean, look at the rating! :))
December 30, 2015
One of the most wonderful things about YA books is how they're not afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves and dive into the heady rush of love with all of its ups and downs. And I can think of no better example of this than ARROWS. This book is filled with delirious love and raw heartbreak, tempered always with hope, a hefty dose of humor, and wisdom. I'm always impressed when people write beautifully outside of their own experience, and Gorzelanczyk writes from the POV of a teenage boy pitch-perfectly.
This book is a very fast read. Not because it lacks substance. Quite the opposite. Because it has so much of the sort of substance that makes a book impossible to put down until you're completely out of pages to turn. Vivid characters. A gripping plot you can invest in. Terrific writing. It's all here along with the most important intangible quality a book can have: a huge, joyous, beating heart.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This book is a very fast read. Not because it lacks substance. Quite the opposite. Because it has so much of the sort of substance that makes a book impossible to put down until you're completely out of pages to turn. Vivid characters. A gripping plot you can invest in. Terrific writing. It's all here along with the most important intangible quality a book can have: a huge, joyous, beating heart.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.
January 26, 2016
I had the good fortune to get my hands on an advance copy of ARROWS, and what a delight! This is both a lovely, passionate romance and, at the same time, a peek at how love can sometimes go terribly wrong. Greek gods, magic, and ballet are beautifully, seamlessly interwoven with serious, important themes and questions about relationships and responsibilities. Karma is torn between her deep love for Danny and her growing suspicions that he isn’t good for her, while Aaryn struggles with his responsibility to help Karma and his doubts about his mission. Altogether, it’s an entrancing read.
Read
October 10, 2017This book explores the pain and joy of love, following your dreams, and making difficult choices. I liked the setup of the arrows and old fashioned love vs. modern love, and the dancing scenes were lovely. The theme of deserving better is a very true and relevant message in this book.
January 25, 2016
4 stars.
Greek Mythology books aren't something i gravitate towards but for some reason this one ,with it's beautiful cover and the exploration of issues like teen pregnancy & abusive relationships made me even more intrigued about it.
I'm actually really surprised by how much i liked it considering it's Melissa Gorzelanczyk's debut novel.Indeed i loved the writing ,it was addicting & compelling ,in fact i think i finished it in two sittings tops which shows how much i enjoyed it.
I loved the two main characters above all,Karma&Aaryn,as well as their relationship with each other.I felt that they had a lot of chemistry and i appreciated that they started off as friends first even though we knew us readers that they were perfect for each other from the start, it wasn't in the least insta-lovey.
Aaryn was such a lovable character.He was there for Karma when her own boyfriend wasn't as well as being super supportive of her passion for dancing.And you could see that he really felt guilty of his past mistake ,that he was really committed to make things right.I couldn't help myself but root for both of them to be together.
Besides i really loved some of the secondary characters.Karma's best friend Peyton was such a good friend ,she was supportive as well as there for her but she still spoke her mind and scolded Karma for constantly making excuses for her boyfriend's shitty behaviour.
Futhermore i absolutely adored the dance aspect owing to the fact that i didn't even know Karma was a ballet dancer prior to starting the book & i really love this perticular atmosphere that we get in books with any kind of art in them.
Karma's relationship with Danny was so toxic that i didn't understand why she stayed with him even though i clearly knew she was under the spell of Aaryn's arrow.
I mean Danny was such a JERK, he kept bailing on her and making excuses and clearly for him partying & drinking was so much more important than being with his girlfriend and his own child.
Similarly Karma kept forgiving him even though she knew he was in the wrong and she totally was conscious of fact that she was the only one really committed to the relationship.However she eventually started to make better decisions and in my opinion the author's portrayal of an abusive relationship was so well-done ,it felt like it was real.
The only real problem i have with the book is the under-development of the Mythology aspect and the world of the Gods in general.I really wanted more from it on account of the fact that to me the novel read more like a Comtemporary Romance novel rather than a mythology retelling.
If your looking for the perfect Valentine's Day read,try reading this one ,it will for sure pull on your Heartstrings!!
Greek Mythology books aren't something i gravitate towards but for some reason this one ,with it's beautiful cover and the exploration of issues like teen pregnancy & abusive relationships made me even more intrigued about it.
I'm actually really surprised by how much i liked it considering it's Melissa Gorzelanczyk's debut novel.Indeed i loved the writing ,it was addicting & compelling ,in fact i think i finished it in two sittings tops which shows how much i enjoyed it.
I loved the two main characters above all,Karma&Aaryn,as well as their relationship with each other.I felt that they had a lot of chemistry and i appreciated that they started off as friends first even though we knew us readers that they were perfect for each other from the start, it wasn't in the least insta-lovey.
Aaryn was such a lovable character.He was there for Karma when her own boyfriend wasn't as well as being super supportive of her passion for dancing.And you could see that he really felt guilty of his past mistake ,that he was really committed to make things right.I couldn't help myself but root for both of them to be together.
Besides i really loved some of the secondary characters.Karma's best friend Peyton was such a good friend ,she was supportive as well as there for her but she still spoke her mind and scolded Karma for constantly making excuses for her boyfriend's shitty behaviour.
Futhermore i absolutely adored the dance aspect owing to the fact that i didn't even know Karma was a ballet dancer prior to starting the book & i really love this perticular atmosphere that we get in books with any kind of art in them.
Karma's relationship with Danny was so toxic that i didn't understand why she stayed with him even though i clearly knew she was under the spell of Aaryn's arrow.
I mean Danny was such a JERK, he kept bailing on her and making excuses and clearly for him partying & drinking was so much more important than being with his girlfriend and his own child.
Similarly Karma kept forgiving him even though she knew he was in the wrong and she totally was conscious of fact that she was the only one really committed to the relationship.However she eventually started to make better decisions and in my opinion the author's portrayal of an abusive relationship was so well-done ,it felt like it was real.
The only real problem i have with the book is the under-development of the Mythology aspect and the world of the Gods in general.I really wanted more from it on account of the fact that to me the novel read more like a Comtemporary Romance novel rather than a mythology retelling.
If your looking for the perfect Valentine's Day read,try reading this one ,it will for sure pull on your Heartstrings!!
August 12, 2015
I had the opportunity to read an ARC of ARROWS by Melissa Gorzelanczyk. I thought the premise was so unique: the story of cupid meets Teen Mom. And that's exactly what it was! There was drama and romance and a lot of tough decisions that had to be made. I think teens will really like this book, especially as they face difficult decisions in their own relationships (though maybe not involving cupid!) I could absolutely see this book being made into a TV show! It was a great read. :)
February 29, 2016
When I first heard about Arrows, my initial thought was that it would be a picture perfect Valentine's Day read! The cover was adorable, the premise so unique and cute, and I knew that it would be a great feel good contemporary. After reading the book, I still feel the same, though, I've also realized that more than cute and romantic, the book was also deep, realistic and had a strong message, which I loved.
Karma was a dance prodigy with a clear future set in front of her. She was brilliant and had potential. But her world turned upside down, when she fell in love with Danny, got pregnant and had to let go of her dreams in order to be a teen mom and a girlfriend. What's worse is her relationship with Danny, which borders on abusive and unhealthy, but still, Karma is not ready to give up, much to the puzzlement of her friends and family. But the real reason to this whole confusion and mystery is Aaryn, Eros' son and a trainee cupid, who mistakenly shoots the love arrow at Karma, but only realizes later that it doesn't have a pair. Now sent to earth to make amends for his mistakes, Aaryn tries to make Danny fall in love with Karma, only to fall for her himself, while realizing that love is far more than arrows and matchmaking.
Arrows was a perfect mixture of fluff and drama. While it dealt with some serious issues like teen pregnancy and unhealthy relationships, the story was kept light through the adorable moments and romance. I really liked how Melissa has decided to tackle concepts with so much weight in a light yet realistic way. And there was also the presence of Greek Mythology and fantasy elements to give this novel an even more fresh outlook.
I really liked Karma as a character. She was a perfect example of how sometimes even level headed, clever and smart girls can be stuck in unhealthy relationships. She was a sweet character, a kind and nice person, and a wonderful mom. But still, she took some really bad decisions, put up with a lot of things that made me want to shake her into some sense. But she was also realistic. When I read about her, I could totally imagine a talented girl disregarding her dreams because she's blinded by love. Mistake with arrows or not, this is a real and relatable situation to most, and I loved her portrayal in the story.
Aaryn was downright adorable! The confused god-sent-to-earth, trying so hard to make things right, only to realize that what he's always believed in is not exactly true, he was a sweet and cute character I adored. And he was also the perfect guy, because aside from his looks, he was so supportive of Karma's dreams, wonderful with her daughter Nell, so understanding and unbelievably cute. He's the perfect contemporary boy friend, and the fact that he's a God and is hot doesn't hurt either! :)
Danny was certainly a piece of work. The fact that boys like him exist makes me boil. He was so insensitive, irresponsible, and long story short, I hated his guts. And his relationship with Karma was portrayed so perfectly in Arrows. I loved how Melissa didn't shy away from show casing the ugly side of unhealthy relationships, without sugar coating or romaticising anything.
I also really liked the concept of teen pregnancy and the impact it has on one's dreams. Karma is a dancer, and her future is limited after she has her baby. But I love how she didn't give up, and kept on pursuing them. I would have liked a more in depth discussion of this concept, though to be honest, that would have been too much for the book, as it would've deviated from the plot in hand.
I had quite a few problems as well. First is that the writing wasn't that remarkable. It's simple, and while it was easy flowing and made the novel a quick read, it wasn't my type. There was also some really minor plot holes here and there, but they wouldn't matter at all, unless you are a paranoid Lit student like me. I would've also liked some more involvement from the minor characters, as I felt like they didn't have much to do with the story, and just faded into the background when they're not needed. I also felt like the latter part of the book was a bit rushed, and would've liked a more detailed ending, with maybe a few more pages.
Overall, Arrows is cute, light story that tackles some deep social concepts. It takes a fresh and realistic take on love, and I would recommend this to all contemporary fans, especially those who prefer a good mixture of content and fluff.
Karma was a dance prodigy with a clear future set in front of her. She was brilliant and had potential. But her world turned upside down, when she fell in love with Danny, got pregnant and had to let go of her dreams in order to be a teen mom and a girlfriend. What's worse is her relationship with Danny, which borders on abusive and unhealthy, but still, Karma is not ready to give up, much to the puzzlement of her friends and family. But the real reason to this whole confusion and mystery is Aaryn, Eros' son and a trainee cupid, who mistakenly shoots the love arrow at Karma, but only realizes later that it doesn't have a pair. Now sent to earth to make amends for his mistakes, Aaryn tries to make Danny fall in love with Karma, only to fall for her himself, while realizing that love is far more than arrows and matchmaking.
Arrows was a perfect mixture of fluff and drama. While it dealt with some serious issues like teen pregnancy and unhealthy relationships, the story was kept light through the adorable moments and romance. I really liked how Melissa has decided to tackle concepts with so much weight in a light yet realistic way. And there was also the presence of Greek Mythology and fantasy elements to give this novel an even more fresh outlook.
I really liked Karma as a character. She was a perfect example of how sometimes even level headed, clever and smart girls can be stuck in unhealthy relationships. She was a sweet character, a kind and nice person, and a wonderful mom. But still, she took some really bad decisions, put up with a lot of things that made me want to shake her into some sense. But she was also realistic. When I read about her, I could totally imagine a talented girl disregarding her dreams because she's blinded by love. Mistake with arrows or not, this is a real and relatable situation to most, and I loved her portrayal in the story.
Aaryn was downright adorable! The confused god-sent-to-earth, trying so hard to make things right, only to realize that what he's always believed in is not exactly true, he was a sweet and cute character I adored. And he was also the perfect guy, because aside from his looks, he was so supportive of Karma's dreams, wonderful with her daughter Nell, so understanding and unbelievably cute. He's the perfect contemporary boy friend, and the fact that he's a God and is hot doesn't hurt either! :)
Danny was certainly a piece of work. The fact that boys like him exist makes me boil. He was so insensitive, irresponsible, and long story short, I hated his guts. And his relationship with Karma was portrayed so perfectly in Arrows. I loved how Melissa didn't shy away from show casing the ugly side of unhealthy relationships, without sugar coating or romaticising anything.
I also really liked the concept of teen pregnancy and the impact it has on one's dreams. Karma is a dancer, and her future is limited after she has her baby. But I love how she didn't give up, and kept on pursuing them. I would have liked a more in depth discussion of this concept, though to be honest, that would have been too much for the book, as it would've deviated from the plot in hand.
I had quite a few problems as well. First is that the writing wasn't that remarkable. It's simple, and while it was easy flowing and made the novel a quick read, it wasn't my type. There was also some really minor plot holes here and there, but they wouldn't matter at all, unless you are a paranoid Lit student like me. I would've also liked some more involvement from the minor characters, as I felt like they didn't have much to do with the story, and just faded into the background when they're not needed. I also felt like the latter part of the book was a bit rushed, and would've liked a more detailed ending, with maybe a few more pages.
Overall, Arrows is cute, light story that tackles some deep social concepts. It takes a fresh and realistic take on love, and I would recommend this to all contemporary fans, especially those who prefer a good mixture of content and fluff.
February 1, 2016
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
REVIEW:
Arrow
When I first read the synopsis for this novel, I was immediately intrigued. Greek myth is a guilty pleasure of mine, and having reading Cupid books like this on Wattpad, I knew that this book would be for me. Indeed, Melissa wrote a promising novel with an intriguing plot.
Back when Aaryn was younger, he was sent down to Earth. He was tasked to shoot Karma and Danny, but only managed to shoot Karma, leaving the relationship in shambles. Now the Assembly has found out about this, and Aaryn is once again sent to Earth to fix the mistake he made - by making Danny propose - or be punished. But how can Aaryn do this, when he has fallen for Karma himself?
In this story, we see the repercussions of an action made by another to Danny and Karma’s relationship. And despite having a daughter together, Danny still isn’t loyal to Karma. I really enjoyed seeing the bonds of friendship and family in this book. Karma’s immediate family was portrayed as helpful, but not perfect, which I really liked. On the other hand, her aunt and cousin were very supportive, which I don’t see in much other novels. The story also showed how much of a good mom Karma is, but how she keeps lying to herself to keep things the way they are.
Enter Aaryn. Aaryn is this helpful guy who just keeps popping up everywhere. Little does Karma know that he is the one at fault for her shitty relationship. As their friendship started to develop, their relationship becomes more complicated. At some points, I was really annoyed at Aaryn, but now I can’t remember at which exact points. Overall though, he’s a really great guy who just wants what’s best for Karma.
I really like the flow of the story - I liked the plot and the pacing. It was very interesting and it was entertaining to read. However, the reason why I couldn’t give this one more stars is because first, I felt like the overall tone of the novel is kind of juvenile and amateur-ish. I’m not saying that about the character, the plot or the whole story - just maybe the choice of words. Second, I felt like the ending was kind of rushed. Aaryn was in Mount Olympus one moment and then on Earth the next, and I was just left open-mouthed because it was too fast and I hoped that the explanation would be longer. I also felt that I was left hanging because of the ending.
Overall, I really liked the flow of the plot in Arrows, I just didn’t just didn’t like the ending and choice of words.
REVIEW:
Arrow
When I first read the synopsis for this novel, I was immediately intrigued. Greek myth is a guilty pleasure of mine, and having reading Cupid books like this on Wattpad, I knew that this book would be for me. Indeed, Melissa wrote a promising novel with an intriguing plot.
Back when Aaryn was younger, he was sent down to Earth. He was tasked to shoot Karma and Danny, but only managed to shoot Karma, leaving the relationship in shambles. Now the Assembly has found out about this, and Aaryn is once again sent to Earth to fix the mistake he made - by making Danny propose - or be punished. But how can Aaryn do this, when he has fallen for Karma himself?
In this story, we see the repercussions of an action made by another to Danny and Karma’s relationship. And despite having a daughter together, Danny still isn’t loyal to Karma. I really enjoyed seeing the bonds of friendship and family in this book. Karma’s immediate family was portrayed as helpful, but not perfect, which I really liked. On the other hand, her aunt and cousin were very supportive, which I don’t see in much other novels. The story also showed how much of a good mom Karma is, but how she keeps lying to herself to keep things the way they are.
Enter Aaryn. Aaryn is this helpful guy who just keeps popping up everywhere. Little does Karma know that he is the one at fault for her shitty relationship. As their friendship started to develop, their relationship becomes more complicated. At some points, I was really annoyed at Aaryn, but now I can’t remember at which exact points. Overall though, he’s a really great guy who just wants what’s best for Karma.
I really like the flow of the story - I liked the plot and the pacing. It was very interesting and it was entertaining to read. However, the reason why I couldn’t give this one more stars is because first, I felt like the overall tone of the novel is kind of juvenile and amateur-ish. I’m not saying that about the character, the plot or the whole story - just maybe the choice of words. Second, I felt like the ending was kind of rushed. Aaryn was in Mount Olympus one moment and then on Earth the next, and I was just left open-mouthed because it was too fast and I hoped that the explanation would be longer. I also felt that I was left hanging because of the ending.
Overall, I really liked the flow of the plot in Arrows, I just didn’t just didn’t like the ending and choice of words.
June 21, 2017
I am a cheating cheater who cheats, because Melissa is my CP, so obviously I love this book! I feel super shiny & privileged to have read this long ago... if you love Greek mythology, small town Americana, romance & ballet (YUS), definitely pick up Arrows.
November 10, 2015
This book was so fun, but on top of that, surprised me with its depth. It was an extraordinarily quick read, which was a great way to break up my TBR. Sometimes you just need a book you can power through in one or two sittings to help you feel productive and to get you out of a reading slump, and I think this is the perfect book for that.
The main characters are all really well fleshed out. Karma is believable and tragic, swept away in a love that's not returned, or at least not in the way that she really needs, given her intense and difficult situation as a teen mom. She was so determined and strong and a really good parent, and I loved her. I think there will be a lot of readers who are extremely frustrated by her choices and decisions, but to me, they felt authentic. Karma's fraught love life brought me back to a LOT of my own and my friends' high school relationships. Situations where EVERYONE knows the two people involved need to walk away but for whatever reason, they just can't. There's that "I know this is terrible but I have to see it through to the bitter end" quality, and I think it's absolutely genius the way Gorzelanczyk played with that very real trope by using Greek mythology.
Leah, the sister, was also great. Very dynamic. An all too realistic blend of sassy brat and loving friend. You could tell how much she cared about her family but she wasn't a Mary Sue.
Danny was honestly my favorite character (to read about. I don't want to know him in real life, don't get me wrong. I just found him fascinating and well drawn). He's definitely a sh*thead but I guess I just appreciate how Gorzelanczyk didn't have to make him a caricature to get the point across that, at least in the very beginning (and I won't say more for the sake of spoilers) he doesn't deserve Karma. I felt that his constant pushing in and pulling away with Karma was completely realistic. His gaslighting of her was frustrating and too familiar.
The story moved quickly with a great mix of drama and comedy. I could definitely see this becoming a rom com movie, and I'd for sure go see it. The only thing I wanted more of was the stuff with Olympus but I think for the average contemporary romance reader, there's the right balance. There's enough to add a fun new element without pulling the story too far into the terrain of PNR.
The main characters are all really well fleshed out. Karma is believable and tragic, swept away in a love that's not returned, or at least not in the way that she really needs, given her intense and difficult situation as a teen mom. She was so determined and strong and a really good parent, and I loved her. I think there will be a lot of readers who are extremely frustrated by her choices and decisions, but to me, they felt authentic. Karma's fraught love life brought me back to a LOT of my own and my friends' high school relationships. Situations where EVERYONE knows the two people involved need to walk away but for whatever reason, they just can't. There's that "I know this is terrible but I have to see it through to the bitter end" quality, and I think it's absolutely genius the way Gorzelanczyk played with that very real trope by using Greek mythology.
Leah, the sister, was also great. Very dynamic. An all too realistic blend of sassy brat and loving friend. You could tell how much she cared about her family but she wasn't a Mary Sue.
Danny was honestly my favorite character (to read about. I don't want to know him in real life, don't get me wrong. I just found him fascinating and well drawn). He's definitely a sh*thead but I guess I just appreciate how Gorzelanczyk didn't have to make him a caricature to get the point across that, at least in the very beginning (and I won't say more for the sake of spoilers) he doesn't deserve Karma. I felt that his constant pushing in and pulling away with Karma was completely realistic. His gaslighting of her was frustrating and too familiar.
The story moved quickly with a great mix of drama and comedy. I could definitely see this becoming a rom com movie, and I'd for sure go see it. The only thing I wanted more of was the stuff with Olympus but I think for the average contemporary romance reader, there's the right balance. There's enough to add a fun new element without pulling the story too far into the terrain of PNR.
February 27, 2016
The story is in two point of views by Aaryn and Karma. Aaryn is the son of Cupid and Psyche, and his final test is to shoot two lovers. While Phoebe and Aaryn is in prom, he chose Karma and her boyfriend Danny. He shot Karma but didn’t shot Danny. We all know the consequences if you shot the arrow to the only one and you didn’t find a match, well, the one who was shot will be madly in love. Then, one year later, Karma has a daughter and the dad is Danny. Danny is completely jerk who’s always hurting Karma. And I felt bad for it. And then when Aaryn’s dad found out about he did, he gave him an assignment to fix the mistake he’s done. While he’s on earth, fates will turn upside down.
Can Aaryn change the fate of Karma and Danny or his fate will change?
I listed 3 reasons why you should read this book:
1. It talks about the issue of early pregnancy. How it’s hard to take care of a family if both of you aren’t ready. There’s a possibility that one of you will be a cheater or still enjoying a teenage life.
2. It is actually a funny book so it’s not a depressing book. That’s because of Aaryn. When he was sent to earth, he’s oblivious on what’s going on. He actually pretends that he’s from Florida to hide his true identity. So when he talked to Karma and her friends he was like “what is that ? “ he does sounds stupid in a funny way.
3. Life lesson. This book will give us life lessons especially in the teenage life. We will encounter many challenges in life and sometimes it will put us down. I admired Karma because she’s so strong, though she’s kind of martyr to Danny. This book is the life of teenager.
Overall, it’s a great book and I really loved it. It’s so cute and funny relatable. I recommend this book especially the teenagers. YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY READ THIS BOOK.
Can Aaryn change the fate of Karma and Danny or his fate will change?
I listed 3 reasons why you should read this book:
1. It talks about the issue of early pregnancy. How it’s hard to take care of a family if both of you aren’t ready. There’s a possibility that one of you will be a cheater or still enjoying a teenage life.
2. It is actually a funny book so it’s not a depressing book. That’s because of Aaryn. When he was sent to earth, he’s oblivious on what’s going on. He actually pretends that he’s from Florida to hide his true identity. So when he talked to Karma and her friends he was like “what is that ? “ he does sounds stupid in a funny way.
3. Life lesson. This book will give us life lessons especially in the teenage life. We will encounter many challenges in life and sometimes it will put us down. I admired Karma because she’s so strong, though she’s kind of martyr to Danny. This book is the life of teenager.
Overall, it’s a great book and I really loved it. It’s so cute and funny relatable. I recommend this book especially the teenagers. YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY READ THIS BOOK.
January 23, 2016
Arrows follows both Aaryn, a new cupid, and Karma, girl who got struck by cupid's bow. Only, Aaryn made a big error. He should've shot both Karma and her boyfriend Danny with arrows. But, he only shot Karma changing her future and love life!
I really enjoyed Arrows and Melissa Gorzelanczyk's writing. The book was super fast paced and easy to finish within a day. And, even though i'm no expert on mythology, I do love reading different takes on it and learning about the Gods and Godesses. This take on cupid was definitely different and really cute!
I loved Aaryn, and any author who puts a boy in a black tee immediately wins me over! Hello hotness! Aaryn was super patient with Karma and that was also attractive. Because, boy, Karma… Yeah. Let's talk about Karma. Although I totally understood why she was so stuck on loser boy Danny (hello Aaryn, you messed that up!) I still hated how blind she was to what he was doing to her. Deep down in Arrows we have a great message geared toward teen girls. DO NOT let any boy belittle you and emotionally abuse you. NOT COOL. I do feel like Gorzelanczyk could've dug a little deeper on this topic so it could really show and empower young girls out there that hey, maybe you don't need to make excuses for why some guys treat you like crap. She did though show great light on teen pregnancy and how it could (let's not say ruin) totally change your life and alter plans for the future and make everything difficult when you are a teen and wanting to do things like go out with friends, or follow your passion and/or hobbies.
Overall though Melissa kept this read on the lighter side making it easy to finish it one sitting. I do wish there were a sequel coming though! I need more Aaryn! - Bianca
I really enjoyed Arrows and Melissa Gorzelanczyk's writing. The book was super fast paced and easy to finish within a day. And, even though i'm no expert on mythology, I do love reading different takes on it and learning about the Gods and Godesses. This take on cupid was definitely different and really cute!
I loved Aaryn, and any author who puts a boy in a black tee immediately wins me over! Hello hotness! Aaryn was super patient with Karma and that was also attractive. Because, boy, Karma… Yeah. Let's talk about Karma. Although I totally understood why she was so stuck on loser boy Danny (hello Aaryn, you messed that up!) I still hated how blind she was to what he was doing to her. Deep down in Arrows we have a great message geared toward teen girls. DO NOT let any boy belittle you and emotionally abuse you. NOT COOL. I do feel like Gorzelanczyk could've dug a little deeper on this topic so it could really show and empower young girls out there that hey, maybe you don't need to make excuses for why some guys treat you like crap. She did though show great light on teen pregnancy and how it could (let's not say ruin) totally change your life and alter plans for the future and make everything difficult when you are a teen and wanting to do things like go out with friends, or follow your passion and/or hobbies.
Overall though Melissa kept this read on the lighter side making it easy to finish it one sitting. I do wish there were a sequel coming though! I need more Aaryn! - Bianca
November 5, 2015
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We all know cupid. Or at least we think we do. Melissa Gorzelanczyk takes the bow-toting icon out of the diapers and into a pair of well-worn jeans and a V-neck shirt. But she keeps the arrows. And it's the arrows that get this cupid into some serious trouble.
Aaryn's job is simple. Seal the romantic fate of Karma and Danny with two quick shots. But due to an arrow glitch, Aaryn only manages to hit Karma. So now she's stuck with all the feels while Danny's stuck with the forget-its. Aaryn has no choice but to abandon his godly home on Mount Olympus and live as a human to remedy the situation before he gets tossed in cupid jail.
Now, this might sound like a lighthearted read that you buzz through in a few hours. And sure, it has its moments of sweetness, humor, innocence. But the thing that pleasantly surprised me the most was the depth that Gorzelanczyk achieved with her characters. We see them at their best, but we also see them at their very worst. And that's what makes any book worth reading. Aaryn's and Karma's stories weave together in a seamless dual POV which takes us through their struggles, their fears, their dreams, and their hopes. But in that darkness, there remains a light that Gorzelanczyk never lets become hidden. This is a story that takes the notion of hope and puts it as far away as it can possibly exist from the characters while still living just within reach. And as they near it, we can't help but feel every single emotion, every single betrayal, every single touch.
We can't help but utterly fall in love with them.
We all know cupid. Or at least we think we do. Melissa Gorzelanczyk takes the bow-toting icon out of the diapers and into a pair of well-worn jeans and a V-neck shirt. But she keeps the arrows. And it's the arrows that get this cupid into some serious trouble.
Aaryn's job is simple. Seal the romantic fate of Karma and Danny with two quick shots. But due to an arrow glitch, Aaryn only manages to hit Karma. So now she's stuck with all the feels while Danny's stuck with the forget-its. Aaryn has no choice but to abandon his godly home on Mount Olympus and live as a human to remedy the situation before he gets tossed in cupid jail.
Now, this might sound like a lighthearted read that you buzz through in a few hours. And sure, it has its moments of sweetness, humor, innocence. But the thing that pleasantly surprised me the most was the depth that Gorzelanczyk achieved with her characters. We see them at their best, but we also see them at their very worst. And that's what makes any book worth reading. Aaryn's and Karma's stories weave together in a seamless dual POV which takes us through their struggles, their fears, their dreams, and their hopes. But in that darkness, there remains a light that Gorzelanczyk never lets become hidden. This is a story that takes the notion of hope and puts it as far away as it can possibly exist from the characters while still living just within reach. And as they near it, we can't help but feel every single emotion, every single betrayal, every single touch.
We can't help but utterly fall in love with them.
July 26, 2015
I absolutely devoured this book. Melissa wrote something so special here. I'll admit, I could not picture how Teen Mom meets Greek mythology was going to go. But it worked so well. It was a great way to describe being in love with someone who is all wrong for you. It's hard to read about Karma's relationship with the father of her baby. He's so wrong for her and so bad for her but she's blinded by love. (No thanks to Aaryn's arrow!) I was rooting for Karma so hard. Also, Aaryn. Aayrn, Aayrn, Aaryn. He's a swooningly great love interest. And I loved his POV because he was so conflicted by wanting to fix things for Karma and wanting Karma! I highly recommend reading, because a) it is a fun and absorbing love story and b) it deals with some tough, real world stuff, that I'm sure a LOT of people will relate to. Now I'm going to go watch Dirty Dancing and eat cheese curds, because I'm pretty sure Aaryn and Karma would want me to add it to my bucket list.
January 26, 2016
I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Things I predict will happen when you read this book:
1) You will want to punch Danny. Often. Seriously, rarely have I felt so violent toward a fictional character. He is a detestable and unfortunately entirely realistic villain.
2) You will be pulling for Karma to wake up and realize what an abusive relationship she's in.
3) You will recognize the dynamics of Karma and Danny's relationship and be reminded uncomfortably of that one friend who just can't be convinced that he's wrong for her.
4) You'll experience a strange craving for cheese curds.
5) You'll call into question the entire bureaucracy of Eros and his arrows. Oh, wait, that's Aaryn, son of Eros. But I bet you'll dig him too.
6) You may be tempted to write fanfiction due to how much you want to see Karma punch Danny in the face.
Things I predict will happen when you read this book:
1) You will want to punch Danny. Often. Seriously, rarely have I felt so violent toward a fictional character. He is a detestable and unfortunately entirely realistic villain.
2) You will be pulling for Karma to wake up and realize what an abusive relationship she's in.
3) You will recognize the dynamics of Karma and Danny's relationship and be reminded uncomfortably of that one friend who just can't be convinced that he's wrong for her.
4) You'll experience a strange craving for cheese curds.
5) You'll call into question the entire bureaucracy of Eros and his arrows. Oh, wait, that's Aaryn, son of Eros. But I bet you'll dig him too.
6) You may be tempted to write fanfiction due to how much you want to see Karma punch Danny in the face.
October 20, 2015
Lighthearted and fun, but with a pretty true and unflinching depiction of what happens when teen love turns into unexpected/unwanted parenthood. I enjoyed seeing Aaryn fall into a relationship he knew he couldn't have. Karma, smart and driven but stupid about all things Danny-related, seemed exactly like a person operating under the effect of a powerful love spell. And I loved hating Danny. An enjoyable, engrossing, super-fun read!
(I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
(I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews