Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.
Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...
It's no secret that I didn't like the first book. For me this one didn't get any better. The premise was meh and it just went downhill from there.
It begins with Ever trying out her new 'immortal' powers (why does everyone get powers when they decide to live forever???) and getting totally distracted by Damen's hottness. I understand they've defeated all obstacles (*cough* one obstacle *cough*) in order to be together but they just keep throwing themselves at each other. It's boring to read about and I was excited when Damen decides he doesn't want to be with Ever anymore. (I think I was supposed to feel sad or shocked...but this was pretty much the best part of the book)
Sorry, kinda skipped ahead a little!!
Backtrack...Roman, the new kid, comes to school and everyone likes him except Ever. She just gets bad vibes from this dude but chooses to ignore them because no one else seems to feel the same way. That part was ridiculous because he is clearly the villian of the book. I mean it was PAINFULLY obvious. And he kept trying to get into her pants. (Ever must be freaking Helen of Troy or something...all the hottest guys are just dying to have her. WHAT GIVES???)
The next weekend, Ever doesn't hear from Damen and he even blew her off a few times, and comes back to school in love with Stacia (the girl he dumped for Ever, but insisted that he never liked her...yeah right) Ever freaks out and he calls her a loser which causes the next 100 pages to be a long sob story about true love gone wrong. Half of this book is a pity party for Ever, and I'm sorry but I just don't care about her.
Ms. Noel is either the most oblivious writer (no one wants to read about someone else's heartache if you're not invested in the character) or the greatest author of all time for writing that Ever is this completely narcissistic, depressing and stupid. It must have been so painful for her type each and every one of those words. If the latter is true...then disregard this whole review because PROPS TO YOU ALLY!!! I would never have the strength to write such an awful piece.
Long book short, Ever finds info in Summerland to fix Damen and she does--while practically slashing her hand off in the process. They can no longer touch each other courtesy of Roman's 'cunning' and Ever's stupidity. (Cunning is in quotes because Ever is so dumb that a vegetable could outsmart her...Roman's final plan wasn't that impressive) This is supposed to be sad because they were finally ready to have sex, but now if they do Damen will die.
Hold up...I just realized that this whole book series (so far) is just about two teens who want to have sex. What kind of message does that send to young readers???? Shame on you Ms. Noel. You had the whole world of immortals and Summerland and magic and psychics but threw it all away so the two main characters could focus on having sex. (Which they didn't even do yet...ugh)
This book was lame. Since I bashed it so hard I figure I should at least mention the one thing I liked about the book--the cover. It convinced me to read the damn thing in the first place so congrats cover designer people...you should most definitely get a raise.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Fire by Kristin Cashore
She is the last of her kind...
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.
Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don’t need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven’t, you’ll be dying to read it next.
What happened?!?!?
I read Graceling when it first came out and it was amazing! Great storyline, great characters, the book had awesomeness seeping from its pages!
Then I read Fire. Maybe it was the fact that this book had completely different characters and took place in a different location entirely (well the other side of the kingdom) that threw me off. Either way, this book promised romance and adventure while all I got was confused and disappointed.
So this book takes place before Graceling, it takes a little while to infer that from the text because the 'pivotal character' is King Leck and he is only in the first few chapters of the book. As a side note. He is in no way pivotal to this book other than to learn that this is a prequel.
Fire is pretty and fawned over but only because she is a monster. In this time, monsters are weird-colored creatures (humans and animals alike) that want to eat each other. Yep, monsters want to eat other monsters and people too sometimes if they're desperate. But other than the cannibalism, Fire can read minds and control them.
She embarks on a quest to save the kingdom from war because her dad helped create the chaos before he was killed, and she feels responsible to clean up his mess. On the way she meets a war general with whom she starts to fall in love with (she doesn't want to feel anything for him but wants to 'take him to her bed' *wink, wink*). But she already has another lover "insert awkward love triangle here".
The quest takes up most of the book and it was very confusing because you have to orient yourself with the characters the first time they appear. You get their name, a short description and have to remember that for the next 400 pages. When you need a break from travelling Ms. Cashore adds more to the love story, which gets boring and repetitive over time.
The last task that Fire has to complete is the best part of the book. It is adventurous and engaging but completely predictable. There was one minor twist I didn't see coming but that didn't play too much into the storyline.
The book ends with Fire staying at the kingdom and not looking back. That's it. The end.
This is a mediocre review for a mediocre book. Nothing about this book got me excited to read it again or even review it. I read this book a month ago and I still don't know what to say about it. If you didn't read Graceling, forget all about the existence of Fire and go read it. THAT is worth your time.
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.
Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don’t need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven’t, you’ll be dying to read it next.
What happened?!?!?
I read Graceling when it first came out and it was amazing! Great storyline, great characters, the book had awesomeness seeping from its pages!
Then I read Fire. Maybe it was the fact that this book had completely different characters and took place in a different location entirely (well the other side of the kingdom) that threw me off. Either way, this book promised romance and adventure while all I got was confused and disappointed.
So this book takes place before Graceling, it takes a little while to infer that from the text because the 'pivotal character' is King Leck and he is only in the first few chapters of the book. As a side note. He is in no way pivotal to this book other than to learn that this is a prequel.
Fire is pretty and fawned over but only because she is a monster. In this time, monsters are weird-colored creatures (humans and animals alike) that want to eat each other. Yep, monsters want to eat other monsters and people too sometimes if they're desperate. But other than the cannibalism, Fire can read minds and control them.
She embarks on a quest to save the kingdom from war because her dad helped create the chaos before he was killed, and she feels responsible to clean up his mess. On the way she meets a war general with whom she starts to fall in love with (she doesn't want to feel anything for him but wants to 'take him to her bed' *wink, wink*). But she already has another lover "insert awkward love triangle here".
The quest takes up most of the book and it was very confusing because you have to orient yourself with the characters the first time they appear. You get their name, a short description and have to remember that for the next 400 pages. When you need a break from travelling Ms. Cashore adds more to the love story, which gets boring and repetitive over time.
The last task that Fire has to complete is the best part of the book. It is adventurous and engaging but completely predictable. There was one minor twist I didn't see coming but that didn't play too much into the storyline.
The book ends with Fire staying at the kingdom and not looking back. That's it. The end.
This is a mediocre review for a mediocre book. Nothing about this book got me excited to read it again or even review it. I read this book a month ago and I still don't know what to say about it. If you didn't read Graceling, forget all about the existence of Fire and go read it. THAT is worth your time.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is empty.
But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they've closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark.
The Gladers were expecting Thomas' arrival. But the next day, a girl is sent up- the first girl ever to arrive at the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might find their way home... wherever that may be. But it's looking more and more as if the Maze is unsolvable.
And something about the girl's arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers- if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.
This book was so bland and ridiculous. It was pretty much a futuristic Lord of the Flies. But, Thomas was such a girl in this book, if he would have kept a diary it would have been something like this:
Day 1: Hi I’m Thomas and I don’t know anything except my first name.
I understand that the author wanted to make the reader as confused as Thomas but seriously, all we get for the intro to the book is ‘I don’t know where I am’, ‘I don’t trust these people’ and ‘I wanna go home’. This kid is how old?? He sounded 7, or maybe 8. In short, I just wanna punch this dude in the face.
Day 2: I’m still Thomas but now I have a clingy, annoying friend.
His friend Chuck is the most annoying person in the world. He’ll say something and then not explain it, which leaves us with more questions and no answers. (This is 50 pages into the book)
Day 3: I have a lot of questions and no one will answer them. *makes a sad face*
The ONLY answers we get are the definitions to words like klunk. WTF!? Everyone remembers how to speak English so why they can’t just say poop is beyond me.
Day 4: Today I saw a scary thing, but then a pretty girl showed up. She was pretty.
So finally getting some answers here, there’s a maze around their campsite which they have to solve to get out and go home. It’s hard because some cow-slug-machine monster tries to eat them if they get too close. But then all the explanations get interrupted by some girl entering the camp half-dead. She says something mysterious then falls into a coma (so she’s not much help).
Day 5: People I just met are in trouble so naturally I will risk my life to maybe save them. MAYBE.
So this dude just learns about the maze and the bad stuff in it, but he sees two people that he doesn’t even know and runs in to save them. This is the STUDPIDEST person ever.
Day 6: We all lived!! YAY me and my lucky instincts!!!
This would be much more satisfying if I actually liked Thomas. But I still wanna punch him in the face.
Day 7: I have telekinetic powers just like the pretty girl. My life is awesome!!
So other than the fact that this power came out of nowhere, Tom is the only one that trusts her and spends forever trying to convince everyone else to do the same. He fails and she spends time locked up.
Day 8: Time to leave. Wish I could remember who my parents were so I could send them a postcard!
Just kidding—they all trust her now, that last 60 pages was just a test. (This is about the time when I threw the book against the wall.) They make an escape plan, a bad one I might add, and finally escape the maze!!!
*Question: Does it count as an escape plan if part of the plan is to have people die? It sounds more like bait to me...*
I can’t believe there is a sequel to this book. Nothing HAPPENED!!! And the big twist at the end? It doesn’t count as a twist if the reader knows nothing about the futuristic world. It was more like: Surprise! There's a plague that will kill you all and you have to survive it! Didn’t I mention it before?
I think Tom actually spent 2 weeks in the glade, but this is a pretty acurate portrayal of what happened. I now realize why the synopsis for this book is so long. They have to give you all the good actiony bits just to sucker you into buying it.
And for those people who said this series was a good read if you liked The Hunger Games...I'm sorry but this gets nowhere near that kind of awesomeness. I would only recommend this book to people with a very low tolerance for action. Not much happened so you can sleep sound at night.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is empty.
But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they've closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark.
The Gladers were expecting Thomas' arrival. But the next day, a girl is sent up- the first girl ever to arrive at the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might find their way home... wherever that may be. But it's looking more and more as if the Maze is unsolvable.
And something about the girl's arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers- if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.
This book was so bland and ridiculous. It was pretty much a futuristic Lord of the Flies. But, Thomas was such a girl in this book, if he would have kept a diary it would have been something like this:
Day 1: Hi I’m Thomas and I don’t know anything except my first name.
I understand that the author wanted to make the reader as confused as Thomas but seriously, all we get for the intro to the book is ‘I don’t know where I am’, ‘I don’t trust these people’ and ‘I wanna go home’. This kid is how old?? He sounded 7, or maybe 8. In short, I just wanna punch this dude in the face.
Day 2: I’m still Thomas but now I have a clingy, annoying friend.
His friend Chuck is the most annoying person in the world. He’ll say something and then not explain it, which leaves us with more questions and no answers. (This is 50 pages into the book)
Day 3: I have a lot of questions and no one will answer them. *makes a sad face*
The ONLY answers we get are the definitions to words like klunk. WTF!? Everyone remembers how to speak English so why they can’t just say poop is beyond me.
Day 4: Today I saw a scary thing, but then a pretty girl showed up. She was pretty.
So finally getting some answers here, there’s a maze around their campsite which they have to solve to get out and go home. It’s hard because some cow-slug-machine monster tries to eat them if they get too close. But then all the explanations get interrupted by some girl entering the camp half-dead. She says something mysterious then falls into a coma (so she’s not much help).
Day 5: People I just met are in trouble so naturally I will risk my life to maybe save them. MAYBE.
So this dude just learns about the maze and the bad stuff in it, but he sees two people that he doesn’t even know and runs in to save them. This is the STUDPIDEST person ever.
Day 6: We all lived!! YAY me and my lucky instincts!!!
This would be much more satisfying if I actually liked Thomas. But I still wanna punch him in the face.
Day 7: I have telekinetic powers just like the pretty girl. My life is awesome!!
So other than the fact that this power came out of nowhere, Tom is the only one that trusts her and spends forever trying to convince everyone else to do the same. He fails and she spends time locked up.
Day 8: Time to leave. Wish I could remember who my parents were so I could send them a postcard!
Just kidding—they all trust her now, that last 60 pages was just a test. (This is about the time when I threw the book against the wall.) They make an escape plan, a bad one I might add, and finally escape the maze!!!
*Question: Does it count as an escape plan if part of the plan is to have people die? It sounds more like bait to me...*
I can’t believe there is a sequel to this book. Nothing HAPPENED!!! And the big twist at the end? It doesn’t count as a twist if the reader knows nothing about the futuristic world. It was more like: Surprise! There's a plague that will kill you all and you have to survive it! Didn’t I mention it before?
I think Tom actually spent 2 weeks in the glade, but this is a pretty acurate portrayal of what happened. I now realize why the synopsis for this book is so long. They have to give you all the good actiony bits just to sucker you into buying it.
And for those people who said this series was a good read if you liked The Hunger Games...I'm sorry but this gets nowhere near that kind of awesomeness. I would only recommend this book to people with a very low tolerance for action. Not much happened so you can sleep sound at night.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
While I'm cranking away at these reviews, why not do A Great and Terrible Beauty?
Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.
This book could have been worse. I wasn't really a fan of anyone in the book--usually there's one character that really pulls a chord with me and I root for them--but overall it wasn't such a bad read.
This is a really good in-between-books book. Not too much thinking involved, Ms. Bray pretty much spells everything out for the reader, but there are still some plot twists that I didn't quite see coming.
It's like in a movie when you hear the scary music and you know something is going to happen but you don't know what? That's pretty much this book. I would recommend reading this while listening to the JAWS soundtrack. Much more exciting!
Gemma isn't as needy and depressed as most other female characters in the YA genre which was refreshing. She actually did kick some butt near the end. The biggest issue I had with this book is that there was no real problem for Gemma to solve. There were obstacles but not so much a final destination. She would bravely face something, win, and that was it.
It was as if Harry Potter rescued the Sorcerer's Stone and said, "Alright guys that was awesome, time to go back to school and finish finals." Voldemort was not defeated, in fact he didn't even exist. Harry and the gang solved some puzzles and went home for the summer.
Yes I understand this book is a part of a trilogy but shouldn't Ms. Bray have left something for Gemma to do at the end of the first book? Some type of Victorian age quest? The book ends with a 'maybe I'll go do this if I feel like it after finishing school'.
Another problem I had with this book is the fact that the author tried to put me in the Victorian era but failed miserably. Gemma could have been the girl down the street from me in THIS era. Her thoughts were so modern and only did I remember the time period when someone would comment that 'ladies don't do that' or to 'tighten a corset'. That's not how a historical fiction novel should be written.
If the author had trouble putting herself in the past I wish she would have just used this time period; the exact same storyline could still work and I would have been more invested.
Overall, this book wasn't too bad. If you have time and this is available at your local library give it a try. I definitely wouldn't pay the $10 at the bookstore for it though.
Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.
This book could have been worse. I wasn't really a fan of anyone in the book--usually there's one character that really pulls a chord with me and I root for them--but overall it wasn't such a bad read.
This is a really good in-between-books book. Not too much thinking involved, Ms. Bray pretty much spells everything out for the reader, but there are still some plot twists that I didn't quite see coming.
It's like in a movie when you hear the scary music and you know something is going to happen but you don't know what? That's pretty much this book. I would recommend reading this while listening to the JAWS soundtrack. Much more exciting!
Gemma isn't as needy and depressed as most other female characters in the YA genre which was refreshing. She actually did kick some butt near the end. The biggest issue I had with this book is that there was no real problem for Gemma to solve. There were obstacles but not so much a final destination. She would bravely face something, win, and that was it.
It was as if Harry Potter rescued the Sorcerer's Stone and said, "Alright guys that was awesome, time to go back to school and finish finals." Voldemort was not defeated, in fact he didn't even exist. Harry and the gang solved some puzzles and went home for the summer.
Yes I understand this book is a part of a trilogy but shouldn't Ms. Bray have left something for Gemma to do at the end of the first book? Some type of Victorian age quest? The book ends with a 'maybe I'll go do this if I feel like it after finishing school'.
Another problem I had with this book is the fact that the author tried to put me in the Victorian era but failed miserably. Gemma could have been the girl down the street from me in THIS era. Her thoughts were so modern and only did I remember the time period when someone would comment that 'ladies don't do that' or to 'tighten a corset'. That's not how a historical fiction novel should be written.
If the author had trouble putting herself in the past I wish she would have just used this time period; the exact same storyline could still work and I would have been more invested.
Overall, this book wasn't too bad. If you have time and this is available at your local library give it a try. I definitely wouldn't pay the $10 at the bookstore for it though.
Evermore by Alyson Noel
So since I already started book 2, Blue Moon, I figured I should post some thoughts on book 1, Evermore, before I forget.
Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste . . .
Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen is equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.
The synopsis above pretty much says it all. This is as close as an author can get to Twilight without copyright infringement. Insert Bella for Ever and Edward for Damen. This time the male character is the new kid at school, but other than that these two love birds are destined to be together.
But unlike Bella in Twilight, Ever had some serious potential as a female character. She has awesome powers, family tragedy and emotions. I mistakenly got my hopes up that this book could turn itself around. (Note the word mistakenly)
Ever thinks that because she's so different that no one will accept her, even though for some crazy reason at her old school she used to be popular. She doesn't try to make friends and just sits with the outcasts. Eventually she becomes an outcast herself (that IS how the world works ladies and gentlemen).
Insert Damen here. He's super sexy and whatnot, all the girls are falling over him but who does he want? The loser girl who barely speaks and is in total social exile (as seen by her peers). Not that I'm saying hot guys don't want quiet, shy girls. Just that they don't usually try so hard to get them.
Now guys reading this, if you asked a girl out and she said no wouldn't you just accept your losses and move on? Now let's say this girl is really special...you try again maybe two or three times but she still rejects you. Do you still keep trying?? In today's world the answer is NO you don't.
Ever is a total tease--and not in the good way. She finally admits she likes the guy and they make out. Then she won't talk to him for a week because she saw him standing with another girl. They hang out at her house and make out again. When he doesn't show up for school the next day she freaks out and ignores him for about another week. (Did I mention this chick is paranoid? Even moreso than Frank from Supernatural--if you don't watch that show then you should)
So this goes on for about half the book, when she's not ranting about how she misses her family and hates her life and on and on and on...I get it. If my family died I'd be sad too. REALLY sad. But as a writer I would convey the sadness in thoughts or actions instead of blatantly telling the reader that, yes, I am super sad (*frowny face*). After a while I can't even feel bad for her anymore, GET OVER IT ALREADY.
I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone who actually wants to read this book but lets just say it got the classic ending--with the worst action scene I have ever read. The one action scene in the whole book and...really Ms. Noel?? REALLY????? *bangs head on table repeatedly*
Let's just say Ms. Noel was really lucky that my library has slim choices because under no other circumstances would I read the second book. Or keep myself from burning the first one.
Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste . . .
Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen is equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.
The synopsis above pretty much says it all. This is as close as an author can get to Twilight without copyright infringement. Insert Bella for Ever and Edward for Damen. This time the male character is the new kid at school, but other than that these two love birds are destined to be together.
But unlike Bella in Twilight, Ever had some serious potential as a female character. She has awesome powers, family tragedy and emotions. I mistakenly got my hopes up that this book could turn itself around. (Note the word mistakenly)
Ever thinks that because she's so different that no one will accept her, even though for some crazy reason at her old school she used to be popular. She doesn't try to make friends and just sits with the outcasts. Eventually she becomes an outcast herself (that IS how the world works ladies and gentlemen).
Insert Damen here. He's super sexy and whatnot, all the girls are falling over him but who does he want? The loser girl who barely speaks and is in total social exile (as seen by her peers). Not that I'm saying hot guys don't want quiet, shy girls. Just that they don't usually try so hard to get them.
Now guys reading this, if you asked a girl out and she said no wouldn't you just accept your losses and move on? Now let's say this girl is really special...you try again maybe two or three times but she still rejects you. Do you still keep trying?? In today's world the answer is NO you don't.
Ever is a total tease--and not in the good way. She finally admits she likes the guy and they make out. Then she won't talk to him for a week because she saw him standing with another girl. They hang out at her house and make out again. When he doesn't show up for school the next day she freaks out and ignores him for about another week. (Did I mention this chick is paranoid? Even moreso than Frank from Supernatural--if you don't watch that show then you should)
So this goes on for about half the book, when she's not ranting about how she misses her family and hates her life and on and on and on...I get it. If my family died I'd be sad too. REALLY sad. But as a writer I would convey the sadness in thoughts or actions instead of blatantly telling the reader that, yes, I am super sad (*frowny face*). After a while I can't even feel bad for her anymore, GET OVER IT ALREADY.
I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone who actually wants to read this book but lets just say it got the classic ending--with the worst action scene I have ever read. The one action scene in the whole book and...really Ms. Noel?? REALLY????? *bangs head on table repeatedly*
Let's just say Ms. Noel was really lucky that my library has slim choices because under no other circumstances would I read the second book. Or keep myself from burning the first one.
Intro
So I have this problem. Every English teacher I've ever had has told me that my writing had spark but too much punctuation. It's a real pickle because ever since I learned about commas, I've felt like I HAVE to use them at every possible moment I can. For some reason no paper is complete without the appropriate comma addition.
I am the queen of the commas--well sort of. I'm like the best queen they ever had because I let them run wild through my writing, no strings attached. They are free as birds (which is great until you find droppings everywhere).
Long story short I'm an addict and this is my rehab. I will still use commas but try to avoid that overwhelming feeling of necessity. Because I can't just stop using them, otherwise risk being attacked by the Proper English Grammar Society!!! (Yeah so I made that up...but whatever works right?)
Now if you've just been skimming this--I don't blame you--I may sound like a hypocritical nutcase. Kind of like an alcoholic who goes to AA but still has a drink once a week to calm their nerves. Let's call this person Bob. Everyone just smiles and nods while wanting to slap the bejezzus out of him for drinking. He clearly has a problem and needs help. Bob will never be sober if he keeps up this behavior--just like my comma crisis.
So this is my cry for help internet, please help me get sober!! I need you to promise that you'll take any measures necessary to proofread my posts and really burn my broccoli if I overuse the cursed punctuation. PROMISE? Ok, now that's settled I'm gonna go read my next book for review:
Blue Moon by Alyson Noel (book 2 of the Immortals series)
Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.
Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...
Yeah her name's Ever. Yeah the first book was pretty lame. Yeah this was the only choice at the library...darn it.
Check me out on goodreads.com and tumblr!!
I am the queen of the commas--well sort of. I'm like the best queen they ever had because I let them run wild through my writing, no strings attached. They are free as birds (which is great until you find droppings everywhere).
Long story short I'm an addict and this is my rehab. I will still use commas but try to avoid that overwhelming feeling of necessity. Because I can't just stop using them, otherwise risk being attacked by the Proper English Grammar Society!!! (Yeah so I made that up...but whatever works right?)
Now if you've just been skimming this--I don't blame you--I may sound like a hypocritical nutcase. Kind of like an alcoholic who goes to AA but still has a drink once a week to calm their nerves. Let's call this person Bob. Everyone just smiles and nods while wanting to slap the bejezzus out of him for drinking. He clearly has a problem and needs help. Bob will never be sober if he keeps up this behavior--just like my comma crisis.
So this is my cry for help internet, please help me get sober!! I need you to promise that you'll take any measures necessary to proofread my posts and really burn my broccoli if I overuse the cursed punctuation. PROMISE? Ok, now that's settled I'm gonna go read my next book for review:
Blue Moon by Alyson Noel (book 2 of the Immortals series)
Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.
Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...
Yeah her name's Ever. Yeah the first book was pretty lame. Yeah this was the only choice at the library...darn it.
Check me out on goodreads.com and tumblr!!
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