I don’t know about anyone else but I kind of owed it to my teenage self to read Midnight Sun. I remember being really disappointed when Meyer announceI don’t know about anyone else but I kind of owed it to my teenage self to read Midnight Sun. I remember being really disappointed when Meyer announced that she wasn’t going to publish it after some chapters were released. I wanted to shake her and say “no, of course you must continue to write it!”
Nine or ten years later, my wish was fulfilled.
I wouldn’t normally comment on the cover but is anyone else a bit grossed out by it? I understand that it’s to do with forbidden fruit and all but couldn’t they have chosen a nicer looking pomegranate? It looks highly triggering for anyone with trypophobia.
I really enjoyed the start of the novel. Teenage me loved seeing Edward’s perspective at the start and although there are a lot of flaws with this series, who other reviewers have highlighted it better than I ever could have, I found myself just rolling with it and enjoying the story the way it was intended.
At around 50% however I began to get bored as there was so many rehashes of the conversations from Twilight, drawn out even longer by Edwards inner monologue. He seemed to do a lot of thinking in between each sentence and I wasn’t sure if it was intentional on Meyer’s part due to him having quicker thoughts due to being a vampire. Whatever the reason was, it drew out some scenes unnecessarily, especially as Edward could hear other people’s thoughts too.
I was glad I persevered however as the end part was completely worth it. I liked seeing what happened with Edward and his point of view was interesting. It also made the start of New Moon make a lot more sense too.
Overall I think that Meyer has done a reasonable job with this book but I question if it is slightly too long and I feel that there’s a reason that the original series was written from Bella’s point of view. I think something that attracted me to the series as a teenager (which has decidedly less charm now I am older) is that there was something appealing about the thought of an ordinary teenager being noticed by a vampire and pushed into the extraordinary. The fact that we never knew Edward’s thoughts added to the intrigue as we never knew exactly what it was about Bella that he loved so much. It was easy as a teenager to be swept away by it all and dream about it.
By revealing Edward’s point of view the mystical aspect has been lessened a bit and it didn’t work quite as well for me. Perhaps I’d have been swept away by it all if I was still 14 but now I am older, I don’t need the fantasy. I think for anyone who like me, loved the books as a child or teenager and think they would still enjoy it today, it is still worth a read. If you are on the fence, wait until the price drops first....more
I know it hurts,” she said. “So make it worth the pain.”
I read This Savage Song a couple of years ago and when I started reading this, I w3.5 stars.
I know it hurts,” she said. “So make it worth the pain.”
I read This Savage Song a couple of years ago and when I started reading this, I wondered if I should go back and read the first one. Thankfully, about 10% in, I could recall most of the major plot points.
Six months has passed since August and Kate said goodbye. August is in Verity, helping the FTF. A band of soldiers who try to keep the monsters separated from humans. Kate lives in Prosperity, hunting creatures on the street by night, until she comes across a new monster that could be a threat to everyone.
After the events of This Savage Song, you can tell that both August and Kate are damaged, not quite whole. This novel takes on a dark tone, similar to the first one, but the focus this time is on the consequences of our actions and how things are not so black and white as they may first appear.
I enjoyed these books but I still feel that the Darker Shade of Magic trilogy beats this one. I am considering trying the Villains series too. I love this author’s work and am keen to read more....more
Finally finished the second compendium. It ends before where we are up to in the show so don't worry about it ruining anything for you. For 4.5 stars.
Finally finished the second compendium. It ends before where we are up to in the show so don't worry about it ruining anything for you. For that reason I won't be starting compendium three for a long time.
For those of you who don't know, it's not exactly the same as the show so don't worry about it getting too boring. Some characters in the comic are dead in the show and vice versa. The overriding plot is the same essentially so don't be disappointed if it's completely different.
Any fan of the TV show who wants something to do in the time between watching the series (especially after that last cliffhanger) should enjoy reading these!...more
Absolutely amazing. Just as good as the show but faster moving in places. There are some new characters and some characters from the show don't featurAbsolutely amazing. Just as good as the show but faster moving in places. There are some new characters and some characters from the show don't feature. Not everyone has the same story or ending so despite having watched the show, I can't always be certain who lives or dies.
This book takes us to the end of Season 4. I can't wait to get my hands on the next Compendium. They are absolute monsters of books though. Very heavy. I'm not quite sure where I'll store this one yet!...more
I really enjoyed the return of Cole and Isabel. Their romance was very understated in the trilogy and I felt that they deserved their own sto3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the return of Cole and Isabel. Their romance was very understated in the trilogy and I felt that they deserved their own story.
It's not got a lot to do with werewolves. If you take Cole's ability to shift out of the situation, you have a romance with two very different, broken people. Cole has come to LA to do a reality TV show to revitalise his image but really, he is there for Isabel. Isabel on the other hand is doing her best to forget about Cole, become a doctor and be an ice queen all at once.
Definitely worth reading if you loved Shiver but don't expect Grace and Sam to feature much....more
Another fun installment. Nothing to say that I haven't already said except to express my love for SYNDRIAN.Another fun installment. Nothing to say that I haven't already said except to express my love for SYNDRIAN....more
A definite improvement on The Golden Lily, The Indigo Spell has some sorely needed action and more time with Adrian. It was enjoyable and fas3.5 stars
A definite improvement on The Golden Lily, The Indigo Spell has some sorely needed action and more time with Adrian. It was enjoyable and fast-paced. Maybe a little too fast-paced as Sydney had so much to contend with that in real life it would be almost impossible to juggle so many things at once.
In the latest installment in the Bloodlines series, Sydney is attempting to come to terms with her newfound magical ability, her forbidden feelings for a swoon-worthy Moroi vampire and she investigates further into the web of lies that the Alchemists have fabricated. Easily the best moments were with Adrian;
“Do you want me to call you Celery Stick instead of Cupcake or Honey-Pie? It just doesn’t inspire the same warm and fuzzy feelings.
OR
“You're not as much of a lost cause as she was. I mean, with her, I had to overcome her deep, epic love with a Russian warlord. You and I just have to overcome hundreds of years' worth of deeply ingrained prejudice and taboo between our two races. Easy.”
And my personal favourite
“Do you know what I see in you now? The usual aura. A steady golden yellow, healthy and strong, with spikes of purple here and there. But when I do this. . . .”
He rested a hand on my hip, and my whole body tensed up. That hand moved around my hip, slipping under my shirt to rest on the small of my back. My skin burned where he touched me, and the places that were untouched longed for that heat.
“See?” he said. He was in the throes of spirit now, though with me at the same time. “Well, I guess you can’t. But when I touch you, your aura . . . it smolders. The colors deepen, it burns more intensely, the purple increases. Why? Why, Sydney?” He used that hand on me to pull me closer. “Why do you react that way if I don’t mean anything to you?” There was a desperation in his voice, and it was legitimate.” ...more
Miles better than The Iron King. I was almost ready to give up on this series. Sometimes it pays off to stick with something when you don't 3.5 stars
Miles better than The Iron King. I was almost ready to give up on this series. Sometimes it pays off to stick with something when you don't like it at first glance!
“If you'd have told me two weeks ago that one day I'd be part of a not-so-merry band of Necros seeking to exterminate a couple of other magic-born “If you'd have told me two weeks ago that one day I'd be part of a not-so-merry band of Necros seeking to exterminate a couple of other magic-born gangs, I'd have given you directions to the strait-jacket factory.
I was quite disappointed with the first book, enough that I didn't want to read the second. However I'd already bought it so I decided to give it another try. Best decision ever! Sometimes a series needs time to blossom and this has definitely happened in Boil. The plot is much tighter. The characters have more direction and we get to learn more about the different witch factions.
Boil provides us with an in-depth look at the world as it stands after the witches took over. Rhett has to decide who to trust and Laney's sister, Trish, learns more about her powers and her place in witch society. There were lots of humourous moments. Especially with Laney whose sarcasm, wit and bravery made me admire how gutsy she was. I quite like her and Rhett as a couple. They make perfect sense.
The characters are fantastic and always made me smile. Laney, Rhett, Trish and Bil Nez just worked so well as a main cast and I loved that everything was not as clear cut as it appeared.
This series is really coming together now and I wish that I had Burn on my ereader so that I could continue with this unique apocalyptic story straight away!...more
This sequel to Bloodlines and spin-off of the Vampire Academy series is exactly what you might expect if you are familiar with Richelle Mead's work. SThis sequel to Bloodlines and spin-off of the Vampire Academy series is exactly what you might expect if you are familiar with Richelle Mead's work. Set in a posh school environment, Sydney Sage continues to hide Jill Dragomir from the rest of the Moroi world. As an Alchemist, Sydney is forbidden from becoming too familiar with her charge and her friends but the closer Sydney gets to them, the more her morals begin to blur. Are all vampires truly evil or are the Alchemists wrong about them?
I enjoyed reading The Golden Lily but was slightly disappointed with the quality of the plot. It was very similiar to Mead's other works. Most of it felt like filler; Sydney's dating life, something strange happening in town and school work. I could have fairly accurately guessed what was going to happen before even reading it. But on the positive side the romance was enjoyable. Sydney tries her hand at dating a guy named Breydon, whose name everyone seems to forget. He appears perfect for Sydney but the subtle, sweet conversations with Adrian are far more enjoyable. One of the main lures of this series is to see Sydney and Adrian get together, so if you're not a fan of the romance you probably won't enjoy this series much.
There are some repetitive themes that run through the novels. Adrian getting drunk, someone being kidnapped, it's usually set in a school, relationships where the ones involved secretly like someone else... It would be nice if Mead decided to switch things up a bit. That said, if you've enjoyed her other books you are bound to like The Golden Lily. It is a light fun series which you can easily pick up and put down. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, The Indigo Spell.
This was selected for me by the lovely Tia through the pick-it-for-me challenge!...more
“I wonder what I'm really doing out here with a magic dog, a trigger-happy girl and her mute sister, and a trail of dead witches in my wake.”
Well “I wonder what I'm really doing out here with a magic dog, a trigger-happy girl and her mute sister, and a trail of dead witches in my wake.”
Well Rhett, I often wondered the same thing. I was often in the dark just as much as you. This is the first time that I've ventured away from David Estes' sister dystopia series; The Dwellers Saga and The Country Saga and I can't honestly say that I prefer this to those series. That does not mean that I didn't enjoy it however.
Witches, Warlocks and Wizards swarm our world, creating a magic-fuelled apocalypse with ordinary humans posing as cannon-fodder. For centuries their existence has remained a secret but with the implementation of a new law allowing witches to be hunted down and burnt, the magical society is angry and ready to fight back.
Rhett Carter's world is turned upside down the night of Salem's Revenge. After the loss of his family, he begins a desperate search for his best friend and girlfriend. However, their chances of survival are slim and time is running out.
Definitely the highlight of the novel is Hex, a magged up, lovable dog and Rhett's friendship with Laney, a fiery, protective older sister to silent Trish, who wields her shotgun just as much as her words.
I was surprised at the darker tone to this novel that I've not seen previously in Estes' work. You get a definite sense of the world lying in tatters, an epic scale battlefield for the witches to play on. The magic-users brutality was not played down either. There were some tense scenes which had me cowering in the corner! Also, Estes imagination was portrayed clearly when it came to the magical community too. There are many types of magic-born; Pyros, Necros and Clairs just to name a few, and they have different factions and even conflicting goals.
I enjoyed this introduction to Rhett's world but I did have a couple of minor issues with the novel which prevented me from giving it a higher rating. First, there were parts of the novel which dragged. Going from town to town got a little repetitive and there wasn't always enough other stuff going on to sustain my interest. The second was that I didn't connect to Rhett's character as well as I would have liked.
Other than this, I thought the novel was quite solid. Brew is very much in it's infancy so I've decided that I'm going to give the sequel, Boil a go. If this novel sparks your interest, you should not let it pass you by!
Unfortunately the last in the Vampire Academy series was a bit anti-climatic. Having read six books, I can safely say that this series was 3.5 stars!
Unfortunately the last in the Vampire Academy series was a bit anti-climatic. Having read six books, I can safely say that this series was never supposed to be taken really seriously. It's a nice, light-weight snack to fill up the space between much heavier or darker reads and quite frankly, I have enjoyed it.
Rose has clearly been the star throughout. Her kick-ass skills, out-spoken mind and clear sense of justice has made her into an extremely likable character. She makes mistakes and admits to them. That's something I can respect.
Last Sacrifice is a continuation of the previous book. Enjoyable but not particularly note-worthy. It had the standard mystery and was enjoyable, especially the romance but don't expect more than that from the final book in the series.
Vampire Academy has been and will remain, a classic case of guilty pleasure....more
An interesting sequel with a few good twists but again, there was a lot of filler. I kind of feel bad for Adrian because it's clear who Ros3.5 stars.
An interesting sequel with a few good twists but again, there was a lot of filler. I kind of feel bad for Adrian because it's clear who Rose prefers.
Also is it just me or is Lissa turning into a Spirit-fueled powerhouse? Regardless I'm still interested in seeing how it all ends but the series has lost some of its shine.
“Roza." His voice had that same wonderful lowness, the same accent . . . it was all just colder. "You forgot my first lesson: Don’t hesitate.”
I have “Roza." His voice had that same wonderful lowness, the same accent . . . it was all just colder. "You forgot my first lesson: Don’t hesitate.”
I have mixed feelings about Blood Promise. Don't get me wrong, I liked it but it did drag in a couple of places. At no point did I find it boring but the pace did dwindle at times and I felt like many of the great characters I met in the novel won't feature again, having served their purpose. Fingers crossed I'm wrong about this.
Despite this, I enjoyed seeing Rose strike out on her own. Lissa and Rose, usually joined at the hip are apart for the vast majority of the novel. Mead shows us both their stories through the medium of Rose using their bond to dip into Lissa's mind, subjecting us to all the interesting goings on at St. Vladimir's. Lissa's new friend, Avery, is quite an interesting character and we get to see another side to Adrian. Am I Team Adrian or Team Dimitri? It's undecided as of yet. However I wouldn't mind if Rose got with Adrian as I do really like him.
If you've not read Shadow Kiss then I'd advise you to stop reading this review. Now.
Those of us who have been desperately hanging onto the edges of our seats after that last blow Shadow Kiss dealt us, will all have the same question on our tongues. What happened to Dimitri? Is he still the same guy we know and love? Will Rose be able to carry out her last promise to him? Obviously I'm not going to tell you. It's definitely worth it when you do get to that section of the book but be warned that the first half of the book is setting the scene, introducing us to a few key players and some filler.
My heart went out to Dimitri. Really.
Can't believe there's two books to go until the series finishes. I can't wait to read Spirit Bound and hope that someone dethrones Tatiana. What kind of name is that for a Queen anyway? Anyway I'll be starting the next one very soon! ...more
A worthy ending to book three! I can't get enough of this series. This is more what vampire books should be like. None of this human falling for a vamA worthy ending to book three! I can't get enough of this series. This is more what vampire books should be like. None of this human falling for a vampire rubbish that has been rehashed so many times.
If this is your first time to stumble across the Vampire Academy series, you should waste no more time and check out book one. I put off reading it initially because I thought it would be boring and predictable. I can't tell you how wrong I was. The story of the first book focuses on Rose, a half-vampire guardian in training who one day will graduate to protect her best friend, Lissa, from the Strigoi (evil, twisted vampires). Lissa is one of the few Moroi (good vampires) left but someone is out to get her, leaving sinister clues behind. If Rose doesn't hurry Lissa's secret will be out and then nothing will ever be the same again.
It's no secret that I loved Shadow Kiss. I was worried that the later books might not live up to book one but so far my fears have been unfounded. We learn more about what it means to be shadow kissed and things heat up between Dimitri and Rose. The ending of this book really surprised me and the last few chapters had me glued to my seat. Now if only I can get my hands on book four!...more
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