I'm a little upset because I lost my review when I was trying to remove it from one shelf onto another shelf.
* sad sigh *
Livia Blackburne, can 5 stars
I'm a little upset because I lost my review when I was trying to remove it from one shelf onto another shelf.
* sad sigh *
Livia Blackburne, can you please like this review since you liked my original review?
So this review is obviously going to be shorter and less detailed than my first one but I'll update this when I read it next.
Honestly, I loved this one because Zivah and Dineas were finally able to actually be together. But with her trials and his own, they were once again split up. I felt really bad for Dineas' PTSD and how he had to also bear with his own people distrusting him. Zivah was always meant to be a healer but got unlucky with coming down with the rose plague. You can still feel the yearning they have for each other in this one, but it surprisingly gets even more complicated than you'd think because Dineas is now both of the people he was in the first book but at once.
(view spoiler)[I was a little disappointed by it's ending, but I can forgive it because they are finally able to be happy and together, with a little more time for Zivah because of the pollen. (hide spoiler)]
Thank you, Livia Blackburne, for writing this book. You are amazing at what you do and I can't wait to read what you come up with next!!...more
I thought the whole premise of this one was really cool, and how Ernshaw developed the background story so that iI'd have to say 4 stars for this one.
I thought the whole premise of this one was really cool, and how Ernshaw developed the background story so that it fit with what we were reading about in the present.
I did see the plot twist coming, though. Read spoiler at your own risk... (view spoiler)[ I was pulled along with the idea that since Penny's mom had the gift of knowing when people were on the island, then, of course, Penny would be able to see the Swan sisters through the bodies they had taken. But then, when Penny still hadn't seen Hazel Swan, I began to have second thoughts about what I was supposed to believe and what was actually happening. I thought to myself, "I bet Penny is Hazel," and I was right. (hide spoiler)] It was a good plot twist but it probably doesn't help that I am taking an english course that is teaching us to see beyond what the authors want us to know. Otherwise, I most likely would've been blindsided.
Anyone get a Sanderson sisters vibe? I mean, three sisters considered witches and executed by a town that hates them? Along with singing to lure people to them? Totally reminded me of the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus.
Okay, so I will most likely be biased throughout this whole review but... I think that the movie is so much betterI think this one is worth 3.5 stars.
Okay, so I will most likely be biased throughout this whole review but... I think that the movie is so much better. I expected the movie to be super similar to the book but (as it always is) it was totally different. I had originally seen the movie first and LOVED it, so when I recently found out that the movie was based on a book, I needed to read it. First of all, there are some very drastic changes that were made between the book and the movie: (view spoiler)[1) Olivia is a greasy-haired, overweight girl who can barely speak to people. I mean, I guess the story is all about underdogs achieving great things, but I feel like making a quite girl be fat with greasy hair is a little too much. 2) Wen is crushing on his father's girlfriend. I was totally not expecting it and it was a little uncomfortable to read. 3) Charlie has a twin brother who died at birth, but he imagines him in his head. The imagining part was a little weird and I definitely like how the movie made him have a brother whom his parents expected him to be like. 4) Charlie and Mo end up together at the end. It was a little interesting how they made such a huge change for the movie but it did happen. I don't know which way I like it better though. 5) Stella has an older sister. She didn't play a huge role, but she was in it enough to matter. 6) They changed the last names for the movie. I thought this was interesting but I like the characters new last names instead of the ones in the book. 7) Things just played out more smoothly in the movie compared to the book. I'm not saying they took out all the struggles that the characters had, but the events played out more naturally. And again, I might be biased but these were just things that I noticed that I thought were pretty drastic to change - and some of the changes were probably for the better. (hide spoiler)]
But I guess it is sort of word for word at parts, especially if you happen to watch it while reading it, you notice that some of the lines are straight from the book. And I guess it is a pretty heartfelt novel to read, even if you may like the movie of it better....more
I usually like this one the least out of the entire series, but I think that this is the book where as a reader (and for me as a wri2021 Review 4 stars
I usually like this one the least out of the entire series, but I think that this is the book where as a reader (and for me as a writer), you can admire the genius of Ally Carter. When you're reading this series, you tend to think of it as separate books with separate stories but in the same universe - or, at least I did when I first got comfortable on the couch and dove into them as a seventh or eighth grader. Now that I've grown and taken the time to be reflective when I read, I see that in reality, each book lends something to the overall plot of the series that runs like an undercurrent until it becomes the plot of the last few books. And in the mind of the characters, each book is actually a covert operations report, paperwork that only someone with clearance is meant to read (which I, in fact, do). This can be an element we forget, but it's so important! Something that was minuscule in the first book/report- and as Cammie points out in this fifth book, "It was nothing, really, a sentence two that could have just as easily been left out." (page 283) - was a powerful factor in answering the questions that Cammie asks throughout the series, as well as a key question for the third, fourth, and fifth books. (view spoiler)[1) What happened to her father? 2) Why did the Circle want her? (hide spoiler)] It puts me in awe that the author could have been planning it since that quick mention in the first book. And if she didn't plan it throughout, that she had the thought to look back at the memories Cammie wrote about to expertly weave it in to the mystery.
This is probably the darkest of the books. There is (view spoiler)[killing, torture, manipulation, attempts of murder (hide spoiler)] and if it's taken too seriously, it can be quite scary. But it does make the story get real. Cammie may have forgotten what happened during the summer, but that doesn't stop it from haunting her. Nor was it the author taking the easy way out of talking about the heavy stuff of "spy" life. It helps make it entirely believable rather than turning away from the issues and leaving us feeling safe, inside the overly protective Gallagher Academy walls. The characters have grown up. The story has to evolve too. After all, a spies life is all about stopping the world-ruining disasters before they happen. You can't make a solid world for your characters if you leave out the dangerous bits.
Anyway, there's my admiration of Ally Carter. I once saw a review that said her world-building is second to Harry Potter. And though I haven't yet read Harry Potter (even at my sisters' insistence!), I don't think such high praise would be too easily given. So, if that catches your interest as a Harry Potter fan, then you might like another series about school kids defeating the bad guys and skipping a lot of their final years at school. Enjoy!
2018 Review 4 Stars
Full review to come! Full review is here!
So, first off, I'm pretty sure that this one is still my least favorite because while the story does heighten, everything slows down because of friend drama. I mean, I suppose it is an important part of the story because obviously if a person leaves to chase a terrorist group without her very experienced and expertly trained friends there would be some drama. But then in what books have you read this kind of drama so expertly written? The feeling of betrayal and hurt that it can't be defined so well portrayed? So, even though I didn't like all the friend/family drama, I did feel that Ally Carter wrote it well.
These last few books are meant to give you the chills but also a bit of humor. Admittedly there was less in this one - Cammie might have been tortured after all - but there was still a bit of humor among the serious storyline.
I don't know about everyone else, but I've felt a bit connected to Cammie. I mean there are some obvious differences between us, feel free to read if you read the books or if you haven't and are a risk taker: (view spoiler)[- she's been chased by a terrorist group - she goes to a spy school - her school has a really good chef (which makes me more than a bit jealous) - she has really cool classes - her friends are also awesome (except for the first half of this book) - she has had multiple concussions (not envying that) - her mom is the headmistress of that spy school - she is a genius (which I've been told I'm very smart but I guess that isn't genius level- darn) (hide spoiler)] The list doesn't end there but I think you get the picture. But I am a senior in high school this year, like Cammie, and after watching the younger classmen walking around I feel I've seen so much more than the underclassmen. There is a part toward the end that Cammie notices how short the younger students are and she asks Bex if they were ever that short. But then later, Cammie realizes that the younger students aren't shorter, but that she and her friends have gotten older, wiser, and stronger. So this year I definitely feel a stronger connection between me and Cammie. Thank you, Ally Carter, for writing this book. You captured everything really well throughout this book and I love re-reading these books. They are so much fun.
To begin with, this book was hard to get into for me. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and it took a while for me to understand wh2 stars
To begin with, this book was hard to get into for me. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and it took a while for me to understand where I was. Something that really bugs me in books is when there are a TON of names that you aren't sure how to even pronounce and so you end up reading whatever OR you spend valuable reading time trying to figure out how to say this name right. My suggestion? Please, put in a pronunciation somewhere to help us readers! Make a glossary or something!
This one was way darker at the end than in the beginning. And this book definitely enforces the moral of think before you act. For everything. And that end. There was way, WAY too much going on there to even see what was happening - especially if you can't understand Denmark magic (everyone) and aren't fluent in that language (me). Also, pretty sure there is a plothole somewhere in that ending. But I'm not going to re-read it to find out.
AND! One last thing. I don't agree (or like) that Hanning makes Evie... evil. She was always trying to good and save people but at the end, she is bitter and angry. I mean, SHE WAS DYING! While I personally wouldn't like being part octopus, I would be glad that I was ALIVE! And what was up with whoever she was magically talking to at the end? It's probably something that I didn't read right, but I was getting the impression she was talking to Anna.... who is dead... Don't see how that works.
If you're looking for an "under the sea" book, read To Kill a Kingdom. Much better than this one....more
2022 Review Apparently I last read this one in 2018. So long ago! Anyway, I read it again when one of my sisters got it for me for my birthday. I don't2022 Review Apparently I last read this one in 2018. So long ago! Anyway, I read it again when one of my sisters got it for me for my birthday. I don't really have much to say about it. A lot of it I remembered, as far as the plot goes. I think I do have to put this down to a 3.5 star, though, because while I thought I remembered the banter between the crew to be funny, reading it again YEARS later leaves something to be desired. I'm not sure if campy is the right word, but it happened every chance the crew got. Even during battle scenes. I don't know. I guess I could have just grown out of it a little bit. Still a good reimagining of The Little Mermaid though. I still love Lira's point of view.
2018 Review I think that I'm going to have to say 4.5 stars for this one.
I totally liked this one. While it is basically a fairy tale re-telling of The Little Mermaid, it is also so different. Think The Little Mermaid and the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides. I saw this gif like this one in another review and felt that it really fit:
[image]
Anyway... Reasons I liked it: 1) The First Sentence It was so interesting. I mean who here normally opens a book to "I have a heart for every year I've been alive"???? I'm guessing not many. That first sentence just totally grabbed my attention with siren strength and didn't want to let go until I read it all. 2) The Characters They had real lives, expectations, drawbacks, wants, needs, and pasts that just totally built them up into characters that you couldn't just guess about. You had to read to learn about them and feel for them unlike other books when the characters are way, WAY too predictable. 3) The World The world was made with care and Alexandra Christo did such an amazing job making me want to read more about the montrous Lira and the Siren Killer Elian. When I told myself that I would stop after this chapter, I didn't realize that I didn't stop until I am almost done with the next one. My eyes flew across the pages without me realizing it. It was that good. 4) The Descriptions Sometime authors get too caught up in describing little things instead of what was happening to the characters. Christo did a great job choosing what was more important at the moment. And if something small needed description, you got it at a time when it was necessary instead of just in the way. 5) It Wasn't Insta-love Both of the main characters hated one another at the start for very good reasons. Then they were suspicious and curious of one another. Then acquaintances... Slowly friends... And then more. It was great. And it was great not to have a love triangle. 6) The Battle Battle scenes are always blurry for me. Maybe they are supposed to be that way, but I don't like them. Too much happening and not enough explaining.... then all of a sudden your main character kills someone cold-heartedly and you're in shock. And while this one was also a little blurry, the main characters actually told the reader what was happening as far as they could tell. And even though (view spoiler)[someone does die, it is expected from Lira because she has always been ruthless. Sometimes main characters are so warm hearted through out and then they kill somebody without caring for anything but revenge. (hide spoiler)]
I also really liked that the sirens have shell necklaces and that the Sea Queen is an octopus-like creature, like in The Little Mermaid:
[image]
[image]
And how when they attack it was so similar to how it was in Pirates.
It was REALLY good, but not mind-blowingly amazing so that's why it gets a half star off. If you are thinking about this one, enjoy reading!...more
Just kidding, but I don't really know what to say about this one... And I sort of felt like I was avoiding reading this one 2 Stars
It was ok.
The End.
Just kidding, but I don't really know what to say about this one... And I sort of felt like I was avoiding reading this one whenever I had time to. It felt like it took me forever to read it. I didn't really like any of the characters. If I have a favorite, it'd have to be Emilia. And the romance between Leo and Natalya? Way too fast. And this book also messed with what actually know about the Russian Revolution and what the author was telling me. I kept mixing up facts and fiction throughout this novel.
I don't really know how to rate this one... I thought I was in for a thrilling adventure but it was just full of sadness. At every turn, the ma2 Stars
I don't really know how to rate this one... I thought I was in for a thrilling adventure but it was just full of sadness. At every turn, the main character faced something worse than before. And it seemed like it would never end. (view spoiler)[And then there were those weird moments with her and Linay? Didn't really get that, especially since he ended up dying instead of becoming a good guy. It just felt like those feelings never really had to be there. (hide spoiler)] The shadow thing was interesting and the cat-talking reminded me of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. And there were cool descriptions. But everything else just left me confused more often than not. And the chapters seemed too long for me. Whenever I wanted to take a break I couldn't find a good place to stop. Toward the end I just kept reading to finish, which makes me feel bad but it just didn't thrill me like I thought it would. That may be because I read two other books in between but I never really got hooked at the beginning either. My advice: try it out if your thinking of reading it and see how you like it. My sister enjoyed it way more than I did....more
I was going to put 4 stars but I thought about how much effort Joanna Gaines put into this guide and decided that with everything she just taug5 stars
I was going to put 4 stars but I thought about how much effort Joanna Gaines put into this guide and decided that with everything she just taught anyone who has read this, it is totally worth the full 5 stars.
When I started this one, I didn't exactly know what to expect. All I knew was that I love the Gaines family, their show Fixer Upper, and their other books. So I dove in. Honestly, I never even thought of there being six different styles of homes: traditional, modern, boho, industrial, farmhouse, and rustic. And I didn't really see the differences between at first, either. But slowly as she introduced the styles in different rooms, I saw it. And then I took a good look at some of the items in my family's house. There was some traditional, some rustic, a little bit modern, farmhouse - I mean, who knows! All of them are probably around my house somewhere. But Joanna Gaines doesn't just give us a guide to making beautiful places in our house. She also encourages and inspires her readers to look at the main styles that she presents and find one or a blend of some to make our own and act upon it. I loved seeing all the different designs of one type of room. There are so many varying bathrooms, kitchens, playrooms, living rooms, laundry rooms, attics, and other rooms out in the world! Joanna Gaines doesn't give only one example but so many for her readers to benefit from seeing. And while she has examples from her own work, she also has some from other owners out there who wanted to make their homes beautiful. This shows us real-life examples of normal people taking initiative to make their home their own, giving Joanna's readers another reason to pick up a pencil and sketch out some ideas for an ideal space. Her story is so inspiring. How she learned all of this from mistakes and successes she made through her life makes holding and reading her findings all the more special. Joanna Gaines, I loved reading this design guide and learning how you came to know all of the techniques that you have passed on to your readers. Thank you so much for sharing with us!...more
I really enjoyed reading this one, especially since I've recently read The Magnolia Story, which is more in Joanna's point of view rather than 5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this one, especially since I've recently read The Magnolia Story, which is more in Joanna's point of view rather than Chip's. This gave me an inside view of his life, which was full of excitement, drive, passion, risk... It must have really been such a ride! I had heard that most reviewers thought this one was braggy and that it wasn't as well written as what Joanna could do. I disagree. If anyone has seen Fixer Upper and knows Chip's exciting and positive personality, they would know that he wouldn't intentionally brag. This book was written in his excited voice. And, at times, his stories were distressing and I would think "People thought this was bragging??? He's talking about being chased after a bull while his car is broken down!" or "He's realizing how stupid he's been acting, risking his life while he has a wife and a baby who depend on him!" None of that is something to brag about. As he said often, it is a learning experience. And that is a point of the book that he mentions. Instead of thinking of a failure as a loss, use it as a learning experience. (Look at the title of the book...)
Anyway, enough of this rant. I also really enjoyed, besides Chip's humor on some of his dangerous experiences, was the accounts from his personal assistants. They were hilarious! Some of things that they've learned about him, some of the interactions they've had. It gives a fresh view after reading what Chip says about himself. These are others opinions and they show even more about Chip.
So after reading this one, I look forward to Joanna Gaines's book that is coming out in November!...more
Sadly, this one didn't totally enthrall me like it seemed to my sister. She read a preview of it online and then was dying when it was getting 3 stars
Sadly, this one didn't totally enthrall me like it seemed to my sister. She read a preview of it online and then was dying when it was getting shipped to her sooner. I think for me it was just all too confusing and the beginning slower than I would like. There were some good moments that totally captured my interest but then at other times I found myself reading a different book. And I felt like the writing was too glitchy, rough, or choppy - whichever word best describes it. At this my sister would say I read it wrong because she hardly noticed. I blame my unexcited mood for this book on the last book I read, which left me dying and in a two day book-suffering depresson. But it was still good. I liked Tristan more than Cecile. And I liked their romance but the rest didn't make me as excited. Good ending but I knew that (view spoiler)[Tristan couldn't come with her - Trolls can't leave Trollus. (hide spoiler)]...more
2 Stars It was ok. It wasn't as funny and the characters just didn't click like the last book. And I thought it was weird that Charlotte Bronte was a c2 Stars It was ok. It wasn't as funny and the characters just didn't click like the last book. And I thought it was weird that Charlotte Bronte was a character herself... AND, though I haven't actually read Jane Eyre myself, I have seen the movie and thought it was kind of wrong. I did like the references to other stories that I enjoy: Emma, The Princess Bride, Fred the Pidgeon (this is mentioned in the acknowlegements of My Lady Jane if you didn't know), and Mary Poppins - I haven't watched Mary Poppins enough to remember this, but my sister pointed it out to me. It was still funny - don't get me wrong - especially toward the end, but it didn't flow as well. AND does anyone else suspect the authors of personally hating Mr. Rochester? They mention how great Mr. Darcy is (haven't read the book but have seen the movie - he is pretty great) but then the characters are always against Rochester and he was a bad guy. I guess at the end they do make him a good guy because he was possessed but I still got the feeling that the authors personally don't like him. I mean, I haven't actually read the oringal but he never seemed all that bad to me... *shrug* AND it was also weird that some of Jane Austen's characters were fictional and some were real people in the novel... Jane and Charlotte basically swoon about Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and how he isn't real, but then later Charlotte is reading wedding announcements and Emma Woodhouse is a real person. Kind of weird. How can you make some real and others not? I think one or the other. But, to not end on a bad note, I liked seeing (view spoiler)[Gifford and Jane (hide spoiler)] show up as ghosts at the end. That was nice....more
I liked Mindy Kaling's story, overcoming hardships and all that through out her life to become successful. She was relatable, funny, intriguing3 stars
I liked Mindy Kaling's story, overcoming hardships and all that through out her life to become successful. She was relatable, funny, intriguing, and easy to get to know through her story. The only problems I had were... 1) Language - I know a lot of people have bad language and that, even though I don't talk like that, I should understand that others do and will put that in their books. She didn't have much toward the beginning but towards the end it kind of showed up a lot. Just to let possible parents know in case of giving this to a daughter or someone that is young. I mean, it's probably nothing they haven't heard before but it is still a little unpleasent. She only really uses it to emphasize her feelings about certain topics and things that have happened in her life but it was something that I, personally, could do without. 2)She was sometimes mostly shockingly bazaar - She would talk about the weirdest things sometimes. Things that her overactive imagination leads her into thinking, especially her Revenge Fantasies While Jogging. Those got a little crazy. But I think it also shows her personallity and her creativity. And sometimes she uses her weird stories to tie in with some advice that makes sense. You don't quite understand how she got there but you get the gist of the point that she is making. 3)Sometimes I didn't know what she was even talking about - I guess this could tie in with the point above but most of the time I felt a little blank because I had no clue what was even happening. It kind of bothered me, especially when she talked about movies I didn't know, but most of the time I wouldn't even be able to understand what she was taking about. It was kind of confusing.
But otherwise, it was funny. I liked that, especially since, if you have read this and know Mindy Kaling, comedy is her life. I may not have gotten all the jokes but sometimes I still couldn't help myself from laughing. And in the beginning she says that she doesn't have a lot of opinions and advice in this book... There is still a lot of that. But still read if you are a fan of her. You'll probably enjoy....more
I've seen Fixer Upper because of Netflix and my family was sort of interested in HGTV shows because of the process that the people always went 5 Stars
I've seen Fixer Upper because of Netflix and my family was sort of interested in HGTV shows because of the process that the people always went through. I can't remember exactly when that was, but when I saw it I thought it was so cool that they could totally fix up an old place to the level they did. And my thoughts were that they both went to school for these kind of jobs because they would mention Baylor multiple times. After seeing a couple of seasons of their show and coming up on my junior year in high school, the pressure that teachers, friends, and the school itself would put on me for what I wanted to be built up. I had no clue. And I still don't even though we all had to do this state-wide survey thing that would tell us something that could be an option based on our likes and dislikes. Interior design came up and I imediately thought of Chip and Joanna Gaines and their show. And I wrote out a letter to them and never sent it because I was nervous that I'd never get a response from this famous couple that probably didn't have time for a junior in high school. The letter had all sorts of questions for them about how they came to do what they do and what advice they had for me. And now that I've read this... all of my questions are answered. And their lifestory is inspiring. I would have never guessed all the things that they have been through, but this totally opened my eyes about all the hard work they had to do to accomplish what they have. When I looked to see how people rated this book I was flabberghasted. How could I not give five stars on a true story? How can people rate this book any differently when it was someone's life written for others to read and get inspiration or a new view from?
Definitely recommend for: Fixer Upper fans, HGTV fans, people who like true stories, and anyone who wants to have a bit of inspiration from an amazing and quotable that holds some life lessons....more
That was super dramatic. The drama builds with each book I think.... This series has been one bumpy ride.
Read the spoiler if you want everyth3.5 Stars
That was super dramatic. The drama builds with each book I think.... This series has been one bumpy ride.
Read the spoiler if you want everything given away about all four books... (view spoiler)[First there are the Holland sisters, Elizabeth and Diana, who are both perfectly and effortlessly beautiful... but they both have secrets. Elizabeth is the older Miss Holland and has to live up to expectations, marrying wealthy, but she is in love with a common coachman, Will, who has worked for their family for many years. Diana is trying to live the life of a heroine like in the many novels she reads, risking her reputation for the adventurous life she's always wanted. Then there is Henry Schoonmaker, the son of the famous, successful William Schoonmaker who now wants to run for New York City Mayor after accomplishing every other role he has strived to get. But politics is all about saving face and in order for Henry's father to run a successful campaign, Henry has to give up his carefree and fun life and marry the ideal lady who has a good family name and respectable reputation, Miss Elizabeth Holland. After proposing under the threat of losing his inheritance, Henry meets Miss Diana in the cloak room at the Holland house. They both realize that they like each other, but can't be together because of this engagement. Then there is Penelope. Who is a supposed friend of Elizabeth but turns out to be no good, willing to give up every Holland family secret to gain the wealthiest bachelor in New York. These secrets she found out from the Holland's maid Lina Broud, who is jealous of Elizabeth because she loves Will. Penelope pays her handsomely and then forces Elizabeth to give up Henry in a very shocking way.
That is just the first book. This cruisade goes on for three more books.
2nd Book: Henry and Diana can finally be together because Elizabeth faked her death to be with Will in California, but Penelope takes matters into her own hands and forces Henry to marry her instead. Elizabeth and Will marry but are caught in a train station after visiting the family. Will is shot, leaving Elizabeth a widow after only being married a short time. Lina Broud finds that wealth is more than she thought and, with the help of a salesman and an old, rich bachelor, she rises into society and changes her name to Carlina Broad.
3rd Book: Henry and Diana want to be together but Henry has to divorce his wife Penelope first. This isn't possible because of his father's campaign, but Henry and Diana try to meet up with one another anyway. But after persauding a sickly Elizabeth to come on a trip to Florida with her sister, Penelope becomes a jealous of Diana, who has stolen every bit of Henry's heart, and decides to keep a watchful eye on the pair. Elizabeth starts to fall in love with her old friend Teddy, who has always loved her, but she feels guilty because it is so soon after Will's death. Upon returning home, Elizabeth finds out that she is with child and has to marry, but Teddy has gone off to war. Which leaves her father's business partner Snowden Cairns, who knows about her situation very well, and accepts his offer. Carolina falls quickly in love with a rich man named Leland on the trip, but is forced to come home early because of her benefactor's death. She inherits a huge sum of money and uses it to keep her seat in society, but is often worried of her past being uncovered. Henry, sick of his fake life, leaves it and his wife for war, following Teddy's path and hoping for action to change him.
And now this book: Elizabeth is growing very large but is content in her new life as Mrs. Cairns... Until things keep making her suspicious about her new husband's past. Diana follows Henry to Cuba, without permission from her mother, and finds him there. After finding them together in the barracks, Henry's superior sends them both back to New York in the hopes of not being held responsible for Diana's well-being. Henry, who hadn't seen any action like Teddy because of his father's meddling, is reluctant to come back to his old life. But now, with Penelope's gaze on the Prince of Bavaria, he finally has the chance to divorce her. And he tells his father so, causing him to die. (DIE? I KNOW - UNEXPECTED!) Meanwhile, Elizabeth finds out the Cairns paid a man to kill Will and that he also killed her father for a lease of land rich with oil under Elizabeth's and Will's names. After finding out that she knows, Cairns forces her to room and puts her to sleep with drugs. Elizabeth tries to tell Diana to get Teddy, who is now home from service, to come to visit her. At the funeral for Henry's father, Diana does so and Teddy soon comes but Elizabeth doesn't get the chance to ask him for help because she can't speak and her dangerous husband keeps a very watchful eye on their exchange. Carolina and Leland are about to get married after confessing their love to each other, except the salesman comes back and threatens to unveil her past at her wedding. Leland forces the salesman from the room and Carolina ends up telling him everything, which cancels their wedding. (And I still don't know if they married or not...) Penelope leaves Henry for the prince, except she finds out that he used her all along. She know has to deal with the shame and the embarrassment that her decision has brought her. Henry proposes to Diana, but she doesn't want to be his wife in New York. She wants to leave and live her adventures with him at her side. Henry can't because of the new sense of duty that his father's death has now brought him. Diana leaves for Paris and Henry is left with Penelope. Teddy, realizing that something was off about his friend's situation, comes back to Elizabeth only to find her in shock and her husband dead. During the night when she had woken up, she tried to leave, but ran into Cairns and pushed him down the stairs. He died because of the fall. Teddy then whisked Elizabeth to safety and was willing to take Will's baby as his own. The End.
I don't really like how things ended up with Diana and Henry, especially after being thrown about throughout the four books by their rocky romance. The best part was Elizabeth and Teddy. (hide spoiler)]
Read this series if you want heated romance, constant plot-twists, rivals, secrets, and something to mess with your emotions....more
Again, another dramatic end... What else should I expect?
(view spoiler)[ The characters that I am totally supporting are the Miss Hollands, E3.5 stars
Again, another dramatic end... What else should I expect?
(view spoiler)[ The characters that I am totally supporting are the Miss Hollands, Elizabeth and Diana. I do think, though, that Elizabeth should really be married to Teddy, but maybe that will happen in the final book?? And DIANA! Pulling off a Mulan to be with the guy she loves - who happens to married but enlisted to excape that. Don't ask. It's complicated. Just read it. I'm being completely serious. If you want to know about how it all started read the Luxe Series. If you need some drama in your life, again, read the Luxe Series. These books are full of well-thoughtout plans of spite and gossip to ruin each others lives. It is amazing how these people can even think of these things. And for new-comer Miss Broad - OKA (originally known as) Lina Broud, a Holland maid - gossip is the start of her life and she should really know better. She plays about as dirty as Penelope and she grew up in a humble life setting. And did she even deserve that fortune from the old guy that she left behind to die? I mean, she didn't know he was going to die, but I did. The signs were all there. She was too blinded with her greed to notice. The answer to my earlier question: No. She doesn't deserve to earn that fortune from the old rich guy. But if you want to know more about THAT, you should really read the first book... and the second book... and this one. (hide spoiler)]
Altogether, met my expectations and then some....more
1 Star Five Words Describing This Book: 1) Strange 2) Magical 3) Disturbing 4) Confusing 5) Totally-Out-There (I know that isn't one word but I couldn't thi1 Star Five Words Describing This Book: 1) Strange 2) Magical 3) Disturbing 4) Confusing 5) Totally-Out-There (I know that isn't one word but I couldn't think of a good word to describe it.)
I have no idea how Mette Ivie Harrison even thought this thing up and I don't really care to know. It left me confused most of the time and it seemed to drag on.... F...O...R...E...V...E...R... (I'm being completely honest!)
And you are probably wondering, "Disturbing? How?" Let me enlighten you with this particular passage. "They told tales, and now and again there was one George had not heard before. He paid great attention to them, especially to the story of a woman who had been able to marry a wolf and have children with it." And if that isn't disturbing enough... "Each child came out of her body as a different kind of animal. None of them was either human or a wolf, but badger, otter, and even once an ox." After reading this, I looked up and stared at the wall wondering why anyone would even write that in a book.... I came to no conclusion. Except for the fact that the main character was willing to marry a girl-turned-hound and stay with her, even if she stayed in the form of a hound, if only to be with whom he loved. Even if the kingdom didn't accept them. "HUH?" I should hope the kingdom wouldn't accept their prince marrying a hound! (That sounds just WRONG.... And illegal.)
And now strange. I guess that could go with disturbing but I think that some of the things in this book can only be thought of as "strange." Magical for the "animal" magic that was in the book, but it was also just... weird... Confusing as in "HUH?" And totally-out-there as in... just: totally out there. There is no way to describe it otherwise, if you want to describe the whole book at once and not just parts.
I don't even know if I can recommend this one. *scratches head, thinking* Yeah, no. Except, I do have something to say to whoever is reading this review...
ATTENTION! THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS BOOK HAS LIED TO YOU. THE PRINCE ISN'T THREATENED ON ALL SIDES. THE PRINCESS ISN'T ISOLATED FROM ALL EXCEPT HER HOUND. THERE IS MORE ABOUT OTHER THINGS IN THIS BOOK THAN A FAIRY-TALE ROMANCE. (IT IS BASICALLY ALL ABOUT THE "ANIMAL" MAGIC.) GEORGE AND BEATRICE(/MARIT) DO NOT STEAL YOUR HEART. (view spoiler)[ THEY DO FALL IN LOVE. (hide spoiler)]
I am not trying to be mean, for any of you who liked this book. I am just trying to honestly express how much I did not like this book. I'm sorry if you find it offensive. Again, 1 star....more
I liked it. It was a fairy tale, which I always enjoy. But the romance was kind of insta-love, even for a fairy tale it was a little too fast. S3 stars
I liked it. It was a fairy tale, which I always enjoy. But the romance was kind of insta-love, even for a fairy tale it was a little too fast. She thought of him as a friend and then three days later she's in love with the frog? Yeah, it was a little too fast. As for the writing, at first I thought it should be for a younger age group but it got better toward the end. And I am still confused. I think I got the gist but the story flew by and things happened in a blur. I found it a little hard to understand, which made me rethink making it for a younger age group. How will they understand it if I hardly can? But it was still a good tale and was cute. And I also liked how the author included a lot of other tales into this one that she made herself....more
2.5 Stars I read a sneak peak of this one and was excited, the beginning was very promising to me. So after reading that and then the whole book, I had 2.5 Stars I read a sneak peak of this one and was excited, the beginning was very promising to me. So after reading that and then the whole book, I had a hard time choosing between 2 or 3 stars. Two stars is "it was ok" and three stars is "liked it." While I think it was an ok book, it would have been a solid three stars if the author had stuck with her beginning. I don't know, it was like the beginning and the rest of the book belonged to two different stories. And I really would've liked to read the rest to the beginning than what was there. I'm not trying to be harsh- it's just my opinion. The book just didn't fit with itself. And the book told too much and made me feel like I wasn't supposed to get something so that the character could tell me. (view spoiler)[And the main character liked to contradict her descriptions of people, for example Cress. At one point Thora (Thora, Theo, Theodosia- whatever she wants to call herself) says that Cress never notices anything about anyone but herself. And then at another, she says that Cress can read her like a book. ???? Doesn't exactly make sense. I also didn't like how the author made bad people ugly and good people beautiful. The Kaiser was a fat, disgusting man, whom everyone feared. Why can't he be handsome and feared? I think that would make it more interesting between the court and Thora and the prince. I mean, while being touched by a fat, scary guy is gross why does it have to be that simple? Everyone will hate the overweight, bad guy easily because he has the luxury to be lazy and he is a horrible person. But if he is strong and fit, wouldn't he be that much scarier? And then Theo's friends have scars from their gifts, but they are still handsome and/or beautiful. While they are blessed by the gods, it seems a little too easy for them to be blessed with a gift by only recieving a scar or different colored hair, even though the colored hair thing was kind of cool. OTHERWISE, was an "ok" to almost "liked it" book. I liked the tension at times and the world that the author built. I also liked Thora's memories and how they were written, that was neat. (hide spoiler)] Read if you like: rebellions, coups, deception, tension, and romance. (Though the romance was mostly not there... at least not enough for me.)...more
This one really reminded me of the Luxe Series that Anna Godbersen also wrote. Two friends in love with the same boy from their youth. Drama. P3 Stars
This one really reminded me of the Luxe Series that Anna Godbersen also wrote. Two friends in love with the same boy from their youth. Drama. Plots. The boy choosing one over the other. And then the rejected girl doing something drastic that ends hurting a lot of people.
But I didn't like this one as much as the Luxe series because it was just too much. Anders seemed like he wanted both girls in the beginning and then (read at your own risk) (view spoiler)[he dies in the fire because he is saving the one he rejected!? (hide spoiler)] I mean, come on! And then Emmeline also sort of seemed she couldn't make up her mind but then she became barely recognizable when she didn't choose what she truly wanted. And Anna Godbersen was actually steering this one the way I was hoping... until that end, though.
I just am not going for that ending... or the confusing relationship stuff... And the writing was a little confusing at parts too. I often didn't know who I was reading about because a name wasn't mentioned until about a paragraph after the chapter started.
Godbersen did blow me away with her artfully written descriptions, as usual, but this one didn't thrill me like I thought it would. And to be fair, I totally didn't hate this book. I love Godbersen's writing because it is so clever. And I really like the little snippets at the beginning of each chapter. I have no idea if any of them are from real sources -although, I think some are- but I love reading them because they are interesting and cleverly placed into the story.
I also appreciated her noting in her "Historical Background of When We Caught Fire," the fact that the Great Fire of Chicago wasn't actually the largest fire in American history or of that same day. It was actually the fire of Peshtigo, Wisconsin which isn't as known because the Chicago Fire was the one in the news and repeatedly brought up since. As a Wisconsinite, I appreciate the acknowledgment because so many are unaware of how large the Peshtigo Fire really compared to other fires.
So overall, I didn't really go for this one but it was an all right read for if you have time to read. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Godbersen's Luxe Series, but it was okay. Probably read if you like historical fiction or are a fan of Anna Godbersen's writing....more
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