Jessica
It's mysterious in that way “the classics” are. They say things like they are but many things are still left up in the air. Sophie's always going on about how being the eldest would prevent her from attaining any happiness, but where did such a nonsensical idea come from and why should anyone take that as fact? Miss Angorian was a fire demon but why was she able to go about all willy nilly, hiding herself in guitars and even owning her own house? The Witch of the Waste killed Mrs. Pentstemmon? Then why isn't the Witch getting executed or put on trial or anything? A great many things seemed to be taken in stride all too easily. I myself find it a bit charming since not everything to do with a book related to magic need be sensical but I figured I should point it out.
And another thing...ALL THE JUICE ALWAYS RUNS DRY BEFORE IT HAS A CHANCE TO START FLOWING. At some point, I was wondering whether this story was going to be a romance at all. It was, in fact, a wonderful romance for the page or so that it was explicitly acknowledged. This book really adds to my appreciation for Howl and Sophie's romance more than the movie had time to. Howl was, in fact, a piece of trash, which the film adaptation glossed over (for the sake of time and fragile hearts, mine included). And yet he and Sophie grew a connection through all the arguments and difficulties of living with another human being. IF THAT AIN'T TRUE LOVE, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. To accept each other's flaws and see past appearances to appreciate the other's endearing, if annoying, personality traits...To know both the good and bad of a person...SOMEONE GET THE JUSTICE OF PEACE IN HERE, STAT.
All that being said, it was great. I still think Sophie's stepmom is a lying, lazy, exploitative wench. But I adored how much depth this book went into in my favorite movie's characters.
I liked this. I like how self-aware it was in that it took a step out of the traditional romance (or women's fiction) route by pointing out all the things that happen in a book. Especially, of course, HEAs. The cycle that they mentioned occurring in dreary, staring-into-the-abyss, next-great-American classics featuring “coldly horny” men manifested here. The parallels that January cannot escape between her and her father (for obvious reasons) being exacerbated when Gus is, gasp, still a married man and January is the...“mistress” in the equation. Then of course the way their situations are not at all the same.
I like how this book was different in that it looks at romance with more reality. As they dance in the rain, mud gets in their toes. As she's filled with melancholy and crying on the beach while the sun is setting, bird shit is still a danger. As they skinny dip in a lake in the middle of the night, it is cold as fuck and litter abounds. Despite all that, or maybe because of all that, the romance was...There are no words. The realism didn't hurt anything and, in fact, I appreciate it.
It's different from all the other romances I've devoured in one sitting. I was on the edge of my seat for this one as well and it certainly held steam and passion. It's just that, while others made me feel like a Formula 1 racer charging through a maelstrom of la passion or a toddler intent on squeezing every good thing out of a ripe orange, this let me see things clearer (I suppose...). I could see a romance happening and thriving despite, or because of, daily spoils like stepping on fresh sidewalk gum. The conflicts weren't as huge as a ticking clock or a heart-wrenching betrayal but I love how the minute and slightly bigger, negative things in a day can supplement a relationship, despite their very essence as “bad things”.
Or maybe I'm just insane and nonsensical. Long story short, I liked this.
If you're for guys who parade women they don't care to remember the names of in front of the girl they're madly in lust with, then go ahead I suppose. I'm all for sexual tension but it was getting a bit ridiculous right from the beginning. Every time he talks to Bailey, he can't stop thinking about her assets. She apparently says his name on a “sexy” sigh/pant/moan or what have you in the most mundane conversations. And despite Gage's conquests disrespecting Bailey after what seems to be every morning, Bailey's got just as big of a hankering for him. Needless to say, Lettie was my favorite character in the 10 or so pages I could endure.
The beginning was slow but necessary to really ram home how bland, controlled, sterile, and routine Emi's life was before all the magical powers started flying around everywhere. Once I reached a certain point, I kept reading and reading until I'd, surprisingly, finished it.
Highly recommend. Look forward to the next book.
Bittersweet. I definitely enjoyed this ending more than the ending in Annette Marie's Steel & Stone series where things were more open-ended. Call me a wuss or some naive and weak-minded fanatic who only enjoys unrealistic, complete happy endings. I love Tori and I loved living vicariously through her as she steamrolled through trial after trial for something as pure and simple as friendship. I loved how, although she was initially marginalized for being a human in a magic guild and although she hated not being born a mythic, she still set into motion and accomplished so many feats. She saved Aaron, helped stop an evil sorceress, and breathed life and hope into the mission to save Ezra. And that's not even half of the whole 8-booked series. She's astonishing in how she grew and reacted to every weird, magical thing thrown her way and I think there's truly something role-model-worthy in the personality she needed to prevail this far.
I mentioned earlier how this book was “bittersweet.” I won't hint at the ending but I was primarily talking about the aftermath of this series. I loved it and I hate to stop these past few days' rush to consume this series. I'm sad that I won't be able to live through Tori's eyes anymore because she's kickass in a mildly klutzy, untrained sort of way. But I will relish her pains and triumphs in many future rereads. And I look forward to Robin's story (which will hopefully feature a steamy connection between her and a certain fellow with “the perfect abs”).
This series was one big, stressful rollercoaster ride that I would not reread entirely even if you paid me. When things were dire, which was 90% of the time, I sweat from places that should not eke out fluid. But the heroine is a strong bitch and the good times were to kill for so I'll definitely revisit it....some day. A marvelous work.
Cute story. Would've preferred a longer novel without the insta-love to really cement how their relationship grew to be so meaningful to each other. And more words would've added some depth to the not one, but two, dangers that strike at Hope.Was peeved about the excessive comments to mark pauses. But a cute, short story all the same.
Incredibly drama-rific. Not in a good way but also not in a completely bad way. For a girl who's all about honesty and clearing up misunderstandings before they turn into full-on plots, though, I'm kind of disappointed that Charley didn't say the truth more often. For instance, she still hasn't told her parents about her career choice and she didn't immediately dissuade Jake that she'd slept with Lowe. I expected more spine than that. I don't think I can handle the next book. It really should've ended here. I understand why it didn't; there's a lot of hurt to unpack and get past from Jake's actions. But I can't go through this all again when it's so clear that they love each other more than they care about anyone else in the room, in their school, and in the whole world. If the next book had been exclusively about how Claud leaves Beck for good to spare herself the useless heartache, I'd definitely be up for more from this series. But that's how it goes.
Writing was fairly tame; some pizzazz in the lexicon would also be greatly appreciated. Plot-wise, it was alright. There were a few surprises that I didn't anticipate. However, (I hate to sound like a prick for complaining about this but) I wish there were a bit more variety in Gabe and Jennifer's relationship. I'm not saying that I want more leeching banshees to stick to Gabe and whatnot. I just got tired of how they seemed to come together for some sex, contentment, and gratitude at the end of more than a few chapters. Those actions, in themselves, are definitely not bad things. But describing that same scene in a different way would be nice after it's been repeated about five times.
Although, having Maryann Jordan dangle a tantalizing love-triangle prospect in a future book certainly got my engine revving. Maybe there's hope yet...
Imagine you're chilling in a lawn chair in the shade with the sun gleaming down, no bugs to snack on you, and a nice breeze coming in. Then imagine that nice breeze occasionally causing the potted plant next to you, with all its big, strong, green leaves, to smack you upside the head. That's kind of how the first 70% of the book felt. It was great and action-packed. Things are definitely never boring around Alice. But everywhere I turned, she kept getting severely injured. For Satan's sake, when a bomb that took out a few buildings, Sean heard it and immediately guessed that she was at the center of the danger and destruction. I understood why she kept getting hurt but come on. My girl is kickass. Why is she dying in almost every chapter? (Though the last few scenes were a sort of badass relief, but we'll get to that later...)
Another sticking point with me was the honest to god love pentagram that Alice was the center of. I get it. Alice is powerful, cool under pressure, and easy on the eyes. But come on. Did there have to be four lusty suitors after her? Though I'm glad all but one of those interests were finalized and shut down, at least from Alice's end.
Speaking of ends, I promised I'd get to gushing about the finale. I've gotta say; this story's ending was a lot more conclusive and satisfying than the last one. It was a resounding goodbye, between Lake and Alice and between the readers and the book. I didn't get that same impression from the first book. And those last few magic-wielding scenes. Be still my heart. Love me a powerful queen who can whip your peen off with green fire getting herself some personal justice. Here's to hoping for more good endings.
I liked Luna. She's a saint with ninja skills (though I wish she'd take less shit from the people she loves). And I love Rip. He's an angry bear 80% of the time but it mostly comes from relationship (not necessarily sexual...) frustration. And I love them together. But the writing style here was just too long for me. I adore how Zapata dishes out the heroines' thoughts in Kulti, Wait For It, and Under Locke. She laid it down and explained everything logically. But here...I don't know if it's a reflection of what Zapata was going for in Luna, but the redundancies in Luna's mind could've been achieved in a different way. The story took twice as long as it needed to. I love me a slow burn. There's nothing better than getting riled up at 3 AM and screaming at the hero to “HURRY UP AND MAKE A MOVE ON HER WE CAN ALL SEE YOU DON'T EVEN PRETEND JUST SNATCH HER HAND AND LAY A SMOOCH ON HER.” But the burn I felt here was more about “JHo I know you can read through this faster.” I loved the plot but it could've been thicker and juicier had the writing been condensed.
Shockingly, this might be my favorite Suzanne Wright book. And I say “shockingly” because they're all amazing. How could I possibly choose? Well kiddos, looks like that just happened. It was wonderful to take a peek at what makes Khloe tick and I absolutely adored her and Keenan's relationship; and I'm not just saying that because of his possibly surgically-enhanced lil friend. ;) I get the feeling that concessions came the smoothest with this couple and it's refreshing after the usual bouts of alpha-male stubbornness.
Anyways. Enough of the compliment parade. It's 4:39 AM. I can't sentence or grammar anymore. This book was great. #1. Good night.