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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
I don't know how I feel about this book. I can't quite identify why it's so addictive, but I have to know what happens .
Spoiler
and I have to know more about who the hell Jericho Barrons is and how he knows all this stuff and how he has so much damn money WHAT THE FUCK, JERICHO BARRONS, WHO ARE YOU
*Really* didn't like this. The characters are absolutely horrible, and I hate the fact that authors shortcut world building for "Ooooh, IRELAND! It's soooo magical!" Any potential modicum of cleverness is immediately obliterated by an explanation of that cleverness (at one point when someone says to the main character that old line about what happens when you assume, she *mentally spells out ass-u-me*) Grating in every possible way and I can't imagine why or how any of the male characters might be desirable in any way, but especially a romantic one. I have no shame reading romance novels, I just would prefer something that wouldn't treat me like an idiot and would take the time to draw in characters and worlds. Otherwise I won't be coming back.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Hmmm...I'm not quite sure how to start this review, because I'm not entirely sure how I felt about the book. Overall, I thought the book was good--I liked the storyline and the world that Ms. Moning created--but I did have a couple of problems with it.
First of all, I can't really get behind a male character--and I'm assuming potential romantic interest--manhandling a female character the way Barrons did Mac early in the story. You can establish a character as a 'big bad alpha male' without having him push the female lead around. I found it to be a turn off. It's a shame too, because other than that he's the sort of character I could really like; I'm quite partial to the dark, mysterious enigmatic type--although, his later character development made him come across as slightly more likable. I'm reserving final judgment on that character for now.
Next, there seemed to be quite a bit of product placement going on. The mentions of Mac's iPod, iTunes, etc. were really jarring and took me out of the story briefly. I actually wondered if Apple had paid for advertising in the novel. (ok, not seriously, but you get my point) I say this as a person who--like Mac--loves music and takes her iPod pretty much everywhere she goes. I don't know, maybe it wasn't the fact that it was mentioned, but that it was overly described that bothered me. The fact that she'd bought Green Day's Greatest Hits from iTunes and paid less for it than if she'd bought it at Wal-Mart, for example. Too much detail for something that doesn't advance the storyline at all.
Mac...I wasn't sure I was going to find her likable at all. She seemed so shallow to me at first, but I actually quite enjoyed watching her character develop some depth throughout the book. Her reaction and grief over her sister's death was very well written, in my opinion. I can't quite say I really like her character just yet, but she definitely has potential. I'm pulling for her.
All-in-all, despite it's problems, this wasn't a bad first in a series book, I'm hoping the next one is better.
Oh, and can I just say that I don't like cliffhangers? Good thing I already have the second book, so I can continue the story.
First of all, I can't really get behind a male character--and I'm assuming potential romantic interest--manhandling a female character the way Barrons did Mac early in the story. You can establish a character as a 'big bad alpha male' without having him push the female lead around. I found it to be a turn off. It's a shame too, because other than that he's the sort of character I could really like; I'm quite partial to the dark, mysterious enigmatic type--although, his later character development made him come across as slightly more likable. I'm reserving final judgment on that character for now.
Next, there seemed to be quite a bit of product placement going on. The mentions of Mac's iPod, iTunes, etc. were really jarring and took me out of the story briefly. I actually wondered if Apple had paid for advertising in the novel. (ok, not seriously, but you get my point) I say this as a person who--like Mac--loves music and takes her iPod pretty much everywhere she goes. I don't know, maybe it wasn't the fact that it was mentioned, but that it was overly described that bothered me. The fact that she'd bought Green Day's Greatest Hits from iTunes and paid less for it than if she'd bought it at Wal-Mart, for example. Too much detail for something that doesn't advance the storyline at all.
Mac...I wasn't sure I was going to find her likable at all. She seemed so shallow to me at first, but I actually quite enjoyed watching her character develop some depth throughout the book. Her reaction and grief over her sister's death was very well written, in my opinion. I can't quite say I really like her character just yet, but she definitely has potential. I'm pulling for her.
All-in-all, despite it's problems, this wasn't a bad first in a series book, I'm hoping the next one is better.
Oh, and can I just say that I don't like cliffhangers? Good thing I already have the second book, so I can continue the story.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first two chapters are actually atrocious but then the writing improves tremendously after that.
fast-paced
Utterly ridiculous but a lot of fun. It felt like a 2007 time capsule, which added nostalgia and comfort. I hated that I loved the (utterly ridiculous) main character. To quote a Parks and Rec quote that I quote far too often: "she's the worst person I've ever met. I want to travel the world with her."
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Blood
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m not a fan of when the narrator talks to the audience (minus Tolkien) and there was a lot happening in this book but also not much really happening. It’s clearly setting up for a whole series which was painful to get to the end of book 1 and get essentially no resolution. Characters are mid and then they sprinkle random ones in there for one or two chapters then leave you hanging. I’m curious how the series ends but I’d rather google that then read any more books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Rape