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justbooks46's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
wunder's review
4.0
Nice retelling, you have a suspicion of who is good and bad from the original story, but you aren't quite sure, you have some idea where it might go, but it really is a different story.
I also like that things are left unresolved. Is it important that Live Oak is slowly shrinking or is that just part of small rural towns? Why did the father leave the house? And what's with Robert E. Lee's riding boots?
I also like that things are left unresolved. Is it important that Live Oak is slowly shrinking or is that just part of small rural towns? Why did the father leave the house? And what's with Robert E. Lee's riding boots?
a_novel_ty's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: ★★★★
Oh Jackson...I see what you did there. I have to admit...even though I tried not to read the synopsis for this book...I gave in and ended up reading it about 100 pages in to see if I could figure out what was going to happen. NO HELP!
Sweetly is kind of a sequel to Sisters Red in that some of the same Monsters and Bloodlines doing the tango, however Sweetly is an ENTIRELY different story, with eerily similar similarities lol.
Ansel and Gretchen are brother and sister. They're a pair that used to be a trio, one that was ripped apart by an unknown yellow eyed, clawed creature Gretchen has taken to calling "The Witch." When they are both of age, they're kicked out of their home by their stepmother and start a journey that takes them to Live Oak. A small, nearly deserted town in South Carolina that holds a slew of secrets, missing girls, monsters in the woods and an enchanting little chocolatier named Sophia in the middle of said woods.
I have to say, I enjoyed Sweetly more than I did Sisters Red, however I think that's mainly due to the fact that there were no annoying relationship inconsistencies in this book. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was a bit weird that Gretchen and her brother just moved in with Sophia when they didn't even know her but, I got it, it wasn't TOO much of a weird occurrence.
I will say this though, I didn't trust Sophia from jump. I knew something was off about her, what with the seashells, and secrets and just her always having this barely hidden sadness in her eyes. It just screamed 'SHE'S HIDING SOMETHING!' -- I'm not really going to say too much because I don't want to give anything away.
I just want to say, Jackson Pearce has definitely learned from her mistakes with this book. One of the main issues I had with Sisters Red was that the relationships seemed inorganic and rushed. In "Sweetly," everything flowed. I mean Sophia and Ansel's relationship was kind of weird, but since the focus was barely ever on Ansel and all he did throughout the novel really, was fix doors and fences...it didn't really grate much on my nerves. Gretchen and Samuels relationship felt authentic and it was cute, and there were no premature declarations of love that made me go WTF! either so that was a WIN!
Favorite part of Sweetly: The tie-in with Sisters Red. I didn't realize the extent of the connections until I was almost finished with the book, but it was a nice little surprise once I understood that the "witch" Gretchen kept talking about was closer to something I was more familiar with. Also...Silas might want to give his brothers a call, he might be surprised that he and one of them have more in common than he would have thought.
Least favorite part of Sweetly: I really hate that Jacksons female characters all seem to just drop out of school. Rosie didn't finish high school in Sisters Red and Gretchen didn't finish the 8th grade in Sweetly, meanwhile i'm just sitting here like, who the hell is keeping up with these children. Doesn't ANYONE notice these girls are just NOT in school...And why do they have to drop out of school anyway? I can kind of understand why Rosie had to drop out but I REALLY don't understand why Gretchen had to...
Anyway, I definitely enjoyed this book. It was a fun read and some things definitely had me yelling at myself in the mirror trying to figure out what was going to happen or what was happening. (I do that sometimes to vent...don't ask me why, I'm weird) would I recommend it? ...yea what the hell.
Oh Jackson...I see what you did there. I have to admit...even though I tried not to read the synopsis for this book...I gave in and ended up reading it about 100 pages in to see if I could figure out what was going to happen. NO HELP!
Sweetly is kind of a sequel to Sisters Red in that some of the same Monsters and Bloodlines doing the tango, however Sweetly is an ENTIRELY different story, with eerily similar similarities lol.
Ansel and Gretchen are brother and sister. They're a pair that used to be a trio, one that was ripped apart by an unknown yellow eyed, clawed creature Gretchen has taken to calling "The Witch." When they are both of age, they're kicked out of their home by their stepmother and start a journey that takes them to Live Oak. A small, nearly deserted town in South Carolina that holds a slew of secrets, missing girls, monsters in the woods and an enchanting little chocolatier named Sophia in the middle of said woods.
I have to say, I enjoyed Sweetly more than I did Sisters Red, however I think that's mainly due to the fact that there were no annoying relationship inconsistencies in this book. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was a bit weird that Gretchen and her brother just moved in with Sophia when they didn't even know her but, I got it, it wasn't TOO much of a weird occurrence.
I will say this though, I didn't trust Sophia from jump. I knew something was off about her, what with the seashells, and secrets and just her always having this barely hidden sadness in her eyes. It just screamed 'SHE'S HIDING SOMETHING!' -- I'm not really going to say too much because I don't want to give anything away.
I just want to say, Jackson Pearce has definitely learned from her mistakes with this book. One of the main issues I had with Sisters Red was that the relationships seemed inorganic and rushed. In "Sweetly," everything flowed. I mean Sophia and Ansel's relationship was kind of weird, but since the focus was barely ever on Ansel and all he did throughout the novel really, was fix doors and fences...it didn't really grate much on my nerves. Gretchen and Samuels relationship felt authentic and it was cute, and there were no premature declarations of love that made me go WTF! either so that was a WIN!
Favorite part of Sweetly: The tie-in with Sisters Red. I didn't realize the extent of the connections until I was almost finished with the book, but it was a nice little surprise once I understood that the "witch" Gretchen kept talking about was closer to something I was more familiar with. Also...Silas might want to give his brothers a call, he might be surprised that he and one of them have more in common than he would have thought.
Least favorite part of Sweetly: I really hate that Jacksons female characters all seem to just drop out of school. Rosie didn't finish high school in Sisters Red and Gretchen didn't finish the 8th grade in Sweetly, meanwhile i'm just sitting here like, who the hell is keeping up with these children. Doesn't ANYONE notice these girls are just NOT in school...And why do they have to drop out of school anyway? I can kind of understand why Rosie had to drop out but I REALLY don't understand why Gretchen had to...
Anyway, I definitely enjoyed this book. It was a fun read and some things definitely had me yelling at myself in the mirror trying to figure out what was going to happen or what was happening. (I do that sometimes to vent...don't ask me why, I'm weird) would I recommend it? ...yea what the hell.
hanniegracie95's review
3.0
I thought I knew where this book was going to go, but it took quite a few turns I wasn't expecting.
Honestly, the characters are a little bland and the romantic relationships are flat and happen way too quickly. The writing also leaves just a smidgen to desire, but this author has a gift writing ambience, setting, and the monsters. I also love the plot of the series overall and I'm looking forward to find out what happens in the next book. This story had such a great southern gothic feel to it.
Honestly, the characters are a little bland and the romantic relationships are flat and happen way too quickly. The writing also leaves just a smidgen to desire, but this author has a gift writing ambience, setting, and the monsters. I also love the plot of the series overall and I'm looking forward to find out what happens in the next book. This story had such a great southern gothic feel to it.
lazygal's review
3.0
If it hadn't been for the introduction of the werewolfFenris plotline, this would have been a much better book. I loved the update of "Hansel & Gretel" and the book should have stuck with the story of Gretchen and Ansel, the disappearance of Gretchen's twin twelve years earlier, and their stay with a beautiful, lonely chocolatier Sophia without adding the Fenris as cause/villains.
Sophia's involvement with the disappearance of eight girls in two years and the mystery of her missing sister (or is that sisters?) could have been resolved by another means. The Fenris and their hunting take energy away from the creepy nature of the chocolate shop; their relationship to Sophia are rushed into the ending of the book. The pacing of the ending is also a little off, with the action moving much faster than anywhere else except the very beginning of the story.
Still, the paranormal elements will appeal to those for whom this genre is not yet played out.
ARC provided by publisher.
Sophia's involvement with the disappearance of eight girls in two years and the mystery of her missing sister (or is that sisters?) could have been resolved by another means. The Fenris and their hunting take energy away from the creepy nature of the chocolate shop; their relationship to Sophia are rushed into the ending of the book. The pacing of the ending is also a little off, with the action moving much faster than anywhere else except the very beginning of the story.
Still, the paranormal elements will appeal to those for whom this genre is not yet played out.
ARC provided by publisher.
the_lilrunaway's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Sisters Red but I still really liked it. I like that it is a story on its own but still has links to the world that Jackson Pearce created in Sisters Red. I'm very much looking forward to reading the 3rd book.
writingwwolves's review against another edition
5.0
http://pinup-paperrockstars.tumblr.com/post/123374611649/sweetly
chapteriosity's review
5.0
I'm out of word. Sweetly needs a word that means more than "AMAZING", "FANTASTIC", and "AWESOME"
I've got to be honest that I like Sweetly better than Sisters Red. Way better than Sisters Red - which might proves that Jackson Pearce's ability is truly 'growing'.
I like Gretchen. First because she has "I-wanna-change" spirit. And yeah, she gradually evolves from a pathetic-scared-girl, to a brave-lifesaver. I enjoyed her inner thought - thanks to Jackson. She's actually quite stable and focus. Loveable main character.
Sophia is one hell woman. I bet she would be a great actress if there was no Fenris thing and lost sister issue. Although I already thought that Sophia was gonna be the evil witch in the first place.
Does anybody imagine Samuel as a hot guy beside me? Cause that what I was constantly thinking while reading. Especially he holds rifle.
The plot and romance are built step-by-step, without a rush. The twists, the clues, the conclusion, I love every bits of the story.
The cover looks sweet and creepy at the same time. You can see a guy face formed by tree braches.
So, 2 stars for great characters, 1 star for well-written story, 1 star for not-a-rush or sickening-teenage romance, 1 star for the cover. Sweetly is definitely one of my favorites.
Complete 5 stars. Recommended.
I've got to be honest that I like Sweetly better than Sisters Red. Way better than Sisters Red - which might proves that Jackson Pearce's ability is truly 'growing'.
I like Gretchen. First because she has "I-wanna-change" spirit. And yeah, she gradually evolves from a pathetic-scared-girl, to a brave-lifesaver. I enjoyed her inner thought - thanks to Jackson. She's actually quite stable and focus. Loveable main character.
Sophia is one hell woman. I bet she would be a great actress if there was no Fenris thing and lost sister issue. Although I already thought that Sophia was gonna be the evil witch in the first place.
Does anybody imagine Samuel as a hot guy beside me? Cause that what I was constantly thinking while reading. Especially he holds rifle.
The plot and romance are built step-by-step, without a rush. The twists, the clues, the conclusion, I love every bits of the story.
The cover looks sweet and creepy at the same time. You can see a guy face formed by tree braches.
So, 2 stars for great characters, 1 star for well-written story, 1 star for not-a-rush or sickening-teenage romance, 1 star for the cover. Sweetly is definitely one of my favorites.
Complete 5 stars. Recommended.