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helmiz_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marylu412's review against another edition
Something didn't click with me, probably I have liked it more some years ago
eesh25's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, first thing's first. I know of the similarities between this book and Vampire Academy. I will discuss them afterwards. First, I'll write this book's review.
Review
I like this book. I read it because I wanted to give Jennifer L. Armentrout another chance after the very disappointing Lux series (did not like that one at all) and I'm glad that I did. This is a very good book with an interesting premise and, I know this isn't important, a very pretty cover.
The writing is very good and so are the characters. The book moves at a good pace and you're never bored or contemplating skipping pages. The story is good. The world that she's created could use some work and that is the sole reason for me to not give this book 5 stars (that and because Alex really pissed me off with the sheer stupidity of what she did. I'm trying to get over that.
There is nothing particularly wrong with her world. It's just not greek enough. One of the main reasons I chose this book is that it had greek mythology in it. I love greek mythology (Go Percy Jackson!) and I was excited to read more about it. Unfortunately, other than mentioning the gods and talking a bit about greek things, there wasn't much that showed that it had anything to do with greek mythology. There was just talk. No proof.
For example: The powers that the 'pures' had were related to nature. I don't recall any of that to be greek. The author could have made their powers related to the gods. They could have mentioned greek rituals and even greek history lessons. But there was none of that and I was very disappointed. The pures and halfs thing didn't help.
But other than that, this is a great book and I'm glad I picked it up.
Vampire Academy
Now, I've been putting this off but it's inevitable. The similarities between this book and VA are too obvious to be ignored. I'm gonna try to mention the major ones I can think of:
1. The fact that Alex wasn't at school in the beginning and was taken back to the Covenant: The situation is similar but it's also different. Alex didn't choose to leave. She wasn't running from the Covenant and there was actually a good reason provided for her absence from the school. There was also no Lissa. This reason is, therefore, dismissed.
2. Aiden tutoring her to catch up: No debating the similarity. But I will say that Aiden is a more fleshed out character than Dimitri. He's more real. He actually has a personality and I can see the chemistry between him and Alex. I can see why they like each other. So even though they're both instructors, Aiden is not Dimitri. He's very different and less like a piece of furniture (Dimitri has as much personality as a piece of furniture). Aiden is more likable. Also, the forbidden part is actually real. He's a pure, she a half. In VA, the forbidden thing is forced and doesn't make sense half the time. This one does.
3. Pures and halfs: This one actually did get to be. I don't like it. She could have changed at least this part. Like I said, their powers could be related to their godly ancestors or something. But that didn't happen. This was the biggest let-down of the book. I wish this was changed.
Everyone noticed the similarities, but did anyone notice how this book is different from VA? Her mom, Seth, the prophecy, the link, her future and the emotional rollercoaster that Alex went through. All those things had nothing to do with VA and that is very important.
Also, I gave VA 2.5 stars. This book is better written, has a better plot, more realistic and relatable characters, is faster and has more of a story and is an overall better read. So you can say that it's stealing but it really isn't. She may have taken quite a few ideas but she untimately improved them. It's like science. You take an earlier periodic table or atom model, find out it's faults, add some things, and improve it. And that is if the author took some ideas. It could have been a coincidence (though, I doubt that).
If would be more believable if someone said that VA was taken from this book but it couldn't ever be as good. I know that's not true. I'm just saying.
If someone asked me if I would rather read VA or Half-Blood, I'd say Half-blood without blinking. I'm sorry if that offends anyone. It's just how I feel. So, if anyone hasn't read VA and can't figure out which one to read. Read this one...
Review
I like this book. I read it because I wanted to give Jennifer L. Armentrout another chance after the very disappointing Lux series (did not like that one at all) and I'm glad that I did. This is a very good book with an interesting premise and, I know this isn't important, a very pretty cover.
The writing is very good and so are the characters. The book moves at a good pace and you're never bored or contemplating skipping pages. The story is good. The world that she's created could use some work and that is the sole reason for me to not give this book 5 stars (that and because Alex really pissed me off with the sheer stupidity of what she did.
Spoiler
going after her mother aloneThere is nothing particularly wrong with her world. It's just not greek enough. One of the main reasons I chose this book is that it had greek mythology in it. I love greek mythology (Go Percy Jackson!) and I was excited to read more about it. Unfortunately, other than mentioning the gods and talking a bit about greek things, there wasn't much that showed that it had anything to do with greek mythology. There was just talk. No proof.
For example: The powers that the 'pures' had were related to nature. I don't recall any of that to be greek. The author could have made their powers related to the gods. They could have mentioned greek rituals and even greek history lessons. But there was none of that and I was very disappointed. The pures and halfs thing didn't help.
But other than that, this is a great book and I'm glad I picked it up.
Vampire Academy
Now, I've been putting this off but it's inevitable. The similarities between this book and VA are too obvious to be ignored. I'm gonna try to mention the major ones I can think of:
1. The fact that Alex wasn't at school in the beginning and was taken back to the Covenant: The situation is similar but it's also different. Alex didn't choose to leave. She wasn't running from the Covenant and there was actually a good reason provided for her absence from the school. There was also no Lissa. This reason is, therefore, dismissed.
2. Aiden tutoring her to catch up: No debating the similarity. But I will say that Aiden is a more fleshed out character than Dimitri. He's more real. He actually has a personality and I can see the chemistry between him and Alex. I can see why they like each other. So even though they're both instructors, Aiden is not Dimitri. He's very different and less like a piece of furniture (Dimitri has as much personality as a piece of furniture). Aiden is more likable. Also, the forbidden part is actually real. He's a pure, she a half. In VA, the forbidden thing is forced and doesn't make sense half the time. This one does.
3. Pures and halfs: This one actually did get to be. I don't like it. She could have changed at least this part. Like I said, their powers could be related to their godly ancestors or something. But that didn't happen. This was the biggest let-down of the book. I wish this was changed.
Spoiler
There was also the almost-had-sex thing.Everyone noticed the similarities, but did anyone notice how this book is different from VA? Her mom, Seth, the prophecy, the link, her future and the emotional rollercoaster that Alex went through. All those things had nothing to do with VA and that is very important.
Also, I gave VA 2.5 stars. This book is better written, has a better plot, more realistic and relatable characters, is faster and has more of a story and is an overall better read. So you can say that it's stealing but it really isn't. She may have taken quite a few ideas but she untimately improved them. It's like science. You take an earlier periodic table or atom model, find out it's faults, add some things, and improve it. And that is if the author took some ideas. It could have been a coincidence (though, I doubt that).
If would be more believable if someone said that VA was taken from this book but it couldn't ever be as good. I know that's not true. I'm just saying.
If someone asked me if I would rather read VA or Half-Blood, I'd say Half-blood without blinking. I'm sorry if that offends anyone. It's just how I feel. So, if anyone hasn't read VA and can't figure out which one to read. Read this one...
brooksie03051's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ekimrey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the story, loved/hated the characters with exuberance. I was intrigued by the mythology around the edges. I wanted to kiss the ground and scream "thanks book gods for finally doing it right" but I didn't I would have probably gotten smacked by a falling book for that. I love the feeling of greediness when I finish a book.
So the story is about a girl who finds herself alone after her mother is killed by evil life sucking zombies (my name), she is forced to go back to the place her mother ran from and face some really hard rippled men, ah I mean hard truths about who she is and face Ms. destiny. Yep that bitch. She screws up, tries hard, gets beaten, gets up, and endangers all.
That is all I'm giving you, if you want some fun read the book
So the story is about a girl who finds herself alone after her mother is killed by evil life sucking zombies (my name), she is forced to go back to the place her mother ran from and face some really hard rippled men, ah I mean hard truths about who she is and face Ms. destiny. Yep that bitch. She screws up, tries hard, gets beaten, gets up, and endangers all.
That is all I'm giving you, if you want some fun read the book
soulsbooks23's review against another edition
3.0
Ya he leído otros libros (de hecho sagas) de esta autora y siempre se ha caracterizado por su escritura tan sencilla y fácil de leer, con sus palabras haces que la historia te atrape más y más hasta el punto en que no puedes dejar de leer.
Este es el primer libro de la saga Covenant y he de decir que me ha gustado mucho, no pasó nada que me haya hecho quedar sorprendida pero ese misterio que lo envuelve todo y sus personajes hace que quiera seguir leyendo.
Por un lado tenemos a Alexandria quien es una mestiza y por el otro tenemos a Aiden, nuestra protagonista me cae muy bien, pero con Aiden hay algo que no me termina de cuadrar. Sin embargo, el que me tiene enamorada es Seth y es que no pude evitar caer en sus encantos y quiero saber más y más de él.
Todo este mundo me ha llamado mucho la atención, y sé que la autora va a exprimir todo de él, ya que es muy buena creando historias de fantasía.
3.5/5⭐️
Este es el primer libro de la saga Covenant y he de decir que me ha gustado mucho, no pasó nada que me haya hecho quedar sorprendida pero ese misterio que lo envuelve todo y sus personajes hace que quiera seguir leyendo.
Por un lado tenemos a Alexandria quien es una mestiza y por el otro tenemos a Aiden, nuestra protagonista me cae muy bien, pero con Aiden hay algo que no me termina de cuadrar. Sin embargo, el que me tiene enamorada es Seth y es que no pude evitar caer en sus encantos y quiero saber más y más de él.
Todo este mundo me ha llamado mucho la atención, y sé que la autora va a exprimir todo de él, ya que es muy buena creando historias de fantasía.
3.5/5⭐️
culturenator's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The main character is quite annoying, as in ‘hey if you do this stupid thing that you’ve been warned not to do, people you care about might die’ ‘oh well my childish whims mean I’ll do it anyway and endanger people I claim to love’. Not the worst part, the audiobook narration was next level terrible, I think the story was probably a 3.25 but the narrator’s cringe inducing attempts at accents (for the first half of the book I thought Seth was supposed to be Eastern European but the end of the book sounded like a really bad French accent?!)and utterly bizarre pronunciations of regular words eg feet sounding like fate (kinda confusing in a book that is about FATE a lot), yawning as yarning lips as leps.. basically sounded like someone partly constipated trying to do a sexy voice and failing? Oh nearly forgot the ablelist slur part way through the book.