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jasbeingjas's review against another edition
3.0
This was a quick and fun read, only about 220 ish pages. I really liked the plot and the characters. The story was great and I really like the pace it was being told at. But the end seemed really sped up and abrupt, and I wish it had the same pace as the beginning of the book, even if it would have made it longer! Actually maybe more so, because it would have made the book longer!
emma_johnson_529's review against another edition
3.0
*Thank you to Book Sirens for providing a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
There were definitely things I enjoyed about this book, but I didn't love it. I appreciated seeing a geeky heroine, and her voice was clear throughout the story. Sometimes the dialogue was really fresh and funny. I also found the romance plot compelling.
However, I noticed typos and awkward wording at several points in the story. The world felt a bit cobbled together, and I still didn't really understand the magic system by the end. The villain was also fairly one dimensional and cartoonish.
So unfortunately, I can't give this book a glowing recommendation, but I did enjoy it.
There were definitely things I enjoyed about this book, but I didn't love it. I appreciated seeing a geeky heroine, and her voice was clear throughout the story. Sometimes the dialogue was really fresh and funny. I also found the romance plot compelling.
However, I noticed typos and awkward wording at several points in the story. The world felt a bit cobbled together, and I still didn't really understand the magic system by the end. The villain was also fairly one dimensional and cartoonish.
So unfortunately, I can't give this book a glowing recommendation, but I did enjoy it.
tatiana_096's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! At first it reminded me of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Universe, with demon-like creatures and a hidden society that defeats and kills the creatures, but then it turned into its own universe, that I ended up falling in love with. The storyline is just the right amount of everything and I love Jacklyn and Kyp’s relationship! The author left the ending with just enough that I want to read the next one! Thankyou so much BookSirens for letting me review it!
kaylagrennes's review against another edition
3.0
I was very intrigued by this book with the mention of a secret order who fights inter dimensional beings, and of a girl discovering her destiny, but I didn’t really get what I expected to get. I felt this book could have been longer to hash out some ideas and add world-building, especially in the areas relating to the history of the Order (the society in which our main character, Jacklyn, joins). I wanted to know more about what am Aegis was, what the history of the Order was, and what these inter dimensional creatures were.
The personalities of the characters were often confusing to me, especially the dynamic between Jacklyn and Kyp. All of the characters (aside from Gana) would be friends with someone for one minute only to hate them the next. I think I partially felt this way because it felt like I was missing dialogue.
I did really like to see the character growth from Jacklyn, and I would have liked to see some this development a little more obviously in other characters.
This book was such a whirlwind. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I just didn’t feel super connected with what I was reading. I think that some people would really enjoy this book, I just don’t think it was for me.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and in exchange am giving this a review.
The personalities of the characters were often confusing to me, especially the dynamic between Jacklyn and Kyp. All of the characters (aside from Gana) would be friends with someone for one minute only to hate them the next. I think I partially felt this way because it felt like I was missing dialogue.
I did really like to see the character growth from Jacklyn, and I would have liked to see some this development a little more obviously in other characters.
This book was such a whirlwind. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I just didn’t feel super connected with what I was reading. I think that some people would really enjoy this book, I just don’t think it was for me.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and in exchange am giving this a review.
bookish_equestrian's review against another edition
3.0
The Order of the Key is about a girl called Jacklyn Madison who was an ordinary girl living in Bronx, until one day she comes home and gets attacked by monsters. Her life changes and she finds out her percents were apart of The Order of the Key.
I enjoyed this book. The plot was very engaging while being fast paced. I also enjoyed having the little romance thrown in there. The characters were very relatable and realistic. Justine Manzano did a great job making you care for the characters in short amount of pages. I felt like the ending was rushed, and maybe if the book had been a bit longer that would have helped.
I was given an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to BookSirens, the publishers and Justine Manzano for approving me a copy.
I enjoyed this book. The plot was very engaging while being fast paced. I also enjoyed having the little romance thrown in there. The characters were very relatable and realistic. Justine Manzano did a great job making you care for the characters in short amount of pages. I felt like the ending was rushed, and maybe if the book had been a bit longer that would have helped.
I was given an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to BookSirens, the publishers and Justine Manzano for approving me a copy.
bewarethebookwyrm's review
3.0
Jade's Review:
At first, I was super excited about this book. Then I read three pages of it…
The plot was the only thing that kept me reading. It always had action and continued to keep me entertained. The characters, especially Jacklyn, grew so much throughout the story. Gana was my favorite character because she was a complete nerd.
However, I noticed an abundance of cuss words. Not a fan. I also ran into some romantic scenes that made me uncomfortable.
At first, I was super excited about this book. Then I read three pages of it…
The plot was the only thing that kept me reading. It always had action and continued to keep me entertained. The characters, especially Jacklyn, grew so much throughout the story. Gana was my favorite character because she was a complete nerd.
However, I noticed an abundance of cuss words. Not a fan. I also ran into some romantic scenes that made me uncomfortable.
mysterious_bookshack's review against another edition
4.0
Rating ~ 4 / 5 stars
I received and E-ARC of The Order of the Key through BookSirens and the following review is based solely on my opinions. Thank you for E-ARC!
I read this book in one sitting and I really enjoyed it! The basic plot of the story is often represented through most stories like the popular series The Mortal Instruments but you could tell that this story is unique and entertaining in its own way. I loved how Justine Manzano clearly took the time to take a well-known basic storyline and made it her own while adding her own twists and turns. I did however got confused at times because the phrasing of the story wasn’t as clear as I would like it to be but the dynamics of the story totally makes up for it. A good writer is able to make you feel certain emotions at the right time and for Justine Manzano did that for me! I can’t wait to read the next book and see how Jacklyn will evolve after the shocking development that happened at the end!
I received and E-ARC of The Order of the Key through BookSirens and the following review is based solely on my opinions. Thank you for E-ARC!
I read this book in one sitting and I really enjoyed it! The basic plot of the story is often represented through most stories like the popular series The Mortal Instruments but you could tell that this story is unique and entertaining in its own way. I loved how Justine Manzano clearly took the time to take a well-known basic storyline and made it her own while adding her own twists and turns. I did however got confused at times because the phrasing of the story wasn’t as clear as I would like it to be but the dynamics of the story totally makes up for it. A good writer is able to make you feel certain emotions at the right time and for Justine Manzano did that for me! I can’t wait to read the next book and see how Jacklyn will evolve after the shocking development that happened at the end!
pghsue33's review
4.0
Jacklyn Madison's whole world changes the day she turns eighteen. During a stop at her neighborhood corner store, she is attacked by alien monsters. She is rescued by a group of "Keys", other teens with special abilities. It turns out that Jacklyn is also a Key and her that her mother and sister are "Guardians" (tasked with protecting the Keys).
The Order of the Key is like many other Young Adult novels. There is a group of heroes with special abilities that live separately from most of society. There is a love interest who causes the heroine a great deal of inner conflict, and there is a group elder that is part of an evil plot. This book rises above mediocrity because of Justine Manzano's ability to create realistic, engaging characters. Jacklyn and her peers are sarcastic, funny, likeable, and talk like typical teens (obscenity warning for all the school librarians out there!)
I, too, feel that the second half of the book is rushed. It could benefit from the exposition that is a big part of the first half of the novel. The book is fairly short, however, so I would encourage others to give it a try.
Thank you to Book Sirens for giving me a free ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
The Order of the Key is like many other Young Adult novels. There is a group of heroes with special abilities that live separately from most of society. There is a love interest who causes the heroine a great deal of inner conflict, and there is a group elder that is part of an evil plot. This book rises above mediocrity because of Justine Manzano's ability to create realistic, engaging characters. Jacklyn and her peers are sarcastic, funny, likeable, and talk like typical teens (obscenity warning for all the school librarians out there!)
I, too, feel that the second half of the book is rushed. It could benefit from the exposition that is a big part of the first half of the novel. The book is fairly short, however, so I would encourage others to give it a try.
Thank you to Book Sirens for giving me a free ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
lottiereads's review
2.0
I got this book for free from BookSirens for an honest review.
Now I read the synopsis and this is normally right up my street, unfortunately I didn’t like it. The story idea was a great idea but unfortunately it didn’t really feel finished.
There was a lot of unnecessary death. I felt like there was a lot more work that needed doing to it, if it was longer and parts expanded on to make this seem more engaging.
Character development only really happened for the two main characters as the others are more, almost disposable characters. I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters which was a shame as when people died I was expecting to feel the loss.
Now I read the synopsis and this is normally right up my street, unfortunately I didn’t like it. The story idea was a great idea but unfortunately it didn’t really feel finished.
There was a lot of unnecessary death. I felt like there was a lot more work that needed doing to it, if it was longer and parts expanded on to make this seem more engaging.
Character development only really happened for the two main characters as the others are more, almost disposable characters. I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters which was a shame as when people died I was expecting to feel the loss.