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ashction's review against another edition
5.0
My review can truly be summed up in one word: MASTERPIECE.
This book is a true THRILL. At no point did I actually know what was coming next, and it was gloriously perfect. I am SCREAMING. STUPIFIED. I need EVERYONE to read this!!!
Joan Chang-Hunt is having the perfect summer at her Gran's house. When she isn't spending time with her odd family, she works at a local museum and swoons over Nick, a coworker of hers who just might like her back if their planned date is anything to go by. Everything is just right - until Joan accidentally uncovers a family secret. She is half-human, half-monster, with the ability to time travel by siphoning off human's lives by touch. Joan is horrified by the discovery. But when Joan and Nick are attacked by the Olivers, another family of monsters, Joan discovers she has no idea how deep her horror can go. Because the thing about Nick? He's a monster hunter, and not just any monster hunter. Nick is the hero prophesied to end monsters for good.
As if things can't get worse, Nick and his allies slaughter all monster families, including the Hunts and the Olivers, in one night. Joan's only ally is another survivor, Aaron Oliver. The Olivers and Hunts are enemies, but without many other options (and because Aaron owes Joan for saving his life), the two escape together to 1993. But not all is as it seems, and Joan is thrust into a world she's never known as she attempts to do the impossible: end Nick's life in order to bring the families back to life.
I obviously cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. The world is deeply fascinating. There are families of monsters with time-traveling abilities, and each family has their own individual power. Memory, disappearing objects, magic eyesight, to name only a few. There's also a compelling mystery threading through the narrative, and to top it off, family secrets and hidden powers. There's also a love triangle, of sorts, and a girl trying to figure out if she's more monster or human. It all boils together to be a riveting thriller you can't look away from. I didn't anticipate reading this in an evening, but once I picked it up, I was sucked in to this world!
I mainly picked it up for the love interest (a love interest, really), but by the end of it, I was heartbroken and torn and wanting more. Luckily for me, this is a trilogy, and I already need book two like I need air to breathe. One thing I especially loved about this book is that despite knowing this is first in a series, the end does not leave you with some huge cliffhanger you'll need to remember in 1-2 years. I feel confident I'll be able to pick up book two and not feel lost; there's a sense of some finality while still acknowledging that there are plenty of threads left unexplored.
I am so, so glad I picked this up. I had such a blast reading this, and I cannot wait to pick up the next installment!
I received a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to Harpercollins for providing me access!
This book is a true THRILL. At no point did I actually know what was coming next, and it was gloriously perfect. I am SCREAMING. STUPIFIED. I need EVERYONE to read this!!!
Joan Chang-Hunt is having the perfect summer at her Gran's house. When she isn't spending time with her odd family, she works at a local museum and swoons over Nick, a coworker of hers who just might like her back if their planned date is anything to go by. Everything is just right - until Joan accidentally uncovers a family secret. She is half-human, half-monster, with the ability to time travel by siphoning off human's lives by touch. Joan is horrified by the discovery. But when Joan and Nick are attacked by the Olivers, another family of monsters, Joan discovers she has no idea how deep her horror can go. Because the thing about Nick? He's a monster hunter, and not just any monster hunter. Nick is the hero prophesied to end monsters for good.
As if things can't get worse, Nick and his allies slaughter all monster families, including the Hunts and the Olivers, in one night. Joan's only ally is another survivor, Aaron Oliver. The Olivers and Hunts are enemies, but without many other options (and because Aaron owes Joan for saving his life), the two escape together to 1993. But not all is as it seems, and Joan is thrust into a world she's never known as she attempts to do the impossible: end Nick's life in order to bring the families back to life.
I obviously cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. The world is deeply fascinating. There are families of monsters with time-traveling abilities, and each family has their own individual power. Memory, disappearing objects, magic eyesight, to name only a few. There's also a compelling mystery threading through the narrative, and to top it off, family secrets and hidden powers. There's also a love triangle, of sorts, and a girl trying to figure out if she's more monster or human. It all boils together to be a riveting thriller you can't look away from. I didn't anticipate reading this in an evening, but once I picked it up, I was sucked in to this world!
I mainly picked it up for the love interest (a love interest, really), but by the end of it, I was heartbroken and torn and wanting more. Luckily for me, this is a trilogy, and I already need book two like I need air to breathe. One thing I especially loved about this book is that despite knowing this is first in a series, the end does not leave you with some huge cliffhanger you'll need to remember in 1-2 years. I feel confident I'll be able to pick up book two and not feel lost; there's a sense of some finality while still acknowledging that there are plenty of threads left unexplored.
Spoiler
A mysterious blonde woman, an unseen king, and Aaron Oliver, a boy with a debt that doesn't yet seem paid. A boy who may be more powerful than we first believe. And a boy with a family history that seems far too deep for this to be the last time we see him. I'm also wondering about Nick... something tells me that isn't the last of him, either!I am so, so glad I picked this up. I had such a blast reading this, and I cannot wait to pick up the next installment!
I received a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to Harpercollins for providing me access!
mhmissey's review against another edition
4.0
What if you are the monster the hero is chasing. Lovely twist.
mrsamp11's review against another edition
4.0
The last few years i’ve drifted away from the YA GENRE , but this really did come to life well ! I loved the loveeeee enemy trope , the characters were very easy to like or hate , and it was a pretty easy read . The enemy soulmates that Vanessa out together was just enough to give a little spice burn , but this is really age appropriate for a younger audience id say . It is dark , and morbid … but i really loved it ! Id say 13/14 reader age in my opinion !
bridgetbosworth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
noemi1010's review against another edition
4.0
Joan is finally going out with Nick, the guys she has a crush on. They have been working together for the whole summer, but on the day of their date, she finds out that she's not human. She descends from a line of monster who can travel through time by taking years of life from humans. If that wasn't enough to turn upside down Joan's world, Nick is a monster hunter and kills all of her family. The only survivors are Joan and the son of the rival family, and they need to travel through time to figure out what happens. Joan realises that there is more going on than she originally thought, and that to save her family she needs to give up her love.
I was dragged into the story from page 1, and I cannot wait to see how the story continues. I need to believe that Joan and Nick get the happy ending they deserve.
I was dragged into the story from page 1, and I cannot wait to see how the story continues. I need to believe that Joan and Nick get the happy ending they deserve.
stephkmcg's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
zoelou_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ashhvillainreads's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hailey2510's review against another edition
3.0
That was alright. I didn’t like Nick at all, and loved Aaron (at some points.) The pacing was kind of weird, especially in the beginning. I enjoyed reading it, but I don’t think that I’ll remember it at all.
It’s been 4 months and I can’t stop thinking about it. I NEED to see Aaron and Joan together.
It’s been 4 months and I can’t stop thinking about it. I NEED to see Aaron and Joan together.
blurrypetals's review against another edition
2.0
Man, I'm bummed this was so lame!
I really was looking forward to giving this book a try. It's a debut and I was excited to have an Asian main character for a new YA series. Besides, I love villains, villain stories, stories with dubious morality, all that jazz! This seemed to be directly in my wheelhouse!
Instead, it just feels every last bi the debut that it is. The pacing is crazy bad right from the get-go and it did absolutely nothing to draw me into the story or characters before introducing the conflict. Sometimes that sort of thing can work, but the conflict was as well-established to us as it is to the main character, which is to say...the conflict is not well-established at all!
After reading a few mixed reviews on here, it just seemed like it was a good idea to simply DNF this one and move on to greener pastures. Better luck next time I guess!
I really was looking forward to giving this book a try. It's a debut and I was excited to have an Asian main character for a new YA series. Besides, I love villains, villain stories, stories with dubious morality, all that jazz! This seemed to be directly in my wheelhouse!
Instead, it just feels every last bi the debut that it is. The pacing is crazy bad right from the get-go and it did absolutely nothing to draw me into the story or characters before introducing the conflict. Sometimes that sort of thing can work, but the conflict was as well-established to us as it is to the main character, which is to say...the conflict is not well-established at all!
After reading a few mixed reviews on here, it just seemed like it was a good idea to simply DNF this one and move on to greener pastures. Better luck next time I guess!