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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
I have literally devoured this book in the past two hours. I was recently sent this book to read and review and I decided that I would not read it until after the impending doom of this week's IGCSE exams; however, I got bored of revising and so I began to read 'Darkness Becomes Her'. This was a big mistake. Not because the book isn't good, because it is, but because after: 'just the first chapter', I literally could not put it down.
It is a very fast paced novel so I was turning page after page like nobody's business and the thrilling plot kept me going the entire way through. I did not know what to expect from this book, clearly it had something to do with the paranormal but other than that I was clueless. I was actually quite suprised by what I found. I thought that this book was just another author trying to feed off the success of the twilight phenomenon, but boy was I wrong. Of course, there are vampires in this book, but they're more like extras rather than something which actually contributes to the story. There is literally every kind of supernatural being in this book. It ranges from vampires to witches to shapeshifters, and what really suprised me: Greek Gods. The way that Keaton incorporates bits of Greek mythology into this novel is a bit odd at first, but when you get used to it is a superb addition to the plot. If you're a fan of the supernatural then this is definitely a book for you.
What is also interesting about this book, is that it is set in the future, in New Orleans after a series of great hurricanes that destroyed the city. The rest of the plot stems from there and it is truly intriguing as a paranormal story is placed in such a familiar setting that all the readers should know of.
There are quite a lot of unexpected twists and turns in this book, if you really analyse the plot you could probably guess how certain characters fit into the mix, but I'd say that this would be a book full of suspense for the average reader.
I don't want to give away any of the plot, but this is truly a great read and I highly recommend the first in what is sure to be a great new series! Follow Ari, a confused and curious teenage girl, and her new band of paranormal misfits as they try to uncover the secrets of her past and how to progress into the future.
Find this review and many others at http://whats--hot.blogspot.com
It is a very fast paced novel so I was turning page after page like nobody's business and the thrilling plot kept me going the entire way through. I did not know what to expect from this book, clearly it had something to do with the paranormal but other than that I was clueless. I was actually quite suprised by what I found. I thought that this book was just another author trying to feed off the success of the twilight phenomenon, but boy was I wrong. Of course, there are vampires in this book, but they're more like extras rather than something which actually contributes to the story. There is literally every kind of supernatural being in this book. It ranges from vampires to witches to shapeshifters, and what really suprised me: Greek Gods. The way that Keaton incorporates bits of Greek mythology into this novel is a bit odd at first, but when you get used to it is a superb addition to the plot. If you're a fan of the supernatural then this is definitely a book for you.
What is also interesting about this book, is that it is set in the future, in New Orleans after a series of great hurricanes that destroyed the city. The rest of the plot stems from there and it is truly intriguing as a paranormal story is placed in such a familiar setting that all the readers should know of.
There are quite a lot of unexpected twists and turns in this book, if you really analyse the plot you could probably guess how certain characters fit into the mix, but I'd say that this would be a book full of suspense for the average reader.
I don't want to give away any of the plot, but this is truly a great read and I highly recommend the first in what is sure to be a great new series! Follow Ari, a confused and curious teenage girl, and her new band of paranormal misfits as they try to uncover the secrets of her past and how to progress into the future.
Find this review and many others at http://whats--hot.blogspot.com
I really liked this story. One, it took a bunch of elements I have seen a million other places and put it back together into a brand new story. Loved the gothic setting. I do wonder if Keaton had me entranced because of her writing or if I loved this so much because I have been to New Orleans and recognized almost everything in the book.
Ari is not a blushing flower of a heroine. Think instead: a slightly less mad Lizbeth Salander. I gave super points for this being a first novel, and I am assuming this will be a series. So I want more character development and more exploration of supporting characters in the next book. I love the little cast of outcasts surrounding Ari. Crank, especially, could be our first-ever elementary school steampunk hero! Henri has no personality at all, and Dub needs some background, but I love them already.
The world building here is great, but I would love to know a few more things. How, for example, are supplies getting into the city if the postal truck barely gets across the bridge? Where is the food supply? I am curious because I care.
I predict this series will find fans with paranormal readers, mythological readers, alternative history readers, and dystopian readers (the feel is there).
Ari is not a blushing flower of a heroine. Think instead: a slightly less mad Lizbeth Salander. I gave super points for this being a first novel, and I am assuming this will be a series. So I want more character development and more exploration of supporting characters in the next book. I love the little cast of outcasts surrounding Ari. Crank, especially, could be our first-ever elementary school steampunk hero! Henri has no personality at all, and Dub needs some background, but I love them already.
The world building here is great, but I would love to know a few more things. How, for example, are supplies getting into the city if the postal truck barely gets across the bridge? Where is the food supply? I am curious because I care.
I predict this series will find fans with paranormal readers, mythological readers, alternative history readers, and dystopian readers (the feel is there).
This book didn't make me want to fling it across the room, so it's already one up on most of the books in the books in this genre.
A great mix of action, the paranormal, and the sense of not fitting in.
Ari is different. Not in the standard I-don't-fit-in-on-high-school kind of way, but visibly different. Her straight silver hair cannot be cut or dyed, and her eyes stand out. She hasn't had the most standard upbringing either; after being left by her mother she's had foster home after home, before finally settling down with a couple that teaches her how to fight and handle a gun.
The story begins with Ari trying to find out who her biological mother is. This leads her to the ruins of New Orleans, that now, after two catastrophic hurricanes, is called Area 2. Area 2 is bought by nine families of power, the Novem. It has become the epicentre of everything paranormal and the outcasts. Ari hopes to find who she is here, or better still, what she is.
First thing that comes to mind while reading Darkness Becomes Her is that Ari is so mature for her age. She doesn't pay attention to the normal-teen stuff. While this could be a put-off, in this story it works. Her early matureness can easily be explained by her lack of a innocent childhood. We don't get a lot of background, but enough to see that Ari's life has not been easy. One thing that shocked me a bit is Ari's language. I'm used to the cutesy fluffy YA-heroines that say things like "Oh my!". Ari's favourite profanity seems to be "fuck" though. I'm not really a fan of foul language in books, and the word was used quite excessively, but that didn't bother me personally. I can understand that this might offend some readers though.
What made me love this book so much is it's oddness. The setting, the characters, everything is different from the ordinary. It goes hand in hand with the dark edge of the story. The plot is a daring mix of paranormal creatures we know and understand (like vampires and shifters) and an interesting view on the Greek mythology.
I had only one complaint that made me reluctant to give this book a 5-star rating. The plot moves extremely quick, which overall I only appreciated, because this kind of book has to move fast to keep momentum. But that also meant that the romance between Ari and Sebastian was completely incomprehensible at times. Just when I thought I understood what was going on, they did something that left me frowning and scratching my head in utter confusion. Luckily, towards the end it got more understandable for me so I wasn't condemned to stay in that uncomfortable state.
You will either love this book, or hate it. It depends on what your expectations are. Don't expect this to be a cute girl-meets-guy story with some paranormal elements and mythical creatures. A whole new world is created in Darkness Becomes Her, and I cannot wait to see what happens next with Ari!
Ari is different. Not in the standard I-don't-fit-in-on-high-school kind of way, but visibly different. Her straight silver hair cannot be cut or dyed, and her eyes stand out. She hasn't had the most standard upbringing either; after being left by her mother she's had foster home after home, before finally settling down with a couple that teaches her how to fight and handle a gun.
The story begins with Ari trying to find out who her biological mother is. This leads her to the ruins of New Orleans, that now, after two catastrophic hurricanes, is called Area 2. Area 2 is bought by nine families of power, the Novem. It has become the epicentre of everything paranormal and the outcasts. Ari hopes to find who she is here, or better still, what she is.
First thing that comes to mind while reading Darkness Becomes Her is that Ari is so mature for her age. She doesn't pay attention to the normal-teen stuff. While this could be a put-off, in this story it works. Her early matureness can easily be explained by her lack of a innocent childhood. We don't get a lot of background, but enough to see that Ari's life has not been easy. One thing that shocked me a bit is Ari's language. I'm used to the cutesy fluffy YA-heroines that say things like "Oh my!". Ari's favourite profanity seems to be "fuck" though. I'm not really a fan of foul language in books, and the word was used quite excessively, but that didn't bother me personally. I can understand that this might offend some readers though.
What made me love this book so much is it's oddness. The setting, the characters, everything is different from the ordinary. It goes hand in hand with the dark edge of the story. The plot is a daring mix of paranormal creatures we know and understand (like vampires and shifters) and an interesting view on the Greek mythology.
I had only one complaint that made me reluctant to give this book a 5-star rating. The plot moves extremely quick, which overall I only appreciated, because this kind of book has to move fast to keep momentum. But that also meant that the romance between Ari and Sebastian was completely incomprehensible at times. Just when I thought I understood what was going on, they did something that left me frowning and scratching my head in utter confusion. Luckily, towards the end it got more understandable for me so I wasn't condemned to stay in that uncomfortable state.
You will either love this book, or hate it. It depends on what your expectations are. Don't expect this to be a cute girl-meets-guy story with some paranormal elements and mythical creatures. A whole new world is created in Darkness Becomes Her, and I cannot wait to see what happens next with Ari!
Impressive start.
I liked how this book incorporated the supernatural with Greek mythology. It also makes sense that this book is set in New Orleans.
Ari has no idea who her mother or father is. All she knows is that her mother killed herself but left her a note that told her to run. Oh, and someone is trying to kill her.
This book combined some of my favourite things in the world (supernatural, Greek mythology) and actually did a pretty good job. The series title made me iffy about this book. But, I didn't need to worry. Kelly Keaton does them justice.
Although this book was really good, my biggest thing was that it felt rushed. The timespan through the book is extremely short and the entire time it felt like we were rushing to the end. I found that there were spots in the novel that could have been better explained and I think that Keaton should have taken more time through out the book to explain Sebastian and the other characters living in the GD house. We learned bits and pieces but I wanted more. That would have been better instead of the all out plot sprint to the end.
Pretty good book, excited for the next one!
I liked how this book incorporated the supernatural with Greek mythology. It also makes sense that this book is set in New Orleans.
Ari has no idea who her mother or father is. All she knows is that her mother killed herself but left her a note that told her to run. Oh, and someone is trying to kill her.
This book combined some of my favourite things in the world (supernatural, Greek mythology) and actually did a pretty good job. The series title made me iffy about this book. But, I didn't need to worry. Kelly Keaton does them justice.
Although this book was really good, my biggest thing was that it felt rushed. The timespan through the book is extremely short and the entire time it felt like we were rushing to the end. I found that there were spots in the novel that could have been better explained and I think that Keaton should have taken more time through out the book to explain Sebastian and the other characters living in the GD house. We learned bits and pieces but I wanted more. That would have been better instead of the all out plot sprint to the end.
Pretty good book, excited for the next one!
It was an okay Greek mythology take of Athena and Medusa but I will admit I skimmed the last 2 chapters.
I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Darkness Becomes Her. On the one hand Ari constant NEED to be normal rubbed me the wrong way. So did her constant ripping on her hair and eyes, I mean come on now you've had them for this long embrace them. Then on the other hand I loved her fierce loyalty and her whole bad ass attitude. She was a force to be reckoned with and she never got cocky about that, even though she would stand toe to toe with anyone. She was also driven, and not by money or power but by the need to help her friends and her ancestors. I'm excited to see what happens between her and Sebastian and if she will ever learn to control her gorgon powers. Not to mention I want to see whats up with Dub, Henri and especially Violet.
It was a fun quick read! i loved the idea, but it wasn't great.
When the hurricanes came through and hit New Orleans it left nothing; just a desolate national disaster with thousands and thousands of misplaced people. In Kelly Keaton's, Darkness Becomes Her, New Orleans becomes known as New 2 after the hurricanes and is rumored to be the hub of paranormal activity in the United States.
New 2 is it's own city, and not even really considered part of the United States. Since the hurricanes hit a group called the Novem bought New Orleans and started to rebuild it themselves. People outside of the Rim usually only visit New 2 for Mardi Gras and ghost hunting adventures. Much unlike Ari who is on the hunt for information on her parents, which has brought her to this broken down city.
Ari has always been the outcasted type of girl. She grew up in the foster care system and never really had a family to call her own. Her hair and eyes have pretty much branded her as a weirdo in normal society. Silver hair and teal colored eyes are just not something you see every day.
I really do like Ari though, she has a very complex past and a tougher than nails personality. Her personality develops pretty well through out the book, but I think it will get even better in the next one. Besides her, all of the other characters were very imaginative and individual. I felt like I could actually see the characters and their manuerisms, which I really enjoy when I'm reading.
The world of New 2 is very intense, and as it should be after a barrage of hurricanes hit it. Kelly Keaton does a really great job at being descriptive with the world she has made. There are tons of broken down, rotting, and decaying homes and abandonned buildings that I think were described very well. The realness of this world is not really hard to imagine, we did all see how this could be after hurricane Katrina hit.
In regards to Kelly Keaton's writing style and flow of the book, I absolutlet loved it! The story just kept flowing and I did not want to put this book down, in fact I stayed up pretty late for two nights there! (I means like...1 almost 2 in the morning late, and if you're a mom of a small one you know that is really late!) I just loved the way she spoke through the characters, I could just imagine myself right in their world with them. I think I could probably get lost in this series if I'm not careful!
The mythology side of this book was very interesting to me as well. Anything that involves Greek gods and paranormal monster is for sure my cup of tea. I am very happy with the direction that this book went and am very excited to start on the ARC of book two, A Beautiful Evil!
New 2 is it's own city, and not even really considered part of the United States. Since the hurricanes hit a group called the Novem bought New Orleans and started to rebuild it themselves. People outside of the Rim usually only visit New 2 for Mardi Gras and ghost hunting adventures. Much unlike Ari who is on the hunt for information on her parents, which has brought her to this broken down city.
Ari has always been the outcasted type of girl. She grew up in the foster care system and never really had a family to call her own. Her hair and eyes have pretty much branded her as a weirdo in normal society. Silver hair and teal colored eyes are just not something you see every day.
I really do like Ari though, she has a very complex past and a tougher than nails personality. Her personality develops pretty well through out the book, but I think it will get even better in the next one. Besides her, all of the other characters were very imaginative and individual. I felt like I could actually see the characters and their manuerisms, which I really enjoy when I'm reading.
The world of New 2 is very intense, and as it should be after a barrage of hurricanes hit it. Kelly Keaton does a really great job at being descriptive with the world she has made. There are tons of broken down, rotting, and decaying homes and abandonned buildings that I think were described very well. The realness of this world is not really hard to imagine, we did all see how this could be after hurricane Katrina hit.
In regards to Kelly Keaton's writing style and flow of the book, I absolutlet loved it! The story just kept flowing and I did not want to put this book down, in fact I stayed up pretty late for two nights there! (I means like...1 almost 2 in the morning late, and if you're a mom of a small one you know that is really late!) I just loved the way she spoke through the characters, I could just imagine myself right in their world with them. I think I could probably get lost in this series if I'm not careful!
The mythology side of this book was very interesting to me as well. Anything that involves Greek gods and paranormal monster is for sure my cup of tea. I am very happy with the direction that this book went and am very excited to start on the ARC of book two, A Beautiful Evil!
Pretty good, not overly impressed but it was enjoyable