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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
This YA read was touted as DaVinci-Code-esque. I loved DaVinci Code, or rather, I LOVED Angels and Demons and really like DaVinci Code. Either way, I don't get a lot of these types of reads anymore since I'm fairly checked in to YA. However, this book delivers. I was pleasantly surprised. It's not one of the "best books ever", but I can see me recommending this book/series a lot, and I can see my students loving it!
With Julia Whelan as the narrator, it's hard to go wrong with this one. She has read some of my favorites to me. I love her!
Now, I'm actually moving on to book two, which is a rarity for me.
With Julia Whelan as the narrator, it's hard to go wrong with this one. She has read some of my favorites to me. I love her!
Now, I'm actually moving on to book two, which is a rarity for me.
The writing is pretty painful at times....but I’m in deep enough that I need to know how this story plays out.
While I really enjoyed the action and adventure parts of this book, I couldn't get past the dull characters. Plus, I just couldn't stomach the premise.
2.5 Stars.
Spoiler
The circle of 12 made NO sense. What on earth made them so special to stay in power for such a long period of time? I kept waiting for a supernatural element to be introduced into the story. But, no. Apparently, purple eye color is all you need to rule the world and have endless power.2.5 Stars.
this is exactly the kind of fast-read, girlie-version-isekai, chosen one, love-triangle cliche i'd absolutely EAT UP any day of the week. yes i loved this. no i have no shame
Re-Read 1/11/17 - I had forgotten a lot about this book and needed to re-read before getting to book 2. It was just as much fun as the first time around and I'm looking forward to the next book!
More reviews on my blog, Exploring Pages.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I don't think anyone would believe when I confirm everything the marketing people are saying about this book. How The Conspiracy of Us is filled with action, drama and ― of course ― conspiracies. How it's the perfect mash-up of a teen drama like Gossip Girl and a story about conspiracies and a secret society with world control, like The Da Vinci Code. Hall combined these two aspects wonderfully, and even added a dash of Alexander the Great and the Diadochi. Even before reading I already felt like this would be something I'd enjoy, yet in the end I just loved it.
Though the beginning of the book may feel like your everyday young-adult novel, it quickly escalates into something you've never read before. By the time I became fully invested in the twisted reality Hall has created, I could say I flew through it. The story itself is nothing but awesomeness to found at every single page. I absolutely loved how the author managed to weave in history with a secret society, which are both aspects of a book I can't help but be interested in. Fortunately for me, my love for this book doesn't limit there. The Conspiracy of Us contained a lot of other things I may or may not have a thing for. Things like Napoleon, the Louvre, Istanbul, but also a surprising amount of mystery.
In fact, this little mystery the main character stumbled upon at the beginning of the book, slowly began the unravel and eventually turned into something much bigger than I first expected. Despite it sometimes came across as far-fetched and a bit unrealistic, it never had much impact on my reading experience. There definitely were times when the unbelievability made the book so much more fun and entertaining to read. Also the fact that the ending left me with a gasp, was all the more reason for me to come up with weird and far-fetched theories of my own.
A good book never fails to have well-drawn characters, and The Conspiracy of Us is not an exception. Ranging from side characters to the love interest to the main characters, I cannot help but like all of them. With some characters like Jack, Luc and Stellan, my feminine side takes over and fancies every aspect of them. Despite them being all so different, they have unique personalities and are well-developed over the course of the story. Mysterious is a keyword for all three of them, however some on a whole new level. Avery, on the other hand, is more the difficult case. Like every other character in this book, she's fleshed out and believable with a personality of her own. That personality however, had to be the One I was sometimes truly annoyed with.
I think people would gladly burn this book to ashes if I mention a love triangle. Although I can see why some have been talking about one, I honestly don't see it. Maybe the second book has potential for one because of the vague tension I sometimes saw, but for now I cross my fingers in the hopes that the romance remains between one boy and one girl, because that's the romance I fell for. Oh yes, how I rooted and swooned for that romance.
The tension between these two characters was undeniable. It was so palpable I absolutely loved it, and as soon as any signs started to show I hopped myself onto the Jack x Avery ship. Their little romance was a big bonus in my opinion, yet I couldn't help the feeling of wanting to scream out loud in pure agony with scenes like the one above mentioned. Still, if a book manages to make you feel like that, it's always appreciated.
In other words, there's no doubt about the fact that I absolutely loved Maggie Hall's stunning debut. If you like history, plot-twists, mystery, Europe, secret societies, a romance to root for and a well thought-out story, count yourself in for a great read!
“Toska.” He leaned forward, too. “It’s a Russian word. It has no translation into any other language, but the closest I’ve heard is the ache. A longing. The sense that something is missing, and even if you’re not sure what it is, you ache for it. Down to your bones.”
― Maggie Hall, The Conspiracy of Us
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I don't think anyone would believe when I confirm everything the marketing people are saying about this book. How The Conspiracy of Us is filled with action, drama and ― of course ― conspiracies. How it's the perfect mash-up of a teen drama like Gossip Girl and a story about conspiracies and a secret society with world control, like The Da Vinci Code. Hall combined these two aspects wonderfully, and even added a dash of Alexander the Great and the Diadochi. Even before reading I already felt like this would be something I'd enjoy, yet in the end I just loved it.
Though the beginning of the book may feel like your everyday young-adult novel, it quickly escalates into something you've never read before. By the time I became fully invested in the twisted reality Hall has created, I could say I flew through it. The story itself is nothing but awesomeness to found at every single page. I absolutely loved how the author managed to weave in history with a secret society, which are both aspects of a book I can't help but be interested in. Fortunately for me, my love for this book doesn't limit there. The Conspiracy of Us contained a lot of other things I may or may not have a thing for. Things like Napoleon, the Louvre, Istanbul, but also a surprising amount of mystery.
In fact, this little mystery the main character stumbled upon at the beginning of the book, slowly began the unravel and eventually turned into something much bigger than I first expected. Despite it sometimes came across as far-fetched and a bit unrealistic, it never had much impact on my reading experience. There definitely were times when the unbelievability made the book so much more fun and entertaining to read. Also the fact that the ending left me with a gasp, was all the more reason for me to come up with weird and far-fetched theories of my own.
A good book never fails to have well-drawn characters, and The Conspiracy of Us is not an exception. Ranging from side characters to the love interest to the main characters, I cannot help but like all of them. With some characters like Jack, Luc and Stellan, my feminine side takes over and fancies every aspect of them. Despite them being all so different, they have unique personalities and are well-developed over the course of the story. Mysterious is a keyword for all three of them, however some on a whole new level. Avery, on the other hand, is more the difficult case. Like every other character in this book, she's fleshed out and believable with a personality of her own. That personality however, had to be the One I was sometimes truly annoyed with.
I think people would gladly burn this book to ashes if I mention a love triangle. Although I can see why some have been talking about one, I honestly don't see it. Maybe the second book has potential for one because of the vague tension I sometimes saw, but for now I cross my fingers in the hopes that the romance remains between one boy and one girl, because that's the romance I fell for. Oh yes, how I rooted and swooned for that romance.
He glanced at my lips.
I turned around before my flaming cheeks were too obvious.
Jack cleared his throat.
"Right. We'll just wait a minute, then―"
"Sure," I said quickly. "Yeah."
The tension between these two characters was undeniable. It was so palpable I absolutely loved it, and as soon as any signs started to show I hopped myself onto the Jack x Avery ship. Their little romance was a big bonus in my opinion, yet I couldn't help the feeling of wanting to scream out loud in pure agony with scenes like the one above mentioned. Still, if a book manages to make you feel like that, it's always appreciated.
In other words, there's no doubt about the fact that I absolutely loved Maggie Hall's stunning debut. If you like history, plot-twists, mystery, Europe, secret societies, a romance to root for and a well thought-out story, count yourself in for a great read!
Other than first unbelievable action of a teenage girl jetting off to Europe with av stranger to meet her unknown father without her passport or letting her mother know, this book was fast paced and fun with lots of international travel and intrigue.
This book was so much fun. In some ways it reminded me of the Ruby Red books by Kerstin Gier (don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed that series, too). Maybe I should have been looking at the book critically and noting things.. but really, I was swept up in the adventure. Super excited for the next book!
**update: reread because it's been too long and I finally have a copy of Map of Fates. can't wait to start it!
**update: reread because it's been too long and I finally have a copy of Map of Fates. can't wait to start it!
3.5 stars.
The fact that it took me over a month to read this aside, I really enjoyed The Conspiracy of Us. I am a fan of puzzle books - particularly ones that have the characters going from place to place to place - and the addition of 12 extremely powerful families with a mysterious "mandate" just increased my excitement. My first thought upon getting midway through was how much this book reminded me of the National Treasure films. There's not a whole lot of deep introspection going on - this book is pretty fluffy aside from some violence - but I still found myself thoroughly enjoying the story. My one complaint is that the ending was rather abrupt - yes, I know it's the first of a trilogy, that's not the problem - it was just that suddenly it was all ACTION, ACTION, ACTION and then BAM. The end.
To see my full review, please go HERE.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
The fact that it took me over a month to read this aside, I really enjoyed The Conspiracy of Us. I am a fan of puzzle books - particularly ones that have the characters going from place to place to place - and the addition of 12 extremely powerful families with a mysterious "mandate" just increased my excitement. My first thought upon getting midway through was how much this book reminded me of the National Treasure films. There's not a whole lot of deep introspection going on - this book is pretty fluffy aside from some violence - but I still found myself thoroughly enjoying the story. My one complaint is that the ending was rather abrupt - yes, I know it's the first of a trilogy, that's not the problem - it was just that suddenly it was all ACTION, ACTION, ACTION and then BAM. The end.
To see my full review, please go HERE.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
4.5 Stars. I really enjoyed this book however I was very confused. Is her mom a part of the Circle or the Order? Were her mandates really from Fitz saying to move? I really hope the next book explains more because I felt like there were some gaps in the plot that needed to be resolved by the end of this book.