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abbyminzer's review
3.0
First of all, I obtained my copy of This Wicked Game by Michelle Zink through the Goodreads First Reads program, so thank you!
Now, for my review, I have graded this novel in three categories, which were then divided into three subcategories per category, making for a total of nine subcategories. Let's begin.
Writing:
Style- Michelle Zink's writing style in This Wicked Game is around 4 of 5 stars. It's engaging and quick, but not to the extent for which I was hoping. Hey, maybe I'm just being harsh because I loved Prophecy of the Sisters series, but if that's the case, then I'm being lenient for the same reason.
Fluency- I'm going to give this subcategory a 4 of 5 stars as well. Her sentences and paragraphs are generally well-paced and easily navigated through. But occasionally, I got the feeling that there were bits and pieces that that either didn't fit, were being continuously reused, or disrupted the flow of the plot.
Grammatical- This one made me really happy, for the most part. There were one or two typos, but other than that, 5 of 5 stars. What else can I say, except, "Thank you for making my life a bit easier and more pleasant"?
Presentation:
Appeal- This am seem like an odd grading category, but I feel like its necessary for this particular book. The title, the cover art, the summary, the wonderful scent of new book, they all just come together and MAKE YOU WANT TO BUY THE BOOK AND READ IT! So, for Appeal, my grade will be 5 of 5 stars.
Structure- I'm slightly muddled about what to say here. Honestly, it was pretty good, though it CERTAINLY left room for improvement. The action didn't pick up until the very end. Most of the book was our protagonist and her gang speculating about what was going on. So much potential, and yet nothing really happened for quite some time. That leaves my grade at 3 of 5 stars.
Creativity- As far as creativity in presentation goes, there wasn't really any thinking-outside-the-box going on here. The presentation lacked true imagination. Suspense could have been built up so well, yet I knew how it was going to end from the very beginning. I was hoping for MORE! I have to go with a rating of 3 of 5 stars for this subcategory.
Concept:
Originality- There aren't really any voodoo young adult novels that I know of on the market at the moment, so 5 of 5 stars here. This is like my, "You get credit for trying!" section.
Plot- As I mentioned in the Creativity grade, there really could have been so much more. I didn't really enjoy the simplicity of it. There weren't any tangled character relationships or plot twists. No purely awesome characters in sight. None of the characters really stood out at all, in my mind. The plot seemed very basic and generic to me, so 3 of 5 stars it is.
Accuracy- Now I'm no expert in the craft of voodoo, but I don't think that the practicioners of the voodoo craft were portrayed realistically. You know what, I'm not going to go off on a tangent. I'm just going to give it a 3 of 5 stars rating.
Which leaves my overall rating at 3 of 5 stars. I am sighing with a wistful expression on my face as I bear witness to many wasted opportunities fleeing out the front door...
Now, for my review, I have graded this novel in three categories, which were then divided into three subcategories per category, making for a total of nine subcategories. Let's begin.
Writing:
Style- Michelle Zink's writing style in This Wicked Game is around 4 of 5 stars. It's engaging and quick, but not to the extent for which I was hoping. Hey, maybe I'm just being harsh because I loved Prophecy of the Sisters series, but if that's the case, then I'm being lenient for the same reason.
Fluency- I'm going to give this subcategory a 4 of 5 stars as well. Her sentences and paragraphs are generally well-paced and easily navigated through. But occasionally, I got the feeling that there were bits and pieces that that either didn't fit, were being continuously reused, or disrupted the flow of the plot.
Grammatical- This one made me really happy, for the most part. There were one or two typos, but other than that, 5 of 5 stars. What else can I say, except, "Thank you for making my life a bit easier and more pleasant"?
Presentation:
Appeal- This am seem like an odd grading category, but I feel like its necessary for this particular book. The title, the cover art, the summary, the wonderful scent of new book, they all just come together and MAKE YOU WANT TO BUY THE BOOK AND READ IT! So, for Appeal, my grade will be 5 of 5 stars.
Structure- I'm slightly muddled about what to say here. Honestly, it was pretty good, though it CERTAINLY left room for improvement. The action didn't pick up until the very end. Most of the book was our protagonist and her gang speculating about what was going on. So much potential, and yet nothing really happened for quite some time. That leaves my grade at 3 of 5 stars.
Creativity- As far as creativity in presentation goes, there wasn't really any thinking-outside-the-box going on here. The presentation lacked true imagination. Suspense could have been built up so well, yet I knew how it was going to end from the very beginning. I was hoping for MORE! I have to go with a rating of 3 of 5 stars for this subcategory.
Concept:
Originality- There aren't really any voodoo young adult novels that I know of on the market at the moment, so 5 of 5 stars here. This is like my, "You get credit for trying!" section.
Plot- As I mentioned in the Creativity grade, there really could have been so much more. I didn't really enjoy the simplicity of it. There weren't any tangled character relationships or plot twists. No purely awesome characters in sight. None of the characters really stood out at all, in my mind. The plot seemed very basic and generic to me, so 3 of 5 stars it is.
Accuracy- Now I'm no expert in the craft of voodoo, but I don't think that the practicioners of the voodoo craft were portrayed realistically. You know what, I'm not going to go off on a tangent. I'm just going to give it a 3 of 5 stars rating.
Which leaves my overall rating at 3 of 5 stars. I am sighing with a wistful expression on my face as I bear witness to many wasted opportunities fleeing out the front door...
literatureish_liz's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, start to finish. It grabbed my attention and didn't let go. I mean the descendant of a Voodoo Priestess? So interesting! The characters were well written and you cared about them and the plot was intricate without being overwhelming. Definitely an excellent read and I super hope she writes a sequel. It was really refreshing not to read about the same old supernaturals with the same old plot lines. This book was like a breath of fresh air in the paranormal world of YA literature.
alli_the_bookaholic13's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
4.0
worms_and_words's review
2.0
I read through it quick it just didn’t capture my attention too much.
lilyaronovitz's review
4.0
This book was a "jump straight into the action and reveal details as you go" kind of story, which isn't always my favorite. However, there was something about this book, whether it was the writing, storyline, or characters, that kept me surprisingly engaged. I had pretty low expectations before reading this because I'm generally not a huge far-out fantasy fan, and the reviews overall weren't fantastic. But, like I said earlier, this book was actually HARD to put down, and I just really liked the way the action was constantly progressing. It didn't revolve around the classic voodoo dolls (which I'll admit, is what made me pick up the book to begin), but it was close enough, and still similar. Another reason I think that I enjoyed this book more than I anticipated, was that the magic/fantasy aspect was not completely far-fetched. It stayed anchored to real life mostly throughout, and even had mentions to life outside the Guild. The writing wasn't particularly incredible, but it kept me engaged throughout, and I really enjoyed the story!
jennybeastie's review
2.0
On the whole, an engaging, if somewhat rote teen-romance-adventure. The characters lack depth, but the focus on voudoun is an interesting twist. Unfortunately, the portrayal of the magical aspects/ religious beliefs are just as superficial as the characters, so it's hard to be enthusiastic.
amy_rose's review
3.0
It was fluff, but I liked the story. That said, if you are looking for some kind of authentic voodoo experience, it won't be found in this book. The terms and such may be voodoo, but it is a very tame version, it could just as easily have been witchcraft, IMO.
The plot itself was pretty fast paced and it was an easy read. And bonus, I think it is actually a stand alone novel, there's actually an ending rather than the cliffhanger that closes so many other YA books these days.
The plot itself was pretty fast paced and it was an easy read. And bonus, I think it is actually a stand alone novel, there's actually an ending rather than the cliffhanger that closes so many other YA books these days.
prncssbeara3's review
5.0
Loved it!!! Loved the fact that this was about a topic that hasn't really been done in teen fiction. I might be biased since I like voodoo and it's culture, but it was a great book. The romance in it is good, typical teen tensions and questioning of things. The friendships that develop are fun to watch, considering the main character is apprehensive about most of the people in her life. She grows in the book as well. Overall it's a great story, and it was left open to have a sequel, which I will not complain if that happens. I wish there were more books that explored this topic and the history behind it all. I did find it slightly annoying that the characters were kind of oblivious to some things as they discovered them, like it was on the tip of their tongues but never quite getting there. But that's just me, since I figure it out I think the characters should as well. Otherwise I have no complaints about this book at all.
maidmarianlib's review
2.0
It certainly kept me reading, but it could have been so much more atmospheric to really bring the setting and plot elements to life.