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mousie_books's review against another edition
3.0
I did not quite get Ron's (the light timekeeper) motivation and that made it hard for me to get into the book. The plot was pretty obvious, but the ending was fun.
Madison is the dark timekeeper, and her goal is to try and save both lives and souls.
Two teenage friends lives hang in the balance. Shoe is a hacker, and has written a computer program than can shut down systems. Ace's jealous and insecurities and general jackassery lead him to steal Shoe's program to shut down the hospital where his mom works, and point the finger at Shoe. There is a (pretty obvious) misdirect where everyone thinks Shoe is the evil one. Madison figures it out before Ron, but Paul (the light timekeeper's apprentice) sticks a guardian angel on Ace by following her. Madison and Shoe break into the hospital to 'patch' the hack. They succeed, and because of the intervention, Shoe goes onto work for the CIA and save lives. Ace stays a loser and dies of a drug overdose at 30, but at least he doesn't kill any people.
Spoiler
The dark timekeeper believes in Fate, and saves souls by killing people before they kill their own souls. The light timekeeper believes in Choice, but not really? It seems like they mostly exist to stop the dark timekeeper.Madison is the dark timekeeper, and her goal is to try and save both lives and souls.
Two teenage friends lives hang in the balance. Shoe is a hacker, and has written a computer program than can shut down systems. Ace's jealous and insecurities and general jackassery lead him to steal Shoe's program to shut down the hospital where his mom works, and point the finger at Shoe. There is a (pretty obvious) misdirect where everyone thinks Shoe is the evil one. Madison figures it out before Ron, but Paul (the light timekeeper's apprentice) sticks a guardian angel on Ace by following her. Madison and Shoe break into the hospital to 'patch' the hack. They succeed, and because of the intervention, Shoe goes onto work for the CIA and save lives. Ace stays a loser and dies of a drug overdose at 30, but at least he doesn't kill any people.
myeverskye's review against another edition
3.0
This was ok. As I said about the first book, this is very immature even for a young adult novel. The characters seem more like they're 14 or 15 instead of 17. But it was mildly entertaining.
twocents's review against another edition
3.0
I realized after I started on it that this is clearly not the first book in the story. I liked a lot of the characters, but thought the boyfriend, Josh, was a complete throwaway. As in, way too much time was devoted to talking about someone so irrelevant. Lots more potential with Barnabas and Paul.
As for the story itself, it took a little while to figure out what was going on, but I thought the premise was interesting. There was a bit of fridge logic, though, with the fact that most of the story seemed to have been set in motion by Madison's botched attempt to talk to Ace for the first time. It seemed like the whole plot wouldn't have happened without that major fail. I thought this was going to be addressed, but it never seems to occur to her either that she didn't really handle that exact moment all that well, and in fact, may have even given him an idea that he wouldn't have come up with on his own. Does give the whole fate/choice thing an interesting twist, as if his fate may have hinged on her fate to botch up talking to him.
All in all, a fast read, relatively interesting. I enjoyed it.
As for the story itself, it took a little while to figure out what was going on, but I thought the premise was interesting. There was a bit of fridge logic, though, with the fact that most of the story seemed to have been set in motion by Madison's botched attempt to talk to Ace for the first time. It seemed like the whole plot wouldn't have happened without that major fail. I thought this was going to be addressed, but it never seems to occur to her either that she didn't really handle that exact moment all that well, and in fact, may have even given him an idea that he wouldn't have come up with on his own. Does give the whole fate/choice thing an interesting twist, as if his fate may have hinged on her fate to botch up talking to him.
All in all, a fast read, relatively interesting. I enjoyed it.
summers7's review against another edition
4.0
Keeps me wanting more. Don't want to put it down but I do have to go to work,lol.
zoemig's review against another edition
2.0
Madison Avery is seventeen years old and dead, after the Dark Timekeeper killed her on her Prom Night to keep her from taking his place. When Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison, the sequel to Once Dead, Twice Shy, picks up, Madison has accepted the job of Dark Timekeeper, even though she doesn't believe in fate which is what the dark side is responsible for, as opposed to the light side which upholds human choice. Initially, Madison agreed to do the job so she could maintain the illusion of a human body, just until she could find her real body and regain her human life. Like the first book, this one takes place almost entirely over twenty four hours, during which Madison goes on an adventure to help prove that it is possible to stop a person from doing evil, by letting them know what the consequences of their actions will be, and therefore eliminating the need to kill them prematurely in order to save their soul- something that dark reapers have been doing for millennia.
On her journey to save a soul without taking a life, Madison has some help in the form of Dark Reaper Nakita and Light Reaper gone rogue Barnabas. In order to complete her mission, Madison won't only have to figure out who exactly the mark (or intended target of the reap) is, but also prevent Ron, the Light Timekeeper from putting a guardian angel on the mark before she saves his soul. All of this, and she's somehow supposed to keep up a normal teenage life too? It's a good thing Madison doesn't need to sleep anymore.
Even though I had a lot of issues with the Madison Avery series, I decided to give it another try when I discovered Early to Death, Early to Rise was also available on audiobook as it is just the kind of light read I enjoy listening to when I am also doing something else. Although I honestly don't think the novel would have kept my attention if it had been my sole focus, I did enjoy Mandy Siegfried as the returning narrator who has a cheerful and youthful voice. The book itself has similar issues to Once Dead, Twice Shy, notably the annoying fake swearing and repeated reference to Madison's purple tipped hair, but I found myself better able to enjoy it because I was already introduced to the complex world and had to spend less time figuring out who was who and what exactly was going on. I also thought the storyline in this novel was a bit better and the plot itself had a better pace than the first one, although I could predict the plot "twist" as soon as the characters were introduced.
The novel is an extremely clean read when it comes to swearing, violence and sex, with the most scandalous parts including a chaste kiss and Madison being embarrassed when her shirt is ripped, so I think it is a book I'd be more likely to recommend to a younger audience interested in the paranormal genre. Overall, Early to Death, Early to Rise is a cute but not entirely memorable little book with an enjoyable narrator and a premise best suited to a young teen audience.
On her journey to save a soul without taking a life, Madison has some help in the form of Dark Reaper Nakita and Light Reaper gone rogue Barnabas. In order to complete her mission, Madison won't only have to figure out who exactly the mark (or intended target of the reap) is, but also prevent Ron, the Light Timekeeper from putting a guardian angel on the mark before she saves his soul. All of this, and she's somehow supposed to keep up a normal teenage life too? It's a good thing Madison doesn't need to sleep anymore.
Even though I had a lot of issues with the Madison Avery series, I decided to give it another try when I discovered Early to Death, Early to Rise was also available on audiobook as it is just the kind of light read I enjoy listening to when I am also doing something else. Although I honestly don't think the novel would have kept my attention if it had been my sole focus, I did enjoy Mandy Siegfried as the returning narrator who has a cheerful and youthful voice. The book itself has similar issues to Once Dead, Twice Shy, notably the annoying fake swearing and repeated reference to Madison's purple tipped hair, but I found myself better able to enjoy it because I was already introduced to the complex world and had to spend less time figuring out who was who and what exactly was going on. I also thought the storyline in this novel was a bit better and the plot itself had a better pace than the first one, although I could predict the plot "twist" as soon as the characters were introduced.
The novel is an extremely clean read when it comes to swearing, violence and sex, with the most scandalous parts including a chaste kiss and Madison being embarrassed when her shirt is ripped, so I think it is a book I'd be more likely to recommend to a younger audience interested in the paranormal genre. Overall, Early to Death, Early to Rise is a cute but not entirely memorable little book with an enjoyable narrator and a premise best suited to a young teen audience.
theawkwardbookw's review against another edition
1.0
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The second book in the Madison Avery trilogy.
This hasn't gotten much better from the first book, which sucks because the concept is interesting and could have been so good. I like the overall message behind the books, being the difference between choice and fate. But personally, I just don't think the idea has been executed well. Madison is less annoying in this, but still makes bad decision after bad decision while everyone around her tells her not to do it... and yet. I definitely like Nakita the best, she is more complex and interesting, and would love to see a story featuring her as the main character instead of Madison.
I do think that it was easier to follow than the first book, now that I have a grasp on the characters and the events in Prom Nights from Hell, but I still wouldn't say its a great series.
The second book in the Madison Avery trilogy.
This hasn't gotten much better from the first book, which sucks because the concept is interesting and could have been so good. I like the overall message behind the books, being the difference between choice and fate. But personally, I just don't think the idea has been executed well. Madison is less annoying in this, but still makes bad decision after bad decision while everyone around her tells her not to do it... and yet. I definitely like Nakita the best, she is more complex and interesting, and would love to see a story featuring her as the main character instead of Madison.
I do think that it was easier to follow than the first book, now that I have a grasp on the characters and the events in Prom Nights from Hell, but I still wouldn't say its a great series.
smiley7245's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad, but not great either. It was interesting watching Madison, with the "help" ob Grace, Nikata, and Barnabas try to help someone change their fate. This book raises a lot of interesting questions about fate v. choice. My favorite part is Barnabas. I want him and Madison to be together and live happily ever after already! I will definitely be reading the next book.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Jenny
Cover Story: Body Bag It
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Talky Talk: For Serial
Bonus Factor: World Building
Relationship Status: This Book Is My Cousin's Boyfriend, And I Hung Out With It While She Was Visiting...
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Body Bag It
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Talky Talk: For Serial
Bonus Factor: World Building
Relationship Status: This Book Is My Cousin's Boyfriend, And I Hung Out With It While She Was Visiting...
Read the full book report here.
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Great book, though I liked the first one better, since more happened, but she was just working through the rules and I think it's a bit shorter. Can't wait to read the next and last book!
hailareads's review against another edition
3.0
As I said on the first sequel, it is a wonderful book for Sci-Fi lovers and people with wide imagination, also I like how Kim Harrison not only developed but also grew the thinking and the ability of Madison. I truly think it is a great book.