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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
I loved the beginning of this book. I wanted to love the entire thing, but the second half was a cluster of conversations and characters (some new). I loved Arden's description of New Orleans and the few historical points included. I think this title could have been a 300-page book.
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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
*I was provided a eARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I don’t even know how to express my feelings about this book. While I was expecting to like it I didn’t knew that I would love it as much as I do. I haven’t been in a fantasy mood in the last few months and to be honest I don’t remember if I ever read a book with witches. Let’s just that now I want to read more books that feature witches.
The story starts when Adele and her dad are back to New Orleans. New Orleans was affected by “The Storm” two months before the start of the book leaving death and destruction all over the place. After their comeback strange things start to happen that are related to some myths about New Orleans that are told in the book (myths that are not real IRL) and to Adele’s ancentors. I loved everything about this book and now I want to visit New Orleans because of the way that Adele talked about how the town was before “The Storm”. The characters where amazing and I even loved to hate the bad guys. You know that a book is really good when you actually like the bad guys. Adele was an amazing main character but I also loved Isaac, Nicco, Desiree and all the other characters. Another thing I loved about this book was the romance mostly because it wasn’t the main focus of the book. Yes the romance was there but the author was able to assure that the romance wouldn’t steal the spotlight of all the other things happening. There was also a love triangle. You might know that I normally don’t like love triangles but you know that it’s a good one when you can’t even choose one of the guys. While many secrets have been revealed there are still a lot of things that we still don’t know and I’m really excited to read the second book and find out more things about what happened.
The only reason why I’m not giving 5 stars to this book is because in the beginning was a little bit too slow for me. I know that is a really important part of the book because we have the world building and all the background story but it really took me some time to read that first chapters.
Overall, this is an amazing book that has everything. I loved the mystery surrounding the whole thing, the characters, the romance, everything. And you can really tell that Alys Arden knows New Orleans French Quarter because of the way she described it. If you’re looking for a good urban fantasy series you should definitively try this one. I know that I can’t wait to read the second book of the series.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
*I was provided a eARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I don’t even know how to express my feelings about this book. While I was expecting to like it I didn’t knew that I would love it as much as I do. I haven’t been in a fantasy mood in the last few months and to be honest I don’t remember if I ever read a book with witches. Let’s just that now I want to read more books that feature witches.
The story starts when Adele and her dad are back to New Orleans. New Orleans was affected by “The Storm” two months before the start of the book leaving death and destruction all over the place. After their comeback strange things start to happen that are related to some myths about New Orleans that are told in the book (myths that are not real IRL) and to Adele’s ancentors. I loved everything about this book and now I want to visit New Orleans because of the way that Adele talked about how the town was before “The Storm”. The characters where amazing and I even loved to hate the bad guys. You know that a book is really good when you actually like the bad guys. Adele was an amazing main character but I also loved Isaac, Nicco, Desiree and all the other characters. Another thing I loved about this book was the romance mostly because it wasn’t the main focus of the book. Yes the romance was there but the author was able to assure that the romance wouldn’t steal the spotlight of all the other things happening. There was also a love triangle. You might know that I normally don’t like love triangles but you know that it’s a good one when you can’t even choose one of the guys. While many secrets have been revealed there are still a lot of things that we still don’t know and I’m really excited to read the second book and find out more things about what happened.
The only reason why I’m not giving 5 stars to this book is because in the beginning was a little bit too slow for me. I know that is a really important part of the book because we have the world building and all the background story but it really took me some time to read that first chapters.
Overall, this is an amazing book that has everything. I loved the mystery surrounding the whole thing, the characters, the romance, everything. And you can really tell that Alys Arden knows New Orleans French Quarter because of the way she described it. If you’re looking for a good urban fantasy series you should definitively try this one. I know that I can’t wait to read the second book of the series.
DNF at 30%. I couldn't get into this book at all at the moment, but might come back to it later since it's not bad.
4.5 stars. The quickest way to snare me is with a mystery. I simply must know the answer. I loved the magic and the setting. I'm not sure I'm up for a love triangle. But overall a good read.
The plot was a bit slow in the beginning, but once it picked up in speed, the book had me hooked and I found myself not being able to put it down. It was a bit silly at times (the main character basically fainting every time she laid eyes on a hot guy in the beginning of the book), but it did get better toward the end. The writing may not have been the best ever, but all in all, it was a very entertaining read and I enjoyed it a lot. Plus the premise (which drew me in in the first place) was quite unique.
The Casquette Girls is a Young Adult, paranormal novel set in the aftermath of the storm in the New Orleans French Quarter. Adele and her father decide to return home to their storm ravaged city, thankfully their historical home has minimal damage. Adele was not about to go back to the boarding school in Paris with her mother who barely saw her the entire time she was there. Upon their return, Adele is not only attacked by a weird bird in their house, but notices several strange but beautiful guys showing up in the abandoned city all wanting to be around her. A power within Adele grows and as she finds out secrets of her families past, the danger mounts.
This story had an extremely slow build, but it was totally worth it. The setting of the New Orleans French Quarter is spooky enough, but after the storm, the choice of the pretty much abandoned city made for an eerie setting. With all of it's history and culture, voodoo, witches, vampires. werewolves and century-old curses fit right in. Adele is a very believable 16 year-old character and I got to know her very well in the first third of the story. Her actions and behaviors were well thought out and I'm glad that she did not completely fall for the first hunky vampire that she saw (or the second, or the third...). I really enjoyed reading about the Adele's ancestor and the voyage of the original Casquette Girls. I do love dual time stories and a little bit of history. I did have a question about the very end, but there was a lot going on then and it was a very exciting ending...it may just need a re-read.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
This story had an extremely slow build, but it was totally worth it. The setting of the New Orleans French Quarter is spooky enough, but after the storm, the choice of the pretty much abandoned city made for an eerie setting. With all of it's history and culture, voodoo, witches, vampires. werewolves and century-old curses fit right in. Adele is a very believable 16 year-old character and I got to know her very well in the first third of the story. Her actions and behaviors were well thought out and I'm glad that she did not completely fall for the first hunky vampire that she saw (or the second, or the third...). I really enjoyed reading about the Adele's ancestor and the voyage of the original Casquette Girls. I do love dual time stories and a little bit of history. I did have a question about the very end, but there was a lot going on then and it was a very exciting ending...it may just need a re-read.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Wow. What a journey this book took me on. I absolutely adored all the complex history that was woven within the story, and how the characters tied in with one another. Set mainly in the French Quarter of New Orleans after a horrific hurricane, simply known as the Storm, it follows a teenage Adele Le Moyne as she returns to her city to find almost everything destroyed.
Man, where do I even start with this book? Basically, I loved everything in it. There. Review done, yeah?
Okay, for real now. The legends in this book are so intricately wound, that it’s hard not to feel completely submerged in them. I loved how the past and present was so expertly connected, and how it was slowly revealed throughout the book just how related it really was. The pacing of the book was excellent, as I was constantly on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next little morsel of information to be revealed (while still trying to make my own guesses (which were often wrong…)).
All the characters in this book were amaaazing! As it got further into the story, more bits of information about many of the characters were revealed, leaving a whole lot of really developed characters. That’s another point, actually. Quite a few things that happened earlier in the book that seemed a bit random, out of place, or even completely pointless, totally ended up making sense later on, which shows a lot of writing skill, so I applaud Arden for that.
This book had such an intriguing storyline that it was very hard to put down. The paranormal element mixed really well with the urban setting, and all the past/present links matched up perfectly to create a truly exceptional story. This is a really well-constructed book that any reader can easily love.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Man, where do I even start with this book? Basically, I loved everything in it. There. Review done, yeah?
Okay, for real now. The legends in this book are so intricately wound, that it’s hard not to feel completely submerged in them. I loved how the past and present was so expertly connected, and how it was slowly revealed throughout the book just how related it really was. The pacing of the book was excellent, as I was constantly on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next little morsel of information to be revealed (while still trying to make my own guesses (which were often wrong…)).
All the characters in this book were amaaazing! As it got further into the story, more bits of information about many of the characters were revealed, leaving a whole lot of really developed characters. That’s another point, actually. Quite a few things that happened earlier in the book that seemed a bit random, out of place, or even completely pointless, totally ended up making sense later on, which shows a lot of writing skill, so I applaud Arden for that.
This book had such an intriguing storyline that it was very hard to put down. The paranormal element mixed really well with the urban setting, and all the past/present links matched up perfectly to create a truly exceptional story. This is a really well-constructed book that any reader can easily love.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
An interesting read that was somewhat enjoyable. I appreciate the history and the immerse setting but the characters were photocopied and shallow caricatures. Predictable. It was easy to get through but did tend to follow the path of a million other YA vampire novels. This is a watered down "Interview with the vampire." Not a terrible read, but nothing remarkable.
In a totally fitting twist, my review for this The Casquette Girls -- the book that completed my 2017 challenge -- was lost when I tried to delete two of the three "dates read" that Goodreads saddled me with and managed to delete the review instead. Thanks for that "feature," dudes. I appreciate it.
This book isn't good but I enjoyed it. I'd say it was a "guilty pleasure" if I believed in feeling guilt for finding pleasure in things like books or music. I'll elaborate when my irritation with GR subsides, maybe. Until then, I made all my Kindle notes for this book viewable. They're not deep or coherent, but they'll suffice for now. I don't THINK there are any spoilers in there, but proceed with caution if that's important to you.
(three-and-a-half stars)
This book isn't good but I enjoyed it. I'd say it was a "guilty pleasure" if I believed in feeling guilt for finding pleasure in things like books or music. I'll elaborate when my irritation with GR subsides, maybe. Until then, I made all my Kindle notes for this book viewable. They're not deep or coherent, but they'll suffice for now. I don't THINK there are any spoilers in there, but proceed with caution if that's important to you.
(three-and-a-half stars)
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Teenage life always seems complicated, but Adele’s life takes this complication to the next level. After returning to her storm-ravaged hometown of New Orleans she has to help her father rebuild their home, view daily a city that has been destroyed and ignored, and attend a snobby prep school instead of her old art school. Oh yeah, and she has to adapt to the fact that she possesses magical powers and also deal with some not-so-friendly paranormal visitors in New Orleans. Just another day in the life of a teenager. As she struggles to come to terms with her new powers, she meets several others who also possess strange abilities and together they need to work to protect their city and the people in it, who do not even know the grave danger they are in.
I will just say it, I pretty much loved this book. Casquette Girls is the perfect mix of YA fantasy and paranormal, with a hint of gothic romance, in a location that is so rich in culture and history that you cannot help but find yourself sucked into the story. The book switches back and forth between present day and the early 1700s seamlessly and both times are described with such rich detail that you feel transported to the location. I have never been to New Orleans but Arden’s description of it made me feel like I have visited it numerous times and I was able to paint a perfect image in my head. At so many moments during the book I was amazed with the author’s ability to depict locations and people, and this added tremendously to my experience while reading the book.
The story Arden has created weaves together reality, mythology, and folklore to build a story that is compelling from the first page to the last. At times I was caught by elements that seemed confusing, but several chapters later they would be readdressed and explained more thoroughly so that everything came together and both the reader and the main character, Adele, share the same “a-ha” moments as everything unfolds. Throughout the story, not only did I grow to care for Adele but I developed feelings for every character in the book, whether it was love or hatred. To have character development that evokes such feelings from the reader makes a book so much more enjoyable and helps to make you feel like you are part of the story.
One thing I noticed about this book is that it reminded me of American Horror Story: Coven. While not necessarily a bad thing (because I loved Coven) I did find myself coming across many similarities and at times that did bother me a little. I am sure a lot of this is attributed to the New Orleans folklore and was unavoidable, but I often found myself drawing parallels between Casquette Girls and Coven. The only other thing that vexed me slightly is how every character who discovered they had magical powers was just so accepting of it. I feel like a little more emotion and distress would go into discovering you had magic abilities, but then this is fantasy so anything is possible.
By the end of the book, there were several things that I was still uncertain of but I am confident that these things will all be expanded upon in the rest of the series, which, by the way, I am looking quite forward to. The ending is perfectly satisfying and does not leave you with an immense cliffhanger, but it does leave you in enough wonderment that you really do look forward to the next book in the series. Overall I think Arden did an excellent job and wrote a thoroughly enjoyable and immersive book. I found myself slightly fan-girling about Casquette Girls by the end (yes, I admit that) and am missing my fictional New Orleans friends already.
“...Moving pictures and flying machines seemed like magic at one time. It's not a huge leap to believe that what seems irrational or magical now will be commonplace in the future. I believe everyone has magical powers. However, only certain people - the ones who are open to it - can tap into the true capacity of the mind and push the current brink of human thought. Some are called geniuses, some are called prophets, others are called witches.”
Check out this review and others on The Book Cafe
Teenage life always seems complicated, but Adele’s life takes this complication to the next level. After returning to her storm-ravaged hometown of New Orleans she has to help her father rebuild their home, view daily a city that has been destroyed and ignored, and attend a snobby prep school instead of her old art school. Oh yeah, and she has to adapt to the fact that she possesses magical powers and also deal with some not-so-friendly paranormal visitors in New Orleans. Just another day in the life of a teenager. As she struggles to come to terms with her new powers, she meets several others who also possess strange abilities and together they need to work to protect their city and the people in it, who do not even know the grave danger they are in.
I will just say it, I pretty much loved this book. Casquette Girls is the perfect mix of YA fantasy and paranormal, with a hint of gothic romance, in a location that is so rich in culture and history that you cannot help but find yourself sucked into the story. The book switches back and forth between present day and the early 1700s seamlessly and both times are described with such rich detail that you feel transported to the location. I have never been to New Orleans but Arden’s description of it made me feel like I have visited it numerous times and I was able to paint a perfect image in my head. At so many moments during the book I was amazed with the author’s ability to depict locations and people, and this added tremendously to my experience while reading the book.
The story Arden has created weaves together reality, mythology, and folklore to build a story that is compelling from the first page to the last. At times I was caught by elements that seemed confusing, but several chapters later they would be readdressed and explained more thoroughly so that everything came together and both the reader and the main character, Adele, share the same “a-ha” moments as everything unfolds. Throughout the story, not only did I grow to care for Adele but I developed feelings for every character in the book, whether it was love or hatred. To have character development that evokes such feelings from the reader makes a book so much more enjoyable and helps to make you feel like you are part of the story.
One thing I noticed about this book is that it reminded me of American Horror Story: Coven. While not necessarily a bad thing (because I loved Coven) I did find myself coming across many similarities and at times that did bother me a little. I am sure a lot of this is attributed to the New Orleans folklore and was unavoidable, but I often found myself drawing parallels between Casquette Girls and Coven. The only other thing that vexed me slightly is how every character who discovered they had magical powers was just so accepting of it. I feel like a little more emotion and distress would go into discovering you had magic abilities, but then this is fantasy so anything is possible.
By the end of the book, there were several things that I was still uncertain of but I am confident that these things will all be expanded upon in the rest of the series, which, by the way, I am looking quite forward to. The ending is perfectly satisfying and does not leave you with an immense cliffhanger, but it does leave you in enough wonderment that you really do look forward to the next book in the series. Overall I think Arden did an excellent job and wrote a thoroughly enjoyable and immersive book. I found myself slightly fan-girling about Casquette Girls by the end (yes, I admit that) and am missing my fictional New Orleans friends already.
“...Moving pictures and flying machines seemed like magic at one time. It's not a huge leap to believe that what seems irrational or magical now will be commonplace in the future. I believe everyone has magical powers. However, only certain people - the ones who are open to it - can tap into the true capacity of the mind and push the current brink of human thought. Some are called geniuses, some are called prophets, others are called witches.”
Check out this review and others on The Book Cafe