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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
This particular story starts off in New Orleans. It's actually almost two story lines in one. We have Adele, the main protagonist, fighting against the evils of New Orleans and even nature itself. And then we have a past character, Adeline, whom Adelle learns about through very strange circumstances.
I have to say, being someone that isn't from but now lives in Louisiana and has been to the great N.O. multiple times, I adored every word of this. Either Alys Arden is from New Orleans or she did some massive research to be able to hit the pulse of this city so well. I was enamored with the story, yes, but this portion of it just made it all the more mysterious, and wonderful!
The characters are brilliant and truthfully N.O. is just a brilliant backdrop, and although nearly a character itself, the plot surrounds the characters and their struggle to get back to life after a hurricane devastates the area. But Adele soon learns that the storm isn't her only worries when quite a bit of crazy stuff starts happening to and around her.
I'm torn even now between Isaac and Nicco... I loved both of them! I loved to hate both of them. I still wonder and I don't even love reading about love triangles. Both guys just had something unique about them and I really do want to think that they both have Adele's best interests at heart. The only one I really disliked was Emilio... oh that guy!
And I love the story telling as well. When I found out what the Casquette Girls are I have to say I was surprised. I was able to discern some of the plot lines, but not that one! And there were other secrets that were fabulous when they were revealed and some that were quite horrifying.
It is so chock full of paranormal activity and the tension ratchets up only a notch at a time so I didn't even notice that I was trying to keep myself from speed reading so I could devour every word and yet I wanted to read faster so I could figure out what in the hell was going on! It was a battle that the book won as I got to the end probably faster than I wanted but I did inhale every word of the beautifully written text!
Horrifying in some spots. Bloody in others. Fabulous in all of it. At first it seems like you're about to read a Catholic School Girl book but there is so much more to this story line than that. Absolutely fabulous! I really want this to be a book series!
I have to say, being someone that isn't from but now lives in Louisiana and has been to the great N.O. multiple times, I adored every word of this. Either Alys Arden is from New Orleans or she did some massive research to be able to hit the pulse of this city so well. I was enamored with the story, yes, but this portion of it just made it all the more mysterious, and wonderful!
The characters are brilliant and truthfully N.O. is just a brilliant backdrop, and although nearly a character itself, the plot surrounds the characters and their struggle to get back to life after a hurricane devastates the area. But Adele soon learns that the storm isn't her only worries when quite a bit of crazy stuff starts happening to and around her.
I'm torn even now between Isaac and Nicco... I loved both of them! I loved to hate both of them. I still wonder and I don't even love reading about love triangles. Both guys just had something unique about them and I really do want to think that they both have Adele's best interests at heart. The only one I really disliked was Emilio... oh that guy!
And I love the story telling as well. When I found out what the Casquette Girls are I have to say I was surprised. I was able to discern some of the plot lines, but not that one! And there were other secrets that were fabulous when they were revealed and some that were quite horrifying.
It is so chock full of paranormal activity and the tension ratchets up only a notch at a time so I didn't even notice that I was trying to keep myself from speed reading so I could devour every word and yet I wanted to read faster so I could figure out what in the hell was going on! It was a battle that the book won as I got to the end probably faster than I wanted but I did inhale every word of the beautifully written text!
Horrifying in some spots. Bloody in others. Fabulous in all of it. At first it seems like you're about to read a Catholic School Girl book but there is so much more to this story line than that. Absolutely fabulous! I really want this to be a book series!
The Casquette Girls was an intriguing book. I've always been drawn to books based in New Orleans, add vampire and witches? I'm hooked! Adele went through a lot in this book, I was impressed by her courage and wit.
My feelings on Isaac and Nico were torn! I couldn't choose, both boys had my heart. Love triangles, oof.
The historical portion of this book was well written, and the audio book was definitely the way to go!
My feelings on Isaac and Nico were torn! I couldn't choose, both boys had my heart. Love triangles, oof.
The historical portion of this book was well written, and the audio book was definitely the way to go!
Amazing book! Cannot wait to read the other two books in the series. <3
I loved this book so much I really loved how it depicted vampires as monsters not just something to romance although a love interest is a vampire that is neither here or there. I loved the characters especially Adele she was at first just a girl that had finally came home for her only to end up in something she did not understand at first involving a curse and vampires she was a really well written character. I loved the plot it starts with a couple people finally coming home after a hurricane moves on to being about witches and vampires a curse involving them and the MC's ancestor I really loved how the story played out and I enjoyed reading the ending looking forward to reading more soon.
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm going to keep on with the series but there were two issues I had with this book.
I had trouble with the amount of time it took to get this story going. I understood how important setting the scene is to this author. She wants you to see and smell New Orleans, she wants you to BE there. But it doesn't take almost 200 pages to "laissez les bons temps rouler".
I also felt there were too many supporting characters that really didn't help the story along and it made the plot, especially the ending, a bit convoluted. I hope these supporting characters play a bigger part in the next books and aren't there for fluff.
I had trouble with the amount of time it took to get this story going. I understood how important setting the scene is to this author. She wants you to see and smell New Orleans, she wants you to BE there. But it doesn't take almost 200 pages to "laissez les bons temps rouler".
I also felt there were too many supporting characters that really didn't help the story along and it made the plot, especially the ending, a bit convoluted. I hope these supporting characters play a bigger part in the next books and aren't there for fluff.
I wanted a fun book that kept my attention, gave me a good story, but wasn’t bad. Expectations pretty low, but harder to reach than you may think. Regardless, I got exactly what I was looking for in THE CASQUETTE GIRLS and then some. What a fun, unique book. I really enjoyed it.
The only thing about the book I wasn’t thrilled with was the length. A bit over-long for YA, especially at the beginning. I would have like a tighter start to get to the catalyst of the story a little faster. But at the same time I didn’t mind what I was reading. I thought Arden set a great scene and painted an amazing, and gut-wrenching, picture of a devastated New Orleans. The storm isn’t named; it’s just called The Storm, but it’s obvious it’s supposed to be post-Katrina. So could the beginning have been tighter? Yes. Did I care all that much? No, because I truly enjoyed what I was reading.
The story felt a little bit Vampire Diaries (sorry, just couldn’t shake that feeling, maybe because I’m watching the series now), a little bit INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, but wholly unique. Kind of contradicts itself, doesn’t it? Two hot Italian vampire brothers (
Arden is from New Orleans and it shows in her exquisite detail of the city, both historical and present day/post-Storm. It’s a thriving, thumping character along with everyone else in this story and I love that. The world stands on its own.
I loved the timeline toggling between present day issues and Adeline’s trip over from France. Arden wove those two stories together expertly. It took me a while to read the book, but not because I wasn’t liking what I was reading. Definitely not. I was never confused or felt like I was bogged down in detail. Just time got in the way sometimes, unfortunately.
The characters and plotlines were all excellent. Each character stood independently from the next, alive and well, jumping off the page. And even with the ensemble cast I didn’t feel at all bogged down in clutter nor was I ever really confused by anything going on on page. Arden kept her story clutter-free and flowing from one cover to the other.
I loved the melding of magic and vampires and with Adele, the allure was there for the vampires but reason came into play. Despite all the supernatural aspects of everything going on, all of her decision-making felt genuine. And those parts where I thought Adele was making a less-than-intelligent decision it came around to bite her in the ass. That kind of cause-and-effect is fairly rare in books, mainly because there’s a lot of plot-serving going on. But here the plot is set up in a way that it doesn’t need any of those cheap gimmicks. It works as is, without need for bending over backward for poorly-built characters.
I’m looking forward to reading THE ROMEO CATCHERS, the next book in the series. I really enjoyed THE CASQUETTE GIRLS. It was a fun story without being mindless and gave me a rich, well-developed world that left me wanting to play in it more. Great characters, great story. It really hit the right spot for me.
4.5
The only thing about the book I wasn’t thrilled with was the length. A bit over-long for YA, especially at the beginning. I would have like a tighter start to get to the catalyst of the story a little faster. But at the same time I didn’t mind what I was reading. I thought Arden set a great scene and painted an amazing, and gut-wrenching, picture of a devastated New Orleans. The storm isn’t named; it’s just called The Storm, but it’s obvious it’s supposed to be post-Katrina. So could the beginning have been tighter? Yes. Did I care all that much? No, because I truly enjoyed what I was reading.
The story felt a little bit Vampire Diaries (sorry, just couldn’t shake that feeling, maybe because I’m watching the series now), a little bit INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, but wholly unique. Kind of contradicts itself, doesn’t it? Two hot Italian vampire brothers (
Arden is from New Orleans and it shows in her exquisite detail of the city, both historical and present day/post-Storm. It’s a thriving, thumping character along with everyone else in this story and I love that. The world stands on its own.
I loved the timeline toggling between present day issues and Adeline’s trip over from France. Arden wove those two stories together expertly. It took me a while to read the book, but not because I wasn’t liking what I was reading. Definitely not. I was never confused or felt like I was bogged down in detail. Just time got in the way sometimes, unfortunately.
The characters and plotlines were all excellent. Each character stood independently from the next, alive and well, jumping off the page. And even with the ensemble cast I didn’t feel at all bogged down in clutter nor was I ever really confused by anything going on on page. Arden kept her story clutter-free and flowing from one cover to the other.
I loved the melding of magic and vampires and with Adele, the allure was there for the vampires but reason came into play. Despite all the supernatural aspects of everything going on, all of her decision-making felt genuine. And those parts where I thought Adele was making a less-than-intelligent decision it came around to bite her in the ass. That kind of cause-and-effect is fairly rare in books, mainly because there’s a lot of plot-serving going on. But here the plot is set up in a way that it doesn’t need any of those cheap gimmicks. It works as is, without need for bending over backward for poorly-built characters.
I’m looking forward to reading THE ROMEO CATCHERS, the next book in the series. I really enjoyed THE CASQUETTE GIRLS. It was a fun story without being mindless and gave me a rich, well-developed world that left me wanting to play in it more. Great characters, great story. It really hit the right spot for me.
4.5
I'm normally not into vampires, but was recommended this book by a writer friend I trust. I just moved to New Orleans, where this book is set, which was a major motivator for me. This book is rich with New Orleans history, lore, and legends and boy did I eat it right up! The stories, the music, the food! I finished this book in four days (and it's not short!), on plane rides and curled up in bed. That's right, I chose to read instead of watch a movie on an airplane! The plot and chapter endings make you go and go and go.
I love that most of the characters have either complicated pasts or aren't black/white good/evil. Complex characters rule. Sometimes, I would get a little annoyed with main character's decisions, but after all, that's what makes the book interesting as she gets herself into trouble. I loved the dad and daughter's relationship, probably my favorite of the entire book. Their love for each other is strong and endures through crazy secrets and murderous times.
There were certainly some plot twists I didn't see coming (which I won't mention for spoiler reasons). But the plot twist at the end...CRAZY.
I'm not usually a love-triangle lover, but it didn't bother me in this book. I think my favorite characters have to be Ren, the story-teller, and Desiree's grandmother. Random, I know, but they both feel so authentic, like the writer plucked them from actual New Orleans to be in the story.
Going to start the next one today!
I love that most of the characters have either complicated pasts or aren't black/white good/evil. Complex characters rule. Sometimes, I would get a little annoyed with main character's decisions, but after all, that's what makes the book interesting as she gets herself into trouble. I loved the dad and daughter's relationship, probably my favorite of the entire book. Their love for each other is strong and endures through crazy secrets and murderous times.
There were certainly some plot twists I didn't see coming (which I won't mention for spoiler reasons). But the plot twist at the end...CRAZY.
I'm not usually a love-triangle lover, but it didn't bother me in this book. I think my favorite characters have to be Ren, the story-teller, and Desiree's grandmother. Random, I know, but they both feel so authentic, like the writer plucked them from actual New Orleans to be in the story.
Going to start the next one today!
Finished December 28, the self-published version.
4.75 stars.
Absolutely amazing. The story and the characters pulled me in and wouldn't let me go.
I fully intend to read the newest version and will be writing a more detail review then.
4.75 stars.
Absolutely amazing. The story and the characters pulled me in and wouldn't let me go.
I fully intend to read the newest version and will be writing a more detail review then.