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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Painting the scene of a devastated landscape after the storm of the century was a good move. It echoed the same scene I've seen a year ago when the strongest typhoon on record slammed my country. The bleak landscape made me sympathize and help me visualize the atmosphere. On the other hand, it was slow-paced and it went on for about half of the book.
I loved the gothic feel of the book but when things started to fall into place, as secrets started to unravel, there were still some questions that needed answering or maybe the demystifying was just a little muddled.
What was Adeline's or her father's importance in all this, since the presence of the other casquette girls were just a convenience of being in proximity with Adeline or they were just pack mules? The vampires were certainly hinting at that fact and then out of nowhere Adele worked it out that le comte de Saint-Germain was still alive.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
I loved the gothic feel of the book but when things started to fall into place, as secrets started to unravel, there were still some questions that needed answering or maybe the demystifying was just a little muddled.
What was Adeline's or her father's importance in all this, since the presence of the other casquette girls were just a convenience of being in proximity with Adeline or they were just pack mules? The vampires were certainly hinting at that fact and then out of nowhere Adele worked it out that le comte de Saint-Germain was still alive.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
So haunting and we'll written. I was so excited to read this offering from NetGalley simply because it is written in the city that holds my heart but this was a fantastic read and a roller coaster of emotions. I loved it!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very close to being 5 stars. I generally do not like books this long. This one took a while to get the story rolling....kinda dragged out in the beginning, and in other parts. Very unique story and the characters were well developed. Many twists and turns. It was woven masterfully. I wonder what will happen next!!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So good! While there are romantic elements, I like that those are not at the forefront and kept at a minimum. Solid story and good writing.
I enjoyed the setting for this book. I didn't feel super connected with the characters, but still enjoyed their story. Great twist at the end to make you want to read book two! I also got to enjoy an author chat with the book club, Words & Whimsey!
This one took me a while because I kept falling asleep. I don’t know that’s a glowing review for a book. The post-Storm New Orleans stuff was pretty fascinating. The magic and covens and vampires less so for me. The love triangle had TWO insta-loves, although there was chemistry with both at least. The French throughout started to get old too. It was usually simple enough for a non speaker to figure out, but that disruption always took me out of the flow of the book. Overall this was just much longer than it needed to be. I guess it’s a series although I don’t see the need to revisit these characters.
THE CASQUETTE GIRLS BY: ALYS ARDEN
Now I see what so many people were raving about! This book was fantastic! So I've heard people say, in regards to advice on writing, to write what you know! And with the Casquette Girls it was clear that one thing Alys Arden knew was New Orleans, but what made it REALLY burst from the pages so vividly was the fact that you could tell that she not only knew this place, she LOVED it. And this story shinned brightly because of it. The plot was a little slow progressing, but honestly I never felt bored or uninterested. The city she took such care in detailing was a character in itself, and it enthralled me, even being so devastated after a major hurricane. This city felt alive and I couldn't help falling in love it, page by page.
The supernatural elements to the story kind of snuck up on you, a little at a time, and I actually quite enjoyed the way this was done. Each introduction to something new gave you time to ponder what it meant, where it came from, and all those fun, nagging questions. The mystery just kept building and building, from so many different angles! It also worked brilliantly once you started getting the glimpses into the past, and how much of it was integral to what was happening around Adele now, hundreds of years later. I really enjoyed both the happenings in the past and in the present. I thought it was funny that as Adele was reading Adeline's journal, she developed this bond with her, she couldn't help becoming invested in these people, which was much how I felt while reading this book. I enjoyed each carefully crafted character. I loved how each one of them didn't feel all good, or all bad. They felt flawed, and real, and I loved them more for it. I also loved the brew of mystical, mythical and magical here. Every supernatural thing came together in this story in the most natural feeling way. I don't want to get into specifics because I was actually quite surprised by some of things that came into play here, and I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone else who might not know about everything to expect from this book.
I could go on and on, but really I think if you are a fan of mystery, magic, the occult/supernatural things, and just great writing in general, you should do yourself a favor and pick up this unique and fantastic book! I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next, and I'll definitely be on the look out for more from her!
Now I see what so many people were raving about! This book was fantastic! So I've heard people say, in regards to advice on writing, to write what you know! And with the Casquette Girls it was clear that one thing Alys Arden knew was New Orleans, but what made it REALLY burst from the pages so vividly was the fact that you could tell that she not only knew this place, she LOVED it. And this story shinned brightly because of it. The plot was a little slow progressing, but honestly I never felt bored or uninterested. The city she took such care in detailing was a character in itself, and it enthralled me, even being so devastated after a major hurricane. This city felt alive and I couldn't help falling in love it, page by page.
The supernatural elements to the story kind of snuck up on you, a little at a time, and I actually quite enjoyed the way this was done. Each introduction to something new gave you time to ponder what it meant, where it came from, and all those fun, nagging questions. The mystery just kept building and building, from so many different angles! It also worked brilliantly once you started getting the glimpses into the past, and how much of it was integral to what was happening around Adele now, hundreds of years later. I really enjoyed both the happenings in the past and in the present. I thought it was funny that as Adele was reading Adeline's journal, she developed this bond with her, she couldn't help becoming invested in these people, which was much how I felt while reading this book. I enjoyed each carefully crafted character. I loved how each one of them didn't feel all good, or all bad. They felt flawed, and real, and I loved them more for it. I also loved the brew of mystical, mythical and magical here. Every supernatural thing came together in this story in the most natural feeling way. I don't want to get into specifics because I was actually quite surprised by some of things that came into play here, and I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone else who might not know about everything to expect from this book.
I could go on and on, but really I think if you are a fan of mystery, magic, the occult/supernatural things, and just great writing in general, you should do yourself a favor and pick up this unique and fantastic book! I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next, and I'll definitely be on the look out for more from her!
3.5/5
Oddly addictive, I couldn't stop turning the pages, to the point where I was up for 6 hours straight all night reading until I finished it.
The Originals meets After the Storm in this hypnotic and devastating tale of New Orleans.
Oddly addictive, I couldn't stop turning the pages, to the point where I was up for 6 hours straight all night reading until I finished it.
The Originals meets After the Storm in this hypnotic and devastating tale of New Orleans.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No