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lberestecki's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 Stars.
There wasn't necessarily anything wrong with this book, it just wasn't for me. Ridley was a lot less likable than I remembered - I felt like her characterization was inconsistent, and she came off as a bit whiney. I also thought that Nox x Ridley was a lot more compelling than Link x Ridley, but I didn't particularly want her to be with either guy. Plot-wise, there was one thing that was mentioned a few times and seemed like it was going to be a huge part of the plot, but nothing really happened with it. I'm sure it will become a plot point in later books, but it seemed pointless to include it so much in this story. I also am not a fan of huge cliffhanger endings, so the ending turned me off of the book more than I already was.
This book was a disappointment to me since I've enjoyed Ridley and Link previously, but I'm sure many fans of the full Beautiful Creatures series will enjoy it.
There wasn't necessarily anything wrong with this book, it just wasn't for me. Ridley was a lot less likable than I remembered - I felt like her characterization was inconsistent, and she came off as a bit whiney. I also thought that Nox x Ridley was a lot more compelling than Link x Ridley, but I didn't particularly want her to be with either guy. Plot-wise, there was one thing that was mentioned a few times and seemed like it was going to be a huge part of the plot, but nothing really happened with it. I'm sure it will become a plot point in later books, but it seemed pointless to include it so much in this story. I also am not a fan of huge cliffhanger endings, so the ending turned me off of the book more than I already was.
This book was a disappointment to me since I've enjoyed Ridley and Link previously, but I'm sure many fans of the full Beautiful Creatures series will enjoy it.
cole_092's review against another edition
3.0
It is really nice to come back into a world you've visited before and kind of be able to pick up where you left off because you know the characters already, but we get see secondary characters become the main protagonists of the story and it was really fun to explore more of the caster world from the pov of Ridley and Link. If you'd like to read more of my thoughts, please click the link to my blog post.
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cassie_the_weird's review against another edition
4.0
...I can see what people meant about that ending...
urlphantomhive's review against another edition
3.0
READ IN ENGLISH
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you.
I haven't read the Beautiful Creatures -series, and I do feel that I missed quite a lot in this book because I hadn't. It is a new series, although a spin-off series, but some information would have been helpful to understand what was going on. I understand this is (at least) partly my fault, but I though 'New Series - I can just jump onto the bandwagon'. Especially with the world building, some additional information would have been useful. (That the characters already have a history I don't know everything about is only a pro!) But I was a bit confused as what the types of 'creatures' were, and what rules apply. Like, what is Ridley obsession with the lollipops? And what exactly IS an non-eating/sleeping Incubus. For a second I thought it was kind of a vampire, but how could one be a quarter-vampire? Bites, uhm, beats me.
Ridley is not your typical, amiable MC. She's a Siren, something 'dark', but basically just really manipulative. And she's not really having a great summer. However, things are even worse for her 1/4 Incubus (vampire?) sort-of boyfriend (but only when it's inconvenient actually) Link, who's constantly being manipulated.
This book was a nice, fast read. I actually enjoyed it more than I expected after reading the #0.5 book in this series (review is coming up). There is this annoying love triangle, and I really don't understand why every (YA) novel needs to have a love triangle, or pyramid or whatever. Also beware of unexplained magic (if you haven't read the first series), bad Pink Floyd jokes and chapters called after songs (like: Another Brick In The Wall, Stairway To Heaven, Comfortably Numb, Knockin' On Heaven's Door). I think I will try the second book in this series as well, when it is published.
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you.
I haven't read the Beautiful Creatures -series, and I do feel that I missed quite a lot in this book because I hadn't. It is a new series, although a spin-off series, but some information would have been helpful to understand what was going on. I understand this is (at least) partly my fault, but I though 'New Series - I can just jump onto the bandwagon'. Especially with the world building, some additional information would have been useful. (That the characters already have a history I don't know everything about is only a pro!) But I was a bit confused as what the types of 'creatures' were, and what rules apply. Like, what is Ridley obsession with the lollipops? And what exactly IS an non-eating/sleeping Incubus. For a second I thought it was kind of a vampire, but how could one be a quarter-vampire? Bites, uhm, beats me.
Ridley is not your typical, amiable MC. She's a Siren, something 'dark', but basically just really manipulative. And she's not really having a great summer. However, things are even worse for her 1/4 Incubus (vampire?) sort-of boyfriend (but only when it's inconvenient actually) Link, who's constantly being manipulated.
This book was a nice, fast read. I actually enjoyed it more than I expected after reading the #0.5 book in this series (review is coming up). There is this annoying love triangle, and I really don't understand why every (YA) novel needs to have a love triangle, or pyramid or whatever. Also beware of unexplained magic (if you haven't read the first series), bad Pink Floyd jokes and chapters called after songs (like: Another Brick In The Wall, Stairway To Heaven, Comfortably Numb, Knockin' On Heaven's Door). I think I will try the second book in this series as well, when it is published.
meegzreads's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting story of Link and Ridley. Not as good as I had hoped but good enough, and with and like that, you just gotta read the next.
amesbee's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
onecountrygal87's review against another edition
4.0
Great!!! At first I wasn't sure about this book... I read the original series Beautiful Creatures and LOVED IT! So with this spinoff series being based on Ridley I was skeptical to say the least! I mean it's Ridley... come on! Haha. I am excited to read the next one! I read this as my "A Book From An Author You Love But Haven't Read Yet" book for the Reading Challenge 2015! :)
_gabooks's review against another edition
4.0
I remembered not liking this book, although I very much looked forward to it because it's Link and Ridley's story - and it didn't help that a finale book from one of my favorite series came out a month before I started reading it. So, I decided that enough was enough. I'm going to read it again, give it a show - see if maybe I had a change of heart since I really did love the first tetralogy which is Lena and Ethan's story.
Positives:
I've been in love with the Caster world ever since I picked up the first book which was Beautiful Creatures. Around the era of vampires and werewolves - the Casters were the ones I was truly drawn with. I did like that they included the aftermath because what Lena and Ethan had done from the previous series. Also, it's Link and Ridley's story! Although, it's a little bit more focused on Ridley's part but Link is involved into this whole new bizarre layer of the Caster world. I've always adored RidLink way back in the first series, but I really do think they deserve their own story. It's so different from the first series, that it can stand on its own. It was edgier, darker and more mysterious - something that really speaks Ridley Duchannes. I think the storyline is very fit for a character like Ridley, I couldn't imagine in any other way that would tell her story. I love how it interconnected with Link's arc which was his music career, he was definitely more than just Ethan's best friend or Ridley's love interest. He's sooooo much more than that. I wish I'd get to know more of his POV. I love the RidLink punchlines here and there. I found myself cracking up to their humor, which is another plus for me. The new characters are sooooo . . . interesting. I find Nox Gates to be the most intriguing one. He has this unspoken connection to Ridley in ways that neither of them understand. He's way more involved in Ridley's life than just a stupid game. I wonder if it's enough for him to break Ridley and Link apart. I'm so torn if I should root for him to end up with Ridley but Link :( I really hope this is more than just a love triangle. I like subtle hints. So far, it's a good start to a new story of a series in the same universe. I'm looking forward to the next book, and will probably finish this.
Negatives:
It was a li'l bit predictable - despite its mystery. Those supposedly plot twists??? I've predicted them before a couple chapters in, they finally confirmed. I wish it was more suspenseful, more thrilling. Her relationship with Link reminds me with the whole Ross-and-Rachel drama. I do hope, if she really does choose Link (as if Nox is a competition), I wish it'd be for final. I'd rather have my RidLink be just friends with frustrated sexual tension around each other rather than be an on-and-off couple.
Also, Floyd. Annoying as hell. (She reminds me of girls I hated in high school. Back off my Link.)
On another note:
There are some moments where Ridley is - kind of off?? But that's because that's another layer of Ridley's character. She's much more than being a Siren, a Dark Caster or the girl you should stay away from. She can be vulnerable, when she lets herself. I love that in a character. But I do hope that she doesn't change drastically, or do a 180-degree change of heart. I hope she's still the badass Siren girl who's a sucker for lollipops who'll definitely be this awesome anti-heroine that no Caster or Mortal should mess with.
I enjoyed reading this very much, it's a good first book in a series and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Positives:
I've been in love with the Caster world ever since I picked up the first book which was Beautiful Creatures. Around the era of vampires and werewolves - the Casters were the ones I was truly drawn with. I did like that they included the aftermath because what Lena and Ethan had done from the previous series.
Spoiler
She brought Ethan back from the dead! How do you not expect something drastic is about to change in the Caster world?!Negatives:
It was a li'l bit predictable - despite its mystery. Those supposedly plot twists??? I've predicted them before a couple chapters in, they finally confirmed. I wish it was more suspenseful, more thrilling. Her relationship with Link reminds me with the whole Ross-and-Rachel drama. I do hope, if she really does choose Link (as if Nox is a competition), I wish it'd be for final. I'd rather have my RidLink be just friends with frustrated sexual tension around each other rather than be an on-and-off couple.
Also, Floyd. Annoying as hell. (She reminds me of girls I hated in high school. Back off my Link.)
On another note:
There are some moments where Ridley is - kind of off?? But that's because that's another layer of Ridley's character. She's much more than being a Siren, a Dark Caster or the girl you should stay away from. She can be vulnerable, when she lets herself. I love that in a character. But I do hope that she doesn't change drastically, or do a 180-degree change of heart. I hope she's still the badass Siren girl who's a sucker for lollipops who'll definitely be this awesome anti-heroine that no Caster or Mortal should mess with.
I enjoyed reading this very much, it's a good first book in a series and I'm looking forward to the next one.
wquindley's review against another edition
3.0
so I went to the bookstore today, and of course I find a spin off book of the series I just finished. so of course I got it, but when I got home and added it I realized I just got myself into another series. but a spin-off series. ughhhh. who had the brilliant idea to make a spin-off series of another series? what did I get myself into? rest in piece me.
bunnypez's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75