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yuniesan's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the book but in the end this isn't the type of book I would read over and over again. Though it was an interesting concept, and I do like the writing style
raven168's review
3.0
3.5 stars
This could have been an amazing story. I loved the idea of what was going on here and what was behind it (even though we didn't actually learn anything about the Night Makers). I could even get over the fact that so many things were repeated over and over. My problem was the characters. Out of all of them, I only liked one. And it was the bad guy.
Our main character, Becket, was annoying as hell. She was supposed to be some super smart girl that could get into any college she wanted. Yet she was always making such stupid decisions and assumptions. Then we're supposed to believe that she was some badass that knows what she's doing with a gun because her father made sure she could handle one. But when the time came for her to actually use it, she panics because she's only ever shot at a target and doesn't really trust herself with it. She's a teenager, and her immaturity at times really drives that point home.
Her best friend, Piper, just pissed me off she was such a bad person. How Becket could ever think this girl was her best friend was beyond me. I did not see one redeeming quality to her in the entire book. She was a horrible influence, only seemed to care about herself, had no qualms about lying, and when you have to "schedule" time to spend with her...how is that even a friendship?
Becket's long time crush and Piper's boyfriend, Luke, was just too damn perfect. Hot, smart, strong, and thoughtful. Yeah. Perfect. I swear the boy could walk on water if he tried. The only secondary characters were Luke's mom and Becket's father. They actually weren't too bad but they weren't central enough for me to care. Although something Becket's dad was a turning point.
The one character that I loved was Aleric. I loved everything about him and only wished that he had gotten a ton more page time because it just wasn't enough. I found it incredibly predictable where he came from though the moment we meet him.
So basically one night while out walking her dog, Becket hears a noise that eventually sounds like a baby crying to her. She ignores her instincts telling her to walk away as well as her dog going crazy over whatever it is they can't see yet. But she tells herself what kind of person would she be to leave a crying baby out in the the cold and goes to try and find it. Worst. Decision. Ever. When she pricks her finger on a pin and her blood drops onto the thing that is not a baby, it disperses into the air and a new type of hell is about to be unleashed upon the city. Every night since then, things get progressively worse and worse. Anything that is not alive in some way, changes into something vicious with a desire for blood.
Becket's father is the police commissioner and because of all the mayhem going on, is hardly ever home. After Piper becomes one of the Nightstruck and is determined to get Becket to become one too, her father starts having her stay with Luke when he is working. Awkward to be sure because Becket pretty much becomes dumb struck around him. Turns out that Piper isn't after Becket just for herself. Aleric wants her too. And with Becket determined to not become a Nighstruck, one by one things get destroyed or attacked in an attempt to break her. Until one night she figures out how to stop it all...if she can actually go thru with it. Which of course she can't. Not until Aleric keeps pushing her and pushing her. And things just happen. Now she's just right for his plans for her and she is out of time.
I'm not sure if this is going to be a series, but with the way it ended, it definitely seemed like it could/should be. And if it is, I will most likely check out the next book. Mostly because I really want more Aleric, but also because I'm curious what would happen next.
This could have been an amazing story. I loved the idea of what was going on here and what was behind it (even though we didn't actually learn anything about the Night Makers). I could even get over the fact that so many things were repeated over and over. My problem was the characters. Out of all of them, I only liked one. And it was the bad guy.
Our main character, Becket, was annoying as hell. She was supposed to be some super smart girl that could get into any college she wanted. Yet she was always making such stupid decisions and assumptions. Then we're supposed to believe that she was some badass that knows what she's doing with a gun because her father made sure she could handle one. But when the time came for her to actually use it, she panics because she's only ever shot at a target and doesn't really trust herself with it. She's a teenager, and her immaturity at times really drives that point home.
Her best friend, Piper, just pissed me off she was such a bad person. How Becket could ever think this girl was her best friend was beyond me. I did not see one redeeming quality to her in the entire book. She was a horrible influence, only seemed to care about herself, had no qualms about lying, and when you have to "schedule" time to spend with her...how is that even a friendship?
Becket's long time crush and Piper's boyfriend, Luke, was just too damn perfect. Hot, smart, strong, and thoughtful. Yeah. Perfect. I swear the boy could walk on water if he tried. The only secondary characters were Luke's mom and Becket's father. They actually weren't too bad but they weren't central enough for me to care. Although something Becket's dad was a turning point.
The one character that I loved was Aleric. I loved everything about him and only wished that he had gotten a ton more page time because it just wasn't enough. I found it incredibly predictable where he came from though the moment we meet him.
Spoiler
As soon as we're told about his eyes it was a no brainer to figure to out that he was the baby thing that Becket bled on.So basically one night while out walking her dog, Becket hears a noise that eventually sounds like a baby crying to her. She ignores her instincts telling her to walk away as well as her dog going crazy over whatever it is they can't see yet. But she tells herself what kind of person would she be to leave a crying baby out in the the cold and goes to try and find it. Worst. Decision. Ever. When she pricks her finger on a pin and her blood drops onto the thing that is not a baby, it disperses into the air and a new type of hell is about to be unleashed upon the city. Every night since then, things get progressively worse and worse. Anything that is not alive in some way, changes into something vicious with a desire for blood.
Becket's father is the police commissioner and because of all the mayhem going on, is hardly ever home. After Piper becomes one of the Nightstruck and is determined to get Becket to become one too, her father starts having her stay with Luke when he is working. Awkward to be sure because Becket pretty much becomes dumb struck around him. Turns out that Piper isn't after Becket just for herself. Aleric wants her too. And with Becket determined to not become a Nighstruck, one by one things get destroyed or attacked in an attempt to break her. Until one night she figures out how to stop it all...if she can actually go thru with it. Which of course she can't. Not until Aleric keeps pushing her and pushing her. And things just happen. Now she's just right for his plans for her and she is out of time.
I'm not sure if this is going to be a series, but with the way it ended, it definitely seemed like it could/should be. And if it is, I will most likely check out the next book. Mostly because I really want more Aleric, but also because I'm curious what would happen next.
deannaksmith's review
4.0
This was dark and creepy and kind of messed up and I really really liked it.
audiobookmel's review
4.0
Review originally posted at RabidReads.com.
This is the first book in a new series by Jenna Black. If you’ve read my reviews before, you know I’m not a huge fan of YA books. However, there are a few authors that I will read their YA stories. Jenna Black is one of those authors. I’ve read both her Faeriewalker and Replica series and enjoyed both. So, when given the chance to review this new series, I jumped on the chance. This story is a combination of science fiction and horror and will keep you glued to the pages.
Becket is a pretty normal seventeen year old girl. She is a bit shy. She is also a bit of brainy school girl. She gets great grades and is in all AP classes. She is having to deal with the divorce of her parents. Being that it was her senior year of school, she chose to stay with her father to finish out her school. Both of her parents were self-made and didn’t want to just and her things growing up, so she doesn’t have a car. Her dad is a bit overprotective and won’t let her go to any parties that even might have underage drinking.
Becket’s best friend, Piper, is none of these things. Her parents bought her a car. She shops a ton. She has a packed social schedule. She has grades that are good enough, but not great. But, she has been there for Becket, especially when Becket needed her during the divorce. Piper is also dating Becket’s crush and neighbor, Luke. Not Piper’s fault, since Becket never mentioned that she had the crush, but this is hard for Becket.
Anyway, one night when Becket is walking the family dog, Bob Barker (yep, that’s his name), they come across a crying baby. But something doesn’t feel right. Bob is a trained police dog, though he wasn’t a police dog, just a pet and protector of the family. Bob doesn’t like this “baby”, but Becket can’t in good conscience leave a baby, so she goes to investigate. Then she sees something that she shouldn’t.
After that, things in Philadelphia start to get strange after that. People start to get more violent. People are calling 911 for weird things, but can’t seem substantiate anything. People are disappearing. Becket is even starting to see things that she shouldn’t. Piper starts acting way different from the Piper that Becket knows. Every night seems to be worse than the previous night.
This book does tackle a few things that teenagers will have to deal with like peer pressure as the more evil Piper talks Becket into doing some things that she wouldn’t normally do. There is even a scene where Piper, Becket and Luke sneak into a bar. Did I mention that they were still in high school? Piper starts drinking and drinks way too much. There is a great discussion between Luke and Becket about not letting Piper drive in her condition. I love how the Ms. Black tackles this issue without making seem like she is trying to give out “the moral of the story here is” type of feeling.
This is a great story that really kept me glued to the pages. I just couldn’t believe everything that was happening and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I don’t know the official subgenre this book is supposed to go into. I would include it as a dark science fiction or a horror story. All I can say that it is good. I will say that not everyone has a happy ending, but that is not an uncommon theme in Jenna Black books. She doesn’t write books that are all hearts and rainbows. People in her books will die and stay dead. The series isn’t over, so I don’t know what will happen in the overall end. I will say that I will be looking out for when the next book comes out.
**Book was provided to me by the author. This review is my opinion and was not requested or provoked in anyway by the author.
This is the first book in a new series by Jenna Black. If you’ve read my reviews before, you know I’m not a huge fan of YA books. However, there are a few authors that I will read their YA stories. Jenna Black is one of those authors. I’ve read both her Faeriewalker and Replica series and enjoyed both. So, when given the chance to review this new series, I jumped on the chance. This story is a combination of science fiction and horror and will keep you glued to the pages.
Becket is a pretty normal seventeen year old girl. She is a bit shy. She is also a bit of brainy school girl. She gets great grades and is in all AP classes. She is having to deal with the divorce of her parents. Being that it was her senior year of school, she chose to stay with her father to finish out her school. Both of her parents were self-made and didn’t want to just and her things growing up, so she doesn’t have a car. Her dad is a bit overprotective and won’t let her go to any parties that even might have underage drinking.
Becket’s best friend, Piper, is none of these things. Her parents bought her a car. She shops a ton. She has a packed social schedule. She has grades that are good enough, but not great. But, she has been there for Becket, especially when Becket needed her during the divorce. Piper is also dating Becket’s crush and neighbor, Luke. Not Piper’s fault, since Becket never mentioned that she had the crush, but this is hard for Becket.
Anyway, one night when Becket is walking the family dog, Bob Barker (yep, that’s his name), they come across a crying baby. But something doesn’t feel right. Bob is a trained police dog, though he wasn’t a police dog, just a pet and protector of the family. Bob doesn’t like this “baby”, but Becket can’t in good conscience leave a baby, so she goes to investigate. Then she sees something that she shouldn’t.
After that, things in Philadelphia start to get strange after that. People start to get more violent. People are calling 911 for weird things, but can’t seem substantiate anything. People are disappearing. Becket is even starting to see things that she shouldn’t. Piper starts acting way different from the Piper that Becket knows. Every night seems to be worse than the previous night.
This book does tackle a few things that teenagers will have to deal with like peer pressure as the more evil Piper talks Becket into doing some things that she wouldn’t normally do. There is even a scene where Piper, Becket and Luke sneak into a bar. Did I mention that they were still in high school? Piper starts drinking and drinks way too much. There is a great discussion between Luke and Becket about not letting Piper drive in her condition. I love how the Ms. Black tackles this issue without making seem like she is trying to give out “the moral of the story here is” type of feeling.
This is a great story that really kept me glued to the pages. I just couldn’t believe everything that was happening and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I don’t know the official subgenre this book is supposed to go into. I would include it as a dark science fiction or a horror story. All I can say that it is good. I will say that not everyone has a happy ending, but that is not an uncommon theme in Jenna Black books. She doesn’t write books that are all hearts and rainbows. People in her books will die and stay dead. The series isn’t over, so I don’t know what will happen in the overall end. I will say that I will be looking out for when the next book comes out.
**Book was provided to me by the author. This review is my opinion and was not requested or provoked in anyway by the author.
cindeereads's review
5.0
This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through it I was amazed at just how good this story I really need to get the next book soon. It started slowly but then it picked up the pace and I just could not stop reading even with the cliffhanger that just makes me want to read the next book really soon. So overall I think this book is really good and I can't wait to continue the story.
slc333's review against another edition
3.0
Good YA horror that was a creepy page turner. None of the characters are particularly compelling and our heroine and narrator Beckett while likable enough was at times annoying with her lack of backbone in relation to Piper and her constant internal Í am so ordinary and not special’ monologues. I also didn’t like how it ended on a stupid cliff-hanger. (Stupid in the sense of I hate cliff-hangers rather than stupid in terms of a story decision).
dreamer4ever's review against another edition
3.0
This had so much damn potential with all the creepy weirded out stuff that was going on but I did not like Becket who is the main character at all, she drove me crazy, I think she was supposed to be 17 but acted more like a 12 yo would and her best friend Piper was lousy as well, and there's little romance, like very little. The characters felt like cardboard cutouts and since characters are huge for me, I won't be continuing whatever book comes next, and it's too bad because the plot may still be pretty awesome as it comes to light.
fran98765's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Definitely creepy. Disappointed that it is a series, I felt there wasn't more to the story that needed more books and should have been completed.
Definitely creepy. Disappointed that it is a series, I felt there wasn't more to the story that needed more books and should have been completed.
ravencrantz's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/5
I was rather discouraged when I went to add this to goodreads and saw its rating, and the first half of the book dragged a lot. It did start out strong enough, with our main character finding a "baby" abandoned in an alley at night and then all hell breaking loose, but it took so long for people to piece things together. While that may be realistic, it meant I had to sit through our main character doing nothing more than swooning over her crush and best friends boyfriend, and going to parties she had no interest in. The first half was a lot of contemporary YA with hints that something more was happening, and that was incredibly boring for me. Not to mention it was a good fifty pages before we even learned our main character's name was Becket.
I tried to like Piper, both as a friend and an antagonist, but she was so awful and so predictable. I hated how she bossed everyone around and manipulated them into doing what she wanted. I hated how Becket didn't stand up for herself, though I do understand that's a hard thing to do. I didn't like the YA trope of every tiny thing Becket did getting blown out of proportion by a parent and resulting in unfair grounding. The first half of this book was a huge mess and should have been reworked to better accommodate the second half.
The second half, though, oh man. I can't believe this was the same book. Though I wasn't a huge fan of the italics with what was happening outside of Becket's viewpoint, I appreciate how bloody and gross this book was. Heads chopped off, blood everywhere, faces kicked in, this was my kind of book. It was corny and gross and reminded me of a terrible horror movie and I loved every second of it. It still had issues with annoying tropes (oh no I, a Girl, and you, a Boy, and being forced to share a house alone at night how Awkward I hope nothing Romantic happens), and was still predictable, but it was written so much better. It moved faster, it had more action, and was simply more fun to read.
This did leave on a cliffhanger and I'm kind of bummed about that. A bit of reworking and this could have been a brilliant standalone novel, but I can't say I'm not interested in the sequel. My main problem with the ending was nothing was explained. We don't know what all of this is about and the term Nightstruck was thrown into the text as if we already knew what that meant. I feel like I'm missing something with this book that I hope will be fixed in the sequel. Definitely read this if you like dumb, bloody books, but be prepared to work for it.
I was rather discouraged when I went to add this to goodreads and saw its rating, and the first half of the book dragged a lot. It did start out strong enough, with our main character finding a "baby" abandoned in an alley at night and then all hell breaking loose, but it took so long for people to piece things together. While that may be realistic, it meant I had to sit through our main character doing nothing more than swooning over her crush and best friends boyfriend, and going to parties she had no interest in. The first half was a lot of contemporary YA with hints that something more was happening, and that was incredibly boring for me. Not to mention it was a good fifty pages before we even learned our main character's name was Becket.
I tried to like Piper, both as a friend and an antagonist, but she was so awful and so predictable. I hated how she bossed everyone around and manipulated them into doing what she wanted. I hated how Becket didn't stand up for herself, though I do understand that's a hard thing to do. I didn't like the YA trope of every tiny thing Becket did getting blown out of proportion by a parent and resulting in unfair grounding. The first half of this book was a huge mess and should have been reworked to better accommodate the second half.
The second half, though, oh man. I can't believe this was the same book. Though I wasn't a huge fan of the italics with what was happening outside of Becket's viewpoint, I appreciate how bloody and gross this book was. Heads chopped off, blood everywhere, faces kicked in, this was my kind of book. It was corny and gross and reminded me of a terrible horror movie and I loved every second of it. It still had issues with annoying tropes (oh no I, a Girl, and you, a Boy, and being forced to share a house alone at night how Awkward I hope nothing Romantic happens), and was still predictable, but it was written so much better. It moved faster, it had more action, and was simply more fun to read.
This did leave on a cliffhanger and I'm kind of bummed about that. A bit of reworking and this could have been a brilliant standalone novel, but I can't say I'm not interested in the sequel. My main problem with the ending was nothing was explained. We don't know what all of this is about and the term Nightstruck was thrown into the text as if we already knew what that meant. I feel like I'm missing something with this book that I hope will be fixed in the sequel. Definitely read this if you like dumb, bloody books, but be prepared to work for it.
paperbackstash's review against another edition
4.0
Dark and a seriously depressing moment or two, but excellent series starter. I'll definitely check out the second.