Scan barcode
bookish_manda's review
5.0
Semblance by Logan Patricks is about a secret society made up of the world elite business owners and the common woman who manage to infiltrate the system by happenstance. This mystery romance will have you dying to know what happens on the next page.
pamgodwin's review
5.0
A slick, coiling thriller about power, greed, and a decidedly deviant subject: sociopathy. There's a romantic sub-plot, though, I wouldn't consider this romantic or erotic. The plot focuses on the mysteries and characters that govern the Midnight Society. You might see the twist coming and figure out exactly how it will play out, but what you won't guess is depths at which it will cut and burn. The execution is brilliant and doesn't hold back.
Suspenseful and unique, this unsettling, complicated story is anchored by an undertone of eerie piano passages. The ending is powerful--not a cliffy--but enough to leave you anticipating the next book. I highly recommend for all thriller lovers.
Suspenseful and unique, this unsettling, complicated story is anchored by an undertone of eerie piano passages. The ending is powerful--not a cliffy--but enough to leave you anticipating the next book. I highly recommend for all thriller lovers.
nannyf's review
5.0
What a nice change to read a story which not only had mystery and intrigue, but a bit of romance and betrayal too.
This author has achieved something which not a lot of authors have managed thus far - he kept me guessing until the big reveal! I can usually work out beforehand what is going to happen. This one? I didn't see it until the author wanted me to. That, for me, is the mark of a damned good book.
Aria is a very talented pianist and is offered a once in a lifetime chance. Even though she doesn't feel 100% sure about the opportunity she has been given, she goes for it. That choice leads her into a world she didn't know existed and she quickly finds her life changed beyond recognition.
The Midnight Society is a secretive group of people and at first we aren't sure exactly what is going on with them. In fact we don't really get a good insight into the group until later in the book.
Shadow, the leader of the Midnight Society, is a very dark character. Yet he does have a totally different side to him. That other side made him more likeable. However I won't lie, I did like his darker side. I mean who doesn't like a bad boy?
The characters are all very well written, and they work well together. The story flows at a good pace and it kept my attention extremely well right to the end.
Ok so let's talk about the ending! Wow, I did not see that coming. Even as it was happening I honestly didn't realise who it was until the reveal. It was very well thought out, very well written and had me well and truly hooked.
Overall this is a must read book for me, and I cannot wait to read the next one. Honestly it can't come soon enough! Definitely one to watch.
This author has achieved something which not a lot of authors have managed thus far - he kept me guessing until the big reveal! I can usually work out beforehand what is going to happen. This one? I didn't see it until the author wanted me to. That, for me, is the mark of a damned good book.
Aria is a very talented pianist and is offered a once in a lifetime chance. Even though she doesn't feel 100% sure about the opportunity she has been given, she goes for it. That choice leads her into a world she didn't know existed and she quickly finds her life changed beyond recognition.
The Midnight Society is a secretive group of people and at first we aren't sure exactly what is going on with them. In fact we don't really get a good insight into the group until later in the book.
Shadow, the leader of the Midnight Society, is a very dark character. Yet he does have a totally different side to him. That other side made him more likeable. However I won't lie, I did like his darker side. I mean who doesn't like a bad boy?
The characters are all very well written, and they work well together. The story flows at a good pace and it kept my attention extremely well right to the end.
Ok so let's talk about the ending! Wow, I did not see that coming. Even as it was happening I honestly didn't realise who it was until the reveal. It was very well thought out, very well written and had me well and truly hooked.
Overall this is a must read book for me, and I cannot wait to read the next one. Honestly it can't come soon enough! Definitely one to watch.
fallen_for_books30's review
5.0
A very different and trilling about a girl who is independent and trying to survive another semester,trying to pursue her dream of playing piano! Her life changes when she meets Shadow,The leader of Midnight Society. When she used to not have food now she gets three or more times meals day, she could buy clothes. But at what cost ? This love story of Shadow and Aria has a dark side.
I loved this book. It's mystery,the way the story has been told.It was addicting and interesting from the start. I loved the girl who was independent and I liked that a lot in her..It seemed realistic and I could connect with her. Shadow was dark, brooding and at first I didn't like him but as the story progressed I fell in love this guy! You got to read this book. You will be shocked to the core with the secrets it had to say. The story is wonderfully told by the author!!
I loved this book. It's mystery,the way the story has been told.It was addicting and interesting from the start. I loved the girl who was independent and I liked that a lot in her..It seemed realistic and I could connect with her. Shadow was dark, brooding and at first I didn't like him but as the story progressed I fell in love this guy! You got to read this book. You will be shocked to the core with the secrets it had to say. The story is wonderfully told by the author!!
pattymac61's review
5.0
One of the best books. I could not put it down...it was gripping and suspenseful. So compelling and just one of the best mystery/romance/suspense books you get a little bit of everything. Can't wait for the next book.
whatemsreadingx's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I finished this book quite a while ago and have been holding off on my review because I wanted to take some more time to evaluate my feelings toward this book in case I was being harsh - spoiler alert, I was... I have since rewritten my review and adjusted my rating now that my anger has simmered.
However, my overall feeling towards this book is disappointment. Disappointment that I waited so long to read this thinking it was going to be SO GOOD and then it ended up being, to be quite honest, a waste of my life. Or rather, the ending was a waste of my life and completely ruined the story for me.
Maybe I'm a sucker for a happy ending (I defo am) but did it HAVE to end that way?! I was genuinely devastated and have actually since given this book away to the charity shop lmao.
Maybe I'm a sucker for a happy ending (I defo am) but did it HAVE to end that way?! I was genuinely devastated and have actually since given this book away to the charity shop lmao.
Okay let's start with the ending, when I tell you that the ending of this story ruined it for me (as you've probably gathered) I'm not being dramatic... Like, the rest of the book was SO GOOD, maybe slightly out there, but good nonetheless, and I loved the idea of a secret society of rich people, but the ending just spoiled everything. I also wish that we had more of an expansion on the secret society, it felt like that part was meant to be such a key part of the story and it was almost forgotten about.
And the writing did make me cringe at points, I can't lie...
Character wise, OF COURSE I was obsessed with Shadow, I have a thing for unobtainable fictional men (who are also insanely hot) so he fit the bill. And as for Aria, I did find her to be a bit odd, I'm not sure if it was the fast paced nature of the story, but she went from being disgusted by the idea of a secret society to suddenly (because Shadow was hot) wanting to be involved and just going along with everything without question?! She just seemed really shallow it annoyed me - a lot.
I do however, feel like the story had redeeming qualities, it flowed well and was really intriguing, and the whole premise was actually read good, just perhaps not executed as well as it could have been.
shellygreninger's review
3.0
I think that this was a nice idea and I think it could have been a 4 star book for me, but here is where it fell short. I never connected with Aria as a character. Her attitude and somewhat crass behavior, in my opinion, didn't work with the idea that she is supposed to be an aspiring classical pianist. Despite her being supposedly "low-born" hearing a woman talk about pissing and bowel movements and such is just not classy behavior. Aria's whole personality and behavior came off as very male to me and I think that's why I never cared for her.
I did like Shadow, but I felt that his whole character would have been a little more hesitant to the love at first sight thing. I know that this is all explained better later on, but it was weird for me. There were also some inconsistencies throughout the plot that pulled me out of the story.
I do think the idea was fantastic and even though I didn't LOVE love this one I want to see what happens so I will probably have to pick up the next one to see what happens.
I did like Shadow, but I felt that his whole character would have been a little more hesitant to the love at first sight thing. I know that this is all explained better later on, but it was weird for me. There were also some inconsistencies throughout the plot that pulled me out of the story.
I do think the idea was fantastic and even though I didn't LOVE love this one I want to see what happens so I will probably have to pick up the next one to see what happens.
triciab04's review
4.0
So I have a guilty pleasure of mine that I am going to share with you all....no judgments here, right?? I kind of love the show Gossip Girl. Trust me, I know that it's probably not right, I am a 29 year old mother, and all around pretty nice kind of gal, but I love it, so there it is. I've heard countless times from my guy that it's "Unfathomable that you can like anyone in that show. They are all terrible, spoiled, pretentious aholes...", at one point he also made an offhand comment, after being subjected to watching quite a few episodes because I was, about how Dan Humphrey was the only one in the bunch that was "halfway decent", to which I responded by laughing a lot.....for ***SPOILER ALERT*** Dan Humphrey is secretly, the Gossip Girl. He was not impressed. OK, I swear this all has bearing on my feelings about this book. Semblance was like Gossip Girl, ON STEROIDS, not legal in the US because they make you fucking crazy steroids. In fact, if Gossip Girl and The Godfather had a baby, thy name would be Semblance. So naturally, I dug it.
This book was over the top in every way, but somehow all together, it worked for me. About halfway through I was thinking it was alright, by the end, my mind was blown by the sheer craziness of it all. There was a secret society with the most powerful and financially elite at the very center of it. They called themselves, The Midnight Society. Come on, who isn't intrigued by a secret society?? Of course there were some skeletons in the closet with this bunch, and my friends, they burst out of that closet with a vengeance, after doing the Macarena ;)
Of course this story would not be complete without, Aria Valencia, lonely, hauntingly beautiful, financially challenged classical music student, and pianist extraordinaire who laughs in the face of timeless adages like "If you think it's too good to be true, it probably is.", and then gets stabbed in the back for not using that space filler inside of her beautiful noggin. Yes, there were times when you will probably want to kick her in the shin and run away, she knows better than what she's doing, but proceeds anyhow, but she does so with reckless abandon and a mouth like a trucker, so if you're like me, she'll grow on you! She's got spunk and she doles it out wherever she goes, I love it.
Let's also not forget about our hunky leading man, Shadow, the brooding King of the Midnight Society. A man with a haunted past and vengeance to dish out. He is on a mission of revenge and won't rest until he's achieved his goal. Well, minus some pretty steamy romps with a certain leading lady. Unbeknownst to him, there is a storm a brewin' in his kingdom, and heads are going to roll. Fellow Midnight Society royalty, and Shadow's friend, Lincoln was also a favorite character of mine. He was a little arrogant, and a lot charming. Abraham, the fatherly figure and Calisto, the princess,aka Shadow's sister, were both other characters that made some pretty large impressions on me. Everyone in this book had a very interesting story beneath their shiny exteriors.
There was mystery, intrigue, pretty much every deadly sin, and ridiculous amounts of bloodshed.....I mean seriously how many people can die in broad daylight before a cop arrives in this city?? I mean military like assaults go down in these neighborhoods completely unnoticed and/or unreported by ANYONE?! Lol like I said, there was some pretty over the top things in this book, but it really did work for me all thrown in together. Almost forgot to mention the pretty epic cliffhanger at the end too. There were some major revelations and all around shit hitting the fan at the end, and you are left hanging pretty hard. Well Mr. Patricks, your evil genius plan worked, I will definitely be reading the next book. I just have to know what happens next!! Well done, by the way, this was a stellar novel, especially for a debut novel. Can't wait to see what you come up with next!
More...