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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
First, I wasn't into this book. Then, I was. Then, I hated the main characters. Then, I liked it again. Too many obnoxious teenagers... (I know it's YA though).
The basic idea of the book is an interesting concept- teenagers in a post apocalyptic world who represent the characters on Tarot cards and fight each other. The author does not do a good job with this concept- the plot is full of holes and characters that are not likable. I'm going to try to read book 2 and see what I think.
*note- I did try to read book 2 but couldn't get past chapter 2- not interested at all. Bleh!
*note- I did try to read book 2 but couldn't get past chapter 2- not interested at all. Bleh!
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kresley Cole can even make me enjoy a young adult book
Probably closer to 2.5 stars, but I'm going to round up. Overall, I can see where the story is meant to go, but this book was very much only the first, faltering step on the way there. The first 100 or so pages were almost painful to read, and I only persevered because the book had been recommended to me by someone whose opinions I trust. I think there are a couple more books released in this series, and I'll probably read them as well, but I wouldn't say that this is a must read or that there's anything particularly special about this.
What it's about: Evie had visions about the apocalypse and then it came. Now Evie has teamed with old-classmate Jack to find her grandmother, and figure out the rest of her visions and the voices in her head.
What I thought: If I had to put this review into just one sentence, this would be it: Best Book I Have Read In 2012. Big statement, I know, but this book has had the biggest effect on me all year. Let's start with Evie. To be honest, for a lot of the book, she really annoyed me. However, by the end of the book she was so bad-ass that it made up for all her previous annoyance. Next there is Jack. Now I know I tend to swoon over Young Adult male characters, but once you read this one, you will figure out why Jack is now my favourite. He is smart, witty and he rides a motorcycle. I shall say no more. I really loved that Jack was a 'Cajun' and spoke 'Cajun French' - I found myself imagining him talking in this accent, especially when words are spelled differently. The plot line kept me enthralled from the first page, I literally did not want to put this down the few times I had too.
I want to keep raving. I want to tell you all about it, but truth be told, you really just need to read this one yourself.
The good: I found this story to be really unique in the fact that I have never heard about someone taking the Tarot cards and bringing them to life in a book. I might be mistaken, but for me it was seriously exciting.
The bad: I found no bad with this book, except that I am already aching for the next one!
Rating: 5 bookstacks
What I thought: If I had to put this review into just one sentence, this would be it: Best Book I Have Read In 2012. Big statement, I know, but this book has had the biggest effect on me all year. Let's start with Evie. To be honest, for a lot of the book, she really annoyed me. However, by the end of the book she was so bad-ass that it made up for all her previous annoyance. Next there is Jack. Now I know I tend to swoon over Young Adult male characters, but once you read this one, you will figure out why Jack is now my favourite. He is smart, witty and he rides a motorcycle. I shall say no more. I really loved that Jack was a 'Cajun' and spoke 'Cajun French' - I found myself imagining him talking in this accent, especially when words are spelled differently. The plot line kept me enthralled from the first page, I literally did not want to put this down the few times I had too.
I want to keep raving. I want to tell you all about it, but truth be told, you really just need to read this one yourself.
The good: I found this story to be really unique in the fact that I have never heard about someone taking the Tarot cards and bringing them to life in a book. I might be mistaken, but for me it was seriously exciting.
The bad: I found no bad with this book, except that I am already aching for the next one!
Rating: 5 bookstacks
As a huge fan of Kresley Cole and young adult books I couldn't pass up reading her first young adult novel to hit the scene, Poison Princess. Seeing as Kresley is one of my top favorite authors, I knew she wouldn't let me down.
Poison Princess takes us into a world where the characters on the tarot cards are very real and are directly connected to the apocalypse and end of days. We follow Evie, who has always struggled with weird and unexplained abilities but now is seeing them come through even more in scary ways with each passing day.
I went into this book expecting various things just because of what I've come to expect from Kresley's Immortals After Dark series. But this was a very different book than I expected. I thought there would be more sarcastic humor, but was surprised to see not much. This wasn't a bad thing and really shows how versatile of a writer Kresley is, but it was also a little disappointing because I love that about the Immortals After Dark series.
That's not to say the book wasn't good though. It is such a different world than anything I've ever read before that it made is to much fun to dive into and keep reading from cover to cover. This was one I literally got so sucked into that I couldn't put it down from the moment I sat down and literally read it in one (long) sitting.
Evie I liked for the most part and found her reactions and personality to be more realistic than some of the young adult females we get these days. I think a lot of us would like to believe that we'd be brave she-warriors when the time calls for it, but most of us would probably be pretty darn scared -- at least at first. I actually liked this about Evie and found her gradual growth into a stronger person more realistic than having that inner strength from day one.
As far as Jack is concerned, I really really didn't like him at first and found him to be a complete jerk in more ways than one. For one-third of the book I really didn't see myself warming up to him anytime soon. But trust me when I say that you will warm up to him whether you want to or not, and even though he can be a jerk, he really does care about Evie in his own way.
The other characters were hit or miss, but I think that's what it's supposed to be at this point. Evie is at war with those like her, so it's hard to know who to like and who to trust. But overall I thought we met a good mix of characters who I'll look forward to getting to know more in the coming books -- a few in particular.
Overall this was a great read, but one that is very hard to explain without giving away spoilers. Let's just say that if you're looking for a very different world that doesn't feel like a carbon copy of a million other books you've already read then you'll probably enjoy this one. It's inventive, well-written, and the world is already well-built -- basically everything I've come to expect from Kresley Cole. If you haven't read anything from Kresley I highly recommend her Immortals After Dark series which is a really fun paranormal romance -- and psst they're even better if you read them in order.
Poison Princess takes us into a world where the characters on the tarot cards are very real and are directly connected to the apocalypse and end of days. We follow Evie, who has always struggled with weird and unexplained abilities but now is seeing them come through even more in scary ways with each passing day.
I went into this book expecting various things just because of what I've come to expect from Kresley's Immortals After Dark series. But this was a very different book than I expected. I thought there would be more sarcastic humor, but was surprised to see not much. This wasn't a bad thing and really shows how versatile of a writer Kresley is, but it was also a little disappointing because I love that about the Immortals After Dark series.
That's not to say the book wasn't good though. It is such a different world than anything I've ever read before that it made is to much fun to dive into and keep reading from cover to cover. This was one I literally got so sucked into that I couldn't put it down from the moment I sat down and literally read it in one (long) sitting.
Evie I liked for the most part and found her reactions and personality to be more realistic than some of the young adult females we get these days. I think a lot of us would like to believe that we'd be brave she-warriors when the time calls for it, but most of us would probably be pretty darn scared -- at least at first. I actually liked this about Evie and found her gradual growth into a stronger person more realistic than having that inner strength from day one.
As far as Jack is concerned, I really really didn't like him at first and found him to be a complete jerk in more ways than one. For one-third of the book I really didn't see myself warming up to him anytime soon. But trust me when I say that you will warm up to him whether you want to or not, and even though he can be a jerk, he really does care about Evie in his own way.
The other characters were hit or miss, but I think that's what it's supposed to be at this point. Evie is at war with those like her, so it's hard to know who to like and who to trust. But overall I thought we met a good mix of characters who I'll look forward to getting to know more in the coming books -- a few in particular.
Overall this was a great read, but one that is very hard to explain without giving away spoilers. Let's just say that if you're looking for a very different world that doesn't feel like a carbon copy of a million other books you've already read then you'll probably enjoy this one. It's inventive, well-written, and the world is already well-built -- basically everything I've come to expect from Kresley Cole. If you haven't read anything from Kresley I highly recommend her Immortals After Dark series which is a really fun paranormal romance -- and psst they're even better if you read them in order.
I'll give this a 3. The book sucked and I wanted to put it down SO many times. With Jackson's horrible Emotional abuse being one of the main things to drive me insane. Good thing that I forced my way through it because the book ended GRET! I love the last 4-5 chapters and love the ending.
Warning: Minor Spoilers in this Review
Setting: In Poison Princess, Evie, and Jack venture through different locations, from swamps, to mansions, to boats and other places in order to scavenge for supplies, and find shelter. The author does a great job at describing these places and the landscapes, as she explains the effects in the world after the flash. Her descriptions are seamless, as they take little effort to picture, the words are very descriptive.
If trying to survive in a world with little food or water sounds difficult, there is also the added fear of the “ Bagmen” who are comparable to zombies, as they are undead people who feast on human blood and flesh, There are The Militia who steal, capture, torture, and terrorize the few remaining people they find alive, they travel in large numbers, giving them plenty power and control. Lastly there are The Cannibals, they are made up of desperate survivors, who decide to turn and feast on their own kind. This makes the duo cautious and tense, considering that no matter where they go, there could be something or someone out there to kill them. Kresley Cole does a fantastic job at keeping me on my toes about what might happen in this dangerous and unknown world.
Characters: This book is mostly told through the eyes of Evangeline (Evie) , a 16 year old girl, who at the beginning just wants to get back to the life that she used to have. The life she had before the voices in her head, the night mares, and the CLC (Child’s Last Chance) a behavioral clinic for children that she had to stay in. Evie, who used to be a bright and social cheerleader, had begun to hear voices in her head, and dreamed terrifying dreams of a red witch. She wanted to start school with a fresh start, and keep her issues buried. This all seemed possible until Jackson Devereaux, a Cajun delinquent from the other side of town meets her, and disrupts her soon-to-be peaceful life, with his bad attitude, thick accent, and recent fixation. Which she quickly finds out is her. Soon after , The Flash happens, causing Evie’s world to rip apart. Losing everyone close to her, she has no one. Jackson, who also loses those he loves, finds Evie and they both end up facing what is left of the world together.
Evie - She starts out weak and fragile, but slowly starts to find out more about herself, and her strengths. Although she starts out hating Jack, she finds out that there is more to this Cajun, then she initially thought. This causes her to gradually start a trusting relationship with him, that continues to grow into something more. Despite the protection that she has from Jackson, even he cannot stop the voices in her head, the visions, and the terrifying new power that is growing in Evie. I liked Evie, I thought she was realistic (despite the tarot stuff and such) , and not annoying, although she couldn’t always do much , she wasn’t whiney, and could stand her ground when it came to something she firmly believed in. I loved her ability, and seeing her go through the motions of figuring it out.
As the story progressed I felt that she grew as a character, matured, and accepted herself more in the end.
Jackson - Jackson seems to start out as a typical Bad-boy type of guy, but as i learned more about him, found that he is much deeper than i thought. He takes responsibility for Evie, and genuinely cares for her well being. Jackson is also very perceptive, knowing when Evie is hiding something from him, and is quick on his feet when it comes to survival. He doesn’t like “unsolved puzzles” and is constantly trying to find out what Evie is hiding from him, and why she wont tell him. His wanting to protect Evie grows into affection, as he starts to care for her more than he would like to. He also happens to have an uncanny amount of strength and dexterity, he is shown to excel in both hand-to-hand combat and using a bow and arrow.
I liked Jackson as well, he was much deeper than I originally though he would be. I was also happy at the fact that his interactions with Evie, were civil, and that he actually had interesting things to say.
Matthew - Matthew “The Fool” was an interesting character, I liked how he was always looking out for Evie, whether or not she knew it or appreciated it. He was charming in his own strange way. I also laughed when he “rewarded” Evie with a fruit cup after she had responded to one of Selena’s comments. I loved how his cryptic phrases slowly got decoded throughout the story, and reveled that everything he said had meaning. At the end of the book it made me smile when he had seen Evie and despite the current scene, he was proud of her.
Selena - Selena “The Moon” was one of the more bitter characters of the book. When she was introduced, I had also felt there was something to sweet about her, and that she was probably a fake person. Despite her dislike for everyone besides Jackson, I am curious to see where her character goes In the future, and whether or not she remains and ally to them.
Finn - Finn “The Magician” Although I didn’t particularly know enough about him to hate him or love him, I did think his ability was very cool. It was pretty awesome when he was able to just take things, and go unnoticed like that.
Arthur - Arthur “The Hermit” was a nut-head! So sadistic and cruel, he was too confident in himself and had made the error of underestimating and doubting Evie’s abilities. Which to his dismay, was the reason for his downfall.
****************************
Story: I thought Kresley Cole’s story was soo original, it was refreshing because of the Tarot influences in it. Although the pacing was a little slow at first, it did give us a little background on the characters. I felt like she ended the story really well, it wasn’t rushed, and it was a satisfying ending or should I say cliffhanger J
I was entranced by this world and the characters in it. I wanted to find out more about the Major Arcana’s, who they were and what they were capable of . I also didn’t feel the need to stop reading out of boredom or anything, Ms. Cole succeeded in her pacing, and kept the book interesting with her twist a turns. If your tired of typical YA books whether it be romance, or fantasy, and want something new I suggest Poison Princess. It is a great YA book and when your done you’ll just want to read the next one in the series!
Setting: In Poison Princess, Evie, and Jack venture through different locations, from swamps, to mansions, to boats and other places in order to scavenge for supplies, and find shelter. The author does a great job at describing these places and the landscapes, as she explains the effects in the world after the flash. Her descriptions are seamless, as they take little effort to picture, the words are very descriptive.
If trying to survive in a world with little food or water sounds difficult, there is also the added fear of the “ Bagmen” who are comparable to zombies, as they are undead people who feast on human blood and flesh, There are The Militia who steal, capture, torture, and terrorize the few remaining people they find alive, they travel in large numbers, giving them plenty power and control. Lastly there are The Cannibals, they are made up of desperate survivors, who decide to turn and feast on their own kind. This makes the duo cautious and tense, considering that no matter where they go, there could be something or someone out there to kill them. Kresley Cole does a fantastic job at keeping me on my toes about what might happen in this dangerous and unknown world.
Characters: This book is mostly told through the eyes of Evangeline (Evie) , a 16 year old girl, who at the beginning just wants to get back to the life that she used to have. The life she had before the voices in her head, the night mares, and the CLC (Child’s Last Chance) a behavioral clinic for children that she had to stay in. Evie, who used to be a bright and social cheerleader, had begun to hear voices in her head, and dreamed terrifying dreams of a red witch. She wanted to start school with a fresh start, and keep her issues buried. This all seemed possible until Jackson Devereaux, a Cajun delinquent from the other side of town meets her, and disrupts her soon-to-be peaceful life, with his bad attitude, thick accent, and recent fixation. Which she quickly finds out is her. Soon after , The Flash happens, causing Evie’s world to rip apart. Losing everyone close to her, she has no one. Jackson, who also loses those he loves, finds Evie and they both end up facing what is left of the world together.
Evie - She starts out weak and fragile, but slowly starts to find out more about herself, and her strengths. Although she starts out hating Jack, she finds out that there is more to this Cajun, then she initially thought. This causes her to gradually start a trusting relationship with him, that continues to grow into something more. Despite the protection that she has from Jackson, even he cannot stop the voices in her head, the visions, and the terrifying new power that is growing in Evie. I liked Evie, I thought she was realistic (despite the tarot stuff and such) , and not annoying, although she couldn’t always do much , she wasn’t whiney, and could stand her ground when it came to something she firmly believed in. I loved her ability, and seeing her go through the motions of figuring it out.
As the story progressed I felt that she grew as a character, matured, and accepted herself more in the end.
Jackson - Jackson seems to start out as a typical Bad-boy type of guy, but as i learned more about him, found that he is much deeper than i thought. He takes responsibility for Evie, and genuinely cares for her well being. Jackson is also very perceptive, knowing when Evie is hiding something from him, and is quick on his feet when it comes to survival. He doesn’t like “unsolved puzzles” and is constantly trying to find out what Evie is hiding from him, and why she wont tell him. His wanting to protect Evie grows into affection, as he starts to care for her more than he would like to. He also happens to have an uncanny amount of strength and dexterity, he is shown to excel in both hand-to-hand combat and using a bow and arrow.
I liked Jackson as well, he was much deeper than I originally though he would be. I was also happy at the fact that his interactions with Evie, were civil, and that he actually had interesting things to say.
Matthew - Matthew “The Fool” was an interesting character, I liked how he was always looking out for Evie, whether or not she knew it or appreciated it. He was charming in his own strange way. I also laughed when he “rewarded” Evie with a fruit cup after she had responded to one of Selena’s comments. I loved how his cryptic phrases slowly got decoded throughout the story, and reveled that everything he said had meaning. At the end of the book it made me smile when he had seen Evie and despite the current scene, he was proud of her.
Selena - Selena “The Moon” was one of the more bitter characters of the book. When she was introduced, I had also felt there was something to sweet about her, and that she was probably a fake person. Despite her dislike for everyone besides Jackson, I am curious to see where her character goes In the future, and whether or not she remains and ally to them.
Finn - Finn “The Magician” Although I didn’t particularly know enough about him to hate him or love him, I did think his ability was very cool. It was pretty awesome when he was able to just take things, and go unnoticed like that.
Arthur - Arthur “The Hermit” was a nut-head! So sadistic and cruel, he was too confident in himself and had made the error of underestimating and doubting Evie’s abilities. Which to his dismay, was the reason for his downfall.
****************************
Story: I thought Kresley Cole’s story was soo original, it was refreshing because of the Tarot influences in it. Although the pacing was a little slow at first, it did give us a little background on the characters. I felt like she ended the story really well, it wasn’t rushed, and it was a satisfying ending or should I say cliffhanger J
I was entranced by this world and the characters in it. I wanted to find out more about the Major Arcana’s, who they were and what they were capable of . I also didn’t feel the need to stop reading out of boredom or anything, Ms. Cole succeeded in her pacing, and kept the book interesting with her twist a turns. If your tired of typical YA books whether it be romance, or fantasy, and want something new I suggest Poison Princess. It is a great YA book and when your done you’ll just want to read the next one in the series!
Great start to a new series.
Male Character : hmmmmmm what to say about Jackson, sometimes I loved & sometimes I hated him, kinda like Evie.
Female Character : I really liked Evie. She was brought up in a certain way & can't help that she is the way she is, or reacted to certain situations the way she did.
Storyline : A very interesting and ambitious tale. I needed something totally different & that is exactly what I got. I love Cole's adult writing & this was just as good if not more so in that she didn't have her "adult" situations & had to story-tell more. She painted a very vivid picture. I am really hoping this is a trilogy though, I don't fancy a story with no end in sight!
Surrounding characters : Mel Everyone else I'm not so sure about yet.
POV : Evie who I really liked :)
Series cont : Definitely
Male Character : hmmmmmm what to say about Jackson, sometimes I loved & sometimes I hated him, kinda like Evie.
Female Character : I really liked Evie. She was brought up in a certain way & can't help that she is the way she is, or reacted to certain situations the way she did.
Storyline : A very interesting and ambitious tale. I needed something totally different & that is exactly what I got. I love Cole's adult writing & this was just as good if not more so in that she didn't have her "adult" situations & had to story-tell more. She painted a very vivid picture. I am really hoping this is a trilogy though, I don't fancy a story with no end in sight!
Surrounding characters : Mel
Spoiler
:*( was awesome! I wish she was around for longer.POV : Evie who I really liked :)
Series cont : Definitely