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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Took a while for things to click for me, but when they did... I got sucked in and loved it!
This book was not at all what I was expecting, but I absolutely loved it! Exciting and dramatic, dark and funny. I was surprised to find it spicy and addictive. Jack is totally swoon-worthy, with his angry lusty vibes. Post Apocalyptic YA at its finest! Where Evie begins this book and ends was so entertaining and kept me guessing. I went into this with a lot of preconceived notions about YA books and Kresley Cole completely smashed them all. I could not put it down. The alternate POV was very creepy and somehow exactly what I’ve always wanted. 5 stars because Kresley stunned me with this one, I can’t believe I waited so long to read this!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
This is a tough book to review because there is a lot to like here and a lot to dislike. The concept behind the book is great, and I loved watching the puzzle pieces unfold, guessing who was who, seeing their powers in action, taking note of the symbolism with the Tarot Cards and what the REAL story was going to be.
The first chapter is intriguing, but then we're subjected to many boring pages of life before the Flash. The apocalyptic event mentioned on the back of the book and in the first chapter doesn't happen until page 105 roundabouts. That's 100 pages of Evie going to school, arguing with Jackson, having visions, thinking she's crazy, etc. Basically, the book could have started on page 100, because we really didn't need all that backstory before getting to the exciting stuff. The first chapter has us RIGHT there with a crazed man named Arthur who has just “trapped” our main female lead and has drugged her and is in a sadistic crutch of adding her to his collection. This is nearly forgotten as it is NOT mentioned again for quite a while and then never at all until the ending- plus we don’t even learn how she got there to begin with. (And then the plot twist that was here as well? Pretty uncalled for to have her get the upper hand AND we finally get the details we should’ve gotten from her grandmother given to us too.)
Unfortunately, the book suffers from weak, or downright repulsive, characters. Evie is pretty bland and pathetic for most of the book, and I wish that she'd had some useful skill or something. That she could actually access and use consistently. Only to turn sour and into the “thing” she was fighting to become the whole time.
But the worst character was the love interest Jackson. I'm not sure I have ever disliked a love interest in a book so much. He drinks whiskey constantly. He beats people to pulps with his fists (for fun.) He's horrible to the autistic kid. (Which, by the way, can we stop using mental health and disabilities as fodder to simply push a story forward? It’s not necessary to have when you’ve already got a magic/paranormal system that’s plaguing these kids without the added stigma which is then only used to be abused basically.) And with Evie he acts like a horny stalker, treats her like a possession, verbally abuses her, and pressures her to have sex with him throughout the entire book. An actual quote from Jackson: "Hell, Evie, you're probably the last girl on earth for me. Would it KILL you to put out?" (And this boy spoke such poor English most the time- which with the way things were set up was absolutely a racial and financial jab. This kid grew up ‘across the swamp’ in derelict, falling apart mobile homes. And didn’t get the ‘best education’ either. He used “Me” and “You” a lot like a toddler would and out of place in many instances. But then he is able to easily articulate these hateful sentences and speak fluently in jackass.)
I will not be reading more of this series- the idea was cool but the first book performance was a disappointment.
http://chibireader.wordpress.com/2013/11/12/sofyys-book-review-poison-princess-by-kresley-cole/
This was a creative dystopain novel that had a good plot. But, some of the things in this novel could have been more well developed but i have not read the second one which i assume will answer some of my questions. But! I loved the concept! It was very creative (as i said) and a new twist on the dystopian genre! The main character, Evie, had her ups and downs with me some of her thought processing was not quit clear to me and she got quit annoying at points. I know its a dystopian novel and its not suppose to be realistic but some of her emotions as a teenager was not realistic. Same as Jack, i was frustrated in the end because it was such a big cliff hanger! But that was a good thing on the author's part because it did make me want to pick up the sequel. The love between Jack and Evie was confusing at some points and Jack's feelings are actually hard to decipher as a reader. But, at times Jack's feelings made a good twist in some of the duller parts of the novel. This story was a interesting take on dystopian and I recommend it to anyone who wants a good romance and a good dystopian.
NOTE: MY CRITICISM ON THIS BOOK DOES NOT MEAN ITS BAD!In fact i loved the story i am just reviewing my honest opinion on this novel and pointing out the few flaws this book has! I enjoyed it as anyone that reads it will... but some things i did not agree with as many readers will as well.
NOTE: MY CRITICISM ON THIS BOOK DOES NOT MEAN ITS BAD!In fact i loved the story i am just reviewing my honest opinion on this novel and pointing out the few flaws this book has! I enjoyed it as anyone that reads it will... but some things i did not agree with as many readers will as well.
When I picked this book up I had no idea what Arcana meant. I wish this had been made clearer earlier in the book. It wasn't until Evie found Matthew that the Taro connection became clear to me. I'm sure those who are way more into fantasy knew earlier, but not me.
I'm also glad my version (audiobook) didn't have this picture on the front. My version of Jackson and Evie looked very different. I cannot wait to get the next book and see how this all turns out.
I also like how you don't need to know about Taro to read this book. the author does such a good job of explaining how the tableu loooks and describing the powers. I think I have an advantage because I can picture them exactly like she describes instead of pairing them to some drawing. Overall this book was a great read, I enjoyed it greatly!
I'm also glad my version (audiobook) didn't have this picture on the front. My version of Jackson and Evie looked very different. I cannot wait to get the next book and see how this all turns out.
I also like how you don't need to know about Taro to read this book. the author does such a good job of explaining how the tableu loooks and describing the powers. I think I have an advantage because I can picture them exactly like she describes instead of pairing them to some drawing. Overall this book was a great read, I enjoyed it greatly!
Tengo sentimientos muy encontrados con este libro. Por un lado, la alegoría completa con las cartas del tarot, las personalidades de los personajes y el desarrollo de la historia me parece brillante. Cada giro me hace buscar en google más y más sobre esa tópica y alucinar con los significados ocultos y los cambios de perspectiva.
Por otro lado, las relaciones de los personajes son un poco sexistas. Que es verdad que en cierto sentido lo son incluso para hacerlas más realistas y demostrar un lado oscuro de los personajes y dar más profundidad a la trama. Pero me da miedo volver a apoyar esa idealización del macho alpha sobreprotector con el "es mía" siempre por delante.
Muy chulo además el toque de clases de Luisiana con el propio francés/cajún. Hace las conversaciones más interesantes.
Y muy guay el comienzo con ese prólogo. BRAVO.
Tengo que ver como se desarrolla la historia para decidirme mejor.
Por otro lado, las relaciones de los personajes son un poco sexistas. Que es verdad que en cierto sentido lo son incluso para hacerlas más realistas y demostrar un lado oscuro de los personajes y dar más profundidad a la trama. Pero me da miedo volver a apoyar esa idealización del macho alpha sobreprotector con el "es mía" siempre por delante.
Muy chulo además el toque de clases de Luisiana con el propio francés/cajún. Hace las conversaciones más interesantes.
Y muy guay el comienzo con ese prólogo. BRAVO.
Tengo que ver como se desarrolla la historia para decidirme mejor.
Read 3/2023:
I definitely would not rate this 5 stars anymore
I definitely would not rate this 5 stars anymore
I adore this book!!!! I couldn't put it down. An end of the world story that got my attention beginning to end... Evie is The Empress, Jackson the hero, and I can't wait to see how the story unfolds in book 2. If you haven't read this book, I recommend you invest in it, you won't be disappointed.