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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
The few adult authors that I love who venture into YA have really been hit or miss for me, mostly misses. However, within the first few pages I knew Cole was delivering! What I had no idea, after all I had been faithfully ignoring the book blurbs, reviews, and anything else that might spoil this read. Going in all I knew it was dystopian.
Peeling back the layers each page was so intense. First the book starts off in the future where the apocalypse (AKA Flash) has happened and Evie has wandered into a trap, where she might find herself tied up in a basement as a lab rat. Then the book jumps to the past 6 days BF (Before Flash) and Evie is just getting back home after spending some time in the loony bin. She just wants to be normal and avoid getting sent back to that medicated hell. What she finds is that her hallucinations are coming back, but maybe some of it isn't as crazy as she thought. Then boy from the wrong side of the bayou shows up at school and things get heated.
What I loved about this book the most wasn't the thrill of the past mixing with the future and present, but that Cole finally gets to show off a bit more of her stuff. Don't get me wrong I love her Immortal After Dark books. It's one of the highlight releases of each year for me! Sure she's mixed some of her favorite tropes into the book. Romance where the two keep getting hung up in what they think the other is thinking, check. Miscommunications, checked. Misunderstandings, check. However, this is a series where Evie remains the lead. That means the romance doesn't just get resolved right away.
Jackson, or Jack, is some yummy Cajun man candy. Something that I've always been drawn to. The fact that he's a bad boy with a motorcycle just added to the temptation! He's a hot head, and at times I was actually disgusted with him, but i think Cole has tempered me to that kind of male attitude. There's a love triangle here. Instead of being Evie and two other guys, it's Jack and two girls. Evie and one of her . . . apocalyptic rivals. Though I think Evie will be getting some options soon.
The desert apocalypse is . . . well never explained. This huge thing has happened before and what I think is reincarnations throughout time facing off for some type of end of the world battles. But why is it like this now? And what does it all mean!? Know idea. Evie is trying to find her crazy Aunt who actually knows, and that’s part of the adventure. The dystopian landscape is awesome and the beauty of Cole’s writing leaps out and memorizes readers. The cast of characters as they’re introduced amps up the universe and makes things feel more real. And of course more drama!
Cole brings parts of why I love her books to this new young adult dystopian. The fire of the romances that Cole always leaves her readers on fire with. Sure I’d like it if she changed up the formula, but hey I—and readers—always bite. The world is amazing and the mystery of what is truly going on makes my head spin with glee! A bunch of kids pitted against each other to determine the strange arcane power play that is going on as the world is left in ruin and humanity does what it does best. Turns everyone against each other. Unlike many adult authors who have tried to make the jump before Cole, she isn’t afraid to bring the controversy. Women haven’t made it through the Flash and now are treasures. Cannibalism, the fight for food and water, serial killers now able to live out their evil. Ah. Chaos. Mwah-ha-ha.
Sexual Content: Making out, talks of losing virginity, talk of sex, and sexual humor. This is a mature young adult.
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!
Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.
Peeling back the layers each page was so intense. First the book starts off in the future where the apocalypse (AKA Flash) has happened and Evie has wandered into a trap, where she might find herself tied up in a basement as a lab rat. Then the book jumps to the past 6 days BF (Before Flash) and Evie is just getting back home after spending some time in the loony bin. She just wants to be normal and avoid getting sent back to that medicated hell. What she finds is that her hallucinations are coming back, but maybe some of it isn't as crazy as she thought. Then boy from the wrong side of the bayou shows up at school and things get heated.
What I loved about this book the most wasn't the thrill of the past mixing with the future and present, but that Cole finally gets to show off a bit more of her stuff. Don't get me wrong I love her Immortal After Dark books. It's one of the highlight releases of each year for me! Sure she's mixed some of her favorite tropes into the book. Romance where the two keep getting hung up in what they think the other is thinking, check. Miscommunications, checked. Misunderstandings, check. However, this is a series where Evie remains the lead. That means the romance doesn't just get resolved right away.
Jackson, or Jack, is some yummy Cajun man candy. Something that I've always been drawn to. The fact that he's a bad boy with a motorcycle just added to the temptation! He's a hot head, and at times I was actually disgusted with him, but i think Cole has tempered me to that kind of male attitude. There's a love triangle here. Instead of being Evie and two other guys, it's Jack and two girls. Evie and one of her . . . apocalyptic rivals. Though I think Evie will be getting some options soon.
The desert apocalypse is . . . well never explained. This huge thing has happened before and what I think is reincarnations throughout time facing off for some type of end of the world battles. But why is it like this now? And what does it all mean!? Know idea. Evie is trying to find her crazy Aunt who actually knows, and that’s part of the adventure. The dystopian landscape is awesome and the beauty of Cole’s writing leaps out and memorizes readers. The cast of characters as they’re introduced amps up the universe and makes things feel more real. And of course more drama!
Cole brings parts of why I love her books to this new young adult dystopian. The fire of the romances that Cole always leaves her readers on fire with. Sure I’d like it if she changed up the formula, but hey I—and readers—always bite. The world is amazing and the mystery of what is truly going on makes my head spin with glee! A bunch of kids pitted against each other to determine the strange arcane power play that is going on as the world is left in ruin and humanity does what it does best. Turns everyone against each other. Unlike many adult authors who have tried to make the jump before Cole, she isn’t afraid to bring the controversy. Women haven’t made it through the Flash and now are treasures. Cannibalism, the fight for food and water, serial killers now able to live out their evil. Ah. Chaos. Mwah-ha-ha.
Sexual Content: Making out, talks of losing virginity, talk of sex, and sexual humor. This is a mature young adult.
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!
Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.
I did not expect to enjoy this not even barely. I only read this because I love Kresley Cole other work. But this was so unique, a true breath of fresh air! I guess I’m just no match for a good girl gone bad
I debated between a three and a four star on this book. The first half of the book I almost put it down about 4 times. I would get into it, then I'd loose interest then I'd get back into it. The second half of the book I had started to really get to know and like the characters enough to finish and decide to pick up the second book. I can say I would give the 2nd a 6 star if I could and can't wait until the 3rd book.
Soooo good :D to me, it seemed like a mixture of beautiful creatures, heroes, the walking dead, and dark inside. Would read it over and over again ⌒.⌒
Having enjoyed Kresley Cole's adult novels, I was interested to see what her YA would be like. It's definitely smoldering, in more ways than one. The heat between Evangeline (Evie) Greene and Jackson (Jack) Deveaux sizzles on the page, while the real burning fire of the Flash - the end of the world event that has killed almost everyone on Earth, turning the survivors into evil creatures called Bagmen who eat anything with liquid, or plain ole cannibals, or power-hungry militants - is gruesome enough to give you nightmares. Among the few non-evil survivors are 16-year-old Evie and the motorcycle-riding, whiskey-drinking, bad-ass bad boy Jack.
**SPOILER ALERT. PLOT DISCUSSED**
Former schoolmates from opposite sides of the bayou in Louisiana, the book opens with Evie talking about what happened in the week leading up to the Flash, the end of the world as everyone knew it. It's the first week of school and as one of the most popular and richest girls in the county (cheerleader dating the hot quarterback, etc.), Evie is trying her hardest to pretend it's business as usual. What she's concealing is the summer she spent in a mental institution, drugged and brainwashed into denying her psychotic episodes. She sees things - burning skies, plants that come alive - and often sleepwalks while having nightmares. Her mother sends her away, denying everything, and Evie is forced to play along. Everything is okay at first, but despite taking her meds, the hallucinations begin to happen all the time, and the voices in her head - voices of other teenagers - just won't stop. She also can't stop the fleeting flashbacks to a memory of her grandmother who used to tell her about Tarot; the characters were real in her grandmother's stories, not just symbols on cards. Add to all that the pressure her boyfriend is putting on her to have sex, the intense attraction and dislike she feels for new kid Jack Deveaux, and Evie is a hot mess.
Then the Flash happens, the scorching sun burning everyone and everything exposed. Evie and her mother were able to hide in their basement, but almost everyone else they know wasn't so lucky. With supplies running low, Evie makes a desperate discovery - her blood brings plants to life. Secretly tending a garden in her barn, Evie tries to not feel desperate at her mother's weakening condition, the rumors of the military and cannibals heading her way (not sure which is worse - to be repeatedly raped or murdered and eaten?), and she has no way out. Until Jack Deveaux rides up on his motorcycle one day, just ahead of the approaching army. When her mother dies in the night, Evie agrees to go with Jack on one condition - he take her to find her grandmother who Evie secretly thinks may have some of the answers to her hallucinations.
Evie has begun to realize that Tarot is real, that the voices in her head are really the voices of other teenagers who represent other Tarot characters, and that Evie herself is one of them. Along the way, Evie & Jack pick up other teenage survivors - Matthew, Selena, and Finneas - who Evie recognizes as other Tarot characters. It seems each Tarot character has a choice, whether to fight on the side of good or evil, though Evie has a hard time recognizing this battle within herself. As Evie, Jack, and the crew continue on their dangerous cross-country journey, they are fighting an uphill battle against almost everything - limited food and water, the Bagmen, the cannibals, the army they have to avoid, and most of all, their attraction to each other. Jack and Evie have an undeniable connection, Matthew loves Evie but like a brother, Selena wants Jack, while Finn wants Selena. It's all raging battles and raging hormones as the crew tries to adjust to each other, their powers, and what to do next. Both Jack and Evie have secrets to hide, and despite all they've been through, both don't quite trust each other. As Evie gets closer to realizing just who and what she really is, she realizes one of the things that scares her the most is that Jack will reject who she may turn out to be - she's not just the Poison Princess, she is the Empress, the one who will win over the other Arcana, the other members of the Tarot, by seeing them all dead with their glyphs written on her body.
**SPOILER ALERT. PLOT DISCUSSED**
Former schoolmates from opposite sides of the bayou in Louisiana, the book opens with Evie talking about what happened in the week leading up to the Flash, the end of the world as everyone knew it. It's the first week of school and as one of the most popular and richest girls in the county (cheerleader dating the hot quarterback, etc.), Evie is trying her hardest to pretend it's business as usual. What she's concealing is the summer she spent in a mental institution, drugged and brainwashed into denying her psychotic episodes. She sees things - burning skies, plants that come alive - and often sleepwalks while having nightmares. Her mother sends her away, denying everything, and Evie is forced to play along. Everything is okay at first, but despite taking her meds, the hallucinations begin to happen all the time, and the voices in her head - voices of other teenagers - just won't stop. She also can't stop the fleeting flashbacks to a memory of her grandmother who used to tell her about Tarot; the characters were real in her grandmother's stories, not just symbols on cards. Add to all that the pressure her boyfriend is putting on her to have sex, the intense attraction and dislike she feels for new kid Jack Deveaux, and Evie is a hot mess.
Then the Flash happens, the scorching sun burning everyone and everything exposed. Evie and her mother were able to hide in their basement, but almost everyone else they know wasn't so lucky. With supplies running low, Evie makes a desperate discovery - her blood brings plants to life. Secretly tending a garden in her barn, Evie tries to not feel desperate at her mother's weakening condition, the rumors of the military and cannibals heading her way (not sure which is worse - to be repeatedly raped or murdered and eaten?), and she has no way out. Until Jack Deveaux rides up on his motorcycle one day, just ahead of the approaching army. When her mother dies in the night, Evie agrees to go with Jack on one condition - he take her to find her grandmother who Evie secretly thinks may have some of the answers to her hallucinations.
Evie has begun to realize that Tarot is real, that the voices in her head are really the voices of other teenagers who represent other Tarot characters, and that Evie herself is one of them. Along the way, Evie & Jack pick up other teenage survivors - Matthew, Selena, and Finneas - who Evie recognizes as other Tarot characters. It seems each Tarot character has a choice, whether to fight on the side of good or evil, though Evie has a hard time recognizing this battle within herself. As Evie, Jack, and the crew continue on their dangerous cross-country journey, they are fighting an uphill battle against almost everything - limited food and water, the Bagmen, the cannibals, the army they have to avoid, and most of all, their attraction to each other. Jack and Evie have an undeniable connection, Matthew loves Evie but like a brother, Selena wants Jack, while Finn wants Selena. It's all raging battles and raging hormones as the crew tries to adjust to each other, their powers, and what to do next. Both Jack and Evie have secrets to hide, and despite all they've been through, both don't quite trust each other. As Evie gets closer to realizing just who and what she really is, she realizes one of the things that scares her the most is that Jack will reject who she may turn out to be - she's not just the Poison Princess, she is the Empress, the one who will win over the other Arcana, the other members of the Tarot, by seeing them all dead with their glyphs written on her body.
This is a hard one. I really like the end. It seems like the series could be good and the world building was super cool. I just really didn't like the characters for 99% of the book. Will the teen angst just end?
I went into this book excited yet afraid, since it's the first YA book of Cole's I've read and I'm a huge fan of her IAD series. I shouldn't have been afraid, Cole never disappoints! Only reason this is a 4 instead of a 5 is I honestly don't like the male lead Jack very much. He can be quite the jerk. But he still has his moments of romantic heroism. Cannot wait to start the second book.
I found the tarot card plot of this book to be very intriguing. I am looking forward to the next installment.
So, I've received this book for review as an advanced readers copy YEARS ago. And I gave up after 1/3 of the book, mostly because even though I don't mind teenager protagonists, I don't relate to high school drama anymore and it totally put me off.
I LOVE Kresley Cole though, particularly her adult series, and after seeing how much love this series was getting, I decided to give it a second try and WOW was it worth it. I actually read the entire series in just under two weeks and now I'm left pinning, waiting for the last book to be published.
Once we get to the post apocalypse part of the novel, it gets really engaging and even though bagmen (some kind of mutated humans turned zombies) make a good part of this novel, we start to discover a very enticing lore. It is truly original!
Being French Canadian the bits of Cajun French bothered me because the translation felt terrible, but maybe it's truly the way their culture influenced the language? It wasn't as bad to the following novels, thankfully.
All in all, as I grown adult, the first part with all its teenage drama wasn't my cup of tea but is meaningful to the story as it molded Jack's personality. Once past that, I was fully hooked. The final book in the series, From the Grave, should release in a few months, so it's a good moment to read the series and be ready for the grand finale.
I LOVE Kresley Cole though, particularly her adult series, and after seeing how much love this series was getting, I decided to give it a second try and WOW was it worth it. I actually read the entire series in just under two weeks and now I'm left pinning, waiting for the last book to be published.
Once we get to the post apocalypse part of the novel, it gets really engaging and even though bagmen (some kind of mutated humans turned zombies) make a good part of this novel, we start to discover a very enticing lore. It is truly original!
Being French Canadian the bits of Cajun French bothered me because the translation felt terrible, but maybe it's truly the way their culture influenced the language? It wasn't as bad to the following novels, thankfully.
All in all, as I grown adult, the first part with all its teenage drama wasn't my cup of tea but is meaningful to the story as it molded Jack's personality. Once past that, I was fully hooked. The final book in the series, From the Grave, should release in a few months, so it's a good moment to read the series and be ready for the grand finale.