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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
For once I'm going to keep the review short, hopefully. I started reading this book right after reading Pride and the Prejudice, which I am also still working on the review for. I will admit will be on a bit of harsher side, considering the year setting is set to 1800, the very same year as Pride and the Prejudice.
How do I rate this book? Do I give a good rating, a neutral rating? Would it be a neutral - good rating or a neutral- bad rating? I am once again undecided. It's conflicting because what I enjoyed with the book, eventually merged into what I didn't enjoy.
What I liked:
Title was straight forward - They got the wrong girl
magic, supernatural, 3 characters are able to control fire.
The Gothic setting.
Hanna Smith, the rebel girl, she's a prisoner who lives in the attic with her best friend Violet. The girl has spirit.
What I didn't like:
The characters. Hanna is a rebel, but at the same time I feel all of the characters lacking. The back story makes them who they are, but I couldn't stand them. There is something missing. I don't know what. I didn't feel drawn to any of the characters. I felt the characters were poorly written... hell, even the mute servant didn't capture my attention. The villain was not evil enough. I expected Jack to be mysterious, he wasn't.
The plot. The title as usual is strait forward, but the plot is too predictable for me. They got the wrong girl who turned out to be the right girl. It would have been interesting if the wrong girl stayed the wrong girl throughout the book then revealed to be the right girl in a different book. Hell having 3 different villains in this book would be interesting. In some way the mute servant (can't seem to remember his name but it starts with a B) would have been an interesting villain. The dude in the wheel chair could also be seen as a villain as well (don't remember his name for now I'm calling him Master Langley) since he owns the Frakingham house, and was the person to had set Jack to kidnap the wrong girl.
As for the actual villain (once again I don't remember his name and I can't seem to pinpoint the letter) he wants to experiment with powers. He couldn't experiment on himself and needs Hanna. Which is predictable. His evil schemes were too short lived. The actual villain used a in some way an outsider/ third party to initiate, it was too obvious since that person was connected to Jack. I was expecting a tolerable to epic end to a villain's story. It was not even close to interesting.
Overall Result
It was bad. Jack, Hanna, Violet, and Samuel are the only names I could remember in the novel. Hell, Samuel is not that important in the story as well as Violet, who played a small role in some way. I felt everything could have gone better perhaps every now and then include what is going on with the actual villain's side. When reading this novel, there were times I'd be reading in one person's perspective when they're the one talking, then another person's perspective when it was rightfully their turn, to talk. I guess the best way to explain is, when I'm reading one person's perspective, phrase, or quote, I'm not immersed in being that person. For the first few chapters I was. After the few chapter, I end up having the outsider's perspective, where everything comes up blank.
How do I rate this book? Do I give a good rating, a neutral rating? Would it be a neutral - good rating or a neutral- bad rating? I am once again undecided. It's conflicting because what I enjoyed with the book, eventually merged into what I didn't enjoy.
What I liked:
Title was straight forward - They got the wrong girl
magic, supernatural, 3 characters are able to control fire.
The Gothic setting.
Hanna Smith, the rebel girl, she's a prisoner who lives in the attic with her best friend Violet. The girl has spirit.
What I didn't like:
The characters. Hanna is a rebel, but at the same time I feel all of the characters lacking. The back story makes them who they are, but I couldn't stand them. There is something missing. I don't know what. I didn't feel drawn to any of the characters. I felt the characters were poorly written... hell, even the mute servant didn't capture my attention. The villain was not evil enough. I expected Jack to be mysterious, he wasn't.
The plot. The title as usual is strait forward, but the plot is too predictable for me. They got the wrong girl who turned out to be the right girl. It would have been interesting if the wrong girl stayed the wrong girl throughout the book then revealed to be the right girl in a different book. Hell having 3 different villains in this book would be interesting. In some way the mute servant (can't seem to remember his name but it starts with a B) would have been an interesting villain. The dude in the wheel chair could also be seen as a villain as well (don't remember his name for now I'm calling him Master Langley) since he owns the Frakingham house, and was the person to had set Jack to kidnap the wrong girl.
As for the actual villain (once again I don't remember his name and I can't seem to pinpoint the letter) he wants to experiment with powers. He couldn't experiment on himself and needs Hanna. Which is predictable. His evil schemes were too short lived. The actual villain used a in some way an outsider/ third party to initiate, it was too obvious since that person was connected to Jack. I was expecting a tolerable to epic end to a villain's story. It was not even close to interesting.
Overall Result
It was bad. Jack, Hanna, Violet, and Samuel are the only names I could remember in the novel. Hell, Samuel is not that important in the story as well as Violet, who played a small role in some way. I felt everything could have gone better perhaps every now and then include what is going on with the actual villain's side. When reading this novel, there were times I'd be reading in one person's perspective when they're the one talking, then another person's perspective when it was rightfully their turn, to talk. I guess the best way to explain is, when I'm reading one person's perspective, phrase, or quote, I'm not immersed in being that person. For the first few chapters I was. After the few chapter, I end up having the outsider's perspective, where everything comes up blank.
Geeze this book was boring. It started promising, but fizzled into mediocrity. I have questions, but I don’t care enough to continue on. Probably could have been one book. Everyone had secrets. Everyone was hiding something. Yawn. Get on with it already.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Self-published books always worry me a little bit, since a lot of the ones that I’ve seen have read like unedited first drafts. Thankfully, The Wrong Girl does not fall under that category. Archer’s writing is strong and descriptive, and the book is filled with so many beautifully written quotes.
To say I’d been kept prisoner my entire life in an attic wasn’t quite true.
With an opening like that, it’s easy to understand why I was so quickly drawn into this thrilling Victorian tale. The pacing was excellent, and kept me curled up in bed for the majority of the day, as I really did not want to put it down. Throughout the story, the many plot twists raise more questions than they answer, which has me eagerly anticipating the sequel.
All of the characters had unique voices, and I was simultaneously intrigued by and in love with the main cast. Hannah is immediately painted as a sympathetic character, with her strong desire to protect Violet at any cost and the glimpse we’re given of her “normal” life in the attic. Her determination and never-ending stream of questions made her stand out in an era where there were many social expectations surrounding women – a contrast which was emphasized by Sylvia’s strong sense of propriety. Jack is a bit of a mystery; he’s kind-hearted, sarcastic and headstrong with a past surrounded in secrecy. As the story unfolds, some of these secrets are revealed, increasing the depth of both his character and my love for him.
I really liked the hint of romance that was shown. Although it was quick to build, it was sweet and took a backseat to the more pressing plot points.
Also, can I just say how much I adore the cover? Sure, the girl on the front doesn’t match Hannah’s description at all, but it perfectly captures the Gothic feel of the book and it’s gorgeous. This is definitely going to be displayed on my bookshelf as soon as I can purchase a copy.
Overall, The Wrong Girl was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I can’t wait to get my hands on Playing With Fire!
This review can also be found at The In-Between Place. Thanks to C.J. Archer, Patchwork Press, and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To say I’d been kept prisoner my entire life in an attic wasn’t quite true.
With an opening like that, it’s easy to understand why I was so quickly drawn into this thrilling Victorian tale. The pacing was excellent, and kept me curled up in bed for the majority of the day, as I really did not want to put it down. Throughout the story, the many plot twists raise more questions than they answer, which has me eagerly anticipating the sequel.
All of the characters had unique voices, and I was simultaneously intrigued by and in love with the main cast. Hannah is immediately painted as a sympathetic character, with her strong desire to protect Violet at any cost and the glimpse we’re given of her “normal” life in the attic. Her determination and never-ending stream of questions made her stand out in an era where there were many social expectations surrounding women – a contrast which was emphasized by Sylvia’s strong sense of propriety. Jack is a bit of a mystery; he’s kind-hearted, sarcastic and headstrong with a past surrounded in secrecy. As the story unfolds, some of these secrets are revealed, increasing the depth of both his character and my love for him.
I really liked the hint of romance that was shown. Although it was quick to build, it was sweet and took a backseat to the more pressing plot points.
Also, can I just say how much I adore the cover? Sure, the girl on the front doesn’t match Hannah’s description at all, but it perfectly captures the Gothic feel of the book and it’s gorgeous. This is definitely going to be displayed on my bookshelf as soon as I can purchase a copy.
Overall, The Wrong Girl was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I can’t wait to get my hands on Playing With Fire!
This review can also be found at The In-Between Place. Thanks to C.J. Archer, Patchwork Press, and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The cover of this one got me. Just look at it and see if you aren’t lured in too. A creepy Victorian, a pale Gothic beauty and an alluring title that promises this is “book 1 of the 1st Freak House series”, how could I possibly resist? I was expecting great things along the lines of “We Have Always Lived In the Castle” or perhaps a “Flowers in the Attic” vibe mashed up with a little “Geek Love” but that’s not at all what I got. If you don’t expect those things, you might be okay.
Things start out promising, if you ignore the fact that heroine has orange hair and is not at all the temptress who appears on the cover. Two young ladies (18ish or so) have been locked away in an attic for most of their lives and are only let out for supervised walks. Hannah, an orphan, was taken in by an earl and grew up as a companion to his daughter Violet who suffers from an affliction that causes fires. Hannah suffers from narcolepsy so the two are kept squirreled away from society. They grow close and are the best of friends.
I can’t express to you how much I loved this setup. So intimate, so character based, so lovely. But then things had to go and change, as things do.
You may enjoy the changes, many appear to do so if the reviews are any indication, but I wasn’t thrilled with the direction the plot ran off in and I never recovered. Hannah is kidnapped and is apparently mistaken for Violet (who also has red, not raven hair – so the chick on the cover wasn’t her either). She is swept away to another creepy mansion where she is told she will be trained to control her powers of fire. She’s also told that she’s not really a prisoner but that she cannot leave. Hmmm, I’d be mighty suspicious were I Hannah . . . Hannah doesn’t reveal that she is not Violet because she supposedly loves Violet and wants to keep her safe. She starts to “train” with Jack, a handsome lad who is able to summon fire at will. She starts to crush on Jack and me, oh my, what’s he going do when he realizes she doesn’t have the power of flame in her fingertips? And worse yet, what’s the keeper of the castle going to do to her when he finds out they nabbed the wrong girl?
What follows is a lot of intrigue and espionage and secret meetings and vaguely nefarious characters and such. All of it terribly boring, if you’re asking me. The early character development is dropped like a hot potato and Violet is tossed to the wind never to be heard from again (at least in this installment of the series). None of it excited me, I’m sad to say. I guess I was expecting something more freakish to be going on in a house dubbed “Freak House”. For a short book this one seemed to drag on forever and I will not be seeking out the sequels which may or may not answer the many questions that I still have after finishing this installment.
Narration Notes Lucy Rayner does a fine job with Hannah’s POV, Sylvia’s is a bit too high-pitched for me but, oh my ears, does she ever butcher all of the manly voices. Jack is supposed to be a 20-something love interest but he and all the men sounded like ancient creepers/gruff old geezers and this is all I could picture whenever Jack or any of the men spoke.
It was disconcerting and that’s all I have to say.
I received a copy of this audio from Tantor Media. I hope they don't regret it!
Things start out promising, if you ignore the fact that heroine has orange hair and is not at all the temptress who appears on the cover. Two young ladies (18ish or so) have been locked away in an attic for most of their lives and are only let out for supervised walks. Hannah, an orphan, was taken in by an earl and grew up as a companion to his daughter Violet who suffers from an affliction that causes fires. Hannah suffers from narcolepsy so the two are kept squirreled away from society. They grow close and are the best of friends.
I can’t express to you how much I loved this setup. So intimate, so character based, so lovely. But then things had to go and change, as things do.
You may enjoy the changes, many appear to do so if the reviews are any indication, but I wasn’t thrilled with the direction the plot ran off in and I never recovered. Hannah is kidnapped and is apparently mistaken for Violet (who also has red, not raven hair – so the chick on the cover wasn’t her either). She is swept away to another creepy mansion where she is told she will be trained to control her powers of fire. She’s also told that she’s not really a prisoner but that she cannot leave. Hmmm, I’d be mighty suspicious were I Hannah . . . Hannah doesn’t reveal that she is not Violet because she supposedly loves Violet and wants to keep her safe. She starts to “train” with Jack, a handsome lad who is able to summon fire at will. She starts to crush on Jack and me, oh my, what’s he going do when he realizes she doesn’t have the power of flame in her fingertips? And worse yet, what’s the keeper of the castle going to do to her when he finds out they nabbed the wrong girl?
What follows is a lot of intrigue and espionage and secret meetings and vaguely nefarious characters and such. All of it terribly boring, if you’re asking me. The early character development is dropped like a hot potato and Violet is tossed to the wind never to be heard from again (at least in this installment of the series). None of it excited me, I’m sad to say. I guess I was expecting something more freakish to be going on in a house dubbed “Freak House”. For a short book this one seemed to drag on forever and I will not be seeking out the sequels which may or may not answer the many questions that I still have after finishing this installment.
Narration Notes Lucy Rayner does a fine job with Hannah’s POV, Sylvia’s is a bit too high-pitched for me but, oh my ears, does she ever butcher all of the manly voices. Jack is supposed to be a 20-something love interest but he and all the men sounded like ancient creepers/gruff old geezers and this is all I could picture whenever Jack or any of the men spoke.
It was disconcerting and that’s all I have to say.
I received a copy of this audio from Tantor Media. I hope they don't regret it!
I was bored by the first chapter. Impractical scenario with Handsome man and flighty faint prone woman. Couldnt make myself get passed it and decided not to force the issue.
Straightforward historical paranormal storyline. I enjoyed it enough to keep reading.
A cute easy read, just what I needed. I love the characters and the plots. Brilliant book
I love this book. It's full of twists, easy to read, and the characters are well-developed, captivating people. It's obvious that the author did her research, too. I am frustrated with how little information we are given at the close, but I guess that's just setting up for a sequel!