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fictionalkate's review
4.0
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this introduction to the Hellbane series considering my usual dislike for novellas. It’s short and sweet but we get to see a great snapshot of Emma Jane at 19 – intelligent, caring and determined to help those she cares about.
With computer savvy boy genius Mihir at her side, Emma tries to work out what’s bothering her boyfriend and first true love, soccer star frat boy Jason never realizing that it’s more than anything she’s seen before. Her empath’s gift is telling her that this is an evil beyond anything she’s ever considered to be real. Jason has found himself a Jinn and not even Emma can come between him and his wishes.
Plot wise – well… there’s not all that much that can happen in 87 pages especially when so much character development is occurring. But I really liked how the characters were detailed. Emma is interesting and Mihir? I’d love to read more about him and his practitioner of the Dark Arts grandmother. The many pop-culture references were another plus in Commencement‘s favour for me. – seriously, Mihir wants to be Giles to Paige’s Buffy?
The first book in the Hellsbane series starts five years after this novella and would not count as young adult fiction since Emma is then 24 but I think that this is a series I could definitely fall in love with.
With computer savvy boy genius Mihir at her side, Emma tries to work out what’s bothering her boyfriend and first true love, soccer star frat boy Jason never realizing that it’s more than anything she’s seen before. Her empath’s gift is telling her that this is an evil beyond anything she’s ever considered to be real. Jason has found himself a Jinn and not even Emma can come between him and his wishes.
Plot wise – well… there’s not all that much that can happen in 87 pages especially when so much character development is occurring. But I really liked how the characters were detailed. Emma is interesting and Mihir? I’d love to read more about him and his practitioner of the Dark Arts grandmother. The many pop-culture references were another plus in Commencement‘s favour for me. – seriously, Mihir wants to be Giles to Paige’s Buffy?
The first book in the Hellsbane series starts five years after this novella and would not count as young adult fiction since Emma is then 24 but I think that this is a series I could definitely fall in love with.
jasmyn9's review
3.0
A short and sweet prequel to the Hellsbane series. This was a cute introduction to Emma Jane Hellsbane and her special power of empathy. When she "feels" something is wrong with her boyfriend, she never suspected it might be a form of possession, but it looks like the supernatural world has just decided to make itself know to her.
It was a great lesson in wanting things you didn't work for and not pissing off your supernatural girlfriend. Emma manages to save the day overall, but Justin pays an interesting price for his selfishness. I'm currently reading book 1 in the series and this does seem like a great introduction to the character, although it was just too short to get really involved. - See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/#sthash.eZmQrrmy.dpuf
It was a great lesson in wanting things you didn't work for and not pissing off your supernatural girlfriend. Emma manages to save the day overall, but Justin pays an interesting price for his selfishness. I'm currently reading book 1 in the series and this does seem like a great introduction to the character, although it was just too short to get really involved. - See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/#sthash.eZmQrrmy.dpuf
avoraciousreader68's review
4.0
3.5
*Book source ~ Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Emma Jane Hellsbane is different than her fellow college students. Not only can she sense other people’s emotions, but she experiences them, too. She’s had to work to keep feelings not her own at bay, but sometimes they overwhelm her. When her boyfriend Justin suddenly doesn’t feel right to her, she seeks help from the one person who she can talk to and not expect him to call her a freak. Mihir is a fifteen-year-old genius, a Junior in college and his family believes in all things mystical. So, even though he hates Emma’s boyfriend because he’s lusting after Emma himself, he’s there to help her figure out what is wrong with Justin. What’s wrong with Justin is way creepy and dangerous. It’s up to a skeptical Emma to save the day.
A good start to a new series this short introduces us to Emma and her freaky ability to sense and feel the emotions of others. Even though she has been able to do this since she could remember, she has a hard time believing Mihir when he starts tossing out ideas as to what is wrong with Justin. I was irritated with her at this point. She’s living with some weird ability and yet she completely doesn’t believe anything else weird is out there? Give me a break. I’d be more apt to believe all kinds of stuff rather than bury my head in the sand and pretend the boogeyman isn’t out there. Other than that though I enjoyed the introduction to the Hellsbane series. Oh, and Justin? He’s an idiot that got what he wished for even if it wasn’t quite how he wanted it.
*Book source ~ Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Emma Jane Hellsbane is different than her fellow college students. Not only can she sense other people’s emotions, but she experiences them, too. She’s had to work to keep feelings not her own at bay, but sometimes they overwhelm her. When her boyfriend Justin suddenly doesn’t feel right to her, she seeks help from the one person who she can talk to and not expect him to call her a freak. Mihir is a fifteen-year-old genius, a Junior in college and his family believes in all things mystical. So, even though he hates Emma’s boyfriend because he’s lusting after Emma himself, he’s there to help her figure out what is wrong with Justin. What’s wrong with Justin is way creepy and dangerous. It’s up to a skeptical Emma to save the day.
A good start to a new series this short introduces us to Emma and her freaky ability to sense and feel the emotions of others. Even though she has been able to do this since she could remember, she has a hard time believing Mihir when he starts tossing out ideas as to what is wrong with Justin. I was irritated with her at this point. She’s living with some weird ability and yet she completely doesn’t believe anything else weird is out there? Give me a break. I’d be more apt to believe all kinds of stuff rather than bury my head in the sand and pretend the boogeyman isn’t out there. Other than that though I enjoyed the introduction to the Hellsbane series. Oh, and Justin? He’s an idiot that got what he wished for even if it wasn’t quite how he wanted it.
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