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izzyfleckner's review
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
starryeyedwings's review
4.0
I love these books. Like, I really love them. Ignoring the various typos that I occasionally find in these books (particularly this one, which I was a bit miffed about because I feel authors should be VERY meticulous about these) I like the developing plot - even if it is excruciatingly slow at times and torturous to wait a whole freaking YEAR for the next one to come out - and the uniqueness and (even!) the sometimes-unbelievable-ness of the characters. I feel like it all builds to the story, because that's just the way the story is, rather than taking away from it. I commend Ms. Stone for being able to balance and handle and keep track of basically ten protagonists (the nine boys and Sang) while still remaining in Sang's first person POV.
Now, having said all of that, I did not enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped I would. Honestly I'm very disappointed. I felt like there was so much anticipation building up to this book, more so than the last few for some reason (is that just me?) and the more I read, the more that anticipation and excitement of FINALLY getting to read this next awaited installment sputtered and dwindled down.
SPOILER:
First, let's address that football game. While initially I enjoyed reading about the antics of our favorite Academy boys and learning more about the in-depth dynamics of other Academy and Academy-related folks working together and enjoying themselves on Thanksgiving, the football game D-R-A-G-G-E-D. I feel as if every little detail was explicitly described and thus left nothing to the reader's imagination. Of course, granted since the book is in Sang's POV and it's her first time doing many things she would describe the events in details. But still. In previous books, she manages to reveal just enough to let the reader understand and follow along. Not every action needs to be described in a book, we do have brains. We can tell a character's gonna do bathroom-related activities in a bathroom, unless he/she is not - only then it needs to be described. So things like that I found boring and skipped through during the football game. The game itself also seemed like a filler in some way, even though it did describe what the Academy boys did. But again, perhaps fewer pages would've been more effective.
Second, the whole issue with Luke going off and doing who-knows-what-where. As soon as Kota found out from Sang that Luke went off, and realized he hadn't informed him or Mr. Blackbourne, given their history they should've done something. At least Kota should've contacted Mr. B and told him to confront Luke, and THEN if Luke still didn't want to share only then they should've given him that blind trust they're all trained to do and left him alone.
Finally, WHAT WAS THAT SCENE AT THE END WITH VOLTO????? WHY DIDN'T YOU RED-LINE ANYONE, LUKE?! WHY?????!!!!! And why weren't the other boys more upset/angry over the fact that Luke didn't contact anyone? There was more than enough time while he was listening in to Volto and Sang's conversation. That baffled me.
That said and done, I still want to keep reading of course. And now I have to (once more) wait a WHOLE. DAMN. FREAKING. YEAR for the next book. Sigh. The tortures of reading series. They were SO close to catching Volto! Ugh! I have my suspicions on who it is, of course. So far I've got either Mr. Morris or Karen. Also, Sang's PTSD/fear of the rain & showering seems to be escalating, but no one but Victor knows it yet. What's going to happen there? So many questions!!
Now, having said all of that, I did not enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped I would. Honestly I'm very disappointed. I felt like there was so much anticipation building up to this book, more so than the last few for some reason (is that just me?) and the more I read, the more that anticipation and excitement of FINALLY getting to read this next awaited installment sputtered and dwindled down.
SPOILER:
First, let's address that football game. While initially I enjoyed reading about the antics of our favorite Academy boys and learning more about the in-depth dynamics of other Academy and Academy-related folks working together and enjoying themselves on Thanksgiving, the football game D-R-A-G-G-E-D. I feel as if every little detail was explicitly described and thus left nothing to the reader's imagination. Of course, granted since the book is in Sang's POV and it's her first time doing many things she would describe the events in details. But still. In previous books, she manages to reveal just enough to let the reader understand and follow along. Not every action needs to be described in a book, we do have brains. We can tell a character's gonna do bathroom-related activities in a bathroom, unless he/she is not - only then it needs to be described. So things like that I found boring and skipped through during the football game. The game itself also seemed like a filler in some way, even though it did describe what the Academy boys did. But again, perhaps fewer pages would've been more effective.
Second, the whole issue with Luke going off and doing who-knows-what-where. As soon as Kota found out from Sang that Luke went off, and realized he hadn't informed him or Mr. Blackbourne, given their history they should've done something. At least Kota should've contacted Mr. B and told him to confront Luke, and THEN if Luke still didn't want to share only then they should've given him that blind trust they're all trained to do and left him alone.
Finally, WHAT WAS THAT SCENE AT THE END WITH VOLTO????? WHY DIDN'T YOU RED-LINE ANYONE, LUKE?! WHY?????!!!!! And why weren't the other boys more upset/angry over the fact that Luke didn't contact anyone? There was more than enough time while he was listening in to Volto and Sang's conversation. That baffled me.
That said and done, I still want to keep reading of course. And now I have to (once more) wait a WHOLE. DAMN. FREAKING. YEAR for the next book. Sigh. The tortures of reading series. They were SO close to catching Volto! Ugh! I have my suspicions on who it is, of course. So far I've got either Mr. Morris or Karen. Also, Sang's PTSD/fear of the rain & showering seems to be escalating, but no one but Victor knows it yet. What's going to happen there? So many questions!!
booklovingredhead's review
5.0
You know when you read a series or book and you just know that it will stick with you forever. That is the Ghost Bird Series by CL Stone for me. I read this series when I was 17 going on 18 and I am 22 now and this series has still stayed in my heart. This was also the first romance book series that I read and it changed the course of my life.
This is an RH slow burn romance, and when I say slowburn, I mean slowburn. But it's the best slow burn imaginable and honestly you don’t even realize that Sang has not kissed anyone because of all the conflict and drama.
There is honestly so much conflict in this series that my head spins. Plus the guys are so swoon worthy, the things they say makes me squeal and makes me so flustered.
I love the plot, characters, and the mystery. Who is after the Sang and her guys? I swear there is so much that happens in this series that I could not possibly explain all of it.
Sang is unique and all of her guys are unique and different yet they all have one thing in common, Family first which is one of the reasons I adore this series.
I will forever re-read this series and cherish these characters. They are special to me. So far I’ve read and reread books 1 through 12 and I cannot wait to read books 13 and 14 and the other 6 books when CL Stone releases them. Oh Yes, this is a long series.
This is an RH slow burn romance, and when I say slowburn, I mean slowburn. But it's the best slow burn imaginable and honestly you don’t even realize that Sang has not kissed anyone because of all the conflict and drama.
There is honestly so much conflict in this series that my head spins. Plus the guys are so swoon worthy, the things they say makes me squeal and makes me so flustered.
I love the plot, characters, and the mystery. Who is after the Sang and her guys? I swear there is so much that happens in this series that I could not possibly explain all of it.
Sang is unique and all of her guys are unique and different yet they all have one thing in common, Family first which is one of the reasons I adore this series.
I will forever re-read this series and cherish these characters. They are special to me. So far I’ve read and reread books 1 through 12 and I cannot wait to read books 13 and 14 and the other 6 books when CL Stone releases them. Oh Yes, this is a long series.
liisp_cvr2cvr's review
2.0
I haven't reviewed the previous 8 books in this series. I remember liking the first book and the second one... and then I got caught in this series because author obviously has a good knack for creating more questons and never really answering them. It's meant to keep me as a reader interested... but...
I have to say, the 9th book dragged and didn't have anything significant happening. I was frustrated that we still didn't find out who Volto is and to get this Mr Hendricks drama bagged. It's just dragging and getting a bit boring.
There's meant to be 20 books in this series... I have feeling I won't get any answers until the 20th book and I'm just not so sure anymore I want to keep reading those.. there's only so long my attention can be kept by riding the same issue.
I have to say, the 9th book dragged and didn't have anything significant happening. I was frustrated that we still didn't find out who Volto is and to get this Mr Hendricks drama bagged. It's just dragging and getting a bit boring.
There's meant to be 20 books in this series... I have feeling I won't get any answers until the 20th book and I'm just not so sure anymore I want to keep reading those.. there's only so long my attention can be kept by riding the same issue.
br1tt's review
4.0
This book finally felt like a complete novel, and I live for it. It has been a slow build up to now, but it is well worth the wait. This series is nothing like I have read before and is refreshing. By this point, we know more about the boys' pasts and most of their feeling about this situation they are in. I want to know how this ends and if their plan will work.