Scan barcode
iheartfictionalpeople's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally posted on my blog: I Heart Fictional People
INITIAL THOUGHTS
To be honest, I had mixed feelings about the cover. While it definitely caught my attention, it kind of looked a little too sexual than I think was intended. However, the synopsis had me hooked right away. All the suicides occurring and the five students with unique gifts just sounded like something I had to read.
WHAT I LIKED
The writing. I have never read anything by Dax Varley, but based on this book, she is clearly very talented. The vivid descriptions gave me very clear images in my head, which I appreciated so much! Plus, there was surprisingly a good amount of humor. The out-of-nowhere one-liners and clever metaphors just had me laughing unexpectedly, so that was awesome!
The characters and their abilities. I really liked each of the five main characters. They were all so unique! There have been many books that I have read where the characters are just too similar, so I had a hard time distinguishing who was who at times, but I did not have that problem here. They each had very different personalities, which I absolutely loved. And their abilities were awesome! A bleeder, a psychic, a sin eater, a healer, and a speaker of all languages. Come on. That’s awesome. And I enjoyed seeing the significance of each ability play out. Very entertaining!
The creepy/graphic/violent factor. Okay, this may sound horrible, but I really enjoyed the suicide attempts and other violent scenes. The way that these people tried to kill themselves was horrifying, but it kept me on the edge of my seat. It was like a car crash that you can’t look away from. And this goes hand in hand with the author’s ability to create such vivid, realistic scenes. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The multiple points of view. While I really liked all five characters, I kind of wish it was just from Miranda’s and Jake’s points of view. Switching between the five different ones was a little confusing and frustrating at times.
The romance. Yeah, I know. The romance is usually my favorite part in all books, but this one just seemed kind of rushed. I like the idea of Miranda and Jake as a couple, but I just didn’t feel a connection. It could have been developed a little more.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Great book! I can’t get over how brilliant the writing is! Dax Varley is definitely an author I will keep my eye on. I can’t wait to read her other books. Not only will the suspense and mystery keep you engaged the entire time, but you will also find yourself suddenly smiling and laughing. Plus, the plot is so unique that you won’t be able to put the book down because you just have to know how it turns out.
*I received an eBook copy of this book from the publisher via The Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review*
INITIAL THOUGHTS
To be honest, I had mixed feelings about the cover. While it definitely caught my attention, it kind of looked a little too sexual than I think was intended. However, the synopsis had me hooked right away. All the suicides occurring and the five students with unique gifts just sounded like something I had to read.
WHAT I LIKED
The writing. I have never read anything by Dax Varley, but based on this book, she is clearly very talented. The vivid descriptions gave me very clear images in my head, which I appreciated so much! Plus, there was surprisingly a good amount of humor. The out-of-nowhere one-liners and clever metaphors just had me laughing unexpectedly, so that was awesome!
The characters and their abilities. I really liked each of the five main characters. They were all so unique! There have been many books that I have read where the characters are just too similar, so I had a hard time distinguishing who was who at times, but I did not have that problem here. They each had very different personalities, which I absolutely loved. And their abilities were awesome! A bleeder, a psychic, a sin eater, a healer, and a speaker of all languages. Come on. That’s awesome. And I enjoyed seeing the significance of each ability play out. Very entertaining!
The creepy/graphic/violent factor. Okay, this may sound horrible, but I really enjoyed the suicide attempts and other violent scenes. The way that these people tried to kill themselves was horrifying, but it kept me on the edge of my seat. It was like a car crash that you can’t look away from. And this goes hand in hand with the author’s ability to create such vivid, realistic scenes. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The multiple points of view. While I really liked all five characters, I kind of wish it was just from Miranda’s and Jake’s points of view. Switching between the five different ones was a little confusing and frustrating at times.
The romance. Yeah, I know. The romance is usually my favorite part in all books, but this one just seemed kind of rushed. I like the idea of Miranda and Jake as a couple, but I just didn’t feel a connection. It could have been developed a little more.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Great book! I can’t get over how brilliant the writing is! Dax Varley is definitely an author I will keep my eye on. I can’t wait to read her other books. Not only will the suspense and mystery keep you engaged the entire time, but you will also find yourself suddenly smiling and laughing. Plus, the plot is so unique that you won’t be able to put the book down because you just have to know how it turns out.
*I received an eBook copy of this book from the publisher via The Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review*
whatemsreadingx's review against another edition
5.0
I want to start by saying that I wish I didn't read this one on my lunch break, my stomach was churning within the first few pages as everything that was written was so vivid.
From the start I knew this book would be one for me, it grabbed my attention with it's oddness, I've never read anything like it before, it was something special.
Our 5 main characters were so incredibly written that I felt like they were my friends! They were all from different stereotypical high school groups, but with their supernatural elements they all came together to form a tight knit group determined to get to the bottom of what was going on at their school...
The supernatural elements of these characters weren't overwhelming in any way, they still behaved like normal teenagers - which I loved.
As the book progressed I particularly enjoyed how each character got their own specific chapter and then minor plot lines following their interaction with the evil that is infecting their lives. For me, this gave the book an edge and brought something different to the story.
I didn't want this book to end because I was enjoying it so much, but even the ending was top notch, I couldn't fault it and I loved how they all had to play their part. It finished the book perfectly.
Throughout the whole book the balance of supernatural and typical teenagers was kept, and with the added horror elements, supernatural themes and the evil being, Bleed ticked all of my boxes!
I cannot rate this book highly enough, I absolutely loved it.
From the start I knew this book would be one for me, it grabbed my attention with it's oddness, I've never read anything like it before, it was something special.
Our 5 main characters were so incredibly written that I felt like they were my friends! They were all from different stereotypical high school groups, but with their supernatural elements they all came together to form a tight knit group determined to get to the bottom of what was going on at their school...
The supernatural elements of these characters weren't overwhelming in any way, they still behaved like normal teenagers - which I loved.
As the book progressed I particularly enjoyed how each character got their own specific chapter and then minor plot lines following their interaction with the evil that is infecting their lives. For me, this gave the book an edge and brought something different to the story.
I didn't want this book to end because I was enjoying it so much, but even the ending was top notch, I couldn't fault it and I loved how they all had to play their part. It finished the book perfectly.
Throughout the whole book the balance of supernatural and typical teenagers was kept, and with the added horror elements, supernatural themes and the evil being, Bleed ticked all of my boxes!
I cannot rate this book highly enough, I absolutely loved it.
maleficentknits's review
4.0
A COMPLETE STORY! NO TRILOGY NEEDED! WOOT!
Sorry. It just seems that stories, especially YA HAVE to come in trilogies. Not this one. Thank you, Dax Varley!
Love this story about five very different students, each with an unusual curse/gift that come together under terrible events. Students in their high school seem to commit suicide for no apparent reason, with no real connection. It's up to this group to find out what's behind the deaths and to stop whatever is behind it.
Bleed kept my interest and is a fairly quick and enjoyable read.
Sorry. It just seems that stories, especially YA HAVE to come in trilogies. Not this one. Thank you, Dax Varley!
Love this story about five very different students, each with an unusual curse/gift that come together under terrible events. Students in their high school seem to commit suicide for no apparent reason, with no real connection. It's up to this group to find out what's behind the deaths and to stop whatever is behind it.
Bleed kept my interest and is a fairly quick and enjoyable read.
lilyn_g's review
4.0
Review Excerpt: Bleed reads fast, with the smallest of breaks in between tragedy, action, or discovery. You never really know much about the characters, but you find out swiftly that you don’t need to. They aren’t cardboard cutouts, they just aren’t super fleshed-out. This is one of those times when everything, even a character’s personal development, takes a backseat to the plot. Its a good thing. It doesn’t always work, but when it does, it makes for a dizzying, yet great, read.
Interested in reading my full review? Click here.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Interested in reading my full review? Click here.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
More...