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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
Damn, I am disappointed. This book was so melodramatic, with an underwhelming & often boring plot and one-dimensional weak characters like the moustache-twirling villains. I did not care for the two heroines either. The cool setting and paranormal elements (e.g. shape-shifting) could not carry the story.
I love Jessica Day George's other works.
I was excited to read this new work. Loved the blurbs and cover.
I found the plot to be predictable and not as fresh and fun as her other series have been. Finished the book, but not a stellar recommendation.
I was excited to read this new work. Loved the blurbs and cover.
I found the plot to be predictable and not as fresh and fun as her other series have been. Finished the book, but not a stellar recommendation.
If we could do partial stars I'd say this is 3.5-3.75, but I did enjoy it and liked that it is currently a stand alone book.
It was not as interesting as the cover and flap summary led you to believe, but still a fairly decent book. Maybe a book to read when you've read the whole library.
Graded By: Savannah
Cover Story: Yes!
BFF Charm: Yay x 2
Swoonworthy Scale: -10
Talky Talk: She Said/She Said (in a Victorian gown!)
Bonus Factors: Historically Accurate Fancy Dresses
Anti Bonus Factors: Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: Leader of the Pack
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Yes!
BFF Charm: Yay x 2
Swoonworthy Scale: -10
Talky Talk: She Said/She Said (in a Victorian gown!)
Bonus Factors: Historically Accurate Fancy Dresses
Anti Bonus Factors: Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: Leader of the Pack
Read the full book report here.
George’s writing is rich and comedic at times, bringing to life the beauty and rich culture of Romania. The two female characters are hilarious, and their character development is fantastic. At the same time however, she also brought to life the underlying cruelty and madness that you’ll never see coming.
Here, I found it very very interesting and intriguing. TBH, it's kinda slow at the beginning but there's still an interesting input, I love how each characters described. Every chapter of this book told something that you'd never expected and need to read more to reveal. A family with full of dark secrets. And became a mission for this cousins to figure out and choose either punishment or reward.
Worth for me to stay up all weekend
Worth for me to stay up all weekend
Closer to a 3.5.
If you read Twilight and thought "Man, I wish the story focused more on those European vampires," I might just have the book for you. Granted, this is much better written and works more off of the Stoker-level Dracula/vampire tropes than the more popularized ones of, late, but it's still a good, albeit flawed, read.
The story takes place shortly after the publication of Stoker's Dracula, where some high society girls are brought back to Europe to meet their families in time for their birthday. Meeting the family, of course, results in taking their place among the Dracula family and learning of their true nature as vampire shapeshifters. Yep.
So the idea is a little corny, but the book reads more like a teen literary piece, keeping us firmly in the time period intended. The author seems incredibly fixated in pointing out how naked everyone is when they shapeshift, which was just strange, but the way the story flows and moves is something that did a good job in keeping my interest, so there is that.
I originally read this without knowing what it was about, so I wonder if at least part of the issue with the story is that the hook is given away so freely, but given the great cover and topic matter, it should still find an audience for what it is. Worth a look if you're into historical fiction or different takes on vampire mythologies.
If you read Twilight and thought "Man, I wish the story focused more on those European vampires," I might just have the book for you. Granted, this is much better written and works more off of the Stoker-level Dracula/vampire tropes than the more popularized ones of, late, but it's still a good, albeit flawed, read.
The story takes place shortly after the publication of Stoker's Dracula, where some high society girls are brought back to Europe to meet their families in time for their birthday. Meeting the family, of course, results in taking their place among the Dracula family and learning of their true nature as vampire shapeshifters. Yep.
So the idea is a little corny, but the book reads more like a teen literary piece, keeping us firmly in the time period intended. The author seems incredibly fixated in pointing out how naked everyone is when they shapeshift, which was just strange, but the way the story flows and moves is something that did a good job in keeping my interest, so there is that.
I originally read this without knowing what it was about, so I wonder if at least part of the issue with the story is that the hook is given away so freely, but given the great cover and topic matter, it should still find an audience for what it is. Worth a look if you're into historical fiction or different takes on vampire mythologies.
Orignal Review Found: www.literarychaos.com
I had seen this book in stores and thought it sounded amazing but I shied away due to all of the mixed reviews I have seen for this book. After a lot of hemming and hawing, I finally bit the bullet and picked it up. I am so glad I did. This book was a good reminder that sometimes you have to just go with your gut and ignore the reviews.
What drew me into the story the most was the author's writing style. She switched viewpoints between the two girls, Dacia and Lou. Normally, I am not a huge fan of this, but the voices of the two main characters were a great contrast that helped round out the story and move the plot forward. She also added in letters and diary entries, which I really enjoyed. I found them to be helpful, particularly in the beginning, to learn more about the girls and their personalities, and overall I think that it was a very unique way of telling the story.
The author also did an amazing job with the setting. It is set in the late eighteen-hundreds, and it truly felt as if the story was taking place at that time. I have read so many books that are set in a certain historical period and yet the characters act like they are part of the present (time travel as an exception). This drives me CRAZY, and I was so pleased to find that this was not the case for this book. I also loved the how well described the setting was. This is truly one of those books that the reader can immerse themselves in. The author describes the gowns, buildings, and places so well that it truly feels like the reader is there.
I was very surprised that I ended up liking both of the main characters. It is rare for me to like one young adult protagonist let alone both, so I have to give Jessica Day George props for that. I think what I liked about them is that they were so different and yet were complementary; like yin and yang. Dacia is more wild and reckless whereas Lou is quiet and more mild-mannered, and yet they seem to compliment each other and balance one another out. A big part of me loved them because I was able to relate my own relationship with my cousin and best friend to Dacia and Lou.
I was so happy that I ended up loving this book. I am so glad that I didn't let negative review deter me from reading it. I do see that this book may not be for everyone. The historical setting can mean that some modern readers may become annoyed with certain characters for actions they take due to the etiquette and protocols of the time. Others may not like how tame this book is. It is definitely a young adult read, but I would say that it could be appropriate for a younger reader as well. I personally don't find this to be a negative, but rather I saw it as a depiction of the time frame it was set in. But for those who love history and paranormal novels, this is a perfect mix of both.
I had seen this book in stores and thought it sounded amazing but I shied away due to all of the mixed reviews I have seen for this book. After a lot of hemming and hawing, I finally bit the bullet and picked it up. I am so glad I did. This book was a good reminder that sometimes you have to just go with your gut and ignore the reviews.
What drew me into the story the most was the author's writing style. She switched viewpoints between the two girls, Dacia and Lou. Normally, I am not a huge fan of this, but the voices of the two main characters were a great contrast that helped round out the story and move the plot forward. She also added in letters and diary entries, which I really enjoyed. I found them to be helpful, particularly in the beginning, to learn more about the girls and their personalities, and overall I think that it was a very unique way of telling the story.
The author also did an amazing job with the setting. It is set in the late eighteen-hundreds, and it truly felt as if the story was taking place at that time. I have read so many books that are set in a certain historical period and yet the characters act like they are part of the present (time travel as an exception). This drives me CRAZY, and I was so pleased to find that this was not the case for this book. I also loved the how well described the setting was. This is truly one of those books that the reader can immerse themselves in. The author describes the gowns, buildings, and places so well that it truly feels like the reader is there.
I was very surprised that I ended up liking both of the main characters. It is rare for me to like one young adult protagonist let alone both, so I have to give Jessica Day George props for that. I think what I liked about them is that they were so different and yet were complementary; like yin and yang. Dacia is more wild and reckless whereas Lou is quiet and more mild-mannered, and yet they seem to compliment each other and balance one another out. A big part of me loved them because I was able to relate my own relationship with my cousin and best friend to Dacia and Lou.
I was so happy that I ended up loving this book. I am so glad that I didn't let negative review deter me from reading it. I do see that this book may not be for everyone. The historical setting can mean that some modern readers may become annoyed with certain characters for actions they take due to the etiquette and protocols of the time. Others may not like how tame this book is. It is definitely a young adult read, but I would say that it could be appropriate for a younger reader as well. I personally don't find this to be a negative, but rather I saw it as a depiction of the time frame it was set in. But for those who love history and paranormal novels, this is a perfect mix of both.