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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
Mediocre at best. I did not care for the writing style, the lack of editing, or the main characters. It's rare that I feel absolutely no connection to the main character, or characters in this case. They were just blah, and the plot (I hesitate to call it that) seemed disjointed and rambling with no goal in mind.
I decided to reread this because I have book two but could not remember what happened in book one. I am trying to remember what I liked about it but can’t seem to find a reason. Have you ever wanted to be with someone and finally go on a date with them only to realize there is no spark? That is how I felt about this book. I should love this book, it has all the things I ever wanted in a vampire novel: kidnapping, a hot prince, family issues, moonlight, magic, a lost island. But it just did not click with me. It was not bad. But it was not great either. There were many cheesy aspects to it and I felt like there was not enough substance. Granted, I knew going into this novel, it would be cheesy and no thicker then water but still I can't seem to help myself.
Sophia is a girl who is in love with her best friend but does not have the courage to tell him until it is too late. She gets kidnapped and finds herself on a strange island with other girls like her who are to be given to the prince as food and play things. Derek is the vampire prince who wakes up hungry after being in an enchanted asleep for many years. Prince Derek sees Sophie for the first time and within seconds he thinks, “There is just something different about her but I don’t know what it is.”
I found myself rolling my eyes and thinking here we go another inta-love story. When he sees Sophia as one of the girls he can drink from, he has a hard time controlling the urge to feed. But she tells him to cut the crap and stop being a victim and boom insta-attraction. It was silly. I get that he was intrigued by her strong personality but really it just seemed so rushed. After that, he was nice to her all the time and always just the perfect gentlemen.
Derek’s bother, Lucas, also takes an immediate interest in Sophia (sexually of course) and wants her for himself. As you may have guessed, this doesn’t go over very well and he quickly is revealed to be the villain.
His character was also very cookie cutter and his reasons for wanting Sofia were very cliché. Why did he want her? Because she was hot and smelled yummy. That’s about it. Oh, and because he is jealous of his bother…the leader. We can’t forget that cliché now can we?
This book read more like fanfiction then a novel. There was just not enough detail for me, and very little depth. The character relationships came across a bit shallow. And there was insta-love / insta-attraction. This series has duel provs. Derek’s prov lacked something while I found Sophia’s prov to be a little annoying. And while I love that he cares for her it just seemed like he liked her for no real reason. I’m not sure what he saw in her. And even he doesn’t seem to know either.
Yes she’s pretty, and cares for others but personality wise, I felt like there was not much there. For him to like her solely for the reason she is “different” or “kind” as she thinks of others before her self should not be a rare quality to him or a big enough reason to find her extremely intriguing. Lots of people have those qualities. There just is something missing.
I did not feel like much took place in this first book. Not a lot of action or anything. And I felt like the characters reactions were really exaggerated at times. It is a fast and easy read and I did find myself compelled to finish. At times I found myself liking it but having no idea why (well guess I am a hypocrite then). I will continue the series because I already have book two. But after that? We shall see if it is worth continuing.
Sophia is a girl who is in love with her best friend but does not have the courage to tell him until it is too late. She gets kidnapped and finds herself on a strange island with other girls like her who are to be given to the prince as food and play things. Derek is the vampire prince who wakes up hungry after being in an enchanted asleep for many years. Prince Derek sees Sophie for the first time and within seconds he thinks, “There is just something different about her but I don’t know what it is.”
I found myself rolling my eyes and thinking here we go another inta-love story. When he sees Sophia as one of the girls he can drink from, he has a hard time controlling the urge to feed. But she tells him to cut the crap and stop being a victim and boom insta-attraction. It was silly. I get that he was intrigued by her strong personality but really it just seemed so rushed. After that, he was nice to her all the time and always just the perfect gentlemen.
Derek’s bother, Lucas, also takes an immediate interest in Sophia (sexually of course) and wants her for himself. As you may have guessed, this doesn’t go over very well and he quickly is revealed to be the villain.
His character was also very cookie cutter and his reasons for wanting Sofia were very cliché. Why did he want her? Because she was hot and smelled yummy. That’s about it. Oh, and because he is jealous of his bother…the leader. We can’t forget that cliché now can we?
This book read more like fanfiction then a novel. There was just not enough detail for me, and very little depth. The character relationships came across a bit shallow. And there was insta-love / insta-attraction. This series has duel provs. Derek’s prov lacked something while I found Sophia’s prov to be a little annoying. And while I love that he cares for her it just seemed like he liked her for no real reason. I’m not sure what he saw in her. And even he doesn’t seem to know either.
Yes she’s pretty, and cares for others but personality wise, I felt like there was not much there. For him to like her solely for the reason she is “different” or “kind” as she thinks of others before her self should not be a rare quality to him or a big enough reason to find her extremely intriguing. Lots of people have those qualities. There just is something missing.
I did not feel like much took place in this first book. Not a lot of action or anything. And I felt like the characters reactions were really exaggerated at times. It is a fast and easy read and I did find myself compelled to finish. At times I found myself liking it but having no idea why (well guess I am a hypocrite then). I will continue the series because I already have book two. But after that? We shall see if it is worth continuing.
How could a kiss mean so much?
um... wow, I am like speechless right now. The end absolutely sealed my fate when it comes to this series, and all I can say is that I am HOOKED!!! I've read vampire stories about blood slaves, but NOT like this. The story struck me as so ORIGINAL, and after being a die-hard Twilight fan for some time, I was tuned like a hawk making sure that this author did not do what others did so unceremoniously by copying the Twilight story. And I am so glad she made this story her own, with her own unique world of The Shade, with characters with their own inner demons.
I really enjoyed how she depicted Derik's character as a revered vampire warring with the loss of his humanity and warmth, and his finding that consolation in Sophia, who has her own insecurities. Of course, there were delicious little twists and unexpected events along the way that further strengthened this series start.
Now, while I readily loathed Lucas, I ultimately came to not trust Ben. At all. Even though it's just the first book, I sincerely feel that he'll have something to do with the hunters and betraying Sophia. He just gives off that vibe. The witch was such a smartass, loved her, and curious about her motives and Vivienne's role/prophecy.
Ok so that's all the pleasing things. The big thing that bugged me throughout the book was that the author was telling more than showing. She needs to show/convey things/feelings more adequately with more details. So instead of saying how much Sophia and Derik love each other, I want to actually feel like they're in love.
um... wow, I am like speechless right now. The end absolutely sealed my fate when it comes to this series, and all I can say is that I am HOOKED!!! I've read vampire stories about blood slaves, but NOT like this. The story struck me as so ORIGINAL, and after being a die-hard Twilight fan for some time, I was tuned like a hawk making sure that this author did not do what others did so unceremoniously by copying the Twilight story. And I am so glad she made this story her own, with her own unique world of The Shade, with characters with their own inner demons.
I really enjoyed how she depicted Derik's character as a revered vampire warring with the loss of his humanity and warmth, and his finding that consolation in Sophia, who has her own insecurities. Of course, there were delicious little twists and unexpected events along the way that further strengthened this series start.
Now, while I readily loathed Lucas, I ultimately came to not trust Ben. At all. Even though it's just the first book, I sincerely feel that he'll have something to do with the hunters and betraying Sophia. He just gives off that vibe. The witch was such a smartass, loved her, and curious about her motives and Vivienne's role/prophecy.
Ok so that's all the pleasing things. The big thing that bugged me throughout the book was that the author was telling more than showing. She needs to show/convey things/feelings more adequately with more details. So instead of saying how much Sophia and Derik love each other, I want to actually feel like they're in love.
Average read.... don't know if I will continue the series. Was curious why it had so many high ratings on amazon.
Great book.
I loved this book. I just couldn’t put it down. I can not wait to read the next one. Soo good.
I loved this book. I just couldn’t put it down. I can not wait to read the next one. Soo good.
Can you give zero stars?
Can you say Stockholm syndrome?? Everything is wrong about this. Beyond the deeply terrible writing, this promotes human trafficking, and at best is blase about slavery and rape. And I'm supposed to find a love story in this?? Complete trash. Please do not sport this kind of literature , which is deeply offensive to !end and women alike.
Can you say Stockholm syndrome?? Everything is wrong about this. Beyond the deeply terrible writing, this promotes human trafficking, and at best is blase about slavery and rape. And I'm supposed to find a love story in this?? Complete trash. Please do not sport this kind of literature , which is deeply offensive to !end and women alike.
I just finished the book and I can most definitely say I am HOOKED! I absolutely enjoyed all the twists and turns the characters took. You have me cheering, falling in love with, and loathing every character in some way, and that is a great story to me. The anticipation was perfect and had me wanting more and more. I just wish the book was longer cause I didn't wasn't it to end. I will be buying your books to finish the story that's for sure! I can even see, without a doubt, this becoming a TV series.Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Looking forward to the second book already.
I kept seeing ads saying this was way better than Twilight...not that Twilight is my favorite series anymore (that was a long time ago, so many books since then) but I am not sure the writing is as good as Stephanie Meyers writing. It is a good story though and I will finish the series.
It's a 2.5 truthfully. Here's why:
-It feels like twilight all over again. We have the self-pitying vampire who doesn't know what to do with his life (Derek) until he meets a girl who is seemingly ordinary (Sophia) but in truth they are both destenied for a life together and to fight the forces of evil.
--I'm sorry but Sophia is just so bland to me. All she thought about was Ben, then Derek. I understand that her real parents gave her up to an adoptive family but what about them? Don't they matter? At least a "I hope they notice I'm gone" or "Will they look for me?" would've sufficed. Not only that but the LLC was it or whatever she was diagnosed with was just a no for me. I don't know, overall Sophia just irritated me alot of the time.
---This book is rather boring the first 30-40 percent in. I've started it twice, and both times I gave up reading it around the same place. I had to force myself to pick it up and read. Thankfully after that it got interesting enough to hold my attention.
----The plot isn't rather original but it has its own elements to make it different from other stories of similar plots.
Overall I don't know if it's a book I would recommend. Maybe I'll get the second just to see how it plays out, but I'm still on the fence about it.
-It feels like twilight all over again. We have the self-pitying vampire who doesn't know what to do with his life (Derek) until he meets a girl who is seemingly ordinary (Sophia) but in truth they are both destenied for a life together and to fight the forces of evil.
--I'm sorry but Sophia is just so bland to me. All she thought about was Ben, then Derek. I understand that her real parents gave her up to an adoptive family but what about them? Don't they matter? At least a "I hope they notice I'm gone" or "Will they look for me?" would've sufficed. Not only that but the LLC was it or whatever she was diagnosed with was just a no for me. I don't know, overall Sophia just irritated me alot of the time.
---This book is rather boring the first 30-40 percent in. I've started it twice, and both times I gave up reading it around the same place. I had to force myself to pick it up and read. Thankfully after that it got interesting enough to hold my attention.
----The plot isn't rather original but it has its own elements to make it different from other stories of similar plots.
Overall I don't know if it's a book I would recommend. Maybe I'll get the second just to see how it plays out, but I'm still on the fence about it.