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katieb94's review
3.0
Slow start but interesting premise!
To be honest I was sold on this book because I thought it was about owls. I was half right. It's very different to the usual YA and I would definitely recommend it.
For a full review, visit my blog.
The link is in my bio.
To be honest I was sold on this book because I thought it was about owls. I was half right. It's very different to the usual YA and I would definitely recommend it.
For a full review, visit my blog.
The link is in my bio.
jacattack13's review
3.0
I received this book for an honest review from Netgalley. I picked this up because the cover just looked amazing and the blurb above was interesting. Though after reading it, it could have been so much better. You can read more reviews on my blog, My Life as a Bookworm
The story follows Iris, a 17 year old girl who has asthma and lives with her father and caretaker in an old house away from the world. She dreams about an island with white feathers which she is taken too. She learns more about her past and why she has lost her memory of her mother 8 years ago. She meets a boy from her past named Falcon but she can't remember him. Only until he starts telling her things does she remember bits and pieces. Iris comes to the realization that her father and caretaker, Diana have been keeping secrets from her. She feels betrayed but as they tell her more about their "kind" called Stryx she learns why they have kept it a secret.
This book started off good and then took a turn for the worse. Iris is a great character but I felt like it was such a short book I didn't get the chance to really connect with her. The plot seemed really good and the history behind the Stryx and Eyrie was really interesting. Though so many questions were unanswered. I assume they will be answered in the next book, but I don't know. There also needed to be some editing. A lot of the time I couldn't tell who was thinking what and some sentences were confusing. "I love you", he whispered under his breath, making sure his proclamation was too quiet for her to hear before sitting down on the bed he had been given and lying down to rest. He knew he would wake up every few moments when she turned the pages, but he didn't mind. Her father was finally telling her the truth...all of it" That transition is just not done right and it happens a couple times throughout the book. I had to re-read paragraphs a couple of times to understand what happened. I still don't know what really happened on the plane?! It was all over the place and it felt as chaotic as if I was actually there. I also felt like the book was moving so slow in the beginning and then all of a sudden picked up the pace and went too fast!
I don't know if I will read the second book. This could have been such an epic fantasy book but it just fell flat to me.
The story follows Iris, a 17 year old girl who has asthma and lives with her father and caretaker in an old house away from the world. She dreams about an island with white feathers which she is taken too. She learns more about her past and why she has lost her memory of her mother 8 years ago. She meets a boy from her past named Falcon but she can't remember him. Only until he starts telling her things does she remember bits and pieces. Iris comes to the realization that her father and caretaker, Diana have been keeping secrets from her. She feels betrayed but as they tell her more about their "kind" called Stryx she learns why they have kept it a secret.
This book started off good and then took a turn for the worse. Iris is a great character but I felt like it was such a short book I didn't get the chance to really connect with her. The plot seemed really good and the history behind the Stryx and Eyrie was really interesting. Though so many questions were unanswered. I assume they will be answered in the next book, but I don't know. There also needed to be some editing. A lot of the time I couldn't tell who was thinking what and some sentences were confusing. "I love you", he whispered under his breath, making sure his proclamation was too quiet for her to hear before sitting down on the bed he had been given and lying down to rest. He knew he would wake up every few moments when she turned the pages, but he didn't mind. Her father was finally telling her the truth...all of it" That transition is just not done right and it happens a couple times throughout the book. I had to re-read paragraphs a couple of times to understand what happened. I still don't know what really happened on the plane?! It was all over the place and it felt as chaotic as if I was actually there. I also felt like the book was moving so slow in the beginning and then all of a sudden picked up the pace and went too fast!
I don't know if I will read the second book. This could have been such an epic fantasy book but it just fell flat to me.
kellysreads's review
1.0
Secrets, lies, betrayal – Owlet sounds like a fascinating and suspenseful read. Unfortunately most of the secrets stay as secrets and the lies/betrayals don’t cut deep since the characters remain undeveloped. By the end, I was just thankful Owlet was a short read.
The biggest problem I had with Owlet was the constant bombardment of questions my mind was left hemorrhaging over. How did she lose her memory? What happened that she doesn’t remember her mother or being a young child? How does no one know she has lost her memory? How did her mother die? Why are Vermillion or Ravens “deathborn” and what does that mean? If they don’t trust Caleb, why would they let him be alone with Iris while someone determined what kind of bird she was? Why was Falcon named Falcon (something she asks him, and he promises to tell later)? Why was a boy entrusted with killing someone so dangerous? If everyone knew Caleb was raising this boy to be an assassin, why did no one step up and confront him? Even though he was only a boy, why would Elena and Roger risk their daughter’s life by letting him live with them? Why did the Council increase from five to twelve? And what the heck happened on the plane?! So many questions that I never felt were truly resolved! Needless to say, Owlet kept me in the dark about a lot of the history surrounding Iris and the Eyrie/Stryx (and I’m still not entirely sure what the difference between a Stryx and an Eyrie is).
I think I could have mostly ignored the questions piling up if it hadn’t been for Michaels’ constant foreshadowing that some great secret would be revealed, only for the reveal to be interrupted. Instead of creating suspense, it became exasperating. Every time an answer was within reach, something else happened that took precedence and the explanation was taken away forever. It was the lack of answers in Owlet that made it difficult for me to follow the direction of the plot. In order to make sure Iris was safe, Roger sends her to the island she grew up on. But once Roger gets to the island, it’s imperative for Iris’ safety that they head to Ramero’s. But once they get to Ramero’s, it’s imperative that they get to Nathaniel’s. Nothing was explained, and by the end I couldn’t help but wonder why they hadn’t just travelled to Nathaniel’s from the beginning?
Owlet’s confusing plot definitely wasn’t helped by Michaels’ strange writing style. She rarely used conjunctions which made the language formal and impersonal.
A really short read, Owlet also didn’t give me any time to become connected to any of the characters. Iris came across as a daydreamer, as someone who wasn’t grounded in reality as she was constantly talking to “the voice” inside her head and wishing for her “Never-Never”. This also made her seem quite childish, and so I was constantly picturing her quite a bit younger than she’s supposed to be. Falcon was used as a prop, ready to literally pick up Iris when she had another asthma attack or fainted from something shocking. Diana was Iris’ nanny/adopted aunt? I had a really hard time following who was who, as it was all dumped in a rushed and back-pedalling manner when Diana let a secret slip. I’m still slightly confused over who Jarem/Ramero are, never mind any of the people who worked for Nathaniel.
To be honest, Owlet was a mess. The plot didn’t make any sense, the characters were undeveloped and flat and the writing was awkward. At this point, I’m not even curious enough to read the sequel to see if any of my questions are answered.
The biggest problem I had with Owlet was the constant bombardment of questions my mind was left hemorrhaging over. How did she lose her memory? What happened that she doesn’t remember her mother or being a young child? How does no one know she has lost her memory? How did her mother die? Why are Vermillion or Ravens “deathborn” and what does that mean? If they don’t trust Caleb, why would they let him be alone with Iris while someone determined what kind of bird she was? Why was Falcon named Falcon (something she asks him, and he promises to tell later)? Why was a boy entrusted with killing someone so dangerous? If everyone knew Caleb was raising this boy to be an assassin, why did no one step up and confront him? Even though he was only a boy, why would Elena and Roger risk their daughter’s life by letting him live with them? Why did the Council increase from five to twelve? And what the heck happened on the plane?! So many questions that I never felt were truly resolved! Needless to say, Owlet kept me in the dark about a lot of the history surrounding Iris and the Eyrie/Stryx (and I’m still not entirely sure what the difference between a Stryx and an Eyrie is).
I think I could have mostly ignored the questions piling up if it hadn’t been for Michaels’ constant foreshadowing that some great secret would be revealed, only for the reveal to be interrupted. Instead of creating suspense, it became exasperating. Every time an answer was within reach, something else happened that took precedence and the explanation was taken away forever. It was the lack of answers in Owlet that made it difficult for me to follow the direction of the plot. In order to make sure Iris was safe, Roger sends her to the island she grew up on. But once Roger gets to the island, it’s imperative for Iris’ safety that they head to Ramero’s. But once they get to Ramero’s, it’s imperative that they get to Nathaniel’s. Nothing was explained, and by the end I couldn’t help but wonder why they hadn’t just travelled to Nathaniel’s from the beginning?
Owlet’s confusing plot definitely wasn’t helped by Michaels’ strange writing style. She rarely used conjunctions which made the language formal and impersonal.
I am still not sure. Once I am, however, I promise I will tell you.I think the lack of conjunctions also made for a very choppy read, as everything read bluntly and to the point.
She is ready, but we haven’t gotten to clean up. I am sorry. She might look a bit ragged and she is injured pretty badly,” Diana said as she entered the room.It just didn’t flow well together, and I found myself constantly rereading sentences because they were so awkward.
A really short read, Owlet also didn’t give me any time to become connected to any of the characters. Iris came across as a daydreamer, as someone who wasn’t grounded in reality as she was constantly talking to “the voice” inside her head and wishing for her “Never-Never”. This also made her seem quite childish, and so I was constantly picturing her quite a bit younger than she’s supposed to be. Falcon was used as a prop, ready to literally pick up Iris when she had another asthma attack or fainted from something shocking. Diana was Iris’ nanny/adopted aunt? I had a really hard time following who was who, as it was all dumped in a rushed and back-pedalling manner when Diana let a secret slip. I’m still slightly confused over who Jarem/Ramero are, never mind any of the people who worked for Nathaniel.
To be honest, Owlet was a mess. The plot didn’t make any sense, the characters were undeveloped and flat and the writing was awkward. At this point, I’m not even curious enough to read the sequel to see if any of my questions are answered.
bookbriefs's review
4.0
Owlet was a refreshing read. It wasn't about the same ole, same ole. No vampires, no werewolves or even shifters. The birds in Owlet are more parts of the soul, which I thought was a cool take on the idea. Plus no love triangle! I couldn't help but feel bad for Iris though. She was kept in the dark for so long and because of that Owlet has many more questions than answers for a while. Iris was in the dark about her own memories as well as her heritage. And she has to deal with so much, poor Iris.
I hope that Iris stays her sweet and good self. She is going through a lot of changes, but I am confident that Falcon will keep her on track. Falcon, by the way is such a cool guy. I can't wait to find out more about him and Iris' past because we only got glimpses of it in this book.
There is a lot of information to intake in Owlet. I felt like the information could have been spread out a little more. Even though I would have liked a bit of a slower pace, I understood why everything was happening very quickly. There was a sense of urgency throughout the whole story. Iris was kept in the dark about so many things for so long, so it made sense to me that she would be trying to find out as much as she could all at once. One thing I was kind of confused about was the memory loss that she experienced. I wish it was explained a little better, I kind of feel like I missed the explanation of it all in the book.
Owlet was a very quick read. It intrigued me and got me interested in following the rest of the series. I saw it as a set up for the feather society series really. It laid all the background and kind of prepped Iris for what I am sure is going to be a really cool adventure for her. It left some things unanswered that couldn't really fit into this book. I'm glad we didn't get to meet all of the players yet, and I am pretty excited to see what Emma Michaels is going to do with the next book.
I hope that Iris stays her sweet and good self. She is going through a lot of changes, but I am confident that Falcon will keep her on track. Falcon, by the way is such a cool guy. I can't wait to find out more about him and Iris' past because we only got glimpses of it in this book.
There is a lot of information to intake in Owlet. I felt like the information could have been spread out a little more. Even though I would have liked a bit of a slower pace, I understood why everything was happening very quickly. There was a sense of urgency throughout the whole story. Iris was kept in the dark about so many things for so long, so it made sense to me that she would be trying to find out as much as she could all at once. One thing I was kind of confused about was the memory loss that she experienced. I wish it was explained a little better, I kind of feel like I missed the explanation of it all in the book.
Owlet was a very quick read. It intrigued me and got me interested in following the rest of the series. I saw it as a set up for the feather society series really. It laid all the background and kind of prepped Iris for what I am sure is going to be a really cool adventure for her. It left some things unanswered that couldn't really fit into this book. I'm glad we didn't get to meet all of the players yet, and I am pretty excited to see what Emma Michaels is going to do with the next book.
tallstoryteller's review against another edition
2.0
Iris suffers from severe asthma, is home-schooled, and her only friends are her father and her caretaker, Diana. For a teenager, that kind of life pretty much sucks. However, when nighttime comes and her imagination takes flight, she escapes to a world that's part memory and part fantasy. She dreams of a red door that never budges on an island covered in snow white feathers. A place she calls “never-never.”
Then one day, Iris and Diana are sent off to the island of her dreams and the truth about her life is unfurled. She now finds herself in a world and society that she needs protection from, and discovers that her soul is half owlet and half human. Iris will have to make choices that she never even imagined.
You could fall in love with this book purely for its cover – it's absolutely beautiful. Another plus is that it's a quick read. Unfortunately, when the epilogue started I was left disappointed with more questions than answers. Throughout the book you are promised big reveals, betrayals and mystery, but the story never quite captures those moments.
I think the idea behind the story is wonderful: Beings that have two souls,: one human, one bird.
But, I'm not invested enough in the characters or the plot to pick up the next book in the series.
* Full disclosure * I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Then one day, Iris and Diana are sent off to the island of her dreams and the truth about her life is unfurled. She now finds herself in a world and society that she needs protection from, and discovers that her soul is half owlet and half human. Iris will have to make choices that she never even imagined.
You could fall in love with this book purely for its cover – it's absolutely beautiful. Another plus is that it's a quick read. Unfortunately, when the epilogue started I was left disappointed with more questions than answers. Throughout the book you are promised big reveals, betrayals and mystery, but the story never quite captures those moments.
I think the idea behind the story is wonderful: Beings that have two souls,: one human, one bird.
But, I'm not invested enough in the characters or the plot to pick up the next book in the series.
* Full disclosure * I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
thefox22's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly don't know how to feel about this book. I have mixed feelings.
What I liked: While the summary of the story leaves you nothing to go on, I'd heard good things about it. There's something different about these people, and you're going to find out what it is as you read. I thought it was unique in its own way, and it is not easy to figure out what is going to happen. I also loved Falcon! If someone is going to write a love story that ties in with a fantasy plot, I have to love the characters and want them to have a happy ending. Because his past and Iris' past intertwined, I was nervous that it would seem more like insta-love and not something that feels real. I also loved how the story didn't focus on hers and Falcon's relationship, and instead it focused on Iris trying to find out who she is.
What I didn't like: The plot itself was so confusing! I'm not sure if that had been Michaels' plan while writing this, but it didn't work out so well. While you find out small bits about what the characters truly are, it's still hard to put the puzzle pieces together, even when the author explains it all! I really liked the idea, but the execution did not do it for me. And the writing didn't really flow, especially the parts where Iris is explaining her thoughts to you. That was hard to follow, even when you figure out why it is like that for her. It was also hard to connect with Iris, even as you went through this journey with her. This book was a good start to the series, but it should have been more well-thought out.
The ending, at least the last two chapters, but not so much the epilogue, really saved this book for me. It was absolutely heartbreaking, and I couldn't stop reading. I cried near the end, and that made me appreciate the book a little more.
Owlet was not a favorite of mine, and I probably won't read it again. I'm definitely going to read Eyrie, though, because I want Emma Michaels to have the chance to redeem herself. And I want to fall in love with the story-line and characters.
What I liked: While the summary of the story leaves you nothing to go on, I'd heard good things about it. There's something different about these people, and you're going to find out what it is as you read. I thought it was unique in its own way, and it is not easy to figure out what is going to happen. I also loved Falcon! If someone is going to write a love story that ties in with a fantasy plot, I have to love the characters and want them to have a happy ending. Because his past and Iris' past intertwined, I was nervous that it would seem more like insta-love and not something that feels real. I also loved how the story didn't focus on hers and Falcon's relationship, and instead it focused on Iris trying to find out who she is.
What I didn't like: The plot itself was so confusing! I'm not sure if that had been Michaels' plan while writing this, but it didn't work out so well. While you find out small bits about what the characters truly are, it's still hard to put the puzzle pieces together, even when the author explains it all! I really liked the idea, but the execution did not do it for me. And the writing didn't really flow, especially the parts where Iris is explaining her thoughts to you. That was hard to follow, even when you figure out why it is like that for her. It was also hard to connect with Iris, even as you went through this journey with her. This book was a good start to the series, but it should have been more well-thought out.
The ending, at least the last two chapters, but not so much the epilogue, really saved this book for me. It was absolutely heartbreaking, and I couldn't stop reading. I cried near the end, and that made me appreciate the book a little more.
Owlet was not a favorite of mine, and I probably won't read it again. I'm definitely going to read Eyrie, though, because I want Emma Michaels to have the chance to redeem herself. And I want to fall in love with the story-line and characters.
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