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jessicadennett's review against another edition
4.0
* Received for review *
It is a paranormal fantasy book that follows a teenage girl called Jaycie Lerner who is a telepath, empath, and telekinetic and her family who also all have similar powers too. Her father has forced her into private school since up to this point she's been home schooled and her father wants her to gain some normalcy. She gets pysically trained by her 'mother figure' Allison. She very much tries to stay on the outside of social stuff until a strange woman tells her to get a job at a local bookshop and befriend Haley.
There is also a side plot of her romance with best friend Matt but it's not a massive part of the story which I did like because it wasn't a very interesting side plot but it added something to Jaycie's character.
Haley adds a lot to the story and is really my favorite character in this book. She has a lot going on that you get dealt to you in bursts and her dealing with this supernatural world that she's a part of but has never even realised is there before is the best part because mostly I hate it when in all supernatural books when a character finds out about it they don't freak out like most people would or completely deny it exists. This is where I think Haley was extremely realistic and I liked her for this.
I loved Jaycie's whole family. Epecially her godfather who even though he is a brief visitor his power is super cool and he really cares about Jaycie.
Allison was really cool too and I liked how she wasn't your typical adult character, she is Jaycie's trainer and has a hell of a lot of power within her. She's really over 90 years old but her power keeps her looking twenty as well as being able to heal quickly, run fast and be super-strong. really she has it all. Plus she goes on dates with a lot of different men which is another thing that is rarely seen in books. Promiscuous men yes. but women no.
I really loved the idea of evalution in this, that evalution isn't finished with humans and is still giving us abilities that aid our survival. I think it's really interesting to think about what that could mean!
It is a paranormal fantasy book that follows a teenage girl called Jaycie Lerner who is a telepath, empath, and telekinetic and her family who also all have similar powers too. Her father has forced her into private school since up to this point she's been home schooled and her father wants her to gain some normalcy. She gets pysically trained by her 'mother figure' Allison. She very much tries to stay on the outside of social stuff until a strange woman tells her to get a job at a local bookshop and befriend Haley.
There is also a side plot of her romance with best friend Matt but it's not a massive part of the story which I did like because it wasn't a very interesting side plot but it added something to Jaycie's character.
Haley adds a lot to the story and is really my favorite character in this book. She has a lot going on that you get dealt to you in bursts and her dealing with this supernatural world that she's a part of but has never even realised is there before is the best part because mostly I hate it when in all supernatural books when a character finds out about it they don't freak out like most people would or completely deny it exists. This is where I think Haley was extremely realistic and I liked her for this.
I loved Jaycie's whole family. Epecially her godfather who even though he is a brief visitor his power is super cool and he really cares about Jaycie.
Allison was really cool too and I liked how she wasn't your typical adult character, she is Jaycie's trainer and has a hell of a lot of power within her. She's really over 90 years old but her power keeps her looking twenty as well as being able to heal quickly, run fast and be super-strong. really she has it all. Plus she goes on dates with a lot of different men which is another thing that is rarely seen in books. Promiscuous men yes. but women no.
I really loved the idea of evalution in this, that evalution isn't finished with humans and is still giving us abilities that aid our survival. I think it's really interesting to think about what that could mean!
booksenvogue's review against another edition
1.0
I’m not going to lie, that Ciara doppelgänger on the cover made me pick this up! And then I was like “what up, title playing on Destiny’s Child”!
chibereading's review
5.0
Black and Blue Ink
You know a great book when you can easily be captivated by the characters and setting alone and fall in love with it before the plot even really kicks in, and Darwin's Children is definitely that book. Super powers and super humans done in an incredibly different way, Natasha Larry combines the best of all the paranormal and supernatural world coupling it with a characters whose stories will pull at your heart strings, Darwin's Children is a book that I know will be stuck on my mind for a very long time.
In my opinion, I know a series is going to keep on getting better and better when the first book in the series can easily stand great as a stand alone title. And Darwin's Children is definitely one of those books. Jaycie Lerger was an interesting character from the start. I mean really, there are so many dishonorable and some might say sinister things a person could do if they had the power read and "alter" people's thoughts, but does Jaycie do any of these things, of course not. She has other intentions for her abilities, and I must say, though she may seem like she is holding back at times, she definitely knows how to bring it when the time is right.
Extended Version
Not just Jaycie, but the whole Lerner family was so captivating to read about. The background of Jaycie's trainer/substitute mother and her superhuman abilities was so fascinating. As well as that of Jaycie's father and godfather, who couldn't be more annoyingly cryptic all the time.
The plot of this book hit me more emotionally than I anticipated it would. Jaycie and her friend Haylee go through a rough roller coaster throughout their friendship and at times the book became hard for me to read just because of the raw and horrific emotions that emanated from both Jaycie and Haylee at different times of the book. This part of the book in my opinion, though heart wrenching, was written beautifully.
Darwin's Children has many layers to it, and they all lead up to a huge turning point in Jaycie's life. All throughout the book their is a foreshadowing to something big happening to Jaycie. And along this cryptic ride so much is revealed about the "super human" world that Jaycie and her family are a part of. The different abilities of each character are each so unique and interesting to read when they finally play out. The story as a whole unfolds perfectly. Everything seems is interwoven into a great plot that I can't wait to read more of!
I can already tell this series is going to be a favorite of mine. I'm ecstatic to know the journey of the Lerner family does not end here, and I am eager to read what direction the books will go hereafter.
Recommendations: Series lovers and stand-alone advocates alike will thoroughly enjoy this unique and, at times, heart wrenching supernatural novel!
You know a great book when you can easily be captivated by the characters and setting alone and fall in love with it before the plot even really kicks in, and Darwin's Children is definitely that book. Super powers and super humans done in an incredibly different way, Natasha Larry combines the best of all the paranormal and supernatural world coupling it with a characters whose stories will pull at your heart strings, Darwin's Children is a book that I know will be stuck on my mind for a very long time.
In my opinion, I know a series is going to keep on getting better and better when the first book in the series can easily stand great as a stand alone title. And Darwin's Children is definitely one of those books. Jaycie Lerger was an interesting character from the start. I mean really, there are so many dishonorable and some might say sinister things a person could do if they had the power read and "alter" people's thoughts, but does Jaycie do any of these things, of course not. She has other intentions for her abilities, and I must say, though she may seem like she is holding back at times, she definitely knows how to bring it when the time is right.
Extended Version
Not just Jaycie, but the whole Lerner family was so captivating to read about. The background of Jaycie's trainer/substitute mother and her superhuman abilities was so fascinating. As well as that of Jaycie's father and godfather, who couldn't be more annoyingly cryptic all the time.
The plot of this book hit me more emotionally than I anticipated it would. Jaycie and her friend Haylee go through a rough roller coaster throughout their friendship and at times the book became hard for me to read just because of the raw and horrific emotions that emanated from both Jaycie and Haylee at different times of the book. This part of the book in my opinion, though heart wrenching, was written beautifully.
Darwin's Children has many layers to it, and they all lead up to a huge turning point in Jaycie's life. All throughout the book their is a foreshadowing to something big happening to Jaycie. And along this cryptic ride so much is revealed about the "super human" world that Jaycie and her family are a part of. The different abilities of each character are each so unique and interesting to read when they finally play out. The story as a whole unfolds perfectly. Everything seems is interwoven into a great plot that I can't wait to read more of!
I can already tell this series is going to be a favorite of mine. I'm ecstatic to know the journey of the Lerner family does not end here, and I am eager to read what direction the books will go hereafter.
Recommendations: Series lovers and stand-alone advocates alike will thoroughly enjoy this unique and, at times, heart wrenching supernatural novel!
bookbriefs's review
3.0
I liked this book. I think that Jaycie is an awesome main character and her powers are so cool! She is super nice and is described as beyond beautiful, but don't start thinking her life is too perfect. Basically everyone at school dislikes her and she has to keep her powers a secret from her best friend, Matt. I liked that she was not too perfect- she still has struggles to go through and her powers are not just easy breezy fun. I was interested to see how her powers would progress and to see what would happen. I was also really interested in Jaycie and Matt. He is just so sweet and cute, how could you not like Matt? I just wanted Jaycie to tell Matt about her powers right away.
Other than Jaycie's powers developing and Matt, the story did not hold my attention for the entire book. I was really into the book for the first 1/3 of it. I blew through that part, but then it started to drag a bit for me. I thought that it was slow in places. The storyline really interested me and I kept reading because I really wanted to find out what was going to happen, but I wasn't as absorbed in the book as I wanted to be. I caught myself skimming the page more than a few times.
I did really like the descriptions of the characters in the books. Everyone was really well described, even the minor ones. I enjoyed that because it helped me picture them, and normally with minor characters I just read their scene and then put them out of my mind. I thought this extra attention to detail was a nice touch.
Another thing I noticed was that Jaycie got pretty violent towards the end of the book. She seemed so nice and kind, and then all of a sudden she was so focused on retribution and revenge. It seemed kind of out of place for her. I liked the resolution to the conflict but it was very much an eye for an eye philosophy, so beware about that.
Overall, Darwin's Children was a good book. I enjoyed the plot and I'm going to read the next one because I want to know what is going to happen, but I didn't fall in love with the book. I just kind of liked it, no strong feelings. Maybe now that the groundwork is laid, book 2 will pick up a little. I look forward to finding out.
Other than Jaycie's powers developing and Matt, the story did not hold my attention for the entire book. I was really into the book for the first 1/3 of it. I blew through that part, but then it started to drag a bit for me. I thought that it was slow in places. The storyline really interested me and I kept reading because I really wanted to find out what was going to happen, but I wasn't as absorbed in the book as I wanted to be. I caught myself skimming the page more than a few times.
I did really like the descriptions of the characters in the books. Everyone was really well described, even the minor ones. I enjoyed that because it helped me picture them, and normally with minor characters I just read their scene and then put them out of my mind. I thought this extra attention to detail was a nice touch.
Another thing I noticed was that Jaycie got pretty violent towards the end of the book. She seemed so nice and kind, and then all of a sudden she was so focused on retribution and revenge. It seemed kind of out of place for her. I liked the resolution to the conflict but it was very much an eye for an eye philosophy, so beware about that.
Overall, Darwin's Children was a good book. I enjoyed the plot and I'm going to read the next one because I want to know what is going to happen, but I didn't fall in love with the book. I just kind of liked it, no strong feelings. Maybe now that the groundwork is laid, book 2 will pick up a little. I look forward to finding out.
booksandbelle's review
4.0
* Received for review *
It is a paranormal fantasy book that follows a teenage girl called Jaycie Lerner who is a telepath, empath, and telekinetic and her family who also all have similar powers too. Her father has forced her into private school since up to this point she's been home schooled and her father wants her to gain some normalcy. She gets pysically trained by her 'mother figure' Allison. She very much tries to stay on the outside of social stuff until a strange woman tells her to get a job at a local bookshop and befriend Haley.
There is also a side plot of her romance with best friend Matt but it's not a massive part of the story which I did like because it wasn't a very interesting side plot but it added something to Jaycie's character.
Haley adds a lot to the story and is really my favorite character in this book. She has a lot going on that you get dealt to you in bursts and her dealing with this supernatural world that she's a part of but has never even realised is there before is the best part because mostly I hate it when in all supernatural books when a character finds out about it they don't freak out like most people would or completely deny it exists. This is where I think Haley was extremely realistic and I liked her for this.
I loved Jaycie's whole family. Epecially her godfather who even though he is a brief visitor his power is super cool and he really cares about Jaycie.
Allison was really cool too and I liked how she wasn't your typical adult character, she is Jaycie's trainer and has a hell of a lot of power within her. She's really over 90 years old but her power keeps her looking twenty as well as being able to heal quickly, run fast and be super-strong. really she has it all. Plus she goes on dates with a lot of different men which is another thing that is rarely seen in books. Promiscuous men yes. but women no.
I really loved the idea of evalution in this, that evalution isn't finished with humans and is still giving us abilities that aid our survival. I think it's really interesting to think about what that could mean!
It is a paranormal fantasy book that follows a teenage girl called Jaycie Lerner who is a telepath, empath, and telekinetic and her family who also all have similar powers too. Her father has forced her into private school since up to this point she's been home schooled and her father wants her to gain some normalcy. She gets pysically trained by her 'mother figure' Allison. She very much tries to stay on the outside of social stuff until a strange woman tells her to get a job at a local bookshop and befriend Haley.
There is also a side plot of her romance with best friend Matt but it's not a massive part of the story which I did like because it wasn't a very interesting side plot but it added something to Jaycie's character.
Haley adds a lot to the story and is really my favorite character in this book. She has a lot going on that you get dealt to you in bursts and her dealing with this supernatural world that she's a part of but has never even realised is there before is the best part because mostly I hate it when in all supernatural books when a character finds out about it they don't freak out like most people would or completely deny it exists. This is where I think Haley was extremely realistic and I liked her for this.
I loved Jaycie's whole family. Epecially her godfather who even though he is a brief visitor his power is super cool and he really cares about Jaycie.
Allison was really cool too and I liked how she wasn't your typical adult character, she is Jaycie's trainer and has a hell of a lot of power within her. She's really over 90 years old but her power keeps her looking twenty as well as being able to heal quickly, run fast and be super-strong. really she has it all. Plus she goes on dates with a lot of different men which is another thing that is rarely seen in books. Promiscuous men yes. but women no.
I really loved the idea of evalution in this, that evalution isn't finished with humans and is still giving us abilities that aid our survival. I think it's really interesting to think about what that could mean!
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