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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
More reviews at www.eyesonthepages.blogspot.ca
Wow. Just - Just wow. I have to admit that I absolutely loved this book. Kylie was caught at the wrong place at the wrong time, and as a result, she was shipped off to Shadow Falls Camp, a camp for troubled teens. But at the camp, not everyone is as they seem...
Within the camps grounds, we come across Shape-Shifters, Werewolves, Vampires, Witches and even Fairies. At first, I thought that Shadow Falls was going to be a species over-load. But Hunter made it work out surprisingly well. During the book, we got a good dose of each of the species. With Kylie's two best friends - a vampire and a witch -, her two irresistible crushes, Lucas - a werewolf - and Derek - a half-fae - we got the full supernatural dose.
Can I tell you again how surprised I was by how much I loved this book? First, Kylie was a totally relateable character for me. I can completely understand her need to be normal throughout the book, and I definitely didn't blame her for wanting it to be that way. Her attraction to Lucas did kind of annoy me, cause it kind of sprang out of nowhere, where as her attraction to Derek had at least had been built up on something. But I do have to admit, both of those guys are amazing characters. Just when I thought I preferred Derek over Lucas, Lucas would swoop in and do something to make me reconsider, and when I started favouring Lucas, Derek would swoop in and do the exact same thing.
Another thing that annoyed me was how long it took Kylie to finally deal with the ghost that kept plaguing her. The curiosity of what he wanted was killing me! And I thank that ghost a million times for being forceful of having his voice heard! But I hardly regestered this annoyance with everything else that seemed to be going on at Shadow Falls.
Over all, this book was just absolutely awesome. If you asked me why I loved this book so much, I honestly wouldn't be able to give you a straight up answer. I think it's because I was able to connect with Kylie so much. Or maybe it was because of how dedicated her, Della and Miranda were as friends to one another. Or maybe it was the fact that the twist with the ghost I didn't see coming at all.
I could go one listing thing after thing, but all I'm going to be doing is wasting your time. I would easily read this book again in a pinch, and I really think you should give this book a shot. I went in with skepticism because I had heard very bad things about it - but also a few good things - but, oh my god, am I ever glad I took the time to read this book
Wow. Just - Just wow. I have to admit that I absolutely loved this book. Kylie was caught at the wrong place at the wrong time, and as a result, she was shipped off to Shadow Falls Camp, a camp for troubled teens. But at the camp, not everyone is as they seem...
Within the camps grounds, we come across Shape-Shifters, Werewolves, Vampires, Witches and even Fairies. At first, I thought that Shadow Falls was going to be a species over-load. But Hunter made it work out surprisingly well. During the book, we got a good dose of each of the species. With Kylie's two best friends - a vampire and a witch -, her two irresistible crushes, Lucas - a werewolf - and Derek - a half-fae - we got the full supernatural dose.
Can I tell you again how surprised I was by how much I loved this book? First, Kylie was a totally relateable character for me. I can completely understand her need to be normal throughout the book, and I definitely didn't blame her for wanting it to be that way. Her attraction to Lucas did kind of annoy me, cause it kind of sprang out of nowhere, where as her attraction to Derek had at least had been built up on something. But I do have to admit, both of those guys are amazing characters. Just when I thought I preferred Derek over Lucas, Lucas would swoop in and do something to make me reconsider, and when I started favouring Lucas, Derek would swoop in and do the exact same thing.
Another thing that annoyed me was how long it took Kylie to finally deal with the ghost that kept plaguing her. The curiosity of what he wanted was killing me! And I thank that ghost a million times for being forceful of having his voice heard! But I hardly regestered this annoyance with everything else that seemed to be going on at Shadow Falls.
Over all, this book was just absolutely awesome. If you asked me why I loved this book so much, I honestly wouldn't be able to give you a straight up answer. I think it's because I was able to connect with Kylie so much. Or maybe it was because of how dedicated her, Della and Miranda were as friends to one another. Or maybe it was the fact that the twist with the ghost I didn't see coming at all.
I could go one listing thing after thing, but all I'm going to be doing is wasting your time. I would easily read this book again in a pinch, and I really think you should give this book a shot. I went in with skepticism because I had heard very bad things about it - but also a few good things - but, oh my god, am I ever glad I took the time to read this book
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
It's fine but it's clearly aimed at a different (and very young) target audience. MC is interesting in that she's an anti-Mary Sue - she's super naive and not smart or good at anything and comes across as a weiner, which is an interesting protagonist choice but made her somewhat hard to understand or identify with. Perfectly fine but I'm unlikely to read the next book.
I somehow got through this in one night and not because I didn't want to put it down. More like I wanted it to end.
Main character was beyond annoying.. Not a love triangle but a love hexagon maybe. If you through the opposite sex in front of her, she was attracted.
The story went I on and on, and in and on. While it wasn't horrible, it wasn't great. Makes me not want to spend the $10 on the next one. Maybe one day. Maybe not.
Main character was beyond annoying.. Not a love triangle but a love hexagon maybe. If you through the opposite sex in front of her, she was attracted.
The story went I on and on, and in and on. While it wasn't horrible, it wasn't great. Makes me not want to spend the $10 on the next one. Maybe one day. Maybe not.
I put off reading this one for quite a while since the description did not appeal to me at all what so ever! Well... I regret doing that because this was a fairly cute paranormal young adult novel! It wasn't too much, and some parts were actually honest. It's not all about vampires, werewolves, etc... but rather about trying to find yourself when you become the odd one out in such an unforgiving world.
Don't get me wrong though... I may have given this one a good review, but it is in no way "life changing". It's more of a quick read that has you smiling like an idiot all the way through.
Don't get me wrong though... I may have given this one a good review, but it is in no way "life changing". It's more of a quick read that has you smiling like an idiot all the way through.
fast-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really wanted to like this, it sounded amazing. It gave me Percy Jackson meets The Mortal Instruments vibes, two of my favorite series.
In the beginning I definitely enjoyed it. It was deliciously fast paced - as in fast enough to keep your attention, but not too fast that it is rushed. It almost immediately starts with the plot, no unnecessary long explanation or intro. You figure things out at the same time the main character does.
Some say her denial was annoying, but let's be real, she just found out she isn't human. I wouldn't believe it either, even with proof.
So, I thought this was going to be a great book. Easy to read and quick to finish. And incredibly fun.
But then came a sentence, 'Not that anyone could mistake Derek for gay. Something about the way he walked and carried himself was overtly female-loving male'. The sentence... I don't know, I didn't know how to feel.
I decided to continue anyways, thinking it would just be one weird sentence in the book. But then, another sentence made me feel the same. 'Oh, hell, you think I'm going to let him bite me? No way. It's too risky and too gay.' By now I was getting annoyed and confused. Is this author being homophobic? Is this just something people said in 2011 - when this book was published.
I tried looking up reviews that mentioned it, surely I couldn't be the only one noticing this or feeling weird about it, right? Well, apparently I am. I couldn't find anyone mention it, not even the lowest ratings with reviews mentioned this.
On top of that I accidentally spoiled myself on the ending of the love triangle at the end of the series.
I was questioning if I should continue. I was kinda invested in the story, but those sentences just didn't sit right with me. And already knowing a part of the ending takes away some fun.
Then I thought, I'll finish this book so I can write a review about it and share this with others who in the future might feel the same and go looking if someone else had noticed it. But the series... no, probably not.
So, I move on. A bit annoyed, but the book reads quick so I'm hoping it won't take me too long. And the story itself is pretty fun, so I probably wouldn't struggle.
Que in, an ableist word. Yay. Yes, yes, this is written in 2011. I know. Doesn't mean it makes me extremely uncomfortable. I'm disabled, I'm lucky no one has called me the r-word yet. But reading the word still makes me incredibly angry. But yeah, the character that everyone seems to love, Della, says it casually as a swear word. Yay for me, once again questioning, will I continue.
By now I already know, this won't be higher than 2 stars. Maybe 2.5 if the story keeps being interesting. But is it worth it? Isn't it better to spend my time reading a book I'll love?
But then I remember how freaking excited I was for this book, how I used to stare at it in my bookshelves, wanting to read it asap. I should at least try to finish it, right? Some people hate read, I don't often. But DNFing is also something I struggle with. So on we go.
After that I did struggle a bit with reading. While it was still easy to read and the story itself interesting, the previous point made it that my passion and excitement to read this book were gone. I was only reading it so I could say I read it and write this review.
Kylie's attraction for Derek and Lucas felt rushed. But ok, it's a 2011 YA, that's to be expected. But what annoyed me a lot is that her ex Trey, who is a giant douchebag, was still in the picture. And she compared Trey and Derek every time. The first few times, I was like 'ok then', but at some point I just started rolling my eyes. She has been there, what, two days? And already is so attracted to Derek she starts to compare him with Trey, who she's not sure of she wants to get back with, and then also starts dreaming about Lucas, the guy who killed her cat, supposedly.
Sorry, but if I think you killed my cat, you're dead to me.
Also, the way she's obsessed with the way the boys looked. Constantly comparing their bodies, their chests. Like... huh? I get finding someone's body attractive but... if a male writer wrote about a male character doing this to female characters, people would speak up about it. But this... just keeps happening and I don't see anyone talk about how obsessively she starts comaping them. A day after she met 2 of the 3 boys. Or I think a day because it read like a day later but later what day it is after she arrived got confusing.
At some point she keeps confusing Trey for Derek - still a few days after she met Derek. She even calls him Derek??? What the fuck?? Honestly, Trey being more than just an ex boyfriend that gets mentioned once in a while was unnecessary.
Talking about unnecessary, the amount of slutshaming in this book, damn. I definitely understand Kylie wanting to be ready and her first time to be special. But constantly slutshaming other girls who have had sex, please stop.
I think there were also some mistakes. Either that, or the sentences just didn't make sense. 'His touch felt good. Familiar. Normal. Life the way it should be. Like the way it was less than a month ago.' Is it me, or does it feel like 'life' is supposed to be 'like'?
This isn't the only one, sometimes there is an 'a' too early in a sentence. Or a missing " when someone says something. Honestly, I don't normally really notice mistakes, I often look over them or forget about them in 3 seconds. English isn't my first language, so I probably make some mistakes as well. No idea if here it is just so obvious, or if I was just so annoyed that I start noticing every bad detail. I wonder, this was published in 2011. It is now 2022. 11 years later. Why has no one in those 11 years said to the author or publisher, 'hey, maybe you should fix these mistakes'.
At some point, the book gets boring. At page 270 there still isn't any action. Just boy drama, the same 'I'm not supernatural' drama and friends drama. Even her seeing the ghost got boring.
Maybe I'm just reaching here for bad things to say, but I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character's breatst are mentioned as much as this book. Every scene with a boy, the main character thinks about her breasts or has a boy staring at them. It got very annoying.
Around page 300 there was finally some mystery. And I couldn't. Care. Less.
The way the stuff with the animals was solved was very underwhelming. You have this slow build up and then it just gets revealed and the guilty person just gives themselves up.
The reveal at the ending about the ghost... okay, I didn't see that coming, and I thought it was interesting. It almost made me want to continue this series. Almost. I read the sneak peak at the end of the book, but no... the few things I'm curious about, I'll look up the answers on the internet. I'm not going to continue this series.
In the beginning I definitely enjoyed it. It was deliciously fast paced - as in fast enough to keep your attention, but not too fast that it is rushed. It almost immediately starts with the plot, no unnecessary long explanation or intro. You figure things out at the same time the main character does.
Some say her denial was annoying, but let's be real, she just found out she isn't human. I wouldn't believe it either, even with proof.
So, I thought this was going to be a great book. Easy to read and quick to finish. And incredibly fun.
But then came a sentence, 'Not that anyone could mistake Derek for gay. Something about the way he walked and carried himself was overtly female-loving male'. The sentence... I don't know, I didn't know how to feel.
I decided to continue anyways, thinking it would just be one weird sentence in the book. But then, another sentence made me feel the same. 'Oh, hell, you think I'm going to let him bite me? No way. It's too risky and too gay.' By now I was getting annoyed and confused. Is this author being homophobic? Is this just something people said in 2011 - when this book was published.
I tried looking up reviews that mentioned it, surely I couldn't be the only one noticing this or feeling weird about it, right? Well, apparently I am. I couldn't find anyone mention it, not even the lowest ratings with reviews mentioned this.
On top of that I accidentally spoiled myself on the ending of the love triangle at the end of the series.
I was questioning if I should continue. I was kinda invested in the story, but those sentences just didn't sit right with me. And already knowing a part of the ending takes away some fun.
Then I thought, I'll finish this book so I can write a review about it and share this with others who in the future might feel the same and go looking if someone else had noticed it. But the series... no, probably not.
So, I move on. A bit annoyed, but the book reads quick so I'm hoping it won't take me too long. And the story itself is pretty fun, so I probably wouldn't struggle.
Que in, an ableist word. Yay. Yes, yes, this is written in 2011. I know. Doesn't mean it makes me extremely uncomfortable. I'm disabled, I'm lucky no one has called me the r-word yet. But reading the word still makes me incredibly angry. But yeah, the character that everyone seems to love, Della, says it casually as a swear word. Yay for me, once again questioning, will I continue.
By now I already know, this won't be higher than 2 stars. Maybe 2.5 if the story keeps being interesting. But is it worth it? Isn't it better to spend my time reading a book I'll love?
But then I remember how freaking excited I was for this book, how I used to stare at it in my bookshelves, wanting to read it asap. I should at least try to finish it, right? Some people hate read, I don't often. But DNFing is also something I struggle with. So on we go.
After that I did struggle a bit with reading. While it was still easy to read and the story itself interesting, the previous point made it that my passion and excitement to read this book were gone. I was only reading it so I could say I read it and write this review.
Kylie's attraction for Derek and Lucas felt rushed. But ok, it's a 2011 YA, that's to be expected. But what annoyed me a lot is that her ex Trey, who is a giant douchebag, was still in the picture. And she compared Trey and Derek every time. The first few times, I was like 'ok then', but at some point I just started rolling my eyes. She has been there, what, two days? And already is so attracted to Derek she starts to compare him with Trey, who she's not sure of she wants to get back with, and then also starts dreaming about Lucas, the guy who killed her cat, supposedly.
Sorry, but if I think you killed my cat, you're dead to me.
Also, the way she's obsessed with the way the boys looked. Constantly comparing their bodies, their chests. Like... huh? I get finding someone's body attractive but... if a male writer wrote about a male character doing this to female characters, people would speak up about it. But this... just keeps happening and I don't see anyone talk about how obsessively she starts comaping them. A day after she met 2 of the 3 boys. Or I think a day because it read like a day later but later what day it is after she arrived got confusing.
At some point she keeps confusing Trey for Derek - still a few days after she met Derek. She even calls him Derek??? What the fuck?? Honestly, Trey being more than just an ex boyfriend that gets mentioned once in a while was unnecessary.
Talking about unnecessary, the amount of slutshaming in this book, damn. I definitely understand Kylie wanting to be ready and her first time to be special. But constantly slutshaming other girls who have had sex, please stop.
I think there were also some mistakes. Either that, or the sentences just didn't make sense. 'His touch felt good. Familiar. Normal. Life the way it should be. Like the way it was less than a month ago.' Is it me, or does it feel like 'life' is supposed to be 'like'?
This isn't the only one, sometimes there is an 'a' too early in a sentence. Or a missing " when someone says something. Honestly, I don't normally really notice mistakes, I often look over them or forget about them in 3 seconds. English isn't my first language, so I probably make some mistakes as well. No idea if here it is just so obvious, or if I was just so annoyed that I start noticing every bad detail. I wonder, this was published in 2011. It is now 2022. 11 years later. Why has no one in those 11 years said to the author or publisher, 'hey, maybe you should fix these mistakes'.
At some point, the book gets boring. At page 270 there still isn't any action. Just boy drama, the same 'I'm not supernatural' drama and friends drama. Even her seeing the ghost got boring.
Maybe I'm just reaching here for bad things to say, but I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character's breatst are mentioned as much as this book. Every scene with a boy, the main character thinks about her breasts or has a boy staring at them. It got very annoying.
Around page 300 there was finally some mystery. And I couldn't. Care. Less.
The way the stuff with the animals was solved was very underwhelming. You have this slow build up and then it just gets revealed and the guilty person just gives themselves up.
The reveal at the ending about the ghost... okay, I didn't see that coming, and I thought it was interesting. It almost made me want to continue this series. Almost. I read the sneak peak at the end of the book, but no... the few things I'm curious about, I'll look up the answers on the internet. I'm not going to continue this series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism
One time someone uses the ableist 'r word/slur' casually in a sentence.
Actually I was expecting pretty trashy YA paranormal, but I really enjoyed this book. It moved quickly and I liked the summer camp setting (especially after my hangover from reading Camp). I really liked the different mythology surrounding the supernatural beings in Shadow Falls and I liked most of the characters themselves. The main character was a bit annoying because her denial dragged on for a while, however the pacing was still good. There was a love triangle (which is super annoying) however I myself actually had trouble picking a side. Other than some annoyances, a truly fun book. It is light-hearted and quick/easy and just something to read when you want nothing serious.
I don’t know how it happened but somehow I just learned about the ‘Shadow Falls’ series two weeks ago. I was shopping in Amsterdam in the ABC shop and came across this book by C.C. Hunter and it sounded great. So I bought two of her books and started reading the first book in this series ‘Born At Midnight’ this morning. I’m still shocked that I didn’t find out about this series earlier, because I really really really loved this series. I finished the first book in only a couple of hours because I just couldn’t put it down.
‘Born at Midnight’ is the story about Kylie. Kylie is a sixteen year old girl who’s live is about to change forever. Not only did her boyfriend just dump her, her grandma died, her parents are getting a divorce, she is being stalked by an army dude and Kylie finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people at the wrong time. And to makes things even worse, Kylie’s mom decides to ship her off to a ‘Shadow Falls’ a camp for troubled teens. Hurt for being send away and still trying to deal with her parents’ divorce Kylie is determined to get go back home soon. Especially when she finds out that ‘Shadow Falls’ isn’t an normal camp. Everyone in this camp is Supernatural and they think Kylie is one of them.
Ever since I started in ‘Born at Midnight’ this morning I was completely hooked. I love the story about Kylie and the Supernatural things going on. Off course I also love Lucas and Derek and I just couldn’t get enough of this story. This series is definitely one of my new addictions. Thank god I have the second book waiting for me.
I give this book five stars.
‘Born at Midnight’ is the story about Kylie. Kylie is a sixteen year old girl who’s live is about to change forever. Not only did her boyfriend just dump her, her grandma died, her parents are getting a divorce, she is being stalked by an army dude and Kylie finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people at the wrong time. And to makes things even worse, Kylie’s mom decides to ship her off to a ‘Shadow Falls’ a camp for troubled teens. Hurt for being send away and still trying to deal with her parents’ divorce Kylie is determined to get go back home soon. Especially when she finds out that ‘Shadow Falls’ isn’t an normal camp. Everyone in this camp is Supernatural and they think Kylie is one of them.
Ever since I started in ‘Born at Midnight’ this morning I was completely hooked. I love the story about Kylie and the Supernatural things going on. Off course I also love Lucas and Derek and I just couldn’t get enough of this story. This series is definitely one of my new addictions. Thank god I have the second book waiting for me.
I give this book five stars.
This book, although it was okay, the writing was fine. i found that sometimes it would build up to a certain moment and i’d be disappointed. it wasn’t anything spectacular so yeah a 3 stars