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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
3 1/2 for storyline 2 for editing or lack there of. Get an editor. Seriously. You are ruining your reputation by not having one. Contact me, I wil edit the next one, on the house. Seriously.
I won't lie. This part of the series didn't keep me as entertained as the others. I know none of these books are realistic at all but this ones story line just wasn't exactly my fave.
Awesome book...again! When are we going to get to know Kevin? The disconnect from him is stating to annoy me! Lol!
Although this all started out because Corey, in actuality Corey (or any of the boys) was hardly in the book. Then when Corey was brought up to date, it took him very little effort to solved the problem. Which make me wonder, if Kayli and the boys have told Corey the whole truth from the beginning, perhaps less people would be injured, kidnapped, and Kayli weren't need to spend the entire book running around in circle.
Normally I love how long the book of the series were, however since Fake has focused entirely on the mystery solving, which could've been an interesting story, except I've thought it was overloaded with unessential information, which made this book seem long and dull. To be honest, I couldn't quite connect with the story, and didn't particularly enjoyed this book as much as the previous two. In the end, I thought Fake pretty much has a repeating theme as Thief, where Kayli running around trying to solve the mystery and saving the academy boys. She also brought back Blake, and honestly that was the better part of the book.
This book has left me with many questions, like how did the bad guys managed to break into the apartment, snatched two people without anyone notice and got away with it. And why didn't the academy boys worked as a team when Kayli escaped. I thought their reasons seem weak and illogical to me, and it goes against everything the Academy supposedly stands for, to always work as a team.
In a way Kayli seem to have an incredible good luck, as well as more resourceful than the academy boys. After escaping from her kidnappers, Kayli have managed to find a cab driver that happened to be one of her old classmate, whom helped Kayli unconditionally throughout the book. While in the most part of the book, the academy boys didn't do much to help at all. Which bring me to another question, in Fake, the boys seem lost, unorganized and was frankly a disappointment. Rather focus more on the boys, the book has introduced a new character (Kayli's old classmate), and brought back Blake and his tech guy, whom by the way showed more character than the boys in Fake. Whatever happened to the Academy boys that I love to read about? And how on earth did the bad guys managed to get away with roomful of Academy's people? I have no clue.
At book number three of the series, I am still unsure about Kayli, she is flaky, contradicted, and plain annoying. Once again she spend the entire book undecided what she should do with the boys. Sure, she'll trust Blake, but when it comes to to the boys, she'll question everything. Which was pretty much the same thing she did in the last book, so nothing changed.
Overall, I didn't think the series advance much if at all after this book, there were no major story progress, and the lack of character and relationship building were a major setback. I also failed to see how the events took place in this book connect to the series as a whole. I was mostly disappointed to see there were very little interactions between Kayli and the academy boys. I thought this book was lacking the most important element of the series, the academy boys.
Base on Thief and Fake, I feel The Scarab Beetle series are focus more solely on Kayli, where the academy boys seem to fade into the background. At this point I am still undecided how I feel about the series, I might read the next book, only because I want to read more about the boys. But I am hoping to see a better balance on the actions, and the character buildings in the next book of the series.
Happy Reading!! XO
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
2015
I still like the Ghost Bird series better. Kayli is a lot more mature than Sang, but Sang just seems more relatable. However, the grammar mistakes are starting to get to me. I'm not sure if I'll continue with this particular series...
I still like the Ghost Bird series better. Kayli is a lot more mature than Sang, but Sang just seems more relatable. However, the grammar mistakes are starting to get to me. I'm not sure if I'll continue with this particular series...
" I was pouting, but I couldn't help it."
"My heart fluttered"
" Did I ever even really know my brother?"
"I swallowed down my angry impulse to hit him"
It was idiotic inner monologue such as this that makes me ask myself why the hell I keep reading this series. But if anything can be said of Stone its that she knows how to catch the readers attention just enough to keep them going with the story. Let me start by saying that there is very little that I like about this book or any in the series. If I had to come up with one redeeming feature I'd have to say Raven. I absolutely loved his character and think he deserves far better than Kayli. But since I loved him so much from his first introduction, I've stuck it out with this series so I can read more of Raven. As far as Marc, Axel Corey and Brandon go I could care less about any of them. Nothing is interesting about them what so ever. They all seem rather 2 dimensional lacking any actual depth. And Blake... I really don't understand the attraction and Kayli's reasoning for trusting this character over the Academy boys. Sure be distrusting of ALL OF THEM, but to take Blake's word and some photos as ironclad proof that the Academy is "evil?" Come on.
Kayli is one of the most if not the most unlikable heroine (and I use this term loosely) that I have ever read. Selfish, entitled, and irrationally angry she whines constantly in an attempt to be "cute." You would think coming from the abusive background she wouldn't act like such a spoiled brat all the time expecting everything, and giving nothing while vowing independence. She wants honesty but lies at every turn and demands transparency but is nothing but secrets. At least the Ghost Bird Series, Sang was somewhat likable. Kayli on the other hand is barely tolerable. And what's with the hitting all the time? This might be the first time that I was wishing and gleefully anticipating a protagonist getting beaten, kidnapped, or tortured-it didn't really matter as long as someone at some point smashed her face. I don't find it a sign of strength of character that she hits and punches all the guys. I really really wanted someone to just punch her in the face JUST ONE TIME. But...sadly.. it was not be so. And so I keep trudging along through this series in the hopes that a bad guy will eventually bloodly up our little spitfire Kayli and that we'll get a book of just Raven.
Now...on to the writing itself. The plot was okay...not particularly exciting or believable but I will say that I have read worse. I don't understand the purpose of introducing Avery to the storyline unless he turns out to be more than he seems in the end. Although, that much forethought might be giving Stone too much credit. We shall see. The world building was lacking...for the most part I felt that I had a vague sense of where the characters were in each scene. Though, I will say that I thought the observatory was well done. I think that Alice should have been tougher than she was portrayed. You don't have that type of coldness in your gaze unless you are highly capable of doing damage to an opponent and completely at ease doing so.
Pros of the Series:
Raven, Fancy and Doyle...that's it.
In my reading experience, the reverse harem genre is particularly tricky to do well. Some are good and some aren't. This one I think falls into the latter category. If your looking for a good reverse harem story I suggest trying the Kit Davenport Series. Likable heroine hot sexy guys decent plot...what's not to like? If you prefer your stories a little dark and a lot humorous, give Four Psychos a try...You'll be glad that you did.
To sum it up... I hate Kayli and I doubt that I'm alone...
"My heart fluttered"
" Did I ever even really know my brother?"
"I swallowed down my angry impulse to hit him"
It was idiotic inner monologue such as this that makes me ask myself why the hell I keep reading this series. But if anything can be said of Stone its that she knows how to catch the readers attention just enough to keep them going with the story. Let me start by saying that there is very little that I like about this book or any in the series. If I had to come up with one redeeming feature I'd have to say Raven. I absolutely loved his character and think he deserves far better than Kayli. But since I loved him so much from his first introduction, I've stuck it out with this series so I can read more of Raven. As far as Marc, Axel Corey and Brandon go I could care less about any of them. Nothing is interesting about them what so ever. They all seem rather 2 dimensional lacking any actual depth. And Blake... I really don't understand the attraction and Kayli's reasoning for trusting this character over the Academy boys. Sure be distrusting of ALL OF THEM, but to take Blake's word and some photos as ironclad proof that the Academy is "evil?" Come on.
Kayli is one of the most if not the most unlikable heroine (and I use this term loosely) that I have ever read. Selfish, entitled, and irrationally angry she whines constantly in an attempt to be "cute." You would think coming from the abusive background she wouldn't act like such a spoiled brat all the time expecting everything, and giving nothing while vowing independence. She wants honesty but lies at every turn and demands transparency but is nothing but secrets. At least the Ghost Bird Series, Sang was somewhat likable. Kayli on the other hand is barely tolerable. And what's with the hitting all the time? This might be the first time that I was wishing and gleefully anticipating a protagonist getting beaten, kidnapped, or tortured-it didn't really matter as long as someone at some point smashed her face. I don't find it a sign of strength of character that she hits and punches all the guys. I really really wanted someone to just punch her in the face JUST ONE TIME. But...sadly.. it was not be so. And so I keep trudging along through this series in the hopes that a bad guy will eventually bloodly up our little spitfire Kayli and that we'll get a book of just Raven.
Now...on to the writing itself. The plot was okay...not particularly exciting or believable but I will say that I have read worse. I don't understand the purpose of introducing Avery to the storyline unless he turns out to be more than he seems in the end. Although, that much forethought might be giving Stone too much credit. We shall see. The world building was lacking...for the most part I felt that I had a vague sense of where the characters were in each scene. Though, I will say that I thought the observatory was well done. I think that Alice should have been tougher than she was portrayed. You don't have that type of coldness in your gaze unless you are highly capable of doing damage to an opponent and completely at ease doing so.
Pros of the Series:
Raven, Fancy and Doyle...that's it.
In my reading experience, the reverse harem genre is particularly tricky to do well. Some are good and some aren't. This one I think falls into the latter category. If your looking for a good reverse harem story I suggest trying the Kit Davenport Series. Likable heroine hot sexy guys decent plot...what's not to like? If you prefer your stories a little dark and a lot humorous, give Four Psychos a try...You'll be glad that you did.
To sum it up... I hate Kayli and I doubt that I'm alone...
ARC!
The third book in the series begins with Kayli trying her hardest to bury all of her feelings for all of the guys, and for being worried about her brother. They still haven't found him, and are unsure of what is going to happen next. But Kayli may have more problems then she knows what to deal with especially when she may have to save the guys, but do something that could hurt them later on.
This book kind of frustrated me. In some ways it felt like a repeat of the last book all over again. I'm getting a little bit frustrated with Kayli not mentioning her real feelings to anyone. She's a grown woman, who is open enough with her affection, but not her feelings. It's starting to make her look bad in my eyes. Other then that I did enjoy the book though. But I do hope the next one is better, and has more story to it, and not the same repeated issues.
The third book in the series begins with Kayli trying her hardest to bury all of her feelings for all of the guys, and for being worried about her brother. They still haven't found him, and are unsure of what is going to happen next. But Kayli may have more problems then she knows what to deal with especially when she may have to save the guys, but do something that could hurt them later on.
This book kind of frustrated me. In some ways it felt like a repeat of the last book all over again. I'm getting a little bit frustrated with Kayli not mentioning her real feelings to anyone. She's a grown woman, who is open enough with her affection, but not her feelings. It's starting to make her look bad in my eyes. Other then that I did enjoy the book though. But I do hope the next one is better, and has more story to it, and not the same repeated issues.
