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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
First my thoughts on the series itself so far:
This is the next YA series to skyrocket down the the accelerated publishing path of the Internet age (self-publish debut novel --> initiate frenzied fanbase --> gain publi$her's attention --> achieve widespread distribution --> increase fan frenzy to fever pitch -->achieve $ilver $creen movie deal --> initiate passionate casting speculation --> repeat for much anticipated sequels).
There's nothing wrong with this path (in fact, it seems to be serving debut novelists well) but at some point it starts to feel like a formula is at work. There are entire plot devices that seem lifted directly from other widely-read fantasy/fanfic works and stitched together, such as (very mild spoilers):
• A post-apocalyptic setting shaped by enormous, uncontrollable forces (Hunger Games, The Age of Miracles)
• The slightly creepy matching of a young teen girl and a really old immortal (Twilight)
• A helpless, innocent and emotionally capable younger sister (Hunger Games)
• An off-the-rails mother whose personal madness starts to make sense in a new chaotic world (The Age of Miracles)
• The self-sufficient teen girl who carries the weight of her family through personal determination and special skills gained pre-crisis (Hunger Games)
• A reluctant hero, motivated chiefly by personal concerns (Hunger Games)
• A reluctant love interest, worried his/her very nature is a danger to loved ones (Twilight, Beautiful Creatures)
• An inanimate object with special powers and "memories," elaborated upon mostly in the second book (Beautiful Creatures)
• Allusions to a resistance movement and reflection on the ethical costs of survival (Hunger Games)
• Unrealistically confined setting, with main players conveniently sticking around a small geographic area even though there's a supposedly international battle going on (Beautiful Creatures, Harry Potter to some extent)
• Epic battles arising from elite species politics that seem kind of petty (Twilight)
• Creative adaptation of existing mythical lore (Harry Potter, Twilight)
• Star-crossed love, or more specifically, extreme societal taboo surrounding the potential romantic union (Fifty Shades, Twilight, Beautiful Creatures, not to mention pretty much every pulp romance from Romeo and Juliet on)
Despite the fact that recognizing these franken-elements occasionally pulled me out of the plot, the resulting story still feels unique and modern, probably because of what it's lacking:
• A simpering, helpless protagonist with no interests outside a love/marriage/babies (Twilight, Fifty Shades)
• A male love interest whose chauvinistic, control freaky ways are inexplicably excused due to other-worldly beauty and charm (Twilight, Fifty Shades)
• A forced and predictable love triangle, at least so far... (Twilight, Hunger Games)
... and because of what it does have at its core, which I adore:
• A kick-ass, smart-ass, independent female character who can and does fend for herself in a believable way
So anyway, while I gave Angelfall 4 stars (beginnings are so exciting!), this book, which suffers from being a "middle" chapter, with no beginning, no end, and lots of inane details and running around, gets a 3 from me. The series overall is not as epic as Hunger Games, but that set is probably its closest kin in all the best ways, as I alluded to above. And while it's tinged with a little too much Twilighty awe of immortal beauty for my taste, it does have just enough forbidden love heart-aflutter stuff to keep things interesting, in a PG13 kind of way. I'll certainly follow along as Ee completes the series, and hope they don't mess up the film version too much (but oh my goodness, how can they possibly turn this into a decent film that doesn't cost 8 billion dollars and look totally hokey?)
This is the next YA series to skyrocket down the the accelerated publishing path of the Internet age (self-publish debut novel --> initiate frenzied fanbase --> gain publi$her's attention --> achieve widespread distribution --> increase fan frenzy to fever pitch -->
There's nothing wrong with this path (in fact, it seems to be serving debut novelists well) but at some point it starts to feel like a formula is at work. There are entire plot devices that seem lifted directly from other widely-read fantasy/fanfic works and stitched together, such as (very mild spoilers):
Spoiler
• A post-apocalyptic setting shaped by enormous, uncontrollable forces (Hunger Games, The Age of Miracles)
• The slightly creepy matching of a young teen girl and a really old immortal (Twilight)
• A helpless, innocent and emotionally capable younger sister (Hunger Games)
• An off-the-rails mother whose personal madness starts to make sense in a new chaotic world (The Age of Miracles)
• The self-sufficient teen girl who carries the weight of her family through personal determination and special skills gained pre-crisis (Hunger Games)
• A reluctant hero, motivated chiefly by personal concerns (Hunger Games)
• A reluctant love interest, worried his/her very nature is a danger to loved ones (Twilight, Beautiful Creatures)
• An inanimate object with special powers and "memories," elaborated upon mostly in the second book (Beautiful Creatures)
• Allusions to a resistance movement and reflection on the ethical costs of survival (Hunger Games)
• Unrealistically confined setting, with main players conveniently sticking around a small geographic area even though there's a supposedly international battle going on (Beautiful Creatures, Harry Potter to some extent)
• Epic battles arising from elite species politics that seem kind of petty (Twilight)
• Creative adaptation of existing mythical lore (Harry Potter, Twilight)
• Star-crossed love, or more specifically, extreme societal taboo surrounding the potential romantic union (Fifty Shades, Twilight, Beautiful Creatures, not to mention pretty much every pulp romance from Romeo and Juliet on)
Despite the fact that recognizing these franken-elements occasionally pulled me out of the plot, the resulting story still feels unique and modern, probably because of what it's lacking:
• A simpering, helpless protagonist with no interests outside a love/marriage/babies (Twilight, Fifty Shades)
• A male love interest whose chauvinistic, control freaky ways are inexplicably excused due to other-worldly beauty and charm (Twilight, Fifty Shades)
• A forced and predictable love triangle, at least so far... (Twilight, Hunger Games)
... and because of what it does have at its core, which I adore:
• A kick-ass, smart-ass, independent female character who can and does fend for herself in a believable way
So anyway, while I gave Angelfall 4 stars (beginnings are so exciting!), this book, which suffers from being a "middle" chapter, with no beginning, no end, and lots of inane details and running around, gets a 3 from me. The series overall is not as epic as Hunger Games, but that set is probably its closest kin in all the best ways, as I alluded to above. And while it's tinged with a little too much Twilighty awe of immortal beauty for my taste, it does have just enough forbidden love heart-aflutter stuff to keep things interesting, in a PG13 kind of way. I'll certainly follow along as Ee completes the series, and hope they don't mess up the film version too much (but oh my goodness, how can they possibly turn this into a decent film that doesn't cost 8 billion dollars and look totally hokey?)
No entiendo qué le pasó a este libro. Sí, el primero fue la cosa más cliché que puedas leer, pero era entretenido. Este fue decayendo a medida que pasaban las páginas.
Momentos repetitivos, sin sentido, una trama que no lleva a ninguna parte, un personaje que solo va de un lado a otro haciendo prácticamente lo mismo que hacía en el primer libro, pero perseguida por criaturas más raras.
De verdad espero que el tercer libro mejore, o intente llegar a lo que fue el primero.
Momentos repetitivos, sin sentido, una trama que no lleva a ninguna parte, un personaje que solo va de un lado a otro haciendo prácticamente lo mismo que hacía en el primer libro, pero perseguida por criaturas más raras.
De verdad espero que el tercer libro mejore, o intente llegar a lo que fue el primero.
I just love it, the story is interesting, the family dynamic is super interesting the world is created so well and of course the love interest/situation is not your typical ya fantasy love thing. It make me smile and laugh out loud. RECOMMEND
Most second books fall into the filler category to just move us along the third epic ending but I was pleasantly surprised!! Pace moved right along and actually held its own. Penryn is moving right on up on my list of badass girls!
Es un 3'5. Comparándolo con el anterior, en general, este es bastante mejor. Los errores de traducción han sido minimizados y corregidos, aunque aún hay algunos, se trata más bien de pequeños errores de coherencia y adecuación. La trama en sí disfruta de más acción y ritmo, y los personajes también se desarrollan más y mejor. Una segunda parte q cumple con su propósito, aunque la trilogía me ha decepcionado un poco ya que mis expectativas eran altísimas, terminaré con ella.
adventurous
fast-paced
I didn't like this nearly as much as the first book in the series. It just didn't feel very well written, and if the first book would have been likethis, I don't think I would have kept on with the series. Something about it just didn't work for me. It was still entertaining, so I'll give it 3 stars, and will read the last book, but I just think it was weak, and I hope the next one is better.
Hmmm. I seem to remember enjoying the first book in this series alot more. While Penryn's voice is still quite fun (tough and sassy and naive and self-doubting all wrapped up in adolescent angst of a crush on an unattainable guy) the adventures in this book just don't seem as organically sound as the ones before.
What with Belial and his minions, amorphous angel cadres, scorpions, etc, Penryn's world comes off as quite chaotic and dangerous-- and yet Penryn seems to run around no problem with her sword stuffed in a teddy bear. (Very cute way to hide the sword, but then, she somehow manages hand to hand combat with the sword-teddy bear somewhere on her person not getting in the way at all.)
Penryn's friends also conveniently seem to be easily found-- just when she's wondering how they are doing. I could forgive the accidental fly-over the Alcatraz rescue in the foggy bay, but when her friend Clara is found on the pier....I had to consciously suspend disbelief.
I'm a little saddened by my reaction, as I feel like Penryn and Raffe have a lot of potential, and I did really like the first book. If you liked the first book, I think my reaction probably is not the norm, and I think its worth picking up this one just to see what happens next to Penryn. Although, the ending kind of just peters out and definitely is setting you up to read the next one. I might not, but if you liked Angelfall, you'll probably want to keep on reading.
What with Belial and his minions, amorphous angel cadres, scorpions, etc, Penryn's world comes off as quite chaotic and dangerous-- and yet Penryn seems to run around no problem with her sword stuffed in a teddy bear. (Very cute way to hide the sword, but then, she somehow manages hand to hand combat with the sword-teddy bear somewhere on her person not getting in the way at all.)
Penryn's friends also conveniently seem to be easily found-- just when she's wondering how they are doing. I could forgive the accidental fly-over the Alcatraz rescue in the foggy bay, but when her friend Clara is found on the pier....I had to consciously suspend disbelief.
I'm a little saddened by my reaction, as I feel like Penryn and Raffe have a lot of potential, and I did really like the first book. If you liked the first book, I think my reaction probably is not the norm, and I think its worth picking up this one just to see what happens next to Penryn. Although, the ending kind of just peters out and definitely is setting you up to read the next one. I might not, but if you liked Angelfall, you'll probably want to keep on reading.
I didn't like this as much as the first book, though that said it still had me hooked, and it was hard to put down. I think one of the reasons was that she seemed to be padding it out with too much of what had gone on before. Yes if you hadn't read the first book you have to know the situation, but I felt too much of the book was doing that. Still want to know what happens to them in the future!
Looovvvveeed it. Amazing book. Everything about this series is great. From the beautiful writing of Susan Ee, to the different take on the apocalyptic world, to the perspective on Angels. Must read!!!