Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
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
This book had some good parts and some less good parts. The main thing that this book did well was showing Abbey's grieving process for Kristen. It felt believable and seeing how much Abbey was hurting made me feel for her. The quote on the cover of my copy says "A love like no other. . .", and I know that's supposed to be referring to Abbey and Caspian, but I feel like it fits better with the platonic love between Abbey and Kristen. In fact, Kristen felt like more of a character than Caspian, even though she was dead the whole book. Well, Caspian was dead too, but still. Speaking of Caspian, I didn't really like his and Abbey's relationship much. It felt too perfect and like she fell in love too fast. He just felt kind of flat and underdeveloped. I also totally saw the twist coming. The ending was actually a little underwhelming. I wish the book had leaned more into Abbey as a potentially unreliable narrator. This book did have some really cool gothic feeling moments though, like when Abbey was in the black ballgown in the river. That was a really well written scene.
Even though I've never read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I've heard a lot of good reviews about this series and have wanted to read it for a while. So when my friend lent it to me, I started to read it almost immediately. Whilst I found it hooking and found myself reading late into the night, after I finished it I found myself really disappointed.
So the background story to the plot itself, I loved. I thought the idea of basing a modern novel around the American Legend was brilliant on Verday's part, and I haven't seen anything else like it. But the plot itself? I didn't like that so much. The beginning was really good, and I found myself unable to put it down, wanting Abbey to learn more about her best friend's death so in turn, I would too. But that didn't happen, exactly, which was where it's downfall began. If I had read this when it had first came out and there had only been one installment, then I'd definitely give this book a one-star rating; even books in a series need to have that finality to the end of that particular novel, but this did not. Most of me did keeping reading this because all the way through it, I kept thinking, Okay so I'm sure that pretty soon something interesting will happen. And it did - literally within the last 100 pages, if that. It all kicked off, and if that had happened earlier, then this novel would have been brilliant. But too little, too late.
Even with the characters, I wasn't completely sure I loved them or hated them. At first, I liked Abbey and Caspian, but as the book wore on, I found them gullible, irritating and just unrealistic. Abbey seemed to break into tears every five seconds, and Caspian would definitely win the award for Sending The Most Mixed Signals. But I still couldn't completely make up my mind, because I kept on reading because I wanted to find out what would happen to the pair. And to be honest, it kind of lead to nothing - and I know there are more books to come (which I will read, despite this bad review) but it still didn't give me any closure.
However, despite all my complaints, I did keep on reading because there just is something about this series that kept me going. I don't know whether it's because half of the mysteries are still unsolved, or just because it is nice to read a book every one in a while that doesn't involve thinking (to a certain extent, anyway).
So overall, I think if you like ghost stories and books based around older novels, then you should definitely read this. If you like Sarah Dessen novels but also like your reads a bit more paranormal, then I think this would be up your street for sure.
So the background story to the plot itself, I loved. I thought the idea of basing a modern novel around the American Legend was brilliant on Verday's part, and I haven't seen anything else like it. But the plot itself? I didn't like that so much. The beginning was really good, and I found myself unable to put it down, wanting Abbey to learn more about her best friend's death so in turn, I would too. But that didn't happen, exactly, which was where it's downfall began. If I had read this when it had first came out and there had only been one installment, then I'd definitely give this book a one-star rating; even books in a series need to have that finality to the end of that particular novel, but this did not. Most of me did keeping reading this because all the way through it, I kept thinking, Okay so I'm sure that pretty soon something interesting will happen. And it did - literally within the last 100 pages, if that. It all kicked off, and if that had happened earlier, then this novel would have been brilliant. But too little, too late.
Even with the characters, I wasn't completely sure I loved them or hated them. At first, I liked Abbey and Caspian, but as the book wore on, I found them gullible, irritating and just unrealistic. Abbey seemed to break into tears every five seconds, and Caspian would definitely win the award for Sending The Most Mixed Signals. But I still couldn't completely make up my mind, because I kept on reading because I wanted to find out what would happen to the pair. And to be honest, it kind of lead to nothing - and I know there are more books to come (which I will read, despite this bad review) but it still didn't give me any closure.
However, despite all my complaints, I did keep on reading because there just is something about this series that kept me going. I don't know whether it's because half of the mysteries are still unsolved, or just because it is nice to read a book every one in a while that doesn't involve thinking (to a certain extent, anyway).
So overall, I think if you like ghost stories and books based around older novels, then you should definitely read this. If you like Sarah Dessen novels but also like your reads a bit more paranormal, then I think this would be up your street for sure.
Hm, was soll ich sagen? Also das Buch ist an sich gut zu lesen es passiert nur einfach wirklich nicht viel. Hauptsächlich geht es um Abbeys Verlust ihrer besten Freundin und ihre Nicht-wirklich-Beziehung zu Caspian, den sie bei Kristens Beerdigung kennenlernt. Sie liebt ihn zwar aber er zieht sich immer zurück ist etwas merkwürdig im einen Moment und im nächsten wieder unheimlich süß. Bis zu den letzten 20 Seiten oder so passiert wirklich fast nichts es wird eben einfach Abbeys Leben beschrieben das in relativ gleichen Abläufen vor sich hin zieht.
Das Ende ist dann irgendwie fast vorhersehbar und nicht wirklich befriedigend...
Also ganz nett zu lesen aber naja es fehlt das gewisse etwas das einem beim lesen in seinen Bann ziehen sollte.
Daher meiner Meinung nach leider eher mittelmäßig zu bewerten...
Das Ende ist dann irgendwie fast vorhersehbar und nicht wirklich befriedigend...
Also ganz nett zu lesen aber naja es fehlt das gewisse etwas das einem beim lesen in seinen Bann ziehen sollte.
Daher meiner Meinung nach leider eher mittelmäßig zu bewerten...
The style of writing i loved. The descriptions and the plot were great. The way that we were in Abbey's head follow her life process. It was very relatable and i enjoyed getting to know her. I never pitied her situation i instead found myself root for her and for things to get better. I loved that she had such a passion for making perfumes. i will say that the end was completely unexpected and it ended up changing my entire perspective on the story. Verday did i great job with that twist however i am on the fence about whether i like it or not. I am still deciding if i want to read the next book in the series or stop here.
Super slow burn. I bought this discounted at a bookstore. It was a good read but it was slow to grt into for me. The ending is what has me wanting to read book two.
This book took me awhile to get into. But the last few chapters were gripping. It really threw me for a loop. I am pretty excited about the next book.
48 pages in... and nothing has happened.. and I hate the writing... and it's boring? And it's 500 pages and part of a trilogy? No thanks, back to the library you go!
Wow I really loved this book, it was really good and I loved the main character. The plot could be annoying sometimes but over all I think it was a really good book. I need the next one NOW!!
SECOND READ: super cheesy but I LOVE IT OKAY??
FIRST READ: okay, i fucking loved this book. i loved the way verday slowly built up to the climax, leaving us little hints and clues as to what would happen in the future. i also loved the ending, which talked about the red hair (total foreshadowing).
FIRST READ: okay, i fucking loved this book. i loved the way verday slowly built up to the climax, leaving us little hints and clues as to what would happen in the future. i also loved the ending, which talked about the red hair (total foreshadowing).
A good read. But it could've been so much better. The story had a lot of potential which wasn't tapped. Hopefully the other 2 parts of this trilogy will compensate for that.