Scan barcode
morebookspleaseblog's review
5.0
I'm not even sure where to begin! I cannot believe I put this book off for so long! I kept putting this off because I didn't want it to end! Oh, cue the anxiety!
Queen Veronica was ill and Kenna made the decision to stay in Doon at the end of "Destined for Doon". Addie, the witch, is still at it, but she has help... and a disguise. She's extremely close to getting her magic back and taking the throne! Meanwhile, Kenna and Veronica keep popping in and out of Doon unexpectantly! One minute they're in Doon, the next minute they're in modern day America. I think I panicked more than they did... I can't take this! LOL
Enter my favorite scene! Prince Jamie leaves Doon for the first time! Talk about a kid in a candy shop. It was sweet, funny, and I glad it made the cut. But while Queen Veronica, Kenna, Prince Duncan, and Prince Jamie spend a few days trying to get back to Doon and lead the lives of normal teenagers in the meanwhile... Addie has been at work. Can the four get back to Doon in time to stop her before it's too late?
While the book delivered on the mystery, the betrayal, and the humor... it made you think about what will you stand up and fight for. I will admit, I was pretty sure this was the last book in the series, but thank God it's not! I need to know what happens next and I can't wait to find out!
Queen Veronica was ill and Kenna made the decision to stay in Doon at the end of "Destined for Doon". Addie, the witch, is still at it, but she has help... and a disguise. She's extremely close to getting her magic back and taking the throne! Meanwhile, Kenna and Veronica keep popping in and out of Doon unexpectantly! One minute they're in Doon, the next minute they're in modern day America. I think I panicked more than they did... I can't take this! LOL
Enter my favorite scene! Prince Jamie leaves Doon for the first time! Talk about a kid in a candy shop. It was sweet, funny, and I glad it made the cut. But while Queen Veronica, Kenna, Prince Duncan, and Prince Jamie spend a few days trying to get back to Doon and lead the lives of normal teenagers in the meanwhile... Addie has been at work. Can the four get back to Doon in time to stop her before it's too late?
While the book delivered on the mystery, the betrayal, and the humor... it made you think about what will you stand up and fight for. I will admit, I was pretty sure this was the last book in the series, but thank God it's not! I need to know what happens next and I can't wait to find out!
always13lwwy's review against another edition
5.0
I DONT WANNA TALK ABOUT IT. My heart is broken that ending murdered me. But it was soooooo gooooddddd!! What is this?!?
katerimarie1's review
3.0
I thought that was the last book.
Which made me a little more than disappointed when the Epilogue ended in a cliff hanger....
Would totally recommend this entire series though! It's quite good!
brijeanson's review against another edition
3.0
Laughing at myself because this fictional villain scares me so much I get nightmares, I’m impressed
kathrynelise8's review against another edition
5.0
MY HEART.
GUYS.
GUYS.
I laughed.
I cried.
I cried a little more.
I NEED FOREVER DOON NOW I DONT KNOW HOW I CAN WAIT. I LOVE THIS SERIES WITH ALL OF MY HEART.
GUYS.
GUYS.
I laughed.
I cried.
I cried a little more.
I NEED FOREVER DOON NOW I DONT KNOW HOW I CAN WAIT. I LOVE THIS SERIES WITH ALL OF MY HEART.
silverwing's review against another edition
1.0
[1.5 stars]
I don't know if my tastes have changed in the last year, or if this book was just bad compared to the previous ones, but I really really really did not like this book. It's a bit of a shame because I remember really enjoying the first two in the series, but this one was a huge letdown. I feel like nothing really happened. It was essentially the same scenario over and over and over again. I do not care about any of the characters. None of them. They're all whiney and unoriginal and blah. Everything just felt forced, cliche and predictable.
I don't think I will be reading the last book in this series. If I could return this and get my £1.99 back from Amazon I wouldn't even hesitate.
I don't know if my tastes have changed in the last year, or if this book was just bad compared to the previous ones, but I really really really did not like this book. It's a bit of a shame because I remember really enjoying the first two in the series, but this one was a huge letdown. I feel like nothing really happened. It was essentially the same scenario over and over and over again. I do not care about any of the characters. None of them. They're all whiney and unoriginal and blah. Everything just felt forced, cliche and predictable.
I don't think I will be reading the last book in this series. If I could return this and get my £1.99 back from Amazon I wouldn't even hesitate.
rjlee89's review against another edition
4.0
Ah, I realized that one of the factors that I had missed in the second book of this series was the banter between Duncan and MacKenna. It wasn't the same here as in the first book (where I multiple times laughed so hard I cried, but some remnants were there). Without giving away anything, I fell for the red herring! I was suspicious of who the author wanted me to be suspicious until near the end when I started thinking, wait a minute. There were several satisfying scenes in the real world. Especially when the guys show up, and the hilarious mall scenes. Oh, and can't forget the epic Bob the Slob showdown. Steph and Eric's was alright. Bob's was more satisfying :X. Well done. And now, while I look forward to the next book, I'm dragging my feet since it'll also be the last one!
ashleym10148's review against another edition
3.0
So far this is my least favorite book in the series. I feel like it was mostly set up for the events that are gonna happen in the fourth and final book. This book had a lot of boring and unnecessary scenes in it. All of the interesting things happened within the last 50 or so pages. There was a plot twist in this book that I didn't see coming and I am really interested in how everything is going to conclude. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.
kathrinenikki's review against another edition
4.0
Whenever I read this series it always leaves me feeling so happy. I love these books so much but why must they always end in cliff hangers? I have to wait a whole year for the next one! I cannot wait for it!!!
charitytinnin's review against another edition
5.0
ALL THE STARS.
ALL THE STARS ALWAYS!
First Read (August 25-31, 2015): First off, SQUEE!!!!!! *fangirls around room, bursting with feels* That's right; I'm a 30-something who is literally fangirling about this book. Really. I'm not kidding.
Because Shades of Doon is EVERYTHING it's supposed to be as the next in the Doon Series. Everything.
Corp and Langdon continue to deliver two princes who make you want to swoon. *waves at Jamie and Duncan* The MacCrae brothers aren't perfect, but they're pretty darn close. And though I've been solidly Team Jamie for most of the series, I found myself switching sides during this book depending on what chapter I was reading. My heart continually flip-flopped OTPs throughout -- which is a sign of two organic characters who both refuse to take a backseat to the other. Two-thirds of the way in, I gave up trying to pick a favorite and declared myself Team MacCrae on Twitter.
I also loved that not only did we see Veronica and Mackenna grow individually (settling doubts/weaknesses that have plagued them from the beginning, which allowed me to quit big sister fussing at them in the margins), but we also saw the fruit of Jamie and Duncan's changes in the first two books AND each couple grew stronger as well. No needless relational angst here! It was refreshing to watch our beloved group become stronger individually and as a unit while externally things were falling apart.
And speaking of things falling apart externally, sometimes late in a series things can start to feel repetitive or needlessly drawn out. (You know what I mean). Well, let me reassure you: that does NOT happen in this book. Our authors change up the paradigm of the whole series in a believable way that renews our stakes, keeps things fresh, and makes Addie so much scarier. To use a Steven James' term, they give us something "unpredictable yet inevitable," something that had me writing "Brilliant!" in the margins of my ARC.
Add the above to a witty humor that feels natural yet keeps things from getting too dark for the fantastical world; musical/book/song references that spring organically out of Veronica and Mackenna's heads; and secondary characters with their own motivations, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses, and you'd have a great addition to the series.
However, what I think is Shades's (and the Doon Series's) strongest point is the friendship between Veronica and Mackenna. These best friends couldn't be more different in some ways yet they genuinely have each other's back. The girls support and encourage each other AND challenge, disagree with, and balance the other when it's most important. And their relationship trumps their individual romances in a refreshing way. This is the kind of healthy female friendship we don't see enough of in YA, and I love everything about our girls and their BFF-ness.
Oh, and those OTP thoughts from above? When I finished the last page, I was firmly back on Team Jamie. Dude, was I ever ... And speaking of that last page, HOW QUICKLY CAN WE GET BOOK FOUR?! Because I needs it. Like yesterday.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are entirely my own. My review would be the same if I were reviewing the final copy I bought with my own hard earned money.
ALL THE STARS ALWAYS!
First Read (August 25-31, 2015): First off, SQUEE!!!!!! *fangirls around room, bursting with feels* That's right; I'm a 30-something who is literally fangirling about this book. Really. I'm not kidding.
Because Shades of Doon is EVERYTHING it's supposed to be as the next in the Doon Series. Everything.
Corp and Langdon continue to deliver two princes who make you want to swoon. *waves at Jamie and Duncan* The MacCrae brothers aren't perfect, but they're pretty darn close. And though I've been solidly Team Jamie for most of the series, I found myself switching sides during this book depending on what chapter I was reading. My heart continually flip-flopped OTPs throughout -- which is a sign of two organic characters who both refuse to take a backseat to the other. Two-thirds of the way in, I gave up trying to pick a favorite and declared myself Team MacCrae on Twitter.
I also loved that not only did we see Veronica and Mackenna grow individually (settling doubts/weaknesses that have plagued them from the beginning, which allowed me to quit big sister fussing at them in the margins), but we also saw the fruit of Jamie and Duncan's changes in the first two books AND each couple grew stronger as well. No needless relational angst here! It was refreshing to watch our beloved group become stronger individually and as a unit while externally things were falling apart.
And speaking of things falling apart externally, sometimes late in a series things can start to feel repetitive or needlessly drawn out. (You know what I mean). Well, let me reassure you: that does NOT happen in this book. Our authors change up the paradigm of the whole series in a believable way that renews our stakes, keeps things fresh, and makes Addie so much scarier. To use a Steven James' term, they give us something "unpredictable yet inevitable," something that had me writing "Brilliant!" in the margins of my ARC.
Add the above to a witty humor that feels natural yet keeps things from getting too dark for the fantastical world; musical/book/song references that spring organically out of Veronica and Mackenna's heads; and secondary characters with their own motivations, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses, and you'd have a great addition to the series.
However, what I think is Shades's (and the Doon Series's) strongest point is the friendship between Veronica and Mackenna. These best friends couldn't be more different in some ways yet they genuinely have each other's back. The girls support and encourage each other AND challenge, disagree with, and balance the other when it's most important. And their relationship trumps their individual romances in a refreshing way. This is the kind of healthy female friendship we don't see enough of in YA, and I love everything about our girls and their BFF-ness.
Oh, and those OTP thoughts from above? When I finished the last page, I was firmly back on Team Jamie. Dude, was I ever ...
Spoiler
because that azure ribbon, you guys, that ribbon!Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are entirely my own. My review would be the same if I were reviewing the final copy I bought with my own hard earned money.