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grumpytrashpanda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Wow!
So much is happening in this book! Changes, this is what this book is about, changes. And a missing Corving, a magic doll-house, a woman who may or may not be able to see the future and so. much.stuff!
Zoe and Zara are going through a lot, particularly Zoe, with the news of her biological dad, a new job, and his little buddy missing. :(
I liked the multiple POVs, and this book really needed them, as there were things happening all the time, everywhere, to everybody. Did I already say that it is a lot going on here?
As always, you'll find here humour, suspense and good 'ol fun.
And as always, too, Tiffany Williams does a superb job narrating =D
So much is happening in this book! Changes, this is what this book is about, changes. And a missing Corving, a magic doll-house, a woman who may or may not be able to see the future and so. much.stuff!
Zoe and Zara are going through a lot, particularly Zoe, with the news of her biological dad, a new job, and his little buddy missing. :(
I liked the multiple POVs, and this book really needed them, as there were things happening all the time, everywhere, to everybody. Did I already say that it is a lot going on here?
As always, you'll find here humour, suspense and good 'ol fun.
And as always, too, Tiffany Williams does a superb job narrating =D
caitlynne's review
4.0
This book had some very welcome developments. I liked how the relationships and characters developed. Excited to see how the next one starts after that end. Truly didn't see that one coming.
jessielzimmer's review
2.0
I truly hate to say this, because I adore this world ... but this is by far the weakest in the series so far. Everything I love about these books feels like it's slowly being spread too thin and watered down. I noticed it started to shift for me when I read Zinnia's books. There was a lot of plot, but the characters and world wasn't nearly as vibrant as the books with Zara as the lead.
Unfortunately, for me, it's crept over to the Zara novels as well. There's very little interaction between Zara and Zoey, who are the heart and soul of the series for me. What's there (not unlike book 2 of this mini-series) feels shoved in as an afterthought, rather than a subplot of it's own that's given enough space to bloom. I noticed Zara was turning into something of an inattentive mom and it's only gotten worse. Zoe is going through a lot in this one, since it picked up days after meeting her biological father, starting a new job, perhaps having her first romance, and losing someone she loves dearly.
But none of this is given much page time, as the book is too busy switching POV between characters, and having Zara dwelling on her new crush, rather than focus on her daughter's needs. Zara's job, the biological dad, and anything else are basically thrown overboard for the romance and the main plot. It sucked so much richness and humor of the story, that I found, for a series that usually leaves me feeling full and joyful, I was left wanting instead.
The romance, which might of continued as a pleasant pace, now feels too fast and shallow after a plot twist thanks to Zara's mother. Now that Bentley is a vampire it's hard to believe whether their connection is real, or something pushed into overdrive by the plot. It felt *very forced*, and again, I can't tell if Zara truly loves him, or is under some kind of spell. There's also the loose thread that Zara's first love and baby daddy is back in town, yet for the cliffhanger of the last book, he has zero page time.
This novel felt like the author was trying really hard to cut the fat of the older novels, and make room for the new Zara. That's all well and good, but as someone who genuinely loves the Moores their sendoff was incredibly jarring and sad. Not in a, "Oh they're going off to bigger and better things, I'm so happy for them" bittersweet kind, but more like a, "Holy sh*t they're getting the axe because the author doesn't need them anymore". It felt harsh and disappointing after spending several books with this family.
I don't know if Ms. Pepper is simply churning books out too fast, or if something else is going on that's caused such a shift in her writing style. She's written 9 books in less than two and half years -- and that's JUST in the Wisteria series. I think she has two other series that are also on-going. I hope book 10 proves me wrong, but I'm concerned that my love for the Riddles may be running out of steam.
Unfortunately, for me, it's crept over to the Zara novels as well. There's very little interaction between Zara and Zoey, who are the heart and soul of the series for me. What's there (not unlike book 2 of this mini-series) feels shoved in as an afterthought, rather than a subplot of it's own that's given enough space to bloom. I noticed Zara was turning into something of an inattentive mom and it's only gotten worse. Zoe is going through a lot in this one, since it picked up days after meeting her biological father, starting a new job, perhaps having her first romance, and losing someone she loves dearly.
But none of this is given much page time, as the book is too busy switching POV between characters, and having Zara dwelling on her new crush, rather than focus on her daughter's needs. Zara's job, the biological dad, and anything else are basically thrown overboard for the romance and the main plot. It sucked so much richness and humor of the story, that I found, for a series that usually leaves me feeling full and joyful, I was left wanting instead.
The romance, which might of continued as a pleasant pace, now feels too fast and shallow after a plot twist thanks to Zara's mother. Now that
This novel felt like the author was trying really hard to cut the fat of the older novels, and make room for the new Zara. That's all well and good, but as someone who genuinely loves
I don't know if Ms. Pepper is simply churning books out too fast, or if something else is going on that's caused such a shift in her writing style. She's written 9 books in less than two and half years -- and that's JUST in the Wisteria series. I think she has two other series that are also on-going. I hope book 10 proves me wrong, but I'm concerned that my love for the Riddles may be running out of steam.
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