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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
OMGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD. I NEED A SEQUEL. THINGS WERE NOT RESOLVED OMFGGGG TELL ME THERE IS A SEQUEL!!!!!?
When I first saw this book, I was immediately drawn into it because of the cover. It clearly says mystery and suspense. It somehow reminded me of the Mara Dyer covers. When I got to the synopsis, I told myself I had to read it.
Thicker Than Water had me sitting down for hours. The story was compelling from the start but it kind of threw me off towards the end. Even though it got weird, I enjoyed it.
The characters were pretty average. Not too complex, not too shallow either. They were definitely easy to relate to. Charlotte seemed typical but I like her personality. She's strong and smart, possibly since she came from a family of cops. Thomas, on the other hand, was a bit of a hothead. He seemed detached and angry most of the time but he's got a lighter side underneath. He's actually interesting given his mysterious personality.
The plot was excellent but the twist got me all, "WHAAAAAT?". I did not see that one coming. It doesn't mean it's all amazing though. I think the twist was a bit out of place, it's cool and I sort of predicted it but I didn't expect it to be that drastic. I don't have a better way of saying this so if you don't mind spoilers, So it turns out Thomas had a long lost brother and they have some sort of mind powers and his brother was the one forcing Thomas to hurt people by using his powers onto him.
The writing style was excellent as well. I found it very easy to read the book. Overall, I had a great time reading this book and I would definitely check out the author's other works.
Thicker Than Water had me sitting down for hours. The story was compelling from the start but it kind of threw me off towards the end. Even though it got weird, I enjoyed it.
The characters were pretty average. Not too complex, not too shallow either. They were definitely easy to relate to. Charlotte seemed typical but I like her personality. She's strong and smart, possibly since she came from a family of cops. Thomas, on the other hand, was a bit of a hothead. He seemed detached and angry most of the time but he's got a lighter side underneath. He's actually interesting given his mysterious personality.
The plot was excellent but the twist got me all, "WHAAAAAT?". I did not see that one coming. It doesn't mean it's all amazing though. I think the twist was a bit out of place, it's cool and I sort of predicted it but I didn't expect it to be that drastic. I don't have a better way of saying this so if you don't mind spoilers,
The writing style was excellent as well. I found it very easy to read the book. Overall, I had a great time reading this book and I would definitely check out the author's other works.
This book was EXACTLY what I needed — a charged, dynamic teen murder mystery with two incredibly compelling protagonists! Seriously, I loved everything about Thomas — he was smart, frightened, angry, sarcastic, sweet & soulful. This, coupled with Charlotte's savvy, kind-hearted nature made for great narration. So, despite a plot that wove about drunkenly before hurtling like a speeding train into the climax, this book was a REALLY fun ride!
2.5 Stars.
Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.
After loving Letters to the Lost and falling in love with Kemmerer's writing all over again, I picked up Thicker Than Water straight away. But now, having read it, I'm a little disappointed.
Not because the story was bad, it wasn't. I loved both Thomas and Charlotte, their individual voices and their chemistry together. I was intrigued by the mystery; who killed Thomas' mum, why did they, and how did they get into a locked house? But for a lot of the book, Thomas is arrested several times over, or Charlotte is hanging out with Thomas when her family - which includes three older brothers and a father who are all cops - warn her away from him, certain he murdered his mother. The book is told from both perspectives, so we, the readers, know Thomas didn't kill his mum, but Charlotte doesn't know that for definite, and she just keeps meeting up with him despite all she's told. It just seemed really stupid to me. I know Thomas was a good guy, but that doesn't excuse reckless behaviour from someone who doesn't. I know, if Charlotte didn't keep hanging out with Thomas, there wouldn't really be a story, but I just kept thinking, "What are you doing?!" Even more so given the fact that Charlotte is also diabetic, and with regards to her food intake and sugar levels, she's not as on the ball as she normally is when around him, and puts her health at risk.
Other than that, not a huge amount happens, not until pretty much the last 30% of the book. We find out a few things, and the story gets more interesting... and then all of a sudden, there is a huge climax 95% where we get our answers, and then the book ends. So abruptly! It just seemed so bizarre to me that there's nothing much happening for a great deal of the book, and then for everything to happen in the last 5%. Everything happens so fast, and then it ends. There are still unanswered questions. So many. And just behaviour at the end that I don't think was realistic. In spoilers, because I can't talk about it otherwise.
Knowing that Thomas is an empath, and can heighten emotions, why would either one of them want to be with the other? I mean, how do they know that what Charlotte feels is real? Thomas hasn't yet got control of what he can do, so how does he know he's just heightening a crush into something more? How could he be happy with that? How could Charlotte be happy with that possibility, that her emotions are being played with? It just doesn't feel right to me.
Also, even though Thomas was being controlled by his brother JB when he attacked Charlotte, Charlotte still has that memory of Thomas lying over her with his hands round her throat. It doesn't matter that he wasn't in control, that he wasn't doing it himself, it was still him strangling her. That's not something you're going to get over so quickly. I know four weeks go by in a matter of short chapters at the very end there, but to throw her arms around his neck the first time she sees him after? No. That's not realistic. Having someone almost kill her isn't something she is just going to get over and be perfectly fine being around the guy who did it, no matter the circumstances. That would affect her. But she is not affected. I'm not saying, when it comes to this particular issue only, that she shouldn't be with him, just that it would be a lot more realistic if they would take things pretty slow. Because that's a lot to have to deal with. But she's not.
And again, that just takes me to the point before - if she's not reacting in this realistic way, are her emotions being played with by Thomas unconsciously? It all just seems quite weird and it makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Thomas, in my opinion, needs to do a lot of work on himself and his power before he gets close to anyone. And I think he's being irresponsible for allowing their relationship to continue when he hasn't got a handle on it yet.
Saying all that, the book is seriously creepy. That ending, though very fast and abrupt, was just so awful. It made me feel so uncomfortable. It was so disturbing! The book is left open, though, what with all the questions left unanswered, and with how things are left. So if this is just a stand alone novel, then I'm hugely disappointed - which, as things stand, it looks like it is. If there will be a sequel, I'd definitely give it a go, because I did love the characters, and I'm intrigued by what we learn at the end, but I would want a whole lot more to happen.
So yeah, I have mixed feelings. Which is really upsetting for me, because I was such a huge fan of The Elemental series. And I just feel awful for not loving a book as much as I'd like by an author I think is awesome. I am sad and disappointed.
Thank you to Kensington Books via NetGalley for the eProof.
Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.
After loving Letters to the Lost and falling in love with Kemmerer's writing all over again, I picked up Thicker Than Water straight away. But now, having read it, I'm a little disappointed.
Not because the story was bad, it wasn't. I loved both Thomas and Charlotte, their individual voices and their chemistry together. I was intrigued by the mystery; who killed Thomas' mum, why did they, and how did they get into a locked house? But for a lot of the book, Thomas is arrested several times over, or Charlotte is hanging out with Thomas when her family - which includes three older brothers and a father who are all cops - warn her away from him, certain he murdered his mother. The book is told from both perspectives, so we, the readers, know Thomas didn't kill his mum, but Charlotte doesn't know that for definite, and she just keeps meeting up with him despite all she's told. It just seemed really stupid to me. I know Thomas was a good guy, but that doesn't excuse reckless behaviour from someone who doesn't. I know, if Charlotte didn't keep hanging out with Thomas, there wouldn't really be a story, but I just kept thinking, "What are you doing?!" Even more so given the fact that Charlotte is also diabetic, and with regards to her food intake and sugar levels, she's not as on the ball as she normally is when around him, and puts her health at risk.
Other than that, not a huge amount happens, not until pretty much the last 30% of the book. We find out a few things, and the story gets more interesting... and then all of a sudden, there is a huge climax 95% where we get our answers, and then the book ends. So abruptly! It just seemed so bizarre to me that there's nothing much happening for a great deal of the book, and then for everything to happen in the last 5%. Everything happens so fast, and then it ends. There are still unanswered questions. So many. And just behaviour at the end that I don't think was realistic. In spoilers, because I can't talk about it otherwise.
Knowing that Thomas is an empath, and can heighten emotions, why would either one of them want to be with the other? I mean, how do they know that what Charlotte feels is real? Thomas hasn't yet got control of what he can do, so how does he know he's just heightening a crush into something more? How could he be happy with that? How could Charlotte be happy with that possibility, that her emotions are being played with? It just doesn't feel right to me.
Also, even though Thomas was being controlled by his brother JB when he attacked Charlotte, Charlotte still has that memory of Thomas lying over her with his hands round her throat. It doesn't matter that he wasn't in control, that he wasn't doing it himself, it was still him strangling her. That's not something you're going to get over so quickly. I know four weeks go by in a matter of short chapters at the very end there, but to throw her arms around his neck the first time she sees him after? No. That's not realistic. Having someone almost kill her isn't something she is just going to get over and be perfectly fine being around the guy who did it, no matter the circumstances. That would affect her. But she is not affected. I'm not saying, when it comes to this particular issue only, that she shouldn't be with him, just that it would be a lot more realistic if they would take things pretty slow. Because that's a lot to have to deal with. But she's not.
And again, that just takes me to the point before - if she's not reacting in this realistic way, are her emotions being played with by Thomas unconsciously? It all just seems quite weird and it makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Thomas, in my opinion, needs to do a lot of work on himself and his power before he gets close to anyone. And I think he's being irresponsible for allowing their relationship to continue when he hasn't got a handle on it yet.
Saying all that, the book is seriously creepy. That ending, though very fast and abrupt, was just so awful. It made me feel so uncomfortable. It was so disturbing! The book is left open, though, what with all the questions left unanswered, and with how things are left. So if this is just a stand alone novel, then I'm hugely disappointed - which, as things stand, it looks like it is. If there will be a sequel, I'd definitely give it a go, because I did love the characters, and I'm intrigued by what we learn at the end, but I would want a whole lot more to happen.
So yeah, I have mixed feelings. Which is really upsetting for me, because I was such a huge fan of The Elemental series. And I just feel awful for not loving a book as much as I'd like by an author I think is awesome. I am sad and disappointed.
Thank you to Kensington Books via NetGalley for the eProof.
it turned paranormal
im not happy but then again i gave it five stars so i guess i am???
im not happy but then again i gave it five stars so i guess i am???
This book was good but the ending was kind of rushed with a lot of things up in the air. IT kind of seemed that this could be turned into a series.
Read my full thoughts on my blog:
http://that-bookish-hiker.tumblr.com/post/138196578484/thicker-than-water-by-brigid-kemmerer
Read my full thoughts on my blog:
http://that-bookish-hiker.tumblr.com/post/138196578484/thicker-than-water-by-brigid-kemmerer
More like 1.5 stars. I didn’t enjoy the characters or this book. Not sure why I read all of it.
This was really good, until it wasn't. It took a strange turn that didn't flow with the beginning of the story. I adore Kemmerer's emotion and passion, but this was the first book of hers that missed the mark for me. This started as a solid 4 but ended closer to a 2.75.
EDIT: The more I think about this book, the less I like it. There are just a lot of things that don't sit well with me, and they really came to light when I started discussing it with someone.
FIRST THOUGHTS: I'm not quite sure how to explain how I'm feeling about this book! Or even how to rate it. I liked it, but I didn't like all of it in equal measure. I think it's something slightly different for Brigid, which is great. But it's also got a ton of the elements I'm fairly used to from her. I kind of don't want to say anything more for fear of spoilers. But yeah, I suppose I can say overall it was a solid read.
FIRST THOUGHTS: I'm not quite sure how to explain how I'm feeling about this book! Or even how to rate it. I liked it, but I didn't like all of it in equal measure. I think it's something slightly different for Brigid, which is great. But it's also got a ton of the elements I'm fairly used to from her. I kind of don't want to say anything more for fear of spoilers. But yeah, I suppose I can say overall it was a solid read.
This is a solid 3.5 stars for me.
There's a murder in a small town and the main suspect is the victim's son, even with a lack of evidence. The sister of all cops takes pity on Thomas and befriends him, even with the ongoing murder investigation he's linked to. Charlotte tries to help solve who could have killed Thomas' mother, but doesn't get far before misfortune comes to her.
I feel that this is a storyline that isn't done much in the YA genre and was refreshing to read. Thank you netgally for the opportunity to read and review this book.
There's a murder in a small town and the main suspect is the victim's son, even with a lack of evidence. The sister of all cops takes pity on Thomas and befriends him, even with the ongoing murder investigation he's linked to. Charlotte tries to help solve who could have killed Thomas' mother, but doesn't get far before misfortune comes to her.
I feel that this is a storyline that isn't done much in the YA genre and was refreshing to read. Thank you netgally for the opportunity to read and review this book.