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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Such a fun light read. Still holds up from when I first read the series as a tween. Will always love Jesse!
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It puzzles me that I took so long to read this Cabot series, considering how much of her work I've read. And while this does a tiny bit remind me of her Underworld series, it's got more in common with her general collection. That is, a female narrator in high school, dealing with some sort of uncommon issue (seeing ghosts, finding out she's a princess, having magic powers), while also experiencing budding romance and a small bit of a love triangle.
This book actually has far more of a love triangle than I'm used to Cabot presenting. Normally there's an obvious bad choice--a vapid but popular boy who has fairly obvious bad intentions--but there's really only one problem between Suze's suitors: one of them is dead. And, well, having read the Underworld series, that doesn't seem like such a big deal.
There's a tiny bit of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer feel going here, and I don't really blame Cabot for that. It was published in 2000, which was in the middle of the Buffy hype (though also in the middle of the unfortunate season 4). Cabot was a younger writer then, and following the Buffy trend was a good decision. Luckily, it doesn't get very overt. It's more just the supernatural theme and Suze's rougher attitude. I'm sure I could analyze this into a lot of similarities, but I just didn't feel it too much while listening to the audiobook. More in retrospect.
It is one of Cabot's older works, so there is a slight difference in quality from her most recent releases, but this is still entertaining and a very strong beginning. I'm glad I have the other audiobooks ready to go, because I am sure I'll enjoy reading more about Suze and her rough ghost-handling ways.
This book actually has far more of a love triangle than I'm used to Cabot presenting. Normally there's an obvious bad choice--a vapid but popular boy who has fairly obvious bad intentions--but there's really only one problem between Suze's suitors: one of them is dead. And, well, having read the Underworld series, that doesn't seem like such a big deal.
There's a tiny bit of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer feel going here, and I don't really blame Cabot for that. It was published in 2000, which was in the middle of the Buffy hype (though also in the middle of the unfortunate season 4). Cabot was a younger writer then, and following the Buffy trend was a good decision. Luckily, it doesn't get very overt. It's more just the supernatural theme and Suze's rougher attitude. I'm sure I could analyze this into a lot of similarities, but I just didn't feel it too much while listening to the audiobook. More in retrospect.
It is one of Cabot's older works, so there is a slight difference in quality from her most recent releases, but this is still entertaining and a very strong beginning. I'm glad I have the other audiobooks ready to go, because I am sure I'll enjoy reading more about Suze and her rough ghost-handling ways.
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved it the first time I read it and I still do. They translated into Estonian only the 1st and 3rd book (I knoooow, it's so weird and stupid but that is what they did) and I did not get my hands on the English versions at the time...But now I got a chance to read the whole series and it would seem that I am going to enjoy it immensely :) Suze is as awesome and Jesse as dreamy as I remembered and ghost activity is exciting :D
Having read one of these out of context many years ago, I decided to go back through and read (well, listen) to them all. So far I am not overly impressed. The main plot point for the book was meh, and there was so little of the overarching plot that I was barely sucked in. Definitely not Meg Cabot's best.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Susannah Simon is a 16-year-old teenager who moves to Northern California with her mother to live with her new family, Andy, the stepdad, Dopey, Sleepy and Doc, the stepbrothers: Dopey – choke holds and protein shakes; Sleepy – “he looked as if he had fallen asleep standing up”; and Doc, the youngest spawn with cute red hair and dumbo ears, who also happens to be a genius.
In Susannah’s words, her new brothers are only good to help her with heavy weights, like her bags. Oh, and also catch a ride to school since she doesn’t know how to ride a car. Nobody drives a car in New York, people use public transportation. -duh
Also, her new family doesn’t have a good image of her, Sleepy even asked her at their parents wedding if she was in a gang. Which I think is hilarious, Suze wears a lot o black, looks badass and was caught smoking her first and only cigarette. It would be so cool if people around me thought I was part of a gang, that would probably warn them off – yes, I’m not exactly a social butterfly.
I really liked the “cultural” shock that Suze talks about between North California and New York: Palm Trees -graffiti; peace and quiet – noise; chilled out people – angry, in-a-hurry people, etc.
- Hey Suze, please try moving from Portugal to Poland, the cultural shock is way bigger, trust me, people here don’t even know what tropical weather is.
Anyway, Suze moves to a Victorian-style house (which she totally hates in the beginning). Suze hates old buildings... in fact, there’s a reason behind it. Thing is that she can see and communicate with ghosts. – she totally hates it BTW.
- I mean, how cool would it be to communicate with the dead?! I would love to be a mediator. I would probably befriend a ghost and then during tests I would ask my specter friend to copy from someone. In case now you are questioning my morality I’m very sorry to disappoint you but that ship has sailed, as well as my morals!
Yet, the coolest thing ever is the fact that she has a very hot latino cowboy ghost living in her bedroom! And she is constantly bitching about it! Jesse is still one of my book boyfriends, even if I read this series for the first time about 7 years ago. Jesse, you still got it man! You still got the ability to make me swoon – though it’s kind of weird since I’m now 21 – I should definitely grow the fuck up.
“I probably shouldn’t put it that way. I should probably say that the dead talk to me. I mean, I don’t go around initiating these conversations. In fact, I try to avoid the whole thing as much as possible.”
Truth is, Suze isn’t exactly a talker, she’s more of a puncher or a shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of person, which I’m totally okay with, since I’m more or less the same. Ok, not really, I never punch people, but doing it mentally counts too, right?
Then Suze meets Father Dominic, the coolest priest ever, he is like Suze, minus the punching and kicking. He’s more of a pacifist and a believer of the greater good, for Father D the ability to talk to the dead is a gift and not a curse, like it is for Suze.
As you read Shadowland you will find yourself completely enraptured, seriously, when you start reading Meg Cabot’s books you CANNOT STOP. Good luck to you buddy!
-BTW, WHO’S FRIGGING EXCITED ABOUT THE 7TH BOOK OF THE MEDIATOR SERIES COMING NEXT YEAR?!!! I F******* AM! BRING IT!
In Susannah’s words, her new brothers are only good to help her with heavy weights, like her bags. Oh, and also catch a ride to school since she doesn’t know how to ride a car. Nobody drives a car in New York, people use public transportation. -duh
Also, her new family doesn’t have a good image of her, Sleepy even asked her at their parents wedding if she was in a gang. Which I think is hilarious, Suze wears a lot o black, looks badass and was caught smoking her first and only cigarette. It would be so cool if people around me thought I was part of a gang, that would probably warn them off – yes, I’m not exactly a social butterfly.
I really liked the “cultural” shock that Suze talks about between North California and New York: Palm Trees -graffiti; peace and quiet – noise; chilled out people – angry, in-a-hurry people, etc.
- Hey Suze, please try moving from Portugal to Poland, the cultural shock is way bigger, trust me, people here don’t even know what tropical weather is.
Anyway, Suze moves to a Victorian-style house (which she totally hates in the beginning). Suze hates old buildings... in fact, there’s a reason behind it. Thing is that she can see and communicate with ghosts. – she totally hates it BTW.
- I mean, how cool would it be to communicate with the dead?! I would love to be a mediator. I would probably befriend a ghost and then during tests I would ask my specter friend to copy from someone. In case now you are questioning my morality I’m very sorry to disappoint you but that ship has sailed, as well as my morals!
Yet, the coolest thing ever is the fact that she has a very hot latino cowboy ghost living in her bedroom! And she is constantly bitching about it! Jesse is still one of my book boyfriends, even if I read this series for the first time about 7 years ago. Jesse, you still got it man! You still got the ability to make me swoon – though it’s kind of weird since I’m now 21 – I should definitely grow the fuck up.
“I probably shouldn’t put it that way. I should probably say that the dead talk to me. I mean, I don’t go around initiating these conversations. In fact, I try to avoid the whole thing as much as possible.”
Truth is, Suze isn’t exactly a talker, she’s more of a puncher or a shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of person, which I’m totally okay with, since I’m more or less the same. Ok, not really, I never punch people, but doing it mentally counts too, right?
Then Suze meets Father Dominic, the coolest priest ever, he is like Suze, minus the punching and kicking. He’s more of a pacifist and a believer of the greater good, for Father D the ability to talk to the dead is a gift and not a curse, like it is for Suze.
As you read Shadowland you will find yourself completely enraptured, seriously, when you start reading Meg Cabot’s books you CANNOT STOP. Good luck to you buddy!
-BTW, WHO’S FRIGGING EXCITED ABOUT THE 7TH BOOK OF THE MEDIATOR SERIES COMING NEXT YEAR?!!! I F******* AM! BRING IT!