Wreck This Journal {A Little of the Book Life}

My friend Danielle got me this book for Christmas:

Here's the Amazon description:

The special limited edition red mesh cover of the international bestseller…

For anyone who's ever had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes this expanded edition of Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book that features a subversive collection of prompts, asking readers to muster up their best mistake and mess-making abilities and to fill the pages of the book (or destroy them). Through a series of creatively and quirkily illustrated prompts, acclaimed artist Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in "destructive" acts--poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting pages with coffee, coloring outside the lines, and more--in order to experience the true creative process. With Smith's unique sensibility, readers are introduced to a new way of art and journal making, discovering novel ways to escape the fear of the blank page and fully engage in the creative process.

Have you seen this? Like the inside of it? It's really pretty cool. And pretty scary.

The instructions are simple enough:

And the first page wasn't hard at all...

 

And then there was this, which was great for releasing some stress/aggression:

 

But shit got real when I looked at this one -

And what the what?!

Yep... I did it...

 

When I got this, Malissa mentioned how cool it would be to do together with someone. I sent her one. I agreed. And it's worked. We keep texting each other about it. Like this one, this morning, that I got from her:

"Pretty impressed with myself. I found six different fruit stickers for my journal at my house this morning!" 

And this pic from her:

I'll keep sharing. It's going to be fun!!!!  :)

Smiles,
B

Days of Blood & Starlight: A Review

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

 

Brandy

Allow me to introduce you to another book I loved. Meet: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor. A-MAY-ZING. This world is so dark and gritty, so fantastical yet real, that it just blows me away how badly I want to stay in it. Note: If you have not read Daughter of Smoke & Bone, do not read on unless you want spoilers for that book. I repeat, do not read on.

We begin right where Daughter of Smoke & Bone left off (my review of that one), with Akiva and Karou at odds with one another after she learned of his involvement in the horrific fate of her family. Within the magic of the wishbone, Karou remembered her life as Madrigal, complete with her love for Akiva and their plans for a better future. Then Akiva told her about what happened after she saved him from The White Wolf's torture. How he, in his grief, despair, and anger over losing her, and his brother and sister were the ones that marked the doorways and burned her family. He didn't know that Brimstone had saved her. How could he?

There is just as much mystery in this second installment as in the first. Thankfully, Taylor brought back Zuzana and Mik, showing just how strong a friendship can be and how loyal Zuze really is. We see Akiva attempt to repent through his actions the deeds of his past. He can't change what he did, and he knows that, but he can try and change the future, still. 

A major difference between the first and second installment in this series is the darkness surrounding the story. There is definitely a lot more blood than starlight in this one. It definitely sets the tone. I love love love that there isn't a clear cut right/wrong, good/evil. There are elements of each of these on both sides. 

The world Laini Taylor builds with her writing is one I want to come back to. She brings things alive in a way that makes me want to live there, breathe there, and rarely leave there.

I am sad I have already read these. For one, I can't go back and have a first time with them, ever, again. For two, now I have a long ass wait until the third one comes out!!!  :(

Malissa

How long is the wait for Dreams of Gods & Monsters?! No release date yet? Damn! Are you kidding me ...

This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I enjoyed Daughter of Smoke & Bone then waited a bit to read this one. I probably shouldn't have. It took me a little while to feel totally engaged with this book but by the end the hubby was asking what was wrong with me because I was, apparently, gasping out loud at random ... I mean, you'll have that, right?

Thoughts, also possibly at random (don't read them unless you're read book one...):

It took me a while to realize that this book had a lot of elements of high fantasy or epic fantasy. Not sure why I suddenly realized that, but it struck me. I think it's perhaps because the setting is somewhat different (and very original, in my opinion) than a lot that I've read. After book one, I would have probably leaned more toward modern fantasy (even similar in feel to some urban fantasy) with heavy use of inventive mythology. Maybe it was the lack of dragons and elves and orcs and wizardry that you often see in high fantasy. I Don't know. I don't suppose it really matters, but I like that this series is a bit hard to pin down in terms of genre.

I liked the relationship between Karou and Akiva. Or perhaps lack thereof. It was such a big part of book one where Karou was figuring out who she was and who they had been, and I had a little bit of trouble totally buying into their love. There was the obvious connection that she didn't understand herself and then the revelation at the end about her past when her memories came back, but we had no time to process that (nor did she) before she learned all that Akiva had done in the past 17 years. So a romance in this book would have rung false to me. I think the time the two of them have spent apart will set the stage for them to fall in love all over in book three. We shall see.

The blood. Oh. My. Goodness. Days of Blood & Starlight indeed. I think gallons and gallons of blood were spilled in the course of this book. Starlight, I saw little of. It didn't bother me, and it sets the stage for change in book three, but I wasn't quite prepared for it. Again with the similarities to much epic fantasy I've read. Think along the lines of all the battles in The Lord of the Rings. You know the main character and at least some of her close companions are going to pull through, but most other bets are off ...

I love the way this series seems to explore or questions the ideas of good and evil (but not in a heavy handed way). The battle between good and evil is usually a big part of epic fantasy, but you usually have a blatant bad guy who is pure evil. Not so here. Sure there are characters who are evil, but the other side of the war isn't, and that's a big part of the story. And I love that our main character is on the side that humanity would clearly label the "demons." It's so much more common to see the good guy as the bright and shiny side like the seraphim rather than the "beasts." But that would he boring, right?

Laini Taylor's writing is just awesome. I think I've referenced this before, but she's said on her blog that when she revises she makes each word sing for it's supper, and you can really see that. There's just no sloppiness in her work at all. The story might be good enough to distract you from less than great writing, but it doesn't need to. Because with Laini Taylor you get over 500 pages of good writing. I just love seeing the way she strings words together.

I really can't wait for book three's release, and may even have to reread all 900+ pages we have so far in preparation. This series has a permanent home on my shelf.

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays was started by MizB over at Should Be Reading,

To play along, simply answer the following three (3) Questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

Currently Reading

  Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I have less than 100 pages left and am hating that life is getting in the way of reading. :(

Recently Finished

The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr
Malissa sent me her ARC of this to read. I really enjoyed it. :) My reading slowed down a bit in the last week and a half. My son turned four and I had lots to do to celebrate. :)

What I WILL Read Next

Mystery Book by ? 

Malissa's mystery book for me is waiting on my shelf at home. :) In case you missed it and care to know... you can find out about our mystery books here.     

What about you? What have you been reading?

Smiles,
B

The Lucy Variations: [ARC] One Book, Two Reviews

  This book was received by Malissa from the Publisher for an honest review.

Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist. The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.

That was all before she turned fourteen.

Now, at sixteen, it's over. A death, and a betrayal, led her to walk away. That leaves her talented ten-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the full weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations. Then Gus gets a new piano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano -- on her own terms. But when you're used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play just for yourself?

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr takes readers inside the exclusive world of privileged San Francisco families, top junior music competitions, and intense mentorships. The Lucy Variations is a story of one girl's struggle to reclaim her love of music and herself. It's about finding joy again, even when things don't go according to plan. Because life isn't a performance, and everyone deserves the chance to make a few mistakes along the way.

 

Brandy

All I really knew about this book was that it was written by Sara Zarr, who I have enjoyed in the past, and it had to do with music, which I love. And I was not disappointed.

Lucy grew up in a world completely foreign to me, but it didn't feel foreign while reading it. I was impressed with how easy it was to feel how it would be growing up in a household such as Lucy's and Gustav's. Zarr transported me to a world completely unfamiliar to me and I felt like I was part of it. More importantly, I felt I was part of the relationships within the story.

Lucy has a tendency to be selfish without even realizing it. Everything about her - from her selfishness, her indecisiveness, her friendships, her relationships with her family members - felt real. Nothing was perfect, as is the reality of life. There were parts that made me talk aloud to her, like she was sitting right next to me and could hear my advice to her. "No, you shouldn't be yelling at that person, you need to yell at this person." Alas, she didn't hear me and yelled at the wrong one. But still. I cared about her and how her choices were effecting herself and her family and friends.

I don't think Zarr could have ended it better, though. Her choices led her to a life that she chose, not that was chosen for her.And that's an important lesson in life, for all ages.

Malissa

This was a book that I didn't know anything about before reading it. I read my first Sara Zarr book last year (How to Save a Life) with my teen book club and really liked it. So when I saw an offer for an ARC of this one from the publisher, I jumped on it without bothering to read the description. I've found that I like doing that. It keeps me from making assumptions and having preconceived ideas going in. 

Anyway, I really liked this book overall. I liked Lucy and found her to be a complex and sympathetic main character even when she was making decisions that I, as an adult reader, could see were bad. There wasn't a ton of development of or depth to the secondary characters with the exceptions of Will (of course), Gus, and Lucy's grandfather to some extent. But that seemed to serve to put Lucy in real focus in a fairly short story. 

I'm trying to keep this review mostly spoiler free, but it's hard to discuss this book without discussing the relationships between characters because that's what the book is *about.* So if you really, really don't want to know anything going in, skip the paragraph between the stars. [Brandy: My review seems so vague & short now... lol]

*********************************************************************************

So .... Will. What do I think of him? I made a note at page 129 (not quite halfway) that I really hoped he didn't do anything "inappropriate." And he mostly didn't. But he also did. And it was both expected and sad. I hated the way that Lucy's and Will's relationship put her and Gus at odds. Gus was hurt! And understandably so. I hated the way that Will shared some of his adult unhappiness (a comment about seeing his wife at her worst everyday was particularly bothersome to me) with his teenage mentee. And I really hated how Will seemed to use Lucy to further his own career. Really hated that. And yet, without Will, Lucy wouldn't have grown like she did. Her life is forever better for having him in it for a time. But also worse because he caused her to grow up in a sad way by realizing that people's intentions aren't always as honorable as we'd like them to be. Even people who claim to and perhaps really do care about us. Boo. But also very, very realistic.  [Brandy: I agree with all she says here... every single thing.]

*********************************************************************************

In the end, it's the relationships that make this book. Yes, events happen,but it's largely about Lucy's growth and her realization that you can be who you are and maybe that's what others want you to be too and maybe it's not, but both are OK. It's about Lucy's complex relationship with Will, her mentor, both the good and the bad, her relationships with her family members (each one different), and her relationship with her music. I think this book is special because it isn't about a big event or a romance or an apocalypse (no matter how much I love me some apocalypse!) but is more of a literary novel that doesn't talk down to the teens it's geared toward but is also very readable and enjoyable. It would make a great teen book club book or just a good read for any fans of realistic fiction. [Brandy: Yes! It definitely would... :)]

♠ Splintered: ♥ Review ♦ Discussion ♣

Title: Splintered
Author: AG Howard
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: January 1, 2013
Source: Brandy ♣ eGalley from NetGalley & Bought; Malissa ♠ Bought
Format: eBook & Hardcover via Amazon
Rating: Brandy ♣ 5 stars ♥ Malissa ♠ 5 stars

~ The Scoop from Goodreads ~

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

 

 Thoughts before even starting. I know we both liked the cover of this one before even knowing if it was supposed to be any good. I can't help it, it just looks ... wild! But I opened my copy last night, and wow! It's printed in this purplish ink. So cool. And sure, that doesn't add to the actual story, but it adds atmosphere and a sense of mystery somehow. I love it! (as an aside, this us one of those moments when print trumps my kindle) 

I do love the cover. Beautiful, eye catching, wild is such a good description. I'm quite jealous of u rt now. Maybe I'll order it now. 

I just finished my lunch break and am on page 68.

My thoughts thus far:

I oddly like the connection between Alyssa getting her first period and whatever is going on starting. I don't know why. Not the period itself (gross) but the idea that she's somehow grown up based on both those things. Again, not sure why.

Oh how I hate intentionally, hurtful oblivious parents! I wasn't sure at first how much I was going to like her dad. I like him better now. He's obviously love, dedicated to mom, etc. But a bit slow, is he not?

This book doesn't pull any punches about jumping into the action, does it? Wow. I like that.

Can she write chemistry or what? The connection between Alyssa and Jeb is palpable. I always feel alittle weird thinking that in YA books for some reason. Do you get that at all?

I'm trying to decide if the Alice references are awesome or over the top.  Allison in a blue dress and apron. Twin hulking gardeners. Underland. Butterfly Threads (where Alyssa works), etc. I think I'm liking it, but I really hope the story lives up to the dramatic setup.

I think I'll end up ordering a copy of it.But so far I'm liking Splintered enough I could see wanting to own it.

I like her wannabe snarkiness - like with the nurse, when she didn't say what she wanted to say about having the crutches but instead was nice and answered as a 'good girl' should.

I do like the connection between first period and hearing the voices as well. It gives it a good starting point, a place of expectation, and makes it more believable. Of course, the backstory about her mom helps with that too. I loved how it started out kind of creepy... her killing bugs. I mean, makes total sense. I'd probably kill them too if they were whispering sweet nothings in my ear, but man it came off dark. I loved it.

Her dad does seem pretty oblivious, doesn't he? I'm not all that far into it (I think I finished Ch 3 at the dr's office... I don't know if you got that email or not) but I get that, definitely.

And OH MY GOODNESS, YES! she can write chemistry. I seriously re-read the scene with her and Jeb in Gizmo (which I *love* the 80's movie reference, btw) because it was *that* good. And yes, I do feel a little odd saying/thinking that when it comes to YA novels. I think that's why some adults balk at the idea of reading them - it may make them feel like a creeper to an extent... I mean, the romances in them are not "adult" romances, and the characters are not adult, so it should seem weird falling in love with a character in a YA book, shouldn't it? As an adult? I think I'm reading too much into it. Then there's also the fact that most are written by adults... so what does that say? Hmm... let's forget this entire aside... lol  I am very curious to see where that relationship goes.

I think I like the Alice references. So far at least. I mean, it makes sense to me that they're there, they don't seem out of place at all. Yet. lol

Agreed on the darkness. It reminds me a bit of Holly Black's books. And a bit of Maggie Stiefvater's.

Yes!  Well, yes, on the Maggie. I haven't read any Holly Black (please don't throw things at me)...

Lol. I won't. I promise. Hers are a bit darker and less funny than Maggie's (imo) but are similarly themed. Also Brenna Yovanoff, especially the replacement. Notice how these comparisons are all books/authors we like :)

I'm somewhere in Chapter 5. I am really liking it, I can't lie. But I'm wondering if it would make any difference in my reading if I had ever actually read Alice in Wonderland. I mean, it's on my shelf at home but I've just never read it.

Nearly done with chapter 7. I am really liking it, and I think she did a good job building from the original. Which I have read. I had read Alice before & read it & Lookinglass before seeing the new movie. I think if you've seen the Disney version & the new one, you have all the background you need. Though it might make you *want* to read it ;)

Next email:
I'm ready for Chapter 10 (over a third but not quite half). I didn't get any time to read at all today. Boo. Still liking it. Still liking her retelling of Wonderland. Still liking Alyssa and Jeb. Really disliking another character you may or may not have encountered yet. Someone hinted at early on ... That individual is going to make me angry, I suspect. 

Later...
I'm *nearly* done with splinter. Nearly.

I am not *nearly* anywhere *near* done with Splintered. 38% according to my Kindle. People here apparently do not see fit to let you read at lunch. ;)

I'm going to write up my review in an email when I'm done, but wait for updates etc from you so we can still discuss. It's odd me being ahead for once, lol. Usually you're waiting for my slow butt ;)

Malissa finished so much sooner than I did. I text her with "WHAT?" and "WHY?", but mostly we stopped discussion once she finished. I really am a freak when it comes to no spoilers. lol  But she knows that and one response said something along the lines of "... mysterious silence ..."  So, here's some final thoughts.

 

I was between 4 & 5 stars most of the way through this book just because A. I love retellings/takes on classics and have read a lot, and this isn't *quite* at the brilliance level of say Gregory Maguire's Wicked and B. I wasn't totally sucked into this until the end. I was engaged, but not absorbed. To be fair, I've had a LOT going on to distract me lately, but I still think a Fantastic book (capital intended) like, say, Code Name Verity would suck me in even on a burning plane in a downward spiral. But in the end I'm going with 5, and here's why:

Atmosphere. This book has great atmosphere that's very reminiscent of both Carroll's original vision and Tim Burton's Alice take (both men are credited at the back of the book) with a fun and believable modern, urban fantasy type twist that works.

Originality. There were times I wondered how much Howard borrowed from the new Alice movie (the importance of the vorpol sword, the bandersnatch as a 'pet' of the red court) but upon further research (read googling) I discovered that others have built on these for years. This book stays close enough to the original Alice for the storyline to work while changing it enough to feel fresh and more grown up. And like Burton's movie, it's a sequel more than a retelling, though that definitely happens some too. In a very clever way.

Characters. This book is definitely plot and action driven, no apologies for that, but it does have characters that I waffled between love and hate for which makes a difference for me as a reader. Flat characters can ruin the best story, and if these didn't truly change much from beginning to end, they had enough dimension to be quite interesting.

Chemistry. Wow. Howard can write chemistry. It sizzles off the pages at points. And while nothing 'happens' in the story (we librarians can safely tell parents that this book is pretty darn clean in terms of language and sex) it sure *feels* hot! Teens will LOVE this couple. Heck. *I* love them.

The ending. How many good books have you read where the ending fizzles or just flat out stinks? Lots right? This one actually kinda rocks in my opinion. I was talking out loud, rushing through pages, and possibly tearing up (though I won't admit it again ...). And it was satisfying, not *too* easy, and believable. That's what bumped me from 4 to 5 stars.

I'm not going to say I'd give this book to every reader. Some adult readers will no doubt find it too dramatic and short on depth, but it's a great YA book with lots of actual teen appeal. And I'm glad to put it on my shelf with my copy of the original Alice.

I *hate* how long this took for me to finish. Seriously. It wasn't the book's fault, but man. I really wanted to know how it all ended, yet I didn't want to know because I really didn't want it to end. Before I was even finished I wanted to go back to the beginning and read it all over. I wanted Alyssa to realize her dreams, wishes, but at the same time I was anxious because as dark, terrifying, and confusing as the world was, I didn't want to leave it yet.

I really liked that it wasn't just a retelling, but that it happens later, down the ancestral line. I think that made it more interesting for me. I don't know if it's because I've never read the original (own, never read. Sad... but true story) or if I would feel that way even if. We shall never know.

The writing. Oh, the writing. Descriptions galore. I loved how Wonderland seemed so beautifully dark. I'm not sure I have ever been so captivated by a place in a book. I definitely want more of that.

I also want more of AG Howard's chemistry. It was palpable, visceral. I sincerely went back and read parts just to feel it all over again. The characters were flawed, real. They had attachments for one another that were 100% believable. I'm not sure what will happen in the future, but as of now, I'm totally down for Jeb and Alyssa. The tension, the chemistry, the unconditional love... I can't wait to see what Howard does with it all.

But nothing is ever black and white. I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate that Howard has me questioning my utter dislike of a certain character. We shall see how the story progresses in Unhinged, but I'm hoping my dislike can continue. :)  Speaking of continuing... in order to continue this one must end, right? Of course. And the ending to this one? Superbly done. It was plausible, believable, sad, heartwarming, and made me angry all at the same time.

I would recommend this book to lots of people, whether they are a fan of Carroll's Wonderland or not, and especially if they like dark fantasy.

Have you read it? Want to read it? Share your thoughts, if you would. :)

Smiles,
B & M

Review ~ Prophecy of the Sisters ~ Discussion

Title: Prophecy of the Sisters
Author: Michelle Zink
Series: Prophecy of the Sisters #1
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2009
Source: Own (Bought at a used bookstore)
Format: Hardcover
Rating: Brandy: 3 stars /Malissa: 3 stars

~Scoop from Goodreads~

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.

 

Once again, Malissa and I decided to read a book together. Since we're making a habit out of this (yes, two books together is now considered a habit... ;) ), we may just try to review all of them together discussion style on here. :) There are pitfalls, of course, to reading a book together. For some odd reason we can never seem to pace it just right and be on the same page. Also, there's the risk of our discussion leading to spoilers. Those I will leave out as long as it is humanly possible. 

Malissa

I'm still not super far in Prophecy (maybe chapter 4) but I'm enjoying it for sure. Too early to say if it will be a like or a love, but I'm definitely engaged.   I do see what you mean about Lia easily accepting all the oddity that just happens time and time again. I noticed it (maybe partly because you mentioned it) but don't know if it would have bothered me or seemed strange otherwise. The whole feel that it's all fate makes that kind of believable but it also makes her seem a bit weak and overly accepting of her fate. I'm hoping she grows from the weaker twin that she sees herself as to someone stronger by the end. That could make or break the book for me, I think. And I find myself weirdly bothered by the opposition between Lia and Alice that seems to be growing and being set up. I know it fits the storyline so far, but I just don't want Alice to be the antagonist! The sister in me wants so badly to see them become allies in whatever it is that's going on ... Please, lol? I also like the way the whole family's feminist leaning attitudes exist but aren't a huge point in the story. It's just who they are, and that works for me. 

Brandy

cartoonsource.com

I'm teetering between 2 & 3 stars. Something seemed to be missing for me. A lack of caring for the characters, maybe? I was a little deterred by her finding the mark and not questioning it, of hearing the prophecy and simply accepting it. Oh hey, there's this prophecy about twin sisters and it's hard to understand. But hey, I must be a part of it. Why else would it be in our house? I don't know. It just seemed a little... forced, maybe. Personally if I had some weird tattoo like thing show up on my arm I am thinking I might freak out a little. What was her background on supernatural type things? There didn't appear to be any to me, so why was she so inclined to just believe and not be like "this type of stuff doesn't exist" or question it in some way. I think that's the part I struggled with the most. There were a few other things that seemed thrown in there, but didn't take me completely out of the story.

That aside, I enjoyed the writing itself, if the plot and character development was lacking. I'm not sure whether or not I'll read the next one when it comes. (I ordered thru the library) But I am curious to know how it ends, just not at all on the scale it should be to be waiting waiting waiting for the next one. Maybe I'll skim them. I just wasn't as entangled in the story as I'd like to be. There was too much going on for me to completely suspend belief and fall into it. :(  I'm saddened by this because I like the idea a lot. 


Malissa
Even at not quite done, I'm in complete agreement. If I loved the characters and were totally sucked in, I would probably be OK with the way she accepts it all so easily and chalk it up to "fate." But I find myself not really caring that much. She could give in and the apocalypse could come, and I'd be mildly annoyed. But I wouldn't feel any real loss. So, I kinda feel like "What's the point?" I'll likely end on 3 stars because I don't hate any of it by any means. A teen might like it for a light, casual read. But I wanted more from it. Like you, I loved the idea. I love the way the author takes things that are usually considered occult and evil and makes them just ... exist. Not really good or bad that they do. But it could be sooo much more dramatic and deeper and even darker really. And I have books like Splintered and Seraphina, and The Diviners on my list. Plus that new Printz winner I'd never heard of ;) I want more than "meh." Life is too short for meh, lol. 

Brandy

I'm with you on the not hating it. I don't. Or I wouldn't have finished it, of course. I just don't seem to have the inclination to care enough to find out what happens next. Some parts of the story intrigued me more than others. But mostly I found it to be so-so. "Meh," as you say. :)  I agree. Life is too short for meh. It was definitely missing a wow factor for me. I do hope that in the second book Lia becomes a stronger person. For that matter, I'd like all the characters to be a bit more rounded and to care more about what happens to them.

Malissa
Finally finished the book. Must admit that I don't really care what comes next... at all. I actually skimmed the last few pages. I mean I'd still recommend it to a teen whose tastes it fits with the disclaimer that I didn't love it, but it's not a bad read. I nearly rated two starts based on just my personal enjoyment (if I have to skim to finish, it feels like less than 3 stars to me), but I truly think it's recommendable. But definitely no wow factor. No real caring for Lia or her fate. If we'd gotten a stronger main character to care about, I might feel totally different, but we didn't. She feels so bland to me. No deep hurt at the rift (to put it mildly) between her and her twin sister, no deep anger and feelings of betrayal toward her mother, and no rage over the awful "incident" near the end.  Really? I'd be a hot mess of emotion at *best.* And that equals no desire to read on for me.

Brandy
I haven't thought about the book since I finished it so I'm leaning toward not caring either. I figure if I haven't thought about Lia or Alice and wondered at all then there's no point in reading further. I have more books I want to read more. I definitely agree with her being 'bland.' I think that's a great way to put it. I'm still sad, though. I wanted to like it... I really did.

Let us know what you think. Have you read it? Did you like it if you have? If you haven't read it, do you think you will?

Smiles,

B (& M)