Invisibility - Review

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan

Available now

www.penguin.co.uk 

What's it about?

A magical romance between a boy cursed with invisibility and the one girl who can see him, by New York Times bestselling authors Andrea Cremer and David Levithan.

Stephen is used to invisibility. He was born that way. Invisible. Cursed.

Elizabeth sometimes wishes for invisibility. When you’re invisible, no one can hurt you. So when her mother decides to move the family to New York City, Elizabeth is thrilled. It’s easy to blend in there.

Then Stephen and Elizabeth meet. To Stephen’s amazement, she can see him. And to Elizabeth’s amazement, she wants him to be able to see her—all of her. But as the two become closer, an invisible world gets in their way—a world of grudges and misfortunes, spells and curses. And once they’re thrust into this world, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how deep they’re going to go—because the answer could mean the difference between love and death.

My review

I really enjoyed reading Invisibility, the book itself had a great and interesting premise which the authors bought to the page wonderfully.
Although I have read Andrea Cremer in the past, this was my first introduction to David Levithan, who I know is a popular guy and has co-authored a lot of books, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a really good book, its told from both Stephen and Elizabeth in alternating chapters, so you really get to know both characters and both sides of the story. I really liked them both, they're different, yet have so much in common at the same time. I really felt for Stephen when he met someone, for the first time in his life, whi could see him, I could just feel how elated and amazed he was. And as the pair fall in love it was beautifully written and kept me hoping that they would find a way for it to work out.
As the book continues it gets more dramatic and the action picks up, the pace builds to a big finish and a lovely, if not perfect ending.
It was a great read from cover to cover, I found the story to be different, the mythology was well thought out and presented to the reader in an easy to understand way, everything was slowly (though not painfully) revealed throughout the novel, bringing up a new flash of information or uncovering a secret just at the right moment.

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Bloodrose - Review

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Available now.

www.atombooks.net 

What's it about?

Is true love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.

Previous books in the series (Links to my reviews)
Nightshade
Wolfsbane
My review

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and had eagerly been awaiting the third and final instalment, I was really excited when I received a copy for review, so I really have no idea or excuse why I waited for so long to read it. Maybe I just didn't want the series to end and say goodbye to the characters, either way I really wish I hadn't! In book one we meet a lot of characters, in book two we meet a lot more characters so by book three, after having left it for so long, I struggled for a while to remember who was who, which made difficult reading for me as I was trying to get into the book and figure out who everyone was at the same time, but that's my really my own fault.
I did enjoy Bloodrose, though not as much as the previous books, honestly some of the time Callas indecision annoyed me - *Previous books spoiler warning* - I thought in Wolfsbane her choice was pretty much set, but then we go back to a lot of pointless indecision between Ren and Shay again in this book when, personally, I thought her choice had already been made and was obvious.
I also have to say I wasn't thrilled with the ending, in fact one thing that happened just felt like a cheap way to not have to deal with what would happen next, the rest made sense though I had mixed feelings about it, I was happy and sad for the characters at the same time, if that even makes sense! As you can see, I'm trying to not say too much so I don't give it away and you can make your own mind up.
Generally speaking I did like the book and it hasn't put me off the spin-off series or anything else the author writes in the future, I just think this particular series may have had a stronger start than it did finish.

My thoughts on the cover
Red is always a striking colour and I really like it for this cover, it of course matches the others which is always good and I like it's simplicity, its a nice cover :)

Favourite quotes

'"Do you think being the Scion matters to me if I lose you? Because it doesn't. None of this matters. You're the reason I need to win this war. I'm fighting for you. Not for the searchers. Not for anyone else. It's all for you."'

'"I know what you wanted, Shay," I said, lifting his fingers to my mouth and gently kissing them. "And that's why I love you."'

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Wolfsbane quickie review

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Available now

What's it about?

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

My review:
4/5
Since this is a second book and it was one of my own I've decided to just do a quickie review instead of a full one.
Unlike a lot of 'middle' books, this one didn't feel likely was just a bridge to the next one, it's packed full of information and back story on the characters, old and new and gives a lot of insight into the story itself. That being said, there isn't much else happening, a lot of the book did feel kinda like "story-time" for the characters, I would've like to see a bit more happening in between the scenes rather than just the one big action scene at the end.
I did still enjoy the book though as much as the first one and am really looking forward to bloodrose, which I suspect is where the action will be!

My thoughts on the cover:
Honestly I don't think this cover is up to much, I like the silver pattern and the orange sunset colour but in regards to the book it doesn't really relate, I think the girl standing alone refers to Calla being alone, without her pack in this book but it just doesn't feel like anything special in my opinion.

Favourite quotes:

"Are you kidding?" Connor said. "A cup of coffee instead of a ring? That's the kind of proposal I'm ready for."

"He was running at me, Monroe. Screaming like a Banshee, I swear," Ethan yelled, his voice choked and full of strain. "He yelled, 'I'm a guardian, I'm a Guardian,' over and over. What was I supposed to do?"

Nightshade review

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer.


What's it about?
She can control her pack, but not her heart ...'I wanted him to kiss me?wished he could smell the desire that I knew was pouring off me. You can't, Calla. This boy isn't the one for you.' Calla Tor has always known her destiny: graduation, marriage and then a life leading her pack. But when she defies her masters' laws to save a human boy, she must choose. Is one boy worth losing everything?


My review:
4/5
I have to say for the first 100 pages I was pretty frustrated with this book because that's how long it took until things started to get explained, whilst I could see the reason for why the author waited this long it made the start of the book somewhat confusing. After this, however, I found it difficult to put down and even stayed up late to finish.
The story is a great one and not one I felt like I'd 'read before', and it's beautifully written, with a few funny one liners that had me giggling.
As for the characters, there wasn't one I disliked reading, even the bad guys. Calla, our leading lady, is fierce and strong, if a little naive, it isn't until charming and funny Shay comes along and pushes her does she start question her world and taking risks to find answers.
I found it harder to get a grip on Ren, Callas other male suitor, when he's first introduced it's as quite a womaniser, so when five minutes later he's promising monogamy, well, it's hard to believe, there was a lot of points that he was very pushy and dominant and others when he was the opposite which made it hard to figure him out.
Though I enjoyed the book a lot, I do have very minor complaints, such as the two packs coming together and going from rivals to friends seemingly overnight without any kind of transitional period and there were some points where I had to kind of guess at what was happening because it wasn't actually said, but I can't really give examples without spoilers.
There were also a couple of scenes that felt 'choppy' because there were so many characters in them all with short bursts of dialogue and direction.
But like I said, minor complaints - overall I really enjoyed the book and immediately preordered Wolfsbane, book 2, which is out in July.