Review: Ever Darkening by Janeal Falor

Blurb from GoodReads

Perfection. Goodness. Elimination of evil. It’s what seventeen-year-old Kaylyn has trained her entire life to achieve. But no one is prepared for the consequences of her actually defeating all evil people on the planet. Finally successful in her mission, Kaylyn faces an unfamiliar world, full of good people doing good things, in which she no longer has purpose.

When the skies grow dark, and a stranger from another village pleads for her help, her instincts roar to life. It turns out their perfect world isn’t exactly what it seems. Kaylyn’s new quest, harder than any she’s been on before, will rip apart her friendships, her life, and her soul more than any evil man ever managed to.

Kindle Edition, 171 pages

Published January 22nd 2015

edition language: English

genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

My Thoughts

ARC was provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

I’m conflicted now. I liked things in this book as much as disliked other things in the story.

I liked the writing, obviously. It flows smoothly and so clear I can picture the worldbuilding and everything in the story easily. And not to mention that it has perfect pace. There is a room for slow thing as well as things that made my heart beat fast.

I also liked the unknown feeling that I got from Kaylyn, the heroine in this story. She made me wondering what really happen to her world exactly. It’s pretty predictable, to be honest and is quite easy to guess what happened and will happen into her world (and my guessed were right, if you want to know), but it didn’t mean that I stop wondering while I read her story. I always love the feeling when I’m wondering and questioning the story. It means I pay attention to it and it glues me to keep reading it.

However me questioning things could lead into something else that bring me to other things that I didn’t quite like. From the beginning I’ve already known that destroying the evil forever is not as good as it sounds because everything needs balance. So how come Showna, the leader of Kaylyn’s band of fighter (I cannot point out my finger to Kaylyn since she’s still young and doesn’t have much experience as Showna) didn’t think about it or at least questioning it to Aster and Astra, Kaylyn’s community leaders? I can ignore it, though. It’s not a big deal compare to the grand scheme of the story and is kind of understandable for them to follow all the rule and what they asked since it’s in their blood to be good person.

But it also leads me questioning that even a good person cannot be a whole good person forever. Everything needs balance, remember? At this point it seems conflicted with the plot. The good characters are described so good they don’t have any single evil thought while the story tells me that good cannot exist without evil. If the good characters are so good and they need bad characters to exist, isn’t it unfair for bad characters when they actually are good characters but are provoked to do evil things just so the balance keeps back in track? And I also didn’t buy that the good cannot be swing into evil side. If they can provoke their friend, why cannot their friends do the same thing to them?

So you see, I liked this story, I really do. I think it has good idea and I liked the ending, though it’s as I predicted. But I also didn’t quite agree with that good and evil thing. I guess it means that this book is more than an okay book as I enjoyed reading it.

Result: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Reading Challenge:

– GoodReads: Book #10

– YA Buddy Readers’ Corner ♥: Finish all of ARCs (Advance Reader Copy) I have by the end of 2015.

– Popsugar: A book with a love triangle

Review: Otherworld Assassin #1, Last Kiss Goodnight by Gena Showalter

Blurb from GoodReads

THE SWEETEST TEMPTATION…

Black ops agent Solomon Judah awakens caged and bound in a twisted zoo where otherworlders are the main attraction. Vika Lukas, the owner’s daughter, is tasked with Solo’s care and feeding. The monster inside him yearns to kill her on sight, even though she holds the key to his escape. But the human side of him realizes the beautiful deaf girl is more than she seems—she’s his.

THE ULTIMATE PRICE…

Vika endures the captives’ taunts and loathing, hoping to keep them alive even if she can’t free them. Only, Solo is different—he protects her. But as hostility turns to forbidden romance, his feelings for her will be used against him…and he’ll be put to a killer test.

ebook, 353 pages

Published December 26th 2012 by Pocket Books (first published December 20th 2012)

edition language: English

series: Otherworld Assassin

genre: Paranormal, Romance, Adult

My Thoughts

As my first Gena Showalter book, I’m quite surprise that this book wasn’t as I expect before. And I mean it in a not-so-good way, to be honest. Most of her books have high rating here and my friends recommended me her books since forever. They mostly said the stories are awesome. Unfortunately I don’t think this book is that awesome, it has an interesting idea, but it didn’t wow me.

It’s quite hard for me to connect both with the story and the characters, though I liked Solo and Vika enough to keep reading it. I also liked the minor, but have big role, characters, Dr. E and X. They play the evil and the good side of Solo really well.

The pace is pretty slow I have to force myself to finish it, though at the same time I also want to know more about the two of them. Problem is there is not much detail in most of the things in the story, including the worldbuilding. I can describe easily the otherworld building but the Earth building, the one the human live is unclear to me. I get the impression that it happens in the future, but it doesn’t describe well either. It feels lack of something.

Before I read this book, I thought Gena Showalter books are in the same category with J.R. Ward books, stories with alpha male hero and lots of steamy graphic sex scenes. It has alpha male hero (sort of) but it also lack of graphic sex scenes, moreover if I have to compare to J.R Ward’s The Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

In a way I liked that the romance, well the sex scenes, doesn’t overshadow the story. There is much to tell here than the romance. But in other way I feel like the author hold back something. I mean there are graphic description about abuse and other horrible things but why doesn’t with the romance scenes? It doesn’t mean that every sex scenes has to be graphic, not like that, it’s just unusual is all.

As many reviews stated, this book is not her best book, I think I’ll give her other books a try. I still don’t know which one I’ll read, though.

Result: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Reading Challenge:

– GoodReads: Book #8

– YA Buddy Readers’ Corner ♥: Read books that are already in my shelves for more than 2 years.

– Popsugar: A book with nonhuman characters

Review: When by Victoria Laurie

Blurb from Goodreads

Maddie Fynn is a shy high school junior, cursed with an eerie intuitive ability: she sees a series of unique digits hovering above the foreheads of each person she encounters. Her earliest memories are marked by these numbers, but it takes her father’s premature death for Maddie and her family to realize that these mysterious digits are actually death dates, and just like birthdays, everyone has one. Forced by her alcoholic mother to use her ability to make extra money, Maddie identifies the quickly approaching death date of one client’s young son, but because her ability only allows her to see the when and not the how, she’s unable to offer any more insight. When the boy goes missing on that exact date, law enforcement turns to Maddie. Soon, Maddie is entangled in a homicide investigation, and more young people disappear and are later found murdered. A suspect for the investigation, a target for the murderer, and attracting the attentions of a mysterious young admirer who may be connected to it all, Maddie’s whole existence is about to be turned upside down. Can she right things before it’s too late?

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Published January 13th 2015 by Disney Hyperion

edition language: English

genre: Mystery, Paranormal, Young Adult

My Thoughts

ARC was provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.This book somehow brings out memory of my teenage life when the only thing I read is suspense-detective kind of books. I love detective stories I thought I’ll only read them for the rest of my life which is not likely happen as I grow old.

Now, reading this book with my older eyes and mind, I can say that I still love this kind of books. And I really enjoyed this story, though I also realize that there are things that feel unbelievable and far-fetched. But I can shrug it off and think that Maddie is just a teenage girl. So it’s understandable when she’s a bit naive and doesn’t take a second thought of what older people suggest her to do. When she puts her mind on something, she’ll do it. No matter what. In a way I admire her bravery. On the other hand I feel like I want to tell her to be careful. The story also contains with things that are too easy for Maddie and other characters it seems they are often be at the right/wrong place in a right/wrong time. And much for their inconvenience it seems to help/make the situation worse for them. But then again, I can still bear it as I like the characters.

For one thing, though it’s kind of predictable, there are still things that surprise me. And the pace is so good it’s so engaging I want to keep reading it. There are moments when I feel my heart beats fast as much as when I can’t help not to smile because of Maddie and her bestfriend, Stubby’s coversation or his unique personalities behind that shyness and awkward boy. And I really like their relationship. They a bit remind me of Amy and Hawkeye, a pair of teenage detectives from Can You Solve The Mystery? series I fell in love with long time ago.

And then as I reach the final page, I realize I don’t want this story to end. It has perfect ending, I really liked it but I also feel like I can read more of Maddie and other good characters in the future.

Result: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Reading Challenge:

– GoodReads: Book #5

– YA Buddy Readers’ Corner ♥: Finish all of ARCs (Advance Reader Copy) I have by the end of 2015.

– Popsugar: A book with a one-word title

Review: Star-Crossed #6, The Relentless Warrior by Rachel Higginson

Blurb from Goodreads

Jericho Bentley is disillusioned by life. He feels lost in a world of peace and restless in a time threatened by war. He has given up on love, forgotten how to trust others and decided a lifetime of bachelorhood is all that remains for him.

Olivia Taylor was struggling to find her way in a human world. Now taken from the only life she’s ever known and changed on a molecular level, she is more lost than ever. With her sister struggling to survive the after effects of one of Dmitri Terletov’s experiments, Olivia sets off with Jericho to find a cure for both herself and her sister.

Together, Jericho and Olivia find more than vengeance and answers, they find a deep friendship that might teach them both to trust again. Maybe even to love again. As long as they can both put the hurt of their past behind them for good.

ebook

Published January 30th 2014 by Rachel Higginson via Smashwords (first published January 27th 2014)

edition language: English

series: Star-Crossed

genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

My Thoughts

When I started reading Star-Crossed series years ago I never thought that it will be one long series. I thought it will only tell Kiran and Eden story. And I was happy they ended the way I liked. But then there was another one, another story with a (old) new evil antagonist. And just like any other series I’ve already started I couldn’t not to read the rest even when I felt like it was enough for me. And the fact that it was Avalon’s story I was more than willing to read with a hope that it will be the end of the series. But I was wrong, the story hasn’t finished yet and there will be another books with another characters’ story in the future. So here I am reading book 6 about Avalon’s bestfriend and Eden’s ex-boyfriend, Jericho.

Although Jericho had big part in Kiran-Eden story, especially in book 2, 3, and 4, I didn’t pay much attention to him since it was so obvious that Eden will choose Kiran eventually. He was just a “bump in the road” in their relationship. Now it’s time to tell his story and give him his heroine.
I liked that he has someone who can give him his happy ending, Olivia. The story is (seems) more interesting when Olivia isn’t from his circle. She’s a pure human who is turned into immortal through an experiment. At this point, I was still eager to read it. However the more I read the more I lost my interest to this book. Both Jericho and Olivia tend to tell me the same things over and over. I think they are telling than showing kind of characters. And they more interest to each other than the evil antagonist while at the same time they are so eager to have revenge to Terletov, the antagonist.

I also think most of everything that happen with Olivia and other characters are too easy. She can (sort of) handle her power in only two days in one training with Jericho. Even Eden couldn’t do it while everyone says that Eden is so powerful. There are also lots of coincidences things happen for their own convenience. Hence I couldn’t buy it. As for their relationship, it was just hard for me to feel their chemistry. It was good they have time to know each other and didn’t fall in an insta-love, things I usually love from romance story, but they hot and cold relationship while they are secretly admire each other is quite frustrating me.

It still has surprises at the end of the story, though, which I liked it. However it couldn’t make me think that the story is less boring. But I think I’m still going to read other sequels in the future to see all of the character have their happy ending.

Result: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Review: The Headmaster by Tiffany Reisz

Blurb from Goodreads

At the remote Marshall School, Gwen Ashby stumbles upon the job—and the man—of her dreams. Stern, enigmatic Edwin Yorke simmers with a heat Gwen longs to unleash. But Edwin knows all too well that forbidden love can end in tragedy….

ebook, 125 pages

Published October 6th 2014 by Harlequin e-Shivers

edition language: English

genre: Paranormal, Romance, Adult

My Thoughts

As my first Tiffany Reisz book, this book is nothing like I thought before. I know that she writes erotica stories and Goodreads put this book under erotica shelf. So basically I thought it’s a contemporary romance with lots of steamy scenes.

But first few chapters I’ve already completely forgot that I was reading an erotica. I even thought that Goodreads and other readers must put it in the wrong shelf because I didn’t feel like it’s an erotica book. Instead I sense that the story is kinda creepy, in a horror kind of way.

I knew and felt there is something happen with the main character, Gwen. Something bigger than she and the headmaster let me know. I couldn’t point it out exactly what I was scare of, but I could sense it. I don’t know if it makes any sense. I thought it was all about happily ever after romance but I got goose bump along the way I read it. That was what I felt mostly. At that point, I’m sure this isn’t an erotica it’s more a horror story, if you ask me, with steamy scenes. I don’t like horror story but I’ve watched some of horror movies that I want to forget I ever watched it since they are still haunting me to this day.

So I made my mind that this is like a particular horror movie that I watched years ago that strangely I was quite like it because it surprised me, in a good way. And I was thinking to stop reading it because it started freak me out. But at the same time it was so engaging I really wanted to know the ending for the characters.

At some point, my guesses were right. They didn’t surprise me at all, thanks to those movies, anyway. But it is definitely page-turner story that catch my attention. And Ms. Reisz is surely has something in her writing. She can make a predictable-ordinary story to an interesting-engaging story. I think for that just one point deserves my likeliness of this book. I’m gonna give her other books a try, for sure.

Result: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Review: Vampire Academy #5, Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Blurb from Goodreads

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s-and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won’t rest until Rose joins him… forever.

Paperback, 489 pages

Published February 22nd 2011 by Razorbill (first published January 1st 2010)

edition language: English

series: Vampire Academy

genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

My Thoughts

I started reading Vampire Academy series years ago, a few years after I read Twilight. At first I was kinda hesitant to read it after my not-so-good experience with Twilight but my friends convince me that it’s a good series. I picked Vampire Academy up just to shut my friends up 😀 And then Rose Hathaway shut me up with her kickass attitude and her wth-I-don’t-care-what-you-think-of-me personalities. She is the main reason I really liked the series.

Then two years ago I read book 4, the one that I really looking forward after major cliffhanger in book 3. Turn out what I was looking forward didn’t live my expectation. Rose Hathaway in Blood Promise wasn’t the kickass heroine I know from the first three books. I was so disappointed and (once again) hesitant to pick its sequels up.

When I finally picked this book up, I kinda wished that Rose will be back to the Rose I love, not Rose from Blood Promise. Unfortunately she’s still true to her personalities that I didn’t quite like. She likes to whine and gets all emo every time she faces Dimitri. She keeps telling me seeing him as a Strigoi had been hard for her. I know she loves him but reading that particular sentence over and over was so annoying. She’s self-center and takes everything and everyone for granted.

After 4 books, I thought she can be more mature and responsible. But nope, she’s still reckless and in the process she drags her friends down and doesn’t even realize it. As a guardian, I really hope she acts like a true guardian, the guardian whom Dimitri taught in St. Vladimir. But I never see her as a guardian here. She’s still Rose I-don’t-care-what-you-think-of-me from St. Vladimir. And it really annoying and frustrating me!

If it wasn’t because my promise to finish series I’ve started and its spin-off, Bloodliness series (love Adrian!), I might not finish this series. But here I am, reading book 5 and so eager to read final book just so I can read Bloodlines series.

Result: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Review: Elemental #5, Sacrifice by Brigid Kemmerer

Blurb from Goodreads

Earth. Fire. Air. Water.

One misstep and they lose it all. For the last time.

Michael Merrick understands pressure. He’s the only parent his three brothers have had for years. His power to control Earth could kill someone if he miscalculates. Now an Elemental Guide has it in for his family, and he’s all that stands in the way.

His girlfriend, Hannah, understands pressure too. She’s got a child of her own, and a job as a firefighter that could put her life in danger at any moment.

But there are people who have had enough of Michael’s defiance, his family’s ‘bad luck’. Before he knows it, Michael’s enemies have turned into the Merricks’ enemies, and they’re armed for war.

They’re not interested in surrender. But Michael isn’t the white flag type anyway. Everything is set for the final showdown.

Four elements, one family. Will they hold together, or be torn apart?

Kindle Edition, 432 pages

Published September 30th 2014 by Kensington Teen

edition language: English

series: Elemental

genre: Paranormal, Romance, New Adult

My Thoughts

Edit, October 4th, 2014

3.5 stars

After I reread this book, sadly I have to lower my rating. I think the first time I read it there were so much expectation to this book. I love Michael Merrick, he’s my favorite among the Merricks and this is the (sort of) final book, so I was so eager and looked forward to read it. I think it was kinda cloud my thoughts. I also read Secret this year, a few months before this book was released and it didn’t have much action and tension, unlike Storm, Spark, and Spirit. So reading Sacrifice with more tension and actions, even more than all of previous books, made me felt like I read a different kind of Elemental story.

Don’t get me wrong, I love those action, obviously but on second thoughts (and second reading) I also think that it was kinda loose the main thing I love the most from the series, The Merricks brotherhood which I didn’ t get in this book. And I didn’t quite like the way The Guide works, in the end. From the beginning of the series, I knew that they are very bad villains and there’ll be something big when they face the Merricks, eventually, but the way it ended felt like too easy. It just didn’t suit with the image, at least my imagination, of what the author build on previous books and novellas.

But once again, I still love this book, I really do, despite a bit disappointed that I have after reading it for the second time. And the series is still one of my favorite YA paranormal series. And if one day Ms. Kemmerer decides to write another story about the Merricks, I’ll be glad to read it. So until then, Merricks.

My original review, August 25th, 2014

4.5 stars

Oh my goodness, my poor heart almost couldn’t take everything that happens in this book. There are a lot of action and tension I felt like I should stop reading it and take a deep breath before I continue it again. It’s just too much, in a very good way.

As much as I loved Secret, Sacrifice is like the opposite. What lack in Secret are provided here in Michael story. If you want to have some action and tension after Secret, this book won’t disappoint you. I guarantee it, and it’s really worth the wait. I’m not saying that Secret isn’t good, far from it, I loved it too for what it’s worth but I also feel like it has more drama than action, though I didn’t mind about it too since that way I knew much about the characters, more than any previous books.

All I’m saying is I think this is an awesome final book for the series. It’s fast-paced and page-turner. What the Elementals have to deal with since the very first book, Storm, are finally revealed. I loved that it ends where it begins, from and with Michael Merrick. There are many twists that surprised me along the way. I didn’t see it coming at all. I practically just reading it and be there with the characters without trying to figure out what will happen next, because it felt useless. My guesses were mostly wrong and I let Ms. Kemmerer lead the way and I just enjoying the journey with my heart beat fast and faster and faster in each chapters.

As Ms. Kemmerer said this is the final book of Elemental series, but she left it open ending so she can write more in the future. At first I was wondering what kind of open ending she really meant. I want the Merricks have their happy ending while an open ending sounds like far from it, I’m glad that they are still have (sort of) their HEA.

However, there are indeed things that can be more explained, about the characters and things that happen. I guess that’s why she left it that way. In a way, I think it makes the story is still a bit unclear, but I’m still satisfied with it, nevertheless. It might not perfect as a final book, but it’s perfect for that imperfection to me.

I have so many feelings before and while I read this book, I think Rapunzel can sum-up it for me 🙂

when I got approved from NetGalley

first 5 chapters

more chapters along the story

another chapters with never ending tension and action

last 5 chapters

last page

ARC was provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Review: Elemental #4, Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

Blurb from Goodreads

Keep his brother’s business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.
Keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his own twin–or he’ll lose his family.

Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who’s supposed to be his “girlfriend’s” partner.

Of course there’s also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers.

There’s a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.

Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

ebook, 352 pages

Published January 28th 2014 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

edition language: English

series: Elemental

genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

My Thoughts

I don’t think there is any better title for this book other than Secret. Nick along with other characters has a lot of secrets they keep around for most of their life. And it costs drama, lots of drama, more than 6 previous books and novellas in the series. I love drama and angst in contemporary story, but I also quite worried that it will be too much and overshadow other things in the plot. I’m glad I didn’t feel that way at all, on the contrary it was so engaging. I couldn’t stop reading it, not even when I have to work. I ended up kept stealing my work time to read it because I just couldn’t wait for Nick and Quinn tell their story.

In a way, I think Secret is slightly different from its prequels. It focuses on more to Nick and Quinn’s life, not the Merricks’ element power. Thus, the drama and angst in this book. Again, I thought it will make it lose focus on the main theme in the series, the Elemental. Moreover the antagonist who shows up in the prologue hasn’t yet mentioned again in more than half of the book, though I have my own guess about it too. But once again, I was glad it doesn’t lose focus. It just changes its focus and because of that I know more about the fight between the Merricks and the Morgans.

To be honest, it was quite surprising me that I ended up liking Tyler Morgan. He reminds me a bit of Hunter. Not that they have common things but in a way that Brigid Kemmerer put them in the gray area. He isn’t like the Merricks who are in the white side, or the Guides who are the antagonists. Well…at least I see them that way, but with Hunter and Tyler, I’m not sure anymore. They make me wondering and there is always moments when I’m questioning their motive and whether they are sincere or not. It feels like I don’t know them at all and can’t guess what they will do next. And they keep surprising me which I really like because it makes the story more interesting.

Although Spark is still my favorite of the series so far, I hold all of the books and the characters dearly in my heart. Without a doubt this is one of my favorite YA paranormal romance series. Now I’m gonna move on to Sacrifice because I can’t wait to read my favorite Merrick to tell me his story 😉

Result: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Review: A Shade of Vampire #7, A Break of Day by Bella Forrest

Blurb from Goodreads

The greatly anticipated conclusion to Derek and Sofia’s journey!

Everything Sofia believed to be true has crumbled before her very eyes…

In this explosive finale, secrets will be revealed, loyalties tested and trust broken.

Are you ready to return to The Shade?

Kindle Edition, 244 pages

Published July 11th 2014 (first published July 7th 2014)

edition language: English

series: A Shade of Vampire

genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

My Thoughts

Despite I loved the series, Derek and Sofia’s final story was such a disappointment. Actually, the series much to my surprise slowly but sure meet its down fall. I can’t help to not notice things that I disliked in each sequel after book 4.

Looking back now, I think I can bear reading a lot of POV, if it means that I can get the clarity in the story. I don’t know, maybe Bella Forrest read my review or other Shaddicts have the same thoughts as mine about those POV, but this book is told mostly from Sofia and Derek’s POV. Just like the first book, A Shade of Vampire. The problem is both Derek and Sofia barely know anything. Reading their final journey to find True Sanctuary was like walking in the dark. They don’t have any idea what they are facing and what they have to do. It was just so frustrating!

I usually enjoy reading something that still unclear along the story as it sometimes means it’s unpredictable and there’s twist in the story. Not in this case. Derek and Sofia just go with the flow and mostly end up asking each other “What now?” Or “Now what?” Hence I felt like there isn’t clarity and certainty of where the story will go.

As Derek and Sofia keep in blind most of the time, other characters have the answer of their questions. It reveals slowly along the story. Unfortunately, before the answers finally reveals, I was already frustrated with them and the story. Thus it made me bored to death. I was so eager to finish it. Not because it’s so engaging but because so I can put it down for good so that I can move on to other books.

There are also things that really annoyed me while I read. Just like Derek and Sofia, I have questions about so many things. Some of them are finally answered but some other are just left behind. Even the characters who have answers, can’t answers those questions. And they are so casually tell me they don’t have the answers because it happened a long time ago or never happen before. They left it behind the reasons and I just couldn’t accept it.

I think this book isn’t about vampires anymore, as most of the time they rely on the witches/warlock. So you see, whenever things get hard, the witches/warlock come to help them. And suddenly it solves easily. It made the war that I really looking forward felt anticlimactic. And there is also thing that comes out of the blue, much for the characters convenience. I just don’t know what to call it, too coincidence or too easy?

According to Goodreads, 2 stars means it was an okay book. I think in a way it was an okay conclusion for Derek and Sofia. I liked the ending, for sure, too bad there are also a lot of things I disliked. I think I need a break from this series, though after this one there is a spin-off of Kiev’s story. And who knows whether there will be another spin-off of the vampire saga or not.

Result: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Review: The Athena Effect #4, The Redcastle Redemption by Derrolyn Anderson

Blurb from Goodreads

Things finally seem peaceful for Cali and Calvin, but the twins are still struggling with their new-found freedom. Layla senses that more trouble still lurks in her future, while Michael’s happiness is being crushed under the weight of a terrible secret.
When someone new discovers the girl’s special talents, he will stop at nothing to put them to use. The cousins must face their most brutal adversary yet, and everyone is forced to fight for both their lives and their loves.

ebook

Published (first published June 2nd 2014)

edition language: English

series: The Athena Effect

genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

My Thoughts

I think The Redcastle Redemption is a good final book for The Athena Effect series. Everything that happens with Cali, Layla and Michael wrap up nicely. The story begins with an unexpected scene which leads to a lot of action scenes. It felts so fast but not in a rush. I mean, in that one single moment the characters indeed need to think and act immediately since their life are in danger.I loved that Layla grow so much since I first met her and so does with Michael. He’s different now. He knows his mistakes and wants to make it right. I think among the three, he’s more real to me. I don’t know, maybe it’s because he doesn’t have power, unlike Cali and Layla. He’s jealous with their power and makes mistakes because of it but he knows it, admit it and want to be a better man because of it. It doesn’t mean that I didn’t love Cali and Layla, though. I do love them, it’s just I also see Michael differently now.

As for the romance, it’s still as sweet as when I read The Athena Effect, for Cali and Cal’s relationship and The Caledonian Inheritance for Layla and Ramon’s romance. But I have to admit that I missed reading Cali’s unpredictable-innocence questions about ordinary things. I think it’s what makes her unique as a character I’ve ever read.

Although I loved the action in this book, it didn’t feel as creepy and thrill as in The Mackenzie Legacy. It made my heart beat fast but at the same time it still felt too easy. I guess I want the characters struggle more as this is their final journey. Geez…it made me sound like a bad reader wanting the characters to have a very bad experience before their happily ever after 😀

I was also not quite satisfied with the reason of Cali and Layla’s power. To be honest, I want more explanation about it, not just it’s a hereditary and some paranormal thing and that’s just it.

It’s always a bittersweet reading a final book of series I loved. I like that it ends well but I’m also sad that I won’t be able to meet the characters again in the future. The Athena Effect series is surely one of those series. Now the only thing I can do is reread the books when I feel like I miss Cali and Cal, Layla and Ramon and Michael and Mina.

ARC was provided by the author in exchange for honest review.

Result: 3.5 out of 5 stars