a) the plot was muddled, lacked direction, and felt like a string of random events with no logical flow.There are several issues I had with this book:
a) the plot was muddled, lacked direction, and felt like a string of random events with no logical flow. There weren't any central themes I could pick out from this mess; it lacked focus. Wtf was with Henry Cheng (I'm guessing this is a plot point in the next book)? What is the point of the Greenmantle guy now? What was the point of Malory??? What's up with Noah and his pitiful amount of screentime? I think abruptly bringing a crazy singing lady from a cave into the cast also contributes to the randomness going on. b) major events that should've had an emotional impact didn't really have the right build-up - instead they just felt like empty, or for shock value. A different kind of case is with Adam's character development; near the end, we're told that he finally feels 'awake' (yes do you remember that gorgeous passage from TDT), but there wasn't enough leading towards this change to make it feel earned. c) this book is not about Ronan (I'm not serious, this would be an unfair but I gotta say it) d) the villains were cartoonish and more annoying than threatening. The writing rode a thin line between strange but beautiful / so quirky I wanted to gag. I feel like her style was perfectly executed in The Dream Thieves (which was heartbreakingly gorgeous), but in BLLB it just felt weird for the sake of it. I'm getting flashbacks to the 'leaky womb' bit in Shiver, man. The humour was hit-or-miss (Ronan's squash mix tape being the highlight) but more often than not it felt... off. I'm also getting some weird vibes from Piper, who demonizes the whole 'women are so silly/shallow/frivolous for liking yoga and small dogs' stereotype or w/e. Sorry we can't all be as strange as Blue's family of psychics? e) Blue and Gansey's romance is BORING, and all of Blue's relatives are starting to blend together in my mind. I think their over the top quirkyness has backfired because I cannot distinguish between all the quirks f) I miss Kavinsky and wish all books were about Ronan
Despite all this, I still love the characters and the bonds they have with one another. My favorite moments: a) When we find out that (view spoiler)[Adam knew Ronan liked him (hide spoiler)] it broke my heart a little, OF COURSE SOMEONE WILL LOVE YOU, ADAM (meeEEE) b) Adam deciding that (view spoiler)[his wish will be for Gansey not to die (hide spoiler)] and basically any time that Adam catches on to a ~secret~ that's being kept, hell yeah don't drag out the secret-keeping nonsense c) Blue and Ronan realizing that they're not so different after all; (that HUG, the crying, I'm crying) d) JESSE DITTLEY, GUARDIAN OF THE CAVE AND EATER OF GREENS (the characters spend 300+ pages trying to get into a cave and Mr. Dittley almost makes it worth it, even if his character still feels a little pointless) e) Gansey and Ronan busting into Adam's court trial thing, like you knew they would...more
I wasn't really expecting to love this book as much as I do right now but I am so, so pleased with that ending. This is easily right up there with TheI wasn't really expecting to love this book as much as I do right now but I am so, so pleased with that ending. This is easily right up there with The Scorpio Races, with each chapter carefully unveiling an entire mini story-arc on its own. I still think Gansey is a little boringly perfect, even though the story wouldn't be the same without him - and I kind of get how Blue isn't supposed to be a scene-stealer (the page of cups, the girl who doesn't seem to have powers but can only enhance others, I know I know), but she doesn't do much at all outside of the romantic plotline in this book (which unfolded like I expected, and is the only thing that I didn't like). The problem is that those raven boys are just as interesting whether or not Blue is there. Their bonds with each other still feel more genuine than they do with her, and I hope that changes.
The best thing is that now the introductions are out of the way, we can really start focusing and delving deeper into what makes the characters tick, and Adam and Ronan are easily the ones I wanted to know more about. Maybe it's because it's so much easier to see their flaws, which in turn leads to more interesting scenes, more conflict and change. I think it's pretty likely that this could be my favorite book in this series- Ronan's family is my favorite, and I really hope we see more of them. The dream sequences, the entire dream-stealing idea, all fantastic. I think there's just the right amount of clues to what some of his secrets are but my skeptical brain also kept making me think it was just all in my head. I'm glad it wasn't. Now when does book 3 come out?...more
Well, that last line makes a lot more sense now that we know what the second book's called. This is another case where I'm way more interested in the Well, that last line makes a lot more sense now that we know what the second book's called. This is another case where I'm way more interested in the non-Main Couple characters (Gansey and Blue just seem so much more boring compared to Adam and Ronan imo)* but I have to give Stiefvater credit for not pushing it into our faces so much, or at least trying to make it seem less predictable.
While it's hard to put down once you start reading, I think this book is too bloated and drags on too much, and it's obvious that most of the mysteries are introduced for later installments to explore. There's a lot more setting up and exploring character relationships then there is advancing a plot, which is something I don't mind too much, actually - the cast is really great, distinct, has good chemistry, and you want to more about them. But the stuff that actually happens, when you look back on it, is buried under a lot of meandering. It lacks some urgency and I put it down for several months (ack, more than a year actually!) when it started lagging. The climax and resolution felt really rushed compared to the rest of the 400-some pages of relaxed pacing. The direction the romance is heading in doesn't interest me at all but I do like the characters, so I might get around to reading more books in the series later on.
*just like in Shiver! Isabel and Cole >>>>> Grace and Sam. the same pattern in also: every John Green book I have ever read...more
Another detective novel, although CLARITY happens to have a supernatural twist; it’s a fantastic idea for a mystery, as Clare combines her powers withAnother detective novel, although CLARITY happens to have a supernatural twist; it’s a fantastic idea for a mystery, as Clare combines her powers with sharp thinking, living up to the potential that such a premise can have.
Kim Harrington hasn’t only created an intriguing female lead with curious powers, but also an entire family with links to the supernatural. The characters are reasonably well-rounded, but the familial bonds seem stronger– this is a nice change from the clichéd romance that eclipses the whole story. Predictably, the new detective’s handsome son is pulled into Clare’s search for the truth, but at least it’s not love at first sight; Clare and Gabriel have to learn to get along with each other, while Clare’s relationship with her ex is another different pairing.
The writing is trimmed down and unembellished, making the story fly by. It starts where it ends, interestingly enough, and the events that lead up to the prologue pull you in more and more as the plot thickens. It’s much shorter than the typical paranormal novel, but nothing is lost– in fact, getting to know Clare’s small town was just as absorbing without padding pointless details to increase its length.
CLARITY is a great start for what will hopefully be a series of paranormal mysteries; we’ve only just been introduced to Clare as she discovers her skills. Watching her develop them further is sure to be a treat....more
Despite the gratingly stereotypical introduction, Unearthly hits its stride a bit past the midway point. And I really enjoyed it. Hand's writing is seDespite the gratingly stereotypical introduction, Unearthly hits its stride a bit past the midway point. And I really enjoyed it. Hand's writing is seamless and so nice and flowy that it's hard to let go. The storyline isn't strikingly original or out of the ordinary (4/5 of the book is just daily school life) but the at the heart of it, it's a coming-of-age with an interesting twist concerning fate in the end.
I loved how the guy who's set up as the perfect-love-interest-in-a-paranormal-romance isn't immediately Clara's soul mate. And Clara isn't just struggling with her own whims in the love triangle (sort of), she's going against something out of her control, destiny. I thought that Clara's friends were kind of lacking but I'm curious as to what her brother was up to... and doesn't anyone realize that her mom doesn't age...? Anyways, Unearthly was a great read, with a sensible protagonist, d'aww-worthy romance, and enough hints of a myth arc that'll convince me to continue reading the next books in the series....more
There isn’t much I say to summarize FOREVER, because doing so would require you to know and understand the characters in the way Stiefvater has carefuThere isn’t much I say to summarize FOREVER, because doing so would require you to know and understand the characters in the way Stiefvater has carefully done for the first two installments of this series. The plot isn’t very important to what makes me enjoy these books: Grace and Sam want to be together, but they can’t because of that werewolf business, and now the wolves are being hunted (again) except this time they’re actually going down. The high stakes don’t come into play until the very end of each book, and I’d call the rest filler, except it’s interesting and engaging and well-written.
The dialogue is excellent. It flows naturally and each character is distinct; Isabel and Cole have improved the series immensely (there’s only so much mushy true soulmate-y love I can take) with their dynamic and very, very flawed personalities. Maggie Stiefvater has such a beautiful way of writing that I can’t wait to see what she can do with a better plot than this, because nothing much really happens throughout the trilogy. It surprises me how I can read 200 pages and realize that nothing has moved forward story-wise, but this is so much better as a character drama. In fact, I’m not even that much of a fan of Grace and Sam, and I think their parents have every right to be suspicious of their relationship, but I can’t help but feel for the cast and their struggles as a whole. FOREVER is undoubtedly my favorite of the trilogy, because the writing and the characters are at their very best when confronted with the worst.
I know many people will be sad to see this series end, and I’m glad that of all werewolf books that could’ve been released at the height of the paranormal craze, it was this series. I’m grateful that it introduced us to such a talented writer, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next....more