marshmallowbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed Prophecy of the Sisters and looked forward to this book, but I don't feel like it lived up to my expectations.
There were things that I felt like hadn't been explained, almost like I had missed an in-between book. Maybe it's just me, but I don't recall "Altus" being mentioned in the first book, and all of a suden it's on every page of this book. Did I miss something??? And I wish more time had been spent on the 8 months Lia and Sonia were in London. Besides the first couple of chapters with random introctions of random characters that aren't really part of the story, all we know is that they were in London, wearing breeches instead of dresses, working on bows and arrows and magic. Maybe that's all the explanation that was needed, but I felt like it was skipped over, although it seemed important and was referred to later on.
Also, what is it with the sudden deep, undeniable, unexplainable connection romances that overshadow the plot? This is the second book I have read recently that I expected to be about adventure and accomplishing a mission, but turned out to be about hooking up with strangers (basically) because there is an undeniable attraction. Most of the pages not spent describing their time together are not covering the mission like you might expect, but about them moping about not being together. I like Dimitri and all, but the romance-without-foundation between him and Lia was just plain frivolity that received too much focus, to the point that the plot became about them instead of about the prophecy and Lia's mission all that. Bleh. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a romance story or even a romantic subplot, but if you want to write a romance, write a romance: Don't pretend it's something else. And it's a subplot, make sure it remains a subplot.
There were things that I felt like hadn't been explained, almost like I had missed an in-between book. Maybe it's just me, but I don't recall "Altus" being mentioned in the first book, and all of a suden it's on every page of this book. Did I miss something??? And I wish more time had been spent on the 8 months Lia and Sonia were in London. Besides the first couple of chapters with random introctions of random characters that aren't really part of the story, all we know is that they were in London, wearing breeches instead of dresses, working on bows and arrows and magic. Maybe that's all the explanation that was needed, but I felt like it was skipped over, although it seemed important and was referred to later on.
Also, what is it with the sudden deep, undeniable, unexplainable connection romances that overshadow the plot? This is the second book I have read recently that I expected to be about adventure and accomplishing a mission, but turned out to be about hooking up with strangers (basically) because there is an undeniable attraction. Most of the pages not spent describing their time together are not covering the mission like you might expect, but about them moping about not being together. I like Dimitri and all, but the romance-without-foundation between him and Lia was just plain frivolity that received too much focus, to the point that the plot became about them instead of about the prophecy and Lia's mission all that. Bleh. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a romance story or even a romantic subplot, but if you want to write a romance, write a romance: Don't pretend it's something else. And it's a subplot, make sure it remains a subplot.
brianbbaker's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book. The first was set up for this book. I am looking forward to the final book and the conclusion of the prophecy. I blew through this book in a 4 days. I don't remember reading a book that held my attention or enthralled me as much as this.
bak8382's review against another edition
4.0
A year has past since Lia and Sonia left for London, and during that time Alice's powers have continued to grow unabated while Lia attempts to increase her own. She is soon joined in London by Lusia, Aunt Virgina, and Edmund. From Edmund she discovers that Alice has been spending time with James while Lia has been gone.
Like many middle novels in fantasy trilogies not too much happens to advance the over-arcing plot. The bulk of the novel sees Lia journeying to find the missing pages of the prophecy which will hopefully help her to end it. The story gets bogged down during this journey (or perhaps it only seems that way to me because I dislike long journeys in books) luckily just as I feared I may have to set the book down forever a most convenient new love interest for Lia swoops in, and the story begins to move more quickly. Considering her feelings for James in the last book it is a bit surprising how quickly she becomes involved with someone else, although the end of the book finds her struggling with her feelings for both which should create quite the love triangle in the final book. She is also unexpectedly betrayed, and she discovers what her future may hold provided she makes it through her quest alive . . .
Like many middle novels in fantasy trilogies not too much happens to advance the over-arcing plot. The bulk of the novel sees Lia journeying to find the missing pages of the prophecy which will hopefully help her to end it. The story gets bogged down during this journey (or perhaps it only seems that way to me because I dislike long journeys in books) luckily just as I feared I may have to set the book down forever a most convenient new love interest for Lia swoops in, and the story begins to move more quickly. Considering her feelings for James in the last book it is a bit surprising how quickly she becomes involved with someone else, although the end of the book finds her struggling with her feelings for both which should create quite the love triangle in the final book. She is also unexpectedly betrayed, and she discovers what her future may hold provided she makes it through her quest alive . . .
the_bookshelf_of_merilin's review against another edition
2.0
I wasn't what I expected, it was boring and dragging. I liked the first book, but this one was kind of a dissapointment.
michellesantiago's review against another edition
4.0
Guardian of the Gate is the second book in Michelle Zink's gothic young adult series. I reviewed Prophecy of the Sisters (the first book; see my review here) yesterday, which ended with Lia leaving New York for England. This book began eight months after Prophecy ended and Lia is hard at work honing her newfound powers, continuing to learn more about prophecy and searching for the other two keys--all of which will help her win against her twin sister, Alice, in their inevitable battle that will pit good sister against the evil sister. However, Guardian is mostly about Lia's journey to a mythical island to look for the missing pages that contain the other half of the prophecy.
The dark, gothic feel I loved from the first book is very much present in this book. It's also still slow and not much really happen to move the plot along but unlike the first book, there is more action in this book which I really liked. We are also introduced to a new love interest for Lia in Dimitri. I didn't really like James from the first book so Dimitri, who Lia forms an instant connection with, is a welcome addition. My other complaint from the first book was that the secondary characters there were a little flat, but in Guardian they are more fleshed out. Alice, the "evil" twin, is hardly in this book and I definitely want to see more of her but suffice to say Guardian surpassed Prophecy and I enjoyed reading this book a lot more. I am definitely looking forward to reading the conclusion of this trilogy!
4 out of 5 stars
The dark, gothic feel I loved from the first book is very much present in this book. It's also still slow and not much really happen to move the plot along but unlike the first book, there is more action in this book which I really liked. We are also introduced to a new love interest for Lia in Dimitri. I didn't really like James from the first book so Dimitri, who Lia forms an instant connection with, is a welcome addition. My other complaint from the first book was that the secondary characters there were a little flat, but in Guardian they are more fleshed out. Alice, the "evil" twin, is hardly in this book and I definitely want to see more of her but suffice to say Guardian surpassed Prophecy and I enjoyed reading this book a lot more. I am definitely looking forward to reading the conclusion of this trilogy!
4 out of 5 stars
marylou1993's review against another edition
4.0
Δεν ξέρω γιατί πολλοί είναι αυτοί που βρίσκουν βαρετή αυτή τη σειρά εμένα πάντως προσωπικά μου άρεσε πολύ!Το δεύτερο βιβλίο είναι βέβαια το πιο αδύναμο καθώς η πλοκή εξελίσσεται με πολύ αργούς ρυθμούς αλλά όλο το σκηνικό της ιστορίας είναι άκρως γοητευτικό όπως και η εποχή που διαδραματίζεται!
saguaros's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
Lia and Sonia have been in London for nine months now. They are getting ready to travel to Altus, the mystical island where Lia's aunt will tell them where to find the Prophecy's missing pages. These pages are important to Lia, as they are suppose to tell her how to end the Prophecy and defeat her sister Alice. They are soon joined by Edmond and Luisa and leave on the perilous journey to Altus. They are joined and helped by Dimitri, a boy Lia finds herself attracted to. They are pursued by Hounds and face betrayal within their ranks. It is a long way to Altus and an even longer way to the missing pages, but Lia is determined to see her quest through and end the Prophecy once and for all.
The first book of this series felt a bit gothic and was definitely intriguing, I got sucked into the Prophecy and really wanted to know more about it. The second book was, in my opinion, disappointing. Most of the book follows Lia, her two friends (and Keys to the Prophecy) Sonia and Luisa, her faithful servant Edmond, and a new powerful ally, Dimitri, on their way to Altus. The second book is more of a quest/adventure story than a gothic mystery like the first one. Still, while a bit slow, the plot moves forward steadily and more details are slowly revealed, but very few, and maybe not enough, in the end. Most of all, we are introduced to a new character and love interest, Dimitri. Now, if you have read my reviews or my book blog for a while you know I am highly critical of love stories in YA fiction, but I am not immune to them. I like them when they are well written. This was not one of them. It was one of those almost-love-at-first-sight-I-trust-you-almost-immediately-I-don't-know-why-but-you-bring-me-such-comfort-and-I-feel-safe-with-you relationship. It had almost immediate making out sessions by campfire light, even though this is suppose to be the 19th century. Oh I'm sure people still made out in those times in secret even though it was considered improper. After all, all those stereotypes about quiet gardeners and sexy stable boys must have come from somewhere, but really? It was not written in a believable fashion. Not to me anyway. I was rolling my eyes so hard, I gave myself a headache. Not only that, but Dimitri? He was boring. Look, he was a nice guy, and I like nice guys. They are not present enough in YA fiction. But they are also hard to write. He had no personality. He was brave and strong and loved Lia unconditionally almost immediately. He was ready to die for her, right there and then. He was so much about her, he was the male equivalent of all those empty females characters you see in Hollywood movies that are there to help the hero on their way and offer them emotional support, but have no real life of their own.
That said the love story did not take over the whole plot, which is a good thing. Lia did keep her eyes on her goals, and never really forgot her purpose or quest. In my review of the first book, I presumed I would love Lia more in the sequels, and I was partly right. I did not dislike her, but I was indifferent to her for most of the book. It is only toward the end, when she is finally on her own, that she shows how strong she can be, and in those moments, I really liked her. My favourite characters were still Luisa and Sonia, although their relationship with Lia was obscured by Dimitri, and I would have much prefered if their bond had been more at the forefront of the story like it was in the first book.
This series is told from Lia's first point of view, but I think, for me, it would have been much better if it had been told from a third-person point of view. It could still focused on Lia, but it would have been nice to have some insight into other characters once in a while. For example, Alice is almost absent from this novel, because Lia and her are no longer together. But Alice is such an interesting character, and through the novel all the characters kept mentioning how powerful she was becoming, how evil and determined, but we never saw it truly. It would have been nice to have some chapters from her point of view. Since this is a story about a Prophecy between two sisters on opposing sides, it would have been nice to see both sides. It really made me realize how important the choice of point-of-view in a story can be.
In spite of its fault, though, I really really want to know how the whole story ends. The whole mythology atround the Prophecy is interesting and characters are changing and evolving and I think it will still be entertaining to read the last book, Circle of Fire, coming out this August.
Lia and Sonia have been in London for nine months now. They are getting ready to travel to Altus, the mystical island where Lia's aunt will tell them where to find the Prophecy's missing pages. These pages are important to Lia, as they are suppose to tell her how to end the Prophecy and defeat her sister Alice. They are soon joined by Edmond and Luisa and leave on the perilous journey to Altus. They are joined and helped by Dimitri, a boy Lia finds herself attracted to. They are pursued by Hounds and face betrayal within their ranks. It is a long way to Altus and an even longer way to the missing pages, but Lia is determined to see her quest through and end the Prophecy once and for all.
The first book of this series felt a bit gothic and was definitely intriguing, I got sucked into the Prophecy and really wanted to know more about it. The second book was, in my opinion, disappointing. Most of the book follows Lia, her two friends (and Keys to the Prophecy) Sonia and Luisa, her faithful servant Edmond, and a new powerful ally, Dimitri, on their way to Altus. The second book is more of a quest/adventure story than a gothic mystery like the first one. Still, while a bit slow, the plot moves forward steadily and more details are slowly revealed, but very few, and maybe not enough, in the end. Most of all, we are introduced to a new character and love interest, Dimitri. Now, if you have read my reviews or my book blog for a while you know I am highly critical of love stories in YA fiction, but I am not immune to them. I like them when they are well written. This was not one of them. It was one of those almost-love-at-first-sight-I-trust-you-almost-immediately-I-don't-know-why-but-you-bring-me-such-comfort-and-I-feel-safe-with-you relationship. It had almost immediate making out sessions by campfire light, even though this is suppose to be the 19th century. Oh I'm sure people still made out in those times in secret even though it was considered improper. After all, all those stereotypes about quiet gardeners and sexy stable boys must have come from somewhere, but really? It was not written in a believable fashion. Not to me anyway. I was rolling my eyes so hard, I gave myself a headache. Not only that, but Dimitri? He was boring. Look, he was a nice guy, and I like nice guys. They are not present enough in YA fiction. But they are also hard to write. He had no personality. He was brave and strong and loved Lia unconditionally almost immediately. He was ready to die for her, right there and then. He was so much about her, he was the male equivalent of all those empty females characters you see in Hollywood movies that are there to help the hero on their way and offer them emotional support, but have no real life of their own.
That said the love story did not take over the whole plot, which is a good thing. Lia did keep her eyes on her goals, and never really forgot her purpose or quest. In my review of the first book, I presumed I would love Lia more in the sequels, and I was partly right. I did not dislike her, but I was indifferent to her for most of the book. It is only toward the end, when she is finally on her own, that she shows how strong she can be, and in those moments, I really liked her. My favourite characters were still Luisa and Sonia, although their relationship with Lia was obscured by Dimitri, and I would have much prefered if their bond had been more at the forefront of the story like it was in the first book.
This series is told from Lia's first point of view, but I think, for me, it would have been much better if it had been told from a third-person point of view. It could still focused on Lia, but it would have been nice to have some insight into other characters once in a while. For example, Alice is almost absent from this novel, because Lia and her are no longer together. But Alice is such an interesting character, and through the novel all the characters kept mentioning how powerful she was becoming, how evil and determined, but we never saw it truly. It would have been nice to have some chapters from her point of view. Since this is a story about a Prophecy between two sisters on opposing sides, it would have been nice to see both sides. It really made me realize how important the choice of point-of-view in a story can be.
In spite of its fault, though, I really really want to know how the whole story ends. The whole mythology atround the Prophecy is interesting and characters are changing and evolving and I think it will still be entertaining to read the last book, Circle of Fire, coming out this August.
dieciseisl's review against another edition
3.0
Meeeeeeeeh D: No me ha gustado mucho, pero bueno, ha sido mejor que el primero.
marisa9459's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
not as pleasurably mysterious as the first book but still good! I do think Lia and Dimitri's romance was a little quick but I guess if you know you know. This book felt a little more placerholder-y between the 1st and 3rd. Excited to see how this prophecy ends!
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
I'm being a little generous with this, as it's really a 2.5-star book, in large part because it suffers from series-itis: if you haven't read Book One, it will take you a while to get into Book Two (and I hadn't read Book One).
The plot is rather simplistic - battle between Good and Evil, set in vaguely Victorian era London. There's a Prophecy, and twins (Lia and Alice) who appear to be on different sides yet completely linked by this Prophecy. Book Two is largely concerned with a trip to a mysterious island, Altus, and the retrieval of missing pages from the Prophecy.
The other reason that I wanted to give the book 2.5 stars was because of Altus. It feels like a rip-off of the Avalon imagined by Marion Zimmer Bradley in The Mists of Avalon, and part of me resented that. It may have been intended as an hommage, or an unconscious similarity, but... if you loved the original, you may be equally bothered.
ARC provided by publisher.
The plot is rather simplistic - battle between Good and Evil, set in vaguely Victorian era London. There's a Prophecy, and twins (Lia and Alice) who appear to be on different sides yet completely linked by this Prophecy. Book Two is largely concerned with a trip to a mysterious island, Altus, and the retrieval of missing pages from the Prophecy.
The other reason that I wanted to give the book 2.5 stars was because of Altus. It feels like a rip-off of the Avalon imagined by Marion Zimmer Bradley in The Mists of Avalon, and part of me resented that. It may have been intended as an hommage, or an unconscious similarity, but... if you loved the original, you may be equally bothered.
ARC provided by publisher.