stb2012's review
4.0
This is a pretty good book. Just a normal teenage girl named Allison running through the motions of life everyday. She has a schizophrenic mom and dad she knows nothing about. Her friends to try to get Allison to hang out with them (which she does occasionally) she feels as if she needs to take care of her mother instead of her grandparents. Of course she has a love Interest named Ethan but their relationship is complicated. It's a great story about Fairy folk and I can't wait to continue reading about it.
stephnm26's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 for sure! I enjoyed reading this through Allison (FMC) eyes and I completely related about taking on so much responsibility. I hated her pushing Ethan away and there was quite a few side characters!
valeriew's review against another edition
3.0
Hum. Not sure what to rate this one. The story was pretty good. It was a little slow on giving details. Like all the details were some secret. I HATED the names!!! It was so dang confusing that all the people with weird names all started with the same letter. I couldn't keep them straight. That was annoying. And her attitude toward Ethan was so lame. He should have given up a long time ago.
rachelthistle's review against another edition
3.0
Umm what!? I am so confused! I honestly have no idea what just happened. I must have dozed off or something because nothing makes sense to me!
While the parts of the book I actually understood were really very enjoyable, there were other parts that I did not know what was going on. And that is not a good thing!
While the parts of the book I actually understood were really very enjoyable, there were other parts that I did not know what was going on. And that is not a good thing!
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
3.0
http://www.yabookscentral.com/component/content/article/28-young-adult-indie/15656-the-forgotten-ones-the-danaan-trilogy-1
meganmreads's review against another edition
3.0
The Forgotten Ones was an adventurous YA story steeped in magic with Irish roots.
Allison had a relatively difficult life due to her mother's schizophrenia. Her mother hadn't been normal and engaging since Allison was 7 years old. Allison blamed herself for her mother's condition since it seemed to manifest around the time of her birth. Because of this, Allison was a bit of loner who pushed people away because she was preparing herself for a lifetime of caring for her mother. Her grandparents, aunts, and cousins all tried to help Allison relax and learn to live, but Allison was stubborn.
Her life continued normally as she attempted to brush off her feelings for her friend Ethan, which I enjoyed reading about. Things quickly became abnormal in Allison's life when her long lost and somewhat young looking father showed up at her doorstep asking for her mother. With him came an amazing story and an adventure that would take Allison to places she never imagined existed. His presence answered many of Allison's questions about her mother's past, too.
I'd hate to give much more away because the twists certainly surprised and interested me while reading. I was a big fan of anything that got Allison to admit her feelings for Ethan, though. The story started out feeling more like a contemporary novel since Allison was dead set on caring for her mother and ignoring her feelings for Ethan and attempting to avoid fun at all costs, but as soon as her long lost father turned up, the entire plot shifted into something much more exciting and magical. From magical political plots to dangerous creatures, the story had an action packed plot full of trouble.
Overall, The Forgotten Ones was an enchanting and adventurous story with a slight romance. While Ethan and Allison spent most of the novel avoiding dealing with their feelings, the angst and emotion was still there. I gave it 3 stars because it took awhile for the plot to pick up. Allison took forever to admit there really wasn't any harm in having a relationship, which also drove me nuts. And just when I was glued to the story, it ended rather abruptly. I typically give higher stars for books that keep me interested in continuing the series, but because I read this in between stand alone novels, the need for a sequel aggravated me and I always have to be honest!
I would recommend The Forgotten Ones to fans of YA magical stories with romance. It had some unique aspects and a plot that really kept me turning the pages. I definitely can't wait to read the next in the series.
Review published at Love, Literature, Art, and Reason: http://meganm922.blogspot.com/2013/05/blog-tour-giveaway-review-and-favorite.html
Allison had a relatively difficult life due to her mother's schizophrenia. Her mother hadn't been normal and engaging since Allison was 7 years old. Allison blamed herself for her mother's condition since it seemed to manifest around the time of her birth. Because of this, Allison was a bit of loner who pushed people away because she was preparing herself for a lifetime of caring for her mother. Her grandparents, aunts, and cousins all tried to help Allison relax and learn to live, but Allison was stubborn.
Her life continued normally as she attempted to brush off her feelings for her friend Ethan, which I enjoyed reading about. Things quickly became abnormal in Allison's life when her long lost and somewhat young looking father showed up at her doorstep asking for her mother. With him came an amazing story and an adventure that would take Allison to places she never imagined existed. His presence answered many of Allison's questions about her mother's past, too.
I'd hate to give much more away because the twists certainly surprised and interested me while reading. I was a big fan of anything that got Allison to admit her feelings for Ethan, though. The story started out feeling more like a contemporary novel since Allison was dead set on caring for her mother and ignoring her feelings for Ethan and attempting to avoid fun at all costs, but as soon as her long lost father turned up, the entire plot shifted into something much more exciting and magical. From magical political plots to dangerous creatures, the story had an action packed plot full of trouble.
Overall, The Forgotten Ones was an enchanting and adventurous story with a slight romance. While Ethan and Allison spent most of the novel avoiding dealing with their feelings, the angst and emotion was still there. I gave it 3 stars because it took awhile for the plot to pick up. Allison took forever to admit there really wasn't any harm in having a relationship, which also drove me nuts. And just when I was glued to the story, it ended rather abruptly. I typically give higher stars for books that keep me interested in continuing the series, but because I read this in between stand alone novels, the need for a sequel aggravated me and I always have to be honest!
I would recommend The Forgotten Ones to fans of YA magical stories with romance. It had some unique aspects and a plot that really kept me turning the pages. I definitely can't wait to read the next in the series.
Review published at Love, Literature, Art, and Reason: http://meganm922.blogspot.com/2013/05/blog-tour-giveaway-review-and-favorite.html
coffeeornah's review against another edition
3.0
I was given an ARC to read so that I would give an honest reveiw so here it is and I hope that I'm not hurting her feelings.
Alright so I wanted so badly to give this a 5 star rating. But I just can't. There is so much that I want to see in this book, I wanted more description of Tir Na Nog, I wanted more of the back story of the characters in this book. I just wanted more! I think its the beginning of something very beautiful yes, its just not there yet. I hope the second book (please let there be a second one) its just that little bit better. Good job Laura!
Alright so I wanted so badly to give this a 5 star rating. But I just can't. There is so much that I want to see in this book, I wanted more description of Tir Na Nog, I wanted more of the back story of the characters in this book. I just wanted more! I think its the beginning of something very beautiful yes, its just not there yet. I hope the second book (please let there be a second one) its just that little bit better. Good job Laura!
mlboyd20's review against another edition
3.0
I was uber excited to do this read for review. The author had provided me a finished epub copy, BUT for the review I read it from the paperback edition that I had purchased on my own for a book signing coming up. I had the pleasure of seeing this book go from a writer’s imagination to the actual written word and it’s quite amazing. Laura Howard had invited me into her group when she was going through the beginning draft stages and she openly welcomed the group’s thoughts and ideas.
This story age-wise is more New Adult, but the story itself fit the YA genre nicely. A well worded fantasy novel with fairy folklore and such that grabs the attention of the reader. We start off modern day; a girl, her schizophrenic mother, loving grandparents, friends and a romantic interest. Add in a never seen father, his assortment of cohorts and such and together you have a unique fantasy world.
The story was good, but I got so lost with all the different characters. It seemed to get quite confusing and jumbled at times. The Irish wording also was not a favorite of mine. Yes, it added a sense of factuality to the story, but I think I would have gotten more out of the story if the author had used names that were much more pronounceable and non-distracting.
I felt there was a bit of lack of emotion from the characters at times that made the story lackluster. The exchange between Allison and Liam, especially when they first met, was just too benign. The rage didn’t come through, the betrayal she should have felt wasn’t quite evident and the surprise he was dealt was treated like just another day. The whole thing with Allison and Ethan, back and forth, the flirting, etc., well, they are both at the age when that stuff is left for the highschoolers and reality of adulthood would have had them acting quite more grown up about it and handle things at a different level.
Other than that, the story is enjoyable. In the literary world were fantasy, especially fairy, tales have been twisted and turned so many different ways, Laura Howard came through with a unique and enthralling story which will make all readers of fantasy jump for joy.
This story age-wise is more New Adult, but the story itself fit the YA genre nicely. A well worded fantasy novel with fairy folklore and such that grabs the attention of the reader. We start off modern day; a girl, her schizophrenic mother, loving grandparents, friends and a romantic interest. Add in a never seen father, his assortment of cohorts and such and together you have a unique fantasy world.
The story was good, but I got so lost with all the different characters. It seemed to get quite confusing and jumbled at times. The Irish wording also was not a favorite of mine. Yes, it added a sense of factuality to the story, but I think I would have gotten more out of the story if the author had used names that were much more pronounceable and non-distracting.
I felt there was a bit of lack of emotion from the characters at times that made the story lackluster. The exchange between Allison and Liam, especially when they first met, was just too benign. The rage didn’t come through, the betrayal she should have felt wasn’t quite evident and the surprise he was dealt was treated like just another day. The whole thing with Allison and Ethan, back and forth, the flirting, etc., well, they are both at the age when that stuff is left for the highschoolers and reality of adulthood would have had them acting quite more grown up about it and handle things at a different level.
Other than that, the story is enjoyable. In the literary world were fantasy, especially fairy, tales have been twisted and turned so many different ways, Laura Howard came through with a unique and enthralling story which will make all readers of fantasy jump for joy.
meimpink's review against another edition
2.0
This one hurt. The first three or so chapters were actually really really good, with a rather decent cast of well-rounded characters set up, budding relationships that I wanted to see grow, and an intriguing mystery that was going to coalesce over the rest of the book. Then the author threw it all out the window and really tried to force us to like the unlikeable fairy characters and believe the whatever-it-was-that-was-supposed-to-pass-for-a-plot. I did enjoy those first three or so chapters, though.