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yodamom's review against another edition
2.0
Laurel, what a confused plant fairy she is-she has two guys that love her and trolls running after her and she does not know who to be with so she plays both ? I just wanted to smack her through the whole book. Really the whole book seemed centered around her and the two boys she tortures with 'loving' both. The fae part of the story was so minute, with only one new character Yuki, and she was a shadow. This book was just a tease story, never really going anywhere. I liked the last story, so I'll give the series one more chance.
Teen angst deluxe should be the tittle.
Teen angst deluxe should be the tittle.
bec143's review against another edition
4.0
I still hate Laurel. But maybe a little less than I did before.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
Ik lees veel. Heel veel. Het ene boek blijft me wat beter bij dan het andere. Vaak blijft alleen het gevoel van een boek echt bij en niet de gedetailleerde inhoud. Ook dit boek heb ik ooit al eens gelezen. Lang geleden. Gek genoeg kon ik me van dit boek weinig meer herinneren, behalve de onthulling die helemaal aan het einde van het boek gedaan wordt. Gelukkig mocht ik meedoen aan de blogtour die leidt naar deel vijf en kon ik het verhaal herontdekken!
Ik snap eerlijk gezegd wel waarom het boek me niet heel erg bijgebleven is. Er gebeurt in dit deel relatief weinig dat het onthouden waard is. Het boek draait eigenlijk vooral om de liefdesdriehoek en de beslissingen die onze hoofdpersoon moet nemen als het gaat om haar toekomst. Het is een boek vol twijfels, opgekropte emoties en keuzes die al dan niet gemaakt worden.
Dat maakt dat het boek onderaan de streep weinig toevoegt aan het geheel, er worden weinig grootse ontdekkingen gedaan, er is geen hele grote dreiging en er is geen spectaculaire finale vol met gevaar. Toch gaat het boek geen moment vervelen en leest het boek ongelooflijk lekker weg. De emoties van de personages zijn namelijk wel heel echt en realistisch. Ik denk dat met name jongeren zich echt in deze problemen kunnen herkennen.
Daarnaast belooft de onthulling aan het einde juist een enorm spannend volgende boek. De onthulling verandert namelijk alles en het is wel duidelijk dat de problemen waarin onze helden verzeild zijn geraakt veel groter zijn dan trollen die nu eenmaal graag op elfjes jagen. Daarnaast hebben de personages in dit boek hopelijk heel veel over zichzelf en hun emoties geleerd en kunnen ze in het volgende boek eindelijk weer verder groeien en ontwikkelen.
Het onbekende vijfde deel komt nu ook steeds dichterbij. Ik heb er echt enorm veel zin in!
Ik snap eerlijk gezegd wel waarom het boek me niet heel erg bijgebleven is. Er gebeurt in dit deel relatief weinig dat het onthouden waard is. Het boek draait eigenlijk vooral om de liefdesdriehoek en de beslissingen die onze hoofdpersoon moet nemen als het gaat om haar toekomst. Het is een boek vol twijfels, opgekropte emoties en keuzes die al dan niet gemaakt worden.
Dat maakt dat het boek onderaan de streep weinig toevoegt aan het geheel, er worden weinig grootse ontdekkingen gedaan, er is geen hele grote dreiging en er is geen spectaculaire finale vol met gevaar. Toch gaat het boek geen moment vervelen en leest het boek ongelooflijk lekker weg. De emoties van de personages zijn namelijk wel heel echt en realistisch. Ik denk dat met name jongeren zich echt in deze problemen kunnen herkennen.
Daarnaast belooft de onthulling aan het einde juist een enorm spannend volgende boek. De onthulling verandert namelijk alles en het is wel duidelijk dat de problemen waarin onze helden verzeild zijn geraakt veel groter zijn dan trollen die nu eenmaal graag op elfjes jagen. Daarnaast hebben de personages in dit boek hopelijk heel veel over zichzelf en hun emoties geleerd en kunnen ze in het volgende boek eindelijk weer verder groeien en ontwikkelen.
Het onbekende vijfde deel komt nu ook steeds dichterbij. Ik heb er echt enorm veel zin in!
freadomlibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Critically
Plot - 4 out of 5 stars
Definitely enjoyed this one more. It was a lot more exciting. There was more magic, intrigue, twists and turns, some drama and a crazy cliffhanger that left me with my jaw open.
Writing Style - 3 out of 5 stars
Very simple and dry. It's engaging with the reader but it needs a lot more descriptions. I feel like I'm scrambling to figure out how things look like and how things are placed in the different settings. Not my favorite really.
Characters - 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall, pretty much the entirety of the characters got on my nerves this time. I get it a bit, since the stakes are higher and tension is everywhere but I felt like everyone was in a bad mood throughout the book. Laurel was really annoying and dramatic. She was torn on quite a few things which made her insufferable since there were definitely other more important things to worry about. The boys were just as bad. The one I've liked the whole time got an attitude problem in this one. He was jealous and rude at times but at least the qualities I liked from him (bravery, loyalty, protectiveness, insight fulness) were showed in this one too. The other is rude, sneaky and in total denial. He doesn't respect personal boundaries which is the biggest complain I can make of him.
Emotionally
The plot of this one was definitely more exciting then the ones before. We have a huge mystery (who are Yuki and Klea), new characters, and new challenges (Tamani being a part of the human high school experience). That kept the plot more lively but it still had the same mundane, day to day things that are really boring to read. The drama felt unnecessary and stupid. There was so much more to focus on and Laurel would obsessively think about the differences between David and Tamani, how they interacted, how she interacted with either of them, who she wanted, yada yada yada. It was the worst part of this entire book.
Laurel and those feelings are getting really old. Thank God there was something else to focus on because if not, I probably would've chucked my iPod against the wall. There's who Yuki is and her type of flower, the problem with the trolls and how they disappear, her friends and keeping them safe. Important things that deserve her time and dedication to be able to work or improve or be solved. Unfortunately, she spent the majority of the time thinking about David and Tamani and who she should be with. The worst part is that it took away from what could've been great character development and personal growth. It just made her seem like a shallow girl trying to survive in a war.
I still love David and I still think he's the best choice for Laurel. He supports her and her life and who she is. He is pretty much there for her and anything she needs. Although in this one he has some jealously issues that definitely get out of hand, but they are totally warranted! It's not like he's imagining that Tamani wants to steal his girlfriend. It's a thing, everyone knows it! Maybe it was pushed too far which did bother me, but I think Laurel definitely overreacted in breaking up with him since she knew the tension that was between them.
Speaking of Tamani, he annoys the crap out of me. I don't care how cute and charming he acts, guys who don't respect boundaries, specially relationship boundaries are not okay in my book. It's not okay to state that you want to steal someone's girlfriend, it's not okay to kiss her in front of said boyfriend. None of that is cool. A good guy probably doesn't hide his feelings but he also doesn't disrespect the choices she makes because they make her happy.
THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH! I swear, every time I get to the end of one of these books I know some real shit is going to go down and I was right this time! Yuki is a fucking Winter faerie!! Like, the fuck?! I'm freaking out about how she was even created in the first place. And what she wants to do and so on and so forth. Next book is going to be intense.
Plot - 4 out of 5 stars
Definitely enjoyed this one more. It was a lot more exciting. There was more magic, intrigue, twists and turns, some drama and a crazy cliffhanger that left me with my jaw open.
Writing Style - 3 out of 5 stars
Very simple and dry. It's engaging with the reader but it needs a lot more descriptions. I feel like I'm scrambling to figure out how things look like and how things are placed in the different settings. Not my favorite really.
Characters - 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall, pretty much the entirety of the characters got on my nerves this time. I get it a bit, since the stakes are higher and tension is everywhere but I felt like everyone was in a bad mood throughout the book. Laurel was really annoying and dramatic. She was torn on quite a few things which made her insufferable since there were definitely other more important things to worry about. The boys were just as bad. The one I've liked the whole time got an attitude problem in this one. He was jealous and rude at times but at least the qualities I liked from him (bravery, loyalty, protectiveness, insight fulness) were showed in this one too. The other is rude, sneaky and in total denial. He doesn't respect personal boundaries which is the biggest complain I can make of him.
Emotionally
Spoiler
This series has a habit of being generally dull and boring and then saving itself with the last few chapters.The plot of this one was definitely more exciting then the ones before. We have a huge mystery (who are Yuki and Klea), new characters, and new challenges (Tamani being a part of the human high school experience). That kept the plot more lively but it still had the same mundane, day to day things that are really boring to read. The drama felt unnecessary and stupid. There was so much more to focus on and Laurel would obsessively think about the differences between David and Tamani, how they interacted, how she interacted with either of them, who she wanted, yada yada yada. It was the worst part of this entire book.
Laurel and those feelings are getting really old. Thank God there was something else to focus on because if not, I probably would've chucked my iPod against the wall. There's who Yuki is and her type of flower, the problem with the trolls and how they disappear, her friends and keeping them safe. Important things that deserve her time and dedication to be able to work or improve or be solved. Unfortunately, she spent the majority of the time thinking about David and Tamani and who she should be with. The worst part is that it took away from what could've been great character development and personal growth. It just made her seem like a shallow girl trying to survive in a war.
I still love David and I still think he's the best choice for Laurel. He supports her and her life and who she is. He is pretty much there for her and anything she needs. Although in this one he has some jealously issues that definitely get out of hand, but they are totally warranted! It's not like he's imagining that Tamani wants to steal his girlfriend. It's a thing, everyone knows it! Maybe it was pushed too far which did bother me, but I think Laurel definitely overreacted in breaking up with him since she knew the tension that was between them.
Speaking of Tamani, he annoys the crap out of me. I don't care how cute and charming he acts, guys who don't respect boundaries, specially relationship boundaries are not okay in my book. It's not okay to state that you want to steal someone's girlfriend, it's not okay to kiss her in front of said boyfriend. None of that is cool. A good guy probably doesn't hide his feelings but he also doesn't disrespect the choices she makes because they make her happy.
THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH! I swear, every time I get to the end of one of these books I know some real shit is going to go down and I was right this time! Yuki is a fucking Winter faerie!! Like, the fuck?! I'm freaking out about how she was even created in the first place. And what she wants to do and so on and so forth. Next book is going to be intense.
dajoyofit's review against another edition
2.0
Illusions (Bk#3) left me disillusioned. I love this series by Ms. Pike; its the only series I've ever bought in hardcover. However, with Book #3 there is NO resolution to the main plot. The unresolved subplot(s) of course don't get resolved as it should be - gives us something to look forward to in the next book, but to not resolve the main plot is like a huge faux pas. It was such a disappointment. It gave me the sense that her publishers were trying way too hard to get another book squeeezed into this series.
celjla212's review against another edition
4.0
Now that the threat of Barnes has been eliminated, Laurel is more than happy to get on with her life. She goes back to Avalon to partake in some more Fall Faerie 101, and when she gets back, it's time to start her senior year. Laural is still dating David, and even though she and Tamani got into a huge fight in the previous book, they of course cannot stay away from each other and end up being fast friends once again.
Before school starts, Laurel gets a surprise visit from Klea, who asks her for a favor--Klea wants her to keep an eye on a girl named Yuki, who she thinks might be a "dryad." Laurel and Tamani are suspicious to say the least, but they agree that it's something Laurel should do, if only to keep the mysterious girl close to find out more about her, and possibly the truth about Klea. Laurel still doesn't completely trust her even though Klea saved her life...twice.
Tamani enrolls in school to stay closer to both Laurel and Yuki, and of course this makes David extremely uncomfortable. Tensions rise and things between the two boys eventually come to a head. Laurel remains torn, and has yet to make a choice between the two of them--there's just too much going on for her to have boyfriend issues. Between spying on Yuki, worrying about the SAT's, and stumbling across random trolls who seem to be immune to her magic, she's got a lot on her plate.
As Laurel and Co. draw Yuki into their group, they find out the truth about her. It's something that could have colossal meaning not just for Laurel and Tamani, but for the whole fae kingdom.
I'm not sure if I like this book better than part 2, Spells. I'll just say it was at least as good as Spells. I could tell that David was getting more and more tense around Tamani and that he was starting to irritate Laurel. David was usually such a nice guy but what human man alive wouldn't be threatened by his girlfriend having a gorgeous male protector/former love interest.
I'd have loved it if this book was not a cliffhanger. The main thing I'd want to know about is the significance of Laurel's headaches. I'm also anxious to know just what exactly Klea is. I never got the feeling that she was untrustworthy before, but as a reader, I love when the author can fool me.
I'm glad the love triangle between Laurel, David, and Tamani has finally wound down. It was getting a little tiring, and I felt Laurel was doing a disservice to both guys. Honestly, if I were her, I'm not sure who I'd choose.
I can't wait for the last book of this series, which comes out in May 2012.
Before school starts, Laurel gets a surprise visit from Klea, who asks her for a favor--Klea wants her to keep an eye on a girl named Yuki, who she thinks might be a "dryad." Laurel and Tamani are suspicious to say the least, but they agree that it's something Laurel should do, if only to keep the mysterious girl close to find out more about her, and possibly the truth about Klea. Laurel still doesn't completely trust her even though Klea saved her life...twice.
Tamani enrolls in school to stay closer to both Laurel and Yuki, and of course this makes David extremely uncomfortable. Tensions rise and things between the two boys eventually come to a head. Laurel remains torn, and has yet to make a choice between the two of them--there's just too much going on for her to have boyfriend issues. Between spying on Yuki, worrying about the SAT's, and stumbling across random trolls who seem to be immune to her magic, she's got a lot on her plate.
As Laurel and Co. draw Yuki into their group, they find out the truth about her. It's something that could have colossal meaning not just for Laurel and Tamani, but for the whole fae kingdom.
I'm not sure if I like this book better than part 2, Spells. I'll just say it was at least as good as Spells. I could tell that David was getting more and more tense around Tamani and that he was starting to irritate Laurel. David was usually such a nice guy but what human man alive wouldn't be threatened by his girlfriend having a gorgeous male protector/former love interest.
I'd have loved it if this book was not a cliffhanger. The main thing I'd want to know about is the significance of Laurel's headaches. I'm also anxious to know just what exactly Klea is. I never got the feeling that she was untrustworthy before, but as a reader, I love when the author can fool me.
I'm glad the love triangle between Laurel, David, and Tamani has finally wound down. It was getting a little tiring, and I felt Laurel was doing a disservice to both guys. Honestly, if I were her, I'm not sure who I'd choose.
I can't wait for the last book of this series, which comes out in May 2012.
skyfall's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0