itadakinasu's review against another edition
3.0
While I devoured this book and loved the characters, there's still a lot of room for improvement that could've taken this book from "fun" to "amazing."
Let's start with the bad:
1. There's so much going on in the book that it's kind of hard to wrap my head around it. We've got voodoo and clairvoyance, vampires, harpies, gods and goddesses, witches and warlocks, alchemy, and shapeshifters. We've got bounty hunters. We've got gorgon. It's a little overwhelming and confusing, since some of them are used as deux ex machina that are conveniently peppered in and then the mechanics not explained.
2. Ari, like many other YA protagonists, is super special, as she's the only one of her kind (at the moment). It's slightly forgivable, since other characters are also one-of-a-kind, like most of the doue. However, her power doesn't follow the rules established in the world building, and it hasn't been explained. If other characters had had unstable control over or development of their power, it could've been justified, but nope. Only Ari.
3. The writing. There are moments of beauty, and they're not exactly rare, but there are plenty of passages that just sound awkward and detract from the experience:
Adrenaline snaked through my limbs.
An inhale lodged in my throat.
Images of the hurricanes... clicked through my mind.
A burst of confetti shot through my stomach as I studied his profile.
A throb of pain mushroomed through my head
The majority of these awkward passages are either from trying to describe feelings in unique ways (not necessary) or from trying to fit in jokes at inappropriate times. Other descriptions hit the mark though:
"What the hell are you? And don't change the fucking subject, or offer one of your vague-ass replies."
It was pointless to go down the Life's Not Fair road. Been there before. Lesson learned. That kind of hurt served no purpose.
Everything hurt. The outside. The inside. And I finally understood what it felt like to be broken.
4. Plot twists are predictable for the most part.
And now, the middle ground:
1. The pacing of Ari and Sebastian's relationship. I like it because it doesn't develop in the same arc as most romances. But the problem is how Keaton wrote it. There are stirrings of love already when the two barely know each other. It would've been better kept as purely physical at first and then gradually developing. Not following the conventional "rules" for romance arcs is fine by me though.
2. The lack of development of minor characters. Each character has enough visibility and uniqueness to be memorable, but the problem is that the only focus is Ari and Sebastian. I didn't get to care deeply about the other doue, other than Violet. I want to see more of Crank, at least.
And for the good:
1. Ari. What a character! It's rare to find a YA heroine that isn't shallow, whiny, bitchy, selfish, or a Mary Sue. Ari makes mistakes, is gruff, sucks at consoling people, and struggles to trust. She's tough but imperfect, and has plenty of fears and insecurities. My main complaint is that everyone likes her upon first meeting her, or comes to like her after dealing with her. Of course, some of this can be explained by her attractiveness (as those of us not blessed with looks can attest to).
2. The setting is beautiful. New 2 is dark and breathtaking, and it adds to the atmosphere of the writing. I enjoyed reading descriptions of the marketplaces and the buildings, the French Quarter, and voodoo alleys.
3. Characters have histories with each other, and it's revealed to the reader in a digestible yet intriguing way. Everyone is related (not by blood) in some way, but it doesn't feel like readers have to read too much background info to be caught up on these histories and where the characters stand with each other.
Overall, this was a great story and a great MC with glaring execution flaws. I'd like to continue the series if these points are handled in the future books.
Let's start with the bad:
1. There's so much going on in the book that it's kind of hard to wrap my head around it. We've got voodoo and clairvoyance, vampires, harpies, gods and goddesses, witches and warlocks, alchemy, and shapeshifters. We've got bounty hunters. We've got gorgon. It's a little overwhelming and confusing, since some of them are used as deux ex machina that are conveniently peppered in and then the mechanics not explained.
2. Ari, like many other YA protagonists, is super special, as she's the only one of her kind (at the moment). It's slightly forgivable, since other characters are also one-of-a-kind, like most of the doue. However, her power doesn't follow the rules established in the world building
Spoiler
since she's supposed to develop them after turning 21, but she already can control her power3. The writing. There are moments of beauty, and they're not exactly rare, but there are plenty of passages that just sound awkward and detract from the experience:
Adrenaline snaked through my limbs.
An inhale lodged in my throat.
Images of the hurricanes... clicked through my mind.
A burst of confetti shot through my stomach as I studied his profile.
A throb of pain mushroomed through my head
The majority of these awkward passages are either from trying to describe feelings in unique ways (not necessary) or from trying to fit in jokes at inappropriate times. Other descriptions hit the mark though:
"What the hell are you? And don't change the fucking subject, or offer one of your vague-ass replies."
It was pointless to go down the Life's Not Fair road. Been there before. Lesson learned. That kind of hurt served no purpose.
Everything hurt. The outside. The inside. And I finally understood what it felt like to be broken.
4. Plot twists are predictable for the most part.
And now, the middle ground:
1. The pacing of Ari and Sebastian's relationship. I like it because it doesn't develop in the same arc as most romances. But the problem is how Keaton wrote it. There are stirrings of love already when the two barely know each other. It would've been better kept as purely physical at first and then gradually developing. Not following the conventional "rules" for romance arcs is fine by me though.
2. The lack of development of minor characters. Each character has enough visibility and uniqueness to be memorable, but the problem is that the only focus is Ari and Sebastian. I didn't get to care deeply about the other doue, other than Violet. I want to see more of Crank, at least.
And for the good:
1. Ari. What a character! It's rare to find a YA heroine that isn't shallow, whiny, bitchy, selfish, or a Mary Sue. Ari makes mistakes, is gruff, sucks at consoling people, and struggles to trust. She's tough but imperfect, and has plenty of fears and insecurities. My main complaint is that everyone likes her upon first meeting her, or comes to like her after dealing with her. Of course, some of this can be explained by her attractiveness (as those of us not blessed with looks can attest to).
Spoiler
I also wasn't fond of how she was portrayed as an exception in a line of already overpowered women.2. The setting is beautiful. New 2 is dark and breathtaking, and it adds to the atmosphere of the writing. I enjoyed reading descriptions of the marketplaces and the buildings, the French Quarter, and voodoo alleys.
3. Characters have histories with each other, and it's revealed to the reader in a digestible yet intriguing way. Everyone is related (not by blood) in some way, but it doesn't feel like readers have to read too much background info to be caught up on these histories and where the characters stand with each other.
Overall, this was a great story and a great MC with glaring execution flaws. I'd like to continue the series if these points are handled in the future books.
redtemptation's review against another edition
2.0
I was really in the mood for a new kind of paranormal romance. Yes, the main character is a surprise on what she actually is. In fact, even though there were clues, I didn't necessarily get it until it I was supposed to, which is nice (since I can normally guess the paranormal aspect fairly often in the first couple of chapters of the book). What made me not like this book very much was the relationships. They seemed to meet each other one minute, and then fall in love (or become best friends) within a couple of pages. There was no lead up, no real introductions into who they are as people, they're just "Oh, I see you are attractive. I, too, am attractive. Let's make out and then become inseparable." I have seen some books in the past have a love story that didn't make much sense or it started WAY too quickly, but this was ridiculous. One page, they are just starting to sort of flirt and the next page, she can't go on without him. Craziness.
mrose21's review
3.0
I really didn't hate this book. In fact I actually was interested in it, but it lacked something, I cannot put my finger on it but it is definitely missing something.
I think what a lot of people - and myself found was that the book pretty much has every paranormal sci-fi mythology thing in it. For one book, for the first book in a series it is a bit too much too soon. We have a god, Athena, Medusa, Harpy, Shapeshifters, Warlocks, Witches and Vampires. I've probably missed a lot of them off. My point stands. It's a bit like too many ingredients spoils the soup...
I don't dislike Seb, or Ari. They're both sort of interesting, even if they kiss at 40%. Not too much instant love just a kiss, but it did have me worried for a second. Can't decide if I'll go for her next book as this one was a bit much for me to take in, however I like the use of mythology with the Medusa Legend.
I hadn't heard of that legend until this book, so you learn something new everyday!!!!
I think what a lot of people - and myself found was that the book pretty much has every paranormal sci-fi mythology thing in it. For one book, for the first book in a series it is a bit too much too soon. We have a god, Athena, Medusa, Harpy, Shapeshifters, Warlocks, Witches and Vampires. I've probably missed a lot of them off. My point stands. It's a bit like too many ingredients spoils the soup...
I don't dislike Seb, or Ari. They're both sort of interesting, even if they kiss at 40%. Not too much instant love just a kiss, but it did have me worried for a second. Can't decide if I'll go for her next book as this one was a bit much for me to take in, however I like the use of mythology with the Medusa Legend.
In a late version of the Medusa myth, related by the Roman poet Ovid (Metamorphoses 4.770), Medusa was originally a ravishingly beautiful maiden, "the jealous aspiration of many suitors," but because Poseidon had raped her in Athena's temple, the enraged Athena transformed Medusa's beautiful hair to serpents and made her face so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it would turn onlookers to stone. In Ovid's telling, Perseus describes Medusa's punishment by Minerva (Athena) as just and well earned.From Wikipedia when researching what the author was referring to..
I hadn't heard of that legend until this book, so you learn something new everyday!!!!
theawkwardbookw's review
2.0
The book started off as interesting, but slowly became difficult to read. I also hated where the author decided to throw in swear words, as it often did nothing to intensify the story in any way.
I'm still confused as to how Sebastian and Ari's relationship even started... One second he "hated her" the next they're making out in a bar. Confusing, if you ask me.
Also, at times , I found myself having to go back a page, thinking I had skipped something. Unfortunately, I hadn't skipped anything but the story seemed to skip crucial information at places. I found myself asking "how did we even get here?!"
All in all, I would recommend this book only if you have a lot of patience to figure out what is going on!
I'm still confused as to how Sebastian and Ari's relationship even started... One second he "hated her" the next they're making out in a bar. Confusing, if you ask me.
Also, at times , I found myself having to go back a page, thinking I had skipped something. Unfortunately, I hadn't skipped anything but the story seemed to skip crucial information at places. I found myself asking "how did we even get here?!"
All in all, I would recommend this book only if you have a lot of patience to figure out what is going on!
valoria's review against another edition
4.0
I actually wanted to give this book 3.5 stars. But then I decided half a star extra for the last twist.
It was really REALLY intense and very un-put-downable. The love story part starts rather suddenly. And by suddenly I mean she passes out, wakes up, realizes he is her one twue wuv and while she was out he too has decided they are meant to be together forever and ever. BAM. Soul mates.
But it eventually turns out ok. I really appreciated how mature he acts about a few situations which I can guarantee another YA author would have exploited for jealous crazy rages. Especially the one at the ball. That was the moment I decided this love story might have more to it than her mooning about his locks of black hair or quicksilver eyes.
As far as heroines go Ari is on the better side of average. She has really badass fighting skills and she uses everything about her to her advantage in a fight. Especially the fact that she's kinda pretty so some idiots think she's weak and a fight will end in an easy win. Then there's how she loves Violet. That's cute. She feels intensely, and her emotions towards her family and Athena are fantastically potrayed.
Spoiler
About her fatherIt was really REALLY intense and very un-put-downable. The love story part starts rather suddenly. And by suddenly I mean she passes out, wakes up, realizes he is her one twue wuv and while she was out he too has decided they are meant to be together forever and ever. BAM. Soul mates.
But it eventually turns out ok. I really appreciated how mature he acts about a few situations which I can guarantee another YA author would have exploited for jealous crazy rages. Especially the one at the ball. That was the moment I decided this love story might have more to it than her mooning about his locks of black hair or quicksilver eyes.
As far as heroines go Ari is on the better side of average. She has really badass fighting skills and she uses everything about her to her advantage in a fight. Especially the fact that she's kinda pretty so some idiots think she's weak and a fight will end in an easy win. Then there's how she loves Violet. That's cute. She feels intensely, and her emotions towards her family and Athena are fantastically potrayed.
fionamatilda's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
diamontique's review against another edition
5.0
This book caught me off guard. I mean, I didn't expect it to be so good. It proves just how wrong I was.
The main character Ari, is a wonderful protagonist who keeps her head and knows how to protect herself. She is definitely a different mold of female heroines, and this I particularly like.
The mythology and world-building was exquisite as well. The setting, New Orleans, was very original and unique, and as I was reading I had the urge to listen to zydeco music.
The romance, however, was a bit too fast-paced for my liking, but at least Ari realized the infatuation that it was and rolled with it, and didn't act all serious about it at all.
The main character Ari, is a wonderful protagonist who keeps her head and knows how to protect herself. She is definitely a different mold of female heroines, and this I particularly like.
The mythology and world-building was exquisite as well. The setting, New Orleans, was very original and unique, and as I was reading I had the urge to listen to zydeco music.
The romance, however, was a bit too fast-paced for my liking, but at least Ari realized the infatuation that it was and rolled with it, and didn't act all serious about it at all.
jackiestone's review against another edition
1.0
What the hay bails did I just read. Like... what? I'm confused.
Let's get this review started.
I'd like to write this review in the form of a letter.
Dear Kelly Keaton,
What the heck was with the Greek mythology. Why?
I don't understand.
Fiction and fantasy have rules. You can't just jumble everything together and make a giant magical stew.
No. Stop it.
It was like a bad version of Percy Jackson and (any paranormal book will do).
It was rather scary.
I also didn't like the romance. It felt forced to me. Not really a whole lot going on there. There wasn't a lot leading up to it. It just happened. Why did it just happen?!? You have to let it build. You have to keep us on the edge of our seats. There was no anticipation. I didn't feel the attraction. I have to FEEL it to believe it. You didn't convince me.
You've disappointed me Kelly.
I was really looking forward to this. My dreams are crushed.
Yours truly,
Me
Let's get this review started.
I'd like to write this review in the form of a letter.
Dear Kelly Keaton,
What the heck was with the Greek mythology. Why?
I don't understand.
Fiction and fantasy have rules. You can't just jumble everything together and make a giant magical stew.
No. Stop it.
It was like a bad version of Percy Jackson and (any paranormal book will do).
It was rather scary.
I also didn't like the romance. It felt forced to me. Not really a whole lot going on there. There wasn't a lot leading up to it. It just happened. Why did it just happen?!? You have to let it build. You have to keep us on the edge of our seats. There was no anticipation. I didn't feel the attraction. I have to FEEL it to believe it. You didn't convince me.
You've disappointed me Kelly.
I was really looking forward to this. My dreams are crushed.
Yours truly,
Me
bokbubblan's review against another edition
4.0
It was like nothing I expected. Honest! It was really good.
silence_underrated's review
3.0
I liked this book. The story was interesting and I liked the character, but I felt like something was missing. It had all the right things, the exciting action, a small romance, a hidden past, and a lot of mysterious beings. My problem I guess was how lacking in detail it was. I couldn't picture the scene, it wasn't painted for me. In some cases that allows for creative imagining, but I felt like it was all a blur. I found myself rereading some of the passages to get more of the detail. I may or may not read the next one. The story has promise, and it could have been just me. (I do have an ADHD tendency with books.) Overall, Darkness Becomes Her was great, I just didn't find myself all that fascinated by it.