chaos_tempest's review
2.0
I'm conflicted, a large part of me hates this book, so many characters were just horrid, but another part of me appreciates the twists and turns and the inclusion of indigenous rep (which from the acknowledgments sounds like she actually spoke with an indigenous someone and did research, but does that actually mean anything, not really).
More thoughts to come later, hopefully, gotta stew this one a bit more.
More thoughts to come later, hopefully, gotta stew this one a bit more.
bethyboo29's review
5.0
This book was amazing.
Page turning and had a great story line.
It was exhilarating and devastating all at the same time.
This was an awesome book I would definitely recommend it to a heap of people.
It tells a good story of heart ache, firs love and broken trust.
Page turning and had a great story line.
It was exhilarating and devastating all at the same time.
This was an awesome book I would definitely recommend it to a heap of people.
It tells a good story of heart ache, firs love and broken trust.
jpear1977's review
4.0
Check out my review on www.mocturnereads.com..... i would really apppreciate it!
areagle1112's review
2.0
1.5 Stars.
This was just not what I thought it was. Maybe I missed something but I didn't see any paranormal aspects, except for Brenna's occasional visions of dead people. It was more like a regular crime drama with teenagers. I hated Brenna - she was pretentious, whiny, rude, and I just don't think she was a good friend to White Bird. If they were so close and had such a connection, she wouldn't have just left him to be accused of murder, especially if she truly believed he didn't do it.
Most of the events that happened in the book, as part of the "plot", seemed way too far-fetched and out of left field. I guess if the books was a little longer so it went into detail about the case and everything it would make more sense (not that I want it to be longer after reading). The ending was rushed, Brenna was forgiven, and everything was wrapped up so perfectly.
Not what I expected in any way, and not that's not a good thing.
This was just not what I thought it was. Maybe I missed something but I didn't see any paranormal aspects, except for Brenna's occasional visions of dead people. It was more like a regular crime drama with teenagers. I hated Brenna - she was pretentious, whiny, rude, and I just don't think she was a good friend to White Bird. If they were so close and had such a connection, she wouldn't have just left him to be accused of murder, especially if she truly believed he didn't do it.
Most of the events that happened in the book, as part of the "plot", seemed way too far-fetched and out of left field. I guess if the books was a little longer so it went into detail about the case and everything it would make more sense (not that I want it to be longer after reading). The ending was rushed, Brenna was forgiven, and everything was wrapped up so perfectly.
Not what I expected in any way, and not that's not a good thing.
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, this was an excellent book, of being the outsider, and there was mystery and romance, and yeah, really good!
dtaylorbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting one and I'm still not too sure how I feel about it despite having finished it a couple weeks ago. I did like it. It had a particular ambiance to it that made it creepy but a great murder-mystery all at the same time. Without a doubt I kept turning the pages because I was DYING to find out what happened to White Bird, or what was going to happen to Brenna at the hands of, really, ignorant rednecks.
At the same time the individual elements are a bit cliched. The ending was a surprise but at the same time I wasn't really taken aback by what happened. I'd seen it done so many times before that the effect was gone despite everything. It was a race war coupled with a popularity contest mixed in with a small town governed by a few people. The smaller elements of the story kept me from liking it more than what I really did.
Overall, the plot was definitely compelling. I couldn't stop reading. Everything that kept happening to Brenna, the people she kept coming in contact with, the clues that were unraveling, all drew me in and held onto me tight. I think Dane did a great job of keeping the mystery buried until that pivotal moment when all was revealed. Granted I'm not the best when it comes to recognizing elements like that in books (or movies for that matter) but even in hindsight I didn't see any holes that could potentially give anything away. Dane's writing was great in that respect. She can write a mystery and keep it a mystery while making it heart-breaking and soul-grabbing all at the same time.
But the small elements to it, the secondary characters, the "popular" crowd, the cops, just screamed cliche to me. Everything fit together nicely for your standard Lifetime movie to take place. At least I liked it more than your regular Sunday afternoon chick flick.
At the end of the day, I'd still recommend IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS because it really is a riveting mystery. Dane's writing will suck you in and hold on to you, not letting you go until the end. Brenna's circumstances will have you empathizing with her the entire time and, like her, you'll have the drive to want to know what really happened that night two years ago. That is if all of the other cliches don't get to you. Try not to let them. It's a great story that deserves the attention. It just has some rather boring elements to it. Dane's writing is really what'll keep you reading anyway. So while some of the elements are lackluster, the story will propel you from one end of the book to the other. I'd like to read more of Dane's writing just because she's a master at plotting. Total writer envy.
At the same time the individual elements are a bit cliched. The ending was a surprise but at the same time I wasn't really taken aback by what happened. I'd seen it done so many times before that the effect was gone despite everything. It was a race war coupled with a popularity contest mixed in with a small town governed by a few people. The smaller elements of the story kept me from liking it more than what I really did.
Overall, the plot was definitely compelling. I couldn't stop reading. Everything that kept happening to Brenna, the people she kept coming in contact with, the clues that were unraveling, all drew me in and held onto me tight. I think Dane did a great job of keeping the mystery buried until that pivotal moment when all was revealed. Granted I'm not the best when it comes to recognizing elements like that in books (or movies for that matter) but even in hindsight I didn't see any holes that could potentially give anything away. Dane's writing was great in that respect. She can write a mystery and keep it a mystery while making it heart-breaking and soul-grabbing all at the same time.
But the small elements to it, the secondary characters, the "popular" crowd, the cops, just screamed cliche to me. Everything fit together nicely for your standard Lifetime movie to take place. At least I liked it more than your regular Sunday afternoon chick flick.
At the end of the day, I'd still recommend IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS because it really is a riveting mystery. Dane's writing will suck you in and hold on to you, not letting you go until the end. Brenna's circumstances will have you empathizing with her the entire time and, like her, you'll have the drive to want to know what really happened that night two years ago. That is if all of the other cliches don't get to you. Try not to let them. It's a great story that deserves the attention. It just has some rather boring elements to it. Dane's writing is really what'll keep you reading anyway. So while some of the elements are lackluster, the story will propel you from one end of the book to the other. I'd like to read more of Dane's writing just because she's a master at plotting. Total writer envy.
kimbaloo's review against another edition
5.0
I was skeptical becuse I saw Harlequin on the inside cover and I was scared it was going to be horrendously predictabe but it was one of the best teen novels I have ever read. The story tells of romance and murder. This romance isn't some lust ridden thing like any other teen book, but it tells of a deep and sacrificial love between a boy and girl struggling to find their way from a dark memory.
seachelles7's review against another edition
3.0
It took a bit to get into, but I ended up really enjoying the story, the characters, and the murder mystery connecting everyone together.