The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
sleightoffeet's review against another edition
3.0
I'm conflicted about this book. I feel that when you have a big reveal at the end, all the components need to have been there from the beginning, and yet in this book, there were a few things that were set up, and a few other things that came out of nowhere. That bothered me a little.
On the other hand, I did have fun reading this book and enjoyed the characters. I am also genuinely curious about what happens to them. I will probably put book 2 on my to read list and see how that goes.
On the other hand, I did have fun reading this book and enjoyed the characters. I am also genuinely curious about what happens to them. I will probably put book 2 on my to read list and see how that goes.
mpdarby's review against another edition
2.0
All the characters seemed petty and childish. The adults in the story acted more like teenagers in a Disney sitcom than mature individuals. The emotions of the characters seemed weird and stilted: one moment they loved each other, the next moment they were trying to kill each other.
notesonbookmarks's review against another edition
4.0
although I found this one a bit predictable, I also enjoyed it enough that I'm looking forward to seeing where Mercy goes from here.
karieh13's review against another edition
4.0
Holy cow! This new Amazon Prime feature that gives us a choice of one free Kindle book a month is fabulous! First I read Timebound by Rysa Walker - which I loved and then last night I downloaded "The Line" - and just finished it.
It's been quite a while since I stayed up late reading - but I found myself playing the "just one more chapter" game until nearly midnight. The story is immediately engrossing and the heroine, Mercy, is interesting and relatable. There is a LOT going on in this book, a great deal of backstory and details about this "witchy" world that the author needs to impart to the reader - and he parses it out in very manageable and very satisfying amounts.
I was very sad to see the percentage complete rise on my Kindle but I couldn't stop reading. While not great literature, this is a great story and a very enjoyable book to read. I am both thrilled and upset that this is Book One. Thrilled because I want more of this story and these characters - but upset because I am sure I will have to wait for Book Two.
It's been quite a while since I stayed up late reading - but I found myself playing the "just one more chapter" game until nearly midnight. The story is immediately engrossing and the heroine, Mercy, is interesting and relatable. There is a LOT going on in this book, a great deal of backstory and details about this "witchy" world that the author needs to impart to the reader - and he parses it out in very manageable and very satisfying amounts.
I was very sad to see the percentage complete rise on my Kindle but I couldn't stop reading. While not great literature, this is a great story and a very enjoyable book to read. I am both thrilled and upset that this is Book One. Thrilled because I want more of this story and these characters - but upset because I am sure I will have to wait for Book Two.
iris_cadaver's review against another edition
2.0
I think I'm being generous giving this two stars. In theory, I should love this book. It has witches, hoodoo, and it takes place in the city where I was born! But no. No no no.
Every character is a complete caricature, which I could maybe get over and enjoy in a lighthearted way, but:
1. The only character who speaks in dialect is this old black woman and the was she is written is totally racist.
2. The author forces in these plot twists that are just silly and don't even make sense.
3. "The air was as hot and moist as a dog's breath." No. Just...no.
I won't be reading any more.
Every character is a complete caricature, which I could maybe get over and enjoy in a lighthearted way, but:
1. The only character who speaks in dialect is this old black woman and the was she is written is totally racist.
2. The author forces in these plot twists that are just silly and don't even make sense.
3. "The air was as hot and moist as a dog's breath." No. Just...no.
I won't be reading any more.
octagonal's review against another edition
2.0
I was okay with his book until this part when two characters are fighting and one says, "But you done lost me anyway." UUUM. wtfff. Who says that? You done lost me? Euugh. Creeps me out.
ambscray's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a fan of the supernatural/fantasy genre in general but even still I really loved Horn's take on everything. Harry Potter is really the only big series that I know of that deals with witches and warlocks and though I'm a huge fan I found this novel so refreshing. I also appreciated it being rooted in Savannah, GA. I'm from the south, myself, and though I've never been to Savannah it's one of the first books in its genre that made me feel totally at home in its pages.
I'm keeping this short, sweet, and spoiler free. It's a great book with plenty of likable characters, twists and turns, and interesting takes on witch lore. I definitely recommend it.
I'm keeping this short, sweet, and spoiler free. It's a great book with plenty of likable characters, twists and turns, and interesting takes on witch lore. I definitely recommend it.
keeweebirb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
moirwyn's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/02/19/line-j-d-horn/
" Truth was, weâd always been held at a respectful armâs length, sensed to be useful but dangerousâkind of like a nuclear power plant. People liked to benefit from our presence, but they didnât want to think too often about us or in too much detail."
-from The Line by J.D. Horn
The Line by J.D. Horn is a coming-of-age paranormal story about a young witch living in Savannah, Georgia. Mercy Taylor is part of a long line of witches. Her problem? Unlike pretty much everyone else in her family, including her twin sister Maise, Mercy has no magical powers. Her Aunt Ginny hates her for it and deliberately excludes her from family time, making her feel like an outcast. Mercy has a massive crush on her sisterâs boyfriend, Jackson, but knows that heâs taken. Her childhood friend Peter has adored her for years, and she wants to feel the same way about him. Hoping to fix one part of her life, Mercy approaches Mother Jilo, a voodoo witch doctor, hoping that she can cast a spell to make Mercy love Peter the way that he loves her. However, Jiloâs magic has a cost, and when Aunt Ginny is brutally murdered, Mercy wonders if sheâs made a horrible mistake.
This book is glorious in a 90s movie kind of way. I generally find love triangles obnoxious, but I thought that Horn handled it extremely well. Mercy doesnât *want* to be in a love triangle. She doesnât want to have feelings for Jackson, and she knows better than to act on them. Thatâs a major plus.
Mercy is the kind of protagonist that I enjoy. Sheâs quirky and independent. As a side job, she gives the âLiarâs Tourâ of Savannah, where she takes people around the city telling made-up stories about the local attractions while giving them a flask full of gin. Yeah, sheâs not magical, but she doesnât let it become a handicap. Her twin, on the other hand, is a bitch.
I loved seeing the dynamics of the Taylor family. There are plenty of secrets, eccentricities, and skeletons in the closet. As the book progresses, Mercy has to realize that none of the people in her family is perfect, but that at heart at least most of them mean well.
Mother Jilo was, of course, my favorite character in the book. Even though she makes her living through lies and deceit, sheâs the only character in the book thatâs upfront with Mercy about some of the things going on. Itâs Jilo that helps Mercy discover some of her familyâs secrets, and then Mercy uses that knowledge to help them heal. Iâm sure that wasnât Jiloâs intention, but the fact that Jilo isnât a part of the witching families and uses her own wits to go after power makes me secretly root for her the whole time. Sheâs not really a villain so much as a force of nature.
The Line is pretty much what I wanted Beautiful Creatures to be. The writing is a bit more mature and the plot isnât quite as cheesy, making it a light but pleasant read. Iâve been in a bit of a blogging slump lately, and this was exactly the type of book that I needed to nudge me back on track.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/02/19/line-j-d-horn/
" Truth was, weâd always been held at a respectful armâs length, sensed to be useful but dangerousâkind of like a nuclear power plant. People liked to benefit from our presence, but they didnât want to think too often about us or in too much detail."
-from The Line by J.D. Horn
The Line by J.D. Horn is a coming-of-age paranormal story about a young witch living in Savannah, Georgia. Mercy Taylor is part of a long line of witches. Her problem? Unlike pretty much everyone else in her family, including her twin sister Maise, Mercy has no magical powers. Her Aunt Ginny hates her for it and deliberately excludes her from family time, making her feel like an outcast. Mercy has a massive crush on her sisterâs boyfriend, Jackson, but knows that heâs taken. Her childhood friend Peter has adored her for years, and she wants to feel the same way about him. Hoping to fix one part of her life, Mercy approaches Mother Jilo, a voodoo witch doctor, hoping that she can cast a spell to make Mercy love Peter the way that he loves her. However, Jiloâs magic has a cost, and when Aunt Ginny is brutally murdered, Mercy wonders if sheâs made a horrible mistake.
This book is glorious in a 90s movie kind of way. I generally find love triangles obnoxious, but I thought that Horn handled it extremely well. Mercy doesnât *want* to be in a love triangle. She doesnât want to have feelings for Jackson, and she knows better than to act on them. Thatâs a major plus.
Mercy is the kind of protagonist that I enjoy. Sheâs quirky and independent. As a side job, she gives the âLiarâs Tourâ of Savannah, where she takes people around the city telling made-up stories about the local attractions while giving them a flask full of gin. Yeah, sheâs not magical, but she doesnât let it become a handicap. Her twin, on the other hand, is a bitch.
I loved seeing the dynamics of the Taylor family. There are plenty of secrets, eccentricities, and skeletons in the closet. As the book progresses, Mercy has to realize that none of the people in her family is perfect, but that at heart at least most of them mean well.
Mother Jilo was, of course, my favorite character in the book. Even though she makes her living through lies and deceit, sheâs the only character in the book thatâs upfront with Mercy about some of the things going on. Itâs Jilo that helps Mercy discover some of her familyâs secrets, and then Mercy uses that knowledge to help them heal. Iâm sure that wasnât Jiloâs intention, but the fact that Jilo isnât a part of the witching families and uses her own wits to go after power makes me secretly root for her the whole time. Sheâs not really a villain so much as a force of nature.
The Line is pretty much what I wanted Beautiful Creatures to be. The writing is a bit more mature and the plot isnât quite as cheesy, making it a light but pleasant read. Iâve been in a bit of a blogging slump lately, and this was exactly the type of book that I needed to nudge me back on track.