amydieg's review against another edition
3.0
In the wake of the devastating 1998 hurricane, Lola must travel into the forests of Guatemala to solve an ancient riddle and find her missing mother.
An overall alright read. Once they actually get into Guatemala things move along quite a bit better. My biggest problem was that I figured out almost every riddle/mystery chapters ahead of the characters, and not because I was meant to. Instead I had to spend up to 100 pages watching them drop overly obvious clues and then spend two pages explaining the solution to me.
I did, however, find Lola quite lovable - though all the characters were often predictable at best.
An overall alright read. Once they actually get into Guatemala things move along quite a bit better. My biggest problem was that I figured out almost every riddle/mystery chapters ahead of the characters, and not because I was meant to. Instead I had to spend up to 100 pages watching them drop overly obvious clues and then spend two pages explaining the solution to me.
I did, however, find Lola quite lovable - though all the characters were often predictable at best.
hyacinth_girl's review against another edition
3.0
This book was good but very predictable. From the start when Lola meets Eric, I knew they were going to get together... and lo and behold, they did :) I was also a little bit disappointed in the end because it ended the same way the DaVinci Code did. The Queen Jade, thought to be a huge stone, was really a queen named Jade who had died... much like the Holy Grail turned out to be Mary.
However, the writing was pretty good and it was easy to get into and keep reading. Despite my criticism, I did enjoy this book and was glad that I had read it. I liked the relationships that were made not only between Lola and Eric, but also between Lola and her half-sister, Yolanda. Yolanda had gone through so much before the book took place that I am glad she discovered family in the end. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy-read, adventure novel with a side of romance. <3
However, the writing was pretty good and it was easy to get into and keep reading. Despite my criticism, I did enjoy this book and was glad that I had read it. I liked the relationships that were made not only between Lola and Eric, but also between Lola and her half-sister, Yolanda. Yolanda had gone through so much before the book took place that I am glad she discovered family in the end. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy-read, adventure novel with a side of romance. <3
taralorraine's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
appreciate this an adventure story with female protagonists who are written to seem like plausibly real people.
Beyond that, I thought this book was awful. The storyline was cliche, not exciting, and not very well written in the sense that it didn't draw me in or make me care about the characters or mystery.
The only reason I finished was I wanted the book to check off reading challenges.
Beyond that, I thought this book was awful. The storyline was cliche, not exciting, and not very well written in the sense that it didn't draw me in or make me care about the characters or mystery.
The only reason I finished was I wanted the book to check off reading challenges.
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