iheartfictionalpeople's review against another edition
5.0
First of all, I have to say that this is the first book I have actually bought in a long time. I do reviews for Readers' Favorite, so I usually receive books from them, which is how I heard about the first book in this series. After reading that one, I immediately bought this one. And it was completely worth the money.
Sequels aren't generally as good as the first book, but this is definitely an exception. While I was pretty much obsessed with the first one, I completely loved this one for some of the same reasons and for some very different reasons. The adventure, action, sci-fi, and paranormal were all still there, but as we all know, the heart of this series is the romance and Reece and Levi's relationship. I loved seeing their relationship gradually grow in the first book, and I absolutely loved seeing how it continues to grow in The Uninvited. I can't remember the last time I was so attached to a fictional couple. S.L. Morgan does such a wonderful job at really drawing readers in and making them emotionally involved in this fictional world. It's amazing.
Not only was the romance intensified, but the other aspects of the story were as well. We get to see more of Levi and Harrison's friendship, which is pretty much my favorite bromance of all time. We see an action-packed ending, which was very exciting and suspenseful. We even have our share of villains, who you will loathe and want to kill with your bare hands, if you're anything like me. (Maybe I'm just too attached to these characters.) We even get to see things from Levi's point of view as well, which is different from the first book, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked that.
I laughed, I cried, and I mostly had a ridiculously big smile on my face throughout most of the book.
Now, I have to impatiently wait for the next installment. And when it is available, I will be among the first people, if not THE first, to purchase it. Can't wait!
Thank you S.L. Morgan for giving me a series that I can obsess over and think way too much about :)
Sequels aren't generally as good as the first book, but this is definitely an exception. While I was pretty much obsessed with the first one, I completely loved this one for some of the same reasons and for some very different reasons. The adventure, action, sci-fi, and paranormal were all still there, but as we all know, the heart of this series is the romance and Reece and Levi's relationship. I loved seeing their relationship gradually grow in the first book, and I absolutely loved seeing how it continues to grow in The Uninvited. I can't remember the last time I was so attached to a fictional couple. S.L. Morgan does such a wonderful job at really drawing readers in and making them emotionally involved in this fictional world. It's amazing.
Not only was the romance intensified, but the other aspects of the story were as well. We get to see more of Levi and Harrison's friendship, which is pretty much my favorite bromance of all time. We see an action-packed ending, which was very exciting and suspenseful. We even have our share of villains, who you will loathe and want to kill with your bare hands, if you're anything like me. (Maybe I'm just too attached to these characters.) We even get to see things from Levi's point of view as well, which is different from the first book, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked that.
I laughed, I cried, and I mostly had a ridiculously big smile on my face throughout most of the book.
Now, I have to impatiently wait for the next installment. And when it is available, I will be among the first people, if not THE first, to purchase it. Can't wait!
Thank you S.L. Morgan for giving me a series that I can obsess over and think way too much about :)
oracleofaal's review
3.0
I listened to the Audible audiobook of this story and really did not like the narrator. I noticed that there was a difference in the sound of the third book after listening to the excerpt and I wonder if it was because of just how excruciating the first two was. It wasn't much of an improvement but it was better.
Beyond the atrocity that was the narrator - the story itself was hard to listen to. I knew what was causing "the drama" almost immediately after it began but we had to wait a long time for it unfold, like 15 chapters. I will say that the author did an excellent job of making me uncomfortable when I do believe that was her intention. But I didn't want to be uncomfortable for that long of a period. I kept trying to shout at Reece to communicate with the people around her. Yes, I understand why it didn't happen and that is why I give the book a 3 instead of 2. If half stars were a thing it would get 2.5.
Again, Reece is pretty much a wet noodle. She does little to nothing to help herself or anyone else in the situations they find themselves in. Lastly, the "battle" *facepalm* I don't even know where to begin. I actually paused the reading and grabbed pen and paper to write my reactions down and ended up with 2.5 pages. I understand that this is a romance novel but if you are going to write a massive battle scene in the middle of your romance at least do it with some accuracy to what would happen in a real battle. The Pemdai warriors wipe out an entire line in 2 hours and no one communicated to HQ or slipped away unnoticed to warn someone?!!! Supposedly they were facing odds of 20 to 1 and previously it had been mentioned that they had 1000 men. So that means 20,000 to 1000. Also, it had been mentioned that the Armedias were good soliders and fought just as well as the Pemdas (still think math concept here) warriors and yet a surprise attack wipes out 20,000?! I don't think so.
Now, when the Pemdas warriors send their horses away I think they're just idiots but maybe there is a good reason. Apparently, the good reason is that Michael (the archenemy) is even more of a moron because he says oh they are just here to die we don't need to be on horses. WTF?!?!?!? Why do they not use their advantages?!?!?!?! And if honor is your answer, you've obviously never been fighting for your life (or read history) because no, no, no, no. Also, he is the villain and has no honor. Because then he ends up on horseback anyway. Although I really don't understand why he gets off the horse to kill the Emperor when it would have been easier and faster to do ON THE HORSE. Ugh.
Seriously, I have another page and a half of frustration over the rest of the battle because whoever the editor was also doesn't know battle tactics or swords at all.
I was always trying to figure out what era the author wanted the Pemdas people to be stuck in because she never described the gowns. It was always corset and fancy gown. When I finally read the Amazon page and it said 17th century (meaning 1600s) I cried a little inside because the riding habits she described and the way she discusses the gentlemen's clothes is all 19th century (1800s). Oh, and women DON'T wear cravats!!!
All the historical nuances aside (I'm a history teacher and living history reenactor [1550s to 1940s] and Historical European Martial Artists [I fight with real swords]), the romance itself is beautiful. Levi reminds me of my significant other with infinite patience and love. Although the biblical names for the Pemdas people are strange (Levi, Samuel, Michael). I enjoy when the author writes about Reece and Levi and their love for each other. That is what kept me going through the numerous misteps. I won't continue with this series since I only bought 1 and 2, I have no plans to purchase anymore.
Beyond the atrocity that was the narrator - the story itself was hard to listen to. I knew what was causing "the drama" almost immediately after it began but we had to wait a long time for it unfold, like 15 chapters. I will say that the author did an excellent job of making me uncomfortable when I do believe that was her intention. But I didn't want to be uncomfortable for that long of a period. I kept trying to shout at Reece to communicate with the people around her. Yes, I understand why it didn't happen and that is why I give the book a 3 instead of 2. If half stars were a thing it would get 2.5.
Spoiler
Again, Reece is pretty much a wet noodle. She does little to nothing to help herself or anyone else in the situations they find themselves in. Lastly, the "battle" *facepalm* I don't even know where to begin. I actually paused the reading and grabbed pen and paper to write my reactions down and ended up with 2.5 pages. I understand that this is a romance novel but if you are going to write a massive battle scene in the middle of your romance at least do it with some accuracy to what would happen in a real battle. The Pemdai warriors wipe out an entire line in 2 hours and no one communicated to HQ or slipped away unnoticed to warn someone?!!! Supposedly they were facing odds of 20 to 1 and previously it had been mentioned that they had 1000 men. So that means 20,000 to 1000. Also, it had been mentioned that the Armedias were good soliders and fought just as well as the Pemdas (still think math concept here) warriors and yet a surprise attack wipes out 20,000?! I don't think so.
Now, when the Pemdas warriors send their horses away I think they're just idiots but maybe there is a good reason. Apparently, the good reason is that Michael (the archenemy) is even more of a moron because he says oh they are just here to die we don't need to be on horses. WTF?!?!?!? Why do they not use their advantages?!?!?!?! And if honor is your answer, you've obviously never been fighting for your life (or read history) because no, no, no, no. Also, he is the villain and has no honor. Because then he ends up on horseback anyway. Although I really don't understand why he gets off the horse to kill the Emperor when it would have been easier and faster to do ON THE HORSE. Ugh.
Seriously, I have another page and a half of frustration over the rest of the battle because whoever the editor was also doesn't know battle tactics or swords at all.
I was always trying to figure out what era the author wanted the Pemdas people to be stuck in because she never described the gowns. It was always corset and fancy gown. When I finally read the Amazon page and it said 17th century (meaning 1600s) I cried a little inside because the riding habits she described and the way she discusses the gentlemen's clothes is all 19th century (1800s). Oh, and women DON'T wear cravats!!!
All the historical nuances aside (I'm a history teacher and living history reenactor [1550s to 1940s] and Historical European Martial Artists [I fight with real swords]), the romance itself is beautiful. Levi reminds me of my significant other with infinite patience and love. Although the biblical names for the Pemdas people are strange (Levi, Samuel, Michael). I enjoy when the author writes about Reece and Levi and their love for each other. That is what kept me going through the numerous misteps. I won't continue with this series since I only bought 1 and 2, I have no plans to purchase anymore.
hiyomage's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my gosh. Another wonderful book from S.L. Morgan! I didn't think it was possible to adore this series any more than I already did, but she has made the impossible possible! Yet again, I'm extremely excited to read the next one!
I thought all the parts between Reece and Levi were adorable (of the parts that were supposed to be). Even the parts that made me feel frustrated were wonderfully written. I was sucked right in from page one, just like with the first book! And I continue to be amazed by just how original it is.
Ms. Morgan, I give you two thumbs up and five stars - but I wish there were more I could give!
I thought all the parts between Reece and Levi were adorable (of the parts that were supposed to be). Even the parts that made me feel frustrated were wonderfully written. I was sucked right in from page one, just like with the first book! And I continue to be amazed by just how original it is.
Ms. Morgan, I give you two thumbs up and five stars - but I wish there were more I could give!
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