raisingself's review against another edition
1.0
I’m not a fan of angel lore, but the mix of interesting fairytale and mythology in this book is it’s singular nearly saving grace. I’m struggling with this series for many reasons detailed below, but I started the series and I’m forcing myself to finish. This book is a solid one star because:
- The main female protagonist, who is arguably more powerful than 99% of the strongest friends and foes, is constantly the victim. Her youth and beauty is uncomfortably fetishized. She is constantly sexually victimized and her consent is almost never required. The thing that is consistently keeping her alive is that she is a Helen of Troy archetype to a mostly heterosexual male cast of abusive, possessive, manipulative, megalomaniac males.
- Women in general are diminished and stereotyped in this book. The only other main female narratives in the series: two angels that are blonde, high pitched and mostly naked are so damn hyper-sexual and share nearly identical personalities and looks. They are almost what I imagine soft core porn characterizations would be by that one creepy guy in your office (that all the women knew to avoid before the #metoo movement happened and he was finally fired).
-The use of slang and youth culture vernacular is like hearing your white grandpa trying to be “down” because your friends are over. Imma need the writer to start listening to pop and hip hop mixes on Spotify and start following youth culture focused folks on social media if she is going to center every other book on semi-real 18 year old girls.
- The shear lack of character diversity is embarrassing, most male characters are some iteration of a militarized Eurocentric male model. The only barely dynamic female character is the main protagonist, you know you’re weak female lead when you can’t have any other competition and nearly every male has to be irrationally focused on you.
The book is weak AF. I hope modern teens are not scooping up this garbage and internalizing any of this on a subconscious level. But beyond not being woke, its poorly executed on multiple literary levels.
Random Note:
-This Reed character is overrated
-Brenus is an abuser, who even after changing slightly is still a serial rapist and killer.
-Russell is alright, I find him to be the most viable and intriguing romantic possibility, either give him a chance or let him have a side piece as well in this game of trifling soul mates.
- The main female protagonist, who is arguably more powerful than 99% of the strongest friends and foes, is constantly the victim. Her youth and beauty is uncomfortably fetishized. She is constantly sexually victimized and her consent is almost never required. The thing that is consistently keeping her alive is that she is a Helen of Troy archetype to a mostly heterosexual male cast of abusive, possessive, manipulative, megalomaniac males.
- Women in general are diminished and stereotyped in this book. The only other main female narratives in the series: two angels that are blonde, high pitched and mostly naked are so damn hyper-sexual and share nearly identical personalities and looks. They are almost what I imagine soft core porn characterizations would be by that one creepy guy in your office (that all the women knew to avoid before the #metoo movement happened and he was finally fired).
-The use of slang and youth culture vernacular is like hearing your white grandpa trying to be “down” because your friends are over. Imma need the writer to start listening to pop and hip hop mixes on Spotify and start following youth culture focused folks on social media if she is going to center every other book on semi-real 18 year old girls.
- The shear lack of character diversity is embarrassing, most male characters are some iteration of a militarized Eurocentric male model. The only barely dynamic female character is the main protagonist, you know you’re weak female lead when you can’t have any other competition and nearly every male has to be irrationally focused on you.
The book is weak AF. I hope modern teens are not scooping up this garbage and internalizing any of this on a subconscious level. But beyond not being woke, its poorly executed on multiple literary levels.
Random Note:
-This Reed character is overrated
-Brenus is an abuser, who even after changing slightly is still a serial rapist and killer.
-Russell is alright, I find him to be the most viable and intriguing romantic possibility, either give him a chance or let him have a side piece as well in this game of trifling soul mates.
natneedsbooks's review
4.0
Evite is probably my least favorite protagonist EVER! She definitely doesn't deserve Reed!! Beyond selfish and playing the part of the martyr only works when you don't hurt everyone else along the way! I almost gave up on this series. This book was better though. Enough in it I liked to push through to the next. Just please, please don't let her run off to her death again in the name of love. I can't handle any more love triangles or loyalties to evil demons. 🙄
2petula's review
3.0
I don't know where to start. First of all let me say that I have never struggled with a book this much. I either like it and then I read it as fast as I can or put it down and never pick it up again. But with this book,... This book was just so confusing. To put it simply. I like it but I don't like reading it. If that makes any sense. Altough I've never got bored reading it at times I just wanted to scream at Evie. She is surrounded by people who are literally centuries or even milleniums older then her but she still thinks that she knows what she's doing and that she is making the right decisions. And everytime she regrets it after. She takes the saying "yound and stupid" to a whole new level. That said I kind of understand her pull towards Brenn. It's the bad boy charm. She knows he is no good (pure evil actually) but still she can't help herself. But still some of the things she says and does are over the top. And she tells herself that she is doing it for Reed and Russ and the others. She thinks that she's protecting them. Hmm, right, keep telling yourself that.
There were scenes when I just had to put the book down, stop reading and I just asked myself - She can't be that stupid. Can she? In the first two books, it was given that she would be naive and stupid but she experienced a lot, she grew up as an angel, but I guess not in her mind. So frustrating to see everyone around her evolve but she just remained that same girl she was when she came to Crestwood. The little girl that had to be rescued again and again. The girl that knows the best but only in her head. The girl that has to protect everybody eventhough they don't need to be saved. The girl that should think before acting. The girl that everyone know the books would be so much better without. Such a shame. I was kind of hoping that her character would grow. Well, that was disappointing.
There were scenes when I just had to put the book down, stop reading and I just asked myself - She can't be that stupid. Can she? In the first two books, it was given that she would be naive and stupid but she experienced a lot, she grew up as an angel, but I guess not in her mind. So frustrating to see everyone around her evolve but she just remained that same girl she was when she came to Crestwood. The little girl that had to be rescued again and again. The girl that knows the best but only in her head. The girl that has to protect everybody eventhough they don't need to be saved. The girl that should think before acting. The girl that everyone know the books would be so much better without. Such a shame. I was kind of hoping that her character would grow. Well, that was disappointing.
ahaynie's review
1.0
"Waaaahh I'm a weak female who has all these powerful men who want me and I love all of them and don't know what to do about it, but I certainly can't seem to help myself get out of dangerous situations and still have to depend on these men to do it for me waaaahh!"
fsmeurinne's review
5.0
This book was so good. the series keeps getting better and better, the audiobook is a must for me as I can't stop reading.
kalinadams024's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
xsariebearx's review
5.0
WOW. I'm impressed, to say the least.
I started reading this series without knowing that it was a "paranormal romance" because honestly, I HATE paranormal stories. Obviously, I've read the Twilight series and I always thought they were pretty good but The Premonition Series BLOWS Twilight away. And this has been the best book of the series, so far. The characters cannot even compare to Edward and Bella. These characters are REAL characters with complex feelings and they just keep developing as the series goes on. This is not "cutesy"- like sparkling vampires.
If you haven't started this series, I highly suggest that you do. You will NOT be disappointed.
I started reading this series without knowing that it was a "paranormal romance" because honestly, I HATE paranormal stories. Obviously, I've read the Twilight series and I always thought they were pretty good but The Premonition Series BLOWS Twilight away. And this has been the best book of the series, so far. The characters cannot even compare to Edward and Bella. These characters are REAL characters with complex feelings and they just keep developing as the series goes on. This is not "cutesy"- like sparkling vampires.
If you haven't started this series, I highly suggest that you do. You will NOT be disappointed.
kay_slayerofbooks's review
4.0
Oh Brennus!
3.5 stars
Well, he made me like him. Dammit! I still preferred Russell. Reed was still too intense for me. And Evie is still a spoiled brat who listens to no one and irritates my soul!
All in all I still enjoyed the book! 😁😉
3.5 stars
Well, he made me like him. Dammit! I still preferred Russell. Reed was still too intense for me. And Evie is still a spoiled brat who listens to no one and irritates my soul!
All in all I still enjoyed the book! 😁😉
anna_lostinventureland's review
2.0
Heroine's getting on my nerves. Other than that the plot is good.