Reviews

Descent by Sloane Murphy

linaru's review

Go to review page

4.0

Copy gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest I don't know how to feel about this book. It wasn't brilliant but it wasn't bad. For a first book it was good between 3.5 and 4 stars.

The story was interesting and the world the author has created was captivating but the writing and the protagonist way of speaking was on the level of 13/14 year old. Not a 17/18. Because of that I was not able to fully connect with the main character, Addie. I mean she was likeable and a badass but I wanted her to progress, grow up and be more mature.

The story is set in a world full of Faes, Angels, Demons and Vampires. The main character, Addie, since she was very young wanted to join the Red Guard and be the first woman to do so. To successed in this she had to complete a lot of tasks and at the same time her friends turned out to be something else than what she always expected.

Sloane perfectly created an atmosphere of mystery, angst, romance. I really enjoyed it but the typos in the book made me cringe way too much.

I can't wait for the second book as I'm sure it will much better than the first one.

4 stars from me.

itsdanielledickson's review

Go to review page

4.0

This is the first I've read from this author, and what a book to start with!

We follow Addie from a young girl, all the way up to her turning eighteen and working her way through the academy at the notion of her becoming a part of the Red Guard. You're reading about her coming into herself with her best friends, then BAM plot twist you're so not expecting; and I REALLY was not expecting it!

But there's more plot twists and secrets that unravel right up until the very end that keep you hooked! I loved it!

I would've liked a few scenes expanded on, especially the fighting scenes as we didn't actually get to see her fighting properly, but that's just my personal opinion, nothing on the book.

Will 100% be going onto book 2 eagerly!!

catnapsnbooks's review

Go to review page

5.0

Decent is a young adult paranormal romance full of action, drama and suspense. Set in a post-apocalyptic future the remaining human race is now commanded by the Fae and Vampyr on the side of the Light. Addie is raised first by an orphanage, then the Academy to fight against demons and with her stubborn streak and sassy attitude she aims to be the first female human to join the Red Guard. With her friends Livy, Logan and Tyler by her side Addie believe she can take on anything that is thrown at her. That is the truth until the Dark finds her. Xander Bane, mysterious Vampire, Head of House Bane, definitely more than he seems and in Addie’s words “he might just be the hottest Vampyr [she’s] ever seen, but he’s also a total dick”. However, as Addie struggles with her new reality she finds herself turning to Xander more often.

Decent is a story of the breaking of the innocence of youth, and the ripples that happen in the after. The betrayal, fear, anger and determination to return things back to a normal which will never be again. It is a roller coaster of events and feelings so get ready to experience them all. This is an amazing paranormal romance that I enjoyed just as much on the reread as I did the first time.

leanner's review

Go to review page

5.0

This is my first read by this author thanks to 'Quirky Blind Date with a Book'. I love paranormal but I've had a break for a while as I was burnt out. This was a great comeback for me, a YA not too heavy and a fun read.
There were typos and some grammar issues but my review is based on entertainment value.
The story starts with Adelaide 'Addie' as a young child then moves on to the Academy where she is to spend the next years of her life training to be part of the Red Guard. This is a whole other world in the future when humans have ruined the Earth. Fae, Vampyrs, Demons etc have taken over. So is Addie human or something more? Drama, murder, twists and turns...I had no idea where this author was taking me. Just when I thought I knew, something else happened.
I enjoyed the story line, loved the characters...or loved to hate them. OMG it ended on a cliffhanger, now I need the next book!

kindlefreak's review

Go to review page

4.0

A captivating story that had me eager to turn the pages and discover more about beautiful young Adelaide and the world as she knows it. Her goal has always to be join the Red Guard, to fight and protect the world as she knows it, but not is all that it seems and she finds it increasingly difficult to trust those around her. Sloane has created an exciting world and I for one can’t wait to find out more. Queued up Crash (book 2) already!

nadenetotallyaddictedtoreading's review

Go to review page

4.0

i am not a big fan of the young adult genre; as a matter of fact, I deliberately stay away from it. So how did I end up reading Descent by Sloane Murphy? Well, I received a copy as part of Blind Date with a Book hosted by The Quirky Bibliophile. I kept wondering will I enjoy this? What have I gotten myself into? When I realised that the story was of a paranormal nature my anxiety eased somewhat. Now that I am at the end of my journey, I can say without a doubt that this was one of the best blind dates that I have been on.

The story started out slow and it took me some time to get into the book. When I eventually did, oh what a ride it was. There was sufficient action, drama, mystery and romance to keep me thoroughly entertained. I was introduced to a fascinating world where fairies ruled. The world in which humans once dominated was dying as a result of the dark war initiated by the Demon King. The fairies and vampyrs had joined forces to defeat him and he is now exiled as a result. There is tension as a result and another war appears to be brewing on the horizon.

I found the female protagonist, Addie, intriguing. She is determined, fearless, feisty and strong-willed. Her desire was to become a member of the Red Guard. If successful she would be the first female to accomplish such a feat. She dedicated herself to proving her worthiness for such a position. She would come to learn that all she had grown up believing was a lie. Added to that she would experience the loss of one friend and the sting of betrayal from another. Who can she trust?
It was evident that Addie was different from her peers, but what was not clear was what made her stand out from the rest. The answer to this could be found in the vampyr, Xander Bane. Xander is an original vampyr and owner of the Academy that Addie attends. He has been Addie’s protector from birth, however, she was not aware of this fact. Over the years he has developed feelings for her but he refused to act on these feelings as he considered it to be forbidden. But how long can he keep his distance, especially with the underlying threat of him losing her to someone else?

This is the author’s debut novel and I found to be an interesting read. The story was told from alternate POVs. The twists and turns had me guessing from one moment to the next. The twist at the end was a shocker. With an ending like that, I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next. There is so much to this story. It’s more than just a story about paranormal beings. It speaks of deceit, secrets, betrayal, friendship, love and family. All these themes are interwoven together made for an interesting read.

Verdict: Great start to a new and exciting series.

nikkisbooknook's review

Go to review page

4.0

Paranormal with a hint of Dystopia but enough present day things to keep you grounded!

The human world has crumbled and they are now aware of all things Fae, Vampyr and Demon! This world was just so easy to love. It was a mix of old, new and paranormal. With trauma, treason, tragedy and a slightly awkward love interest/triangle to boot. There are twists, turns, red herrings, OMG moments and dammit a cliffhanger of sorts! Addie is a kickbutt female and if any woman was going to be the first in the Guard it will most definitely be her!

Whilst a dual POV it is easy to keep track of who is speaking and some of the segments overlap so you see the same scene from both POV. Addie is snarky, funny and tough but with a core that cares for those she lets near. Xander is mysterious, deadly and way out of his depth when it comes to dealing with headstrong Addie!

Wonderful new series and can't wait to see what happens next!

ink_book_'s review

Go to review page

2.0

Well at first it was good but then everything went down. I liked some parts of it, but I felt like the story was so expected and some parts were so obvious and repetitive.
More...