lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
3.0
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Anathema is very different from the stories I had already read by Tucker, and while her paranormal story is a bit different, I found the main character, Evangeline, to be very naïve and too trusting.
Now, I feel the need to say that Anathema was published five years ago, and I think it's among Tucker's first book. And I might have enjoyed her take on vampires and witches more if I had read it when it was first released rather than now. The reason for that is all on me - I have read a lot of inventive and original paranormal series, so I am possible a bit blasé when it comes to stories like this one. That being said, the writing is really good, and the pace is, too. I think it was really Evangeline and her trusting personality that got to me. I found myself shaking my head at her and asking her to please think a bit more for herself more than once. Especially because within 24 hours of meeting Sofie, she went across the country with her, only to have a lot of strange things happen as soon as they left for New York.
You know that saying 'if it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is'? That's how I felt about what happened to Evangeline. Being offered a job after breaking something, then going on a private plane to New York, and being set up in a luxurious villa on fifth avenue, plus getting a bag full of thousand dollar bills so she could go shopping... definitely too good to be true! And it took a while for Evangeline to question Sofie, Viggo and Mortimer, which made her seem borderline stupid! Why was she in this house? She did't do any work, and yet, she didn't act like it was strange that she was set up with beautiful clothes, anything she wanted to eat, and being taken to see Romeo and Juliet in a theater at night.
I did enjoy some aspects of Anathema, though, especially the fact that vampires here couldn't turn humans anymore after a spell gone wrong. And so, a counterspell had been casted in order to find vampires on another plane - ones who still had their venom intact. Some of the interactions Evangeline had with these other vampires were great, she showed that she had a sense of adventure, even if she didn't have much of a sense of self-preservation. There is also a big case of insta-love, and while I can get the 'beautiful, strong, brooding vampire'-thing, I don't think it furthered the story that Evangeline became so infatuated with Caleb after meeting him only once.
Because how the ending, I'll definitely continue reading the series, even if I wasn't completely enchanted, I'm hoping that Evangeline will grow as a character and that she will become a bit more perceptive when it comes to the people she's with. Written in first person point of view, past tense and with plenty of dialogues, the pace was well done, and the whole story unfolded from Evangeline's point of view.
The three of them, fawning over me, a socially awkward stranger with no friends, giving me gifts and kindness... I should have known something was not right. I sighed. I wasn't Nancy Drew - not unless Nancy Drew was blind and deaf.
"As long as there are no more lurking animals, I'm feeling pretty fragile right now." Fragile, but unbroken, somehow - though by all counts I should have fallen apart. Any normal person would have by now, wouldn't they?"
Anathema is very different from the stories I had already read by Tucker, and while her paranormal story is a bit different, I found the main character, Evangeline, to be very naïve and too trusting.
Now, I feel the need to say that Anathema was published five years ago, and I think it's among Tucker's first book. And I might have enjoyed her take on vampires and witches more if I had read it when it was first released rather than now. The reason for that is all on me - I have read a lot of inventive and original paranormal series, so I am possible a bit blasé when it comes to stories like this one. That being said, the writing is really good, and the pace is, too. I think it was really Evangeline and her trusting personality that got to me. I found myself shaking my head at her and asking her to please think a bit more for herself more than once. Especially because within 24 hours of meeting Sofie, she went across the country with her, only to have a lot of strange things happen as soon as they left for New York.
You know that saying 'if it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is'? That's how I felt about what happened to Evangeline. Being offered a job after breaking something, then going on a private plane to New York, and being set up in a luxurious villa on fifth avenue, plus getting a bag full of thousand dollar bills so she could go shopping... definitely too good to be true! And it took a while for Evangeline to question Sofie, Viggo and Mortimer, which made her seem borderline stupid! Why was she in this house? She did't do any work, and yet, she didn't act like it was strange that she was set up with beautiful clothes, anything she wanted to eat, and being taken to see Romeo and Juliet in a theater at night.
I did enjoy some aspects of Anathema, though, especially the fact that vampires here couldn't turn humans anymore after a spell gone wrong. And so, a counterspell had been casted in order to find vampires on another plane - ones who still had their venom intact. Some of the interactions Evangeline had with these other vampires were great, she showed that she had a sense of adventure, even if she didn't have much of a sense of self-preservation. There is also a big case of insta-love, and while I can get the 'beautiful, strong, brooding vampire'-thing, I don't think it furthered the story that Evangeline became so infatuated with Caleb after meeting him only once.
Because how the ending, I'll definitely continue reading the series, even if I wasn't completely enchanted, I'm hoping that Evangeline will grow as a character and that she will become a bit more perceptive when it comes to the people she's with. Written in first person point of view, past tense and with plenty of dialogues, the pace was well done, and the whole story unfolded from Evangeline's point of view.
The three of them, fawning over me, a socially awkward stranger with no friends, giving me gifts and kindness... I should have known something was not right. I sighed. I wasn't Nancy Drew - not unless Nancy Drew was blind and deaf.
"As long as there are no more lurking animals, I'm feeling pretty fragile right now." Fragile, but unbroken, somehow - though by all counts I should have fallen apart. Any normal person would have by now, wouldn't they?"
snugglor's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a really different twist on the vampire story. This is a world where vampires can no longer turn humans, where dreams might be reality and where Evangeline is not sure where she fits in to it all.
I enjoyed the twists and turns of this story, and how things were not always what they seemed to be. My only critisism is that Evangeline, at times, was a bit too much of a Bella ("They're all so pretty, I'm so plain!") and I found that a little off-putting. Otherwise, the great story more than makes up for it. I'm looking forward to the next one.
I enjoyed the twists and turns of this story, and how things were not always what they seemed to be. My only critisism is that Evangeline, at times, was a bit too much of a Bella ("They're all so pretty, I'm so plain!") and I found that a little off-putting. Otherwise, the great story more than makes up for it. I'm looking forward to the next one.
disconightwing's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this one! I downloaded it because it was free, and I didn't have high hopes, but I'm pleased to say that I was wrong this time.
I thought Evangeline was a likeable and believable heroine, not overly prone to any specific annoying character traits except naivete, which, to my surprise and pleasure, actually became a plot point. She goes through a series of foster homes, never growing fond of anyone, really, and never forming any real attachments. She (naively) goes to New York to work off a debt and finds herself in over her head, surrounded by vampires and cursed. She wants desperately to trust someone, but she has no idea who is safe.
Soon after discovering she is imprisoned by vampires, she realizes that the dreams she thinks she's having aren't dreams at all, but that she's getting transported to a parallel universe when she's supposed to be asleep. She makes friends in both worlds.
As far as the details, they are... well, for a paranormal romance? They're believable. The smooshy insta-love feeling lasting forever and ever wasn't even distasteful to me this time around. There was still a love triangle and I still wished there hadn't been, but hey, there has to be drama somehow.
I thought Evangeline was a likeable and believable heroine, not overly prone to any specific annoying character traits except naivete, which, to my surprise and pleasure, actually became a plot point. She goes through a series of foster homes, never growing fond of anyone, really, and never forming any real attachments. She (naively) goes to New York to work off a debt and finds herself in over her head, surrounded by vampires and cursed. She wants desperately to trust someone, but she has no idea who is safe.
Soon after discovering she is imprisoned by vampires, she realizes that the dreams she thinks she's having aren't dreams at all, but that she's getting transported to a parallel universe when she's supposed to be asleep. She makes friends in both worlds.
As far as the details, they are... well, for a paranormal romance? They're believable. The smooshy insta-love feeling lasting forever and ever wasn't even distasteful to me this time around. There was still a love triangle and I still wished there hadn't been, but hey, there has to be drama somehow.
andimontgomery's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this YA story that combines vampirism, werebeasts, magic, and alternate universes.
Evangeline was a likable lead. She is sweet and generous in nature, and is always willing to see the good in those she meets. Her life suddenly changes on her 18th birthday and events start to unfold that reveal much about her past and future.
This book is fast-paced, has an interesting story, and great supporting characters. Caden is also a yummy hottie. I definitely recommend this one!
$2.99 on Kindle
Evangeline was a likable lead. She is sweet and generous in nature, and is always willing to see the good in those she meets. Her life suddenly changes on her 18th birthday and events start to unfold that reveal much about her past and future.
This book is fast-paced, has an interesting story, and great supporting characters. Caden is also a yummy hottie. I definitely recommend this one!
$2.99 on Kindle
felinity's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted a brain-not-required read last night, and this did fit the bill. It's probably meant for the YA market, and seemed to go for many of the checkboxes often used for that genre. Unfortunately it just wasn't written well enough for me to enjoy it as anything else. There was just too much coincidence, too much of plans coming together and weird revelations.
mrsjkamp's review against another edition
4.0
Check out my full review here
Big thanks to the author for a free ecopy of this novel!! Here is my honest review:
Wow.. this book! It seriously is in a league of its own right now. All the characters really came off the page for me, and the story is so unique you just can't put this book down. I absolutely connected with this book from page one. Not at all what I was expecting, and I'm honestly glad for it. It is a refreshing change in the supernatural/paranormal world.
This novel is written extremely well, has very interesting and complex characters, and really takes a new look at the paranormal genre. It's paranormal and fantasy combined in a creative way. It's easy to follow, and it keeps you guessing until the end. The next book needs to come out soon!!
Big thanks to the author for a free ecopy of this novel!! Here is my honest review:
Wow.. this book! It seriously is in a league of its own right now. All the characters really came off the page for me, and the story is so unique you just can't put this book down. I absolutely connected with this book from page one. Not at all what I was expecting, and I'm honestly glad for it. It is a refreshing change in the supernatural/paranormal world.
This novel is written extremely well, has very interesting and complex characters, and really takes a new look at the paranormal genre. It's paranormal and fantasy combined in a creative way. It's easy to follow, and it keeps you guessing until the end. The next book needs to come out soon!!
dominicsmama2007's review against another edition
5.0
Got this book for free on Amazon and it sounded very interesting. This book was not a disappointment, very good read that I didn't want me to put the book down. Now I'm off to read the next book in this series!
gizmoto16's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book...I got it for free, but I'm probably gonna pay for the sequel :)
justbookllover's review against another edition
4.0
Bu kitabı size şöyle tarif edeyim, kocaman bir kutu düşünün kapağını açıyorsunuz başka bir kutu bu böylece devam ediyor.. Olaylar tek bir seferde anlatılmamış ve ilk başlarda kız ne çabuk inandı filan desemde kitap ilerledikçe ne olduğunu ortaya çıktı. Bence güzel bir kitaptı okunabilecek türde. Sanırım 2. kitabıda var umarım hemen çevrilir.♡