Scan barcode
jennc's review
3.0
It took my awhile to enjoy this book. Riley was really annoying at first but she grew and got less so. I loved Buttercup and laughed quite a bit. Not a bad book.
bookish_paige's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
adelevarley's review
1.0
This book is one of the worst things that I have ever read. The characters were dry and flat, they seemed to have no voice or personality whatsoever. Because of this, I couldn't connect or relate to a single character, which made me hate the book even more. Riley is also uber stupid, whiny, and annoying, on a parallel level to Reshma from Enter Title Here. [Sorry, the link doesn't pop up]. Even if the characters were written correctly and weren't annoying brats, I had no idea what was going on. All of the places or things in the book, like the Council, weren't written with enough detail, and weren't really explained. I don't live inside the author's head, so therefore I had no backstory to anything. It was really frustrating to try and figure out what exactly was going on. Quite frankly, the whole plot was stupid. If you don't think so, just read the summary again. I don't even know why I bothered to read it all. Well, I guess it might have been from the fact that I bought this book for a dollar from a rummage sale, because I thought it might be good. It isn't even worth a dollar. In fact, I would have to get paid to read this book again. Please do yourself a favor and never read it.
rhyhorror's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lorilaws's review
3.0
I was honestly a little hesitate to read this book because I'm not a huge fan of the Immortals series, but I was pleasantly surprised. Radiance is the story of Riley Bloom, Ever Bloom's little sister. Riley died in the accident that also killed her mother and father. Now she's in Here, where she can manifest anything that she could possibly ever want. But everyone has a job in Here. Riley's will turn out to be a little scarier than she was expecting.
This was a very quick read and I enjoyed it. Riley is very bratty, but she is 12! I guess that just comes with the territory. While she is bratty and childish, I didn't find it annoying. She's actually pretty funny. I wish we could have gotten to know the side character's a bit more. Especially Bohdi, but that's what sequels are for!
Overall, Radiance was an enjoyable start to a new series. Middle Graders will fall head over heels for the new world that Noel is opening up for them!
This was a very quick read and I enjoyed it. Riley is very bratty, but she is 12! I guess that just comes with the territory. While she is bratty and childish, I didn't find it annoying. She's actually pretty funny. I wish we could have gotten to know the side character's a bit more. Especially Bohdi, but that's what sequels are for!
Overall, Radiance was an enjoyable start to a new series. Middle Graders will fall head over heels for the new world that Noel is opening up for them!
andlovetoowillruinus's review
1.0
So. This was unpleasant.
I bought this book, unaware that a) Alyson Noel is a notoriously careless and, to be blunt, horrible writer; and b) that this book was part of a spin-off series– I had thought it was a stand-alone book. So, you could say I went into this book with little to no expectations, having read nothing of this writer before and having not read the main series (which, honestly, I'll probably never do).
Plot
The book follows Riley Bloom, a young girl who died alongside her parents in an accident and tells of her time in the after-life as she becomes a Soul Catcher, whose job is to help other souls cross the bridge into the after-life.
It's boring. That's all I can really say.
I should have expected this, since it's such a thin book, but everything happens very quickly. Start of the book, boom, you're introduced to Riley (and quickly pick up on her bratty personality), her purpose in the after-life, and her love interest– a guy named Bodhi who is berated by Riler for not dressing like Joe Jonas.
That's right. You read that correctly. Joe Jonas.
Besides the obvious unwritten law that writers should never include modern pop culture in their novels, since it ages terribly within a matter of months, this just further enhances Riley's brattiness levels.
The plot is bare and very weak as a whole.
Characters
As mentioned above, Riley is horrible. The most annoyingly selfish twelve-year-old that ever was. Her so-called 'character development' happens so quickly– in a matter of four or five pages, really– that it's completely unrealistic. She can apparently conquer all her fears and doubts in less than a chapter. Okay, riiiight.
Bodhi is... weird. Awkward and weird. I mean, he's supposed to be a tragic love interest of sorts– mimicking the main series love interest, from what I understand– but it just comes off... weird. Maybe it's because the book is told through Riley's point of view and she's a twelve-year-old, or maybe it's Noel's writing (probably the latter), but as a character, he's just... NOkay.
And then you've got these three boys who are Riley's first assignment, and I don't even know what the hell's going on with them. Like, I can't explain them to you despite having read and re-read their chapter whilst writing this review.
The Writing
Honestly, one of the biggest challenge a writer faces when writing from the perspective of a character not in their age range is establishing a consistent voice. Noel failed miserably at this. At times Riley sounds like a third-grader, at others she gains this weird old-man-like wisdom, and, of course, her inner thoughts are peppered with pop culture references– which, as I mentioned, is really, really bad in a book, because that book will most definitely not withstand the test of time.
Of course, Noel's writing style in and of itself annoys me. It lacks flow, consistency, or literary qualities, and it's just unpleasant to read.
The Cover
The cover is what fooled me into thinking this would be a pleasant read. It's a gorgeous cover– I'll at least admit that. Really, the title font, the girl's, the bridge in the background, the flower field– it's all really eye-catching. Too bad it's also misleading.
Final Rating: 1 star.
I bought this book, unaware that a) Alyson Noel is a notoriously careless and, to be blunt, horrible writer; and b) that this book was part of a spin-off series– I had thought it was a stand-alone book. So, you could say I went into this book with little to no expectations, having read nothing of this writer before and having not read the main series (which, honestly, I'll probably never do).
Plot
The book follows Riley Bloom, a young girl who died alongside her parents in an accident and tells of her time in the after-life as she becomes a Soul Catcher, whose job is to help other souls cross the bridge into the after-life.
It's boring. That's all I can really say.
I should have expected this, since it's such a thin book, but everything happens very quickly. Start of the book, boom, you're introduced to Riley (and quickly pick up on her bratty personality), her purpose in the after-life, and her love interest– a guy named Bodhi who is berated by Riler for not dressing like Joe Jonas.
That's right. You read that correctly. Joe Jonas.
Besides the obvious unwritten law that writers should never include modern pop culture in their novels, since it ages terribly within a matter of months, this just further enhances Riley's brattiness levels.
The plot is bare and very weak as a whole.
Characters
As mentioned above, Riley is horrible. The most annoyingly selfish twelve-year-old that ever was. Her so-called 'character development' happens so quickly– in a matter of four or five pages, really– that it's completely unrealistic. She can apparently conquer all her fears and doubts in less than a chapter. Okay, riiiight.
Bodhi is... weird. Awkward and weird. I mean, he's supposed to be a tragic love interest of sorts– mimicking the main series love interest, from what I understand– but it just comes off... weird. Maybe it's because the book is told through Riley's point of view and she's a twelve-year-old, or maybe it's Noel's writing (probably the latter), but as a character, he's just... NOkay.
And then you've got these three boys who are Riley's first assignment, and I don't even know what the hell's going on with them. Like, I can't explain them to you despite having read and re-read their chapter whilst writing this review.
The Writing
Honestly, one of the biggest challenge a writer faces when writing from the perspective of a character not in their age range is establishing a consistent voice. Noel failed miserably at this. At times Riley sounds like a third-grader, at others she gains this weird old-man-like wisdom, and, of course, her inner thoughts are peppered with pop culture references– which, as I mentioned, is really, really bad in a book, because that book will most definitely not withstand the test of time.
Of course, Noel's writing style in and of itself annoys me. It lacks flow, consistency, or literary qualities, and it's just unpleasant to read.
The Cover
The cover is what fooled me into thinking this would be a pleasant read. It's a gorgeous cover– I'll at least admit that. Really, the title font, the girl's, the bridge in the background, the flower field– it's all really eye-catching. Too bad it's also misleading.
Final Rating: 1 star.
zabcia's review
DNF, page 9
awful writing; kinda whiny and the idea of school in the afterlife is just depressing
awful writing; kinda whiny and the idea of school in the afterlife is just depressing
readermel1999's review
3.0
3 stars. I liked the idea of the story and seeing the start of Rileys adventure. I just found it to be a bit slow at the start.
raclausing's review
2.0
Dear lord.
Pros:
-It's a cool concept.
-It has a semi-well-done theme.
-Bodhi is cool.
-Buttercup can fly.
-There's a plot.
Cons:
-I want to kill Riley.
-She's so stupid.
-Where are the adults?
-Why was she thrust into this world without being told what she's doing?
-The writing is terrible. (Was anyone else getting a "poison for Kuzco" vibe?)
-The writing is obviously purposefully dumbed down for the younger target age.
-DON'T DO THAT!
I remember liking this book when I was ten. This book is perfect for ten year olds, because they think the twelve year old protagonist is "just like me" and they don't care about crappy writing. The only reason I continue to read is that I own all of these piles of shit.
Pros:
-It's a cool concept.
-It has a semi-well-done theme.
-Bodhi is cool.
-Buttercup can fly.
-There's a plot.
Cons:
-I want to kill Riley.
-She's so stupid.
-Where are the adults?
-Why was she thrust into this world without being told what she's doing?
-The writing is terrible. (Was anyone else getting a "poison for Kuzco" vibe?)
-The writing is obviously purposefully dumbed down for the younger target age.
-DON'T DO THAT!
I remember liking this book when I was ten. This book is perfect for ten year olds, because they think the twelve year old protagonist is "just like me" and they don't care about crappy writing. The only reason I continue to read is that I own all of these piles of shit.