ellenpenleysmith's review against another edition
4.0
I have finally recived stargazer and finished it. I gotta say it was unexpected and also predictable to a certain extent.
Much better compare to the first book, Evernight, I would have liked it to be a bit more .. oh i dunno... i just didnt seem right.
I am still going to finish the series, whenever the third and fourth book come out, and i would recommend it to other people.
I had hopes that something stronger would rise up between Bianca and Balthazar and it did, to an extent. I am very interested to see how Gray continues the series with [b:Hourglss] the third (and second last) book of the series.
Much better compare to the first book, Evernight, I would have liked it to be a bit more .. oh i dunno... i just didnt seem right.
I am still going to finish the series, whenever the third and fourth book come out, and i would recommend it to other people.
I had hopes that something stronger would rise up between Bianca and Balthazar and it did, to an extent. I am very interested to see how Gray continues the series with [b:Hourglss] the third (and second last) book of the series.
sunnydee's review against another edition
5.0
4,8 von 5 Sternen
*Inhalt:*
Bianca und Lucas sind getrennt, da Luca wieder beim Schwarzen Kreuz ist und Bianca weiterhin in der Evernight Academy unterrichtet wird. Doch sie finden einen Weg sich zu treffen und ihre Liebe bleibt bestehen. Auf der Academy allerdings geschehen merkwürdige Dinge. Geister erscheinen und sie wollen anscheinend nichts gutes. Aber was wollen sie und was hat das alles mit Bianca zu tun?
*Meinung:*
Das Cover ist wunderschön und sinnlich. Das Lila spiegelt sich auch auf dem Einband des Buches wider. Auch der verschnörkelte Schriftzug mit seinen kleinen Details hat mir wie schon beim ersten Band wieder sehr gut gefallen. Das Buch enthält kein Lesebändchen und auch keine Extras oder Werbung.
(ACHTUNG SPOILER ZU TEIL 1)
Die Grundidee ist nicht wahnsinnig originell, aber meines Meinung nach gut umgesetzt. Es ist die typische Dreiecksgeschichte – ein Mädchen und zwei Typen. Natürlich ist sie (angehende Vampirin) das genaue Gegenteil von ihm (Mitglied des Schwarzen Kreuzes und somit Vampirjäger) und sollte sich daher eigentlich von ihm fernhalten, kann das aber nicht. Auch wenn dies alles nach Schema F klingt, ist das Buch bzw. die Buchreihe sehr lesenswert, da sie durch die Charaktere überzeugt und Emotionen gut herüber gebracht werden. Auch die Spannung kommt nicht zu kurz, aber dazu später. Im großen und ganzen geht es um Vampire und ihre Gegner. Dazu zählen nicht nur das schwarze Kreuz sondern auch andere Wesen, die in diesem Teil zum ersten Mal auftauchen.
Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und typisch für ein Jugendbuch. Allerdings kommt es ohne aufgeblasene Jugendsprache aus, was ich sehr begrüße. Die Geschichte wird aus der Ich-Perspektive und der Vergangenheit beschrieben.
Für mich war das Buch spannend, allerdings bevorzuge ich ruhige Bücher und bin daher kein wirkliches Maß zum Thema Spannung. Das solltet ihr bedenken. Für mich hatte es eben genau die richtige Dosis Spannung, die durch verschiedene Handlungsstränge aufrecht erhalten wurde, denen immer wieder unterschiedlich viel Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt wurde. Die Liebesgeschichte um Bianca und Lucas, die Entwicklung um die Geister, Biancas Entwicklung als Vampirin und ein weitere Handlungsstrang um Balthazar, den ich hier nicht voraus nehmen möchte, machen die Spannung aus. Das Level ist dabei fast immer gleichbleibend und gipfelt dann in einem eher kurzen Showdown. Es gab keine riesigen Überraschungen, das meiste war vorhersehbar, aber zumindest gab es eine Sache mit der ich nicht gerechnet hätte. Die Entwicklung um Biancas Zukunft hat doch eine unvorhersehbare Wendung genommen.
Die Emotionen kommen sehr gut beim Leser an, ohne aber zu nah zu gehen. Man bricht also nicht in Tränen aus oder schmilzt vor Rührung dahin. Die Liebesgeschichte ist etwas für Romantiker, zu denen ich mich beim Thema Buch zähle. Ich finde die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Bianca und Lucas sehr schön. Auch die Freundschaft mit Balthazar und Raquel gefiel mir, obwohl vor allem letztere etwas weiter ausgebaut hätte werden können. Vor allem mit Biancas Gefühlswelt konnte ich mir gut identifizieren und dadurch gut in das Buch abtauchen.
Die Charaktere sind meiner Meinung nach das Highlight der Reihe. Bathazar und Lucas sind tolle männliche Charaktere. Man merkt Balthazar sein wirkliches Alter an. Dadurch wirkt er wie ein Beschützer und ein Fels in der Brandung. Lucas wirkt erwachsener als er eigentlich sein sollte, aber auch das ist plausibel wenn man seine Geschichte kennt. Beide Charaktere sind für mich total unterhaltsam und einer der beiden ist meistens im Spiel. :) Die Nebencharaktere bleiben meist etwas blass und trotzdem wirken sie sympathisch oder interessant.
Es gab auch in diesem Band wieder eine Ungereimtheit, die ich störend fand. Ich kann sie hier nicht nennen ohne zu spoilern, aber irgendwie scheint mir die Autorin, wie schon im ersten Band, mit ihren Geheimnissen nicht ganz Schritt zu halten. Plötzlich eröffnet sie etwas weltumwerfendes, dass vorher fast schon widerlegt wurde vom Verhalten der Charaktere. In diesem Band fand ich es allerdings nicht ganz so extrem wie im Band 1.
Das Ende war relativ offen. Sehr viele Fragen bleiben offen und man MUSS einfach weiter lesen.
Grundidee 4/5
Schreibstil 5/5
Spannung 4/5
Emotionen 4,5/5
Liebesgeschichte 5/5
Charaktere 5/5
*Lesergruppe:*
Jugendliche und Junggebliebene, die trotz der zahlreichen Jugendfantasybücher um Vampire immer noch nicht genug haben. Ich finde diese Reihe sehr empfehlenswert. Aufgrund einige recht brutaler Gewaltszenen würde ich das Buch ab 14 Jahren empfehlen.
*Fazit:*
4,8 von 5 Sternen
Der zweite Teil konnte mich fast noch mehr begeistern als der erste Teil. Ich finde die Liebesgeschichte in dieser Reihe sehr überzeugend und romantisch. Außerdem glänzt die Reihe durch ihre interessanten und sympathischen Hauptcharaktere. Außerdem wird durch eine weitere Art von 'Wesen' die Reihe in diesem Band noch interessanter gemacht. Von mir gibt’s eine klare Leseempfehlung.
Reihe:
Band 1 Evernight
Band 2 Evernight - Tochter der Dämmerung
Band 3 Evernight - Hüterin des Zwielichts
Band 4 Evernight - Gefährtin der Morgenröte
*Inhalt:*
Bianca und Lucas sind getrennt, da Luca wieder beim Schwarzen Kreuz ist und Bianca weiterhin in der Evernight Academy unterrichtet wird. Doch sie finden einen Weg sich zu treffen und ihre Liebe bleibt bestehen. Auf der Academy allerdings geschehen merkwürdige Dinge. Geister erscheinen und sie wollen anscheinend nichts gutes. Aber was wollen sie und was hat das alles mit Bianca zu tun?
*Meinung:*
Das Cover ist wunderschön und sinnlich. Das Lila spiegelt sich auch auf dem Einband des Buches wider. Auch der verschnörkelte Schriftzug mit seinen kleinen Details hat mir wie schon beim ersten Band wieder sehr gut gefallen. Das Buch enthält kein Lesebändchen und auch keine Extras oder Werbung.
(ACHTUNG SPOILER ZU TEIL 1)
Die Grundidee ist nicht wahnsinnig originell, aber meines Meinung nach gut umgesetzt. Es ist die typische Dreiecksgeschichte – ein Mädchen und zwei Typen. Natürlich ist sie (angehende Vampirin) das genaue Gegenteil von ihm (Mitglied des Schwarzen Kreuzes und somit Vampirjäger) und sollte sich daher eigentlich von ihm fernhalten, kann das aber nicht. Auch wenn dies alles nach Schema F klingt, ist das Buch bzw. die Buchreihe sehr lesenswert, da sie durch die Charaktere überzeugt und Emotionen gut herüber gebracht werden. Auch die Spannung kommt nicht zu kurz, aber dazu später. Im großen und ganzen geht es um Vampire und ihre Gegner. Dazu zählen nicht nur das schwarze Kreuz sondern auch andere Wesen, die in diesem Teil zum ersten Mal auftauchen.
Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und typisch für ein Jugendbuch. Allerdings kommt es ohne aufgeblasene Jugendsprache aus, was ich sehr begrüße. Die Geschichte wird aus der Ich-Perspektive und der Vergangenheit beschrieben.
Für mich war das Buch spannend, allerdings bevorzuge ich ruhige Bücher und bin daher kein wirkliches Maß zum Thema Spannung. Das solltet ihr bedenken. Für mich hatte es eben genau die richtige Dosis Spannung, die durch verschiedene Handlungsstränge aufrecht erhalten wurde, denen immer wieder unterschiedlich viel Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt wurde. Die Liebesgeschichte um Bianca und Lucas, die Entwicklung um die Geister, Biancas Entwicklung als Vampirin und ein weitere Handlungsstrang um Balthazar, den ich hier nicht voraus nehmen möchte, machen die Spannung aus. Das Level ist dabei fast immer gleichbleibend und gipfelt dann in einem eher kurzen Showdown. Es gab keine riesigen Überraschungen, das meiste war vorhersehbar, aber zumindest gab es eine Sache mit der ich nicht gerechnet hätte. Die Entwicklung um Biancas Zukunft hat doch eine unvorhersehbare Wendung genommen.
Die Emotionen kommen sehr gut beim Leser an, ohne aber zu nah zu gehen. Man bricht also nicht in Tränen aus oder schmilzt vor Rührung dahin. Die Liebesgeschichte ist etwas für Romantiker, zu denen ich mich beim Thema Buch zähle. Ich finde die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Bianca und Lucas sehr schön. Auch die Freundschaft mit Balthazar und Raquel gefiel mir, obwohl vor allem letztere etwas weiter ausgebaut hätte werden können. Vor allem mit Biancas Gefühlswelt konnte ich mir gut identifizieren und dadurch gut in das Buch abtauchen.
Die Charaktere sind meiner Meinung nach das Highlight der Reihe. Bathazar und Lucas sind tolle männliche Charaktere. Man merkt Balthazar sein wirkliches Alter an. Dadurch wirkt er wie ein Beschützer und ein Fels in der Brandung. Lucas wirkt erwachsener als er eigentlich sein sollte, aber auch das ist plausibel wenn man seine Geschichte kennt. Beide Charaktere sind für mich total unterhaltsam und einer der beiden ist meistens im Spiel. :) Die Nebencharaktere bleiben meist etwas blass und trotzdem wirken sie sympathisch oder interessant.
Es gab auch in diesem Band wieder eine Ungereimtheit, die ich störend fand. Ich kann sie hier nicht nennen ohne zu spoilern, aber irgendwie scheint mir die Autorin, wie schon im ersten Band, mit ihren Geheimnissen nicht ganz Schritt zu halten. Plötzlich eröffnet sie etwas weltumwerfendes, dass vorher fast schon widerlegt wurde vom Verhalten der Charaktere. In diesem Band fand ich es allerdings nicht ganz so extrem wie im Band 1.
Das Ende war relativ offen. Sehr viele Fragen bleiben offen und man MUSS einfach weiter lesen.
Grundidee 4/5
Schreibstil 5/5
Spannung 4/5
Emotionen 4,5/5
Liebesgeschichte 5/5
Charaktere 5/5
*Lesergruppe:*
Jugendliche und Junggebliebene, die trotz der zahlreichen Jugendfantasybücher um Vampire immer noch nicht genug haben. Ich finde diese Reihe sehr empfehlenswert. Aufgrund einige recht brutaler Gewaltszenen würde ich das Buch ab 14 Jahren empfehlen.
*Fazit:*
4,8 von 5 Sternen
Der zweite Teil konnte mich fast noch mehr begeistern als der erste Teil. Ich finde die Liebesgeschichte in dieser Reihe sehr überzeugend und romantisch. Außerdem glänzt die Reihe durch ihre interessanten und sympathischen Hauptcharaktere. Außerdem wird durch eine weitere Art von 'Wesen' die Reihe in diesem Band noch interessanter gemacht. Von mir gibt’s eine klare Leseempfehlung.
Reihe:
Band 1 Evernight
Band 2 Evernight - Tochter der Dämmerung
Band 3 Evernight - Hüterin des Zwielichts
Band 4 Evernight - Gefährtin der Morgenröte
thecozyreaderwbo's review against another edition
5.0
This post will be the review only. I will post the contest this weekend as I am having a crazy week.
Stargazer (Evernight Academy, Book 2) by Claudia Gray
HarperTeen (March 24, 2009)
329 pages (Hardcover)
Originality: 19!
Characters: 20!
Writing: 19!
Setting: 10!
Plot: 19!
Passion: 10!
Grade: 97/100!
NEW! Cover Bonus Points: 2/5!
99/100!
Inside flap description:
The vampire in me was closer to the surface . . .
Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all--vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.
But Bianca fell in love with Lucas--a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.
Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross--or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.
Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning. . . .
Read an excerpt HERE!
Originality:
The plot was very original in this book. Ghosts, vampires, humans, teens, adults, extremely old vampire teens. It has it all. Everything worked well together in this recent installment by Claudia Gray.
Characters:
Bianca and Lucas's love holds strong even thought they are forced apart. We learn more about Bianca, her parents, and her roommate Raquel. We also learn a bit more about snob Courtney. And a major character this time around is one of my favorite characters: Balthazar. We also meet his sister in this book, who turns out to be a major character.
Writing:
Claudia did such a better job on the writing this time around! I remember reading Evernight feeling confused and a bit ahead of where the reader should have been or something like that. Not with this book. I felt right at home. Everything matched and met up at the correct times. There was no confusion about the storyline, the characters, or even where it was all leading to. It was very well done.
Setting:
Well, the setting is Evernight Academy. A giant stone building with towers and gargoyles. The setting is setup very well. A lot takes place within Evernight and the details needed to convey the setting were there, not aggressive but not lacking either. We got to travel a bit in this book and each new setting was welcome and presented just great.
Plot:
This book was chock full o' badassness! There was lots of action, lots of planning, lots of collaboration between characters. Overall, I had tons of fun reading this. Everything worked out in the end with little-to-no loose ends, well except for the ending, but that's to be expected!
Passion:
Wow. The passion is totally there. Between Lucas and Bianca and even Bianca and Balty. Lucas and Bianca have a very close scene that they both ended up confused by what the other wants and it ends terribly, terribly bad. I wanted to cry and beat someone up. I felt totally sad for Bianca but I also understood where Lucas was coming from. And what makes it even worse is that Balthazar is such a nice guy, vampire, whatever, and he and Bianca would work great together. They share a moment that was so hot it was freezing....for a moment I thought I was reading one of my adult romances.
Cover:
The cover isn't that great. They stayed true with the artwork of the first book with a contrasted pic of a girl but I don't get it. I do love the font that Stargazer is set in though. And the purple is cool too.
Overall:
This was a great book. I totally loved it and I was soo sad with the end. Because I didn't want it to end. Here's the closing line:
"Yeah." I looked at Lucas as I took his hand in mine. "I'm with you."
So, needless to say, I WANT MORE!
The next book titled Hourglass will probably be a whole year away.
There are some cool wallpapers and avatars on Claudia's website!
Stay tuned for my contest of a BRAND NEW copy of Stargazer! I'll be posting it sometime later this week!
http://bookreviewsbyjess.blogspot.com/2009/03/stargazer-evernight-academy-book-2-by.html
Stargazer (Evernight Academy, Book 2) by Claudia Gray
HarperTeen (March 24, 2009)
329 pages (Hardcover)
Originality: 19!
Characters: 20!
Writing: 19!
Setting: 10!
Plot: 19!
Passion: 10!
Grade: 97/100!
NEW! Cover Bonus Points: 2/5!
99/100!
Inside flap description:
The vampire in me was closer to the surface . . .
Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all--vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.
But Bianca fell in love with Lucas--a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.
Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross--or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.
Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning. . . .
Read an excerpt HERE!
Originality:
The plot was very original in this book. Ghosts, vampires, humans, teens, adults, extremely old vampire teens. It has it all. Everything worked well together in this recent installment by Claudia Gray.
Characters:
Bianca and Lucas's love holds strong even thought they are forced apart. We learn more about Bianca, her parents, and her roommate Raquel. We also learn a bit more about snob Courtney. And a major character this time around is one of my favorite characters: Balthazar. We also meet his sister in this book, who turns out to be a major character.
Writing:
Claudia did such a better job on the writing this time around! I remember reading Evernight feeling confused and a bit ahead of where the reader should have been or something like that. Not with this book. I felt right at home. Everything matched and met up at the correct times. There was no confusion about the storyline, the characters, or even where it was all leading to. It was very well done.
Setting:
Well, the setting is Evernight Academy. A giant stone building with towers and gargoyles. The setting is setup very well. A lot takes place within Evernight and the details needed to convey the setting were there, not aggressive but not lacking either. We got to travel a bit in this book and each new setting was welcome and presented just great.
Plot:
This book was chock full o' badassness! There was lots of action, lots of planning, lots of collaboration between characters. Overall, I had tons of fun reading this. Everything worked out in the end with little-to-no loose ends, well except for the ending, but that's to be expected!
Passion:
Wow. The passion is totally there. Between Lucas and Bianca and even Bianca and Balty. Lucas and Bianca have a very close scene that they both ended up confused by what the other wants and it ends terribly, terribly bad. I wanted to cry and beat someone up. I felt totally sad for Bianca but I also understood where Lucas was coming from. And what makes it even worse is that Balthazar is such a nice guy, vampire, whatever, and he and Bianca would work great together. They share a moment that was so hot it was freezing....for a moment I thought I was reading one of my adult romances.
Cover:
The cover isn't that great. They stayed true with the artwork of the first book with a contrasted pic of a girl but I don't get it. I do love the font that Stargazer is set in though. And the purple is cool too.
Overall:
This was a great book. I totally loved it and I was soo sad with the end. Because I didn't want it to end. Here's the closing line:
"Yeah." I looked at Lucas as I took his hand in mine. "I'm with you."
So, needless to say, I WANT MORE!
The next book titled Hourglass will probably be a whole year away.
There are some cool wallpapers and avatars on Claudia's website!
Stay tuned for my contest of a BRAND NEW copy of Stargazer! I'll be posting it sometime later this week!
http://bookreviewsbyjess.blogspot.com/2009/03/stargazer-evernight-academy-book-2-by.html
katherineguild35's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kphmitten's review against another edition
5.0
It was really fabulous. It got a tad slow for about two seconds and then the climax took everything over in a whirlwind. I loved the mystery in the novel and the new character (Charity) was deliciously twisted. I'm so excited for the next novel in this series because Bianca's problems have only just begun.
ashreads10k's review against another edition
After reading Evernight, I was dying to start Stargazer to know what happened between Bianca and Lucas. I mean, their relationship is total Romeo and Juliet "my family wants to kill you, and your family wants to kill me." Coming home for the holidays might be a little tense, don't you think?
Lucas and Bianca together are totally swoon-worthy. Hell, Lucas himself is swoon-worthy. He's protective of her, and despite the fact that she's a vampire, he still loves her. But, Lucas isn't the only boy in Bianca's life... we see a bit more of Balthazar, a fellow vampire. I really, really like Balthazar, and even though not much has happened between him and Bianca yet, I can definitely sense that I will most likely be Team Balthazar soon.
If you thought the twist in Evernight was intense, Claudia Gray manages to up the stakes even more! We're not just dealing with vampires and vampire hunters anymore. Now something much darker and deadlier has been added into the mix... and it wants Bianca.
Totally recommended if you loved Evernight, or even if you were so/so on it. There's more suspense, more action, lots more Lucas action, so pick it up! 4 out of 5 stars.
Lucas and Bianca together are totally swoon-worthy. Hell, Lucas himself is swoon-worthy. He's protective of her, and despite the fact that she's a vampire, he still loves her. But, Lucas isn't the only boy in Bianca's life... we see a bit more of Balthazar, a fellow vampire. I really, really like Balthazar, and even though not much has happened between him and Bianca yet, I can definitely sense that I will most likely be Team Balthazar soon.
If you thought the twist in Evernight was intense, Claudia Gray manages to up the stakes even more! We're not just dealing with vampires and vampire hunters anymore. Now something much darker and deadlier has been added into the mix... and it wants Bianca.
Totally recommended if you loved Evernight, or even if you were so/so on it. There's more suspense, more action, lots more Lucas action, so pick it up! 4 out of 5 stars.
jutdwaehugs's review against another edition
5.0
A book filled with suspense and a roller coaster of twists and turns.
jesslyntimm's review against another edition
4.0
Stargazer, you had me in doubt. You had me wondering if I'd ever finish you. You made me dreading having to finish the rest of the series let alone the actual book but, fear no more! For, I indeed have finished you.
Stargazer by Claudia Gray was a lot better than the first book. The book starts out with a new year in Evernight. We go through the same seasons and days like the last book (You know, unlike other books where the whole entire book takes place only in the summer. . . .). It is a well-known fact that Lucas works for the Black Cross, a group that hunts vampires. Now that his secret is out, he has fled from Evernight and (Well, we don't need a whole recap of the last book but they escape together, Bianca meets Black Cross, they get caught, Bianca has to leave Lucas, yada yada yada) is away from Bianca.
Our story begins with Bianca trying to figure out why Mrs. Bethany is letting humans into the school. She sneaks into Mrs. Bethany's apartment to find anything regarding why. Bianca only finds a few letters. Some that are rejecting human students and some that are accepting human students into Evernight. But what makes one human different from the other if both are academically inclined? This is what Bianca is trying to figure out for her dear Lucas.
While sneaking back into the school she starts to notice weird things happening. . . . Frost? Icy spots in the air? Faces?
As the year goes on, Bianca convinces her parents that she's camping out outside to watch a meteorshower when in reality, she's going to see Lucas for the first time in ages. While waiting for him, a girl comes up to her asking for help. She notices that Bianca is a vampire and tells her that someone is following her.
When Lucas finally arrives, the girl tells Bianca to run, telling her that this is the guy that has been stalking her. The girl runs into a morgue and the Black Cross goes after her. The girl escapes. When Bianca returns to the school, Balthazar catches her and Bianca has to spill the beans.
While describing the girl to Balthazar, he comes to the startling conclution that the girl the Black Cross is after is Charity, his sister. He agrees that if Bianca helps him find his sister, he'll help her get off campus to meet up with Lucas if her and Balthazar act like a couple to fool Bianca's parents.
As the year goes on and on and on, more creepy things happen. Bianca starts coming face to face with ghosts. But, in the mean time, Vic has been talking to other people and realizing that almost every human (Well, everyone in his case) has had a ghostly encounters in their houses.
So what do the ghosts have to do with the humans at Evernight? Why do they keep coming to Bianca? Will Balthazar find Charity? If so, how will she react? Will Bianca and Lucas' love stay intact?
This book cleared up a lot of the plot holes that were in the last one, which I had hoped. The story added more supernatural elements and I absolutely loved Balthazar in all of this. I mean, mmm mmm mmmmmmm, he's smokin'! Speaking of smoking, the only thing that bothered me in this book was that Bianca acts a little, hmm, not her age? Sometimes I feel like she's acting waaaay entirely too mature but then in retrospect, I realize she's a lot older than I think she is. Which is another problem! How old does my brain think she is? 14? 15? Sometimes she sure as hell acts 14. I know she's almost seventeen, but some of the scenes in this book are a little too hot for me!
Just kidding. Seriously. I'm not a pansy.
But, since my brain is telling me she's 14 and she's really 17. . . . All of the almost-sex-scenes, were a bit weird to me. Kind of like, "Oh God, she shouldn't be doing that. This is a young adult book, right? She's only fourteen -- OOOOH! That's right. She's not. I'm wrong. Seventeen. Still creepy. Fourteen year old in my head but, that's just me." That was everything I thought in my head for both scenes all summed up.
To the real and honest point with no sugar added: This book was good. It was entertaining but quite slow in the beginning and a little annoying with some scenes. All of the cat fights with Raquel and Lucas were childish and pointless. I was also a little upset with how close Claudia Gray made Balthazar become to the reader. Didn't make sense? I fell in love with Balthazar, I don't know who didn't. But this isn't Twilight. We all know who Bianca takes and we know there isn't a chance that Balthazar will get his shot with her. It was disappointing. The end was suspenseful and didn't end too quickly or slowly. I knew it would end with a cliff hanger. But a cliff hanger that was manageable. Maybe it's because I already own the next book? Who knows but, I do know that after reading this book, I'm not doubting the series as much as I was before. Truthfully, it's pretty good. Let's just hope the vampire-teenie-bopper-I-love-Edward-Cullen-More stuff ends and we can move onto more interesting supernatural shenanigans.
In the mean time, I shall move onto the 3rd book in this series.
Stargazer by Claudia Gray was a lot better than the first book. The book starts out with a new year in Evernight. We go through the same seasons and days like the last book (You know, unlike other books where the whole entire book takes place only in the summer. . . .). It is a well-known fact that Lucas works for the Black Cross, a group that hunts vampires. Now that his secret is out, he has fled from Evernight and (Well, we don't need a whole recap of the last book but they escape together, Bianca meets Black Cross, they get caught, Bianca has to leave Lucas, yada yada yada) is away from Bianca.
Our story begins with Bianca trying to figure out why Mrs. Bethany is letting humans into the school. She sneaks into Mrs. Bethany's apartment to find anything regarding why. Bianca only finds a few letters. Some that are rejecting human students and some that are accepting human students into Evernight. But what makes one human different from the other if both are academically inclined? This is what Bianca is trying to figure out for her dear Lucas.
While sneaking back into the school she starts to notice weird things happening. . . . Frost? Icy spots in the air? Faces?
As the year goes on, Bianca convinces her parents that she's camping out outside to watch a meteorshower when in reality, she's going to see Lucas for the first time in ages. While waiting for him, a girl comes up to her asking for help. She notices that Bianca is a vampire and tells her that someone is following her.
When Lucas finally arrives, the girl tells Bianca to run, telling her that this is the guy that has been stalking her. The girl runs into a morgue and the Black Cross goes after her. The girl escapes. When Bianca returns to the school, Balthazar catches her and Bianca has to spill the beans.
While describing the girl to Balthazar, he comes to the startling conclution that the girl the Black Cross is after is Charity, his sister. He agrees that if Bianca helps him find his sister, he'll help her get off campus to meet up with Lucas if her and Balthazar act like a couple to fool Bianca's parents.
As the year goes on and on and on, more creepy things happen. Bianca starts coming face to face with ghosts. But, in the mean time, Vic has been talking to other people and realizing that almost every human (Well, everyone in his case) has had a ghostly encounters in their houses.
So what do the ghosts have to do with the humans at Evernight? Why do they keep coming to Bianca? Will Balthazar find Charity? If so, how will she react? Will Bianca and Lucas' love stay intact?
This book cleared up a lot of the plot holes that were in the last one, which I had hoped. The story added more supernatural elements and I absolutely loved Balthazar in all of this. I mean, mmm mmm mmmmmmm, he's smokin'! Speaking of smoking, the only thing that bothered me in this book was that Bianca acts a little, hmm, not her age? Sometimes I feel like she's acting waaaay entirely too mature but then in retrospect, I realize she's a lot older than I think she is. Which is another problem! How old does my brain think she is? 14? 15? Sometimes she sure as hell acts 14. I know she's almost seventeen, but some of the scenes in this book are a little too hot for me!
Just kidding. Seriously. I'm not a pansy.
But, since my brain is telling me she's 14 and she's really 17. . . . All of the almost-sex-scenes, were a bit weird to me. Kind of like, "Oh God, she shouldn't be doing that. This is a young adult book, right? She's only fourteen -- OOOOH! That's right. She's not. I'm wrong. Seventeen. Still creepy. Fourteen year old in my head but, that's just me." That was everything I thought in my head for both scenes all summed up.
To the real and honest point with no sugar added: This book was good. It was entertaining but quite slow in the beginning and a little annoying with some scenes. All of the cat fights with Raquel and Lucas were childish and pointless. I was also a little upset with how close Claudia Gray made Balthazar become to the reader. Didn't make sense? I fell in love with Balthazar, I don't know who didn't. But this isn't Twilight. We all know who Bianca takes and we know there isn't a chance that Balthazar will get his shot with her. It was disappointing. The end was suspenseful and didn't end too quickly or slowly. I knew it would end with a cliff hanger. But a cliff hanger that was manageable. Maybe it's because I already own the next book? Who knows but, I do know that after reading this book, I'm not doubting the series as much as I was before. Truthfully, it's pretty good. Let's just hope the vampire-teenie-bopper-I-love-Edward-Cullen-More stuff ends and we can move onto more interesting supernatural shenanigans.
In the mean time, I shall move onto the 3rd book in this series.