sarasofraz's review against another edition
2.0
I read the second book for the same reason I read the first, the interactive parts! Still not a very good story though.
katielarisa95's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
aropuzzler's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
paperbackcuts's review against another edition
1.0
Cool doodles and stuff but really hard to get into and nothing relatable. Really disappointed and it cost me £12.99 from whsmith. Not worth buying!
loving_u_4_ever's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
marylene's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
As for the first book, I liked the various pieces of evidence, which bring a little more to this series. I love Cathy and her reckless side, but the story captivates me less and less. I will nevertheless finish the series, out of curiosity of course ;) But also because there's only one book left.
As for the first book, I liked the various pieces of evidence, which bring a little more to this series. I love Cathy and her reckless side, but the story captivates me less and less. I will nevertheless finish the series, out of curiosity of course ;) But also because there's only one book left.
vailynst's review against another edition
3.0
In six months following Book 1, Cathy managed to graduate from high school and flunk from three jobs for three completely different reasons. The story begins with a spontaneous road trip out to the middle of no where to meet the Fortune Teller. Cathy gets a bizarre update and a thread of unease coils around her heart. On the bus trip back to good old CA, Cathy bonds with Jewel and learns to regret it with every cursed released breath.
The sequel to Cathy's Book is more like a novel than a journal. I wish I had found a hardback copy of the this book but settled for the paperback because I'm impatient. Regardless, the pictures drawn in this book are fantastic and very interesting. The "journal" entries of are not as different, quirky and doodled with unique miscellaneous objects as the first book.
I thought the start was odd. She goes to the middle of nowhere to meet a fortune teller and then befriends an obvious lying squirt, Jewel. I admit, I did a lot of eye rolling in the beginning of the book.
Pete and Denny are interesting new additions to the book. Cathy's heart ripping reunion with her Dad was potent and realistic. They both have a point.
This whole, we figured out how to kill immortals shenanigans is full of CRAP! The fact that the loser Jewel managed to get her hands on it--MORE CRAP!
There was a profoundly dumb point near the beginning where I wanted to throw the book down and storm off--I resisted, drank more coffee, and continued reading.
Emma & Cathy having a blowout fight? Realistic. I never forget that this book is about Asian-Americans. Some of the talk and behaviors as very Asians-R-Us.
Perhaps, like any graphic novel, if I suspend all belief and just go with the flow, I would have enjoyed this book more. But, it's not just a graphic novel. The story isn't driven by the pictures and the words. Words freaking matter! I shouldn't have to remind myself that I'm reading an urban fantasy and that stupid or weird events are okay.
Good Parts:
- The Immortals: Reading about them and what they are like are great dips into folklore & mythology. I love that stuff!
- Cathy's Kiss at job 3 & how she lost it is FREAKING hilarious! =)
- Tsao's Origin Story: Short, sweet, gaspy & cool.
- 2nd Day of Work @ Fondue: *smirks & giggles*
- Vegan Made-Up Option at Fondue: Awesome and smack-upside-the-head worthy.
- Fighting - Brutal & efficient.
I love how publishers are trying innovative ways to pull in readers by making books like the Cathy series. There are a handful of other YA books that have different & cool ways to interactively read the series. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book but the experience wasn't as awesome as the first book. On to [b:Cathy's Ring|5081991|Cathy's Ring|Sean Stewart|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267294790s/5081991.jpg|5148706] and wrapping up this trilogy!
Spoiler
The sequel to Cathy's Book is more like a novel than a journal. I wish I had found a hardback copy of the this book but settled for the paperback because I'm impatient. Regardless, the pictures drawn in this book are fantastic and very interesting. The "journal" entries of are not as different, quirky and doodled with unique miscellaneous objects as the first book.
I thought the start was odd. She goes to the middle of nowhere to meet a fortune teller and then befriends an obvious lying squirt, Jewel. I admit, I did a lot of eye rolling in the beginning of the book.
Pete and Denny are interesting new additions to the book. Cathy's heart ripping reunion with her Dad was potent and realistic. They both have a point.
This whole, we figured out how to kill immortals shenanigans is full of CRAP! The fact that the loser Jewel managed to get her hands on it--MORE CRAP!
There was a profoundly dumb point near the beginning where I wanted to throw the book down and storm off--I resisted, drank more coffee, and continued reading.
Emma & Cathy having a blowout fight? Realistic. I never forget that this book is about Asian-Americans. Some of the talk and behaviors as very Asians-R-Us.
Perhaps, like any graphic novel, if I suspend all belief and just go with the flow, I would have enjoyed this book more. But, it's not just a graphic novel. The story isn't driven by the pictures and the words. Words freaking matter! I shouldn't have to remind myself that I'm reading an urban fantasy and that stupid or weird events are okay.
Good Parts:
- The Immortals: Reading about them and what they are like are great dips into folklore & mythology. I love that stuff!
- Cathy's Kiss at job 3 & how she lost it is FREAKING hilarious! =)
- Tsao's Origin Story: Short, sweet, gaspy & cool.
- 2nd Day of Work @ Fondue: *smirks & giggles*
- Vegan Made-Up Option at Fondue: Awesome and smack-upside-the-head worthy.
- Fighting - Brutal & efficient.
I love how publishers are trying innovative ways to pull in readers by making books like the Cathy series. There are a handful of other YA books that have different & cool ways to interactively read the series. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book but the experience wasn't as awesome as the first book. On to [b:Cathy's Ring|5081991|Cathy's Ring|Sean Stewart|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267294790s/5081991.jpg|5148706] and wrapping up this trilogy!
abookishstar's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book I was able to read in one sitting. I stayed up all night reading this. I didn't stop. I just read and read, didn't stop. It never once got boring, it was fast pace, and it felt like I was watching a movie. I'm not doing a review on the first book in the series, Cathy's Book, because I don't have it anymore and I don't remember much. At first, before reading this, I was worried that I wouldn't remember the storyline or wouldn't be able to follow along but the authors did a wonderful job of recapping and the whole story was easy to follow along. The ending will make you want to read the next one ASAP. The book also is very unique because they give you items inside the book which are evidence and your able to phone the characters, check their voice mail, e-mail them, go to websites the characters visit, see pictures, birth certificates, Chinese coins, ect; It's just wonderful book that will have you on feet the whole time. The characters are lovable. My favorites are Cathy, Emma, and Jewel. I can definitely see anyone making this into a movie. Also every page has doodles in it which makes it more fun and unique to read. It is written in a story/diary like way and I know the readers will enjoy that. I don't really have any complaints about this book it was amazing and having items inside made it even more fun. All I can say if you haven't read this yet then go, go, go to the bookstore and buy it. Remember Cathy's Book is the first one, Cathy's Key is the sequel, and Cathy's Ring is the thrid and current book out right now. Anyways I love it XD.
kfan's review against another edition
2.0
I finished this a few days ago, and have been spending the time since trying to dig into the online and phone-based aspects of the ARG. I love the idea of ARGs, and I like the idea of a book with added ARG-value, but I couldn't figure out any of the clues, and even with some hints and spoilers I still wasn't able to pick apart what we were supposedly after.
I definitely should have read Cathy's Book first, but I kind of liked being dropped into this story the way I was. I really liked the part on the bus, where Cathy and Jewel are sorting each other out. The rest of the book didn't do much for it. It happens at *breakneck* pace, I kept having to put the book down to process everything that was happening. But the upshot is that there are lots of events happening but the characters are just sketches and weren't super engaging to me.
Um, what else. I'm glad this series exists and I hope people really enjoy chasing down the clues and everything. It ain't my thing but I'm not mad at a book that tries to go some extra miles. Also I really liked the drawings on every page. More books should have line drawings on every page.
I definitely should have read Cathy's Book first, but I kind of liked being dropped into this story the way I was. I really liked the part on the bus, where Cathy and Jewel are sorting each other out. The rest of the book didn't do much for it. It happens at *breakneck* pace, I kept having to put the book down to process everything that was happening. But the upshot is that there are lots of events happening but the characters are just sketches and weren't super engaging to me.
Um, what else. I'm glad this series exists and I hope people really enjoy chasing down the clues and everything. It ain't my thing but I'm not mad at a book that tries to go some extra miles. Also I really liked the drawings on every page. More books should have line drawings on every page.
tms792's review against another edition
4.0
Cathy is back and she is as curious as ever! It's been six months since Cathy's seen her boyfriend Victor and she is completely clueless as to where their relationship stands. Out of desperation she sets off to St. Louis in order to meet the fortune teller whose name was sent to her months earlier in a mysterious package. After her meeting with the mysterious Auntie Joe, who claims that Cathy's father didn't really die of a heart attack but that he was murdered, Cathy is as confused as ever. On her way home Cathy meets Jewel. Jewel immediately gets on Cathy's bad side when she tries to weasel money out of her. She's even bold enough to take Cathy's diary pages (recounting her last adventure) while Cathy is out buying food. Despite a bitter start, Jewel and Cathy become pseudo friends and spend the long, boring bus ride home talking. That is until Jewel disappears with Cathy's cell phone and diary pages, virtually stealing her identity. This is really the least of Cathy's problems because when she returns to San Francisco she is determined to find out what really happened to her father and also squeeze in time to find a new job. With the help of her best friend Emma, Cathy embarks on an adventure to find out more about her father and she will learn more than she could have ever fathomed!!
This book was undeniably better than the first. It didn't take me any time to get swept up into Cathy's hilarious adventures and mishaps. Cathy became very real in this book and her personality was absolutely brilliant. Her attitude was hands down one of the funniest I've ever come across in a book and I found myself howling aloud in amusement from the words that came out of her mouth. I also felt like the author was really able to pull off the plot in this sequel. In the first book it was a little questionable, but this time it really made the book shine. What's also great about this book is that it's really not necessary to read it's precedent, Cathy's Book, as it completely holds its own and won't confuse the reader. Overall I was highly impressed with this book and was completely shocked into loving it. It is a great summer read, not too long, but long enough to have substance, and I whole heartily recommend it to all!!
This book was undeniably better than the first. It didn't take me any time to get swept up into Cathy's hilarious adventures and mishaps. Cathy became very real in this book and her personality was absolutely brilliant. Her attitude was hands down one of the funniest I've ever come across in a book and I found myself howling aloud in amusement from the words that came out of her mouth. I also felt like the author was really able to pull off the plot in this sequel. In the first book it was a little questionable, but this time it really made the book shine. What's also great about this book is that it's really not necessary to read it's precedent, Cathy's Book, as it completely holds its own and won't confuse the reader. Overall I was highly impressed with this book and was completely shocked into loving it. It is a great summer read, not too long, but long enough to have substance, and I whole heartily recommend it to all!!