merlin_reads's review
3.0
This was pretty much the accumulation of all the important events - the fire that killed Lena's dad, Lena saving herself, Macon changing his ways, Amma butting in and Lena discovering her powers. The one downside? Ridley was is it.
vanessa_issa's review
4.0
Yaaay! One more 'Untold Story', just in time to celebrate Halloween! :)
- Ridley is always my favorite character. LOL!
- I really enjoyed getting to know more about Lena's childhood.
- And yes, once again, I finished it too fast and I want more.
- Ridley is always my favorite character. LOL!
- I really enjoyed getting to know more about Lena's childhood.
- And yes, once again, I finished it too fast and I want more.
clarynathanwill's review
5.0
Another ball out of the park short story from Kami and Margaret.
I'm amazed every time I read something from the Caster world a vault in my head opens to a well of knowledge I've kept about the world. I don't even know how I remember so much of it.
Seeing these scenes from eye witness accounts of sorts expanded my horizons even more. And a cute Ethan and Lena scene at the end was the cherry on top.
I'm amazed every time I read something from the Caster world a vault in my head opens to a well of knowledge I've kept about the world. I don't even know how I remember so much of it.
Seeing these scenes from eye witness accounts of sorts expanded my horizons even more. And a cute Ethan and Lena scene at the end was the cherry on top.
julaliciousbookparadise's review against another edition
4.0
Original review on Julalicious Book Paradise
Rating: 3.5/5
Short stories? Short reviews. :)
So I enjoy these little short stories that give us insight about how everything came to be in the Caster Chronicles series and sometimes in the Dangerous Creatures series.
This novella was about what was done to protect Lena from her own mother, but I mostly enjoyed reading about her and her cousin Ridley. Two girls so opposite yet, I wouldn't doubt just how far they would go to protect one another.
Want me to admit something? I know they saw Lena's future and feared for her, but I feel like they neglected to check on the others like Ridley. Perhaps, nothing could have been done, but I just feel like their focus was so much on Lena that they missed other signs that could have helped out the others.
Other than that, I really liked how Lena and Ethan learn more about themselves, about their parents and about all the things that led them to meet.
Rating: 3.5/5
Short stories? Short reviews. :)
So I enjoy these little short stories that give us insight about how everything came to be in the Caster Chronicles series and sometimes in the Dangerous Creatures series.
This novella was about what was done to protect Lena from her own mother, but I mostly enjoyed reading about her and her cousin Ridley. Two girls so opposite yet, I wouldn't doubt just how far they would go to protect one another.
Want me to admit something? I know they saw Lena's future and feared for her, but I feel like they neglected to check on the others like Ridley. Perhaps, nothing could have been done, but I just feel like their focus was so much on Lena that they missed other signs that could have helped out the others.
Other than that, I really liked how Lena and Ethan learn more about themselves, about their parents and about all the things that led them to meet.
nerdypotsie's review
4.0
My favorite of the novellas so far. This one had a glimpse into when Lena ended up in Macon's care and Lena and Ridley as tweens/early teens. I'm a huge Ridley fan so getting to see a new side of her before her claiming was really fun and it made me love her even more. I also developed a deeper appreciation for Lena with this novella. Some of Lena's hopeless romantic stuff in the main series was a little bit annoying to me so seeing her before she met Ethan was really nice.
amesbee's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.0
anniehuizinga's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely the story the readers asked for but maybe not so much the answer we looked for. Sarafine is what I consider one of the more interesting characters as she did have her dark tendencies get to her unlike Lena. After being exposed to her story in the series I would have liked for her background story to have more elaboration. She tried so hard to fight the darkness in her but succumbed so easily, and I would have liked to read why. I also would have liked to read more about the 'magic' of it all, the abilities, the legends, rather than just the tragedy. Other than that it is really nice to read how Macon came to care for Lena and the the bond they had from the start.
amalyndb's review against another edition
1.0
Short story of Emmaline, Macon and Amma finding Lena after the fire that killed her father, and trying to protect her from her mother.
This one was more abrupt and felt unfinished to me.
This one was more abrupt and felt unfinished to me.
cynsworkshop's review against another edition
3.0
Unfortunately Forgettable | Review of ‘Before the Claiming’ (Beautiful Creatures: The Untold Stories #3)
Another forgettable novella in an otherwise amazing series[...]
Read more of this post @ Cyn's Workshop
Another forgettable novella in an otherwise amazing series[...]
Read more of this post @ Cyn's Workshop