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fmafify's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars actually! This was one hell of a book, but it didn't end how i wanted it to, and it moved tooooooooooooo fast for anyone's liking. as well, some scenes were quite unrealistic and took places far earlier than they should have (the romance generally). but all in all, it was worth the read!
cari1268's review against another edition
2.0
This book was more of a miss for me. I loved the concept and the beginning intrigued me. Once Elizabeth figured out that Stephen was invisible, my interest started tapering off.
Part of the problem was that the characters were dull. Elizabeth was plain out unpleasant the last half of the book. The remaining cast of characters weren't very fleshed out. Although, I did like Elizabeth's brother, Laurie.
The romance was intense for a teenage relationship. There was a lot more telling than showing with a mix of instalove. The characters were supposedly "in love" enough to die for one another but I never believed it.
The story itself failed to truly captivate me. I was disappointed the authors decided to focus on Elizabeth's abilities instead of Stephen's invisibility. The "magic" parts also felt very undeveloped with lots of unanswered questions.
The ending didn't feel much like an ending. There were enough unanswered questions that I actually wondered if there was going to be a second book.
I put this book on hold at the library and didn't realize David Levithan was one of the authors. I did not finish Every Day and was nervous about what ideas/life philosophies Levithan would push in Invisibility. However, it was pretty tame. There was only one time when I cringed due to some political smearing.
Elizabeth explained it this way (page 69), "My dad's family is conservative, but he always claimed to be the liberal of the bunch... But I guess his liberalism only stretched so far before it broke."
If the author would have mentioned a dad with conservative views who unfairly blamed and abandoned his son, I wouldn't have as much of a problem with that because it could happen... Not likely to happen, but it could. However, acting like ALL conservatives would act the way the father acted and only liberals would behave tolerantly, was just plain ignorant. Way to demonize an entire group.
Overall, I liked the concept of this book and enjoyed the first few chapters. The writing wasn't bad and I finished the book quickly. Boring characters and shaky world building prevented me from giving this book higher than 2 stars.
2 Stars.
Part of the problem was that the characters were dull. Elizabeth was plain out unpleasant the last half of the book. The remaining cast of characters weren't very fleshed out. Although, I did like Elizabeth's brother, Laurie.
The romance was intense for a teenage relationship. There was a lot more telling than showing with a mix of instalove. The characters were supposedly "in love" enough to die for one another but I never believed it.
The story itself failed to truly captivate me. I was disappointed the authors decided to focus on Elizabeth's abilities instead of Stephen's invisibility. The "magic" parts also felt very undeveloped with lots of unanswered questions.
The ending didn't feel much like an ending. There were enough unanswered questions that I actually wondered if there was going to be a second book.
Spoiler
i.e. Is Stephen still dying then? Is he EVER going to find out that he's potentially dying?I put this book on hold at the library and didn't realize David Levithan was one of the authors. I did not finish Every Day and was nervous about what ideas/life philosophies Levithan would push in Invisibility. However, it was pretty tame. There was only one time when I cringed due to some political smearing.
Spoiler
Elizabeth's dad blamed his teenage son for getting beat up for being gay. Then the Dad abandoned him.Elizabeth explained it this way (page 69), "My dad's family is conservative, but he always claimed to be the liberal of the bunch... But I guess his liberalism only stretched so far before it broke."
If the author would have mentioned a dad with conservative views who unfairly blamed and abandoned his son, I wouldn't have as much of a problem with that because it could happen... Not likely to happen, but it could. However, acting like ALL conservatives would act the way the father acted and only liberals would behave tolerantly, was just plain ignorant. Way to demonize an entire group.
Overall, I liked the concept of this book and enjoyed the first few chapters. The writing wasn't bad and I finished the book quickly. Boring characters and shaky world building prevented me from giving this book higher than 2 stars.
2 Stars.
sydney_09's review against another edition
4.0
So far so good. Fascinating concept and plot. Starting to think it would've made a better 4 part series.
Finished 2/3/16 - This was an amazing book. I wish the history of Spellcasters and cursecasters had been further developed. I think the ending was left with the potential to write a sequel, which I would love to see. Stephen and Elizabeth's story is really unique and I would have also liked to have seen more characters who knew about the magic mentioned in the story. Overall I think it was a great book. I would have just liked to see more development of the characters and the history.
Finished 2/3/16 - This was an amazing book. I wish the history of Spellcasters and cursecasters had been further developed. I think the ending was left with the potential to write a sequel, which I would love to see. Stephen and Elizabeth's story is really unique and I would have also liked to have seen more characters who knew about the magic mentioned in the story. Overall I think it was a great book. I would have just liked to see more development of the characters and the history.
lisawreading's review against another edition
3.0
Parts of this book were fascinating, and parts made me groan. I loved the story of Stephen, an invisible 16-year-old boy who has never been seen -- and has never even seen himself. What I didn't love was the turn the book takes into witchy mumbo-jumbo, full of spellcasters and cursecasters, and a powerful spellseeker who can draw out curses. Said spellseeker just happens to be Stephen's new neighbor -- and she can see him! Inevitably, Stephen and Elizabeth fall in love pretty much instantaneously and then set out together to break the curse that keeps him invisible.
Yeah, it's all a bit much, and the spells and curses business feels like old news. Yet the idea of a boy who's been invisible since birth is really quite amazing, and the chapters that focus on Stephen's experiences are very good. Unfortunately, that's only about half the book.
I couldn't put Invisibility down once I started it, but at the same time, I found too much in this story that frustrated me to really be able to recommend it without hesitation.
My longer and more detailed review is now up on my blog.
Yeah, it's all a bit much, and the spells and curses business feels like old news. Yet the idea of a boy who's been invisible since birth is really quite amazing, and the chapters that focus on Stephen's experiences are very good. Unfortunately, that's only about half the book.
I couldn't put Invisibility down once I started it, but at the same time, I found too much in this story that frustrated me to really be able to recommend it without hesitation.
My longer and more detailed review is now up on my blog.
melmosby's review against another edition
4.0
I read this in 2014 and it still haunts me. I need to know what happens next.
christajls's review against another edition
3.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
I need to preface this review by saying that I really love both of these authors seperately. Honestly, I will devour anything with David Levithan’s name on it. And Rift by Andrea Cremer was one of my favourite reads in 2012. But together…I’m not sure they’re the best mix.
Don’t get me wrong, Invisibility is by no means a bad book. The concept is fascinating. So many of us have felt invisible at some point but it’s so difficult to imagine never being able to connect with anyone. To have to make a conscious effort just to be solid enough to touch. That’s something beyond loneliness. Stephen’s plight is heart breaking, but the novel isn’t. It’s encouraging and inspiring and makes you believe that no matter how dire the situation, there is always hope.
The magical element was also really interesting and unique. There are some neat twists and I liked the way they could explain something as bizarre and unexpected as invisibility and make me believe it. The idea of unseen/unknown curses was creepy and haunting. Next time my subway is delayed or my computer isn’t working I may be casting a suspicious gaze over my shoulder, or searching out a spell seeker to double check it’s not a curse.
But despite all this great groundwork, the story dragged a bit – especially in the middle. Once things get going you are often subjected to large bits of information that were just dumped on you. I realize they had a lot of lore and background to explain but there had to be a more interesting way to do that someone just recounting the history over multiple pages. The information was interesting at first but then began to drag. I wish those reveals would have been more seamlessly integrated, or even broken up so it wasn’t so much at once.
I did really enjoy the style of Stephen’s chapters. Clever and amusing but with the constant twinge of sadness. The tone fit his character perfectly. But I had some problems with Elizabeth. She was just so perfect. Though she had a bit of a reaction to Stephen’s invisibility she seemed to get over it really quickly. And then from that point it seemed everything worked out relatively quickly for her. She’s sweet and kind and protective of her younger brother Laurie. She’s perfect. Just too perfect. I never felt the same sort of tension and conflict in her chapters as I did in Stephen’s.
Recommendation: An interesting and unique book but ultimately it didn’t do justice to either writer’s talent. I think they’re better apart than they are together.
I need to preface this review by saying that I really love both of these authors seperately. Honestly, I will devour anything with David Levithan’s name on it. And Rift by Andrea Cremer was one of my favourite reads in 2012. But together…I’m not sure they’re the best mix.
Don’t get me wrong, Invisibility is by no means a bad book. The concept is fascinating. So many of us have felt invisible at some point but it’s so difficult to imagine never being able to connect with anyone. To have to make a conscious effort just to be solid enough to touch. That’s something beyond loneliness. Stephen’s plight is heart breaking, but the novel isn’t. It’s encouraging and inspiring and makes you believe that no matter how dire the situation, there is always hope.
The magical element was also really interesting and unique. There are some neat twists and I liked the way they could explain something as bizarre and unexpected as invisibility and make me believe it. The idea of unseen/unknown curses was creepy and haunting. Next time my subway is delayed or my computer isn’t working I may be casting a suspicious gaze over my shoulder, or searching out a spell seeker to double check it’s not a curse.
But despite all this great groundwork, the story dragged a bit – especially in the middle. Once things get going you are often subjected to large bits of information that were just dumped on you. I realize they had a lot of lore and background to explain but there had to be a more interesting way to do that someone just recounting the history over multiple pages. The information was interesting at first but then began to drag. I wish those reveals would have been more seamlessly integrated, or even broken up so it wasn’t so much at once.
I did really enjoy the style of Stephen’s chapters. Clever and amusing but with the constant twinge of sadness. The tone fit his character perfectly. But I had some problems with Elizabeth. She was just so perfect. Though she had a bit of a reaction to Stephen’s invisibility she seemed to get over it really quickly. And then from that point it seemed everything worked out relatively quickly for her. She’s sweet and kind and protective of her younger brother Laurie. She’s perfect. Just too perfect. I never felt the same sort of tension and conflict in her chapters as I did in Stephen’s.
Recommendation: An interesting and unique book but ultimately it didn’t do justice to either writer’s talent. I think they’re better apart than they are together.
andreana_k's review against another edition
3.0
Cute, liked the odd idea. Nice read, didn't hate it.