camihawk's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty slow the second time around, dropped it from 5 stars to 3 stars, still I love the character development
erinarkin20's review against another edition
2.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was interesting in parts and in others it really dragged. I will say that the reviews that say this is a ya version of The DaVinci Code are fairly accurate.
The story revolves around Nora who is somewhat underwhelming as a character. A tragedy causes her to make some major changes in her life. Because of those changes, she meets Chris and Adriane who become her closest friends. When Chris goes to college, his roommate Max enters the picture as well. I won't go into the entire background of what leads into the heart of the story as there is a lot going on in this book. In short, Nora, Chris and Max are assisting with a research/translation project for a history professor and while doing so, uncover a mystery around the Lumen Dei.
The story has mystery, murder, religious cults/sects, and quite a bit of deception. I did enjoy the story but felt some pieces were a bit out there...namely, the fact that seniors in high school are able to go overseas as part of a school trip and essentially just walk away from the group they are supposed to be with. I will say I enjoyed the part where the author channels a scene from Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark...
Overall I would probably rate this a 2.5 if I were able to. Anyone reading this should know there is a lot of background and reading of letters early on....the action doesn't really start until about 1/4 of the way into the book. If you power through that, don't give up.
The story revolves around Nora who is somewhat underwhelming as a character. A tragedy causes her to make some major changes in her life. Because of those changes, she meets Chris and Adriane who become her closest friends. When Chris goes to college, his roommate Max enters the picture as well. I won't go into the entire background of what leads into the heart of the story as there is a lot going on in this book. In short, Nora, Chris and Max are assisting with a research/translation project for a history professor and while doing so, uncover a mystery around the Lumen Dei.
The story has mystery, murder, religious cults/sects, and quite a bit of deception. I did enjoy the story but felt some pieces were a bit out there...namely, the fact that seniors in high school are able to go overseas as part of a school trip and essentially just walk away from the group they are supposed to be with. I will say I enjoyed the part where the author channels a scene from Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark...
Spoiler
let's just say there is mention of face melting and I immediately thought of that scene in the movie.Overall I would probably rate this a 2.5 if I were able to. Anyone reading this should know there is a lot of background and reading of letters early on....the action doesn't really start until about 1/4 of the way into the book. If you power through that, don't give up.
cancourtneyread's review against another edition
3.0
Reminded me a lot of The Da Vinci Code....not sure how I feel about this book yet
halcyonhail's review against another edition
Very very slooooooow. Didn’t really know where it was going and I didn’t care about the letters. The synopsis sounded so interesting, but the book read completely differently.
novelheartbeat's review
3.0
All my reviews are posted on Auntie Spinelli Reads
I must say I kinda waffled when it came to rating this one. I had a bit of a love/hate relationship going with this book, alternating between being intrigued and bored out of my freakin' mind. My attention span wandered and I couldn't connect to the characters at all, which really dragged the story down for me. A few times I considered giving up, but I'm glad I didn't. The last 20% or so made up for the rest.
When I picked this one up, I had absolutely no clue what it was about. I went by the cover without reading the synopsis - not gonna lie, thought it was about vampires or something. Go ahead, have a laugh. Ha, ha. I certainly feel silly now! There was no paranormal aspect at all.
The story dragged a lot, at times in the beginning I didn't really know what the hell was going on or what the book was even about. I wasn't interested in historical letters written by dead people - because, let's face it, history makes my brain go into a mild coma. But it was all so mysterious, and after things start happening - accidents and murders - my interest was piqued. This story reminded me a lot of The DaVinci Code. Clues and dead-ends, lies and betrayal.
Even though I was mystified, I still couldn't really get into it until the part where two of the main characters broke into somewhere. It reminded me so much of the part in National Treasure where Nicolas Cage and the woman (whoever she is) have a fake argument to get into the office to see the desk. It was awesome! I did really like the whole treasure-hunt feel going on.
After that part there were about another 100 pages of boredom, and BAM! The truth comes out, and wow. That was a twist I never saw coming. The deceit! The treachery! If you didn't know already, I love being surprised. The end really brought this book around for me and made me re-think the low rating I was going to give it.
Quotes:
"Ah, your words say you hate me, but your face says..." He narrowed his eyes and gave me an exaggerated once-over.
"Yes?"
"You hate me." He shrugged. "At least you're consistent."
"You're alarmingly good at acting the bitch," he whispered. "It suggests practice."
"And you're alarmingly good at acting whipped," I shot back. "Food for thought."
I love these, if she had interjected that kind of humor into the whole story I may have loved it.
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 3.5/5
Writing style: 3/5
May have been because it was an uncorrected proof, but the sentences were horrifically long and hard to follow. Sometimes I had to re-read a sentence several times to understand because it was just one big run-on.
Characters: 2/5
I never connected.
World-building: 3/5
Pace: 2.5/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 3/5 starfish
I must say I kinda waffled when it came to rating this one. I had a bit of a love/hate relationship going with this book, alternating between being intrigued and bored out of my freakin' mind. My attention span wandered and I couldn't connect to the characters at all, which really dragged the story down for me. A few times I considered giving up, but I'm glad I didn't. The last 20% or so made up for the rest.
When I picked this one up, I had absolutely no clue what it was about. I went by the cover without reading the synopsis - not gonna lie, thought it was about vampires or something. Go ahead, have a laugh. Ha, ha. I certainly feel silly now! There was no paranormal aspect at all.
The story dragged a lot, at times in the beginning I didn't really know what the hell was going on or what the book was even about. I wasn't interested in historical letters written by dead people - because, let's face it, history makes my brain go into a mild coma. But it was all so mysterious, and after things start happening - accidents and murders - my interest was piqued. This story reminded me a lot of The DaVinci Code. Clues and dead-ends, lies and betrayal.
Even though I was mystified, I still couldn't really get into it until the part where two of the main characters broke into somewhere. It reminded me so much of the part in National Treasure where Nicolas Cage and the woman (whoever she is) have a fake argument to get into the office to see the desk. It was awesome! I did really like the whole treasure-hunt feel going on.
After that part there were about another 100 pages of boredom, and BAM! The truth comes out, and wow. That was a twist I never saw coming. The deceit! The treachery! If you didn't know already, I love being surprised. The end really brought this book around for me and made me re-think the low rating I was going to give it.
Quotes:
"Ah, your words say you hate me, but your face says..." He narrowed his eyes and gave me an exaggerated once-over.
"Yes?"
"You hate me." He shrugged. "At least you're consistent."
"You're alarmingly good at acting the bitch," he whispered. "It suggests practice."
"And you're alarmingly good at acting whipped," I shot back. "Food for thought."
I love these, if she had interjected that kind of humor into the whole story I may have loved it.
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 3.5/5
Writing style: 3/5
May have been because it was an uncorrected proof, but the sentences were horrifically long and hard to follow. Sometimes I had to re-read a sentence several times to understand because it was just one big run-on.
Characters: 2/5
I never connected.
World-building: 3/5
Pace: 2.5/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 3/5 starfish
ethrone's review
5.0
um omg???? robin wasserman did it AGAIN although i'm not sure why i'm so surprised??? the cold awakening trilogy is hands down one of the best series i've ever read and i plan on reading all of robin's other novels as well. the book of blood and shadow definitely wasn't one i had heard of before last year and that doesn't surprise me because robin isn't as well known as i'd like her to be. it's totally unfair because she's SO SO SO AMAZING. i legitimately don't know why either – this book and the cold awakening trilogy are some of the most unique and well-written books ever.
this book had so many twists that i wasn't expecting. it broke my heart so many times, mostly concerning nora as a character. she's relatable, and as someone who recently lost a parent, i feel all of the pain that she felt every time she thought she lost someone (and when she actually did). the grief and trauma is no joke in this book. i've read many YA books that kind of skirt around all of the hard-to-talk-about moments after the main character loses someone that they love. there have been way too many fade-to-black on the grief moments in YA and i was so glad to see that robin didn't do that. the story was genuinely great and if i was forced to make a comparison, it reminded me a lot of the da vinci code (except better, because teenagers + middle ages letters + secret devices + secret romances?). if you like great writing, a relatable MC, and european cities, you should definitely read this book.
this book had so many twists that i wasn't expecting. it broke my heart so many times, mostly concerning nora as a character. she's relatable, and as someone who recently lost a parent, i feel all of the pain that she felt every time she thought she lost someone (and when she actually did). the grief and trauma is no joke in this book. i've read many YA books that kind of skirt around all of the hard-to-talk-about moments after the main character loses someone that they love. there have been way too many fade-to-black on the grief moments in YA and i was so glad to see that robin didn't do that. the story was genuinely great and if i was forced to make a comparison, it reminded me a lot of the da vinci code (except better, because teenagers + middle ages letters + secret devices + secret romances?). if you like great writing, a relatable MC, and european cities, you should definitely read this book.
kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
The defining moment of Nora's life was when her brother killed himself and another girl in a drunk driving accident.
Since then her parents have dropped out of their own lives. The only thing Nora has left is her father's love of Latin (which he passed down to her). When her best friend, Chris cajoles her into helping a professor translate some obscure letters from Elizabeth Weston (and English girl living in Prague in the court of Emperor Rudolph) she goes along with it.
Nora goes along with Chris and his beautiful, rich, limber girlfriend Adriane on most things, always hoping she isn't the unwanted third wheel. But these two are her only friends.
Until Max. Chris' roommate Max is also helping with the translations. He's also strangely good with Latin.
Nora becomes fascinated by Elizabeth's letters. Elizabeth has been charged by her Alchemist father on his death bed to finish an alchemical machine that was his greatest legacy.
But Nora's life abruptly changes again when she comes to the office to find someone dead, another drugged to a zombie state, and the last person missing.
A strange symbol is at the scene sets her on the path to modern Prague to unravel the mystery of Elizabeth's machine and save her friend.
It took a me a while to figure out why I couldn't give this book 5 stars. It has all the disparate parts I really get excited by: history presented in an exciting form in Elizabeth's letters, intrigue and mystery, a plucky heroine breaking out of her shell, and friendship and romance issues.
Maybe it's because we never lingered quite long enough on the romance or delved deeply enough into the intrigue to satisfy me. A lot of the friendship between Adriane, Chris and Nora is summarized, likewise with Max and Nora. This summarizing means the action doesn't quite feel real to me until we get to Prague and things start happening a little more in real time.
I loved the Prague scenes not only for the action, but for the historic and modern sense of the city- Jewish cemeteries, castle, puppet stores and all- we get through both Elizabeth's letters and Nora's observations. Spot on.
So cool history, interesting intrigue, awesome location in the second half of the book, but so-so on the relationshipping.
This Book's Snack Rating: Thick, double fried Belgian fries in a paper cone for the European flavor of Prague with the satly, throw down yumminess of the mystery
Since then her parents have dropped out of their own lives. The only thing Nora has left is her father's love of Latin (which he passed down to her). When her best friend, Chris cajoles her into helping a professor translate some obscure letters from Elizabeth Weston (and English girl living in Prague in the court of Emperor Rudolph) she goes along with it.
Nora goes along with Chris and his beautiful, rich, limber girlfriend Adriane on most things, always hoping she isn't the unwanted third wheel. But these two are her only friends.
Until Max. Chris' roommate Max is also helping with the translations. He's also strangely good with Latin.
Nora becomes fascinated by Elizabeth's letters. Elizabeth has been charged by her Alchemist father on his death bed to finish an alchemical machine that was his greatest legacy.
But Nora's life abruptly changes again when she comes to the office to find someone dead, another drugged to a zombie state, and the last person missing.
A strange symbol is at the scene sets her on the path to modern Prague to unravel the mystery of Elizabeth's machine and save her friend.
It took a me a while to figure out why I couldn't give this book 5 stars. It has all the disparate parts I really get excited by: history presented in an exciting form in Elizabeth's letters, intrigue and mystery, a plucky heroine breaking out of her shell, and friendship and romance issues.
Maybe it's because we never lingered quite long enough on the romance or delved deeply enough into the intrigue to satisfy me. A lot of the friendship between Adriane, Chris and Nora is summarized, likewise with Max and Nora. This summarizing means the action doesn't quite feel real to me until we get to Prague and things start happening a little more in real time.
I loved the Prague scenes not only for the action, but for the historic and modern sense of the city- Jewish cemeteries, castle, puppet stores and all- we get through both Elizabeth's letters and Nora's observations. Spot on.
So cool history, interesting intrigue, awesome location in the second half of the book, but so-so on the relationshipping.
This Book's Snack Rating: Thick, double fried Belgian fries in a paper cone for the European flavor of Prague with the satly, throw down yumminess of the mystery
msseviereads's review against another edition
4.0
Imagine the DaVinci code with teenagers...
Nora is a talented high school student who along with her friends, Adrianne, Max and Chris are helping a professor translate some old books and letters. Nora is drawn to the letters written by a teenager in the 16th century, named Elizabeth. What no one realizes is they are about to be enveloped in a international drama that they won't be able to escape.
I liked the story, I loved the historical drama aspect of it and want to know more about this part of the country. My aunt traveled to Prague when I was in eighth grade, and now I want to know more about her experiences and the religious aspects of this city.
I didn't enjoy how slow the story was. Yes, it was building, but when I LOVE a book, I will drop everything to read it and finish it in a very short period of time. So although, I loved the story, and would recommend it to other readers, it didn't keep me from sleep, or dishes, or laundry. The last third was the best part and I wish that pace happened at the beginning of the book as well.
Nora is a talented high school student who along with her friends, Adrianne, Max and Chris are helping a professor translate some old books and letters. Nora is drawn to the letters written by a teenager in the 16th century, named Elizabeth. What no one realizes is they are about to be enveloped in a international drama that they won't be able to escape.
I liked the story, I loved the historical drama aspect of it and want to know more about this part of the country. My aunt traveled to Prague when I was in eighth grade, and now I want to know more about her experiences and the religious aspects of this city.
I didn't enjoy how slow the story was. Yes, it was building, but when I LOVE a book, I will drop everything to read it and finish it in a very short period of time. So although, I loved the story, and would recommend it to other readers, it didn't keep me from sleep, or dishes, or laundry. The last third was the best part and I wish that pace happened at the beginning of the book as well.