kricketa's review
picked this up at work to see if i should get the second two in the series. the main character is so bland i could hardly even identify her as a teenager. yawn yawn yawn.
meira_elena's review
5.0
This is such a deep, developed series. The characters are incredibly complex and flawed; the thrill-factor had me at the edge of my seat; and the dive into modern magic was fantastic. Definitely read it!
blondelibrarian's review
4.0
Start of a series (who know how many are planned) about teen, Calla, who moves to Lily Dale to live with her grandmother. Her mother has just died and her father is letting her stay with grandma while he gets a new place settled for them. Lily Dale is a center for spiritualism - most of the people are mediums, clairvoyants, etc. There are many story threads and they are not all tied up at the end of this book... or the next...
erinecarroll's review
4.0
So good! I love how Wendy wrote this book about Lily Dale since it is only a few hours away from where I live so I am familiar with the area. This book was suspenseful and has a lot of mystery to it, at times it was a little scary. I can't wait to read the next one!
erinecarroll's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great end to the series. Wendy tied up a lot of loose ends with Calla and her family. I am sad to see the series end but will be reading more by this author. This book kept me on my toes the whole time I never knew what the characters were going to do or experience.
quietjenn's review
3.0
two and a half really, because the serial-killer-want-to-come-kill-calla plot seemed a bit forced and melodramatic. and yet, i am feeling nice. and, i'm quite looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and that has to count for a lot.
eupomene's review
3.0
Just as I was getting into this it ended, very abruptly. You might want to have the next one on hand. Of course, the next one isn't out yet!
The author also writes as Wendy Markham, and I've just recently read her book Slightly Single, which I reviewed elsewhere here. I didn't care too much for her writing style in this one; she wrote a lot of it in present tense and I find that annoying for some reason. Lily Dale is a real place, though, so it was fun to learn about that. I'm not a proponent of Spiritualism but it's still fascinating.
If I remember to look for the next one I'll read it, just to see what happens.
The author also writes as Wendy Markham, and I've just recently read her book Slightly Single, which I reviewed elsewhere here. I didn't care too much for her writing style in this one; she wrote a lot of it in present tense and I find that annoying for some reason. Lily Dale is a real place, though, so it was fun to learn about that. I'm not a proponent of Spiritualism but it's still fascinating.
If I remember to look for the next one I'll read it, just to see what happens.
zombiemom54's review
4.0
So this book was really interesting. It wasn't very long and seems like more of an introduction to the main character Calla. A lot of info and not a lot of action but it leaves you wanting more.In a good way. The characters relationships are gripping right of the bat.I can't wait to read the next one.
zombiemom54's review against another edition
5.0
Just as good as the others. Sorry to see the series end.
slc333's review
3.0
Enjoyable story with well drawn realistic characters. No one is all good or all bad. For example Calla's ex-boyfriend Kevin dumped her by text for a girl he met in college but you can see he still cares about her. And Calla's behaviour and feelings about Kevin are realistic. She his hurt and heartbroken and wants to avoid him which is natural but she also struggles with not being over him and remembering the good times. And Calla & Blue's interaction (one of the hot guys in Lily Dale where she moves in with her grandmother after her mother's death) is realistic too. She wants him to ask her out because he is good looking, he is probably interested because she is pretty and new in town. Neither of them are madly in love with the other - it is all very casual they go out a couple of times and have fun. The main problem with this this book was the abrupt finish before the story was complete. The story arc with her mother is obviously intended to span the series (4 books) but the book would have felt more complete and finished if the storyline about Kaitlyn was concluded in this book instead of the next. Having read both it feels like books 1 and 2 were written as one story then randomly split in half. Don't let that put you off reading it though - just make sure you have both Awakwning and Believing beofer you start reading.