Recap 7/23 to 8/5

In case you missed anything, here's a recap of what was posted Saturday, July 30th through Friday, August 5th. 

+ DNF Review of Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Reviews

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

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Review Comparison: Die For Me by Amy Plum

No More Waiting!
A list of books that have been recently released + book sales

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What's Your Status?

A meme created by Zakiya from Butterfly Feet Walking on Life where we recap our reading week. Feel free to visit her site and link up your own What's Your Status Posts. Here's how my week went:

Finished

Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
My Sparkling Misfortune by Laura Lond

(Click on the link to go to Goodreads)

Reviews to come. I was disappointed with and didn't like Wisdom's Kiss very much, but I LOVED My Sparkling Misfortune.

Currently Reading

H.M.S. Surprise (Aubrey/Maturin #3) by Patrick O'Brian
 
(Click on the link to go to Goodreads)

Did Not Finish

Vanish (Firelight #2) by Sophie Jordan

Received: ARC from publisher, via NetGalley

Pages 94/198

I didn't like the first book very much (Firelight review), but there were enough loose ends that held promise so I decided to try the sequel. Unfortunately, the things I was hoping would happen didn't really happen and the things I was hoping would stop, didn't.

 I still don't like Jacinda. In the first book she annoyed me because she was indecisive and put her entire species at risk for stupid and selfish reasons. She continues to do both of these things in the sequel. Only it felt even worse. The stakes are upped even more and now not only is she endangering all draki, but she's also toying with her sister's emotions and Cassian's emotions.

The biggest thing I wanted to see was more Cassian. This does happen. I was even given one hot as heck kissing scene that I liked a lot. Cassian is chivalrous and wonderful...but Jacinda is still crazily blind to this. Sure she starts to think that she is physically attracted to him, but that's about it. She makes it pretty clear that her heart isn't with Cassian. Yet she still kisses him and leads him on--despite the fact that she admits she doesn't love him and acknowledges that her sister does love him. 

Jacinda is also still hung up on Will, and I don't like Will. He enters the picture right around the part I decided to DNF and I have to admit that his reintroduction to the plot was a big reason for my exit. I just don't like him and I have very little interest in following the book if it's going to focus on Will and Jacinda.

And that leads me to my biggest reason for DNF-ing: There's nothing going on! Nothing. It's just Jacinda continuing on with her indecisive, back-and-forth lamentations over duty versus love. All the while risking an entire species and toying with the emotions of everyone around her. I was hoping that with the return to the pride I'd finally get to see some detailed world building, but that doesn't happen.

The world doesn't make any sense to me. How many draki are there? Sometimes it feels like a large community, and other times it feels like a very tiny one. What do they do all day? Why? How is the pride set up and why is it set up that way? How do the draki in control maintain control? I understand that there is some kind of hierarchy with alphas and such, but why did it develop this way? What is the history of the pride? Why are all these rare draki suddenly manifesting now, and why weren't they before?

None of these questions (and the fifty other questions I had about the draki society and culture) were answered. The little bits that are shown don't make much sense if you start taking them as a whole. I was sorely disappointed with the lack of world building here. It doesn't seem like any of these things will be expanded upon much either as the focus seems to be solely placed on Jacinda and her love dramas.

The final thing that bugged me was the writing style. I don't remember if it was like this in the first book, but the narration style in Vanish feels better suited for an historical or "generic medieval village" fantasy than for a character set in modern times. This grated at me and made it hard for me to get immersed in the story. I couldn't picture things appropriately because every time I tried to picture the characters, I ended up dressing them in historical garb. But that's not right, because they're modern. Except, the pride resembles that type of older village set up and Jacinda speaks like a fantasy princess. Except, they have TVs. I was totally thrown.

Bottom line: Not for me. If you like Will, then you'll probably like this one a lot more than I did. Ditto for Jacinda. For those who have read this book, if Jacinda magically becomes better and decides to ditch Will for Cassian, then please email me. I'd give the book another try if that were to happen. Otherwise, this is the end of the line for me with this series.

Miss anything last week? Click here to read a Recap. 

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Review Comparison: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Review Comparison: Firelight

Review Comparison is a new feature I'm trying out where I am pulling out the pros and cons of the featured book mentioned in my review and other bloggers' reviews. Please let me know how you like this new feature and if you have any suggestions on how to make it better. I'm still playing around with the format.

Click for my original review: 

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Rating: 2 out of 5
Team: Cassian

The following bloggers kindly allowed me to include their reviews in this feature: 

Mindful Musings

Rating: 4 out of 5

Team: N/A

Milk and Cookies: Comfort Reading

Rating: 4 out of 5

Team: Will

Bookworm1858

Rating: 4 out of 5

Team: (emphatically) Will

Paranormal Indulgence

Rating: 4 out of 5

Team: Will

Avery's Book (and Other Fun Stuff) Nook

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

Team: Will

Splash of Our Worlds

Rating: 3 out of 5

Team: Cassian by default of "Not Will" 

A Tapestry of Words

Rating: 3 out of 5

Team: Undecided

Annette's Book Spot

Rating: N/A

Team: Will

A Backwards Story

Rating: N/A

Team: Will

Please click on the links to read their full reviews!

~Conclusions~ 

While overall impressions appear to be mixed, reviewers were almost unanimous on their positive feelings for the unique development of draki mythology. Will was a generally liked love interest, though feelings on Jacinda (the MC) were mixed. The romance is of the hot and insta-love variety and also met mixed responses. Four reviewers mentioned similarities between Firelight and other YA paranormals, particularly Twilight. Almost all reviewers cited dissatisfaction with the cliffhanger ending.

 
 

        

 ~Writing/Pacing~

• “Fast-paced, held my attention the entire time” (Mindful Musings)
• Engrossing (Milk and Cookies: Comfort Reading)
• “I liked Jordan’s writing. It easily takes you in the book.” (Splash of Our Worlds)
• Unique, entertaining, “From the very first couple of pages this book grabs you” (Annette’s Book Spot)
• Unique, exhilarating (Paranormal Indulgence)
• Refreshing, “…sucked me in right from the start” (A Backwards Story)
• “The imagery and detail is vivid” (A Backwards Story)
• “[The] writing style was great” (Mindful Musings)
• “[The writing style] tended to interrupt the flow of reading” (A Tapestry of Words)
• “The first half of the book is quite slow-moving” (A Tapestry of Words)
• “Excessive stage setting…It felt like the book was unnecessarily stretched…even if there isn’t enough substance here to justify a complete book” (Small Review)
• “The story is not developed enough” (Splash of Our Worlds)

 

 ~Characters~

General:

• “I had a few issues with the characters” (Mindful Musings)
• “The characters were in a normal level, acceptable” (Splash of Our Worlds)
• A little disappointed, “I didn’t get to really know the characters…I turned up not liking most of them” (Paranormal Indulgence)

Jacinda:

• Loyal, “I often admired Jacinda” (Mindful Musings)
• “One of the best things about Firelight is the fact that it’s the female main character who is the mythical being” (A Backwards Story)
•  “I liked Jacinda at the very beginning...[but] she began to start irritating me” (A Tapestry of Words)
• “She did get a little repetitive…but it didn’t really bother me all that much” (Mindful Musings)
• “I thought Jacinda was a bit annoying with her back and forth. She was so indecisive and whiny.” (Milk and Cookies: Comfort Reading)
•  “Jacinda’s indecision was dragged on for so long that I lost all sympathy I had for the character…” (Small Review)
• Angsty, indecisive, “Jacinda repeated all of her worries about her problems so often I got sick of them and my sympathy for her decreased” (A Tapestry of Words)

Will:

• “I wasn’t in love with him, but I did like him. I think I would like him more if I knew what he was like before he met Jacinda” (Mindful Musings)
• “I loved Will. What a swoon-worthy guy” (Milk and Cookies: Comfort Reading)
• “I love Will” (Milk and Cookies: Comfort Reading)
• “…a much easier character to like” (A Tapestry of Words)
• “If there was something I didn’t like about Will, it was perhaps that he was just too sweet” (A Tapestry of Words)
• Not a lot of depth, “…wasn’t all that remarkable or standout-ish” (Paranormal Indulgence)
• “He didn’t really stand out to me beyond the stock paranormal romance guy” (Small Review)

Cassian:

• “I didn’t enjoy him as a character…too arrogant and possessive…[but] I saw a hint of underlying sweetness” (Paranormal Indulgence)
• Ambiguous, intriguing, “…another character I liked, because he isn’t wholly good or wholly bad.” (A Tapestry of Words)
• One of my favorite things about the book (Small Review)

  ~Plot~

Romance:

• “A very nice romance…When I have a reader ask for a romance with a supernatural element I will hand her Firelight” (Milk and Cookies: Comfort Reading)
• “Most of [the book] is around the love story” (Splash of Our Worlds)
• “Romance was the primary focus…and I wasn’t feeling this romance at all” (Small Review)
• “This I-guess-you-could-call-it-that love triangle didn’t score too high with me” (Paranormal Indulgence)
•  “The romantic scenes between Jacinda and Will are hot and steamy” (Annette’s Book Spot)
• Intoxicating, “…a sizzling romance that sparks in the midst of all that angst and danger” (Paranormal Indulgence)
•  “The initial attraction…is well-done, with their chemistry sizzling…but once they actually declare themselves the romance tends toward slightly too sweet and cheesy” (A Tapestry of Words)
• “…their passionate scenes were wonderful, but how often did this couple actually talk and discuss things” (Paranormal Indulgence)

Mythology:

• “The story idea was FABULOUS! Talk about original! The whole draki idea was just awesome.” (Mindful Musings)
• “The mythology of the draki greatly interested me” (Milk and Cookies: Comfort Reading)
•  “…the best part…was learning all I could about the draki…a constant source of fascination” (Paranormal Indulgence)
•  “…a paranormal creature unlike any other” (Annette’s Book Spot)
• “This is the area that Jordan really shone. I appreciated all the thought she’d put into the draki race and the way she made it work with traditional dragon lore.” (A Tapestry of Words)
• “The draki is such an original and clever idea…but in the book, you really don’t get much of it” (Splash of Our Worlds)
•  “Thoroughly engrossing mythology surrounding the draki…[but Sophie Jordan] only scratches the surface in this book” (Small Review)
• “I would have loved more world-building involving the draki pride” (A Tapestry of Words

Originality:

• “I found the first half…to be entirely reminiscent of Twilight…and the second half seemed entirely reminiscent of Claudia Gray’s Evernight series.” (Avery’s Book Nook)
• “…still a good book, but I just wish that it had been a bit more unique” (Avery’s Book Nook)
•  “While it was interesting, at the same time it reminded me of Twilight…there were scenes that I felt like I was reading Twilight” (Splash of Our Worlds)
• “There were a couple elements that reminded me of Twilight and/or typical YA paranormals” (A Tapestry of Words)
•  “…some of the scenes were so reminiscent of a handful of other YA paranormal romance books that I felt like I had already read this book” (Small Review)

 ~Ending/Sequel~

• “I did like the cliffhanger!” (Milk and Cookies: Comfort Reading)
•  “I look forward to reading more of her writing in the future!” (Mindful Musings)
• “I am eagerly anticipating the second book” (Milk and Cookies: Comfort Reading)
• “There are many mysteries still not answered and an amazing ending, which really made me wanna get the next book” (Splash of Our Worlds)
• “There are a ton of loose ends that were not tied up, nor even touched upon! It seriously just ended, probably with one of the worst cliffhanger endings I have ever read before.” (Avery’s Book Nook)
• “…a complete cliffhanger. Right in the middle of everything THE BOOK JUST ENDS! …This didn’t feel like a cliffhanger, it felt like a printing error” (Small Review)
•  “I don’t mind cliffhangers, but I just felt like the ending kind of popped up out of nowhere…wasn’t a satisfying closing” (Paranormal Indulgence)
•  “…ends with a shattering, unfulfilling climax” (Annette’s Book Spot)
• “…Feels more like it just sets up the rest of the series…I’ll probably read the next book at some point, but I won’t be rushing out to buy it” (A Tapestry of Words)
•  “I’m not necessarily anxious to get to the sequel, but I’ll be excited for its release nonetheless” (Paranormal Indulgence)
•  “I’ll give the next book a chance, but if I’m not hooked early on then I’m DNF-ing it” (Small Review)

 

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Book Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Pages: 323
Received: Library
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars 
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Review

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Who actually listens to that advice? Well, probably people who are less superficial than me. I can’t help it, and can you blame me with that gorgeous cover? I first saw the cover months before the book was released. It was insta-love. Angels sang, light shone on the cover, and the whole world disappeared. I couldn’t wait for inter-library loan to send me a copy and so I begged my fiancé to drive me forty five minutes to pick it up directly.

Unfortunately, a pretty package wasn’t enough to keep our relationship going (me and Firelight. The fiancé was cool with things).

We had a good thing

There are two things I loved about this book: the draki mythology and Cassian. Sophie Jordan created a thoroughly engrossing mythology surrounding the draki. Their history, culture, and biology are all explored in fascinating detail. I loved her world building in this regard and desperately wanted more. She really only scratches the surface in this book, though I suspect book two will delve into the draki mythology more.

Cassian was my other favorite thing about this book. Jacinda doesn’t like him very much, but I think there’s a lot more to him than she gives him credit for. He’s definitely the alpha male (both literally in their draki community and characterization-wise) and I can rarely resist an alpha male. I can’t wait to watch her swoon along with me when we (hopefully!) get to see more than a few glimpses of his romantically attentive side. If that doesn’t happen in the sequel then I’m so done with this series.

We’ve been through this before

Romance was the primary focus of this book, and I wasn’t feeling this romance at all. There was nothing wrong with Will, but he didn’t really stand out to me beyond the stock paranormal romance guy (insta-love, dangerous for her to love, sensitive, etc). Even some of the scenes, especially the scenes in school, were so reminiscent of a handful of other YA paranormal romance books that I felt like I had already read this book.


Readers who love Twilight and Edward and Bella’s romance in the first book will probably be overjoyed with this reenactment. I didn’t hate that relationship, but it kind of bored me. So take two in Firelight bored me too.

It’s not you, it’s me

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to reach into the book to smack Jacinda or if I was just too bored to bother. She spends most of the book grappling with her resentment toward her mother and her love for a draki hunter. The premise is sound, but Jacinda’s indecision was dragged on for so long that I lost all sympathy I had for the character and instead just wanted her to make a decision—any decision.

  

The excitement is gone

Not much actually happens in this book. Most of the time is taken up by excessive stage setting, primarily in the form of Jacinda's repetitive inner monologues. It felt like the book was unnecessarily stretched to take up enough space to justify a trilogy, even if there isn’t enough substance here to justify a complete book. The whole thing just felt very unbalanced to me.

THAT’S how you’re leaving me?!

Once I got to the final quarter, things started to get a lot better. Tension increased building steadily until the exciting climax…which is a complete cliffhanger. Right in the middle of everything THE BOOK JUST ENDS! I just slogged through all that whining and all that boredom FOR THIS?? Just as things were finally getting good and I was finally into it the.book.just.stopped.

Rarely has a book pissed me off so much. I’m not just annoyed or frustrated, I’m actually honest to goodness pissed. This wasn’t a Delirium cliffhanger or an Unearthly cliffhanger. Those are normal cliffhangers. They’re frustrating, but, whatever, they come at a logical point in the storytelling. This didn’t feel like a cliffhanger, it felt like a printing error.

Now I'll definitely read the next book, though I'm completely resentful at what feels like manipulation to stir interest in the next book. A sequel should be read based on the strength of the first book, not because the author left you hanging right in the middle of everything with zero resolution.

I’ll give the next book a chance through the library, but if I’m not hooked early on then I’m DNF-ing it.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

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