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nrskelley's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow……I was not ready for this book……for how deeply emotional it would become.
As the book says, this is an origin story. If you’re a fan of super heroes then you can guess what that means for our FMC.
I’m moving on to the next book, and hoping for the revenge arc.
As the book says, this is an origin story. If you’re a fan of super heroes then you can guess what that means for our FMC.
I’m moving on to the next book, and hoping for the revenge arc.
vilandra's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! It’s Shadowhunters meets X-Men. The chemistry/antagonism between the characters is so well done, and each character is its own. So often supporting characters are forgotten when doing the development, but that is definitely not the case here. I honestly could not put the book down - the story just pulls you further and further in. 5 stars!
malaynachang's review against another edition
3.0
MY OPINION: ***
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review!
For some reason, this book took me forever to read. It's probably because I was reading about three other books at the same time. Nevertheless, I'm glad I finished it.
I personally found this book hard to get through because I wasn't too invested in the plot. It was fairly cliche, and I'm not the biggest fan of fantasy plots. I've been going through a fantasy binge lately and I think I've realized that it's just not for me.
Jacklyn is a normal girl living in the Bronx when suddenly one day she is attacked by demons out of nowhere. She is saved by a boy named Kyp and she and her family are brought to a regiment of trained warriors who combat the demons and save the world. It turns out that her mother already knew and was always a part of this group of people along with her father.
Lavinia is the leader of this organization and is also Kyp's mom. We soon find out she's a tough, brutish, almost cruel woman who rules with a firm hand. I felt an instant dislike towards her and for good reason. We soon find out the extent of her cruelty through a "punishment" that almost gets Jacklyn and her entire family killed.
Kyp and Jacklyn start a romantic relationship that I personally did not ship. I felt zero chemistry between them and I felt that they were better off as friends. Throughout the entire book, they learn more and more about each other, Jacks especially as she learns more about her new world. Kyp acts like a jerk a lot of the time when they're in front of others and I personally didn't like his character.
Besides the romance, I found the book sort of confusing. The world building was well-written but I would have liked a little more clarification as to what was going on. Half the time I had to go back and reread just to see what was happening and try to figure out what was going on. It followed a similar format to most other books where a seemingly-ordinary girl or boy finds out that they aren't as normal as they think and are suddenly introduced to a brand new world. I'm currently rereading Harry Potter which follows a similar format and there I can decipher what is happening because it is shown very well. However, there were times in this book where I couldn't figure out who was a Key or a Guardian, what their purpose was, what the demons looked like, etc.
I liked the writing style. It added enough description and details with just the right amount of humor and levity that makes a good young adult book. While there were a few errors here and there, it was mostly flawless in terms of structure and flow. I liked the pacing of the book and it was quite engaging. I wish it was a bit longer or slower towards the end because the ending felt rushed and disjointed.
I would recommend this book to readers looking for a fun, refreshing, interesting fantasy read with a little bit of romance and a little bit of action.
Main Character: Jacklyn
Sidekick(s): Kyp, Gana, Jaina, etc
Villain(s): Lavinia, etc
Fantasy Elements: This book was based in a fantasy world with fantasy characters and creatures.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review!
For some reason, this book took me forever to read. It's probably because I was reading about three other books at the same time. Nevertheless, I'm glad I finished it.
I personally found this book hard to get through because I wasn't too invested in the plot. It was fairly cliche, and I'm not the biggest fan of fantasy plots. I've been going through a fantasy binge lately and I think I've realized that it's just not for me.
Jacklyn is a normal girl living in the Bronx when suddenly one day she is attacked by demons out of nowhere. She is saved by a boy named Kyp and she and her family are brought to a regiment of trained warriors who combat the demons and save the world. It turns out that her mother already knew and was always a part of this group of people along with her father.
Lavinia is the leader of this organization and is also Kyp's mom. We soon find out she's a tough, brutish, almost cruel woman who rules with a firm hand. I felt an instant dislike towards her and for good reason. We soon find out the extent of her cruelty through a "punishment" that almost gets Jacklyn and her entire family killed.
Kyp and Jacklyn start a romantic relationship that I personally did not ship. I felt zero chemistry between them and I felt that they were better off as friends. Throughout the entire book, they learn more and more about each other, Jacks especially as she learns more about her new world. Kyp acts like a jerk a lot of the time when they're in front of others and I personally didn't like his character.
Besides the romance, I found the book sort of confusing. The world building was well-written but I would have liked a little more clarification as to what was going on. Half the time I had to go back and reread just to see what was happening and try to figure out what was going on. It followed a similar format to most other books where a seemingly-ordinary girl or boy finds out that they aren't as normal as they think and are suddenly introduced to a brand new world. I'm currently rereading Harry Potter which follows a similar format and there I can decipher what is happening because it is shown very well. However, there were times in this book where I couldn't figure out who was a Key or a Guardian, what their purpose was, what the demons looked like, etc.
I liked the writing style. It added enough description and details with just the right amount of humor and levity that makes a good young adult book. While there were a few errors here and there, it was mostly flawless in terms of structure and flow. I liked the pacing of the book and it was quite engaging. I wish it was a bit longer or slower towards the end because the ending felt rushed and disjointed.
I would recommend this book to readers looking for a fun, refreshing, interesting fantasy read with a little bit of romance and a little bit of action.
Main Character: Jacklyn
Sidekick(s): Kyp, Gana, Jaina, etc
Villain(s): Lavinia, etc
Fantasy Elements: This book was based in a fantasy world with fantasy characters and creatures.
energyrae's review against another edition
5.0
Jacklyn lives a fairly quiet life with her mother and her sister Gana. Her world turns upside down when she comes face to face with monsters and meets Kyp and Cass. Kyp whisks Jacklyn and her family to where he lives with other soldiers who are part of The Order of the Key. These soldiers are gifted humans who protect others from creatures who spill through inter-dimensional rifts. They fight under Kyp’s less than stellar mother, Lavinia, who rules with an iron fist. The more Jacklyn trains for her place as a Key, the more she learns of the corruption that spills down from higher up. This might not be the safest place for her little family after all.
Ms. Manzano was kind enough to send me a paperback of this, and once I started, I could not put it down. The various skills that the members had were fun, creative, and very powerful. The characters were fantastic, even Lavinia, who made a great bad guy. The storyline is fun and addicting, and the book is exceptionally well-written. This was a super fun read from start to finish and a fantastic first novel. While this book isn’t out just yet, I cannot wait for more from this author because I am not ready to let these characters go. Very well done!
Ms. Manzano was kind enough to send me a paperback of this, and once I started, I could not put it down. The various skills that the members had were fun, creative, and very powerful. The characters were fantastic, even Lavinia, who made a great bad guy. The storyline is fun and addicting, and the book is exceptionally well-written. This was a super fun read from start to finish and a fantastic first novel. While this book isn’t out just yet, I cannot wait for more from this author because I am not ready to let these characters go. Very well done!
squeegybeckinheim's review
3.0
I liked this book. It contained an interesting premise and ideas. It was also well-paced, with very few dull moments. I was a particular fan of Gana. I would enjoy an opportunity to see Kyp and Jacklyn's childhood more, as their reconnection felt swift and not as impactful as I had hoped. I appreciated the introduction at the end, and imagine the sequel will be a fun ride.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
brookeandbookz's review
3.0
I enjoyed this, though it took a little while to get going and the ending wasn't my favorite. But, the world-building was really well done. I also liked the writing style, I see a lot of potential even if the characters felt a bit flat at time. There were a lot of stereotypes and tropes, but the romance grew on me and the banter was great. I will keep an eye out for the sequel.
I got this as an arc for free through BookSirens!
I got this as an arc for free through BookSirens!
bubblewombat's review
2.0
Jacklyn Madison is a simple girl who likes geeky things and runs fast. She gets attacked by monsters, meets her former best friend who she doesn't remember, finds out she has powers and that her parents were part of a secret Order that helps keep the monsters at bay all in one day.
It's not safe to stay at home anymore so Jacks, her mother and her sister relocate to the Order's headquarters and officially begin training for their destined roles.
Jacks is a Key and her sister a Guardian. They're not very happy with the arrangement but prove to be good at controlling their abilities.
It's when Jacks starts questioning the Order's leader that things start going wrong. How many people are willing to take a stand with her? And what will it cost them?
This book hurt me with certain deaths, excuse me while I try to find a reason why both characters I liked the most had to die. Sigh.
I was only attached to three characters and the third was barely in it (but they'll play an important role in book two, I'm sure).
I will say that my judgement was wrong for a few of the characters. For example I didn't like Gana at first and I liked the Order leader at the beginning but both of those changed later in the book.
And Kyp? He was the most annoying, not sure what Jacks saw in him. As a friend yeah he could be cool but romantically ehhhh. Speaking of, they did say "I love you" a bit too fast.
The plot was okay, could've been better. We saw so little of Jacklyn's life before the attack that the transition to a completely different life wasn't very impactful (aside from no cell service and by extension no tumblr). And all the pop culture references... I usually don't mind, I even like it, but it was excessive.
The world building was interesting, kind of a shame that most of the book happens in one place.
As for the ending, it was nice. I'm glad it's character number three (for spoiler sake) and not anyone else who's with her. But she did greet them rather coldly, I wasn't expecting that after all the dreams/memories. I thought she'd be happy.
*Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
It's not safe to stay at home anymore so Jacks, her mother and her sister relocate to the Order's headquarters and officially begin training for their destined roles.
Jacks is a Key and her sister a Guardian. They're not very happy with the arrangement but prove to be good at controlling their abilities.
It's when Jacks starts questioning the Order's leader that things start going wrong. How many people are willing to take a stand with her? And what will it cost them?
This book hurt me with certain deaths, excuse me while I try to find a reason why both characters I liked the most had to die. Sigh.
I was only attached to three characters and the third was barely in it (but they'll play an important role in book two, I'm sure).
I will say that my judgement was wrong for a few of the characters. For example I didn't like Gana at first and I liked the Order leader at the beginning but both of those changed later in the book.
And Kyp? He was the most annoying, not sure what Jacks saw in him. As a friend yeah he could be cool but romantically ehhhh. Speaking of, they did say "I love you" a bit too fast.
The plot was okay, could've been better. We saw so little of Jacklyn's life before the attack that the transition to a completely different life wasn't very impactful (aside from no cell service and by extension no tumblr). And all the pop culture references... I usually don't mind, I even like it, but it was excessive.
The world building was interesting, kind of a shame that most of the book happens in one place.
As for the ending, it was nice. I'm glad it's character number three (for spoiler sake) and not anyone else who's with her. But she did greet them rather coldly, I wasn't expecting that after all the dreams/memories. I thought she'd be happy.
*Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
theoface's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is something good to gift a young reader who likes urban fantasy adventure stories.
Personally, I felt like I've read this book before. The plot has been done, but there's a reason for that. The special girl who finds out she's actually more special than ever imagined and part of a secret order is a trope I love to read. The superhero component was charming and made the protagonist relatable. Overall, I give this book 3.6 out of 5 stars. I don't regret reading it, but I would only read it once.0
This book is something good to gift a young reader who likes urban fantasy adventure stories.
Personally, I felt like I've read this book before. The plot has been done, but there's a reason for that. The special girl who finds out she's actually more special than ever imagined and part of a secret order is a trope I love to read. The superhero component was charming and made the protagonist relatable. Overall, I give this book 3.6 out of 5 stars. I don't regret reading it, but I would only read it once.0
jessicareadsit's review against another edition
3.0
Jaclyn AKA Queen geekdom just turned 18 and her birthday present appeared in the form of a freaking Gorvhan monster out to destroy her. She is thrust into the strange, but familiar world, of “The Order of the Key” who battles interdimensional creatures using their Guardian and Key soldiers. Jackie soon finds herself struggling to find her place as the daughter of a rebellious traitor. She soon learns maybe she may be a rebel at heart as well.
While her character was a sassy, sarcastic delight and I loved her witty humor, my favorite character was by far her little sister Gana with her feisty, tell it as it is, badass attitude who challenges everything without fear.
The story had a Cassandra Clare- The Mortal Instruments vibe and while there were some great highlights I felt like it was a bit cliche “boy saves girl, girl learns about the new world, boy has a fancy sports car, forbidden love relationship etc etc.” I truly wanted to connect with Jackie and the characters of the order but the story seemed to have been rushed and I didn’t necessarily relate to some of her decisions.
I believe this book has the potential to be extraordinary but some fine-tuning on the flow of the story and more so how the characters were written and the justification for their decisions needs to be reviewed.
Huge thank you to the author as I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://jessicareadsit.wordpress.com/
While her character was a sassy, sarcastic delight and I loved her witty humor, my favorite character was by far her little sister Gana with her feisty, tell it as it is, badass attitude who challenges everything without fear.
The story had a Cassandra Clare- The Mortal Instruments vibe and while there were some great highlights I felt like it was a bit cliche “boy saves girl, girl learns about the new world, boy has a fancy sports car, forbidden love relationship etc etc.” I truly wanted to connect with Jackie and the characters of the order but the story seemed to have been rushed and I didn’t necessarily relate to some of her decisions.
I believe this book has the potential to be extraordinary but some fine-tuning on the flow of the story and more so how the characters were written and the justification for their decisions needs to be reviewed.
Huge thank you to the author as I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://jessicareadsit.wordpress.com/
jill05's review against another edition
2.0
Read the full review: https://jillsbookshelf.weebly.com/reviews/the-order-of-the-key
I'd like to give a big thanks to BookSirens for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall this wasn't a bad book. The plot was predictable and the pacing was a bit weird, but, in my opinion, it was still a very fun book. The characters, particularly Jacklyn's family, felt so real. Whenever they would banter with each other I was reminded of my own family. And the undying loyalty some of them had to each other broke my heart.
The writing did an extremely good job helping me feel close to the main character. It's told from her perspective and the commentary she has on the events that take place are so realistic and, in some cases, hysterical. There's just enough sarcasm to keep you grinning.
So, yes some of the characters are frustrating and the plot isn't the most original, but that doesn't mean it can't be an enthralling adventure and keep you engaged.
I'd like to give a big thanks to BookSirens for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall this wasn't a bad book. The plot was predictable and the pacing was a bit weird, but, in my opinion, it was still a very fun book. The characters, particularly Jacklyn's family, felt so real. Whenever they would banter with each other I was reminded of my own family. And the undying loyalty some of them had to each other broke my heart.
The writing did an extremely good job helping me feel close to the main character. It's told from her perspective and the commentary she has on the events that take place are so realistic and, in some cases, hysterical. There's just enough sarcasm to keep you grinning.
So, yes some of the characters are frustrating and the plot isn't the most original, but that doesn't mean it can't be an enthralling adventure and keep you engaged.