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beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
Cameron is an artist. He has a crush on Farrah. He would like Farrah to be his next portrait subject matter. Farrah would be his Rose to his Jack Dawson from Titanic. Cameron's close friend and artist dies. Yet, he sends Cameron a sketchbook with just one warning to draw things and not people. Cameron does not heed this warning. He draws Farrah's portrait in the book. The most extraordinary thing happens next, her portrait comes alive. She tells Cameron that she resides in another realm called Terra Sempre. Terra Sempre is a form of Hell. If Cameron can not find a way to save Farrah in time than her soul will be lost forever.
At first I was not that excited about this book. Although I did think it had promise. I felt that Cameron was too much of a nice guy and reserved within himself. Farrah did not intrigue me and she made me wonder what Cameron saw in her. Yet, as the story went on and I got to about chapter 15/16, this is when the story really picked up for me and I was than in for the long ride. The way that Cameron and Farrah navigated through Terra Sempre was vivid and not a place that I would want to be stuck in. I like the way the author turned this story into more than just about drawing. Also, there was lots of action in the way that Cameron fought to save Farrah.
At first I was not that excited about this book. Although I did think it had promise. I felt that Cameron was too much of a nice guy and reserved within himself. Farrah did not intrigue me and she made me wonder what Cameron saw in her. Yet, as the story went on and I got to about chapter 15/16, this is when the story really picked up for me and I was than in for the long ride. The way that Cameron and Farrah navigated through Terra Sempre was vivid and not a place that I would want to be stuck in. I like the way the author turned this story into more than just about drawing. Also, there was lots of action in the way that Cameron fought to save Farrah.
reading_addict_lemon's review against another edition
1.0
The cover is pretty and to be honest kind of original. And also seemed the book after I read the synopsis. And also it has great ratings. So, I was expecting to be at least a good one and I hoped that I will have a good time. Had I? No!
I'm so tired of trying books that have huge ratins and praising, and I'm just disappointed and staying here looking at the pages and feeling like an idiot. Because I don't expect the book to blow me away, I don't expect to have a revelation while reading it. But I wan't to not be bored and I tired even though I read just 50 pages, I don't want to punch the characters in the face hopefully they'll be more alive and not just some unidimensional walking cliches that we see in thousands of others books and movies. I'm tired of a plot that I can see unraveling from a mile and it is also so boringly told. I'm tired of a wooden writing style that makes me shove my face through the window... And I'm standing here wondering it is just me?
It's my fault? Am I derranged? How all these people love this book and for me it was so boring? I wanted to like the art part, the love story, the friendship, something!
DNF
I'm so tired of praised books that are so bad. And I'm so tired of writing bad reviews but apparently this is life, and my luck to be hit in the face with bad books.
I'm so tired of trying books that have huge ratins and praising, and I'm just disappointed and staying here looking at the pages and feeling like an idiot. Because I don't expect the book to blow me away, I don't expect to have a revelation while reading it. But I wan't to not be bored and I tired even though I read just 50 pages, I don't want to punch the characters in the face hopefully they'll be more alive and not just some unidimensional walking cliches that we see in thousands of others books and movies. I'm tired of a plot that I can see unraveling from a mile and it is also so boringly told. I'm tired of a wooden writing style that makes me shove my face through the window... And I'm standing here wondering it is just me?
It's my fault? Am I derranged? How all these people love this book and for me it was so boring? I wanted to like the art part, the love story, the friendship, something!
DNF
I'm so tired of praised books that are so bad. And I'm so tired of writing bad reviews but apparently this is life, and my luck to be hit in the face with bad books.
hannahsophialin's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book for free from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The only thing that really kept my attention through Drawn is the involvement of a soul-sucking sketchbook with the potential price of someone's life. Everything else can just go away. (I'm kidding. Oh, and hey! Alliteration! Sweeeeet.)
Plus, the book is about art, and Ledbetter's character brings art to life (literally) with a sketchbook he gets after an art mentor's sudden death. Cameron worships Da Vinci and has a massive crush on a girl named Farrah Spangled in his journalism class. Cameron's crushing from afar would probably be considered bordering on obsessed. For the first 10-20% of the book, Ledbetter focuses a lot on all of Farrah's beauty, grace, and flawlessness, and Cameron's admiration.
If not for the involvement of a soul-sucking sketchbook, I might not have lasted really long. The dark aspect is the light in the dark, but that's just irony playing with me. However, Cameron pining after Farrah bordered on annoyance in the very back of my mind. Lots of grumpy groaning ensues.
Although Ledbetter overplays it, Cameron's pining actually fits in the story nicely as the book continues. After getting the sketchbook, Cameron decides to draw a portrait of Farrah in the hopes of finally winning her over. The fun part now begins. Instead of winning her over, however, Cameron unknowingly puts her life in danger, and it's not until about a week later he finds out just how much risk he has put her in.
To save Farrah, Cameron is told he has to draw himself in the book, which will then allow him to see the real world, and another world where art comes to life with a price: if the person wants to leave the world, they have exactly twenty days to retrieve a Clavis, a device that transfers souls from the art world to the real world.
In the few days Farrah has left, Cameron feels guilty about what he has done to Farrah (although he really meant good intentions) so making a rescue attempt is how Cameron makes amends with himself, even if it means Farrah might not ever forgive him – bye bye to any chances he might have with her. He tries to gather reinforcements to not only help him rescue Farrah, but to lead a revolution in taking down a supposedly tyrannical king in the art world, all in exchange for the Clavis that will get everyone back safely and intact.
I didn't like Drawn as much as I hoped I would, but Ledbetter's novel isn't too shabby – I even feel like there might even be a potential sequel despite the solid ending. It's about art coming to life, a centuries-old feud between two world-famous artists, and a boy's dream of getting the girl he wants. Not a terrible combination.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
The only thing that really kept my attention through Drawn is the involvement of a soul-sucking sketchbook with the potential price of someone's life. Everything else can just go away. (I'm kidding. Oh, and hey! Alliteration! Sweeeeet.)
Plus, the book is about art, and Ledbetter's character brings art to life (literally) with a sketchbook he gets after an art mentor's sudden death. Cameron worships Da Vinci and has a massive crush on a girl named Farrah Spangled in his journalism class. Cameron's crushing from afar would probably be considered bordering on obsessed. For the first 10-20% of the book, Ledbetter focuses a lot on all of Farrah's beauty, grace, and flawlessness, and Cameron's admiration.
If not for the involvement of a soul-sucking sketchbook, I might not have lasted really long. The dark aspect is the light in the dark, but that's just irony playing with me. However, Cameron pining after Farrah bordered on annoyance in the very back of my mind. Lots of grumpy groaning ensues.
Although Ledbetter overplays it, Cameron's pining actually fits in the story nicely as the book continues. After getting the sketchbook, Cameron decides to draw a portrait of Farrah in the hopes of finally winning her over. The fun part now begins. Instead of winning her over, however, Cameron unknowingly puts her life in danger, and it's not until about a week later he finds out just how much risk he has put her in.
To save Farrah, Cameron is told he has to draw himself in the book, which will then allow him to see the real world, and another world where art comes to life with a price: if the person wants to leave the world, they have exactly twenty days to retrieve a Clavis, a device that transfers souls from the art world to the real world.
In the few days Farrah has left, Cameron feels guilty about what he has done to Farrah (although he really meant good intentions) so making a rescue attempt is how Cameron makes amends with himself, even if it means Farrah might not ever forgive him – bye bye to any chances he might have with her. He tries to gather reinforcements to not only help him rescue Farrah, but to lead a revolution in taking down a supposedly tyrannical king in the art world, all in exchange for the Clavis that will get everyone back safely and intact.
I didn't like Drawn as much as I hoped I would, but Ledbetter's novel isn't too shabby – I even feel like there might even be a potential sequel despite the solid ending. It's about art coming to life, a centuries-old feud between two world-famous artists, and a boy's dream of getting the girl he wants. Not a terrible combination.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
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