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weber_2012's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
hnbb's review against another edition
4.0
This book took off pretty quickly and didn't stop. It was interesting to see how things unfolded. I know very little about Japanese mythology, so that was a fun twist. I can't wait to read the next book.
theneverqueenreads's review
5.0
Wow. C.J. Anaya has created a mythological roller-coaster of a novel that takes the reader on all sorts of twists and turns. The Healer is fast-paced, full of surprises, and hard to put down. It is the tale of a teenage girl, Hope, who finds herself thrust into the middle of Japanese mythology. She must choose to follow her heart and love the man who captures her soul or follow her destiny to save the world from evil and marry someone she does not love.
The characters in The Healer are very realistic. Hope is very independent with a kind soul. She wants to choose her own life and doesn't believe it should be controlled. Angie is Hope's fiery best friend. She loves men and fashion, but also, she has some secrets of her own. Tie is mischievous and funny, but there is something that seems broken inside him. And last but not least, Victor is sweet and kind, yet he is strong and determined.
I love every part of this novel. From the world building to the characters, C.J. Anaya has truly created a wonderful story. Young adult fans who enjoy The Mortal Instruments and/or The Vampire Diaries will love this series. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The characters in The Healer are very realistic. Hope is very independent with a kind soul. She wants to choose her own life and doesn't believe it should be controlled. Angie is Hope's fiery best friend. She loves men and fashion, but also, she has some secrets of her own. Tie is mischievous and funny, but there is something that seems broken inside him. And last but not least, Victor is sweet and kind, yet he is strong and determined.
I love every part of this novel. From the world building to the characters, C.J. Anaya has truly created a wonderful story. Young adult fans who enjoy The Mortal Instruments and/or The Vampire Diaries will love this series. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
lauraew333's review
5.0
Thank you to the author, C.J. Anaya, for gifting me a copy of The Healer in exchange for an honest review!
Wowza. This book. It's crazy good! Okay Laura... focus on the review now...
I simply devoured this book. I read it over last weekend and I just sat down on Saturday planning to tackle a couple R&R's for the day. This took me like an hour and a half to read (it's 265 pages which isn't exactly long but it isn't short either).
So the plot. I loved how the author put a different spin on the classic healing superpower. I've read quite a few books about that topic but in this book, the author incorporated immortals and other legends. And the whole Victor and Tie thing! When they were both introduced, I though 'drat, another love triangle!'. And yes, it is sort of a love triangle but it isn't the classic Selection love triangle. It's so much more complicated which has me curious how this will all work out in the end (it's a series).
I also loved how Hope was so independent and she didn't need all that much saving. I had just finished City of Lost Souls before I started this and oh the sweet relief!
I simply loved the supernatural elements and all the mystery too. There's like a whole other world within a world if you catch my drift. It kept me going until the final pages!
The Final Verdict:
A great spin on the healing superpower with lots of very different elements weaved in. The so called love triangle is a bit more complicated than others which made it interesting to me! The MC, supernatural elements, and mystery make this book...
5 stars
Quotes:
“This is completely unacceptable. Your investigative skills are getting rusty, Angie. You usually have a guy’s entire life history memorized within the first ten minutes of him showing up on your hot guy radar, and all you know about this one is his first name?”
“Yeah, okay we got it. Death and destruction await those that dare oppose you. My biceps are bigger than your biceps. Blah blah blah.”
"I'm the keeper of the Grass Cutter Sword." He referred to the sword in reverent tones.
I, on the other hand, almost started laughing. Seriously? Grass Cutter Sword? I had this mental image of Victor wielding an oversized weed wacker while seated atop a driving lawn mower. I was totally losing it."
"It was like seeing the past as if it was my future, yet knowing the present as if it iwas my past. Print that on a fortune cookie!"
"Pain and suffering existed everywhere, but it didn't have it. It didn't have to."
Wowza. This book. It's crazy good! Okay Laura... focus on the review now...
I simply devoured this book. I read it over last weekend and I just sat down on Saturday planning to tackle a couple R&R's for the day. This took me like an hour and a half to read (it's 265 pages which isn't exactly long but it isn't short either).
So the plot. I loved how the author put a different spin on the classic healing superpower. I've read quite a few books about that topic but in this book, the author incorporated immortals and other legends. And the whole Victor and Tie thing! When they were both introduced, I though 'drat, another love triangle!'. And yes, it is sort of a love triangle but it isn't the classic Selection love triangle. It's so much more complicated which has me curious how this will all work out in the end (it's a series).
I also loved how Hope was so independent and she didn't need all that much saving. I had just finished City of Lost Souls before I started this and oh the sweet relief!
I simply loved the supernatural elements and all the mystery too. There's like a whole other world within a world if you catch my drift. It kept me going until the final pages!
The Final Verdict:
A great spin on the healing superpower with lots of very different elements weaved in. The so called love triangle is a bit more complicated than others which made it interesting to me! The MC, supernatural elements, and mystery make this book...
5 stars
Quotes:
“This is completely unacceptable. Your investigative skills are getting rusty, Angie. You usually have a guy’s entire life history memorized within the first ten minutes of him showing up on your hot guy radar, and all you know about this one is his first name?”
“Yeah, okay we got it. Death and destruction await those that dare oppose you. My biceps are bigger than your biceps. Blah blah blah.”
"I'm the keeper of the Grass Cutter Sword." He referred to the sword in reverent tones.
I, on the other hand, almost started laughing. Seriously? Grass Cutter Sword? I had this mental image of Victor wielding an oversized weed wacker while seated atop a driving lawn mower. I was totally losing it."
"It was like seeing the past as if it was my future, yet knowing the present as if it iwas my past. Print that on a fortune cookie!"
"Pain and suffering existed everywhere, but it didn't have it. It didn't have to."
jenacidebybibliophile's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book by the author, C.J. Anaya, for an honest review
Opinion:
Here it is my loves, the first of many YA/Fantasy/Romance stories of 2018!
The Healer, a young girl with the ability to…What?! Heal?!? NO! Plus, two what vying for her love?? GODS?!? We might as well call this a “Heaven Sandwich”, with extra healer jelly filling just OOZING with tummy butterflies and heartbreak!
Oh, my word…it’s positively swoon worthy already! *insert dainty hand to forehead movement*
When Hope was just seven years old, she learned of her ability to heal people. By connecting with someone’s life force, Hope is able to command and feed instructions to a body’s cells in order to repair it. But Hopes miraculous ability could put her in danger, so it is her duty to keep anyone from finding out what she can do. Now ten years later, two new guys show up at her Northern California high school, and everything changes. Somehow they know what Hope can do, and to make matters worse, someone is throwing fireballs at her and trying to kill her. But with the help of these mysterious boys, Tie and Victor, Hope will realize that there is much more to her life than just an ability to heal.
Woooo! Guys, this series is turning out to be a wild one. I am hooked and I may have already started book 3, because I can’t help but devour these books! Okay, let’s begin with the basics. Our shining star of a female role in this series is Hope, and she has the ability to heal someone by connecting with their life force…or spirt/soul/inner alien (whatever you want to call it). Hope and her father have kept her secret quiet for 10 long years, but that suddenly changes. A new student arrives at Hope’s high school named Tie, and Hope feels an instant connection to him. To make things even weirder, Tie begins hinting at knowing about hope’s healing abilities. RED ALERT! Then, not an hour later, ANOTHER new guy shows up at her high school. His name is Victor, and he ALSO seems to know about Hope’s ability.
But wait guys, it gets even better!
These two handsome and mysterious boys turn out to be gods who have been searching for Hope for HUNDREDS of years, and have come to keep her safe from a fallen deity who wants her dead. You see…there’s this prophecy…
I really can’t go on much further without spilling the entire book to you guys, which is SO hard not to do. But I will give you a little more insight into the characters and what to expect.
There is a lot of great things happening in this story, and the author keeps the reader hooked throughout. I read this in one sitting, and immediately jumped to book 2! I am glad the author created such a strong and caring female lead for this story. Hope feels a bit older than her years, but she has the right amount of youth and inexperience in life to make her character feel believable. Her best friend Angie had me DYING and laughing my ass off. She is such an instigator and puts Hope in some very amusing situations, with only the best intentions. C.J. Anaya really did do a great job of putting some comical aspects in this book, and I found myself literally laughing out loud throughout.
I didn’t get to know the characters of Tie and Victor that well in book 1, but the reader REALLY gets to know them in the following books. Tie is the “bad boy” of our story, while Victor seems to be slightly more mature and kind. Honestly, Victor sounds a little boring in this book…and he is. BUT, the reader will really get to know these guys in the books following. Trust me when I say, these guys have a LOT happening with them.
Though The Healer did feel a little cheesy to me at times, I can ensure you that by book 2 the cheesiness has gone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s written well and developed thoughtfully. It just definitely has those “YA high school” undertones in it. What is interesting to me is that the main part of this story takes place in just 1 or 2 days. This sounds like it might be a little daunting, but the author really made it work. I didn’t feel like anything was rushed over or left unexplained, and there was still so much happening. She made it work!
The ending is going to leave you on a sad note, but also a hopeful one. I suggest getting the entire series at once, and preparing yourself to have a weekend of doing nothing but reading. I am currently on book 3 (I know, I’m behind on my reviews) and I am showing NO signs of slowing down. I don’t want to get to the final book, but I need it in my life. GO GET THIS SERIES! It is something a little different from the normal YA/Fantasy stories out there, and if you’re like me, you are always looking for something different.
Opinion:
Here it is my loves, the first of many YA/Fantasy/Romance stories of 2018!
The Healer, a young girl with the ability to…What?! Heal?!? NO! Plus, two what vying for her love?? GODS?!? We might as well call this a “Heaven Sandwich”, with extra healer jelly filling just OOZING with tummy butterflies and heartbreak!
Oh, my word…it’s positively swoon worthy already! *insert dainty hand to forehead movement*
When Hope was just seven years old, she learned of her ability to heal people. By connecting with someone’s life force, Hope is able to command and feed instructions to a body’s cells in order to repair it. But Hopes miraculous ability could put her in danger, so it is her duty to keep anyone from finding out what she can do. Now ten years later, two new guys show up at her Northern California high school, and everything changes. Somehow they know what Hope can do, and to make matters worse, someone is throwing fireballs at her and trying to kill her. But with the help of these mysterious boys, Tie and Victor, Hope will realize that there is much more to her life than just an ability to heal.
Woooo! Guys, this series is turning out to be a wild one. I am hooked and I may have already started book 3, because I can’t help but devour these books! Okay, let’s begin with the basics. Our shining star of a female role in this series is Hope, and she has the ability to heal someone by connecting with their life force…or spirt/soul/inner alien (whatever you want to call it). Hope and her father have kept her secret quiet for 10 long years, but that suddenly changes. A new student arrives at Hope’s high school named Tie, and Hope feels an instant connection to him. To make things even weirder, Tie begins hinting at knowing about hope’s healing abilities. RED ALERT! Then, not an hour later, ANOTHER new guy shows up at her high school. His name is Victor, and he ALSO seems to know about Hope’s ability.
But wait guys, it gets even better!
These two handsome and mysterious boys turn out to be gods who have been searching for Hope for HUNDREDS of years, and have come to keep her safe from a fallen deity who wants her dead. You see…there’s this prophecy…
I really can’t go on much further without spilling the entire book to you guys, which is SO hard not to do. But I will give you a little more insight into the characters and what to expect.
There is a lot of great things happening in this story, and the author keeps the reader hooked throughout. I read this in one sitting, and immediately jumped to book 2! I am glad the author created such a strong and caring female lead for this story. Hope feels a bit older than her years, but she has the right amount of youth and inexperience in life to make her character feel believable. Her best friend Angie had me DYING and laughing my ass off. She is such an instigator and puts Hope in some very amusing situations, with only the best intentions. C.J. Anaya really did do a great job of putting some comical aspects in this book, and I found myself literally laughing out loud throughout.
I didn’t get to know the characters of Tie and Victor that well in book 1, but the reader REALLY gets to know them in the following books. Tie is the “bad boy” of our story, while Victor seems to be slightly more mature and kind. Honestly, Victor sounds a little boring in this book…and he is. BUT, the reader will really get to know these guys in the books following. Trust me when I say, these guys have a LOT happening with them.
Though The Healer did feel a little cheesy to me at times, I can ensure you that by book 2 the cheesiness has gone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s written well and developed thoughtfully. It just definitely has those “YA high school” undertones in it. What is interesting to me is that the main part of this story takes place in just 1 or 2 days. This sounds like it might be a little daunting, but the author really made it work. I didn’t feel like anything was rushed over or left unexplained, and there was still so much happening. She made it work!
The ending is going to leave you on a sad note, but also a hopeful one. I suggest getting the entire series at once, and preparing yourself to have a weekend of doing nothing but reading. I am currently on book 3 (I know, I’m behind on my reviews) and I am showing NO signs of slowing down. I don’t want to get to the final book, but I need it in my life. GO GET THIS SERIES! It is something a little different from the normal YA/Fantasy stories out there, and if you’re like me, you are always looking for something different.
bookfever's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so glad I got the chance to read The Healer. My experience with young adult paranormal books hasn't been too great so I wasn't expecting to like this story as much as I did but wow I was so hooked. Gotta love books that sneak up on you like that.
It took me a good 20% to get into this book but after that I thought it was a really good read. The writing flowed really well and I actually loved the romance, which for me is a big accomplishment on its own. And as a huge mythology fan I was really interested in the japanese mythology aspect of the book. I never read a book about japanese mythology, which is why I decided to read and review this book, and let me tell you it was just awesome to be reading something new and original like it.
The characters in this book were all very realistic. I absolutely loved that. The reactions of the characters, especially Hope and Angie's reactions, to all the paranormal and freaky stuff happening was just real, you know. And that's hard to find in paranormal books these days. I really liked Hope as the main character. She was honestly a kind and good person. I loved how she wanted to help sick and injured people with her powers and she was just a great person to read about.
I also loved her best friend Angie. Lord knows I laughed my ass off with her. Hope's dad is honestly one of the best parent characters I have come across. He was very protective of his daughter and actually knows about her powers, which is really refreshing if you ask me.
Meeting the two love interests was interesting, with them being gods and all. I liked both of them and this certainly isn't just a love triangle. I actually liked the romance, which is very rare for me. Victor seemed like a very sweet guy to me, I liked him a lot but I agree (like Hope and Angie do in the book) that he's most suited for Angie. I do hope they'll end up together eventually. Tie... what can I say about him. He was very entertaining to read about and I just loved him so much. Him and Hope are perfection to me. And that is all!
The overall story was pretty intriguing. I felt myself trying to work out what exactly was going on with Tie, Victor and how they all fit together in the story. The ending was unexpected. I'm not sure what to think of it, to be honest. I want to find out what will happen to them all so badly. Yeah, this was a great book!
I must admit that sometime I zoned out a little when Hope was healing people so I guess that can be considered my least favorite part. Don't get me wrong, I loved her abilitiy and how serious she took it, but I guess it was just a little too much sometimes.
The Healer was more than I expected. The story was really good, the characters realistic and never failed to bore me. I loved the author's writing because it read so easily and the romance was sweet and exciting all at once. Read this book, people!
It took me a good 20% to get into this book but after that I thought it was a really good read. The writing flowed really well and I actually loved the romance, which for me is a big accomplishment on its own. And as a huge mythology fan I was really interested in the japanese mythology aspect of the book. I never read a book about japanese mythology, which is why I decided to read and review this book, and let me tell you it was just awesome to be reading something new and original like it.
The characters in this book were all very realistic. I absolutely loved that. The reactions of the characters, especially Hope and Angie's reactions, to all the paranormal and freaky stuff happening was just real, you know. And that's hard to find in paranormal books these days. I really liked Hope as the main character. She was honestly a kind and good person. I loved how she wanted to help sick and injured people with her powers and she was just a great person to read about.
I also loved her best friend Angie. Lord knows I laughed my ass off with her. Hope's dad is honestly one of the best parent characters I have come across. He was very protective of his daughter and actually knows about her powers, which is really refreshing if you ask me.
Meeting the two love interests was interesting, with them being gods and all. I liked both of them and this certainly isn't just a love triangle. I actually liked the romance, which is very rare for me. Victor seemed like a very sweet guy to me, I liked him a lot but I agree (like Hope and Angie do in the book) that he's most suited for Angie. I do hope they'll end up together eventually. Tie... what can I say about him. He was very entertaining to read about and I just loved him so much. Him and Hope are perfection to me. And that is all!
The overall story was pretty intriguing. I felt myself trying to work out what exactly was going on with Tie, Victor and how they all fit together in the story. The ending was unexpected. I'm not sure what to think of it, to be honest. I want to find out what will happen to them all so badly. Yeah, this was a great book!
I must admit that sometime I zoned out a little when Hope was healing people so I guess that can be considered my least favorite part. Don't get me wrong, I loved her abilitiy and how serious she took it, but I guess it was just a little too much sometimes.
The Healer was more than I expected. The story was really good, the characters realistic and never failed to bore me. I loved the author's writing because it read so easily and the romance was sweet and exciting all at once. Read this book, people!
missyanne's review against another edition
I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author C.J. Anaya
So after a couple months of not being able start any new series, I finally started this one and I am glad I did.
The Healer is about a girl named Hope who has magical healing powers (to avoid spoilers I'm not writing how or why she has these power only that it has to do with Japanese Mythology), who life is turned upside down when two mysterious strangers moved to the neighbourhood.
It reminded me of a couple of other books I have previously read, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Japanese mythology in it.
I liked it enough to go and buy the next two books now I am waiting for the next one so that I can find out whats happens to Hope and her friends and family!! :)
So after a couple months of not being able start any new series, I finally started this one and I am glad I did.
The Healer is about a girl named Hope who has magical healing powers (to avoid spoilers I'm not writing how or why she has these power only that it has to do with Japanese Mythology), who life is turned upside down when two mysterious strangers moved to the neighbourhood.
It reminded me of a couple of other books I have previously read, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Japanese mythology in it.
I liked it enough to go and buy the next two books now I am waiting for the next one so that I can find out whats happens to Hope and her friends and family!! :)
bee_interrupted's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
abigail_lo's review against another edition
1.0
I remember not liking this book, but not why. Although from the synopsis it sounds like there's a love triangle, and those things are absolutely despicable, so maybe that's why I hated it. *shrug*
hyperashley's review against another edition
5.0
The Healer, got my attention from the beginning. It was super fast paced and interesting. The concept of someone being able to heal someone with their hands is very cool. I also loved the mythology in it; I am a huge fan of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses. All the myths and folklore have alway interested me so that was the icing on the cake for this book.
Hope has a special ability, she is able to heal people with her bare hands. If that wasn't crazy enough, two hot guys start her school and both seem to be fighting for her attention. When things get weirder they tell her about her destiny in a past life and the future she is supposed to have. Is the future she's destined to have the one she wants?
I really liked the characters especially Angie. She had some of the funniest lines I've ever read in a book. I was literally laughing out loud at her explanation for how Hope could have gotten a tropical disease. She was a strong female character that was able to hear crazy things and not get scared and run. Hope and Angie's friendship was so cute, they complimented each other well and that's always important.
Now for the Victor/ Tie debate. Honestly, I think I'm on Tie's team. Hope and Tie are soulmates so of course they should be together. Plus Angie likes Victor and they would make a good couple though I'm not sure how a demigod will be with a human. I'm rooting for Tie and Hope to be together. I don't blame Hope for kissing both guys in one night, she hears she's supposed to be with one but has feeling for the other. A kiss was the only logical solution I saw.
I loved the storyline. It was very interesting and action packed with witty lines– all things I love in a good book. Though I don't know much about Japanese gods this book makes me want to learn about them. I've always loved mythology so I think that would be interesting, other than not being able to pronounce the names.
I hate that so much was still left unanswered but I know that means the second book is going to be amazing! I can't wait to read more from C.J. Anaya, I am hooked on this series.
For more of my reviews visit: http://www.hyperashley.com/
Hope has a special ability, she is able to heal people with her bare hands. If that wasn't crazy enough, two hot guys start her school and both seem to be fighting for her attention. When things get weirder they tell her about her destiny in a past life and the future she is supposed to have. Is the future she's destined to have the one she wants?
I really liked the characters especially Angie. She had some of the funniest lines I've ever read in a book. I was literally laughing out loud at her explanation for how Hope could have gotten a tropical disease. She was a strong female character that was able to hear crazy things and not get scared and run. Hope and Angie's friendship was so cute, they complimented each other well and that's always important.
Now for the Victor/ Tie debate. Honestly, I think I'm on Tie's team. Hope and Tie are soulmates so of course they should be together. Plus Angie likes Victor and they would make a good couple though I'm not sure how a demigod will be with a human. I'm rooting for Tie and Hope to be together. I don't blame Hope for kissing both guys in one night, she hears she's supposed to be with one but has feeling for the other. A kiss was the only logical solution I saw.
I loved the storyline. It was very interesting and action packed with witty lines– all things I love in a good book. Though I don't know much about Japanese gods this book makes me want to learn about them. I've always loved mythology so I think that would be interesting, other than not being able to pronounce the names.
I hate that so much was still left unanswered but I know that means the second book is going to be amazing! I can't wait to read more from C.J. Anaya, I am hooked on this series.
For more of my reviews visit: http://www.hyperashley.com/