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tregina's review against another edition
3.0
This was really strong for most of its length, then just when I thought I'd reached the end I realised there were about forty or fifty pages left. The prolonged denouement dealt a blow to the pacing, even though the information was important to the ongoing series, and I can't say I was entirely thrilled with the way a lot of things played out in the end.
ann2525's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, I believe its young adult but it didn't read like a young adult book, they often have the star crossed lovers that are a little over done, this book had a really good plot, great mystery aspect, supernatural elements and I couldn't stop reading it!!! I loved the Savannah backdrop as well.
skarijay's review
4.0
2015 has started off with a great page turner. I really enjoyed Horn's writing style.
solar_power's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bookph1le's review
4.0
Well, that kind of came out of nowhere! I borrowed it as a whim and ended up enjoying it quite a bit. It's not my usual sort of read, but I thought it was really entertaining.
Full review:
Paranormal books tend to be hit or miss for me. I've read some I really liked, but I have no particular fondness for the genre, so I picked this book up entirely on a whim. Imagine my surprise when I found myself highly entertained by this engrossing novel. Some minor spoilers to follow.
Though magic is an integral part of Mercy's life, in some respects it takes a back seat to some of the novel's other themes. Mercy is a fish out of water, a young woman who's not really sure what her place is in life. She's a bit stuck where she is, and I think her envying the things her sister has is also a way for her to keep herself comfortably stuck rather than seeking her own path. After all, it's a lot easier for her to fail to compare to Maisie, as that's all but preordained. Far more difficult would be for her to forge her own path.
It's easy, then, for the rest of the family to play into this dynamic, and this is the aspect of the novel that I think shines the most. Horn does a fantastic job of portraying the dysfunctional family dynamic. Every member of the family is fully realized, with their own hopes, fears, and agendas. As the curtain is slowly pulled back, Mercy's fraught and fascinating family saga is revealed, and though everyone explains things to her, I walked away not entirely convinced that she had yet found the truth. This is something that will bring me back to the series, the desire to know what's really going on in the heads of Mercy's family members.
The relationship between the sisters was also well-done, a great example of how the grass always looks greener. At first their relationship seems almost too perfect, so it's astonishing when those layers are peeled back. The psychology felt spot-on too. It's easy to understand where each sister is coming from and why their interpretations are so starkly different. They're like two sides of a coin: the sister who won't embrace her own freedom contrasted with the sister who longs to escape her restraints.
My one problem with the novel lies with the two male love interests. I thought both came across as jerks at various points, and I found it really hard to understand why Mercy coveted Jackson. True, he represents an ideal and all the things she can't have but wants to possess, but I needed to see more of the charm that had drawn her in. Peter doesn't come across much better, though Mercy is not to be excused for her own manipulations. Still, if Peter is going to figure prominently in the next book. I hope he can be redeemed somehow.
The magical universe that Horn has set up is also interesting, and I look forward to learning more about it. When I do read a novel like this, I like to feel that the author has considered the laws of the magic system he or she had created, and I think Horn has. I liked that there were complications and that the characters couldn't just fling spells around at will. There are clear consequences to the way they choose to use magic, and I liked that.
Setting is another strong point in this book. It has a vivid Southern gothic feel that really drew me in and made me feel like I was escaping to another world.
This was one of the most entertaining yet still meaty books that I've read in some time. I'm eager to see how things pan out in future installments. I think Horn is talented and shows a lot of promise.
Full review:
Paranormal books tend to be hit or miss for me. I've read some I really liked, but I have no particular fondness for the genre, so I picked this book up entirely on a whim. Imagine my surprise when I found myself highly entertained by this engrossing novel. Some minor spoilers to follow.
Though magic is an integral part of Mercy's life, in some respects it takes a back seat to some of the novel's other themes. Mercy is a fish out of water, a young woman who's not really sure what her place is in life. She's a bit stuck where she is, and I think her envying the things her sister has is also a way for her to keep herself comfortably stuck rather than seeking her own path. After all, it's a lot easier for her to fail to compare to Maisie, as that's all but preordained. Far more difficult would be for her to forge her own path.
It's easy, then, for the rest of the family to play into this dynamic, and this is the aspect of the novel that I think shines the most. Horn does a fantastic job of portraying the dysfunctional family dynamic. Every member of the family is fully realized, with their own hopes, fears, and agendas. As the curtain is slowly pulled back, Mercy's fraught and fascinating family saga is revealed, and though everyone explains things to her, I walked away not entirely convinced that she had yet found the truth. This is something that will bring me back to the series, the desire to know what's really going on in the heads of Mercy's family members.
The relationship between the sisters was also well-done, a great example of how the grass always looks greener. At first their relationship seems almost too perfect, so it's astonishing when those layers are peeled back. The psychology felt spot-on too. It's easy to understand where each sister is coming from and why their interpretations are so starkly different. They're like two sides of a coin: the sister who won't embrace her own freedom contrasted with the sister who longs to escape her restraints.
My one problem with the novel lies with the two male love interests. I thought both came across as jerks at various points, and I found it really hard to understand why Mercy coveted Jackson. True, he represents an ideal and all the things she can't have but wants to possess, but I needed to see more of the charm that had drawn her in. Peter doesn't come across much better, though Mercy is not to be excused for her own manipulations. Still, if Peter is going to figure prominently in the next book. I hope he can be redeemed somehow.
The magical universe that Horn has set up is also interesting, and I look forward to learning more about it. When I do read a novel like this, I like to feel that the author has considered the laws of the magic system he or she had created, and I think Horn has. I liked that there were complications and that the characters couldn't just fling spells around at will. There are clear consequences to the way they choose to use magic, and I liked that.
Setting is another strong point in this book. It has a vivid Southern gothic feel that really drew me in and made me feel like I was escaping to another world.
This was one of the most entertaining yet still meaty books that I've read in some time. I'm eager to see how things pan out in future installments. I think Horn is talented and shows a lot of promise.
ashmanzer's review
5.0
This was a fun and easy read and it was really interesting. I read it in less than 24 hours. I can't wait to get into the next three of the series!
tishywishy's review
3.0
Fun story with good character development. Could have been a bit more creative with how the author tied in Mercy and Maisie's father as well as more development of the final battle scene. Not sure I will finish this series but it's similar in tone to Beautiful Creatures.
vern_middle_90's review
I just couldn't get into it. I might pick it back up, I might not.
rjdenney's review
2.0
Gave it a go and sadly it wasn't as interesting as the synopsis made it sound.
mwood4258's review against another edition
5.0
Where's the next one?
This book was a great fast read. Lots of twists and turns. It has left me wanting more though. What happens next?
This book was a great fast read. Lots of twists and turns. It has left me wanting more though. What happens next?