Color me surprised. Picked this book up on a whim and am coming out rather impressed... and upset I have to wait til Oct 2013 for the next installmentColor me surprised. Picked this book up on a whim and am coming out rather impressed... and upset I have to wait til Oct 2013 for the next installment!
The first bit was admittedly a little ehhh with all the petty highschool-ishness. But! The prologue was so fascinating and the little bits strewn through the highschool-ishness kept me hooked and waiting for the main thrust of the plot.
Maybe 30% in? Dude, that waiting was well worth it because then, all hell broke loose and this story turned into something rather awesome. Am very excited about this series. It's way fun, unique, well written, just all around great.
One thing I really do like about this book/series is that while the characters and portions of the plot are a bit juvenile and YA-typical (e.g. relationship drama), there are some aspects that you don't normally find in YA at all. Some of the violence and darker themes that it touches upon (e.g. what you see in the prologue) just aren't the norm in YA, at least not from what I've read. It's gorier and grittier, too. In a lot of ways, there's some distinctly adult fiction aspects to this book and that makes it more enjoyable for me. The female protagonist grows too - literally, lol (just read).
Can't wait for book 2. Most excited I've been over a YA in ages. ...more
All in all, still really enjoying this world. Loving Jocelyn and Jameson, particularly the latter. And Thedeo! I reallShort on time, so short review.
All in all, still really enjoying this world. Loving Jocelyn and Jameson, particularly the latter. And Thedeo! I really do like him quite a bit. And since I loved the Guardian trilogy so much, really, really loving the tie-ins.
The writing is a bit awkward in places, i.e. a few too many adverbs and too much redundancy, but some of the scenes, especially the action, are rather well done. I'll also say that the back and forth between Jocelyn and Jameson is a little whip-lashy, but I'm glad to see most of that seems to be over with by the end of this book.
Looking forward to the final installment! :) ...more
I like the world, the characters, and the conflict. And it was great to see Maggie and Eran :D I miss those guys! I like Really enjoying this series.
I like the world, the characters, and the conflict. And it was great to see Maggie and Eran :D I miss those guys! I like all the intrigue and the villains are starting to be a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed the addition of Theleo.
Overall, since Fallen, I think the author's writing has improved. It's still a little awkward at times and I'll say that for whatever reason, the latter 75% of this book was much better than the first 25%, writing-wise. For example, she comes up with these great lines and descriptions, but then she'll add a phrase on the end essentially telling the reader what it "means". No need to do that; we got it. The only other thing that makes me frown is that the back and forth with Jocelyn and Jameson re: their relationship is a little overdone.
All in all, this is a fun series and I'm really enjoying it. Can't wait for book 3! ...more
So, Obsidian caught my eye like... IDK a year ago, but for whatever reason, I just kind of shoved to my TBR and said I'd read when the second book came out. Well, the second book came out and so... here I am.
Have to say I'm enjoying this series a lot more than I initially anticipated.
Cool concept and different from the normal YA fare of angels and vampires, better than average writing, a female protag you can pull for, a male protag you want to simultaneously hit and hump, some actual cursing (WHAT?! I know, right?), a bit more realistic approach to sex than the average YA (it is actually mentioned and a couple of the characters actually do have it), some major UST, some fun conflict with some bad baddies, a few mildly angsty bits, a few fun jabs re the entire YA / book blogging / etc community, some fucking awesome alien powers/magic/goodness.
All in all? A solid B+/A-. The only thing holding me back from a straight up A is that some of the conflict between the two main characters got a little old / eye rolly at times. But seriously, it's a fun little series that I'm looking forward to continuing.
So, Obsidian caught my eye like... IDK a year ago, but for whatever reason, I just kind of shoved to my TBR and said I'd read when the second book came out. Well, the second book came out and so... here I am.
Have to say I'm enjoying this series a lot more than I initially anticipated.
Cool concept and different from the normal YA fare of angels and vampires, better than average writing, a female protag you can pull for, a male protag you want to simultaneously hit and hump, some actual cursing (WHAT?! I know, right?), a bit more realistic approach to sex than the average YA (it is actually mentioned and a couple of the characters actually do have it), some major UST, some fun conflict with some bad baddies, a few mildly angsty bits, a few fun jabs re the entire YA / book blogging / etc community, some fucking awesome alien powers/magic/goodness.
All in all? A solid B+/A-. The only thing holding me back from a straight up A is that some of the conflict between the two main characters got a little old / eye rolly at times. But seriously, it's a fun little series that I'm looking forward to continuing. ...more
So, Obsidian caught my eye like... IDK a year ago, but for whatever reason, I just kind of shoved to my TBR and said I'd read when the second book came out. Well, the second book came out and so... here I am.
Have to say I'm enjoying this series a lot more than I initially anticipated.
Cool concept and different from the normal YA fare of angels and vampires, better than average writing, a female protag you can pull for, a male protag you want to simultaneously hit and hump, some actual cursing (WHAT?! I know, right?), a bit more realistic approach to sex than the average YA (it is actually mentioned and a couple of the characters actually do have it), some major UST, some fun conflict with some bad baddies, a few mildly angsty bits, a few fun jabs re the entire YA / book blogging / etc community, some fucking awesome alien powers/magic/goodness.
All in all? A solid B+/A-. The only thing holding me back from a straight up A is that some of the conflict between the two main characters got a little old / eye rolly at times. But seriously, it's a fun little series that I'm looking forward to continuing. ...more
After reading Ms. Falter's Guardian trilogy, which I thoroughly enjoyed (and have since re-read), I was looking forward to seeing what shSolid 4 stars
After reading Ms. Falter's Guardian trilogy, which I thoroughly enjoyed (and have since re-read), I was looking forward to seeing what she'd come up with next.
Okay, and if I'm being honest, I wasn't expecting to be as enamored with Jocelyn and Jameson and their adventure as I was with Maggie and Eran, because well, it's hard enough to create a winning combo once, let alone twice.
But you know what? I am. I'm just a little bit in love with this new series. Really, Residue is a fantastic book and kick off to this new series.
Some things I like: - I'll get this out now since it's a statement about both series (Guardian and Residue). I LOVE that this author doesn't seem to lean on the ever-cliched teenage love triangle as a source of romantic conflict and angst. I LOVE that she doesn't. It's so overdone and annoying and it's all you ever seem to see in most YA. But not with this lady's books, and for that I want to kiss her, lol.
- Furthering the above, instead, this author seems to get the allure of that rare, fated, forever kind of love between two people that can't be torn apart. THAT is what she puts in her books. For the conflict, she uses the external environment. It's refreshing and far more interesting to read.
This book is no different. Like with Maggie and Eran in the Guardian trilogy, I completely bought the chemistry and attraction between Jocelyn and Jameson. It's lovely and USTy and just fun to read. I smiled many times.
- Characters. Another thing Ms. Falter consistently delivers on is a good female protag. She creates these awesome, badass females, who you can't help but like and root for. No different in Residue. Jocelyn is likable, relatable, and while strong, not overbearingly so or annoyingly so.
And of course, Jameson. Hm. Yep. Not bad at all. :) No, but I really do like his character. He's incredibly sweet and swoony and he's an excellent complement to Jocelyn.
- The plot for this series is interesting and fun and completely different from her last endeavor. You've got magic and witchcraft and a family feud and of course, a group of power hungry villains who want to quash anyone who'd threaten them.
- Same for the world that's been created. She's done a pretty good job of fleshing out the magic / witchcraft, which is important for me, but often overlooked by some. I like that there's enough information on *how* the magic works that I can see it and hear it. I like the setting in New Orleans. I like the way the feuding families are set up and their background. Just in general, I like the richness of the story and world. I think that works well.
One improvement over her last series is that we're given more info upfront in the first book (this was a little lacking in her other series and made reading a little confusing at first). There are certainly some things I don't know yet, but I have enough to go on. And I have enough to anticipate what we'll be seeing in the next book.
- Okay, and I had a nice laugh and grin over the subtle references to the Guardian trilogy. When I saw their school name I laughed out loud. And then when I saw the explicit reference to the girl who talks to the dead and her boyfriend I clapped my hands. Nicely done. A+ for that.
What I'd have liked more of / thought needed a little work:
- The secondaries were hit and miss. Some were fleshed out pretty well, whereas others seem to be pretty blank. For example, one of the central things going on in this book is this ongoing feud between the Weatherfords and the Caldwells. Each family has a host of siblings. Some of those siblings weren't really used that much at all. They were kind of extras, if you will, but since the feud is such a big deal, I expected more there.
- The villains. I'm certain we will be seeing more of them next round. This book's main conflict was the feud itself and it served to set up the larger conflict with the Vires. But I'd have liked a little more on them. I don't fear them. They aren't sinister enough. I'm not sure what really drives them. I just wanted more.
- The climax was frankly a little anticlimactic for me. Yes, it had some great action sequences. I mean, how can I not love a casting war? But... again, I think because this book's main conflict was between the two feuding families, their battle - the impetus for it, maybe - wasn't as "big a deal". I'm not worried though because I know the bigger conflict is coming up later.
- Ms. Falter's writing shows definite improvement. It was tighter and the action sequences and sections with the casting, in particular, worked very well. I still wince a little over phrases like "his passion" but that's fairly minor. She still writes UST and the interactions between J and J well. Some editing issues, but very readable.
Overall this is a great, fun read. I liked it quite a bit. In fact, my biggest complaint is that I don't have the next book on my kindle already. :) Can't wait til June for the next installment. :) ...more
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