Written by: Kiersten White
Publication date: July 26, 2011
Released in Hardcover and Kindle
Harper Collins, Inc.
Pages 320
4 STARS
Synopsis: Evie finally has the
normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that
being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to
long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency,
she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from
all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to
wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend
Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers
that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could
throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question?
Evie herself.
So much for normal.
My Review: Evie and Lend's relationship is similar to mine. They are in a long distance relationship and one of them is in college. My boyfriend and I are not sixteen or have the power to see through glamours, but I am a water nymph so that kind of balances things out.
Evie reminds me a lot of Sookie Stackhouse of the True Blood series. They are both semi-normal girls just trying to live normal lives yet they've both been touched by faeries and they encounter a ton of paranormals on a regular basis. Evie is fearless whenever she finds herself face to face with a dangerous paranormal, which are the only kinds she ever deals with. She has so many secrets that she insists on keeping all to herself, carrying this burden all by herself. All that weight on her shoulders is enough to make her eventually burst at the seams.
Raquel has returned with an to Evie to work for the IPCA again. And this time, she'ss be a real employee, not just another paranormal being used for the company's benefit. She has the flexibility to turn down any assignment if she doesn't like the circumstances, however, the time never seems to come.
A new character is introduced, Jack. He adds an extreme mysterious element to the story. We're not sure where this guy came from or how he can do what he does - drawing doors even though he isn't a faery. Every time we get a little more insight on Jack, you'd think it might answer one of the thousands of questions surrounding him, instead it only raises more. With all the bits and pieces you get about him, the more you try to draw your own conclusion about him and find yourself being sucked in even more!
Paranormal creatures are coming out of the wood-works! Literally! Things Evie has never seen before and they all keep coming to David's diner. Not only that, but they seem to all be in on the same big secret; something that has to do with why the paranormals always seem to be staring at Evie. Nobody seems to know where they're coming from or why they're coming here, but while more show up - others are going missing.
There's no shortage of action or intense scenes in this sequel. Vivian is still around so you know things can't get boring! Evie still struggles with being an Empty One and is trying to figure out what the fey want with her, as Reth continues to try to convince her that she belongs with him and his people. It comes down to a very serious decision that only Evie can make. She finds herself facing an unexpected enemy, leaving her trapped exactly where she never wanted to be trapped. Ever.
Super suspenseful, and plenty of character love confirmation!
Now don't forget (like, how could you) that the third installment is set to release
JULY 24, 2012!!!
This is by far my favorite cover of the series! Not just because purple is my favorite color, it's just beautiful! Hair, dress, color, lighting, storm clouds, everything! Great job!
The beginning dragged of wedding and honeymoon stuff. Not that these weren't great parts but if you've read the books, maybe you were starting to feel like I did, "Get pregnant already!!" The whole time Bella was walking down the aisle, I was waiting for her to throw up or pull a runaway bride stunt. Kristen Stewarts portrayal of Bella's nervousness made her look as though she was nauseous and if I didn't already know what was going to happen, I would have been real nervous that she wasn't going to go through with it. There was very little introduction to the Denali Clan at the wedding and as a result no mention of their importance or connection to Laurent or the Cullens. It makes me wonder how they will treat the clans and their significance in the second half of the two-part film.
Of course, any scene with Jacob is perfection. Taylor Lautner knew his character and portrayed him better than anyone else throughout the entire saga. It's amazing how he consumed his role and laid it out there for all the world to see. I believe, Stephenie Meyer kidnapped Taylor Lautner and held him hostage in her house while she wrote his character because he IS Jacob. What I did miss were the exchanges between Jacob and Rosalie, the jabs at each other. You remember, the doggy jokes and bloodsucker insults. It would've been nice to see. If you thought the wolves made an impression in New Moon, think again. Seeing the woods through Jacob's eyes as he ran, hearing the voices of the pack was amazing. Something we had hoped for from their first appearance. There was no better part in any of the films, was when Jacob broke away from Sam's pack. Watching him put Sam in his place, he seemed to grow in size and power. The whole thing was intense! Amazing!
Finally, Bella's transformation. I felt it was true to the description in the book, though I would have liked to see more of her inner struggle. However, I also felt that if you didn't read the books, you would not have been able to fully understand exactly what she was going through. There were many bridges omitted in this film but I think there was a good reason for it. First, let me say that Bill Condon, the director, should have been
directing the saga from the start. Each year we keeping that the current director is better than the last, which they are, but Condon really did
book-to-movie the way it should be done. So far, Breaking Dawn is the best adaptation of all the films. I'm beginning to believe that Condon made the movie strictly with the people who read the book in mind. He showed us the scenes we wanted to see and skimmed over the stuff we already knew, and if you didn't read the book and you couldn't fill in the gaps then that was your problem! At times when you thought the movie was dragging, I think that was Condon's way of embracing the scene and the emotions that went along with the moments being played out.
I can't tell you how good it feels to be here with you guys!
