Michelle R. (mreneerouser) -
Helpful Score: 8
This is the tale of two novels. First 150 pages, poor writing. It felt like the editor used a simple Microsoft Word Grammar checker when editing the first half of the book. I definitely cannot write and I felt like I could have written the first half of the book.
Strangely enough, the second half was written much better. It flowed better, the grammar use was better, and it made the story much more enjoyable.
On to the story-, it was not anything original but I liked the characters (even the dog). I think the series has potential.
If you can get through the first half of the book, you will find a good story with lots of potential.
Strangely enough, the second half was written much better. It flowed better, the grammar use was better, and it made the story much more enjoyable.
On to the story-, it was not anything original but I liked the characters (even the dog). I think the series has potential.
If you can get through the first half of the book, you will find a good story with lots of potential.
Helpful Score: 4
I really liked this book, the farther I got into it the more I liked it. Main character Riley was likable and not too ditzy. I liked the Dupre family of vampires and Gullahs. Nothing complicated for a plot just a good read. Definately want book 2.
Helpful Score: 4
I liked this book for the most part. I'm looking at it as "getting to know you" intro to the series book. There are some really good secondary characters and their story/history could have added a lot to the whole. Preacher and his Gullah guys, the Dupres and Nyx--heck even the mystery of Riley's rare blood could have been expounded on.
To me the most bothersome thing about Riley was her repetative assertions about how tough she was and how hard. She wasn't a trained fighter or anything and had no prior knowledge of the powerful vampires that were out there. Her "toughness" was based strictly on being a drugged out club kid/Goth who was easy. I don't get how that makes her strong/tough or experienced enough to insist she can handle and kill feral vampires in a month's time frame.
That said--I will most likely read the second in the series due out in June 2011--if it doesn't go deeper I won't be looking for the third book.
To me the most bothersome thing about Riley was her repetative assertions about how tough she was and how hard. She wasn't a trained fighter or anything and had no prior knowledge of the powerful vampires that were out there. Her "toughness" was based strictly on being a drugged out club kid/Goth who was easy. I don't get how that makes her strong/tough or experienced enough to insist she can handle and kill feral vampires in a month's time frame.
That said--I will most likely read the second in the series due out in June 2011--if it doesn't go deeper I won't be looking for the third book.
Helpful Score: 3
Im going to give this one to you straight and to the point. I absolutely think I hated this book. Im not sure that I wanted to finish it. However since I have this strange compulsion to finish everything that I start reading I did end up finishing it. I kept thinking that it would get better I should have known it wouldn't. The writing was amateurish at best it was not what I would expect from someone who writes full time. If this is how her next book is I seriously doubt she will be a full time writer for too much longer.
Ok what I felt through most of the book was boredom it was like Id read it all before in other better books, plus hey I did read it before because she mention things several times during the book. I swear I wanted to strangle the writer after having to read the same thing about walking the dog or going to drink tea. Jesus we get it you walk your dog then go drink your tea with preacher man every day you dont have to mention that in every chapter. It got so tedious trying to read that I wanted to tear the book in half.
To me this book felt like a bad mix of Twilight, Vampire Academy, and Mercedes Thompson series. Twilight because she smelled so good she was in danger of being eaten to death. I spent half the time waiting for Eli to say that she was his brand of heroin!!!!! Sad but true and he got pretty close I remember him saying something about her being like a drug. Then the vampire academy because she kept differentiating between the two types of vampires one being a good kind the other bad she also kept calling them Stragori which was a kicker for me. Then Mercedes Thompson series most likely probably because of the characterization, not because the stories were anything alike just the character seemed familiar. They are both athletic tattooed with long black hair and have snarky personalities who work a lot.
I dont say this lightly but it just felt like she pulled her characters out of other peoples stories renamed them and tweaked a classic paranormal plot line a little. To me nothing about this story was original it just felt too familiar to even be the littlest bit interesting. Maybe Im being to hard maybe Im not but its up to you to decide for yourself.
I think this may have been my first 1 star : (
Ok what I felt through most of the book was boredom it was like Id read it all before in other better books, plus hey I did read it before because she mention things several times during the book. I swear I wanted to strangle the writer after having to read the same thing about walking the dog or going to drink tea. Jesus we get it you walk your dog then go drink your tea with preacher man every day you dont have to mention that in every chapter. It got so tedious trying to read that I wanted to tear the book in half.
To me this book felt like a bad mix of Twilight, Vampire Academy, and Mercedes Thompson series. Twilight because she smelled so good she was in danger of being eaten to death. I spent half the time waiting for Eli to say that she was his brand of heroin!!!!! Sad but true and he got pretty close I remember him saying something about her being like a drug. Then the vampire academy because she kept differentiating between the two types of vampires one being a good kind the other bad she also kept calling them Stragori which was a kicker for me. Then Mercedes Thompson series most likely probably because of the characterization, not because the stories were anything alike just the character seemed familiar. They are both athletic tattooed with long black hair and have snarky personalities who work a lot.
I dont say this lightly but it just felt like she pulled her characters out of other peoples stories renamed them and tweaked a classic paranormal plot line a little. To me nothing about this story was original it just felt too familiar to even be the littlest bit interesting. Maybe Im being to hard maybe Im not but its up to you to decide for yourself.
I think this may have been my first 1 star : (
Helpful Score: 2
Where to start? I wanted to like this book, but honestly I thought it was pretty terrible. The plot was a mix between the movie the Lost Boys (ironically mentioned in the book) and something out of the Twilight Series. The characters werent particularly likable or well developed. The heroine of Afterlight, a tattoo artist named Riley Poe, is a self-proclaimed badass who uses the word "wicked" way too frequently. Repetition and overused slang that sounds forced and ridiculous was a theme throughout the story. I kept reading hoping the book would get better and live up to some of the good reviews, but it didn't and was a struggle to finish. I wouldn't have minded the unoriginal plot as much if a) the author had used a thesaurus and didn't use the same phrasing over and over, and b) the book had a better editor that cut out all the run on sentences and overuse of semi-colons. Sincerely, this book had more semi-colons than any other I have ever read. Why even two stars you ask? Well, it wasnt the most terrible book I have ever read, I did finish it, but the saving grace was truly the fact that the some of the scenes between Riley and her love interest, a vampire named Eli, were sexy and believable. Their interactions were some of the only bright spots in an otherwise lackluster story. Ive read a lot of urban fiction and paranormal romance, and this is not one I would recommend. Needless to say, I don't think the story was strong or interesting enough to warrant a series, and will not bother reading the next installment.
Helpful Score: 1
Urban fantasy set in Savannah, GA. The book takes a bit to pick up steam and flow. The characters become more likable as the story progresses. I was a bit annoyed with the constant detail of clothing that Riley wore. The Dupre family is a close knit family of vampires that come to Riley's aid when her brother is attacked by "bad" vamps. OK read. 3 stars
Helpful Score: 1
This book is just "OK" not great by any means. The art work and back of the book discription make it seem better then what it actually is. The story isn;t very original and I feel like the author is trying to hard to connect with a younger reading crowd (teenagers) by mentioning actual bands and songs that are currently out on the radio now. I can understand her wanting to make the reader feel like they are actually there in the club but it just feels like she's trying to hard. If thats the case then the sex in the book should be down played and the rest of the story as written would make a great young adults book. I actually like Riley and Eli but Eli's character isn't as well written as Riley's so I hope in future books they evolve a little more. I also liked the Nxy character and i wish she was written better as well. Maybe the authors next book in this series will be better one can only hope!
Helpful Score: 1
I must be the odd-ball out here because i really really enjoyed this book!
As far as the grammar usage goes, the author (in my opinion) was trying to portray the characters with deep southern roots. Ie: using words like: dem (them) and dere (there). For me being born and raised in the south, this didnt bother me a bit and only made the characters seem more colorful and alive in my eyes.
On to my review: Riley Poe is one pretty kick-azz character. An ex-wild child, orphaned and now raising her 15 year old brother, Seth. Shes now 25 and owns the tatoo parlor, Inksomnia.
Riley's life changes dramatically when her brother dissapears, and she meets Eli and his Dupre family. They inform her that 2 very powerful vampires (Valerian and Victorian) have re-emerged and taken Seth to become part of their army. Other young teens are going missing in the city as well.
Riley teams up with the family and go to many underground places to hunt for the boys and their leader. But in the end, it is Riley and her special blood that can save herself and her brother from certain death.
All in all, i really enjoyed this book. I ate it up in just a few sittings. While Id wished the chapters were a little shorter, it didnt deter from the book at all. The ending was left open for a sequel, which Im eagerly awaiting.
As far as the grammar usage goes, the author (in my opinion) was trying to portray the characters with deep southern roots. Ie: using words like: dem (them) and dere (there). For me being born and raised in the south, this didnt bother me a bit and only made the characters seem more colorful and alive in my eyes.
On to my review: Riley Poe is one pretty kick-azz character. An ex-wild child, orphaned and now raising her 15 year old brother, Seth. Shes now 25 and owns the tatoo parlor, Inksomnia.
Riley's life changes dramatically when her brother dissapears, and she meets Eli and his Dupre family. They inform her that 2 very powerful vampires (Valerian and Victorian) have re-emerged and taken Seth to become part of their army. Other young teens are going missing in the city as well.
Riley teams up with the family and go to many underground places to hunt for the boys and their leader. But in the end, it is Riley and her special blood that can save herself and her brother from certain death.
All in all, i really enjoyed this book. I ate it up in just a few sittings. While Id wished the chapters were a little shorter, it didnt deter from the book at all. The ending was left open for a sequel, which Im eagerly awaiting.
I liked it but I didn't love it. The author has a tendency to want to explain every movement of the day which gets tedious. The number of times she walked the dog, for example, reminded me of the tedium of normal everyday duties of dog life rather than the fun of playing with the dog.
I agree that the end of the book was easier to read than the beginning. I liked the wild child tattoo artist who was a screw up in the past. The vampires were believable, but her resistance to their protection bordered on stupid. She put them all in danger by ignoring their realistic warnings and never really had to face her own culpability for the unnecessary danger she caused.
I agree that the end of the book was easier to read than the beginning. I liked the wild child tattoo artist who was a screw up in the past. The vampires were believable, but her resistance to their protection bordered on stupid. She put them all in danger by ignoring their realistic warnings and never really had to face her own culpability for the unnecessary danger she caused.
Angela P. (thirstyvampire82) -
OK, so I never heard of the the author or this book before walking into Wal-Mart. With determination to purchase a "good" book. ( I had nothing to read an was going crazy. So I stood for about 30 min.-1 hour reading the backs and looking at cover's (despite the old saying). I cme across the book and in the cover intrigued me. (I'm a tattoo fan), also when I read the back cover's description caught my attention. I figured $6 wasn't much for a good read. Despite the review's I've read, I really liked the book. Great story line,(even though there's only so many thing's you can say to be original anymore since "vampire novels" have become so popular). Only thing I kinda didn't like though, what the repetitiveness. Instead of that, the author could have opened the plot a little more. I did like/love the "Gullah" language. She did that so you read how they speak, I loved it that she brought them alive in that sense.Thanks for your patience reading this, I just thought it was important to let people to know how I really felt. I actually can't wait for the second book, I might just buy the book since it comes out in June 2011, since I can't move up the list until it comes out, then someone reads then posts, it'll take a year to get a copy. Some books are worth just buying new and that way I can send it out sooner. :) Hope you end up liking my review. I know there are 65 people wishing (at the time I wrote this). I have about 20 pages left then will be posting. :)
