Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
Helpful Score: 3
THE ETERNAL ONES is a "wow" of a novel. The story started a little shakily, but then I was captivated by the uniqueness, writing style, and romance that Kirsten Miller does so well.
I will state up front that this book will not be for everyone. It reminded me most of Nina Malkin's SWOON, with its gorgeous writing, mystical mysteries, and a romance so all-consuming it makes you feel like you're swimming underwater with no chance to come up for air. It is all too easy to dismiss this book as one that "missed the mark" in terms of reader connectivity--but if you hang in there and allow yourself to be sucked in, you will be rewarded beyond what you can even imagine.
It is the mystery element of THE ETERNAL ONES that drew me into the story and kept my eyes glued to the pages. Past the first hundred pages, the entire book is like a perpetual ride over the last few inches before the crest of a rollercoaster's first hill. You watch the events unfold, but something's not quite right; you're constantly on your toes, breathlessly dreading or anticipating whats going to happen next. The layers of ambiguity in this novel are astounding.
Okay, so most of the characters are average in personality and definition (with the exception of Beau, Haven's best friend, who is utterly charming and fantastic), the plot can drag at times (especially in the first quarter of the book), and there are instances where Kirsten Miller's writing doesnt quite ring true (i.e. it can't decide whether it's third-person limited or omniscient: it's gotta be one or the other, sorry). But it's that inexplicable, intangible feel of the book that has it churning around in my head even days after I finished it. If you're looking for the manifestation of the reviewer phrase "The writing/story haunted me," you'll find it here. I would read the book again just for that feeling of intangibility, of feeling my soul depart, ghost-like, from my body, from the hands that are holding the book, from the eyes must read and process the words.
THE ETERNAL ONES is hard for me to define, and will probably be difficult to recommend. There are a number of flaws in the story, but somehow they all come together to form something unforgettable. At least that was how it was for me. If you're looking for, and think you're able to have, the kind of reading experience I had with this book, I encourage you to give it a try when you can. Perhaps you, too, will be haunted by it...in a good way.
I will state up front that this book will not be for everyone. It reminded me most of Nina Malkin's SWOON, with its gorgeous writing, mystical mysteries, and a romance so all-consuming it makes you feel like you're swimming underwater with no chance to come up for air. It is all too easy to dismiss this book as one that "missed the mark" in terms of reader connectivity--but if you hang in there and allow yourself to be sucked in, you will be rewarded beyond what you can even imagine.
It is the mystery element of THE ETERNAL ONES that drew me into the story and kept my eyes glued to the pages. Past the first hundred pages, the entire book is like a perpetual ride over the last few inches before the crest of a rollercoaster's first hill. You watch the events unfold, but something's not quite right; you're constantly on your toes, breathlessly dreading or anticipating whats going to happen next. The layers of ambiguity in this novel are astounding.
Okay, so most of the characters are average in personality and definition (with the exception of Beau, Haven's best friend, who is utterly charming and fantastic), the plot can drag at times (especially in the first quarter of the book), and there are instances where Kirsten Miller's writing doesnt quite ring true (i.e. it can't decide whether it's third-person limited or omniscient: it's gotta be one or the other, sorry). But it's that inexplicable, intangible feel of the book that has it churning around in my head even days after I finished it. If you're looking for the manifestation of the reviewer phrase "The writing/story haunted me," you'll find it here. I would read the book again just for that feeling of intangibility, of feeling my soul depart, ghost-like, from my body, from the hands that are holding the book, from the eyes must read and process the words.
THE ETERNAL ONES is hard for me to define, and will probably be difficult to recommend. There are a number of flaws in the story, but somehow they all come together to form something unforgettable. At least that was how it was for me. If you're looking for, and think you're able to have, the kind of reading experience I had with this book, I encourage you to give it a try when you can. Perhaps you, too, will be haunted by it...in a good way.
Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com
Haven has always been an outcast in her little town of Snope City. Her best friend, Beau, is the only one to stick by her when everyone else in town thinks she is strange, or worse yet, possessed by a demon. Since she was a little girl, she has had visions of a past there is no way she should know about. She sees New York City almost 100 years ago, herself as a blonde named Constance, and a man named Ethan whom she knows is her soul mate.
After the death of her father, Haven attempted to control her visions, not wanting the attention they brought upon her and her family. But, the visions came back with a vengeance when she saw wealthy playboy Iain Morrow on a gossip news show. As she passed out, she called out Ethan's name.
Haven decides the only way she will get any peace from the visions is to figure out what they all mean. The only way to do that is to run away to New York and find Iain and see if he is really Ethan - and what that means for her life. She is afraid of what will happen if Iain is really Ethan, though, because Iain is suspected of murdering his friend. Plus, the visions she has shows her dying in a fire, and it's possible Ethan is the one who started it. Can she trust him?
THE ETERNAL ONES kept me engaged. I read it in almost one sitting, staying up until 3:00 AM to finish it. The only thing that forced me to give it 4 Stars instead of 5 was Haven. The flip-flopping about her feelings toward Iain started to get annoying about halfway through the story. One minute she trusts him COMPLETELY, and the next she believes the worst about him. Another issue about their relationship that could have been better was their romance. It could have been so much more emotional, but instead the fact that they were reincarnated lovers was used to fast-forward the connection between them. It was just assumed they would be together once they met. Even though Haven didn't remember everything from her past, she still picked up the relationship with "Ethan" where it left off 90 years ago.
Still, all in all, I definitely recommend THE ETERNAL ONES. Kirsten Miller leaves it open for a sequel, but really, this book would be a good stand alone.
Haven has always been an outcast in her little town of Snope City. Her best friend, Beau, is the only one to stick by her when everyone else in town thinks she is strange, or worse yet, possessed by a demon. Since she was a little girl, she has had visions of a past there is no way she should know about. She sees New York City almost 100 years ago, herself as a blonde named Constance, and a man named Ethan whom she knows is her soul mate.
After the death of her father, Haven attempted to control her visions, not wanting the attention they brought upon her and her family. But, the visions came back with a vengeance when she saw wealthy playboy Iain Morrow on a gossip news show. As she passed out, she called out Ethan's name.
Haven decides the only way she will get any peace from the visions is to figure out what they all mean. The only way to do that is to run away to New York and find Iain and see if he is really Ethan - and what that means for her life. She is afraid of what will happen if Iain is really Ethan, though, because Iain is suspected of murdering his friend. Plus, the visions she has shows her dying in a fire, and it's possible Ethan is the one who started it. Can she trust him?
THE ETERNAL ONES kept me engaged. I read it in almost one sitting, staying up until 3:00 AM to finish it. The only thing that forced me to give it 4 Stars instead of 5 was Haven. The flip-flopping about her feelings toward Iain started to get annoying about halfway through the story. One minute she trusts him COMPLETELY, and the next she believes the worst about him. Another issue about their relationship that could have been better was their romance. It could have been so much more emotional, but instead the fact that they were reincarnated lovers was used to fast-forward the connection between them. It was just assumed they would be together once they met. Even though Haven didn't remember everything from her past, she still picked up the relationship with "Ethan" where it left off 90 years ago.
Still, all in all, I definitely recommend THE ETERNAL ONES. Kirsten Miller leaves it open for a sequel, but really, this book would be a good stand alone.
