Hating Middle School on High School

If you’re a parent, or have a sibling who goes to middle school, then you are probably personally acquainted with the horrors of waiting in an endless line to pick them up. If you’re even a minute late to pick them up, they will have a tantrum, but they begrudge you your impatience in these absolutely excruciating lines. Middle schoolers do look adorable in their Halloween costumes though, so that makes up for today’s misery.

“Embrace” by Jessica Shirvington

*CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS!! BEWARE!

My thoughts after reading this book:

The Stink of a Bad book

The slow gaze of horror

 

You know when you read the back of a book and you start getting excited, thinking, “This book might just be what I can obsess about for awhile”?

This book started that way, and I am left with nothing but disappointment.

The main protagonist, Violet Eden, made me want to slap her several times. I hadn’t even finished the first chapter when the eye-rolling moment started pouring. It felt like the author was trying to force us to emphasize with her. The traumatic incident that made her really distrustful felt unreal, like it was just added there as an excuse for her behavior. I waited throughout the book to find one, just one, redeeming quality in the girl, but alas! she is lost.

My Irritants:

1. SHE. IS. SO. SELF. ABSORBED! The entire book was basically her feeling sorry for herself because she was chosen to carry the burden of having angelic powers. Get over it! I don’t want a character like Bella Swan or anything, filled with a psychiatrists dream of self-esteem issues, but SOME humility and reflection is good! QUOTE: “You…you could have healed Lincoln. You let him lie there while he was dying. You let me become a Grigori even when I didn’t want to.” Really? REALLY? You had to follow up with a little something-something about how you’d been wronged or else you couldn’t sleep soundly, right?
   

   Is the suffering over yet?

2. I couldn’t relate to Violet. Usually, I start getting in tune with a character’s emotions, feelings, situations. With Violet, I couldn’t. And she was so consumed with bitterness, and anger, and hate…it was unbearable. QUOTE: “Let me spell it out for you. I. Don’t. Want. To. Be. A. Grigori. Now or ever! I’m sorry you had these grand plans, but I just want to go to school and live my life. Just my normal human life.”  Wow, someone’s begging for a good slapping.
3. Lincoln. He’s a point on the love triangle for the two men in Violet’s life. The author makes a huge deal about how important he is, how close he and Violet are, how in love with him she is, but then Violet dumps him like last nights Chinese and he’s pretty much excluded from the rest of the book. And he was too…I don’t know, clean-cut? His ‘tortured soul’ was just somewhat pathetic. Violet treated him like trash, and he kept coming back for more.
4. The love triangle. I just couldn’t get a feel for it. The entire book, I simply felt detached. And then when she did the dirty with Phoenix, I seriously had to reread the part because I missed it at first. It was really weird, some juju about golden threads and whatever. And then, oh yeah, Violet goes back to feeling her emotions for him ‘dull’ later. Violet, what the frick is wrong with you?
   

   If only I could do that without my parents murdering me

    

5. Authenticity. This book lacked it big time. So fake, so forced. It didn’t suck me in. I usually tear through a book in a day. Not this one.

I wouldn’t recommend this book, in case my vitriolic review didn’t make that obvious. The book had a few pros, naturally. I liked her style of writing, and some of her descriptions (there were very many). The author has potential, but I feel like she’s not connecting with reality. Yes, it’s fiction, but we’ve got to be able to emphasize.

Not sure if I’ll be reading the sequel, “Entice.” Probably not. This one ticked me off too much. If you’re a fan, I hope I didn’t offend you, and if you wanna share your own opinion, it’ll be very welcome.

Peace, Love, & Coffee!

The Name of the Game

Alright, folksies. What this blog is supposed to do is give you something to read when you’re aimlessly scouring the Internet for books. I review, occasionally rant, or babble with the flair of a dedicated fangirl. It’s VERY recommended that you are sitting in a comfy couch with a warm cup of coffee (hot chocolate or tea is acceptable).

Any book you’d like my opinion on, I’m game. I might not get to it for a while, but I will. If you’re a hopeful author (like me) and you want to have a second-opinion on your book; don’t worry, I have no intention of writing a negative review of your book publicly, cause that’s just downright rude. I’ll also have some music that I like to listen to while I read.

About me: My name is Vera, and I’m currently an author hopeful. I have a story on Wattpad at http://www.wattpad.com/user/dramaprincess1, check it out! Books are my niche, a lovely escape when things just get to be too much. A chance to escape this world and bring another universe to life in your mind. Playing the piano, spending time with friends, reading (duh), and writing are my passions. Let me hear your thoughts and opinions! Book worms unite!