Release Date: August 1, 2009Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Age Group: 12+
Pages: 343 (Hardcover)
An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-
One good...
One evil...
Who will prevail?
Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.
Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.
They just know they can't trust each other.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It took me longer than I would've expected-longer than I've hoped-to get into this book. A dangerous prophecy sounds really engrossing, but it seemed to me like it dragged on quite a bit.
Once the plot actually got going, it was pretty good. But it took it kind of long to get to that point. I know this is the first book in what's supposed to be a series, but it did take some wading through on my part. I'm definitely glad I read it, don't get me wrong. It was a unique, dark, tale of the choices we have to make-and just a good fantasy.
The characters were pretty good. I didn't have one that I didn't like-save for Alice. She was deceptive and just all together evil. Lia was a well put together protagonist, and her friends Sonia and Luisa were very likable. My favorite may be Madame Berrier, who plays a big part in the story in a short amount of time.
The writing was there, definitely. Very dark, descriptive and perfect for the vibe of the book. We should be expecting good, if not great, things from author Michelle Zink.
All in all, not bad. A well though out, original story...once I got into it. I would recommend it, and will be reading the sequel.
(It was bordering on 3 1/2 and 4.)If you liked A Great And Terrible Beauty, you may like this.
And, on a completely non-prophecy related note, I have 50 followers! Yay! Thanks guys, you rock.
I'm reading this right now actually. It's slow right now, but I know it'll get better =) Great review and congrats on the fifty followers!
ReplyDeleteI loved this book. Sorry you couldn't get into it! Nice, honest review!
ReplyDeleteI got into it in some parts, but yeah, for me it dragged. Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review. So how dark would you categorize it?
ReplyDeleteWhile this book sounds really great, I don't think I would like it so much. I didn't like AGATB as much as most people did.
ReplyDelete-Briana
I haven't read this one yet but I'm seeing mixed reviews.
ReplyDeleteJuJu: It wasn't dark as in scary, more as gothic. But it wasn't what I'd describe as super dark/gothic, but then again most of what I read is dark so I don't have much of a valid opinion. :) On a scale of 1-10 dark/gothic, I'd give it a...7, I think.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to read this for a while. Great review
ReplyDelete