YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Description book one: DREADFUL LIES.
UNEXPECTED LOVE.
IMPOSSIBLE TRUTH.

It only took one heartbeat to change my life—one chilling phone call in the middle of the night.

And then, as if my life didn’t already suck, my dad sends my brother and me to some idyllic island for the summer to live with a grandma we never met. WTH. Naturally, I rebel. In the end, I find myself shipped off to Raven Hallow…and bored to tears.

Until I get an eyeful of the mind-bendingly gorgeous Zane Hunter. The dark-hair cutie makes my pulse go bonkers, and I think, maybe this might not be so bad after all. Six feet of swoon inducing looks, with a hint of Celtic charm in his voice, he was the type of guy that left a string of broken hearts in his wake. And I had all the heartbreak I could handle.

Yet, there is something uncanny, almost supernatural about Zane, and it’s not just his devastating smirk. No matter how much distance I put between us, Raven Hallow isn’t big enough, and the sparking tension between is undeniable. Of course, the one person I want to avoid becomes my salvation.

My past comes back to terrorize me. Someone wants me dead, and the closer I get to the truth, the more I realize my whole life is a lie. I am no longer sure what is more frightening—the attempts on my life or the guy whose heart and soul are synchronized with mine.

hey Jennifer you still doing this one? Im wanting to bust it out tonight if possible

Ha! Great minds! I just finished it last night.

Ch 6 (24%) - (view spoiler)[ It must just be me and my oldness, but Piper's immaturity bugs me. I guess I wasn't all that much different at 17, but I am struggling to remember. And that insta-attraction scene at the country club - BOOO! I've read so many others that were better written. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 14 (52%) - (view spoiler)[ Figures right when Zane was about to explain HER situation, Grandma busts in. I don't get her character at the moment. She knows that people are trying to kill Piper, but she is unwilling to explain why? And clearly, Grams is negligent in this "training" that she is supposed to be receiving - what gives? (hide spoiler)]
Ch 19 (71%) - (view spoiler)[ What the heck? I am still confused about these ghosts??? How are they corporeal enough to kill her? And why isn't the security of the house/grounds working? Grams better start training and explaining now. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ Great, so now she is the only Raven alive and Grams never trained her. This is a disaster, even if Zane is bonded or pledged or whatever he is to her. Also, this marriage contract - I find it really hard to believe that Zane's dad can't amend it if all the parties agree.

I must admit that I was annoyed with Piper enough at the beginning to question if I was even going to get through the first book. But....once the action started happening, I got into it. I still have questions about this world they live in - do all the factions reap souls? etc. I think I'll read one more to see what happens. Book 2 has higher ratings, so that is encouraging. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[ OMG i'm totally catching Lux vibes from the doucher! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[ lol this is like the 5th book I've read this month where someone is name dropping the Winchester boys (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 17: (view spoiler)[ "He failed to leave out that little bit of information.. " This sentence makes no sense. I think the author meant "He failed to mention" Sorry totes random I know lol. So at least Zane isn't a total douche while Piper is just some sweet girl just taking it. She at least tries to give as good as she gets.. shes just really bad at it and it comes off super immature. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 21: (view spoiler)[ Almost done with the book and FINALLY somone is giving out the information we needed for this whole thing. If she is in so much danger why not inform and prep/train her. It always seems like a bad idea to "try" to keep them safe but at the same time let them run all over town unsupervised... come on what do you expect is going to happen. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[ So shes the white raven now.. she can just dissolve the agreement and hook up with Zane.. honestly I'd go for Zander if it was me.. I mean there is only so much hostility a girl can take really. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 7 (25%) - (view spoiler)[ I'm glad they are finally going to start training her - it needed to happen like yesterday. Although, I am still confused why Zander is the special one. Why was it so important that Death's firstborn be married to her - wouldn't any alliance within Death's house do the job? Or will Zander be getting some special powers because of the birth order? (hide spoiler)]
Ch 14 (50%) - (view spoiler)[ Maybe I'm getting ahead of the plot here, but if she has the power to create reapers, why can't she imbue Parker (or TJ) with those powers to keep them safer? Just wondering?? (hide spoiler)]
Ch 21 (77%) - (view spoiler)[ Is it wrong that I am starting to suspect Zander of something bad? The way he is trying to kiss her and the fact that he is NEVER around when stuff goes down. It is highly suspicious. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ Well, I guess I can't be suspicious of Zander anymore. Now I feel bad that I did in the first place - he was actually just a nice guy. Even though he is now out of the way, I think someone will still argue that Zane's halfblood status will be an issue. Hopefully, the strength that they show together will end any arguments. And I wonder if she will be able to leverage the news about her Sparrow father to help her in this upcoming war?? Only one more book to go to find out. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 7 (27%) - (view spoiler)[ Um, was anyone else underwhelmed by that loss of her V card? And the reassurances afterward were awkward. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 15 (51%) - (view spoiler)[ Crash has grown on me. I really don't think he is playing Piper. I think he is just caught between what his father wants him to do and what his conscience is telling him is right. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 23 (75%) - (view spoiler)[ Aw, they are married. Way to stick it to Crash's dad and the council. I'm still a little unsure what to think about this relic. It bothers me that we have so little information about it other than Crash and his dad mentioning its existence. Is it just the author's way of plugging this plot hole she created? (hide spoiler)]
Finished - Meh. (view spoiler)[ I feel like this series could have been so much better if a little more time and care was given to the plot development. I really liked the initial tension between Zane and Piper, but it completely fizzled when they decided to give the finger to the council and be together anyway. I also felt like the ending was underwhelming - I expected something big and magical when the relic needed their souls entwined to make it work (which makes me question how Heath ever thought he could make it happen??) And wasn't she supposed to have to sacrifice something? A little bit of blood doesn't seem like that big of a deal. Yet, the underlying premise of the book was interesting and I did like a few of the characters (Crash, Parker, Asryn, not Piper so much, but hey.). I think when I weigh everything out, I end up with an average rating. (hide spoiler)]