Title: Phoenix Angel
Series: Shardwell Series #1
Author: A. Gerry & C. Hall
Genre: YA, paranormal
Publication date: January 2012
Published by: Scribes of Shardwell, LLC
Source: received for review
Add it to your Goodreads shelf
Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository
Synopsis:
What is happening to us? I’ve asked this question a thousand times, but there is no answer.
I was a normal teenager, trudging my way through senior year with my best friend. Then a boy named Kyle Spencer came to Idaho Falls, and since then everything has fallen apart. Something mysterious has passed among the three of us. We’ve developed terrifying abilities—strange powers that separate us from normal people.
Even worse, someone—or something—has taken a deadly interest in us. We never know when they are going to strike, or how to protect ourselves. We don’t even know who they are.
All we know is that they want one of us alive, and we don’t know who. The others they want dead.
Which will I be?
When best friends Maggie and Lily meet the new guy Kyle, weird things start to happen. All 3 of them start developing these (pretty cool) supernatural abilities and they have no idea why. Little did they know that soon their lives would be in danger. Someone/something out there is bent on killing them. But the million dollar question is: why??
The story: the concept of it was very interesting, but the story itself and how it progressed... well, it was just okay. Sure there were some interesting and action-y, but in between that there was just a lot of time skipped. I get that it was to move to story forward, it just wasn't... smooth. For example, as the characters developed their abilities, we'd have time fast forward a few days to a few weeks and suddenly Maggie and Lily develop a new power! Me: "What? How did this happen? When?!" Of course, it would then explain, but we don't get to see what happens, we just hear about it. And I'm the kind of girl who likes the "show, don't tell" kind of stories.
Also, the writing didn't really feel like we were inside a teenagers head. But then again, this was in 3rd person POV, which I don't know if it had to do with it...
As for the ending... well, you'd expect the million dollar question I mentioned earlier to be answered, right? Well, it wasn't... not really, anyway.
And then there's the unexpected twist at the end... now, I usually love a twist ending, (and I give the book a plus for surprising me!) but this one has me a little freaked out!
I don't know what to think about it!
The characters: Okay, so I really liked Carter. He was a very sweet guy, and even though he appeared only toward the last half of the book, I think he may be my fave character.
I also liked Kyle, but more so toward the 1st part of the book. He was also very sweet, a big flirt, protective, and just overall a charismatic character! But in the second part of the book... yikes! He went from happy and charismatic to a grumpy jerk-face! This change coincides with the arrival of Carter, I have a feeling there's something more that dislike here, I just don't know what it could be.
Maggie, well, she's just a jerk-face too. I mean, I understand why (what they did to her was totally unfair and more than a bit cruel), but seriously? Does she have to be bitter all the time? This self-proclaimed "most beautiful girl in school and guys only want to get in my pants" is mean to everyone and doesn't care who she hurts with her poisonous tongue. Okay, maybe with the exception of her best friend Lily, which may be about the only thing that I liked about Maggie (that and the fact that she can kick serious butt!). She is very loyal to Lily, she loves her like a sister, and is very protective of her. Of course, there was that one incident where Maggie's powers got to her head and not even Lily was able to escape. So, yeah, Maggie was a very complicated character for me. On the one side, she was pretty unlikable, yet on the other, I sometimes felt sympathy toward her.
As for Lily... she's a very nice girl, never does anything wrong, always follows the rules, supper happy and bubbly... but that happiness fades away as the story goes on. But she's pretty likable.
Overall, the concept had me intrigued, yet the story itself didn't really live up to my expectations. However, I loved that the book made me giggle from time to time, and I also liked the diversity of the characters.
For me, this was one of those books that was an in-betweener: I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. I liked it, though. And I'd probably recommend this book to those who are fantasy fans.
Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a comment! :)
The idea of this story is great! It sounds like the characters were good but that the story wasn't quite as good as your had hoped it would be. Still, it made you laugh which I take as a good thing! Thanks for your comments! I will have to consider whether or not I want to read this book...
ReplyDeleteDefinitely read it if it sounds like something you might like. I never tell anyone to not read a book just because *I* didn't like it. Everyone has a different taste, and if you do ever read this book, do let me know how you liked it!
Delete