August 26, 2009

Blue Moon (Immortals, Book 2) by Alyson Noel

GIVEAWAY is Closed! Winner Announced HERE!

Blue Moon (Immortals, Book 2) by Alyson Noel

St. Martin’s Griffin (July 7, 2009)

304 pages

$9.99 (Amazon.com, 08/26/09)

Blue Moon

I won this signed copy from a contest held by The Book Butterfly. It’s such a nice blog I couldn’t help but enter even though I wasn’t a fan of the first book, Evermore. You can read my review of Evermore HERE. I honestly didn’t think I’d win but I did. I read the book. I wasn’t a fan of Alyson’s first book but since I won the book I was willing to give this series a second chance.

Plot: 1

Setting: 5

Writing: 2

Originality: 4

Characters: 3

Passion: 4

Overall: 19/30 = 63% D

Cover/Title Bonus: 5

Summary (Alyson’s web site):

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever's powers are increasing, Damen's are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.
Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen's past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

Read an excerpt on her web site.

Plot:

So Ever has powers and Damen is teaching her how to use them. They are also trying to “get closer”, if you know what I mean. If you read my review of Evermore you might have remembered that I thought this would be addressed in the follow up novel but I was guessing that it wouldn’t. I was right. They do make plans but they run into the issue of Damen’s “illness”. There’s a new guy character who’s shaking things up. It is all so horribly and terribly predictable. I couldn’t wait to get to the end. I almost DNF this book but I wanted to see how Alyson wrapped it all up. Alyson takes the LONG way around a plot line.

Setting:

Summerland is awesome. That I will give to Alyson. She has created a place that I would love to go to for a few hours a day. Damen’s house is another great place. These are two places that I would recognize instantly if I were suddenly dropped into either.

Writing:

It’s final. I can not read another book by Alyson Noel. I gave this one a try because I won it. I had no intention of buying it to read it. The beginning was great. Then we meet Roman and the story goes to shit. The middle of the book is fluff, procrastination, self blame, denial, second guesses and complete rubbish. The end of the book was just terrible! Why even write this book!? It got us no where but back at the beginning but now with a whole new obstacle to overcome. I have no faith in Ever and Damen’s relationship. It’s too sad and I will not wait around while the author drags me through the chaotic mess she’s made of Ever’s life.

Originality:

The Immortal concept is good. The land of Summerland is amazingly original. The new twist that will be the major issue in the next book is a BIG issue and I can just see how that’ll turn out.

Characters:

Ever and Damen are cuter than ever in the beginning. Then they’re introduced to Roman the new kid at school. Roman seems transfixed on Ever. Ever is instantly repelled from Roman either because she’s jealous or because he’s dangerous…..

Damen suffers from his oh so “mysterious” illness. Ever is a complete moron but it’s not her fault. I blame the author. I know I’m mean and I can’t stand that I’m reacting this way to this book but I can NOT help it. The book infuriated me.

MAN! This is the hardest review I’ve written since Evermore! I couldn’t stand Ever in this book. Is she blind? Why is she so slow at solving this not so mysterious mystery? Yes, I’m writing a review with QUESTIONS! Questions that are abundant in this book!

Ever says it nicely on page 278:

“Get to the point,”

Yes! Please, get to the POINT!

Passion:

Yes, there’s passion very early in this book. Ever and Damen want to get it on but Ever is hung up on the fact that Damen is, like OMG 600 years old! And she’s a measly 16 years old with no experience in “that” department.

I freaking couldn’t stand this! Sure if I were her I’d be like “yikes” but I would look beyond that fact and if I truly loved the guy I’d get over it fast. You know, hormones and everything are RAGING at that age.

After watching True Blood and seeing that the vampire Jessica was a virgin before being turned and she loses it with Hoyt but then her hymen grows back because of her healing abilities. Will Ever suffer from the same thing? We probably will NEVER find out so why am I even thinking that far ahead?! Has Alyson thought of this though? Have you?

Overall:

I hated it. I think the concept was good but the outcome was terrible. Am I ruined because I’m older? (26 years old) Or is Alyson’s vision of the fantasy so twisted that she removed her self and didn’t think about how smart her readers are? I was literally skipping entire paragraphs towards the end of this book. I’d had enough of the fluff and wanted results. I was tired of hearing what Ever didn’t know and was questioning herself about. GET A MOVE ON! I honestly think this book should NOT have been written in the first person. A third person point of view would have been a lot better. Or at least trying to make it UNpredictable. You think?

Cover/Title Bonus:

The title and cover are perfect. Although the reasoning for the Blue Moon are still all wrapped around the poorly handled plot.

Other Reviews:

The Book Reader - New Moon copy cat

Ticket to Anywhere - 5 out of 5 stars

Shooting Star Mag - 5/5

Ravenous Reader - YYY 1/2

The Sweet Bookshelf - 3

Blood Bookaholic - 4.5 hearts

Frenetic Reader - 8.5/10

GreenBeanTeenQueen - 5/5 stars

Sarah's Random Musings - 88/100 or B

The Story Siren - 5 stars = It was amazing

The Ladybug Reads - 1.4 out of 5

Trailer:

Heck, don’t bother reading the book! Just watch this trailer!

I know this review was harsh. I apologize to both fans of Alyson and to Alyson too. She must connect with readers because she is selling books. I applaud her for that but I just don’t get it. I know I’m not alone as I’ve had some people comment on my Goodreads status updates agreeing with me.

Did you read this series? Do you agree with me about it being so predictable? Or do you disagree completely? Did you review Blue Moon? Put your link in your comment. I’m interested in other’s reviews.

WANT MY COPY?

There was an embedded form here, before I closed entries!


Jess Sig

9 comments:

FictionGroupie on August 26, 2009 at 10:49 PM said...

I'm actually planning to review this tomorrow on my blog, so this is timely.

I actually enjoyed Evermore and was looking forward to BLue Moon. But I was left disappointed. I agree with many of your points. And the end really was a TSTL (too stupid to live) moment for Ever. I mean, come on.

katie on August 26, 2009 at 10:59 PM said...

Great honest review. Even though you didn't like it you clearly explained why and I think that really makes the review perfect. Sorry you didn't like it!

Juju from Tales of Whimsy on August 27, 2009 at 8:33 AM said...

Awesome review. Thanks!

~Mary on August 27, 2009 at 9:11 AM said...

HAHAHHAHA! LOVE THIS REVIEW!!!
I wasn't impressed with it either, and the cliff hanger was ridiculous. They can't touch or he'll die. Hum...sounds like someone is trying to channel the twilight bus and jump on in some weird way.

I enjoyed the first one's connection with the characters, but then it drifted away (Damen wasn't even really in the 2nd one) and Ever just needs to get over it for sure. HORMONES are really raging at that age! What's her problem!?

Leigh Ann Baird on August 27, 2009 at 12:05 PM said...

I read the first one and had to read the description of the book to even remember the story. I liked the first one ok, but not enough to grab the second book. I won't for sure now, unless it shows up at the library. Thanks for saving me some $$!

La Coccinelle on August 27, 2009 at 5:27 PM said...

Great review! I agree with most of what you said. I don't know if that's because I'm "older", too, or if the book was just bad. I'm inclined to think it's the latter. :)

Thanks for linking to my review! And I like your site; it looks great!

Kim on August 27, 2009 at 9:38 PM said...

Hey chica, I'm so sorry you didn't like it--what a bummer -to win a contest and not like the book! Oh well. :( I actually haven't read it yet --now I'm scared. LOL


Kim :)

Kim on August 27, 2009 at 9:49 PM said...

Ohh it's me again--I just saw on your slide show thing that you liked 13 Vampire Tales--I'm dying to hear your review on that one. The book looks awesome! :)


Kim

ASHLEIGH said...

Your review is exactly what I thought of this book. Even on the first book I found it to be really badly written that at times doesn't make much sense.

Like you, I skipped to practically the end to see something -anything- happen. Really bad book. Kinda reminded me of TWILIGHT&HAPPY POTTER. Like that elixir thing. Loved your review [:

 

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