Review: Fateful

Title: Fateful

Author: Claudia Gray

Release Date: September 13^th, 2011

Series: None

Number of Pages: 356

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Bought

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

In Fateful, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic’s first—and last—voyage.

I was slightly skeptical about this book. A story set on the Titanic with werewolves? I was curious, but still uncertain if I would enjoy this. In the end, I absolutely adored it. First, I have to say I really enjoy the setting. The Titanic was such a grandiose ship, and I have to say that I love stories set during the early twentieth century. It created a real amazing atmosphere for the story that worked really well with the werewolves.

The fact that the main character wasn’t from the upper classes made it really fun to follow her story, especially during those years. She had more freedom than those rich travelers. I have to say that I really liked Tess, but I absolutely adored Alec, even thought I something felt like he was too selfless when it came down to Tess. I know it worked well with the time period, but still. I wish he had been a little less selfless.

Claudia Gray created a captivating and beautiful love story, that bring us back to the beginning of the century. Gray has a talent to include paranormal elements to an historical story.

If you’re thinking that this is like the movie, don’t worry, it isn’t. It is more about the story of Tess, being caught in a mystery including werewolves, money and love. A great story that will captivate those who enjoy paranormal love story and historical romance. 

Review 29: Stargazer

Title: Stargazer

Author: Claudia Gray

Number of Pages: 329

Publisher: Harper Teen

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Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.

But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.

Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.

Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning....

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I picked this book up, because I had read Evernight, and I wanted to read the rest of the series. The cover wasn’t really the reason why I wanted this book, because to be honest, I didn’t really think it looked that good.

The plot was better that the one from the first book. There was this kind of Romeo and Juliet feeling about this book, but at some point it annoyed me.  Yet, it got better as the book went on. The ending wasn’t really great, but it made me want to read the third novel of this series.

The characters are starting to annoy me. Bianca acts so stupid sometimes, and Lucas makes me hope that he will get kill by a vampire. I spent the whole books hoping that she would at some point get with Balthazar, because I really like him.

The writing was okay. I’ve seen better, but I can’t really say that it was a negative point of the book. The rhythm of the story was good, as there weren’t too many slow moments.

Overall, I would give it a 7/10.

Peace, love and lots of books!

Review 14: Evernight

Title: Evernight

Author: Claudia Gray

Number of Pages: 327

Publisher: Harper Teen

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She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed

(From goodreads.com)

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The first half of this book was simply painful. I felt like Gray didn’t know what to read, so instead of doing something else, she just let the story go on and on without reaching any point. The characters were unoriginal, and annoying. The story was a major Déjà-vu for me. I almost gave up on it. But I didn’t.

The second half of the book gets better. Enough for me to actually want to pick up the sequel, to see if it will still keep on getting better. There is still this annoying kind of love relation, where they both would give up anything for the other. Even a felling of the Romeo and Juliet with the impossible love twist.

The characters get less horrible as the story goes. You end up tolerating them. The plot is unoriginal, but I think it will get better in the second one (or hope so)

If you’re someone who really really loves vampire books, you’ll probably end up liking it, when they finally decide to include the vampire plot in it. For others, you’ll maybe like it if you make it past the 150 first pages.

This book doesn’t get higher than a 4/10 for me.