Showing posts with label author: l.j. smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author: l.j. smith. Show all posts
July 8, 2016
The Vampire Diaries 7.2: Evensong: The War of Roses
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I really wanted to like this book, and I do still like the characters. It was really hard to get behind this story though. The author herself has come out saying that they pairings are supposed to be Stefan/Elena and Damon/Bonnie. You wouldn't be able to tell that other than a very brief encounter with Damon and Bonnie in the beginning. Otherwise this book is very much Damon/Elena with Stefan guarding the sidelines (other than Damon's weird memory/dream). There was little to no actual progress in this book and it felt like rehashing previous events and everyone just going crazy. It read like the fanfiction it's labeled as instead of work of the original author fitting with the first 4 books that made the series great before all these sequel trilogies started messing with things.
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February 9, 2016
The Vampire Diaries 7.1: Evensong: Paradise Lost
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Initially I was excited that L.J. was continuing her own series, though sad that it had to be in the form of "fanfiction" since her publishers turned it over to ghost writers. However, I have to say I was sorely disappointed with this installment. It drives me crazy not to finish a series, yet I very nearly stopped reading this at several points. The whole story and the characters just feel and sound so wrong.
Damon, perhaps, is the most true to character originally, but then he's really not as he pretty much willingly plays the part of the caring human despite his very occasional grousing to the contrary (really, his complaining is more about the memory and power problems than the "playing human" part).
Stefan... Stefan is so far off his rocker that I seriously expected him to try suicide by sunlight as soon as he'd altered everyone's memories. That's just how depressed, disjointed, and downright insane he sounded while talking to Damon.
Then there's Elena. Elena, who while never being able to properly make a choice and stick with it between the brothers despite her declarations to be only Stefan's. Elena, who has always been portrayed as the "strongest" of the characters with all her planning and scheming that usually results in somehow everyone coming out okay on the other end (even if someone temporarily "dies" in the process). Yet for all her "intuition" and own "power" being soul-connected to Stefan and a past Guardian, even if she was brought back as a "human," somehow can't really tell there's something wrong. She sort of seems to start getting it with the fight she initiates with Damon in her dorm room, but it's still not there. She's just goes along with everything rather passively for the most part, and that is not Elena. There's a reason she was described as a tiger to Katherine's kitten originally before the whole crypt showdown.
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February 6, 2015
The Vampire Diaries 13: The Salvation: Unmasked
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I loved the original series, so it was very disappointing when this was given to a ghost writer and started changing the general characters and story line. Of course, finally being "the end," everything had to be completely reworked and changed from the original plan. I'll admit, I like both brothers for different reasons, but I always thought Stefan was the better fit for Elena, as fits with the original books written by the actual author. This time, Elena has to give them both up while going back in time on her own to essentially save them all from themselves. I'm glad at least Bonnie knows the truth of what happened, otherwise I think Elena would be even more lonely and lost in her new re-defined future. Interesting that she only meets up with Damon at the end. I would have expected that with the triangle attraction and the brother's finally making amends that perhaps they would have stayed together. Of course there is also the hint that maybe Katherine and Stefan could work something out this time around now that everyone is alive and happy. What a weird way to re-write a story that was much better in it's original telling.
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April 17, 2014
The Vampire Diaries 12: The Salvation: Unspoken
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
As you might be able to tell from how long it took me to finish this book (2 months), this series is failing to hold my attention horribly. Sad considering that I loved the originals. The further these ghost writers go, the more it feels like they are warping the characters and just keep beating it to death so it keeps going in line with the TV series. Disappointing to be sure.
Stefan is dead, but that can't exclude him from a final all-understanding appearance at the end of the book. What's a main character death without a dramatic return and kind farewell, right? After all, Damon and Elena both got to come back to life and stay. Stefan doesn't get that honor though.
Damon and Elena's relationship progresses more slowly and naturally this time around, which is a bit of a relief while also being a little unreliable given the number of times to two have fallen and fought against each other all along. As hoaky as it would have been, I almost would have believed the immediate snatch and keep scenario more, especially with Damon's possessive streak.
Meredith is now one of the monsters.... but apparently the Guardians deem these "man made creations" and therefore still human. That little plot twist is saved for the very end to put Elena's life on the line again after just a couple of pages of happy resolution.
Overall, everyone is happily paired off. There is no longer one loner left out on the wings pining after someone else's partner in their little group. Half of them are married while the others appear to be close to same line of thought. And now Damon has to save Elena from yet another supernatural disaster of their own doing. I get the feeling forcing myself to read the next book will be a bit of a chore, though I also seriously hope it is the last.
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February 17, 2014
The Originals
The Originals (2013)
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is an offshoot of the recent season from The Vampire Diaries, focusing on the original vampire family that was introduced in far more detail on air than they were in the books. Klaus is in New Orleans with a new predicament on his shoulders - regaining his city and protecting the werewolf who appears to be carrying his heir (something that should be impossible, though theory seems to think he would be the exception due to his hybrid status). Can't say that I like it any more or less than the original series as it was the Salvatore brothers that were my main draw. While I certainly don't have any fondness for Klaus, I am finding that Rebekah and Elijah may be more interesting than I first thought.
October 13, 2013
The Vampire Diaries 11: The Salvation: Unseen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Wow. They seem to be determined to make situations where Elena can flip from one brother to the other so she never loses ties with either.
The book started off pretty good. Stefan and Elena are living together and hunting Old Ones with Meredith, who is now married to Alaric. Bonnie is still with her werewolf boyfriend, and they're now living together as well. Matt has his ups and downs with his human girlfriend, Jasmine, but it was good to see her come around in the end. Damon is still bound to Elena thanks to the Guardians interference, but he's off in Paris with Katherine, who is now apparently a friend. On the one hand, I was glad to see her die in the original series and she drives me nuts in the TV show. On the other hand, I did think it was good for Damon to have someone to be friends with that wasn't Elena so he wasn't focused on the love triangle 24/7. That didn't last long.
By the end of the book, more friends are dead, including Katherine and Stefan. Damon and Elena now have an open path to each other again, along with their "mutual grief" over Stefan's death. Not to forget that we now have Jack, the "perfect man made vampire" who is turning Meredith into another of his kind and apparently has an agenda that includes killing off all known vampires.... which leaves Damon as the next target if his book is any indication. Seriously? Another weird enemy, another unprecedented death that should not have happened, and another change in dynamics to shove Elena at another brother. Every time I think they can't mess this series up any more, they find a way. Just end it already! Truly and seriously, end it.
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April 19, 2013
The Secret Circle 6: The Temptation
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Now that we've reached the end of the ghost writer additions, I really hope this stays as the end. The additional books are nowhere near as enthralling as the originals and the characters lose a lot of the appeal. By some miracle, Cassie loses all of her power in stopping her ancient ancestors - a result that can be taken in two directions (a sacrifice to stop the evil or because she herself was so much a part of the evil from her family). Of course this means everyone must band together to give her new powers so she can return to life with her circle, because anything else would just be too horrible to contemplate. In the meantime she'll be majorly bipolar and work even harder at driving away the very people that are trying to help her. Yet somehow this results in her becoming closer to everyone in the circle, including her once nemesis and rival, Scarlet. Can't be the end without a happy ending, right? Anti-climatic and droll. Majorly disappointing.
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April 18, 2013
The Secret Circle 5: The Hunt
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
This ghostwriter continuation really follows the TV series and has a completely different tone than the original series by L.J. Smith. Sadly it is not as exciting or consistent as the original. Cassie comes off as whiny and insecure. Adam comes off as secretive and like he now struggles with loyalty and affection; the two things that made him an integral character to the circle and a great guy to begin with. Probably the least changed in the series is Faye, still aggravating and dark, flirting with danger despite being one of the "good guys." Still not sure what I think about Diana and Max despite the hunter/witch pairing already being introduced in the TV series. Suffice it to say the circle can't seem to do anything right and just seems to make one mistake after another, resulting in lots of dark magic and problems they don't have the first clue how to deal with. Despite clearly being out of the depths, they continue to dive in head first without truly understanding what they're doing or even really attempting to get reliable help. Small wonder they just manage to make already bad situations worse.
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April 17, 2013
The Vampire Diaries 4.5: Blood Will Tell
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
This looks as if it has been removed from the web site as it gives a 404 error.
This is an interesting piece that shows what might have been if Elena had intervened to make Stefan drink from all three of his friends before facing down Klaus. Each of them have significantly different reactions and reveals as a result of the experience. Overall and interesting look into the psych of four of the main stars. The part with Stefan, and even the others aside from Bonnie, hearing Elena clearly is very out-of-character with the actual book. It certainly has a very clear and drastic effect on all of them, but I wonder if only having the silence compared to seeing and touching her at the end of the real book isn't a more dramatic comparison and made all the better for not having that continual contact prior.
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March 13, 2013
The Vampire Diaries 10: The Hunters: Destiny Rising
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Interesting twist for the supposed end to the series. I wouldn't be surprised if they come up with another trilogy just to keep it going, especially with the TV series still airing. Elena is now both a Guardian and immortal, irrevocably tied to Damon, and has supposedly chosen Stefan "for eternity." Even with all the twists the TV series has added into the mix, I didn't see Katherine being Elena's half sister cropping up. Of course it wouldn't have been a final showdown without Klaus added into the mix. Once again everyone seems to be happily paired off expect Matt and Damon. I guess you could technically count Matt as paired off since he had Chloe, but her being dead and Damon being well past Katherine still leaves these two on the lonely wagon. After all of Damon's posturing and bad boy attitude though, it does seem that this final tie to Elena may finally put him in his place. Guess time will tell on that score if they continue or not.
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April 4, 2012
The Secret Circle 4: The Divide
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
It's been awhile since I read the original trilogy, but I had a much stronger impression of the characters from the first read than this book gives them. If anything, it strongly follows the feel of the TV series, which is very weak and washed out in comparison to the original books. While there are a couple decent moments, overall the book is very lacking in any real development and the characters are so different from their original creations that it almost hurts. Still sadly better than the TV series, but otherwise not much of an improvement for what could have been a fantastic continuation to a good series.
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April 3, 2012
The Vampire Diaries 9: The Hunters: Moonsong
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Between the book and TV series, I have to admit that Elena's constant wavering between the brothers is getting on my nerves. She insists Stefan is always her number one and soul mate, yet she sneaks around with Damon, steals kisses, and gives him blood willingly and can't figure out why this does not help the tension levels in their little trio? Knock it off and grow up already! Of course what is a normal Vampire Diaries book without yet more love problems and shocking family revelations for Elena anyways?
Good for Bonnie finally finding someone and sticking it out. Of course it couldn't go completely without a hitch and be true to the series. Kind of hoped they would have brought Zander in on the rescue mission. Perhaps in the next book as apparently it's not over at all. Also wondering if Chloe will be saved or not. Can't help hoping so for Matt's sake. Once again, that leaves Damon as the odd vampire out, and with Bonnie now hooked on Zander, there doesn't seem to be any relief in sight.
Really hoping they do not ultimately end up facing Klaus again. It was a relief to finally have him carted away in the original series and he's more than a little aggravating on screen, so seeing him again in Hunters feels like annoying overkill.
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April 1, 2012
The Vampire Diaries 00.6: Stefan's Diaries: The Compelled
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
The last of the currently planned books for Stefan's Diaries, this ends the tale of the Salvatore brother's initial changing and first real adventure as immortals. An uneasy alliance with witches is the only way to defeat the real Jack the Ripper and save their new home from being overrun by vampires. Samuel doesn't go down easy, and Damon seems to gain a healthy dose of fear for his little brother along the way. Kind of wish the two had a more solid reconciliation at the end, but then again that isn't really their style.
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January 28, 2012
The Vampire Diaries 00.5: Stefan's Diaries: The Asylum
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
As with most the books in this prequel series, it was a fast read that I just couldn't get as deep in as I did the original series. While it is nice to see the brothers sort of attempt to work with each other again, there is still plenty of antagonism and danger around. Not sure what I think of Katherine being involved with this Samuel - she's sounding more and more like a bit of a tramp the way she keeps hoping from lover to lover and player her men; and not just for meal tickets.
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January 12, 2012
The Vampire Diaries 0.1: Matt & Elena: First Date
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
While I never was a big Matt/Elena fan, this is an adorable snippet you can't help but laugh at. It's very realistic and believable. Awkward and yet honestly enjoyable all at the same time. If nothing else, you can count on good old reliable Matt when it comes to the heart of the matter.
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Night World 10.1: Thicker Than Water
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Set somewhere before or during Strange Fate, which sadly has not yet been released. The story bring Rashel from The Chosen together with Raksha from Witchlight for a rather remarkable discovery - the human vampire hunter and the werepanther are twins. Raksha and her soulmate were the main attraction in the book leading up to Strange Fate, which makes this fit rather snugly with what little is currently known of all the characters while still wondering what happens during the coming Apocalypse. Would be nice if we could finally get the full book and see more of this development.
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Night World 7.1: Jez and Morgead's Night Out
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is technically a prequel to book seven, Huntress. As each book in the series is based on different characters though, it doesn't really fit as a "6.5" to put it between Hannah and Jez's stories. Here Jez appears to believe she is the same as the other vampires in her gang, just with maybe a little more of a conscious to go with it. She and Morgead still toss leadership back and forth, those this time said toss is the result of an outright challenge that nearly kills them both. Not the best way to end up with your oldest friend. They both also reek of a lot of denial in this little snippet. At least Jez admits to herself that she's "too young" to admit certain things yet, otherwise it might be tempting to smack her for some of the stupid things she thinks and does. These two definitely have a more dynamic and complex relationship.
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Night World 2.5: Those Who Favor Fire
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
On the one hand, this short story finally bring Mary-Lynnette and Ash together in a way the book left off achingly shy of. On the other hand, Ash is so frantic and not himself in this short that it's almost surreal. Glad he met his goals in his amends and finally went after Mary-Lynnette, but also once again left hanging where there is no real conclusion for the desperate soulmates. They just can't seem to get a break.
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The Vampire Diaries 1.5: After Hours
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was an adorable little piece about Damon's first meeting with Bonnie, unknown in the original series and never mentioned later on as she was obviously forced to forget the experience. It does make the "little redbird" nickname make a bit more sense though, as well as the constant flirting back and forth with Bonnie throughout the series. Can't help but feel a little sorry for her as she is one of the group who always seems to end up alone, between boys she's interested in and yet can never seem to have despite occasional mixed signals hinting at common interest. Hopefully something will eventually work out for Damon's little bird.
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The Vampire Diaries 6.1: The Return: Tumbleweeds
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
There's so much tension between these two that it's a miracle they don't self-destruct sometimes. Damon is as impossible and vampiric as ever while still trying to play his own warped game to win Elena and pretend he's what he thinks she wants him to be. Interesting how his internal dialogue highlights a lot of the same jealousy brought to light in Phantom, which I just recently finished reading. There are times when you can't help but love Damon, and others where he really deserve a quick kick to knock him back in line.
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