Hazel was probably my favorite character. Her desire to "just fit in" in ...
936867
This was a fast paced book and kept you turning the pages. Hazel was probably my favorite character. Her desire to "just fit in" in a place so new to her is something we can all relate to. It was inspiring to read about her developing confidence in her own abilities. The character Sage was more complex, unsure of her path, and Keelan left us wanting more in the end. I can't wait for the next book, to see what path she chooses, and if she gets the revenge she is desperately seeking or if she finds another path to peace in her spirit.
1324105
I could relate to the character during my high school years. She can be negative about some things but hey doesn't everybody.
806669
I love finding a new author. In this case, I found these books at a book event and found myself drawn to the cover. It had a cat on it. Yes, I'm that easy....I love mysteries and I love cats - if you can combine the two, I'm all in.

I loved the wit and the humor in this book. Best of all, I can really connect to the main character. I too am clumsy and awkward and love food but I'm charming and...well, this isn't supposed to be about me so nevermind. What I am getting at is that this is a compelling and engaging character, with a rich and colorful array of characters that make this a fun read.
2373344
This was really cute! I enjoyed how it was approached and Cindy is a fun character. Actually, I really liked how most of the characters were portrayed. I just read another book about a witch who baked, so this kind of made me wonder what is going on with this trend. I almost wondered if this was related to that book, but it's not. I'm grateful for that though because I liked this book better. lol
Sumac is probably my favorite character in the book. I plan on reading more of this series to see how she's going to turn out.
In all, I'd say this is a light read. It's not super intense, but it's good. Sometimes that's just what you need.
Nice work!
227400
Could not put it down.  I so wanted this character to find happiness.
4455415
I really liked the main character, Brusenna. While naive and sheltered, she's brave and determined to make things right. Even though she believes she will fail in the ultimate mission of stopping the evil witch and rescuing all the previous witches who have failed, she still goes on. She's the last of the witches, a young sproutling, yet she refuses to give up. That is what makes a great character, and what ultimately makes her the special snowflake who succeeds. I also enjoyed the young warrior/Guardian

I also enjoyed the young warrior/Guardian Joshen, who is likewise determined to take the brave course and fight to protect the young witch. Both are great characters, and I definitely rooted for them. However, their relationship, while expected, I can't really say blossomed believably.

The book is overall a bit journey, but a lot of action happens along the way. Senna keeps getting attacked, and she keeps going and getting free of her situation despite the odds. The resolution was a bit odd to me, in the way the Creators got involved. Didn't the Creators already know what was going on? Or, didn't the other witches think to appeal to them? It was kind of odd that we had this epic witch battle, and then it was like the parents showed up and the playground bully was stopped.

As for the narrator, well I already was not a fan of her's from a previous book, so I knew what to expect. The dry, news reporter way she speaks wasn't enjoyable, but I didn't let that affect my opinion of the book too much since I already knew I wasn't going to like the narration before starting the book.

I did like that the book ended on a positive note (since you know my opinion on cliffhangers), so I'm wondering what is in store for the witches in the rest of the series. It definitely can be read as a stand alone, since the conflict wraps up, but I'm sure new conflicts are seen in the other books in the series.

*I received a copy of this audio book in exchange for my review.
1605501
For some reason last week I was choosing books containing characters that annoyed the stuffing out of me so bad. UGH!!! This one was the same way, but I truly did love the story, and the certain character who annoyed only did so during certain points. Mainly when she would change her mind between believing her soul mate was a murderer and when she didn't. Yes, I am pretty much talking about Haven. I wanted to smack her when she kept changing her mind about Iain. Oh My Goodness! I got a tad old, and I was finally glad when the truth came out. In her defense, though, the evidence was kind of piling up against him, but she didn't have to change her mind four completely different times. I mean, one minute she was lovey dovey and the next she was plotting to put him in jail and pretty much screaming her head off that he betrayed her in some way.

Apart from this snag in the storyline, I was quite fascinated with the subject matter of this book. Reincarnation has always been a great interest in mine, and I wholeheartedly believe in it. So it was quite a fun ride to be able to see, whenever would have her visions, her past lives and the incidents that occurred in them. I also loved the idea of your heart and soul knowing a past love. It is kind of romantic actually.

Near the end, I was almost groaning in frustration because the story was so good. I desperately wanted Iain and Haven to be together. I was completely rooting for them, and I absolutely loved the gruesome stalker bit that basically reveals the true intentions of the troublemaker behind everything. It was completely awesome!! I am talking about the literal skeletons in the closet...or dresser thingy, I should say.

I am definitely going to read the second in this series, because I want to know if our villain is going to rear his ugly head once more. I say yes, and I cannot wait to see whether or not he will be defeated once and for all.
3723515
Beth, the main character who always put others first, was so easy to identify with and impossible not to love. She had a crush on the handsome boy her college roommate married, she worked her butt off for 13 years at the same company and for no recognition, she gave the boyfriend - and his niece - her everything and beyond without the promise of the future she deserved. Beth's trials and tribulations were like those ones that we all face in our lives, so the story really resonated with me. I felt her pain and hurt along the journey, and delighted when things turned her way and she claimed the happiness to which she was entitled.

For me, each character made the story the enjoyable experience that it was. Beyond Beth, I felt I knew Parker and Ivy, whose marriage wasn't quite as perfect as one might think; adorable Emma and her dysfunctional pregnant-again mother Missy; supportive bestie Sarah, the supermom and friend; Luke, the unappreciative boss; and Drew, the loser live in - probably because I've known others like them.

Although I've enjoyed each Karen Lenfestey story I've read; this was by far my favorite. I'm ready to read the sequel!
3393120
Happy ending!!! :-) The main character reminded me of me. I love that she was comfortable with herself yet knew she needed and wanted more in life.
4855206
I would like to hang out with Hollis Morgan. She is a realistic heroine who reacts the way my friends and I might think about acting (but not really do it). I got to know her and her fascinating story in the first book (and learned about a new-to-me California law).  This book introduces some new sidekicks for Hollis. I will be slipping back into Hollis' world by reading the next book soon.
4044060
I thought the character was believable and I ended up liking her.  I'm anxious to read the next book in the series.
1957830
FourStars
Mal is a wonderful character. I have seen him throughout the stories and absolutely love his personality and spirit.  I also really love how he views his job  his place within the family. While I don't know a ton about his story, what little snippet we do see is tragic and heartbreaking. Despite those facts, Mals never ending hair color, bubbly personality and sass leave me wanting to know more about him. What makes him tick?

Reese is a character I wanted to bop over the head! Such a clueless man Despite his cluelessness, I did come to like him too. However, I was mad at him for most of the book.

My heart broke for both of these characters in their struggles.  I wanted to hug them, tell them it was going to be OK.

Dorian is another loveable character in this story. We see a lot more of him and I really, really hope he gets his own book.

There are still unanswered questions in this story too. I hope the author starts to plug the holes theyve written.

I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.

AvidReader
3598734
I liked it & looking forward to seeing the story and the characters expand, especially the zombies :-)  Probably my only criticism - or request may be a better way to say it, is please don't do the "you're so cute" stuff in this series.  It was in this one twice and didn't really fit.  It just bugs me, but maybe its just me.  Amanda Lee is probably in my top 5 of favorite authors but I couldn't get through the Maddie Graves series (Lily Harper Hart pen name) because of all the "You're so cute I could eat you up" stuff.  It was just too much.  Other than that I adore the snark and the stories and all of the creative characters.
1256123
Issie is a delightful character.  Bella is a cute little ggie.  I like the closeness between the cousins.  Brimstone is also a character that I like
2918342
Trihn is a unique character, just like her name. Shes had success as a model and dancer while just graduating from high school. She is giving up these 2 passions to pursue a fashion design career in college, she feels like she has to be focused and serious. She will be moving in with her sister, Lydia, who can be supportive and well, completely not, all at the same time. I struggled with what to think about Lydia and her behaviors. While feeling like Trihn was out of balance as she moved to a new passion while giving up others.  Along the way, she hadnt ever had a real boyfriend so when she bumps into Preston, well, she is surprised at how comfortable he is to be around. She is enjoying this new relationship and how it makes her feel. Little did she know she would get the surprise of her life when she went to the Hamptons for their annual family vacation. I enjoyed getting to know Trihn, she is a complex character that faces several challenges while growing up. She has a great spirit and style to her that pulled me in and made me want her to find her bliss. You don't have to read this book before Platinum but Im glad I did, I had a better understanding of Trihns fears and desires which added depth to Platinum (the next book in the series).
704123
3.5 stars -- I've had this book on my TBR pile for YEARS it feels like.  I'd heard good things, and since she's going to be an author at Utopia this year (again), I wanted to read it before then!  I ended up with mixed feelings about this book.  There were aspects that I adored and totally sucked me in, but there were also quite a few aspects that just rubbed me the wrong way....  And even with this higher rating, I highly doubt I will continue on with the series...I just have way too much to read, and so my standards have shifted, you know?

I found Nalena to be very intriguing from the beginning.  I tend to gravitate towards main characters with self-esteem issues (the bullied in this case), and so my heart ached for her and her precarious situation at school brought on by her mother's paper hoarding.  The problem is that she could be hard to get behind all the time.  Sometimes the way she saw her crush on Garrett had me cringing internally, and that's a me problem all the way.  She just flip flopped in her emotions so much it was giving me whiplash.  Now, quite frankly, this is probably pretty accurate for a 17 year old...but I guess I've lost my memories of those times, so it was so hard to empathize with her.  One minute she's agonizing b/c he can't possibly feel the same way, and the next she's reacting with amazing amounts of hope from the slightest grin from him.  It just didn't work for me personally.  It's funny though, b/c I would start to sympathize with her and get a good feel for her and what kind of character I would be reading, and then it just felt like there was a 180, so it probably aggravated me more than it normally would.

Garrett was intriguing.  I kind of loved him and his whole chaotic family.  I loved how happy and smiling he always was.  I loved watching the siblings fight like real siblings would.  I loved just how gregarious they all could be.  I kind of wanted more from the romance department there, but I'm sure I would get more if I continued with the series.

I can't decide how I feel about Nali's mother.  It's such a strange situation that they're in.  Because of who she is and what she does and what her role is in this paranormal world, there is an excuse for the paper hoarding.  But because she kept that all from Nali, she kind of let her unnecessarily suffer for it, you know?  And I kind of get her reasons, but it's hard.  So I'm just a big old ball of conflict when it comes to her.

As for the the paranormal aspects -- it was amazingly unique.  But at times I had a hard time following it and keeping up with all I was being told.  Now maybe it was just that I wasn't in the right mode for such a detailed world, but I still don't really feel like I "got" all of it, you know?  And sometimes the descriptions for what was happening to Nali (like her first description of the bubble I guess) just weren't enough for me.  I just honestly could not picture it in my head.  Again, this could be just me.  I'm not going to lay this at others feet if I just wasn't having good brain time, you know?  I will say I loved Addo Larry though.  He killed me.

So all in all, I was sucked in to the book, but there were just too many moments of confusion to have me clamouring for the next one.  And quite frankly, I just have too many other books to read to keep going on a book that left me feeling downs as well as ups.
4324571
She has to keep writing books like this.  I like to put myself in the characters place.  I guess you could say that I wish things like that could happen to me.