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The Tracks #2
Ghost Crown
A priceless mystical treasure, a dark secret order, and a vengeful fallen angel—forces collide as the battle for Middleburg continues . . . For gang members Raphael and Ignacio, plans for the homecoming dance are almost as harrowing as their recent victory against the demonic forces that threaten their town. Despite their tentative alliance, a fight breaks out between the preppie Toppers and the goth Flatliners when Topper girl Aimee shows up at the dance with Raphael, the rival gang's leader. In the midst of an all-out rumble, the homecoming queen discovers a supernatural power that causes a potentially deadly catastrophe. Meanwhile, a charismatic half-angel, half-human arrives in Middleburg with plans to steal Aimee from Raphael. To add to the bizarre circumstances surrounding the town, real-estate moguls begin buying up most of the Flats and evicting the tenants. These mysterious men seek a priceless treasure prophesied in ancient Chinese writings and will stop at nothing to find it. But Raphael and his friends vow to get to it first and use it to reclaim their homes. As Raphael and the Flatliners and Zhai and the Toppers hone their supernatural abilities and search for the treasure, Aimee begins kung fu training, intent on using her new skills to locate and rescue her mother. When she discovers that the elusive treasure may be the key, the race to find it intensifies. But there are others who seek the treasure too, and they have the power to reduce all of Middleburg, and perhaps the world, to ashes. . . .
- GenresParanormalYoung Adult
480 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2012
250 people want to read
About the author
J. Gabriel Gates
15 books218 followersAuthor J. Gabriel Gates is a native of Marshall, Michigan. The son of an English teacher, his passion for the written word began at a young age. During college, another passion – for performing – led him to get his B.A. degree in theater from Florida State University.
During his years in Los Angeles, he appeared in a dozen national TV commercials and penned several screenplays while laying the groundwork for his career as a novelist.
J. Gabriel now lives in Michigan, where he is on the city council of his small town and is the executive director of a prominent arts organization.
His novels include horror novel "The Sleepwalkers," and dystopian sci-fi epic "Blood Zero Sky" as well as the YA fantasy books "Dark Territory: The Tracks Book 1," "Ghost Crown: The Tracks Book 2," "Shadow Train: The Tracks Book 3."
Look for his new urban fantasy novel "Girl of Hearts" coming in June of 2022!
During his years in Los Angeles, he appeared in a dozen national TV commercials and penned several screenplays while laying the groundwork for his career as a novelist.
J. Gabriel now lives in Michigan, where he is on the city council of his small town and is the executive director of a prominent arts organization.
His novels include horror novel "The Sleepwalkers," and dystopian sci-fi epic "Blood Zero Sky" as well as the YA fantasy books "Dark Territory: The Tracks Book 1," "Ghost Crown: The Tracks Book 2," "Shadow Train: The Tracks Book 3."
Look for his new urban fantasy novel "Girl of Hearts" coming in June of 2022!
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 11, 2011
Even better than book one! And book one is so awesome, that... that... so awesome that I can't even say how awesome it is.
June 12, 2012
NOTE: I received this book to review from Netgalley.
Finally! I'm done with this book, and I can tell you, it feels like a huge weight was just taken off my shoulders. Now, you may think this means I didn't like the story or something. But then, you may notice my rating, and you might get slightly confused.
Truth is, I really LOVED this book. The only thing about it that sort of exhausted me was the count of its pages. 480 pages!!!!!!! To be honest, not a single one of them could be taken out, but still, that number sort of weigh a whole ton.
Anyway. So, when I began reading I had no idea "Ghost Crown" was book 2 in a series. It took me entire 20 pages to realize that. And then it took me another 50 pages to realize that I didn't actually need to know much about book 1, because the author did his job well. What I mean is that Mr. Gates placed the right reminders at the right spots, so as a new reader such as myself won't get confused at who is who and what had happened and why these people were together or not. You get the idea.
Now, with a hand on my heart I can say (or write) that the story was really great. It had just the right amount of paranormalcy, enough action to have your head spinning, and pretty good romance. Drama wasn't lacking, nor was danger. There was darkness and light and lots of confusion (for the characters, but not the reader). And that last scene with the battle... well, let's just say that I breezed through it like I was reading LOTR!! Yes, it was that good.
There was one thing I didn't like about the structuring though, and I hope that the hard copy version lacks this problem. It's that the POV's got switched without notification. It would've been nice to know that we aren't in Raphael's head anymore, or in Aimee's or Zhai's. Just a nice prompt as to who's POV we'd be switching to would've been enough. But sadly, that wasn't the case. Not in this eARC anyway.
I am thrilled to say that the characters here were VERY realistic. The good guys had flows of their own: some were selfish, others were too jealous. The bad guys - well at least some of them - had a good side as well, though the truly evil characters stayed evil to the end.
The only personality that I truly disliked was Jack Banfield, who was a ruthless man with no consideration to anyone, even the members of his own family. Everyone was a pawn in his grand scheme to control all good assets in Middleburg and nothing was important enough to keep him from his path of dominion. Perhaps the only good thing about him was that he had no supernatural powers. I can't even imagine him with powers. *shudders*
Not even the snake men repulsed me as much as Jack. Perhaps because they were just cold evil merciless killers, of whom nothing else could be expected but brutal murder no matter who the victim was. But I totally understood them - they're pure evil. They'd lived for centuries, and they were thirsty for wealth and life. But Jack? He was human, he was a father, and he was still as ruthless as them, as cold as them.. That just gave me the creeps.
There were a lot of characters in this book, each one with his/her own story and I was intrigued by each of them. Their transformations, character growth, hopes, desires and so on.
I must say that even though Raphael was sort of the lead male, I had my sympathies on Zhai. Not that Raph wasn't a nice guy or anything, I just liked Zhai better. He had this shyness about him and that sense of honor and he totally stroke a nerve in me. And when he was forced to transform into a ruthless person... well I ached for him, but at the same time I was glad that the author made his transformation realistic. I was expecting transformed Zhai to show some sort of compassion or something, but no. He was so well developed, it was obvious the author didn't want to spare him some hardships or truths or misery just because he loved the character. I love it when authors don't protect the characters. It's how it should be. So when Zhai was Zhai - he was really good, and brave and gentle. When he was transformed, he was like an evil indestructible force. It was amazing!
Raphael didn't do so bad as a character either. He just had the good fortune to remain himself 100% of the time. He was a strong character, but he also showed weakness. I think his job was to show that in love, even the strongest men become weak. That was cool. I loved his kung fu skills, and how he protected those he cared about. I loved his altruism and his concern for his family and crew and Aimee. And I was really glad he didn't just desert Aimee without getting an explanation from her for her spending time with Orias. I was impressed that he didn't just run into Maggie's open arms. It's rare to see such devotion in a guy.
Which brings me to Ignacio, who was also in a bad position - standing between his ex-gf Clarisse and Dalton, the girl he was in love with. Even though Clarisse was doing everything in her power to take Nass back, he never gave in to the temptation. He was a true and honorable guy, who didn't desert his leader (Raph) or his girl (Dalton) even when things looked and got bad.
Orias - well, what can I say about him? I thought he was just evil. Until Aimee actually stole his heart. And then the good in him sort of shone through. He was still evil in a way, but I could see that he wasn't two-dimensional. He had his own hardships, his own troubles, his own cares. But he still managed to get over them and open up to the brightness of love. We'll see exactly how true his intentions are in book 3 I guess.
Aimee's brother, Rick was a character I loathed. I really didn't understand why he was always so negative, so decided to fight the poor Flatliners. Well, that is until I saw him through Maggie's eyes. Then everything sort of explained itself. And I truly loathed him. There was nothing, not even marginally, good about him. He was like his father, Jack Banfield - ruthless and determined to have things go his way. I think he was a total waste of space, though he was a necessary character.
Now the girls:
Aimee was sort of the lead female, and I was so disappointed in her when she literally forgot Raph. Gosh, she totally frustrated me! In the last hundred or so pages, she couldn't even remember his face, or his name. True though, she remembered that there was someone important that she was forgetting. But she didn't know who. Which truly sucked. But of course I can't blame her. Being under Orias's influence can do tricky things to a person.
I think I liked Maggie the most of all girls. She had character, and even though she was a bit selfish, she wasn't really bad. She was real actually, and she wasn't afraid to show it. She wanted what she wanted and she was ready to get it however she could. And even though I was frustrated that she didn't do anything to help Aimee, I still understood where she was coming from.
Life wasn't easy on her, especially after she got the ghost crown on her head. What she was able to see and hear afterward - it was amazing that she found strength to handle it.
All other characters were sort of minor, so I won't really stop on them, but they were all really well developed. Not one of them was two-dimensional and that really made this book worth my rating.
I would recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal stories.
Finally! I'm done with this book, and I can tell you, it feels like a huge weight was just taken off my shoulders. Now, you may think this means I didn't like the story or something. But then, you may notice my rating, and you might get slightly confused.
Truth is, I really LOVED this book. The only thing about it that sort of exhausted me was the count of its pages. 480 pages!!!!!!! To be honest, not a single one of them could be taken out, but still, that number sort of weigh a whole ton.
Anyway. So, when I began reading I had no idea "Ghost Crown" was book 2 in a series. It took me entire 20 pages to realize that. And then it took me another 50 pages to realize that I didn't actually need to know much about book 1, because the author did his job well. What I mean is that Mr. Gates placed the right reminders at the right spots, so as a new reader such as myself won't get confused at who is who and what had happened and why these people were together or not. You get the idea.
Now, with a hand on my heart I can say (or write) that the story was really great. It had just the right amount of paranormalcy, enough action to have your head spinning, and pretty good romance. Drama wasn't lacking, nor was danger. There was darkness and light and lots of confusion (for the characters, but not the reader). And that last scene with the battle... well, let's just say that I breezed through it like I was reading LOTR!! Yes, it was that good.
There was one thing I didn't like about the structuring though, and I hope that the hard copy version lacks this problem. It's that the POV's got switched without notification. It would've been nice to know that we aren't in Raphael's head anymore, or in Aimee's or Zhai's. Just a nice prompt as to who's POV we'd be switching to would've been enough. But sadly, that wasn't the case. Not in this eARC anyway.
I am thrilled to say that the characters here were VERY realistic. The good guys had flows of their own: some were selfish, others were too jealous. The bad guys - well at least some of them - had a good side as well, though the truly evil characters stayed evil to the end.
The only personality that I truly disliked was Jack Banfield, who was a ruthless man with no consideration to anyone, even the members of his own family. Everyone was a pawn in his grand scheme to control all good assets in Middleburg and nothing was important enough to keep him from his path of dominion. Perhaps the only good thing about him was that he had no supernatural powers. I can't even imagine him with powers. *shudders*
Not even the snake men repulsed me as much as Jack. Perhaps because they were just cold evil merciless killers, of whom nothing else could be expected but brutal murder no matter who the victim was. But I totally understood them - they're pure evil. They'd lived for centuries, and they were thirsty for wealth and life. But Jack? He was human, he was a father, and he was still as ruthless as them, as cold as them.. That just gave me the creeps.
There were a lot of characters in this book, each one with his/her own story and I was intrigued by each of them. Their transformations, character growth, hopes, desires and so on.
I must say that even though Raphael was sort of the lead male, I had my sympathies on Zhai. Not that Raph wasn't a nice guy or anything, I just liked Zhai better. He had this shyness about him and that sense of honor and he totally stroke a nerve in me. And when he was forced to transform into a ruthless person... well I ached for him, but at the same time I was glad that the author made his transformation realistic. I was expecting transformed Zhai to show some sort of compassion or something, but no. He was so well developed, it was obvious the author didn't want to spare him some hardships or truths or misery just because he loved the character. I love it when authors don't protect the characters. It's how it should be. So when Zhai was Zhai - he was really good, and brave and gentle. When he was transformed, he was like an evil indestructible force. It was amazing!
Raphael didn't do so bad as a character either. He just had the good fortune to remain himself 100% of the time. He was a strong character, but he also showed weakness. I think his job was to show that in love, even the strongest men become weak. That was cool. I loved his kung fu skills, and how he protected those he cared about. I loved his altruism and his concern for his family and crew and Aimee. And I was really glad he didn't just desert Aimee without getting an explanation from her for her spending time with Orias. I was impressed that he didn't just run into Maggie's open arms. It's rare to see such devotion in a guy.
Which brings me to Ignacio, who was also in a bad position - standing between his ex-gf Clarisse and Dalton, the girl he was in love with. Even though Clarisse was doing everything in her power to take Nass back, he never gave in to the temptation. He was a true and honorable guy, who didn't desert his leader (Raph) or his girl (Dalton) even when things looked and got bad.
Orias - well, what can I say about him? I thought he was just evil. Until Aimee actually stole his heart. And then the good in him sort of shone through. He was still evil in a way, but I could see that he wasn't two-dimensional. He had his own hardships, his own troubles, his own cares. But he still managed to get over them and open up to the brightness of love. We'll see exactly how true his intentions are in book 3 I guess.
Aimee's brother, Rick was a character I loathed. I really didn't understand why he was always so negative, so decided to fight the poor Flatliners. Well, that is until I saw him through Maggie's eyes. Then everything sort of explained itself. And I truly loathed him. There was nothing, not even marginally, good about him. He was like his father, Jack Banfield - ruthless and determined to have things go his way. I think he was a total waste of space, though he was a necessary character.
Now the girls:
Aimee was sort of the lead female, and I was so disappointed in her when she literally forgot Raph. Gosh, she totally frustrated me! In the last hundred or so pages, she couldn't even remember his face, or his name. True though, she remembered that there was someone important that she was forgetting. But she didn't know who. Which truly sucked. But of course I can't blame her. Being under Orias's influence can do tricky things to a person.
I think I liked Maggie the most of all girls. She had character, and even though she was a bit selfish, she wasn't really bad. She was real actually, and she wasn't afraid to show it. She wanted what she wanted and she was ready to get it however she could. And even though I was frustrated that she didn't do anything to help Aimee, I still understood where she was coming from.
Life wasn't easy on her, especially after she got the ghost crown on her head. What she was able to see and hear afterward - it was amazing that she found strength to handle it.
All other characters were sort of minor, so I won't really stop on them, but they were all really well developed. Not one of them was two-dimensional and that really made this book worth my rating.
I would recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal stories.
June 18, 2012
The paranormal element within the book totally blew me off! If you have read book 1 of The Tracks series: Dark Territory, you would have known that the paranormal element only comes in closer to the end of the book. This book is totally filled with it. And when you add in martial arts, you get lots of actions!
There are still as many characters in book 2 and they are really wonderful. There are some additional ones (bad guys) and they are powerful, with the ability to enslave people. Unfortunately, one of the characters was enslaved and it was pretty bad (Shall not mention who). Everything was still as much a mystery as in book 1. The fighting scenes were totally awesome and intense! Love those! In addition, I was rooting for Raphael and Aimee throughout the whole book, hoping they could get together without having to sneak around but sadly things were difficult for them. Jack Banefield remains as one of my disliked characters in the book for controlling Aimee's life and not letting Raphael and her be together.
Overall, I'm very impressed by Ghost Crown. It is much better than Dark Territory. Who wouldn't love more actions and more paranormal element? Talk about characters with awesome powers! Ghost Crown didn't disappoint me in those aspects. However, the book did leave me with some major questions at the end, which I'll have to find out by reading the next book. Looking forward to the third book!
Disclosure: I received a copy via Netgally in exchange for an honest review.
There are still as many characters in book 2 and they are really wonderful. There are some additional ones (bad guys) and they are powerful, with the ability to enslave people. Unfortunately, one of the characters was enslaved and it was pretty bad (Shall not mention who). Everything was still as much a mystery as in book 1. The fighting scenes were totally awesome and intense! Love those! In addition, I was rooting for Raphael and Aimee throughout the whole book, hoping they could get together without having to sneak around but sadly things were difficult for them. Jack Banefield remains as one of my disliked characters in the book for controlling Aimee's life and not letting Raphael and her be together.
Overall, I'm very impressed by Ghost Crown. It is much better than Dark Territory. Who wouldn't love more actions and more paranormal element? Talk about characters with awesome powers! Ghost Crown didn't disappoint me in those aspects. However, the book did leave me with some major questions at the end, which I'll have to find out by reading the next book. Looking forward to the third book!
Disclosure: I received a copy via Netgally in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2011
My co-author, J. Gabriel Gates is right. GHOST CROWN is even better than the first book in the series. Here's a little preview:
Despite a tentative alliance between the goth Flatliners and the rich, preppie Toppers, any hope of peace is dashed when Topper girl Aimee arrives at the homecoming dance with Raphael, a Flatliner. A fight erupts between the two gangs and in the midst of the rumble, a bizarre event threatens the entire student body. Middleburg High’s new homecoming queen must use her recently acquired supernatural skills to save them.
To make matters worse, Middleburg real estate moguls have bought up most of the land in the Flats and started evicting the tenants. They are searching for a priceless treasure prophesied in ancient Chinese writings and will stop at nothing to find it. But Raphael and his impoverished Flatliners vow to get it first and use it buy back their homes. Meanwhile, a handsome, charismatic half-angel, half-human comes to Middleburg with plans to take Aimee away from Raphael.
As Raphael and his Flatliners and Zhai and his Toppers work to perfect their supernatural abilities and find the treasure, Aimee begins kung fu training, intent on becoming strong enough to rescue her missing mother. When she discovers that the mysterious treasure may be the key to finding her mom, the race intensifies.
Despite a tentative alliance between the goth Flatliners and the rich, preppie Toppers, any hope of peace is dashed when Topper girl Aimee arrives at the homecoming dance with Raphael, a Flatliner. A fight erupts between the two gangs and in the midst of the rumble, a bizarre event threatens the entire student body. Middleburg High’s new homecoming queen must use her recently acquired supernatural skills to save them.
To make matters worse, Middleburg real estate moguls have bought up most of the land in the Flats and started evicting the tenants. They are searching for a priceless treasure prophesied in ancient Chinese writings and will stop at nothing to find it. But Raphael and his impoverished Flatliners vow to get it first and use it buy back their homes. Meanwhile, a handsome, charismatic half-angel, half-human comes to Middleburg with plans to take Aimee away from Raphael.
As Raphael and his Flatliners and Zhai and his Toppers work to perfect their supernatural abilities and find the treasure, Aimee begins kung fu training, intent on becoming strong enough to rescue her missing mother. When she discovers that the mysterious treasure may be the key to finding her mom, the race intensifies.
June 14, 2012
words cannot begin to explain...
June 20, 2012
4.5/5 Stars
I really enjoyed Dark Territory (The Tracks #1) and was very excited to delve into book two. And I’m happy to report that Ghost Crown is even better than the first book…
After their battle with the powerful Oberon, the gangs of Middleburg hope life can get back to normal…but it doesn’t. When Topper Aimee shows up at the homecoming dance with Flatliner Raphael all hell breaks loose between the gangs. But before the fight can get out of hand, newly crowned homecoming queen, Maggie unleashes her own new powers. As tensions escalate between the Toppers and Flatliners, Topper real-estate moguls begin to buy up Flatliner residential buildings, evicting their tenants, in search of a priceless treasure. But they aren’t the only ones after this treasure: the dangerous and deadly Order of the Black Snake and Orias, a half-angel, half-human being, are also after the treasure. Raphael, Aimee, Nass, Zhai, Maggie and the rest of the Flatliners and Toppers find themselves battling against each other and each against dark forces.
Authors J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel have crafted an intensely thrilling and suspenseful sequel full of exciting supernatural elements, kick-butt martial arts, romantic entanglements and engaging characters.
Ghost Crown is a longer read at almost 500 pages and it is filled to the brim with action and thrills, and the story moves quickly. There’s a lot going on in this book, a lot of individual character stories, but they all really flow together nicely and cohesively. Gates and Keel continue to lay out a very layered, dimensional story with really great world-building. The social awareness surrounding the intense rivalry between the rich Toppers and working class Flatliners that I liked so much in the first book is deftly developed even further in book two.
The addition of powerful supernatural elements to this already tense rivalry creates an atmosphere that is, at times, deliciously dark and explosive. And the supernatural elements continue to be original and electric. From the mysterious Shen to the dark forces of the Order of the Snake, to time traveling and jumping to Aimee and Maggie’s individual growing abilities, these elements are captivating and unpredictable. I know nothing about kung-fu or martial arts, but the authors clearly do and this adds even more layers to the story and makes the fight scenes breathtaking and realistic.
The story itself feels very hip and refreshing; especially the way the authors capture the essence of their teenage characters. I love how natural and authentic the dialogue sounds, never cheesy or contrived. And the characters themselves continue to be awesome: from brave and swoon-worthy Raphael to sweet, determined Aimee to funny, loyal Nass and sassy Dalton to thoughtful Zhai and delightful Kate…all my favorite characters from the first book are even more likable in book two. And there are new characters to get excited about as well! Orias, with his charm and internal struggle, is kind of hard to resist (for both Aimee and readers), even when his darkside shines. Maggie is one character that really surprised me in book two with how much I actually began to like her. Kudos to the authors for Maggie’s unexpected and enthralling character development!
And of course every great story has to have a bit of romance! Well, this story has a lot of romance: first love, old love, enchanted love, convenient love, unrequited love…it’s all there and it’s all enticing. Raphael and Aimee’s sweet, true love is rudely interrupted by the charming and powerful Orias, and Nass and Dalton’s blossoming romance is halted by the appearance of Clarisse, Nass’ first love. But don’t worry, none of the romantic elements dominate the story or take away from the bigger picture.
Like in book one, the last quarter of book two is breathlessly exciting and had me anxiously turning pages. There’s big showdown involving all the important Middleburg groups and the outcome is definitely unexpected. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Action, the supernatural, romance, mystery, thrills and chills...Ghost Crown has it all! A superb and a captivating sequel, this is one read (and series) that won't disappoint.
I really enjoyed Dark Territory (The Tracks #1) and was very excited to delve into book two. And I’m happy to report that Ghost Crown is even better than the first book…
After their battle with the powerful Oberon, the gangs of Middleburg hope life can get back to normal…but it doesn’t. When Topper Aimee shows up at the homecoming dance with Flatliner Raphael all hell breaks loose between the gangs. But before the fight can get out of hand, newly crowned homecoming queen, Maggie unleashes her own new powers. As tensions escalate between the Toppers and Flatliners, Topper real-estate moguls begin to buy up Flatliner residential buildings, evicting their tenants, in search of a priceless treasure. But they aren’t the only ones after this treasure: the dangerous and deadly Order of the Black Snake and Orias, a half-angel, half-human being, are also after the treasure. Raphael, Aimee, Nass, Zhai, Maggie and the rest of the Flatliners and Toppers find themselves battling against each other and each against dark forces.
Authors J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel have crafted an intensely thrilling and suspenseful sequel full of exciting supernatural elements, kick-butt martial arts, romantic entanglements and engaging characters.
Ghost Crown is a longer read at almost 500 pages and it is filled to the brim with action and thrills, and the story moves quickly. There’s a lot going on in this book, a lot of individual character stories, but they all really flow together nicely and cohesively. Gates and Keel continue to lay out a very layered, dimensional story with really great world-building. The social awareness surrounding the intense rivalry between the rich Toppers and working class Flatliners that I liked so much in the first book is deftly developed even further in book two.
The addition of powerful supernatural elements to this already tense rivalry creates an atmosphere that is, at times, deliciously dark and explosive. And the supernatural elements continue to be original and electric. From the mysterious Shen to the dark forces of the Order of the Snake, to time traveling and jumping to Aimee and Maggie’s individual growing abilities, these elements are captivating and unpredictable. I know nothing about kung-fu or martial arts, but the authors clearly do and this adds even more layers to the story and makes the fight scenes breathtaking and realistic.
The story itself feels very hip and refreshing; especially the way the authors capture the essence of their teenage characters. I love how natural and authentic the dialogue sounds, never cheesy or contrived. And the characters themselves continue to be awesome: from brave and swoon-worthy Raphael to sweet, determined Aimee to funny, loyal Nass and sassy Dalton to thoughtful Zhai and delightful Kate…all my favorite characters from the first book are even more likable in book two. And there are new characters to get excited about as well! Orias, with his charm and internal struggle, is kind of hard to resist (for both Aimee and readers), even when his darkside shines. Maggie is one character that really surprised me in book two with how much I actually began to like her. Kudos to the authors for Maggie’s unexpected and enthralling character development!
And of course every great story has to have a bit of romance! Well, this story has a lot of romance: first love, old love, enchanted love, convenient love, unrequited love…it’s all there and it’s all enticing. Raphael and Aimee’s sweet, true love is rudely interrupted by the charming and powerful Orias, and Nass and Dalton’s blossoming romance is halted by the appearance of Clarisse, Nass’ first love. But don’t worry, none of the romantic elements dominate the story or take away from the bigger picture.
Like in book one, the last quarter of book two is breathlessly exciting and had me anxiously turning pages. There’s big showdown involving all the important Middleburg groups and the outcome is definitely unexpected. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Action, the supernatural, romance, mystery, thrills and chills...Ghost Crown has it all! A superb and a captivating sequel, this is one read (and series) that won't disappoint.
June 8, 2012
Gates and Keel have done it again. Back in the world of Middleburg nothing is as it seems and nothing is left untouched from the events in Dark Territory. Everything has changed, Ghost Crown is darker and grittier. OOOh, what a read! There were so many moments that my mouth fell open in disbelief. I had to stop myself from screaming out warnings (especially when reading in public places!) I was so involved in this book, that everything in my reality disappeared. I really thought that I was sitting in Middleburg watching all of this happen. I felt so many different emotions. My heart sank with the mini-defeats the characters experienced. It soared with the mini-victories. There were so many awesome elements that came together successfully to make this a rock-star book. I loved the development of the characters, everyone was tangible and felt as if they just floated of the page and came to life. The bad guys just got darker and even more unlikable. The character that sits on the fence-Zhai- was pushed even more into the murkiness of the gray area. I still wonder why he chose to be the leader of the toppers. I know how he got there but why did he accept? It’s June, and I have my first book to add to my favorite reads list for this year.
All of the characters are back in this sequel, and they all leave quite an impression, including the new ones that pop up. All of the old characters, that we have grown to love or hate, have changed since the events and Dark Territory. I think that change would be necessary, considering everything that they saw. Some of the changes are for the better, as when one embraces the gifts that shen/The ALL have bestowed upon them. Some of the changes are for the worse, as when one makes a deal with a half-breed without really understanding what they have bargained away. Some events are heartbreaking, as when one forgets her love as she is manipulated by another. All of the characters surprised me in one way or another, but truthfully, the biggest surprise was Maggie.
Ghost Crown has a little bit of everything, forbidden love, secret love, a love triangle, secret alliances, secret society, a treasure hunt, action…everything you could ever need to tell an awesomesauce story. Man! I could go on and on about how awesomely happy I am with Ghost Crown, but I still feel as if this review is too vague. I don’t think I’ve really captured how great this book is. I wish that I could find something that I hated, to give a balanced review. I looked, flipped through pages and couldn’t find anything. When I read the word “nephilim”, it was like a punch to the gut. This didn’t start out like your typical angel/fallen angel story and everything screamed that it wouldn’t fit neatly into that category. A part of me liked it better when the mysterious creatures went unnamed. But even that worked out in the end. I so can’t wait for book 3!!!! (Yes folks, in case you didn’t know, there will be a book 3!!)
Recommendation: Go. Read. Now! Right now! Put The Tracks series at the top of your reading pile.
A free copy of this book was given to me free, in exchange for my honest review.
All of the characters are back in this sequel, and they all leave quite an impression, including the new ones that pop up. All of the old characters, that we have grown to love or hate, have changed since the events and Dark Territory. I think that change would be necessary, considering everything that they saw. Some of the changes are for the better, as when one embraces the gifts that shen/The ALL have bestowed upon them. Some of the changes are for the worse, as when one makes a deal with a half-breed without really understanding what they have bargained away. Some events are heartbreaking, as when one forgets her love as she is manipulated by another. All of the characters surprised me in one way or another, but truthfully, the biggest surprise was Maggie.
Ghost Crown has a little bit of everything, forbidden love, secret love, a love triangle, secret alliances, secret society, a treasure hunt, action…everything you could ever need to tell an awesomesauce story. Man! I could go on and on about how awesomely happy I am with Ghost Crown, but I still feel as if this review is too vague. I don’t think I’ve really captured how great this book is. I wish that I could find something that I hated, to give a balanced review. I looked, flipped through pages and couldn’t find anything. When I read the word “nephilim”, it was like a punch to the gut. This didn’t start out like your typical angel/fallen angel story and everything screamed that it wouldn’t fit neatly into that category. A part of me liked it better when the mysterious creatures went unnamed. But even that worked out in the end. I so can’t wait for book 3!!!! (Yes folks, in case you didn’t know, there will be a book 3!!)
Recommendation: Go. Read. Now! Right now! Put The Tracks series at the top of your reading pile.
A free copy of this book was given to me free, in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2012
Life hasn't exactly gone back to normal after the last supernatural battle in Middleburg. A couple of weeks later, Raphael and his gang of Flatliners are still working themselves pretty hard, but it's doing no good--families are being kicked out of their homes with seemingly no rhyme or reason. Raphael knows he has to investigate, before he and his mother are next to lose their home.
Meanwhile, Zhai, the leader of the Toppers, has discovered something shady going on with his father's business dealings. But the implications for him are way worse than he ever thought possible.
There is more than one evil presence converging on Middleburg, and they are seeking a priceless treasure that could spell the end for everyone.
I found this book to be quite better than its' predecessor. There is of course, a lot going on with so many different characters, that it makes it a bit hard to put it all together in a concise review. But I'll try.
Ghost Crown seemed to have less action and fighting than Dark Territory, but that is OK with me. The characters grew so much in this novel, and that is what I loved about it.
Aimee is still struggling to break free from her oppressive father, but deep down, she wants to make him happy, of course. That's why it's no surprise when she starts meeting with Orias Morrow. To me, Orias is the most intriguing character in the book. I can't get an accurate read on him to tell if he's good or evil. Every time I would read a scene he was in, I found him charming but something in the back of my mind was telling me he couldn't be trusted. I finished the book still not sure how to judge him.
In Dark Territory, Maggie was one of my least favorite characters. But I'm glad to say she's changed SO MUCH into a better person. I want her to be happy. Hopefully she can escape the fate of her mother.
The Flatliner/Topper rivalry is pushed to the background in this book, which is understandable with so much else going on in the town. For that reason, it's so laughable that it's still the main thing Rick Bandfield is worried about. There are much bigger issues at play, and it makes Rick look so childish.
Not so much kung fu in Ghost Crown, but the paranormal activity (LOL) is getting intense. It's so cool that so many characters are coming into powers they didn't know they had, and I can't wait to see how they will be able to use them next.
I know I didn't touch on everything in this review, but there are still so many things I want to know!! Where did Kate really come from? What's the deal with the Magician? Will karma come back arounf for Jack and Rick Banfield? I will definitely be reading the next book in this series to find out!
Meanwhile, Zhai, the leader of the Toppers, has discovered something shady going on with his father's business dealings. But the implications for him are way worse than he ever thought possible.
There is more than one evil presence converging on Middleburg, and they are seeking a priceless treasure that could spell the end for everyone.
I found this book to be quite better than its' predecessor. There is of course, a lot going on with so many different characters, that it makes it a bit hard to put it all together in a concise review. But I'll try.
Ghost Crown seemed to have less action and fighting than Dark Territory, but that is OK with me. The characters grew so much in this novel, and that is what I loved about it.
Aimee is still struggling to break free from her oppressive father, but deep down, she wants to make him happy, of course. That's why it's no surprise when she starts meeting with Orias Morrow. To me, Orias is the most intriguing character in the book. I can't get an accurate read on him to tell if he's good or evil. Every time I would read a scene he was in, I found him charming but something in the back of my mind was telling me he couldn't be trusted. I finished the book still not sure how to judge him.
In Dark Territory, Maggie was one of my least favorite characters. But I'm glad to say she's changed SO MUCH into a better person. I want her to be happy. Hopefully she can escape the fate of her mother.
The Flatliner/Topper rivalry is pushed to the background in this book, which is understandable with so much else going on in the town. For that reason, it's so laughable that it's still the main thing Rick Bandfield is worried about. There are much bigger issues at play, and it makes Rick look so childish.
Not so much kung fu in Ghost Crown, but the paranormal activity (LOL) is getting intense. It's so cool that so many characters are coming into powers they didn't know they had, and I can't wait to see how they will be able to use them next.
I know I didn't touch on everything in this review, but there are still so many things I want to know!! Where did Kate really come from? What's the deal with the Magician? Will karma come back arounf for Jack and Rick Banfield? I will definitely be reading the next book in this series to find out!
August 1, 2012
J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel have returned to the young adult scene, with an intriguing sequel to
Dark Territory
. Full of thrilling excitement, daring action, mystery, forbidden romance, and a hint of the paranormal;
Ghost Crown
delivers a rollercoaster ride of epic adventure and amusement. All the main character's are back and the threat of danger and ancient mystery steeped in Chinese mythology and lore, works well to give this story more of an edge. If reader's are seeking fast paced action, drama, and unexpected twists, then they need look any further.
Ghost Crown
does a superb job of delivering all of that and so much more.
The character's are wonderfully engaging and so full of life, as they each battle their own demons in their own ways. Realistically flawed and likable, they spark to life on the page. The intricate story woven together with the fabric of the martial arts gives incredible depth to Ghost Crown . It's stunning and captivating, full of so many intriguing entanglements sure to wow reader's as they find themselves getting lost within the pages and soaking up everything this bright and interestingly vivid world has to offer. Author's Gates and Keel have so cleverly crafted a stunning world of imagery filled with Chiese myth and legend, based in martial arts, and have ultimately spun together a phenomenally kick-ass paranormal story of epic proportions sure to entice reader's.
Gates and Keel do a marvelous job of blending more than one individual story into the main arc in a unique and originally dimensional story that is full of dark beguiling twists and turns, unexpected at every turn around. There are triumphs and tragedy, heart pounding romance that will leave reader's gasping for their breath, and sorrow skirting the edges of their hearts. There is so much thrilling aspects to this book, that will have reader's on the edge of their seats. There is danger and peril around every corner, it seems like, and the thrills just keep coming left and right. It's enough to hook reader's and keep them rooted to their seats.
It is probably one of the best written and interesting books written, with wonderful originality, heart, and the right amount of paranormal flavor to add that little extra oomph it needs to be amazing!
The character's are wonderfully engaging and so full of life, as they each battle their own demons in their own ways. Realistically flawed and likable, they spark to life on the page. The intricate story woven together with the fabric of the martial arts gives incredible depth to Ghost Crown . It's stunning and captivating, full of so many intriguing entanglements sure to wow reader's as they find themselves getting lost within the pages and soaking up everything this bright and interestingly vivid world has to offer. Author's Gates and Keel have so cleverly crafted a stunning world of imagery filled with Chiese myth and legend, based in martial arts, and have ultimately spun together a phenomenally kick-ass paranormal story of epic proportions sure to entice reader's.
Gates and Keel do a marvelous job of blending more than one individual story into the main arc in a unique and originally dimensional story that is full of dark beguiling twists and turns, unexpected at every turn around. There are triumphs and tragedy, heart pounding romance that will leave reader's gasping for their breath, and sorrow skirting the edges of their hearts. There is so much thrilling aspects to this book, that will have reader's on the edge of their seats. There is danger and peril around every corner, it seems like, and the thrills just keep coming left and right. It's enough to hook reader's and keep them rooted to their seats.
It is probably one of the best written and interesting books written, with wonderful originality, heart, and the right amount of paranormal flavor to add that little extra oomph it needs to be amazing!
January 1, 2014
Mystic life-sensing force for kung-fu masters. Trainee high-school kung-fu masters who can anticipate their opponent’s next movement. Secret underground treasure. Possibly a mystic treasure. Or not. The teenage heroes don’t know until they find it.
There's a tiny bit of time travel, but only by accident. The teens quickly find the portal to take them back to their own place in the space-time continuum.
This book totally lives up to its thrilling potential, with lots of martial arts fights, lots of football jocks vs. junior kung fu masters, and a secret ancient organization secretly coming in for the treasure. Then there’s the psychic who kind of went crazy, or maybe she just can’t relate to the real world when the over-world is so overwhelming.
There’s also lots of high-school drama, with the cheerleader deciding the football hero is a creep – if you read the last book (which I didn’t) you’ll know that he occasionally is possessed by a demon. That leaves a lot of residual bad behavior, even when the demon isn’t active. There’s a lot of breaking up going on between couples, whether it’s because one half of the couple decided someone else is better, or because a third party decided to lay claim on that cutie. Sometimes it’s because Mom or Dad decided that this relationship isn’t appropriate, with all the attendant sneaking around. I like all that, because it seems realistic. Granted, secret mystic kung-fu powers and secret ancient cults isn’t very believable, but too many high-school stories seem to believe that True Love is Forever, and starts in tenth grade. Um, no. Not too many people marry their very first high-school sweethearts.
So welcome to the real world of broken hearts, and the less-than real world of mystic powers everywhere.
Four stars.
There's a tiny bit of time travel, but only by accident. The teens quickly find the portal to take them back to their own place in the space-time continuum.
This book totally lives up to its thrilling potential, with lots of martial arts fights, lots of football jocks vs. junior kung fu masters, and a secret ancient organization secretly coming in for the treasure. Then there’s the psychic who kind of went crazy, or maybe she just can’t relate to the real world when the over-world is so overwhelming.
There’s also lots of high-school drama, with the cheerleader deciding the football hero is a creep – if you read the last book (which I didn’t) you’ll know that he occasionally is possessed by a demon. That leaves a lot of residual bad behavior, even when the demon isn’t active. There’s a lot of breaking up going on between couples, whether it’s because one half of the couple decided someone else is better, or because a third party decided to lay claim on that cutie. Sometimes it’s because Mom or Dad decided that this relationship isn’t appropriate, with all the attendant sneaking around. I like all that, because it seems realistic. Granted, secret mystic kung-fu powers and secret ancient cults isn’t very believable, but too many high-school stories seem to believe that True Love is Forever, and starts in tenth grade. Um, no. Not too many people marry their very first high-school sweethearts.
So welcome to the real world of broken hearts, and the less-than real world of mystic powers everywhere.
Four stars.
August 25, 2012
One of my favorite musicals has always been West Side Story and in GHOST CROWN that is what you get along with a whole bunch of magic and the paranormal to keep it interesting. And it was interesting.
I found that all of the characters were very well developed even the secondary ones though I will admit at times it can be hard to tell just who the secondary characters are. And there are a lot of characters in this story. Since I didn't read the first book in this series, I will admit to being lost just who was who in the beginning but that didn't last long simply because they are so well written with their own personalities and goals.
There was one more thing that was confusing in the beginning was how Nash was called both Nash and Ignacio interchangeably in the same scene. It felt as though he was different people in that scene. This almost feels like an editing error that needs to be cleaned up.
The plotline itself was very tight and I loved how all the threads were pulled together in the stunning conclusion though the tale is far from finished. I know that I will be looking forward to the next book in this series to come up.
This is a young adult and there is some violence however due to the paranormal influences it almost doesn't seem real. I do recommend this book for readers of all ages who enjoy the paranormal.
I rate this book a 4 and it would have been higher if it had done a better job of standing on its own in the beginning.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
I found that all of the characters were very well developed even the secondary ones though I will admit at times it can be hard to tell just who the secondary characters are. And there are a lot of characters in this story. Since I didn't read the first book in this series, I will admit to being lost just who was who in the beginning but that didn't last long simply because they are so well written with their own personalities and goals.
There was one more thing that was confusing in the beginning was how Nash was called both Nash and Ignacio interchangeably in the same scene. It felt as though he was different people in that scene. This almost feels like an editing error that needs to be cleaned up.
The plotline itself was very tight and I loved how all the threads were pulled together in the stunning conclusion though the tale is far from finished. I know that I will be looking forward to the next book in this series to come up.
This is a young adult and there is some violence however due to the paranormal influences it almost doesn't seem real. I do recommend this book for readers of all ages who enjoy the paranormal.
I rate this book a 4 and it would have been higher if it had done a better job of standing on its own in the beginning.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
May 24, 2012
What can one say, other than J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel have done it again. This is a great follow up to the first one in this series, “The Dark Territory”. This sequel is an action packed paranormal phenomena. From the first to the last page, this is a page turning thriller that will pull you in and make you want more.
After the win of the Dark Territory, Raphael is feeling relatively good about things, but there is one thing he is missing. The one person that means the most to him, Aimee. If Raphael, thinks the worst thing he is going to have to face is getting Aimee to the dance, but the appearance of Orias, Oberon’s son who is even more of a supernatural evil than his father ever was or ever could have been. With having to fight his brother’s gang, the Toppers, the Black Snakes and Orias, everything is riding on Raphael and his gang the Flatliners to make sure that everything remains safe and Aimee remains safe as well.
Ghost Crown will cover every emotion you could ever want to have while reading a book, not to mention it covers all the genre you love to read in one book. I highly recommend you read both The Dark Territory and Ghost Crown as they will hold your attention and keep it from cover to cover.
After the win of the Dark Territory, Raphael is feeling relatively good about things, but there is one thing he is missing. The one person that means the most to him, Aimee. If Raphael, thinks the worst thing he is going to have to face is getting Aimee to the dance, but the appearance of Orias, Oberon’s son who is even more of a supernatural evil than his father ever was or ever could have been. With having to fight his brother’s gang, the Toppers, the Black Snakes and Orias, everything is riding on Raphael and his gang the Flatliners to make sure that everything remains safe and Aimee remains safe as well.
Ghost Crown will cover every emotion you could ever want to have while reading a book, not to mention it covers all the genre you love to read in one book. I highly recommend you read both The Dark Territory and Ghost Crown as they will hold your attention and keep it from cover to cover.
June 9, 2013
Reviewed by: Stephanie O
Book provided by:Publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Making the comparison to West Side Story isn’t a stretch. This series just adds in there a dash of magic and the paranormal. Ghost Crown, is book two in The Tracks Series and is packed with action that leaves you griping the covers until your knuckles turn white. Written in such a manner that one feels as tho they are right there in the middle of town with all the action.
Young love, stereotypes, friend or foe? An ending that sends the reader to the computer to search for the release date of the next book. What happens when the side of the tracks you live on, dictates your “status”? Are the good people of Middleburg what they seem?
This is a series that doesn’t disappoint. An awesome read for anyone that loves a little supernatural action tossed with some romance. There is a character for everyone to connect with, to grow with. Someone to feel as though, UGH . . I’ve been there (age doesn’t matter when reading this series). Could you read book two without having read book one? YES. Would you feel a little lost? YES . . . but soon thing do sort out. I would highly recommend grabbing both copies and settling in for a paranormal ride like none other.
Book provided by:Publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Making the comparison to West Side Story isn’t a stretch. This series just adds in there a dash of magic and the paranormal. Ghost Crown, is book two in The Tracks Series and is packed with action that leaves you griping the covers until your knuckles turn white. Written in such a manner that one feels as tho they are right there in the middle of town with all the action.
Young love, stereotypes, friend or foe? An ending that sends the reader to the computer to search for the release date of the next book. What happens when the side of the tracks you live on, dictates your “status”? Are the good people of Middleburg what they seem?
This is a series that doesn’t disappoint. An awesome read for anyone that loves a little supernatural action tossed with some romance. There is a character for everyone to connect with, to grow with. Someone to feel as though, UGH . . I’ve been there (age doesn’t matter when reading this series). Could you read book two without having read book one? YES. Would you feel a little lost? YES . . . but soon thing do sort out. I would highly recommend grabbing both copies and settling in for a paranormal ride like none other.
August 9, 2012
Originally posted at: http://aurorareviews.blogspot.com/201...
Gates and Keel do it again with the second book in The Tracks series. This pair of authors is quickly becoming one of my favorite duos with each book about the Flatliners and the Toppers.
Middleburg is in the middle (pardon the pun) of yet another battle--both physical and spiritual--and our favorite characters are back and along for the ride. They aren't static, however. The authors show how the events in Book One, Dark Territory, shape and change them--with the most profound change coming in Maggie. Kudos to the authors for making her so much more than she was in the first book.
This series keeps getting better...and I'm looking forward to the spring for the final installment in The Tracks.
Gates and Keel do it again with the second book in The Tracks series. This pair of authors is quickly becoming one of my favorite duos with each book about the Flatliners and the Toppers.
Middleburg is in the middle (pardon the pun) of yet another battle--both physical and spiritual--and our favorite characters are back and along for the ride. They aren't static, however. The authors show how the events in Book One, Dark Territory, shape and change them--with the most profound change coming in Maggie. Kudos to the authors for making her so much more than she was in the first book.
This series keeps getting better...and I'm looking forward to the spring for the final installment in The Tracks.
June 14, 2012
This is the first book by these authors that I have read and I thought where have I been it was great. The book has action, paranormal activity,danger and romance. I thought it was like and updated version of West Side Story. The characters were believable and I liked them all except Jack Banfield he seemed to care only about gaining control of Middleburg and nothing else. Some of the good guys had their own shortcomings like jealousy and selfishness just like the bad guys. It was truly a hypnotizing and wonderful book.
Thanks Net Galley.
Thanks Net Galley.
March 8, 2012
This sequel to Dark Territory accomplishes something that few sequels do--it's better than the first book. In Ghost Crown, the characters are much more compelling and the supernatural elements of the town and its people are better developed. The only thing I don't like about these books is that the covers are terrible. With the first one, I couldn't get any of my students to read it until I duct taped over the cover (I told them it had ripped--total lie). The ones who did read it loved it!
October 29, 2012
I loved this book as much as I loved the first one. Even though I've finished book two, I feel no closer to understanding Middleburg because every time a question is answered five more pop up to take its place. The unique mix of magic, martial arts, and gang wars has remained fresh and still works. I really hope that another book is in the works because I'm not satisfied with that being the end.
April 7, 2012
Great Squeal to the first!
August 21, 2013
Thrilling, awesome and unexpected... definitely enough to leave the reader longing for more!
June 25, 2014
This book was OK!
July 3, 2014
I hate sad endings
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