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Sacred Book #1
Sacred
When Sasha Stryker meets Ariston Kavanagh, she is entranced by his good looks but mystified by his odd behavior. After all, he keeps asking her how she sees him while standing right in front of her. Yet, she can't deny the strange and powerful attraction she feels for him. Then she discovers a terrifying, heartbreaking truth about him when she is attacked by a lioness one night! To her utter bewilderment, her savior is a white tiger that morphs into the last person she wants to be indebted to. This encounter shatters her notion of the world as she knows it and her love affair comes to a crashing halt when all the facts come to light. Just as she is trying to cope with her new reality, nocturnal creatures called Friaries try to kidnap her for their own nefarious purpose.
- GenresParanormalFantasy
397 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2011
1 person is currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Farrah Naseem
2 books16 followersFarrah Naseem was born in Pakistan, raised in Hong Kong & lives on books. She's a stay-at-home mother of two and an ardent J.K. Rowling fan, who will read anything within reach (cereal boxes, instruction manuals, any notice on the notice board...). Sacred is her first book and she's currently "trying" to complete the second book in the series (Exalted) - at the same time, ensuring her kids don't kill each other while she's engrossed in her writing.
She'd love to have a cat, a dog, a parrot - basically any pet as a lot of renowned writers have & love to brag about in their Bios, but her husband already sneezes enough to cause an avalanche or a tsunami, so she's sadly pet-deprived.
She'd love to have a cat, a dog, a parrot - basically any pet as a lot of renowned writers have & love to brag about in their Bios, but her husband already sneezes enough to cause an avalanche or a tsunami, so she's sadly pet-deprived.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 28, 2012
Loved it. Can't wait for the second!
April 16, 2012
I really liked this book. But when I finished it, my thoughts were in complete disarray and I honestly didn't know what to think. There was just so much going through my mind. But the truth is that I really liked it.
First of all, this book started out absolutely awesome. And it immediately gave me material to start thinking up theories of what was going on. I assume you know by now that I always try to figure out the plot from the start, I always have at least one theory and this was no different. But this book was hard to figure out in a weird way. But I think that's partly because I couldn't remember the entire synopsis and I refused to read it again, because I wanted to be surprised. And boy, was I and that is not easy to do.
The story
As I said, the story started out absolutely awesome. After the beginning it kind of slowed down a bit. It alternated between sucking me in and then letting go of me a little, but it was enough to distract me, to make me get up to do something else for a second, which of course always took a lot longer than that. . But about a quarter of the way through, I got sucked in completely and I'm happy to say that it didn't let go of me after that. I loved the paranormal elements. I think I read this book for six hours straight, until I was finished. Which means I stayed up most of the night. I just couldn't look away. But I really don't regret it. It was awesome!
The characters
Okay, so you know how I mentioned that my thoughts were completely scrambled after I finished this book? Well, it's because of the characters. I liked them, but they also made me so angry.
I liked Sasha, she was smart, bookish and I loved her witty, smart ass replies to Connor. I also liked that looks weren't that important to her. But it was weird, because it seemed that at the same time they were. She was so insecure and she kept putting herself down. Maybe it wasn't so much that she didn't think looks were important, but it was more that she had given up on ever looking beautiful therefore looks weren't important, only brains were. I understand the insecurity, trust me, but saying to a guy that no guy is interested in you when he obviously is or that you're not beautiful when he obviously thinks so, is just...it's just...ugh. And I think the biggest reason why I have a problem with this, is because she sounded beautiful. Based on her description I would think she was pretty, but like the girl from She's All That or The Princess Diaries who just needed a little bit of a makeover.
Anyway, next character. Let's go to one I really loved. Connor, Sasha's ex-best friend!!!!
Honestly Connor was an ass. But that's not why I liked him. I liked him because no matter what, he did care about Sasha. And he was kind of funny. While I started out not trusting him and wanting Sasha to ignore him, slowly but surely I started to trust him. The thing with Connor was that he was really mature, well , when it came to most things. I liked his way of thinking and agreed with him in almost everything. Was it the right thing to trust him? *Whispers: Read the book and you'll find out.
I also really liked Ethan, Sasha's current best friend. He was just a really great friend. *sigh I just love reading about guys who are amazing best friends.
Ooh and I loved Sasha's mom. The woman was fun and hilarious and just girly. I also like that she's Pakistani and that she's laid back despite all the rules she must've grown up with.
Then there was the one who was the cause of most of my anger and confusion. You know I'm looking at you Ariston *glares at Ariston. Well, I won't let him take all the blame because it was more the combination of him and Sasha together. I just...I can't even...
Wait, let's start at the beginning. I started out really liking Ariston. Okay, I admit it, I was in love. The guy's charming and very possibly hotness incarnate, although I wouldn't mind finding Connor sitting all wrapped up like a present on my terrace. *cough Anyway, Ariston sounded like a dream come true. So of course I immediately didn't trust him. Actually, there was another reason why I didn't trust him just like there was a reason why started trusting Connor, but I don't want to spoil anything so I won't mention it. (Please come back when you've read the book because I really need someone to talk to about it.) But that wasn't even the reason why I started disliking him. I started disliking him, because I realized that I didn't agree with how he handled things.
Let's just say, he was a little immature and he didn't think things at least one thing through. And when Ariston and Sasha were together, her insecurities doubled and after "IT" happened (I know you want to know what "IT" is ;) ), I just didn't always agree with Sasha's actions. Which made me object to the last part of the book. Although that last line almost made me fall in love with Ariston all over again. Almost. The thing is that he's a sweet guy, but I just can't get over the rest. And then there is my theory, which if true just makes everything worse.
Ultimately, I really liked Sacred. I loved the story, it was really well thought out and it was such a page turner ( See: stayed up most of the night to read). The only problem I really had was with some of the characters' actions. And in a way I think that made the story better. It's just that I love to love my characters. And I hate it when they annoy me. And I'm not talking about sarcasm, (because I love that) but more stupidity and immaturity. While there wasn't really stupidity, there was immaturity. But can I really fault teens for that? *sigh
First of all, this book started out absolutely awesome. And it immediately gave me material to start thinking up theories of what was going on. I assume you know by now that I always try to figure out the plot from the start, I always have at least one theory and this was no different. But this book was hard to figure out in a weird way. But I think that's partly because I couldn't remember the entire synopsis and I refused to read it again, because I wanted to be surprised. And boy, was I and that is not easy to do.
The story
As I said, the story started out absolutely awesome. After the beginning it kind of slowed down a bit. It alternated between sucking me in and then letting go of me a little, but it was enough to distract me, to make me get up to do something else for a second, which of course always took a lot longer than that. . But about a quarter of the way through, I got sucked in completely and I'm happy to say that it didn't let go of me after that. I loved the paranormal elements. I think I read this book for six hours straight, until I was finished. Which means I stayed up most of the night. I just couldn't look away. But I really don't regret it. It was awesome!
The characters
Okay, so you know how I mentioned that my thoughts were completely scrambled after I finished this book? Well, it's because of the characters. I liked them, but they also made me so angry.
I liked Sasha, she was smart, bookish and I loved her witty, smart ass replies to Connor. I also liked that looks weren't that important to her. But it was weird, because it seemed that at the same time they were. She was so insecure and she kept putting herself down. Maybe it wasn't so much that she didn't think looks were important, but it was more that she had given up on ever looking beautiful therefore looks weren't important, only brains were. I understand the insecurity, trust me, but saying to a guy that no guy is interested in you when he obviously is or that you're not beautiful when he obviously thinks so, is just...it's just...ugh. And I think the biggest reason why I have a problem with this, is because she sounded beautiful. Based on her description I would think she was pretty, but like the girl from She's All That or The Princess Diaries who just needed a little bit of a makeover.
Anyway, next character. Let's go to one I really loved. Connor, Sasha's ex-best friend!!!!
Honestly Connor was an ass. But that's not why I liked him. I liked him because no matter what, he did care about Sasha. And he was kind of funny. While I started out not trusting him and wanting Sasha to ignore him, slowly but surely I started to trust him. The thing with Connor was that he was really mature, well , when it came to most things. I liked his way of thinking and agreed with him in almost everything. Was it the right thing to trust him? *Whispers: Read the book and you'll find out.
I also really liked Ethan, Sasha's current best friend. He was just a really great friend. *sigh I just love reading about guys who are amazing best friends.
Ooh and I loved Sasha's mom. The woman was fun and hilarious and just girly. I also like that she's Pakistani and that she's laid back despite all the rules she must've grown up with.
Then there was the one who was the cause of most of my anger and confusion. You know I'm looking at you Ariston *glares at Ariston. Well, I won't let him take all the blame because it was more the combination of him and Sasha together. I just...I can't even...
Wait, let's start at the beginning. I started out really liking Ariston. Okay, I admit it, I was in love. The guy's charming and very possibly hotness incarnate, although I wouldn't mind finding Connor sitting all wrapped up like a present on my terrace. *cough Anyway, Ariston sounded like a dream come true. So of course I immediately didn't trust him. Actually, there was another reason why I didn't trust him just like there was a reason why started trusting Connor, but I don't want to spoil anything so I won't mention it. (Please come back when you've read the book because I really need someone to talk to about it.) But that wasn't even the reason why I started disliking him. I started disliking him, because I realized that I didn't agree with how he handled things.
Let's just say, he was a little immature and he didn't think things at least one thing through. And when Ariston and Sasha were together, her insecurities doubled and after "IT" happened (I know you want to know what "IT" is ;) ), I just didn't always agree with Sasha's actions. Which made me object to the last part of the book. Although that last line almost made me fall in love with Ariston all over again. Almost. The thing is that he's a sweet guy, but I just can't get over the rest. And then there is my theory, which if true just makes everything worse.
Ultimately, I really liked Sacred. I loved the story, it was really well thought out and it was such a page turner ( See: stayed up most of the night to read). The only problem I really had was with some of the characters' actions. And in a way I think that made the story better. It's just that I love to love my characters. And I hate it when they annoy me. And I'm not talking about sarcasm, (because I love that) but more stupidity and immaturity. While there wasn't really stupidity, there was immaturity. But can I really fault teens for that? *sigh
April 30, 2012
Sacred. What more is there to say when the title says it all?
The characters.
Sasha was a very well written character who I could easily connect with and understand. Actually, she's a lot like me with being a "Potterhead" and over all geek. Since the whole book is from her point of view it's very good that she relatable. Ariston, the love interest was almost as well written save a few small things, like how it's practically instant love for him which doesn't fit with the fact that he is very obviously a complex/ complicated character. Other than that though (and maybe something else but it was so small I forget it now) he was by far my favorite character, cause, what hot, sensible, kind character can't be though. Although most of them were very well written I felt that Connor just... wasn't. He was a little hard to connect to because you don't necessarily understand why he feels the way he does for Sasha. He was likable and heroic but wasn't necessarily that amazing because it seems as though he does what he does only for Sasha's sake and, though romantic, it makes him seem a little self concerned. You also don't find out who the true antagonist is until practically the end of the book and I don't plan on spoiling who.
Overall the characters are nice, fairly well described, and relatable.
The Story.
I was very lost at the beginning of Sacred because it started with a flashback, a very long-before-the-story-began type flashback. Which isn't bad at all because it raised questions I wanted, needed, answered which was a big boost to keep me reading. The synopsis only covered the very beginning of the book (the first chapter) and the very end with a blank in the middle, which annoyed me slightly but did not effect the book in any way whatsoever. The story line was very easy to follow even though it wasn't immediately evident. The story itself was intriguing, exciting, and had the perfect blend of romance, action, and suspense, the three things I mainly look for in a Young Adult book. They must be put together correctly like ingredients in a cookie and like the cookie, if mixed/ combined wrong, it could possibly ruin the whole thing.
Overall, the story was magnificent
The Writing.
Though descriptive, a few parts of the story tended to jump around a bit. For example, in chapter one it jumps from how Sasha looks to why she is such a "geek". As I said to start with the writing is very descriptive which makes up for the the jumpiness of the writing a little and enhances how much you yourself can imagine/ visualize of the story in your mind. Typo's and misspellings were few and far apart as were grammatical errors, both of which are the two things that irk me the most in books, and sentences were fluidly written.
There were a few things in how it was written that knocked points off the story but overall it was written nicely and in style.
All three combined makes for a great story that had fewer problems than quite a few of the books I'v read recently.
The characters.
Sasha was a very well written character who I could easily connect with and understand. Actually, she's a lot like me with being a "Potterhead" and over all geek. Since the whole book is from her point of view it's very good that she relatable. Ariston, the love interest was almost as well written save a few small things, like how it's practically instant love for him which doesn't fit with the fact that he is very obviously a complex/ complicated character. Other than that though (and maybe something else but it was so small I forget it now) he was by far my favorite character, cause, what hot, sensible, kind character can't be though. Although most of them were very well written I felt that Connor just... wasn't. He was a little hard to connect to because you don't necessarily understand why he feels the way he does for Sasha. He was likable and heroic but wasn't necessarily that amazing because it seems as though he does what he does only for Sasha's sake and, though romantic, it makes him seem a little self concerned. You also don't find out who the true antagonist is until practically the end of the book and I don't plan on spoiling who.
Overall the characters are nice, fairly well described, and relatable.
The Story.
I was very lost at the beginning of Sacred because it started with a flashback, a very long-before-the-story-began type flashback. Which isn't bad at all because it raised questions I wanted, needed, answered which was a big boost to keep me reading. The synopsis only covered the very beginning of the book (the first chapter) and the very end with a blank in the middle, which annoyed me slightly but did not effect the book in any way whatsoever. The story line was very easy to follow even though it wasn't immediately evident. The story itself was intriguing, exciting, and had the perfect blend of romance, action, and suspense, the three things I mainly look for in a Young Adult book. They must be put together correctly like ingredients in a cookie and like the cookie, if mixed/ combined wrong, it could possibly ruin the whole thing.
Overall, the story was magnificent
The Writing.
Though descriptive, a few parts of the story tended to jump around a bit. For example, in chapter one it jumps from how Sasha looks to why she is such a "geek". As I said to start with the writing is very descriptive which makes up for the the jumpiness of the writing a little and enhances how much you yourself can imagine/ visualize of the story in your mind. Typo's and misspellings were few and far apart as were grammatical errors, both of which are the two things that irk me the most in books, and sentences were fluidly written.
There were a few things in how it was written that knocked points off the story but overall it was written nicely and in style.
All three combined makes for a great story that had fewer problems than quite a few of the books I'v read recently.
February 2, 2012
Be careful what you wish for as it may just come true; nothing could be truer for fifteen-soon-to-be-sixteen-year-old Sasha Stryker. Just as Sasha is bemoaning her tedious existence, an encounter with Ariston Kavanagh in the park in the middle of the night changes it about a hundred eighty degrees. And alas, her boring life is suddenly riddled with a series of bizarre events that totally defy logic. The very next morning, the first catastrophe strikes, though Sasha would never have guessed that it had anything to do with Ariston's sudden appearance in her ordered life.
Connor Macho, Sasha's ex-best-friend-turned-jock-turned-nemesis, had been ignoring her for two whole years until he decides to kiss her in the presence of twenty odd witnesses in the school locker room. And then Ariston, who had been home-schooled till then, enrolls into her High School. From the moment they met, Sasha has felt a strange, intangible connection with Ariston and the few occasions of being in his presence seem to point toward the fact that he just might be interested in her - in the romantic way. As Ariston and Sasha strike up friendship, Connor starts warning her against him. What's worse - even her best friend and Connor's brother, Ethan Macho is reluctant to accept Ariston as a part of their group. And then there is Devon Macho. The three Macho brothers have been a part of Sasha's life forever and their opinion mattered a lot to her, so she is upset by the attitude of all three Macho brothers where Ariston is concerned.
The book was quite awesome - funny, touching, suspenseful and romantic all at once. Definitely worth a read for YA/Teen paranormal romance lovers. The hero is HOT and the heroine is gutsy, dorky and witty all at once. You'll love Sasha - who's no fainting daisy. Try it - you won't be disappointed...
Connor Macho, Sasha's ex-best-friend-turned-jock-turned-nemesis, had been ignoring her for two whole years until he decides to kiss her in the presence of twenty odd witnesses in the school locker room. And then Ariston, who had been home-schooled till then, enrolls into her High School. From the moment they met, Sasha has felt a strange, intangible connection with Ariston and the few occasions of being in his presence seem to point toward the fact that he just might be interested in her - in the romantic way. As Ariston and Sasha strike up friendship, Connor starts warning her against him. What's worse - even her best friend and Connor's brother, Ethan Macho is reluctant to accept Ariston as a part of their group. And then there is Devon Macho. The three Macho brothers have been a part of Sasha's life forever and their opinion mattered a lot to her, so she is upset by the attitude of all three Macho brothers where Ariston is concerned.
The book was quite awesome - funny, touching, suspenseful and romantic all at once. Definitely worth a read for YA/Teen paranormal romance lovers. The hero is HOT and the heroine is gutsy, dorky and witty all at once. You'll love Sasha - who's no fainting daisy. Try it - you won't be disappointed...
April 17, 2012
Be careful what you wish for as it may just come true; nothing could be truer for fifteen-soon-to-be-sixteen-year-old Sasha Stryker. Just as Sasha is bemoaning her tedious existence, an encounter with Ariston Kavanagh in the park in the middle of the night changes it about a hundred eighty degrees. And alas, her boring life is suddenly riddled with a series of bizarre events that totally defy logic. The very next morning, the first catastrophe strikes, though Sasha would never have guessed that it had anything to do with Ariston's sudden appearance in her ordered life.
Connor Macho, Sasha's ex-best-friend-turned-jock-turned-nemesis, had been ignoring her for two whole years until he decides to kiss her in the presence of twenty odd witnesses in the school locker room. And then Ariston, who had been home-schooled till then, enrolls into her High School. From the moment they met, Sasha has felt a strange, intangible connection with Ariston and the few occasions of being in his presence seem to point toward the fact that he just might be interested in her - in the romantic way. As Ariston and Sasha strike up friendship, Connor starts warning her against him. What's worse - even her best friend and Connor's brother, Ethan Macho is reluctant to accept Ariston as a part of their group. And then there is Devon Macho. The three Macho brothers have been a part of Sasha's life forever and their opinion mattered a lot to her, so she is upset by the attitude of all three Macho brothers where Ariston is concerned.
The book was quite awesome - funny, touching, suspenseful and romantic all at once. Definitely worth a read for YA/Teen paranormal romance lovers. The hero is HOT and the heroine is gutsy, dorky and witty all at once. You'll love Sasha - who's no fainting daisy. Try it - you won't be disappointed...
Connor Macho, Sasha's ex-best-friend-turned-jock-turned-nemesis, had been ignoring her for two whole years until he decides to kiss her in the presence of twenty odd witnesses in the school locker room. And then Ariston, who had been home-schooled till then, enrolls into her High School. From the moment they met, Sasha has felt a strange, intangible connection with Ariston and the few occasions of being in his presence seem to point toward the fact that he just might be interested in her - in the romantic way. As Ariston and Sasha strike up friendship, Connor starts warning her against him. What's worse - even her best friend and Connor's brother, Ethan Macho is reluctant to accept Ariston as a part of their group. And then there is Devon Macho. The three Macho brothers have been a part of Sasha's life forever and their opinion mattered a lot to her, so she is upset by the attitude of all three Macho brothers where Ariston is concerned.
The book was quite awesome - funny, touching, suspenseful and romantic all at once. Definitely worth a read for YA/Teen paranormal romance lovers. The hero is HOT and the heroine is gutsy, dorky and witty all at once. You'll love Sasha - who's no fainting daisy. Try it - you won't be disappointed...
April 29, 2012
When I first started the story it seemed I had read this type story a hundred times. You know the ones where geeky girl meets good looking rich male? Then the once upon a time BFF realizes he has feelings for said geeky girl. Yeah, yeah, yeah…love triangle...it's all been said before. Or has it?
Not far in I became enamored with the story. I loved how the author kept me guessing who Ariston was? What was he hiding? And these secrets were revealed in perfect timing. Cause I was seriously about to throw my nook out the tent (yes we were camping in our back yard) if Ariston didn’t start giving Sasha some answers. And why is Connor mackin’ on Sasha. (Yeah I said mackin’.) Dude hasn't paid her any attention for 2 years, 2 stinkin years...and now he is actually speaking to her, trying to kiss up on her? What's his deal?
I was fuming and swooning through the whole story. Fuming at the characters for keeping secrets and withholding feelings and swooning at the guys for being such romantics. I am a HUGE fan of romance and this one definitely had it, even if it is between a 16 and 17 year old. Yes, to me it seemed a little young to be exclaiming love to one another. But who am I to say who can and can't love?
Sacred had a great plot that kept the mystery going throughout the whole book. Sure questions get answered but lot’s more will pop up. Those who enjoy a good paranormal will definitely enjoy this suspenseful read with its quirky and fun characters. Really looking forward to the next book, Exalted, and all that will evolve from this growing and forbidden relationship.
Give me more Ariston please. Pretty Please?!
Not far in I became enamored with the story. I loved how the author kept me guessing who Ariston was? What was he hiding? And these secrets were revealed in perfect timing. Cause I was seriously about to throw my nook out the tent (yes we were camping in our back yard) if Ariston didn’t start giving Sasha some answers. And why is Connor mackin’ on Sasha. (Yeah I said mackin’.) Dude hasn't paid her any attention for 2 years, 2 stinkin years...and now he is actually speaking to her, trying to kiss up on her? What's his deal?
I was fuming and swooning through the whole story. Fuming at the characters for keeping secrets and withholding feelings and swooning at the guys for being such romantics. I am a HUGE fan of romance and this one definitely had it, even if it is between a 16 and 17 year old. Yes, to me it seemed a little young to be exclaiming love to one another. But who am I to say who can and can't love?
Sacred had a great plot that kept the mystery going throughout the whole book. Sure questions get answered but lot’s more will pop up. Those who enjoy a good paranormal will definitely enjoy this suspenseful read with its quirky and fun characters. Really looking forward to the next book, Exalted, and all that will evolve from this growing and forbidden relationship.
Give me more Ariston please. Pretty Please?!
September 4, 2012
I had randomly stumbled on this..and had no clue what i was about to read...But i have to say it did take me with surprise and i liked it..more than i thought..
Thought the start was confusing ..why/who/what?..but as it progressed it was good..it was entertaining...and the lead - sasha - is the kickass, cocky,innocent yet strong lead...
While Ethan is the BFF who supports Sasha every time ..conner is the brooding jock-ex-friends who wants nothing but to irritate the hell out of her..if only that is way he can hide his feelings...i never really got conner..*sighs*..but i do feel some thing for him..lol..just like sasha.
Ariston..oh my..he is perfect,swoon worthy and every worth trouble sneaking middle of night,fighting with crazy bitchs and facing supernatural creatures which no one has even thought of..!
And when ur life is miffed with more paranormal than you think..how can u avoid it?
I loved reading it..though there are many open ends and questions in my mind after reading the end and i am confused,irritated a bit..lol...but i think that is because i want the next book asap!
Farah..great work..i loved how you brought some fun elements...like the emails sasha sends to her cousin..ROFL!and the flow of the story and handling sasha as a character..it was definitely great..especially for debut.
Sri.
Thought the start was confusing ..why/who/what?..but as it progressed it was good..it was entertaining...and the lead - sasha - is the kickass, cocky,innocent yet strong lead...
While Ethan is the BFF who supports Sasha every time ..conner is the brooding jock-ex-friends who wants nothing but to irritate the hell out of her..if only that is way he can hide his feelings...i never really got conner..*sighs*..but i do feel some thing for him..lol..just like sasha.
Ariston..oh my..he is perfect,swoon worthy and every worth trouble sneaking middle of night,fighting with crazy bitchs and facing supernatural creatures which no one has even thought of..!
And when ur life is miffed with more paranormal than you think..how can u avoid it?
I loved reading it..though there are many open ends and questions in my mind after reading the end and i am confused,irritated a bit..lol...but i think that is because i want the next book asap!
Farah..great work..i loved how you brought some fun elements...like the emails sasha sends to her cousin..ROFL!and the flow of the story and handling sasha as a character..it was definitely great..especially for debut.
Sri.
May 17, 2012
this book and i had a love-hate kinda relationship.
THE LOVE: i loved this book, loved the kissing scale(and the fact that SHE did not use it!), loooooove the moscow story(laughed soo hard i had tears streaming down my cheeks), I LOVE THAT THE MAIN CHARACTER DIDNT ENCOURAGE THE LOVE TRIANGLE( gosh i am tired of heroines loving two guys all the time!!!!!! in almost every book!!!!)
AND NOW FOR THE HATE: i HATE that i dont have the second one yet!!
THE LOVE: i loved this book, loved the kissing scale(and the fact that SHE did not use it!), loooooove the moscow story(laughed soo hard i had tears streaming down my cheeks), I LOVE THAT THE MAIN CHARACTER DIDNT ENCOURAGE THE LOVE TRIANGLE( gosh i am tired of heroines loving two guys all the time!!!!!! in almost every book!!!!)
AND NOW FOR THE HATE: i HATE that i dont have the second one yet!!
June 26, 2017
I loved this book and could not put it down! It had the start of a great romance/triangle, and the end left you hanging with a lot of questions unanswered, but greatly anticipating the next book. My only complaint is the need for better editing. There were words missing or the wrong word down so I had to interpret. Recommend to all my friends, teenagers and adults!
April 17, 2016
I was emotionally spent from reading a lot of emotionally intense Realistic Fiction lately and decided to go back to my roots(lol) and read something paranormal; it's usually less intense right? Maybe not, but at least it can give me that escape I might need sometimes. Do not remember how I came across Sacred but the synopsis sounded interesting and all of a sudden I was purchasing it for my Kindle. I am so glad I did. Read it not long after, it didn't sit on my to-read shelf collecting dust.
Sacred was filled with the thrill and swoon that I was seeking but didn't know I was. It was also quite funny too, didn't expect that. Wonderful characters that I bonded with quickly even if I didn't like them. Of course my favorites were, Sasha, Ariston(duh), Ethan, and Connor.
I love Sasha, she's such an endearing spunky heroine. Guess I could call her a badass chick, sort of, she was always thinking of taking on guys she herself describes as built of steel. And mind you these guys were her friends, they kinda constantly annoyed her and I didn't wrong her for wanting to pummel them sometimes. Sasha kept surprising me, she appears introverted but she had a feisty mouth on her, she certainly wasn't shy to say what's on her mind.
*Swoon* Ariston, where were you a half-dozen books ago? Ariston is an old soul, always a gentleman but can kick your ass really good too. He was very mysterious; and isn't that what makes a guy even more irresistible and more scary? It was clear how Ariston felt for Sasha and he was not afraid to show it and say it. *Swoon* What a guy, he didn't waste anytime in telling Sasha how he felt about her.
Ethan and Connor, brothers, best bud and ex-best bud of Sasha and swoon worthy in their own right. Ethan the best guyfriend a girl could have, I imagine him as a brooder. Connor, jerk and all time heart breaker but a very good guy albeit. He constantly irks Sasha's ire and it definitely added a lot of humor and lightness to the story. Connor was another mysterious fella in Sasha's life.
These guys in Sasha's life have a lot of depth to them, I learned a lot about the people around Sasha through her eyes. I really liked Sasha's voice, yeah I didn't like that she couldn't see herself the way the men in her life saw her but her wit and spunk made up for that. There is one other person in Sasha's life that I didn't like very much, her other best friend, Amber. Amber is what you might call a geek(we're all geeks in some fashion), or whatever you call someone who is completely weird and unknowingly mean(hope so). Amber makes it clear, in an absentminded way that Sasha is not pretty and isn't popular so no good looking guy, or jock in their right mind would be interested in her and was baffled when it was not so. Although, Amber actually added some of the funniest comic relief moments to the story.
If you didn't know from the synopsis, Sacred is about Shapeshifters, not the werewolf kind, think lions and tigers. There were other supernatural beings that didn't come up or appear till later in the story. Personally haven't heard or read of any of them before and it added some mystery and intrigue to the story. This book is all about the mysterious, I found out quickly or at least I suspected that Sasha's boys were keeping her in the dark but also interestingly they themselves were in the dark about Sasha herself and so is she. Hmm? Mysterious. Loved the entire concept it had that perfect paranormal theme one needs to escape. There are a lot of surprises in this story and some characters you'll love to hate.
Sacred was filled with the thrill and swoon that I was seeking but didn't know I was. It was also quite funny too, didn't expect that. Wonderful characters that I bonded with quickly even if I didn't like them. Of course my favorites were, Sasha, Ariston(duh), Ethan, and Connor.
I love Sasha, she's such an endearing spunky heroine. Guess I could call her a badass chick, sort of, she was always thinking of taking on guys she herself describes as built of steel. And mind you these guys were her friends, they kinda constantly annoyed her and I didn't wrong her for wanting to pummel them sometimes. Sasha kept surprising me, she appears introverted but she had a feisty mouth on her, she certainly wasn't shy to say what's on her mind.
*Swoon* Ariston, where were you a half-dozen books ago? Ariston is an old soul, always a gentleman but can kick your ass really good too. He was very mysterious; and isn't that what makes a guy even more irresistible and more scary? It was clear how Ariston felt for Sasha and he was not afraid to show it and say it. *Swoon* What a guy, he didn't waste anytime in telling Sasha how he felt about her.
Ethan and Connor, brothers, best bud and ex-best bud of Sasha and swoon worthy in their own right. Ethan the best guyfriend a girl could have, I imagine him as a brooder. Connor, jerk and all time heart breaker but a very good guy albeit. He constantly irks Sasha's ire and it definitely added a lot of humor and lightness to the story. Connor was another mysterious fella in Sasha's life.
These guys in Sasha's life have a lot of depth to them, I learned a lot about the people around Sasha through her eyes. I really liked Sasha's voice, yeah I didn't like that she couldn't see herself the way the men in her life saw her but her wit and spunk made up for that. There is one other person in Sasha's life that I didn't like very much, her other best friend, Amber. Amber is what you might call a geek(we're all geeks in some fashion), or whatever you call someone who is completely weird and unknowingly mean(hope so). Amber makes it clear, in an absentminded way that Sasha is not pretty and isn't popular so no good looking guy, or jock in their right mind would be interested in her and was baffled when it was not so. Although, Amber actually added some of the funniest comic relief moments to the story.
If you didn't know from the synopsis, Sacred is about Shapeshifters, not the werewolf kind, think lions and tigers. There were other supernatural beings that didn't come up or appear till later in the story. Personally haven't heard or read of any of them before and it added some mystery and intrigue to the story. This book is all about the mysterious, I found out quickly or at least I suspected that Sasha's boys were keeping her in the dark but also interestingly they themselves were in the dark about Sasha herself and so is she. Hmm? Mysterious. Loved the entire concept it had that perfect paranormal theme one needs to escape. There are a lot of surprises in this story and some characters you'll love to hate.
August 2, 2012
Title: Sacred
Author: Farrah Naseem
Date of Release: December 3rd, 2011
Source: From Farrah for honest review.
Summary from Goodreads:
When Sasha Stryker meets Ariston Kavanagh, she is entranced by his good looks but mystified by his odd behavior. After all, he keeps asking her how she sees him even though he's standing right in front of her. Yet, she can't deny the strange and powerful attraction she feels towards him.
At the same time, her ex-best-friend-current-nemesis Connor Macho starts showing a romantic interest in her as well. Is Connor truly attracted to Sasha, or is this another move in his war against Sasha and Ariston's relationship?
Sasha finds out the whole truth when she is attacked by a lioness one night! To her utter bewilderment, her savior is a white tiger that morphs into the last person she wants to be indebted to.
This encounter shatters her notion of the world as she knows it and her love affair comes to a crashing halt when all truths are revealed. Just as she's trying to cope with the truth about Ariston and Connor, other nocturnal creatures called Friaries try to kidnap her for their own nefarious purpose.
Review: Many twists in the plot kept my interest throughout the whole novel. The prologue introduces to this mythical event/world, that isn’t yet expanded till the last few pages. It made me anxious and piqued y curiosity to see how things would pan out through the whole novel. Then I thought about 1/3 way in that this was just another vampire/werewolves tale. How wrong was I. Farrah Naseem has written a smashing debut that will entangle readers in a world of mystery, love and intrigue.
One of the more comical aspects of the novel was Sasha pen palling through emails to her cousin in Pakistan, Ella. I found them hilarious and extremely enlightening. Then add to that Sasha’s fierce independent and sarcastic personality. Even though she starts out as only 15 in the novel she seriously feels beyond her years.
The one problem I had was with my kindle edition. Paragraphs and lines would break apart and it was confusing until you realized that it was just a formatting mistake. I got over it, but it side tracked me a lot.
Also I don’t know why but I really connected with the emotions in Sasha. I would feel my face heat in embarrassment just like hers. It’s totally weird and freaked me out a little. While it wasn’t my favorite feeling, it is a huge accomplishment on Farrah’s part that she got me to feel such strong emotions!!
Author: Farrah Naseem
Date of Release: December 3rd, 2011
Source: From Farrah for honest review.
Summary from Goodreads:
When Sasha Stryker meets Ariston Kavanagh, she is entranced by his good looks but mystified by his odd behavior. After all, he keeps asking her how she sees him even though he's standing right in front of her. Yet, she can't deny the strange and powerful attraction she feels towards him.
At the same time, her ex-best-friend-current-nemesis Connor Macho starts showing a romantic interest in her as well. Is Connor truly attracted to Sasha, or is this another move in his war against Sasha and Ariston's relationship?
Sasha finds out the whole truth when she is attacked by a lioness one night! To her utter bewilderment, her savior is a white tiger that morphs into the last person she wants to be indebted to.
This encounter shatters her notion of the world as she knows it and her love affair comes to a crashing halt when all truths are revealed. Just as she's trying to cope with the truth about Ariston and Connor, other nocturnal creatures called Friaries try to kidnap her for their own nefarious purpose.
Review: Many twists in the plot kept my interest throughout the whole novel. The prologue introduces to this mythical event/world, that isn’t yet expanded till the last few pages. It made me anxious and piqued y curiosity to see how things would pan out through the whole novel. Then I thought about 1/3 way in that this was just another vampire/werewolves tale. How wrong was I. Farrah Naseem has written a smashing debut that will entangle readers in a world of mystery, love and intrigue.
One of the more comical aspects of the novel was Sasha pen palling through emails to her cousin in Pakistan, Ella. I found them hilarious and extremely enlightening. Then add to that Sasha’s fierce independent and sarcastic personality. Even though she starts out as only 15 in the novel she seriously feels beyond her years.
The one problem I had was with my kindle edition. Paragraphs and lines would break apart and it was confusing until you realized that it was just a formatting mistake. I got over it, but it side tracked me a lot.
Also I don’t know why but I really connected with the emotions in Sasha. I would feel my face heat in embarrassment just like hers. It’s totally weird and freaked me out a little. While it wasn’t my favorite feeling, it is a huge accomplishment on Farrah’s part that she got me to feel such strong emotions!!
April 14, 2012
To start off,I got this book as a kindle edition from the author. Thank you, Farrah.
Overall the book was good. Just good, but not wonderful. The love part of the story was adorable, a little over-done and rushed, but executed properly. With the almost love-triangle between Sasha, Ariston and Connor, it made just enough suspense in the book as necessary, but not too much, as to be overwhelmed annoyed with the love-triangle. I did like the semi-new idea of Weres and their kingdom as well as the new idea of Friaries. I also liked all the characters and their dynamics, but I was laughing a little bit from their names.
The names were, to use a word from first-grade, "kooky." I think my younger brother told me that "Sasha Stryker" was from ICarly and was an old-style video game player. Then there were the "Macho Brothers." Need I say more? After I got out my tee-hees about the names, I recognized the other problems with the book, not the STORY.
Not to knit-pick but, there were quite a few mechanical errors. Such as every time, some one said "miss" it turned out, Miss. though it was not intended. This, along with the very few other typos could easily be fixed with a quick read through of the story.
Overall, the story was executed well, with the plot, love-line and fantasy elements. Though I wish to know a bit more about the Were kingdom and lifestyle. I plan on reading the next book to find out what happens to Sasha and Ariston, and to learn more about the Weres and the legend of 'Zathea" with the Friaries.
Overall the book was good. Just good, but not wonderful. The love part of the story was adorable, a little over-done and rushed, but executed properly. With the almost love-triangle between Sasha, Ariston and Connor, it made just enough suspense in the book as necessary, but not too much, as to be overwhelmed annoyed with the love-triangle. I did like the semi-new idea of Weres and their kingdom as well as the new idea of Friaries. I also liked all the characters and their dynamics, but I was laughing a little bit from their names.
The names were, to use a word from first-grade, "kooky." I think my younger brother told me that "Sasha Stryker" was from ICarly and was an old-style video game player. Then there were the "Macho Brothers." Need I say more? After I got out my tee-hees about the names, I recognized the other problems with the book, not the STORY.
Not to knit-pick but, there were quite a few mechanical errors. Such as every time, some one said "miss" it turned out, Miss. though it was not intended. This, along with the very few other typos could easily be fixed with a quick read through of the story.
Overall, the story was executed well, with the plot, love-line and fantasy elements. Though I wish to know a bit more about the Were kingdom and lifestyle. I plan on reading the next book to find out what happens to Sasha and Ariston, and to learn more about the Weres and the legend of 'Zathea" with the Friaries.
April 18, 2012
You read the blurb, you understand yes? dont need to go over it for you? Good.
To be completely honest , I really dont want to say anything about the book for fear of ruining it for some of you .. i think the whole journey of finding out whats going on and who's what is what got me to keep turning the pages as i was just so eager to find out exactly WHO the was the white tiger was and why she was attacked by a lioness and just watching ( or in this case .. reading ) Sasha and Ari's relationship go through good and bad moments .. and Connor .. oh my sweet dear connor, You can try to get with me anyday ;) This book .. i couldn't put it down .. i loved the characters, oh yes i did. The only think that annoyed me in the book was that the blurb only started to make sense towards the end of the book. The first 3/4 was romance pretty much. But besides that, you really should read this book , and for a first time author .. this is a shit load better than most you'll see out there. Give it a go, you won't regret it!
Thanks to Janina and Farrah for giving me the opportunity to read this book through their Read and Review program.
To be completely honest , I really dont want to say anything about the book for fear of ruining it for some of you .. i think the whole journey of finding out whats going on and who's what is what got me to keep turning the pages as i was just so eager to find out exactly WHO the was the white tiger was and why she was attacked by a lioness and just watching ( or in this case .. reading ) Sasha and Ari's relationship go through good and bad moments .. and Connor .. oh my sweet dear connor, You can try to get with me anyday ;) This book .. i couldn't put it down .. i loved the characters, oh yes i did. The only think that annoyed me in the book was that the blurb only started to make sense towards the end of the book. The first 3/4 was romance pretty much. But besides that, you really should read this book , and for a first time author .. this is a shit load better than most you'll see out there. Give it a go, you won't regret it!
Thanks to Janina and Farrah for giving me the opportunity to read this book through their Read and Review program.
April 16, 2012
The second story can’t be out fast enough!!!!
Sasha Stryker is a nerdy geeky brace wearing skinny female with glasses. Until she meets Ariston Kavanagh and she thinks that he is only talking to her because he is new in town. She believes that once he meets the air heads in school he would forget all about her and ignore her like everyone else. But she is sooooo wrong!!! Asiston is a little different; he is good looking with an athletic physic and falls for the geeky female after meeting her alone in a park at night not the usual male to go after a geeky female.
I loved the story! The transformation that Sasha goes threw makes you root for her. She starts to open up, learns stand up for herself and goes threw a transformation. I cheered for her; I felt her pain of a broken heart and the butterflies she felt when she was with Asiston! I found myself talking to myself telling Sasha not to or yes do it! Farrah Naseem did an awesome job on the story and allowed the reader to picture every scene. I strongly recommend this book for all YA readers!!!
Sasha Stryker is a nerdy geeky brace wearing skinny female with glasses. Until she meets Ariston Kavanagh and she thinks that he is only talking to her because he is new in town. She believes that once he meets the air heads in school he would forget all about her and ignore her like everyone else. But she is sooooo wrong!!! Asiston is a little different; he is good looking with an athletic physic and falls for the geeky female after meeting her alone in a park at night not the usual male to go after a geeky female.
I loved the story! The transformation that Sasha goes threw makes you root for her. She starts to open up, learns stand up for herself and goes threw a transformation. I cheered for her; I felt her pain of a broken heart and the butterflies she felt when she was with Asiston! I found myself talking to myself telling Sasha not to or yes do it! Farrah Naseem did an awesome job on the story and allowed the reader to picture every scene. I strongly recommend this book for all YA readers!!!
April 19, 2012
Farrah Naseem has created a wonderful story with and interesting group of characters. I found myself smiling at some of the situations and jokes, which I absolutely love in books, it draws you even more into the story. The book follows Sasha Stryker as she navigates high school, friends and enemies, next door neighbours, first boyfriends and the occasional were-creature, not to mention the fey who are trying to kidnap her. I loved the story I found it fresh and was wondering where the story was going i did not find it predictable at all. I would have liked a bit more information on the were-creatures, fey and the legends although I am hoping more information will be forthcoming in the next book in the series which I am awaiting with great anticipation.
April 28, 2012
Since I signed up for this book, I had myself read through it all. Honestly, I love the plot and story line but the writing style made it hard for me to finish. The main character is a bit excessive, as were the side characters with the mom being more super nag than normal mothers and childish, the father basically not really caring about much but to always take his daughter's side, and the daughter's thoughts working like a Mary Sue character. Many parts in the writing could be reworded into something less awkward also:
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he said in a shocked voice.
to
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to startle you," he apologized, eyes wide in shock.
Or... Something? I just felt awkwardness rolling off my kindle at the sentence structures and syntax.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he said in a shocked voice.
to
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to startle you," he apologized, eyes wide in shock.
Or... Something? I just felt awkwardness rolling off my kindle at the sentence structures and syntax.
April 16, 2012
Wow . I really enjoyed reading this book. So much so that I read it all on my tiny IPhone .
The plot was refreshing and not at all predictable . .
Ariston the main love interest is such a charming hottie ..
I would recommend this to anyone that likes a good Ya or paranormal romance
The plot was refreshing and not at all predictable . .
Ariston the main love interest is such a charming hottie ..
I would recommend this to anyone that likes a good Ya or paranormal romance
November 20, 2012
I bought this book in February 2012,via amazon , it was only kindle edition at that time.
I really enjoyed all the characters and book,it is a great and different story. So I liked it.
I will like more if Farrah release the next book ASAP.
I really enjoyed all the characters and book,it is a great and different story. So I liked it.
I will like more if Farrah release the next book ASAP.
March 15, 2012
all I can say is wow. this was an awsome book I really loved it and I can not wait for the second book to come out.
April 24, 2012
loved this book, it was a surprise favorite and i can't wait for the next part
September 21, 2012
Christina's original review can be found HERE on The Book Hookup.
**Note** An eBook of this title was submitted by the author to The Book Hookup, but did not influence this review in any way.
The Lowdown: Sasha Stryker is a fifteen-going-on-sixteen-year-old girl who lives in a rural area. She’s the resident geek at her school, but doesn’t really have any qualms about it. She’d rather have her brain than all the beauty because being dimwitted isn’t all that special really. Besides, who needs popularity when you have awesome best friends like the eclectic and quirky Amber Kirkendoll and the dependable, yet charismatic guy-next-door Ethan Macho. However, her relatively boring existence comes to a screeching halt when night when she meets Ariston Kavanagh. Though she doubted his mental health due to his unusual antics- and his gentlemanly interest of her- upon their first interaction, she soon learns to enjoy his company. The more time they spend with one another, the deeper in love they fall. Only, Ariston isn’t the only one suddenly vying for Sasha’s attention. Her ex-best friend and current high school playboy, football captain, Connor Macho, is trying to reinstate his role in Sasha’s life. Confused because he’s ignored her for the past two years, she isn’t sure if Connor’s affectionate displays are merely because Ariston’s in the picture or if there is really something there. What’s even more frustrating is that is seems like everyone Sasha cares about is keeping secrets and they almost get her killed.
Author Ego-Booster: I really loved all the characters. Every person seemed to have something about them that made them feel real, and I loved getting to know each of them. Sasha, especially, was quite the fireball, know-it-all. She was always at the ready with a snarky remark, and though lacking in the self-confidence department, she really came across as a strong heroine that I could root for in the end. As far as swoon-worthy guys, Ariston Kavanagh fits the bill. He’s tall, golden, handsome, and charming, though it edges a bit on the cheeseball side of cute at times. I loved how “out there” Amber was and how Ethan was the constant bodyguard hottie at Sasha’s side, always ready to swoop in and save the day. Connor… tended to be a bit of an ass, but once he showed his vulnerable (albeit sarcastic) side, I couldn’t help but fall for him a little as well.
Once we finally got into the meat of the story- the paranormal parts- I was quickly rooted to what was going on and curious to how the story would work out. It’s an original plot, though admittedly, I haven’t done a whole load of reading on Were-creatures. Still, the series seems promising. I only wished we had gotten to see more of this aspect of the story, but more on that later on.
The Drawbacks: The pacing of the story seemed to lag in the beginning and seemed a bit disjointed at times. Even though the emails between Sasha and her cousin were comical, I couldn’t understand what purpose they served and I felt like the story was held back during those exchanges. I hope there will be an actual explanation for these conversations in the future. Like I stated earlier, towards the end of the story after Sasha’s discovery of the Were-creatures and Friaries, I felt like everything clicked and moved at a better pace. I only wish I had gotten either more interaction between Ariston/Sasha/Connor or more depth from the paranormal world.
Another small thing that brought me up short several times was the European expressions (namely “bloody” and “brilliant”) written throughout because this story is suppose to be set in the United States. At first I was able to ignore it because Sasha was a huge Hatter Potter fan, so I thought it was just one of her quirks, but then I started recognizing it being used by other characters in the story. It’s not something of huge significance, but rather something that took me out of the story a bit when I came across one.
I also noticed a few grammar mistakes and tense changes that took me out of the plot as well.
The Verdict: Overall, it was quite an enjoyable read. I really liked the paranormal side to the story and think Ms. Naseem has written and interesting, original book. I’m curious to see where she takes the series from here, especially with the secret thing exposed about Sasha at the end.
♥Christina
**Note** An eBook of this title was submitted by the author to The Book Hookup, but did not influence this review in any way.
The Lowdown: Sasha Stryker is a fifteen-going-on-sixteen-year-old girl who lives in a rural area. She’s the resident geek at her school, but doesn’t really have any qualms about it. She’d rather have her brain than all the beauty because being dimwitted isn’t all that special really. Besides, who needs popularity when you have awesome best friends like the eclectic and quirky Amber Kirkendoll and the dependable, yet charismatic guy-next-door Ethan Macho. However, her relatively boring existence comes to a screeching halt when night when she meets Ariston Kavanagh. Though she doubted his mental health due to his unusual antics- and his gentlemanly interest of her- upon their first interaction, she soon learns to enjoy his company. The more time they spend with one another, the deeper in love they fall. Only, Ariston isn’t the only one suddenly vying for Sasha’s attention. Her ex-best friend and current high school playboy, football captain, Connor Macho, is trying to reinstate his role in Sasha’s life. Confused because he’s ignored her for the past two years, she isn’t sure if Connor’s affectionate displays are merely because Ariston’s in the picture or if there is really something there. What’s even more frustrating is that is seems like everyone Sasha cares about is keeping secrets and they almost get her killed.
Author Ego-Booster: I really loved all the characters. Every person seemed to have something about them that made them feel real, and I loved getting to know each of them. Sasha, especially, was quite the fireball, know-it-all. She was always at the ready with a snarky remark, and though lacking in the self-confidence department, she really came across as a strong heroine that I could root for in the end. As far as swoon-worthy guys, Ariston Kavanagh fits the bill. He’s tall, golden, handsome, and charming, though it edges a bit on the cheeseball side of cute at times. I loved how “out there” Amber was and how Ethan was the constant bodyguard hottie at Sasha’s side, always ready to swoop in and save the day. Connor… tended to be a bit of an ass, but once he showed his vulnerable (albeit sarcastic) side, I couldn’t help but fall for him a little as well.
Once we finally got into the meat of the story- the paranormal parts- I was quickly rooted to what was going on and curious to how the story would work out. It’s an original plot, though admittedly, I haven’t done a whole load of reading on Were-creatures. Still, the series seems promising. I only wished we had gotten to see more of this aspect of the story, but more on that later on.
The Drawbacks: The pacing of the story seemed to lag in the beginning and seemed a bit disjointed at times. Even though the emails between Sasha and her cousin were comical, I couldn’t understand what purpose they served and I felt like the story was held back during those exchanges. I hope there will be an actual explanation for these conversations in the future. Like I stated earlier, towards the end of the story after Sasha’s discovery of the Were-creatures and Friaries, I felt like everything clicked and moved at a better pace. I only wish I had gotten either more interaction between Ariston/Sasha/Connor or more depth from the paranormal world.
Another small thing that brought me up short several times was the European expressions (namely “bloody” and “brilliant”) written throughout because this story is suppose to be set in the United States. At first I was able to ignore it because Sasha was a huge Hatter Potter fan, so I thought it was just one of her quirks, but then I started recognizing it being used by other characters in the story. It’s not something of huge significance, but rather something that took me out of the story a bit when I came across one.
I also noticed a few grammar mistakes and tense changes that took me out of the plot as well.
The Verdict: Overall, it was quite an enjoyable read. I really liked the paranormal side to the story and think Ms. Naseem has written and interesting, original book. I’m curious to see where she takes the series from here, especially with the secret thing exposed about Sasha at the end.
♥Christina
September 21, 2012
My original review can be found HERE on The Book Hookup.
**Note** An eBook of this title was submitted by the author to The Book Hookup, but did not influence this review in any way.
The Lowdown: Sasha Stryker is a fifteen-going-on-sixteen-year-old girl who lives in a rural area. She’s the resident geek at her school, but doesn’t really have any qualms about it. She’d rather have her brain than all the beauty because being dimwitted isn’t all that special really. Besides, who needs popularity when you have awesome best friends like the eclectic and quirky Amber Kirkendoll and the dependable, yet charismatic guy-next-door Ethan Macho. However, her relatively boring existence comes to a screeching halt when night when she meets Ariston Kavanagh. Though she doubted his mental health due to his unusual antics- and his gentlemanly interest of her- upon their first interaction, she soon learns to enjoy his company. The more time they spend with one another, the deeper in love they fall. Only, Ariston isn’t the only one suddenly vying for Sasha’s attention. Her ex-best friend and current high school playboy, football captain, Connor Macho, is trying to reinstate his role in Sasha’s life. Confused because he’s ignored her for the past two years, she isn’t sure if Connor’s affectionate displays are merely because Ariston’s in the picture or if there is really something there. What’s even more frustrating is that is seems like everyone Sasha cares about is keeping secrets and they almost get her killed.
Author Ego-Booster: I really loved all the characters. Every person seemed to have something about them that made them feel real, and I loved getting to know each of them. Sasha, especially, was quite the fireball, know-it-all. She was always at the ready with a snarky remark, and though lacking in the self-confidence department, she really came across as a strong heroine that I could root for in the end. As far as swoon-worthy guys, Ariston Kavanagh fits the bill. He’s tall, golden, handsome, and charming, though it edges a bit on the cheeseball side of cute at times. I loved how “out there” Amber was and how Ethan was the constant bodyguard hottie at Sasha’s side, always ready to swoop in and save the day. Connor… tended to be a bit of an ass, but once he showed his vulnerable (albeit sarcastic) side, I couldn’t help but fall for him a little as well.
Once we finally got into the meat of the story- the paranormal parts- I was quickly rooted to what was going on and curious to how the story would work out. It’s an original plot, though admittedly, I haven’t done a whole load of reading on Were-creatures. Still, the series seems promising. I only wished we had gotten to see more of this aspect of the story, but more on that later on.
The Drawbacks: The pacing of the story seemed to lag in the beginning and seemed a bit disjointed at times. Even though the emails between Sasha and her cousin were comical, I couldn’t understand what purpose they served and I felt like the story was held back during those exchanges. I hope there will be an actual explanation for these conversations in the future. Like I stated earlier, towards the end of the story after Sasha’s discovery of the Were-creatures and Friaries, I felt like everything clicked and moved at a better pace. I only wish I had gotten either more interaction between Ariston/Sasha/Connor or more depth from the paranormal world.
Another small thing that brought me up short several times was the European expressions (namely “bloody” and “brilliant”) written throughout because this story is suppose to be set in the United States. At first I was able to ignore it because Sasha was a huge Hatter Potter fan, so I thought it was just one of her quirks, but then I started recognizing it being used by other characters in the story. It’s not something of huge significance, but rather something that took me out of the story a bit when I came across one.
I also noticed a few grammar mistakes and tense changes that took me out of the plot as well.
The Verdict: Overall, it was quite an enjoyable read. I really liked the paranormal side to the story and think Ms. Naseem has written and interesting, original book. I’m curious to see where she takes the series from here, especially with the secret thing exposed about Sasha at the end.
**Note** An eBook of this title was submitted by the author to The Book Hookup, but did not influence this review in any way.
The Lowdown: Sasha Stryker is a fifteen-going-on-sixteen-year-old girl who lives in a rural area. She’s the resident geek at her school, but doesn’t really have any qualms about it. She’d rather have her brain than all the beauty because being dimwitted isn’t all that special really. Besides, who needs popularity when you have awesome best friends like the eclectic and quirky Amber Kirkendoll and the dependable, yet charismatic guy-next-door Ethan Macho. However, her relatively boring existence comes to a screeching halt when night when she meets Ariston Kavanagh. Though she doubted his mental health due to his unusual antics- and his gentlemanly interest of her- upon their first interaction, she soon learns to enjoy his company. The more time they spend with one another, the deeper in love they fall. Only, Ariston isn’t the only one suddenly vying for Sasha’s attention. Her ex-best friend and current high school playboy, football captain, Connor Macho, is trying to reinstate his role in Sasha’s life. Confused because he’s ignored her for the past two years, she isn’t sure if Connor’s affectionate displays are merely because Ariston’s in the picture or if there is really something there. What’s even more frustrating is that is seems like everyone Sasha cares about is keeping secrets and they almost get her killed.
Author Ego-Booster: I really loved all the characters. Every person seemed to have something about them that made them feel real, and I loved getting to know each of them. Sasha, especially, was quite the fireball, know-it-all. She was always at the ready with a snarky remark, and though lacking in the self-confidence department, she really came across as a strong heroine that I could root for in the end. As far as swoon-worthy guys, Ariston Kavanagh fits the bill. He’s tall, golden, handsome, and charming, though it edges a bit on the cheeseball side of cute at times. I loved how “out there” Amber was and how Ethan was the constant bodyguard hottie at Sasha’s side, always ready to swoop in and save the day. Connor… tended to be a bit of an ass, but once he showed his vulnerable (albeit sarcastic) side, I couldn’t help but fall for him a little as well.
Once we finally got into the meat of the story- the paranormal parts- I was quickly rooted to what was going on and curious to how the story would work out. It’s an original plot, though admittedly, I haven’t done a whole load of reading on Were-creatures. Still, the series seems promising. I only wished we had gotten to see more of this aspect of the story, but more on that later on.
The Drawbacks: The pacing of the story seemed to lag in the beginning and seemed a bit disjointed at times. Even though the emails between Sasha and her cousin were comical, I couldn’t understand what purpose they served and I felt like the story was held back during those exchanges. I hope there will be an actual explanation for these conversations in the future. Like I stated earlier, towards the end of the story after Sasha’s discovery of the Were-creatures and Friaries, I felt like everything clicked and moved at a better pace. I only wish I had gotten either more interaction between Ariston/Sasha/Connor or more depth from the paranormal world.
Another small thing that brought me up short several times was the European expressions (namely “bloody” and “brilliant”) written throughout because this story is suppose to be set in the United States. At first I was able to ignore it because Sasha was a huge Hatter Potter fan, so I thought it was just one of her quirks, but then I started recognizing it being used by other characters in the story. It’s not something of huge significance, but rather something that took me out of the story a bit when I came across one.
I also noticed a few grammar mistakes and tense changes that took me out of the plot as well.
The Verdict: Overall, it was quite an enjoyable read. I really liked the paranormal side to the story and think Ms. Naseem has written and interesting, original book. I’m curious to see where she takes the series from here, especially with the secret thing exposed about Sasha at the end.
August 28, 2012
Okay, so I liked this book. I really do think it was a good piece, but the main character wouldn't stop saying she's smart, and therefore has to be dressed in geeky clothing, and can't be social, and all this other stuff that is completely untrue. I understand that you are smart. I'm smart too, but that doesn't mean that I have to compromise my fashion sense because of it. I guess like high school musical you want to stick to the status quote?
Another small thing about this book that has gotten under my skin is the fact that she is a black belt in karate, but in all the situations where she has to defend herself, she just doesn't do it. She does use her skills one time, but it's not to defend herself. Nope, she decides that since her EX-boyfriend wants to date other people, the wise solution is to break the previously spoken of other person's finger. However I was happy to at least see some karate action on her part.
Other then that it was an okay book. The heroine kind of dragged the book down slightly. Regardless, I'm going to be reading book 2 in the series to find out where there relationship will be leading... Speaking of that other freaking book, anyone know how to find it? Seriously, I've had no luck whatsoever.
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Another small thing about this book that has gotten under my skin is the fact that she is a black belt in karate, but in all the situations where she has to defend herself, she just doesn't do it. She does use her skills one time, but it's not to defend herself. Nope, she decides that since her EX-boyfriend wants to date other people, the wise solution is to break the previously spoken of other person's finger. However I was happy to at least see some karate action on her part.
Other then that it was an okay book. The heroine kind of dragged the book down slightly. Regardless, I'm going to be reading book 2 in the series to find out where there relationship will be leading... Speaking of that other freaking book, anyone know how to find it? Seriously, I've had no luck whatsoever.
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May 28, 2012
I did not particularly like this book but it peaked my curiosity. I truly hope the next book is edited. Bad grammar greatly deters from the story that's trying to be told.
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