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The Year of the Great Seventh
Sophie has always felt out of step—an outsider, even amongst friends in her high school with all the hype about celebrity culture. Her life in L.A. seems to have been already written for her, but when her junior year starts, it all takes a drastic turn. When she crosses paths with the school's heartthrob, Nate Werner, they fall for each other in a way neither can understand. What they don’t know is that by giving in to their desires, they are unlocking an ancient Egyptian prophecy that threatens to return Earth to the dark ages.
To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.
To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2013
8 people are currently reading
5980 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Orts
1 book61 followersI’m Teresa Orts, a young adult fantasy author. My first novel, The Year of the Great Seventh, will be published by Drayton Press in July, 2013.
I enjoy reading novels that keep me at the edge of my seat—the ones that you can’t stop thinking about for months. I love traveling the world and living by my own rules, as well as small pleasures such as chocolate, the rain, and hanging out with friends.
If you want to know more about me, please visit my website www.teresaorts.com
I enjoy reading novels that keep me at the edge of my seat—the ones that you can’t stop thinking about for months. I love traveling the world and living by my own rules, as well as small pleasures such as chocolate, the rain, and hanging out with friends.
If you want to know more about me, please visit my website www.teresaorts.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
May 4, 2013
Going into this book, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I gave it a chance because the plot seemed quite interesting and original. While it was a bit slow in the beginning, the plot quickly began to develop after the first few chapters. I really, really, really loved Sophie, the main character and narrator of the novel. Despite the strange events she was going through, I still found her relatable; in fact, she may be one of the most relatable female characters I've ever read about. Of course, I can't exactly say I've led my troubled boyfriend across the country to unlock an Egyptian prophecy before, but there were a lot of things about her personality and mindset that I could definitely relate to, and I had never seen these subtle quirks portrayed in a novel before. Sophie was also realistic - this isn't your typical, head-over-heels in love female character. Although she has her problems with Nate, she still gets her priorities straight and focuses on school as well as getting into NYU, her dream university. I loved Nate as well as Sophie's friends; none of their lives are normal, but they are also extremely different. Her two best friends are celebrities and, between shooting movies, regularly attend premieres and exclusive parties, while Sophie herself has a much more complex life.
I would recommend The Year of the Great Seventh to anyone who love books like Veronica Roth's Divergent - books with the perfect combination of action, suspense, and romance. This is one of those books where you tell yourself "one more chapter and then I'll go to bed," but before you know it it's three in the morning and you've finished it! Orts is an great, creative writer, and I cannot wait to read more about Sophie and Nate in this book's sequel!
(Also, just a little side note - multiple times while reading I kept thinking about how this book would make a fantastic movie. Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself, but I wouldn't mind seeing Eddie Redmayne as Nate on the big screen. ;) )
Thank you so, so much to Teresa Orts for allowing me to read her book and get to know her characters. I seriously loved reading this book and following Sophie and Nate on their journey!
You can also find my review of this book at http://www.chimabooks.blogspot.com .
I would recommend The Year of the Great Seventh to anyone who love books like Veronica Roth's Divergent - books with the perfect combination of action, suspense, and romance. This is one of those books where you tell yourself "one more chapter and then I'll go to bed," but before you know it it's three in the morning and you've finished it! Orts is an great, creative writer, and I cannot wait to read more about Sophie and Nate in this book's sequel!
(Also, just a little side note - multiple times while reading I kept thinking about how this book would make a fantastic movie. Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself, but I wouldn't mind seeing Eddie Redmayne as Nate on the big screen. ;) )
Thank you so, so much to Teresa Orts for allowing me to read her book and get to know her characters. I seriously loved reading this book and following Sophie and Nate on their journey!
You can also find my review of this book at http://www.chimabooks.blogspot.com .
May 7, 2013
"You own me an explanation .Tomorrow, 6 p.m. at my place .Don't get excited. Dad will be home, watching your moves"
Sophie and Nate aren't your average teenagers.
Although, it's their junior year at high school, Sophie has already set a goal and she's determined to achieve it no matter the cost.
Meet Nate Werner. Nate comes from money and it shows .Nate isn't Prince Charming but he's definitely devastatingly gorgeous. Behind the beauty ,though, lies the monster. You see, Nate's "cursed". Apparently, the curse is carried in the bloodline. It's passed on the youngest in the bloodline when the older dies. Nate thinks that the curse cannot be broken until he meets Sophie. Together they go through an adventure to find the "cure" before their time runs out. The clock is ticking....
I enjoyed the book. I liked the fact that in the beginning of the book Nate is a mystery to us and later when the book progresses we learn bits and pieces about his life and we understand why he was so secretive and hostile against Sophie. They were both such strong characters.
I liked the secondary characters as well. Her friends, Megan, Emma and Tyson were very loyal to her.
However, I hated Nate's family. All of them. Not only his parents who were inexcusable but also his cousin, Preston.
All in all, I loved the book. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. I had to find out what was going to happen .And just let me tell you this "The book is a cliffhanger.The Year of the Great Seventh is a romance-mystery book filled with Egyptian history/mythology. It's bound to intrigue you. I totally recommend it!
Looking forward to reading the sequel. Hope it comes out soon...
Thank you Teresa for giving me the opportunity to read your book!
First posted on: http://sofialovesreading.blogspot.gr/...
Sophie and Nate aren't your average teenagers.
Although, it's their junior year at high school, Sophie has already set a goal and she's determined to achieve it no matter the cost.
Meet Nate Werner. Nate comes from money and it shows .Nate isn't Prince Charming but he's definitely devastatingly gorgeous. Behind the beauty ,though, lies the monster. You see, Nate's "cursed". Apparently, the curse is carried in the bloodline. It's passed on the youngest in the bloodline when the older dies. Nate thinks that the curse cannot be broken until he meets Sophie. Together they go through an adventure to find the "cure" before their time runs out. The clock is ticking....
I enjoyed the book. I liked the fact that in the beginning of the book Nate is a mystery to us and later when the book progresses we learn bits and pieces about his life and we understand why he was so secretive and hostile against Sophie. They were both such strong characters.
I liked the secondary characters as well. Her friends, Megan, Emma and Tyson were very loyal to her.
However, I hated Nate's family. All of them. Not only his parents who were inexcusable but also his cousin, Preston.
All in all, I loved the book. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. I had to find out what was going to happen .And just let me tell you this "The book is a cliffhanger.The Year of the Great Seventh is a romance-mystery book filled with Egyptian history/mythology. It's bound to intrigue you. I totally recommend it!
Looking forward to reading the sequel. Hope it comes out soon...
Thank you Teresa for giving me the opportunity to read your book!
First posted on: http://sofialovesreading.blogspot.gr/...
August 10, 2017
Refreshingly eclectic and enriching this outstanding debut novel will leave you in awe!
Totally unexpected and surprising I was blown away by this original tale, which incorporates varying genres (despite being classified as ‘young adult’). Delicately interweaving contrasting settings; from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the city that never sleeps and high school, you are taken on an impressive journey of such scope. The core of this book is a teenage romance and yet the exquisitely detailed historical elements, together with the fast-paced mystery make this an altogether remarkable read that is truly inspired. Underneath the richly detailed and multi-layered parts connected to Egyptian mythology, lies a sincere undertone highlighting the very essence of humanity and the power of love. I found this tale markedly effecting as it touched me by the way I was able to relate to Sophie (the main protagonist), and the realism and emotion within the story. I found myself incredibly impressed by Teresa Orts’ spectacular story, which had me glued to the pages sat in suspense for hours.
Synopsis:
Average girl Sophie from L.A leads a simple life, despite being surrounded by her actress friends and a-list parties. Focused and driven to strive for achieving A grades and a scholarship to NYU, her thoughts are far removed from those distractions surrounding her…until she meets the mysterious Nate Warner. Megan, Emma, Chase and Tyson (her closest friends) cannot understand why there is such an unforeseen intense attraction and deep connection between them. With the legend of Orion and Cleopatra’s secrets brought to the fore, Sophie and Nate are catapulted on an adventure that takes them to New York in search of answers to a most peculiar riddle. Time is running out for Nate…
(Quote- 158)
“Ammateus, marked by the legend of Orion, will suffocate with his own hands the life that guides him. Then he will bring the sons of Satan back from death, marking the end of all. Only the divine stone found where heaven meets earth will save her. The salvation to both lies beneath.”
Utterly hypnotic and entrancing, I was completely captivated by this compelling tale of archaic myths and ancient prophecies. The emphasis on education and striving for ones own dreams is commendable, and certainly is an element that makes this teenage read so believable. Before picking up “The year of the great seventh” I was unsure of what to expect, intrigued by how the author cleverly combined Egyptian historical facts within a young adult romance (in the vein of C.S Lewis’ Narnia). Enchanting and magical; I was swept away by the unfolding drama and acutely imaginative mystery. This has to be one of the most exciting young adult fantasy debuts this year and I predict it becoming a huge bestseller, for it is an astonishingly accomplished piece of fiction.
I am really looking forward to reading ‘the year of the great seventh- book 2’, as the spellbinding cliffhanger ending has left me wanting more! Regardless of age I would recommend this book to those who love something fresh and distinctive, and who delight in the magic which is left to our imagination.
*I won a copy of “the year of the great seventh” by Teresa Orts through a Goodreads, first-read giveaway. I would like to thank the author for this and wish them all the very best with this brilliant debut release*
Totally unexpected and surprising I was blown away by this original tale, which incorporates varying genres (despite being classified as ‘young adult’). Delicately interweaving contrasting settings; from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the city that never sleeps and high school, you are taken on an impressive journey of such scope. The core of this book is a teenage romance and yet the exquisitely detailed historical elements, together with the fast-paced mystery make this an altogether remarkable read that is truly inspired. Underneath the richly detailed and multi-layered parts connected to Egyptian mythology, lies a sincere undertone highlighting the very essence of humanity and the power of love. I found this tale markedly effecting as it touched me by the way I was able to relate to Sophie (the main protagonist), and the realism and emotion within the story. I found myself incredibly impressed by Teresa Orts’ spectacular story, which had me glued to the pages sat in suspense for hours.
Synopsis:
Average girl Sophie from L.A leads a simple life, despite being surrounded by her actress friends and a-list parties. Focused and driven to strive for achieving A grades and a scholarship to NYU, her thoughts are far removed from those distractions surrounding her…until she meets the mysterious Nate Warner. Megan, Emma, Chase and Tyson (her closest friends) cannot understand why there is such an unforeseen intense attraction and deep connection between them. With the legend of Orion and Cleopatra’s secrets brought to the fore, Sophie and Nate are catapulted on an adventure that takes them to New York in search of answers to a most peculiar riddle. Time is running out for Nate…
(Quote- 158)
“Ammateus, marked by the legend of Orion, will suffocate with his own hands the life that guides him. Then he will bring the sons of Satan back from death, marking the end of all. Only the divine stone found where heaven meets earth will save her. The salvation to both lies beneath.”
Utterly hypnotic and entrancing, I was completely captivated by this compelling tale of archaic myths and ancient prophecies. The emphasis on education and striving for ones own dreams is commendable, and certainly is an element that makes this teenage read so believable. Before picking up “The year of the great seventh” I was unsure of what to expect, intrigued by how the author cleverly combined Egyptian historical facts within a young adult romance (in the vein of C.S Lewis’ Narnia). Enchanting and magical; I was swept away by the unfolding drama and acutely imaginative mystery. This has to be one of the most exciting young adult fantasy debuts this year and I predict it becoming a huge bestseller, for it is an astonishingly accomplished piece of fiction.
I am really looking forward to reading ‘the year of the great seventh- book 2’, as the spellbinding cliffhanger ending has left me wanting more! Regardless of age I would recommend this book to those who love something fresh and distinctive, and who delight in the magic which is left to our imagination.
*I won a copy of “the year of the great seventh” by Teresa Orts through a Goodreads, first-read giveaway. I would like to thank the author for this and wish them all the very best with this brilliant debut release*
June 21, 2013
**I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, but this has not influenced my opinion regarding it in any way.**
3.5 stars, rounded down because the beginning was truly... stilted.
THE BAD:
In terms of how the characters were introduced and the dialogue at the beginning:
Once we met the utter cliche of a love interest:
The characters that served no relevant purpose to the story:
BUT NOW. ONTO THE GOOD. (There's much more good than bad.)
Once I got further into the book, it picked up. The chemistry between Nate and Sohpie was much stronger, and the action moved well.
The actual idea behind the whole book is great. Lack of cheesy vampires and not even a dystopian society?
During the climax:
Longer review:
Once the novel moved further along, the dialogue became less stilted. Nate grew on me, as did Sophie and her strong will. The two travel to NYC to uncover the secret of an ancient Egyptian prophecy that will save Nate's life. In this way, The Years of the Great Seventh lends itself to a mystery, and a very good one at that. Orts allows the beginning to drag on a bit much in my opinion, but it allows for some necessary character building and sets the stage for the upcoming events.
Regarding the plot of the book, however, Orts is a true genius. (Makes sense, she studied economies. Smarty pants.) Each clue uncovered has underlying meanings that the reader can attempt to understand themselves based on previous seemingly unimportant information dropped in the novel. By the time all is tied together, the reader essentially sits there going
She ties in everything and just blows your mind. It's a pretty awesome mystery, let's just say that. And it is completely vampire and dystopia free. WOW. My final verdict has got to be that it's worth a read. I'll definitely be on the lookout for the second book.
3.5 stars, rounded down because the beginning was truly... stilted.
THE BAD:
In terms of how the characters were introduced and the dialogue at the beginning:
Once we met the utter cliche of a love interest:
The characters that served no relevant purpose to the story:
BUT NOW. ONTO THE GOOD. (There's much more good than bad.)
Once I got further into the book, it picked up. The chemistry between Nate and Sohpie was much stronger, and the action moved well.
The actual idea behind the whole book is great. Lack of cheesy vampires and not even a dystopian society?
During the climax:
Longer review:
Once the novel moved further along, the dialogue became less stilted. Nate grew on me, as did Sophie and her strong will. The two travel to NYC to uncover the secret of an ancient Egyptian prophecy that will save Nate's life. In this way, The Years of the Great Seventh lends itself to a mystery, and a very good one at that. Orts allows the beginning to drag on a bit much in my opinion, but it allows for some necessary character building and sets the stage for the upcoming events.
Regarding the plot of the book, however, Orts is a true genius. (Makes sense, she studied economies. Smarty pants.) Each clue uncovered has underlying meanings that the reader can attempt to understand themselves based on previous seemingly unimportant information dropped in the novel. By the time all is tied together, the reader essentially sits there going
She ties in everything and just blows your mind. It's a pretty awesome mystery, let's just say that. And it is completely vampire and dystopia free. WOW. My final verdict has got to be that it's worth a read. I'll definitely be on the lookout for the second book.
June 2, 2013
This book is fabulous! For a first-time writer, Teresa knocks it out of the park! LOVED it. Good job, Teresa. Book 2, please!! :)
Want to read
May 6, 2013Just found out I won this one!!! Wooohooo, feels so good to be a First Reads winner:)
July 8, 2013
ophie has always felt out of step—an outsider, even amongst friends in her high school with all the hype about celebrity culture. Her life in L.A. seems to have been already written for her, but when her junior year starts, it all takes a drastic turn. When she crosses paths with the school's heartthrob, Nate Werner, they fall for each other in a way neither can understand. What they don’t know is that by giving in to their desires, they are unlocking an ancient Egyptian prophecy that threatens to return Earth to the dark ages.
To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.
My Thoughts:
The Year of the Great Seventh, by Teresa Orts, is an exciting Young Adult novel with a bit of a paranormal theme thrown in. The Year of the Great Seventh is the first book in the Tropic of Cancer series. As a lover of all YAL, I can say that The Year of the Great Seventh has it all. Romance, mystery, suspense, high school angst, witty dialouge, and touches of pop culture throughout.
The Year of the Great Seventh revolves around Sophie, a student at West Hollywood High who has dreams of moving to New York, going to college, and getting a job at the Metropolitan Museum. Sophie is a lover of history, unlike her peers at school who eat, sleep, and dream about Hollywood. Both of Sophie's best friends, Emma and Megan, are up and coming actresses. In fact, in the beginning of the book Megan has landed a high profile role in a popular movie. While she is happy for her friends, Sophie prefers to stay invisible at school. That, however, all changes when Nate, one of West Hollywood High's rich and popular students, suddenly takes a notice in Sophie. What happens next know one would have guessed.
The Year of the Great Seventh has an unexpected paranormal element to it when it comes to Nate. Sophie realizes that something is off about Nate but he refuses to acknowledge her questions. As the two grow closer, Nate admits that he has what doctors classify as a debilitating mental illness that has no cure. However, as Sophie and Nate dig deeper into his illness in hopes of buying him time, they soon start to realize that something much more serious is going on. They find themselves on an adventure researching ancient Egyptian history and a long ago prophecy.
I definitely recommend Teresa Orts' The Year of the Great Seventh to all fiction, paranormal, romance, and YA lovers. It has a great storyline that will keep your interest from the first page until the last. I am very much looking forward to seeing what happens next for Sophie and Nate in Orts' second book in Topic of Cancer series. If it is anything like The Year of the Great Seventh I know I will be on the edge of my seat the entire time!
*Teresa Orts has provided me with a complimentary copy of her book, The Year of the Great Seventh, for the purpose of review.*
To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.
My Thoughts:
The Year of the Great Seventh, by Teresa Orts, is an exciting Young Adult novel with a bit of a paranormal theme thrown in. The Year of the Great Seventh is the first book in the Tropic of Cancer series. As a lover of all YAL, I can say that The Year of the Great Seventh has it all. Romance, mystery, suspense, high school angst, witty dialouge, and touches of pop culture throughout.
The Year of the Great Seventh revolves around Sophie, a student at West Hollywood High who has dreams of moving to New York, going to college, and getting a job at the Metropolitan Museum. Sophie is a lover of history, unlike her peers at school who eat, sleep, and dream about Hollywood. Both of Sophie's best friends, Emma and Megan, are up and coming actresses. In fact, in the beginning of the book Megan has landed a high profile role in a popular movie. While she is happy for her friends, Sophie prefers to stay invisible at school. That, however, all changes when Nate, one of West Hollywood High's rich and popular students, suddenly takes a notice in Sophie. What happens next know one would have guessed.
The Year of the Great Seventh has an unexpected paranormal element to it when it comes to Nate. Sophie realizes that something is off about Nate but he refuses to acknowledge her questions. As the two grow closer, Nate admits that he has what doctors classify as a debilitating mental illness that has no cure. However, as Sophie and Nate dig deeper into his illness in hopes of buying him time, they soon start to realize that something much more serious is going on. They find themselves on an adventure researching ancient Egyptian history and a long ago prophecy.
I definitely recommend Teresa Orts' The Year of the Great Seventh to all fiction, paranormal, romance, and YA lovers. It has a great storyline that will keep your interest from the first page until the last. I am very much looking forward to seeing what happens next for Sophie and Nate in Orts' second book in Topic of Cancer series. If it is anything like The Year of the Great Seventh I know I will be on the edge of my seat the entire time!
*Teresa Orts has provided me with a complimentary copy of her book, The Year of the Great Seventh, for the purpose of review.*
July 6, 2013
"Ammateus, marked by the legend of Orion, will suffocate with his own hands the life that guides him. Then he will bring the sons of Satan back from the death, marking the end of it all. Only the divine stone found where heaven meets earth will save her."
Sophie is the type of teenager most parents would love to have. She has a great group of friends, she's responsible, does well in school by getting fantastic grades and has a plan for her future. Nate Werner is the popular guy at school. His family are very well off and he moves in a different circle to Sophie. But once their paths cross Sophie feels an incredible need to be with him. He is constantly in her thoughts, so much so that her grades begin to slip and she falls into a funk when he tells her they need to stay away from each other. But the pull towards each other is pretty strong.
While the book contains an element of fantasy, that wasn't what was most prominent about it for the most part. While it was mentioned at different points throughout the story it took a back seat to the characters and their relationships. It wasn't until Sophie and Nate take their journey to New York to try to unlock the mystery surrounding Nate's illness, that the fantasy element of the story really came into play and the action picked up. And when it did, the story came to life. The whole concept of the story was fantastic. Original and different and completely new to me. The changes that take place in Nate over the last part of the book were freaky good. I loved all the references to Egyptian Mythology and the way that all the little pieces of information was released to us in small doses throughout the story.
The Year of the Great Seventh had a much younger feel to it than what I'm used to reading. Despite the characters being around the age of sixteen they did at times feel to be much younger than that. But then at other times they were discussing and making decisions on some grown up situations such as sex. But that's not to say that the story can't be enjoyed by all ages, because I did find that I enjoyed it. I would say that the first part of the book was much slower paced than the back half and it did take me a little while to get into it. But as I said, once the action and adventure kicked into gear that was really when my interest peaked.
And just when I thought that there had been a nice wrap up to book one, the author throws a little twist at the end to ensure that I'm intrigued and wondering about what will take place in book two.
3.75/5 Stars!!
Sophie is the type of teenager most parents would love to have. She has a great group of friends, she's responsible, does well in school by getting fantastic grades and has a plan for her future. Nate Werner is the popular guy at school. His family are very well off and he moves in a different circle to Sophie. But once their paths cross Sophie feels an incredible need to be with him. He is constantly in her thoughts, so much so that her grades begin to slip and she falls into a funk when he tells her they need to stay away from each other. But the pull towards each other is pretty strong.
While the book contains an element of fantasy, that wasn't what was most prominent about it for the most part. While it was mentioned at different points throughout the story it took a back seat to the characters and their relationships. It wasn't until Sophie and Nate take their journey to New York to try to unlock the mystery surrounding Nate's illness, that the fantasy element of the story really came into play and the action picked up. And when it did, the story came to life. The whole concept of the story was fantastic. Original and different and completely new to me. The changes that take place in Nate over the last part of the book were freaky good. I loved all the references to Egyptian Mythology and the way that all the little pieces of information was released to us in small doses throughout the story.
The Year of the Great Seventh had a much younger feel to it than what I'm used to reading. Despite the characters being around the age of sixteen they did at times feel to be much younger than that. But then at other times they were discussing and making decisions on some grown up situations such as sex. But that's not to say that the story can't be enjoyed by all ages, because I did find that I enjoyed it. I would say that the first part of the book was much slower paced than the back half and it did take me a little while to get into it. But as I said, once the action and adventure kicked into gear that was really when my interest peaked.
And just when I thought that there had been a nice wrap up to book one, the author throws a little twist at the end to ensure that I'm intrigued and wondering about what will take place in book two.
3.75/5 Stars!!
July 6, 2013
Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?
Considering that I've been blogging, reviewing and mostly reading YA stories for a few years now I was really surprised that this has been the first YA book set in Hollywood to me. Which is a surprise but I guess that all that glow is focused on the movie industry. Regardless, it was a nice change.
With the change of the setting some other things changed too. I wasn't faced with cheer-leading again (yay) and now I was in company of girls who would want to be a movie stars. You would think it's not a big change but you'd be surprised. Anyhow, yes there are girls that want to have their name on the Walk of Fame one day and there is Sophie, the girl that didn't fit into that picture. Because of that it was easy to connect with her as I assume I'd act the same. Even though at the start both Sophie and Nate seemed kind of plain they grew through the book. You can see them change and you go through their coming of age with them. As characters grown so did the story. What one started as a story about high school students in Hollywood turned into a great mystery. I'm not telling you much about that because it was highly unpredictable for me so it's for the better to discover things on your own.
This was one of the rare times when I've actually read a blurb before diving into the book and I was really afraid after few pages as I didn't know how could an ancient Egyptian prophecy fit into all of this. Well surprisingly for me it worked out really good. Good thing is that it wasn't predictable and quite honestly I know close to nothing about ancient Egypt and I was really enjoying my ride.
So don't fear at the start that this book is plain and uninteresting because you must be patient with it and then it'll show you all its secrets. After it drags you into the story and you are desperately turning the pages to see what's happening in the end. It leaves you wanting for more even though the story doesn't end with the cliffhanger.
Considering that I've been blogging, reviewing and mostly reading YA stories for a few years now I was really surprised that this has been the first YA book set in Hollywood to me. Which is a surprise but I guess that all that glow is focused on the movie industry. Regardless, it was a nice change.
With the change of the setting some other things changed too. I wasn't faced with cheer-leading again (yay) and now I was in company of girls who would want to be a movie stars. You would think it's not a big change but you'd be surprised. Anyhow, yes there are girls that want to have their name on the Walk of Fame one day and there is Sophie, the girl that didn't fit into that picture. Because of that it was easy to connect with her as I assume I'd act the same. Even though at the start both Sophie and Nate seemed kind of plain they grew through the book. You can see them change and you go through their coming of age with them. As characters grown so did the story. What one started as a story about high school students in Hollywood turned into a great mystery. I'm not telling you much about that because it was highly unpredictable for me so it's for the better to discover things on your own.
This was one of the rare times when I've actually read a blurb before diving into the book and I was really afraid after few pages as I didn't know how could an ancient Egyptian prophecy fit into all of this. Well surprisingly for me it worked out really good. Good thing is that it wasn't predictable and quite honestly I know close to nothing about ancient Egypt and I was really enjoying my ride.
So don't fear at the start that this book is plain and uninteresting because you must be patient with it and then it'll show you all its secrets. After it drags you into the story and you are desperately turning the pages to see what's happening in the end. It leaves you wanting for more even though the story doesn't end with the cliffhanger.
July 10, 2013
I received my copy through the Goodreads First Reads.
The cover doesn't show much. At first, I thought it was all about celebrity life and stuff like that but reading it... not so much. This book contains Egyptian Mythology and lots of history but, maybe next time have a very exotic, ancient Egypt-ish cover...maybe...
I found that Sophie was a very likable character and that I could really relate to her (apart from all the supernatural things going around her.) She started off as a girl who is in love with history and has set her heart on NYU while everyone else is laid back but, hyped up about celebrity culture.
Nate was an adorable character. He was a gentleman and you'll probably won't find a real life boy like him... well you might but at my stage of life, boys... meh
He hasn't always had cheerleaders in life supporting him but I guess you can say lots of girls fall for him... even old women. He is quite vulnerable in a way and that makes his relationship with Sophie even more cute!
Throughout the whole book, we kinda knew who was the bad guy so, I think in the next book there should be some twist that will shock the living daylights out of me.
I think the plot revolving around History and Ancient Egypt is very original and is very different to other supernatural books. (Is this book supernatural?)
There is quite a cliffhanger at the end and I would love to see what happens next in Book 2.
The cover doesn't show much. At first, I thought it was all about celebrity life and stuff like that but reading it... not so much. This book contains Egyptian Mythology and lots of history but, maybe next time have a very exotic, ancient Egypt-ish cover...maybe...
I found that Sophie was a very likable character and that I could really relate to her (apart from all the supernatural things going around her.) She started off as a girl who is in love with history and has set her heart on NYU while everyone else is laid back but, hyped up about celebrity culture.
Nate was an adorable character. He was a gentleman and you'll probably won't find a real life boy like him... well you might but at my stage of life, boys... meh
He hasn't always had cheerleaders in life supporting him but I guess you can say lots of girls fall for him... even old women. He is quite vulnerable in a way and that makes his relationship with Sophie even more cute!
Throughout the whole book, we kinda knew who was the bad guy so, I think in the next book there should be some twist that will shock the living daylights out of me.
I think the plot revolving around History and Ancient Egypt is very original and is very different to other supernatural books. (Is this book supernatural?)
There is quite a cliffhanger at the end and I would love to see what happens next in Book 2.
June 21, 2013
Entering her Junior year at high school, Sophie is excited to see her friends but the celebrity culture that is so highly over-rated isn't for her. The cutest boy in school, Nate Werner, and Sophie keep finding themselves bumping into one another and it's making Nate angry.
Both of them keep getting visions of Egyptian mythology, unknown to one another. This doesn't make any sense to the story line in the beginning. Nate's actions toward Sophie, who has always had a crush on Nate, confuse her so she confronts him.
When Nate finally explains his 'curse' to Sophie, at first she is empathetic. But Sophie isn't the kind of person to take anything lying down. She insists that they find a cure and this leads them on a new adventure, one that they won't ever forget.
The mythology and history doesn't make sense at first, but as the story builds, it eventually all comes together. Sophie and Nate are both strong protagonists and I really enjoyed how their story progressed. The secondary characters were okay and added believability to many situations, but there was no one that really stood out from the others. The writing is solid, the writing creative and clever, and the pages just flew by. A must read this summer!
Both of them keep getting visions of Egyptian mythology, unknown to one another. This doesn't make any sense to the story line in the beginning. Nate's actions toward Sophie, who has always had a crush on Nate, confuse her so she confronts him.
When Nate finally explains his 'curse' to Sophie, at first she is empathetic. But Sophie isn't the kind of person to take anything lying down. She insists that they find a cure and this leads them on a new adventure, one that they won't ever forget.
The mythology and history doesn't make sense at first, but as the story builds, it eventually all comes together. Sophie and Nate are both strong protagonists and I really enjoyed how their story progressed. The secondary characters were okay and added believability to many situations, but there was no one that really stood out from the others. The writing is solid, the writing creative and clever, and the pages just flew by. A must read this summer!
July 12, 2013
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, first of all, I have to admit that I love just about everything to do with Ancient Egypt, so I had to read this book when I read that it dealt with an ancient Egyptian prophecy.
The whole plot idea felt really great, and had tons of potential. However, I have to admit, the beginning of the book was a bit rough for me. It didn't grab my attention the way I wished it would, and there were a number of cliche characters, and insta-love (which I DO see as stemming from a vision she has, but I'm not really a fan of insta-love in general). However, once we got past that, and things started to pick up, I was quite interested.
I liked the fact that while Sophie had an "in" with the Hollywood scene, that she didn't want it (don't be fooled by the cover, it's just one little part of the book).
Also in the plus category, Sophie had parents who were a big part of her life. They had high expectations, and paid attention to what she was up to. Nate's parents -- not so much.
Just be aware that this book doesn't cover the whole story. There's definitely more to come.
Okay, first of all, I have to admit that I love just about everything to do with Ancient Egypt, so I had to read this book when I read that it dealt with an ancient Egyptian prophecy.
The whole plot idea felt really great, and had tons of potential. However, I have to admit, the beginning of the book was a bit rough for me. It didn't grab my attention the way I wished it would, and there were a number of cliche characters, and insta-love (which I DO see as stemming from a vision she has, but I'm not really a fan of insta-love in general). However, once we got past that, and things started to pick up, I was quite interested.
I liked the fact that while Sophie had an "in" with the Hollywood scene, that she didn't want it (don't be fooled by the cover, it's just one little part of the book).
Also in the plus category, Sophie had parents who were a big part of her life. They had high expectations, and paid attention to what she was up to. Nate's parents -- not so much.
Just be aware that this book doesn't cover the whole story. There's definitely more to come.
May 1, 2013
Found this book to be an amazing read. I was able to truly connect with the main character, Sophie, and loved the powerful relationship between her and Nate. This book has many great twists and was far different to anything else i have read leaving me hungry for more! Would highly recommend!
April 12, 2013
Loved it! really engaging storyline told through the eyes of a teenage protagonist. You really find yourself rooting for her - a genuine page-turner. Lets hope there's a sequel!!
April 23, 2013
I didn't know what to expect, but I totally loved it! I couldn't put it down. I read it in 1 day!
July 7, 2013
The Year of the Great Seventh is a YA tale with exciting Egyptian twists. It was absolutely nothing like I expected it to be and I think you should prepare yourself for a shock because this book uses the Egyptian myths wonderfully to make it stand out and excite you.
Sophie is an ordinary girl with a simple life living in L.A and attending a high school full of Hollywood-hopefuls. Until she gets tangled with Nate Werner. The two slowly fall for each other and Nate lets Sophie in on his secret. He is cursed. It's a curse that is passed down to the youngest in the bloodline when the eldest dies. Sophie is determined to help Nate and find a cure. Their search leads them to New York where they must rush against the clock before Nate runs out of time and his curse takes over completely.
I didn't know what to expect at first because the book started off completely normal and I didn't see how Orts could incorporate the Egyptian aspects into the story. But she did do so magnificently and I was kept interested and very intrigued on what could happen next at the end of every chapter. The romance and the mystery blended well and added to the excitement and entertainment aspects of the story.
Sophie is your typical down-to-earth girl with her own flaws and quirks. She was sometimes annoying and whiny, but I put up with it and focused on the story. Her relationship with Nate was a bit unsteady at first, but once both of them learn more about each other they establish a close friendship. I was cheering from the sidelines, "KISSKISSKISSKISS!" Nate is pretty cool. I liked his protective and complicated personality, it added a lot more mystery to the story. He had his moments, but overall I loved him.
The Year of the Great Seventh is a thoroughly interesting novel with plenty of Egyptian quirks and charm. If there is a chance for a sequel in the future I would happily read it!
Sophie is an ordinary girl with a simple life living in L.A and attending a high school full of Hollywood-hopefuls. Until she gets tangled with Nate Werner. The two slowly fall for each other and Nate lets Sophie in on his secret. He is cursed. It's a curse that is passed down to the youngest in the bloodline when the eldest dies. Sophie is determined to help Nate and find a cure. Their search leads them to New York where they must rush against the clock before Nate runs out of time and his curse takes over completely.
I didn't know what to expect at first because the book started off completely normal and I didn't see how Orts could incorporate the Egyptian aspects into the story. But she did do so magnificently and I was kept interested and very intrigued on what could happen next at the end of every chapter. The romance and the mystery blended well and added to the excitement and entertainment aspects of the story.
Sophie is your typical down-to-earth girl with her own flaws and quirks. She was sometimes annoying and whiny, but I put up with it and focused on the story. Her relationship with Nate was a bit unsteady at first, but once both of them learn more about each other they establish a close friendship. I was cheering from the sidelines, "KISSKISSKISSKISS!" Nate is pretty cool. I liked his protective and complicated personality, it added a lot more mystery to the story. He had his moments, but overall I loved him.
The Year of the Great Seventh is a thoroughly interesting novel with plenty of Egyptian quirks and charm. If there is a chance for a sequel in the future I would happily read it!
June 4, 2013
I won this book through goodreads first reads and I'm so glad I did.
The year of the great Seventh is refreshingly different from a lot of the young adult books I've been reading lately, I liked how deep the author went with the mythology and I was sitting there trying to figure out the meaning of the prophecy along with Sophie (though I must admit I didn't manage to work anything out for myself). It was also quite nice to hear about L.A. without it all being about glitz and glamour with the main character being obsessed with designer *insert designer item here*, which I have seen in a couple of books to the extent where I felt like I was reading a fashion magazine but anyway back to the point! It was new and refreshing, sort of like the His Dark Materials trilogy (mainly because of the attention to detail) meets the film the Mummy.
The book itself is not written as if it is aimed at young adults in particular, ok the characters are high school students but the writing itself is a bit more mature than what goes on in a typical teenagers head, this combined with the power of the story itself (really trying not to give away spoilers in this review so I apologise for being vague) makes this a book I would recommend to older readers as well. I also liked that the characters reactions to the events are consistent and wouldn't be unexpected in real life, the characters don't automatically forget about the way others have acted in the past and the protagonists don't brush off fatal situations as if they were nothing which makes the characters much more relatable in my eyes.
I would recommend the Great Seventh to anyone who likes mystery with perhaps a bit of fantasy thrown in and I can honestly say that I will find myself rereading this book at some stage and reading the sequel, especially after the dramatic set up for it at the end of the book!
The year of the great Seventh is refreshingly different from a lot of the young adult books I've been reading lately, I liked how deep the author went with the mythology and I was sitting there trying to figure out the meaning of the prophecy along with Sophie (though I must admit I didn't manage to work anything out for myself). It was also quite nice to hear about L.A. without it all being about glitz and glamour with the main character being obsessed with designer *insert designer item here*, which I have seen in a couple of books to the extent where I felt like I was reading a fashion magazine but anyway back to the point! It was new and refreshing, sort of like the His Dark Materials trilogy (mainly because of the attention to detail) meets the film the Mummy.
The book itself is not written as if it is aimed at young adults in particular, ok the characters are high school students but the writing itself is a bit more mature than what goes on in a typical teenagers head, this combined with the power of the story itself (really trying not to give away spoilers in this review so I apologise for being vague) makes this a book I would recommend to older readers as well. I also liked that the characters reactions to the events are consistent and wouldn't be unexpected in real life, the characters don't automatically forget about the way others have acted in the past and the protagonists don't brush off fatal situations as if they were nothing which makes the characters much more relatable in my eyes.
I would recommend the Great Seventh to anyone who likes mystery with perhaps a bit of fantasy thrown in and I can honestly say that I will find myself rereading this book at some stage and reading the sequel, especially after the dramatic set up for it at the end of the book!
July 6, 2013
3 1/2 stars, rounding up for last half of the book.
The Year of the Great Seventh is narrated by sixteen-year-old Sophie Bennett, a junior at West Hollywood High. Everyone around her is in the movie industry, from her mom to her two best girl-friends or if they’re not they’re awestruck by the idea of it. Not Sophie. She can care less about celebs and fashion, all she wants is to leave sunny California and go to NYU to study anthropology like her dad. It’s always been just Sophie and her friends but suddenly the school most popular and beautiful guy Nate seems to catch her attention or vice versa. Nate who never noticed Sophie’s existence before seems to bump into her everywhere she goes…but the thing is there’s a weird connection between them but Sophie doesn’t bring anything but the worst out of Nate.
The first half of the book was just the usually hustle and bustle of high school life and the Hollywood movie industry. It was a pretty slow start, introducing the characters and laying out the facts and clues to the mystery behind Nate’s odd behavior. Nate is extremely extra violent ever since he met Sophie, unable to control himself and harming innocent people as the result. Sophie does some digging, trying to find a plausible answer to why Nate is acting the way he is and why he thinks he’s going insane which leads her to an Egyptian prophecy. The scattering of Egyptian clues at the start of the book don’t make any sense till the last few chapters. I loved how everything tied together in the end, because I was pretty lost on the whole Egyptian mythology/history at the beginning of the book.
I enjoyed the majority of the book, but my only flaw is the heroine, Sophie. Sophie had her moments, but overall is the type of heroine I prefer not to read about. I was close to giving up because of Sophie’s voice. Sine Sophie met Nate, her only thoughts were of him…thoughts of college and friends went on the back burner. Day in and day out, Sophie only thought about Nate even though she didn’t really know him or talk to him. She put Nate’s well-being above herself, and does things she would never consider of doing for him. From start to end, it was Nate this and Nate that. I don’t like girls who throw their future away for a boy (example: Sophie went from being a straight A student to getting C’s and even a F).
The Year of the Great Seventh is a great start to a new series. I love the Egyptian mythology/history aspect of the novel since I haven’t come across many young-adult that incorporates it. While the first half of the book was slow it wasn’t so bad, I just felt like the characters were just going through the motions of high school. The last half of the book is where the story picked up, more action and revelations. I’d rate this book 3 ½ stars, 3 stars for the first half and 4 stars for the last half.
The Year of the Great Seventh is narrated by sixteen-year-old Sophie Bennett, a junior at West Hollywood High. Everyone around her is in the movie industry, from her mom to her two best girl-friends or if they’re not they’re awestruck by the idea of it. Not Sophie. She can care less about celebs and fashion, all she wants is to leave sunny California and go to NYU to study anthropology like her dad. It’s always been just Sophie and her friends but suddenly the school most popular and beautiful guy Nate seems to catch her attention or vice versa. Nate who never noticed Sophie’s existence before seems to bump into her everywhere she goes…but the thing is there’s a weird connection between them but Sophie doesn’t bring anything but the worst out of Nate.
The first half of the book was just the usually hustle and bustle of high school life and the Hollywood movie industry. It was a pretty slow start, introducing the characters and laying out the facts and clues to the mystery behind Nate’s odd behavior. Nate is extremely extra violent ever since he met Sophie, unable to control himself and harming innocent people as the result. Sophie does some digging, trying to find a plausible answer to why Nate is acting the way he is and why he thinks he’s going insane which leads her to an Egyptian prophecy. The scattering of Egyptian clues at the start of the book don’t make any sense till the last few chapters. I loved how everything tied together in the end, because I was pretty lost on the whole Egyptian mythology/history at the beginning of the book.
I enjoyed the majority of the book, but my only flaw is the heroine, Sophie. Sophie had her moments, but overall is the type of heroine I prefer not to read about. I was close to giving up because of Sophie’s voice. Sine Sophie met Nate, her only thoughts were of him…thoughts of college and friends went on the back burner. Day in and day out, Sophie only thought about Nate even though she didn’t really know him or talk to him. She put Nate’s well-being above herself, and does things she would never consider of doing for him. From start to end, it was Nate this and Nate that. I don’t like girls who throw their future away for a boy (example: Sophie went from being a straight A student to getting C’s and even a F).
The Year of the Great Seventh is a great start to a new series. I love the Egyptian mythology/history aspect of the novel since I haven’t come across many young-adult that incorporates it. While the first half of the book was slow it wasn’t so bad, I just felt like the characters were just going through the motions of high school. The last half of the book is where the story picked up, more action and revelations. I’d rate this book 3 ½ stars, 3 stars for the first half and 4 stars for the last half.
July 9, 2013
3.5 stars...rounded to 4 on Goodreads.
Review may also be found on my blog, Dizneeee's World of Books
When the author, Teresa Orts, emailed and asked if I would be interested in reading her book and reviewing it, I was kind of shocked. I had never had an author email me with that question before at that point. My initial thought was, "Oh, no! I don't know what to say! I don't know how to say no." However, when I read the synopsis, I was intrigued and was eager to read it at that point.
I'm sorry to say that I put it off and put it off. I really didn't mean to do that! My apologies to Teresa for taking so long.
A big reason that I'm sorry that I put it off for so long is because I did enjoy the story. I liked the Egyptian mythology and that Sophie was trying so hard to find out what was happening to Nate. It took a bit of time, resources, a trip, and someone knowing about the prophecy to help them to figure it out. They were definitely on a mission to save themselves and the world...before time ran out.
There was one issue for me with The Year of the Great Seventh that kind of held me back from completely loving the book. Sophie became absolutely obsessed with Nate after her friends spotted him looking at her and she had a little "vision" type thing happen. In the beginning of the story, they had never communicated and she didn't admit to her friends that she kind of crushed on him. She barely even admitted it to herself! Shortly after that, almost every paragraph talked about how much she liked him and couldn't stay away.
I'm just going to chalk that up to the prophecy and not just insta-love. Sadly, it was a distraction for me.
Alas! Other than that one issue, the rest of the story was entertaining. I like that they were trying to figure out what was happening and how to fix it. The trip to New York was fun for me to read. The plot was great! The plot twist was even better! I was not expecting THAT to happen! I was also not expecting a cliff-hanger at the end. Darn you, Teresa Orts!!! *shakes fist* I really need Book 2. Right now. Okay?
Also, so y'all know, the cover is from a scene in the book. Sophie and Nate are not Hollywood stars, but they do attend a big movie premiere for Sophie's friend, Megan. The cover captures that part so well and I love that's what was used for the cover. It's when they were "officially" together and letting her friends know.
Review may also be found on my blog, Dizneeee's World of Books
When the author, Teresa Orts, emailed and asked if I would be interested in reading her book and reviewing it, I was kind of shocked. I had never had an author email me with that question before at that point. My initial thought was, "Oh, no! I don't know what to say! I don't know how to say no." However, when I read the synopsis, I was intrigued and was eager to read it at that point.
I'm sorry to say that I put it off and put it off. I really didn't mean to do that! My apologies to Teresa for taking so long.
A big reason that I'm sorry that I put it off for so long is because I did enjoy the story. I liked the Egyptian mythology and that Sophie was trying so hard to find out what was happening to Nate. It took a bit of time, resources, a trip, and someone knowing about the prophecy to help them to figure it out. They were definitely on a mission to save themselves and the world...before time ran out.
There was one issue for me with The Year of the Great Seventh that kind of held me back from completely loving the book. Sophie became absolutely obsessed with Nate after her friends spotted him looking at her and she had a little "vision" type thing happen. In the beginning of the story, they had never communicated and she didn't admit to her friends that she kind of crushed on him. She barely even admitted it to herself! Shortly after that, almost every paragraph talked about how much she liked him and couldn't stay away.
I'm just going to chalk that up to the prophecy and not just insta-love. Sadly, it was a distraction for me.
Alas! Other than that one issue, the rest of the story was entertaining. I like that they were trying to figure out what was happening and how to fix it. The trip to New York was fun for me to read. The plot was great! The plot twist was even better! I was not expecting THAT to happen! I was also not expecting a cliff-hanger at the end. Darn you, Teresa Orts!!! *shakes fist* I really need Book 2. Right now. Okay?
Also, so y'all know, the cover is from a scene in the book. Sophie and Nate are not Hollywood stars, but they do attend a big movie premiere for Sophie's friend, Megan. The cover captures that part so well and I love that's what was used for the cover. It's when they were "officially" together and letting her friends know.
June 23, 2013
Once I really got in to reading The Year of the Great Seventh by Teresa Orts, I didn't want to put it down. It's been a tough couple of months so I lost my reading gusto, but this book helped give it back to me.
It really starts out with a BANG. Sophie and her friends go to a party where Sophie runs in to the popular and absolutely gorgeous Nate who, surprisingly, seems interested in talking to her. But things take a turn for the worst when someone gets a little too close to Sophie (that's putting it nicely) and Nate completely flips out on him.
Just that one incident sets in motion an unstoppable force. Sophie can't help but fall for Nate and contrary to the society they live in and their social circles, he falls for her too it seems. But he's got a secret that he's kept from everyone but Sophie that could end up being the end of him... or her.
I didn't quite understand how Sophie's feelings for Nate went from seemingly non existant to "I can't keep myself away from him" so quickly, and there were some questions I had about the ending that I HOPE will be answered in the next book, but other than that this was a great story. There were some moments that totally creeped me out but I was rooting for the two of them the entire time. The relationship between them may not have really been explained at the start, but the devotion Sophie shows for Nate and the protectiveness he feels toward her just make me that much more invested in their story.
Sophie reminded me a little bit of myself and I think that's important in a story, being able to relate to the characters. She saw Nate, who was broken, and made up her mind to fix him despite all the odds stacked against them. Her fierce determination and hope, I'm sure, are part of what Nate ended up liking so much about her. She wanted to help him when no one else cared. Not even his own parents.
I would recommend this book to anyone 16 and up. There are a couple of scenes that were questionable for anyone younger than that, but 16 and up seems like a safe bet. It was phenomenal and action packed and kept me on the edge of my seating waiting to find out what happened next. I'm glad this is the first in a series because with books like these you always want to read more.
It really starts out with a BANG. Sophie and her friends go to a party where Sophie runs in to the popular and absolutely gorgeous Nate who, surprisingly, seems interested in talking to her. But things take a turn for the worst when someone gets a little too close to Sophie (that's putting it nicely) and Nate completely flips out on him.
Just that one incident sets in motion an unstoppable force. Sophie can't help but fall for Nate and contrary to the society they live in and their social circles, he falls for her too it seems. But he's got a secret that he's kept from everyone but Sophie that could end up being the end of him... or her.
I didn't quite understand how Sophie's feelings for Nate went from seemingly non existant to "I can't keep myself away from him" so quickly, and there were some questions I had about the ending that I HOPE will be answered in the next book, but other than that this was a great story. There were some moments that totally creeped me out but I was rooting for the two of them the entire time. The relationship between them may not have really been explained at the start, but the devotion Sophie shows for Nate and the protectiveness he feels toward her just make me that much more invested in their story.
Sophie reminded me a little bit of myself and I think that's important in a story, being able to relate to the characters. She saw Nate, who was broken, and made up her mind to fix him despite all the odds stacked against them. Her fierce determination and hope, I'm sure, are part of what Nate ended up liking so much about her. She wanted to help him when no one else cared. Not even his own parents.
I would recommend this book to anyone 16 and up. There are a couple of scenes that were questionable for anyone younger than that, but 16 and up seems like a safe bet. It was phenomenal and action packed and kept me on the edge of my seating waiting to find out what happened next. I'm glad this is the first in a series because with books like these you always want to read more.
July 8, 2013
Rating: 3.5 Stars
So, in the beginning you are going to get the setting for a rather generic begining of a relationship. Also you will get a lot of tell vs. show. However, once the plot gets rolling, so does your heartbeat and you are sucked in to this ya-fantasy. Orts gives us a very interesting story outline...Egyptian Prophecy...oh yes, I think so. It really is an exciting ride, although when I first heard of the story I thought for sure it would be taking place in Egypt, and it actually does not, it takes place in Los Angeles and New York. I found myself many times so wrapped into the story, I could actually picture myself on the streets of New York.
So as Nate and Sophie are on the hunt for clues to save Nate's life, we are drawn in more and more as hints are dropped, and you have to make sense of. While this is a fantasy story it has a strong sense of realistic fiction as well a mystery all in one. All elements combine forcing you to keep the book in your hands until you are finished.
So to the Positives...
A very intersting story line that draws you in and has you begging for more.
A cleverly laid out plot that allows the reader to try and piece the mystery together along with Sophie and Nate.
Descriptive quality
Quirky and inteligent characters
The dowfalls...
The beginning is slow and drags on, couped with teen angst for the first few chapters
A little too much telling whats going on rather than letting the reader experience it
I am very excited for the sequel. Since we already know our characters we wont have the beginning character building that caused the beginning to drag on a little long, so it should dive right in to some more heart-pumping action. I hope you write fast Orts!
So, in the beginning you are going to get the setting for a rather generic begining of a relationship. Also you will get a lot of tell vs. show. However, once the plot gets rolling, so does your heartbeat and you are sucked in to this ya-fantasy. Orts gives us a very interesting story outline...Egyptian Prophecy...oh yes, I think so. It really is an exciting ride, although when I first heard of the story I thought for sure it would be taking place in Egypt, and it actually does not, it takes place in Los Angeles and New York. I found myself many times so wrapped into the story, I could actually picture myself on the streets of New York.
So as Nate and Sophie are on the hunt for clues to save Nate's life, we are drawn in more and more as hints are dropped, and you have to make sense of. While this is a fantasy story it has a strong sense of realistic fiction as well a mystery all in one. All elements combine forcing you to keep the book in your hands until you are finished.
So to the Positives...
A very intersting story line that draws you in and has you begging for more.
A cleverly laid out plot that allows the reader to try and piece the mystery together along with Sophie and Nate.
Descriptive quality
Quirky and inteligent characters
The dowfalls...
The beginning is slow and drags on, couped with teen angst for the first few chapters
A little too much telling whats going on rather than letting the reader experience it
I am very excited for the sequel. Since we already know our characters we wont have the beginning character building that caused the beginning to drag on a little long, so it should dive right in to some more heart-pumping action. I hope you write fast Orts!
August 21, 2013
I received this book through good reads and I am so glad I read it..:)
This novel takes the usual elements in a novel and makes them exciting and enjoyable.It follows the pattern of a girl, who is an outsider until she meets the popular and handsome guy of the school with a paranormal twist.I liked the author's research on certain aspects and the way Egypt is woven in the story is one the best things.
In terms of the characters,I liked Sophie who had a very relate-able personality and outlook on life.Nate was also good and you could understand his character though as compared to Sophie his character did not appeal that much.
The starting pages of the novel was disappointing but it picked up halfway and it was overall an enjoyable read
If you like History and paranormal novels are your thing then you will love this...:)
Also reviewed on http://gatewaytodifferentworld.blogsp...
This novel takes the usual elements in a novel and makes them exciting and enjoyable.It follows the pattern of a girl, who is an outsider until she meets the popular and handsome guy of the school with a paranormal twist.I liked the author's research on certain aspects and the way Egypt is woven in the story is one the best things.
In terms of the characters,I liked Sophie who had a very relate-able personality and outlook on life.Nate was also good and you could understand his character though as compared to Sophie his character did not appeal that much.
The starting pages of the novel was disappointing but it picked up halfway and it was overall an enjoyable read
If you like History and paranormal novels are your thing then you will love this...:)
Also reviewed on http://gatewaytodifferentworld.blogsp...
June 25, 2013
This book was awesome.
If I'm completely honest, I had a major book hangover, and couldn't get into it at first. I tried reading it probably three times before I gave up. I gave myself a week, picked it back up, and read it in three sittings. The first two times I read 30-40 pages. The third time, I got lost in the characters, time and place that Orts created and read it to the end.
I felt like I got to know Sophie and Nate, and you root for them the entire time. There are bumps they have to overcome, and it leaves you on the edge of your seat. The last third of the book really heats up, and caused my jaw to drop once or twice. I had heard about a cliff hanger ending, but I was still not prepared for it.
I can honestly say I will be buying the next book of the series.
Two thumbs way, way up to Orts on her first book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
If I'm completely honest, I had a major book hangover, and couldn't get into it at first. I tried reading it probably three times before I gave up. I gave myself a week, picked it back up, and read it in three sittings. The first two times I read 30-40 pages. The third time, I got lost in the characters, time and place that Orts created and read it to the end.
I felt like I got to know Sophie and Nate, and you root for them the entire time. There are bumps they have to overcome, and it leaves you on the edge of your seat. The last third of the book really heats up, and caused my jaw to drop once or twice. I had heard about a cliff hanger ending, but I was still not prepared for it.
I can honestly say I will be buying the next book of the series.
Two thumbs way, way up to Orts on her first book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 1, 2013
This is a fast paced read with an original concept. The forbidden romance between Sophie and Nate is reminiscent of The Twilight Saga in the way the characters are irresistibly drawn to one another. The core adventure creates a dark contrast against the backdrop of glamorous teenage life in LA. There are twists and turns throughout and the ending didn't disappoint.
July 8, 2013
i won this on goodreads and loved it! its a must read!
July 26, 2013
NOTE: I received this ARC from the author. Thank you!
For more of my reviews visit YA Story Teller
You know how there are books which, when you finish reading them, you like everything about them and you end up going over them again and again? And then there are those other books which, after reading them, you feel like you just wasted a good amount of time on them.
It's sad to say that in my opinion "The Year of the Great Seventh" belongs in the second category. I really wish it doesn't because the author is super nice, but ... it is what it is and I can't do anything about it.
So, my disliking of this novel began at the very first page and continued to the last one. I wasn't grabbed, you know? I even took notes in the margins of whatever was wrong, which has never happened before. *sigh*
There are several problems with the novel and here's the list I can remember:
1. Unnecessarily long descriptions, which are repeated two to three times in the span of a chapter. I thought this may be a one time thing, but no. It happens throughout the entire book. There are places where we're provided with information that doesn't concern us at all, and is repeated several times (re-worded, of course).
2. There's lack of time tracking. One moment we're in the now, the next (quite unpreparedly) we're 3 weeks in the future. Then we're given the short version of those 3 weeks (as if they weren't important) but it's clear that indeed they were important because it's in that time span that we could've gotten to know the characters and see how the relationships between them grow.
3. The entire novel is mostly (~80%) tell and only the rest is show. I am truly tired of repeating this, but here goes again: I actually want to see what happens to the characters instead of being told that such and such thing occurred. This is no freaking summary! When a girl gets together with a guy, I want to see it happen, not learn that oh, they've been together for the past month now. Seriously, what the h! This is the novel itself, so write it how it's supposed to be written!Nothing personal, Teresa.
4. The characters (and unfortunately I do mean ALL of them) lack depth, individuality, backbone, logical reasoning etc. The lead female, Sophie, doesn't ever react realistically in any situation. Nate, the bad boy, is more absorbed in himself than to pay attention to anyone else. Sophie's friends only think about partying and don't even know what's happening with her. In fact, that whole friendship thing feels a bit forced between them.
So, a little background here. Sophie has had a crush on Nate forever. Then he notices her and pushes her away. Then all of a sudden we're told they're together even though just a paragraph ago they were actively ignoring each other. And what do you know, an ancient Egyptian prophesy gets triggered by the sheer presence of Sophie near Nate. And to think that they'd been going to the same school for at least a couple of years... surely they had been in the same room at some point?
5. The supposed mystery/secret/whatever isn't very interesting at all. It wasn't explained understandably so I had no idea what was happening and why. I just felt kind of lost because everything seemed to be forced unnaturally together. There was no chemistry, if you like. No flow.
6. The writing style reminded me too much of National Geographic articles, where there's no emotion whatsoever. I think this is the main reason why I didn't feel any attachment toward a single character.
And here's where I am going to stop, even though there's a lot more to say. I just don't want to waste any more time on it. I'm really, truly sorry.
For more of my reviews visit YA Story Teller
You know how there are books which, when you finish reading them, you like everything about them and you end up going over them again and again? And then there are those other books which, after reading them, you feel like you just wasted a good amount of time on them.
It's sad to say that in my opinion "The Year of the Great Seventh" belongs in the second category. I really wish it doesn't because the author is super nice, but ... it is what it is and I can't do anything about it.
So, my disliking of this novel began at the very first page and continued to the last one. I wasn't grabbed, you know? I even took notes in the margins of whatever was wrong, which has never happened before. *sigh*
There are several problems with the novel and here's the list I can remember:
1. Unnecessarily long descriptions, which are repeated two to three times in the span of a chapter. I thought this may be a one time thing, but no. It happens throughout the entire book. There are places where we're provided with information that doesn't concern us at all, and is repeated several times (re-worded, of course).
2. There's lack of time tracking. One moment we're in the now, the next (quite unpreparedly) we're 3 weeks in the future. Then we're given the short version of those 3 weeks (as if they weren't important) but it's clear that indeed they were important because it's in that time span that we could've gotten to know the characters and see how the relationships between them grow.
3. The entire novel is mostly (~80%) tell and only the rest is show. I am truly tired of repeating this, but here goes again: I actually want to see what happens to the characters instead of being told that such and such thing occurred. This is no freaking summary! When a girl gets together with a guy, I want to see it happen, not learn that oh, they've been together for the past month now. Seriously, what the h! This is the novel itself, so write it how it's supposed to be written!Nothing personal, Teresa.
4. The characters (and unfortunately I do mean ALL of them) lack depth, individuality, backbone, logical reasoning etc. The lead female, Sophie, doesn't ever react realistically in any situation. Nate, the bad boy, is more absorbed in himself than to pay attention to anyone else. Sophie's friends only think about partying and don't even know what's happening with her. In fact, that whole friendship thing feels a bit forced between them.
So, a little background here. Sophie has had a crush on Nate forever. Then he notices her and pushes her away. Then all of a sudden we're told they're together even though just a paragraph ago they were actively ignoring each other. And what do you know, an ancient Egyptian prophesy gets triggered by the sheer presence of Sophie near Nate. And to think that they'd been going to the same school for at least a couple of years... surely they had been in the same room at some point?
5. The supposed mystery/secret/whatever isn't very interesting at all. It wasn't explained understandably so I had no idea what was happening and why. I just felt kind of lost because everything seemed to be forced unnaturally together. There was no chemistry, if you like. No flow.
6. The writing style reminded me too much of National Geographic articles, where there's no emotion whatsoever. I think this is the main reason why I didn't feel any attachment toward a single character.
And here's where I am going to stop, even though there's a lot more to say. I just don't want to waste any more time on it. I'm really, truly sorry.
June 30, 2013
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads Firstreads.
The book started out very slow, there were many unnecessary scenes and the dialogue was extremely stilted. I almost gave up, but since I won this book and I was supposed to give it an honest review I couldn't make myself stop reading with a clear conscience.
Let's start with Nate. Of course he is gorgeous, Sophie can't stop reminding us. This is such a YA cliche, it's been done to death. What's wrong with normal looking guys, why don't they ever get any love? Nate is just another gorgeous,rich, troubled YA male lead. Other than the fact that he is an Adonis, I didn't really get a sense of who he was.
But apparently Sophie doesn't need to know more than that because it's insta-love for these two. That's just too easy and also done to death. For once I'd like to see a normal progression in YA relationships.
Speaking of Sophie, her friends may be the actors, but Sophie is the Drama Queen. I remember being a teenager and feeling like every little thing was super important and over the top (I guess the author should get some points for realism here), but it's so annoying having to read almost 300 pages of that.
One example (mild spoiler maybe): Nate tells Sophie that it's better if they stay away from each other a few days after they talk for the first time. For the rest of the book when thinking about this moment Sophie repeats how cruel that was and how humiliating and because of this she starts living like a corpse (I'm pretty sure that's a direct quote).
She is also a very, very bad (or maybe superficial) friend. I can't even begin counting the ways.
For what it's worth I really wanted to like Sophie and the fact that she mentioned wanting to go to college in the beginning made me very happy. I thought maybe her life won't revolve around the guy for a change. Well, that dream of mine came to a bitter end because she does all that she can to hurt her chances to go to college just to get the guy. Oh well, maybe she will magically get into college in the sequel(s) anyway.
The book picks up a bit in the last 40-50 pages or so, but I still wish we had received some better explanations for everything that happened. The ending felt rushed after being dragged through so many useless scenes in the rest of the book.
One small thing that jumped at me somewhere in the middle of the book. Everybody wants to break free, and at that point so did I. So did I.
1 star because I would have quit after the first few chapters if I hadn't felt it was necessary to read it all in order to review it.
The book started out very slow, there were many unnecessary scenes and the dialogue was extremely stilted. I almost gave up, but since I won this book and I was supposed to give it an honest review I couldn't make myself stop reading with a clear conscience.
Let's start with Nate. Of course he is gorgeous, Sophie can't stop reminding us. This is such a YA cliche, it's been done to death. What's wrong with normal looking guys, why don't they ever get any love? Nate is just another gorgeous,rich, troubled YA male lead. Other than the fact that he is an Adonis, I didn't really get a sense of who he was.
But apparently Sophie doesn't need to know more than that because it's insta-love for these two. That's just too easy and also done to death. For once I'd like to see a normal progression in YA relationships.
Speaking of Sophie, her friends may be the actors, but Sophie is the Drama Queen. I remember being a teenager and feeling like every little thing was super important and over the top (I guess the author should get some points for realism here), but it's so annoying having to read almost 300 pages of that.
One example (mild spoiler maybe): Nate tells Sophie that it's better if they stay away from each other a few days after they talk for the first time. For the rest of the book when thinking about this moment Sophie repeats how cruel that was and how humiliating and because of this she starts living like a corpse (I'm pretty sure that's a direct quote).
She is also a very, very bad (or maybe superficial) friend. I can't even begin counting the ways.
For what it's worth I really wanted to like Sophie and the fact that she mentioned wanting to go to college in the beginning made me very happy. I thought maybe her life won't revolve around the guy for a change. Well, that dream of mine came to a bitter end because she does all that she can to hurt her chances to go to college just to get the guy. Oh well, maybe she will magically get into college in the sequel(s) anyway.
The book picks up a bit in the last 40-50 pages or so, but I still wish we had received some better explanations for everything that happened. The ending felt rushed after being dragged through so many useless scenes in the rest of the book.
One small thing that jumped at me somewhere in the middle of the book. Everybody wants to break free, and at that point so did I. So did I.
1 star because I would have quit after the first few chapters if I hadn't felt it was necessary to read it all in order to review it.
May 14, 2013
There’s something oddly familiar with The Year of The Great Seventh, and no its not the story, but with the writing and the characters. Firstly, the characters’ name, Nate and Sophie, are also the same names my friend and I have in the book we wrote in college. Plus the writing is kind of similar with ours too! I was laughing all the while reading the book.
Okay, onto the story/novel/book. The Year of the Great Seventh has a loot of potential, I can feel it reverberate and shiver around the book. The characters were great, and the story was also good. However, I felt like sometimes the characters overdid their actions, acting too fake-y and just...not right, and in the end I felt oh-so-awkward with the thing/s they did. And sometimes, the scenes or conversations are too off and its like it sprouted out of nowhere. Also, I usually don’t mind when infos or stuffs are repeated or mentioned more than once throughout the story, but here, the repetition was too much, so less on that would have been better. But there’s just something captivating with the story that kept me going. It was actually hard to continue reading at times because of the reasons I’ve mentioned earlier, but something in the story made me kept on reading it. The paranormal stuff part was actually good, but for the entirety of the story, I really positively think it has a lot of potential to be great but the drawbacks must be changed or some more edits would help (maybe?).
However, I still liked the story, but I wish it was written more fluidly, and naturally. Something. Still was a good read though. :)
*A copy was received from the author in exchange of an honest review :)*
Okay, onto the story/novel/book. The Year of the Great Seventh has a loot of potential, I can feel it reverberate and shiver around the book. The characters were great, and the story was also good. However, I felt like sometimes the characters overdid their actions, acting too fake-y and just...not right, and in the end I felt oh-so-awkward with the thing/s they did. And sometimes, the scenes or conversations are too off and its like it sprouted out of nowhere. Also, I usually don’t mind when infos or stuffs are repeated or mentioned more than once throughout the story, but here, the repetition was too much, so less on that would have been better. But there’s just something captivating with the story that kept me going. It was actually hard to continue reading at times because of the reasons I’ve mentioned earlier, but something in the story made me kept on reading it. The paranormal stuff part was actually good, but for the entirety of the story, I really positively think it has a lot of potential to be great but the drawbacks must be changed or some more edits would help (maybe?).
However, I still liked the story, but I wish it was written more fluidly, and naturally. Something. Still was a good read though. :)
*A copy was received from the author in exchange of an honest review :)*
March 28, 2013
I don't read a lot of YA books as a rule, I feel that I am too old at times to really be able to get into the story of teenagers. Once I started reading The Year of The Great Seventh it took me a bit to get into it, but I think that it was because of the fact that the author was setting up the characters. Since they were teenagers it took me awhile to grasp what was going on. I have always found ancient Egypt to be intriguing so once the story got past the introduction of the characters and it got into the supernatural aspect I found the story really taking off for me. The author weaves the lives of teenagers in Hollywood with Egyptian mythology to make the story interesting. Sophie to me seemed like a bit of an outsider who finds herself attracted to rich boy Nate, who seems to have anger issues. It is not until later in the story the reader finds out what and why he does have these issues. He seems to have inherited his issues from his grandfather, he thinks it is mental issues but this is where the mythology comes in and the reader finds out what is going on. Sophie and Nate go to New York to find answers to the clues that they find and it is a race to save Nate from evil. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the sequel!
June 6, 2013
Sophie was an intriguing character who grabbed my attention right away. While the initial plot was similar to a lot of teen romances,(eyes meet and then suddenly, unexplainably drawn to one another), the mystery and the setting of these characters made the story a unique one. The historical references added to the believability of the story. The author did a wonderful job of subtly raising questions that kept you guessing which direction the story would go and leaving you thinking there had better be a sequel! I received this book early as a preread giveaway through Goodreads! I hope a similar chance is given for the next book in this series! I would love to know more of their story!
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