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Collide
Fated to love. Fated to break. Fated to die.
As a loner his entire life, Shay Pearce feels abandoned and left for dead. Being stabbed in the back more times than he could possibly count has left his trust broken beyond repair. However, all of that threatens to change the moment he meets Avalon. She’s flawless, friendly, and incredibly talented at breaking through Shay’s defenses—which drives him absolutely insane. But there’s something alluring about her upbeat attitude and playful sense of humor, and before he can stop himself, he’s falling for her.
When things take a turn for the worst, Shay discovers more about his world than he could’ve imagined in his wildest dreams. There’s far more to his existence than meets the eye. He knows one thing for sure: he has to fight the evil that haunts him. It’s the only way to save Avalon and finally get the vengeance that was always his. But some things were meant to be set in stone. If the course of fate cannot be altered, can Shay be saved…
…from himself?
As a loner his entire life, Shay Pearce feels abandoned and left for dead. Being stabbed in the back more times than he could possibly count has left his trust broken beyond repair. However, all of that threatens to change the moment he meets Avalon. She’s flawless, friendly, and incredibly talented at breaking through Shay’s defenses—which drives him absolutely insane. But there’s something alluring about her upbeat attitude and playful sense of humor, and before he can stop himself, he’s falling for her.
When things take a turn for the worst, Shay discovers more about his world than he could’ve imagined in his wildest dreams. There’s far more to his existence than meets the eye. He knows one thing for sure: he has to fight the evil that haunts him. It’s the only way to save Avalon and finally get the vengeance that was always his. But some things were meant to be set in stone. If the course of fate cannot be altered, can Shay be saved…
…from himself?
392 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2013
1 person is currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Forever
18 books15 followersForever is a 17-year-old author finishing her senior year in high school. She plans to go to college for a degree in English and secondary education. When she isn’t writing, Forever is rehearsing for a play, listening to rock and metal music, and watching cartoons. She currently lives with her parents and older sister.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 28, 2014
Completely, without a doubt, beautifully structured and touching. I started reading Collide a while after the original Team already had. I'm like five months behind on finishing it. Still, for a new release on a book, I've read it pretty soon. I still haven't read Shades of Earth despite it being the last installment of my favorite series. Anyhow, The summary drew me in but I was unsure of what to expect. I read this with some background knowledge on the piece. I won't spoil it for anyone else but it did make the book deliver a lessened punch, as it does with any other book. Still, despite knowing what I did about the book, I found it nonetheless entertaining and enjoyable.
Forever's writing is unique and tells the story the way it feels best. I'm so used to reading from a girl's POV, that Shay was refreshing. Considering Forever is a girl, I'm surprised at how into a guy's mind she can write. While I can't say that Shay is anywhere on my favorite characters list, I do appreciate his story. He's a bit of a douche in some cases. Can't blame him completely but I will still hold him responsible.
Avalon was... I can't even find the word to describe her. At first I thought she was bipolar, or demented. Read it and you'll see why. As the book progressed, though, I found myself taking a liking to her. Both she and Shay have struggled through a lot and even with their scars, they became good people. Not great or model citizens but definitely okay.
One thing I learned while reading this is that surprises do come out of any corner. The ending... what can I even say about that ending? The epilogue is excused from the following comments. Just the way they did what they did. Excuse me as I try to get the visual out of my head. Despite that, it did not take away from my enjoyment.
Before you go on and read it, though, know that liking it definitely depends on the reader. It won't appeal to everyone. It's dark and even with hope, some of the stuff that is addressed is not exactly rainbows and unicorns. Those who it appeals to, though, will enjoy it plenty.
Forever's writing is unique and tells the story the way it feels best. I'm so used to reading from a girl's POV, that Shay was refreshing. Considering Forever is a girl, I'm surprised at how into a guy's mind she can write. While I can't say that Shay is anywhere on my favorite characters list, I do appreciate his story. He's a bit of a douche in some cases. Can't blame him completely but I will still hold him responsible.
Avalon was... I can't even find the word to describe her. At first I thought she was bipolar, or demented. Read it and you'll see why. As the book progressed, though, I found myself taking a liking to her. Both she and Shay have struggled through a lot and even with their scars, they became good people. Not great or model citizens but definitely okay.
One thing I learned while reading this is that surprises do come out of any corner. The ending... what can I even say about that ending? The epilogue is excused from the following comments. Just the way they did what they did. Excuse me as I try to get the visual out of my head. Despite that, it did not take away from my enjoyment.
Before you go on and read it, though, know that liking it definitely depends on the reader. It won't appeal to everyone. It's dark and even with hope, some of the stuff that is addressed is not exactly rainbows and unicorns. Those who it appeals to, though, will enjoy it plenty.
October 1, 2013
This is an absolute keeper. She has true potential and talent. I'm not sure if many people know this, but she made the book cover. She worked hard on this book and it really paid off. If anyone has second thoughts about reading it, pick it up now, and get lost in the words!
~Reviewed by ML User AnaBellaTheNerd~
~Reviewed by ML User AnaBellaTheNerd~
April 21, 2014
The writing is beginner level, though it is still good. I feel like things weren't illustrated professionally; Shay's thoughts seemed too random in some places, and some other things seemed random as well.
The characters are good. Nixon is spunky and fun and sarcastic. Avalon is sweet but there's something boiling beneath the surface. Shay is troubled, his scars go deep. The storyline is original and thought out.
Characters have sex but chapter ends before anything actually happens, lots of cussing, father abuses the main character, Shay, and there is a lot of violence toward the end of this book. Character also drinks and cuts himself.
I liked the epilogue--it was sweet. I thought the final chapter was rushed. It really didn't make sense to me how Nixon and Shay could be over such a thing so fast.
I think Forever has a wonderful talent for story-telling, and will be a great author someday.
The 2 short stories that come in this special edition are good.
Echo: set in one of Shay's past lives and takes you through one of his love stories. This story ends in tragedy, as does all of Shay's past lives. There is a nice twist at the end of this short story though--when it jumps back to present-day Shay.
Shift: told from Avalon's perspective. Begins in tragedy and ends with the beginning of new love.
The characters are good. Nixon is spunky and fun and sarcastic. Avalon is sweet but there's something boiling beneath the surface. Shay is troubled, his scars go deep. The storyline is original and thought out.
Characters have sex but chapter ends before anything actually happens, lots of cussing, father abuses the main character, Shay, and there is a lot of violence toward the end of this book. Character also drinks and cuts himself.
I liked the epilogue--it was sweet. I thought the final chapter was rushed. It really didn't make sense to me how Nixon and Shay could be over such a thing so fast.
I think Forever has a wonderful talent for story-telling, and will be a great author someday.
The 2 short stories that come in this special edition are good.
Echo: set in one of Shay's past lives and takes you through one of his love stories. This story ends in tragedy, as does all of Shay's past lives. There is a nice twist at the end of this short story though--when it jumps back to present-day Shay.
Shift: told from Avalon's perspective. Begins in tragedy and ends with the beginning of new love.
April 21, 2014
SPOILER FREE REVIEW
I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I wouldn’t say this book is flawless but it’s really good, even better considering how young the author is. Honestly this totally caught me off guard. I forgot what this is about and when I read the blurb again, I thought: damn, this will be horrible. Then I started and it wasn’t bad, not at all! Even if the story wasn’t always what I hoped for it sucked me in and didn’t let me go until the very end.
Maybe a lot of people don't know this but I read that Forever worked with everything what this book consists starting with writing it to the cover, maybe you think this isn't a big deal, every author works a lot with a book which is true. BUT most authors aren't 17 and still in high school so I'd like to congratulate her because I'm seventeen too and I can't even imagine writing a book and fighting for it to get published while learning to go to university, she must be a really amazing person. So I'm really sorry about the critic I'm going to say about her book.
The Storyline:
I don’t want say a lot about it, the blurb tells us all we have to know and I don’t want to spoil anything. The whole idea was really good, there were a few clichés here and there but I always thought if you use a cliché well you can make something wonderful out of it. I loved that there were a real mystery in this book which won’t crash down like a card house if you look back to the story, it made sense, not like in many other books. All the questions which could arise were answered.
The romance... I wouldn’t say I hated it but it was weak for me. The author didn’t really make a good job of making me feel what they felt, throughout the book I couldn’t connect with the characters I could never relate to them. How Shay and Avalon got together then broke up then rewind this back again and again was so damn annoying and how quickly they could move on was making me so furious. This would have been okay if it was “just” a teen romance but considering their past and all that’s said and done in the novel, I think the author wanted to make the semblance of a strong relationship between these two.
The Characters:
Shay: He wasn’t actually whiny but there were just few parts where he didn’t feel sorry for himself. Okay, he had an abusive father which was really-really bad – however the father’s personality didn’t quite add up for me, sometimes he was even kind, people like him are never kind, besides in public – but he had friends, for goodness sake he had a best friend who would have done anything for him, considering these things he was luckier than a lot of people.
Avalon: Again I couldn’t relate to her, she wasn’t that bad though and I can get that her life was an especially hard one but how could I like her if she fell for a guy the same day her boyfriend died? I couldn’t get her and considering what we learnt about her I think she should be much more mature.
I usually try to write about at least five characters but the others didn’t really make any impression on me.
There were a little bit too many strange names in this story, one, two or even three is okay but this many in one group of friends?
The story idea: 4/5
The realization of the story: 3/5
The characters: 3/5
The cover: 4/5
All in all: 3,5/5
I’m giving three stars but I feel bad about it because this story was so much better than other popular young adult novels for example Finding Sky or My Blood Approves and I know it should have more readers. I can't give more because this just couldn't reach the level of other books I gave four stars to. I am quite critical so this is why I think a lot of people would like this and I've already read how much others could relate to the characters so maybe the problem's with me but anyhow I'd recommend this to those who like fantasy and romance together and who won't back away from a little blood.
Favorite character: -
Least favorite: Nixon
Will I read other books of Forever?
Definitely. :)
I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I wouldn’t say this book is flawless but it’s really good, even better considering how young the author is. Honestly this totally caught me off guard. I forgot what this is about and when I read the blurb again, I thought: damn, this will be horrible. Then I started and it wasn’t bad, not at all! Even if the story wasn’t always what I hoped for it sucked me in and didn’t let me go until the very end.
Maybe a lot of people don't know this but I read that Forever worked with everything what this book consists starting with writing it to the cover, maybe you think this isn't a big deal, every author works a lot with a book which is true. BUT most authors aren't 17 and still in high school so I'd like to congratulate her because I'm seventeen too and I can't even imagine writing a book and fighting for it to get published while learning to go to university, she must be a really amazing person. So I'm really sorry about the critic I'm going to say about her book.
The Storyline:
I don’t want say a lot about it, the blurb tells us all we have to know and I don’t want to spoil anything. The whole idea was really good, there were a few clichés here and there but I always thought if you use a cliché well you can make something wonderful out of it. I loved that there were a real mystery in this book which won’t crash down like a card house if you look back to the story, it made sense, not like in many other books. All the questions which could arise were answered.
The romance... I wouldn’t say I hated it but it was weak for me. The author didn’t really make a good job of making me feel what they felt, throughout the book I couldn’t connect with the characters I could never relate to them. How Shay and Avalon got together then broke up then rewind this back again and again was so damn annoying and how quickly they could move on was making me so furious. This would have been okay if it was “just” a teen romance but considering their past and all that’s said and done in the novel, I think the author wanted to make the semblance of a strong relationship between these two.
The Characters:
Shay: He wasn’t actually whiny but there were just few parts where he didn’t feel sorry for himself. Okay, he had an abusive father which was really-really bad – however the father’s personality didn’t quite add up for me, sometimes he was even kind, people like him are never kind, besides in public – but he had friends, for goodness sake he had a best friend who would have done anything for him, considering these things he was luckier than a lot of people.
Avalon: Again I couldn’t relate to her, she wasn’t that bad though and I can get that her life was an especially hard one but how could I like her if she fell for a guy the same day her boyfriend died? I couldn’t get her and considering what we learnt about her I think she should be much more mature.
I usually try to write about at least five characters but the others didn’t really make any impression on me.
There were a little bit too many strange names in this story, one, two or even three is okay but this many in one group of friends?
The story idea: 4/5
The realization of the story: 3/5
The characters: 3/5
The cover: 4/5
All in all: 3,5/5
I’m giving three stars but I feel bad about it because this story was so much better than other popular young adult novels for example Finding Sky or My Blood Approves and I know it should have more readers. I can't give more because this just couldn't reach the level of other books I gave four stars to. I am quite critical so this is why I think a lot of people would like this and I've already read how much others could relate to the characters so maybe the problem's with me but anyhow I'd recommend this to those who like fantasy and romance together and who won't back away from a little blood.
Favorite character: -
Least favorite: Nixon
Will I read other books of Forever?
Definitely. :)
May 3, 2014
I received an electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know what to say. It wasn't bad but it wasn't the best either. At first I didn't want to finish it because I decided it was not my thing but I finished it anyway.
The characters are extraordinary. They have their flaws and irritating attitudes which are good for a story. Although it is a little frustrating sometimes.
Avalon creeps me out. She's like a mental disordered person. It was weird, she was weird. It's one of the reasons why I didn't want to continue reading.
Shay is sweet. I always like geeky guys because they tend to do things that makes me all gooey inside. He is nice but he's frustrating. I mean, who nods at someone who looks like she wanted to stab you? Also, he seems like a little pushover.
Their relationship is a bust. It is sad, because I thought that it was a romance novel at first. It lacks.. something. It just feels too sudden for me. I don't like the arguments, it makes them immature.
The plot is nice. It was something I didn't expect. Though there are details that needed to be improved.
The writing is okay. A little confusing. Sometimes I feel like it skips something.
Ergo, the book was okay for me but it held a lot of potential. I think it can be improved.
Thanks so much for the generosity of the author :)
I don't know what to say. It wasn't bad but it wasn't the best either. At first I didn't want to finish it because I decided it was not my thing but I finished it anyway.
The characters are extraordinary. They have their flaws and irritating attitudes which are good for a story. Although it is a little frustrating sometimes.
Avalon creeps me out. She's like a mental disordered person. It was weird, she was weird. It's one of the reasons why I didn't want to continue reading.
Shay is sweet. I always like geeky guys because they tend to do things that makes me all gooey inside. He is nice but he's frustrating. I mean, who nods at someone who looks like she wanted to stab you? Also, he seems like a little pushover.
Their relationship is a bust. It is sad, because I thought that it was a romance novel at first. It lacks.. something. It just feels too sudden for me. I don't like the arguments, it makes them immature.
The plot is nice. It was something I didn't expect. Though there are details that needed to be improved.
The writing is okay. A little confusing. Sometimes I feel like it skips something.
Ergo, the book was okay for me but it held a lot of potential. I think it can be improved.
Thanks so much for the generosity of the author :)
May 20, 2019
As with anything written by Forever, this book is lovely, well-written, and exciting. The characters are complex and interesting, and they made me laugh, smile, and cry -- sometimes at the same time.
There are a few clichés in this book, but Forever manages to make them unique. This book will have you biting your nails in anxiety and flipping through it to find out what happens next.
I've rated this four stars because I haven't read the entire book -- I prefer to not rate something five stars if I haven't read/seen the whole book/movie.
There are a few clichés in this book, but Forever manages to make them unique. This book will have you biting your nails in anxiety and flipping through it to find out what happens next.
I've rated this four stars because I haven't read the entire book -- I prefer to not rate something five stars if I haven't read/seen the whole book/movie.
July 1, 2013
What an amazing read. I'm blown away that this author is a 17 year old. The story line is different from anything I've ever read. I agree with other readers when they said this read was tragically beautiful. I went through every emotion during this book. All I can say is read it.
October 15, 2013
Your emotional reaction to a book is part of your judgement of it correct?
Therefore everyone's going to be biased. If you and your best friend read a book together the day you met and had a joke about the blue and purple poka-dotted socks in the book for years to come, that's going to affect how you read the book. The book might be horrible as you continue to grow as a reader, but you'll always end up cracking up and being positive about the book because of the memories that you and your best friend had about the book. No review can be completely objective, but I feel like I have to state that my friends and I read this on MissLiterati.com when it came out in a serial format, and discussed the book and had jokes about it. When rereading this, I smiled about the non-dominational holiday shrub, because my friends and I have a joke about it. Yes I personally know the author as well, but that doesn't change what I think about the book because even if my best friend wrote a book and it was crap, I'd tell them so. I will not change my opinion to spare someone's feelings. However the reading experience you have when reading a book influences you as much as the book itself.
So I'm not sure if the author's talent to connect to the reader should be counted. Personally I was never worried for the characters, and there was no pulling of my heart strings that way. Maybe it's because I was rereading, but I was never particularly worried for Shay, Avalon, and friends. However it's for to take some talent to connect to the reader, which I found happened. I'd be reading and think "That's so true, I see that happen all the time!" There are a few things in the book like that, so it's got to count for something.
Plot-wise it was engaging, but I felt that there was more romance than fantasy. That's a personal cup of tea thing, but I care more for the fantasy. I also found that certain plot devices worked better in serial format.
The writing wasn't perfectly smooth either, there was definitely some weird and awkward lines. One thing that really bothered me was the usage of dialogue tags. If there's two people have a conversation in a private place with no one else about, and it's a short conversation I find that dialogue tags will weigh everything down.
Also, this is once again a personal thing, but I don't approve of naming characters after yourself. I find that it's just a stupid thing to do, especially as time goes on and you change. When you're forty and you reread the book and see yourself paired off with a person you don't know anymore completing your teenage dreams that don't matter anymore, I find that's just something you want to avoid. Sure having characters based off of other people you know isn't great either, but I find that yourself is sort of weird.
However by my rating standards, it did pull some emotional response from me and it wasn't a bore so that's why I rate it as such.
Therefore everyone's going to be biased. If you and your best friend read a book together the day you met and had a joke about the blue and purple poka-dotted socks in the book for years to come, that's going to affect how you read the book. The book might be horrible as you continue to grow as a reader, but you'll always end up cracking up and being positive about the book because of the memories that you and your best friend had about the book. No review can be completely objective, but I feel like I have to state that my friends and I read this on MissLiterati.com when it came out in a serial format, and discussed the book and had jokes about it. When rereading this, I smiled about the non-dominational holiday shrub, because my friends and I have a joke about it. Yes I personally know the author as well, but that doesn't change what I think about the book because even if my best friend wrote a book and it was crap, I'd tell them so. I will not change my opinion to spare someone's feelings. However the reading experience you have when reading a book influences you as much as the book itself.
So I'm not sure if the author's talent to connect to the reader should be counted. Personally I was never worried for the characters, and there was no pulling of my heart strings that way. Maybe it's because I was rereading, but I was never particularly worried for Shay, Avalon, and friends. However it's for to take some talent to connect to the reader, which I found happened. I'd be reading and think "That's so true, I see that happen all the time!" There are a few things in the book like that, so it's got to count for something.
Plot-wise it was engaging, but I felt that there was more romance than fantasy. That's a personal cup of tea thing, but I care more for the fantasy. I also found that certain plot devices worked better in serial format.
The writing wasn't perfectly smooth either, there was definitely some weird and awkward lines. One thing that really bothered me was the usage of dialogue tags. If there's two people have a conversation in a private place with no one else about, and it's a short conversation I find that dialogue tags will weigh everything down.
Also, this is once again a personal thing, but I don't approve of naming characters after yourself. I find that it's just a stupid thing to do, especially as time goes on and you change. When you're forty and you reread the book and see yourself paired off with a person you don't know anymore completing your teenage dreams that don't matter anymore, I find that's just something you want to avoid. Sure having characters based off of other people you know isn't great either, but I find that yourself is sort of weird.
However by my rating standards, it did pull some emotional response from me and it wasn't a bore so that's why I rate it as such.
April 26, 2014
4.5 stars
Wow I wasn't expecting Collide to be such a good book. This was one of those stories that just pulled me in right away. I was reading this while my husband was watching TV. Normally I can do both, watch TV and read and follow along with both story lines, but this book sucked me in so much I have no idea what he was even watching. Really a fantastic read.
Collide is one of those stories where you are wondering what exactly is going on in a very good way. You want to keep reading to find out what the deal is. It is obvious from the start something is odd with Avalon, but you aren't really sure if there is an issue with Shay as well. Does he cause whatever is wrong with Avalon? Is Avalon causing his weird issues? Do they work together to make something strange happen? What exactly is her issue? It was fun reading and finding out. Once you do it makes sense and is great and not like anything else I have read. I don't want to give away too much as it was better not knowing what is happening so you can discover it yourself.
Shay meets Avalon randomly one night in the woods. She is upset and crying and Shay tries to help comfort her. Shay is really sweet and great with Avalon. They really were so cute together, even though they did have their issues. They started as friends and gradually became more and fell in love. They do have kind of a rocky, volatile at times relationship but it was great seeing how they tried to overcome their issues to be together. They both have things they need to work on and one of my favorite scenes was actually the first time Shay asked Avalon if she wanted to be his girlfriend. They were both yelling and upset and angry and it was just kind of perfect. Then after that you get the super sweet do over which is great as well. They just really work well together even when they are screaming at each other.
So overall the entire story was amazing. What kept this book from being 5 stars for me? The ending. The big showdown. I was a little let down by that. It was just a bit too easy to defeat the bad guy. It was good, it wasn't terrible or anything, but it was missing just that extra oomph, that extra bit that would make it fantastic. It just seemed to happen to quickly and too easily, even though it wasn't really easy easy. Otherwise a great read.
Then once I read this story I look up about the author. Forever is a high school kid! That just blew me away. This book was so much better and the writing was so much better than most of the books I have read recently and it is written by a seventeen year old girl in high school. I can't wait to see what else she writes and see how she grows as a writer if this is any indication of what she is capable of. Really seeing that someone so young wrote something so great just amazes me. Really well done. Can't wait to read more from this author.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Wow I wasn't expecting Collide to be such a good book. This was one of those stories that just pulled me in right away. I was reading this while my husband was watching TV. Normally I can do both, watch TV and read and follow along with both story lines, but this book sucked me in so much I have no idea what he was even watching. Really a fantastic read.
Collide is one of those stories where you are wondering what exactly is going on in a very good way. You want to keep reading to find out what the deal is. It is obvious from the start something is odd with Avalon, but you aren't really sure if there is an issue with Shay as well. Does he cause whatever is wrong with Avalon? Is Avalon causing his weird issues? Do they work together to make something strange happen? What exactly is her issue? It was fun reading and finding out. Once you do it makes sense and is great and not like anything else I have read. I don't want to give away too much as it was better not knowing what is happening so you can discover it yourself.
Shay meets Avalon randomly one night in the woods. She is upset and crying and Shay tries to help comfort her. Shay is really sweet and great with Avalon. They really were so cute together, even though they did have their issues. They started as friends and gradually became more and fell in love. They do have kind of a rocky, volatile at times relationship but it was great seeing how they tried to overcome their issues to be together. They both have things they need to work on and one of my favorite scenes was actually the first time Shay asked Avalon if she wanted to be his girlfriend. They were both yelling and upset and angry and it was just kind of perfect. Then after that you get the super sweet do over which is great as well. They just really work well together even when they are screaming at each other.
So overall the entire story was amazing. What kept this book from being 5 stars for me? The ending. The big showdown. I was a little let down by that. It was just a bit too easy to defeat the bad guy. It was good, it wasn't terrible or anything, but it was missing just that extra oomph, that extra bit that would make it fantastic. It just seemed to happen to quickly and too easily, even though it wasn't really easy easy. Otherwise a great read.
Then once I read this story I look up about the author. Forever is a high school kid! That just blew me away. This book was so much better and the writing was so much better than most of the books I have read recently and it is written by a seventeen year old girl in high school. I can't wait to see what else she writes and see how she grows as a writer if this is any indication of what she is capable of. Really seeing that someone so young wrote something so great just amazes me. Really well done. Can't wait to read more from this author.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
March 15, 2017
book blurb: Fated to love. Fated to break. Fated to die.
As a loner his entire life, Shay Pearce feels abandoned and left for dead. Being stabbed in the back more times than he could possibly count has left his trust broken beyond repair. However, all of that threatens to change the moment he meets Avalon. She’s flawless, friendly, and incredibly talented at breaking through Shay’s defenses—which drives him absolutely insane. But there’s something alluring about her upbeat attitude and playful sense of humor, and before he can stop himself, he’s falling for her.
When things take a turn for the worst, Shay discovers more about his world than he could’ve imagined in his wildest dreams. There’s far more to his existence than meets the eye. He knows one thing for sure: he has to fight the evil that haunts him. It’s the only way to save Avalon and finally get the vengeance that was always his. But some things were meant to be set in stone. If the course of fate cannot be altered, can Shay be saved
…from himself?
Review: I enjoyed the story at the beginning and it really drew me in ~ I wanted to find out why Avalon was so weird about how they met. She just acts odd. The reasons don't disappoint! However, that's about all I enjoyed.
I couldn't get into the characters at all. Shay is suppose to be some kind of loner, however after he meets Avalon, he's sitting at a table with 4 friends! He helps two of them get together... and at the beginning he has a girlfriend! He has a best friend.
The romance between Avalon and Shay seemed trite at best. They meet, she's perfect, he falls in love with her. He loves her more than anyone he can imagine loving. But they always fought... I get why she doesn't want to let him in but... I didn't like all the arguing. I didn't like the fact he hooks up with his best friend Nixon just because Avalon breaks up with him. I didn't like the dad - I'm not sure why abusing Shay needed to be a part of the story? Also I'm not sure why Dylan and Forever have such a big part? Less details on the romance and partners of Shay.
I think there should have been more details with the curse. Why is Avalon still a teenager yet centuries old? The curse was on her love life... she's a serial killer but never gets caught? Maybe some more witches to help out the teenagers. I did enjoy the fantasy aspect and the curse on both of them. I did enjoy how the author wraps up the book and the fight!
I give it 3 1/2 stars. I recommend the book to ya book readers and fantasy readers. I hope the author continues writing, she has good ideas.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
As a loner his entire life, Shay Pearce feels abandoned and left for dead. Being stabbed in the back more times than he could possibly count has left his trust broken beyond repair. However, all of that threatens to change the moment he meets Avalon. She’s flawless, friendly, and incredibly talented at breaking through Shay’s defenses—which drives him absolutely insane. But there’s something alluring about her upbeat attitude and playful sense of humor, and before he can stop himself, he’s falling for her.
When things take a turn for the worst, Shay discovers more about his world than he could’ve imagined in his wildest dreams. There’s far more to his existence than meets the eye. He knows one thing for sure: he has to fight the evil that haunts him. It’s the only way to save Avalon and finally get the vengeance that was always his. But some things were meant to be set in stone. If the course of fate cannot be altered, can Shay be saved
…from himself?
Review: I enjoyed the story at the beginning and it really drew me in ~ I wanted to find out why Avalon was so weird about how they met. She just acts odd. The reasons don't disappoint! However, that's about all I enjoyed.
I couldn't get into the characters at all. Shay is suppose to be some kind of loner, however after he meets Avalon, he's sitting at a table with 4 friends! He helps two of them get together... and at the beginning he has a girlfriend! He has a best friend.
The romance between Avalon and Shay seemed trite at best. They meet, she's perfect, he falls in love with her. He loves her more than anyone he can imagine loving. But they always fought... I get why she doesn't want to let him in but... I didn't like all the arguing. I didn't like the fact he hooks up with his best friend Nixon just because Avalon breaks up with him. I didn't like the dad - I'm not sure why abusing Shay needed to be a part of the story? Also I'm not sure why Dylan and Forever have such a big part? Less details on the romance and partners of Shay.
I think there should have been more details with the curse. Why is Avalon still a teenager yet centuries old? The curse was on her love life... she's a serial killer but never gets caught? Maybe some more witches to help out the teenagers. I did enjoy the fantasy aspect and the curse on both of them. I did enjoy how the author wraps up the book and the fight!
I give it 3 1/2 stars. I recommend the book to ya book readers and fantasy readers. I hope the author continues writing, she has good ideas.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2019
Every now and then I search the bookshelves at Goodwill. I found this on the “Troubled Teens” shelf, seriously, the shelf had a “Troubled Teens” label taped on the edge. I’m still mad that I left my phone in the car to take a picture of it. I picked up Collide by Forever(?) and sat on a couch at their furniture section.
First off, all things emo. From the characters’ names (Shay, a guy; Avalon, a girl; Onyx, a guy; Nixon, a girl; etc...), to their physical descriptions, to their dialogues and “spats,” to their hatred and screaming fights with dad, to the blaring heavy metal, and to their obsession with coffee, of course.
The prologue setting of Salem, 1681, immediately brought a feel of the Twilight books and it is clear that this Salem winter-chilled night is going to somehow tie into this modern autumn-brisk town in Pennsylvania. Again, all things emo woe is me.
Entertaining? Sure. It kept me busy while my friend finished her thrift shopping. Do I recommend it? Absolutely not, unless you want a headache from the description of every little detail just as I have done in this review to prove my point. Leaving some gaps is good for the reader to fill them in with his/her imagination; this book explodes with nit-picking details which ends up being distracting. The passive voice in the writing made the storyline dull; same goes for the editing.
Even though it was .99 cents with a yellow label for an additional “75% off Wednesday,” I put it back on the TT shelf. Sure, she has potential, but for the meantime this was some school project for a high school kid who frequents her indie-music-playing local coffee house and shops at Hot Topic.
First off, all things emo. From the characters’ names (Shay, a guy; Avalon, a girl; Onyx, a guy; Nixon, a girl; etc...), to their physical descriptions, to their dialogues and “spats,” to their hatred and screaming fights with dad, to the blaring heavy metal, and to their obsession with coffee, of course.
The prologue setting of Salem, 1681, immediately brought a feel of the Twilight books and it is clear that this Salem winter-chilled night is going to somehow tie into this modern autumn-brisk town in Pennsylvania. Again, all things emo woe is me.
Entertaining? Sure. It kept me busy while my friend finished her thrift shopping. Do I recommend it? Absolutely not, unless you want a headache from the description of every little detail just as I have done in this review to prove my point. Leaving some gaps is good for the reader to fill them in with his/her imagination; this book explodes with nit-picking details which ends up being distracting. The passive voice in the writing made the storyline dull; same goes for the editing.
Even though it was .99 cents with a yellow label for an additional “75% off Wednesday,” I put it back on the TT shelf. Sure, she has potential, but for the meantime this was some school project for a high school kid who frequents her indie-music-playing local coffee house and shops at Hot Topic.
May 6, 2014
I liked the concept of this book but found the writing to be a little young. As in, the writing reminded me of my own stories I had written as a teenager, which makes sense as the writer turns out to be only seventeen! It's a great accomplishment for her to have written a full length book and publish it at such a young age.
For me though, it took me a little while to get into the book, and by halfway through, I felt like nothing of substance had happened besides a lot of angsty teenage stuff. I felt the characters were a little erratic and not always consistent, for example the sudden outbursts of anger from EVERYONE are just not normal. Also Shay's father was an abusive a-hole, but even that wasn't consistent, his mother always seemed like an afterthought and wasn't characterised enough. Was she a scared, abused wife or did she just not care that her only child suffered almost daily physical and verbal abuse?
The relationships throughout the book, including Shay's and Avalon's were superficial and didn't grip me in my chest like some other books do. The writing and editing was good though and seemed pretty polished.
I want to encourage Forever to continue writing, keep growing and gathering new experiences, and to write, write, write. You have some creative ideas and I'm sure there are more stories you're itching to tell.
For me though, it took me a little while to get into the book, and by halfway through, I felt like nothing of substance had happened besides a lot of angsty teenage stuff. I felt the characters were a little erratic and not always consistent, for example the sudden outbursts of anger from EVERYONE are just not normal. Also Shay's father was an abusive a-hole, but even that wasn't consistent, his mother always seemed like an afterthought and wasn't characterised enough. Was she a scared, abused wife or did she just not care that her only child suffered almost daily physical and verbal abuse?
The relationships throughout the book, including Shay's and Avalon's were superficial and didn't grip me in my chest like some other books do. The writing and editing was good though and seemed pretty polished.
I want to encourage Forever to continue writing, keep growing and gathering new experiences, and to write, write, write. You have some creative ideas and I'm sure there are more stories you're itching to tell.
May 11, 2013
I'll admit, I was reluctant to read 'Collide' at first. Actually, the only reason I began reading it was out of sheer loyalty to my friend. Yet, from the moment I'd finished the prologue, I was hooked. 'Tragically beautiful' is exactly what I thought of it. There's a deep undercurrent of history and self-revelation as the novel progresses and Shay is forced to confront things he would never have believed about himself. From some serious personal mistakes, to outright heartbreak, he has to deal with it all. The description given for this book does not do justice to the true feelings evoked throughout this novel. Meant for a mature, teen audience, I think it is safe to say that Forever's debut novel will find its way into the hands of many excited readers upon its release date.
May 11, 2013
Collide is a beautiful, touching, and flat out flawless story. The bond between Shay and Avalon is inexplicable, and romantic. Forever is an amazing writer, and is one of a kind. See, I've read MANY stories and thought, "Hm, nice plot line, but the writing is not solid and many spelling and grammar errors." It's hard to love a story when that's all you can think about. But this story not only has an amazing plot line, but it also has amazing vocabulary, great sequence, and nothing seems rushed. If you like dramatic and romantic stories, this is for you. If you like awesome stories and amazingly wonderful stories, then this is DEFINITLY the story for you!!!!!
Review by Annabeth (A.K.A. GreekMythologyLover.)
Review by Annabeth (A.K.A. GreekMythologyLover.)
March 19, 2015
When I first starting reading this book, well I really didn't know what to expect. The prologue drew my attention immediately, and I knew I'd found a new favorite.
Collide is a beautiful blend of romance, tragedy, and the supernatural, making it a must for anyone wanting to read something new and original.
I fell in love with Shay, given I normally prefer girls POV. The hardships he's been through and his attitude towards the rest of the world, and the emotions he comes across were detailed, making him a character that anyone can relate to.
In short, Collide is a definite must, and deserves my 5 star rating.
Collide is a beautiful blend of romance, tragedy, and the supernatural, making it a must for anyone wanting to read something new and original.
I fell in love with Shay, given I normally prefer girls POV. The hardships he's been through and his attitude towards the rest of the world, and the emotions he comes across were detailed, making him a character that anyone can relate to.
In short, Collide is a definite must, and deserves my 5 star rating.
April 26, 2014
I’m not really sure where to start… I don’t want to be the most horrible party pooper here (considering aaaaall the positive reviews), but I definitely have to start by saying that this book is not that great as everyone made me expect it to be.
Let’s start with the negative stuff then. The characters (referring here mostly to the two main ones, Shay and Avalon) are probably the most annoying people I’ve ever, EVER read about. Okay no, Bella Swan was worse, but that’s another story. These two are just so immature and in general so dumb that they made it extremely difficult for me to keep reading because I was starting to get really freaked out after like their fifth stupid argument, all of them which usually consisted of nothing but throwing blaming and words back and forth at each other, at ourselves, etc. (“I really don’t want you to read my stuff, they’re so bad” “No, no, I think they’re great!” “That’s only because you haven’t read them all” “No, I really do think they’re awesome!” “No, no, just wait until I get to the end” […] “But the end was awesome!” “No, no, it was horrible, trust me!” — these kind of arguments. Tons of them. I liked the one when Shay asked Avalon out by screaming “DO YOU WANT TO BE MY FUCKING GIRLFRIEND” into the air. That was nice.) Then there was Nixon, Shay’s “best friend” but to be honest, what kind of a best friend is that who ignores the shit out of you when her boyfriend is around or bitches you out and gets mad at you when you nicely ask them to give you their car because your girlfriend is really, really sick? (Obviously later it turned out what was exactly between Nixon and Shay so I forgave her and by the end of the book she became my favorite character.) I just really didn’t get most of the characters, not to mention the stupid way how the relationship between Dylan and Forever (with infinity symbol) starts out. Then there was Shay's dad... the character of who I didn't quite understand. He's aggressive, I get it. His top priority is that Shay is the best in school, I get that too. But why is he so aggressive? What's his reason? And if he's like that, how come that sometimes he actually could be quite nice to Shay? I'm guessing the guy drank a lot (although it was never exactly mentioned in the book as far as I'm concerned...?), but I just don't understand what his dad's motive was to be like that with his own son, not to mention why the mother hadn't divorced yet.
Anyway, as the plot blossomed, so did the relationship between Shay and Avalon get just so much worse it annoyed the hell out of me and I'm sorry, but I just couldn't get myself to like neither of them. They were horrible, both of them. To me, there was nothing romantic in any single thing they did together/for each other/whatever.
Besides all this, I have to say I loved the general idea of the plot. The witch-thing and the others with the main characters and I also kinda liked the end although I think the bad guy was finished off quite quickly. But yeah, the last 30-40 pages of the book or so was the best part to me, definitely.
I hope to come back 5 years later and see Forever's latest book and give it a try because I believe she has potential and as a beginner writer myself of the same age as hers, I can't say any more but to encourage her to write more, improve, and publish books in the near future that people will just admire. Even if this book now didn't really work out for me, let's hope the next one will.
Let’s start with the negative stuff then. The characters (referring here mostly to the two main ones, Shay and Avalon) are probably the most annoying people I’ve ever, EVER read about. Okay no, Bella Swan was worse, but that’s another story. These two are just so immature and in general so dumb that they made it extremely difficult for me to keep reading because I was starting to get really freaked out after like their fifth stupid argument, all of them which usually consisted of nothing but throwing blaming and words back and forth at each other, at ourselves, etc. (“I really don’t want you to read my stuff, they’re so bad” “No, no, I think they’re great!” “That’s only because you haven’t read them all” “No, I really do think they’re awesome!” “No, no, just wait until I get to the end” […] “But the end was awesome!” “No, no, it was horrible, trust me!” — these kind of arguments. Tons of them. I liked the one when Shay asked Avalon out by screaming “DO YOU WANT TO BE MY FUCKING GIRLFRIEND” into the air. That was nice.) Then there was Nixon, Shay’s “best friend” but to be honest, what kind of a best friend is that who ignores the shit out of you when her boyfriend is around or bitches you out and gets mad at you when you nicely ask them to give you their car because your girlfriend is really, really sick? (Obviously later it turned out what was exactly between Nixon and Shay so I forgave her and by the end of the book she became my favorite character.) I just really didn’t get most of the characters, not to mention the stupid way how the relationship between Dylan and Forever (with infinity symbol) starts out. Then there was Shay's dad... the character of who I didn't quite understand. He's aggressive, I get it. His top priority is that Shay is the best in school, I get that too. But why is he so aggressive? What's his reason? And if he's like that, how come that sometimes he actually could be quite nice to Shay? I'm guessing the guy drank a lot (although it was never exactly mentioned in the book as far as I'm concerned...?), but I just don't understand what his dad's motive was to be like that with his own son, not to mention why the mother hadn't divorced yet.
Anyway, as the plot blossomed, so did the relationship between Shay and Avalon get just so much worse it annoyed the hell out of me and I'm sorry, but I just couldn't get myself to like neither of them. They were horrible, both of them. To me, there was nothing romantic in any single thing they did together/for each other/whatever.
Besides all this, I have to say I loved the general idea of the plot. The witch-thing and the others with the main characters and I also kinda liked the end although I think the bad guy was finished off quite quickly. But yeah, the last 30-40 pages of the book or so was the best part to me, definitely.
I hope to come back 5 years later and see Forever's latest book and give it a try because I believe she has potential and as a beginner writer myself of the same age as hers, I can't say any more but to encourage her to write more, improve, and publish books in the near future that people will just admire. Even if this book now didn't really work out for me, let's hope the next one will.
May 3, 2014
I was sent this book in return for an honest review and was surprised to find out once I had read the book that this was not only a first novel but it was also written by a seventeen-year-old. Honestly, looking back, I should have known that the level of in-depth knowledge the author had on what life is like for a teenager and how romance can develop between two seventeen-year-olds could only come from someone around that age group. However, the rest of the book was written just as well as is it has been written by an author with decades of experience.
The story was weaved expertly. The only reason why I have given this book four stars out of five is because I personally feel that the story started off a little too slow and that fantasy element wasn't really worked in until quite near the end. I would have liked to learn more about the two main characters' (SPOILER: curses) as it seemed a little too sudden. Also, I think that the ending was slightly rushed or maybe underdeveloped because I find it hard to believe that these two kids could just get away with...um...what they did. I would have also liked to have learnt more about what happened to Alerion and the house she lived in. Also, questions about William were never answered, which I was also disappointed about.
However, on the more positive side (because I'm starting to worry that it sounds like I really hated this book when in actual fact I loved it) the characters as people were really well developed. It was interesting to get inside the boy's mind and learn more about what made him so depressed. Also, thank you, thank you THANK YOU for basing this book on the Asking Alexandria song 'if you can't ride two horses at once...you should get out of the circus' because I love that song and I love that band, Forever. I also appreciated Forever' s mention of other bands I like such as Sleeping With Sirens, not like I'm trying to promote anything here, I'm just reviewing the book.
I've just realized that I haven't even explained what the book is about! :D
Ok, so the book is about a boy called Shay who has just broken up with his girlfriend. His best friend is called Nixon and he has had a crush on her since forever, but she dates this boy called Onyx who is quite a jerk. One day, Shay meets a girl in the woods called Avalon who happens to be the most beautiful girl he has ever seen, but she's covered in the blood of her boyfriend, Jackson. No one knows how he died, not even Avalon, who says she just found his body. Soon enough, Avalon and Shay start to become really good friends and then start to have feelings for each other. However, Shay starts to get really ill at certain points and weird things happen to him, like he starts to vomit and his eyes flash bright blue and he can't help but feel like it's all connected to Avalon. The book takes us through the ups and downs of Avalon and Shay's relationship, SPOILER: and briefly encounter a weird spin on a very realistic love triangle between Avalon, Shay and Nixon, as we start to unravel all of Avalon's secrets and the truth behind Shay's bouts of sickness.
This book is really amazing and definitely a must read for anyone who is into teenage romance. Not for younger readers due to mature topics and strong language, but if it was a film it would only be a certificate 12 (that's the same as PG-13, I think)
Have fun reading!!
The story was weaved expertly. The only reason why I have given this book four stars out of five is because I personally feel that the story started off a little too slow and that fantasy element wasn't really worked in until quite near the end. I would have liked to learn more about the two main characters' (SPOILER: curses) as it seemed a little too sudden. Also, I think that the ending was slightly rushed or maybe underdeveloped because I find it hard to believe that these two kids could just get away with...um...what they did. I would have also liked to have learnt more about what happened to Alerion and the house she lived in. Also, questions about William were never answered, which I was also disappointed about.
However, on the more positive side (because I'm starting to worry that it sounds like I really hated this book when in actual fact I loved it) the characters as people were really well developed. It was interesting to get inside the boy's mind and learn more about what made him so depressed. Also, thank you, thank you THANK YOU for basing this book on the Asking Alexandria song 'if you can't ride two horses at once...you should get out of the circus' because I love that song and I love that band, Forever. I also appreciated Forever' s mention of other bands I like such as Sleeping With Sirens, not like I'm trying to promote anything here, I'm just reviewing the book.
I've just realized that I haven't even explained what the book is about! :D
Ok, so the book is about a boy called Shay who has just broken up with his girlfriend. His best friend is called Nixon and he has had a crush on her since forever, but she dates this boy called Onyx who is quite a jerk. One day, Shay meets a girl in the woods called Avalon who happens to be the most beautiful girl he has ever seen, but she's covered in the blood of her boyfriend, Jackson. No one knows how he died, not even Avalon, who says she just found his body. Soon enough, Avalon and Shay start to become really good friends and then start to have feelings for each other. However, Shay starts to get really ill at certain points and weird things happen to him, like he starts to vomit and his eyes flash bright blue and he can't help but feel like it's all connected to Avalon. The book takes us through the ups and downs of Avalon and Shay's relationship, SPOILER: and briefly encounter a weird spin on a very realistic love triangle between Avalon, Shay and Nixon, as we start to unravel all of Avalon's secrets and the truth behind Shay's bouts of sickness.
This book is really amazing and definitely a must read for anyone who is into teenage romance. Not for younger readers due to mature topics and strong language, but if it was a film it would only be a certificate 12 (that's the same as PG-13, I think)
Have fun reading!!
May 5, 2014
I received a free e-book copy of this book two weeks ago in exchange for an honest review. I've only been able to start reading this book yesterday because there's a lot going on in my life this summer vacation, but I'm glad that I was able to finish it on time for a review nonetheless. Okay, so here it goes...
I'm sad to admit that I was a little bit disappointed with this book. I rarely read books about witches or sorcerers so maybe I had my expectations too high whenever I read this kind of books.
During the first half of this book, things were a bit slow and there wasn't much going on, aside from Shaye getting sick occasionally and having recurring dreams about Avalon which aren't exactly pleasant. The second half though, was the complete opposite. The plot unraveled without much surprise, and though I kept searching for it, I never really found a shocking moment that knocked the wind out of me. Things appeared to be rushed somehow, like they weren't given much thought by the author.
Those constructive criticisms aside, I have to say that I also liked a lot of things with this book. I liked that the story was told from the point of view of seemingly typical teenagers: the anti-social once who love bands and metal music. Since the author of this book herself was a teenager, I have to say that she did a pretty good job portraying the teenagers involved in this story along with their inner turmoils and family problems.
All in all, I'm giving Collide three stars since it was really a nice read and impressive book coming from a writer of my generation. She's a talented girl who has a long way to go in the world of writing.
I'm sad to admit that I was a little bit disappointed with this book. I rarely read books about witches or sorcerers so maybe I had my expectations too high whenever I read this kind of books.
During the first half of this book, things were a bit slow and there wasn't much going on, aside from Shaye getting sick occasionally and having recurring dreams about Avalon which aren't exactly pleasant. The second half though, was the complete opposite. The plot unraveled without much surprise, and though I kept searching for it, I never really found a shocking moment that knocked the wind out of me. Things appeared to be rushed somehow, like they weren't given much thought by the author.
Those constructive criticisms aside, I have to say that I also liked a lot of things with this book. I liked that the story was told from the point of view of seemingly typical teenagers: the anti-social once who love bands and metal music. Since the author of this book herself was a teenager, I have to say that she did a pretty good job portraying the teenagers involved in this story along with their inner turmoils and family problems.
All in all, I'm giving Collide three stars since it was really a nice read and impressive book coming from a writer of my generation. She's a talented girl who has a long way to go in the world of writing.
April 28, 2014
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
Let me start by saying that this is not my usual kind of book to read. However, it was engaging and I kept reading to the end. It has been an emotional roll-coaster ride and I give it a 3 1/2 stars. And I'm not to let my opinion impact to heavily on my rating. Because it is an engaging read even if there are aspects I disagree with. That is the joy of reading and seeing the mindset of other characters who are not the same as you or people who you associate. But be warned there is expletives throughout the text. There are sex scenes but thankfully there are no graphic descriptions.
This unconventional teen romance deals with a couple who deal with adversity in their relationship. Trying not to give any spoilers. The beauty is that they each bring baggage to their relationship and together try to work it. Even the subject of domestic abuse. But bear in mind this story is from a teen perspective. So while there is some character development, it is realistic. There is no idealistic portrayal of any of the characters. I only wish the dynamics between the parents and Shay at could have been delve into more.
Part of the issue with the book is that you can tell it was written by a teenager. Which is good and bad. Good in the sense that being so young there is potential for growth in the writing. Good that it is mature with the characters portrayed realistically and dealing with issues that affect teenagers. Bad in that some parts heavily reflect the emotional roll coaster of teenager, unless the target audience is only teens. Bad in terms that the character development will not be polished as that of an older person. But this book was engaging so that I would recommend Collide for anyone who loves contemporary teen novel.
Let me start by saying that this is not my usual kind of book to read. However, it was engaging and I kept reading to the end. It has been an emotional roll-coaster ride and I give it a 3 1/2 stars. And I'm not to let my opinion impact to heavily on my rating. Because it is an engaging read even if there are aspects I disagree with. That is the joy of reading and seeing the mindset of other characters who are not the same as you or people who you associate. But be warned there is expletives throughout the text. There are sex scenes but thankfully there are no graphic descriptions.
This unconventional teen romance deals with a couple who deal with adversity in their relationship. Trying not to give any spoilers. The beauty is that they each bring baggage to their relationship and together try to work it. Even the subject of domestic abuse. But bear in mind this story is from a teen perspective. So while there is some character development, it is realistic. There is no idealistic portrayal of any of the characters. I only wish the dynamics between the parents and Shay at could have been delve into more.
Part of the issue with the book is that you can tell it was written by a teenager. Which is good and bad. Good in the sense that being so young there is potential for growth in the writing. Good that it is mature with the characters portrayed realistically and dealing with issues that affect teenagers. Bad in that some parts heavily reflect the emotional roll coaster of teenager, unless the target audience is only teens. Bad in terms that the character development will not be polished as that of an older person. But this book was engaging so that I would recommend Collide for anyone who loves contemporary teen novel.
May 1, 2014
*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review*
Picking up this book and reading that back of the novel won't give you a detailed enough view on what's to come. The storyline was original, the characters compelling and made you want to cheer them on or flip them off.
The weakest point of the book was not in its content, but in its writing. In some places you felt the junior writer feeling in the use of phrases multiple times in an almost robotic way and other times there were detail glossed over I wanted more from and details that were far too detailed that I needed less of. Esthetically the ebook was clean and easy to read, with the one exception of when the author used a handwriting font for letters from the character, this could get tricky to read on a smaller e-reader and if you were tired and use glasses I opted to put the book down and come back later.
All of the characters felt real and alive and most of the secondary characters had the necessary amount of depth to also be placed in that category. Avalon was whitty, strong and determined and her chemistry with Shay boiled off the pages at certain points. Shay is a strong abused kid who manages to learn despite it all how special he is through the course of the book. The theme of desperation, suicide and depression are the lifeblood of this book and all of them manage to end on a positive note as the story wraps up. Suicide is thwarted through love and unbreakable companionship and sends a positive message to the reader on how love can conquer all.
Picking up this book and reading that back of the novel won't give you a detailed enough view on what's to come. The storyline was original, the characters compelling and made you want to cheer them on or flip them off.
The weakest point of the book was not in its content, but in its writing. In some places you felt the junior writer feeling in the use of phrases multiple times in an almost robotic way and other times there were detail glossed over I wanted more from and details that were far too detailed that I needed less of. Esthetically the ebook was clean and easy to read, with the one exception of when the author used a handwriting font for letters from the character, this could get tricky to read on a smaller e-reader and if you were tired and use glasses I opted to put the book down and come back later.
All of the characters felt real and alive and most of the secondary characters had the necessary amount of depth to also be placed in that category. Avalon was whitty, strong and determined and her chemistry with Shay boiled off the pages at certain points. Shay is a strong abused kid who manages to learn despite it all how special he is through the course of the book. The theme of desperation, suicide and depression are the lifeblood of this book and all of them manage to end on a positive note as the story wraps up. Suicide is thwarted through love and unbreakable companionship and sends a positive message to the reader on how love can conquer all.
May 2, 2014
Based on all the reviews I was expecting this book to be a lot better. Don't get me wrong, it's not terrible, it just didn't grab me. The flow of the story was a little odd at times and I often felt like I had missed a description or explanation of something.
The relationships between the characters wasn't fully fleshed out so some of their interactions didn't make much sense. Shay's relationships with everyone including his parents was difficult at best and I wished he just had one great relationship as an anchor.
One minor complaint, the names of the characters drove me crazy. One or two offbeat names would have been fine but I felt like every name was stranger than the last.
Having said that, I applaud Forever for completing the novel while still in school and I wish her the best of luck going forward.
The relationships between the characters wasn't fully fleshed out so some of their interactions didn't make much sense. Shay's relationships with everyone including his parents was difficult at best and I wished he just had one great relationship as an anchor.
One minor complaint, the names of the characters drove me crazy. One or two offbeat names would have been fine but I felt like every name was stranger than the last.
Having said that, I applaud Forever for completing the novel while still in school and I wish her the best of luck going forward.
May 11, 2013
Alright so I'm going to give Collide my honest review. Okay, so, honestly I loved it. This book is very hard core and just plain amazing. It follows the story of Shay Pierce, a troubled teen intertwined in an ancient mystical curse.
This book will make you want to scream in frustration, cry in sadness, and collapse with joy. Forever writes with a fierce passion that seems to be a lost art with so many authors these days. The way everyone would be able to relate to this book, in a huge, or small way, is just outstanding, I give it five stars, and that, is my honest opinion.
This book will make you want to scream in frustration, cry in sadness, and collapse with joy. Forever writes with a fierce passion that seems to be a lost art with so many authors these days. The way everyone would be able to relate to this book, in a huge, or small way, is just outstanding, I give it five stars, and that, is my honest opinion.
April 28, 2014
I was shocked by the fact that Forever is only 17! I'm so amazed she was able to finish a book so young. She has amazing potential as an author, overall the book was well written and she did a great job with her characters personality. It was a sweet touching book that yes did make me cry. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good YA romance and can't wait to see what the author writes next!
May 19, 2014
Excellent book. Review coming soon
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