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Life & Beth #1
Until Beth
She doesn’t just play, she kills it.
Talented rock guitarist Beth Collins has been barely holding herself together for months, ever since her boyfriend and bandmate became the latest victim in a string of suspicious disappearances. When her brother is injured an accident and she sees something dark billowing around him as he hovers close to death, she’s convinced her sanity is collapsing for good.
Then she's accepted by a boarding school for the musically gifted. All of her new friends are bursting with talent, but they're also keeping secrets. Can she trust Vincent, who's so sweet that his very touch makes her fears melt away? Or Xavier, who's trying to tell her something but is hiding even more?
And will anyone be safe when her true Talent comes out?
Talented rock guitarist Beth Collins has been barely holding herself together for months, ever since her boyfriend and bandmate became the latest victim in a string of suspicious disappearances. When her brother is injured an accident and she sees something dark billowing around him as he hovers close to death, she’s convinced her sanity is collapsing for good.
Then she's accepted by a boarding school for the musically gifted. All of her new friends are bursting with talent, but they're also keeping secrets. Can she trust Vincent, who's so sweet that his very touch makes her fears melt away? Or Xavier, who's trying to tell her something but is hiding even more?
And will anyone be safe when her true Talent comes out?
260 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2015
3 people are currently reading
635 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Amowitz
11 books241 followersLisa Amowitz is an artist and graphic designer by trade, but writing
has always been a deep and abiding passion.
Her lastest release is the LOST GARDEN series, with the first book, An Island Strange and Wild, and the prequel, A Promise Bright and Fragile, available now. The second book in the series, A Secret Deep and Savage releases November 12, 2024,
visit her online at lisaamowitz.com
Twitter: @lisa_amowitz
Instagram @lisa_amowitz.author
TikTok: @lisaamowitz_author
has always been a deep and abiding passion.
Her lastest release is the LOST GARDEN series, with the first book, An Island Strange and Wild, and the prequel, A Promise Bright and Fragile, available now. The second book in the series, A Secret Deep and Savage releases November 12, 2024,
visit her online at lisaamowitz.com
Twitter: @lisa_amowitz
Instagram @lisa_amowitz.author
TikTok: @lisaamowitz_author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 13, 2018
"In our world, Beth, even the most innocent thing can be deadly"
I should've known that me reading a Lisa Amowitz book will result to this: amazement!
I was impressed by Lisa's past novels that's why I JUST know I will end up loving her latest release, Until Beth. And I was right. There was some minor problems that I encountered but other than those very little things, Until Beth floored me. It was really unlike any book I read before. Lisa Amowitz never fails to bring something new in the YA table. She's absolutely one of the most brilliant writer in this generation.
What is Until Beth? Its like a YA version of X MEN with a thrilling romance and a feisty heroine. Beth wasn't easy to connect with at first because she was always disoriented and kind of clueless about the things that are happening around her. But by 3rd chapter, the novel quickly turned me into a maniac who is thirsty for answers. Just like Beth. Its clear that something is not what it seems and that not everyone is being honest... so who should Beth trusts? Who is the real enemy? And what is the truth when it comes to her capabilities?
All of that was answered in a very intricate way of course. Lisa kept me on my toes! The intrigue and mystery was perfection and every chapter left me wanting for more. I found myself immediately turning the page every time because I wanna know what happens next!!
The romance was not really the focus of the story but it can't be ignored. There was a hint of a love triangle and right now I don't want to think about it because I feel like I can't take it. I love Beth's love interest too much and I think they're perfect for each other.
An absolute page turner! Until Beth is that fresh and unique read that you're looking for. Full of mystery and intrigue, it will never fail to keep you on your toes. Lisa Amowitz is still a brilliant as ever and I can't wait for more of Beth's adventures!
September 29, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Spencer Hill Press and NetGalley.)
“Darkness pooled on the ceiling, a whirlpool made of shadow.”
This was a bit of an odd story, and it reminded me a bit of Fallen by Lauren Kate.
I found it a little difficult to really relate to Beth as she seemed quite angry. I did feel sorry for her with regards to her brother’s friend Luke trying to rape her, but for the rest of the story I struggled with her a bit.
This story started out with a contemporary feel, then things started to go in a paranormal directing with Beth seeing this black swirly shadow-like thing near someone who was about to die, which reminded me a bit of the shadows in Fallen. Anyway, we then got some romance which I wasn’t really feeling, so explanations as to what this school was which Beth was at, and some other supernatural stuff going on, but I just didn’t enjoy it, and I was basically waiting for the book to end.
When the book did end, it didn’t feel like much of an ending, but I don’t think I’d want to read another book in this series.
5 out of 10
“Darkness pooled on the ceiling, a whirlpool made of shadow.”
This was a bit of an odd story, and it reminded me a bit of Fallen by Lauren Kate.
I found it a little difficult to really relate to Beth as she seemed quite angry. I did feel sorry for her with regards to her brother’s friend Luke trying to rape her, but for the rest of the story I struggled with her a bit.
This story started out with a contemporary feel, then things started to go in a paranormal directing with Beth seeing this black swirly shadow-like thing near someone who was about to die, which reminded me a bit of the shadows in Fallen. Anyway, we then got some romance which I wasn’t really feeling, so explanations as to what this school was which Beth was at, and some other supernatural stuff going on, but I just didn’t enjoy it, and I was basically waiting for the book to end.
When the book did end, it didn’t feel like much of an ending, but I don’t think I’d want to read another book in this series.
5 out of 10
October 10, 2015
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
I know exactly why I picked up this book.....that cover. I love that cover. I seriously could not request this book fast enough. The combination of music and death as the focus of the story was just calling to me. I don't even understand why a book's cover is still so important to me since I do almost all of my reading on a kindle....but it is. I ended up thinking that this was a decent book but in my mind it never quite lived up to the cover.
This book started out really strong for me. Beth is part of a band that happen to be a close group of friends. Her boyfriend is missing and most people believe that he may be dead. Beth proves to be a fighter very early in the book when she finds herself in a position to fight off a would be rapist. There was just the right balance of dark and mystical things going on to really hook me.
Then Beth is accepted at a boarding school for musically gifted teens and the book took on an all too average feel for me. Everyone at the school has some type of special ability and Beth must learn about what she is really capable of doing. The mystery surrounding the school and Beth's abilities kept my interest to a point but the book became much easier to put down after the opening scenes.
At times I really liked Beth but there were also times that I couldn't connect with her at all. None of the other characters in the book really stood out either. The boarding school that Beth went to should have been really exciting but it just felt so average to me. I did find the connection between Beth and Vincent to be interesting. I think that Xavier's character had a lot of potential and I feel like he has an interesting story to tell but he just didn't get enough time in the story for that to be fully developed.
I thought that this was an okay story that I am glad that I read. This is the first book by Lisa Amowitz that I have read. I am not sure whether I will continue with this series right now. There were a few interesting threads that I would like to see picked up in the sequel so I may give book #2 a chance.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Spencer Hill Press via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Initial Thoughts
I loved the beginning of the book. Unfortunately, the story started dragging and this ended up feeling like a rather average YA book.
I know exactly why I picked up this book.....that cover. I love that cover. I seriously could not request this book fast enough. The combination of music and death as the focus of the story was just calling to me. I don't even understand why a book's cover is still so important to me since I do almost all of my reading on a kindle....but it is. I ended up thinking that this was a decent book but in my mind it never quite lived up to the cover.
This book started out really strong for me. Beth is part of a band that happen to be a close group of friends. Her boyfriend is missing and most people believe that he may be dead. Beth proves to be a fighter very early in the book when she finds herself in a position to fight off a would be rapist. There was just the right balance of dark and mystical things going on to really hook me.
Then Beth is accepted at a boarding school for musically gifted teens and the book took on an all too average feel for me. Everyone at the school has some type of special ability and Beth must learn about what she is really capable of doing. The mystery surrounding the school and Beth's abilities kept my interest to a point but the book became much easier to put down after the opening scenes.
At times I really liked Beth but there were also times that I couldn't connect with her at all. None of the other characters in the book really stood out either. The boarding school that Beth went to should have been really exciting but it just felt so average to me. I did find the connection between Beth and Vincent to be interesting. I think that Xavier's character had a lot of potential and I feel like he has an interesting story to tell but he just didn't get enough time in the story for that to be fully developed.
I thought that this was an okay story that I am glad that I read. This is the first book by Lisa Amowitz that I have read. I am not sure whether I will continue with this series right now. There were a few interesting threads that I would like to see picked up in the sequel so I may give book #2 a chance.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Spencer Hill Press via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Initial Thoughts
I loved the beginning of the book. Unfortunately, the story started dragging and this ended up feeling like a rather average YA book.
September 13, 2015
I'm sort of torn on this one. There were a lot of things going for the book, but then a lot of things that annoy me kept popping up.
Beth is in high school in a town where several children have gone missing. One of those missing is her boyfriend. Beth's brother ends up in a terrible accident and soon after she's accepted into a school for gifted musicians.
Of course the school is not what it seems and Beth is frantic to learn the truth.
I didn't like that Beth was clueless most of the time. I don't like it when I know the next few steps and the character just can't seem to see past the nose on her face. That happened so. many. times. She trusted when she shouldn't, she couldn't see danger, or figure out the clues before I did. I've read books where the author knows when the audience is likely to understand what is going on and moves the plot and main character at the same pace as the reader. That would be something the author could ask of beta readers in subsequent books.
I also would have liked to have a bit more backstory to the villain(s). I appreciate books better when there is a reason for why they are "evil" or what changed them.
The story only had a few details about her missing boyfriend Sam. Because of this, I wasn't invested in the relationship and had a difficult time connecting to Beth's emotions about his disappearance.
The many different special powers was reminiscent of X-men and always fun to imagine. Here the author did well with imagining a wide range of abilities and those who wish to harness their power.
The music angle was a fresh idea, though I'd like to understand more about what links that talent with the special abilities. I would likely read the next book.
Thank you Netgalley and Spencer Hill Press for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Beth is in high school in a town where several children have gone missing. One of those missing is her boyfriend. Beth's brother ends up in a terrible accident and soon after she's accepted into a school for gifted musicians.
Of course the school is not what it seems and Beth is frantic to learn the truth.
I didn't like that Beth was clueless most of the time. I don't like it when I know the next few steps and the character just can't seem to see past the nose on her face. That happened so. many. times. She trusted when she shouldn't, she couldn't see danger, or figure out the clues before I did. I've read books where the author knows when the audience is likely to understand what is going on and moves the plot and main character at the same pace as the reader. That would be something the author could ask of beta readers in subsequent books.
I also would have liked to have a bit more backstory to the villain(s). I appreciate books better when there is a reason for why they are "evil" or what changed them.
The story only had a few details about her missing boyfriend Sam. Because of this, I wasn't invested in the relationship and had a difficult time connecting to Beth's emotions about his disappearance.
The many different special powers was reminiscent of X-men and always fun to imagine. Here the author did well with imagining a wide range of abilities and those who wish to harness their power.
The music angle was a fresh idea, though I'd like to understand more about what links that talent with the special abilities. I would likely read the next book.
Thank you Netgalley and Spencer Hill Press for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2015
Another fantastic book by Amowitz. As usual she has a way of grabbing you from he very beginning and taking you for a ride you can't seem to get off. It's fast paced and gripping.
Beth kept me hanging on the edge of my seat with it's mystery and intrigue. The characters were fun and interesting. The plot twisty and engaging. There wasn't a moment when I could predict what would happen and I loved that. I loved that the book kept me on my toes.
And that ending! I need to know what happens now! Once you finish, you'll want to have book #2 in your hands so you can breathe
Until Beth is full of tragedy, romance, plot twits, psychic powers, and slamming music which make for an electrifying ride. With characters that are as much mysterious as they are interesting, it will be one you soon won't forget!
Beth kept me hanging on the edge of my seat with it's mystery and intrigue. The characters were fun and interesting. The plot twisty and engaging. There wasn't a moment when I could predict what would happen and I loved that. I loved that the book kept me on my toes.
And that ending! I need to know what happens now! Once you finish, you'll want to have book #2 in your hands so you can breathe
Until Beth is full of tragedy, romance, plot twits, psychic powers, and slamming music which make for an electrifying ride. With characters that are as much mysterious as they are interesting, it will be one you soon won't forget!
May 29, 2015
I was fortunate enough to attend Book Expo in New York this week and obtain an advance reader's copy of this amazing book. I read the entire thing on the train ride home and was engrossed on every page. The plot was cleverly revealed throughout the novel and the writing helped me imagine the settings. Anyway - I'm sad that this book doesn't even come out until September, because I'm eagerly waiting for the continuation of the series. Loved every page!
September 25, 2015
Actual Rating 4.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Spencer Hill Press for providing me with a copy to honestly review.
Review:
Protagonist: Beth Collins is a very gifted guitar player, and because of this she's been scouted by a world class academy to help her perfect her talent... or so she thinks. Once she arrives strange things begin to happen and she soon find out there's more to this school than meets the eye. On the whole I really like Beth, we get a really good feel for the strong person she is. She's an enjoyable narrator, even if there are a few moments where she isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. As for her character development, well, it took me some time to realize and see how she develops over the course of this book, but it's there all the same.
Romance: I really don't know what to think of the romance in this book. First off we have Sam, who never actually makes an appearance in the book, who Beth still holds on to after his mysterious disappearance, then we have Xavier, an outcast boy who Beth forms an almost instant connection with but it's hard to tell if there was supposed to be romantic subtext there or if I was misreading the situation, and finally we have Vincent, the boy who is labeled by many characters as Saint Vincent for his constant support, attention, and perfection, he seems to have an odd effect on Beth and is honestly the only obvious love interest in this book. Luckily even though this romance is very confusing and had me wondering where my loyalties lied, there wasn't that much romance in this book.
World-Building: The world building in this book is fantastic, though because of it's fast pace it feels as though things are happening and the info is being dumped a bit too fast. I love the idea of the Talents though I wrongly assumed that the Talents would be something directly related to music. It was fun and interesting getting to know the talents of various characters and seeing Beth's reaction to the fact that there's this whole supernatural world that she's unknowingly a part of. There is quite a bit of set-up in this book and I have a feeling that the things we learned in this book are just the tip of the iceberg for this series.
Predictability:On the whole this book was fairly unpredictable, there were a few times that I thought I knew what was going to happen, or that I thought I knew a huge twist, that I was completely wrong about, ironically if I had read this book in one sitting rather than nursing it for the past week I would have figured some things out a lot easier. The things that I was able to predict were rather more vague feelings that came to fruition over the course of the book.
Length: The ending of this book felt like it had a lot of moving parts, there were so many high octane moments so close together that led to more questions than answers. The very end of the book had quite a few answers but still left me confused as to what the future of this series holds. There's actually a cliffhanger at the end of this book, even though the ending plateaued quite a bit before hand. I felt the urge for the next book in the series, there's still so much left to learn.
Rating:
So I'll be honest, I had a few problems with this book, from some awkward writing here and there, to some confusions over plot, however, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Spencer Hill Press for providing me with a copy to honestly review.
Review:
Protagonist: Beth Collins is a very gifted guitar player, and because of this she's been scouted by a world class academy to help her perfect her talent... or so she thinks. Once she arrives strange things begin to happen and she soon find out there's more to this school than meets the eye. On the whole I really like Beth, we get a really good feel for the strong person she is. She's an enjoyable narrator, even if there are a few moments where she isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. As for her character development, well, it took me some time to realize and see how she develops over the course of this book, but it's there all the same.
Romance: I really don't know what to think of the romance in this book. First off we have Sam, who never actually makes an appearance in the book, who Beth still holds on to after his mysterious disappearance, then we have Xavier, an outcast boy who Beth forms an almost instant connection with but it's hard to tell if there was supposed to be romantic subtext there or if I was misreading the situation, and finally we have Vincent, the boy who is labeled by many characters as Saint Vincent for his constant support, attention, and perfection, he seems to have an odd effect on Beth and is honestly the only obvious love interest in this book. Luckily even though this romance is very confusing and had me wondering where my loyalties lied, there wasn't that much romance in this book.
World-Building: The world building in this book is fantastic, though because of it's fast pace it feels as though things are happening and the info is being dumped a bit too fast. I love the idea of the Talents though I wrongly assumed that the Talents would be something directly related to music. It was fun and interesting getting to know the talents of various characters and seeing Beth's reaction to the fact that there's this whole supernatural world that she's unknowingly a part of. There is quite a bit of set-up in this book and I have a feeling that the things we learned in this book are just the tip of the iceberg for this series.
Predictability:On the whole this book was fairly unpredictable, there were a few times that I thought I knew what was going to happen, or that I thought I knew a huge twist, that I was completely wrong about, ironically if I had read this book in one sitting rather than nursing it for the past week I would have figured some things out a lot easier. The things that I was able to predict were rather more vague feelings that came to fruition over the course of the book.
Length: The ending of this book felt like it had a lot of moving parts, there were so many high octane moments so close together that led to more questions than answers. The very end of the book had quite a few answers but still left me confused as to what the future of this series holds. There's actually a cliffhanger at the end of this book, even though the ending plateaued quite a bit before hand. I felt the urge for the next book in the series, there's still so much left to learn.
Rating:
So I'll be honest, I had a few problems with this book, from some awkward writing here and there, to some confusions over plot, however, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one!
August 27, 2015
***THIS REVIEW AND MORE ON MY WEBSITE***
The Review: I have really mixed feelings about this story. I felt that it started off slowly but then as soon as Beth ends up at the school for the artistically gifted things move at an almost ridiculously fast pace. I also have to say that I was confused at the way Beth reacted to some of the things that happened to her. For the sake of not posting spoilers I won’t say much, but sometimes something would happen to her that would make any rational person want to run away as fast as possible. However, clueless Beth took it all in stride and just kept going as if nothing had happened. And we’re talking some really major things that you can’t ignore or explain away. I promise to post a spoiler soon so I can really express my thoughts on that. Another complaint that I had is that the plot seemed to bounce all over the place. When I read the synopsis for the novel, as well as looked at the giant guitar shaped grave on the cover, I assumed that there would be a decent amount of music in this book. However, there really wasn’t. I’m not sure why the author chose to make the music pitch on this one when it is clearly more about paranormal abilities. It felt to me that music was supposed to be a big deal to Beth, but she rarely touches on it. As far as the major villain, I’m actually incredibly confused as to who that actually is. There are some obvious players, but they don’t have the proper motivations and I feel that the character development wasn’t too hot when it came to the villains. I did like the fair amount of mystery in this one, it leaves us hanging on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I wasn’t really emotionally attached to any of the characters. I think at some points, when it would be too inconvenient to go in depth with plot development, our author just decided to throw in random explanations for problems that are unexplained. Pretty disappointing on that front. Lastly, there was a random romance and the beginnings of a possible (groan) love triangle that was also super cheesy and unrealistically developed. Kind of like, “Hello. I love you. The end.”. All in all, I’m interested to see where the sequel takes our characters, but I’m really hoping the author works on plot and character development. The idea was there, the execution was just not as good as it could have been. (I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review).
The Conclusion: Read this if you’re into: Books heavy on the paranormal, independent characters, and a bit of a mystery.
Don’t read this if you can’t stand: Confusing plot direction (with a cliffhanger), villains without explanation, and romantic relationships that start pretty quickly.
The Rating: A rocking 3 out of 5 stars because the idea was cool, but the execution was just not quite there yet. Let’s see how the sequel ends up.
September 22, 2015
Check out the full review at Such a Novel Idea.
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When I found out about this book, I was instantly intrigued. First, there is the grave shaped like a guitar. I mean, how can that not leave you a little curious as to what’s going on between those pages? Then there was the synopsis — a disappearance, a boarding school, music, and a girl with talent — maybe even some she doesn’t know about. Yeah, this book was basically meeting all my ‘must-read’ criteria.
The thing I loved about this book is that while music was a part of it, it wasn’t all of it. The same goes for the paranormal aspect. There was more to this story and I really liked that. There was a lot of mystery as well, which if you know me at all, you know I’m going to LOVE! And when the mystery pays off, I’m a pretty content reader. Hence, the good review here.
The story starts off five months after Beth’s boyfriend disappeared and her grief is palpable. She is stuck in so many ways, and Amowitz did a really great job with building Beth’s emotions — I actually felt them and understood the mindset Beth was in.
I have a penchant for boarding school books, especially when they are encased in mystery and give off a hazy, otherworldly quality… some may call it ethereal, but I love when I read and the world seems etched in a fog. This book reminded me somewhat of The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant, but it stood all its own. This isn’t something I’ve read over and over and that in itself was refreshing. I won’t say much more about the school, its inhabitants, or what happens during this part of the story, because I feel like it would spoil so much. It really is awesome going into this story a little blind. But suffice to say, I LOVED the twists and turns the story took.
The book starts off at a great pace and never really let up. You are intrigued by so many different plot points, but they all work really well together. This story did a really good job of layering and building upon itself. And the characters you meet along the way were interesting and only helped to further that layering.
Also, be prepared for a cliffhanger. While yes, it means you’re going to be hanging for a while (this book is being released next week, so we’ll have to wait patiently for book two), it also means there is more to this story and this world. And that is definitely worth it.
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When I found out about this book, I was instantly intrigued. First, there is the grave shaped like a guitar. I mean, how can that not leave you a little curious as to what’s going on between those pages? Then there was the synopsis — a disappearance, a boarding school, music, and a girl with talent — maybe even some she doesn’t know about. Yeah, this book was basically meeting all my ‘must-read’ criteria.
The thing I loved about this book is that while music was a part of it, it wasn’t all of it. The same goes for the paranormal aspect. There was more to this story and I really liked that. There was a lot of mystery as well, which if you know me at all, you know I’m going to LOVE! And when the mystery pays off, I’m a pretty content reader. Hence, the good review here.
The story starts off five months after Beth’s boyfriend disappeared and her grief is palpable. She is stuck in so many ways, and Amowitz did a really great job with building Beth’s emotions — I actually felt them and understood the mindset Beth was in.
I have a penchant for boarding school books, especially when they are encased in mystery and give off a hazy, otherworldly quality… some may call it ethereal, but I love when I read and the world seems etched in a fog. This book reminded me somewhat of The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant, but it stood all its own. This isn’t something I’ve read over and over and that in itself was refreshing. I won’t say much more about the school, its inhabitants, or what happens during this part of the story, because I feel like it would spoil so much. It really is awesome going into this story a little blind. But suffice to say, I LOVED the twists and turns the story took.
The book starts off at a great pace and never really let up. You are intrigued by so many different plot points, but they all work really well together. This story did a really good job of layering and building upon itself. And the characters you meet along the way were interesting and only helped to further that layering.
Also, be prepared for a cliffhanger. While yes, it means you’re going to be hanging for a while (this book is being released next week, so we’ll have to wait patiently for book two), it also means there is more to this story and this world. And that is definitely worth it.
August 2, 2015
The first thing you should know is that this is the start of a series. The second thing? Once you are finished with Until Beth, you will be absolutely desperate to read the next book.
Beth is a kickass heroine. There's some tragedy in her life and epic levels of weirdness but she refuses to give up. She is seriously awesome, too. She's a kickass friend and always does what she feels she needs to do to keep her friends safe---sometimes even at her own expense.
I spent a lot of the book not knowing what was going on, and also not knowing who to trust. If you read this---and you should---be aware that nothing's going to make sense at first. Even so, this is an insane ride and you'll never want to get off.
Highly recommended.
Beth is a kickass heroine. There's some tragedy in her life and epic levels of weirdness but she refuses to give up. She is seriously awesome, too. She's a kickass friend and always does what she feels she needs to do to keep her friends safe---sometimes even at her own expense.
I spent a lot of the book not knowing what was going on, and also not knowing who to trust. If you read this---and you should---be aware that nothing's going to make sense at first. Even so, this is an insane ride and you'll never want to get off.
Highly recommended.
September 15, 2015
'Until Beth' is a refreshing young adult mystery with some paranormal aspects blended in that will have readers eagerly reading as fast as they can in order to figure out what's really going on. I'm a huge fan of thrillers and paranormal fiction, so this book was pretty much a no-brainer choice for me. I was a bit hesitant because it seemed mainly focused on music - with the main character being in a band and then attending an elite music school. I figured I wouldn't be able to get into the story because I'm not a musician or anything even relatively close to one, but I was happily surprised when I read the book because even though the music aspect is a major part of the plot and characters - it doesn't overwhelm the story. I wasn't even bothered by the musical aspects - I think the author wrote the book in a way that the paranormal mystery is highlighted and focused on, with the music being background. That being said, this was a really original story and a great breath of fresh air for the genre. I'm always saying that there aren't enough good YA thrillers out there (although that seems to be changing lately) - but this novel brought some much needed freshness to the genre.
The main character, Beth, is a great leading lady for the story. She's a complex person and incredibly realistic. Right from the beginning, we learn of Beth's grief and pain after her boyfriend and longtime friend disappeared. She's stuck in a state between knowing that he's gone and isn't coming back - most people have even said that he's probably dead - and being unable to give up on him or let him go and move on with her life. Beth's an incredibly talented musician - and it's her music and talents that are the focus of the story. She's also a great friend, a devoted and loving daughter and sister (even though she might not show it much), and is very determined whenever she sets her mind to something. She has obvious flaws and weaknesses like a normal person, which made her easy to identify with right from the beginning. The story is told in the first person point of view with Beth as the narrator, so we get to see everything that happens from her perspective. I'm a huge fan of first person POV because the reader is able to connect on a much deeper level with the main character than with any other writing style. The same holds true with this book - we get to see inside Beth's private thoughts, fears, dreams, emotions, memories - basically everything that makes her 'tick.' In my opinion, the author made a great decision when she chose to write from Beth's POV and it took the story to a whole different level that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.
The plot was fresh and intriguing. I haven't read a book quite like this one before and it definitely stands out from the rest of the books in the same genre. The premise is fascinating with the mix of music and the paranormal. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started the novel, but I was almost immediately sucked into Beth's world and didn't come back out until the strange mystery had been solved and the book finished. With detailed descriptions and vivid imagery, the author creates a vibrant and realistic world for her story to take place and I had no problem imagining myself beside Beth the entire time. I don't want to give anything away or have spoilers, so this part of my review is going to be pretty vague. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the book - even though I had reservations at the beginning. Like I mentioned, I haven't read anything quite like this before, so I found myself getting really into the story and trying to figure out what in the heck was going on. Overall, this was a compelling and exhilarating novel that fans of the genre will definitely not want to miss. I also highly recommend it to fans of music, mystery, paranormal, contemporary, and those looking for something new in YA fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The main character, Beth, is a great leading lady for the story. She's a complex person and incredibly realistic. Right from the beginning, we learn of Beth's grief and pain after her boyfriend and longtime friend disappeared. She's stuck in a state between knowing that he's gone and isn't coming back - most people have even said that he's probably dead - and being unable to give up on him or let him go and move on with her life. Beth's an incredibly talented musician - and it's her music and talents that are the focus of the story. She's also a great friend, a devoted and loving daughter and sister (even though she might not show it much), and is very determined whenever she sets her mind to something. She has obvious flaws and weaknesses like a normal person, which made her easy to identify with right from the beginning. The story is told in the first person point of view with Beth as the narrator, so we get to see everything that happens from her perspective. I'm a huge fan of first person POV because the reader is able to connect on a much deeper level with the main character than with any other writing style. The same holds true with this book - we get to see inside Beth's private thoughts, fears, dreams, emotions, memories - basically everything that makes her 'tick.' In my opinion, the author made a great decision when she chose to write from Beth's POV and it took the story to a whole different level that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.
The plot was fresh and intriguing. I haven't read a book quite like this one before and it definitely stands out from the rest of the books in the same genre. The premise is fascinating with the mix of music and the paranormal. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started the novel, but I was almost immediately sucked into Beth's world and didn't come back out until the strange mystery had been solved and the book finished. With detailed descriptions and vivid imagery, the author creates a vibrant and realistic world for her story to take place and I had no problem imagining myself beside Beth the entire time. I don't want to give anything away or have spoilers, so this part of my review is going to be pretty vague. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the book - even though I had reservations at the beginning. Like I mentioned, I haven't read anything quite like this before, so I found myself getting really into the story and trying to figure out what in the heck was going on. Overall, this was a compelling and exhilarating novel that fans of the genre will definitely not want to miss. I also highly recommend it to fans of music, mystery, paranormal, contemporary, and those looking for something new in YA fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2016
Istyria book blog ~ B's world of enchanted books
I’m really torn on this one. I’ve been thinking about what to say and how to rate it for more than two hours now and honestly, I’m still not sure. Until Beth was not what I expected it to be. I mean that in a good way, of course. But on the other hand… I’m quite confuzzled. XD
Until Beth is not a story I know how to explain without spoiling, so I’m not going to try. Just read the blurb and you’ll know enough, I guess. The story is quite a new one for me, as I have not read anything like it yet. I think. It’s a mystery thriller but also urban fantasy and with tiny hints of romance. It’s not for everyone, I’m telling you that now. You might read this and adore it, give it 5 stars. Or you might not even be able to finish it because it’s just not for you. So if the blurb sounds interesting to you, give it a go. Who knows?
I’m a huge wuss, just so you know. I scare very easily and I can’t watch a horror movie when it’s dark out or I won’t be able to sleep. And this book had a very weird atmosphere that really, well… creeped me out. And that was the goal, or so the author told me. So job well done, Lisa. I didn’t trust anyone in this book, which I think is the cause of why I’m so torn on the rating. Since I never felt like I could trust anyone, I never gave myself the chance to get attached to the friendships or even the romance. I liked the romance, but I didn’t trust it. I can’t go deeper into this without spoiling so I’ll leave it at that.
The writing was really good, of course. The creepy vibe was there and I was constantly on edge. I loved all of the characters and I loved the urban fantasy side of the story, which I won’t spoil for you. But it’s something right up my alley so I just couldn’t do anything else but love it. The ending was a bit confusing to me, a bit fast. So I had to read it twice just to make sure what just happened. I wasn’t expecting the open ending, though. I thought it’d be a standalone, but judging from the way things ended, there’ll be a sequel. And yeah, I will read that. I need to know the rest of Beth’s story after all.
After writing all this down and thinking it through for a while, I’m going with 4 stars. If you love mystery thrillers with an urban fantasy side, I suggest you give this one a try. Who knows, it might surprise you!
This review is also (or -soon- will be) posted on Istyria book blog.
I’m really torn on this one. I’ve been thinking about what to say and how to rate it for more than two hours now and honestly, I’m still not sure. Until Beth was not what I expected it to be. I mean that in a good way, of course. But on the other hand… I’m quite confuzzled. XD
Until Beth is not a story I know how to explain without spoiling, so I’m not going to try. Just read the blurb and you’ll know enough, I guess. The story is quite a new one for me, as I have not read anything like it yet. I think. It’s a mystery thriller but also urban fantasy and with tiny hints of romance. It’s not for everyone, I’m telling you that now. You might read this and adore it, give it 5 stars. Or you might not even be able to finish it because it’s just not for you. So if the blurb sounds interesting to you, give it a go. Who knows?
I’m a huge wuss, just so you know. I scare very easily and I can’t watch a horror movie when it’s dark out or I won’t be able to sleep. And this book had a very weird atmosphere that really, well… creeped me out. And that was the goal, or so the author told me. So job well done, Lisa. I didn’t trust anyone in this book, which I think is the cause of why I’m so torn on the rating. Since I never felt like I could trust anyone, I never gave myself the chance to get attached to the friendships or even the romance. I liked the romance, but I didn’t trust it. I can’t go deeper into this without spoiling so I’ll leave it at that.
The writing was really good, of course. The creepy vibe was there and I was constantly on edge. I loved all of the characters and I loved the urban fantasy side of the story, which I won’t spoil for you. But it’s something right up my alley so I just couldn’t do anything else but love it. The ending was a bit confusing to me, a bit fast. So I had to read it twice just to make sure what just happened. I wasn’t expecting the open ending, though. I thought it’d be a standalone, but judging from the way things ended, there’ll be a sequel. And yeah, I will read that. I need to know the rest of Beth’s story after all.
After writing all this down and thinking it through for a while, I’m going with 4 stars. If you love mystery thrillers with an urban fantasy side, I suggest you give this one a try. Who knows, it might surprise you!
This review is also (or -soon- will be) posted on Istyria book blog.
September 19, 2015
First off, the cover...."Don't judge a book by its cover" they say. How can you not with this cover? That along with the Title of the story, Until Beth, is definitely the key to draw my attention to find out what secrets are hidden within.
Beth has been having a difficult time. Her boyfriend went missing months ago. Her brother's friend has been pressuring her to "date" him. Then her brother was in a horrible accident that also killed his best friend, however her brother suffered extreme injuries that has crippled him for life...which, she feels that was her fault for not stopping them when she knew they couldn't drive. All the while, she is seeing a black mist whirling around when she is upset.
Beth decides that her family would be better off without her, and goes to audition for a special school that she was invited to. When she gets accepted, she doesn't quite feel like herself, and the whole academy just feels a little off.
I was excited to dive in full throttle to this mysterious paranormal ability story. A true fan of the X-men and the Heroes TV series, I was ecstatic to discover those same characteristics in this story with a twist. This story was fast paced from beginning to end, with characters you yearn to learn more about. EVERY character plays an important roll in the story. You learn a little bit about each one as the story progresses. Not only is the plot a mystery, but a mystery on who Beth can depend on to be loyal, and who will eventually betray her. Packed with twist and turns, moments that will twist your heart, and darkness that threatens to go over the edge, this story will draw you in as the words disappear from the page.
Cliffhanger....YEAH!! That can only mean there will be a sequel. Although, this cliffhanger left me hanging by a fingernail. Truly, the author was cruel.
Check this one out. Embrace the mystery, feel the darkness and expand your imagination with this AMAZING read!
Beth has been having a difficult time. Her boyfriend went missing months ago. Her brother's friend has been pressuring her to "date" him. Then her brother was in a horrible accident that also killed his best friend, however her brother suffered extreme injuries that has crippled him for life...which, she feels that was her fault for not stopping them when she knew they couldn't drive. All the while, she is seeing a black mist whirling around when she is upset.
Beth decides that her family would be better off without her, and goes to audition for a special school that she was invited to. When she gets accepted, she doesn't quite feel like herself, and the whole academy just feels a little off.
I was excited to dive in full throttle to this mysterious paranormal ability story. A true fan of the X-men and the Heroes TV series, I was ecstatic to discover those same characteristics in this story with a twist. This story was fast paced from beginning to end, with characters you yearn to learn more about. EVERY character plays an important roll in the story. You learn a little bit about each one as the story progresses. Not only is the plot a mystery, but a mystery on who Beth can depend on to be loyal, and who will eventually betray her. Packed with twist and turns, moments that will twist your heart, and darkness that threatens to go over the edge, this story will draw you in as the words disappear from the page.
Cliffhanger....YEAH!! That can only mean there will be a sequel. Although, this cliffhanger left me hanging by a fingernail. Truly, the author was cruel.
Check this one out. Embrace the mystery, feel the darkness and expand your imagination with this AMAZING read!
October 12, 2015
Until Beth is a super fun and fascinating read. If you like X-Men-esque stories (which I do!!), then I highly recommend this.
The story starts with a very contemporary feel, but things get strange fast with the menacing black cloud -- death -- which hangs over people's head and the appearing and disappearing button of Beth's band. So I knew something weird was happening, but it took a while for the mystery to be fully unveiled -- which was great because I was fully aligned with Beth in feeling, "What on earth is going on?" And then when I found out what the school was all about, I was transfixed. Seriously, the world that Amowitz created is so intriguing! I absolutely loved reading about all the different powers the kids had. I could not put the book down and wanted more, more, more of this world.
Beth herself is an interesting, sympathetic, and relatable character. I was rooting for her the entire way and will certainly be following her adventures into the next book.
The story starts with a very contemporary feel, but things get strange fast with the menacing black cloud -- death -- which hangs over people's head and the appearing and disappearing button of Beth's band. So I knew something weird was happening, but it took a while for the mystery to be fully unveiled -- which was great because I was fully aligned with Beth in feeling, "What on earth is going on?" And then when I found out what the school was all about, I was transfixed. Seriously, the world that Amowitz created is so intriguing! I absolutely loved reading about all the different powers the kids had. I could not put the book down and wanted more, more, more of this world.
Beth herself is an interesting, sympathetic, and relatable character. I was rooting for her the entire way and will certainly be following her adventures into the next book.
November 20, 2015
As a total super heroes/villians fan, I loved Until Beth! It was such a fun ride! I had no idea going into the book that it was about kids with powers but I loved that fact. I was drawn in by the excellent cover and the tag line: She doesn't just play, she kills it, which has to be one of the best tag lines ever! I was figuring Beth might have some sort of supernatural power but I didn't know the book would have a whole school of super kids. I found Beth's school really intriguing. It kept reminding me of Hogwarts for the super hero set and you must be reading a pretty damn good book if it's reminding you a bit of Harry Potter.
Beth was a fun lead character and I loved the love triangle brewing between her, Vincent and Xavier. Xavier was deliciously mysterious! Bring on the sequel! Write fast Ms. Amowitz! Write fast!
Beth was a fun lead character and I loved the love triangle brewing between her, Vincent and Xavier. Xavier was deliciously mysterious! Bring on the sequel! Write fast Ms. Amowitz! Write fast!
August 29, 2015
I chose to read this book for three reasons.
I thought the title was smart.
A paranormal rocker? Awesome.
The cover. (Your daughter was so right!)
This book is serious fun. It was was suspenseful, intriguing, and unusual. I was constantly trying to figure out all of the oddities that were happening in Beth’s life. Plus, you never knew which characters you could actually trust.
I was also instantly interested in Beth’s life. She has this incredible talent, but her life is filled with so much tragedy. I wanted to know how she was going to handle everything.
I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to Netgalley & Spencer Hill Press for a copy of the book!
I thought the title was smart.
A paranormal rocker? Awesome.
The cover. (Your daughter was so right!)
This book is serious fun. It was was suspenseful, intriguing, and unusual. I was constantly trying to figure out all of the oddities that were happening in Beth’s life. Plus, you never knew which characters you could actually trust.
I was also instantly interested in Beth’s life. She has this incredible talent, but her life is filled with so much tragedy. I wanted to know how she was going to handle everything.
I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to Netgalley & Spencer Hill Press for a copy of the book!
August 30, 2015
I received a copy via net galley.
Holy cow! Ok so this started off really wonky. But I was so into it. These teens have unique talents, it was like reading a xmen book so I'm just gonna say if your not into that then walk away. It really works for me though, I loved all the new talents the author brings. It was a fresh idea, great characters, really good series starter. I can't wait for the sequel because that cliffhanger is leaving me antsy for more.
Holy cow! Ok so this started off really wonky. But I was so into it. These teens have unique talents, it was like reading a xmen book so I'm just gonna say if your not into that then walk away. It really works for me though, I loved all the new talents the author brings. It was a fresh idea, great characters, really good series starter. I can't wait for the sequel because that cliffhanger is leaving me antsy for more.
September 6, 2015
I reviewed this book on NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
I had pretty high expectations of this book, as when I saw it on NetGalley I knew I wanted to review it. While Until Beth doesn't find its way into my list of favourite books, it is definitely an enjoyable read, and seeing as it's the beginning of a series, it would be a series I'd probably invest my time and money in.
Until Beth is a sci-fi/paranormal novel, and it's just missed the goldrush of these kinds of novels after the popularity of Twilight and The Hunger Games. However, despite all of the similar books out there, I really liked the concept of the novel, and there is nothing quite like it on the YA shelves at the moment. The school setting of High Step reminded me a bit of the Fallen series by Lauren Kate as well, as in both books we don't see the characters in lessons very much. I also really liked the titular character, Beth, who is strong and feisty but is flawed like the rest of us at the same time. The thing that really made her though was her sense of emotional vulnerability, and everything she felt was realistic and relatable as opposed to the typically 'strong' heroines with the emotional capacity of a fridge on a scrap heap. Lisa Amowitz's writing style brought this to life really well and draws you into the story to the point where you get lost in it, and that's something I really like to see in a book.
But of course, like most books, Until Beth had some small drawbacks over the course of the story. The character Vincent got on my nerves in the way he was depicted as some kind of angel whose only flaw seemed to be a congenital heart defect. He speaks in an oddly formal style which nobody really speaks in, no matter how upper-class they are. The annoying thing is that there were quite a few parts of the book where he seemed to swamp the story, meaning some of the other characters, Lila in particular, weren't as developed as maybe they could've been. Also, a common theme kept popping up: everybody seemed to be ill, injured, or both at the same time! Either everybody at High Step has terrible immunity - which wasn't said to be a drawback of being Talented - or there is some kind of plague we weren't told about. Lastly, in my opinion, the climax of the book, which could've been executed really nicely, felt quite rushed and all too brief, and I found myself thinking, 'Is that it?'
All that aside, I did genuinely enjoy reading Until Beth, and I'll be looking out for the sequel when it comes out. This is definitely the book for you if you're a fan of paranormal or sci-fi books.
I had pretty high expectations of this book, as when I saw it on NetGalley I knew I wanted to review it. While Until Beth doesn't find its way into my list of favourite books, it is definitely an enjoyable read, and seeing as it's the beginning of a series, it would be a series I'd probably invest my time and money in.
Until Beth is a sci-fi/paranormal novel, and it's just missed the goldrush of these kinds of novels after the popularity of Twilight and The Hunger Games. However, despite all of the similar books out there, I really liked the concept of the novel, and there is nothing quite like it on the YA shelves at the moment. The school setting of High Step reminded me a bit of the Fallen series by Lauren Kate as well, as in both books we don't see the characters in lessons very much. I also really liked the titular character, Beth, who is strong and feisty but is flawed like the rest of us at the same time. The thing that really made her though was her sense of emotional vulnerability, and everything she felt was realistic and relatable as opposed to the typically 'strong' heroines with the emotional capacity of a fridge on a scrap heap. Lisa Amowitz's writing style brought this to life really well and draws you into the story to the point where you get lost in it, and that's something I really like to see in a book.
But of course, like most books, Until Beth had some small drawbacks over the course of the story. The character Vincent got on my nerves in the way he was depicted as some kind of angel whose only flaw seemed to be a congenital heart defect. He speaks in an oddly formal style which nobody really speaks in, no matter how upper-class they are. The annoying thing is that there were quite a few parts of the book where he seemed to swamp the story, meaning some of the other characters, Lila in particular, weren't as developed as maybe they could've been. Also, a common theme kept popping up: everybody seemed to be ill, injured, or both at the same time! Either everybody at High Step has terrible immunity - which wasn't said to be a drawback of being Talented - or there is some kind of plague we weren't told about. Lastly, in my opinion, the climax of the book, which could've been executed really nicely, felt quite rushed and all too brief, and I found myself thinking, 'Is that it?'
All that aside, I did genuinely enjoy reading Until Beth, and I'll be looking out for the sequel when it comes out. This is definitely the book for you if you're a fan of paranormal or sci-fi books.
September 23, 2015
Books and music are two of my absolute favorite things. And I always love when the two are combined, so I love reading books that have musical ties. However, most every book I have read recently that combined books and music was a romance. Until Beth has the whole extra paranormal element that makes it stand out. But there was also a balance, it wasn't more one thing than the other. It was refreshing.
The story opens up a few months after guitarist and high school student Beth Collins' boyfriend has disappeared. Beth is still coping with losing him, but at the same time still trying to live her life. Then something happens to her brother. So, when Beth gets an opportunity to attend High Step, a musical boarding school, she readily agrees. However, her musical talent is the only talent she has, and its not the only one that her new school is interested in enhancing either. Throw in two mystery men, the suspense of not knowing who the villain of the story is, and we have a winner.
I was very pleased with this book. It was a little confusing in the beginning, but it definitely kept my interest. It was a good mystery, and Beth was a wonderful heroine. I recommend this to people who enjoy YA mystery, and paranormal-ish superhero stuff.
I give Until Beth 4 out of 5 stars.
The story opens up a few months after guitarist and high school student Beth Collins' boyfriend has disappeared. Beth is still coping with losing him, but at the same time still trying to live her life. Then something happens to her brother. So, when Beth gets an opportunity to attend High Step, a musical boarding school, she readily agrees. However, her musical talent is the only talent she has, and its not the only one that her new school is interested in enhancing either. Throw in two mystery men, the suspense of not knowing who the villain of the story is, and we have a winner.
I was very pleased with this book. It was a little confusing in the beginning, but it definitely kept my interest. It was a good mystery, and Beth was a wonderful heroine. I recommend this to people who enjoy YA mystery, and paranormal-ish superhero stuff.
I give Until Beth 4 out of 5 stars.
September 9, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Totally love it!! Lisa did it again! This book is amazing!
Beth leaves home to attend an academy in which she believes her musical talent will be honed however, this academy is more focused on her other talent. Where there is this type of talent there is also people who want to control and take advantage for power. Beth tries to search for answers and doesn't know who she can trust.
I love books where the characters have abilities or this case, talents. They are fascinating to me and this book portrays the struggle a person goes through when they have such a talent.
Beth is an awesome character. It was really easy to connect with this character right from the get go. I was really drawn to Xavier. It's that mysterious bad boy nature of his that made me love his character. Although I don't know much about Sam, I already like him. I think it has to do with his connection with Beth and how fond Beth is of him.
This book was a quick read. The story flowed and kept my attention throughout. The only problem is now I have to wait until 2016 for the continuation.
Totally love it!! Lisa did it again! This book is amazing!
Beth leaves home to attend an academy in which she believes her musical talent will be honed however, this academy is more focused on her other talent. Where there is this type of talent there is also people who want to control and take advantage for power. Beth tries to search for answers and doesn't know who she can trust.
I love books where the characters have abilities or this case, talents. They are fascinating to me and this book portrays the struggle a person goes through when they have such a talent.
Beth is an awesome character. It was really easy to connect with this character right from the get go. I was really drawn to Xavier. It's that mysterious bad boy nature of his that made me love his character. Although I don't know much about Sam, I already like him. I think it has to do with his connection with Beth and how fond Beth is of him.
This book was a quick read. The story flowed and kept my attention throughout. The only problem is now I have to wait until 2016 for the continuation.
June 9, 2016
So, Beth plays guitar in a rock band. She is mourning her boyfriend, who disappeared a few months ago from their town where teens seem to disappear on a more than normal basis, when her brother is in a tragic accident. Then Beth's friend takes her to an audition for a prestigious music school and she finds herself in a strange, Hogwarts type school for teens like her who have "talents". Although she misses her boyfriend, Sam, she has a bond with a good looking guy named Vincent who can calm her fears. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys and what is up with the mysterious Xavier? This is the first book in a trilogy. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.
February 29, 2016
So boring.
Oh wait! Is this a trilogy?
And did you just mention that there is a resistance?!
Oh goody! And wait wait wait, are you saying that this one girl is so special that she has come along and completely obliterated the illusionary peace of a corrupt society?
Ahhhh! Did I just hear that she's so awesomely leader-like that she's about to lead the resistance? (Sorry, I was getting ahead of myself there)
Soooo original...
Oh wait! Is this a trilogy?
And did you just mention that there is a resistance?!
Oh goody! And wait wait wait, are you saying that this one girl is so special that she has come along and completely obliterated the illusionary peace of a corrupt society?
Ahhhh! Did I just hear that she's so awesomely leader-like that she's about to lead the resistance? (Sorry, I was getting ahead of myself there)
Soooo original...
August 7, 2015
Lisa, you're awesome!!! Everyone I know must read this book!!
September 29, 2015
Seriously that ending was cruel. But this book was great :)
My Review: http://diariesofabooklover.blogspot.c...
My Review: http://diariesofabooklover.blogspot.c...
June 4, 2018
4.5 stars
One of the main reasons that I rarely read a book's synopsis is that I like books to surprise me, and surprise me Until Beth certainly did. For whatever reason, I had in my head this idea that this book was going to be a contemporary story about a girl with some prodigal musical abilities coping with the grief of her dead boyfriend, along the lines of If I Stay. The incredible story of superpowers, intrigue, betrayal and surprising friendships that we got instead blew me away. It grabbed my attention immediately and slowly built up to this mind-blowing finale where everything we thought we knew was flipped around and plot twist after plot twist was hurled our way.
I love the characters. Beth had this savvy and feisty attitude but wasn't all Katniss-Everdeen-bitchy about her situation. She took it under her wing, fought for what she thought was right but didn't go all reckless and stupid about it. I also really loved Zuber!
Overall? I found this book to be shockingly awesome. The plot kept me on my toes and I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. I loved the characters, especially our protagonist. I am dying for news about the sequel because I needed it like yesterday.
Review copy provided by Spencer Hill Press for an honest review.
One of the main reasons that I rarely read a book's synopsis is that I like books to surprise me, and surprise me Until Beth certainly did. For whatever reason, I had in my head this idea that this book was going to be a contemporary story about a girl with some prodigal musical abilities coping with the grief of her dead boyfriend, along the lines of If I Stay. The incredible story of superpowers, intrigue, betrayal and surprising friendships that we got instead blew me away. It grabbed my attention immediately and slowly built up to this mind-blowing finale where everything we thought we knew was flipped around and plot twist after plot twist was hurled our way.
I love the characters. Beth had this savvy and feisty attitude but wasn't all Katniss-Everdeen-bitchy about her situation. She took it under her wing, fought for what she thought was right but didn't go all reckless and stupid about it. I also really loved Zuber!
Overall? I found this book to be shockingly awesome. The plot kept me on my toes and I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. I loved the characters, especially our protagonist. I am dying for news about the sequel because I needed it like yesterday.
Review copy provided by Spencer Hill Press for an honest review.
June 23, 2017
This book is well worth the read. I'm really sad there isn't a second book, yet!
November 26, 2021
It was a good fast read. It was easy to follow the plot. I do wish it was explained more how the main character actually experiences music.
March 5, 2023
It is really good with a lot of drama, romance, a little bit of comedy, fantasy and all of that. I liked it.
December 6, 2015
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
3 Stars
Genre: Young Adult | Science Fiction/Paranormal | Mystery Suspense |
Age range: 14+ due to mild violence, grief, sexual contact is only kissing except for an interrupted assault.
Until Beth started out strong, very engaging and fast-paced, but it turned frustrating and extremely confusing.
Beth is grieving over the loss of her bandmate/boyfriend, as well as trying to figure out why children have been coming up missing in her small town. On the same night a scout from a prominent school shows interest in her, her brother's friend tries to assault her, and the brother and his friend are in an accident. This all happens so very quickly in the first chapter, setting up the beyond confusing events of the entire book.
I enjoyed the characterization, the story itself, and the inventiveness of the Talents. In a way, it reminded me of Xavier's school for Gifted Youngsters (Marvel's X-men). In fact, a main character is named Xavier.
But this all fell short with the execution of the storytelling. To me, it felt as if it was written as if the reader should know/understand what was going on because the author knew. There were huge plot holes that were never resolved, or just remembered near the end and quickly explained in a way that was out of place in the current scene.
Beth was 100% clueless (not clueless TSTL girl, but clueless to her predicament) from page one to the end as a way to keep the reader just as clueless, and this led to a very frustrating reading experience. After finishing it, I don't feel as if I know anything about the Talent system, because Beth didn't. It felt as if the author was making it up as they wrote the novel, and failed to go back and fill in the holes in the beginning. As an writer myself, I feel it evolved into something that wasn't the intention from the start. Like the initial idea was a Young Adult mystery surrounding music, but changed to paranormal.
In hopes of feeling Young Adult, the usual dances, crushes, and kissing were injected. But often at extremely odd times. Beth would be a dead girl walking, a minute later her girlfriend would shoo Vincent away, they'd giggle, and get ready for a dance. (No sleep, no food, no shower after crawling out of a labyrinth & nearly dying?) The amount of times that Beth kissed Vincent after thinking of Sam was beyond bizarre, right down to the final paragraph of the book itself. "Let's go find Sam!" ... we kissed and didn't come up for air for a very long time. The author was pushing to create a quadrangle between Beth, the missing Sam, Vincent, and Xavier. Vincent doesn't fit in the angle whatsoever, but he's the one Beth's always reluctantly macking on. Bizarre.
Will adults readers enjoy this book? Probably. There is mystery because it's meant to be a mystery, and then there is a mystery because of the execution of a storyline completely leaving out necessary information in a timely manner. It's enjoyable for an adult if they read as quickly as possible so they don't realize a lot is getting skipped. I basically just read the book, because it flowed from A to D with the reader just guessing how the author arrived at D, filling in B & C for themselves or not at all. & no, B & C were never explained.
Will Young Adult readers like this book? Most certainly. There is mystery to keep them interested. Action and paranormal elements. Characters who have crushes on one another (this is a bit forced from an adult POV)
Will I read the next in the series? I'm on the fence, as I did enjoy the story that was trying to be told, and I'm curious to see if the author's storytelling abilities improve, but I feel a bit let down after such a strong start devolved into an oddly paced book with a Talent system that was never fully developed nor explained.
3 Stars
Genre: Young Adult | Science Fiction/Paranormal | Mystery Suspense |
Age range: 14+ due to mild violence, grief, sexual contact is only kissing except for an interrupted assault.
Until Beth started out strong, very engaging and fast-paced, but it turned frustrating and extremely confusing.
Beth is grieving over the loss of her bandmate/boyfriend, as well as trying to figure out why children have been coming up missing in her small town. On the same night a scout from a prominent school shows interest in her, her brother's friend tries to assault her, and the brother and his friend are in an accident. This all happens so very quickly in the first chapter, setting up the beyond confusing events of the entire book.
I enjoyed the characterization, the story itself, and the inventiveness of the Talents. In a way, it reminded me of Xavier's school for Gifted Youngsters (Marvel's X-men). In fact, a main character is named Xavier.
But this all fell short with the execution of the storytelling. To me, it felt as if it was written as if the reader should know/understand what was going on because the author knew. There were huge plot holes that were never resolved, or just remembered near the end and quickly explained in a way that was out of place in the current scene.
Beth was 100% clueless (not clueless TSTL girl, but clueless to her predicament) from page one to the end as a way to keep the reader just as clueless, and this led to a very frustrating reading experience. After finishing it, I don't feel as if I know anything about the Talent system, because Beth didn't. It felt as if the author was making it up as they wrote the novel, and failed to go back and fill in the holes in the beginning. As an writer myself, I feel it evolved into something that wasn't the intention from the start. Like the initial idea was a Young Adult mystery surrounding music, but changed to paranormal.
In hopes of feeling Young Adult, the usual dances, crushes, and kissing were injected. But often at extremely odd times. Beth would be a dead girl walking, a minute later her girlfriend would shoo Vincent away, they'd giggle, and get ready for a dance. (No sleep, no food, no shower after crawling out of a labyrinth & nearly dying?) The amount of times that Beth kissed Vincent after thinking of Sam was beyond bizarre, right down to the final paragraph of the book itself. "Let's go find Sam!" ... we kissed and didn't come up for air for a very long time. The author was pushing to create a quadrangle between Beth, the missing Sam, Vincent, and Xavier. Vincent doesn't fit in the angle whatsoever, but he's the one Beth's always reluctantly macking on. Bizarre.
Will adults readers enjoy this book? Probably. There is mystery because it's meant to be a mystery, and then there is a mystery because of the execution of a storyline completely leaving out necessary information in a timely manner. It's enjoyable for an adult if they read as quickly as possible so they don't realize a lot is getting skipped. I basically just read the book, because it flowed from A to D with the reader just guessing how the author arrived at D, filling in B & C for themselves or not at all. & no, B & C were never explained.
Will Young Adult readers like this book? Most certainly. There is mystery to keep them interested. Action and paranormal elements. Characters who have crushes on one another (this is a bit forced from an adult POV)
Will I read the next in the series? I'm on the fence, as I did enjoy the story that was trying to be told, and I'm curious to see if the author's storytelling abilities improve, but I feel a bit let down after such a strong start devolved into an oddly paced book with a Talent system that was never fully developed nor explained.
April 11, 2016
This for sure went downhill very fast. DNF at 49%.
At first I thought that it's going to be a contemporary involing music, then I thought it's going to be a darker story with a mystery twist. Then some weird stuff happened and I won't discuss it, because spoilers, but I wasn't expecting that and I didn't want it or liked it.
I don't know how other people felt about this one but for me was what I wasn't expecting in a bad way. I have nothing against good paranormal stories, even the weirdest and twisted ones, but this was so poorly written, with some plain and unidimensional characters, events thrown there and mixed together and it made no sense. And how Beth is accepting all that so easily is... I mean, yeah she protests a little then they say something and bam, Beth is fine.
And it has no logic. How her parents would accept that. Yeah, whatever the school will take care of that. Can we talk about the school and especially about the weird people in it? They think that they are so special and smart and no one will see them as freaks and crazy zombie stupid maniacs. I think that this book would've been more credible if the people would have been drank all day long, smoking, having sex on the roof and whatever. This paranormal stuff is weird, how is written is even weird, how Beth accepts all of it is beyond my understanding. And how this got published...
Everyone has different tastes and ideas, I get it, because I'm weird too, but this is a NO for me and I wouldn't recommend it. Ever. To anyone. My mind needs a vacantion. And maybe you'll read it just because it has a lot of mixed reviews and because I disliked it. Good luck, I'm not wasting my time more.
At first I thought that it's going to be a contemporary involing music, then I thought it's going to be a darker story with a mystery twist. Then some weird stuff happened and I won't discuss it, because spoilers, but I wasn't expecting that and I didn't want it or liked it.
I don't know how other people felt about this one but for me was what I wasn't expecting in a bad way. I have nothing against good paranormal stories, even the weirdest and twisted ones, but this was so poorly written, with some plain and unidimensional characters, events thrown there and mixed together and it made no sense. And how Beth is accepting all that so easily is... I mean, yeah she protests a little then they say something and bam, Beth is fine.
And it has no logic. How her parents would accept that. Yeah, whatever the school will take care of that. Can we talk about the school and especially about the weird people in it? They think that they are so special and smart and no one will see them as freaks and crazy zombie stupid maniacs. I think that this book would've been more credible if the people would have been drank all day long, smoking, having sex on the roof and whatever. This paranormal stuff is weird, how is written is even weird, how Beth accepts all of it is beyond my understanding. And how this got published...
Everyone has different tastes and ideas, I get it, because I'm weird too, but this is a NO for me and I wouldn't recommend it. Ever. To anyone. My mind needs a vacantion. And maybe you'll read it just because it has a lot of mixed reviews and because I disliked it. Good luck, I'm not wasting my time more.
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