Joy Malone wants it all--power, freedom and the boyfriend who loves her. Yet when an unstoppable assassin is hired to kill her, Joy learns that being the girl with the Sight comes with a price that might be too high to pay. Love will be tested, lives will be threatened, and everyone Joy knows and cares about will be affected by her decision to stand by Ink or to leave the Twixt forever.
Her choice is balanced on a scalpel's edge and the consequences will be more life-altering than anyone can guess.
The role of Dawn Metcalf will be played by the tall brunette in the off-the-shoulder, floor-length leather straitjacket. Makeup by Clinique, buckles by Jada Pinkett-Smith, hair by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
I have no good excuse for the way I write. I lived in a normal, loving, suburban home, studied hard, went to college, went to graduate school, got married, had babies, and settled down in northern Connecticut. Despite this wholesome lifestyle, I've been clearly corrupted by fairy tales, puppet visionaries, British humour and graphic novels. As a result, I write dark, quirky, and sometimes humorous speculative fiction.
Review Policy: My review policy has changed. I am removing all comments and stars from Read books. If it's here, I liked it or loved it (3-5 stars). I brag about books I absolutely adore and share other wild opinions on my website, Officially Twisted at www.dawnmetcalf.com.
After I finished Indelible I couldn’t wait to return to the world of the Twixt. It reminded me of a combination between Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki and a faerie world. Invisible made all that waiting worthwhile!
Invisible begins with a bang, after the events in Indelible Joy is protected by an edict from the council and the council wants to talk. The problem is Joy is being attacked irregardless of the edict by a knight bent on killing her. It is only with the help of Ink, Inq, and the Balliwick that Joy is able to keep him at bay. And even that might not be enough.
In Invisible Metcalf took the plot of Indelible and deepened it. The world building became broader, secondary characters got more backstory, and the stakes were raised. Joy has to choose between leaving the twixt, being marked, or forging her own path. Each of these paths is fraught with its own unique kind of danger.
I really loved that in Invisible we get to see more of Ink and Joy as a couple. In the last book they had to fight so hard to be together that it was nice to see them get a little slice of peace. Even if that peace was fragile and constantly being threatened.
Overall, Invisible was a lot of fun. It was great to see Ink, Inq, and Joy again and to learn more about the world of the Twixt. I am really looking forward to the next edition in this series. I can't wait to see where Metcalf takes the story next!
Seriously, what is up with sequels nowadays? When did they become more than just set-ups for an epic finale? This is the second sequel I've read in a row and neither suffered from the Second-Book-Syndrome. That's a very good thing, but my poor heart can't take this many feels!
I'll keep this spoiler free for both books, so I'll just go straight to telling you what I liked and disliked. This'll probably be a shorter review than normal. When I read Indelible last year, I didn't expect to like it. But I loved it. It blew me away and the romance was perfect. Needless to say I was eager to read the sequel! And then, last month, I got an e-mail saying I was part of the blog tour so I'd be getting a review copy too and yes, I was happy. Happy dancing, flailing, fangirling, all of it. And like you might have noticed already, this did not disappoint.
The writing is still so great and the world of the Twixt is so fascinating! I absolutely love it so much and I'm so fascinated by it! I just can't get enough of it. The story of a sequel is usually a bit boring and just a set up for the finale (if it's a trilogy). Well, that's what I thought anyway. Seems like the rules have changed lately. I've been reading a lot of great sequels! And this one has a fantastic story. I was laughing, giggling, swooning, yelling, biting my nails, sobbing and even crying. This was another emotional roller coaster, which I did not see coming. Dawn was right when she warned me a few weeks back on Twitter. I can't even imagine what the next book has in store.
I still love Joy so much and in this book we're introduced to her brother properly and I love how Joy is around him! They're so adorable together and yes, I fell in love with her brother immediately. Inq and Monica are still fantastic too but the best character is Ink. He grows so much in these books and I love him so, so much! I feel for him and the romance between him and Joy is just breathtaking! I can't go into it too deep because that would mean spoilers but it's amazing.
The Twixt is now one of my favorite series out there and I highly recommend them to everyone! I can't wait to read the rest of this series and find out what happens to my Ink! Read this! Oh and tissues may be necessary.
Be sure to stop by September 17th for my interview with Dawn on my tour stop!
First, let me start by saying this book was better than the first. My love for the twixt and ink and even joy, who is my favorite character though she annoys me sometimes (which I will explain later), has grown a million times in Invisible. This wonderful sequel surpassed all my expectations and makes me want more! NOW!! :)
Dawn Metcalf has created an original world that is full of wonderfully scary, weird and imaginative creatures. The Twixt world is one I love to lose myself in often. My copy of Indelible is well loved and Invisible is already on it's way to being warn out from me reading and re-reading sections.
So, lets talk about this book.......
This book opens up the world of the twixt. It makes us fear the world, as well as, fall head over heels in love with the others and the twixt. Throughout the book we get glimpses and hints of what's coming, and its not revealed until the end, but Dawn Metcalf does an amazing job making you feel like you are apart of the world.
Ink is definitely growing as a character. We feel his struggle to become "real" and his ability to feel emotion and passion is expanding to HOT levels that had me drooling a bit. Believe me when I say that he is definitely my Man Crush Monday!!! Hell, He is my MAN CRUSH WEEK!!! :) You can feel how much Ink loves Joy in this book. His anger, happiness, worry, caring, sadness, and passion for his world, his family, and joy increases the depth of this character.
Now let me explain Joy.......
Joy, is very true in this book. What I mean is this: If a human gets thrown into a crazy world they are going to act like a human. Not some fearless warrior that makes great decisions. As a reader, I want truth in a book. I say Joy annoys me because I think I would handle the situations in the same way. Truth be told, I like to think of myself as a fearless warrior. Let's be honest though, I would be paralyzed by fear in some of the situations Joy is put through in this book. I believe most teens, girls, women will be able to relate to Joy in enormous ways. Joy is my favorite character of this series because I see my faults in her and that is what annoys me... darn author making me feel things :)
Enough of my random rambling.... This book is an adventure that made me laugh, cry, scream, and lose sleep. I could not put this book down!!! I cant wait to dive back into this world and escape in the twixt!!!
I would like to thank Dawn Metcalf for sending me this ARC!! Of all the books I want ARCS of this series is definitely my number 1 choice. Thank You!!!
"I'm Mark Carver, but most folks call me Ink." Dyyyyyyying.
*update* So now that I have time to actually review this coherently, I want to fangirl a little. I LOVE these books. I was given both books one and two for review through NetGalley, and these books are equally incredible. This is such an awesome take on faeries and that entire world, I definitely recommend it if you want something new and original. These characters are some of the best that I've ever read, Joy is someone I would totally be best friends with, not to mention Inq, Ink and Filly, who are so fabulous. I loved them from book one on. We also get new characters, like Joy's brother, who are wonderful additions. So on top of getting back into this awesome world with my favorite characters, this plot was awesome. We have Joy struggling to keep one foot in two worlds, and create a cohesive relationship between her non-human friends and her human ones. And on top of all that, someone is trying to kill her. This was incredible, watching these characters try to fight evil while weaving in and around the strict rules set for them by the faeries. I'm so glad I got to read this, and I really recommend this series.
This series is an interesting take on fey and all that encompasses that. It's a solid series so far. The romance between Ink and Joy is refreshing and wonderful; the cast of characters is really vibrate and unique; and there are lots of lessons to be learned and a decent plot.
If you like fey books or want to read something in the fantasy realm that doesn't have a love triangle, give these a shot.
I love this series! This one was just as good, if not a little better than the first book, Indelible. I love fairy stories in general, and this one is very well done. And I love that this was not all about Ink and Joy, either. It was really more of Joy's story.
I think I’m in love with Dawn Metcalf. Honestly, I don’t know where she comes up with these books, but I love them! They have the types of magical creatures that we’re used to from faery books, but then Metcalf adds this whole new layer with the Signaturae, the symbols that connect the human world to the Twixt. I know, it sounds a bit confusing (and it can be a bit in the first book), but I’m in love with the idea and with the creative ways that Metcalf uses it. I just can’t express to you how much I adore these books!
So, Invisible starts pretty much where Indelible left off. Joy has saved the world from the evil Aniseed, who wanted to kill off the human race using Ink and Inq’s signaturae. Joy discovered that she could actually erase signaturae, thus saving the day. But even though she benefited both the Twixt and the human world, many members of the Twixt still see her as a threat – her ability could be dangerous if she used it against them. The Council has insisted that Joy either give up her scalpel (which they believe mistakenly will take away her ability to erase signaturae), allow herself to be claimed once again by a member of the Twixt, or cut all ties with the Twixt completely. Joy wouldn’t mind being claimed by Ink, but he desperately wants her to hold onto her freedom – so instead they try to buy time to come up with another solution. But, in the meantime, Joy is being hunted by a deadly assassin – she may not have to face the Council at all if she can’t survive that long.
What I LOVED:
Joy and Ink. These two are one of my favorite book couples ever. They adore each other, and it shows. I love how Joy truly loves teaching Ink to feel and how each experience is new to him. His wonder at the world and at everything he feels for Joy just makes me kind of giddy. Joy and Ink are incredibly sweet together, but they also have tons of chemistry (I was amazed at how much chemistry Metcalf was able to create in scenes where they really didn’t do anything more than kiss, albeit passionately, with hints of possibly more to come). But Joy and Ink aren’t perfect – they do have some issues in this book, partially due to their different perspectives (human vs. Twixt). Like every good couple, they have to navigate some speed bumps on their way to true happiness, but I found their issues to be believable, especially based on Joy and Ink’s personalities. Their troubles really just made me root for them more!
Dangerous enemies … and friends too. Joy’s magical enemies are incredibly dangerous and there are plenty of run-ins with them! Of course, even Joy’s magical friends put her in danger sometimes … and can she really trust them? I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book, wondering when Joy’s life would be put in danger next and how she would escape (oh, and the way that she does escape is awfully cool). Joy’s family gets in on the action a bit too, but I don’t want to spoil anything about that – you’ll just have to read to find out!
Monica. Joy’s best friend has a personal dilemma and needs her. Of course, Joy is a bit preoccupied with someone trying to murder her and all, but she still manages to make time for Monica, which I loved. And I was invested in Monica’s story too! Satisfying ending. This book could almost be the end to the series and I would have felt satisfied. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely want to read more of these books, but I love that the books don’t end on cliffhangers and we get a sense of closure at the end of each one. Wonder what Metcalf has up her sleeve next?
The negatives:
Nothing much. Once again, I can’t really think of any real negatives for this book (this has happened a few times lately!). I’m sure there were moments that I wasn’t thrilled with, but I was too engrossed in the story to write them down and I can’t think of any of them at this point. Sigh … oh well!
I can’t wait to read more of The Twixt (looks like I’ll have to wait until June of 2015, though)! Seriously, if you like fantasy, especially books that involve fae and the like, you need to read this series. I give this second book 5/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
First off, I'm a fan of this series. Really, I am! But there is a ton of things that I really didn't enjoy. This installment was certainly easier to follow than Book 1, but it still wasn't the smoothest flowing book.
So I'll first share my thoughts on WHAT WENT WRONG:
1. Slow, lingering scenes for pages, and pages, and pages, and... 2. Again, confusing in reasonings for actions/beliefs of Folk. 3. The romance between Ink and Joy struck a creepy chord with me in this book, despite finding it sweet in Book 1. Joy just keeps repeating that everything Ink does, touches and moves and such, he's learned from others, i.e. HER. He's using her own moves on her. There is no evidence that he acts on any impulses, tries new things, ventures out of the box... It feels robotic to me, you know? He doesn't seem to have any passion to drive him when it comes to romance. (Also, as I pointed out earlier in my live-reading thoughts: did Ink allude that he and Joy needed to stop kissing because he hadn't drawn himself a penis yet?? First off-- that's crossing the line of acceptability, Ms. Metcalf. Second, since when did Ink learn to associate desire and romance to sex? Did the Cabana Boys have a sit-down with him and explain the birds and the bees? Cause that's actually adorable now that I think about it. But honestly. I don't think that particularly bit needed to make it into the book. Let him draw his nether regions in peace, and let us live blissfully unaware of how he got that way.) 4. Questions went unanswered... (I don't even remember what they were...) 5. Did I mention that it was hard to follow at times? Yeah, okay. 6. Where was Ink doing his thing, marking people? Not once did Joy accompany him to mark someone. That whole plot element was erased in this book, and it was one of the things I loved about the first book. I loved all the different Folk we met and their descriptions and learning the reasons why they would be marked... I really, really missed the creativity of those things. The book definitely suffered for the loss of those characters and situations.
But that's the thing: I still really like this series. I had absolutely NO CLUE what was happening for most of the first book, but it was so creative and fresh and new, that I just HAD to finish it. It's what made me stick with this one in particularly long scenes in this book. I like the idea. I like the premise. The characters are an awesome mish-mash of off beat people and Folk and I love them. I don't understand it. I don't understand the overall plot. I don't get why a lot of it is important. But for once, I really don't care.
This is a 2.5 rating, but I rounded it up because I'm nice.
I am utterly on the fence about this book. There were moments that I was just utterly bored out of my mind and there were other parts that I couldn't get enough of. So much of it felt unnecessary and there was a lot of tell, but not nearly enough show. While I understand the importance of making sure that I'm caught up with everything that's going on, OH GOSH did I get tired of reading all the recaps from the last book, supposedly hidden in dialogue or sometimes blatantly explained in several LONG paragraphs in explanation.
Also, Joy was terrible in this. She was annoying, whiny, conflicted, selfish, and I could go on, but I don't want to get carried away. It's a wonder that she had any friends, which, unsurprisingly, were scarce in the first place. She literally only had one human friend AT ALL. And said human friend's boyfriend. But that was one of the issues that could be found in the first book. Joy also acted without thinking this whole book. I wanted to yell at her, "DON'T YOU READ? THE HEROINE ALWAYS DOES THIS KIND OF SHIT AND MESSES EVERYTHING UP." But of course, Joy did it anyway, and no semblance of common sense struck her until after it was too late. Whoopee.
The plot felt a little weak too, completely disconnected from the first book. Honestly, I have no clue where this is going. Maybe there will be some sort of drama with the Tide, or something later on, but the build to that seems quite long and drawn out. I'm not sure if it's worth the wait to see if any of this connects.
On to the parts that I actually liked. Ink was just fantastic, because he was sensible and cared about the wellbeing of others enough to actually consider the consequences, unlike his girlfriend. There were times when I was a little annoyed by him, but they weren't excessive and he still holds the place as one of my favorite characters here. I also enjoyed Filly and the whole concept of the Red Knight. It's an interesting idea that I don't think I've seen anywhere else.
At this point, I'm so conflicted about this series, that I might just decide whether or not to read the next one based on how pretty the cover will look on my shelf. Because really, I could do without it just fine, but I feel like I should be lenient and give it another shot.
I want to thank Harlequin Teen for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.
WARNING: If you did not read the first book in this series there may be spoilers here you don't want to know about. So, what are you waiting for? Go back and read #1! If you're looking for an intriguing fantasy, then this one is it!
Invisible begins right where the first book left off. We are back in the life of Joy and her unlikely companions. She has the sight and some want her out of the picture despite her protection offered by the council. And, while we see all the characters we grew to love in the first book, they are put in a totally different situation in this sequel. And we get new characters, as well. We finally get a glimpse at Joy's brother.
And we get a deeper look into Joy and Ink's relationship. Where it seemed like perhaps it would be impossible for them to be together in the first book, the second book brings us right into their romance to watch it bloom and grow. Yes, their relationship is quite unorthodox. After all, who but she and the others from the Twixt can see that Ink exists. But it works for them. Though I will say I can see where Joys' family may have questioned her sanity many times with how she acts when she's trying to ensure Ink is not found out.
Dawn's writing is really fantastic. There's nothing boring about how or what she writes. It flows easily and keeps you ingrained in the story. She knows how to writes action and adventure! She's created a completely unique world. It's reminiscent of Vicotria Schwab's The Archived or perhaps even the world of Narnia!
Overall, this book really took me for a ride. And how excited am I to see that there are other books set to be released with this series! So, if you enjoy fantasy in a world set like Alice in Wonderland, then The Twixt series is for you!
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy Rating: Older Teen (heavy sensuality, violence, minor gore, tense situations) Told: Third Person Singular (Joy), Past Tense Format Read: ARC (author)
Why I Read It: I absolutely loved Indelible (even more the second time I read it!), so I was excited to return to the world of the Twixt!
Series: This is Book 2 in The Twixt series, and picks up not long after Book 1. Much of the world and happenings of Book 1 are re-examined in this book, but you definitely need to read the books in order. There will be at least 4 books in the series. You can read my review of Book 1, Indelible, here.
Writing: Quick and engrossing with a unique voice and vivid sensory detail that pulls you in and keeps you reading.
Setting: The real world, except a mostly invisible race of unique and unusual creatures called the Folk exist on a slightly different plane alongside ours. They are an original race quite unlike anything else I've ever read, the closest I can describe as a cross between the Fae and Japanese Yokai. They are fascinating and sometimes rather terrifying but oh so very delightful. In this book we delve a little deeper into their world and magics, which was really exciting.
Story: Second books are hard to pull off, but Dawn does it with flair. Invisible was just as good as Indelible, except with more steam and some serious feels. The plot was a rollercoaster of pretty extreme highs and lows for Joy, which made for a few heartwrenching moments. For the ending, although I'm usually against a girl making life-altering decisions based on the love of a boy, here they were the right decisions so I let it go. And I LOVED the ending - cannot wait for Book 3, Inviolate! I believe it could surpass the first two books by a few leaps, and possibly a bound.
Characters: Joy was girl struggling to find her place among two very different worlds, that of her human life and her newfound powers amongst the Folk. She didn't always make the right decisions, and sometimes those decisions came with disastrous results, but she tried and that's all one can really do. Luckily Joy was a strong young lady, and even when she was scared stiff she didn't back down, an admirable quality. Ink was his indelible sweet self, albeit a little steamier, and Inq was as slippery as her name. The rest of the Indelible cast was back as well, and we learned a little more about many of them. And Filly got a huge part this time, which really made the book for me on a number of occasions! (She's my favorite. ;)
Romantic Relationship: Joy and Ink's relationship got more than a little steamy, but otherwise still had that sweet, innocent feel of first love. I feel the innocence will most likely drop all together in the next book, though. *prepares fan*
Conclusion: Absolutely loved returning to the world of the Twixt! Invisible was just as good as Indelible, with more steam and feels. These actually remind me a lot of adult MMPs (mass market paperbacks, which in my opinion are a genre all their own) - imaginative and adventurous quick reads with fun characters and interesting worlds that could go on forever and you love when they do. The only difference here: these are Young Adult. SCORE.
I came across another review that put my sentiments about this series completely into words, so I'll just quote her here instead of trying to try and fit my feelings into a few lines. ;)
"But that's the thing: I still really like this series. I had absolutely NO CLUE what was happening for most of the first book, but it was so creative and fresh and new, that I just HAD to finish it. It's what made me stick with this one in particularly long scenes in this book. I like the idea. I like the premise. The characters are an awesome mish-mash of off beat people and Folk and I love them. I don't understand it. I don't understand the overall plot. I don't get why a lot of it is important. But for once, I really don't care.
The world of the Twixt that Dawn Metcalf created in her series is so different, so imaginative, a little bit creepy, but absolutely wonderful. And INVISIBLE returns readers to that magical world, to characters who are unusual, beautiful, bizarre, and whose motives are most often unknown, complex, and potentially sinister.
This second installment in the series picks up a few months after the events in INDELIBLE. While things first appear to have settled down for Joy Malone, it’s a calm that is short-lived. With time ticking down to a choice that must be made that could sever her ties to Ink and the Twixt forever, a ruthless knight hell-bent on slaying her, putting everyone she cares about at risk, secrets that she’s keeping and decisions that she’s made that threaten to destroy everything, and a revelation that could change not only her life, but the Twixt, forever, things in Joy’s life are far from tranquil.
With even bigger stakes, an even greater threat, and a choice that promises heartbreak, INVISIBLE is a sequel that is action-packed, suspense- and tension-filled, nerve-wracking, heartwrenching, and incredibly exciting. It’s a story that will keep readers glued to the page until the very end.
I was not able to put this book down. I devoured it in one sitting. It had everything I loved about INDELIBLE – its characters, the world, the magic – but it ratcheted up the action, the suspense, the mystery elements. It made me root for the main character, but also want to throttle her, much like a certain much-loved character in this series did. And I may have screamed at her once or twice before she once again became the Joy I knew and adored.
I loved everything about this story, but I especially loved the foreshadowing, the bits and pieces the author dropped in along the way that made me curious, that put me on alert, and made me anxious and worried about what it would mean. I also loved that many questions were answered, but some only partially, leaving plenty to wonder about, to hope for, in the books to come.
There is no cliffhanger ending in INVISIBLE, just like with the first book in the series. The story ends in a place that wraps things up enough to satisfy, but keeps them open enough for readers to wish the next book was available to continue the story immediately.
This second book is not a filler book. It moves the plot forward, it takes the story deeper, it further develops the characters, it introduces even more conflict, and it adds a few twists that promise to make the remaining books in this series positively riveting.
For readers who enjoy stories filled with magic, extraordinary and interesting and peculiar and lovable characters, writing that is creative and engaging and absolutely delightful, worlds that are just a little bit different, then INVISIBLE is a must.
I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, I was in no way compensated for this review.
Invisible is Dawn Metcalf's second novel in the Twixt series. At least I think it's a series, maybe a trilogy...only time will tell. And just as the first book was this one was equally exciting!
I feel like now I have a better understanding of the Folk world or the Twist as it's called. Things suddenly became more clear to me as I read this one. I was able to understand a lot more. But still, the marking of humans by the Folk is something I don't fully get, but no matter really!
Joy is able to undo these marks and it's something that must be kept secret from other Folk, or else there would be a lot of trouble for her. Not that she doesn't already have enough. Folk are harassing her lately and one is so bold as to try to kill her. He's a stubborn and adamant assassin that she and Ink can't seem to get rid of.
Joy's brother, Stef comes home for the summer carrying his own secret. While Joy also continues to dig herself deeper with her own secrets. She begins helping other Fold remove their unwanted marks. She does this in secret because she doesn't want Ink to know right away. Then there's also Joy still keeping Ink a mystery from her friend, Monica and her family. How can she introduce them to a boyfriend they can't see? It's not long before Joy's choices leave her on her own. She makes some mistakes and finds herself alone.
The romance was once again just delightful. For what we had anyway. Joy and Ink are eventually separated for sometime. But still, I love their romance. Ink is still so new to human tendencies, so every kiss, every touch and little moment is just so endearing! I can't get enough of it!
The ending was something of a shocker too. But I like how nearly all the loose ends are tied off, yet leaving fodder for another book naturally. Once again I must commend Dawn on the balance she has with Joy's life. There's a good amount of normal human moments as there are Folk filled ones and I love it! We get the best of both worlds.
This is a series that is fast addicting! The action is well dispersed too. There's hardly a dull moment in this book. I truly enjoyed it from page to page; my heart racing to see how things turned out. I so can't wait for the next one. Let there be a next one, Dawn!
Delightfully dark, wonderfully creepy, and adorably romantic, Invisible was an absolutely amazing sequel that was even better than the first. It had twists, turns, and unexpected surprises and it all kept me on the edge of my seat. I was hooked from start to finish and I absolutely loved every bit of it.
Joy continued to grow in this book. Thrown into the world of the Twixt, she had to figure out how to survive. She made mistakes. Mistakes that occasionally made me want to smack her upside the head. Mistakes that nearly ruined everything. But, she learned from them, growing wiser and stronger over the course of the book and eventually realizing that nothing in her life was simple anymore and that she couldn't continue to have one foot in each world and would need to choose one way or the other. I liked her in book 1 and I liked her even more in this book.
Ink was just as adorable as ever. He was so sweet, becoming more and more accustom to acting human and proving that he was totally devoted to Joy and determined to keep her safe. He was just wonderful and I still utterly adore him.
The romance continued to grow as Joy and Ink became closer. There was never any doubt that they loved each other, but they needed to overcome even more obstacles to stay together. I was rooting for them to make things work and here's hoping that things will work out for them in the next books.
The plot was fast past and I was totally hooked the entire way through. There were plenty of twists that kept things unpredictable, as well as a game-changer that was revealed near the end. I started to suspect it about halfway through the book, but it was still an epic scene where things changed for all the players. I absolutely loved the story and the ending was brilliant. I so anxious to see what happens next for these wonderful characters. Can't wait to read book 3!
Invisible was a brilliant YA read that I absolutely loved. It was a fantastic sequel that managed to top the first and I can't overstate how much I loved it. Fans of book 1, you will love book 2. And, YA lovers, this is definitely a must read series.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I used to do this thing where I'd assign a "snack rating" to books in my reviews....because sometimes reading a book is like eating a bag of potato chips :) If Invisible were a snack, it would be one of my go-to comfort foods: Parmesan Garlic kettle chips.
It's basically Kirsten catnip (only missing some "adult romance" if you know what I mean). Dawn Metcalf does a fabulous job of upping the ante, getting deeper into Joy's world, keeping some of those Ink-and-Joy sensuous scenes where he's learning about being human through touch (conveniently interrupted by brothers and other stuff sadly) and consolidating the fae world of the Twixt.
But besides Joy's troubles now that she's no longer bound to Ink and there's someone sending an unstoppable assassin against her, there's these little moments of real world poignancy and depth that really make this series stand out for me.
Joy is also dealing with a anger against a mother who left their family, and also has a black friend who is in love with a white german guy and uncomfortable with the issues raised by that. There's a moment where Monica sits Joy down and forces her to confront the fact that its easy for Joy to ignore the issues because "you love him and he loves you" because Joy is white.
And there's a moment where Joy, in the midst of her last ditch effort to save her own life in front of the Twixt Council where she has to dress up and notes fleetingly that her feet, spoiled by a summer of flip flops have squished toes in her strappy heels.
It's notes like this that make the fantastic stuff more enjoyable and real-seeming by contrast.
And there's lots of fun fight scenes with Filly the Nordic warrior.
Sometimes I get tangled up (much like Joy and Filly get tangled up in Kestrel's lead line when hunting the assassin) in the battle scenes, but they're mostly well done.
There is a bit of plot-driven ignoring of Joy's brother's revelations about his own TWixt experience, somewhat unbelievable in the face of my own raging curiousity (what about the Carousel DJ?) hopefully we'll get more of that later.
Mostly it's just fun and interesting, a bit of poignant escapist read. Read the first book, first, though.
I didn't love this one quite as much as the first book. I still really liked it, but there were some slow bits in the beginning. And while I totally understand why Joy did that one thing, I still wanted to hit her over the head with something.
I also need to take a moment and squee! (without spoilers!) because I totally knew something was going to happen eventually! And it DID! And I didn't know how it was going to happen or when, but finally? *laughs*
We get to see more of Filly in this book, as well as Kestrel and a little bit of the Cabana Boys.
I love how Joy and Ink are together. How their relationship always seems to be evolving and growing. There were a number of sweet moments, as well as a few painful ones.
Joy's brother Stef was another character I loved! His surprises made a lot of sense once they came to light. And I can hardly wait to see his reaction to the stuff Joy hasn't told him yet.
All the old characters we knew and liked from the first book are back. And their stories are fleshed out more. Monica and her boyfriend have couple issues and Joy tries to help Monica. We get to meet Monica's parents, and the Twixt gets a little darker and more dangerous for Joy.
I can't think of anything else to say without major spoilers. So pretty much if you haven't read this series yet, you need to!
Invisible was sooo good! I can't even begin to tell you all of the feels.
So Invisible picks-up a little after Indelible and Joy has to deal with more problems involving the Twixt. This book had a lot more action; Joy is being hunted by an assassin and no one is safe. Joy, Ink and the rest of the gang has to figure out how to stop the unstoppable in order to save Joy and everyone else.
Some more family stuff is going on with Joy. Joy's brother Stef is back for the summer, Joy and her mom seem to be getting along better and her dad has a girlfriend, who Joy doesn't hate. So of course now that everything with the fam is going good, some family secrets are about to come out and change Joy's world.
Ink...Indelible Ink, Joy's very loving boyfriend (I love him and he has more character this time). Things between Joy and Ink get more passionate in this book. You can feel the passion and love through the pages, however things don't stay good for long. Joy and Ink go through somethings and you will have to find out if they can over come it or will it be the end of them and Joy's adventures in the Twixt.
You really do need to read the first book, Indelible, before you read this book. And like the book before it Invisible has a nice ending. The ending settles things and will leave you satisfied, while also leaving the ending open and you begging for the next book.
I must warn you that you will have so many different feelings and you will hold your breath at times and any book that makes you feel all of that is a must get.
First off let me say that I LOVED the first book! If you haven't read it you must, because it's beautiful!
When I received the advanced copy in the mail I put aside the other books I was reading so I could read this right away!
When I started reading I wasn't sure what else could happen to Joy but Metcalf surprised me with all sorts of plot twists and an ending that I had to red twice to grasp my head around! This book is beautifully written and I loved all of the twists and turns that left me frustrated and wanting to read more to find out how things were going to turn out! This book sucked me in and I was even reading during lunch to finish the book. There were a few parts in the book that I felt were a little dragged on or didn't add to the story line and didn't need to be in the book, but overall I fell that everything helped make the story line better and more interesting. I am crossing my fingers that Metcalf will write at least one more book to continue to story of Joy. I highly recommend this book and the first one (and I'm sure my friends can vouch for me because I am always telling them to read this book) because they have an amazing storyline and are beautifully written!
Invisible is the second book of the Twixt series by Dawn Metcalf, and I can assure you, it certainly lived up to its predecessor. It can get very intense at times and I often found myself shouting at the characters. Joy's brother Stef is finally introduced, but Joy's parents play a lesser role than before. At the end of the previous book it seemed like everything was settled and there were no more problems to be straightened out, that is far from the truth. Joy and her friend Monica test the boundaries of their rule "No Stupid" and we become a bit more familiar with some of the Cabana Boys. The repercussions of Joy's actions to defeat Aniseed come in to play as well. Also, don't forget Ink. Joy's and his relationship goes through its ups and downs and grows for all the pain they go through. It really is amazing to watch Ink become more and more human. As I was reading, I found myself having some... ambivalent feelings about some of Joy's decisions. On one hand I could relate and agree with her, while on the other I felt she could have handled it better. Dawn Metcalf did a wonderful job rendering Joy's and Ink's story. I couldn't put the book down!
I thought this book was great. I got this as a giveaway and though I did not read the first one I was still able to follow along. I would love to read the first book now though!
I love the main character, Joy, because she is such a brave girl considering how new she is to everything. She just takes things as they come.
I loved the characters Ink and Inq. Ink seems to live the way I would imagine anyone would when brought in and out into the human world. He knows so much, yet he still longs to be human even though humans do such crazy things. Inq on the other hand is so brazen and yet thoughtful. I just really loved them.
I would give this book a 5 star rating but I only give 4 for my lack of knowledge. I believe the author has a excellent imagination to think up such a wonderful and exciting other world. It was by no means the easiest read for me, but I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Dawn Metcalf for the giveaway and for a great time reading this book.
P.S.- I think there is an error on pg.191 second paragraph down. should say "but sit still" and it says "but sie still".
This is the second book in the Twixt series and this series should be read in order. I think it is important here not just for character development but for world building as well.
I enjoyed most of the book and liked that Joy grows and finds her own inner strength and saves herself rather than relying on others constantly. Her behavior before that frustrated me but at the same time I also can see that it was purposeful to highlight her growth. Still, some of the things she did left me shaking my head in wonder.
I liked the addition of Stef, her bother, who was more involved this time. I would like to see more of that as well as more involvement with her father. I liked the growth of Ink even as small as it was. It was interesting seeing him become more of a human. I was more convinced here of the romance than I was in the previous book. There is still more to be done to really see them as a couple, but I do like the advancement toward the relationship.
I give this book 3 stars. I recommend it to those that enjoy YA and a strange and different world.
**I received this E-book for free from NetGalley/Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Young Adult Paranormal Romance *Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
"Sometimes we must chose immediately unpleasant things in order to prevent greater unpleasantness." Ink
Indelible introduced readers to Dawn Metcalf's world of the Twixt, and her protagonist Joy Malone. Joy is a human who has the Sight which means she can see the Twixt aka the Folk. This is a world where scribes like Indelible Ink, and his sister Invisible Inq, brand humans and Twixt using a person's signaturae, or True Name.
An assassin has been hired to kill Joy, and it has become very obvious that surviving with Sight is becoming harder and harder. Can she keep her heart in tact while also keeping her new status she's found in the Twixt?
My thoughts: From the moment I slipped into this second book, it was like I was cuddling in my favorite PJ's! I just love these characters and everything about their wild world they live in.
Ink and Joy were just as lush and velvet-like as a couple as I remember them from before. Plus, the world that Metcalf has wrapped around them is both absolutely beautiful and absolutely scary. To read more, go to:
Once again, it was a great reading! The story is really catchy and so full of mysteries all the time. Although Joy was kind of annoying on this book, because she was so stubborn and even selfish, but atleast, she come to her sense, in the end. I think the dialogs between her and her dad and her best friend, Monica, too forced! So, when they show up in the book, it's always boring. I love how Joy and Ink's relationship unrolls. They discovering the feelings and discovering each other. Ink is a great character! Always loyal to his love of Joy. I like how Inq doesn't go soft on Joy. She always giving good hints, and also very straight when is about to make Joy open her eyes to her own mistakes. Well, a story about fey is always interesting and this one, is one of my favorites. Can't wait to read the sequel.
Wow! That ending! When does the next book come out?!
OK, I guess I should back track. This book starts out at a run with some serious action. Joy continues to grow and while she sometimes annoyed me, I could appreciate it because she felt like a real teenager to me (and honestly teenagers can be annoying sometimes). I was absolutely smitten by Ink's development, but I loved that he managed to still be true to his scribe/folk-ness.
The assassin hired to kill Joy provides a lot of action and moves the plot along at a great pace. There were a lot of unexpected twists in this book that really held my interest and kept me guessing. And like I already said, it has a phenomenal ending that left me wanting the next book.