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Undertow #1
Undertow
Eila Walker knows luck is not a friend, so she’s downright shocked to inherit a million-dollar Cape Cod home. And yeah, her new town isn't perfect: the cheerleaders are heinous clones, the local rip current can kill you, and apparently her Great Grams was fried by lightning in the harbor square. Still, Eila is hopeful her luckless days are in the past.
When Raef O’Reilly becomes her friendly shadow, Eila thinks life is pretty darn perfect. But just as her new hometown starts to feel normal, a beach bonfire party turns into a nightmare when she’s hauled beneath the waves by an undertow WITH ARMS. Raef, no longer able to hide the truth from Eila, must come clean: she’s possibly the last of her kind, a supernatural assassin who should be able to wield the power of human souls as a weapon, just like her murdered Great Grams.
Soon Eila finds herself under the protection of Raef and an outrageous crew of allies. Unfortunately, she’s now the hottest Must Have on the supernatural black market, and the teenage gang that is trying to guard her is woefully lacking . . .
When Raef O’Reilly becomes her friendly shadow, Eila thinks life is pretty darn perfect. But just as her new hometown starts to feel normal, a beach bonfire party turns into a nightmare when she’s hauled beneath the waves by an undertow WITH ARMS. Raef, no longer able to hide the truth from Eila, must come clean: she’s possibly the last of her kind, a supernatural assassin who should be able to wield the power of human souls as a weapon, just like her murdered Great Grams.
Soon Eila finds herself under the protection of Raef and an outrageous crew of allies. Unfortunately, she’s now the hottest Must Have on the supernatural black market, and the teenage gang that is trying to guard her is woefully lacking . . .
390 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
91 people are currently reading
4687 people want to read
About the author
K.R. Conway
7 books340 followersK.R. Conway is a sarcastic bugger who likes to torment Cape Cod’s summertime tourists, taunting them about sneaky sharks and traffic-free backroads. She's been a professional journalist since 1999 when several newspaper editors lost their minds and hired her as a feature writer. She is best known, however, for her Urban Fantasy series, Undertow, which reads like a mash-up of Jaws and The Goonies.
Awards, nominations, and features include Barnes and Noble’s Seven Terrifying Summer Reads for Teens (2015), Teen Ink Magazine’s Best Picks, Girl’s Life Magazine Cool Winter Reads, newspapers, magazines, and radio. Nominations include Indie Recon Live (Best New YA, Best Opening Line, Best Book Boyfriend), YALSA, Cybil, Goodreads, IRDA, and others.
The series has spawned fan fiction, fan art, jewelry, clothing, and even tattoos. Conway, who is a member of SCBWI, teaches fiction craft at writer conferences, high schools, and libraries. She lives on Cape Cod with her equally weird family and a strange assortment of critters.
Her current manuscript in progress is a twisted retelling of D-Day as from the POV of a young Detroit mission survivor and a talented female French sniper.
Awards, nominations, and features include Barnes and Noble’s Seven Terrifying Summer Reads for Teens (2015), Teen Ink Magazine’s Best Picks, Girl’s Life Magazine Cool Winter Reads, newspapers, magazines, and radio. Nominations include Indie Recon Live (Best New YA, Best Opening Line, Best Book Boyfriend), YALSA, Cybil, Goodreads, IRDA, and others.
The series has spawned fan fiction, fan art, jewelry, clothing, and even tattoos. Conway, who is a member of SCBWI, teaches fiction craft at writer conferences, high schools, and libraries. She lives on Cape Cod with her equally weird family and a strange assortment of critters.
Her current manuscript in progress is a twisted retelling of D-Day as from the POV of a young Detroit mission survivor and a talented female French sniper.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
October 22, 2015
Undertow contains majority of the things I hated in Paranormal Novel... Predictable plot, instalove, hot-transfer guy, common evil cheerleader squad, a couple of slut-shaming and a Mary Sue character, I shouldn't be able to like this book by default....
But damn, I had a blast!
I like that the story doesn't just center around the very special, rare MC Eila and her issues and drama. The side characters exists not just to make the MC good in the readers eyes, they had their own story and own spotlight, which led the way to the best couple in this book for me- Ana and Kian, (Ana reminds me so much of JO-from the Soul Eaters Series) and my favorite character MJ!
All of the factors I usually hate in my paranormal read that Undertow had was overshadowed by the hilarious MC, awesome side characters, intriguing creatures and swoon-worthy romance(Thank the Gods there aren't any love triangle here, despite the instalove), that kept me laughing and engaged the whole time. And as long as the book kept my attention from the very first page without trying too hard.. I'm good!
I can't confidently recommend this book to my friends who has low tolerance on common cliche in a paranormal genre, because I bet you'll end up hating it and hunt me, lol. But seriously though, Undertow is more than worth a try! I'm definitely looking forward for the sequel!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you**
But damn, I had a blast!
I like that the story doesn't just center around the very special, rare MC Eila and her issues and drama. The side characters exists not just to make the MC good in the readers eyes, they had their own story and own spotlight, which led the way to the best couple in this book for me- Ana and Kian, (Ana reminds me so much of JO-from the Soul Eaters Series) and my favorite character MJ!
"My eyes grew wide, “Are you kidding me? Is that what grabbed me? Some sort of, what? Zombie?” I sat there, unable to move, cemented by a newfound fear of the world around me.You have no idea how much I laughed out loud in this book. That's why I think the blurb is kind of misleading, this isn't in any way scary! If anything, I think this is more a light, fast-paced urban-paranormal read. Nothing really creepy or scary not even the soul-sucking demons, Mortis. There was also an attempt for mystery and thrill which is a fail for me since I was, mostly, able to predict what would happen after the first 1/2 of the book it did surprise me on some parts, but not in an awesome blew-me-away.... way? But it was alright, since I've never been a fan of big-secret plot device.
“Thanks a lot MJ,” hissed Ana coldly. “Way to give the girl a heart attack.”
“I’m sorry alright, but I mean, what did she think grabbed her?” pleaded MJ, desperate for a bit of forgiveness. “The Little Mermaid?"
All of the factors I usually hate in my paranormal read that Undertow had was overshadowed by the hilarious MC, awesome side characters, intriguing creatures and swoon-worthy romance(Thank the Gods there aren't any love triangle here, despite the instalove), that kept me laughing and engaged the whole time. And as long as the book kept my attention from the very first page without trying too hard.. I'm good!
I can't confidently recommend this book to my friends who has low tolerance on common cliche in a paranormal genre, because I bet you'll end up hating it and hunt me, lol. But seriously though, Undertow is more than worth a try! I'm definitely looking forward for the sequel!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you**
Read
April 30, 2015I should preface this by saying, I am the author. And normally I don't ever review my books (or rate them) but I saw other authors doing it and though, "What the heck?"
Undertow is the first novel I ever wrote, though far from the first thing I've ever written. I've been a professional writer for a long, long time and honestly, UNDERTOW was never meant to be more than one or two scenes.
Basically the book was born because of some followers on Facebook who knew I was a journalist. I can remember posting two scenes: The opening prologue and the bonfire scene.
I wrote them out of boredom. As a journalist I'd never written fiction, let alone dreamed up an entire story line, characters, world, etc. Quite frankly, it's HARD!
Once those two scenes were up, however, I began getting constant requests to finish the story.
The rest . . . is history :)
I hope you enjoy it!
Undertow is the first novel I ever wrote, though far from the first thing I've ever written. I've been a professional writer for a long, long time and honestly, UNDERTOW was never meant to be more than one or two scenes.
Basically the book was born because of some followers on Facebook who knew I was a journalist. I can remember posting two scenes: The opening prologue and the bonfire scene.
I wrote them out of boredom. As a journalist I'd never written fiction, let alone dreamed up an entire story line, characters, world, etc. Quite frankly, it's HARD!
Once those two scenes were up, however, I began getting constant requests to finish the story.
The rest . . . is history :)
I hope you enjoy it!
April 8, 2014
'I wanted answers instantly.Sweet dream...or a waking nightmare?
Come to think of it, answers would have been helpful before I moved to this cursed strip of sand.
Why couldn't Mr. Talbot have said, "Oh yes, the home is lovely. There are some sea monsters with hands like Schwarzenegger and your eyeballs may start to glow in the dark, but other than that, the place is great."'
For Eila Walker, inheriting a million dollar Cape Cod home is a dream come true. Her and her legal guardian Mae can have a fresh start - putting behind them the hardships of the past. Mean cheerleaders & weird neighbours aside, the whole thing seems too good to be true.
That is, until Eila realises she's inherited more than a house. She's also inherited a deadly legacy.
The present and the past collide.
Finding out her great-grandmother was a kind of magical warrior is the least of Eila's worries. Because the evil that her great-grandmother sacrificed herself to destroy is still out there, lurking in the shadows one-hundred and sixty years later.
And it'll do anything to get its hands on Eila. The last of her kind...and the key to limitless power.
With the darkly handsome and protective Raef O’Reilly - plus her friends Ana and MJ and Raef's brother Kian - by her side, Eila must unravel the mystery surrounding her great-grandmother's death if she's to save the lives of those she loves.
But at what cost?
Undertow is an intensely thrilling paranormal tale that will pull you into its depths from the very first chapter.
With clever plot construction and a great cast of characters, this book has all the makings of a great YA novel. It will be interesting to see how Kate Conway develops the concepts in Undertow further as the series progresses :)
A new heroine rises in a darkened corner of the world. Join her on her journey today.
October 19, 2013
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit thisisjustabookblog.tumblr.com
If you've seen my updates while reading this novel, I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that I didn't enjoy this book.
It just wasn't very well written, at all. The narrative voice was irritating, and the writing was just all wrong. It wasn't like it was littered with grammatical errors or something (though there were a few typos), but it just didn't sound very good at all. Not only that, but there were a couple of times that the author cheated at narration. If you're going to write in first person, you can't just then give other people's reasonings for doing things, which the narrator just has no way of knowing. It's frustrating. Also, and this is more of a style thing, the author capitalised words to show emphasis. This just looks really amateurish in comparison to italics, in my opinion.
The actual mythology behind the paranormal aspect of the book was original, and interesting, but it wasn't very well explained. I still haven't got a clue what a Lunaterra is or what they can do. But at least it was creative, I suppose. However, it wasn't until about half way through that this was actually revealed, so I felt like the first half of the book was just too long. Not much happens, apart from a petty feud with a cheerleader for no apparent reason.
Which brings me on to my next problem; there were so many YA cliches that it made my head hurt. Why are cheerleaders always depicted as pretty and popular and thin and bitchy? I just don't understand it. Nikki was a stereotype, pure and simple, and that's just lazy and uncreative. Not to mention that Nikki hated her for no reason at all, and that just doesn't happen. It's just childish.
More YA cliches, you ask? Well, how about: irritating instalove? Check. I'm sorry, but you've had three conversations and suddenly he's your best friend and then suddenly your kissing and he's declaring his intention to die for you if need be? No reasons for their love was given; I'm not even sure if Raef has a personality. If your main character falls in love with someone over the course of the novel then please, please make it so I do to, or at least can see why. Otherwise it's unbelievable.
Next on our YA cliche list is the overprotective boyfriend. Yuck. Please, please stop it. Just, please. Why don't you empower your female characters instead? Why don't you make it a normal level of overprotectiveness, instead of a creepy level? (Speaking of creepy, why did he get an extra seat put on his motorcycle for her the first day that they met? That's just weird. That and the standing outside her window at night thing).
And now, we get to more YA cliches. As similar to Twilight as you could possibly be without being fanfic? Check. Claims social awkwardness but is actually liked by everyone and is proven to be outgoing and wonderful? Check. Beautiful characters left right and centre? Check. Tortured hero? Check. Conveniently disappearing parents/parental figure? Check. Stupid reason why the main characters can't have sex/be together/etc? Check.
I could go on. And on. And on. What I'm trying to say is that I'm tired of YA fiction that makes me want to rip off my skin as I'm reading it. I'm tired of unhealthy relationships and whiny main characters and references to Twilight within the novel (if you're going to base your novel off of the style of someone else's, at least don't mention them within the novel).
Okay, I'm sorry. I'm done. I apologise about how horrible this review is. It's not an attack on this particular author, but just a result of my frustration with this genre, and this novel happens to have pushed me over the edge. It's actually got a lot of good reviews so far on goodreads, so maybe I'm just strange?
For more reviews, visit thisisjustabookblog.tumblr.com
If you've seen my updates while reading this novel, I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that I didn't enjoy this book.
It just wasn't very well written, at all. The narrative voice was irritating, and the writing was just all wrong. It wasn't like it was littered with grammatical errors or something (though there were a few typos), but it just didn't sound very good at all. Not only that, but there were a couple of times that the author cheated at narration. If you're going to write in first person, you can't just then give other people's reasonings for doing things, which the narrator just has no way of knowing. It's frustrating. Also, and this is more of a style thing, the author capitalised words to show emphasis. This just looks really amateurish in comparison to italics, in my opinion.
The actual mythology behind the paranormal aspect of the book was original, and interesting, but it wasn't very well explained. I still haven't got a clue what a Lunaterra is or what they can do. But at least it was creative, I suppose. However, it wasn't until about half way through that this was actually revealed, so I felt like the first half of the book was just too long. Not much happens, apart from a petty feud with a cheerleader for no apparent reason.
Which brings me on to my next problem; there were so many YA cliches that it made my head hurt. Why are cheerleaders always depicted as pretty and popular and thin and bitchy? I just don't understand it. Nikki was a stereotype, pure and simple, and that's just lazy and uncreative. Not to mention that Nikki hated her for no reason at all, and that just doesn't happen. It's just childish.
More YA cliches, you ask? Well, how about: irritating instalove? Check. I'm sorry, but you've had three conversations and suddenly he's your best friend and then suddenly your kissing and he's declaring his intention to die for you if need be? No reasons for their love was given; I'm not even sure if Raef has a personality. If your main character falls in love with someone over the course of the novel then please, please make it so I do to, or at least can see why. Otherwise it's unbelievable.
Next on our YA cliche list is the overprotective boyfriend. Yuck. Please, please stop it. Just, please. Why don't you empower your female characters instead? Why don't you make it a normal level of overprotectiveness, instead of a creepy level? (Speaking of creepy, why did he get an extra seat put on his motorcycle for her the first day that they met? That's just weird. That and the standing outside her window at night thing).
And now, we get to more YA cliches. As similar to Twilight as you could possibly be without being fanfic? Check. Claims social awkwardness but is actually liked by everyone and is proven to be outgoing and wonderful? Check. Beautiful characters left right and centre? Check. Tortured hero? Check. Conveniently disappearing parents/parental figure? Check. Stupid reason why the main characters can't have sex/be together/etc? Check.
I could go on. And on. And on. What I'm trying to say is that I'm tired of YA fiction that makes me want to rip off my skin as I'm reading it. I'm tired of unhealthy relationships and whiny main characters and references to Twilight within the novel (if you're going to base your novel off of the style of someone else's, at least don't mention them within the novel).
Okay, I'm sorry. I'm done. I apologise about how horrible this review is. It's not an attack on this particular author, but just a result of my frustration with this genre, and this novel happens to have pushed me over the edge. It's actually got a lot of good reviews so far on goodreads, so maybe I'm just strange?
March 30, 2020
I loved the concept for this book!
The creatures weren't anything I've seen before and I enjoyed learning about them and all the different kinds of magic that exist in this world. Eila is a cute character, she's a good friend and tries to stand up for others. She can be a bit impulsive and make rash decisions, but she's young and it's fun to watch her figure things out. I loved the friendships in this, especially MJ. He's adorable and would do anything for anyone.
I loved the twists in this and I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked Whale Publishing for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The creatures weren't anything I've seen before and I enjoyed learning about them and all the different kinds of magic that exist in this world. Eila is a cute character, she's a good friend and tries to stand up for others. She can be a bit impulsive and make rash decisions, but she's young and it's fun to watch her figure things out. I loved the friendships in this, especially MJ. He's adorable and would do anything for anyone.
I loved the twists in this and I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked Whale Publishing for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 25, 2017
I love this cover. The simplicity is perfect, yet it still does a good job of giving us the feel of the book--kind of mysterious with a little spunk. This is the story of a girl (Eila) who inherits a mansion on the coast. She moves before her senior year of high school and finds a lot of interesting friends who help her as she begins to unearth dangerous family secrets. Raef is new to the school too and seems to be watching out for her, but Eila is equal parts afraid of and drawn to him.
Eila is an...alright character. I never connected strongly with her. At first she seemed like an old soul to me, too smart to get caught up in the drama of high school and content to be alone. While not a leader, she seemed pretty confident in herself. As the story goes on, she talks about forcing herself to be confident, to step up. Maybe she needed a push to become a leader, but I don't think she was ever the timid flower she seemed to see herself as and tried to convince us she was. It seemed she was someone who never cared what people thought until this group came along that she wanted to help, to impress, to be a part of. I loved watching her step up and commit to whatever needed to be done, and how she never apologized for how she felt. There were plenty of moments she redeemed herself and, in the end, I liked her, but never loved her.
Raef really was the best character in this book. He was a perfect blend of vulnerability and strength. He never came off as creepy, but he was definitely watching over Eila from the start. He also trusted Eila and never pushed her into any kind of danger, but would willingly follow when she made necessary risks. He was a great YA male lead, the kind girls should swoon over.
The premise of this story is really interesting, with Eila being a person gifted with ability to kill fallen angels who live off of the souls of humans. We also have shape-shifters and a character who can read and influence emotions. It was a lot to take in. I'm torn between wishing we could have learned more about the soul feeders and the feud that has developed between the two races and interest in the other paranormal beings. Since this is book one in the series, I suppose I'll be getting more of both!!!
The writing here is great with nice flow, varying sentence lengths and structures, strong dialogue, and interesting subplots. If you like the paranormal and sensitive yet powerful guys, this is a winner. The prologue kind of throws you right into everything, so just hang in there, it will all make sense eventually. For another Raef fix, I'll soon be reading book two. ;)
Also reviewed @ http://tenilleberezay.com/#!/review-t...
Eila is an...alright character. I never connected strongly with her. At first she seemed like an old soul to me, too smart to get caught up in the drama of high school and content to be alone. While not a leader, she seemed pretty confident in herself. As the story goes on, she talks about forcing herself to be confident, to step up. Maybe she needed a push to become a leader, but I don't think she was ever the timid flower she seemed to see herself as and tried to convince us she was. It seemed she was someone who never cared what people thought until this group came along that she wanted to help, to impress, to be a part of. I loved watching her step up and commit to whatever needed to be done, and how she never apologized for how she felt. There were plenty of moments she redeemed herself and, in the end, I liked her, but never loved her.
Raef really was the best character in this book. He was a perfect blend of vulnerability and strength. He never came off as creepy, but he was definitely watching over Eila from the start. He also trusted Eila and never pushed her into any kind of danger, but would willingly follow when she made necessary risks. He was a great YA male lead, the kind girls should swoon over.
The premise of this story is really interesting, with Eila being a person gifted with ability to kill fallen angels who live off of the souls of humans. We also have shape-shifters and a character who can read and influence emotions. It was a lot to take in. I'm torn between wishing we could have learned more about the soul feeders and the feud that has developed between the two races and interest in the other paranormal beings. Since this is book one in the series, I suppose I'll be getting more of both!!!
The writing here is great with nice flow, varying sentence lengths and structures, strong dialogue, and interesting subplots. If you like the paranormal and sensitive yet powerful guys, this is a winner. The prologue kind of throws you right into everything, so just hang in there, it will all make sense eventually. For another Raef fix, I'll soon be reading book two. ;)
Also reviewed @ http://tenilleberezay.com/#!/review-t...
April 21, 2014
3.5 stars - I have mixed feelings about this book. For the most part, I found that I really liked it. However, there were some things that I came across, particularly around the halfway point, that entirely ruined the way I saw it.
The good notes. I think the concept was really interesting. I liked that this book wasn't about your typical vampire or werewolves or witches, and I really enjoyed reading as Eila found out about who she is and how she came to be. I thought the book flowed well, and I liked that the book kept us in enough suspense, but not dragged out to where it'll was irritating. And I liked that it wasn't too predictable, but it wasn't too far fetched that you were left thinking where the heck did that come from.
The flip side. First of all, I just have to say I was really irked when I got halfway through the book, and Raef starting explaining what he was. One of the things I liked about this book was it had a unique concept. But then, I started finding out what Raef's powers and limitations were, and that just ruined the entire book for me. Why go through the trouble of creating a unique create and establish a whole elaborate plot on what they are, only to have the cliche side effects of THAT creature. From the animals (which doesn't even make sense ) to the invitation, come on! Sadly, it did ruin the book for me.
The other thing, I was left with so many questions at the end. I had to read the end twice, and I think I've come up with explanations in my head, but there are so many things that didn't fit. And I'm still waiting to find out how these other characters will end up playing a role in all of this .
04.19.14 - Ya know, I actually thought it was going to be good until I got about halfway when they start explaining what they are... What's the point of creating new creatures and scoffing at your traditional paranormal stereotypes if the side-effect characteristics were going to be the traditional ones... And the animals excuse? No, just no.
10.01.13 - Hmmm... None of my GR friends even have it on any of their lists, but the book has received raving reviews/ratings so far...
The good notes. I think the concept was really interesting. I liked that this book wasn't about your typical vampire or werewolves or witches, and I really enjoyed reading as Eila found out about who she is and how she came to be. I thought the book flowed well, and I liked that the book kept us in enough suspense, but not dragged out to where it'll was irritating. And I liked that it wasn't too predictable, but it wasn't too far fetched that you were left thinking where the heck did that come from.
The flip side. First of all, I just have to say I was really irked when I got halfway through the book, and Raef starting explaining what he was. One of the things I liked about this book was it had a unique concept. But then, I started finding out what Raef's powers and limitations were, and that just ruined the entire book for me. Why go through the trouble of creating a unique create and establish a whole elaborate plot on what they are, only to have the cliche side effects of THAT creature. From the animals (which doesn't even make sense ) to the invitation, come on! Sadly, it did ruin the book for me.
The other thing, I was left with so many questions at the end. I had to read the end twice, and I think I've come up with explanations in my head, but there are so many things that didn't fit. And I'm still waiting to find out how these other characters will end up playing a role in all of this .
04.19.14 - Ya know, I actually thought it was going to be good until I got about halfway when they start explaining what they are... What's the point of creating new creatures and scoffing at your traditional paranormal stereotypes if the side-effect characteristics were going to be the traditional ones... And the animals excuse? No, just no.
10.01.13 - Hmmm... None of my GR friends even have it on any of their lists, but the book has received raving reviews/ratings so far...
November 26, 2014
I received a free digital copy for review.
OK, so apparently I'm going to be THAT person reviewing opposite from everyone else this time.
I felt like a pendulum while reading this book. Sometimes I loved the story idea and writing style, and then several pages later I didn't. I seemed to enjoy the beginning of the book, but then it was boring in the middle. I became more interested toward the end. Perhaps if it was cut down some and combined with the next book I would have liked the series better. Upon reflection, I was probably more enamored with the supporting characters of MJ and Ana than the main characters.
Other books in a similar genre (girl loves immortal) has enough of an intricate story that I forget about the ick factor of some 200 year old man in a sizzling-hot, never aging body is "in love" with a girl in HIGH SCHOOL. I kept thinking about that throughout the book. Granted, there were some well written intimate scenes that I liked in spite of myself. However, I would later be pulling out my hair over the continually repeated internal dialogue of Elia and Raef about they yearn and yearn for each other, and how amazingly beautiful and perfect and brave the other one is.
OBVIOUSLY the series looks like it is going to do well as there are many people who love it. Read what makes you happy. And kudos to anyone who has the tenacity to be an author/writer with all the critics out there.
OK, so apparently I'm going to be THAT person reviewing opposite from everyone else this time.
I felt like a pendulum while reading this book. Sometimes I loved the story idea and writing style, and then several pages later I didn't. I seemed to enjoy the beginning of the book, but then it was boring in the middle. I became more interested toward the end. Perhaps if it was cut down some and combined with the next book I would have liked the series better. Upon reflection, I was probably more enamored with the supporting characters of MJ and Ana than the main characters.
Other books in a similar genre (girl loves immortal) has enough of an intricate story that I forget about the ick factor of some 200 year old man in a sizzling-hot, never aging body is "in love" with a girl in HIGH SCHOOL. I kept thinking about that throughout the book. Granted, there were some well written intimate scenes that I liked in spite of myself. However, I would later be pulling out my hair over the continually repeated internal dialogue of Elia and Raef about they yearn and yearn for each other, and how amazingly beautiful and perfect and brave the other one is.
OBVIOUSLY the series looks like it is going to do well as there are many people who love it. Read what makes you happy. And kudos to anyone who has the tenacity to be an author/writer with all the critics out there.
October 13, 2014
I received Undertow from Patchwork Press via netgalley in exchange with an honest review.
Just when I thought that there could not be anymore original and interesting Supernatural YA Novels, K.R. Conway seemed to prove me wrong with UnderTow, a great start of a mind blowing series.
First thing First, I googled the meaning of UNDERTOW which is : A Strong Current
After finishing the book, I think that the title pretty much describes the series very well because , what does the strong current do? chaos, disasters,loss, then eventually becoming stronger and perhaps recovery.
The Prologue is very captivating, you only need to read a few pages to get hooked.
Although after the prologue the intensity slowed down a bit, I was not able to stop reading due to the anticipation of wanting to know what happens next and falling in love with all of the characters
I could almost relate to all of the main characters. There were a lot of, OMG this is exactly how I feel moments !
"Better to be a locked Vault than an open book I guess" _ Ana
The Book is packed with adventure,danger, along with the elements of sacrifice,love,friendship, and betrayal. Yet, I ended it needing more, hence the main issue has not been resolved yet.
This is definitely going to be added to my favorite series list , and I can't wait to read the next one.
I give this book 5/5 stars and an A according to my own rating scale !
September 30, 2013
Loved this book! It's rare for me to enjoy a book right out of the gate. Usually there's a slow patch I have to endure before really getting into the good stuff. But not this time :) I was into this book from the very beginning. Another remarkable quality was it's ability to keep my rather short attention span occupied the entire time. From start to finish, not a dull spot nor a draggy section. Just pure enjoyment. Not to mention that Eila is the perfect heroine. Totally believable, relatable, and not the least bit annoying or idiotic. *cough, Bella Swan, cough* It helped that I felt a remarkable connection to her, almost like we were one in the same. So much so that I had to remind myself on several occasions that I do not have a beautiful boy waiting in the wings lol. The other supporting characters were also strong and convincing, each portrayed with very clear and differing personalities. Unique plot line, yet familiar in the best of ways. Having spent much of my life on Cape Cod, it was wonderful to, for once, be able to accurately visualize the locations I was reading about. And yet it was like seeing all those old familiar places in a brand new light. This book has it all - a deep exciting story, characters I actually gave a crap about, and an ending that left me longing for more. Definitely worth the read. Can't wait for the movie :)
August 9, 2013
Before picking up “Undertow” I thought that I couldn’t be farther from the target audience being a twenty year old college male… But less than twenty pages in I knew I was wrong. The character development really drew me in because I could relate to each and every character. There were some points in high school when I’ve felt these same emotions and experienced these same problems that the main characters had to go through, albeit on a normal un-supernatural level. The down-to-earth development of each character combined with the out-of-this-world story line creates a fantastic book and sets up for an even better series.
August 12, 2017
What a unique, fascinating, and entertaining read!
Initially, when I first started the novel I was getting some serious Twilight vibes as Eila was the new girl in town with this mysterious, magical, broody, and protective male. The instant love between Elia and Raef had me a little apprehensive about the rest of the story but then the story got more and more adventurous and intriguing that I couldn't put it down!
Let me just say that I loved the motley crew of the main characters. Seriously it was like a cast of all my favourite mystical creatures with superpowers....all in one group. Plus, MJ. He definitely had me laughing out loud at times because of his one liners. He probably was one of my favourite characters.
Also, the story. I don't think I really have read a story like this one before. It was unique, it was refreshing, and it had me sitting in anticipation throughout. I am not kidding. I read this in one day because I couldn't put it down and wanted to read more. The ending was also very well done and I'm excited to read more (if I can hunt down a copy of the sequel). Definitely a worthwhile read and don't be surprised if you end up reading it in one sitting!
**Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Initially, when I first started the novel I was getting some serious Twilight vibes as Eila was the new girl in town with this mysterious, magical, broody, and protective male. The instant love between Elia and Raef had me a little apprehensive about the rest of the story but then the story got more and more adventurous and intriguing that I couldn't put it down!
Let me just say that I loved the motley crew of the main characters. Seriously it was like a cast of all my favourite mystical creatures with superpowers....all in one group. Plus, MJ. He definitely had me laughing out loud at times because of his one liners. He probably was one of my favourite characters.
Also, the story. I don't think I really have read a story like this one before. It was unique, it was refreshing, and it had me sitting in anticipation throughout. I am not kidding. I read this in one day because I couldn't put it down and wanted to read more. The ending was also very well done and I'm excited to read more (if I can hunt down a copy of the sequel). Definitely a worthwhile read and don't be surprised if you end up reading it in one sitting!
**Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
March 17, 2020
DNF @ 51%.
I tried my luck with a free book, but I just can't do this anymore. Not for me.
I'd possibly recommend it to a middle-school aged kid, though.
I tried my luck with a free book, but I just can't do this anymore. Not for me.
I'd possibly recommend it to a middle-school aged kid, though.
October 20, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. This book really blew me away. After reading a lot of YA in the past year, it really takes something special to get 5 stars, but this book really did it.
This book follows Eila as she begins her journey. After finding out she has essentially inherited a house in Cape Cod, she and her guardian, Mae, pack up all their belongings to move from Kansas to the small beach community. Putting aside the mystery of their home ownership, Eila befriends MJ and Ana on her first day, along with attracting the attention of the mysterious hottie, Raef. Sigh. I love a good YA high school story, and this one only grew from there. Turns out that Eila and Raef are more like Romeo and Juliet than they even imagine.
The story might sound reminiscent of other YA reads, but the twists and turns really made it unique. I couldn't get myself to put the book down! The writing and story pacing kept me dying to read more. There were no torturous cliffhangers or painful misunderstanding fights to suffer through. This book was pure enjoyment from start to finish.
The romance is clearly one of my criteria for picking up a book to read. In this story, there was tons of chemistry and sizzle without veering into adult territory. I can't wait to see where the series takes Eila and Raef (and all their friends!). The paranormals in this story were a different variation and combination than I've encountered before, so I'm eager to see how the future books continue to explain all their gifts and powers. Watching Eila develop will also be great to see as she is already turning out to be a very brave and well rounded young girl. I don't think the next book can come out fast enough.
If you're into YA paranormal romance, you should read this book. It will have you sighing and smiling like a teenager again.
Wow. This book really blew me away. After reading a lot of YA in the past year, it really takes something special to get 5 stars, but this book really did it.
This book follows Eila as she begins her journey. After finding out she has essentially inherited a house in Cape Cod, she and her guardian, Mae, pack up all their belongings to move from Kansas to the small beach community. Putting aside the mystery of their home ownership, Eila befriends MJ and Ana on her first day, along with attracting the attention of the mysterious hottie, Raef. Sigh. I love a good YA high school story, and this one only grew from there. Turns out that Eila and Raef are more like Romeo and Juliet than they even imagine.
The story might sound reminiscent of other YA reads, but the twists and turns really made it unique. I couldn't get myself to put the book down! The writing and story pacing kept me dying to read more. There were no torturous cliffhangers or painful misunderstanding fights to suffer through. This book was pure enjoyment from start to finish.
The romance is clearly one of my criteria for picking up a book to read. In this story, there was tons of chemistry and sizzle without veering into adult territory. I can't wait to see where the series takes Eila and Raef (and all their friends!). The paranormals in this story were a different variation and combination than I've encountered before, so I'm eager to see how the future books continue to explain all their gifts and powers. Watching Eila develop will also be great to see as she is already turning out to be a very brave and well rounded young girl. I don't think the next book can come out fast enough.
If you're into YA paranormal romance, you should read this book. It will have you sighing and smiling like a teenager again.
July 9, 2014
**I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review**
Upon being gifted a million-dollar estate in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Eila Walker and her guardian Mae uproot their lowly lives in Kansas and move to their new home. Without anyone to even thank as the auctioned estate was mysteriously purchased and placed into her name, Eila and Mae are just thankful they no longer need to work their fingers to the bone to live. Knowing no one and not much about her new home, she sets off on another new adventure as well…staring her new high school.
She makes a few friends her first day, as well as another boy that is also new to the school – who is of course model gorgeous and seemingly interested in her, much to the popular cheerleader’s chagrin. Along with her new friends MJ and Ana, and the mystery hottie Raef O’Reilly, she feels her way through her new town and starts learning that some odd things have been happening in the Cape. Coupled with the frightening dreams of a woman’s possible death, Eila doesn’t know who she should turn to. She knows that it would just freak Mae out, but can she trust her new friends – or is there someone out to get her?
I really enjoyed this story – while of course it follows the similar lines of girl + mystery/ off limits boy = teen romance, it had a different twist that I wasn’t expecting. Eila is a little bit clueless, but she definitely is a self-sacrificing girl that is willing to do whatever is necessary to protect those she cares about, but she often gets herself into trouble as she is ignorant to the curse that plagued her family. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see what happens next to Eila, MJ, Ana, and Raef!
Upon being gifted a million-dollar estate in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Eila Walker and her guardian Mae uproot their lowly lives in Kansas and move to their new home. Without anyone to even thank as the auctioned estate was mysteriously purchased and placed into her name, Eila and Mae are just thankful they no longer need to work their fingers to the bone to live. Knowing no one and not much about her new home, she sets off on another new adventure as well…staring her new high school.
She makes a few friends her first day, as well as another boy that is also new to the school – who is of course model gorgeous and seemingly interested in her, much to the popular cheerleader’s chagrin. Along with her new friends MJ and Ana, and the mystery hottie Raef O’Reilly, she feels her way through her new town and starts learning that some odd things have been happening in the Cape. Coupled with the frightening dreams of a woman’s possible death, Eila doesn’t know who she should turn to. She knows that it would just freak Mae out, but can she trust her new friends – or is there someone out to get her?
I really enjoyed this story – while of course it follows the similar lines of girl + mystery/ off limits boy = teen romance, it had a different twist that I wasn’t expecting. Eila is a little bit clueless, but she definitely is a self-sacrificing girl that is willing to do whatever is necessary to protect those she cares about, but she often gets herself into trouble as she is ignorant to the curse that plagued her family. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see what happens next to Eila, MJ, Ana, and Raef!
September 15, 2013
* I recieved an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Eila mysteriously inherits her family's old house through way of an anonymous donation from someone who wanted to see the property back in the family. Eila & her guardian Mae are currently struggling to make ends meet living in Kentucky, so this mysterious gift in Cape cod seems like the perfect chance to start over.
When she sees the other new student at school, Raef O'Reilly, she has an instant reaction, what feels like fear and an internal warning system mixed with instant attraction. She can't believe her luck when he decides to be her friend, even if it will annoy the Queen of the School Nikka.
She knows she is missing something, her friends are acting slightly odd, but one night everything changes and true natures become revealed. When she is finally let in on the big secret that everybody else seems to know, she then has to battle with who she can trust and how to prevent history from repeating itself.
I absolutely loved this book. It was the perfect mix of intrigue, action, adventure and even a small love story thrown in for good measure. A paranormal romance that lacked the usual vampire, werewolves or zombies which I found refreshing. I was hooked with the story knowing that something was going on but unable to predict what. When Eila starts to discover what is going on, the story just develops and in no way did I ever find it predictable. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series, just gutted I will have to wait so long to do so.
Eila mysteriously inherits her family's old house through way of an anonymous donation from someone who wanted to see the property back in the family. Eila & her guardian Mae are currently struggling to make ends meet living in Kentucky, so this mysterious gift in Cape cod seems like the perfect chance to start over.
When she sees the other new student at school, Raef O'Reilly, she has an instant reaction, what feels like fear and an internal warning system mixed with instant attraction. She can't believe her luck when he decides to be her friend, even if it will annoy the Queen of the School Nikka.
She knows she is missing something, her friends are acting slightly odd, but one night everything changes and true natures become revealed. When she is finally let in on the big secret that everybody else seems to know, she then has to battle with who she can trust and how to prevent history from repeating itself.
I absolutely loved this book. It was the perfect mix of intrigue, action, adventure and even a small love story thrown in for good measure. A paranormal romance that lacked the usual vampire, werewolves or zombies which I found refreshing. I was hooked with the story knowing that something was going on but unable to predict what. When Eila starts to discover what is going on, the story just develops and in no way did I ever find it predictable. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series, just gutted I will have to wait so long to do so.
September 12, 2013
LOVED this book! The only thing I am disappointed in, is I have no idea when the next story is coming out??
I love YA books, but tend to lean towards dystopian/post-apocalyptic ones (don't ask me why, I don't know), so I wasn't sure how much I would like this one.
I was pleasantly surprised! I ADORE the main character. I was getting bored of the main characters who think they are unattractive and are super shy, but are actually drop dead gorgeous (just annoying). I like how she keeps to herself but only because she has no interest in the high school dramatics, not because she isn't sure of herself, because she is.
Let me give a huge THANK YOU to K.R. Conway for the lack of a love triangle! Super sick of those and also THANK YOU for not making every single boy in town fall madly in love with her!
The way she adjusts to this new found knowledge of a world outside the normal one she is used to is fantastic, she doesn't just shrug her shoulders and say "I knew it!" and jump in with no doubts. Love that.
The way the love story builds is also a breath of fresh air. They kind of fall in love at first sight, but the friendship builds first, Love that!
Sorry, I feel like I am rambling and jumping all over the place and this is probably getting annoying at this point, but I just can't really go into details without spoiling parts of the book!
I very rarely want to read books more than once, but this one I do!
As soon as it comes out, GET IT! You won't be disappointed.
I love YA books, but tend to lean towards dystopian/post-apocalyptic ones (don't ask me why, I don't know), so I wasn't sure how much I would like this one.
I was pleasantly surprised! I ADORE the main character. I was getting bored of the main characters who think they are unattractive and are super shy, but are actually drop dead gorgeous (just annoying). I like how she keeps to herself but only because she has no interest in the high school dramatics, not because she isn't sure of herself, because she is.
Let me give a huge THANK YOU to K.R. Conway for the lack of a love triangle! Super sick of those and also THANK YOU for not making every single boy in town fall madly in love with her!
The way she adjusts to this new found knowledge of a world outside the normal one she is used to is fantastic, she doesn't just shrug her shoulders and say "I knew it!" and jump in with no doubts. Love that.
The way the love story builds is also a breath of fresh air. They kind of fall in love at first sight, but the friendship builds first, Love that!
Sorry, I feel like I am rambling and jumping all over the place and this is probably getting annoying at this point, but I just can't really go into details without spoiling parts of the book!
I very rarely want to read books more than once, but this one I do!
As soon as it comes out, GET IT! You won't be disappointed.
August 19, 2013
I was blown away at the imagery and the creative ever evolving plot penned by the talented K.R. Conway! Upon receiving my copy I immediately dove head first into this captivating from the very first sentence novel. I started reading it around 8pm on August 12 and finished around midnight. I could not put this book down. I was hungrily turning each page as I followed the journey the characters were taken on. The author's use of imagery and attention to detail makes the characters rich and believable. Being a local to Cape Cod like the author, I was impressed with her attention to the details of Cape Cod and it's history as well as highlighting the small town mentality that is both a Cape Cod charm and curse. I loved the supernatural aspect of the novel and how the author decided to go a different route than the current trend of vampires. It is refreshing to see a believable supernatural storyline... some humans evolving to have special abilities while still retaining their human aspect is not really that far fetched. This is why when combined with the quick wit and no nonsense attitude that Eila makes the perfect heroine just as Katniss Everdeen did in the Hunger Games. By the end of the book I could see the characters perfectly in my head and could not wait for more. I look forward greatly to the journey, the character development and future books of this novel!
March 27, 2016
This book was recommended to me by a couple of people whose judgment I trust, and it did not disappoint.
This story was, in many ways, two different stories - in the beginning, teenage girl Eila walker is just a typical high-schooler, adjusting to life in a new town and a new school after being mysteriously given a magnificent house belonging to her ancestors. She has to deal with the snotty mean girls of the school (including one deliciously awesome scene) and a bevy of hot guys that seem to be vying for her attention.
And then... enter the weird stuff.
Turns out Eila is a Lunaterra. The last one, in fact. Her forebears have waged war against soul-sucking hellspawn for centuries, a war that the evil creatures are on the brink of winning. With the help of her more-than-they-appear-to-be friends, Eila must discover the nature of her very existence before the powers of darkness snuff out her light forever.
I love stories about "typical" kids achieving great things, never forgetting that they are still kids, with all the awkwardness and self-deprecation that comes with it. Eila is a great YA heroine, and though her immediate attraction to the Greek-godly Raef is a little bit cliche, it didn't much detract from my enjoyment of this fine novel. I will be moving on to the next book very soon.
This story was, in many ways, two different stories - in the beginning, teenage girl Eila walker is just a typical high-schooler, adjusting to life in a new town and a new school after being mysteriously given a magnificent house belonging to her ancestors. She has to deal with the snotty mean girls of the school (including one deliciously awesome scene) and a bevy of hot guys that seem to be vying for her attention.
And then... enter the weird stuff.
Turns out Eila is a Lunaterra. The last one, in fact. Her forebears have waged war against soul-sucking hellspawn for centuries, a war that the evil creatures are on the brink of winning. With the help of her more-than-they-appear-to-be friends, Eila must discover the nature of her very existence before the powers of darkness snuff out her light forever.
I love stories about "typical" kids achieving great things, never forgetting that they are still kids, with all the awkwardness and self-deprecation that comes with it. Eila is a great YA heroine, and though her immediate attraction to the Greek-godly Raef is a little bit cliche, it didn't much detract from my enjoyment of this fine novel. I will be moving on to the next book very soon.
September 21, 2013
Welcome to author K.R. Conway – and what a welcome it is. Undertow is the first book in a new YA series by Ms. Conway and I can’t wait to delve deeper into this world as more books come out. Being from Cape Cod herself, Ms. Conway did a fantastic job bringing the reader to the “Cape” and creating an exciting place to visit.
I love most all things paranormal, but this took it to a whole new and interesting level. It’s not your basic vampire or wolf novel. The characters give you a nice paranormal mixture of mystery and fun. Eila, Raef, Kian, MJ, and Ana become a team not to be messed with, and while they may fumble from time to time, they ultimately will have each other’s back no matter what.
What I really love about this way the book is written is that the characters are not perfect and not full of flaws – they truly feel like your average person down the street and the author has done a superb job giving each character a chance to get to know the reader. Just enough that makes you want to come back for more – and I will be coming back for more.
This series takes paranormal somewhere I haven’t been as a reader and I can’t wait to spend more time at the Cape or wherever Eila’s journey takes her.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, Yes, Yes, and YES!
I love most all things paranormal, but this took it to a whole new and interesting level. It’s not your basic vampire or wolf novel. The characters give you a nice paranormal mixture of mystery and fun. Eila, Raef, Kian, MJ, and Ana become a team not to be messed with, and while they may fumble from time to time, they ultimately will have each other’s back no matter what.
What I really love about this way the book is written is that the characters are not perfect and not full of flaws – they truly feel like your average person down the street and the author has done a superb job giving each character a chance to get to know the reader. Just enough that makes you want to come back for more – and I will be coming back for more.
This series takes paranormal somewhere I haven’t been as a reader and I can’t wait to spend more time at the Cape or wherever Eila’s journey takes her.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, Yes, Yes, and YES!
September 11, 2013
I am a mom of two young boys who has little time to read for pleasure, and I never read young adult fiction, but a friend recommended this book and I could not put it down. In fact, it compelled me to create this GoodReads account. Undertow was truly an escape for me, and I was sad when I finished it far too soon. I immediately fell in love with the setting. The author transports you to autumn in Cape Cod...quiet, tourist-abandoned seasides, warm glowing bonfires, stately, weathered old mansions, and you virtually become a teenager again, experiencing the excitement and coziness of snuggling up to a cute boy in a soft sweatshirt to keep warm on the beach. The characters, though other-worldly, are perfectly crafted and extremely relatable. It was refreshing to find smart, brave, female teenage role models and equally intelligent, respectful and responsible male teenagers depicted in the book. If I had teens at home, I would leave this book lying around in the hopes that they'd pick it up. I look forward to reading more from K.R. Conway. I'm hooked on her characters, setting, and incredibly engaging and descriptive writing style, and I hope she will continue this series with many more installments.
August 8, 2013
Let me start by admitting that I am a sucker for supe-stories, and this one certainly has its share of supes (super-natural characters)! They are all the unlikely residents of beautiful, seaside Barnstable. I loved following Eila on her journey from poverty to her multi-million dollar Cape Cod home. The characters were all well-rounded and the way their lives are intertwined and their reactions to one another become clear as the book progresses. The characters are so enjoyable that I would love to know more about them, especially Ana and MJ.
I loved the character development, the dialogue, the plot, and the setting. It is the type of book that allows the reader to enter fully into an alternative universe completely. To the point where the characters starred in my dreams and, after completing the book, I felt so sad to release that world. For me, that is the mark of a successful book – when I mourn the loss of the character’s company upon completion.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it, there is so much to enjoy in here: a star-crossed romance, supernatural battle, mystery, action, poverty, wealth, life, and death.”
I loved the character development, the dialogue, the plot, and the setting. It is the type of book that allows the reader to enter fully into an alternative universe completely. To the point where the characters starred in my dreams and, after completing the book, I felt so sad to release that world. For me, that is the mark of a successful book – when I mourn the loss of the character’s company upon completion.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it, there is so much to enjoy in here: a star-crossed romance, supernatural battle, mystery, action, poverty, wealth, life, and death.”
May 6, 2014
This book was absolutely amazing!!!! I don't know what I really expected when I first opened it but from when I started reading the prologue to the end I knew there was absolutely no way I was putting it down!! Mrs.Conway creates a world on the Cape that was familiar to me, making me overwhelmingly happy cause I knew the places, and unfamiliar. Starting with learning about the different types of creatures and then their powers! Of course there is romance but what is a book without it?! The characters in "Undertow" are completely and 100% relatable too! Mrs Conway truly made me want to have Eila, MJ, Ana, Raef, and Kian as some of my best friends!!! I also loved the mystery that was incorporated not only in the story but within the characters. The plot line of who gave the house Eila and what she truly is was a great twist but also the mystery behind Raef and Kian was an amazing add on! Both of them had two very different stories which made things much, much more interesting. I would totally recommend this book to my friends!!!!! Absolutely loved it but now I have to wait for book 2!!! I don't know if I can wait that long!!!!
August 27, 2014
3.5 stars
(Source: I originally received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author K. R. Conway.)
This is the second time I have read this book, and I did enjoy it slightly more than the first time, but I did still feel a little confused at points.
The characters in this were all okay, other than being happy to put themselves in danger that is.
The story itself was okay, but again I found the pace a little slow. There were a couple of things that seemed a little too convenient or unbelievable, and I once again found the part of the book where the supernatural stuff was explained to be a little hard to follow. I did enjoy this book a bit more the second time than the first time though, whether this was because I already knew what was coming, or because I didn’t read it all in one go I don’t know.
There was a bit of romance, but it was of the forbidden variety. Eila and Raef seem destined to be together though.
7 out of 10.
(Source: I originally received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author K. R. Conway.)
This is the second time I have read this book, and I did enjoy it slightly more than the first time, but I did still feel a little confused at points.
The characters in this were all okay, other than being happy to put themselves in danger that is.
The story itself was okay, but again I found the pace a little slow. There were a couple of things that seemed a little too convenient or unbelievable, and I once again found the part of the book where the supernatural stuff was explained to be a little hard to follow. I did enjoy this book a bit more the second time than the first time though, whether this was because I already knew what was coming, or because I didn’t read it all in one go I don’t know.
There was a bit of romance, but it was of the forbidden variety. Eila and Raef seem destined to be together though.
7 out of 10.
August 27, 2013
I read this all in one sitting, and as a full-time lawyer with 2 young kids, that is quite a feat! This is one of those young adult fiction books that appeals to 44 year old lawyers like me, just as much as to, well, young adults. (ouch - it always hurts to admit I'm not "young") The characters and the setting are so well developed, you feel like you know Eila and her new friends, and you can practically taste smell the sea air and taste the ice cream. I loved that, while the book contains some similar elements and storylines to other YA supernatural fiction books, its particular characters and their stories are unique and compelling. The story really grabbed and held my attention as I eagerly read on to find out exactly who - and what - Eila, Raef, Ana and MJ are, and what awaits them at the next turn. A very engaging and fun read!
August 18, 2013
Wow! What a GREAT book! I typically don't read Young Adult (YA) but this book totally captured my interest from the moment I picked it up! The descriptions of the characters were so clear I was immediately able to picture them in my head. The story line built very nicely. Lots of suspense, original story lines, Cape-Cod descriptions and facts. And WOW what an ending! I never would have predicated it. I can't wait to read the 2nd book to see what happens to these great characters! So whether you are a YA fan ... or just want a GOOD READ be sure to pick up a copy of this book!! This book is the author's first novel - I am totally impressed with her writing style and look forward to future novels by this author.
August 11, 2013
Once I started reading Undertow, I couldn’t put it down. The author has created a cast of characters that jump right off of the page and into your heart. The book is very well written, the characters are extremely well developed, and the story is entertaining and engaging. I’m a high school teacher, and I struggle constantly with finding something that teenagers will read. We’ve been back in school for 4 weeks, and already three of my students have read Undertow and asked where the second book was! It’s THAT good. This is definitely one you don’t want to miss, and one I can’t wait to read the sequel(s) for.
August 27, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! The exciting plot line has it all: action, romance, comedy and it wouldn't be high school without a lot of drama! This book is definitely a page turner.
I loved the characters, they all seem so genuine and real; but what I really loved is their unique super natural abilities. KR Conway has creatively imagined new super natural species like we have not seen before which gives this book a fun twist.
I really look forward to learning more about E, Raef and the gang as well as their different abilities and how those abilities came about. I can totally imagine this being a multi-book series that could easily translate to TV or the big screen.
I loved the characters, they all seem so genuine and real; but what I really loved is their unique super natural abilities. KR Conway has creatively imagined new super natural species like we have not seen before which gives this book a fun twist.
I really look forward to learning more about E, Raef and the gang as well as their different abilities and how those abilities came about. I can totally imagine this being a multi-book series that could easily translate to TV or the big screen.
August 16, 2013
I loved this book! It drew me in right from the beginning and didn't let me go until the last page (ok, not even then - I am ready to read the sequel!!). The characters are believable and real, and the heroine is a great mixture of kick-ass and vulnerable.
The writing is fantastic - the voices of the characters come through strongly, and I love the humor that plays throughout the book.
The story itself really pulls you in - there wasn't a point in the book where it slowed down and dragged. It kept you hooked the entire time.
Definitely 5 stars - I loved it!
The writing is fantastic - the voices of the characters come through strongly, and I love the humor that plays throughout the book.
The story itself really pulls you in - there wasn't a point in the book where it slowed down and dragged. It kept you hooked the entire time.
Definitely 5 stars - I loved it!
October 13, 2013
I LOVED this book! It was so hard to put down! At first I enjoyed the local aspect as I grew up in the same area as the setting of this story. I was always wanting to know what was going to happen next especially when the climax hit! There were 2 times where I was so surprised at the turn of events and even though I was tired I had to keep going to find out what was going to happen. I highly recommend this book!
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