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Black Bood Chronicles #1
Black Five
No one ever accused Penelope Jackson of being normal, nor did they suspect the dark secret she kept. A dangerous web of deceit and secrecy unravels when news of a stranger’s death puts Penn on a collision course with the very person she’s been hiding from her whole life. Her fragile world is shaken to its core with the sudden arrival of Vacavious and she soon discovers the bizarre and magical world surrounding her seemingly ordinary life.
No one is who they claim to be, including those closest to Penn. A mysterious security detail emerges from the shadows scrambling to protect her as powerful forces await the fall of her protective veil on her eighteenth birthday.
Penn prepares to fight against unseen evils before it’s too late. The world of Nighmerianotte and its population depends on her survival, for she is the Sanguine.
No one is who they claim to be, including those closest to Penn. A mysterious security detail emerges from the shadows scrambling to protect her as powerful forces await the fall of her protective veil on her eighteenth birthday.
Penn prepares to fight against unseen evils before it’s too late. The world of Nighmerianotte and its population depends on her survival, for she is the Sanguine.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
953 people want to read
About the author
J. Lynn Bailey
12 books369 followersJ. Lynn is a bestselling author, mother, and wife. When she isn't running between soccer practices, working on another school fundraiser, or chasing a new puppy, you can probably find her holed up in her writing room feverishly working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 30, 2015
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book so I went in with a completely open mind. I didn’t have any expectations so I can’t say I’m disappointed but I do feel a little lackluster.
I was mostly bored with the plot because it wasn’t original. It was a basic YA concept of a completely normal girl that ends up being super special and has an amazing destiny. I wish there had been a little more creativity.
I liked the main character well enough. I thought there was some pretty good character development, which I wasn’t expecting so that was nice.
I did feel like the writing could have been polished up a bit with better editing. Some words were really repetitive and overused. At times I caught myself editing this book instead of reading it.
Overall, this isn’t a bad book by all means but it just wasn’t for me as a critical reader. I think with some better editing, this book could have caught my attention more.
I was mostly bored with the plot because it wasn’t original. It was a basic YA concept of a completely normal girl that ends up being super special and has an amazing destiny. I wish there had been a little more creativity.
I liked the main character well enough. I thought there was some pretty good character development, which I wasn’t expecting so that was nice.
I did feel like the writing could have been polished up a bit with better editing. Some words were really repetitive and overused. At times I caught myself editing this book instead of reading it.
Overall, this isn’t a bad book by all means but it just wasn’t for me as a critical reader. I think with some better editing, this book could have caught my attention more.
November 10, 2015
The characters as well as the small town draw you into the story and make you never want to leave. But then there is this whole other world via portal that is dark and dangerous that needs saving.....mix in vamps, witches, fairies, warlocks, werewolves, cute football players, cheerleaders, parties, LOVE and DEATH...what more could you ask for? Well, this author gives so much more. I hope you have some tissues...lots of tissues.
June 19, 2016
*** I received an ARC of this book from Poorhouse Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. However, this does not influence my opinions in any way.***
This book took me an embarrassingly long time to read. I was given it ages ago and when I finally got around to reading it I felt disappointed. More than anything I found this book difficult to get invested in. I didn't really like any of the characters and found most of their choices extremely annoying. It deterred me from reading more than a chapter or two in one sitting.
Probably my biggest critique of the book isn't necessarily the slightly confusing story line, but actually how quickly the book moves along. More than anything I wish this was broken up into two books or at least one longer book. It felt rushed. By the time something happened and was processed, the next minute you were moving on to something completely different. The story felt jumpy and like it was missing several chapters to connect it all together.
Also, I found the ending extremely confusing. I read it twice and I'm still not totally positive what actually happened. This book forces the reader to fill in too many of the blanks and can leave you confused and disconnected. The end was also lacking. It felt too abrupt. I felt like the beginning was very fleshed out but about half way in everything felt rushed. And when you get to the end too much is left to the imagination with the time jumps.
Overall, I wouldn't say this was a terrible book. I think the plot had a lot of potential, but the execution fell flat. I probably wouldn't recommend this book unless you have a deep love for fantasy and letting the story open for interpretation and disappointment.
This book took me an embarrassingly long time to read. I was given it ages ago and when I finally got around to reading it I felt disappointed. More than anything I found this book difficult to get invested in. I didn't really like any of the characters and found most of their choices extremely annoying. It deterred me from reading more than a chapter or two in one sitting.
Probably my biggest critique of the book isn't necessarily the slightly confusing story line, but actually how quickly the book moves along. More than anything I wish this was broken up into two books or at least one longer book. It felt rushed. By the time something happened and was processed, the next minute you were moving on to something completely different. The story felt jumpy and like it was missing several chapters to connect it all together.
Also, I found the ending extremely confusing. I read it twice and I'm still not totally positive what actually happened. This book forces the reader to fill in too many of the blanks and can leave you confused and disconnected. The end was also lacking. It felt too abrupt. I felt like the beginning was very fleshed out but about half way in everything felt rushed. And when you get to the end too much is left to the imagination with the time jumps.
Overall, I wouldn't say this was a terrible book. I think the plot had a lot of potential, but the execution fell flat. I probably wouldn't recommend this book unless you have a deep love for fantasy and letting the story open for interpretation and disappointment.
August 13, 2015
I have to admit this book is really well written for a debut novel. I am not a paranormal reader but I really got sucked into this story since it is written so well. Character development was on cue. There were no discrepancies in the storyline from what I could tell. Wat to go J.Lynn Bailey on a well written, very entertaining book.
November 19, 2015
WOW!! I absolutely loved this book. I enjoy reading every genre of book but this one really stuck with me. I’ve already read it twice and plan on reading it again soon!
The author does an amazing job of bringing you into the story. Penn and Kendra are such likable characters I would find myself looking for them as I would drive through my small town. I love the relationship they have with each other, they are both tell-it-like-it-is type of people and I can totally appreciate that!
As you read Black Five you learn, along with Penn, about this whole other world that exists beyond the human world. A world filled with paranormal creatures, magic, love, devastation, and death. You learn enough about it to understand the ins and outs of it but you don’t get to experience it until the next book! Smart J. Lynn Bailey, very smart! You’ve got me hooked and I can’t wait to read the next one to find out what happens!!
J. Lynn Bailey is a brilliant, talented author who knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you coming back for more!!
The author does an amazing job of bringing you into the story. Penn and Kendra are such likable characters I would find myself looking for them as I would drive through my small town. I love the relationship they have with each other, they are both tell-it-like-it-is type of people and I can totally appreciate that!
As you read Black Five you learn, along with Penn, about this whole other world that exists beyond the human world. A world filled with paranormal creatures, magic, love, devastation, and death. You learn enough about it to understand the ins and outs of it but you don’t get to experience it until the next book! Smart J. Lynn Bailey, very smart! You’ve got me hooked and I can’t wait to read the next one to find out what happens!!
J. Lynn Bailey is a brilliant, talented author who knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you coming back for more!!
November 14, 2015
I didn't quite know what to expect when I started reading this book, but I was not disappointed! The first book in this series has laid the groundwork to what is going to prove to be an in depth story that includes a little bit of everything. I cannot wait to read the next one!
January 3, 2016
* Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for my e-book copy of Black Five. *
Black Five by J. Lynn Bailey is a Young Adult novel set in a world filled with fantasy and magic.
The story revolves around the spunky Penelope Jackson, a seventeen year old girl who is just beginning her senior year of high school. I found her to be a likable character throughout the book and I especially loved how much she grew as a character. She doesn't hold back on her words and will speak her mind. The supporting characters were also very realistic and I really liked the friendship between Penelope and her best friend, Kendra. Penelope is already holding a lot of dark secrets and her life drastically changes when new ones begin to uncover. Penelope finds out about a world of magic she has always been a part of for her entire life, where she holds an important role, but never knew. I really liked the darkness of the magical world and mysteries that Penelope enters. I won't give anything away, but the ending was definitely not what I expected.
I noticed that there were really lot of similarities to this book and many other YA stories. Penelope is a character with a rough past that ends up being very special and important. This isn't a bad or negative element to a story. It doesn't make it a bad story that it does follow down the path of a lot of other YA novels, but there are a lot of similarities. It was still an entertaining and easy to read story. It flowed very nicely and the characters were strong. My favorite part about it was the glimpses you get of the magical world.
Black Five by J. Lynn Bailey is a Young Adult novel set in a world filled with fantasy and magic.
The story revolves around the spunky Penelope Jackson, a seventeen year old girl who is just beginning her senior year of high school. I found her to be a likable character throughout the book and I especially loved how much she grew as a character. She doesn't hold back on her words and will speak her mind. The supporting characters were also very realistic and I really liked the friendship between Penelope and her best friend, Kendra. Penelope is already holding a lot of dark secrets and her life drastically changes when new ones begin to uncover. Penelope finds out about a world of magic she has always been a part of for her entire life, where she holds an important role, but never knew. I really liked the darkness of the magical world and mysteries that Penelope enters. I won't give anything away, but the ending was definitely not what I expected.
I noticed that there were really lot of similarities to this book and many other YA stories. Penelope is a character with a rough past that ends up being very special and important. This isn't a bad or negative element to a story. It doesn't make it a bad story that it does follow down the path of a lot of other YA novels, but there are a lot of similarities. It was still an entertaining and easy to read story. It flowed very nicely and the characters were strong. My favorite part about it was the glimpses you get of the magical world.
June 29, 2016
What a perfect series beginning full of paranormal creatures with the right amount of love, magic and utter devastation! Fast paced and the characters are really enjoyable. The author quickly pulled me in and kept me till the end and I am looking forward to the continuing story.
{I received an e-ARC when I signed up to host the book tour. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
{I received an e-ARC when I signed up to host the book tour. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
August 9, 2017
I loved this book! I couldn't put it down. I went on vacation to visit friends in LA, my husband had passed from a tragic accident and I needed a break. This was the BEST break. I hadn't read a book in too long. I took only this book on my week long vacation. I finished it in less than three days and we were playing tourists from Long Beach to Santa Barbara during that time....yes the book, Black Five. was that good. I highly recommend it. J. Lynn Bailey is a fantastic author and I can't wait for her next book and then the rest of the Black Chronicles. Thanks JLB for giving me back my love of reading.
April 4, 2025
i bought and read this book years ago when i was in high school and recently found it again in a box of books from when i moved.
i remember really really enjoying it and was waiting for a second book.
i was also obsessed with the fact that i bought this book in a small bookstore in Ferndale Ca which is where i was told that the town in the book is inspired by. there is even a map on the inside to see the landmarks with different names
i remember really really enjoying it and was waiting for a second book.
i was also obsessed with the fact that i bought this book in a small bookstore in Ferndale Ca which is where i was told that the town in the book is inspired by. there is even a map on the inside to see the landmarks with different names
May 22, 2021
Fun story!! Come on J. Lynn Bailey ~ when do we get more Penelope Jackson???!! 💜
January 20, 2022
Right now, as I write this review, I am chuckling and shaking my head at the insanity of it all. Masochism, bipolarity and a lot of whiplash were what I took away from this. There were also mind-over-matter, mind-over-matter and mind-over-matter. Whoops! Nope, the heart rules all.
The concept of a seemingly ordinary girl but has an extraordinary destiny is not new to YA; it's been a tried-and-tested formula and has already gone through a lot of incarnations and personalities. Black Five, initially, was not supposed to be like this, as I thought back to the first time I read the synopsis. I should have known. I liked Penelope. She acted normal, a little kooky, and aware. I liked her scars and how real and vulnerable they made her. I liked her, at first; then she found out about being a speshul little snowflake.
There comes a time in a heroine's life when she finds out about being not so ordinary after all and she either crumbles and whines or she woman up and face the goddamn music - have courage and be kind. But when Penelope found out and she met all these people, who were her security detail and stalked her all her life, she became... well, as I said there's a lot of whiplash.
In one of my reading updates, I commented about this being a lot what Harry Potter went through. Penelope was not told of her real self, her origins, to protect her, to give her a normal childhood, and for the greater good. Fat lot it did to Harry. While I understood about their reasons, it came to mind that no matter what they did, Penelope will be anything but ordinary. She endured a hard childhood; she killed at eight. To me, in these circumstances, it is better to tell the truth at a young age - not a blow-by-blow account! Think man! - gradually and in a way that they're eased into it, so that you wouldn't end up with a thoroughly confused and scared teenager who suddenly has the weight of a destiny on her shoulders. Bad form. She was upset, of course, and angry and I expected a lot of yelling, sulking, and cursing but all in all she took it calmly and rationalized everything that the people who kept everything from her - okay, lied to her face. I would've stayed in one corner and wouldn't move until they tell me everything.
And don't get me started on the romance. I pleaded to the high heavens that there wouldn't be a love triangle but, alas, I got ear wax as a flavor of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans instead of toffee. That first-guy-mentioned-he's-the-one I always stand by didn't take for me here. I didn't like Jesse that much and wanted Penelope to just move on. Are you masochistic? Then Church entered the picture and I was like This is the guy! She's attracted to him but she's still hung up on Jesse. But I loved it when Church said that they won't start anything, he wouldn't make a move, not until he's sure, that Penn's sure that she could give all her heart to him. Aaaahhhhh....
I may have wailed a lot about Black Five but angst aside, I did enjoy reading it. There is an established mythos for the story and while I got a glimpse of (and a little info-dumping) the setting and background, there is much to explore about Nighmerianotte. Plus the hint that the villain is not evil for the sake of just having the opportunity to say "Bwahahahaha! I will kill you and conquer everything!" I like it when I leave a book (in a series) with questions because it makes me want to read the next book to find answers.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
The concept of a seemingly ordinary girl but has an extraordinary destiny is not new to YA; it's been a tried-and-tested formula and has already gone through a lot of incarnations and personalities. Black Five, initially, was not supposed to be like this, as I thought back to the first time I read the synopsis. I should have known. I liked Penelope. She acted normal, a little kooky, and aware. I liked her scars and how real and vulnerable they made her. I liked her, at first; then she found out about being a speshul little snowflake.
There comes a time in a heroine's life when she finds out about being not so ordinary after all and she either crumbles and whines or she woman up and face the goddamn music - have courage and be kind. But when Penelope found out and she met all these people, who were her security detail and stalked her all her life, she became... well, as I said there's a lot of whiplash.
In one of my reading updates, I commented about this being a lot what Harry Potter went through. Penelope was not told of her real self, her origins, to protect her, to give her a normal childhood, and for the greater good. Fat lot it did to Harry. While I understood about their reasons, it came to mind that no matter what they did, Penelope will be anything but ordinary. She endured a hard childhood; she killed at eight. To me, in these circumstances, it is better to tell the truth at a young age - not a blow-by-blow account! Think man! - gradually and in a way that they're eased into it, so that you wouldn't end up with a thoroughly confused and scared teenager who suddenly has the weight of a destiny on her shoulders. Bad form. She was upset, of course, and angry and I expected a lot of yelling, sulking, and cursing but all in all she took it calmly and rationalized everything that the people who kept everything from her - okay, lied to her face. I would've stayed in one corner and wouldn't move until they tell me everything.
And don't get me started on the romance. I pleaded to the high heavens that there wouldn't be a love triangle but, alas, I got ear wax as a flavor of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans instead of toffee. That first-guy-mentioned-he's-the-one I always stand by didn't take for me here. I didn't like Jesse that much and wanted Penelope to just move on. Are you masochistic? Then Church entered the picture and I was like This is the guy! She's attracted to him but she's still hung up on Jesse. But I loved it when Church said that they won't start anything, he wouldn't make a move, not until he's sure, that Penn's sure that she could give all her heart to him. Aaaahhhhh....
I may have wailed a lot about Black Five but angst aside, I did enjoy reading it. There is an established mythos for the story and while I got a glimpse of (and a little info-dumping) the setting and background, there is much to explore about Nighmerianotte. Plus the hint that the villain is not evil for the sake of just having the opportunity to say "Bwahahahaha! I will kill you and conquer everything!" I like it when I leave a book (in a series) with questions because it makes me want to read the next book to find answers.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
June 30, 2016
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I DNFed this book at 41.5%
First, let’s tackle the synopsis. It doesn’t tell you about the story, it doesn’t tell you what happened and what is the main plot. It tells something but is pretty ambiguous. Let me give it a go:
Penelope thought her life was normal, other than having a healing power and also a murder under her belt from when she was eight. After the adopted mother disaster, she lives with her aunt since eight years old. Now, suddenly there’s a brutal murder in town. Questions rise, she starts to suspect her closest of having a secret. Turns out, she is the Black Five-the Sanguine-and the saviour of a whole new world called Nightmerian which is now in peril being under a very evil Vicavious. All the people closes to her are her “guardians” who have been keeping her safe for years along with others she never knew of. Her crush is a Sentinel, she suddenly has chemistry with a vampire she never knew existed, who has been lurking and guarding her.
Now that she knows about her true identity, her parents’ story and the right path she has to follow in life, will she make the right choice and fight for her people, or will she stay hidden and prefer to be safe?
How was that for a synopsis?
Now, to the actual story: I can see why it isn’t popular. I didn’t like the prologue, which didn’t tell me much and put me into further confusion. The beginning was pretty okay but I didn’t form any connection with the MC.
The first thing that I really didn’t like was the “reveal” scene. There was no MC finds out through dangerous situ and feels betrayed. Instead, we get a MC is told to sit down and is explained everything at once. The scene was lame and I didn’t like the MC’s reaction at all. First point against her. Short version, I dislike Penn.
Lets talk about the romance, shall we? She is obsessed with her best friend and he supposedly likes her too but isn’t supposed to. There’s this other guy who has been also guarding her her half her life and only now does she know he exists. *cue to that night*
First of all, creepy. Second, dude you don’t say that the day she finally knows you exist! I can already sense a weird love triangle.
There was also this journal that informs the MC/you what everything is and explaining the whole world instead of letting us know little by little through discovery. *dump all info suddenly on readers and MC with an encyclopedia of that world* *have MC be overwhelmed, and possibly reader too*
I stopped reading after the journal reading and “I need you”.
Overall, I don’t know. I can’t give a complete opinion since I didn’t finish it but give it a pass. I’d skip it.
More reviews on my blog
I DNFed this book at 41.5%
First, let’s tackle the synopsis. It doesn’t tell you about the story, it doesn’t tell you what happened and what is the main plot. It tells something but is pretty ambiguous. Let me give it a go:
Penelope thought her life was normal, other than having a healing power and also a murder under her belt from when she was eight. After the adopted mother disaster, she lives with her aunt since eight years old. Now, suddenly there’s a brutal murder in town. Questions rise, she starts to suspect her closest of having a secret. Turns out, she is the Black Five-the Sanguine-and the saviour of a whole new world called Nightmerian which is now in peril being under a very evil Vicavious. All the people closes to her are her “guardians” who have been keeping her safe for years along with others she never knew of. Her crush is a Sentinel, she suddenly has chemistry with a vampire she never knew existed, who has been lurking and guarding her.
Now that she knows about her true identity, her parents’ story and the right path she has to follow in life, will she make the right choice and fight for her people, or will she stay hidden and prefer to be safe?
How was that for a synopsis?
Now, to the actual story: I can see why it isn’t popular. I didn’t like the prologue, which didn’t tell me much and put me into further confusion. The beginning was pretty okay but I didn’t form any connection with the MC.
The first thing that I really didn’t like was the “reveal” scene. There was no MC finds out through dangerous situ and feels betrayed. Instead, we get a MC is told to sit down and is explained everything at once. The scene was lame and I didn’t like the MC’s reaction at all. First point against her. Short version, I dislike Penn.
Lets talk about the romance, shall we? She is obsessed with her best friend and he supposedly likes her too but isn’t supposed to. There’s this other guy who has been also guarding her her half her life and only now does she know he exists. *cue to that night*
The guy: “I have spent seventeen years fighting for you, keeping you safe. .. I need you.”
His voice is now angelic. It’s soft. It’s caring. It’s familiar as if I’ve heard it a million times.
First of all, creepy. Second, dude you don’t say that the day she finally knows you exist! I can already sense a weird love triangle.
There was also this journal that informs the MC/you what everything is and explaining the whole world instead of letting us know little by little through discovery. *dump all info suddenly on readers and MC with an encyclopedia of that world* *have MC be overwhelmed, and possibly reader too*
I stopped reading after the journal reading and “I need you”.
Overall, I don’t know. I can’t give a complete opinion since I didn’t finish it but give it a pass. I’d skip it.
More reviews on my blog
January 22, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley and Poorhouse Publishing for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.
Going into this novel I didn’t have any expectations. I hadn’t read any reviews prior to obtaining a copy and I hadn’t heard anything about it in the YA blogging community. With that being said, I didn’t expect to be so thoroughly disappointed. There isn’t one thing that I really loved about this novel. Honestly I don't know how I got through this book.
The first half of the novel was so fast paced it was hard to follow. Most of the first half felt like it was comprised of one single journal entry that attempted to tell readers everything - EVERYTHING - about the world that Penelope is originally from. J. Lynn Bailey did everything she could to shove every bit of information in the journal entry instead of taking her time and letting Penelope, and readers, slowly find out bits and pieces over the course of the novel. The journal entry alone was enough to make me throw the book and never pick it up again, however, I forced my way through it. Bailey’s writing is abrupt and the dialogue is unrealistic and hard to follow. The dialogue is so formal that it feels forced and honestly it made me cringe.
The only reason I was able to get through the novel and the reason I gave it 2.5 stars instead of 2 was because the second half of the novel was written soooo much better than the first half. It felt like a completely different book. I actually was interested in the story that was written in the second half.
The story is honestly not very original. This novel is about a girl who finds out she has magic inside of her that’s been hidden her whole life. When weird things start happening in her town her life changes forever. She finds out that she is from a different world. Eventually she is trained and is supposed to go off and save her world from evil forces. This story idea is drawn out and over done by many authors. Some authors have figured out how to take this idea and turn it into a story worth reading. J. Lynn Bailey did not. Her world building isn’t even that great. It’s okay, but not great.
The only good thing this novel had going for it was the character development. Readers can see Penn growing and developing throughout the SECOND HALF of the novel. She under goes training and we get to see the potential that her character has. The rest of the characters already feel set in stone and have no room to develop or grow.
In all honesty, this book isn't worth your time but if you do want to read it, borrow it from the library or someone else, it isn’t worth wasting your money on.
Going into this novel I didn’t have any expectations. I hadn’t read any reviews prior to obtaining a copy and I hadn’t heard anything about it in the YA blogging community. With that being said, I didn’t expect to be so thoroughly disappointed. There isn’t one thing that I really loved about this novel. Honestly I don't know how I got through this book.
The first half of the novel was so fast paced it was hard to follow. Most of the first half felt like it was comprised of one single journal entry that attempted to tell readers everything - EVERYTHING - about the world that Penelope is originally from. J. Lynn Bailey did everything she could to shove every bit of information in the journal entry instead of taking her time and letting Penelope, and readers, slowly find out bits and pieces over the course of the novel. The journal entry alone was enough to make me throw the book and never pick it up again, however, I forced my way through it. Bailey’s writing is abrupt and the dialogue is unrealistic and hard to follow. The dialogue is so formal that it feels forced and honestly it made me cringe.
The only reason I was able to get through the novel and the reason I gave it 2.5 stars instead of 2 was because the second half of the novel was written soooo much better than the first half. It felt like a completely different book. I actually was interested in the story that was written in the second half.
The story is honestly not very original. This novel is about a girl who finds out she has magic inside of her that’s been hidden her whole life. When weird things start happening in her town her life changes forever. She finds out that she is from a different world. Eventually she is trained and is supposed to go off and save her world from evil forces. This story idea is drawn out and over done by many authors. Some authors have figured out how to take this idea and turn it into a story worth reading. J. Lynn Bailey did not. Her world building isn’t even that great. It’s okay, but not great.
The only good thing this novel had going for it was the character development. Readers can see Penn growing and developing throughout the SECOND HALF of the novel. She under goes training and we get to see the potential that her character has. The rest of the characters already feel set in stone and have no room to develop or grow.
In all honesty, this book isn't worth your time but if you do want to read it, borrow it from the library or someone else, it isn’t worth wasting your money on.
December 20, 2015
I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley. I was drawn to the beautiful cover and intrigued by the interesting premise. I wanted to love this book but it ended but being very inconsistent throughout. There were parts I really loved and parts I really didn't enjoy.
Penn has had a rough childhood and she feels like her trials as a child continue to mark her, she also has a secret ability that she hides from those around her. Things have been okay for the last few years but all that stability comes tumbling down when one of the townspeople is killed in a mysterious way. This triggers a number of secrets to come pouring out including the fact that Penn is not human but is a Five and is destined to save the world of Nighmerianotte (a world normally hidden from our own) from the clutches of the evil Vacavious.
I loved the Prologue to the story and our intro to the world of Nighmerianotte; it's very imaginative and creative. However after that the next quarter of the book is incredibly hard to get through. It was boring and full of lots of high school angst (it takes place in our current world). I didn't really enjoy the characters much and there were too many characters introduced too quickly.
As the book continued into its second half it improved. I enjoyed Penn as she trained and learned about her status as the Black Five. Some of this was intriguing and well done. I love that Penn actually had to train for a prolonged period to get good at using her abilities (in too many urban fantasy stories this is glossed over).
There were also a number of things I did not enjoy. I hated the somewhat creepy love triangle that was going on in this story...the whole thing just felt a bit weird and yucky. I thought the pacing was sloppy and at times made the story hard to engage with.
I also thought the ending was absolutely awful; I can't even begin to tell you what happened in the Epilogue of this book...I didn't understand it. I reread the last chapter and Epilogue three times and still feel like there were some chapters missing or something. There is a large leap in time from the last chapter to the epilogue and none of it makes any sense.
Overall this story was a mixed bag. Some of it is pretty cool and some of it is awful; just a very inconsistent story. I feel like maybe this is a potential diamond in the rough? With some editing and pacing improvements it could be a good story, but as is it is just inconsistent. I feel like there are some neat things going on here but I just couldn’t quite get to them. Anyway, I don't plan on reading any more of this series.
June 27, 2016
'Black Five' is an original young adult fantasy novel unlike anything I've read before. It took a while to get going, but once it did, it didn't slow down until the end. I had a really hard time getting into the story and connecting with the characters for the first few chapters. The writing and dialogue felt awkward and forced a lot during the beginning of the book and kind of continued throughout - only it got better as the story went on. I was just about ready to quit reading and try it again some other time - but I'm so glad I hung in there. I would've missed out on a fantastic story full of intriguing characters, an awesome heroine, and a truly unique plot.
Once things got rolling, I really connected with our main character, Penn. She was quirky and damaged from her past growing up, but she had so much sympathy for other people and always wanted to take away their pain. Of course, there's so much more to her character than being a teenage girl, and I loved watching her become the person she was destined to be. There was a romantic aspect to the story, but I thought it only added to the plot and it made things more complicated in several different ways. The majority of the secondary characters were decently well rounded with their own personalities and traits, which made it easy to identify with them as well. As I mentioned before, the plot itself was fresh and captivating. I loved learning everything I could about the world Penn came from - the different types of immortals, their powers, the darkness that's been taking over their world, and every other detail the author gave me. The writing was incredibly well done - to the point that I could easily close my eyes and imagine myself right beside Penn during the entire story. The author used the first person point of view with Penn as the narrator, so the book was told from her perspective - which I strongly believe is the best way to go in most cases, with this novel being no exception. I loved getting to know Penn on such a personal level, and it also helped me to understand the overall plot much better, since Penn was oblivious and had to have it all explained to her at the same time we learn about it. This was a fabulous book and a wonderful escape from reality! I definitely recommend this one to fans of the genre as well as readers who enjoy great female leads and paranormal fiction with some romance thrown in for good measure.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Once things got rolling, I really connected with our main character, Penn. She was quirky and damaged from her past growing up, but she had so much sympathy for other people and always wanted to take away their pain. Of course, there's so much more to her character than being a teenage girl, and I loved watching her become the person she was destined to be. There was a romantic aspect to the story, but I thought it only added to the plot and it made things more complicated in several different ways. The majority of the secondary characters were decently well rounded with their own personalities and traits, which made it easy to identify with them as well. As I mentioned before, the plot itself was fresh and captivating. I loved learning everything I could about the world Penn came from - the different types of immortals, their powers, the darkness that's been taking over their world, and every other detail the author gave me. The writing was incredibly well done - to the point that I could easily close my eyes and imagine myself right beside Penn during the entire story. The author used the first person point of view with Penn as the narrator, so the book was told from her perspective - which I strongly believe is the best way to go in most cases, with this novel being no exception. I loved getting to know Penn on such a personal level, and it also helped me to understand the overall plot much better, since Penn was oblivious and had to have it all explained to her at the same time we learn about it. This was a fabulous book and a wonderful escape from reality! I definitely recommend this one to fans of the genre as well as readers who enjoy great female leads and paranormal fiction with some romance thrown in for good measure.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2016
Black Five by J. Lynn Bailey takes place in small town Mason where 17 year old Penelope (Penn) Jackson's life gets very complicated, very quickly. After a gruesome murder in town, events unravel leaving Penn questioning her entire upbringing. She discovers that her best friends since childhood, Kendra and Jesse are a Witch and Sentinel (a protector) respectively, part of her security detail since birth as she is one of only two known surviving Black Bloods from the land of Nightmerianotte. Not only was she born a Black Blood, but also a Five, or Sanguine. A precious bloodline who has the gift to heal, they are known as saviors. Only 4 other Fives have been born since the beginning of Nightmerianotte, all of whom have been kidnapped, whereabouts unknown. Whisked away and hid since birth, she has been under a protective spell that soon expires when she turns 18. The evil, murderous Vacavious (the other known Black Blood) has wrecked havoc on Nightmerianotte transforming it into a dark and desolate place, filled with fear. Penn must assume the mantle of the Black Five, using her abilities of healing and mind melding to defeat Vacavious and restore Nightmerianotte to it's former state of peace. Black Five is the first of a planned series, and definitely kicks it off with a bang!
Overall, this was a really great story and fun read. Penn was a totally relateable and likable character, her struggle to accept and come to grips with her new found destiny was both honest and well paced. Kendra was such a loyal, fun, kick-ass side kick BFF, I always enjoyed her scenes, everyone needs a Kendra in their life. And what's a YA book without two dreamy heartthrobs for a good ol' fashioned love triangle? Church, the chiseled, centuries old vampire and Jesse the brooding dreamboat Sentinel, I had such a hard time deciding whose team I was on! (I still don't know to be honest- I love them both). The fictional land of Nighmerianotte was well fleshed out and imagined. I can't wait to read more first hand in the next book as the adventure and battle changes scenery and moves into this arena. The cliffhanger ending left me seriously wanting more, and scared for at more than one beloved member of our groups life. I was left somewhat confused by the Epilogue, but I assume it will be explained in the next book. The dialogue could have been a little stronger in my opinion, perhaps not so stiff, but for a debut novel, it was a fantastic read. I will definitely be following along to see what happens next!
Overall, this was a really great story and fun read. Penn was a totally relateable and likable character, her struggle to accept and come to grips with her new found destiny was both honest and well paced. Kendra was such a loyal, fun, kick-ass side kick BFF, I always enjoyed her scenes, everyone needs a Kendra in their life. And what's a YA book without two dreamy heartthrobs for a good ol' fashioned love triangle? Church, the chiseled, centuries old vampire and Jesse the brooding dreamboat Sentinel, I had such a hard time deciding whose team I was on! (I still don't know to be honest- I love them both). The fictional land of Nighmerianotte was well fleshed out and imagined. I can't wait to read more first hand in the next book as the adventure and battle changes scenery and moves into this arena. The cliffhanger ending left me seriously wanting more, and scared for at more than one beloved member of our groups life. I was left somewhat confused by the Epilogue, but I assume it will be explained in the next book. The dialogue could have been a little stronger in my opinion, perhaps not so stiff, but for a debut novel, it was a fantastic read. I will definitely be following along to see what happens next!
January 2, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't like writing bad reviews. Usually if I don't enjoy a book I know that straight away and I just don't finish reading it. Black Five is difficult though. It's difficult because the premise is actually really good. The ideas behind it make it everything YA fiction should be. And I love YA fiction.
Ok so what did I enjoy firstly about this book? Let's get the good stuff in there first. I loved the whole idea behind the existence of another world and the idea of the Black Five. Unfortunately that's pretty much all I liked about it.
What didn't I like? The language in this novel was the main thing that spoilt it for me. I think if that was perfected I would actually have enjoyed it quite a lot more. The characters are supposed to be American teenagers yet speak more like Victorian lords and ladies. 'Let us go' instead of 'let's go' was one of the most annoying and unrealistic ways of speaking but cannot, was not etc also added to the falseness of the language and because they annoyed me so much it took away from the storyline.
Reactions of characters to key events were poor. I'm trying not to include spoilers but I just felt that the main character Penn didn't get angry at all when she found out she'd been lied to. She instantly believed everything she was told with no evidence. She falls in love with a guy she's only just met and there's no emotion created because of the language style and because of the short jilted way people speak.
The font used to write Penn's dad's diary was almost illegible. I feel I missed a lot of important information because I literally couldn't decipher the words.
Penn's training was also unrealistic. Suddenly she's capable of doing all this stuff with no prior training at All? Suddenly her kind, caring aunt turns into some bunny murderer with a 'cold' voice? Other parts don't add up either. There are so many plot flaws throughout. Things that aren't explained to the reader which makes the story weak and frankly frustrating.
I feel bad for this because I really wanted to like it. It sounded right up my street as its my favourite genre. Having read the authors note at the end I felt even worse as it took her 3 years to write. I just feel it could have been written better. The idea is good, the writing not so much.
I don't like writing bad reviews. Usually if I don't enjoy a book I know that straight away and I just don't finish reading it. Black Five is difficult though. It's difficult because the premise is actually really good. The ideas behind it make it everything YA fiction should be. And I love YA fiction.
Ok so what did I enjoy firstly about this book? Let's get the good stuff in there first. I loved the whole idea behind the existence of another world and the idea of the Black Five. Unfortunately that's pretty much all I liked about it.
What didn't I like? The language in this novel was the main thing that spoilt it for me. I think if that was perfected I would actually have enjoyed it quite a lot more. The characters are supposed to be American teenagers yet speak more like Victorian lords and ladies. 'Let us go' instead of 'let's go' was one of the most annoying and unrealistic ways of speaking but cannot, was not etc also added to the falseness of the language and because they annoyed me so much it took away from the storyline.
Reactions of characters to key events were poor. I'm trying not to include spoilers but I just felt that the main character Penn didn't get angry at all when she found out she'd been lied to. She instantly believed everything she was told with no evidence. She falls in love with a guy she's only just met and there's no emotion created because of the language style and because of the short jilted way people speak.
The font used to write Penn's dad's diary was almost illegible. I feel I missed a lot of important information because I literally couldn't decipher the words.
Penn's training was also unrealistic. Suddenly she's capable of doing all this stuff with no prior training at All? Suddenly her kind, caring aunt turns into some bunny murderer with a 'cold' voice? Other parts don't add up either. There are so many plot flaws throughout. Things that aren't explained to the reader which makes the story weak and frankly frustrating.
I feel bad for this because I really wanted to like it. It sounded right up my street as its my favourite genre. Having read the authors note at the end I felt even worse as it took her 3 years to write. I just feel it could have been written better. The idea is good, the writing not so much.
January 6, 2016
*I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review*
I was very conflicted after reading Black Five. Partly because I didn’t really set up an expectation for it to be disappointed. There are bits and parts of what I love alongside with the one that I didn’t like at all.
The idea of this book is not very original. The story is quite basic, with young girl who found out that she has hidden magic and end up with her life changes, forever (dramatic effect here), from the normal one that she thought she has. Then, she sets out to save the world. The end. The plot is very predictable, which make the book loses it heart-gripping effect.
I like the character development. I can see Penn grows through each and every page, and I love it. The world-building is great enough, and the cover is absolutely amazing! And did I tell you how great the ARC looks? But then, that is all when it comes to my liking of this book.
The language is the main part that spoiled this book for me. The writing was quite abrupt and hard to follow, with a lot of reused words and strange, unrealistic dialogues. Instead of talking like a normal modern teenage girl, Penn tends to speak in a very elaborate, formal way that make her sounds like she is from the 1800s. And although there is a large amount of details and descriptions, I didn’t feel as connect to this book as I should be.
The character’s reactions are not very convincing. Penn straight up fell in love with a stranger, or I feel like she did, due to the lack of emotions through the writings. She instantly believe in what others tell her, which ticked me off a lot, and there are many strange events that didn’t add up to the plot. It was very frustrating.
I don’t think this is a bad book at all, but I can’t seem to bring myself to love it. I had to force myself through this book, and the process was not very enjoyable. Personally, I don’t think this book is for me.
I was very conflicted after reading Black Five. Partly because I didn’t really set up an expectation for it to be disappointed. There are bits and parts of what I love alongside with the one that I didn’t like at all.
The idea of this book is not very original. The story is quite basic, with young girl who found out that she has hidden magic and end up with her life changes, forever (dramatic effect here), from the normal one that she thought she has. Then, she sets out to save the world. The end. The plot is very predictable, which make the book loses it heart-gripping effect.
I like the character development. I can see Penn grows through each and every page, and I love it. The world-building is great enough, and the cover is absolutely amazing! And did I tell you how great the ARC looks? But then, that is all when it comes to my liking of this book.
The language is the main part that spoiled this book for me. The writing was quite abrupt and hard to follow, with a lot of reused words and strange, unrealistic dialogues. Instead of talking like a normal modern teenage girl, Penn tends to speak in a very elaborate, formal way that make her sounds like she is from the 1800s. And although there is a large amount of details and descriptions, I didn’t feel as connect to this book as I should be.
The character’s reactions are not very convincing. Penn straight up fell in love with a stranger, or I feel like she did, due to the lack of emotions through the writings. She instantly believe in what others tell her, which ticked me off a lot, and there are many strange events that didn’t add up to the plot. It was very frustrating.
I don’t think this is a bad book at all, but I can’t seem to bring myself to love it. I had to force myself through this book, and the process was not very enjoyable. Personally, I don’t think this book is for me.
January 23, 2016
Thank you NetGalley for giving us a copy of this book in exchange for a an honest review.
Penelope a.k.a Penn, has been carrying sad memories within herself. This follows a story of a 17-year old highschool girl, is unaware of her dangerous secret. A secret that she has never been told. Hence, she has been living a lie. One day a strange news of murder spreads across the town, Nighmerianotte, and people are shocked to hear that the attack is not by some animal. Soon Penelope discovers outlandish information about herself - that she is the Sanguine. Being a Sanguine, Penn needs to save the population of Nighmerianotte.
This is the first book in the The Black Blood Chronicles, and three more books are expected in this novel. This is not an extra-ordinary story, because it presents same old love triangle, troubled past, and absence of parents, which we have seen multiple times. What makes this story special is that the author unfolds the truth gorgeously. Penelope is a unique, charming, and engaging character, who has her own flaws, which makes her relatable in so many ways. Her character development goes from various changes for example from immature to being a responsible girl. I felt it was a mixture of other YA books, but it did grasp me till the very end. The opening scene was intriguing, and it really sets up the mood, but as the story was progressing it became a chaos - because of a murder. Then the second half of the book took an unexpected turn, filled with delicious twists.
Despite having cliches in this book, I found the concept of this book very interesting. Also, the writing style was very easy to get into. It was very poetic, which made it even more beautiful. The ending was a cliffhanger though. This book was not an extra-ordinary neither did it leave negative impression, but I was intrigued enough to wait for her next installment,and that is the reason I am giving it 3 stars. I would recommend this to teenage girls, who would really enjoy cheesy moments between a guy and a girl.
3/5
Penelope a.k.a Penn, has been carrying sad memories within herself. This follows a story of a 17-year old highschool girl, is unaware of her dangerous secret. A secret that she has never been told. Hence, she has been living a lie. One day a strange news of murder spreads across the town, Nighmerianotte, and people are shocked to hear that the attack is not by some animal. Soon Penelope discovers outlandish information about herself - that she is the Sanguine. Being a Sanguine, Penn needs to save the population of Nighmerianotte.
This is the first book in the The Black Blood Chronicles, and three more books are expected in this novel. This is not an extra-ordinary story, because it presents same old love triangle, troubled past, and absence of parents, which we have seen multiple times. What makes this story special is that the author unfolds the truth gorgeously. Penelope is a unique, charming, and engaging character, who has her own flaws, which makes her relatable in so many ways. Her character development goes from various changes for example from immature to being a responsible girl. I felt it was a mixture of other YA books, but it did grasp me till the very end. The opening scene was intriguing, and it really sets up the mood, but as the story was progressing it became a chaos - because of a murder. Then the second half of the book took an unexpected turn, filled with delicious twists.
Despite having cliches in this book, I found the concept of this book very interesting. Also, the writing style was very easy to get into. It was very poetic, which made it even more beautiful. The ending was a cliffhanger though. This book was not an extra-ordinary neither did it leave negative impression, but I was intrigued enough to wait for her next installment,and that is the reason I am giving it 3 stars. I would recommend this to teenage girls, who would really enjoy cheesy moments between a guy and a girl.
3/5
December 7, 2015
Black Five was a satisfying YA novel that fit the genre of YA well with a promising premise and intriguing characters. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole novel and I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were very vibrant and relate-able. I breezed through the book and found the writing easy to read.
There were some things in this book that are similar to other YA novels today. Including a love triangle, troubled past, and parents that weren’t ‘in the picture’. Not that these things made the book bad, even I can say that I enjoy reading books with these points. It doesn’t make the book bad just because it has been done before. Saying this I would recommend it to the younger readers of YA being 12-15. I’m fourteen and I will say that I enjoyed the cheesy love triangle and the other commonalities with other popular YA books today. (Maybe it’s just us young teens’ nature.)
The ending of the novel did leave me hanging. I’m not quite sure exactly what happened and how the next novel will start off. Don’t get me wrong I’m up for a good cliff-hanger here and there but this isn’t one that makes you want to go out and buy the next book to see what happens. It just left me wondering what is going on.
Even though I have critiqued this book more than I do in my other reviews I still felt it was a favorable novel. I feel this is one of those books that can make it far in the YA genre.
Overall this was an enjoyable novel that teetered on predictable but still entertaining.
I would recommend this to: The YA lovers that are in for a good light fantasy/ paranormal read.
There were some things in this book that are similar to other YA novels today. Including a love triangle, troubled past, and parents that weren’t ‘in the picture’. Not that these things made the book bad, even I can say that I enjoy reading books with these points. It doesn’t make the book bad just because it has been done before. Saying this I would recommend it to the younger readers of YA being 12-15. I’m fourteen and I will say that I enjoyed the cheesy love triangle and the other commonalities with other popular YA books today. (Maybe it’s just us young teens’ nature.)
The ending of the novel did leave me hanging. I’m not quite sure exactly what happened and how the next novel will start off. Don’t get me wrong I’m up for a good cliff-hanger here and there but this isn’t one that makes you want to go out and buy the next book to see what happens. It just left me wondering what is going on.
Even though I have critiqued this book more than I do in my other reviews I still felt it was a favorable novel. I feel this is one of those books that can make it far in the YA genre.
Overall this was an enjoyable novel that teetered on predictable but still entertaining.
I would recommend this to: The YA lovers that are in for a good light fantasy/ paranormal read.
January 7, 2016
With the start of the book, I was immediately transported to the world of Harry Potter, a book which is close to my teenage self. The uncanny similarity in the narration style definitely helped in creating the bond with the character. However, as I progressed through the story, the lead character started reminding me of Kristen Stewart from Twilight and that definitely unsettled me more. It has been a while since I have dealt with a teenage character and the drama and angst of a teenager definitely annoyed me for a moment. However, the plot line based on deceit, secrets, a world of fantasy and identity crisis was well built and was carried throughout the entirety of the book. I definitely appreciated the flow of the story and the way in which the characters played into it. The climax is something that was unexpected and left me wanting for more.
The whole first person narrative is not appreciated by me often, but keeping in mind the genre of the book, I could appreciate the justification in its usage. The writing style has been kept simple, respecting the the genre and that made it easier to understand and appreciate the character development and the story line.
Comparing the title and the description with the the cover image that has been used, I could see no correlation at all, and that can be a detrimental factor in attracting the required attention.
My opinion: According to me, the book is a mix of the world of Harry Potter and Twilight; the magical world of Nighmerianotte has been brought to life through a slow build up of the story and will be definitely appreciated by the readers. Not a bad book at all.
My rating: 3 out of 5
The whole first person narrative is not appreciated by me often, but keeping in mind the genre of the book, I could appreciate the justification in its usage. The writing style has been kept simple, respecting the the genre and that made it easier to understand and appreciate the character development and the story line.
Comparing the title and the description with the the cover image that has been used, I could see no correlation at all, and that can be a detrimental factor in attracting the required attention.
My opinion: According to me, the book is a mix of the world of Harry Potter and Twilight; the magical world of Nighmerianotte has been brought to life through a slow build up of the story and will be definitely appreciated by the readers. Not a bad book at all.
My rating: 3 out of 5
January 31, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Every once in awhile I try to go into a story without reading too much about it. I saw the summary for this on NetGalley and thought it sounded interesting, so I went ahead and requested it without looking on Goodreads or any other sites. It isn't that these sites would have swayed my decision to read Black Five one way or the other, but I would have been prepared for this overwhelming sense of meh.
While I was reading the book, I kept waiting for something to happen that would blow me away, something that would set this story apart from any other YA book. A lot of YA books have similar plot or share tropes that make them sound really, really alike, but the good ones usually have something to make them special. Black Five didn't deliver on this.
The writing was fine; it was enough that I would consider reading another work by the author. As far as wanting to continue with the series, though, I doubt that any forthcoming books would rate high on my waiting-for list.
Penelope felt like a stereotypical heroine from a YA novel in that she discovers this hidden magic about herself after living a difficult life. Her mannerisms felt stiff, awkward. I'm not sure I believed in her as a character at any given point.
Like I said, the plot was decent, the writing allowable, but I don't think I'll be clamoring for any more Penelope adventures, though I wouldn't say no if the book crossed by my desk.
Every once in awhile I try to go into a story without reading too much about it. I saw the summary for this on NetGalley and thought it sounded interesting, so I went ahead and requested it without looking on Goodreads or any other sites. It isn't that these sites would have swayed my decision to read Black Five one way or the other, but I would have been prepared for this overwhelming sense of meh.
While I was reading the book, I kept waiting for something to happen that would blow me away, something that would set this story apart from any other YA book. A lot of YA books have similar plot or share tropes that make them sound really, really alike, but the good ones usually have something to make them special. Black Five didn't deliver on this.
The writing was fine; it was enough that I would consider reading another work by the author. As far as wanting to continue with the series, though, I doubt that any forthcoming books would rate high on my waiting-for list.
Penelope felt like a stereotypical heroine from a YA novel in that she discovers this hidden magic about herself after living a difficult life. Her mannerisms felt stiff, awkward. I'm not sure I believed in her as a character at any given point.
Like I said, the plot was decent, the writing allowable, but I don't think I'll be clamoring for any more Penelope adventures, though I wouldn't say no if the book crossed by my desk.
June 30, 2016
I love books that take me to other worlds and still bring me back to our own. This book does just that. We get to travel to different realms, that are connected with portals. This is like other books in the genre though. There are some things that make it like your normal, run of the mill paranormal teen book. I think that there were so many times that this book could have much more then it was. I do think that it was a good book, but it could have been so much more!
Penn is a great character for teenage girls to read. She is not one of those teenage girls who is out making bad choices. She is a mix of so many different types of girls, and that really is something that young girls need right now. This character shows them that you can be strong but not too strong, weak but not let it control you, and even have a heart, and to love others. She is a great character.
I think that over all this book was a great read. I think that as the series progresses, the author will have the chance to make things fleshed out properly. I think that with the next books we will be able to see the things that we had to fill in for ourselves in this book. I think the base story is a great one, it just needs to be adapted, changed and made into something all it's own. Hopefully we will get to see the evolving story with later books.
Over all this is one I would definitely recommend, especially for teens and younger readers. This is going to one of those that the teenagers will grab on to and want more of. You have love, anger, and all the emotions that will keep anyone engaged!
Penn is a great character for teenage girls to read. She is not one of those teenage girls who is out making bad choices. She is a mix of so many different types of girls, and that really is something that young girls need right now. This character shows them that you can be strong but not too strong, weak but not let it control you, and even have a heart, and to love others. She is a great character.
I think that over all this book was a great read. I think that as the series progresses, the author will have the chance to make things fleshed out properly. I think that with the next books we will be able to see the things that we had to fill in for ourselves in this book. I think the base story is a great one, it just needs to be adapted, changed and made into something all it's own. Hopefully we will get to see the evolving story with later books.
Over all this is one I would definitely recommend, especially for teens and younger readers. This is going to one of those that the teenagers will grab on to and want more of. You have love, anger, and all the emotions that will keep anyone engaged!
February 9, 2016
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book for an honest review.
I was unsure what to expect from the book and author but was very pleasantly surprised.
The main character, who never had the best start or role models in life until the age of 8 when she went to live with her aunt Jo. She is 17 years old and she starts to feel she is being followed, there is a strange death from an apparent wild animal and the bad dreams. Things start to unfold and she learns the truth about who she is and the necessity for her having her own security detail assigned to her since she was a baby. She also learns that her life as she knew it has been based on lies.
The description of the different realms and districts allows the reader to picture the scene as they read, enabling me to walk through each scene. Add to that the build up of each character, I so wanted to clock Vanessa one, her bitchiness had bite and I loved it.
I will read this book again before the next book as I will be waiting impatiently to order it.
For me a really good author is someone that has the ability to remove me from reality into their fantasy and picture the scenes, realms and characters through their eyes. What's not to love!!
I was unsure what to expect from the book and author but was very pleasantly surprised.
The main character, who never had the best start or role models in life until the age of 8 when she went to live with her aunt Jo. She is 17 years old and she starts to feel she is being followed, there is a strange death from an apparent wild animal and the bad dreams. Things start to unfold and she learns the truth about who she is and the necessity for her having her own security detail assigned to her since she was a baby. She also learns that her life as she knew it has been based on lies.
The description of the different realms and districts allows the reader to picture the scene as they read, enabling me to walk through each scene. Add to that the build up of each character, I so wanted to clock Vanessa one, her bitchiness had bite and I loved it.
I will read this book again before the next book as I will be waiting impatiently to order it.
For me a really good author is someone that has the ability to remove me from reality into their fantasy and picture the scenes, realms and characters through their eyes. What's not to love!!
December 15, 2015
I received this from Netgalley.
I finished this novel last night and I have been trying to gather my thoughts so they make sense. My first thought after finishing it was, ``Where is next chapter. I must read book two``. One thing I really enjoyed about the series were the characters. They all had unique personalities and they grew throughout the story once you learned more about them. Penn went through a lot of changes and it`s easy to see. It made me happy that she wasn`t perfect and made choices that weren`t always ``right``.
For the most part the story was really easy to read and fast paced, at occasion there would be a part that didn`t flow as nicely or didn`t make sense. There were a couple things that were contradicting to what was previously stated in the book. I would like to go back and re-read it to see if it was a confusing section that I just misread. Overall I enjoyed the story and the characters. I am interested to see how the story progresses in book two.
I finished this novel last night and I have been trying to gather my thoughts so they make sense. My first thought after finishing it was, ``Where is next chapter. I must read book two``. One thing I really enjoyed about the series were the characters. They all had unique personalities and they grew throughout the story once you learned more about them. Penn went through a lot of changes and it`s easy to see. It made me happy that she wasn`t perfect and made choices that weren`t always ``right``.
For the most part the story was really easy to read and fast paced, at occasion there would be a part that didn`t flow as nicely or didn`t make sense. There were a couple things that were contradicting to what was previously stated in the book. I would like to go back and re-read it to see if it was a confusing section that I just misread. Overall I enjoyed the story and the characters. I am interested to see how the story progresses in book two.
June 5, 2016
This had a very slow beginning but had definitely redeemed itself by the end. The characters were fantastic. It had a very original and refreshing plot that has me hooked. There were a few parts where it seemed to drag a little but overall, it was well worth the read. I find myself genuinely looking forward to the next book in the series. The romantic scenes seem a little much for a book targeted to 13 year olds and I would think it more appropriate for those a couple of years older. That being said, there was nothing overly inappropriate about them. The epilogue didn't really seem to fit but I think it's purpose was to hook you for the next book. The ending did that well enough on its own. Overall, this is definitely a book that I would recommend to those who enjoy a series and magical/fantasy adventure.
****I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.****
****I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.****
November 27, 2015
I feel really bad but I just could not get into this book. I tried three times within the space of two weeks and could not read more than a few pages each time. I've officially given up just a bit before the second chapter.
I'm sure this is a really nice book if reviews I've read are anything to go by but it isn't for me.
I wasn't fond of the use of present tense or the long diegetic words that are thrown in all near each other so I couldn't get a sense of what the words meant. There was a couple of times were the sentence length was too long or a word was repeated too many times in a short space of time like the word 'her' repeated 9 times within 4 lines. It's a stupid thing to notice but I found it hard to read. It almost made me think I was reading the same line again.
On the plus side though I really love the cover.
I'm sure this is a really nice book if reviews I've read are anything to go by but it isn't for me.
I wasn't fond of the use of present tense or the long diegetic words that are thrown in all near each other so I couldn't get a sense of what the words meant. There was a couple of times were the sentence length was too long or a word was repeated too many times in a short space of time like the word 'her' repeated 9 times within 4 lines. It's a stupid thing to notice but I found it hard to read. It almost made me think I was reading the same line again.
On the plus side though I really love the cover.
November 29, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! The character development was right on. I really felt myself relating to Penn. The story line was fun and exciting. I found myself wishing I could keep reading it while I was at school. Then I was sad when I finished because I'm so curious to know what happens next in the series! 3 weeks later and I'm still dying to read J. Lynn's next book!! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy! It's right up there with the greats but has its own unique twist to things :)
January 28, 2016
This is a perfect beginning to a series that has a bit of every paranormal fantasy story could hope for. Its dark setting is very Tim Burton-ish and is definitely perfect for fans who love the gothic feel to books. I love the main character as she tried to learn what she was and the way the writer laid the groundwork of the world without making it seems thrown together in a single chapter. Black Five held my interest throughout the whole story and I am definitely interested in continuing the series.
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