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The Watchers #1
Isle of Night
IS LIFE OFFERING FEWER AND FEWER OPTIONS? THEN JOIN THE DEAD.
When Annelise left for college, it meant good riddance to her abusive father and stepmother—until a bureaucratic screw-up left her without a diploma, flat broke, and facing an uncertain future. Then she met Ronan—tall, dark, and way too seductive for her own good. He promised Annelise a new life, if she had the courage to chance the unknown. One look at him and she certainly had the desire. Sure enough, accepting rides from strangers does yield surprises.
Whisked away to a mysterious island in the North Sea, Annelise is pitted against other female recruits in tests of skill, smarts, and strength. To win is to become a member of the Watchers, an elite and unique partnership—with vampires—that dispatches its teams on the most dangerous missions imaginable. It’s not exactly what Annelise had in mind for a new beginning but it’s livelier than the alternative. Because on the Isle of Night, to lose the challenge doesn’t just mean dishonor. It means death.
Let the games begin.
WINNER OF THE NATIONAL READERS' CHOICE AWARD!
"Isle of Awesome." – Young Adult Books Central
"...one of the most dangerous, romantic, and exciting paranormal YA titles I’ve read all year." – All Things Urban Fantasy
"Bram Stoker would be proud." – Young Adult Book Reviews
"The experience of reading this book is visceral...my body was tense, my heart rate picked up as Annelise faced danger, I was scared for her and simultaneously wanted her to win and to escape, but mostly I wanted her to survive. I read it straight through...earns a well deserved A." – Jaclyn at Dear Author, recommended read
"She strikes a tone that feels completely natural, and she manages to make everything feel suspenseful and gripping." – John at Dear Author, recommended read
"Veronica Wolff's world is a heady combo of terrifying and seductive... Annelise's journey from brainy to fearsome is fantastic, and if you like your vampires old-school scary, fear not: Wolff's have real bite." – Rachel Caine, Internationally bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series
"...amazing and thrilling, a refreshing new twist on young adult vampire novels. Survival, mean girls, boarding school-This book is a pleasant surprise, the characters are totally enthralling. I finished Isle of Night in one sitting. A fast, fun read!" – Rex Robot Reviews
"Dark, mysterious, and action-packed. Isle of Night had me on the edge of my seat. The Watchers is definitely a series to watch!" – Mari Mancusi, Award winning author of the Blood Coven Vampires
"A fantastic start to a new series that was a ton of fun to read. With it's fast paced action, I could scarcely put it down...a perfectly epic story." – The Book Cellar
"A compulsive page-turner. Annelise [is] brilliant, loyal, strong, and plenty sarcastic...The fear is palpable, the action is nonstop, and the romantic tension is crazy hot." – Chloe Neill, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Chicagoland Vampires Novels
"captivating and enthralling ...We are anxiously looking forward to the next book in this series! " – That's What I'm Talking About
"Wolff throws you into the action right away with her first Watchers novel. The protagonist is smart and tough, but still vulnerable.
When Annelise left for college, it meant good riddance to her abusive father and stepmother—until a bureaucratic screw-up left her without a diploma, flat broke, and facing an uncertain future. Then she met Ronan—tall, dark, and way too seductive for her own good. He promised Annelise a new life, if she had the courage to chance the unknown. One look at him and she certainly had the desire. Sure enough, accepting rides from strangers does yield surprises.
Whisked away to a mysterious island in the North Sea, Annelise is pitted against other female recruits in tests of skill, smarts, and strength. To win is to become a member of the Watchers, an elite and unique partnership—with vampires—that dispatches its teams on the most dangerous missions imaginable. It’s not exactly what Annelise had in mind for a new beginning but it’s livelier than the alternative. Because on the Isle of Night, to lose the challenge doesn’t just mean dishonor. It means death.
Let the games begin.
WINNER OF THE NATIONAL READERS' CHOICE AWARD!
"Isle of Awesome." – Young Adult Books Central
"...one of the most dangerous, romantic, and exciting paranormal YA titles I’ve read all year." – All Things Urban Fantasy
"Bram Stoker would be proud." – Young Adult Book Reviews
"The experience of reading this book is visceral...my body was tense, my heart rate picked up as Annelise faced danger, I was scared for her and simultaneously wanted her to win and to escape, but mostly I wanted her to survive. I read it straight through...earns a well deserved A." – Jaclyn at Dear Author, recommended read
"She strikes a tone that feels completely natural, and she manages to make everything feel suspenseful and gripping." – John at Dear Author, recommended read
"Veronica Wolff's world is a heady combo of terrifying and seductive... Annelise's journey from brainy to fearsome is fantastic, and if you like your vampires old-school scary, fear not: Wolff's have real bite." – Rachel Caine, Internationally bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series
"...amazing and thrilling, a refreshing new twist on young adult vampire novels. Survival, mean girls, boarding school-This book is a pleasant surprise, the characters are totally enthralling. I finished Isle of Night in one sitting. A fast, fun read!" – Rex Robot Reviews
"Dark, mysterious, and action-packed. Isle of Night had me on the edge of my seat. The Watchers is definitely a series to watch!" – Mari Mancusi, Award winning author of the Blood Coven Vampires
"A fantastic start to a new series that was a ton of fun to read. With it's fast paced action, I could scarcely put it down...a perfectly epic story." – The Book Cellar
"A compulsive page-turner. Annelise [is] brilliant, loyal, strong, and plenty sarcastic...The fear is palpable, the action is nonstop, and the romantic tension is crazy hot." – Chloe Neill, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Chicagoland Vampires Novels
"captivating and enthralling ...We are anxiously looking forward to the next book in this series! " – That's What I'm Talking About
"Wolff throws you into the action right away with her first Watchers novel. The protagonist is smart and tough, but still vulnerable.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2011
92 people are currently reading
9571 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Wolff
24 books535 followersVeronica Wolff is an award-winning, bestselling author who likes monsters, fight scenes, and first kisses. Sometimes all at the same time. She lived everywhere from Texas to Hawaii to India before settling in Northern California, where she shares a home with her husband and her black cat familiar, Josie.
She writes across genres, including Scottish historical romance, time travel, contemporary romance, and young adult fiction. She may or may not have a top-secret alter ego named Ron Wolff, who writes gonzo sci-fi thrillers.
She writes across genres, including Scottish historical romance, time travel, contemporary romance, and young adult fiction. She may or may not have a top-secret alter ego named Ron Wolff, who writes gonzo sci-fi thrillers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
September 13, 2011
Isle of Night is the first in a new young adult paranormal series, THE WATCHERS. Author Veronica Wolff attempts to combine several hot fiction trends into Isle of Night: vampires, boarding school, catty mean girls, and a scenario in which teens are forced to fight to the death.
Annelise Drew, who goes by her last name, is looking forward to escaping her abusive home life and going to college. When she gets to school, though, an issue has arisen with her high school credits and she’s unable to enroll. Drew is unsure what to do next. In swoops hunky Ronan, who convinces her to leave the country with him. He’s recruiting for a very different kind of school. Located on a remote island north of Scotland, it trains young women to become Watchers, which might be described as secretaries-slash-bodyguards for vampires.
The trouble begins with Drew herself. Her genius-level IQ is frequently mentioned, but her intelligence is rarely on display. One of the first things we see her do is get into a car, and later onto a plane, with a suspicious-acting man she has just met. We learn later that there’s some mind-mojo going on, so this isn’t as dumb as it looks, but it does form our first impression of Drew and the rest of the book does little to dispel it. Her typical reaction to a problem is to whine about it, and then usually someone else solves it for her or prods her into finally taking action. She also has a bad case of “when am I going to use this in real life?” regarding her classwork, even when the practical applications of it are obvious. (For example, though I concede that she genuinely has a fear of the water, she also doesn't seem to understand why learning to swim might be useful to her. She's on an island, and it would seem obvious that one of her enemies might cause her to fall in the ocean or that she might need this knowledge to escape. As it turns out, she falls in a hot spring pool instead, but it's the same basic idea.) She has a mean streak, too. Sometimes this can help a character by keeping him or her from becoming too Generically Nice, but in Drew’s case it’s irritating because she complains about the same behaviors in others.
The premise itself is another issue. It’s incredibly sexist. All vampires are men; all Watchers are women. So, men have power and women compete to the death for the chance to serve them. As for the details of the school — can I even say this in a YA review? — it feels like a set-up for dark erotica, for something like Story of O. We’ve got beautiful young girls taken to an isolated school, where they’re trained to serve men and bullied by catsuit-wearing, whip-wielding older girls. Except it is YA, and so there’s no erotic content; there’s violence instead. Of course, a sexist set-up does not necessarily a sexist novel make; many a great work of feminist literature depicts a misogynistic society and then critiques it. Isle of Night doesn’t examine its sexism very seriously, though. Drew grumbles about the scenario, but it comes across as annoyance rather than outrage. She continues to lust after several of the men responsible for her predicament, and thinks they’ve given her a chance to blossom as a woman, and it doesn’t read like it’s meant to be Stockholm syndrome.
Wolff’s structuring of the novel doesn’t help. She frequently skips over scenes that would be interesting and tells us about them after the fact, while lingering in scenes that are less important. For example, Drew is made to take swimming lessons at Watcher school, and we see her panicking in anticipation of her first dip. Then we jump to several weeks later, when it’s already happened. I would have liked to see that first encounter with her fear. This sort of thing happens several other times, too. Wolff will build up tension for something and then tell us about it in retrospect.
The excitement does pick up toward the end of the book, when Drew and some of her classmates enter a deadly combat tournament. Again we see too much of it in retrospect, though, and there’s an aspect of the fighting venue that seemed improbable to me. The real problem with the tournament, though, is that it exposes just how batpoo crazy Drew’s greatest rival is. It makes it improbable that this person would not have killed her already. They’re in a setting where no one will blink an eye if Drew “accidentally” dies one night; everyone has access to deadly weapons; and this enemy has had literally hundreds of chances to do Drew in. If this character hates Drew that much and is that maniacal, why is Drew still alive? The only answer is that the enemy isn’t very bright either.
If you want to read about teenagers trying to kill each other, I recommend Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games instead. There are better vampire novels out there too, and better mean-girls-at-boarding-school novels. I do not recommend Isle of Night.
Annelise Drew, who goes by her last name, is looking forward to escaping her abusive home life and going to college. When she gets to school, though, an issue has arisen with her high school credits and she’s unable to enroll. Drew is unsure what to do next. In swoops hunky Ronan, who convinces her to leave the country with him. He’s recruiting for a very different kind of school. Located on a remote island north of Scotland, it trains young women to become Watchers, which might be described as secretaries-slash-bodyguards for vampires.
The trouble begins with Drew herself. Her genius-level IQ is frequently mentioned, but her intelligence is rarely on display. One of the first things we see her do is get into a car, and later onto a plane, with a suspicious-acting man she has just met. We learn later that there’s some mind-mojo going on, so this isn’t as dumb as it looks, but it does form our first impression of Drew and the rest of the book does little to dispel it. Her typical reaction to a problem is to whine about it, and then usually someone else solves it for her or prods her into finally taking action. She also has a bad case of “when am I going to use this in real life?” regarding her classwork, even when the practical applications of it are obvious. (For example, though I concede that she genuinely has a fear of the water, she also doesn't seem to understand why learning to swim might be useful to her. She's on an island, and it would seem obvious that one of her enemies might cause her to fall in the ocean or that she might need this knowledge to escape. As it turns out, she falls in a hot spring pool instead, but it's the same basic idea.) She has a mean streak, too. Sometimes this can help a character by keeping him or her from becoming too Generically Nice, but in Drew’s case it’s irritating because she complains about the same behaviors in others.
The premise itself is another issue. It’s incredibly sexist. All vampires are men; all Watchers are women. So, men have power and women compete to the death for the chance to serve them. As for the details of the school — can I even say this in a YA review? — it feels like a set-up for dark erotica, for something like Story of O. We’ve got beautiful young girls taken to an isolated school, where they’re trained to serve men and bullied by catsuit-wearing, whip-wielding older girls. Except it is YA, and so there’s no erotic content; there’s violence instead. Of course, a sexist set-up does not necessarily a sexist novel make; many a great work of feminist literature depicts a misogynistic society and then critiques it. Isle of Night doesn’t examine its sexism very seriously, though. Drew grumbles about the scenario, but it comes across as annoyance rather than outrage. She continues to lust after several of the men responsible for her predicament, and thinks they’ve given her a chance to blossom as a woman, and it doesn’t read like it’s meant to be Stockholm syndrome.
Wolff’s structuring of the novel doesn’t help. She frequently skips over scenes that would be interesting and tells us about them after the fact, while lingering in scenes that are less important. For example, Drew is made to take swimming lessons at Watcher school, and we see her panicking in anticipation of her first dip. Then we jump to several weeks later, when it’s already happened. I would have liked to see that first encounter with her fear. This sort of thing happens several other times, too. Wolff will build up tension for something and then tell us about it in retrospect.
The excitement does pick up toward the end of the book, when Drew and some of her classmates enter a deadly combat tournament. Again we see too much of it in retrospect, though, and there’s an aspect of the fighting venue that seemed improbable to me. The real problem with the tournament, though, is that it exposes just how batpoo crazy Drew’s greatest rival is. It makes it improbable that this person would not have killed her already. They’re in a setting where no one will blink an eye if Drew “accidentally” dies one night; everyone has access to deadly weapons; and this enemy has had literally hundreds of chances to do Drew in. If this character hates Drew that much and is that maniacal, why is Drew still alive? The only answer is that the enemy isn’t very bright either.
If you want to read about teenagers trying to kill each other, I recommend Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games instead. There are better vampire novels out there too, and better mean-girls-at-boarding-school novels. I do not recommend Isle of Night.
September 8, 2011
Originally Reviewed on The Book Smugglers: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2011/09/b...
Anneliese Drew is a certified genius, and a girl desperate to escape her dead end hometown of Christmas, Florida, her abusive father, evil stepmother, and decidedly mediocre classmates. So, Drew is thrilled when she is able to graduate from high school early with a full scholarship to the University of Florida, and she gleefully leaves Christmas miles behind her. When she gets to UF and tries to check in to her shiny new future, however, she realizes that thanks to a bureaucratic mix-up and change of high school policy, Drew hasn’t actually graduated yet and cannot attend classes until the fall of the next year. With nowhere to turn, Drew is crushed and desperate – but then the quiet, hot guy at the registrar comes over to talk to her and offers her the chance of a lifetime. In addition to being devastatingly handsome and bearing a Proust tattoo (which girl genius Drew finds unbearably hot), Ronan is a recruiter for a very special school for special girls – girls just like Annelise. All she has to do is get on his private plane and leave everything from her old life behind – and leave she does, for a remote island in the far north sea. Eyja naeturinnar, or the Isle of Night.
Soon, Annelise discovers that her new home is anything but the nurturing budding-genius environment she pictured. Here, she is one of many beautiful, gifted girls who are training to become Watchers – protectors of their male vampire masters – and failing to pass a test means death.
I wanted to like Isle of Night. I really did. I wanted to find a reason to like Drew, or care about any of the characters in this novel. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. As it is, Isle of Night is a painful exercise in poor characterizations, stunted writing, and willful, unchecked misogyny.
Let’s start with the characters. Annelise Drew is a certified and self-proclaimed genius. In fact, she’s such a genius that she repeats this over and over and over again over the course of the novel. The problem with this genius is she makes a ton of ridiculously idiotic decisions. Getting on a jet with a guy she’s just met, regardless of how hot he is, is not a good decision. When she learns about her new school, the existence of vampires, and how she was basically hypnotized/tricked into going to a remote island away from civilization and help, she blithely, passively goes along with the program, even killing her classmates without any moral dilemma or reflection. When she’s almost killed by a vampire on campus and later gets a good look at how HOT he is, instead of fear she is entranced desperately desires him. This is not smart behavior. For all that she says she has a high IQ and is a supposed genius with crazy book smarts, she never actually shows any intelligence, even in the classroom. There’s one passage where she talks about how awesome cartesian coordinates are like that is some crazy intelligent concept (when in reality is probably on par with a middle school level of basic math).
Plus, there’s also her lovely “self-depricating” descriptions of her appearance – Drew moans about how she’s not the pretty because – and I quote:
Ah, the terrible life of a slim blonde with big eyes and a wide mouth. The problem with Annelise is that she is simply annoying – managing to be both conceited and a whiny, insecure wet blanket at the same time. She willfully goes along with the entire misogynistic ideals of her school without even the slightest introspection.*
Which brings me to the the real problem with Isle of Night: the rampant, unchecked sexism throughout. These beautiful, damaged girls are swooped up by hot dudes called Tracers and whisked away to a remote island, told they have been selected because of their beauty and talents, and then told that they will fight to the death for the honor of becoming Watchers. I am still unclear as to why Vampires need “Watchers” (since Vampires can walk around during the day and are supernaturally strong and powerful), but the girls eat it up with not even a moment’s pause to consider the fact that they have been deceived, cut off from the rest of the world, and forced to kill each other, all for the dubious honor of being a hot vampire dude’s companion/bodyguard/whatever Watchers actually are. Oh, yeah, and there are no female vampires because “to be Vampire is a man’s destiny…to be Watcher is a woman’s fortune.” And to this statement from the Vampire Headmaster, all the women in the school are mindlessly compliant.
Allow me to illustrate further with a different example. There’s the following exchange between Drew and master Vampire Alcantara which occurs late in the book:
The scene continues with Drew basically seduced by the vampire, wanting to kiss him, blah blah blah. THIS is my problem with the book. The entire Watcher-Vampire system is ridiculously misogynistic – that’s fine, there are tons of systems and realities out there that are misogynistic. This could have been an awesome critique of sexism, with female characters forced into this system but finding a way to band together or even just recognizing that their forced servitude is wrong. The problem is that no one, not even our supposed “genius” Annelise, say a damn thing about this effed up school and lifestyle. When Alcantara makes these disgusting statements about “repellent” women Watchers, Annelise doesn’t think anything of it. When she’s introduced to all the other girls in the school and told they will not be vampires because that is for men only, but they will be giving up their lives in some bogus cause they didn’t even choose, no one thinks anything is wrong with the situation. It is this mindless acceptance that I cannot look beyond. NO. I don’t care how hot these guys are, there is something seriously wrong with a book that glorifies in teenage beauties literally killing each other for the approval and desire of hot vampire dudes.
There are other offenses, such as dialogue not making sense with the action (a huge pet peeve of mine) and generally subpar writing.** But why say any more? Isle of Night simply was not the book for me.
-----
* She even dubs her bitchy roommate von Slutling (because she’s beautiful and has a fantastic body – ergo, she must be a slut).
** Take, for example, one supposedly nasty joke about Annelise’s throwing stars, or shuriken: “Listen to you, freak. Shur-i-ken…sure-ya-can…sure-ya-can’t.” This is meant to be a putdown.
Anneliese Drew is a certified genius, and a girl desperate to escape her dead end hometown of Christmas, Florida, her abusive father, evil stepmother, and decidedly mediocre classmates. So, Drew is thrilled when she is able to graduate from high school early with a full scholarship to the University of Florida, and she gleefully leaves Christmas miles behind her. When she gets to UF and tries to check in to her shiny new future, however, she realizes that thanks to a bureaucratic mix-up and change of high school policy, Drew hasn’t actually graduated yet and cannot attend classes until the fall of the next year. With nowhere to turn, Drew is crushed and desperate – but then the quiet, hot guy at the registrar comes over to talk to her and offers her the chance of a lifetime. In addition to being devastatingly handsome and bearing a Proust tattoo (which girl genius Drew finds unbearably hot), Ronan is a recruiter for a very special school for special girls – girls just like Annelise. All she has to do is get on his private plane and leave everything from her old life behind – and leave she does, for a remote island in the far north sea. Eyja naeturinnar, or the Isle of Night.
Soon, Annelise discovers that her new home is anything but the nurturing budding-genius environment she pictured. Here, she is one of many beautiful, gifted girls who are training to become Watchers – protectors of their male vampire masters – and failing to pass a test means death.
I wanted to like Isle of Night. I really did. I wanted to find a reason to like Drew, or care about any of the characters in this novel. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. As it is, Isle of Night is a painful exercise in poor characterizations, stunted writing, and willful, unchecked misogyny.
Let’s start with the characters. Annelise Drew is a certified and self-proclaimed genius. In fact, she’s such a genius that she repeats this over and over and over again over the course of the novel. The problem with this genius is she makes a ton of ridiculously idiotic decisions. Getting on a jet with a guy she’s just met, regardless of how hot he is, is not a good decision. When she learns about her new school, the existence of vampires, and how she was basically hypnotized/tricked into going to a remote island away from civilization and help, she blithely, passively goes along with the program, even killing her classmates without any moral dilemma or reflection. When she’s almost killed by a vampire on campus and later gets a good look at how HOT he is, instead of fear she is entranced desperately desires him. This is not smart behavior. For all that she says she has a high IQ and is a supposed genius with crazy book smarts, she never actually shows any intelligence, even in the classroom. There’s one passage where she talks about how awesome cartesian coordinates are like that is some crazy intelligent concept (when in reality is probably on par with a middle school level of basic math).
Plus, there’s also her lovely “self-depricating” descriptions of her appearance – Drew moans about how she’s not the pretty because – and I quote:
My big eyes annoyed me – I thought they made me look like a bug. Between that and my wide mouth, I was fairly certain I resembled some sort of a backward fairty-tale frog that had yet to turn into a princess. And then there was my hair [...] long and blonde
Ah, the terrible life of a slim blonde with big eyes and a wide mouth. The problem with Annelise is that she is simply annoying – managing to be both conceited and a whiny, insecure wet blanket at the same time. She willfully goes along with the entire misogynistic ideals of her school without even the slightest introspection.*
Which brings me to the the real problem with Isle of Night: the rampant, unchecked sexism throughout. These beautiful, damaged girls are swooped up by hot dudes called Tracers and whisked away to a remote island, told they have been selected because of their beauty and talents, and then told that they will fight to the death for the honor of becoming Watchers. I am still unclear as to why Vampires need “Watchers” (since Vampires can walk around during the day and are supernaturally strong and powerful), but the girls eat it up with not even a moment’s pause to consider the fact that they have been deceived, cut off from the rest of the world, and forced to kill each other, all for the dubious honor of being a hot vampire dude’s companion/bodyguard/whatever Watchers actually are. Oh, yeah, and there are no female vampires because “to be Vampire is a man’s destiny…to be Watcher is a woman’s fortune.” And to this statement from the Vampire Headmaster, all the women in the school are mindlessly compliant.
Allow me to illustrate further with a different example. There’s the following exchange between Drew and master Vampire Alcantara which occurs late in the book:
“I’m just…confused. I mean, surely there are other girls in the world who know a thing or two about math.”
“None such as you.” He canted his head, and his attentions made me intensely uncomfortable. “You are the full package, as they say. I’ve suffered centuries of dim-witted beauties. Or girls with looks so repellent as to negate minds that shone like diamonds. I seek strength, too, and yet have had my fill of Amazons whose brawn lacks loveliness and grace.”
I stared dumbly. What was I supposed to say to this little revelation. Thanks. You’re smart and cute, too?
The scene continues with Drew basically seduced by the vampire, wanting to kiss him, blah blah blah. THIS is my problem with the book. The entire Watcher-Vampire system is ridiculously misogynistic – that’s fine, there are tons of systems and realities out there that are misogynistic. This could have been an awesome critique of sexism, with female characters forced into this system but finding a way to band together or even just recognizing that their forced servitude is wrong. The problem is that no one, not even our supposed “genius” Annelise, say a damn thing about this effed up school and lifestyle. When Alcantara makes these disgusting statements about “repellent” women Watchers, Annelise doesn’t think anything of it. When she’s introduced to all the other girls in the school and told they will not be vampires because that is for men only, but they will be giving up their lives in some bogus cause they didn’t even choose, no one thinks anything is wrong with the situation. It is this mindless acceptance that I cannot look beyond. NO. I don’t care how hot these guys are, there is something seriously wrong with a book that glorifies in teenage beauties literally killing each other for the approval and desire of hot vampire dudes.
There are other offenses, such as dialogue not making sense with the action (a huge pet peeve of mine) and generally subpar writing.** But why say any more? Isle of Night simply was not the book for me.
-----
* She even dubs her bitchy roommate von Slutling (because she’s beautiful and has a fantastic body – ergo, she must be a slut).
** Take, for example, one supposedly nasty joke about Annelise’s throwing stars, or shuriken: “Listen to you, freak. Shur-i-ken…sure-ya-can…sure-ya-can’t.” This is meant to be a putdown.
August 31, 2011
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
I have a self imposed rule with books. I give them fifty pages to win me over. If I’m not intrigued by then, I tend to move on. I’ve never been so glad to have that rule than I am after finishing—and loving—ISLE OF NIGHT by Veronica Wolff because the first fifty pages did not entice me at all. But, and this is a big but, from then on, the rest of the book became one of the most dangerous, romantic, and exciting paranormal YA titles I’ve read all year.
Right out of the gate, ISLE OF NIGHT tripped and fell flat on its face and stayed down for the first fifty pages. Annelise, a brilliant victim of domestic abuse, did not endear me to her initially. She was supposed to be witty and sarcastic, but instead struck me as petulant and desperate. Her home life also came across as trite and insincere despite the sad circumstances. I didn’t feel sorry for her, and I should have. Especially when a handsome stranger sweet talked her first into his car, then onto his plane with promises of a new future.
But!
Once Annalise and her tall, dark, and criminally handsome escort reached the Isle of Night, everything changed. Suddenly Annalise was witty and sarcastic. The references to her past abuse did arouse my sympathy, as did the situation she found herself in: a kill or be killed scenario with a secret academy of gifted girls all competing—whether they wanted to or not—for the chance to become Watchers, the deadly yet beautiful assistants of vampires. The school is seriously scary and girls are killed on a regular basis for breaking rules, failing to pass tests, or the whim of the vampire headmaster.
Mixing elements from Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Mean Girls, ISLE OF NIGHT may have problems at the start, but the rest of the book is about as good as paranormal YA gets. There are vicious girls, mysterious guys, scary and seductive vampires, and a school where prowess with a blade is just as prized as elegance in a ballroom. The complete 180 this book took still has me dizzy, and if it weren’t for those first fifty pages, I’d probably be giving ISLE OF NIGHT a 5/5 bat rating. As it is, I’m buzzing with anticipation for the next book in The Watchers series, VAMPIRE��S KISS, which will be published on March 6, 2011.
Sexual Content:
N/A
I have a self imposed rule with books. I give them fifty pages to win me over. If I’m not intrigued by then, I tend to move on. I’ve never been so glad to have that rule than I am after finishing—and loving—ISLE OF NIGHT by Veronica Wolff because the first fifty pages did not entice me at all. But, and this is a big but, from then on, the rest of the book became one of the most dangerous, romantic, and exciting paranormal YA titles I’ve read all year.
Right out of the gate, ISLE OF NIGHT tripped and fell flat on its face and stayed down for the first fifty pages. Annelise, a brilliant victim of domestic abuse, did not endear me to her initially. She was supposed to be witty and sarcastic, but instead struck me as petulant and desperate. Her home life also came across as trite and insincere despite the sad circumstances. I didn’t feel sorry for her, and I should have. Especially when a handsome stranger sweet talked her first into his car, then onto his plane with promises of a new future.
But!
Once Annalise and her tall, dark, and criminally handsome escort reached the Isle of Night, everything changed. Suddenly Annalise was witty and sarcastic. The references to her past abuse did arouse my sympathy, as did the situation she found herself in: a kill or be killed scenario with a secret academy of gifted girls all competing—whether they wanted to or not—for the chance to become Watchers, the deadly yet beautiful assistants of vampires. The school is seriously scary and girls are killed on a regular basis for breaking rules, failing to pass tests, or the whim of the vampire headmaster.
Mixing elements from Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Mean Girls, ISLE OF NIGHT may have problems at the start, but the rest of the book is about as good as paranormal YA gets. There are vicious girls, mysterious guys, scary and seductive vampires, and a school where prowess with a blade is just as prized as elegance in a ballroom. The complete 180 this book took still has me dizzy, and if it weren’t for those first fifty pages, I’d probably be giving ISLE OF NIGHT a 5/5 bat rating. As it is, I’m buzzing with anticipation for the next book in The Watchers series, VAMPIRE��S KISS, which will be published on March 6, 2011.
Sexual Content:
N/A
August 3, 2017
When Annelise meets dark and seductive Ronan, he promises her a new life-if she has the courage to chance the unknown. Now, she's whisked away to a mysterious island and pitted against other female recruits to become a Watcher-girls who are partnered with vampires and assist them in their missions. To survive and become a Watcher, Annelise has to beat out every other girl, but she's determined to do so, because to fail doesn't mean dishonor-it means death
This book was very enjoyable but it did take me a lot of effort to get into. The story was very complex so I had to put some time into understanding it which is cool but not if you're looking for a quick easy read.
CHARACTERS-
Drew was a very different character than I'm used to. She was very different and complex but I think that added to the story and the atmosphere.
Ronan was a great character and he wasn't present for most of the book. I would like to maybe see more of him and learn about his past.
ROMANCE-
So obviously the romance is meant to be between the two people on the cover. It just wasn't a very entertaining romance. Yeah it was two cool charcaters but they didn't really bond in this book like there wasn't a lot of chemistry and I would like to see more in the next instalment.
PLOT-
The plot was very unique and interesting. The whole idea of the school and the training was such a cool concept.
ENDING-
We left off the book in a great start for the next book to continue so I can't wait to read the next book.
Characters-8/10
Romance-8/10
Plot-9/10
Ending-9/10
Speed-8/10
This book was very enjoyable but it did take me a lot of effort to get into. The story was very complex so I had to put some time into understanding it which is cool but not if you're looking for a quick easy read.
CHARACTERS-
Drew was a very different character than I'm used to. She was very different and complex but I think that added to the story and the atmosphere.
Ronan was a great character and he wasn't present for most of the book. I would like to maybe see more of him and learn about his past.
ROMANCE-
So obviously the romance is meant to be between the two people on the cover. It just wasn't a very entertaining romance. Yeah it was two cool charcaters but they didn't really bond in this book like there wasn't a lot of chemistry and I would like to see more in the next instalment.
PLOT-
The plot was very unique and interesting. The whole idea of the school and the training was such a cool concept.
ENDING-
We left off the book in a great start for the next book to continue so I can't wait to read the next book.
Characters-8/10
Romance-8/10
Plot-9/10
Ending-9/10
Speed-8/10
April 17, 2017
2 Stars: Not too bad. Probably wouldn't buy again, but no waste of time/tree either. Some flaws, but often much potential. Often make my petpeeveometer blink like crazy. Definitely advice you to borrow or swap instead of paying the full price.
________________
The first few pages were quite good actually. They were easy to read and it wasn't until the heroine, Drew, met the Tracer Ronan, that things went downhill. They later got better, though. So.. 2 stars.
But first things first. Drew is a super-intelligent 17 years old girl, whose mom died when she was four years old. She graduaded and went to the University of Florida to escape her violent father and stepmother, but when she arrives at UF she's told that there've been some problems and she's actually still a Highschooler. Paperwork or something. There she meets Ronan who convinces her to come with him to the Isle of Night.
My first problem was that she trusted a guy she didn't know at all. The reader is later told that there were reasons for that - He is a Tracer and has the ability to convince people to do some things, although it's not as easy as it sounds. Still, you'd think a person with 185 IQ points'd be a little less easy to convince.
My next problem is that what the image she has of herself and the way she acts/the things she does/thinks clearly contradict eachother. She, for example, mentions that she doesn't have friends, because she's .. alien. That she doesn't care about the things other teens/ya's care about. The next moment she thinks about Ronan, kissing, her breasts etc. I don't say it's a bad thing to think about such things, but it's obvious she is just a 17 years old girl after all.
When they arrive at the Isle of Night, where she is to be taught stuff for special girls she noticed that it's a girls-only-school (well, almost, but more about that one later)
They are all at a gathering when the headmaster claims to be a vampire. One of the girls starts laughing and he kills her. He then explains that the girls all have the potential to be Watchers and are to be taught how to be one. So, in this world we have three different beings:
Vampires. They can walk in the sunlight, but their eyes are sensitive to it. They need blood as far as I can tell, can hypnotize/compell people and are immortal. Their blood is addictive.. They can be killed, though
Watchers. The female counterparts, except that it doesn't look like they're in any way immortal. Each potential Watcher has a gift/ability. For example fire. They drink vampire's blood and it seems it makes them more obedient and drawn to the vampires, but it also makes them stronger and gives them certain advantages
Tracers. They can find girls with the gifts I've mentioned above, drink vampires' blood and have some abilities.
This academy teaches the girls how to fight and dance, how to behave properly (because vampires are old and stuff), but also stuff like how to open doors without keys or algebra. They are told that only 5 out of all of them (100+) are going to survive and that they should basically not make friends, because who knows who's going to backstab you, right? Her roommate is one of those girls and tries to kill her several times and Drew isn't popular at all after she's done a mistake and 5 girls died because of that.
About the boys - There are some. Potential vampires. Drew befriends one, a japanese boy who killed his father after he killed his mom.
Next to Ronan, there is a vampire who has taken a special interest in Drew and is quite creepy. He makes the story more interesting, though, especially since he's part of the reason why the girls start killing eachother in some sort of tournament. Drew kills several girls there, too.
I will read the sequels, but I won't be in a hurry to do so once they're published. The heroine clearly isn't my bestie and I don't think anything happening in Isle of Night justifies a higher rating.
________________
The first few pages were quite good actually. They were easy to read and it wasn't until the heroine, Drew, met the Tracer Ronan, that things went downhill. They later got better, though. So.. 2 stars.
But first things first. Drew is a super-intelligent 17 years old girl, whose mom died when she was four years old. She graduaded and went to the University of Florida to escape her violent father and stepmother, but when she arrives at UF she's told that there've been some problems and she's actually still a Highschooler. Paperwork or something. There she meets Ronan who convinces her to come with him to the Isle of Night.
My first problem was that she trusted a guy she didn't know at all. The reader is later told that there were reasons for that - He is a Tracer and has the ability to convince people to do some things, although it's not as easy as it sounds. Still, you'd think a person with 185 IQ points'd be a little less easy to convince.
My next problem is that what the image she has of herself and the way she acts/the things she does/thinks clearly contradict eachother. She, for example, mentions that she doesn't have friends, because she's .. alien. That she doesn't care about the things other teens/ya's care about. The next moment she thinks about Ronan, kissing, her breasts etc. I don't say it's a bad thing to think about such things, but it's obvious she is just a 17 years old girl after all.
When they arrive at the Isle of Night, where she is to be taught stuff for special girls she noticed that it's a girls-only-school (well, almost, but more about that one later)
They are all at a gathering when the headmaster claims to be a vampire. One of the girls starts laughing and he kills her. He then explains that the girls all have the potential to be Watchers and are to be taught how to be one. So, in this world we have three different beings:
Vampires. They can walk in the sunlight, but their eyes are sensitive to it. They need blood as far as I can tell, can hypnotize/compell people and are immortal. Their blood is addictive.. They can be killed, though
Watchers. The female counterparts, except that it doesn't look like they're in any way immortal. Each potential Watcher has a gift/ability. For example fire. They drink vampire's blood and it seems it makes them more obedient and drawn to the vampires, but it also makes them stronger and gives them certain advantages
Tracers. They can find girls with the gifts I've mentioned above, drink vampires' blood and have some abilities.
This academy teaches the girls how to fight and dance, how to behave properly (because vampires are old and stuff), but also stuff like how to open doors without keys or algebra. They are told that only 5 out of all of them (100+) are going to survive and that they should basically not make friends, because who knows who's going to backstab you, right? Her roommate is one of those girls and tries to kill her several times and Drew isn't popular at all after she's done a mistake and 5 girls died because of that.
About the boys - There are some. Potential vampires. Drew befriends one, a japanese boy who killed his father after he killed his mom.
Next to Ronan, there is a vampire who has taken a special interest in Drew and is quite creepy. He makes the story more interesting, though, especially since he's part of the reason why the girls start killing eachother in some sort of tournament. Drew kills several girls there, too.
I will read the sequels, but I won't be in a hurry to do so once they're published. The heroine clearly isn't my bestie and I don't think anything happening in Isle of Night justifies a higher rating.
October 8, 2011
To be quite honest I have no idea where to start on this book. From the description I had high hopes for liking it, but it fell flat in so many ways it was hard for me to look past the ways it didn’t live up to the synopsis.
Firstly Annelise who likes to be called Drew is supposed to be a genius. Like a real genius. That paired with the fact she come from an abusive family is why the vampires and their trackers picked her as a recruit, however in any class you see Drew in her knowledge is smart but not genius levels. The mathematics discussed in small detail were Sophmore AP at best. I know that being super-smart can translate into having no street smarts so to say but Drew is one of those heroines that seems to have no care for her safety, and knowing that she ran off to go to college without telling a soul its hard for me to believe that she is some kick ass fighter later on.
Its hard for me to believe that a girl who is super-king-kong-mega smart has no one. Sure, I understand she doesn’t have friends inside of her classrooms but shouldn’t there be a concerned teacher? Especially since she comes to school beaten by an abusive dad? It is extremely hard to believe that she spent all of her life never making not one single connection in her life. Hard to believe and very convenient for the author.
When Annelise gets to the college registers office she learns she didn’t actually graduate due to a swimming accreditation that the school enacted. Instead of asking to speak to her admissions counselor she just walks back out to her car that conveniently doesn’t start. So when a hot guy with a Proust tattoo offers to give her a ride she accepts. Oh, and I forgot, super hot guy can tell just by looking under her hood that its the carburetor.
In the car she asks him to take her to the coast, instead he takes her to an airfield where he uses his voodoo stare to get her on a plane bound for a tiny island in the middle of nowhere. On the plane sits two girls, one will become her nemesis.
In order to avoid spoilers I won’t go into greater detail, but suffice to say that once Drew gets on the island things in the book do not improve. She is continually telling me how smart she is while doing the most mind numbingly things. She tries hard and learns to fight and I give her that, but in reality I just don’t think that Drew is the kind of girl who can trade her book smarts that she keeps telling me she has into ninja star throwing kick assery.
If The Hunger Games, Lost, and Vampire Academy had a baby full of trope it would be this book. I wanted to try hard to look past all of the obvious plays on other series because I wanted to love the premise. For me it just didn’t work.
Have you read it and have the same or a different opinion?
Firstly Annelise who likes to be called Drew is supposed to be a genius. Like a real genius. That paired with the fact she come from an abusive family is why the vampires and their trackers picked her as a recruit, however in any class you see Drew in her knowledge is smart but not genius levels. The mathematics discussed in small detail were Sophmore AP at best. I know that being super-smart can translate into having no street smarts so to say but Drew is one of those heroines that seems to have no care for her safety, and knowing that she ran off to go to college without telling a soul its hard for me to believe that she is some kick ass fighter later on.
Its hard for me to believe that a girl who is super-king-kong-mega smart has no one. Sure, I understand she doesn’t have friends inside of her classrooms but shouldn’t there be a concerned teacher? Especially since she comes to school beaten by an abusive dad? It is extremely hard to believe that she spent all of her life never making not one single connection in her life. Hard to believe and very convenient for the author.
When Annelise gets to the college registers office she learns she didn’t actually graduate due to a swimming accreditation that the school enacted. Instead of asking to speak to her admissions counselor she just walks back out to her car that conveniently doesn’t start. So when a hot guy with a Proust tattoo offers to give her a ride she accepts. Oh, and I forgot, super hot guy can tell just by looking under her hood that its the carburetor.
In the car she asks him to take her to the coast, instead he takes her to an airfield where he uses his voodoo stare to get her on a plane bound for a tiny island in the middle of nowhere. On the plane sits two girls, one will become her nemesis.
In order to avoid spoilers I won’t go into greater detail, but suffice to say that once Drew gets on the island things in the book do not improve. She is continually telling me how smart she is while doing the most mind numbingly things. She tries hard and learns to fight and I give her that, but in reality I just don’t think that Drew is the kind of girl who can trade her book smarts that she keeps telling me she has into ninja star throwing kick assery.
If The Hunger Games, Lost, and Vampire Academy had a baby full of trope it would be this book. I wanted to try hard to look past all of the obvious plays on other series because I wanted to love the premise. For me it just didn’t work.
Have you read it and have the same or a different opinion?
May 20, 2013
The first five chapters just horrified me. I couldn't go through a minute without thinking 'WTF Is she going to do now!?' at least once. Anneliese (Drew) is supposed to be this incredibly smart girl and apparently it only counts academically. Common sense must not be considered as that important, which I felt was sad. Drew needed it. It's commonsense not to drive off into a so-called Paradise with a stranger next to you whom you barely know. No matter how hot he is. Honestly, it made me feel like Ronan was taking her off to join a cult or be gang-raped. He was acting really shady.
The rest of the characters were okay. I didn't feel any real connection or believe that I can try to relate to them. Most of the characters didn't have any real depth to them. Yasou was good, though.
It got better when I reached halfway. I felt like there was a real plot there. But it was a really simple plot that could be explained in a few paragraphs which is sad because it had small potential.
Altogether, two stars which only awarded mainly because of the fight scenes because I think that they were written very nicely and Yasou.
The rest of the characters were okay. I didn't feel any real connection or believe that I can try to relate to them. Most of the characters didn't have any real depth to them. Yasou was good, though.
It got better when I reached halfway. I felt like there was a real plot there. But it was a really simple plot that could be explained in a few paragraphs which is sad because it had small potential.
Altogether, two stars which only awarded mainly because of the fight scenes because I think that they were written very nicely and Yasou.
December 16, 2011
Okay, I was a Twilight fan and loved that series. But, as a whole, I tend to be leery of vampire novels because so many twists have been rung out of the myths and legends that I can't help but think that subject has been squeezed dry. And then I picked up this book, and, OMG! It was awesome!!
Annelise Drew is a character that almost any reader could relate to and cheer for. She's had her hard knocks, so to speak, and she's determined to make something of her life instead of being pulled down into the dead end that her father and step-mother represent. She's intelligent, she's sarcastic (but mainly for defensive purposes), and she's such a deep, intriguing character. As she progresses through this story, she discovers things about herself that she never thought existed. It's amazing what a true life or death situation will do to a person. Fortunately, it makes Annelise stronger.
I think the best thing I loved about this book was the fact that it didn't center around vampires. Sure, vampires were part of the story, but this book took the myth from a completely different angle: that of the Watchers that represent the Vampires in the real world. The entire story was about Annelise's survival and determination to stay alive as she went through the rigorous training required to eventually become a Watcher.
This was an incredible first book to the series and I can't wait to see what happens next in Annelise's new world. There are so many unanswered questions and I'm curious to see what's in store for her next and whether she will get any of those many questions answered. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a new twist or unique angle in the supernatural/paranormal genre.
Annelise Drew is a character that almost any reader could relate to and cheer for. She's had her hard knocks, so to speak, and she's determined to make something of her life instead of being pulled down into the dead end that her father and step-mother represent. She's intelligent, she's sarcastic (but mainly for defensive purposes), and she's such a deep, intriguing character. As she progresses through this story, she discovers things about herself that she never thought existed. It's amazing what a true life or death situation will do to a person. Fortunately, it makes Annelise stronger.
I think the best thing I loved about this book was the fact that it didn't center around vampires. Sure, vampires were part of the story, but this book took the myth from a completely different angle: that of the Watchers that represent the Vampires in the real world. The entire story was about Annelise's survival and determination to stay alive as she went through the rigorous training required to eventually become a Watcher.
This was an incredible first book to the series and I can't wait to see what happens next in Annelise's new world. There are so many unanswered questions and I'm curious to see what's in store for her next and whether she will get any of those many questions answered. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a new twist or unique angle in the supernatural/paranormal genre.
June 26, 2017
Annalise Drew is a pretty, smart, and lives in Florida. Hm, sounds like someone I know. She is swept away by the mysterious Ronan and taken to the Isle of Night where she must train for her life, literally. This was like a bad mixture of the House of Night series and The Testing series. I didn't get what I was promised: vampires and a worthy heroine. Drew was supposed to be this genius, she talked about her SAT score and love of school enough. What people, including this author, mistakes is that people who have a genius level IQ typically are all around smart. Meaning they have basic knowledge of everything, but specialize in certain areas. For Drew, it's math. But this girl is an idiot! Lacks common sense, lacks motivation, and is an overall let down! How is it possible for someone to be so "smart" and follow the laws of logic, when they lack basic strategy and will power? It simply does not add up. The whole war with Lilac was irritating. That fight didn't need to last four chapters, especially when we already know the outcome! Good riddence.
October 1, 2011
If you can imagine Vampire Academy mixed with the Hunger Games.....well then you get Isle of Night! This book was very captivating. To the plot, to the characters, to the romance and to the action, this book had it all! I have to say I am in love with Ronan (who wouldn't be in love with a guy who has green eyes and dark hair,....I mean can u say YUM!;) I have mixed feelings about Alcantara though and then there is Yas......it never stops!!!!!
I had a lot of fun reading this book, i was a little late to finish it but hey school been heck! Anyway, who cares the point is I finished it and LOVED it! I can't wait to read the next book in the series...Vampire's Kiss! The title says it all!
For all those people who need a good read then I definitely recommend Isle of Night! I guarantee it will keep you on the edge of your seat with the action and the romance!!
SO WORTH THE TIME! ;)
I had a lot of fun reading this book, i was a little late to finish it but hey school been heck! Anyway, who cares the point is I finished it and LOVED it! I can't wait to read the next book in the series...Vampire's Kiss! The title says it all!
For all those people who need a good read then I definitely recommend Isle of Night! I guarantee it will keep you on the edge of your seat with the action and the romance!!
SO WORTH THE TIME! ;)
did-not-finish
February 14, 2018DNF @ 4%
I was excited to read this because I love vampires! And it featured an abuse victim escaping her situation and finding excitement.
Unfortunately I cannot stand the main character. The narration is told from her point of view. And I just...... I just can't.
Here are some of the gems that led me to my decision to give up on this book.
Page 8: " Tall, dark, and hot leaned against a pillar, watching me as I took my place in line. Tousled dark hair went every which way on his head. His eyes were slitted and intense, like he might need to have sex at any moment. Maybe even with me."
Um.... you just escaped your abusive home.... why would the first thing on your mind be creeping on some hot guy? How does one get that a person might "need to have sex at any moment" from their EYES??? Three seconds upon seeing them???
And then on the next page the main character reveals that she is a major hypocrite.... A few pages before, she trashes on people who get french pedicures and kinda acts like a snob (p. 7). Not such a big deal, whatever, we all have our judgments. But then page 9, she is ready to throw that all away, "I'd even do the whole French-manicure thing if it meant attracting a guy like him". Really? So one second you're all happy because you're not like those girl who don't actually think about things (p. 7). The next you're willing to assimilate to this supposedly inferior lifestyle for some random guy?
Then, upon seeing this hot guy's car, she calls it "such an adult car" (p. 12). What does that even mean????? What were you expecting? A Barbie jeep???
The last straw came on page 14, at the very beginning of chapter three. "He smiled, and up close I saw he had slightly crooked teeth, but somehow it only made him hotter. Like he'd been too masculine to suffer through something as trivial as braces for something as inconsequential as vanity".
I'm sorry? Masculine people don't get braces? What in the world does braces have to do with masculinity? I really have zero understanding of this logic. Not to mention vanity....yeah ok tell me vanity has zero connection to masculinity after looking at pictures of hot masculine models. Literally zero logic from this character.
So yeah. Within the first fifteen pages, I just got sick of the main character. Hypocritical, boy-crazy, and with a very strange and annoying thought process, I decided that I just can't keep reading this.
I was excited to read this because I love vampires! And it featured an abuse victim escaping her situation and finding excitement.
Unfortunately I cannot stand the main character. The narration is told from her point of view. And I just...... I just can't.
Here are some of the gems that led me to my decision to give up on this book.
Page 8: " Tall, dark, and hot leaned against a pillar, watching me as I took my place in line. Tousled dark hair went every which way on his head. His eyes were slitted and intense, like he might need to have sex at any moment. Maybe even with me."
Um.... you just escaped your abusive home.... why would the first thing on your mind be creeping on some hot guy? How does one get that a person might "need to have sex at any moment" from their EYES??? Three seconds upon seeing them???
And then on the next page the main character reveals that she is a major hypocrite.... A few pages before, she trashes on people who get french pedicures and kinda acts like a snob (p. 7). Not such a big deal, whatever, we all have our judgments. But then page 9, she is ready to throw that all away, "I'd even do the whole French-manicure thing if it meant attracting a guy like him". Really? So one second you're all happy because you're not like those girl who don't actually think about things (p. 7). The next you're willing to assimilate to this supposedly inferior lifestyle for some random guy?
Then, upon seeing this hot guy's car, she calls it "such an adult car" (p. 12). What does that even mean????? What were you expecting? A Barbie jeep???
The last straw came on page 14, at the very beginning of chapter three. "He smiled, and up close I saw he had slightly crooked teeth, but somehow it only made him hotter. Like he'd been too masculine to suffer through something as trivial as braces for something as inconsequential as vanity".
I'm sorry? Masculine people don't get braces? What in the world does braces have to do with masculinity? I really have zero understanding of this logic. Not to mention vanity....yeah ok tell me vanity has zero connection to masculinity after looking at pictures of hot masculine models. Literally zero logic from this character.
So yeah. Within the first fifteen pages, I just got sick of the main character. Hypocritical, boy-crazy, and with a very strange and annoying thought process, I decided that I just can't keep reading this.
October 2, 2011
Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff had its moments where I was lost in the world she has created. The heroine, Annelise is known as what is called “kick ass” in the YA world. Annelise prefers to be called by her last name Drew for no reason explained. Drew has graduated high school a semester early because she has perfect SATs and a high IQ. She comes from an abusive family. Her father beats her and her evil witch of a step mother. She’s so happy to fly from the coop and to attend college on a scholarship. Drew feels her life is on the upswing until she goes to register and finds out she hasn’t graduated because she never passed swim class. She never asks to talk to some higher authority at the college and takes what the registrar says at face value. Now despondent about returning home and going back to high school where the kids there are too perfect but dumb as bricks, Drew is given another chance when she meets the seductive Ronan, who when he touches her, she feels tweeny twinges of pleasure throughout her body.
Drew goes off with Ronan, with hardly any questions asked. Not once does she investigate why she hasn’t graduated high school. But if she did, then it would be too easy and harder for the author to get Drew on a chartered plane where she thinks she’ll attend a prestigious bordering type school. Drew is in for a world of shock as she ends up on an island along with other girls. Most snarl and hiss at her even though they’re all blonde, much like Drew, but are rich and snotty, unlike Drew who is a jeans and T-shirt type of girl. Right off the bat she makes enemies. The reason the female “students” aren’t friendly is that they’re fighting to save their lives. They all have special abilities and have been chosen to become Watchers to a race of vampires, which are all males. Why? No clue. Every single girl has been banished from the main land because each has done something illegal where they’ve been exiled essentially. They’ll be trained in the art of warfare so they can battle one another until only five girls remain to take the coveted Watcher spots.
Drew is beyond angry and scared because the only ability she has is her brain. She can’t believe she allowed herself to be tricked by Ronan who isn’t a vampire, but a Tracker who takes girls like Drew to this island of horrors. Now Drew must defend herself, much like she did when she lived with her father, getting over her attraction to Ronan, while ignoring her lusty feelings for the scary, yet seductive vampire professor, Alcantara, who was indirectly responsible for bring her to the isle of night.
Isle of Night is an over the top book that doesn’t give any valid reason for anything. The girls are uber-mean, the vampires and their female underlings are borderline sadomasochistic and I expected a serial killer wearing a hockey mask to appear with a machete. The sexism is fierce here, where the girls are treated like property, who must fight to the death like the movie 300 in order to live and be given a coveted position. Why? Again, there’s no real explanation for anything that happens in this book, as if the reader will shrug and be fine with it. (And don’t get me started how no one from the main land questions about all these missing rebel type girls who are still underage.)
I also think there’s a smog monster loose on this skerry tween island ala Lost.
Drew is the highlight of Isle of Night but she’s forced into a world that reminds me of a B horror movie. You know she’ll be beaten, tortured and perused by the things that go bump in the night, but still come out whole. There’s no element of surprise with her other than which man she’ll choose to fall in love and be with by the end of this series, which I can’t see lasting too long. Far too many clichés occur and the actions and some of the dialogue is laughable, and not in a good way.
It seems Veronica has tried too hard with Isle of Night as if she’s jumping up and down in the crowd of other YA books to be noticed. Unfortunately, readers will pass Isle of Night and the future books in this world.
Drew goes off with Ronan, with hardly any questions asked. Not once does she investigate why she hasn’t graduated high school. But if she did, then it would be too easy and harder for the author to get Drew on a chartered plane where she thinks she’ll attend a prestigious bordering type school. Drew is in for a world of shock as she ends up on an island along with other girls. Most snarl and hiss at her even though they’re all blonde, much like Drew, but are rich and snotty, unlike Drew who is a jeans and T-shirt type of girl. Right off the bat she makes enemies. The reason the female “students” aren’t friendly is that they’re fighting to save their lives. They all have special abilities and have been chosen to become Watchers to a race of vampires, which are all males. Why? No clue. Every single girl has been banished from the main land because each has done something illegal where they’ve been exiled essentially. They’ll be trained in the art of warfare so they can battle one another until only five girls remain to take the coveted Watcher spots.
Drew is beyond angry and scared because the only ability she has is her brain. She can’t believe she allowed herself to be tricked by Ronan who isn’t a vampire, but a Tracker who takes girls like Drew to this island of horrors. Now Drew must defend herself, much like she did when she lived with her father, getting over her attraction to Ronan, while ignoring her lusty feelings for the scary, yet seductive vampire professor, Alcantara, who was indirectly responsible for bring her to the isle of night.
Isle of Night is an over the top book that doesn’t give any valid reason for anything. The girls are uber-mean, the vampires and their female underlings are borderline sadomasochistic and I expected a serial killer wearing a hockey mask to appear with a machete. The sexism is fierce here, where the girls are treated like property, who must fight to the death like the movie 300 in order to live and be given a coveted position. Why? Again, there’s no real explanation for anything that happens in this book, as if the reader will shrug and be fine with it. (And don’t get me started how no one from the main land questions about all these missing rebel type girls who are still underage.)
I also think there’s a smog monster loose on this skerry tween island ala Lost.
Drew is the highlight of Isle of Night but she’s forced into a world that reminds me of a B horror movie. You know she’ll be beaten, tortured and perused by the things that go bump in the night, but still come out whole. There’s no element of surprise with her other than which man she’ll choose to fall in love and be with by the end of this series, which I can’t see lasting too long. Far too many clichés occur and the actions and some of the dialogue is laughable, and not in a good way.
It seems Veronica has tried too hard with Isle of Night as if she’s jumping up and down in the crowd of other YA books to be noticed. Unfortunately, readers will pass Isle of Night and the future books in this world.
February 2, 2012
Where should I start with Isle of Night?Well, I might just say that I didn't finish this one. I just couldn't proceed reading it after a certain point, so this isn't exactly a review, I'll just state the reasons that made me put this book aside and won't be picking it up again any time soon.
First of all, from the very first chapters I rolled my eyes more times than in an average book. From the heroine,Annelise, saying again and again that she's so freaky smart to the way she met Ronan,the hero.
I just keep wondering again and again why so many ya authors think that using in their novels the phrase "that's when I saw him" or a variation of it along with a description of how that hot male their heroines see for the very first time in their lives makes them weak in the knees, or feel butterflies in their stomachs, is absolutely necessary. I just don't get it... So, points off of creativity here.
Aside from that, I found hard to believe of most of the things I was reading from the very first chapters. For example Annelise learns that she can't registrate to her college,which was her life's dream, finds her car broken, some miles away from her home and the only thing she thinks of is how that hot guy is looking at her and what impression she'll do to him.Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!
There's absolutely no way. As there's no way for someone to follow a complete stranger wherever he wants just because he's hot. That's disturbing. And mentioning that, how can I possibly believe that Annelise is so freaking smart when she does such stupid things from the very first chapters? And when I say smart, the author mentioned her high IQ more than 5 times in only 3 chapters.Ok, I get it! I may not have such a high IQ but I managed to figure out by then that she's super smart.But you know what? To actually believe that she's smart I have to see her acting as a smart person as well to believe it. I'm just saying...
Anyway, despite all that, I kept reading this book.I thought I might as well give it a chance cause it may improve in the next chapters.
But as soon as Annelise gets to Isle of Night things got even worse for me. Cause honestly, and believe me I haven't said that about any book I have ever read, Isle of Night has some serious sexist issues. And here are some phrases taken from the book to highlight what I'm saying:
"Train girls to become women" - when Annelise asks what they'll do in Isle of Night
"To be a vampire is a man's destiny" while women are to serve as Watchers according to their masters' binding. - That's exactly how it's described what is expected from all those girls in Isle of Night.
Add to those phrases the fact that the "headmaster" kills a girl for her audacity to be incredulous when she heard that they were vampires plus the way that said headmaster goes on immediately after and informs those girls that they will compete to death to become Watchers and serve the MEN vampires in whatever they need (all of the girls I must add didn't know where they were taking them, they just followed those vampire guys with a promise of a special future, which is plain stupid I know, but there are indications that those vampires might have used their powers to persuade them,although I'm not sure of it by the point I read)
SERIOUSLY????I mean seriously?I just kept staring my e-readers screen for quite some minutes after all those.You take some girls away from their home, even with their consent, and you make them fight to their death to have the privilege to serve you just because you're a vampire and a man???Forgive me but I can't see the right in that scenario.I just can't.And it's the plot of the book, so how much can this change by the end?
As you can guess, that was the point that I just refused to read any further.I don't know and to be honest I don't care if this book got any better. I just couldn't get past those issues, so I'm putting this one on my dnf pile indefinitely.
First of all, from the very first chapters I rolled my eyes more times than in an average book. From the heroine,Annelise, saying again and again that she's so freaky smart to the way she met Ronan,the hero.
I just keep wondering again and again why so many ya authors think that using in their novels the phrase "that's when I saw him" or a variation of it along with a description of how that hot male their heroines see for the very first time in their lives makes them weak in the knees, or feel butterflies in their stomachs, is absolutely necessary. I just don't get it... So, points off of creativity here.
Aside from that, I found hard to believe of most of the things I was reading from the very first chapters. For example Annelise learns that she can't registrate to her college,which was her life's dream, finds her car broken, some miles away from her home and the only thing she thinks of is how that hot guy is looking at her and what impression she'll do to him.Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!
There's absolutely no way. As there's no way for someone to follow a complete stranger wherever he wants just because he's hot. That's disturbing. And mentioning that, how can I possibly believe that Annelise is so freaking smart when she does such stupid things from the very first chapters? And when I say smart, the author mentioned her high IQ more than 5 times in only 3 chapters.Ok, I get it! I may not have such a high IQ but I managed to figure out by then that she's super smart.But you know what? To actually believe that she's smart I have to see her acting as a smart person as well to believe it. I'm just saying...
Anyway, despite all that, I kept reading this book.I thought I might as well give it a chance cause it may improve in the next chapters.
But as soon as Annelise gets to Isle of Night things got even worse for me. Cause honestly, and believe me I haven't said that about any book I have ever read, Isle of Night has some serious sexist issues. And here are some phrases taken from the book to highlight what I'm saying:
"Train girls to become women" - when Annelise asks what they'll do in Isle of Night
"To be a vampire is a man's destiny" while women are to serve as Watchers according to their masters' binding. - That's exactly how it's described what is expected from all those girls in Isle of Night.
Add to those phrases the fact that the "headmaster" kills a girl for her audacity to be incredulous when she heard that they were vampires plus the way that said headmaster goes on immediately after and informs those girls that they will compete to death to become Watchers and serve the MEN vampires in whatever they need (all of the girls I must add didn't know where they were taking them, they just followed those vampire guys with a promise of a special future, which is plain stupid I know, but there are indications that those vampires might have used their powers to persuade them,although I'm not sure of it by the point I read)
SERIOUSLY????I mean seriously?I just kept staring my e-readers screen for quite some minutes after all those.You take some girls away from their home, even with their consent, and you make them fight to their death to have the privilege to serve you just because you're a vampire and a man???Forgive me but I can't see the right in that scenario.I just can't.And it's the plot of the book, so how much can this change by the end?
As you can guess, that was the point that I just refused to read any further.I don't know and to be honest I don't care if this book got any better. I just couldn't get past those issues, so I'm putting this one on my dnf pile indefinitely.
September 14, 2011
Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff has been pitched as a cross between the Vampire Academy and Hunger Games series. I do think that is somewhat fitting – an original vampire community mixed with students fighting to the death for the chance to partner with them. (Also fitting is the fact that the cover reminds me of the craptastic first Vampire Academy covers.) However – if you pick up the book with that comparison in mind, you’ll ultimately be setting yourself up for disappointment.
Through a (slightly unbelievable) set of circumstances, Annelise ends up on a remote island to attend school with other girls to compete for her chance to be a Watcher (a human girl who partners up with a vampire to help them on “missions”). Another way of saying this would basically be that she pathetically – and weirdly – follows a hot guy onto an airplane when he asks her to, having no idea where he was taking her. Huh. Both crazy and ridiculously not smart. But, let us try to put that aside to get on with the story…
The path to become a Watcher is not an easy one – it isn’t exactly the Hunger Games fight to the death style, at least not directly. Plenty of blood flying and death occur anyway though, so don’t be disappointed (that statement makes me sound like a serial killer doesn’t it?). I think the plot was a very promising and intriguing one, I’m just not sure about the actual execution. This book – the entire way through – felt like a lot of set-up. I know it’s the first book of a series, but I still felt like things never really got off the ground. Still – ultimately I think the plot could still be considered promising. Who knows where the next book could lead?
The biggest let-down for me was the characterization. I closed the book not caring about anyone. Annelise seemed to bend however necessary to fit the plot more than follow a specific character pattern. I hate that. I was also less than impressed with her love interests (*sigh* yet another love triangle). Both guys are hot. That is about all the description we get. No build up, not enough interactions, just insta-love.
So, while I thought Isle of Night sounded very intriguing and the synopsis had me really excited to pick it up, I found the execution extremely disappointing. I wouldn’t mind seeing what happens next in the series plot-wise, but I doubt I’ll be picking the next book up since I don’t have any investment in the characters.
Through a (slightly unbelievable) set of circumstances, Annelise ends up on a remote island to attend school with other girls to compete for her chance to be a Watcher (a human girl who partners up with a vampire to help them on “missions”). Another way of saying this would basically be that she pathetically – and weirdly – follows a hot guy onto an airplane when he asks her to, having no idea where he was taking her. Huh. Both crazy and ridiculously not smart. But, let us try to put that aside to get on with the story…
The path to become a Watcher is not an easy one – it isn’t exactly the Hunger Games fight to the death style, at least not directly. Plenty of blood flying and death occur anyway though, so don’t be disappointed (that statement makes me sound like a serial killer doesn’t it?). I think the plot was a very promising and intriguing one, I’m just not sure about the actual execution. This book – the entire way through – felt like a lot of set-up. I know it’s the first book of a series, but I still felt like things never really got off the ground. Still – ultimately I think the plot could still be considered promising. Who knows where the next book could lead?
The biggest let-down for me was the characterization. I closed the book not caring about anyone. Annelise seemed to bend however necessary to fit the plot more than follow a specific character pattern. I hate that. I was also less than impressed with her love interests (*sigh* yet another love triangle). Both guys are hot. That is about all the description we get. No build up, not enough interactions, just insta-love.
So, while I thought Isle of Night sounded very intriguing and the synopsis had me really excited to pick it up, I found the execution extremely disappointing. I wouldn’t mind seeing what happens next in the series plot-wise, but I doubt I’ll be picking the next book up since I don’t have any investment in the characters.
January 26, 2012
I definitely liked this book enough to read the sequel, but I'm having trouble figuring out why. The writing and pacing are a little rough. The boy-worship for the first 50 pages is especially hard to get through, especially since Drew's supposed to be so smart. Some things come out of nowhere and then don't go anywhere else, like her brief friendship with Josh and her sudden obsession with her combat teacher, while other more interesting things go unexplained. Also, I have the same problem with this book that I do with others of this genre: these kids are way too okay with killing other kids. That just doesn't seem realistic to me.
Maybe I just want answers. All of this training the girls are doing really doesn't make sense without knowing what exactly the vampires need them for. It must be super important, because the resources this school must require are not inconsiderable. And surely SOMEONE somewhere misses at least a few of these kids and would not be okay with them just blipping out of existence. Other questions: What kind of "process" is required to make vampires in this world? It seems to be much more complicated here than in any other version of the mythology. What are draugs? Why do they exist? Why is Proctor Amanda so nice when the rest of the proctors so cruel? And what IS Alcantara's deal?
Maybe I just want answers. All of this training the girls are doing really doesn't make sense without knowing what exactly the vampires need them for. It must be super important, because the resources this school must require are not inconsiderable. And surely SOMEONE somewhere misses at least a few of these kids and would not be okay with them just blipping out of existence. Other questions: What kind of "process" is required to make vampires in this world? It seems to be much more complicated here than in any other version of the mythology. What are draugs? Why do they exist? Why is Proctor Amanda so nice when the rest of the proctors so cruel? And what IS Alcantara's deal?
December 14, 2018
no me puedo quejar ha estado maravilloso para un libro que es ligerito .
January 12, 2019
This is not your typical Vampire story and I love it for that. The main character has a lot to over come and learn which makes her stronger while adding a bit of a love story and mystery rounding out this novel for a wonderful beginning to an amazing series.
April 3, 2013
So I finished this in one night.
Initial Reaction: Um, should I continue reading this or.....
So basically the main protagonist Annelise Drew gets on a plane with a stranger. Wow. I cannot even.
Then we're reminded 500 times throughout the book that said plane-boarding was not HER fault but the aforementioned stranger, Ronan's fault. Whelp.
Honestly the author could have found a MUCH better way to bring Annelise to the Isle than trying to convince me she hates her life so much she's going to board a plane with a stranger, without telling anybody where she went, without a passport or basically without anything. But wait, she turns back for a picture of her mother and you guessed it, an iPod. (Although who am I to judge? I take my iPad to the bathroom with me)
While we're on the topic of Apple products, can we just talk about where I can get one of those super-powered battery iPods that she has, because unless I'm mistaken (which I'm not) she didn't bring a charger and that iPod lasted her for MONTHS, without her crying about a near dead battery. Granted, she doesn't use it often, but reading books AND playing music would most likely kill the battery. Just saying....
ANYWAYS, by now you must be wondering, why then did I give this book 5 stars?
Because I LOVE Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead and while I had no idea exactly what this book was gonna be about I still thought what the hey, plus I was kind of willing to read it after the author described Ronan. HOT.
Something about Ronan kind of reminds me of Dimitri from Vampire Academy and it's pathetic I know, the VA series finished a while ago but honestly Isle of Night just brought me back to Vampire Academy.
Annelise is no Rose Hathaway but I l kind of liked her. I haven't made up my mind fully yet, but she was okay.
High Points:
-I hated Lilac and I loved how Annelise wasn't afraid to take her down.
-Annelise is kind of kickass and I liked how she adapted in the later chapters to the more gruesome aspects of the Isle of Night
-Her aversion to swimming was hilarious
-RONAN
-The fluidity of the book
-The ending
-Master A.
-RONAN
-Despite being very stupid in the beginning I liked how Annelise didn't jump from brainiac with absolutely no fitness to Mortal Kombat Master overnight. She does improve her skills a lot but she uses her smarts to help her when she's fighting, and she's not suddenly top of her class by the end of the book which makes much more sense than her jumping on a plane with a stranger.
-The humor. What can I say, I'm a sucker for humor and this book had a few genuinely funny moments.
-I kid you not when I say I could not put this down. It literally took me less than a day and I can't wait to start the next book!! (Look out for a review)
Overall I'd definitely recommend this book. I think it's worth the buy but don't expect some life-altering read. This was no Vampire Academy but if you liked Vampire Academy or those types of book then definitely pick this up. Just overlook the first 3 or so chapters and a few minor details and its actually a great book.
Can't wait to start the second one and sorry this review is kind of weird, I'm really lazy when I type on my iPad cause it feels different from a keyboard so cut me some slack...
Initial Reaction: Um, should I continue reading this or.....
So basically the main protagonist Annelise Drew gets on a plane with a stranger. Wow. I cannot even.
Then we're reminded 500 times throughout the book that said plane-boarding was not HER fault but the aforementioned stranger, Ronan's fault. Whelp.
Honestly the author could have found a MUCH better way to bring Annelise to the Isle than trying to convince me she hates her life so much she's going to board a plane with a stranger, without telling anybody where she went, without a passport or basically without anything. But wait, she turns back for a picture of her mother and you guessed it, an iPod. (Although who am I to judge? I take my iPad to the bathroom with me)
While we're on the topic of Apple products, can we just talk about where I can get one of those super-powered battery iPods that she has, because unless I'm mistaken (which I'm not) she didn't bring a charger and that iPod lasted her for MONTHS, without her crying about a near dead battery. Granted, she doesn't use it often, but reading books AND playing music would most likely kill the battery. Just saying....
ANYWAYS, by now you must be wondering, why then did I give this book 5 stars?
Because I LOVE Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead and while I had no idea exactly what this book was gonna be about I still thought what the hey, plus I was kind of willing to read it after the author described Ronan. HOT.
Something about Ronan kind of reminds me of Dimitri from Vampire Academy and it's pathetic I know, the VA series finished a while ago but honestly Isle of Night just brought me back to Vampire Academy.
Annelise is no Rose Hathaway but I l kind of liked her. I haven't made up my mind fully yet, but she was okay.
High Points:
-I hated Lilac and I loved how Annelise wasn't afraid to take her down.
-Annelise is kind of kickass and I liked how she adapted in the later chapters to the more gruesome aspects of the Isle of Night
-Her aversion to swimming was hilarious
-RONAN
-The fluidity of the book
-The ending
-Master A.
-RONAN
-Despite being very stupid in the beginning I liked how Annelise didn't jump from brainiac with absolutely no fitness to Mortal Kombat Master overnight. She does improve her skills a lot but she uses her smarts to help her when she's fighting, and she's not suddenly top of her class by the end of the book which makes much more sense than her jumping on a plane with a stranger.
-The humor. What can I say, I'm a sucker for humor and this book had a few genuinely funny moments.
-I kid you not when I say I could not put this down. It literally took me less than a day and I can't wait to start the next book!! (Look out for a review)
Overall I'd definitely recommend this book. I think it's worth the buy but don't expect some life-altering read. This was no Vampire Academy but if you liked Vampire Academy or those types of book then definitely pick this up. Just overlook the first 3 or so chapters and a few minor details and its actually a great book.
Can't wait to start the second one and sorry this review is kind of weird, I'm really lazy when I type on my iPad cause it feels different from a keyboard so cut me some slack...
October 14, 2012
Okay. So. This is a hard review to write, because I didn't LOVE this book but there were lots of things to love about it. It's a solid 3.8 IMO. I sure as hell liked it but... it was kind of forgettable at the same time. Maybe that's because I just finished reading Indebted (Premonition, #3) tho. That book would make me forget my kid at the supermarket (if I had a kid).
I bought this book for a solid $10 cos it came across as Twilight meets Divergent. Or maybe Vampire Academy meets Hunger Games. Ie it was a paranormal romance combined with sweet-ass assassin training and a battle to the death. I like it ;) And Isle of Night both impressed AND disappointed me.
The good stuff
The plot is SUPER cool for all the reasons mentioned above. Annelise Drew (Drew) is a child genius who escapes her abusive stepfather and equally horrible high school life for college. When her enrolment gets knocked back, she finds herself with nowhere to go and noone to turn to. Until sexier-than-thou Ronan comes along and offers her chance at a new life. He comes with expensive sports car, sultry green eyes, a private jet and extra batteries. Who can say no to THAT?
The thing that impressed me just as much was the fact that this was NOT a Twilight. The writing was fantastic, even if the character development left a bit to be desired. I still have no feel for who Drew is and I think maybe she doesn't either. Quite frankly, she's a bit insipid. And the second thing that makes this way better than Twilight is the fact that the romance (if you can call it that) is not the centre of the book. In fact, there was so little of it that I didn't shelve it as a pnr. There is definitely sexual tension though :).
The bad stuff
The pacing was a bit off for me. It moved really quickly at the start and right up until the "battle to the death", or the climax of the story. But the actual battle was over really fast. And there were just not enough fight scenes for me. I was expecting some serious Fight Club from the start when Wolff began describing the purpose of the Isle of Night and all the gang girls and violent teens there to compete. But nope, it's kind of disappointing for Divergent fans.
Also, the book didn't reveal that much. I have so many questions about what the Trainees (vamps to be) do for their training; whether Drew actually wants to escape; what the Vampires do and where they go for like 80% of the book; and what Ronan's deal is. I mean, I just thought that more would happen in the first book of a series.
So yeah I had mixed feelings about this book but as a package, it was great and I'll admit I couldn't get my hands on the second book fast enough. Btw is anyone else utterly frustrated with the lack of any Kindle editions of these books? GRRRRR AMAZON.
I bought this book for a solid $10 cos it came across as Twilight meets Divergent. Or maybe Vampire Academy meets Hunger Games. Ie it was a paranormal romance combined with sweet-ass assassin training and a battle to the death. I like it ;) And Isle of Night both impressed AND disappointed me.
The good stuff
The plot is SUPER cool for all the reasons mentioned above. Annelise Drew (Drew) is a child genius who escapes her abusive stepfather and equally horrible high school life for college. When her enrolment gets knocked back, she finds herself with nowhere to go and noone to turn to. Until sexier-than-thou Ronan comes along and offers her chance at a new life. He comes with expensive sports car, sultry green eyes, a private jet and extra batteries. Who can say no to THAT?
The thing that impressed me just as much was the fact that this was NOT a Twilight. The writing was fantastic, even if the character development left a bit to be desired. I still have no feel for who Drew is and I think maybe she doesn't either. Quite frankly, she's a bit insipid. And the second thing that makes this way better than Twilight is the fact that the romance (if you can call it that) is not the centre of the book. In fact, there was so little of it that I didn't shelve it as a pnr. There is definitely sexual tension though :).
The bad stuff
The pacing was a bit off for me. It moved really quickly at the start and right up until the "battle to the death", or the climax of the story. But the actual battle was over really fast. And there were just not enough fight scenes for me. I was expecting some serious Fight Club from the start when Wolff began describing the purpose of the Isle of Night and all the gang girls and violent teens there to compete. But nope, it's kind of disappointing for Divergent fans.
Also, the book didn't reveal that much. I have so many questions about what the Trainees (vamps to be) do for their training; whether Drew actually wants to escape; what the Vampires do and where they go for like 80% of the book; and what Ronan's deal is. I mean, I just thought that more would happen in the first book of a series.
So yeah I had mixed feelings about this book but as a package, it was great and I'll admit I couldn't get my hands on the second book fast enough. Btw is anyone else utterly frustrated with the lack of any Kindle editions of these books? GRRRRR AMAZON.
September 21, 2011
*Spoiler Free*
Hmmm. I'm in two minds about this book. I'm not too sure if I actually liked it or not. I think I liked the idea of the book... but the actual book...not so much.
Perhaps it's because it was compared with the Hunger Games and Vampire Academy... two of the greatest series evahhh!!! I mean why...why??!! WHY would you make that comparison (you=no-one in particular) it's almost setting yourself up for a fail, because stupid me as reader...I believed it. As if someone could incorporate the Hunger Games and Vampire Academy into one book?!! Too good to be true!!! FACT: Too much awesomeness in one book creates an imbalance in the universe 0_o
Universe aside, I think the real issue here is that you shouldn't compare one book to another e.g. 'this is the next Harry Potter.' NO. Each book, each story, each author deserves to be in their own category, not one that is already fleshed out. Am I right or am I right?! (Wait seriously am I right?) *Feverishly awaiting your responses to see if I am in fact wrong*
Anyways...If you haven't guessed, I loved the plot but the execution was mediocre. I liked the protagonist Annelise. I liked seeing how she tried to make the best of her life even though it was falling apart around her. She was supposed to be like the female version of Einstein but if you ask me she was stupid. Plain stupid. I mean most of the things she did and the situations she got herself into, it was like GET OUT NOW! But she never did.
The actual school was really interesting and I loved Annelise's best friend Yasuo. One thing was that there weren't actually that many vampires. Also I would have loved to learn more about the world we're introduced to. I felt I only learnt about it on a superficial level. Which leads me to my next point, this book was very setty uppy. I.E. It sets everything up for the rest of the series without delving into too much of what is actually going on in the present. Not the best idea.
Now you may be surprised but Veronica Wolff gave me just enough to actually want to read the rest of the series. Despite this book's flaws I am intrigued.
THE VERDICT
2.5 stars - Wait 'til the next in the series comes out, then read them in one go.
For more of my reviews and other bookish goodness go to: http://bookchowdown.blogspot.com/
Hmmm. I'm in two minds about this book. I'm not too sure if I actually liked it or not. I think I liked the idea of the book... but the actual book...not so much.
Perhaps it's because it was compared with the Hunger Games and Vampire Academy... two of the greatest series evahhh!!! I mean why...why??!! WHY would you make that comparison (you=no-one in particular) it's almost setting yourself up for a fail, because stupid me as reader...I believed it. As if someone could incorporate the Hunger Games and Vampire Academy into one book?!! Too good to be true!!! FACT: Too much awesomeness in one book creates an imbalance in the universe 0_o
Universe aside, I think the real issue here is that you shouldn't compare one book to another e.g. 'this is the next Harry Potter.' NO. Each book, each story, each author deserves to be in their own category, not one that is already fleshed out. Am I right or am I right?! (Wait seriously am I right?) *Feverishly awaiting your responses to see if I am in fact wrong*
Anyways...If you haven't guessed, I loved the plot but the execution was mediocre. I liked the protagonist Annelise. I liked seeing how she tried to make the best of her life even though it was falling apart around her. She was supposed to be like the female version of Einstein but if you ask me she was stupid. Plain stupid. I mean most of the things she did and the situations she got herself into, it was like GET OUT NOW! But she never did.
The actual school was really interesting and I loved Annelise's best friend Yasuo. One thing was that there weren't actually that many vampires. Also I would have loved to learn more about the world we're introduced to. I felt I only learnt about it on a superficial level. Which leads me to my next point, this book was very setty uppy. I.E. It sets everything up for the rest of the series without delving into too much of what is actually going on in the present. Not the best idea.
Now you may be surprised but Veronica Wolff gave me just enough to actually want to read the rest of the series. Despite this book's flaws I am intrigued.
THE VERDICT
2.5 stars - Wait 'til the next in the series comes out, then read them in one go.
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August 26, 2011
ISLE OF NIGHT is a fantastically thrilling YA debut that blew me away! Wolff gets points for taking off with vampires and creating such a unique world. I could not put this book down for one second, and I even risked peeking between the pages in class! The action is non-stop so there is absolutely zero chance of getting bored. You are sure in for a treat when you decide to delve into ISLE OF NIGHT.
Annelise is my kind of girl. She has had a really rough life, but she doesn't sit on her butt and mope about it for the entire story! She has created a hard shell around herself to protect herself from getting hurt, but it does start to crack a bit from the moment Ronan walks into her life and changes it forever. Training to become a Watcher is tough business and Annelise sure struggles a bit at first. It was great to see her slowly come into who she was and embrace her new life. I felt so awful for all of the horrible things she had to go through and I know I wouldn't have been able to do what she had to do to survive. Annalise is a heroine that girls are sure to look up to!
And then there is Ronan. Ronan captivated me from the moment Annalise first locked her eyes on him. He is the typical tall, dark, and mysterious romantic interest but he does have a few traits that make him unique. The chemistry between him in Annalise....WOW. They hardly ever touch during the scenes that they are together but the moment they encounter one another, the sparks fly! There were so many times I wanted to shake him for doing what he did though! Why must the mysterious boys always play hard to get???
The concept behind the novel was very intriguing. In Wolff's novel, only males can be vampires and special women are their Watchers. Becoming a vampire or a Watcher is not easy at all in ISLE OF NIGHT. There are so many of them that die from their training. There are also those pesky girls who want to sabotage others and prevent them from moving up in rank. One of these girls happens to be Lilac, someone who I came to love to hate. She was positively nasty throughout the whole book!
On a brighter note, ISLE OF NIGHT is the start to a YA series that is sure to be a hit. I need more of this creative world that Wolff has crafted. Do not miss out on this one or you will certainly be missing out on a remarkable novel.
Annelise is my kind of girl. She has had a really rough life, but she doesn't sit on her butt and mope about it for the entire story! She has created a hard shell around herself to protect herself from getting hurt, but it does start to crack a bit from the moment Ronan walks into her life and changes it forever. Training to become a Watcher is tough business and Annelise sure struggles a bit at first. It was great to see her slowly come into who she was and embrace her new life. I felt so awful for all of the horrible things she had to go through and I know I wouldn't have been able to do what she had to do to survive. Annalise is a heroine that girls are sure to look up to!
And then there is Ronan. Ronan captivated me from the moment Annalise first locked her eyes on him. He is the typical tall, dark, and mysterious romantic interest but he does have a few traits that make him unique. The chemistry between him in Annalise....WOW. They hardly ever touch during the scenes that they are together but the moment they encounter one another, the sparks fly! There were so many times I wanted to shake him for doing what he did though! Why must the mysterious boys always play hard to get???
The concept behind the novel was very intriguing. In Wolff's novel, only males can be vampires and special women are their Watchers. Becoming a vampire or a Watcher is not easy at all in ISLE OF NIGHT. There are so many of them that die from their training. There are also those pesky girls who want to sabotage others and prevent them from moving up in rank. One of these girls happens to be Lilac, someone who I came to love to hate. She was positively nasty throughout the whole book!
On a brighter note, ISLE OF NIGHT is the start to a YA series that is sure to be a hit. I need more of this creative world that Wolff has crafted. Do not miss out on this one or you will certainly be missing out on a remarkable novel.
February 4, 2017
I honestly would give this book 4.5 stars. At the beginning, I was slightly confused about the scene with Drew fighting with her step mother, but later on in the book, I saw why that was very necessary to include. Additionally, I was annoyed at Drew's first encounter with Ronan. Ronan basically helps her with her car after she discovers that she can't start college because she didn't pass a swim test in high school, which she didn't even know there was. Ronan offers to give her a ride and she accepts after a little conversation. He eventually persuades her to get on a plane and go on a secret island school with him. I know right?!? I was thinking the same thing! Has Drew never heard of stranger danger?? I was so shocked at Drew's thought process and her saying she wanted to get off the plane, but she never actually did. She automatically trusted Ronan. Later on in the book, however, this is explained as well. And there is a good valid explanation for it.
I would describe this book as a mix between the Hunger Games, Vampire Academy, and Mean Girls. Besides those minor details I found it quite enjoyable. They talked about some of the main characters and how they came to the Isle. Yasou, Emma, and the other main student's stories were revealed in a way that really aided the flow of the story. We really do get to see Drew's fears and hopes throughout the book and that resonate in everything that she does. Additionally, the entire concept of this school to create Watchers and Vampires is very unique. It kind of reminded me of Vampire Academy but there was definitely a different twist put on this book. The final fight scene was unexpected and attention grabbing. The one thing about the book that I wish there was more of was Ronan and the Tracers. We hear a little bit about Ronan's past but I craved more! There was definitely a distance about him. Of course this is a series so there may be more on the way. I do think that if the next book reveals more about Ronan, this book should have talked about how someone becomes a Tracer. They talked about becoming a Watcher and a bit about becoming a Vampire, but the whole Tracer concept was not there.
I really do enjoy this book and that was a complete surprise!
I would describe this book as a mix between the Hunger Games, Vampire Academy, and Mean Girls. Besides those minor details I found it quite enjoyable. They talked about some of the main characters and how they came to the Isle. Yasou, Emma, and the other main student's stories were revealed in a way that really aided the flow of the story. We really do get to see Drew's fears and hopes throughout the book and that resonate in everything that she does. Additionally, the entire concept of this school to create Watchers and Vampires is very unique. It kind of reminded me of Vampire Academy but there was definitely a different twist put on this book. The final fight scene was unexpected and attention grabbing. The one thing about the book that I wish there was more of was Ronan and the Tracers. We hear a little bit about Ronan's past but I craved more! There was definitely a distance about him. Of course this is a series so there may be more on the way. I do think that if the next book reveals more about Ronan, this book should have talked about how someone becomes a Tracer. They talked about becoming a Watcher and a bit about becoming a Vampire, but the whole Tracer concept was not there.
I really do enjoy this book and that was a complete surprise!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2011
Unique, thrilling, and intense, Isle Of Night, takes the term "bad-ass beauties" to a whole new level.
Annelise just wants to get away. From her crappy town, her abusive family, and her high school. And then tall, dark, and handsome with memorizing green eyes shows up and offers it to her. Ronan promises her a whole new life if she's strong enough. She's reluctant, but accepts. What she finds is nothing like what she expected. Annelise finds herself amongst hard core beauties and want-to-be vampires... not to mention real ones too. But, it comes at a price. Annelise must fight to become one of the few select "Watchers". And little does she know, she will be fighting for her life.
Isle of Night is like a Hunger Games filled with all girls, and no "boyfriend" to push Annelise through. The whole story is thrilling. There's a chill, a death, and some blood around every corner. The fighting is intense and Annelise is a beauty with brains, but also incredibly strong. It shows you that having brains is just as good as having looks. You'd especially need witty comments if you had to room with Annelise's roommate Lilac. She's a tightly wound fireball (literally), with a cold, crazy heart. But, on the other side Annelise has two friends whom I loved. And they are Emma and Yasuo. They are both easy-going, yet strong and smart.
Next, this book doesn't really have any "romance" per say. There is some definite chemistry and sexual tension, but no physical romance. But, that being said I didn't hesitate with the book at all because it doesn't need it. The story line itself is so strong that it does perfectly fine without it. I have to admit I loved Ronan though and I just wish something a little more happened with him and Annelise. Though, I understand why it didn't.
Isle of Night was a suspenseful read that I enjoyed, and I am eagerly awaiting book two, Vampire's Kiss.
Annelise just wants to get away. From her crappy town, her abusive family, and her high school. And then tall, dark, and handsome with memorizing green eyes shows up and offers it to her. Ronan promises her a whole new life if she's strong enough. She's reluctant, but accepts. What she finds is nothing like what she expected. Annelise finds herself amongst hard core beauties and want-to-be vampires... not to mention real ones too. But, it comes at a price. Annelise must fight to become one of the few select "Watchers". And little does she know, she will be fighting for her life.
Isle of Night is like a Hunger Games filled with all girls, and no "boyfriend" to push Annelise through. The whole story is thrilling. There's a chill, a death, and some blood around every corner. The fighting is intense and Annelise is a beauty with brains, but also incredibly strong. It shows you that having brains is just as good as having looks. You'd especially need witty comments if you had to room with Annelise's roommate Lilac. She's a tightly wound fireball (literally), with a cold, crazy heart. But, on the other side Annelise has two friends whom I loved. And they are Emma and Yasuo. They are both easy-going, yet strong and smart.
Next, this book doesn't really have any "romance" per say. There is some definite chemistry and sexual tension, but no physical romance. But, that being said I didn't hesitate with the book at all because it doesn't need it. The story line itself is so strong that it does perfectly fine without it. I have to admit I loved Ronan though and I just wish something a little more happened with him and Annelise. Though, I understand why it didn't.
Isle of Night was a suspenseful read that I enjoyed, and I am eagerly awaiting book two, Vampire's Kiss.
January 4, 2016
Al principio de esperas una historia de terror y sociedad secreta, bueno no esta tan lejos, si existe una sociedad secreta, sin embargo es muy selecta con quienes dejan entrar.
Drew es un chica promedio, buenas caluficaciones y bonita, pero con unos padres de s@$÷#%, y una infancia arruina, ella en medio de su personalidad poco apreciativa es escojida a ir a esta isla porsu gran coheficiente intelectual, el detalle es que eso no le sera del todo favorable, ya que esta rodeada de chicas que aprendieron a peliar ntes e de caminar, sin embargo encuentra aliados que hacen posible explotar esa parte de ella que tanto insiste en tapar pero que por ningun motivo puede desechar.
La verdad esperaba un internado un poco mas estricto, unos vampitos un poco mas sociales, por un momento me senti en la academia de media noche de pc cast y leer sobre lord byron, en serio no todo lo vampiros son tan romanticos y super sensuales, existen otro tipo. No quiero decir que todo sea pelia, pero los dioses, enserio, vampiros superoetas y entregados a una atmósfera de sensualidad, creo que no voy con eso, amo alestat pero incluso el es mas que eso.
Ellas y sus dramas de no pueda me llevaban gris, osea los dioses te dieron un cerebro con in IQ super perfecto y no vez lo simple, es de dementes. El hecho de que sea una chica con un alyo coheficiente intelecte le da al personaje el suficiente sentido comun para saber que esta mal y donde, ella mearece muy humana, en el sentido de lo comun, sus dramas no tienen sentido con su super cerebro que no entiendo en donde esta.
El libro te llena pero no te satisface.
Drew es un chica promedio, buenas caluficaciones y bonita, pero con unos padres de s@$÷#%, y una infancia arruina, ella en medio de su personalidad poco apreciativa es escojida a ir a esta isla porsu gran coheficiente intelectual, el detalle es que eso no le sera del todo favorable, ya que esta rodeada de chicas que aprendieron a peliar ntes e de caminar, sin embargo encuentra aliados que hacen posible explotar esa parte de ella que tanto insiste en tapar pero que por ningun motivo puede desechar.
La verdad esperaba un internado un poco mas estricto, unos vampitos un poco mas sociales, por un momento me senti en la academia de media noche de pc cast y leer sobre lord byron, en serio no todo lo vampiros son tan romanticos y super sensuales, existen otro tipo. No quiero decir que todo sea pelia, pero los dioses, enserio, vampiros superoetas y entregados a una atmósfera de sensualidad, creo que no voy con eso, amo alestat pero incluso el es mas que eso.
Ellas y sus dramas de no pueda me llevaban gris, osea los dioses te dieron un cerebro con in IQ super perfecto y no vez lo simple, es de dementes. El hecho de que sea una chica con un alyo coheficiente intelecte le da al personaje el suficiente sentido comun para saber que esta mal y donde, ella mearece muy humana, en el sentido de lo comun, sus dramas no tienen sentido con su super cerebro que no entiendo en donde esta.
El libro te llena pero no te satisface.
August 23, 2011
Isle of Night was a fantastic start to a new series that was a ton of fun to read. With it's fast paced action, I could scarcely put it down. Wolff balanced all the elements needed to great a perfectly epic story.
It took me several chapters to be fully on board. I wasn't quite understanding what was going on and it was a bit unbelievable, then all at once everything made sense and I just couldn't put Isle of Night down. I was up until some crazy hour of the morning reading, until I finally made myself put it down. The whole situation with Isle of Night was so well done - it was this perfect balance between intriguing, scary, and a bit of just down-right creepy.
The vampires in Isle of Night were different than others - in Wolff's world male's become Vampires and females train to become Watchers. This in itself was really interesting, as it was brand spanking new.
I loved the characters. Annelise was so incredibly spunky, I loved her. Ronan was one gorgeous hunky guy. I really hope to see more from Emma as well in future books, as she was super lovely.
I am very excited to see where this series will go. Book 2, Vampire's Kiss, is due out early next year, and I am very excited for it! Isle of Night was an absolutely fantastic read!
*Random Cover Comment* Does anyone else TOTALLY think that the guy on the cover looks like the guy from The Devil Wears Prada?
August 8, 2015
Okay, I think it's safe to say I have never rated a book one star before because I believe every book deserves a chance. But this one. This one I just couldn't put up with. I read the first chapter and I was like, "I don't know..." So I made myself read another chapter. I still didn't feel much for the book. But like, I said, I think every book book deserves a chance and I forced myself to read every chapter thinking, "Maybe it'll get better after this chapter." But I just couldn't. The main character sounds so desperate and cringe-worthy I just couldn't do it. And don't let me get started on when she first meets Ronan (Is that his name?) literally, her first thoughts when she sees him are,
"His eyes were slitted and intense, like he might need to have sex at any moment. Maybe even with me."
I'm sorry... does that not sound a little... I don't know... desperate? I mean, we're talking about an insecure girl with no friends and all she can think about is getting that guy to like her. Her hopes seem too high for a girl as insecure as herself. I think a character like hers should slowly come out of her low self-esteem, not like her who just saw a guy and all she can think about is being with him. And it was so fast moving in the beginning. Like see a guy, fall in love with the guy. Literally.
"His eyes were slitted and intense, like he might need to have sex at any moment. Maybe even with me."
I'm sorry... does that not sound a little... I don't know... desperate? I mean, we're talking about an insecure girl with no friends and all she can think about is getting that guy to like her. Her hopes seem too high for a girl as insecure as herself. I think a character like hers should slowly come out of her low self-esteem, not like her who just saw a guy and all she can think about is being with him. And it was so fast moving in the beginning. Like see a guy, fall in love with the guy. Literally.
January 13, 2017
Wow this is disturbing...
I mean I'm sort of glad when I see/read about vampires being the traditional scary vampires and not Twilight ones. Both are great but I find YA tends to go for sweet and light now a days.
The book is just violent, and its a little too much for me. It just isn't what I expected and that is fine its just not what I wanted to read today. Its all an interesting storyline, I mean training girls to be watchers is odd. It isn't explained enough, why these girls? Why just females as watchers but vampires are just male? Why?
I mean I'm sort of glad when I see/read about vampires being the traditional scary vampires and not Twilight ones. Both are great but I find YA tends to go for sweet and light now a days.
The book is just violent, and its a little too much for me. It just isn't what I expected and that is fine its just not what I wanted to read today. Its all an interesting storyline, I mean training girls to be watchers is odd. It isn't explained enough, why these girls? Why just females as watchers but vampires are just male? Why?
September 2, 2012
this looks ridiculous and I TOTALLY want to read it RIGHT THE HELL NOW. September... so far away!
Added 8/3/2012 - well, it's not the worst book I ever read, and I still want to know what happens, but there were a bunch of issues... :/ solid 2-star.
Added 8/3/2012 - well, it's not the worst book I ever read, and I still want to know what happens, but there were a bunch of issues... :/ solid 2-star.
April 4, 2012
Oh, my FREAKING God, I think I'm three feet off the ground right now ! I just understood the meaning of the word "devour", because that's exactly what I did to this totally amazing book ! Highly recommend it ! Now, *looks around* where's book 2 ?? *starts feverishly searching the net*
March 25, 2017
This is not one I would normally pick up but it was part of my #cupidgoespostal gift so I gave it a go and I am so glad I did. I was enthralled from the first chapter and couldn't put it down. Lucky I am at home recovering from surgery so I had all day to read it.
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