What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bridge
Everett Hallman might not be the world's most powerful witch, but he does his part by helping wayward souls find their way to the beyond. Then a feeling Everett can't explain lures him away from the magical woods near his house, to a local martial arts school. There, he is intrigued when he uncovers remains left by supernatural beings of enormous power, and he cannot resist looking into the mystery.Everett learns he is a Bridge a witch capable of passing into different spirit realms, but his revelation comes with a new set of problems. First, the powerful witch instructing him disappears, and then he notices something strange about his attractive new friend from the martial arts studio. Worst of all, Everett's reserves of spell-casting energy continue to deplete. Only one thing is certain-Everett cannot turn his back on this puzzle until he gets some answers.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published July 25, 2016
145 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Lou
3 books4 followersRachel Lou lives and writes in California. Her debut novel, The Bridge, was published with Harmony Ink Press, and her short stories, creative nonfiction, and fanwriting have appeared in student literary magazines and fandom zines. She was an author panelist at SLJ Teen Live 2016.
When she's not writing, she's playing video games, training at her kung fu school, or working toward her bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
When she's not writing, she's playing video games, training at her kung fu school, or working toward her bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 26, 2016
Sometimes judging a book by it's cover isn't a bad thing...
3.5 stars mysteriously rounded up to 4 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and what can I say there's a bit of cover love going on for this one.
If you think being a regular teenager is hard then you should try being Everett Hallman. Everett's a witch and not just any witch he's a Bridge Master, he has the ability to help the dead crossover from the land of the living to their afterlife and in spite of the fact that his powers don't seem very strong they're unique and more than one person is interested in his powers and maybe even just in him. Things are starting to get a little strange in Everett's life. Weird things are happening with his powers and then there's Bryce, the cute guy at the marshal arts studio whom Everett likes and who seems to like him back. Now if he could just figure out what's up with him and the weird things that are going on around town.
'The Bridge' is first time author, Rachel Lou's entry into the world of young adult fiction and to say the least it's a pretty impressive offering for a first novel. While I'm not new to the world of YA. It's admittedly not my usual playground, but this book captured my attention with it's unique twist on the paranormal.
Everett is quiet introverted young man, who's more comfortable with books than people and Bryce is a happy extrovert who seems to have an abundance of self confidence and a definite interest in Everett. I enjoyed both of these characters and was impressed with how much their reactions mirrored those of an average teenager especially when interacting with each other. I liked the slow but steady way that their relationship progressed with both of them exhibiting bits of insecurity and nervousness at different times throughout the story.
Everett's struggle to exert his independence while still maintaining his relationship with his grandfather (whom he lives with and something that we learn about in the first few pages of the story) was a constant challenge for him and something that as teenagers most of us are able to relate to at one time or another. At the same time Bryce has his own very different family challenges to face and both of these young men have things they are keeping from each other. Things that will need to be shared if they are to have the relationship that they both seem to want.
The connection between the personal relationship that Everett and Bryce are trying to develop and the paranormal events of this story are very strongly connected and the balance that the author maintained between them was impressive.
From start to finish this was a well put together novel. Let's start right at the cover...I love this cover and after reading the book I totally understand why it was chosen, I know there's no bridge but trust me even if there was it wouldn't have made the cover more suited to the story. Next editing anyone who's read my reviews knows that editing is a pet peeve of mine well honestly if there were any editing mistakes in this they were minor and had no bearing at all on my ability to enjoy this well crafted story.
And my absolute favorite thing about this book was the lighter moments threaded throughout the story, many of them involving my favorite character, Everett's familiar who to say the least was not your typical black cat...actually he wasn't a cat at all and nope, I'm not giving away that little treasure you'll have to read the book to find out what his familiar was.
***A copy of this book was graciously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review***
3.5 stars mysteriously rounded up to 4 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and what can I say there's a bit of cover love going on for this one.
If you think being a regular teenager is hard then you should try being Everett Hallman. Everett's a witch and not just any witch he's a Bridge Master, he has the ability to help the dead crossover from the land of the living to their afterlife and in spite of the fact that his powers don't seem very strong they're unique and more than one person is interested in his powers and maybe even just in him. Things are starting to get a little strange in Everett's life. Weird things are happening with his powers and then there's Bryce, the cute guy at the marshal arts studio whom Everett likes and who seems to like him back. Now if he could just figure out what's up with him and the weird things that are going on around town.
'The Bridge' is first time author, Rachel Lou's entry into the world of young adult fiction and to say the least it's a pretty impressive offering for a first novel. While I'm not new to the world of YA. It's admittedly not my usual playground, but this book captured my attention with it's unique twist on the paranormal.
Everett is quiet introverted young man, who's more comfortable with books than people and Bryce is a happy extrovert who seems to have an abundance of self confidence and a definite interest in Everett. I enjoyed both of these characters and was impressed with how much their reactions mirrored those of an average teenager especially when interacting with each other. I liked the slow but steady way that their relationship progressed with both of them exhibiting bits of insecurity and nervousness at different times throughout the story.
Everett's struggle to exert his independence while still maintaining his relationship with his grandfather (whom he lives with and something that we learn about in the first few pages of the story) was a constant challenge for him and something that as teenagers most of us are able to relate to at one time or another. At the same time Bryce has his own very different family challenges to face and both of these young men have things they are keeping from each other. Things that will need to be shared if they are to have the relationship that they both seem to want.
The connection between the personal relationship that Everett and Bryce are trying to develop and the paranormal events of this story are very strongly connected and the balance that the author maintained between them was impressive.
From start to finish this was a well put together novel. Let's start right at the cover...I love this cover and after reading the book I totally understand why it was chosen, I know there's no bridge but trust me even if there was it wouldn't have made the cover more suited to the story. Next editing anyone who's read my reviews knows that editing is a pet peeve of mine well honestly if there were any editing mistakes in this they were minor and had no bearing at all on my ability to enjoy this well crafted story.
And my absolute favorite thing about this book was the lighter moments threaded throughout the story, many of them involving my favorite character, Everett's familiar who to say the least was not your typical black cat...actually he wasn't a cat at all and nope, I'm not giving away that little treasure you'll have to read the book to find out what his familiar was.
***A copy of this book was graciously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review***
June 10, 2016
Originally posted on Teal Deer Reviews.
I really wanted to fall in love with this book. Look how beautiful that cover is (it's by Anna Sikorska by the way). It also had a really intriguing synopsis: 17-year-old witch Everett Hallman discovers he's a rare Bridge Master (someone who can go back and forth between our mortal world and the lands of the dead), but his to-be tutor vanishes and he gets some weird readings from the local taekwando dojang, which isn't helped by the cute (male) instructor there. Sounds right up my alley and gods know we need more LGBTQ fantasy that doesn't end with all the queer people dead and/or evil.
But. The writing is awkward, with a whole lot of telling instead of showing, the twists are either really predictable or made no sense, and the characters never quite came alive for me. Their dialogue seemed wooden and while there were some cute moments, the relationship between Everett and Bryce seemed more corny than anything. Admittedly I'm almost 30 and didn't particularly like teenagers when I was a teenager, but they don't feel right. Maybe I'm just out of touch and teenage boys really do talk about shaving their legs, but the continued emphasis on how girly Everett was (weak, feminine, people kept mistaking him for a girl in high school, har har) really irritated me. Nothing wrong with a girly boy (or a boyish girl) but it rang untrue, and I still don't get why the emphasis on Everett getting a haircut at the end, except that it miraculously made him look more like a boy. Also, Buzz: a jellyfish familiar was amusing, but as a character I wasn't a big fan, especially after he apparently groped Bryce because he was annoyed at Everett for ignoring him.
Note/warning: the big bad, who's introduced and defeated in approximately ten pages total, basically threatens Everett with gang rape by demon soldiers, so that was nice too.
Frankly, the entire book was just lacking something. There was a real lack of detail and the hybrid children sort of came out of nowhere. Most of the plot came out of nowhere, to be honest. It wanders from scene to scene and things happen, but I never felt a real sense of tension, even in the climax. And I feel bad, because I do want some cool LGBTQ fantasy, and as a writer myself, I tend to shy away from being harsh to fellow indie writers (unless they're assholes). Rachel Lou has some great ideas (I did really like the way Everett used magic, especially with the salt) but I think this book needed a few more rewrites and a few more passes under an editor's red pen.
Full disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.
I really wanted to fall in love with this book. Look how beautiful that cover is (it's by Anna Sikorska by the way). It also had a really intriguing synopsis: 17-year-old witch Everett Hallman discovers he's a rare Bridge Master (someone who can go back and forth between our mortal world and the lands of the dead), but his to-be tutor vanishes and he gets some weird readings from the local taekwando dojang, which isn't helped by the cute (male) instructor there. Sounds right up my alley and gods know we need more LGBTQ fantasy that doesn't end with all the queer people dead and/or evil.
But. The writing is awkward, with a whole lot of telling instead of showing, the twists are either really predictable or made no sense, and the characters never quite came alive for me. Their dialogue seemed wooden and while there were some cute moments, the relationship between Everett and Bryce seemed more corny than anything. Admittedly I'm almost 30 and didn't particularly like teenagers when I was a teenager, but they don't feel right. Maybe I'm just out of touch and teenage boys really do talk about shaving their legs, but the continued emphasis on how girly Everett was (weak, feminine, people kept mistaking him for a girl in high school, har har) really irritated me. Nothing wrong with a girly boy (or a boyish girl) but it rang untrue, and I still don't get why the emphasis on Everett getting a haircut at the end, except that it miraculously made him look more like a boy. Also, Buzz: a jellyfish familiar was amusing, but as a character I wasn't a big fan, especially after he apparently groped Bryce because he was annoyed at Everett for ignoring him.
Note/warning: the big bad, who's introduced and defeated in approximately ten pages total, basically threatens Everett with gang rape by demon soldiers, so that was nice too.
Frankly, the entire book was just lacking something. There was a real lack of detail and the hybrid children sort of came out of nowhere. Most of the plot came out of nowhere, to be honest. It wanders from scene to scene and things happen, but I never felt a real sense of tension, even in the climax. And I feel bad, because I do want some cool LGBTQ fantasy, and as a writer myself, I tend to shy away from being harsh to fellow indie writers (unless they're assholes). Rachel Lou has some great ideas (I did really like the way Everett used magic, especially with the salt) but I think this book needed a few more rewrites and a few more passes under an editor's red pen.
Full disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.
June 5, 2016
With a concept in witchcraft that I have not read about in this form before, ‘The Bridge’ gave me an interesting fantasy/paranormal world that contained more than one surprise. But there is more than great world building to this YA novel – wonderful characters, mysterious events, an action-packed confrontation, and more than one life lesson to be learned. With drama, new discoveries, and unexpected twists, ‘The Bridge’ pulled me in and didn’t let me go until the final page.
Everett is seventeen, bookish, has almost no friends, and is a witch. His parents vanished seven years ago and he now lives with his grandfather (who is also a witch) in a small town, trying to learn how to control his abilities. He is not very powerful, in fact even small spells routinely exhaust him to the point of fainting, but he is a rare Bridge Master, able to send lost souls to the afterlife. I found this whole idea of bridges to different types of afterlife really interesting, and to have witches to help with that was a nice twist. Everett has a jellyfish as a familiar, which is just hilarious, but Buzz (as he names him) has a mind of his own.
Then strange things start happening. First, Everett is drawn to a local martial arts school where he meets Bryce – a very attractive instructor. The strange paranormal residue Everett finds all over the place makes him wonder what’s going on. Then the witch who is supposed to teach him how to be a Bridge Master vanishes, and neither Everett’s grandfather nor the witch sent by the Order to investigate have any idea what’s going on. Or so they say. And as the mystery deepens, Everett’s determination to deal with it by himself increases. Never mind that he knows he is in over his head, just like any teenager I’ve ever met, Everett is not going to ask for help. Nope. Not going to happen. Until it is almost too late and he is in so deep that his life is threatened, his friends are hostages to unimaginable evil, and all of humanity is threatened with subjugation.
Everett has a lot to deal with in this story, and while his need for independence is understandable, it is also very dangerous. It provided me with a wonderful adventure to follow and more than one scary moment! It also enables Everett to understand himself better and put a few events in his life into perspective. Coming of age is hard – and when you’re a witch it can also be dangerous.
If you like stories about witchcraft, spells, and paranormal riddles, if two young men figuring out their world and themselves sound interesting, and if you’re looking for a suspenseful, fantastical, slightly scary, and very imaginative read that might just make you forget the real world around you, then you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Harmony Ink Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Everett is seventeen, bookish, has almost no friends, and is a witch. His parents vanished seven years ago and he now lives with his grandfather (who is also a witch) in a small town, trying to learn how to control his abilities. He is not very powerful, in fact even small spells routinely exhaust him to the point of fainting, but he is a rare Bridge Master, able to send lost souls to the afterlife. I found this whole idea of bridges to different types of afterlife really interesting, and to have witches to help with that was a nice twist. Everett has a jellyfish as a familiar, which is just hilarious, but Buzz (as he names him) has a mind of his own.
Then strange things start happening. First, Everett is drawn to a local martial arts school where he meets Bryce – a very attractive instructor. The strange paranormal residue Everett finds all over the place makes him wonder what’s going on. Then the witch who is supposed to teach him how to be a Bridge Master vanishes, and neither Everett’s grandfather nor the witch sent by the Order to investigate have any idea what’s going on. Or so they say. And as the mystery deepens, Everett’s determination to deal with it by himself increases. Never mind that he knows he is in over his head, just like any teenager I’ve ever met, Everett is not going to ask for help. Nope. Not going to happen. Until it is almost too late and he is in so deep that his life is threatened, his friends are hostages to unimaginable evil, and all of humanity is threatened with subjugation.
Everett has a lot to deal with in this story, and while his need for independence is understandable, it is also very dangerous. It provided me with a wonderful adventure to follow and more than one scary moment! It also enables Everett to understand himself better and put a few events in his life into perspective. Coming of age is hard – and when you’re a witch it can also be dangerous.
If you like stories about witchcraft, spells, and paranormal riddles, if two young men figuring out their world and themselves sound interesting, and if you’re looking for a suspenseful, fantastical, slightly scary, and very imaginative read that might just make you forget the real world around you, then you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Harmony Ink Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 16, 2016
The Bridge is the first book I’ve read by Rachel Lou. One of the genres I love to read is young adult. This book falls into that category; although, if there were a sequel, I hope it’s an erotic romance since the main character becomes an adult in this story. I found myself enthralled by the world the author created. When reading paranormal books, I’ve tended toward vampire, werewolf and demon/angel stories. This one focused on witches and a creation of the author called hybrids.
Everett was a compelling character. He seemed to not quite fit in his world. He seemed weak, possessing very little energy required for casting spells, and lacking the self-esteem of a witch who would soon realize he is one of the more powerful paranormals who could bridge between the living and demon worlds. Yet, beneath the shell of weakness was strength that slowly unraveled. This I enjoyed reading.
The book was slow for the first half but quickly picked up in pace as the story hurtled towards the action sequence near the book’s conclusion. The internal tension within the main character was believable from someone who is a young adult on the cusp of adulthood. There appear to be two internal battles, one over his growth into his power and another over his interest in Bryce.
There were some aspects to the book I wish had been further elaborated on. In particular, I wish we had learned more about Bryce, Everett’s parents, and the future for Everett in terms of his ability to summon energy on his own to become one of the most powerful witches around. Most specifically, I wish the attraction and pull between Everett and Bryce had been more fully developed. Their attraction was clear. More scenes with the two of them and their growing attraction would have upped the tension for the final battle.
This said, the book does not advertise as an erotic romance and was an enjoyable read, one I was able to take in while soaking in the beautiful summer vitamin D from the sun.
Reviewed by Taz for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
Everett was a compelling character. He seemed to not quite fit in his world. He seemed weak, possessing very little energy required for casting spells, and lacking the self-esteem of a witch who would soon realize he is one of the more powerful paranormals who could bridge between the living and demon worlds. Yet, beneath the shell of weakness was strength that slowly unraveled. This I enjoyed reading.
The book was slow for the first half but quickly picked up in pace as the story hurtled towards the action sequence near the book’s conclusion. The internal tension within the main character was believable from someone who is a young adult on the cusp of adulthood. There appear to be two internal battles, one over his growth into his power and another over his interest in Bryce.
There were some aspects to the book I wish had been further elaborated on. In particular, I wish we had learned more about Bryce, Everett’s parents, and the future for Everett in terms of his ability to summon energy on his own to become one of the most powerful witches around. Most specifically, I wish the attraction and pull between Everett and Bryce had been more fully developed. Their attraction was clear. More scenes with the two of them and their growing attraction would have upped the tension for the final battle.
This said, the book does not advertise as an erotic romance and was an enjoyable read, one I was able to take in while soaking in the beautiful summer vitamin D from the sun.
Reviewed by Taz for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
June 3, 2016
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews with a copy provided by the publisher / author for an honest review. Rated 3.5 out of 5.0 stars)
I’ve been picking up a few young adult targeted books lately, and I have to say it is refreshing to read something that isn’t as dark as most of my reads. The Bridge from Rachel Lou is a good example. There isn’t any sex, there isn’t a lot of angst, but there are shapeshifters, demons and witches. It is a fairly standard good versus evil story with a teen hero, that is so popular in this age group, but I enjoyed it.
Everett Hallman is a witch, but not a very strong one. He has been living in a small town with his grandfather since his parents disappeared several years before the story begins. They were both witches and they disappeared in Las Vegas mysteriously and were never heard from again. I have to be honest, I didn’t really get what happened to them, and thought that there maybe should have been a little more detail about them, particularly near the end of the book when other things were revealed about Everett’s early childhood. But that may have just been me, most of the target market for this book probably wouldn’t dwell on that small part.
When Everett meets an attractive young man who works at a martial arts studio, sparks fly…literally. Why does trying to read this guy’s aura zap Everett, and in some cases cause him to get knocked unconscious? Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, Everett has another new friend, his familiar, a quirky little (or not so little) flying jellyfish…
The story moved along at a good pace. I think that this is the author’s first published work, based on the blurb at the end of the book. If so, I applaud her, because it is a well-rounded story and the characters are fairly well fleshed out. I would have liked a little more detail on the world building though, particularly the world on the other side of the bridge. In addition, I felt that most of the background characters, like Bryce’s dad, the other hybrid children, or even Everett’s grandfather, were a little thinly detailed.
I liked the book, and I’d say based on the editing and writing that it was above average, particularly for a first book. It will be a good fit for the Young Adult market.
I’ve been picking up a few young adult targeted books lately, and I have to say it is refreshing to read something that isn’t as dark as most of my reads. The Bridge from Rachel Lou is a good example. There isn’t any sex, there isn’t a lot of angst, but there are shapeshifters, demons and witches. It is a fairly standard good versus evil story with a teen hero, that is so popular in this age group, but I enjoyed it.
Everett Hallman is a witch, but not a very strong one. He has been living in a small town with his grandfather since his parents disappeared several years before the story begins. They were both witches and they disappeared in Las Vegas mysteriously and were never heard from again. I have to be honest, I didn’t really get what happened to them, and thought that there maybe should have been a little more detail about them, particularly near the end of the book when other things were revealed about Everett’s early childhood. But that may have just been me, most of the target market for this book probably wouldn’t dwell on that small part.
When Everett meets an attractive young man who works at a martial arts studio, sparks fly…literally. Why does trying to read this guy’s aura zap Everett, and in some cases cause him to get knocked unconscious? Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, Everett has another new friend, his familiar, a quirky little (or not so little) flying jellyfish…
The story moved along at a good pace. I think that this is the author’s first published work, based on the blurb at the end of the book. If so, I applaud her, because it is a well-rounded story and the characters are fairly well fleshed out. I would have liked a little more detail on the world building though, particularly the world on the other side of the bridge. In addition, I felt that most of the background characters, like Bryce’s dad, the other hybrid children, or even Everett’s grandfather, were a little thinly detailed.
I liked the book, and I’d say based on the editing and writing that it was above average, particularly for a first book. It will be a good fit for the Young Adult market.
January 25, 2019
I really liked this book, but I have to admit that it had certain weaknesses. So, to be fair, I'll stick with 3 instead of 4 stars. But good stuff first! This story is the small tale of witch Everett Hallman's life slowly coming unhinged. His day to day life so far had been the kind of bookish, quiet outsider I really identify with, with the added perk of magical powers with which he helps ghosts move on to the afterlife and investigates strange occurances. Until he finds out that he has some more gifts that others don't and that the most recent strange occurance involves a very cute tae kwon do instructor. The romance that develops between them was brilliantly handled, in a way I have seen a lot more experienced authors fail to do it; it is believable, slow, and simple, both soft and mature, and gave me happy smiles a lot of times. Furthermore, the book has a lot of funny and wonderfully human moments and provides two other very engaging characters with Everett's familiar and grandfather.
However, many of the other characters, including the villains, are very flat and just don't get enough space for the reader to develop an opinion on them. The worst problem, though is the way pacing and foreshadowing are handled. Altogether, the novel seems too short to develop its full effect, with many revelations just being too close to the foreshadowing to be surprising, and other developments coming entirely out of left field. Towards the end, there is a number of moments that seem just plain Deus Ex Machina, including a Big Bad introduced in the last 30 pages or so.
Still, I think all of this could have been solved with some tweaking and just another round of editing. I see this less as a mediocre novel and more as very good one that wasn't polished enough to shine properly. Thus, I'm very sad to see that Rachel Lou has published no other work so far, because I think she would have improved enough by her second or third novel to be a true joy - and I would gladly have waited that out, as, like I pointed out in the beginning, I still had a good time with this book in spite of its issues.
However, many of the other characters, including the villains, are very flat and just don't get enough space for the reader to develop an opinion on them. The worst problem, though is the way pacing and foreshadowing are handled. Altogether, the novel seems too short to develop its full effect, with many revelations just being too close to the foreshadowing to be surprising, and other developments coming entirely out of left field. Towards the end, there is a number of moments that seem just plain Deus Ex Machina, including a Big Bad introduced in the last 30 pages or so.
Still, I think all of this could have been solved with some tweaking and just another round of editing. I see this less as a mediocre novel and more as very good one that wasn't polished enough to shine properly. Thus, I'm very sad to see that Rachel Lou has published no other work so far, because I think she would have improved enough by her second or third novel to be a true joy - and I would gladly have waited that out, as, like I pointed out in the beginning, I still had a good time with this book in spite of its issues.
May 22, 2016
Wow, I really enjoyed this book.
It's hard to describe such entertaining creativity when you find it, but this book definitely shows off the active mind of its author. In a world where witches channel their focus through salt, familiars can be invisible, sassy jellyfish, and constantly fainting can land you in the arms of a god-like, paranormal love-muffin—I couldn't stop reading.
Everett is a witch that loves books, libraries, and writing paranormal research papers for fun (I love this nerd). There's nothing that special about him (witching aside); he keeps to himself in the fashion of an extreme introvert, he's still dealing with his parents disappearance/assumed deaths that took place seven years before, he lives near woods that positively reek of paranormal "ew", and the occasional harmless spirit wanders his way so that he and his grandpa send her/him to her/his afterlife. All-in-all, his life is pretty normal for a witch.
That is until he finds himself jerked along by an invisible force to a dojang (the Korean version of a dojo) where he finds tons of paranormal gunk and a wild-looking guy sparring with his sister.
Dun dun DUNNN, his life changes in a million different ways.
He starts investigating the paranormal energy rolling off of the dojang, and slowly discovers his familiar (which caused the tugging that brought him to the dojang in the first place).
When he tells his grandpa (his only surviving family) about the tugging and the "instinct", he discovers that he's a Bridge Master, which is like sticking a huge target on himself and doing a strip tease to every power hungry creature in their world.
The problem is not only:
(a) Everett's age
(which makes him impressionable, moldable, etc. *cue old crotchety lady wagging a bony finger and yelling "You young people and your damned malleability to anyone's will!"*), but...
(b) he's mega-weak for a witch. He has a cereal bowl of energy compared to every one else's pool-sized bowl, which creates issues. Mostly the fainting. It causes his new friend Bryce to think he has medical issues.
Also, there's Mr. Pendley from a mysterious witch regulation organization called "The Order", who basically makes it his job to make Everett feel like the worlds biggest inconvenience. Jerk.
Anyway, his "Bridge Master" instructor, Omar, goes missing before they even have a chance to meet, and it's kinda assumed that it's Everett's fault because of the whole target/strip-tease thing, and then he enters into the messy world of hybrids and hybrid-boyfriends who want him to create a bridge to the In Between where it turns out his instructor, Omar, might be wandering around.
Everett is incredibly lovable, and very active. Some second-hand embarrassment definitely happens, and lots of laughing. The romance is also so sweet to read. It happened at such a normal pace, all witchy-ness aside, and it wasn't all-consuming, which I loved. Everett was still himself and actively pursuing his goals when Bryce wasn't around. He was realistic, thank God. The butterflies and the wandering thoughts were there (of course—he's got the feels after all), but he has other, bigger issues, and he tackles those head-on. There's just some lovely, tingly blushing in between.
I just finished another book where the main character was practically crippled by his guy-crush and it made him obsessive, incompetent, and annoying. That made Everett's resourcefulness and back-bone soooooooooo refreshing.
I also loved the creepy woods theme!
This book is an easy, entertaining read that left me never wanting to put it down. I'm almost upset I finished it so quickly!
More awesome reviews at = http://rantingsravingsbookreviews.blo...
It's hard to describe such entertaining creativity when you find it, but this book definitely shows off the active mind of its author. In a world where witches channel their focus through salt, familiars can be invisible, sassy jellyfish, and constantly fainting can land you in the arms of a god-like, paranormal love-muffin—I couldn't stop reading.
Everett is a witch that loves books, libraries, and writing paranormal research papers for fun (I love this nerd). There's nothing that special about him (witching aside); he keeps to himself in the fashion of an extreme introvert, he's still dealing with his parents disappearance/assumed deaths that took place seven years before, he lives near woods that positively reek of paranormal "ew", and the occasional harmless spirit wanders his way so that he and his grandpa send her/him to her/his afterlife. All-in-all, his life is pretty normal for a witch.
That is until he finds himself jerked along by an invisible force to a dojang (the Korean version of a dojo) where he finds tons of paranormal gunk and a wild-looking guy sparring with his sister.
Dun dun DUNNN, his life changes in a million different ways.
He starts investigating the paranormal energy rolling off of the dojang, and slowly discovers his familiar (which caused the tugging that brought him to the dojang in the first place).
When he tells his grandpa (his only surviving family) about the tugging and the "instinct", he discovers that he's a Bridge Master, which is like sticking a huge target on himself and doing a strip tease to every power hungry creature in their world.
The problem is not only:
(a) Everett's age
“You’re a blank slate. Moldable.”
“It sounds like someone wants to get their hands on me.”
“That is what the Order suspects. You are the youngest Bridge Master as of now, which leaves you with more than enough time to be molded into something you’re not.”
(which makes him impressionable, moldable, etc. *cue old crotchety lady wagging a bony finger and yelling "You young people and your damned malleability to anyone's will!"*), but...
(b) he's mega-weak for a witch. He has a cereal bowl of energy compared to every one else's pool-sized bowl, which creates issues. Mostly the fainting. It causes his new friend Bryce to think he has medical issues.
“He had made Everett promise to keep drinking water, stay away from sharp objects, and keep his phone within reach. Every ten minutes for the first hour after Bryce left, Everett had to send a text confirming his awareness."
Also, there's Mr. Pendley from a mysterious witch regulation organization called "The Order", who basically makes it his job to make Everett feel like the worlds biggest inconvenience. Jerk.
Anyway, his "Bridge Master" instructor, Omar, goes missing before they even have a chance to meet, and it's kinda assumed that it's Everett's fault because of the whole target/strip-tease thing, and then he enters into the messy world of hybrids and hybrid-boyfriends who want him to create a bridge to the In Between where it turns out his instructor, Omar, might be wandering around.
Everett is incredibly lovable, and very active. Some second-hand embarrassment definitely happens, and lots of laughing. The romance is also so sweet to read. It happened at such a normal pace, all witchy-ness aside, and it wasn't all-consuming, which I loved. Everett was still himself and actively pursuing his goals when Bryce wasn't around. He was realistic, thank God. The butterflies and the wandering thoughts were there (of course—he's got the feels after all), but he has other, bigger issues, and he tackles those head-on. There's just some lovely, tingly blushing in between.
I just finished another book where the main character was practically crippled by his guy-crush and it made him obsessive, incompetent, and annoying. That made Everett's resourcefulness and back-bone soooooooooo refreshing.
I also loved the creepy woods theme!
“A whisper breathed a soft name past his ear, carried on the same small gust of wind.
His breath jittered in his throat.
The air calmed.
'Are you lost?' the wind whispered.
He grabbed his salt baggie and sprinted down the path.
'Lost?' The wind swirled around his head, his legs, tightening into small loops that almost tripped him.”
This book is an easy, entertaining read that left me never wanting to put it down. I'm almost upset I finished it so quickly!
More awesome reviews at = http://rantingsravingsbookreviews.blo...
August 4, 2016
Hundreds more YA/MG book reviews and teaching ideas at Mrs. ReaderPants.
REVIEW: This book was just okay for me. I liked that it's about a gay male witch, something I've not seen too often in paranormal YA. I also love how the grandpa is cool with Everett's sexuality. He asks Everett about the boy at the dojo and chuckles when Everett blushes. The relationship between Everett and Bryce is realistically awkward, as I'm sure it would be between two boys who are uncertain if the other person's feelings are reciprocated. I did root for Everett and Bryce, so that's something.
I am disappointed that the witching world isn't better fleshed-out. I wanted more of the haunted forest, the ghosts looking for a Bridge Master, Everett's parents' history, the backstory of Jake and his mother's tiny hellhound. All of those things were cool and interesting and had potential; it's such a shame they all lacked development.
I also got kind of tired about hearing how "weak" Everett is. He's a weakling; I get it. Move on.
THEMES: witches, afterlife, M-M romance, martial arts
THE BOTTOM LINE: It's okay, but it does not live up to its potential. For better-developed male witch characters and world-building, read Sally Green's Half Bad trilogy instead.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: We don't have it.
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 2/5
Creativity: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Engrossing: 2/5
Writing: 2/5
Appeal to teens: 3/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 2/5
CONTENT:
Language: medium; 2 F-bombs and 8 sh**
Sexuality: Everett reads a book that has a male erotica scene; masturbation; M-M kissing and groping, Everett and Bryce talk about sleeping over
Violence: mild paranormal violence
Drugs/Alcohol: Everett drinks beer and gets drunk
October 15, 2016
Mi è piaciuto davvero molto di più di quanto mi aspettassi! Forse perché mi ero fatta l’idea che fosse qualcosa di più semplice e lineare, invece l’ho trovato molto ricco di trama e con dei plot twist che non mi aspettavo davvero.
Uno dei tratti più belli è come la trama si apra al lettore con lo stesso ritmo con cui il protagonista si apre al mondo: Everett è un ragazzo introverso e quieto, eppure molto curioso e pieno di spirito d’avventura (per certi versi è caratterizzato in modo più sfaccettato rispetto alla media dei romanzi di questo genere), e la storia inizia in modo lento ma piacevole, con un’atmosfera sospesa e quieta per poi procedere a ritmo sempre più sostenuto.
È pure una trama estremamente completa, dove non manca nulla di quello che è tipico dei libri con protagonisti degli stregoni adolescenti: si parte dalla scoperta di avere poteri speciali alla classica mega battaglia finale contro il nemico, il tutto con un tocco molto personale da parte dell’autrice, qualche colpo di scena che non mi aspettavo e un mondo sovrannaturale descritto in maniera semplice e immediata senza giganteschi spiegoni.
Poi, vabbé c’è Buzz, il famiglio di Everett che – udite, udite – è una medusa rosa che svolazza in aria ed è assolutamente adorabile! Ho trovato molto carino come Everett e Buzz comunicano e si legano, e Buzz di per sé è un amore.
La piccola storiella d’amore presente è narrata con i toni teneri dell’adolescenza e della prima cotta, ammetto che durante la lettura ero più interessata alla scoperta del mondo sovrannaturale narrato che alla coppietta, ma perché ero personalmente più presa da quello, in realtà loro due sono carucci e per quella che è la loro età l’ho trovata una relazione scritta in modo piacevole.
In sostanza, pure essendoci qua e là qualche ingenuità nella narrazione, l’ho trovato davvero molto più bellino del previsto.
Uno dei tratti più belli è come la trama si apra al lettore con lo stesso ritmo con cui il protagonista si apre al mondo: Everett è un ragazzo introverso e quieto, eppure molto curioso e pieno di spirito d’avventura (per certi versi è caratterizzato in modo più sfaccettato rispetto alla media dei romanzi di questo genere), e la storia inizia in modo lento ma piacevole, con un’atmosfera sospesa e quieta per poi procedere a ritmo sempre più sostenuto.
È pure una trama estremamente completa, dove non manca nulla di quello che è tipico dei libri con protagonisti degli stregoni adolescenti: si parte dalla scoperta di avere poteri speciali alla classica mega battaglia finale contro il nemico, il tutto con un tocco molto personale da parte dell’autrice, qualche colpo di scena che non mi aspettavo e un mondo sovrannaturale descritto in maniera semplice e immediata senza giganteschi spiegoni.
Poi, vabbé c’è Buzz, il famiglio di Everett che – udite, udite – è una medusa rosa che svolazza in aria ed è assolutamente adorabile! Ho trovato molto carino come Everett e Buzz comunicano e si legano, e Buzz di per sé è un amore.
La piccola storiella d’amore presente è narrata con i toni teneri dell’adolescenza e della prima cotta, ammetto che durante la lettura ero più interessata alla scoperta del mondo sovrannaturale narrato che alla coppietta, ma perché ero personalmente più presa da quello, in realtà loro due sono carucci e per quella che è la loro età l’ho trovata una relazione scritta in modo piacevole.
In sostanza, pure essendoci qua e là qualche ingenuità nella narrazione, l’ho trovato davvero molto più bellino del previsto.
June 3, 2016
I received this book for review from netgally and the publisher in exchange for an honest review this has in now way affected my opinion.
Everett Hallman is a witch, but not a very strong one. He has been living in a small town with his grandfather since his parents disappeared several years before the story begins. They were both witches and they disappeared in Las Vegas mysteriously and were never heard from again. I have to be honest, I didn’t really get what happened to them, and thought that there maybe should have been a little more detail about them, particularly near the end of the book when other things were revealed about Everett’s early childhood. But that may have just been me, most of the target market for this book probably wouldn’t dwell on that small part.
When Everett meets an attractive young man who works at a martial arts studio, sparks fly…literally. Why does trying to read this guy’s aura zap Everett, and in some cases cause him to get knocked unconscious? Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, Everett has another new friend, his familiar, a quirky little (or not so little) flying jellyfish…
The story moved along at a good pace. I think that this is the author’s first published work, based on the blurb at the end of the book. If so, I applaud her, because it is a well-rounded story and the characters are fairly well fleshed out. I would have liked a little more detail on the world building though, particularly the world on the other side of the bridge. In addition, I felt that most of the background characters, like Bryce’s dad, the other hybrid children, or even Everett’s grandfather, were a little thinly detailed.
I liked the book,
Everett Hallman is a witch, but not a very strong one. He has been living in a small town with his grandfather since his parents disappeared several years before the story begins. They were both witches and they disappeared in Las Vegas mysteriously and were never heard from again. I have to be honest, I didn’t really get what happened to them, and thought that there maybe should have been a little more detail about them, particularly near the end of the book when other things were revealed about Everett’s early childhood. But that may have just been me, most of the target market for this book probably wouldn’t dwell on that small part.
When Everett meets an attractive young man who works at a martial arts studio, sparks fly…literally. Why does trying to read this guy’s aura zap Everett, and in some cases cause him to get knocked unconscious? Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, Everett has another new friend, his familiar, a quirky little (or not so little) flying jellyfish…
The story moved along at a good pace. I think that this is the author’s first published work, based on the blurb at the end of the book. If so, I applaud her, because it is a well-rounded story and the characters are fairly well fleshed out. I would have liked a little more detail on the world building though, particularly the world on the other side of the bridge. In addition, I felt that most of the background characters, like Bryce’s dad, the other hybrid children, or even Everett’s grandfather, were a little thinly detailed.
I liked the book,
June 4, 2016
Everett Hallman is a witch, working with his grandfather to investigate the paranormal and help lost souls cross over to the other side. When a mysterious feeling leads him to a local martial arts studio, he's surprised at the amount of power he finds there. It's a place worth investigating. But the source of the power remains unknown to him.
In another surprising twist, Everett learns he is a Bridge Master. Bridge Masters are special witches tasked with guarding the bridges between worlds. They also are the only witches who can freely cross the bridges and enter the spirit world. As a young witch who is still coming into his power, it's just a bit overwhelming.
And he's still trying to figure out what's going on at the martial arts studio. And what exactly is going on with his new friend he met there. Especially since Everett wouldn't mind at all if he became more than just a friend...
---
Throw some well-written young adult urban fantasy at me and I'm happy. And this book is exactly that. It's a unique world and story, and I found myself drawn in quite quickly. And there were a few twists that I absolutely did not see coming.
Everett goes through quite a journey in the short span of this book. So many things around him are changing. And he is learning new things about himself. Despite this personal growth and challenge, he holds strong to his purpose, even when it might put him in danger.
I'm not sure if the author has any plans for more, but I wouldn't mind reading another book or two set in this world.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
In another surprising twist, Everett learns he is a Bridge Master. Bridge Masters are special witches tasked with guarding the bridges between worlds. They also are the only witches who can freely cross the bridges and enter the spirit world. As a young witch who is still coming into his power, it's just a bit overwhelming.
And he's still trying to figure out what's going on at the martial arts studio. And what exactly is going on with his new friend he met there. Especially since Everett wouldn't mind at all if he became more than just a friend...
---
Throw some well-written young adult urban fantasy at me and I'm happy. And this book is exactly that. It's a unique world and story, and I found myself drawn in quite quickly. And there were a few twists that I absolutely did not see coming.
Everett goes through quite a journey in the short span of this book. So many things around him are changing. And he is learning new things about himself. Despite this personal growth and challenge, he holds strong to his purpose, even when it might put him in danger.
I'm not sure if the author has any plans for more, but I wouldn't mind reading another book or two set in this world.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
October 27, 2016
The story was interesting but I didn’t like Everett. He was the main character, but I didn’t like him. He was self-serving and he unnecessarily put people in danger because he was curious.
The bridge is a story about a boy witch who finds out that he’s a Bridge Master, which means that he not only can create a bridge to escort ghosts over to the other side into their afterlife, but he can also cross over into it and back. Around this discovery, he meets Bryce, an instructor at tae kwon do dojang. Some of the things he sees around the dojang makes him think that there’s something up with Bryce or someone else who frequents the place. Bryce turns out to be a paranormal–a non-human and a non-witch–so Everett investigates, putting himself in danger, often. In the middle of all of that he learns of connections between himself and Bryce and other people in the story, but he keeps a lot of these finds to himself. A lot of secrets. He keeps lying to his grandfather, trying to deal with all of this stuff on his own. Again, constantly putting himself in danger, and not just physical danger, but also the danger of being cast into servitude which is one possible consequence of going against the Order’s rules. And putting other people in danger because they’re in the dark about what he’s doing. Moreover, not only is what he’s doing dangerous, but he isn’t even sure, not 100%, that going along with this task that he’s found himself in the middle of is, one, even possible, and two, what the people he’s working with are really up to.
So, while the story was pretty good, I’m just disappointed that I spent most of the time wanting to slap Everett up side his head.
The bridge is a story about a boy witch who finds out that he’s a Bridge Master, which means that he not only can create a bridge to escort ghosts over to the other side into their afterlife, but he can also cross over into it and back. Around this discovery, he meets Bryce, an instructor at tae kwon do dojang. Some of the things he sees around the dojang makes him think that there’s something up with Bryce or someone else who frequents the place. Bryce turns out to be a paranormal–a non-human and a non-witch–so Everett investigates, putting himself in danger, often. In the middle of all of that he learns of connections between himself and Bryce and other people in the story, but he keeps a lot of these finds to himself. A lot of secrets. He keeps lying to his grandfather, trying to deal with all of this stuff on his own. Again, constantly putting himself in danger, and not just physical danger, but also the danger of being cast into servitude which is one possible consequence of going against the Order’s rules. And putting other people in danger because they’re in the dark about what he’s doing. Moreover, not only is what he’s doing dangerous, but he isn’t even sure, not 100%, that going along with this task that he’s found himself in the middle of is, one, even possible, and two, what the people he’s working with are really up to.
So, while the story was pretty good, I’m just disappointed that I spent most of the time wanting to slap Everett up side his head.
September 8, 2016
**I was fortunate enough to receive this book from Harmony Ink Press in exchange for an honest review**
The Bridge was something old, something new. I have mixed feelings about this book. Some twists and turns were predictable, some were rushed and some made no sense at all. The situations were too detailed. I had to reread some parts in order to understand it. They were just too rushed. But there was something that kept me reading the book.
I didn't like Everett. I like how he was portrayed but he did things that the author had no explanation for. He was weirdly awkward. I wasn't able to picture him as an actual human being. I get it that Everett liked boys but what is with the weak, feminine, naive, helpless portrayal of the character?
I loved Everett's Grandfather. He was so cool! He was okay with Everett's sexuality, always looked out for him and owned a book store!!!!!!! Bryce, was a strange creature. I liked him, a lot. But he was too corny.
Fantasy is my go to genre and I think I liked the "witchy" parts of the book. I loved the bond Buzz and Everett shared. They make an amazing team! Everett and Bryce's relationship was adorable but too cheesy. BUT THEY ARE SO CUTE TOGETHER! All in all, it was a good read, if you can handle it, The Bridge can be your next read.
The Bridge was something old, something new. I have mixed feelings about this book. Some twists and turns were predictable, some were rushed and some made no sense at all. The situations were too detailed. I had to reread some parts in order to understand it. They were just too rushed. But there was something that kept me reading the book.
I didn't like Everett. I like how he was portrayed but he did things that the author had no explanation for. He was weirdly awkward. I wasn't able to picture him as an actual human being. I get it that Everett liked boys but what is with the weak, feminine, naive, helpless portrayal of the character?
I loved Everett's Grandfather. He was so cool! He was okay with Everett's sexuality, always looked out for him and owned a book store!!!!!!! Bryce, was a strange creature. I liked him, a lot. But he was too corny.
Fantasy is my go to genre and I think I liked the "witchy" parts of the book. I loved the bond Buzz and Everett shared. They make an amazing team! Everett and Bryce's relationship was adorable but too cheesy. BUT THEY ARE SO CUTE TOGETHER! All in all, it was a good read, if you can handle it, The Bridge can be your next read.
May 25, 2016
This was a really interesting read. I really liked the paranormal angle to this story; I've never read anything before of this nature.
The addition of the romantic element was a nice twist and reading how it developed and blossomed was intriguing.
I enjoyed reading of Everett's unease and wariness at discovering his full 'witchy' potential. All the various witches and hybrids ready to try sway him and use his powers for evil intent was entertaining and kept me turning those pages, wondering if he'd uncover who he could/couldn't trust.
The relationship between Everitt and his grandfather was charming and the pull for Everitt between always being truthful (and disappointing his grandfather) and doing the right thing (or what's needed) was an interesting element.
I also liked Buzz's character. I've never come across anything like this before so that was really interesting.
I'm definitely going to be following these characters on their next paranormal adventure.
The addition of the romantic element was a nice twist and reading how it developed and blossomed was intriguing.
I enjoyed reading of Everett's unease and wariness at discovering his full 'witchy' potential. All the various witches and hybrids ready to try sway him and use his powers for evil intent was entertaining and kept me turning those pages, wondering if he'd uncover who he could/couldn't trust.
The relationship between Everitt and his grandfather was charming and the pull for Everitt between always being truthful (and disappointing his grandfather) and doing the right thing (or what's needed) was an interesting element.
I also liked Buzz's character. I've never come across anything like this before so that was really interesting.
I'm definitely going to be following these characters on their next paranormal adventure.
October 29, 2016
Just plain bad.
The writing was bad. The characters were some of the flattest i've ever read. The dialogue felt completely unnatural and forced throughout the whole book. Nothing at all was explained, and what little plot there was was extremely hard to follow. I honestly couldn't figure out anyone's motivation for anything.
I'm extremely frustrated that I wasted a day and six dollars on this book.
The writing was bad. The characters were some of the flattest i've ever read. The dialogue felt completely unnatural and forced throughout the whole book. Nothing at all was explained, and what little plot there was was extremely hard to follow. I honestly couldn't figure out anyone's motivation for anything.
I'm extremely frustrated that I wasted a day and six dollars on this book.
June 11, 2016
I adored this book. My favorite aspect is that everyone knew who they were from the beginning so what angst and termoil there is in the book is spent on the paranormal. You can see my full review on my YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/lvUM3F5AmlY
https://youtu.be/lvUM3F5AmlY
Read
July 2, 2016DNF
April 2, 2017
-Originally reviewed for Prism Book Alliance.-
I apologize for putting this so plainly but…what on earth did I just read?
The Bridge has a beautiful cover. There are characters, and some things happen (in no particular order or for any apparent reason), and umm – did I mention the cover? Because it’s beautiful.
Honestly, the jellyfish with consent issues makes more sense than the grown humans do for most of the book. I’m not kidding. I struggled to even finish this choppy, unplotted debut. Sorry y’all.
I apologize for putting this so plainly but…what on earth did I just read?
The Bridge has a beautiful cover. There are characters, and some things happen (in no particular order or for any apparent reason), and umm – did I mention the cover? Because it’s beautiful.
Honestly, the jellyfish with consent issues makes more sense than the grown humans do for most of the book. I’m not kidding. I struggled to even finish this choppy, unplotted debut. Sorry y’all.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews