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Vicarious #2
Ferocious
Paula Stokes returns to the world of Vicarious in this sequel, a high-action psychological thriller with a protagonist out for vengeance.
When Winter Kim finds out that her sister is dead and that she has a brother she never knew about, only two things matter―finding what’s left of her family and killing the man who destroyed her life. Her mission leads her from St. Louis to Los Angeles back to South Korea, where she grew up.
Things get increasingly dangerous once Winter arrives in Seoul. Aided by her friends Jesse and Sebastian, Winter attempts to infiltrate an international corporation to get close to her target, a nefarious businessman named Kyung. But keeping her last remaining loved ones out of the line of fire proves difficult, and when all seems to be lost, Winter must face one last devastating decision: is revenge worth sacrificing everything for? Or can she find a spark of hope in the darkness that threatens to engulf her?
When Winter Kim finds out that her sister is dead and that she has a brother she never knew about, only two things matter―finding what’s left of her family and killing the man who destroyed her life. Her mission leads her from St. Louis to Los Angeles back to South Korea, where she grew up.
Things get increasingly dangerous once Winter arrives in Seoul. Aided by her friends Jesse and Sebastian, Winter attempts to infiltrate an international corporation to get close to her target, a nefarious businessman named Kyung. But keeping her last remaining loved ones out of the line of fire proves difficult, and when all seems to be lost, Winter must face one last devastating decision: is revenge worth sacrificing everything for? Or can she find a spark of hope in the darkness that threatens to engulf her?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 15, 2017
5 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Paula Stokes
15 books1,145 followers*** Please contact me via the contact information on my website: authorpaulastokes.com ***
Paula Stokes is half writer, half RN, and totally thrilled to be part of the world of YA literature. She started out writing historical fiction under a pen name and is now branching out into other YA genres.
When she's not working (rare), she's kayaking, hiking, reading, or seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. She's petted tigers, snuggled snakes, snorkeled with stingrays, and once enjoyed the suction-cuppy feel of a baby elephant's trunk as it ate peanuts from her palm. Her future goals include diving with Great White sharks, learning Krav Maga, and writing a whole slew of novels, not necessarily in that order.
Paula Stokes is half writer, half RN, and totally thrilled to be part of the world of YA literature. She started out writing historical fiction under a pen name and is now branching out into other YA genres.
When she's not working (rare), she's kayaking, hiking, reading, or seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. She's petted tigers, snuggled snakes, snorkeled with stingrays, and once enjoyed the suction-cuppy feel of a baby elephant's trunk as it ate peanuts from her palm. Her future goals include diving with Great White sharks, learning Krav Maga, and writing a whole slew of novels, not necessarily in that order.
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August 13, 2017
See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net!
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Related Review:
Vicarious: ★★★★
After the jaw dropping events of Vicarious, I was totally unsure how the events of this book could possibly play out. In the interest of avoiding spoilers, I'll just say that there were some plot-twists in the first book that I didn't see coming and Paula Stokes used them to her benefit here to keep the story fresh and moving in directions I didn't exactly expect them to go.
Another thing I enjoy about Stoke's writing is that she takes risks as a Young Adult author, especially writing in a contemporary setting. She doesn't tie herself down to a single setting and instead had Winter and the surrounding characters jet-setting off on an globe-trotting adventure over the course of the plot. It really opened opportunities to include diverse characters and locations that Stokes uses to her advantage. Again, those looking for a story that celebrates the strength of diverse relationships between characters would likely find a lot to love here.
One thing I thought detracted a bit from my enjoyment of this book over the first was that the plot was a little less engaging for me. I preferred Winter's search for her sister over a search to recover the ViSE technology. Unfortunately, I don't really think that the technology's importance was really established enough in the first book for me to really get behind why it was so necessary to recover it here. There were a lot of moments that I thought Winter should just let it go and move on with her life and recovering her mental health because the true nature of how the baddies wanted to use the technology isn't really explained until nearly the end of the story.
This brings me to Winter. With the plot twist at the end of the first novel, I thought a bit of her agency was removed in a way I didn't totally love. It's really difficult to explain without spoiling the twist from the first book, but it involved Winter not totally being in control of a lot of her actions in this book. It felt like each time the stakes got raised here, Winter was pulled out of danger by a solution that felt a bit like cheating. Thankfully, her decisive nature and personal strengths are returned to her by the end of the story, so it's not all bad.
The action from the first book is still present in this one. It just felt a little subdued at points, and I wished we had more focus on certain characters from the first book, rather than on new characters that were introduced in this one.
★★★ 3/5 stars!
__________
Thank you to Tor Teen and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!
__________
Related Review:
Vicarious: ★★★★
After the jaw dropping events of Vicarious, I was totally unsure how the events of this book could possibly play out. In the interest of avoiding spoilers, I'll just say that there were some plot-twists in the first book that I didn't see coming and Paula Stokes used them to her benefit here to keep the story fresh and moving in directions I didn't exactly expect them to go.
Another thing I enjoy about Stoke's writing is that she takes risks as a Young Adult author, especially writing in a contemporary setting. She doesn't tie herself down to a single setting and instead had Winter and the surrounding characters jet-setting off on an globe-trotting adventure over the course of the plot. It really opened opportunities to include diverse characters and locations that Stokes uses to her advantage. Again, those looking for a story that celebrates the strength of diverse relationships between characters would likely find a lot to love here.
One thing I thought detracted a bit from my enjoyment of this book over the first was that the plot was a little less engaging for me. I preferred Winter's search for her sister over a search to recover the ViSE technology. Unfortunately, I don't really think that the technology's importance was really established enough in the first book for me to really get behind why it was so necessary to recover it here. There were a lot of moments that I thought Winter should just let it go and move on with her life and recovering her mental health because the true nature of how the baddies wanted to use the technology isn't really explained until nearly the end of the story.
This brings me to Winter. With the plot twist at the end of the first novel, I thought a bit of her agency was removed in a way I didn't totally love. It's really difficult to explain without spoiling the twist from the first book, but it involved Winter not totally being in control of a lot of her actions in this book. It felt like each time the stakes got raised here, Winter was pulled out of danger by a solution that felt a bit like cheating. Thankfully, her decisive nature and personal strengths are returned to her by the end of the story, so it's not all bad.
The action from the first book is still present in this one. It just felt a little subdued at points, and I wished we had more focus on certain characters from the first book, rather than on new characters that were introduced in this one.
★★★ 3/5 stars!
__________
Thank you to Tor Teen and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!
August 16, 2017
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Ferocious by Paula Stokes
Book Two of the Vicarious series
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: August 15, 2017
Rating: 3 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Paula Stokes returns to the world of Vicarious in this sequel, a high-action psychological thriller with a protagonist out for vengeance.
When Winter Kim finds out that her sister is dead and that she has a brother she never knew about, only two things matter―finding what’s left of her family and killing the man who destroyed her life. Her mission leads her from St. Louis to Los Angeles back to South Korea, where she grew up.
Things get increasingly dangerous once Winter arrives in Seoul. Aided by her friends Jesse and Sebastian, Winter attempts to infiltrate an international corporation to get close to her target, a nefarious businessman named Kyung. But keeping her last remaining loved ones out of the line of fire proves difficult, and when all seems to be lost, Winter must face one last devastating decision: is revenge worth sacrificing everything for? Or can she find a spark of hope in the darkness that threatens to engulf her?
What I Liked:
Ferocious is a little different compared to its predecessor, Vicarious. While Vicarious had a lot of action and jaw-dropping reveals, Ferocious felt more introspective. Fans of Vicarious will not be disappointed with this sequel, as it brings the story to a game-changing climax and wraps up everything in a neat fashion.
This book picks up fairly closely to where the previous book finished. Winter is determined to find the brother she never knew about it, and she leaves Jesse and Baz to recover in the hospital in St. Louis, while she goes to L.A. But trouble follows her to L.A., and she finds herself with Jesse and Baz heading to Seoul. Kyung has the ViSE tech that Winter was determined to protect, and she will stop at nothing to get it out of his hands and to make him pay for all of his crimes.
The pace of this book is much slower and involved more planning (in terms of what Winter, Baz, and Jesse were doing). I didn't mind this because the slower pace seemed necessary, with all that Winter had to take in, at the end of Vicarious. While most of the action deals with Winter trying to get the tech back, the other big part of the story is Winter's mental state.
This book has Winter's mental illness at front and center. Winter is trying to figure out who she is and who her alters are, and what she can do to control these parts of her. I like that Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is something that is talked about a lot in this book - meaning, it is something that constantly appears on the page. Winter worries about losing control to her other alters. She worries about not being strong enough to do this or that. She worries that there is nothing she can do to be "normal" again. But at the same time, she talks about DID to Jesse, and her therapist, and Baz. It's not something that she keeps in secret, and I liked that she kept things so open.
Winter is such a private and sometimes closed-off person, which was obvious in book one, and is still obvious in this book. I must say, the author stays true to Winter's character. Not that you would expect the author not to, but Stokes does an excellent job with the characterization and character development of all of her characters. Winter felt the most real and well-written, probably because the author spent the most time making her flawed and imperfect and human and real.
Jesse is a constant support, always there for Winter, and a big part of the story. Baz is another pillar of support. Jesse was ex-military, and Baz was... something. He has connections to people with dangerous things in Korea (like hand-held weapons), and he is pretty handy to have around. But besides that, Baz is a a nice guy who means well. (If you're wondering, he was a friend of Gideon's, who was Rose's boyfriend and a father-figure to Winter.)
The romance in this book is suuuuuuper slow-burn and barely there. Well, it's something that comes up every now and then, but the majority of the romance is Winter trying to figure out what she wanted. Everyone and their mother could tell that Jesse loved Winter (Winter was well aware too). But Winter kept sending mixed signals because she didn't know what she wanted. Again, slow-burn, until the very end. A little too slow, given that the romance is slow-burn across the series, but not necessarily a bad thing. No swoony moments though, unfortunately.
Props to the author for doing such a great job with the setting (Seoul, mostly) and Korean culture. There are sprinkles of the Korean language, food, and customs, and of course most of the book is set in Seoul. To me it was clear that the author knew what she was writing about and had done her research. (Also, if anyone is curious, Stokes lived in Seoul for some time.)
The climax didn't feel super exciting mostly because by that point you can figure out who is going to live, who is going to die, who is going to end up with the tech, etc. It's a cookie-cutter ending with not a single important death, so take that as you will. It's a good ending but maybe a little too perfect?
What I Did Not Like:
I feel like there are little things about this book that bothered me and I can't say I loved the book. Liked, yes, but not loved. I already mentioned how I thought the ending was a little too perfect, in a cookie-cutter kind of way. I honestly expected this one person to die, or another specific person, but literally no one dies, which was kind of irritating. And I was referring to good guys (in terms of people who I thought would die)! Usually there is at least one major "good guy" death.
The romance was soooooo slow. Don't get me wrong, I love slow-burn. But this was borderline annoying. I wrote above that it wasn't a bad thing and it really isn't for some people. And for most of the book, it didn't really bother me too much. But in the back of my head I kept thinking, nothing is happening! I understand what Winter needed to think through, but she wasn't attempting to think through certain things (like romance), so I didn't know what the point was.
Can I also mention how way-too-perfect Jesse seemed? I am all for sweet boys, but I think Jesse was a little too sweet and perfect. It was really hard for me to wrap my head around his constant I'd-do-anything-for-you-Winter attitude. Can you imagine a young boy in the 21st century carrying on like that? Y'all. I'm 22 i.e. around Jesse's age. It would be a hard NO. Also I'm not sure I see his motivation. I get that he loves her but before he loved her? Why?
"But this is fiction, Alyssa!" Yeah and he is STILL too perfect, selflessness aside. The guy never gets upset. He never gets irritated. He never throws a tantrum or a fit or has a ticking jaw. He literally neverrrrrrrrr feels any kind of negative emotion, EXCEPT maybe the occasional flash of disappointment when Winter doesn't want the breakfast he orders, or something like that. And it's like, a flash of disappointment and then he is back to his peppy self. Y'all. I'm sorry. But no. You could be the most even-tempered person (and I know plenty of those) and you'd still get irritated over this or that, in front of people.
There was something about this book's plot that was a little lacking, especially considering how extreme and intense book one was. Maybe it was the whole "gotta-steal-back-the-tech" thing? I always find that kind of plot hard to believe because you're tell me untrained seventeen-year-old teenagers are outsmarting men in the forties/fifties with high-tech security and state-of-the-art technology and all of that? My imagination stretches pretty far but with these kinds of plot, I'm not always a believer. Especially when I thought there were a bunch of situations in which Winter got lucky, or there was some sort of deus ex machina at work.
Also, a small thing, but I'm so lost as to how Jesse appeared to make a miraculous recovery from the hospital in the early chapters of this book. He was in the ICU in St. Louis wrapped up in bandages upon bandages, and then two days later he hops on a plane, pops out in L.A., kicking down doors and chasing people? And yet he was healing from a gunshot wound and wounds that Winter inflicted on him? As the story goes on, there is mention of how Jesse has to slow down to take stairs, and his bandages have to be checked. But you understand what I'm saying, right? He basically did a 180 in less than 48 hours or so. If I had gotten shot (I think he got shot once at the end of book one, if I remember correctly), I would be chilling for days, if not weeks. This circles back to my mention of how Jesse's selflessness is very, very unbelievable.
Another thing? Does Winter ever feel bad about how she physically hurt Jesse? Not to mention that she manipulates him emotionally throughout this book (by stringing him along, until she finally makes up her mind). But she physically hurt him at the end of the book one, and I don't recall seeing her feel any kind of guilt at all, in this book. Maybe a fleeting thought. No apology or anything. And yet, Jesse treats her like she is Beyonce. Y'all. I can't deal with this fictional, fictitious boy.
Little things, right?
Would I Recommend It:
I highly recommend Vicarious but I can't say I really recommend Ferocious. I mean, I don't think anyone who loves this series and author will be disappointed - and if anything, all of my dislikes could be just me. But Ferocious didn't have the same impact that Vicarious had. I think it would have been better if Vicarious had been a standalone. Ferocious seemed kind of expendable and unnecessary - I could have been satisfied with Vicarious (but with a different ending - maybe Ferocious's ending). Vicarious was so good.
Rating:
3 stars. This was a difficult rating for me because I so wanted to love the book, and I gave it a higher rating initially. But that was me fooling myself and trying to force myself to feel that way. I liked the story but I just didn't love it, and the issues I had with it were enough to impact my rating. Still, I'm not disappointed and I'm glad I finished out the series. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!
Ferocious by Paula Stokes
Book Two of the Vicarious series
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: August 15, 2017
Rating: 3 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Paula Stokes returns to the world of Vicarious in this sequel, a high-action psychological thriller with a protagonist out for vengeance.
When Winter Kim finds out that her sister is dead and that she has a brother she never knew about, only two things matter―finding what’s left of her family and killing the man who destroyed her life. Her mission leads her from St. Louis to Los Angeles back to South Korea, where she grew up.
Things get increasingly dangerous once Winter arrives in Seoul. Aided by her friends Jesse and Sebastian, Winter attempts to infiltrate an international corporation to get close to her target, a nefarious businessman named Kyung. But keeping her last remaining loved ones out of the line of fire proves difficult, and when all seems to be lost, Winter must face one last devastating decision: is revenge worth sacrificing everything for? Or can she find a spark of hope in the darkness that threatens to engulf her?
What I Liked:
Ferocious is a little different compared to its predecessor, Vicarious. While Vicarious had a lot of action and jaw-dropping reveals, Ferocious felt more introspective. Fans of Vicarious will not be disappointed with this sequel, as it brings the story to a game-changing climax and wraps up everything in a neat fashion.
This book picks up fairly closely to where the previous book finished. Winter is determined to find the brother she never knew about it, and she leaves Jesse and Baz to recover in the hospital in St. Louis, while she goes to L.A. But trouble follows her to L.A., and she finds herself with Jesse and Baz heading to Seoul. Kyung has the ViSE tech that Winter was determined to protect, and she will stop at nothing to get it out of his hands and to make him pay for all of his crimes.
The pace of this book is much slower and involved more planning (in terms of what Winter, Baz, and Jesse were doing). I didn't mind this because the slower pace seemed necessary, with all that Winter had to take in, at the end of Vicarious. While most of the action deals with Winter trying to get the tech back, the other big part of the story is Winter's mental state.
This book has Winter's mental illness at front and center. Winter is trying to figure out who she is and who her alters are, and what she can do to control these parts of her. I like that Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is something that is talked about a lot in this book - meaning, it is something that constantly appears on the page. Winter worries about losing control to her other alters. She worries about not being strong enough to do this or that. She worries that there is nothing she can do to be "normal" again. But at the same time, she talks about DID to Jesse, and her therapist, and Baz. It's not something that she keeps in secret, and I liked that she kept things so open.
Winter is such a private and sometimes closed-off person, which was obvious in book one, and is still obvious in this book. I must say, the author stays true to Winter's character. Not that you would expect the author not to, but Stokes does an excellent job with the characterization and character development of all of her characters. Winter felt the most real and well-written, probably because the author spent the most time making her flawed and imperfect and human and real.
Jesse is a constant support, always there for Winter, and a big part of the story. Baz is another pillar of support. Jesse was ex-military, and Baz was... something. He has connections to people with dangerous things in Korea (like hand-held weapons), and he is pretty handy to have around. But besides that, Baz is a a nice guy who means well. (If you're wondering, he was a friend of Gideon's, who was Rose's boyfriend and a father-figure to Winter.)
The romance in this book is suuuuuuper slow-burn and barely there. Well, it's something that comes up every now and then, but the majority of the romance is Winter trying to figure out what she wanted. Everyone and their mother could tell that Jesse loved Winter (Winter was well aware too). But Winter kept sending mixed signals because she didn't know what she wanted. Again, slow-burn, until the very end. A little too slow, given that the romance is slow-burn across the series, but not necessarily a bad thing. No swoony moments though, unfortunately.
Props to the author for doing such a great job with the setting (Seoul, mostly) and Korean culture. There are sprinkles of the Korean language, food, and customs, and of course most of the book is set in Seoul. To me it was clear that the author knew what she was writing about and had done her research. (Also, if anyone is curious, Stokes lived in Seoul for some time.)
The climax didn't feel super exciting mostly because by that point you can figure out who is going to live, who is going to die, who is going to end up with the tech, etc. It's a cookie-cutter ending with not a single important death, so take that as you will. It's a good ending but maybe a little too perfect?
What I Did Not Like:
I feel like there are little things about this book that bothered me and I can't say I loved the book. Liked, yes, but not loved. I already mentioned how I thought the ending was a little too perfect, in a cookie-cutter kind of way. I honestly expected this one person to die, or another specific person, but literally no one dies, which was kind of irritating. And I was referring to good guys (in terms of people who I thought would die)! Usually there is at least one major "good guy" death.
The romance was soooooo slow. Don't get me wrong, I love slow-burn. But this was borderline annoying. I wrote above that it wasn't a bad thing and it really isn't for some people. And for most of the book, it didn't really bother me too much. But in the back of my head I kept thinking, nothing is happening! I understand what Winter needed to think through, but she wasn't attempting to think through certain things (like romance), so I didn't know what the point was.
Can I also mention how way-too-perfect Jesse seemed? I am all for sweet boys, but I think Jesse was a little too sweet and perfect. It was really hard for me to wrap my head around his constant I'd-do-anything-for-you-Winter attitude. Can you imagine a young boy in the 21st century carrying on like that? Y'all. I'm 22 i.e. around Jesse's age. It would be a hard NO. Also I'm not sure I see his motivation. I get that he loves her but before he loved her? Why?
"But this is fiction, Alyssa!" Yeah and he is STILL too perfect, selflessness aside. The guy never gets upset. He never gets irritated. He never throws a tantrum or a fit or has a ticking jaw. He literally neverrrrrrrrr feels any kind of negative emotion, EXCEPT maybe the occasional flash of disappointment when Winter doesn't want the breakfast he orders, or something like that. And it's like, a flash of disappointment and then he is back to his peppy self. Y'all. I'm sorry. But no. You could be the most even-tempered person (and I know plenty of those) and you'd still get irritated over this or that, in front of people.
There was something about this book's plot that was a little lacking, especially considering how extreme and intense book one was. Maybe it was the whole "gotta-steal-back-the-tech" thing? I always find that kind of plot hard to believe because you're tell me untrained seventeen-year-old teenagers are outsmarting men in the forties/fifties with high-tech security and state-of-the-art technology and all of that? My imagination stretches pretty far but with these kinds of plot, I'm not always a believer. Especially when I thought there were a bunch of situations in which Winter got lucky, or there was some sort of deus ex machina at work.
Also, a small thing, but I'm so lost as to how Jesse appeared to make a miraculous recovery from the hospital in the early chapters of this book. He was in the ICU in St. Louis wrapped up in bandages upon bandages, and then two days later he hops on a plane, pops out in L.A., kicking down doors and chasing people? And yet he was healing from a gunshot wound and wounds that Winter inflicted on him? As the story goes on, there is mention of how Jesse has to slow down to take stairs, and his bandages have to be checked. But you understand what I'm saying, right? He basically did a 180 in less than 48 hours or so. If I had gotten shot (I think he got shot once at the end of book one, if I remember correctly), I would be chilling for days, if not weeks. This circles back to my mention of how Jesse's selflessness is very, very unbelievable.
Another thing? Does Winter ever feel bad about how she physically hurt Jesse? Not to mention that she manipulates him emotionally throughout this book (by stringing him along, until she finally makes up her mind). But she physically hurt him at the end of the book one, and I don't recall seeing her feel any kind of guilt at all, in this book. Maybe a fleeting thought. No apology or anything. And yet, Jesse treats her like she is Beyonce. Y'all. I can't deal with this fictional, fictitious boy.
Little things, right?
Would I Recommend It:
I highly recommend Vicarious but I can't say I really recommend Ferocious. I mean, I don't think anyone who loves this series and author will be disappointed - and if anything, all of my dislikes could be just me. But Ferocious didn't have the same impact that Vicarious had. I think it would have been better if Vicarious had been a standalone. Ferocious seemed kind of expendable and unnecessary - I could have been satisfied with Vicarious (but with a different ending - maybe Ferocious's ending). Vicarious was so good.
Rating:
3 stars. This was a difficult rating for me because I so wanted to love the book, and I gave it a higher rating initially. But that was me fooling myself and trying to force myself to feel that way. I liked the story but I just didn't love it, and the issues I had with it were enough to impact my rating. Still, I'm not disappointed and I'm glad I finished out the series. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!
August 16, 2017
Oh man, this is was amazing. I didn't reread Vicarious before I started this and I probably should have, but I was pretty excited to get to it.
Winter is a straight up BAMF. She's stronger than she thinks and it so satisfying to see her come to that realization. Jesse and Baz are delightful in their own ways and the three of them work quite well together as they are complimentary as a trio.
Plot wise, it goes back and forth between build up and madness and it's fast paced right from the beginning. There's always movement and plotting and in between there's some sweetness and kissing. As the ending gets close, there are a few surprising moments that had me guessing at what would happen next.
Overall, I was captivated right from the start and I constantly straddled the line of wanting to devour it and wanting to savor it. I loved the story and the epilogue was a perfect as it could be.
**Huge thanks to Paula for sending me an arc and Tor Teen for providing a finished copy free of charge**
Winter is a straight up BAMF. She's stronger than she thinks and it so satisfying to see her come to that realization. Jesse and Baz are delightful in their own ways and the three of them work quite well together as they are complimentary as a trio.
Plot wise, it goes back and forth between build up and madness and it's fast paced right from the beginning. There's always movement and plotting and in between there's some sweetness and kissing. As the ending gets close, there are a few surprising moments that had me guessing at what would happen next.
Overall, I was captivated right from the start and I constantly straddled the line of wanting to devour it and wanting to savor it. I loved the story and the epilogue was a perfect as it could be.
**Huge thanks to Paula for sending me an arc and Tor Teen for providing a finished copy free of charge**
August 26, 2017
3.5/5
Winter Kim and her friends race back in this sequel and finale to the Vicarious duology, this time armed with a thirst for revenge for the deaths of her loved ones and the desire to find and protect her brother, on the streets of South Korea.
Winter’s dissociative identity disorder (DID) plays a much more significant role in Ferocious, and is an interesting look into the mental health illness. Though I can’t speak to how authentic the representation of DID is in the book, it certainly feels like Stokes has taken her time to research the subject matter meticulously. Admittedly, the DID is used as a plot device at times, and the book could have done with a deeper look at Winter’s alternate personalities, to make it come across as a stronger element of the novel. Winter’s blood-thirst, determination and struggles with who she really is make her an interesting protagonist. Though she often time makes questionable decisions, she remains a likable character throughout Ferocious, and you find yourself rooting for her happiness. Her love interest, Jesse, once again plays a pivotal role in her life, often times anchoring her to her reality, and helping her feel valued and loved. While undeniably Jesse comes across as overly perfect at times, his selflessness and kindness make him hard to dislike.
The romance between Winter and Jesse feels very stagnant at times throughout the book, with Winter not entirely ready to give in to her feelings and attraction to Jesse, and her focus solely being on her mission. It feels slow, but the build up makes it more realistic. Regardless, this is a romance that will most likely either satisfy fans immensely or frustrate them because of how slow it is. The mission, involving a mysterious but shady businessman, the stolen ViSE device, and Winter’s brother, is at the center of Ferocious. There are plenty of action-packed and bloody scenes, but Ferocious also has some pacing issues. Much of the middle of the book involves planning for the ultimate mission and how to take down Kyun, the businessman who has ruined Winter’s life, so not a lot happens. Most of the midsection of the book involves exploring the food culture in South Korea, which admittedly was a great addition for a foodie like myself. The book is also lacking in any major surprises and feels mostly predictable.
It’s still a very readable sequel, and wraps up Winter’s story nicely, but looking at the duology as a whole, Vicarious was the stronger book.
Winter Kim and her friends race back in this sequel and finale to the Vicarious duology, this time armed with a thirst for revenge for the deaths of her loved ones and the desire to find and protect her brother, on the streets of South Korea.
Winter’s dissociative identity disorder (DID) plays a much more significant role in Ferocious, and is an interesting look into the mental health illness. Though I can’t speak to how authentic the representation of DID is in the book, it certainly feels like Stokes has taken her time to research the subject matter meticulously. Admittedly, the DID is used as a plot device at times, and the book could have done with a deeper look at Winter’s alternate personalities, to make it come across as a stronger element of the novel. Winter’s blood-thirst, determination and struggles with who she really is make her an interesting protagonist. Though she often time makes questionable decisions, she remains a likable character throughout Ferocious, and you find yourself rooting for her happiness. Her love interest, Jesse, once again plays a pivotal role in her life, often times anchoring her to her reality, and helping her feel valued and loved. While undeniably Jesse comes across as overly perfect at times, his selflessness and kindness make him hard to dislike.
The romance between Winter and Jesse feels very stagnant at times throughout the book, with Winter not entirely ready to give in to her feelings and attraction to Jesse, and her focus solely being on her mission. It feels slow, but the build up makes it more realistic. Regardless, this is a romance that will most likely either satisfy fans immensely or frustrate them because of how slow it is. The mission, involving a mysterious but shady businessman, the stolen ViSE device, and Winter’s brother, is at the center of Ferocious. There are plenty of action-packed and bloody scenes, but Ferocious also has some pacing issues. Much of the middle of the book involves planning for the ultimate mission and how to take down Kyun, the businessman who has ruined Winter’s life, so not a lot happens. Most of the midsection of the book involves exploring the food culture in South Korea, which admittedly was a great addition for a foodie like myself. The book is also lacking in any major surprises and feels mostly predictable.
It’s still a very readable sequel, and wraps up Winter’s story nicely, but looking at the duology as a whole, Vicarious was the stronger book.
August 23, 2017
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
Paula Stokes is probably one of my favorite authors, and while I'm used to reading her contemporaries (such as Girl Against the Universe ), I'm also loving her Vicarious series a lot. These books are so full of action, revenge, and a whole bunch of awesomeness. I'm surprised I haven't seen too much hype for Ferocious, as Vicarious was more than amazing - it completely blew me out of the water when I read it.
Ferocious takes us back into the world of Vicarious, picking up at the exact spot where Vicarious leaves off, offering us plenty of adventure that carries over from the previous novel. Unfortunately, I don't think that you could read this one as a standalone - since it picks up where the first book left off, you're definitely going to read that one first. This being said, for those who haven't yet read Vicarious, I'm going to make sure this review is as spoiler free as possible!
If you loved Paula Stokes's writing in Vicarious, you're going to love how seamlessly this book carries the story line over from that book. It's like we never left that world, and it's so super easy to fall back into the world and get reconnected to the characters. I can't recall the last time that I read a book that ended in such a way that when I started the next book in the series, I felt right at home - this book felt just like that comfy and familiar blanket that I wanted to curl myself up with.
I love how much action is in this book - the pacing is so spot on and there really isn't ever a dull moment here. I tend to get kind of bored easily when books are slow paced and I end up skimming ahead because I don't want to fall asleep, but that isn't the case here and I loved every second of it. There's nonstop action going on from the very first page til the last, and if that's your type of book, you're really going to enjoy it.
The basis behind this book is all about the main character out to get vengeance, and it really delivers. I love how driven she is and how she is willing to do anything to get revenge. This book has one amazing heroine that you can't help but really love!
If you are a fan of Paula Stokes and haven't picked up Vicarious yet, you really need to pick that up and read both of them - they are so well written and so much fun that you won't be able to put them down. If you've read Vicarious and you haven't had the chance to pick this up yet, please, by all means, continue reading, because this conclusion is absolutely perfect!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Paula Stokes is probably one of my favorite authors, and while I'm used to reading her contemporaries (such as Girl Against the Universe ), I'm also loving her Vicarious series a lot. These books are so full of action, revenge, and a whole bunch of awesomeness. I'm surprised I haven't seen too much hype for Ferocious, as Vicarious was more than amazing - it completely blew me out of the water when I read it.
Ferocious takes us back into the world of Vicarious, picking up at the exact spot where Vicarious leaves off, offering us plenty of adventure that carries over from the previous novel. Unfortunately, I don't think that you could read this one as a standalone - since it picks up where the first book left off, you're definitely going to read that one first. This being said, for those who haven't yet read Vicarious, I'm going to make sure this review is as spoiler free as possible!
If you loved Paula Stokes's writing in Vicarious, you're going to love how seamlessly this book carries the story line over from that book. It's like we never left that world, and it's so super easy to fall back into the world and get reconnected to the characters. I can't recall the last time that I read a book that ended in such a way that when I started the next book in the series, I felt right at home - this book felt just like that comfy and familiar blanket that I wanted to curl myself up with.
I love how much action is in this book - the pacing is so spot on and there really isn't ever a dull moment here. I tend to get kind of bored easily when books are slow paced and I end up skimming ahead because I don't want to fall asleep, but that isn't the case here and I loved every second of it. There's nonstop action going on from the very first page til the last, and if that's your type of book, you're really going to enjoy it.
The basis behind this book is all about the main character out to get vengeance, and it really delivers. I love how driven she is and how she is willing to do anything to get revenge. This book has one amazing heroine that you can't help but really love!
If you are a fan of Paula Stokes and haven't picked up Vicarious yet, you really need to pick that up and read both of them - they are so well written and so much fun that you won't be able to put them down. If you've read Vicarious and you haven't had the chance to pick this up yet, please, by all means, continue reading, because this conclusion is absolutely perfect!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
August 5, 2017
You know how to avoid the underwhelming 2nd book in a trilogy…make it a duology and the problem is solved. At least with this duo it is.
Book Title: Ferocious
Author: Paula Stokes
Series: Vicarious #2 (duology)
Genre: Older YA, Science Fiction, Thriller
Publisher: Macmillan-Tor/Forge
Setting: LA and Seoul, South Korea
Source: I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
⇝My Thoughts⇜
⇝First off I want to thank Paula Stokes for making sure I received an arc of this personally⇜
I feel that Ferocious rocked for a second/final book. It's well paced, action packed, and never boring. In my review for Vicarious I said this is a toned down not-quite-so-violent Kill Bill meets Strange Days, and this is true for the second book too…just less Strange Days and more Pretty Girl-13, which is another story about a girl with DID. It also has the added bonus of Jesse and Winter's romance…so sweet and blended in seamlessly with all the action going on.
This begins right where book 1 left off…and has Winter more than ready to get her revenge on Kyung for everything he has done to her family. Once the setting changes to Seoul, everything ratchets up a notch. The food, people and culture descriptions, are so well researched I felt like I was there myself.
Oh yeah...one more thing...this duo would make an excellent movie or movies.
⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜
Plot: 5/5
Main Characters: 5/5
Secondary Characters: 5/5
The Feels: 4.8/5
Addictiveness: 4.8/5
Theme or Tone: 5/5
Flow (Writing Style): 5/5
Backdrop (World Building): 5+/5
Originality: 5/5
Book Cover: 5/5
Ending: 5/5 Cliffhanger: Nope, not at all.
Total: 5/5 STARS
Will I read more from this Author? Most definitely.
Book Title: Ferocious
Author: Paula Stokes
Series: Vicarious #2 (duology)
Genre: Older YA, Science Fiction, Thriller
Publisher: Macmillan-Tor/Forge
Setting: LA and Seoul, South Korea
Source: I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
✧✧✧OVERALL RATING✧5/5 STARS✧A+✧✧✧
⇝My Thoughts⇜
⇝First off I want to thank Paula Stokes for making sure I received an arc of this personally⇜
I feel that Ferocious rocked for a second/final book. It's well paced, action packed, and never boring. In my review for Vicarious I said this is a toned down not-quite-so-violent Kill Bill meets Strange Days, and this is true for the second book too…just less Strange Days and more Pretty Girl-13, which is another story about a girl with DID. It also has the added bonus of Jesse and Winter's romance…so sweet and blended in seamlessly with all the action going on.
This begins right where book 1 left off…and has Winter more than ready to get her revenge on Kyung for everything he has done to her family. Once the setting changes to Seoul, everything ratchets up a notch. The food, people and culture descriptions, are so well researched I felt like I was there myself.
Oh yeah...one more thing...this duo would make an excellent movie or movies.
⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜
Plot: 5/5
Main Characters: 5/5
Secondary Characters: 5/5
The Feels: 4.8/5
Addictiveness: 4.8/5
Theme or Tone: 5/5
Flow (Writing Style): 5/5
Backdrop (World Building): 5+/5
Originality: 5/5
Book Cover: 5/5
Ending: 5/5 Cliffhanger: Nope, not at all.
Total: 5/5 STARS
Will I read more from this Author? Most definitely.
August 5, 2017
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Ferocious, by author Paula Stokes, is the second and final installment in the author's Vicarious duology. As we learned from the previous installment, Winter Kim's sister (Rose) is dead, the man who she thought of as a father figure (Gideon) is also dead. Jesse Ramirez and Sebastian Baz Faber are in the hospital, and it appears as though Winter may have a brother who she never knew. A brother who was born after Winter and her sister Rose were given up for adoption in South Korea, and later brought to Los Angeles.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Ferocious, by author Paula Stokes, is the second and final installment in the author's Vicarious duology. As we learned from the previous installment, Winter Kim's sister (Rose) is dead, the man who she thought of as a father figure (Gideon) is also dead. Jesse Ramirez and Sebastian Baz Faber are in the hospital, and it appears as though Winter may have a brother who she never knew. A brother who was born after Winter and her sister Rose were given up for adoption in South Korea, and later brought to Los Angeles.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
November 6, 2015
I already know this is going to be as thrilling and kick-butt at Vicarious. I'm kinda psychic. I have a fifth sense. It's like I have ESPN or something.
Read
August 1, 2017I liked this even more than the first book - thought it wrapped up well and loved the Seoul setting.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
August 7, 2017
I received this ARC from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FROM VICARIOUS WITHIN THIS REVIEW. READ WITH CAUTION!
Paula Stokes amps up the intrigue and adventure with Ferocious, the follow-up and conclusion to Vicarious! We pretty much pick up where we left off and see that Winter is making her plans for revenge against Kyung who essentially ruined her life and killed all the people that she loved. We also learned Winter’s secret, one that she didn’t even realize was a part of her, and that of course is that she has Dissociative Identity Disorder, and we get to see more of this play out throughout the novel. Even getting to read through two of her identity’s points of view.
Winter finds herself traveling solo while Jesse and Baz are in the hospital, healing from their wounds due to the big showdown tat the end of Vicarious. Among the many things she’s learned about herself is that she happens to have a younger brother who might still be alive. Her goal is to find him and get him off to safety before making a move against Kyung who’s already started contacting her wanting to get Gideon’s technology from her.
This one packs quite the punch for action! If the first one was more about the mystery and intrigue, this one’s definitely about action and espionage! Not long into her journey though, a part of Winter finds she will need more help and Jesse and Baz are quick to the rescue! There’s a lot more traveling in this one! Winter goes from St. Louis to L.A. to Korea! It’s a race against the clock to find Kyung and get back what was stolen before he can use it for his own sinister purposes!
I like that in this one, we get to see a bit more of Winter’s condition. I was pretty intrigued with Dissociative Identity Disorder when I was in a psychology course, I even read Sybil for further research purposes. Winter developed some of her primary identities when she was younger and the abuse she suffered while working for Kyung. And the fact that Paula put so much detail into her disorder was remarkable! It really opens your eyes to this kind of disorder and I even liked that we have Winter trying to help herself this time by contacting her previous doctor to get some advice on certain things. It showed progress for Winter’s own character development.
And can I say again how much I love Jesse? Winter has her issues with Jesse when she learned one of her identities took over for her and instigated something with Jesse. Now Jesse has to gain back her trust and Winter has learn to trust him again as well. Winter’s struggles felt very real. I appreciated that fact. At times she felt like she was going back and forth with her emotions, but given the situation she found herself in, I think that reflects reality a bit. Feelings and emotions aren’t always so black and white. And that we see Jesse and Winter basically starting over again, it kind of hit the right “feels” button at their budding romance!
I liked Paula’s use of shock factor in this one! There were so many twists and turns and turnarounds! It was like whoa! Just when I think I have something figured out, Paula would shake up all the pieces again! And I loved it! I loved how things were never quite the way they appeared to be in this one! The action was well paced too! If you weren’t having exciting and thrilling moments, you were having tension building moments that would lead to those action filled moments, or even watching some great character growth on Winter’s part! This was truly one remarkable read! And the ending was just right too!
Ferocious was the perfect kind of conclusion to Vicarious! I enjoyed taking this journey with Winter and learning a few things too! This was definitely one fun and exciting duology! I’ll be keeping an eye on Paula’s books from now on!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
Ferocious releases August 15, 2017
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FROM VICARIOUS WITHIN THIS REVIEW. READ WITH CAUTION!
Paula Stokes amps up the intrigue and adventure with Ferocious, the follow-up and conclusion to Vicarious! We pretty much pick up where we left off and see that Winter is making her plans for revenge against Kyung who essentially ruined her life and killed all the people that she loved. We also learned Winter’s secret, one that she didn’t even realize was a part of her, and that of course is that she has Dissociative Identity Disorder, and we get to see more of this play out throughout the novel. Even getting to read through two of her identity’s points of view.
Winter finds herself traveling solo while Jesse and Baz are in the hospital, healing from their wounds due to the big showdown tat the end of Vicarious. Among the many things she’s learned about herself is that she happens to have a younger brother who might still be alive. Her goal is to find him and get him off to safety before making a move against Kyung who’s already started contacting her wanting to get Gideon’s technology from her.
This one packs quite the punch for action! If the first one was more about the mystery and intrigue, this one’s definitely about action and espionage! Not long into her journey though, a part of Winter finds she will need more help and Jesse and Baz are quick to the rescue! There’s a lot more traveling in this one! Winter goes from St. Louis to L.A. to Korea! It’s a race against the clock to find Kyung and get back what was stolen before he can use it for his own sinister purposes!
I like that in this one, we get to see a bit more of Winter’s condition. I was pretty intrigued with Dissociative Identity Disorder when I was in a psychology course, I even read Sybil for further research purposes. Winter developed some of her primary identities when she was younger and the abuse she suffered while working for Kyung. And the fact that Paula put so much detail into her disorder was remarkable! It really opens your eyes to this kind of disorder and I even liked that we have Winter trying to help herself this time by contacting her previous doctor to get some advice on certain things. It showed progress for Winter’s own character development.
And can I say again how much I love Jesse? Winter has her issues with Jesse when she learned one of her identities took over for her and instigated something with Jesse. Now Jesse has to gain back her trust and Winter has learn to trust him again as well. Winter’s struggles felt very real. I appreciated that fact. At times she felt like she was going back and forth with her emotions, but given the situation she found herself in, I think that reflects reality a bit. Feelings and emotions aren’t always so black and white. And that we see Jesse and Winter basically starting over again, it kind of hit the right “feels” button at their budding romance!
I liked Paula’s use of shock factor in this one! There were so many twists and turns and turnarounds! It was like whoa! Just when I think I have something figured out, Paula would shake up all the pieces again! And I loved it! I loved how things were never quite the way they appeared to be in this one! The action was well paced too! If you weren’t having exciting and thrilling moments, you were having tension building moments that would lead to those action filled moments, or even watching some great character growth on Winter’s part! This was truly one remarkable read! And the ending was just right too!
Ferocious was the perfect kind of conclusion to Vicarious! I enjoyed taking this journey with Winter and learning a few things too! This was definitely one fun and exciting duology! I’ll be keeping an eye on Paula’s books from now on!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
Ferocious releases August 15, 2017
August 9, 2017
If you love kick-ass heroines with killer voices you’re going to want to get acquainted with Winter Kim as she seeks revenge on the man who stole her childhood. Vicarious was one of my top 10 reads of 2016, and Ferocious was everything I hoped for in a sequel. It is solidly paced with loads of action, the budding romance between Winter and Jesse is utterly charming, and Stokes captures the ins and outs of Korean culture the way only an insider can. Stokes gets bonus points for handling some very weighty and disturbing topics (I don’t want to give too much away) with aplomb. The Vicarious duology is a must read for fans of intense high-tech, psychological thrillers.
August 6, 2017
This book was FANFREAKINTASTIC!
It was fast paced and I didn't want it to end.
I loved it.
I have read many of Paula Stokes books and they were all great and this one was GREAT too.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an ARC of this wonderful bòok.
It was fast paced and I didn't want it to end.
I loved it.
I have read many of Paula Stokes books and they were all great and this one was GREAT too.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an ARC of this wonderful bòok.
August 24, 2017
4.5 Stars
'Ferocious' lives up to its name and then some. It's a fantastic science fiction novel full of action and thrills, and it's sure to have readers devouring the pages. I've read several of the author's other books, so I'm familiar with her amazing talent and storytelling abilities. This definitely was no exception. The writing was awesome - she brought Winter's world to life in front of my eyes with vivid imagery and detailed descriptions. I easily slipped inside Winter's mind and world right from the beginning of the story, and I didn't come back out until I finished the last words.
Winter is a fierce main character, but she was still easy to connect with. She's been devastated by the loss of the two people in the world she loved, and she's out for revenge. She's determined, smart, resourceful, and strong in so many ways. The author made her realistic in her flaws - including her broken heart over the loss of her sister and her need for revenge and make the people responsible pay. I really liked getting to see inside her mind and experience the story from her perspective. The author wrote the story in the first person - from Winter's point of view, and I'm so happy that she chose to do it this way. It's by far my favorite writing style because of the deeply personal connection it allows the reader to have with the narrator. I think it was a perfect fit for the novel and it brought Winter's story closer for me. I very highly recommend this book for fans of the author, as well as fans of science fiction, dystopia, and thrillers.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
'Ferocious' lives up to its name and then some. It's a fantastic science fiction novel full of action and thrills, and it's sure to have readers devouring the pages. I've read several of the author's other books, so I'm familiar with her amazing talent and storytelling abilities. This definitely was no exception. The writing was awesome - she brought Winter's world to life in front of my eyes with vivid imagery and detailed descriptions. I easily slipped inside Winter's mind and world right from the beginning of the story, and I didn't come back out until I finished the last words.
Winter is a fierce main character, but she was still easy to connect with. She's been devastated by the loss of the two people in the world she loved, and she's out for revenge. She's determined, smart, resourceful, and strong in so many ways. The author made her realistic in her flaws - including her broken heart over the loss of her sister and her need for revenge and make the people responsible pay. I really liked getting to see inside her mind and experience the story from her perspective. The author wrote the story in the first person - from Winter's point of view, and I'm so happy that she chose to do it this way. It's by far my favorite writing style because of the deeply personal connection it allows the reader to have with the narrator. I think it was a perfect fit for the novel and it brought Winter's story closer for me. I very highly recommend this book for fans of the author, as well as fans of science fiction, dystopia, and thrillers.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2017
ENGLISH:
Winter has suffered many losses in her life and now she's discovering herself. The secrets of her past came to light, but all she wants is revenge on the man who took everything away from her. When Gideon's technology is stolen, it's just another reason for Winter to continue with her plans, only that in the process, she will have to recover what is hers, and find out where is her brother. But her friends aren't going to leave her alone, and both Baz and Jesse will accompany her on this trip of revenge but also of acceptance and self-knowledge.
Winter is an extremely interesting and complex character. She has dissociative identity disorder and through the story, we see how she deals with it. I don't think I've ever read about this in any other book, so I really enjoyed learning about this subject. It also created tension in the plot and shocking revelations.
This book has very good twists and turns, unexpected secrets are revealed that left me shocked and even horrified at times. It was what I liked the most about the story because it didn't stop surprising me.
Another thing that I liked was the setting. I love knowing places around the world through the books. Places, food and traditions, in addition to the language. We get to know the streets of Seoul as if we were just right there.
The plot of this book was captivating, it's full of action and adrenaline, with a lot of suspense. It also has a lot of drama and a bit of romance with the tenderness and loyalty of Jesse who I loved. And of course, I really hated Kyung, he's one of the most despicable characters I've ever read.
This book talks about several important issues and that made it much more complex. The author did a fantastic research work to create an original story that I really enjoyed.
ESPAÑOL:
Winter ha sufrido muchas pérdidas en su vida y está comenzando a descubrirse a sí misma. Los secretos de su pasado han salido a la luz, pero lo único que ella quiere es vengarse del hombre que le quitó todo. Cuando la tecnología de Gideon es robada, es un motivo más para que Winter continúe con sus planes, sólo que en el proceso tendrá que recuperar lo que es suyo, además de averiguar en donde está el hermano que ni siquiera sabía que existía. Pero sus amigos no piensan dejarla sola, y pronto tanto Baz como Jesse la acompañarán en este viaje de venganza pero también de aceptación y autoconocimiento.
Winter es un personaje sumamente interesante y complejo. Ella tiene trastorno de identidad disociativa y a lo largo de la historia vemos cómo lidia con ello. No creo haber leído sobre ésto en ningún otro libro, así que me gustó mucho conocer sobre el tema. También generó tensión en la trama y revelaciones impactantes.
Este libro tiene muy buenos giros, se van revelando secretos inesperados que me dejaron impresionada e incluso horrorizada en ocasiones. Fue lo que más me gustó de la historia porque no paró de sorprenderme.
Otra cosa que me gustó fue la ambientación. Me encanta conocer sitios alrededor del mundo a través de los libros. Lugares, comidas y costumbres, además del idioma. Vamos conociendo las calles de Seúl como si estuviésemos allí mismo.
La trama de este libro fue atrapante, está llena de acción y adrenalina, con mucho suspenso. También tiene bastante drama y un poco de romance con la ternura y lealtad de Jesse que me encantó. Y por supuesto que odié profundamente a Kyung, es uno de los personajes más despreciables que haya leído.
Este libro profundiza en varios temas importantes y eso lo hizo mucho más complejo. La autora hizo un fantástico trabajo de investigación para crear una historia original que disfruté mucho.
Reseña completa
Winter has suffered many losses in her life and now she's discovering herself. The secrets of her past came to light, but all she wants is revenge on the man who took everything away from her. When Gideon's technology is stolen, it's just another reason for Winter to continue with her plans, only that in the process, she will have to recover what is hers, and find out where is her brother. But her friends aren't going to leave her alone, and both Baz and Jesse will accompany her on this trip of revenge but also of acceptance and self-knowledge.
Winter is an extremely interesting and complex character. She has dissociative identity disorder and through the story, we see how she deals with it. I don't think I've ever read about this in any other book, so I really enjoyed learning about this subject. It also created tension in the plot and shocking revelations.
This book has very good twists and turns, unexpected secrets are revealed that left me shocked and even horrified at times. It was what I liked the most about the story because it didn't stop surprising me.
Another thing that I liked was the setting. I love knowing places around the world through the books. Places, food and traditions, in addition to the language. We get to know the streets of Seoul as if we were just right there.
The plot of this book was captivating, it's full of action and adrenaline, with a lot of suspense. It also has a lot of drama and a bit of romance with the tenderness and loyalty of Jesse who I loved. And of course, I really hated Kyung, he's one of the most despicable characters I've ever read.
This book talks about several important issues and that made it much more complex. The author did a fantastic research work to create an original story that I really enjoyed.
ESPAÑOL:
Winter ha sufrido muchas pérdidas en su vida y está comenzando a descubrirse a sí misma. Los secretos de su pasado han salido a la luz, pero lo único que ella quiere es vengarse del hombre que le quitó todo. Cuando la tecnología de Gideon es robada, es un motivo más para que Winter continúe con sus planes, sólo que en el proceso tendrá que recuperar lo que es suyo, además de averiguar en donde está el hermano que ni siquiera sabía que existía. Pero sus amigos no piensan dejarla sola, y pronto tanto Baz como Jesse la acompañarán en este viaje de venganza pero también de aceptación y autoconocimiento.
Winter es un personaje sumamente interesante y complejo. Ella tiene trastorno de identidad disociativa y a lo largo de la historia vemos cómo lidia con ello. No creo haber leído sobre ésto en ningún otro libro, así que me gustó mucho conocer sobre el tema. También generó tensión en la trama y revelaciones impactantes.
Este libro tiene muy buenos giros, se van revelando secretos inesperados que me dejaron impresionada e incluso horrorizada en ocasiones. Fue lo que más me gustó de la historia porque no paró de sorprenderme.
Otra cosa que me gustó fue la ambientación. Me encanta conocer sitios alrededor del mundo a través de los libros. Lugares, comidas y costumbres, además del idioma. Vamos conociendo las calles de Seúl como si estuviésemos allí mismo.
La trama de este libro fue atrapante, está llena de acción y adrenalina, con mucho suspenso. También tiene bastante drama y un poco de romance con la ternura y lealtad de Jesse que me encantó. Y por supuesto que odié profundamente a Kyung, es uno de los personajes más despreciables que haya leído.
Este libro profundiza en varios temas importantes y eso lo hizo mucho más complejo. La autora hizo un fantástico trabajo de investigación para crear una historia original que disfruté mucho.
Reseña completa
June 20, 2017
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest shared review.
Ferocious is the second book in a duology, the first book being Vicarious. If you have not read the first book, please be advised that this review will contain spoilers of the first book.
At the end of Vicarious, Winter found out that her sister Rose had already been dead for a number of years and that she actually has dissociative identity disorder (also known as DID). In an explosive finale of the first book, Winter’s friend and boss Gideon is murdered. Her friend and co-worker Jesse has been gravely injured, and Baz, Gideon’s friend, has been injured as well. This was all done as an attempt by Kyung to have his men steal the VISE equipment for some nefarious purposes.
Ferocious begins where Vicarious left off. Fortunately, if you read the first book but don’t have time to re-read it, Stokes does very briefly recap the events that took place in the first book. This allowed me to immediately re-enter the world. Winter begins in a hunt to find and kill Kyung, the person responsible for trafficking Winter and Rose as well as the person directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of Rose and Gideon.
Along the way, the reader is transported to both Los Angeles and Seoul, Korea as Winter hunts for Kyung. She initially plans to do this alone until an event in Los Angeles occurs that leaves her having two different “alters” (a separate personality) take over and seeking out her friend Jesse for help. Now, the hunt is on to not just kill Kyung but also to recover the VISE equipment which has been stolen for some unknown purpose.
As the plot progresses, there are several heart pulsing moments common to a thriller. This one, unlike Vicarious, does focus more on interpersonal relationships that begin to become romantic relationships. While Vicarious does deal with that as well, Ferocious does so much more heavily. I’ll admit that I was not initially thrilled about the appearance of romance elements. However, as I continued to read, I realized that the romance elements were absolutely crucial for Winter’s ultimate character development. Without the romance elements, the book would likely have ended quite differently.
A couple notes too about the diversity in the book:
Stokes’ take on DID is done in a way that comes off as very well researched and respectfully done. However, it is not written as a textbook would be written but simply as a part of Winter. As Winter learns more about DID herself, this is the only part where the clinical speak does come in a little bit. I do not have DID so I cannot comment on the representation.
Winter is Korean, and the book takes place primarily in Seoul. While Stokes is not Korean, she has lived there, and she also used beta readers. Here’s a link to her blog with several links explaining the process she went through to write outside of her own culture: http://www.authorpaulastokes.com/2016...
(I know writing outside of your own experiences is a huge deal in the diverse books movement so I want to point out all that she did to try to get it right.)
Finally, this is a very satisfying read and conclusion to Vicarious. If you enjoyed Vicarious, you will enjoy this one too.
Overall rating: 4/5
Ferocious is the second book in a duology, the first book being Vicarious. If you have not read the first book, please be advised that this review will contain spoilers of the first book.
At the end of Vicarious, Winter found out that her sister Rose had already been dead for a number of years and that she actually has dissociative identity disorder (also known as DID). In an explosive finale of the first book, Winter’s friend and boss Gideon is murdered. Her friend and co-worker Jesse has been gravely injured, and Baz, Gideon’s friend, has been injured as well. This was all done as an attempt by Kyung to have his men steal the VISE equipment for some nefarious purposes.
Ferocious begins where Vicarious left off. Fortunately, if you read the first book but don’t have time to re-read it, Stokes does very briefly recap the events that took place in the first book. This allowed me to immediately re-enter the world. Winter begins in a hunt to find and kill Kyung, the person responsible for trafficking Winter and Rose as well as the person directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of Rose and Gideon.
Along the way, the reader is transported to both Los Angeles and Seoul, Korea as Winter hunts for Kyung. She initially plans to do this alone until an event in Los Angeles occurs that leaves her having two different “alters” (a separate personality) take over and seeking out her friend Jesse for help. Now, the hunt is on to not just kill Kyung but also to recover the VISE equipment which has been stolen for some unknown purpose.
As the plot progresses, there are several heart pulsing moments common to a thriller. This one, unlike Vicarious, does focus more on interpersonal relationships that begin to become romantic relationships. While Vicarious does deal with that as well, Ferocious does so much more heavily. I’ll admit that I was not initially thrilled about the appearance of romance elements. However, as I continued to read, I realized that the romance elements were absolutely crucial for Winter’s ultimate character development. Without the romance elements, the book would likely have ended quite differently.
A couple notes too about the diversity in the book:
Stokes’ take on DID is done in a way that comes off as very well researched and respectfully done. However, it is not written as a textbook would be written but simply as a part of Winter. As Winter learns more about DID herself, this is the only part where the clinical speak does come in a little bit. I do not have DID so I cannot comment on the representation.
Winter is Korean, and the book takes place primarily in Seoul. While Stokes is not Korean, she has lived there, and she also used beta readers. Here’s a link to her blog with several links explaining the process she went through to write outside of her own culture: http://www.authorpaulastokes.com/2016...
(I know writing outside of your own experiences is a huge deal in the diverse books movement so I want to point out all that she did to try to get it right.)
Finally, this is a very satisfying read and conclusion to Vicarious. If you enjoyed Vicarious, you will enjoy this one too.
Overall rating: 4/5
August 12, 2017
Warning: this review may contain spoilers for Vicarious
Ferocious is a worthy enough sequel to the psychological mystery that Vicarious was. In the previous book, most of the plot was devoted to Winter trying to solve her sister's murder while giving her mental illness the stink eye and looking very badass while doing all of that. Ferocious shifts the plot slightly into a revenge arc, where Winter, now aware of the circumstances of her sister's death, and starting to realize the breadth of her illness, is out to retrieve the ViSE tech from Kyung, her arch-nemesis. Her story takes us from the aftermath of the events in the climax of Vicarious, to her on the run and finally landing in Seoul, to fight the battle on their turf.
The two major components of the plot are action and romance. Action with Winter trying to devise a heist-like strategy to retrieve the stolen tech, and romance with Jesse starting to become a safe place for her. Her arc in the previous book was all about denying herself the chance to be a normal girl, to be with him because she felt sullied by her past. In this book, he supports her constantly and becomes her rock, so that she can learn that her past doesn't define her or make her unfit for love. She also shifts from her fatalistic tendencies and in very cliched terms, learns to live.
The story, while slow paced, devotes time to both the action and romance, and while I am not usually a fan of the latter having a majority arc in a story, it worked here because of the dynamics of their relationship. Most of the story takes place in Korea, so it is also peppered with details about Seoul, and the food and the cultural conventions, which seem to be well-researched. As with Vicarious, the mental illness also seems to be well-handled and given it's due importance, as well sending out the message to seek therapy rather than shun it.
Overall, I find it a nice conclusion to Winter's story, and a good sequel to Vicarious.
Content warning: Mentions of sexual assault, human trafficking, and torture.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Tor Teen, via Netgalley.
Ferocious is a worthy enough sequel to the psychological mystery that Vicarious was. In the previous book, most of the plot was devoted to Winter trying to solve her sister's murder while giving her mental illness the stink eye and looking very badass while doing all of that. Ferocious shifts the plot slightly into a revenge arc, where Winter, now aware of the circumstances of her sister's death, and starting to realize the breadth of her illness, is out to retrieve the ViSE tech from Kyung, her arch-nemesis. Her story takes us from the aftermath of the events in the climax of Vicarious, to her on the run and finally landing in Seoul, to fight the battle on their turf.
The two major components of the plot are action and romance. Action with Winter trying to devise a heist-like strategy to retrieve the stolen tech, and romance with Jesse starting to become a safe place for her. Her arc in the previous book was all about denying herself the chance to be a normal girl, to be with him because she felt sullied by her past. In this book, he supports her constantly and becomes her rock, so that she can learn that her past doesn't define her or make her unfit for love. She also shifts from her fatalistic tendencies and in very cliched terms, learns to live.
The story, while slow paced, devotes time to both the action and romance, and while I am not usually a fan of the latter having a majority arc in a story, it worked here because of the dynamics of their relationship. Most of the story takes place in Korea, so it is also peppered with details about Seoul, and the food and the cultural conventions, which seem to be well-researched. As with Vicarious, the mental illness also seems to be well-handled and given it's due importance, as well sending out the message to seek therapy rather than shun it.
Overall, I find it a nice conclusion to Winter's story, and a good sequel to Vicarious.
Content warning: Mentions of sexual assault, human trafficking, and torture.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Tor Teen, via Netgalley.
August 29, 2017
Winter Kim is back and ready for revenge in this explosive follow up to Vicarious.
Winter Kim is on a mission. After her sister was murdered and the only ones she loves were taken from her, she finds out she has a brother she never knew about. His life is in danger if she doesn’t travel to South Korea and confront Kyung, the man responsible for all the misery in her life. Helping her along the way are her friends, Jesse and Sebastian. Together they gain access to Kyung’s corporation and try to gather as much information as possible to get her brother to safety and get out alive herself. Winter must decide if the revenge she is seeking is worth risking everything or will she be able to release the darkness within her.
The follow up to Vicarious picks up right where things lift off in the first one. Vicarious was very action packed and moved at a quick pace, Ferocious takes things down a notch and moves slower for several different reasons. The main point of this story is the revenge Winter is seeking. Revenge takes planning, planning takes time, which ended up making the story less action packed and slower. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; the set-up of what Winter was going to do was well laid out giving the characters more depth. Even though I can’t call this as action packed as the first, there certainly were a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. As far as I can tell, there isn’t another book to follow in the series. I can see the story mostly wrapped up here but there are still a few threads that could be played out further if the author decided to pursue the storyline further. I recommend this book to an older YA audience that enjoys thrillers with plenty to keep them guessing. It is marketed as a YA but I don’t think a few of the themes would be appropriate for the younger YA audience.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Winter Kim is on a mission. After her sister was murdered and the only ones she loves were taken from her, she finds out she has a brother she never knew about. His life is in danger if she doesn’t travel to South Korea and confront Kyung, the man responsible for all the misery in her life. Helping her along the way are her friends, Jesse and Sebastian. Together they gain access to Kyung’s corporation and try to gather as much information as possible to get her brother to safety and get out alive herself. Winter must decide if the revenge she is seeking is worth risking everything or will she be able to release the darkness within her.
The follow up to Vicarious picks up right where things lift off in the first one. Vicarious was very action packed and moved at a quick pace, Ferocious takes things down a notch and moves slower for several different reasons. The main point of this story is the revenge Winter is seeking. Revenge takes planning, planning takes time, which ended up making the story less action packed and slower. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; the set-up of what Winter was going to do was well laid out giving the characters more depth. Even though I can’t call this as action packed as the first, there certainly were a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. As far as I can tell, there isn’t another book to follow in the series. I can see the story mostly wrapped up here but there are still a few threads that could be played out further if the author decided to pursue the storyline further. I recommend this book to an older YA audience that enjoys thrillers with plenty to keep them guessing. It is marketed as a YA but I don’t think a few of the themes would be appropriate for the younger YA audience.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
August 24, 2017
Review of Ferocious
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL INVARIABLY BE SPOILERS FROM VICARIOUS WITHIN THIS REVIEW. PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION!
FEROCIOUS takes readers back to the exciting world first experienced in VICARIOUS only this time the theme is revenge with Winter traveling to South Korea on a quest to avenged her sister's death and find the brother she never knew about.
Where as VICARIOUS had a fast-paced plot and extream sense of danger and twists reveal, FEROCIOUS carefully builds upon these revealing much more character depth in Winter and her relationship with others, in particular, her growing feelings for Jesse and the loss of her sister. When Winter discovers she has a brother who is in danger from an old enemy, nothing is going to stand in her way to try and rescue him.
One of the standout qualities in this duology is the continued growth and exploration of Winter's mental issues, namely the discovery of the alters she has. Stokes takes readers into her world and explores what it's like to have Dissociative Identity Disorder. Very much flying by the seat of her pants, Winter, step-by-step, faces these issues while navigating the first feelings of being in love, being independent, and just wanting to live a "normal" life. Stokes doesn't shy away from Winter making mistakes but that only made me sympathize with her more. I really enjoyed how open and realistic Winter's character felt.
Winter's mission leads her from St. Louis to Los Angeles back to South Korea, where she grew up and Stokes paints such a vivid picture of Seoul and Korean lifestyle. The food, sites, and people are all brought to life.
Revenge and Winter's quest to find her brother lead to a satisfactory, if somewhat predictable, ending. Strong characterization and thoughtful exploration of tough subjects make for a standout read.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL INVARIABLY BE SPOILERS FROM VICARIOUS WITHIN THIS REVIEW. PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION!
FEROCIOUS takes readers back to the exciting world first experienced in VICARIOUS only this time the theme is revenge with Winter traveling to South Korea on a quest to avenged her sister's death and find the brother she never knew about.
Where as VICARIOUS had a fast-paced plot and extream sense of danger and twists reveal, FEROCIOUS carefully builds upon these revealing much more character depth in Winter and her relationship with others, in particular, her growing feelings for Jesse and the loss of her sister. When Winter discovers she has a brother who is in danger from an old enemy, nothing is going to stand in her way to try and rescue him.
One of the standout qualities in this duology is the continued growth and exploration of Winter's mental issues, namely the discovery of the alters she has. Stokes takes readers into her world and explores what it's like to have Dissociative Identity Disorder. Very much flying by the seat of her pants, Winter, step-by-step, faces these issues while navigating the first feelings of being in love, being independent, and just wanting to live a "normal" life. Stokes doesn't shy away from Winter making mistakes but that only made me sympathize with her more. I really enjoyed how open and realistic Winter's character felt.
Winter's mission leads her from St. Louis to Los Angeles back to South Korea, where she grew up and Stokes paints such a vivid picture of Seoul and Korean lifestyle. The food, sites, and people are all brought to life.
Revenge and Winter's quest to find her brother lead to a satisfactory, if somewhat predictable, ending. Strong characterization and thoughtful exploration of tough subjects make for a standout read.
September 3, 2017
I'm a huge fan of Paula Stokes, and Vicarious, the first book in this duology is one of my favorite books of all time, so I was hugely excited for this follow up!
I'll try to make this spoiler free. Winter is messed up from the end of Vicarious with a lot of twists that have made her determined to bring down the man who has ruined her life, Kyung. Together with Baz and Jesse, her love interest, they travel to Korea to find him. But her path to vengeance may not turn out the way she expects.
Ferocious is in a lot of ways a quieter, more introspective book, and the development in the first half is relatively slow. I recommend that people realize that this book is going to be a lot different than Vicarious, because I imagine some people will be disappointed that it doesn't quite have the same whirlwind feel. That said, I think this is a very strong book that needs to be heard. Winter has a lot of psychological issues to deal with, and a romantic entanglement with Jesse that she needs to figure out. Winter is a complex, damaged, but very strong female Korean character, and still one of my favorite characters to date. Jesse is dedicated to her and wonderful. But the standout for this book (although he makes some bad decisions), is Baz. While we only get to see him in the sidelines in Vicarious, he is a main character in this installment, and steals most of the scenes he is in. I loved learning more about him! I loved visiting Korea and this book is rather an homage to the country. The prose is still dark and beautiful, and there are several important turning points for Winter near the end of the book, and I was very satisfied with how it ended.
Overall, a beautifully and darkly written followup to Vicarious with a strong cast and a thoughtful, psychological portrait of a flawed character, which comes off as powerful and meaningful.
I'll try to make this spoiler free. Winter is messed up from the end of Vicarious with a lot of twists that have made her determined to bring down the man who has ruined her life, Kyung. Together with Baz and Jesse, her love interest, they travel to Korea to find him. But her path to vengeance may not turn out the way she expects.
Ferocious is in a lot of ways a quieter, more introspective book, and the development in the first half is relatively slow. I recommend that people realize that this book is going to be a lot different than Vicarious, because I imagine some people will be disappointed that it doesn't quite have the same whirlwind feel. That said, I think this is a very strong book that needs to be heard. Winter has a lot of psychological issues to deal with, and a romantic entanglement with Jesse that she needs to figure out. Winter is a complex, damaged, but very strong female Korean character, and still one of my favorite characters to date. Jesse is dedicated to her and wonderful. But the standout for this book (although he makes some bad decisions), is Baz. While we only get to see him in the sidelines in Vicarious, he is a main character in this installment, and steals most of the scenes he is in. I loved learning more about him! I loved visiting Korea and this book is rather an homage to the country. The prose is still dark and beautiful, and there are several important turning points for Winter near the end of the book, and I was very satisfied with how it ended.
Overall, a beautifully and darkly written followup to Vicarious with a strong cast and a thoughtful, psychological portrait of a flawed character, which comes off as powerful and meaningful.
August 25, 2017
Note: This review contains NO spoilers
This series is a first for me reading any of Paula Stokes' books. I was drawn in by the synopsis of both Vicarious and Ferocious. The synopsis alone boasted it's fast-adventure thriller that played with the mind. And... I have to say that it does live up to it.
Paula Stokes has created and continued this action/adventure-filled thriller following the main character on a "mission" to avenge those she loved dearly. Of course, the adventure flows as she travels to destination(s) to takes her even closer to her goal(s). Her characters are well developed with complex and individual personalities.
As regards to its pace, Ferocious seemed a bit lacking as compared to Vicarious. But, I would not say that it lacked in the intensity of the characters and plot. Paula Stokes has continued to reveal the resilience and strength of the main character, especially after everything she has been through and survived. Moreover, I would have to say that Ferocious contained its own fast-pace and compelling story to tell readers.
Of course, I would have to say that reading Vicarious first is recommended since Ferocious basically starts off where Vicarious left off. Plus, Vicarious pretty much sets up for Ferocious! Either way, Ferocious can definitely hold its own when it comes to the suspenseful and thrilling twists and turns of a hi-tech mystery/thriller.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher for an honest review, all opinions are my own
This series is a first for me reading any of Paula Stokes' books. I was drawn in by the synopsis of both Vicarious and Ferocious. The synopsis alone boasted it's fast-adventure thriller that played with the mind. And... I have to say that it does live up to it.
Paula Stokes has created and continued this action/adventure-filled thriller following the main character on a "mission" to avenge those she loved dearly. Of course, the adventure flows as she travels to destination(s) to takes her even closer to her goal(s). Her characters are well developed with complex and individual personalities.
As regards to its pace, Ferocious seemed a bit lacking as compared to Vicarious. But, I would not say that it lacked in the intensity of the characters and plot. Paula Stokes has continued to reveal the resilience and strength of the main character, especially after everything she has been through and survived. Moreover, I would have to say that Ferocious contained its own fast-pace and compelling story to tell readers.
Of course, I would have to say that reading Vicarious first is recommended since Ferocious basically starts off where Vicarious left off. Plus, Vicarious pretty much sets up for Ferocious! Either way, Ferocious can definitely hold its own when it comes to the suspenseful and thrilling twists and turns of a hi-tech mystery/thriller.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher for an honest review, all opinions are my own
August 21, 2017
I am not sure what I was expecting or hoping would happen. But, I can say that I got more than I expected. And I am not sure what I can talk about without giving anything away. So, I will do my best to be as thorough as possible, but really you should check this series out.
Book 2 picks up right where the first book left off. Winter is still trying to deal with everything that happened and all of the new information that she got-literally pages from the end of the first book. So, I am very glad that I already had the second book and could jump right in. This new information takes her from St. Louis to Los Angeles to Seoul. Along the way Baz and Jesse join her, and offer her their assistance in her mission.
Man, it so much harder to not give things away than I thought that it would be. I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one. The stakes were raised immediately from the beginning and that tension was well-maintained throughout the story. I like Winter in this one, she is more real. She struggles trying to figure out who she is in this world now that she knows that what she thought was true isn't. The attraction between her and Jesse is cheesy at times, but for the most part it is stuttering and awkward -as it should be.
Thought the content of the books make it weird to say that I enjoyed it, I did. And I will be keeping my eye out for more from Stokes.
Book 2 picks up right where the first book left off. Winter is still trying to deal with everything that happened and all of the new information that she got-literally pages from the end of the first book. So, I am very glad that I already had the second book and could jump right in. This new information takes her from St. Louis to Los Angeles to Seoul. Along the way Baz and Jesse join her, and offer her their assistance in her mission.
Man, it so much harder to not give things away than I thought that it would be. I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one. The stakes were raised immediately from the beginning and that tension was well-maintained throughout the story. I like Winter in this one, she is more real. She struggles trying to figure out who she is in this world now that she knows that what she thought was true isn't. The attraction between her and Jesse is cheesy at times, but for the most part it is stuttering and awkward -as it should be.
Thought the content of the books make it weird to say that I enjoyed it, I did. And I will be keeping my eye out for more from Stokes.
July 1, 2017
A solid sequel and finish to Vicarious! I enjoyed Vicarious and was excited to dive into its sequel. Ferocious did not disappoint - it raises the stakes even higher and takes the reader to South Korea(!!!), immerses the reader in Korean food(!) and culture, and continues the action-packed adventure from Vicarious.
There were so many things I loved about Ferocious. I loved how Stokes made Winter fallible. We see right away that she's human - there’s a lot of struggles she’s facing, there are a lot of things she understands. And even better, she doesn’t have to go through things alone, because she’s got friends (old and new) right by her side who care for/about her and they show it.
I loved Stokes’ use of the a certain character as a tool to introduce the readers to Korean food and culture. I thought it was absolutely appropriate, reading about a native to the culture (Winter, in this case, and sometimes Baz) explaining things to an outsider. I also loved how Stokes used food as a prompt to introduce us to more Winter and Rose sisterly moments.
Note: This e-ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. But thank you Tor Teen!!!
There were so many things I loved about Ferocious. I loved how Stokes made Winter fallible. We see right away that she's human - there’s a lot of struggles she’s facing, there are a lot of things she understands. And even better, she doesn’t have to go through things alone, because she’s got friends (old and new) right by her side who care for/about her and they show it.
I loved Stokes’ use of the a certain character as a tool to introduce the readers to Korean food and culture. I thought it was absolutely appropriate, reading about a native to the culture (Winter, in this case, and sometimes Baz) explaining things to an outsider. I also loved how Stokes used food as a prompt to introduce us to more Winter and Rose sisterly moments.
Note: This e-ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. But thank you Tor Teen!!!
August 21, 2017
My all time favorite characters are the badass ladies that take no shit, and Winter is one of them. Winter's story comes to a close Ferocious, and while I am sad to let her and Jesse go, it was a great ending for both of them.
This is more of a heist story, rather than the mystery/murder thriller of the first book, and the tension didn't feel as high. But, then again, finding your sister's killer will always be a bit more emotionally taught than stealing something. Paula does it well though, and I think if I wasn't coming off of Winter solving her sister's murder in Vicarious I wouldn't have noticed.
With a new book comes a change in scenery, and Paula paints Seoul vividly. The culture and food are vibrant and sound delicious and I also just love travelling (and heisting) in YA books. And then there is Jesse, who is wonderful. I loved his relationship with Winter and its slow burn nature. They are good for each other, and I loved watching their friendship was built into something more. Most of all, I appreciated Paula's treatment of mental illness, and how Winter learned that seeking help for it wasn't something to be ashamed of.
Ferocious is an excellent conclusion to this duology and it will keep you on your toes with all the action and questionable characters.
This is more of a heist story, rather than the mystery/murder thriller of the first book, and the tension didn't feel as high. But, then again, finding your sister's killer will always be a bit more emotionally taught than stealing something. Paula does it well though, and I think if I wasn't coming off of Winter solving her sister's murder in Vicarious I wouldn't have noticed.
With a new book comes a change in scenery, and Paula paints Seoul vividly. The culture and food are vibrant and sound delicious and I also just love travelling (and heisting) in YA books. And then there is Jesse, who is wonderful. I loved his relationship with Winter and its slow burn nature. They are good for each other, and I loved watching their friendship was built into something more. Most of all, I appreciated Paula's treatment of mental illness, and how Winter learned that seeking help for it wasn't something to be ashamed of.
Ferocious is an excellent conclusion to this duology and it will keep you on your toes with all the action and questionable characters.
November 17, 2017
This was a great follow up to Vicarious. After Winter's sister Rose's death, Gideon's death, the near death of two other people in her life, and the realization that she may have a brother, Winter is determined to bring down Kyung (the man who ruined her life in so many ways). This mission takes her back to California and even to South Korea where she was born and spent her early years.
Winter is damaged from the events of her life and deals with some pretty heavy psychological issues. This is interesting to observe through this book. She's also not entirely sure who she can trust when it comes to what's left of the St. Louis group and there are some things that raise suspicion in one of the crew in particular.
She also faces some trickery and discovers something new about Kyung. Perhaps most importantly, she's faced with whether it's important to get back something Kyung has taken from her and be content with that, or whether she won't be satisfied until she ends his life.
This book has plenty of suspense but the mood is a bit different and the pace a bit slower than the first book. If you read Vicarious, definitely read Ferocious to see how it all ends, though. Also, there's a great epilogue for the story.
Winter is damaged from the events of her life and deals with some pretty heavy psychological issues. This is interesting to observe through this book. She's also not entirely sure who she can trust when it comes to what's left of the St. Louis group and there are some things that raise suspicion in one of the crew in particular.
She also faces some trickery and discovers something new about Kyung. Perhaps most importantly, she's faced with whether it's important to get back something Kyung has taken from her and be content with that, or whether she won't be satisfied until she ends his life.
This book has plenty of suspense but the mood is a bit different and the pace a bit slower than the first book. If you read Vicarious, definitely read Ferocious to see how it all ends, though. Also, there's a great epilogue for the story.
September 7, 2017
OH MAN THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY AHHMAAZING!!! Full Review to come.
Official Review
What an explosive conclusion! Ferocious is everything I hoped in a sequel and as I said in my review for Vicarious, I'm so not ready to move on from this mind-blowing series.
Ferocious picks up as Winter plans for her revenge against Kyung, the man who’s caused her so much pain and took away everyone she loves. Intrigue, drama, mystery, action, and some humor keep the story moving along. There are so many twist and turns that I never knew which way the story was going. I was definitely on edge the whole time and I absolutely loved it! But amidst all the tension and madness, there are plenty of heartwarming and sweet moments too… and that made me love this series even more.
When I first met Winter, she believed that she’s too damaged to love and be loved. Seeing her grow every step of the way was so rewarding. I was totally fist pumping when she finally comes to realize that her past does not define who she is nor does it determine what her future will be. I truly adore Jesse with all my heart. He genuinely cares for Winter and does what he can to protect and help her in every way possible. He’s kind, gentle, and patient so it’s difficult not to fall for someone like him. And Baz… he’s just so awesome. I loved that I was able to get to know him more and by the end, I definitely wanted to give him a big hug.
The romance in this book is ridiculously SWOONY and absolutely one of my favorite parts of this book. Winter and Jesse are so freaking cute together! Their chemistry and slow-burn romance made my heart melt from the very beginning -- sweet, adorable and most of all, realistic. It never takes the front seat, but blends in so perfectly with the story. I really enjoyed watching them work out their feelings for each other and will forever ship them.
Ferocious is truly one fantastic read! It’s thrilling, exciting, well-paced, and full of surprises. It deals with tough issues that will break your heart, but leaves you with so much hope and love. It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to these characters, but the ending feels so right – the perfect conclusion to a remarkable series.
Paula Stokes is without a doubt a talented and versatile writer. I fell in love with her writing style when I read Girl Against the Universe last year. I now have read 4 books and a short story and honestly LOVED them all. Paula's writing is incredibly realistic, captivating, and hits all the right FEELS. Whether it’s cute and swoony like GATU or intense and dark like Vicarious and Ferocious, she delivers her story with so much heart. If you haven’t read any of Paula's books, you are totally missing out on something absolutely amazing!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To read more of my reviews, visit Sincerely Karen Jo
Official Review
What an explosive conclusion! Ferocious is everything I hoped in a sequel and as I said in my review for Vicarious, I'm so not ready to move on from this mind-blowing series.
Ferocious picks up as Winter plans for her revenge against Kyung, the man who’s caused her so much pain and took away everyone she loves. Intrigue, drama, mystery, action, and some humor keep the story moving along. There are so many twist and turns that I never knew which way the story was going. I was definitely on edge the whole time and I absolutely loved it! But amidst all the tension and madness, there are plenty of heartwarming and sweet moments too… and that made me love this series even more.
When I first met Winter, she believed that she’s too damaged to love and be loved. Seeing her grow every step of the way was so rewarding. I was totally fist pumping when she finally comes to realize that her past does not define who she is nor does it determine what her future will be. I truly adore Jesse with all my heart. He genuinely cares for Winter and does what he can to protect and help her in every way possible. He’s kind, gentle, and patient so it’s difficult not to fall for someone like him. And Baz… he’s just so awesome. I loved that I was able to get to know him more and by the end, I definitely wanted to give him a big hug.
The romance in this book is ridiculously SWOONY and absolutely one of my favorite parts of this book. Winter and Jesse are so freaking cute together! Their chemistry and slow-burn romance made my heart melt from the very beginning -- sweet, adorable and most of all, realistic. It never takes the front seat, but blends in so perfectly with the story. I really enjoyed watching them work out their feelings for each other and will forever ship them.
Ferocious is truly one fantastic read! It’s thrilling, exciting, well-paced, and full of surprises. It deals with tough issues that will break your heart, but leaves you with so much hope and love. It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to these characters, but the ending feels so right – the perfect conclusion to a remarkable series.
Paula Stokes is without a doubt a talented and versatile writer. I fell in love with her writing style when I read Girl Against the Universe last year. I now have read 4 books and a short story and honestly LOVED them all. Paula's writing is incredibly realistic, captivating, and hits all the right FEELS. Whether it’s cute and swoony like GATU or intense and dark like Vicarious and Ferocious, she delivers her story with so much heart. If you haven’t read any of Paula's books, you are totally missing out on something absolutely amazing!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To read more of my reviews, visit Sincerely Karen Jo
July 21, 2017
I really enjoyed Vicarious, so I was both excited and scared to read Ferocious! Fortunately, the follow-up was just as good as the predecessor.
The book quickly draws you in and was filled with so much action. While the action is intense, so are the relationships in the book. Somehow it all balances out nicely. It also doesn't leave you hanging and answered a lot of questions from the first book.
Winter continues to be clever, tenacious, and vulnerable. I like that she realizes she needs help and reaches out and allows others to step in. Luckily, she still had people in her life that were both supportive and stealthy.
Overall, if you enjoyed Vicarious just a little bit, then you will definitely enjoy the final installment!
Thank you to Netgalley & Tor Teen for a copy of this book!
The book quickly draws you in and was filled with so much action. While the action is intense, so are the relationships in the book. Somehow it all balances out nicely. It also doesn't leave you hanging and answered a lot of questions from the first book.
Winter continues to be clever, tenacious, and vulnerable. I like that she realizes she needs help and reaches out and allows others to step in. Luckily, she still had people in her life that were both supportive and stealthy.
Overall, if you enjoyed Vicarious just a little bit, then you will definitely enjoy the final installment!
Thank you to Netgalley & Tor Teen for a copy of this book!
August 22, 2017
I am always super nervous with going into second books because for the most part I usually don't like it nearly as much as the first one, but that wasn't the case for this one, I actually liked it as much as Vicarious (if not more). My favorite part was definitely the fact that Winter goes to South Korea because it was super cool getting a look into that culture. Besides getting that look into South Korea, I just thought the overall story was really good and it was a great conclusion to the duology. The only things I wish there was a little more of was that I really liked ViSE in the first book, and would have loved to see more of it (but I totally see why it was not included more in THIS book, the point of this book wasn't the ViSEing, I just loved it so much in the first book that I wanted more).
August 17, 2017
I read the first book Vicarious and couldn't wait for the sequel Ferocious and let me tell you Paula did not disappoint at all.
Ferocious starts off right where we left off in the previous book. Winter is still trying to come to terms with all that happened and is on her way to LA to meet her brother and save him. Through some other events she ends up in Seoul with Jessie where she must finally accept her past and save her future. I can't go into more detail for risk of spoiling this book but I will say I love Winter. She has come so far with everything thrown at her in these 2 books. Winter has definitely become one of my favorite characters I have read this year. If your looking for a book filled with action, thrills, adventure, and romance then this duology is for you.
Ferocious starts off right where we left off in the previous book. Winter is still trying to come to terms with all that happened and is on her way to LA to meet her brother and save him. Through some other events she ends up in Seoul with Jessie where she must finally accept her past and save her future. I can't go into more detail for risk of spoiling this book but I will say I love Winter. She has come so far with everything thrown at her in these 2 books. Winter has definitely become one of my favorite characters I have read this year. If your looking for a book filled with action, thrills, adventure, and romance then this duology is for you.
August 22, 2017
4 to 4.5 stars to this fantastic conclusion of the duology! Proper review to come but I love how it showed us that you need to plan things to infiltrate, that a relationship can be a great support but it's not magical healing and I love how Paula shows that treatment for mental health is not a bad thing!
September 2, 2017
This sequel to Vicarious finds Winter Kim determined to get revenge on Kyung, the man who enslaved her and her sister in a sex ring and later killed her sister and the man who was like a father to Winter. She has escaped from Kyung’s clutches but now that she is alone, she wants him to pay. To do so she returns to her homeland of South Korea. But Kyung seems to be a step ahead of her and uses the threat of hurting a brother she never knew existed, to force her to comply with his directives. She is torn by her need for revenge and the stunning possibility that she may actually have a living brother. But she’s not sure if this phantom sibling even exists. Helping Winter is Jesse, a boy who would do anything for her and Baz, a former soldier whose military training comes in handy.
The setting in Seoul adds a distinct flavor to the book. There’s plenty of action and twists to keep readers guessing. Compounding Winter’s problems of getting back at such a powerful figure is the girl’s Dissociative Identity Disorder. She has multiple personalities battling with her for control of her actions. She can’t be sure what she might do if another identity takes command and this loss of control is alarming.
Winter’s companions are amazing. They help her clean up messes, plan her revenge and watch her back. The characters carry the book and with the intense action and plot twists, readers will be riveted to their seats, anxious to read what happens next. A taut tale that does a great job of completing Stokes’ duology. 3.5*
The setting in Seoul adds a distinct flavor to the book. There’s plenty of action and twists to keep readers guessing. Compounding Winter’s problems of getting back at such a powerful figure is the girl’s Dissociative Identity Disorder. She has multiple personalities battling with her for control of her actions. She can’t be sure what she might do if another identity takes command and this loss of control is alarming.
Winter’s companions are amazing. They help her clean up messes, plan her revenge and watch her back. The characters carry the book and with the intense action and plot twists, readers will be riveted to their seats, anxious to read what happens next. A taut tale that does a great job of completing Stokes’ duology. 3.5*
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