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Crisanta Knight #2
Crisanta Knight: The Severance Game
A lot of questions ran through my head as I desperately clung to the roof of a magic train crossing over a gaping canyon. Like: How did I get here? What could I have done to avoid this fate? And, did I remember to shave my underarms before coming on this quest? But even after taking on a witch in a gingerbread house, bloodthirsty actors, and a whole mess of magic hunters and other fairytale shenanigans, the biggest, most pressing question pulsing through my brain as my fingers started to slip and my enemy bore down on me was this: Could I really trust the person whose life I’d ruined to keep me from falling? With antagonists closing in, inner demons threatening to consume me, and vivid nightmares chewing up my soul every time I shut my eyes, I was running out of options. I knew the moment to decide whether or not I could truly trust any of my friends was fast approaching. But my head and heart were stuck. For just like the precarious position I now found myself in, the pain of holding onto the path I’d chosen thus far was outmatched only by the worry I had over (gulp) letting it go…
474 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2016
24 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
Geanna Culbertson
13 books88 followersGeanna Culbertson is the award-winning author of The Crisanta Knight Series, a fairytale fantasy epic told from the empowering perspective of Cinderella’s daughter. Since Book One’s release in May 2016, the series has won many awards, including a Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly media, a Living Now Choice Award for “best lifestyle and world-changing books” in adventure fiction, a Benjamin Franklin Award for best books in Teen Fiction, and many more.
Culbertson graduated USC with the Discovery Scholar honors thesis "Beauty & the Badass: The Origins of the Hero-Princess Archetype." Her passion for both hero and princess main characters sent her on a quest to understand the core pillars of the hero-princess, and in accordance, create a unique series that captures these ideals while also exploring themes such as the power of change, taking fate into your own hands, self-acceptance, trust, the morality of taking life vs. mercy, love interest dynamics, and more.
Culbertson and her series are proud sponsors of various nonprofits including Girls on the Run, Read to a Child, and Girl Scouts. Culbertson is a strong advocate of the missions of these organizations and first got involved with Girls on the Run because of their shared vision of “a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential.” The Crisanta Knight series has been featured in Girls’ Life Magazine as recommended reading for preteen and teen girls. And Culbertson is a regular speaker at schools for an array of age groups (from elementary schools to major universities). She has also given keynote speeches and spoken on panels at many book festivals and bookseller conventions. Her series (six books released as of November 2019) has earned acclaim in 16 countries.
In addition to authoring The Crisanta Knight Series, Culbertson is a full-time manager at a leading digital marketing firm, representing over 25 clients from an array of industries. When Culbertson is not working or writing, she can likely be found at her local karate studio (she is a black belt), getting into shenanigans with her closest friends, or exploring delicious foods across the land!
Culbertson graduated USC with the Discovery Scholar honors thesis "Beauty & the Badass: The Origins of the Hero-Princess Archetype." Her passion for both hero and princess main characters sent her on a quest to understand the core pillars of the hero-princess, and in accordance, create a unique series that captures these ideals while also exploring themes such as the power of change, taking fate into your own hands, self-acceptance, trust, the morality of taking life vs. mercy, love interest dynamics, and more.
Culbertson and her series are proud sponsors of various nonprofits including Girls on the Run, Read to a Child, and Girl Scouts. Culbertson is a strong advocate of the missions of these organizations and first got involved with Girls on the Run because of their shared vision of “a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential.” The Crisanta Knight series has been featured in Girls’ Life Magazine as recommended reading for preteen and teen girls. And Culbertson is a regular speaker at schools for an array of age groups (from elementary schools to major universities). She has also given keynote speeches and spoken on panels at many book festivals and bookseller conventions. Her series (six books released as of November 2019) has earned acclaim in 16 countries.
In addition to authoring The Crisanta Knight Series, Culbertson is a full-time manager at a leading digital marketing firm, representing over 25 clients from an array of industries. When Culbertson is not working or writing, she can likely be found at her local karate studio (she is a black belt), getting into shenanigans with her closest friends, or exploring delicious foods across the land!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 13, 2016
Crisanta Knight: The Severance Game is the second book in the Crisanta Knight series. The series introduced us to Crisanta Knight who is the daughter of Cinderella and attends Lady Agnue's School for Princesses & Other Female Protagonists with her friends S.J. and Blue. S.J. stands for Snow White Jr. and Blue is Little Red Riding Hood's sister. The girls all attend the school because they are among the ones that have been written to eventually become future protagonists much like their famous family members.
Now in the second book Crisa is teamed up with her friends as they are trying to find the author of their stories. Crisa doesn't know who to trust and doesn't want to become the typical princess that is always in need of saving and wants to completely change the idea the each protagonist fits a certain mold. Each of her friends have their reasons for also wanting to find the author and try to change their fates but with the antagonists closing in it becomes one dangerous adventure after another.
I still really enjoyed reading this series so far and stand by my thoughts from the review for the first book. The series is a great young adult fantasy fairy tale read that often reminds me of the television show Once Upon a Time and a story line they had done on there where they were looking for the author that had written their tales. What we get in this series is the definite feel of these teenage characters who are all related to the well known characters we all know though. And with this carrying over to several books the story line is always full of action and more expansive than the ideas in the television show.
My one complaint with this one that has me rating this book at 3.5 stars, slightly below my rating for the first in the series is that I felt like I wished Crisa would quite pushing her friends away. I know she's trying to be strong and has her reasons but I felt like the story lacked a bit with the secondary characters this go round but hopefully that will change in the future books and they can all work together on any more adventures coming their way.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Now in the second book Crisa is teamed up with her friends as they are trying to find the author of their stories. Crisa doesn't know who to trust and doesn't want to become the typical princess that is always in need of saving and wants to completely change the idea the each protagonist fits a certain mold. Each of her friends have their reasons for also wanting to find the author and try to change their fates but with the antagonists closing in it becomes one dangerous adventure after another.
I still really enjoyed reading this series so far and stand by my thoughts from the review for the first book. The series is a great young adult fantasy fairy tale read that often reminds me of the television show Once Upon a Time and a story line they had done on there where they were looking for the author that had written their tales. What we get in this series is the definite feel of these teenage characters who are all related to the well known characters we all know though. And with this carrying over to several books the story line is always full of action and more expansive than the ideas in the television show.
My one complaint with this one that has me rating this book at 3.5 stars, slightly below my rating for the first in the series is that I felt like I wished Crisa would quite pushing her friends away. I know she's trying to be strong and has her reasons but I felt like the story lacked a bit with the secondary characters this go round but hopefully that will change in the future books and they can all work together on any more adventures coming their way.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
March 6, 2021
I originally won this book in a We Read Fantasy giveaway! Thank you! Recommend for fans of fairy tale retellings, and middle grade appropriate fantasy
The Plot/ story: per the end of book one, Crisa and friends are now on their quest to find the Author and change their fates. They escaped Century City, and book two starts the search for the lost mermaid princess of Adelaide’s heart. Travelling through the Forbidden Forest first, and eventually coming back to Adelaide, we see them confront all sorts of magic, beasts, and dangers.
Crisa’s dreams start to make a little more sense too as we learn about her spark of magic. Despite the action and quest, dangers, antagonists, and more, this book took on a more personal nature for the characters and it’s mostly about Crisa coming into herself as a responsible protagonist.
The main theme is that she wants to break the princess archetype of a damsel in distress, and be a hero.
The World: unlike book one, now we are out in the world. The woods of Red Riding hood, the grove of Hansel & Gretel’s witch, and even Earth of all places. The sheer number of fairytale characters pulled into this book is amazing, and especially in the forbidden forest I liked how the world expands in both scope and magic.
The Characters: I hate to say but Crisa was such an insufferable brat in this book, it was hard watching her push her friends away. She gets it into her head that she can’t trust them and has to do everything by herself in order to be strong… but is that how heroes work?
SJ and her potions keep the journey afloat, and she is patient while Crisa wraps her head around her problems. Blue and Jason mostly sideline but reinforce the notion that the group should be working as a trusty unit. Daniel… Is just Daniel, he’s as bad as Crisa and… Dyhfgdhfvj no spoilers
The Antagonists omg I want more antagonists. Arian and Tara and Nadia seem like a nasty lot, but we still don’t find out the motives in this book.
Overall: A+ for another clean, middlegrade / YA appropriate read with practically nonexistent content. I have to say I liked book one better, but definitely plan to read book three sometime soon. Crisa’s internal monologue was just too repetitive and, similar to the thorough nature of the Far Forest Scrolls books – it takes a LOT of pages to advance the plot. Book one was a faster read and I hope that three picks up the pace again now that we have established the group as a unit!
The Plot/ story: per the end of book one, Crisa and friends are now on their quest to find the Author and change their fates. They escaped Century City, and book two starts the search for the lost mermaid princess of Adelaide’s heart. Travelling through the Forbidden Forest first, and eventually coming back to Adelaide, we see them confront all sorts of magic, beasts, and dangers.
Crisa’s dreams start to make a little more sense too as we learn about her spark of magic. Despite the action and quest, dangers, antagonists, and more, this book took on a more personal nature for the characters and it’s mostly about Crisa coming into herself as a responsible protagonist.
The main theme is that she wants to break the princess archetype of a damsel in distress, and be a hero.
The World: unlike book one, now we are out in the world. The woods of Red Riding hood, the grove of Hansel & Gretel’s witch, and even Earth of all places. The sheer number of fairytale characters pulled into this book is amazing, and especially in the forbidden forest I liked how the world expands in both scope and magic.
The Characters: I hate to say but Crisa was such an insufferable brat in this book, it was hard watching her push her friends away. She gets it into her head that she can’t trust them and has to do everything by herself in order to be strong… but is that how heroes work?
SJ and her potions keep the journey afloat, and she is patient while Crisa wraps her head around her problems. Blue and Jason mostly sideline but reinforce the notion that the group should be working as a trusty unit. Daniel… Is just Daniel, he’s as bad as Crisa and… Dyhfgdhfvj no spoilers
The Antagonists omg I want more antagonists. Arian and Tara and Nadia seem like a nasty lot, but we still don’t find out the motives in this book.
Overall: A+ for another clean, middlegrade / YA appropriate read with practically nonexistent content. I have to say I liked book one better, but definitely plan to read book three sometime soon. Crisa’s internal monologue was just too repetitive and, similar to the thorough nature of the Far Forest Scrolls books – it takes a LOT of pages to advance the plot. Book one was a faster read and I hope that three picks up the pace again now that we have established the group as a unit!
December 26, 2016
"I'm the girl who wants to be strong in a world where everyone thinks I'm weak."
Crisanta Knight is back! :)
Imagine a world of Book, where a mysterious author decides whether you'll be a protagonist, an antagonist, a hero, a princess. Crisanta Knight, the daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming doesn't want to be just a damsel in distress and decides to re-write her story. In order to do that, she embarks on a dangerous journey with four of her friends.
The second book picks up right where the first one ended, and we still read about our characters trying to fight against their prophecy, but this time the author also touched upon the theme of trust - trusting oneself and trusting other people. Once again, Crisanta is a strong and ambitious character, who would do anything to change her destiny and have control over her life but also, her character became more complex as she fought with her inner instincts and uncertainty whether she can trust everyone around her. She's determined to prove everyone that despite what people think about her and the archetype she should conform to, she's capable of so much more and I admire her for it. I also really enjoyed seeing her character development, as Crisa had to understand what she really feels and allow other people in. It was good to see that other characters went through some growth as well.
As in the first book, the worldbuilding continues to be amazing. In this installment we see a lot more of the fairytale lands and I also felt like there was more action. We visited more magical realms, the magic train, our "human" world, where we met a lot of fantastic creatures and generally learned more about the worlds created by the author. I especially loved the little nod to the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. I feel like the pace was much faster, our characters had more fun adventures and the story was really enjoyable and easy to follow. I began to get used to Crisa's long inner monologues and accepted it as her character trait, and the flashbacks/visions introduced to the story made everything even more interesting. I liked it that some of the storylines from previous book were tied up, and we got new questions that are waiting for answers.
Overall, I think that Crisanta Knight series is a really original and fun series for all those who love fairytales and would want an interesting, fresh retelling. The Severance Game was a truly good, engaging continuation of the story and I can't wait to see what happens next! :)
I have kindly received a copy of this book from Boutique of Quality Books Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The review also appeared on my blog.
Crisanta Knight is back! :)
Imagine a world of Book, where a mysterious author decides whether you'll be a protagonist, an antagonist, a hero, a princess. Crisanta Knight, the daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming doesn't want to be just a damsel in distress and decides to re-write her story. In order to do that, she embarks on a dangerous journey with four of her friends.
The second book picks up right where the first one ended, and we still read about our characters trying to fight against their prophecy, but this time the author also touched upon the theme of trust - trusting oneself and trusting other people. Once again, Crisanta is a strong and ambitious character, who would do anything to change her destiny and have control over her life but also, her character became more complex as she fought with her inner instincts and uncertainty whether she can trust everyone around her. She's determined to prove everyone that despite what people think about her and the archetype she should conform to, she's capable of so much more and I admire her for it. I also really enjoyed seeing her character development, as Crisa had to understand what she really feels and allow other people in. It was good to see that other characters went through some growth as well.
As in the first book, the worldbuilding continues to be amazing. In this installment we see a lot more of the fairytale lands and I also felt like there was more action. We visited more magical realms, the magic train, our "human" world, where we met a lot of fantastic creatures and generally learned more about the worlds created by the author. I especially loved the little nod to the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. I feel like the pace was much faster, our characters had more fun adventures and the story was really enjoyable and easy to follow. I began to get used to Crisa's long inner monologues and accepted it as her character trait, and the flashbacks/visions introduced to the story made everything even more interesting. I liked it that some of the storylines from previous book were tied up, and we got new questions that are waiting for answers.
Overall, I think that Crisanta Knight series is a really original and fun series for all those who love fairytales and would want an interesting, fresh retelling. The Severance Game was a truly good, engaging continuation of the story and I can't wait to see what happens next! :)
I have kindly received a copy of this book from Boutique of Quality Books Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The review also appeared on my blog.
August 25, 2020
In Book 2 we find our wanna be heroes, (Crisa, SJ, Blue, Jason and Daniel) continuing on their quest to find the Author and change their fates. To do that they need to find the remaining ingredients to dismantle the In & Out Spell surrounding the land of Book. Part of this quest takes them to the Forbidden Forest where they meet fairy tale legends such as one of the Three Pigs, the witch in Hansel & Gretel's story, and (briefly) the White Rabbit. (Eeek! Cue the geeky child in me here..yes it's that serious)
Throughout this journey Crisa battles, not only Arian and the antagonist goons set on ending her, but also herself. Struggling with her fears she has to decide whether she can truly learn to trust in herself and her friends before it's too late to become the hero she so desperately wishes to be.
I don't believe I can adequately express how much I love this series so far. As soon as I start I get sucked in and disappear. Before I know it the book is over and I'm sitting here like wait..where am I?🤣🤣 I read both the first book and this one in less than 2 days. 😳😳. You know how books tend to find you when you least expect it, but somehow they are exactly what you need at exactly this particular point in time? Yeah that is this series.
Throughout this journey Crisa battles, not only Arian and the antagonist goons set on ending her, but also herself. Struggling with her fears she has to decide whether she can truly learn to trust in herself and her friends before it's too late to become the hero she so desperately wishes to be.
I don't believe I can adequately express how much I love this series so far. As soon as I start I get sucked in and disappear. Before I know it the book is over and I'm sitting here like wait..where am I?🤣🤣 I read both the first book and this one in less than 2 days. 😳😳. You know how books tend to find you when you least expect it, but somehow they are exactly what you need at exactly this particular point in time? Yeah that is this series.
September 9, 2019
Book 2 of this Crisanta Knight Series was another story full of adventure. I am obsessed !!
At first, I could not stand how awful Crisa was for being so stuck up and pushing her friends away but at the end when it was revealed the reason for her actions, I was relief to see the change in her.
This book definitely had a good plot like the previous book and the writing easy and exciting to read. New characters that were introduced were done very well. I also enjoyed seeing the character development of the main characters.
Being a sucker for stories with moral values, this Middle Grade book definitely included it; encouraging readers to face their fears to overcome it. It also gave a clear message that receiving help from others does not necessarily mean weakness but with the help of others, especially from people we can trust, we become an even more formidable force.
Can’t thank the author enough for introducing me to this series. Cause now I’m hooked !! Excited to see what develops in the next book.
At first, I could not stand how awful Crisa was for being so stuck up and pushing her friends away but at the end when it was revealed the reason for her actions, I was relief to see the change in her.
This book definitely had a good plot like the previous book and the writing easy and exciting to read. New characters that were introduced were done very well. I also enjoyed seeing the character development of the main characters.
Being a sucker for stories with moral values, this Middle Grade book definitely included it; encouraging readers to face their fears to overcome it. It also gave a clear message that receiving help from others does not necessarily mean weakness but with the help of others, especially from people we can trust, we become an even more formidable force.
Can’t thank the author enough for introducing me to this series. Cause now I’m hooked !! Excited to see what develops in the next book.
January 17, 2018
I want to read book 1 in the Crisanta Knight series so I can pick up a little of the nuisances. The prologue of this book gives a very good summery of book 1, Protagonist bound. This is a great magical series for young teen and adult readers. The characters are all related to famous fairy tale characters, the hero, Crisanta is Cinderella's daughter. She is attending Lady Agnue's School for Princesses & Other Female Protagonists along with her friends. They need to meet the AUTHOR to change how their lives will turn out and need to find 3 magical items to enter the author's realm. Good adventure and quest tale. Book three is already published.
January 2, 2021
I absolutely loved this newest instalment of Crisa's adventure. The writing transports you to another world where magic and heroes are just another part of normal life. It's great to find out the backstory to how Crisa became friends with Jason, SJ and Blue. The only thing is that I found it difficult to believe Crisa would be quite so stubborn in believing that it's ok to accept help from her friends! There's plenty of action and soul searching and Crisa learns just how strong she really is. I'm already looking forward to the next in the series.
November 2, 2022
"I was going to stand my ground. I was going to fight. Because that’s what fighters did. And that’s what I was. While so much about me was up in the air, I felt sure that this was a concrete bit of truth unaffected by my hero or princess status. I was a fighter—possibly by nature, but most certainly by choice."
I was thoroughly impressed and immersed in the second instalment of the Crisanta Knight series. I love Book, the characters and the storyline so much. The author has creatively and skillfully incorporated famous fairy tales into Crisa’s journey. Crisa’s flaws and internal conflicts enable her to be more relatable and realistic. She is certainly an endearing character and narrator that makes readers keep turning the page. After all, she hasn't earned her title “Page Turner” for nothing. The book is action-packed and purifying at the same time. Crisa’s internal struggles and self-realisation enables us to reflect on the same matter. The message of change, along with the author’s wisdom, is well conveyed by Crisa and the dialogue without ever getting preachy. The Crisanta Knight series inspires.
A book review is a description and analysis of a book. This book review contains spoilers.
I love Crisa’s storytelling of her first day at Lady Angue’s making friends with Jason and SJ, and trouble. Her recollection reveals the reason why she should trust her friends, and foreshadows their fight in the later part of the book. Young Crisa, Jason and SJ are cute, and they show the traces of their respective inner strength as well. Crisa is resourceful, Jason selfless, SJ kind. Chance Darling’s portrayal also enhances the surprise in Book 4 and Mauvrey(Tara)’s wickedness from the start also foreshadows her relationship with the antagonists.
The sequel follows book 1 seamlessly and starts at Crisa’s airborne journey with her friends. I am intrigued by Chauncey’s entrance being one of the Three Little Pigs. His perceptive quality enables Crisa to face her deceptive habit with her friends - it is not that Crisa cannot trust her friends, but rather that she couldn’t trust herself enough to tell the truth. That is understandable, given that she would like to protect her reputation of being a strong fighter before the people who truly knew her - her friends. Crisa’s insecurities are relatable to many teenagers and her journey to self-discovery helps readers to their self-realisation, too. Internal conflicts cannot be solved quickly, and that is why Crisa has spent so much time on figuring out her identity and accepting it. Her conversation with Chauncey causes her to reflect on her fears and forces her to realise the fact that she cannot describe her qualities. It provides the readers a means to self-reflection: can they too tell what makes them special? This is a thought to think about.
I love the idea of the Valley of Edible Enchantments with the infamous apples from Snow White and the beans from Jack and the Beanstalk. The foreshadowing made by Crisa’s dreams enables us to speculate how the plot evolves. The gingerbread house alongside other interesting (and mouth-watering) houses are a lovely recreation from Hansel and Gretel. The magical water can idea is amazing and the ever-present mark on Crisa’s hand helps us predict Crisa’s true strength. Every time the mark fluctuates, Crisa has accepted a tiny part of herself. This subtle note brings to Crisa inner strength - self acceptance.
The Therewolves is an awesome idea. I feel sorry for Blue having to play her sister’s part as the Little Red Hood when all her courage is lost. It is definitely her worst day. Had the therewolves been evil all along, she would have given them their just desserts. Then it comes Harry, a White Rabbit that revisits the series in later books. He is cute and nice, a witty insertion of Alice in Wonderland that made sense with the wormholes. The Hole Tracker is a smart idea too, for Crisa and her friends (and enemies) to keep up with the wormholes.
Next is the Scribes library. I believe Crisa’s decision of going to the room with prologue prophecies foreshadows their otherworldly adventures. And putting Peter Pan with Arthur directly next to each other, certainly meant something, if not the plot twist in the later story arc. The Godmother Supreme’s entrance at the split second when Crisa opens Natalie’s prologue prophecy prevents Crisa, and me, from learning more about this enigmatic character, which boils up the suspense and curiosity. I can’t wait to meet Natalie in person and know more about her.
I am intrigued by the magic train idea. It is unique and magical, especially the magic dust and lanyards. Parker is the only notably recurring magic hunter in the series, which I can say heightens tension and the stakes for Crisa. Certainly, the magic train incident causes a mega-powerful crack to Crisa’s friendship with everyone from Blue, Jason and SJ to Daniel. And that is attributed to Crisa’s fragile sense of self and could be avoided, had she been more confident in herself and less headstrong. But character flaws are inevitable and most importantly Crisa changes. That is what I appreciate.
Lonna’s entrance is much welcomed and I am in love with Bermuda and the Inero family. The thought of Crisa and her friends coming to our realm is exciting and entertains me a lot. Ashlyn’s story of leaving Book also resembles her parents’ story A Little Mermaid, only the wicked sea witch is ironically replaced by the Godmother Supreme. The fairy godmother’s love of order contrasts Crisa’s rebellious personality, which causes dislike to the godmother. I am glad that Crisa finally tells the truth to her friends, but I admit she should have told the whole truth, as half truth isn’t honesty. Actually, given that her fairytale knowledge is limited, she would have learnt about the abilities of the magic lamp if she had told SJ and Blue. But that adds an interesting wild card to the story, and I am totally okay with it. Especially when Daniel is sucked into the lamp with her.
Moving back to the Inero family, Mary Roberts’s dream of an old man in a sparkly robe is suspicious. Is that Merlin? And what would have happened if Mary Roberts had gone with Crisa? This leaves a blank for imagination.
Last but not least, I would like to talk about the magic lamp scene. Crisa and Daniel’s sharing adds another complex layer to the story. Daniel is such an enigmatic person, and his prologue prophecy arouses curiosity. If you had read the following books, you definitely know why Crisa would potentially lead to Daniel and Kai’s demise, or would be a key ally to them. The new layer of conflict compels me to think and fancy a lot about it.
In short, the story is unique, original and well-written. Certainly, Crisa is self-sacrificing and self-destructive at the same time, but her strong, persevering and resourceful traits compensate for her flaws. Her faults are thought-provoking and her self-realisation is purifying. SJ, Blue, Jason, and Daniel endear themselves to me, and I appreciate their strengths. Even Arian has made himself a “love to hate” antagonist. There is hardly anything to pick on the story and I am totally invested in the series. I love how the book is written and incorporated with the author’s wisdom. The author has outdone her job of writing a story with a soul. The Severance Game, along with other books in the series, is a must-read.
"It was a nice idea, an easy path. But my life choices thus far had never been about taking the easy way out. If they had been, then I wouldn’t be where I was in that exact moment, and I definitely wouldn’t be me. While hiding away might’ve kept me safe and prevented me from getting hurt, it would’ve also kept me from being myself. And that was just not the way."
I was thoroughly impressed and immersed in the second instalment of the Crisanta Knight series. I love Book, the characters and the storyline so much. The author has creatively and skillfully incorporated famous fairy tales into Crisa’s journey. Crisa’s flaws and internal conflicts enable her to be more relatable and realistic. She is certainly an endearing character and narrator that makes readers keep turning the page. After all, she hasn't earned her title “Page Turner” for nothing. The book is action-packed and purifying at the same time. Crisa’s internal struggles and self-realisation enables us to reflect on the same matter. The message of change, along with the author’s wisdom, is well conveyed by Crisa and the dialogue without ever getting preachy. The Crisanta Knight series inspires.
A book review is a description and analysis of a book. This book review contains spoilers.
I love Crisa’s storytelling of her first day at Lady Angue’s making friends with Jason and SJ, and trouble. Her recollection reveals the reason why she should trust her friends, and foreshadows their fight in the later part of the book. Young Crisa, Jason and SJ are cute, and they show the traces of their respective inner strength as well. Crisa is resourceful, Jason selfless, SJ kind. Chance Darling’s portrayal also enhances the surprise in Book 4 and Mauvrey(Tara)’s wickedness from the start also foreshadows her relationship with the antagonists.
The sequel follows book 1 seamlessly and starts at Crisa’s airborne journey with her friends. I am intrigued by Chauncey’s entrance being one of the Three Little Pigs. His perceptive quality enables Crisa to face her deceptive habit with her friends - it is not that Crisa cannot trust her friends, but rather that she couldn’t trust herself enough to tell the truth. That is understandable, given that she would like to protect her reputation of being a strong fighter before the people who truly knew her - her friends. Crisa’s insecurities are relatable to many teenagers and her journey to self-discovery helps readers to their self-realisation, too. Internal conflicts cannot be solved quickly, and that is why Crisa has spent so much time on figuring out her identity and accepting it. Her conversation with Chauncey causes her to reflect on her fears and forces her to realise the fact that she cannot describe her qualities. It provides the readers a means to self-reflection: can they too tell what makes them special? This is a thought to think about.
I love the idea of the Valley of Edible Enchantments with the infamous apples from Snow White and the beans from Jack and the Beanstalk. The foreshadowing made by Crisa’s dreams enables us to speculate how the plot evolves. The gingerbread house alongside other interesting (and mouth-watering) houses are a lovely recreation from Hansel and Gretel. The magical water can idea is amazing and the ever-present mark on Crisa’s hand helps us predict Crisa’s true strength. Every time the mark fluctuates, Crisa has accepted a tiny part of herself. This subtle note brings to Crisa inner strength - self acceptance.
The Therewolves is an awesome idea. I feel sorry for Blue having to play her sister’s part as the Little Red Hood when all her courage is lost. It is definitely her worst day. Had the therewolves been evil all along, she would have given them their just desserts. Then it comes Harry, a White Rabbit that revisits the series in later books. He is cute and nice, a witty insertion of Alice in Wonderland that made sense with the wormholes. The Hole Tracker is a smart idea too, for Crisa and her friends (and enemies) to keep up with the wormholes.
Next is the Scribes library. I believe Crisa’s decision of going to the room with prologue prophecies foreshadows their otherworldly adventures. And putting Peter Pan with Arthur directly next to each other, certainly meant something, if not the plot twist in the later story arc. The Godmother Supreme’s entrance at the split second when Crisa opens Natalie’s prologue prophecy prevents Crisa, and me, from learning more about this enigmatic character, which boils up the suspense and curiosity. I can’t wait to meet Natalie in person and know more about her.
I am intrigued by the magic train idea. It is unique and magical, especially the magic dust and lanyards. Parker is the only notably recurring magic hunter in the series, which I can say heightens tension and the stakes for Crisa. Certainly, the magic train incident causes a mega-powerful crack to Crisa’s friendship with everyone from Blue, Jason and SJ to Daniel. And that is attributed to Crisa’s fragile sense of self and could be avoided, had she been more confident in herself and less headstrong. But character flaws are inevitable and most importantly Crisa changes. That is what I appreciate.
Lonna’s entrance is much welcomed and I am in love with Bermuda and the Inero family. The thought of Crisa and her friends coming to our realm is exciting and entertains me a lot. Ashlyn’s story of leaving Book also resembles her parents’ story A Little Mermaid, only the wicked sea witch is ironically replaced by the Godmother Supreme. The fairy godmother’s love of order contrasts Crisa’s rebellious personality, which causes dislike to the godmother. I am glad that Crisa finally tells the truth to her friends, but I admit she should have told the whole truth, as half truth isn’t honesty. Actually, given that her fairytale knowledge is limited, she would have learnt about the abilities of the magic lamp if she had told SJ and Blue. But that adds an interesting wild card to the story, and I am totally okay with it. Especially when Daniel is sucked into the lamp with her.
Moving back to the Inero family, Mary Roberts’s dream of an old man in a sparkly robe is suspicious. Is that Merlin? And what would have happened if Mary Roberts had gone with Crisa? This leaves a blank for imagination.
Last but not least, I would like to talk about the magic lamp scene. Crisa and Daniel’s sharing adds another complex layer to the story. Daniel is such an enigmatic person, and his prologue prophecy arouses curiosity. If you had read the following books, you definitely know why Crisa would potentially lead to Daniel and Kai’s demise, or would be a key ally to them. The new layer of conflict compels me to think and fancy a lot about it.
In short, the story is unique, original and well-written. Certainly, Crisa is self-sacrificing and self-destructive at the same time, but her strong, persevering and resourceful traits compensate for her flaws. Her faults are thought-provoking and her self-realisation is purifying. SJ, Blue, Jason, and Daniel endear themselves to me, and I appreciate their strengths. Even Arian has made himself a “love to hate” antagonist. There is hardly anything to pick on the story and I am totally invested in the series. I love how the book is written and incorporated with the author’s wisdom. The author has outdone her job of writing a story with a soul. The Severance Game, along with other books in the series, is a must-read.
"It was a nice idea, an easy path. But my life choices thus far had never been about taking the easy way out. If they had been, then I wouldn’t be where I was in that exact moment, and I definitely wouldn’t be me. While hiding away might’ve kept me safe and prevented me from getting hurt, it would’ve also kept me from being myself. And that was just not the way."
May 17, 2021
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy to read!
This series is packed full of nostalgia and childhood dreams come true. Who doesn’t dream of being a fairytale character? A princess or heroine of the story?
Crisanta is the daughter of Cinderella and she is determined to not be known as such. She doesn’t want to be living in her mother’s shadow as well as her proposed role in their society. She wants to break from the mold and write her own story book ending. Where she is meant to be a protagonist, marry and have a happily ever after, she sees herself doing so much more.
The severance game is full of flash backs and side stories to help fill the plot. We leave the school and safety of the teens environment to explore the much wider world. We travel through the Forbidden Forest, which is always full of dangerous creatures and accidents waiting to happen, to eventually make way to Adelaide in search of the missing mermaid princess.
Overall the characters and world building are done very well. I will say the writing is extremely detail oriented that can make it feel like it’s dragging because so much information is filled into each page. For a middle grade I was surprised at this.
Crisanta herself I could not enjoy. She is super bratty in this one and pushes everyone away. I’m sure it’s meant to help her character growth through the large series but it made for some cringe worthy scenes.
I always find myself connecting more with the side characters in stories and it wasn’t any different here. Her friends I adore. SJ is probably my favorite who is Snow White Jr. I would super enjoy a side book written about her.
Overall it has some problematic moments but is a fun read to enjoy story book fairytale characters and the after happily ever after. It’s fun to think about what happens next and putting yourself into a fairytale.
Now the prologue of each book gives a pretty detailed summery of what happened in the prior book but I would definitely recommend reading the books in order so you get the whole story.
Now I want to be written as a fairytale character and find out my own protagonist fate!
This series is packed full of nostalgia and childhood dreams come true. Who doesn’t dream of being a fairytale character? A princess or heroine of the story?
Crisanta is the daughter of Cinderella and she is determined to not be known as such. She doesn’t want to be living in her mother’s shadow as well as her proposed role in their society. She wants to break from the mold and write her own story book ending. Where she is meant to be a protagonist, marry and have a happily ever after, she sees herself doing so much more.
The severance game is full of flash backs and side stories to help fill the plot. We leave the school and safety of the teens environment to explore the much wider world. We travel through the Forbidden Forest, which is always full of dangerous creatures and accidents waiting to happen, to eventually make way to Adelaide in search of the missing mermaid princess.
Overall the characters and world building are done very well. I will say the writing is extremely detail oriented that can make it feel like it’s dragging because so much information is filled into each page. For a middle grade I was surprised at this.
Crisanta herself I could not enjoy. She is super bratty in this one and pushes everyone away. I’m sure it’s meant to help her character growth through the large series but it made for some cringe worthy scenes.
I always find myself connecting more with the side characters in stories and it wasn’t any different here. Her friends I adore. SJ is probably my favorite who is Snow White Jr. I would super enjoy a side book written about her.
Overall it has some problematic moments but is a fun read to enjoy story book fairytale characters and the after happily ever after. It’s fun to think about what happens next and putting yourself into a fairytale.
Now the prologue of each book gives a pretty detailed summery of what happened in the prior book but I would definitely recommend reading the books in order so you get the whole story.
Now I want to be written as a fairytale character and find out my own protagonist fate!
August 3, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
My review is up on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds2a9...
This book was precisely my cup of tea and exactly what I needed after a long days hard college work and a burning need to be motivated and cheered up.
I would like to start off by saying that I will never get tired of Crisanta's on-point, fierce, sarcastic and humorous narrative that really just livens all of these books up.
Not only that, but I really appreciated Geanna delving into some deeper topics with this sequel. Trust, self-discovery and friendship were definitely the defining factors of this novel, with a great emphasis on trust. It really showed the readers the dire consequences of withholding important information from the people who are closest to you, and how that can greatly (and negatively) impact friendships that were made to last forever. It was truly heartbreaking to see the ties between both Crisa and SJ and her and Blue get severed due to Crisanta's somewhat foolish decisions.
What also really fascinated me was the self-searching that Crisanta does in this novel. You can tell that she is clearly torn between two expectations that are pressing down on her which then in turn makes her go to extreme lengths in order to preserve her 'anti-Damsel-in-Distress' image.
Crisanta is far from being perfect and is an extremely flawed character, having at some times made me want to reach into the book to shake some sense into her. But that was precisely what made this book so refreshing and that much more interesting to read. It's because of those flaws that her amazing character development can shine through and teach all of us readers how we can apply these important life lessons to our own (very un-fairytale) lives. Crisanta is far from being the person that she is satisfied to be, but the she has definitely reached some important milestones!
Definitely recommended to everyone!
My review is up on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds2a9...
This book was precisely my cup of tea and exactly what I needed after a long days hard college work and a burning need to be motivated and cheered up.
I would like to start off by saying that I will never get tired of Crisanta's on-point, fierce, sarcastic and humorous narrative that really just livens all of these books up.
Not only that, but I really appreciated Geanna delving into some deeper topics with this sequel. Trust, self-discovery and friendship were definitely the defining factors of this novel, with a great emphasis on trust. It really showed the readers the dire consequences of withholding important information from the people who are closest to you, and how that can greatly (and negatively) impact friendships that were made to last forever. It was truly heartbreaking to see the ties between both Crisa and SJ and her and Blue get severed due to Crisanta's somewhat foolish decisions.
What also really fascinated me was the self-searching that Crisanta does in this novel. You can tell that she is clearly torn between two expectations that are pressing down on her which then in turn makes her go to extreme lengths in order to preserve her 'anti-Damsel-in-Distress' image.
Crisanta is far from being perfect and is an extremely flawed character, having at some times made me want to reach into the book to shake some sense into her. But that was precisely what made this book so refreshing and that much more interesting to read. It's because of those flaws that her amazing character development can shine through and teach all of us readers how we can apply these important life lessons to our own (very un-fairytale) lives. Crisanta is far from being the person that she is satisfied to be, but the she has definitely reached some important milestones!
Definitely recommended to everyone!
November 16, 2016
I had a whole lot going on with family emergency stuff and so I had to wait to read this book. I want to thank Netgalley and the Author/publisher for the chance to read this one and review it after the first book. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I had high expectations and it met and exceeded them.
Crisanta is such a wonderful character she really comes to life. She is witty, fun, sarcastic and everything you want. She is sometimes very annoying but she really does show growth and soul searching on her part and that is very important.
Friendships and trust were tested and defined and all the characters really grew in this novel. It was fantastic to see. We got to see an in depth look at what happens when you omit things and aren't entirely truthful and expect other people to trust you. Crisanta often goes way beyond what is necessary to prove she isn't a damsel in distress which leads to way more problems than is necessary which leads to great story.. when she could have relied on her friends instead and been much better in the long run.
You really got to see into Daniel's character as well. Like I said they all grew. Even as they turned on each other. I can not wait to see more of these Protagonists determined to be in control of their own destiny.
Geanna Culbertson truly deserves one of my rare 5 star ratings. Her writing as well as character development is amazing. I cannot wait to see more from Crisanta, SJ, and Blue as they continue on their journey and grow together.
Crisanta is such a wonderful character she really comes to life. She is witty, fun, sarcastic and everything you want. She is sometimes very annoying but she really does show growth and soul searching on her part and that is very important.
Friendships and trust were tested and defined and all the characters really grew in this novel. It was fantastic to see. We got to see an in depth look at what happens when you omit things and aren't entirely truthful and expect other people to trust you. Crisanta often goes way beyond what is necessary to prove she isn't a damsel in distress which leads to way more problems than is necessary which leads to great story.. when she could have relied on her friends instead and been much better in the long run.
You really got to see into Daniel's character as well. Like I said they all grew. Even as they turned on each other. I can not wait to see more of these Protagonists determined to be in control of their own destiny.
Geanna Culbertson truly deserves one of my rare 5 star ratings. Her writing as well as character development is amazing. I cannot wait to see more from Crisanta, SJ, and Blue as they continue on their journey and grow together.
November 12, 2016
Book 2 in the Crisanta Knight series is a lot of fun, but a little darker than book 1.
In it, Crisanta and her band of friends, plus Daniel, are freshly on the run, but heading right into even more danger. And the whole time, Crisanta bears witness to darker and darker dreams involving her friends, herself, her enemies and even the mysterious Natalie Poole.
Action and adventure are huge in this book with rarely a dull moment, even in Crisanta’s dreams, and all of this is paired with quirky re-imaginings of fairy tale favorites. But that isn’t all. Crisanta is facing some existential issues, doubting who she is and whether she’s been deluding herself her entire life. That, and a growing distrust of her dearest friends that’s putting a strain on everything.
I’m not going to outline which fairy tales make an appearance in this book as that would ruin the surprises. I particularly liked the ones Crisanta and team run into in the forest. I think the more into (or formerly into) fairy tales and Disney movies you are, the more of a kick you’ll get out of all the wacky scenarios and cameos.
Overall, I loved this story for its originality, action, and suspense. Fans of fantasy, fairy tales, and action/adventure will likely enjoy this story.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley.
In it, Crisanta and her band of friends, plus Daniel, are freshly on the run, but heading right into even more danger. And the whole time, Crisanta bears witness to darker and darker dreams involving her friends, herself, her enemies and even the mysterious Natalie Poole.
Action and adventure are huge in this book with rarely a dull moment, even in Crisanta’s dreams, and all of this is paired with quirky re-imaginings of fairy tale favorites. But that isn’t all. Crisanta is facing some existential issues, doubting who she is and whether she’s been deluding herself her entire life. That, and a growing distrust of her dearest friends that’s putting a strain on everything.
I’m not going to outline which fairy tales make an appearance in this book as that would ruin the surprises. I particularly liked the ones Crisanta and team run into in the forest. I think the more into (or formerly into) fairy tales and Disney movies you are, the more of a kick you’ll get out of all the wacky scenarios and cameos.
Overall, I loved this story for its originality, action, and suspense. Fans of fantasy, fairy tales, and action/adventure will likely enjoy this story.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley.
November 6, 2016
This series really is amazing.
The adventure, danger, and mystery of the first book remains in its sequel. I still enjoy all of the characters, and Crisa is wonderfully realistic. She has flaws, she has her struggles, but you love her for it and it makes her believable and sympathetic.
The author teases you a lot. She will mention something, just enough to set you wondering about what it means, or why it happened, or what the solution to the mystery is. You can go for half the book without its being mentioned again and you forget about it, but then it is brought up once more, and all of your curiosity returns. The answer is right in front of you, if you just read a little bit further you'll find out - but then a new character walks in and ruins the conversion. Its so frustrating and it kills you, because you need to know the answer, but it keeps you reading, it keeps you fully engaged in this novel. Whenever I picked it up I didn't want to put it down until I finished it.
This series is incredibly well written, with an engaging, exciting plot, and plenty of little mysteries to keep you reading and wondering.
I recommend this to all lovers of YA lit, fantasy, fairy tales, and magic.
The adventure, danger, and mystery of the first book remains in its sequel. I still enjoy all of the characters, and Crisa is wonderfully realistic. She has flaws, she has her struggles, but you love her for it and it makes her believable and sympathetic.
The author teases you a lot. She will mention something, just enough to set you wondering about what it means, or why it happened, or what the solution to the mystery is. You can go for half the book without its being mentioned again and you forget about it, but then it is brought up once more, and all of your curiosity returns. The answer is right in front of you, if you just read a little bit further you'll find out - but then a new character walks in and ruins the conversion. Its so frustrating and it kills you, because you need to know the answer, but it keeps you reading, it keeps you fully engaged in this novel. Whenever I picked it up I didn't want to put it down until I finished it.
This series is incredibly well written, with an engaging, exciting plot, and plenty of little mysteries to keep you reading and wondering.
I recommend this to all lovers of YA lit, fantasy, fairy tales, and magic.
September 21, 2017
The stakes have escalated significantly. The mysteries of this realm and the shadow of things to come continue to grow deeper in this action-packed sequel. No spoilers, but we’ve learned world shattering news for our young heroes. It’s changes the game into something much bigger than they thought and much more seriously sinister.
In this second installment of the Crisanta Knight series, the characters you’ve come to love deal with the consequences of uncovering secrets that hold their society together and pieces of the antagonists’ plan to tear it all to shreds.
Crisa especially has a lot to learn in this book as she struggles to break out of a suffocating class system and measure her own value, often with mixed results. She is unapologetically herself, and it’s great to have a flawed female protagonist leading you through these pages. Her difficult internal journey will ring true for anyone who has struggled with falling short of the persona they want to exude.
This series is a wonderful YA read for kids and adults alike and I highly recommend giving it a try.
In this second installment of the Crisanta Knight series, the characters you’ve come to love deal with the consequences of uncovering secrets that hold their society together and pieces of the antagonists’ plan to tear it all to shreds.
Crisa especially has a lot to learn in this book as she struggles to break out of a suffocating class system and measure her own value, often with mixed results. She is unapologetically herself, and it’s great to have a flawed female protagonist leading you through these pages. Her difficult internal journey will ring true for anyone who has struggled with falling short of the persona they want to exude.
This series is a wonderful YA read for kids and adults alike and I highly recommend giving it a try.
April 11, 2022
This second book was so good. I loved the character development that is seen in crisa and the development that takes place in her relationships between her friends. She comes to realize that I’m trying to keep her friends safe from everything, she’s actually pushing them away and hurting herself by not letting others help her when she needs someone to lean on. I really like that it was the very people she was trying to push away that told her how it was affecting them, because she couldn’t see it herself. That’s what a good friend does, they help us even when we’re being mistletools. I also liked that crisa had this problem, because it’s really relatable, and many people deal with the same, real-life issues; we can see that we’re not alone, and by reading these books, it shows us the right way to fix them: with help, not on our own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2016
An excellent continuation to a very creative series the characters were believable and the story a very original twist on the standard fairytale. But as a warning this one really only continues the story so if you haven't read the first one you will be pretty lost.This review was originally posted on Books In Brogan
July 18, 2018
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Great sequel to the spectacular first book of this series
Crisa is as determined as ever to shape her own destiny. Not that her weird relationship with Dan can get any weirder with his comment that she ruined his life.
The larger than life protagonists are out to make a difference and antagonists are hot on their heels.
The strange dreams aren't stopping. The boy of her nightmares isn't very keen on letting her live.
What's a girl to do in the midst of such travails?
Great sequel to the spectacular first book of this series
Crisa is as determined as ever to shape her own destiny. Not that her weird relationship with Dan can get any weirder with his comment that she ruined his life.
The larger than life protagonists are out to make a difference and antagonists are hot on their heels.
The strange dreams aren't stopping. The boy of her nightmares isn't very keen on letting her live.
What's a girl to do in the midst of such travails?
April 5, 2017
From the start of the book to the end, Geanna keeps us in suspense and thinking of what will happen next. I could not put the book down and had to downloaded it on my phone so that every chance I had I would read on till I finally finished the book! Geanna does not let us down with the story continuing in its adventure to get to the Author in order to change her destiny. Now I can’t wait to start book 3 and experience once again the adventures and this wonderful world of “Book” that Geanna puts us in.
November 9, 2021
The second book in the Crisanta Knight series continues Crisa's quest to write her own destiny and track down the Author. This book has twice as much action as the last as Crisa and her friends run from a man trying to kill them and track down magical objects to help them get to the Author. I love how Geanna Culbertson retells some classic fairytales in a new light and expresses Crisa's doubts and suspicions throughout the book! Definitely recommend! The books only get better as the series continues!
November 29, 2017
The eye rolling bits were a bit more frequent in this book than the first, and the funny bits were less frequent. However, it is still more of a 3 than a 2 star and still enough to keep me interested in the next book.
June 13, 2018
Fairy tale fantasy
What happens when the characters in a fairy tale do not want to live their story. Join the kids of your favorite fairy tale characters as they seek to rewrite their stories.
What happens when the characters in a fairy tale do not want to live their story. Join the kids of your favorite fairy tale characters as they seek to rewrite their stories.
July 12, 2018
Even more fun.
Crisanta is slowly becoming a character you actually want to to root for and is learning to be a better person while making lots of mistakes on the way. Best thing? There's little to no romance in these (so far) which I'm liking a lot!
Crisanta is slowly becoming a character you actually want to to root for and is learning to be a better person while making lots of mistakes on the way. Best thing? There's little to no romance in these (so far) which I'm liking a lot!
July 26, 2017
A fun addition to the series! I laughed out loud at some of the situations; definitely recommended for kids looking for a humorous and adventurous tale.
September 7, 2017
A really fun series for anyone who loves once upon a time. A little wordy at times with recaps and remembrances from first book. Love the strong characters though and look forward to reading more!
February 26, 2022
These books are so good! I can't put them down!
December 25, 2018
I'm getting a bit more used to our protagonist here. Princess Crisa, you're growing on me, young lady.
While I still got frustrated with her in this installment of the Crisanta Knight series, it was for a different set of reasons this time. (Progress, maybe?) This time, instead of being angry she was getting her friends and herself into more trouble than they could handle, I just wanted her to "get {herself} together already!" Her insistence on doing everything Lone Ranger style and depending on no one was frustrating and off-putting at times. For goodness sakes, no (wo)man is an island! People who need people are the luckiest people in the world. All that jazz...long and short, let your band of friends--and Daniel--help you! Sheesh.
But I get it. Asking for help is hard. (Dying is probably harder, though, isn't it?)
I'd read in a couple reviews this one was darker than "Protagonist Bound," and I'm glad it was indeed able to deliver a bit more darkness. I think it makes me odd to relish this fact, but I do. It was a lot less fairy and heck of a lot more of the tale, and I'm here for it all. I'm an action girl, and I love the princess-hero badassery.
And, oh my, can we talk about mean SJ!?? Yowsah...I LOVED it! It's always nice to get some things off your chest, and BOY, did Snow White, Jr do it. I mean, I wouldn't want to endure that sharp tongue for six more books, but it was nice to see the depth of emotion hiding behind her sweet demeanor. (But selfish Jason was a jerk. Funny...buy a jerk!)
Overall, I really enjoyed "The Severance Game," and it made me less ashamed that apparently I'm a grown woman who enjoys YA novels. (Shhh...tell no one!) :-)
I feel better about this series and will definitely continue.
While I still got frustrated with her in this installment of the Crisanta Knight series, it was for a different set of reasons this time. (Progress, maybe?) This time, instead of being angry she was getting her friends and herself into more trouble than they could handle, I just wanted her to "get {herself} together already!" Her insistence on doing everything Lone Ranger style and depending on no one was frustrating and off-putting at times. For goodness sakes, no (wo)man is an island! People who need people are the luckiest people in the world. All that jazz...long and short, let your band of friends--and Daniel--help you! Sheesh.
But I get it. Asking for help is hard. (Dying is probably harder, though, isn't it?)
I'd read in a couple reviews this one was darker than "Protagonist Bound," and I'm glad it was indeed able to deliver a bit more darkness. I think it makes me odd to relish this fact, but I do. It was a lot less fairy and heck of a lot more of the tale, and I'm here for it all. I'm an action girl, and I love the princess-hero badassery.
And, oh my, can we talk about mean SJ!?? Yowsah...I LOVED it! It's always nice to get some things off your chest, and BOY, did Snow White, Jr do it. I mean, I wouldn't want to endure that sharp tongue for six more books, but it was nice to see the depth of emotion hiding behind her sweet demeanor. (But selfish Jason was a jerk. Funny...buy a jerk!)
Overall, I really enjoyed "The Severance Game," and it made me less ashamed that apparently I'm a grown woman who enjoys YA novels. (Shhh...tell no one!) :-)
I feel better about this series and will definitely continue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2016
I liked the first book in this series, but I love this one. A world of magic, princess and heroes. Who wouldn’t wanna live there? And who wouldn’t wanna have friends like Crisa? So, why would she have this big of a problem to accept their help? This is what friends are for! It was great to find out more about how Crisa became friends with SJ, Blue and Jason. If you like reading books full of action, magic and a strong heroine, this is the one for you. Can’t wait to see what happens next to Crisa and her friends.
***I received a copy of the book via NetGally in exchange for a fair review***
***I received a copy of the book via NetGally in exchange for a fair review***
March 6, 2022
Book 2 gives us more of a chance to see Crisanta and the gangs world outside of school. As they embark on this quest it puts our characters in new situations that challenge them physically, as well as, emotionally. Crisa really struggles with finding who she is. But conflict allows them to learn more about each other and themselves, as they uncover information previously hidden to them.
I love the scenes in the Therewolves den, they are so unique and fun.
I love the scenes in the Therewolves den, they are so unique and fun.
Read
November 30, 2020To summarize this book, Crisanta was able to defeat Arian and all of the people after her with her friends by her side. It was a hard journey, but she was able to uncover more about the Author and how to get to her to change her future. In the end, Crisanta continues her path to find the Author and hopefully convince her to redo her future or at least, let her take her future into her own hands.
June 12, 2018
I will read the next in the series because the story ideas interest me. However, the amount of introspection/internal dialog/angst is annoying, up to ~3 Kindle pages at a time. I hope there's not as much in book 3...
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