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Cassidy Jones Adventures #2
Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift
This is an alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B006HYLY3K.
An Ancient Secret Has Risen. A World In Peril. Can This Evil Menace Be Stopped?
Two months after being infected with a strange retrovirus, Cassidy Jones continues to live a double life as she struggles to master her astonishing superpowers. School has become the only normal thing left in her life—except for tall, dark, and handsome Emery Phillips, who shadows her every move, ensuring her secret is safe. But when a sleepover at Catamount Mountain Zoo takes a menacing turn, the world hovers on the edge of disaster as Cassidy is drawn into another riveting and perilous mystery that threatens the planet.
An Ancient Secret Has Risen. A World In Peril. Can This Evil Menace Be Stopped?
Two months after being infected with a strange retrovirus, Cassidy Jones continues to live a double life as she struggles to master her astonishing superpowers. School has become the only normal thing left in her life—except for tall, dark, and handsome Emery Phillips, who shadows her every move, ensuring her secret is safe. But when a sleepover at Catamount Mountain Zoo takes a menacing turn, the world hovers on the edge of disaster as Cassidy is drawn into another riveting and perilous mystery that threatens the planet.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2011
43 people are currently reading
787 people want to read
About the author
Elise Stokes
6 books1,224 followersElise Stokes lives with her husband and four children. She was an elementary school teacher before becoming a full-time mom. With a daughter in middle school and two in high school, Elise’s understanding of the challenges facing girls in that age range inspired her to create a series that will motivate girls to value individualism, courage, integrity, and intelligence. The stories in Cassidy Jones Adventures are fun and relatable, and a bit edgy without taking the reader uncomfortably out of bounds. Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula, Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift, Cassidy Jones and the Seventh Attendant, Cassidy Jones and the Luminous, and Cassidy Jones and the Eternal Flame are the first five books in the series.
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~ If you send a message, please let me know on Facebook or in a tweet: @CassidyJonesAdv. Thank you!
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Website: http://cassidyjonesadventures.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 14, 2011
Have you been waiting on a series that will knock your socks off? How about a series that leaves you breathless, excited, and ready for more? If you think you are ready for something like that, then you can now go to your nearest book retailer and pick up your copy of Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift. But make sure you are properly prepared. If you don’t have your Sasquatch hunting gear, you may be a bit outgunned…Just a warning!
This is the second book in Elise Stokes’ Cassidy Jones series. Cassidy is too much for one book to handle, Stokes had to unleash her again for a second book. If you thought she and her friends took you on a wild ride before, you have no idea what you are in for when you crack open Vulcan’s Gift.
We get to see all of our favorite characters from the first book, and of course, we can’t have new adventures without new and eccentric characters. What kind of fun would that be? Did I mention there was a Sasquatch? I think that was a personal favorite of mine.
Poor Cassidy had some “stuff” happen to her in the first book that took her from regular high school student to maiden extraordinaire! Just when she started to get used to that, life gets a bit more interesting for Cassidy. Her hard-as-nails personality takes on a whole new meaning in this book – just wait until you read this one! I’m not sure how would handle the things that she goes through. But she handles it with grace (usually) and a fierce attitude that would make a lady proud. Any young girl looking for a new role model can find one in Cassidy. Any mom would be proud to have their daughter look up to Cassidy Jones.
This story will take you on a ride that you really will be thrilled to be on. The evil is new, but just as enthralling, and Cassidy handles it the only way she knows how: full-steam ahead. Along the way, Cassidy discovers she has a few new things up her “sleeves.” She and Emery will do what they can as a team – even if it isn’t always the best teamwork. Emery and Cassidy have a few, shall we say, issues?
I am a Cassidy Jones fan for life. I am already getting antsy to read the next one!
This is the second book in Elise Stokes’ Cassidy Jones series. Cassidy is too much for one book to handle, Stokes had to unleash her again for a second book. If you thought she and her friends took you on a wild ride before, you have no idea what you are in for when you crack open Vulcan’s Gift.
We get to see all of our favorite characters from the first book, and of course, we can’t have new adventures without new and eccentric characters. What kind of fun would that be? Did I mention there was a Sasquatch? I think that was a personal favorite of mine.
Poor Cassidy had some “stuff” happen to her in the first book that took her from regular high school student to maiden extraordinaire! Just when she started to get used to that, life gets a bit more interesting for Cassidy. Her hard-as-nails personality takes on a whole new meaning in this book – just wait until you read this one! I’m not sure how would handle the things that she goes through. But she handles it with grace (usually) and a fierce attitude that would make a lady proud. Any young girl looking for a new role model can find one in Cassidy. Any mom would be proud to have their daughter look up to Cassidy Jones.
This story will take you on a ride that you really will be thrilled to be on. The evil is new, but just as enthralling, and Cassidy handles it the only way she knows how: full-steam ahead. Along the way, Cassidy discovers she has a few new things up her “sleeves.” She and Emery will do what they can as a team – even if it isn’t always the best teamwork. Emery and Cassidy have a few, shall we say, issues?
I am a Cassidy Jones fan for life. I am already getting antsy to read the next one!
December 28, 2011
I love an intense experience: a rich cup of espresso, a fine Malbec, a taut and well-played game of baseball. Intensity is a state the occurs when a stimulus is powerful enough to remove you from current time and place and immerse you in an alternative world where senses, emotions and thoughts become more vivid and alive.
That pretty much describes what it's like to read Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift.
The second installment in the Cassidy Jones Adventures series does not let up for a moment, from the exceptionally well-written prologue to the end of the book. Even the relatively quiet and "normal" parts (when superhero Cassidy exists in the context of teenage reality) turn out to be fascinating vignettes of the teenage experience, with all the wild-card emotions coming into play. Plot development is tight, the story is well-told and the characters surprisingly authentic for a fantasy adventure.
As I pointed out in my review of Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula, Cassidy is an exceptional character who would still be exceptional if she were cured of her super powers. At times mature and perceptive, at other times hopelessly adolescent, Elise Stokes has developed a character that is anything but a caricature. This foundational strength is even more apparent in this second book as Cassidy becomes more comfortable with her accidental capabilities while becoming less comfortable with the simmering conflict inside her. She is a very competent superhero but also a teenager with shaky confidence, and it is this combination of strength and vulnerability that makes you want to cheer her on. We never forget that Cassidy, albeit in the exaggerated transformation to superhero, is a young girl always in danger of losing control, which also happens to be what it feels like to be a teenager.
Ms. Stokes has also strengthened the supporting cast, with Emery Phillips (Cassidy's partner in adventure) also serving as something of a role model who tries to temper Cassidy's typically teenage tendency to unfairly judge other people. We see this as Emery enlists the help of a chain-smoking layabout named Jason, whom Cassidy immediately rejects as a colleague and whom Emery calmly defends for his virtues and unique moral code. Emery's dispassionate and open-minded view of human nature contrasts nicely with the labeling tendency we all have in our teenage years (and which some of us cling to through adulthood).
Cassidy also befriends a homeless fellow named (appropriately) Joe, the kind of person who rarely appears on anyone's radar, much less that of a fourteen-year old girl. Her defense of Joe, who is being attacked by the typical gang of teenagers looking for kicks, tells us a lot about Cassidy's fundamental sense of decency and fair play. The only problem I had with the book was that there was no final scene with Joe, as I think he could serve as a good friend and mentor for Cassidy; sort of an ironic version of Dumbledore.
I should also mention the forces of evil against whom Cassidy and Emery do battle. The initial encounter with Metal Man was so well-written that I felt like I was there. The final battle against the evil Lily White (a perfect name if there ever was one!) is more tightly-written than the climax in the first book. Ms. Stokes has not spent much time developing the characters on the dark side, which I feel at this stage of the series is a good choice (Voldemort was hardly real until the end of Book 4). However, at some point in the series, we will have to have a better understanding of Cassidy's definition of evil so that we better understand Cassidy herself.
In my earlier review, I compared the first installment to Ms. Rowling's efforts and certainly felt that Cassidy Jones held up well. In this second installment, Cassidy takes the lead. I never felt that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets added much to the series; Rowling really didn't get moving until Book 3. With Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift, Ms. Stokes has taken the series to a higher level and the path forward is full of intriguing possibilities.
I will now exist in that exquisitely agonizing space of having to wait a whole year for those possibilities to play out in the next installment.
See the Cassidy Jones Adventures website for more information about the books and the author.
That pretty much describes what it's like to read Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift.
The second installment in the Cassidy Jones Adventures series does not let up for a moment, from the exceptionally well-written prologue to the end of the book. Even the relatively quiet and "normal" parts (when superhero Cassidy exists in the context of teenage reality) turn out to be fascinating vignettes of the teenage experience, with all the wild-card emotions coming into play. Plot development is tight, the story is well-told and the characters surprisingly authentic for a fantasy adventure.
As I pointed out in my review of Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula, Cassidy is an exceptional character who would still be exceptional if she were cured of her super powers. At times mature and perceptive, at other times hopelessly adolescent, Elise Stokes has developed a character that is anything but a caricature. This foundational strength is even more apparent in this second book as Cassidy becomes more comfortable with her accidental capabilities while becoming less comfortable with the simmering conflict inside her. She is a very competent superhero but also a teenager with shaky confidence, and it is this combination of strength and vulnerability that makes you want to cheer her on. We never forget that Cassidy, albeit in the exaggerated transformation to superhero, is a young girl always in danger of losing control, which also happens to be what it feels like to be a teenager.
Ms. Stokes has also strengthened the supporting cast, with Emery Phillips (Cassidy's partner in adventure) also serving as something of a role model who tries to temper Cassidy's typically teenage tendency to unfairly judge other people. We see this as Emery enlists the help of a chain-smoking layabout named Jason, whom Cassidy immediately rejects as a colleague and whom Emery calmly defends for his virtues and unique moral code. Emery's dispassionate and open-minded view of human nature contrasts nicely with the labeling tendency we all have in our teenage years (and which some of us cling to through adulthood).
Cassidy also befriends a homeless fellow named (appropriately) Joe, the kind of person who rarely appears on anyone's radar, much less that of a fourteen-year old girl. Her defense of Joe, who is being attacked by the typical gang of teenagers looking for kicks, tells us a lot about Cassidy's fundamental sense of decency and fair play. The only problem I had with the book was that there was no final scene with Joe, as I think he could serve as a good friend and mentor for Cassidy; sort of an ironic version of Dumbledore.
I should also mention the forces of evil against whom Cassidy and Emery do battle. The initial encounter with Metal Man was so well-written that I felt like I was there. The final battle against the evil Lily White (a perfect name if there ever was one!) is more tightly-written than the climax in the first book. Ms. Stokes has not spent much time developing the characters on the dark side, which I feel at this stage of the series is a good choice (Voldemort was hardly real until the end of Book 4). However, at some point in the series, we will have to have a better understanding of Cassidy's definition of evil so that we better understand Cassidy herself.
In my earlier review, I compared the first installment to Ms. Rowling's efforts and certainly felt that Cassidy Jones held up well. In this second installment, Cassidy takes the lead. I never felt that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets added much to the series; Rowling really didn't get moving until Book 3. With Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift, Ms. Stokes has taken the series to a higher level and the path forward is full of intriguing possibilities.
I will now exist in that exquisitely agonizing space of having to wait a whole year for those possibilities to play out in the next installment.
See the Cassidy Jones Adventures website for more information about the books and the author.
December 7, 2011
I’m excited about the release of Elise Stokes’ second novel, Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift. This fast-paced series is reminiscent of the adventures of comic book superheroes, except Cassidy Jones happens to be a totally hip, totally stubborn, totally modern fifteen-year-old girl. A freak accident left her with enhanced senses and superhuman strength that she struggles mightily to adjust to. She may be saving the Seattle suburbs by night, but by day she must try to fit into Queen Anne High School, navigate those tricky guy-girl relationships, and make sure none of her friends figure out her secret. Such a rumor whispered to the wrong individual would put her loved ones at serious risk.
In Vulcan’s Gift, a top-secret weapon leftover from Nazi German, long considered a myth, surfaces on Catamount Mountain. It’s up to Cassidy and her brilliant sidekick, Emery, to figure out and muscle down this new threat. Throw in a missing Siberian tiger, multiple Sasquatch sightings (not to mention the gaggle of faithful Sasquatch followers), family wealth, and a shiny new villain, and you have the recipe for a teen-pleasing page-turner.
Let’s backtrack to Emery for a moment. Son of the scientist connected to Cassidy’s enhancement, Emery has some impressive credentials of his own. At age fifteen, he’s already earned a college degree and put off graduate school to guard and guide Cassidy. Unrealistic? Of course! As you recall, we’re talking comic book superheroes here. Anyway, Emery is light years ahead of the pack in maturity and intellect, and his perfection can get downright obnoxious. Yet, there’s a warmth and genuine affection to his character that makes me hope Cassidy will finally be done with her high school crush, Jared, once and for all. Aside from Cassidy and her wonderful physical dilemma, Emery is by far the most complex character of the series.
There are many things I appreciate about Vulcan’s Gift, not the least of which is Ms. Stokes’ polished writing style. While it isn’t poetic or abundant in creative word pictures (which I have a real penchant for) it IS solid, smooth, and so easy to read - perfect for a high-flying adventure. I also applaud Ms. Stokes for leaving out the language and content so many of us find objectionable in children’s literature. I didn’t miss it! Her imagination for thinking up a superb plot is better than most and packaged air-tight, and colorful, bigger-than-life characters are becoming her trademark. No, this series isn't particularly deep or beautiful, or even witty, but it sure is fun to read!
Once again, the end of the book leaves lots of wiggle room for a new adventure. Questions from the first book remain, and now we’ve left a psychotic new villain on the loose, last seen laughing maniacally. I’ll be eagerly awaiting book three, Ms. Stokes!
In Vulcan’s Gift, a top-secret weapon leftover from Nazi German, long considered a myth, surfaces on Catamount Mountain. It’s up to Cassidy and her brilliant sidekick, Emery, to figure out and muscle down this new threat. Throw in a missing Siberian tiger, multiple Sasquatch sightings (not to mention the gaggle of faithful Sasquatch followers), family wealth, and a shiny new villain, and you have the recipe for a teen-pleasing page-turner.
Let’s backtrack to Emery for a moment. Son of the scientist connected to Cassidy’s enhancement, Emery has some impressive credentials of his own. At age fifteen, he’s already earned a college degree and put off graduate school to guard and guide Cassidy. Unrealistic? Of course! As you recall, we’re talking comic book superheroes here. Anyway, Emery is light years ahead of the pack in maturity and intellect, and his perfection can get downright obnoxious. Yet, there’s a warmth and genuine affection to his character that makes me hope Cassidy will finally be done with her high school crush, Jared, once and for all. Aside from Cassidy and her wonderful physical dilemma, Emery is by far the most complex character of the series.
There are many things I appreciate about Vulcan’s Gift, not the least of which is Ms. Stokes’ polished writing style. While it isn’t poetic or abundant in creative word pictures (which I have a real penchant for) it IS solid, smooth, and so easy to read - perfect for a high-flying adventure. I also applaud Ms. Stokes for leaving out the language and content so many of us find objectionable in children’s literature. I didn’t miss it! Her imagination for thinking up a superb plot is better than most and packaged air-tight, and colorful, bigger-than-life characters are becoming her trademark. No, this series isn't particularly deep or beautiful, or even witty, but it sure is fun to read!
Once again, the end of the book leaves lots of wiggle room for a new adventure. Questions from the first book remain, and now we’ve left a psychotic new villain on the loose, last seen laughing maniacally. I’ll be eagerly awaiting book three, Ms. Stokes!
January 25, 2012
Book Title: "Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift"
Author: Elise Stokes
Published By: Jace Publishing
Age Recommended: 10 +
Reviewed By: Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating: 5
Review: Elise Stokes has done it again, and this time she has truly gone above and beyond. After reading her first 'Cassidy Jones' book I had already fallen in love with the characters and their ability to amuse and delight me. I can say now with acute honesty that I look forward to Cassidy's adventures to continue for years to come. This is by far turning out to be one of the most amazing and well-written, middle grade to young adult series I have ever read.
Elise's execution of character development carries a perfection that is not easy for a lot of writers to obtain within two books alone. She writes in such a way that allows her characters to grow at the perfect pace. I can't imagine anyone young or old not falling for this rewarding series. There is never a dull moment in the world of Cassidy Jones. If you truly want to buy a book series you and your kids will enjoy I encourage you to pick up both Elise Stokes' books. "Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula" and "Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift." You will not want to miss out on a single moment of this magnificent series.
In this dynamic sequel, Cassidy and her ever-present bodyguard/best friend, Emery, are on the trail of a person that could be supremely dangerous having found an item of great power. When what should be a quiet and fun sleepover at the Catamount Zoo turns into a frightening and potentially deadly evening, Cassidy and Emery begin to suspect that the well-to-do family that owns the place may have more secrets than animals in cages.
This book has it all, wild adventure, non-stop action, hilarious banter, family value and love, teenage angst, and excitement at every turn! Even an old urban legend makes an appearance in this delightful sequel about a fourteen year old girl that accidentally gains abilities most adults would have a hard time coping with. I cannot praise Elise Stokes or her creation enough, simply stunning and beyond superb!
Author: Elise Stokes
Published By: Jace Publishing
Age Recommended: 10 +
Reviewed By: Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating: 5
Review: Elise Stokes has done it again, and this time she has truly gone above and beyond. After reading her first 'Cassidy Jones' book I had already fallen in love with the characters and their ability to amuse and delight me. I can say now with acute honesty that I look forward to Cassidy's adventures to continue for years to come. This is by far turning out to be one of the most amazing and well-written, middle grade to young adult series I have ever read.
Elise's execution of character development carries a perfection that is not easy for a lot of writers to obtain within two books alone. She writes in such a way that allows her characters to grow at the perfect pace. I can't imagine anyone young or old not falling for this rewarding series. There is never a dull moment in the world of Cassidy Jones. If you truly want to buy a book series you and your kids will enjoy I encourage you to pick up both Elise Stokes' books. "Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula" and "Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift." You will not want to miss out on a single moment of this magnificent series.
In this dynamic sequel, Cassidy and her ever-present bodyguard/best friend, Emery, are on the trail of a person that could be supremely dangerous having found an item of great power. When what should be a quiet and fun sleepover at the Catamount Zoo turns into a frightening and potentially deadly evening, Cassidy and Emery begin to suspect that the well-to-do family that owns the place may have more secrets than animals in cages.
This book has it all, wild adventure, non-stop action, hilarious banter, family value and love, teenage angst, and excitement at every turn! Even an old urban legend makes an appearance in this delightful sequel about a fourteen year old girl that accidentally gains abilities most adults would have a hard time coping with. I cannot praise Elise Stokes or her creation enough, simply stunning and beyond superb!
February 8, 2013
Cassidy Jones, Seattle’s fascinating fourteen-year-old super-hero, returns in another delightful adventure for middle graders and beyond in book two, Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift. Cassidy continues to adjust to heightened abilities of sight, smell, speed and athleticism since the accidental exposure to Professor Phillips secret, experimental 10X formula.
The adventure begins with Cassidy at the Seattle Center garbed “head-to-toe in black,” wearing a black ski mask to disguise her youthful age and “mutant” identity. It’s one in the morning as she runs her gaze up and down the “white-painted beam of the Space Needle’s northern leg” gauging the gravity defying climb to the top.
Seconds later, Cassidy settled under the Christmas tree that adorns the 605 foot, saucer-like Space Needle and could feel the Needle’s exhilarating sway as icy wind whipped her “dark-red hair into a frenzy” She knew Emery, the professor’s brilliant fifteen-year-old son, would be upset she left home without calling his Droid and then dismissed the thought. Even though he was her secret bodyguard she had to work off this pent up energy. Besides she planned to climb back through her bedroom window before he checked for her GPS location.
She peeked over the saucer like edge when she overheard voices below and saw four surly teens circling “Ol’ Joe,” a homeless man she knew by scent, until he spoke to her for the first time tonight. When he saw her at the base of the Needle he had warned “…Ol Joe is watchin you Green Eyes…somebody is up to no good…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/b4crb82
The adventure begins with Cassidy at the Seattle Center garbed “head-to-toe in black,” wearing a black ski mask to disguise her youthful age and “mutant” identity. It’s one in the morning as she runs her gaze up and down the “white-painted beam of the Space Needle’s northern leg” gauging the gravity defying climb to the top.
Seconds later, Cassidy settled under the Christmas tree that adorns the 605 foot, saucer-like Space Needle and could feel the Needle’s exhilarating sway as icy wind whipped her “dark-red hair into a frenzy” She knew Emery, the professor’s brilliant fifteen-year-old son, would be upset she left home without calling his Droid and then dismissed the thought. Even though he was her secret bodyguard she had to work off this pent up energy. Besides she planned to climb back through her bedroom window before he checked for her GPS location.
She peeked over the saucer like edge when she overheard voices below and saw four surly teens circling “Ol’ Joe,” a homeless man she knew by scent, until he spoke to her for the first time tonight. When he saw her at the base of the Needle he had warned “…Ol Joe is watchin you Green Eyes…somebody is up to no good…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/b4crb82
January 4, 2013
If you’re reading this review before purchasing Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift, don’t but it. It’ll deepen your smile lines from the perm-a-grin you’ll have while reading this book. You’ll put off work, sleep, and caring for crying children.
In this second book in the series written in first person, you learn what an extraordinary young woman Cassidy is. Though she’s a typical teenager, she’s a good child with a loving family. Her thoughts will make you chuckle often. She has all the torment you’d expect for a fifteen year old girl, yet is genuine and intriguing. I often thought I was reading a true story written by a talented fifteen year old writer, not an adult woman making up a story.
Cassidy makes mistakes that’ll make you shake your head, all the while realizing she had to in order to stay typical for her age and sex. Cassidy fights with her twin brother and his friends as you’d expect teenagers to do. She’s tormented by other girls at school, has a crush on a guy, but can’t get up the courage to apologize for an embarrassing mistake she made in the first book, and gossips with her female friends. All the while she and Emery, the genius fifteen year old neighbor, investigates the theft of a tiger and someone with a mysterious metal suit. The fact Cassidy has heightened senses, strength, and speed after inhaling a secret formula in the first book that mutated her are secondary to this marvelous story.
Ms. Stokes is an extraordinary writer whose only fault is she can’t write these books fast enough. The third book in the series is being finished at this time, in early 2013. This hooked fan is patiently waiting its arrival. I’ll be like Harry Potter fans years ago who waited outside bookstores for hours for the arrival of the latest in the series.
Readers of all ages will enjoy this series of books.
In this second book in the series written in first person, you learn what an extraordinary young woman Cassidy is. Though she’s a typical teenager, she’s a good child with a loving family. Her thoughts will make you chuckle often. She has all the torment you’d expect for a fifteen year old girl, yet is genuine and intriguing. I often thought I was reading a true story written by a talented fifteen year old writer, not an adult woman making up a story.
Cassidy makes mistakes that’ll make you shake your head, all the while realizing she had to in order to stay typical for her age and sex. Cassidy fights with her twin brother and his friends as you’d expect teenagers to do. She’s tormented by other girls at school, has a crush on a guy, but can’t get up the courage to apologize for an embarrassing mistake she made in the first book, and gossips with her female friends. All the while she and Emery, the genius fifteen year old neighbor, investigates the theft of a tiger and someone with a mysterious metal suit. The fact Cassidy has heightened senses, strength, and speed after inhaling a secret formula in the first book that mutated her are secondary to this marvelous story.
Ms. Stokes is an extraordinary writer whose only fault is she can’t write these books fast enough. The third book in the series is being finished at this time, in early 2013. This hooked fan is patiently waiting its arrival. I’ll be like Harry Potter fans years ago who waited outside bookstores for hours for the arrival of the latest in the series.
Readers of all ages will enjoy this series of books.
January 18, 2012
I thought this book started out slower than the first one, but by the end I couldn't get enough of Cassidy and Emery! Cassidy is a great heroine -- already feeling like an awkward teenager, she is now stuck with these super powers that she has to hide. She comes from a loving, supportive family - but this is something she must hide even from her own family -- for their own safety! If people found out what a fantastic weapon she was, there is nothing that could stop the bad guys from tracking her down -- and using her family to get to her. As she gets stronger, she discovers new powers - is there no end to her freakishness?
Thank goodness she has Emery -- smart Emery who is taking a break from Stanford (if I remember correctly he's 17 years old - may be 16) to act like a normal high school kid so he can protect Cassidy -- mostly from herself. She can't afford to get angry and let her instincts take over and reveal to everyone who she has become! And there is Robin who seems to find new ways to get under Cassidy's skin and put Cassidy's temper on edge -- especially since that one incident when Cassidy let her temper slip a little and threw the ball at Robin during gym class (a little harder than was probably humanly possible) and broke her nose...
I love the way Emery and Cassidy interact with each other -- of course, nothing can be too easy between any hero and heroine. And there is Jared who Cassidy has always loved, and can't seem to get out of her mind... or heart...
Thank goodness she has Emery -- smart Emery who is taking a break from Stanford (if I remember correctly he's 17 years old - may be 16) to act like a normal high school kid so he can protect Cassidy -- mostly from herself. She can't afford to get angry and let her instincts take over and reveal to everyone who she has become! And there is Robin who seems to find new ways to get under Cassidy's skin and put Cassidy's temper on edge -- especially since that one incident when Cassidy let her temper slip a little and threw the ball at Robin during gym class (a little harder than was probably humanly possible) and broke her nose...
I love the way Emery and Cassidy interact with each other -- of course, nothing can be too easy between any hero and heroine. And there is Jared who Cassidy has always loved, and can't seem to get out of her mind... or heart...
April 23, 2012
I hate giving 5 stars. Here’s why:
a) There are people out there who suspect that 5 stars are from best friends or review swaps or paid for etc (I write only honest reviews, with no incentives or favours given or received); and
b) What if the author’s next book is even better and you can’t give out more stars?!
But sometimes I just can’t resist. This is definitely one of those times. I loved this book! Seriously, and I’m not a young adult. In ‘Cassidy Jones and the Vulcan’s Gift’, Cassidy and Emery are back for more adventure as they try to capture a runaway tiger and stop an evil plot that could lead to world domination. What’s not to love, right?
More specifically, I loved the complex characters that Elise Stokes has created. Even the ‘minor’ characters are real and have a life. Cassidy and Emery don’t fit into the typical YA lit stereotype, in which one character (usually the girl) is waiting to be rescued or protected by the other; nor are they trying to prove anything or kill off another tribe or gang or whatever. I like how Cassidy’s family is united without being sappy about it. The parents are actually intelligent and connected with their kids’ lives. There’s a good balance of adventure, mystery, drama and humour with a touch of romance (but not too much, thank heavens).
What I don’t like: Book #3 isn’t out yet. Ugh. I want more.
Definitely highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun read!
a) There are people out there who suspect that 5 stars are from best friends or review swaps or paid for etc (I write only honest reviews, with no incentives or favours given or received); and
b) What if the author’s next book is even better and you can’t give out more stars?!
But sometimes I just can’t resist. This is definitely one of those times. I loved this book! Seriously, and I’m not a young adult. In ‘Cassidy Jones and the Vulcan’s Gift’, Cassidy and Emery are back for more adventure as they try to capture a runaway tiger and stop an evil plot that could lead to world domination. What’s not to love, right?
More specifically, I loved the complex characters that Elise Stokes has created. Even the ‘minor’ characters are real and have a life. Cassidy and Emery don’t fit into the typical YA lit stereotype, in which one character (usually the girl) is waiting to be rescued or protected by the other; nor are they trying to prove anything or kill off another tribe or gang or whatever. I like how Cassidy’s family is united without being sappy about it. The parents are actually intelligent and connected with their kids’ lives. There’s a good balance of adventure, mystery, drama and humour with a touch of romance (but not too much, thank heavens).
What I don’t like: Book #3 isn’t out yet. Ugh. I want more.
Definitely highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun read!
July 16, 2012
Elise Stokes has the most wholesome voice of teenage America. Cassie and the gang deliver an amazing sequel full of action, humor, and several moments that YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO READ! As the father of a pre-teener, I can't wait for her to read these terrific stories in the hopes that she learns, not only what to expect in the years of middle school and beyond, but also, that it's cool to be strong, truthful and humble. Cassie is a terrific role model in every way. Emery returns to reveal more layers that make him quite possibly the very best character I've ever read, and I can't get enough of him. There was a historical element to the novel that will appeal to the mystery reader in all of us. Don't let the teen characters fool you, Cassidy Jones Adventures has no age in mind, and Vulcan's Gift is a fulfilling sequel in an age where follow ups fail miserably. Within the adventure, we are treated to an emotional element that will evoke memories of our own kid days, every insecurity, fear, and longing we'd felt. It'll make you connect with Cassie, Myriam, Emery, Nate, and strike a real chord in our inner child. Great, great work, I'm blown away, eagerly waiting for more!
January 4, 2012
So often sequels pale in comparison to the first book, but not so with Cassidy Jones! Instead our heroine learns to control her powers more fully and even discovers some surprising new talents in her transformation from shy school girl to superhuman mutant--running faster, flinging full grown men aside as if they were rag dolls, and even scaling Seattle's iconic Space Needle. In Vulcan's Gift, Cassidy Jones still struggles with typical teen social issues--bullying, angst, awkwardness, and unrequited romance--all of which makes her very relatable, but author Elise Stokes manages to seamlessly weave them throughout a compelling mystery/adventure that kept my interest piqued until the very end. Cassidy's continued friendship with her extremely resourceful young neighbor adds romantic tension throughout and is sure to create legions of Team Emery's or Team Jared's. (Team Emery, of course ;) All in all, Stokes delivers another classic comic book style tale, embellished with many fine examples of courage, compassion, kindness, and doing the right thing, even when it's not the easiest course of action. Kudos to Cassidy! I can't wait for the next installment.
January 26, 2012
Cassidy Jones and the Vulcun's Gift reels you in with the very first scene and doesn't let go until you reach the last page. And even then, it makes you want to keep reading. With fascinating characters who come to life on the page and a storyline that is deeply meaningful, Elise Stokes tells a unique story you won't read anywhere else. There's enough going on to keep you on your toes, wondering what comes next. The complexity of the writing makes it an entertaining read for more seasoned readers, while the innocence portrayed by the main characters makes it perfect for younger readers. The best writers can make you "feel" what's happening from scene to scene and this author certainly delivers that kind of realism. I found myself gasping for breath when Cassidy scaled the Space Needle. The superb writing made that a little too real for me, so much so that I will never look at the Space Needle in the same way again. A brilliant sequel to a great first story, it will keep Cassidy Jones' fans coming back for more. Katie Bridges, author of Warriors of the Edge
March 22, 2012
While Cassidy stalks a Siberian tiger, a metal man dashes past her like the “flash a fishing lure reflects in the sunlight.” Her “prey drive” engulfs her and she shoots after him like a bullet–thus putting Emory and her in the center of a scary and exciting mystery within a mystery. Lovers of Cassidy Jones and The Secret Formula will delight in this second book in the series. It's more than just thrilling. Stokes deepens and widens the playing field in this book. She not only introduces fascinating new characters, but digs deeper into Cassidy's psychology. Some examples. Stokes amplifies Cassidy's turmoil about handling “the beast” inside of her, adds complexity to Cassidy's relationship with Emery, and brings Cassidy's romance with Jared much more to the fore. Without wishing to reveal how the book ends, I will say that the ending is very satisfactory–no loose threads–while at the same time introducing surprises that made my mouth water for Book 3.
December 21, 2011
If you liked Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula, than this one you will love.
Elise has really developed the characters and their relationship well. She all introduces more of Cassidy friends and a new enemy for Cassidy. Twice the action, twice the drama, twice the fun. She also kept her crazy, out of the world villain signature for this book. The plot was action-packed and kept me reading with a table lamp. And that plot kept Cassidy up all night, too. Big surprise at the end, one that she kept hinting, but not telling it directly. So, to keep you predicting while waiting it to come in the mail or for you to find or Kindle... It all started when Cassidy signs up for the SnOOZe at the zoo, seemed like a normal day, until night feel over them...
Take a video of a bunch of maniacs and dip it in chocolate and you have this book!
Elise has really developed the characters and their relationship well. She all introduces more of Cassidy friends and a new enemy for Cassidy. Twice the action, twice the drama, twice the fun. She also kept her crazy, out of the world villain signature for this book. The plot was action-packed and kept me reading with a table lamp. And that plot kept Cassidy up all night, too. Big surprise at the end, one that she kept hinting, but not telling it directly. So, to keep you predicting while waiting it to come in the mail or for you to find or Kindle... It all started when Cassidy signs up for the SnOOZe at the zoo, seemed like a normal day, until night feel over them...
Take a video of a bunch of maniacs and dip it in chocolate and you have this book!
May 18, 2015
As a writer, I am in awe of Elise Stokes' ability to tell a compelling and riveting story. As a fan of fantasy and comic book genres I am in heaven. This series continues to reel me in.I am all about strong female characters and Cassidy is the essence of strength with equal parts vulnerability, with everyday (or every-girl) female interests, and insecurities. I can easily picture my teenage self as I read Cassidy's thoughts and follow her through countless crazy , unreal episodes with unexpected bad guys (and girls). Now... on to the next book! Keep 'em coming Ms. Stokes!
December 13, 2019
I really liked book one. The characters were decent, the action was good if a bit short...
But this book was really slow in the beginning. It's about Cassidy going about her ordinary day, going to a zoo to help out, a tiger escaping, etc. After reading about 50%, there was a little bit of action and mystery, but even then the pace felt extremely slow, with a lot of banter that didn't go anywhere.
Yes, Cassidy Jones got a new power. Yes, her powers are pretty unique in her own way, without being a plagiarism of superpowers from other comics, but I wish there was more action, even if this is Young Adult.
I don't think I'll be continuing this series at this time.
But this book was really slow in the beginning. It's about Cassidy going about her ordinary day, going to a zoo to help out, a tiger escaping, etc. After reading about 50%, there was a little bit of action and mystery, but even then the pace felt extremely slow, with a lot of banter that didn't go anywhere.
Yes, Cassidy Jones got a new power. Yes, her powers are pretty unique in her own way, without being a plagiarism of superpowers from other comics, but I wish there was more action, even if this is Young Adult.
I don't think I'll be continuing this series at this time.
Read
November 12, 2020The Adventure Continues
Superhero YA adventure
Cassidy's struggles and personal challenges continue in book 2. It's great to see a story about a young woman trying to do the right thing while keeping her new superhero powers a secret to protect her family. Enjoyed and highly recommended.
Superhero YA adventure
Cassidy's struggles and personal challenges continue in book 2. It's great to see a story about a young woman trying to do the right thing while keeping her new superhero powers a secret to protect her family. Enjoyed and highly recommended.
March 10, 2021
Not a real bad book - Cassidy is a good character and I like that her powers are developing but I wish the author had not loaded her up with all this "teenage stuff" that all authors imagine teens have. The supporting cast (including the villains) are really not good enough and the story is pretty thin.
Even with all the above it is still a solid three star book
Even with all the above it is still a solid three star book
October 29, 2021
I think I was not anywhere near the intended audience for this book. I have read and enjoyed YA books in the past, but I found the behavior of the teenagers in this book rather appalling. Among other things, I kept wondering how they could sneak out every night, cause mayhem, get only 3 hours or so of sleep, and then function at school the next day.
June 18, 2017
So far so good
The second book and getting better. The characters feel more real and the story really flows well. I will be continuing the series. If you liked the first I suggest you try this one.
The second book and getting better. The characters feel more real and the story really flows well. I will be continuing the series. If you liked the first I suggest you try this one.
April 29, 2020
3.5 stars
These books are nostalgic for me and I have read and reread them so many times that I cannot give an unbiased or comprehensive review of why I absolutely love these books so much. This one is not my favorite from the five published books so far.
These books are nostalgic for me and I have read and reread them so many times that I cannot give an unbiased or comprehensive review of why I absolutely love these books so much. This one is not my favorite from the five published books so far.
June 17, 2020
Can't stop reading
Love it, very engaging...something I really enjoyed and my son too...one more thing we use to connect together about .
Love it, very engaging...something I really enjoyed and my son too...one more thing we use to connect together about .
February 16, 2023
Have I mentioned I love this series? Well I do! Amazingly well written, witting, and full of action. Loved every second!
July 13, 2017
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift was another great adventure, whoooo! This time something called Vulcan’s Gift is introduced and Emery and Cassidy try and keep it/take it away from evil. Oh, did I mention that Vulcan’s Gift is and old Nazi Weapon?? Hail Hydra?
So, I obviously love Emery and Cass. They make such a great team (and yes, I still ship them ;) hehe)! Oh! And guess what! Cass is developing new abilities! :D It is SO cool! But, I mean, she was still trying to get used to having abilities at all, and now a couple more are thrown in? Sheesh! Good thing she’s got Emery to help her out! And now Emery’s mom, of course. I also feel the need to mention that when Cass went out to do superhero-ing in the woods, people thought she was bigfoot... It was hilarious! I cannot get over how insanely entertaining that was!
Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift was very action-y, humorous, and exciting--especially that big battle there at the end! It had me in major suspense! That crazy ending... I did not see that happening to villain--it was a huge plot twist and now I wonder what is going to happen. It was insane and kinda weird. But I am SO intrigued! I cannot wait to read the next book!
Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift was another great adventure, whoooo! This time something called Vulcan’s Gift is introduced and Emery and Cassidy try and keep it/take it away from evil. Oh, did I mention that Vulcan’s Gift is and old Nazi Weapon?? Hail Hydra?
So, I obviously love Emery and Cass. They make such a great team (and yes, I still ship them ;) hehe)! Oh! And guess what! Cass is developing new abilities! :D It is SO cool! But, I mean, she was still trying to get used to having abilities at all, and now a couple more are thrown in? Sheesh! Good thing she’s got Emery to help her out! And now Emery’s mom, of course. I also feel the need to mention that when Cass went out to do superhero-ing in the woods, people thought she was bigfoot... It was hilarious! I cannot get over how insanely entertaining that was!
Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift was very action-y, humorous, and exciting--especially that big battle there at the end! It had me in major suspense! That crazy ending... I did not see that happening to villain--it was a huge plot twist and now I wonder what is going to happen. It was insane and kinda weird. But I am SO intrigued! I cannot wait to read the next book!
May 7, 2012
She's back! Cassidy Jones rides again in Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's gift.
When things at a nearby zoo go awry, Cassidy and her crime-fighting partner, Emery Phillips, determine to solve the mystery of the whereabouts of Roga, the tiger, and the strange circumstances surrounding his escape. In the process, similar to another Jones, Cassidy's fear of all things reptilian comes front and center, as a 13-foot Python puts the squeeze on her.
Aside from the superhero action and the peeling back the layers of the mystery, there are still the other things teenagers tend to deal with. Cassidy, is after all, still in high school, and trying to cope with the absurdities that all of that brings. And yes, there is another confrontation with Robin, Cassidy's main rival for Jared, the boy-who-got-away, or so Cassidy believes.
Sophomore entries for any artist are always compared to the original, and oftentimes, found wanting. In the case of Vulcan's Gift, such is not the case. Far from it. Stokes takes all that was fun and compelling from Secret Formula, providing a sense of security and a foundation of familiarity, but then takes it up a few notches. Even though she is still battling moments of moral crisis, when the "beast within" takes over more than it should, Cassidy is learning how to better master her powers in and out of dangerous situations. She's also gaining new ones, such as a dense, armor-like hide that pops up anytime her body is about to be pounded or skewered.
There is a costume change, too. In Secret Formula, Cassidy primarily wore a dark ninja suit in either stealth or combat mode. With circumstances being very different, her disguise must adhere to it. It's genius, hilarity and practicality, all rolled into one.
Anyone who read Secret Formula and loved it, will adore Vulcan's Gift. The action is high, the teenage angst and romance are kept at appropriate levels, and the story keeps rolling through one scene to the next. There are also moments of endearment, as Cassidy finds solace in her family when things get too rough emotionally for her to take them on by herself.
Tweens and teens are still the target ages for this series, but adults fond of the heroes of yesteryear will enjoy this. In all the right ways, Cassidy is a throwback hero to the golden age of comics, and that of high adventure. Just like Secret Formula, I highly recommend Vulcan's Gift.
When things at a nearby zoo go awry, Cassidy and her crime-fighting partner, Emery Phillips, determine to solve the mystery of the whereabouts of Roga, the tiger, and the strange circumstances surrounding his escape. In the process, similar to another Jones, Cassidy's fear of all things reptilian comes front and center, as a 13-foot Python puts the squeeze on her.
Aside from the superhero action and the peeling back the layers of the mystery, there are still the other things teenagers tend to deal with. Cassidy, is after all, still in high school, and trying to cope with the absurdities that all of that brings. And yes, there is another confrontation with Robin, Cassidy's main rival for Jared, the boy-who-got-away, or so Cassidy believes.
Sophomore entries for any artist are always compared to the original, and oftentimes, found wanting. In the case of Vulcan's Gift, such is not the case. Far from it. Stokes takes all that was fun and compelling from Secret Formula, providing a sense of security and a foundation of familiarity, but then takes it up a few notches. Even though she is still battling moments of moral crisis, when the "beast within" takes over more than it should, Cassidy is learning how to better master her powers in and out of dangerous situations. She's also gaining new ones, such as a dense, armor-like hide that pops up anytime her body is about to be pounded or skewered.
There is a costume change, too. In Secret Formula, Cassidy primarily wore a dark ninja suit in either stealth or combat mode. With circumstances being very different, her disguise must adhere to it. It's genius, hilarity and practicality, all rolled into one.
Anyone who read Secret Formula and loved it, will adore Vulcan's Gift. The action is high, the teenage angst and romance are kept at appropriate levels, and the story keeps rolling through one scene to the next. There are also moments of endearment, as Cassidy finds solace in her family when things get too rough emotionally for her to take them on by herself.
Tweens and teens are still the target ages for this series, but adults fond of the heroes of yesteryear will enjoy this. In all the right ways, Cassidy is a throwback hero to the golden age of comics, and that of high adventure. Just like Secret Formula, I highly recommend Vulcan's Gift.
September 3, 2012
The biggest thing that Cassidy Jones is worried about SnOOZe, the Catamount Mountain Zoo’s sleepover fundraiser, is that she’ll be able to control her superpower impulses (racing cheetahs and arm-wrestling the gorilla aren’t exactly normal behavior), or perhaps, her fear of snakes. But what starts out as a care-free day of her tracking scents ends in hysteria. After tracking the scent to Roga, the tiger, she tunes into a zookeeper telling Roga that one day he’ll spring her free. Cassidy and Emery decide not to say anything, and instead focus on keeping Cassidy’s little brother, Chazz entertained by the indoor animal show. Everything goes smoothly, until the lights are turned out, the doors are locked, bats are let loose, the python is left free to slither across the floor (that is, until Cassidy straddles it and holds it in place), and they receive the news that Roga has escaped.
Feeling responsible, Cassidy and Emery vow to track Roga. But instead, what discover in the woods isn’t the tiger; it’s a man in a mysterious silver suit who seems to have some sort of super powers too. They also run into the famous television Big Game host, Leroy Rays, who tries to shoot Cassidy with tranquilizer darts, believing she’s some sort of animal in her fur coat.
So all they have to do is 1) Find out who or what the silver suit is, 2) find the tiger, and 3) avoid, or maybe confront, the group of sasquatch enthusiasts swarming the woods because they believe that Cassidy is sasquatch. Or do these problems somehow all tie together?
Not only is this book filled with action-packed scenes that hold so many twists-and-turns, the well-described settings of the zoo and woods will keep you fascinated. While trying to solve the mystery, there are also so many hilarious scenes, including Cassidy in a Chewbacca costume, the Sasquatch enthusiasts, and a rather unfortunate 1968 Camaro. What I also liked about this book is that we get to see more characters explored, not only do we get to see Cassidy gain more confidence, but we also see more of Cassidy’s neighbor: the bum, self-serving, Jason Crenshaw.
Fans of Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula are sure to love Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift.
See my full review on my blog, Alice in Readerland: http://aliceinreaderland.wordpress.co...
Feeling responsible, Cassidy and Emery vow to track Roga. But instead, what discover in the woods isn’t the tiger; it’s a man in a mysterious silver suit who seems to have some sort of super powers too. They also run into the famous television Big Game host, Leroy Rays, who tries to shoot Cassidy with tranquilizer darts, believing she’s some sort of animal in her fur coat.
So all they have to do is 1) Find out who or what the silver suit is, 2) find the tiger, and 3) avoid, or maybe confront, the group of sasquatch enthusiasts swarming the woods because they believe that Cassidy is sasquatch. Or do these problems somehow all tie together?
Not only is this book filled with action-packed scenes that hold so many twists-and-turns, the well-described settings of the zoo and woods will keep you fascinated. While trying to solve the mystery, there are also so many hilarious scenes, including Cassidy in a Chewbacca costume, the Sasquatch enthusiasts, and a rather unfortunate 1968 Camaro. What I also liked about this book is that we get to see more characters explored, not only do we get to see Cassidy gain more confidence, but we also see more of Cassidy’s neighbor: the bum, self-serving, Jason Crenshaw.
Fans of Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula are sure to love Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift.
See my full review on my blog, Alice in Readerland: http://aliceinreaderland.wordpress.co...
September 22, 2012
Totally engaging and entertaining, as with Cassidy Jones and The Secret Formula. I don't know why, but this book just punches all the right buttons for me. I love everything!
The plot gets more complicated here-- what seems like a simple attempt to find and capture a tiger on the loose led to the unraveling of a more malevolent scheme. Cassidy & Emery encounters a man in a supernatural suit of armor in their search for the tiger. Their investigation reveals the suit is a gift from Vulcan, a mythical Roman god. The danger lies with the evil intent of the suit's user-- power and dominion over humanity.
The main characters are back and still packs that charisma that compel me to follow and be part of their exploits. They just keep on getting better! Emery is like a romanticized, athletic & buffed up version of Artemis Fowl. Artemis (of the Fowl series) of course, is still THE boy genius, but Emery's appeal is not only his brains but also his ability to hold up his own in a physical fight. PLUS, he's described as gorgeous, with a "wow factor" that goes several notches higher without his glasses.
And Cassidy-- I love her superhuman powers: "wicked strength and speed, ultra-enhanced senses, learning fight moves just by watching them, and the ability to heal rapidly from any injury." Being all that and more, she can't help but be all mushy after an adrenalin rush, is heavily dependent on Emery, and still distresses over a failed puppy love.
Elise Stokes has definitely whipped up another entertaining adventure for Emery & Cassidy, resulting to a pleasurable and satisfying reading experience, like sipping my favorite Blue Mountain brew on a rainy morning. The right amount and tasteful mixture of drama, heroism, romance, comedy, action and suspense in this story make it such a winsome read. 5 stars and more! Now all that's left to do is agonize over when I can get my hands on the third book. Aaaaargh, the pain!
The plot gets more complicated here-- what seems like a simple attempt to find and capture a tiger on the loose led to the unraveling of a more malevolent scheme. Cassidy & Emery encounters a man in a supernatural suit of armor in their search for the tiger. Their investigation reveals the suit is a gift from Vulcan, a mythical Roman god. The danger lies with the evil intent of the suit's user-- power and dominion over humanity.
The main characters are back and still packs that charisma that compel me to follow and be part of their exploits. They just keep on getting better! Emery is like a romanticized, athletic & buffed up version of Artemis Fowl. Artemis (of the Fowl series) of course, is still THE boy genius, but Emery's appeal is not only his brains but also his ability to hold up his own in a physical fight. PLUS, he's described as gorgeous, with a "wow factor" that goes several notches higher without his glasses.
And Cassidy-- I love her superhuman powers: "wicked strength and speed, ultra-enhanced senses, learning fight moves just by watching them, and the ability to heal rapidly from any injury." Being all that and more, she can't help but be all mushy after an adrenalin rush, is heavily dependent on Emery, and still distresses over a failed puppy love.
Elise Stokes has definitely whipped up another entertaining adventure for Emery & Cassidy, resulting to a pleasurable and satisfying reading experience, like sipping my favorite Blue Mountain brew on a rainy morning. The right amount and tasteful mixture of drama, heroism, romance, comedy, action and suspense in this story make it such a winsome read. 5 stars and more! Now all that's left to do is agonize over when I can get my hands on the third book. Aaaaargh, the pain!
June 1, 2013
I had to read this book. I adored the first in the series, Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula, where we were introduced to the new and improved Cassidy Jones following a lab accident. In this book Cassidy learns to deal with her ever increasing and changing powers and boy does she pack a punch! What a great herione for teens and young adults to aspire to be like because even with her special powers she does good.
Like any typical teenager, coping with changes in their bodies and surging emotions is hard enough but Cassidy has to come to terms with being super human and controlling the changes and urges that come with such power. She has her trusty friend and guardian angel in the form of Emery whose mother is still trying to figure out the impact of the lab accident. Cassidy is not alone but is in many ways because only she is changed by the lab accident and having to hide this from her family and friends is increasingly difficult for her.
There is no one like her or is there? Cassidy has to face another being of super strength that uses their powers for evil. With a tiger on the loose, Cassidy and Emery must work together to figure out how and why the incident took place meanwhile discovering a much more sinister plot is afoot.
I highly recommend this book and indeed the entire series because the character of Cassidy Jones is fantastic and you'll be willing her to succeed. It's been a long time since I have found a series that draws you in right from the start, leaving you desperate for more, and written with fantastic skill and style and tons of action. There is an underlying 'will they, won't they' romance potential, brilliantly intertwined with expert, visually-written action and plot twists, that will keep you on the edge of your seat! I cannot wait to read Cassidy Jones and the Seventh Attendant.
A must read series.
Like any typical teenager, coping with changes in their bodies and surging emotions is hard enough but Cassidy has to come to terms with being super human and controlling the changes and urges that come with such power. She has her trusty friend and guardian angel in the form of Emery whose mother is still trying to figure out the impact of the lab accident. Cassidy is not alone but is in many ways because only she is changed by the lab accident and having to hide this from her family and friends is increasingly difficult for her.
There is no one like her or is there? Cassidy has to face another being of super strength that uses their powers for evil. With a tiger on the loose, Cassidy and Emery must work together to figure out how and why the incident took place meanwhile discovering a much more sinister plot is afoot.
I highly recommend this book and indeed the entire series because the character of Cassidy Jones is fantastic and you'll be willing her to succeed. It's been a long time since I have found a series that draws you in right from the start, leaving you desperate for more, and written with fantastic skill and style and tons of action. There is an underlying 'will they, won't they' romance potential, brilliantly intertwined with expert, visually-written action and plot twists, that will keep you on the edge of your seat! I cannot wait to read Cassidy Jones and the Seventh Attendant.
A must read series.
June 7, 2016
Second book in the Cassidy Jones series.
I enjoy books that are aimed at YA, but that are interesting enough for adults to read. This is becoming a must-read series for me. I bought this book shortly after I started to read the first one, but then put it on hold until I had read some other older "To-Read" books. That was two years ago. I am finally caught up on my older books, and got to reading this one. However, I realized I needed to read the first book to remember what the backstory was for Cassidy.
Fortunately, these books read fast. They are entertaining, and I'm always looking forward to see what develops next for Cassidy. In this second book, she encountered a doppelgänger, it seems. But getting to the heart of the story, I wasn't quite sure of how it was going to get there.
There were times where I was scratching my head, wondering why Cassidy and Emery were following such leads. And the ending, though very exciting, left a lot of loose ends as to what happened with some of the others in the story. But, again...these are fun reads, with a little mystery thrown in and and a lot of kick-butt girl action. I imagine most young teens aren't going to notice or care about those issues I have though.
I only wish there were more books like this when I was growing up. But I am glad there are books like this now for YA girls.
I thought for sure I would stop at this book, and re-charge my batteries reading a different kind of book...but the ending was too "OMG, what's going to happen next?" to stop there.
I have bought the next book in the series and have started reading it. I can't wait to see what happens next to Cassidy and her friends. So far, this series hasn't strayed off the tracks, and jumped the shark. I'll continue to read until it does, or it grows boring. For me, it has happened yet.
Four stars. Pure fun and great concept.
I enjoy books that are aimed at YA, but that are interesting enough for adults to read. This is becoming a must-read series for me. I bought this book shortly after I started to read the first one, but then put it on hold until I had read some other older "To-Read" books. That was two years ago. I am finally caught up on my older books, and got to reading this one. However, I realized I needed to read the first book to remember what the backstory was for Cassidy.
Fortunately, these books read fast. They are entertaining, and I'm always looking forward to see what develops next for Cassidy. In this second book, she encountered a doppelgänger, it seems. But getting to the heart of the story, I wasn't quite sure of how it was going to get there.
There were times where I was scratching my head, wondering why Cassidy and Emery were following such leads. And the ending, though very exciting, left a lot of loose ends as to what happened with some of the others in the story. But, again...these are fun reads, with a little mystery thrown in and and a lot of kick-butt girl action. I imagine most young teens aren't going to notice or care about those issues I have though.
I only wish there were more books like this when I was growing up. But I am glad there are books like this now for YA girls.
I thought for sure I would stop at this book, and re-charge my batteries reading a different kind of book...but the ending was too "OMG, what's going to happen next?" to stop there.
I have bought the next book in the series and have started reading it. I can't wait to see what happens next to Cassidy and her friends. So far, this series hasn't strayed off the tracks, and jumped the shark. I'll continue to read until it does, or it grows boring. For me, it has happened yet.
Four stars. Pure fun and great concept.
December 2, 2016
As with the first book, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Cassidy is thrown into another dangerous mystery with Emery in this sequel. There are a few new superpowers added in, which added some fresh coolness factor. Emery is just as (almost) infallible as ever, but we get to see a bit more emotion from him in this book. I love the Jack Sparrow vocabulary reference that is thrown in, it made me laugh. Another completely insane villain shows up in the story, adding to the sense of danger. There is also more emotional drama, but hopefully we will see some resolution to that in the next book (I'm completely rooting for Emery). Speaking of the next book, things are left wide open for another sequel, so hopefully it is on the way.
Despite all of the great aspects of the book, there were a few major annoyances.
-Transportation. We already know that Cassidy can run as fast as a car and for long periods of time without tiring. Yet they never seem to consider that as a means of transportation, Emery takes great pains to arrange car rides for Cassidy everywhere.
-There is a scene in the book where Emery devises a plan that involves thousands of dollars of damage to the car of a suspect just to scare him, and Cassidy casually suggests that she do thousands of dollars more of damage to his house, which Emery cheerfully agrees with. This seems way too over the top and out of place, and it was completely obvious to me that it would easily and quickly get out of hand with Cassidy losing control (which it did). For some reason, neither Cassidy nor Emery considered this possibility, which also seems strange, and she ends up nearly murdering a man who they are not sure is even guilty.
Still, though, it is a very good sequel and definitely worth reading if you enjoyed the first book.
Cassidy is thrown into another dangerous mystery with Emery in this sequel. There are a few new superpowers added in, which added some fresh coolness factor. Emery is just as (almost) infallible as ever, but we get to see a bit more emotion from him in this book. I love the Jack Sparrow vocabulary reference that is thrown in, it made me laugh. Another completely insane villain shows up in the story, adding to the sense of danger. There is also more emotional drama, but hopefully we will see some resolution to that in the next book (I'm completely rooting for Emery). Speaking of the next book, things are left wide open for another sequel, so hopefully it is on the way.
Despite all of the great aspects of the book, there were a few major annoyances.
-Transportation. We already know that Cassidy can run as fast as a car and for long periods of time without tiring. Yet they never seem to consider that as a means of transportation, Emery takes great pains to arrange car rides for Cassidy everywhere.
-There is a scene in the book where Emery devises a plan that involves thousands of dollars of damage to the car of a suspect just to scare him, and Cassidy casually suggests that she do thousands of dollars more of damage to his house, which Emery cheerfully agrees with. This seems way too over the top and out of place, and it was completely obvious to me that it would easily and quickly get out of hand with Cassidy losing control (which it did). For some reason, neither Cassidy nor Emery considered this possibility, which also seems strange, and she ends up nearly murdering a man who they are not sure is even guilty.
Still, though, it is a very good sequel and definitely worth reading if you enjoyed the first book.
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