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Dante Walker #2
Seelenretter
Sexy as hell!
Vom Seelensammler im Auftrag des Teufels zum Seelenretter. Von böse zu gut? Nicht mit Dante, zweite Chance hin oder her. Er ist einfach nicht zum Engel geboren. Auch wenn er Charlie zuliebe versucht, seine dunkle Seite hinter sich zu lassen. Sein erster Auftrag auf Seite der „Guten“ ist, die Seele der 17-jährigen Aspen zu retten. Doch die ist davon gar nicht überzeugt und erinnert ihn an sein altes Leben als Seelensammler. Eine echte Zwickmühle, denn er muss ja auch noch die Seele seiner großen Liebe Charlie retten…
Vom Seelensammler im Auftrag des Teufels zum Seelenretter. Von böse zu gut? Nicht mit Dante, zweite Chance hin oder her. Er ist einfach nicht zum Engel geboren. Auch wenn er Charlie zuliebe versucht, seine dunkle Seite hinter sich zu lassen. Sein erster Auftrag auf Seite der „Guten“ ist, die Seele der 17-jährigen Aspen zu retten. Doch die ist davon gar nicht überzeugt und erinnert ihn an sein altes Leben als Seelensammler. Eine echte Zwickmühle, denn er muss ja auch noch die Seele seiner großen Liebe Charlie retten…
480 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2013
52 people are currently reading
4340 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Scott
13 books2,930 followersVictoria Scott is the author of nine novels. Her books have been YALSA-nominated, appeared on the Spirit of Texas Reading Program, and have received starred reviews - the highest honor - by top literary critics. Her stories have been translated and sold in thirteen countries, and FIRE & FLOOD is currently an Amazon Teacher's Pick.
In 2018, Victoria founded Scribbler, a company that helps aspiring authors write their first book. Scribbler has shipped over 100,000 boxes internationally, grossed millions in revenue, and was featured by BuzzFeed and Good Morning Texas. Victoria holds an MBA, and is currently writing a futuristic thriller. She lives in Dallas, and loves hearing from readers. Find her on IG, Meta, and X under @heytoriscott.
In 2018, Victoria founded Scribbler, a company that helps aspiring authors write their first book. Scribbler has shipped over 100,000 boxes internationally, grossed millions in revenue, and was featured by BuzzFeed and Good Morning Texas. Victoria holds an MBA, and is currently writing a futuristic thriller. She lives in Dallas, and loves hearing from readers. Find her on IG, Meta, and X under @heytoriscott.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 327 reviews
Want to read
April 3, 2013Bad boy, meet bad girl.
Me: don't freaking try it, Dante. I'm going to kill you if something like what I'm thinking happens.
Kill you, Dante.
Kill you.
Me: don't freaking try it, Dante. I'm going to kill you if something like what I'm thinking happens.
Kill you, Dante.
Kill you.
December 12, 2012
Gotta' give D-Dub 5-stars. Even though he's probably even less well-behaved in this book. He does his best, though. Kind of. For a demon. *sighs*
August 29, 2013
SPOILERS FOR THE COLLECTOR
3 STARS
The thing with expectations… is that too much is a killer.
That and my pathological love of The Collector may have killed some of my enjoyment of this book. I tried to come in to this with zero expectations, but its kind of hard with a hero as unique as Dante Walker. Especially with that blurb and the lack of any excerpt (why, Victoria Scott???) before release day.
Well it did deliver on some of my expectations and fell short on the rest.
As the second book to this (I suppose) series, I felt The Liberator was a good test on how solid the storyline is. A big part of The Collector's charm for me was the novelty of Dante's swagger as a villain, which I guess was why I loved the first half more than the latter. And now that he's newly cuffed as a good guy, we're left with snarky and besotted.
Unlike in the first book where he comes in with all that swag, Dante's a bit lost at the beginning here. He doesn't feel like he belongs anywhere, how can he possibly work for The Big Guy liberating souls by being good when he's bad to the bone? He's uncertain about everything except for his love for Charlie. He may have his yearning to live out life as the old Dante but for Charlie, in order that he may be worthy of her perfection, he's willing to pretend as a Liberator.
Part of his new job is to haul himself all the way to Denver, away from Charlie, to Liberate the VERY IMPORTANT soul of one Aspen Lockheart, a good girl on the path and hell bent to being bad.
Now some fans (including me) were a little worried when this was alluded to in the blurb because that smells a lot like the bermuda triangle of love.
Don't worry, it's not like that. Dante sees a bit of himself in her… and only regards her with sisterly affections. And no, you don't even have a moment to doubt that relationship because:
✭ it's repeatedly hammered that he only sees her as a sister/friend and
✭ because he's so utterly, completely, balls to the wall in love with Charlie it's a scientific impossibility for him to look at anyone else.
Yes, they're THAT kind of couple and I'll get back to the DanLie (DanChar? CharDan?) lovefest in a while.
So Aspen. I have a feeling I would've liked her if I knew her a little better or if her actions made a little more sense. And I'll probably be alone in this, but it felt like her character (considering how big a part she played in the end) could've used some of that undesirable, but necessary sexual tension with Dante. It felt like that sibling-esque affections they have towards each other were anemic and the basis flimsy at best. It took away some of my emotional commitment to her character especially knowing so very little about her even in the end. While in the middle part, she just stuck out like a third wheel.
Actually there was an abundance of third wheels on this one, with the inclusion of almost everyone from the first book and the addition of new characters. It felt a little cramped in the middle. Some characters seem to blend together, seemingly redundant in their function in the grand scheme of things (i.e. Charlie and Aspen, ). I'm not even sure why Annabelle was there, Kraven at least provided some entertaining (in my mind) homoerotic moments with Dante. I felt a slight disconnect from the flow of things as the story progressed from Dante's assignment to focusing back on the bigger plot of Charlie's role and the mysterious new mythology brewing. Instead of blending well, the Charlie/Dante dynamic was hijacking every new story line that gets introduced or expanded on.
I have very mixed feelings towards Dante and Charlie here. I am happy that Dante's character is evolving. He's still as snarky, vain and arrogant as he was with some worrisome statements about unicorn vaginas (WTF), wallpapers and fashion but he doles it out gradually which I really liked. He isn't always ON, but when he's ON...
Okayyyy.
Some might see Dante as going soft here but I did like seeing his confusion and adjustment in shifting from his old ways to being Charlie's boyfriend (because he's seriously whipped) though I admit they can get OTT when they get together. There's a bit of fade-to-black sexiness (nothing graphic) on this one that I felt fit with the progression of their relationship. But I also felt that there's a little bit too much of Charlie everywhere yet still not enough to quell my longing for Charlie v1.0. The bigger plot is still getting bigger still and was a little too busy favoring new story lines instead of revisiting familiar bonds between characters.
So a middling middle book for me but it still brought up new and interesting plot developments that I'll be looking forward to on the next installment with. But maybe easing up a little on the insane expectations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-ordur/Ordur hur: http://www.amazon.com/Liberator-Dante...
August 27 is The Day of the Douche with Dante facing off JLA's Daemon (quadruple D's!) Civilization will end as we know it because of sploded ovaries and the collective weeping of out-awesomed drama llamacorns.
3 STARS
Well, I’d done enough running. These dudes are human.
And I’m immortal.
Born Dante Walker, reborn a demon—
Today a liberator who’s about to put these guys down.
The thing with expectations… is that too much is a killer.
That and my pathological love of The Collector may have killed some of my enjoyment of this book. I tried to come in to this with zero expectations, but its kind of hard with a hero as unique as Dante Walker. Especially with that blurb and the lack of any excerpt (why, Victoria Scott???) before release day.
Well it did deliver on some of my expectations and fell short on the rest.
As the second book to this (I suppose) series, I felt The Liberator was a good test on how solid the storyline is. A big part of The Collector's charm for me was the novelty of Dante's swagger as a villain, which I guess was why I loved the first half more than the latter. And now that he's newly cuffed as a good guy, we're left with snarky and besotted.
Unlike in the first book where he comes in with all that swag, Dante's a bit lost at the beginning here. He doesn't feel like he belongs anywhere, how can he possibly work for The Big Guy liberating souls by being good when he's bad to the bone? He's uncertain about everything except for his love for Charlie. He may have his yearning to live out life as the old Dante but for Charlie, in order that he may be worthy of her perfection, he's willing to pretend as a Liberator.
Part of his new job is to haul himself all the way to Denver, away from Charlie, to Liberate the VERY IMPORTANT soul of one Aspen Lockheart, a good girl on the path and hell bent to being bad.
Now some fans (including me) were a little worried when this was alluded to in the blurb because that smells a lot like the bermuda triangle of love.
Don't worry, it's not like that. Dante sees a bit of himself in her… and only regards her with sisterly affections. And no, you don't even have a moment to doubt that relationship because:
✭ it's repeatedly hammered that he only sees her as a sister/friend and
✭ because he's so utterly, completely, balls to the wall in love with Charlie it's a scientific impossibility for him to look at anyone else.
"I'll be back in a few minutes, babe. Want something to eat?"
A grin sweeps across my face. "How about a piece of my baby?"
Yes, they're THAT kind of couple and I'll get back to the DanLie (DanChar? CharDan?) lovefest in a while.
So Aspen. I have a feeling I would've liked her if I knew her a little better or if her actions made a little more sense. And I'll probably be alone in this, but it felt like her character (considering how big a part she played in the end) could've used some of that undesirable, but necessary sexual tension with Dante. It felt like that sibling-esque affections they have towards each other were anemic and the basis flimsy at best. It took away some of my emotional commitment to her character especially knowing so very little about her even in the end. While in the middle part, she just stuck out like a third wheel.
Actually there was an abundance of third wheels on this one, with the inclusion of almost everyone from the first book and the addition of new characters. It felt a little cramped in the middle. Some characters seem to blend together, seemingly redundant in their function in the grand scheme of things (i.e. Charlie and Aspen, ). I'm not even sure why Annabelle was there, Kraven at least provided some entertaining (in my mind) homoerotic moments with Dante. I felt a slight disconnect from the flow of things as the story progressed from Dante's assignment to focusing back on the bigger plot of Charlie's role and the mysterious new mythology brewing. Instead of blending well, the Charlie/Dante dynamic was hijacking every new story line that gets introduced or expanded on.
I have very mixed feelings towards Dante and Charlie here. I am happy that Dante's character is evolving. He's still as snarky, vain and arrogant as he was with some worrisome statements about unicorn vaginas (WTF), wallpapers and fashion but he doles it out gradually which I really liked. He isn't always ON, but when he's ON...
Looking mighty fine, if I do say so myself: red v-neck, dark denim, designer combat boots, and enough testosterone rolling off me to satisfy Nicki Minaj. Pow!
Okayyyy.
Some might see Dante as going soft here but I did like seeing his confusion and adjustment in shifting from his old ways to being Charlie's boyfriend (because he's seriously whipped) though I admit they can get OTT when they get together. There's a bit of fade-to-black sexiness (nothing graphic) on this one that I felt fit with the progression of their relationship. But I also felt that there's a little bit too much of Charlie everywhere yet still not enough to quell my longing for Charlie v1.0. The bigger plot is still getting bigger still and was a little too busy favoring new story lines instead of revisiting familiar bonds between characters.
So a middling middle book for me but it still brought up new and interesting plot developments that I'll be looking forward to on the next installment with. But maybe easing up a little on the insane expectations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-ordur/Ordur hur: http://www.amazon.com/Liberator-Dante...
August 27 is The Day of the Douche with Dante facing off JLA's Daemon (quadruple D's!) Civilization will end as we know it because of sploded ovaries and the collective weeping of out-awesomed drama llamacorns.
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November 11, 2015
The Liberator is book two in the Dante Walker series by Victoria Scott. I have decided that anything Victoria Scott writes is going to be fabulous. As is this book.
The Liberator starts right up where The Collector left off. Dante Walker believes he is bad, that he is not worthy of redemption. But of one thing he is sure of and that is his love for his Charlie. He is wearing a new cuff now, one given to him from The Big Guy upstairs. He is now a Liberator. But he has been given his first assignment. He has to go to Colorado and liberate the soul of a young girl named Aspen. There are no details as to why this girl’s soul needs to be liberated. But he is told that he must prove he is worthy of his new job title. But to complete this assignment, he has to be away from Charlie. One thing that doesn’t change is we still get to enjoy that Dante swagger. He is still full of himself, most of the time! And, he is constantly struggling with who he thinks he is and who he thinks he should be, maybe even who he wants to be.
“But I was chill before I met Charlie. I was chill before I started caring about someone other than myself. Now I’m THIS guy.”
“I feel like such a chick around her sometimes, like I’m seconds away from buying a tiara and starting my period.”
We are introduced to Aspen. She won my heart right away. This girl is obviously hurting for some reason. But you can see the person she is in the way she cares for her little sister. Aspen is one tough girl and the more I got to know her, the more I loved her.
And then there is Charlie. She has lost her soul but she is still Charlie. But while she is apart from Dante, she seems distant to him.
“It’s like she’s struggling between two sides of herself, and I want so bad to point this out, but I can’t, because the same thing is happening to me.”
Even though Dante, Charlie and their friends won my heart in the first book, I feel like in this book, I loved them even more. I felt like highlighting every other sentence that I read. The things they said to one another were just so beautiful. The love between Dante and Charlie is so strong, so beautiful. They give strength to one another. Charlie’s love is Dante’s salvation.
“You may not have my soul, Dante. But you will always have my heart.”
And then it’s over.
My life as I knew it is over.
I could go on and on with the quotes. But you will have to read the book yourself. This book will make you smile, cry, and grip whatever object you are reading it on. It is truly a story of good vs. evil. And, yes, there is a cliff hanger. Luckily there isn’t long before the final book will be released. Thank you again Victoria Scott for a wonderful book. I am truly your biggest fan.
“All I think as I leave the training room is, Yeah, these are my friends. Real friends. And then, So this is what it feels like.”
The Liberator starts right up where The Collector left off. Dante Walker believes he is bad, that he is not worthy of redemption. But of one thing he is sure of and that is his love for his Charlie. He is wearing a new cuff now, one given to him from The Big Guy upstairs. He is now a Liberator. But he has been given his first assignment. He has to go to Colorado and liberate the soul of a young girl named Aspen. There are no details as to why this girl’s soul needs to be liberated. But he is told that he must prove he is worthy of his new job title. But to complete this assignment, he has to be away from Charlie. One thing that doesn’t change is we still get to enjoy that Dante swagger. He is still full of himself, most of the time! And, he is constantly struggling with who he thinks he is and who he thinks he should be, maybe even who he wants to be.
“But I was chill before I met Charlie. I was chill before I started caring about someone other than myself. Now I’m THIS guy.”
“I feel like such a chick around her sometimes, like I’m seconds away from buying a tiara and starting my period.”
We are introduced to Aspen. She won my heart right away. This girl is obviously hurting for some reason. But you can see the person she is in the way she cares for her little sister. Aspen is one tough girl and the more I got to know her, the more I loved her.
And then there is Charlie. She has lost her soul but she is still Charlie. But while she is apart from Dante, she seems distant to him.
“It’s like she’s struggling between two sides of herself, and I want so bad to point this out, but I can’t, because the same thing is happening to me.”
Even though Dante, Charlie and their friends won my heart in the first book, I feel like in this book, I loved them even more. I felt like highlighting every other sentence that I read. The things they said to one another were just so beautiful. The love between Dante and Charlie is so strong, so beautiful. They give strength to one another. Charlie’s love is Dante’s salvation.
“You may not have my soul, Dante. But you will always have my heart.”
And then it’s over.
My life as I knew it is over.
I could go on and on with the quotes. But you will have to read the book yourself. This book will make you smile, cry, and grip whatever object you are reading it on. It is truly a story of good vs. evil. And, yes, there is a cliff hanger. Luckily there isn’t long before the final book will be released. Thank you again Victoria Scott for a wonderful book. I am truly your biggest fan.
“All I think as I leave the training room is, Yeah, these are my friends. Real friends. And then, So this is what it feels like.”
Want to read
July 3, 2013
Update #2
As Jana pointed out in the comments section below, Victoria Scott has confirmed that there will NOT be a love triangle!
*relieved*
Breathe, people! :D
Update #1
I may be mistaken, but the blurb hints heavily on a possible love triangle.
WHAT THE FUCK.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Don't you dare do that Dante. Don't you fucking do that.
There is just one redeeming quality about you and that is Charlie.
Just that one. Don't fuck it up.
And that, seriously, was the last straw. As if the series could fall any lower, Scott introduces a triangle.
MIND. BLOWING.
As Jana pointed out in the comments section below, Victoria Scott has confirmed that there will NOT be a love triangle!
*relieved*
Breathe, people! :D
Update #1
I may be mistaken, but the blurb hints heavily on a possible love triangle.
WHAT THE FUCK.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Don't you dare do that Dante. Don't you fucking do that.
There is just one redeeming quality about you and that is Charlie.
Just that one. Don't fuck it up.
And that, seriously, was the last straw. As if the series could fall any lower, Scott introduces a triangle.
MIND. BLOWING.
Want to read
March 5, 2013Edit:
Check out my blog: My Life Through a Book for the cover reveal after midnight (3/5/2013)!!! :D
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Check out my blog: My Life Through a Book for the cover reveal after midnight (3/5/2013)!!! :D
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AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Read
May 7, 2013Wowee, you guys. If possible, Dante was even hotter and badder and funnier and wittier in THE LIBERATOR! I love him and Charlie together. <3 Get ready for a wild ride with this one!
September 4, 2013
Oh, Dante! ← Is that getting old yet?
I cannot deny my Dante love. Just can’t do it.
With that said, I’m confused about how I feel about this book. Was I completely blown away? Well… no. Was I disappointed? Hmm… not exactly. I still liked it, I still love Dante, it still made me laugh, but it just felt different than The Collector.
Dante has gotten a second chance atlife being an immortal, cuff wearing, soul collecting badass. Only, now it’s for the Big Guy upstairs rather than for Boss Man. He’s gotten his first assignment, to go to Denver and collect the soul of a seventeen-year-old bad girl. He’s pretty lost, doesn’t know his place, if he can do it, if he wants to do it. I actually liked seeing Dante have his inner good vs. evil battle, something very reminiscent of his struggle in the last book.
So, Aspen (his assignment) is basically Dante as a chick. I was really excited about Aspen because right away she calls him out on giving her his ”look” as he tries and instantly fails to seduce her into doing what he wants. I liked the prospect of a girl who can battle Dante’s arrogance and make me laugh while doing it. It doesn’t take long to see that these two have some intense brother/sister-ly bond going on. Immediately it is explained that Dante has ZERO attraction toward her and only has eyes for Charlie. And boy does he love his Charlie.
Oh Dante, I almost felt bad for him. He’s just SO in love with Charlie. Poor guy, he’s a mess. He doesn’t like being away from her, he’s insecure, he’s obsessed, he’s terrified that something bad will happen to her. I really do love that he loves Charlie. I’m glad that was never in question, but at the same time it was a bit like beating a dead horse. Okay, okay, I get it. Really, I belieeeeeve you!
There was a lot more action in this book, training, strategizing, impulsive “what the hell are you doing” decisions. I liked seeing Dante be a badass. He calls himself bad, but it was good for him to prove it a bit. He brought out the big guns and it showed. I’m really excited to see some epic battles in the next one .
My main complaint (besides Dante's over the top lovey dovey-ness with Charlie) was that some things weren’t explained as much as I would have liked. I wish we got to know more about Aspen, even if things weren’t crystal clear, I wanted more. As this isn’t the last book in the series I know we’ll be learning more and more, but with a little more development here I think I would be questioning the sincerity or reason behind certain events a little less.
As always, V. Scott made me giggle, snort, and laugh like a freakazoid. Dante is his usually cocky, ridiculous self, but he’s not ON and obnoxious 24/7. He does show restraint sometimes. And Max – geezus I love him!
…
See, it’s just stupid. Who doesn’t love stupid funny moments that make you snort so hard it hurts? I feel like the humor is something I’ll always be able to count on with this series. I just lurrrve it! Keep ‘em coming with Dante #3!
3 1/2 stars
Rounding up cuz I have a weird obsession with Dante that is still fully intact. #OhDante
I cannot deny my Dante love. Just can’t do it.
With that said, I’m confused about how I feel about this book. Was I completely blown away? Well… no. Was I disappointed? Hmm… not exactly. I still liked it, I still love Dante, it still made me laugh, but it just felt different than The Collector.
Today, they say I’m born again. That I have a second chance as a liberator. But let me tell you something…I’m no angel. Never have been, never will be. I’m just bad, baby.
Dante has gotten a second chance at
So, Aspen (his assignment) is basically Dante as a chick. I was really excited about Aspen because right away she calls him out on giving her his ”look” as he tries and instantly fails to seduce her into doing what he wants. I liked the prospect of a girl who can battle Dante’s arrogance and make me laugh while doing it. It doesn’t take long to see that these two have some intense brother/sister-ly bond going on. Immediately it is explained that Dante has ZERO attraction toward her and only has eyes for Charlie. And boy does he love his Charlie.
“If I had a soul,” I say. “I’d give it to you.”
Charlie pulls me closer so that our lips almost touch. She lays a hand on my face, and her eyes swim with affection.
“You may not have my soul, Dante. But you will always have my heart.”
And then it’s over.
My life as I knew it is over.
Oh Dante, I almost felt bad for him. He’s just SO in love with Charlie. Poor guy, he’s a mess. He doesn’t like being away from her, he’s insecure, he’s obsessed, he’s terrified that something bad will happen to her. I really do love that he loves Charlie. I’m glad that was never in question, but at the same time it was a bit like beating a dead horse. Okay, okay, I get it. Really, I belieeeeeve you!
I’m new to this whole caring thing. I quickly realize that I’m not that good at it, that I’ve kind of skipped over affection and jumped right into Lifetime-movie-stalker.
There was a lot more action in this book, training, strategizing, impulsive “what the hell are you doing” decisions. I liked seeing Dante be a badass. He calls himself bad, but it was good for him to prove it a bit. He brought out the big guns and it showed. I’m really excited to see some epic battles in the next one .
My main complaint (besides Dante's over the top lovey dovey-ness with Charlie) was that some things weren’t explained as much as I would have liked. I wish we got to know more about Aspen, even if things weren’t crystal clear, I wanted more. As this isn’t the last book in the series I know we’ll be learning more and more, but with a little more development here I think I would be questioning the sincerity or reason behind certain events a little less.
As always, V. Scott made me giggle, snort, and laugh like a freakazoid. Dante is his usually cocky, ridiculous self, but he’s not ON and obnoxious 24/7. He does show restraint sometimes. And Max – geezus I love him!
Max is lying face down on the floor, his arms and legs curled like a dead spider.
“You’re not really hurt,” I say.
“I think… I think you gave me spina bifida. You need to call someone.”
…
”Lucille. It’s like Lucifer, but with a touch of femininity.”
I expect Max to laugh, but he doesn’t. Instead, he gets real serious and moves to the edge of his seat.
“Dante?”
“Yeah?”
“If I told you Lucille was easy, would you believe me?”
“I would.”
See, it’s just stupid. Who doesn’t love stupid funny moments that make you snort so hard it hurts? I feel like the humor is something I’ll always be able to count on with this series. I just lurrrve it! Keep ‘em coming with Dante #3!
3 1/2 stars
Rounding up cuz I have a weird obsession with Dante that is still fully intact. #OhDante
August 30, 2013
Pussywhipped, thy name is Dante.
I was obsessed with Dante in The Collector. His character was so refreshing and the way he owned his douchey-ness completely won me over. In The Liberator, he still had it. At least in the beginning. But the more I read, the more the Dante I loved was drowned out by Dante in love.
You know that saying that guys think about sex every 7 seconds. That is how often Dante thought of Charlie. Not doing it with Charlie, just Charlie. Somehow he managed to relate everything and I mean EVERYTHING back to her. Seriously this guy had the biggest one-track mind ever. And I would've preferred it if he was thinking about sex.
This quote just summed up The Liberator perfectly:
Yes the only way he distracts himself from thinking about Charlie, is to think about her some more.
I know he loves her. Anything with a brain could tell. So the number of times it was emphasised per page was torturous. It was like being whacked over the head repeatedly with a baseball bat. He needed to calm down. They met like two months ago. Some moments of cheesiness were eye-roll inducing and just so cringeworthy.
Oh god I think I just developed a toothache. Seriously this whole novel was like an ode tocodependency Charlie. At one point Dante's "pure" and undying love for her even managed to literally save the day.
The storyline didn't do The Liberator any favours either. Plot believability was completely thrown out during the last 30%. Seriously who would
I mean, Dante still had his moments.
But I think my high expectations severely diminished enjoyment of this novel. At least that won't be a problem for the next book in this series.
*This was more like a 2-2.5 but I'm rounding up in memory of The Collector.
I was obsessed with Dante in The Collector. His character was so refreshing and the way he owned his douchey-ness completely won me over. In The Liberator, he still had it. At least in the beginning. But the more I read, the more the Dante I loved was drowned out by Dante in love.
You know that saying that guys think about sex every 7 seconds. That is how often Dante thought of Charlie. Not doing it with Charlie, just Charlie. Somehow he managed to relate everything and I mean EVERYTHING back to her. Seriously this guy had the biggest one-track mind ever. And I would've preferred it if he was thinking about sex.
This quote just summed up The Liberator perfectly:
There's only one thing I know of that will take my mind off what I’m going to do for Charlie, and that's Charlie herself.
Yes the only way he distracts himself from thinking about Charlie, is to think about her some more.
I know he loves her. Anything with a brain could tell. So the number of times it was emphasised per page was torturous. It was like being whacked over the head repeatedly with a baseball bat. He needed to calm down. They met like two months ago. Some moments of cheesiness were eye-roll inducing and just so cringeworthy.
I close my eyes and listen to my heart whomp-whomp in my ears. The sound of my pulse seems to beat her name.
Charlie.
Charlie.
Charlie
Oh god I think I just developed a toothache. Seriously this whole novel was like an ode to
The storyline didn't do The Liberator any favours either. Plot believability was completely thrown out during the last 30%. Seriously who would
I mean, Dante still had his moments.
"All right, don't get your panties in a wad. No weapons. I'll just use these guns."
I show him my biceps
But I think my high expectations severely diminished enjoyment of this novel. At least that won't be a problem for the next book in this series.
*This was more like a 2-2.5 but I'm rounding up in memory of The Collector.
December 4, 2013
HAHA.. I find my gif ironic... The book's about angels and demons and saviours... It really did test my patience as well... OHHH BOY...
Seriously. The first book was great. It was interesting. I loved Dante. I loved Charlie. Now... I'm not too sure.
Charlie definitely changed. She wasn't as innocent nor was she that mature. She's all innocent, but she sure knows how to act a bit slutty. I seriously rolled my eyes way too many times. I seriously have a headache right now from all the weird facial expressions I was making earlier. Dante ohhh Dante. Yeah, he's still a bad ass, but honestly he's become such a chump. He's cocky and still witty, but I found a lot of things he did was plain immature. He keeps saying how strong he is...how tough he is, and blablabla, but once he's in a fight...he's always getting his ASS KICKED!!! Really now??
There was too much going on all at once. One second there was a problem, but it gets resolved without a real true explanation....
Everything just works out too perfectly without too much mystery or angst. It was just there for a split second. Then everything makes sense.
The ending was kind of cheesy.
A saviour and a soldier... and then there's Dante who's a warrior!!! WOOOHOOOO!
I'm giving this 2 1/2 stars!
Would I read it another one of these series???
I would have to really think about it.
The only thing that would convince me is if the reviews turn out to be great!!!
July 22, 2013
If my dear Dante steps out of line, I will personally find him and will injure him.
EDIT... The lines that my dear Tori tweeted of this book give me hope yet make me think that our dearest D-Dub hasn't changed.... Perfect!!!
EDIT: So a little excerpt that's on my blog. Oh, Dante.. You're incorrigible!
EDIT: I'M ON THE BLOG TOUR, I WILL BE READING IT SOON, MUAHAHAHA
EDIT: Alex is not okay. Alex is crying. Live in peace, dear goodreads for you will lose all sanity once you read it. CURSE YOU, TORI!!
EDIT... The lines that my dear Tori tweeted of this book give me hope yet make me think that our dearest D-Dub hasn't changed.... Perfect!!!
EDIT: So a little excerpt that's on my blog. Oh, Dante.. You're incorrigible!
EDIT: I'M ON THE BLOG TOUR, I WILL BE READING IT SOON, MUAHAHAHA
EDIT: Alex is not okay. Alex is crying. Live in peace, dear goodreads for you will lose all sanity once you read it. CURSE YOU, TORI!!
January 28, 2013
Oh yes.......it gets even better ladies! So much action, cool new characters and of course, MORE DANTE HOTNESS! I didn't know how it could get any better than The Collector, but The Liberator takes it to a whole new level. So excited about this fresh new series. Soooooo addicting!!!!!!! WE LOVE DANTE WALKER!!!!!
July 29, 2013
Dante is on the good side but he really doesn't know how to be an angel/liberator. He still feels like a demon and enjoys partying like one too. He is given a mission to liberate Aspen and he must or someone else can take his job. It is too easy for him to fall into his old ways with Aspen. She is very similar to him in many ways. How can he liberate someone exactly like him? Especially since he doesn't feel like he deserves it. Dante must face his demons and hell itself.
Aspen was a great new addition to the story. Also so wonderful that it never ever crossed into love triangle territory. I know many of us had our pitchforks ready when we read the synopsis. Dante saw Aspen more as the sister he never had. They both have similar parental problems and end up being very good for each other in a totally platonic way. Charlie and the gang all warm up to her. Aspen is pretty spunky and badass. Her storyline took some unexpected turns.
Dante is still very much devoted to Charlie. Their relationship really heats up! Although at the beginning they are separated for a little bit and that part was kind of slow. Dante and Charlie play so well off each other so I was glad they were not apart for too long. Dante will go to hell and back for Charlie and I mean he did literally. I loved hell! Charlie is still sweet but a bit less innocent. She wants to fit into Dante's life but Dante truly does love her for her and not how she looks which was very sweet. Behold all the swoon worthy quotes at the bottom. But Charlie definitely shouldn't be underestimated!
A bunch of other new characters and villains as well as some very surprising appearances. I liked that the villains were more involved in the story this time. I think I enjoyed this even more than the first and everything was taken to the next level up. The plot, action, and romance were much more exciting and intricate with this sequel. A very enjoyable ride. Especially the trip to hell as I always think those are fun. LOL I hate snakes so it was no surprise that hell would have them! *shudders* Looking forward to what Charlie and Dante will do next. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger but with some things that I am anxious to see conclude.
---
"I want to protect this girl from all the terrible things in the world, but at the same time, I want to do all kinds of terrible things to her."
"Are you going to do it?" she asks, pulling her blond hair over her shoulder.
"Ravage you? Yes."
"How do I liberate a girl who is exactly like me?"
"All my life, all I've ever wanted was to take. But with you, all I want is to give you everything--every creature in the sea, every star in the sky...my own beating heart. I love you, Charlie. Just the way you are, I love you."
"If I had a soul," I say. "I'd give it to you."
"You are breathtaking, Charlie. You are stunning now, you know that. But you were stunning before, too. Not everybody could see it, but sometimes that can make a girl so much more appealing. The beauty who doesn't know she's beautiful. The girl everyone seems to ignore, but to the right person she's like this...like this beam of light. You were a beam of light, Charlie," I say. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to see it."
*I received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review*
Aspen was a great new addition to the story. Also so wonderful that it never ever crossed into love triangle territory. I know many of us had our pitchforks ready when we read the synopsis. Dante saw Aspen more as the sister he never had. They both have similar parental problems and end up being very good for each other in a totally platonic way. Charlie and the gang all warm up to her. Aspen is pretty spunky and badass. Her storyline took some unexpected turns.
Dante is still very much devoted to Charlie. Their relationship really heats up! Although at the beginning they are separated for a little bit and that part was kind of slow. Dante and Charlie play so well off each other so I was glad they were not apart for too long. Dante will go to hell and back for Charlie and I mean he did literally. I loved hell! Charlie is still sweet but a bit less innocent. She wants to fit into Dante's life but Dante truly does love her for her and not how she looks which was very sweet. Behold all the swoon worthy quotes at the bottom. But Charlie definitely shouldn't be underestimated!
A bunch of other new characters and villains as well as some very surprising appearances. I liked that the villains were more involved in the story this time. I think I enjoyed this even more than the first and everything was taken to the next level up. The plot, action, and romance were much more exciting and intricate with this sequel. A very enjoyable ride. Especially the trip to hell as I always think those are fun. LOL I hate snakes so it was no surprise that hell would have them! *shudders* Looking forward to what Charlie and Dante will do next. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger but with some things that I am anxious to see conclude.
---
"I want to protect this girl from all the terrible things in the world, but at the same time, I want to do all kinds of terrible things to her."
"Are you going to do it?" she asks, pulling her blond hair over her shoulder.
"Ravage you? Yes."
"How do I liberate a girl who is exactly like me?"
"All my life, all I've ever wanted was to take. But with you, all I want is to give you everything--every creature in the sea, every star in the sky...my own beating heart. I love you, Charlie. Just the way you are, I love you."
"If I had a soul," I say. "I'd give it to you."
"You are breathtaking, Charlie. You are stunning now, you know that. But you were stunning before, too. Not everybody could see it, but sometimes that can make a girl so much more appealing. The beauty who doesn't know she's beautiful. The girl everyone seems to ignore, but to the right person she's like this...like this beam of light. You were a beam of light, Charlie," I say. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to see it."
*I received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review*
July 31, 2013
5 stars - Snarky and sexy, I totally love Dante Walker!
How do I describe this book? This book is so Dante Walker. I totally and completely LOVE that it's from his point of view. He is a badass demon turned liberator, sorta. See, Dante may be a liberator working for the big guy but he's not convinced he's anything more than a demon at heart. He loves his girl and he wants to protect her and fight for her but he doesn't feel worthy of her. He has work to do to understand who he is. Enter his assignment, oh and she has a name - Aspen! POW!
Do not fear love triangle peeps, there isn't one. Aspen teaches Dante about who he is and what's important. Along the way, he may have helped her out a bit too. They stand by each other. I love their relationship. I love Aspen and her fingerless gloves! That girl can kick some booty! And if there ever was a soul that should be liberated to heaven, it would Aspen. But don't tell the girl I said so cause she'll kick my butt. She so don't want to be liberated. Yeah, I'm not crossing her, no way.
Needless to say, I love these characters. The humor and love between them is so much fun to read. Aspen is a mystery that I didn't get till the end. Charlie is still wonderful Charlie, trying to figure out what to be for her man but really just Charlie and I'm so glad. Love her. Valery? Yeah, not so sure about that chick but gotta love her with that name - though who taught her how to spell it? So wrong. I loved all of the characters. And one that I wasn't expecting to love again - loved him too.
This world is dynamic and unique. There really is nothing out there even close to being similar. The combination of collectors, liberators plus the wit and charm of these characters makes this such an incredible read that just can't be compared.
As for the story? Who knew where things were going. Every once in a while, I guessed something right but mostly I was hanging on for dear life. One little thing at the end threw me into craziness. Resolution? Yeah, not so much. But you know what? This book has NONE and I mean NONE of that middle book syndrome. Why? Because this book, this series is Dante Walker and he did some serious growing in this book. It wasn't a set-up for the big finale. No it was a training ground for someone who the big guy is pretty interested in for bigger things. I'm thinking that with all the very special people in this story, the one that is most important is Dante.
This book is YA paranormal at it's VERY best. You just can't miss this book, this series. It's so good. If you like paranormal even a little bit, then you need to read this. If you like YA even a little, then you need to read this. If you like humor, then you need to read this. If you like to read, then you need to read this. Truly, you will not be disappointed. I mean it. Go get it! POW!
How do I describe this book? This book is so Dante Walker. I totally and completely LOVE that it's from his point of view. He is a badass demon turned liberator, sorta. See, Dante may be a liberator working for the big guy but he's not convinced he's anything more than a demon at heart. He loves his girl and he wants to protect her and fight for her but he doesn't feel worthy of her. He has work to do to understand who he is. Enter his assignment, oh and she has a name - Aspen! POW!
Do not fear love triangle peeps, there isn't one. Aspen teaches Dante about who he is and what's important. Along the way, he may have helped her out a bit too. They stand by each other. I love their relationship. I love Aspen and her fingerless gloves! That girl can kick some booty! And if there ever was a soul that should be liberated to heaven, it would Aspen. But don't tell the girl I said so cause she'll kick my butt. She so don't want to be liberated. Yeah, I'm not crossing her, no way.
Needless to say, I love these characters. The humor and love between them is so much fun to read. Aspen is a mystery that I didn't get till the end. Charlie is still wonderful Charlie, trying to figure out what to be for her man but really just Charlie and I'm so glad. Love her. Valery? Yeah, not so sure about that chick but gotta love her with that name - though who taught her how to spell it? So wrong. I loved all of the characters. And one that I wasn't expecting to love again - loved him too.
This world is dynamic and unique. There really is nothing out there even close to being similar. The combination of collectors, liberators plus the wit and charm of these characters makes this such an incredible read that just can't be compared.
As for the story? Who knew where things were going. Every once in a while, I guessed something right but mostly I was hanging on for dear life. One little thing at the end threw me into craziness. Resolution? Yeah, not so much. But you know what? This book has NONE and I mean NONE of that middle book syndrome. Why? Because this book, this series is Dante Walker and he did some serious growing in this book. It wasn't a set-up for the big finale. No it was a training ground for someone who the big guy is pretty interested in for bigger things. I'm thinking that with all the very special people in this story, the one that is most important is Dante.
This book is YA paranormal at it's VERY best. You just can't miss this book, this series. It's so good. If you like paranormal even a little bit, then you need to read this. If you like YA even a little, then you need to read this. If you like humor, then you need to read this. If you like to read, then you need to read this. Truly, you will not be disappointed. I mean it. Go get it! POW!
August 31, 2013
2.5-3.0 stars..ouch.
There are too many whys and huhs floating around my mind.
I no longer belong to hell. And I do not belong to heaven
I am not a collector.
And I am not a liberator.
I am a warrior.
-Dante Walker, The Liberator.
The Liberator was confusing. Dante's new assignment, Aspen...Charlie...Charlie and Aspen together..Everything altogether. I am not sure why but I am just confused. Glad that the ending was not really a cliffhanger as we can expect what will happen next. I do hope that things will clear up and get better in the third (and maybe final?) novel of the Dante Walker series.
There are too many whys and huhs floating around my mind.
I no longer belong to hell. And I do not belong to heaven
I am not a collector.
And I am not a liberator.
I am a warrior.
-Dante Walker, The Liberator.
The Liberator was confusing. Dante's new assignment, Aspen...Charlie...Charlie and Aspen together..Everything altogether. I am not sure why but I am just confused. Glad that the ending was not really a cliffhanger as we can expect what will happen next. I do hope that things will clear up and get better in the third (and maybe final?) novel of the Dante Walker series.
September 2, 2013
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh SNAP.
OHHHHHHHH SNAP SON.
GUESS WHAT I JUST FINISHEDDDDDD?
I'M JUST GOING TO DO A LITTLE DANCE BEFORE WRITING MY REVIEW.
HOOO, ALRIGHT, THE DANCE IS DONE. TIME TO WRITE. CALMLY. AND. SENSIBLY.
ONE LAST ALKJALKJALDSKJDSLAK BEFORE I GO.
ALKJDSFLAKJDKLASJFLKAJ.
OKAY.
FOR REALSIES.
HOOOOooooooo....ha.
So I wasn't going to read this right away because I have no patience whatsoever, and by that I mean I hate finishing books only to realize I have an entire year to go before reading the next one. With The Liberator it was different though, because I was actually able to convince my friend to read The Collector and she loved, loved, loved it. (Thank the Lord, I needed someone to fangirl over it with.) So being a great and considerate friend, I went ahead and started this book right after finishing Origin (also another Entangled Teen book) and Stargazer by Claudia Gray.
I was so worried going into Liberator, and shame on me for being so. I suppose it had to do with the fact that the blurb had mentioned another girl and my poor heart went and said "Well hey, Natalie, clearly that's a love triangle because that's what YA books do, right? They have a perfectly good couple and then throw in some yukster who just ends up getting the bad end of the stick but hey who cares because tension! And Teams! Who doesn't love being a Team Edward, or a Team Jace, or a Team Bull Poopie?) So I was nervous that it would come down to being a Team Charlie vs. Team Aspen book.
And Victoria Scott did anything but that.
Thank you so much Victoria, for showing us not just that YA doesn't need a love triangle to be a compelling and interesting trilogy, but also the ability to love someone in a non-romantic way. Dante loves Aspen, and not in that bull shit way that they pull in other books where the protagonist will be mackin' on someone for some time, while thinking of someone else, before "lightly" letting them down and saying: "I love you, but I'm not in love with you."
Some more Team Bull Poopie right there.
Dante loves all of his friends, and is in love with Charlie. He never once doubts this and never acts on suspicions that she might not have the same feelings for him. He could have buckled and tried something with Aspen, but he didn't. That's respect, and I respect Dante and Victoria for writing it that way.
Now that there isn't enough to merit a book a five star rating (but hey, it can still gain you big cash money wad points.) There's a lot more to The Liberator than meets the eye. There's humor, there's action, and the plots so rich you could fill a Swiss bank with the stuff. Right off the bat Dante is thrust into the cold of Denver where he has to liberate Aspen's soul, much to his annoyance. Right away we realize that Aspen is important, and that she's pivotal to plot.
In fact everyone turns out to be of import, which I love. There's not one moment where it feels like characters are just there for shits and gigs. They are more of the comedic relief, but that's not all they are.
I could probably write an essay on this book. A nicely worded one with 1.5 spacing and 1 inch margins, but I'm still kind of fangirling so this is the best that you're going to get out of me. Plus that ending did me in. I was in the car with my parents and I kept making strange noises to myself as the pages dwindled down, much to their concern.
Give me the next one.
GIVE ME THE ANSWERS I SEEK VICTORIA SCOTT. I'LL EVEN FAN CAST YOUR BOOK FOR YOU. IT'LL BE SUPER NEAT-O.
(But really seriously I better be given a happy ending or I might just die. You don't want a murder on your hands, right??)
LAST NOTE: READ THIS. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST ONE, READ THAT AND THEN READ THIS.
GOOD NIGHT.
OHHHHHHHH SNAP SON.
GUESS WHAT I JUST FINISHEDDDDDD?
I'M JUST GOING TO DO A LITTLE DANCE BEFORE WRITING MY REVIEW.
HOOO, ALRIGHT, THE DANCE IS DONE. TIME TO WRITE. CALMLY. AND. SENSIBLY.
ONE LAST ALKJALKJALDSKJDSLAK BEFORE I GO.
ALKJDSFLAKJDKLASJFLKAJ.
OKAY.
FOR REALSIES.
HOOOOooooooo....ha.
So I wasn't going to read this right away because I have no patience whatsoever, and by that I mean I hate finishing books only to realize I have an entire year to go before reading the next one. With The Liberator it was different though, because I was actually able to convince my friend to read The Collector and she loved, loved, loved it. (Thank the Lord, I needed someone to fangirl over it with.) So being a great and considerate friend, I went ahead and started this book right after finishing Origin (also another Entangled Teen book) and Stargazer by Claudia Gray.
I was so worried going into Liberator, and shame on me for being so. I suppose it had to do with the fact that the blurb had mentioned another girl and my poor heart went and said "Well hey, Natalie, clearly that's a love triangle because that's what YA books do, right? They have a perfectly good couple and then throw in some yukster who just ends up getting the bad end of the stick but hey who cares because tension! And Teams! Who doesn't love being a Team Edward, or a Team Jace, or a Team Bull Poopie?) So I was nervous that it would come down to being a Team Charlie vs. Team Aspen book.
And Victoria Scott did anything but that.
Thank you so much Victoria, for showing us not just that YA doesn't need a love triangle to be a compelling and interesting trilogy, but also the ability to love someone in a non-romantic way. Dante loves Aspen, and not in that bull shit way that they pull in other books where the protagonist will be mackin' on someone for some time, while thinking of someone else, before "lightly" letting them down and saying: "I love you, but I'm not in love with you."
Some more Team Bull Poopie right there.
Dante loves all of his friends, and is in love with Charlie. He never once doubts this and never acts on suspicions that she might not have the same feelings for him. He could have buckled and tried something with Aspen, but he didn't. That's respect, and I respect Dante and Victoria for writing it that way.
Now that there isn't enough to merit a book a five star rating (but hey, it can still gain you big cash money wad points.) There's a lot more to The Liberator than meets the eye. There's humor, there's action, and the plots so rich you could fill a Swiss bank with the stuff. Right off the bat Dante is thrust into the cold of Denver where he has to liberate Aspen's soul, much to his annoyance. Right away we realize that Aspen is important, and that she's pivotal to plot.
In fact everyone turns out to be of import, which I love. There's not one moment where it feels like characters are just there for shits and gigs. They are more of the comedic relief, but that's not all they are.
I could probably write an essay on this book. A nicely worded one with 1.5 spacing and 1 inch margins, but I'm still kind of fangirling so this is the best that you're going to get out of me. Plus that ending did me in. I was in the car with my parents and I kept making strange noises to myself as the pages dwindled down, much to their concern.
Give me the next one.
GIVE ME THE ANSWERS I SEEK VICTORIA SCOTT. I'LL EVEN FAN CAST YOUR BOOK FOR YOU. IT'LL BE SUPER NEAT-O.
(But really seriously I better be given a happy ending or I might just die. You don't want a murder on your hands, right??)
LAST NOTE: READ THIS. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST ONE, READ THAT AND THEN READ THIS.
GOOD NIGHT.
January 13, 2014
Actual rating: 3.5
I cannot get enough of Dante! He is one of the best anti-heroes I have read about in a long time and has some of the best lines. I can’t even begin to count how many times I laughed while reading The Liberator. What I loved most was the character development of Dante. He’s a lot more serious this time around, and if you’ve read The Collector, you’ll know that’s pretty big for him. He starts to question his and Charlie’s relationship more because they fell so hard and fast for one another. I thought that was well played considering there were some reviewers who feel their relationship bordered on insta-love. So for Dante to question this and work on his feelings, it was a good move. The ending really surprised me and Warrior is a must read for me this year!
I cannot get enough of Dante! He is one of the best anti-heroes I have read about in a long time and has some of the best lines. I can’t even begin to count how many times I laughed while reading The Liberator. What I loved most was the character development of Dante. He’s a lot more serious this time around, and if you’ve read The Collector, you’ll know that’s pretty big for him. He starts to question his and Charlie’s relationship more because they fell so hard and fast for one another. I thought that was well played considering there were some reviewers who feel their relationship bordered on insta-love. So for Dante to question this and work on his feelings, it was a good move. The ending really surprised me and Warrior is a must read for me this year!
tbr-own
November 24, 2013While I'm somewhat ambiguous to a lot of The Collector, any author who thanks God for his "mad swagger" in the acknowledgements deserves to be read.
Want to read
April 18, 2013I'm not happy with this!
What.the.Eff.
I hate love triangles. Especially when I don't see it coming! :(
Stop the love triangle trend now!
_____
What.the.Eff.
I hate love triangles. Especially when I don't see it coming! :(
Stop the love triangle trend now!
_____
January 23, 2013
Gotta give it 5 stars! More action, more romance, just more everything!
August 28, 2013
From http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
3.5 stars
At A Glance
Loved almost every part of this book until the ending. That ending made The Liberator pointless.
The Good
This was a 4.5 star book...until the end came and ruined it, so the good section will reflect those 4.5 stars this book could have gotten.
The Liberator was so much better than The Collector. It's rare for me to love a sequel more than the original but Scott did it somehow. There was more of a plot and structure (though that still wasn't perfect but I didn't mind), there was more drama and action, and there was more kickass characters.
Dante is learning to be the good guy. Yeah, it's not going so well. Dante will always be a bad boy at heart so this Liberator gig is not meshing well with his personality. Especially after he meets bad girl Aspen, his assignment. He should be liberating her soul for the team up in the sky, but her reckless ways pull him back into the life he once loved. Until Charlie starts acting weird and begins to pull away. And through Charlie's new behavior, he begins to see a pattern, a deadly pattern that he plans to stop no matter the cost.
I totally understood Dante's problem with his new job. He has never seen himself as a good person, and saving souls instead of damning them feels weird to him. But his love for Charlie trumps his fears and doubts. He really would do anything for Charlie, no matter what. It was heartwarming to see such a softer side (and crazy jealous side) of Dante. I loved how Dante acted like an obsessed boyfriend but played it cool. You can tell he's not use to having someone have the upper hand, though he gladly concedes it to Charlie eventually.
Aspen was badass. At first she seems like a Goth chick with daddy issues who likes to party. And she is, but she has her reasons. But she grows into this amazing warrior as the story went on. Her and Dante end up having this brother/sister relationship that I just adored. She is a fighter through and through, and I can't wait for more of her story.
Charlie should not be underestimated. She is growing into this confident girl who will do anything to save her friends. Sure, she still eats Skittles out of her jean pockets, but she isn't the shy, meek girl we once knew. She is a kickass woman.
I loved the last one-fourth of this book the most. So much happens, so much action. And that journey to Hell? AMAZING. It was creepy, frightening, and so effing creative. How Scott came up with those bizarre scenes is beyond me, but I loved every minute of it. The writing was good, as was the dialogue. The characterization was right on point. I CANNOT wait for the next book.
The Bad
This was going to be a 4.5 starer, but the ending brought it down to 3.5 stars. The ending made this whole book useless. Everything the characters went through was for nothing because of that ending. I literally turned the last page and thought, what was the point of the story then? Sure, it has set up book 3 nicely, but I'm more worried about how it lessens the amazingness of this book itself. I can't stand bad/sad endings, so they are severely reflected in my ratings.
I will admit, Charlie's behavior in the beginning of the book annoyed the crap out of me. I thought she was better than that, smarter than that.
The Snuggly
Spoiler: SEX! Yup, we get some sex, but YAish sex, so don't get too excited. I loved how Dante and Charlie grew throughout the book. Dante never pushed her, but he made it obvious what was on his mind. SEX! Okay, he's not a sex crazed fiend or anything, he is just a young man who has a girlfriend, and he loves everything about her. Why wouldn't he want to worship her body? So expect some YA type sexual happenings.
Final Thoughts
You cannot understand how sad I am that this had such a crappy ending. I felt so dejected after the last page, but I have hope the third book can make things better. Because before the ending, The Liberator was awesomesauce all the way. Highly recommended but be cautious of the ending.
Quotes
“Things only get darker from here, doll. Might want to hold my hand for this.”
"I want to protect this girl from all the terrible things in the world, but at the same time, I want to do all kinds of terrible things to her."
"All my life, all I've ever wanted was to take. But with you, all I want is to give you everything--every creature in the sea, every star in the sky...my own beating heart. I love you, Charlie. Just the way you are, I love you."
"If I had a soul," I say. "I'd give it to you."
"You are breathtaking, Charlie. You are stunning now, you know that. But you were stunning before, too. Not everybody could see it, but sometimes that can make a girl so much more appealing. The beauty who doesn't know she's beautiful. The girl everyone seems to ignore, but to the right person she's like this...like this beam of light. You were a beam of light, Charlie," I say. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to see it."
*Free book from author for honest review*
3.5 stars
At A Glance
Loved almost every part of this book until the ending. That ending made The Liberator pointless.
The Good
This was a 4.5 star book...until the end came and ruined it, so the good section will reflect those 4.5 stars this book could have gotten.
The Liberator was so much better than The Collector. It's rare for me to love a sequel more than the original but Scott did it somehow. There was more of a plot and structure (though that still wasn't perfect but I didn't mind), there was more drama and action, and there was more kickass characters.
Dante is learning to be the good guy. Yeah, it's not going so well. Dante will always be a bad boy at heart so this Liberator gig is not meshing well with his personality. Especially after he meets bad girl Aspen, his assignment. He should be liberating her soul for the team up in the sky, but her reckless ways pull him back into the life he once loved. Until Charlie starts acting weird and begins to pull away. And through Charlie's new behavior, he begins to see a pattern, a deadly pattern that he plans to stop no matter the cost.
I totally understood Dante's problem with his new job. He has never seen himself as a good person, and saving souls instead of damning them feels weird to him. But his love for Charlie trumps his fears and doubts. He really would do anything for Charlie, no matter what. It was heartwarming to see such a softer side (and crazy jealous side) of Dante. I loved how Dante acted like an obsessed boyfriend but played it cool. You can tell he's not use to having someone have the upper hand, though he gladly concedes it to Charlie eventually.
Aspen was badass. At first she seems like a Goth chick with daddy issues who likes to party. And she is, but she has her reasons. But she grows into this amazing warrior as the story went on. Her and Dante end up having this brother/sister relationship that I just adored. She is a fighter through and through, and I can't wait for more of her story.
Charlie should not be underestimated. She is growing into this confident girl who will do anything to save her friends. Sure, she still eats Skittles out of her jean pockets, but she isn't the shy, meek girl we once knew. She is a kickass woman.
I loved the last one-fourth of this book the most. So much happens, so much action. And that journey to Hell? AMAZING. It was creepy, frightening, and so effing creative. How Scott came up with those bizarre scenes is beyond me, but I loved every minute of it. The writing was good, as was the dialogue. The characterization was right on point. I CANNOT wait for the next book.
The Bad
This was going to be a 4.5 starer, but the ending brought it down to 3.5 stars. The ending made this whole book useless. Everything the characters went through was for nothing because of that ending. I literally turned the last page and thought, what was the point of the story then? Sure, it has set up book 3 nicely, but I'm more worried about how it lessens the amazingness of this book itself. I can't stand bad/sad endings, so they are severely reflected in my ratings.
I will admit, Charlie's behavior in the beginning of the book annoyed the crap out of me. I thought she was better than that, smarter than that.
The Snuggly
Spoiler: SEX! Yup, we get some sex, but YAish sex, so don't get too excited. I loved how Dante and Charlie grew throughout the book. Dante never pushed her, but he made it obvious what was on his mind. SEX! Okay, he's not a sex crazed fiend or anything, he is just a young man who has a girlfriend, and he loves everything about her. Why wouldn't he want to worship her body? So expect some YA type sexual happenings.
Final Thoughts
You cannot understand how sad I am that this had such a crappy ending. I felt so dejected after the last page, but I have hope the third book can make things better. Because before the ending, The Liberator was awesomesauce all the way. Highly recommended but be cautious of the ending.
Quotes
“Things only get darker from here, doll. Might want to hold my hand for this.”
"I want to protect this girl from all the terrible things in the world, but at the same time, I want to do all kinds of terrible things to her."
"All my life, all I've ever wanted was to take. But with you, all I want is to give you everything--every creature in the sea, every star in the sky...my own beating heart. I love you, Charlie. Just the way you are, I love you."
"If I had a soul," I say. "I'd give it to you."
"You are breathtaking, Charlie. You are stunning now, you know that. But you were stunning before, too. Not everybody could see it, but sometimes that can make a girl so much more appealing. The beauty who doesn't know she's beautiful. The girl everyone seems to ignore, but to the right person she's like this...like this beam of light. You were a beam of light, Charlie," I say. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to see it."
*Free book from author for honest review*
August 3, 2013
POW! Dante is flippin' back ya'll! Woooo! I missed him so. I don't really even know where to start! It's always difficult to write reviews for sequels because we definitely don't want any spoilers. Ok! Let's just do this. Dante would kick my butt for beating around the bush.
The Liberator picks up where The Collector leaves off: Dante is sporting a shiny new cuff around his ankle- of the good variety. No longer is he working for the Boss Man, but he's now on Team Big Guy. This should be a great thing for good ole Dante! He gets to do good and be good and everything's all kittens and puppies, right?! NO. Dante is bad. Always has been and always will be. At least according to him. This presents a bit of a problem, obviously. His first mission as a Liberator is to go help a girl named Aspen. A girl who is basically him, but with boobs. Dante knows he has a mission to do and he wants to get back to Charlie ASAP. However, it's so easy to forget his true purpose and slide right back into his old ways.
I'm glad Victoria came right out and said she didn't like love triangles because when I first saw this I thought- here we go.... Knowing there would be no love triangle, I was able to go in and really enjoy Aspen without feeling like I was betraying Charlie. Aspen is a little spitfire. She's got attitude, but there's a raw part of her too- a part that's really hurting and Dante is able to zone in on that. There's so much more to Aspen than meets the eye and I really think Victoria did a great job of unraveling her storyline because she has a pretty big part to play.
Charlie is a lot different in this book too. We definitely get to see a different side to Charlie. At the beginning I felt bad for her because she was trying to be someone that she wasn't- for Dante- and she was upset with herself for it. He wasn't very happy either because he loves her just the way she is. However, we all know Dante- he tends to put his foot in his mouth sometimes and say things he shouldn't. Charlie comes to terms with the fact that she is who she is and she isn't going to change because of it. (You go girl!) And Dante falls a little more in love with her because of that.
Can I just squeal a minute about Dante and Charlie's relationship? I won't lie- I was a little bummed The Collector didn't have very many swoony scenes. That's ok folks! The Liberator MORE than makes up for that! Mmmhmm. That's right. Bow-chicka-bow-bow! There are so many adorable moments between those two and Dante Walker you are not as bad boy as you think! Dante can act as bad ass as he wants- when it comes to Charlie Cooper, she's his kryptonite. Dante- you big softie!
And we can't forget the gang! They're back! And more fun than ever! I love the unyielding friendships Victoria has created here. They would go to hell and back for one another and wouldn't hesitate to step in the line of fire to protect of their own. I was a little mad at Annabelle in the beginning because I felt she was letting Charlie get a little out of control, but at least she was with her just in case the shit really did hit the fan. Luckily, that got resolved pretty quickly. All of Victoria's characters have a part to play and I love that she doesn't just throw characters in for filler purposes.
My only issue with this book was that it did feel a little slow at times. But gosh, once you hit the last half of the book, forget about it! It's ON. I was tearing through the pages like it was going out of style because I had to see how this would all play out. And there were definitely a few gut-clenching moments where I was afraid of where Victoria was going with everything.
I really thought this book would just be focused on Aspen and trying to liberate her soul, but wow. Victoria took us in a whole different direction! I think the way she intertwined Aspen's story with Dante, Charlie, and the rest of the gang's was brilliant. And the ending?! POW! Thankfully, it's not a cliffhanger but at the end I was all fired up ready to go and.... I have to wait for Book 3.
Overall my fellow Dante fans: he's back and he's ready for you.
"I nearly gasp. No girl has ever called me on my crap before. I'm a little thrown off, but recover quickly. If she wants to play this nothing-fazes-me game, I'll be her huckleberry. Because no one can pull indifferent like I can."- eARC 59
Here's a little sneak peek of what little Miss Aspen is all about:
"Why don't you calm down D-Dub. I know you're menstruating, but everything's going to be fine. Once we get inside, I'll explain all about maxi pads, personal hygiene, and the feel of a man's penis."- eARC 103
*Received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
The Liberator picks up where The Collector leaves off: Dante is sporting a shiny new cuff around his ankle- of the good variety. No longer is he working for the Boss Man, but he's now on Team Big Guy. This should be a great thing for good ole Dante! He gets to do good and be good and everything's all kittens and puppies, right?! NO. Dante is bad. Always has been and always will be. At least according to him. This presents a bit of a problem, obviously. His first mission as a Liberator is to go help a girl named Aspen. A girl who is basically him, but with boobs. Dante knows he has a mission to do and he wants to get back to Charlie ASAP. However, it's so easy to forget his true purpose and slide right back into his old ways.
I'm glad Victoria came right out and said she didn't like love triangles because when I first saw this I thought- here we go.... Knowing there would be no love triangle, I was able to go in and really enjoy Aspen without feeling like I was betraying Charlie. Aspen is a little spitfire. She's got attitude, but there's a raw part of her too- a part that's really hurting and Dante is able to zone in on that. There's so much more to Aspen than meets the eye and I really think Victoria did a great job of unraveling her storyline because she has a pretty big part to play.
Charlie is a lot different in this book too. We definitely get to see a different side to Charlie. At the beginning I felt bad for her because she was trying to be someone that she wasn't- for Dante- and she was upset with herself for it. He wasn't very happy either because he loves her just the way she is. However, we all know Dante- he tends to put his foot in his mouth sometimes and say things he shouldn't. Charlie comes to terms with the fact that she is who she is and she isn't going to change because of it. (You go girl!) And Dante falls a little more in love with her because of that.
Can I just squeal a minute about Dante and Charlie's relationship? I won't lie- I was a little bummed The Collector didn't have very many swoony scenes. That's ok folks! The Liberator MORE than makes up for that! Mmmhmm. That's right. Bow-chicka-bow-bow! There are so many adorable moments between those two and Dante Walker you are not as bad boy as you think! Dante can act as bad ass as he wants- when it comes to Charlie Cooper, she's his kryptonite. Dante- you big softie!
And we can't forget the gang! They're back! And more fun than ever! I love the unyielding friendships Victoria has created here. They would go to hell and back for one another and wouldn't hesitate to step in the line of fire to protect of their own. I was a little mad at Annabelle in the beginning because I felt she was letting Charlie get a little out of control, but at least she was with her just in case the shit really did hit the fan. Luckily, that got resolved pretty quickly. All of Victoria's characters have a part to play and I love that she doesn't just throw characters in for filler purposes.
My only issue with this book was that it did feel a little slow at times. But gosh, once you hit the last half of the book, forget about it! It's ON. I was tearing through the pages like it was going out of style because I had to see how this would all play out. And there were definitely a few gut-clenching moments where I was afraid of where Victoria was going with everything.
I really thought this book would just be focused on Aspen and trying to liberate her soul, but wow. Victoria took us in a whole different direction! I think the way she intertwined Aspen's story with Dante, Charlie, and the rest of the gang's was brilliant. And the ending?! POW! Thankfully, it's not a cliffhanger but at the end I was all fired up ready to go and.... I have to wait for Book 3.
Overall my fellow Dante fans: he's back and he's ready for you.
"I nearly gasp. No girl has ever called me on my crap before. I'm a little thrown off, but recover quickly. If she wants to play this nothing-fazes-me game, I'll be her huckleberry. Because no one can pull indifferent like I can."- eARC 59
Here's a little sneak peek of what little Miss Aspen is all about:
"Why don't you calm down D-Dub. I know you're menstruating, but everything's going to be fine. Once we get inside, I'll explain all about maxi pads, personal hygiene, and the feel of a man's penis."- eARC 103
*Received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
August 10, 2013
I'm no angel. Never have been, never will be. I'm just bad, baby. Maybe because of the way I was raised, or maybe it's good old-fashioned genetics.
Or maybe it's because deep down, I like the way being bad feels. Pow!
Victoria Scott has definitely achieved it. She has achieved what I suspect all authors strive for when writing a sequel. And that is that it will be better than the previous book. Well, The Liberator is way beyond better. It is amazing in it's epicness. Every single page was just pure awesomeness.
Dante Walker works for the The Big Guy now. No longer a collector, his job is to now liberate the souls of humans. And this is something that Dante struggles with. He believes he's a demon. He believes that he's bad. He likes the party lifestyle. He likes the life he lived as a Collector. Sent on his first mission to save the soul of Aspen, Dante comes face to face with a girl who reminds him of himself. So what does Dante do? He parties right along with her. But there is that little voice in the back of his head that tells him he wants to be good for Charlie. She has such unwavering faith in him.
Dante is still full of confidence. He is still cocky. He is still witty. He is still sarcastic. He just wouldn't be Dante Walker if he wasn't all those things. And I love all those things about him. All those aspects of him fit perfectly into the person he's becoming. He grows so much during this book. He becomes so much more than he was throughout The Collector. He has so many different sides to him, and watching him discover all those different aspects of himself was perfect.
"I love the way you are Charlie. I love it so much it tears me apart. I think about what would happen if I didn't have you in my life -- you, the girl you were when I met you -- and I feel like I can't breathe." I trace my thumb over the dip below her bottom lip. "All my life, all I've ever wanted was to take. But with you, all I want is to give you everything -- every creature in the sea, every star in the sky...my own beating heart. I love you, Charlie. Just the way you are, I love you"
So I'm going to admit that I got a bit teary while reading The Liberator. I definitely didn't expect that to happen. But cry I did. At the sad and the happy. I admit to being a bit of a softie, and Dante Walker managed on more that one occasion to get me all teary with his words. His words of love and his ability to care. He may not believe it, but this boy has the biggest heart. It's so full of goodness and love. His love for his friends. His adoration of Charlie. And adore her he does. I love nothing more than seeing the so called bad boy fall hard in love. And Dante is in so hard!!! Their love for each other is beautiful. But don't fear that Dante is all soppy and soft. The boy knows how to kick ass when it's called for. And kiss ass he does. Many times over, because the action is ramped up to new heights this time around. There is bad at almost every turn and Dante will do whatever it takes to take down the bad.
"You were breathtaking Charlie. You are stunning now, you know that. But you were stunning before too. Not everybody could see it, but sometimes that can make a girl so much more appealing. The beauty who doesn't know she's beautiful. The girl everyone seems to ignore, but to the right person she's like this...like this beam of light. You were a beam of light Charlie," I say. "I'm just sorry it too me so long to see it."
Charlie is still with the purest of heart this time around. But she shows us that she's not a walk over. Don't mess with her or those that she loves because she's got moves. And she'll use them if she has too. She is full to the brim with love and loyalty and I think my girl crush on her grew a little more in this book.
She looks at me, and a shiver races down my spine.
How do I liberate a girl who is exactly like me?
And then we have Aspen. She plays a big part in the story. Boy is she is strong and tough. But then there are things about her that will pull at your heartstrings. I didn't love her at the start. In fact, I probably didn't even like her a whole lot but by the time we get to the end of the book I loved her. I loved the relationship that she has with Dante. I loved her crazy fighting skills. I loved her for the sacrifices she makes.
I love the way Victoria Scott writes. I love the characters she has created and I love the world she has built for them. The only thing that I can say I don't love is the fact that I now have to wait for book three!!!
5/5 Dante Walker Rocks My World Stars!!
Or maybe it's because deep down, I like the way being bad feels. Pow!
Victoria Scott has definitely achieved it. She has achieved what I suspect all authors strive for when writing a sequel. And that is that it will be better than the previous book. Well, The Liberator is way beyond better. It is amazing in it's epicness. Every single page was just pure awesomeness.
Dante Walker works for the The Big Guy now. No longer a collector, his job is to now liberate the souls of humans. And this is something that Dante struggles with. He believes he's a demon. He believes that he's bad. He likes the party lifestyle. He likes the life he lived as a Collector. Sent on his first mission to save the soul of Aspen, Dante comes face to face with a girl who reminds him of himself. So what does Dante do? He parties right along with her. But there is that little voice in the back of his head that tells him he wants to be good for Charlie. She has such unwavering faith in him.
Dante is still full of confidence. He is still cocky. He is still witty. He is still sarcastic. He just wouldn't be Dante Walker if he wasn't all those things. And I love all those things about him. All those aspects of him fit perfectly into the person he's becoming. He grows so much during this book. He becomes so much more than he was throughout The Collector. He has so many different sides to him, and watching him discover all those different aspects of himself was perfect.
"I love the way you are Charlie. I love it so much it tears me apart. I think about what would happen if I didn't have you in my life -- you, the girl you were when I met you -- and I feel like I can't breathe." I trace my thumb over the dip below her bottom lip. "All my life, all I've ever wanted was to take. But with you, all I want is to give you everything -- every creature in the sea, every star in the sky...my own beating heart. I love you, Charlie. Just the way you are, I love you"
So I'm going to admit that I got a bit teary while reading The Liberator. I definitely didn't expect that to happen. But cry I did. At the sad and the happy. I admit to being a bit of a softie, and Dante Walker managed on more that one occasion to get me all teary with his words. His words of love and his ability to care. He may not believe it, but this boy has the biggest heart. It's so full of goodness and love. His love for his friends. His adoration of Charlie. And adore her he does. I love nothing more than seeing the so called bad boy fall hard in love. And Dante is in so hard!!! Their love for each other is beautiful. But don't fear that Dante is all soppy and soft. The boy knows how to kick ass when it's called for. And kiss ass he does. Many times over, because the action is ramped up to new heights this time around. There is bad at almost every turn and Dante will do whatever it takes to take down the bad.
"You were breathtaking Charlie. You are stunning now, you know that. But you were stunning before too. Not everybody could see it, but sometimes that can make a girl so much more appealing. The beauty who doesn't know she's beautiful. The girl everyone seems to ignore, but to the right person she's like this...like this beam of light. You were a beam of light Charlie," I say. "I'm just sorry it too me so long to see it."
Charlie is still with the purest of heart this time around. But she shows us that she's not a walk over. Don't mess with her or those that she loves because she's got moves. And she'll use them if she has too. She is full to the brim with love and loyalty and I think my girl crush on her grew a little more in this book.
She looks at me, and a shiver races down my spine.
How do I liberate a girl who is exactly like me?
And then we have Aspen. She plays a big part in the story. Boy is she is strong and tough. But then there are things about her that will pull at your heartstrings. I didn't love her at the start. In fact, I probably didn't even like her a whole lot but by the time we get to the end of the book I loved her. I loved the relationship that she has with Dante. I loved her crazy fighting skills. I loved her for the sacrifices she makes.
I love the way Victoria Scott writes. I love the characters she has created and I love the world she has built for them. The only thing that I can say I don't love is the fact that I now have to wait for book three!!!
5/5 Dante Walker Rocks My World Stars!!
August 2, 2013
Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog.
The Liberator took off right where The Collector ended. I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book in the Dante Walker series, but this sequel right here was an improvement to the first book, because the characters were more profound and the haze surrounding the world-building started to lift off.
For those of you who have read The Collector, you should know by now, how cocky and arrogant Dante was. Some readers, including me, were uncomfortable with his voice because his self-importance was a little too much for them. I'm happy to say that Dante was a much better character in this book. In fact, he almost lost all his over-confident nature, which I was thankful for. Dante has really grown from the first book and seeing his new side was an absolute delight. He was so much nicer and down-to-earth and I began to appreciate him much more as a character. His interactions and budding friendships with the secondary characters was highlight of the book for me. In The Liberator, we also got to see Dante struggling to be good. Although his thoughts were not always what you would called well-behaved, Dante really made an effort to be good and he ended up having to face this inner combat. Watching Dante grow further in this book was highly entertaining. Victoria Scott also went into fleshing out her secondary characters. They were a charming cast, whose different personalities really meshed well together. The author also introduced a new character, Aspen. A lot of readers panicked thinking that the author had implemented a dreaded love triangle into her series, but fret not! The relationship between Aspen and Dante didn't even have a tinge of romantic essence to it. It was simply pure friendship between two people who realized that they were fighting similar demons.
On the romance front, despite Charlie and Dante having expressed their feelings for each other too soon in the previous book, I thought the author progressed it at a beautiful pace in this one. I was worried that too much spotlight would be given to Charlie's and Dante's relationship, but I was impressed by the way she handled it. The romance, for the most part, developed in the sidelines and the moments between Charlie and Dante were entirely too sweet. I loved how they were a pillar to each other and constantly supported each other through their obstacles and difficult moments. Like I mentioned above, the world-building in The Liberator was also stronger. The reader got to learn a lot more about the Liberators and the plot ultimately took an exciting turn which made me impatient for the release of the next book. While this book focused more on character development, I thought it was well-balanced with the progress of the plot-line. There were some interesting revelations regarding the characters and the world-building and I'm eager to find out more in the final book. Once again, Victoria Scott, nailed the male POV. Her writing has that addictive quality to it that made this book "unputdownable" to me. She has also depicted through this sequel that she is a promising author. Although the book didn't end in a cliffhanger, the foreshadowing at the end has me restless for the final installment in the Dante Walker series.
Victoria Scott's sequel was an engaging read that had me hooked from the first page. The development in the characters and the world-building made this a successful sequel for me. I'm loving where this series is heading towards and hopefully, the final book will wind up being even better than this sequel.
September 5, 2013
To see full review click here.
The Collector was probably one of the best books I read this summer. And one of the things I love the most about Entangled (its publishing company) is that they get sequels out fast.
I have to say, my feelings about The Liberator are sort of mixed. On one hand, Dante was entertaining as ever and I thought he developed as a character in this installment.
I have to say I really enjoyed him "slumming" it at the Holiday Inn. That was sort of hilarious. And he's right, Holiday Inns can suck.
And for the most part I did still enjoy his relationship with Charlie. For the most part. There were some issues, but the chemistry is still very obviously there and I enjoyed the two of them together. And I really was glad Scott didn't go in the direction of love triangle-ville with Aspen.
But and this is a very big but....
While I really liked Aspen, she really served no purpose to the very in. Lots of the characters in this series, you could say, are floaters. Which is sort of sad because all the characters are good...but this series has too many extras much like the second and last season of Young Justice.
For example,take the characters Aspen and Annabelle into consideration. Annabelle in Charlie's friend, I love her, just like I love Aspen, but she serves no other purpose except being there. I'd almost say that instead of creating the Aspen character, it would've just been better to utilize Annabelle but whatever. Apsen wasn't awful.
And none of the characters were awful, it was just as I said before they really didn't have a place on the canvas. It was just like they were randomly there.
And that's how a lot of the plot in this story was.
Random.
Things just happened with little to no build up or explanation, it still made sense, but with the first book there seemed to have more of a clear plot. Here there was a plot, but it just deviated from it and never really got back on track.
For example, Aspen. We sort of got to know her story. Then it was dropped for about a hundred pages then sort of picked up again but not really.
I almost think this book had middle book syndrome. You know, kick ass first book and the second book is just sort of meh so that the final book can be awesome.
And that's a shame because the first book was really awesome.
Don't get me wrong this wasn't a bad book. Compared to many other books and for that matter sequels in the genre, it was pretty good but compared to The Collector it was a bit of a disappointment.
Maybe part of that was because of the way Charlie and Dante acted when together. They still had chemistry, but a lot of their interactions seemed forced to a degree. The separation could've made way for some cool plot twists, but it really was a non-issue throughout most of the novel.
The ending though, has me holding out hope. While I had a lot of problems with The Liberator, the last fifty or so pages made me excited to read the next one. I feel like the third installment will be pretty awesome.
Overall, this isn't a bad book it's fairly good. But the plot is flawed. It clearly suffers from middle book syndrome, and I really hope the next book ups the ante again. I still love the characters, but compared to the first book it was a little less than stellar.
The Collector was probably one of the best books I read this summer. And one of the things I love the most about Entangled (its publishing company) is that they get sequels out fast.
I have to say, my feelings about The Liberator are sort of mixed. On one hand, Dante was entertaining as ever and I thought he developed as a character in this installment.
I have to say I really enjoyed him "slumming" it at the Holiday Inn. That was sort of hilarious. And he's right, Holiday Inns can suck.
And for the most part I did still enjoy his relationship with Charlie. For the most part. There were some issues, but the chemistry is still very obviously there and I enjoyed the two of them together. And I really was glad Scott didn't go in the direction of love triangle-ville with Aspen.
But and this is a very big but....
While I really liked Aspen, she really served no purpose to the very in. Lots of the characters in this series, you could say, are floaters. Which is sort of sad because all the characters are good...but this series has too many extras much like the second and last season of Young Justice.
For example,take the characters Aspen and Annabelle into consideration. Annabelle in Charlie's friend, I love her, just like I love Aspen, but she serves no other purpose except being there. I'd almost say that instead of creating the Aspen character, it would've just been better to utilize Annabelle but whatever. Apsen wasn't awful.
And none of the characters were awful, it was just as I said before they really didn't have a place on the canvas. It was just like they were randomly there.
And that's how a lot of the plot in this story was.
Random.
Things just happened with little to no build up or explanation, it still made sense, but with the first book there seemed to have more of a clear plot. Here there was a plot, but it just deviated from it and never really got back on track.
For example, Aspen. We sort of got to know her story. Then it was dropped for about a hundred pages then sort of picked up again but not really.
I almost think this book had middle book syndrome. You know, kick ass first book and the second book is just sort of meh so that the final book can be awesome.
And that's a shame because the first book was really awesome.
Don't get me wrong this wasn't a bad book. Compared to many other books and for that matter sequels in the genre, it was pretty good but compared to The Collector it was a bit of a disappointment.
Maybe part of that was because of the way Charlie and Dante acted when together. They still had chemistry, but a lot of their interactions seemed forced to a degree. The separation could've made way for some cool plot twists, but it really was a non-issue throughout most of the novel.
The ending though, has me holding out hope. While I had a lot of problems with The Liberator, the last fifty or so pages made me excited to read the next one. I feel like the third installment will be pretty awesome.
Overall, this isn't a bad book it's fairly good. But the plot is flawed. It clearly suffers from middle book syndrome, and I really hope the next book ups the ante again. I still love the characters, but compared to the first book it was a little less than stellar.
December 10, 2013
Victoria Scott has a natural aptitude for creating staggering stories and characters. I fell in love with Dangerous Dante in The Collector, but after reading The Liberator…well, let’s just say that I am even more amazed, and will be first in line when The Warrior becomes available. The Liberator stands strong as The Collectors sequel. With added depth to these characters and mounting twists, I couldn’t put this one down.
Dante has a penchant to drive the reader crazy (in a good way, and who couldn’t love a guy who names his candy apple-red Escadade, Elizabeth Taylor! ) and I find his weakness for Charlie relevant to where the story went in The Liberator. He will do whatever he has to in order to steal her soul back. But before he can do that, he has to do a job for the Big Guy upstairs. Dante hesitantly enters into Aspen’s life (his assignment), leaving Charlie behind to accomplish this job. It nearly tears them apart…literally.
Aspen is more like the female equivalent of Dante, or who Dante was. They only show the world what they want to see and tucks everything else away. He knows, or was told, rather, that Aspen is special. And, as the story progresses he realizes there’s more to the girl than her façade.
Charlie met a few new neighbors, and Dante isn’t exactly happy about it. He gets reports she’s being reckless and out of character, which makes him question doing this new assignment and being away from her. I could really feel the emotions throughout this book. And, the witty remarks Dante is notorious for, why by the way, I’m a huge sucker for.
“I’m not sure how I got here, and I’m certain I don’t know how Charlie ended up on the other side of the room with Guy In Touch With His Emotions. Raising a bottle to my lips, I watch as the guy uncrosses his long legs and recrosses them. His tampon must be killing him.”
I love that one of the characters was brought back. I won’t give it away, but it was an awesome move. New characters are introduced, which the combination was perfect. And the Collectors are back, and they are using humans to do their dirty work. Then there is the chemistry between Charlie and Dante… I couldn’t have been more happy
.
"If I had a soul,” I say. “I’d give it to you.” Charlie pulls me closer so that our lips almost touch. She lays a hand on my face, and her eyes swim with affection. “You may not have my soul, Dante. But you will always have my heart.” (Swoon!)
A battle will ensue. “Two girls—a savior and a soldier.” I just loved that line.
The action kept me on my toes and the plot played out perfectly. So much is unraveled, and I will not spoil it for you as it’s important to experience that one on your own. All I can say is…I can’t wait to see what The Warrior unfolds. If you liked The Collector, you will LOVE The Liberator!
Dante has a penchant to drive the reader crazy (in a good way, and who couldn’t love a guy who names his candy apple-red Escadade, Elizabeth Taylor! ) and I find his weakness for Charlie relevant to where the story went in The Liberator. He will do whatever he has to in order to steal her soul back. But before he can do that, he has to do a job for the Big Guy upstairs. Dante hesitantly enters into Aspen’s life (his assignment), leaving Charlie behind to accomplish this job. It nearly tears them apart…literally.
Aspen is more like the female equivalent of Dante, or who Dante was. They only show the world what they want to see and tucks everything else away. He knows, or was told, rather, that Aspen is special. And, as the story progresses he realizes there’s more to the girl than her façade.
Charlie met a few new neighbors, and Dante isn’t exactly happy about it. He gets reports she’s being reckless and out of character, which makes him question doing this new assignment and being away from her. I could really feel the emotions throughout this book. And, the witty remarks Dante is notorious for, why by the way, I’m a huge sucker for.
“I’m not sure how I got here, and I’m certain I don’t know how Charlie ended up on the other side of the room with Guy In Touch With His Emotions. Raising a bottle to my lips, I watch as the guy uncrosses his long legs and recrosses them. His tampon must be killing him.”
I love that one of the characters was brought back. I won’t give it away, but it was an awesome move. New characters are introduced, which the combination was perfect. And the Collectors are back, and they are using humans to do their dirty work. Then there is the chemistry between Charlie and Dante… I couldn’t have been more happy
.
"If I had a soul,” I say. “I’d give it to you.” Charlie pulls me closer so that our lips almost touch. She lays a hand on my face, and her eyes swim with affection. “You may not have my soul, Dante. But you will always have my heart.” (Swoon!)
A battle will ensue. “Two girls—a savior and a soldier.” I just loved that line.
The action kept me on my toes and the plot played out perfectly. So much is unraveled, and I will not spoil it for you as it’s important to experience that one on your own. All I can say is…I can’t wait to see what The Warrior unfolds. If you liked The Collector, you will LOVE The Liberator!
August 22, 2013
Dante believes it’s his duty to protect Charlie. So, when he’s being assigned to save the soul of another girl miles away, he is not happy with the arrangement. What he doesn’t expect is how much his assignment reminds him of his old self. When the minions of his ex-Boss recruit humans to spy, trick and put people in harm’s way, Dante becomes furious. Can he come up with a way to save everybody before it’s too late?
I like Dante. While he pretends he doesn’t care much about anyone other than Charlie, you can tell deep down he does care. He may not want to admit, but he is more selfless than selfish. To me, Dante is larger than life but mundanely, he is a boy struggling to figure out who he can truly become. His identity crisis forces him to dig deeper within and I like that he doesn’t jump to any quick conclusion about what he has to oblige or who he must look up to now that he’s a liberator. His love for Charlie is immeasurable and I can’t help but find him irresistibly swoon-worthy.
The story in this installment is quite different from the first book. There is more mystery – it’s interesting to see how Dante’s assignment turns out to play a role so different from what I’ve speculated – if you read the synopsis, you may have guessed Aspen as a rebellious girl with a dark past but let me tell you, you have absolutely no clue of what she’s capable of just from reading the book summary! I like that Aspen is sassy, vivacious and bold but personally, I think I’d like her a lot more if there is an even sharper contrast between her soft femininity and her warrior-like protective nature.
If you love stories featuring strong, kick-ass female characters, you’ll love The Liberator. Not only will you meet Aspen, you’ll be re-acquainted with awesome characters like Charlie, Annabelle and Valery from the first book. If you’ve liked Charlie, you’ll LOVE her in this installment. Please don’t make the assumption that you wouldn’t see much of her here because Dante has to fly to a different city to save Aspen. You’ll see Charlie quite a bit and you’ll discover things that you may not have guessed in this story. I like that Charlie is still pretty much her old sincere, nerdy self even though she’s received her physical makeover in book one. She’s still the Skittle girl that I adore and seeing her and Dante together is like tasting the icing on a yummy cake – well… the romantic scenes are more like a spicy, delicious treat (but I digress) – but seriously, who could resist the charming spell of someone you’ve fallen in love with when he whispers “I love you forever” into your ear?
Overall, I have fun reading The Liberator. While I wouldn’t say the storyline is wildly unpredictable, I love the plentiful sprinkles of surprising twists throughout the story. The Liberator is going to be available at the bookstores on August 27, 2013.
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Originally posted on LeisureReads.com
A copy of the book was provided by blog tour for review purposes.
I like Dante. While he pretends he doesn’t care much about anyone other than Charlie, you can tell deep down he does care. He may not want to admit, but he is more selfless than selfish. To me, Dante is larger than life but mundanely, he is a boy struggling to figure out who he can truly become. His identity crisis forces him to dig deeper within and I like that he doesn’t jump to any quick conclusion about what he has to oblige or who he must look up to now that he’s a liberator. His love for Charlie is immeasurable and I can’t help but find him irresistibly swoon-worthy.
The story in this installment is quite different from the first book. There is more mystery – it’s interesting to see how Dante’s assignment turns out to play a role so different from what I’ve speculated – if you read the synopsis, you may have guessed Aspen as a rebellious girl with a dark past but let me tell you, you have absolutely no clue of what she’s capable of just from reading the book summary! I like that Aspen is sassy, vivacious and bold but personally, I think I’d like her a lot more if there is an even sharper contrast between her soft femininity and her warrior-like protective nature.
If you love stories featuring strong, kick-ass female characters, you’ll love The Liberator. Not only will you meet Aspen, you’ll be re-acquainted with awesome characters like Charlie, Annabelle and Valery from the first book. If you’ve liked Charlie, you’ll LOVE her in this installment. Please don’t make the assumption that you wouldn’t see much of her here because Dante has to fly to a different city to save Aspen. You’ll see Charlie quite a bit and you’ll discover things that you may not have guessed in this story. I like that Charlie is still pretty much her old sincere, nerdy self even though she’s received her physical makeover in book one. She’s still the Skittle girl that I adore and seeing her and Dante together is like tasting the icing on a yummy cake – well… the romantic scenes are more like a spicy, delicious treat (but I digress) – but seriously, who could resist the charming spell of someone you’ve fallen in love with when he whispers “I love you forever” into your ear?
Overall, I have fun reading The Liberator. While I wouldn’t say the storyline is wildly unpredictable, I love the plentiful sprinkles of surprising twists throughout the story. The Liberator is going to be available at the bookstores on August 27, 2013.
--
Originally posted on LeisureReads.com
A copy of the book was provided by blog tour for review purposes.
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