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The Deadish Chronicles #1
Paramnesia: The Deadish Chronicles
Nora Edwards finally had everything she wanted out of life, including the boy of her dreams, Andrew, until one night that dream turned into a nightmare. On their way home from prom, Nora and Andrew are attacked by a supernatural creature called the Revenant that sucks the souls out of the living in order to feed itself. Nora manages to escape from the creature, but tragically, Andrew is not as fortunate.
Although Nora suffered loss that night, she gained something, as well: the ability to see the dead. Whether the skill is a gift or a curse is yet to be determined, as those around her assume Nora has developed "paramnesia," a disorder where one confuses dreams with reality. She's also attracted the attention of the Revenant's masters, who need to preserve the secret of their supernatural existence. Nora, along with Andrew and her living and dead allies in the Deadish Society, quickly finds herself in a battle for the souls of her city—and her mind.
Although Nora suffered loss that night, she gained something, as well: the ability to see the dead. Whether the skill is a gift or a curse is yet to be determined, as those around her assume Nora has developed "paramnesia," a disorder where one confuses dreams with reality. She's also attracted the attention of the Revenant's masters, who need to preserve the secret of their supernatural existence. Nora, along with Andrew and her living and dead allies in the Deadish Society, quickly finds herself in a battle for the souls of her city—and her mind.
- GenresParanormalFantasyRomance
290 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2018
3 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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December 22, 2017
Review was originally published on Through the Chapters|Blog
I received an unfinished e-copy via the NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
It was one of those reads who appealed to me as soon as saw the cover. Yes, I know. I’m shameless. Both the cover and the synopsis seemed intriguing that’s why I decided to give it a try.
So, Paramnesia is about this ordinary girl, Nora Roberts who one day finds the love of her life. Andrew is a handsome, magnificent, cool and very caring boyfriend. Everything is awesome until the tragic car accident where all Nora’s dreams for a happy life die along with her dream boyfriend.
His tragic death wasn’t a coincidence of circumstances but a well-executed murder by a creature called Revenant. Nevertheless, this supernatural creature that sucks souls to feed and gain powers didn’t manage to kill Nora. It gave her a small scar and the ability to see the ghost of her deceased boyfriend.
I can’t deny that the plot with the ghost and the Revenant appealed to me. It is quite an original idea. I can’t also say that this was a terrible read. It was… good.
In the first place, the third person narrative gave me the depth, the feelings and the thoughts of all the characters and not only Nora’s, the main protagonist. In the same fashion, I enjoyed the world building with the ghost and the creation of the “Deadish Society”. There were a lot of cute moments especially with a ghost named Peepers who was in constant search of his love Adelaide. There were a lot of heart-breaking moments between Nora and Andrew as a ghost, with their discussions about the life they won’t be able to enjoy together.
Another one moment, which I really appreciate, was the humor the author utilized even in the morbid situations such as in this story. I caught myself laughing multiple times. I mean how could I laugh when the greatest amount of characters was dead and deprived of experiencing normal things such as eating, touching, smelling…living!?!? Well done Wilkinson!
Moving on, throughout the story I was wondering why Revenant didn’t send chills down my spine. She was a supernatural-monster-souls-eater and I was feeling sorry for her. What??
Well, I’m glad to say that I found out the reason.
On the other hand, there are some aspects in the story that bothered and some other that frustrated me. Firstly, the insta love that the author presented at the beginning. I won’t stay long here because it depends on readers’ preferences but it seemed fake to me. I just can’t accept that someone can fall for someone without knowing the person. At all. I mean they just looked at each other and then boom! I surely can accept that there was a mutual attraction but not love! Come on!
Furthermore, I strongly disapprove the fact that Nora’s body was constantly compared to her best friend’s, Vee. While I was reading I had the impression that the story was shouting to me:
– Look how you have to be in order to be loved.
Everyone is unique. Everyone has a unique beauty. There’s a need to be yourself and not a copy of someone else.
Finally, Nora’s brother Tom described his date as “Big Boobs Casey”.
What? No. Just. NO.
Please erase all those misogynistic ideas. It is not a story about the appearance. It is a story about life and death. It is a story of letting things go. It is about people who are in darkness; nonetheless there is light inside them.
I would recommend the book provided that, the publishers and the author will take under consideration all the remarks on the flaws that the reviewers made, and improve them in the final version of the book.
I received an unfinished e-copy via the NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
It was one of those reads who appealed to me as soon as saw the cover. Yes, I know. I’m shameless. Both the cover and the synopsis seemed intriguing that’s why I decided to give it a try.
So, Paramnesia is about this ordinary girl, Nora Roberts who one day finds the love of her life. Andrew is a handsome, magnificent, cool and very caring boyfriend. Everything is awesome until the tragic car accident where all Nora’s dreams for a happy life die along with her dream boyfriend.
His tragic death wasn’t a coincidence of circumstances but a well-executed murder by a creature called Revenant. Nevertheless, this supernatural creature that sucks souls to feed and gain powers didn’t manage to kill Nora. It gave her a small scar and the ability to see the ghost of her deceased boyfriend.
I can’t deny that the plot with the ghost and the Revenant appealed to me. It is quite an original idea. I can’t also say that this was a terrible read. It was… good.
In the first place, the third person narrative gave me the depth, the feelings and the thoughts of all the characters and not only Nora’s, the main protagonist. In the same fashion, I enjoyed the world building with the ghost and the creation of the “Deadish Society”. There were a lot of cute moments especially with a ghost named Peepers who was in constant search of his love Adelaide. There were a lot of heart-breaking moments between Nora and Andrew as a ghost, with their discussions about the life they won’t be able to enjoy together.
Another one moment, which I really appreciate, was the humor the author utilized even in the morbid situations such as in this story. I caught myself laughing multiple times. I mean how could I laugh when the greatest amount of characters was dead and deprived of experiencing normal things such as eating, touching, smelling…living!?!? Well done Wilkinson!
Moving on, throughout the story I was wondering why Revenant didn’t send chills down my spine. She was a supernatural-monster-souls-eater and I was feeling sorry for her. What??
Well, I’m glad to say that I found out the reason.
On the other hand, there are some aspects in the story that bothered and some other that frustrated me. Firstly, the insta love that the author presented at the beginning. I won’t stay long here because it depends on readers’ preferences but it seemed fake to me. I just can’t accept that someone can fall for someone without knowing the person. At all. I mean they just looked at each other and then boom! I surely can accept that there was a mutual attraction but not love! Come on!
Furthermore, I strongly disapprove the fact that Nora’s body was constantly compared to her best friend’s, Vee. While I was reading I had the impression that the story was shouting to me:
– Look how you have to be in order to be loved.
Everyone is unique. Everyone has a unique beauty. There’s a need to be yourself and not a copy of someone else.
Young girls are already bombarded by the media with a “perfect” image so please let the books provide them with the right messages.
Finally, Nora’s brother Tom described his date as “Big Boobs Casey”.
What? No. Just. NO.
Please erase all those misogynistic ideas. It is not a story about the appearance. It is a story about life and death. It is a story of letting things go. It is about people who are in darkness; nonetheless there is light inside them.
I would recommend the book provided that, the publishers and the author will take under consideration all the remarks on the flaws that the reviewers made, and improve them in the final version of the book.
June 16, 2018
Full Review on my blog
*a copy was provided by NetGalley*
The description drew me in immediately. The premise made it sound like an interesting read, and the book definitely held up to that. I found that the story very engaging and I couldn't put it down! I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this one. A fun quick read!
It's well-written and has very interesting characters, I loved author's writing style; unique and a little quirky. Nora's story is quite tragic but at the same time it is also full of hope. Although, she loses her boyfriend, whom she loves immensely, however she also gains the ability to see, as well as, talk to the dead. And the dead never rests, unfortunately. At first she thinks she is going crazy. With little help she soon realizes that things are exactly as they seem to be and there is nothing wrong with her brain.
Overall this book was amazing!! If you like YA Paranormal, and are looking for fun, easy read, you will probably enjoy this book. I highly recommend it!
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*a copy was provided by NetGalley*
The description drew me in immediately. The premise made it sound like an interesting read, and the book definitely held up to that. I found that the story very engaging and I couldn't put it down! I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this one. A fun quick read!
It's well-written and has very interesting characters, I loved author's writing style; unique and a little quirky. Nora's story is quite tragic but at the same time it is also full of hope. Although, she loses her boyfriend, whom she loves immensely, however she also gains the ability to see, as well as, talk to the dead. And the dead never rests, unfortunately. At first she thinks she is going crazy. With little help she soon realizes that things are exactly as they seem to be and there is nothing wrong with her brain.
Overall this book was amazing!! If you like YA Paranormal, and are looking for fun, easy read, you will probably enjoy this book. I highly recommend it!
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March 15, 2018
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
*****
Paramnesia (par·am·ne·sia): A disorder of the memory or the faculty of recognition in which dreams may be confused with reality.
That was actually quite a fun read!It didn't blow my mind,but it didn't disappoint me either.
Paramnesia follows the story of a girl named Nora,a typical teenager going out to prom with her boyfriend Andrew.However,At the end of the night a monster,called the revenant, who sucks the souls out of people and feed on their energy (think of her as some kind of a dementor),appeared.
Unfortunately, Andrew couldn't make it and his soul got sucked.On the other hand,Nora managed to escape from the revenant but got a scar in the process which gives her the ability to see Andrew and mostly any other dead person around her.
After Nora digests the fact that she isnt crazy after all,She decides to collaborate with a group called the dead-ish society that consists of ghosts,obv lol,and plan to overthrow this monster called the revenant. So can they succeed? And what's really this so called Revenant? Thats what you're going to find out!!
The ending was AMAZING.I loved every part of it and it was really satisfying.The whole book was.The thing i really disliked is the romance and insta love between Andrew and Nora,it was just so fake.
The writing style was normal but it had some really good jokes and puns (The group is called the Dead-ish society ffs) which i appreciated.
In the end,i truly believe that when the second book is out, i will read it without hesitation.
Actual rating:3.5
*****
Paramnesia (par·am·ne·sia): A disorder of the memory or the faculty of recognition in which dreams may be confused with reality.
That was actually quite a fun read!It didn't blow my mind,but it didn't disappoint me either.
Paramnesia follows the story of a girl named Nora,a typical teenager going out to prom with her boyfriend Andrew.However,At the end of the night a monster,called the revenant, who sucks the souls out of people and feed on their energy (think of her as some kind of a dementor),appeared.
Unfortunately, Andrew couldn't make it and his soul got sucked.On the other hand,Nora managed to escape from the revenant but got a scar in the process which gives her the ability to see Andrew and mostly any other dead person around her.
After Nora digests the fact that she isnt crazy after all,She decides to collaborate with a group called the dead-ish society that consists of ghosts,obv lol,and plan to overthrow this monster called the revenant. So can they succeed? And what's really this so called Revenant? Thats what you're going to find out!!
The ending was AMAZING.I loved every part of it and it was really satisfying.The whole book was.The thing i really disliked is the romance and insta love between Andrew and Nora,it was just so fake.
The writing style was normal but it had some really good jokes and puns (The group is called the Dead-ish society ffs) which i appreciated.
In the end,i truly believe that when the second book is out, i will read it without hesitation.
Actual rating:3.5
dnf
July 12, 2018**UPDATED REVIEW 1/22/18**
dnf/lost interest @ 20 percent, but it's more my fault than the book's.
oh boy, I promise I tried really hard on this one. I have to admit, I went into my reread of this book with low expectations. I didn’t like it the first time I read it but, with problematic aspects changed, I decided to give it another go.
And I just think this book isn’t my kind of thing. I was excited when I first requested the arc copy of this, but even though that was four short months ago, my tastes have very dramatically changed in the past while. I think this will appeal to those who enjoy horror and the paranormal, but those kinds of books and movies no longer appeal to me.
Stuff that made me want to keep reading:
1. Thank the Lord above, literally everything that I had an issue with the first time around was fixed. I was ready to let this book burn, but the changes done allowed me to look past certain aspects and enjoy the story. Thanks to everyone involved who listened when reviewers got angry.
2. The romance, albeit cheesy and very insta-lovey, was actually kind of cute?? Maybe I just loved their date night ideas. Idk. But it wasn’t half-bad!
3. The characterizations of Nora and Vee are well-done, especially for a horror novel. Usually horror books focus a lot on the scariness aspect and, in doing so, let having three-dimensional characters fall by the wayside, but this had both strong lead characters and a creepy aspect.
4. There was a lot of fun humor in there too, when it wasn’t being too cheesy. Nora wanting to come up with something witty and flirty to say to her crush, but only playing carnival music in her head is so funny and relatable.
Stuff that made me eventually stop reading:
1. It was too scary for me. This is actually a good thing, though! It’s a horror story so it should be scary! And I know you’re probably thinking Well duh, why even request it if you knew it was going to frighten you , and my answer just all goes along with my tastes changing. Four months ago, I would have loved a book that incites terror in me, but I can’t really do scary books right now. But for those who don’t mind a little (or a lot) fright, it’s a creepy, gory, paranormal horror story that will make you shake and leave the lights on at night.
2. Okay, the romance was maybe a little too insta-lovey. I didn’t really get any characterization of Andrew, and the fact that they fell in love in the first ten percent of the book was a little annoying and cringe-y. I don’t know if the romance is a focus of the rest of the story (because,, like,, that plot twist though), but I was just kind of like let me breathe a little before having to deal with a fully fledged relationship. jfc they just met like fifteen pages ago
3. The gore was a little too much for me, too. Again, definitely not a problem with the book! gore just personally makes me feel icky and so I didn’t think it was best for me to keep reading. For readers that don’t mind it, though, it’ll still be a worthwhile read!
To conclude, I just want to state that even though this wasn’t a good pick for me, it might be a good pick for you. If the blurb interests you, I say go for it. It’s literally making me sleep with the lights on at night and now I’m scared of walking somewhere alone. This will work a lot better for fans of horror!
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Original Review 10/22/17 :
DNF at 10% simply because I just couldn't take it anymore. Goodness. I usually don't read supernatural but I picked this up because it has a five star rating and I now literally do not understand why.
I didn't find it very scary at all and the instalove was just way too much for me. That above quote is the first thing our male love interest says to the heroine (after heroine's best friend HITS HIM WITH HER CAR and he's just totally fine).
The dialogue was also really choppily written and unbelievable.
But mostly, what ticked me off was the way that this book treated women (especially the one character of color).
First off, didn't like that the entire female student body is pit against each other in order to win over this new guy. It felt like there were definitely some underlying misogynistic tones that said that, sure, girls can be best friends, but as soon as a hot guy shows up, all hell breaks loose and they all rescind back to their primal urges and become worst enemies. There was too much "seething.". It was absolutely ridiculous how Nora and the girls could switch from being best friends to "staring daggers" at each other or being "ready to kill the [other] girl" all over some cute guy who has literally just walked into the room?? Like what??? This never happens?? They don't even know if he's nice or not?? Also he literally just got hit by a car twenty minutes ago and it is never brought up again and I'm pretty sure he should go to the hospital?
Also, tokenism, and the sexualization of women poc. Nora's best friend, Vee (the ONLY poc in the novel), is described as having "long legs, perfect mocha caramel skin, silky brown hair primped and primed to perfection, [and] the incredible chest that Nora did not have, would not have, or would kill to have." Stop comparing poc's skin to food????? It's not okay. This is a thing that ONLY happens to poc, it's not like you see a white person described as having "skin the color of a snow cone" or some crap like that. It is honestly just so creepy to compare a poc's skin to food. There are literally so many other ways to describe brown than "perfect mocha caramel." an article that I like that talks about why authors need to refrain from doing this, can be found here.
There was another paragraph that didn't sit well with me, and it takes place in the homeroom of the high school Nora and Vee attend:
Not only that, but what I read of this book was FULL of boys objectifying and harassing women. Nora's brother calling a girl "Big Boobs Casey," (and sure, Nora calls him out on it briefly, but everyone laughs it off and just says that Nora doesn't like the nickname because she's "jealous" which is just,,, wrong?). All this objectification paired with the instant cattiness the girls feel towards each other over a hot guy just made this an uncomfortable read for me. And all of this content is literally only in the first ten percent of the novel. I could not physically bring myself to continue.
I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review. All my quotes are taken from an unfinished copy.
dnf/lost interest @ 20 percent, but it's more my fault than the book's.
oh boy, I promise I tried really hard on this one. I have to admit, I went into my reread of this book with low expectations. I didn’t like it the first time I read it but, with problematic aspects changed, I decided to give it another go.
And I just think this book isn’t my kind of thing. I was excited when I first requested the arc copy of this, but even though that was four short months ago, my tastes have very dramatically changed in the past while. I think this will appeal to those who enjoy horror and the paranormal, but those kinds of books and movies no longer appeal to me.
Stuff that made me want to keep reading:
1. Thank the Lord above, literally everything that I had an issue with the first time around was fixed. I was ready to let this book burn, but the changes done allowed me to look past certain aspects and enjoy the story. Thanks to everyone involved who listened when reviewers got angry.
2. The romance, albeit cheesy and very insta-lovey, was actually kind of cute?? Maybe I just loved their date night ideas. Idk. But it wasn’t half-bad!
3. The characterizations of Nora and Vee are well-done, especially for a horror novel. Usually horror books focus a lot on the scariness aspect and, in doing so, let having three-dimensional characters fall by the wayside, but this had both strong lead characters and a creepy aspect.
4. There was a lot of fun humor in there too, when it wasn’t being too cheesy. Nora wanting to come up with something witty and flirty to say to her crush, but only playing carnival music in her head is so funny and relatable.
Stuff that made me eventually stop reading:
1. It was too scary for me. This is actually a good thing, though! It’s a horror story so it should be scary! And I know you’re probably thinking Well duh, why even request it if you knew it was going to frighten you , and my answer just all goes along with my tastes changing. Four months ago, I would have loved a book that incites terror in me, but I can’t really do scary books right now. But for those who don’t mind a little (or a lot) fright, it’s a creepy, gory, paranormal horror story that will make you shake and leave the lights on at night.
2. Okay, the romance was maybe a little too insta-lovey. I didn’t really get any characterization of Andrew, and the fact that they fell in love in the first ten percent of the book was a little annoying and cringe-y. I don’t know if the romance is a focus of the rest of the story (because,, like,, that plot twist though), but I was just kind of like let me breathe a little before having to deal with a fully fledged relationship. jfc they just met like fifteen pages ago
3. The gore was a little too much for me, too. Again, definitely not a problem with the book! gore just personally makes me feel icky and so I didn’t think it was best for me to keep reading. For readers that don’t mind it, though, it’ll still be a worthwhile read!
To conclude, I just want to state that even though this wasn’t a good pick for me, it might be a good pick for you. If the blurb interests you, I say go for it. It’s literally making me sleep with the lights on at night and now I’m scared of walking somewhere alone. This will work a lot better for fans of horror!
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Original Review 10/22/17 :
DNF at 10% simply because I just couldn't take it anymore. Goodness. I usually don't read supernatural but I picked this up because it has a five star rating and I now literally do not understand why.
I didn't find it very scary at all and the instalove was just way too much for me. That above quote is the first thing our male love interest says to the heroine (after heroine's best friend HITS HIM WITH HER CAR and he's just totally fine).
The dialogue was also really choppily written and unbelievable.
But mostly, what ticked me off was the way that this book treated women (especially the one character of color).
First off, didn't like that the entire female student body is pit against each other in order to win over this new guy. It felt like there were definitely some underlying misogynistic tones that said that, sure, girls can be best friends, but as soon as a hot guy shows up, all hell breaks loose and they all rescind back to their primal urges and become worst enemies. There was too much "seething.". It was absolutely ridiculous how Nora and the girls could switch from being best friends to "staring daggers" at each other or being "ready to kill the [other] girl" all over some cute guy who has literally just walked into the room?? Like what??? This never happens?? They don't even know if he's nice or not?? Also he literally just got hit by a car twenty minutes ago and it is never brought up again and I'm pretty sure he should go to the hospital?
Also, tokenism, and the sexualization of women poc. Nora's best friend, Vee (the ONLY poc in the novel), is described as having "long legs, perfect mocha caramel skin, silky brown hair primped and primed to perfection, [and] the incredible chest that Nora did not have, would not have, or would kill to have." Stop comparing poc's skin to food????? It's not okay. This is a thing that ONLY happens to poc, it's not like you see a white person described as having "skin the color of a snow cone" or some crap like that. It is honestly just so creepy to compare a poc's skin to food. There are literally so many other ways to describe brown than "perfect mocha caramel." an article that I like that talks about why authors need to refrain from doing this, can be found here.
There was another paragraph that didn't sit well with me, and it takes place in the homeroom of the high school Nora and Vee attend:
"'You could definitely be a model,' said Abrar, one of the kids from their class. He was hot enough to get away with comments like that. Besides, Vee loved attention."Like????? what? the? frick? Why?? Let me lay it out for people that don't see what's so wrong with this: a) it implies that if guys are attractive it's okay for them to harass girls in class, and b) it implies that harassment like this is "attention" and that girls who like attention will like it when guys harass them.
Not only that, but what I read of this book was FULL of boys objectifying and harassing women. Nora's brother calling a girl "Big Boobs Casey," (and sure, Nora calls him out on it briefly, but everyone laughs it off and just says that Nora doesn't like the nickname because she's "jealous" which is just,,, wrong?). All this objectification paired with the instant cattiness the girls feel towards each other over a hot guy just made this an uncomfortable read for me. And all of this content is literally only in the first ten percent of the novel. I could not physically bring myself to continue.
I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review. All my quotes are taken from an unfinished copy.
September 6, 2018
I received a free eARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Blue Moon and DigiWriting. When the book was slated for re-writes, I agreed to read and review it a second time. It’s sort of exciting to be involved in the process, even in such a small way.
When Nora and her boyfriend, Andrew, are attacked by a monster on prom night, only Nora survives. The attack triggers episodes of what her psychiatrist calls paramnesia, a confusion of reality with a dream world. Except Nora’s dream world seems all too real. Suddenly, she can see ghosts everywhere, including Andrew’s. The creature that attacked them, a soul-eating monster called a Revenant stuck halfway between living and dead, is planning to finish what she started.
It was a struggle to get through this a second time. Part of the problem is that I think I’m well outside the target audience now, and that matters more in some YA books than it does in others. It matters here. The beginning is still rough, and the first several chapters are rushed and flimsy as Nora meets Andrew, they fall in love (immediately, it seems), and go to prom. I’m not much for romance in the first place, and theirs is too much sweet and not enough substance. The novel would have been fine skipping all of this and beginning with the car accident, since these events and the weak characterization involved don’t add a lot to the rest of the novel.
The writing leaves something to be desired, and it would do better with half the adjectives and a quarter of the moralizing. I don’t think even younger readers need the messages about appreciating life, friends, and family to be so spelled out for them. There’s also a tendency to tell rather than show, especially in the beginning, but this gets better as the novel goes on. Nora’s best friend, Vee, is a vast improvement on the second round, as she goes from a walking cliche to a decent friend with more intellect. I never found the Revanant frightening; she’s condescending and evil without motivation (that’s just what evil things do). Her chapters don’t usually bring anything necessary to the main plot, since the Others never really feature in Nora’s story.
Once Wilkinson actually gets into his plot, it’s a lot of fun though. There are a few too many ghost characters to keep track of, but for the most part, they’re funny, cute, and heart-warming. (I love Peepers and his search for his sweet Adelaide.) I was reminded a lot of The Frighteners; it has that sort of vibe to it, and the supernatural world-building is similar. While I was annoyed by Nora and Andrew’s insta-love, Wilkinson does a nice job leaving her feelings with another character open-ended. Neither of them are rushed into another relationship, and it felt a lot more realistic.
Overall, it seemed like this second copy was an attempt to make the novel more palatable for younger readers, and I think that’s an appropriate goal for the material. The comedy is high on toilet humor, teasing Nora about her snoring, and cheesy running in-jokes that weren’t funny the first time. The one sex scene is edited out, Vee becomes more of a role model, and if Wilkinson were to remove the swearing, it would probably work fine as a middle grade novel. While the story ends on a bit of an R.L. Stine-like twist, I probably won’t continue with the series.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
When Nora and her boyfriend, Andrew, are attacked by a monster on prom night, only Nora survives. The attack triggers episodes of what her psychiatrist calls paramnesia, a confusion of reality with a dream world. Except Nora’s dream world seems all too real. Suddenly, she can see ghosts everywhere, including Andrew’s. The creature that attacked them, a soul-eating monster called a Revenant stuck halfway between living and dead, is planning to finish what she started.
It was a struggle to get through this a second time. Part of the problem is that I think I’m well outside the target audience now, and that matters more in some YA books than it does in others. It matters here. The beginning is still rough, and the first several chapters are rushed and flimsy as Nora meets Andrew, they fall in love (immediately, it seems), and go to prom. I’m not much for romance in the first place, and theirs is too much sweet and not enough substance. The novel would have been fine skipping all of this and beginning with the car accident, since these events and the weak characterization involved don’t add a lot to the rest of the novel.
The writing leaves something to be desired, and it would do better with half the adjectives and a quarter of the moralizing. I don’t think even younger readers need the messages about appreciating life, friends, and family to be so spelled out for them. There’s also a tendency to tell rather than show, especially in the beginning, but this gets better as the novel goes on. Nora’s best friend, Vee, is a vast improvement on the second round, as she goes from a walking cliche to a decent friend with more intellect. I never found the Revanant frightening; she’s condescending and evil without motivation (that’s just what evil things do). Her chapters don’t usually bring anything necessary to the main plot, since the Others never really feature in Nora’s story.
Once Wilkinson actually gets into his plot, it’s a lot of fun though. There are a few too many ghost characters to keep track of, but for the most part, they’re funny, cute, and heart-warming. (I love Peepers and his search for his sweet Adelaide.) I was reminded a lot of The Frighteners; it has that sort of vibe to it, and the supernatural world-building is similar. While I was annoyed by Nora and Andrew’s insta-love, Wilkinson does a nice job leaving her feelings with another character open-ended. Neither of them are rushed into another relationship, and it felt a lot more realistic.
Overall, it seemed like this second copy was an attempt to make the novel more palatable for younger readers, and I think that’s an appropriate goal for the material. The comedy is high on toilet humor, teasing Nora about her snoring, and cheesy running in-jokes that weren’t funny the first time. The one sex scene is edited out, Vee becomes more of a role model, and if Wilkinson were to remove the swearing, it would probably work fine as a middle grade novel. While the story ends on a bit of an R.L. Stine-like twist, I probably won’t continue with the series.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
September 19, 2018
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Paramnesia told the story of Nora. Nora is in high school and is struggling to find her place because her best friend is just so beautiful.
Until said best friend, Vee, almost runs over Andrew. Andrew is new to town and oh so beautiful and he only has eyes for Nora.
They live the perfect high school romance until they get into a car "accident" and a Revenant eats Andrew's soul.
That's when Nora starts seeing ghosts. Everyone is persuaded she's crazy and she thinks she might be until she meets Charlie, who shares her gifts.
I didn't like Nora, I didn't like Andrew, I didn't really like Charlie and I hated Vee.
I guess they all felt one-dimensional to me and a bit clichéd too. I found Nora really stupid and annoying.
The plot didn't do much for me either... It was too much and not enough all at once.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style... I kind of hate when the points of view change inside a paragraph. It seems messy to me.
I had a lot trouble getting through this book... I can't remember the last time I sighed and rolled my eyes this much while reading...
The world was pretty interesting though, it was pretty well written.
Mostly, I think it just wasn't for me...
Paramnesia told the story of Nora. Nora is in high school and is struggling to find her place because her best friend is just so beautiful.
Until said best friend, Vee, almost runs over Andrew. Andrew is new to town and oh so beautiful and he only has eyes for Nora.
They live the perfect high school romance until they get into a car "accident" and a Revenant eats Andrew's soul.
That's when Nora starts seeing ghosts. Everyone is persuaded she's crazy and she thinks she might be until she meets Charlie, who shares her gifts.
I didn't like Nora, I didn't like Andrew, I didn't really like Charlie and I hated Vee.
I guess they all felt one-dimensional to me and a bit clichéd too. I found Nora really stupid and annoying.
The plot didn't do much for me either... It was too much and not enough all at once.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style... I kind of hate when the points of view change inside a paragraph. It seems messy to me.
I had a lot trouble getting through this book... I can't remember the last time I sighed and rolled my eyes this much while reading...
The world was pretty interesting though, it was pretty well written.
Mostly, I think it just wasn't for me...
October 19, 2017
Firstly definitions from dictionary.com; Paramnesia-a distortion of memory in which fact and fantasy are confused. Revenant-a person who returns after death as a ghost or spirit. Now the book starts out in a bad, scary situation. Nora is an everyday teen until the prom with her first love and they have a run in with a hungry revenant. Chaos ensues. From the encounter with the revenant, Nora starts seeing ghosts. What makes this story different is the main character tells anyone and everyone who will listen about the "creature" and the ghosts. This revenant doesn't quite follow the definition. Another thing I quite liked is that Nora isn't going from ghost to trying to help them "cross over" like most books, the ghosts actually band together to help the living. It's great book that puts a different twist on the paranormal. Likeable characters with a little surprise at the end. Great story worth all 5 stars!
September 2, 2018
Paramnesia was honestly such a pleasure to read! I am actually surprised by how much I liked it. At first I was a bit hesitant because I was worried this would tread “unreliable narrator” territory, which I am so over. But, I really ended up loving this book. And the more I thought about it while writing this review, I decided to bump it up from 3.5 to 4 stars. It was such a treat to read especially with Halloween fast approaching and I loved the characters so much.
Set in Guelph, Ontario, Paramnesia follows Nora and her boyfriend, Andrew. After being attacked on prom night by a supernatural creature, Nora gains the ability to see and speak to the dead. From here Nora faces the challenge of how to cope with survivor’s guilt while trying to acclimate to her new “abilities.” Oh, and that creature that attacked her is still trying to kill her.
I’ll admit, the insta-love was a bit much in the beginning, but it doesn’t totally dominate the book, and it was necessary to move the story forward. The love between Nora and Andrew sets the story in motion, and while it was a bit cheesy at times, I found it endearing. Also their quirky dynamic makes me laugh (and I am a 33-year old grouch. Ha!)
My favorite thing about this book was the Deadish Society. The Deadish Society is the group of ghosts that Nora befriends, and oh my gosh, they are so precious I will protect them at all costs. They are so silly, lovable, loyal, and… such smart asses! I honestly loved all the witty banter and humor throughout this entire book. It really set such a happy tone in a book with very serious subject matter about death and coping with loss.
As a lover of horror and paranormal legends, I also loved how Brian Wilkinson built this paranormal world. There are certain chapters dedicated to the Revenant’s backstory, which I appreciated and was glad this aspect of world building wasn’t just glossed over. While the Revenant isn’t my favorite villain, I still liked how this evil thing was woven into the mortal world.
And the story doesn’t just follow Nora’s journey with the undead, but also her relationships with the living. There are some heavy topics such as loss of a child, loss of a partner, learning when/how to move on, and acceptance of death. But there’s also so much hope and positivity as Nora discovers that she does not have to fight her battles alone.
I truly think this book is perfect for Halloween. It has several spooky elements while still being lighthearted and fun. I was laughing at so many parts and I fell in love with so many characters. I especially loved Peepers (be still my heart), Scarlett, and Rocco!
I didn’t realize this was going to have sequel until I got to the end, but I wasn’t even mad. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and I am looking forward to picking up the next installment!
Set in Guelph, Ontario, Paramnesia follows Nora and her boyfriend, Andrew. After being attacked on prom night by a supernatural creature, Nora gains the ability to see and speak to the dead. From here Nora faces the challenge of how to cope with survivor’s guilt while trying to acclimate to her new “abilities.” Oh, and that creature that attacked her is still trying to kill her.
I’ll admit, the insta-love was a bit much in the beginning, but it doesn’t totally dominate the book, and it was necessary to move the story forward. The love between Nora and Andrew sets the story in motion, and while it was a bit cheesy at times, I found it endearing. Also their quirky dynamic makes me laugh (and I am a 33-year old grouch. Ha!)
My favorite thing about this book was the Deadish Society. The Deadish Society is the group of ghosts that Nora befriends, and oh my gosh, they are so precious I will protect them at all costs. They are so silly, lovable, loyal, and… such smart asses! I honestly loved all the witty banter and humor throughout this entire book. It really set such a happy tone in a book with very serious subject matter about death and coping with loss.
As a lover of horror and paranormal legends, I also loved how Brian Wilkinson built this paranormal world. There are certain chapters dedicated to the Revenant’s backstory, which I appreciated and was glad this aspect of world building wasn’t just glossed over. While the Revenant isn’t my favorite villain, I still liked how this evil thing was woven into the mortal world.
And the story doesn’t just follow Nora’s journey with the undead, but also her relationships with the living. There are some heavy topics such as loss of a child, loss of a partner, learning when/how to move on, and acceptance of death. But there’s also so much hope and positivity as Nora discovers that she does not have to fight her battles alone.
I truly think this book is perfect for Halloween. It has several spooky elements while still being lighthearted and fun. I was laughing at so many parts and I fell in love with so many characters. I especially loved Peepers (be still my heart), Scarlett, and Rocco!
I didn’t realize this was going to have sequel until I got to the end, but I wasn’t even mad. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and I am looking forward to picking up the next installment!
November 10, 2017
I received an ARC copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While this book may appeal to some readers out there, particularly those who enjoy cheesy reads with insta-love stories, I am not one of those people. I know why it was important for this story set up, but I also think it could have been done better without the insta-love.
Ok, here’s the basics. Nora finally gets everything she ever wanted (a boyfriend apparently). Andrew is hot, charming, and they’re so in love. Tragedy strikes, they are attacked by something called a Revenant, Andrew dies and Nora is left “marked”. This mark has now given her the ability to see the dead (and shoot purple beams of light), thus allowing her to see Andrew (and many others too). Now, the Revenant is hunting her down because Nora has seen this monster and she has to die!. *cue dramatic drum roll*
I think my biggest irk was the mean girl's vibe that started this book off between Nora and her best “friend”. I can understand snarkiness to a point, but Vee (so-called bestie) was just a cruel mean girl and I can't really see how or why the two were friends at all. It's tiresome to always read about these girls being nothing but catty to each other.
Also, comparing a girls skin to food is overplayed and annoying. I do not find it endearing when my own skin tone is compared to similar foods. I'm sure there can be better descriptions used like "sun-kissed" or "warm and golden", something!
There were other discrepancies I found in the storyline itself. For example, the part about Andrew "falling" from the car accident yet the girls could "see" his sculpted body through his shirt...seriously. Aside from that, all they are able to focus on apparently is how hot he is...is that really what is thought of our female youth? Are they really that shallow?
I did enjoy the bits from the revenant perspective a bit more. But even in her side of the story, the writing gets muddled.
This book is predictable, and cliche, and has all the classic tropes of a YA. The writing is rather choppy, I found myself re-reading the same lines. The pacing is good but the story is boring and had me rolling my eyes A LOT. Overall, it's just not a book for me. The description is catchy and intriguing, but the story itself just fell flat.
While this book may appeal to some readers out there, particularly those who enjoy cheesy reads with insta-love stories, I am not one of those people. I know why it was important for this story set up, but I also think it could have been done better without the insta-love.
Ok, here’s the basics. Nora finally gets everything she ever wanted (a boyfriend apparently). Andrew is hot, charming, and they’re so in love. Tragedy strikes, they are attacked by something called a Revenant, Andrew dies and Nora is left “marked”. This mark has now given her the ability to see the dead (and shoot purple beams of light), thus allowing her to see Andrew (and many others too). Now, the Revenant is hunting her down because Nora has seen this monster and she has to die!. *cue dramatic drum roll*
I think my biggest irk was the mean girl's vibe that started this book off between Nora and her best “friend”. I can understand snarkiness to a point, but Vee (so-called bestie) was just a cruel mean girl and I can't really see how or why the two were friends at all. It's tiresome to always read about these girls being nothing but catty to each other.
Also, comparing a girls skin to food is overplayed and annoying. I do not find it endearing when my own skin tone is compared to similar foods. I'm sure there can be better descriptions used like "sun-kissed" or "warm and golden", something!
There were other discrepancies I found in the storyline itself. For example, the part about Andrew "falling" from the car accident yet the girls could "see" his sculpted body through his shirt...seriously. Aside from that, all they are able to focus on apparently is how hot he is...is that really what is thought of our female youth? Are they really that shallow?
I did enjoy the bits from the revenant perspective a bit more. But even in her side of the story, the writing gets muddled.
This book is predictable, and cliche, and has all the classic tropes of a YA. The writing is rather choppy, I found myself re-reading the same lines. The pacing is good but the story is boring and had me rolling my eyes A LOT. Overall, it's just not a book for me. The description is catchy and intriguing, but the story itself just fell flat.
August 31, 2018
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Nora and her boyfriend are attacked by a Revenant, a creature that sucks the souls out of the living to feed itself… Nora escapes and gains the ability to see the dead, which is a good thing… since Andrew didn’t. Now those around her assume she suffers from “paramnesia,” a disorder where one confuses dreams with reality. Except now she quickly finds herself in a battle with the Deadish Society for the souls of her city—and her mind.
The short review...
GAHHHHH! This book... Paramnesia is NOT a bad book. Brian Wilkinson is certainly creative. He gives us a great starting point with a supernatural creature that is horrifying and as we learn more about her we start to sympathize with our villain! Nora goes through a traumatic experience and even though I didn't love her I did sympathize and want her to get a grasp on what was happening to her. Once I came around to the idea that paramnesia was just the world labeling Nora's experience I enjoyed the idea that psychotherapy had an explanation for all that was happening. That was a part of the plot that can get thin in other stories where the mental health of the protagonist is questioned but works quite well here.
I quite enjoyed the ghosts! Even though Andrew started off feeling oddly like instalove, he was a character that I appreciated and thought could have been used better to add drama to the story. The Deadish Society I LOVED! I really enjoyed each one of Nora's core ghost squad: Peepers, Scarlett, Scraps, Rocco, Reno, Sarge, and Isabel. Scarlett and Scraps her dog were my favorite as the oldest ghosts around... and Scarlett a little girl ghost.
I adored Graves and Charlie too! Graves is this crazy old man who gives us all the explanations. While terribly convenient I did really love the character and his tragic story. Charlie was the slow burn romance that I shipped and I loved that he was an orphan and loved Graves like a grandpa! I also loved her best friend Vee and her brother Tom who played a bit part in the end but also provided Nora support through the book!
The plot, once we got past that beginning, was quite decent. I enjoyed the huge ghost battles and all the mini-villains that the revenant through at Nora. I enjoyed her ability and how she was able to fight off those attacking the Deadish Society and how everything fit together concerning Graves and revenants and interacting with ghosts! Like I said creative ideas. The execution had some problems... I did enjoy the latter half of the book and found it great fun for ghosts enthusiasts. It would make for a fun read around Halloween to get into the spirit of the holiday!
Cover & Title grade -> B-
I don't dislike this cover! It is way better than the cover I saw on the ARC which was quite deceptive. When I first picked up the book I thought it was a mental health story. That is what I was looking forward to... reading about paramnesia! The new cover gives you more of the right vibe... this is a little creepy, more urban fantasy and filled with ghosts. Plus it is more about what you can SEE!
As a Writer...
I will admit I vacillated about what to rate Paramnesia but when I broke it down I couldn't settle on a 3.5 or 4 star... for a number of reasons...
-The writing.
That beginning... Yeah I nearly DNFed it! It was awkward to read, a combo of telling and summarizing that made everything read like a massive info dump... except we weren't getting any info! Well just basic stuff anyway that didn't need to be so over written. This does taper off once we get into the story because dialogue makes an appearance and that IS pretty good!
-The world building.
What world building?! Okay I'm exaggerating slightly because there was one villain, a supernatural creature, and there were ghost characters. We were told there were other creatures but nothing else was said. There were threats of other revenants but none other made an appearance. Basically we had a boatload of ghosts lingering about, the ability Nora had to interact with them and one evil creature... Unfortunately its all rather THIN on world building. Wilkinson DOES do a credible job creating Nora's home life and friendships so I give him props for that.
-The dual POV.
I'm a HUGE advocate for multiple POV stories. Love them and keep them coming... Except it doesn't work here.
Now if you want to scrap crappy high schooler Nora and give me the revenant's story then I can see that working totally! The tight world building on the revenant makes sense (why would she care about other creatures?! Except for the ones that tortured her!) and we can cut the parts of the story that are poor (the beginning romance!) And we can massage everything we learned from Nora through the revenant, her memories and things she overhears spying on the "villains", i.e. Nora, Charlie, Graves and the ghosts! We can even include the awkward romance triangle that comes up in the end...
Don't want to do that?! Well then we've got to make this story much more creepy and scary and mysterious... we need to cut the revenant POV or at least only show brief glimpses, just enough to showcase her thoughts and drives without making her feel so human. Because the twists are terribly obvious and the end is rather anti-climatic.
-The pacing.
The plot wasn't too bad, as I said it was fun with all the battles... But the pacing stunk! That beginning really was a lodestone on the story. First we get a prologue that tells us too much and is duplicated later with Nora and Andrew! (Cut it!) Then a year passes as Nora and Andrew fall in love and work up to the moment when they seal the deal (i.e. they have sex). We waited all that time so that prom could come back around. While I didn't see them falling in love as instalove... it certainly READ like it because of how it was summarized. We know what love is and we didn't need to read a blow by blow.
THE FIX! First start with the revenant attacking our loving couple... Only they aren't so loving. They've had sex and it wasn't enough to save their relationship. They end up fighting and they can both tell that they will probably be breaking up even though secretly both do still have feelings for the other. Perhaps some drama strained their relationship... he's going off to college and doesn't want to go to her first choice. Realistic and possible in a totally mundane world. Then he's made a ghost... no longer is there the problem with which school to attend... he can stick by her side! Only he's dead... So we get a lot better relationship development... there's love there but there also has to be some letting go!
Start with creative initial ideas! But also continue to develop the story during the writing process by getting creative in the story moments... Don't just write the stereotypical scene but think how you can twist it a little differently! And for goodness sake save YOURSELF the grief by avoiding anything that looks or smells like instalove!!
Did you see what I did there?! Yes, each one of my criteria was compromised due to flaws in the story and Paramnesia couldn't sustain more than a three star. Now a three star book is not bad at all! It can be totally enjoyable and fun... but unfortunately Paramnesia had the potential to WOW readers... but the execution held it back to a campy and quick read instead. Perfect for Halloween to get into the mood for the holiday!!
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ World Building
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
December 24, 2017
3.5 Stars
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nora seems to have everything... that is until one night when a creature, called the Revenant, attacks her and her prom date. Then her world falls apart and Nora has to deal with loss, newfound abilities and a new type of fear. What do you do when you saw too much?
This book is reminiscent of the classic YA book. Some tropes are present that took a bit of the enjoyment from me:
- Main character is special
- A Love Triangle
- Main character isn't aware of how hot/beautiful she is
- Boy introduces girl to new world.
Other things I did not like:
- Vee's attitude and behavior. I don't know why anyone would have her as a friend
- The way mental illness or lack thereof is treated. I get it Nora, you're not mentally ill. Dont treat it like it's the worst thing in the world. Sometimes she really overreacted.
However, this book is good. It has twists and turns that I didn't see coming and the ending certainly makes me want to read the next book. And even though there is a love triangle, romance is not in the focus, which I like a lot. The humor is great. Really made me giggle sometimes.
I recommend this to someone who is new to YA Literature, certainly not to someone who has read a lot of YA books because they might not like it as much.
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nora seems to have everything... that is until one night when a creature, called the Revenant, attacks her and her prom date. Then her world falls apart and Nora has to deal with loss, newfound abilities and a new type of fear. What do you do when you saw too much?
This book is reminiscent of the classic YA book. Some tropes are present that took a bit of the enjoyment from me:
- Main character is special
- A Love Triangle
- Main character isn't aware of how hot/beautiful she is
- Boy introduces girl to new world.
Other things I did not like:
- Vee's attitude and behavior. I don't know why anyone would have her as a friend
- The way mental illness or lack thereof is treated. I get it Nora, you're not mentally ill. Dont treat it like it's the worst thing in the world. Sometimes she really overreacted.
However, this book is good. It has twists and turns that I didn't see coming and the ending certainly makes me want to read the next book. And even though there is a love triangle, romance is not in the focus, which I like a lot. The humor is great. Really made me giggle sometimes.
I recommend this to someone who is new to YA Literature, certainly not to someone who has read a lot of YA books because they might not like it as much.
May 19, 2018
Overall, this book had some great moments. The opening is crazy good; the relationship development between characters is solid; there’s a good balance of build up and action. For me, the ending felt a little too Hallmark movie for my taste. After all of the angst covered, it seemed a little unrealistic. I enjoyed the book, but am not sure that I’ll read book two.
November 4, 2018
After long long months, yes finally I finished reading this novel. I’m not saying that this novel is boring or what I’m into book slump and i lost my copy. Btw, thanks to netgalley for sending me a eARC copy, such a pleasure.
October 29, 2017
Paramnesia by Brian Wilkinson isn't like anything Ive read before. It's a morbid situation with a flare.
In a way it has some comedic take on a morbid situation. Nora Edwards finally has the life she always wanted, a life including her boyfriend Andrew. Until the night when they're attacked by The Revenant. A supernatural being that sucks the souls from the living. While Nora survived, Andrew fell victim to the Revenant.
When Nora thinks she's lost Andrew forever, she's quick to see that she's been given the sight, the sight to see the ghosts of those whose souls still linger on earth including Andrew. But Nora's battles have only just begun.
What I loved was in some cases the story turns comical and I loved that even in a mornis situation Wilkinson could make the story humorous, especially the array of ghostly characters with eccentric personalities.
Unfortunately the pacing played a big part to why I almost didn't finish it. Through the middle of the book I found the pacing to be quite slow towards the middle of book. But it did pick up towards the end of the book. So Im going with 🌟🌟🌟 If you love supernatural tales then this might be something you would enjoy.
In a way it has some comedic take on a morbid situation. Nora Edwards finally has the life she always wanted, a life including her boyfriend Andrew. Until the night when they're attacked by The Revenant. A supernatural being that sucks the souls from the living. While Nora survived, Andrew fell victim to the Revenant.
When Nora thinks she's lost Andrew forever, she's quick to see that she's been given the sight, the sight to see the ghosts of those whose souls still linger on earth including Andrew. But Nora's battles have only just begun.
What I loved was in some cases the story turns comical and I loved that even in a mornis situation Wilkinson could make the story humorous, especially the array of ghostly characters with eccentric personalities.
Unfortunately the pacing played a big part to why I almost didn't finish it. Through the middle of the book I found the pacing to be quite slow towards the middle of book. But it did pick up towards the end of the book. So Im going with 🌟🌟🌟 If you love supernatural tales then this might be something you would enjoy.
May 7, 2018
A special thank you goes out to Netgalley and Blue Moon publishers for allowing me to read this eARC early. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
3.5 stars!
This was quite an interesting book and I really did enjoy it, despite the 3 (three) star rating. It had its negatives but honestly, this was pretty entertaining read. I can't wait to read the next book! Hopefully the next book will have a beautiful cover to match this one. If I'm being honest, I requested this book purely for the cover.
One of the negatives about this book was the way it was written. It was written beautifully, almost poetic in a sense. But after a while, it got to be a bit much. It also affected the way the characters talked. The teenager conversations felt stilted and unrealistic at times. It took away from the plot and there were times where I wasn't completely sure what was really going on because the writing made me a little confused.
I loved Nora. Despite the writing, I could tell she acted like a teenager and I loved that. She was sassy and quick as a whip. I would have loved to be her friend even though she fell in love with a guy a little too quickly for my taste (and this is coming from someone that adores instalove). And speaking of friends, her and Veronica were serious friendship goals. Vee was a constant support to Nora and I loved that this book showed imprect friendships. There were times Nora snapped at Vee and vice versa but they always talked it out and apologized to each other. Let's get more of that, yeah?
The concept was very cool. I have never heard of a Revenant (or maybe I have. The episodes of Supernatural all start to run together after a while). This book wasn't info dumpy at all. Information was given when relevant and needed to progress the plot.
Speaking of Supernatural, the amount of references sprinkled in this book was wild and my nerd heart soared! From Supernatural to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it was a nerd's paradise of fantastic references. If that kind of stuff bothers you,then this book might not be for you, because there is a lot references. They also contributed to the plot, they weren't just there for the sake of being there.
Overall, this was a good start to what I'm sure will be a good series. I was sucked in purely by the cover and the title. Despite my average rating, I thought this book was pretty good. If the supernatural interests you, this book will be right up your alley.
3.5 stars!
This was quite an interesting book and I really did enjoy it, despite the 3 (three) star rating. It had its negatives but honestly, this was pretty entertaining read. I can't wait to read the next book! Hopefully the next book will have a beautiful cover to match this one. If I'm being honest, I requested this book purely for the cover.
One of the negatives about this book was the way it was written. It was written beautifully, almost poetic in a sense. But after a while, it got to be a bit much. It also affected the way the characters talked. The teenager conversations felt stilted and unrealistic at times. It took away from the plot and there were times where I wasn't completely sure what was really going on because the writing made me a little confused.
I loved Nora. Despite the writing, I could tell she acted like a teenager and I loved that. She was sassy and quick as a whip. I would have loved to be her friend even though she fell in love with a guy a little too quickly for my taste (and this is coming from someone that adores instalove). And speaking of friends, her and Veronica were serious friendship goals. Vee was a constant support to Nora and I loved that this book showed imprect friendships. There were times Nora snapped at Vee and vice versa but they always talked it out and apologized to each other. Let's get more of that, yeah?
The concept was very cool. I have never heard of a Revenant (or maybe I have. The episodes of Supernatural all start to run together after a while). This book wasn't info dumpy at all. Information was given when relevant and needed to progress the plot.
Speaking of Supernatural, the amount of references sprinkled in this book was wild and my nerd heart soared! From Supernatural to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it was a nerd's paradise of fantastic references. If that kind of stuff bothers you,then this book might not be for you, because there is a lot references. They also contributed to the plot, they weren't just there for the sake of being there.
Overall, this was a good start to what I'm sure will be a good series. I was sucked in purely by the cover and the title. Despite my average rating, I thought this book was pretty good. If the supernatural interests you, this book will be right up your alley.
May 28, 2018
Nora Edwards é uma jovem rapariga que esperava pelo dia em que encontraria a sua pessoa especial. Esta acabaria por ser Andrew, um jovem extrovertido, divertido e alegre. Desde cedo que ambos tinham uma relação especial e invejada por muitos dos amigos de ambos. No entanto, toda a felicidade não foi para além da noite da formatura. Ao regressarem a casa, Nora e Andrew são atacados por uma criatura sobrenatural - "Revenant"! Deste ataque, apenas Nora sobreviveu. Ou haverá mais para além disto?
Com o passar dos dias, Nora apercebe-se de que há algo que mudou desde aquela noite. Sonhos que parecem realidade e que Nora assegura o serem! Rapidamente é diagnosticada com uma condição designada de "Paramnesia", em que o indivíduo poderá confundir sonhos com a realidade. No entanto, Nora sabe que, na verdade, o que ela está a vivenciar não é um sonho, mas sim de facto a realidade. A jovem é capaz de ver Andrew mas sob a forma de uma "fumaça" tal como muitos outros indivíduos que já partiram que lhe pedem ajuda por múltiplas razões.
Para além disso, Nora também viu Revenant e, de forma a manter a sua identidade anónima, a criatura partirá à procura de Nora para acabar com ela. No entanto, essa perseguição poderá ser mais complicada do que inicialmente se pensou.
A história é leve e até curiosa em certos aspetos. No entanto, seria de esperar que o autor tivesse outra capacidade de definir alguns aspetos de forma diferente e não como se o livro fosse escrito por um adolescente. Algumas das expressões usadas acabaram por tirar alguma da fiabilidade da história e mesmo alguma da minha vontade em continuar a leitura. Por isso, classifiquei este livro com 3 estrelas.
Com o passar dos dias, Nora apercebe-se de que há algo que mudou desde aquela noite. Sonhos que parecem realidade e que Nora assegura o serem! Rapidamente é diagnosticada com uma condição designada de "Paramnesia", em que o indivíduo poderá confundir sonhos com a realidade. No entanto, Nora sabe que, na verdade, o que ela está a vivenciar não é um sonho, mas sim de facto a realidade. A jovem é capaz de ver Andrew mas sob a forma de uma "fumaça" tal como muitos outros indivíduos que já partiram que lhe pedem ajuda por múltiplas razões.
Para além disso, Nora também viu Revenant e, de forma a manter a sua identidade anónima, a criatura partirá à procura de Nora para acabar com ela. No entanto, essa perseguição poderá ser mais complicada do que inicialmente se pensou.
A história é leve e até curiosa em certos aspetos. No entanto, seria de esperar que o autor tivesse outra capacidade de definir alguns aspetos de forma diferente e não como se o livro fosse escrito por um adolescente. Algumas das expressões usadas acabaram por tirar alguma da fiabilidade da história e mesmo alguma da minha vontade em continuar a leitura. Por isso, classifiquei este livro com 3 estrelas.
February 14, 2018
*I was given an advanced ebook copy from Net galley in return for a honest review*
Paramnesia by Brian Wilkinson was an AMAZING read.
A little summary about this book is there is a girl Nora she is in high school, 18, and she has her best friend Vee and her life is perfect she meets Andrew her one true love but all of that starts crashing down when her and Andrew get in a car accident on prom night and Andrew get kills by a creature (The revenant) and Nora witnesses it all. She wakes up in a hospital and she starts to see dead people.
***I can not say anymore without giving away the whole book she lets just dive into this review
PROS:
*The revenant is a brilliant idea, the whole world of this creature that basically lives on human flesh and has to survive by eating blood or human is insane. Also the author mentions briefly other creatures like vampire, werewolves, etc (Maybe that is a hint of what could be in the next book, I am hoping it may be true??)
*The writing style of this book is also amazing. Sometimes authors who are not young adults tend to try and attempt to write as if they were a 17 or 18 year old and it fails terribly but not in this case. I felt that it was as if I were actually reading how a teenager would react and such. It was very believable.
*Nora and Andrew were the typical gushy romance couple which I just love. Nora is a strong character and quiet, her character drastically changes and becomes more stronger which makes my heart happy because she was my favorite character and at times I felt like she was going to give up when tasks became hard.
*The humor in this novel made me chuckle out loud at times for example
"Boys were so silly. Women did not need a man to solve their problems for them."
I find this amusing and quite true (not offending anyone of any gender) but it was a typical girl teenager would say just to despite a boy.
*The Deadish was also my favorite characters as well. All the ghosts had their own unique traits and I felt for them every step of the way, especially Peepers, He was my FAVORITE AND JUST SO ADORABLE! He was down right my favorite and he had a bittersweet moment that made me feel so touched and happy he found what he was looking for.
*Charlie was also another character you could not forget, I knew from the beginning he was the one who had the vision as well. Charlie is your typical guy that teases the girl and has that jerk reputation but is secretly a softy which are in fact my favorite types of guys in novels!!(The vision is a purple mark across where the revenant had struck them and it allowed them to see the Deadish people, the ghosts.) I was hoping him and Nora would become more than just friends but we will see in the next novel, won't spoil what happened in the end with them!
*Graves is another main character, he explains all about the vision and you can not have a story without a crazy old man, even though he is a little whacky he had the best intention in his heart which makes like him just a bit.
Cons:
*I felt that some parts were needed to be explained just a bit more because we barely know anything about the revenant. Readers only get bits and pieces.
Overall this book was amazing!! I would absolutely recommend this and I really hope this book becomes a hit because people will be missing out if they don't! a very quick read only because I was addicted and did not want to put it down. 5/5 stars! You gotta read it and you will know what I am talking about!
September 25, 2018
3 1/2 Stars
Paramnesia is the first book in the Deadish Chronicles by Brian Wilkinson. What first brought my attention to the book, unsurprisingly, was the beautiful cover. It’s so pretty – light pastel colors blending together to make an ethereal portrait of a girl. Wonderfully done.
The title of the series probably does a better job giving an idea of the subject than the title does. It’s about a girl who can see ghosts. To me it looked light a nice and fun light read to enjoy.
I was curious, so I looked up parmnesia to see if it was a real term. Fun fact: it is! It’s defined as “a condition of phenomenon involving distorted memory or confusions of fact and fantasy, such as confabulation or déjà vu.” (Thanks google dictionary!).
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Paramnesia is the first book in the Deadish Chronicles by Brian Wilkinson. What first brought my attention to the book, unsurprisingly, was the beautiful cover. It’s so pretty – light pastel colors blending together to make an ethereal portrait of a girl. Wonderfully done.
The title of the series probably does a better job giving an idea of the subject than the title does. It’s about a girl who can see ghosts. To me it looked light a nice and fun light read to enjoy.
I was curious, so I looked up parmnesia to see if it was a real term. Fun fact: it is! It’s defined as “a condition of phenomenon involving distorted memory or confusions of fact and fantasy, such as confabulation or déjà vu.” (Thanks google dictionary!).
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
February 7, 2018
Paramnesia provides a new and interesting twist on the urban fantasy genre, while introducing readers to a strong and fearless female protagonist, Nora, who discovers that she can see the dead after she and her boyfriend (who just happens to be one of the dead people she now sees...not a spoiler, it's in the description) get into a tussle with a Revenant.
I have to admit, at the beginning, I was having a hard time getting into the story. There were several pop culture references which were somewhat outdated. Example: Nora, refers to herself as a "...Buffy, not a Cordelia..." which for me, a 45 year old "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" nerd, totally got, but the target audience, may not. Most of the pop culture references arose during the first several chapters, and once the action got going, those dropped off and the storyline was more action-driven, rather than trying to character and setting-build.
So, Nora deals with her parents and BFF-Vee, who seems to be the best person on Earth, thinking she's loony, a dead-"ex"-bf (ex, because, well, he's dead) that she's still pining for, her new friends in the "Deadish society" and a Revenant (who is working for forces that are much more deadly than the Revenant itself) all while understanding her new normal. Once we get to that part, the characters are more relatable, the action quicker and more action-y, and I'll admit, I did shed some tears during a few places at the end--so it made me feel some feels. I was actually bummed when it came to an end, and if it wasn't for the choppy beginning, this would probably be a 4-star review.
Disclaimer: I received this from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I have to admit, at the beginning, I was having a hard time getting into the story. There were several pop culture references which were somewhat outdated. Example: Nora, refers to herself as a "...Buffy, not a Cordelia..." which for me, a 45 year old "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" nerd, totally got, but the target audience, may not. Most of the pop culture references arose during the first several chapters, and once the action got going, those dropped off and the storyline was more action-driven, rather than trying to character and setting-build.
So, Nora deals with her parents and BFF-Vee, who seems to be the best person on Earth, thinking she's loony, a dead-"ex"-bf (ex, because, well, he's dead) that she's still pining for, her new friends in the "Deadish society" and a Revenant (who is working for forces that are much more deadly than the Revenant itself) all while understanding her new normal. Once we get to that part, the characters are more relatable, the action quicker and more action-y, and I'll admit, I did shed some tears during a few places at the end--so it made me feel some feels. I was actually bummed when it came to an end, and if it wasn't for the choppy beginning, this would probably be a 4-star review.
Disclaimer: I received this from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
August 3, 2018
I'm struggling a lot with this book.
In some ways, it was pretty fun. The premise was interesting and could have gone in a great direction. And I liked quite a few of the characters.
But that's about as good as this book got for me.
Overall, this story is just fluffy, predictable, and kind of dull. I had a really difficult time getting into the story and at some point, I just made myself finish it. And even then, my thoughts were more along the lines of "Ugghhh...what did I just read?" instead of being satisfying and enjoyable.
The thing that made this difficult to read from the beginning was the love story. I have a hard time with YA love stories anyway, but this one was particularly nauseating. From a teenage perspective, it might make sense. Our young couple is completely in love and perfect together. Andrew calls Nora his "angel" and they're so beyond happy. Every date is huge and well-planned and perfect. Even their parents joke that they'll be getting married. And I think that's what bothered me. Sure - the kids can be really swept up in the romance, but the parents were on board? And what 16-year-old boy is setting up romantic dates every week? None I've ever known.
The twist ending was also so predictable that it kind of bugged me. It was played up as this huge reveal when it was pretty obvious where things were going to go.
Most of all, the story was just dull. Not that much happens and most of what happens seems avoidable and unnecessary. And most of the characters are uninteresting and I didn't care what happened to them.
I won't be reading more of this author's work, but perhaps a teenage Anna could have connected with it more.
In some ways, it was pretty fun. The premise was interesting and could have gone in a great direction. And I liked quite a few of the characters.
But that's about as good as this book got for me.
Overall, this story is just fluffy, predictable, and kind of dull. I had a really difficult time getting into the story and at some point, I just made myself finish it. And even then, my thoughts were more along the lines of "Ugghhh...what did I just read?" instead of being satisfying and enjoyable.
The thing that made this difficult to read from the beginning was the love story. I have a hard time with YA love stories anyway, but this one was particularly nauseating. From a teenage perspective, it might make sense. Our young couple is completely in love and perfect together. Andrew calls Nora his "angel" and they're so beyond happy. Every date is huge and well-planned and perfect. Even their parents joke that they'll be getting married. And I think that's what bothered me. Sure - the kids can be really swept up in the romance, but the parents were on board? And what 16-year-old boy is setting up romantic dates every week? None I've ever known.
The twist ending was also so predictable that it kind of bugged me. It was played up as this huge reveal when it was pretty obvious where things were going to go.
Most of all, the story was just dull. Not that much happens and most of what happens seems avoidable and unnecessary. And most of the characters are uninteresting and I didn't care what happened to them.
I won't be reading more of this author's work, but perhaps a teenage Anna could have connected with it more.
January 30, 2018
There was an enjoyable book. Many of the basics -- high school/teenage love; deaths on prom night; seeing/communicating with ghosts; a monster feeding on souls -- can be found in numerous other paranormal stories and/or mythology, but the author has put enough of a twist on the story, especially the paramnesia element, that the story does not feel stale or like a rehash of other paranormal novels. The story is engaging and keeps your attention; I read the book in a day. There is a mix of love, loss, hope, despair, mystery, drama, horror, and humor. The first fight scene among the ghosts is particularly funny, as is Nora's visit to the mall with some of the ghosts. There are no big surprises in the book; even the true identity of the revenant, which is not officially revealed until near the end of the story, is apparent to any reader who is paying attention. The epilogue foreshadows the next book in the series, which I look forward to reading.
A small complaint is that the revenant's disguise is as an EMT (which is revealed early in the book, so no spoiler here) and Charlie, one of the characters who also has the ability to see ghosts, is an orderly at the hospital were the EMT often brings patients, but somehow their paths have never crossed, which seems somewhat unrealistic considering who they are and what they do. However, this is a minor gripe in an overall enjoyable book that I would encourage people to check out.
I received a copy of the e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
A small complaint is that the revenant's disguise is as an EMT (which is revealed early in the book, so no spoiler here) and Charlie, one of the characters who also has the ability to see ghosts, is an orderly at the hospital were the EMT often brings patients, but somehow their paths have never crossed, which seems somewhat unrealistic considering who they are and what they do. However, this is a minor gripe in an overall enjoyable book that I would encourage people to check out.
I received a copy of the e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
June 17, 2019
I am happy to say that I really enjoyed this book - it was a fresh and unique outlook on a science fiction and fantasy outlook to the afterlife. A few variations have been done but this is definitely one of my favorites and in particular I liked the bad guy and the creative way they were portrayed and killed their victims. I must admit that I initially choose the booked based on it's cover and then the synopsis pulled me in, and am I ever glad as the story was so enjoyable and fun to read.
The story starts up fairly straightforward like a typical young adult book, it is about a pretty stereotypical girl who has a gorgeous best friend who all the guys make a fool of themselves over. However this normal girl meets a brand new transfer to her school who turns out to be her soulmate. Andrew is the perfect boyfriend, one who is supportive, playful, romantic, handsome and just super cool. And while the cliché is typical what happens next is not. Further their relationship dynamic will undergo a lot of twists and turns and development throughout the storyline. Seeing how fast their love develops initially raises concerns as to the rest of the story but the author has thought of it all - trust me the pace is perfect.
There are a lot of interesting characters that come up through the story line and some of the supporting characters under go a huge metamorphosis throughout the story. Very enjoyable read, and just the perfect length. Definitely recommended.
The story starts up fairly straightforward like a typical young adult book, it is about a pretty stereotypical girl who has a gorgeous best friend who all the guys make a fool of themselves over. However this normal girl meets a brand new transfer to her school who turns out to be her soulmate. Andrew is the perfect boyfriend, one who is supportive, playful, romantic, handsome and just super cool. And while the cliché is typical what happens next is not. Further their relationship dynamic will undergo a lot of twists and turns and development throughout the storyline. Seeing how fast their love develops initially raises concerns as to the rest of the story but the author has thought of it all - trust me the pace is perfect.
There are a lot of interesting characters that come up through the story line and some of the supporting characters under go a huge metamorphosis throughout the story. Very enjoyable read, and just the perfect length. Definitely recommended.
November 26, 2018
BLOG: The SecretReader
A beautiful haunting, yet fast-paced romance with ghosts and soul-eating beings. If the description I just wrote does not catch your attention, then I advise you to move along. It was a nice change to not just see the story from just the MC's point of view but the but the antagonistic character-creature as well. I was easily engrossed in the story because it was so interesting and thrilling especially when I got to the part with the soul-sucking creature named Revenant who I sort-a, kinda-of felt sympathetic for? I also very much enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story and the sarcasm that constantly dripped from Nora (the main character).
An issue I had with this book is the insta-love. I understand that the love part had to be moved out of the way for the real story to begin, but it would have been better if the love dialed back a little. Started off a little less fast.
Overall: I deem this book readable to all those who like a speedy romance, man-eating creatures and sarcastic girls with come back lock and loaded.
BLOG: The SecretReader
INSTGRAM: The SecretReader
A beautiful haunting, yet fast-paced romance with ghosts and soul-eating beings. If the description I just wrote does not catch your attention, then I advise you to move along. It was a nice change to not just see the story from just the MC's point of view but the but the antagonistic character-creature as well. I was easily engrossed in the story because it was so interesting and thrilling especially when I got to the part with the soul-sucking creature named Revenant who I sort-a, kinda-of felt sympathetic for? I also very much enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story and the sarcasm that constantly dripped from Nora (the main character).
An issue I had with this book is the insta-love. I understand that the love part had to be moved out of the way for the real story to begin, but it would have been better if the love dialed back a little. Started off a little less fast.
Overall: I deem this book readable to all those who like a speedy romance, man-eating creatures and sarcastic girls with come back lock and loaded.
BLOG: The SecretReader
INSTGRAM: The SecretReader
February 11, 2018
I got this ARC in exchange of an honest review via netgalley couple of months ago. It took me a while to even start it as I took a long time to finish my last book.
"You should take this energy and live life to the fullest while revelling in the joy of what was and what will be. Then, when it's your turn, pass it on to the next person. You may not be able to see them, but you feel them in your heart always where it matters the most."
This is a story about letting go.. About forgiveness. About love and patience. I liked the massages this book tried to give. I even fell in love with some characters (specially graves and peppers 😘)
There are some places that I felt like was really unnecessary and utterly slow. I had to drag though them or had to skip some lines to be able to finish it. And i expected more fom vee's character. And i kind of guessed the big twist by 22sh chapter..
Apart from that I really liked the ending. And I loved the cover (half the reason why I chose it initially 😋) But truthfully, the plot had so much potential that I am feeling like the story is lacking something. It was an ok-ish read for me, but it could easily be a very good read.
So.. my rating for this one is 3/5 stars.
"You should take this energy and live life to the fullest while revelling in the joy of what was and what will be. Then, when it's your turn, pass it on to the next person. You may not be able to see them, but you feel them in your heart always where it matters the most."
This is a story about letting go.. About forgiveness. About love and patience. I liked the massages this book tried to give. I even fell in love with some characters (specially graves and peppers 😘)
There are some places that I felt like was really unnecessary and utterly slow. I had to drag though them or had to skip some lines to be able to finish it. And i expected more fom vee's character. And i kind of guessed the big twist by 22sh chapter..
Apart from that I really liked the ending. And I loved the cover (half the reason why I chose it initially 😋) But truthfully, the plot had so much potential that I am feeling like the story is lacking something. It was an ok-ish read for me, but it could easily be a very good read.
So.. my rating for this one is 3/5 stars.
March 9, 2018
When I first found this book, the description drew me in immediately. The premise made it sound like an interesting read, and the book definitely held up to that.
While it hasn't been my favorite book of the year, and there were a few things that I didn't like, overall it was a quick read that I really found enjoyable and overall I give it a solid 3.5 star rating.
Nora is a girl who loves her family, her friends, and her boyfriend. She has a pretty great life, until prom night, when her boyfriend is killed by a soul-sucking demon called the Revenant. Unfortunate. Even more unfortunate for Nora, she was with him when it happened, and now the Revenant is after her. Touched by the Revenant's evil, Nora is given the ability to see spirits who have not passed on. To her and everyone around her, she seems crazy, and is sent to a psychiatrist to figure out what is wrong. But after meeting an orderly, Charlie, who also has the gift, Nora realizes that she is not crazy and that other things, worse than lonely ghosts are after her. To save herself, Nora must find her strength and rely on her new friends, or her soul will become part of the Revenant's evil forever.
**SPOILERS**
What I Liked:
- Interesting concept and storyline
- Supernatural elements incorporated were unique (Revenant vs. other more common beings)
- Strong characters that pulled me in (I especially loved Peepers and Vee)
- Solid pacing and no story 'lag'
What I Didn't Like:
- Some pieces of the story didn't seem to fit together very well. (Nora's dream at the beginning doesn't tie in realistically. I'm STILL trying to figure out how she had a 'prophetic'-type dream about Isabel when she never ended up recognizing she was the girl from her dream.)
- Andrew's Character arc (starts off great, ends up pretty meh)
- The ending wasn't as strong as I would have liked.
Overall:
If you like YA Paranormal, and are looking for fun, easy read, you will probably enjoy this book. If you are super picky about everything tying up neatly, this probably isn't the book for you as some things just didn't wrap up together completely, which I think was my biggest issue. Otherwise, I thought the writing was good, and the idea original, and I think it was a good start to the series.
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
While it hasn't been my favorite book of the year, and there were a few things that I didn't like, overall it was a quick read that I really found enjoyable and overall I give it a solid 3.5 star rating.
Nora is a girl who loves her family, her friends, and her boyfriend. She has a pretty great life, until prom night, when her boyfriend is killed by a soul-sucking demon called the Revenant. Unfortunate. Even more unfortunate for Nora, she was with him when it happened, and now the Revenant is after her. Touched by the Revenant's evil, Nora is given the ability to see spirits who have not passed on. To her and everyone around her, she seems crazy, and is sent to a psychiatrist to figure out what is wrong. But after meeting an orderly, Charlie, who also has the gift, Nora realizes that she is not crazy and that other things, worse than lonely ghosts are after her. To save herself, Nora must find her strength and rely on her new friends, or her soul will become part of the Revenant's evil forever.
**SPOILERS**
What I Liked:
- Interesting concept and storyline
- Supernatural elements incorporated were unique (Revenant vs. other more common beings)
- Strong characters that pulled me in (I especially loved Peepers and Vee)
- Solid pacing and no story 'lag'
What I Didn't Like:
- Some pieces of the story didn't seem to fit together very well. (Nora's dream at the beginning doesn't tie in realistically. I'm STILL trying to figure out how she had a 'prophetic'-type dream about Isabel when she never ended up recognizing she was the girl from her dream.)
- Andrew's Character arc (starts off great, ends up pretty meh)
- The ending wasn't as strong as I would have liked.
Overall:
If you like YA Paranormal, and are looking for fun, easy read, you will probably enjoy this book. If you are super picky about everything tying up neatly, this probably isn't the book for you as some things just didn't wrap up together completely, which I think was my biggest issue. Otherwise, I thought the writing was good, and the idea original, and I think it was a good start to the series.
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 29, 2018
*Received an ARC from the Publisher via Netgalley**
While other readers might seem to enjoy this book, and honestly, I would really love to like this book too, but there are just a lot of downfall from this book that I’m torn between finishing it or not.
First,I hate the instant love between Andrew and Nora. And to make it worst, Andrew died after a few chapters. Yeah, I could say that am more of a person who wants the characters to develop their feelings in a more slow but full of romantic excitement. This one just got me feeling “meh” after Nora and Andrew decided to be a thing.
Second.The Writing Style. I think I don’t have to narrate why. But there are moments when the narration of the story just feels dull and lifeless. It felt like everything should be explained, just for the reader to follow the author’s way of thinking about the story.
Third.I. The Characters. Sorry to say, but the characters doesn’t give any huge impact on me. I felt so disconnected to its character I don’t want to know anything about them and just finish the book just to get over with it.
Overall, this book has an interesting concept. The execution and the flow of the story just did not meet the teaser it gave to its readers.
While other readers might seem to enjoy this book, and honestly, I would really love to like this book too, but there are just a lot of downfall from this book that I’m torn between finishing it or not.
First,I hate the instant love between Andrew and Nora. And to make it worst, Andrew died after a few chapters. Yeah, I could say that am more of a person who wants the characters to develop their feelings in a more slow but full of romantic excitement. This one just got me feeling “meh” after Nora and Andrew decided to be a thing.
Second.The Writing Style. I think I don’t have to narrate why. But there are moments when the narration of the story just feels dull and lifeless. It felt like everything should be explained, just for the reader to follow the author’s way of thinking about the story.
Third.I. The Characters. Sorry to say, but the characters doesn’t give any huge impact on me. I felt so disconnected to its character I don’t want to know anything about them and just finish the book just to get over with it.
Overall, this book has an interesting concept. The execution and the flow of the story just did not meet the teaser it gave to its readers.
March 23, 2018
This is an epic read which I enjoyed thoroughly. It's well-written and has very interesting characters, I loved author's writing style; unique and a little quirky. It's a must read for YA paranormal fans.
Nora's story is quite tragic but at the same time it is also full of hope. Although, she loses her boyfriend, whom she loves immensely, however she also gains the ability to see, as well as, talk to the dead. And the dead never rests, unfortunately. At first she thinks she is going crazy. With little help she soon realizes that things are exactly as they seem to be and there is nothing wrong with her brain. Now the question is how she will deal with her knowledge of supernatural world, it not only exists but also poses a threat to her world.
I think this book is just perfect! The name and cover attracted me at first and I'm glad that I read it, because as far as I'm concerned this one is worth reading. It has sad moments and moments that will make you laugh-out-loud, not to mention few incredibly romantic moments that will keep you entertained.
P.S. I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley.
Nora's story is quite tragic but at the same time it is also full of hope. Although, she loses her boyfriend, whom she loves immensely, however she also gains the ability to see, as well as, talk to the dead. And the dead never rests, unfortunately. At first she thinks she is going crazy. With little help she soon realizes that things are exactly as they seem to be and there is nothing wrong with her brain. Now the question is how she will deal with her knowledge of supernatural world, it not only exists but also poses a threat to her world.
I think this book is just perfect! The name and cover attracted me at first and I'm glad that I read it, because as far as I'm concerned this one is worth reading. It has sad moments and moments that will make you laugh-out-loud, not to mention few incredibly romantic moments that will keep you entertained.
P.S. I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley.
October 1, 2018
I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I would actually have given this book a 3.5 stars if I were able but I just rounded it up to 4.
This book had an interesting premise and once i was able to suspend my belief for awhile, I was able to settle into it. I liked the pace of the book, the author seemed to get right to the point most of the time and I didn't feel like it dragged out so much.
I really liked Nora's character and the different social dynamics. I was curious to see how her and Andrew's relationship was going to change with him being dead (it was a bit too cheesy to begin with), and after finishing the book, I'm totally committed now to finding out what happens next. What other adventures are in store for Nora and the Deadish?
I was really surprised when the author decided to make this book take place in Guelph of all places. I grew up 20 minutes away from Guelph and I know the town very well. It made it easier to get into the book because I knew where most of the events were taking place.
This was entertaining and funny. and I will definitely be keeping tabs on Nora and the gang. Can't wait for the 2nd one.
I would actually have given this book a 3.5 stars if I were able but I just rounded it up to 4.
This book had an interesting premise and once i was able to suspend my belief for awhile, I was able to settle into it. I liked the pace of the book, the author seemed to get right to the point most of the time and I didn't feel like it dragged out so much.
I really liked Nora's character and the different social dynamics. I was curious to see how her and Andrew's relationship was going to change with him being dead (it was a bit too cheesy to begin with), and after finishing the book, I'm totally committed now to finding out what happens next. What other adventures are in store for Nora and the Deadish?
I was really surprised when the author decided to make this book take place in Guelph of all places. I grew up 20 minutes away from Guelph and I know the town very well. It made it easier to get into the book because I knew where most of the events were taking place.
This was entertaining and funny. and I will definitely be keeping tabs on Nora and the gang. Can't wait for the 2nd one.
April 18, 2019
The cover isn't quite pulling you to pick up the book and read but it surely speaks a lot on its own. It's one of these paranormal plus romance stories which a unique concept or ghosts and its energy stuff. Surely, It's quite predictable story which won't bother you much as you'll enjoy as you read. The book has its sweet and funny moments of romance in middle where there's fun between characters.
It was a fun reading something new in the concept of ghosts and paranormal but I felt somewhere the new concept was half baked. I wish there was more details on the villian and how the souls and ghosts worked. This might be a spoiler of sorts but I somehow thought it was conceptually quite relatable with the Bleach anime, where there's a whole soul society concept and afterlife. I thought it would explore the details in paranormal but it felt restricted on the romance and adventure part.
If you are looking for something new and unique in terms of paranormal romance with the female lead then this might be the one you might be looking for.
It was a fun reading something new in the concept of ghosts and paranormal but I felt somewhere the new concept was half baked. I wish there was more details on the villian and how the souls and ghosts worked. This might be a spoiler of sorts but I somehow thought it was conceptually quite relatable with the Bleach anime, where there's a whole soul society concept and afterlife. I thought it would explore the details in paranormal but it felt restricted on the romance and adventure part.
If you are looking for something new and unique in terms of paranormal romance with the female lead then this might be the one you might be looking for.
July 6, 2018
Very mixed feelings about this book. There were parts that amazed me, but there were also parts that fell short. How Andrew reacted after being hit by a car didn't work for me - there's no way you'd be that okay about it. Then the fact he was so obsessed with Nora the second he met her was bordering creepy. They started dating and fell for each other way too fast and I wish he wouldn't say 'Nora Angel' so often. It's okay hearing it a few times, but not every single time he says her name. Then considering how much they made out to like each other, their eyes seemed to stray a bit too quickly - I would have maybe waited for book two for that. BUT I loved the idea of the story, a lot of great characters. I do have a very big soft spot for Peepers and the moment where Andrew gifted him with something (don't want to spoil it) was so beautiful. Will I read the rest of the series? Probably. I guess my annoyances were more towards the beginning of the book, so don't see why not!
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