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Other #1
Other
Shapeshifting can be a beautiful and deadly secret. Gwen craves the forbidden rush of leaping from her bedroom window and transforming into an owl, but she could lose it all if anyone caught her. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others. In the small town of Klikamuks, Washington, coming out as a person with paranormal abilities means staring down the barrel of a shotgun. Gwen hasn’t even told the truth to her boyfriend, Zack, who she hopes will be the boy to take her virginity.
When a pack of werewolves claims the national forest behind Gwen’s house as their territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate—into murder. Prejudice slows the police investigation. It doesn’t take Gwen long to realize a serial killer is targeting Others. On the hunt for clues, she meets Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her shapeshifting. Can she find the killer before he finds her, or will her secrets be the death of her?
When a pack of werewolves claims the national forest behind Gwen’s house as their territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate—into murder. Prejudice slows the police investigation. It doesn’t take Gwen long to realize a serial killer is targeting Others. On the hunt for clues, she meets Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her shapeshifting. Can she find the killer before he finds her, or will her secrets be the death of her?
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2010
617 people are currently reading
12118 people want to read
About the author
Karen Kincy
24 books732 followersKaren Kincy writes books when she isn’t writing code. She has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College, and an MS in Computational Linguistics from the University of Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
August 31, 2010
The setting was very interesting - the intertwinement of faeries and werewolves and all sort of supernatural creatures living in a modern world where people know about them but generally treat them as inferior to them. It allows for some interesting exploration of themes of racism, intolerance and stereotyping. (Though the protagonists tend to indulge in such behavior as much as the seeming villians.) But it was different and I thought it could have really taken the story in a great direction.
What I got was angsty whining over Gwen's relationship with Zach. And their entire relationship was based on what exactly? Clearly not honesty and any sort of lasting affection or understanding since after Gwen sleeps with Zach and tells him she is half-pooka he dumps her like a hot coal. Ick. Gwen was sort of a moron with that whole situation. Sure, she is "feisty" and "rebellious" and "independent." What that meant was she was willfully stupid and kept running off into danger before ever using a whit of common sense. She was totally prejudiced against the werewolves and vampires, seeing them all as inferior to her since they were "bloodborn" and assuming they were all killers and criminals. And then complains about how everybody is so biased against paranormals. Like she has any right to be affronted when she treats those she considers somehow less than her the same way she dislikes being treated. And she is so determined that a werewolf is the serial killer even when it becomes increasingly clear he isn't. And who is? The rabid, fanatical, bigoted Christians of the story. Of. Course. What other motive is there than righteously exterminating these misbegotten creatures and freeing their souls from damnation. Spare me. The next book that uses Christians (and also refuses to show one decent Christian through out) is only going to confirm the a) lack of creativity and b) lack of tolerance that exists. It is bad if anyone else is treated so, but the Christians? Never a good word to say about that lot.
Tavian was all right, though a bit bland and he and Gwen fell "inlust love" way too quickly. The prose was direct and very dry.
So, premise and setting were liked. The cover fits the story very well - gets hair and eye colour correct, the wood setting very accurate and reflective of many of the scenes in the book. I like how what I had thought was the shoulder of a dress is actually feathers showing a shifting into a bird.
But the characters, content, and style were not to my liking.
What I got was angsty whining over Gwen's relationship with Zach. And their entire relationship was based on what exactly? Clearly not honesty and any sort of lasting affection or understanding since after Gwen sleeps with Zach and tells him she is half-pooka he dumps her like a hot coal. Ick. Gwen was sort of a moron with that whole situation. Sure, she is "feisty" and "rebellious" and "independent." What that meant was she was willfully stupid and kept running off into danger before ever using a whit of common sense. She was totally prejudiced against the werewolves and vampires, seeing them all as inferior to her since they were "bloodborn" and assuming they were all killers and criminals. And then complains about how everybody is so biased against paranormals. Like she has any right to be affronted when she treats those she considers somehow less than her the same way she dislikes being treated. And she is so determined that a werewolf is the serial killer even when it becomes increasingly clear he isn't. And who is? The rabid, fanatical, bigoted Christians of the story. Of. Course. What other motive is there than righteously exterminating these misbegotten creatures and freeing their souls from damnation. Spare me. The next book that uses Christians (and also refuses to show one decent Christian through out) is only going to confirm the a) lack of creativity and b) lack of tolerance that exists. It is bad if anyone else is treated so, but the Christians? Never a good word to say about that lot.
Tavian was all right, though a bit bland and he and Gwen fell "in
So, premise and setting were liked. The cover fits the story very well - gets hair and eye colour correct, the wood setting very accurate and reflective of many of the scenes in the book. I like how what I had thought was the shoulder of a dress is actually feathers showing a shifting into a bird.
But the characters, content, and style were not to my liking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2010
I was really looking forward to reading Other, and altogether, I wasn’t disappointed. The book does have some minor flaws, and it took me a few pages to get used to the very direct writing style, but I enjoyed it.
Gwen is Other, half pooka, half human, and in her small home town, this means she has to hide her true identity. Although Others are out in the open, it doesn’t mean they are accepted. Gwen struggles a lot with her situation, sometimes unable to resist her urge to shapeshift, but always in fear that she will be discovered.
Except from her family and her best friend Chloe, a dryad, nobody knows Gwen is half pooka, not even her boyfriend Zack, with who she has been together for a year.
But when a werewolf pack moves into the area and a serial killer begins to hunt Others, Gwen and those close to her are in terrible danger … and Gwen isn’t sure if she can keep her secret any longer.
This book is full of all kinds of mythical creatures, not only your average werewolves and vampires, but also dryads, water sprites, centaurs, Japanese fox spirits and many more. Gwen herself is half pooka, which means she can shapeshift into any animal form possible.
I found Kincy’s idea that Others live more or less openly in human society, but that they have to face prejudices like many minorities still do in our society quite unique, and I really liked reading about all the different kinds of mythical creatures there were (hilarious: the encounter with the centaur at the local supermarket).
Gwen is a flawed character but nevertheless, I found her likeable and she definitely shows some growth throughout the novel. It’s not easy for her to keep her true nature hidden, especially from her boyfriend. Sometimes she wishes desperately to be ‘normal’, like the rest of her family. She despises society for the prejudices it has against Others, but at the same time she herself views ‘bloodborn’ Others (those who have been bitten and turned Other after that, especially vampires and werewolves) as inferior and believes them to be driven only by their lust for blood and violence.
What annoyed me: Concerning the murder investigation, some of Gwen’s decisions were rather dumb in my opinion. I mean, if you know that there is a serial killer hunting your kind, you normally don’t spend that much time in a) the woods where you discovered a corpse only days ago or b) in a secluded area of a park where you know the murderer has killed before.
The romance plot of this novel was refreshing as well. Gwen already has a boyfriend, Zack, but due to the fact that she can’t tell him who she really is, she always feels like she has to hold back. When he betrays her in the worst possible way, she finds a friend in Tavian, a Japanese guy working at the local bookstore, who is Other like herself. Together, they try to find out who is stalking and killing Others in their small Washington town.
A lot of people said in their reviews that Tavian was their favourite character in the book, but I thought he remained a little bit flat. I couldn't really feel the chemistry between him and Gwen.
As I’ve read The Body Finder only recently, I can’t help but compare the plot surrounding the serial killer to it. I think it was better executed in Other. It was more suspenseful, there were actually a few suspects that also played a role in the novel altogether and I myself as a reader could make assumptions who could be the murderer. Although the revelation at the end wasn’t too unexpected, it still had a little surprising twist to it.
So all in all, a quite unique take on paranormal YA fiction without the usual romance plot that includes a mysterious, brooding yet incredibly handsome guy.
Three stars from me and I’ll keep an eye out for the next Other novel, which is supposed to take part in the same world, but with a different cast of characters.
Gwen is Other, half pooka, half human, and in her small home town, this means she has to hide her true identity. Although Others are out in the open, it doesn’t mean they are accepted. Gwen struggles a lot with her situation, sometimes unable to resist her urge to shapeshift, but always in fear that she will be discovered.
Except from her family and her best friend Chloe, a dryad, nobody knows Gwen is half pooka, not even her boyfriend Zack, with who she has been together for a year.
But when a werewolf pack moves into the area and a serial killer begins to hunt Others, Gwen and those close to her are in terrible danger … and Gwen isn’t sure if she can keep her secret any longer.
This book is full of all kinds of mythical creatures, not only your average werewolves and vampires, but also dryads, water sprites, centaurs, Japanese fox spirits and many more. Gwen herself is half pooka, which means she can shapeshift into any animal form possible.
I found Kincy’s idea that Others live more or less openly in human society, but that they have to face prejudices like many minorities still do in our society quite unique, and I really liked reading about all the different kinds of mythical creatures there were (hilarious: the encounter with the centaur at the local supermarket).
Gwen is a flawed character but nevertheless, I found her likeable and she definitely shows some growth throughout the novel. It’s not easy for her to keep her true nature hidden, especially from her boyfriend. Sometimes she wishes desperately to be ‘normal’, like the rest of her family. She despises society for the prejudices it has against Others, but at the same time she herself views ‘bloodborn’ Others (those who have been bitten and turned Other after that, especially vampires and werewolves) as inferior and believes them to be driven only by their lust for blood and violence.
What annoyed me: Concerning the murder investigation, some of Gwen’s decisions were rather dumb in my opinion. I mean, if you know that there is a serial killer hunting your kind, you normally don’t spend that much time in a) the woods where you discovered a corpse only days ago or b) in a secluded area of a park where you know the murderer has killed before.
The romance plot of this novel was refreshing as well. Gwen already has a boyfriend, Zack, but due to the fact that she can’t tell him who she really is, she always feels like she has to hold back. When he betrays her in the worst possible way, she finds a friend in Tavian, a Japanese guy working at the local bookstore, who is Other like herself. Together, they try to find out who is stalking and killing Others in their small Washington town.
A lot of people said in their reviews that Tavian was their favourite character in the book, but I thought he remained a little bit flat. I couldn't really feel the chemistry between him and Gwen.
As I’ve read The Body Finder only recently, I can’t help but compare the plot surrounding the serial killer to it. I think it was better executed in Other. It was more suspenseful, there were actually a few suspects that also played a role in the novel altogether and I myself as a reader could make assumptions who could be the murderer. Although the revelation at the end wasn’t too unexpected, it still had a little surprising twist to it.
So all in all, a quite unique take on paranormal YA fiction without the usual romance plot that includes a mysterious, brooding yet incredibly handsome guy.
Three stars from me and I’ll keep an eye out for the next Other novel, which is supposed to take part in the same world, but with a different cast of characters.
September 20, 2013
This is a really interesting world that Kincy's put together. Fantasy creatures like centaurs and fairies are real, and increasingly public in their lives. Aside from the Others (or people with a paranormal identity, which is fabulously PC), this is recognizably modern America. Considering that Kincy doesn't give her supernatural characters much in the way of extraordinary powers, this isn't exactly X-Men. Or maybe it is, because The Others is mostly about the sort of prejudice that one would expect to spring up when people discover that vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters are real. People staring at the centaur in the supermarket? Naturally. Pray the fey away church groups? Sadly, yes. A serial killer who pointedly poses his Other victims in ways that suggest their exact paranormal natures? Yes, I can see this.
Kincy's worldbuilding is the strongest part of the book. Granted, it is mostly our world as we know it, but the way people react to the Others is consistent and makes sense. She also handles the various abilities (and weaknesses) of the Others in a way that's internally consistent and mostly consistent with the stories that her readers will be familiar with. That said, she also ventures outside the usual suspects that pop up again and again in fantasy. There are werewolves, sure, but main character Gwen isn't one. She's a pooka, a Welsh shapeshifter that I doubt many readers in the target audience would have heard of before. Gwen's friend Chloe isn't a fairy, she's a dryad. Honestly, I get sick of book after book being about werewolves or vampires, and it's nice to see some variety.
That said, how much you like this book will depend almost entirely on how much you can bring yourself to like Gwen. I did end up liking her, mostly, but she could be frustrating. She has believable flaws, even if they can be irritating. It can be very annoying to watch her cling to her prejudice against Others that are made (like vampires), not born (like herself- her father was a pooka). And yet, I entirely believe that growing up as she did, in the culture that she did, she'd feel judgmental towards those she sees as making her own life harder. I never felt like the author agreed with her in the slightest, or felt that we should, which made it bearable. The way she handles her relationship with boyfriend Zack (who does not know that she's a pooka) made me want to shake her sometimes, but it's also painfully realistic. How many girls hide important things about themselves from boys they love, out of the fear of losing them?
That said, I had a harder time with how doggedly Gwen stuck with her initial impression that a werewolf Chloe is dating must be a bad person. Of course, she's basing it off of negative werewolf stereotypes, and of course those stereotypes have been heavily ingrained in her. But after awhile, it stops making any sort of sense that Gwen would still be convinced that a werewolf is behind the Other murders, and especially not this werewolf. And yet it takes her almost the entire length of the book to come to grips with that. I was also surprised with how she kept trying to find the killer, against all reason. And speaking of less than wise decisions, how about shapeshifting openly, outdoors, on a sunny day? When you know that somebody is stalking and killing Others in your hometown, shouldn't you be more cautious?
I like the world that Kincy has created, and I think it holds together. I'm torn about her main character. Gwen can be very hard to like, but it's also easy to see why she is the way she is. It seems that other books in the series have different narrators, so I may try those, too.
Kincy's worldbuilding is the strongest part of the book. Granted, it is mostly our world as we know it, but the way people react to the Others is consistent and makes sense. She also handles the various abilities (and weaknesses) of the Others in a way that's internally consistent and mostly consistent with the stories that her readers will be familiar with. That said, she also ventures outside the usual suspects that pop up again and again in fantasy. There are werewolves, sure, but main character Gwen isn't one. She's a pooka, a Welsh shapeshifter that I doubt many readers in the target audience would have heard of before. Gwen's friend Chloe isn't a fairy, she's a dryad. Honestly, I get sick of book after book being about werewolves or vampires, and it's nice to see some variety.
That said, how much you like this book will depend almost entirely on how much you can bring yourself to like Gwen. I did end up liking her, mostly, but she could be frustrating. She has believable flaws, even if they can be irritating. It can be very annoying to watch her cling to her prejudice against Others that are made (like vampires), not born (like herself- her father was a pooka). And yet, I entirely believe that growing up as she did, in the culture that she did, she'd feel judgmental towards those she sees as making her own life harder. I never felt like the author agreed with her in the slightest, or felt that we should, which made it bearable. The way she handles her relationship with boyfriend Zack (who does not know that she's a pooka) made me want to shake her sometimes, but it's also painfully realistic. How many girls hide important things about themselves from boys they love, out of the fear of losing them?
That said, I had a harder time with how doggedly Gwen stuck with her initial impression that a werewolf Chloe is dating must be a bad person. Of course, she's basing it off of negative werewolf stereotypes, and of course those stereotypes have been heavily ingrained in her. But after awhile, it stops making any sort of sense that Gwen would still be convinced that a werewolf is behind the Other murders, and especially not this werewolf. And yet it takes her almost the entire length of the book to come to grips with that. I was also surprised with how she kept trying to find the killer, against all reason. And speaking of less than wise decisions, how about shapeshifting openly, outdoors, on a sunny day? When you know that somebody is stalking and killing Others in your hometown, shouldn't you be more cautious?
I like the world that Kincy has created, and I think it holds together. I'm torn about her main character. Gwen can be very hard to like, but it's also easy to see why she is the way she is. It seems that other books in the series have different narrators, so I may try those, too.
June 9, 2011
TBR Reduce Challenge #25- 2011- Arlene
This element was fascinating and the plot and it's characters intriguing but I couldn't for the life of me get into the style of writing.
Not for me:(
This element was fascinating and the plot and it's characters intriguing but I couldn't for the life of me get into the style of writing.
Not for me:(
September 24, 2023
Ok I was surprised with how addictive this is! Once you start, it’s difficult to put it down! I love urban fantasy because it always makes us think “what if this actually exists?”. The story blends supernatural creatures with human society in a smooth action packed read from start to finish!❤️
Supernatural beings are referred to as “Others” and live alongside humans, however both sides are still adjusting to each other. Gwen is half pooka and can shape-shift into animals. She lives hiding her true identity from most people, only people close to her know. She’s afraid of what the conservative family of her human boyfriend might think of her if they found out she’s Other.
As mysterious things start happening in town and Others are being murdered, Gwen finds herself smack in the middle of this. I thought Tavian was adorable and it was my first time reading a story with a pooka and a Japanese fox spirit. A thrilling and fast paced read, perfect for teenagers wanting a blend of Romance, magic and mystery!
Supernatural beings are referred to as “Others” and live alongside humans, however both sides are still adjusting to each other. Gwen is half pooka and can shape-shift into animals. She lives hiding her true identity from most people, only people close to her know. She’s afraid of what the conservative family of her human boyfriend might think of her if they found out she’s Other.
As mysterious things start happening in town and Others are being murdered, Gwen finds herself smack in the middle of this. I thought Tavian was adorable and it was my first time reading a story with a pooka and a Japanese fox spirit. A thrilling and fast paced read, perfect for teenagers wanting a blend of Romance, magic and mystery!
September 30, 2010
I initially thought this debut paranormal mystery/romance was going to be marginal, because I found the opening lacking (it should have been an exciting scene but the first person narrative seemed bland), but the writing improved, and the appealing characters and genre blending won me over. Other takes place in a slightly different modern world, in which Others (supernatural creatures) have come out of the closet, so to speak, and are living publicly among normals. Gwen, the protagonist, lives in a Washington backwater where the locals view Others with suspicion and fear, so she hides her identity as half-pooka (a Welsh shapeshifting spirit – Gwen can become a horse, cat, owl, and other animals), even from her uber-Christian boyfriend Zach. Then Others around town and in surrounding areas like Seattle start being murdered, including a close friend of Gwen’s, so this coming-of-age novel turns into a serial killer mystery. Romance develops between Gwen and a cute boy named Tavian, who happens to be a kitsune (Japanese fox spirit), after Zach flips out when Gwen tells him the truth about her being half-pooka.
This first novel has a lot going on, plot-wise, but instead of being schizophrenic, it totally works. Everything falls together a little neatly, but it’s a well-earned happy ending. The parallels between Others and other marginalized groups -- especially homosexuals -- grow a little bit pointed after a while, but the parallels are still good ones and help make Gwen's identity struggles more relatable. Gwen and Tavian are super adorable (Tavian is a little perfect, to be honest, but I forgive him because he’s a nice, normal guy with a mostly positive attitude, a change from the brooding, unkind, mysterious romantic leads in so many teen paranormal romances). The mystery provides a goodly amount of suspense and danger, though it's not hard to figure out the identity of the serial killer (it's still a great reveal, however). Gwen is sympathetic and believable, especially in her grief over the murder of her best friend and her troubles with her boyfriend Zach over her heritage.
I really enjoyed this one, and I hope Kincy writers more with these characters.
This first novel has a lot going on, plot-wise, but instead of being schizophrenic, it totally works. Everything falls together a little neatly, but it’s a well-earned happy ending. The parallels between Others and other marginalized groups -- especially homosexuals -- grow a little bit pointed after a while, but the parallels are still good ones and help make Gwen's identity struggles more relatable. Gwen and Tavian are super adorable (Tavian is a little perfect, to be honest, but I forgive him because he’s a nice, normal guy with a mostly positive attitude, a change from the brooding, unkind, mysterious romantic leads in so many teen paranormal romances). The mystery provides a goodly amount of suspense and danger, though it's not hard to figure out the identity of the serial killer (it's still a great reveal, however). Gwen is sympathetic and believable, especially in her grief over the murder of her best friend and her troubles with her boyfriend Zach over her heritage.
I really enjoyed this one, and I hope Kincy writers more with these characters.
September 13, 2010
3.5 stars.
Other was not a bad read by any means. The world-building was wonderful and my book-tuitive bells were chiming. The idea that you could be a natural born Other or a bloodborn Other, inflicted by either bite or sexual contact. That's right. You could become an Other in the same way you get nasties in the no-no. I found that pretty creative.
Other contains a wide variety of species. Vampires, were-creatures, centaurs (non-chalant supermarket shoppers), kitsune, dryads, and pookas, as Gwen was. I'm very interested to find out more the different kinds of Others there are in Kincy's world.
Then we have Gwen. Oh, Gwen. I loved her. Sure she had her crybaby moments, but when you have a festering secret that your parents discourage you from sharing, you have no friends except for your boyfriend, who doesn't know your dirty little secret and may potentially judge you for it, you may tend to get a little emotional. Gwen was not perky. She was dry, sarcastic, and over-analytical about everything. I really freaking enjoyed that about her. I sympathized with her. When she was itching to give into her pooka side, but trying as hard as she could not to shift (despite how much it hurt), I felt bad for her.
Other had a decent plot. It took awhile to reach the climax, due to world-building and various love interest scenes. Tavian was sweet, but no swooning occurred. Mostly, this story was about Gwen gaining acceptance and becoming comfortable in her skin. I'm okay with that! But I do have one major gripe: not all Christians are closed-minded, judgment-wielding hatemongers. Seriously. I understand that there are some of us who give the others a bad image. I've SEEN them and KNOW them. But we are not all out to "change" anyone who is different. I just felt the need to say that, because there's some heavy negative imagery regarding religious folks in this story.
I am absolutely looking forward to further development of Gwen's world and story in the next book, Bloodborn.
Yay for unexpectedly decent book!
Other was not a bad read by any means. The world-building was wonderful and my book-tuitive bells were chiming. The idea that you could be a natural born Other or a bloodborn Other, inflicted by either bite or sexual contact. That's right. You could become an Other in the same way you get nasties in the no-no. I found that pretty creative.
Other contains a wide variety of species. Vampires, were-creatures, centaurs (non-chalant supermarket shoppers), kitsune, dryads, and pookas, as Gwen was. I'm very interested to find out more the different kinds of Others there are in Kincy's world.
Then we have Gwen. Oh, Gwen. I loved her. Sure she had her crybaby moments, but when you have a festering secret that your parents discourage you from sharing, you have no friends except for your boyfriend, who doesn't know your dirty little secret and may potentially judge you for it, you may tend to get a little emotional. Gwen was not perky. She was dry, sarcastic, and over-analytical about everything. I really freaking enjoyed that about her. I sympathized with her. When she was itching to give into her pooka side, but trying as hard as she could not to shift (despite how much it hurt), I felt bad for her.
Other had a decent plot. It took awhile to reach the climax, due to world-building and various love interest scenes. Tavian was sweet, but no swooning occurred. Mostly, this story was about Gwen gaining acceptance and becoming comfortable in her skin. I'm okay with that! But I do have one major gripe: not all Christians are closed-minded, judgment-wielding hatemongers. Seriously. I understand that there are some of us who give the others a bad image. I've SEEN them and KNOW them. But we are not all out to "change" anyone who is different. I just felt the need to say that, because there's some heavy negative imagery regarding religious folks in this story.
I am absolutely looking forward to further development of Gwen's world and story in the next book, Bloodborn.
Yay for unexpectedly decent book!
August 26, 2010
OPENING LINE:
“I can't last much longer. It's been one week, three days and I can't remember how many hours. ”
NOTABLE SCENE:
“Whatever. I've earned this. I'll be careful. I've been a good little girl for long enough. It's easy to transform again, I'm so giddy with the lingering magic. Back to girl I go. I climb through the window and onto the roof. Naked, I curl my bare toes around shingles and grin nervously in the moonlight. I hope nobody's awake.
Wind tosses my curls. I clench my hands and stir the magic inside me. Power boils through my veins, dizzying me. Concentrate. The night snaps into sharper focus. I jump. My arms, my wings, strain upward. Feathers unfurl from my skin. My plummet curves into a swoop, and I tuck my talons beneath my body.
From girl to great horned owl in about a second. Pretty good, huh?” -Page 3
What is a pooka you ask? According to Gwen's old textbooks, pookas were described as mythical creatures that "show up as a dark horse with glowing golden eyes, stalking travelers on murky nights, inviting them on wild rides, throwing them into bogs, over cliffs"…you get the picture right?
The world building of OTHER ended up being the strongest component for me. It was intriguing to immerse myself into a novel with leprechauns, dryads, water sprites and pookas. Most seemed to want to live quiet lives in normal towns, even though they were not-so-normal people. I also appreciated the issues of tolerance and prejudice that the "Others" had to deal with, particularly the werewolves of Winema's pack who were literally forced out of Canada before settling outside of Gwen's town. The scene when Gwen met Winema was well written and the wolf pups nearly broke my heart. Just like in any society, some Others were regarded as a higher class and certain Others, like vampires and werewolves were viewed with fear and hatred. I found that interesting and was intrigued by the class distinctions, as well as the unique magical abilities of the Others themselves.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time really connecting to Gwen. I also thought the pacing was rather slow, especially in the beginning. I knew straightaway who the killer would target next, and that predictability took away a lot of the emotional punch when that event occurred down the line. However, when Gwen began interacting with Tavian, a Japanese fox kitsune spirit (how cool is that?), I thought the pacing accelerated and I began to appreciate Gwen a lot more. She proved herself to be a loyal friend and showed tremendous courage when it came to solving the the murders.
An unusual mix of magic and mystery, OTHER was chocked full of interesting characters and an intriguing plot line. Though slow to start, it is a series with a lot of potential. The next book entitled BLOODBORN releases in 2011.
*SIDE NOTE: I was in Ireland a few months back and went to a dinner hosted by a professional folklorist called "Food, Folklore & Fairies". I remember him referencing pookas as they related to 18th century peasant life. He joked that men would blame the pooka as the reason why they were coming home late from the local pubs. The man would tell his wife, "I left the pub with every intention of coming home to you but that "darn pooka" got me—it's not my fault." (Apparently pookas seemed to have had an affinity for waiting for intoxicated men to exit pubs, only to sidle under their legs as they stumbled drunkenly about. The men would then proclaim the last thing they remembered was being taken on a wild ride through the night and then thrown off the back of the pooka into a ditch! I wonder if that excuse really worked?)
“I can't last much longer. It's been one week, three days and I can't remember how many hours. ”
NOTABLE SCENE:
“Whatever. I've earned this. I'll be careful. I've been a good little girl for long enough. It's easy to transform again, I'm so giddy with the lingering magic. Back to girl I go. I climb through the window and onto the roof. Naked, I curl my bare toes around shingles and grin nervously in the moonlight. I hope nobody's awake.
Wind tosses my curls. I clench my hands and stir the magic inside me. Power boils through my veins, dizzying me. Concentrate. The night snaps into sharper focus. I jump. My arms, my wings, strain upward. Feathers unfurl from my skin. My plummet curves into a swoop, and I tuck my talons beneath my body.
From girl to great horned owl in about a second. Pretty good, huh?” -Page 3
What is a pooka you ask? According to Gwen's old textbooks, pookas were described as mythical creatures that "show up as a dark horse with glowing golden eyes, stalking travelers on murky nights, inviting them on wild rides, throwing them into bogs, over cliffs"…you get the picture right?
The world building of OTHER ended up being the strongest component for me. It was intriguing to immerse myself into a novel with leprechauns, dryads, water sprites and pookas. Most seemed to want to live quiet lives in normal towns, even though they were not-so-normal people. I also appreciated the issues of tolerance and prejudice that the "Others" had to deal with, particularly the werewolves of Winema's pack who were literally forced out of Canada before settling outside of Gwen's town. The scene when Gwen met Winema was well written and the wolf pups nearly broke my heart. Just like in any society, some Others were regarded as a higher class and certain Others, like vampires and werewolves were viewed with fear and hatred. I found that interesting and was intrigued by the class distinctions, as well as the unique magical abilities of the Others themselves.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time really connecting to Gwen. I also thought the pacing was rather slow, especially in the beginning. I knew straightaway who the killer would target next, and that predictability took away a lot of the emotional punch when that event occurred down the line. However, when Gwen began interacting with Tavian, a Japanese fox kitsune spirit (how cool is that?), I thought the pacing accelerated and I began to appreciate Gwen a lot more. She proved herself to be a loyal friend and showed tremendous courage when it came to solving the the murders.
An unusual mix of magic and mystery, OTHER was chocked full of interesting characters and an intriguing plot line. Though slow to start, it is a series with a lot of potential. The next book entitled BLOODBORN releases in 2011.
*SIDE NOTE: I was in Ireland a few months back and went to a dinner hosted by a professional folklorist called "Food, Folklore & Fairies". I remember him referencing pookas as they related to 18th century peasant life. He joked that men would blame the pooka as the reason why they were coming home late from the local pubs. The man would tell his wife, "I left the pub with every intention of coming home to you but that "darn pooka" got me—it's not my fault." (Apparently pookas seemed to have had an affinity for waiting for intoxicated men to exit pubs, only to sidle under their legs as they stumbled drunkenly about. The men would then proclaim the last thing they remembered was being taken on a wild ride through the night and then thrown off the back of the pooka into a ditch! I wonder if that excuse really worked?)
May 20, 2013
Did Not Finish
The style of the author rubbed me the wrong way, the very way she talked, what she talked about, and how she talked about it. Suffice it to say, the personality was weird and annoying. She kept trying to be funny, but missed the mark by a country mile.
I hated that she already had a boyfriend. I definitely don’t agree with that, and since I know she’s gonna end up with the Japanese fox spirit mentioned on the back of the book (and why would you give that away before we’ve even started reading the book? That would have made for a nice surprise) I don’t even wanna read about her and Zack. I did like him though. It was cool how he was interested in medieval life, and wore a cross necklace and went to Renaissance fairs. That was really unique. And the IM he sent her speaking like a knight in the Middle Ages was funny and cute. I hated that Tavian was shorter than her. I really don’t like when the girl is taller than the guy.
It was really interesting that the author chose Washington as her setting. That just screams Twilight. Could you not have picked one other location in the world that hadn’t already been done? Basically, this book is just another cookie cutter plotter with overused material. And it was really weird that regular humans knew that supernatural beings existed. I could barely wrap my mind around that.
I was highly irritated by all the Hollywood, stereotypical and propaganda comments that were flying around. It went something like “pookas are said to be mean to people. That’s Hollywood for you.” So stupid! One author came up with it, and then everyone jumped on the bandwagon. Use your own stuff, I beg of you. There’s nothing more annoying than reading overused material.
I was really sick of Gwen blushing all the time. She blushed for every single thing that happened, even when it wasn’t really embarrassing. Chloe would get mad about her saying something negative about werewolves. She would blush. Her mom would look at her sternly. She would blush. Quit blushing. Jeeze. Think of another reaction.
When Gwen decides to have sex with Zack, I was waiting for it to get ruined. I waited, and waited, until it became apparent that she wasn’t going to tell him that she was Other. And they just have sex, and then she tells him the truth. W.T.F?! I hate when characters screw up this badly. She doesn’t even deserve to be with Tavian, and this book sucks. So I threw it down in disgust, and will never pick it back up again. I have not one ounce of curiosity about what happens in this piece of trash.
The style of the author rubbed me the wrong way, the very way she talked, what she talked about, and how she talked about it. Suffice it to say, the personality was weird and annoying. She kept trying to be funny, but missed the mark by a country mile.
I hated that she already had a boyfriend. I definitely don’t agree with that, and since I know she’s gonna end up with the Japanese fox spirit mentioned on the back of the book (and why would you give that away before we’ve even started reading the book? That would have made for a nice surprise) I don’t even wanna read about her and Zack. I did like him though. It was cool how he was interested in medieval life, and wore a cross necklace and went to Renaissance fairs. That was really unique. And the IM he sent her speaking like a knight in the Middle Ages was funny and cute. I hated that Tavian was shorter than her. I really don’t like when the girl is taller than the guy.
It was really interesting that the author chose Washington as her setting. That just screams Twilight. Could you not have picked one other location in the world that hadn’t already been done? Basically, this book is just another cookie cutter plotter with overused material. And it was really weird that regular humans knew that supernatural beings existed. I could barely wrap my mind around that.
I was highly irritated by all the Hollywood, stereotypical and propaganda comments that were flying around. It went something like “pookas are said to be mean to people. That’s Hollywood for you.” So stupid! One author came up with it, and then everyone jumped on the bandwagon. Use your own stuff, I beg of you. There’s nothing more annoying than reading overused material.
I was really sick of Gwen blushing all the time. She blushed for every single thing that happened, even when it wasn’t really embarrassing. Chloe would get mad about her saying something negative about werewolves. She would blush. Her mom would look at her sternly. She would blush. Quit blushing. Jeeze. Think of another reaction.
When Gwen decides to have sex with Zack, I was waiting for it to get ruined. I waited, and waited, until it became apparent that she wasn’t going to tell him that she was Other. And they just have sex, and then she tells him the truth. W.T.F?! I hate when characters screw up this badly. She doesn’t even deserve to be with Tavian, and this book sucks. So I threw it down in disgust, and will never pick it back up again. I have not one ounce of curiosity about what happens in this piece of trash.
December 11, 2010
This book had so much potential to be great but in the end, it mostly crashed and burned. The beginning started off with a bang, her standing in her room contemplating her shapeshifting and her desire to be free, but it took a giant nosedive after a few chapters.
Okay, there were some great things about the book that I loved. The fact that the main love interest for the girl was Japanese. That was cool in and of itself but he's *shorter* than her which made it doubly awesome. I mean, how many times do you find in a story, especially ya, where the guy is shorter than her? It's almost unheard of.
I loved the shapeshifting bits, it's always fun to read about characters turning into animals, and if they're magical creatures even better. It helps that the writer's style is simple and easy to read. You can finish this in one sitting in a snap (which is what I did). There's also a mystery plot/subplot in here so it keeps up the tension and makes it fast paced.
But there's a lot of flaws to this book. I may just be nitpicky but you make the Japanese guy have a name like Tavian (Octavian) Kimura? And I don't care what reason you gave for it in the story but omg that name is just so jarring it makes me grit my teeth every time I see it. Furthermore, his characterization is such a stereotypical one. Loves anime, manga, and likes to draw? What? You know there is more to Japan than just their manga/anime side of things. Give him more depth. And, also, the author *does* know that there is no such thing as wtf in the Japanese language, right?
I was really disappointed that there was a whole subplot focused on Gwen confessing her true identity to her boyfriend being nothing more than using an excuse under the pretense of sleeping with him for the first time to be the outlet for it. Really now? It's only because of sex that you're able to be honest with yourself and you need the validation of the boy to do this for you? No thanks. This whole thing overshadowed the main plot, which was finding out who the killer was of the mysterious murders of Others.
But then that main plot seemed sort of like an after thought that she finally remembered after so many pages and just decided to rush through a climax. There wasn't really any suspenseful moments like say, "The Body Finder" had with its gradual rise in tension that teased us by taking on a roller coaster of emotions. There was nothing but a quick rush to clues that didn't have enough time to sink in so when the ending comes you're just going, "oh, that's it?"
This book had so much potential. Too bad it fell flat.
Okay, there were some great things about the book that I loved. The fact that the main love interest for the girl was Japanese. That was cool in and of itself but he's *shorter* than her which made it doubly awesome. I mean, how many times do you find in a story, especially ya, where the guy is shorter than her? It's almost unheard of.
I loved the shapeshifting bits, it's always fun to read about characters turning into animals, and if they're magical creatures even better. It helps that the writer's style is simple and easy to read. You can finish this in one sitting in a snap (which is what I did). There's also a mystery plot/subplot in here so it keeps up the tension and makes it fast paced.
But there's a lot of flaws to this book. I may just be nitpicky but you make the Japanese guy have a name like Tavian (Octavian) Kimura? And I don't care what reason you gave for it in the story but omg that name is just so jarring it makes me grit my teeth every time I see it. Furthermore, his characterization is such a stereotypical one. Loves anime, manga, and likes to draw? What? You know there is more to Japan than just their manga/anime side of things. Give him more depth. And, also, the author *does* know that there is no such thing as wtf in the Japanese language, right?
I was really disappointed that there was a whole subplot focused on Gwen confessing her true identity to her boyfriend being nothing more than using an excuse under the pretense of sleeping with him for the first time to be the outlet for it. Really now? It's only because of sex that you're able to be honest with yourself and you need the validation of the boy to do this for you? No thanks. This whole thing overshadowed the main plot, which was finding out who the killer was of the mysterious murders of Others.
But then that main plot seemed sort of like an after thought that she finally remembered after so many pages and just decided to rush through a climax. There wasn't really any suspenseful moments like say, "The Body Finder" had with its gradual rise in tension that teased us by taking on a roller coaster of emotions. There was nothing but a quick rush to clues that didn't have enough time to sink in so when the ending comes you're just going, "oh, that's it?"
This book had so much potential. Too bad it fell flat.
September 14, 2023
I really enjoyed Other and could not put it down! What I love about YA is that you can always count on it being fast paced and binge-worthy. That was certainly the case with this book. Other kept you on your toes and constantly trying to figure out who was responsible for the murders of the town’s shifters. Another thing I loved is that Other felt like it could stand on its own and doesn’t absolutely torture you with a cliffhanger. While I haven’t yet read Foxfire, you can also pick that one up on its own and enjoy & understand it as a stand-alone, which is so nice!
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 25, 2015
I hated this book. I really, really hated it. I hated it from the very first chapter, when the main character (I forgot her name) was introduced. I might have forgotten her name, but I haven't forgotten how much she pissed me off.
She was an awful, self-absorbed, annoying and stupid brat. Who was also a pooka (that's some kind of shape-shifter.)
So this brat was dating her boyfriend for ages and didn't tell him she was "Other". Her boyfriend comes from a family of religious fanatics, so I guess it's understandable that she has issues telling him.
But if she really doesn't trust him with telling him secrets, how come she has no problem sleeping with him?
So the two of them have sex (and that particular scene was really unnecessary, btw. I didn't want to know that her first time wasn't awesome. I could have guessed it wasn't. But it needn't have been spelled out and described. I'm aware the author probably wanted to point out that many first times aren't always awesome, but I really don't care for a 16-year-old's personal love life problems.).
A bit later, Main Character decides to tell her religious fanatic boyfriend the truth. He freaks out and dumps her. And I was like, okay, so is this a metaphore for all the 16-year-olds being dumped by their boyfriends after having sex with them? And I didn't care. I didn't care for main character and her heart ache, I didn't care for her religious fanatic boyfriend and his parents and his brothers.
But oh, the book actually had a story as well: "Others" were killed be a lunatic killer. But who cares about that if Main Character has more problems with her love life.
The murders that should have been gruesome and mystifying were thrown in like all the other unimportant facts in the book that didn't relate to Main Character directly. Main Character didn't even seem too horrified when her best friend was killed, and neither was I.
But what annoyed me most was the fox-spirit.
This was Main Character's new love interest, dubbed Fox because I forgot his name.
So Fox is a really sensitive boy who happens to be a bit smaller than Main Character. Not that I cared. He was just as unnecessary and annoying as the rest of the characters.
Even when I viewed him as a metaphore for the nice expressions: "Oh honey, even if your boyfriend dumped you, a new one will show up eventually", he was still unnecessary and unimportant.
Conclusion: I hated this book, I hated every single character and I still somehow managed to finish it. I'm definitely never going to touch a work of this author ever again.
I wish I had never read this book. I think I'll never be able to read a book about pookas and fox spirits again, because "Other" traumatized me.
She was an awful, self-absorbed, annoying and stupid brat. Who was also a pooka (that's some kind of shape-shifter.)
So this brat was dating her boyfriend for ages and didn't tell him she was "Other". Her boyfriend comes from a family of religious fanatics, so I guess it's understandable that she has issues telling him.
But if she really doesn't trust him with telling him secrets, how come she has no problem sleeping with him?
So the two of them have sex (and that particular scene was really unnecessary, btw. I didn't want to know that her first time wasn't awesome. I could have guessed it wasn't. But it needn't have been spelled out and described. I'm aware the author probably wanted to point out that many first times aren't always awesome, but I really don't care for a 16-year-old's personal love life problems.).
A bit later, Main Character decides to tell her religious fanatic boyfriend the truth. He freaks out and dumps her. And I was like, okay, so is this a metaphore for all the 16-year-olds being dumped by their boyfriends after having sex with them? And I didn't care. I didn't care for main character and her heart ache, I didn't care for her religious fanatic boyfriend and his parents and his brothers.
But oh, the book actually had a story as well: "Others" were killed be a lunatic killer. But who cares about that if Main Character has more problems with her love life.
The murders that should have been gruesome and mystifying were thrown in like all the other unimportant facts in the book that didn't relate to Main Character directly. Main Character didn't even seem too horrified when her best friend was killed, and neither was I.
But what annoyed me most was the fox-spirit.
This was Main Character's new love interest, dubbed Fox because I forgot his name.
So Fox is a really sensitive boy who happens to be a bit smaller than Main Character. Not that I cared. He was just as unnecessary and annoying as the rest of the characters.
Even when I viewed him as a metaphore for the nice expressions: "Oh honey, even if your boyfriend dumped you, a new one will show up eventually", he was still unnecessary and unimportant.
Conclusion: I hated this book, I hated every single character and I still somehow managed to finish it. I'm definitely never going to touch a work of this author ever again.
I wish I had never read this book. I think I'll never be able to read a book about pookas and fox spirits again, because "Other" traumatized me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2010
What a fantastic debut novel! I absolutely loved this world that Kincy created..... Where 'Others' live among humans. It's 'normal' to see a centaur beside you shopping in the produce section at the grocery store. I mean wouldn't that be a riot! It was interesting to have a novel that included an array of mythological and magical creatures. So many times a novel is focused on one being, werewolves, vampires, fae.... but Other is something unique. I'd love to hear about the research that Kincy did for this novel and all of the creatures that live in her world.
And not to mention it has one of my most favorite aspects of any novel. A love story. It's not your run of the mill 'boy meets girl' type of love story, which made me appreciate it even more.
Then on top of all that we have this murder mystery. And I can honestly say that I didn't see who the killer was until it was pretty much spelled out! I had my assumptions but they weren't totally correct. I love when an author can distract you enough with the story that the big revelation really is a surprise.
Kincy's character's are real and captivating. Especially the main character Gwen. I was angry at her initially for how naive and judgmental she was of 'Others' that weren't like her, but it made the story even more fascinating to watch Gwen's character grow. Although, I have to admit, I think Tavian was my favorite!
I can't wait to read more from Kincy!
And not to mention it has one of my most favorite aspects of any novel. A love story. It's not your run of the mill 'boy meets girl' type of love story, which made me appreciate it even more.
Then on top of all that we have this murder mystery. And I can honestly say that I didn't see who the killer was until it was pretty much spelled out! I had my assumptions but they weren't totally correct. I love when an author can distract you enough with the story that the big revelation really is a surprise.
Kincy's character's are real and captivating. Especially the main character Gwen. I was angry at her initially for how naive and judgmental she was of 'Others' that weren't like her, but it made the story even more fascinating to watch Gwen's character grow. Although, I have to admit, I think Tavian was my favorite!
I can't wait to read more from Kincy!
October 3, 2010
Rating - a good solid 3.5 stars!
A shudder both painful and pleasurable ripples down my spine. It almost unbearable. I hug myself tight, then grasp as magic floods my veins. My skin prickles as glossy black feathers unfurl.
I really liked Other. It was a light and fun read that was full of unique paranormal characters, mystery, action, and of course some romance.
The writing style was a little bit choppy but still easy to read. The plot was sometimes predictable but still interesting. The characters are likeable especially Gwen but she did have some moments were I felt like yelling at her no don’t do that. Also Tavian was sweet but I didn’t swoon over him. I felt she had a stronger connection with Zach but then he was a jerk. The romance was cute though and nicely done never over taking the plot of the story. The best thing about this book though is the world Kincy has created with all the different types of ‘Others’. There are so many from the commonly mentioned ones in other books like vampires and werewolves, to the unusual types like pookas (never heard of it before), centaurs, tree and water spirits, kitsune and many more. And it nice to have something different.
Overall, a good start to this series that is worth a read and I’m excited to see what Kincy does in the next instalment Bloodborn.
A shudder both painful and pleasurable ripples down my spine. It almost unbearable. I hug myself tight, then grasp as magic floods my veins. My skin prickles as glossy black feathers unfurl.
I really liked Other. It was a light and fun read that was full of unique paranormal characters, mystery, action, and of course some romance.
The writing style was a little bit choppy but still easy to read. The plot was sometimes predictable but still interesting. The characters are likeable especially Gwen but she did have some moments were I felt like yelling at her no don’t do that. Also Tavian was sweet but I didn’t swoon over him. I felt she had a stronger connection with Zach but then he was a jerk. The romance was cute though and nicely done never over taking the plot of the story. The best thing about this book though is the world Kincy has created with all the different types of ‘Others’. There are so many from the commonly mentioned ones in other books like vampires and werewolves, to the unusual types like pookas (never heard of it before), centaurs, tree and water spirits, kitsune and many more. And it nice to have something different.
Overall, a good start to this series that is worth a read and I’m excited to see what Kincy does in the next instalment Bloodborn.
September 27, 2023
I forget how much I love YA fantasy! It’s been a while since I read one and I enjoyed this. Other is perfect for lovers of mystery, romance, and supernatural beings! This story gives us a mix of both worlds in one, they live side by side although it’s still a lot to get used to.
This follows Gwen, a half pooka and half animal shifter that hides away from the world her true identity. The supernaturals in this story are the “others” which are still being accepted in society. The journey of acceptance and coexistence is great. Gwen finds people that accept her for who she is and she is ready to defend her right to be.
I loved the mysterious aspect of this book, Gwen and her friends worked towards figuring out the deaths of the others. Absolutely loved Tavian! The dynamic between Gwen and Tavian was absolutely adorable. I cannot wait to read more about this series!
Huge thanks to the author for sending me the books. All opinions are my own.
This follows Gwen, a half pooka and half animal shifter that hides away from the world her true identity. The supernaturals in this story are the “others” which are still being accepted in society. The journey of acceptance and coexistence is great. Gwen finds people that accept her for who she is and she is ready to defend her right to be.
I loved the mysterious aspect of this book, Gwen and her friends worked towards figuring out the deaths of the others. Absolutely loved Tavian! The dynamic between Gwen and Tavian was absolutely adorable. I cannot wait to read more about this series!
Huge thanks to the author for sending me the books. All opinions are my own.
February 10, 2011
So when I first saw this book on this site, I didn't feel like reading it. The synopsis sounded ok and I wasn't too thrilled with the cover. I thought it would be historical. After reading some reviews I decided to give it a try. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this book a lot. Read it in one whole day!
What I really liked was that in this book there were other paranormal creatures besides the usual werewolves and vampires. There were pookas (shapeshifters), Japanese spirit fox, dryads, and many others. There was a bit of mystery and when I thought I had it all figured out, I was surprised at the end. Religion takes an important part in this book which I haven't seen much of in other paranormal books.
I liked Gwen but I have to say she was a bit hypocritical towards the werewolves. She is a half-Other and says how she doesn't think it's fair how everybody treats them but she acts the same way towards all the werewolves. Yea, she changes her mind afterward, but I didn't like that sort of attitude on her. She is a strong character though and shows her bravery near the end. Tavian was HOT. I don't want to say more about him because I don't want to spoil, but he was HOT. I gotta stop saying that.
It's not one of my favorite series but I would definitely recommend this book to any paranormal lover (only to those over 15 though!). I cannot wait to read the next book!
What I really liked was that in this book there were other paranormal creatures besides the usual werewolves and vampires. There were pookas (shapeshifters), Japanese spirit fox, dryads, and many others. There was a bit of mystery and when I thought I had it all figured out, I was surprised at the end. Religion takes an important part in this book which I haven't seen much of in other paranormal books.
I liked Gwen but I have to say she was a bit hypocritical towards the werewolves. She is a half-Other and says how she doesn't think it's fair how everybody treats them but she acts the same way towards all the werewolves. Yea, she changes her mind afterward, but I didn't like that sort of attitude on her. She is a strong character though and shows her bravery near the end. Tavian was HOT. I don't want to say more about him because I don't want to spoil, but he was HOT. I gotta stop saying that.
It's not one of my favorite series but I would definitely recommend this book to any paranormal lover (only to those over 15 though!). I cannot wait to read the next book!
September 10, 2011
I knew I was in trouble a few pages in when the angst-ridden narrator described herself as "snarky" no less than 10 times, but when the boyfriend showed up speaking like a love struck knight out of a bodice ripper it was all over. The parents change character so much I started to believe they were "other" too, although all the characters seem bent to dramatic emotion shifts and "I'M SUDDENLY SO ANGRY BECAUSE I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH" dialogue. The foreshadowing is like a brick over the head, about 50 pages in I had the entire plot figured out, from the romantic triangle (oh, that's original) resolution to the mystery of who was killing others. DUH! The scene in which (spoiler alert!) Gwen looses her virginity to the boyfriend you know is going to dump her after is actually pretty realisitic, sadly, but out of place melodramatic confrontations abound, and the ridiculous dialogue and random bits of british-ness make this feel like a teen author trying to be cool and "unique." Seriously, with all the various paranormal YA fiction out there you can do better. blech.
September 15, 2010
I'd been so hopeful for this book; it sounded so interesting, and the cover was cool.
Miss Clark's review perfectly summed it up for me: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Right. Last time I judge a book by it's cover. Why are Christians in fantasy books torn apart so much?! Thank you for saying what you did, Miss Clark!
The blogging thing would've been interesting, and opened interesting doors for the plot, if it hadn't been dropped after, what, five chapters? Whatever happened to keeping the secret from Tavian about how she was - what was it? - "black magic" of her whatever blog. And he just happens to come to town after a previous chapter Gwen mentioned her having a cyber crush on him sorta? Shock. Er.
One star.
Miss Clark's review perfectly summed it up for me: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Right. Last time I judge a book by it's cover. Why are Christians in fantasy books torn apart so much?! Thank you for saying what you did, Miss Clark!
The blogging thing would've been interesting, and opened interesting doors for the plot, if it hadn't been dropped after, what, five chapters? Whatever happened to keeping the secret from Tavian about how she was - what was it? - "black magic" of her whatever blog. And he just happens to come to town after a previous chapter Gwen mentioned her having a cyber crush on him sorta? Shock. Er.
One star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2010
I only made it 70 pages into this one before giving it up. I did like the world that the book was set in, liked that there were creatures in this book that you don't normally see. But Gwen just seemed to grate on me and as the story went on I found I just didn't care what was going on. I also didn't feel like subjecting myself to a story that looked like it was going come down to a religious batter between Christians and the Others of this book. In the end this one just isn't for me.
July 6, 2016
I couldn't read the scene about her and her boyfriend. It was just ridiculous how soon it was in the book. I dropped it immediately, because I don't tolerate TEEN books with more adult-like content.
September 17, 2023
Did I really finish this in twenty-four hours?
Usually, I’m not the fastest of readers, so whenever I manage the feat of finishing a book fast I know that it’s not me, it’s the book that has some special magic that makes me fly through it. This was the case with Other. This YA urban fantasy/mystery is a true gem that deserves way more love and recognition. (Also, have you seen that stunning cover?)
The aspect I enjoyed the most was definitely the mystery itself. I always enjoy a good mystery in my books because I have way too much fun trying to figure things out before the end of the book. Supernatural beings—Others, as they’re known in this version of our world—are being murdered by a mysterious killer. The police is investigating though they don’t seem to be doing much and Gwen feels a need to take things in her own hand. I don’t want to go into too much detail because I don’t want to give it away, but I will say the ending surprised me. It wasn’t wholly what I was expecting—almost nothing at all, actually.
The characters were great! Gwen’s a fun character to follow in a first person perspective, even though I don’t always agree with the reckless choices she makes that could easily get her into trouble, not just as an Other but as a person in general. Tavian is a precious cinnamon roll who is impossible not to love. He’s cute, and not the typical tall dark and handsome brooder, which is perhaps why I liked him so much. I also enjoyed most of the secondary characters, some of whom deserve a spin off in their own right.
Though this is a completed duology, the storyline concludes itself in this one, and I seem to understand that the second book will have a completely new plot and will have Tavian as the protagonist. Really looking forward to reading it as it seems to promise even more mystery, this time dedicated all to Tavian and the kitsune!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Usually, I’m not the fastest of readers, so whenever I manage the feat of finishing a book fast I know that it’s not me, it’s the book that has some special magic that makes me fly through it. This was the case with Other. This YA urban fantasy/mystery is a true gem that deserves way more love and recognition. (Also, have you seen that stunning cover?)
The aspect I enjoyed the most was definitely the mystery itself. I always enjoy a good mystery in my books because I have way too much fun trying to figure things out before the end of the book. Supernatural beings—Others, as they’re known in this version of our world—are being murdered by a mysterious killer. The police is investigating though they don’t seem to be doing much and Gwen feels a need to take things in her own hand. I don’t want to go into too much detail because I don’t want to give it away, but I will say the ending surprised me. It wasn’t wholly what I was expecting—almost nothing at all, actually.
The characters were great! Gwen’s a fun character to follow in a first person perspective, even though I don’t always agree with the reckless choices she makes that could easily get her into trouble, not just as an Other but as a person in general. Tavian is a precious cinnamon roll who is impossible not to love. He’s cute, and not the typical tall dark and handsome brooder, which is perhaps why I liked him so much. I also enjoyed most of the secondary characters, some of whom deserve a spin off in their own right.
Though this is a completed duology, the storyline concludes itself in this one, and I seem to understand that the second book will have a completely new plot and will have Tavian as the protagonist. Really looking forward to reading it as it seems to promise even more mystery, this time dedicated all to Tavian and the kitsune!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
August 26, 2017
This alternate reality story was a fun take on the issues of diversity, acceptance, and discrimination. What if we lived in a world where fantasy creatures had recently "come out" and declared their uniqueness, struggling to be accepted as part of the general population?
I liked the character conflicts. To me, the struggles felt human and very close to home, but at the same time, the fantasy element kept me entertained. The red herrings didn't keep me from putting the pieces together long before the end, but I do admit I was slightly off base in my guess of the villain.
A pretty good read, but be warned...
Content warning: Language, innuendo, premarital sex (partially closed door), and nondescript nudity. (Hey, they shift into other creatures. Clothes can be a problem.)
I liked the character conflicts. To me, the struggles felt human and very close to home, but at the same time, the fantasy element kept me entertained. The red herrings didn't keep me from putting the pieces together long before the end, but I do admit I was slightly off base in my guess of the villain.
A pretty good read, but be warned...
Content warning: Language, innuendo, premarital sex (partially closed door), and nondescript nudity. (Hey, they shift into other creatures. Clothes can be a problem.)
March 30, 2018
A light and easy read that has an interesting narrative and some well developed characters. The romance aspects could have been toned down a bit for my liking, but by and large they didn’t mar what was an interesting novel. I found myself actively invested in what was going on and didn’t see the finale coming. A well done young adult fantasy.
September 30, 2023
I loved Gwen’s story and then Tavian’s in book two. Shapeshifters are my fav. And each of these has a very unique form. There’s a serial killer. Death around every corner. Being a shapeshifter is deadly. And now you’re being hunted. If you love shifters and fantasy this is definitely a series to check out.
May 19, 2021
Interesting paranormal YA mystery and romance with slightly familiar themes and plot. It's about the persecution and murders of "others" (paranormal creatures) by humans. Our MC, a teen girl half-breed pooka and human, is in the thick of things.
April 8, 2017
It starts off a little slow but builds into a decent story. The ending is really satisfying and doesn't require you to read the next book to get the feel of a full story.
dnf
February 2, 2021DNF'd at 8%. Didn't fit what I was in the mood for and writing style didn't work for me. Concept is interesting, but the actual story wasn't grabbing me.
April 7, 2021
Worth the read, but unfortunately not for me. I was expecting it to be a little more magical and intense, but for me it fell flat. But, don't take my word for that, try it yourself.
February 1, 2024
This was good. Very interesting and not something I would normally read, but it was good.
January 21, 2011
Great idea, not delivered well.
Bout the only thing I liked about this book was the humor. I found myself laughing--in between the time I was either laughing AT the book, or just ready to throw it across the room. I figured, Okay. This Gwen girl looks pretty good. And I've read a lot about her, including a character interview. She looked like a cool enough girl.
Then I read it.
This book would have been a lot longer if actual detail had been added. There's just no depth. I felt no sympathy for Gwen whatsoever. I was completely pissed at her half the time. Consider: your boyfriend dumped you because you've got shapeshifting abilities--which is COOL, for the record. But you do not apologize to HIM! Gwen has no backbone and I kept thinking, "Oh my GOD! This chick needs to toughen the heck up." The scenes with Zach just pissed me off.
I think it was the lack of description that really did this book in. The writing is short and nearly all of it is told and not shown. You don't have to tell us that she's mad if you show her slamming something or is about to punch someone. There's no credit given to the reader when everything is told to you.
I would have really, really, really liked this book if it had been executed differently. I felt no sympathy for the characters--I have no idea how I got through the entire book. I did want to know if I was right about who the killer was--and I was. I figured it out pretty fast but it was kind of interesting how Karen Kincy executed that scene.
The one thing that really got me about the style, was how inconsistent it was. There were beautiful lines amongst hundreds of pointless sentences. It felt like a rough draft to me, instead of a published copy. I'd come across lines like this: My pooka half rises slowly within me, leaning against my bones. It isn't eager to shapeshift and fight. It's...defensive. Feeling my fear. (page 166-167) It's incredible description, and I wish it had continued throughout the entire book.
I'm attracted to humor, which is why I'm keeping this book in the first place. I AM going to look to it for inspiration for a humor fix. Now that I've read it, I can go back and reread all the good parts.
I loved the cover when I first saw it, then I got to look at it up close and I could see the graphic mistakes. So, from a graphic designer's standpoint, I was disappointed. Also, the cover is so freaking glossy! I could send signals to the moon with it. XD
You can find more information about this book and others at The Authoress: Book Reviews & More.
Bout the only thing I liked about this book was the humor. I found myself laughing--in between the time I was either laughing AT the book, or just ready to throw it across the room. I figured, Okay. This Gwen girl looks pretty good. And I've read a lot about her, including a character interview. She looked like a cool enough girl.
Then I read it.
This book would have been a lot longer if actual detail had been added. There's just no depth. I felt no sympathy for Gwen whatsoever. I was completely pissed at her half the time. Consider: your boyfriend dumped you because you've got shapeshifting abilities--which is COOL, for the record. But you do not apologize to HIM! Gwen has no backbone and I kept thinking, "Oh my GOD! This chick needs to toughen the heck up." The scenes with Zach just pissed me off.
I think it was the lack of description that really did this book in. The writing is short and nearly all of it is told and not shown. You don't have to tell us that she's mad if you show her slamming something or is about to punch someone. There's no credit given to the reader when everything is told to you.
I would have really, really, really liked this book if it had been executed differently. I felt no sympathy for the characters--I have no idea how I got through the entire book. I did want to know if I was right about who the killer was--and I was. I figured it out pretty fast but it was kind of interesting how Karen Kincy executed that scene.
The one thing that really got me about the style, was how inconsistent it was. There were beautiful lines amongst hundreds of pointless sentences. It felt like a rough draft to me, instead of a published copy. I'd come across lines like this: My pooka half rises slowly within me, leaning against my bones. It isn't eager to shapeshift and fight. It's...defensive. Feeling my fear. (page 166-167) It's incredible description, and I wish it had continued throughout the entire book.
I'm attracted to humor, which is why I'm keeping this book in the first place. I AM going to look to it for inspiration for a humor fix. Now that I've read it, I can go back and reread all the good parts.
I loved the cover when I first saw it, then I got to look at it up close and I could see the graphic mistakes. So, from a graphic designer's standpoint, I was disappointed. Also, the cover is so freaking glossy! I could send signals to the moon with it. XD
You can find more information about this book and others at The Authoress: Book Reviews & More.
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