Falling Under

Falling Under #1

by Gwen Hayes

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Demons, Paranormal Romance, Mythology

324 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

Gwen Hayes (that’s me) lives in the Pacific Northwest with her real life hero and a pack of wild beasts (two of whom she gave birth to).

She is a reader, writer, and lover of pop culture (which, other than yogurt, is the only culture she gets).

Gwen also edits kissing books.

Reviews

[Vinaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Multiple Choice Quiz for Teenage Girls:

1) Would you rather be:

A)

OR

B)


2) There's a hot new boy in school, but he seems to be something of an asshat, always blowing you off and parading other women in front of you. Would you:

A)

OR

B)


3) You're having strange dreams where said hot boy appears and acts mysterious and tortured, telling you that you can never be togetherrrrr! You think hot boy is something supernatural. Would you:

A) [image error]

OR

B) [image error]

4) A demon wants to steal your soul. Would you:

A) [image error]

OR

B)

5) You're inexplicably attracted to a violently jealous guy who hurts a lot of people because he doesn't like you talking to other boys or dressing provocatively. Would you:

A)

OR

B)


6) He wished he could show her the memory of the very first time he’d laid eyes upon her. A random moment, his window to her world, and yet it had pierced his excuse for a soul as if it were destiny. As if she were his destiny. A thousand times he’d looked through the realms, but one glimpse had forever changed their paths.
And now, she reclined on the grass before him, pure and heavenly. Like a treat, a present to open, an offering, while his blood hummed with
unspeakable urges.
But beneath his appetite, a yearning for more than just slaking his thirst thrived despite all reason. He would give his life for her. To ensure her safety, her happiness, her soul.

Does this make you want to:

A)

OR

B)



...If you went with A the whole way, have some champagne and add me as a friend! If you picked B, I have a WHOLE lot of similar books I can recommend to you (and the name of a good psychiatrist!), starting with Fallen and Starcrossed....

[Sabrina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to admit: sometimes (often) I pick up books just because I like the cover art. This one in particular reminded me of American Beauty , so I couldn't resist.

ALERT: this is going to be bitchy.

I threw this book before even finishing the first chapter.
Why?
Because I've already cringed my teeth four times in the first three pages. And that's too much.

I'm going to show you what I mean.

The protagonist is on the bed, reading from her iPhone. And she speaks about her love for books:

Every night I went somewhere new and pretended to be someone else—someone interesting—[…]
But the burning man falling from the sky pulled me from my faraway world.

You don't say. Really?
Here I was depicting in my head this dumb chick, daydreaming on her bed with a vacuous expression on her face, when a burning man falls from the sky screaming his head off, and she just turns her head and says vapidly "Oh, a burning man falling from the sky."
Maybe that's not the image the author wanted to give, but it's what she delivered.

He was more than on fire. He was fire.

And what's the difference? Bho, the author doesn't tell. To me, he looked just like a man on fire.

(...) but it was his eyes that caused me to suck in my breath

Ok. Reality check here: 1. he's burning; 2. he's falling from the sky; 3. you are looking at him through a window; 4. you are on the bed, supposedly at some distance from said window. How the fuck can you discern something about his eyes!?

I leaned farther into the window, the glass surprisingly warm from his brush past it.

Do you know what it takes to warm a pane of glass at a distance, say to increase it of 1°C (and you can't even perceive so small an increase)? It takes a fucking lot. Not just some miserable guy on fire falling from the sky and incidentally passing near the window for two seconds. If you haven't the common sense to guess that, do your research.

When the man is fallen, she goes near him to help (but without actually doing something helpful). There is a short and improbable dialogue, and then:

He rattled and spoke his last words. “Worth … the … fall.”

Oh, because she is so beautiful and speshul that it was worth it to fucking be set on fire and be thrown from who knows what highness to precipitate on her fucking garden.
What. The. Fuck.

I don't want to see this kind of book crap, ever again.
I should put this on my "blacklist of bad books", but I pride myself on being honest and I can't honestly give an informed judgment about the book, because I haven't read it. I just can't. So I'm going to put this among my give-ups and you will have to make up your own mind.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite quote: Theia to Haden whilst alone in her bedroom: "Do you know I have never seen a penis?"

ROFL XD Way to go girl, way to go...

If I had to pick a serious quote as my favorite it would probably be this one, though:

"This isn't a crush; it's obsession. You are never not in my thoughts. Your scent carries across a room and paralyzes me with longing. I don't want to hold your hand. Part of me wants to set you on fire and hold you while the flame consumes us both, to eat your heart so I know that only I possess it entirely"

Well...at least he’s honest O_o

When I started reading Falling Under I got quickly bothered by how the story seemed to follow all the typical paranormal YA clichés. Unbelievably hot guy comes to town, unbelievably insecure and shy heroine gets paired with him for a school project, hot guy tells heroine that she needs to stay away from him for her own safety, heroine goes to some kind of fortune teller who of course tells her that she’s in grave danger, because obviously there’s something evil after her. (Now who could that be??) and so on...Granted, Hayes put these clichés to use with a wink and the digs at Twilight were funny, but still; the attempts to mock her own usage of clichés didn’t really make it any less annoying. But all of that would have been excusable IMO if she had made the romance somewhat unique but unfortunately, this was not the case. It was the same old OMG-I-love-you-and-I’m-going-to-sacrifice-my-soul-for-you-even-though-I’ve-only-known-you-for-a-week and I’m so sick of this kind of romance.

What I really, really liked though, was the explanation for it all. What Haden really is and why they can’t be together...now this was something to make this book stand out against all the others but unfortunately I can’t tell you about it since it would be a major spoiler. It’s a pity, I think if Hayes had done the romance part differently this story would’ve had the potential to be really great and different. I also liked how Hayes managed to keep me on my toes. Several times I was surprised, if not shocked, by the turn of events or how the story took on a very creepy note all of the sudden.

Altogether I can say that I enjoyed this and I’m pretty sure that some of my friends (like Tina, Nic or Amber for example) will have a blast with this one since they’re known to be a bit more forgiving when it comes to the kind of romance I mentioned. :)

[Wendy Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have wildly mixed feelings about this book, which is loosely based on the myth of Persephone. I'm not sure I can write a coherent review because I'm so conflicted, so here goes the pros and cons list.

For the first two thirds of the book:

* I was pretty annoyed with the main character Theia. Stop falling in love with boys just because they're kinda cute, girls!
* I really, really disliked Haden. Manipulative, bad-tempered, controlling, stalker-ish guys who try to make girls jealous, especially while grinding their hips against other girls during a dance while eye-locked with the main character, make me want to resort to violence.

I can't get a handle on the guy. Sometimes he seems so into you, and other times he's...sort of the Antichrist. Exactly!

* I saw no reason for Theia's dialogue to be so stilted. I understand why Haden's was, but speaking with a British accent doesn't mean she has to talk as if she's straight out of some boring 18th century period drama. Even her father's dialogue was less formal than hers.
* I got a little tired of all the "Touch me!" "But I can't..." "I want you to!" "You'll die!" "But it's sooo worth it!" drama that kept repeating over and over.
* I really didn't buy into the mix of attractive boy/dangerous "man" thing.
* I wasn't sure why Haden was so attracted to Theia at first...how many boys are enthralled by spying on a girl playing the violin? Although I did really like the way Theia's hair was described, all gold and caramel curls. Lovely!

However...

* The opening is pretty darned good. Burning man falling from the sky = great visual.
* I really, really liked some of Theia's friends--and they were proof that the author could write snappy and unstilted dialogue. Her best friend Donny is hilarious, and I liked Amelia, Gabriel, Mike, etc. as well. All the early interactions between the friends felt very grounded and real, although the roles they play towards the end of the book are less convincing.
* Some of the self-deprecating humor took me by surprise. Even while I was rolling my eyes at all the melodramatic stuff that drags on through the first part of the book, I kept going because every once in awhile the author would pop out a surprisingly funny remark that poked fun at what was going on. More of that tone would definitely have improved the book, however.

What really made the book enjoyable to me, though:

* A fantastic villain! When she shows up about two-thirds of the way through, I sat up and paid attention. Her physical being, her arch dialogue, and her evil scheming were all really well done. I wasn't entirely convinced by the disguise she takes later on in the book, but I still really liked seeing her.
* A big, big sacrifice that is made that I thought was extraordinarily well done. Based on what had come before, I wasn't expecting it to be that emotionally compelling.
* The turn of tables (related to the sacrifice) and shift in POV was pretty interesting.
* I ended up liking the new and changed Theia quite a lot. There's the backbone we were all waiting for! It's a shame it didn't happen sooner in the storyline.
* I love love loved the creepy evil minions. Skeletons. Women stitched together with black thread and wobbly heads. Who violently BATHE her. Awesome! Would love to have seen more done with them.

I'm torn between how I felt at the beginning of the book (bored, somewhat annoyed) and the end of the book (really excited and interested), so I'm not really sure whether it's something I'd recommend. I'd say that if you're intrigued by the premise, it's worth a read just so long as you keep your expectations in check. I, for one, will definitely be checking out the next book to see what the new and improved Theia will do.

This review may also be found at The Midnight Garden.

[Isamlq · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear YA,

1. Please don’t let this be another book on star crossed lovers whose relationship is doomed from the beginning because one is in danger of being killed by the other.
2. Please, please, please no more love triangles!
3. Please make the heroine a heroine by which, I mean a thinking, independent, strong-willed and self-aware young woman… who could be construed as a positive role model for your target audience. And let the male lead be more than just her love interest. Let him have a more interesting role and not just eye candy.
4. Please don’t let the dialogue be riddled with “now-isms.”

Sincerely,
Isa

****

First off, I will restrain myself from making sparkly comparisons because while there are similarities, there are enough positive elements to balance the book out. Now, color me surprised: I actually enjoyed this one! Among the positives that FALLING UNDER has to offer are the dialogue, the shifting mood and the dream sequences.

But first, to the negatives. (I tried to keep myself from making comparisons, but sometimes it just cannot be helped.) Theia is virginal, cosseted, and a little priggish. Her being virginal, and cosseted led me to the question of why. Her father’s treatment of her left me befuddled. It begged the question(s) A. What’s wrong with her? Was she another one of those girls ala A Walk to Remember heroine… goody-goody and sheltered. (B) Or had she been not so goody-goody prior to the books opening; thus, requiring an iron fist in her upbringing (C.) Or had there been a tragedy that just pushed him to act the way he was acting… or (D.) Was it an English stodgy thing? As I was saying, she’s pretty tame. I would not have minded that particular fact, but she’s tame AND then oblivious to why the male lead was obsessing over her.

Add to that a giggly moment (whether done by design or the product of my gutter brain, you’ll just have to judge) of when she actually says, “Take me.” I don’t know, but bodice-ripping-Regency/Harlequin-esque historical-romance much? This mental image might have been compounded by the old sound of Theia’s thoughts. As said, she is virginal and cosseted. And apparently very prim and proper, in her thoughts as well. She just sounded old (more on this later.)

Throw in a mercurial Haden. Flirt one moment ass hole the next. I do not see the charm of one so fickle. Would you go after a guy who would leave you whilst a storm is going on. I am sounding positively old fashioned, but the guy just showed his true colors at that moment in the book.

All that said, this book wasn’t bad. In fact I found myself satisfied by the turn of events. Yes, it was a little too pat… but still consider:

I really enjoyed the darker feel to it. Moments of Falling Under are a horror/slasher film montage. Burning man, Night terrors. Mysterious stranger. Gothick-y music possibly leading to her (a) death or (b) love. Sewn lips, Chopped up brides.

Then there were all the dream sequences that reminded me of Beetlejuice and Chicken Run. I have a deep seated fear of clay-mation. This probably stems from a childhood scare-fest involving dolls coming alive and hacking away at limbs carelessly strewn willy-nilly over the bed’s edge… wait, what was I saying? The dreams sequences caught my attention because they had the same feel as Corpse Bride etc. (*shudder*) It was this that, I can honestly, kept me reading… despite Haden’s hot and cold attitude toward her…despite Theia’s virginal and innocent disposition…despite her father’s tendency toward being overbearing.

The language attracted me too. I have said that her thoughts sounded old, much older than her purported seventeen years. Despite this incongruence, I went with it. As a result I felt as she felt. Her confusion was mine; as was her frustration. That’s where the authenticity ended for me though because once her conscious interactions began, she started sounding typical YA heroine. (Daughter who had not rebelled but wants to. Friend in the middle… neither super pretty nor super smart… but wealthy enough. AND thankfully she didn’t always speak so “old” just serious at times.)

The most authentic lines sprang from Donny’s lips. I liked her particularly since she had a tendency towards being brazen. I liked that she spoke her mind in a very “current” way, but managed not to bludgeon said current-ness to death (as has happened in some books.)

And speaking of Donny, I liked the friendship dynamic going on in this one. They are a study in contrast I suppose. Especially, with Donny the brazen one, Amelia the outgoing sweet one and Theia, the heroine the socially awkward one (Hmmm… this assessment might actually be more apt under the “Argh” column). Put them together and you could end up with a whole girl.

So in response.

Yes, it does start with an “I love you, but I might kill you, so let’s just not,” BUT I got a kick out of how the author addressed that problem By using the problem twice.

And, Allelujah! There is no love triangle! unless you count the fact that Haden is half human and half demon, in which case is there a triangle?

Sadly, the heroine is a cardboard cut out of YA heroines: meek and oblivious to her charms… AND, Yes, the male lead does start out as mere fuel for her dreams. BUT I do love how the author turned them on their heads in the latter half of the book.

The dialogue while current was not over done.

So over all: Read it!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to read Falling Under after I won a copy on Goodreads First Reads. The concept of meeting a mysterious, "devastatingly handsome" guy from your dreams sounded captivating, but Falling Under was too much of the worn-thin "I'm a jerk to you but you love me anyway" romance, and the parts that were original were too dark for me. I'd recommend Falling Under to those that love the darker side of paranormal fiction (not me).

Theia, Theia, Theia. The author tells us things about her, but Theia's actions show us a completely different story. She puts herself in danger. Again. And again. She's supposed to be this incredible musician and smart and rational, but she makes so many TSTL choices that I gave up. Haden even tells her why he's there--and it involves Theia in a horrible way--and yet she still comes back for more. WHY??? Why can't we ever get a heroine who tells these kinds of guys where they can go? Read the back cover--Theia doesn't want to resist Haden, even if it costs her her soul. Ugh.

And Haden? My tolerance of the "I'm hot so you love me even though I'm a jerk and treat you abysmally" guy must be all used up. (Again, this theme in young adult fiction is getting REALLY old.) The whole "hot/cold" guy thing has been done before and done a lot better. Haden became more tolerable as the book went on, but I wanted to infuse some rationality into Theia for 3/4 of the book for making STUPID, STUPID choices involving Haden. Why couldn't Theia go for a charismatic, thoughtful guy like Gabe?

Falling Under is dark. It has the TSTL heroine, the jerk bad boy, and the idiot parent that we see in so many books these days. It wasn't for me, but if you like dark paranormal fiction with a smattering of Twilight, you may like it.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was totally not what I was expecting. Definitely a lot more dark and wickedly twisted than I ever would have expected, yet I think that is why I liked it to much. Under was a complete creep-fest.... faceless beings, skeletons.... stitched together people.... rivers of tears. I had those huge eyes.... O_O .... and the expression of "no f-ing way!" it was awesome.

The characters in this novel were extremely well written. Everyone of them had truly unique qualities that made them very hard to forget. Theia's friends Donny and Amelia aka Ame (how to you say that anyway... like "Amy" or "Aim"?) couldn't have been more different not only from each other but from Theia as well, and for some reason that worked incredibly well. Donny, what can I say about her, she is hilarious! Those girls were some good friends! I want me some friends like Donny and Ame! And I also loved Varnie! If you read this novel for one reason, read it for Varnie!

I'm not going to lie.... Haden and Theia.... the whole "stay away from me, I'm dangerous" I thought, oh please not this again... and I can honestly say, it's not like that again. There was a little insta-romance, Theia falls for Haden hard and fast, even though the guy is jerk. Yet, I loved how that gave Theia this whole other personality. She was assertive and sure-footed when it came to Haden, I liked her much better that way. So somehow the insta-romance worked for me. I mean it's not like she hadn't already met the guy in her dreams! I felt like they already had a "relationship" before they started interacting in-real-life.

The plot while a little slow in the beginning, will slap you in the face when you least expect it. I had that huge eye thing going on again.... O_O... yeah just like that.

An excellent debut! Didn't realize this one was going to be a series, but I am certainly looking forward to the next installment. This is one wickedly twisted love story!

[Steph Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read this as a draft and was blown away! I agree with another reviewer that the imagery is amazing. When telling Gwen what I thought I said, "This is going to be big, like Twilight big."
You will LOVE it! :)

[cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review may also be found on A Thousand Little Pages.

2.5/5

A shy girl living a seemingly normal life? Check.
A hot and mysterious guy appearing out of nowhere? Check.
Instant, unexplainable, and inevitable attraction blossoming as the two gaze at each other fatefully through a pane of glass? Check.

Haden/Mr. Dangerous-and-Brooding: Stay away from me, lamb.* I’m dangerous.
Theia/Ms. Radiant-Sunshine: But I don’t want to. I think I’m in love with you!
Check.

Does this sound just a teensy bit familiar yet…? Ugh, the first two-thirds of the book was a complete rehash of Twilight, albeit a better-written one. A solid 2 stars -- not horrible, and yet not horribly original. I had to roll my eyes a few times here and there. A couple of facepalms appeared, too.

What bumped the rating up to 2.5 stars was the last third of Falling Under. Told in the perspective of Haden instead of Theia, this portion of the book, titled Up is Down, is infinitely more interesting plot-wise and such a joy to read after the coughTwilightcough review we got before. If only the entire book was like the last part. Alas, it was not to be.

Overall, this book is worth it if you’re willing to wade through some clichés and overdone plot lines first. Falling Under’s invigorating ending certainly left me in need of the sequel.

*Seriously? Haden has to refer to Theia as his lamb, too? Please… -.-

Book Source: Borrowed

[Ann Aguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

FABULOUS. Beautiful, gothic, full of wonder, angst, romance and forbidden love. FALLING UNDER has the feel of retelling the Hades / Demeter myth, which I just adore. This debut is fresh, gorgeous, and utterly enchanting.

[Katie(babs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for a sexy cover. Gwen Hayes has such a cover for her debut, Falling Under, a supernatural YA about a young girl, who dreams of a dark world and of the boy who resides there, who in turns enters her world and tries to claim her soul. I had some reservations about this book because of my recent dismay over the large amount of YA Paranormal books published that are trying to ride the Twilight train for all it’s worth. Time and again I’m seeing a lonely female protagonist with MIA parental figures and the darkly, seductive boy who enters the picture suddenly, and with one look or touch, they decide they’re each other’s soul mates even before the heroine is old enough to vote.

There are a few of these tropes found in Falling Under and 30 pages in I had some concerns. But Gwen’s writing really shines. It’s superbly written. She doesn’t talk down to her audience and brings forth topics such as suppressed teens and their desire for sex that comes out with a vengeance. If Falling Under was a candy bar, it would be Hershey’s dark chocolate.

The first line grabs you- “Everything changed the night I saw the burning man fall from the sky”. The heroine, Theia Alderson witnesses this outside her bedroom window as she plays with her new iPhone her rigid and cold British father has given to her as a gift. Theia feels she’s stuck in a gilded cage since her father expects her to remain in control at all times and act accordingly as he sees fit. Theia spends her days playing violin and longing for her mother who died after giving birth to her. Theia has the urge to be reckless and carefree like her mother was, but her father squashes her rebellion. That is until the shock of burning man falling from the sky and her dreams of a far off distant place where she meets a man-boy who makes her feel all tingly inside.

Theia may be somewhat of an outcast at school, but her two good friends- Donny and Amelia are there for her. They want her to rebel and do something as shocking as go to a dance club with them. Theia longs to live on the edge but doesn’t want to rock the boat. Things become exciting when a new student arrives at the school. His name is Haden Black and he’s the boy from her dreams. The moment her eyes meet his, she knows her life will never be the same again. Haden flirts with Theia as if he’s interested in her, but then backs away and cruelly taunts her by being touchy feely with other girls. Theia cannot understand what’s going on and why Haden one minute acts as her friend, but then pushes her away. He says he can’t give her what she wants. But Theia continues to dream of Haden, where she longs to stay in this world, otherwise known as the Under realm where Haden’s demon mother is the queen and wants Theia to be Haden’s bride in order for her to give him a child she can mold into her own evil ways.

Falling Under is very seductive reading. A few of the YA Paranormal authors should take note because this is how a YA Paranormal should be written. Yes, Theia is oh so innocent, reserved and has emotional issues, and yes Haden is dark, mysterious and has touch of evil inside of him, but these two connect on such a level where it’s not cheesy. Gwen puts a nice little spin on their relationship is more adult in nature. There’s a great deal of sexual tension on the pages that is borderline erotic in the teen sense. I also loved how Gwen showed that even though Theia may be at odds with her distant father, she has a great support with her two girlfriends and the boys they become interested in, who in turn help Theia out. Their dialogue and interactions don’t feel contrived and really flow well.

Falling Under has a feeling of two movies while I read with Labyrinth and Legend. Haden reminds me of David Bowie’s character, Jareth.

I’ve been going back and forth on my grade for Falling Under. At times I felt the explanation for things were lacking, such as Haden living in a very expensive hotel and not even the school administration asking for proof of his parents. Also, we’re given reasons why Haden wants to be with Theia in her realm, but there’s no talk about why she suddenly dreams of him and how he came to invade them. Also the ending seems a bit rushed. These small issues may take away some enjoyment for readers, but again, Gwen makes up for it with her fabulous writing. With that in mind, I’m giving Falling Under a B+ because this is one YA book that really kept me riveted and interested in seeing if Haden and Theia will have their HEA.

Gwen Hayes is a much welcomed addition to the YA genre and one I’m going to keep my eye on.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hi, my name is Kelly, and I’m addicted to underworlds.

And it’s the fantastic realm of “Under” that, for me, was the best part of Falling Under. Gwen Hayes uses several tropes that have become overused in YA paranormal romance, but the book is better written than many of its peers, and Hayes’ creativity bursts out of the bounds of the formula every time she shows us a scene from Under.

At first, this feels like a lot of books we’ve read before. Reserved, virginal Theia meets a mysterious boy, Haden, at her high school. They’re assigned to work as partners in class. Haden tries to protect Theia from his dark secret, alternating between treating her coldly and being a control freak. When, finally, he withdraws from her life in a last-ditch effort to save her, Theia resorts to self-destructive measures to see him again. Sleeping pills, in a scene that chilled me more than any underworld beastie in the book.

An additional issue is Theia’s father who, we are told, is stiflingly overprotective. Many YA characters have neglectful parents who conveniently evaporate so their kids can have their adventures unimpeded. Having an overprotective parent struck me as a refreshing change, not to mention more relatable for me based on my own personal experience! I thought the dream sequences — more about those later — were a clever way for Hayes to give Theia adventures even though she was restricted in the real world. Unfortunately, though, Theia’s father does vanish for much of the book and seems more akin to the usual absent parents than he’s meant to be. I know about overprotective fathers, and it doesn’t seem realistic that he would go on a business trip and leave her in the house alone. He’d take her along, or else bring in Auntie Horrible to babysit.

But when I was frustrated with the first half of Falling Under, the dream sequences kept me reading. Theia visits a strange place in her dreams, one that’s both beautiful and nightmarish, and where her relationship with Haden is rather different from the one that exists in the waking world. Later, when Theia is taken bodily into Under, it makes for terrific reading. It’s as if Twilight suddenly turned into Pan’s Labyrinth. Creepy, yet filled with strange beauty, Under is incredibly compelling.

The other great part about Falling Under is the friendships. The bond between Theia and her quirky friends, which later includes several endearing guys as well, is wonderful. Nowhere is this more evident than in the most un-clichéd prom scene I’ve read in YA literature. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but what happens is way more interesting than the stereotypical scene where it’s an enchanted evening and the protagonists get to feel like princes and princesses for a few hours. (And really, how many of us really had proms that lived up to that fantasy anyway?)

I also liked seeing Theia finally develop a backbone, though it’s a little bothersome that it only happens when a guy enters her life. I can deal with that, though, since one of the people she learns to stand up to is Haden himself.

The latter half of Falling Under is enjoyable enough that I very nearly gave the book a fourth star — but in the end decided I was too disturbed by the scene mentioned above in spoiler text; I felt it was romanticized too much. I do look forward to reading more of Gwen Hayes’s books in the future, and can’t wait to see more of Under.

[Diana~ (Kiss Me Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Gwen Hayes's first debut, this book was pretty amazing. The flow of the story, the intricate characters and the writing that the author creates was just mesmorizing. I can't stop thinking about it! Plus, I'm also a sucker for tortured heroes... and Haden Black is that one. I didn't think I would have shed so many tears for these two people who, even though they loved each other, could not be together. Falling Under is a story about finding the love of your life and fighting for what you believe in, as well as the confounding emotion of wanting someone so much that you might end up hurting them. It was beautifully written and I'm dying to read the second installment of this series! If you're into dark paranormal romance with plenty of sexual undertones everywhere, then this is the book for you. I mean holy cow, Haden is one sexy and emotional hero who loves deeply and pretty much darkly .

My favorite quote from Haden was this:

“Darkness lives in me, Theia. Inside of me. Like a sickness. And right next to it, intertwined with it, are my feelings for you. If I act on one, I’ll act on the other. The darkness in me wants you the way a black hole eats stars. I dream of tasting you, devouring you.” His eyes darkened terribly.

This isn’t a crush; it’s an obsession. You are never not in my thoughts. Your scent carries across a room and paralyzes me with longing. I don’t want to hold your hand. Part of me wants to set you on fire and hold you while the flame consumes us both, to eat your heart so I know that only I possess it entirely. Are you scared now? Does your human mind comprehend the danger at last? I’m not like you. I’m not human, not completely anyway.”

There were times when I wanted to smack Theia because she was one of those heroines... that needed 'saving.' She was characterized as an obedient daughter who wanted to break out of her shell, but never actually could or wanted to. It went on for awhile until one day, everything changed. I have to admit, the author created a pretty unique story in which the world in which Haden lived in was just so dark and beautiful.

Haden claims that he is evil and in a sense, that is true. He is part of something that will irrevocably change Theia's life forever and I think that is what makes this book so damn mind blowing! The ending was especially that because of the sudden twist in the story as well as the change in the POV. I never would have thought that the author would switch up the story like that. Either way, this was a wonderful story that definitely deserves attention! THIS, is how a YA Paranormal story should be written.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

It all starts when Theia sees a burning man fall from the sky. After that she begins having strange and creepy dreams about a boy she's never seen before. Things become even weirder when she finds out he's the newest student in school. For some reason, he acts cold towards her, treating her the opposite of how he does in her dreams. She can't figure him out, and although she knows there's something not quite right about him, she can't stop herself from getting close to him.

I thought the first half of Falling Under was similar to what is seen in a lot of YA paranormals. There's the underconfident girl (Theia), who is drawn to the new, mysterious boy (Haden) at school. And even though the new boy seems to be interested in her as well, he's not exactly nice to her and tells her to stay away. But she can't and neither can he. Sound familiar? Well, I think that's why it was a bit of a struggle for me getting through the beginning of the book.

While the first half didn't stand out to me, I thought the last half of the story made up for it. Things started getting interesting the moment Haden revealed what he was and his purpose for being there. I don't believe I've read a YA paranormal with that type of paranormal creature. It explained why Haden treated Theia the way he did. The last part of the book wasn't quite perfect though. The entire book was a bit fast paced, and I was fine with that, but I would have liked to learn more about Haden's world near the end. Overall, I liked what we did get.

After finishing the book, there were some things I was left wondering about like Why was Theia immune to Haden's Lure? and How do Theia and Haden adjust? If there's a sequel, which I really hope there is, I will definitely check it out.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay where do I even begin with this book?



Our “heroine” turns out to be seriously dull. She was just, the most boring main character I have ever read about... and I’ve read Hush Hush so that says something. Ugh, and I knew it from the start too, when she is laying on her bed pensively reading her book in her nightgown thinking really deep thoughts. You’re 17! Go out with friends! Read a magazine! Do something slightly interesting! I guess I’m not one to talk, because I’m 17 and I love reading, but she makes it sound like she’s reading Shakespeare while listening to Mozart.



But don’t worry, after this you will definitely be entertained by this book, not because it’s genuinely a funny book, but because it is so ridiculous. I laughed SO FREAKING HARD when Theia and Haden first meet. So while the virginal princess is sitting in her room listening to Beethoven or some shit, she looks out her window and sees Haden falling from the sky on fire. While he is falling out of the sky like a meteor, Theia isn’t shocked by the falling aspect, or the fire aspect, no… she discerns something strange about his eyes. Yes, because his eyes are the only weird thing in that situation.



But that’s not even the best part. When she goes outside to try to help Haden, he looks at her, and with his dying breath he says “worth…the…fall”. BAHAHAHAAHA yeah, because apparently being set on fire and falling god knows how far to the ground, was all worth it just to see her face.



And do you know why Hayden was apparently so in love with Theia in the first place? Because he saw her playing the violin. Right, because that’s what guys are really after… your violin skills. Protect your instruments girls, from the predators of the world. I mean when my mom told me that guys are only after one thing, I had no idea she was talking about musical talent.



Okay I have been mocking this book mercilessly without even telling you exactly why I hated it so much. Honestly, I absolutely abhor the characters. That’s right, abhor. I’ve already told you why I dislike Theia. She’s boring, sheltered, boring, helpless, and just so god-damn boringggggggg! But I’ll tell you why I hate Haden so much. First of all, he’s a hell demon and he acts like it. Second of all, he just says the creepiest things. At one point he says something about wanting to eat Theia's heart or something so that he knows it always belongs to him...



Third, there was this scene where he dances with dry humps this other girl while making purposeful eye contact with Theia, because he knows that Theia can feel it with some kind of weird-ass demon connection. Ew. Just, ew.



I guess all I’m trying to say is if you like good books… don’t read this.



Check out the rest of my reviews on my blog Read All Night, Sleep All Day

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was looking for a specific book, I found this book, the cover and title caught my eyes and I bought it; I wasn't sorry, I just opened the first chapter to read it and suddenly I found myself reaching chapter 6, and I couldn't put the book down, or stop thinking about it.



This book will surprise you and will keep you wondering what will happen next, it has everything from great characters to creepy dreams and dark moments. In some ways the book reminds me a lot of Peter Pan and Wendy but in a darker sense and mostly for older people.



The only thing you should know before starting is this: Down is Up, and Up is Down. Enjoy!

[♥ Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all thank you to Goodreads! I won an ARC of this book through their first reads program!

I loved it! This is a wonderful and different paranormal that involves no Vampires or Werewolves, nor any Angels or Fairies!

It's about Theia, a very withdrawn and sheltered young girl who lives with her extremely overprotective and strict father.

When a burning man falls from the sky, everything starts to change.

When the totally hot new guy, Haden Black, starts school, Theia is drawn to him and she can't figure out why he seems so familiar...

...he's the one from her dreams..!

The writing is beautiful and the chemistry between Haden and Theia captivating! I also really like all of the secondary characters..

I'm really hoping for a sequel to this one!

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 1 out of 5]

My very own goth Mr. Darcy. Jane Austen would be so proud.

I can't finish this. It's too terrible for words.
My third one-star rating this year.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I must say thank you to the GoodReads First Reads program for the ARC!!!! I won a copy through the Goodreads giveaway!!

Falling Under was a very unique story and not the usual YA Paranormal books. No Vampires, No Werewolves, and No Fairies, oh my. It was so well written and Gwen Hayes did a fantastic job at describing things that it was so easy to picture. There were some parts of the book that were a little slow but definitely nothing that made me put the book down.

Theia can't help feel this draw she has for the new boy Haden, whom she dreamt about before his arrival at school. The pull is so strong she dreams of him every night. She feels the need to be near him and feels when he is around before she can even see him. All Thiea wants is to be with Haden but yet Haden as his own agenda.

As Haden begins to get his plan in motion, he also starts to fall for Theia. One minute he has to be near her, the next he is teasing her and shutting her out. Theia doesn't seemed fazed at all by any of Haden's games or words. She knows deep down that Haden feels it too and she sets out to conquer him. Grant it Haden can be a jerk to her but you soon find out that there is a good reason for her to stay away from him.

With her best friends Ameila (a natural raw talent of physic abilities) and Donny (the over protective non-believer hard core realist) they soon discover there is more to Haden than meets the eye. Her best friends will do whatever is necessary to save Theia in the end. We only hope it will be enough.

I must say Gabe was definately a good character. I loved how he was able to break through Donny's (Donetella's) walls and her rough exterior to appreciate her for what she truly is. A person that will do anything for her friends. Varnie, what's not to like about Varnie. I only hope that Amelia will start to see him the way he sees her, rather than her obsession with Mike who is definitley a few bricks short of a load.

I definitely thought I had the book figured out and new how the book would end. Well, I was wrong and the way it ended was a huge shocker for me. I did not see it coming at all and that is what I loved the most. I am assuming with the way Falling Under ended there is going to be a sequel. At least I hope there is a sequel. One that I can't wait to read. I look forward taking the ride with the characters.

[Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Falling Under. It was a deeply sensual and provocative love story between two beings of two different worlds.
Let me just say that I love Haden. He was so mysterious, creepy, yet romantic and just plain amazing! I could really feel the connection between the characters. He´s the bad “guy” in the mysterious world and I loved all the romance & the twists!

Hayes is a talented writer who has blended horror and romance fantastically with this book.
It was beautifully written and I'm dying to read the second installment of this series! If you're into dark paranormal fairytale filled with love, magic, horror and with plenty of sexual undertones everywhere, then this is the book for you.

[Torzilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must say that, aside from a few issues, I actually did enjoy FALLING UNDER. It is unfortunate to say that while this book was enjoyable overall, I do not think its heroine will leave any lasting impressions on me. But before I critique the not-so-good, let me list what I enjoyed about the story.

First of all, FALLING UNDER is wonderfully devoid of any love triangles. Yes, I'm sure a lot of people can probably imagine my relief reading a story that doesn't have me wanting to strangle a girl for leading two guys on. This point alone earns one star in my book, since that means FU is unique in comparison to its fellow YA debuts. VERY unique at the moment.

Second, I absolutely LOVED the secondary characters in this book! It took me a while to warm up to them, probably due to a slow start, but once I did, I was enamored. I thought that the interactions were cute and somewhat realistic. Well, up until a certain part in the story, at least. I think what I loved most about the characters was the bond between all three girls. It was touching and something one does not necessarily witness in novels as often as I would like. I wish every single person had a support group like Theia had.

Finally, I thought that Gwen did a wonderful job at making the chemistry between Theia and Haden believable. There were some moments where I was tempted to fan myself because there was so much sexual tension. I think I blushed at one point in particular. And the nice part about it? FALLING UNDER wasn't overwhelmed by all the sexy-ness like some of Penguin's other debuts have been. I thought this one was tastefully done.

However, despite the tension, I wasn't sold so much on the love between the two characters. I definitely think they were in lust with each other initially, but when Theia announces that she thinks she's in love with Haden? I thought it was rushed and announced way too soon. It took some of the magic away for me. And of course, like most heroines, she becomes a hormonal doofus after such a proclamation who is easily reduced to tears. That I could have done without.

Theia in general is the "untouchable" heroine placed upon a high pedestal no thanks to her control freak of a Father (Father is always capitalized in this book like he's some sort of god-like figure). Time and time again readers are told that she is level-headed and rational in comparison to her friends. Yet despite how much more "mature" she is, the second a guy walks into the picture, all rationality is abandoned as she falls into lust with the unlikely, douche-y hero who's really just a puppy deep down.

Her voice was another issue. It was so hard for me to relate with her character. She states that all she does, due to her father's influence, is go to school and play the violin. She tries to come off as boring amongst her peers, and because of that, she was boring for me too. I thought that, while all of Theia's friends were developed, Theia and her father were more two-dimensional.

My primary problem with Theia's character is actually an issue I have with a lot of books: the heroine drops everything due to an obsession with the "forbidden" boy. I know girls at any age can get obsessive, but I don't think it's something that should be reinforced in books too. Maybe that's just me, though. I felt the only way Theia came alive in the story was because of Haden. I'm not particularly a fan of a pointless life that suddenly finds meaning because one's "soulmate" saunters into the picture. What happens when they're gone? Go read this book and you'll see exactly what happens. Or go read the second book in the Twilight series.

This cool, collected individual is willing to sacrifice her soul in the name of love. It's a romantic concept, the idea of sacrificing something--not necessarily a person's soul, though--and one that I do love to read in paranormal romances assuming the hero sacrifices something in return. It's not realistic, though. Oh wait, it's a paranormal book. I don't care. I don't think any teenager would willingly obey their father to the extent Theia did in this story unless they were physically/mentally/emotionally abused and/or brainwashed, and I don't think any teenager is going to sacrifice their soul in order to attain their HEA (which, by the way, Theia does not receive in this book). Not in this day and age. Well maybe some might, but I think they'll learn right away a HEA is not something one attains via soul sacrificing procedures.

While I'm discussing Theia's relationship with her father... all I have to say is HOLY CRAP at that one scene where they finally discuss her mother's death. I think I would have preferred if her dad was like any other negligent YA parent. One comment in particular made me actually pity Theia's character and truly made me despise her father. Not sure if that was the author's intention or not.

I digress though. I suppose Gwen wanted to appeal to the hopeless romantic in her readers, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. And I must, despite my commentary, give the author props for empowering our heroine by the end of the book. I think that books that empower the female protagonists are few and far in between. I only wish Theia grew more of a backbone earlier on...

I believe that fans of NEVERMORE will enjoy FALLING UNDER. The trippy scenes in NEVERMORE and some of the Under scenes in FALLING UNDER were very similar in nature, though I think FU was more subdued in a way. The secondary characters are fun once the story picks up, and the writing is accessible, both bonuses, but Theia left me disappointed. I believe many will enjoy this book overall, and I recommend that everyone checks this book out--especially if you enjoyed HUSH, HUSH or NEVERMORE.

[James Tullos · Rating 3 out of 5]

The demon lore makes no sense. It's just silly enough to make me chuckle though.

[Rachel Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bleh…

Average teenage girl (who doesn’t realize she’s really the most beautiful person alive) with super-controlling (but oblivious, and conveniently out-of-town when anything interesting happens) parent becomes the object of obsession of paranormal boy.

While the writing wasn’t anything special, the first half of this book was three stars. The heroine is interesting. She’s British, rich, a violinist, absolutely controlled by her father, and yet has odd-ball friends. She keeps having bizarre (like out of the movie Labyrinth bizarre) dreams focused around a somewhat evil boy. Then the boy shows up at her high school as a transfer student.

The question of who he is and what is going on kept things moving right along until about half way when the entire story fell apart (zero stars). Let me give you an example of what I mean. ***Mild Spoiler, but nothing that gives the story away.***

For the first half of the book the girl and the boy can’t touch. He tells her over and over again that if they touch, dire things will happen. It is implied that he will kill her or she will die on the spot, or something like that. So they dance without touching and sit next to each other (with feelings of longing dancing in the air between them) and think about touching. All very romantic.

I’m reading along when I suddenly realize that hey… SHE IS LEANING ON HIS CHEST. HE JUST KISSED HER FORHEAD. There is no build up to this. No worry about if she’ll make it out of the contact alive. It just happens and then they move on, keep touching, and the whole touching thing is never dealt with again.
What??? It’s a whole bunch of build up that leads to a big, fat nothing.

Here we have the second half of the book. Don’t get me wrong. Things do happen. Mysteries are solved and new dangers are faced. But the story itself kind of died for me and the revelation of who he is, what the dreams mean, what dangers they face all became kind of cartoonish. (and clichéd. The opening of the book with a burning man floating gently down from the night sky in front of <>’s bedroom window was interesting. Nothing else in the entire book lives up to that moment.)

The plot is unbelievably thin. The paranormal world-building makes almost no sense and wasn’t very deep. One of my big pet peeve moments was (**again mild spoiler, but not giving away the plot**) the catastrophe that happened at the high school. It was on the level of Columbine (but not anything like Columbine) and happened on a Friday. On Monday the kids all go back to school as normal with just a bunch of counselors in the gym in case anyone needed to talk. WHAT? Just physically fixing the school building (the kids broke out all the windows and jumped from the second story) would take longer than two days. And this is happening in California. Three quarters of the parents would have pulled their kids from the school and sued the school district rather then send them back.

My second pet peeve was the nature of the paranormal boy. I won't give away what he is (**but if you don't like clues, don't read this anyway**), but he is a sexual version of that paranormal being. "I'm a sex __________," he says. It has very little to do with the plot and makes no difference whatsoever to pretty much anything. So why have that be his nature? (Why? Why? Why?)

Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now. Final verdict: Don’t bother with this one.

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohmygosh! I absolutely loved this fantastic book. It sent shivers up my spine the whole time I was reading it. And since I'm a violin player myself, I especially liked the way Gwen Hayes portrayed the emotion that comes with playing the violin. It can definitely transport you to a whole other world. I loved the romance and it was refreshing to feel Haden's passion for Theia and the way they fit so nicely together like they've always known each other.

This is not instant-love like Twilight. It's a retelling of Persephone, but in a whole other way. Haden is just hot and he actually cares about Theia. I would say that this is more along the lines of a soul mate trying to stay away to save his love, but it's impossible. Forces keep throwing them together.

[beautyliterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.25/5 stars

I'm not gonna lie I was kinda curious which had me pushing through but unfortunately the story itself was lackluster from the main character to the style of writing to the romance itself.

[BOOK BUTTERFLY · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars

What I enjoyed:
I loved the dark, creepy world of Under and the trippy sequences when Theia crossed over into Hayden’s world. Some readers have mentioned how dark this book was, but for me that was a selling point- I actually would’ve liked to spend more time in the macabre, twisted world of Under. I was both repulsed and fascinated by it—the architecture, landscape, inhabitants, you name it. I wanted more, more, more!! Also, for a paranormal romance, Gwen Hayes definitely shocked me with a few surprises— I thought I had Hayden pegged right from the start and turned out there were twists and turns I never saw coming. In addition, the secondary characters such as Theia’s best friends Donny and Ame were so hilarious and well-constructed, I felt like they took on more personality than the main characters themselves (which is a good and bad thing). I loved Donny’s brazen hard outer shell that masked the softer girl inside just wanting to find the right guy who would treat her right. And Ame was very interesting with her psychic tendencies and quiet “suffer in silence” obsession with Mike, the clueless boy from school. Together Theia's best friends were a great contrast with one another and with Theia herself—three girls who couldn’t have been more different but linked together through friendship.

What didn't work for me:
The pacing of FALLING UNDER seemed at odds with itself—the plot sort of stumbled along too slowly for me in the beginning and then sped up too fast toward the end. But here's my main issue with the book—once again we have another YA storyline where the main protagonist falls in love with the supernatural boy way-y-y-y too quickly. I know that teen girls tend to crush hard (I was a teen once too), but at the same time it gets under my skin to not end—to the point where I am wondering, do I even want to read YA paranormal romance anymore? Now, while in theory I can appreciate the romantic notion of sacrificing one's life for love, I felt mostly horrified at how willing Theia was to just throw her life away (literally and figuratively) for a guy she just met and knew so little about, beyond the fact that he was extremely good looking. I feel like this is a trend being glorified in Young Adult, and it bothers me. I wanted more from Theia- she was a smart, well-disciplined young woman. To see her so eager to be consumed by Hayden and lose her identity in becoming his love interest, did not sit well with me.

Gwen Hayes did such a good job in painting a portrait of a young woman stifled by her overbearing father, that it was oftentimes hard to relate to Theia. I think that's why I felt more connected to her best friends—those two girls had more of the mannerisms and speech that I could personally relate to. Theia came off as either very stiff to me, or conversely, very swoony and it was hard for me to catch up with her.

It's a tricky thing when you are a reviewer – I try to take on books that I think will be a runaway hit for me, but when they end up falling short of the mark, there's nothing more painful and stress-inducing than knowing I have to put my negative thoughts down on paper. I can't help but wonder—is the problem just with me? Are my reading tastes evolving out of YA? Do I need to switch to adult? I don't know the answers to these questions yet, but I do want to point something out-- despite my own trepidation, I know that FALLING UNDER will appeal to a certain type of reader and many people will connect and appreciate the story. There is definitely a solid audience out there for this type of book—sadly- I think I'm just not one of them anymore. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try it if you are interested in the premise.

Bottom Line: FALLING UNDER does have a lot going for it—the murky world of Under was fascinating and the book does have a lot of series potential. I may not be picking up the sequel, but I will support Gwen's writing by checking out her future works

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit a personal bias in terms of loving Gwen Hayes writing - she has a wonderful sense of humor and attention to character detail, and I've enjoyed a number of her self-pubbed stories, especially in the realistic fiction realm. So when I heard she was releasing her first full YA novel, I jumped at the chance to read it, even moreso knowing she'd penned an urban fantasy/paranormal romance, despite how common/popular the genres become in recent years. But reading "Falling Under", an alternate, modern retelling of Persephone's descent, did have some heavy derivative elements that have populated the genre as late, and the beginning is really slow. Dark mysterious boy (Haden) who's obviously a bad influence on said girl (Theia) despite repeated warnings. Yet, aforementioned girl and boy do not want to separate, desperate to be together, and will go at great lengths to try to tempt their fate.

What makes it stand above the crowd, however, is her use of humor and dark, animated imagery (dancing skeletons, anyone?). Even in areas where one can see where the plot's going, Hayes doesn't hesitate to poke fun at the events from time to time and have the characters be very self-aware. The characters themselves are well crafted, especially the supporting cast. Theia does seem a bit two-dimensional, but as she begins to change with the events of the story, she becomes a much more interesting character to watch, and it leads into an intriguing place that makes a good jumping point for a sequel. I personally had a partial like/venomous hatred for Haden because he acts like a jerk to Theia, working all kinds of angles to make her jealous and/or hate him, while denying how he truly feels about her. I think that's intentional, but it still made my teeth grind against each other and I feel like many YA paranormal romance novels would be better off if they didn't follow this formula, but...*shrugs*.

I'm definitely interested in reading the next novel in this series to see where it goes, but recommending this novel registers a more lukewarm reaction from me. I think paranormal romance fans and those who enjoy reinterpretations of myths will like it, but I warn that it is a very derivative story with only some sparks that set it apart. As long as you're not expecting too much, it's enjoyable.

Nice audiobook readings from Lucy Rayner and Dan Bittner. I don't think the narrations in themselves enhanced my enjoyment of the book in particular, but they were good for getting into the voices of the characters.

Overall score: 3/5

[Mizuki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had expected to be entertained by dark dreams and shadows and mysteries when I picked this book up, but I ended up getting none of them.

I picked up this book merely because Goodreads keeps suggesting me to read it after I read Kelly Creagh's Nevermore. Curiosity got the better of me so here I am, ready to share with you my discovery:

First, if you happened to dislike Nevermore, you can forget about reading Falling Under, because the latter honestly fails to outshine the former.

Secondly, be warned that you will have to endure 200 pages of boredom and bland teenage romance before things gets better in the second act.

Third, there're some mention of sex but the result is rather awkward.

However, despite of all my complaints, I still think the author has a good sense of humor with her, the major plot twists in the second act and how this story ends is pretty brilliant.

I also like how the female MC has support from her female friends (who are likable characters), although I don't like said female MC so much before she made her sacrifice in the second act.

For me, it's difficult not to compare Falling Under with Nevermore. One of my major complaints is, Nevermore manages to paint a vivid, gothic, darkly attractive dreamscape and brings all the nightmarish creatures to life right in front of our eyes, but Falling Under never quite manages to do that.

My other complaint is that there's far too much Tell, Not Show in the story. For example, I was beat over the head repeatedly that the male lead Haden is a gorgeous, addictive guy, but his charm is never translated well through the writing.

As to the romance...........OMG this one is just painful, I will skip it.

Still, the story is entertaining enough, so I will still suggest you to give it a try.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heh. This is a really hard book to review. There were times I wanted to give it 5 stars, and then times I wanted to give it 1 star.

The Good
The plot really wasn't bad at all. Some parts of it felt like I was reading a description of a Tim Burton movie ( more Corpse Bride, less Batman). Those parts were very cool.
Theia's friends, Donny and Amelia? Wow. I was blown away with how well they were written!
The last few chapters where Hayes turns everything upside down? Very cool. In fact, that's probably the biggest reason I ended up giving it more stars than I originally planned.

The Not So Good
Theia and Hayden are very possibly the most melodramatic couple ever. At some point, towards the middle of the book, I had to remind myself I would later regret poking my eyes out. Seriously, the dialogue was so overblown that my gag reflex started to kick in.

In the end, I'm glad I soldiered through the drama. I'm undecided on whether or not I'll rush out to read Dreaming Awake, though.

[jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Thoughts: I was so unbelievably excited when I won this from a GoodReads First Reads giveaway. First, it was a debut author. Second, OH MY, that cover. Third, the premise sounded so interesting. I had a heck of a time waiting until 2011 so that this would count toward the 2011 Debut Author Challenge, but I jumped in as soon as I could.

I hate to say it, but I was disappointed.

Theia definitely embraced the TSTL tendencies. I couldn't connect with her at all. In the first chapter, we find out that Theia a very introverted girl, well-mannered and raised by her exceedingly strict father. Who, by the way, is creepily referred to as Father throughout the book. I didn't know if he was supposed to be an enemy or a good guy. Anyway, once Theia starts dreaming about Mysterious Guy and he shows up at school in all his menacing glory, all hell breaks loose. This is definitely a case of showing instead of telling. I find it very hard to believe that Theia falls desperately in love with Haden after the lack of development in their "relationship." For example, she witnesses him having his hands all over practically any girl he can get his hands on, but because he's looking at her when he's getting his grope on, that makes her swoon. Additionally, when she finds out exactly what Haden is and that he would likely kill her in a moment, she gets all hot and bothered and wants to make out with him. I get that Theia is sheltered and hasn't had much experience with boys, but I would hope she'd have some sort of self-respect.

Haden, on the other hand, was intriguing at first. Not as a love interest, but as an anomaly. I couldn't put my finger on what he was and that amped up the suspense. It was genuinely creepy, the dangerous things that would happen when Haden got pissed off. Unfortunately, Haden's character could not keep my interest piqued. This love story quickly transformed into the "I love you." "You can't love me. It's not safe." "But I love you." "I shouldn't. I'll hurt you." I've grown so freaking weary of that kind of romance.

The plot, while intriguing at first, became a bit disjointed towards the end and I couldn't quite understand what was happening or why it was happening. I know that's entirely vague, but I cannot say too much about it without giving away a rather large portion of the plot... and Haden's TRUE IDENTITY.

I did enjoy some of the characters. Donny and Amelia had a healthy amount of personality and I love how Donny would always put Theia in her place. My favorite part about the entire book? Varnie, the hip surfer-dude/cross-dressing psychic woman. I'll admit I cracked a smile. I really, really wanted to enjoy this novel and I can imagine that people who aren't yet sick of the whole murderously dangerous guy/oblivious girl scene will gobble this up, but it just didn't work for me.

Perhaps I'll just stare at the cover a little while longer and all will be well.