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Foxblood #1
A Brush with the Moon
Sophie’s finally happy. Away from home & back with her best friend, she’s doing the one thing in the world she loves, art. Life’s perfect, or is it? Something’s strange about her new home. People are dying; an old house pulls her towards its doors. Sophie’s changing too; is it the recent fox bite? All becomes clear when she meets the seductive Sebastian and learns his family’s secret.
279 pages, ebook
First published August 13, 2010
596 people are currently reading
2004 people want to read
About the author
Raquel Lyon
24 books96 followersRaquel Lyon is an English author, who writes YA fantasy and NA contemporary romance stories. Her heroines are kinda kooky, her heroes slightly devilish, and her romance a bit on the raunchy side. If the sun is out, so is she. She has a crazy sugar addiction, loves a good curry, and eats ice cubes as if they’re going out of fashion.
She currently lives near Pendle Hill with her partner, two teenage daughters, and Florence the bunny rabbit.
She currently lives near Pendle Hill with her partner, two teenage daughters, and Florence the bunny rabbit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
February 3, 2015
I started this with mild interest (a fox changer could be interesting, I think). Unfortunately, the author has a quirk where she gets vague or skips details or jumps ahead in time for reasons I couldn't fathom. It's almost like she was impatient to get to the parts that were interesting to her and expected those to be the same parts that would be interesting to her readers. And who knows? She may be right in that assessment. For me, though, I just couldn't connect. There were too many open questions and enough skipped detail that I felt estranged from events (like having my ears muffled in cotton or a gauze sheet draped over my eyes).
June 14, 2014
I am extremely easy to please when it comes to reading. If you check out my rating for the many other books on my "read" list, my ratings are proof of that. However, I am not at all a fan of this book. The writing style was ok, but did not flow. I found much of the dialogue unflattering to the characters. The ONLY character I developed any kind of soft spot for was Conner. Sophie is portrayed as way too immature for her age. And her "love interest" is not at all inspiring. Sebastian was a cocky jerk in my opinion. There was nothing like able about him. Their is no emotion in the characters, other than the brief times Conner's feelings shine through. They all seem so cold and rather bland. The book ended with a cliff hanger, but not a very good one. It was a bit abrupt. The only thing I found myself wanting to know at the end was whether Sophie would be dumb enough to stay with Sebastian, and where Conner had gone. It drives me crazy to not know how something may play out, but I think I will deal with it this time. I'm sorry for putting someone's work down, but I feel I owe it to anyone thinking of trying out this series. Others have rated the book pretty high, however, so obviously some have enjoyed it. To each their own.
April 8, 2016
Only finished this book out of morbid curiosity of how much worse it could get.
Book has a very strange habit of suddenly skipping forward in time without any page formatting to indicate that this is happening, one scene will finish and then a new scene will start in the next paragraph. It felt jarring because typically most books would do a page break or at least a bit of a spacer and a line across the page when this happens. Feels like a messy first draft that didn't get the fine tooth comb it needed, or fanfiction. This seems to be a symptom of an overarching problem.
Our protagonist is a homebody that only wants to paint and not live a dead end life in a small town moves away from home for college. She isn't interested in boys, more concerned with studying so she can avoid a life of being a dissatisfied supermarket clerk like her mother. She's always had vivid recurring dreams/nightmares involving a set of "intoxicating eyes." This is a motivation that I can get behind, making sure that your foundations are good, and worrying about boys later once you've got a solid footing. She flip flops pretty much as soon as she sees the guy with the eyes from her dreams, and
In general the protagonist is inconsistent in her behavior. She spends 7-8 chapters mostly disinterested in guys, at most curious about Seb because he has the eyes she saw in her dreams. She gets a tad jealous over a girl draping herself over him in chapter 6, but besides eyeing Seb and getting ruffled when he hit on her (acceptable range of variation I think), she maintains a non-romantic stance.
Chapters 3-6 she isn't interested, and immediately brushes Vincent off every time he comes on to her.
Chapter 8 reveals that in the interim since the end of chapter 7 she got drunk and didn't stop Vincent from draping himself over her and feed her strawberries at the party. But she maintains that she's disinterested during her hangover the next morning.
But then
Bonus points for a gay character, minus points for him being a background character that has no impact on the story and is a cliche gay best friend stereotype.
The book ends in an abrupt cliffhanger, and the last act is disappointing, leading me uninterested in reading any more.
This book has some good ratings, to each their own. Personally the material is too derivative (of the supernatural boyfriend/Mary-Sue heroine protagonist variety) and the characters too flat, selfish jersk or self-contradictory to empathize with or like.
Book has a very strange habit of suddenly skipping forward in time without any page formatting to indicate that this is happening, one scene will finish and then a new scene will start in the next paragraph. It felt jarring because typically most books would do a page break or at least a bit of a spacer and a line across the page when this happens. Feels like a messy first draft that didn't get the fine tooth comb it needed, or fanfiction. This seems to be a symptom of an overarching problem.
Our protagonist is a homebody that only wants to paint and not live a dead end life in a small town moves away from home for college. She isn't interested in boys, more concerned with studying so she can avoid a life of being a dissatisfied supermarket clerk like her mother. She's always had vivid recurring dreams/nightmares involving a set of "intoxicating eyes." This is a motivation that I can get behind, making sure that your foundations are good, and worrying about boys later once you've got a solid footing. She flip flops pretty much as soon as she sees the guy with the eyes from her dreams, and
In general the protagonist is inconsistent in her behavior. She spends 7-8 chapters mostly disinterested in guys, at most curious about Seb because he has the eyes she saw in her dreams. She gets a tad jealous over a girl draping herself over him in chapter 6, but besides eyeing Seb and getting ruffled when he hit on her (acceptable range of variation I think), she maintains a non-romantic stance.
Chapters 3-6 she isn't interested, and immediately brushes Vincent off every time he comes on to her.
Chapter 8 reveals that in the interim since the end of chapter 7 she got drunk and didn't stop Vincent from draping himself over her and feed her strawberries at the party. But she maintains that she's disinterested during her hangover the next morning.
But then
Bonus points for a gay character, minus points for him being a background character that has no impact on the story and is a cliche gay best friend stereotype.
The book ends in an abrupt cliffhanger, and the last act is disappointing, leading me uninterested in reading any more.
This book has some good ratings, to each their own. Personally the material is too derivative (of the supernatural boyfriend/Mary-Sue heroine protagonist variety) and the characters too flat, selfish jersk or self-contradictory to empathize with or like.
December 29, 2012
Holy son of a Monkey’s Uncle. This book has everything that you could ever want in a novel. There are shifters, vamps, demons, inter-dimensional travel, a rotating love triangle, and the real life of a university student complete with trials, tribulations, and parties. Yes, this book is about werewolves and vampires, but that is where the similarity to most other books of the genre ends. Lyon takes this basic premise and runs far and fast with it, giving her audience a novel that cannot be put down.
Lyon manages to work in little bits of background information throughout the story, giving her readers the pertinent information when necessary. This means that there is no long, drawn out lull where all background information is given. This is masterfully done. She also uses vivid descriptions and backgrounds to set up her story without being long winded or confusing. Even the town names are fittingly symbolic.
And let’s not forget the cast of characters that we meet in this novel. They are very well developed and suit their lives perfectly. Their interactions with each other are uniquely realistic as well. One moment you are seeing the cattiness of social cliques colliding, followed the next by true friendships, and then again by budding romantic relationships. They are the type of people that you would want to live with in real life.
When pulled all together Lyon`s novel is written in a way that YA and adult readers alike can enjoy. She never once talks down to her audience, nor does she assume that we, as readers, will piece together backgrounds that are not provided. All in all, amazingly done.
Lyon manages to work in little bits of background information throughout the story, giving her readers the pertinent information when necessary. This means that there is no long, drawn out lull where all background information is given. This is masterfully done. She also uses vivid descriptions and backgrounds to set up her story without being long winded or confusing. Even the town names are fittingly symbolic.
And let’s not forget the cast of characters that we meet in this novel. They are very well developed and suit their lives perfectly. Their interactions with each other are uniquely realistic as well. One moment you are seeing the cattiness of social cliques colliding, followed the next by true friendships, and then again by budding romantic relationships. They are the type of people that you would want to live with in real life.
When pulled all together Lyon`s novel is written in a way that YA and adult readers alike can enjoy. She never once talks down to her audience, nor does she assume that we, as readers, will piece together backgrounds that are not provided. All in all, amazingly done.
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October 19, 2018I honestly don't know how to rate this book. While the story was solid, I couldn't get over overused punctuation. The characters are difficult to relate to but I understood their motivation. The ending was rubbish but then again, maybe I was tired of the story by then and hoping to be done with it. Sigh, I guess I'll leave off the rating.
January 12, 2013
I enjoyed this book very much. Sophie is a girl who "school girls" can relate to because she is so serious about her studies, which is a good thing; however, like some students she might carry it too far because everyone needs a balance. She has a special friend who looks out for her and convinces her to have fun and do things that young people like to do.
Sophie meets a boy named Sebastian, a very special boy, who turns into a werewolf. This type of book is not my usual read, but I felt that Sebastian is a very believable character. It's amazing to me when an author (Lyon) is able to write such a character in such a way that the reader "forgets" he is not completely human. At first he seems like a dream come true, but he ended up annoying (more like angering me). However, he still is very realistic as a real-life-male.
I also enjoyed the setting in England, which is a setting that I love for some reason. I also enjoyed the fact that the characters were "older" as they are in college. I've read many books lately where the main characters are in their mid-teens and in high school, so I welcomed the slightly older crowd.
Recommendation: This book is the type of book that if you like werewolves and other non-human characters, I think you'll like this book very much. Even if you don't normally read this type of book, I think it's worth giving it a chance. I think you'll be surprised.
Note: I was given this book free for an honest review. It took me a while to read it due to circumstances, not because of a lack of interest.
Sophie meets a boy named Sebastian, a very special boy, who turns into a werewolf. This type of book is not my usual read, but I felt that Sebastian is a very believable character. It's amazing to me when an author (Lyon) is able to write such a character in such a way that the reader "forgets" he is not completely human. At first he seems like a dream come true, but he ended up annoying (more like angering me). However, he still is very realistic as a real-life-male.
I also enjoyed the setting in England, which is a setting that I love for some reason. I also enjoyed the fact that the characters were "older" as they are in college. I've read many books lately where the main characters are in their mid-teens and in high school, so I welcomed the slightly older crowd.
Recommendation: This book is the type of book that if you like werewolves and other non-human characters, I think you'll like this book very much. Even if you don't normally read this type of book, I think it's worth giving it a chance. I think you'll be surprised.
Note: I was given this book free for an honest review. It took me a while to read it due to circumstances, not because of a lack of interest.
February 17, 2013
Story: interesting
Plot: coherent and interesting
Events: catchy
Characters: charming
Rating: 4 stars
Recommended
This book is similar to The Vampire Diaries in several ways but it is on the werewolves side, for example, the characters;
Sebastian Lovell: Stefan Salvatore
Conner Lovell: Damon Salvatore defiantly the favorite character.
Tyron: Klaus Mikaelson- the man is pure evil.
Vincent: Elijah Mikaelson
All males’ characters are charming the good ones arriving to the bad ones “especially the bad ones.”
And all of them are fighting over the foxy girl ‘Sophie’
Sophie had negative actions just like Elena Gilbert, but she is acceptable.
Beautiful hidden conflict over her between Connor and Sebastian.
But I truly find myself fall for Conner. Always the bad guy cheeky guys take over me.
I really enjoyed this book...
September 7, 2017
I was so hopeful for this book. Around the 80% mark I started to not want to finish it, but there was no way that I could throw it into the Lemmings pile that quickly.
This book has left me wondering...
- So she doesn't turn into a fox?
- So she's immune from being turned into a wolf from a bite?
- So it's normal for the top males in a family to share a female? Is that what was going on?
- Beth's superpower is to walk through walls?
- Do I want to read another?
The answer to the last is not really. Before that last 20% I would have said sure, let's go for another, but I got seriously lost.
This book has left me wondering...
- So she doesn't turn into a fox?
- So she's immune from being turned into a wolf from a bite?
- So it's normal for the top males in a family to share a female? Is that what was going on?
- Beth's superpower is to walk through walls?
- Do I want to read another?
The answer to the last is not really. Before that last 20% I would have said sure, let's go for another, but I got seriously lost.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2013
Rating: 2
The Low Down: Sophie is an extreme homebody, with no interest in going out or having a boyfriend. She’s about to leave for college and be reunited with her best friend, Beth, who is the opposite of Sophie in almost every way. Sophie is an artist, and she is finally going to get out from under the worrying thumb of her mother. Immediately before leaving for college, though, she gets bitten by a fox and suffers some intense hallucinations while she recovers. Once she moves to attend Fosswell University, she starts to have more wild dreams. What can they mean?
Her original plan falling to dust, she meets and falls for the gorgeous Sebastian Lovell. A student at the university, he is completely drawn to her as well. But being together with Sebastian means knowing and being OK with his family history...and what they are. Soon Beth is part of the magic, and when a girl they go to school with is found dead, and then a child, they must work together to find and get rid of the evil that surrounds their deaths.
Best Thang ‘Bout It: I like how Sophie’s hair starts to look like a fox’s tail. I like that they live over an undertaker’s shop (store? I don’t know what you call it). It’s a college-age book which potentially can bring in another layer of early-adult issues. It’s set in England - always nice. There’s a gay character.
I am thankful that the names of the character are interesting without being too soap oper-y.
I’m Cranky Because: Sebastian. Really? The hottest guy in school came across more as the creepiest when he found Sophie in that empty classroom. He got better, for sure, but that initial meeting was weird, and really, until they were officially a couple, he was pretty cheesy. He’s also so competely nonchalant about his family’s secret. And what is up with cousin Connor? He never speaks, yet he does; he’s a loner, yet he’s not; he sneaks up on Sophie more than once and fondles her. Heebie-jeebie inducing, not sexy. This is a love triangle that’s not very aCUTE and makes me feel OBTUSE (get it?).
This book wants to have a lot going on without having to completely commit to the consequences. For example: Sebastian tells Sophie about what he is and she accepts it without much surprise; Seb agrees to let her watch him change into what he is even though it’s dangerous; Beth accepts all without much eye batting; everyone seems all eek! and then whatevs. Each major incident is passed in much the same way. It’s like the characters were used to all sorts of weird and unusual things happening even though, according to the story, this was all new.
The other thing that bothered me was that we didn’t know anything, really, about any kind of otherworldly creatures/powers for a LONG time, and then, they’re everywhere. Vampires, demons, etc. It was a veritable explosion of paranormals, and it made the book feel unbalanced. I’m all for secrets, but this felt more like “Then the vampires come! And then, then we can have, uh, zombies! And magic! And demons would be cool!” Usually you have an inkling about this, but maybe it was lost in translation.
Watch your language. There were MANY MANY MANY UK slang terms and Britishisms that were used. Sometimes, that can really give a richness and context to a book; overused, and the reader can feel like an outsider or just flat-out not understand. Now, admittedly, I come from a long line of Anglophiles, so I was familiar with some and others I could figure out (I think). But I’d rather not spend my time trolling through a slang dictionary while I am reading to make sure I didn’t miss something. Totty? Like sucking an aniseed ball? On the trot? Clueless.
Best Quote: “Look, all men are after one thing...boobs and booty.” Uh, I count...uh, never mind.
The Bottom Line: Honestly? It was a chore to read this book, mainly because there was nothing new. I knew I had to finish it, so I did. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great, either. And if I shake my head and say "Oh, man!" out loud more than once whilst reading, it never ends well.
Foxblood: A Brush With the Moon by Raquel Lyon was published August 13, 2010 by Smashwords. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Author.
The Low Down: Sophie is an extreme homebody, with no interest in going out or having a boyfriend. She’s about to leave for college and be reunited with her best friend, Beth, who is the opposite of Sophie in almost every way. Sophie is an artist, and she is finally going to get out from under the worrying thumb of her mother. Immediately before leaving for college, though, she gets bitten by a fox and suffers some intense hallucinations while she recovers. Once she moves to attend Fosswell University, she starts to have more wild dreams. What can they mean?
Her original plan falling to dust, she meets and falls for the gorgeous Sebastian Lovell. A student at the university, he is completely drawn to her as well. But being together with Sebastian means knowing and being OK with his family history...and what they are. Soon Beth is part of the magic, and when a girl they go to school with is found dead, and then a child, they must work together to find and get rid of the evil that surrounds their deaths.
Best Thang ‘Bout It: I like how Sophie’s hair starts to look like a fox’s tail. I like that they live over an undertaker’s shop (store? I don’t know what you call it). It’s a college-age book which potentially can bring in another layer of early-adult issues. It’s set in England - always nice. There’s a gay character.
I am thankful that the names of the character are interesting without being too soap oper-y.
I’m Cranky Because: Sebastian. Really? The hottest guy in school came across more as the creepiest when he found Sophie in that empty classroom. He got better, for sure, but that initial meeting was weird, and really, until they were officially a couple, he was pretty cheesy. He’s also so competely nonchalant about his family’s secret. And what is up with cousin Connor? He never speaks, yet he does; he’s a loner, yet he’s not; he sneaks up on Sophie more than once and fondles her. Heebie-jeebie inducing, not sexy. This is a love triangle that’s not very aCUTE and makes me feel OBTUSE (get it?).
This book wants to have a lot going on without having to completely commit to the consequences. For example: Sebastian tells Sophie about what he is and she accepts it without much surprise; Seb agrees to let her watch him change into what he is even though it’s dangerous; Beth accepts all without much eye batting; everyone seems all eek! and then whatevs. Each major incident is passed in much the same way. It’s like the characters were used to all sorts of weird and unusual things happening even though, according to the story, this was all new.
The other thing that bothered me was that we didn’t know anything, really, about any kind of otherworldly creatures/powers for a LONG time, and then, they’re everywhere. Vampires, demons, etc. It was a veritable explosion of paranormals, and it made the book feel unbalanced. I’m all for secrets, but this felt more like “Then the vampires come! And then, then we can have, uh, zombies! And magic! And demons would be cool!” Usually you have an inkling about this, but maybe it was lost in translation.
Watch your language. There were MANY MANY MANY UK slang terms and Britishisms that were used. Sometimes, that can really give a richness and context to a book; overused, and the reader can feel like an outsider or just flat-out not understand. Now, admittedly, I come from a long line of Anglophiles, so I was familiar with some and others I could figure out (I think). But I’d rather not spend my time trolling through a slang dictionary while I am reading to make sure I didn’t miss something. Totty? Like sucking an aniseed ball? On the trot? Clueless.
Best Quote: “Look, all men are after one thing...boobs and booty.” Uh, I count...uh, never mind.
The Bottom Line: Honestly? It was a chore to read this book, mainly because there was nothing new. I knew I had to finish it, so I did. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great, either. And if I shake my head and say "Oh, man!" out loud more than once whilst reading, it never ends well.
Foxblood: A Brush With the Moon by Raquel Lyon was published August 13, 2010 by Smashwords. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Author.
July 6, 2016
I've had this book in my Kindle for quite some time. One of those things I got for free or 0.99c and I finally decided to try it. Right off the bat the vernacular was a bit confusing, being American, but nothing Google couldn't fix for me. Plus with Sophie and Sebastian being the main names I gave it a little extra being that they are two of my favorite names ever. Unfortunately Sophie didn't live up to my hopes for her.
Sophie started off almost condescendingly critical of her best friend, Beth's, life. Prude much? I mean Beth is being Beth. Must you judge her so much? It's not your life so butt out! And don't get me started on her petty cat fights with Lara. But then once Sebastian came around (and Vincent, and Connor, and Tyron) she had NOOO problems acting like what she criticized Beth for. That really bothered me. And then the haphazard four way love interest? Yeah. Way too many. Must everyone be in love with this plain, dull girl? Also she clung to Sebastian (and Connor) if ANY little thing startled her. It was damsel in distress to a T and it drove me nuts. Her connection with Tokala wasn't explored enough for her to be interesting enough for me to want to continue on in the hopes that she gains a backbone. She seemed to get sucked into the same situations and was always saved. She could never get herself out and prove herself as a strong heroine. I need that to love a book. Hell, to like.
Overall 1.5 stars because I did finish it. Though there were two specific times near the 80% I almost didnt. I wants to give it a fair chance. It almost seems like it's written for a younger YA population, but then the themes may be too mature. So I am left just wondering what did I read.
Sophie started off almost condescendingly critical of her best friend, Beth's, life. Prude much? I mean Beth is being Beth. Must you judge her so much? It's not your life so butt out! And don't get me started on her petty cat fights with Lara. But then once Sebastian came around (and Vincent, and Connor, and Tyron) she had NOOO problems acting like what she criticized Beth for. That really bothered me. And then the haphazard four way love interest? Yeah. Way too many. Must everyone be in love with this plain, dull girl? Also she clung to Sebastian (and Connor) if ANY little thing startled her. It was damsel in distress to a T and it drove me nuts. Her connection with Tokala wasn't explored enough for her to be interesting enough for me to want to continue on in the hopes that she gains a backbone. She seemed to get sucked into the same situations and was always saved. She could never get herself out and prove herself as a strong heroine. I need that to love a book. Hell, to like.
Overall 1.5 stars because I did finish it. Though there were two specific times near the 80% I almost didnt. I wants to give it a fair chance. It almost seems like it's written for a younger YA population, but then the themes may be too mature. So I am left just wondering what did I read.
October 13, 2014
I'm kinda sad I actually bought this. The ratings were high, amazon reviewers were raving...so I figured it would be worth it.
I was so wrong. This book is choppy and the oddest thing to read. Someone said it was like a very rough first draft of a story and I agree. I can't really explain it except that my 7 year old sister tells story's like this sometimes. She recounts her and her friends antics but trips along the retelling in a reflective slightly sporadic way that can be disjointed. She tells everything and randomly describes bits in painful detail and glosses over other parts, doesn't explain anything and shares selective tidbits of dialogue that add nothing to the story which is exactly what the author does here. For example my sister tells about someone and then oh they went and they did this! And she sat like that and looked like this and talked to so and so who made her feel like this....but before she was friends w so and so, and this one girl is really mean so they aren't anymore...etc etc.
Basically...this book was like standing outside a window looking in at a mundane scene described by someone completely indifferent and wondering why it was supposed to be interesting. Almost everything was anticlimactic and just... Tripped awkwardly along until she unsurprisingly was in lust with Seb aaaand I gave up. I didn't even LIKE Seb before she fell in bed with him it was so fast and weird. There was no emotion, no believable characterization or dialogue, the inner musings were confusing... I'm still not at all sure what exactly I was reading, besides a chronicle of events and stereotypes even the MC was bored with.
Oh and theres a triangle. Just... no.
I was so wrong. This book is choppy and the oddest thing to read. Someone said it was like a very rough first draft of a story and I agree. I can't really explain it except that my 7 year old sister tells story's like this sometimes. She recounts her and her friends antics but trips along the retelling in a reflective slightly sporadic way that can be disjointed. She tells everything and randomly describes bits in painful detail and glosses over other parts, doesn't explain anything and shares selective tidbits of dialogue that add nothing to the story which is exactly what the author does here. For example my sister tells about someone and then oh they went and they did this! And she sat like that and looked like this and talked to so and so who made her feel like this....but before she was friends w so and so, and this one girl is really mean so they aren't anymore...etc etc.
Basically...this book was like standing outside a window looking in at a mundane scene described by someone completely indifferent and wondering why it was supposed to be interesting. Almost everything was anticlimactic and just... Tripped awkwardly along until she unsurprisingly was in lust with Seb aaaand I gave up. I didn't even LIKE Seb before she fell in bed with him it was so fast and weird. There was no emotion, no believable characterization or dialogue, the inner musings were confusing... I'm still not at all sure what exactly I was reading, besides a chronicle of events and stereotypes even the MC was bored with.
Oh and theres a triangle. Just... no.
May 22, 2015
I won a copy of this book in Elle Casey's 2013 January Anniversary Indie Book Giveaway.
This had a lot going for it, and in the beginning I liked it a lot - promising characters in Sophie and her friends, some nice gothic mystery trappings - but as it went on it was rather disappointing.
There is a lot of complex, original supernatural mythology, but it didn't have nearly enough world-building. It was all crammed into one book at a weird kind of fast pace - it almost felt like watching a movie on Fast-Forward! Also, I could never get a real handle on who Sophie was as a person. Her characterization was kind of inconsistent, which was fine for other characters whose motivations remain mysterious to help drive the plot, but mostly just confusing in the lead POV.
I also had issue with the grammar throughout - mostly with commas, or lack thereof. In short, there were some nice ideas here, but it felt more like a first draft than a polished novel.
This had a lot going for it, and in the beginning I liked it a lot - promising characters in Sophie and her friends, some nice gothic mystery trappings - but as it went on it was rather disappointing.
There is a lot of complex, original supernatural mythology, but it didn't have nearly enough world-building. It was all crammed into one book at a weird kind of fast pace - it almost felt like watching a movie on Fast-Forward! Also, I could never get a real handle on who Sophie was as a person. Her characterization was kind of inconsistent, which was fine for other characters whose motivations remain mysterious to help drive the plot, but mostly just confusing in the lead POV.
I also had issue with the grammar throughout - mostly with commas, or lack thereof. In short, there were some nice ideas here, but it felt more like a first draft than a polished novel.
November 20, 2015
I had to create a did not finish shelf because of this book.
I have read a lot of terrible books in my time, but I finish them because I'm rather curious and I need to know what happens. This however went above and beyond bad. There was absolutely no redeeming qualities. They writing was terrible, things are skipped over and the plot jumps around. The characters are about as one dimensional as they come and there is nothing new in this book.
it made me want to gouge out my eyes.
I have read a lot of terrible books in my time, but I finish them because I'm rather curious and I need to know what happens. This however went above and beyond bad. There was absolutely no redeeming qualities. They writing was terrible, things are skipped over and the plot jumps around. The characters are about as one dimensional as they come and there is nothing new in this book.
it made me want to gouge out my eyes.
June 14, 2017
A long read
While I loved the premise of this story it seemed super drawn out. The time it took Sophie to come to terms and learn about her new life was almost halfway through. The romance seemed forced and the whole I like you but I like your cousin thing was a tad awkward in writing. I really wanted to love this but just couldn't get into it.
While I loved the premise of this story it seemed super drawn out. The time it took Sophie to come to terms and learn about her new life was almost halfway through. The romance seemed forced and the whole I like you but I like your cousin thing was a tad awkward in writing. I really wanted to love this but just couldn't get into it.
June 29, 2017
The premise was interesting, but I could not get past the first third. The relationship between Sophie and Sebastian was unrealistic, the dialogue was bad, and there were way too many exclamation points. Maybe I'll try again one day, but for now, I'm not wasting my time on something I'm not enjoying.
June 18, 2017
Okay
This is for teenagers. Too mature for children, too juvenile for adults, unless you really loved "Twilight". If I was able to do it over, I would give this a pass. Also it is full of United Kingdom idioms and phrases probably not familiar to most American readers.
This is for teenagers. Too mature for children, too juvenile for adults, unless you really loved "Twilight". If I was able to do it over, I would give this a pass. Also it is full of United Kingdom idioms and phrases probably not familiar to most American readers.
October 16, 2017
A bit of an entertaining yet frustrating story.
Interesting premise, but lead characters are kind of irritating. Unsure as to whether I'll pursue this series or not. Massive cliffhanger at the end. They leave a great deal unexplained as the story progresses.
Interesting premise, but lead characters are kind of irritating. Unsure as to whether I'll pursue this series or not. Massive cliffhanger at the end. They leave a great deal unexplained as the story progresses.
January 4, 2015
I admit that I didn't get past the 50% mark. I wanted to like it but it was so very average that I didn't have any incentive to keep reading. Writing, plot, characters all meh.
March 17, 2015
This is the worst book I have ever read.
I read all of the Twilight books.
This book. Is the worst book.
So bad.
I read all of the Twilight books.
This book. Is the worst book.
So bad.
November 2, 2020
Sophie is looking forward to getting out of her dead-end town and studying art at a nearby university. She already has plans to live with her best friend Beth who has found a nice apartment above the local undertaker. But a fox bite changes a lot of her plans.
Beth has always had vivid dreams but now her dreams seem to be turning into premonitions. One of the first guys she meets at the university is Sebastian whose eyes have been haunting her dreams for years. Sebastian and his cousin Connor are both attending the university though they are a few years older than Sophie and her friends.
Sebastian introduces her to a whole new world filled with werewolves, vampires, demons and other paranormals. He tells her that she has been chosen by the goddess Tokala to fulfill an epic destiny. Sophie isn't sure what to believe but she is developing strange new powers of her own.
I liked the worldbuilding in this one where their are different worlds each with different varieties of paranormals. It seems that Earth has become something of a battleground where they are all fighting for power.
I didn't really care for Sophie. I didn't like the way she treated her mother or her best friend. I also couldn't quite buy in to the massive personality change she exhibited in the story. She didn't seem like a very nice person and I wondered why the goddess had chosen her for a great destiny. I also thought that she hooked up with the wrong cousin. Connor showed caring and concern for her while Sebastian went off without a word and just left her behind and confused. He also seemed to be careless of her feelings and seemed to find it easy to dismiss her when he had other things to do.
This book is the beginning of a trilogy and the trilogy is part of a much larger sequence of stories set in the same fictional universe that only loosely resembles the real world.
Beth has always had vivid dreams but now her dreams seem to be turning into premonitions. One of the first guys she meets at the university is Sebastian whose eyes have been haunting her dreams for years. Sebastian and his cousin Connor are both attending the university though they are a few years older than Sophie and her friends.
Sebastian introduces her to a whole new world filled with werewolves, vampires, demons and other paranormals. He tells her that she has been chosen by the goddess Tokala to fulfill an epic destiny. Sophie isn't sure what to believe but she is developing strange new powers of her own.
I liked the worldbuilding in this one where their are different worlds each with different varieties of paranormals. It seems that Earth has become something of a battleground where they are all fighting for power.
I didn't really care for Sophie. I didn't like the way she treated her mother or her best friend. I also couldn't quite buy in to the massive personality change she exhibited in the story. She didn't seem like a very nice person and I wondered why the goddess had chosen her for a great destiny. I also thought that she hooked up with the wrong cousin. Connor showed caring and concern for her while Sebastian went off without a word and just left her behind and confused. He also seemed to be careless of her feelings and seemed to find it easy to dismiss her when he had other things to do.
This book is the beginning of a trilogy and the trilogy is part of a much larger sequence of stories set in the same fictional universe that only loosely resembles the real world.
October 20, 2022
She was looking forward to being at the university with her best friend, and even being bitten by a fox one day while painting is something Sophie could forget about with this future to look forward to. At least she would be free and not smothered by her mother, but when she gets to the university, she meets Sebastian. A very handsome, fit young man who makes her feel new and different things. Then there is his cousin, Conner, who doesn’t help with these new sensations, and the way he talks, well, she is not sure she wants to be shared.
Oh, what a great surprise the fox bite was. You know, I thought a bite meant one thing, and well, NOT! So, I was pleasantly surprised by this world with that. Then the cousins! It seems like one is used to having the leftovers of the other, but this is a young adult slash juvenile fantasy, so maybe, it’s my mind that wanders.
Those that like wolf versus vamp will like this read, and of course romance, or should there be another genre, courtship, which means plenty of romance in the courtship phase. So, maybe a sub-genre. Either way, I give this book five stars out of five stars.
Oh, what a great surprise the fox bite was. You know, I thought a bite meant one thing, and well, NOT! So, I was pleasantly surprised by this world with that. Then the cousins! It seems like one is used to having the leftovers of the other, but this is a young adult slash juvenile fantasy, so maybe, it’s my mind that wanders.
Those that like wolf versus vamp will like this read, and of course romance, or should there be another genre, courtship, which means plenty of romance in the courtship phase. So, maybe a sub-genre. Either way, I give this book five stars out of five stars.
October 31, 2020
Started this long ago and lost interest. Began again yesterday. Plain Jane girl with artistic aspirations plans to begin a new life at the university. Just before leaving her small town, she is bitten by a fox while sketching near her home. Once she arrives and begins to attend classes, a whole new world opens up to her. A world of supernatural being totally unknown to her before a bite by a magical fox. It appears she was chosen by a goddess to take over her role in the supernatural world. Problem is she is a tenderfoot and there is no training manual and she must learn about what to do through dreams. With only dreams and a dreamy guide or two to lead her she has to navigate her new life. There are plenty of pitfalls along the way.
November 25, 2017
I read this book as a part of the Strange Worlds Collection.
I love a good shifter/paranormal book but this one fell a little short. Sebastian is just so egotistical, arrogant and plain bossy. I really got over his attitude pretty quickly. I understand that he felt this connection to Sophie but he didn’t always deliver and then expected her to be waiting with open arms. As for Connor, well he also fell a little short in my opinion.
Anyway, it did win some point towards the end when it built up momentum. The book definitely has promise but too many glaring holes. And it may be the case of too little too late.
I love a good shifter/paranormal book but this one fell a little short. Sebastian is just so egotistical, arrogant and plain bossy. I really got over his attitude pretty quickly. I understand that he felt this connection to Sophie but he didn’t always deliver and then expected her to be waiting with open arms. As for Connor, well he also fell a little short in my opinion.
Anyway, it did win some point towards the end when it built up momentum. The book definitely has promise but too many glaring holes. And it may be the case of too little too late.
May 9, 2020
I loved the way that Raquel build a world that had me wandering around it and not wanting to leave. I loved the characters and the different relationship dynamics and how they all worked together. World building is definitely her niche. The world was basically the same as the traditional fantasy world that most authors use but different in somehow.
The only problem I had was that none of the storylines came to fruition in this book which left me a little frustrated and in the air. Usually when an author does that, I won't buy the next book out of principle but I couldn't resist. I read this book in 11 hours, I struggled to put it down, even at 3am this morning.
The only problem I had was that none of the storylines came to fruition in this book which left me a little frustrated and in the air. Usually when an author does that, I won't buy the next book out of principle but I couldn't resist. I read this book in 11 hours, I struggled to put it down, even at 3am this morning.
May 17, 2021
First thought when finishing: Glad that’s over.
The plot in and of itself wasn’t bad. It was just so poorly executed that I really didn’t care and just wanted the story to end.
The book is written in a way similar to a campfire story. Very little dialogue and written like “this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened.” It made the story a little choppy. And it was a weird feeling since you were in the MC’s headspace the entire time – again because very little dialogue – but were still unable to connect to her.
So all in all, a pretty unpleasant read. That second star is for the plot and the plot only.
The plot in and of itself wasn’t bad. It was just so poorly executed that I really didn’t care and just wanted the story to end.
The book is written in a way similar to a campfire story. Very little dialogue and written like “this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened.” It made the story a little choppy. And it was a weird feeling since you were in the MC’s headspace the entire time – again because very little dialogue – but were still unable to connect to her.
So all in all, a pretty unpleasant read. That second star is for the plot and the plot only.
March 4, 2019
The story is a good one, but the writing style is not. It's just not flowing correctly. Characters are popping up and I am not remembering who they are! Dialogue is sometimes just plain ridiculous.
Sebastian..what the hell does she see in him? Even though her little hissy fit when he left to save his brother was stupid, they do not fit. And where is said brother? If there is suppose to be some kind of love triangle, it needs to happen already because o am getting bored.
No more talk about her 'eyes' dream I guess..
Sebastian..what the hell does she see in him? Even though her little hissy fit when he left to save his brother was stupid, they do not fit. And where is said brother? If there is suppose to be some kind of love triangle, it needs to happen already because o am getting bored.
No more talk about her 'eyes' dream I guess..
September 14, 2017
If only
There's one simple thing that could make this book immeasurably better; cut all the dead air where we are bored for ages and protagonist is bored, too. Couldn't she have been mastering her powers?
Otherwise, I could have loved this book. I don't like the protagonist as much as I did in the beginning, and by the end I don't like her boyfriend as much anymore, either. This could have been worthy of movies and prompted people to say, "better than Twilight." IF ONLY.
There's one simple thing that could make this book immeasurably better; cut all the dead air where we are bored for ages and protagonist is bored, too. Couldn't she have been mastering her powers?
Otherwise, I could have loved this book. I don't like the protagonist as much as I did in the beginning, and by the end I don't like her boyfriend as much anymore, either. This could have been worthy of movies and prompted people to say, "better than Twilight." IF ONLY.
October 19, 2018
Didn’t even bother reading past the first third of the book. It was very jumpy, vague and lacking details. One minute she’s disbelieving and walking away saying uninterested and the next she’s believing everything entirely too easily and accepting of Sebastian’s attention. No idea how she got from one conclusion to the next. I usually avoid writing reviews that are less than 3 stars, but this was just totally bad!
May 16, 2020
I enjoyed this book, it was a well developed story that had me shouting at my kindle sometimes.
Towards the end you could tell what was going to happen next which I was ok with.
I did think the main female character could have been more stronger and not mope around as much as she did.
Hopefully the next part of the trilogy you see Sophie become more of who she is meant to be and accepting of her gifts.
I do like Connor he is a silent broody alpha male.
A good read overall.
Towards the end you could tell what was going to happen next which I was ok with.
I did think the main female character could have been more stronger and not mope around as much as she did.
Hopefully the next part of the trilogy you see Sophie become more of who she is meant to be and accepting of her gifts.
I do like Connor he is a silent broody alpha male.
A good read overall.
September 25, 2017
Love it!
Very well written and kept me hooked. I like this story about Sophie and Sebastian but Sebastian seems to be leaving Sophie alone to much and gonna lose her to Conner if he don't wake up! I like Conner a lot and he seems to be always there for her very interested to find out what happens next. And I like Granpa. Lol he's a ghost
Very well written and kept me hooked. I like this story about Sophie and Sebastian but Sebastian seems to be leaving Sophie alone to much and gonna lose her to Conner if he don't wake up! I like Conner a lot and he seems to be always there for her very interested to find out what happens next. And I like Granpa. Lol he's a ghost
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