YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

Feel free to join Nicole and I for this read August 8th, 2015!

I heard this one is really good

Nicole - Too Weird To Live, To Rare To Die- wrote: "I heard this one is really good"

I've heard mixed reviews actually, but I'm still excited! I'll be starting this tomorrow. :)

22% (random thoughts/comments):

(view spoiler)[
--Victor acts as if he has some sort of claim on/to Eli, as if (because Victor "found" him first?) Eli owes him something more than just friendship. Take Eli's thesis idea, for instance--Victor reacted as if that should have been HIS idea, as if Eli was supposed to run it through him first, and now he's going out of his way to make himself a part of the experiment. Why, though? I'm not sure I understand his motivations, aside from not wanting to "lose" Eli.
--Also, it seems weird--and I guess perhaps this was the point, Victor does keep going on about this "dark" side he and Eli share (which is probably where his motivations lie, now I think about it--Victor doesn't think anyone else will understand that part of himself the way Eli does?)--that immediately after Victor's failed near death experience, Eli's bouncing at the chance to try again on himself. I think any clear-headed person wouldn't be so quick to jump back into Death's saddle.
--I'd love to know more about this world, particularly in regards to the magic/existence of ExtraOrdinaries. Does everyone with this caliber of tragedy/pain NDE come back with powers as EOs? If that's the case, how come more people don't know they exist/know about it? How come more people aren't going out of their way to kill themselves off and then resuscitate themselves? Is Sydney dead as in she's a ghost come back to haunt the world or is she dead as in she died for her own EO status? What EXACTLY happened between Victor and Eli? Is Eli the reason Victor spent the last 10 years in prison? Why is Victor so set on revenge? And why did Sydney's sister want HER dead?
--What all does Victor's "power" entail (aside from the ability to turn off/take away/turn up pain)? And does this have anything to do with his second attempt at dying? (that being said, I reiterate my earlier point--you'd think one attempt would be plenty. I guess in this world [or, at least, to these characters] awesome super powers > breathing)
(hide spoiler)]

35%:

(view spoiler)[
--How did I figure the feud would originate with Angie? It's sad how she died, but really? REALLY? Can you get anymore cliche than a dead love interest/love triangle/whatever?
--Also, the cops apparently somehow know what EOs are?! Like...how? Our protags weren't even sure EOs existed until Eli went and killed himself in an ice bath...so why, all of the sudden, do the random stranger POLICE know? Victor and Eli haven't even been EOs for a day yet, yet the police somehow already know AAAAAAAAALL about them/what they are/what it means when people call claiming one's been spotted or whatever??????? I'm calling bluff. The world building seems a bit hasty and confused on certain points right now...
(hide spoiler)]

75%:

(view spoiler)[
--I'm not sure WHY Eli keeps thinking about how he should have killed Serena when he had the chance--I mean, that's sort of the point of her power, isn't it? The ability to change another person's will (to paraphrase really simply)...so theoretically, the moment he touched her, he was done for.
--I have a feeling something's going to go down between Sydney and Serena before this is all finished and over--I still don't quite understand why Serena went along with Eli when he wanted to kill her sister, unless she didn't know he was going to? I don't know, that part of the story seems really fuzzy to me. I mean...okay, maybe she's "disgusted" with her sister's power or whatever, but...I don't know that she'd be so willing to kill her off. It's her SISTER, after all. I don't understand yet.
--Poor Mitch! I'm so glad we finally got his backstory, though I'm not sure why we're being told this now...unless it comes into play again in the end. Victor or Sydney dying? Or...something?
--I'm pretty sure this is going to end in bloodshed. The only question now is...whose blood?
(hide spoiler)]

Finished! My review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(view spoiler)[
--I don't know why, but I didn't like this read as much as I hoped I would. I'm not sure if it was the world-building issues I mentioned above, or the way the characters fell a bit flat in the days leading up to the culmination of years of searching and hoping, ooooor...what. It just fell a bit off for me, which is probably why it took me so long to finish reading--I just wasn't as into it as I thought I should have been.
--I DID enjoy how it came full-circle from the first passage to the very last one; it was fitting, and worked beautifully. Also, the non-linear style really fit this story. It enabled the author to play some of the characters' secrets close to her chest until "time" to let them show, which worked spectacularly.
--I gave it a solid 3.5 stars. I just wish I'd liked it a bit more. Oh well. (hide spoiler)]

can anyone please change the starting date to tomorrow (23rd of July)?

thank you! :)

@Natasha
Down with Chapters 1 and 2. And I didn't fall in love with this book yet. Like, it's hard for me to start chapter 3. I will give myself a little break and keep reading. I've read loads of mixed reviews on this book and hope I will actually like it as many of my goodreads friends loved it. Right now I'm bored and I think I don't like Victor. I think he's spoiled. Oh well. We'll see :)

BlaiddDrwg wrote: "@Natasha
Down with Chapters 1 and 2. And I didn't fall in love with this book yet. Like, it's hard for me to start chapter 3. I will give myself a little break and keep reading. I've read loads of ..."

Im up to chapter 5. Its interesting to me but i wonder how the science parts will resonate with me. Because i dont understand science, i suck at it and apparently this has a lot to do with it. Victor does seem spoiled but hopefully him being as sinister as he is now he changes! I also want to know more about sydney and why she was shot! Lets see!

Finished with chapter 16. I'm still not happy with Sydney, I need to know more and more about her!!! she's my fav now. And actually she's the only one I need to know more about. I know it may sound horrible but I can't get into this story. I feel so horrible now. I'm gonna keep reading but unfortunately I dislike Victor and Eli. OH MY WHYYYYY?!?!?!?!? :D

finished chapter 23. it's getting better but I still have this feeling that this book is not for me. Or not at this point of time. We're not meant to be together and love each other. and still waiting for this one point in book when I completely fall in love with the world and want to drown in it. what do you think?

I feel like I should explain myself now.
My issues for now:
1. Main characters. I don't like them. In my opinion they're just two cocky guys. And nothing changes. When I read a book a want to feel like i could be friends with some characters. In here i just can't (and keep in mind that I've got really weird taste in choosing friends - I'd love to be friends with Bellatrix Lestrange). Or characters i could relate to - nope. Or characters i could hate so much to say that they're well written. I don't feel any of those things. For me Eli and Victor are just cocky blunt boys.
2. Eo's - not original or inventive. Ive read it so many times before. Marvel. DC. Basically superhero stories. Using science to create a superhero - Wolverine. And probably more, I just can't remember anything at the moment. Spiderman maybe? Sort of?
3. Superpowers. And what I mean is that I would actually like to have something new at least in here. Being able to heal yourself? Not feeling pain? Srsly? How about something new.

I really would like to finish this book and I'll do everything in my might to do so. But also I don't want to make myself to read anything. Why waste time on something I don't like when there's so many adventures to discover :-)

Didn't mean to offend anyone. These are my personal opinions on this book and are as valid as anyone else's.

literally binge reading this book. finished part one. reading chapter 3 it's getting better. I'm not amazed but it's getting better :-)

BlaiddDrwg wrote: "I feel like I should explain myself now.
My issues for now:
1. Main characters. I don't like them. In my opinion they're just two cocky guys. And nothing changes. When I read a book a want to fee..."


I havent gotten too far because of work, i, on chapter 10 now but i had to take a break because when i have to read about science my eyes gloss over lol. But i get what your saying eli and victor dont even feel like real friends. I feel like theyre only friends because theyre roommates. I dont feel any connections in the relationships. I just want to know more about mitch and sydney. Im sobbing - her sistr set her up to get shot???

I want to spoil the book a lot but I can't. it wouldn't be fair. you'll get there :D there's more on Sydney' s story later. whole two or three chapters. and they were actually the most interesting part of the book for me :-)

Finished! I have to say. Me and this book weren't meant to be. I "enjoyed" reading about Sidney only. But by "enjoyed" I mean I didn't massively dislike it. If the book was only about her I probably would give it about 3 starts at the end. Can't do it. I actually binge read like 70% of the book today and did it only cause of you and sort of a "promise" we made on reading it together. If I were reading this by myself I would have stopped about 100th page. But. I will definitely tell you to keep reading if you like it. The ending is cool. Sydney is cool. Sydney at the end is cool. Like really cool. But keep updating me with your progress at your own pace hun as I'm really curious on your opinions while reading. I'll still be here :-)

BlaiddDrwg wrote: "I want to spoil the book a lot but I can't. it wouldn't be fair. you'll get there :D there's more on Sydney' s story later. whole two or three chapters. and they were actually the most interesting ..."

Lol fine! Im on chapter 16 now and dude eli & victors "friendship" is toxic! Victor is lterally jealous of everything eli does like??? Take a seat victor!

Yeah it is like that all the time. It's not only toxic for them but was also toxic for me as a reader. That's the most messed up friendship I've read in a long long time :D

Sorry for the slow reading, but my schedule right now blows. I work 330-1130 today and tomorrow. But if I knew that I would've never slowed you down!

However, I can't get into the flashbacks. I want to skip them but they might hold something I might need later. I don't want to risk that lol. How would you feel if I chucked this book the side and we chose a way more interesting book to buddy read. Sorry, I don't connect with the characters and I just don't care about them. He wants to kill Eli... okay? lol I can't find myself caring enough to continue D: SCREW BOOKTUBE FOR PERSUADING ME TO GET ANOTHER UNINTERESTING BOOK TO READ! :/

Sorry or this half-assed buddy read, but if you are willing to read another book together, that'd be great. :D

Hahahahah I was persuaded by booktube too :D spoiler of the plot if you want to know: (view spoiler)[ eli and victor want to kill each other. Eli has the thing for killing all eo's so victor is looking fir him to stop him. Blah blah blah. Eli hookes up with serena, sydney's sister, eli wanted to kill sydney cause he thought her powers (being able to bring back dead to life) is unnatural (yeah like eos are in general). Everyone dies. Eli lives. Sydney kills serena and mitch is helping her to bury serena's body (hide spoiler)]

And if it comes to reading next book: i wanted to start one of them


Anything from the list? I've got all of them in mobi format for kindle and i can email them to you if interested

Lmaooo sometimes i hate booktube for this particular reason and really thats it? Good thing i stopped in time lol but im so up for rereading ari&dante! I loved it and you should as well! but also the sea of tranquility or more happy than not seem interesting as well!

You pick. I've never read any of them so whatever you feel like reading right now as long as it's nothing by V.E. Schwab. Not yet :D

Lol fine. How about ari&dante (because I can read it in a day) and the sea of tranquility after? And that sounds about right to me! :D

Perfect :-) starting to read now and as soon as the thread for it is sorted I'll send you a message with the link!

Thanks!

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Date Changed. Restarting January 25th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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I'm starting Vicious (I actually started it yesterday) Niweys here I am. Lol

32%

(view spoiler)[Victor unsettles the heck out of me, but I still love him ♡ Angeeelllllll! Where r u? Lol (hide spoiler)]

Done!

(view spoiler)[ I loved it so freaking much victor and eli are so messed up. Lol (hide spoiler)]

Coreen ♥ wrote: "32%

[spoilers removed]"

VICTOR is my bae :) I love him.POOR vic

Angel ❤️ BookHearts Forever ❤️ wrote: "Coreen ♥ wrote: "32%

[spoilers removed]"

VICTOR is my bae :) I love him.POOR vic"

(view spoiler)[ Eli is a psycho. Hate his guts Lol TEAM VICTOR! (hide spoiler)]

Sorry Coreen.I have to drop out of this BR.I have my exams scheduled and I don't think I can finish it.So sorry :(

It's okay, no problem at all Angel :) we still have a lot. Lol

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Date changed. Restarting December 12th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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Reading from the 16th of January 2018

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Date changed. Restarting October 3rd 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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This is a reread for me 1 year later. Thought I'll join in rereading this book before going to book 2.

Chapter 1-10 (short chapters OMG love that) lol
(view spoiler)[ it can be mysterious at times how the timeline jump back and forth. I always liked that about this book. I seen my own notes in my book with how Victor seems to hate that Eli thesis was something more interesting than his. He hates that. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11-20
(view spoiler)[ Jealousy will get you no where. Vic determined to be a EO and Eli determined to be a EO and not have Vic be one with him. But why? Vic don't wanna be a sidekick at all. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ vic can sense pain! Does he have a healing ability? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ when victor was trying to revive Eli and then hesitated for a sec before he plunged the pen into eli's chest i thought he will not do it and let him die , even though we already know that eli live.
And vic can take the pain away not heal. (hide spoiler)]

First time reading it!
My heart is beating 'Thud' Thud' Thud'

Chapter 1-5 ((view spoiler)[)
Ten years again
Eli and Victor are roomates, coursemates and Friends.
Eli has a girlfriend, Angie, who should have been Victor's

Present day

Victor is an escaped convict digging a graveyard with a thirteen year old girl, sydney.
What the hell is going on? (hide spoiler)]

I really love the way the author writes. She’s descriptive (but not overly so) and her sentences are long and flow without rambling.

Chapter 6-21
(view spoiler)[ how can you be experimenting with your life!!!! OMG

The experiments that Eli and Victor are doing to themselves is making me dizzy, scared like i want to save them and i want them to stop!!! (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 27(view spoiler)[ OMG he killed angie, she didn't even want to do this.

And i'm not sure who's supposed to be the villain anymore, both of them are insane, they're trying to kill each other. they are not even sad about angie's death. (hide spoiler)]

@izzy i knew they are just trying to (view spoiler)[ die and hopefully come back to life and have superpowers based on a theory that they came up with. a couple of months ago victor didn't even believe that there is such a thing as EO. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 29 (view spoiler)[ so syd can raise the dead that cool in a creepy way, i wonder what her sister power is, i'm thinking maybe compelling people to do things like in the vampire diaries, because she said something about who everyone listen to her and do anything she asks. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21-30
(view spoiler)[ yeah I'm starting to remember this story a lot. Poor Sydney and her past. Vic and Eli got their hero fighting on. Smdh.... I remember when I first read this I have stitcky notes in my book as I tried to predict somethings about people such as Sydney sister and her powers and such.... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 31-36
(view spoiler)[ so Eli powers he believes is from God but all other EO are wrong and must die. But sith Sydney sister being with Eli I see why she's not dead well because I already know her secret her power since this my reread. Vic knows Sydney powers now. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2
Chapter 1-3
(view spoiler)[ Eli pissed Barry back alive. Working with cops to dead the EO and now it's looking bad for him since one of the EO came back. Ha. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished part 1
(view spoiler)[ i like sydney powers, i must say but i'm curious about serena, why did Eli keep her? She must have a super super power. I hope Mitch don't die. Also, how can Eli still be a senior, 10 years layer
Besides, how can you kill someone that heals
Is victor okay at all? What is his plan? (hide spoiler)]