Monday, February 6, 2012

BOOK REVIEW - RECKONING by LILI ST. CROW - STRANGE ANGELS # 5

By : Lili ST. Crow
Published By : Razor Bill, Penguin
Released : Available Now
Details : Paperback, 307 Pages

RATING : 5 SAD 'FINIS' STARS!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

The electric finale in New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow's Strange Angels series!

Nobody expected Dru Anderson to survive this long. Not Graves. Not Christophe. Not even Dru. She's battled killer zombies, jealous djamphirs, and bloodthirsty suckers straight out of her worst nightmares. But now that Dru has bloomed into a full-fledged svetocha - rare, beautiful, and toxic to all vampires - the worst is yet to come.


Because getting out alive is going to cost more than she's ever imagined. And in the end, is survival really worth the sacrifice?


DRU ANDERSON'S NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK.

BUT SHE SHOULD BE.
 
BOOK REVIEW:


I feel kind of sad that this series is now finished....no more. I really loved the ‘Strange Angels’ series.


What I loved about this final instalment was Lili gave us a Dru that was realistic. Dru was starting to have a melt down. She was still a teenager. She had been doing things her whole life that went against what little girls should be doing. Then her father is killed, zombified and all these characters enter her life, some trying to kill her constantly. She never gives up, just keeps on doing what she needed to do at the time. Never thinking about herself.


Then there are these two guys, Christophe and Graves, and their feelings for her are having a major effect on her. I as the reader couldn’t choose between them. How could Dru? She is still a young woman, who has just bloomed, hormones are not a fun thing.


Graves’s character has come so far from the first book and he has been her friend. He may have been very up and down with showing his feelings for Dru, but he hasn’t had an easy childhood, nobody to really support him and be there for him, when he was growing up. There was a wall to crack through.


Christophe has been around the block many, many, many times. I don’t feel as though his character grew that much. He was always there for Dru and loved her. He would lay his life down for her. She meant a great deal to him. More than Dru probably realised. I love Christophe and Graves, I just could not make my own decision, I may be out of line here but it felt like Lili couldn’t either.


I received this book from Penguin....I did ask...hehe, cheeky I know, but I had to read it. Then when I got it, I think I held off reading it because it is a favourite YA series of mine and I didn’t want to read ‘The End’, well in this case ‘finis’. I wasn’t yet ready. Now I think I shall have PABSD = Post Awesome Book Series Depression.


I loved all the sub characters, every instalment in the series, and of course Christophe and Graves. One minute I would be loving Christophe more, then Graves would pull at my heart strings. I was like a see saw.


Lili puts some lovely twists in to this book, which I didn’t see coming. Even though I was a tad worried about how good the last book would be, I was very satisfied with how Lili handled it.


I actually thought it was quite clever and different the way she ended this series. It would be hard to keep all readers happy with how an author ends a series that has become very popular. I think Lili did a bang on job of it.


I loved that she showed Dru’s weakness, infact she showed us Christophes weakness, which was Dru. I think I still feel a little hollow that I have no more books to read in this series. Which is a good thing, it means the writer did a great job of the last book. I am going to miss everyone.


These books were such a ride and now I have no more tickets left....*sniff*



Michelle

11 comments:

  1. I'm really scared to read this book. I've had it sitting on my shelf since I got it for Christmas, but I'm nervous to read it cos I kinda spoiled myself by find out who Dru "picks". I love it when books are realistic but I kinda like resolution at the end of my love-triangles a little bit more. Still. I'd love to see a spin off featuring Graves! With Dru and Chris in the background....together. And I understand what you meant when you said maybe Crow couldn't choose herself as an author, but I kinda feel cheated by that and I haven't read the book yet, lol.

    Perhaps I'll feel differently after I read it. I'm sad to see the series come to an end! It's one of my faves too and whilst I don't get why so many people have disliked it I'm heartbroken to know it's over.
    Wonderful review--thanks for sharing your thoughts?

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  2. Hi Rachel,

    It's a tough one with Dru and Graves and the no resolution, but I actually kind of rally liked how Lili wrote it. I had it sitting her for a good couple months as I did get a bit nervous, then I just bit the bullet and I really loved this book. Give it a go. We seem to like the same reads:D

    I would love a spin off!!!!! Graves has grown as a character so much, that it almost appears like Lili may have thought about it the way this book series finishes up. There is something about what she did with Graves...or not...hehe!


    MIchelle

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    1. p.s.I am scared poopless of Mockingjay...I read both Hunger Games books back in 2010, hence my rather badly written reviews..anyhoo, I loved them and I heard mixed feelings with Mockingjay...I actually have a Mockingjay massive phobia!! I will have to get through it soon! A friend has given me a bribery gift that I can't open until I have read it!! * deep breath *

      :D

      Michelle

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    2. Hi Michelle :)

      I've heard a lot of people say they were disappointed by the ending, while others, like you, are very satisfied with how she ended it. I'm eager to see which category I fit into! Oh, I will definitely read it--it's just a matter of when :)

      I think Graves has grown an incredible amount too. Perhaps more than any other character. I'd love to see him find a spunky, quirky girl to call his own. Lili explored the vamps and the dhamphirs but I'd love to see her go deeper into that part of her world. Preferably featuring Graves!

      P.S I can understand that. I have a few books I'm chicken to read too, lol. You know, I actually haven't read the Hunger Games books yet. I plan to before the movie is released. In fact, Jess, Brodie and Braiden have all but threatened me with bodily harm if I don't. Hopefully I can't get he boxed set--I keep looking in Big W where i've seen it before but they don't seem to have it, lol.

      Take care xx

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    3. p.s. again...ha! I thought it was very brave of Lili to do what she did with Graves and Christophe as you are going to upset some fans but at same time, it's not predictable which I like and I thought she did it really well. I am eager for you to read it so you can see if you pick up on something I may be reading waaayyyyyyy too much into, but Graves kinda made a promise, so ..hmmmmmm, food for thought:D

      Michelle

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    4. I think it's pretty gutsy of her too, regardless of whether I like it or not. I think most authors would do what fans expect so it's certainly different that she didn't.
      Oh, I'm intrigued by that now! I'm definitely going to be paying closer attention to things now, lol.

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    5. Just trust me....oh and yes Graves, I just thought it was interesting , she made sure Dru pushed it a bit, so hmmmm...again..or not..hehe!

      Michelle

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  3. Rachel, my Big W currently has the boxed set for $29.83 with normal covers and then individual sale the new funky covers with the symbols on each and black covers. You could probably order online.

    Hubby is reading Catching Fire at moment. I read them so long ago I have to revisit at write better reviews. I had to be convinced to read them as killing kiddies was a bit frightening, but, I got told by somebody to trust what she was saying, so I read them and WOW!!! Awesome!! Just have to get over my phobia for Mockingjay. It's weird it's my only end of series book I have as a massive phobia. I am afraid of what I have read other reviewers say...I don't want the magic of the first 2 books squashed. I shall take a 10 step programme I think..hehe!! I'll get through it..I think and it will probably be the most awesome book:D

    You take care too
    xxx

    MIchelle

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  4. It's just my luck though. I've seen the set that many times but when I'm seriously interested in reading them they don't have it. I saw it in QBD the other day, but they wanted $49.95 for it and there was no way I was paying that much! I have to head to my local Big W on Friday so I'm gonna have a look for them. We'll see I may buy them in the new covers :) I tried to get the boxed set from The Book Depository but it's not available in either paperback or hardback :/

    Same with me! In some sense. Some of my reviews on Goodreads back before I started blogging are atrocious. I need to get around to fixing them up. I've heard that many good things about them even though I haven't been sure I wanted to read them. They've always been books I'll get to....eventually....but now I wanna read them before the movie.
    I know exactly what you mean! And it's hard to when they're reviewers/bloggers that you trust cos you know there's a chance you'll feel the same what.
    Ha! Baby steps--you'll get over your Mockingjay phobia. We'll see how I go but perhaps I'll get around to reading it before you do. That'd be pretty funny. LOL.

    Hugs,
    Rach

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    1. Oh and also mine had a lovely hard back in a cover The Hunger Games too. Like my Big W was going all out, considering Reckoning wasn't on the shelves for nearly 3 weeks, that's why I asked Penguin and CWPrince took over a week! My Big W can be a tad slack, but they have like this whole THG selection, keen for movie release I think.

      I think hubby will get to Mockingjay before I do..hehe! I am determined to take a deep breath and read it before movie release as I have this lovely wrapped bribery sitting on my sideboard that Carolyn gave me and I can't open it until I have read it. Saying that she has been bribbing me since the book was released...ha! Marissa hasn't read THG yet either , yet her hubby is up to date, go figure. I think as mums it is horrofying kids being killed but Suzanne does it YA and really in context even though that sounds a bit awful saying that.

      Hugs back:D:D

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    2. Lol, maybe I need to go to YOUR Big W, haha. My Big W's pretty go but it's a not outta the way and as I don't drive the two buses I have to get there and then back annoy me do I don't go a lot. They have a great selection though, but what I can't get there I can get at K-mart and Target which are closer.

      All these people have read the book and you haven't Michelle. You better get at it! Lol. And with a bribery too. I would have read it, like, yesterday, if I was you ;) See no one I really know reads so it's up to the people I know online to push me and urge me to read certain books.
      I think it's natural. I know when I explainef the movie, and subsequently the books, she was a bit iffy about that aspect of it.

      =)

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