Mia James

3.5/5
The world-building is very plausible in this book conspiracy-wise, however I had a feeling that the authors got a bit lost with what they were trying to say.

Great ideas, plenty of potential and gory, dark, Gothic atmosphere. I was surprised at how violent this book was. What went wrong then? you would ask.

My issues stem from the inability of April to rise to the status of a true heroine. Her mood swings and mistakes are literally lethal. Seems to me with all the people getting killed show more and a great conspiracy unravelling her focus stays unhealthily on a dark and brooding Gabriel, her love interest who may or may not be a psychopathic killer.

*sigh*

April spent most of the book thinking of Gabriel and getting pulled in all sorts of directions. When it's revealed how special she is, I just felt nothing but frustration. She just doesn't rise to the occasion and unless there is a dramatic improvement in the book #2 I can't see how she can pull her "being the Chosen one" off.

Gabriel is a carbon copy of Edward minus family and Caro is a designated geeky friend.

Overall, high points for the atmosphere and interesting historical facts, however everything else is underwhelming. I hesitate to recommend this book. show less

My thoughts:

This book is a paranormal YA romance with mystery thrown in. April Dunne is the heroine who has move and go to a new school. Filled with rich kids and smart ones. Perhaps it could have been like a normal school if the in crowd had not paid so much attention to her, and murders happened in the neighbourhood.

April was smart kid, she questioned things, but of course she was also a girl and young. Which means crush time. There are some hotties around, but she is more interested in show more Gabriel who act all mysteriously. And of course I knew what he would turn out to be, even if it takes a real long time for the truth to come out. As for Gabriel, he was very sweet and protective.

This book has its doomed romance between April and Gabriel, but mostly it's about all the other things going on. Strange things are going on, her dad is also investigating the school and cemetery and he is on to something. I am just gonna go out and say it since you get it already in the prologue, vampires. But the truth to what on earth is going on takes its fair time, and then at the end, of course that is when it gets really thrilling. One part of the mystery I can't mention, but it's shocking.

There was one other thing that I sort of guessed, I was right, just not entirely about what it meant, and it was one good secret. And again, you just have to read to see.

Conclusion.

I think this one would be good for the YA crowd. It has got romance, mystery, vampires, secrets and more secrets. It will keep you guessing. show less

My thoughts:

This book is a paranormal YA romance with mystery thrown in. April Dunne is the heroine who has move and go to a new school. Filled with rich kids and smart ones. Perhaps it could have been like a normal school if the in crowd had not paid so much attention to her, and murders happened in the neighbourhood.


April was smart kid, she questioned things, but of course she was also a girl and young. Which means crush time. There are some hotties around, but she is more interested in show more Gabriel who act all mysteriously. And of course I knew what he would turn out to be, even if it takes a real long time for the truth to come out. As for Gabriel, he was very sweet and protective.


This book has its doomed romance between April and Gabriel, but mostly it's about all the other things going on. Strange things are going on, her dad is also investigating the school and cemetery and he is on to something. I am just gonna go out and say it since you get it already in the prologue, vampires. But the truth to what on earth is going on takes its fair time, and then at the end, of course that is when it gets really thrilling. One part of the mystery I can't mention, but it's shocking.


There was one other thing that I sort of guessed, I was right, just not entirely about what it meant, and it was one good secret. And again, you just have to read to see.


Conclusion.

I think this one would be good for the YA crowd. It has got romance, mystery, vampires, secrets and more secrets. It will keep you guessing. show less

April has had to move from Edinburgh to Highgate, London, with her parents, leaving her friends and all she knows behind her. She is sent to Ravenwood academy, a school for students who are gifted, financially or academically, although April is none of the above. To top it off are 'the Faces', the rich and gorgeous looking clique who have their own agenda. One murder follows another and April, who is at the scene of one of them, is saved by the mysterious Gabriel. April makes friends with show more conspiracy theorist, Caro, and together they start piecing together the puzzle of Highgate.

Interesting, but I wouldn't bother to read the second one and had to struggle with boredom to finish the first. show less