Amy A. Bartol

So there is no way to do a review without spoilers for this book. Here is what you need to know.
1. You have to have read the other books. You might even want to reread just prior (I forgot a few things!)
2. You will love Kricket even more by the end of the book.
3. I want everyone else in that world to die. Ok, well not everyone but the major of the people on that planet are gonzo if I had my choice!
4. I cried like a baby when the book was over. I kept trying to flip the page on my kindle show more because it just couldn't be over. I'm still not okay.
5. I hope she writes more books in this series. I am considering stalking her until she does!

Kricket has always been one of my favorite book heroines. After this book, she is hands down the best female character in a book. Period. Not up for debate.
Why do I love Amy Bartol so much? This book is why-its inspiring, hopefully, tragic, sad, and everything in between. Each page is a different emotion. I was angry, I was laughing, I went through it all. (frankly, its a little exhausting! I am off to read something mindless now!). show less

4.5 (reread: 1/4/18 still one of my favorite books, still makes me cry, still breaks my heart, but I love it and love how Bartol can change you perspective about a character so flawlessly, I just hope we get a chance to see Kricket’s future)

What can I say about this book? First of all, I am writing this review about three months after having originally read it and am so happy I waited. I found myself with a terrible book hangover after finishing this. I loved it, but also wasn't sure what show more to think of it and really just needed to give myself time to process it. After some time, I really feel differently about it than I did when I first finished.

"I think I’m the most hurt by the fact that I’m not like him. I would’ve chosen him over everything else. The whole world could’ve burned down and I would’ve pulled him from the wreckage of it."

Let me start by saying that this book does not have the pace of the previous two books in the least. Additionally, there is a certain male character that I came to love immensely that does not have as big of a role in this installment as he did in the previous two. At first I found myself very frustrated by this as he was my favorite character in the series and I just wanted more and more of him. Looking back, I do still wish we had more of a look at what he was doing throughout this story when he wasn't present. I really found myself questioning his actions and motives and would love more insight into his mind and what he was thinking at the time. Needless to say, it felt a little personal and if someone had broken a promise to me.

"I found her. I lost her. I found her. I lost her. I found her."

On the other hand, there is another male character we get a WHOLE LOT OF. A whole lot I did not want or desire initially, but Bartol really knows how to make you go from loving to hate a character to hating to love them. This is exactly how I felt. Now, let me also make a reference to this character's history throughout the story. He has done some really horrible things and despite the explanations in this story for his actions, I did not feel like they were excusable at all. On the other hand, I still grew to have feelings for him as the story progressed and felt myself even pitying and rooting for him at times. One cannot deny that him and Kricket would make a ruthless and powerful team, as this installment hints at.

"Deep down, however, I fear that I’ve come to love a lie."

Now, onto Kricket herself. It is apparent that Kricket is not the same person she was when this story started. Where are her loyalties? As this story progresses, its apparent that Kricket's heart and mind are at war with each other and she is trying hard to understand who can be trusted and who does not have her best interests at heart. Those she was certain would always support her aren't around and those she told herself to guard against are willing to do anything for her, even if they didn't intend for that to happen either. However, perhaps Kricket hasn't changed as much as it appears. The most important person in Kricket's life is herself and at the end of the day she must make the choice that is best for her and so that's exactly what she does. With a little bit of revenge, cunning and fury tossed in there too.

The ending to this story was not at all what I expected. I am not a "must have my HEA!" type person, but this ending really took me by surprise and left me feeling a little unsettled. I totally support and understand Kricket's choice, but I also wish there could have been another way.

Now, if you read this and are wanting more, take a stroll over to Bartol's blog as there is a little sampling of what could be a progression of this story and why she has not published more (at this point). That being said, I feel like there is so much more to be told about this story - Kricket, Trey, Kyon, Ethar & Earth, our boys Jax and Wayra, Charisma and Trey's family, Giffen and Astrid and more. I don't want to be one of THOSE people but if any series could continue past where it was meant to end, this one would be my choice. (I hope you're reading this, 47North!)

At the end of the day, despite the ending taking me by surprise, this is still one of my all-time favorite series and one I will continue to cherish as time goes on. show less

This YA scifi first book of a trilogy has both good and bad elements. When I began, I was getting vertigo from excessive eye-rolling, but I was glad I persevered, because if one approaches this book in the right way it can be quite entertaining.

Kricket Hollowell is 17, abnormally tall, blonde, angular, and beautiful, with violet eyes and long platinum blonde hair that mysteriously can’t be cut. The book begins in Chicago, but it is immediately clear that Kricket is no ordinary Midwestern show more girl. However, the reasons she stands out in a crowd on Earth are different from those that make her unusual on the planet where she is from, Ethar. There, she is regarded as different for being small, petite, and voluptuous. Not only that, but it turns out, as the daughter of a priestess who took her to Earth to protect her, Kricket has some special powers as well.

Needless to say, every guy on Ethar wants to repatriate Kricket and make her his consort.

If this sounds like a 60’s over-the-top cult movie, that’s probably because it reads like that as well. Obviously too you have to be in the mood for this kind of reading, because it will either seem incredibly stupid or quite funny.

Fortunately, I was in a receptive mood when I read this, and I enjoyed it. It reminded me in a way of a blonde female version of the 1984 John Sayles movie “The Brother From Another Planet,” which is silly and entertaining in a similar manner. (In that movie, a black male alien finds himself on Earth, and is being pursued by alien thugs and bounty hunters. Like the book, the movie has stylized scifi elements in a blend of comedy, pathos, and social commentary.)

Evaluation: I thought this book was fun. But your reaction will no doubt depend on whether you regard this book as satire, a serious YA romance or work of science fiction, or a fun blend of all of the above. It does have a lot of five star reviews, so I’m guessing most readers appreciate it even more than I. Thus I will not be alone, presumably, in looking forward to the next installment in the trilogy. show less

First, what a beautiful cover! I am really digging the underwater themed covers (like Mara Dyer). They add an elegance to covers that is so unique.

I really, REALLY liked this book overall. Kricket isn't your normal character who gets snatched out of her world (literally) and has an emotional breakdown. No, she takes everything that happens to her with stride because she is a survivor and she will do anything to survive. Even though she falls in love and lets her heart get in the way, she show more doesn't let it make her weak. She still fights the entire time and does whatever she has to do to protect people she cares about. She is crass and sarcastic and generally just DGAF. She knows who she is and does not compromise her character. She is definitely one of my ALL TIME favorite heroines because she is so kick ass.

For a relatively short book (270~ish) pages, it took me fooooreeeeverrr to get through this one (3-4 days). While I really enjoyed the story, I found myself getting bored at times. A few things were predictable, but I didn't mind for the most part. The story drags on in certain places and adds in unnecessary scenes that I felt were there just to add world/character building... which is GREAT but it had me wanting more from other parts of the book. I wanted more Treyyyyyyyyy. He gets so awesome at the end of the book once he stops being dumb and starts feeling with his heart. So romantic. I really hope the next book has more of their romance and gets a little less PG with the romance. Trey sounds so HOT so I want some steam!

This book is full of hotties. Even the evil guys are hot. Kricket is hot, but not in a Barbie doll kind of way. Jax and Wayra are my favorite supporting characters. They sound so handsome and so funny. I love they are so protective of Kricket and are now like her super hot older brothers.

I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series. This is on my list of my top books for this year, so I can't wait to see how the series continues.

If you'd like to check out my co-blogger's review of this book (she is the one who recommended it to me), check out our blog show less