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Sparked
Fifteen-year-old Laurel Goodwin wakes up to find her older sister Ivy missing from their Airstream trailer in the Oregon redwoods. A recurring nightmare convinces her that Ivy was abducted, but no one takes her dream seriously, including her mom. Laurel, a loner, has to learn to ask for help, and Jasper Blake, a mysterious new kid who shares her love of old books, quickly becomes her ally. Together they find their quiet town holds a deep secret and is the epicenter of a dark prophecy.
Laurel soon learns that her worst enemies, mean girls Peyton Andersen and Mei Rosen, are developing powers that she needs to find and save Ivy. With time running out, Laurel realizes that power doesn't always take the form that you expect. And once she learns to look beyond her snap judgments, she develops an unexpected gift of her own.
Laurel soon learns that her worst enemies, mean girls Peyton Andersen and Mei Rosen, are developing powers that she needs to find and save Ivy. With time running out, Laurel realizes that power doesn't always take the form that you expect. And once she learns to look beyond her snap judgments, she develops an unexpected gift of her own.
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2017
About the author
Helena Echlin
8 books70 followersHello! Clever Little Thing, coming in January 2025, is my first psychological thriller. I’ve written for various publications, including the Guardian and the Times, and the steadiest job I ever had was writing an etiquette advice column, for which I had zero qualifications. I lived in northern California for many years, and am now back in my native UK with my American husband and two children. I teach creative writing for Oxford University’s Department of Continuing Education.
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September 26, 2017
4.5 stars
Check it out: https://anisabookreviews.wordpress.co...
A Persian legend, an ancient prophecy, predicts the unveiling of evil when the lunar eclipse occurs on All Hollow's Eve. Jasper has been on a crusade in search of the four powers that can stop the legend's destiny. Can they all be found in time before the lunar eclipse on Thursday, the day when the barrier between the dead and the living is opened wide?
Wow! What a concept with great execution. If you love YA fantasy, paranormal, with a touch of sci-fi chocked full of telekinesis, shape-shifters and a hint of mind bend, then Sparked is your next novel.
And Laurel will capture your heart!
Ivy has a habit of sneaking out at night from the trailer. But this night was different. The door was wide open and swinging in the rain. He favorite jacket left on the hanger in the closet. A piece of paper was left behind. A note from Ivy detailing her whereabouts and her return on Halloween for her sister's birthday. But the tiny unique signifier is not by her name. A star. Laurel has a strong feeling that there is more than meets the eye, about her sister disappearance, and of those around her, including her new crush Jasper. She begins to have horrific recurring dreams about Ivy, so real that Laurel sees her and her captor. And she sees Ivy cultivating a new power. Laurel joins forces with Jasper, a high school mate, who aides her search for her sister while helping her to discover her unique "spark" and its role in a dark prophecy.
The tale starts on a Friday and ends on the following Friday, after Halloween. Although told from 3 points of view, the story is narrated mostly by Laurel. The plot unfolds quickly, engaging the readers until the last page. The premise behind the plot is based on an ancient Zoroastrian prophecy and four "powers" who must "freely link" to stop the rise of evil in Cascade. The powers are supernatural, and slowly the main characters are experiencing strange things that are both wonderful and frightening. As Thursday quickly approaches we rally nervously behind the unlikely teenage allies in the hopes to prevent evil's ugly head from being revealed.
The characters in the story have detailed backstories and emotional interactions which make them engaging. The intriguing story of the Goodwins gives us a glimpse into a family that has always struggled to make it day by day. Ivy and Laurel are teenage sisters close in age. After a brief stint in foster care as a result of neglect, the girls are determined to do and live anywhere to keep the family together. Mei's story is also heart-wrenching, a desire to know her family from China. She was left at a train station as an infant, with only a note attached. Jasper's backstory is revealed late in the novel and is fascinating and ties the whole story together.
Echlin takes you on an emotional journey through eyes of a teenager and the tumultuous era of peer-pressure and sexual navigation. Laurel thinks she is not as attractive or as intelligent as her sister. But she feels the pangs of a crush for Jasper, a handsome boy whom everyone wants. And he only sees Laurel. I enjoyed Laural as a sister, unwilling to let anyone stop her from finding her sister. Her fear and tenacity are palpable. Her relentlessness may be her real superpower. Mei and Peyton are "mean girls, " but they too are wearing a mask that hides the insecurity and vulnerability of teenage life.
Minor criticisms of this novel are that the prose lacked fluidity and imagery. The narrative, told by Laurel was chopped up intermittently by Mei and Peyton's point of view. The story also felt slightly plot driven with less attention to the stage. Although the characters were three-dimensional, I found that the author did not take the time describing the scenery for the supernatural story.
Echlin does deliver suspense combined with fantasy in her new novel "Sparked." This quick-paced entertaining read was one of my first YA paranormal thrillers, and I am hoping there is a sequel.
Thank you, NetGalley, Inkshares and Helena Echlin for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Check it out: https://anisabookreviews.wordpress.co...
A Persian legend, an ancient prophecy, predicts the unveiling of evil when the lunar eclipse occurs on All Hollow's Eve. Jasper has been on a crusade in search of the four powers that can stop the legend's destiny. Can they all be found in time before the lunar eclipse on Thursday, the day when the barrier between the dead and the living is opened wide?
Wow! What a concept with great execution. If you love YA fantasy, paranormal, with a touch of sci-fi chocked full of telekinesis, shape-shifters and a hint of mind bend, then Sparked is your next novel.
And Laurel will capture your heart!
Ivy has a habit of sneaking out at night from the trailer. But this night was different. The door was wide open and swinging in the rain. He favorite jacket left on the hanger in the closet. A piece of paper was left behind. A note from Ivy detailing her whereabouts and her return on Halloween for her sister's birthday. But the tiny unique signifier is not by her name. A star. Laurel has a strong feeling that there is more than meets the eye, about her sister disappearance, and of those around her, including her new crush Jasper. She begins to have horrific recurring dreams about Ivy, so real that Laurel sees her and her captor. And she sees Ivy cultivating a new power. Laurel joins forces with Jasper, a high school mate, who aides her search for her sister while helping her to discover her unique "spark" and its role in a dark prophecy.
The tale starts on a Friday and ends on the following Friday, after Halloween. Although told from 3 points of view, the story is narrated mostly by Laurel. The plot unfolds quickly, engaging the readers until the last page. The premise behind the plot is based on an ancient Zoroastrian prophecy and four "powers" who must "freely link" to stop the rise of evil in Cascade. The powers are supernatural, and slowly the main characters are experiencing strange things that are both wonderful and frightening. As Thursday quickly approaches we rally nervously behind the unlikely teenage allies in the hopes to prevent evil's ugly head from being revealed.
The characters in the story have detailed backstories and emotional interactions which make them engaging. The intriguing story of the Goodwins gives us a glimpse into a family that has always struggled to make it day by day. Ivy and Laurel are teenage sisters close in age. After a brief stint in foster care as a result of neglect, the girls are determined to do and live anywhere to keep the family together. Mei's story is also heart-wrenching, a desire to know her family from China. She was left at a train station as an infant, with only a note attached. Jasper's backstory is revealed late in the novel and is fascinating and ties the whole story together.
Echlin takes you on an emotional journey through eyes of a teenager and the tumultuous era of peer-pressure and sexual navigation. Laurel thinks she is not as attractive or as intelligent as her sister. But she feels the pangs of a crush for Jasper, a handsome boy whom everyone wants. And he only sees Laurel. I enjoyed Laural as a sister, unwilling to let anyone stop her from finding her sister. Her fear and tenacity are palpable. Her relentlessness may be her real superpower. Mei and Peyton are "mean girls, " but they too are wearing a mask that hides the insecurity and vulnerability of teenage life.
Minor criticisms of this novel are that the prose lacked fluidity and imagery. The narrative, told by Laurel was chopped up intermittently by Mei and Peyton's point of view. The story also felt slightly plot driven with less attention to the stage. Although the characters were three-dimensional, I found that the author did not take the time describing the scenery for the supernatural story.
Echlin does deliver suspense combined with fantasy in her new novel "Sparked." This quick-paced entertaining read was one of my first YA paranormal thrillers, and I am hoping there is a sequel.
Thank you, NetGalley, Inkshares and Helena Echlin for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 1, 2017
*4.5*
After reading Sunshine is Forever, I was excited to try another book published by Inkshares. Therefore, when Sparked appeared on my radar, a YA paranormal endorsed by the likes of Lemony Snicket and Lauren Kate, I knew I had to read it.
The result? Suspenseful, eerie, and slightly romantic, Sparked is the ULTIMATE October read!
I don't know about you all but I love stories based on prophecies. There's been a lot of them lately in YA (The Third Kiss, The Year of Four, etc.) and they've been impressing me left and right. So when I discovered that Sparked was based on a prophecy, I was intrigued. Luckily, it turned out well. The resulting terror, intrigue, and mystery was no less wonderful than what I've seen so far this year, as Helena & Malena did such a great job of fleshing out the proposed prophecy. I especially loved the mystery that it brought with it. Throughout the story, Laurel and Jasper searched high and low for the three proposed people who are meant to save her sister and the one person who is planning to end them all. It was fun to sleuth right along side of them. I also enjoyed when they did find the right people, as it brought together this oddly mixed group of people - a group that brought funny banter and even a little bit of drama to the table.
Also, let me tell you - some parts of this book are SO CREEPY! I made the mistake of reading this one at night with no one else home, and while part of me wanted to save the rest for the daylight, the other part of me couldn't put Sparked down.
Laurel was another reason I adored Sparked. Laurel faces the "other" sibling problem often seen in YA books, as she's always fallen in her sister Ivy's shadow. Ivy's always been the eccentric, fun, and charismatic one, while Laurel's also been quiet one, preferring the company of her books to that of people. However, with her sister's disappearance suddenly Laurel has to be the reckless one, because no one else is stepping up to the plate. She has to be the one to search for clues, even going so far as to break into a suspect's home. I outright loved the evolution of Laurel in this. I loved bad a$$, fearless Laurel, especially when her actions showed how much she loved her sister. I also enjoyed the side of romance Helena and Malena offered in the way of Laurel and Jasper's blossoming relationship. It was slow-burning; however, when that eventual kiss happened, it became in all senses well worth the wait. I enjoyed the build-up, especially when it gave a more developed sense to them rather than the "insta-love" feel I've come to hate.
The only aspect I didn't like about this one? I wish some of the side POVs would've been better fleshed out; however, with the hopes of a second book, I'm sure we'll see more of Peyton and Mei in the future!
In all, Sparked is yet another standout read from Inkshares! However, learn from my mistakes: don't read this one at night...unless you want to loose sleep;)
Grade: A
After reading Sunshine is Forever, I was excited to try another book published by Inkshares. Therefore, when Sparked appeared on my radar, a YA paranormal endorsed by the likes of Lemony Snicket and Lauren Kate, I knew I had to read it.
The result? Suspenseful, eerie, and slightly romantic, Sparked is the ULTIMATE October read!
I don't know about you all but I love stories based on prophecies. There's been a lot of them lately in YA (The Third Kiss, The Year of Four, etc.) and they've been impressing me left and right. So when I discovered that Sparked was based on a prophecy, I was intrigued. Luckily, it turned out well. The resulting terror, intrigue, and mystery was no less wonderful than what I've seen so far this year, as Helena & Malena did such a great job of fleshing out the proposed prophecy. I especially loved the mystery that it brought with it. Throughout the story, Laurel and Jasper searched high and low for the three proposed people who are meant to save her sister and the one person who is planning to end them all. It was fun to sleuth right along side of them. I also enjoyed when they did find the right people, as it brought together this oddly mixed group of people - a group that brought funny banter and even a little bit of drama to the table.
Also, let me tell you - some parts of this book are SO CREEPY! I made the mistake of reading this one at night with no one else home, and while part of me wanted to save the rest for the daylight, the other part of me couldn't put Sparked down.
Laurel was another reason I adored Sparked. Laurel faces the "other" sibling problem often seen in YA books, as she's always fallen in her sister Ivy's shadow. Ivy's always been the eccentric, fun, and charismatic one, while Laurel's also been quiet one, preferring the company of her books to that of people. However, with her sister's disappearance suddenly Laurel has to be the reckless one, because no one else is stepping up to the plate. She has to be the one to search for clues, even going so far as to break into a suspect's home. I outright loved the evolution of Laurel in this. I loved bad a$$, fearless Laurel, especially when her actions showed how much she loved her sister. I also enjoyed the side of romance Helena and Malena offered in the way of Laurel and Jasper's blossoming relationship. It was slow-burning; however, when that eventual kiss happened, it became in all senses well worth the wait. I enjoyed the build-up, especially when it gave a more developed sense to them rather than the "insta-love" feel I've come to hate.
The only aspect I didn't like about this one? I wish some of the side POVs would've been better fleshed out; however, with the hopes of a second book, I'm sure we'll see more of Peyton and Mei in the future!
In all, Sparked is yet another standout read from Inkshares! However, learn from my mistakes: don't read this one at night...unless you want to loose sleep;)
Grade: A
September 22, 2017
What fun! The authors have seamlessly blended genres through masterful young adult characterization, suspense, mythology, supernatural powers, romance, unexpected alliances, and valuable life lessons. Beautifully written, amusing, thoughtful, and entertaining.
October 13, 2017
*Halloween special* Sparked is a spooky mystery novel set in October. It's full of suspense and keeps you guessing right to the end.
Laurel wakes up to find her sister gone from their home. Now Laurel has to unravel the mystery to what has happened? Would her sister really leave without talking to her first? She eventually finds a note but Laurel isn't convinced. She doesn't seem to have told anyone where she is going and Laurel has her doubts. Strange happenings and an even scarier dream are playing on her mind. Laurel needs to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Her sister Ivy is also her best friend and Laurel isn't used to asking for help. She hasn't had the sort of upbringing where trust is given easily. She finds an ally in Jasper the mysterious new guy but everything isn't what it seems.
4 stars out of 5. A sequel to this book is likely, however, this one gives enough to make it enjoyable.
*I received an ARC in exchange for a fair review*
Laurel wakes up to find her sister gone from their home. Now Laurel has to unravel the mystery to what has happened? Would her sister really leave without talking to her first? She eventually finds a note but Laurel isn't convinced. She doesn't seem to have told anyone where she is going and Laurel has her doubts. Strange happenings and an even scarier dream are playing on her mind. Laurel needs to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Her sister Ivy is also her best friend and Laurel isn't used to asking for help. She hasn't had the sort of upbringing where trust is given easily. She finds an ally in Jasper the mysterious new guy but everything isn't what it seems.
4 stars out of 5. A sequel to this book is likely, however, this one gives enough to make it enjoyable.
*I received an ARC in exchange for a fair review*
August 27, 2017
Sparked is an edge of your seat thrill ride, with plenty of hairpin turns! This one is heart pounding, suspenseful, and will keep you guessing until the end! Prepare yourself for the supernatural, highly developed characters, and a unique plot!
The Plot: Fifteen year old Laurel Goodwin has always been close to her older sister, Ivy. When she wakes in the middle of the night to find Ivy missing, she begins to find out just how close they really were. Laurel begins to have nightmares, convincing her that Ivy has been kidnapped, but no one believes her, besides the mysterious, new kid at school, Jasper. With the help of Jasper, and the nightmares, Laurel uncovers a slew of secrets about herself, her sister, and the town they live in. She finds that power can come in many forms, and that someone you thought you knew could have deep secrets.
Sparked was surprisingly fantastic! I loved every minute of it! I knew I would like it, after reading the synopsis, but I cannot find a single thing I did not enjoy! It was fast paced, highly original, thrilling, and entertaining! The plot was enjoyably complex, with surprising twists, and the characters were highly developed!
I really loved the main character, Laurel. She felt like a real teenager to me. The authors did an incredible job with fleshing her out, giving her a unique personality, and making sure she wasn't a typical, "whiny", teenage YA girl. She was brave, but self conscious, intelligent and curious, she had a deep love for her sister, and she ended up going through a little bit of a self discovery and self assessment.
Jasper's character was very mysterious and added a necessary layer of depth to the plot. He was quiet and cool, dark and brooding. He had a well written backstory, played a major part in the book plot, but didn't overshadow the story with a YA romance. It was honestly refreshing to have a male character that didn't feel like they were forced to be the love interest and center of attention for the book too.
Peyton and Mei have to be talked about together. Though they both had many differences in their actions, appearances, and personalities, they were the "mean girls" in the story. They were written so well. I felt like I was watching "the plastics" in the Mean Girls movie, haha! Only, Laurel and Ivy called them "The Skittles." It was a very fitting title for the most part. Both of these characters have well written histories and are well developed within the story.
This book had everything I want in a 5 star read! It had action, adventure, thrills, suspense, and a hint of romance. The plot and characters were unique, well developed, and shifted and changed to fit with the story line. I loved the supernatural elements in the book and loved the fact that I was kept guessing until the true antagonist was revealed. The ending was nicely done and left enough to the imagination that we could either be waiting for another book, or be left to imagine more in our minds.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkshares for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The Plot: Fifteen year old Laurel Goodwin has always been close to her older sister, Ivy. When she wakes in the middle of the night to find Ivy missing, she begins to find out just how close they really were. Laurel begins to have nightmares, convincing her that Ivy has been kidnapped, but no one believes her, besides the mysterious, new kid at school, Jasper. With the help of Jasper, and the nightmares, Laurel uncovers a slew of secrets about herself, her sister, and the town they live in. She finds that power can come in many forms, and that someone you thought you knew could have deep secrets.
Sparked was surprisingly fantastic! I loved every minute of it! I knew I would like it, after reading the synopsis, but I cannot find a single thing I did not enjoy! It was fast paced, highly original, thrilling, and entertaining! The plot was enjoyably complex, with surprising twists, and the characters were highly developed!
I really loved the main character, Laurel. She felt like a real teenager to me. The authors did an incredible job with fleshing her out, giving her a unique personality, and making sure she wasn't a typical, "whiny", teenage YA girl. She was brave, but self conscious, intelligent and curious, she had a deep love for her sister, and she ended up going through a little bit of a self discovery and self assessment.
Jasper's character was very mysterious and added a necessary layer of depth to the plot. He was quiet and cool, dark and brooding. He had a well written backstory, played a major part in the book plot, but didn't overshadow the story with a YA romance. It was honestly refreshing to have a male character that didn't feel like they were forced to be the love interest and center of attention for the book too.
Peyton and Mei have to be talked about together. Though they both had many differences in their actions, appearances, and personalities, they were the "mean girls" in the story. They were written so well. I felt like I was watching "the plastics" in the Mean Girls movie, haha! Only, Laurel and Ivy called them "The Skittles." It was a very fitting title for the most part. Both of these characters have well written histories and are well developed within the story.
This book had everything I want in a 5 star read! It had action, adventure, thrills, suspense, and a hint of romance. The plot and characters were unique, well developed, and shifted and changed to fit with the story line. I loved the supernatural elements in the book and loved the fact that I was kept guessing until the true antagonist was revealed. The ending was nicely done and left enough to the imagination that we could either be waiting for another book, or be left to imagine more in our minds.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkshares for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
July 21, 2017
After Laurel's sister, Ivy, vanishes in the middle of the night, Laurel starts having strange, vivid dreams of her sister, dreams her mother and best friend dismiss. Laurel, not being an idiot, knows her sister wouldn't just run away as "proven" by a note left behind and starts digging around town, desperate to find the truth behind Ivy's disappearance.
When she meets the mysterious (but not clichéd!) Jasper Blake she learns her town has more secrets and a dark truth that will soon surface. *cough superpowers cough*
Nowadays, it is incredibly hard to find a YA book with a exciting, intriguing premise that isn't a horrible cliché. The writing had me immediately submerged in the story and caring about what would happen to Laurel and Ivy. The romance and mystery behind the other half of our inevitable romantic duo, Jasper, added a little spice to the story but there was just a *bit* insta-love....
Either way, this book managaed to be fantasy, thriller, paranormal and romance wrapped up in one and I completely love it. I cannot wait to see what happens with this series!
4/5 stars
*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
When she meets the mysterious (but not clichéd!) Jasper Blake she learns her town has more secrets and a dark truth that will soon surface. *cough superpowers cough*
Nowadays, it is incredibly hard to find a YA book with a exciting, intriguing premise that isn't a horrible cliché. The writing had me immediately submerged in the story and caring about what would happen to Laurel and Ivy. The romance and mystery behind the other half of our inevitable romantic duo, Jasper, added a little spice to the story but there was just a *bit* insta-love....
Either way, this book managaed to be fantasy, thriller, paranormal and romance wrapped up in one and I completely love it. I cannot wait to see what happens with this series!
4/5 stars
*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
August 9, 2017
***ARC provided by publishers via netgalley in exchange of honest review***
3.5 stars
I don't know why, but before reading this book I thought I'd hate it. I was so ready to write a one star review because I have never written a one star review of YA book. But to my greatdissapointment suprise, I ended up liking this book alot.
Sparked is YA urban-fantasy with a touch of sci-fic. There were shape-shifting, telekenisis, fire-bending and some mind-bending (which would hopefully be explored in next installement). The idea of the book was nothing new. Sure we have all heard about these super powers before but the authors added new twist and turns to these powers. I can't say much without spoiling the book but let's just say that these powers were not all good and not always provided advantage to the owners, especially.
On friday morning Laurel, our main protaganist, woke up to find that her sister Ivy has dissapeared. There was a letter saying that Ivy was visiting her friend in Portland but Laurel knew her sister would never leave like that. So begin Laurel's quest of finding her sister and saving her city of horrible fate. The plot was overall fast-paced and engaging.
There were some twists that I didn't expected at all and then there were some twists that I saw coming from miles away. The first ten or so chapters seemed to be that of any YA fantasy crap. A whinning heroine, mysterious hot guy with beautiful eyes, beautiful mean girls whose goal in life is to make our heroine's life miserable blah blah blah. But as story unfolded, Laurel developed into a likable narrator. Peyton and Mei, those mean girls, become Laurel friends and helped her to find her sister. Jasper, that mysterious guy played another important role. There is so much I want to say about the plot but want to keep my review spoiler free so I can't. Let's just say plot was greatly executed.
I liked Laurel most of the time. Sometimes she would complain alot, like how she is not desirable or beautiful as her sister. I know these emotions very well. I can relate to them but it just become kind pf annoying when you have to read about them. Also, dude your sister is missing. Keep your head staight and stop thinking about that guy please. But mostly she was clever and intelligent most of the time. Laurel always wanted to be a writer and throughout the story she learned how to be a good author. She learned how to convince and engage people. I especially loved how relationship between Laurel, Ivy and their mother developed. They had lots of issues but in the end they bonded strongly together.
The romance was bit of insta-love-ish. Laurel knew Jasper for only a week but declared that Jasper is love of her life. But I liked their friendship. I liked how they shared their thoughts about books and how Jasper respected Laurel. I mean you know, all those mysterious hot guys are some sexist sadists who would disrespect and insult the protaganist even though theyclaim that they love her-__-. But thankfully that was not the case here.
But there were few problems with this book too that made me give it only 3.5 stars.
First off, I don't understand why do these people have to fulfill n ancient zoroastrian prophecy. Maybe I'm an idiot and didn't understand the point of prophecy but I didn't these western people to fulfill it. I mean why isn't there a zoroastrian person who fulfill this prophecy. It might be idiotic thing to say but I just couldn't wrap my brain around this concept.
Also there was slut-shaming. Laurel become friends with Peyton and Mei but there was a sense of superiority in her. That she was better then Peyton and Mei because she doesn't wear that much of makeup or because she reads and they don't. Slut-shaming and women hating is something that always destroys my fun for the book.😞
Overall it was a good read and I am interested in sequel because I want to read more about Ivy and Laurel. Hope that sequel is better then first installement.
3.5 stars
If you're serious about becoming a writer, then I suggest you to spend more time thinking about what makes people tick. Characters become alive when we know what they want.
I don't know why, but before reading this book I thought I'd hate it. I was so ready to write a one star review because I have never written a one star review of YA book. But to my great
Sparked is YA urban-fantasy with a touch of sci-fic. There were shape-shifting, telekenisis, fire-bending and some mind-bending (which would hopefully be explored in next installement). The idea of the book was nothing new. Sure we have all heard about these super powers before but the authors added new twist and turns to these powers. I can't say much without spoiling the book but let's just say that these powers were not all good and not always provided advantage to the owners, especially.
On friday morning Laurel, our main protaganist, woke up to find that her sister Ivy has dissapeared. There was a letter saying that Ivy was visiting her friend in Portland but Laurel knew her sister would never leave like that. So begin Laurel's quest of finding her sister and saving her city of horrible fate. The plot was overall fast-paced and engaging.
There were some twists that I didn't expected at all and then there were some twists that I saw coming from miles away. The first ten or so chapters seemed to be that of any YA fantasy crap. A whinning heroine, mysterious hot guy with beautiful eyes, beautiful mean girls whose goal in life is to make our heroine's life miserable blah blah blah. But as story unfolded, Laurel developed into a likable narrator. Peyton and Mei, those mean girls, become Laurel friends and helped her to find her sister. Jasper, that mysterious guy played another important role. There is so much I want to say about the plot but want to keep my review spoiler free so I can't. Let's just say plot was greatly executed.
I liked Laurel most of the time. Sometimes she would complain alot, like how she is not desirable or beautiful as her sister. I know these emotions very well. I can relate to them but it just become kind pf annoying when you have to read about them. Also, dude your sister is missing. Keep your head staight and stop thinking about that guy please. But mostly she was clever and intelligent most of the time. Laurel always wanted to be a writer and throughout the story she learned how to be a good author. She learned how to convince and engage people. I especially loved how relationship between Laurel, Ivy and their mother developed. They had lots of issues but in the end they bonded strongly together.
The romance was bit of insta-love-ish. Laurel knew Jasper for only a week but declared that Jasper is love of her life. But I liked their friendship. I liked how they shared their thoughts about books and how Jasper respected Laurel. I mean you know, all those mysterious hot guys are some sexist sadists who would disrespect and insult the protaganist even though theyclaim that they love her-__-. But thankfully that was not the case here.
But there were few problems with this book too that made me give it only 3.5 stars.
First off, I don't understand why do these people have to fulfill n ancient zoroastrian prophecy. Maybe I'm an idiot and didn't understand the point of prophecy but I didn't these western people to fulfill it. I mean why isn't there a zoroastrian person who fulfill this prophecy. It might be idiotic thing to say but I just couldn't wrap my brain around this concept.
Also there was slut-shaming. Laurel become friends with Peyton and Mei but there was a sense of superiority in her. That she was better then Peyton and Mei because she doesn't wear that much of makeup or because she reads and they don't. Slut-shaming and women hating is something that always destroys my fun for the book.😞
Overall it was a good read and I am interested in sequel because I want to read more about Ivy and Laurel. Hope that sequel is better then first installement.
July 19, 2018
This was so freaking good! I had to force myself to stop reading it each night so that I could actually get some sleep, but I didn't want to put it down! So Laurel wakes up one morning and discovers that her sister Ivy has vanished. Her mom and everyone else seems to believe that Ivy took off after having a fight with her mom especially after they find a note written in Ivy's handwriting saying exactly that, but Laurel knows that something isn't right. She knows that her sister wouldn't just leave without saying anything to her and especially right before Laurel's birthday. Laurel begins having nightmare's that she is Ivy and trapped in a dungeon. Laurel, the cute new boy Jasper, and Laurel's worst enemies, mean girls Peyton and Mei, have to team up to find Ivy, because if they don't it could mean the end of the world as we know it. This book gave me Buffy meets Heroes and I couldn't get enough! I seriously hope that there is a sequel to this book because I need more of this!
September 7, 2017
15 year old Laurel Goodwin wakes up and finds her sister, Ivy missing from their trailer in the redwoods of Oregon. Laurel starts having reoccurring nightmares that convince her that Ivy was kidnapped, but no one will take Laurel seriously. Laurel finds help in Jasper, a new kid to town, who becomes her ally and friend in trying to figure out what happened to her sister. They start uncovering secrets and a dark prophecy in their small town, while trying to navigate around the mean girls in town. This book is definitely a mix of several different genres including paranormal, fantasy, young adult and even a bit of science fiction. I don't want to give away any spoilers but there are definitely a variety of paranormal activity and people, if you will, going on in this book. I really enjoyed Laurel as a character and found her to be quite engaging, which is usually what makes me really interested in a story. Laurel and her sister Ivy also haven't had the easiest childhood and we do learn a lot about their backgrounds, as well as Jasper's, but that comes a little later in the book. The plot moves along at a pretty quick pace and never gets boring. I don't want to give too many spoilers away, but if you like YA fantasy and paranormal, I definitely think you will enjoy this book.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.
January 2, 2018
You can also find my review on my blog here.
I want to thank Fantastic Flying Book Club for including me in this tour and providing me with this ecopy of Sparked.
I hope there’s a sequel for this book because I’ve been dying a slow death ever since finishing it.
I had some doubts when starting this book because whenever the ‘mean girl’ trope is used, I worry a lot about how much girl hate the book will contain. But it was very different this time and I’m so happy that instead of girl hate, we got friendships between girls and misunderstandings being sorted out.
I think one of my favourites part of this book was the way powers worked out, I’ve never seen it in any other book and I felt like it made a lot of sense. Basically, your power was highly rooted in who you were, what you liked to do, things like that. I adored Laurel’s power and I think if I were in this world, I would have gotten something very similar – because hello, I’m a bookish person!
The reason why this isn’t a five stars is the romance. I couldn’t get into it or feeling anything concerning this for most part of the book. It felt a little rushed to me, but at the end of the book, I was somewhat rooting for them to be together. I feel like Jasper had kept too many secrets from Laurel and Laurel had been all over him a bit too fast, but then I can understand it because she’s what? Fifteen. Yeah, excusable.
I loved the sister dynamics, wish there was more of this because Laurel and Ivy were very cute together, it was obvious that they were close. Also, I loved how whenever Laurel was getting the feels for Jasper, she was feeling guilty because the situation wasn’t suitable with her sister being missing and all that. You rarely see it being addressed. You just get the heroine all over the hero, forgetting all about whatever they had to do.
Then there were Peyton and Mei, I was a bit confused about the purposes of their POVs, but soon it became obvious and I think the way they came into the picture was very meaningful and beautiful. Like I mentioned above, the authors did a great spin of the mean girls trope. For a change, the mean girls and the heroine became friends and sorted out their issues and it was pretty glorious.
I think the plot was very interesting, I never suspected who the Big Bad was. But I did suspect the creepier thing, which was a bit chilly. Wow. I’m so sorry that I can’t tell you what it was about. You’ll have to read the book to find out if you want to find out.
All in all, it was a very fast-paced read, quite light and had some very interesting concepts. So, definitely check it out if you want to read some lighter fantasy that will keep you on the edge!
I want to thank Fantastic Flying Book Club for including me in this tour and providing me with this ecopy of Sparked.
I hope there’s a sequel for this book because I’ve been dying a slow death ever since finishing it.
I had some doubts when starting this book because whenever the ‘mean girl’ trope is used, I worry a lot about how much girl hate the book will contain. But it was very different this time and I’m so happy that instead of girl hate, we got friendships between girls and misunderstandings being sorted out.
I think one of my favourites part of this book was the way powers worked out, I’ve never seen it in any other book and I felt like it made a lot of sense. Basically, your power was highly rooted in who you were, what you liked to do, things like that. I adored Laurel’s power and I think if I were in this world, I would have gotten something very similar – because hello, I’m a bookish person!
The reason why this isn’t a five stars is the romance. I couldn’t get into it or feeling anything concerning this for most part of the book. It felt a little rushed to me, but at the end of the book, I was somewhat rooting for them to be together. I feel like Jasper had kept too many secrets from Laurel and Laurel had been all over him a bit too fast, but then I can understand it because she’s what? Fifteen. Yeah, excusable.
I loved the sister dynamics, wish there was more of this because Laurel and Ivy were very cute together, it was obvious that they were close. Also, I loved how whenever Laurel was getting the feels for Jasper, she was feeling guilty because the situation wasn’t suitable with her sister being missing and all that. You rarely see it being addressed. You just get the heroine all over the hero, forgetting all about whatever they had to do.
Then there were Peyton and Mei, I was a bit confused about the purposes of their POVs, but soon it became obvious and I think the way they came into the picture was very meaningful and beautiful. Like I mentioned above, the authors did a great spin of the mean girls trope. For a change, the mean girls and the heroine became friends and sorted out their issues and it was pretty glorious.
I think the plot was very interesting, I never suspected who the Big Bad was. But I did suspect the creepier thing, which was a bit chilly. Wow. I’m so sorry that I can’t tell you what it was about. You’ll have to read the book to find out if you want to find out.
All in all, it was a very fast-paced read, quite light and had some very interesting concepts. So, definitely check it out if you want to read some lighter fantasy that will keep you on the edge!
November 4, 2017
Oh my God! This was amazing! I was completely captivated from the beginning to the end and through all those crazy twists and turns in between! Can I just pretend I haven't read it yet so I can have a first read through all over again???? This book has something for everyone, a bit of mystery, paranormal, romance, thrills, feels, and everything else!
Laurel awakes one morning to find her sister Ivy poof vanished without a trace! After enduring endless nights of terrible dreams where Ivy is kidnapped Laurel is at the end of her ropes. Her mother doesn't believe her, and no one is taking her concerns seriously. That is until she finds hope in Jasper. The new kid in town who thankfully assists her. Together they discover this ancient prophecy thing and several secrets. I don't want to say more for fear of giving anything away but seriously guys, this was a fantastic read!
A HUGE THANK YOU to Angela Melamud and Malena Watrous for providing me the opportunity to read this book! THANK YOU BOTH for the ARC you sent me.
Laurel awakes one morning to find her sister Ivy poof vanished without a trace! After enduring endless nights of terrible dreams where Ivy is kidnapped Laurel is at the end of her ropes. Her mother doesn't believe her, and no one is taking her concerns seriously. That is until she finds hope in Jasper. The new kid in town who thankfully assists her. Together they discover this ancient prophecy thing and several secrets. I don't want to say more for fear of giving anything away but seriously guys, this was a fantastic read!
A HUGE THANK YOU to Angela Melamud and Malena Watrous for providing me the opportunity to read this book! THANK YOU BOTH for the ARC you sent me.
July 28, 2017
Rating: 5/5
I received this E-ARC via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The description of this book had me thinking one of two things - it's either going to be really good or it was going to utterly flop. The book did not disappoint. Although it took a little while to really amp up and get going, I didn't find myself bored in the beginning stages of the story. There were tidbits about Laurel that I didn't even realize were going to come into play in the story until it was happening, maybe because I read it late at night or just because I didn't make connections. I love it when stories have just enough interest to keep me from connecting the dots though. The ending though! Oh god, the ending. It left me wanting so much more - and I don't even know if there's a sequel that is planned, but I really hope there is because I'm dying to know what happened. I loved all of the characters and development - don't judge a book by it's cover and all. There's a few things I would like to know more about details in the story - just because I'm kind of curious from Jasper's side of it and everything. But even that's just minor and me trying to nitpick something I would want more of, outside of knowing what happens. The story is wonderful, well written, development is great.
I received this E-ARC via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The description of this book had me thinking one of two things - it's either going to be really good or it was going to utterly flop. The book did not disappoint. Although it took a little while to really amp up and get going, I didn't find myself bored in the beginning stages of the story. There were tidbits about Laurel that I didn't even realize were going to come into play in the story until it was happening, maybe because I read it late at night or just because I didn't make connections. I love it when stories have just enough interest to keep me from connecting the dots though. The ending though! Oh god, the ending. It left me wanting so much more - and I don't even know if there's a sequel that is planned, but I really hope there is because I'm dying to know what happened. I loved all of the characters and development - don't judge a book by it's cover and all. There's a few things I would like to know more about details in the story - just because I'm kind of curious from Jasper's side of it and everything. But even that's just minor and me trying to nitpick something I would want more of, outside of knowing what happens. The story is wonderful, well written, development is great.
December 1, 2017
If you follow my reviews, you know the drill! First, comes the grades, then any thoughts, gushing or notes I have, and then a ruling for clean-readers.
World-building: A
Mythology: A+
Plot-Twists: A++ (seriously, they just kept coming!!)
Suspense: A
Girl Power: A-
Guy Hero: B+
Villains: A
Love Interests: A-
Feels: A++
This book had me hooked. I finished it in one sitting. Not kidding. I could not put it down! Laurel's journey to find her sister is rife with twists, turns, and bumps in the road. Reading this book was a fantastic way to pass the night!
For you clean-readers: this book does NOT have mature content.
I was given access to this book ahead of its release in exchange for a fair review. Huge thanks to Inkshares for giving me this opportunity!! Angela Melamud, you rock!
World-building: A
Mythology: A+
Plot-Twists: A++ (seriously, they just kept coming!!)
Suspense: A
Girl Power: A-
Guy Hero: B+
Villains: A
Love Interests: A-
Feels: A++
This book had me hooked. I finished it in one sitting. Not kidding. I could not put it down! Laurel's journey to find her sister is rife with twists, turns, and bumps in the road. Reading this book was a fantastic way to pass the night!
For you clean-readers: this book does NOT have mature content.
I was given access to this book ahead of its release in exchange for a fair review. Huge thanks to Inkshares for giving me this opportunity!! Angela Melamud, you rock!
September 21, 2017
This was a wonderful book that was not only deliciously scary but with excellent characterizations and a plot that kept its momentum. I'm not generally a fan of YA but this book kept my attention throughout. Great shivers. Hope it is the beginning of a series.
September 7, 2017
This book was extremely well plotted. Cascades, Laurel's hometown in Oregon, is full of secrets. Among its population are people called "flares", teens who develop a special power. They all have the same birthmark- a star. Laurel's sister Ivy develops the power of telekinesis, and this puts her smack dab in the middle of a prophecy. The plotting is full of twists and turns as we follow Laurel and the mysterious new boy Jasper on their search to find new flares. As the team gets closer and closer to discovering the truth the pressure heats up. I couldn't put this book down (really, I actually walked my dog while reading it), and mysteries aren't even usually my thing.
The main character, Laurel, is also very relatable. Laurel wants to be a writer, but she feels self-conscious and insecure about her abilities as a writer. I definitely relate to this and watching Laurel overcome her insecurities and doubts about her talent was very inspiring. And in the end, it wasn't a magic power or a boy that made her realize that she could follow her dream. It was all her.
The family dynamic also gives a level of complexity to this story. This story is set after Laurel's grandmother died, and she was really the one who took care of their family. Laurel's mother is caring but scatterbrained and involved with a bad guy. When Ivy disappears her mother refuses to even go to the police. Laurel is left to be the adult of the family. I think this topic really need to be addressed more in literature. Children are forced to grow up too fast all the time in the real world, and it's important to have role models that these kids can relate to.
Overall I thought this book was well-paced, well plotted, and a fun read. It ends on a cliff hanger and I can't wait for the next one!
Final rating- 4.5/5
The main character, Laurel, is also very relatable. Laurel wants to be a writer, but she feels self-conscious and insecure about her abilities as a writer. I definitely relate to this and watching Laurel overcome her insecurities and doubts about her talent was very inspiring. And in the end, it wasn't a magic power or a boy that made her realize that she could follow her dream. It was all her.
The family dynamic also gives a level of complexity to this story. This story is set after Laurel's grandmother died, and she was really the one who took care of their family. Laurel's mother is caring but scatterbrained and involved with a bad guy. When Ivy disappears her mother refuses to even go to the police. Laurel is left to be the adult of the family. I think this topic really need to be addressed more in literature. Children are forced to grow up too fast all the time in the real world, and it's important to have role models that these kids can relate to.
Overall I thought this book was well-paced, well plotted, and a fun read. It ends on a cliff hanger and I can't wait for the next one!
Final rating- 4.5/5
December 12, 2017
2.5-3 stars.
Why the low rating? This was a very unique storyline but the characters got in the way. I strongly disliked the Mean Girls angle and the way they defeated the demon. I seriously LOL'd. That scene caused the rating to drop in my mind. Everything was just ... okay.
FRTC.
Why the low rating? This was a very unique storyline but the characters got in the way. I strongly disliked the Mean Girls angle and the way they defeated the demon. I seriously LOL'd. That scene caused the rating to drop in my mind. Everything was just ... okay.
FRTC.
May 19, 2017
I read this wonderful novel practically in one sitting. The main character, Laurel, is looking for her missing sister, and stumbles upon evidence of weird happenings in her high school in Oregon. Without giving too much away, some of the local teenagers are developing super powers. The story that unfolds is part mystery, part fantasy, and one hundred percent engaging. The small town in Oregon is a great setting for weird happenings—why is it that the Pacific Northwest seems so much more magical than, say, New York?—and the super powers are awesome. Very imaginative but also thought-provoking.
However I think what really pushes this novel from good to great is the quality of the writing. I'm not sure how the authors did it, but the writing is consistently fun and accessible without being cliched. I loved all the descriptions — both of the setting and the characters — and the story had just enough ups and downs and twists to keep me reading late into the night.
SPARKED would be a great mother-daughter book group choice, since it is fun to read and also has a few serious issues underlying the plot, worthy of discussion. I have a teenage daughter who also loved this book, and we've had several interesting conversations around it.
Anyone who has spent any time imagining cool, new super powers will love this novel!
However I think what really pushes this novel from good to great is the quality of the writing. I'm not sure how the authors did it, but the writing is consistently fun and accessible without being cliched. I loved all the descriptions — both of the setting and the characters — and the story had just enough ups and downs and twists to keep me reading late into the night.
SPARKED would be a great mother-daughter book group choice, since it is fun to read and also has a few serious issues underlying the plot, worthy of discussion. I have a teenage daughter who also loved this book, and we've had several interesting conversations around it.
Anyone who has spent any time imagining cool, new super powers will love this novel!
August 17, 2017
The mystery of the missing sister drew me into the story and got me hooked. The story unfolded mostly from the point of view of teenage Laurel, who seemed very teenage yet also provided very amusing and thoughtful perspective of the other characters and her relationships with them. Some of the characters COULD have been very cliché (the mean girls, for example), but because of Laurel’s perspective and insights, the characters have depth and are fun to read about.
I never thought I would be interested in a book about supernatural powers but loved the crazy turns the story took because of it. The climax of the supernatural story was a bit much for me but it fit well in the context of a Young Adult book. Overall, a really fun, well written read (with a good love story too) and hopefully a sequel coming out soon….
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
I never thought I would be interested in a book about supernatural powers but loved the crazy turns the story took because of it. The climax of the supernatural story was a bit much for me but it fit well in the context of a Young Adult book. Overall, a really fun, well written read (with a good love story too) and hopefully a sequel coming out soon….
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
July 21, 2017
Check out the rest of this review on my blog! Feel free to leave a like/follow to be updated on my future reviews if you're interested! <3
https://beautifullybooks.blog/2017/07...
Rating: 4.2/5
“But that’s how life goes: one day we all have to take care of the people who once took care of us. If only there was some way to be ready for that moment.”
This book, I have to admit, quickly became one of my favorites. Although it was slightly slow and confusing in the middle, I have to say I really enjoyed it. It entertained me the entire way through, and I’m really hoping for a sequel. Laurel was fabulous. I really enjoyed her character’s tenacity and drive to find her sister when nobody else would believe her, even her mother. I felt that the characters had decent character depth that could have be rounded out a tiny bit better, but for the most part they were pretty good... (Check Out the Rest on my Blog!)
https://beautifullybooks.blog/2017/07...
Rating: 4.2/5
“But that’s how life goes: one day we all have to take care of the people who once took care of us. If only there was some way to be ready for that moment.”
This book, I have to admit, quickly became one of my favorites. Although it was slightly slow and confusing in the middle, I have to say I really enjoyed it. It entertained me the entire way through, and I’m really hoping for a sequel. Laurel was fabulous. I really enjoyed her character’s tenacity and drive to find her sister when nobody else would believe her, even her mother. I felt that the characters had decent character depth that could have be rounded out a tiny bit better, but for the most part they were pretty good... (Check Out the Rest on my Blog!)
July 27, 2017
I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley and Geek & Sundry in exchange for an honest review.
This wasn't what I expected at all. I figured it might have something to do with an element in YA fiction because I was reminded of The Craft while I was reading (which isn't a bad comparison but rather interesting), but the vibe of the overall book was something that I really loved. Short to avoid spoilers but I definitely loved the mystery aspect of the main character looking for her sister and the love story was a nice touch amongst the twists in the book that I didn't see coming. Hoping for a sequel.
This wasn't what I expected at all. I figured it might have something to do with an element in YA fiction because I was reminded of The Craft while I was reading (which isn't a bad comparison but rather interesting), but the vibe of the overall book was something that I really loved. Short to avoid spoilers but I definitely loved the mystery aspect of the main character looking for her sister and the love story was a nice touch amongst the twists in the book that I didn't see coming. Hoping for a sequel.
October 2, 2017
Review:
Protagonist: Laurel wakes up to find her sister Ivy is missing, trying to rationalize it to herself she keeps a pretty level head for most of the day, but with her sister not back by that night, a suspicious note left that explains her sister's absence with a vague explanation and a dream where Ivy is being held in a dark and grim cellar or basement, Laurel suspects her sister has been kidnapped but no one seems to believe her. The only people that might have a chance to help her are the new bay in school that shares her love of older books and the two girls that have made her life hell since elementary school. I liked Laurel a lot as a character, I did feel she fell into the whole self-deprecating protagonist role a bit much sometimes, but overall I really did like her character development. I liked seeing her really begin to come into her own and take control of her life. There was something so indulgent about watching someone figure things out and mature in a week.
Romance: As for the romance I wasn't a huge fan. The romance between Laurel and Jasper felt very cliche and by the numbers. It felt like your typical paranormal romance and there wasn't really anything to set it apart. Honestly, there isn't all that much romance in this book, and ironically I think that's where it suffers. There wasn't enough time to build the romance between these two characters, and while it's understandable why the authors chose not to, it was kind of sad that the chemistry between these two characters, which there wasn't all that much of, never really got to achieve its full potential.
World Building: Going into this book I was expecting a YA paranormal thriller. A girl gets possibly kidnapped and her sister needs to find out what happened to her. However, this story wasn't nearly as dark as I expected it to be, which is fine, but this isn't really a thriller by any means, it reads far more like a standard paranormal book with a bit of a mystery aspect. I really like the paranormal elements to this tale and how the powers of each individual character work. Even though this is told from the first person POV of Laurel we do get a few chapters told from the third person POV of other characters such as Peyton and Mei and we learn more about how they get their powers and how they work which is really interesting. This book takes place in Oregon, which is a reason I decided to give it a try and I really like the woodsy feel this story has, granted I live in a big city in Oregon, but there's so much greenery that it's nearly impossible to not understand what things must look like in this town. The world really came alive as I read the book and everything was very easy to grasp.
Predictability: When it comes to the twists in this book it's pretty easy to see what they are from a fair distance. The thing is that the foreshadowing is just way too obvious. I felt like things should have been a bit more subtle so that the twists could really pack a punch, but every time it felt like the twist was given away far too soon by something that could have been completely avoided. That being said there are a few good twists in this book, but nothing that made it stand out.
Ending: So... is this a standalone or part of a series. On the whole, it feels like a standalone. The final climax felt very final and was quite an interesting showdown. The cooldown period was also really well done answering a few lingering questions and leaving pretty much nothing left to hold onto, but suddenly out of nowhere comes a cliffhanger like ending and I have no idea where things would go from here. I'm not against a sequel, but I wish I knew whether this was an artistic choice the authors made for a standalone, or if there really is a sequel coming.
Rating:
The characters and world building really saved this book for me. I really enjoyed the story, even if it could be a tad predictable at times, and am interested to see what these authors write next because other than one thing, this story seems perfectly wrapped up.
Protagonist: Laurel wakes up to find her sister Ivy is missing, trying to rationalize it to herself she keeps a pretty level head for most of the day, but with her sister not back by that night, a suspicious note left that explains her sister's absence with a vague explanation and a dream where Ivy is being held in a dark and grim cellar or basement, Laurel suspects her sister has been kidnapped but no one seems to believe her. The only people that might have a chance to help her are the new bay in school that shares her love of older books and the two girls that have made her life hell since elementary school. I liked Laurel a lot as a character, I did feel she fell into the whole self-deprecating protagonist role a bit much sometimes, but overall I really did like her character development. I liked seeing her really begin to come into her own and take control of her life. There was something so indulgent about watching someone figure things out and mature in a week.
Romance: As for the romance I wasn't a huge fan. The romance between Laurel and Jasper felt very cliche and by the numbers. It felt like your typical paranormal romance and there wasn't really anything to set it apart. Honestly, there isn't all that much romance in this book, and ironically I think that's where it suffers. There wasn't enough time to build the romance between these two characters, and while it's understandable why the authors chose not to, it was kind of sad that the chemistry between these two characters, which there wasn't all that much of, never really got to achieve its full potential.
World Building: Going into this book I was expecting a YA paranormal thriller. A girl gets possibly kidnapped and her sister needs to find out what happened to her. However, this story wasn't nearly as dark as I expected it to be, which is fine, but this isn't really a thriller by any means, it reads far more like a standard paranormal book with a bit of a mystery aspect. I really like the paranormal elements to this tale and how the powers of each individual character work. Even though this is told from the first person POV of Laurel we do get a few chapters told from the third person POV of other characters such as Peyton and Mei and we learn more about how they get their powers and how they work which is really interesting. This book takes place in Oregon, which is a reason I decided to give it a try and I really like the woodsy feel this story has, granted I live in a big city in Oregon, but there's so much greenery that it's nearly impossible to not understand what things must look like in this town. The world really came alive as I read the book and everything was very easy to grasp.
Predictability: When it comes to the twists in this book it's pretty easy to see what they are from a fair distance. The thing is that the foreshadowing is just way too obvious. I felt like things should have been a bit more subtle so that the twists could really pack a punch, but every time it felt like the twist was given away far too soon by something that could have been completely avoided. That being said there are a few good twists in this book, but nothing that made it stand out.
Ending: So... is this a standalone or part of a series. On the whole, it feels like a standalone. The final climax felt very final and was quite an interesting showdown. The cooldown period was also really well done answering a few lingering questions and leaving pretty much nothing left to hold onto, but suddenly out of nowhere comes a cliffhanger like ending and I have no idea where things would go from here. I'm not against a sequel, but I wish I knew whether this was an artistic choice the authors made for a standalone, or if there really is a sequel coming.
Rating:
The characters and world building really saved this book for me. I really enjoyed the story, even if it could be a tad predictable at times, and am interested to see what these authors write next because other than one thing, this story seems perfectly wrapped up.
September 29, 2017
Laurel, Ivy and their hippie-dippie mother live in an Airstream trailer on “the edge of civilization.” When Ivy goes missing, fifteen-year-old Laurel has recurrent nightmares about her sister being tortured. Her mother and local police believe Ivy has run off to the big city of Portland, so Laurel must assume the burden of finding her sister. Jasper, a new kid in town, believes Laurel and helps her search for Ivy. The two uncover secrets, super powers, and a mysterious ancient prophecy somehow tied to the small town of Cascade.
This book cleverly blends different genres of young adult fiction, including paranormal, fantasy, and mystery with a smidgeon of world religion thrown in to spice things up.
The character of Laurel is quite enchanting with her very real insecurities, her “trailer trash” upbringing, her susceptibility to the spitefulness of local rich “mean girls” Mei and Peyton, her love of Ivy, and her dream of becoming a writer. There is just enough sexual attraction between Jasper and Laurel to make their romance believable.
Overall, a well-written book with believable personalities that pop off the page. From a slow build while introducing the various characters, Sparked quickly moves into innumerable plot twists and turns. While nicely wrapped up—no cliffhanger here—the ending left room for a sequel, one I’d love to read.
This book cleverly blends different genres of young adult fiction, including paranormal, fantasy, and mystery with a smidgeon of world religion thrown in to spice things up.
The character of Laurel is quite enchanting with her very real insecurities, her “trailer trash” upbringing, her susceptibility to the spitefulness of local rich “mean girls” Mei and Peyton, her love of Ivy, and her dream of becoming a writer. There is just enough sexual attraction between Jasper and Laurel to make their romance believable.
Overall, a well-written book with believable personalities that pop off the page. From a slow build while introducing the various characters, Sparked quickly moves into innumerable plot twists and turns. While nicely wrapped up—no cliffhanger here—the ending left room for a sequel, one I’d love to read.
October 9, 2017
I have to admit the cover drew me in. I don't read a lot of fantasy/paranormal but after reading the synopsis and seeing the cover I knew I had to read it! I was not disappointed!
Right off the bat I was hooked. I had to know what was happening.
The characters are so well written. I love when I read a book and I hate the character(s) but still like them because the way they were written. Prime example would be the Skittles. Peyton and Mei. Their attitudes and the way they act you know you just want to hate them. But the deeper you get into the book, the more you get to know them. I love how each character had their own story, they actually had depth to them.
Laurel I loved! Such a great character! I love strong leads and I think she is one even though she really didn't believe in herself that much. The love between her and her sister Ivy reminds me of my relationship with my sister. I'd do anything for her.
Don't get me started on Jasper Blake *swoons* I loved him from the first time we met him!
Sparked is such a great read! It definitely keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing until the last minute. I think everything is perfectly paced. It didn't seem slow or it wasn't too fast paced. This was my first book by Helena Echlin & Malena Watrous and I can't wait to read more!
*I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
Right off the bat I was hooked. I had to know what was happening.
The characters are so well written. I love when I read a book and I hate the character(s) but still like them because the way they were written. Prime example would be the Skittles. Peyton and Mei. Their attitudes and the way they act you know you just want to hate them. But the deeper you get into the book, the more you get to know them. I love how each character had their own story, they actually had depth to them.
Laurel I loved! Such a great character! I love strong leads and I think she is one even though she really didn't believe in herself that much. The love between her and her sister Ivy reminds me of my relationship with my sister. I'd do anything for her.
Don't get me started on Jasper Blake *swoons* I loved him from the first time we met him!
Sparked is such a great read! It definitely keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing until the last minute. I think everything is perfectly paced. It didn't seem slow or it wasn't too fast paced. This was my first book by Helena Echlin & Malena Watrous and I can't wait to read more!
*I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
October 5, 2017
An ancient Zoroastrian prophecy with teens being "sparked" with supernatural power. Can they get past their differences to fight the evil Druj and save the world?
This has all the things you expect from a YA, supernatural thriller. You have the mean girls (or the Skittles as depicted here), the loner (Laurel, the main character), mysterious new guy (Jasper) who all the girls find hot, dysfunctional family situations, good versus evil fight to the death to save the world and POWERS. Supernatural powers!
I remember as a kid concentrating SO hard to move a paper clip with my mind. I thought once that it moved but then realized it was just my eyes getting glossy from not blinking for so long! So really, any book, show, movie, whatever, containing powers is something I'm drawn to. These teens get "sparked". Their powers come at a young age and manifest when in stressful situations. As a teen novel, they have to overcome their petty differences to work together and we know that in high school, these differences can be a vast hurdle to jump over.
Overall, it's what you would expect from this type of read. Entertaining, lessons learned, love and good trumps evil... or does it?
Thank you so much to Inkshares for this copy in return for my honest review.
This has all the things you expect from a YA, supernatural thriller. You have the mean girls (or the Skittles as depicted here), the loner (Laurel, the main character), mysterious new guy (Jasper) who all the girls find hot, dysfunctional family situations, good versus evil fight to the death to save the world and POWERS. Supernatural powers!
I remember as a kid concentrating SO hard to move a paper clip with my mind. I thought once that it moved but then realized it was just my eyes getting glossy from not blinking for so long! So really, any book, show, movie, whatever, containing powers is something I'm drawn to. These teens get "sparked". Their powers come at a young age and manifest when in stressful situations. As a teen novel, they have to overcome their petty differences to work together and we know that in high school, these differences can be a vast hurdle to jump over.
Overall, it's what you would expect from this type of read. Entertaining, lessons learned, love and good trumps evil... or does it?
Thank you so much to Inkshares for this copy in return for my honest review.
September 17, 2017
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley*
Laurel Goodwin wakes up and finds her sister Ivy missing a week before her birthday. Something about her sister's disappearance doesn't seem quite right to Laurel and she sets out to learn the truth. The only one who seems to believe her is the new kid in town, Jasper, and he seems to have all the answers as they join together to find Ivy as well as others that may be able to help them. But Jasper has secrets of his own that Laurel tries to discover while they uncover the secrets of their quiet town. Laurel quickly finds that she's not as alone as she once thought.
The whole book left me wondering what was going on with every turn of the page. I loved all the foreshadowing and cliffhangers, because then, I never wanted to put the book down! I just wanted more and more. Each chapter gives you more surprises. For instance, the story starts out and you have no idea about the powers people can develop until later on, and then there just keeps getting to be more and more added to the story that makes you want to read til the end to figure out what is going on.
This was an amazing read and I'm so happy that I got the chance to read and review it. It left me with one word on my mind.........wow! I really hope there will be a second one. I will be first in line to buy it!
Laurel Goodwin wakes up and finds her sister Ivy missing a week before her birthday. Something about her sister's disappearance doesn't seem quite right to Laurel and she sets out to learn the truth. The only one who seems to believe her is the new kid in town, Jasper, and he seems to have all the answers as they join together to find Ivy as well as others that may be able to help them. But Jasper has secrets of his own that Laurel tries to discover while they uncover the secrets of their quiet town. Laurel quickly finds that she's not as alone as she once thought.
The whole book left me wondering what was going on with every turn of the page. I loved all the foreshadowing and cliffhangers, because then, I never wanted to put the book down! I just wanted more and more. Each chapter gives you more surprises. For instance, the story starts out and you have no idea about the powers people can develop until later on, and then there just keeps getting to be more and more added to the story that makes you want to read til the end to figure out what is going on.
This was an amazing read and I'm so happy that I got the chance to read and review it. It left me with one word on my mind.........wow! I really hope there will be a second one. I will be first in line to buy it!
September 7, 2017
Teenagers who have super powers, a missing sister, and a Twilight-esque setting perfect for that mystery/fantasy combo. The good thing about what they did with this book is that instead of an eye-rolling romp through yet another of the same old clichés the writing actually created something inventive and discussion worthy. It’s start off with a slow build and I had some severe reservations about why seemingly caring people would not care a loved one went missing but it all gets explained in a decent way.
There is something humorous and adventurous about how they guide you through their story to discover what happened to Laurel’s sister and what is going on with her peers. Despite the fantasy quality there is still something realistic and down to earth about the plotline that is detailed so the settings and people pop off the pages.
That slow build I mentioned definitely goes into overdrive and climaxes with well outlined action and emotional consequences I didn’t see coming to form the perfect conclusion. I really loved how many scenes could have just been more clichés trotted out to appeal to the masses but were written so much better with depth and care to woo the reader. There are characters you will bond with, love, hate or wonder how they manage to tie their shoes just because they irritate you meaning you have a great recipe for character development the way it’s supposed to be.
The twists interspersed are dripped in just enough to keep you engaged and the various issues presented are perfect feeder for book clubs and discussions with your teen who might just open up if you shared a book and a meal.
It should be interesting to see if this is just the first in a new series or a standalone because although most of the book is wrapped up quite tidy there is a little wiggle room left to carry on a bit of the story that was left in cliffhanger mode.
There is something humorous and adventurous about how they guide you through their story to discover what happened to Laurel’s sister and what is going on with her peers. Despite the fantasy quality there is still something realistic and down to earth about the plotline that is detailed so the settings and people pop off the pages.
That slow build I mentioned definitely goes into overdrive and climaxes with well outlined action and emotional consequences I didn’t see coming to form the perfect conclusion. I really loved how many scenes could have just been more clichés trotted out to appeal to the masses but were written so much better with depth and care to woo the reader. There are characters you will bond with, love, hate or wonder how they manage to tie their shoes just because they irritate you meaning you have a great recipe for character development the way it’s supposed to be.
The twists interspersed are dripped in just enough to keep you engaged and the various issues presented are perfect feeder for book clubs and discussions with your teen who might just open up if you shared a book and a meal.
It should be interesting to see if this is just the first in a new series or a standalone because although most of the book is wrapped up quite tidy there is a little wiggle room left to carry on a bit of the story that was left in cliffhanger mode.
September 12, 2017
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Sparked is a pacy, beautifully written paranormal young adult story. It has magic, action, adventure, romance and friendship in it. I loved it so much that I don’t know where to start! The main character is vulnerable, spunky, smart and determined. Her sister goes missing and she sets off on a quest to find her, which turns into a quest to save the world. There’s this cute guy that she likes and he seems to set things on fire… Then there’s an unlikely band of heroines. Some are “mean girls”, which is surprising because in most YA books, the mean girls are one dimensional and exist for the sole purpose of tormenting the heroine. In Sparked, they step up to the plate and when they do, watch out! Every time I thought I had figured what was going on, it surprised me. I kept turning the pages right up to the end. I can’t wait for the next book!
Sparked is a pacy, beautifully written paranormal young adult story. It has magic, action, adventure, romance and friendship in it. I loved it so much that I don’t know where to start! The main character is vulnerable, spunky, smart and determined. Her sister goes missing and she sets off on a quest to find her, which turns into a quest to save the world. There’s this cute guy that she likes and he seems to set things on fire… Then there’s an unlikely band of heroines. Some are “mean girls”, which is surprising because in most YA books, the mean girls are one dimensional and exist for the sole purpose of tormenting the heroine. In Sparked, they step up to the plate and when they do, watch out! Every time I thought I had figured what was going on, it surprised me. I kept turning the pages right up to the end. I can’t wait for the next book!
September 11, 2017
I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you netgalley and publishers.
This story is about Laurel Goodwin who wakes up and finds her sister Ivy is missing from their trailer. Laurel starts having nightmares that make her think her sister was kidnapped, but no one believes her. Laurel finally finds someone who believes her and is willing to help her find her sister. They start uncovering secrets. Laurel and her sister Ivy had a very tough childhood, this book keeps it's pace so I don't want to say anymore and give away everything so I will end my review here :) This book reminded me of The darkest minds, Twilight and Gone. So if your a fan on any of those you will enjoy this book! Happy reading ♡
This story is about Laurel Goodwin who wakes up and finds her sister Ivy is missing from their trailer. Laurel starts having nightmares that make her think her sister was kidnapped, but no one believes her. Laurel finally finds someone who believes her and is willing to help her find her sister. They start uncovering secrets. Laurel and her sister Ivy had a very tough childhood, this book keeps it's pace so I don't want to say anymore and give away everything so I will end my review here :) This book reminded me of The darkest minds, Twilight and Gone. So if your a fan on any of those you will enjoy this book! Happy reading ♡
September 17, 2017
Is there a sequel? Tell me there Is! - review to follow on my blog.
Read
November 25, 2017Review to come!
And I finally finished a book - thank gosh for one small miracle.
And I finally finished a book - thank gosh for one small miracle.
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