Nani
I don't know where to begin with this book. I honestly do not understand why this has such mixed reviews, it's such a difficult read. So much so, that I almost DNF this book, but the OCD in me would not allow me to do that.
So I trudged through this book, which just annoyed me even more, as this was meant to be one of my quicker reads on my TBR, but it ended up taking me way too long.
There was nothing redeemable in this book for me: took way too long to get to the plot of this book - the book rambles on for about 90% with no story whatsover. Just a girl pining over a guy with a love story that's not believable, complaining about how her family doesn't understand her, and feeling that she has every right to pass judgment on everyone else in her family.
The payoff in the end where the big mystery is revealed was so underwhelming after having spent the majority of the book wanting to pull my hair out - I could not deal with the way this book was written. Whatever the author was trying to accomplish with those broken sentences clearly went over my head.
I don't know if I'm missing something, but this just wasn't for me. Off to find a book to cleanse me of this miserable experience.
Don't really know where to start with this one... Being my first foray into the fantasy genre (vampires, witches etc..) I didn't have any expectations, and went into it with an open mind. I'd seen a couple of reviews, and could tell people either loved it or hated it.
Here's what I liked:
- plot may be quite cheesy and cliche at points, but this was actually quite easy to read. I enjoyed Adrian's character more than I thought, but this was probably because I really struggled to like Isolde.
- being my intro to the fantasy genre, the fact that the lore and mythology wasn't delved into too deeply didn't actually bother me too much. I think if it would've been to heavy/detailed, it might have been a struggle to get through
- spice level could have been explored in much further detail (didn't really understand what was happening half the time, what position, how quickly they just started getting together, why it was so random etc.), but again, not having high expectations helped, and I guess it was enough to read through
What I didn't like so much:
- Isolde is an unlikeable heroine. It's clear to see she was raised as a queen, and feels entitled to it, but there comes a point where treating everyone else like shit just because you don't like the way they look or what they said, isn't worthy of respect, it's just plain unlikeable. You can command respect and act like a feminine BOSS without having to react so harshly, and for no reason.
- reincarnation is not my thing. first experience with this trope, and I have to say, it's not for me. Maybe because it was so predictable from early on, with Adrian and Isolde's mysterious connection, I saw it coming a mile away, and it just didn't have the desired effect.
All in all, wasn't the best story, but definitely not the worst thing I've ever read. I will be reading the second book, moreso because of curiousity and the fact that the ending was so abrupt! Will have to see if the story actually progresses in the second book
Finally finished the (original) series. Almost didn't make it through, but glad I did.
Loved seeing Michael back, but noticed with Michael back, all of Mia's newfound maturity just goes out the window. Surprisingly, it wasn't annoying like it has been in previous books - maybe it's because the characters were all getting an ending, maybe not. Who knows?
But it was nice to see everything tie up nicely. I definitely don't see myself rereading this series, but I did remember why I liked it so much when I was a lot younger. The princess diaries books got me into YA, and I can definitely remember the appeal.
Surprisingly not as whiny. Is Mia starting to mature a little? Is that too much to hope for?
I mean it is a short story (not much of a chance for Mia to go on and on) but it was an easy read, cute enough storyline. So, no complaints.
Maybe a sign for the longer books? Will the storyline start getting better?
I honestly hate the way Mia chooses what random situation (in this case comment from Lana) she is going to choose to obsess about until -usually- Michael or someone else in her life, has to get her to chill.
I get it, in this case it's sex, and being a teenager, it's daunting to think about, but all through these books if Mia just communicated, maybe the story could move along a little better.
The books have really lost the essence that made them good in the first few installments. But all Mia does now is whine and complain, and it's becoming unbearable.
Struggling to get through the series at this point, but am commited to finishing this once and for all.
Hey Mia, you want to go to the prom so badly... here's a hint, just ask your bloody boyfriend! Mia was insufferable in this one. Honestly!
Once again, I understand she's a teenager (taking way too long in this series to age her up so she can start wising up to things) but something's gotta give. You can't be that clueless and melodramatic about everything.
Lilly was also terrible in this. I seriously do not understand why Mia is friends with her
Mia really is so oblivious, it can get annoying. Have to constantly remind myself that she is a literal teenager, clueless about love, and that I am not the intended target audience to be reading these books in the first place.... and then it's easier to read.
Once you get over that, it's actually quite a sweet and cute story. Although I am starting to question why Mia is friends with Lilly??!! Honestly!
This is starting to drag on a bit. It's hard to justify Mia's whining.
I get that we're reading a “diary” where you're allowed to offload your unfiltered, mess of a brain, but at some point, one must realise that if you just communicated just a small percentage of your thoughts, you'd get some answers to the continuous questions she seems to go on and on about.
Find myself wanting to yell at Mia to stop writing and actually speak up!
Commited to finishing this series, as I've started it so many times but never got past the 3rd book, but if the rest of the series is like this, I can already tell it's going to feel like a drag. Which is a shame, as the first few books, although teenagey and silly, felt more like a light, easy read.
Re-reading this book as I'm trying to finish this series (only got through a few books the first time round), and remembered why I liked it the first time I read it.
Very much on par with my emotional maturity when I was younger. Now that I'm reading, Mia comes across so clueless on many things, but it can be humourous instead of annoying - which I remember, comes in later books.
Nice enough read, and quick to get through.
