Review: Bad transitions, but EXCELLENT story.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 12, 2013
http://bookbutterflyreviews.blogspot.caI want to start off by saying that the premise of this book was fantastic. The ideas —outstanding. The writing— intriguing. The plot— all the main ingredients for perfection... the execution—ehh, a little lacking.Lets start from the beginning. Everything was extremely rushed. Bea going to school, learning about Force and  about her impending birthday,  making friends, trusting said friends... it all seemed to just happen without much of a transition. This was a common theme throughout the novel that lead to a bit of whip lash. It seemed new information, or events, or battles, or people would just pop up out of no where without any signal or foretelling. In fact, this story lacked in foretelling plot wise that ultimately hindered the story over all. I would normally only give a 3 star rating to a book like this... however, the actual story more than made up for transition issues.Where the story lacking in transition, it made up for in mystery and intrigue. I was constantly at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. The descriptions were so enthralling and detailed that I found myself laughing, raging, crying, and being confused and lost (as a character) right along with Bea. The story was actually well written in terms of word use, cliff hangers, and the MOST important, character development. And after giving all of this praise, you know why I couldn't give this book a 3 star rating, but I couldn't give it a perfect 5 out of 5 either.I wonder if the idea of this story was inspired by Kristin Cashore's Fire. The description of Bea reminded me so much of her. The enthralling beauty, the fact that people start by hating her and fearing her, but she is such a lost and scared person that she can't help but draw people in... I loved it. I loved it in Fire and I loved it here.As for the romantic aspect, I am so torn between Joseph (aka Harbringer as he is more commonly referred to) and Hazen. I feel that on a practical level, things with Hazen could never work out. He is a little judgy, he is moral, and he pries into Bea's mind constantly and doesn't always like what he sees...then goes all scowly. But, he is always there for her, and obviously loves her. But I am definitely leaning toward team Joseph. He is bad ass, able to handle her powers (aka compulsion so he isn't madly gah gah over her) and no so judgy. But he an older man.... who am I kidding, I think thats hot! I hope I get to see more interaction between the two in the next book!