Review: Lots of Goings On, Not Much Depth
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 7, 2013
Rating: 2The Low Down: Sophie is an extreme homebody, with no interest in going out or having a boyfriend. She's about to leave for college and be reunited with her best friend, Beth, who is the opposite of Sophie in almost every way. Sophie is an artist, and she is finally going to get out from under the worrying thumb of her mother. Immediately before leaving for college, though, she gets bitten by a fox and suffers some intense hallucinations while she recovers. Once she moves to attend Fosswell University, she starts to have more wild dreams. What can they mean?Her original plan falling to dust, she meets and falls for the gorgeous Sebastian Lovell. A student at the university, he is completely drawn to her as well. But being together with Sebastian means knowing and being OK with his family history...and what they are. Soon Beth is part of the magic, and when a girl they go to school with is found dead, and then a child, they must work together to find and get rid of the evil that surrounds their deaths.Best Thang `Bout It: I like how Sophie's hair starts to look like a fox's tail. I like that they live over an undertaker's shop (store? I don't know what you call it). It's a college-age book which potentially can bring in another layer of early-adult issues. It's set in England - always nice. There's a gay character.I am thankful that the names of the character are interesting without being too soap oper-y.I'm Cranky Because: Sebastian. Really? The hottest guy in school came across more as the creepiest when he found Sophie in that empty classroom. He got better, for sure, but that initial meeting was weird, and really, until they were officially a couple, he was pretty cheesy. He's also so competely nonchalant about his family's secret. And what is up with cousin Connor? He never speaks, yet he does; he's a loner, yet he's not; he sneaks up on Sophie more than once and fondles her. Heebie-jeebie inducing, not sexy. This is a love triangle that's not very aCUTE and makes me feel OBTUSE (get it?).This book wants to have a lot going on without having to completely commit to the consequences. For example: Sebastian tells Sophie about what he is and she accepts it without much surprise; Seb agrees to let her watch him change into what he is even though it's dangerous; Beth accepts all without much eye batting; everyone seems all eek! and then whatevs. Each major incident is passed in much the same way. It's like the characters were used to all sorts of weird and unusual things happening even though, according to the story, this was all new.The other thing that bothered me was that we didn't know anything, really, about any kind of otherworldly creatures/powers for a LONG time, and then, they're everywhere. Vampires, demons, etc. It was a veritable explosion of paranormals, and it made the book feel unbalanced. I'm all for secrets, but this felt more like "Then the vampires come! And then, then we can have, uh, zombies! And magic! And demons would be cool!" Usually you have an inkling about this, but maybe it was lost in translation.Watch your language. There were MANY MANY MANY UK slang terms and Britishisms that were used. Sometimes, that can really give a richness and context to a book; overused, and the reader can feel like an outsider or just flat-out not understand. Now, admittedly, I come from a long line of Anglophiles, so I was familiar with some and others I could figure out (I think). But I'd rather not spend my time trolling through a slang dictionary while I am reading to make sure I didn't miss something. Totty? Like sucking an aniseed ball? On the trot? Clueless.Best Quote: "Look, all men are after one thing...boobs and booty." Uh, I count...uh, never mind.The Bottom Line: Honestly? It was a chore to read this book, mainly because there was nothing new. I knew I had to finish it, so I did. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great, either. And if I shake my head and say "Oh, man!" out loud more than once whilst reading, it never ends well.Foxblood: A Brush With the Moon by Raquel Lyon was published August 13, 2010 by Smashwords. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Author.