carti despre zei – My Weekly Book

Creatura (seria Creatura, volumul 1) – Nely Cab

Posted on 24 July 201329 October 2014 by roxtao

Disponibil la: Leda Books

Colectia: Fantasy Leda

Traducerea: Adrian Deliu

Numar pagini: 448

Sinopsis:

„Sunt, in acelasi timp, si mai mult, dar si mai putin decat o fiinta umana. Sunt, prin cine stie ce intamplare miraculoasa, inca in viata. Aceasta este povestea primei mele iubiri, povestea vietii mele trecute si povestea renasterii mele…”

Ce se intampla cand barbatul din vis devine realitate?

Isis Martin, o fata de saptesprezece ani dintr-un orasel obscur din sudul Texasului, incepe sa sufere de tulburari de somn, dupa ce o silueta neagra inaripata ii tulbura visele, hartuind-o. Nu trece mult pana cand Isis se hotaraste sa-si infrunte frica, descoperind cu surprindere identitatea celui care se ascunde in spatele vietatii amenintatoare cu chip uman. Sirul descoperirilor nu se opreste insa aici…

Cand Isis ii cere necunoscutului sa demonstreze ca nu este o plasmuire a imaginatiei ei, acesta accepta provocarea cu bucurie. Astfel, frumoasa adolescenta ajunge sa ii cunoasca pe membrii unei familii din spita divina a acelora de mult uitati de omenire.

Romantismul, senzualitatea exploziva, pericolul si intamplarile dincolo de puterea de intelegere a muritorilor o insotesc pe Isis pe drumul ei spre o iubire nepermisa, de natura sa schimbe legile pamantesti. In mod sigur, aceasta extraordinara calatorie ii va captiva si incanta pe iubitorii povestilor de dragoste. Iar povestea se afla de-abia la inceput…

Parerea mea:

Creatura porneste de la una dintre temele care m-au fascinat dintotdeauna si pe care o descopar acum, cu entuziasm, din ce in ce mai des utilizata in romanele pentru tineri: mitologia. Popularitatea vampirilor incepe sa scada, varcolacii sunt uitati si ei iar ingerii au fost doar un trend trecator. Se pare ca zeii reprezinta cea mai noua si mai fierbinte tendinta in materie de carti fantasy.

Nely Cab a avut o idee interesanta, care putea fi usor dezvoltata intr-un scenariu captivant. Si intr-o oarecare masura, chiar este. Din pacate insa, potentialul nu a fost exploatat la maxim, iar scenele si tiparele parca trase la xerox din celebra serie Twilight au scazut… CONTINUAREA AICI.

Aimee Carter

The Goddess Inheritance (seria Goddess Test, volumul 3) – Aimee Carter

Posted on 27 May 201329 October 2014 by roxtao

The Goddess Inheritance

seria Goddess Test, volumul 3

Aimee Carter

Numar pagini: 283

Sinopsis:

Iubire sau viata.

Henry sau copilul lor.

Sfarsitul familiei ei sau sfarsitul intregii lumi.

Kate trebuie sa aleaga.

De-a lungul celor noua luni de captivitate, Kate Winters a supravietuit unei zeite geloase, unui titan razbunator si unei sarcini pe care nu a cerut-o niciodata. Acum Regina Zeilor il vrea pe copilul ei nenascut iar Kate nu o poate opri – pana cand Cronus ii ofera un targ.

In schimbul loialitatii si devotamentului ei, Regele Titanilor va cruta omenirea si o va lasa pe Kate sa isi pastreze copilul. Insa chiar daca Kate accepta, el il va distruge pe Henry, pe mama ei si pe restul consiliului. Iar daca refuza, Cronus va distruge lumea pana cand fiecare zeu si fiecare om va fi mort.

Avand pe umeri responsabilitatea sortii tuturor celor pe care ii iubeste, Kate trebuie sa faca imposibilul: sa gaseasca o metoda prin care sa invinga cea mai puternica fiinta din univers, chiar daca asta o va costa totul.

Chiar daca o va costa propria-i eternitate.

Parerea mea:

Tinand cont de avantul pe care l-a luat literatura fantasy in ultimii ani, mare parte din povestile care se publica acum pot parea intr-o oarecare masura lipsite de originalitate si destul de putine scenarii ajung sa mai surprinda cu adevarat. Seria Goddess Test a avut inca de la inceput o intriga neasteptata, iar ultimul volum, The Goddess Inheritance a reusit sa ma tina in suspans de la primele randuri.

Romanul incepe in forta, captandu-ti atentia din start, iar in continuare nu exista aproape nici un moment de respiro. In afara de cateva banuieli destul de vagi, pe parcursul lecturii nu am avut nici cea mai mica idee despre modul in care va evolua situatia. Speram ca totul se va incheia cu bine, insa nu reuseam sa imi imaginez modul in care protagonistii vor reusi sa o scoata la capat. Kate este prinsa acum intre doua persoane pe care le iubeste la fel de mult, iar a lupta pentru una dintre ele ar putea insemna pierderea definitiva a celeilalte. In plus, presiunea viitorului razboi inevitabil apasa si ea asupra eroinei si aproape orice plan si-ar construi, este din start sortit pieirii. Nu doar viata ei si a celor dragi este in pericol, ci soarta intregii lumi atarna de un fir de ata. Si nu doar ca ea si ceilalti zei nu pot impiedica distrugerea, dar fiecare greseala pe care o fac da nastere unor dezastre si mai mari.

Protagonistii mi-au placut la fel de mult ca in volumele anterioare, in ciuda catorva greseli facute de Kate. Autoarea reuseste sa redea perfect disperarea eroinei, asa ca nu e deloc dificil sa te pui in pielea ei si sa intelegi ca in unele momente, reactiile ei, desi gresite, erau singurele posibile. Determinarea ambilor protagonisti de a apara persoanele pe care le iubesc este uimitoare, la fel ca si sacrificiile pe care sunt dispusi sa le faca pentru asta, iar devotamentul unora dintre personajele secundare este si el admirabil.

Exista momente in care autoarea reuseste sa iti transmita cititorului uimitor de clar starile si emotiile personajelor, desi nu are nevoie de mai mult de cateva cuvinte pentru asta. Un simplu sarut spune enorm, o privire exprima o gama uriasa de sentimente; dintr-o imbratisare tacuta reies mii de cuvinte nespuse. Iar toate emotiile pe care le percepi te invaluie pe nesimtite, nu iti dai seama cand ai ajuns sa simti tot ce simt personajele, nu stii cum s-a intamplat sa iti bata inima in acelasi ritm ca al personajelor. Autoarea nu foloseste cuvinte mari pentru a reusi sa te influenteze astfel, nu exista exprimari pretentioase, stilul ramane accesibil si frumos, fara sa devina extravagant sau greoi.

Unul dintre aspectele care mi-au atras atentia este faptul ca relatia dintre zei, desi a fost de-a lungul anilor afectata de minciuni, tradari sau greseli, ramane totusi una foarte stransa. Oricat de reci ar parea unii dintre ei in relatia lor cu Kate sau cu celelalte zeitati, exista momente in care afectiunea si grija pentru membrii familiei lor strapunge masca dura pe care o poarta in mod normsl. De asemenea, mi-a placut faptul ca desi autoarea a reusit sa creioneze zeilor portrete destul de accesibile, facandu-te uneori sa uiti ca este vorba de fiinte nemuritoare, ce traiesc de la inceputul lumii si au vazut deja tot ce are de oferit aceasta, exista cateva scene in care devii brusc constient de originea, varsta si experienta uriasa a acestora. Interesant este si faptul ca autoarea respecta perceptia clasica asupra zeitatilor: desi incredibil de puternici, intelepti si martori a nenumarate generatii, epoci si schimbari, ei raman totusi umani din anumite puncte de vedere si supusi deci unor greseli omenesti. Ceea ce ii desparte uneori, ceea ce ii aduce la un pas de distrugere sunt exact aceste slabiciuni pe care le au in comun cu omenirea, in ciuda faptului ca intre ei si aceasta exista diferente uriase.

Ma bucur mult ca seria va fi publicata si in Romania, pentru ca este cu adevarat desavarsita. Pornind de la ideile originale, la modul atent si complex in care sunt dezvoltate intrigile, actiunea alerta si pana la portretele personajelor, fiecare aspect al povestii este incantator si captivant. Mai ales daca ati inceput sa va saturati de aceleasi si aceleasi scenarii si de retetele ce au devenit deja cliseice, veti fi cu adevarat fermecati de aceasta serie. Eu am citit-o cu entuziasm maxim si fiecare volum de pana acum m-a surprins in mod placut. Iar The Goddess Inheritance este o incheiere care intrece orice asteptari!

Bile albe:

– Scenariul surprinzator de la inceput pana la final, atentia cu care sunt tratate motivatiile personajelor, fie ca este vorba despre cele pozitive sau despre cele negative si originalitatea povestii.

Bile negre:

– Nu ma pot gandi la nimic in afara de disparitia unuia dintre personajele pe care le indrageam. Insa exact acest sacrificiu a dus la incheierea unui razboi ce ar fi distrus intreaga lume, asa ca nu prea am cum sa nu accept sau sa fiu dezamagita de pierderea acelui personaj.

Alte recenzii care te-ar putea interesa:

The Goddess Test (seria Goddess Test, volumul 1) – Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted (seria Goddess Test, volumul 2) – Aimee Carter

A.K. Morgen

Fade (seria The Ragnarok Prophesies, volumul 1) – A.K. Morgen

Posted on 8 September 201229 October 2014 by roxtao

Fade (seria The Ragnarok Prophesies, volumul 1) – A.K. Morgen

Editura: Curiosity Quills Press

Data publicare: 7 septembrie 2012

Numar pagini: 320

Sinopsis:

Ce faci atunci cand realizezi ca nimic din viata ta nu e asa cum credeai tu ca este?

Atunci cand Arionna Jacobs isi pierde mama intr-un accident tragic, lumea ei se intoarce pe dos. Este fortata sa isi lase intreaga viata in urma si sa se mute cu tatal ei. Dace Matthews, asistent la noua facultate pe care o urmeaza ea este „rupt” in doua, nereusind sa comunice cu lupul salbatic prizonier inauntrul sau.

Atunci cand se intalnesc, tot ceea ce credeau ca stiu despre viata lor incepe sa se clarifice. Dace are acces la mintea Arionnei si ceva ascuns in strafundul sufletului ei incearca sa iasa la suprafata. Nici unul nu intelege ce li se intampla si de ce iar timpul pe care il au la dispozitie sa inteleaga intamplarile ciudate prin care trec este pe terminate.

Intalnirea lor declanseaza o profetie norvegiana a distrugerii iar ceea ce le-a rezervat destinul este mult mai mult decat si-ar putea imagina oricare dintre ei. Daca nu invata sa aiba incredere in ei insisi si unul in celalalt este posibil sa nu rezolve niciodata misterul legat de ceea ce reprezinta unul pentru celalalt si de ceea ce inseamna acest lucru pentru intreaga lume.

Parerea mea:

Multumesc editurii Curiosity Quills Press si autoarei, A.K. Morgen, pentru ca mi-au oferit aceasta carte pentru recenzie.

Trebuie sa va spun de la inceput ca desi acum, dupa ce am terminat romanul Fade pot spune ca a fost interesant, prima jumatate a acestuia a fost extrem de enervanta. Sunt nevoita sa fac o paranteza ca sa intelegeti ce o sa spun in continuare. Nu sunt nici pro nici contra celebrei serii Twilight. Am citit-o inainte sa inceapa mania Twilight si nu mi-a lasat vreo impresie semnificativa. O serie..ok si atat. Dar mi se pare evident faptul ca Stephanie Meyer a deschis mult mai larg portile literaturii fantasy si influenta sa asupra publicului tanar s-a revarsat si catre alti autori. Oricine neaga asta ar trebui sa arunce o privire asupra numarului de romane young adult, fantasy sau paranormal publicate in ultimii ani, comparativ cu numarul din anii anteriori.

Totusi, cred ca am ajuns in punctul in care literatura post Twilight a devenit cam greu de digerat. Bineinteles, nu vorbesc despre toate romanele, ci doar despre cele care recreaza punct cu punct majoritatea aspectelor din romanul lui Meyer. Probabil din acest motiv aproape ca am detestat Fade pana pe la jumatate. S-o luam pe rand. Fata nevoita sa se mute intr-un orasel mic impreuna cu tatal ei? Avem. Personaj masculin incredibil de frumos si misterios? Avem. Prima intalnire in care absolut tot ce e in jur dispare iar cei doi se pierd unul in privirea celuilalt si intreaga existenta le este data peste cap? Avem. Incercari obsesive ale ei de a afla adevarul despre el si asa zise incercari din partea lui de a evita asta? Avem. Telepatie? Avem. Chestii nu tocmai naturale care incep sa apara dupa intalnirea celor doi? Avem. Hmm..ce mai era? Ah, da, nu trebuie sa uitam si ca ea se impiedica prea des. Ok, deci pana la jumatate, cam acesta este cursul povestii. Si de parca nu era de ajuns, avem parte si de zeci de pagini de reflectii, meditatii, incursiuni in sufletul indurerat al eroinei, cugetari si presupuneri. Nu am abandonat cartea doar pentru ca imi parea rau de timpul pierdut pana la momentul respectiv. Asa ca daca tot citisem pana atunci, macar sa am constiinta impacata ca am reusit sa termin romanul.

Ei bine, incepand de pe la jumatatea cartii, lucrurile se schimba. Prima surpriza a fost legata de faptul ca el nu este varcolac, asa cum il suspectam, ci shifter. Nu neaparat ca ar fi o diferenta foarte mare, dar a marcat inceputul unul lant de surprize. Eram ferm convinsa ca povestea va evolua intr-un plan destul de previzibil, fara sa ofere nimic spectaculos. Si totusi, firul narativ s-a intins intr-o directie total diferita. Am fost aruncata deodata in mitologia scandinava, din care o anumita profetie norvegiana despre sfarsitul lumii isi extinde influenta exact asupra personajelor noastre. Suntem dintr-odata prinsi intr-un joc cu legende, reincarnari, creaturi nemaintalnite in genul fantasy, dusmani pe care inca nu ii cunoastem, personaje secundare ce schimba locul cu cele principale sau personaje negative ce au un rol total diferit fata de cel la care ne-am fi asteptat. Pe cat de plictisita am fost de prima parte a povestii, pe atat de captivata eram de cea de-a doua. Mi-au placut personajele secundare si mi s-a parut o schimbare binevenita faptul ca rolul acestora devine unul extrem de important. Mi-a placut haita de lupi ce isi pastreaza nota de naturalete, avand ritualuri obisnuite si fiind lipsita de capacitati supranaturale. Am apreciat faptul ca personajul masculin nu este construit intr-un mod clasic, nefiind neinfricat si invincibil, ci dimpotriva, avand temeri bine inradacinate si fiind la fel de speriat de necunoscut ca si protagonista. Mi-a placut faptul ca autoarea explica motivul pentru care mai multe tipuri de fiinte supranaturale sunt adunate intr-un orasel mic si nu trateaza aceasta intamplare ca fiind ceva absolut normal.

Exista insa din pacate doua lucruri care au aruncat o umbra asupra celei de-a doua jumatati a romanului. Primul: aceeasi tendinta ca si in prima parte a cartii catre meditatie si multitudinea de ganduri ale eroinei, ganduri care de cele mai multe ori nu fac decat sa umple degeaba paginile. Al doilea lucru care m-a deranjat este legat de modul in care profetia scandinava a fost adusa in atentia cititorului. In ciuda faptului ca o parte a legendei norvegiene este explicata, exista cateva aspecte ale acesteia ce raman in ceata. Cumva, ai senzatia ca parca nu ai fi citit cu atentie si ti-ar fi scapat exact esentialul. Pana la un moment dat aceasta legenda nu este mentionata deloc si dintr-odata, toate personajele par sa stie despre ce este vorba si sa discute despre ea ca si cum ar relua o conversatie veche. Stiu ca se intampla adesea sa nu mai retii cum este sa nu stii un anumit lucru, drept pentru care explicatiile tale sa nu fie indeajuns de clare pentru o persoana ce vine pentru prima data in contact cu acea teorie. Banuiesc deci ca autoarea s-a documentat probabil destul de mult cu privire la mitologia scandinava si nu mai reuseste acum sa trateze subiectul ca pe o noutate, ci il prezinta ca si cum toti cititorii ar avea aceleasi cunostinte ca ea.

Bile albe:

– Intriga romanului este diferita de cea a altor carti fantasy existente, oferind atat o viziune noua, cat si o gama de personaje pe care nu le mai intalnesti in alte lecturi.

Bile negre:

– Influentele Twilight: prea multe, prea evidente, prea insistente.

English version:

Sinopsis:

What do you do when you realize nothing in your life is what you’ve believed it to be?

When Arionna Jacobs loses her mother in a tragic accident, her world is turned upside down. She’s forced to leave her old life behind and move in with her father. Dace Matthews, a teaching assistant at her new college, is torn in two, unable to communicate with the feral wolf caged inside him.

When they meet, everything they thought they knew about life unravels. Dace has intimate access to Arionna’s mind, and something deep within her fights to rise to the surface. They don’t understand what’s happening to them or why, and they’re running out of time to sort out the strange occurrences around them.

Their meeting sets an ancient Norse prophesy of destruction in motion, and what destiny has in store for them is bigger than either could have ever imagined. Unless they learn to trust themselves and one another, they may never resolve the mystery surrounding who they are to one another, and what that means for the world.

My opinion:

I received this book by courtesy of Curiosity Quills Press publisher and the author, A.K. Morgen. Thank you for offering me Fade in order to write a review. Because English is not my native language, please excuse the possible mistakes.

I have to tell you from the beginning that although now, after I finished Fade I can say that it was interesting, the first half of the novel was really annoying. I have to digress a little in order to make you understand what I’m going to say later. I am not pro and I’m not against the famous Twilight series. I’ve read it before the Twilight mania started and it didn’t offer me a major impression. It was..ok, but nothing more. But I think it’s pretty obvious that Stephanie Meyer opened the gates for the fantasy literature and that her influence effused over other new authors. Anyone that denies this should check the number of young adult, fantasy or paranormal books that was published in these last years, compared with the number in the previous years.

However, I think we got to the point where the post Twilight literature is a little difficult to digest. Of course, I’m not talking about all the new novels, but about the ones that re-create most of the aspects from Meyer’s novel. Probably this is the reason why I hated the first half of Fade. Let’s start with the beginning. The girl that has to move with her dad in a small town? Check. The incredible beautiful and mysterious male character? Check. The first meet when everything near them disappears, they lose each other in the other’s sight and their worlds are completely messed? Check. Obsessive attempts from her to discover the truth about him and so called attempts from him to avoid it? Check. Mind reading? Check. Unnatural things, happening after they met? Check. Hmm..was there something else? Oh, yes, we should’t forget that she stumbles a lot. So..this is the action in the first half of the book. And like this wouldn’t be enough, we also discover lots of pages full of thinking, meditations, incursions in the pained soul of the protagonist, thoughts and assumptions. I didn’t abandoned the book only because I was sorry for the time spent until that moment. If I already read half of the book, at least I should be comforted that I was able to read the full novel.

But, from the middle of the book, everything changes. The first surprise was that the male character is not a werewolf, as I suspected, but a shifter. I know it’s not a big difference, but it was the first sign of a sequence of surprises. I was sure that the story will develop in a very predictable way, without bringing anything surprising. But the storyline went in a totally different direction. I was suddenly thrown in the Scandinavian mythology, from where a Norse prophecy influences the lives of our characters. We’re suddenly caught in a game full of legends, reincarnation, unknown creatures we never meet in other fantasy books, enemies that we don’t know yet, secondary characters that change their place with the main characters and negative characters that actually have a very different role. As bored I was when I read the first part of the book, as fascinated I was when I got to the second one. I loved the secondary characters and I thought it was a welcomed change the fact that their roles become really important. I liked the wolf pack that keeps it’s natural way, having common rituals and having no supranatural characteristics. I appreciated the fact that the male character was not built in the usual way: dauntless and invincible. On the contrary, he has deep rooted fears and he is as frightened as the heroine by the unknown. Also, I liked the fact that the author offers a reason why all those supranatural beings are all living in a small place and she doesn’t treats this fact as a normal thing.

Still, there are two things that bothered me in this second part of the novel. First: the same bent for meditation and the amount of thoughts of the protagonist, thoughts that usually do nothing else but fill the pages. The second thing is the way the Norse prophecy was brought in the readers’ attention. Although a part of it is explained, there are a few aspects of it that remain in darkness. Somehow, you get the feeling that you didn’t read the whole text and you’re missing the most important thing. For a while, there is no mention about the prophecy and suddenly, all the characters are talking about it like they would continue an old conversation. I know that sometimes, you forget how it feels not knowing a certain thing and because of this, your explanations may be unclear for a person that hears about that thing for the first time. So I suppose the author probably boned at the subject of Scandinavian mythology and now fails to present the subject as novelty, and more like all the readers would have the same level of information about it like she has.

Pros:

– The storyline is different from other fantasy novels and brings a new vision and also a collection of new and intriguing characters and creatures.

Cons:

– Twilight influences: to many, to obvious and to insistent.

Alte recenzii care te-ar putea interesa:

Camera blestemata (seria Jocul Lupoaicelor, volumul 1) – Mireille Calmel

Versetele satanice – Salman Rushdie

Aimee Carter

The Goddess Legacy (seria Goddess Test, volum satelit) – Aimee Carter

Posted on 23 July 201229 October 2014 by roxtao

The Goddess Legacy – seria Goddess Test, volum satelit

Editura: Harlequin Teen

Disponibil din data de: 31 iulie 2012

Numar pagini: 395

Sinopsis:

For millennia we’ve caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aime e Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.
Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness…
Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal…
Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another…
James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before…
Henry/Hades’s solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope…
Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.

Parerea mea:

In primul rand multumesc editurii Harlequin Teen si autoarei, Aimee Carter, pentru ocazia de a citi acest volum cu destul timp inainte de a fi publicat. M-am indragostit de seria Goddess Test de la primul volum si aveam impresia ca timpul sta pe loc si nu mai vine odata ziua in care The Goddess Legacy va fi publicata. Asa ca sansa de a citi volumul acesta inainte de data oficiala a fost ca o mica minune pentru mine.

Volumul a fost ireprosabil! Nu stiu exact la ce ma asteptam inainte sa il incep, dar la final, am ramas cu impresia ca am avut parte de o lectura perfecta. Stiam ca volumul urma sa prezinte 5 povesti ale catorva dintre personajele seriei. Am fost surprinsa insa sa descopar ca nu este vorba de orice fel de povesti, ci chiar de cele care care au o importanta majora in evolutia personajelor si a actiunii si sunt in acelasi timp si cele care duc la declansarea intrigilor din intreaga serie. Cele 5 povestiri sunt prezentate in ordine cronologica, incepand de la cea care sta la originea Consiliului si ajungand in final la perioada dinaintea intamplarilor din primul volum, The Goddess Test.

In prima poveste, cea a Herei/Calliopei, descoperim atat modul in care a evoluat Consiliul zeilor imediat dupa victoria contra Titanilor, cat si motivele pentru care Hera ajunge sa fie personajul negativ al seriei, desi prin natura sa ar fi trebuit sa fie o zeita buna: patroana casniciilor, a fidelitatii si a caminului in general si in acelasi timp si regina zeilor. Mi-a placut faptul ca istorisirea este redata intr-un mod foarte obiectiv, astfel incat la un moment dat uiti ca Hera este cea raspunzatoare pentru majoritatea problemelor prin care trec mai tarziu protagonistii. Reusesti sa intelegi transformarea prin care a trecut, transformare involuntara, datorata unei existente lipsita de cel mai vag sentiment de bucurie si incarcata doar de orgolii, suferinta, mandrie, umiliri si vise distruse unul dupa altul.

Desi la fel de importanta, povestea Afroditei/Avei este relatata intr-o atmosfera mai putin sumbra iar prezenta efervescenta a zeitei iubirii ofera acestui capitol un aer jucaus, care te lasa cu zambetul pe buze. Daca de cele mai multe ori Afrodita pare un personaj destul de superficial si schimbator, in aceasta poveste ii descoperi adevarata fata, afli ce se ascunde de fapt sub masca veseliei si a entuziasmului continuu. Bineinteles, nu ai parte neaparat de o revelatie absoluta, schimbarea nu este una extrema, pentru ca Afrodita ramane totusi..Afrodita. Doar ca dovedeste ca este mai mult decat pare la prima vedere. Descoperi o perspectiva mai profunda decat te asteptai, iar alegerea pe care o face in final este inteleapta, condusa de mai multi factori si nu doar de o pasiune oarba.

Ajungem si la povestea Persephonei..Pe care am detestat-o in prima carte, dar pe care am ajuns sa o simpatizez in cel de-al doilea volum al seriei, Goddess Interrupted. Si fata de care am revenit la sentimentele initiale in urma acestei carti. Inteleg ca intr-o oarecare masura, poate ca faptele ei nu au fost intentionate iar relatia ei cu Hades poate ca intr-adevar nu a avut sanse din start. Intr-adevar, autoarea ne prezinta povestea ei in acest mod, dar nu m-am putut abtine sa nu fiu in dezacord total cu atitudinea Persephonei. In ciuda oricaror asa zise incercari de a face totul sa mearga, am ramas cu impresia ca de fapt nu s-a straduit deloc si ca s-a agatat de orice aventura i-a iesit in cale, fara sa ia in considerare modul in care ii ranea iar si iar pe cei apropiati. Stiu ca in carte ne este repetat de nenumarate ori faptul ca Persephona era constienta ca tradarile ei loveau in cei din jur si ca regreta modul in care si-a gasit fericirea. Dar nu ma pot abtine sa nu continui sa o privesc ca fiind principala vinovata si sa nu consider ca a ales o cale usoara si deloc acceptabila.

In cea de-a patra poveste descoperim si secretul lui Hermes/James. Ca si in cazul primei povesti, a Herei, si capitolul dedicat lui Hermes are o dubla semnificatie. Pe de o parte aflam povestea lui de dragoste iar pe de alta parte, ajungem sa cunoastem modul in care zeii au reusit sa se reinventeze pentru a nu disparea pentru totdeauna. In plus, tot in acest context descoperim si semnificatiile noilor nume pe care si le-au ales unele dintre personaje si pe care le utilizeaza in momentul in care se petrece actiunea din celelalte volume ale seriei. Aceasta poveste il prezinta pe Hermes intr-o noua lumina si sunt convinsa ca perspectiva cititorilor asupra sa va fi diferita atunci cand vor citi urmatorul volum. Avem parte din nou de un portret ceva mai complet si mai profund fata de cel pe care am reusit sa il descoperim in cartile anterioare.

Ultima povestire este cea a lui Hades si este singura impartita in mai multe etape. Actiunea acesteia evolueaza de la perioada de dupa plecarea Persephonei pana la momentele dinaintea aventurilor prezentate in prima carte a seriei. Povestea explica atitudinea sa rece si distanta din celelalte volume astfel incat ajungi nu doar sa il intelegi pe Hades, ci chiar sa te intrebi cum a putut rezista atat de mult avand in vedere toate lucrurile prin care a trecut, existenta incarcata doar de drame, dezamagiri si nefericire.

Bile albe:

– Unul dintre lucurile pe care le-am apreciat cel mai mult este modul in care autoarea a reusit sa jongleze cu sentimentele cititorului. Pe masura ce avansezi cu lectura, iti dai seama ca atitudinea fata de anumite personaje ti se schimba de la o poveste la alta, iar sentimentele pe care le ai fata de acestea sunt extrem de diferite de la un moment la altul. Nu este vorba doar de diferente intre cartile anterioare si aceasta, ci de unele pe care le descoperi in cadrul aceluiasi volum. De exemplu, daca in prima povestire ajungi sa o simpatizezi pe Hera, in alta nu iti doresti decat ca ea sa dispara pentru totdeauna. Mi s-a parut remarcabil modul in care ajungi sa fii influentat atat de mult de personajele ale caror puncte de vedere iti sunt prezentate intr-un anumit moment.

Bile negre:

– Luptele de orgolii dintre zei si modul in care acestia isi traiesc existentele vesnice sunt parca prea apropiate de cele omenesti. Fiind vorba de niste zei, as fi preferat ca atitudinile acestora sa fie mai corecte si mai obiective. Intr-adevar, o parte din deciziile lor sunt intr-adevar admirabile, dar din pacate, mult mai multe hotarari sunt influentate in mod negativ de propriile sentimente.

English version:

I received The Goddess Legacy by courtesy of Harlequin Teen publisher and Mrs. Aimee Carter, the author of the book. Thank you for offering me the chance to review this book even before the publishing date! I fell in love with Goddess Test series since the first novel and I was feeling that the time stood still and that the publishing day of The Goddess Legacy was never coming. So the chance to read this volume before the official date was like a little miracle for me. Because English is not my native language, please accept my excuses for the possible mistakes.

This novel was flawless! I don’t know exactly what I was expecting before I started reading it, but in the end, I was positive that it was a perfect reading. I already knew that the novel was going to show 5 stories of some of the characters. But I was surprised to discover that they’re not any kind of stories, but the ones that have a major influence in the characters and the plot’s evolution and in the same time, the ones that initiate the story line of the whole series. These 5 stories are presented in chronological order, starting with the one that represents the origin of the Council and finishing with the period before the adventures from the first volume, The Goddess Test.

In the first story, Hera’s, we find out both the way the Council grew after the victory against the Titans, and the reasons why Hera becomes the villain, although she should’ve been a good goddess, the master of marriage, fidelity and home and also the queen of the gods. I liked the fact that the story is told in a very detached manner, and at some point, you almost forget that she is responsible for most of the problems that the main characters of the series have to deal with later. You are able to understand her involuntary transformation, determined by a joylessness existence, full of degradation, pride, pain, humiliation and shattered dreams.

Although as important as the first story, Aphrodite’s story is related in a lighter atmosphere and the effervescent presence of the goddess of love offers a playful feeling that brings a smile on your face while reading. Usually, Aphrodite seems to be a pretty superficial and capricious character, but in this story you see her true face, you find out what’s underneath that happy mask and under the continuous enthusiasm. Of course, there’s not an absolute revelation, the change is not extreme, because Aphrodite is still..Aphrodite. Only that she proves herself to be more that you see on the first sight. You discover a deeper perspective than you were expecting and the final choice she makes is wise, influenced by a lot of aspects and not just by a blind passion.

And we get to Persephone’s story.. I disliked her in the first book, but I finally got to like her in the second volume, Goddess Interrupted. And now I’m back at the same feelings I had for her in the first novel. I understand that maybe her actions were not intentioned and maybe her relationship with Hades didn’t really have a chance from the beginning. Indeed, the author shows us the story in this manner, but I couldn’t help disagreeing Persephone’s attitude. Despite all the so called attempts to make everything work, I had the sensation that she clenched to all the affairs she could, totally ignoring the way she was hurting others. I know that in the book we read again and again that she knew that her betrayals were hurting others and that she was sorry for the way she found her happiness. But I just can’t help seeing her as the main culprit and to consider that she chose an easy and unacceptable way.

In the fourth story, we discover Hermes’ secret. Similar to the first story, this chapter dedicated to Hermes has a double meaning. On one hand, we find out his love story and on the other hand, we get to know the way the gods managed to reinvent themselves, in order not to fade forever. Furthermore, we also find out the meaning of some of the new names that the gods had chosen and are using in the other books. The story shows a new Hermes and I’m sure that the readers are going to have a different perception of this character in the future books. We have again a more detailed and a deeper portrait than the one we saw in the previous volumes.

The last story is Hades’ and it’s the only one divided in more phases. The action develops from the period after Persephone’s leave until the moments before the first book’s adventures. This story finally explains Hades’ cold and distant attitude from the previous books and not only that you understand him, but you also wonder how was he able to resist like that, considering all the things he lived and his existence full of drama, disappointment and sadness.

Pros:

– One of the things I loved was the way the author managed to play with the reader’s feelings. At some point, you realize that your attitude regarding some of the characters is changing from a story to another and your feelings for them are very different from a moment to other. And I’m not talking just about differences between the previous books and this one, but about differences in the same volume. For example, if in the first story you actually like Hera, in another one you wish she never existed. I think the way you’re influenced by the characters points of view it’s absolutely intriguing.

Cons:

– The pride wars between the gods and the way they live their eternal lives are a little to similar to the human ones. I think I would’ve liked to see more detached and fairer attitudes. Indeed, some of their decisions are admirable, but unfortunately most of their decrees are influenced in a negative way by their own feelings.

Alte recenzii care te-ar putea interesa:

Goddess Interrupted (seria Goddess Test, volumul 2) – Aimee Carter

The Goddess Hunt (seria Goddess Test, volum satelit) – Aimee Carter

Michelle A. Hansen

Painted Blind – Michelle A. Hansen

Posted on 8 July 201229 October 2014 by roxtao

Painted Blind – Michelle A. Hansen

Editura: Createspace

Data aparitie: 3 mai 2012

Numar pagini: 331

Sinopsis:

Seventeen years old and agoraphobic, Psyche Middleton vows her dad will never see the risqué photos she took during a summer modeling stint abroad, but one of them ends up on a billboard in her Montana hometown. Now everyone—especially her dad—can see it. And yet, somehow, those are the mundane things in her life because she is about to fall unexpectedly, head-over-heels in love with Erik, a mysterious young man who rescues her from a crowd of admirers, and who she’s never actually seen because…he can make himself invisible.

As strange as this may seem, it’s about to get even stranger. Erik takes her to his palace in an idyllic kingdom, and she is swept into the beauty and culture of his world, but his affection has one condition: she may not see him. Overtaken, intrigued, and still not wholeheartedly believing he’s real, Psyche is going to have to decide if she can love him blindly; because if she can’t, she may lose him forever.

Parerea mea:

Romanul Painted Blind mi-a fost oferit pentru recenzie prin bunavointa editurii Createspace si a autoarei Michelle A. Hansen, carora le multumesc pentru ocazia de a citi aceasta poveste perfecta. Din aceleasi motive, recenzia va fi tradusa si in engleza.

De cand am citit primele carti din seria lui Aimee Carter, Goddess Test, eram innebunita sa mai descopar alte carti inspirate din mitologie, iar intamplarea a facut sa dau de Painted Blind – culmea, neavand habar ca este exact ceea ce caut! Sinopsisul m-a cucerit inca dinainte de a ajunge la jumatatea sa, asa ca am ratat al doilea fragment. Asadar, cand am inceput cartea, stiam doar ca o adolescenta da de probleme din cauza unor poze compromitatoare si ca este salvata dintr-o situatie jenanta de catre un tip..invizibil. Atat. Prima pagina mi-a lasat cumva impresia ca citesc o carte cu vampiri, probabil de aceea nici nu mi-am dat seama de primele indicii introduse in carte. Dar apoi, incet incet, am inceput sa descopar cu entuziasm semnele ma ca inselam si ca in Painted Blind nu o sa apara nici un vampir.

Acum vreo 15 ani citeam Legendele Olimpului. Nu mai tin minte prea multe amanunte, dar stiu ca legenda lui Psyche si a…(hmm…mai bine nu dezvalui numele ca sa nu va stric surpriza) unuia dintre zeii Greciei Antice a fost preferata mea! Am adorat-o si ani la rand imi aminteam uneori de ea si de cat de mult mi-a placut. Iar acum descopar o carte ce are ca sursa de inspiratie exact acest mit! Din momentul in care am inceput sa intrezaresc speranta ca ar putea fi exact acea legenda reinterpretata, am debordat de entuziasm si nerabdare sa aflu intreaga poveste. Ideea de baza a povestii este aceeasi pe care sunt construite aproape toate legendele zeitatilor: el zeu, ea muritoare, aparitia unei povesti de dragoste incarcata de obstacole, teste, dusmani si amenintarea unui final deloc placut. Dar modul in care autoarea a reusit sa imbrace miezul romanului pentru a obtine o poveste completa este admirabil. Pe tot parcursul cartii am fost in totalitate fermecata. Personajele sunt credibile, actiunile si gesturile lor par atat de firesti incat uiti ca citesti un roman fantasy, iar unele replici ale protagonistilor sunt atat de amuzante incat este imposibil sa nu chicotesti, chiar daca esti in public iar cei din jur iti arunca priviri ciudate. Un plus il constituie si faptul ca eroina nu se incadreaza in nici unul dintre modelele clasice. Nu este nici genul de protagonista ce asteapta sa fie salvata de Fat Frumos, nici genul de luptatoare apriga, careia nu-i poate sta nimic impotriva. Nu reactioneaza mereu asa cum te-ai astepta, nu ofera mereu cea mai politicoasa sau cea mai potrivita replica, ci dimpotriva, de multe ori ai senzatia ca ii trateaza putin nedrept pe cei din jur. Iar asta o face sa fie incredibil de reala.

Carcotasii ar putea spune ca spre sfarsit, romanul aduce cu unul dintre volumele seriei Twilight. Nu stiu daca autoarea a fost sau nu influentata de aceasta serie. Intr-adevar, exista cateva aspecte ce ar putea aminti de aceasta, mai ales cele legate de viata familiala a eroinei. In plus, dupa o serie de teste, avem parte de scena in care Erik o insoteste pe Psyche acasa la ea, pentru a-l cunoaste pe tatal ei, pentru a-i dezvalui adevarul si pentru a-i cere acestuia permisiunea sa plece impreuna. Suna cunoscut, nu? J Dar, din punctul meu de vedere, Painted Blind ofera o poveste mult mai buna! Cartea are o actiune mai captivanta, aventurile prin care trece Psyche sunt categoric mai tensionate, iar personajele sunt infinit mai bine construite.

Bile albe:

– Cred ca este prima carte in care reusesti sa cunosti atat de bine personajele secundare. Portretele acestora sunt atat de bine conturate incat ajung sa rivalizeze chiar cu cele ale protagonistilor. Am avut momente in care ma simteam mai atasata de Aeas, Titus sau Thomas decat de Psyche sau de Erik.

Bile negre:

– Partea de la inceput, modul in care Psyche ajunge sa fie hartuita de presa pentru ca a pozat (oarecum) nud intr-o campanie publicitara mi s-a parut putin exagerat. Avand in vedere ca actiunea cartii se petrece in prezent, nu vad de ce o astfel de intamplare ar declansa un asemenea haos. Am avut senzatia ca partea aceasta parca nu ar fi fost analizata indeajuns de mult, ci a fost doar o solutie de compromis, pentru a putea porni intriga de la ea .

English version:

I received Painted Blind by courtesy of Createspace publisher and Mrs. Michelle A. Hansen, the author of the book. Thank you for offering me the chance to read this wonderful story! Because English is not my native language and because, until now, my reviews were only written in Romanian, please accept my excuses for the possible mistakes.

Since I read the first books of Aimee Carter’s series – Goddess Test, I was desperate to discover other books inspired by legends and mythology. As it happened, I found Painted Blind, but I had no idea that these pages were exactly what I was looking for. The synopsis caught me before even having the chance to finish reading it, so I missed the second paragraph. Therefore, when I began reading the book, I only knew that it was about a girl having problems because of a discreditable photo and that she was saved from a difficult situation by an invisible guy. That’s all. I don’t know why, the first page gave me the impression that I was reading a vampire story, so probably that’s why I didn’t notice the first hints. But then, I slowly began discovering (enthusiastically!) that I was wrong and that in Painted Blind I won’t meet any vampires.

About 15 years ago I was reading The Legends of Olympus. Of course, I don’t remember a lot of details, but I do know that the legend of Psyche and…(hmm..I’d better not reveal the name so I don’t spoil the surprise)…one of the gods of the Ancient Greece was my favourite. I loved it and over the years I kept remembering the story and how much I liked it. And now I discovered a book inspired exactly by this myth! From the moment I began glimpsing the hope that this could be exactly that legend, I felt overenthusiastic and eager to discover the whole story. The premise of the book is the same on which most of the gods legends are built: he is a god, she is a mortal and we have a love story full of different obstacles, tests, enemies and the threat of a very unpleasant ending. But, the way the author managed to cover the book’s core in order to obtain a complete story is beautiful. I was charmed the whole time. The characters are credible, their actions and gestures look so careless that you almost forget you’re reading a fantasy novel. Some of their remarks are so funny that it’s impossible not to giggle, even if you’re reading in a public area and you find yourself getting all those weird looks because of it. A pro is that the female character is not enclosed by the classic types. She is neither the weak female character waiting to be saved by Prince Charming, nor the mighty fighter that can overcome anything alone. She’s not always reacting the way you would expect her to and she is not offering the most polite or appropriate remark. On the contrary, sometimes she’s a little unfair in treating the people around her. But this only makes her incredible real.

The grumblers might say that the ending is a little similar to one of the novels from the Twilight series. I don’t know if the author was inspired by those novels but indeed, there are few aspects that could remind you of the series, especially the family life of Psyche. Even more, after a couple of tests, we have the scene where Erik accompanies Psyche to her home, in order to meet her father, to tell him the truth and ask for his permission to take her away. Sounds familiar, right? It may, but from my point of view, Painted Blind offers a much better story! The book has a more enthralling action, the adventures of Psyche are certainly more tensed and the characters are designed better.

Pros:

– I think it’s the first novel in which you can get to know the secondary characters that well. Their portraits are outlined so well, that they could even rival with the ones of the main characters. I had moments when I felt more attached with Aeas, Titus or Thomas than with Psyche or Erik.

Cons:

– One part from the beginning, when Psyche gets harassed by the paparazzi because she posed (almost) nude in a public campaign, seemed a little exaggerated. Considering that the book’s action takes place in our time, I don’t see why such a thing would generate so much chaos. I’ve got the sensation that this part wasn’t reviewed enough and that it was only a compromise solution in order to cast the plot.

Alte recenzii care te-ar putea interesa:

The Goddess Test (seria Goddess Test, volumul 1) – Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted (seria Goddess Test, volumul 2) – Aimee Carter