Ravenstoke (Universe Unbound #2)

Title: Ravenstoke
Author: Augusta Blythe
Published: December 4, 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads:

In Winterborne, Loie and Mia's seventeenth birthdays brought more drama and surprises than they ever expected. Now, in Ravenstoke, they are adjusting to the aftermath and struggling to keep those newfound powers in check. When Andreas is called away to England under mysterious circumstances, a new guy is sent to Salcey Ridge in his place. Cian is smarmy and cocksure and Loie wants nothing more than to unleash a hellhound on him. Unfortunately, Cian isn't the only complication in their lives as the girls must also contend with the reappearance of Mr. Winterborne himself and Loie's most dreaded fear of all - a part in the school musical. Can the girls survive the rest of junior year unscathed?



Loie and Mia are back! And this time this time they know exactly what's going on. Ever since Loie turned 17 she realized the truth. She was switched at birth and her father is a Universal. A race more "super" than humans and living in another dimension.

I was kind of thinking of Thor's Asgard here but turns out they live in Smurf houses lolz.

Andreas is back and still training Loie to tap into her inner Universal. Teaching her how to control her powers and train like the "Super" champ she is.

That is... until he gets called off to England.

He can't tell Loie and Mia why but something smells fishy.

In his place a boy named Cian comes to train Loie. With his help she is able to delve deeper into her new powers. Cian isn't letting Loie hold back and Loie doesn't want him to.

Spring Break is on the way and that means Class trips. Somehow they need to get to England to figure out what's going on with Andreas. In a way that is truely Mia-esq, she snags them a trip to London with only one little setback... it's with the Drama Club.

But what's in England? Is Andreas ok? Is there something afoot? What about Cian? Where did he go?

In this sequel to "Winterborne" a lot of questions are answered. A past in unraveled. And the truth is coming together like a puzzle.

An awesome follow-up novel.

I must admit that while I wasn't a big fan of "Winterborne", this novel impressed me. The growth of her characters is astounding and her skills as a writer has greatly improved.

Pick this one up if you like adventure and romance. You won't be disappointed!

*Paranormal Wastelands would like to thank Augusta Blythe for offering a copy for review.

Winterborne (Universe Unbound)

Title: Winterborne (Universe Unbound)
Author: Augusta Blythe
Published: April 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she'll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls' intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia's powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia's birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.



Oh woe is me!!



That's pretty much the pov that this story was told.

A girl who's besty is going to get some super duper powers on her 17th birthday (I'm thinking something like Superman with the x-ray vision and flying or maybe Aquaman, even), and her parents are dead, and she lives with her drunk as a skunk smokey grandma who doesn't love her, but her bestie's mom super loves her and UGGGGS!!!!! It just drove me mad!!



I'm not saying this is a bad story... but kids... I was expecting something different.

LIKE SUPER HEROS!!

I was expecting a cape or light vision or you know... a utility belt!!



What I got was something like "THE IRON KING". You know.. the kind of creatures from "A Midsummer's Night Dream" (or so I hear)



I don't know kids... this just didn't sit with me.

You have Loie who tells the story and is so emo that I want to slap her. Then you have Mia who fills out her bikini nicely and is going to get the super powers. THen there is British Hot to Trot boy, Andres who has a heaving 17 year old lickable chest and wants to hang out with two girls. Mia lives at a McMansion and Loie lives in a run down roach apartment with her grandma who tells her to cook her own tv dinner. ARGS!! Again... where are the super heros?




So, for like 38% of the book I'm pretty bored. I don't want to be, and I understand that the story needs to be set up... but kids, I'm about ready to go to sleep. THen at 38% some action starts happening.

Word to the wise... tough it out... It is going to get better.

But if you're expecting super hero action then you're baking up the wrong book. I must admit that I was very disappointed in that. I thought we were going to go to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. But no... that totally didn't happen. And if you are expecting radioactive spiders or green lanterns or even aliens.... that's not going to happen either. In my opinion this is more of your run of the mill paranormal book that takes place between two besties and a hot boy. Not really my cup of Batman tea.



I think that maybe younger girls would like this better than me. I'm curious how a 12 year old would rate it.

Perhaps, I'm a bit too picky, but I really was expecting something super about this story and not just supernatural. I think when the description said "SUPER POWERS" I took that as "SUPER HERO" and not "SUPER HUMAN". But, we all know I have a one-track mind when it comes to SUPER :)



What I liked about the story was that the plot and characters were very imaginative. I did believe that it was told by a teenage girl and not an adult, and I also enjoyed the relationship between the two girls.

What I didn't like about the story was how emo the main character, Loie, was, how HARD her life was, and really that she told the story. I would have rather heard this tale from Mia.

I'm recommending this to younger girls.

*Paranormal Wastelands would like to thank Augsta Blythe for offering a copy for review.