Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Review: Entice

Jessica Shirvington
Paranormal Young Adult
464 pages
Sourcebooks Fire
Available September 4th
Received from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels.
 

Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.
 

The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed. 

MY THOUGHTS
Completely captivating, Entice begins right on the heels of where Embrace left off, thrusting us back into the tension-filled world of Violet and the recent discovery of her Grigori heritage. While hitting the ground running is usually something that ensures the story has our unwavering attention and focus, a few reminders here and there of important events that took place in the book prior would have been appreciated, our slight confusion over more minor character names and associations keeping us from fully engaging initially. Our confusion is quickly overshadowed however by both the beautiful intricacies of the battle between the Grigori and the Exiles as well as the painful complexities of a relationship perhaps damaged beyond repair by Violet’s actions in Embrace, a combination that causes our eyes to dart frantically back and forth across the pages as we attempt to absorb everything that happens at record speed.

Violet was a bit of a tricky character to decipher in the first book, her exaggerated reactions to Lincoln and her new life as a Grigori forcing our arms to remain stiffly at our sides while reading instead of opening wide to wrap around her. So much time was spent blinking in bafflement as her anger toward Lincoln steadily increased in intensity, and though the ending did provide an explanation for her behavior, it also came so late that this second book basically has to introduce us to Violet all over again. This Violet is a far more likable young woman, struggling with the repercussions of actions for which she can’t claim sole blame, and trying desperately to mend a relationship she and Phoenix riddled with more holes than we fear she'll be able to patch.

The lingering hurt on both sides is a palpable thing, a character almost unto itself as it hovers between Violet and Lincoln, forcing them to tread softly in the presence of the other so as to not disturb a sleeping beast that will easily shred their hearts with claws tipped in Phoenix-laced poison should it awaken. At times Violet wavers in her resolve to fix things, keeping information to herself we know will only make her situation worse for not sharing it, but before we can work up sufficient ire she takes the high road and adopts honesty as her new policy, allowing us to release an audible sigh of relief. Her flaws are still on prominent display in this second book, but where previously she was almost completely unbelievable in her fury, in this installment her imperfections only mark her as a human with a vulnerable heart despite her angelic link.

Entice
is a solid middle book, giving us the opportunity to see Violet clearly for the first time while ratcheting up the conflict on both personal and physical levels. The only real complaint with this story is the aforementioned lack of recap of book one, characters popping up throughout with no brief introduction as to who they are and what role they played previously, leaving us flipping to the back in the hope we’ll find a glossary to help us place them. It’s recommended readers refresh their memories by at least skimming Embrace before tackling Entice, but slight befuddlement aside, readers will no doubt be glued to the pages as Violet’s world comes to life.

Rating: 4/5

46 comments:

  1. *breathes sigh of relief* I'M SO HAPPY you liked Entice. Remember, you and I had essentially the same thoughts on the first book? This makes me want to read the book where the first book didn't push me enough.

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    1. Yes! I struggled a bit with the first book, I couldn't get on board with Violet, but I liked her MUCH better in this book:)

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  2. I love this cover! I liked the first, but this is even better!
    I haven't read Embrace and haven't decided if I will yet, but hearing this one was really good has me thinking maybe I should give them a shot.

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    1. I like this one better too - it's darker which fits the story I think:) Embrace was a tricky read, but I think if you had this one on hand and could start it right away, the two together would work for you:)

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  3. Reading this makes me happy! I always wanted to read this book but then I saw you were not completely happy with the first. Apparently the second was better! I cannot wait to read them now!

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    1. I thought the second was much better! Violet's much more level headed in this one, and the crazy behavior she exhibited in book one is gone:)

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    2. So this seems perfect for me to read them back to back :)

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  4. Haven't picked up Embrace yet but it sounds interesting. Adding it to my to be read pile.

    Great, great review, Jenny :D

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    1. Yay! Read Embrace knowing Violet is a different person in the second book:)

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  5. I'm glad to know this isn't your typical read suffering from middle book syndrome, it sounds like the perfect follow up to an already electric series that again I've never heard of :( But after your fab review I'm hoping to change that! :D

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    1. I didn't think this felt like a middle book at all, maybe because I was so frustrated with the first book, so this felt like my first introduction to the real Violet:)

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  6. The recaps are a plus/minus---if I read the series I don't mind them being missing but there is no way to tell someone that you can start with book 2 if there is no recap!

    Great review!

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    1. I read the first book and still stumbled over some of the character names and what happened in the previous book. I usually like when an author gets right down to things, but a few hints would have been nice in this case:)

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  7. For some reason, I'm completely in love with the word entice!<33 I'm not a big fan of Angel books though I did love Hush, Hush.

    I've heard such great things about Embrace, and I'm happy to hear that Entice wasn't a let down! This series sounds like a good investment...

    Violet sounds much improved in this book, I'm glad she was likable in this book.(: Awesome review, Jenny! I'm a new follower via GFC.(:

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    1. Hey Ria! Thanks so much for the follow, I'll pop over to your blog and do the same, I always love finding new blogs!

      Violet was definitely much improved in this book in my opinion. I really enjoyed her:)

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  8. Great review! I have been meaning to read the first book and have heard a lot of good things about it. I will need to pick up Embrace and get caught up!

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    1. Yes! It will be really helpful to read them both close together I think:)

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  9. I saw this on Netgalley but I haven't read the first book...but your review is making me seriously consider reading this series


    Krazyyme @ Young Readers

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    1. I highly recommend reading the first book so you won't be lost in the second...it's a complicated world:)

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  10. I'm kind of one of those people who hates recaps if I remember what happened, but hates not having them if I don't remember. It's kind of a no-win with me. I seem to like making things difficult, though.

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    1. Hahaha same! I'm a finicky reader apparently. I liked that she didn't necessarily rehash all the details of book one, but characters would pop up and I'd have absolutely no recollection of them and that made things confusing:) My own fault really for not review Embrace before I read.

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  11. Ooh, I love the cover of this, it's gorgeous. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed this one so much and that the story inside lives up to the cover! Thank you for sharing your great review with us :)

    Steph @ SteppingOutOfThePage.co.uk

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    1. You're welcome Steph! I hope you give this series a try:)

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  12. Yikes!!! I haven't even read Embrace yet....is that the cover the girl sitting down?? Hmmmmm, my brain cant keep up with all these books!! And its Angel books....I love the angel stuff..:)

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    1. I think she's sitting on the Embrace cover, or maybe squatting, and then the smokey wings are coming out of her back:) I really like the angel aspect of this series!

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  13. I still haven't read Embrace yet, but I'm very happy to hear that the sequel is as good as its predecessor. I'll definitely be checking out the series now! :)
    Thanks for the fab review, Jenny! :)

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    1. I liked this one better than the first, Violet and I had some issues in book one, but I really liked who she was in this book. Hope you give them a try Nick!

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  14. I read plenty of gushing reviews for Embrace, so it's good to know that the sequel is just as good. Embrace has been on my Wishlist for a while, and reading your review for the 2nd in the series has made me more eager to read it.

    Thanks for the lovely review, Jenny! And I'm a new follower via GFC, love your blog!

    Jessica
    www.bookedupbloggers.blogspot.com :) xxx

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    1. Hey Jessica! Thanks so much for the follow, I'll be sure to return the favor:) I really enjoy this series and now cannot wait for book 3 to come out!

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  15. :) That's good that this book, besides lacking in explaining characters, was still enjoyable. I really love the way you wrote this review. Its nice to hear about a character with main character with flaws. Wonderful review Jenny.

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    1. Violet is definitely flawed, but like you said, it's something that works in her favor. Her flaws in this one were far more realistic than they were in book 1, and I really enjoyed getting to know the real her:)

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  16. I'm glad to see you liked it, Jenny! I've yet to read the first book but I'll keep in mind your points about Violet. Brilliant review as always! :)

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  17. Usually I get frustrated with too much recap, not often you run across a book with not enough. I just turned down a chance to review this yesterday because I am so overwhelmed. I am glad to hear that this book does not suffer from middle book syndrome! I like the idea of an angel naving human faults!

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    1. I hope you might give it a try when things slow down a bit for you Heidi! I'm a fan of this series now that some of my issues from book one have been sorted out:)

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  18. Oh I want to read this one. I read the first and while I didn't absolutely love it, I really did enjoy myself to want to read this one. It looks like I may have some of the same probs as I did in the first, but will enjoy this one in the end as well!

    Btw... YOU are the best writer... if I even attempted to write: "...tread softly in the presence of the other so as to not disturb a sleeping beast that will easily shred their hearts with claws tipped in Phoenix-laced poison should it awaken." It would have been: "they careful, no bad". I love your reviews!!

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    1. Hahahah I love your reviews Melissa! They're always to the point and honest and usually make me snort in laughter. Mine tend to meander and be vague, but I'm so used to writing them this way now that I can't change it:)

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  19. I must say that this cover looks so much cooler than the last :D

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  20. I'm about halfway through this one and Violet and LIncon's relationship is about to drive me batty (in a good way versus wanting to throw the book at the wall). There's so much pain and hurt feelings--they need to talk it out but it doesn't seem like that's gonna happen anytime soon. I do wish there was some recapping, as I can't remember what happened previously!

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  21. Thanks for letting me know I might want to brush up on Embrace, Jenny, since I plan on starting this in a day or two.

    I didn't really care much for Violet in Embrace so I'm to happy to hear that Violet is much more likeable in this one. Hopefully things for her and Lincoln turn out better in this installment.

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  22. Glad to know this is a solid second book, Jenny. I've heard mixed reviews for Embrace when it came out and I wanted to wait to see how the second is before giving it a shot. Now I think I will!

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  23. I don't know how you always manage to make me want to read books even more than I already do, Jenny, but YOU ALWAYS DO. In this case it was the "lingering hurt" observation, I'm such a sucker for emotional trauma. :D

    I still haven't read the first book in this series, though! I have a lot of catching up to do.

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  24. First! OMG! So freaking jealous! I so green with envy that you got to read this! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

    Okay, I'm cool. I'm Cool.

    Awesome review! It just makes me so much more excited to read this book!

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  25. This series sounds SO Good! (And it has really gorgeous covers as well.) :) I really need to check it out sometime!

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  26. Wow, good to hear that Violet is a majorly improved character because I recall lots of people having problems with her and that was the main reason I stayed away from book one. Still, I think I'll hold out until book 3 is out and see what the reviews say before fully investing myself in this series. It's definitely encouraging that Violet is much more sensible this time around, though! And I'll keep in mind that I should read these back-to-back if I do read them. Thanks for the helpful review, Jenny!

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  27. I seriously think Hachette needs to re-design the Aussie cover for Embrace/Entice/Emblaze etc. The US cover looks SO badass and awesome. Anyway, I'm really glad you enjoyed this Jenny! I have yet to read the first book, but I already know I'll enjoy the angel mythology :D Brilliant review as always!

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