Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Review: Sweet Evil

SWEET EVIL
Wendy Higgins
Paranormal Young Adult
464 pages
HarperTeen
Available May 1st
Received from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?


MY THOUGHTS
Sweet Evil is a tale of dark emotional decadence, luring us in with a beautiful contrast between innocent Anna and sinful Kaidan, and once it has us in its iron grip their story begins to slowly squeeze, forcing us to feel each moment of joy and pain as it’s forced from the recesses of our bodies to the very surface. Once there, it seems as though anyone looking at us will be able to clearly see each emotion etched across our features, and we read page after page hypersensitive to every nuance of feeling coursing through our bodies as Kai and Anna move their feet to a dangerous and addictive rhythm, their steps echoing in our minds and leaving indelible footprints on our hearts. This is one of those books we find ourselves repeatedly walking away from–not due to disinterest, but rather to self-preservation–needing to take a breather to shore up our courage at what we can only imagine Anna and Kai are going to face in a battle that extends beyond life and death and into eternity.

Anna is sweet and innocent; a perpetual rule-follower and spiritual young woman who has known little other than the unconditional love of her adoptive mother. Though she is often naïve and entirely too trusting, believing the best of people and hardly ever recognizing potentially threatening behaviors, she’s never one to think herself better than those around her nor does she believe her way of living is the best or only way. There’s a definite fragility about her–the desire to cup her eyes with our own hands to form blinders that keep her view of the world unsullied by reality dogging our every step–however, that fragility is in no way tantamount to weakness, and she proves to us again and again that she’s far stronger on every level than she might outwardly appear. She handles her gut-wrenching relationship with Kai with a stunningly flawed grace, recognizing some unhealthy behaviors in herself when things with him prove difficult, and allowing herself to indulge in them in a way that’s realistic without being overly dramatic.

Kaidan is the perfect counterpoint to Anna, wearing sin and debauchery like a perfectly tailored suit to accentuate his every deliciously seductive feature, but every once in a while that suit slips off his shoulders and we see pieces of him marred by a life absent of the very love with which Anna’s overflows. Being the son of the Demon of Lust, it’s his job to touch, tease, and tempt any young woman who crosses his path, and while we should be angry with him as he continues his “work” throughout his tumultuous relationship with Anna, Ms. Higgins writes him in such a way that our anger is tempered by the agony we feel on his behalf the more we learn of his circumstances. The acute pain that jolts our systems every time we think of him is two-fold: the distress caused by the knowledge that his hands and mouth are on girls other than Anna when we know how much she loves him first tearing our hearts to ragged shreds, while the even more tortuous realization that being with those other women only causes him misery then rips those shreds fully from our chests and leaves them pulsing weakly on the ground.

One very minor criticism keeping this story from being gloriously perfect is with regard to Kaidan and the other Neph’s need peddle the sins of their fathers. We aren’t told or exposed to the reasons why they all feel so trapped with the work they’re required to do, and we can’t help but wonder why they don’t try their hand at fabricating reports to the Dukes as Anna’s own father does. These musings are more selfish in nature though—a case of us as readers desperately seeking an excuse for Kaidan to walk out of his forced lustful haze and into a loving relationship with Anna. At the very end we are finally granted a peek at the horrors that await those who disobey the Dukes, so by the last page that tiny criticism shrivels in the face of their fury and leaves us with a deeper understanding of life as Nephilim. A truly brilliant beginning to the series, Sweet Evil should top everyone’s must-read list.

Rating: 5/5


I had the pleasure of interviewing Wendy earlier in the week as part of the Sweet Evil blog tour, so if you haven't had a chance to read her describe Kaidan as "lusty to the core" you can do that HERE.
 

42 comments:

  1. WOW! AWESOME REVIEW ... this book sound so interesting and I really can't wait to read it :D

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  2. wooohoooooooo!! AMAZING REVIEW!! Im so glad I already pre-ordered this book I cant wait to have it. Im so glad you loved it so freaking much my dear! ANd Nephilim omg! I love angels ans stuff! this one is SO my book! thnx for sharing your awesome thoughts =DDDD yay!!

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  3. *sighs heeavily* what a beautiful Review for such an amazing book!!!!! You and me talked and went all fangirly over this book but it deserves all of this! This book was so incredibly thrilling! I loved every second and every heartbreak...

    "But every once in a while that suit slips off his shoulders and we see pieces of him marred by a life absent of the very love with which Anna’s overflows." OOO Sweetie, sooo beautifully written and this is actually one of the many reasons why I loved this book so much...

    Anna and Kaidan were perfect for each other!!

    Btw, I had so many tears while reading this.. totally broke my own heart *sigh*

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  4. I can't wait to read this one! I've been hearing a ton of awesome things about it. This book sounds really complex and interesting and the relationship between Anna and Kaidan sounds both fascinating and heartbreaking. I'll have to pick up a copy of this one as soon as it comes out. Great review :)

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  5. Lilly - I absolutely loved this one. Sometimes a book just resonates and this was that book for me:)

    Natalia - Thank you! I loved the angel/demon aspect of this one and Anna and Kaidan were fantastic characters:)

    Danny - I know, what else can we really say about this book? Our love for it is profound:) I teared up while reading too, and I loved every moment I was reading:)

    Tiffany - Fascinating and heartbreaking is a great way to describe their relationship. It was painful and hard to read, but at the same time I couldn't look away:)

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  6. You say that Anna is very fragile and naive. Do you feel like she's going to get the Bella like TSTL label? Or does she move beyond that?

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  7. Beautiful review Jenny! I have heard mixed thoughts on this but it's great to see you loved it so much. Both Anna and Kaidan so like great layered characters. I'm eager to read this as soon as possible now. :)

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  8. Okay, is May 1st here yet? This is the first review I've read. He's the son of the Demon of Lust? Oh, I'm so there. I like the cover too. Great review!

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  9. I'm so glad you liked this book! It's been on my radar for a while now so I'm excited for when I get a chance to read it. yay!

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  10. Amazing review! I really enjoyed this book. Kaiden just about killed me with this hotness LOL. Like you, I'm looking forward to finding out more about this world ;)

    Lisa | Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

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  11. "...a case of us as readers desperately seeking an excuse for Kaidan to walk out of his forced lustful haze and into a loving relationship with Anna..." *whistles innocently* I was just talking with a friend the other day and we both agreed that accents are definite deal-sealers! He can be super hot, but as soon as we realize that he has an accent (English or Aussie or Scottish or otherwise), our book boyfriend lists do a little more rearranging LOL! x) (That can't be just us, right?)

    Amazing review, Jenny! <3 I ADORED this book and all its angelness too, and I can't wait to read the next one!! :D

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  12. Oh wow...I want to be lulled into a beautiful innocent sin fest.....:)

    Such a lovely review, I want to read this NOW!!! I have met so many hot bad boys this month.....goodness!!!!

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  13. This sounds gorgeously drool-licious. *fans self* I'm definitely adding this to the pre-order because I want to ponder the naughtiness of Kaidan and sweetness of Anna and why those creatures don't just manufacture reports (seems logical, really). Yay.

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  14. I have been looking forward to your review ever since you interviewed the author and gosh this book sounds freaking awesome! I'm adding it to my tbr! Thank you for bringing this book to my attention! A wonderful review Jenny! One of my favourite parts of your review; "This is one of those books we find ourselves repeatedly walking away from–not due to disinterest, but rather to self-preservation–needing to take a breather to shore up our courage at what we can only imagine Anna and Kai are going to face in a battle that extends beyond life and death and into eternity." :O

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  15. Oh, I really need to get this one. Great review! 5 stars, and I'm sold. :)

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  16. Incredible review, Jenny! I have an ARC and a finished copy of this one and I must say, you've got me excited for this one!

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  17. Alison - Not at all. I don't think she's anything like Bella. I say she's fragile, but her fragility isn't weakness, she just has this quality about her that makes you want to protect her. She doesn't need that protection though, she's strong on her own.

    Sam - I'm sure there will be plenty of people that won't love this book as much I did, but Anna and Kaidan just worked for me:) I'll be interested to see what you think!

    Julie - YES! Son of the Demon of Lust! *dies* So good:)

    Scarlett - I loved it, definitely my favorite of the year thus far, followed closely by The Immortal Rules.

    Lisa - Me too! I loved how he was hot and brooding without playing any of those games some other male characters play.

    Mimi - Accents do me in every time. I'm a sucker for an accent. So glad you loved this book too!

    Tina - There can never be too many hot bad boys in a single month:) There's always room for one more! I hope you give Kaidan a try, even though demons aren't usually your thing, I think this story would appeal:)

    Mary - It was a question I couldn't help but ask. I would have been lying my a*s off instead of "working" but once you get to the end you understand why lying wouldn't work out so well.

    Jasprit - It was awesome! I hope you love it as much as I did!

    Jennifer - My 5 star reviews are fairly few and far between, so I definitely thought highly of this one!

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  18. Hafsah - Thank you! Hurry up and meet Kaidan:)

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  19. Wonderfully written review, Jenny!

    It sounds like the characters really made an impression, and the story sounds utterly intriguing. I'll definitely check this out when it releases!

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  20. The way you described Anna and Kaidan just makes me want to read this more and get to know these characters myself.

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  21. You don't give five stars lightly, (neither do I) but when you do, Jenny, I take notice. I want to meet the bad boy and watch him dance with the innoncent Anna. I love the cover and now to know there is a good story beneath the pretty dress..Who hoo! Can't wait!

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  22. SQUEEEE !! Im so glad you oved this book Jenny .. I've already pre-ordered a copy and I just can't wait for it to get here :)

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  23. <Wow, a 5?! I am at a loss for words

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  24. WAit... another 5? Oh I wanted to read this one... now I must have it. Plus, lustful haze? Yep... gotta read it. :) Looks like the questions looming don't distract from the book as a whole.

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  25. This one wasn't even on my to read list, but now it most definitely is! I think the cover turned me off it a little - not that the cover isn't pretty, it so is, but it just says samey samey paranormal to me.

    I always sit up and take notice when you give all the stars though! :)

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  26. OOh nice review! I cannot wait to read this one! It sounds pretty interesting!

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  27. Lea - The characters definitely made an impression, I fell in love with both Kaidan and Anna:)

    Jenny - YAY! I hope you love them, they both just really got to me:)

    Heidi - You're right, I don't. I've given 5 stars to 20 books in the past two years which, given how many I read, is a pretty low percentage. I have to be completely in love to give a 5 and I was with this one:)

    Elodie - YAY! I can't wait for you to read it!

    Linda - I know. 5's are rare for me!

    Melissa - I know! That's 2 in the past 2 weeks. I think it's a record of some kind:)

    Leanna - The cover, while beautiful, definitely feels like a lot of the other YA books out there, but I thought the characters really set themselves apart in my opinion:)

    Jessica - Thank you! I hope you get a chance to read it soon:)

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  28. Awesome review! I was excited for this book before, and now I am going to pre-order it immediately. I can see me enjoying and savoring this one on the beach. ;)

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  29. The son of the Demon of Lust? Oh, hell, Jenny. Why didn't you start with that? I'm sold. Not that I wasn't already because I love that feeling of needing a break but only because the story is getting so intense. Come to think of it, I haven't experienced that in a while, and I'm definitely craving it now!

    Delicious review.

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  30. Loved this book! Kaidan capture my heart ASAP! Loved the review Jenny! So glad you enjoyed this book!

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  31. You and I don't give out 5s very often, but when you do I take notice. I really like the juxtaposition of these two characters. I'm glad that Anna isn't your generic wallflower and strong on her own. Super curious about this one, Jenny!

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  32. Oh my god, Jenny! Now I really can't wait to get my hands on this one. I love angel-y related novels and you gave this one a five!

    Kaidan sounds hot and the perfect counterpart for Anna.

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  33. Whoa, that was a really powerful review. Sounds like the book is very powerful as well. I'm totally going out to get this one. No way I'm missing this one!

    Heather

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  34. Ok. I HAVE TO READ THIS NOW! You made this one sound completely epic! I MUST read it! Your review is indeed powerful, Heather said that well.

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  35. YAY, I'm so glad you liked it. :DD I am so excited about this one and can't WAIT to pick it up. I pre-ordered it and I need it nowww. Great review. Tease. o: Lol!

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  36. AWESOME!

    I wanted to try it just because of that dress but now I see it got a 5 from you. That means it goes on my to try YA list :)

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  37. Beautiful review! It definitely had me ordering this title, thanks

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  38. Beautiful review (as always). I instantly add any book to my TBR that you give a 4 or higher. Cannot wait to start this one!

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  39. *swoons at your review* I need this book right now. I've heard so many great things about Sweet Evil, and to see you giving it the stamp of approval, can only mean that it's worth all the rave reviews it's been receiving so far!

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  40. I read Danny's review over at the Bewitched Bookworms and now yours. So how can I resist to put Sweet Evil on top of my list?!

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  41. Wow! Honestly, I had completely passed this one over and now I have no idea why. It really sounds phenomenal!

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  42. Loved your review almost as much as I loved this series!

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