Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1)
by Kresley Cole
Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers | August 19, 2014
She could save the world--or destroy it.
Sixteen-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life--until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, killing everyone she loves, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future--and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.
But she can't do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally trust Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?
Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side...
Poison Princess is all about sex; it's honestly washed down porn in book form, but with tarot cards!
I had the format for this post ready a couple of weeks ago; by having the format ready, I mean I only had that little quote above to remind me what book I'm reading. Looking at it now, I snorted and laughed too loudly at it.
I experienced the same allure reading this book now as I did years ago. The concept is innovative and compelling; I think the author does a great job of interpreting the Tarot cards and translating them into powers. The author also sets the setting in a post-apocalyptic world, which makes the story more interesting because there are outside threats besides the other Arcana, they're at a disadvantage. This book is entertaining and addictive; I can see myself continuing with the series again because I want answers. Who wins? Who are the rest of the cards? What are there powers? Who kills them? This series' concept has a lot of potential. I want to know how it ends.
I experienced the same allure reading this book now as I did years ago. The concept is innovative and compelling; I think the author does a great job of interpreting the Tarot cards and translating them into powers. The author also sets the setting in a post-apocalyptic world, which makes the story more interesting because there are outside threats besides the other Arcana, they're at a disadvantage. This book is entertaining and addictive; I can see myself continuing with the series again because I want answers. Who wins? Who are the rest of the cards? What are there powers? Who kills them? This series' concept has a lot of potential. I want to know how it ends.
The storytelling is great, I was glued to my seat and engrossed with the story, but it's not great technically. Looking at this installment as a standalone book, it is very slow with little to no development; the most exciting part happens 90% in. Looking at it as part of a series, and an introduction to acclimate readers, I am satisfied because it does its job; the characters have to come to terms with their powers and what they must do.
I mentioned this in my review of a later installment of this series, the voice is very awkward and forced when it tries to imitate teenagers. I love Mel's character, the fun best friend sidekick is always great, but she is just... something else. I doubt I'll ever find an author's rendition of teenagers to be satisfactory. The rest of the writing is ordinary, which I'm fine with because I would be weirded out if she busted out flowery prose. I liked the red queen's descriptive battle scenes from the past: the author can write action and "gory" scenes well.
I VIVIDLY remember loving the "chemistry" between Jackson and Evie in the past. There was something majorly wrong with me because I don't understand why I would support this "relationship." Jackson is a prick; he has the "classic transformation" to a good guy to get the girl, but I can't redeem him. Sure, he has saved and protected Evie countless times, and his survival instincts and willingness to help people is admirable, but the things he's said and done are in the back of my mind and leave a bad taste. I kept wishing Evie to leave him throughout the book, dying be damned, you're leaving! Their conversations are infuriating. That chip on his shoulder schtick gets old. He only helped Evie because he wanted to sleep with her, then decided, "she's the last woman on earth, I'm a guy, so I'm going to stick with her." After some time, "I want to protect her because I've been with her a long time. She is mine!!! I don't want anybody touching her." You see what I mean? He's an ingenuine person.
Washed down porn with tarot cards had me dying with laughter! So did "wrong-side-of-the-bayou." What even is this book. I love these posts so much--they're so entertaining. The concept of this sounds SO cool, I wish it were better executed. Also, writers in books and shows/movies NEVER get teens right. It's like they've entirely forgotten what it's like to be a teenager or something.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you laughed! I think authors are basing their characters on TV shows/when they were teens, which is why it seems so out-of-touch to us.
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