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Burning #2
Breaking
Monsters lurk where you least expect…
Charlotte has always felt ordinary compared to her two best friends at the prestigious Weston Preparatory Institute. Not enigmatic and daring like Ariel or beautiful and brilliant like Devon, Charlotte has never quite met the standards of the school—or those of her demanding mother. But with Ariel and Devon by her side, none of that mattered. They became the family she never had.
Until the unthinkable happens—Ariel commits suicide. And less than a month later, so does Devon.
Everyone accepts the suicides as tragic coincidences, but Charlotte refuses to believe that. And when she finds mysterious clues left behind by Ariel, Charlotte is thrust down a path that leads to a dangerous secret about Weston Prep. There’s a reason Weston students are so exceptional, and the people responsible are willing to kill to protect the truth…
Charlotte has always felt ordinary compared to her two best friends at the prestigious Weston Preparatory Institute. Not enigmatic and daring like Ariel or beautiful and brilliant like Devon, Charlotte has never quite met the standards of the school—or those of her demanding mother. But with Ariel and Devon by her side, none of that mattered. They became the family she never had.
Until the unthinkable happens—Ariel commits suicide. And less than a month later, so does Devon.
Everyone accepts the suicides as tragic coincidences, but Charlotte refuses to believe that. And when she finds mysterious clues left behind by Ariel, Charlotte is thrust down a path that leads to a dangerous secret about Weston Prep. There’s a reason Weston students are so exceptional, and the people responsible are willing to kill to protect the truth…
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2017
9 people are currently reading
2102 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Rollins
8 books373 followersAlso writes under pseudonyms Danielle Vega and Ellie Rollins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 26, 2017
I was sold at prep school with a hint of paranormal, but that doesn't seem like what we got. I didn't read the first book of this series, but companion novel usually means that you don't need prior knowledge. Now I'm wondering if it would have helped...
I struggled with Charlotte. I understand being upset about the suicide of your BFFs, but it felt like her inner monologue was glamorizing suicide. She kept thinking things about "not being brave enough" to join her friends in the dark.
There was an interesting story line, but it was boring at the same time. Everything felt so dramatic and overemphasized. For me, it got old really fast.
Overall, it was a quick read with an intriguing ending, but it lacked a spark and a layer of tension that I was expecting from a story like this.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing the arc free of charge**
I struggled with Charlotte. I understand being upset about the suicide of your BFFs, but it felt like her inner monologue was glamorizing suicide. She kept thinking things about "not being brave enough" to join her friends in the dark.
There was an interesting story line, but it was boring at the same time. Everything felt so dramatic and overemphasized. For me, it got old really fast.
Overall, it was a quick read with an intriguing ending, but it lacked a spark and a layer of tension that I was expecting from a story like this.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing the arc free of charge**
August 15, 2017
Breaking definitely delivered the venomous thriller it promised. It was short, sharp and shiny. I managed to whizz through it in one evening, the very night that it appeared on my front door. It helped that the beginning was edgy and drew me in but I will say that it didn’t quite manage to perfectly pace the intensity throughout the story. Maybe because of the character’s mild reactions to the twists and revelations? I understand why they acted like they did but their passivity really dampened my own enthusiasm. There were definitely elements of the story that could have - and should have - been expanded on, especially in the second half. The ending was also a little rushed. Cliffhangers normally make or break a book for me but I don’t quite know how I feel about this one. I definitely need more from this world now but I would have liked to see the story wrapped up with a solid conclusion. With all that being said, there was definitely something about Breaking that kept me on the edge of my seat, eager for answers.
Everything else about the story hit all the marks but failed to do anything above and beyond that would make this a standout read. I did enjoy Rollins’ writing style. She managed to create a dark, suspenseful atmosphere but some of the dialogue felt a little stiff. The characters were decent enough. I liked that they played into the stereotypical boarding school student/rich kids moulds but had a little more life breathed into them. Charlotte was an interesting protagonist and I liked exploring her relationships with the other characters. I wished Jack had been a little more nuanced but I did like Zoe. The romance - while it did nothing for me personally - was a solid addition to the overall story. It actually had a role to play! I am so sick of unnecessary romances. If the drama had been a little more downplayed (although I know that it is realistic in this setting), I would have been very much on board.
Overall? A solid thriller and a decent read, just nothing particularly original.
Also, for everyone that is curious about whether this can be read as a standalone, I would say that it definitely could. I know that the storyline was meant to tie in with Burning but I honestly remember next to nothing about that book and found it easy to follow this storyline regardless.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
***
Original Thoughts: I love the cover but I'm a little confused how this is going to tie in with Burning? I still have so many questions!
Everything else about the story hit all the marks but failed to do anything above and beyond that would make this a standout read. I did enjoy Rollins’ writing style. She managed to create a dark, suspenseful atmosphere but some of the dialogue felt a little stiff. The characters were decent enough. I liked that they played into the stereotypical boarding school student/rich kids moulds but had a little more life breathed into them. Charlotte was an interesting protagonist and I liked exploring her relationships with the other characters. I wished Jack had been a little more nuanced but I did like Zoe. The romance - while it did nothing for me personally - was a solid addition to the overall story. It actually had a role to play! I am so sick of unnecessary romances. If the drama had been a little more downplayed (although I know that it is realistic in this setting), I would have been very much on board.
Overall? A solid thriller and a decent read, just nothing particularly original.
Also, for everyone that is curious about whether this can be read as a standalone, I would say that it definitely could. I know that the storyline was meant to tie in with Burning but I honestly remember next to nothing about that book and found it easy to follow this storyline regardless.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
***
Original Thoughts: I love the cover but I'm a little confused how this is going to tie in with Burning? I still have so many questions!
June 12, 2017
*ARC provided by Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review*
This was my first book by Danielle and I am abso-freaking-lutely a fan of hers now! As soon as I read that this was a suspense/thriller type of book, I was all for it. No questions asked. The dark undertone that it seemed to ooze with every page made me too giddy for words and I wanted it to last a lifetime.
Going in, I knew NOTHING about this world and I just found out that I read the 'second' book in the series. They actually seem to follow different characters so I don't feel like I've spoiled myself too much. No harm done! This news made me really happy because I'm dying to know more about this world and now I can read a 'prequel' as I hope for a continuation to this one. I seriously can't wait to get my hands on it!! I feel like my prayers have been answered and I don't have to wait for a release.
This book follows Charlotte as she tries to dig through the aftermath of the suicides of her two best friends. We get to witness as her world is torn from under her feet and she starts to question everything she thought was true. I have never read a story like this one and Charlotte was a unique main character, in my opinion. I loved seeing how she reacted to everything around her and she made me proud at times.
There were quite a few characters that I did not like but I won't name them in order to keep myself from spoiling anything. But I will say that I really liked Zoe and the dynamic she had with Charlotte.
This entire story made me feel like I was walking through a field of landmines where the only way to get answers was to step on each of them . It ripped out many tears from me because there were some brutal events that I couldn't stop envisioning. They were horrendous and it took a while for me to collect myself before forcing myself to continue with the story.
With that said, there was also a lot of badassery and savagery that I didn't know I was in store for. A lot of other things caught me by surprise, and I am glad I didn't know about them, because I would've been too intimidated to read this if I had. I really hope I can read more books as dark -and darker- as this one.
The only critical comment I have for this novel was that a few things were anticlimactic when it was built up like crazy. I still liked the story a lot but I would've loved for some secrets to have had more 'unf' to them in order to make the story a true 5 star read. Besides that, this is a story that I deeply cherish because it appealed to my dark side and I can't wait for the next one!
4.5/5 stars
This was my first book by Danielle and I am abso-freaking-lutely a fan of hers now! As soon as I read that this was a suspense/thriller type of book, I was all for it. No questions asked. The dark undertone that it seemed to ooze with every page made me too giddy for words and I wanted it to last a lifetime.
Going in, I knew NOTHING about this world and I just found out that I read the 'second' book in the series. They actually seem to follow different characters so I don't feel like I've spoiled myself too much. No harm done! This news made me really happy because I'm dying to know more about this world and now I can read a 'prequel' as I hope for a continuation to this one. I seriously can't wait to get my hands on it!! I feel like my prayers have been answered and I don't have to wait for a release.
This book follows Charlotte as she tries to dig through the aftermath of the suicides of her two best friends. We get to witness as her world is torn from under her feet and she starts to question everything she thought was true. I have never read a story like this one and Charlotte was a unique main character, in my opinion. I loved seeing how she reacted to everything around her and she made me proud at times.
There were quite a few characters that I did not like but I won't name them in order to keep myself from spoiling anything. But I will say that I really liked Zoe and the dynamic she had with Charlotte.
This entire story made me feel like I was walking through a field of landmines where the only way to get answers was to step on each of them . It ripped out many tears from me because there were some brutal events that I couldn't stop envisioning. They were horrendous and it took a while for me to collect myself before forcing myself to continue with the story.
With that said, there was also a lot of badassery and savagery that I didn't know I was in store for. A lot of other things caught me by surprise, and I am glad I didn't know about them, because I would've been too intimidated to read this if I had. I really hope I can read more books as dark -and darker- as this one.
The only critical comment I have for this novel was that a few things were anticlimactic when it was built up like crazy. I still liked the story a lot but I would've loved for some secrets to have had more 'unf' to them in order to make the story a true 5 star read. Besides that, this is a story that I deeply cherish because it appealed to my dark side and I can't wait for the next one!
4.5/5 stars
March 11, 2019
Well this was interesting. It all got solved a bit too quickly at the end but I like how it was also an open ending.
June 30, 2017
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
While BREAKING certainly met its goal of being a thriller, I was mostly disappointed with the book. The hints of the supernatural were disappointing and though it kept my interest, there were too many questions left unanswered for me to be completely satisfied with the read.
To be fair, I read BREAKING in one sitting. It kept me completely glued to my seat, and I was desperate to know how it ended while I was reading it. Once I finished and thought about it, the more I realized I had some issues with the book.
One major problem I had was that Charlotte's friends, Ariel and Devon, are already dead at the beginning of the book. There are flashbacks, but not enough, in my opinion, for you to really understand Charlotte's friendship with the two of them. It was hard to get myself to care about Ariel and Devon and what happened to them, because I didn't have any connection to them other than that Charlotte cared about them. Another issue was the ending. It seems to end on a cliffhanger, as if there should be more books, but I don't see any news about further books in this series. So that was disappointing.
Had I realized when I requested it that it was a companion novel, I'm not sure I would have read it, but you don't need to have read BURNING, the companion novel, to understand what is happening in BREAKING. I easily picked up all the drama, and in fact think I may have appreciated the thriller aspects more since I didn't have hints from BURNING.
So, enough though I was entertained by BREAKING, ultimately I was left feeling unfulfilled. If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers, BREAKING might be up your alley, but if you like a little more closure when you read a book, I can't confidently recommend it.
Sexual content: Kissing, references to sex
While BREAKING certainly met its goal of being a thriller, I was mostly disappointed with the book. The hints of the supernatural were disappointing and though it kept my interest, there were too many questions left unanswered for me to be completely satisfied with the read.
To be fair, I read BREAKING in one sitting. It kept me completely glued to my seat, and I was desperate to know how it ended while I was reading it. Once I finished and thought about it, the more I realized I had some issues with the book.
One major problem I had was that Charlotte's friends, Ariel and Devon, are already dead at the beginning of the book. There are flashbacks, but not enough, in my opinion, for you to really understand Charlotte's friendship with the two of them. It was hard to get myself to care about Ariel and Devon and what happened to them, because I didn't have any connection to them other than that Charlotte cared about them. Another issue was the ending. It seems to end on a cliffhanger, as if there should be more books, but I don't see any news about further books in this series. So that was disappointing.
Had I realized when I requested it that it was a companion novel, I'm not sure I would have read it, but you don't need to have read BURNING, the companion novel, to understand what is happening in BREAKING. I easily picked up all the drama, and in fact think I may have appreciated the thriller aspects more since I didn't have hints from BURNING.
So, enough though I was entertained by BREAKING, ultimately I was left feeling unfulfilled. If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers, BREAKING might be up your alley, but if you like a little more closure when you read a book, I can't confidently recommend it.
Sexual content: Kissing, references to sex
October 22, 2017
review coming soon
May 24, 2017
While I enjoyed the characters that Danielle created, the story did not have that pull I'd expect to go along with the mystery aspect. Overall, it's a forgettable story that I wanted more from.
June 25, 2017
I received this from Netgalley in return for an honest review
2.5 Stars.
Charlottes' two best friends committed suicide and she want to find out why. While packing up her things in her dorm after being 'asked to leave', the private and prestigious boarding school she attends, she discovers a bottle with the instruction 'drink me' so naturally she does. This turns out to be one of three clues and so she convinces her mother and the dean to give her one last shot. What she doesn't tell them however is that she intends to get to the bottom of why the two people closest to her killed themselves, and she uncovers something shocking
This started off with a contemporary feel, Charlotte struggling with the loss of Devon and Ariel, who to her had been like family, her thinking that she was the reason they took their own lives as well as juggling the less than perfect relationship she has with her mother and the feelings she has for her best friends ex-boyfriend.
It then had the feeling of a mystery, with the search for why they died and then sci-fi/paranormal elements were added. It was pretty boring to start off with, I wasn't all that invested in the story, but about halfway through things started getting interested and I wanted to see how the story played out and figure out what the hell was happening.
I'm not sure my feeling towards the main character Charlotte, there wasn't really anything super interesting about her that made me connect to her.
The way it ended gives the impression that there's gonna be a sequel. There is another book related to this, Burning, but I checked it out before reading and someone said that you could read this without reading that. I think I'd probably read the sequel, if there is one, if I got an arc, like with this or it was really cheap on Kindle .
2.5 Stars.
Charlottes' two best friends committed suicide and she want to find out why. While packing up her things in her dorm after being 'asked to leave', the private and prestigious boarding school she attends, she discovers a bottle with the instruction 'drink me' so naturally she does. This turns out to be one of three clues and so she convinces her mother and the dean to give her one last shot. What she doesn't tell them however is that she intends to get to the bottom of why the two people closest to her killed themselves, and she uncovers something shocking
This started off with a contemporary feel, Charlotte struggling with the loss of Devon and Ariel, who to her had been like family, her thinking that she was the reason they took their own lives as well as juggling the less than perfect relationship she has with her mother and the feelings she has for her best friends ex-boyfriend.
It then had the feeling of a mystery, with the search for why they died and then sci-fi/paranormal elements were added. It was pretty boring to start off with, I wasn't all that invested in the story, but about halfway through things started getting interested and I wanted to see how the story played out and figure out what the hell was happening.
I'm not sure my feeling towards the main character Charlotte, there wasn't really anything super interesting about her that made me connect to her.
The way it ended gives the impression that there's gonna be a sequel. There is another book related to this, Burning, but I checked it out before reading and someone said that you could read this without reading that. I think I'd probably read the sequel, if there is one, if I got an arc, like with this or it was really cheap on Kindle .
Read
March 29, 2017The book "Breaking" by Danielle Rollins was all in all a very dramatic and interesting book. It is about this girl named Charlotte that had always been a distant and quite person. Charlotte didn't live up to the other kids that went to their school. Neither did Ariel or Devon that's why they all got along. But next thing she knows both of her best friends have committed suicide and she has no idea why. But she finds a bottle that was from Ariel and she drinks what was in it. Soon she starts to look better and better everyday. Learning that the liquid had done that and there were more secrets hidden in the school, she starts her journey on figuring out why everyone in the school is so "perfect".
May 16, 2017
I devoured this book. The pacing was intense and the story drove me to keep reading. I read with horror, with tears and with curiosity. I loved the characters and I'm quite excited to read the sequel because I assume with that ending, there will be a sequel.
June 29, 2017
I...I...this book was just terrible. Before I read this book at the request of a co-worker, I read the jacket and told her my worry that it would glorify suicide to some capacity. And this did. Twice. In the second chapter: "Devon followed Ariel to that dark place knowing I would never be brave or strong enough to meet them there." Then a page later "Nice girls don't kill themselves. Nice girls get left behind. Nice girls cry in their beds alone." But then there is this severe departure. The plot for this novel just didn't make sense and the characters were so bland that I was bored.
Charlotte goes through some motions, but I never found myself feeling anything for her loss because of how poorly this novel was staged. We don't really see either of her friends alive and I think we needed that. We especially needed that with Ariel, considering Devon is more of a past side character who just doesn't seem to really matter. It felt like she was just a number to be dead rather than someone Charlotte actually cared about.
The plot takes some very strange turns into the more supernatural when it really did not lend itself to that. This felt scientific not filled with some kind of superhuman abilities at the end of the novel. I felt like the relationship with her mother was poorly constructed that I didn't feel anything either way for her. She was neither a villain in my mind nor was she misunderstood. She was just there. A strange catalyst with no driving force for doing so. I'm not even sure I understand what kind of doctor she was.
Jack was just a bad tangent. I find it funny how quickly she falls out of love with him. Kind of like how quickly I hated this novel. This was nothing special. It needs a re-work. It needs to be re-conceptualized. It needs to be re-written.
Charlotte goes through some motions, but I never found myself feeling anything for her loss because of how poorly this novel was staged. We don't really see either of her friends alive and I think we needed that. We especially needed that with Ariel, considering Devon is more of a past side character who just doesn't seem to really matter. It felt like she was just a number to be dead rather than someone Charlotte actually cared about.
The plot takes some very strange turns into the more supernatural when it really did not lend itself to that. This felt scientific not filled with some kind of superhuman abilities at the end of the novel. I felt like the relationship with her mother was poorly constructed that I didn't feel anything either way for her. She was neither a villain in my mind nor was she misunderstood. She was just there. A strange catalyst with no driving force for doing so. I'm not even sure I understand what kind of doctor she was.
Jack was just a bad tangent. I find it funny how quickly she falls out of love with him. Kind of like how quickly I hated this novel. This was nothing special. It needs a re-work. It needs to be re-conceptualized. It needs to be re-written.
May 30, 2017
I don't know what compelled me to request this book. I hated the first book, which isn't a good start. I think it was the cover, or the synopsis, or maybe I just decided to give the companion novel the benefit of the doubt. Breaking, however, did not land high enough on my scale to either make me enjoy the book or save it from its predecessor's fate. I didn't like Breaking. I thought it was glamorizing suicide. I thought it was over-dramatic. But, most of all, I thought it lacked the umph necessary to pull itself from the muck.
This was basically my face when reading -- enough said.
January 22, 2018
OMG!!!!! I finished this book five seconds ago and my mind has officially been blown. The characters are crazy, so vivid and just there !! Everything that happens messes with your brain, leaves you with questions, and makes you gasp... the story is genius! Mysterious, creepy, dangerous, cruel: and all in the best way possible. This book needs a sequel so bad. I'm so surprised I've never heard people talking about it!
NOTE
This book has many mentions of suicide, but it's not really talked about in the way you expect. It's more of a mystery/thriller and is just part of this fiction story. Do not expect any Thirteen Reasons Why content, it's all about the mystery.
And I totally recommend this to anybody. It's just so good .
NOTE
This book has many mentions of suicide, but it's not really talked about in the way you expect. It's more of a mystery/thriller and is just part of this fiction story. Do not expect any Thirteen Reasons Why content, it's all about the mystery.
And I totally recommend this to anybody. It's just so good .
October 3, 2017
Goodreads Win (sort of).
Ah. I loved every second of this book too... and could not put it down! I hope there are going to be more in this series. And if you haven’t decided that then please do decide. I want more! ANd if you read this book... you will too! Brilliant series so far!
Ah. I loved every second of this book too... and could not put it down! I hope there are going to be more in this series. And if you haven’t decided that then please do decide. I want more! ANd if you read this book... you will too! Brilliant series so far!
August 18, 2017
Last year I read a very creepy and fascinating book called Burning. So when I received the companion novel last week from Bloomsbury Australia, I couldn't wait to read it.
Charlotte attends a prestigious boarding school because her mother is a very busy doctor who travels a lot. Weston isn't the ideal home, still she's managed to make two friends who are more like family. But when Ariel and Devon commit suicide within a month of each other, Charlotte's left all alone and with so many questions.
Now she feels like an outsider and doesn't even want to fit in. Her only real connections are her dead friend's ex-boyfriend and her nosy new roommate. When Charlotte stumbles onto an enigmatic message from Ariel, the note sets her on a path filled with dangerous secrets, unlawful experiments, and self-improvements bordering on superpowers.
But she's not the only one caught up in this web of mystery and deceit. The clues lead back to her secretive and callous mother. The more Charlotte investigates, the more horrifying the answers become. And if she keeps following the clues, she might end up helping the whole school. As well as a bunch of forgotten kids caught in the middle of wealthy ambition...
Wow. The writing in this book is exquisite. So intimate and lyrical that Charlotte's words dragged me into her life instantly. As soon as I read the Prologue, I wanted to follow her down this very dark path. I felt a lot of things for this young girl--confusion, pity, anger, frustration, pride--and all at the same time. Her life is a lonely one made better by two friends who, as the plot starts to unravel, don't seem as wonderful as they did at the beginning.
Actually, even Charlotte isn't exactly a good girl. She's odd, considers herself average, an outsider, and certainly sometimes behaves in a questionable manner. But she's determined, and sympathetic, wants to explore who she really is. Even as the dark mystery of what happened to her friends pushes her forward and makes her do some very risky stuff, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. I just wanted her to find her own way to happiness and be free of her mother's restrictive control.
BTW, it was so cool when a very familiar, vital character bridged the connection from Breaking to Burning. There are several clues along the way, so many breadcrumbs left scattered for the reader to make the connection between what happened at the Brunesfield Correctional Facility and Charlotte's dilemma.
I also loved the many fairy tales threaded into the overall storyline. Very clever!
Breaking is an intense and very intriguing book that's so addictive I was totally engrossed into the story. Walden might not be juvie, but it's still a place where the students are isolated and are imprisoned by the endless drive to succeed. The narrator dives headfirst into some pretty shocking situations, but is very honest and analytical about her motivations.
This story turned out to be an excellent dark thriller that toes the line of the supernatural as brilliantly as the first book. It also leads the reader to a very satisfying conclusion.
I loved this book as much as the first one. I will also always love stories about girls and monsters.
Charlotte attends a prestigious boarding school because her mother is a very busy doctor who travels a lot. Weston isn't the ideal home, still she's managed to make two friends who are more like family. But when Ariel and Devon commit suicide within a month of each other, Charlotte's left all alone and with so many questions.
Now she feels like an outsider and doesn't even want to fit in. Her only real connections are her dead friend's ex-boyfriend and her nosy new roommate. When Charlotte stumbles onto an enigmatic message from Ariel, the note sets her on a path filled with dangerous secrets, unlawful experiments, and self-improvements bordering on superpowers.
But she's not the only one caught up in this web of mystery and deceit. The clues lead back to her secretive and callous mother. The more Charlotte investigates, the more horrifying the answers become. And if she keeps following the clues, she might end up helping the whole school. As well as a bunch of forgotten kids caught in the middle of wealthy ambition...
Wow. The writing in this book is exquisite. So intimate and lyrical that Charlotte's words dragged me into her life instantly. As soon as I read the Prologue, I wanted to follow her down this very dark path. I felt a lot of things for this young girl--confusion, pity, anger, frustration, pride--and all at the same time. Her life is a lonely one made better by two friends who, as the plot starts to unravel, don't seem as wonderful as they did at the beginning.
Actually, even Charlotte isn't exactly a good girl. She's odd, considers herself average, an outsider, and certainly sometimes behaves in a questionable manner. But she's determined, and sympathetic, wants to explore who she really is. Even as the dark mystery of what happened to her friends pushes her forward and makes her do some very risky stuff, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. I just wanted her to find her own way to happiness and be free of her mother's restrictive control.
BTW, it was so cool when a very familiar, vital character bridged the connection from Breaking to Burning. There are several clues along the way, so many breadcrumbs left scattered for the reader to make the connection between what happened at the Brunesfield Correctional Facility and Charlotte's dilemma.
I also loved the many fairy tales threaded into the overall storyline. Very clever!
Breaking is an intense and very intriguing book that's so addictive I was totally engrossed into the story. Walden might not be juvie, but it's still a place where the students are isolated and are imprisoned by the endless drive to succeed. The narrator dives headfirst into some pretty shocking situations, but is very honest and analytical about her motivations.
This story turned out to be an excellent dark thriller that toes the line of the supernatural as brilliantly as the first book. It also leads the reader to a very satisfying conclusion.
I loved this book as much as the first one. I will also always love stories about girls and monsters.
August 1, 2017
You can find this review and others on my blog http://www.shades0fpaper.wordpress.com
Ugh, I really was considering whether writing a review of this book or not, because honestly? I feel like I don't know what to say about it. Did I enjoy it? Probably. Did it blew me away? Definitely not.
The thing with this book and what made me buy it in the first place was the cover and because I wanted to read something by Danielle Rollins aka Danielle Vega that wasn't horror or paranormal. And when I knew about this one I immediatly wanted to pick it up. And well… let's be real here, the cover helped. A LOT.
So even though the book itself didn't have the most amazing reviews, I went with pretty high hopes, expecting something that was going to knock me out of my seat. And… for the most part, it wasn't.
First of all let me start by saying this is part of a companion series, but you can totally read it as a standalone. The thing is that it was a bit predictable to me without knowing anything about the world, so maybe if you have read Burning, which is the first book, everything would be way more obvious to you.
It was very fast and easy to get to, that's for sure. I didn't have any trouble remembering events or things or certain things that happened to the characters in the past. I read it in one day, and you know me: I'm a very slow reader. I like to take my time while reading a book and I get so distracted. Anyways, back to the review.
Of course I was really glad it didn't have any horror, and it was set in a boarding school. I don't know why but I love reading stuff that happened in boarding schools, it adds such an eery and creepy vibe and it makes the whole experience so much better. And that's exactly what I felt with this one.
My main problem I believe was with the characters. I had very mixed feelings about them, and I didn't really connect with them as much as I would have liked to. There were some parts I enjoyed and understood, but the mayority of the things the protagonist did did not really make sense to me.
What I really enjoyed some of the twists the story had, and honestly did not expected them (I cannot tell you otherwise it will be a spoiler) but I was a bit disappointed by the ending. As I said at the beginning of this review, it was a bit obvious to me what was going to happen. I expected a punch that would surprise me, and unfortunately it did not come.
However I think I will be reading more by that author or continue the series. I'll be keeping an eye on the next installment and see what's about!
Actual rating: 2.7⭐️
"But I dream of the woods again. Shadows and laughter and running. Searching for the two people I can never find."
Ugh, I really was considering whether writing a review of this book or not, because honestly? I feel like I don't know what to say about it. Did I enjoy it? Probably. Did it blew me away? Definitely not.
The thing with this book and what made me buy it in the first place was the cover and because I wanted to read something by Danielle Rollins aka Danielle Vega that wasn't horror or paranormal. And when I knew about this one I immediatly wanted to pick it up. And well… let's be real here, the cover helped. A LOT.
So even though the book itself didn't have the most amazing reviews, I went with pretty high hopes, expecting something that was going to knock me out of my seat. And… for the most part, it wasn't.
"Once upon a time, there were three beautiful sisters. Their families decided they didn't want them anymore, so the princesses ran away and hid inside an old castle in the middle of the woods. […] They decided they would never leave the castle. Ut would be their home, forever and ever."
First of all let me start by saying this is part of a companion series, but you can totally read it as a standalone. The thing is that it was a bit predictable to me without knowing anything about the world, so maybe if you have read Burning, which is the first book, everything would be way more obvious to you.
It was very fast and easy to get to, that's for sure. I didn't have any trouble remembering events or things or certain things that happened to the characters in the past. I read it in one day, and you know me: I'm a very slow reader. I like to take my time while reading a book and I get so distracted. Anyways, back to the review.
Of course I was really glad it didn't have any horror, and it was set in a boarding school. I don't know why but I love reading stuff that happened in boarding schools, it adds such an eery and creepy vibe and it makes the whole experience so much better. And that's exactly what I felt with this one.
"I saved the princess, though. I ticked her into the pocket of my shorts before I pushed the window close and crept back into bed.
Just that one time, I saved her."
My main problem I believe was with the characters. I had very mixed feelings about them, and I didn't really connect with them as much as I would have liked to. There were some parts I enjoyed and understood, but the mayority of the things the protagonist did did not really make sense to me.
What I really enjoyed some of the twists the story had, and honestly did not expected them (I cannot tell you otherwise it will be a spoiler) but I was a bit disappointed by the ending. As I said at the beginning of this review, it was a bit obvious to me what was going to happen. I expected a punch that would surprise me, and unfortunately it did not come.
However I think I will be reading more by that author or continue the series. I'll be keeping an eye on the next installment and see what's about!
Actual rating: 2.7⭐️
August 21, 2017
3.5 Stars
HERES WHAT I LOVED:
The dark and gritty, almost fairy tale-like quality of Ariel, Devon, and Charlotte. It almost read like magical realism with a sci-fi twist. I adored the dreamy, twisted idea of them being archetypes of fairy tale princesses whose mothers either abandoned or neglected them and all they had was a sisterhood. Yes, that. Yes.
The characters are imperfect. In fact, they arent even really likable for the most part. The more Charlotte reminisces about Devon and Ariel, the more cruel and sadistic they seem. Some scenes are truly horrific and disturbing. Like if you love animalsone scene will give you some serious anxiety. I held my breath through that one. The anticipation and fear are too real. Charlotte is one of those characters that you sort of sympathize with, though she does have quite a bit of self-pity. She thinks shes less attractive, less intelligent, etc., than everyone at her school. There is a total of one scene that shows where that insecurity comes from-the pretty much abusive mind games her mother forced her to play as a child. I wasnt entirely sold on her character. She was okay. As the story progressed, she did get better. She became rebellious, angry, and a little vicious. Not everything was so black and white.
Mystery definitely propels the plot forward. What at first seems like a string of suicides becomes suspect. What made two girls who were relatively happy and popular kill themselves? There are all sorts of clues and weird incidents that make you question everything.
The ending. Violent, vengeance-fueled, incendiary its sort of evil, but also justified. It was deeply satisfied with the ending.
HERES WHAT I DISLIKED:
The romance. There is so much build up that makes you think its something its totally not. Something more. Maybe Charlotte is blinded. Whatever. But the reader can see. Theres chemistry sure. And lust, definitely. But anything else, I wasnt getting any strong emotions, even before the numbness started to set in.
I read Burning. There were several references to things that happened in this book that it kept throwing me off and I flipping through my memory trying to remember anything that might be relevant to the story. There is SO little about what happened in Burning and as a companion where the events that happened in the first book directly influence major plot points, I felt like there should have been more than a few measly clues.
The pacing was a little slow for me. It did pick up but way, way towards the end. Then its just crazy action and violence and all sorts of chaos.
HERES WHAT I LOVED:
The dark and gritty, almost fairy tale-like quality of Ariel, Devon, and Charlotte. It almost read like magical realism with a sci-fi twist. I adored the dreamy, twisted idea of them being archetypes of fairy tale princesses whose mothers either abandoned or neglected them and all they had was a sisterhood. Yes, that. Yes.
The characters are imperfect. In fact, they arent even really likable for the most part. The more Charlotte reminisces about Devon and Ariel, the more cruel and sadistic they seem. Some scenes are truly horrific and disturbing. Like if you love animalsone scene will give you some serious anxiety. I held my breath through that one. The anticipation and fear are too real. Charlotte is one of those characters that you sort of sympathize with, though she does have quite a bit of self-pity. She thinks shes less attractive, less intelligent, etc., than everyone at her school. There is a total of one scene that shows where that insecurity comes from-the pretty much abusive mind games her mother forced her to play as a child. I wasnt entirely sold on her character. She was okay. As the story progressed, she did get better. She became rebellious, angry, and a little vicious. Not everything was so black and white.
Mystery definitely propels the plot forward. What at first seems like a string of suicides becomes suspect. What made two girls who were relatively happy and popular kill themselves? There are all sorts of clues and weird incidents that make you question everything.
The ending. Violent, vengeance-fueled, incendiary its sort of evil, but also justified. It was deeply satisfied with the ending.
HERES WHAT I DISLIKED:
The romance. There is so much build up that makes you think its something its totally not. Something more. Maybe Charlotte is blinded. Whatever. But the reader can see. Theres chemistry sure. And lust, definitely. But anything else, I wasnt getting any strong emotions, even before the numbness started to set in.
I read Burning. There were several references to things that happened in this book that it kept throwing me off and I flipping through my memory trying to remember anything that might be relevant to the story. There is SO little about what happened in Burning and as a companion where the events that happened in the first book directly influence major plot points, I felt like there should have been more than a few measly clues.
The pacing was a little slow for me. It did pick up but way, way towards the end. Then its just crazy action and violence and all sorts of chaos.
June 17, 2017
*Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Children's Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
'Breaking' tells the story of teenager Charlotte Gruen, a senior at Weston, a private boarding school for privileged and talented students. I notice that in the Goodreads description of the book, it says that Charlotte attends The Underhill Preparatory Institute - not sure if the name of the school was changed after that was written? Neither here nor there. Breaking is a companion book to 'Burning,' but can most definitely be read as a standalone novel. I have not read Breaking (yet) and don't feel like I was missing anything.
Charlotte's mother is a high achieving and pushy doctor, who wants the best for her daughter... at any cost. If you're think this sounds like a typical trope of YA fiction, think again. Breaking is a novel full of suspense and twists, as Charlotte fights to discover what has caused the recent deaths of two of her friends. It was a quick read, that kept my attention throughout. I think it would be enjoyed by teenage girls in particular.
'Breaking' tells the story of teenager Charlotte Gruen, a senior at Weston, a private boarding school for privileged and talented students. I notice that in the Goodreads description of the book, it says that Charlotte attends The Underhill Preparatory Institute - not sure if the name of the school was changed after that was written? Neither here nor there. Breaking is a companion book to 'Burning,' but can most definitely be read as a standalone novel. I have not read Breaking (yet) and don't feel like I was missing anything.
Charlotte's mother is a high achieving and pushy doctor, who wants the best for her daughter... at any cost. If you're think this sounds like a typical trope of YA fiction, think again. Breaking is a novel full of suspense and twists, as Charlotte fights to discover what has caused the recent deaths of two of her friends. It was a quick read, that kept my attention throughout. I think it would be enjoyed by teenage girls in particular.
October 6, 2018
A chilling start and I really liked the idea behind this.
Our narrator is, understandably, upset as her two best friends have committed suicide. She is struggling to keep focused in school, but when she gets a message left by one of her friends she is determined to do whatever’s needed to stay there while she tries to work out what’s happening.
The spoiler-free review will just mention that a school is a great place to hide secrets. Sometimes the people who are meant to be looking out for you are the ones who often have most to hide.
While I loved the start I felt it simply couldn’t maintain the intensity. Some characters acted in ways that made little sense, and I found it hard to believe that a project of this magnitude would not have drawn attention to itself over the years.
All in all, an interesting idea but which was just a little too far-fetched to really find the characters’ responses credible.
Our narrator is, understandably, upset as her two best friends have committed suicide. She is struggling to keep focused in school, but when she gets a message left by one of her friends she is determined to do whatever’s needed to stay there while she tries to work out what’s happening.
The spoiler-free review will just mention that a school is a great place to hide secrets. Sometimes the people who are meant to be looking out for you are the ones who often have most to hide.
While I loved the start I felt it simply couldn’t maintain the intensity. Some characters acted in ways that made little sense, and I found it hard to believe that a project of this magnitude would not have drawn attention to itself over the years.
All in all, an interesting idea but which was just a little too far-fetched to really find the characters’ responses credible.
May 30, 2017
I received this ARC from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Breaking is the exciting follow-up to Danielle Rollins' Burning! Though, it's considered a companion novel, I would still recommend reading Burning first. There will be characters and events from there that will be mentioned in this one that without prior knowledge of them, it might leave you a bit confused. I found Breaking to be a bit more...mysterious than its predecessor. Granted, it's probably the mystery itself that had me more hooked! It's definitely different from the first book in a lot of ways, but there's still that air of familiarity that will have you linking the two together within time!
Charlotte is having a rough go of it lately, her two best friends, Ariel and Devon, have both committed suicide a month apart. Charlotte is left feeling lonely, confused, and all other sorts of messy emotions. Her mother is ready to withdraw her from her very elite private school since her grades are suffering and she's skipping classes. It's the night before she's set to leave that she finds a strange bottle among Ariel's, her roommate and best friend, things. She drinks it, thinking it was nothing more than booze that her bestie hid from her. It's not until the next morning that she realizes it was a clue left behind for her. Ont he bottle is 2/3. She and Ariel would play a game where Ariel would leave clues behind that were labeled 1/6 or such and at the end would be the prize! Charlotte thinks that maybe by finding the clues, she might be able to figure out why Ariel (and Devon) committed suicide.
Charlotte tries to dig through her friends' things, struggling to find clues. While around her, it seems other weird things are happening. Her new roommate, Zoe, seems to be keeping secrets from her, not that they were close anyway. Her friend's ex-boyfriend, who she had a serious crush on, starts paying her more attention. And she can't help but feel like something is definitely off. There's this overall sense of weirdness and secretiveness going on throughout the whole story. Even when we start to get an inkling of an idea, it's nothing concrete, the mystery at large is still a mystery!
The suspense to this one was pretty awesome! As I said, you know something is off, something weird. Even Charlotte know this, but she can't quite fit the pieces together. We get quite the startling surprise fairly early too. One that will slowly begin to tie this book and Burning together. We get little hints, little tastes, and by the end, we're going to get one big picture! But alas, there's still questions! Those annoying little questions. And worse yet, I don't know if there are any more books! There has to be more books! I wouldn't say we entered detrimental territory, but pretty close!
It's always the little things that get left unanswered. Wondering who all was involved with this mystery that was happening! Why was it happening? What exactly were they trying to do? Perhaps there are more books to come and those questions can't be answered yet. But at the same time, I feel like we're missing something! There were way more details to this situation than I can really divulge in. So sorry for my vagueness, again!
As before, we have a little bit of romance going on in this one. I mentioned Charlotte crushing on her friend's ex-boyfriend, Jack. Like before, its very little. Hardly even there. I can't really say if I liked it or not. Jack and Charlotte have a history that we aren't really privy to, we get little hints of flashbacks, but I don't feel like it was enough for me to care about these two as a couple. I'm not sure if they're being a couple was meant to add to the story. Jack isn't quite meant to be written off though.
This book, you guys!! There is soooo much I am wanting to talk to you about it, but I can't because of spoilers. Errg! The ending though, it will really send you through a trip! It's mind boggling!! So many questions! So few answers. There has got to be another book! There just has to be!! yet' it's still too early to really know for sure! I just hope there is! My sanity is at risk here!
Breaking was a remarkably twisted read that will leave your head spinning, but I mean this in all the best ways! Who doesn't love a mind-twister? A book that leaves you guessing through its very end! Yes, through the ending, not until, because as I said, I still have sooo many questions! I truly hope Danielle isn't done with this world yet, there is still so much to know from it and I hoping that next year will bring us a conclusion! If you love twisted read that intrigue and captivate you, this is one you will not want to pass up!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
Breaking releases June 6, 2017
Breaking is the exciting follow-up to Danielle Rollins' Burning! Though, it's considered a companion novel, I would still recommend reading Burning first. There will be characters and events from there that will be mentioned in this one that without prior knowledge of them, it might leave you a bit confused. I found Breaking to be a bit more...mysterious than its predecessor. Granted, it's probably the mystery itself that had me more hooked! It's definitely different from the first book in a lot of ways, but there's still that air of familiarity that will have you linking the two together within time!
Charlotte is having a rough go of it lately, her two best friends, Ariel and Devon, have both committed suicide a month apart. Charlotte is left feeling lonely, confused, and all other sorts of messy emotions. Her mother is ready to withdraw her from her very elite private school since her grades are suffering and she's skipping classes. It's the night before she's set to leave that she finds a strange bottle among Ariel's, her roommate and best friend, things. She drinks it, thinking it was nothing more than booze that her bestie hid from her. It's not until the next morning that she realizes it was a clue left behind for her. Ont he bottle is 2/3. She and Ariel would play a game where Ariel would leave clues behind that were labeled 1/6 or such and at the end would be the prize! Charlotte thinks that maybe by finding the clues, she might be able to figure out why Ariel (and Devon) committed suicide.
Charlotte tries to dig through her friends' things, struggling to find clues. While around her, it seems other weird things are happening. Her new roommate, Zoe, seems to be keeping secrets from her, not that they were close anyway. Her friend's ex-boyfriend, who she had a serious crush on, starts paying her more attention. And she can't help but feel like something is definitely off. There's this overall sense of weirdness and secretiveness going on throughout the whole story. Even when we start to get an inkling of an idea, it's nothing concrete, the mystery at large is still a mystery!
The suspense to this one was pretty awesome! As I said, you know something is off, something weird. Even Charlotte know this, but she can't quite fit the pieces together. We get quite the startling surprise fairly early too. One that will slowly begin to tie this book and Burning together. We get little hints, little tastes, and by the end, we're going to get one big picture! But alas, there's still questions! Those annoying little questions. And worse yet, I don't know if there are any more books! There has to be more books! I wouldn't say we entered detrimental territory, but pretty close!
It's always the little things that get left unanswered. Wondering who all was involved with this mystery that was happening! Why was it happening? What exactly were they trying to do? Perhaps there are more books to come and those questions can't be answered yet. But at the same time, I feel like we're missing something! There were way more details to this situation than I can really divulge in. So sorry for my vagueness, again!
As before, we have a little bit of romance going on in this one. I mentioned Charlotte crushing on her friend's ex-boyfriend, Jack. Like before, its very little. Hardly even there. I can't really say if I liked it or not. Jack and Charlotte have a history that we aren't really privy to, we get little hints of flashbacks, but I don't feel like it was enough for me to care about these two as a couple. I'm not sure if they're being a couple was meant to add to the story. Jack isn't quite meant to be written off though.
This book, you guys!! There is soooo much I am wanting to talk to you about it, but I can't because of spoilers. Errg! The ending though, it will really send you through a trip! It's mind boggling!! So many questions! So few answers. There has got to be another book! There just has to be!! yet' it's still too early to really know for sure! I just hope there is! My sanity is at risk here!
Breaking was a remarkably twisted read that will leave your head spinning, but I mean this in all the best ways! Who doesn't love a mind-twister? A book that leaves you guessing through its very end! Yes, through the ending, not until, because as I said, I still have sooo many questions! I truly hope Danielle isn't done with this world yet, there is still so much to know from it and I hoping that next year will bring us a conclusion! If you love twisted read that intrigue and captivate you, this is one you will not want to pass up!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
Breaking releases June 6, 2017
June 4, 2017
4 stars. Review to come
May 13, 2019
Yooooooooooooo
February 17, 2021
Need. more. in. this. universe. Please and thank you.
November 6, 2017
this is so different???¿¿¿؟؟؟؟؟؟ i love it????
September 4, 2017
1st book i read from this author and I really like it!
I planned to red her other books as well!
I planned to red her other books as well!
May 11, 2017
Reviewing this from the perspective of my teenage self (though that is becoming far away and long ago): A fast-paced read, Breaking mixed realistic fiction with a bit of the supernatural. (Characters may or may not die from being burned alive--from the inside out.) Character development was a bit lacking--I didn't find myself caring much about them. But all in all, it was fun and easy and had stuff teens would probably like: make-out scenes, teens "being bad," adults being evil/"the enemy," a mysterious serum that makes characters beautiful and athletic and smart, and some mysterious deaths.
May 7, 2017
Breaking by Danielle Rollins is a young adult novel that is scheduled to be released on June 6, 2017. Rollins writing style is very addictive, capturing your attention and holding on till the very end. The plot line is very intriguing yet sad at times. The story is about Charlotte who is a very quite person who is somewhat of a loner. She just isn’t like the other kids at her school. Neither is Ariel or Devon which is why they always get along. Soon the story takes a sad and dark turn when both of her best friends commit suicide. Charlotte has no idea why they would do that and sets out to find answers. Soon she learns why everyone at her school is so perfect. This book is quite sad at times and can be very dark.
September 22, 2017
DNF 15%
I usually attempt to at least get halfway through a book before I put it down, but there were two things about Breaking that irked me. TW//suicide mention, rape
1. This book romanticizes suicide. Though it's not as bad as some other YA books I've read, it still treats suicide as something scary/taboo, and cool, which is not a viewpoint anyone should support. It made me uncomfortable. Not only that, but the main characters personality traits were a) defiant, and b) apathetic, which just did not sit well with me. She was completely two dimensional and I could not see the reasoning behind any of her actions.
2. Even worse, this book perpetuates rape culture and supports the stance that taking unknown drugs that make you more likely to consent is something that will make you fit in and make you cooler. I am absolutely horrified.
Why do I even have to say this? I feel like I shouldn't have to say this. But apparently I have to, because authors and publishers are still putting forward this kind of crap. If your friends are daring you to do stuff that you are not comfortable with, get out of that friendship. If your friends are pressuring you to take drugs, or if your friends slip a bottle of an unknown substance into your bag when you are not looking to try and catch you off-guard, they. Are. Not. Your. Friends. Get out of that friendship.
For people that are looking for a better, less problematic YA thriller with a similar setting and better characters I would highly recommend Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor.
I usually attempt to at least get halfway through a book before I put it down, but there were two things about Breaking that irked me. TW//suicide mention, rape
1. This book romanticizes suicide. Though it's not as bad as some other YA books I've read, it still treats suicide as something scary/taboo, and cool, which is not a viewpoint anyone should support. It made me uncomfortable. Not only that, but the main characters personality traits were a) defiant, and b) apathetic, which just did not sit well with me. She was completely two dimensional and I could not see the reasoning behind any of her actions.
2. Even worse, this book perpetuates rape culture and supports the stance that taking unknown drugs that make you more likely to consent is something that will make you fit in and make you cooler. I am absolutely horrified.
"It's probably nothing, I tell myself. Maybe a little GHB - Ariel knows how stiff and nervous I get. She probably wanted me to keep calm for all the [you know what] I never did get around to having. [sic]
I picture her grinning at me from across the room, a wicked glint in her eyes.
Come on, Char, she'd say. I dare you.
I dare you. She got me with that every time. It persuaded me to follow her out of our room after curfew, to sneak into secret parties in the boys' dorm, to explore the woods late at night. [sic]
'Here goes,' I whisper. I lower the bottle to my lips, and I tip it back, hoping it leads me down the rabbit hole."
Why do I even have to say this? I feel like I shouldn't have to say this. But apparently I have to, because authors and publishers are still putting forward this kind of crap. If your friends are daring you to do stuff that you are not comfortable with, get out of that friendship. If your friends are pressuring you to take drugs, or if your friends slip a bottle of an unknown substance into your bag when you are not looking to try and catch you off-guard, they. Are. Not. Your. Friends. Get out of that friendship.
For people that are looking for a better, less problematic YA thriller with a similar setting and better characters I would highly recommend Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor.
July 25, 2017
This one was entertaining enough but I was really losing interest towards the last 40%. I think it took so long for answers to finally start coming to light that I was just getting bored and ending up skimming from page 250 on. :-/ I do think the concept was great but the pacing was just off for me.
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