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Bonfire Chronicles #1
Faustine
Who is Faustine? When Faustine Spencer was five years old, she discovered a secret that changed her life forever. At twelve, her parents sent her to Bonfire Academy in Switzerland to ensure that she received the training needed to control her increasing powers.
Three years later, Faustine returns to Manhattan. All she wants is to be a typical teenager, at least, one that’s part of the in-crowd at her Upper East Side High School. When drop-dead gorgeous Ryker, her long-time crush from the Academy, finally notices her, she couldn’t be happier.
However, her desire for a normal life is shattered when her father, a prominent sovereign, disappears after naming her as his successor. Her siblings begin to disappear, and Faustine finds herself in the midst of a power struggle. With her life in danger, Faustine must learn to follow one of Bonfire Academy’s most important rules: Trust no one.
Three years later, Faustine returns to Manhattan. All she wants is to be a typical teenager, at least, one that’s part of the in-crowd at her Upper East Side High School. When drop-dead gorgeous Ryker, her long-time crush from the Academy, finally notices her, she couldn’t be happier.
However, her desire for a normal life is shattered when her father, a prominent sovereign, disappears after naming her as his successor. Her siblings begin to disappear, and Faustine finds herself in the midst of a power struggle. With her life in danger, Faustine must learn to follow one of Bonfire Academy’s most important rules: Trust no one.
330 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
47 people are currently reading
1279 people want to read
About the author
Imogen Rose
23 books589 followersImogen Rose is the author of the bestselling series, Portal Chronicles, which has attained cult status within indie literature and become a favorite among teens and adults alike. An immunologist by profession, Dr. Rose published her first work of fiction in 2010. She now writes full time and is currently working on her second teen series, the Bonfire Chronicles. Imogen was born in Sweden and has lived in several places, counting London among her favorites. She moved to New Jersey in 2001. A self-confessed Hermès addict, Imogen freely admits to being obsessed with Kurt Cobain. She enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies, and hanging out with her family, friends, and Chihuahua.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 6, 2012
For someone that reads as much as I do, it’s nice (every once and a while) to settle in for the night with a nice familiar author; an author I KNOW can write an entertaining and captivating story; so when the opportunity presented itself to read “Faustine” the first book in the “Bonfire Chronicles” by the lovely Imogen Rose, I jumped at the chance to get my grubby little paws on it. I have never been shy with my adoration of Rose’s ability to connect with her readers through her work, so my continued appreciation for her new venture should come as no surprise.
Faustine is a demon. Well, ok, that’s not exactly accurate… Faustine is a half human/half demon hybrid princess who is about to be thrust into a very sticky situation. With her father’s sudden disappearance, Faustine, (though only 15,) finds herself with a very large pair of shoes to fill, and by large I mean people-are-being-slaughtered-and-it’s-her-duty-to-stop-it large. But finding a paranormal serial killer isn’t as easy as calling the cops. With (not only) her emotions, but her new advisors pulling her in 100 different directions Faustine finds herself on the brink of disaster. Can she find the killer before they harm anyone else? Who can she REALLY trust to keep her secrets, and at the end of the day will Faustine be able to keep it together or crumbled under the pressure of a whole culture of anxiety riddled paranormals?
There were (of course) a few things that annoyed me throughout this book, but first let me focus on the positive. #1. This book was REALLY good. I love paranormal adventures and “Faustine” had it all; action, intrigue, even a successful amount of angst shoved in for good measure. One better… Rose chose to expand her readers experience by leaving doors open. While most paranormal novels focus on 1 or 2 specific types of “creatures/humans” Rose opted for equal opportunity play time. There were demons, witches, warlocks, wanderers, vampires… blah ditty blah, chances are, if you’ve ever heard about them, they were in this book. And yes, yes.. I know what you are thinking, “Wouldn’t that make the book a little crowded?” Surprisingly…no! Rose’s plot was practically flawless, leaving no room for her characters to bump into each other or fight for control “inside” the development of the book.
Now, the bad. I know Imogen on a personal level, so for me… overlooking some of her idiosyncrasies aren’t an issue, however, for those of you that aren’t fluent in “Im Speak” you might find yourself rolling your eyes at her name dropping tendencies. For example: ” My feet were starting to ache in the five-inch Louboutins.” To me this says “Im found a new pair shoes she’s crazy about” to your everyday reader this sounds like blatant product placement. The other (very minor) issue I had was Rose’s lack of confidence in her readers ability to note sarcasm. On more than one occasion the word “not” was thrown at the end of a sentence to emphasis the previous statements ridiculousness, and on more than one occasion this was completely unnecessary. Thankfully, neither of these issues are deal breakers when it comes to the overall success of the novel, let’s just call them “nuggets of annoyingness.”
So, what did I think overall? Well.. duh, fantastic concept, fantastically executed, and a promising start to a new series.
Get it, Live it, Love it… pass it on!
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: if you are 159 years old and plan on seducing someone, get a pedicure!
Faustine is a demon. Well, ok, that’s not exactly accurate… Faustine is a half human/half demon hybrid princess who is about to be thrust into a very sticky situation. With her father’s sudden disappearance, Faustine, (though only 15,) finds herself with a very large pair of shoes to fill, and by large I mean people-are-being-slaughtered-and-it’s-her-duty-to-stop-it large. But finding a paranormal serial killer isn’t as easy as calling the cops. With (not only) her emotions, but her new advisors pulling her in 100 different directions Faustine finds herself on the brink of disaster. Can she find the killer before they harm anyone else? Who can she REALLY trust to keep her secrets, and at the end of the day will Faustine be able to keep it together or crumbled under the pressure of a whole culture of anxiety riddled paranormals?
There were (of course) a few things that annoyed me throughout this book, but first let me focus on the positive. #1. This book was REALLY good. I love paranormal adventures and “Faustine” had it all; action, intrigue, even a successful amount of angst shoved in for good measure. One better… Rose chose to expand her readers experience by leaving doors open. While most paranormal novels focus on 1 or 2 specific types of “creatures/humans” Rose opted for equal opportunity play time. There were demons, witches, warlocks, wanderers, vampires… blah ditty blah, chances are, if you’ve ever heard about them, they were in this book. And yes, yes.. I know what you are thinking, “Wouldn’t that make the book a little crowded?” Surprisingly…no! Rose’s plot was practically flawless, leaving no room for her characters to bump into each other or fight for control “inside” the development of the book.
Now, the bad. I know Imogen on a personal level, so for me… overlooking some of her idiosyncrasies aren’t an issue, however, for those of you that aren’t fluent in “Im Speak” you might find yourself rolling your eyes at her name dropping tendencies. For example: ” My feet were starting to ache in the five-inch Louboutins.” To me this says “Im found a new pair shoes she’s crazy about” to your everyday reader this sounds like blatant product placement. The other (very minor) issue I had was Rose’s lack of confidence in her readers ability to note sarcasm. On more than one occasion the word “not” was thrown at the end of a sentence to emphasis the previous statements ridiculousness, and on more than one occasion this was completely unnecessary. Thankfully, neither of these issues are deal breakers when it comes to the overall success of the novel, let’s just call them “nuggets of annoyingness.”
So, what did I think overall? Well.. duh, fantastic concept, fantastically executed, and a promising start to a new series.
Get it, Live it, Love it… pass it on!
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: if you are 159 years old and plan on seducing someone, get a pedicure!
March 3, 2011
Faustine Spencer may seem like every other Upper East Side socialite. She grew up with all the privileges that wealth affords – a nanny, doormen, car service, access to all the latest fashions and the opportunity to attend an exclusive boarding school.
But Bonfire Academy isn’t just your typical Swiss preparatory school where the well-to-do leave their children to a life of study, skiing and partying. And Faustine’s attendance isn’t optional.
At the age of fifteen, after three years apart from her family, learning everything she could from the Academy, she is allowed to return home to New York to her mother. Faustine just wants to pick up where she left off with her normal teenage lifestyle of school, shopping and hanging out with her best friend, Neave. But her return is conditional and failure to comply will have consequences.
Bonfire Academy has only three rules. One, you do not talk about the Academy. Two, you trust no one. And three, the most important of them all – never miss a meal.
***
Faustine is an elaborate, fast-paced paranormal mystery with a multitude of suspects and a “to be continued” ending. The story has a number of twists and turns and just when you think you’ve identified whodunit, think again.
While this book is just over three hundred pages, there is so much going on that it becomes difficult at times to keep up with what the many characters are up to, where they stand in the scheme of things, who they are and what Faustine’s opinion is of them.
There are an overwhelming number of key characters in this book, and with almost everyone a suspect with something to hide, and no one for Faustine to truly trust, the mystery becomes a bit muddled, as there just isn’t enough time to fully develop their characters and motivations. As the story continues there are more and more elements added into this mystery, more secret relationships discovered and more paranormal abilities attributed to each character than were initially known.
The action is virtually non-stop, so when the pace does slow to include some of the more normal events like attending school, relaxing or watching television, it doesn’t flow naturally. Even the relationship between Ryker and Faustine feels somewhat forced and in this book in the series no real explanation is given as to why the two who virtually had no contact in the three years they attended school are now an instant couple.
The complexities and pace aside, author Imogen Rose has created an engaging story with a slew of interesting characters. The author’s writing does flow, with brief touches of humor added in, and will keep you connected with the main character and the story as it progresses.
There are many characters still to meet, heredities to be determined, alliances to be uncovered and bad guys still to be caught.
And for those who haven’t yet read this book, you’ll soon find out just who Faustine really is.
On a personal note:
This is the first book I’ve read from author Imogen Rose. I own the first book in the Portal Chronicles but it is currently in my TBR pile. I’ve heard wonderful things about the series and the author so was excited to read this book.
It’s been difficult to write this review and even harder to write my personal opinion without giving away any spoilers, especially with the book teasing, “Who is Faustine?”
So, I’m trying to be as careful as possible, and if I’m vague it’s on purpose.
What I can say is that there is a lot that I liked about this story and some things I didn’t.
This was definitely an evenly balanced story of mystery and paranormal, which I liked.
Ryker is my favorite character. He’s very likable, helpful, supportive and oh so mysterious. Do I like him? Yes. Do I trust him? Not quite yet. We’ll see in the next book. But then again, I think no one is truly trustworthy in Faustine.
I also enjoyed that there were so many different characters with differing paranormal abilities and personalities. But with all the complex plot developments and changes, I would have liked to have seen more character development to go along with it. And I would have liked to see more development in the Faustine-Ryker relationship as they got very comfortable with one another very quickly when they had almost no interaction or dialogue in this book.
There were a lot of “surprise” revelations, which I didn’t like too much. There were times when some new piece of information was revealed that didn’t really have any build-up. It sort of came out of left-field but not in a shockingly surprising way, but more as if it was just thrown in to create a distraction or as a last-minute add-on.
I loved the elements of humor. I liked that Faustine was so temperamental, especially when she didn’t get her steak.
And I really do want to find out more, in the next book, about Taylor, Neave, Finch, Tessa, the twins, Audrey and Viola, Ryker, Faustine, and especially Faustine’s elusive sister, Kismet.
But Bonfire Academy isn’t just your typical Swiss preparatory school where the well-to-do leave their children to a life of study, skiing and partying. And Faustine’s attendance isn’t optional.
At the age of fifteen, after three years apart from her family, learning everything she could from the Academy, she is allowed to return home to New York to her mother. Faustine just wants to pick up where she left off with her normal teenage lifestyle of school, shopping and hanging out with her best friend, Neave. But her return is conditional and failure to comply will have consequences.
Bonfire Academy has only three rules. One, you do not talk about the Academy. Two, you trust no one. And three, the most important of them all – never miss a meal.
***
Faustine is an elaborate, fast-paced paranormal mystery with a multitude of suspects and a “to be continued” ending. The story has a number of twists and turns and just when you think you’ve identified whodunit, think again.
While this book is just over three hundred pages, there is so much going on that it becomes difficult at times to keep up with what the many characters are up to, where they stand in the scheme of things, who they are and what Faustine’s opinion is of them.
There are an overwhelming number of key characters in this book, and with almost everyone a suspect with something to hide, and no one for Faustine to truly trust, the mystery becomes a bit muddled, as there just isn’t enough time to fully develop their characters and motivations. As the story continues there are more and more elements added into this mystery, more secret relationships discovered and more paranormal abilities attributed to each character than were initially known.
The action is virtually non-stop, so when the pace does slow to include some of the more normal events like attending school, relaxing or watching television, it doesn’t flow naturally. Even the relationship between Ryker and Faustine feels somewhat forced and in this book in the series no real explanation is given as to why the two who virtually had no contact in the three years they attended school are now an instant couple.
The complexities and pace aside, author Imogen Rose has created an engaging story with a slew of interesting characters. The author’s writing does flow, with brief touches of humor added in, and will keep you connected with the main character and the story as it progresses.
There are many characters still to meet, heredities to be determined, alliances to be uncovered and bad guys still to be caught.
And for those who haven’t yet read this book, you’ll soon find out just who Faustine really is.
On a personal note:
This is the first book I’ve read from author Imogen Rose. I own the first book in the Portal Chronicles but it is currently in my TBR pile. I’ve heard wonderful things about the series and the author so was excited to read this book.
It’s been difficult to write this review and even harder to write my personal opinion without giving away any spoilers, especially with the book teasing, “Who is Faustine?”
So, I’m trying to be as careful as possible, and if I’m vague it’s on purpose.
What I can say is that there is a lot that I liked about this story and some things I didn’t.
This was definitely an evenly balanced story of mystery and paranormal, which I liked.
Ryker is my favorite character. He’s very likable, helpful, supportive and oh so mysterious. Do I like him? Yes. Do I trust him? Not quite yet. We’ll see in the next book. But then again, I think no one is truly trustworthy in Faustine.
I also enjoyed that there were so many different characters with differing paranormal abilities and personalities. But with all the complex plot developments and changes, I would have liked to have seen more character development to go along with it. And I would have liked to see more development in the Faustine-Ryker relationship as they got very comfortable with one another very quickly when they had almost no interaction or dialogue in this book.
There were a lot of “surprise” revelations, which I didn’t like too much. There were times when some new piece of information was revealed that didn’t really have any build-up. It sort of came out of left-field but not in a shockingly surprising way, but more as if it was just thrown in to create a distraction or as a last-minute add-on.
I loved the elements of humor. I liked that Faustine was so temperamental, especially when she didn’t get her steak.
And I really do want to find out more, in the next book, about Taylor, Neave, Finch, Tessa, the twins, Audrey and Viola, Ryker, Faustine, and especially Faustine’s elusive sister, Kismet.
February 28, 2011
I'm really going to try to write this without spoilers because fans of The Portal Chronicles will undoubtedly read this next series - The Bonfire Chronicles. Imogen Rose does not disappoint with the first book of this series. Her smooth and easy-flow writing continue with this book. I couldn't decide if I wanted to curl up with a glass of wine (err, orange juice, is it is YA afterall) or if I wanted to sit up in bed and read it quickly before I fell asleep. I did a bit of both, in the end :)
Her characters have depth, with a lot more room to grow in the coming books. But where the author shines is her ability to write a YA novel where I actually like the main characters. It's very rare that I don't want to smother the main characters and I kind of wanted to adopt Faustine. It's all very confusing because I keep looking for a character that I hate. I didn't even hate the bad guys all that much.
The cover art for this edition kind of grabs you. Who is the girl with the red eyes and what is her story? I will admit that her story was absolutely nothing like I thought it would be. To be brutally honest, I wasn't sure if Ms. Rose could pull it off. The Portal Chronicles were well done, but very niched. I thought if she stuck to what she knows, we'd be okay, but while the book first unfolded and we found out more about Faustine I was wondering how'd she pull it off. Well, she certainly pulled it off. The woman has a gift...
.... until I got to a certain part of the book. I don't want to give anything away, but a certain word in the book sent me running around to search my books from her first series. Imogen Rose is a genius... an evil genius. I just... oh, I want to say more, but you guys would hate me if I ruin it! Having said that, it's VERY small and you do NOT have to have read the first series to read this one. It was just a... thing.
The story itself is well written. The storyline unfolds with grace and and pace. The plot is well-thought-out and well-planned, but leaves enough room to add in a few surprises. I was shocked when I learned Faustine's secret. It came a bit out of left field, but a very pleasant surprise - I was folded in and felt invested in her life and what was going on around (and within) her.
I realize I'm not telling you much here, but I don't want to give anything away from the description (make sure you read it!). Just trust me... it's a great book and makes my "must read" for the year.
This book is recommended for for fans of Young Adult books and those who are looking for something easy and fun to read.
Her characters have depth, with a lot more room to grow in the coming books. But where the author shines is her ability to write a YA novel where I actually like the main characters. It's very rare that I don't want to smother the main characters and I kind of wanted to adopt Faustine. It's all very confusing because I keep looking for a character that I hate. I didn't even hate the bad guys all that much.
The cover art for this edition kind of grabs you. Who is the girl with the red eyes and what is her story? I will admit that her story was absolutely nothing like I thought it would be. To be brutally honest, I wasn't sure if Ms. Rose could pull it off. The Portal Chronicles were well done, but very niched. I thought if she stuck to what she knows, we'd be okay, but while the book first unfolded and we found out more about Faustine I was wondering how'd she pull it off. Well, she certainly pulled it off. The woman has a gift...
.... until I got to a certain part of the book. I don't want to give anything away, but a certain word in the book sent me running around to search my books from her first series. Imogen Rose is a genius... an evil genius. I just... oh, I want to say more, but you guys would hate me if I ruin it! Having said that, it's VERY small and you do NOT have to have read the first series to read this one. It was just a... thing.
The story itself is well written. The storyline unfolds with grace and and pace. The plot is well-thought-out and well-planned, but leaves enough room to add in a few surprises. I was shocked when I learned Faustine's secret. It came a bit out of left field, but a very pleasant surprise - I was folded in and felt invested in her life and what was going on around (and within) her.
I realize I'm not telling you much here, but I don't want to give anything away from the description (make sure you read it!). Just trust me... it's a great book and makes my "must read" for the year.
This book is recommended for for fans of Young Adult books and those who are looking for something easy and fun to read.
May 14, 2014
I love it...I love this whole series...on to the next...
January 30, 2017
Great read!
I loved Ryker and Faustine's relationship. How they just seamlessly got together I just wish there were more scenes of them together delving into their feelings. So much crazyness happens in this book and I'm glad we finally know who has been behind all the chaos. I get Faustine is 15 but her attitude was annoying. How can she possibly choose school over trying to stop murders, chaos and complete havoc to the world. Glad she started to shape up though hopefully in the next book she has matured a little more and takes her responsibilities more seriously.
I loved Ryker and Faustine's relationship. How they just seamlessly got together I just wish there were more scenes of them together delving into their feelings. So much crazyness happens in this book and I'm glad we finally know who has been behind all the chaos. I get Faustine is 15 but her attitude was annoying. How can she possibly choose school over trying to stop murders, chaos and complete havoc to the world. Glad she started to shape up though hopefully in the next book she has matured a little more and takes her responsibilities more seriously.
June 1, 2018
I just think Faustine's attitude to her new role was lacking. Yes she is a teenager and her responsibilities are huge but she didn't seem guidance or be around the other leaders to grow she just wanted to go to high school.
I am saddened by how much of her friends died from the academy to this new school. I hope she meets Kismet because it seem as if they are destined to not meet as things keep happening to prevent that.
I am saddened by how much of her friends died from the academy to this new school. I hope she meets Kismet because it seem as if they are destined to not meet as things keep happening to prevent that.
November 29, 2020
I had some issues with this book. There was very little character development. A really bad case of "instant love" or at least of going from never talking before to instantly hugging, kissing, and holding hands as soon as they meet up at a party and then they're just a couple from then on. People repeatedly sent back and forth between New York and London like it's a trip to the corner market and without any apparent account of the time a trans-atlantic flight actually takes. Some of the justifications for doing (or not doing) something didn't seem realistic to me. Then there were the extra, missing, or wrong words that need editing - there was even a case of a wrong name (Ryder vs Ryker).
Update: I did go on to read INITIATION and liked it quite a bit. Perhaps all the rave reviews are for the series as a whole and not just for FAUSTINE.
Update: I did go on to read INITIATION and liked it quite a bit. Perhaps all the rave reviews are for the series as a whole and not just for FAUSTINE.
May 26, 2011
My Rating: 3.75/5 stars!
I’m definitely not one for spoilers and since the synopsis leaves so much of the story out I’m afraid I won’t be able to really go into detail about Faustine. I can say that the story is absolutely packed with paranormal creatures and they are used in ways I have yet to come across. I am really amazed at the creative story Imogen Rose has created. Faustine is fifteen years old and has just returned from Bonfire Academy. She’s been there for three years learning how to harness and control her growing powers. Now that she’s back in Manhattan with her mother and best friend Neave, she’s looking forward to going to school as a normal teenage socialite.
But normalcy is definitely not an option when she learns that her father has disappeared and she’s next in line to rule in his position. Her entire world is flipped upside as she tries to figure out what to do in her position and try to keep the ones she cares about the most safe. Faustine just has to uphold the most important rule she learned at Bonfire Academy: Trust No One!
Although I couldn’t really relate to Faustine I enjoyed her sense of humor and the fact that she grew in maturity as the book went on. I must say there is an overwhelming number of characters that are introduced who are extremely interesting but almost a little too much to swallow. I love how complex the story is but sometimes things seemed forced together or a little too chaotic. Take for example Ryker and Faustine’s relationship. I love how cute they are together. There’s definitely more to Ryker’s character that I’m excited to learn about. But their relationship seemed very strained and slapped together with very little interaction. There wasn’t much time for feelings to develop or romance to grow. The two of them went to Bonfire Academy for two years together and after meeting in Manhattan they instantly became a couple. Eh, just a little too pushy, maybe…
Despite the cluttered number of characters I still loved the idea Imogen had. I wanted more of everything which was my major issue. There was so much going on that there wasn’t much time for a satisfying development in my opinion. I liked the mystery and loved all the creative paranormal aspects. But since I can’t really go into much detail I feel like my review is too vague. Simply put I really enjoyed Faustine! I will definitely be reading more in the Bonfire Chronicles and I was already planning on reading Imogen’s other YA series. Faustine is an excellent YA paranormal read that I know a lot of people will enjoy.
I’m definitely not one for spoilers and since the synopsis leaves so much of the story out I’m afraid I won’t be able to really go into detail about Faustine. I can say that the story is absolutely packed with paranormal creatures and they are used in ways I have yet to come across. I am really amazed at the creative story Imogen Rose has created. Faustine is fifteen years old and has just returned from Bonfire Academy. She’s been there for three years learning how to harness and control her growing powers. Now that she’s back in Manhattan with her mother and best friend Neave, she’s looking forward to going to school as a normal teenage socialite.
But normalcy is definitely not an option when she learns that her father has disappeared and she’s next in line to rule in his position. Her entire world is flipped upside as she tries to figure out what to do in her position and try to keep the ones she cares about the most safe. Faustine just has to uphold the most important rule she learned at Bonfire Academy: Trust No One!
Although I couldn’t really relate to Faustine I enjoyed her sense of humor and the fact that she grew in maturity as the book went on. I must say there is an overwhelming number of characters that are introduced who are extremely interesting but almost a little too much to swallow. I love how complex the story is but sometimes things seemed forced together or a little too chaotic. Take for example Ryker and Faustine’s relationship. I love how cute they are together. There’s definitely more to Ryker’s character that I’m excited to learn about. But their relationship seemed very strained and slapped together with very little interaction. There wasn’t much time for feelings to develop or romance to grow. The two of them went to Bonfire Academy for two years together and after meeting in Manhattan they instantly became a couple. Eh, just a little too pushy, maybe…
Despite the cluttered number of characters I still loved the idea Imogen had. I wanted more of everything which was my major issue. There was so much going on that there wasn’t much time for a satisfying development in my opinion. I liked the mystery and loved all the creative paranormal aspects. But since I can’t really go into much detail I feel like my review is too vague. Simply put I really enjoyed Faustine! I will definitely be reading more in the Bonfire Chronicles and I was already planning on reading Imogen’s other YA series. Faustine is an excellent YA paranormal read that I know a lot of people will enjoy.
February 10, 2012
This was obviously written for a VERY young audience. And when I say young, I mean 12-13 year old girls. 24+ hours after finishing this book, I am still suffering from my brain cells slowly being squeezed of their intelligence. It is so important to me for books to be believable, particularly so when dealing with paranormal/fantasy settings. I could not find anything believable in Faustine. Not. One. Thing. Grrr. And even more annoying is that this had promise. Real promise.
Faustine, our 15-year-old heroine and half human/half demon princess, was a brat. It shocks me seeing the author is a mom, that as a mom that she would create such an insolent character with such weak supporting adults. What do I mean? Faustine’s father is a demon king and has disappeared, her brother has been violently killed in a bathroom where Faustine is attending a party, her sister has disappeared, Faustine has been selected to rule in her father’s absence, and no one seems to think that Faustine might be in more than a casual amount of danger? Her mother, the adults guiding her, and all other adults present, simply capitulate to everything Faustine wishes to do whether that puts her in danger or not. Not one adult puts their foot down at any point. Ever. No matter what the danger may be. A 15-year-old is running the show. The fate of the world is left to the whims of a child, who despite repeatedly stating “trust no one” – repeatedly trusts everyone. Thus, showing her extreme immaturity.
Further, it can not be ignored that she is 15 and just starting high school. Despite her young age, she finds “insta-love” and is immediately kissing and making out with him without ever knowing his last name, where he is from - nothing, nada. They even get caught after having spent the night together – and, no one says a thing about it. I wanted to scream and throw my Kindle across the room at this point. Come on. Kids will be kids, but usually there is at least a modicum of parental control.
I could go on and on, but my depleted brain cells are begging me to stop…... Sorry, but this one really is for the kiddos. You adults out there that are loving on this, I am guessing that you are not parents and if you are, shame on you.
P.S. I do feel it necessary to state that the writing itself was very, very good. And, I will be checking out Portal in the hopes that the characters are not selfish twits.
Faustine, our 15-year-old heroine and half human/half demon princess, was a brat. It shocks me seeing the author is a mom, that as a mom that she would create such an insolent character with such weak supporting adults. What do I mean? Faustine’s father is a demon king and has disappeared, her brother has been violently killed in a bathroom where Faustine is attending a party, her sister has disappeared, Faustine has been selected to rule in her father’s absence, and no one seems to think that Faustine might be in more than a casual amount of danger? Her mother, the adults guiding her, and all other adults present, simply capitulate to everything Faustine wishes to do whether that puts her in danger or not. Not one adult puts their foot down at any point. Ever. No matter what the danger may be. A 15-year-old is running the show. The fate of the world is left to the whims of a child, who despite repeatedly stating “trust no one” – repeatedly trusts everyone. Thus, showing her extreme immaturity.
Further, it can not be ignored that she is 15 and just starting high school. Despite her young age, she finds “insta-love” and is immediately kissing and making out with him without ever knowing his last name, where he is from - nothing, nada. They even get caught after having spent the night together – and, no one says a thing about it. I wanted to scream and throw my Kindle across the room at this point. Come on. Kids will be kids, but usually there is at least a modicum of parental control.
I could go on and on, but my depleted brain cells are begging me to stop…... Sorry, but this one really is for the kiddos. You adults out there that are loving on this, I am guessing that you are not parents and if you are, shame on you.
P.S. I do feel it necessary to state that the writing itself was very, very good. And, I will be checking out Portal in the hopes that the characters are not selfish twits.
May 30, 2011
My review of Faustine by Imogen Rose is based on an e-book copy that was loaned to me through a Kindle lending site. What follows is my honest review of the story.
I chose Faustine as my first official read of the summer because I enjoyed the premise to this novel, with a young demonic princess suddenly having to take her father's role in paranormal society. It turned out to be a good choice. Light and fun it proved to be a quick read, exactly what I needed as I lounged about the house.
One aspect of Faustine (the book, not the character) that I really appreciated was that there was no big drama-fest taking place between the main character and her mother. I know it happens but as a girl who considers her mother to be her best friend I like to see this represented occasionally in the books that I read.
The large cast was a win with me though I noticed in other reviews some people had difficulties keeping track of the various characters I found them to have certain traits that set them apart from one another.
On the note of the large cast, the members that I found myself enjoying the most were the other royals. I loved these guys, particularily Alfred. One of my favorite scenes was when they all got together with Faustine to discuss what was going on. I only wish there had been more scenes with them and hope that there will be in the following books.
The beginning to the romance with Ryker was a bit rushed in my opinion with the easily made excuses of he had always liked her but been afraid to tell her and vice-versa. It is possible that this sort of thing happens but I prefer my romance to have a few bumps along the way. Considering everything that was going on they just fell together too quickly and than Ryker was literally at her beck-and-call despite how the short period they were actually together.
One other minor thing that was a bit over the top was all of the teenage characters saying "wassup" to one another. I don't know anyone who does this. It was just...weird and tended to through me out of Faustine's world/book.
I'm giving Faustine by Imogen Rose a three out of five stars review. It was a fun demonic romp while it lasted, and I probably will be checking out the sequel when it's released.
I chose Faustine as my first official read of the summer because I enjoyed the premise to this novel, with a young demonic princess suddenly having to take her father's role in paranormal society. It turned out to be a good choice. Light and fun it proved to be a quick read, exactly what I needed as I lounged about the house.
One aspect of Faustine (the book, not the character) that I really appreciated was that there was no big drama-fest taking place between the main character and her mother. I know it happens but as a girl who considers her mother to be her best friend I like to see this represented occasionally in the books that I read.
The large cast was a win with me though I noticed in other reviews some people had difficulties keeping track of the various characters I found them to have certain traits that set them apart from one another.
On the note of the large cast, the members that I found myself enjoying the most were the other royals. I loved these guys, particularily Alfred. One of my favorite scenes was when they all got together with Faustine to discuss what was going on. I only wish there had been more scenes with them and hope that there will be in the following books.
The beginning to the romance with Ryker was a bit rushed in my opinion with the easily made excuses of he had always liked her but been afraid to tell her and vice-versa. It is possible that this sort of thing happens but I prefer my romance to have a few bumps along the way. Considering everything that was going on they just fell together too quickly and than Ryker was literally at her beck-and-call despite how the short period they were actually together.
One other minor thing that was a bit over the top was all of the teenage characters saying "wassup" to one another. I don't know anyone who does this. It was just...weird and tended to through me out of Faustine's world/book.
I'm giving Faustine by Imogen Rose a three out of five stars review. It was a fun demonic romp while it lasted, and I probably will be checking out the sequel when it's released.
May 26, 2011
Faustine is the first book that I have read by author Imogen Rose and the first in her Bonfire Chronicles series...
This particular YA read is also one that can be enjoyed by the older generation of readers like myself... It is very fast paced, has many complex twists and turns to keep the plot flowing and the reader guessing...
There are quite a few characters in the story to keep track of and their individual relationships with Faustine can at times be a bit confusing or overwhelming but each and every one is integral to the plot line as it develops...
This is the very intense story of a 15 year old girl who is thrust into a role that she was not expecting and she at times handles it very badly and at others with a wisdom and grace that is far beyond her years... There is plenty of action and the intrigue is thick enough to cut with a knife!
Faustine is a very unique teenager, she is a half human/half demon princess who though raised within a privileged atmosphere is unaware of her heritage until it is thrust upon her when her father goes missing and her life is threatened.
What takes place after she is made aware of her place in the demon heirarchy is pretty intense and throughout the story the reader is thrown curve ball after curve ball because it is hard for Faustine to know who to trust and who is not trustworthy!
The hook to the book is Who is Faustine? The journey of discovery that the author has penned to find all the answers to this question is one that you will enjoy and even though it ends in a cliffhanger you will want to read it because the concept of the story is fantastic and the execution is well done... This is a beginning to a series that you will want to continue with whether you are a YA reader, an action suspense junkie like me or just a huge fan of Paranormal genre in general as all these elements are represented and more in this one book!
This particular YA read is also one that can be enjoyed by the older generation of readers like myself... It is very fast paced, has many complex twists and turns to keep the plot flowing and the reader guessing...
There are quite a few characters in the story to keep track of and their individual relationships with Faustine can at times be a bit confusing or overwhelming but each and every one is integral to the plot line as it develops...
This is the very intense story of a 15 year old girl who is thrust into a role that she was not expecting and she at times handles it very badly and at others with a wisdom and grace that is far beyond her years... There is plenty of action and the intrigue is thick enough to cut with a knife!
Faustine is a very unique teenager, she is a half human/half demon princess who though raised within a privileged atmosphere is unaware of her heritage until it is thrust upon her when her father goes missing and her life is threatened.
What takes place after she is made aware of her place in the demon heirarchy is pretty intense and throughout the story the reader is thrown curve ball after curve ball because it is hard for Faustine to know who to trust and who is not trustworthy!
The hook to the book is Who is Faustine? The journey of discovery that the author has penned to find all the answers to this question is one that you will enjoy and even though it ends in a cliffhanger you will want to read it because the concept of the story is fantastic and the execution is well done... This is a beginning to a series that you will want to continue with whether you are a YA reader, an action suspense junkie like me or just a huge fan of Paranormal genre in general as all these elements are represented and more in this one book!
March 11, 2011
***Actually 3.5 stars.
Faustine is half demon and half human. Returning back to New York after a couple years at a special academy for paranormals (vampires, witches, shape shifters, the like), a whole bunch of things start going wrong: starting with the Demon King of London disappearing. Then the king's children are being killed off or disappearing. To top it all off, mysterious murders are being committed by what seems like demon-possessed vampires. While this may not seem to have anything to do with a fifteen-year-old paranormal hybrid, it actually has everything to do with her. After all, she is the daughter of the Demon King.
Almost immediately after her return home, Faustine is thrown back into the paranormal world, right after she just left it to go back to living a human life. Because her father appointed her, Faustine has to step in and become the Demon Queen of London until her father is found again.
Even though I'm not a demon/human hybrid, I found myself able to relate to Faustine. She tried to be a normal girl... it just didn't happen. Still, she had best friends, a nice mom, and a devoted boyfriend. Not only did Faustine have to deal with her new responsibilities as queen, she had the typical teenage issues. Rose was able to capture the teenage mind quite well (I would know, I am one). I loved the way Faustine narrated the novel. She was frustrated, stressed, scared, but she still managed to pull through. Well, kind of. The novel ended with a huge cliffhanger that left you definitely wanting more.
I loved each of the characters, especially Ryker and Taylor. Both are very complex, mysterious characters. It's sometimes hard to decide if they're trustworthy are not. Really, nobody is fully trustworthy. After all, rule number three at Bonfire Academy is: Trust no one.
Pick up this latest novel from author Imogen Rose and you won't be disappointed if you liked her Portal Chronicles or paranormals in general. It's a twisting, fast-paced read that can pull you into the wonderful urban fantasy world Imogen Rose has created.
Faustine is half demon and half human. Returning back to New York after a couple years at a special academy for paranormals (vampires, witches, shape shifters, the like), a whole bunch of things start going wrong: starting with the Demon King of London disappearing. Then the king's children are being killed off or disappearing. To top it all off, mysterious murders are being committed by what seems like demon-possessed vampires. While this may not seem to have anything to do with a fifteen-year-old paranormal hybrid, it actually has everything to do with her. After all, she is the daughter of the Demon King.
Almost immediately after her return home, Faustine is thrown back into the paranormal world, right after she just left it to go back to living a human life. Because her father appointed her, Faustine has to step in and become the Demon Queen of London until her father is found again.
Even though I'm not a demon/human hybrid, I found myself able to relate to Faustine. She tried to be a normal girl... it just didn't happen. Still, she had best friends, a nice mom, and a devoted boyfriend. Not only did Faustine have to deal with her new responsibilities as queen, she had the typical teenage issues. Rose was able to capture the teenage mind quite well (I would know, I am one). I loved the way Faustine narrated the novel. She was frustrated, stressed, scared, but she still managed to pull through. Well, kind of. The novel ended with a huge cliffhanger that left you definitely wanting more.
I loved each of the characters, especially Ryker and Taylor. Both are very complex, mysterious characters. It's sometimes hard to decide if they're trustworthy are not. Really, nobody is fully trustworthy. After all, rule number three at Bonfire Academy is: Trust no one.
Pick up this latest novel from author Imogen Rose and you won't be disappointed if you liked her Portal Chronicles or paranormals in general. It's a twisting, fast-paced read that can pull you into the wonderful urban fantasy world Imogen Rose has created.
May 24, 2011
I think this is a good book for teen audiences. The main character is named Faustine, but I won't reveal who or what she is. That's not revealed in the synopsis, so I don't feel as though I should say. The important thing is that Faustine is a paranormal, and she is very different from other girls her age. At the beginning of the book, I will admit that I just felt like I had nothing in common with Faustine. She was too interested in her status in society and expensive possessions. Fortunately, her character really grew throughout the book. When her father goes missing, Faustine is thrust into a world that no 15-year old should have to deal with.
I did feel that some things in the book felt forced - especially her relationship with Ryker. She knew who he was for 3 whole years and they never once spoke to each other. Then out of nowhere, they are suddenly a couple. They didn't even know one another, so it was kind of weird. Therefore, the book didn't feel like a romance to me considering one day they weren't a couple and the next day they were. There was no build-up to a relationship, it was just there.
One of the most important rules of the academy that Faustine had gone to school at was to trust no one. That was mentioned at the beginning of the book as a type of foreshadowing. That definitely came into play in this book. The poor girl doesn't know who she can trust. I finished the book and I still don't even know who she can trust. This book had a mysterious feel to it - I felt like I didn't get to know the characters very well. It seemed that everyone had something to hide. Just a heads up - there are a lot of threads left hanging at the end, as well as a cliffhanger. I do feel that most teenage girls would really enjoy this book though. Faustine's relationship with Ryker didn't go beyond simple kissing, so this is a book that parents can feel comfortable with their teenage daughters reading.
I did feel that some things in the book felt forced - especially her relationship with Ryker. She knew who he was for 3 whole years and they never once spoke to each other. Then out of nowhere, they are suddenly a couple. They didn't even know one another, so it was kind of weird. Therefore, the book didn't feel like a romance to me considering one day they weren't a couple and the next day they were. There was no build-up to a relationship, it was just there.
One of the most important rules of the academy that Faustine had gone to school at was to trust no one. That was mentioned at the beginning of the book as a type of foreshadowing. That definitely came into play in this book. The poor girl doesn't know who she can trust. I finished the book and I still don't even know who she can trust. This book had a mysterious feel to it - I felt like I didn't get to know the characters very well. It seemed that everyone had something to hide. Just a heads up - there are a lot of threads left hanging at the end, as well as a cliffhanger. I do feel that most teenage girls would really enjoy this book though. Faustine's relationship with Ryker didn't go beyond simple kissing, so this is a book that parents can feel comfortable with their teenage daughters reading.
May 23, 2011
3.5 stars: Faustine returns home to Manhattan after a few years at the Bonfire Academy to find that living life as a normal teenager is not going to be an option... But who is she? The secret is revealed early on in the story, but I promise you it isn't what you were expecting. Imogen Rose took the world of paranormal and made it uniquely her own. There is layer upon layer of vibrant characters, each holding their own mystery inside the overall premise, which contributes to the page-turning story line. (Note: Be sure to take them all in - there are many and I am sure they will all be significant in this series!). As each new layer was revealed, I found myself deeper in the world, eager to read on.
While I loved the sarcasm and humor found in the pages, I felt that the included reminder ("not!") actually took away some of the impact of the statements, and could have been left out. There were also bolded words throughout the novel, which for the most part I felt were distracting and could have been simply italicized. These are minor details, but felt they were important to note as they were part of my reading experience.
In addition, Imogen included detailed descriptions with designer names of the clothes and accessories in the novel. Though some may feel that it is unnecessary to the storyline, as a label lover myself, I enjoyed them and thought they were a fun part of the novel.
Imogen's writing holds the same fluidness that can be found in her PORTAL (Portal Chronicles) series. She's talented in weaving her twists and turns, and the ending of this novel will leave you in great anticipation for the second book in the Bonfire Chronicles.
Oh, and Faustine? She's confident, witty and sassy... Love her!
I must disclose that I received a free Kindle copy of this novel from the author ~ but this in no way influenced my review.
While I loved the sarcasm and humor found in the pages, I felt that the included reminder ("not!") actually took away some of the impact of the statements, and could have been left out. There were also bolded words throughout the novel, which for the most part I felt were distracting and could have been simply italicized. These are minor details, but felt they were important to note as they were part of my reading experience.
In addition, Imogen included detailed descriptions with designer names of the clothes and accessories in the novel. Though some may feel that it is unnecessary to the storyline, as a label lover myself, I enjoyed them and thought they were a fun part of the novel.
Imogen's writing holds the same fluidness that can be found in her PORTAL (Portal Chronicles) series. She's talented in weaving her twists and turns, and the ending of this novel will leave you in great anticipation for the second book in the Bonfire Chronicles.
Oh, and Faustine? She's confident, witty and sassy... Love her!
I must disclose that I received a free Kindle copy of this novel from the author ~ but this in no way influenced my review.
December 4, 2013
Faustine is back home in New York after three years at Bonfire Academy. She just wants to return to a normal life and go to school with her friends.
The same day she returns, she learns that her father is missing and that she must take his place as the Sovereign Demon of London. Not only her father is missing but then somebody got killed and left a message for her. Then one of her siblings disappears and the same message again.
Faustine will have to learn quickly the protocole and everything she has to know to be a good sovereign. Fortunately for her, she will be able to count on the gorgeous Ryker, her crush from Bonfire Academy which now seems to notice her finally and to her longtime friend Neave.
Faustine, with the help of her friends, her mother and others, she will have to prove to the other sovereigns that her father chooses the right person to replace her.
Who is behind all these disappearances? Make sure you read Faustine, you don't want to miss that.
My opinion:
Wow there is a lot of surprises and suspense in that book. There is always something happening. You can never predict what will happen. I really enjoy that book.
That book was the first one of the series that Imogen Rose wrote which probably explains why we don't hear at all about Cordelia and Jagger. I found it a little weird at first (and I really liked these two characters in the Initiation and Integration) but knowing that it's the first book she wrote I understood. Indeed, it's the first book she recommends to read in the serie and now I understand why.
Will be out in French by the beginning of next year.
The same day she returns, she learns that her father is missing and that she must take his place as the Sovereign Demon of London. Not only her father is missing but then somebody got killed and left a message for her. Then one of her siblings disappears and the same message again.
Faustine will have to learn quickly the protocole and everything she has to know to be a good sovereign. Fortunately for her, she will be able to count on the gorgeous Ryker, her crush from Bonfire Academy which now seems to notice her finally and to her longtime friend Neave.
Faustine, with the help of her friends, her mother and others, she will have to prove to the other sovereigns that her father chooses the right person to replace her.
Who is behind all these disappearances? Make sure you read Faustine, you don't want to miss that.
My opinion:
Wow there is a lot of surprises and suspense in that book. There is always something happening. You can never predict what will happen. I really enjoy that book.
That book was the first one of the series that Imogen Rose wrote which probably explains why we don't hear at all about Cordelia and Jagger. I found it a little weird at first (and I really liked these two characters in the Initiation and Integration) but knowing that it's the first book she wrote I understood. Indeed, it's the first book she recommends to read in the serie and now I understand why.
Will be out in French by the beginning of next year.
March 25, 2011
I absolutely love this author's other series - The Portal Chronicles - so I had very high hopes for this book, perhaps too high. I did enjoy it, and I do want to see where the series goes from here. However, I just didn't enjoy it as much as Portal/Equilibrium/Quantum.
I almost feel guilty for saying that. I really enjoy this author, and this is still a fun read. I think where this one fell just a little short was in two areas. First, Portal has a very unique premise. It isn't your usual werewolf/vampire/witch-type book. It has one very strange angle, and it continues to twist and turn in such a way that you never know what to expect next. With Faustine, it's more like a whole mess of paranormal beings doing more predictable things.
The second problem, for me, was that this book simply felt more like a "young adult" novel than the other series. Maybe it's just me, but Portal felt more like a story about a teenage girl, but from an adult perspective. Faustine felt a bit more like I was simply reading Faustine's own diary.
A third, very minor issue that I don't expect others to have a problem with... (*very* slight spoiler here)... there's a LOT of discussion about the characters' meat-eating habits, such as descriptions of their rare steaks. There's a reason for it, but as a vegan, I'd just rather not focus on that. (Of course, ask me why a vampire drinking blood doesn't freak me out and I really can't give you a reason, LOL.)
Again, I did enjoy this. It just wasn't my favorite from this author.
I almost feel guilty for saying that. I really enjoy this author, and this is still a fun read. I think where this one fell just a little short was in two areas. First, Portal has a very unique premise. It isn't your usual werewolf/vampire/witch-type book. It has one very strange angle, and it continues to twist and turn in such a way that you never know what to expect next. With Faustine, it's more like a whole mess of paranormal beings doing more predictable things.
The second problem, for me, was that this book simply felt more like a "young adult" novel than the other series. Maybe it's just me, but Portal felt more like a story about a teenage girl, but from an adult perspective. Faustine felt a bit more like I was simply reading Faustine's own diary.
A third, very minor issue that I don't expect others to have a problem with... (*very* slight spoiler here)... there's a LOT of discussion about the characters' meat-eating habits, such as descriptions of their rare steaks. There's a reason for it, but as a vegan, I'd just rather not focus on that. (Of course, ask me why a vampire drinking blood doesn't freak me out and I really can't give you a reason, LOL.)
Again, I did enjoy this. It just wasn't my favorite from this author.
March 10, 2011
I really like Imogen Rose's Portal Chronicles so I was excited to read the first book in her new Bonfire Chronicles series, Faustine. Faustine is your average (kinda) fifteen year old girl. She's spent the last few years away from her family at a boarding school to receive special training. As with anyone starting high school, she wants everything to be perfect. The right clothes, the right friends, the right boyfriend. However, Faustine's world is turned upside down when her father disappears and she is next in line for the throne. I think Imogen really captured the spirit of the average teen perfectly. I like that Faustine had normal issues to struggle with , some of them embarrassing, in addition to her new responsibilities. Her character really grew throughout this novel. The supporting characters in this book were also great. I really liked her mom, Lady Annabel. She's not your average mom. All of the characters seemed to be surrounded in a bit of mystery with many layers. One of the academy's rules are to trust no one. Well I didn't and still don't know who trust.
Imogen Rose has such a great writing style. She keeps you guessing as to what's going to happen next. She managed to put an interesting twist on this story that left me hanging. Now I can't wait until the next book in the Bonfire Chronicles comes out. Overall this is a great book. It was a really good introduction to this series.
Imogen Rose has such a great writing style. She keeps you guessing as to what's going to happen next. She managed to put an interesting twist on this story that left me hanging. Now I can't wait until the next book in the Bonfire Chronicles comes out. Overall this is a great book. It was a really good introduction to this series.
May 3, 2012
Faustine Spencer was only five years old when she realized that she wasn’t like everyone else. At twelve, she was sent to Bonfire Academy in Switzerland to learn how to control and use her powers. Now she’s back in Manhattan and all she wants is to blend in and live the normal life of a teenager. Her dreams of normality are thrown completely out the window when her father, a prominent sovereign disappears. Now she finds herself thrown into a world she herself doesn’t understand with political power she doesn’t understand much better. Furthermore, her life is in danger and her siblings are beginning to disappear!
This book was amazingly written. Imogen Rose is a true master of her art. I loved the characters and the plot. Honestly this book has more twists than a whole bag of pretzels! It had a very epic feel to it. I got completely lost in it and read on anxiously to find out what happened next. My fiancé felt the need to check on me because I was reading intently and being very quiet. When it was over, I wanted more! It’s kinda funny to ask the author about book two when book one isn’t even on shelves yet but that’s where I was. Call it Faustine Mania if you will! When you devour a book in practically three hours, it’s truly something special.
Thank you to Imogen Rose for providing an ARC copy of this book for me to review. It in no way influenced my review. This book was AWESOME!
This book was amazingly written. Imogen Rose is a true master of her art. I loved the characters and the plot. Honestly this book has more twists than a whole bag of pretzels! It had a very epic feel to it. I got completely lost in it and read on anxiously to find out what happened next. My fiancé felt the need to check on me because I was reading intently and being very quiet. When it was over, I wanted more! It’s kinda funny to ask the author about book two when book one isn’t even on shelves yet but that’s where I was. Call it Faustine Mania if you will! When you devour a book in practically three hours, it’s truly something special.
Thank you to Imogen Rose for providing an ARC copy of this book for me to review. It in no way influenced my review. This book was AWESOME!
March 9, 2011
Unlike the middle-class Arizona Darley (or Stevens), the main character in Rose’s "Portal Chronicles" series, Faustine comes from a much more upper-crust background. Yet, like Arizona, she is very likeable. I sympathized with her when things went poorly and pulled for her when she attempted to overcome challenges.
In keeping with the spirit of “Who is Faustine” (the tagline to Rose's pre-launch publicity campaign) I’m hesitant to say too much specific. I will say the book has paranormal characters, but think it best the reader discover who and what they are while reading. What I can say is with the initial book in her new series Rose has created an environment rich in interesting characters, each with unique personality and (sometimes) distinctive powers. Like a fantasy book, it is a new world, yet operating within our world. There is conflict and tension aplenty. Who are friends and who are enemies is unclear. If this vague appraisal sounds appealing then this is the book for you. I love the "Portal Chronicles," but think Rose has one-upped herself with Faustine.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
In keeping with the spirit of “Who is Faustine” (the tagline to Rose's pre-launch publicity campaign) I’m hesitant to say too much specific. I will say the book has paranormal characters, but think it best the reader discover who and what they are while reading. What I can say is with the initial book in her new series Rose has created an environment rich in interesting characters, each with unique personality and (sometimes) distinctive powers. Like a fantasy book, it is a new world, yet operating within our world. There is conflict and tension aplenty. Who are friends and who are enemies is unclear. If this vague appraisal sounds appealing then this is the book for you. I love the "Portal Chronicles," but think Rose has one-upped herself with Faustine.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
May 12, 2013
Couldn't finish it.
I hated the plot. It was completely unjustifiable and weak. I was not able to enjoy it or get into it because nothing about it was plausible. The dialogue was terrible. A lot of it didn't match the character's ages. It would come across much too grown up, then drop back down to incredibly immature. There wasn't a good blending of the two extremes. There were also far too many exclamation marks. It was very, very annoying.
The romance was just awkward. It was sudden and there was no chemistry. I didn't connect with any of the characters and I wasn't able to follow where the plot was supposed to go. It wasn't seamless. Faustine supposedly went to the Academy to learn how to control her abilities. But she was very clueless to what she could do and what the others around her could do. It didn't add up.
Eh...I didn't like it. I wasn't interested, at all, and I won't be reading any further into this series.
I hated the plot. It was completely unjustifiable and weak. I was not able to enjoy it or get into it because nothing about it was plausible. The dialogue was terrible. A lot of it didn't match the character's ages. It would come across much too grown up, then drop back down to incredibly immature. There wasn't a good blending of the two extremes. There were also far too many exclamation marks. It was very, very annoying.
The romance was just awkward. It was sudden and there was no chemistry. I didn't connect with any of the characters and I wasn't able to follow where the plot was supposed to go. It wasn't seamless. Faustine supposedly went to the Academy to learn how to control her abilities. But she was very clueless to what she could do and what the others around her could do. It didn't add up.
Eh...I didn't like it. I wasn't interested, at all, and I won't be reading any further into this series.
September 3, 2016
The only reason I picked this book up at all is because I needed to wrap up the end of the Bonfire Academy story.
It has peeved me to no end, that the second book of Bonfire Academy, Integration, started off with a prologue that led to the end of the book (? what's with that stupid idea), what a giveaway. This left the entire book with a bad taste in your mouth. The conclusion to that actual story is discovered in the end of the 'Both' series concept. This needed to be cleared up by starting with a completely different set of novels. What a bloody stupid idea.
It leaves the whole combined series all over the place as designed and implemented with someone completely and utterly deranged. Stilted, no flow or connection whatsoever, a complete schmozel. Stupid stupid stupid.
Where does that leave me? With a couple of chapters from a different series. What happened to just doing a Bonfire Academy 3? Or at least a 2.1. Aghhhh.
It has peeved me to no end, that the second book of Bonfire Academy, Integration, started off with a prologue that led to the end of the book (? what's with that stupid idea), what a giveaway. This left the entire book with a bad taste in your mouth. The conclusion to that actual story is discovered in the end of the 'Both' series concept. This needed to be cleared up by starting with a completely different set of novels. What a bloody stupid idea.
It leaves the whole combined series all over the place as designed and implemented with someone completely and utterly deranged. Stilted, no flow or connection whatsoever, a complete schmozel. Stupid stupid stupid.
Where does that leave me? With a couple of chapters from a different series. What happened to just doing a Bonfire Academy 3? Or at least a 2.1. Aghhhh.
April 11, 2011
Well, it was interesting. I really liked the previous series of books that she wrote... and this was similar but not as good. Faustine was an interesting character, she was portrayed very young which makes sense since she was in high school. My issue with it was that even though she was a half demon princess, I still can't picture exactly what she looks like as her human self, or her demon self. I just don't feel any connection at all with her like I did with Imogen's other characters. It was not a fast read for me, even though it wasn't very long. I just didn't have the drive to finish the story as with some other books I have been reading as of late. I probably won't pick up with 2nd one in this series when it comes out, but I do give Imogen a 'A' for effort. I will keep her on my authors to watch what comes list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2013
I haven't really finished this book yet and already I find the plot lacking and the characters annoying. She meet this guy that she has barely spoken 2 words to and next thing you know they are in love. Also does she not understand that the world doesn't revolve around her, she is a "princess demon" and that comes with extra responsibilities and "powers" yet no one finds it strange that insist on staying where she is and no one find this weird. In the first 100 pages I knew that the dialogue will drive me crazy, those girls in the party scene just keep on saying cool. The worst part is that this had potential and I even liked the Initiation, another one of the authors books. Of course I have just re-read it and hated it so I guess I should take it back. I don't want to be negative but this book was really grating on my nerves. Thanks for reading my rant.
March 3, 2011
Faustine is the first book in a new young adult paranormal series by Imogen Rose. You may recognize her name from the Portal Chronicles series, a young adult paranormal/science fiction/romance series. I very much enjoyed the Portal Chronicles, so was naturally curious about this new paranormal series.
What I liked:
* This plot is intriguing
* There is an array of paranormal abilities used and mixed together by the characters
* There is young romance involved
What I didn’t like:
* The pacing was rushed for me, things happen too quickly, or a bit too convenient. I would have liked to have seen things develop more slowly.
The book ends on a cliff hanger so be prepared to wait for more answers. :)
What I liked:
* This plot is intriguing
* There is an array of paranormal abilities used and mixed together by the characters
* There is young romance involved
What I didn’t like:
* The pacing was rushed for me, things happen too quickly, or a bit too convenient. I would have liked to have seen things develop more slowly.
The book ends on a cliff hanger so be prepared to wait for more answers. :)
January 22, 2012
Currently reading and loving it!!! I love Imogen Rose. I love her characters and style of writing. Very different from my own, but lovely all the same. In this story we find Faustine has to figure out so many things as well as who to trust. With kidnapping, mistrust, and adventure there is something for everyone who loves the paranormal. She has shifters, wanderers, vampires, witches, demons and more! Yet I never felt overwhelmed by all the paranormals. Can't wait to read Initiation and integration!
http://amiblackwelder.blgospot.com
Author of THE MERS, She Speaks to Angels, and Shifter Evolutions (1-6)
http://amiblackwelder.blgospot.com
Author of THE MERS, She Speaks to Angels, and Shifter Evolutions (1-6)
March 17, 2011
Demons, witches, wanderers, oh, MY! Imogen Rose has done it again. This book is about paranormals, and their world. Faustine isn't what she seems, and when she returns to her NY world of upper class living, from Bonfire Academy, a very special boarding school, her world suddenly turns upside down.
This is a fast-paced, YA book, loved by adults, as well. I have the first three Portal series books, and this first of the Faustine books, and I am hooked.
This is a fast-paced, YA book, loved by adults, as well. I have the first three Portal series books, and this first of the Faustine books, and I am hooked.
September 12, 2011
This book could easily become a new cult classic much like The Wizard of Oz did in its heyday. Like any other teen, Faustine and her friends just want to attend high school and 'fit in'. But they've got a big job on their hands...saving the world from evil forces bent of snatching control of everything.
Author Imogen Rose has filled this book with interesting twists and turns that keep the story moving. I'll be watching for the next book in the Bonfire Chronicles.
Author Imogen Rose has filled this book with interesting twists and turns that keep the story moving. I'll be watching for the next book in the Bonfire Chronicles.
January 27, 2015
Enjoyable to read
For a young adult book, I enjoyed reading it. I think I prefer when everyone was in the school but that's okay. It good to see what happens after they leave the academy.
I hope they are able to get Faustine's father back and Mayne find Oscar if he is still alive. And hopefully we can see if Faustine and ryker together.
I wonder if they can catch katrina back. I really didn't like her even for a bad guy/girl
For a young adult book, I enjoyed reading it. I think I prefer when everyone was in the school but that's okay. It good to see what happens after they leave the academy.
I hope they are able to get Faustine's father back and Mayne find Oscar if he is still alive. And hopefully we can see if Faustine and ryker together.
I wonder if they can catch katrina back. I really didn't like her even for a bad guy/girl
May 2, 2011
I don't know how she does it, but Imogen outdoes herself which each new book. Faustine is, by far, my favorite IR book so far. I can begin to describe how much I loved it. It was very different from the Portal series, but in a good way. I loved the whole concept, and can't wait for the rest of the series.
April 30, 2011
This book was a great read about the paranormal world. Faustine is a demon princess who has to become Demon Queen because her father has disappeared. Witches, wanderers, vampires -- you name it and this book has it. This book is a YA book so it is much tamer than some of the paranormal series. I can't wait to download the next book in this series.
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