Title: IlluminateAuthor: Aimee Agresti
Series: 1st
Pages: 544
Published: March 6th 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books
ISBN: 9780547626147
Source: Around The World Tours
Description: Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit. As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?
I Give This ...
I haven't been looking forward to this review. I knew it was going to be a hard one for me to write because I never felt I had a firm opinion on the book. I'm hoping that writing this out will help me get a better grasp on my thoughts.
First off, Haven. She's seems like a smart girl, but she completely bought into this scholarship thing. What person would honestly believe they won a scholarship they never applied for. They just don't work like that. I didn't buy it, and neither should she. Besides that, I really liked her. I thought her background was interesting. I loved how she interacted with her friends. And even though I knew the opportunity was fake, I loved how she embraced it a made it the best she could. I also liked how she fell hard and fast for the wrong guy (we know teenager girls can do it), got hurt, but discovered something better.
I actually didn't mind the storyline either. I think it really could have worked. But, I don't think it was explained very well. While I understood what Haven was, it just seem that I fully understood what she could (or maybe it was I could never figure out why it mattered). She's suppose to be the really powerful being that hasn't unlocked her full potential yet. To me she just seemed like a smart, normal girl who just happened to see people as they really were. I just didn't get it.
I did like the hotel. It seemed creepy. I think that could have been explored more. I feel like we're barely skimming the surface of those who are working the hotel. What's they are doing to ensnare people, etc. I think Haven figures out way to quickly that something is wrong and is constantly on guard. Therefore, we see things through her eyes (obviously sense it's told from her point of view).
The biggest problem for me...it's long. And not in a good way. There are times this story seriously dragged on and on. It's a lot of information and very little action. I was bored for most of it.
I Give This ...
I haven't been looking forward to this review. I knew it was going to be a hard one for me to write because I never felt I had a firm opinion on the book. I'm hoping that writing this out will help me get a better grasp on my thoughts.
First off, Haven. She's seems like a smart girl, but she completely bought into this scholarship thing. What person would honestly believe they won a scholarship they never applied for. They just don't work like that. I didn't buy it, and neither should she. Besides that, I really liked her. I thought her background was interesting. I loved how she interacted with her friends. And even though I knew the opportunity was fake, I loved how she embraced it a made it the best she could. I also liked how she fell hard and fast for the wrong guy (we know teenager girls can do it), got hurt, but discovered something better.
I actually didn't mind the storyline either. I think it really could have worked. But, I don't think it was explained very well. While I understood what Haven was, it just seem that I fully understood what she could (or maybe it was I could never figure out why it mattered). She's suppose to be the really powerful being that hasn't unlocked her full potential yet. To me she just seemed like a smart, normal girl who just happened to see people as they really were. I just didn't get it.
I did like the hotel. It seemed creepy. I think that could have been explored more. I feel like we're barely skimming the surface of those who are working the hotel. What's they are doing to ensnare people, etc. I think Haven figures out way to quickly that something is wrong and is constantly on guard. Therefore, we see things through her eyes (obviously sense it's told from her point of view).
The biggest problem for me...it's long. And not in a good way. There are times this story seriously dragged on and on. It's a lot of information and very little action. I was bored for most of it.
Hmm...I'm halfway through and on the verge of giving up completely. It's definitely way too long, and right now it's dragging on and on. Oh, she discovers something better after realizing Lucian's not the one? Im curious now! Great review!
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