Mimi's Bookcase

Synopsis: "Nobody is safe in the secret hour.
Strange things happen at midnight in the town of Bixby, Oklahoma.
Time freezes.
Nobody moves.
For one secret hour each night, the town belongs to the dark creatures that haunt the shadows. Only a small group of people know about the secret hour -- only they are free to move about the midnight time.
These people call themselves Midnighters. Each one has a different power that is strongest at midnight: Seer, Mindcaster, Acrobat, Polymath. For years the Midnighters and the dark creatures have shared the secret hour, uneasily avoiding one another. All that changes when the new girl with an unmistakable midnight aura appears at Bixby High School.
Jessica Day is not an outsider like the other Midnighters. She acts perfectly normal in every way. But it soon becomes clear that the dark creatures sense a hidden power in Jessica . . . and they're determined to stop her before she can use it.
A story of courage, shadowy perils, and unexpected destiny, the secret hour is the first volume of the mesmerizing Midnighters trilogy by acclaimed author Scott Westerfeld."


My Opinion:
Another YA novel I bought while on sale and though I didn't like it as much as "Darkness Becomes Her", I still really enjoyed it.

First of all, I have to mention something that baffles me: the synopsis written on the back cover of my edition is completely misleading. When I decided to read the book and checked the back cover I wondered why on earth I had decided to buy it since it sounded like something I would avoid. Fortunately, I started reading and realized I didn't have anything to be afraid of.
Let me copy/paste it:
"As the new girl at Bixby High School, Jessica Day expected some unwelcome attention. What she didn't expect was to feel an instant connection to a stranger in the corridor... . Who is this boy dressed in black? And why can she feel his eyes following her wherever she goes? [...] "
What?? There is no "instant connection with a stranger", there is a meeting but that's all and since she's new, she is meeting quite a number of people. And no, she doesn't feel his "eyes following her wherever she goes". Whoever wrote that obviously wanted to trick people into thinking it was another love at first sight with a dark, mysterious boy that can easily be found in YA novels. Truth is,
The Secret Hour doesn't need that to be mysterious. There is no big romance with a bad boy, no love triangle (so far) but there is a secret hour, special abilities and monsters.

In Scott Westerfeld's novel, Bixby is a special place where a day isn't 24 hours long but 25. Indeed, at midnight, the world freezes, turns blue, monsters get out and only a few privileged persons are able to enjoy that extra hour. Jessica Day is one of those Midnighters, as they call themselves, but she is also different from them. While each of them possesses a special ability, she doesn't seem to have any, unless it is to seriously piss off the creatures living in the secret hour.
Why are those creatures so afraid of her and so willing to kill her? What makes her different? What is the secret hour ? Are there other places where it exists?

A secret hour, creatures that can change forms as they want, special powers and no over the top sweet romance... what else do you need? I, for one, did enjoy reading this novel. I found the idea of that 25th hour really interesting and original and I can't wait to learn more about the lore surrounding it.
My only complaint, because of course I need one, is that I couldn't create any connection with the characters. There's nothing wrong with them, they are nice, rather well defined and some (well Melissa) have potential to get even more interesting but I didn't really care about them. To be fair, this is just the first book of a trilogy and the author already had to introduce the whole Midnight world, it probably gets better in the following installment.

Finally, I decided to buy that book because it is written by a man and I heard good things about this author. I appreciated that he didn't waste his time with romantic stuff and didn't make all the boys fall in love with the heroine which is so predictable in YA stuff. Hopefully, it won't change in the other two novels.


To summarize: a very nice novel with an interesting and original universe.

Synopsis: Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet—which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx’s gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together—if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father’s shadow...
But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia’s handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there’s the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more—or possibly less—than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there’s something strangely familiar about him...
Will Neferet’s true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox’s humanity in time to protect him—and everyone—from his own fate? Find out what’s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.


My Opinion: Warning: spoilers!
Once again I am rather disappointed by this new installment. When I read Marked, I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it despite its flaws and the more I read, the more I liked the series until the 8th book. If you remember, I was already disappointed by Awakened that appeared to me to be nothing more than a filler written because the authors have a contract that says they have to release 12 books. Frankly, I would have liked it better if they had reduced the number.
Before, not only did I enjoy the unique mythology of the series but I also loved how exciting the books were as there was always something going on. Now, except for the last few chapters, I didn't find Destined gripping at all, I had to force myself to read at least one or two chapters every night.
It is not a bad read per say but I just didn't care much about what was happening to Zoey & cie.

Some points annoyed me though:
- Aphodite. I usually love her straightforwardness but she irritated me in this book especially when she kept saying "retard" despite being told to stop. Aphrodite is more than a simple bit**, she is also capable of sympathy and I didn't like how she was portrayed there.
- Stevie Ray's way of speaking. I know that the authors can't suddenly change that and I usually don't mind (I don't even mind Kramisha's). But when she's in her "High Priestess" mode or when she talks to someone like Thanatos, I simply find it ridiculous and not credible. I'd just like her to speak in a more appropriate way when she addresses people as a High Priestess.
- Aurox. I don't have anything against the character. I just regret that the authors didn't make him more mysterious in order to have us really surprised at the end when we discover who he is. I truly hope that they weren't expecting us to be surprised by it because just by reading the synopsis, I already knew.

Nevertheless, there were a few good things... 2 are the most important for me :
- Lenobia's parts with the human cowboy. I like this character and I am glad she is getting more attention. I can't wait to know how her relationship to Travis will develop.
- Shaunee. Finally the "Twins" have separated and we can finally see who they are as individuals. I really liked the chapters written from Shaunee's point of view. She is so much more interesting as herself than as a "brain-sharer" (thanks Aphrodite). I hope we'll get chapters about Erin in the next installment.

As I said, the novel in itself isn't bad, it's just not up-to-par with the previous books. Of course, I still plan on reading the others as I want to see what will happen to the characters but I probably won't be as excited as I was at first.


To summarize: another filler in my opinion. I was expecting more of P.C & Kristin Cast.

Synopsis: "They're members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, an elite team of FBI profilers tasked with examining the nation's most twisted criminal minds -and anticipating their next moves before they strike again...
The BAU team is dispatched to Lawrence, Kansas, to investigate a series of fatal stabbings among the town's homeless population. The victims have all been found freshly bathed, neatly groomed, and wearing new clothes. To profiler Jason Gideon, these look like carefully staged murders in isolated settings, fulfilling the sick fantasies of one or more Unknown Subjects. [...]"


My Opinion: An okay read for the fans of the TV series.
I love Criminal Minds and I have watched all the episodes several times. Yes, it's dark and it shows very ugly sides of human beings but that's what I find interesting: we are all different and some of us are so "broken" that they are capable of the worst things imaginable and I like discovering what could make them that way, in what kind of psychological state they are.
As a fan, you can imagine that when I discovered there were books based on the show, I had to give them a try.

Jump Cut is the first novel of the series. It is an easy, quick and nice enough read though it's not one of the best crime books I've ever read.
As far as the writing is concerned, it is average, neither good nor bad, it is easy to read and frankly that's all I cared about. My only criticism concerns the many descriptions of the characters' clothes that I found useless, awkward and forced. I don't really understand the point of having them: the profilers always wear the same kind of clothes so one description at the beginning would have been quite enough especially since the author himself wrote that they are always dressed the same. I was quite "blasée" by them and ended up skipping them. Even in the show, I don't pay attention to what they wear except for Garcia because her fashion is always bright and fun... which is a must for the one who brings the "light" to the darkness that is their job.

As for the plot, I found the story quite interesting though it took me some time to really get into it but once I was, I couldn't stop reading. I only regret that the author didn't take time to really explore the psyche of the unsubs and what made them the way they are.

To conclude, I don't recommend this book to those who haven't watched the show. Indeed, the characters and their relationships are already established and you could easily get lost if you don't already know them. The story takes place not long after the arrival of Emily Prentiss in the team and so after Reid's "misadventure" and Elle Greenaway's departure that are both mentioned in the novel without any real explanation which would probably make the reader feel lost and annoyed at not understanding if they haven't watched the episodes.


To summarize: a nice read for all the fans of the TV show. It may be quite useful during the hiatus or simply when one episode a week isn't enough for you :p

My Opinion: Wow, what a change!
That's exactly what I thought a few pages in the novel. Let me tell you right now that The Vampire Lestat is far different from Interview with a Vampire. If you've read my previous review, you know that I was disappointed in the 1st installment of The Vampire Chronicles and that Lestat wasn't a character I enjoyed reading about. So of course, you can imagine I wasn't thrilled at the idea of a whole novel just about him... and I was wrong, he is not the Lestat described by Louis.

Nine years after publishing her first novel, Anne Rice came back with a much more complex, nuanced and simply loveable hero... and he's not alone. While I couldn't create any connection to any of the protagonists before, I found all the new -and even old- characters truly interesting and well-written in that you want to know more about them, understand them. I was attracted to them all even the "bad" ones.

When the book starts, we are in New Orleans in 1984 and Lestat decides to tell his story, like Louis did a few years back to a journalist. From his last months as a human to his transformation and then the events that made him into the vampire we know, he reveals everything and at the same time restores the truth about him after Louis' accusations that depicted him as a monster. The anti-hero has turned into an intelligent, sensitive and enjoyable hero.

As for the various events and meetings told in this novel, they are as gripping as the characters are interesting. However, I found some parts rather tedious which is the reason it took me so long to finish this book (that plus I am only reading at night before sleeping so I can't read for long).
Overall, it was a pretty good read and some parts were truly exciting. Without spoiling, I can say my favourite parts were Marius' story and those about "present time" Lestat. It is a bit frustrating to talk about this book since I can't say too much without revealing things.
If there's one thing you should remember about this post is that I really liked reading The Vampire Lestat that I found thrilling for the most parts and I am happy I didn't stop after the disappointment that was Interview with a Vampire.

Before finishing it, I was wondering what book I'd read next but after the last few pages and especially the cliffhanger at the end I am sorry to say that I'll just keep on reading about Lestat's adventures with Queen of the Damned since I am pretty sure it is an even better read than the previous installment.

To summarize: This time I can truly recommend it as it is a very nice read in itself and because it announces even more interesting plots in the following novels.

Synopsis: In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

My Opinion: Quite a nice read.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth reminded me of the movie "The Village" of M.Night Shyamalan and the tv show "The Walking Dead" for the zombies part (I am not a fan of zombies so that is my only reference).

Mary lives in a village run by the Sisterhood and surrounded by a fence to protect the inhabitants from the "Unconsecrated", undead persons who crave blood and flesh. When her mother gets infected and sent in the Forest, Mary, who lost her her faith in God, is sent to live with the Sisters. Dreaming of the ocean and the world before, what they call, "The Return", the heroine starts wondering about the world she lives in. Are they really the only ones left in the world? Does the Forest have an end? Does the ocean really exist? What are the secrets the Sisters are hiding? Despite her fears, she is determined to get answers... will she get them?

As I wrote above, this book was a very nice read despite a few flaws. Firstly, I didn't enjoy the love story. I found it pretty useless, it was not interesting for the plot and I had the feeling it had been added because it's a YA book and so it was compulsory. I am pretty sure teenagers and young adults are capable of reading a book even if there isn't any romance in it... at least I hope so.
Secondly, I couldn't create a connection with any of the characters. Even though we follow her from beginning to end, I found it difficult to feel anything for Mary and even more for the rest of the protagonists. That's another reason I didn't appreciate the romance, I couldn't understand why she loved him and why they loved her. It's a shame but at least they weren't too annoying... let's look on the bright side! Though I must admit that Mary and her best friend Cass did have their irritating moments but since I didn't care about them, I didn't care about those moments... does it sound logical?
Thirdly, the first part of the novel until the "big event" (that I'm not going to tell of course) is a bit boring. I was intrigued by Mary's world, I had questions but I quickly understood that I wouldn't get answers so easily so I lost interest. It wasn't as gripping as the second part.

Despite all that and to my surprise, I really enjoyed The Forest of Hands and Teeth (the second part). While not as thrilling and frightening as an episode of The Walking Dead (1st season of course), I was really glued to it and couldn't stop turning the pages from chapter XIV to the end.
Friendly piece of advice: do not let the first chapters stop you from reading this book as it really gets better the more you turn the pages.

Lastly, please note that this is a series of 3 books (for now?) so do not expect to get all the answers to your questions. I know, it's frustrating.

To summarize: I recommend it if you're easily scared and want to read a zombie related book while still being able to sleep at night. But if you want to read something scary and you can't do with some boring parts, you should keep looking

Synopsis: The first three Sweep books bound into one gorgeous edition at a fabulous price!
Morgan Rowlands never thought she was anything other than a typical sixteen-year-old girl. But when she meets Cal, a captivatingly handsome coven leader, she makes a discover that turns her whole world upside down: she is a witch, descended from an ancient and powerful line. And so is Cal. Their connection is immediate and unbreakable; Cal teases out Morgan's power, her love, her magick. But Morgan discovers too soon that her powers are strong - almost too powerful to control. And she begins to suspect that Cal may be keeping secrets from her . . . secrets that could destroy them both.


My Opinion: What a great surprise!
Firstly, I have to admit that when I started this book, I wondered why I was reading it *lol*. As you probably know by now, I'm not much of a YA reader since most of the time the teenagers depicted in them irritate me. But I'm glad I kept reading because it got better and better.

Sweep is a series of 15 books written by Cate Tiernan mixing teenagers, love and Wicca. I bought the 1st volume because the synopsis sounded great, the book (which is actually the first 3 novels in a single paperback) is cheap and Wicca was a part of me when I was a teenager. Yes, I did have a period where I was intrigued by all supernatural things and I did try to follow the Wiccan "way of life" (though I didn't really do any magic). So when I discovered Sweep, I had to give it a try and I'm so glad I did.

I won't write a summary of the books since you already have a synopsis above so let's go directly to the good and bad points.
The bad points:
- It's a Y.A series *lol*. The main character, Morgan, is a 16 years old girl who is absolutely insecure about her looks, I stopped counting how many times she mentioned her flat chest. Moreover, she's quite transparent, shy and a bunch of times I felt like slapping her for not standing up for herself. Of course, she evolves throughout the book and after all it's a nice change from the strong & kick-ass characters.
However, I have to admit that I found all the characters a tiny bit insipid. None of them captivated me but it may change with the 2 new characters introduced in the 3rd novel.
- The writing. I found the 1st installment a bit clumsy but it got better with each of the following parts. The writing isn't fabulous but it really improves.

The good points:
- The characters? Yes, I know it's a bit contradictory but while I found them a bit bland, I still enjoyed reading about them. Though, I didn't fall in love with them, I didn't hate them either which is a good thing.
- The story. As I said, I enjoyed reading this book. Actually, I was so hooked on it that I would read for hours. It's a really addictive book with a great dose of mysteries and discoveries that leaves us asking for more.
- Wicca. This "Pagan religious movement" is nicely depicted and definitely makes you want to know more about it. I am no expert so maybe there are mistakes in the book concerning Wicca but it sounded similar to what I read in the past and I felt like I was 15 again :p. Moreover, I enjoyed the spells scattered all over the volume even though I'm not going to try them, it is a nice touch.
- The price. I may be cheap but 15 novels concentrated in 5 books at a great price, I say yes, yes and again yes! They are among the cheapest paperbacks I've bought and despite the price they are of great quality.
Oh and speaking of the volume, it's not too big despite having 3 books in one. I was a bit scared before receiving it since I like reading while laying on my bed and actually  it's just the right size... though I wouldn't put it in my bag, it's a bit heavy.

To make it short, I really enjoyed Sweep Volume 1. It was an addictive, exciting and gripping read and I can't wait to receive the other ones.

To summarize: If you don't mind teenage characters and are interested in Wicca, I totally recommend it ^o^.

Synopsis: A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and mogulswith no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light.
Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly best-selling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City's top homicide squads. She's hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York's Finest. PulitzerPrize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wise-cracking and meddling aren't her only problems. As she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called heat.

My Opinion:
Let's be honest, this is not the best mystery/crime novel you can find. The plot is a bit lacking and if you don't know the TV show, the characters aren't well-defined and it may make it difficult to become attached to them.

However, since I'm a BIG fan of Castle I really enjoyed it. The first time I heard that the fictional book "Heat Wave" had turned into a real novel, I was pretty excited since we were going to see what changes Richard Castle made compared to the "reality" and understand better the reactions from the other characters after its release. Did I mention that I love Castle? (lol) Truly I do. The investigations are all interesting and gripping but the best of the best is of course its characters. They are all well-defined, with their own personality but if there's one thing they have in common it's their humour. They are all really funny in their own way and their interactions are greatly written. I just love the alchemy between them (not sure it's a correct expression).

But I'm here to talk about the book so If you know the show, you'll be glad to find similarities between the characters of the show and of the novel... of course, you already know that, it's the whole point. Though I regret there wasn't enough of Raley & Ochoa (aka Ryan and Esposito) and of course of the wonderful mother of Rook (Castle)'s mother *sigh*. Let me be clear, even though there are similarities between the characters, it is not a simple copy/paste from the series... you have to add Castle's imagination in the mix. It's a bit as if we were meeting the same characters but in another universe: they are similar and yet different enough that we can separate them from each other.
As for the plot, it could have been used for the show. It's really easy to imagine the scenes while you're reading.

Now, if you don't know the TV show... I highly suggest you start watching it :p. To be serious, I can't really recommend it. As I said above, if you take it as a simple crime book, the plot, the characters and the writting are lacking, it's definitely not one of the best in this genre.
Don't get me wrong, Heat Wave is enjoyable, easy to read and entertaining but I'm not sure that those unfamiliar with Castle would truly like it.


To summarize: I'd reserve this novel to all the fans of Castle. If you're not one of them but don't expect much of it anyway, then go ahead, you may like it.

Synopsis: If everything in Amanda's life is so perfect, then why the mood swings, the obscene thoughts, the urge to harm the people she loves? What are those tapping sounds in the walls? And who's that woman following her? The mystery behind what's happening to Amanda in Come Closer is so frightening that it "ought to carry a warning to...readers." (From Goodreads)


My Opinion: Boring and disappointing.
I discovered this book last year at a bookstore and was immediately attracted by the french cover and then the synopsis. But at the time, only the hardcover was available and it was too expensive so I waited for the paperback version... goodness, I did well. No wonder we say "Don't judge a book by its cover".

The good points of this book are that it's short and easy to read... that's all for me.
The only thing that comes to mind after the last page (well actually during the whole thing) is boring.
I was expecting something scary... it wasn't in the slightest. From the start we know exactly what's happening, then we understand quickly what will happen and can easily guess how it'll end.
Moreover, the fact that no "relationship" is built between the reader and the main character doesn't help at all in creating a creepy, disturbing, frightening ambiance. I didn't care about Amanda, I didn't feel anything towards her, I kept reading because I was curious to see how it would end. I don't know how to explain but it felt a bit like observing ants and their routine just out of curiosity and not because you care. I felt utterly indifferent to Amanda and her husband.

I wouldn't say it's a bad book or I wouldn't have finished it but with so many good reviews and such an interesting synopsis, I was expecting much more than that. I guess I'm just not the right reader for this kind of novel because I'm sorry but Come Closer is certainly not a scary novel to me nor is it a gripping one.


To summarize: If you like and are used to scary stories... be on your way, this book is not for you.

Synopsis: "Lyra's life is already sufficiently interesting for a novel before she eavesdrops on a presentation by her uncle Lord Asriel to his colleagues in the Jordan College faculty, Oxford. The college, famed for its leadership in experimental theology, is funding Lord Asriel's research into the heretical possibility of the existence of worlds unlike Lyra's own, where everyone is born with a familiar animal companion, magic of a kind works, the Tartars are threatening to overrun Muscovy, and the Pope is a puritanical Protestant. Set in an England familiar and strange, Philip Pullman's lively, taut story is a must-read and re-read for fantasy lovers of all ages. The world-building is outstanding, from the subtle hints of the 1898 Tokay to odd quirks of language to the panserbjorne, while determined, clever Lyra is strongly reminiscent of Joan Aiken's Dido Twite." (From Amazon.co.uk)


My Opinion: An extraordinary and wonderful adventure.

Usually, I'm not a reader of this kind of fantasy but I decided to read it after watching the movie and let me tell you that this novel is so much better than the adaptation of it.

Set in a well-written, rich and original world, The Golden Compass is a fast-paced, fascinating, intriguing fantasy novel led by a young but mature, courageous, determined girl and her daemon.
We follow Lyra Belacqua in her quest to deliver her friend Roger and all the other kids from the "Gobblers". Along the way, she'll be helped by all kind of fantastic characters but she'll also have to face great dangers.
Lyra and all the other characters are greatly written, interesting, lovable but some are also hateful and repulsing.

All the mystery surrounding the Dust and the daemons are what set that novel apart. I devoured it looking for answers, trying to understand this world, how it works, discovering what would happen next to our heroine and her friends. Only when tiredness was too strong, was I able to put down that book.

Philip Pullman was able to write a brilliant piece that is not too complex so it can be read by kids/teenagers and not too simplistic that adults can fully enjoy it.

I can't wait to read the rest of Lyra and Pantalaimon's adventures in a quest to change their world.


To summarize: Totally recommended!!

Synopsis: "It is well known among law enforcement personnel that murderers can be categorized on a scale of twenty-five levels of evil, from the naive opportunists starting out at Level 1 to the organized, premeditated torture-murderers who inhabit Level 25.
What almost no one knows, except for the elite unnamed investigations group assigned to hunt down the world's most dangerous killers, a group of men and women accounted for in no official ledger, headed by the brilliant but reluctant operative Steve Dark, is that a new category of killer is in the process of being defined.
Only one man belongs to this group.


My Opinion:
I love all the CSI series so when I discovered Anthony E. Zuiker had written a book I was intrigued.
Unfortunately, I loved the episode of CSI with Sqweegel so I was expecting a lot from it and ended up disappointed.

While the novel isn't that bad, there were too many inconsistencies, some things were simply illogical and while you can disregard those in a TV series, it's impossible in a book when you have time to ponder.
Moreover, in my opinion, the author failed in creating a terrifying villain. Sqweegel is sadistic and creepy but he didn't scare me like Gretchen Lowell in the series by Chelsea Cain that I started reading some days ago. It's probably because most of the story doesn't seem realistic.

The characters aren't much developed which is a shame since I was expecting to know what went wrong in Sqweegel's life to turn him into such a monster and I wanted to know more about Dark... but I guess we need to read the rest of the series for that. I'm sorry to say I didn't care about any of the characters, they aren't appealing in the least.

To summarize, the story is implausible, almost ridiculous, riddled with incoherences and the characters are just here because every story needs characters.
And despite all that, I finished that book. Don't ask me what made me keep on turning the pages because I don't know. I guess I was curious to know how it'd end and I was expecting an explanation.

There's another thing that disappointed me especially from the creator of CSI: the videos on the Level26 website.
They are useless, tacky and the actors aren't that great. Dark and Sibby are so different from what I imagined especially the latter, I didn't really see her as a tattoo lover O_o.
That interactivity was a nice idea and it would have been better if they put more effort into that. Because the novel and the videos seem quite botched.


To summarize: I don't recommend Level 26: Dark Origins and I don't think I'll read the rest of the books unless there's another CSI episode about it XD