Review- Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Shadowland by Alyson Noel


Release Date: November 17, 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 339, Paperback
Source: Bought
Series: Immortals Series #3

Rating from A+ to F: B-

I would recommend not reading any farther, if you haven't read the first two books in the series, Evermore and Blue Moon. This review might contain spoilers. 


-Summary-

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives--and fought off the world's darkest enemies--so they could be together forever. But just as their long awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen...one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death--plunging Damen into a bleak afterlife in the Shadowland, an eternal abyss for lost souls. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick--and gets help from an unexpected source...a surfer named Jude. 


Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She's always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love--and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them from the darkness inhabiting his soul, Ever's connection with Jude grows stronger--and tests her love for Damen like never before....


-Review-

I was a little disappointed in Shadowland, even though I really liked Evermore and Blue Moon. This third book in the series was supposed to (well, I thought) resolve some issues that were started in Blue Moon, but I barely found anything concerning what happened at the ending of Blue Moon. Also, this time around, I found Ever a little annoying, too irresponsible at times, never listening to Damen with whatever he says. Ever never really talks to her friends anymore, the whole story revolved around Ever, Damen, Jude, and sometimes Roman.

Plot- I was a little bored with the plot in this book, nothing much happens. At some times in the story, something remotely exciting would happen, and then...nothing. It would just go back to boring. I might seem a little harsh, but I had high hopes for this book, since I liked the first two in the series. It got to the point where I wasn't interested in what was happening, and would just stop reading. That's never a good sign, but I still finished reading it. 


Characters- Not a lot of character development in this story, but I didn't see much of any characters. I found myself confused with characters and what was happening with them, and some events that happened felt pointless to me. Random characters popped into this story that you didn't see during the rest of the plot. So, I wasn't very impressed with the characters in this book. 


Writing- Alyson Noel is a good writer, I'm sure I'll continue reading her books, and not let this one stop me. Even when I didn't love the plot of the story, I still think that her writing in it was very good, I just wish the plot was a little more thrilling and exciting.


Cover- I think the cover is cool, I like how the amulet is glowing and shining up the cover. ...Is it possible to shine up a cover...? 


I feel bad for being a little harsh in this review, but like I said, I had high expectations for this novel, and wanted it to continue to be as good as Evermore and Blue Moon. Oh, and the ending was a cliffhanger to me, kind of surprising! Overall, I will continue with this series and hopefully find the next one more like the first two in the series! 


RATING ANALYSIS: 

1. Plot- 10 out of 20 points.
2. Characters- 11 out of 15 points.
3. Writing- 19 out of 20 points.
4. Creativity- 15 out of 15 points.
5. Originality- 10 out of 10 points.
6. Ending- 14 out of 15 points.
7. Cover- 3 out of 5 points.
Equals: 82. 80-83 is a B-


PARENTAL REVIEW:
Violence
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Use


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ALYSON NOEL

Alyson Noël is the #1 New York Times best selling, award-winning, author of FAKING 19, ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE, FLY ME TO THE MOON, KISS & BLOG, SAVING ZOË, CRUEL SUMMER, FIRST KISS (THEN TELL)—an anthology, CRUELSUMMER, KISSES FROM HELL—an anthology, DEAR BULLY—an anthology (Fall 2011), and the Immortals series including: EVERMORE, BLUE MOON, SHADOWLAND, DARK FLAME, NIGHT STAR, & EVERLASTING - as well as the Immortals spin-off series including RADIANCE, SHIMMER (03.15.11), DREAMLAND (09.13.11), & WHISPER (04.24.12), as well as a new YA series, SOUL SEEKERS, set to debut in May 2012.

She lives in Orange County, CA where she is working on her next book. 


Visit her website: alysonnoel.com 
Visit the book's website: ImmortalsSeries.com


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