Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:
SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Worst Reads of 2014 (Illuminate)
Series: Gilded Wings Trilogy
Author: Aimee Agresti
# of Books: 3 (Illuminate, Infatuate, Book 3)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: No, Book 3 will be published in the near future
Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural, Romance
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Dates: March 2012 – ongoing
Source & Format: Own–eBook
PLEASE NOTE: That I only read 50% of Illuminate (Book 1) when I wrote this review. I stopped reading it and currently have no plans to finish it. Find out why below:
My Expectations:
Illuminate has been on my Kobo for quite some time now but I only managed to read it this year. It was simply a case of out of sight, out of mind and its subsequent burial in my Kobo once I bought more books.
My Review:
Anyways: I started Illuminate and was shocked by how long it was. It nearly put me to sleep a few times because I found it so slow. This book is one that suffers from a very detailed exposition–so detailed that it is actually mind-numbing and I would forget what I was reading because I would get lost in thought or fall asleep. I NEVER FALL ASLEEP READING A BOOK, especially in broad daylight. There really was no need for the drivel that is in this book–and as I said before, it was USELESS information. I love getting a full description of the scene but this was overboard and in place of essential character interaction. I found a lot of the dialogue between the characters was also unnecessary and boring.
I was 48% through the book when I made the decision to stop reading–despite having paid for this book and also having the sequel, Infatuate, out from the library. There were two reasons I stopped reading: 1) was that my Kobo was telling me that it was going to take another 5 hours to finish it; and 2) there was absolutely no plot happening.
Again, this book suffered from too much detail and it shows in the nonexistent plotline. The parts where Haven reads from the mysterious book and ACTUALLY interacts with Lucian are too few and far between for my tastes. I was very bored with this book and even reading the plot synopsis for the sequel, Infatuate, wasn’t enough to stimulate my curiosity for what is actually happening at this hotel and to Haven.
It doesn’t help that Haven is extremely dull herself. I didn’t understand her fascination with Lucian at all. They met twice and only spoke a handful of words to each other and she fancies herself in love with him. I was expecting more romance in the story but instead, it focused more on Haven doing every day things at her internship and giving a minute-by-minute account of what she does in a day–which is BORING! So I think it goes without saying that this book was lacking in sexual tension or any romantic interaction really–and that makes it a dull read.
One day in the far future I might decide to finish Illuminate just for the sake of having a complete library on my Kobo–but until that day comes, I won’t be finishing this series anytime soon.
Series Rating: DNF
Illuminate 1/5 | Infatuate N/A | Book 3 N/A
For me, this is one of these book series that I should have read the reviews to before I bought it. I think I was blinded by the cover because if I managed to read the reviews I probably wouldn’t have read this book at all. Just a poor execution for a good idea (or what I assume is the idea). If you want a similar book but with a much better plot and execution, read Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins.
- Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (Sweet Trilogy #1)
Synopsis for Illuminate (from Goodreads):
Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything changes when she is awarded a prestigious internship at a posh Chicago hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous strangers: the 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 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?
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Sorry, normally I respect the opinions of everyone, but I have never heard something so ridiculous in my life. From someone who actually TOOK THE TIME TO READ BOTH BOOKS, this series is great. There are so many twists and turns that you are literally in shock until the last page. You, as a reviewer, should know better than to pass judgment on a book without actually finishing reading. Grab a cup of coffee, sit the hell down, and actually take the time to research your material before you pass judgment on someone else’s blood, sweat and tears. To write a novel is to share a piece of ones heart and soul. Respect that. Should you take the time to get through what is needed to set up the story and allow the reader to get a feel of the characters and the atmosphere they are in, you may be surprised to find that you could not be more wrong. Shame on you.
I’m glad you enjoyed this series! It just wasn’t for me which is why I decided to stop reading. Reading is such a subjective experience that not everyone will have the same thoughts or opinions on a piece of work. That’s the beauty of creative writing.