Supernaturally by Kiersten White
(Paranormalcy, #2)
Genre: YA paranormal
Format: hardcover
Read: 7/25/2012 — 7/26/2012
In Six Words: Failed to meet my high expectations.
Links
Kiersten White — Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Amazon — Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle
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Book Order
1. Paranormalcy
2. Supernaturally
3. Endlessly
Why I Started Reading This Series
I read and loved Paranormalcy last year. In fact, it took me two whole pages to fall in love with Evie, which might actually be a record. It’s not much of a surprise, then, that I was looking forward to reading Supernaturally. Unfortunately, Supernaturally didn’t win me over the way that the first book did. It may not have lived up to my expectations, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to give up on this series, however.
Synopsis
Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be…kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.
-from Goodreads
Thoughts on Book 2
I think what disappointed me most about Supernaturally was that it was missing that special Evie spark that Paranormalcy had. I fell in love with Evie and Paranormalcy within the first couple pages, and I wanted to have that same feeling in Supernaturally. But Supernaturally brought a lot of angst–too much, in my opinion–and I found myself wanting to throttle Evie more than anything. It almost seemed that something fundamental about Evie changed between books, and it was a change that I did not like. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to love this book, and huggle Evie and Tasey. But I just didn’t.
The introduction of a new character, while necessary for the overall plot line, grated on my nerves and put me on edge for the majority of the book. I will go so far as to say that the ending did save it from driving me completely bonkers, however. But the ending wasn’t enough to pull me through my disappointment over Evie as a character. Though it did take me from not wanting to pick up Endlessly to being curious to see where the story goes. So while Supernaturally didn’t quite work for me, I do want to find out what happens in Endlessly.
In this book, we also learn a bit more about Evie and why she is what she is. I don’t know how I feel about it, exactly. This is probably one of those aspects that will either be made or broken in the next book. At the very least, however, it was interesting. I am not sure how it all works (same with all that movement around the fey world), but I would like to give it a chance to get it all figured out in my head. I would like to understand.
Those who are hardcore YA fans and who don’t mind a little angst may enjoy this better than I did. It’s definitely not time to give up on this series. But Supernaturally just didn’t quite live up to the high expectations that Paranormalcy set.
Other Reviews
Natalie (Mindful Musings)
Kay
Jess (Gone with the Words)
Jenny August 27, 2012 at 8:58 am
Shoot! I was really hoping to love this one as much as I did Paranormalcy, but that doesn’t seem like it will be the case. I’d heard similar things about this one, and that’s probably why I put off reading it for so long, but I do have Endlessly on TBR list so I’m looking forward to getting caught up. I adored Lend in the first book, and I’ve been told he’s largely absent in this book – dammit. Sometimes I’m good and rolling with the angst in YA book and sometimes it makes my eye twitch, we’ll see what happens with this one I guess! Fabulous review Amanda:)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender August 27, 2012 at 9:03 am
I put off reading Supernaturally because I’d seen not so great reviews of it, too. And yes, Lend is pretty absent in this book, and it was tied in with one of the aspects I didn’t like. But… I’m still curious to see how it ends with Endlessly.
Felicia August 27, 2012 at 9:23 am
I don’t think this book would work for me. I am sorry it was so angsty :( That is a killer for me in YA!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender August 27, 2012 at 11:02 am
I can handle angst if it seems to come from an uncontrollable source. But if it’s something that a character puts herself (or himself) in, it drives me crazy because I think, “if you just did X, you wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Kristin @myparahangover August 27, 2012 at 9:41 am
Really? :( I have Paranormalcy on my shelf waiting for me b/c it sounded like such a snarky, cool series. But too much angst and second book blues kind of kill off the excitement. I’m glad to hear you still want to read the series so you can tell us if it picks up in the third book. Then I’ll be all over it!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender August 27, 2012 at 11:05 am
I *loved* Paranormalcy. You could probably read that one on its own and not need to continue if you didn’t want to.
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) August 27, 2012 at 10:33 am
I find this is something that usually happens with the second book in a series … for me, at least, more times than not it turns out to be a disappointment. Hopefully the third book redeems the series for you!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender August 27, 2012 at 11:06 am
Yup. I’ve read some series where the second book is actually better than the first, but it’s not as common as it should be.
Amy @ bookgoonie August 27, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Shitola!!! I have Paranormalcy & Supernaturally sitting on my shelf waiting for me to meet & fall in love with Evie. Is Endlessly the final book? It’s the proverbial…they got us by the series book balls. We just have to see things finished up. Series Checked Off.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender August 27, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Yes, Endlessly is the final book. I would still recommend reading Paranormalcy. It’s such a good book!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 28, 2012 at 8:54 am
Oh, hey. I have books one and two in this series. I could totally read this. TOTALLY!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender August 28, 2012 at 9:57 am
Book 1 is soooooo good!
Rummanah August 28, 2012 at 9:22 pm
I had a sneaky suspicion that this one had the middle book syndrome written all over it. I loved Evie from Paranormalcy and am sad that she lost her spark. I don’t mind angst all that much so hopefully it doesn’t go overboard. Plus I think Lend is really cute. :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender August 29, 2012 at 9:13 am
Yes, that about sums it up: middle book syndrome. And, sadly, Lend doesn’t make a huge appearance in this book. =/