Before I start, GO GET THIS BOOK NOW! It's totally worth it! You won't regret it!
First impression:
I have pretty much wanted to read this book from the moment I read the dusk jacket. I mean, just look at that cover! And the title is so awesome (Skyfall + Adele = can't go wrong). I am really hoping this one doesn't disappoint!
First few chapters (so you know what to expect):
I am having a lot of fun while reading this..just imagine me fangirling at every single turn of the page. Vane is such a snarky guy (not at all the typical brooding type, which is a welcome change). I love that I can actually relate to him. I haven't made up my mind about Audra yet because we haven't heard enough of her voice, but so far, excellent! Pulls you in the minute you start reading!
My thoughts as I am reading the book (MAJOR SPOILERS, scattered thoughts, lots of emotions, me fangirling a lot more! Skip to the next part if you don't want to be super spoiled!)
1. I love the scene where Vane is deciding what to do with Audra when she is unconscious. It's practical and funny and his voice is so refreshing as I've said before.
2. Biggest question right now: Why is Vane so impt? And why does he need a guardian? If bonding with the earth weakens the sylph, why was he allowed to eat and drink when Audra could've just told him earlier?
3. Audra is a very guarded character, and that even comes across in the thoughts she shares with us.
4. Chapter 10- Now I see why Audra is the way she is. I would be too if my mother hated my guts for killing my father. I am interested to see why saving the bird resulted in the death of her father and Vane's parents (I suspect it has something to do with her calling the wind when saving the bird and the Raiden tracked it), and how Vane will react when he finds out that it was Audra's fault? And who the heck is Solana? I spy with my little eye a love triangle...maybe Shannon Messenger won't make it excruciating. So the pace has slowed down in the explanation, but I think this chapter was very impt in setting up the story.
5. Still fangirling--love Audra and Vane. I think it's hilarious show she threatens him, and how she's such a strong character, so sure of herself yet so vulnerable from all the guilt that's weighing her down.
6. Vane is such a guy, and that's great because pretty much every other YA book I have read has guys acting like old people, and they're are completely unrelatable.
7. Ah, this guilt thing. I completely understand why Audra feels that way, and I feel really bad for her. The author has done a good job of making her not as relatable as Vane, but you still feel sympathy for her. And I think she is confusing guilt with ummm, something else...lol.
8. Chapter 22- Audra meets the parents. I have a feeling this will lead to a major breakthrough in terms of her emotional walledness (not sure if that's a word, but oh well).
Chapter 23: so funny. I loved the ways his parents were so shocked Vane brought a girl home. Ha ha. Vane and his sabotaged dates.
Chapter 26: Vane doesn't accept everything Audra says without question, and that makes it much more realistic. I think I will end up rating this book 6 stars :)
Chapter 27: first time Audra smiles...finally! I was getting tired of the half smiles.
Chapter 30: well, this sucks. Vane is Westerly and so violence is abhorrent to his very nature--which means he will be incredibly useless in the fight against the Stormers...I was kind of hoping he would become a kick ass hero...since he hasn't grown up a Westerly, I am hoping that happens. I want to see him defeat Raiden. Now it makes complete sense how he doesn't like first shooter games...kudos to the author for leaving little threads for us and tying everything together
Chapter 32: So I have had a theory for a while, and my guess is that Audra and Vane have already kissed as kids which is why they feel the electric currents (other than their obvious attraction for each other).
Chapter 36: So we find out Vane must love her in order to remember her in her dreams---I hope that's explained, and it means Vane will forgive her for the death of his parents...no matter how laid back a guy is, finding out a mistake killed his parents, no matter how unintentional, is not easy to digest.
Chapter 42: I kind of want to kick Vane's ass for not believing in their power as a team, and for giving Audra that french fry.
Chapter 47: I.AM.SO.ANGRY. I am going to kick Audra's mother's ass! aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! I wish I could grab a Northerly wind....
Chapter 48: This mother-daughter bonding is pretty nice because it's normally reserved for dense female characters and their love interests (realizing that the other loves the MC at the last second), but seriously, such bad timing.
Chapter 51: Finally, he remembers! I am so excited. I am also kind of annoyed that Audra needs saving (because she is an awesome kick ass character), but still, I am so happy that he remembers.
LAST couple of chapters:
1. KISS HIM! KISS HIM! Him because Audra's pretty much the only thing stopping them. I love how the bonding is explained. Like they are taking vows!
2. O.M.G. Audra's mother is crazy! I can't believe she orchestrated the death of Vane's parents so she could get her life back and not to have to protect them. She is a bona fide psycho.
3. WHY? WHY? Audra, why do you have to leave Vane? The most comforting thought admidst this is that Vane can always find her, and more importantly, Audra will have the opportunity to find herself now that she doesn't have to sacrifice every moment of her life for him.
Final rating: 5/5 (I wish I could give it 10/5 but oh well, I must adhere to the scale)
Final impression:
I honestly loved this book. I didn't see the ending coming from a mile away, and I think the author did an excellent job of planting clues along the way (and I still didn't see it coming). The author has clearly put in a lot of effort into researching the sylph mythology (lots of world building and descriptions), and thank God for it because I was getting tired of vampires, werewolves, witches, and aliens (and mermaids and psychometrics and everything in between). I am very impressed with Shannon Messenger's writing (everything flows perfectly), and I loved the characters were so believable and relatable. Vane is hilarious and he is such a typical guy, which is a welcome change from most YA books, which have male leads who are brooding and possessive and perfect in all the wrong ways. And I also grew to root for Audra because her hard exterior is there for a very good reason. And I dare you to not think, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" as this book progresses because Audra and Vane's relationship is imperfect in all the right ways and makes you care about the romance even though 90% of YA books make me want to kill the main leads so I can focus on the story and not the stupid romance that typically gets in the way.
I can't wait for the next book. I think there is so much potential for this story with all the little clues and unanswered questions the author has left.
As I said before, GO GET THIS BOOK NOW!
Favorite quotes (obviously these make way more sense in the context of the story):
Sheesh, one hot girl walks into the house and all trust vanishes.
I want to say more, but my dad’s joined my mom at my bedroom door, and while he doesn’t have her look of nervous terror, he looks like when he’s watching the Discovery Channel.
Aren’t the mating habits of teenagers fascinating, honey?
“We can do this two ways,” I tell him. “You can keep ignoring my questions, and I can keep pestering you with them until you finally come clean and tell me what’s wrong. Or you can tell me now and save us a ton of time and frustration. I leave it up to you.”
I stare at my plate, wondering if I can stab myself to death with my butter knife.
Call me old-fashioned, but I kinda want her to be conscious for our first kiss
“I’m barely holding it together right now—and the only thing keeping me from losing it all over again is you. So I don’t care about laws or oaths or betrothals. I care about you. I need you.”
Now I know why they call it “bonding.”
As we burn and connect, parts of her meld to me. Her strength. Her determination. Her honor. They flow to the cracks in my heart and fill them. Heal the places the violence crushed and shattered. Make me whole. I know I’m doing the same for her.
We were two broken, incomplete people.
Now we’re one.
No one will ever understand me the way she will.
No one will ever understand her the way I will.
And no one will be able to change that. We’ve melted together and been reforged into something stronger. Something better.
I’m kinda looking forward to us being together. Making out all day. Taking a break for dinner. Then making out again all night.
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