Review: The Unseen 2 (Blood Brothers and Sin and Salvation) by Richie Tankersley Cusick

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Penguin (Speak)

Spoilers?: No.

Goodreads Synopsis:

 This book is a combination of Part III (Blood Brothers) and Part IV (Sin and Salvation), the first two books of The Unseen series. It's available only at Walmart.

Too many deaths, too many terrifying visions and sleepless nights have taken their toll on Lucy Dennison. She wonders if she can trust anyone or anything anymore - even her own mind. Lucy knows there must be something, somewhere that can tell her why she was chosen to receive the terrible visions, why she feels the sinister presence all around her. As Lucy searches desperately for answers, she knows time is running out. Too many people have disappeared - or worse - and the constant feeling of being surrounded by something truly evil grows stronger each night. Can Lucy defeat the evil in time?

Review:

It’s been a few weeks since I read this (maybe more, actually), so some of my emotions for it have lessened in intensity. So, sorry for that.

This was the third and last parts of the series, and I had more hopes for it than I received. The messy wording and usage of ellipses and italics was still very much present. The italics were probably the part that I didn’t mind the most; but there was still a huge amount used, and I’m sure it could annoy others.

And then there’s Lucy. She annoyed me so much. At the end of the second book, she sounded like she was accepting things and moving forward, but instead she proceeded to change nothing. She was still hesitant and denied everything (until the very end), and even when her friend tried to convince her otherwise, she denied things. I don’t… I don’t understand why the villain was after her. Because she’s easy and fun to play with, I guess? She’s not smart, so that couldn’t be it.

Also, she felt a lot for Gran and Byron, and I felt that that was a little fast. She didn’t really get to know either of them, but was still all but actually in love with Byron and protective of Gran. I honestly don’t see what everyone likes about her, or why they think she’s so special. She’s really not. There were more people than I thought in love with her by the end, and I just don’t get it.

The plot was actually pretty good, though. There were quite a few more complications thrown in, some of which I wasn’t expecting. Or, at least, the amount of which I wasn’t expecting. Although I didn’t quite understand what Lucy had to do with the family feud. (Maybe she was just another thing they were fighting over? Or perhaps it’s just fuzzy in my mind?)

Again, the biggest thing that bothered me was Lucy. She was dumb. And several other characters would have been a better protagonist. Byron’s sister or Dakota, for example.

And the ending! I don’t want to spoil it, but it frustrates me beyond belief. I couldn’t understand why Lucy thought what she was doing was a good idea, since it was very obviously not. Although, I kind of did like the ending, no matter how much her stupidity frustrates me, because she kind of deserved it. She even asked for it, for God’s sake.

I don’t know what else to say about it. I’m frustrated, and while it was kind of torturous to read at times, the ending bumped the rating up a bit. I hate Lucy and I kind of want to punch her in the face or something because she is so dumb. I did kind of like the villain and the twists that were thrown in. I could probably continue to rant about my hate for Lucy, but it would get repetitive and probably boring (as my frustration, in my head, is just nonsensical not-actual-words-but-sounds to express my feelings), so I’m not going to do that.

(Sidenote: Aren't the covers on the original version of the books, when they were first released separately, terrible? It goes really well with the books, though, as it is basically hinting that this is going to be one of those cheesy, maybe stereotypical mystery-horror books.)

Um, happy reading?

Manga Review: Stepping on Roses, Volume 7, by Rinko Ueda

Rating (Out of 5): ~3 - 3.5

Publisher: VIZ Media (Shojo Beat)

Volumes: 8+

Goodreads Synopsis:

Poor Sumi Kitamura… Her irresponsible older brother Eisuke keeps bringing home orphans for her to take care of even though they can barely afford their own basic needs! Just when Sumi's financial problems become dire, wealthy Soichiro Ashida enters her life with a bizarre proposition: he'll provide her with the money she so desperately needs if she agrees to marry him. But can Sumi fool high society into thinking she's a proper lady? Moreover, is it worth giving up everything for this sham of a marriage?
Soichiro’s reputation becomes tainted when Sumi’s true background is exposed, and even his position as president of his company is threatened! Sumi feels terrible for the trouble she’s caused Soichiro, so she decides to leave him. Will Soichiro choose to let her go, or will he forsake everything for her instead?

Review:

This volume starts where the last volume ended: with Eisuke telling all of Soichiro's business partners that he's Sumi's brother. The business partners are outraged, and they tell Soichiro to resign, who refuses.

The thing that bothers me, though, is that Sumi feels really bad about it. Yea, she shouldn't have signed that paper, but Eisuke shouldn't have embezzled or asked her to in the first place. She should be mad at him, but instead she cries and decides to run back to her old home with the children.

Nozomu, meanwhile, offers to help Soichiro in exchange for Sumi, who refuses. He's realizing that he loves Sumi, and so runs after her and then gives up the company for her. He tells her he loves her, she's his wife, Nozoumi can't have her, and she cries.

Then he moves in with Sumi, in that run down house, where he's having a hard time finding a job and generally living like they do. He doesn't get along with Eisuke too much, it seems. He starts teaching the kids some, when he finds out that they aren't in school. Also, he tries to have some loving time with Sumi, which doesn't work because they are surrounded by kids (although that doesn't seem to bother them too much) and Eisuke interrupts them.

Meanwhile, Nozomu takes over the Ashida company, is not spending any time with his wife while trying to get a divorce, is planning a way to get Sumi, and then buys the land that their house is on, making it so they have to move, which is near impossible as they have no money.

I don't really understand how they have no money. How does Soichiro not have any money saved? And why can they not stay at his house? There's no mention of it, at all. Also, why did Soichiro have to resign? Yea, what happened with Eisuke was bad, but they shouldn't have been so judgmental just because Sumi is poor. (I guess because of what time it's set in, though...)

Anyway, Sumi decides to go talk to Nozomu (on her own), try to get him to not buy the land. He, instead, makes a move on her and asks her to be his wife.

Nozomu needs some serious help, okay? He's always pushing at Sumi, doing anything to sabotage her relationship with Soichiro (or anyone else, really) in order for her to see the good in him. In this volume, he gives her money 'out of the goodness in his heart', making her think he's maybe actually nice, while smirking as he leaves. Hell, he tried to kill himself and Sumi earlier in the series. He's psychotic, and needs to be put away.

And Sumi, needs to realize this. She needs to grow a backbone, push him away and do something for herself, instead of always taking care of everyone else and being the victim. It is seriously getting on my nerves.

Also about Sumi: we found out something new about her in this volume. Apparently Eisuke found her, lost, in a rose garden when she was a baby, and so she is now terrified of roses, only doesn't remember why. And, in a comic short at the end, that she asked for siblings when she was young, which I'm sure is why Eisuke was always bringing home kids. The part I liked moat about this, was that we got to Eisuke legitimately working for something, being a good, nice boy, as opposed to his gambling, womanizing ways now.

(Also in a comic short at the end, was a thing about how the author had a kid and was having a hard time raising her. I found it entertaining, and really interesting, how she doesn't enjoy it, but, you know, still love her child.)

Anyway. Despite all of the holes in the plot, among other things, that are bothering me, I am enjoying watching Soichiro live the poor life. He's quite terrible at it so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing him change, toughen up.

This wasn't a bad volume, though, just a bit bothersome at times. This series is just... an overly romanticized dramatic one. Which, I can't help but enjoy reading, even as it annoys me. So of course I will be reading the next one, whenever it is released.