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Thursday, April 21, 2016

The Blue Eyes Trilogy by B. Kristin McMichael

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Synopsis of Book One: The Legend of the Blue Eyes

Arianna Grace liked her boring, Midwestern, teenage life where she ignored the many unanswered questions of her childhood. Why were her parents dead? Why did she not have family? Where was she raised until she was five? When someone offers to explain it all, Arianna thinks she’s just getting answers. Instead, she is thrown into a world of night humans who drink blood.

On Arianna's sixteenth birthday, her world is thrown upside down when she changes into a vampire. Night humans, or demons, as some call them, live in normal society. Learning all of the new rules of a world she didn’t know existed might be hard enough, but it's further complicated by two former-friends that now want to help her take her role as the successor to her grandfather.

There is a war going on between the night humans. Sides have been taken and lines are not crossed. Four main clans of night humans are struggling for control of the night. Divided into two sides, clans Baku and Tengu have been at war for centuries with the clans Dearg-dul and Lycan. That is, until Arianna Grace finds out the truth; she’s the bridge of peace between the two sides. But not everyone wants peace. With the night humans divided, Arianna is now a pawn in the war between them. She must choose a side—her mother’s family or her father’s—and for once in her life, decide her own fate.
 
(No Spoilers for any of these books - for feel free to enjoy)
 

Thoughts on  the Whole Trilogy:

3 Stars
 
This trilogy start with a popular trope of 'surprise-your-supernatural' but the Night Human World has an interesting variety of species, a legend and multiple potential romances. The second book was a bit of a dip in enjoyment for me although some important relationship developments occur. The final book in this series was defiantly the best book in this series with Arianna finally finding her feet, fulfilling the legend, and sorting out her feelings for the people around her.
 

Review of Book One: The Legend of the Blue Eyes

I picked this book up free on kindle late one evening and was presently surprised. The book is by no means a perfect story but as you can see by my rating it was an enjoyable book. Because there were both good and bad things about this book I have spilt them into two lists:

What I didn’t like:
  • The ‘surprise-your-supernatural-creature’ trope I have read this trop far too many times.
  • The instinct attraction between Arianna and David, that happens because they met for a week when they were children and he has ‘been-watching her’ since (Don’t really understand how she can be ok with that and why they love each other because of this?!?)
  • The fact there is a legend that must not be talked about, half told legend that isn't explained.  

What I did like:
  • The fact there is a legend that must not be talked about, the mystery but knowing that she is 'destined for greatness'.  
  • That Arianna has so many guys ‘bidding’ for her attention – can’t wait to read more in this series to see who she finally decides on.
  • The mix of night creatures and the basics of a political system which I think will become more important in later books as Arianna becomes more involved in it.
  • Also look forward to reading how Arianna having a Keeper from each species is going to work with their hatred for each other running so deep.
  • Arianna’s home sickness – made it more realistic. I could image at 16 being thrown into a completely new world, being introduced to your family and not knowing anyone at all, the longing for normality would be strong. 
     
Overall this was an enjoyable book a quick fun read with a few things that weren't great but nothing that shopped me reading. I hope that now Arianna is beginning to get use to this new world that in the next few books we get a slightly more original storyline.
 

Book Two: Becoming a Legend

I felt as though this book was a bit of a filler book. Important things did happen in the: romance side of this plot; the development and destruction of trust between central characters and Arianna also took so important steps toward find her place in the Night Human world.   

Book Three: Winning the Legend

I enjoyed this book so much more than the second book. The competition added so much to this story with yet more people playing for Arianna's hand in marriage. I also enjoyed the development in the relationships between Arianna's and her friends and keepers. I really enjoyed Arianna's resolve to get rid of the traditions and her desire the prevent war. She is really clever in her strategy for achieving these two goals. An enjoyable and to the trilogy.