Sweet Evil by Wendy HigginsAdd to: Goodreads
Source: Borrowed
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback, 453 pages
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Embrace the Forbidden
What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.
Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?
While I found Sweet Evil entertaining and original, I was stopped from totally loving it because of the characters and some all too convenient plot details.
The characters in this novel felt a little too cookie-cutter for me. There's Anna (the "good girl" with eeevil temptations) and Kai (the "bad boy" with a "good heart"). There were plenty of moments that I was still able to read the book and enjoy the situations the characters were in but there was also an unfortunate number of times where my annoyance with the characters clouded that enjoyment.
And it was unfortunate because the mythology was so COOL! The Nephilim are the children of Dukes of Sin with the mission to corrupt as much of humanity as possible. I mean, really... how unique and potentially awesome is that? I think Wendy Higgins did a great job at exploring some of the possibilities of this situation while still leaving room for plenty more.
I must say though, some of the thrill that the concept gave me was lost with the annoyance I felt at the romance and some of the other plot points. A lot of things that happened in the novel seemed to be thrown in for no particular reason (other than maybe to give the characters some time to obsess over each other). All of the big problems were solved so easily. Perhaps with more of a struggle on the road to victory, I would have appreciated the characters' efforts more.
Recommended if you're looking for the classic paranormal romance with a unique mythology!
Cover Comments: You know that classic image of the popular kids whispering mean comments about the less popular ones and making no secret of their mockery? YEAH. That's what I can't help but think when I see their poses. I like the background pictures of the trees and the fog though! So spooky.
3 Golden Crowns!
Shame you didn't love this, Sonia. I haven't read Sweet Evil but form what you've said, it sounds like the characters are a little 'cookie-cutter' which can be annoyingly cliche. I'm glad you enjoyed the mythology part but it's a shame the plot seemed a bit too convenient - I enjoy it when characters go through a LOT of struggle to get to the end.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fab, honest review Sonia <3
Yeah, I don't know how I feel about the whole character situation. You know, it's getting increasingly difficult to find a good book with good writing and good characters to match!
ReplyDeleteEither way, great review.
Aw, I wish you would have loved this one as much as I did. But we do both agree on the totally awesome mythology. I think its probably one of my favorite parts of the novel. So different! I can't wait to see how Wendy Higgins continues with that in the next one. :]
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