Review: Unnatural

Mar •  8 •  2011
Title: Unnatural
Series: Archangel Academy # 1
Genre: Young Adult-Paranormal

Author: Michael Griffo
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Book: ARC sent by publisher


In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students…

For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, al…more “In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students… 

For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran’s enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he’s ever known.  
But Michael’s only beginning to understand what makes the Academy so special. Ronan is a vampire—part of a hybrid clan who are outcasts even among other vampires. Within the Academy’s confines exists a ruthless world of deadly rivalries and shifting alliances, of clandestine love and forbidden temptations. And soon Michael will confront the destiny that brought him here—and a danger more powerful than he can imagine…”

Have you ever gotten a book that you were excited about and then it just disappointed you? I was really happy to get this ARC and when I read it I was bummed. Let me start off by saying that what bummed me out was the plot. It simply did not grab me. Plus there was a lot of unnecessary information going on in the book. It was like the same thing was getting played over and over again. 

Michael knew he didn’t belong. He knew he was meant to be somewhere else. So when his mother passes Michael is given the opportunity to go somewhere else and start off new. There he is introduce to Archangel Academy. A place where secrets are held. 


I’m all about seeing a character struggle with themselves. It helps see the development of the characters. Michael struggles with his sexuality for over 120 pages of the book. Not that I don’t mind, but it got repetitive and boring. I wanted Michael to stand up for himself (which he did, it just took forever!) and face who he was. He’s gay. I didn’t even get to read anything about the academy until another 50 pages in. It was slow. Super slow.


The only characters that really made this book good was Brania. I loved her wittiness and her power. I like how she made other scared of her. Plus she made me laugh a little.

The book contain homosexuality and some cursing.
 


I give it 3 BITES!

Happy Reading!

 

Posted by on Mar 8, 2011 in 2011, Michael Griffo, Review, Young Adult | 5 comments

5 Comments

  1. Kate Evangelista
    Mar 8, 2011

    This is actually the first time I’ve seen you give three bites.

  2. Jenny
    Mar 8, 2011

    This one does sound a bit disappointing, I don’t like when I’m a hundred pages in and I haven’t really learned anything at all or connected to the characters. I think I’ll pass on this one for now, I can see based on your thoughts that I would not be a fan. Thanks Savy!

  3. Missie
    Mar 8, 2011

    Bummer. I hadn’t really heard of this book before, but I think I can satisfy my curiosity with your review. Glad at least one of the characters worked for you. Hope you enjoy your next book a bit better.

  4. Melissa (Books and Things)
    Mar 8, 2011

    Aw… sounds like there were elements that could have really made this one interesting. Thanks for the honest review. Don’t think this one is for me.

  5. Sarah Allen
    Mar 8, 2011

    Interesting review. Also I love your description. Its true book lovers never go to bed alone 🙂

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)