Wendy Higgins
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Source: Purchased
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?
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CATCHALL
Sweet Evil was cute, sexy and a whole lot of fun. I went into it not really sure what to expect, and I am happy to say that I ended up really liking it. It's certainly not my favorite book, but it's definitely up there, and I really, really enjoyed it. The concept was unique and sweet without veering into the territory of ridiculousness, and stayed fun while also being serious when it needed to be. I actually didn't know this was the first book of a trilogy when I first read it, either—I actually though it was a standalone. Not that that's relevant in any way, but whatever.
THE HEROINE
ANNA
At the beginning of the book, I did not like Anna at all. She was way too innocent. I don't give a damn how "sheltered" she supposedly was by her oppressive and overprotective mother; no one with eyes and ears and/or a brain is that innocent. It really made her unrealistic and unlikable for a while. I struggled for a long time trying to identify with her, but it was impossible while she was such an unrealistic character. However, once she got over her over-naïveté she ended up being sweet enough and much more relatable. By the end of the book, I liked her well enough.
THE LOVE INTEREST
KAIDAN
Why bother lying, ladies? Kaidan is sexy. Obviously, he has some issues, but that aside, he is sexy. I like how he seems to struggle sometimes with what he has to do—he doesn't entirely accept it blindly. He knows what's expected of him, and that's what he does. But sometimes he still questions it, even if he later shoves those questions aside. However, it was kind of difficult to get a grip on his personality because a few times I think he acted in a way that really didn't go with his character. That's just my interpretation, but there you have it.
THE PLOT
Sweet Evil actually had an impressive plot. It was an original interpretation of Nephilim, and it wasn't done sloppily. There was obviously research put into it, and though perhaps there could have been a bit more, overall it was impressive and throughly enjoyable.
I did not like the aspect of Anna's home life—it seemed a bit stereotypical and somewhat unrealistic. I think the rest of Anna's life in her town was portrayed pretty well, if also a bit too stereotypical for my taste. It was done nicely, without too much detail.
I also think that the parts containing the Nephilim and their fathers were done well too. I was confused at some parts, but for the most part my confusion was cleared easily by the end of the book. I am still unclear on some things, which I don't like, but it's possible that I'm supposed to be unclear until the next book.
I also think that overall, this book was a bit too pretty. Things usually ended up working out way too nicely, pretty much always for the better. Even when events went into a total tangle, they seemed to be smoothed out far too easily.
However, this is not to say that I thought the plot was bad—quite the opposite, in fact. I liked it, I enjoyed it, and I definitely think that while it had its issues, it was overall lovely.
THE ROMANCE
I think the romance in this book moved a bit too quickly. It seems like Anna's feelings about Kaidan grow too quickly. However, at the same time, I can't fault them too much because they do feel genuine. The romantic development felt a bit unrealistic at points but at the same time, it's an unusual situation. I also have a feeling we're going to see a love triangle in the later books. I won't tell you with who—although believe me when I say it's obvious—but I'm not sure I like the idea of that.
THE WRITING
I like Wendy's writing, although I'm not sure I like Anna's voice so much. At times she sounds whiny and self-centered, and sometimes totally not likable at all. I makes her sounds somewhat discompassionate (which apparently isn't a word, but whatever) and annoying while also somehow managing to be irritatingly dense. However, that aside, I do like Wendy's writing. It's not my favorite, but I've read much worse. I do wish it was more descriptive.
THE ENDING
The ending was a bit simplistic for my taste. I like that it ended without a cliffhanger, but I don't like how it wrapped up so prettily and perfectly—that bothers me. Still, the ending could have been worse, and it does tie the novel together nicely. It doesn't throw in random new information or random new characters or random new anything, so I count that as a win.
WRAPUP
I enjoyed Sweet Evil very much, but I'm going to need more from Sweet Hope. Overall, this book was fun and a great read, but it did have myriad things I didn't like and I am going to need the next book to be different in order for me to be impressed. Still, I'm definitely a fan, and I can recommend this one with confidence!
FINE.
Sweet Evil was cute, sexy and a whole lot of fun. I went into it not really sure what to expect, and I am happy to say that I ended up really liking it. It's certainly not my favorite book, but it's definitely up there, and I really, really enjoyed it. The concept was unique and sweet without veering into the territory of ridiculousness, and stayed fun while also being serious when it needed to be. I actually didn't know this was the first book of a trilogy when I first read it, either—I actually though it was a standalone. Not that that's relevant in any way, but whatever.
THE HEROINE
ANNA
At the beginning of the book, I did not like Anna at all. She was way too innocent. I don't give a damn how "sheltered" she supposedly was by her oppressive and overprotective mother; no one with eyes and ears and/or a brain is that innocent. It really made her unrealistic and unlikable for a while. I struggled for a long time trying to identify with her, but it was impossible while she was such an unrealistic character. However, once she got over her over-naïveté she ended up being sweet enough and much more relatable. By the end of the book, I liked her well enough.
THE LOVE INTEREST
KAIDAN
Why bother lying, ladies? Kaidan is sexy. Obviously, he has some issues, but that aside, he is sexy. I like how he seems to struggle sometimes with what he has to do—he doesn't entirely accept it blindly. He knows what's expected of him, and that's what he does. But sometimes he still questions it, even if he later shoves those questions aside. However, it was kind of difficult to get a grip on his personality because a few times I think he acted in a way that really didn't go with his character. That's just my interpretation, but there you have it.
THE PLOT
Sweet Evil actually had an impressive plot. It was an original interpretation of Nephilim, and it wasn't done sloppily. There was obviously research put into it, and though perhaps there could have been a bit more, overall it was impressive and throughly enjoyable.
I did not like the aspect of Anna's home life—it seemed a bit stereotypical and somewhat unrealistic. I think the rest of Anna's life in her town was portrayed pretty well, if also a bit too stereotypical for my taste. It was done nicely, without too much detail.
I also think that the parts containing the Nephilim and their fathers were done well too. I was confused at some parts, but for the most part my confusion was cleared easily by the end of the book. I am still unclear on some things, which I don't like, but it's possible that I'm supposed to be unclear until the next book.
I also think that overall, this book was a bit too pretty. Things usually ended up working out way too nicely, pretty much always for the better. Even when events went into a total tangle, they seemed to be smoothed out far too easily.
However, this is not to say that I thought the plot was bad—quite the opposite, in fact. I liked it, I enjoyed it, and I definitely think that while it had its issues, it was overall lovely.
THE ROMANCE
I think the romance in this book moved a bit too quickly. It seems like Anna's feelings about Kaidan grow too quickly. However, at the same time, I can't fault them too much because they do feel genuine. The romantic development felt a bit unrealistic at points but at the same time, it's an unusual situation. I also have a feeling we're going to see a love triangle in the later books. I won't tell you with who—although believe me when I say it's obvious—but I'm not sure I like the idea of that.
THE WRITING
I like Wendy's writing, although I'm not sure I like Anna's voice so much. At times she sounds whiny and self-centered, and sometimes totally not likable at all. I makes her sounds somewhat discompassionate (which apparently isn't a word, but whatever) and annoying while also somehow managing to be irritatingly dense. However, that aside, I do like Wendy's writing. It's not my favorite, but I've read much worse. I do wish it was more descriptive.
THE ENDING
The ending was a bit simplistic for my taste. I like that it ended without a cliffhanger, but I don't like how it wrapped up so prettily and perfectly—that bothers me. Still, the ending could have been worse, and it does tie the novel together nicely. It doesn't throw in random new information or random new characters or random new anything, so I count that as a win.
WRAPUP
I enjoyed Sweet Evil very much, but I'm going to need more from Sweet Hope. Overall, this book was fun and a great read, but it did have myriad things I didn't like and I am going to need the next book to be different in order for me to be impressed. Still, I'm definitely a fan, and I can recommend this one with confidence!
FINE.
***FINAL RATING: 2.95 RED ROSES***
