Narrator: Nicola Barber
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: August 7, 2012
Format: CD
Status: First in the Watersong series.
Source: Received from the publisher for review.
Genre: Teen, Paranormal
Other Info: Amanda Hocking is also the author of the Trylle Trilogy, the Hollowland series, and the My Blood Approves series.
Description and link from Goodreads):
Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They’re the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone’s attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.
Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.
Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.
Narrator Review:
Audiobooks are tricky, because a bad one can break a book. My feelings for Wake aside, Nicola Barber is one of those authors whose voice grates like nails on a chalkboard. Her voice is breathy and too soft. I had to crank the volume on my car stereo just to hear her clearly. Furthermore, Her interpretation of Penn–whose baby talkish voice is an invention of the author–made me grit my teeth every time the character made an appearance in the story. Finally, the way she voiced Gemma did no favors for a character whose grasp on maturity was already tenuous.
Review Review:
It hasn’t been that long since I finished reading the Trylle Trilogy, and with those books as my introduction to Amanda Hocking, I have to say I was hoping for more in her first “Big Publisher” release. In brief, this was an audiobook I suffered through. And that’s saying something. I’m a lot more tolerant of audiobooks than physical ones. It’s probably just extreme laziness…but I rarely DNF an audiobook…and I really wanted to DNF this one.
First of all, Wake is boring. The conversation is stilted and devoid of originality. The characters fall short of snark and end up whining their way through the story. Gemma is particularly guilty of this. Nicola Barber was partly responsible for my intense dislike of Gemma, but Amanda Hocking has to accept her share of the blame, too. Gemma is the worst kind of MC: whiny, selfish, entitled and TSTL (too stupid to live) without any hope of redemption. By the end of the book I was hoping she’d swim off into the sunset.
Harper, Gemma’s older sister and mother figure, was marginally less annoying. At least, I kept wanting to take her aside and say, “Gemma’s not worth all this. Really, you’re better off without her.” Harper never sparked any stronger feelings, however, as she had only one facet to her personality: caregiver. No, seriously–I know little else about her. I sorta think she likes to read since an “e-reader” is mentioned in several scenes, and she works at a library. (Sidenote: The egregious effort to avoid name-branding pulled me out of the story every single time.)
The thing that makes this book irredeemable in my eyes, however, isn’t the characters. It’s the complete lack of emotional connection between the characters. Even the romantic pairs. We’re told that Harper is best friends with Alex, but I don’t see any evidence of it. Their one scene together reminded me of awkward conversations I’ve had at dinner parties where the only person I know is the host. Even if things are weird because Alex is dating Harper’s little sister, they’d still have had some kind of repertoire if they were best friends. Furthermore, Gemma and Alex’s attraction to each other is, I think, entirely based on the physical. He’s “foxy”–SERIOUSLY?!?!–and she’s gorgeous. Though I can’t really blame them for not having any deeper connection to each other–that would require both of them to have some sort of depth–which they do not. Daniel–Harper’s love interest–is by far the most promising character in the book, and therefore the least utilized. I didn’t mind so much, though, because even he wasn’t that interesting.
Aside from being stocked with a cast of one-dimensional characters, the plot is also very thin. It takes a ridiculous amount of time to get started and once it does, it frequently caused me to bang my head against my headrest. We’re treated to at least a dozen chapters of setup that, in the hands of a more talented author, could have been accomplished in one page. Then Gemma spends a zillion more pages (CDs) flopping around. She–spoiler alert–can either go with the sirens or die, but going with them would mean she would have to hurt people. Gemma can’t decide between these two fates, so she goes and asks the advice of her mentally impaired mother. Then, about twenty pages later is somehow shocked to find out that going with the sirens means she’ll have to kill people. WHEN SHE’D JUST SPENT LIGHT YEARS DRONING ON ABOUT HOW SHE THOUGHT THE SIRENS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECENT DEATHS ON THE ISLAND.
In all, this Wake probably wasn’t good for my blood pressure. Once in a while, a book like this comes along and knocks me for a loop. I’m generally a placid reader, and I think there are a lot of things I’m willing to let slide. Wake, for the reasons listed above, so affected me that I felt I had to write this review or I’d burst. Having said all this, it will surprise you to know that I have a giveaway copy of Wake from Macmillan Audio. I seriously (seriously) want you to listen to this book. After you do, we can either commiserate together, or you can knock me about the face and neck and tell me I’m crazy. Either way, enter below:
1 Matryoshka: I would avoid looking this book in the eye.
Looking for another opinion? Try these:
Amber @ Down the Rabbit Hole: Futterwacken Worthy
Smash @ Smash Attack Reads: “I have to admit to being really engrossed in the family dynamics.”
Giveaway Rules and Regulations:
- You must be 13 or older to enter.
- US only.
- To enter, you must leave a comment on this post, answering the following question: Who are favorite mean girls? and fill out the provided Rafflecopter form below. Click on the “more” button to see the form.
- Contest will run from August 3 to August 16.
- The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email, after which time a new winner will be chosen.
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I had a few issues with this one too, mainly the world-building. It was a let down. I enjoyed it otherwise, mainly because of Alex though. And Daniel.
Your 1 Matryoshka comment is way funny.
As you can see, I had more than a few issues with Wake. A later commenter suggested that the experience might be different if one read it instead of listened to the story. It might be the case, but I’ll never know. I’m not going near this one ever again.
Thanks! Have you seen the others?
Hmmm, I’d have to say Regina, Karen and Gretchen from Mean Girls, ooorrrr, the Heathers from that old movie Heathers. OR! I know I think to much. The girls from Jawbreakers, I mean they killed Cat without a second thought. That’s mean.
I’m not current with my mean girls, so I couldn’t say. Cinderella’s evil stepsisters?
Yes, they were mean, they were the original mean girls most definitely!
Who uses the term “foxy” anymore? All I can think is bow-chicka-wow-wow 70′s…
Sucks that this book just didn’t work for you. I haven’t read any Hocking but I’ve read a couple of reviews on her works that have many of the same problems.
And AH isn’t even that old. I think she’s an 80′s child, which made it seem even more forced.
AH is so incredibly popular that I was already skeptical before I read the Trylle books. I get that way when there’s incredible hype around books–hyper-critical, I mean.
The girls in Jawbreakers.
So I hear!
Sorry this one wasn’t for you, Ruby! I’ve been hearing a lot of similar things from other bloggers that I read. I think I’m going to hold off on entering the giveaway, because from your review, I think a lot of the things that bothered you would also bother me, and I’d like someone else to get a chance to read and maybe enjoy it. Maybe if the library has it in the future, I’ll give it a shot!
Aw, go ahead and enter anyway! There’s no return date if you win! *crosses heart*
Okay. FINE!
Lol.
Well…I already commented…twice. Lol! But I’d have to say that my favorite mean girls are the ones from the movie Mean Girls. I know. Cliche, right? But they’re just so much fun to watch!
You’re cracking me up, here. You didn’t have to comment again. Silly!
AND NOT FOLLOW THE RULES?!?!? Lol. I don’t mind commenting an extra time (or three). Not on here, anyways. Haha.
Well, I moved to WP for the threaded messages, so it all works out in the wash. :p
I have to agree with Kandee on this one Heathers!
Oh yeah, they were mean, I loved that movie!
Guess I’m going to have to check it out! It came up in Bunheads last week, too.
Oh I remember that. I love Bunheads, I hope it gets renewed for a season 2!
I’m ready for it to go somewhere already! Well, really, I’m ready for a love interest to magically appear.
Oh yes, I agree, I just wonder how Michelle is going to react to it though, she’s extremely crafty. Fanny sure seems to have her lover!
Now that it’s, happened, though, I can’t say I’m crazy about the outcome.
I don’t stop listening to an audiobook once I start and I’m positive it is because of laziness. I haven’t read/listened to this one and I’ll probably skip. At least on audio anyway. Maybe it would be better in physical form?
I love that I can read and be lazy at the same time. I mean, lazier than reading while lounging on the couch.
I wonder if you’re right about the physical form. I won’t be finding out, though. It’s way too late for that.
My favorite mean girls is Cordelia from Buffy
Oh, but she reformed!
Blair from Gossip Girl
I would have to say that the girls from Mean Girls are my favorite!!!
Hmm – that is a hard question – I think Karen from the Mean girls.
My favorite mean girl is Faye from The Secret Circle